Sreedhar's Journey

In today's world many are not happy with how they look naturally. They do everything possible to get it "right". Some of these include almost permanent changes that affects their bodies for the rest of their lives. This includes tattoos. I am not going to saying anything about this but we need to be careful about the agenda of people that do these things. There is something better. Revelation 22:4, They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. How God's name is going to be on our foreheads, I am not sure. But it would be like wearing a uniform of an organization that you are very proud of, and want to be associated with publicly. There will also be the tree of life. There will be no more pain. No more sorrow. God's presence will be so tangible that we can see His face. Revelation 22:12-13, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and t

I read somewhere that the French pay for exorcisms. This is what happens when you take the power of God out of society. It also reminds me of the "bomohs" (what they call witch doctors in my language). A person who is demon possessed or is being oppressed by demonic forces are desperate but Satan can only be completely defeated by the name of Jesus. Otherwise, you are just inviting another spirit to occupy the space vacated. Besides this, people are also seeking the fountain of youth. They are seeking to live longer and younger. Many pay good sums of money to achieve this. But in the end they still need to face death.  But God has a different plan.  He returns us to the days before the great Flood where man did not have to traverse the seas. Revelation 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. We seek solutions to life from another mere mortal being, or someone who seems to demonstrate

Years ago I watched a movie that played out the end times based on Revelations. It was quite dramatic and scary, but had a happy ending. This is what has been planned from the beginning of time. This chapter in Revelations gives a quick snapshot of the end. Revelation 20:4, And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. It did not occur to me until much later in my Christian life that there will be a thousand years when followers of Christ will reign on earth. Satan will be bound at this time and he will not be able to touch the saints that will be resurrected at this time. Yet there will still be those who reject God. These will be destroyed as mentioned in verse 9. Revelation 2

Have you forgotten something? Misplaced an important document? Or, maybe your phone? I have! I thought I left the phone in my car the day before and so I went looking for it early the next morning. When I did not find it, I prayed big time. I came back to my home and thought it was in the wash. But Lee Yen, who was up early, said she did not see anything yesterday. But praise God I found it safe in my backpack. My dear wife made an interesting comment that we are getting forgetful because of age. Are we? Am I? When did you hear the good news of Jesus Christ? It may have spoken to you strongly at that time, but like many people you have forgotten it. Life went on. You got busy with other things. Your needs were more than met with human relationships and pleasures. Can I suggest that you revisit the gospel message that was shared with you. Revelation 19:10, And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your bret

There is some rich history in many cities. Some of them were great and powerful. They were the beginnings of a nation. However, some were destroyed by natural calamities and never rebuilt. This chapter seems to be talking about such a city. Revelation 18:8, Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. Is it possible in today's circumstance? Most definitely! All you need is a major earthquake, volcanic eruption, extreme weather or a meteor crash. All things that would be called acts of God, humanly speaking. Or, maybe a nuclear bomb. We have a situation where this city is very prosperous and within one hour it is utterly destroyed. We all know that this is possible. Has it happened yet? Or, is it about to happen? Revelation 18:19, They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on

The United Nations is an important global organization that provides nations a ready platform to discuss many matters that affects them, regions and the world. It is headed by former senior politicians, civil servants, and career bureaucrats. It can be quite tough to keep a platform like this going, especially when you need funds and country endorsements to support your efforts. All this will change with the new world order. This chapter in Revelations talks of many kingdoms and kings. Revelations 17:1-2, Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” There seems to be one great kingdom that rules over many, or has great influence. The issue with this kingdom is that it is against followers of Jesus Christ. Revelation 17:

When someone has been caught up in a crime as a victim, the police usually try to get a good profile of the suspects who perpetrated the crime. They will sometimes use composite sketches that allows the victim to identify somebody. John as he describes what is seeing is giving us a graphic picture of what he saw. Revelation 16:1, Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.” As the seven bowls of wrath were poured out, the impending final conflict at Armageddon looms. It is interesting that the armies of the east is mentioned. They are facilitated by the drying up of the Euphrates River. Revelation 16:12, Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. As John describes this period it is clear that something incredibly wrong is going to happen in the future history of the world. If the

I am privileged to be able to meet and work with leaders from many nations. They love God and they, like me, have a burden to see people around them come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Many of these I am able to keep in touch with, but many more I can only meet and share when we see each other in heaven. John gives a glimpse of heaven and what we would be singing together. Revelation 15:3-4 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.” This chapter concludes with the vision of the bowls of wrath. Seven angels are about to pour them out. God loves us, but if we reject Him for something else, we deceive ourselves. My personal journey has been made so rich because of m

What is the greatest pain you have ever experienced? Child birth? Kidney stones? A rare nerve disease that causes all your joints to be in constant excruciating pain? I have personally experienced kidney stones three times in my life, and I have been told that it is more painful than child birth.  However, I believe nothing could compare with the eternal pain of hell. Revelation 14:9-11 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Many have told me this is unfair.

There are many Chinese people, especially businessmen, who try to get good numbers for their home, business, phone numbers and cars. Even dates for important transactions are fixed based on this. The number 8 is especially well used because it sounds like the word for prosperity in the Chinese language. There is also another set of numbers that is commonly used. 666. However, it means something else in the Bible. Revelation 13:18, Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. 2 beasts and a dragon are pictured as doing everything possible to speak against God and force everyone to worship them to the point of killing those who refuse. There will be great trouble at that time, and it will not be pretty.  Were these literal beasts?  Or, perhaps John's spiritual eyes were opened to see what these were.  To the ordinary man they may not see the demonic nature of these individuals. Revelation 13:1, T

The dragon is very much part of British folklore. There are many battles and stories told about them. Most of us that read these stories associate them with children's fairy tales. But in the bible they are presented as part of a real vision of the future.  Care to explore them?  Dragons are real, just like dinosaurs in the bible. Revelation 12:3, And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. Later in the chapter the dragon is referred to as Satan. And he is cast down to earth after losing a heavenly battle. He tries to cause problems on earth but his plans keep getting defeated.  He almost appears as the poor villain in a movie.  But this is no movie.  This is real life. Revelation 12:11, And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. The lamb here, is referring to Jesus. The blood is the sacrifice on the

How would you like to go around with fire in your mouth and prophesy for about 3 and a years? And then be killed, lie dead for 3 and a half days because no one wants to bury you, and come to life and ascend to heaven? That is what happened to 2 people called witnesses in this Revelations chapter 11. Revelation 11:12, And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. The coming of the Lord is near. He will demonstrate great power and will reign over the earth. Revelation 11:15, Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Revelation 11:17, “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. Those who think they are on top of the world and can do anythin

Are you able to keep a secret? Most people cannot. It usually comes out unintentionally in a conversation when you least expect it. It is a case of not thinking before we speak. Some of us speak too soon. Take time to process things and then make a point. John was careful in doing that, and he was entrusted with the Word of God. Revelation 10:4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” However, there are many other things revealed to us. Do you believe in angels? If you don't, better start investigating. If the events in these chapters do not take place by the time you are dead then you will meet them when you die. Don't get shocked when you are escorted by them. Many people have seen angels, including demons which are fallen angels that follow Satan. The most important thing is that you are in a right relationship with God

Every new season in the movie theaters are punctuated by one or more horror movies. I am not sure why people pay to get scared. I am sure it affects them later with headaches, bad dreams and / or deep fear. One of the movies that may be familiar to you is Apollyon. Don't bother looking it up. The title is borrowed from the Bible in reference to a being in charge of these out of the world locusts. Revelation 9:11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. It is interesting that the verse is 9:11. Makes it easier to remember. What the biblical Apollyon is going to do is far worse than the movie version. John is getting a detailed close up view of all this. It is not pretty. Is all this possible? The Bible has accurately predicted many things, including the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  God's desire is that all mankind be saved through a restored relationship with Him

Many parts of the world are experiencing natural disasters. Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornados and the like, or combination thereof. These things are increasing in frequency as scientists try to investigate methods to predict, and possibly, avert such disasters. Some call it global warning or climate change. The Word of God is clear. There will be a penultimate moment in the future when the mother of all natural disasters will happen. Not just on earth but in the universe. Revelation 8:7, The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. Revelation 8:8, Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood . Revelation 8:10, Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on

As a child growing up I was always fascinated by war. You may have to thank Hollywood for that. I loved the action and would play out war actions in my house as I was growing up. I usually did this alone as I was the only son in my family. Now I have 3 sons and I see them doing similar things with cars and "birds". I suppose they do not have enough war movies to inspire them. The closest was "to infinity and beyond" complete with hand and body motions. But all this was play acting and not real. Reading Revelations Chapter 7 you will see a glimpse of the catastrophe that is coming as evil is defeated. Many around the world did not have my privilege or the privilege of my children to grow up in relative peace and only see war and fighting through movies and news stories. But it is much more painful than our play acting. For this reason many people reject the need for God until it is too late. There is something better. You have a good thing today and you are happy,

Ever watched the movie Armageddon? Well they borrowed the word from the Bible. We wish the movie is going to be the way it plays out in the future, but it won't. That day would be bad. By the time the 6th seal is broken, the sky will be following down on earth. Revelations 6:12-14 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. What an incredible picture of destruction. Nothing can stop it. All the peoples of the earth, including the nobles will have to hide in caves. Meaning underground.  Sound familiar?  Yes, there are those who have already built large underground shelters to weather a major catastrophe like this. But how long can you last in t

One of our homes is in New Zealand where the number of sheep out number humans multiple times. New Zealand lamb is world famous and continues to fetch a premium in supermarkets and restaurants. But what is less known about the lamb is its significance for spiritual sacrifice in not only the Hebrew culture but the Chinese. Read this web page for more information on this. This chapter in revelations introduces us to the lamb in the throne. The lamb is symbolic of Jesus the perfect sacrifice for mankind. No one else is able to make this perfect except for God himself. The Chinese understood that, and they may have been the wise men of the East who came to worship Jesus after His birth. Given the infrastructure of the day, they could have used the Silk Road and saw the birth coming based on revelation given to them by God. If you are Chinese, you have no excuse to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These wise men should have brought the news of their successful trip back to China unless s

How do you define the number one? If you get mathematical with your definition, you will probably come up with something most people will say of course I could have told you that! Or, maybe not. There is of course just one of you. There is one God. Revelation 4:2-3 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Someone once told me that followers of Jesus Christ worshiped more than one God. Interesting statement. John, the Apostle, went up to heaven and confirmed that there is only One! Whoever made that comment needs to read the Bible. But of course it may be against their personal belief to read the Holy Scriptures, but it is time for people who make such comments to show us where in the Bible it says we worship more than one. The Bible must always be the reference. Not what people do. It

I once stopped over this great city called Philadelphia. It has a rich history. William Penn named the city Philadelphia, which is Greek for brotherly love (from philos, "love" or "friendship", and adelphos, "brother"). As a Quaker, Penn had experienced religious persecution and wanted his colony to be a place where anyone could worship freely. This tolerance, far more than afforded by most other colonies, led to better relations with the local Native tribes and fostered Philadelphia's rapid growth into America's most important city. ( Source: Wikipedia ). This name was inspired by the church of Philadelphia mentioned in this chapter. Revelation 3:7-8 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little

Are you listening? One of the most important skills to have in adult learning, where you incorporate facilitated learning or coaching, is the skill of listening. Some term this as "active listening". Many of us instinctively try to get to the point without listening to everything the other person is saying. We do not embed in our listening the sincere action of seeking to understand.  I had this problem once at a tyre repair shop where I stopped the mechanic part way through his explanation of the problem and the solution he applied. Yes, I am guilty as charged. John is seeking listening followers of Jesus Christ. Revelation 2:29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. As the Spirit of God speaks through John, we see very different issues and possible consequences for each church mentioned. As I read this it can be easily seen today in the condition of churches in different parts of Asia and the world. Losing first love for God. Going through t

Ready for the end of the world? Ready for death? I am sure many reading this are indifferent to this question. You don't care. But if you care about what you eat each day. You care about who you meet. You care about your health. And perhaps, you even care about people, your community and/or the environment. Then, you are avoiding the question about being ready for the most important event of your life, because you don't know the answer. John writes about this in Revelations. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. The time is near!  In the KJV it says, the time is at hand!  The revelation given to John is difficult to completely appreciate because He is sharing God's perspective on time (from eternity to eternity).  In the human context, time cannot be stored.  If you missed it, you missed it.  It is spent.  You cannot redeem time.  It is gone.  In God's p

Recently I alluded to the fact that I am not perfect. Yes, I may be a messenger of God, but I am not perfect.  He who is perfect is God. I follow Him. It would be a mistake to reject the message of God because of the messenger. God is working on me and He is not finished me yet because of my humanness.  Until I receive my immortal body I have the propensity to sin. But this is not a licence to sin. We constantly look to the power of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome sin. In this regard God has helped me greatly. In this chapter and book, Jude reminds us to constantly be on guard for our failings. Jude 1:24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. It is God who is able to keep you from falling. If we try, we will fail. God enjoys keeping us from falling. He loves us deeply, if we wou

How do you handle people who don't seem to like you? You may say, ignore him. Or, speak to others close to the situation to clear the air about the matter. Or, confront the person and clear the matter directly. In many cases ignoring would work, but if the person continues to speak against you then this may not be the right approach. 3 John 1:9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Yes, the church is filled with humans that are fallen sinners needing the continued work of God. Thankfully, we do not follow men but Jesus. Jesus never fails. John finished the letter by saying that there is much to be said but he will say it in person. This is a good leader and this approach to resolving the attitude of a poor leader is a good one. 3 John 1:12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. There are still others with a great tes

Asians are very welcoming of people and allow others to visit our homes at short or no notice. I believe many other cultures have this practice as well.  Sometimes we would also stop our personal plans to accommodate visitors. Today, these surprise visits may not start with a knock on the door, but with a text message. How many would do this? 2 John 1:5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. John writes this letter addressed to an Elder who is a lady. She is urged to love one another, as is told by God. What is the extent of love that we ought to show? What are the practical ways? The biggest thing is to love and accept them in spite of their many shortcomings. I have met many unlovable people in my lifetime, but praise God for the power of the Holy Spirit. I am able to love. However, while we love, John warns us that we should reject false teachings. 2 John 1:9-11 Whoev

If you were to die tomorrow, how sure are you of going to heaven? Or, let me rephrase the question. If you were to die tomorrow, do you know what is going to happen to you? Death is no respecter of age. You can go at anytime, and this question is for everyone. John the Apostle, in his letter, is clear. When you believe in Jesus you KNOW you have eternal life. 1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. What happens when you believe? The Spirit of God comes to you and becomes your God-sent Comforter for all circumstances. He gives wisdom and strength to live out your life. Yes, challenges and hardships may not go away, but you have God by your side. I

I recently spoke about hating someone. Today, I want to talk about loving someone. Do you love anybody in this world? If you don't, you need Jesus. He loved us to death before we first knew Him. John has much to say to us in this chapter about love. 1 John 4:17-19 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If we know the perfect love that comes from God, we will feel secure. We know that we will be taken care of. The problem in today's circumstances are that many, if not most, are growing up or have grown up in homes where they do not get the God ordained parental love and care. There is much fear and this can only be dealt with God's perfect love. The psychological trauma of growing up in a loveless ho

Do you hate anyone? Don't answer! In my lifetime have I hated anyone? Yes. It was difficult for me. It came from a feeling that I was betrayed or let down. But by God's help every single one is released from this painful position. The Apostle John addresses this. 1 John 3:6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. When we have God operating in our lives we have the power to overcome feelings of hurt and anger. For this reason we are able to obey His command to love. Through our own strength and nature, it is impossible. In fact there is a question mark about whether God truly lives in a person if they dislike someone. 1 John 3:16-17 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? We love because He first loved us. Our human co

What is your home address? In my lifetime I have lived in many homes, and my challenge is giving an address that is truly permanent. Just when we thought we bought our permanent home, we moved. We are now in the third home that we own. Much of what we own in this world is located there, including most of our children. But is this our home? 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. As a follower of Jesus Christ I have a better home. I wish I could give the government, banks and our service providers heaven as my permanent address. In reality that is the truth. I live in this body and present address for a fixed time. That which lasts forever is in eternity. This is

Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is not the presence of something else. All cultures thrive on the presence of light and is symbolic of all things good. When the first strokes of light come with sunrise, something special happens in our body, soul and spirit.  Go read about it.  As a person in a relationship it goes one step further for me. A new and special day is anticipated.  My life takes on the perfect light given by God.  1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Are we going to resist and go into darkness? We cannot be doing both. We would be short changing ourselves.  When you are lost in a cave, you always towards the light. It is the most sensible thing to do.  Since God is light, we need to walk towards Him.  He illuminates and allows us to walk and not stumble. He allows us to be aware of the dangers around us and make wise decisions. 1 John 1:6-7 If we say that we have f

I have shared before this familiar question, "Are we there yet?". Every parent and child should remember it. It runs in our human nature. We are impatient to see things happen. I like what Peter says. 2 Peter 3:8-9 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Do we have the same patience with people as God? But truth be told. When the whole world has had the privilege of having the gospel of Jesus Christ demonstrated and presented to them, the end will come.  Peter urges restraint and being reminded to know and follow Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the

As human beings we have a way to look at the world through our paradigms or frame of reference. It is difficult to break from them because it will take us out of our comfort zone. We may break from it for a short while, but we tend to return to it because it is painful to make the shift. Someone who follows Jesus Christ struggles with the same. 2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. The situation Peter is talking about indicates that people were mixing in their old beliefs with the purity of what God had done on the cross and the resurrection. It is interesting that this was happening in the first century. Of course we see and feel the effects in, among others, the teachings of the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and the fastest growing religion in the world. I am reminded yet again tha

Can I show off a little bit? Lee Yen and I got married almost 30 years ago. By God's grace we will celebrate our 30th in December. It was quite unusual because I am of Indian origin and Lee Yen is of Chinese origin. I made it a point to seek permission from her family to court her. Our journey together has been very adventurous. We have seen much together, including living in 3 countries, and traveling to a number more. She is the one that ensures everything stays in shape at home, including the husband. I just prayed for her to live over a hundred years so that she can be a blessing to many more.  I dedicate this passage of scripture to us as a couple, and to those reading this post. 2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and pre

When I was in senior high school I studied about ecosystems. As part of the study, we had to investigate a square meter of ground and understand what goes on in that space. It was quite fascinating if you got the right area. If you had a fertile area where there was good growth of grass you could say much about how this ecosystem thrived. God has the perfect human ecosystem for us as well. 1 Peter 5:5-7 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. For the ground there are a few things needed to maintain a good ecosystem, the main one being, good soil. For humans one of the greatest attributes would be humility. Peter writes about the need for leaders to be responsible for those that they

My first job after finishing graduate school was in management consulting. I did that for the first 12 years of my career and enjoyed it thoroughly. It was not without its ups and downs. Every assignment was different though the thought process and frameworks used may be similar. These were times I would reach out to God continuously for the right answers to some difficult questions on the job. Praise God, He answered. 1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. If you are reading this and you have worked with me in any way, let me say this, "My success, if any, are totally because of God's intervention and wisdom". There are times I have made mistakes, but God has taken me from that to the next thing. I needed to continuously seek Him for His dir

Have you been to an expensive restaurant? Through my years in corporate life I have enjoyed being invited and hosted at meals fit for a king. I love food and I am adventurous. That is how this chapter feels to me. 1 Peter 3 is so rich and expensive. It is full good advice and teaching. I must make it a point to memorize it. 1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. As of writing this post, I have been married to a wonderful woman for the last almost 30 years (we celebrate our 30th in December). She is the best. With her, we are raising 4 wonderful children aged 28 through 15. We have traveled crazy miles together. She is of Chinese origin and I of Indian, born and raised in Malaysia. Now speaking into the nations. This chapter also talks about suffering. As Lee Yen and I have traveled the miles, we have faced many chal

John Knox is a name that you must know. If not, you have missed a great history of Scotland's revival. This impacted the UK and the whole British Empire. The Queen of Scotland has been quoted as fearing the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe. He prayed the famous prayer, "Give me Scotland or I die". In a similar fashion, Peter asks us to make a difference in our land.  Pater states the following beautiful statements of cheer and clear standing that we have as followers of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the kin

We go through life with our view of the world and many things assumed, and a given. We don't think about them. We don't challenge them. We accept them for what they are and build other experiences on them. When you meet Jesus for the first time, this changes because you suddenly realize there is something different, unexpected and better. We realize there is the perfect hope. 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; Yes, the challenges of life may be there, but you have a more certain understanding of what the future holds. The early Christians were greatly persecuted for their faith but held on because of the reality of the message. Are you questioning the authenticity of the Bible and the truths that lie within? Don't struggle with this. 1 Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things wh

"Are we there yet?" is a familiar question to most parents when on a journey with children. You can either respond with vigorous reprimand, or use the opportunity to help the child learn a few things. The obvious ones are time, distance, maps, landmarks and car games. There is another one that is related to character. Patience! Are we known for our patience? James has something to say. James 5:7-8 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. When we look at the issues of life and the turmoil in the world, we tend to wish that Jesus returns quickly. The early Christians suffered greatly for their faith and the same is true today for people all over the world. The suffering may come in different forms, but we suffer.  We are urged to be patient. In

In my previous post I spoke about food made with "tongue twisting double taste". Today, let me talk about how two things cannot mix. Oil and water. We have all done that experiment and realized that oil is impenetrable by water. However, dispersants used to clean oil spills are able to break up oil. In the same manner the ways of God and our human tendencies tend to be in conflict. James in the early part of the chapter today talks about it and comes very strong with this statement. James 4:7-8 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. I am sure you have seen how a stray drop of oil recombines with a larger pool of oil. The oil stays together, and likewise, we need to reconnect with the Lord. There will be "dispersants" that try to break us from God, but as we pursue His presence we find peace, love and joy. Nothing

One of the Chinese dishes that is famous world over is "sweet and sour". You could have it as fish, pork or, with a little bit of variation, "lemon chicken". As you bite into the dish your tongue is tickled with both the sweet and sour tastes. It tricks the tongue and gives you a special sensation. Getting hungry?  I am! Well this is something you put into your mouth. There is also that which comes out of your mouth. James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. A teacher is listened to carefully and has to watch what he or she says. Even if it is not recorded on an electronic media, it is recorded in the hearts and minds of people. The tongue is powerful and, in human history, it has shown how minds can be changed and movements created for either good or bad. James 3:8-9 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we c

You have probably heard the expression, "put your money where your mouth is" many times over. If you speak so well about a certain product, do you use it? Do you actually get the benefits that you say it provides? There are many celebrity endorsed products out there and I wonder if they really use the products they promote. Promoting your relationship with God is the same. This chapter in James says much about faith and works. James 2:19-20 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? A great example of this is given with the life of Abraham, our patriarch of faith and father of nations. He was shown the promise of the stars and he believed and proceeded to act on it.  He may not have figured how God was going to accomplish it through him, but he believed God could do it.  He had faith even to the point of being prepared to sacrifice the only legitimate heir that

Are you well fed and fat. I feel like that. I know I need to lose a few pounds to get to my ideal weight. I need to "do" more. I believe the issue is not the food. I eat like anybody else. I need to lead a more active lifestyle that ensures every part of my body is ready to live a 100 years. James is saying the same thing about our spiritual health. James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Please do not mistake me for saying that "doing" is more important than "being". Embedded in the doer of the Word is "being". Many of us hear sermons after sermons, attend conferences after conferences, but never do anything.  Excuse the expression.  We sit on our backsides, watch others do something, and we become "armchair" critiques. I am involved in a training work that is measured for effectiveness and challenges the graduates to be doers with the training that they have received. The worst thing that can

The world has changed so much in my lifetime. I still remember how we learnt to write good letters, and some even went on to find pen pals over the oceans. Is this this a lost art? I believe it does not have to be. We just have to practice the same disciplines in our email and social media writing. As the writer of Hebrews comes to the conclusion of his letter, you can see how he ends it with a positive note. Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Much can be saved and communicated with a well written letter, email or message. Thinking through the communication may in fact create a legacy for not just a lifetime but eternity, as did the writer of Hebrews.  The writer had a great discourse of a

We walk not with a spirit of fear because we are children of God. Everybody that lives in this family has nothing to fear except God himself. Even then, this is a different kind of fear. It is a holy reverence that gives peace and joy. Our lives cannot find peace with the absence of God.  I have tried to find a parallel to explain what it means to have God absent, but I could not. God being in our lives is so "out of this world" and yet it is part of our DNA and our life ecosystem.  Many meditate, but without the living Savior.  The experience is incomplete and the soul deserves better. Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right h

We can go through life so quickly and forget to be thankful for all the obvious things. The first of which is our life. We only think of it when we are dying. Or, when we have a near death experience. In the same way we do not think about God until we are at wits end. What is the problem? Maybe it is because the existence of God and a loving relationship with Him is too good to be true and we default to second best. Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. The rest of the chapter in Hebrews is so full of stories of God blessed people through the ages. The writer of Hebrews calls them elders.  The Old Testament is full of this rich history of God's continued involvement with man.  This chapter aptly summarizes the faith journey of these elders from different periods of history. They did not see all the promises of God fulfilled in their lifetime because God operates outside time

At the spur of the moment and without losing any time we make a decision, and for better or for worse we experience the consequences of the decision. Or, should we hold our decisions, lose time and have no impact? You have been told to be decisive and in others cases you have been told to take time to ponder your decision. Which is right? In the midst of a terrible fire in London , a baby was saved when thrown to someone below. We don't know the final outcome but at that moment the parent needed to make a decision. Making a decision for God is like that. You know you got nothing after death. So you better make a decision with someone who offers a proven solution. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and rose again from the dead. Hebrews 10:19-23 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with

Everyone looks for the miracle remedy that would help them take care of every possible ailment. For me it is Apple Cider Vinegar. Do I take any other supplement? No. Do I take any medication for anything? No. In fact, I cannot remember when was the last time I visited the doctor for a prescription. I am thankful to the Lord for my state of health, and I will serve Him totally as long as I have breath. Especially because of what He has done for me.  Jesus did this for me and you. Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. The Westminster Catechism mentions that the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. This is very profound and truly wonderful. It brings purpose to our living and even helps us

We are constantly reverting to the familiar to reduce the stress of change. What motivates this behavior? Every S-curve has a period of steep climb that is preambled by hard work. There are no shortcuts and the process is inevitable if we are going to keep progressing in anything that we do. God is a master in this. He has clear plans. Hebrews 8:13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. The people of Israel had this plan revealed much earlier, but they could not accept it when it came to pass. Jesus was born among them through a virgin birth. This was God's way to enter our human dimension. He was about to take the world through a new S-curve and a paradigm shift. Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be

The Way of the Master Evangelism is an approach I once heard about. Based on what I read on one website, it is a technique developed by TV-show hosts Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron, which seeks to witness to the lost by application of the Mosaic Law to show men their sin and ultimately bring them to conviction and subsequent repentance. This chapter in Hebrews shows the need and the provision for a perfect sacrifice. Hebrews 7:24-25 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Who is the writer talking about? Obviously, Jesus! There are no cultures or faiths that have no concept of sin. (Apologies for the double negative). The issue is what do you do with it? God gave clear instructions to the Jewish people what they were to do in ancient times. As I review many other beliefs, including my former belief, there is the same co