...and She thought she won!

...and just about when Ol' Death threw her grub hoe and spade,after burying the body of The Christ to rest;

...just about when she turned around and called it, "The-Day-Ol'-Death-Triumphed";

...just about when she walked back to her cold-pale-lifeless throne;

...just about when cruel Death boastfully proclaimed, "It is finished!"

...just about when Ol' Death raised a toast to her now-evident-victory...


JESUS ROSE AGAIN LIVES TO REIGN!

The Uphill Climb

The Pilgrim, out of the cockles of his heart, pleaded,
"Oh Lord! If only I were born blind or never ever had walked the earth...for all this pain and misery I can not bear on my back; the load is too heavy and the incline is too steep, what if I stumble? What if I fall? What if I lose my grip over all?...My strength fails, my health debilitates, my heart agonizes while my soul writhes in deathly sorrow.
Cannot Thee save me? Cannot thee relieve this burden of my body and soul, loving Lord?"

To this, The Saviour replied,"My grace is sufficient for you."

The pilgrim, once lying stretched on the sidewalk, emaciated and shrivelled to bones, stood up at the sound of those words, and filled with renewed energy and living hope embarked on his arduous journey...Again!

To this day, he doesn't know how? He can't fathom why?
But he walked the tortuous path and finished the journey, resting with His loving Lord in his own home, 'til eternity.

Bless You,
TM.

History and What Really Happened

In a special documentary, a major television network investigated the beginnings of Christianity and the influence of the apostle Paul in spreading the message of Christ. The narrator noted his fascination with the historical figure, commenting that if not for the voice of Paul, it is “unlikely that the movement Jesus founded would have survived beyond the first century.” Yet of the resurrection of Christ he also noted, “Something must have happened, otherwise it’s hard to explain how Jesus’s story endured for so long.”

It is a question worth our time: Why has the story of Christ endured? Has it survived through the centuries because of effective speakers in antiquity? Has it endured, as Sigmund Freud argued, because it is a story that fulfills wishes, or as Friedrich Nietzsche attested, because it masks and medicates our disgust of life? Has the story of Christ endured because something really happened after Jesus’s body was taken down from the Cross or was it only the clever marketing of ardent followers?

We live in an age where religion is examined with the goal of finding a religion, or a combination of religions, that best suits our lives and lifestyles. We are intrigued by characters in history like Jesus and Paul, Buddha and Gandhi. We look at their lives and rightly determine their influence in history--the radical life and message of Christ, the fervor with which Paul spread the story of Christianity, the passion of Buddha, the social awareness of Gandhi. But far too often, our fascination stops there, comfortably and confidently keeping the events of history at a distance or mingling them all together as one and the same.

C.S. Lewis often wrote of “the great cataract of nonsense” that blinds us to knowledge of earlier times and keeps us content with history in pieces. He speaks of the common tendency to treat the voices of history with a certain level of incredulity and inferiority. Elsewhere, he refers to this as chronological snobbery, a tendency to concern oneself primarily with present sources while dissecting history as we please. Yet to do so, warns Lewis, is to walk unaware of the cataracts through which we see the world today. Far better is the mind that thoroughly considers the past, allowing its lessons to interact with the army of voices that battle for our allegiance. For a person who has lived thoroughly in many eras is far less likely to be deceived by the errors of his own age.
We must be wary, then, among other things, of assuming the earliest followers of Christ thought resurrection a reasonable phenomenon or miracles a natural occurrence. Investigating the life of Paul, it seems important to ask why a once fearful persecutor of Christ’s followers was willing to die for the story he carried around the world, testifying to the very event that split history. Investigating the enduring story of Christ, it is logical to ask why the once timid and frightened disciples were abruptly transformed into bold witnesses. What happened that led countless Jews and many others to dramatically change directions in life and in lifestyle? That something incredible happened is not a difficult conclusion at which to arrive. It takes far greater faith to conclude otherwise.

A friend of mine is fond of saying that truth is something you can hang your hat on. Even as we struggle to see it today, her words communicate a reality Jesus’s disciples knew well. Truth is dependable and enduring; it is solid and it is real. The disciples and the apostle Paul were transformed by seeing Christ alive--a phenomenon that would be just as unthinkable to ancient minds as it would be for us today. In fact, even the most hesitant among them, and the most unlikely of followers, found the resurrected Christ an irrefutable reality. Comfort was irrelevant; personal preference was not a consideration. They could not deny who stood in front of them. Jesus was alive. And they went to their deaths proclaiming it.

It seems the story of Christ has endured for innumerable reasons: because in the fullness of time God indeed sent his Son; because knowingly Jesus walked to the Cross and into the hands of those who knew not what they did; because something really happened after his body was laid in the tomb; and because with great power and God’s grace, the apostles continued to testify of the events they saw. Moreover, the story of Christ remains today because it is true. Through centuries of lives that have withered like grass, those who believe in Christ have stood on that which is enduring: “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Quoted from a text by Jill, managing editor - A Slice of Infinity

The Good Life

"...What images come to mind when you ponder the good life? Perhaps during these trying economic times, it is difficult not to equate material items with the good life, more money, more security, or more opportunity. While it has always been said of every generation that these are times of great crisis and upheaval, we feel this search for meaning anew and afresh today, and perhaps wonder at the practicality or wisdom of looking to the past for insight or understanding into the good life.

And yet, the ancients remind us that “not even when one has an abundance does one’s life consist of possessions” (Luke 12:15). In this view, the good life involves what we do with our things, abundant or meager as they may be, and necessarily involves right living in community. Perhaps the ancient wisdom is particularly instructive in a time in which we would equate goodness with what we possess. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) Do justice, love kindness, and live out both of those virtues in light of humility before God; this is the good life. ..."

Margaret Manning.

RZIM

Selling Hope

Selling hope is a big business these days. Look around. What do you see? There are shops in every nook and cranny. Even where you are sitting, there is a shop set-up, selling hope. It doesn't matter if all these shops sell the right thing. What matters is that they sell hope.

Hope makes all things better, just as 'love' overlooks mistakes. Hope clarifies cynicism and curtails despair. Moments of happiness depend on hope, moments of sadness depend on hope. Chances of you surviving your 'age crisis' dangle securely on hope. But for me to post this up and hope you all read this post, depends on the net connection and your willingness to sit through this. Jokes apart, it's hope that makes me want to keep writing. Clearly, Hope wins. Uncannily, seldom. Because hope comes to those who linger on, persevere, if you will. And when hope comes, it brings love and it brings faith.

In times of economic meltdown, political rundown, military charge down what else do we need than a driblet of Hope...and Hope alone! Hope is what this world needs now. And the 'now' is not tomorrow or after the day - it's NOW!

Bless you
TM.

One size NEVER fits all!

Care to go through? It will do you good.

Whoever has not wanted to be a success in life is a story you always miss to spot. The rat race and the cut-throat competition, and standing up to the "expectations" dries you up so much, that after your streak with "success" is over, you are no better than a gnarled and withered branch bearing as much as no fruit.

Do you need a hero to emulate? Your search for that-One-outstanding-role-model stands you disillusioned and disarrayed, in a state of need? Check. Look within. Have there been times when your hero let you down? Have there been times when you felt betrayed by what he did? You looked up to this one as your ideal idol, all along you thought he was right, until this time? Have you been hiding under the cloak that doesn't belong to you? "What do I mean?", You ask.
Answer this, what would you do with somebody else's cloak, would you use it as your second skin if you knew he wore it everyday, never washed it up, so to say? No?? Well good!! then why would you want to be what others are? Don't you love yourself enough to put to the guillotine what is 'YOU'?

Do you like what you see, everytime you look into the mirror? NO? What would make you like it...a fairer skin? a tighter body? a smile as sweet as you-know-whose? a little more money? a swanky car? the American dream? a friend who loved you inspite of...? What?!

What is it that makes you feel insecure, insignificant, unwanted, accidental, a bag of flesh strewn over some bones? Why is it that you have stopped dreaming your own dreams? Why are you living-off the dreams of others? What makes you feel you can't do it?
Have you ever thought ,"It is too big a dream I'm not rightly equipped to sustain." YES!?!! Then I must quickly assure you that this is your dream. Yes! You heard me rightly. THIS IS YOUR DREAM. Only YOU can chase it. So GO! Drop the skin you are not supposed to put-on, after all you got one of your own! Wear it Rightly, Wear it Proudly. Let the world know that you ARE comfortable in your skin.

After all, one size never fits all!

Bless You.
TM.

Father

And oh! For the Father's love.
I cannot wrap my brain around his endless love and the sacrifices he has made over the years for me. How can I ever give back what I have not deserved, yet have been given freely. The support, trust and many 'second chances' I have been graciously given are undeserved privileges I couldn't have done without.

Every step of my life there has been this man...trusting...encouraging...motivating me to dream biggest...dreaming for me when I gave up...protecting me when I needed help...'bowing' down before others for my 'mistakes'...losing his prestige to save mine...praying for me when all else failed...showing me what 'giving' is...planting the seed of Faith in my heart I would reap the fruits of...teaching me to love excellence and its' pursuit thereof...letting me catch a glimpse of contentment...lending his intelligent and compassionate genes...causing me to practise patience and long suffering...teaching me the power of prayer...showing me what commitment is by staying with one woman (my mother) all his life...

I could fill up many pages but whoever could write down every single thing a Father could do for his child!
All I can do is to sing this song which best sums up, for now, the love of my Dad for Me. A song which is laden with my respect and love for him.

Welcome home You

When I left home to be who I am
Some people said "No Way"
But I laid it all down, gave everything
In my head rang the words that my father said
You're never far
I will be where you are
and when you come to me
I will open my arms

Welcome Home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know son, it's good just to see your face.

When I look at you holding my heart
I will give to you all that I have
Son I know there'll be times
You will feel all alone, I will share with you the words my father said
You're never far
I will be where you are
and when you come to me
You can bet I will open my arms

Welcome Home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know son, it's good just to see your face.

Now, all I can say is: Thank you Dad for giving me a small but magnificently consequential picture of The Father-in-Heaven.

With Love.
Your Son.
The only "Mon"

The Slot Machine

I went to a certain mall a few days ago. It was one of those plush malls you’d either find in New Delhi or in Gurgaon and, if you were that eager, in New York too! This time it was in another city, the name of which begs anonymity, and so I shall leave it and be accommodating to the plea. Nonetheless, I shall elaborate upon a small experience in our mall which left an indelible impact on my life. Gave me a perspective, few things have ever given; an analogy to use when I’d need to explain my stand…rather our stand!

Well, I’d never seen a slot machine for beverages and chocolates, much less used one, before this time! Anyway, thrilled at the opportunity of using such a tech., my tech savvy lunged at it! The machine panel read “Insert four Rs.5 coins and press the button for your choice of beverage”. I obliged. I drew out the coins and thrust them into the slot, pressed the button against the ‘coke’ option and out popped a coke! Boy thrilled was I!
I had money, I loved the thrill (comparatively smaller though) and another coke would have done me no wrong till the time I had it! so out came another 20 bucks and this time, pop! came the Mirinda!

I was flushing with excitement – I could care any less about the people watching me, looking at the machine like a cave man! I winked at them and continued checking out the machine closely. Guess I had my “Eureka!” momen when I found a chocolate bar slot too…Whoa! Whoever said only girls could love a mars bar! Anyway, I brought out another ten bucks and thrust it in (to the machine) for the double thrill of a mars bar and the already waning experience of the slot machine – out came the bar and I gobbled it up without wasting no time, lest I’d have to share it with my friends who had no idea, whatsoever, of where I was. I moved away realizing I’d sent my wallet spinning and wasted more than much time fiddling around for the ‘thrill’!

While walking back to the curb and to my home something ticked-off a thought in me…“over the years I have become so self obsessed, narcissistic in the way I treat myself. Everything I do, is about three people only 'I, Me and their sister, Myself'. Every thing that I say is so much more about me. Every thought I think is so much soaked in hedonism. Over the years I have turned God into an object, a cosmic bell-boy who comes down at every ring-of-the-bell, A dog who’s chained out in the cozy doghouse of my heart only to be released when I want to play with him! A SLOT MACHINE , I throw in the coins of my ‘praise’, ‘ worship’, ‘sacrifice’ to get the mars bar or the coke can of success, fame, girls (for ladies: do I need to tell you replace this with Boys?), money and other fleeting stuff that is seemingly enjoyable!"

But this God is no Slot Machine – He’s like the Father who’d give E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G He has/had for His child, to protect, care, nurture and love him/her. One who longs to form a relationship with you, to spend time with you, to hear from you – your pain, the longing, struggles and share in your happy times too!
But we have turned Him into a machine – we’ve called Him Dead, if nothing else!
If we long for Him, He will draw near to us;
"His friendship is a thousand days better than every brand’s, mom & dad’s and every friend we've ever had!"
God is not dead.
Bless You.
TM

P.S. "When we can't piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view of a puzzle is from above. Let Him help put you together." ~ Amethyst Snow-Rivers

If Only…

One phrase, in The Beautiful English Language, always intrigues me…If Only.
Every time I’ve used this phrase, I’ve never been able to escape the power of Pain, Remorse and Sadness…Every time I’ve found myself on the Threshold of Regret, it’s only this phrase that gives me a perspective of what would have happened, if I would have done the things that I ought to have done, but didn’t do anyway!
Don’t look for rhymes and pacific depth…I'd appreciate if you'd add to this list, at my behest!

If only...
If only…I’d have heard The Voice...I’d have never gone astray!
If only…I’d have been honest…They’d have never lost their equity!
If only…I’d have noticed the whisper of the unborn…She’d have lived to see the dawn!
If only…I’d have worked harder…The promotion would have been mine!
If only…I’d have kept my self under control…Her life would still have been whole!
If only…I’d have known his importance…Our friendship would have flourished!
If only…I’d have said a NO…I could have looked myself in the eye!
If only…I’d have chosen the right words…The hurts would have not followed!
If only…I’d have listened to my parents’ guidance…I’d have not failed!
If only…I’d have given her a shoulder...She’d have sailed through the struggles!
If only…I’d have waited a little longer…I’d have loved him better!
If only…I'd have cared…I’d have never let her go!
If only…I’d have been prudent…I’d have not lost the money!
If only…I’d have studied harder…I’d have made it to my destiny!
If only…I’d have been unselfish…He’d have gotten the job!
If only…I’d have dared…Their lives wouldn’t have been so lost!
If only…I’d have been open…A misunderstanding won’t have killed their relationship!
If only…I’d have been fair…He’d have achieved his dream!
If only…I’d have been generous…they’d have met their basic needs!
If only…I’d have stood by Truth…communities would’ve been transformed!
If only…I’d have shared the Good News…They’d have never lost L.I.F.E.!

Security Check

You take off my top and my pants too,
You feel my legs and my thighs too.
You touch my behind and my breasts,
Force me to remove my tampon
and look on, as I bleed in public.
Before my girl, my man and my boy,
and every eye that passes by.

My soul shudders in utter shame,
as you perform another check, in security's name.
Israel has the right to protect its borders,
But a palestinian woman's dignity has been intruded,
As you lunge for another...
Security Check!

Bless you,
TM + Guru-G

The Incomparable

The character of Jesus has not only been the highest pattern of virtue, but the strongest incentive in its practice, and has exerted so deep an influence that it may be truly said that the simple record of three short years (actually ~ three and a half years) of active life has done more to regenerate and to soften mankind than all the disquisitions of the philosophers and all the exhortations of the moralists!

And now, even before I decide to check the infallibility of this apparently bombastic statement, I am reminded of my own once-run-down-now-found self and hence, restrain myself from wasting my time to this check!
It has been proved down the centuries and, as I write, is still being proved in someone's life that...
Jesus Saves. Jesus Transforms. Jesus Loves. Period

bless you,

TM.

Sure Design

I'm just a thread in a hand,
like a castle on a sand.
With every storm that's breaking,
It's foundations shaking.

There must be a way out,
Before this life ends with a dirge.
Bedazzled by the expectations,
Longing for some careless mirth.

Often have I wondered, if someone's up in the sky,
Watching me, leading me and loving me by and by.
With every look i've taken, back into my life,
I've seen he dots connecting and the tears being wiped dry.

If all this is not the hand of God,
What else then should I call it?
For everything is a plain design,
With no blow of luck in it!

Bless you!
TM.

"Bunty-Bubly ki Rani"

A thousand cars passed me by,
Not one looked to my side,
While I trundled through this mad rush,
Of "faithful" office-leavers in many-a-cars and many-a-bus.

Amid their shouting and their screaming,
Some abusing and some dreaming.
I saw the crowds teaming,
As the evening mooning was beaming.
I felt left behind, when my 'friend' joined them,
He too had lost his mind!

I remember the day I rode out of the unit,
Some number was punched on me, I wouldn't comprehend it.
I was thrown up on the big truck,
Wondered about my future, landed straight into the muck.

The A-mobiles* have sped, overtaken us,
While we stand counting our days, stuck in the rut.
I, for one, still hope and pray, our days would take a turn,
When people all around would chuck their cars,
And gladly make us run!

Yours Ridingly,
"Bunty-Bubly ki Rani"
A Cycle-Rickshaw.

P.S.
Bless you.
TM
*Automobiles