Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Month: February 2009 Page 2 of 3

Life is about SAVING (Singular)

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On February 17, 2009

In Christian

Recently, I heard a dear friend and brother, John Cherukuri at the Austin Christian Fellowship of India speak from the book of Acts on the life of Barnabas, whose real name was Jos-es (variant of Joseph), but the Apostles called him Barnabas (meaning son of Encouragement or Consolation) as recorded in Acts 4:26. During his discourse, eluding to the dwindling and declining economy, prevalent today, that we need to be encouragers ourselvers, encouraging one another rather than being fixated on savings, he made the following statement, “Life is not about SAVINGS”.

This got me thinking and we chatted after the sermon, that Life is really not about Savings (plural), but about SAVING (singular).
Not Savings, as in what we put aside in our bank balance (on ephemeral earth), but Saving , as in what we put inside our soul balance (in eternal heaven).

Soul balance = The number of souls that God uses us to add to his kingdom, those whom we have helped, accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Point(s) to Ponder:
Proverbs 11:30 – A soul winner is wise.
What is your soul balance? What is mine?

Pardon Refused !

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On February 16, 2009

In Christian

A few days ago, I wrote about the second saying of Jesus from the Cross to the malefactor followed by another on the request of the malefactor being granted. But imagine, for a moment, if that malefactor had refused the pardon offered by Jesus?

In 1830 , a man named George Wilson was arrested for mail theft, the penalty for which was death by hanging. After a time, President Andrew Jackson gave Wilson a pardon but he refused to accept it! The authorities were in a quandary now as to whether they should let Mr. Wilson be freed or hanged?
Bewildered, they consulted Chief Justice John Marshall, who handed down this decision: “A pardon is a slip of paper, the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged.”

A pardon is an act of grace, proceeding from the power entrusted with the execution of the laws, which exempts the individual on whom it is bestowed from the punishment the law inflicts for a crime he has committed.
A pardon is a deed, to the validity of which delivery is essential, and delivery is not complete without acceptance.

The entire proceedings of this interesting case – United States v. Wilson , 32 U.S. 7 Pet. 150 150 (1833) can be found at http://supreme.justia.com/us/32/150/case.html

We see a similar situation in the Bible as recorded in Nehemiah 9:17, which reads
“And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.“

Point(s) to Ponder:

God offers His pardon (act of G.R.A.C.E – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) to each one of us, but if that pardon is not accepted by us, his delivery is made incomplete. Don’t let God’s extension of His pardon left untaken? Refusing the pardon will return us to the bondage of sin and the wages of sin is death. Think about it and Act NOW and accept God’s free offer to be saved.

A malefactor’s request granted !

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On February 15, 2009

In Christian

Ever wondered why only the second malefactor (criminal) who was crucified alongside Jesus,  got a response from the Jesus.

I believe the answer is in the text as recorded in Luke 23:38-43
38. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The malefactor RECOGNIZED Jesus for who He really was and secondly he make a REQUEST to be REMEMBERED by Jesus.

First the malefactor said that this MAN (Jesus) has done nothing amiss, but upon realizing that Jesus is NOT just a GOOD MAN but is GOD MAN, focuses on Jesus and recognizes Jesus as LORD
Saying, Jesus, LORD (not MAN), Remember me  …

Secondly, this Recognition led to a Requisition that at face value seems ABSURD. His request was “Remember ME, when thou comest into thy Kingdom”. Jesus was DYING on the Cross, What Coming, What Kingdom?
Allow me to indulge myself a little please, I believe, the eyes of the criminal who repented had been opened like that of Stephen or of Enoch (Jude 1:14) and he had seen Jesus glorified as King, and he wanted to be fully part of that.

His request was granted immediately, Since he had recognized Jesus as Lord and requested to be WITH Jesus. Jesus’ response – Verily, I say unto you, Today, shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.

Point(s) to Ponder:

  1. Have you Recognized Jesus as Lord?
  2. What is your Request for Jesus, today?

Jesus My Valentine

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On February 14, 2009

In Christian, Valentine's Day

Valentine_316Today is Valentine’s day and while we some may have taken the time to wish our spouses and girlfriends/boyfriends, children, relatives, teachers and friends, a very special Happy Valentine day while others may have forgotten to do so (present company included), there is one person, that we should have never forgotten to wish to be our Valentine; and that person is Jesus Christ.

Click on the image in the left to see How God is our Valentine.

The following is a beautiful composition, I saw online, and thought, I’d share. Enjoy
Thanks to Bernice Ward for such wonderful words.

We keep such thoughts of You so dear
Thanking You for the love You share
When a day comes it just seems fair,
To tell You, “I love You,” for You always care.

Sharing Jesus my heavenly Valentine
His love for me is always near,
I thank Him for being my valentine
I am his and He is mine.

Jesus wants to be our lasting valentine
Not just a special day, but everyday,
Love is something He commands us to do,
Let’s tell Jesus, My heart belongs to You!

The special Love that Jesus spreads
Grows stronger each and everyday
Let’s spread His love throughout the land,
We are safe in the hollow of His hand.

You and I are very special to the Lord
He only wants to capture your heart,
He gives love for all our cares
And stands by to wipe our tears.

So Jesus and I are sending you a Hug
Just remember all He sends your way,
In good times and bad, God is at our side,
Stay safe and warm in Jesus love abide.

Friday the 13th – unlucky or lucky day!

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On February 13, 2009

In Christian, Movie Motions

Today is Friday the 13th and superstition holds that when the thirteenth day of the month falls on a Friday (Friday the 13th), it is often accompanied with luck (usually bad).
There are many roots to the etymology of this superstition, and your guess could be as good as mine in determining its exact origin, however one theory subscribes to the thought that this term came about as a derivative of “the Last Supper” of the Lord Jesus Christ with his twelve (12) disciples, making the number 13 in toto. before He was crucified on that following Friday (commonly known today as Good Friday).

Whether there is any verity in this theory or not is immaterial. But what matters is that while Friday the 13th may seem to the world as being an unlucky day (as evident in Hollywood’s production of horror movies associated with Friday the 13th), we can deem this to be in fact our lucky day; where, because of one Friday, on which 13 members gathered around a table (The Last Supper), God could reconnect with us (sinful men and women), by allowing His Only Begotten Son (Jesus Christ) to die on the Cross.

Point(s) to Ponder:

  1. If you do NOT know, Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, then let today (Friday the 13th) become your lucky day to reconnect with God, by believing that Jesus is the Christ (Savior).
  2. If you know, Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, then let today (Friday the 13th) be your lucky day as any other day.

Verily, I Say Unto Thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise

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On February 12, 2009

In Christian

Even CURSORILY EVALUATING this statement, we see PROFOUND TRUTHS hidden in it.  Delving deeper accentuates these subheadings so much further that it is simply baffling to the human mind, the depth of meaning conveyed by each word (carefully chosen) by Jesus as he spoke His SECOND SAYING from the Cross,

VERILY – indicating that this saying was a PROMISE
I SAY UNTO YOU – indicating that the address was PERSONAL
TODAY – indicating the element of time was the PRESENT
SHALT THOU BE WITH ME – indicating Man’s PRESENCE with God
IN PARADISE – indicating our PLACE of rest

Point(s) to Ponder:
Can Jesus say this to us, Today?

Tiger Tiger Burning Bright

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On February 11, 2009

In Christian, Movie Motions, Music Musings, Poetic Prompts

TigerOne of the songs that we jam to, on Guitar Hero World Tour, is the ever famous “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor (1982), the same song that is the backdrop to Sylvester Stallone’s movie – Rocky. Listening to this song, got me thinking as to what was so special about the Eye of the Tiger. Undoubtedly, it is intimidating, captivating and hypnotic to say the least.

The more, I pondered, the more, I felt myself bewildered and my mind wandered. I started to reminisce about a poem, I learned when I was a little child; the poem “The Tiger” by William Blake.

Excerpts of the poem are given below –

Stanza 1
Tiger Tiger Burning Bright
In the forest of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
Stanzas 2,3 (skipped)
Stanza 4
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water’d heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Stanza 5 (skipped)

Inquisitiveness to explore further, to glean the depth of the meaning, made me realize that while the poem may seem to be talking about one of God’s most beautiful and fearsome creation – The Tiger, it’s really about the creator God, the one who is immortal (whose immortal hand and eye it was), who fashioned and framed the Tiger (could frame thy fearful symmetry?). He is the same God who fashioned the Lion and the Lamb (Note the question posed by the poet – Did He who made the lamb make thee?).

Colossians 1:15-18 records the preeminence of Jesus Christ in all of Creation and verse 16 reads. For by him (Jesus Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

Everything (the Burning Bright Tiger, you, me …), absolutely everything, was created by God and for God. This is something that should never be forgotten. We are made in God’s image, For GOD. and when God sees us, can it be asked – Did He smile His work to see?

Image Credits – http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricdiggle/3115830416/

Mission 3:16

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On February 10, 2009

In Christian

16

Follow first …

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On February 9, 2009

In Christian

In a generation, culture and society that gives more importance to people who “lead”, to those who are or who want to be “masters”, Jesus’ call of His first disciples is an antithesis to this mindset of leadership.

Matthew 4:18-22 (also recorded in Mark 1:16-20) records Jesus’ call of His first disciples. Interestingly (or should I say ironically), He calls them by saying, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

The call is first to Follow (not lead). He is the Good Shepherd and we are the Sheep. The sheep always follows the voice of the shepherd unlike other cattle for which it does not matter if the Shepherd leads or follows behind. Sheep need the Shepherd to be in front of their eyes, directing them, to still waters and lush plenty pastures so they shall not want any good thing (Psalm 23).

We as His Sheep must Follow first. Only when we follow, can he make us as His word says – Follow me and I will make …. The Following is first, and only then comes the Making.

The Final Matter … Whole Duty of Man

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On February 8, 2009

In Christian

While the First Requirement of man is to “Be Holy”, the Final matter, or the conclusion of the whole matter is this, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 12:13, which is to “Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man”

Fear God – Be reverent and Faithfully Express Awe and Reverance (F.E.A.R)
Keep his commandments – Love God, Love one another

The wisest of the wise says, “This is our DUTY“.

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