Many times we are led to understand the term "Theology" from a seminary point of view. Therefore the definition may be explained as a study of God or religion. This could sometimes be very difficult to wrap around for some groups of people. In fact, its not as complicated or abstract or academic as it is made out to be. Think about this - the mix of mystery and reality is what comprises Theology! I gave this idea a long thought and dissected it in many different ways and I thought the definition couldn't be explained better. If you disagree send me a note explaining why you don't agree. I would like to hear from you.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Words
Words we speak at home are probably the best yard stick for who we are and what our true character is. In public, we almost always try to be our best for others! Isn't that true with all of us. If we use wholesome talk or atleast practice it at home, there is a very good chance the habit will stick with us for a lifetime. Ephesians 4: 25- 5:2 is a great passage to edify us on this front.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Loved this Quote
Came across this, being re-quoted by someone who was in news recently....
"There is no saint without a past, and no sinner without a future."
I believe it is an original quote by St.Augustine of Hippo.
"There is no saint without a past, and no sinner without a future."
I believe it is an original quote by St.Augustine of Hippo.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Marriage
I heard the other day someone saying that went something like this.... "marriage is like doing a Ph.D. about relationship with your spouse as the study subject". That did really resonate quite intensely with me. In spite of the breadth and length of the "study" you will never still completely understand the subject you are studying. That's the irony. But the good news is, there will be no subject you can master.
Anyway, what will anyone end up finding new or a lesson that will be learnt in the "Ph.D." called marriage? Well, for one and perhaps the biggest one, "Compromise". Put in another way, its the answer to know where your boundaries with regard to your spouse are. I have always found that this is a moving target most marriages are searching constantly. But they get disguised with things such as ego, fear, anger, complexes, chauvinism, etc. If one can master the lesson quickly, better the success rate of marriages. If its slower, it can lead to many aspects of family deficiency, and in serious cases can even lead to break-downs and crimes.
The formula to put compromise into action is the four letter word that the Bible is all about.....LOVE. It can be hard sometimes if its just stemming out of the temporary burst of infatuation, but luckily, real love can be learnt by practice.
Anyway, what will anyone end up finding new or a lesson that will be learnt in the "Ph.D." called marriage? Well, for one and perhaps the biggest one, "Compromise". Put in another way, its the answer to know where your boundaries with regard to your spouse are. I have always found that this is a moving target most marriages are searching constantly. But they get disguised with things such as ego, fear, anger, complexes, chauvinism, etc. If one can master the lesson quickly, better the success rate of marriages. If its slower, it can lead to many aspects of family deficiency, and in serious cases can even lead to break-downs and crimes.
The formula to put compromise into action is the four letter word that the Bible is all about.....LOVE. It can be hard sometimes if its just stemming out of the temporary burst of infatuation, but luckily, real love can be learnt by practice.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Identity
What is your identity? Who do you want yourself to be identified with or by or what? Generally the forces of society makes you identify with one or the other although you may not genuinely agree with everything that the culture or person stands for. But that's what life is all about and as a result culture and society constantly evolve.
The other day I had an earful from our very gifted and pragmatic pastor Rich Nathan about a Christian's identity. I have always thought by separating people by their country and origins you weaken humanity as a whole but seemingly strengthen an identified intended group. More stronger the division, more negativity of comparisons, maddening race to supremacy, resentment, disagreement, hate, etc. grow. There is still no one who has shown or written how this problem can be addressed. I dabble with the idea of global citizenship which many have spoken about but does not appear to have traction as it does not address issues of patriotism, treason, loyalty, backstabbing, and so on. In this context, the pastor's thoughts were quite nice to think about. He talked about primary identity being one that hinges on the fundamental nature of us being God's children. One of the benefits to that to the mostly distraught human beings that we have known to be is to be hope-filled in a depressing world.
The other day I had an earful from our very gifted and pragmatic pastor Rich Nathan about a Christian's identity. I have always thought by separating people by their country and origins you weaken humanity as a whole but seemingly strengthen an identified intended group. More stronger the division, more negativity of comparisons, maddening race to supremacy, resentment, disagreement, hate, etc. grow. There is still no one who has shown or written how this problem can be addressed. I dabble with the idea of global citizenship which many have spoken about but does not appear to have traction as it does not address issues of patriotism, treason, loyalty, backstabbing, and so on. In this context, the pastor's thoughts were quite nice to think about. He talked about primary identity being one that hinges on the fundamental nature of us being God's children. One of the benefits to that to the mostly distraught human beings that we have known to be is to be hope-filled in a depressing world.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Success and Failure
Ask God for strength of faith every time you pray. Strength comes only from God. Praise and glorify Him for your every success. Say, if you are given credit by people for something you did, you need to tell them that it was not you, but God through you was the reason for your success. Its hard but admitting the power within you, which is God. You may realize this when it produces a good steady state or sometimes a catapulting powerful effect on your being and your future successes.
For failures, when it happens, be thoughtful of the Biblical person Job. He never gives up praying. Pray and keep on praying, even if it takes several decades, because God answers, even if it is something you become unable to pray for. Failure can lead to making you work harder towards what has been elusive. Setback is a set-up for a come back. There is nothing sweeter than when your hard work mixed with perseverence, got from the strength of prayer, produces success and success beyond measure.
For failures, when it happens, be thoughtful of the Biblical person Job. He never gives up praying. Pray and keep on praying, even if it takes several decades, because God answers, even if it is something you become unable to pray for. Failure can lead to making you work harder towards what has been elusive. Setback is a set-up for a come back. There is nothing sweeter than when your hard work mixed with perseverence, got from the strength of prayer, produces success and success beyond measure.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Coal or Him
When Jesus walked this planet, there was no electricity. People still used fuel. Wood to cook food perhaps. Oil to light up their houses and other places. Coal which is a popular and the most used fuel in the modern world for producing electricity was available then but people were ignorant of its existence or knew nothing of its practical uses or both. I wonder why Jesus, whose Father created this Earth, and by that token Jesus would have known about the existence of this black mineral in Earth, did not tell the people then about this mineral and its possible potential of how it could possibly transform their lives, as it has in modern times. Don't you think Jesus should have let His people know?
Well, there are probably more reasons than I can think of as to why Jesus would not have attempted to do let His people know. First, He was not here in Earth to let people know what was in the Earth, but to tell people what was in Heaven. Second, things in Earth are for people to see, discover and use. But telling of things of Heaven, which people cannot see made more sense. People, generally, by nature would not believe anything they cannot see, even if it was told by the Son of God whose Father created it all. Moreover, his emphasis on the Heaven than Earth can be best summarized when he said, that things of the Earth will pass away, but His word by which God himself would not.
Isn't what will not pass away more precious than the black mineral we rely on for our lifestyle today? By the way there are more people in this world who don't have proper power supply than those who do. The irony is, there are probably more treasures that we may still discover in this world, and many more we may never be able to discover and tap into, but I am glad that I have what I can claim to never pass away. What about you?
Well, there are probably more reasons than I can think of as to why Jesus would not have attempted to do let His people know. First, He was not here in Earth to let people know what was in the Earth, but to tell people what was in Heaven. Second, things in Earth are for people to see, discover and use. But telling of things of Heaven, which people cannot see made more sense. People, generally, by nature would not believe anything they cannot see, even if it was told by the Son of God whose Father created it all. Moreover, his emphasis on the Heaven than Earth can be best summarized when he said, that things of the Earth will pass away, but His word by which God himself would not.
Isn't what will not pass away more precious than the black mineral we rely on for our lifestyle today? By the way there are more people in this world who don't have proper power supply than those who do. The irony is, there are probably more treasures that we may still discover in this world, and many more we may never be able to discover and tap into, but I am glad that I have what I can claim to never pass away. What about you?
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