The Journey 212
Tuesday, July 31
Read: Mark 10:35-45
Olympics have begun and athletes are all competing to win medals and to get accolades from the world. Some wants to win as a mark of excellence while some to eclipse a previous champion. One of them most anticipated context of this Olympics took place last Saturday when two United States swimmers Ryan Lochte and Michel Phelps met face to face for swimming race in 400 meter individual medley. Lochte won the gold while Phelps had to be contented with a fourth place. Lochte announced in the media that “This is my year, I know, I feel it. Lochte became the victor while Phelps the vanquished. Here are two swimmers from the same country competing for records. But there is another athlete in the US team whose name is Lopez Lomong, who will be competing in the 5000 meter race in the athletics event. Freelance journalist Cornelia Becker Seigneur has written about him in her column. Lomong captured world attention when he was the flag bearer of the US team in the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Here is a runner who is originally from Sudan. Lomong was six when he abducted from the church by the local militia to be trained as a rebel soldier. One day he escaped from the detention camp and started running for his life. He ran for a week finally he found refuge in United Nations refugee camp, where he stayed for 10 years. One day the priest at a local church announced that a few boys could relocate to United States if they could write an essay about their life. Lomong prayed to God to make his essay stand out, and it happened. Lomong moved to US where a roman catholic family took care of him as foster child. For Lomong this was something unimaginable. Soon he started running and training and started winning. Today it is Nike and Visa who are his sponsors. When Lomong runs in Olympics his vision and dream is not personal glory or achievements on the contrary to provide drinking water, health care, education and nutrition to the children of the country he formerly belonged– Sudan. So when you watch Lomong run in the Olympic race in the 5000 meters, remember he is not running for gold, but for the children of Sudan. I think Lomong also send out a wonderful lesson in Christian life and living.
We are meditating on the theme “ Transformed Living”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Mark 10: 35-45. In this passage we find the sons of Zebedee, James and John seeking favour from Jesus. We need to remember that Jesus is preparing himself to die on the cross and he is communicating to this disciples the nature of his death. It is at this time both these brothers come up with this strange, a self glorification request. The other disciple becomes upset and perturbed by the request of these brothers. But Jesus teaches them that the privilege to sit at his right and left when he comes in glory, is something not of his will but more than that there is much more demands in this request. To be with him is to suffer with him. It is then Jesus teaches the disciples that whatever they do has to be done not for personal glory or for showing ones authority over others but to serve and to bring glory to God. I think this is one area that we Christians need to be very conscious about. As clergy or lay leaders or as worship leaders there are time when we tend try to focus the attention of people on us rather than on the Lord. Everything that we do is done so that we remain in the centre of attraction. Everything done in His name is something that we often attribute as historic, thus trying to get laurel to us through our Lord. Jesus teaches us Christian living is all about bringing the name of our Lord in the center of everything rather than making us the center of everything. Just as Lomong runs for the Lord and for his people in Sudan, let us also run our life for the Lord.

The Journey 207
Thursday, July 26
Read: John 1: 1-18
July 20 is a very special day not only for the people of this nation but for the whole world. It was on July 20, 1969, forty three years back, that a new chapter in the history of space was created. For the first time human beings could land on the moon.  It was Neil Armstrong who created history by becoming the first man to walk on the moon. He along with Colonel Aldrin landed their lunar module “ Eagle” on the moon and spend almost 21 hours in the surface of the moon.  The world still has not been able to forget the graphic image of the Armstrong planting the American flag on the surface of the moon. This was a dream come true of the vision of President Kennedy who stated in 1961, that he would want to put a man on moon and then return him back safely on the earth, at least by the end of the decade. According to Neil Armstrong; this was one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind.  When he addressed the joint session of the Congress on September 16th, 1969, he declared that “To those of you who have advocated looking high, we owe our sincere gratitude, for you have granted us the opportunity to see some of the grandest views of the creator.  Here is an astronaut thanking his people because he could view the grandest view that our creator God made, which nobody else could see. I believe walking on moon has been historic, because it represents the innovations, the giant leap the science and technology, that was transforming human life by leaps and bounds. But I think when Astronaut Aldrin came to address the Maramon convention, one of the words that he spoke still rings my ears. Colonel Aldrin on that day at Maramon Convention stated that the people consider that man walking on the moon as the greatest achievement in history. But Aldrin said that more historic than man walking on the moon, was the fact that God walked in human form on the earth. Those word still ring my ears. God walking on earth. I think yes that is more historic for me and that has what has revolutionized my living and my faith.
We are meditating on the theme “ Transformed Living”. The passage that we shall use for our meditation is from  John 1: 1-18. This is a passage where John reflects on the incarnation of Jesus Christ on the earth.  Here is a poignant references by John, when he states that the true light that gives light to every man came to the world, but the sad part of this history is that the world did not recognize him, his own did not recognize him, nor receive him, yet he gave us the right to be called the children of God and to be part of God’s family.[ John 1: 10-13]. But John states that “ we have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only from the Father, full of grace and truth” [  John 1: 14]. Here is God walking on the earth to make us the members of His family but people don't see him, recognize him, nor respond to his love. I think even after 2000 years after Jesus walked on this earth, we still fail to recognize this historical fact, neither is our life transformed by this historical fact. Today our life is transformed more by the technology of the apple products, or the android applications of Samsung, than Jesus Christ. Our life has been made comfortable by the different appliance of various companies, and our life is  moving from one level of comfort to higher level of comfort, but on the level of transformed living we are still in the infancy level. Let us at this time consciously remember that our Lord walked on this earth,  so that we all could have conscious relationship with Him, thus enabling us to be part of both history and eternity, by being called the children of God. Let us think whether we have been able to be part of the historic event of God walking on earth– by having a relationship with Jesus Christ or is that historic event is just another event in history?. Man walking on moon or God walking on earth– which is a miracle.?

The Journey 206
Wednesday, July 25
Read: Psalms 139
The nations mourns and grieves over people who were killed at Colorado. But behind the news of death and tragedy comes a news of grace and hope. This is the story of Petra Anderson, a gifted musician and a member of the Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, Englewood, Colorado, who is now living to tell a miraculous story of survival. It is believed that according to doctors who treated her, a birth defect saved Petra’s life. How did this happen?. Petra Anderson, was shot in the head four times with shotgun pellets, during The Dark Knight massacre last week. One of the pellets went through her nose and was lodged near the back of her skull, when suspected gunman James Holmes opened fire on a crowd of moviegoers. According to the New York Daily News, as the surgery was performed to save Petra by removing the pellet, doctors found what they term as a “miracle.” According to the medical bulletin the pellet reportedly entered her brain at the exact point of a barely-detectable defect - a tiny vein of fluid extending through her skull that only a CAT scan could detect. Doctors said the bullet traveled through the vein, just missing the vital parts of Anderson's brain. Thus because of this small birth defect, Anderson is alive today. But there is more news about this family. Both Petra Anderson and her mom Kim, has been recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and has been given only months to live. Strange isn't it? A miracle taking place and that too in the life of lady who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and has only months to live. How do we decipher this news from the perspective of faith and the plan and purpose of God? We are meditating on the theme “ Transformed Living”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Psalms 139. This is one of the most beautiful psalms that describes the awesome power of God both in this world and in our life. One of the most striking words in this Psalms is in verse 14 which states that “ I am fearfully and wonderfully made”. Before this truth, the psalmist also states that “ For you created my innermost being and you knit together in my mother’s womb [ Psalms 139:13]. What a powerful truth is God telling us. Every part of my body is created in most wonderful way, knit together in perfect harmony to reveal God’s plan and purpose. Moreover one of the thing that we need to understand that human life is the most wonderful miracle that we see here on this earth. But to this wonder, the psalmist adds the words “fearfully made”. I think it is this word that should create a sense of awe and reverence to the Lord. Today when people tend to be very selective in planning of one family there are certain issues that we need to think. Parents who goes through scanning procedures during pregnancy, so that they are sure that their child does not have any birth defect or any other physical or mental defects. This is done so that only perfect and so called healthy children are only born in this world. In a country like India, where mother abort the unborn child, just because the child was a girl! These are the realities of the world. This raises a question does not a child with some defect or irreparable damages due to some strange genetical factors, or a girl child have the right to live honorably in this world?. It is here that the Psalmist teaches us that each life is wonderfully and fearfully made. Every person is different and diverse, some may be perfectly normal, some may not, but God has a plan and purpose for the normal and the so called abnormal people. But who are we to judge and say that we are normal and others are abnormal?. Life of Petra Anderson teaches us to trust in the goodness of our Lord for even in ones weakness and defects we see the grace of our Lord. So let us praise God for the abnormalities of life.

The Journey 205
Tuesday, July 24
Read: Genesis 37
   Sanctions on Penn State University: This was the beaming headlines yesterday which created a huge reactions from football lovers all over the country. What has caught the attention of people is that some of the sanction that the National Collegiate Athletic Association [ NCCA] is unprecedented.  These sanction comes after  a jury convicted Sandusky in June, on charges of child abuse that happened in the university. Yesterday NNCCA announced the list of sanctions against Penn State University. The first sanction is that Penn will have to pay a fine of 60 million dollars. Secondly the Penn state football team has been banned from participating in Bowl games for the next four years, thus loosing a total of more than 40 scholarships in these four years period. But what is considered as most painful is that  NCCA has vacated all the wins from the year 1998– 2011. With this move the name of the legendary coach late Joe Paterno, who was considered as the most winning coach, has been relegated.  A day before the sanctions came, the 900 pounds statue of Joe Paterno was removed from its place outside the football stadium in the college. CNN news carried a discussion where experts of the game discussed whether these sanctions were excessive and in one way spelling doom for football in Penn State.  All of the experts agreed that the decisions of NCCA will have a very devastating impact on the game, and they believe that it will take almost two decades for Penn state football to recover. Is this the death knell for Penn State football?. Only time will tell. Thus with these sanctions a generation is going to pay the price of the crime committed by an individual who did not think neither about his position, nor his role stooping down and thus causing harm not only for the game of football, for generations but for humanity as a whole. What does these news of sanction speak to us as a community of faith? What are some of the timeless truths that these incidents teach us in our journey of faith?
We are meditating on the theme “ Transformed Living”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Genesis 37. Here we find the familiar story of Joseph and his brothers. Here is family who has lot of divisions in the family. The brothers are totally against Joseph and they plot to harm Joseph. Finally after lot of scheming instead of killing him, they sell Joseph who is then taken to Egypt. The wicked brothers then also convince their father Jacob, that Joseph is dead thus causing Jacob to declare that “ I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning”[ Gen 37:35]. We know later the bitter experiences that Joseph goes through in Egypt, from the Potiphar’s home, to the jail and finally to the palace. Here is Joseph paying the price of the sins that his brother committed. But then our God is one who in charge of our life and history. He redeems the life of Joseph and finally the brothers who harmed Joseph has to kneel in his presence. In this world all the punishments and sanctions meted out are not redemptive and hence generations have to pay the price for decades. As a community of faith these incidents teach us that we need to live our life, with a concern and also a commitment to the next generations and be very conscious and careful about the actions and deeds that we take today. Let us ask the Lord that we don't do anything that will cause irreparable harm to next generation in their nurturing of faith. Our God is one who redeems us, but that does not give us the right to take our life passively on the contrary let us work with our God so that all action and deeds in our life empowers and redeems others. People are debating whether sanctions of NCCA will spell death for football in Penn.  Let us praise God that we are a witness of His redemption and may this redemption also be present in decades to come at Penn. 

The Journey 202
Saturday, July 21
Read; Romans 7:14-25
The release of the Batman Movie “ The Dark Knight” was eagerly awaited by both batman lovers and movie buffs. Everybody was excited as this seemed to be the last of the Batman trilogy. But today America is mourning. Mourning; because innocent movie goers at late night movie show at Colorado has gone through one of the most traumatic and nightmare experience. Thus the excitement to watch the latest Batman movie has turned into a disaster, not only for the movie goers in Colorado, but the whole nation. The reason for this nightmarish experience was because a lone gunman James Holmes, who came to watch the movie, left after a brief period, and then came back into the theatre wearing hoods and mask and started firing indiscriminately at the innocent people, who were glued to the big screen watching the Dark Knight. This indiscrimate shooting has already left 12 dead and more than 38 injured according to the news reports. People are shocked because this is the worst experience in the shooting history of this nation. Even President Obama has cancelled his election campaign for the day, and has called the nation to pray for the grieving families. We do not know the reason as to why the gunman fired indiscriminately. One of the news item that struck me was the news where the Pastor of Elevation Christian Church, Pastor Scott Bloyer stating that he presumes that James Holmes had visited their church last week, but left soon after sitting in the back benches. This raises a lot of questions. Did James Holmes come to the church to seek some sort of help with regards to any of his crisis that he was going through?. Did the church fail to see the man in need and whether these are some of the factors that led to the indiscriminate killing? Only James Holmes can answer these questions. But then as a members of a church and a community of faith how do we respond to such crisis situation and what can we learn from this gruesome incident?

This week we are meditating on the theme “ Transformation in our Church”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Romans 7: 14-25. Here in this portion Paul is very candid about the human nature. He makes a blunt and truthful testimony of his life. What he exposes through his words are particularly true for all the believers. He says that “ What I want to do I do not do, and what I do not want to do, I do” [ Romans 7: 15,16]. He continues by saying that is not good that dwells in me but it is sin living in me. He has the desire to do good but he cannot carry it out. I feel the predicament that Paul is going through represent all people in this world. We all want to do good but it is often evil that comes out because of our sinful nature. It is in such a context that Paul states that “We need to walk in the Spirit and deliberately not fulfill the lust of the flesh” [ Galatians 5: 13]. People who want to do good, but are forced to do evil because of their sinful nature. It is in such a context the community of believers helps another person. It is through the fellowship of community of faith [ Church] and the relationship with fellow believers we help each other in standing firm in our faith and also acts as a deterrent from falling into sin and other evil activities. I believe today in many our church’s this does not take place and hence you have lot members in the church who feel that there is no one to help them in their times of crisis and pain and they are left all alone. It is at such weak moments that people often fall. Let us in the aftermath of the Colorado killing, affirm that we as church will strengthen our relationship and fellowship with our community so that through this we help each other in their faith living and also to creatively deal with the crisis in life.

The Journey 200
Thursday, July 19
Read: Acts 23, 26
The African country of Nigeria has been in the headlines for quite some  now. The reason- Persecution of Christians. Though there were reports  every month of bombing the church or repeatedly killing Christians, the past week has been horrific. New agencies report that  in the past week more than 100 people were killed by an extremist group Boko Haram, who have always taken responsibility of the massacre of Christians.  These persecution is considered as part of the plan to make Nigeria come under the Shariah Law. What is more tragic of the recent massacre was that most of the people fearing persecution, had fled their homes and took refuge in the house of a pastor. But the whole house and its compound was burned down along with the believers, their families and children thus killing all of them. The dead included the pastor, his wife and also his children. What is happening in Nigeria is a systematic elimination of Christians, thus giving the country of Nigeria the nickname "the killing fields of Christians". Church's, homes have all been burnt down and Christians in every village is being systematically targeted. The  problems of Christians in Nigeria is also compounded by the sectarian politics that reign in each village and also because of a weak government in Nigeria.  As Christians in Nigeria are being systematically eliminated and persecuted, the church elsewhere seems to be in a slumber mode. As I read the news these persecution in Nigeria, I go through lot of guilt feelings of how we Christians in the other part of the world are so complacent of the suffering of fellow believers in another nation and also by the fact that there are people in this century also who are ready to pay the extreme price of giving up their life for the sake of the gospel.  Does the news of  the persecution of Christians in Nigeria affect the way we live our Christian life today and also the way we express our faith in the land that we live?
                     This week we are meditating on the theme “Transformation in the Church”. The passage for our meditation is from Acts 26. Yesterday in our meditation we learnt how Paul was passionate about his conversion experience and also in his belief that King Agrippa would also be like him– encountering the risen Lord.  Along with the passion that  Paul had in presenting the gospel to the King Agrippa, what is more noteworthy is that Paul is preaching the gospel while he is in chains. This is not the first time that Paul is preaching the gospel message in very hostile situation. In Acts 22, he is preaching boldly  to the crowd. The crowd became furious by the testimony and he is manhandled and the commander later puts Paul in  chains. Paul is then taken in front of the Sanhedrin [ Acts 23], wherein there also he preaches the gospel boldly. He is not concerned about the audience nor cowed down by the authority or the power that is vested on the king, nor the commander nor the Sanhedrin. Here is an apostle who is not concerned about his freedom but more concerned on the freedom that Christ offers to others. Here is Paul who has a strong conviction on what His beliefs are and is ready to pay a price and also take a stand for his beliefs. As we read the news of persecution in Nigeria, we need to ask ourselves both as individual Christians and community of believers whether we take our faith seriously and whether our Christian living rises above the observances of certain rituals that denotes our faith and that we are ready to pay a price for being a Christian?

The Journey 199
Wednesday, July 18
Read: Acts 26
Late Monday, the world heard the news that the well known author, writer and motivational speaker, Stephen Covey is no more. He died at a hospital in Idaho Falls, after injuring himself in a bicycle accident late April. Stephen Covey, 79, is well known for his world famous book "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" which sold more than 20 million copies in more than 38 languages. What was unique about the book was the systemic understanding that he brought to the concept of productivity both in professional and personal life. From Seven Habits, Covey moved to writing " The Eighth Habit", which was moving from effectiveness to greatness. He also authored some other best sellers, like "First Things First," ''Principle-Centered Leadership," and ''The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families. I have read all his books and have personally been benefitted by the books that he wrote. What attracted me to Covey and his writing and his ideas was that his approach to life was systemic. Which means happiness, meaning in life is all related not only on the way one works but also one connects to others and also the way one contributes to society. What was striking about his ideas was that he stressed more on "Effectiveness" than “Success” in life. This is something that is very essential and important in every aspect of ones life. Secondly when he moved from seven habits to the eighth habit, he had a wonderful dictum that was referred in his book- " Live, Love, Learn and Leave and Legacy". Covey through his eighth habit stressed on leaving a legacy and that make a person to move from effectiveness to greatness. Though Covey wrote all his ideas from a secular perspective, I presume he was influenced by certain a spiritual principles and outlook in life and that could be seen in his writings. I was also greatly influenced by Covey because it reoriented me the way I worked and also brought certain fresh perspective in my ministry especially in my counseling field. Here is one man who made people think and respond to life in a very creative way so as to be a passionate about their life and their work. I think every Christian should also be passionate about Christ just the way Covey talked about ones life.
This week we are meditating on the theme “ Transformation in my Church”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Acts 26. This is the portion where Paul has been brought in front of King Agrippa and has been asked to explain his conversion experience. Apart from Acts 2, where Peter boldly preaches about the risen Christ to the Jews, there is no other portions in the New Testament, where a person boldly declares his faith and his ministry to a person of authority. In this passage Paul is very passionate and boldly proclaims his encounter with Jesus Christ. He is also equally bold about his goal and the ministry that the Lord has given to him. Hearing him speak, Agrippa tells Paul that he is out of his mind and that his learning is driving him insane [ Acts 26: 24}. But Paul reaffirms his conviction and also has the guts to tell that he hopes that one day even King Agrippa will become like him. Here is Paul who is full of enthusiasm and zeal for the Lord. He does not do anything casually, but everything is directed to the glory of God and being passionate about the Lord that he encountered. I think what is needed in the life of a believer through the fellowship and nurturing through the Church, is this joy and passion to work for the Lord and through ones life, realize what it means to leave a legacy of faith for the people around and also to the next generation. Covey through is work did that. Let us also as believers and as a church, leave a rich legacy of faith.

The Journey 197
Monday, July 16
Read: Mathew 25: 31-46
The Church and Tax Exemption Status.  How does  church qualify itself to a status of tax exemption.  This is the issue that is now debated in different circles after a news items in Washington Post, where the renowned atheist Richard Dawkins had called the tax exemption status  given to  church as a disgrace. According to Dawkins, even the non religious and the atheist people are also generous just like the religious ones.  Dawkins point of argument is that, just because an organization calls itself a church, they should not be entitled to or freely qualify to get tax exemption status. Each church should separately make a profile or a case on the way they do community work or charitable work and it should be only on the basis of that, should the tax exemption be given. If this is the criteria for tax exemption then the same yardstick has to be followed for any other organization even if it is not the church. Dawkins is critical of the generosity of the religious people and the church because he feels that the charitable work is done more for proselytizing than having a genuine concern for the suffering people. He also pointed out that there are several secular organizations who are doing are doing a lot of charity work and good for their communities, which are sometimes more worthwhile than the church’s and added that his own website, RichardDawkins.net, has helped organizations raise more than $500,000 for groups such as Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross. I think Dawkins raises lot of questions that we need to answer. Do we as a community of faith qualify for tax exemption? And if so how do we qualify ourselves for that privilege? There is also an ethical question whether in the name of charity do we have the right to share the gospel?
             This week we shall start on a new theme “ Transformation in my church”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Mathew 25: 31-46.  There are many passages in the bible that talks about the judgment of God and also some of the yardstick that God would use to judge people. Here in this portion that we read we find Jesus telling that God would judge his people on the basis of ones response and discernment to the needs of the suffering in the community. Here you find that Jesus mentions that there are people in our community who are lonely, who are hungry, who are thirsty, who are sick and those who are in prison. The question that Jesus is asking us is whether we are aware of such people around us. This is because when Jesus spoke about judgment, some people asked Jesus “ When did we see you hungry, thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison” [ Mathew 25: 44]. That is when Jesus states that when you did something for the least of these you have done it for me. Hence what Jesus is teaching us is that the mission of the church is to deliberately go out to these least of the people and be a church to them. Today for many of us church is a community meant purely for catering the needs of its subscribing members. But Jesus teaches us that church is meant for the community. Hence   community work should not be considered as one of mission activities of the church, it should be the mission. For most of the parishes here in our diocese we just set apart an income in our budget for community services which is actually against the principles of the gospel. Let us show people like Dawkins that church exists only for mission and community and not for its members and for self existence.

The Journey 195
Saturday, July 14
Read: Genesis 22
                A Church that gives all its income to the Community?: Unbelievable. This is what I felt when I first read this news item. It sounded incredible too.  Alex Murashko reports in the Christian Post about a church in Clinton, Mississippi  who decided to give all their tithes and offerings to the community for an entire year. How did this happen. This was the vision of the pastor and leaders of Traceway Baptist Church in Clinton . They began to pray to discern God’s eill on how to serve the community. After two months of praying and fasting, they felt that God was asking them to give generously to the people who were suffering in the community. Hence they decided to give all the tithes and offerings  to those in need and that too for an entire year. According to Pastor John Richardson, what he wanted was that others could see and experience the love of the Lord and in the process church becoming a witness to Jesus Christ in the community. The size of the church may surprise you. There are only 50 people who regularly attend this church, yet  from April 2010 to April 2011, the church was able to give away $60,000 to people in the community.  Pastor John Richardson states  everything on the offering plates was given away.  People who were helped included abused  mothers, people who lost their jobs, people who had no money to pay medical bills and so on. But then how did the church raise the finance to run the church daily, like paying of the utility bills? . The Pastor says that when they were praying as to how to go about, another church rented their premises to them free of cost. Soon lot of others also came up with their generous offering too. Thus the people of the Traceway Baptist church states that when you are generous to others, God is generous to us and also in this way they are creating an antidote for greed. Incredible is the word to describe this church. A church with only 50 members raising 60,000 dollars in a year, for the support of a community is unbelievable. What is more incredible is their commitment to help the people who go through suffering and who are in need.
                         This week we are meditating on the theme “ Transformation in the life of the sick and the suffering”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Genesis 22. This is a very familiar portion where Abraham has been directed by God to sacrifice his son Isaac. When we look from the perspective of Abraham, the demand of God is very heartbreaking. The agony that Abraham had gone throughout his life is a pointer to it. Both Abraham and Sara do not have children and that is when God promised them a child. This promise was given when Abraham was 75 years old, but then he had to wait for almost 25 yeast to see the birth of his son Isaac. It is after 25 years of waiting that God gives the son He had promised, but not God wants him back. All these events and experiences are ones that can break and shatter a person and his faith concepts. But not Abraham. Here when he understand that this is what God wants him to do, he lays aside his dreams, and does what God wants him to do. He carries the pain in his heart, yet remains faithful to God. It is this total trust and the ability to fully risk ones life for the sake of God, that earns Abraham the title the “father of faith”. In our Christian living, the members of the Traceway Church, and also Abraham teaches us that until we risk our life to God, our Christian life is futile and our witness in the community lacking integrity. Ready to risk everything for God?

The Journey 194
Friday, July 13
Read: Luke 7:11-17
In Pain and in Despair- Have a Starbucks Coffee.  Sounds Strange: But this may be a future and a familiar dictum in some of the funeral homes. News agencies like USA today and Fox news have reported that a funeral home in northwestern South Carolina will be offering what it calls the Starbucks experience to those needing comfort, or just a cup of coffee, to the people who come there to bid farewell to their loved ones. It is the Robinson Funeral Home, in south Carolina who is trying this novel idea by attaching coffee shop to the funeral home. According to the owner of the funeral home, Chris Robinson, who states that the Starbucks will reside in an area of  the Funeral Home which has been aptly named the "Coffee Corner," and would be a part of an expansion that will also include business offices and a chapel in the funeral home. This coffee corner will also have a fire place and Wi Fi.  To make the coffee corner relevant to the context and occasion of mourning, the starbucks employees will train employees at the funeral home. What is more interesting is a statement by Robinson, who further states that there is nothing like food or coffee to help comfort those who are going through loss. One of the most desperate and painful situation that human being goes through is when in times of loosing their loved ones. It is at that time we all need comfort and solace. Starbucks and the funeral home thinks that a coffee can help them to relive their despair, but then what does this news and development talk to us as a Christian, especially in our role during times of bereavement, crisis and despair.
                This week we are meditating on the theme “ Transformation in the life of the sick and the suffering”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from the Luke 7:11-17. . Here is another portion in the gospels which depicts the helplessness, the agony and the pain that a human being undergo because of death of a loved one. The person who undergoes this agony and pain is a widow, who is grieving over the death of her son. This is another portion where Jesus shows and expresses his compassion through meaningful and deliberate action to alleviate the suffering of the people. What forces Jesus into action of compassion is because he sees the plight of the woman. Not only her plight is compounded by the fact that she was woman, but the agony is compounded more by the fact that she was widow too and that is when she also looses her only support for life-her son. Here is a woman who is now in the twilight stage of life, not knowing what to do and where to go, traveling on a journey with the dead body of her son, not knowing where will life take her, after the funeral rite is over. It is in such desperate situation that Jesus comes near her, touches the dead body of the son, raises him and gives him back to the mother. Here is Jesus giving the widow the hope to live on and to carry on with her life.  As a Christian I believe our role in this world is also to give hope to others through Christ, so that in this world of despair and pain, they are strengthened to move forward. For this to happen, our presence and our deliberate involvement in the life of the suffering people is what God wants us to do. Funeral homes and coffee retail giants like starbucks are doing their own role to alleviate pain and despair at the time of grief. For a Christian to bring hope and peace at the time of pain and suffering is rise above than just giving coffee, on the contrary through our relationship and fellowship offer the peace and hope through Christ.

The Journey 193
Thursday, July 12
Read: Mathew 23
            Phoenix Pastor Jailed for holding bible study in home: This was the news item that was carried by the Fox News yesterday, The news items has brought mixed reaction from people all over. Some supporting the pastor while some supporting the Phoenix city council. The pastor in the centre of this storm is Michael Salman, whose home was raided  by more than  dozen Phoenix police officers and city officials for holding a private bible study. He has now been sentenced to 60 days in jail and a fine of $12, 180. According to the city officials they say that people aren’t allowed to hold private Bible studies on their own property. The moment one hears the news the immediate reaction from everyone is that of shock and disbelief. According to Salman’s wife Suzanne, the city  has told her that her husband was essentially arrested because the Bible study was at a private house .. and that essentially, it’s a church. Since they weren’t zoned for church, they were told they were breaking the rules. Some people state that this family is being discriminated purely on the grounds of their faith.  But then there is something more behind the story. According to the city council, the real problem is that Salman is intent on building a church in his own backyard, a 4,200-square-foot building, which will only a few feet away from his neighbor's property.  The question that the city council and the residents are asking is “In a residential area does the freedom of religion grant a person to disturb the peace and tranquility of neighbours especially when some church’s idea of worship involves the use of high powered speakers and amplifiers, loud music, gathering of people very frequently in the premises”. We may not know the legal tangles and  intricacies of this case, but the question needs to be addressed as whether we have the freedom of practicing of our faith, to an extent that it becomes a nuisance to others and neighbours?.
                   This week we are meditating on the theme “ Transformation in the life of the sick and suffering”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Mathew 23. This is the portion where Jesus is vehemently criticizing the Pharisees. Why is Jesus always at loggerheads with the Pharisees. Pharisees were basically good and righteous people, but the real issue was that they would obey the tenets of the law only in letter but not in spirit. Which means for the Pharisees, the faith and religion were more of outward expressions rather than an inward change. When it is only outward expression, then I don't care as to what happens to others, my action is never evaluated in terms of justice and mercy [Mathew 23: 23]. What Jesus taught was a producing a life style where both faith and works go hand in hand, where ones faith expression helps not only the concerned individuals but also the people in the community. Today when we focus more and more on individual rights, there are times even in our “spiritual realm” where we don't care for the needs and rights of others. Hence sometimes conflicts like one that is happening in Phoenix arises. It is high time that we as Christians need to think whether being a believer is all about loud expressions of praise and worship or it also includes silent witness of caring and bearing in the pain of  others. Let us consciously make a decision that when I practice my faith, I should also be aware of the rights of  my neighbours. 

The Journey 192
Wednesday, July 11
Read: Mathew 15:21-28
                      William Sisters have done it again. On July 7th, 2012, both the William sisters; Serena and Venus won the Wimbledon titles. Serena had the unique honour of winning two Wimbledon titles on the same day. Serena had won the singles title in the earlier part of the day, while later both Serena and Venus teamed up to win the doubles title too. Here are two sisters whose life story is that of winning through commitment and also through the strong bond that they share with each other and with the family. In fact one of the hallmarks of their life is the way they have moulded their life, away from the pulls and pressures of this world. The homeschooling community always highlights their achievements since both Serena and Venus chose to do the alternative form of education in their life.  But it is the role of the parents Richard Williams and Oracene Prince who are credited for the achievements of the William sisters.  Both the parents wanted their daughters to focus on their passion for tennis. For this reason they were homeschooled by their parents and the tennis training also began early in life. The winning of the Wimbledon title this year is very special of Serena. In a news report in the DNA, Serena thanked her family for helping her to go through all the medical ordeals that she had faced.  Serena recently survived a blood clot issue and also severe lung problems and later she tragically cut her foot that left her convalescing at home . Serena admits that these experiences have transformed her life. She is a committed Jehovah witness and she proudly says that God and tennis are her priorities. Here is one lady who combines faith, determination and commitment to achieve her dreams even when odds are stacked against her. Here is one lady who chose to stick on to family relationship than  holding on to anything else in life. I think the life story of the William sisters teaches us many valuable lessons in life.
        This week we are meditating on the theme “ Transformation in the life of the sick and the suffering”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Mathew 15: 21– 28. Here is an incident where Jesus is amazed not only at the faith of a mother but also to the extent of humbling down that she could do so that her daughter could be healed. The story is about a Canaanite woman whose daughter is sick. When she seeks the help of Jesus in healing her daughter, she faces lot of opposition first from the disciples and then later a barrage of question  from the Lord himself, which seems to be very hostile, but the lady calmly responds to Jesus Christ, fully humbling herself. For the lady what was important was her daughter, what was important for her was her relationship with her child. To get healing for her daughter she stuck on to her, even in the darkest and desperate situations of her life. It is this attachment and her commitment to the mother– daughter relationship, that Jesus valued. Faith here is exhibited through holding on to a relationship even when the going was tough. It is this aspect that Jesus praised her and thus healing of the daughter. What we need today is the example of this Canaanite woman and the William sisters to hold on to our relationships, even when there are crisis in family and health. Holding on helps us to be strengthened and thus paving way for healing and wholeness. 

The Journey 191
Tuesday, July 10
Read: Psalms 30           
         Shout to the Lord: Who does not know this famous and wonderful song. I first heard this song when I was a part of the Kuwait Marthoma Church Praise and Worship Team, who taught this song for their VBS in the year 2000, and from then on this song was one of my favourites. It is estimated that this song is sung by around 25 to 30 million church goers every week through out the world.  The writer of this song is an Australian, named Darlene Zschech. She is  is acclaimed all over the world as a singer, songwriter, worship leader and speaker, but her most famous role is that of  spearheading the music that comes from Hillsong Church. But how did this wonderful song come about? According to  Darlene Zschech,  she was going through some of the dark days of her life. It seemed to her that everything was on the top of her, and she could not carry the weight of the burden any longer and that is when she felt she had to turn to the Lord.  Desperate for His peace, she opened to the Psalms. As she sat at the old piano, she began tinkling the keys and the song "Shout to the Lord" was born.  Darlene states that the piano was a gift from her parents when she was five years old. That is how the song was born. From the depths of despair, Darlene moved to the heights of faith. The melody of the song is simple while the lyrics are from the Psalms 96. “Shout To The Lord” was written at time when a child of God ran to her Lord, seeking Him in the midst of desperation.  Even today as we sing this song, what the song and the song writer helps us is to experience  faith, strength and peace for everyone who is going through pain, despair and frustration just exactly the way the song writer Darlene experienced the day she wrote it. Singing and shouting to the Lord, when the going is tough.
                         This week we are  meditating on the theme : Transformation in the life of the sick and the suffering”. The Bible portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Psalms 30.  In this Psalm we find David is crying for help. David was feeling very low and downcast since he felt like that his soul in Sheol; living as though he was in a great pit. For David he felt that he was stuck, helpless, and down in the dumps. David’s cries for help and God hears his cries and thus he praises God for lifting him up from the pit and restoring him. But David learns a valuable lesson. David realizes that while he was imperfect, broken, all bruised and  vulnerable, life gives him an opportunity to evaluate ones life. The solution to face predicament, sorrows, despair is by praising God and it is this attitude of praise that leads to a totally new perspective in life. It is this new attitude that makes David to sing and dance. What David is teaching is that, when we face situation where we feel that we are stuck and has no where to go, in despair, lets start singing and dancing. The ability to sing, smile and dance when our whole world look dark and weary is what faith in our Lord could bring to a Christian. Darlene through her song told others to “Shout to the Lord” when things were going tough, David teaches us to dance and sing when the going gets tough. God want us to praise and sing even when life seems to be tough. That is the antidote for suffering.

The Journey 184
Tuesday, July 3
Read: Psalms 119:9-16
         A very strange but an interesting judgment was passed last week by a  judge in South Carolina .  The news agency Christian Post, reports that Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles of Rock Hill decided to sentence Cassandra  Tolley,  for driving under the influence of alcohol, to  eight years in prison. The charge against Tolley was that  he drove on the wrong side of the road,  and crashed into another car, thus seriously injuring two men.  According to the law enforcing agencies, at the time of the accident, Tolley's blood alcohol level was 0.333, which is over four times the legal limit.  Thus the sentence to undergo the prison term. But what is more interesting and surprising about the sentencing is that, the convicted person Tolley,  has also been asked to undertake a bible study while serving in  the prison.  What Cassandra Tolley has been assigned,  is to read  through the Book of Job and then write a summary on the Old Testament. There has been some concerns by a few people about the constitutional validity of the sentence, but according to local media, Tolley's lawyer has explained that the defendant has no issue, on the contrary is thankful for the biblical sentence.  Who is this judge Michel Nettles?. The news agency reports that in the biography page of the South Carolina Judicial Department web site, Judge Michel Nettles, is an active  member of the Lake City First Baptist Church, where he serves as a Deacon, a Sunday School Teacher and also a member of the Missions Team.  I don't know the legal validity of the sentence, but I presume since the Judge is a Sunday school teacher, here is a reformatory step that brings correction in the life of a convicted person, rather than just sentencing him without bringing in the reformation or the change that the sentence should actually bring. This sentence and the perspective of the judge focus on how the Word of God can be a source of transformation in the life of people who move and drift away from obeying not only God's laws  but also the laws of the state.
This week we are meditating on the theme " Transformation in my Community". The portion that we are using for our meditation is from Psalms 119: 9-16. This is one of the Psalms, where David emphasizes on the importance of the meditation of the Word of God. The whole objective of David is to help the person, live a life that is pure, pleasing to God and also to the community at large. There are four things that David highlights which brings transformation in the life of an individual. Firstly In v: 9 , he says that we should live according to the principles of the Word of God. Then later in v: 10, David say that we should seek the Lord with all our heart. Thirdly in v:11, David says that we need to keep the God's word in our heart and finally in v: 15, we are asked to meditate on God's precepts which will help us to consider the ways that we walk. I think these four aspects are very powerful in the life of any individual, and is the source of power to become transformed and also become agents of transformation in the community. I am sure the Judge Michel Nettles may also have the same objective while sentencing the convicted person. God is convicting us today and is passing also a sentence on us stating that if we need to be blessing in our life and society, the regular study of  His Word has to be done by all of us.

The Journey 183
Monday, July 2
Read: Mathew 23
"Don't Limit the Ministry of Jesus Christ to the four walls of the Church" This was the main focus of the sermon delivered by First lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, as she addressed the delegates gathered at the National Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Nashville, Tennessee last week. According to the first lady, what is important as Christians is what do they do in the quieter moments of their lives and which is more important than just showing up and attending a Sunday services once a week. She continued by saying that the faith journey is all about what the Christians do from Monday to Saturday as well, especially in quieter moments of life, when the focus and spotlight is not on us and when we have to make choices in our daily lives as to how to live as Christians. According to the First Lady, Jesus Christ did not limit his ministry to the four walls of the church, on the contrary He was out there in the society fighting for justice and empowering people through His message of truth, grace and redemption. Hence the mission of every Christian is to find and witness Jesus Christ everywhere, and every day, by the way one lives their life. I felt what the First Lady said was a powerful gospel message.
The month from June to September is the activity oriented season in the United States, especially in the parishes of the Diocese of North America. This is because it is in summer you have both the parish retreats and youth retreats organized by each of the individual parishes in the diocese, then you have conferences like Junior– Senior conferences, Family Conference, National Conference for Youth Fellowship, Yuvajana Sakhyam, Sevika Sangham, and Edavaka Mission. Along with this comes the VBS in the local parishes, followed by a picnic or may be an outing to the beach or a cruise. By the end of October the season of conferences ebbs down like a tide. It is here that we need to ask ourselves, as the diocese, the parishes spend huge money, time and resources to organize these conferences, do we really take in anything by attending these conferences and are we able to make our Christian life and living qualitatively different after attending these conferences? The portion that we are using for our meditation today is from Mathew 23: 1-37. and Mathew 6: 5-8. These are the portions where Jesus is vehemently criticizing the Pharisees and their concept of religiosity and spirituality. The main aspect which Jesus Christ criticizes the Pharisees is that they have conveniently divorced their spiritual beliefs from their public life. Their spiritual activity and expression are more of "showing off" rather than the expression of the spirituality meaningfully in their life. Thus faith is more of ritual or a meaningless action, limiting it to something that one expresses only in places like church, or prayer meetings and other significant events. The objective of these action is therefor to create an image for ourselves through these spiritual activities rather than expression of transformed living through Jesus Christ. So let us think to the words that the First Lady expressed whether our spirituality is confined to the four walls of the Church or through the participation of various conferences or spirituality expressed meaningfully on weekdays.