DOXOLOGY

It’s been quiet some time since I’ve been able to partake in the Holy Communion service at Christ Church owing to various trivial medical reasons. During which I would strive to attend the mini-worship sessions on Friday morning here at CSI Christ Church Trivandrum, where we have been regular members since 1991 till date only by HIS Grace and only for HIS Glory.

So during my looooong vacations I missed out on Very Rev Mathew Mathew Achen’s bold proclamation of the doxology, that sets the spark of revival in my heart to really live out all he just proclaimed in it.

Go out into the world in peace; have courage; hold onto what is good; return no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak, and help the suffering; honor all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit and may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be amongst you and remain with you always. AMEN

W-A-D-A

We Agree To Disagree Agreeably

an awesome ministry technique, that was taught during the Daily Bible Studies that were led by Mr. Valentine Davidar, the Asia Director of Haggai Institute in the Haggai Leadership Institute Non-Residential Training Session that God enable me to attend during March 1st to 3rd, 1998 with the encouragement of the then Youth For Christ Director (a very father-figure loving ANNAN that i miss soooo much) as a loving and kind brother(microbiologist and member of Mateer Memorial Chruch) would pick and drop me off from my home on his speedy YEZDI !!!

Mr Valentine Davidar taught us this technique when we met at loggerheads with situations as mentioned in Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

PRAISE THE LORD JESUS for HIS uncompromising stubborn passion driven and prayerful life, death and resurrection here on earth as HE ran HIS RACE till the finishing line to SAVE US ALL from the fiery depths of eternal damnation and go on higher to INTERCEDE for us all...

HALLELUIAH!!

The Sword of MULLAPERIYAAR DAMocles

In the midst of the ongoing fear and doubt of imminent calamity that hangs above us like 'the sword of Damocles', my thoughts wander off to a past unknown…

what would I have done if my brother's sacrifice was accepted;

or would I have found refuge in the ark where only eight "fools" chose to be;

or where would I have been when Daniel and his friends were cast into the fiery furnace, would I be kneeling face down in the dust at Nebuchadnezzar’s idol,

would I have been in the lion’s den with Daniel for having dared to pray to the one true God… even when it was totally “illogical” to do so.

Even if I were to be "disliked" by all my friends and family would I sit with Job in the ashes and not even for once grumble at God.

Would I have shouted the words “Crucify, crucify” along with the mob, just because “everybody else is doing it”.

Or would I have been with the 'religious righteous' of the time, stoning Stephen.

Would I have been the aristocrat shoving off “common folk” from entering the life-boats on the Titanic,

or would I be the old man holding on to his wife’s hand in calm assurance smiling in the midst of freezing waters saying with all my first-love and calm, “till death do us part”.

Would I be the foolish violinist who would linger on to play, “Nearer my God to Thee” as death came knocking at my door,

or would I be the fanatic evangelist who would cling to the railing hoping to snatch a few more souls into His kingdom as I shout above the roar of the sea, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall no be in want…”

As for any calamity that may beset me, I will press on to change that which I am called to do. Whether it be with hands and fingers that pain or in future a body that cannot press on, I will be at cheerful peace…

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all FEAR is gone,
Because I know, YES I KNOW
HE holds my future
And life is worth the living just because HE LIVES!!

i moved thru life wondering if it held any meaning, what it held for me, would i be remembered, would i be loved? or am i just a passing phase in the circle of life? my sense of aimlessness and meaningless wandering was turned about the moment my gaze rested on this singular lady for the first time in my life, her character taller than mine, her personality far mature than mine, a halo of calmness and peace permeated all those around, and i wondered if i was worthy of seeking her hand and it turned out to be we were destined for each other, we shared so much in common, we understood each other better than anyone else... that perfect someone, which everyone thought impossible, including ourselves yet another reminder that Jesus loves the little children, the guy who was labelled "the fool" by kith and kin, the guy who all the teachers' wrote off as "a day-dreamer. and will amount to nothing", the guy who felt so lonely and unloved, and imperfect...
has his life all changed in one moment a sense of renewed purpose, hope, and peace... re-born we would never meet was it not for the constant tears and prayers of our parents and siblings i wonder if i'm dreaming!!! naaaaah i'm not :-)

The Slump

Life seems to go on in a never ending cycle of fun, food, sleep, prayer, sickness, studies, work and sadness. But some way along the line we find we've reached a slump, or a certain something that envelopes our whole being. It so engulfs us that we feel all the mundane has suddenly ceased to exist. We feel let-down, down-trodden, deserted and very much insecure that it not only leaves us brooding over this seemingly widening hole, but paralyzes our capacity to think freely. It empowers us to the extent that we are overcome by this thought process rendering us incapacitated beyond our logic and reason. We even feel that we've wasted away a whole life time, that we've been on our life journey pointlessly, that all the time and effort we've put in so selflessly and earnestly has become the source of our despair.
It's in this low point that a few words of wisdom and a relieving perspective of life was pointed out to me by a highly respected individual more of my mentor, friend and big brother at my place of work, enlightened me over lunch with the philosophy of "Hakuna Matata" written by Tim Rice for the animated motion picture The Lion King

Hakuna Matata!
What a wonderful phrase
Hakuna Matata!
Ain't no passing craze

It means no worries
For the rest of your days
It's our problem-free philosophy
Hakuna Matata!

An awesome feeling to be able to sing it out and bask in the glory of life's slumps which might look as much insignificant to begin with, but are in reality sure-footed stepping stones that will help us sail smoothly on through the pleasant gift of life.

So...
Hakuna Matata to y'all!
God bless

TRUTH??

I enter scared, confused, lonely and with a complete feeling of insecurity. My fingers turn white as I clutch on to the truth, but even truth gives me no respite from this foreboding place. Its inner gloom transcends its outward beauty. I enter, bereft of peace. I see there many others such as myself, those who have come before me, seeking exactly what I seek, but it will be denied. Denied not because we stand against it, but denied because we cannot ‘afford’ it. This is a place where the first thing you would notice is the multitude of men and women in black coats and cloaks floating past you. More like bats, busy draining the life-blood of the innocent and greedily living-off the luxury of the guilty. They claim they will advocate your case and sweep the judge right off his feet and a verdict will be made in favour of the truth you hold on to, but it’s a scam, a farce. But yet you go on hopefully, dreaming that the truth shall set you free. But it isn’t our destiny as we can’t afford to handle the ‘truth’ because we cannot own it. This is a place where truth can be persuaded, influenced, forged and even bought at a price. This is the kind of ‘justice’ you would experience prevailing in the courts of our nation. A nation whose ‘truth’ is as diverse as its culture. But this form of justice permeates into the society we live in, our educational institutions and sadly our work place. We feel left out, forgotten, used, drained and discarded. We cease to exist.

But a positive note still remains, regardless of the prevailing gloom, truth will prevail, it most assuredly shall set you free, if not in this world, most assuredly in the next.

O Lord...

Lord grant me the
Courage
to change the things I can,
Serenity
to accept the things I can't
and
Wisdom
to know the difference