Sreedhar's Journey

My family and I are blessed to be given the opportunity to live and work with people of many cultures. The learnings have been tremendous. One thing is for sure. The English language can be spoken differently, and different slang can be used (reflecting the original language and culture of the person).  However, being human, we have similar interests, challenges, and aspirations. When you realize this, you cannot be alone. A man named Cornelius was the same. His story is an important turning point for the movement. Acts 10:24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. Something marvelous was going to happen. A bunch of unclean and uncircumcised foreign people from a different strata of society were about to become followers of Jesus in this important coastal town, after the miracle in Joppa (modern day Jaffa). Cornelius was told by an angel to go get Peter. Peter was told through a visi...

Ever been to a funeral? Of course you have. Many grieve. Others, come giving respect and honor to the deceased. Still others may have no connection with the person who died but came to support the living. I lost my father in January of 2016. It was a painful experience. Not because I lost a father, but because he had died without me knowing if he had committed his life to Jesus. The gospel has been shared with him numerous times. Later in life he became more serious with his Hindu faith. I just pray that as he breathe his last, he cried out to Jesus. There was another person Tabitha who lived in the ancient costal city of Joppa, now Jaffa. She followed Jesus and her funeral turned out quite differently. Acts 9:40-41 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her...

Beam me up Scotty! We have all (maybe most) heard this phrase from the famous TV sci-fi show, that later became a series of movies, called Star Trek. It was amazing to see how at the nick of time people would be transported to and from planets or places without the need for physical transport. Do you know that the Bible has a record of this happening as well? Philip was a great beneficiary of this mode of transport. Acts 8:39-40 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. From the city of Samaria where he was sharing the good news of Jesus, healing the sick and delivering out demons, he was "transported" to Gaza to speak to this Ethiopian government treasurer, and then to Azotus going to Caesarea. Amazing! But I think what is more amazing is the way the gospel...

I loved history when I was in school. It was taught from when I was 10 till 15 years of age. In those 6 years we studied the history of almost the whole world. This was amazing. For this reason I have been blessed with an appreciation of what happened in each country around the globe. As a young student learning history, we unfortunately spent most of our time just remembering or memorizing what happened. We did not "learn from history". Another group that did not learn from history were the Jewish leaders of Jesus' days. Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Stephen, one of the appointed leaders to serve at the tables of this new movement, was brought to the council and he took the opportunity to share history of the Jewish people from the time of Abraham. He very quickly pointed out the many times in history how the people rejected God and His prophets and suffered in the proc...

You have heard the saying, "Better a devil you know than an angel you don't". In most employment situations you really struggle to find the best people. When in urgent need of a warm body to fill an important position, you could be hiring the next person that steps through the door. But this may lead to hell on earth. Yes, that "angel" that came through the door, that you thought will make all the difference in the world, was actually a "demon". At least if you hired someone that you know, you know all their strengths and weaknesses, and know how to manage things. However, can you be a real angel? In Acts Chapter 6, the disciples had an administrative challenge of managing food distribution so that the widows will have their share. Stephen was among 7 appointed to serve, and he shared openly about the faith to a sect of Jewish people called the Synagogue of the Freedman. He was full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.  It ...

Am I too quick with my mouth? I have many times regretted being in a "quick draw" (cowboy term for shooting match) situation. I need to be mindful of what I say lest I say the wrong thing and yield negative consequences. But as I shared in my last post, I need to SPEAK in some circumstances without fear, even under threat of negative consequences. This is what the apostles did. Acts 5:19-21 NKJV But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. Many miraculous things were happening during the early days of the movement. People who lied to the Holy Spirit collapsed and died. Many who were physically unwell were h...

"To speak or not to speak?" is the question. I grew up in a strict Asian family where with your father, the old statement, "children should be seen and not heard" is held true. I grew up a quiet boy and spoke little. But somehow I grew up with the strong urge to make things happen and this caused me to speak up in many situations in school, church and later in the workplace. I still can be very quiet and have few words, but when you get me started on my experience with God and His plan of salvation for mankind, I cannot stop. Such was the case with Peter and John, the famous pair of this young movement. Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Peter and John were told to be quiet and stop speaking about Jesus. But there was little the Jewish leaders could do because the evidence of God's power in the healing of a lame man was there, and the movement was gaining in numbers. The prayer of the followers of Jesus was to become bol...

Peter and John are very common names in the Western world because of their strong Christian heritage. Even in Europe, where you have French, Spanish, German and other European languages, the same names exist in their respective language variations. But do you know why they are common? Why they have a Christian heritage? After Jesus had ascended and the Holy Spirit had baptized the 120 disciples, and saw 3,000 follow Jesus on that day, many things started to happen. Peter and John were the two that became quite famous, or in some eyes, infamous. Acts 3:12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? Peter and John just prayed for a lame man at the entrance to the Jewish temple and he was healed. He was lame from birth but God through these apostles made him well. They went on to encourage those watching to follow Jesus.  They were correc...

There was a time that I used to lead teams into the Philippines to share the gospel message. In the first two trips Lee Yen was with me in the team. First as a friend and second trip as my wife. We had a wonderful time in the mountains of Northern Luzon besides ministry in the Greater Manila area. One of the experiences I will never forget is being in the mountains and feeling like the home we were in was going to get blown off with the high winds. We slept through that by God's grace. Jesus' disciples experienced a strong wind and fire at the same time in this chapter. The result was amazing. Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. From villain to hero. Jesus was being celebrated and many came to the Lord. They reflected on His life and ministry, and now knew better how God's salvation was to come. The movement was started with wind and fire. A worldwide movement was started in Jerusalem...

I still have vivid memories of when I was 17 leaving for school in Toronto from Malaysia. As the British Airways jet left the runway for the flight to London via Bombay (called Mumbai now), the question, or perhaps, the thought that came to mind was, "now I have to figure out where to buy my next tube of toothpaste". From Heathrow I caught another flight to Toronto via Montreal and arrived in the night to a wonderful night snack of " char siew pau ". It was a new phase of my life where I was able to grow in God at rapid speed. The disciples of Jesus were going to go through a similar thing. Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. I don't think the disciples could figure out what would happen. The 120 went about some administrative matter of appointing an apostle to replace Judas. They were probably still in this mindset...

I have had the privilege of traveling to New Zealand a number of times, and our adult children live there. It is a beautiful country. Everything you have heard about New Zealand is true. I have been hearing reports that Americans are buying large tracts of land and homes in New Zealand. Why they are doing this I am not sure. It is a place where you can hike, climb, fish, walk a glacier, see the fiords, and many other things all within short distances. It is also well-known for sheep. There are seven sheep to one person, or about 30 million sheep in New Zealand. Our neighbors raise sheep too. Israel also had many sheep and Jesus uses this to tell a fisherman what he needs to do. Jesus asked Peter three times do you love you, and after Peter said yes, He said feed my lambs, tend my sheep and feed my sheep. John 21:17-18 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lo...

Have you heard of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Kerala, India. It has an illustrious history and is probably one of the oldest churches in India. Many speak of Kerala being the first state of India blessed by the Message of the Gospel. Based on history annals of the church, it was started with the coming of the Apostle Thomas to India from Jerusalem in the year AD 52. Irrespective of this church record, the bible records Thomas as one of Jesus' disciples and is commonly referred to as doubting Thomas because he doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead. He did not see Jesus the first time the other disciples met Jesus. But he believed when he saw Jesus during the second visit. John 20:26-29 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. D...

Bad politics is one of the manifestation of man's fallen nature. He rules and influences many times for the benefit of Himself. I have dealt with many politicians in my lifetime and found this to be true with many politicians from both the ruling party and the opposition. Don't get me wrong. Not all politicians are bad, but many are. The Jewish leaders in Jesus' days were no different. They had authority and they wanted to maintain it at all cost. John 19:4-5 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” Pilate became very nervous as is recorded here. Pilate asked Jesus where He was from.  Pilate knew he was dealing with someone more than he could himself handle. John 19:7-11 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himsel...

Ever been to a circus? There are many acts to entertain us in the circus. They range from animals doing tricks in line with the instructions given by their trainers, acrobats who do acts on a trapeze high in the air, to clown acts that are inserted throughout the show to add some humor to the total program. If you were to read John Chapter 18 at face value, with all due respect, you would think that you are dealing with a bunch of clowns. Jesus was being apprehended in a secluded spot that only His disciples knew about. Judas was paid good money to point it out to the officials from the Jewish temple. They could have easily done this on temple grounds and saved some money. They asked Jesus questions that amounted to nothing. They took Him to the governor Pilate who must have thought how silly the Jews were. Jesus responded to Pilate's questions coherently with some "out of this world" responses about Him operating under the rules of engagement of a different kingdom.  B...