Is Your House In Order?

It is a natural craving of every human being to live as long as possible. If given a chance, we would choose to die after we graduate from college; maybe our wedding or some of us would rather wait till we see our grandchildren or even great-grandchildren. The bottom line is: None of us want to die anytime soon. We are enjoying life to the core and that is exactly what our Creator intends for us. Once, Isaiah who was a great prophetic figure of biblical times visited King Hezekiah who was very ill. The meeting turned out to be quite horrifying when the prophet wagged his bony finger at the king and told him, “Set your house in order, for you will die and not live.”It came as an alarming news to the sick king but isn’t Isaiah declaration applicable to every living creature? Is not all of creation prone to death?

On the dawn of 13th November 2010, my best friend Noble John was promoted to glory. He was a luminary in terms of conduct, academics, and above all, his relationship with God. It was through him, after a‘07 ICPF youth camp at Manganam, Kottayam, that an ICPF prayer cell in AmalJyothi Engineering College, Kerala was formed.  Being raised up together under one roof in Saudi Arabia, we shared similar tastes and developed a bond that nothing could separate. Just before officially graduating as an engineer from AmalJyothi Engineering College, Kerala, God called him back home. The news of his departure came as an arrow right through our hearts. The grief of his departure left a mark on the walls of many hearts. The deaths of young lives are always considered untimely and the horrifying news of their deaths startles us because they are expected to live upto a span of 70 or 80 years.

It is anticipated that all of us including our near and dear ones would live throughout a lifetime. However, the truth of the Bible proclaims—Tomorrow is promised to no Man.The fact that there is no guarantee of being alive the next moment can be frightening. To bring it into perspective, consider these statements: This day can be the last day of our life,or, reading this article can be the last thing you will be doing. The psalmist in Psalm 103: 15 declares, “As for man, his days are like grass…” As for the epistle of James, it is an evil to brag and boast about our future because we do not know what tomorrow holds for us. Life is short and uncertain. In the past, we could take for granted that death would meet us after entering old age but in the 21st century, we are surrounded by news of young people falling prey to death. However, let not the thought of life’s uncertainty frighten us.

Life can be terrifying and insanity can creep in if one starts to live as though today was the last day for his/her existence on earth. I lived that kind of life for about two months when Noble passed on. Fear engulfed me and I lived as though death was waiting for me at my doorstep. Nevertheless, God’s grace was sufficient for me. Through this bitter experience God taught me certain Kingdom principles. Life on earth should be lived in the light of eternity. Everything that we do on earth is a preparation for what holds for us in eternity. It is that eternal hope that sustains us and keeps us going in this world. Jesus came into this world and conquered death so that we could have life and life eternal.

When we live in the light of eternity, there is a new meaning and a purpose for life. Every little thing that we do in this world will matter in terms of the eternal glory that we will inherit. Having the realization that life is shorter than we think, I am reminded of the words of John Wesley who states, “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as you ever can.” When our work on earth is done, God will call us home. Is our house set in order? Are we living in the light of eternity or obsessed with the world and everything in it so much so that the hope of life is lost. When we close our eyes on earth, will we open our eyes to see Jesus? Start builder a closer relationship with God and the people that God has given you because what you do on earth matters! Dear friend, will you set your house in order? Time is running out!

- Renny Cherian,
  UBS, Pune

LIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Living in the presence of God is not a good way to live life

but it is “only way to live life.”

              

Ashish Gavit  (BD Final year)

Psalm 91

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. (Psa 91:1-2 NLT)

only in the shelter of the most high we will find rest.

Reason is so simple no traps, no disease, no fears, no calamities, no disaster will touch me. (Psalmist says in V. 2,5-7NLT)

Because He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection (Ps 91:4 NLT)

Thousands may die around u because of diseases, calamities, fears but He will save you.

No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. (Ps 91:10 NLT)

For His angels will protect you.

HE will give you authority to crush lions and serpents under your feet because you Love your God, you trust in Him, You seek Him all the time so He will be on your side all the time.

¹⁵ When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. (Ps 91:15 NLT)

God will also reward them who live with Him and rewards are ‘Long life’ and ‘salvation. ‘

All those people who want rest, protection, safety and power to overcome evil must live in the presence of God.  

Just look at the flip side of it.

The more we go away from His presence we face more stress, fears, calamities and disasters in our life. We invite more tension, more stress, more problems which removes/decreases our peace, joy, love from our heart and mind. We pursue our own goals not God. Life becomes constant struggle to reach those goals at the expenses of our moral and ethical decay. We become self centered rather than God centered.

Do not waste 10 years of your life to understand such simple truth of life.

Struggle here with us as Christian is we think God will remove all our “PAIN” but bible do not support this view

I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. (Ps 91:15 NLT)

Paul says in Romans 5:3-4 NLT

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.      

Paul in his letter to Rome rights about his suffering and he rejoices for it but we know that his suffering was from God. In the book of Acts God says “And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake." (Act 9:16 NLT)

Suffering has very important role to play in our life but it needs to come from God.

And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1Co 10:13 NLT)

Even Jesus was tempted by satan. Satan made trap for Jesus but he was not able to seize. 

Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. (Psa 91:8 NLT) but here we see that wicked are those who refuse to live in the presence of God and hence God will bring all these problems in their life as a punishment for their refusal.

Psalmist talks about unnecessary suffering which is coming from our own refusal and from satan. Bible says 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy……” (Joh 10:10 NRS)

This type of pain or suffering is not constructive but it is destructive.

I do not know which type of suffering comes from God and which is from satan. But I know for sure that God will never allow me to suffer unnecessary.

So ultimately we understand that in order to live life we need God and without Him there will be “no life” left in us. Living in the presence of God is not a good way to live life but it is “only way to live life.”

Exodus of the Garos

Every religion, society, community or tribe have stories to share. The term exodus can be defined as coming out from one place to another. Most of the tribal people too have stories of their own exodus. In the Old Testament in the book of Exodus, we have the story of the Exodus of the Israelites. In this short article, I would like to mention few things about the exodus of a particular tribe called the Garos. Presently, Garos are living in the Western part of Meghalaya, in North Eastern part of India.

Linguistically and ethnologically speaking, the Garos belong to the Bodo race. Dr. Milton Sangma in his History of Garo Literature says that the Bodos, in turn were a section of the Tibeto-Burman race of the Tibeto-Chinese family, whose cradle is said to have been the North-Western China between the upper waters of Yangtse-Kiang and Huangho. Prabod Sangma one of the present Garo writer also says that the word Bod(o) is from the Tibetan language which means snow. Garo’s oral tradition also say that once they lived in the land of Ti·bot (Tibet). But when faced with several natural calamities, such as famine, they gathered in the house of Olbin Nokma Bonepa and decided to move on to in search of other, better place to live. After wandering through many places they reached to present Garo Hills, in Meghalaya and settled there.

As far as my observation is concerned, the Exodus of the Garos can be divided into three exoduses; i.e. Geographical, Sociological and Spiritual Exodus.

A. Geographical Exodus: In simple words the geographical exodus can be said of as moving out or coming out from one place to another. One of the Garo writer, Moniram R. Marak in his A·chik Katta (Word of the Garo) mentioned that once the Garos lived in the land of Tibet, near the Chinese border. As I mentioned above, oral tradition of the Garos also says that once they lived in the land of Ti·bot (Tibet). As years went by, they had to face great economic depression. They went to the jungles in search of alternative food source like wild yam, leaves of the trees, but hardly found any. Some died of starvation. Therefore, all the elders of the village gathered together in the house of Olbin Nokma Boneba (Olbin is the name of a person, Nokma is the title given to a village head, Bone is the name of Olbin’s son). In that meeting they decided to move on to another place in search of a better place to live. In Milton’s History of Garo Literature, is written that the Garos after coming from Tibet they settled in Koch Behar for about four hundred years and then moved on to Dhubri, but later, the ruler of Dhubri did not allow them to settle permanently. Then they moved on the Jogigopa. According to Garo tradition the word Jogigopa comes from two Garo words - jogi, the name of a beautiful maiden (probably Garo name for Parvati) and gopa, which means hidden. According to their stories, there was a beautiful girl in one of the Garo families. When they settled in that place (Jogigopa), the ruler of that place fell madly in love with Jogi. The Garo custom then did not allow inter-community marriage; and that ruler was trying to marry her by force. Therefore, the Garos tried to hide the young and beautiful Jogi in a certain cave and fought a war with that ruler. The Garos lost the fight and Jogi was forcefully married to that ruler. They were then forced to move across the Brahmaputra River by making the boat out of plantains. After facing many enemies and wondering many places, they reached to present Garo Hills under the leadership of Abong Noga and settled permanently.

B. Sociological Exodus: The Garos are unique in terms of following the family linage. At present, they follow a matrilineal system. The tradition says that the Garos once did followed the patrilinial system. At that time, the women had to live with men’s family far away from their own parents and relatives. Women were discriminated by men for many reasons. The tradition says that there are many reasons for changing of patrilinial society into matrilineal society. One of the reasons for this was a famine. As I already mentioned above, while they were living in Tibet, they had to meet a great economic depression. Therefore while they were meeting in the House of Olbin Nokma Bonepa, some of the village elders realized that famine occurred because they neglected women and discriminated them. So they began to give a special privilege to women – family linage should be taken from mother’s side, man should come to woman’s house, youngest daughter should inherit the property, and the father should arrange one of his nephews to marry her youngest daughter and look after family and to inherit the properties. Besides this, it was also decided that the other daughters also should get some share of the properties.

C. Spiritual Exodus: In those days, Garos followed the indigenous tribal religion called Songsarek. They worshiped and sacrifices to different gods. Unlike Hindus, they don’t have idols. They also have mythological figures like Goera, Gonga, Kalkame, and Dikki-Bandi and they regarded them as heroes.

It was Omed Momin and Ramke Momin who first accepted Jesus and became Christian from among the Garos. Both of them were strong believer of Garo traditional religion, but their thirsts for true God was not satisfied. They studied Hinduism and Islam, but also found them unsatisfactory. That time, Omed was working in Goalpara as a Primary Teacher and his nephew Ramke was living in of the Official’s house in Gauhati. There were some people distributing tracks called Apathy Nashak and Omed received one of these tracks. When Omed read this booklet he came to know that it was a word from God, and he tried to share it with his nephew, Ramke. At the same time where Ramke was living, a servant when cleaning the house found another small booklet which had somehow come into the house. When Ramke read it, he knew that it was a word from God too. It was amazing that, both the uncle and nephew got the same pamphlet and both of them began to share their experiences. So they wanted to become Christian and therefore they went to Guahati in search of Missionary, there they met Rev. Kandura. A few days later, on the 8th of February1863, on a Sunday morning, both Omed Momin and Ramke Momin were baptized in the Sukheswar Ghat of Gauhati by Rev. Miles Bronson. They were the first converts among the Garos which can be termed as the spiritual exodus of the Garos. After becoming Christians, they suffered many persecution but they continued to be focused on their faith and converted many other Garos and neighboring tribes into Christianity. At present almost 80% of the Garos are Christians. Before, they were known as head hunters but today, they are soul winners.
Though the materials are taken from the oral source, we cannot deny that these stories are not true. Many researchers found that there are some similarities with those stories. Dr. Lee from Korea, who is working in Bharati Hospital Pune, once told me that there are some people in China near Tibet border who followed the matrilineal system. Even today, many Garos are found in places like Koch Behar, Jalpaiguri and some parts of West Bengal, Assam, almost all parts of North East and even in Bangladesh. But the Garos of Koch Behar and Jalpaiguri are not in touch with their language and culture. The only identifying factors they have are the clan names like Sangma, Marak, and Momin etc. Whatever the case may be, it was God who brought them to present Garo Hills to meet the American Baptist Missionaries so as to know about Him. Thanks be to God that he has opened the eyes of the Garos, including a concern for women, which can serve as an example to other peoples in the world.

- Bluwin Ch. Sangma, N.B.D.III

Marathon 2012

This morning was one of the most exciting mornings in the campus, for some of us at least. While the rest of the campus slept, about thirty plus Seminarians gathered for the marathon organized by the Sports Committee under the leadership of its chairperson Chongkholun Haokip. It was especially exciting for me because I was able to complete the whole course this time around, the previous year I got confused about the course and had to backtrack to the campus.

B. Ryngksai

Love That Forgives and Love That Gives!

This Christmas I leave Union Biblical Seminary with these words given by faculty adviser and by my weekend ministry faculty supervisor.

In my care group dinner gathering we were urged by Dr. Praveen Paul to forgive people who had hurt us at anytime in the past. While in our last Weekend-Ministry prayer together with our supervisor, Ashish Koshi, encouraged us to be sensitive to people in need of our generosity and friendship this Christmas. He encouraged us to practice a love that gives! I hope that this Christmas break, and at other times as well,  I am able to practice these fundamental and basic teachings of my Lord, Jesus Christ.

May we all experience, and also let others have a chance to experience, this love that forgives and love that gives.

- B. Ryngksai

Happy Christmas and have a Blessed New Year!

The Question mark?

Last week, I got an opportunity to watch a movie “To Save a Life,” which is a 2010 Christian drama film directed by Brian Baugh. This led me to jot down a few thoughts.

The WEEK magazine had done a wide range of research on how Indian bright minds are being drowned towards the Dark side! It was shocking to me to read this news that how a bright and an educated person can end up his/her life in nowhere. This seems to be a mystery for many of us, but we always lack in understanding the victims and their struggles.  We are living in the age where no one even bothers about others’ struggles. In fact this has become the civilization of the X-generation. You mind your business and I will mind mine!
 
Let me quote the e-mail that Nitish Kumar Reddy writes his last words to his father. The final-year M. Tech student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras hanged himself from a ceiling fan in his hostel room in last month. 

Dad, sorry I couldn’t be a better son of you... all you asked was a betterment of my career and future and I couldn’t give it to you... I have failed you dad and I am so sorry about it...

Mom, sorry, I really love you more... I was weak... I thought I could become strong but failed... The fault is my own...

This is one of the news that is happening in Indian brain centres at the moment. The Week records that the total number of students in premier institutes who killed themselves since 2008 is 28. Who is bothered about this in this competent world? Who will bridge the gap then? We all are in process to fulfil the exceptions of others, sometime even ours as well, no matter what sacrifices have to be made! In midst of the hustle and bustle of this e-age, how we Christian would respond to the problems?

Now, a fresh question comes to us. How are you going to deal with our societies that we are going to be involved?

In the movie, Raja ended his life with a pistol, just because that he didn’t want to continue this life alone. He thought that the world doesn’t like him or in other words, he did not find the worth of his survival. You and I may conclude, saying that how are we responsible to someone’s suicide?  That’s what Jake even confesses in the movie. The movie was alarming to me! Perhaps to (you)! I do not want to give an absolute statement that we should (watch the movie)! Nevertheless, I just leave onto you to explore more...

If not, what’s going to be the use of our degrees from the Seminary? Is it just for ME and MY survival?  Think for a while!! Galatians 6:2 was correct when Paul says that “Bear one another’s burden...” Am I supposed to mind the burden of the one, whom I know and I like? I know that it’s human phenomena! But I think we should break the boundary of relationship (probably, cross the boundary) here and go little further. Who knows that your own friend, who is always with you, might be going through a time of loneliness and depression? Who knows that God has appointed you to be a messenger to him, a person like Raja (In fact, It was too late for Jake)!

At last, I recommend you all to watch the movie at least once! Have a nice day! 

-  Janak BC

Sin, Death and Hope

Sin, where art thine hands that hath embraced this world?
Death, where is thy victory?
Oh sin! The LORD hath bore thee,
HE hath laid thee in the earth’s womb,
Death, where is thy kingdom that reigns?
Hath HE not trampled thee under HIS feet and laid thee with thy brother sin in an everlasting sepulcher?
Hope, have thee not seen thine new face that the LORD hath given thee?
Thou were redeemed by HIS holy blood,
Thou were dressed with HIS robe of salvation,
Thou were shown a way, a way that leadeth thee to HIS kingdom.

- by Yeshwanth. B. V., B.D.IV

TAKE TIME TO PLAY - IT IS THE SECRET OF PERPETUAL YOUTH

Besides the ongoing football matches between the class teams of the Final Years, NBD III and NBD II (the professional A teams and the exciting and colourful B teams of each class) and the matches of the UBS football team against the different fellowships i.e. Naga Christian Fellowship (NCF), Hmar Christian Fellowship (HCF), Kuki Worship Service (KWS), Seven Day Adventists, etc. we are also awaiting the start of the group event.

This most awaited event of games and sports activities of Union Biblical Seminary conducted by the Sports Committee under the leadership of the Chairperson, Mr. Chongkholun Haokip of BD IV, will soon begin, it will end next year on 28th Jan., 2012. The whole community is being divided into four houses/division. The names of the house division and its parents are:

Thunder (Red color):

Father: Chingnang Marak BD IV

Mother: Kamsansu Pethury (Akam) BD IV

Storm (Green color):
Father: Roshin A. Sam BD IV
Mother: T. Akali Kibami (Akali) BD IV

Hurricane (Yellow color):
Father: Evan Ranadhir Guha BD IV
Mother: Chubala Sangma BD IV

Lighting (Blue color):
Father: Lenin Tokbi MDiv IV
Mother: Evie Pamade R. Marak BD IV

Come lets enjoy together, cheer the players and be a part of the sports activities. Christian ministry is more than confining ourselves to a particular thing or place but also to be a part of everyday life, including sports.

Thanking you!


- Mr. Chongkholun Haokip, Chairperson of Sports Committee

Update: This year (2011-12) the Hurricane team won overall.

Man is like a train

Man is like a train

                                - Shalu T. Mathew

At the age of 20, he is like a ‘Local’

That stops all stations.

At 30, he is like a ‘Special’

That stops only at towns.

At 40, he is like an ‘Express’

That stops only at big junctions.

At 50, he is like an old ‘Locomotive’

That stops often for refilling.

At 60, he doesn’t take off any more,

He remains in the yard.

An Introduction to New Testament Scholarship Worldwide blog

"Bridging Eastern and Western New Testament Scholarship" is the motto of the New Testament Scholarship Worldwide blog that Rev. Johnson Thomaskutty maintains. One of the posts that I read which is “‘Eastern-Western’ in Academic Thinking”—A Dialogue with Dr. Dyron Daughrity in Pune was true to the motto and gives encouraging insights into what a Western academic thinks on the issue of interaction between Eastern and Western scholars. This interesting dialogue and other insightful and interesting blog post are found at the following URL: http://ntscholarship.wordpress.com.

Browsing through the different posts one is introduced to various aspects of New Testament scholarship and one gets the benefit of the different point of views too, which obviously ranges from the East to the West and also involves opinions from history, hermeneutics, theology, missions etc.

Rev. Johnson Thomaskutty, a faculty at UBS in New Testament studies is also the present editor of the Union Biblical Seminary Journal (UBSJ). To know more about the blog and him go here: http://ntscholarship.wordpress.com/about/.

- B. Ryngksai

Final Year's Theme Presentation Photos

The Final year students (B.D., M.Div. and M.Th.) presented their theme on the 26th of August, 2011. Thanks to Reuben and Jimmy for the photos.


The theme was Coram Deo, Living in the Presence of God - 2 Corinthians 2:17.


It was a beautiful programme that showcased their creativity and heart with songs, dance, skits, and even a hand mime.



Posted by B. Ryngksai

The Silence of the Night

As the silence of the night echoed,
A voice of betrayal came forth,
To kiss the Savior,
Though HIS hands were bound in chains,
Yet HE was not reluctant in giving up HIS hands to be nailed,
Though HE was led before the unrighteous,
Yet HE was not hesitant in giving up HIS feet to be nailed,
Though HE was silent, yet HE spoke strongly,
His voice has echoed through out all the generations that has passed,
Still HIS voice echoes in our hearts,
Calling us to be his begotten sons,
To be HIS portion forever

- by Yeshwanth. B. V., B.D.IV

Final Year's Theme Presentation

The Final year students will be presenting their theme this Friday on the 26th of August, 2011. This is done every year by every final year batch. It is expected that we will all have a meaningful time.









Posted by B. Ryngksai

Read various translations and versions of the Bible online

http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://www.bibles.net/
http://bible.cc/
http://www.biblica.com/bibles/
http://www.bibles.net/
http://bibledatabase.net/
http://bible.logos.com
http://www.blueletterbible.org/
http://rockhay.tripod.com/worship/translat.htm
http://www.catholic.org/bible/
http://www.ebible.com/

Compiled by B. Ryngksai (NBD III)

DIASPORA ON THE NET

The word "Diaspora" gives a clear link with the Greek word diasporav, and has been translated in English as "dispersion", "dispersed" or "scattered". The Oxford dictionary indicates that it was first applied to the dispersion of the Jews among the Gentiles mainly in the 8th-6th c. BC but that it now also applies to any group of people similarly dispersed. However, the Lausanne 2010 Diaspora Leadership Team (LDLT) distinguishes between a singular (Diaspora) and plural (Diasporas) - referring respectively to different peoples or of all groups as a whole, being on the move and leaving their homeland (voluntary or involuntary migration/immigration). Diaspora has been a part and parcel of our faith. Therefore, our belief should not be confined into our territory only, rather need to cross the border. This note may be beneficial to those who are interested in the Diaspora Missiology. Nonetheless, this may not give an overall picture of Diaspora but definitely will provide a blueprint to get an access with resources for further researches and studies.

SECULAR NETWORKS FOR DIASPORA
The Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies	www.soas.ac.uk/migrationdiaspora
The International Institute for Diaspora Studies	www.diasporastudies.org
United nations (over 1800 articles could be accessed)	www.un.org/en/search
Diaspora Network Alliance	http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PDACM860.pdf
UNESCO's programme on International Migration	http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/social-transformations/international-migration/
Asian Diaspora	www.time.com/time/asia/2003/journey/graphics/migration_map.html
Indian Diaspora	http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Diaspora/diaspora.html
Wikipedia	Category: Diaspora
CHRISTIAN LINKS
East Asia Diaspora Forum	http://www.globalconnections.co.uk/forums/East%2BAsia%2BDiaspora%2BForum/EastAsiaDiasporaForum
Filipino International Network	http://www.fin-online.org/
Institute of Diaspora Studies (IDS)	http://www.westernseminary.edu/Diaspora/index.htm
The Lausanne Diaspora Leadership Team (LDLT)	http://www.gatheredscattered.com/
NSM Knowledge Base	http://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.php?loc=kb&view=b&fto=4511&&sf=Y
References on Diaspora from ATLA Religion Index 300 Recent Articles Dealing with Diaspora	http://www.mislinks.org/files/DiasporaBiblio.pdf http://www.mislinks.org/files/Diaspora300.pdf
Lausanne Global Conversations and papers	http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/10540
MISSION JOURNALS AND PAPERS	http://www.mislinks.org/gathering/journals/
RESEARCHING WORLD CHRISTIANITY	http://www.internationalbulletin.org/resources
Seminar on "Anthropological Insights for Diaspora Missiology" by Dr. Steven J. Ybarrola, on 16-21, January, 2012.	http://www.omsc.org/seminars.shtml

If God and His people are on the move, should not the Diaspora Missiology be another paradigm shift for the mission?


By Janak BC, (MDiv IV)
Chairperson,
Mission Conference Committee

Who am I?

Life's so wonderful,
The greatest gift of God!
Who can create it?
Who can destroy it?
Anyone has authority over it?
The Almighty holds everything
Man is just dust
And goes to the same place where he started (Ecc. 3:20)
Life belong to the Creator
None has the control over it
Then reason!!!
Who am I?

-- Imsujungla, (NBD III)

The Fervent Four I: the quality of selflessness

The ‘four men’ who carried the paralytic in the gospel of Mark 2 were just SELFLESS! Hearing of Jesus’ arrival at Capernaum after many days, the four friends could have just gone by themselves. They could have hurried to see Jesus before He left for another nearby town. We see that they SAW a need and ACTED toward it. They couldn’t just go to see Jesus without carrying this ‘paralytic on the mat.’

As Christians, this passage challenges us to be selfless in our attitudes and actions. All of us see needs around us but few of us act. May the quality of selflessness be the very essence of our faith that brings the stigmatized, overlooked, and the ‘not our type’ people to Jesus!


-- Renny Cherian, (NBD III)

JOY TRANSCENDING REASON

One scripture portion that has invariably challenged me every time I went through a crisis is the concluding portion of the Psalm of prophet Habakkuk in chapter 3: 17-18. This 7th C prophet witnesses the catastrophic proportions of injustice prevalent in the Jewish society. His heart is heavily burdened in this regard and has come to a state where he feels tired of carrying it on his shoulders anymore. Unlike some other contemporaries of his time he chooses to confront God on this matter by raising a complaint. God does reply to the prophet’s complaint by revealing him the role of the then Neo-Babylonian kingdom in the near future in punishing the unrighteous. The prophet is not unaware of this growing power but he is well aware of their great spoils and deeply treacherous attitude to other nations. In his opinion they are if not more unrighteous, equally wicked in comparison to the wicked in the Jewish society. In his deep dissatisfaction he confronts God again, this time raising a complaint against the Chaldeans. The prophet does report God’s reply to this second complaint in which God assures that He will bring the Babylonian power down to its knees in His time. The prophet’s dilemma, however, is this- he has to continue to be a mute witness to the injustice because the revelation awaits an appointed time! He is tired of lamenting and happiness seems to be a distant luxury.

As human beings we always need a reason that immediately appeals to our senses for the creation of the emotion we know as ‘joy’. But what do we do when at times the more we seek such a reason the more it eludes us? Moments like this were very much a part of prophet Habakkuk’s life. Nevertheless, we see a love, a joy, a faith, a relationship that transcends reason in his psalm. He says,

“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, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour”.(Hab 3:17-18. NIV)

The prophet has grown to love his God more for who He is than for what He does. Another great example of a love that transcended reason is found in the words of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They are faced with an unprecedented crisis which comes along with a solution! All they need to do to get out of this crisis is to worship the idol of Nebuchadnezzar. However, they take the path where logic and rational would not dare to go. The book of Daniel records their words in Ch 3: 16-18 like this,

“...we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (emphasis added. NIV)

For these great men what was more important was who God is rather than what He can do for them. What we can take away from their life is the blaring reality that only when our love transcends the realm of reasons, and begin to love God for who He is than for what He does, will our joys surpass its own fleeting nature.

Nobby Jose Varghese, (BD IV)
PTD Chairperson and Student of UBS

Message from UBSSA President

I would like to say ‘Kudos!’ to Literary Debate and Publication committee 2011-2012 for its innovative venture of “Blog” in the World Wide Web. As I look at this venture, I feel that this would a creative attempt that would broaden our perspective of evangelism as a dialogue with the world at large. Thus, contributing to redefine evangelism, in the present day context of social networking, texting and skyping. The students of UBS have always been a blessing to the campus as well as outside the campus through their contribution of various talents in different capacities.

LD & P provides a platform to such students to optimize their potentials and talents through different innovative programmes. This year LD & P encourages all the students to participate in the programmes and utilize the opportunity to explore and nurture the talents within us.  

Finally I would like to encourage the community to make use of this opportunity to engage in dialogue in the virtual world of Internet. It is my prayer and wish that this ‘Blog’ would be a blessing to the campus as well as to the people outside the campus. It is also my prayer that LD & P would contribute to the development of intellectual growth of the community so that we may all be effective instruments in our Maker’s hands.

Shalom

Yeshwanth. B. V., (BD IV)

President, UBSSA, 2011-2012

Enjoying Freedom within the boundary

We are celebrating our 64th Independence Day on 15th of this month. We remember with great gratitude, the freedom fighters they committed their valuable life for the independence of our great nation. Many even laid down their lives for the freedom. We who are living in a country, we are claiming that we are free, should ask ourselves the question - “Are we really free?” If we evaluate the situation of increasing terrorist threats and attacks, religious fundamentalism, poverty, corruption, conflicts in the name of language, religion, caste and color, etc. In the light of these situations how is it possible to call ourselves as free?

In the Christian context, freedom is a very much misunderstood word. John 8:36 saying “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed”, here John talking about the freedom from the bondage of sin. This freedom does not mean- freedom to do anything and everything. Freedom without boundaries is not freedom at all. So we can define freedom means ‘freedom to obey the rule and to do the responsibilities’. Even in our family, religious, or social life we can enjoy the freedom with in this boundaries.

By Shalu T. Mathew, (BD IV)
Chairperson
LD&P, 2011-2012