This “hi-tech” device pictured here is intended for my back pain. That bag contains four kilos of sand to provide a consistent traction to my back, by way of a belt strapped around my waist. The MRI report shows that I have three disks that are bulging.
Problems with my back began in 1996 on the highway from Fort Lauderdale to Miami, FL. I was half-way to my destination on I-75 when a sudden excruciating pain flashed through my back to the rest of my body. Within seconds, the pain was taken over by feelings of fear since I had no idea what was happening to me. I could barely move my legs, and somehow, I got the vehicle pulled over to the side of the road. I finished that day of work just suffering through the day with the severe pain. Since then, these bouts of pain would return periodically. But in the last two years, it has been more frequent. Of course, our challenging road conditions here in India would add to the problem, especially for a back that is not used to such roads.
So far, the best solution is rest and traction for my back. After the pain is gone, I would need to resume my lower back exercises and walking. God’s work shouldn’t be limited with back problems. I’ve got to do whatever it takes!
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It was an early morning flight out of Dallas on my way to San Jose. Expecting the flight to be lengthy, and knowing that breakfast would not be served, I purchased breakfast from one of the terminal shops. The cashier gave me my breakfast in a brown paper bag with my choice of Orange Juice.
As I entered the aircraft and walked to my seat, I was a bit confused about my seat number. Before boarding, I had looked at my boarding pass and noticed that my seat number was 6C, which I presumed to be a bulk-head seat on the front row of the economy class. To my surprise, I realized that I was bumped up to a first class seat, which occasionally happens because of my mileage accrued with constant flights. That’s when I remembered that the first class section serves meals to the passengers unlike the economy seats where only beverages are served.
So I settled down in my first class seat with my brown paper bag of breakfast. Soon after take-off, I proceeded to eat my breakfast sandwich as the flight attendant proceeded to prepare the meals for the first class passengers. It was after I finished my sandwich that I was offered the “first class” breakfast. It was certainly not like mine. They served it on a tray draped with a nice cloth that gave it a classy look. As the breakfast was offered to me, I pointed to my brown bag and said “no thanks.” Thus I sat there watching the others eat a nice breakfast while I sat there with my brown bag.
I took out my boarding pass and noticed the words “FIRST” written in bold capital letters. Although the printing was clear and obvious, I somehow failed to recognize its value. I didn’t expect to be in first class. Instead, I went through the trouble of purchasing my own breakfast when a better one was already provided for me.
Our life often transpires in a similar fashion. We all have sinned and carry the burden of the guilt for many years; even those who have accepted Christ. As we go on in life, the weight of the guilt gets heavier. Its impact on our life becomes more obvious as it affects our attitudes and thought patterns, which in turn affects our behavior. We do many things to deal with the symptoms, but we don’t recognize that it is a burden of guilt.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He goes on to specify that it is rest for our souls. He said these words in the context of repentance from sins. When we are burdened with the guilt of sin, it is our soul that carries the weight. This is why we often don’t recognize what’s really happening to us. We may claim that it is bad luck, bad circumstances, bad relationships, or a host of other possibilities.
Jesus is the only one who can take away the burden of guilt from our souls. If we go to him and confess our sins, he promised that he would take away that burden of guilt. So what is that you’re carrying in your brown paper bag? Your own solution to your burdens? Now is the time to give that up and accept the forgiveness and rest that Jesus offers for your soul. -
For several months now, my blogging has been on hold for quite a good reason. This is my fourth year working on a doctoral program with the University of South Africa. The time has come to finish my Dissertation. I am only 1/3 of the way on my writing. All the foundational work has been done, and it is just a matter of separating the time to write.For those who might be interested, I’m working on the D.Th. degree in Old Testament. My focus is on the Pentateuch, specifically, I’m researching the five times that Jacob the patriarch has set up altars and worshiped. The title of my dissertation will be Canaanite Influence on Israelite Worship. I hope to finish by the end of February. Maybe afterwards, I’ll resume my regular blogging.
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After my mother passed away, we all experienced a season of changes. Of course, that is expected, but this is my first experience of such drastic changes. We had planned before my mother’s death to move to the town where my wife and I work, but a few weeks after my mother’s death, my father changed his plans and decided to stay alone, and not come with us. This move has become ever more challenging because of his decision, but we had no choice. We were really wanting to take care of him till his passing also, as we did for my mother, but that may no longer be the case.Our plans and expectations never work out as we desire, but God’s ultimate plan begins to unfold as we take each step. Thanks to all my 360 friends for all your prayers.
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After two years of fighting cancer, my mother passed away on 26 March 2007.She died peacefully in the hospital room while we were praying. The funeral will be
held in our home in Pathanapuram on Wednesday at 9am.
Mummy had a heart for God, and always shared that with others. While in New York, she
began a prayer group for ladies from numerous churches, and that prayer group still
continues. After coming to India, she was always involved in prayers. She was
constantly reading the Bible and other literature, regularly taking notes on everything
she read. Her father (my grandfather) had an impact on me and gave me a love for the
Scriptures, and she impacted us with her prayer life. She was always supportive of us
in the ministry.
She has gone to a better place, to be with Jesus. Thank you for your prayers.
Blessings,
Alexi, Annie, Nathan, Sharon -
The story was told by Ernest Hemingway about a Spanish father and his teenage son. The relationship between the father and son was never smooth. In fact, the father considered the son as a rebellious one. After some time, his son, Paco (a common name for Spanish people), ran away form home. His father began searching earnestly to find his son. All his efforts seemed to be of no benefit. Finally, as a last hope, he sent an advertisement to the city newspaper, hoping that his son would respond to his father’s plea.
This was the content of the advertisement:
Dear Paco,
Please meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven.
Love,
FatherHemingway tells that on the next day at noon, there were 800 Pacos waiting in front of the newspaper office. They were all wanting to get forgiveness from their fathers. What a tragic image of the nature of people. We all face difficulties and burdens in our lives. For many, the solution of choice is to run. Often we run from people, circumstances, and responsibilities. Many are running, and they don’t realize it. They think that if they keep running, things will be resolved.
Just as the Spanish father put the advertisement in the paper, the heavenly Father spoke through the “Law and the Prophets” (Old Testament-Bible). Yet, when the people would still not listen, he sent his only Son to personally bring us the message. On Christmas day, two thousand years ago, Jesus came into the world to not only bring us the message of forgiveness, but also to provide the way for us. What an awesome thought to know that we have a Father in Heaven who is willing to give up everything, for us to know that he loves us and that he wants us to be in union with him.
This Christmas season, the message is clear – the heavenly Father says “please meet me at the cross. All is forgiven. Take it! That forgiveness is yours.
-The story compiled from the site www.gospelcom.net -
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I was on my way back from Delhi by train. The compartment was crowded, and I was sick! “Only one cup of coffee.” What surprising temptations can be brought about by a cup of coffee! The man sitting next to me has turned the other way and is shoving me further with his back so he can stuff his face with Dosa and Iddly. I’ve had it! I can’t take it any more. I climbed up to the top berth so that I can be free from the temptations of food, which my body has decided to reject, and punish me if I eat or drink.The sunlight has finally come through the windows. This is my second day on the train with nothing to eat or drink. Only one more day before I reach my destination. The train comes to a halt, and this seems to be the “breakfast stop.” It seems that everyone is eating great delicious food and drinking tea or coffee. My stomach is churning within me, and seeing all this food just stimulates it further. Since I am sick, I cannot keep any food or drink inside of me. Any amount of food or drink warrants a trip to the bathroom. The combination of the hunger pain and the sight and smell of all this food nudges me on to compromise. “Just one bite” I say to myself.The Bible says “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12). Many things seem to be appropriate to us in our own situations. Everything in us may cry out for that one thing. We may see no wrong in what we do or desire to do. “After all, God knows that I need this” we say. Our friends, relatives, and co-workers all may encourage us in certain directions. Even all of the society may accept and acknowledge those matters. Yet, we must stand up for what we know is right. We only see the temporary and immediate situation. Our perception is vague an limited in scope. Since we cannot see the “full picture,” we do not realize the final outcome of our actions. Often, the final outcome is a destructive force in our lives.The Bible says “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…. and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5,6). The only way we can be free from leaning on our own understanding and falling into temptation is to trust in the Lord with all our hearts. Even when our mind and body disagree.I look forward to your comments!
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Traveling across our state, Kerala, we see many eye-catching sights along the way. One of the most daunting sites was the many unfinished foundations I saw. Obviously someone had set out to build their dream house, but couldn’t finish. Now, it has all sorts of things growing, including grass, shrubs, and some have small trees growing too.
Through the growth, you can see the foundation and the layout that was planned for the house. Someone had a dream. Money was spent to purchase the land, family members gathered to draw up a plan: The living room here, bedrooms on this side, kitchen and dining area next to each other, etc. Each family member had an idea to contribute, and their ideas converged to form the final plan.
But something went wrong.Certainly it was unexpected, but the unexpected often seems to come when there are big risks involved.Unexpected situations have a drastic effect on our focus.We begin the task with lots of planning and determination, only to back off with fear and give up all our hopes.The Psalmist faced a similar situation when he said: “The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – the Lord on high is mighty” (Psalm 93:3-4).The all-consuming, overpowering waves represented his unexpected situations which have a severe debilitating effect on our lives.But the Psalmist realized that the Lord, who is mighty, is mightier than the waves.Consider the reality: the waves are mighty, but our Lord is mightier.Your broken dreams may seem to consume you, but our God is mightier than your brokenness.
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When our children were small, we decided to make a change in the way our children prayed their evening prayers. Previously, their prayers were full of requests. They would pray “help Daddy, help Mummy, help Grandpa, help Grandma,” etc. We decided that this was too vague, and wanted to instill thankfulness in their hearts. By introducing thankfulness, we would then be able to easily lead them to praise at a later time. Then, their prayers changed to “thank you for Mummy,” etc. One day, as my son continued his prayer, he said: Thank you Jesus for toys, for our Pastor, for socks,” etc. This time, he just happened to put our pastor at the same level with his socks and toys.
At that moment, I laughed at his simple treatment of the things in life. It is good for us to thank God for every detail of our lives. He takes care of the details of our lives because of his love and care for us. Yet, we can look beyond the simple things in life and look to something great and awesome he has given us: The Kingdom of God. The Bible says that the Kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The world is constantly looking for righteousness, peace, and joy in every place but the Kingdom of God. When these things are a part of our lives because of the Kingdom, they will remain with us. The joy, peace, and righteousness that the world gives us will vacillate depending on the circumstances, but the Kingdom of God will always continue. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is consuming fire’” (Hebrews 12: 28, 29). The context explains that the things that can be shaken are the created things-the temporal things. But, the unshakable thing is the Kingdom-that we can be really thankful for. Since the Kingdom of God will last, our righteousness, peace, and joy will last.
Yes, let us be thankful for the little things in life-remembering that they are temporal. Look beyond those simple things to the unshakable Kingdom that we are receiving. There, we have righteousness, peace, joy, and the power of God which cannot be shaken. Thank you Jesus.
I look forward to your comments!
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An adoption agency is trying to find parents for frozen embryos. A report in ReligionToday.com said that an estimated 150,000 frozen embryos are being stored in laboratories and clinics in the United States. During in-vitro fertility treatments, as many as 30 eggs are fertilized, and usually 20 or more remain unused after the treatments are over. Sometimes, the same couple may use some that are left over at another time. Most of them are left inactive in the frozen state. Ron Stoddart, the director of Christtian Adoption and Family Services is currently on a quest for couples who would be willing to adopt these frozen embryos. He said, “embryos are ‘pre-born babies’ that should be protected and treated with the same dignity as a child being carried by a mother.”
As I read this report, my mind flooded with thoughts of the many thousands who are not given the opportunity to be born and experience life like the rest of us. Actually, they are not less human than I. When I was born, there was nothing especially inherent in me to guarantee birth, and the opportunities that follow. Unfortunately, this is the plight of these 150, 000 and more. They have no chance, no opportunity, and most of all, they have no one to call them their own. No one is there to stand up for their rights. In some ways, they are “unborn orphans.” We must recognize that they, like everyone else, are created in the image of God.
If those thousands could hear, I would read to them Ephesians 1:4,5. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” Because of His love for us, He chose us before we were conceived, to be holy and blameless in His sight. These thousands who do not have an opportunity to live, were also chosen by Him. Also because of His love, he predestined us to be adopted as His children through Jesus. Those who have no one to claim them as their own can be assured that Jesus values them enough to be adopted by Him. All these have been done by Jesus in accordance with his pleasure and will. It is not by compulsion or force that He has chosen us. This verse says that Jesus is pleased to call us his child.
There are many who are “orphaned” in various ways. Some are aborted or discarded as waste. Others are orphaned by the death of their parents, and some by rejection – which is probably the most common. The message for all is “Jesus is pleased to call you His child.”
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yourBarnabas.com 