Reaching out in this season of joy

A little girl got back home, delighted to spend time with her mother as the Christmas holidays had started. But to her surprise, she found her mother in the foulest of moods with no time for her. She was too busy – baking, cooking, decorating and planning! She found the same tension as her Dad came back home. He began to rush them, so they can finish the shopping before the rush began. The busy parents, having got ready, called to the little girl to come fast. Not hearing a response they angrily marched to her room and opened the door with a bang – only to discover her kneeling near her bed – praying!  The startled little girl looked up at them and said, “You are both very busy so I was asking Jesus to come with me, talk with me and be with me”

Stop & Ponder.

In a time, where even the ‘Merry Christmas’ greeting is being replaced with ‘Happy Holidays’, we are indeed trapped in the rush of commercialization. With too much to do, with so little time – we are indeed playing the role of Martha. And we forget the reason we celebrate – the birth of Christ Jesus.

Remember: If Christ is not in Christmas – it just becomes a mess.

So how can you and I portray the role of Mary?

The very first one: Make Jesus your priority!

Nothing else matters. Nothing ever will.

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Col 1:17”

When your eyes, your thoughts, your ideas and your plans are set on Christ, then every action, every step, every move you make will be according to His will and guided by his grace.

Isn’t that the sweetest thing that could happen in our life? Immanuel – God with us!

Now here are some ideas for reaching out, all wrapped up in the spirit of God. For it is when we walk in Jesus, with Jesus that He is glorified. Come; let us adore him by what we do.

Share the good news:

– invite the neighborhood kids for a storytelling time; Tell them contemporary stories that end at the babe in the manger and beyond.

- get the other Christians in your neighborhood, visit homes – sing carols and tell the gospel story in a musical way

- Invite them to the Christmas service at your church (visit http://www.goodnewsofchristmas.org to get some wonderful stuff to give out)

- when you give out goodies to your neighbors, give them a booklet which tells the gospel story in a beautiful way (check out http://www.sgmlifewords.com)

- get everyone involved – build a community nativity scene and tell the gospel story

- go to an orphanage and sing carols and give out Christmas booklets and little toys

- teach your kids to share the gospel story creatively and meaningfully (http://www.kidsee.org)

- volunteer in church activities and be a part of the programs (Contact the Pastor for ways you can help)

Show the love of GOD:

- Join a charity that focuses on reaching the poor

- take care of a poor family this Christmas in a way you can – or get others involved to give a bigger gift

- teach your children to make handmade gifts and give it out to poor people along with food packets

- help someone in need – pray for them, then take care of their need – individually or collectively

- reach out to missionaries and their families – even a simple thank you letter with a small gift makes a lot of difference.

- collect all the old toys of your kids and let them hand it over to poor children along with a new toy.

- take your kids for Christmas shopping and let them buy a dress or toy for a poor kid and invite the kid home and give them the gift.

Remember: Every activity you do should glorify Christ alone – Pray before you start, as you do and when you finish. Walking with Jesus is indeed a joy when your heart and mind are in Him.

These are just some ideas. The only limit is creativity. Ask God to show you how you can really make a difference and then do it, holding His hand.

But don’t STOP at Christmas. Just as you fold back those decorations, cover up the tree, and remove the lights – don’t stop ‘Living with Jesus as your Priority’, ‘sharing the good news’ and ‘Showing the love of God’.

A secular singer Bon Jovi sang this popular song – ‘I wish every day could be like Christmas’. The world wants to see us Christians live like, it is Christmas everyday and indeed we have the option to live everyday like it is Christmas – in joy, gladness, understanding, compassion, respect for people and the chief one: love for Jesus. ‘Christmas’ after all is about the birth of Jesus and if he born in your heart – then don’t we need to live like that every day, every moment?

So let us make Jesus our priority this Christmas and let us live like it is Christmas each day of our lives.

A Merry Christmas to you as you live in Christ.

Ashley Chris Vinil

What does the topic mean, would be your first thought. Allow me to elaborate. I say faith is relatively equivalent to the task at hand, keeping these factors in mind – importance, urgency, skills availability, knowledge, expertise, experience, control. In other words, we start looking for the ‘faith quotient’ only when we have to depend outside of our controllable areas. Now the Bible simply explains faith as ‘substance of things not seen, hope of things to come.’ Faith calls for a dependence on our talents, others and on God in varying orders. For this article, I take faith in God.

Oh! Yes, faith is a character of our walk in Christ and almost all of us could probably tap our backs and say we were faithful at one time or another. Now we know that Abraham was distinguished as the father of faith. He trusted God so much and believed in His promises to the word. He left known territories, networks, comfort-zones to obey the word of God who was probably calling him for the first time. Now that requires more than a ‘mustard-size’ faith one would say. But as we walk with Abraham, rather Abram we suddenly see him in a pretty ordinary way. The man of faith as he enters the Egyptian strongholds, works out a plan with ‘man’s wisdom’ and introduces his lovely Sarai as his sister and the Bible says, he found favor with the Egyptians because of Sarai. Where was Abram’s faith in God’s possibilities? What was he doing? You may probably find some great theologically ‘correct’ answers to this setting, but the one question I want to raise is ‘where was Abram’s faith in God?’ Oh, yes God did intervene and change the circumstance, but that was because God is faithful and full of love. So why would Abram not depend on God? (We also know he did a repetition of this later on!)

I personally feel Abraham felt it simply too much to trouble God when he himself could control the situation. He depended on himself, his wife, and his people and chalked out a plan leaving God out. It is the same with all of us. We cry out to God, we beg him, we seek him, and we strive to draw near to him, when we have situations too big to handle right at our doorsteps, but forget God in the normal ‘possible’ situations of our life.

This is not a story with Abraham alone, but with many of the great figures of the Bible. Moses began the great task of being a judge for all the people alone. He depended on himself and God had to use Jethro to drive some sense into Moses. David was God’s child, but when it came to Tamar and Amnon, he just depended on himself, letting lose so much blood and pain. Drawing nearer in years, we see our Peter and company in more than one situation depending on themselves instead of God.

Driving straight to my present day, I must confess that I am following the same order and in discussion with a few others, I see the same pattern. We all depend on God and have a lot of faith in God when faced with the impossible. In the case of possible, we are the masters and God is nowhere in the picture, except for a courtesy inclusion (sometimes) when we tell him to take care of it (though not allowing him to)

In my family, I don’t have a lot of faith on my 4yr old because he does not have enough knowledge or experience, but in contrast I have a lot of faith on my wife who has gained a lot of things, but only in areas in which she has shown excellence. Similarly in my case, I have faith in myself when doing ‘tested’ tasks, in the case of ‘not-tested’ I kind of depend on others and things which will support me. But here we have God who knows everything and who can do all righteous things and yet I don’t call on Him.

A few friends of mine were riding their bikes when it started to pour heavily and soon they found themselves sailing along in a flood. Being brought up in Bangalore where flooding of roads was quite common, they knew they could make it. As they made their way, one of them silently started praying to God and suddenly he got back two words, ‘stop here.’ Now there was no shelter, and so they continued when he distinctly heard the words again. This time, he called his friends and told them. Well you know what happened – they laughed at him but this guy, stopped his bike and got down and went to the side. The others just continued and suddenly less than 20 ft away their bikes struck against some stones and they fell. Two of them got hit badly on the big stones which some ‘wise’ people have deposited on the main road to enable easy crossing for pedestrians. (but were now covered by water!)

Friends, God is calling us to a life of faithfulness not just in big things, but in small things too. Question is ‘Are we ready to call on God in faith, in all the tasks we perform daily?’ It is not troubling God, but it is building our relationship with God.

Trying to walk in Faith daily
Ashley Chris

I awake to the harsh noise of a car reversing with a blazing horn in my apartment. Rubbing my eyes open, I catapult out of bed accomplishing a sitting posture at the edge of a new beginning. I stretch my arms and my pupils slowly adapt to the faint light that fills the room from drawn curtains. I am awake. It is a new day!

I close my eyes in thanks and my father touches me on my shoulder as I murmur my morning prayer. I open my eyes to see him standing there with a smile and I know all is well. He offers me his hand and I rise gently to brush my teeth. Holding a cup of milk I lean on him and his big hands secure me with care. I sit down to a time of singing and looking at my father’s face I know he loves it. At times my mind wanders and then suddenly I awake to reality to see my father still there with a concerned look. I move on to a time of Bible reading and my father guides me as I try to understand the Word. Then I kneel for a time of prayer and I could feel my father’s comforting presence close besides me and I know he is listening to each word my mouth utters and my mind thinks.

Then I get up to think of the day’s needs and priorities and for a time I forget my father. I just ignore his presence and carry on, until its time to leave. Then I whisper, “Father?” and he is there by my side. He had never left me even when I had been busy with the preparation to take on the world’s routines. I smile and ask for his blessing as I ride my bike and he promises to look after me always. I ride the bike and I can feel his guiding spirit behind and before me holding my hands and stabilizing me across the potholed roads. I grumble and stop short of cursing the authorities as he smiles and directs my eyes to a handicapped little boy struggling to cross the same road but with a lovely smile on his face. I feel good and indeed blessed and I carry on. Soon speed thrills and the girls attired scantily make my eyes wander and the many cars that vroom past cause me to dream. I have reached my office. I switch on my computer and suddenly I realize what I had done and I feel bad and I search for my father desperately and say many a sorry and suddenly I see his face and his sad eyes. I know I have hurt him and I open my mind and mouth to justify but words fail before his innocent face. And I just sit back, open my bible and read a chapter and pray for his guidance though unworthy I am. With eyes still sad, he gently touches me and tells me to go on for he is there by my side at all times.

Soon the pressures of work takes over and after many a busy schedule I tell a few small lies, utter some angry comments, scream a few abuses, conjure some excuses until the mind’s lunch bell rings. The morning had indeed been a great success and I walk with head held high to pick my lunch box. My father is there, near my lunch box and as I look at him the smile vanishes from my “achievement” face. For I see the little boy who believed my lie, the secretary who thought I spoke the truth and my boss who trusted my words without a doubt. And I just avoid my father’s face. My hand reaches for the lunch box and as my fingers brush his, sad faces of all those who I have shouted at appear at me and I practically pull my lunch box free and as I rush away with eagerness, my father lovingly calls me by name and in the sound of his voice all my abuses and my powerful excuses melt away and I stop. Gently he puts his hand around my shoulder and leads me on. He does not speak anything while I gobble up my food forgetting even to say thanks. Full, I finally look at him and say a sorry again and then I am lost for words. He just smiles and holding my hands in his, he walks with me. I tell how I need him and how the devil had tempted me and he nods reassuringly, his hand never leaving me even for a minute. My mobile rings and I rush to answer a business call. In that meeting, I meet with great failure and all my hopes suddenly dash and coming out of the meeting, I feel so lonely and lost.

Sadness, worry, desperation all sweep forcefully into me and I tremble with fear and walk dejectedly until I call “Father, where are you?” And almost in shock I realize that he is carrying me on his broad shoulders for I have failed to carry myself. Setting me down on a park bench he offers me some water to quiet my rushing heart full of emotions. Compassionately he listens to my pains and rejections and faith he holds he close and opens my eyes to truths I have not seen and sweetly he comforts me and leads me on.

The day is over and I am back at home with the television and a delicious dinner. My eyes linger on sinful scenes longer and my mind plays some dangerous thoughts and I forget to say grace and then its time for bed.

As I say a swift prayer for safety and protection and get into a comfortable position to sleep the night away, my father whispers my name and I see him at my bedside with tears on his face.

How many times I have failed him, oh! How many times I have hurt him, oh! How many times I have wronged him, oh! How he had forgiven me all my wrongs even when it was very painful, oh! How he had held me in my time of sorrow and failure, oh! How I had still done wrongs and let myself be tempted. And I look at my father and I know he feels the pain and I say in a voice of great remorse “sorry”, for I feel like someone who is using him and his mercy and tears flow down my face. And in that moment I see a powerful transfiguration and I see my Lord Jesus hanging on the cross and on him I see all my sins, my everyday sins and I cry and suddenly a man comes and gives me some money and says, “good job, you have helped us to crucify him”. Stunned I blindly run and fall tumbling down into a great abyss and I cry “help me father” and then there is a great warm light surrounding me and I sit up in my bed. My father is patiently sitting there close beside me, his hand caressing my forehead gently with a passion, the passion of the one who gave his life for me.

And my father says he understands and shows me how my sins were all washed away and presents to me a new day and promises to be my strength in times of temptations, be my guide in time of decisions, be my word in times of conversations, be my comfort in times of difficulties, be my healer in times of pain, be my friend in times of need and be my father at all times in my walk with him, my Lord and Savior.

Holding my father’s pierced hand and smiling, I go back to sleep.

Tomorrow is another day, another walk with my father.

Did you walk with our Father today?

[This was written when I was a bachelor, but other than the fact that I am married and have a kid and work from home, and have overcome some of the bad behaviors of work and a few temptations – many still remain and in my walk, I still forget my Father – yet He patiently remains for He is my Father, my Creator, my Savior, my Redeemer and my Lord over all.]

My one desire, my only aim Lord is that I walk with you, worshipping you, communicating with you all the moments of my days as you walk by my side – through every moment in time. Amen

Sinner whom God loves
Ashley Chris

“What benefits does this job offer me?” is the predominant question that is on most of the job-seekers mind. But when one is trained to ‘do well’ in interviews, this question usually takes a backseat. But in cases of senior positions, this does pop out in the final rounds, when the interviewer is clear as to why (s)he need this person. But unfortunately in many cases, the answers to this question are only realized when the person gets a first hand experience when (s)he joins the organization. And believe me, then starts the juggle of survival.

As a career seeker, though it is vitally important to take into account, the benefits you want or desire in a job, you should also be prepared to accept the sacrifices you can cheerfully make for the job.

Just the other day, I was speaking to a friend (in a good job) who was looking out for a change. Taking the discussion further, we came to understand that she was looking for certain ‘more’ benefits in this change process. So when I quizzed her, about what some of those “benefits’ would demand of her, we came to a plateau of sadness. She was actually doing some real sacrifices (which she hates doing) in this present job and yet was willing to do more of the same in lieu of the desired benefits. Well, she has now decided to take up career coaching, but this is a picture of many high-flying individuals. It is with great sadness that I note that many of the sacrifices had resulted in relationship failures.

Are benefits really worth the sacrifices? Some of you could argue with me taking long-term progress as the goal. You may say, hardships are part of life and to reach success, one has to endure them. If becoming a Vice-President with a 6 figure monthly salary was a 5-year goal, it is well, definitely appreciated – but what about the journey? Some of the sacrifices usually are: time, relationships, health, and maybe ethics. Having reached that step in ladder, if you turn back, would you see all goodness and happiness in your life and in those around you?

There was a friend of mine, who had good values and many of us really appreciated him for that. But when he discovered the pathway to success, he started slowly forgetting the same values that had stood him in good stead with one and all. He called them as ‘sacrifices’ and said in order to grow, these had to be done. Little did he realize that his very personality and his once precious relationships were on the line! Well, he has indeed discovered a ‘successful’ life, and yes, has quite some friends, but has lost out on values, which his parents lovingly taught. To add to that, his relationship with his parents soured and I know for sure, not a day is lost when they don’t pray for his change. But he is in a position of power and wealth right now.

So what do you choose? God gave us freedom to choose. According to the Bible¹, Adam and Eve (the first people) were given freedom to choose. They had a great life living in peace and harmony, but when they saw the ‘benefit’ of knowledge (distinguishing between good and evil) they decided to take certain steps. Some of the steps were, disobedience, breaking of trust, spoiling relationship with God, developing unhealthy relationship with Satan, hiding, holding back, throwing accusations etc. The greatest sadness of this ‘benefit’ that they got was also the ‘curse’ of death. For the very first time, an animal was killed to clothe them.

So what do you choose? I am not against searching for benefits in a job. Benefits are important but so are sacrifices! Now, I am a believer when it comes to the fact that sacrifices are must when working towards a dream. But it is important that one plans what sacrifices they are willing to make in the dream process. Some sacrifices will be good, while some may be good – so sit down; plan and write down the sacrifices.

So while you do look for benefits in your career steps, do remember the sacrifices you need to make. If you are someone, who believes speaking the truth is important at all times, then it is vital that in your ‘benefit’ climb, you hold on to this beautiful value, God has blessed you with.

Remember you are called for great things. But in doing those great things, do not lose the real greatness that is inside you.

PS: Make a list of benefits and sacrifices carefully before you take up a career.

Count your blessings each day

Ashley J P

1 – Genesis 2 –3, Holy Bible

The adjective ‘I’ is defined as “used of a single unit or thing; not two or more”. Don’t we all love the word ‘I’? It stands for uniqueness. In the first marriage the first ‘I’ was united with another ‘I’ to live in permanent union as ‘we’. The single ‘I’ is very important, but then so is the one that joins it. Centuries of marriage have passed, but the ‘me’ factor seems to reigns supreme in the relationship.

I remember just before my wedding, in the dating days how much in blind love, I was. Deep and sacrificial love it was my friends. My would-be Priya became a treasure I longed to make as my own. I would sacrifice time, money, desire, want and at times, even my own needs so she could be happy. The focus of my existence was the other “I”

Then we got married and the selfish ‘I’ submerged beneath the layers of love surfaced and started the war between us. As we fought over trivial matters, we aimed to make our own singular ‘I’ win. Soon we were asking ourselves what happened to loving harmony? The selfish ‘I’ dominance resulted in efforts to change the other. We underwent tumultuous times, used words slingshot for impact, hurled fire balls of blame, used savage expressions for power, indulged in volatile explosions for control, slunk by pain we presented the past with generalization and so on and so forth. The Battle of Marriage waged on. As we interacted with many experienced couples, we were stunned to realize that only a few lived without these ‘no-reason-never-stop’ fights.

Sometimes I took a beating, but many a time I managed to win this battle. But even in the victory, I realized when either one of us won; the ‘we’ lost. Harmony was the casualty. Hesitant to change ourselves, we persist in changing someone else. I remember exchanging the “I” for ‘you’ when I wanted to change, accuse, torment or hurt her. The progress from the use of “I” to ‘you’ made us powerful antagonists.

Our conversation often went like this:

‘You don’t understand; you never do!’

‘You need to change the way you do this, before telling me’

‘You never listen!’

Then God evidently displeased with our lifestyle, gave us an opportunity to attend an international Marriage Course in our church (KMC). The times spent there along with the exercises and change agents put us on a track to lead a meaningful life.

From this course, I learnt that “I” has always been the reason for all the trouble, whereas it is ‘I’ that needs to be the peacemaker and peacekeeper? But then how can “I” show me a way to reduce the battles in our life?

I started using ‘I’ while focusing on a problem. It took me a while to get used to it, but the results amazed both of us! The use of ‘I’ in our conversation enabled us to control our words and thoughts. It caused each of us to think enough to present our side of the problem clearly, without attacking the other. The conversation changed into an invitation to address the other’s feelings.

I said ‘I feel lonely, when you just forget me and watch TV’. Immediately, the TV is switched off and we are having one swell of a time together, playing scrabble or carrom!

I said ‘I would feel really happy to see you in that outfit when we go out today’ and bingo, she wore it!

She said ‘I feel belittled when you compare me with other girls you know’ and I put a full stop to it.

She said ‘I feel neglected when you spend your evening with your friends’. That stopped too.

Such is the wonder of ‘I’ in communication. When used incorrectly, it damages and harms, but when used responsibly, it builds up the relationship and the results will really surprise you! We have been there and though I cannot say, ‘we don’t quarrel’, we focus on the better half and reminder ourselves of how much we love each other. The usage of ‘I’ has created a healthy relationship that seeks to build constantly with pure love.

Go on; try it out and May you find it a real blessing in your life.

Ashley Chris Vinil J P
(Published first in Family Ethos magazine)

God the creator, a subject steeped in controversy in a world, which believes in new religions of the self. Scientists, Evolutionists, Philosophers, New age preachers and a lot more talk of the self and how there is significant evidence to prove the non-existence of God the creator.

The bird flutters its wings, rising slowly above the nest followed by the shrill cries of young ones in hunger. The bird circles overhead, its eyes scanning the perimeter for any danger, then it moves in a direction, which seems to be carrying a scent, the scent of possible food. Evolution has trained it to search for food in certain places. But now the very world has changed, the environment resembles very little of what its ancestors were used to. But still it hurries on with eagerness. In its small brain, there is a hope that it will find food for its young. Then a wind buffets it in a different direction, the bird moves with the flow and finally its eyes zoom in on food for not only its young but also for itself. Scooping them up, it soars to reach the hungry little chicks. It does not bother to mark the place where it found the food nor put up signs of “no trespassing”. It believes that it will definitely get more food for the next day. Scientists call it the natural process. I call it faith in the one who created it and takes care of it.

The old ram followed by the herd, moves slowly on the snowy slippery crags until a huge ravine opens out before it. The old ram hesitates. The wind is freezing and it knows this is the only way on. It spreads its legs, getting a firm grip. It bows its head in preparation and then without any show jumps. Its feet lands exactly on the edge and with some struggle it is finally safe on the other side. The young rams easily make the gap and they go on. Evolutionists call it survival of the fittest. I call it trust and surrender to the will of the one who guides it on.

The mountain trembles and the earth quakes. The rabbit with its two kids shudder, then runs with the kids directly to the mountain, finding shelter beneath a boulder. The volcano erupts. Soon in a matter of minutes, the whole place is filled with hot molten lava. Days pass and when the earth has cooled enough, from beneath the boulder emerges a rabbit and its two kids. Philosophers call it luck. I call it seeking and hiding in the arms of the one who continues to hold it.

It was an accident. They said he would never walk again. They said his career was over. But he remained. His only comfort was prayer. 10years later when he was appointed Asst National sales manager, he slowly limped along to take the post with a bright outlook. New age believers call it belief in oneself. He calls it God’s mercy and complete guidance.

The rain drops, the breeze scented with the smell of the apple blossoms, the roaring winds, the dew drops, the thundering waterfalls, the earth and its creatures, the sea and its creatures declare in one way or the other the glory of the creator. If self could control everything and all things evolved out of a big bang, why are there so many unexplained mysteries? Why should the earth hang in a vacuum exactly at a certain distance from the sun? Why some waters are fresh and some are salty? Why some places become deserts and some become fertile plains? Why do we breathe oxygen? I know scientists have mathematically conceptualized answers to all of them but just close your eyes and think – Who are you? Why are you here?

And then open yours eyes and see the display of nature around you, of people around you. Is it all just some natural process of evolution? Stop and be still. You will then see the grand display of God everywhere.

But the grandest display and the only answer is the empty cross, the cross of Calvary.

God bless you

Ashley J P

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:” is a very important statement. This verse bit comes from Mathew 1:18 in the Bible. This sets the stage for a powerful story that has moved nations and generations. The Bible as we all know is in a written format, passed down from parents to children, from priests to laypeople. Today the Bible is read, studied and analyzed. Key verses are even memorized! So the Bible is the book of both the novice and the intellect. Today we have 8 primary versions of the Bible, and each one of them was translated from the Aramaic, Hebrew or Greek. Now we need to travel into the past and arrive at the time, when manuscripts were created – manuscripts that have been combined to become the Bible of today.

So how was the word transferred before someone wrote it down? ‘Oral’.

People listened (not just heard) many times to someone telling the story and in-turn told the story to others. The big challenge was how accurate were the re-told versions. We usually conduct a game called Chinese whispers or Gossip in our Corporate Storytelling training, in which a message is passed on from one person to another in a line, until the last person shares what he has heard. It is fun, but the results are usually disastrous – with the original message getting twisted and even irrelevant.

Now, we have tried the same with small stories and found that while the original key message remains, participants have added or deleted some stuff to frame their own creative way of retelling the story. We then guide all the participants to use verbal and non-verbal ways to actually relive any story. Once they have come to a level of comfort, we conduct the same exercise – with one difference – the technique of storytelling is used and the results usually are phenomenal. Most of the time, the story comes clear with all the content. (with a few verbal changes!) This has proved again and again the power of Storytelling.

Getting back to the Bible, we now know that initially it was transferred by the art of storytelling from one to another. So the transfer of content is very much possible. It just needs time and practice in the art of “Story-listening” and “Story-telling”.

So the big question for today is this: Why are we not telling the stories of the Bible?

Why do we always have to open the Bible even to tell a story in all its originality? Can we also learn to be like the storytellers of old, who passed on the original Oral Biblical manuscripts?

It is yes, a challenge, but is very much possible.

The Network of Biblical Storytellers (http://nbsint.org) and Tom & Amelia Boomershine (http://gotell.org) along with many others are bringing back this important practice of retelling God’s Story, right out of the Bible. This amazing method is called ‘Biblical Storytelling’.

No, this is not memorizing the Bible, but reliving the Bible word for word. It is the art of visualizing oneself with the characters of the Bible and retelling the story with correct emotions, words and historical accuracy. It is not just storytelling, but storytelling with visual meaning!

Welcome to Biblical Storytelling.

Now, we have been blessed to conduct Biblical Storytelling workshops, which focus on both Oral and Digital. These workshops are hands-on and can indeed transform a church, ministry or Bible college into really living God’s word – not just on Sunday morning but even @ Home.

We are also planning to start Story Guilds, wherein a group of people, enthusiastic about Biblical Storytelling can meet and share stories and also explore ways to share them with others.

For stories are always welcome to all kinds of people. That is the power of stories and it is our prayer that many will learn this art of storytelling and communicate like Jesus Christ himself.

Well, the next day we checked out the beautiful, well-maintained Vattakottai (Round fort), built strongly on the beach. Climbed the elephants staircase, stood on the parade grounds, sat on the fortifications and mainly struggled to keep ourselves on our feet from the powerful winds that simply swayed us.

Moved on to Kanyakumari (where is the  beach?) – saw the Gandhi madapam, viewed the Thiruvalluvar statue and Vivekananda rock from a safe distance. Spent time shopping and shopping at ridiculously low prices, but sad at the state of poor maintenance and neglect. Enjoyed thoroughly the wax-museum at Bay watch (on a site once the property of my parents) with both Kevin and Priya striking some great poses.

The next day, moved to Thuckalay (home of my mom’s sister). From there we moved to Thiruparappu falls (waterfalls + swimming pool + dangerous swirls) – then ate at a small hotel there (Won’t recommend it – but that is the only option, unless you have packed food with you). Then went on to Thotipalam (Asia’s tallest water canal bridge between two mountains, stretching for over a kilometer). Drank coconut water, checked out the famous and nutritious red bananas and while uncle bought some stems to grow at his house, Dad bought a whole set (bunch – more than 30 red bananas).  Climbed, jumped and ran around Davy’s uncle rubber plantation. Even saw how the sap of the rubber tree is collected each day. Ate hot-hot egg bondas at a local roadside eatery. From there we moved to Muttom beach. (wow – rocky, dangerous, less tourists).

Rested the night with some lovely kerala parotas and beef curry. Set out for Padmanabapuram palace. Loved the whole dreamy roaming in that palace! Learnt that there is a tunnel from the palace to Vattakottai fort (collapsed now) through which people can move around. Beautiful place and found lots of great carvings and artifacts (including the famous lamp that does not spill-out the water or oil even after you tilt it!)

Overall, exhausted, thrilled and filled with many memories to last.

So when are you going to all these places?

With a trip, planned with dreams and nurtured with excitement, we did set out from Bangalore – on the train ride to Thanjavur (the place of the Chola kings) in Tamil Nadu. Spent 4 wonderful days with my wife’s parent and siblings. Went wandering into Kalannai (Grand Dam) in Trichy, ate tapioca and corn cooked on a slow charcoal fire, played to our heart’s content at Punavasal (home-town of my Fil), spent moments praying at Poondi church and finally wandered around the sivagangai gardens. Also spent time at their new home in Thanjavur.  From there we moved on to Madurai and after a time of saying hi to my parents – we set out to Nagerkovil, for the second part of our vacation. Check it out in Part Two.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)

So each day I live is because of Him alone and all that He is doing for me.

Well, Christmas is a celebration of joy – when we remember His birth at Bethlehem. So like many we did decorate the house.

And oh! by the grace of God and the blessing and acceptance of many wonderful people at our church (Koramangala Methodist Church) and our apartment (Ittina Sarva 2), I did become Santa Claus (the dark skinned type!)