Happiness

I met these kids in Hyd during a traffic Jam and I couldnt help myself but smile, when I saw the happiness on their faces..... for a moment I thought;What does these Children have to be happy ???? good food ? rich parents ? good toys to play with ? good cosy homes ? hot dinners ?

I leave you all to ponder with one little thought..

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. - C S Lewis

Who am I ??

Well.... the other day I was standing in Queue at my office canteen, and I saw this boy serving tea. He was about my age, my height.. a lil more fairer thn me, and spoke my mother tounge , and so he was from my state.

And it made me think... what did I do more to get this white collared job and what did he not do, not to get it, absolutly NOTHING....... 

Is it my merit that I was born into an educated family? Is it my merit that my parents had enough money to pay for my college? Is it my merit that the job market was good when I passed out and I got a job ? Is it my merit that my state had good educational institutions?

The answer is always NO

"I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly." Psalm 22:10

That was my cry when I got out of my canteen !!

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You're

Casting Crowns

Grandma's note....

This is what my grandma wrote to me for my 23rd bday; I just want to post this again ! 

----
My dear Renji mon,
Wish you a very very happy and blessed birthday.May our Lord shower all His abundant blessings upon you,throughout this year and the years to come.Keep your eyes on the Lord. He never takes His eyes off you.When we keep our eyes on Christ, obstacles become opportunities.To know ,to love and to live for God is the desire of a renewed sanctified soul.Pray well. He stands best who kneels most.Prayer is a child's helpless cry to the father's attentive ear. All who are born of God should develop a likeness to their father. Live like a flower by spreading fragrance.
May our loving and living Lord bless you physically & spiritually. Praying for you fervently.
Yours affectionately,
Amma

----
she is in ICU now and going thru a difficult time.. do remember her in prayers.

--- Update

She just passed away .....

#****#

എന്‍റെ ആദ്യത്തെ മലയാളം പോസ്റ്റ്.
സഹോദരി സഹോദരന്മാരെ, നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് നമസ്കാരം. മലയാള സാഹിത്യ സംസ്കരിക ലോകത്തെ ഞാന്‍ ഞെട്ടിക്കാന്‍ പോകുന്നു.
നന്ദി !

Jewel in the Crown

Well....that's what I would like to call Delhi.... the capital of my country. 'twas my first visit Feb 19- 24 to Delhi, and definitely not my last ! So what did Delhi have to offer ?

This first picture is that of Qutab Minar . The minar complex is in Mehrauli South Delhi. Completed by several genarations of Sultans who ruled India. This stands as a testament to Indo- Islamic Architecture. The entire complex stands on what used to be Jain Temples. Jain figurines can still be seen

on certain stones on the minaret. Intricate carvings in Arabic make the minaret exotic and beautiful to look at. Allaudin another sul

tan, who ruled India wanted to make another minar that surpassed the glory of Quatab Minar. Unfortunately he died when the minar was being constucted and the work stopped. The complex also has a metalurgical marvel - The Ashoka Pillar. Built during the reign of the greatest king of the Mauryan Dynasty. Till date nobody has been able to find what this is made of . Delhi has a number of Forts, the Old Fort and the Red Fort are of prime importance and are seen as a symbol of the strength of the Mughal empire. The forts were used by different armies, the Indian Army continues to occupy a part of the forts, while the rest are open to visitors. The Fort was occupied by Sikhs, the British after the first war of Indian Independence and later by the Indian Army. In 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nerhru hoisted the Indian National flag over Red Fort on 15th August delcaring indepedence from the British.

The fort was built by Emperor Shah Jahan, and was the capital of the 7th Muslim city on Delhi soil. This is from where Emperor Shah Jahan used to give his public audiences. The fort also had Shah Jehan's Palace as well has palaces for his favourite wives.

Well.. there is a lot more in store.. will post em in the coming days !

Dress Code or DisComfort ???

Being presentable is one thing; and being a lil foolish is another.

Disclaimer : Dearest Boss, if you ever see this! I have no problem in dressing up as 'professional' as possible to work everyday !

As man evolved he started wearing clothes to protect him from the elements of weather, to keep himself safe at his workplace (hunter / warrior) and at some point as a mark of his status in society.

All this is true to the last word even today.. wearing a neck tie, full sleeved shirts (blue or white) perfectly polished shoes all perfectly answer all the above, even in a tropical country like mine; wearing a tie can be justified as we work in Air Conditioned environments ! Though its a discomfort, it ain't logically unwarranted !

A necktie at a client site or a meeting is totally understandable; but why on a sunny day? Well I guess if we forget the neckties we could save power keeping the air conditioning low or probably off ! Being clean and neat and making a neutral fashion statement is all facets of professional attire, but do we see the good we can do if we get over these !

Crazy, Confused, Conflicting thoughts..but someone would get something from this.. I hope !

Machtpolitik

It's not like me to sit at home on a Sunday morning.. 'bunking' church... but then today I felt I needed to be alone and be with my God rather than go to my church.

This post is on quite a subtle subject, I would like to let all my readers know that ; its just what my heart says and I don't intend to put down anybody!


Well.. what is a Church ? Isnt it a 'family' of believers... or a group of believers who live a family ? Arnt we the body of Christ ?

Saint Paul makes this clear in I Cor 12 .. An ardent follower of Christ would be moved to tears reading that passage.

What would happen if the different parts of our body play politics ?? Switching sides and playing dirty tricks on each other ??? How would it be if our stomach sides with the right limbs and the lungs with the left ??? Will we ever survive ? How would it be if the brain decides that its the 
most superior organ and decides to cut off 
and remove the other body parts ? Will it survive ??????

Arnt we fighting each other holding the same banner ? the banner of Christ ! ( if ever we are holding it .... or do we have our own banners ? )

I've been troubled in my heart for a couple of years or even more now... Must be from the time I
started to understand people. I love my church. The church where my parents brought me first
after I was born.. the church where I went to Sunday school... the church were I was born again... yeah I was born again at a traditional CSI (Anglican) church ! the church where I confessed my faith and became part of the body of Christ !

I'm deeply saddened when people, rather believers ..do not walk the talk ... and use masks... and live double lives.. The games they play would put the shrewdest politician to shame !

All for power ? How insane ! How sad ! How Shameful ! What would become of our testimony as
followers of Christ ! 

How long will we be man pleasers and not God-pleasers ? How long will we use (abuse) church for personal gain ?
How long will we play power politics ?  Our God is someone who sees our hearts and not what we do in public. Inspite of all his infirmities God could see David's heart when He said " Here's a man after my own heart ! "

How long will we be hypocrites ? How long can we have our way and save ourselves from the wrath of God ! May God have mercy upon us and our brethren ! 

Hoping for a better day !