Finding Purpose & Meaning In Life [should I say it is found when I experience 'whatever my eyes desired' (see this website's name) to borrow the lines from a Bible-author (Ecclesiastes 2:10)? Read this blog to discover the answer].

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  • DO A RCB AND FACE DISQUALIFICATION DESPITE THOSE SIXES?

    -Duke Jeyaraj
     

    “Does 6s matter? RCB with most sixes (103) in IPL6 could not qualify to the last four, while CSK conceding most 6s (80) tops the table!” writes Mohandas Menon, a smart cricket statistician. By hitting those sixes, several of those were totally unnecessary given the match situation, the RCB batsmen were playing to the ‘gallery’. They were responding to the crowd’s demand. The result of such foolishness is for us to see – a disappointing failure to qualify for the playoffs narrowly for two years in a row. We too can ‘do a RCB’. Let me explain: we can do those things that are pleasing to the crowd and fail to walk in the “narrow”, unpopular, way which Jesus talked about (Math 7:14). The end result of following the broad way, the popular way, is ‘disqualification’ from eternal heaven (I Cor 9:27). The consequences of this folly is an everlasting torment in hell-fire – a place Jesus talked about eight times.

  • A BRUTAL BUILDING CRASH IN BANGLADESH & A SANDESH (GOOD NEWS)

    – Duke Jeyaraj

    Have a look at this heart-rending picture from the deadliest industrial disaster to hit the South Asian nation of Bangladesh when an eight-storey building (called Rana Plaza) which housed five garment factories (that employed 4000 people) collapsed. In this chilling frozen frame we see two victims of this disaster lying covered in debris together — blood hardened on the man’s cheek like a permanent tear. Many photographers documented the April 24, 2013 tragedy, standing silent testimony to the high cost of cheap labor. As more bodies were recovered on Friday, 10 May 2013, the total number of people confirmed dead rose to 1,039, even though 2400 survivors were rescued, said Maj. Zihadul Islam, a fire service official. But Taslima Akhter, in particular, shot a heartbreaking image that put a face on the tragedy for countless viewers across the world — starting with Akhter himself. Workers continue to find bodies, many of them in decomposed state, difficult to recognize.

    (From various websites)

    Rewind two thousand years. The town – Jerusalem. In the country of Israel. Another tower crashes. 18 people get killed as a result. The tower had a name – the tower of Siloam. Some escape by the skin of their teeth. Narrowly. There was no newspapers then. No Times of India. No Hindustan Times. No Deccan Chronicle. By word of mouth the news reaches this man. Who? Jesus. God in flesh.

    He told the crowd around him something which made their ears tingle: “Those 18 in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse sinners than all other Jerusalemites? No not at all. Unless you repent, you too will die!” (Luke 13: 3-5, The Message).

    Jesus was implying that death for all of us is inevitable.

    In the previous set of verses (vs. 1-2) Jesus was told about how the Roman Political ruler over the Jews in the area of Galilee named Pilate killed a few of them as they were making a sacrifice and went on to mix the blood of the dead folks in the sacrifice they offered. In the present passage, 18 people had died in an building crash accident. The implication is this: all of us would have to die – whether by assassination or by accident.

    Jesus’ point here was this: those who escaped that particular building crash weren’t more righteous than those who died during it. Jesus’ message was this: all the survivors had to check there was sin in their lives and then repent from it, if there was. Jesus’ warning was this: if there was no sincere penitence there would be sure punishment. The punishment that Jesus referred to here was the punishment of perishing. “Perish” was a Bible word for an everlasting life in ever-burning hell.

    Jesus is patient towards you that he does not want you to perish (in hell) but instead you would choose to take a U-turn and come to Him without wasting anymore time – that’s Peter’s point (2 Peter 3:9). Rahab, a prostitute did not “perish” because she repented (she was ready to relocate from her brothel and go with the True God believing spies who came to visit her) and believed in the True God of the Bible (see Heb 11:31). Would you also repent from sin and believe in Jesus so that you will not ‘perish’ in eternal hell?

    Immediately after Jesus wrapped a message of repentance around the building crash event/the killing of Galileans event he told a story: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9). What did Jesus try to convey here? It is this: “If we have escaped an assassination bid or an accident, it’s not because we are more righteous than those who have perished by it. It is because I, Jesus, have been gracious to you to give you another chance. Another chance to repent. Another chance to take a U-turn and come back to me, who died for you on the Cross. But if you stay stubbornly in sin, a day is surely coming when you will be ‘cut off’ – go to hell!”

    Having escaped “certain death” would you run straight to His arms, saying ‘no’ to sin? Do it now!

  • Kings XI Punjab's Ice Cool Prince David Miller's Dad & Your King of Kings Dad!

    Duke Jeyaraj wraps the Good News around the RCB Vs KXIP game in Mohali on 6 May 2013

    He perhaps played the greatest ever IPL innings – ‘the 38-ball-101’ David Miller,
    He scored his last 74 runs off just 20 balls, hitting four after four and sixer after sixer,
    Miller was batting on 41 when the RCB skipper, Virat Kohli, dropped an absolute sitter,
    It was as if Kohli’s hands were made out of butter and ‘You have dropped the match, mate’ Miller did perhaps silently mutter,
    And to think just the previous ball, Kohli had given an heated advice to the Vinay Kumar, the bowler,
    Post that dropped catch Miller, 41 not out then, blitzed 60 runs off 17 balls, RCB’s hopes to shatter,
    His cluster of boundaries had a terrorizing effect on RCB – there was a misfield even from De Villiers, the fielder,
    As Miller lifted Gayle for a typical V area six, Kings XI won with couple of overs still available as a filler!
    And you could hear a stadium full of Kings XI fans in Mohali and owner Priety Zinta in joy, holler!
    Post the match, Miller talked about the batting tips given him by his father,
    ‘When the ball is in the V, hit it over the tree and hit it out of the park when it’s in the ark’ – so advised the Miller, senior,
    And on that magic night, obedient to his daddy was David, the brutally brilliant V-area ball-striker!

    This reminded me of the loving invitation of the Bible’s Luke 15 Heavenly Father,
    ‘I want you, son, home – that you have been rebelling against me, all this while, it doesn’t matter!’
    ‘I want to give you a ring to wear and your face, I want to, with kisses, smother!’
    ‘My perfect Son, Jesus Christ died in your place, and therefore comes this forgiveness offer!’
    Would you be obedient to this Heaven Dad loving call, as David Miller was to his dad’s charge, dear sister and brother?

  • SANJAY DUTT AND THE GOODNEWS FROM GOOD FRIDAY

    Duke Jeyaraj
     
    Bollywood Actor Sanjay Dutt was sentenced to a five-year jail term for illegal possession of weapons in the 1993 Bombay bomb blast case. Having spent 18 months in jail he will have to spend three-and-half years in prison as per the court verdict released a few days ago. To this he responded fighting back the tears, “I have not applied for pardon. There are others who deserve pardon.” (The Hindu, March 29, 2013). Dutt is saying in-effect here: “I deserve this punishment!” That reminds me of what one of the thieves crucified alongside Jesus two thousand years back said. He said, “We are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man (Jesus) has done nothing wrong.” This thief was saying in-effect: “I deserve this punishment!” And he went on to tell Jesus, “Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” (Lk 23:41-42). This dying thief exhibited two things: a repentant spirit and a visionary faith. He was sorry for the life as a robber. Though Jesus did not look any different from them at that point in time, he had eyes of faith to see Jesus as King of Kings with a kingdom! Upon seeing these two qualities, Jesus promised him paradise (Lk 23:43). The lesson: we may have squandered our lives, we may be sinners of the worst sort, but if we truly repent and totally trust Christ and what he has done for us on the Cross, we too will go to heaven! What is more, life on this earth will be meaningful and purposeful!

  • What Men Rob Women Of

    – Duke Jeyaraj

    What men, in general (though there are exceptions) rob women of I have put it in the form of an acronym ‘w-o-m-a-n’:

    W-wages. World over, women do still get paid much less than men, even if both end up doing the same job.

    O-rgasm. This point applies to married couples only, and those planning to get married. While men want to have a great time in the bed, they aren’t, generally speaking, considerate enough to ensure that their wives equally share in this enjoyment.

    M-ansions. Certain parents show partiality when it comes to dividing their ‘mansions’ – properties. The boys get a better share, most often than not.

    A-ttention. When a woman speaks, many men go, “There is nothing I am going to learn from this person for after all she is a woman!” and switch off their prejudiced minds.

    N-ight Freedom. A woman cannot travel alone, eat out alone, or even take a walk, late at night without fearing for her safety in our time, most times than not. The reason: yes, there are men who still behave like beasts out there.

    Only an encounter with Jesus, who entered the world born of a woman (Gal 4:4) can soundly convert men so that they will stop robbing women.

  • READING THE LINES THAT SHAHRUKH WROTE COMPARING RELIGION TO HIS FATHER’S SPECTACLES WITH “THE SPECTACLES OF REASON!”

    – Duke Jeyaraj




    Shah Rukh Khan wrote the following words in a recent, widely-talked about essay published by the Outlook magazine group: “For I believe, our religion is an extremely personal choice, not a public proclamation of who we are. It’s as person as the spectacles of my father who passed away some 20 years ago. Spectacles that I hold onto as my most prized and personal possession of his memories, teachings and of being a proud Pathan. I have never compared those with my friends, who have similar possessions of their parents or grandparents. I have never said my father’s spectacles are better than your mother’s saree. So why should we have this comparison in the matter of religion, which is as personal and prized a belief as the memories of your elders.”


    Shah Rukh compares the religion he followed to his father’s spectacles, here. This comparison he makes needs to be read by wearing “the spectacles of reason.” In other words, we must put our thinking caps and analyze what Shah Rukh has stated about religion here! What Shah Rukh seems to say in the aforementioned essay is simple: the main reason he has stayed put in his religion without converting to another, is that, it was handed over to him by his forefathers. When the claims of Jesus Christ’s uniqueness in a world of many religions are presented to folks, they generally voice the very same point that Shah Rukh so eloquently talks about here, using different vocabulary to defend their conviction that it is not necessary to convert to Christ, turning aside from the faith of their forefathers. How should one respond to this?


    Come to think of it – there are many things, which many of us follow which weren’t given to us by our fathers or forefathers, in the first place! There are number of things we have to ban in our lives if we use the not-so-sensible logic that goes, “We will not embrace anything that our fathers or forefathers did not embrace!” Cricket came to us from England – not from our forefathers. Yet, we play that game! The mobile phone was invented and used first by Martin Cooper of Motorola in the country of the United States, in the year 1973. None of our great-grand fathers ever used it. But we use it, nevertheless! An American college student invented Facebook. But it’s part and parcel of our daily existence, isn’t it, even though it never crossed our ancestor’s mind? Shah Rukh Khan has openly talked about his addiction to the smoking habit in several forums. But even smoking is not something that came from an Indian grand-father or great-father. To tell the truth, tobacco came from North America. Yet, many Indians, like Shah Rukh smoke! The I-10 Hyundai Car that Shah Rukh promoted via ads is a car made by a Korean company! We could go on and on in this debate! When we embrace some stuff that never came from our ancestors (say cricket, mobile phones, Facebook, etc) and why do we hesitate to embrace religious faith our ancestors, perhaps, never followed, if that religious faith was indeed true and unique? Why this double-standard? Why this hypocrisy?


    Let us get to the bottom of what I am trying to say through all of this: if we are honest, we would admit that we do indeed practice things that our forefathers never practiced; if we are truthful, we would surely admit that we accept things that our fathers never accepted. So, the question we must ask when we choosing our religious persuasion is not, “How can I embrace a religion which my father or grandfather never embraced?” Instead, we must ask the question, “Is the religion that I blindly follow because my father follows(ed) it, true?”


    And Jesus, the only God-in-flesh, claimed to be “the” truth and that there was no other way to God the Father, except through Him (see John 14:16 in The Bible). In other words, Jesus indicated through this claim, that any claim of anyone else contradicting this His claim, was fully false. And Jesus gave proof of this claim through his pure life (even his worst enemies could not find a single fault with him) and powerful life (he worked outstanding miracles which even his enemies acknowledged). What’s more, he died on a cruel Cross, as a substitute for the sins of people of all religions, races and time, the Bible teaches (see Hebrews 9:12 in The Bible). Whoever we may be, whatever religion we may belong to, we must all repent from our sins, wrong beliefs concerning God, and put our total faith on Jesus who is going to judge all of the world on the final day, to experience salvation, true life, real joy and lasting peace – the Bible teaches (Acts 17:29-31). And there is simply no other way!

  • THERE'S A PONTING IN US SOMEWHERE LURKING

    – Duke Jeyaraj


    Pugnacious Australian Ricky Ponting is finally retiring,
    He will be remembered for his attacking batting,
    You may have never seen a better batsman, the short ball, pulling,
    The runs which accounted for his team’s win, like none other, he kept accumulating,

    Not to forget – the finest among his generation was his acrobatic fielding,
    On really big occasions when other Captains had their head spinning,
    And did foolish things like play reverse sweeps – think of Jayawardane and Gatting,
    That’s when Ricky Ponting found his most murderous timing,
    His score in the 2003 World Cup Finals – Indians won’t forget – was 140 batting,

    There’s another aspect of Ponting’s career about which we cannot avoid talking,
    That is that he did not mind ill-mannerly protesting,
    When the umpires made decisions that were baffling,
    He did not shy away from claiming,
    Catches that he had taken after the ball did the bumping,
    “The leader of a pack of wild dogs!” – that’s a title he once ended up from Roebuck receiving,
    In a particular press conference he did not mind reporters to be leaving,
    If it was his integrity that they were doubting,

    There’s a bit of Ponting inside us somewhere lurking,
    To take care of that, Jesus, God in flesh, under-went bleeding,
    He did that to save a brash generation, which to hell, was speeding,
    Come to him, right now, repenting and believing,
    You will discover a peace, that will be still be there when troubles raise to the height of the ceiling!

  • WHY WAS I BORN? THE ANSWER FROM “ENGLISH VINGLISH”, THE ANSWER FROM ENGLISH BIBLE!

    – Duke Jeyaraj

    In the 2012 movie, English Vinglish,  the lead is played by Sri Devi.  The Ripple Effects WordPress account has some superb details about this movie which I present to you: Sri Devi is a lively, capable woman, a  cook who runs her own catering business, her specialty the ladoos, sweet golden balls of dainty delights’. “She’s born to make ladoos,” her husband’s intended praise of her cooking skills only reflects the confining social reality in which she finds herself.
    If Sri Devi’s husband in the movie English Vinglish thought that she was born to make ladoos, what do you think you were born for? I recall a popular song in which the boy tells the girl he loves that he was born before her so that he could be present to receive her and cuddle her from the moment  she (the girl he loved) came out of her mother’s womb! Well, well, well! What are we born into the planet called earth? What is the purpose of our existence? The Bible teaches that each one of us was born to have a relationship with the living God, Yahweh.  God would walk in the garden of Eden where he created and placed man and woman in the cool of the day (Gen 3:8). That Scripture text gives a clear indication of God’s desire to have living relationship with every member of the human race. David Pawson says, “God had one son. He enjoyed that son – God in flesh, Jesus – whom he had rich fellowship very much. He wanted to have more sons and daughters to the same rich fellowship with. That’s why he created the human race.” Pawson comes to this conclusion after having read Hebrews 2:10 in his Bible which goes this way: “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” Paul agrees with this truth presented by the writer to the Hebrews in Romans 8:29
    Sin comes between us and God and spoils sport in our relationship with him (see Isa. 59:2 in the Bible). The transgressions we commit drives a wedge between us and our Maker. But through faith on the finished work of the  Jesus done for us upon the cross of Calvary, we can once again fulfill the purposes for which God originally created us. These God-given purposes include living a holy life empowered by the Holy Spirit with the example of Jesus before us (1 Thes  4:3). These God-given purposes for humans also include a call for involvement  in the task of winning souls for it is God’s will that none should perish (2 Pet 3:9). So, God’s purpose for our lives is not about ladoo-making but about lust-defying (being holy!) and living in close fellowship with him. So, God’s purpose for our lives is not all about sweet-making but about soul-winning whereby we bring other, just-like-we-once-were, lost people back to a warm fellowship with him!
    In summary, God created us to be his “workmanship…prepared beforehand …predestined”  to do good works like Christ did so that we will be ultimately conformed to the image of Christ, our perfect elder brother, the Bible records (Eph 2:10; Rom 8:29).


  • Historic National-level Youth Conference Coming Up In Hyderabad – Join In & Don't Miss!

    – Duke Jeyaraj

    One of the reasons Evan and I chose to live in Hyderabad and go about doing the itinerant ministry to youth from this particular city is the wonderful way God brought the ministry of Youth Alive into our lives. I was invited to speak in a Youth Alive Camp way back in 2002 for the first time by Rev. Younus Samuel and there was no turning back in what was a superb, God-ushered relationship between Youth Alive and G4 Mission, the ministry to modern youth I founded in 2006, from then on. For those of you who do not know, Youth Alive, is the youth ministry of the New Life AG Church, Hyderabad. Under the able leadership of the Senior Associate Pastor of the New Life AG Church who is also the National Youth Coordinator of the Assemblies of God of India’s National Youth Ministry, Rev. Valson Varghese, a National Conference for Youth is being organised this October. I am happy to let you know that I have been invited to be part of the team of speakers for this event, which I believe will be history-making. I urge you strongly to join this conference if you are a young person or send youth you know for this conference if you are leader to youth or a pastor or a parachurch organisation leader. They will be blessed. They will set on fire for the things of God in a remarkable way! When they return from this conference they will be a blessing to your fellowship/local church, I am sure.

    Few Details for this Conference:

    Dates: 23-25 October, 2012
    We’re inviting youth between 15 – 30 years old – Unmarried Single Youth ONLY to participate.
    Married people are not permitted unless they are serving as Youth Leaders / Directors or Chaperones.
    These leaders will oversee the Youth from their local Churches.
    The Registration fee is Rs. 500 (for 3 days) This includes food & lodging for outstation participants. (Actual cost is Rs 1100 per person) Travel needs to be borne by the participant or sponsored by the local Churches. 

    ONLINE REGISTERATION: GO ONLINE AT www.nymindia.com and register online. Or contact – 040-66385451 immediately. 
      
    3000 young people from all over India are expected for this conference.

    Young people from over 17 Indian states have already decided to come!

    Don’t miss out. Make immediate plans to come for this rocking, rare, event which will refresh and revive you!

  • What Sammy Said At The Presentation After West Indies Won the 2012 T20 World Cup….

    – Duke Jeyaraj’s poem on the West Indies-Sri Lanka T20 World Cup Final

    West Indies were limping at 32-2 after 10 overs, and 48-2 after 12 – the wily young Lankan spinners – Mendis and Dhananjaya  –  would not let them break free!
    With their eyes of faith, the Sri Lanka fans watching this game on their home ground, their country holding the T20 World Cup, could definitely see!
    That’s when Marlon Samuel’s played an innings that has been aptly called the ‘281 of T20’ and went on a sensational, murderous six-hitting spree!
    By smashing 26 off 15 balls Captain Darren Sammy said, “The responsibility of ensuring that the West Indies finish the innings well after Samuels got out would be squarely on me!”
    Sri Lanka were going about the chase okay, when they were 47-1 at the end of the 9th over with both their legends Jayawardene and Sanga still in the middle,
    That’s when some super bowling by Badree, Narain and Samuels, exposed the Sri Lankan middle order that proved ever so brittle,
    When fighting-back Kulasekara started to smash Ravi Rampaul, ice cool senior pro Chris Gayle who just scored 3 off 16 balls earlier in the day, was there to calm him in a speech given in a huddle,
    In their entire innings Sri Lanka collapsed to score less runs than the runs West Indies did in their last 10 overs (105) and their fans were ready to eject on them, in disgust, their spittle!
    While West Indies danced to celebrate after having won a World Cup after 33 long years, for Sri Lanka  in four straight World Finals, it was the case of regret and tears,
    And in the presentation ceremony, Captain Sammy talked about Jesus Christ who died on the Cross as the one, who amidst all the criticism he had faced, who calms all his fears!
    The thrill and satisfaction that one get when watching a good T20 game fades away quickly when life’s problems pricks as briers!
    That’s why you need to come in repentance and faith to the Jesus that Captain Sammy talked about – to experience even amidst long life calamities, lasting cheers!