COVID RELIEF WORK (Details inside – P.20)
ILAKKIYA & HER SON House Raised with the Help of DFC (Details inside – P.21)
Editorial…….
For over four months now, we all Some people in an unknown corner have experienced the global lockdown coupled with our friends and relatives quarantined either in their homes or hospitals. And some have lost their lives. None of us have seen anything of this kind during our life time. The death toll due to Corona Virus infection in Italy, Spain, UK and the USA during the first month were alarming. All the rest of the world too is reeling under its deadly spell. We are all looking around. The world is under the grip of the virus. Not many of us realize that there is just more to this corona virus. We naturally panic that it‟s got to do with sickness and death. We fear our very lives which are at risk. We must be prepared to accept the fact that Corona virus is just the tip of the ice-berg. Like I have said earlier, that since the beginning of the 21st century, we as a generation have not seen anything like this. We are being jolted by hearing news reports that‟s coming to us from around the world.
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of the world might say to themselves, “Oh, we‟re having a jolly good time and enjoying our vacation”, but mind you, no sooner all their fun and frolick is being disrupted by some unprecedented catastrophe. Well, we are still looking all around. Now, I am asking you to look behind. I mean, historically. And if you like it or not, and if you are a person quite serious about what the Bible says, (well, at this point, may I say that I am addressing mainly to Christians and brothers and sisters of other faiths in general), that God is said to have sent plagues when the proud King Pharoah of Egypt resisted God and his people. It is interesting to read that at a later time, God sent some of the plagues among his own people. It did not matter if they were called as the chosen race or God‟s people. The Bible teaches one vital lesson, and it is this: That sin has its consequences, at times more severe than expected.
There is also another lesson: That God is no respecter of persons, rich or poor, religious or irreligious, socially or culturally sophisticated or not. He treats all peoples alike. We learn some of these lessons by Looking Behind.
Tuberculosis killed more people than any other disease during 19 & 20 th centuries in Europe and North America.
The World War II was a man-made plague by which 85 million people died worldwide. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. It included massacres, genocides, holocaust, bombing, starvation and disease.
that Corona Virus is only the tip of the Ice-berg?
In 2012 alone, 8.6 million fell ill – and 1.3 million died from it. Between 70-90% were urban Any one going down the memory population infected by T.B. lane will know, that plagues of varied sorts have come and gone all Think about Polio, malaria, swine through the past centuries. Men and flue, ebola, let alone the HIV AIDs. women died all over the world Think of people dying of hunger due falling prey to these plagues. to famine. Did I not mention earlier
Looking behind helps us evaluate the mess we are in. Though, we brag often about our science and technology, aerospace and astrophysics, genetic engineering, The use of nuclear weapon dropped cloning and so on. Thank God for in two places in Japan killed 18 all the advancement in medical science. But can man give life for million people. life? th Earlier, during the 19 century, a plague called 3rd plague originated Looking Forward: in China in a place called Yunnun in But the fact of the matter is that 1855. It took 12 million lives both there will be sequence of events to in China and India. come in the future – say, hurricane, During 18the century, small pox floods, earthquakes and the death killed 60 million people worldwide. toll will go from bad to worse. I am 2
neither a doomsday prophet nor a prosperity preacher. I want to present Bible truths which are timeless treasures and expose them to the times in which we live and its relevance as time goes by. Looking within: Man, by and large, has become too corrupted beyond recovery in all his schemes, plans and motives. For the second time, we are now faced with global economic meltdown in less than 20 years. Stocks plunge, shares crash, banks lose their business and the woes of common man go unnoticed. We have invented systems and structures – it could be social, cultural, religious, political, economic and many such things. I might call them the gods of this age. It may also be the UN, WHO or the World Bank. We have realized that none of these comes to our rescue when disaster strikes. With the moral collapse of man, every other things follow humankind – political chaos, economic crisis, social and cultural divisions and now the pandemic 3 dread of the corona virus.
We are shocked of the prognosis. But man‟s problem is much more deadlier than the virus. The Christian Bible calls it “SIN.” But we shy away to call it that way and use other words such as error, mistake, omission, lapse and so on. We live sexually perverted lives and call it a different orientation of life. Christians no longer lead a life exception. They too have become very inclusive to all the norms and patterns of the world. Churches ordain gay bishops and women with lesbian practices. The wickedness of man, and the inclination of his heart are more deadlier and dreadful than any killer virus. The so-called Christian nations of yester years have thrown away the long cherished values of the Scriptures. Today, this generation is paying heavily for replacing God for the world. We have trusted the atheist philosophers who said God is dead and He is no more. Therefore, we relied on rationalism, intellectualism, materialism, humanism, epicurianism and everything that has got to do with human pride and of self-will.
Years ago, when talks about God and of the Bible were given, Christians had the patience and the willingness to listen to what they considered to be the truth. Today, truth has been made into a relative term. For post-modern man, truth is no more absolute. Thereby, we have reduced moral absolutes to mere relativism. Jesus claimed: “I am the way.” He made an absolute claim. The majority of the world refutes and says: “Well, there is no one way, but many other ways.” Man by nature opts for convenient ways.
Uncertainty of all kinds torment him right here and now. What is the way out of this pandemic? There is one thing that man finds hard to do. And that is to be quiet. By this, I mean inward quietness. This will help each one of us to direct our thought toward God. God is our Creator. He controls the universe. We call Him Sovereign God. God is love – and it is a comfortable doctrine that we all embrace easily.
With the onset of technological God is just – this means that God revolution, we have much executes justice. His character is information dishing out from several such that He is holy. That is to say sources. As a scientist pointed out, that He cannot tolerate the there is much traffic jam in the route sinfulness of man. to the brain as signals are too much The Bible talks about the wrath of and too heavy that they crisscross God that most Christians are not the avenues of our brain. In reality, it is a brain-storming – every day, comfortable with. When man‟s sin with so much of information coming reaches greater proportions, God‟s in from here or there. The onset of wrath is revealed in unimaginable social media brings in piled-up, un forms – plaques, floods, famine and segregated news that are good, bad so on. Man being so intelligent and ugly. Man fears of the otherwise, is unable to comprehend unknown. There is one thing he is the things of God – the Bible calls unable to conquer: And that is his this spiritual discernment. fear. Fear about future. 4
Looking Upward: I look around, (By doing this, I might become too analytical), looking behind- I might become too historical), looking forward- I might become too occupational and sentimental.
Jesus Christ paid a price by dying on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for sin, thus paying the penalty for sin. All those who put their faith in Christ and commit their lives to lead a life which is pleasing to God will be blessed of God in this life and in the world to come.
The wise thing to do now is to turn God ward. I believe, the hope for mankind rests here. To be still and becoming quiet is the most difficult thing to do. The Bible asks us to do just that. By being inwardly quiet, we come to know and acknowledge God, His power, His rule.
This time of perplexity can also be a time of blessing in disguise.
Man needs peace and hope.
(This message was uploaded during April 2020, through You Tube in a video format. The same message with few changes has been published here for CTS readers. Those who have access to You Tube can view the full message by clicking:
There was not a man in the whole of the history of mankind who made a claim such as this. But the Godman called Jesus promised peace amidst turbulence. Serenity during times of sickness. Tranquility in times of trial. Through trust and commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, one can find these blessings through Christ. God is calling us from fear to freedom – freedom from sin.
Reflect on what you‟ve read now. Respond to God through faith and repentance if this had not been your experience.
Joshua Dhanabalan/ Lockdown Reflections Or, you also can follow the link: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=XYZlYcEfmiQ&t=100s
God does not require something to make something out of it. God created the world out of nothing. If that were not so, He may not be God at all. It is we who look for resources and raw materials and make something out of something. –J.D
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The Bible exhorts Christians to be diligent in their hearing In other words, do you have a perfect sound hearing system? There are usually just two poles for any communication – a) message conveyed and b)message received. This principle applies to the army, air-traffic control and all other forms of tele-communication systems.
undoubtedly the means of communication. It is therefore essential for us to hear the word of God even as we read it. Often, the word is abused, misrepresented and misunderstood.
Again, God‟s word is akined to that of daily spiritual nourishment. Those who have a healthy appetite for God‟s word are those who are said to be inwardly strong due to For Christians, the amazing truth is their regular in-take of spiritual diet. that the very core of faith or belief system is undergirded by intelligent We all would agree that daily means of communication. In other consumption of junk food cannot be words, facts concerning God, man counted as staplefood. and the universe is communicated Unfortunately, that‟s what most through the Word. From creation, Christians do. God was known to be communicating with man. Genesis They relish on junk food for their chapters 1-3 narrates several souls and end up in spiritual occasions through which God malnutrition. communicated with man. The God Sermons that are soothing and of Bible is the One who speaks. comforting may heal superficially. God in His wisdom provided man It is a kind of a symptomatic laws and commandments through treatment. written form. God Himself wrote the 10 commandments (Ex. 31:18; Bible teachers who always talk Deut.10:2. 5). For Christians all about sunshine must also prepare the over the world, the written word of hearers for the storm. God, of which we call the Bible is 6
How to know that you are hearing Apostle Paul was arrested and taken the right Bible teaching? to Caesarea. Acts chapter 24:25 following. Let me share with you a verse from Hebrews 5:15: He was under the charge of Felix the governor. Felix was a religious “Anyone who lives on milk, being person and may have heard about still an infant is not acquainted Paul and his gospel. So he was with the teaching about curious to meet with the Prisoner righteousness, but solid food is for Paul. Felix wanted Paul to talk the mature, who by constant use about religion. have trained themselves to Paul uncared for his own release, distinguish good from evil”. did not impress the governor with The writer here differentiates blessings of health, wealth and between milk and solid food. prosperity. Instead, Paul carefully He uses words such as infant and talked about righteousness, selfcontrol and of judgment. adult or a mature person He also talks about teachings on By the way, righteousness is an righteousness – which means right attribute of God. Our righteousness is like filthy rags, says the Bible. moral understanding and conduct, Therefore, it is essential that we hear And he talks about the ability to sermons beginning with the attribute divide or distinguish good and evil, of God, not of man. right and wrong, truth and This takes me to the second point : falsehood. Teach or hear sermons that begin Here is point No.1 with God, not with man. In other words, our focus is God ward, not Teach or hear on subjects about man-centered. righteousness. Someone said:” You look at Let me give you an example. yourself within, you tend to get depressed, try looking around you We read of an incident when the 7
from majority of get distressed, but look up to God problem and be encouraged”. How true this Christians? Oh, very much yes. is. The prophet Jeremiah had problem Sadly, the response to this kind of making the Isrealites believe his gospel is not so good. In fact, Felix message. got scared and asked Paul politely to He was so discouraged and he stop. complained to God, that he would Are not many Christians saying the no more prophesy or speak on same thing? behalf of God. It‟s like saying - don‟t get too But later he says, I cannot hold or involved in Bible- studies or prayer contain the word of God. It is like meetings. fire shut in my bones. (Jer.20:9). Just do a short devotional, say a A preacher‟s conviction and burden prayer, be regular to Church, but is compared to that of fire shut in his don‟t bother with everything that bones. the Bible says. Is this the kind of message we hear In other words, it‟s like saying, nowadays? Keep God at bay. Use Him Recently I heard from a live stream whenever you want. message in which the preacher said Choose those good and positive that India will become superpower things from the Bible – say promises and God will do a miracle in 40 or blessings, and listen to preachers days. Now the lock down period is who say nice things which will extended several times well beyond comfort you. ITCHY EARS four months and it appears as though God must have failed to do INDEED! some miracle to stop the virus! Is Are not sincere and faithful Bible the preacher trying to boost the teachers often encountered this morale of his congregation against 8 COVID 19?
Isn‟t it utterly ridiculous in the : How can we hear God speaking Biblical sense? to us ? Sad indeed when we think about those preachers. Much more sad, that the congregation as a whole has developed a herd immunity against false doctrine.
Are you an individual having a thirst for meeting with God? Wait on Him. Study his word. It is like a photographer‟s plating where the picture is developed in a dark room.
We are bombarded with blessing Wait for the sound of the world to sermons that are futuristic. But the die down in your soul. Bible says God had blessed His When noise, hurry and distraction is children already (Eph. 1:3-6; 2:6). overcome, we hear the whisperings And this leads me to my third and of God. last point very briefly is this -Joshua Dhanabalan Preachers and teachers of the Word tend to tone down the word of God for modern times. They make the gospel message popular, subtly modifying truths, by not allowing the original writer like Paul to be himself so as to express his original thoughts. The writers’ words are smoothed or polished to suit those of us in 21 st century, not allowing them to deliver intelligently yet uncompromisingly in 1st century terms. -J.D. ------- ***** -------Where are you Lord today amidst the world of Christians? It appears that more of us should be shedding tears like Jeremiah. The wrath of God is being poured for all the sin of rebellion against God, that the world does not seem to realize it. Churches turn away those who are prophetic. Like Jeremiah, they are often thrown into a slimy pit of desolation. -J.D. 9
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears… to suit their own likings.. (2 Tim. 4:3).
With our excessive viewing and hearing, the media world has indeed opened up the Pandora box to a thoroughfare of moral abyss. Whether one likes it or not, there Technology Sans Wisdom: With has been excessive seeing or hearing the onset of information technology, of this sort to one‟s one snare. the availability of internet with multiple forms of media had The Ancient Paths (Jer.6:16): radically changed global Generations before, devout communication system. Satellite Christian men and women possessed television has revolutionized visual a few devotional books, their hymn entertainment media to a great extent. In India, a remotely situated and song books along with their village or a non-sanitized slum can prized Bible. Mostly, in India, the boast about the dish antenna which community of Christians had their is capable of bringing in countless treasured possession – the channels into the dingy living room vernacular Bible. With the passage where a large community gather to of time and regular usage, the pages view a famed Hindi movie on a have worn out and required a sultry Sunday afternoon. For a Christian too, the television has rebinding. Many Christians could turned out to be a boon and a bane. not afford to buy a new copy of the Due to this reason, the Christian Church on the one hand suffers with the problem of plenty, while in reality, it suffers from spiritual malnutrition. Entertainment media is seductive and can paralyze our senses to passive submission.
Bible. Some Bibles have been kept for nearly a century – passed on from one generation to the next one. Their faith and commitment was one that was commendable both in the Church and society.
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They simply relied on the basis of God‟s Word and everything concerning their lives revolved around Bible truths. They lived simple yet profound lives that influenced both society and the culture. In essence, they were the salt of the earth and light of the world. Spiritual Luxury: We have quickly learned to move on from what our previous generation of Christians had been doing. Their experience is long forgotten now. We have attained a status of „hyper-choice’. Today‟s Christian community has the affordability to buy different types of Bibles – say, with a commentary or a concordance. In English, there are more luxury tools available to the Bible. This again, is the result of Bible translators‟ laborious work and years of Bible scholars‟ hard work that resulted in bringing out several Bible Aids. No doubt, countless men and women were greatly benefited by these resources. Spiritual Obesity: Mankind adheres to a general principle of input and output – be it in the spiritual or 11
natural world. What one received is not to be hoarded. If someone has concealed money unaccounted for, it is considered by the government as „black money‟. In the same way, a man can eat for hunger and not for gluttony. Bulimia nervosa is a serious potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of binge eating (consuming large quantity of food in one sitting). What would it be like, if we apply this principle to our spiritual lives? Those faithful ones of yesteryears used their time to positive thoughtfulness during their daily walk with Christ. By this, I mean, that they possessed a note book to write down notes of what they had studied from the Scripture. Their transformed mind was engaged in active thought process of learning from what God was saying to them. Their day began with systematic study of Scripture and prayer. Their day began with punctuality and daily business was carried out with godliness coupled with integrity and hard work. Their early morning devotional life led them through the day. God blessed the work of their hands. They were proved to be successful because of
what God had done to them. They gave away their time, talent and resources to the glory of God and to meet the growing needs of people around them. Their belief and behavior was at par with what the Bible taught them to do. These were Christians who led exemplary lives. Our Churches had men and women like them. They spread the aroma of Christ wherever they went. By now, you would be able to compare the vast difference of how the contemporary Christianity operates with its external paraphernalia. A mere form of godliness”- lacking in power is how Paul would describe the kind of modern Christians who are trotting about with their excesses – of what they see and hear. In essence, mere Christian programmes are equated with God‟s power. Even many older folks find more time to listen to a host of preachers lying in their couch. As day goes by, many of them become invalids both within and without. The causes may be less immobility and more input and less output. Spiritual Fantasy: God has placed in the heart of every man the
longing to commune with Him. There is a void within the heart of man. The void can only be filled by the presence of the Holy Spirit when a sinner truly turns to Christ. From then on, this longing is fulfilled. A believer „rejoices‟ and would say: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want ,”- meaning, I am not in need of anything other than God Himself. Watch words in Psalm 23: “Rest”, “Restoration,” “Right Path,” “Fearlessness,” “Comfort,” “Elevation,” “Abundance,” “Absolute Blessing” and so on. Those Christian men and women who had gone through the motion of Christian conversion experience merely at an intellectual level are aware of spiritual things as mental assent. There is a distinction between “knowing God” and Knowing about God.” Those who have known Christ at the mental level seem to be having the longing and an unquenchable thirst which prompts them to run to every spiritual meeting or buy any kind of spiritual books or watch all kinds of preaching say to them. They get all the more confused, and all the more they like to read or listen. We must
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not simply take them as „spiritual Is the old sinful nature still at work people.‟ They are simply being or crushed by the power of the Cross? Does that person trying to fantasized by spiritual things. lead a life of self-effacing at the cost “They have an itchy ear,” says Paul. of glorifying Christ? They seek after those things their itching ears would love to hear. We These are questions which are to be need to be careful as to what we answered in the most intelligent way read, or to which preacher we listen according to the word of God. to. For all are not known to be Christian life is not fantasy but teaching the right truth and doctrine. reality in terms of living, loving, This warning was given in the early suffering and even dying for the Church by the apostles and of our sake of Christ. No spiritual books Lord Jesus Christ. It may sound must give an impression as if one is uncomfortable, but it remains a fact. made to wander like “Alice in That the more one reads or hears does not make him or her a Wonderland.” Instead, Scriptures Christian or make that person a are able to make us „wise‟ unto salvation – which is to mean mature Christian. deliverance from shackles of sin and Does that person exhibit marks of a to be engaged oneself in active and Christian according to the Scripture? fruitful service for the Kingdom. By Is he/she reflecting the character of this, a Christian will be led from Christ? Are there evidences of the fruit of the Spirit? Is he/she being having itchy ears to that of hearing crucified daily with Christ so as to the voice of the Lord (Isa.30:21). emulate the image of Christ?
-J.D.
Christians ought not to be fully dependent on false human consolations- for they too will fail. Never fully rely on your fellowships, gatherings or anything that may take the due place of Christ alone. These are just means. We are not to make means to be the end of everything. -J.D. 13
When was the last time you clearly felt God speaking to you that made a loves the Lord, it is quite certain that deep impact in your life? you also love God‟s word. Where do you meet him? There are ways through which God communicates to us. Sometimes Well, an ideal place is where you through people or an incident. feel undisturbed from noise and Undoubtedly, the written word of distraction from other people. God is God‟s love letter to us. HOW DO WE BEGIN? One of the profound truths about our God is that He articulates to us. Begin with a brief prayer asking the Unlike any other books or religious Holy Spirit to help you understand what you study. gurus, God speaks His heart to us.
If you are a Christian believer who
Different people follow different methods. Some begin with few verses for study and meditation. Study or reading is primarily the assimilation of facts. But when we He uses language which might be meditate, we make personal symbolic – say a figure of speech, a application of the scriptures to our metaphor, or a parable to make us lives and circumstances. understand his message. One can begin with a chapter in the Unfortunately, what God intends to book- say, the gospel of John communicate to us is often misread chapter one, or, passages that deal or misunderstood by us. Therefore, with a parable or teachings of Jesus it is essential we follow some basic Christ. principles by which we decode the I remember a friend of mine years message from God. 14 ago had jumbled up hundreds of He speaks lovingly and intelligently which means He communicates to the heart and to the head, I mean, through our minds.
Bible verses from an old calendar, (Do you remember we used to have golden verse calendar, that had a Bible verse for each day?), rolled them up and kept in a bowl. Before he left for work, he just pulled out a verse, read it, folded his hands, closed his eyes for a few seconds. There his dealings with God ended for that day.
many Christians eagerly look for honey or dig deep for gold. There is a general boredom and dullness associated with the study of God‟s word. Paul says in 2 Cor.4:4: that the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel. Most people have their interests centred around horror movies, novels and curiosity around some stories say, demon, phantom, haloween, divination, black magic, sorcery, witch craft. Wow, aren‟t all these interesting? Others are keen at horoscope, palmistry, astrology star gazing and so on. Remember the verse I read out? The god of this world has distracted people from hearing what God says.
There are those who read God‟s word randomly – Here‟s a joke to explain that. A man closed his eyes and prayed “Lord, speak to me.” He just placed his finger on a certain verse. He opened his eyes and the verse read: “Judas hanged himself and died.” Oh no, this is not God‟s word for me. Let me try again. So he closed his eyes, prayed, put his finger on a verse, opened his eyes and read. Now the verse read: “You too go and do likewise!” Do you G.K. Chesteron said: “When men choose not to believe in God, they see the point? do not thereafter believe in nothing, Remember this while reading your they then become capable of Bible. God‟s greater purposes for believing in anything.” In other man is outlined from the very words, people believe in everything beginning of the Scripture to its last except God. page. The moral depravity of man is such David in Psalm 19 compared God‟s that he won‟t naturally listen to the word to that of honey and gold. Not right thing. 15
He would rather believe in the merely possess intellectual faith devil‟s lie than God‟s truth. with no personal experience. Jesus speaking to the people, quoted Have you come across many the prophet Isaiah. We find this in Christians so immersed with their Matthew13:14. Bibles and note books? They read, read even memorize long chapters. “You shall indeed hear but never They gain good Bible knowledge, understand, and you shall indeed see without applying its principles. Say, but never perceive. For this for example, the Bible says, “Feed people‟s heart has grown dull, and the poor and care for them.” It their ears are heavy of hearing, and simply doesn‟t occur to them. We their eyes they have closed, lest cannot just take this truth as a piece they should perceive with their eyes, information. It says, “Do not and hear with their ears, and covet.” We must not think it talks to understand with their heart, and turn someone else. We need to apply the to me to heal them”. Scripture to our own lives to see if Jesus talked about the joyful hearers we are caught up in the sin of in his parable (Mark 4.16), who like covetousness. the seeds that fell on rocky soil grew up but withered soon when the sun came up. Doesn‟t it show the spiritual condition of many of us? Shallow, rootless and superficial. Never merely read the Bible to gain some factual knowledge. In India, Gandhi, Dr.Radhakrishnan and many secular and religious philosophers have read the Bible and thus possess certain head knowledge. But do they believe the God of the Bible in their hearts? Never! Likewise, many Christians
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Ask the question: Are you Bible taught or Spirit taught? Are you reading the Bible like a Pharisee or being illuminated by the Holy Spirit? There is a difference between information and transformation. The Bible says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds (Rom.12.2). When you study a passage, Begin by asking the interrogative pronouns such as: Who, what, where, when, why and how. A
Bible passage you read will only be complete and make sense if it answers all these questions. This initial study method is called the *OBSERVATION. Observe facts: people, places, time, situation and so on. Try doing an exercise based on Matthew‟s Gospel chapter 12.1-8. Carefully read the passage.
Am I a religious hypocrite? Do I go about following the mere externals of a religion? Do I place Christ as the author of my life? And so on.
Don‟t you see the passage you have been reading all long lights up all of a sudden and what appeared dull reading before makes much sense now? Try some exercises with other This is an incident where Jesus and familiar passages using the his disciples were passing through a principles of Observation, corn field and the disciples plucked Interpretation and Application. some corn and ate it. It was Sabbath and the Pharisees began to argue As we develop this habit of studying with Jesus about the disciples‟ and following this method, I am sure, with the Spirit‟s enablement wrong doing. you and I will be able to hear God After answering the questions speaking to us from His word. arising out of that passage, you will now be able to get the central Dr. Stanley Jones was a missionary message from the verses. This is in India who greatly witnessed for called *INTERPRETATION. Christ among Hindus and other What interpretation would you give religious groups. He also to the above passage? Say, one or befriended Gandhi during the two interpretations possible. One freedom struggle for India‟s would be that Christ hates hypocrisy independence. Once a Hindu young and outward religiosity. Two. The man asked Dr. Jones. Have you seen authority of Christ over human Christ personally? Dr.Jones replied, traditions. “Not in the physical sense, but I see Thirdly, You come to the Him daily through the pages of my *APPLICATION of the passage. Bible.” What does the passage say to me How I wish this could be your personally? -J.D 17 experience too!
***CTS, I assure you, guides me to plan and work for magnifying Jesus‟ name. I am encouraged by knowing the works you are „dreaming‟ and executing. I am involved in the work of IMS in Vellore. Christian Thought Series which guides me to make an effort to prove to be a truthful Christian. Mr. Hillel Johnson, Vellore ***I am receiving Christian Thought Series. Praying for God‟s wisdom. His mercy and grace has sustained you so far. My prayers are with you. Ms. Prema Fenn, Madurai ***In the last two decades our country has undergone radical political, economic and social changes, breaking away from our values and tradition rooted in our culture and history. This was brought in by the advent of the IT industry and multinational corporates. This created a new younger generation which was blessed with plenty of money and who were away from their parental control which led to the new found urge for liberty and freedom; and any restraint to it resulted in an angry and rebellious response. The political changes that are taking place needs no elucidation; it is suffice to mention; neither the Church nor the institutions under them or missionary organizations have been prepared or trained to cope with these changes of Governmental restrictions or higher accountability. It is in this scenario of hard soil and hostile environment you are serving the Lord by taking the gospel not only to the unreached, but also to transform an apathetic, acquisitive community of the “faithful” who had not been exposed to the eternal values in their upbringing. 18
Our faith and strength is God who still reigns! He is sovereign over the world He created which he loved so much that he came down to dwell among us and promised his presence to be with us always until the end of the age. Our prayer wishing most and more to you and your family. Mr. R. Jeyakumar, Chennai. ***Thank you for regularly sending Christian Thought Series. The contents are edifying and thought provoking indeed! God bless your ministry. Mr. Renchy Koshy Verghese, Chennai. ***Very informative and productive ministry to all category of people – for children, the youth, the elders and Churches. This is wholistic. Godspeed in all ministries and with you and family. Praise God. Rev. Dr. C.S.C. Ross, Chennai. ***Thank you for sharing your video messages. I saw the videos you sent earlier. I found both content and presentation very good. Please keep sharing the videos. I share these with my daughter who is doing medicine in Philippines. Mr. David Solomon. Chennai. ***Trust, you are keeping well. We understand that Chennai is very badly effected by the C. virus. We have been much in prayers for all of you. Today we sent Rs.5000/- to the SBI account. We suggest that you take Rs.2000/- toward the ministry and Rs.3000 for your personal/ family needs at this difficult time. Have you ever thought or are you working toward publishing in book form of all your lead articles? This is just a thought. May God bless all of you . Ms & Mr Benjamin Gnanamanickam, Coonoor. 19
***Please keep doing the good work. Hard work indeed. All of you take care. Sent Five thousand for the work. Ms & Mr. Prabhu Thiagaraj, Ooty. ***I have sent some money for the ministry. Just got an impulse. Pr.Joshua Edwin, Chennai. ***I have sent some money for the relief work. Mr. Gabriel Santhosh, Trichy. N.B: Many other readers call and share their comments via mobile phones. Readers may kindly write through email or send comments through WhatsApp which can be published. Thank you As far our contributions, we have learned to go on without contributions for months together, except one regular supporter who sends an amount of Rs.500/- each month. Occasional contributions in fact trigger and intensify our ministry work. We are grateful to God for our thoughtful readers and partners. It is because of them we reach out to people. ------------ ************** ----------------
We have sent photos to most of our readers through WhatsApp. We shall appreciate if our readers may provide their WhatsApp mobile numbers so we can pass on prayer requests and ministry information then and there. ** Gowriâ€&#x;s husband- Covid positive. Grocery, vegetables, eatables for two of her children and a financial support of Rs.500/- provided. ** Govindamma, Valarmathi, kannan, Yellamma, Seetha – most of them struggled to meet ends meet due to loss of livelihood. They were provided with good quality rice 5 kgs each, cooking oil, dhal, sugar, biscuits, tea, milk powder, pickles worth over Rs.700/- for each families. 20
** Regular support of Rs.500/- (Thousand when there is little more funds at hand), provided to Lourdurani – both she and her daughter HIV +ve. Mother‟s mobility affected due to polio- and walks with the help of caliper. Daughter blinded due to ART (anti- retroviral therapy), side effects. She is now 15. We have supported her for nearly 10 years. Both Residing at Manali, Chennai. ** Ilakya (aged 30) –and her son 10 years – both HIV +ve. We have demolished her mud-walled hutment and raised a small tenement few years back. Unable to support her regularly. On request, we paid a part of her son‟s fees and provide occasional support. Residing beyond Tirutani, about 100 kms from Chennai. We have sent grocery items to her through our local contact Bro. Inbaraj. ** Suguna – HIV +ve with a son and daughter (both negative). We rendered help on all possible means to the family – food items, clothes, computer, furnitures etc., We are unable to continue our help to them since they relocated from Porur, Chennai. We have lost track of them. ** Eswari – deserted by husband, has two sons. One boy suffers from nervous disorder. Bro. John Paul who resides in Porur area reaches out to this family with relief materials. ** We reach out to sanitary workers, Chennai Corporation volunteers and those who identify COVID cases. These are front-line workers.They are refreshed with a glass of cool drink during hot mid-day. Some share their struggles and pain. We talk to them. Some request for prayer. At times, we serve breakfast to one or two. We are conscious about witnessing Christ to most of them. Always, there is a sense of inadequacy in whatever we do. When the devil become aware of the extension of God’s Kingdom carried out though His children on earth, he mounts scathing attack on the soldiers of Christ. He aims to destabilize them and exerts pressure to the point they are tempted to retreat. - J.D.
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All those who were involved in COVID relief know the hardships and risks involved with it. Recently, with no or less man power, carrying out purchases and relief materials, I had to be stranded when the car broke down. Though it was a minor problem, the auto electric work took three hours as there were not many mechanics available. Since there was no other transport available, I walked over a mile to fetch the mechanic. One mechanic had to attend on many vehicles. Heat, hunger and thirst, fatigue and fleecing cost for a minor repair – all had to go at once! With the threat of fast spreading virus, (4 positive cases in our immediate neighborhood), we take pains to advise local residents to wear mask and to maintain social distancing. Some get upset over this. One man fought over this when we restricted him from walking in without mask. More than providing help, educating and conscientising them is the need of the hour. Many of us tend to get more spiritual that we fail to address social problems we struggle within our country. Indians, by and large think it is not a big offence to urinate or spit as one walks by. It is considered as normal behavior by many. It could be cities, towns, rural areas or slums – the common sight is that people (men mostly) do not mind relieving themselves out in the open. Many bus stations in India do not provide decent toilet facilities that people are just forced to go near the walls to urinate These are wailing walls indeed! There comes along coughing and spitting too. The governments has talked big on “Swach Bharath Mission” (SBM) and “Swach Bharat Abhiyan” (SBA), which are to do with eliminating Open Defecation and improving Solid Waste Management – “generating awareness and bringing about behavior change regarding sanitation practices and bringing about augmentation of capacity at the local level.” 22
How far it has reached people is still being debated at different levels. Let us imagine, how several decades or a century ago, missionaries toiled and taught our people cleanliness, health and hygiene. They had thoughtfully worked out comprehensive education programme. Three decades ago, as a young pastor, I motivated young people of our Church to clean up debris near the Church soon after Sunday service. Should we work on Sunday or sit for youth Bible Study is to be discussed and debated. Again, few women of the Church were encouraged to make pickles, eatables and snacks to be sold among congregation members. This enabled them to make sizable profit – a portion to repay loan to the church from where they got the working capital, and the remaining as their earnings. The Church parsonage terrace was used for their cooking activities. On Mondays, they began with prayer and devotion. Then on they went on to fry chips. Is it spiritual? Think! We eventually had to move out because integrity, creativity and innovation is not being tolerated in many of the established Churches. Till today, we carry similar principles. As Dr.John Stott says,” Evangelism and Social Action must go hand in hand.” - J.D.
------ *******-----OBITUARY We sincerely condole the passing away of Ms.Dorothy Prasanna, wife of Rev. Prasanna Kumar, Finance Director of India Bible Literature, Beracah Road, Chennai 10. Rev. Prasanna Kumar had been our friend and partner for over two decades. I remember the times when he and his wife stood alongside extending encouragement and support to me during a time when I passed through trial and hardship. Few years ago, when we had run out of funds to publish CTS, I sent out an appeal to few of our friends. Few partners graciously responded. Rev. Prasanna contributed a generous amount of Rs.20,000/- which kept us going for few more publications. He is CTS reader, friend and a dear brother in Christ who is now quarantined 23
as he himself tested positive and showing improvement in his health. The family is passing through bereavement. He and his three sons along their wives and grand children are going through pain due to the loss of their loved one. We pray that God would comfort them with His presence. With Covid restrictions, we have not been able to meet and pray with him or extend our support with our presence. We request your prayers on behalf of the family. –J.D ------- ****** ------MINISTRY IN THE STATE OF CHATTISGARH (Feb 25. 2010) Just when Corona struck India, we had concluded our trip in Kanker, a small town 150 kms from Raipur, the capital city of Chattisgarh. There were special meetings for three days and dedication service of Church‟s extension building. It was one of difficult journeys when both me and my wife became indisposed. We had high temperature and diarrhea and had to miss out some sessions, unable to speak. On Sunday morning, I stood there with much weakness in my body. It happened to be a spiritual blessing to many people, as I had been told later by the pastor and the congregation members. We remembered what Paul meant when he said: “I glory in my weakness, for when I am weak, then I am strong.” Contributions may be sent to : DISCIPLES FOR CHRIST HDFC BANK A/c No.: 50200007377501, IFSC Code - HDFC0000124, Kellys Branch, Chennai - 10.
DISCIPLES FOR CHRIST STATE BANK OF INDIA A/c No.: 32694836912, IFSC Code - SIBN0011736, Kellys Branch, Chennai - 10. 24
MISSION IN KANKER (CHATTISGARH) FEB – 2020 (P.24)
(Details inside –P.23)