Prayer of a Believer

For a believer who walks with God, Prayer is more than just a practice, it is talking to a living, unseen omniscient God. Prayer is a profound experience in God’s presence characterized by Spiritual communion where not only we speak to Him, He speaks to our hearts, hence, Prayer becomes a natural response to EVERYTHING in life (good times, hard times and anytime) that is not defined by the hour of the day, or the day of the year.

I have learnt, for a believer, it is a naturalized communication, no, a naturalized communion, no matter what the circumstances. Though it can become difficult to pray at times due to distress in life, but because it becomes naturalized, we become comforted by the hope in HIM through God’s provisions, to speak with Him. God's love and kindness shows His mercy on us, as written in the book of Titus. Although He is invisible now, yet, He is as real and powerful by HIS presence as He was to the Israelites in the wilderness, by being a visible spiritual pillar of fire by night and a visible cloud by day, in every situation in life (and of course for the certain beyond).

Titus 3:4-7 reads thus,

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

The Great Escape from Fire and Tragedy

On the very first day of 2024, Japan faced one tragedy after the other! First, it was a 7.1 Earthquake without notice - this was of a natural cause but killed 62 people and the Second tragedy was one of grave human error - where 5 people of a Japanese Coast Guard Plane, who were taking relief supplies to the survivors of the earthquake, were tragically killed when a Japan airlines plane crashed on it while landing. 

Life is not only fragile but it is also shockingly snuffed out without notice. While remembering the loss of human life and thinking of the earthquake affected people who lost their homes, belongings and everything they had till moments earlier, now stand alone - and then the entire crew and passengers of Japan airlines, which crashed on to the Coast Guard plane, survived in 18 minutes after the aircraft caught fire while landing is a reminder to all of us, that indeed, life is more valuable than things - anything! All the passengers left the plane unharmed, as is, not carrying anything with them except the clothes they had on. 

As intensely terrifying these events are, we can be left hopeless if we value things more than life. For the survivors, leaving everything they carried in the plane, meant nothing, when their lives which is more precious was spared in a matter of a few minutes. So, if this life which is here today and gone tomorrow is so precious, we certainly have to pause and think of what we should do to save our souls which never dies. It is eternal. There are just two places it can be for life. Heaven or the Lake of Fire.

If we can get out of a burning plane in under 18 minutes just to save our lives, how much time would we need to take to save our souls from the Lake of Fire in which it has to live eternally. This is something we all can act on (Romans 10:9). Needs no better lesson.

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. -Romans 10:9

JD

Abide With Me

What should we not miss about such a touching song. The Biblical link is found in Luke 24:29 when the disciples asked Jesus to abide with them when it was late in the evening. It was Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite song and was played every Republic Day in India during Beating the Retreat ceremony till the right wing Hindu extremist Government in India removed it in Jan 2022. Just another sign of the shift of power and power of evil in end times. 

The powerful words of prayer in the hymn was penned by Vicar Henry Francis Lyte, in context of his emotional state when he needed God’s strength while he was visiting his dying friend William Augustus Le Hunte in the early 19th century, that he repeated the phrase “abide with me”. Lyte wrote the hymn in 1820, that has since been played in Churches especially during weddings and funerals, and especially during tough times and national remembrances of history in the background of a struggle such as in India.

May we never forget to pray to our Lord and King reigning in Majesty and say, "Abide With Me".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNXYGAEwQaY

Turbulence

Turbulence

An ocean when turbulent, shows its fury with white foamy crests

A river when turbulent, flows with a roar of a thousand voices

A lake when turbulent, exposes its muck from decaying loose sediments

A pond when turbulent, cannot be worse, unless someone tends.

Turbulence in water reveals its nature,

Reveals what it is made of, and what it is capable of,

Turbulence in human hearts and minds, mature or immature, 

Reveals a person’s true character, morals and anchor -

The things we are all made for and made of.

- An original piece of poetry by Jason David

Fine line

In today's post-modern Christian world, there have been several changes to what we sometimes refer to as traditional. Worship style, songs, prayer, gesturing, etc. Sometimes it makes you wonder, if it is this inherent conflict between "traditional" and "contemporary" that is the primary reason why new church denominations come about. But my blog post today is not about why new denominations emerge, rather to look at what this means to the mindset of people and whether it gives people some freedom to bend the biblical compass.

Many clergy and lay leaders have changed with times in approaching Bible. It is important we talk anything with context moreso, the holy book of our faith, the Bible. Several newer leaders have forgotten the meaning of missionaryship when they reach positions of power within a christian organizational setting. What they do is quite often in contrast to what they preach. They are not held accountable to their lifestyle in Christ's body. There is a little wink-wink between pastors, leaders and the top brass. This is the fine line I am talking about. I think the answer to this issue is to have a mature leadership with old fashioned christian stewardship. This is definitely in short supply.



 

Do Christians have low IQ? run on "empty"?

Christians can sometimes be looked at as naive or dumb individuals based on their body language when their actions come out of  true love and submission. Sometimes I ask myself, can selfless acts run in parallel to rational and intelligent thinking. Those acts can make them look like almost baby-like, so innocent and naive. It could almost appear that they let their brains turn off and behave in a way that is a "christian group setting" think and do! There is perhaps security in such a setting which makes one "cozy" in each other's safe company. This kind of safe setting is found in church services, prayer time, worship, etc.

After careful thought I realized, this naivety stems from a greater intelligent, rational and balanced thinking. And also from the fact that there is limit to human capacity, and the realization that we are weak individuals. Its probably divine design that when we become so naive and even dumb, we become tender and when we become tender in the church environment, its the most fertile time to let the Spirit of God into your heart and mind. In our weakest moment, we can be made whole again. This refilling is required and does not happen in self isolation but happens in church congregation and worship. I have to also add, after careful thought, I realized that Christians use their IQ well, submit themselves to only God, humble themselves among people and are filled to do what God intends to do with them and give Him the glory for everything. Dumbness means tenderness just for one reason, to let God's Spirit to fill us, because we sometimes run too long on "empty".

What is Theology?

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.