Beautiful Feet and Good News!

Good news brings health to our bones (Proverbs 15:30). They are like cold water to a weary soul (Proverbs 25:25). In the Old Testament, we have read about men from the war front who came running to proclaim the good news of a victory. When Israel was under siege and was suffering from a severe famine, God chose a group of lepers to get to know where there was food for all (2 Kings 7). Mordecai sent the good news of salvation for the Jews through mounted couriers who rode fast horses. The royal horses raced out, spurred by the king’s command (Esther 8:10, 14).

The proclamation of the good news of restoration to the exilic Jews has been pictured  by Isaiah as follows: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7) Nahum, who prophesied later to Isaiah, visualized the same restoration scene in a similar tone: “Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!....” (Nahum 1:15)

There were angels who brought good news both in the Old and the New Testaments. Jesus bringing the good news to the world was prophesied by Isaiah centuries earlier to His coming, as follows: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” (Isaiah 61:1) Jesus indeed preached the good news in the villages, towns and cities of Israel. The apostles of Jesus, proclaimed that good news to the rest of the then world.

What is the Good News? It is nothing, but the atoning death of Jesus on the cross for our sins. It comes from the Greek word, “evangelion”. The missionaries brought evangelism, the good news to most of our fore parents. Someone told that good news to us. What are we doing about that “good news” today?

D.T. Niles said, “Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” God chose most of us, beggars, lepers, lowly people to receive the blessing of Jesus, "The Living Bread" much before the rest of others. Can we now, identify us with the lepers of the Isrealite camp and reflect on their dialogue: "We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let's go at once and report this to the royal palace." (2 Kings 7:9)

What have we done to the people who have not heard that good news not even once in their life-time so far? Jesus is the Way to heaven. All who believe in the reality of this fact need to shoulder the urgency of spreading the good news fast, spurred by the command of the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.“(Matthew 28: 18-19)

The Bible says: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Let’s ask to ourselves: How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?  (Romans 10:13-15)

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Do Not Call Anything Impure!

Peter was a special person, personally trained by Jesus with utmost care. He with his few colleagues received the Great Commission from Jesus, to go and make disciples of all nations. They also received the Master Plan of the Holy Spirit, which required them to be witnesses not only in Jerusalem and Judea, but in Samaria and in the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). But Peter, a traditional Jew did not move out of his Jewish boundary of Jerusalem and Judea for quite some time. Interestingly, the revival with the Samaritans, with the so-called low caste people in Acts 8 was primarily because of Philip, the deacon! Apostles Peter and John went to Samaria and only had to confirm it with a “wow!”

Peter was heavily prejudiced to the extent that he had to undergo training of mind through a heavenly vision. The vision was repeated “thrice” to make him understand the simple, basic truth: not to call anything impure that God had made clean. Peter needed the series of visions from heaven to make him move out of his Jewish zone to his so-called “impure” zone, the Cornelius household. By the way, Cornelius, an Italian was a gem of a character according to Acts 10:2 and 4. The Cornelius household became fine believers only after Peter, the  apostle himself was converted.

Peter is termed a ‘hypocrite’ by Apostle Paul in another instance of Jewish arrogance. Fearing the Jews, Peter withdrew himself, not willing to eat with the believers of Antioch, another ‘unclean-clan!’ Barnabas and many other Jews were led astray following the hypocrisy of Peter (Galatians 2:11-13). Peter of the New Testament is more in likeness to Jonah, the disobedient prophet of the Old Testament. The people in the ship, all belonging to the ‘impure’ clan, feared the living God (Jonah 1:16). And the people of Nineveh, another ‘impure’ cluster repented of their sin. But did Jonah ever repent of his racial bias? This small Old Testament book ends with a clarion call for people like Jonah to repent from their racial discords.

Peters and Jonahs today have to undergo a conversion experience. The superiority attitude of the Jews, which is ungodly, unbiblical is seen in many ways in our present context . I know a pastor who uses his ‘high’ caste identity in his name. I also know Christian organisations that are heavily caste and regional biased. And why do Christians still choose marriage partners within their own caste, regional domains? Also try answering the bigger question: How many of us have the heart of God to look beyond our own lingual and ethnic identities and participate in the wider mission of God, to serve ‘unclean’ communities? 

"Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." (Acts 10:15)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Rescue-A Humanitarian Perspective

Moses of the Bible was rescued as a baby by the daughter of Pharaoh from the river. His rescue was master planned by two other women earlier who were none other than his mom, Jochebed and his sister, Miriam. Encapsulated by the love of these three women rescuers in his life, Moses learnt to be one himself. One thing which grabs my attention happens when Moses flees to Median. There he rescued his would-be wife Zipporah and her six sisters from the men who troubled them at the well. Not only he rescued them from the men, but also helped them by watering the flock. This incident makes me consider Moses as the ‘Good Samaritan’ of the Old Testament. His rescue of the girls made Jethro, the girls’ father to have respect for Moses. It looks like Zipporah was a gift to Moses as a gratitude to his rescue work. No wonder God too saw this humanitarian concern of Moses and used him to rescue thousands of fellow slaves from Egypt. He also praises him as one who is faithful in all his house (Numbers 12:7)

There are so many girl children and women who are living at risk today. In this fallen and sinful world, women simply become a prey to inhuman deeds of men. Sometimes these men could be their husbands and dads or other honourable people in their lives like their relatives, teachers, bosses and pastors and  and who not! Years ago I had to counsel a girl rescued from committing suicide. This girl from another religious faith simply trusted in the words of a pastor who was in his final year of study in a reputed seminary. The girl with her meagre income from a garment factory had supported this ‘pastor’ for his studies. The pastor not only sucked the little money she had, he misused her time to time and finally ditched her. I was shocked initially, but then tried my best to counsel her. But the seminary and the church administration ‘safely’ transferred this pastor to a mission field far away.

Think of this: the Churches, Christian organisations and Christian families who ought to be guardians of faith, justice and humanitarian concerns, most of them have beastly behaviours. Can we pause and think about the humanitarian concerns, which the Bible has always taught us to do before we venture out to rescue souls from perishing? As for me, ‘Attitudes’ and ‘Acts’ of ‘Respect for Humanity’- to both men and women is basic in a humanitarian concern. I have just initiated one aspect of that. Why don’t we think of the many ways of correcting our horizontal relationships with fellow human beings to prove our vertical, religious faith as an authentic and convincing one?

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the LORD detests them both. (Proverbs 17:15)

Be My Baby!

Many years ago, a young wife was forced by her husband to abort the baby growing in her womb, because the baby was a girl! The young but brave mother courageously opposed the murder –plan of her husband and let the daughter live. Today joyful tears are ever in this brave mom’s eyes every passing day, as she sees the life of her talented daughter! She fought abortion and let her baby daughter live! “Let Live” children-both boys and girls because they are the gift of God!

 If one does not have the guts of this mom to fight 'killing' a baby, the best alternative is to give birth to the “unwanted” baby and give to a couple who wants a baby for adoption! The Bible has stories of adoption.  Moses, the liberation leader was saved by the daughter of Pharaoh who adopted him. Esther, the queen who brought salvation to the Jews was an adopted daughter of Mordecai. Joseph, the foster father had to have a big heart to include baby Jesus, the Lord and Saviour of the world, into his family. What a role these parents have played in bringing  leaders into the world! We, the believers of Jesus are his adopted children. Are n't we! (Ephesians 1:4-6)!

A biological parenthood is one of the many blessings promised in the Scriptures for sure! But not all inherit "all" the physical blessings that have been promised in the Scriptures! A progressive study of the whole of the Bible will say that there is no importance given to biological parenthood in the New Testament! A righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth were childless! Amy Carmichael and Teresa of Kolkata were called “Amma” without they being biological mothers! They were “mothers’ to a multitude of children! So childlessness can also be replaced by adoption where there is a greater opportunity to show the love of Christ to needy children!

Someone said, “An adopted child grows in mommy’s  heart (daddy’s too), not her tummy!” A baby is a miraculous gift from God, no matter how one receives it.  Some are given the ability to bear them, others the ability to rear them. God of the Bible has not asked us to fill the earth with children who resemble OUR images, but he has asked us to fill it with children who are raised to reflect HIS image! So, in an adoption we are facilitated to produce "God-like" children in the place of “our own physical” children! Is that not a privilege?

Every child needs a home and love and privileges like any other child. Why are there abortions? Why are babies thrown into garbage? Why are there children roaming in the streets and slums, not going to schools? As for me, to work for prevention of  such child abuses is divine! Because God has a purpose for every life formed in a womb!

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be!" (Psalm 139:13-16).

Who is the deserving kid out there, to whom I can say, “Be My Baby Forever?"

சுந்தரவனக் காடுகள் இயேசுவுக்காக!

சுந்தரவனக் காடுகள் இந்திய தேசத்தில் மேற்கு வங்காளத்தில் கங்கை நதி, வங்காள விரிகுடாவில் கலக்கும் இடத்திலுள்ள தீவுகளில் அமைந்துள்ளது. சுந்தரவனம் என்றால் அழகான காடுகள் என்று அர்த்தம். இங்கு மொத்தம் 54 தீவுகள் உள்ளன. இத்தீவுகளின் ஆரம்ப எல்லைகள், கல்கத்தா பட்டணத்திலிருந்து ஏறத்தாழ நான்கு மணி நேர‌, பிரயாணத் தூரத்தில் உள்ளன. அங்கிருந்து தீவுகளுக்கு படகுகள், பரிசல்கள் மூலம் செல்லலாம். மேலும் பொதுவாக மக்கள் அங்கு நீண்ட தூரத்திற்கும் படத்தில் உள்ளது போன்ற‌ மூன்று சக்கர வண்டிகளைப் பயன்படுத்துகின்றனர்.

கஷ்டமான பிரயாணம் காரணமாக, அரசாங்கமோ, தொண்டு நிறுவனங்களோ சுந்தரவனத்தின் உட்காடுகளில் அடிப்படை வசதிகளான மின்சாரம், கல்வி, மருத்துவம் போன்ற வசதிகளை செய்து தரவில்லை. 'ஹைலா சூறாவளி' போன்ற இயற்கையின் சீற்றங்களினால் இத்தீவுகள் அடிக்கடி பாதிக்கப்படுகின்றது. புலி மற்றும் முதலைகளின் தாக்குதலால் மனிதர் மடிவது சில தீவுகளில் சகஜமானதாகும். இப்படிப்பட்ட பல காரணங்களால் மிஷனெரி நிறுவனங்களும் உட்காடுகளுக்கு செல்ல தயக்கப்படுகின்றன. கேரிஸ் சேவா மண்டல் என்னும்  மிஷனெரி நிறுவனம் தேவையுள்ள இப்படிப்பட்ட உட்ப‌குதிகளில் தான் பணி செய்து வருகின்றது.

கேரிஸ் சேவா மண்டலத்தின் தற்போதையப் பணிகள்

 கேரிஸ் தலைமைத்துவ சிறப்பு பயிற்சி நிலையம்

பத்தாண்டுகள் மேற்கு வங்காளத்தில் முன்பு ஊழியம் செய்த அனுபவத்தின் அடிப்படையில், உள்ளூர் ஊழியர்களை உருவாக்குவதே சுந்தரவனத்தில் சிறப்பான முடிவுகளைத் தரும் என்று நம்புகிறோம். எனவே கேரிஸ் தலைமைத்துவ சிறப்பு பயிற்சி நிலையத்தின் மூலம் தற்போது புதிய விசுவாசிகளை, நானும், எனது கணவர் பாஸ்டர் சுரேஸ் ராஜனும், மற்றும் கல்கத்தாவை சேர்ந்த பாஸ்டர் நோயல் பிரபுராஜுமாக சேர்ந்து, முப்பது பேருக்கு, மாதம் ஒரு முறை மூன்று முழுமையான நாட்கள் பயிற்சி என்ற வீதத்தில் பயிற்றுவித்து வருகிறோம். ஒவ்வொரு மாதமும் பழைய ஏற்பாட்டில் ஒரு புத்தகமும், புதிய ஏற்பாட்டில் ஒரு புத்தகமுமாக இரண்டு புத்தகங்களில் வினாடி‍வினா போட்டிக்காக இவர்கள் ஆர்வமுடன் ஆயத்தமாகின்றனர். இவர்கள் வேதத்தைக் கற்றுக் கொள்ளும் வாஞ்சையானது வேதத்தில் பெரோயாப் பட்டணத்தாருக்கு இணையானதாகும் (அப்போஸ்தலர் 17:11). இவர்களில் பலர் ஏற்கனவே இல்லத் திருச்சபைகளை நடத்துபவர்கள் ஆவர். 

கேரிஸ் பள்ளிகள் 

தலித் மக்கள் அதிகம் உள்ள  மிகவும் பிற்பட்ட கிராமங்களில் நலிவுற்ற நிலையில் இருக்கும் பள்ளிகளை தத்து எடுக்கும் பணியையும் கேரிஸ் செய்து வருகின்றது. சம்பளம் ஏதுமின்றி பணி செய்யும் ஆசிரியப் பெருமக்களுக்கு ஊக்கத்தொகை கொடுப்பது, பாழடைந்த பள்ளி கட்டிடங்களை சீர்படுத்துவது என்று செய்ய வேண்டிய பணிகள் ஏராளம்.

கேரிஸ் திருச்சபைகள்

தற்போது மூன்று இடங்களில் விசுவாசிக‌ள் வீட்டுத் திண்ணைகளிலும், மரத்தடிகளிலும் இருந்து ஆராதனை செய்து வருகின்றனர். கிறிஸ்துவின் மீதுள்ள அன்பின் காரணமாக இம்மூன்று இடங்களிலும் விசுவாசிகள் தங்கள் நிலங்களை ஆலயக் கட்டுமானப் பணிக்காக கொடுத்திருக்கிருக்கிறார்கள். வசதியற்ற வீடுகளில் வாழும் இவர்களுக்கு வசதியான ஆலயக் கட்டிடம் கட்டித் தர வேண்டும் என்பது நம் வாஞ்சையாகும்.

சுந்தரவனக் காடுகளை இயேசுவுக்கு சொந்தமாக்கும் பணியில் நீங்களும்  எங்களுடன் கைகோர்க்கலாம்!
1. மேற்சொன்ன மூன்று பணிகளுக்காகவும் தினமும் ஜெபியுங்கள்.

2. எங்களோடு இப்பணித்தளங்களுக்குப் பயணம் செய்து இப்பணியை ஊக்குவியுங்கள்.

3. மாதந்தோறும் உதாரத்துவமாக காணிக்கைத் தந்து இந்த ஊழியங்களைத் தாங்குங்கள்.

மேலும் விவரங்களுக்கு, graceidarjan@yahoo.com என்ற முகவரிக்கு எழுதுங்கள்!

Family First!

I read the following note which reminded me of a dire need for our present day society: "Everyone talks about leaving a better planet for our children? Why doesn't any one try to leave better children for our planet?" Abraham comes to my mind in this regard whom I admire as a model of family-values more than a model of faith! See what God testifies about Abraham in Genesis 18:19, even before the birth of his promised son, Isaac. He says: “For I have chosen him (Abraham), so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." Can God testify about us, the God-chosen parents, the same way?

Abraham - A Model in Parenting
Isaac and the rest of the household saw a model of righteousness and justice in Abraham. Than any monetary assets, modelling of values by parents remain in kid's lives forever, though/if not immediately. Also according to this verse, the promises of God to Abraham is seen here to fulfill only after God found Abraham eligible of fulfilling his "family-role" of passing Godly values to the next generation. Passing of Godly values to our kids is one truth told in many places in the Bible!

Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 offers practical tips of how parents can pass Godly values: "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates." How much of this command happens in our homes today? What are some creative ways through which we can impress God’s commands to our children today? To me, Abraham is a model in parenting than anything else!

Abraham - A Model in Family-Values
Look at this aspect in Abraham’s life where he was truly righteous and just! Haran was the brother of Abraham. After the death of Haran, we find Abraham including Lot, the son of Haran as a member of his own family. God blessed Abraham and Lot to that extent that there was a time that the earth could not hold both of their wealth. So when it came to parting of land, we see Abraham’s generosity in asking Lot for his first choice. Lot chose Sodom and Gomorrah which looked good to his eyes, but happened to be wicked places. God decided to destroy these cities (Genesis 13:6-12). Even at this juncture, it was Abraham who pleaded for the lives of his nephew and his family. So Lot's clan was saved from perishing (Genesis 18:20-33)). We see Abraham loving his nephew amazingly in every regard!

In today’s nuclear family set up, love for kith and kin is narrowing down. How much of ‘giving up of privileges’ happen in our families? And do we pray for their lives to be saved from perishing? To me, Abraham is a model of a man of family-values, than anything else!

Parenting, Passing of Godly values are some Pressing needs for our Planet. What should come first in our lives today? I would say, for God's sake, "Family First!"

Check Out for Dead Flies!

Aaron comes from a family of ministers to God. His siblings Moses and Miriam were renowned spiritual leaders. All the sons of Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar were priests. In the earlier part of his life his call was to be a mouth piece to his younger brother Moses. Leader wise Moses was like God to him (Exodus 4:14-16). I admire the practical humility with which Aaron operated as a second leader. With Moses and his faltering lips (6:12) and with Aaron and his eloquent speaking skills, a tremendous cooperation would have been on exercise when the brothers functioned as leaders. No wonder unity among brethren was compared to precious oil running down Aaron’s beard in Psalm 133:2. For these unique qualities of Aaron, we see in Psalm 115:12, the Lord blessed the house of Aaron. Bible history says that there were eighty three high priests in the family line of Aaron. To name a few descendants: there was Phinehas, a spiritual zealot, Zadok, an awesome priest, Ezra a spiritual reformer and John the Baptist.

Yet there was a dead fly in the perfumed life of Aaron. During a prolonged absence of Moses, Aaron made a golden calf for worship, yielding to the peer pressure of the crowd. This led to sins of idolatry, immorality and shame to a wider community of the Israelites (Exodus 32:1-6). Like father were his sons Nadab and Abihu who brought sin to the community. These two sons had death as a punishment for this sin (Numbers 3:4)! We find multiple mentions of this “dead fly” in the rest of the history of Israel. In 1 Kings 12:26-30, we find notorious Jeroboam another “dead fly” who made golden calves following Aaron, for people to worship. From Jeroboam many Kings in Israel carried the dead fly odour to future generations.

Aaron was one who was called by God to be a priest. We now know that the call to be a priest cannot be taken lightly. The way and manner Aaron was fallible points us to an infallible “High Priest”- Jesus! (Hebrews 5: 1-5). Now the Bible also tells us that every believer of Jesus is a priest! (1 Peter 2:9) When Aaron reflected godly characters, his life was like a perfume. Blessings were his share. Dead flies in a perfume give a bad smell (Ecclesiastes 10:1).  For Aaron, it was yielding to Satan which was like a dead fly in the perfume. The resultant bad odour also got smeared through the generations after him.

It is time for us to check out for dead flies in our life. A God who can turn water into wine, replace a heart of flesh in the place of a heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26) can work on a “bad” smelling perfume and make it a “sweet” smelling perfume! Living a life as fragrant as a perfume all through, has challenges like how Aaron had! So what I can do is to look to Jesus, the perfect priest for His grace. It is “He” who enables me to smell like a sweet smelling perfume!