Sim's Zone

Do Re Mi…!

2012-01-26T23:12:00.001-08:00

Off late I have been having many conversations with family, friends and colleagues about childhood memories. I realized that unfortunately I do not remember a lot about my childhood but I do remember my younger sister, Sonal’s, childhood very clearly.

I was watching the movie ‘The Sound Of Music’ a few days ago. I have been in love with the movie since forever! As the song Do Re Mi played, I realized I had many memories of my childhood related to this song. I remember singing it, I remember dancing on it and I remember doing school group drills on it till I was fourteen years of age. It certainly is one of those rare compositions that stay in your heart forever. It made me wish that if life was the Do Re Mi song, wouldn't it just be perfect.

In the movie, Maria says, you need to put in one word for every note and you will be able to sing anything! If we tried that with life, putting one beautiful word for any and every note wouldn't it be, well, delightful living? I’m going to try this. I’m going to put one word for every high note or low note of life and today’s word will be “blessings”. It is clear on what note my life is now, isn’t it?

Incredible India!

2011-12-06T22:14:00.001-08:00

Incredible India!

Yes India is an incredibly beautiful country with diversity that can be seen nowhere else in the world. It is also incredible to note that my country is full of incredibly unbelievable hypocrites where a powerfully rich politician (read Kanimozhi) is given bail for squandering money of a huge figure that my mind can’t fathom exists in India and where a stupid sarpanch of some backward village is not even arrested for assualting a woman in public.

What is wrong with this country? Everything!

Once debating with a friend on Indian values v/s western values I realised we are so proud of our Indian culture and so called ‘Sanskriti’. So that means we should be proud of the following as well –

A minor is raped and is forced to marry her tormentor. We should be congratulating her for her newly found wedded bliss.
Online content will now be censored, the Minister’s excuse being religious sentiments of certain communities being hurt through online posts and content. Poor Minister, he is not aware how social networking sites work and that they themseleves have policies in place to curb such hurtful content. Dear Minister, I can teach you how to use these sites correctly if you pay me Rs. 1,00,000 a day. Trust me, this is the cheapest offer you’re going to get.
It is not OK for Veena Malik to pose nude for a magazine but it is OK for the men and women in this country to not only lust after her body shamelessly but also call her names and hate her. They hate her only because they can never be like her. So since I am not supposed to appreciate the beauty and boldness of one woman, I will visit all the ancient temples in India and appreciate the nude statues of gods and goddesses, an art for art’s sake.
People above the age of 80 want to be Prime Minister so if I want to be Prime Minister someday I better keep me healthy enough to live for a century.
Being young and happy and dressing for the occasion is a crime. The moral police hates the way young India dresses especially at a party or a night club. They believe we’re always “inappropriately dressed”. If I’m not dressed in my best western wear at a night club (which has a dress code) will I be dressed in conventional Indian clothes? If I am, then I am “inapporpriately dressed” (read not dressed for the occasion).
Talking about conventional clothing, I think sari should be banned as it does not cover the female body adequately and is too revealing. How can anything revealing be conventional in India? I’m better off in my pair of jeans, skirts and tees.
According to a certain female police officer in Delhi, couples cuddling in the park are the reason for the high rate of rape and assault on women in the Capital. Incredible isn’t it? First it is my clothes that invite monsters to rape me and next it is my partner.
Lalu, we all know him. He’s been blaming the Internet and facebook primarily for introducing vulgarity of western culture in India. Arre Lallu, India is booming technologically and economically because of this Internet. I don’t think you’re interested in seeing 100% employment in your state. You can join the Minister’s class, you need a lesson or two about Internet. You’ll have to pay me extra for teaching you values.
Anna! Praise be to him! He awoke the entire middle class to the truth of corruption in the country. Thank you sir! Until you came by I had never heard of the word ‘corruption’. How gracious of you to be enlightening us about it time and again. Some Gandhian you are, you believe in beating up drunkards and politicians. You need to relearn the definition of non violence. But yes, Anna does have some valid points that need to be respected.
There is a lot more to complain about but I will stop here for now.

Inspite of all this I still love India. I guess there is some magic in the motherland. I hate it for the people it has produced but I love it for just being only one India in the whole world. By the way I am also an integral part of the ugly crowd I have written about here. Sorry people, no offence meant.

I Don't Care!

2011-11-28T03:29:00.000-08:00

A lot of things don't matter in today's world. All that is good and real don't matter. So I tried to make a list of things that don't matter to me and it turned out that I hated too many things to come under my 'Doesn't Matter' list and these were all trifling. But I have a real list as well. Hence, it doesn't matter to me if the world thinks the following about me.

The world says - you're too naive. I say - I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - you're too impulsive. I say - I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - you're a rebel. I say - I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - you're too loud. I say - I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - you laugh too much. I say - I don't care what you think of me.
The world says- you have too much fun. I say - I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - you're a narcissist, you like the way you look. I say - I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - you dress the way you want. I say - I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - you're too proud of what you are. I say - I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - Jesus? You love Jesus? I say - I do, and, I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - You do what He wants you to? Are you crazy? Are we supposed to believe He talks to you? I say - Yes, and, I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - You not only wait for His will but also accept it just the way it is? Are you for real? I say - Yes, and I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - You love the Bible inside out? Is that book even real? I say - Yes it is, and, I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - You pray in public! I say - I do, and, I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - You ask the Holy Spirit to guide you? Now you're really mad. I say - I do, and, I don't care what you think of me.
The world says - You will do what is right because it is right. Relax and have fun! I say -I don't care what the you think of me!

There are more such things that don't matter to me. If there are so many 'I don't cares' what do I care about then? I care about living an everlasting life in eternity in Heaven with Jesus. This is the only thing that matters to me at the moment. So world, you can laugh at my madness as much as you want but I really don't care what you think of me! Ciao!

You're A Woman, You're Nothing!

2011-10-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

I happened to watch the movie Provoked over the weekend. The movie is based on the real life story of Kiranjit Aluwalia. Naveen Andrews, the actor who played the role of her husband uttered these lines, "You're a woman, you're nothing", while abusing his wife. I was reminded of those instances where I was told the very same thing repeatedly.

How did I put up with it and why I still cannot fathom. What upset me more was why I did not write about this before. Was I scared? Was I ashamed? What was I thinking? The movie, though not a great one, put many questions in front of me or rather brought out the questions burning in my heart to lips.

Why do women put up with domestic violence and sexual abuse? Is it because we don't want to shame our families? Is it because we don't like being termed as 'house breakers'? Are we too proud to expose our vulnerability? Or is it because it is so steeped in our so called 'Indian culture' that being abused seems OK? And what makes men, husbands/boyfriends/fathers/brothers/friends or whoever gods over us that they can dare tell us that we are women and we are nothing? What makes them forget that a woman gave birth to them?

Two Sunday's ago, Ps. H.S. Hubert of the Subhvartha channel fame was preaching at Millennium Methodist Hindustani Church. The Pastor didn't speak Hindi that well and as it was a Hindi Church, with all due respect to the Pastor, most people were not listening. I wasn't paying much attention either but he caught my attention when he read out this verse from Ephesians 5 "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22)

The Pastor gave the example of a newly wed bride. He said on the day of the wedding the girl is shy and coy and graceful and one year down the line the same girl turns into a yelling, screaming, frustrated hag. I hated this illustration of the angry woman. I was waiting for the Pastor to continue on the same lines explaining further verses and redeeming the woman. But he didn't. I was almost about to say aloud that maybe the woman turned into the screaming old hag because her husband did not fulfill the later verses which say "In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church." (Ephesians 5: 28-30). Makes sense?

So my point here is that when it is so clearly written in the Bible how come Churches do not do much to help women who are in abusive marriages and relationships? It is true that looks are deceptive. You never know which woman is being abused under that sweet smile at church. It could be the woman sitting next to you or the woman in the first row worshipful with tears or the woman on her knees. It could also be the woman with the arrogant look in her eyes or even your pastor's wife.

How come Churches or the ones I regularly attend fail to see this or do not want to address this evil? It is too controversial and personal they say. Aren't women also made in the image of God? I believe I am and so is every other woman. If yes then why does man say 'you're a woman, you're nothing'?

I pray to God to protect all the women and children who are being abused, I also ask God to grant them the courage to speak up and break free from their shackles. If I could break free, anybody else can.

Hyderabadis - Victims of Looting

2011-09-18T19:32:00.001-07:00

The Telangana Movement has raised its ugly head again in a very quiet manner this time sans the riots and the violence and once again the government prefers only to watch the show.

In most countries/cities which have been under the grip of their respective revolutions, there have been incidents of severe looting. The looting in Hyderabad is so different that the looters justify their acts fairly enough.

There aren't any buses running in the city today hence it is an opportunity for the auto drivers, private buses and also the call center vehicles to make the most of. A distance which costed Rs1o/- to cross yesterday is worth Rs30/- today. If you refuse to pay, you will get to hear the profanest words that exist in the Hindi and Telugu dictionary.

There is police every where but they're watching the show too. They have been instructed to make sure there is no violence on the roads but somehow they manage to ignore verbal violence as calmly as if they're watching the most boring scene from the most boring movie ever.

I'm feeling very cheated, again on the losing side due the government's non existent policy with regards to anything and everything. What all am I losing? Money, time and patience. Kiran Reddy (Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh) can you just stand up for once and be the CM you're supposed to be? Had you stood for an election I would never have voted for you. You just got lucky. I'm hoping your 'lucky phase' ends soon so that you too experience the looting I experienced today.

I'm not a Christian

2011-07-31T04:12:00.000-07:00

A Christian = An Empty Heart

A very blasphemous and scandalous equation but this is the equation I understood this Sunday afternoon. Why do we call ourselves Christians? Isn't it because we want to be Christ like and that's exactly the expectation from us. Then why aren't we what we are supposed to be? Why aren't we what we show ourselves to be? Why are our hearts so empty and bereft of feeling?

Why can't we forgive the person who is seeking our forgiveness? Why is it so difficult? Why do we behave the way we do at Church and then deny it the moment we step out of Church? Does that mean our Worship is over? Does that mean that Christ exists only within the walls of the Church? Does it mean I can lift up my hands in Worship and then also show my middle finger? What is our identity or Am I getting judgmental? Maybe I am but I can't help it because if my above description of a 'Christian' is real then I'm not a Christian.

The Ghostly Farmer

2011-07-12T22:53:00.000-07:00

Living in the suburbs of Hyderabad has its share of blessings. One such blessing, being able to take long walks on rugged roads surrounded by farmlands. Every time I go for one such walk early in the morning or late in the evening an old farmer, dressed in his Earth soiled dhoti, kurta and turban turns up out of nowhere surprising me. He walks along with me for a few minutes always asking me about my lunch, about how my day was and where I was going. I knew he was a farmer but some how to me he never seemed real as he would suddenly appear out of nowhere.

A few days ago, I was walking home in the rain and I met him again. He asked for the time and suggested that I buy an umbrella as these rains are not good.

This morning at 6:00AM, walking under the street lights, under the trees in the furious rain I see a ghostly figure walking towards me with a huge plastic bag over his head. It is the ghostly farmer again. He notices me and decides to walk back with me.

He was very cheerful in the rain, happy too. Why I asked, and he replies because it is raining. I complain that I might get drenched by the time I get to office and he says he will get drenched too by the time he reaches his farm. But today he's going to enjoy it because his crops can now grow. For the next few months he does not have to worry about his crops withering. He says his oxen will have enough to eat and he hopes I've had my breakfast as well. I reach the bus stop, he sees me off in the bus and says I must let my family know when I reach office as it is still too dark. I watch him walk away from the bus and he disappears in the rain.

One memorable encounter.

The Racist Motherboard

2011-07-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

So it is another Friday afternoon. I and my friend, Srinardhani excitedly leave office to have lunch. Venue: the food court, DLF Cybercity, Hyderabad. As always there are lesser number of tables than there are people. Srinardhani is not too hungry and I headed over to Sun and Moon (one of the smaller food joints) to get my lunch and we find a table in front of Motherboard, another eating joint run by Sri Hospitality & Ventures Pvt Ltd which also runs the Blue Ray chain of restaurants.

Now the practice so far at the DLF food court has been that anyone can sit anywhere no matter from which joint they have bought their food. I can eat a Domino's pizza in front of Motherboard and I can eat a dosa, bought at Motherboard in front of Pink Elephant. As an employee working in the grand SEZ building I can sit anywhere I like. Rules change, Motherboard, since this afternoon does not want to entertain people buying their food elsewhere at their tables. Since it is a business it is totally understandable. As I had bought my food from Sun and Moon, I and Srinardhani were asked to vacate our table rather impolitely by some guy who works for Motherboard (whom we had never seen until this afternoon). So we did vacate the table. What irked us was the fact that there were a bunch of foreigners (white people) from a first world country eating pizzas bought at Domino's at a table belonging to Motherboard (right behind us!). They weren't asked to vacate their table.

Why?

Irritated, we asked the guy who made us vacate our table as to why they weren't ask to leave. He said they are our regular customers. Our question to him: ''who do you think we are?" He kept repeating his pathetic explanation of regular customergiri and we kept losing our cool. At the end of our discussion with him he walked away saying. "Do whatever you like, I don't care."

Angry at his callous attitude and rather racist mindset we approached the management of Motherboard repeating the incident. All they could say was their employee was new and could not speak English well and hence there is a language barricade. Language barricade? We were asked to leave the table in perfectly good English and our problem was not with the language.

We are not angry that we were made to vacate the table, not angry that many people like us were asked to as well. We're not angry at the white people, they were having their lunch like the rest of us and are not to be blamed. What angered us extremely was the racist behavior of this man from Motherboard. Some hospitality this is! This is how Motherboard treats its everyday patrons.

Also very questionable is the inherent racist behavior among Indians. We are the biggest racists on the face of the Earth. We discriminate among ourselves. How then can we expect the rest of the world to treat us with respect?

Kentucky Fried Chicken!

2011-04-07T04:20:00.000-07:00

KFC!! One of the most popular fast food restaurants in the city has customer service that is indeed "finger licking good"! But here is the catch...

The KFC joint that I'm writing about is located within the Cinemax multiplex premises at Banajara Hills.

Who is serving you there?

A bunch of young, REALLY REALLY cheerful, smiling boys in red KFC t-shirts. If you're going there for the first time you wouldn't understand why the person taking your order isn't speaking a word and is instead confirming your order by pointing it out on the menu in front of him and smiling at the same time. If you have understood him correctly and he has understood you clearly you get a very happy "thumbs up" sign from him.

All these boys cannot speak nor can hear yet they serve you perfectly without any irritation and arrogance. I've been there multiple times and will keep going there forever though I'm not very fond of chicken. Here is why:

The Welcome: One of these boys roaming around in the restaurant, smiles at you the moment you step into the restaurant. The smile is so genuine that you automatically smile back even if you are in the foulest of moods.

The Wave: You've just stepped in and you're wondering what to order and you're walking towards the counter. You're still walking looking at the menu charts and not at the person at the counter and suddenly you see a hand waving high up in the air beckoning you to come. It is then you realise that you've been noticed and you walk towards that waving hand as a mouse would walk towards cheese.

The Menu: Once at the counter, you're smiled at warmly and a hand gesture tells you that you need decide what to eat. Even as you're thinking or discussing with a friend on what to eat, the hand guides you on the menu chart giving suggestions on what is good and what is economical as well. Your decision is made easier and you know what you will eat in less than a minute.

The Order: Now you need to place the order. You wonder how on earth will you place an order when the happy face across the counter cannot hear you. You look up at the smiling face wondering the same and the smile increases. You're guided back to the chart and then you know you just need to point out on the chart what you want to eat. Your order is placed and confirmed within seconds. Even an order for five people takes less than a minute to place. You always know you order is placed when the bill comes but here you get a double assurance. And what is it? A very happy thumbs up from the smiling face across the counter!

The Bill: You're thinking how will the smiling face across the counter pronounce your bill as they do else where "Ma'am your bill is 245 rupess and here's your change". Its simple! A hand guides you to the bill screen and you know your bill. (I've never cared to look at the screen till I visited this KFC :P)

The Food: You're enjoying your meal and the smiling faces in red t-shirts smile back at you, some asking in actions if the food is good. Of course it's good!

The Wave 2: As you get up to leave you wonder if you need to clear your table yourself. One of the smiling faces lets you know its not needed. Then comes the second Wave. The smiling face that welcomed you as you entered, the smiling face that waved you to the counter, the smiling face that asked you if the food was good and let you know you don't need to clear the table are joined with other smiling faces in red KFC t-shirts in waving you "bye".

Isn't this a very special experience? This is an experience I wish to have everyday. This is the experience I want to have not only while receiving but also while giving.

I can speak, I can listen, I'm educated, I have a brilliant job, I have all the luxuries I can afford in life yet I know I'm not half as happy at these boys at KFC neither do I smile so much. There is so much to learn from these boys. It is worth a visit. But also beware this is not the state of all KFC restaurants in Hyderabad. Every other outlet is quiet the opposite!

Can't believe I've written so much! Boy, I really do love that place, don't I? :)

Tere Baap Ka Kya Jara?

2011-02-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

Sunday is a day that everybody wishes to relax but there are some jobs and responsibilities that cannot be ignored on a holiday. One such responsibility being helping someone in real need.

I and my little sister were crossing a road on Sunday afternoon (6th Feb'2011), and we suddenly see from a distance that a man is lying helplessly unconscious on the road in front of a huge lorry. We called the 108 emergency service immediately. (This is an everyday 0ccurance on the roads of Hyderabad.) But what actually shocked us was the attitude of the traffic police. There were two cops directing the traffic there and neither of them stood up from his chair to help the man or bring him on to the pavement. It was when I and my sister tried to lift him up from the middle of the road did two auto drivers help us. The cops still didn't pay any attention. After a few minutes another cop joined them only to stare at us and we glared back at him. Now when we asked why didn't they help the man all they said was its Sunday. When asked SO WHAT if its Sunday??? They said "Madam aapke baap ka kya jara?" (what is your father loosing?)

A job is a job! I was too disgusted to argue with them and hence walked off swearing at them. Now when I think of this incident, I'm sure if I had offered to pay the cops a hundred rupees from my pocket they would've got to work immediately.

A crowd had formed around us and the man with each man/woman asking us if we knew the man. After a while my sister lost her temper with the ever questioning crowd that she asked every person ''Tere kamine baap ka kya jara" ((what is your bloody father loosing?) (sorry about the profanity). We stayed with the man until the 108 ambulance arrived and he was given first aid.

This is the state of law and order in Hyderabad. They expect us to follow all traffic rules or pay the fine when these so called guardians of safety do no even know the rules that apply to basic humanity. I always knew that they were dirty, greedy, corrupt with king size egos but now I don't believe them to be human, at least not those two cops who would've let the man die instead of doing their jobs. If the man would've died they would've termed it as a ''bad accident''. Really, unke baap ka kya jara?

God said take rest on Sunday but he never asked us to forget who we are. All that is bad in us took birth within us with our permission be it greed, jealousy or ego but who are we to forget that the heart beating inside of us isn't ours, the breath we take isn't ours nor is the life we live ours so what is the use of gaining power, wealth and losing your soul?

Damn! How heartless can a man be?

One Year Down the Lanes of Gossamer

2011-01-17T02:12:00.000-08:00

A thoughtful, regretful and tragic year I call Gossamer, the thin spun web of a spider.

I've loved a lot and lost a lot. I've laughed a lot and cried a lot. I've hurt terribly but also healed steadily. I've spent sleepless nights and sleepy days. I couldn't commit and then I could also commit. I was alone but I was never alone.

In the musings of mind I've come to realize that the best is yet to come and the worst isn't over yet. I have a need to feel younger and behave older. I need to pray and I need to curse. I need adventure, I also need steady feet. I need responsibilities but I also need freedom.

When I cry out to God in the deeply dark and cold nights, I know He's listening. When I think He's not, even then He's listening. I depend on Him for peace within. I depend on Him for freedom. One day I'll wake up and leave all this to yesterday.

Why?

2010-07-18T23:12:00.000-07:00

Why did God make Adam ruler over the all the creatures of Earth?

"God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth,[B]Hebrew; Syriac all the wild animals and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” -- Genesis 1:25 to 27

Is man doing his duty? Are we doing our duty?

I don't get to see many animals everyday, all I the see are stray dogs and cattle. But I see beauty in them. Beauty of the Lord. They remind me each moment that the same Lord God who created them created me too and I must honour His Creations. I don't see my fellow Christians doing that. They don't think twice before hitting their dog or pelting stones stray cattle. Why are we the way we are? Why is it so difficult to follows rules laid down for us in the Bible? Why is it difficult for us to take ownership of the responsibilities the Lord has bestowed upon us?

When are we going to realise that each animal/bird or creature that God created didn't come about just like that. If you take a real look at animals you will find that there has been a lot of thought process that has gone behind the creation of these animals and hence they're perfect the way they are. Is there any other reason why a dog is a dog and not a cat and why a lion is a lion and not a lamb?

Please do let me know your thoughts on this subject.

Lent Reflections

2010-02-16T21:22:00.000-08:00

Let us see what the Scriptures mean when they say, `Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.' I didn't come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners.' - Matthew 9:13

A Lenten Reflection

Give up complaining —— Focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism —— Become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments —— Think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry —— Trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement —— Be full of Hope.
Give up bitterness —— Turn to Forgiveness.
Give up hatred —— Return good for evil.
Give up negativism —— Be positive.
Give up anger —— Be more patient.
Give up pettiness —— Become mature.
Give up gloom —— Enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy —— Pray for trust.
Give up gossiping —— Control your tongue.
Give up sin —— Turn to virtue.
Give up giving up —— Hang in there!

A Poem

2010-01-22T00:18:00.000-08:00

It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of God's design;

But I cannot unfold the petals, With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers, Is not known to such as I.

GOD opens this flower so sweetly, When in my hands they fade and die. I

f I cannot unfold a rosebud, This flower of God's design,

Then how can I think I have wisdom, To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading, Each moment of every day.

I will look to Him for His guidance, Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me, Only my Heavenly Father knows.

I'll trust Him to unfold the moments, Just as He unfolds the rose.

Meanings of Some Hebrew Words in the Bible

2010-01-11T23:51:00.000-08:00

During my twenty day wedding vacation I found time to understand the meanings of the Hebrew words we so often encounter in the Bible. A few of them are listed below. Take a look and please do let me know if these are correct. :)

1. HALLAL:

It means to shine, boast upon.
To be glamorously foolish about your adoration of god.
Used 99 times in {O T}, 1/3 is used in psalms. [ 1st Cor – 16 : v 4, psalms 56 : 10, 102 : 18 ]
[Boast upon the lord for what he has done]
To be foolish about god.
Crazy [ps 53: 3 & 4, 84: 4]
Praise original word is “HALLAL” [ps-113: 3]

2. YADAH:

Means to worship with extended hands,[or] to give thanks to God [Ps 134:2,111:1,gen-29: 35]
Lifting up the hands is a sign of surrender.
Hands are the expressions of what’s happening inside of you

3. BARAK:

To kneel (or) bow
To be attuned to Him and His presence –[ps-76: 16,96:2, 1st Cor-29: 20]

4. TEHILLAH:

To sing hallah, a new song
Singing is wider in worship [ps-22: 3, deut-10: 21, 1st Cor-16: 35, 2nd Cor-20: 22]

5. ZAMAR:

Means to touch the strings, to play upon.
A joyful word, it donates instrumental worship [ps-138: 1]
A musical word, to make music accompanied by the voice, to celebrate with songs and music.

6. TODAH:

An act of faith [ps-42: 4]
Praising God in difficulties.
This word is used in connection of thanks offering.
To extend hand in sacrifice
A choir of worshippers [Ps-150: 5,95:2, 100:4]

7. SHABACH:

Glorifying God in worship. Can be a loud tone.
To shout, to command
To address in a loud tone [Ps-63: 3,145:4,117:4]
Praise is the action involved, involves the body and the soul in it.

8. SHAHAH:

To prostrate
Bow down, make obeisance, to reverence
Worship

Reason?

2009-12-09T22:08:00.000-08:00

I know it's early but I want to be the first to make you think "CHRISTMAS" and the reason for the season... With just about 3 weeks before Christmas REMEMBER.... Jesus is better than Santa.

Santa lives at the North Pole. JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh. JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year. JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies. JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited. JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa. JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap. JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly. JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO. JESUS offers Health, Help and Hope.

Santa says "You better not cry". JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys. JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but, JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree, JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison. We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas. Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Why Should We Read The Bible Grandpa?

2009-12-04T03:08:00.000-08:00

An old farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bible. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?"

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home.

Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.

The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Jesus in our lives."

Spread the importance of the Bible :)

The Wonders of the World

2009-10-19T04:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-16T05:33:00.000-07:00

"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

2009-08-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-24T21:09:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-21T04:01:00.000-07:00

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

Do We Love................?

2009-08-07T05:13:00.001-07:00

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me." "Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him." "There's something you should know," the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live." "No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us." "Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son.

They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg. The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Please share the love of God with every one you find on your way…

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear… 1 John 4:18 (New King James Version)

Psalm 23

2009-07-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

"The Lord is my Shepherd" - That's Relationship!

"I shall not want" - That's Supply!

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures" - That's Rest!

"He leadeth me beside the still waters" - That's Refreshment!

"He restoreth my soul" - That's Healing!

"He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness" - That's Guidance!

"For His name sake" - That's Purpose!

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of t he shadow of death" - That's Testing!

"I will fear no evil" - That's Protection!

"For Thou art with me" - That's Faithfulness!

"Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me" - That's Discipline!

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies" - That's Hope!

"Thou annointest my head with oil" - That's Consecration!

"My cup runneth over" - That's Abundance!

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" - That's Blessing!

"And I will dwell in the house of the Lord" - That's Security!

"Forever" - That's Eternity!

When I Say I Am a Christian....

2009-07-06T03:58:00.000-07:00

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting “I am saved.”
I’m whispering “I was lost!”
That is why I chose this way.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble
and need someone to be my guide.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak
and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed
and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect,
my flaws are all too visible
but God believes I’m worth it.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
which is why I seek His name.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority.
I only know I’m loved.

Author Unknown

The Deck of Cards

2009-06-16T04:41:00.000-07:00

During the World War 2 some soldiers were on a patrol for 6 days. They arrived at a small town called Cassino. The next day being Sunday some of the boys went to church. After the worship they were asked to open their Bibles. All the soldiers opened their Bibles except one young man.

He was a young private and instead of opening his Bible he speard out a deck of cards in front of him. The sergeant saw him and said “Soldier put those cards inside.” After the service, the soldier was arrested and questioned.

Sergeant – "Soldier, why did you spread the deck of cards in front of you in a church! Give me a reasonable excuse and I shall spare you if not you will be punished like never before."

Soldier - "Sir, I’ve been on the march for the past 6 days and I have no Bible or prayer book with me. All I had were these cards."

"You see sir,

1 - The Ace reminds me that there is only one God.

2 - The Deuce reminds me that the Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament.

3 - The Trey reminds me of the Holy Trinity – The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

4 - Number Four represents the Four great disciples who taught the Gospels; Mathew, Mark, Luke and John.

5 - Number Five reminds me of the Five wise virgins who trimmed their lamps. Five were wise and were saved and Five were foolish and were cast out.

6 - Six is the number of days in which the great God created this universe

7 - On the Seventh day He rested and called it Holy

8 - Number Eight reminds me that the Lord is merciful to the righteous when He destroyed the Earth but spared Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives from the flood.

9 - Nine reminds me of the lepers cleansed by the Saviour and nine out of the ten didn’t even thank Him.

10 - Ten speaks of the Ten Commandments God handed to Moses on a tablet of stone.

King - The king reminds me that there is only one King of Heaven, God Almighty.

Queen - The Queen reminds me of Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus

Jack - The knave or the Jack is the devil.

When I count the dots on my deck of cards they’re 365 in number – the number of days in a Year.

There 52 cards in a deck and they stand for 52 weeks of a Year.

The 4 suits represent the weeks in a Month.

The 12 picture cards stand for 12 months in a Year."

"So you see sir my deck of cards serves me as a Bible, an Almanac and prayer book."

The Sergeant was speechless and let the soldier free.

Mighty Madness!!!!

2009-06-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

Watch till the end....

Children!! :D

2009-06-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

You may have seen this or read this somewhere before and I found it adorable enough to put it up on my blog :)

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah". The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like." Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?" Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white." The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. "Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:
"Take only ONE . God is watching." Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."

:-p

2009-05-28T04:07:00.000-07:00

I had loads of fun watching this.... my feet couldn't stop when I watched it for the first time a few days ago. Two songs in one "No Ordinary Love" and "J Train" by Toby Mac and group.

A Thousand Times I've Failed...

2009-05-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

My take away from the past week... failed again, yet... Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades...

A thousand times I've failed

Still Your mercy remains.

And should I stumble again,

Still I'm caught in Your grace.

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades,

Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame,

My heart and my soul, Lord I give You control

Consume me from the inside out Lord...

Let justice and praise become my embrace,

To love you from the inside out.

Your will above all else, my purpose remains.

The art of losing myself in bringing You praise...

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades,

Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame,

My heart and my soul, Lord I give You control

Consume me from the inside out, Lord...

Let justice and praise become my embrace,

To love you from the inside out.

Hillsong In Hyderabad 16th and 17th May :D

2009-05-20T03:13:00.000-07:00

Watch at your own risk and leisure :D

Amateurish videos and extremly short, I put it up because I was there at the concert both the days!! :D

Wo Wo Woye O!

Wo Oye Wo!

Dance dance!

It all happened live here in home town Hyderabad!

Joyce Mbwilo

2009-05-18T21:19:00.000-07:00

I've been reading this book "Worship Leaders - Remember the Poor" written by Tim Hughes and Al Gordon together. This is what the very first page of the book says and is written by Tim Hughes.

"In June 2005, my wife Rachel and I headed off to Tanzania with Tearfund, http://www.tearfund.org/, to visit one of their church based projects. We had no real idea what to expect but instantly we loved it."

"The warmth of the people, the beauty of the setting and the buzz of activity all around us got under our skin. It was, though, a bittersweet experience. Through the smiles, singing and dancing was death, disease, sorrow, injustice, poverty and extreme hunger. One moment we were laughing, the next we were at a total loss for words."

"We met some incredible people. One lady whose smile will stay with me forever was Joyce Mbwilo. Living in a village called Uhanbingeto, Joyce told us her story of life and survival. With no clean water in the village, Joyce left at midnight each night carrying an empty bucket. She would walk for over ten hours, returning home, exhausted, at 10am the following morning."

"It has been estimated that Joyce walked the equivalent of three times around the world for water. The injustice of this is overwhelming. How can that still be possible in a world today where so many of us have so much?"

"In Tanzania, Tearfund works with and thriugh local churches to bring justice for people such as Joyce. Tearfund's partner fitted a pipe and tap - Joyce now walks two minutes for clean water."

"When I read the Bible one thing seems clear: God is passionate about poor people. Jesus made is so clear. 'The Spirit of the Lord is on me.' He said, 'because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor' (Luke 4:18). In Amos 5 God's heart burns with anger as He rebukes a people who offer up songs of worship and other choice offerings, but trample and deprive poor people for their own selfish gain.

Who is Tim Hughes? Read here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Hughes

Singing Down the Telephone a Bit of Love and Hope

2009-05-14T03:12:00.000-07:00

I love the way Martin Smith sings "Every little thing is gonna be alright." There is so much peace in his voice when he sings that phrase.

Cantaré de tu amor por siempre.

2009-05-13T21:51:00.000-07:00

I think I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed against the Earth's sweet flowing breast.

A tree that looks at God all day and lifts her leafy arms to pray.

Poems are made by fools like me but only God can make a tree.

Miracles of the Maker

2009-05-12T02:27:00.000-07:00

This 7 minute 29 seconds video changed my life forever few years ago. It was then that I decided to put my trust entirely in the hands of the Miracle Maker. Let me not get too preachy here. Let's talk about my recent experience with animals. Miracles of the Maker.

We come across animals often in our everyday lives. Sometimes its the chirping of the birds that wakes us up in the morning, sometimes its the barking dog in the street that disturbs our sleep at nights or we might just be watching Planet's Funniest Animals on the Animal Planet for a bit of relaxation after a long day's work.

My association with animals began at age 5 when I made a best friend out of my grandfather's gaint cow, Soni's, calf named Monu in the sleepy small town of Sagar in Madhya Pradesh. From the age 10 I've seen animals around me as often as I've seen the traffic on the road. I was brought up in a place (was a village but is is not a village anymore) where buffaloes, cows, goats, sheep, hens, dogs all including humans had a mutual understanding of not harming each other. At times we could even hear a wolf howl at nights in the village.

My scariest experince with an animal was also the most funny one. It was in a small town called Kandikotukuru in Kurnool district. We went to that town to attend my uncle's wedding and stayed up at a hotel which had a cattle shed right behind it. This cattle shed was right behind the room we had taken. Before going to bed one night I saw two huge bulls with many brass bells hanging from their necks.

Imagination can run wild and that night mine was out of control. At about 3 am at night, one of the bulls began nibling at some grass and I took the sound of its bells to be the sound of the ghongroo of a woman's ghost dancing in my room. Chan... chan... chan... chan.... :D

The whole khandan had a hearty laugh in the morning when I told them my story.

Let's come back to cattlesheds. I somehow always liked visiting these cattlesheds. Something about these animals always captured and fascinated me more than cute dogs and cats and this fascination has grown stronger post my visits to farms on work tours. I came across buffaloes of such huge sizes that I had never seen before and it still surprises me that though being so huge and strong these animals are extremely humble. Humility can be clearly seen in their eyes.

After having seen a buffalo closely at one of the farms I visited, I noticed for the first time the shape of their eyes. Just the most beautifully shaped eyes of any animal I've ever seen. This fascinated me so much that I didn't leave until I patted a cow without any fear.

Dogs, cats, rabbits, love birds are our usual pets and all pets share a certain emotional or even in most cases more than intensely emotional relationship with their humans, it is the same for a buffalo and its human too. I had been witness to this close bond between a farmer and his buffalo when I was only 11.(I've writted about this episode on this blog before, scroll down to read.) Somehow these animals go unnoticed by us or are probably noticed only when they're blocking the roads. Some people say they are of no use as they eat all day and do nothing. If they didn't have a role to play in Nature they wouldn't have been here.

Everytime I see an animal it amazes me. The same God who created me created them too. What versitality! For me God is the most creative artist ever!

To end this write up I'll tell you how my twin sister reacted when I told her about my thoughts. She asked me a plain simple question. "Do you want to bring a buffalo home?"

I wish I could! :D

Watch This.....

2009-05-05T02:23:00.000-07:00

Funny and sweet but a bitter pill to swallow....

It is done!

2009-04-17T01:03:00.000-07:00

You tore the veil, You made a way, When You said that it is done.

And when the earth fades and fall from my eyes, You go before me. I know You love me!

Pedal

2009-04-16T22:44:00.001-07:00

When I first met Christ, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride. It was a tandom bike and I noticed that Christ was in the pillion rider's seat helping me pedal. I have no idea about how and when he suggested that we change places and since then life has not been the same. When I had control. I knew yet I was lost. It was predictable and boring. Life was the shortest distance between two points.

But since He's been incharge I've been through delightful long cuts, up the mountains, through deep valleys, on rocky passages and all this at break neck speed. All I could do was hang on! Though it looked like madness He just said "Pedal".

I was worried and anxious and asked him "Where are you taking me?" He laughed.. that was His answer and I began to learn to trust Him. I left my boring life behind and entered into an adventure. When I say "I'm sacred", He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to meet people with the gifts I needed. Gifts of healing, acceptence and joy. One day He said "Give the gifts away, they're extra baggage." So I did, I gave them to the people we met and I found that in giving I receieved and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him to control my life at first. I though He'd wreck it. But no, he knows the deep secrets of riding a bike. He know how to make it bend to be able to turn and overcome sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scray passages.

Now, I'm learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places and I'm begining to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face all with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ. When I'm sure I can't take and do anymore, he simply smiles and says "Pedal".

Do You Believe In Easter?

2009-04-14T01:42:00.000-07:00

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favourite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her
lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.

Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying, "My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts,
going to church, and dressing up."

Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Dr. Phillips said, "Beverly, don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room. After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you
reading your Bible? Are you praying?"

Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient." With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long."

Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!"

Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!"

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips
and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter."

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling
her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse.

Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said,
"Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you."

Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work. I'm not interested."

Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family."

Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room.

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you." One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day."

Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, 'Do you believe in Easter?' but you have never asked me." Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked..."

Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?"

Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life." Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross
did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.

Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?"

Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday."

Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!"

Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face.

When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, " And God will wipe away Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, " And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!"

Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting.

She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?"

Do you see!!!

2009-04-14T00:34:00.000-07:00

One day little Amy was sitting in her science class and the teacher was explaining Evolution to the children. The teacher asked little Jeremy -

Teacher - "Jeremy do you see the tree outside?"

Jeremy - "Yes."

Teacher - "Jeremy, do you see the grass outside?"

Jeremy - "Yes."

Teacher - "Jeremy, go outside and look up if you can see the sky."

Jeremy - "Okay." (Jeremy returned a few minutes later) "Yes I saw the sky."

Teacher - "Jeremy, did you see God?"

Jeremy - "No."

Teacher - "That's my point! We cannot see God because He does not exist! He isn't there!"

Little Amy spoke up and asked the teacher if she could ask Jeremy some questions. The teacher agreed and Amy asked Jeremy -

Amy - "Jeremy do you see the tree outside?"

Jeremy - "Yes."

Amy - "Jeremy, do you see the grass outside?"

Jeremy - "Yes."

Amy - "Jeremy, did you see the sky?."

Jeremy - "Yessssss!!" Jeremy clearly gets irritated with the questions.

Amy - "Jeremy do you see the teacher?"

Jeremy - "Yes."

Amy - "Jeremy, do you see the teacher's brain?"

Jeremy - "No!"

Amy - "Does that mean she doesn't have one?"

Life is About Correcting Mistakes

2009-04-08T05:17:00.000-07:00

Monica married Hitesh. At the end of the wedding party, Monica's mother gave her a newly opened bank saving passbook With Rs.1000 deposit amount.

Mother: 'Monica, take this passbook. Keep it as a record of your marriage life. When there's something happy and memorable happening in your new life, put some money in. Write down what it's about next to the line. The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in. I've done the first one for you today. Do the others with Hitesh. When you look back after many years, you can know how much happiness you've had.'

Monica shared this with Hitesh while going back home. They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit will be made by them.

This was what the passbook record looked like after a few years.
- 7 Feb: Rs.100, first birthday celebration for Hitesh after marriage
- 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Monica
- 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali
- 15 Apr: Rs.2000, Monica got pregnant
- 1 Jun: Rs.1000, Hitesh got promoted

However, after a few more years, they started fighting and arguing for trivial things. They didn't talk much. They regretted that they had married the most nasty people in the world.... no more love...Kind of typical now-a- days, huh?

One day Monica talked to her Mother:
'Mom, we can't stand it anymore. We agree to divorce. I can't imagine how I decided to marry this guy!!!'

Mother: 'Sure, girl, that's no big deal. Just do whatever you want if you really can't stand it. But before that, do one thing first. Remember the saving passbook I gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first. You shouldn't keep any record of such a poor marriage.'

Monica thought it was true. So she went to the bank, waiting at the queue and planning to cancel the account. While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record. She looked, and looked, and looked. Then the memory of all the previous joy and happiness just came up in her mind.

Her eyes were then filled with tears. She left and went home.

When she was home, she handed the passbook to Hitesh, asked him to spend the money before getting divorce. The next day, Hitesh gave the passbook back to Monica. She found a new deposit of Rs.5000.
And a line next to the record: 'This is the day I notice how much I've loved you through all these years and how much happiness you've brought me.'

They hugged and cried while putting the passbook back into the safe. I don't know how much they saved .I believe the money did not matter any more after they had gone through all the good years in their life.

When you fall, in any way, Don't see the place where you fell instead see the place from where you slipped.

Life is about correcting mistakes.

There is a Season for Everyone

2009-03-25T03:03:00.000-07:00

There was a chief who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly and so he sent them each on the same quest one after the other. The quest was to look at a pear tree and come back and report to him.

The first son went in Winter, the second son in Spring, the third son in Summer and the youngest son went in the Fall. When they had all taken their turns, the chief asked them to report what they had seen.

First son - He said that the tree was ugly, bent and twisted.
Second son - He said that the tree was filled with green buds and looked full of promise
Third son - He disagreed, he said the tree was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful. He said it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.
Youngest son - He disagreed strongly with all his brothers. He said the tree was ripe, drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The chief then explained to his sons that they were all correct and were speaking the truth because they had each seen only one season in the tree's life.

We cannot judge a tree or for that matter a person by only one season. The essence of what a person is - who they are, the pleasure, joy and love that comes from that person can only be measured only when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when its Winter you will miss the promise of your Spring, the beauty of your Summer and the fulfillment of your Fall.

One Flaw In Women

2009-03-23T02:09:00.000-07:00

Ladies.... this is dedicated to you .. Boys.. no offence and please don’t envy. Its a "must"read for you.

By the time the Lord made woman, He was into his sixth day of working overtime. An angel appeared and said, 'Why are you spending so much time on this one?' And the Lord answered, 'Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and should be able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart-and she will do everything with only two hands.'

The angel was astounded at the requirements. 'Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to complete creating her.'

'But I won't, ' the Lord protested. 'I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 20 hour days.'

The angel moved closer and touched the woman. 'But you have made her so soft, Lord.'

'She is soft,' the Lord agreed, but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.'

'Will she be able to think? ', asked the angel.

The Lord replied, 'Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate.' The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. 'Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.'

'That's not a leak,' the Lord corrected, 'that's a tear!'

'What's the tear for?' the angel asked.

The Lord said, 'The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride.'
The angel was impressed. 'You are a genius, Lord. You've thought of everything!

'Woman is truly amazing!!'

And she is!

Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice.
They don't take 'no' for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without food so their family can have some.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world turn.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

However, if there is one tiny flaw in women, it is that they forget their worth.

Hot Pack

2009-03-13T00:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening while I was returning home from work I saw something of extreme interest. Thought I'd share it. I was in a seven seater mini taxi - This is how it looks.

Imagine this with 20 people inside with at least 3 people hanging outside! Anyways it wasn't so bad yesterday. It was a smooth ride from ECIL Cross Roads to Nagaram (thats where I live). A few Kilometers down on the journey two girls got in and sat next to me. One of them was holding a green hot pack. It looks something like this.

Okie so the girls got in a sat next to me. One right next to me and the other next to her near the door. So now the interesting piece comes. The girl near the door, to my surprise opened the hot pack! Guess what was inside!!

Nothing and whole lot of things! The hot pack was open and hollow! There weren't any steel food boxes within as you see in the picture above. In fact, there was money, a phone book, safety pins (etc), thats as much as I could peep and see. She had everything in there except food!

Wow!! The girl used a hot pack as her hand bag! I was totally stunned. I wanted to take a picture of it and I looked at the girl and asked her name. Immediately she looked at me with mistrustful eyes so I decided not to irritate her more and left the girls in peace and got off.

I wish I could've stayed and spoken to her but unfortunetely at the best moment I had to get off. Pity!! A hot pack as a bag!! Too much!! I wonder what are the reasons behind it. Will try and look for the girl and her hot pack today. Hope I get to talk to her. :)

History of Valentine's Day - The Truth

2009-02-15T22:01:00.000-08:00

"Be My Valentine." This is a phrase that conjures up a lot of different images associated with the celebration of Valentine's Day. Cards with hearts and little poems on them. Candy and flowers given to someone you love.

What we call Valentine's Day was at one time the Feast of St. Valentine. It was a religious holiday. My Christian ancestors would be especially shocked at the use of cupid since he was a character from pagan mythology. For Christians in the past this holiday was a day to remember and celebrate the life and death of a Christian martyr.

According to church tradition St. Valentine was a Priest near Rome in 3 rd Centenary. At that time the Roman Emperor was imprisoning Christians for not worshipping the Roman gods. During this persecution Valentine was arrested. Some say he was arrested because he was performing Christian marriages.

During the trial they asked Valentine what he thought of the Roman gods Jupiter and Mercury. Of course Valentine said they were false gods and that the God that Jesus called Father was the only true God. So the Romans threw him in prison for insulting the gods.

While in prison Valentine continued to minister. He witnessed to the guards. One of the guards was a good man who had adopted a blind girl. He asked Valentine if his God could help his daughter. Valentine prayed and the girl was given her sight. The guard and his whole family, 46 people, believed in Jesus and were baptized. Because these people had come to know Jesus, Valentine praised God right there in his prison cell. When the emperor heard about this he was furious that Valentine was still making converts even in prison, so he had Valentine beheaded.

Valentine knew that he might get caught in his Christian activities. He knew that if he told the court the truth about the Roman gods that he would be thrown in prison. And he knew that if he continued to witness to Christ in the prison he would make his captors angry. But he continued, because he loved the Lord and his fellow humans. He was willing to risk his life to free the prisoners and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who needed to hear it. St Valentine was a Jesus Freak like me and my friends who love Jesus just as we love ourselves. We celebrated Valentine's day this year without any fear. After all pyar kiya toh darna kya!! St Valentine demostrated this love when he died for his friends. This is the kind of love that Valentine's day is really about. Finally he was executed on 14th Febuary. Valentine was executed by the Romans because he refused he refused to give up Christian beliefs and faith.

Her Blood is Her Poison

2009-02-15T20:21:00.000-08:00

On valentine's day while the whole world was celebrating love I was in the waiting room of a hospital waiting for my turn to come. One lady walked in, a very familiar face. She turned out to be my mother's old neigbour's daughter and I remember sleeping in her lap when I was very little. She came in with her one year old daughter. The problem was in the child. She is allergic to her own blood. Her blood is her poison. I can't imagine how difficult it might be for the parents to keep their child alive. They change her blood every week. Its just impossible to imagine how the child suffers. I don't know why I'm writing about her but I thought I'd share it.

All of us worry about so many things. Small things such as missing the train in the morning. Getting late to office again missing the bus in the evening. Such little things that don't really matter or rather things that are of no real consequence. They are so many lives out there that are not as blessed as mine. When I compared my health to the child I was ashamed of worrying about myself.

I went home and watched "Finding Nemo". One amazing movie which makes a lot of sense to me. Now that's love. That movie defines love for me in all entirety. If a biological father can love his son so much that he would go to any extent to get his son back, how much more God would do? How deep is His love?

I believe in God and I know that he loves me like nobody else does. The healthy life he has given me is a proof of his love and a proof that I'm lucky.

Not sure this article makes any sense but I needed to tell this story.

My First time at New Life Assemblies, Sec'bad - AG

2009-02-02T01:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I leave home for church at the usual time and I meet a dear friend who was polite enough to ask me if I wanted to go to Pearl City Church as usual or to New Life Assemblies (AG), a little closer to home. I said I didn't mind going to AG. This is what I could click there. Inside - outside of the church.

This is what the Church (from one side) looked from outside on a Sunday afternoon.

This is what it looked like from the inside from the last seat of the balcony. That's where I sat!

Blindness

2009-01-27T20:32:00.000-08:00

Bono sang "Love is blindness, I don't wanna sleep. Won't you wrap the night around me? Oh my heart love is blindness."

What is blindness? It is medically described as the loss or absence of the ability to perceive visual images. Is this all that blindness contains or is there more to it?

Can a man/woman having the ability to perceive visual images be blind? If yes, then how?

Public Transport - A Woman's (Girl's) Nightmare

2009-01-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday during the sermon, Pastor Sandeep flashed a slide which was a news paper article from the Deccan Chronicle with the heading "3 girls are raped every day in Andhra Pradesh". We all know that those are the numbers that the police have. We can't say what the real number is.

As I was going home from church, I was thinking what kind of men would commit such a crime. The answer came to me in the evening when I was returning home from my guitar class. I was in a fully packed 7 seater auto. This auto has a seating capacity of only 12 people including the driver. But in most cases at all times there are more than 20 people, standing and hanging in these 7 seaters. It so happened that there were all women within the compartment and only one man. This man was drunk and he was breathing down upon me and another girl sitting next to me. We continually asked him to stand straight. He moved a little when we began asking the driver to ask this person the get off.

At the next stop another woman got in. I have no idea what happened but suddenly this woman started hitting this drunk man with her fists. Apparently this man tried to touch her. The driver had no choice now but to ask this man to get off and lose his 5 rupees. A person like this drunk man I think is very likely commit a crime like a rape. If he could molest a woman in public he could very well rape one too.

This is a daily occurance in buses and 7 seaters. Its not only the male passengers who commit such disgusting acts but also the bus conductors who are guilty of it. I've been a victim too and I surely think the men who can abuse women in public can commit a crime such as a rape without a second thought. Not only adult women but also little school going girls are their victims.

Is there a solution to this menace? Will there ever be an end?

Dear Old Lady

2009-01-06T19:29:00.000-08:00

There is something about these old ladies that takes me by surprise. I know one such special lady. She is one of my co-passengers in bus number 572, Secunderabad to Rajapet (Nalgonda), one of the district to district buses. She gets into the bus form the ECIL bus terminus and buys a ticket to Rajapet, the last stop of the bus. She mostly sits next to me and out of curiosity I once happened to ask her how far Rajapet was. She told me that if she gets a bus at 7 in the evening from ECIL she would reach Rajapet comfortably by 10 pm. Comfortably one long journey!

This lady looks uneducated and she is. She looks like any other telugu village woman. An old cotton Sari (unstarched) tied so high that her ankles are clearly visible, a blouse that doesnt match the colour of the Sari, dishevelled white hair, a pair of very heavy gold earrings not taken off for a quarter of a century, no footwear and a walking stick is the best desription I can give of her.

One day I asked her about her earrings. She said her eldest son gifted it to her when he got married and she said that was about 30 years ago and she hasn't taken them off since then!! Those earrings are so heavy and big that they have made the piercings of her ears so big that my index finger can fit in them. This is no exaggeration. I asked her about her son. I was told that she has only 2 sons. "Only 2" because her siblings and cousins have 7 or 8 children each. I'm not surprised at all. I asked if her sons live in Rajapet. And the reply I got from her shocked me. She said Rajapet is where her husband's house is and he passed away even before her eldest son got married.

That didnt shock me so much..... but the second part of her reply was... need to be patient to listen to it... Both her sons are highly educated. The elder one is a doctor and the younger one is from a profession that she doesn't know nor can explain. Both her sons are married and are settled. I was very impressed. A doctor! In Rajapet! I thought India is truly shinning. But the light faded when she continued by saying that they are settled abroad and it has been a long time since she last saw them or spoke to them. I asked her in which country are they and she said she didn't know. My next question was if they are in touch with her, does she get to talk to them. She said yes. They call at the local post office. Then she said they don't call often. Last time they called many years ago when the eldest son's wife gave birth. My old lady doesn't recollect how long ago it was and if the baby was a girl or a boy.

My old lady is blind... she cannot see. I was filled with anger and shame when I realised that she lives alone.

Now she has no idea how her sons and their families are. They don't call, don't write to her.

I get to sit beside her for only 15 to 20 minutes as my stop comes and I have to get off. I feel so bad leaving her alone but on the other hand I'm sure she's used the hard life by now.

For me she is a very special old lady. I thought old people have lived their lives, been there and done that but I guess I was worng. Even in old age there is a lot to see, do and go through.

Life seems to be one endless cycle and my old lady says never stop living. Hope and cheer in the heart helps you really live and love uncondtionally. There is lot to learn still.

Happy living!! :D

In Celebration of Being Alive

2008-12-31T22:09:00.000-08:00

Today is New Year's Day! Unbelievably another year has passed away and a new one has begun. Its celebration time and a time to make resolutions (to be broken the same day!).

On one such new year's day when I was in school, I was upset and angry because I couldn't wear pretty earrings to Church. The old one's didn't come off :( I was sitting in my room in the afternoon when my dad gave me a small book to read. It was called "In Celebration of Being Alive" I cannot recall the author's name now.

It was a story about a childerns hospital. In this hospital some children were permenant patients. I cannot remember their illness now but there was one boy who had suffered 3rd degree burns and wanted to be a racer. His car was his neighbour's wheelchair. I remember this boy because his description was extremly graphic and so was his character.

He celebrated each day because he was alive and because his condition was better than most of the children who couldn't even move about as freely as he could. Though he looked as if he was the one who had suffered most, he was the noisiest and happiest of all the kids. I remember this boy because on one hand I was upset and I wasn't celebrating as I couldn't wear a pair of earrings (duh uh! How silly!) and on the other hand there was this boy who was happy all the time even with the scars of his burns.

That story taught me a lot that day and since then I have tried to live each day in celebration of being alive. Sometimes I fail but mostly it helps me be me.

So when people ask me how did I celebrate new year's eve I say I celebrate every day because I live each day and not just on new year's eve. New year's day deserves celebration as another year has been gifted to me. Its a great gift. Not everyone is as lucky as me. :-)

Then and Now

2008-12-17T00:57:00.000-08:00

On Sunday evening my friend Danny sent me a text message asking if I liked the movie Geetanjali. I of course love the movie! Just one of those amazingly simple and amazingly innocent Telugu movies. Ah I miss those good old times when movies such as Geetanjali and Anjali were made. Where have they gone?

I used to love watching Telugu movies back then and now I absolutely hate them! No good music, no acting skills whatsover, no quality. These days Telugu movies are full of trash, violence and noise (inclusive of the music). The women hardly wear any clothes, the men jump and scream. Who acts? Are these movies or road side nautankis! Nautankis are better.

Let's talk about the music. Compare the super duper Illai Raja to the present musicians. Compare "Amani padave tiyaga" to "Aa ante amlapuram" (was this music or was a female tantrik trying to coax an evil spirit into entering someone's body?)

With all the technological advances one would expect better movies to be made but Telugu movies have gone from being exceedingly excellent to utterly horrifying.

Geetanjali, Amla as the sweetest innocence suffering with a heart disease and Nagarjuna as the cancer patient coming to terms with his condition by falling in love with Amla. Now, we have Pokiri kind of roles or just no roles, only running around trees or men seducing the women.

Romance is ugly in Telugu movies. Makes you feel its a dirty thing. It wasn't so always. Again I would take the example of Geetajali. The 3 minute or so long kiss between Amla and Nagarjuna looked like the most innocent kiss ever with a classic song playing in the background.

Now the dance. Compare Amla in a white sari dancing with kids in the grave yard trying to scare Nagarjuna and Nagarjuna dressed like Count Draculla trying to scare them back. Compare that wonderful situational dance sequence to Mahesh Babu doing some crazy gij on Pokiri. No match at all!

For me Geetanjali is "The Movie". Let's if any Telugu movie can be pitted against its quality.

Pain - Small - Pale Blue Dot

2008-12-08T19:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday evening when I was having a pillow fight with my dog, a sharp cry rang out from one end to a street to the other. It was a painful cry of a dog hurt badly. My dog stopped the game and began scratching the door to let herself out. Thinking that a dog fight is ensuing in the street I didnt let my dog out (not wanting her to get hurt). I stepped out into my street to realise that my neighbour's three month old pup was hurt, probably with a broken leg.

Some kid from the next lane hit the pup with a huge stone! When will people learn teach their children to behave themselves and respect animals? The kid got away with just a soft scolding from his mother the reason she gave "jaane dijiye, abhi bacha hai." Imagine that! Isn't a three month old pup a bacha too? If the kid was hit the could point out and cry out and tell where it exactly hurts but what about this pup? It could only hide in the corner withering and whimpering in pain. Some memories came back when I saw this innocent pup in pain.

Few months ago, my friend's pomeranian dog laid a litter of four pups. Unfortunately she was not strong enough and none of her pups survived even for an hour. We have seen humans wailing at the death of their loved ones... I have also wailed out in pain... But seeing this little white furry ceature loved for its cuteness wail out in agony was a painful sight. No words could comfort her.... nobody's pat mattered to her. She did not allow us to bury her pups for a very long time. She just sat near them and kept crying as she licked them clean. Its was a very painful sight. We were all helpless with all the numerous things we had. For me it was not the first time to see an animal crying at the loss of a child.

When I was 11 yrs old, there used to be a Tabela (cow shed) close to my house and we (me, my sisters and friends) used to go to this Tabela to buy fresh milk. There was one particular buffalo, huge and black, with red horns. We used to think she must be the most dangerous of the lot as her horns were painted. On asking the Tabela's owner (the farmer), he said that she was his favorite buffalo and so he had painted her horns red as he didnt want to lose sight of her.

On one of our daily rambles to this Tabela, we heard this very particular buffalo making strange noises. It turned out that she was crying bitterly. The farmer too was shedding tears. We didnt really understand what was going on until we saw a dead calf. The farmer's wife told us that the buffalo gave birth to a calf and it died and so she is crying. The buffalo's cry was so loud and pain so intensely visible that none of the bulls, cows and buffaloes in the shed touched their fodder. It was as if they were all moaning the death of the calf. We kids also began crying. I still don't know why.

When there can be so much solidarity among animals, when they can have a heart as deep as a well, we can surely be better as humans. But I guess the fact that we know that we are a lot more smarter than all the living creatures, that it makes us heartless, makes us hollow. We think our lives are very big. We have cars, we have big houses, we make big money, we are boastful of the things we have but in truth we are very small.

We are so small that we exist in a small pale blue dot suspended by a sun beam in the unimaginable, indescribable, massive universe! Don't believe me? Our entire Solar System is the size of a Quarter (25$ coin I guess) coin as against the entire size of the North American continent! We are so insignificant in our own sub division, the Milky Way Galaxy.

We are so small and we better realise it. Begin by respecting fellow living creature even if its a dog. There is no second Earth in the Universe and dogs or for that matter LIFE is not found anywhere else.

I know I've written too much but couldn't stop once I began.

Hoping that all living creatures are respected. Thats all for now.

Brrr.....!!!

2008-11-30T21:11:00.000-08:00

Hyderabadi winters are famous for being warm winters as when compared to the winters of Delhi and Lucknow and the last weekend was very cold brr.....!! So out came all my warm winter clothes from woollen coats to Cashmere shawls (Oh yeah we Hyderabadis have got it all). I wanted to wear and feel winter around me so much that even when it grew humid I refused to take off my coat.

Incidentally my cousins had come from Lucknow and they began sweating see my warm coat and I was still imagining my breath going brr... and my teeth chattering... Wishing it would get colder without me running the risk of getting roasted in my warm clothes.

I would love to change the ending lines of Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind" - "If winter comes can spring be far behind?" to my own "If winter comes, can winter clothes be far behind?" ;D

Finally!!

2008-11-25T20:32:00.000-08:00

Ah this "first time" has finally happened! I've been driving my scooter for the past few months to run small errands for my mother, such as buying groceries, but within a certain area.... never in traffic. This morning I thought why not take a longer drive than I usauslly did. I took my vehicle out on a heavy vehicled road (trucks and all that...). Before I took a turn onto the road I remembered Satya telling me once that "the first time is always scary and then you get used to it."

I saw the huge eight and twelve wheeler vehicles and sollowed hard. It was time to either move ahead or retreat. It was now or never. I went forward concentrating to keep my scooter to the left. I was amazed at myself. The wind blowing gave me an assuring feeling that I was the King of the road. I really felt like royatly.

It was a really good experience to finally do what I was wanting to do since ages without making mistakes and more importantly without crashing into anyone or anything.

Finally!!

Five Pointers

2008-11-23T23:24:00.001-08:00

Five pointers on why I hate a certain person the whole world is going ga ga about right now -

Believes in abortion under any circumstance (virtually on demand)
Supports sex education for kindergarten kids (?????)
Agrees with repealing Federal Defense of Marriage Act and is OK with homosexual marriages, plans to make it legal in all 50 states of USA.
Plans to appoint left activist judges
Supports homosexuality, bisexuality and transexuality in the military

I hate him! ;(

Hope Nestlings

2008-11-23T19:15:00.000-08:00

Well here is an update on HOPE, the location had shifted a few months ago from the noisy dins of the city to the serene calm of a village. The kids simply love it because now there are no angry khadoos neigbours to ask them to shut up. The children now have their own play ground, kitchen garden and at times even cook outdoors for fun. Just ideal for growing up children.

There are four new additions to the brood and guess what they're just four days old and haven't opened their eyes yet. The childrens pet - street dog "Gypsy" who hates taking baths and loves the children laid a litter of four puppies and I was one of those few lucky people whom she allowed near her babies (all thanks to the kids) They're just so tiny! The kids are happy that they have new playmates and I'm happy for them too.

Meet the three stars who love posing for the camera. In the picture above you can see Srikanth, Grita and little Anita from the left hand side. They seem to love the camera more than the puppies. Then there is Jemima she loves dancing and expects me to take perfect shots of her movements. Psst... thats difficult as she moves too fast so everytime I take her picture I need to shout out "statue Jemima!"

The children are all set to celebrate Christmas and are very excited about it. Its celebration time for the kids!

Merry Christmas to all!!

Itching Fingers

2008-11-17T21:41:00.000-08:00

Long long time ago in an age far far away...... nope I'm not reciting a fairy tale.

Ahem... Long long time ago in an age far far away (perhaps not so long ago) I used to write poetry which made sense to no one except me. I remember I was in 7th standard, 11 yrs of age. I wrote a small four line poem and showed it to my English teacher. It went something like this "Oh heavenly bodies...." Yep about stars in a sky like any 11 year old would imagine. Coming back to the teacher she didn't believe a single word of what I had wriiten and instead complained to my dear mother that I had copied it from some one. It couldn't have come from my pen she said (I was supposed to be dumbest in the class). Now that was a blow so back then I gave up with my first poem itself.

My fingers began to itch once again two years later and this time I didn't show the poems to anyone, kept them secret under lock and key but unfortunately my younger sister found the key and looo.... all hell was let lose out of pandora's box! Next time I promised myself I'd be careful.

Had another writing fit several years later I guess I was 19 then. Wrote a lot and this time showed it to a few weird friends of mine and guess what they loved the weird stuff I wrote!! Some relief there. I guess Mother Nature didn't appreciate my talents much so she sent a flood so bad that water entered in to my room and all my poems which were hiding in a shoe box under my bed got washed away. There went all my work :(

Never wrote after that but since the past few weeks I've been reading stuff written by some people like me at Church. Very impressive.

My hands have begun itching again!! May God save my work this time.

Graves Not So Grave

2008-11-02T20:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was All Soul's Day and I always go to the graveyard where my ancestors are buried to lay flowers on their graves. The newest addition being my Dad's grave. But I'm not going to write about something grave and sad. The graveyard or cemetary where my folks are buried is an ancient one. Every time I take a round in the cemetary I'm amazed (by the way I've been doing this since I was three years old). The old graves are so beautiful and magnificient. Most of them are the graves of Britishers. There is a grave of a certain Mr. James Macphearson next to my grandfather's grave. It has a magnificient Cross and an Angel clinging to the Cross. Sheer beauty in marble. A bit farther away is the grave of a certain Mrs. Florence Hilliers. She must've been a beautiful woman as her grave has her own statue holding a wreathe standing on it. Brilliant piece of art!

But alas! There is no one who lays flowers on these beautiful graves. I and my sisters always take extra flowers to put them on the graves of these forgotten Britishers and its sad to see that they all had died young below the age of 40.

The oldest grave that I've come across till date is of a Captain Woodhunter. This grave was built in the year 1710 and is still standing straight. Amazing isn't it!

The Indian Constitution - Article 25

2008-09-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

Article 25 of the Indian Constitution gives every Indian the Right to Freedom of Religion. The essence of this article is that every Indian citizen has the right to not only follow but also propagate the religion of his/her choice. It guarantees the right to choose the faith we want to follow.

Do we follow it? Do we believe in it? I think some handfuls of people don’t. I guess this is why we see communal riots occurring so often. We as citizen enjoy this liberty of having the right to make a choice unlike many communist countries but do we respect it enough? In my opinion we will be able to completely enjoy and respect this right only when we learn to respect the choice of others.

People chose what they believe in so why turn violent against them and prosecute them in the name of religion? All these fanatic bad examples those are present in every community need to take a chill pill.

Live and let others live in peace.

India Burning Again??

2008-09-13T23:49:00.000-07:00

I was still trying to digest the news of the serial blasts in Delhi's famous markets yesterday when I had another shock at 1:30 am at night.

I received an SMS from my friend Monty this is what it said. "Emergency! Pray for Churches in Banglore. RSS beat up 36 Pastors; now heading towards New Life College. They have also attacked SIACS. Pray for Bible College students. Please forward this message." Shocked as I already was I switched on the television immediately. To my surprise I saw and heard no mention of Banglore on any news channel. I called Monty after surfing news channels of all languages. This is what he said.

Me: Monty is the news you gave true? I don't see anything on t.v

Monty: Yes I know even I don't see anything on t.v but I'm sure its true as I got the message from a friend who's from Banglore. He saw a Pastor being beaten up.

Me: Okay, I guess it will come in the news by morning.

We then wished each other good night but hardly slept. Me, Monty and other such Christians who received this message last night hardly slept.

No news till now and its already almost 12 hours since I received that SMS. It was probably a rumour. Probably.

9:00 am

My cousin Robin sends me another SMS stating the following.

Fresh riots in Orissa today: A nun burnt alive. Several Christian workers assaulted with deadly weapons. Orissa Christians forecast more trouble. Mobilize prayer support. Forward SMS to all Believers.

I asked myself what is going on?

I still have no answers. All I know at this hour of darkenss we need to rely on our faithful God. Just a passing phase hopefully.

Then I had other thoughts. How can such an inhuman thing happen in a very secular city like Banglore? How soon will these fanatics reach the home of Christian believers like me form beating up Pastors. (I guess when their high command allows them to graduate from Pastors to People). What is the Indian Govt doing? Why aren't the news channels showing the truth? (I'm guessing thats what they're meant to do).

Finally I asked myself Am I safe in my own country?

Did not have to wait long for an answer. I'm not safe here. India is burning again and I want to flee with my family and friends.

Why is India burning this time? Because a VHP leader was murdered by a maoist? Where do Christians or for that matter any minority feature here? What are these bodies VHP and RSS? Who the hell do they think they are? If you ask me I'd say they don't know what they are doing. If they were themselves they would've been rational humans and not fanatics bent on murdering innocent people for no reason. They're just possessed (not the Exorcist way). They are blinded by the opium called Religon. Karl Marx was right I guess "Religion is the opium of the masses".

I hope these lost sheep come back to their senses and treat man as man and especially the way they would like to be treated by others.

I would welcome the feeling of being a second rate citizen in another country when compared to feeling an outsider, a minority, a doormat in my own country.

Treat others as you youself want to be treated. Hope the same does not happen to you VHP RSS and all such other inhuman disgusting bodies. I'm saying this because Jesus said "Those who live by the sword die by the sword". He also said "Pray for your enemies and for those whom you hate. For if you pray for only those whom you love, what reward is there in it?"

So I shall pray not only for the poor souls of us who feel threatened but also for the poorer souls who threaten.

For related news read here http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14757893

Ships In Harbor Are Safe

2008-07-30T21:12:00.000-07:00

Ships in harbor are safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.

Singer, guitarist and song writer Kurt Cobain was one such ship that was on the treacherous open seas.

Post his death Kurt is remembered as the most enigmatic musicians ever. Kurt passed away at the age of 27 leaving behind a legacy that is still going strong.

“Smells like teen Spirit” had become the cult song of his generation and he became the unlikely spokesperson and hero of his times. Kurt put in so much energy and passion into his performances that he never had any left for himself.

Nobody knows how he met his end. He was found with blood coming out of his ears and a shotgun facing his chin. Nobody knows exactly how long Kurt lay dead. It is estimated 3 days. His was found on 8^th April’1994 but is said to have killed himself on 5^th April '1994. High amounts of Valium and Heroin were also found in his body.

The film Last Days tries to capture what could have been Kurt’s final moments alive. Kurt’s biography, Heavier Than Heaven (2001), put together by Charles. R. Cross, also does not give us a complete picture of Kurt’s life as neither did his mother nor Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl had any say in it.

Early Mornings

2008-07-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

Waking up early morning can be bothersome for most of us, at least it is so for me. Yet waking up early is most advantageous and I'm trying to make most of these advantages.

My mind is fresh and most active in the mornings and this helps me concentrate on my work or whatever I chose to do in the mornings. It allows me the flexibility to close my working day before the evening comes. This gives me time to pursue my avocations better and also makes the family happy that I'm more in their presence now.

The best about starting early is that I get more time with the kids at Hope. I'll be not only be able to play with them but also help them with their studies.

Early morning working hours are the best suits me just fine.

Local Language Unfashionable

2008-07-06T23:30:00.000-07:00

Does anybody have any idea how many languages exist in the World?
I don't. All I know is that I'm well conversant in three languages and know two partially well.
Here in India lot of importance is given to mother tongues or the language you acquire while in your mother's womb. For me its Hindi.

I live in South India, a "No Hindi Zone" and the language spoken here is Telugu. I witnessed something really sad amongst students and fellow young citizens like me. They don't like Telugu! They think being heard speaking in a local language is unfashionable. They fall so low as to even announce that they don't know their own language. Shocking isn't it.

So much importance is given to English that people forget that they have their very own language at which they are masters. I know English is important but these so called local, regional or vernacular languages are also important. They are our very identity, giving us a sense of belonging a sense of being ourselves and the privilege of being proud of our culture.

I'd like to add that these local languages are not local.... they were spoken by Kings and Queens. Who are we then to deny our own language? To me Telugu is the Italian of the East. I love it!

One last thing for all those who deny their mother tongue just because its unfashionable.... Its the language you were born into, your are a master of it, its the language you read well, its the language you write wonderfully well in and lastly its the language you dream in.

So be proud of your language. I am.

Hope 2

2008-06-22T06:19:00.000-07:00

How to be a part of Hope?

Teach children in your spare time - your skills
Celebrate your special occasions for more meaningful time
Donate book, clothes, toys etc

Support a Child

Supporting a chlid's education would cost Rs 450/- which includes school and tution fee
Complete sponsorship of a child per month would cost Rs 1050/-
Monthy updates, report cards will be available on a monthly basis for each sponsored child
You can spend time with the children whenever feasible :)

To be continued....

Hope!

2008-06-19T23:25:00.000-07:00

"Hope" and "Wait" are the two words that contain the entire human wisdom according to the French novelist and playwright Alexandre Dumas. So today I'm going to tell you all something about Hope. Hope is my family, my happiness and my committment.
Hope is a home for orphan and under priveledged children. Its a genuine pleasure and an absolute joy to see the smiles on the faces of these children aged between 2 and 15. Once you're there the children wont let you go and you wouldn't like at leave the place either (well atleast this applies to me). Hope is my addiction and i can never get enough of it :)
We have most fun when we play kabadi and let me tell you the girls are better than the boys.
There are some dancing stars too. Few of the kids participated in a Disney channel sponsored High School Musical dance competition and won the first prize for the Andhra Pradesh Zone on behalf of their school.
Lots more to tell you...... to be continued!

Novels Into Movies!

2008-06-13T02:11:00.000-07:00

Reading a novel or watching a movie, which one would you prefer as your best mode of entertainment?
In today's modern world novels are things of the past we'd rather prefer a movie.
I'll tell you why.
Who has the time to sit with a 600 page book for days together to enjoy a good story? Nobody, not today atleast. Thats why people prefer to watch a story that begins and ends within 3 hours and also gives visual pleasure. But my query is what about those movies that are made on these 600 - 1000 pages novels? Do we watch them? If we do, do we like them?
Most of such movies are a filled with a little or (in most cases) lots of "masala" to suit the sesibilities of the so called "audiences".
The best example I would quote here is Jane Austen's timeless classic "Pride and Prejudice" and Gurinder Chadda's murderous attempt to make it into a movie bollywood style! I wished Eliza and Dracy didnt exist in the novel after having watched this disaster! Another version was released by Working Title Films and directed by Jeo Wright in 2005. The movie had its differences from the novel but nevertheless satisfied me immensly.
What do you people think about this trend of making movies out of timeless classics?
On my part I'd rather spend my time reading than watching caricatures made out of my favorite books.

Something Stupid.....

2008-03-06T22:39:00.000-08:00

1. At the movies:
When you meet acquaintances/friends...
Stupid Question:-
Hey, what are you doing here?
Answer:-
Don't u know, I sell tickets in black over here..

2. In a bus:
A heavy lady wearing pointed high-heeled shoes steps on your
feet...
Stupid Question:-
Sorry, did that hurt?
Answer:-
No, not at all, I'm on local anesthesia.....why don't you try again.

3. At a funeral:
One of the teary-eyed people present asks...
Stupid Question:-
Why, why him, of all people?
Answer:-
Why? Would it rather have been you?

4. At a restaurant:
When you ask the waiter
Stupid Question:-
Is the "Butter Paneer Masala" dish good??
Answer:-
No, its terrible and made of adulterated cement. We occasionally also spit
in it.

5. At a family get-together:
When some distant aunt meets you after
years...
Stupid Question:-
Munna, Chickoo, you've become so big.
Answer:-
Well you haven't particularly shrunk yourself.

6. When a friend announces her wedding, and you ask...
Stupid Question:-
Is the guy you're marrying good?
Answer:-
No, he's a miserable wife-beating , insensitive lout...it's just the money ..

7. When you get woken up at midnight by a phone call...
Stupid Question:-
Sorry. Were you sleeping?
Answer:-
No. I was doing research on whether the Zulu tribes in Africa marry or not.
You thought I was sleeping....you dumb witted moron.

8. When you see a friend/colleague with evidently shorter hair...
Stupid Question:-
Hey have you had a haircut?
Answer:-
No, its autumn and I'm shedding......

9. At the dentist when he's sticking pointed objects in your mouth...
Stupid Question:-
Tell me if it hurts?
Answer:-
No it wont. It will just bleed.

10. You are smoking a cigarette and a cute woman asks...
Stupid Question:-
Oh, so you smoke.
Answer:-
Gosh, it's a miracle ........it was a piece of chalk and now it's in
flames!!!

Books Books Books

2008-03-06T02:58:00.001-08:00

Books???
What are they?

A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of paper, parchment, or other material, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf, and each side of a sheet is called a page. A book produced in electronic format is known as an e-book.

Okay that got too serious :-)

Who needs books??
We don't. We're Gen X. We flee from books the way a Princess would flee from an ogre (everybody is not Princess Fiona). But I guess in this context, if a book is an ogre and I a Princess, then I'd love it with all I have. I've been brought up reading, reading, reading or rather I choose to grow up that way.
The habit of reading is said to be the most sophisticated and civilized habit. Who cares we're all rebels we don't need books to make us civilized. Or do we?
The definition of being civilized has also changed. For our predecessors, being civilized mainly meant being cultured, well behaved and well respected in society. For us being civilized is being 'in'. Wearing the 'in' brands, speaking the 'in' language (which is by the way filled with profanity and slang), etc. So why can't we read the 'in' books.
The the book or the series that has triggered of this rare phenomenon in todays world is.....
any guesses??
oh come on its the "Harry Potter" series. Its 'in' right. Its keeps you wanting for more. Well I'll not discuss why the series has become such a rage among children and adult alike. I want you to note the change it has brought.
People it has brought reading back into our lives.
God Bless J.K Rowling for that.
If you know of any more books that have kicked off a strom, please let me know. I'd love to get my hands on it :-)

Africa

2008-03-03T01:47:00.000-08:00

Africa!!!
'The Dark Continent" they call it. Why is it called so? Ever wondered why? Is it because its natives are black skinned?

I don't think so. From my point of view it is 'Dark' because its highly backward. No amount of international aid can over come the rate of starvation deaths, infant mortality rate, and also the number of people infected with HIV and AIDS.

Why is Africa, (the richest continent in the ancient days, read about the Pharoahs of Egypt or the Empire of Ethiopia) in such a state today? Do we blame it on the whites who rule them even today for destroying their culture and hereitge and rendering them helpless with an identity crisis?

Why are the blacks so violent? Is it because of their violent past? Is it because of the violent legacy left behind by the Europeans? Or is it just because they like being tough?

Can anyone answer my questions?

Africa has been on my mind since childhood and i need answers.

If anyone of u who visit my blog have any answers for me please do post your views and do me a favor.

Thanks for visiting.