Upside down Christmas

This is an upside down story of Christmas.

The meaning of Christmas; The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, peace, hope and most importantly love. A revolution that has changed lives and is still at a slow pace changing lives today. What have we done? A season to celebrate our Savior's birth has become just another holiday to celebrate some occasion. So big is the celebration that the little manger has no place in the heart. Christmas has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists. And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling that we somehow missed its purpose.

Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

Are we more inclined to the festivities then the purpose of Christmas?

Sadly, not a lot of people would ask these questions to themselves. On the contrary, drinkers would want to drink more and those who do not drink would maybe want to try it during this season and thus chaos instead of peace. Virginities will be lost at this time meant to be a celebration of purity. The church pews will not be occupied except for a few worshipers (50% percent of which will doze off) on Christmas Morning Service because most of us would have spent all our energy partying the night before. Christmas Eve is more important to us then the actual Christmas Day and Santa is taking over Christ.

Why not an upside down tree?

Prayer:

Dear God, let this Christmas be a stepping stone for us towards selflessness. May it encourage us to be a blessing especially to those from whom we can expect nothing in return. In Jesus' name I pray, amen

Christmas Bible Verses

John 3:16
For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.

Luke 2:13
And suddenly there was the angel,
a multitude of the heavenly host,
praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest."

Psalm 72:11
All kings shall pay Him homage,
all nations shall serve Him.

Luke 2:11
"Today in the town of David
a Savior has been born to you:
he is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:8:9
And there were shepherds out in the field,
keeping watch by night.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them.

Matthew 1:21
"She shall bring forth a son,
and thou shall call His name Jesus;
for He shall save His people from their sins."

Matthew 2:2
"We have seen His star in the East,
and have come to worship Him."

Philippians 2:9
"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him the name that is above every name."

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Luke 1:14
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth

Luke 1:35
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy–the Son of God.

Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

A talk with a Hindu friend

(Please bear in mind that this post is written in a play type format and the words i use here are not the exact words used at the time of the conversation.)

It was back in 2005, the year I decided to follow Christ, I was approached by a man who frequented our church in Guwahati. We used to talk and I know his name, but will not use it here. He was from a Hindu family and was disturbed about how many gods we worship. He knows that we worship only one God but has heard of the Trinity and Jehovah Jireh – God the provider, Jehovah Rapha – God the healer, Jehovah Nissi - God our banner etc. He came to me after we had a wonderful worship. He was a banker living with his wife and three kids.

He: Why do you say you only worship one God when you have so many gods?

Me: (I was shocked!) We worship only one God and have only one true God.

I was getting defensive and a little angry especially as he went on to speak about the Trinity and the other names of God he so misunderstood. I was furious when he added that we (Christians) were uncertain of the gods we had. Anyway, summing up all my patience and wanting to portray Christ, I managed to simmer down.

He: What about the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit?

God answered through me: Let me explain it this way by asking you a few questions. Is it okay?

He: Sure.

Me: What and who are you? What’s your name?

He: Be serious please.

Me: I am, now please answer me.

He: You know me.

Me: Alright, you’re a human, a banker and your name is Amit (fake name used here) right?

He: Like I said, you know me.

Me: What are you to your parents, wife and children?

He: A son, a husband and a father. (He was reluctant with a ? on his forehead)

Me: You’re also a friend, right again?

He: You guys are good friends allowing a Hindu to occupy your seat.

Me: Thanks, you’re always welcome in the house of the Lord.
Well, you’re just one person, but you are a son, a husband, a father who provides for his family. Not only that, but you’re also a banker and a friend to many. That’s six in one and I’m sure you are not just the six we have mentioned.

He: Chicco, I get it now, however you will never convince me to convert, just not possible for me to follow your religion. But I will use your explanation if my Hindu friends mock you guys again.

Me: Oh well, I did my part of being a witness and I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will not only convince but convict you to accept Christ.

We went on to talk about other things like how we Mizos are so good with music and that it was not his intention to question the Christian faith. I felt bad being offended. We had lunch and he paid. I left Guwahati two weeks after this conversation and have not contacted him since (I took no phone numbers or emails). May God bless him.

Exegesis and Eisegesis (my thoughts)

Well as far as I’m concerned, being aware, maybe not fully but aware all the same of eisegesis and exegesis, these things are to me of very little importance as compared to the Gospel I’m to preach. It is the concept of the subject itself that I want to bring out. Moreover, the concept is man made. Where in the Bible does it tell us that believing in John 3:16 is not enough to save us? And yet it’s just one verse and the purpose of the whole scripture.

Don’t get me wrong, please note the ‘very little’ and not ‘NO.’ I know it leads to false or bad interpretation and understanding of the scriptures if one verse is taken and the rest rejected. But why I pay little heed to the terms. My simplest reason is because in my study, I always find that, the scriptures are all interlinked. Meaning they have the same purpose of trying to lead everyone to Christ. And then the Spirit works to make us believe even if the message is beyond our human ability to comprehend. Thought comes to me and to see if it was 'Godly', I'd check with the Bible. Eisegesis? Maybe to some but confirmation to me.

As we all know, every word in the Bible was written by men, people just like you and me. Some seem to be in favor of eisegesis and some exegesis (don't come to conclusions yet before you finish). However, they all represent Christ. These men had the same God, Savior Jesus and the Holy Spirit we worship today. So you can’t be going astray if your message is glorifying God and winning souls to Christ. You and I also know that men from the OT did'nt have Christ's full atonement or the Holy Spirit's comfort, even if they did the Spirit was upon them and not within.

I also cannot throw away human perceptions and worldviews altogether. Why else should we contextualize? Moreover serving God is serving man, right? Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' If you read from verse 31 thru 46 it will be clearer. Now this is an example of exegesis, because I wrote in a way which meant, read in context.

We have to be down to earth in ministering, even Jesus came down to earth.If we were to disregard man’s perceptions, why then did God choose to become a man to minister to the world? I quote, “Jesus is the most extreme cross-cultural missionary.” Is this eisegesis again? If your answer is a ‘yes’ I do not disagree because it’s not God’s intention to tell the world that Jesus is a cross-cultural missionary. However, it is the still small voice of the Spirit telling me to support world wide evangelism, it encourages me to be apart of the Great Commission.

‘Eisegesis and exegesis are things of very little importance to me as compared to the Gospel I’m to preach,’ There are a few verses which prompted me to state what I did, but maybe this verse, very famous in missions can do me the favor of conveying what I have in mind. The verse is about Paul’s statement in Acts 17:23 “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.”

Are we just to say that Paul got this from the Book of the Law? Or can’t the renewed mind of the born again accept that he was doing all he can to win the men of Athens to Christ? Under which category do we put Paul’s statement, eisegesis or exegesis? I do not believe he had any biblical rights to say what he did. I believe though, he was urged by the Holy Spirit and therefore the statement. This maneuver of Paul made it possible for him to preach Christ and make a few followers. In verse 34, “A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”

So long as your words and methods are glorifying God and expanding His Kingdom, you’re doing the right thing. If our methods don’t work, let’s change it. Pray and listen and change it again if you have to until it bears fruit. Perseverance and commitment don’t mean sticking to a failing program. Some prefer rice, while others bread and some noodles, it’s OK as long as it is food that satisfies the hunger and not poison that kills.

Nobody

This man from Pakistan says, he wants to hear the story of Jesus but there's nobody to tell him.

They are ready to listen, the field is ripe for the harvest, but the workers are few.

“Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35 (KJV)

Mission Venthlang Presbyterian Church Choir

It was at the 31st Aizawl Chhim Presbytery held in our church, Mission Vengthlang Presbyterian Church.
Sorry for the bad video, but it's all I have.

Conductor: Chama
Keys: Hriata & David
Guitars: Alex & Ruatfela
Bass: Bob
Drums: Chicco

The Method

MT 24:35, MK 13:31, LK 21:33 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

I ask myself a lot of times, “Why are we so protective of the way we do things?” Sometimes I get the thinking that, we are more method oriented then message oriented. Shouldn’t we change the method if we’re not getting the message through? I don’t think we should be afraid of attempting new strategies if the current is not working anyway.

In one perspective, I believe the Bible passage on top can be interpreted as, “It’s ok to change the program, as long as you do not dilute my message in any way.” I once came across a quote, “The method may change, but the message remains the same.” I don’t have any idea who quoted this, however it spoke a million words to me.

We all know that Jesus came to save the lost. Now let’s take a look at our churches and see if drug addicts and prostitutes are filling up the seats/pews. In most churches, it’s usually the same God fearing people who worship. I believe every church has done something or the other to bring these brothers and sisters to Christ and have succeeded in many ways. Praise God for out-reaching churches, however, there are too many of these newly born again Christians who turn back to their old ways because they cannot digest the way the spiritual food is served to them.

When such things happen, the church is found saying, “Maybe it’s not the acceptable year of the Lord for them yet.” Some are even declared, “Unripe for the Gospel.” Is it them or our way of delivering the message? Time goes by and they die of suicide and over-dose. Why do we portray ourselves as, “Blameless?” We were, we are and we will always be as believers commissioned to make disciples as is written in Mathew 28:19. If so, why is it always their fault? Isn’t it time we take the blame and change the method?

The parable of the Fig Tree in Luke 13:6-9. The farmer who came along and saw a beautiful fig tree took a deeper look. It had grown well, but there were no figs! Much of our work, not just in church but in our mission field works (for missionaries), has somehow reached a high status, but there are no disciples. The farmer in this parable ordered to cut down the tree because it bore no figs even after a reasonable time had elapsed and much work had been done.

It will hurt to change our programs, especially for all the money and effort spent and hoping against hope that very soon it will bear fruit. But too often, ‘very soon’ has stretched to lifetimes costing souls meant for heaven to hell.

Think on this, the tree that bore no fruit was cut down, what about a church bearing no disciples? (I don’t think you need to ask God for an answer! He’s already given you the biggest brain of all living things proportionate to your size.)

Do It Right (my first short play)

About the story: There were two schools, namely Memorize System School and Understand System School. Both produced good results in board examinations but Memorize System School usually does better. On one occasion, one student from each school appeared in a Competitive Exam. Both students passed the written test and then at the interview they were both given a story to elaborate. The student from Memorize System School was dumbfounded while the other one from Understand System School had no difficulty at all.

Characters:
1 narrator:–

2 teachers for :–
Memorize System School:–
Understand System School:–

5 students each for two schools:–

2 interviewers (boy and girl):–

Prop:
1. Sign boards for Memorize System School and Understand System School
2. Notice board – with a tag “Written Test Results”
3. 5 chairs and desks for students with books and pens
4. Stick and book for teachers with a chair and table
5. Table and two chairs for interviewers
6. Note book, pen and paper for interviewers
(class-room will be the same, school sign boards will make the difference)

Scene 1: Memorize System School
Narrator: There once was a school called, Memorize System School.
Students are seated in the class chatting;
1st student to classmates – Did you all memorize the home work?
2nd student – Yes, I memorized them all in 20 mins (proudly)
3rd student – That’s nothing, I needed only 15 mins (boastfully)
4th student – (came running in) Our teacher is coming.
Students became silent.
All students – (stand up) Good morning sir. (As the teacher walks in)
Teacher – Morning. Who did not memorize their home work? (After a pause) Good, now take out you bazaar notes (ready made notes) and memorize lesson 22. If you don’t memorize it, my stick will speak to you.
All students – yes sir.
5th student – It’s too much sir.
Teacher – Don’t argue, if you memorize all your notes you will never fail.
All students – Yes sir (they take out their books and started reading loudly)
Teacher takes out mobile phone, calls someone and then … Bell rings
Teacher – on the phone - gimme a minute. (looks at the students) I will give you test on lesson 20 to 22 tomorrow and you have to answer exactly like your notes or my stick will talk again. Class dismissed.

Scene 2: Understand System School
Narrator: There was another school called, Understand System School.
Students are seated in the class and chatting;
1st student – Were you able to understand the home work from yesterday’s lesson?
2nd student – Ahh… I read through it and made a note but I’ll show it to Miss Grace to have a look.
3rd student – As for me, I just don’t understand anything.
4th student – That’s why it is important to pay close attention to the lectures.
Teacher – (as she walks in) Good day children!
All Students – Morning Miss
Teacher – Did you have any problem with your home assignment?
3rd student – Some of us do need a bit more help. May you please explain it again miss?
Teacher – Certainly, I would be glad to do that. If you have any trouble at all in understanding your lessons, please feel free to ask questions. Okay?
5th student – Miss, why don’t you just give us notes to memorize?
Teacher – Because if I do, you will not be able to really understand your lessons. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, I’m here to correct you, okay? Moreover, memorizing system will not help you much in your future.
Let’s get back to the lesson. You were to explain the meaning of …
All students – I build my foundation on the rocks that people throw at me.
Teacher – Good. Well, it means, not to be discouraged or give up because of criticisms but to use criticisms to polish our character. Is it clear?
All students – Yes miss
Teacher – Now it’s your turn to make the notes and remember to use your own words.
Dismissal bell rings.

Narrator: Both the school produced good results in the board examination. The Memorize System School did exceptional well. After 10 years, one student from each school appeared in a Competitive Exam.

Scene 3: The two students were checking out a notice board which read, ‘Written Test Results’
MSS student – I’m in the top ten list. Did you get through?
USS Student – Yes, but not as good as you did. Congrats.
Announcement from the office – All candidates who passed the aptitude tests are to be interviewed at 11 AM tomorrow.

Narrator: The next day at the interview.

Scene 4: Two interviewers are seated at a table, MSS student walks in.
Lady Interviewer – Good morning, how are we doing?
MSS student – (very nervously) I’m fine, thank you.
Lady Interviewer – Please take a seat.
MSS student continues to act nervously and uncomfortable and sat down.
Male Interviewer – Relax (MSS looks even more confused with eyes wide open and a gasp)
Male Interviewer – I need you to read this passage and elaborate it for us. (handing paper to MSS student)
MSS student – (Taking a paper from interviewer, reading and looking rather disturbed scratching his head making his hair untidy)
Male Interviewer – Are you done reading?
No answer from MSS student.
Male Interviewer – Are you done reading?
Still no answer. The 2 interviewers smiled at each other making sarcastic looks.
Male Interviewer – Alright (taking the paper from MSS student, continues to speak) please explain the meaning of the passage.
MSS student – Umm… I think… ahh… it means… umm… we should be … ahh … good… It’s very hard to explain sir. Please give me some more time.
Male Interviewer – That will not be possible but thanks for coming and all the best for your future.
MSS Student – Walks out sadly.

Scene 5: Two interviewers are seated at a table, USS student walks in.
Lady Interviewer – Good morning, how do you do?
USS student – Good morning. I’m fine, thank you.
Lady Interviewer – Please take a seat.
USS student – Thank you. (looking comfortable)
Male Interviewer – I need you to read this passage and elaborate it for us. (handing paper to MSS student)
USS student – (Takes the paper) Thank you
Male Interviewer – (after a brief pause) Can I have the paper back?
USS student – Certainly sir, here (handing interviewer the paper) That’s a very meaningful passage.
Lady Interviewer – I think so too.
Male Interviewer – (nodding his head) Right, please elaborate.
USS student – I believe that the phrase, “A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one” is trying to tell us to be careful with the words we use because words are powerful and can hurt people just as bad as inflicting pain to the physical body. To be gentle with words as gentle as we are to our bodies.
Male Interviewer – Very good, this shows that you are very bright with a good presence of mind, just the kind of person we’ve been looking for.
Lady Interviewer – Welcome aboard.
USS student – Thank you both so much.
(All shaking hands, compliments etc)

Narrator: Memorizing your lessons will get you through exams and understanding will get you through life. This is what the selected student had to say:

"It might be harder but its better. Remember what Miss Grace said, “Memorizing system will not help you much in your future."

Last Scene:
All participants gather on the stage:
To memorize is not the way, do it right and understand. Don’t just do it, do it right.

Magdalene-Life Beyond Death

Magdalene, one of the greatest bands, not just in Mizoram but nation wide, was formed in mid June 2005. A year later they released an album, "Life Beyond Death".

They have won two of the 'biggest' awards in Mizoram, Lelte Award and Rimawi Khawvel Awards as Best Band of the year in 2007.

They went on to compete in IIT, the most coveted music competition in India and won 3 (three) First Prizes in 2006. Individually Victor won the best guitarist and Steward won the best vocals 3 times. In the same competition the next year, they won second prize.

Magdalene is:
Vocals- Steward
Guitars- Victor
Bass- PBa
Drums- Patea

Original from Da Scavenger Records. Da Scavenger Records is owned by Victor and is one of the most 'happening' studios in Mizoram. It was for the first time today (23/Sept/2009) that Magdalene converted their album to mp3 (I was fortunate enough to be in the studio while the process) If you've had an mp3 of this album before, it was pirated, delete it.
Click below to download Magdalene-Life Beyond Death with two bonus tracks and Album covers and recent pictures of the band.

Download Life Beyond Death.

Why God Allows Pain

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen...

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
"I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.
Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?
Would there be abandoned children?
If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.
I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.
He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:
"You know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber.
"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because
if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."
"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!
That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help.
That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."
If you think God exists, tell this to other people---
If you think God does not exist, don’t tell anyone else.

Reviewing some of my older mails, I came across this mail sent to me by a friend back in 2007. I believe and know and sometimes feel the presence of God so here it is. (The picture is my work)

BIBLE Statistics

OLD TESTAMENT STATISTICS:
Number of books: 39
Chapters: 929
Verses: 23,114
Words: 602,585
Letters: 2,278,100
Middle book: Proverbs
Middle chapter: Job 20
Middle verses: 2 Chronicles 20:17,18
Smallest book: Obadiah
Shortest verse: 1 Chronicles 1:25
Longest verse: Esther 8:9
Longest chapter: Psalms 119
Largest book: Psalms

NEW TESTAMENT STATISTICS:
Number of books: 27
Chapters: 260
Verses: 7,957
Words: 180,552
Letters: 838,380
Middle book: 2 Thessalonians
Middle chapters: Romans 8, 9
Middle verse: Acts 27:17
Smallest book: 3 John
Shortest verse: John 11:35
Longest verse: Revelation 20:4
Longest chapter: Luke 1
Largest book: Luke

Meaning of Praise and Worship

General meaning

Dictionary Meaning of Praise and Worship
Praise: express warm approval of or admiration for…(Concise Oxford Dictionary) (esp. to intelligent beings or deity, it can also be to unintelligible or non-living things.)
Worship: the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. Religious rites and ceremonies. (Concise Oxford Dictionary)
When ‘praise and worship’ is mentioned, we or most Christians think of praising God with music, singing and probably dancing too. Praise and worship is also a genre for contemporary church songs. Praise is used for songs with faster beat and worship for slower ones. Songs by Hillsong, Sonic Flood, I Worship, Matt Redman, and Chris Tomlin are good examples of the praise and worship genre. Other gospel songs fall under different genres like hymns, gospel rock and so on. It doesn’t mean they are not songs of praise. We can praise and worship God in all category of music. Let us just remember that God don’t care about style. All that we really need is a heart of worship.

Deeper Meaning

Biblical Revelation of Praise and Worship
Praise: To glorify, magnify, to give thanks etc. etc. because of the things God has done for us. To proclaim His greatness.
Worship: All of the praise meaning, however, focusing more on submission, reverence, adoration, awe, and to marvel God’s glory. To revere His Greatness.

Praise and worship is about God and for God, it belongs to God alone, focusing only on God’s glory. Therefore when we sing, “I surrender all…All to Thee my blessed savior I surrender all” we’re rather committing ourselves to God and not actually praising or worshiping. Gospel songs can be songs of petition, testimonial songs, confessional songs etc.

One On One

There are so many aspects of praise and worship. The most important one though, in my opinion, is to make sure you have your own praise and worship time with God. You don’t need any fancy prayer rooms, although, that would be nice. Matthew 6:33 says to seek His kingdom first and His righteousness. If you do that, fancy rooms will be added unto you.

God loves you so much He wants to be with you, not just in churches or gatherings but alone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying God don’t want you in the church, hell no! What I’m actually trying to deliver is the fact that you and I gotta be strong even when we’re alone.

(Note: in this post, the word ‘alone’ refers to your time away from Christian activities of any sort, alone or with others.)

Most Christians backslide when they’re alone. Temptations are easier to overcome when we are in united groups. Even if we do not pray very much, our Christian friends are there to help us overcome them. Praise God for godly and spiritual friends Gal 6:1. So, it’s good to attend church meetings even if you don’t want to worship, it’ll keep you away from doing what you may regret.
We are, as normal people should be, compelled to be in our best behavior in front of our pastors and elders. I’m not against this standard; I respect men and women of God too. Therefore I go to church in my formals and sit like the most civilized person on earth to please the congregation not God. I have met a few who were bold enough to admit this. Are you? I used to think I was doing it for God until 1 Samuel 16:7 (God looks at the heart only and never the outward appearance) made an impact in my life.

Let me elaborate here to cement my point that most Christians backslide when they’re alone. Well, I wouldn’t fall into fornication at worships, I will never do drugs while a sermon is going on in church, I don’t even fidget too much in any service. They’re eyes everywhere and I wanna look dignified. Even murderers don’t choose to kill when everyone’s around. So where is God now? Are we just doing ‘good’ and not doing ‘bad’ just to please others?

Dear readers, I was once a junky and I know where physical demanding sins are committed and you don’t have to have been a junky to agree that it’s never in the spot-light of any creditable Christian gatherings. Mizoram, I proudly call home, is a 100% Christian state and yet I’m not the only pastor’s son who had been an addict. I dare not blame my parents, as far as I’m concerned, they did everything a pastor would do to raise a God-fearing son. It was my disobedience and mostly my lack of personal devotion with God.

Just like the people of God we respect so much, we have the same God by our side 24/7. Praise and worship Him wherever you are. It is an awesome privilege to come before His presence in personal devotion! You will come to call your own devotional time a quality time with God. Bless His name especially when you’re alone and have nothing to do. That’s when Satan tries to sneak in. But let’s not be afraid, “How can we fall if we are always one on one with God?

1 John 4:4 – Greater is He… (open your Bible and read the rest...)

Worshiping in Truth

Before we can worship in truth, we first need to know what the truth is. So, what is the truth?

Are the news-papers the truth? How about TV news? Think on some truths. Now ask yourself, “Is the Bible the truth”? And your answer is, “Oh yes it is.” Here’s the next question;
Who is the truth?

Turn to John 14:6. Jesus says to doubting Thomas, ‘I am the way, the TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’

I want to make it loud and clear before moving on that, “God cannot do everything! There is something that you and I can do that God cannot do. There is one thing impossible for God.”
You don’t believe me? Well read on.

Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Hebrew 6:18
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.
Well then, if Jesus (who cannot lie) says, He is the truth in the Bible (the book of truths) then surely Jesus is the truth.

Now we know what the truth is and who the truth is, but how in the world do we worship in truth?

Here is how to worship in truth; we worship by the word. The written word (Logos) and the spoken word (Rhema) of God which is found in the scriptures, the Bible.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

We see here in this scripture that the Word is Jesus and Jesus, who cannot lie says, He is the Truth. Therefore if we confess the word (confession in Greek means saying/repeating the same thing) in our worship we are worshiping in truth. Repeating the Bible verses.

Include Jesus in your worship. Do not keep asking God for blessing upon blessings, instead thank Him and bless His name. Know Him personally, John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." and confess His holiness, His power, goodness, grace, mercy, sufferings, most of all always include His love in your worship. Forget about yourselves and magnify the Lord in praise and worship.

Worship belongs to God alone, therefore we should be God centered. Worship consists of God, the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. That's what John 4:24 is all about.

Worshiping in Spirit

John 4:24
"God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth".
Why we should worship God in Spirit? The first three words says it.
God is a spirit, our body or flesh cannot have direct contact with Him. He speaks to our spirits which then communicates to our soul (mind, emotion and will) and finally made manifest by our body. We are also actually spirits having souls and living in bodies.
1Cor 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

Temples are not alive, they're buildings and people living inside are always God's priority. He wants to fellowship with you, the real you from the inside out. For instance, would you go to your girl-friend's house and be overjoyed even if she isn't there? God is not different in this aspect. He wants to talk to you and not the temple.

Gal 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
Gal 5:22-23 Fruit of the Spirit. Gal 5:19-21 works of the flesh. God don't want outward worship, it's not crocodile tear He's looking for.

Paul again explains how the mind of the flesh cannot connect with God in
Rom 8:5, 6
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

Let’s look at what Paul says about worshiping in spirit.
Rom 2:28-29
No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.
He says, (similar to 1Samuela16:7) outward worship is not true worship; however he states that if our worship is from the inside i.e. from the spirit, our worship is not from us but from God. He also talks about the written law (implies to the Ten Commandments.) This means that, worship should not be made because we are commanded to worship by the law or because our friends are doing it.

God don’t want us to worship because the law tells us to. 2Cor 3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Rom 7:6
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
So, let’s start worshiping God not because of compulsion from the rules and regulations but because we are compelled by the Holy Spirit. Let me urge you and encourage you never to say I don’t have the Holy Spirit, as much as you are qualified to praise God because you can breathe, you do posses the Holy Spirit. Rom 5:5 says God has given us the Holy Spirit. 1Cor 6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

We also know that the curtain separating the Holy of Holies was torn apart as Jesus breathed His last breath. In the Old Testament, The Holy spirit lived in this place only and the high priest had to be very careful to enter the place. If he had one single sin, he would die on the spot. But praise God, because He has given us the Holy Spirit because he sees us as he sees Jesus, the worthy one and the spotless lamb of God.

2Cor 3:17, 18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Therefore, absence of the Holy Spirit means no freedom. You have the freedom to choose to worship. The worship we offer because of compulsion is not the worship God is looking for.

What I have spoken to you biblically about worshiping God in spirit may sound impossible for to do. It’s true if you were listening from your head and human mind. Please open your heart and let the Spirit take control and you will learn that it is easy to worship God in spirit. It is easier to worship in spirit then to worship in the flesh. It is, let me put it this way, it is the voice of God (The Spirit) telling you in your heart to raise your hands, dance or even jump when you are worshiping Him. Obeying the still small voice is worshiping in spirit. The flesh will be against it. It’s gonna be telling you, ‘You don't have to, aren't you ashamed, you're not even a good singer or dancer, etc.’ The choice is yours to make.

Purpose of being Saved

The purpose of being saved

What is the ultimate goal of the church? “To get to heaven”, is the most common answer I get. Well, it’s true isn’t it? And the only ticket to heaven or to be saved is to believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection and confess He is Lord, – Romans 10:9. No doubt about it, I believe it. We cannot earn our way to heaven, we instead believe our way to heaven. Being saved is not a price or a salary; it is the gift of God – Ephesians 2:8-9.

Reading on, Ephesians 2:10 explains the meaning of being saved, it reads, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. In other words, being saved means to do what Christ would do and not to do what He wouldn’t do. Accepting Christ also makes us co-heirs with Christ – Romans 8:17. If you’re an heir of anything, the responsibility of taking care of that ‘thing’ is also yours.

The first two paragraphs compel me to say, “Do not try to win salvation, however show that you are saved and of God’s workmanship by doing what God want you to do”. James 2:17 says, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead”.

So what’s the action gonna be? W.W.J.D (what would Jesus do?) One thing I’m certain about is that, Jesus would do what God wanted him to do. Jesus died and rose again for us because His Father (God) wanted Him to. Jesus wasn’t very happy about dieing on the cross, but obeyed His Father till the very end. God might want you to do this too, maybe He has other plans. The important thing here is obedience. 1 Samuel 15:22 - To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. (You might want to take some quality time with God and ask Him what He wants you to do. Make sure it’s God’s voice you’re listening to.)

The purpose of being saved is to do good works. Jesus told us to do a lot of things, among them is love. Love, not just for ourselves but even our enemies. Jesus knows the burden of having enemies and the joy of having none. He wants us to enjoy life, which is again one of the reasons he wants us to love everyone. (The two letters of John emphasizes love.) If you have love for others, you will be known as a disciple of Christ – John 13:34-35.

Why love? Well without it you will not be able to do what Jesus did. The main purpose of Jesus was to get us saved, all ‘peoples’ must be saved.

Jesus taught us how to pray in Mathew chapter 6. Lets look at verse10 “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This made me wonder, what is that will of God that is in heaven? The answer came from Revelation 7:9-12 - After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

The will of God in heaven which Jesus wants done on earth is to praise and worship God. Another question, a question anyone can answer; has this happened? Philippians 2:11 reads, ‘every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Has this prophecy been realized? NO! If all capitals with an exclamatory NO! is the answer, what more can be said other then, The purpose of being saved is to bow down before the glory of God in accepting Christ as Lord and bringing people of other faith to do the same.

In Short, to worship and to make worshippers is the ultimate goal of every Christian.

Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

26 are ready! Are you Game

God gave His only begotten son to save the world he dearly loves from eternal death. (John 3:16) Now, after 2000 years, God’s love for the world remains the same and therefore He has entrusted you to carry on the task that Jesus started. He has made you a son/daughter (2Cor 6:8). This then compels me to say, you and I are the only Jesus the world has in the flesh. Being co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17) also means taking responsibilities, one of which is the Great Commission and I dare say the most important because Matthew 24:14 says the end will come only after the Word is being conveyed to all people groups.

Are we willing to, ‘Bring the living Christ to the dying World?’

Do not be discouraged, it’s not that bad. Check out what Jesus said:

“Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
John 4:35 (KJV)

Let’s see if Jesus is telling the truth.

Research shows that, in as many as the 67 countries represented in the 10/40 Window, 26 countries are now Gospel-ready and that 23 of them are connected to North-eastern Indians ethnically, linguistically, culturally, and/or geographically. Thus, making it easier for (us) NE Indians to connect or reach out to.
Let no Westerners think for a second that they’re out of the picture. India being a third world country we need your full support and not just financial support but especially spiritual support in prayers. We cannot deny the fact that you are more equipped in countless ways.
Let’s join hands and hit the devil where it hurts most. Let’s win souls.

The 26 countries ready for the Gospel:

Afghanistan, Algeria (parts of), Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India (parts of), Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya (expatriates), Mali, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Thailand, Western Sahara.
Let the games begin. Are you in? Are you game?

Stats taken from: (Numbers may vary)
http://home.snu.edu/~HCULBERT/1040.htm
http://www.joshuaproject.net/10-40-window.php
http://www.joshuaproject.net/great-commission-statistics.php

The Great Commission

The supreme task of the church is the evangelization of the world. We must fulfill the task assigned by Christ before He ascended back to the Father. It is described in Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:47-48; John 20:21; and Acts 1:8. The heart of World Missions is to fulfill the Great Commission.

Some great quotes by some great men of God:

"We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God." -John Stott

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't.” - John Piper

I wasn't God's first choice for what I've done for China... I don't know who it was... It must have been a man... a well-educated man. I don't know what happened. Perhaps he died. Perhaps he wasn't willing... and God looked down... and saw Gladys Aylward... And God said - "Well, she's willing." - Gladys Aylward

"A tiny group of believers who have the gospel keep mumbling it over and over to themselves. Meanwhile, millions who have never heard it once fall into the flames of eternal hell without ever hearing the salvation story." - K.P. Yohannan

"We talk of the second coming, half the world has never heard of the first." - Oswald J. Smith

"As long as there are millions destitute of the word of God and the knowledge of Jesus Christ, it will be impossible for me to devote my time and energy to those who have both." - J.L. Ewen

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell." - C.T. Studd

“It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.” - Paul in Rom 15:20 (NIV)

Did You Know???

Did you know?

• More than 90% of the world’s unreached people groups are found in the 10/40 Window, an imaginary rectangular area extending from 10 degrees to 40 degrees north of the equator and spanning the globe from western Africa to eastern Asia.
• There are approximately 12,000 people groups inhabiting the world today.
• 6,600 people groups have not heard the Gospel.
• In the year 100 AD, there was one Christian for 360 individuals.
• By 2007, there was one Christian for 9 individuals.
• In the year 100 AD, one church had to reach 12 different people groups.
• By 2007, there were 600 churches to reach one people group.
• 97.6% of the world’s missionaries work among the reached or evangelized.
• 2.4% of the world’s missionaries work among the unreached or unevangelized.
• 5.4% of all money given to Christian causes goes to Foreign Missions.
Of all money given to foreign missions globally:
• 87% goes for work among those who are already Christians.
• 12% goes to work among evangelized non-Christians.
• 1% goes for work among people groups in the unevangelized / unreached category.

Posts Coming up Next Week

Next week, posts in this blog will concentrate on the 10/40 Window. Here is a brief introduction of the so called 10/40 Window.

Most of the people groups still unreached by the gospel live in places stretching across the maps of northern Africa and Asia. Christian missions strategist Luis Bush started calling this rectangular area or band: "the 10/40 window." He used that easy-to-remember name because it lies across Africa and Asia from 10 degrees latitude north of the equator to 40 degrees latitude north of the equator.

Styles of Worship

Be reminded of what true worship is, and learn how to take the high ground, get past the battles between styles, and make lasting peace.
Who cares about style? Answer: A lot of people, but God looks at the heart.
Verse from 1 Samuel 16:7 New International Version
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks
at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Tawng Hman Dik

Ka tawnhriat (experience) atangin hnam dang tawng (a bikin kan tana pawimawh em em pahnih English leh Hindi) hman dik leh lam (pronounce) dik a pawimawh zia ka’n tarlang ang e.

A hmasain, English leh Hindi hi huaisen takin keini Mizo, hmasawn duhte tan hian kan tawng aiin a pawimawh tih hi ka sawi duh. A pawimawh zia chu hria kan tam, kan hre deuh vek zawk, mahse a hre zingah sawi chhuak (admit) ngam kan awm mang lo kan intih Mizo avangin. A thente phei chuan 2009 ni tawh mahse, "Hindi-te chu Vai tawng mai mai alawm", ti a hmusit tlata thiam tum nachang pawh hre miah lo kan la awm nual bawk. Mizo kan ni a, intih Mizo vak angai em ni? I vun pawh MJ-a (with all due respect) angin ti var mahla Mizo i ni tho tho. Ram dang mi nihna (citizenship) pawh I nei ani thei, Mizo I nihna a bo lo. Hnam veina/feeling lian tak pu-a English leh Hindi hmang tha duh lote hian Mizo hnam kan ti hmingchhia.

Ka pa hnathawhna azarah ram hrang hrangah, foreign thlengin kan awm kual a. Ka sawi duh ber chu Delhi-a kan awm laia ka tawnte ani. Hnam dang thiante (class-mates leh thenawmte) an lo leng ve thin. Heng ho lo len laia ka Mizo thiante an lo len hian, polite takin hnam dangte hian an lo be ve thin a. Chhan dan tur pawh hre lova an awm hian a zahthlak thei lutuk. Chhang thei thenkhat lahin lam dan (accent) thing zet maiin an han chhang a, zia lo thei khawp mai. Tichuan an haw hnuah vaite chuan, "Khawilam mi nge i thiante chu," tiin mei nei deuh tak hian min han zawt leh ta nghal a. Khawi ram ram emaw hi ka puh kual chawk thin.

Mother tongue influence (MTI), kan tawng, Mizo tawng, lam dan leh thluk dan hi chuan kawng hrang hrangin buaina min siam ang. Engpawh nise Mizoram pawn chhuak miah lo tamtak hian mawi takin English leh Hindi hi an hmang thei. A hmang lo ho hi chu ngai pawimawh lo kan ni mai. Mi deu sawh ching, tawng nalh deuhte, ‘inti sap’ ti a, tawng nalh lo deuhte, "Zo tiah tiah, thing mai mai" ti thinte an ni duh tlangpui.

‘Political fitness’ neih that ngaih ve lohna, Competitive Exams te leh company-ah te hian engatinge interview-ah kan tlak hlawm leh tawp thin, written exams-ah kan ti tha thei fu sia??? Tawng chu thiam lo ila written pawh kan tlang lovang. Kan lam (pronounce) dik tawk loh vang hi ani pakhatin inring ve em?
Mizo hnam tih hmingthat duhin English leh Hindi-ah hian tan ila thar ang u.

Take a look at this video. It contains abscene languages, so be cautious