Talents are the responsibilities handed over to you. Unless you are faithful in these, you can't be trusted for greater ones.In this parable recorded in Matthew 25, the talents (bags full of gold) may appear to be very big responsibilities in our sight, but to these servants they were not so, having been trained in the administration of such business for long. They were given talents according to their ability and not beyond that. Two of them were faithful; the last one, sadly, wasted the time that could be put to multiply the talent -- and time...
The Rediscovery of Prayer - Part 2
...continued from part 1Eternal PriesthoodThe significance of Christ’s Incarnation is paramount to an understanding of the possibility and effectualness of prayer. His eternal and mediatory priesthood is the ultimate foundation of prayer. Therefore, the New Testament prescribes all prayer to be done in the Name of Jesus Christ (Jn.14:13,14; 16:23,24,26). The essence of this truth is captured in the declaration of Christ Himself: “I am the way, the...
The Rediscovery of Prayer - Part 1
Published in Basileia, April 2010 as "Encountering God in Prayer".At half-past four in the morning, the little neighborhood in Kolkata resounds with chirps of birds, radio music, and early voices of shopkeepers, vegetable vendors, paperboys, school kids, and a miscellany of others rolling into their day. Dominating these are the sounds of bells and sacred chants (mantras) from a nearby Temple, a Prayer Call (adhan) by a muezzin from a Mosque nearby, and hymns from Christian homes around. Religion, certainly, is an interwoven fiber of our society....
Divine Sovereignty - Confusions Regarding Freedom and Power
Divine sovereignty does not preclude human freewill. For God to be sovereign doesn't mean that He has to charter the course of every action on earth according to His will -- to stay, allow, or carry out everything on His own. In that case, "sovereignty" itself would be emptied of meaning, since it can only apply to that which can be ruled, particularly in a political sense. For instance, we call India a "Sovereign Republic"; it doesn't mean that all Indians are devoid of freewill. But, all Indians certainly are called to submit to the Law of the...
Eusebius on the discrepancies between the genealogies of Matthew and Luke
Genealogy of Jesus according to LukeGodAdamSethEnoshCainainMahalalelJaredEnochMethuselahLamechNoahShemArphaxadCainanShelahEberPelegReuSerugNahorTerahAbrahamIsaacJacobJudahPharezHezronRamAmminadabNahshonSalmonBoazObedJesseDavidNathanMattathaMennaMeleaEliakimJonamJosephJudahSimeonLeviMatthatJorimEliezerJoshuaErElmadamCosamAddiMelchiNeriShealtielZerubbabelRhesaJoananJodaJosechSemeinMattathiasMahathNaggaiHesliNahumAmosMattathiasJosephJannaiMelchiLeviMatthatHeliMary & JosephJesusGenealogy of Jesus according to MatthewAbrahamIsaacJacobJudah &...
Intelligent Living - Pressing Toward the Goal (Phil 3:13,14)
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13,14)There are two kinds of living: intelligent living and unintelligent living. Intelligent living is a life governed by purpose and design; unintelligent living is a life which is ungoverned and reckless.If you have seen a man committed to a cause and living his entire life for that...
Wickedness Is When You Can Do Something Wrong And Feel Nothing Guilty About It
Wickedness is when you can do something wrong and feel nothing guilty about it. Hyper-wickedness is when you are able to give an explanation for it.If you can fall easily into a sin, you are its slave; what God says will matter less, practically speaking.You must be touched by the world, but not moved by it: you must touch the world and change it.If you wish to be truly satisfied, dive into the river of God's li...
A Close Shave
The misty envelop has now dissolved,A close shave from a nasty snare.Amidst wildest wars unresolved,Salvation from the raving rage.The doubtful dilemma of deceptive distractionsHas taken up wings and flown away,The world has expressed its final disapproval,It can't accept God's brand anyway.My soul takes wings of the eagleAnd flies across the open sky,It beholds the world of humanity entangledIn lusts of flesh and lusts of eyes.Also, pride haunts the heart of humans,Nay, say hunts them on the deadly trail.It pounces and falls on the souls of such...
The World is Not Your End
You may conquer the galaxies and reign over the stars,Then, after that, what yet?You may receive adulation of all that are born,Then, after that, what yet?You may have all the riches that riches can contain,Then, after that, what yet?Does space have a border; is there to heights an end?You move upwards, downwards, and sidewards;Yet, farther recedes space(Distraught by time);You never reach'Cos the world is not your end.I will show you your destiny,O man, woman, or child, whoever!This world is a train, don't just walk in it,'Cos the train is not...
