Freedom in Truth

Your brain is not your mind

2008-07-12T00:22:00.000-07:00

There is a battle for our minds!

The mind is not the brain. They work differently. Somebody said, the difference between the mind and the brain is the difference between a piano and the pianist. The music played on the piano is only good as the pianist who plays it. The mind is the pianist and the brain is the piano. You can be what you are by what you think. Whatsoever man thinks that is what he is.

Have you noticed that the last thing you think about before bed time is what you will get up with! What you think can either kill you or lift you up. Our brain may function well under stress at work. Outwardly you may be a person who can be envied, but what is in your mind is who you truly are. You can be a very sharp intelligent person but totally miserable on the inside. Why? Because, what you think about others, and about yourself has trapped you. You are a slave to yourself. Have you wondered why some are happy and you are not? Have you thought of why people whom you meet seem to be OK while you always feel “pain” and sense of worthlessness? Why is it that you think that the whole world is against you? Why do you almost always feel the need to be “lifted up” or encouraged? Perhaps there is something that keeps bothering you, or some unresolved issue in still lingering deep within you. Maybe it is something from the past, or it is some kind of false guilt. Perhaps there is hurt and a feeling of being constantly let down or some sense of insecurity. Perhaps you need to learn to forgive and love your self. If you are not able to love yourself, and forgive yourself, you will never be able to be happy. Remember, it's the mind and not the brain that needs a transformation.

The scriptures are clear:
“Do not conformed to this world but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind. (by its new ideals and new attitude) so that you may prove for yourselves , what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (In His sight for you)” Romans 12:2 (Amplified)

It is important that we must prove to ourselves first! We cannot wait to “prove to the others” that we are right. Very few will ever accept you as you are. So, it is time that we change our mind about ourselves and make sure that our mind is transformed in alliance to His word. The peace that we want to have, we will ultimately find it in our obedience to the word of God and not in the notion that we are being accepted or not by others.

Prove to yourself first that you are walking in the truth, and that the Lord has accepted you as you are! There is no other place of security that we would rather want! The "Peace that passes all understanding" is the bed rock of stability in our own lives. This peace we get, because of the peace of Christ in our hearts. We cannot have this peace by ourselves. Peace without Christ is temporary and fluctuates with the circumstances that surround us. Jesus said, "My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives I give I unto you" This is a peace that the "world" cannot give or can it take away!

Now prove to yourself first, that you have this peace. You are the apple of His eye! He has saved you with His blood! You are precious in His sight! So I emphasize again, it's time that you change your mind and make sure that your mind is transformed in alliance to His word. The peace that we find, is in our obedience to the Word of God.

Come on! get over the hurdles, put your head up high and Prove to yourself first that you are walking in the truth and say “ I am a child of God, NOTHING can get me down.

One little word

2008-07-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

There is one word that makes us internalize a situation that we may be going through. This word is like a microscope, searching deep within our own selves. Or it is like looking for a lost diamond in a dark cave with just a small flash light! I mean, you keep looking, and looking in every corner and crack until you finally find it.

This word looks for an answer or a closure. This word dissects a situation that we are in, and has the capability to either lift us up or pull us down. When it lifts us up it brings us so much encouragement and joy. Perhaps great thinkers and scientists had used this word and asked the right questions. They came up with answers like the light bulb, the locomotive, or penicillin that saved many lives. Others came up with great ideas like the the car or the airplane. Many other great inventions became so useful to mankind.

But this word, when it pulls us down, it can take us into a deep pit from where we may not be able to get up without help. This word could choke you, and you may feel like it's really killing you. There could be a tightness in your chest and you may feel like that it's hard to breathe! This word is good when we want to analyze a situation that could bring a positive out-look. But many have committed suicide because of this same word. Perhaps the following questions may be similar to some of the situations that you may be facing. And in these questions you will find the word what I am talking about.

Why didn't I do what I was supposed to do. Why did I speak the way I spoke and get into so much trouble? Why am I alone? Why is my pain not going away? Why did I not get up early to catch the bus to go to work? Why am I getting short changed in life? Why am I in a situation where others are using me to prosper, while I am in the same position for several years? Why did my parents have to go away from my life so soon? Why am I not healed in spite of my faith in God? Why did not the Lord protect my children from this awful accident? Why are not my loved ones here with me anymore? Is there a God? If there is a God why does he let awful things happen to me? Why did my Mom or Dad disown me and leave me in a foster home? Why is there so much of immorality and corruption around us? Why was I betrayed by the same people whom I loved and trusted? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why are there so many unanswered questions in my life? Why? Why? Why?.....

We may not get answers to all the questions in life! And even if get an answer we may not have expected the answer we got! It would perhaps have been much better if we had just "let it go" There is so much pain and sorrow all around us. Sometimes it is better not to ask "why?" but simply trust in God.

King David says, that tears has been his "food" day and night. He has been looked down upon because of his faith in God, as people had said, "now where is your God?" He had no answer for the problems that he faced, and he felt depressed and asks, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? The way I look at it, there is a glimmer of hope in this question. He was not totally desperate for an answer. That's because he has had experiences in his life that had pulled him out of many, many difficult situations. These experiences had to do with his relationship with the Creator.

In the next sentence he says "Put your hope in God" and goes on to say "for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Can you see the way he finds refuge and comfort in his dire situation? One, is that his hope is in God. Secondly, he chooses to praise the Lord! There is strength and hope in these choices that David makes. Habakkuk the prophet writes,"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments."

This goes against every reason. How can you sing in turbulent moments! The gas price is up, there are reports of doom and gloom in the economic front world-wide, and there is very little that we can do for ourselves.

But as sure as it ever can be, God is our hope. Let us not go to Him as a last resort, but let us go to Him first and trust in Him for every thing. Once again I would like to emphasize that we can go to God only because we have a relationship with Him.

Personally, in many of the situations that I face, I go again and again to the one who loves me and cares for me. It is here and only here that I find peace and comfort. Many times I am not looking for an answer but looking for comfort and security deep within.

I'm sure you will understand that sometimes no one, can give you an answer, and that, the more we ask "Why?" the more we find ourselves at sea. Somebody said, "What can you do with the wind?" The only thing is to let the wind blow. Try and use this force to get you ashore, or if you cannot do it just "ride the wind" If you are a believer the "Storm killer" is within us. He said. "I will never leave you nor forsake you" The storms on the outside can rage, but let the storms within be calmed! Calmed by the words that come out our lips! That's the key!

Then the people around you will be surprised that you are not asking "why" but just trusting the one who will calm the storm! Believe me they would be wanting to associate themselves with you. That's because they can sense your inner strength. Being calm in the storm, is maturity! Praising Him in the storm gives you strength and hope! There is a song in the storm! The Song that quells the swelling sea! You may not actually "sing" this song for others to hear, but others will hear the "silent song" and "sing along" with you. They will agree with you and be with you, because they know that the "storm killer" is within you. It is a pleasure to be with such people.

You will find what I am saying is true. But it's up to you.

You could go on asking "why" until the cows come home! You will never get an answer. Or you can put your trust in the Lord and sing songs of praise!

What's your choice?

Keep it Simple

2008-07-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

We live in a world of sophistication. Simple things almost have no meaning or value. It's funny that the more sophisticated things are the more expensive it gets, and people go for it. The Christian world is not very much different. It seems that technique, and technology have taken the place of the Spirit of God in the Church! The modern Church can have all that it could have in material goods and equipment, but where is the manifested presence of God?

I remember the time when we used to pray until the Lord met with us. We waited in His presence until we knew that He had spoken. We had reserved the time on the Lord's day for Him and Him alone. There were no schedules to keep, no people to party after service, no appointments that kept us from touching the hem of His garment! There was no football match to see after service. No! nothing took our time except being in His presence till He showed up! And He did show up with healing power! He showed up when demons were cast out. He showed up when people started to forgive each other and reconcile with each other. He showed up because we wanted Him and Him alone!

The early Church followed simple practices, which resulted in the phenomenal growth of the body of believers. Here are some examples: You see the method may have changed but the message is the same.

Receiving the promise: “Then they that gladly received the word were baptized: and the same day were added unto them about 3000 souls! (Acts 2 41) How did one message have the power to change the lives of so many people? It was simple obedience to what Jesus said that they should not leave Jerusalem unless they receive the promised Holy Spirit.(Acts1:4-5,8)

Remembering His command: “Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” (NIV Acts 2:43) How did this take place? The people in obeying His command continued steadfastly to the teaching of the apostles, had Fellowship with each other, celebrating the cross daily with the “Holy Communion” and prayed.

Reaching out to each other:And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47) How was this possible? The believers cared for each other and fulfilled each other’s needs in the Church. They met daily in the place of worship and in homes, shared meals with “singleness of heart, praising God and having favour with all people (Acts 2: 43-47a).

Reaping the reward: But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. (Acts 4:4)

Within a few weeks the Church had over 8,000 recorded believers, who were committed to Jesus the Christ. The whole place was in an uproar! Have you asked why? The number one reason was that the Church was not interested in religion, or entertainment. They were committed to the saving of souls! They demonstrated this commitment by coming before the Lord; by opening their homes and hearts, spending time, and fellowshipping in the Word of God. No wonder the Lord worked in healing this lame man. Yes, there was opposition, but the Church prevailed. In fact, there was a greater sense of unity, and brotherhood amongst the believers. The Holy Spirit, with great power, gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ: and great grace was upon them all.

They kept it simple! Simple things such as prayer, unity in studying the Word, genuine fellowship with practical care for one another, and obedience to God given authority! There was no reliance on attractive worship, or sophisticated equipment to “keep the Spirit”. We sometimes try to compensate by doing “other minor things” but forget to bathe EVERYTHING in prayer. It is only when we fall short of the desire of God in our hearts that “other things” become “spiritual”.

Are we missing out on something? Let’s read the scriptures. Meditate upon them and allow the Spirit of God to work a deep “work” in our hearts! Let us return to the original vision that the Lord gave us! Let us bind our hearts together in one purpose, and get rid of “sugar coated” Christianity, and get on with fighting the real enemy the Devil!

My message once again, is “KEEP IT SIMPLE” and see the power of God at work! Let’s get back to basics. Is this so hard to do? Just think about it; it is not that it is hard, but that our priorities are lop-sided! We are mixing up important things and urgent things! Important things can wait, but urgent things can’t! “What is the urgency” you may ask! Well, the time is short, and God is on the move. We must move with Him! Other countries and churches are experiencing a renewal and revival, why not us?

What is needed is commitment! A commitment to pray; to fellowship; to seek His face; for the genuine love for the Word and true practical fellowship. This is not too much to ask!

Changing the atmosphere

2008-06-30T02:04:00.000-07:00

The atmosphere around us may not always be pleasant. Now we can "tolerate" this and call it "Karma". This will put us in a position of accepting the things that happen to us as "fate'" Or some of us may just give into the pressure and simply "cave in". Others may take a bold stand and go about doing things to change the circumstance. But how do we do that? There is precious little that we can do by ourselves. What do we do to get out of the situation?
First of all, we need to understand the power of God that is within us. Unless we get a grip on who we are in Christ, we tend to live a mundane “Christian Life”. As Paul puts it, it is like “having a form of godliness without any power.”
Some how, many have not fully grasped the potential power that we have in Christ. We need to change that. The atmosphere around us influences and affects our minds. For example, the decor in a restaurant may put us in the mood to having a good meal! Music in the church tailored to fit the various occasions and seasons usually gives us an anticipation of things to come.
We have got so used to being changed by the atmosphere! Dear friends it is time to realize that we must change the atmosphere. When the priests stepped into the flooded river Jordan carrying the Ark of the Covenant, the atmosphere changed, for the waters parted allowing the people to go across into the land of Canaan. Jesus made the water into wine that changed the atmosphere. Peter and John went to the temple for worship, and healed a man who has been lame for decades. That changed the atmosphere. People expected Paul to swell up and die when a poisonous snake bit him in the hand. When this did not happen the atmosphere changed.
In fact almost everything around us has to change. My intention is to encourage each other in making a difference around us.
Let us change the atmosphere and not let the atmosphere change us.

From Heart to Heart

2007-10-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

The Jew with a Palestinian heart!

I saw the following story being aired some time back on BBC. This true story stirred my heart and I want to share it with you today. This is especially because I have found forgiveness for me and a great release in forgiving others. Here is the story...

“On one hand I had a Jewish heart, on the other a Palestinian heart. For me it made no difference. They were both hearts.” Said an Israeli doctor on B.B.C. world news. How did this happen?
The situation in the Middle East has been in the news for some time. The Palestinians and the Israelis have been in bitter conflict for a long time now. Thousands upon thousands have been hurt. Scores were killed in Tel-Aviv the other night by a Palestinian terrorist, and there was a sharp cry from the Israelis for a severe retaliation. On the other hand, the Israelis killed many Palestinian civilians, who threw stones and hand made bombs at them.
The Palestinians who feel “Persecuted” deprived of “their land” are in no mood for a ceasefire. The Israelis presumably killed a man from the Arab side. He had a beautiful family. The father of this man donated the heart of his son, to the hospital in the Jewish quarter. This heart was given to an Israeli who needed a heart transplant. The Palestinian father with tears in his eyes said, “For us it does not matter, who it is. We wanted to save a life” The Jewish man in the hospital said with emotion “I am for ever grateful for this family for saving my life, I am alive today because of this family. My prayer is that there will be peace” The commentator said that both sides were touched by this gesture.
Just think about it. If sworn enemies can make a sacrifice like this, what about us Christians who love the Lord? Forgiveness is the Key to reconciliation & salvation. Jesus said, “if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”(Matthew 6:14-15) Many people are under some kind of a bondage just because they do not have the heart to forgive. We must forgive. There is no other option! How can God forgive us, unless we forgive? This character must show it self in our Christian life: “be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another even as God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”(Ephesians 4:32) “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Colossians 3:13)

Confessing our faults to one another, and reconciling with each other bring healing and restitution. It is easier said than done! But we must let the love of Jesus permeate within our hearts. We must pay the consequences for our sins, but we are forgiven if we confess our sins. (1 John:1:9) Our children are sometimes chided for doing wrong. That is the consequence. But, we also forgive them. Forgive others, and live in the freedom that God has given you.
How about showing your heart of forgiveness, just like this Palestinian man who gave his son’s heart to a Jew! I believe that this Arab family has the protection of Rehab in the time of Joshua. Do some thing tangible to demonstrate your forgiveness!

Jesus demonstrated forgiveness by saying "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" What may I ask are the words you will use to forgive those who have hurt you? Demonstrating forgiveness is powerful! Very powerful.

Perceptions

2007-10-19T21:38:00.000-07:00

I read the following story in an article some time ago. This amply illustrates how we can be influenced by perceptions. What we perceive in our minds influences our behaviour patterns and our general attitude in life.
One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" “It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked. "Oh yeah," said the son. "So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them." The boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perception a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have. Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends! Life is too short and friends are too few.

This is how it is when we tend to look at things our own way! The safest thing is to see the perception of God in our lives. This can be done only if we get the Bible to “Work” in our lives. Revival in the church cannot be experienced if we go on as we are. There is so much that we have to be aware of in the “spirit world” Get God’s perspective of the Church and so much will be different.

Perhaps so many of us have come from either a non-Christian or a “traditional background”, and now belong to a group of “first generation”, “born again” believers, and do not fully comprehend what true revival is. We have only been exposed to a kind of pseudo-Christianity, which is very much mundane, shallow and powerless. We must get the correct perspective of true, radical Christian living! This is one reason why we emphasize prayer. We believe that this will give us the correct perspective to carry on in the ministry. We cannot afford to be where we are and expect the revival fires to “burn” in our hearts.

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the minister decided to visit him. It was a chilly day. That evening, the minister found the man at home all alone sitting by a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his minister's visit, the man welcomed him, and led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The minister made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, he took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The minister glanced at his watch and chose this time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more, with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the minister reached the door to leave, his host said, with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday".
We expect you to be on fire for the Lord! The only way to keep it burning is to come together in fellowship and love. Let the Holy Spirit deal with all our selfishness, and ego. Let him cut us down to size and help us to merge with the vision that He has given us. You will see a difference when we begin to understand the concept of “corporate anointing” It is truly wonderful to experience the Lord in this manner.
Please take note of the lessons that we can learn from these stories. If we want to be "burning" we must be in the fire. Isolation will "kill" the fire from within. Remember perceptions are not independent of knowledge. There must be a reference point in our lives. To perceive spiritual matters we must be "quickened" or "made alive" in our spirits. This can be done ONLY by being obedient to the Word of God, the Bible.

DOGFIGHT AND BIRTHRIGHT

2007-08-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

Dogfight is a common term used to describe close-range aerial combat between military aircraft. The term originated during World War I. It was the preferred fighter tactic of positioning the aircraft behind enemy aircraft. From this position, a pilot could fire his guns on the enemy without being a target himself. This term came into existence because when two fighter aircraft circle each other trying to get this position, it really resembles two dogs chasing each other's tails. Oswald Boelcke, a German fighter ace, was the first to write down basic rules for aerial combat manoeuvring. He advised pilots to attack from the direction of the sun (towards which the defending pilot could not see), or to fly at a higher altitude than the opponent. Most of these rules are still as valuable nowadays as they were a century ago.
But there is another kind of dogfight that is illegal. Often a stockpile of heroin, or cocaine, gel-caps, marijuana , drug dealers, guns, weights, chains, pit bull terriers, home made harnesses and other equipment are telltale signs of dog-fighting.

Dog-fighting exploded into the headlines in April, after Virginia police raided a house and property owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. After obtaining a search warrant after the arrest of Vick's cousin on a drug charge they found 66 dogs, including 55 pit bulls - some of them badly scarred. Last month, a federal grand jury indicted Vick and several associates. Speaking in a hotel in Richmond Virginia after pleading guilty for his involvement in illegal dogfighting, Vic said, "I want to apologize for all the things that I've done and that I've allowed to happen” He also said, “I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player. I take personal responsibility for my actions.” He also said that he has found Jesus and asked his forgiveness and that it the right thing to do. Now Vick faces up to five years in prison. Judge Henry Hudson will sentence Vick on Dec. 10. He still faces the possibility of facing state charges of animal cruelty, and could face further jail time if found guilty.

Vick had everything going for him. Why did he do that? He earned several millions and was looked on as a hero by many. Businesses had invested in him. He is a very rich man. He need not have gone into dogfighting to earn a few bucks! Now he stands to loose over a million dollars. Its unfathomable how people continue to make “wrong choices” and face the subsequent “consequences” It happens all the time. “Wrong Choices” are made to satisfy an impulse. This could mean shopping in a mall and find that the credit card balances have exceeded your budget (if you have one that is!) or that your bank account is overdrawn. It could mean that a “one time fling” has cost you your family. Or that you are carrying an illegitimate child. “Wrong choices” are also made because of an “inner bondage” that stops you from making the right decision. Let me illustrate:

Esau’s dogfight
Just like Vick “lost” his career and over a million dollars for a few bucks, a similar “dogfight scenario” happened several thousand years ago. Esau was a hunter, and he came home exhausted after a hunting trip. The smell of fresh food cooking over open fire was overwhelming. And he said “Hay, give me some of that soup I’m starving” Jacob his brother said, “Sell me your birthright and I’ll give it to you” Impulsively Esau said, “what’s a birthright useful to me now. I’m at a point that I could die. Give me that soup” Jacob said, “Give me your word” So as the account goes that Esau had his soup but missed out on his birthright. This eventually led to a family feud that lasted years. In other words it is like trading your estate for a piece of Pizza! (Genesis 25: 27-34)

The young man’s dogfight
There is another story about a rich young man who came to Jesus and said “good master what shall I do to have eternal life” Jesus said “why do you call me good?" and went on to say, “You know the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, and honour your father and your mother.” The young man said “I have done these things from my youth” Now when Jesus heard these things, he said, “Yet you lack one thing: sell all that you have, and distribute unto the poor, and thou you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.” And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, "How hardly that they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" (Luke 18: 18-24 Paraphrased)

Esau was impulsive, while the rich young man made a choice because of his materialistic mind-set. In both cases the choices that they made impacted their lives. So it is today. Like Michael Vic, Esau, and the rich man in the days of Jesus, we too have to make our own choices. What will they be?

What’s dogfight got to do with birthright? Your birthright is Eternal life. Do not forfeit it by the love for religion, fame, material possessions or for the love of your life.

The most precious possession:
The most precious possession we all have is not our family, religion, wealth, honour, fame or health. But it is our soul. Jesus said “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? “Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8: 36-37) That’s why Jesus died for us on the cross. That’s why He paid the supreme sacrifice and wants us to follow Him. To give our soul to Him is to give Him our all. Jesus said “And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8: 34)

What’s your dogfight? Whatever it is it’s not worth fighting for. Give your life to Jesus and have Eternal life. Want to know more? Go to arise-international-ministries.com.

In Persuit of Faith

2007-08-08T23:11:00.000-07:00

“Forsaking All I Trust Him – is faith” said a missionary long time back. This phrase still rings in my ear. There are many definitions of faith, but this has somehow inculcated itself in my mind. Faith to me is not mere “instructions” or a “formula” to be successful in life. Faith is more than the assurance of health, healing or prosperity. Faith is more than an ecstatic feeling of something beautiful that's about to happen. I sincerely believe that so many “religious” Christians experience a similar hype at mass Christian rallies or “crusades.” The atmosphere is electric when we meet so many people of like faith in one place. I have seen evangelists and preachers taking advantage of this feeling of “corporate anointing.” They provide “spiritual crutches” to lean on. By this I mean, peddling the gospel by “spiritual showmanship” or “spiritual entertainment” We live sadly, amongst believers who are mostly entertainment seekers, and do not want to pay the price for a deep spiritual walk. This is the reason why, people go back to the old grind when the “Revival meetings” are over. The “revival” has kind of weaned itself away.
Hay, don’t get me wrong. I’m all for “corporate anointing” I have experienced it and know the impact that it has on believers. I’ve been involved in “miracle and healing campaigns” and seen the mighty hand of God move amongst the masses. It’s been an avenue for so many genuine Christians to pursue the sincere call of God upon their lives. I’ve seen people catch the vision and seek after God for such an anointing: God has honoured their faith and given them “miracle ministries” of their own. People have been saved and healed all over the world. Praise the Lord!

I am talking about faith that is more enduring. Let me illustrate with a true story: This happened in Philippi a Roman Colony in Macedonia. A demon-possessed psychic slave girl made a lot of money for her master by fortunetelling. She followed Paul and Silas for many days and was yelling in the streets saying, “These men are servants, or working for the Most High God. They're laying out the road of salvation for you!" Finally Paul was so annoyed and fed up with her that he commanded the spirit that possessed her to get out. "Out they said, “In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!" And it was gone, just like that.
You would think that this is a great story of deliverance, and rejoicing. If this had happened today it would be all over the news at least in the Christian media. But no! See what happened. “When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, "These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order." By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood. The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas's clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jail keeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them” (The message: Acts 16: 19-24)
In similar circumstances a million questions would cross our minds! Perhaps there will be complaints and even the feeling that we have been “let down” by the Lord! Dear friends, it’s easy to preach this message from pulpits. But when the rubber meets the road, can we sing?

Enduring faith sings
Singing in trying circumstances: I’m not talking about “singing the blues” Many of the slaves who came from the African countries sang songs like “swing low sweet chariot” “let my people go” These songs kept them going during the “dark period of history” as I call it. Paul and Silas sang with their hands and legs chained up. Their body was aching with the beatings they received from the rioting mobs. But they sang! I am talking about a song that bursts from within them because of what they believe in. There were no electronic equipment to amplify the sound, nor were there were coloured lights with neither special effects nor applauding congregation and media hype. There were no managers to “manage” their itinerary! They just sang because of their FAITH in God which was built up because of an an intimate true relationship with HIM. This was faith that endures! Then the miracle happened. Yes they had a congregation who listened to them and that at midnight. They were fellow prisoners. There was a massive earthquake and the chains fell off from every prisoner. Then the prison doors were open, and the chief jailer woke up and wanted to commit suicide but committed himself to God and was saved.

What is faith? “Faith, is an attitude of the entire self, including both will and intellect, directed toward a person, or an idea’ (Encarta Encyclopedia English) So then, Paul and Silas had an attitude of their entire self, which included both will and intellect directed towards a person – Jesus Christ. Faith demands that our whole personality be involved in what we believe. Faith is not stubbornness. It is trusting and having confidence in God! Our whole self must be involved it. “.And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)
Do you have Enduring faith that sings?

From the Cow to the Creator

2007-07-28T02:46:00.000-07:00

A few days ago the news that Shambo the sacred bull is to be slaughtered by the Welsh authorities has caught the news. Hindus in UK want to prevent the slaughter of this sacred bull which has TB. Shambo lives in the Skanda Vale temple in west Wales. Authorities had to come in and take the bull by force, carrying devotees to a side to allow the bull to be loaded into a truck. I was amazed at the news coverage about this animal. Shambo the “holy bull” represented Nandi the bull on which “Lord Shiva” rides. According the Hindu mythology, he is supposed to be the gate keeper, the keeper of the herds, and is found in the Shiva temples facing the main temples. You will find various sculptures of this bull all over the world in temples.

I had often thought about Swiss cows and bulls coming down the mountains bells ringing and all! This somehow reminds me of some sort of “bull worship.” There is the “Love cow” a cow with hearts drawn all over the body.Then, there is the “Hypnotic cow” this is a cow with eyes like one who is being hypnotized. This reminds of my visit to Bern Switzerland, where I was on one of my speaking engagements. I saw a group of "palm readers" or psychics in the mall waiting for clients who may want to know their future. I have seen this in the East, but in the western world?! Somehow Eastern mysticism in the form of "new Age" is catching up fast, which in fact is not new age at all but a very "Old Age"

When I think about all this attention on cows and bulls, my thoughts go to the cult worship of the bull in ancient Egypt, which could have inspired the sons of Israel to worship the calf. The Hebrews worshipped the calf and attributed the miracles leading to the Exodus from Egypt to this calf. Sambo, and Nandi represent the "gate keeper" of the temple. The "love cow" represents love, the "hypnotic cow" represents mysticism, the "golden calf" in the Bible represents the "saviour" who supposedly had brought them out Egypt. The cow or bull worship is but one example of emptiness of religion that mankind has created to fulfill the "inner emptiness" that is within every soul. Religion is but man's attempt to find God! What we all need is RELATIONSHIP. Relationship with the Creator. Creatures like the bull, the monkey, the elephant, serpents, rats, eagles, the Sun, moon, the stars, angels, saints or any other celestial or terrestrial beings or "creatures" can take the place of God.

There is only ONE way and one person who can do that. That's because this person gave the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. This is the once an for all sacrifice that took place on the cross! The person who died for us is JESUS. To receive inner healing you need only a heart and a mouth! If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you will find the difference. "If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved from your sins" (Paraphrased KJV Romans 10:10) Millions have found him and thousands are reaching out for Him on a daily basis.

Why don't you turn from the Cow to the Creator? From striving to believing and from fear to faith? I found Him at a tender age of 7 and I can testify of his greatness faithfulness and mercy to me until this very moment of my life.

POWER OF FORGIVENESS part two

2007-07-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness releases.
How do you get “total victory”? You cannot forgive unless you have been forgiven! A true sense of being forgiven comes not from an emotional experience of a sense of release, but it comes from an actual experience of being pardoned. Let me explain. I was once attending a court case where two men were charged with murder. Both men came in hand cuffed and were put in the “boxes” The charges were read out and after a long drawn session in court, one man was released. I remember the judge pronouncing his freedom. After a few seconds the guards came in and asked him to leave the court room. I remember his face. There was disbelief and he still stood inside the “box” The Judge said “you are free now, you may leave” and the guard had to ask him to go! So this man left the court ever so slowly still in disbelief!

I am not saying that emotions are not involved when forgiven. But it is more than just religious “jargon” to being forgiven. When you are truly forgiven it releases you. A stone is being lifted up out of you! The weight is gone. The debt is paid off. When you forgive others it releases you to enjoy the great blessing that come from the Lord. It releases them to the Lord who will do unto them according to His will. It releases you from being judgmental which truly is a blessing. It releases you from repeating stories of hurt over and over gain which otherwise will ultimately “bind” you. You don’t want to be bound. When you pardon some one, remember that you too will be forgiven. But if you do not forgive, your transgressions also will not be forgiven. Remember "It is finished" We are forgiven. Let us follow the Master and forgive.

Forgiveness heals
Healing of the wounds of the past: What a blessing! It is not a covering but a healing. This inner healing comes only from true obedience to the Holy Word of God. What is healing? It simply means that the thing which bothered you is not there any longer! It’s gone!! I cannot promise you that the memory may not linger, but the pain is gone. You are able to meet the same ones who hurt you with a freedom that you have never felt before. You don’t speak about them ever! You don’t make them feel bad for hurting you, you don’t have control over them, you have opened your heart and if necessary are reaching out to them in times of their trouble. Why is that? It’s because the very nature of God’s forgiveness is seen through you. The reward of having a free spirit is valueless. There is special release when the ones who have hurt you say “I am truly sorry” The release is complete. If they have not apologized, you are free and that’s what counts. After all we all will have to stand before our Maker and give an account of our behaviour. I cannot stand of behalf of any one, It’s just me and HIM! So be healed and F.O.R.G.I.V.E. It's your call.

Fan the flames of genuine love
Obey the Word the foundation of our soul
Regain all what the devil has stolen from you.
Give of ALL you have to others without expecting a reward
Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you daily
Visualize the reality of a great blessing
Enjoy the blessings that will overflow when you forgive.

POWER OF FORGIVENESS part one

2007-07-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a true story of Heather, a mother of three children from Massachusetts USA. She was living in a notorious part of this state where racial tensions were high. One night, the lights came on in her bed room and thinking that it was her husband, she called out sleepily “turn of the light” The lights were turned off. A stranger came into her room tied her up, raped her and left after an hour. She was shocked and angry. The first thing she did was to go to the room of her children and found them sleeping. Heather consulted her doctor and took some pills as a precaution. The pills did not work and she found out that she was pregnant. There was shame and anger and she says that she wanted to “hurt him” After much thought, prayer and deliberation, she decided to keep the baby and named her Rachel. Rachel is a beautiful child and is different from the other children in her family. Unable to take terrible scar, her husband subsequently left her. She then adopted an African American boy, who became her “brother” I saw the family on the 700 club TV show as special guests. Heather has no anger towards her husband who left her, and also has forgiven the man who raped her, even though she did not know that he felt any remorse!

This story truly moved me. As I was in deep thought, I began to have flash backs of people who have been hurt, misunderstood and truly trampled upon. I thought about the freedom that people have when they truly “release” those who have hurt them. I also thought about the bitterness and anger that seems to persist on those who have not truly forgiven others. There is much that can be said about forgiveness. But his article is not a philosophical discourse on the subject. It is rather intended to dwell on the aspects of forgiveness so that the reader will “see” the release that it brings to any one who dares to forgive. I also though about the very trifle things that people get hurt and so upset about! Why is this? Perhaps it is a poor self image, pride, or selfishness!

Forgiveness Costs
Let’s take off the gloves! It is hard to forgive!! Retribution and revenge is perhaps easier on the short term. But the scar of unforgiveness is like a cancer cell that eats one up ever so slowly! Because hurt now , has become “bitterness” Once this happens, it affects your thought life, and hinders you from rising to your full potential. When bitterness becomes a “root” within us, all sorts of negative emotions spring forth from the depth of our being. We could become moody, touchy, living in a “bondage” that actually causes so much of personal pain and neglect. That’s dangerous and it can kill!

Why is it costly? First of all it “drains you” as you recall the hurts that you have gone through. We can feel so “drained out” that we cannot function normally. There comes a feeling of utter hopelessness, that’s it hard to sometimes fathom it. Secondly, it cost because you will have to “humble yourself’ in reaching out to the ones who have hurt you so bad, so that they will be healed. You ask yourself “Iam the one who is hurting, and being given a raw deal. Why should they be healed?” It is against human nature to forgive. Therefore there is an inner battle that rages between appeasing the anger that we feel in “exercising our rights” and forgiving others. “Revenge is sweet” is what people say, and we do not want the person who has hurt us “off the hook.” This gives you a false sense of control. There is a false sense of “being in charge” when the ego steps in and you feel “good” about being angry. The exact opposite is true. Because when the sun goes down and you go down to sleep, it drains you once again. In fact the Bible is clear that we should not go to bed angry! Why? You sleep but not feel rested, you go to bed angry, and get up angry! Somebody said “he who angers you controls you” Think about that! Thirdly it costs because to keep the peace we have to keep on forgiving! This I think is the hardest part. Sometimes the people whom we forgive keep doing the same things over and over again, and unless there is total victory within ourselves it’s hard to keep on forgiving. Jesus said “forgive 70 times seven” this is not an ultimate number but an expression that we should be forgiving all the time.

Bumper sticker & Bubble Tea

2007-07-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

What’s the connection between bumper stickers and Bubble tea? I was on my way home after picking up my wife from work. She wanted to have “bubble tea” which is a special “tea” with many flavours with tapioca balls or “pearls” in it. It’s very sweet and originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. It is very popular in Asia, California and Canada. We did a turn around and went into this little place where we had “blue berries bubble tea.” Then we went back and were seated in the car. We heard a rap on the window, and heard a man saying “Praise the Lord! I noticed your bumper sticker.” We got talking and found out that he and his family were Christians! We ended up exchanging phone numbers. It was an encouragement to share our testimonies with each other and we are looking forward to a great time of fellowship and friendship. This acquaintance came at time we needed encouragement. There was another time I went to a garage for an oil change in my car, and the owner said “Praise the Lord, are you a Christian?” He was looking at my bumper sticker and the "fish sign" at the back of my car. We have now become friends and over these years we have built up a strong relationship.

You may have other stories of how God “connects” you to people who are of great encouragement to you. This encouragement comes “out of the blue” and you are so strengthened and sustained by the Lord in the most unexpected way. Have you noticed that “connections” take place as we “expose” what’s in our hearts. The bible says “Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by.” (Habakkuk:2:2) Driving down the highways, we see bill boards all over, displaying all sorts of “visions” that people have. There are people who have a welcome sign on their doors. Or a picture or a caption that tells you what they believe in. Bumper stickers and bill boards show what we believe in. “The closer we get to God, the more we realize our distance” is a bill board outside a church. It speaks to me of how awesome God is. It tells me the more I get to know Him the more I realize how much I don’t know! It reminds me of Isaiah who had a wonderful vision of the Lord amongst the seraphims, the “burning ones” who had six wings. The more he has the realization of who God was the more he felt unworthy and said, “Woe is me for I am undone”

Like it or not, we do “attract” like minded people to ourselves. The way we dress, talk, or simply walk has an effect on the people we pass by each day. There is an “aura” around you that does attract or distract people. We are like books that people read. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3: 2-3 “Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it.” (Message)

Friend, what’s your “bumper sticker”?

TRUTH ABOUT LIES part three

2007-07-04T23:23:00.000-07:00

A coconut tree is not a coconut tree because it gives coconuts. It gives coconuts because it’s a coconut tree! Get the point? It is in the nature of the coconut tree to give coconuts and not mangoes! We cannot naturally change who we really are. There has to be a supernatural transformation in us to bring about a change in ourselves. We are all born in sin, and thus we are naturally “bad.” We have our own DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) which gives evidence of our true physical identity, which is passed down from our parents, and to them, from their parents. We are what we are because of who we are. Just like snow-flakes, there are distinctive “marks” in each one of us which makes us unique, and there is NO ONE else like us on earth. We have our own set of finger prints and personalities. “A tree shall be known by its fruits” Jesus said in Luke 6: 43-45 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces. You cannot pick figs or grapes from thorn-bushes. Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts. Bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart” (CEV)
The issue is with the “tree”. What or who is the “tree”? This “tree” looks like a lamb but in reality it a dragon! (Revelation 13:11) We all share the nature of the dragon, as the Bible clearly tells us that “There is none righteous no not one” (Romans 3:10). This could be a hard pill to swallow nevertheless this is true that we are naturally part of this “tree”. Lies can manifest it self in many forms. There is a natural tendency in us to deceive, to be dishonest, or to distort and fabricate the truth. Some of us may purposefully misrepresent the facts to make us “look good” or make a false impression to get a job or a mate in life. More serious forms of lies are forgery, slander, deformation of character and so on. All of us in one point in our lives have not been truthful. (Please read “Truth about lies” part one and two)

There is ample evidence that we have a “fallen” or a “sinful” nature which we have inherited from this dragon, who is also called the “old serpent,” “The fallen angel,” “the devil,” “deceiver” and so on, long before we ever reach the age of accountability. Religion and spirituality cannot change the inner nature of sin. I cannot think of a more grotesque example of sin than the fact that in the fall of 1939, Nazi doctors killed tens of thousands of mentally disabled Germans, mostly by the administration of carbon monoxide gas supplied in large metal bottles, and in September 1941 they carried out gassing experiments at Auschwitz, killing 600 Soviet prisoners of war with cyanide gas produced from Zyklon-B, the commercial name of a pesticide based on hydrocyanic acid. Later on they killed many thousands of Jews, as what is called the “final solution.” Denying the Holocaust is like denying the poison that is in cyanide. History shows that many thousands were killed and tortured in the so called “crusades.” Moreover today, we see executions by extremists groups on TV. Such cold blooded killings are executed in the name of God. I have personally seen people who have been shot and their bodies tied to the concrete pillars in one of the railway station of Eastern cities of Sri Lanka. There are people who eat vegetables so that animals won’t be killed. Others believe in a philosophy and profess not to kill even an ant, but go on the rampage, murdering and raping women and killing children. So much for religious ideologies and philosophies!
Why do these things happen? Perhaps it lies in the answer that Jesus gave to the religious leaders of his time. He said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44. NIV version UK). It’s in the nature of the evil one to speak lies! We too have an inborn nature to lie! So who is our father?
The good news is that there is a promise of a “transformed mind” which comes supernaturally by aligning ourselves to the infallible Word of God. The bible clearly teaches that there must be a conscious decision on our part not to live in obligation to our sinful nature, but to “put to death the misdeeds of our body” so that we can call God “our Father” and share in His nature. Romans 8:11-15 in the NIV goes like this “.. if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
So there you go! We have a new family, and a new father who cannot lie! For, “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19) This means that we come under a new discipline, and are responsible to live according to the guidelines set forth in the scriptures. There is true freedom in the transformed mind! Believe me it’s true. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2 NIV)
It is not reformation but transformation! May God help us all to be TRANSFORMED!

TRUTH ABOUT LIES Part two

2007-06-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

Lies! What is a lie? The first thought that comes to my mind is “not telling the truth”. It is far more than that! Untruthfulness has become a rampant phenomenon in the world today. Look at the corporate scandals in high circles world wide, the stock market scandals, the Politician’s promises, heads of state lying under oath, people sentenced to prison because of false witnessing, or just a little child saying “I didn’t do it” when you know that it is not so! A lie is colourless. There are no white or brown lies. I remember a story of a person who had the tendency to “stretch” or to “exaggerate” the facts to make it look spicier! It became such a problem in her life that she went to the pastor for advice. She said, “I have a tendency to exaggerate, and now hardly any body believes me. “Why don’t you call it lying madam” said the Pastor. A lie is something that is intended to convey a false impression or a false statement with a deliberate intent to deceive or it can be described as an intentional untruth! There are other words that can describe lies, such as: deception, dishonesty, fraud, false-hood, distortion, fabrication, purposeful misinterpretation, false impression, intentional misconception, forgery, tale, pretence, slander, deformation, alteration, invention, smear, counterfeit, imitation, stories and such like.

When I begin to go through this list, a lie to me seems more than a casual statement of untruth. It’s like, deception and falsehood in whatever level, is somewhat “woven” into our personality. All of us at some point in our lives are guilty of being untruthful. This is because we all come under the “fallen nature”. The Bible says in Psalm 58:33, “The ungodly are perverse and estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies. (AMP). The “fallen nature” naturally likes to project the best while there is something else beneath, it’s a kind of a “Dr Jakyll and Mr Hyde” personality. One of the most deceptive is an outward “religious look” and an inward self of deceit and even hatred towards others. You see it all over the news sometimes: members of the clergy who have taken advantage of certain situations and have caused pandemonium in the pews! Jesus called them “White washed sepulchres”. How do people get to the point that hardly anybody believes them? How is it possible for a person to become a “conman” or a master deceiver?
First: You lie. Second: You believe in that lie. Third: The lie you believe becomes the truth. Fourth: Then you become a master deceiver, and a double-dealing person. Then lying becomes a life-style because you are convinced that this is the truth! I have seen this cycle in people over and over again! That is a pathetic place to be. The tragedy is multiplied when a wrong perception (Mind) coupled with a lifestyle of lying (doing) become partners. This is a very deadly combination. You should not entertain perception to “rule over you” (see the truth about lies part one). For example, there is a wrong perception in your mind, then, the mind prompts you to say things that you presume and are not true, and then the words that you speak ensnare you. And naturally you will live and experience what you have ensnared yourself with. And that’s a vicious circle! Proverbs 6:2. You are snared with the words of your lips and you are caught by the speech of your mouth. And if a person continues like this without seeking a remedy, he will be "imprisoned" by his lies.
The Scriptures have a clear answer as to why people behave this way: The master deceiver will come into this world and 2 Thessalonians: 10-12 says: 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.” (NIV) The same truth in the King James Version verses 10b -11 goes like this: “Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: Rejection of the truth of the Word of God brings delusion. Believing in the Word of God, and adhering to it brings life and peace. The Cornerstone of the building blocks of our lives is the Word of God today. Believe the truth of the word and live. Reject it and be deluded. Falsehood is death. Read Isaiah: 28-15-16. You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death, with the grave we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place." In order to combat this the next verse goes: 16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
Friend, there is an age old warfare between light and darkness, truth and lies. We need to take a stand as to see where we really belong. I urge that we take a long hard look and put things in the right perspective. If we make falsehood our hiding place we will be deceived. We must put our foundation on the Cornerstone in Zion. We will weigh ourselves in the balance and find out where we really belong. We will discuss this in the next chapter.

THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES Part one

2007-06-09T02:54:00.000-07:00

The heading seems like a paradox. We had better know the truth about lies and perception. It will help us to put things in perspective. We live in a world of perception. Perception causes us to think in different ways, and sometimes, what we perceive is not the reality. Reality is truth. And truth brings true freedom if we own up to it. But not necessarily so with perception. Let me illustrate with a true story which I heard some time back. A group of factory workers who were also board members of a Church were walking home after work. As a habit they looked up at the Pastor’s flat, and saw the pastor’s wife running near the window with the Pastor running behind her with a stick. Of course they perceived that he was assaulting his wife. The pastor felt the ‘coldness’ from some of the congregation but could not put his finger on the problem. Obviously the story has been going around! After some tine, some of them came to talk to the Pastor about this. Then the Reality came to light! The Pastor was trying to kill a mouse in the apartment! It had nothing to do with assaulting his wife. But, you see, seeds were sown and the damage was done. See, reality is not perception. We murmur, and cause so much of pain because of the perception of certain situations in life. The reality is that God is greater than our problems.

Perception has something to do with our brain. When we are not sure of what the reality is in a particular situation, perception takes over. And if we are not careful, the perception becomes reality. This can lead to gossip and a whole lot of things including deformation of character and slander. These are very hurtful. Friendships are broken. Families are destroyed and parents and children are estranged. We have to be careful about the ‘pattern of thought’ in our lives or take stock of how we are used to think about situations.

Circumstances in life or experiences in life can make us to think in certain ways. For example a child who had grown up without a parent can become obsessive and possessive, and domineering about relationships in life. This can cause them to be suspicious over proactive, defensive in their way of thinking, which makes them to believe that the whole world revolves around them. They become so self-centred that others do not matter at all. It is an attitude of “I, me and mine”! Or if we have had tragic experiences in life we can become over cautious, and have the tendency to ‘look over the shoulder’ the whole time afraid of being stalked, or make sure that the door is locked five or six times before going to sleep. Or like me, you make sure the car key is in your hand or in your pocket over and over again, because you have had the keys locked up in the car before in an emergency and you don’t like that experience. It is the same with people who are afraid of cats or Dogs. Some believe that if a black cat crosses the road it to bad omen and that all dogs are monsters! I know of a person from Europe who had been living under the harsh conditions of World War 2. She will not even waste half a teaspoon of butter! If she comes to a party she will wrap this in a foil and take it home. Why? Because, experience in life has thought her not to waste any thing, and gets irritated to see food being wasted. Until very recently, I had a tendency to “hide” when I hear a helicopter over head. Why? Because my perception of a helicopter over head is that “they” shoot people down! That’s because I had gone through traumatic experiences in the land of my birth. Upbringing, culture, religion, and superstition have a strong influence in our mind as to how we perceive things.

We need to understand that we are surrounded with people of various perceptions of life, and that many times we are being misunderstood for what we have seemingly said or done. We need to guard our hearts and minds in order that we do not fall into the same trap. So what shall we do?

Ask the Lord to keep us from “presumptuous, wilful arrogant sins, and let them not have dominion or control over us” (paraphrased: Psalm 19:1) After all we are shaped by what we say and what we think. This is the “foundation” of our daily life. The whole day is either positive or negative based around what we say and think. We influence others by who we are. The next verse in Psalm 19: 2 goes like this: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable unto you O God” (KJV)

So then what do we do with our “problem” of perception? One: Take responsibility to what you perceived. I’ve asked people to forgive me for my wrong perception of things. This has brought so much inner healing. Two:We must know that “The we fight with spiritual weapons. They have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we Three: take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV) The Key is to "Take captive every thought, perception" This can only be done with a complete transformation of our mind. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12: 2 NIV) Four Obedience to the Word of God. This transformation can come ONLY when we obey the Word of God and align our thoughts to it. It’s by being consistent and disciplined in reading the Bible and applying the principles to our lives. Simply put this is called “Obedience” to the Word.

Remember, perception is do with our mind! Lying is to do with our words and life style! The wrong perception and a lying tongue and life style is a dangerous combination. This can cause havoc.We will discuss this in my next article about the truth about lies.

Pebble On the Beach

2007-06-06T16:25:00.000-07:00

We hardly notice a pebble on the beach. It is inconspicuous. It lies unnoticed, wet, dirty and alone! Until some one picks up this smooth colourful stone, washes it, varnishes it and adds it into his collection of stones in the cabinet at home. Suddenly there is value and beauty. Somebody wrote about the diamond in the rough! I remember reading this somewhere a long time ago. It goes some thing like this. "A diamond in the rough is always a diamond. But somebody has to find it, treat it, cut it, polish it, and put it on display. Then it becomes a piece of art, a jewel that has some value. This diamond may end up on a ring of a princess, or even in the crown of a queen". But remember this diamond had to be found.

I know of a smooth stone by the river side, laying there unnoticed. Just another pebble among the thousands of other pebbles, once again ignored and unnoticed. Then a teenager picks it up, puts it into his sling bag. He goes up to the enemy who was taunting an entire nation, and slays him with one sling shot! Now every body is talking about the pebble in the hand of David. Wow!!

Now you may feel just like this pebble on the beach! But somebody took notice of you. He took you in His hands and gave you value and purpose to live for! Now you are an "apple of His eye" As long as you remain in His purpose and His will you will enjoy what He has for you. You may feel that the circumstances around you are dragging you down, making you feel worthless. But remember you are not alone. He too was deemed worthless, a boy from Nazareth, a town that people looked down upon. The one who picked you up was called the "stone that the builders rejected" Now He has become the chief Corner Stone. He did not own a home, or command an army, or did not travel too far from his birth place, and when he was a young man in his thirties he was publicly condemned to be executed. But today He has commanded respect, and influenced the world more than all the armies that walked across the earth, or the navy that sailed the oceans of the world. Thousands upon thousands are turning to HIM every day. Tyrants are trying to discredit him even today. He stands the test of time, and one day He is coming back as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

Friend! you are not another "pebble on the beach". You are precious, valuable. You are like the stone in the hand of King David who brought down Goliath. Get your mind set right. Begin to realize that IN HIM you are powerful, strong and more than a conqueror. A pebble in the master's hand is like a "Vessel that He wants to use in His kingdom"

Hay! Rise up from the dust. Life is a journey and not your destination. Pursue towards your destination, realizing that you are IN HIS HANDS. The "Pebble on the beach" has become the "Apple of His eye". Run life's race with patience looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. AMEN

It was just a shepherd's staff that Moses carried to look after the sheep in the back portion of the desert. When he hand a visitation from the Lord in the "burning bush" There was a nation to be saved from the iron hand of Pharaoh. They had been slaves for over 400 years. It was time for the Lord to move them out. What did the Lord use, he used the rod in the hands of Moses to show forth His power! This Shepherd's staff was like the "pebble on the beach" insignificant. But when given over to God it became a mighty weapon in Mose's hand. Moses used this staff to make the staff into a serpent, then when he took the serpent by the tail it became a rod again. The fish in the river Nile died as the waters became blood. In fact there was blood throughout the land of Egypt. Then came the plague of frogs. There were millions of them throughout the land, and when they died it stank! Then when he stretched forth his hand the dust in the land became lice! Then there were the swarms of flies. There were flies everywhere. In the fields outside, in the palace on the Pharaoh's plate of food and in his bedroom. The bible says that the "land was corrupted by reason of the flies" (Exodus 8:24) Then the cattle of the Egyptians died while the cattle of people of Israel lived! Then there was the "boils" that came upon man and beast, the hail from heaven which came upon "man upon beast and upon every herb of the field. As Moses stretched forth his rod toward the sky the Lord sent thunder and fire ran along the ground! There was hail and fire mingled with the hail. This hail broke every tree, caused chaos in the Egypt. Only in the land of Goshen where the children of Israel lived, there was no hail (Exodus 9)

Friend, what is insignificant in your life? Give it over to the Lord and He will make you a strong and a mighty army! Feel like a "pebble"? No worries! Stand on the Rock and He will see you through the toughest of times. The picture below is what I took at the beach in Sri Lanka. It reminds me of the "pebble on the beach" do not be discouraged. Say it loud " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me" "When I am weak then I am strong" Arise and Shine! Be strong in the Lord and in His power. Amen

AT WAR

2007-06-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

We concentrate so much about the war that is raging in so many parts of the world. "war stories" of the abduction of troops, or the killing of soldiers in a way side bomb seem to attract the general public, except for the family who are back at home watching the news!The cauldron in the Middle East, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, the drug war in Columbia, and many other ethnic wars in the African nation, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia get all the attention in media. "Terrorism" seems to be the catch word to pounce on to promote an arms race by corrupt politicians. The innocent public are at risk and many times caught in the crossfire. Human life is co cheap, that in many countries lives lost under tragic circumstances have become mere statistics. I have seen human remains been covered with leaves while children play ball beside the corps.

Are there any silent wars raging from within? Are there the Hurts of the past, anger, jealousy, envy, pride, resentment, unforgiveness and the like are raging and contaminating the body? These emotions produce so much of poison to our physical bodies, bringing about rashes, lung deceases, respiratory illnesses and depression. The ultimate profit goes to a pharmaceutical companies.

Run a memory test and ask yourself, "how could we make peace with mankind without making peace within ourselves"? Let the things that cause resentment from within go!! "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city" (KJV) Writes Solomon the wisest king who ever lived. (Proverbs 16:32) Ask your self, "What are the things that irk me?" And deal with them one by one! Dealing with issues is like this is like weeding the old fashion way! That's getting down on the knees and digging out the roots! We cannot have a "blanket solution" like a weed-killer. We are so used to fast foods that we expect "fast" results. "Strong holds" must come down. They come down when we recognize them and break them with the power of the Lord.

Friend, if we don't recognize them we will not be able to get rid of them! If we don't get rid of them, they become "a thorn in the flesh" If ignored they will become a formidable enemy who will ultimately swallow us up. I have seen too many people go to the grave with unresolved issues and let their children or the family carry on with these resentments and family feuds! What a pity!! How do we deal with them?

Arrive at the decision to read the Word of God. That's a good place to start. Because the Word not only brings encouragement but is also is a discerns our thoughts and the marrow. In other words when we let the Word of God speak to us, there is no escape! Let Jesus Speak to you. Get in touch with some one who can walk you through the problems you face! confess your faults and be healed in Jesu's Name!

Run to the Rock of Ages! He is the sure foundation. He is our fortress, our strong tower, our peace and our strength. He is the bright and morning star, the Lilly of the valley, the husband of the widow and the farther of the orphan. He said "come unto me and I will give you rest"

Enter into his gates with thanks giving and into His courts with praise! Praise brings down strongholds. I have experienced it and I want you to experience it too. Praise, joy, laughter and positive emotions secret good hormones into your body, which will ultimately heal you! Why should we suffer when there is healing! Why should we carry our burdens when we have our "Burden bearer" We are at war! Spiritual warfare is real! Put on the whole armour of God and stand like a solider and fight the enemy! Our enemy is the devil not people! Remember that.

Direction

2007-04-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

I remember searching for a particular brand of yeast in a large grocery store for a long time. I looked everywhere and in frustration I asked one of the employees who directed me to the right spot in a few moments. Then I thought, "I should have done this a long time ago, and saved a lot of time!" Is this not very typical in so many of our lives? We all need direction of some sort all the time. Most of the time we can get it if we ask for it!

So why do we hesitate to ask? Human nature has taught us to be independent and so many time, it is our pride that stops us from asking any one. Asking involves humility, it involves admitting that we need direction. It's also an admission that we are lost. So we often end up wasting many hours in looking for something that can be so easily found.

"Ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be open" Said Jesus in Luke 11:9. We have heard the proverb "All that glitters is not gold" right? The wisest man in the world Solomon writes, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is the way of death" (Proverbs: 16:25) Sometimes in real life, what we see is not always what we see, it's a mirage, an illusion, a delusion or a fantasy. I have seen many disappointed people who are almost drawn to suicide because of being"cheated" in life. Friend there is direction in EVERY situation for you.

More and more people find out that the Bible, gives specific directions in every kind situation in life. It gives faith instead of fear, beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning. It is the "bread of life" for our soul. Read the word see for yourself. I have found it to be true in my life. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105) Our spiritual walk is just as real as our walk down to the grocery store. We need spiritual guidance, and God's Word will give us this to us.

I AM the way the truth and the Life said Jesus. There is no other way to true peace apart from Jesus.

Find Freedom in Truth

2007-03-15T13:53:00.000-07:00

We live in a world of masks! rushing around in this fast paced world with deadlines to meet, schedules to keep and appointments to make. These are all part of our daily routine. This rat race on the long run, takes a toll on all of us. I have noticed that on many occasions people smile outwardly, but at a closer look you can sense there is hurt, anger disappointments and so many negative emotions that are slowly but are surely poisoning the body. And as time passes the result is shown in their behaviour pattern. People around you begin to notice that the usual cheerful self is not there any more. Bags under the eyes begin to be more conspicuous, the laughter is gone. The hunch in the walk, the drooping of the shoulder and the dragging of the feet becomes more apparent. and our body language begins to change. Hmmm! What happened? Something is not just right is it? We put on this mask as soon as we leave our homes. Our response to greetings from others are automatic. "Fine" "OK" "Good" how are you?" are all words that we say almost without meaning. This is because perhaps we do not want to portray ourselves as weak or being in want. There is a pretense that we become accustomed to. The people in the office or even the loved ones at home may not know the internal pain and suffering that you are going through. Your pillow is wet with tears. You sleep but not feel rested in the morning, and you begin to realize, that you are whom you are when the busyness of life passes away for a moment. Is there hope, relief....?

Just Look up!! I've got news for you my friend! ARISE! "Easier said than done" you say. But really its not that difficult. It could be if we try to do it on our own. Yes there is always help, and hope. Arise because the sun is not about to set, but because it is sun rise! The darkest moment is just before dawn. It's this dark moment that gives us the opportunity to look up! "Where?" you may ask! Just look up from the position you are in, look up to the one who is able to help you. After all, maybe you've tried everything and have anything to loose, except perhaps the darkness that surrounds you. So, look up! There is within you something that refuses to die. You are born to live, prosper and succeed in life.

Escalate to a higher plane. Tap into the resources that you are created with. You are not an accident on planet earth. There is purpose, direction and life just for you. How do you do this? Take a flight. I remember flying in a aeroplane in a thunderstorm. I saw the flashes of lightning around me of which I was actually terrified. But as soon as we soared above the clouds, there was a calmness, and a sigh of relief. There was bright sunshine all around us. I could actually see the swirling clouds below me, and the frightening experience was just a memory. But for me to experience this calmness, I had to get out of my home in the rain, buy a ticket, and be seated in that plane. What's the lesson here? To "escalate" is a process. It does not happen suddenly. The sun always shines above the clouds. But you must be "on the plane" you cannot get to where the sun shines all by yourself, alone.

See for yourself and experience the peace what millions around the world have experienced. I was only seven when I experienced this peace in my life. This is peace in in the valley, peace in spite of pain, peace in the storm. Can you sleep in the storm? We must prepare ourselves for the storms that we will go through. The following story may illustrate what I mean. A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications, he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows." This puzzled the farmer. But he liked the young man, and hired him. A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things out to see if all was secure. They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace. The young man slept soundly. The farmer and his wife then inspected their property. They found that the farm tools had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements. The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well. The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man's words, "I can sleep when the wind blows." Because the farmhand did his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. So when the wind blew, he was not afraid. He could sleep in peace.

Untie yourself from the things that surround you, and use the potential that's within you to "reach out " for help find security in Jesus. He has gone through EVERYTHING that we have gone through, are going through and will ever go through. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4: 15-16 NIV) Believe me, No one understands like Jesus! I have been in positions when my very own misunderstand me. I have cried out in agony and pain, determined to untie my self from the things that surround me. He came through. He knows, He understands. He does not condemn He loves us even today! He paid the supreme sacrifice on the cross to give us a sure foundation. "On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand" says the song writer. David the Psalmist sings "God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging(Psalm 46: 1-3). Jesus slept in the Storm because He was secure in the Father! We too have this security in Him. It's all about Jesus. He is my Rock! He is my fortress! He is my strength! He is my joy! He is my everything! Believe and see His love and grace coming through.

Surrender to God's will and plan in your life. Total surrender is total freedom. There must be an alignment with the Word of God and ourselves. Then there is power in the agreement between the two, which cannot be broken. For Jesus said, "heaven and earth shall pass away but my word shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35) There is freedom in Truth. Jesus said "You will know the truth and the truth will make you free". (John 8:32 KJV) What is truth? Or may be a better question is Who is the Truth? "I am the way the Truth and the life" (John 14:6 KJV) Life is short and we must live in truth. Truthfulness and honesty is a virtue which we must have in our lives. There is true inner freedom in living and obeying the truth. Suffering cannot destroy the peace you find in knowing the truth. Sometimes Truth hurts, but it does bring forth "fruits of righteousness" My heart is that, even as you read this that you will be stirred within to reach out to know the truth which will be your guide. ARISE from the doldrums and reach out to happiness and truth.