The halfbaked Bard

One of the very commonest and frequently used terms - especially in our generation - where we were taught the beauty of apologizing and reinstating relationships. But it was extremely difficult for me to accept the fact that I have been on the wrong side. The present generation finds it even more difficult to admit that they have wronged. The blame is not on any one of us, nor on the present generation. The difficult to say sorry is a combination of man's nature and the world's teaching. The pride in our hearts deter us from admitting, though we were clearly on the wrong side. Choosing to ignore is a better option or showing others that I've not agreed or I don't care. It's the easier and more comfortable option. Achan had done something terribly wrong, when he disobeyed God and kept for himself a robe, 200 silver coins and a gold bar weighing about a pound - things which he revelled from Jericho. When specifically pointed out - tribe by tribe, clan by c...

Immediately after the mind rattling victory of Jericho, Israel faces a raucous defeat from the Ai. Because of disobedience and sin and breaking of covenant. We see the faithfulness of God here. We see the holiness of God. We see His non compromising attitude towards sin. And we see His love - That His love deals with the root cause of our rottenness. Not love as something which expresses through only blessings. I want to highlight this attribute of God. As parents do we agree to all mischiefs of our children, because we love them? Do we entertain everything they do giving an explanation of love? Do we keep providing for them alone, lauding them with gifts and presents? If so, is it really love? We are spoiling them. Love is complete when it is balanced with admonition, correction and discipline. Love looks at the deeper man, not the outward happiness. Love wants a happy face, not a sad sulking face. Yet love also has an eye on the whole being. So is God, when He says He has...

Rahab was able to convince her father, mother and brothers and all other relatives to be saved from the Israel army. In contrast Lot went around talking to his future sons in law to be saved from God's anger pouring down on Sodom and Gomorrah. So was Noah not able to convince his relatives and people around him that the flood is coming. Not undermining the faith of Noah or Lot, but complementing the influence Rahab had on her family. Though she had a very menial job. Loving the family so much that you would die hard to help them out in their trouble, listen to them, pray for them and tell them about the salvation you have found out. And why restrict to your families - your friends, your extended family, your colleagues. Loving them all and helping them and praying for them and wanting them to get saved creates in them an impression that you are genuinely interested in their lives and not a happy-go-lucky relationship. "Preach the gospel always and when necessary us...

Ps:15 Who will stand firm forever? Who will worship in God's sanctuary? Who may enter His presence? The querries are something which we all aspire. But the list that follows is quiet entangling and feels implausible.    - Lead blameless lives.    - Do what is right.    - Refuse to gossip.    - Keep promise even when it hurts. Only to name a few. Sometimes of our lives we would be able to do justice to the list, but not always. Deep down in our hearts we know that we are not foolproof. We have faltered to the core. And we know that we cannot go to the Holy God with those filthy rags. Isa:64:6 There is only one person ever trod on this earth who could claim, He did it all and that one person has promised something which gives us hope. Rom:3:23-24 For everyone has sinned, we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from th...

Tell your children - Josh:4:21-22 How important it is to teach your children in Godly ways, God's statutes and standards. Includes physical and spiritual children. Your juniors, your friends. You might not be a stalwart, but a beginner- but tell someone about what you learnt today. It is important for you to learn and also helps others. In this world of digital overindulgence it is often better to personally talk to somone, than to post forwards. May God enable.

After the Israelites crossed the river Jordan, the Lord asked Joshua to select 12 men (one from each tribe) to go to the dried up river Jordan and to take twelve stones from the place the priests were standing with the ark. These twelve stones would stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever (Josh:4) When God takes you through tough situations mightily, graciously and miraculously, memorials like these can remind us to thank God for what He has done. It also keeps us far from pride, that it is not I who have acheived all these by my merit or hardwork, but by the grace of God. I personally know of a family who has stones of remembrance of major events of their lives, which they could use to thank God for. Journalling your heart's feeling is thus important. Write your prayers, list your prayer points and thank God as you see them being answered (yes or no) - small or big. Unless we jot down somewhere, we are characteristically thankless species, who tend to fo...

Psalm 14 describes a clear contradistinction of two words. "Fool" and "Wise" Fool says there is no God Wise is a person who seeks God. Where as the world says, following science and radicality is wise rather than blindly believing in an "abstract" being. One of the brilliant minds of this present world, Stephen Hawkings is one such example. Wise according to the world. Extremely wise. But what would God say of him? Remember the parable of the rich fool? He was actually quiet smart and wise according to the world. He was infact brilliant, when he decided to invest, break down his small barn and build a bigger one for his business. Quiet astute I would say. But God calls him a fool, because he was not rich unto God. Matt:16:26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul. Is anything worth more than your soul? The choice is yours. Who do you want to  call you as fool? The world? Or God?