Republic Day

On  26th  January  India  celebrates  her  Republic Day.  We  adopted  our  Constitution  64 years  ago  on  this  day.
In  Chapter 25 of  his  book  "Why  are  we backward?" Dr Vishal Mangalwadi observes that on this  day  India  did  what  God  commanded  Moses  to  do in  the   Old  Testament...govern the  country according to the  law and   not   according  to  man.
             Happy Republic Day

I watched  the  grand  Republic  Day Parade telecast   live  from  New Delhi. It is  a  colourful  and  impressive  display  of our nation 's  military strength, progress  and  development  in  various  fields ,  art and culture  encompassing different  religious and  ethnic streams.

Tomorrow  is  the  second  holy bathing  day at the  Hindu  festival of  the  Mahakumbh on  the  banks  of  River  Ganga. Thousands  of  pilgrims  are  pouring  into our city to camp on the  river  banks to take  a sin purging  dip in  the  river  at  the  auspicious  time. People  believe  their  sins  will  be washed  away  by Mother Ganga and  they  will attain salvation ,  moksha or  nirvana through  this  holy  act.

Thousands  of  security and  infra structure etc.  workers  have  come  here  from  all  over  our  state  and  neighbouring  states  to smoothly run  the  activities  in  the  pilgrim city on  the  river  banks.

Some Christian  people working  in  the  railways  and  police department visit our church for  worship and  Bible  study.They  are  here  only for  a  month or  two and will return to their  hometowns once their  duty  in  Sangam city   is  over.

Today I met Police  Sub Inspector Santosh  who  has been  coming  to  our  church  for  fellowship in his off  duty hours. I was  so  thrilled  to  hear  his  testimony and  what  God  is  doing  in  his  hometown.

He  told  us  that  his  father  was  the  village  Pandit , or  man  of learning  and  people  used  to  come  to  him  to  study  the  Hindu Scriptures. One  day   Santosh took a pastor to meet  him. When  the  pastor  explained the  way of  salvation , the  elderly man  was taken by surprise. No one had  told  him  things  found  in the  Bible. A seed  of  faith  was  sown in his heart which later  took  root leading him to the Way, the Truth and  the   Life.

DIWALI LIGHTS

The  Hindu  festival  of  lights  called  Deepawali  or  Diwali  is  being   celebrated  all  over  India  this  week.  Shops ,  markets  and commercial  centres  are   all lighted  up  and  decorated  to  woo  customers  to  buy,  buy  and   buy  some  more. People  worship  Goddess  Lakshmi ,  the   goddess  of  wealth  on  this   night  and light  up   their  homes   with  diyas  -   earthen  oil  lamps  and  electric  lights to  welcome   the goddess  into  their   homes. Setting  off  firecrackers   both noisy   and colourful   and  eating  special  Diwali  sweets  is  everyone 's  favourite.  People  give  gifts   to  each  other and   have  Diwali  get  togethers  and  parties.
Read  more about  Diwali  HERE

 

Who Am I?

You Are His


God’s grace defines you!

Society labels you like a can on an assembly line. Stupid. Unproductive. Slow learner. Fast talker. Quitter. But as grace infiltrates, criticism disintegrates. You know you aren’t who they say you are.

You are who God says you are: “spiritually alive.” Heavenly positioned, “seated with him in the heavenly realms.” “One with Jesus Christ.”

Of course, not all labels are negative. Some people regard you as clever, successful. But it doesn’t compare with being “seated with him in the heavenly realms!” God creates the Christian’s resume!

Grace defines who you are. The parent you can’t please is as mistaken as the doting uncle you can’t disappoint.

Listen, God wrote your story. He cast you in his drama. You hang as God’s work of art, a testimony in his gallery of grace.

According to Him, you are His. Period.

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6
By   Max Lucado

I  believe   what  God  says  about  me.  I  am  His   sheep.   Dear  friends thank  you  for  praying  for   me.  I  still  very  weak hardly  able  to exert  myself physically. The   cough  rattles  me  up. I  need  more  prayers.   God  bless  you.

Christmas Tree Gift Service

In  India  we  have  a  yuletide  tradition  in  many  churches  called  the  Christmas  Tree  Gift  Service  or the White  Gift  Service.
Its  an   evening  of  Christmas  carols and  a  homily by  the   Pastor  followed  by  the  distribution  of  simple  little  gifts to  the  children and  adults.
There  can  be  a  gift  exchange  also. In  the  white  gift  service presents  are  wrapped  in  white  paper  and  laid  around  the  Christmas  tree and  you  can  come  up  and  pick  a  little  package .In  large and  rich  congregations  more  expensive  gifts  are  given  for  which  money  is  collected beforehand.
One  church  I  know  did  not  have  a  gift service  for  themselves.  Instead  of   that  they  used  the  contributions  to prepare a  nice  meal  for  the  inmates  of  an  old  people 's  home. The  elderly  folk  shared  the  joy  of  Christ 's  coming with  this  group. What  a  neat  idea.
Last  Saturday the  Believer 's  Church  held their  Christmas  Tree in  our  church. There  were  about  150  people  or  more. Only  the  little  children  got  gifts. This  church  is  not  rich. Here  are  some  photos  I  took.

 Singing  carols

 Sunday  school  children

 Lost  in  worship -  O  come  let  us  adore  him.

The  Pastor 's  wife (seated)  distributing  gifts  to  the  children.  They   got  a  lollipop  and  a  pencil each.

The  joy  of  brightening   other  lives, bearing  each  others ' loads  and supplanting   empty  hearts  and  lives with  generous  gifts becomes  for  us  the  magic  of Christmas.
- W C Jones

I Hate Christmas

Oh  no  its  not  me  but  Oscar  the  Grouch from  Sesame  Street who  is saying this.

Its funny , but poor  Oscar   is  partly  right.If  I  was  celebrating Christ' s  birth  in a  treadmill meaningless way I  would   hate  it   too.
Christmas  kept  as  a  frenzied  holiday  can  be  pretty  stressful. Just  a  rigmarole  of  tradition and  activity. A  lonely  time  for  singles,the  bereaved  and  those  separated  from  their  family  for  various  reasons.

Childhood  is   the  best  time  to  enjoy  Christmas. You  are  not  responsible  for anything -  just  enjoy  the fun which  older  people have  arranged  for  you.

I  remember  our  family  activity  around  Christmas  time.The  baking  of     traditional  Christmas  fruit cakes.  My  grandma  with  with  the  help  of maids  and  aunts prepared  special  goodies and  I  was  always  eager  to  sample  them  hot  off the  stove. The  tantalising  aroma  of   sweet  and  savoury  eatables   made  them  hard  to  resist. I  teased  my  grandma by  playfully  pinching  handfuls of  delights  from  loaded  brass   platters. She  was ready  for  my  naughtiness and  pretended  to  scold  me.

The  provender  and  cakes  were  stored  in  large  trunks waiting  for   guests  to  arrive. Family  and friends  would  visit  us (  and still  do )  during   Christmas  week  and after  and  were  served  Christmas  specialities   with  tea  and  cake. Sometimes  people  call before  they  visit  otherwise  one can  drop  in  anytime.

On  December 25th  we  attended  morning  church ,  and had   lunch  at home  .  There  were  lots  of   visitors  to  share  food  with. After  that we   set  off  to  visit  relatives   and  friends returning  late in  the  evening.

Gift exchange  was not  prevalent  among  adults  in  those  days (  as  it  is  now)  but   children  got  toys  and   money. I  always  wished  for   books. We  gave   away food  packages  ,  money  and  clothes  to   the  less  fortunate  and  our  helpers,   and  still  do   each  year.

Sending  cards  and  telegram  greetings  was  in  vogue,  but  in these  modern  times  it  has  been  replaced  by  emails, telephone  calls and  text  messages.

We got  our  Christmas clothes  ready. It  was  not  necessary  to  buy  new   clothes  each  year.

Decorating  the  house   was  fun with  everybody  giving  instructions  to  each  other. I,  being  the  family  clown teased  and  tackled  my  sisters  who  chided  me  with   indignation.

When  our  old  artificial  Christmas  tree  shed  all  its  leaves , Sonia  used  a  tall potted  fern  to  string  up  the  ornaments.  And  I  enjoyed  poking  fun  of  her "Desert  Christmas  tree".  Poor  Sonia still  remembers  that  levity.

There  were  lots  of   Christmas   music and  pageants to  attend  and  participate  in. (Tomorrow  we  are  having  a  Christmas  program  in  our   church  organised  by  the Believer 's  Church.)  And  weddings  too.  People  like  to  get  married  in  the  cool  season as  the  weather  is  pleasant. Oh  yes  there  were  picnics,  outings  and fairs  too.

Just  take  out  Christ  from  Christmas  and  what  do  you have  left just  a  holiday- something   for  the  body but  nothing  for  the  heart.

I  want  to  have  a vision  of the  glorified  Christ  this  Christmas.

St  Teresa  of Avila was  born   in 1515.She  was  a  great  Christian  mystic and  many  people  today   are  blessed  and  encouraged  by  her  writings. Once  she  tried  to  describe  her  vision  of  the  glorified   Christ.

"It  is  not  a  radiance which  dazzles, but  a soft  whiteness and  an  infused  radiance which, without  wearing  the  eyes causes  them  the  greatest  delight nor are they  wearied  of  the  brightness which  they  see  in  seeing  this  Divine  beauty...It   is a light which never  gives  place  to  light, and being always light is  disturbed  by   nothing."

I  wish  you  the  brightness  of   a  vision  of  the  glorified  Christ  this  Christmas.

Thoughts on Women 's Day -March 8th

Last  Saturday  I  dressed    Megan  up in  a  sari,

the   one I  wore for Namrita 's  wedding.  she  looks  like  an

Indian  Princes.

About half and hour  ago  a  plane  bearing  Ashish and  Megan  took  off  from  the Delhi  International  airport on  its  way  to  Canada with  various   stops. It  seems  my  heart  has  flown  with  them  too.

Participating in and  enjoying their  youthfulness,  vibrancy, vigor and  versatility was like  elixir  or  tonic  for  me. I  live  a  very  reclusive  life - I love  to  socialize  and  meet  people  but  my  physical  challenges  limit and   drain  me. I  have  to  be  on high  alert  all the  time - decoding the  stimuli around  me  and  solving  problems and  giving  assistance to  people in  my care.  I  am not  complaining  about  it,  it  is  what  God  has  set  me  aside  for, but   its  good to  feel  sheltered and  covered by  others.

Although  there  was  lots  of  activity  and   full  days while  Ash and  Megan   were here and  I  got   tired -but HAPPY-TIRED  as I  term  it. Both my  knees  are  very  painful,  but  I don 't  care -  the  pain is  worth it!  Please  pray  for  my healing.

When  I  went  to  the  railway  station  to receive my  guests I  caught   some  allergy  and  my face  and  eyes were  swollen   for  a  few days - but   that  did  not  stop me - I  just  took  my  allergy  pills  and   got  better.Ha-ha!

Laughing  and  joking   and  having  stimulating conversations  with  them was  such a  joy. I  laughed  so  much  after  ages.

As  I  am  growing  older and  my  challenges  are increasing I  need  someone  to  be  my  hands, feet, eyes  and  ears. I  am  confident  God  will  send  help as  I  work in His  tiny  garden.

Pray to the  Lord  of  the  Harvest  friends.

What  a  God  He  is! How  perfect in   every  way! All  His  promises  prove  true  (Psalm 18;30 The  Living   Bible)

A Royal Wedding - Jodhpur Style

Prince of Jodhpur weds in style

[ Date : Nov 19th, 2010 ]
The wedding ceremony of Yuvraj Shivraj Singh of Jodhpur and Gayatri Kumari of Askot on Thursday was probably the largest congregation of royalty, only after the ‘Dilli Durbar’.
When the baraat from Jodhpur reached the Jaipur railway station on Thursday morning, the entire platform was decked up to welcome the royalty. There was elaborate rangoli — including the traditional mandana made from 20-25 kg material and floral decorations that used over 500 kg of flowers.
The guests spent the rest of the day just re-arranging the traditional attire. In the evening, when the “baraat” ( groom 's party) assembled at the gates of Hotel Rambagh Palace, they were all in traditional Rajput finery — embellished achkans, churidars, breeches, swords, kamarbunds and colourful safas or headgear embossed with their ancestral sarpech, or the turban ornament.
It was a sight to behold as royalty from all over the world could be seen dressed in their traditional state attire accessorised with the neck piece ‘kantha’, gems and jewellery and jooties(shoes) embroidered with pearl. “I’ve never seen men folk wear so much of jewellery,” exclaimed a guest from London.
Source: TOI
This video gives an idea of the pre nuptial prepations and festivities.



The groom 's party went to the bride 's palace in Askot where the wedding took place. Traditionally the womenfolk stay at home awaiting the return of the newly wedded bride and groom. But most people are breaking that tradition these days.

Two days ago the official, auspicious Hindu wedding season started. All the wedding halls, hotels and guesthouses in our vicinity are bustling with activity. It time for everyone involved in the wedding industry from the humble cooks and musicians to the snobbish fashion designers and decorators to make good money. Even the dozens of family soap, sagas and serials on TV are featuring weddings.


Each culture has its own set of rituals and traditions connected to bethrothal and marriage. Joni Eareckson Tada wrote about a Jewish marriage custom from which we can draw a precious lesson.

In the old Jewish tradition, this is how a bride and groom became engaged: The young man traveled to the home of his loved one to ask for her hand in marriage. A dowry was agreed upon. It was the price paid by the groom to secure his loved one (it demonstrated to the father that the groom had the means to properly care for his daughter). The betrothal contract was sealed, culminating in a formal ceremony in which the bride and groom confirmed their covenant by drinking together from a cup of wine. After the marriage was established, an engagement period ensued during which the two were officially married, yet did not live together.During this period, the couple would prepare for the time when their marriage would be consummated. The bride-in-waiting learned all she could about being a good wife. The groom returned to his father's house to prepare a place for them to live.Usually he constructed a large addition on to the house where they would live under the same roof with the family. After many months, the groom would come for his wife!This tradition provides a beautiful parallel.

Jesus gave his life as his dowry. The cross shows us that he and his Father agreed on an exorbitant price. Every time we drink from the communion cup, we remember him and the new covenant. As the bride of Christ, we prepare ourselves for his coming. In the meantime, Jesus has gone ahead and is presently preparing a place for us in heaven. It only required seven days for him to create the earth... and he's had almost 2,000 years to work on our rooms in his mansion.
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14: 2,3)
I am looking forward to my room, are you?

Gandhi Jayanti-International Day of Non Violence

"There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for."
Mahatma Gandhi The Story of My Experiments with Truth, 1927

"Non-Violence", a sculpture by Karl Fredrik Reutersward, sits permanently outside UN Headquarters in New York. UN Photo

The International Day of Non-Violence is marked on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness". The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence".

Introducing the resolution in the General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, said that the wide and diverse sponsorship of the resolution was a reflection of the universal respect for Mahatma Gandhi and of the enduring relevance of his philosophy. Quoting the late leader’s own words, he said: "Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man".

My brother in Christ and spiritual mentor during my student days wrote this note on his Facebook page. I would like to reproduce it here.

Letter to My Son Joel
by D Phillips
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
-- Mahatma Gandhi

I just have to make a comment on this one; this statement, [and many similar] are used by people who are unwilling to swallow the hard statement of Christ, such as 'I AM THE WAY...no one comes to the FATHER BUT (ONLY) by Me'.
Mr. Gandhi made politically nice statements for Christ, and claimed that he accepts His teachings. But the problem was that Christ teaching, “Take up your cross and FOLLOW ME” was NOT acceptable to him and many leaders then. By 'Christians' he meant the East India Company that was largely run by ungodly heathen British who were responsible for brutally killing protesting Indians against British regime. But then Mr. Gandhi did accept the good works done by many Christians missionaries that gave India the best of its schools, gardens, colleges, & hospitals and many other ethical & moral values. Amongst many such people was the famous William Carey. The city of Calcutta now called Kolkata still honors William Carey for his works.
One is not honest with himself when they use the same argument as Mr. Gandhi used to reject the Lordship of Christ. Mr. Gandhi was a famous freedom fighter like many others, and we should give due respect to him for that.
You cannot say 'I like Christ'', as he said and do not accept His LORD ship. Christ does not leave that option to us. Either you accept His Lordship as the ONLY true God, or else you are rejecting Him. Some one has said; and rightly so, "Either Christ is LORD of ALL, or else, not at all.”
We are not following Him because some one else is following Christ the right way; we are following Him for WHO He IS, and Indeed, there is no one like Jesus;
He never went to college, yet He commands more loyal disciples than anyone in human history.
He never wrote a book, but each day more books are written on Him than anyone else ever in the world;
Humanly speaking he was seemingly a failure at his time, since one of His own disciple deceived him and he died the death of a Criminal one the cross,
But He is the ONLY one who ROSE AGAIN from the dead and is alive and well and commands Lordship on many more that all the leaders put together in their lifetime.
If I do not accept His cross & His resurrection, then it is like eating the topping of a pie but leaving out the crust. Christ & His resurrection is the CRUST of the matter.
In India, it takes a lot more courage to publicly acknowledge Christ as your Lord than to stand before a hungry Lion. We keep getting the news that there are hundreds each year persecuted, burnt & killed, & beaten.
I am taking this time to write this to you to give you a reasonable perspective on some of these statements. Hope you won’t mind this since it is not written to attack you (since you already know me, and gave me an honor to call me a spiritual father). I am including some of the dear friends here who know a lot more than me and they too might have something to say here that I might have missed, or might better clarify things on this above statement.

Lovingly ~ Dad