Sreedhar's Journey

I regularly look for news reports that highlight good news and I usually have a hard time looking for any. All the top featured news and the lesser important news on a news media's front page on the web is mostly negative news. I only found some positive news on a regional news portal in New Zealand. We seem to be focusing on highlighting the bad rather than the good. I suppose this is a reflection of our human nature that has a tendency to "look for the bad" and either "scold it" or "gossip about it". We need bearers of good news so that people are not ignorant. Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. Romans 10:14-15 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sen...

I am sure many of you have read the fact that, on a per capita basis, the people of Israel or the Jews have the highest number of inventors, scientists and nobel prize winners. This is no small accomplishment. And perhaps for this very reason, many nations of the world would like to see them wiped off the face of the earth. It is truly a herd mentality in most cases. Almost like a lynch mob that has forgotten why they doing what they are doing. Paul is however very downtrodden that his people, the people of Israel, are not turning to the Lord. This one thing they are missing. We can debate how the Jews are blinded from knowing their Messiah, but God is in total control. Romans 9:15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” He is sovereign, And He is speaking to all nations. All the people of Israel needed to do was to seek Him by faith, Like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did!  Likewise, ther...

Prosperity is something everyone aims for in their lives. The Chinese people are no different. The word for prosperity sounds like the number of eight (8) in their language. And so, many Chinese like their home addresses, car registration plates, phone numbers having a combination of numbers that includes eight in it. This is also a good way to remember Romans chapter 8 that has so many great promises from God.  Promises that are worth more than anything money can buy. Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. That's right. If we are living by the Spirit of God we are children of the Almighty God! My earthly father passed away early January 2016, but I have a heavenly Father who lives from eternity to eternity, and cares for me all the time!  You also may have lost a fathe...

While doing my computer science degree, because of the math pre-requisites, I had to do a number of 3rd year math courses. These included complex numbers and abstract algebra. Don't ask me anything about them. Once I was done, I was done with them. :) I suppose it helped me think creatively for the purposes of problem solving and that was the greatest benefit. Paul addresses some complex questions of the law for the Roman Church in Romans chapter 7. Romans 7:6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. As I read this chapter and this verse, I was reminded of Zechariah 4:6 . Truly it is impossible to do what I want to do. We tend to do what we ought not to do as Paul says it in different ways in this chapter.  Apart from God, we cannot do it. Romans 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I...

I have been asked many times, what is your favorite food? I have been blessed growing up in Malaysia, where we have cuisines of the two largest population groups in the world, the Indians and the Chinese. I also spent much time in cosmopolitan Toronto in my college days. I therefore love food from all continents. And this leads me to overeat at times. It is really the flesh dictating things more than the conscience that says enough. Sin is like that. Jesus died on the cross and provided the grace for us not to die the eternal death. In Romans chapter 6, Paul was clear. Don't take it for granted. It does not mean that we should keep on sinning. It is almost a test on the grace of God. Instead, we should daily seek to obey God in all our undertakings.  If we have disobeyed, repent. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. That is the promise. We cannot gain eternal life by ourselves. So choose to obey God now. Choose t...

Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? Of force you have. At least once a day. Otherwise, your hair may be a mess, and/or unshaven (if you are a guy). The mirror tells you how you look before others can judge your appearance. My looks over the years are obviously getting older. I personally really do not have a problem with that. But many do. However, there is one mirror that you must not forget to look at. It will save your life. It is the Word of God. More specifically, it is the law of God. Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. This provided for the hope and grace for us to be reconciled with God. The "mirror" of His law helps us understand how bad we are. It also helps us understand the need for God to come and be the perfect sacrifice for us to be saved from eternal separation from God, or hell (designed for fallen angels). Romans 5:5-6 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who...

There is an old Sunday school song that I used to sing " Father Abraham had many children ". It reminds me of God's faithfulness. Not just to Abraham and his descendants, but also to the whole world. There are many nations trying to exterminate the Jews for different reasons, failing to realize that Abraham is the ancestor of these people. He was given a promise that not only will he have a son in his old age, but he will also be a blessing to the nations. In spite of the error he made with Sarah's maidservant, God was merciful. God's plan of salvation came through Jesus Christ conceived by Mary through a virgin birth, a descendant of Abraham. And like Abraham and Mary, we need to have faith to receive this blessing from God. Romans 4:23-25 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and ...

The Chinese people everywhere still mostly stay with the tradition of celebrating their new year with lots of the color red.  Red clothing, red debris from fire crackers, red "ang pow" packets, and even a red cloth banner over the front door archway.  It all starts with an important reunion dinner where the whole family makes every attempt possible to meet the night before the new year.  It appears that this tradition or culture seems to have been passed down from a similar ancient practice. The Passover is a great meal of remembrance celebrated by the Jewish people. The first one was held in Egypt to provide for the protection of Jewish families living in Egypt against the work of the angel of death that would kill the first born in every family. They killed a lamb without blemish and placed its blood against the door posts of their homes so that the angel of death would see the blood and "pass over" the home. This same Passover was celebrated by Jesus and His disc...

Some time ago I was asked, or alluded to a possibility, that I prepare a few of my postings at a time and release them at the appointed time. I said no. I want to have a fresh revelation each day. I wake at 4am most days and get to the Word before anything else. Thanks to a smartphone that can run my Bible and the blogger application, I can do everything without the need to look at my laptop. After I have posted my reflections, I go for my prayer walk and I pray for my family, many ministries, individuals and churches around the world. It gets me good exercise while I spend a good time with God. Yes, you can speak to Him and brisk walk at the same time. Paul, the Apostle, is a great model for us when it comes to writing. Paul in his writings to the Romans was very clear. You are without excuse in knowing God and doing the right things. Romans 2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge ...

Much has been said about the gay movement, including the use of the 6 colors of the rainbow. (side note: I hope people realize that this color presentation by the LGBTQ movement is NOT the rainbow, just 6 colors of the rainbow). The rainbow, with all the seven colors represent a promise that God gave to Noah after the great flood (which explains many of the natural phenomenon we have around us). I am thankful that the movement did not give the rainbow a new meaning. Many may disagree with me, but we need to realize this technicality, if I may term it that way. When Paul wrote to the Romans he also referred to people who practiced unnatural sex. Romans 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was...

I have been to Rome once and it is a beautiful city, if you appreciate history, architecture and, of course, food. Paul finally made it to Rome after being shipwrecked on Malta. This final chapter of Acts is a remarkable story of God's guidance and providence. Acts 28:6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. Paul was bitten by a snake and he did not die. He ministered to the people of Malta. He preached and demonstrated the kingdom there with the many healings there. As he traveled in a new ship to Rome, he was given a lot of liberty because of the favor from the authorities. There were already followers of Jesus in Italy at that time. The Jews came to hear him and many believed. From here Paul wrote a number of letters that we know as the prison epistles. Father, I pray that I can follow well Paul's example to p...