The Wonders of the World

This came in an email to me :)

Did Jesus use a modem at the Sermon on the Mount?

Did He ever try a broadcast fax to send His message out?

Did the disciples carry beepers as they went about their route?

Did Jesus use a modem at the Sermon on the Mount?

Did Paul use a Laptop with lots of RAM and ROM?

Were his letters posted on a BBS at Paul.Rome.Com?

Did the man from Macedonia send an E-Mail saying "Come?"

Did Paul use a Laptop with lots of RAM and ROM?

Did Moses use a Joystick at the parting of the Sea and a Satellite Guidance Tracking System to show him where to be?

Did he write the law on tablets or are they really on CD?

Did Moses use a joystick at the parting of the Red Sea?

Did Jesus really die for us one day upon a tree?

Have the wonders of this modern age made you question what is true?

How a single man in a simple time could offer life anew?

How a sinless life, a cruel death then a glorious life again,

Could offer more to a desperate world than the inventions of man!

If in your life, the voice of God is sometimes hard to hear?

With other voices calling His doesn't touch your ear.

Then set aside your laptop and modem and all your fancy gear,

And open your Bible, open your heart and let your Father draw you near.

No Excuses

The book of Jonah is filled with valuable information and timeless lessons. Perhaps we could reflect upon a few of these matters. Jonah fled toward Tarshish to escape God's plan. The prophet mistakenly thought that ignoring a divine command would cause the Lord to withdraw it. Instead, He repeatedly and dramatically intervened in Jonah's life until the man submitted.

Jonah believed he had good reason to be reluctant. The Ninevites were a bloodthirsty people determined to conquer Israel. So walking across the city, crying out, "Nineveh will be overthrown" was a frightening prospect. And, as the prophet later revealed, he worried that God would spare the city if the people repented (4:2). Jonah wanted them destroyed! Therefore, his reasons for fleeing seemed right in his own eyes, but God was not deterred.

There is no adequate justification for rebellion. People running from God's will often use this six-word phrase: "I know what God says, but..." I can tell you with absolute certainty that everything on the other side of "but" is a waste of time. The Lord is not interested in excuses or selfish ambitions. He desires only obedience.

He has reasons for asking a believer to take a specific action, and His purposes are always good. Consider the amazing benefit to Jonah and his countrymen if their enemy Nineveh became an ally that worshipped the same God. The Lord doesn't change His plan to suit our purpose. Rather, He uses events, people, and the prompting of the Holy Spirit to move us into centre of His will. For your own benefit, go willingly. You may not like the task God assigns, but if He wants it done, then it must be worthwhile.

Say a Little Prayer

From the Pastor's Desk at New Life Assembly of God, Secunderabad.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.

What is prayer?

Prayer is talking to God. Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. Our life should be an attitude of prayer. Prayer is not just asking God for stuff, but instead it is about communication.

How are we to pray continually?

Praying continually is a heart attitude. In short, we should have a life of prayer because we want to talk to God, not because it is the "Christian" thing to do.

Many seemingly wasted minutes can turn into moments of reaching out to God in prayer. Here are how.... few examples where you can utilize the time to talk to God.

Pillow Talk - Before your feet touch the floor in the morning, thank God for a safe night. Ask him to guard your mouth, show you His will, give you His wisdom and grant you the strength to be obedient to His Word. Before you turn off the light at night thank Him for His faithfulness.

Mirror, Mirror - While getting dressed each day, pray. When blow-drying your hair, pray for those who are experiencing adversity. As you dress up, ask God to help you be a reflection of Christ throughout the day.

Road Rallies - One of the best places to pray us while driving your bike or your car. Ask God to break any barriers that are hindering someone you know from following the Lord. Pray for harsh drivers. Ask God to continue His work in your life.

Breaking News - When listening to news, be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. God will use this time to impress you to pray for a particular situation. In the process, He will ease any anxiety and bring peace to your soul.

Jesus on the Line - The telephone can be an excellent time for prayer. When placed on hold, pray for the person on the other end or anyone who comes to mind. When someone calls with good news, praise God with them. If the news is bad intercede for them.

Hold On - The next time you have to wait for someone, use this time to pray for that person. If you're waiting in the line, pray for the clerk and those in front of you. If you're at the doctor, pray for all those who have a physical need. Pray for wisdom for the doctors and their staff.

In practice we all use different types of prayer during our prayer times. What may start out as a prayer of faith can soon develop into intercession with supplications.

There is no reason why we cannot apply any of the above types of prayers to all the situations that face us.

Exodus - Promises

"I promise!" she exclaimed. But soon her words were forgotten in the rush and excitement of school. Remember when you promised to do something for a friend, but then forgot? Or what about when someone made an important promise to you and then didn't come through?

Promises are a part of life - from innocent childhood pledges to romantic commitments. We promise to do something, be somewhere, or give something. And when others make promises to us, we expect them to keep their word. If not, we become angry, disappointed and even heart broken.

The book of Exodus is all about promises: God's promises to His people. We too are God's people. Just as God was faithful to Israel in keeping promises He made to them, He will keep every promise He has made to us: promises to love us no matter what, to care for and protect us, to help us with temptations we can't handle, to comfort and teach us and to bring us to heaven someday.

Do you know the promises of God? Do you realise the things God has said He will do for you and to you? If you do, you understand how incredible those promises are. If you don't, you may have no idea of the many ways God has promised to be there for you. Each and every promise God makes, he keeps. To the Israelites, to me and to you.

Statastics

Purpose - To record the events of Israel's deliverance from Egypt and development as a Nation.

Author - Moses

Date Written - 1450 - 1410 B.C., approximately the same as Genesis

Where Written - In the wilderness during Israel's wanderings, somewhere in the Sinai Peninsula.

Setting - Egypt. God's people once highly favoured in the land are now slaves. A God of great miracle is about to set them free.

Key People - Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh, Pharaoh's daughter, Jethro, Aaron, Joshua, Bezalel

Key places - Egypt, Goshen, River Nile, Land of Midian, Red Sea, Sinai Peninsula, Mount Sinai

Special Features - Exodus relates more miracles than any other Old Testament book and is noted for containing the Ten Commandments.

The Book of Beginnings

I came across a very crazy student Bible with my friend yesterday. I have no idea what version it is but its an awesome study Bible. I'll keep posting information from it from time to time.

For now, let's begin with Genesis - The book of beginnings.

Have you ever turned on a TV program few minutes late? Chances are you'll turn it off before the show is over because you can't figure out what's going on. To understand a TV program, you have to see the begining. Now think of the Bible. If you want to find out what is going on in this big book - to get the whole picture - it helps to start with Genesis. Why? Because Genesis is the book of beginnings. It explains how just about everything got started. If you don't understand how things in this world began, it will be harder to figure out why and how God is going to end things.

In Genesis we marvel at the awesome creation of the entire universe by the spoken word of God. We also got our first glimpse into God's character. We see that though everything else has a definite beginning, God is eternal. He always has been, is here and will continue to be. We notice God's creativeness and power, we see His hatered and judgement of sin and we view His incredible love for His people even when they constantly disobey Him.

Genesis is the book of beginnings; the beginning of the universe, of people, of sin, of salvation and of an understanding of God. Take time to read Genesis, you will be amazed at how fascinating it is and how often other books in the Bible refer to something first mentioned in Genesis - the book of beginnings.

Statastics

Purpose - To reveal God's creation of the universe to the world and His desire to have a people set apart to worship Him.

Author - Moses

Date Written - 1450 - 1410 B.C.

Setting - The region presently known as the Middle East

Key People - Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Issac, Rebekah, Jacob, Joseph

Up next the book of Exodus.

Horror = Shock = Realisation of Grace

Yesterday as I walked back home and was about to enter my galli, I got the biggest horrifying shock of my life. I heard a puppy crying near a drain. Thinking that it has fallen into the drain I thought to take a look and bring it out on the ground lest it should drown. Beside the drain are a cluster of trees and beside the trees there is a small kirana (general) shop.

As I looked into the drain I did not find any puppy inside it but rather I found about 4 new born puppies cuddled together, whimpering, to keep themselves warm in the rain. Right next to the puppies sat the mother eating something. A closer look told me that she was eating one of her new born babes. I tried to shoo the mother away but instead of running away she decided to pounce up on me. Thankfully the shop owner saw it in time and threw stones at her, warned me to get back home.

After returning home, I saw my own dog. Somehow I couldn't bring myself to pat her and pamper her last night. What I saw on the street prejudiced me against dogs and I ended up telling my dog that her species disgusts me. At that very moment a small voice in my ear, a small but firm voice, asked me if a dog's act of Nature can disgust me so much then how much should each sinful act of mine disgust my God.

I shunned my dog for what another dog had done but God never foresook or shunned me even for the horrifying sins I myself commit.

This incident was a good reminder of God's abundant grace and protection in my life and I'm forever thankful for it. He loves me just as I am. The Lord Is My Shepherd

Cracked Pot!

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway. Out boldly, know that in our weakness we find His strength, and that "In Him every one of God's promises is a Yes".

But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8