Past two weeks.

Things have been going slow for the past two weeks. Got into fights and stupid ones really. I really don’t know what really was happening. I was giving attention to other things. Things that didn’t need my attention. That didnt require any at all. I started to do things that I would normally not even think of. And slowly I started to go back on my old ways and soon Old Oscar was back seeking approval of his peers. I really don’t like it when the old man is back( not my father, my old being).

And I realized that all of this was happening cuz I have not prayed as much as I need to. It was confusing at first really. But I understood why it was getting difficult for me to survive without praying and reading God’s word.

Matthew 4:4 (The Message)

The Message (MSG)

4Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”

Just like how man grows physically and needs to eat in larger quantity and quality, he needs to eat more of God. If one doesn’t eat his meals, he is going to get tired, exhausted and also sick. This way his body will not be able to perform. In the same way One cannot ignore the bread of life. For without this, he will die.

The Bread of Life

27“Don’t waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last.”
- Levite King

Malcolm Muggeridge -

A quote from Malcolm Muggeridge that captivated my mind.

“We look back upon history and what do we see? Empires rising and falling, revolutions and counter-revolutions, wealth accumulating and wealth dispersed, one nation dominant and then another. Shakespeare speaks of ‘the rise and fall of great ones that ebb and flow with the moon.’

“I look back on my own fellow countrymen ruling over a quarter of the world, the great majority of them convinced, in the words of what is still a favorite song, that, ‘God who’s made the mighty would make them mightier yet.’ I’ve heard a crazed, cracked Austrian announce to the world the establishment of a German Reich that would last a thousand years; an Italian clown announce that he would restart the calendar to begin his own ascension to power. I’ve heard a murderous Georgian brigand in the Kremlin acclaimed by the intellectual elite of the world as a wiser than Solomon,more humane than Marcus Aurelius, more enlightened than Ashoka. I’ve seen America wealthier and in terms of weaponry, more powerful than the rest of the world put together, so that had the American people desired, could have outdone an Alexander or a Julius Caesar in the range and scale of their conquests.

“All in one lifetime.All in one lifetime. All gone with the wind. England part of a tiny island off the coast of Europe, threatened with dismemberment and even bankruptcy. Hitler and Mussolini dead, remembered only in infamy. Stalin a forbidden name in the regime he helped found and dominate for some three decades. America haunted by fears of running out of those precious fluids that keep her motorways roaring, and the smog settling, with troubled memories of a disastrous campaign in Vietnam, and the victories of the Don Quixotes of the media as they charged the windmills of Watergate.

“All in one lifetime, all gone. Gone with the wind.”

“Behind the debris of these self-styled, sullen supermen and imperial diplomatists, there stands the gigantic figure of one person, because of whom, by whom, in whom, and through whom alone mankind might still have hope. The person of Jesus Christ.”

-Malcolm Muggeridge

A video Paras told me about - Flight of the Conchords

Just discovered this group called the Flight of the Conchords. They call themselves New Zealand’s fourth most popular digi-folk paradists. Check it out below.

and another one called “frodo dont wear the ring”

I learned…

…that a smile always helps before you hand out a tract.

People dont like the name of Jesus.

People dont like to Read about God.

Try Love.

Also people LOOOOUVE Graphics or anything that is nicely designed.

People observe you a lot.

Never approach a woman if she is sitting with a man. In fact never look at her. Give two tracts to the guy!

Sometimes people don’t care.

Never assume. Always pray.

Know who you are. Pray - Plan. Have Faith and go ahead.

Try again.

Never Give up.

Stand on the middle of the road, look up , give thanks and come back home knowing that the Kingdom of God has progressed!!!

From Dhule and now the story.

When I left for Dhule I had no idea what was waiting for us there. Infact none of us did.

To Dhule and an encouragement.

I’m going to Dhule today with Pastor Vijay and Shannon. We’re gonna be driving down there in his car. I’m really excited to serve !!! I hope I can fulfill my purpose there.

Oh and in the meantime here is an encouraging post…. go read it , abhi isi wakt!!  - We’re UNSTOPPABLE!

A classic example of how the Kingdom of God progresses at one soul at a time.

- Levite King.

It started out as a feeling….- The Call Regina Spektor

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word
And then that word grew louder and louder
’till it was a battle cry

I’ll come back..
When you call me
No need to say good bye

Just because everything’s changing
Doesn’t mean it’s never been this way before

All you can do is try to know who your friends are
As you head off to the war
Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light

You’ll come back when its over
No need to say good bye
You’ll come back when it’s over
No need to say good bye.

Now we’re back to the beginning
It’s just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can’t feel it too
Doesn’t mean that you have to forget

Let your memories grow stonger and stonger
’til they’re before your eyes

You’ll come back
When they call you
No need to say good bye
You’ll come back
When they call you
No need to say good bye

The last song played at Chronicles of Narnia : Prince Caspian Movie. Really beautiful isnt it?

What’s your plan?

I believe each and everyone of us has some idea of what we want to do, if not a definite answer to the question ” Where am I heading at?”. I’ve met a lot of people hanging in the balance of infinitum and not knowing for themselves what they want to do or what they can do for that matter. But let me remind you, we are a people of destiny. Not fate. Fate says that things happen as they have to and no one controls it , it chooses itself. We don’t believe in fate. We believe in Destiny.

Jeremiah 1:5 

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

So its obvious that we have a purpose for our life! God did not create us because for ‘timepass’
No. He ordained  and set us apart, a chosen generation.

So what then? I, for one feel really special. And one should. For knowing that you are chosen and unique will fill you with a sense of heavenly pride. The good sort, where you feel confident about yourself and all.

And as I was meditating on the scriptures God gave me a revelation from Matthew about our purpose.I was reading the birth of Jesus and God showed me how Joseph fulfilled what God purposed for his life.

The Bible testifies Joseph to be a good man. It actually says in  Matthew 1:19

“Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”( Mat 1:19)

Now this is what Joseph had decided. And the Bible even credits unto him righteousness. So if you think about it, the Bible says that whatever he did or thought he was righteous. So here was a man who being righteous wanted to do a good act (i.e save his fiance from judgement) and back out quietly. Now lets look at what the next verse says.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

God told me three things after I read this.

1. Joseph had decided his course of action. And lets remember that we are talking about a Righteous man here and in our times we would probably liken him to our Pastor or a Man of God.
2. But God had other plans.
3. Joseph was willing to change his plans for God’s perfect plan and in turn became a History Maker. And thus, Jesus was born and was called the Son of Joseph, a descendant of David, as the scripture records in Matthew 1:verse 22-  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

So are you willing to lay aside your plan and seek God for his perfect plan for your life?

A Good FWD:

I got this in the mail yesterday. It makes a good read.

An old man lived alone in Minnesota. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work.

His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his situation.

Dear Son, I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant  my potato garden this year.

I hate to miss doing the garden, because your mother always loved planting time. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren’t in prison.

Love, Dad
……..

Shortly, the old man received this telegram:

“For Heaven’s sake, Dad, don’t dig up the garden!! That’s where I buried the GUNS!”    At  4a.m.

The next morning,

A dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns.

Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened, and a sked him what to do next.

His son’s reply was: “Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad. It’s the best I could do for you from here.”

********

- Moral Of the Story

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD,

IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING DEEP FROM YOUR HEART, YOU CAN DO IT.

IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT MATTERS NOT WHERE YOU ARE OR WHERE THE PERSON IS.

Trackback

Check what I’ve written.

HERE

OPS (Operation Pink Surprise)

“I got Pinked” yesterday. It was the most ingenious evil plan till date. And everyone pulled it off! First Shannon calls me up on sunday and tells me he wants to meet me on Monday evening. He said “we’ll spent some time together”. Now for starts I thought I was in trouble cuz , usually Shannon spends monday with Farah. And also my mum almost ruined the surpise by calling me on monday morning and asking me to come home early cuz someone is expected at home! She wouldn’t tell me who though.

But it did work out well. There I was , in my house with Shannon in my room and my brother grinning at me and suddenly all hell broke loose. Eben jumps out screaming surprise!!! and so does Christine and Paras,Binoy,Violet, Virginia, Farah, Sherin, Jonathan and Chris!

What followed next was most surprising! My Room was PINK! And I MEAN ALL OF IT! My FAN, walls, pictures , even my COMPUTER WAS PINK! And the way they timed the screaming was perfect. Just when I was getting into my room and closing the door they all came out! So they did surprise me. And my gift was a cd of cool songs by Spice Girls, Backstreet boys, Avril Lavigne, Celine Dion and so on( Cool no?)

I got some pics. Have uploaded em on FB. Come check it out.

On a more serious note: I really wasn’t expecting this. I mean I told God that I wanted to meet all my friends and be with them and that a surprise party wouldn’t hurt! But I really wasn’t expecting an answer to my prayer. Lesson #3 in : be careful for what you pray for!

And I really Really LOVE ALL MY FRIENDS!

P.S : CLICK HERE TO SEE CHRISTINE’s Version with IMAGES!!

Youth Camp

I just had a talk with Shannon and he told me that I won’t be playing for the youth camp. Now I dont know what the ideal reaction should have been but I just kept quiet in front of him and accepted it. He made a very good point. He didn’t want me to play substandard to what the team is playing. For even the one musician can make a difference. He said that he doesnt want me to pity myself cuz I havent done a good job and feel bad. What he doesnt know is that I already feel bad. I really wanted to play.

This entire episode about the youth camp is also an answer to my prayers. I prayed that he would push me into the deep waters so that I can learn to swim, and I also prayed that I will never indulge in self-glorification and thereby rob Him of His glory.

I’ll be honest. I was disappointed when I heard it. I didnt instantly say “Praise God, let Him do as he wishes with his servant.” But I realized it that I wasn’t doing it for Him. I was doing it for myself. And I’m not ashamed to accept my mistake. I’m happy that I can serve him better with a clean conscience now. I’ll still go for practice so that I get an experience playing with the band. I’ve realized that if I really did want to play for Him, I would have practiced more and better. One day I’ll be there. I know where I want to be, God does too; I just wont write it here…for now.

I can say this now without any sense of guilt or hypocrisy. “Praise God indeed!”

Good News!

Well apart from the gospel, one of my close friends(gaston and dalreen) just turned parents. A healthy boy was born to them on 29th April 2008 7.10 P.M. They named him Judah Caleb Noronha . Christine and I are going to the ward first thing in the morning. Cant wait to see the lil chap. Shannon tells me that he is a strong kiddo.