The halfbaked Bard

Thiruonam is a harvest festival that we Malayalis celebrate in remembrance of King Mahabali who is said to visit Kerala during that time. King Mahabali was a richly king dearly loved by his people because of his nobility and approachability. The king, according to the legend has been granted permission to visit and meet with his people every year. Moses after his second stint of 40 days and nights with God, as he was coming down Mount Sinai, his face was glowing with radiance because he had spoken to God face to face. And they were afraid to come near him. Now when Moses beckons them and talked to them, only then they could approach near him. And also because of the radiance of his face he had to put a veil. The radiance hadn't affected him. He was continually in touch with God. Even after the Mount Sinai experience he spends time with God in the Tent of Meeting. And whenever he speaks to God face to face he removes the veil. But whenever he deals with Israe

Exo:30:20b - No one may appear before me without an offering. There were five different offerings that we learn from Exodus 29 and Leviticus 1-7 that a Jew is supposed to make inorder to have access to the Holy God. A burnt offering, a grain offering, a peace offering, a sin offering and a guilt offering. Few were voluntary. Few representative of atonement. One represented for known sins. And these were meticulously described by God's standards. It looks extremely strenuous. But the fact is, the ardent Jews are still continuing the practise, whenever they come before God. Now we as children of God, have free access to God. The offering is paid once and for all.  No more repetitive efforts  No more fearful accounting. The veil is torn. The access is free. The door is now open

Indulgence in sin is a gradual process. Exo:34:15-17 says at least three steps in which Israel will turn to idolatory. 🔹Invite you join them in their sacrificial meals. 🔹Accept their daughters as wives for your son's. 🔹They will seduce you to commit adultery. Sin starts at the grass root level -in may be a thought level, in may be a look, in may be itching to tell a word - of anger outburst or curse. Succumb to it, it becomes a habit. Yield to it, it becomes your master, slowly. Slowly and subtly you fumble to its feet. But if you resist at least once, it becomes easier to overcome the next. Not a miracle. Not a one stop solution. But gradually. Jesus was serious about dealing with sin at the root level - as in cut off your right hand and gouge out your good eye. It is better to lose one part of your body than your whole body to be thrown to hell. Yes it is easier to pluck a grass than to cut a tree. It is easier to tame a cub than a grown up ferocious king of the ju

Break down the pagan altar The altar of worship The altar of priorities The altar of preconceived notions Break down the altar The altar of selfish love  The altar of self centredness  The altar saying I am most important Break down the altar The altar of my opinions That I should have the last say. No matter whats gonna happen Break down the altar Of addictions and dependencies Of pride and jealousy Of me and the world around me. Make strong your altar Of worship and honour and praise And gratitude to the living God Of how He has led you this far. Make strong your altar. Rebulid it. Make it from the first stone Kindle the fire Let Him answer from above. Make strong your altar With the living sacrifice Always denying self continually And glorifying Him. Make strong your altar. Of God orientedness like David Aware of the possibility to sin And be on the wake like Joseph Make strong your altar Foremost by agreeing on the ultimate That happened on the Cross. "It is finished" Ind

No this is not about Samuel's father Elkanah. We see this El-kanna in Exo:20:5 and Ex:34:14. Where God introduces Himself as thus. The lord whose very name is Jealous and is a jealous God. Hold on! Are we talking about the Holy God, sinless absolutely perfect God. How can He be jealous? Here He goes a step further. He says His name is Jealous. His very character is that He is jealous. The problem arises when we attribute selfishness to jealousy. The meaning is so construed that we are not able to see any good in it. Love in itself becomes distorted when it becomes possessive and selfish. Self esteem becomes warped when it becomes pride. There is this thin line between righteous anger and unhealthy one. So is jealousy. When God says He is a jealous God, it doesn't negate his attribute of goodness. Yes jealousy has a virtuous meaning.  Which husband desires to share his wife to someone else. Which wife would ever want to stake her better half. Which parent would ever

Ex:34 is the context As God communicates to Moses and introduces Himself to him, Moses threw himself to the ground and worshipped Him. Moses continues to intercede for the children of Israel. He requests God - Claim us as Your own special possession. Moses had the heart of God in this. He knew exactly what God had in mind. Throughout history, we see no other nation that has been actively intervened by God's very own hand. Though they have rebelled against Him, He still looked compassionately upon them giving them umpteen no. of chances. Though they did not believe in His Son Jesus, on 19 May 1948 He made the impossible thing possible. And in the book of revelation so many things are centred around the Jews and their protection. He has claimed them as His very own special possession. We too as gentiles, has been given this grace to be adopted into His family. Don't you doubt that it is all about Israel and I'm hooking up things for myself. 1 Pet:2:9 -   For you a