MY HEART'S SONG!

I hear You in the thunder,
I hear You in the storm,
I see You in pitch darkness,
I see You where there's no form,
I sense You amidst things that hinder,
I sense You amidst the throng,
I know You amidst deep quietness,
I know You in my every song,
Lord, You're my heart's Song!

Choices

Often times, we are given the choice:
To be humanly honored or to divinely love,
To be socially accepted or to deny all,
To have silver and gold or have joy everlasting,
To be renowned in earth or be remembered in heaven,
To be treated as kings or hated as refuse,
To please men or to please Christ.

Blessed are those who choose to follow Christ!

Christ the Anointed One

Published in Revive Magazine, Dec 23, 2016

THE titles “Christos” (Christ) in the Greek New Testament and “Mashiyach” (Messiah) in the Hebrew Old Testament mean “The Anointed One”. While there were many men who were anointed as prophets, priests, and kings in the Old Testament period, it is only Jesus who is particularly referred to as the Anointed One of God. Therefore, the title “Christ” or “Messiah” exclusively applies to Him alone. In this article, we will focus on an attempt to understand Christ as the Anointed One of God.

The Unity of Christ’s Anointing

A careful study of the Bible shows us the singularity and unity of Christ’s anointing as the Anointed Priest-Prophet-King of God—not three separate anointings, separate of each other, but one. He IS the Anointed One and His anointing includes all the offices of God’s work (of Mediatorship, of Manifestation, and of Mastership) through Him in the world. We can understand Him as the Priest-Prophet-King, the Divine Lord of the universe, the Image of the Invisible God (not made in the image, but is the image, Col.1:15), God, the Anointer, and the All-sufficient One.

The Anointed One is the Revelation of God (Prophet), the Ruler of all creation (Prince), and the Reconciler of all things (Priest) through whom and for whom is everything and in whom alone can all things be reconciled and be united (Col. 1:16; Eph.1:10). Therefore, we are saved, justified, can pray, and can have dominion in the Name of Jesus alone.

The Eternality of Christ’s Anointing

Under the Mosaic Law, the anointed priest (hakohen hamashiach) was one who was appointed in time, had to offer sacrifices for his own sins, and could be succeeded by another upon his death (Lev.6:20; 4:3; 6:22). The term of an earthly priest was finite; the rituals, repetitive; the effects, impermanent and imperfect. However, the office of Christ as the Anointed One of God is eternal, transcending the limits of time. Therefore, His one act of sacrifice was sufficient for eternity and His effects are absolute, permanent, perfect, and irreversible.

He incarnated as man in time. But as God, He is eternal. Therefore, His anointing is not contingent upon His humanity – i.e., one cannot say that Christ could not be called the Anointed One until after His incarnation as man. On the contrary, His anointing is independent of His humanity since He is the Source of all things and all things are through Him and for Him. It is because He is the Anointed One that He possessed the prerogative to incarnate as man and atone for the sins of the world. In that, His anointing preceded His incarnation. This is what Hebrews 1-2 is attempting to also teach us. Every time we have a heavenly declaration, we are told that He is the Son of God.

For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son"? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire." But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions." (Heb 1:5-9)

Now, it is possible that someone will argue, “See, there is use of tense here! And, we are told that God anointed Jesus because He loved righteousness.”. But, one must not forget that this declaration is not in time, but in eternity. Though He is the Anointed One because of the anointing, this precedence of anointing is not chronological but logical in the same way that He is called the begotten Son of God, but this begetting is not chronological, for He eternally is the Son of God. The angels did not begin worshipping Him after His ascension, but He is the One they worshipped from the foundation of the world. Also, it is false to argue that God anointed Jesus as King only after His ascension. He is King eternally.

It is also wrong to think of Him as being anointed by the Holy Spirit only after His baptism. He was never without the fullness of the Holy Spirit. But, some may misunderstand the statement of Peter in Acts 10:38.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Act 10:38)

It is important to understand that it is not the manifestation of the Spirit in Jesus that made Him the Anointed One. But, because He was the Anointed One, therefore, there was the manifestation of the Spirit in His work. Therefore, John could say only of Him:

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Mat 3:11)

It was not that He received the baptism of the Holy Spirit first and then He became the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit; but, He is the Baptizer eternally.

The eternal Priest-King anointing of Christ is stated by the writer of Hebrews as being after the order of Melchizedek:

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God… first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace," without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually…. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” …. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb 7:1-3, 15-17, 23-25)

The Finality of Christ’s Anointing

The earthly priests, prophets, and kings were anointed with oil and ministered in divinely ordered earthly systems; therefore, they had to be respected (1Chr.16:22 – “Do not touch My anointed ones”). However, Christ the Anointed One was anointed with the Holy Spirit, eternally speaking in logical precedence, and He is servant of heavenly things.

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation…. Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these [animal sacrifices], but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb 9:11. 23-24)

Christ is the Final Revelation of God through whom God has spoken in these last days (Heb.1:1,2) and is the fulfillment of all prophetic revelation (1Pet.1:10,11; Rev.19:10). He is the King of kings whose kingdom shall never come to an end (Rev.19:16). He is the Eternal Priest of God whose priesthood continues forever by the power of His endless life (Heb.7:25). This points to the sufficiency and finality of Christ in all things so that we are complete in Him (Col.2:9). It also speaks about the heavenliness of God’s new and final order and the Kingdom that comes from heaven, without the help of any human hand (Dan 2:34,44,45). This turns our eyes towards heavenly things where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God and in whom is our life hidden (Col.3:1-3).

Davidic Line and the Melchizedek Order

The priesthood of Christ was not after the Levitical order of Aaron, for Jesus was born in the tribe of Judah and His priesthood was after the order of Melchizedek, i.e. eternal (Heb.7:14-17). However, the kingship was given to the line of David by a divine covenant (2 Sam.7:12-16). Thus, in the Old Testament, we find Messianic prophecies that refer to Christ as David. For instance,

There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed. (Psa 132:17)
I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them-- My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. (Eze 34:23)
David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. (Eze 37:24)

Yet, the Kingship of Christ preceded both Saul and David (1Sam. 8:7). Christ used a prophetic declaration made by David himself to prove to the Jews that the Messiah was not later but prior and above David.

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David." He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him `Lord,' saying: `The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool '? If David then calls Him `Lord,' how is He his Son?" And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore. (Mat 22:41-46)

Conclusion

There is a danger in the Church of turning the eyes from the Anointed One to so-called “anointed” ones. Remember, even the devil was called an anointed cherub (Eze.28:14), but that anointing or chosenness didn’t make him spiritually flawless and perfect. He became puffed up with pride and fell from the glory of God. It is important for the Church to focus her eyes on Christ, the Anointed One of God, her Head, her Groom. In the New Testament, there is no anointing apart from the Spirit of Christ in us (1Jn.2:27). Because we belong to Christ and His Spirit is in us, therefore, we are witnesses of Christ the fulfillment of all prophecy, and we are kings and priests with Him.

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev 1:5-6)

"You Watch Over Me" - Poem

"The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1)

You watch over the lily,
You watch over the tree,
You watch over the grass of the field;
But, more over me.

You feed the birds,
You feed the herds,
You feed the fish of the sea;
But, more You feed me.

You hold each galaxy,
You hold the open sea,
You hold the fleeting stars of the sky;
But, more You hold me.

You see through darkness,
You see through brightness,
You see through every cloud and shadow;
But, more see through me.

You know the sunrise,
You know the falling tides,
You know every gust of wind;
But, more You know me.
You watch over me!

Modern Ethic: Truth Vs Humanism

Modern (or post-postmodern) ethic inclines more towards a secular humanism that is aversive to hard justice. The form of secular humanism is sympathetic towards rapists, murderers, and looters and in some cases, would even dare to eulogize criminals as heroes. Thus, they will eulogize a rapist-murderer as hero who has been sentenced to death by hanging, just because they hate capital punishment. They turn sympathetic towards mass murderers not because they do not hate murder, but because they do not wish for justice to be so brutal after all, so exacting. Movies and novels try to highlight the humane part of a villain and arouse sympathy towards his weaknesses.

Thus, real heroes who want to put an end to evil become villains in their eyes and villains become heroes. Media plays a villainous role in warping public opinion.

Also, historical amnesia is becoming a characteristic of modern world. In the past, histories were preserved in family tales and social narratives. In the modern period of increasingly splintered experiences, the only grand narrative is money, sex, and power. People are forgetful of or unmindful of historic lessons. They will easily believe a criminal to be a savior, because he speaks smoothly and authoritatively.

In short, we live in a corrupt and confused world.  It is much more important now than ever to distinguish between feelings and facts, to rightly juxtapose mercy with justice, to celebrate morality, to affirm the truth.

The Lord Knows the Way of the Righteous

"Nor stands in the path of sinners...
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. " (Psalm 1:1,6)

The term "way" in the Bible is always linked to a destination or destiny. To wander from the right way and be lost may invite compassion; but, to choose the wrong way and persist on it invites divine wrath.

Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah (Jude 1:11)

But, the LORD knows the way of the righteous.

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2Tim. 2:19)

Road Accidents in India: Safety Tips

According to Wikipedia, "The frequency of traffic collisions in India is amongst the highest in the world. A National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report revealed that every year, more than 135,000 traffic collision-related deaths occur in India." (Wikipedia)

Further, the Wikipedians stated:

Tamil Nadu records the highest road accidents for a decade and its capital Chennai has more accidents then any other city in India.

In New Delhi, the capital of India, the frequency of traffic collisions is 40 times higher than the rate in London, the capital of the United Kingdom.

Traffic collision-related deaths increased from 13 per hour in 2008 to 14 per hour in 2009. More than 40 per cent of these casualties are associated with motorcycles and trucks. The most accident-prone time on Indian roads is during the peak hour at afternoon and evening.

According to road traffic safety experts, the actual number of casualties may be higher than what is documented, as many traffic accidents go unreported. Moreover, victims who die some time after the accident, a span of time which may vary from a few hours to several days, are not counted as car accident victims.

In 2015, one person dies every 4 minutes in roads accidents in India, according to NGO 'Indians for Road Safety'.

India stands out miserably in the latest World Health Organisation's (WHO) "Global Road Safety Report-2015" with an estimated 207,551 deaths on roads.

While a lot of road development work continues to be done by the Government, these are not sufficient to decrease the rate of road accidents. In several parts of India, road traffic is chaotic with everyone in a hurry trying to get fast past everyone in whatever space they can squeeze in by. Also, there is rash driving and drunken driving. Not everyone understands much about traffic rules, the proper use of lights, the control of speed. Very few drivers realize that they need to dim their lights when there is a head-on approaching vehicle. The intense glare of lights dazzles visibility and is extremely dangerous when there may be pedestrians walking on the road or cows sitting on the road or pot holes ahead which become invisible due to the glare of light. A slight distraction from the road ahead can prove fatal.

http://www.michelin.in/ provides certain tips:

Driving on Wet Ground:

• Always drive with two hands to stay in control.

• Slow down: tyres will have better traction and contact with the road.

• Increase your distance from other cars significantly.

• Stay vigilant of other drivers and dangers in your surroundings. Anticiliate dangerous situations rather than waiting to react to them.

• Before turning: only brake in a straight line before the turn, and do so gradually. Do not brake during the turn as this can make you slili.

• While turning: slow down before turning, and maintain a consistent slieed throughout the turn.

• While turning: don’t make any sudden steering wheel movements.

• Inspect your tyres monthly: make sure your tyres have the proper amount of tread and tyre pressure.

• Choose tyres that offer maximum grili in wet weather.

Safe driving at night:

• Give your eyes some time to adjust to the light and shadows.

• Tilt your rear view mirror slightly to reduce the dazzling effect of the car headlights behind you or change to night setting, if your rear view mirror has this option.

• Don't look directly at the headlights from cars travelling in the opposite direction. Avoid driving with headlights on high beam to avoid inconvenience to commuters travelling in opposite direction. High beam should be used when there is no vehicle in front for some distance.

• Always flash the headlights a couple of times before overtaking a vehicle.

• Don’t drive too fast: visibility is reduced at night, making it hard for you to see the road ahead.

Safe driving in fog:

• Visibility deteriorates in fog:

• Turn on your dipped headlight and fog lights.

• Reduce your speed and refrain from overtaking.

• Leave enough time to react in an emergency by keeping a safe braking distance from the vehicle in front of you.

Safe driving in wind:

• Reduce your speed. Be prepared to stop at any time.

• Close all windows. An open window can attract airborne particles like dust that can affect visibility.

• Keep an eye out for obstacles or debris being blown on to the road.

• Be aware that people may not hear your horn during strong windy conditions.

• If you’re carrying cargo on your vehicle, make sure it’s tied down securely.

• Be very careful passing taller vehicles especially in exposed areas or on bridges.

Safe driving in mountain areasBefore driving:

• Prior to setting off, check your brakes; test them and check the brake fluid.

• Carry the tools necessary in case you break down (for a full list see Precautions and Emergencies).

• Check the condition of your spare tyre: the appropriate pressure is especially important.

• Check the weather and road conditions in the mountain area and choose your route wisely.

• Avoid driving at high speed

• Horn while turning on roads in the day time and in the nigh time use dipper

While driving:

• Sound your horn in advance if your view is blocked during cornering.

• Drive carefully and slow down in turns, especially when your view is blocked.

• Never speed or pass in sharp turns where you may not see oncoming vehicles.

Safe driving in mud

• Simple ways to decide if you can get across the mud:

• When there’s heavy mud on the road or if you’re driving off-road, stop your vehicle and inspect the hardness and depth of the mud before driving through it.

• Observe tire tracks of other vehicles to gauge the depth and consistency of the mud.

• Determine the type of vehicles that have left the track from the sizes and widths of the track. Use that information as a reference to decide if you can get across.

Check Michelin for more tips
Also check Business Today for defensive driving tips.

Automobile Association has the following tips for two-wheelers and car-drivers:

Riding on a Two wheeler you are Most vulnerable Save Yourself and others by Safe and defensive driving.

• Check Vehicle condition particularly Brake, Tyre Presssure, Light, Horn Clutch before starting the vehicle for the day.

• Wear Helmet fixing the chain strap properly for your bare head cannot bear a fall on the Road. Wearing it and carrying it may be inconvenient. But not wearing it, is not worth the risk of dying or living like a Vegetable. Be specially careful while carrying a pillion passenger. Do not make him or her suffer for your mistake.

• Drive on left side of the Road leaving the centre of the road for cars and avoid zig zag driving.

• Signal your intentions clearly and well in advance and follow traffic signals correctly.

• Do Not Turn Abruptly and Don’t take chances.

• When Vehicles wait for signal or due to some Block, que up and do not go infringing opposite vehicle’s right of way.

• Space in between moving vehicles is left for avoiding collision and do not ride in that Gap.

• Speed limit of 40 km per hour is only the maximum limit and speed depends on traffic and road condition.

• On the road traffic situation can change at any time and hence alertness is a must.

• Anticipate and make allowance for the mistake of other users.

• Respond properly to what you see in the mirror.

• Vehicle cannot stop at the same place where you brake and this stopping distance will increase with the speed.

• Treat every junction as ‘Halt and Go’ Point and slow down well before approaching the junction.

• Never overtake on Bridges, Junctions, Pedestrian Crossing, School Zones and in places marked with yellow lines.

• Overtaking on left is never right.

• Do not talk on cell phone while driving. Park and Talk.

• Be prepared always to give way even if it is your right of way for courtesy and consideration will make your trip peaceful and pleasant.

• Give Way to pedestrian at pedestrian crossing.

• Stop at stop line when signal turns from green to amber and do not start before amber becomes green again.

When you are driving a Car

• When starting from parked place watch out, signal and then proceed.

• Give way to pedestrians at pedestrain crossing.

• Restrict speed according to Traffic conditions.

• Signal your intentions clearly and well in advance and follow traffic signals correctly.

• Remember that braking distance increases steeply with speed.

• Be cautious and slow while going in the school zone.

• Overtaking in bridges, cutting yellow lines and in junctions can result in head on collision.

• Overtaking in right only is right.

• Stop at Traffic signal even when green treen turns to Amber.

• In signal points and traffic hold ups que up without overtaking.

• Fasten Seat Belt.

• Keep children in the rear seat only.

• Horn only when you must.

• Dip and Dim your light while driving in night to prevent accident arising out of Dazzling light.

Defensive Driving is ‘Driving expecting the unexpected’. You have to drive giving allowance for other road users behaviour. The National Safety Council of U.S.A defines Defensive Driving as ‘Driving to save lives, time and money inspite of the conditions around you and the actions of others’.
Defensive driving is discipline driving. Defensive drivers must exhibit patience, cooperation and courtesy.

Forced Ambivalence

How would your emotions be like if you found, on the same page of a newspaper, both a heart-breaking news and also a joyful news?

The modern world of information explosion, with various mutually disconnected threads and streams of information, force humans to have several disconnected and split responses at the same time. One thread of news reports a violent train or airplane accident in which hundreds were killed (Experiencer A). Another thread of news reports jubilant celebration of a political victory or a sports trophy won by a favorite team (Experiencer B). Can both of these be reconciled? Do they need to be reconciled? The diversified information forces ambivalent responses. We are forced to both share in the joy and also share in the sorrow at the same time. The ambivalence gets severe when there is a mutual disconnection between the two experiencers (A and B), but only the respondent (C) is aware of both the news at the same time.

When the experiences are both deep, the ambivalence is also deep and genuine. It seems to reflect a split personality since one cannot be happy and sad at the same time, but the new ability makes one so towards the two stories, and troubled within. Does some sort of, dash of, amnesia or forgetfulness help to keep these two apart from each other?

Also, the pace and speed with which things happen afford less luxury for emotions to settle down. The world of experience is like a stage of shifting shadows, and the shadows excite joy and sorrow simultaneously.

This turns our mind to Divine Emotions. Of course, finite minds cannot understand anything of Divine Emotions. God is omniscient, knowing all things from the beginning to the end, and there is no surprise information to God. He knows all things. But, the Bible also talks about God being grieved and also being joyful. While in one part of the globe, one of His children may be rejoicing in celebration of a joyous moment, in the other part of the globe, someone may be weeping. God shares joy and sorrow with both individually, personally and is genuine to both.

Adversity forces our spirit to present itself to God, to stand straight by His power in face of storms, to be timeless and unaffected by events of time and yet be genuinely responsive to these at the same time; yet, without being confused.