Isn't No an Answer?

Just a tiny little child
Three years old,
And a mother with a heart
All of gold.

Often did that mother say,
Jesus hears us when we pray,
For He's never far away
And He always answers.

Now, that tiny little child
Had brown eyes,
And she wanted blue instead
Like blue skies.

For her mother's eyes were blue
Like forget-me-nots. She knew
All her mother said was true,
Jesus always answered.

So she prayed for two blue eyes,
Said "Good night,"
Went to sleep in deep content
And delight.

Woke up early, climbed a chair
By a mirror. Where, O where
Could the blue eyes be? Not there;
Jesus hadn't answered.

Hadn't answered her at all;
Never more
Could she pray; her eyes were brown
As before.

Did a little soft wind blow?
Came a whisper soft and low,
"Jesus answered. He said, No;
Isn't No an answer?"

Amy Carmichael (1867 – 1951)

On Prayer

Prayer by George Hebert

I know it is my sin, which locks thine ears,
And binds thy hands,
Out-crying my requests, drowning my tears;
Or else the chillness of my faint demands.
But as cold hands are angry (impatient) with the fire,
And mend it still;
So I do lay the want of my desire,
Not on my sins, or coldness, but thy will.
Yet hear, O God, only for his blood’s sake
Which pleads for me:
For though sins plead too, yet like stones (as in a brook) they make
His blood’s sweet current much more loud to be
George Herbert (1593 – 1633)

This part of Hebert’s book of poems explores the aspirations and distresses that Christians experience when they try to commune with God. This poem is an eloquent expression of Herbert’s frustration with unanswered prayer. As the poet makes clear, it is not his lack of fervency that keeps God from hearing his prayers,. Rather it is Herbert’s inability to get at God’s will. Therefore the poet prays. “So I do lay the want of my desire, not on my sins, or coldness, but thy will.”
To strengthen his plea, Herbert asks God to listen for Christ’s sake. Then, if Herbert’s sins dissuaded God from answering, the blood of Jesus flowing like water over them (the ‘stones’ in a brook) would make Herbert’s requests louder and therefore heard by God.
Unanswered prayers can frustrate many a Christian, even the most devout believer. But it is important to keep in mind that God has a good reason for not answering and sometimes that reason might be us. When it is, we have an advocate to plead our case. Christ’s shed blood can bring us into the heart and mind of God. Something to remember the next time we struggle in our prayer life.
(Source – One Year Book of Poetry by Philip Comfort and Daniel Partner)

Omni...

Awe..
Our God is beyond explanation
Omnipotent.
Our God is more powerful than our ability to explain.
Omnipresent.
He is everywhere at the same time.
Sovereignty.
He does what he desires. He rules over all. He makes no mistakes.
He has careful purpose for every moment of your life.
He carefully weaves each event, each circumstance, each success, and each failure to accomplish His divine plan "to make you like Jesus"...

Seeing is Believing_Humanity of the Fetus

This commentary was delivered by Prison Fellowship president Mark Earley. (Breakpoint Daily commentary_27th April 2010)

On April 19, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman signed a new state law banning abortions at and after 20 weeks. This isn’t just another abortion restriction—it has the potential to be a major breakthrough in the fight for the sanctity of human life.

The Nebraska law is called the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. As Marc Thiessen writes in the Washington Post, it’s based on reputable scientific studies that tell us “that fetuses can feel pain at 20 weeks, and possibly as early as 17 weeks when a portion of the brain called the ‘subplate zone’ is formed.”

And, according to the widely respected Dr. Kanwaljeet Anand, who has been studying infant pain for 25 years, unborn infants may feel pain more keenly than those already born.

Of course, the Nebraska law faces court challenges. Why? Because it restricts abortion according to when a fetus can feel pain—at 20 weeks—instead of when a fetus can survive outside the womb—usually 22 to 24 weeks. Already the Center for Reproductive Rights has called it “unconstitutional” and hinted that they’re planning litigation. No doubt other pro-abortion groups will be lining up to help.

But, as Thiessen says, “regardless of the legal outcome, a national discussion on the topic of ‘fetal pain’ can only help the pro-life movement.”

It’s easy to see why. As science and technology develop ever more sophisticated ways for us to study the child in the womb, it’s getting harder and harder for the pro-choice movement to argue in favor of snuffing out that child’s life. And who would want to argue in favor of deliberately causing the child pain on top of that?

What we’re talking about here is no less than the humanity of the fetus, and science is making that subject harder and harder to avoid.

The scientific studies are backing up what our faith had already told us: that the life in the womb is indeed a human life, with the same qualities that make us consider our own lives sacred—a beating heart, brain function, and sensitivity to pain being just a few of them. And so we believe that a child’s life is a gift from God and worthy of protection and care. Abortionists can lie all they want to about the development of the fetus. Undercover videos recently taken at a Kentucky abortion clinics show that they’re still lying to women and girls about the development process. But those lies are getting easier and easier to disprove. And the facts are on our side.

The more we talk about those facts, the more the law will come to be on our side as well. Nebraska took the lead in this case because the state government wanted to prevent infamous late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart from following through on his stated intentions to carry on the work of the late George Tiller. If the Nebraska law holds up in court, other states are likely to follow.

Even the pro-abortion forces can’t plausibly deny what our own eyes and ears are telling us about the life in the womb. In this case, seeing is believing—and what we’re seeing, by the grace of God, could finally put a stop to the wanton destruction of unborn human lives.

When I say "I am a Christian" by Maya Angelou

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow

The shock upon entering heaven

I heard this poem quoted by Neil Vimalkumar of RZIM at the Keswick Convention in Kolkata in Feb 2010. The Author is unknown, the message is powerful....

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
as I entered Heaven's door,No
t by the beauty of it all,
by the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
who made me sputter and gasp--
the thieves, the liars, the sinners,
the alcoholics, the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought
was rotting away in hell,
was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, "What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.

And why's everyone so quiet, so somber?
"Give me a clue."
"Hush child," said He "They're all in shock.
No one thought they'd see you."

--Author Unknown

Apologetics Quotes 2

Thomism: Keepin' it real, since 1225!
"If there is anything true, then there must be truth."
"Whatever arguments are brought forward against the doctrines of the faith are conclusions incorrectly derived... and so there exists the possibility to answer them."

G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
"Tolerance- is the virtue of a man without convictions."

C.S. (CLIVE STAPLES) LEWIS, 1898-1963, (on the importance of apologetics):
"To be ignorant and simple now- not to be able to meet the enemies on their own ground, would be to throw down our weapons, and to betray our uneducated brethren who have, under God, no defense but us against the intellectual attacks of the heathen. Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy must be answered... The learned life then, is for some, a duty."
"All that is not eternal is eternally out of date."

D.L. Moody (1837-1899)
"I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible."

Theodore Roosevelt (26th President of the U.S., 1858-1919)
"Far better it is to dare mighty things-
to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure-
than to rank with those poor spirits
who neither enjoy much nor suffer much
because they live in the gray twilight
that knows neither victory nor defeat."

JONATHAN EDWARDS (1703-1758):
"I go forth to preach with two propositions in mind. First- that every one ought to give their heart to Christ. Secondly- even if no one gives their heart to Christ, I will give Him mine."

VANCE HAVNER (1901-1986):
"The person God uses, is
Quiet enough to hear Him,
Brave enough to proclaim Him,
and honest enough to obey Him."
"Plenty of church members are shaky on what they believe, but not shaken by what they believe."
"We are the salt of the earth, mind you, not the sugar. Our ministry is to truly cleanse, not just to change the taste."
"The church is a hospital for sinners, not just a museum for saints."

AUGUSTINE (354- 430 A.D.):
"The heart is restless, 'till it rests in Thee."
"Jesus loved each one of us, as if there were only one of us."

G.K. (Gilbert Keith) CHESTERTON (1874-1936):
"O God of earth and altar, bow down and hear our cry.
Our earthly rulers falter, the people drift and die;
The walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide,
Take not thy thunder from us, but take away our pride.
From all that error teaches, from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches, that comfort cruel men;
From sale and profanation, of honor and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation, deliver us, Dear Lord."

"It is not that Christianity has been tried and found wanting;
It has been found difficult and left untried."

"The incarnation of Christ makes nothing but dust and nonsense of "comparative religion." Nobody else except these messengers has any Gospel. Nobody else has any Good news, for the simple reason that nobody else has any news."

CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON (1843-1892):
"In the red sea of His own blood, Jesus drowned the "Pharoah" of our sins."

MARTIN LUTHER (1483-1546):
"For feelings come and feelings go,
and feelings are deceiving,
my warrant is the word of God,
'Naught else is worth believing.
Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is one greater than my heart,
Whose word cannot be broken.
I'll trust in God's unchanging Word,
'Till soul and body sever,
For though all things shall pass away,
His Word shall stand- forever."

BLAISE PASCAL (1623-1662):
"Not only do we know God by Jesus Christ alone, but we know ourselves only by Jesus Christ. We know life and death only through Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ, we do not know what is our life, nor our death, nor God, nor ourselves. Thus, without Scripture, which has Jesus alone for its object, we know nothing, and see only darkness and confusion in the nature of God, and in our own nature." (Pensees, 547).
"...THEREFORE, I reject all other religions. In that way I find an answer to all objections. It is right that a God so pure should only reveal Himself to those whose hearts are purified.
So I hold out my arms to my Redeemer, who, having been foretold for four thousand years, has come to suffer and die for me on earth, and the time and under all the circumstances foretold. By His grace, I await death in peace, in the hope of being eternally united with Him. Yet I live with joy, whether in the prosperity which it pleases Him to bestow on me, or in the adversity which He sends for my good, and which He has taught me to bear by His example" (Pensees 736).

JOHN MACARTHUR (author, founder of Grace to You broadcast)
"These are the virtues that make for spiritual stability...peace, joy, humility, and faith...Spiritual stability comes to those who learn to accept less than they deserve. Philippians 4:5 says, "Let your forebearing be known to all men." What he means by forebearing is really your willingness to accept less than you deserve. He's talking here about the spiritual virtue of humility. You can call it forebearing, you can call it contentment, you can call it humble graciousness. It is the attitude of a person who seeks nothing so that when he gets nothing he's not concerned with that. Humility.... What are you going to worry about when the Lord is there? He transcends every problem, every difficulty, every test, every trial, every temptation. So, the bottom line here is how much do you know about God, and how much do you trust God. If you trust God, you will transcend your difficulty, because you will understand who God is. You will understand the purposes of God, you will understand that God is in control and you will therefore be calm in the midst of your storm. Let's call this the virtue of faith...You will trust God and know He's in charge."

Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804)
"Without religion morality falters. When morality falters the Pandora's box of corruption, crime and decay set in to be followed by the demise of the nation."

Apologetics Quotes 1

The Apologist's Evening Prayer....
From all my lame defeats and oh! much more From all the victories that I seemed to score; From cleverness shot forth on Thy behalf at which, while angels weep, the audience laugh; From all my proofs of Thy divinity, Thou, who wouldst give no sign, deliver me. Thoughts are but coins. Let me not trust, instead of Thee, their thin-worn image of Thy head. From all my thoughts, even from my thoughts of Thee, O thou fair Silence, fall, and set me free. Lord of the narrow gate and the needle's eye, Take from me all my trumpery lest I die.
-- C.S. Lewis, Poems (New York: Harcourt, 1992), 131 * Trumpery = something showy but worthless, nonsense; rubbish, trashy (adj.)

The heart cannot delight in what the mind rejects as false.
--Clark Pinnock, Set forth Your Case: Studies in Christian Apologetic (Nutley, NJ: The Craig Press, 1967), 3.

Truth is true-even if no one knows it.
Truth is true-even if no one admits it.
Truth is true-even if no one agrees what it is.
Truth is true-even if no one follows it.
Truth is true-even if no one but God grasps it fully.
-- Paul Copan, "True For You, But Not For Me".

The debate on Homosexuality in India

Recently a Professor of the Aligarh Muslim University was suspended for being a Gay. The professor was found dead in his room after he was accepted back by the University. It is suspected that the professor committed suicide.
My intention is not to dwell on the specifics of the case, but the overall issue that is at the core. The case brought to the forefront the issue of homosexuality in India. I wrote and sent my comments to NDTV , Rediff and the Times of India and none of them posted it on their sites. The only avenue left was the space here. And so here they are....
Quote
Homosexuality in India as avid readers would know is not as new as many think it is. Infact some of the well known religious figures were not only practitioners, they were proponents as well. Narendranath Dutta or Swami Vivekananda and his guru Ramakrishna Paramahansa are 2 of the known practitioners. A more recent example would be of Satya Saibaba; stories of his sexual exploits are well published on the internet and through numerous books.
In a philosophy that’s based on the presumption that the male and female are one, is it any surprise that we find homosexuality not such a strange thing in India. Only ignorance will force us to conclude that this is some sort of a Western influence. Ancient Indian philosophy does provide basis for a homosexual relationship. People, who have been practicing such things, now find themselves courageous to say that they are gay or lesbians. Infact it may just be the 'in' thing to say or do.
Clearly Men and Women are different. Not only is this evident in adults, it is prominent in small children as well.
When the focus is on 'self', it is not so difficult to understand why we as a society have become so hedonistic.
There may be a fuller life that is possible if it is lived for others. May be the purpose of our lives is found in someone or something beyond us. If we draw our moral values from each other, then very soon we will be an extinct nation. Our moral values need to come from some one who transcends us. And who knows us better, than the One who created us?
Only when the purpose is beyond ‘self’, will we find something that we can anchor our life on. May be that anchor is God. Infact the Bible says it is God. The Bible also says that the God who created us, desires to have a relationship with us and that he WILL draw near if we draw near (genuinely seek) to him. (Book of James in the Bible Chapter 4 and Verse 8)
Unquote

The above argues from a moral viewpoint, the next article would argue from a relational viewpoint.

I am not skilled to Understand

Suffering ? Do we really understand the purpose? If the presence of evil is the best evidence that an Athiest can give for the non-existence of God, then some one needs to own upto all the good thats out there......

Check out the lyrics for the song written by Dorothy Greenwell (1873) as she puts some light on the greatest sufferer.....

I am not skilled to understand
What God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know that at His right hand
Is One Who is my Savior!

I take Him at His word indeed;
“Christ died for sinners”—this I read;
For in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior!

That He should leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die,
You count it strange? So once did I,
Before I knew my Savior!

And oh, that He fulfilled may
travail of His soul in me,
And with His work contented be,
As I with my dear Savior!

Yea, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this Spring;
That He Who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior!

My Choice by William McChesney

Its very ironic that I heard the following Poem in India, written by American Missionary to Congo William McChesney who was martyred for his faith at the age of 28 in 1965…

I want my breakfast served at eight
With ham and eggs upon the plate
A well-broiled steak I'll eat at one
And dine again when day is done.

I want an ultramodern home
And in each room a telephone;
Soft carpets, too, upon the floors
And pretty drapes to grace the doors.
A cozy place of lovely things,
Like easy chairs with inner springs,

And then, I'll get a nice T.V.
- Of course, I'm careful what I see.

I want my wardrobe, too, to be
Of neatest, finest quality,
With latest style in suit and vest
Why should not Christians have the best?

But then the Master I can hear
In no uncertain voice, so clear:
"I bid you come and follow Me,
The lowly Man of Galilee."

"Birds of the air have made their nest
And foxes in their holes find rest,
But I can offer you no bed;
No place have I to lay my head."

In shame I hung my head and cried,
How could I spurn the Crucified?
Could I forget the way He went,
The sleepless nights in prayer He spent?

For forty days without a bite,
Alone He fasted day and night;
Despised, rejected - on He went,
and did not stop till veil He rent!

A man of sorrows and of grief
No earthly friend to bring relief;
"Smitten of God," the prophet said
Mocked, beaten, bruised, His blood ran red.
If He be God, and died for me,
No sacrifice too great can be
For me; a mortal man, to make;
I'll do it all for Jesus' sake.

Yes, I will tread the path He trod,
No other way will please my God,
So, henceforth, this my choice shall be,
My choice for all eternity.

Those who killed William stood surrounding his body and saw him die a painful death and then threw him into a river filled with crocodiles. It might seem therefore that there is a high cost to pay for following Christ and responding to his call.
However the cost of not following Christ is far greater than the cost of following him. And my prayer for all of us including you the reader is that we would respond to Gods call whatever it is and wherever it takes us.

Letter to Christian Student

Hi (name),

Better late than never. I have been thinking of writing to you for some time now. First of all let me begin by saying, how happy we are about your admission to the (XYZ University). Congratulations!!! Just another instance about God’s kindness and His grace in our lives.

Getting admission in a good Masters program is always something that is foundational to a working career. It sets the tone and directs our entire life. I and Vaishu firmly believe that God has called us to be where we are. And therefore it is our responsibility to give our best in all that we do. Because all that we do must be for the Glory and pleasure of God.
So think about this. If you study hard, then study hard for the glory of God. If you share your Christian experience with someone, do it for the Glory of God. God takes a lot of pleasure when His children acknowledge His provision and give Him thanks for all that He has done. So first of all, we believe that God has placed you in XYZ for His glory as you represent Him.

Secondly it is always easy to get diverted by overburdening ourselves with a lot of academic stuff. We get so much engrossed in our studies that we fail to give God, time in our lives. Make sure that you do not postpone spending time with God. Set aside a time every morning for 1/2 hour to read the Bible and Pray. Don’t miss this time.
Many a times, I have found that I am irritable and wavering in my decisions when I have failed to spend time in reading the Bible and spending time in prayers. If you fail to spend time now, it will get that much more difficult to do that at a later stage. (…)

Thirdly be careful in where and on what you spend your time and efforts. Above all keep yourself pure, that is the greatest gift you can give your life partner.
God is more interested in our Holiness than our Happiness, He is more interested in our Purity than our Power, He is more interested in our self control than our giving into physical desires, He is more interested in our faithfulness than our financial success, He is more interested in our endurance than our reputation, He is more interested in our Good than our desires, He is more interested in our Eternal life than our external wealth, he is more interested in our long term joy than in our short term fun.

Fourthly make sure that you do not postpone things. It is always easier to do it right 'now' than to postpone. Make sure you complete all your academic work the same day that it was given to you. Bring some structure and discipline in the way you approach studies, after all this is expected from a person who is pursuing a Masters degree.

Fifthly and finally make sure you spend quality time with Mom. Time flies by too fast to let go of the precious moments. Vaishu and I firmly believe that God has placed people in our lives, so that through them we would understand God much better.
The question is do you desire to please God, if your answer is Yes, then am sure you will understand and appreciate the 5 things I have mentioned above.

We are very happy and proud of you. This is just the first step, a first step in the right direction, however there is a long way to go...


With much love and prayers,

Vikram

Brit Hume, Tiger Woods, Freedom of Speech and Tolerance

I dont know Brit Hume or for that matter Tiger Woods. What I mean is that I have never met them. However both Tiger Woods and Brit Hume are in the news and for completely different reasons. TW for his infidelity and Brit Hume for his remarks on Fox on 3rd January about TW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgMr_Zc3OtA&feature=player_embedded

On "Fox News Sunday," Hume — the former leader of Fox News' political reporting and host of "Special Report" who now serves as an analyst for the network — said that Woods' recovery "depends on his faith."He was asked whether Tiger Woods would recover from the scandal that has cost him several lucrative endorsements. Brit Hume replied, “Tiger Woods will recover as a golfer.” But he didn’t stop there (as Chuck Colson comments on Breakpoint) —and in the process ignited a controversy that says more about his critics than it does about Hume or what he had to say. Hume said the “open question” is “whether [Woods] can recover as a person.” Hume pointed out that Woods had “lost his family” and that his future relationship with his children is unclear."The extent to which he can recover seems to me depends on his faith," Hume said. "He is said to be a Buddhist. I don't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. My message to Tiger would, 'Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world."
From the attacks that I have seen in Media (print and online) on Brit after this remark, speak more of intolerance than tolerance.

Indian Author Vishal Mangalwadi in his most recent book 'Truth and Transformation ' shares his experience on freedom of speech when he and his wife Ruth were boarding a plane to fly from Florida to Minnesota. This was Christmas time and therefore the Flight attendant greeted them with the customary " Happy Holidays", to which Vishal asked her 'are you not allowed to say Merry Christmas? to which she replied that they have to say Happy Holidays. Vishal found this amazing as his understanding was that America was tolerant_the land of the free and home of the brave. The world actually respects the American forefathers for saying, ' Give me liberty or give me death.' And here they were and they cannot wish Merry Christmas to each other. 'If you surrender your heritage of Freedom, how can you ask the people in Afghanistan or Iraq to stand up for their liberty? Vishal presses on. Because religious terms such as Christmas offends liberals, should Americans then surrender their freedom or teach the liberals some tolerance?

Dr. Don Carson, Research Professor of New Testament has to say the below about Tolerance. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PVJlnvVeSM)
“Twenty five years ago ‘tolerance’ was understood to be a virtue that operated something like this: If I hold strong views on any particular subject I am nevertheless judged to be ‘tolerant’ if I think that your views are bad, immoral, improper, even disgusting, wicked or stupid, but still insist you have the right to defend them. In other words, a ‘tolerant’ person puts up with somebody else’s views and insists they have the right to hold them even while – in the vigorous arena of debate – we might disagree fundamentally on who is right or who is wrong. Such a person is a ‘tolerant’ person.
But nowadays, that is not what ‘tolerance’ means. Now ‘tolerance’ means that you don’t hold that anybody is right or wrong. Everybody is equally right or wrong. Nobody is more right than another person. If you don’t hold that then you are ‘intolerant.’ Now that is a huge shift … Under this new definition of ‘tolerance’ I don’t even know what ‘tolerance’ means because in the old view of ‘tolerance’ you had to disagree with someone before you could actually tolerate them. How do you say ‘Oh, yes, you are entirely right – I tolerate you?’ … This new ‘tolerance’ actually becomes extremely intolerant of anybody who does not buy into this view of ‘tolerance’ because if you actually come right out and say that some view is wrong or silly or foolish or indefensible or even questionable, then you are judged to be ‘intolerant.’ Thus, in the name of this newfangled tolerance it turns out, at profoundly deep levels, to be the most intolerant thing of all!”

So did Brit Hume have the right to say what he did? Absolutely he did. Did he say the right thing? Thats for you to investigate and find out. From following Jesus Christ for the past 20 years, and from my personal experience on forgiveness I know he did. In a way, everyone answers the question that Jesus posed his followers 2000 years back and quoted in Matthews Ch 16 Vs 15.."But who do you say that I am?"