God of This City

Jeremiah 29:7 says: "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which i have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

In my last post, i'd been super critical on the situation in India, particularly Mangalore. But after some weeks of listening to my pastor George Matthew says, i begin to look at the whole thing in a different perspective.

Physically, things seems bad and stupid. All those Hindu's extremist action is just so annoying. Many Indians around me are just so frustrating. But, i wasn't sent here just to finish off my degree and leave this place. God has a purpose, a well crafted and purposeful plan for me. Believe it or not, there is not a single "safe" place on this earth. But the safest place you can be at is wherever He wants you to be, always at the right place at the right time. Thank God i wasn't in Mumbai when the terrorist attacked. Thank God the church where i was worshiping wasn't attacked. Thank God nothing happened to me when those Sri Ram Sena ppl threatened to trouble all couples they see.

On the other side, spiritually, things are seemingly much better, and still going according to His ultimate plan. At first, those ppl attacked numerous churches and injured many pastors and church members, but none of the believers stumbled. In fact, their resolution and passion for God grew stronger and firmer. Christians from all over India, as well as whole world, prayed hard for those sufferers. God answered their prayers, restored them and brought them to a new spiritual level.

Later, God diverted those ppl who're supposed to attack the churches to a local pub and beaten up some innocent indian girls. This incident is so sickening that it shocked the whole world and angered the whole educated and high class society from every where. People from all countries stood together and condemned these stupid people. From only chirstians community, god has enlarged the scope of hatred towards these devils to all secular community.

Now, there is confusion in enemy's camp. The government BJP, who was all these while supporting them, do not know what to do anymore. Things they'd done are too embarrassing. God even single handedly changed some important post in the government from those extremist kind of man to the secular and responsible ones.

It is obvious God is making a revival in this city, as well as in this country. Believers here had been praying day and night for God to claim this land and take it to the next level. Look at China, before they were so strong, enormous number of Christians suffered so so much but still fought on for the country's revival. And now, they're one of the leading countries in the world. Look at US, they were the strongest country in the world for centuries because their ancestors feared God and look into God in every policy they make. But now, their people are neglecting God more and more and they're suffering so much right now.

The general election of India is coming soon next month. We all have the responsibility to pray that God will take charge and choose a secular and open minded and transparent government for this land. We could not afford to let the Hindu extremist to take over as things are going to turn sour, especially towards all Christians and Muslims in this country. We, students from other countries, have to take on the responsibility to pray endlessly for the revival of this beautiful land full of incredible people and unique cultures and extraordinary history. We do not come here just as a stepping stone to our future. We came here for a purpose, to learn something and more importantly to make a difference in this place. We must stand in the gap, so that corruptions will be broken down; useless traditions will be stopped; dark markets will be exposed; and all people from all caste will be able to taste the country's wealth. If this place that we're living now become prosperous and peaceful, we too, will be prosperous and have peace. What else is better than that?

God bless India.

I Need A Hero

Last Sunday, i went to watch Incredible Hulk with my friends. It's something like a sequel to the Ang Lee's Hulk, but i prefer this one as it makes more senses to my brain and i love Edward Norton. The fight scene with the Abomination is cool, but what wooed me the most is the appearance of Tony Stark at the ending of the movie. So, what's next? Iron Man and Hulk combine forces? Yes! The upcoming Marvel superhero movie is Captain America: The First Avengers, scheduled for 2011. For those who has a proper child hood, you'll know who are all these characters. Hereby, i'll supply you with some background stories:

The Hulk, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wasp, and Thor are the first 5 members of a superheroes team called The Avengers. All these superheroes are "gathered" by a man called Nick Fury, who appeared in a post-credit scene in 2008's Iron Man. Nick Fury acts as the agent between the government and the superheroes. Actually, the initial assemblage of the 5 is when a God of Evil - Loki, tricked Hulk to fight Loki's adopted brother Thor-God of Thunder. However, Iron Man, Ant-Man and Wasp also get the radio call, and so all 4 of them were fighting Hulk, and there were lots of misunderstanding, until later, they realized their mistake, and all 5 combined to fight off Loki. Ant-Man thought 5 of them worked well together as a group, and Wasp called the group "The Avengers". Hulk left the group very soon cz all the other members are scared of his unstable ability, and Captain America joined in, and took the post of team leader. The Avengers member are ever changing, later also comprised of Spiderman, X-men and Fantastic Four.


So, from then on, we can expect a lot more mish mash superheroes movies coming. See, in the past 5 years, how many superheroes movies were there? Remakes of Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Transformers, Fantastic Four, Hulk, TMNT to name a few, and Batman The Dark Knight is coming soon, i wonder how many more superheroes will we, or our next generation will be exposed to.. Why? Why the hell Hollywood even bother making such "childish", fictional, unreal, illogical, "out of the world" movies? I thought super heroes are meant for children who feel insecure, who have flying imaginations, who will imitate their heroes, who in the time of trouble, shout out loud for their heroes to come and save them? However, everyone seems to like this kind of movies nowadays. What actually is happening to the generation, our present generation?

Yes, everyone needs a hero, be it parents, a wartime hero, a religious idol, a friend, an athlete, an artist, or a cartoon character. Ironically, people today opt for the latest mentioned. Isn't it funny? It shows that everyone, i mean almost everyone, is in need for someone great to save their ass. I'm in so much trouble; the economic is going down like waterfall; i'm out of job; my parents divorced; the fuel price is so high; my fiancee cheated me; my friends wouldn't help me; i'm all alone; i feel like a no one, a waste of space...... Who would be a better man to save them from such troubles? Only a god-like, immortal, miracle-making superheroes can. Everyone has a halo in their soul who needed to be filled, but in this digital, self centered era, everyone is making digital friends through Facebook instead of going out for tea with a bunch of real friends, everyone opt to drown in their own iPod instead of observing the environment, it is hard to find someone who are true and loving, never forsakes nor leave, someone we can turn to in our most troubled time. In fact, some even go for alcohol or drugs to fil their soul, to keep them away from reality full of troubles. But can creating fictional characters help us? Will there be a day Superman come to save the day? I greatly doubt it (It might happen rite, with all the superhuman serum our top secret scientist created, haha)

For me, there's a way more realistic solution - Jesus Chirst.
"Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He'll never let the righteous fall".
"I will never leave you nor forsake you", He said. So,
"I can do all things through Christ who strengtens me".
"I am God's child. Whom shall I fear?"
Is there a bigger thouble for the creator of the world? Is there a better 'father', a closer 'friend', a more intimate 'lover', a more godlike 'superhero', whom we can turn to all the time, who'll never forsake us? Parents might despise you; lovers will leave you, friends will betray you; technology will outdate and stop working for you, even a superhero has his own trouble, has time he himself too busy to even know you. Instead of turning to superheroes, why not turn to God? It's definitely a no brainer choice.

Transform

Just came back from Horse Face Hill Station, Kudremukh for a Youth Camp on 5th, 6th and 7th April. The theme of the camp is Romans 12:2 "Transform". Almost everyone from my international cell group went. At first all of us are quite reluctant to go, but due to our Pastor's constant encouragement (or i should call "pestering"?), we signed up for it.


Early morning at 5.45 am, i miraculously woke up (i'd never woke up that early in my life, plus i slept at 2 that night), and went to wait for the bus at the church. We took 2.5 hours to reach Kudremukh, and saw already many ppl are there, and about half the number from New Life Church in Bangalore. We got divided into 10 groups, took home cooked breakfast over there, then the worship and sermons sessions straight away started. On the first day, i couldn't get used to the whole thing, was damn too tired as the sessions runs continuously without break till 11pm, crazy, and basically i was sleeping through all the messages. The place that we sleep in is super lousy, only 4 walls and a super thin mattress, with a lamp and fan and limited water supply (only 8 hours water per day), plus 12 person stay in a dorm, sharing 1 and only toilet, zz. The food provided are all home cooked by the New Life church members there, we have to eat with hands and wash the dishes ourselves. The first night i cant well oso, cz the weather is too cold.


2nd day i woke up headache and nauseatic, so all sessions slept off too, zzz, until in the late afternoon of outdoor game time. There are altogether 10 stations of crazy games, and we ran, laughed, shouted, drenched, and sweat. It was real tiring but fun. That's the first time i got to know the group members in my team. Then at night sessions continued, but i was able to concentrate more already. The second night i slept more soundly and was the latest to wake up in the whole house.


On 3rd day, everyone was more "committed" and fired up as it was the last day. We had a spirit-filled long sessions where the pastor we invited prayed and laid hands and God was moving in the hall and performed many miracles and gave out lots of power and blessings. I was kinda 'scared' bout this kind of thing, ppl shouting and crying, and in the end i succumbed. In general, the camp was a big success and everyone enjoyed and being transformed and fired up for God. But all these are only the beginning, it all depends how we live in the secular world. At 6pm. we all went back to Mangalore heavy hearted. The bus is just super super packed, as half the ppl had to stand. But throughout the 3 hours journey , we were singing and shouting and having fun, and time seems to passed fast. At last, at 9.30, i reached my hostel which suddenly seems like heaven to me, with AC and nice bed, ahhh, time to have a long long sleep to compensate the tiresome mind and jaded body.


Few main things i learn from the camp:

• NO One Can Defeat Me, when the holy spirit is with me!!! Live a victorious life!!

• Set your TONGUE to the right directions, you're defeated because of the words that came out from your mouth, your tongue is like ammunition for Jesus to shoot at Satan.

• Nature of sin, Do Not make provision for temptations in the mind. Therefore CONFESS your sin to each other & PRAY for each other so that you may be HEALED. The prayer of a RIGHTEOUS ma is powerful and effective. James 5:16

• Living spiritually in the urban lanscape: Keep your cool, endure hardship, do the work of evangelist, discharge all the duties of ministry. 2 Tim 4:5