Mar Thoma Youth Fellowship

Got Family Time?

mskariah — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:16:00 GMT

Which is the single most factor that affects our children and youth? The response of parents may vary from anything like TV or MySpace or music or friends. A few might say church. But, studies (and experience) have shown that only a very few parents would think of and mention something that is very close to themselves-their own family. How much ever we try to ignore or cover up the real life situation of our families, it will surface through the words and actions of our own children.

Traditionally, we have placed much importance to the families in which we have grown up. Parents normally boast about the spirituality of our homes in which they grew up. In spite of the hard times in a situation of limited economic resources, the parents of old had a wealth of spiritual resources in store for their children. Naturally they had much quality time spent together with their children, which helped their faith formation and character building. Sad to say, our situations in the first world have compelled us to go for cheap substitutes.

The recently published Report Card 2007 showing the well being of children and youth in Philadelphia has some distressing realities in store for us (www.philasafesound.org). One of the central observations is that “Youth violence remains a major problem”. Also, another shocking fact is that even though “pregnancy rate for 15- to 17-year-olds continued to fall, rates for older and younger teens were on the rise”. The teen pregnancy rates hovers around 55.8 per 1000 females. We might brush these facts away as it doesn’t concern our community. But it should warn us to the disastrous consequences of broken and dysfunctional families in which these teens grow up.

The mainline culture has tricked us into thinking that the Gen Y does not appreciate the importance of family ties. But a recent survey by AP and MTV is a shocking refutation of any such thinking. To a question, what makes you happy, asked to more than a thousand people of NYC between the ages of 13 and 24, the imagined answers were, “sex, drugs, a little rock ‘n’ roll, maybe some cash, or at least car keys”, but he real and shocking top answer was, “spending time with family”. “Nearly three quarters of young people say their relationship with their parents makes them happy”. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3499089

Parents beware! Don’t barter quality time with your children with an extra work for providing for them something more; it’s a poor bargain. Give them your time, give them your love, give them your faith (hope you have a little!) Build your home wisely (Matthew 7:21-24)

Sam Achen

rev_matscar@yahoo.com

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“DO NOT STEAL”

mskariah — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:38:00 GMT

When at random I tuned into the NPR the other day there was an interesting talk show on “academic dishonesty” in the US. One of the Duke University students, under scrutiny for cheating in academics, was telling his story. He was a brilliant guy who scored many “A” s without resorting to any underhand means, but somehow fell to the lure of plagiarism. He admitted his problem of becoming intensely insecure during the writing of his papers that he would not be able to complete the work well and was compelled to cheat. It was a shock to hear him admit he was being investigated for his third misdemeanor and would probably be “expelled this time”!!!

Wikipedia provides this alarming statistics.“Academic dishonesty is endemic in all levels of education. In the United States, studies show that 20% of students started cheating in the first grade. Similarly, other studies reveal that currently in the U.S., 56% of middle school students and 70% of high school students have cheated…. As for graduate education, a recent study found that 56% of MBA students admitted cheating, along with 54% of graduate students in engineering, 48% in education, and 45% in law”.(for a complete treatment of the finer aspects of cheating, check wikipedia for academic dishonesty) Its all about stealing, honey….Our own homeland would not boast such a high performance!

Many cheating theories have been proposed. The first one being the unbearable pressure of students to perform beyond their ability in a grade crazy world. With the parents and peers expecting nothing less than the best, shortcuts are inevitable. Then there is the American consumer theory which demands grade returns for the enormous amount of money spent. These are the newer ways of chasing the ever elusive American Dream. The student point of view is, if everyone can cheat, in politics, in religion, in business, why should we be left behind? After all, we are moving into the same positions and we need to find our way in this hard world. So the blame is not with the students, but with the leaders and the society at large who encouraged them cheat…

The bottom line is that, around half of us, our friends in these elite institutions have been stealing, something that which is not ours and are roaming unhindered. A few have been found out, like those 45 friends from Virginia Univ who had to pack up for stealing; but in most cases we have remained undetected. And that is exactly something that the Lord had been telling us not to do, that too for quite a long time. (Exodus 20) But we have cut corners, found our own reasons and we keep stealing. Its high time we did something about it.

Interstingly, this has something to do with the rich young guy who we are to meet this Sunday (Matthew.19: 14ff). He comes with an enquiry for eternal life. Jesus specifiaclly asks him about the commandments, including the stealing clause. He is very sure about them being observed. Still he is not confident of eternity. Jesus finds his addiction; it is those riches that he is clinging to, that makes his life meaningless and miserable. It is a fact proved by economics that wherever there is an amassing of wealth, there has been a stealing involved, of resouces or labour or opportunities. Either the young rich man has been unjust to amass this wealth, or he has inherited a stolen legacy of wealth. The prophets of Israel always quarelled with the rich who were holding back the wages of the poor. (Deut 24:15, Amos 5:11)

This is a time for academic integrity. As youth committed to Christ, we need to be confident in God who looks beyond mere grades, who does not judge by the outward appearance but who discerns the inner being. God knows our stressful situations, our weaknesses. And he fills us with His grace and His power. He requires us to walk upright before Him (Micah 6). It is not just the way we behave on a Sunday morning.

Technology made stealing easy. Just google it, cut it and paste it. Beware; technology has made it easy to find the thief and the stolen goods too. Tech savvy Profs need just to turn in the wonderfully written essays to turnitin.com to now how much of it is wonderfully stolen!!! It would pinpoint within minutes the plagiarized content and even the source of the stolen stuff. The mysterious ways of God!!! Therefore it is not just BETTER to be true; it is even SAFE to be true too…

Have a fantastic Youth Sunday 2007

Samachn,

after a long while…

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Creatively Communicating

ageorge — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:20:00 GMT

During the last mission prayer, we reflected on Luke 10: 25-37 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010:%2025-37&version=31). In this portion, we find a lawyer asking Jesus about eternal life and who his neighbor is. When Jesus responded to the lawyer, He used the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate who one's neighbor is and how we should treat him/her. Jesus could have simply answered the lawyer's question, but He instead creatively communicated His message by using this parable and by asking him questions.

In the same way, we can use creative methods when communicating the Good News in our mission. Instead of just reciting Bible verses, we can share also our personal testimony and experiences when speaking to others about Christ and His love. Just a Jesus did when responding to the lawyer; we can engage people's interest in the message by asking them questions instead of simply providing them the answers.

How are you communicating the Good News?

In His Service,

Ashley George
DYFC Secretary

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Spreading the Good News

ageorge — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:12:00 GMT

Since not everyone can join our weekly mission prayer sessions, I would like to use this forum to share a few thoughts on the Bible portion that we reflect on during this conference call. In the DYF Mexico Mission Team, we have a prayer team that meets every Thursday night for about an hour and a half to study various Bible portions (using different study guides) and relate them to our mission in Mexico. We also use this time to uplift the many aspects of the Mexico Mission in prayer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you would like to join our prayer team, please send me an e-mail at secretary@mtcyouth.org.

In addition, every Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. ET, we meet as a DYF for a mission prayer conference call where we read the portion that the prayer team studied on Thursday night, briefly reflect, and spend time in prayer. If you do not have the conference call number, please send me an e-mail and I will provide the number and pass code accordingly.

Last week we meditated on the theme "The Good News" using Acts 10: 23-48 as our reference (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%2010:%2023-48&version=31). From this portion we saw how the Lord spoke to Peter about going to the house of Cornelius (a centurion in the Italian Regiment). In those times, the Jews did not mix with the Gentiles, and for Peter to go the house of Cornelius would be against all of society's rules. However, Peter followed the Lord's call in faith and after arriving at the house of Cornelius, he shared the good news of Jesus Christ. Because Peter put aside the differences that existed between him and Cornelius, those people who heard about Jesus Christ, by Peter's testimony, received the Holy Spirit and were blessed!

If we look at this message in the context of our mission in Mexico, we can see that the Lord is calling us to put aside the differences that we have with the Mexican people (whether it is the ethnically, culturally, economically, morally, language differences, etc...) and go and spread His good news. We are called to reach out not only to those who are different outside of our community, but also those within our own communities. How many of us actually stop to talk to the people in our own Church who may have a different background, viewpoint, etc... and share some kind words? How many of us reach out to the people in our own neighborhoods, despite being a different race, and share the good news and how God is working in our lives?

Just as God blessed those who heard Peter's message in the house of Cornelius, it is our hope and prayer that God will bless those who hear our message of love in the Mexico Mission and all the places where we go to spread the good news! Will you respond to His call and help us in spreading the good news?

In His Service,

Ashley George
DYFC Secretary

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YOUNG AND RESPECTED

bcherian — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:24:00 GMT

Last week the Sunday School Students of the Eastern Zone of our Diocese came together under the title ‘Young and Respected' at Ramapo College NJ for the Junior and Senior Conference. The young kids who came were restless in their quest to find out how to be respected in a society, that accepts only the Bold and the Beautiful. In a world where people try to define you by the feed backs they give you which may sometimes make you feel rejected we are to remember that we are image bearers of God, that gives our life worth and respect.

The theme reminds me of three young men who stood boldly before King Nebucadnezer and proclaimed their faith even at the most rejected moments of their life as found in Daniel 3: 16 - 18. What makes us respected?

Your choice: For Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego the choice is between life and death. Their circumstances turned out to be hostile to them. But they were not scared of the circumstances because they believed in the Lord of the circumstances. The situations may catch us where circumstances may force us to do unethical things. The choice is ours. Develop self-respect and walk differently so that the patterns of the world may not catch us.

Your obedience: Here we see a tension between the lesser and higher obedience. To obey the king and remain in a better position or to obey God and face the fiery furnace. They opted for the latter because they focused their eyes on the one who had called them and placed them in king's court. When you are pushed to the walls by the pressures around you, focus your eyes on the eternal/ultimate or else you will be hijacked by the immediate that will set agenda in your life. The example of obedience to the higher call is seen in the garden of Gethsemane where Christ says, "Not my will let your will be done."

Let us offer ourselves to be used by Christ.

Remember that our life is consecrated in Christ, through Christ and by Christ.

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Password: love

nchandy — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 03:58:00 GMT

The advanced computer technology erected a more sophisticated phenomenon 'my space.' This is an area where people are specially invited to enter into a more personal and intimate level. Only intimate buddies are invited to this area. It creates a personal zone, secure and manageable with secret password.

A password is the successful key to enter into the personal zone.

The love of Jesus Christ is the password that God has created to establish the broken relationship with humanity. Jesus Christ has given the same password: love to maintain relationship with him and with fellow beings.

Love is in a way creating the space to allow others into ones own heart. It is inviting others to 'my space;' to feel, to explore, and be enriched by the warmth. It is allowing others to invade my personal zone. Others are not a threat but the presence of others create a bond of relationship. The password: love, therefore creates a space for my enemy, outcast, and the outsider. That is possible only through letting go of old self. Buddhists call this "little death." Jesus said, "unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." (John 12.24) Yes our 'I' has to undergo little death. John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3.30)

An Amsterdam policeman - who had been meditating everyday for years, along with a colleague had to disarm a dangerous man. Along with a gun, the man was also carrying a knife, which had used to cut himself. He had sliced through the tendons in his fingers. The officers manged to overpower him and take him to the hospital. When the police officer was leaving the hospital a couple of hours later, the injured man called to the officer, gave him a piercing look and said, "I'll never forget your eyes." A simple act of humanity is all it takes: a look, a smile, a pose, a gesture. (Source: Ode,June, 2007, p31.)

Love one another. (2 John 5c)

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SO CAN YOU !

sjohn — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 03:26:00 GMT

A boat with a furled sail at rest reminds us of the great journeys captured and yet to be captured.A boat is designed in such a way that it can go through the waters.A car reminds us of the journey through roads and highways.So each and every minute creation of man has a purpose. A boat is designed for the journey in the waters and a car is designed for the journey on the roads. So without any second thought we can surely say that humanbeings too have some purpose in this world to fulfill.

This great purpose we can see in the life of Jesus.He was fully human and faced all the challenges and temptations like any other humanbeing during those time.So he is a doctor who knows the tear and wear of humanbeings.He proved us that we can lead a life by not being the slaves of satan through Jesus intimate relationship with His Father.His aim was to establish the kingdom of God in our midst. As his disciples our purpose of life is also the same.

Jesus started his ministry by saying " Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near " ( Mathew 4:17 ). So according to Jesus Kingdom of God is not something related to earthly kingdoms, but its related to our humanminds. It is a growing experience in human life. It is an experience where God is in complete control in human life. So Jesus said, " My kingdom is not of this world " ( John 18:36 ).

Luke Ch.6: 27 - 36 Jesus is giving a golden principle for the kingdom of God. Love your fellowbeings as God loved them i.e. Christs disciples are not to react but to act according to the Kingdom principles of love, forgiveness and generosity. In other words, just as one's life - style is not determined by the enemy, neither is it determined by the friend. Rather than a person hating in response to hatred and loving in response to love, Christian behavior and relationships are prompted by the God we worship who does not react but acts in love and grace toward all. This is what it means to be children of God ( vs. 35 ).

Let us look into our own life and see whether our deeds are actions or reactios ? We always blame the other person that because of his /her actions we reacted that way. Let me share one incident that happened in India almost 4yrs. back. An Australian Missionary named Graham Staines served in one of the remote villages in Orissa. He and his family worked among the lepors. But one day the family had to face a tragedy in their life. Graham Staines and his two sons were burned alive by some miscreants while they were sleeping in their own van at night. Now his wife and daughter are lonely. If we were in their place what would have been our reactions ? We might return back to our own country. But what was the action of Mrs.Gladys Staines ? She openly said: I have forgiven the people who burned alive my husband and children and we have decided to stay in Orissa and continue to work among the lepors.

We can ask God to help us to produce real actions and not mere reactions.

Let me conclude with a prayer of an African Christian -

Oh God, enlarge my heart that it may be big enough to receive the greatness of your love.

Stretch my heart that it may take into it all those who with me around the world believe in Jesus Christ.

Stretch it that it may take into all those who do not know him, but who are my responsibility because I know him.

And stretch it that it may take in all those who are not lovely in my eyes, and whose hands I do not want to touch;

through Jesus Christ, my savior, Amen.

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"ON THE CALL"

mskariah — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 11:35:00 GMT

Last week, I had the scare of my life. A US Justice department letter arrives calling me to report for jury duty. I had no idea as to why they found my name for that! The consequences for not reporting for duty was quite frightening. Anyway I was elated to be invited for such a great job and let come what may i started filling up the reply form and there comes the question confirming my US citizenship!!! Hey did these not know that i am still a poor youthachen !!! I only had dual citizenship, in India and in Heaven(both God's own places) and never in this land.

That was a call which was out of place...i didnt have any place in the Justice Department in my present status...

The God of the Bible seems to be very excited about call people at all(odd) times and in all(odd) places and of course all kinds of (odd) people too. He started with calling the first man on earth, the Superman called Adam, the Superfaith Hero Abraham, ...and still he keeps calling ordinary mortals like each on of us.

Two fun things about the call

God calls us out of our hideouts. The Sea of Galilee was Peter's favorite hideout.He toiled there his lifetime. there were times when he was the Fisherman in chief, there were times when he was a fisherman without fish. He had sunk and swam in those waters, he would jump in naked whenever he felt he was a miserable sinner. The Galilean beach was the place that he would run to in the event of all his frustrations. And now he is there again at the rock bottom of all his career. Failed dreams, dashed hopes and lost profession is all that he has...he is hiding in the waters...And there Jesus is precisely where he is invited for a Seaside BBQ( Abercrombe and Fish) He is the Moses of the Old Testament, who had to graze his Father in law's sheep( oh what a plight) in a Horebian hideout. And there is God, with his voice, Moses, Moses...Our hideouts are not a barrier for our god and his call...

God's call helps us face our inadequacies. why should Jesus ask the same question three times to Peter? Do you love me? X 3. Yes thats where Jesus gets to the bottom of the man's life. It was not the first time that Jesus encountered Peter. The pressures of life was so hard for him to sustain that relationship. He was akin to an alcoholic who slips away at the first sound or suggestion of a fine drink. There had to be a very deep surgery for that syndrome. Only an intense interaction would accomplish a lasting change. Peter had to be entrusted with the sheep, with God's own flock. But then he should be strengthened to deal with his own inadequacies. And the questions breaks him, he is utterly at the mercy of His Master.

Do we excuse ourselves from the divine call of our Lord? we maybe in our hideouts, we may not be able to deal with our own inadequacies..we would hope to listen to God's call once we are all OK. But we need not wait for that. The call itself is an assurance that we are being strengthened to face our own inadequacies...

today is the day when we meditate upon the ordained ministry of our church. Not the best and the most accoplished are called, but very ordinary people like me and you too. sometimes I wonder, Lord, am I the one to serve your people, with loads of inadequacies...yes he has been so faithful and just.

Yesterday, i came across a Volume congratulating the Golden Jubilee of E J Geoge achen, one of our great leaders and the elder brother of Mar Barnabas Thirumeni. What a great life, when God call out a man fr his ministry. Lets thank god for all the youth of our Diocese who have gone out for full time ministry, and those who are at the seminary now, Alex and Dennis...and for each one of you who are responding to God's each and every moment of your life...Praise God.

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Against Giving????? *

nchandy — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 21:10:00 GMT

We all are taught or instructed to give. Giving is considered as one of the noble act. We often ask questions like, how much I have to give. Or to which project I should help?

These questions pose an idea as if we are the owners of our resources. Who can give? Only a person who owns can give.

Human beings, according to the Bible, are stewards. “Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries” 1 Corinthians 4.1. Steward means manager. One who acts on behalf of someone else. A manager has no right tot act according to his/her plan. He/she is entrusted to fulfill the wish and plan of the owner. Managers act in the interest of the owners.

In that sense, are we acting as owners or as stewards? Do we own anything? The way we do with our resources often reflects as if we are owners of everything.

The Bible teaches us that God is the owner of everything. We are mere managers or stewards for Him.

The biblical God is a giving God. God spends his resources for the benefit of others. Even He was willing to spend/spare His Son for us. We ought to spend all our resources for human benefit and for the glory of God. The nature of God is to give abundantly. We are also expected to give abundantly.

Therefore don’t give as per our plan, give according to God’s plan, like the widow’s mite. She gave out of her poverty. “She out of her poverty has put in all she had to live.” Luke 21.4

* I am indebted to The Rev. Francis H. Wade for the title.

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WITNESS THROUGH SUFFERING

bcherian — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:58:00 GMT

Mark Chap 6 begins with Jesus being rejected in his own village but ends up being accepted in other places where people come seeking him. When does a witness become relevant? Only when we have a first hand experience. Every witnessing is challenging but standing for the truth decides how deeply we are rooted in our conviction.

Mk 6:14-29 speaks of a prophet compromising his life for the truth. The death of John the Baptist is sandwiched between the mission story of the twelve disciples. What message is Mark giving us by placing John's death here?

One thing to note is that when Jesus sent his disciples he warned them that some might not welcome them nor hear them. The good news does not overwhelm everyone, in fact, it can offend some. Both Herod and Jesus send out people. But Herod's employees destroy the life of another while disciples of Jesus bring health and wholeness to the life of others.The disciples' mission is quite successful (6:12-13), and reassures us that God's work continues unabated even in the face of the martyrdom of a great, Godly servant.

Christian witness compels us to experience suffering for the cause of righteousness and justice. When the world challenges us to adopt escapism than facing reality, the life of John the Baptist challenges us to stand boldly for the word of God. His silence could have saved him from his gruesome death. But he stands as a man of courage. He was a child of desert and of the wide-open spaces and to imprison him in the dark dungeon must have been the last refinement of torture. But John preferred death to falsehood. Bon Hoeffer in his book The Cost Of Discipleship talks of two grace - The costly grace and the cheap grace. He says the costly grace demands us our life. There is a cost to witnessing-a cost that can and might lead to the loss of your own life while giving life. A cost of rejection, a cost of not being able to minister to all who hear the gospel. A cost of being misunderstood, a cost of being maligned by those who cannot handle the truth. Suffering in the life of a Christian is not an end in itself but it is the means of refinement and transformation.

Are we willing to tell the truth even if nobody listens?

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" FEEL THE DIFFERENCE "

sjohn — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 02:10:00 GMT

Attaining credits is an inevitable part of American life. From the begining itself one is struggling to attain good credits.Whether it is in the field of education, work, purchase of house, indulging into business etc., inshort in every aspect of life we need good credits for better living. So we can say the life in America is a marathon to gain good credits.

But God's attitude is different.His rating is not according to the worldly credits.Here in Mark Ch. 1:9-11 we see Jesus as a common man. Jesus appears simply as one of the anonymous crowd coming to John the Baptist. Mark only points Jesus as one from Nazereth in Galilee ( Mark 1:9 ), a place which is unattested in any ancient source.Throughout the Gospel Mark emphasizes Jesus humble Nazereth roots ( Mark 1:24, 10:47, 14:67, 16:6 ). Apart from that in Mark's Gospel Jesus is not the one who credentialed through miraculous origins or a solid geneology which Matthew and Luke cannot resist.

Yet it is precisely upon this figure the divine favour falls.When Jesus rose from the waters of Jordan He saw a vision, the heaven openend and heard the voice of election ( Mark 1:10 ). Jesus was identified as beloved Son ( Mark 1:11 ). So Jesus was assured by the Holy Spirit for His mission in this world. So we can consider the occasion of the baptism of Jesus by John was the meeting point of His humanness and godliness ( please don't misunderstand John's baptism with our baptism ). Jesus humble human origin and identification with the human through baptism reveals His humanness.But the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus and the divine words from heaven reveal His godliness.

So from this passage we can surely find that whatever may be our credits God is ready to accept us and ready to empower us for His mission in this world.

For carrying out His mission in this world we have to identify with our fellowbeings around us and have to be filled with the Holy Spirit.It is a good news for us that God is ready to give us the Holy Spirit inspite of our credits.But from Jesus own life we can see that carrying out the mission is not easy. After baptism the Holy Spirit guided him to the desert where he was tempted by satan ( Mark 1:12 ).After transfiguration He went to the valley among the people who were struggling with the challenges of life (Mark 9:17-18 ).After Gethsemane ( fellowship with his Father, Mark 14:32-42 ) Jesus proceeded towards the Cross. It is clear that there are trials and tribulations in this world when we try to do the will of God. As Jesus received guidence and strength from the Holy Spirit in the same way the Holy Spirit will enable us to do the will of God ( Mission ) in this world.

In this world we can't achieve anything without good credits. But our heavenly Father is waiting for our fellowship and participation to fulfill the Mission without considering our credits.

Do we have time for God who loves us not according to our credits in this world ?

There is no need for our credit card information. Do you like to be subscribed for GOD ?

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ONWARD MARTHO GRADUATES

mskariah — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:26:00 GMT

Hi 2007 graduates

The day you were waiting for long is almost here. It’s the day when you will be recognized as men and women and not just kids, when you would be looked up to as heroes (check out your image on the back cover of the current Reader’s Digest!) I can imagine your excitement. Well, it’s also a sad time of parting with dear friends too; the pain would also remain for a while. It is a time of joy and pain…

How should you look forward to as you are moving into college?

It’s going to be a lot different from what you are now and what you know till now. Some of you would think of yourselves as being lucky in being able to get into your dream schools, while some others would not be. Yet some others don’t care (who bothers for these ivy’s?). A few would be commuting from home (good food and constant tab on your activities assured). Another few would become free birds in the ‘dorm’osphere (where each Friday night is a challenge ‘to be or not to be’).

Anyway you are going to learn much and you will experience much more.

Yet, you could be different in the way you learn and experience, if you will choose to submit to the Lord. Three things you should learn (they might not teach you these at your school)

Learn to be grateful

Have you realized that it is only a very small percent of the youth of your age are fortunate enough to get into colleges and study? You are one of the privileged few, the chosen few. Most don’t have their parents supporting them anything and everything that goes in the name of education. You need to be grateful to God for every single moment of your college life. Your gratitude should reflect in your attitude to yourself and to others.

Learn to be wise

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs. 1.7)

You will be fed with loads of information in the coming years. But it is your commitment to God which can make you wise. Wisdom is finding the purpose in your life. It is being blessed with the spirit of discernment as to what is good and what is bad. There might be times of loneliness. You might find yourself wandering without meaning. Understand God is stretching you a little bit. But a trust in the Lord will help you focus on the larger purpose of your life. And mind you, wisdom is not just about grades…

Learn to discover your church

Till now, your church was so close for you. As you grow and move out to college you will be in a position to be influenced a lot by other churches or groups. Instead of being swept away, this could be a time when you discover your own church in a new way. You can either declare it as old and outdated or you can strive to find the depth and beauty of the faith community in which you were brought up. You could ask the Lord to open up your eyes to behold the avenues within our own church to worship and service. In an environment of individualistic and entertainment based faith, you could be apostles of communitarian faith and liturgical worship of the mission oriented, Reformed Eastern Orthodox Church (don’t be confused, I am talking about the Mar Thoma Church) of which you are part of. That is appropriating your baptismal commitment.

This is going to be the best time of your life; don’t ever mess it up, make it something terrific with your Lord.

Let me close with Mother Teresa’s prayer for you,

I pray that all those young people who have graduated

Do not carry just a piece of paper with them

But that they carry love, peace and joy….

That they become the sunshine of God’s love to our people,

The hope of eternal happiness and burning flame of love

wherever they go. That they become the carriers of God’s love.

That they are able to give what they have received.

For they have received not to keep but to share.

Yours, as always,

Samachen (rev_matscar@yahoo.com)

215-698-1023(h) 267-882-7581(c)

Spring 2007

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Vision in Death!!!

nchandy — Tue, 29 May 2007 14:10:00 GMT

Who is a visionary?

Yes I remember Moses, who got challenged by the vision of God at Horeb while he was shepherding the flock.

But here is a person who saw a vision at the death of somebody else!

The vision of Isaiah (Isaiah 6.1-13) is like that. A death, of course the death of a monarch, that leads to a heavenly vision.

The King was Uzziah, or ‘Azariah’ (2Kgs 15.1-7; 2 Chr 26) of Judah. He was a visionary, a fighter (2Chr. 26. 6-8), reformist, always open to new ideas, pro-develomental-ist, strategic military personal (2Chr. 26.11-13), eagerness for self reliance (2 Chr. 26. 14, 15), and a dare devil, others feared of him (2 Chr. 26. 8).

But when he had become strong he grew proud (Chr. 26. 16). He went on to the extent to make offerings at the altar, where the priests and Levites are allowed to enter. He dared to challenge the divine authority. The result was that he became leper. He lived in a separate house, excluded from the community to the rest of his life, till death.

Isaiah was an eye witness to all these realities. He was at the temple for the usual worship. He was deeply troubled by all the events. The land lost the great king. The death of the earthly king created a vacuum in his psyche. There is a void in his inner being.

As he was worshipping, the usual chanting of ritual got a new turn in his entire psyche. In this worship, the familiar Holy, Holy, Holy, chant spoke to him, a heavenly sensation. He could envision the heavenly worship and the heavenly King. The void created at the death of Uzziah was replaced by the Heavenly Eternal King.

He responded I am lost and I live among a lost community.

The heaven asked ‘who will go for me.’ ‘Here I am’, he responded.

The task is to proclaim the message of eternal judgment, a message of doom. He was prepared even for that.

He becomes a visionary, who receives a prophetic vision even in times of emptiness.

P.S. When we are disturbed, the vacuum or void it creates, helps us to the see extraordinary in life. It would provide us with the task of true prophet of God.

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HIS MASTER’S VOICE

bcherian — Sun, 20 May 2007 03:19:00 GMT

“The sheep hears his voice .......” Jn 10:3

My ministry began as a missionary in hilly regions of Himalayas in India. The place was poor with rocky soil, better suited for grazing than cultivation, so shepherding was a common occupation. The collection of wool was important, so shepherds sometimes worked with the same sheep for a number of years, developing a strong relationship. The sacrificial life of the shepherds opened my eyes to the deeper understanding of the truths of the Gospel especially the love of Christ Jesus who called himself a Good Shepherd and later bestowed this great task on the church (John 21:15-19). Who is a good shepherd? The one who has a complete devotion to the sheep assigned to him and whose actions is considered to be the consummate manifestation of his love (Jn 15:13).

John 10: 1 – 18 speaks about the qualities of this Good Shepherd.

Here Christ portrays himself as the door (vs7). The shepherdic community with whom I worked was not rich enough to have a strong sheepfold with a well-made door but they had sheepfold with a small entrance. In that event, the shepherd makes his bed in the opening thus blocks it with his body and protects the sheep with his life. The shepherds thus not only protects the sheep from the predators but also saves them from their own foolishness. Barclay says "In the most literal sense the shepherd was the door; there was no access to the sheep-fold except through him." The Good Shepherd is not a stumbling block but a stepping-stone for the sheep to come in and go out (vs9).

Self-sacrificial love of the shepherd: In vs 17&18 we see the initiative from the shepherd in giving his life for the sheep. This giving of self is not only sacrifice but also a willingness to put all of who we are in our commitments. And the call to risk, sacrificing, is not only with one's life but also with the years and days that make up our lives. Jesus death was a free act of sacrifice, not one done by the Jews. This is the call for each of us as children of God.

Intimacy - ‘I know my own and my own know me’(vs 14). This is not a superficial knowledge but the one that portrays intimate relationship. Christ compares his relation with us in terms of his relation with his father (vs 15). This relationship involves experience. ‘The shepherd (Jesus) knows the sheep (people) because he became flesh and lived among us’ (Jn 1:14). In my mission field I witnessed this intimate relationship of the shepherd with his sheep. Few shepherds shared the sheepfold at one night but in the morning they got up and at the sound of each shepherd’s whistle his sheep and goats came to him. Above all the shepherds went into the other and picked up few sheep who fail to listen to their voice. When enquired from one of them, how he identified his sheep he said “in the same way as your parents are able to identify you as their son even if the whole world gathers before them”. This does not occur in a moment but the relationship grows into intimacy as the days pass by. Jesus shows us this all- encompassing intimacy that begins with his relationship with his Father and extends to his followers. Only when we have that intimate relation with our Father can our relationship with others become meaningful.

This passage reaches its climax with the concern of the shepherd for the sheep outside his fold. Not only shepherd of Israel but also outside for the whole world. The cross event widens the horizon for the Gentile world. Leo Tolstoy said, "The only certain happiness in life is to live for others." It is when we see the world with a larger level than self. It is when we become concerned for others that we find the depth of God's love for our lives. ‘In Christ’ experience leads us to a universal mission.

Do we hear our Masters voice as he calls us by name?

Does our intimacy with our Master widen our horizon of influence in the places where we are placed?

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UTTERLY...BUTTERLY...DELICIOUS...!

sjohn — Tue, 15 May 2007 03:22:00 GMT

America is a nation of unending highways, millions of automobiles and people on the move. An intrinsic part of this ballad of the road is the ubiquitous McDonald's, Subways and so forth. A small patch of light in a sea of darkness, a moment of respite for the weary traveler. Food is an intrinsic part of our day to day life.There is no function or entertainment without food.The situation was not so different in the time of Jesus.

But here in this passage JOHN 6: 41 - 51 Jesus was targeted by the Jews because of his proclamation about food. He said " I am the bread that came down from heaven " ( vs.41).Here Jesus corrects them by showing the contrast between earthly food - Manna ( It was the food of Israelites through their journey in wilderness which was given by God ) and heavenly bread ( Himself ).

Eventhough the Israelites ate Manna they died.There is no life for manna in itself. It helped to sustain life for sometime.But what our Lord said, " I am the living bread that came down from heaven " ( vs. 51 ).Inorder for us to receive eternal life God Himself came down to earth.

The food that we eat comes in the category of Manna.It helps us to sustain life on earth for some time.But only the living bread can give eternal life. For receiving this eternal life we have to be in the continuing relationship with our Lord.When we receive and eat this heavenly bread ( Jesus ) in faith, we are being in the experience of eternal life. When we sincerly partake in the Holy Communion, we are also receiving the bread of life into our life.It is not a momentary experience, but it is an ongoing process.Our Lord gave his life as heavenly bread for us.He was broken for our eternal life.When we receive him we have a responsibility, ie. to be bread for others.To give ourselves to be broken for the life of others.Then heaven will be manifested through our lives.This is the fortaste of the kingdom in this world.

So let us pray to the Lord - O Lord help us to receive and experience you as our heavenly food. Enable us to be partakers in the experience of eternal life and strengthen us to help others to discover you as the living and lifegiving bread. Amen.

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The Final Countdown

mskariah — Sat, 05 May 2007 11:09:00 GMT

Matthew 25.31-16

Matthew 25 is all bizzare stories. Ten Virgins in waiting, lamps with and without oil, Master who gives away his treasure to his srevants and moving on for long holiday. It culminates in the event of The Lord who had left all his nations in seeming oblivion, but returns at the most unexpected of times and with the most ironical of statements. In all those stories, there is something fearfully similar..they all centre around a crisis of the Kingdom. In his teachings during the final countdown to the hour of crucifixion Jesus provides some reality bytes of the nature of the Kingdom to come. It was never a and-they-lived-happily-ever-after-thing...There was a moment when the apple cart would be overturned. The real Kingdom of heaven will be manifest only in and through this crisis. It is the time of reckoning.

No one really likes crisis. It always has a bad connotation for it. But if we are honest with ourselves we would realise that anything really good has come out only through crisis situations. Let me get the help of Bruce Main and Erik Erikson to explain something of this stuff.

In clinical work, (as in economics and politics) crisis has increasingly takenon half of its meaning, the catastrophic half, while in medicine, a crisis once meant a turning point for better or for worse, a crucial period in which a decisive turn one way or another is unavoidable. (Erikson)

Unfortunately in our contemporary christian culture, we have been seduced to belive that Christian faith is about avoiding cricis. Jesus is sold to us as a vendor of ' personal blessing', one who eliminates pain and takes away our problems (Bruce Main, If Jesus were a Sophomore, p.14)

Jesus is very much undiplomatic in telling that crisis and separation is an innate nature of the Kingdom. It has always been there in the history of the people of God. He points to the days of Noah and the Flood.(Matt. 24.37). The greatest irony of the story is that, faced with the crisis and separation, all those invoved have the very same response. Those accepted and those rejected are confused with the same questions. In fact, such a confusion had percipitated the crisis. They had never seen Jesus as they were living their everyday lives. Yet some of them managed to give their best in their everyday life, though it was just the mundane and the ordinary. The others kept waiting for the supernatural to happen to do something. They missed the divine in their everyday lives.

Maybe those rejected were debating the finer aspects of what is good and bad or even engaging in hair splitting arguments in what is to work for God, and missed the Jesus by their side. This a sure warning to those of us who claim to be spiritual. Maybe our eyes have to opened for something beyond in the very ordinary...

I go back in time for a conversation with Jesus,

"Jesus, when are we goind to get to the spiritual stuff?" I begin. "This is the spiritual stuff", he replies. I am startled and caught off guard. "But what about the miracles, Jesus? You know the stuff I read about in the gospels. I mean, all we've done today is wash some feet, eat breakfast with a sleazy tax collector, and cousel some woman about her promiscuous sex life...What so special about this?" comes my reply after a hot and exhaustive week.

" The miracles are exceptions, not the rule", replies a patient Jesus...I wasn't doing miracles 24 hours a day..Time passed between the miracles"...

(read If Jesus were a Sophomore, for more of this stuff, 2002, Westminister john Knox press)

Crisis is the time when your excuses dont work anymore...(my definition, how is it) But the real Kingdom is made of such stuff

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The Stranger and a Simple Meal!

nchandy — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:10:00 GMT

As I approach to the waiting lounge in the airport, the public safety announcement heard, “please report any strange packages or suspicious act immediately to the concerned authorities.”

The strange(r) always seems to be a threat.

The post resurrection passage in John 21: 1-14 is of a stranger at the sea shore at the Sea of Tiberius. The incident took place in the reality of frustration, hopelessness, and despair. They are on their daily business of fishing. The disciples did not give much care to this stranger.

The stranger took the initiative for dialogue. He asked, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No”. He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some. (John 21: 5, 6) The familiar word Jesus used when he called them for the first time. (Luke 5:4, 5) The dialogue eventually leads to recognition by the disciples. The disciples whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”

All of them came back to the shore. The stranger greeted them with a simple meal, fish and bread. He “took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.” (John 21:13) A familiar and similar act reminds them of a past event, feeding the five thousand. Then Jesus “took the loaves … so also the fish.” (John 6:11) The revelation was complete. Nobody questioned the intention of the stranger or there was any doubt about him. By that time they all knew Him (John 21:12).

A wall hanger reads,

“Christ is the head of this house
The silent listener to every conversation
The unseen host at every meal”

Where will you find Jesus?

The Stranger and a Simple Meal!

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HOLY HEARTBURN

bcherian — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 05:17:00 GMT

The longest walk in the history has become the shortest seven miles ever walked, a walk that turned a conversation of pain and confusion into a conversation that illumined and excited the two disciples leaving their hearts burning within themselves. It was a faith journey with the risen Lord as found in Luke 24: 13 - 35

Resurrection is a challenge to the boundaries and limits of possibilities.
Every stage in our life is increased assumption. These presuppositions turn out to be our worst enemy. The numbers of conclusions in our life are based on the things we have never tried. Therefore to participate in the resurrection of Christ or to lead a resurrected life is to question our assumptions. The two disciples are perplexed and confused. Disbelief has overpowered them. They are leaving Jerusalem because they are quite disillusioned of the disturbing events. They have been talking about it for hours, rehearsing the possibilities, arguing about the details, sparring with one another about the theological nuances of an empty tomb. Buried beneath their verbal skirmish, there seems to be a deep yearning and a holy hunger. Intimately intertwined with their skepticism are their hope -- and their need for God to be alive and present. But the baggage of their doubt/ presuppositions impedes the fervor of their faith. And so they fail to recognize Jesus. The stranger on the road to Emmaus made them question their assumptions. He took the skepticism and the curiosity of the disciples and wove them into the fabric of scripture. He takes them back through Moses and the prophets and the Psalms. The picture Jesus paints of the Jerusalem events is radically different. It ends, not with failure, but with triumph over death, with glory. The intersection of the "tradition" with the immediacy of his own flesh lit a fire in the hearts of those who traveled with him.

At the breaking of bread their eyes were opened. The invited stranger reveals himself in the table fellowship. It is only when a stranger finds a place in our fellowships is the full revelation of Christ experienced. This revelation makes our deepest loneliness and longest life journey full of purpose and hope. Here we see a risen Christ who is a silent listener to every conversation and a silent guest at every meal. The only difference is that if we hears his knock and opens our door then he is no longer a guest but a host. This exactly is Holy Qurbana. This table fellowship gave them a new mission to go back to Jerusalem the place from where they started their journey - a pilgrimage to the site of the cross and resurrection, and be the witness of his resurrection by making a resurrection community. We are called not to remain as just saved community but a saving community. That is the motto of our Mar Thoma Church ‘Lighted to Lighten.'

Do our hearts burn within us in our day-to-day encounter with Christ?

How often do we recognize the stranger as the living Christ in our midst?

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Condolence and Comfort

nchandy — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 13:45:00 GMT

We join in mourning the student community of Virginia Tech who lost their friends in the heartless shoot out on Monday. We are shocked by the depth of heinous act which snuffed out so many promising life as they were blooming. We share the sorrow of the families and friends. We express solidarity with the student community all over the world that they would rise up against the forces of evil in their struggle for a safe and meaningful learning environment.

We also sympathize with the trauma of the family of the person who is responsible for this tragic act.

We sincerely express our deep condolences to parents and extended family of Ashley George who is mourning over the loss of their grandfather.

May God give peace and comfort to all.

Rev. Ninu Chandy

Vice President of the Diocesan Youth Fellowship

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" The Quest "

sjohn — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 08:14:00 GMT

Our neighbour Mr.Cardinas Ray 87, rarely goes to Church.Basically he is a Catholic.He says ' I don't want to go to Church because Christians simply believe. I can't do that. I want proof. There is no proof in Christian belief, so I am not interested in going to Church.'

Mr.Ray is a representative of modern Thomas.A man seeking some proof for believing. In John Chapter 20: 20-29 we can see the real seach of Thomas for the living Jesus. Here Thomas wanted to see for himself.He was not willing to take anyone else's word that Jesus was alive.

This kind of doubt can be creative.We do not have a dynamic faith because we do not have an experience of Living Jesus personally in our life.

One hundred and four years ago a man named Sunder Singh was born in the northern part of India.As he grew he searched for peace in his own religion.But he couldn't find.He hated Christ and his teachings.He even threw stones at preachers and encouraged others to do likewise.Still, however hard he tried, he couldn't find the peace he had been seeking for from his own religion.He reached a point in his life where committing suicide crossed his mind.Three days after he burned the Bible in front of his father, he woke up at 3 am. and said to himself,"Oh God, if you do exist, show me the right way, or I will kill myself."He was thinking of throwing himself in front of a train that usually passed at 5 am. every morning behind their house in the hope that he would find peacefulness in his future reincarnation.He repeated his prayer once again.All of a sudden he saw a brilliant light.At first he feared that the room was on fire.But nothing happened.He then thought that it might be an answer to his prayer.While watching the light, he suddenly saw Jesus' figure in the radiance.He then heard a voice in Hindi saying, " How much longer are you going to search for me ? I have come to save you.You prayed for the right path.Why have you not followed it ?" At that time, Sunder Singh realized that Jesus had not died and that He was alive.Sunder fell on his knees before Jesus and experienced an astonishing peacefulness which he had never felt before. The vision disappeared, but peace and joy lingered within him.

We need to be able to say with the Samaritans to whom the woman by the well witnessed about Christ, " It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."

The burning doubt and quest of Thomas brought Jesus in front of him.Jesus considerd his sincere wish to experience Jesus personally. Are you a doubting Thomas ? We have a hope.Our Lord is a Lord who can convert doubt to assurance of faith.

Thomas was overcome.He knew how much Jesus loved him. His response was one of overwhelming loyalty and he cried out " My Lord and My God ".

" Search you will find."

r e

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The Basketball Faith

mskariah — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 04:29:00 GMT

The wait is over, the day is here-april 14th. Philadelphia Ascension All Stars BB tourney is right here. All the martho-ortho-jaco-catho kids of the entire East are crowding at Downingtown for an April Madness of a better kind....

They say you won’t know India without knowing cricket. It’s part of the culture back there. But in the US, sports are not merely culture, its part of faith or even faith itself. You can’t find the martho kids without their basketball. With the YMCA movement in the 1870s, physical fitness and sports came to occupy an undeniable space in the Western spiritual arena. It grew into a muscular religion in the US. Had not the NFL issued legal notices, many churches would have made their basements into mini stadiums for seekers on the Super Bowl day!!!

Sport has a way of igniting human passion for fighting against odds and achieving victory. It provides heights of glory and depths of despair. Nevertheless, it has defining moments of grace for both the winner and the loser. It urges us to be united in efforts and to pursue the purpose with utmost perseverance. Self is denied; perfection is strived for. It has its rules, its rituals. These attitudes are the proper ingredients of faith. St. Paul, with all his physical infirmities, was an avid sports enthusiast. He could not imagine any better metaphor other than of the ancient Olympic event to best summarize his faith journey,” I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day…” (2Tim. 4:7, 8)

Ascension Mar Thoma Church, with its youthfulness and vigor, has always hitched its wagon to the stars. All Stars is a reflection of how it dares to dream and strives to achieve. I join in praying and hoping that the event would bring together youth and create a sporting community, ever committed to the Kingdom.

With best wishes for Ascension All Stars Basketball Tourney,

Your (Sports) Chaplain,

Sam Achen

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Rolling Stones- Easter 2007

mskariah — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 02:05:00 GMT

CHRIST IS RISEN from the dead, trampling down death with death.

Eastern Orthodox Hymn

The Jesus tomb is again in news. Thanks to some extreme archaeological findings and Discovery Channel. They must have hoped for a rerun of Gibson's Passion, as is evident from the timing of the "discovery". People have said, its the empty tomb that is the beginning of the church.And the documentory peole tried to fill it up with some bones and keep it close again, but in vain.

The pertinent question comes up now as to whether we can prove of disprove resurrection through science or archaeology? Or simply put, what could be the possible evidence of resurrection?... We need not travel far and wide for evidence; the greatest evidence for resurrection is you and me who are followers of Christ and the members of the church. Without such a happening, the Jesus movement would have had a natural death. The disciples would never have dreamt of moving out of the closed doors.

What is the surprise of Easter? The decision of the women in undertaking a predawn journey to the Jesus tomb was kind of absurd, given the heavy Roman guard. Even otherwise, the stone at the tomb was huge enough for anyone to remove. Even in their journey, they have a lingering fear as to who will roll the stone away. But, to their astonishmment they find the great stone rolled away. This is a great symbol and fact of resurrection. It is symbolic in the sense that in the resurrection of Jesus the seemingly huge barriers that have filled our minda nand dreams with fear and despair are rolled away. The barriers that we have erected blocking our meaningful relationship with God and with the other, and that can never be moved with any effort of our own effort, are removed in the impact of resurrection.

It provides us with many new challenges and opportunities. We, as the resurrection people, are called to be witnesses to this great new fact. That the very ordinary women were called to witness leaves us without excuse of any sorts. And it provides us with a new confidence and a new ethics. The risen Christ calls us to transform the oppressive power of political coalitions and systems. The weight of Roman empire could not stand up to the power of resurrection.

It invests the church with a new pattern of thought and life.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Col. 3:1-3)

The words form the 2007 personal diary of late Georgie Anil Abraham, a student of Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam, who was called to rest on Jan 26th 2007, following a massive cardiac arrest, provides a glimpse on a person who had experienced the power of resurrection. He had written..

Death is not mere ending of life, it is discontinuity. Death brings in the mystery aspect of life. So death should not be feared but should be revered. Of course this is done through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as for him it is not the ending of life but it was a physical discontinuity. But may be not for some mystical experience but rather for a greater inner change.

We need to see Jesus. Life is a process of change. We need a revolutionary change in our life which is radical. Death is transcendence from limitations to non limitations and this is glorification.

Bonhoeffer, the German theologian, wrote this from the Nazi prison before he was put to death...

Socrates mastered the art of dying; Christ overcame death as "the last enemy"(I Cor.15:26). There is a real difference between the two things: the one is within the scope of human possibilities, the other means resurrection. It is not from ars moriendi, the art of dying, but from the resurrection of Christ that a new and purifying wind can blow through our present world....If a few people really believed that and acted on it in their daily lives, a great deal would be changed . To live in the light of Resurrection- that is what Easter means.

Happy Easter

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