A verse in the letter of John comes to my remembrance as I reflect on the state at which we as believers (meaning Christian) might find ourselves in, especially when it comes to intra/inter-church relationships. Let me just quote it from memory “but if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” ( 1Joh1:7 italics mine). It is my absolute conviction that the letter that John writes, he writes to people who profess to be followers of Christ and are in a church setting. It is very interesting to observe that the apostle that had revealed for him that which would happen in the last days, has very little to say about our “so -called”, (at least in Swedish setting), I would even say, man made substitute for the true fire of God. What he concentrates on, in at least the first letter that he writes is a powerful, heart piercing, radical call to live the message that we preach, namely walking in light just as God is light and walking in Love just as God is Love.
John’s definition of fellowship is not scratching each other’s backs and polishing one another’s spiritual gifts and living in Quasiglory-land, but a heaven on earth, open, prestige less, pride less, honest, upfront relationship with one another in the Love of God. I believe that we are so uptight and have our masks and guards up so much that we deceive ourselves by hiding behind the unseen bars of pride and prestige that is destroying us as individuals and eating us up from inside.
It is high time that we stop pretending to be what we are not and start living out who we are in Christ Jesus. We in Christ are in the light, and no darkness can quench the light that we are in. Let us therefore draw strength and courage from the light that we are in and live out in our everyday relationships with our friends especially in the churches that we are part of. Let us break down the wall of insecurity, the fortress of inferiority, the fear of being talked about, the need to receive spiritual medals from mere men and allow the precious, priceless, incomparable, Love of our Almighty God through Jesus Christ enable us to walk and live in light towards one another.
A church whose members walk in light towards one another, believing and cheering the God that is on inside of each other, clearly and willingly submitting and believing in the leadership of the God appointed men and women in the government of the church, will cause a mighty God –ordained breakthrough not only in the local outreach of the church but also on a global level.
Having had this verse put to my remembrance and the above illumination that the Holy Spirit encouraged me with, makes me really wonder “why the tension among believers”. Is it really God ordained or is it a demonic attack from the very pit of hell to steal, kill and destroy the family of God, the only hope for a lost and dying world, which we are unaware of?
fredag 27 mars 2009
lördag 24 januari 2009
Poem by a man at a prison cell in vietnam
I do not know who the person is that peened this poem. But I have heard this so many times and everytime I hear it, it brings a warm assurance in me that God is always by my side and waiting for me to come home with His arms open wide.Here's the poem, hope it will bless your soul today.
Lord God I have never spoken to you
But now I want to say how do you do
You know they told me you didn’t exist
And like fool I believed this
Last night from a cell hole I saw your sky
I figured right then they had told me a lie
Had I taken time to see the things you’ve made
I would have know that they were not calling a spade a spade
I wonder God if you will take my hand
Somehow I feel you will understand
Funny I had to come to this hellish place before I had to see your face
Well I guess that there isn’t much more to say
But iam sure glad God that I met you today
I guess zero hour will soon be here
But iam not afraid since I know you are near
The signal; Well God I have to go
I love you lots, I want you to know
Look now, this will be a horrible fight
Who knows I may come to your house tonight
Though I wasn’t friendly to you before
I wonder God if you’ll wait at your door
Look Iam crying Iam shedding tears
I will have to go now God goodbye
Strange now since I met you, Iam not afraid to die
Lord God I have never spoken to you
But now I want to say how do you do
You know they told me you didn’t exist
And like fool I believed this
Last night from a cell hole I saw your sky
I figured right then they had told me a lie
Had I taken time to see the things you’ve made
I would have know that they were not calling a spade a spade
I wonder God if you will take my hand
Somehow I feel you will understand
Funny I had to come to this hellish place before I had to see your face
Well I guess that there isn’t much more to say
But iam sure glad God that I met you today
I guess zero hour will soon be here
But iam not afraid since I know you are near
The signal; Well God I have to go
I love you lots, I want you to know
Look now, this will be a horrible fight
Who knows I may come to your house tonight
Though I wasn’t friendly to you before
I wonder God if you’ll wait at your door
Look Iam crying Iam shedding tears
I will have to go now God goodbye
Strange now since I met you, Iam not afraid to die
Friendships with other men
We as men need men for friendships. Often we think that we do not have a need to build relationships with other men in our lives. But the contrary is true and very essential in our lives. There is a need in every man for meaningful relationship of his own kind. We need quality exchange with other men. This will in turn enable me to value and magnify the lady in my life. The quality of men in my life is extremely important to the portrait that I will build of me. You will only excel in the company of those that are superior to you. I need both, the man that Iam comfortable with and with the man that Iam uncomfortable with. This is essential for the success in my life. I need men that can learn from me and men that I can learn from. Associations are the transference of credibility or loss of it.
Now how do I access such men and what do I look for to help me build such relationships. The following is taken right out of some notes that I had made while hearing a man of God teach on this subject, which I have found both encouraging and essential in my own life when I started to put these few pointers in use.
1. Access the fear of God present in their lives: It is the fear of the Lord that keeps a man from being unfaithful. The fear of God is the invisible compass for our behavior. It is the ability that enables us to acquire both knowledge and wisdom. A man’s obsession to please God is his indication of the fear of the lord.
2. His loyalty: Is he loyal where he is? Loyalty at any cost is a character trait that will bring you to the top. Loyalty is being true and honest to the person we are under, in a way that we are working for God. If you are working for someone that does not admire you and what you achieve then ask God to put you elsewhere. If you are doubtful of the man that you work for, then your work will be flawed and you start to prostitute yourself. Listen to the sound of loyalty and disloyalty. Are they loyal to their wife? Are they unfaithful to their wife? Discretion is proof of loyalty. Covering the weaknesses of those they protect is a proof of loyalty. Never stain the reputation of other people. David always was loyal in all his deeds. Even though they were not his friends he still had loyalty to the position 2Sam 1: 1- 16. Being loyal to a principle proceeds loyalty to a person. Being loyal to principle will always cause you to be loyal to person that holds that principle. True loyalty warns and advices the person that you are loyal to. You want men that fight for you and not lie for you.
3. His Focus: what is the dominant focus of his life? What does he permit, pursue and protect? Is he a lover of pleasure or the lover of greatness? Who are his heroes? Assess their knowledge level and knowledge passion. Be an ingredient in peoples’ lives for their excellence. Be the voice in peoples’ lives that propelles them to their dreams.
4. Who are the people he listens to: who speaks into his lives? Who else matters? Who has the ability to change, affect and correct him?
5. His seriousness about accuracy and integrity: Can you depend on the statistics he gives you. Can you depend on his excellence? Is he real and genuine? Does he want to fix your problems or does he want to help you cover your problems. If I bond with a man I must have full persuasion that I can depend on what he says. He must be able to distinguish between an opinion and that which is accurate. Never cover your mistakes, but rather confess them.
6. Look for productivity: What has he produced, what are his goals and dreams? What has he done with his life and what does he want to do with his life.
7. Look carefully at the quality of the friends they are comfortable with: see the quality of the friend of your friends. Whose company do they cherish and enjoy. Whose voice do they value?
It is impossible to put a monetary value on a good man. It is going to cost me relationships that I now have in order to bond with people that have succeeded in lives. Bond always with people who try to do their best and have a desire to accomplish something in this life.
Now how do I access such men and what do I look for to help me build such relationships. The following is taken right out of some notes that I had made while hearing a man of God teach on this subject, which I have found both encouraging and essential in my own life when I started to put these few pointers in use.
1. Access the fear of God present in their lives: It is the fear of the Lord that keeps a man from being unfaithful. The fear of God is the invisible compass for our behavior. It is the ability that enables us to acquire both knowledge and wisdom. A man’s obsession to please God is his indication of the fear of the lord.
2. His loyalty: Is he loyal where he is? Loyalty at any cost is a character trait that will bring you to the top. Loyalty is being true and honest to the person we are under, in a way that we are working for God. If you are working for someone that does not admire you and what you achieve then ask God to put you elsewhere. If you are doubtful of the man that you work for, then your work will be flawed and you start to prostitute yourself. Listen to the sound of loyalty and disloyalty. Are they loyal to their wife? Are they unfaithful to their wife? Discretion is proof of loyalty. Covering the weaknesses of those they protect is a proof of loyalty. Never stain the reputation of other people. David always was loyal in all his deeds. Even though they were not his friends he still had loyalty to the position 2Sam 1: 1- 16. Being loyal to a principle proceeds loyalty to a person. Being loyal to principle will always cause you to be loyal to person that holds that principle. True loyalty warns and advices the person that you are loyal to. You want men that fight for you and not lie for you.
3. His Focus: what is the dominant focus of his life? What does he permit, pursue and protect? Is he a lover of pleasure or the lover of greatness? Who are his heroes? Assess their knowledge level and knowledge passion. Be an ingredient in peoples’ lives for their excellence. Be the voice in peoples’ lives that propelles them to their dreams.
4. Who are the people he listens to: who speaks into his lives? Who else matters? Who has the ability to change, affect and correct him?
5. His seriousness about accuracy and integrity: Can you depend on the statistics he gives you. Can you depend on his excellence? Is he real and genuine? Does he want to fix your problems or does he want to help you cover your problems. If I bond with a man I must have full persuasion that I can depend on what he says. He must be able to distinguish between an opinion and that which is accurate. Never cover your mistakes, but rather confess them.
6. Look for productivity: What has he produced, what are his goals and dreams? What has he done with his life and what does he want to do with his life.
7. Look carefully at the quality of the friends they are comfortable with: see the quality of the friend of your friends. Whose company do they cherish and enjoy. Whose voice do they value?
It is impossible to put a monetary value on a good man. It is going to cost me relationships that I now have in order to bond with people that have succeeded in lives. Bond always with people who try to do their best and have a desire to accomplish something in this life.
fredag 23 januari 2009
Flaky hearers!!!
From what I have seen, heard and experienced thus far, it seems to me that there is always someone somewhere that feels they have a calling from God to distrust you. Now that might sound weird, but the sooner you get used to it, the better it is for you. Iam in no way demeaning honest requireries and the expression of heartfelt concern. In fact Iam grateful that Iam surrounded by people that are both honest in what they say, do and also in expressing their heartfelt concern in various matters.
This note, on the other hand, is to address those who project and insinuate to know better than the rest or rather that they hear God better than the rest. More often than not they even let others know of it. Please do not misunderstand me, some do hear God better than others, but it not those Iam addressing. Iam addressing the self –styled spiritual hearers of our day, and claim and procalim everything under the sun. Isn’t it interesting how we USE GOD for our own lazy benefits! In fact I wonder if it is ignorance on their part or if it is just downright arrogance? Or maybe is it insecurity? Most of these people ( you can notice for yourself) never get committed to any local church, never work under the man or woman God has placed in their lives.They seem to be fleeting from place to place looking for the " right spiritual atmosphere".I wonder why? Whatever the reason is, the sooner we come to grips with what we are doing and allow God to cast his light into our lives through his word, then his spirit can lead us into all truth and set us free, or may I say bring us into light both with ourselves, with God and with our fellow humans.
Trusting that you understand my heart in what I have tried to address.
It’s time for those us to come out of our phony, flaky, pseudo spirituality and step into your God given destiny.
This note, on the other hand, is to address those who project and insinuate to know better than the rest or rather that they hear God better than the rest. More often than not they even let others know of it. Please do not misunderstand me, some do hear God better than others, but it not those Iam addressing. Iam addressing the self –styled spiritual hearers of our day, and claim and procalim everything under the sun. Isn’t it interesting how we USE GOD for our own lazy benefits! In fact I wonder if it is ignorance on their part or if it is just downright arrogance? Or maybe is it insecurity? Most of these people ( you can notice for yourself) never get committed to any local church, never work under the man or woman God has placed in their lives.They seem to be fleeting from place to place looking for the " right spiritual atmosphere".I wonder why? Whatever the reason is, the sooner we come to grips with what we are doing and allow God to cast his light into our lives through his word, then his spirit can lead us into all truth and set us free, or may I say bring us into light both with ourselves, with God and with our fellow humans.
Trusting that you understand my heart in what I have tried to address.
It’s time for those us to come out of our phony, flaky, pseudo spirituality and step into your God given destiny.
Pointers to Character development
It’s been a while since I posted on this medium. The reason being that I have been tied up by many different things. The last few weeks I have been watching how God prepared us (my family and I) for such a time as this. One of the things God enabled us to both learn and practice over the years has to been to get to know people by their character.
One preacher made a very sound statement that has catapulted me into what I have learnt over the last 5 years. This was the statement that he made “there is no devastation like an untrustworthy person”. Wow…… it might seem really hard to read that, but the fact of the matter is, that statement is absolutely true. God wants us to grow in wisdom so that we might make the right choices in life and also choose to trust the right sources.
Here are some pointers that might help you in discerning and developing your character as well as connecting with people in your life’s journey. I mean both marital and even social.
1. People’s reactions to men and women of God, reveal their character. Do I despise the people God has placed in my life or do I embrace them as God’s gift to me and for me.
2. People’s reactions or rather fulfillment of their own promises and responsibilities reveal their character. We might be very good at fulfilling those promises that we make to others, but how about those that we make to ourselves. Often time we tend not to honor those promises and responsibilities that we require of ourselves
3. People’s reactions towards hurting people reveal their character. What kind of a person are you? One who looks upon hurting people or one who does something to help hurting people?
4. What is your reaction to an instruction? Now this I believe is the something that we all have a hard time with. We really do not want to be told what to do, but whether we like it or not our character is formed and revealed by the instructions we choose to obey or disobey.
These are just a few pointers that I have put into practice in my own life. Trusting that this will help you as well. In no way I want to say that these are only pointers to developing character, but the above have helped me along the way.
One preacher made a very sound statement that has catapulted me into what I have learnt over the last 5 years. This was the statement that he made “there is no devastation like an untrustworthy person”. Wow…… it might seem really hard to read that, but the fact of the matter is, that statement is absolutely true. God wants us to grow in wisdom so that we might make the right choices in life and also choose to trust the right sources.
Here are some pointers that might help you in discerning and developing your character as well as connecting with people in your life’s journey. I mean both marital and even social.
1. People’s reactions to men and women of God, reveal their character. Do I despise the people God has placed in my life or do I embrace them as God’s gift to me and for me.
2. People’s reactions or rather fulfillment of their own promises and responsibilities reveal their character. We might be very good at fulfilling those promises that we make to others, but how about those that we make to ourselves. Often time we tend not to honor those promises and responsibilities that we require of ourselves
3. People’s reactions towards hurting people reveal their character. What kind of a person are you? One who looks upon hurting people or one who does something to help hurting people?
4. What is your reaction to an instruction? Now this I believe is the something that we all have a hard time with. We really do not want to be told what to do, but whether we like it or not our character is formed and revealed by the instructions we choose to obey or disobey.
These are just a few pointers that I have put into practice in my own life. Trusting that this will help you as well. In no way I want to say that these are only pointers to developing character, but the above have helped me along the way.
tisdag 2 december 2008
The reason for the season
I love the month of December. There something about the month of December that really is hard for me to put in words. I was born and brought up in Chennai, in south India, a city with a population of about 6-9 million. Today and for the last 12 years of my adult life I have spent living in Falun, a small city in Sweden, where everything is different from what I was used to in Chennai.
Last Sunday, after service, we went to lunch with a few of our friends from the church to a restaurant in the city. For me it was as if something came to life once we stepped into the main street in the city centre. The whole city was lighted with all these lights, loads and loads of people all over the street walking up and down with their loved ones, shopping and enjoying the day. There were signs everywhere where I could read how stores were trying to cash in for the month. We went to the restaurant and after lunch, my wife and I decided to spend sometime in the city main street and walk together with our children and see all that the town had to offer on that day. Our daughters seemed to enjoy the afternoon as they got to ride on the “merry-go-round” (I don’t know what the real word is) eat candy, run around and us trying to hold on to them. Everyone around us (as far as I noticed) seemed to be enjoying the afternoon, despite the cold biting wind. Suddenly I was struck with the thought: “is shopping and having fun for a day the real reason behind this festive season?”
The newspapers adverts, the signs, the billboards (even though there are none where I live) the toy store catalogues and every thing around me seemed to really bring out the above question more and more in my mind.
I personally, do believe that the real reason behind the season is that for 2000 and some years ago, God became man and was born into time, space and matter. Jesus Christ, Gods only begotten son was born to a Virgin Mary, in Bethlehem.
His birth, announced to the shepherds by a choir of angels, caused both curiosity but also rejoicing, because there was a message attached to the words of that glorious heavenly choir. Please allow me to state the words of that glorious heavenly choir, that brought such curiosity, hope and joy all at the same time to these shepherds. The choir announced “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11).
That my dear friend is the reason for the season, that for you and me was born for 2000 years ago, in Bethlehem, a saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
Let this festive month of December bring to your remembrance, that your sins are forgiven, and that you are in right standing with God, because unto you was born a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
Last Sunday, after service, we went to lunch with a few of our friends from the church to a restaurant in the city. For me it was as if something came to life once we stepped into the main street in the city centre. The whole city was lighted with all these lights, loads and loads of people all over the street walking up and down with their loved ones, shopping and enjoying the day. There were signs everywhere where I could read how stores were trying to cash in for the month. We went to the restaurant and after lunch, my wife and I decided to spend sometime in the city main street and walk together with our children and see all that the town had to offer on that day. Our daughters seemed to enjoy the afternoon as they got to ride on the “merry-go-round” (I don’t know what the real word is) eat candy, run around and us trying to hold on to them. Everyone around us (as far as I noticed) seemed to be enjoying the afternoon, despite the cold biting wind. Suddenly I was struck with the thought: “is shopping and having fun for a day the real reason behind this festive season?”
The newspapers adverts, the signs, the billboards (even though there are none where I live) the toy store catalogues and every thing around me seemed to really bring out the above question more and more in my mind.
I personally, do believe that the real reason behind the season is that for 2000 and some years ago, God became man and was born into time, space and matter. Jesus Christ, Gods only begotten son was born to a Virgin Mary, in Bethlehem.
His birth, announced to the shepherds by a choir of angels, caused both curiosity but also rejoicing, because there was a message attached to the words of that glorious heavenly choir. Please allow me to state the words of that glorious heavenly choir, that brought such curiosity, hope and joy all at the same time to these shepherds. The choir announced “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11).
That my dear friend is the reason for the season, that for you and me was born for 2000 years ago, in Bethlehem, a saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
Let this festive month of December bring to your remembrance, that your sins are forgiven, and that you are in right standing with God, because unto you was born a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
lördag 29 november 2008
Pharisee or a Disciple
Isn’t it strange that we sense in our churches around the world a tendency to what I call Phariseism rather than the natural tendency to being a disciple of Christ? I know and understand that Iam treading on a mine zone. But at the same time I count it necessary to voice my conviction on these two delicate yet important issues in the body of Christ.
I always like things simple and understandable, especially when it comes to understanding the kingdom of God. According to Jesus himself, a Pharisee is someone that keeps and holds the practices of the kingdom of God without the under girding attribute of the Love of God.
A disciple on the other hand is one that is motivated by the Love of God to keep the practices of the kingdom God under girded by the unconditional love of God that he has experienced in Christ Jesus.
Discipleship is built and formed on the strong foundation of the Love of God and his complete work for us on our behalf in the person of Christ Jesus. I as an individual cannot do anything to attain the favour or the grace of God. God in his loving kindness has not required of me to attain his grace, mercy, love and favour based on my works or practices, but he has rather given it to me through the work of the person Jesus Christ. It is through what Christ has done for me that Iam now a bonafide member in the body of Christ, a son in the family of God and a disciple of Christ in this present world. This in turn motivates me and sets me on a journey where I grow in Christ’s Character and exhibit his attributes in and through my life.
Let me put it this way, going to church, tithing, giving to the poor and needy, being nice to everyone around me does not necessarily make me a disciple of Christ.
I heard some say that just because elephants have ears and I have ears that does not mean to say that Iam an elephant. Isn’t that true?? Of course it is true. In the same way, just doing the outward acts of a disciple without the inward love of God motivating us, does not make us a disciple of Christ.
Let us grow in His love, experience His love, his unconditional love, not necessarily a license to continue in a neither hot nor cold condition as regards to life in the kingdom of God, but an empowerment over sin and to a life in total victory, peace and harmony, independent of the culture and circumstances we live in.
Let us take a stand in humility, to act not in self-righteousness and be deceived in our passion towards God. Let us allow ourselves to be totally soaked in His love, so that when we are squeezed by different circumstances, His love will flow out of us.
Let us be Christ’s disciples and not Pharisees in the family of God. It is a choice and the choice is yours.
I always like things simple and understandable, especially when it comes to understanding the kingdom of God. According to Jesus himself, a Pharisee is someone that keeps and holds the practices of the kingdom of God without the under girding attribute of the Love of God.
A disciple on the other hand is one that is motivated by the Love of God to keep the practices of the kingdom God under girded by the unconditional love of God that he has experienced in Christ Jesus.
Discipleship is built and formed on the strong foundation of the Love of God and his complete work for us on our behalf in the person of Christ Jesus. I as an individual cannot do anything to attain the favour or the grace of God. God in his loving kindness has not required of me to attain his grace, mercy, love and favour based on my works or practices, but he has rather given it to me through the work of the person Jesus Christ. It is through what Christ has done for me that Iam now a bonafide member in the body of Christ, a son in the family of God and a disciple of Christ in this present world. This in turn motivates me and sets me on a journey where I grow in Christ’s Character and exhibit his attributes in and through my life.
Let me put it this way, going to church, tithing, giving to the poor and needy, being nice to everyone around me does not necessarily make me a disciple of Christ.
I heard some say that just because elephants have ears and I have ears that does not mean to say that Iam an elephant. Isn’t that true?? Of course it is true. In the same way, just doing the outward acts of a disciple without the inward love of God motivating us, does not make us a disciple of Christ.
Let us grow in His love, experience His love, his unconditional love, not necessarily a license to continue in a neither hot nor cold condition as regards to life in the kingdom of God, but an empowerment over sin and to a life in total victory, peace and harmony, independent of the culture and circumstances we live in.
Let us take a stand in humility, to act not in self-righteousness and be deceived in our passion towards God. Let us allow ourselves to be totally soaked in His love, so that when we are squeezed by different circumstances, His love will flow out of us.
Let us be Christ’s disciples and not Pharisees in the family of God. It is a choice and the choice is yours.
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