Malankara World Journal Quad Centum (Issue 400) Souvenir Edition Table of Contents

The Bible is the most read book ever. There is no book like it, since God makes Himself known to us by it. It is an inexhaustible source, so rich that you actually don't need to read other books anymore. The Bible is God's word. ...

Some Facts Concerning the Origin of the Bible

The Bible was written over a period of about 1600 years. From about 1490 BC to about 100 AD. The Bible consists of 66 separate books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. ...

Five Reasons Why You Need to Read The Bible

The Bible is the single most important book ever written. It is an eyewitness account of historical events of such magnitude that they have literally shaped the world in which we live. Without this book the Western world and a good deal of the Eastern world would be completely different today than if the events of this book had never occurred. ...

How Will Our Lives Be Better if We Understand the Bible Better?

Jesus' words are at the core of the word of God, but they must be understood and lived. Building your house on the sand of human opinion, popular sentiment, or arbitrary expertise leads to one outcome only… to be washed away....

Bible - The Light on Your Path

Many think the Bible is obsolete because it is an ancient book. But the Bible's light is just as good and powerful today as it was thousands of years ago. We need the Bible for healthy living and it is an important source of strength. ...

Mohler: Bible Not Subject to Modern Science

"If the Bible is not the authoritative source for that and instead has to be corrected by modern science, then the Bible is just there for our manipulation, and quite frankly, the Gospel is there for constant renegotiation," Mohler said. ...

The Church and The Bible

Origin in a Christian family, doesn't make one "a Christian" a Son of God (1 Jn.3), neither he is competent, unless, he is baptized (Jn.3) or in other words, "be born again". ...

The Bible: God's Revelation to Man

For the Christian of true worship, the Bible is the "greatest source of truth, virtue, and moral ethics. It is invaluable as a source of teaching doctrine and holiness. We call it the "Book of Life," for in its pages we find the closest expression we have of the Inexpressible. ...

What Is the Big Picture of the Bible?

This is "the big picture." In it we will find harsh truths and life-giving truths, but only as we read them in the light of the great reality of God. ...

Chapter 2: Reading The Bible

So Many Christians Have No Idea How to Read the Bible. Do You?

Knowing how to read the Bible is critical for all believers. Understanding how to spend time in the Word should be a lesson taught in every Christian church and a priority of every Christian leader to pass on to those whom God has given them to lead. ...

My Favorite Bible Reading Method

1. I've tried a lot of different plans over the years. They all work pretty well.
2. The best Bible reading plan is the one that works for you. ...

How to Get More Out of Your Bible

Don't let difficult passages deter you! Mark Twain said, "It's not what I don't understand about the Bible that bothers me; but what I do understand." The true test of Bible student is not how much you learn but how much you live. ...

Five Ways Daily Bible Reading Impacts Your Life

Why should we read the Bible every day? Does it make a difference? Is it just something good Christians do? Or is it a legalistic habit that's unnecessary to a healthy walk with God? ...

Approaching A Bible Study

Through the centuries the Bible has been the most widely read of all books. Yet as individuals have been prompted to read it, perhaps by curiosity, perhaps by spiritual interest, they have often found that it baffles them. ...

Biblical Symbolism

The Bible is full of imagery. It is self-proclaimed to be written in parables, riddles, symbols, similitudes, allegories and analogies, and there are good reasons for this. ...

Seven Effective Ways to Memorize Scripture

Billy Graham says one of his biggest regrets is not having memorized more scripture in his younger years when the mind could achieve that more easily. My observation is none of us will ever be younger than we are at this moment. ...

One of the Most Important Principles in Reading the Bible

Bible is full of conditions we must meet for God's blessings. But God does not leave us to meet them on our own. The first and decisive work before and in our willing is God's prior grace. ...

How to Read a Psalm

Reading a psalm in light of its threefold structure gives us a strategy to better understand a psalm's overall message. ...

Chapter 3 - Jesus in The Bible

The Whole Bible Guides Us Toward Jesus

Having a single unified theme is one of the reasons we know that the Bible is God's Word. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is all about God redeeming humanity. Jesus is its star. ...

Jesus in Every Book of the Bible

"Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." ...

More Than 300 Biblical Prophecies Point to Jesus

The Bible contains more than 300 prophecies about Jesus alone - all written a thousand years before he was born. The Bible prophesied about when he'd be born, where he'd be born, and how he'd be born. He couldn't have manipulated his birth to fulfill those prophecies. ...

150 Titles of Christ from the Scriptures

There are many, many titles of Christ in both the New and Old Testaments. As one prays and studies them, they amount to a mini-Catechesis of the Lord Jesus. Here are some. ...

Book of God, Logos of God

When you understand the network of symbolic associations made within Scripture itself, you realize that the Bible and the Fathers are not roughly in the same ballpark: both of them are very precise, and they are describing exactly the same thing. ...

Christ in The Old Testament

Central to the teachings of Christ is that Moses and the Prophets wrote about Him. ... St. Irenaeus shows that in the 2ndCentury, Christians believed that the anthropomorphic appearances of God in the Old Testament were actually appearances of the pre-incarnate Christ. ...

Seven Ways the Old Testament Deepens Our Love for Jesus

Open the Bible at Genesis, travel back in time, connect with Christ in the Old Testament, deepen your relationship with Him, and increase the heat of your love for Him. ...

The Light in the World: Meditation on John 1

What I love about the gospel of John is that the writer is synchronizing traditions throughout - weaving Greek cultural with Judaism. The writer is faced with a mixed marriage of sorts - Greek followers of Jesus worshiping alongside Jewish followers of Jesus. Their rich cultures are growing on one another and this writer provides the first quilt for us to wrap up with. ...

Chapter 4: The Triune God

Ten Names of God You Need to Know

There’s something intimate, exciting, and powerful about calling out the names of God in your prayers. There are many to explore but today I share 10 that will ignite a fire in your own walk! ...

Trinity - Family of Love

Today's readings illuminate how all God's words and works were meant to prepare for the revelation of the Trinity and God's blessing in Jesus Christ - the blessing we inherited in baptism, and renew in each Eucharist. ...

On God the Almighty Father

It is in the Lord Jesus that the benevolent face of the Father who is in heaven shows itself fully. It is in knowing Him that we can know the Father (cf. Jn 8:19; 14:7); it is by seeing Him that we can see the Father, because He is in the Father and the Father is in Him (cf. Jn 14:9.11). He is the "image of the invisible God" as the hymn of the Letter to the Colossians defines Him, "the firstborn of all creation ...

The Pre-existence and Deity of Christ

The story of Jesus begins long before He was born as a baby in Bethlehem. Because Jesus is and always has been God's Son, He existed before anyone or anything was created. John wrote that Jesus was with God "in the beginning" (John 1:2), which means before the world was created and before time began. ...

On the Holy Spirit

The true notion of the Spirit is, that it is some portion of, as well as preparation for, a life in God, which we are to enjoy hereafter. The gift of the Holy Spirit looks full to the resurrection; for then is the life of God completed in us. ...

Seven Threads of Evidence for God's Existence

Contrary to the straw men foisted on us by popular atheists, God has given ample evidence of his existence. The Created Word, Imprinted Word, Spoken Word, Written Word, Incarnate Word, Indwelling Word, and Corporate Word are interwoven threads in a divine tapestry that reveals the Weaver through the supra-natural narrative He has crafted. ...

The Whole Gospel - A Reflection on John 3:16

The fuller context has somewhat of a different tone. It sets forth a great drama in which our lives are cast. It amounts to sober assessment of the obtuseness of many human hearts and of the urgent need for us to decide well in life. ...

The God of The Bible

God is the same in both testaments. His true image becomes clear in his accompanying sinful humankind until they reach the point of abandoning sin. Some find fault with the existence of sinful people-- and what human is without sin?! ...

To Be Like Jesus!

Many people make the mistake of thinking all they need to grow spiritually is God's Word and prayer. But the truth is, we need people to help us grow. Christ-like character is built through relationships, not in isolation. ...

Chapter 5: The Heaven

Ten Reasons to Believe in Heaven

There are solid reasons for reasonable people to believe in the concept of a Heavenly home after this earthly life. Here are some that mean a lot to me. ..

A Longing for Heaven

When Jesus Christ is at the forefront of your life, you can live a life that is rich and full on this earth and know that beyond the grave, there is something better: that wonderful place called heaven. ...

What Is Heaven? An In-Depth Biblical Study

In the Bible, Heaven is the sky, the stars, and the place where God dwells "behind the veil"...Jesus says that in the resurrection we will be like the angels (Matthew 22:30). And Daniel 12:3 indicates that Believers will be like the stars. ...

What is Heaven Like?

Heaven is a real place, it's where Jesus is right now, and it's not far away from us...The best part of heaven will be seeing Jesus himself face to face. We will worship the Son of God and celebrate his great victory over sin while the endless ages of eternity roll on and on. ...

What Will Life in Heaven be Like?

As Christians, when you and I die and enter our eternal home, we'll become more alive at that point than at any point during our time on earth. That's what today's passage is talking about… seeing face-to-face what we now only see dimly! ...

Heaven

Homily on Rev 7:9-17.
Everyone who makes it into heaven is there because they have put their faith in the grace of Jesus. Because they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. ...

Chapter 6: The Salvation

Salvation

What does "Jesus saves" actually mean? What it truly means is to become a child of God, forgiveness of sins and receiving the gift of eternal life. ...

Jesus Christ - The Complete Salvation Package

Jesus' death, though vital, is part of a larger story that includes our Lord's incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension. All these are intrinsic, inseparable milestones of Jesus' one redemptive work - the work that gives us life in his name. Let's look to Jesus - the complete salvation package. ...

Experiencing LIFE With Jesus

Jesus died on the cross for you so that your sins can be removed, so you can confidently enter an everlasting life based on what God has done for you, rather than what you have tried and failed to do for Him. ...

Salvation Is for Sinners

The value of the human soul is so precious that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit devised a plan before the world was created: The Son of God would die to redeem fallen man. ...

Can I lose My Salvation?

We all sin and fall short, but the important question to ask is what is the condition of your heart - have you truly repented and believed in Christ as your Lord and Savior, or are you trusting in false assurance? ...

Last-Second Salvation

Here we have the most amazing example of saving faith in all the Bible. Jesus is hanging next to him, a bloody mess, a sight awful to behold. The man's feet and arms are nailed to the cross, ropes hold his body upright so it won't fall off...Somehow this thief saw Jesus bleeding and naked and yet he believed that he would someday come in his kingdom. He saw Jesus at his weakest moment, and still he believed in him. He is a crucified sinner trusting in a crucified Savior. ...

Chapter 7: Grace n Mercy

The Meaning of Grace

What exactly is grace? It is simply God's free, undeserved, and unearned favor. It is a gift given by God not because we are worthy of it, but only because God, out of His great love, wants to give it. ...

The High Cost of Free Grace

Redeeming grace is free to us, but its cost to God is inestimable. ...

Everlasting Mercy

We serve an awesome God. He desires for us to live in hope and not in condemnation. His mercy surrounds us and His love blankets us. God wants to give us life in abundance. He does not desire for any to be destroyed. ...

God's Great Mercy

Because of His mercy, God desires to lift sinners out of their pitiful condition.

Excessive Mercy

Praise is the characteristic mark of one who has tasted the sweetness of the Lord and known his excessive mercy. Adoration is fruit of every encounter with the Holy Face of Christ. The Church is an assembly of sinners who have read the excessive mercy of the Heart of Christ on His Holy Face and, as a result, cannot stop singing, and cannot cease from adoring! ...

Being Merciful

God has promised us in Matthew 5:7 that we will receive mercy from Him if we are merciful to others. If we have received unlimited mercy from our loving God, if we have been lifted from our poor, sinful, wretched state to become citizens of heaven, how can we withhold mercy from others? ...

God's Mercy and Justice - Balance or Bust!

God's mercy and grace prepare us for us his Justice. But there is no justice if sin is unanswered, or injustice is not rectified. That is why we need both His grace and His mercy. Their purpose is to bring the needed changes so that we can be ready for the day when we shall see the Lord. ...

Chapter 8: Church

The Four Pillars of the Christian Life

Our fundamental mission of the Church is to lead people to encounter Jesus Christ in such a way that they are changed - The life of the Christian and the Church. This personal and communal encounter with Christ is offered through Word, Sacrament, fellowship and prayer. The transformative relationship with Christ rests on four pillars or practices. ...

Ten Truths About The Church of The Lord Jesus Christ

Because the church is made up of people who are flawed and sometimes malformed and always still in process, the Lord's church is often in trouble, forever struggling, and frequently an embarrassment. ...

The Four Marks of the Church

In the Nicene Creed, we profess, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church": these are the four marks of the Church. They are inseparable and intrinsically linked to each other. ...

The Church Christ Prefers

When Jesus looks at a church, he's not studying outward things. He's looking for the deeper signs of growing faith, fervent love, and abiding hope. He wants his churches to be motivated by love, founded on the truth, strong under pressure, and unashamed of his name. ...

The Church is a Bride, not a Widow

God is faithful and his Church is ever young. Great reforms are underway and seem destined to continue, perhaps in spite of us! ...

How Jesus Builds His Church

The Lord blessed the church with growth when the church was faithful to be characterized by certain things. It was His job to grow the church; and it was the church's job to be faithful to what it was supposed to be. If we seek - in the power of the Holy Spirit - to be faithfully and steadfastly characterized by the things that we find in this passage, we cultivate the kind of church environment in which the Lord is pleased to add those who are being saved...

Obligation of Church Members

There is no effective way by which the church can present the claim of our Lord, if the people who make up the church neglect to fulfill their obligations. ...

What We Need to Learn from the Early Church

The early church surely looked like it was on the "wrong side of history," but instead it changed history with a dogged adherence to the biblical gospel. That should be our aspiration as well. ...

Section II. Christian Living

Chapter 9: Discipleship - Service

The Empowered Servant

God has empowered us in order to serve the world as He sees fit and to be the good in the world. He has empowered us to serve humanity as He serves whereby we can serve Him. ...

The Greatest Servant Teaches About Serving

The lesson for us? God is not looking for rulers; He's looking for servants. And servants aren't seeking for honor, they are looking for opportunities to serve. ...

Jesus Describes His True Followers

Jesus explained what kind of people are eternally blessed of God. They are people who have repented of their sins and have been born again. They are those who have made Jesus their Lord and are destined to spend eternity in God's kingdom. They can be recognized by how they live their lives....

Cost of Discipleship

Being a true disciple of Jesus in the twentieth century can be just as dangerous as it was for the early Christians. Most of us will not be asked to pay the ultimate price for our discipleship. Nevertheless, all of us must answer the question of how dedicated we will be to our life with God. ...

Being His Disciple

Again, he says to his disciples: "Get up, let us go!" (Jn 14,31). By these words he shows us that neither his nor his disciples' place lies here. Where are we going, then, Lord? ...

Why God Prefers Losers

When I say God prefers losers, I mean he prefers people who know their weakness, see their flaws, admit their mistakes, and cry out to him for help. God specializes in taking losers and displaying his power through them. ...

Servant Leadership

To be first you must be last. In the kingdom of God the way up is down. Jesus overturned worldly notions of power and replaced them with the paradox of servant leadership. In essence he is saying, "It doesn't matter who has the title. Look for the one with the servant's heart and there you've found your leader." ...

God Incognito - Humility of Jesus

Christ calls us to join with him. In a downwards journey. Seeking not ourselves and our betterment. But seeking other people. Seeking other people's betterment. Jesus teaches us to seek other people, not as a means to make ourselves more popular or even to make ourselves better people. But to seek other people for their own sake. We don't need good works for our own sake. But other people need them. ...

The Paradox of the Cross

Why would Jesus use the cross to illustrate what it meant to follow Him? Jesus intentionally used a gruesome symbol to get the people's attention. He did this to say that following Him was not "child's play." It is not a game and it is not easy. In fact, it will cost you to follow Him as a disciple. But, on the other hand, it will cost you more not to follow Him. ...

Chapter 10: Prayer

Prayer: A Fluid and Dynamic Process

My mother taught me the hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" when I was in primary school. This hymn epitomizes prayer and I very often find myself going back to the words of this hymn. Above all, my mother's faith in God's presence in every situation, especially in her last few years of life, has given me the lifeline to hang on to prayer no matter what my circumstance is. ...

A Simple Rule of Prayer

The following short rule is sometimes called the "Rule of St. Pachomius," sometimes "The Little Rule of St Seraphim." It is said to have been given by an angel to St. Pachomius of Egypt, who used it each hour of the day and night. Saint Seraphim of Sarov assigned it to many of his spiritual children living in the world, telling them to use it morning and evening. Many variations exist. ...

Introduction to The Perfect Prayer

When we turn to Christ's teaching on prayer we discover something odd: One of the many curiosities of the Christian tradition is that when Jesus undertakes to teach about prayer he begins by waving us all away from meaningless repetitive prayer…

The Qurbano (Eucharist) fulfills the Lords Prayer Word for Word

Is it not beautiful and miraculous that Christ's perfect prayer is mirrored in His perfect Sacrifice? ...

What Jesus Teaches Us About Prayer

One of the aspects of the life and teaching of Jesus that is found in St. Luke's Gospel is the reality of prayer. Prayer is explicitly mentioned 25 times. This includes moments and teachings from Jesus' life and ministry. It also includes the importance of prayer in the lives of Zechariah and the Blessed Mother. ...

How to Pray When Life Blows Up

Pray! Pray, Pray, and keep on praying. Do for others what others have done for you. When we can serve people in no other way, we can pray for them. By prayer we cast a pebble of faith into a lake of hope. Though the pebble sinks, the ripples go on and on and on. We'll never know the difference our prayers have made until we get to heaven. ...

Five Reasons Why God Isnt Answering Your Prayers

It might feel like God is ignoring you when He doesn't answer your prayers the way you're hoping. But Scripture offers us insights as to why God might appear to be silent. One verse that I've found most helpful in my own life - when it comes to unanswered prayer - is Psalm 84:11 ...

Recovery from Critical Illness by the Intercessory Prayers of Pampady Thirumeni

The Lord will be compassionate to a person even by the prayers of others. In accordance with the exhortations of Jesus Christ, "Those who believe in me shall live even if he dies; those who live and believe in me shall not die." Orthodox Church teaches that there is no death for a faithful and even though 'dead' is a word in common usage, it is only meant to denote one's departing from the earthly body. ...

A Word from the Lord and a Saint as to what Prayer Does

I know that I am the result of prayer. My conversion to the Lord and my subsequent healing over the years are inexplicable to me, except that someone, indeed, some many, were praying for me. ...

Chapter 11: Sin

Messianic Approaches to Absolve Sin

Messiah, the word of God, incarnated to redeem the sinners from their sin. Sin is an inexorable hazard and an ingrained epidemic deep rooted in our everyday life. .. Confessing sin and communion of His Body and Blood are essential for the redemption of sins and to inherit an eternal life. ...

Sin - How Sin Began

Jesus Himself is the bridge between the death of sin and the life of God. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself." And Jesus offers us this life and reconciliation even when we play Cain to His Abel. The life and reconciliation which Jesus offers means that even Cain can be forgiven and find peace, and that is a word we all need to hear. ...

God - In Pursuit of Sinners

Lewis reminds us of the love of God that relentlessly pursues even the reluctant prodigal who would turn and run in the opposite direction in order to try and escape God's gracious embrace. The God revealed in Lewis's account is a God in pursuit. ...

Don't Blame God for Your Problems

A trial becomes a temptation when we respond wrongly. What God means for good, Satan means for evil. Satan twists that which God gives us and whispers in our ear, "Go ahead. It's okay. No one will ever know." ...

What Jesus Really Said About Sins of the Flesh

He is calling us to a life of genuine, innocent, full-hearted, and dynamic love. He is calling us to have hearts of flesh. ...

The Hardening of Hearts Caused by the Deceit of Sin

Collectively speaking, we been hardened by the deceit of sin. Many of us who are older remember times when sins that are openly practiced (and even celebrated) today were considered shameful a mere fifty years ago. Pre-marital sex (fornication), living together before marriage (which many called "shacking up"), and divorce were considered scandalous. ...

The Sin and Cause of Prayerlessness

What is it, then, that makes prayerlessness such a great sin? At first it is looked upon merely as a weakness. There is so much talk about lack of time and all sorts of distractions that the deep guilt of the situation is not recognized. Let it be our honest desire that, for the future, the sin of prayerlessness may be to us truly sinful. ...

The Seriousness of Sin

"Sin must be dealt with drastically because of its deadly effects" Whatever it takes, all of us must do what is needed to flee sin and temptation....

Four Lies That Keep Us from Jesus

Though Jesus invites sinners (like you) to come to him for cleansing, relief, and renewal, I find that many of us are often slow to come to him on account of those very things that should speed us on our way to him.

Chapter 12: Trials n Suffering

God Loves to Work in Our Weakness

All throughout the Bible, we see that God loves to draw attention to himself and grow the trust of his people by working despite and through their weaknesses and limitations. Consider barren Sarah and Rachel, bumbling Moses, Gideon's small band, the young virgin Mary, and blue-collar Peter, among others. Jesus himself, the Lamb who was slain, ultimately demonstrates that it is meek sheep who conquer and win the world. ...

Redemptive Suffering

It was not in the plan of God that suffering and death be a part of human existence. That they became the lot of the human race was not God's doing, but man's. God made man in His own likeness and image, desiring to share with him His own infinite happiness and goodness. ...

What We Can Learn About Suffering in The Story of Joseph, The Patriarch?

In our suffering, we learn that our lives are not about us. Joseph was not purified and prepared for this moment simply for his own sake, but even more, for the sake of others. God has led Joseph, often through terrible suffering to prepare him to help save others. ...

Living in Hard Times

What do you do when your world caves in?
How does a Christian respond when hard times come?
What can we do to keep our faith strong?
All of us face those questions because we all go through deep trials eventually. When that happens, everything we believe will be put on the firing line. ...

God Shouts to Us in Our Pain

Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world. ...

Jesus Wept: 2 Simple Words with Incredible Depth

Just these few reasons for Jesus' weeping at Lazarus' tomb give us a glimpse into how God views our suffering and death. His reasons for not sparing us these things are righteous and glorious. But in them he is full of compassion (Psalms 103:13), he hates the calamity sin brings, and he himself has suffered more than we ever will ever know in order to pay the full cost of our eternal resurrection. ...

Leave The Worries to Jesus

Isn't our relationship with Christ a lot like that, sometimes? I feel like I have worried and fretted about so many things, only to realize in retrospect that God was trying to tell me, "Baby, let me take care of that for you." ...

In Suffering: The Secret of Joy

There is a distinct difference between happiness and joy. Seek to build up a habit of seeking joy, rather than happiness, in your life. That way, the next time you face a trying circumstance, you will still find yourself on a solid foundation. ...

Chapter 13: Forgiveness

A Closer Look at Forgiving

When God forgives me of a sin, He is no longer holding that sin against me. He is no longer angry at me for what I did. I do not need to fear that He will punish me for that sin. The breach that previously existed in our relationship because of that sin is no longer there. My fellowship with Him is restored. That is forgiveness. Forgiveness results in reconciliation. ...

A Covenant of Forgiveness

How do you forgive someone and go on with your life? It is not easy, is it? ...

Confession and Forgiveness of Sins

Confession Hollywood Style. ....

Seven Things to Remember When You're Struggling to Forgive

Forgiveness doesn't deny that the offense happened, nor does it absolve the person of the guilt associated with the act. We can and should hold others accountable for their actions or lack of actions, but we ultimately release our right to revenge to God. Bitterness and unforgiveness hurt us more than the one who has sinned against us. ...

All I Have to Offer

"Forgiveness is all I have to offer."...

Confront, Forgive, and Forget

Just as God has removed your sin as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12), you must now decide that this person is freed in regard to that past offense. Once you forgive him, you cannot drag up the offense again and again. You have released and liberated him completely from that sin....

Do We Have to Forgive Those Who Sin against Us if They Don't Repent?

Whether your offender is sorry or not, whether he ever expresses remorse or not, your decision to release him of his offense and debt to you will release you from your prison of bitterness and enable you to move forward. ...

Forgiven And Forgiving!

We can decide not to hold a grudge.. not to hit back.. not to retaliate.. but to behave like Jesus.. and respond as He did.. with blessing. Remember how He prayed for those who crucified Him.. Father, forgive them...

Chapter 14: Peace

Not Peace But a Sword

If you try to save your life, you'll lose it in the end. If you lose your life for Jesus' sake, in the end you will save it. ...

Five Ways to Be (and Stay) at Peace

We only need to slow down, grab his hand and trust, He will carry us through- straight up to perfect peace. ...

The Joy of God's Peace

Peace, as used in Philippians 1:2, speaks of the calmness and absence of strife characteristic of one in whom God's grace is at work. The New Testament also links it to mercy, hope, joy, and love. To experience those graces is to experience true peace. ...

My Peace I Give To You; Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled

Our peace will make no sense to the world. That is why Paul calls in Philippians 4:7, "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding." Human understanding cannot produce it, or grasp it....

How to Find God's Peace in Life's Darkest Moments

The moment we trust in Christ to rescue us from sin, we are "already" adopted into God's family. But we are "not yet" home in heaven, where there will be no more pain or weakness. ...

God Is The Author of Peace

The Bible tells us that God is the author of peace. If God authors peace, why do we often find ourselves in a constant battle against anxiety and fear? ...

The Great Life

God's mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, "as the world gives," but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming. ...

Peacemakers

When Jesus said we are "blessed" when we bring peace, it is because being a peacemaker allows us to represent the depth of who He is as His children...

Chapter 15: Humility

St. Mother Teresa's 15 Tips to Help You Become More Humble

Mother Teresa called humility the mother of all virtues. She said: "If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal." ...

Greatness, Humility, Servanthood

Every good thing in the Christian life grows in the soil of humility. Without humility, every virtue and every grace withers. That's why Calvin said humility is first, second, and third in the Christian faith. ...

The Humility of Jesus' Servanthood

Jesus not only gave up His divine privileges when He emptied Himself, but He also became a servant. Paul's phrase "the form of a bond-servant" can also be translated "the essence of a slave." ...

True Greatness

A desire for greatness is normal. I hope you want to be great for God. But Jesus points out that there is a right and wrong way to achieve greatness. The world's way & God's way are often just the opposite. Oh, how our perspective on greatness needs to be changed! ...

God Lifts Up the Lowly

God literally lifts up the lowly. Sometimes we cling to our pride out of a sort of instinct of self-preservation - "If I don't look out for number one, who will?" But Mary's humility is a lesson for us. Our true self-fulfillment lies in becoming everyday more filled with God; We can only do that if we are not filled with ourselves. ...

Will You Come Down? - A Sermon on Humility

The path for us to loving one another, to serving students, to reconciliation with one another and within our families, is the path of humility. I pray you see it, want to walk in it, and begin the journey with a step down you've never taken before today. ...

Perspectives on Defeat

The Christian perception of weakness is also one steeped in the person and character of God. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks of something he calls the "thorn in his flesh." No doubt a striking expression of limitation, scholars have debated for centuries what this thorn might have been. ...

A Lesson in Humility

John's ministry was a ministry of humility. Baptism is an expression of humility. The Son of God humbled himself to become one of us for our sakes. And the new life in Christ that is given to us by our Creator and Redeemer is a life of humility. It's not about me. If it were about me, what would I do? How can I heal my own past, my present and future? How can I redeem my own faults, sins, betrayals and rebellion? How can I secure my future or the future of those I care about? ...

Chapter 16: Love

Assurance of God's Love

God has called you into a special love relationship, one based on hope. These assurances are building on that hope. But there will be disappointments. There will be times when you disappoint God and times when you are disappointed by Him. It is for those times that He has provided the Holy Spirit to pour love into your being. ...

What Kind Of Love?

Selfless love is very different - and very rare. It reaches out to those who can't give us anything in return: the ugly, the annoying, the petty, the time-consuming, and anyone else who can be a drain on us. Jesus also said that showing love for the outcasts of society - the hungry and thirsty, strangers, prisoners, and those who are naked (see Matthew 25:34-36) - is a sign that we really get what love is about. Christ calls us to actively care for the unlovely. ...

Do You Block God's Love?

God wants us to sit at his feet and feel his love. He wants us to grow in community. He wants us to receive the glorious inheritance of his riches, which often walks into our life through the other body parts of Christ. He wants us to stand in need, so we see that he can stop what is making us bleed. ...

What Love for God Looks Like

For at its essence true worship is a passionate love for God, not moralistic rule keeping or feats of self-discipline. For sinners like us, the fuel of that love is a profound realization, in the words of former slave trader-turned-pastor, John Newton, "that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour." ...

An Everlasting Love

Our culture loves you when you are young and beautiful, but God loves you when you are old and not so attractive. Our world loves you when you are a celebrity, but God loves you when you are unknown and a complete nobody. Our world loves the rich and the powerful, but God loves the poor and the weak. Our world loves the extraordinary, but God loves the ordinary - people like you and me. ...

Finding Perfect Love

God loves you. Completely. Perfectly. Eternally. He knows your name, He knows your heart, He knows your circumstances, and He hears your prayers. He loves you and desires for you to rest in His love. God's Word says so.
You. Are. Perfectly. Loved. ...

God's Amazing Love

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. ...

On the Necessary Order of Love

Begin to love your neighbor…. What will you gain by doing this? Your light will then burst forth like the dawn. Your light is your God; he is your dawn, for he will come to you when the night of time is over. He does not rise or set but remains forever. ...

Chapter 17: Faith

A Summary of Christian Faith

A summary of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, to understand what you believe, and what the qualities of the Christian faith are. ...

Child-Like Trust in the Lord

This shows us what trust looks like, and helps us understand why trusting God brings such soothing peace. Jesus said we must have faith like children to come to Him. Apparently, trust is also best exemplified in little ones. ...

Crossing Threshold of Faith - The Year of Faith

Faith is a grace, a gift from God. "Only through believing, then, does faith grow and become stronger... in a continuous crescendo of self-abandonment into the hands of a love that seems to grow constantly because it has its origin in God" ...

Be Faithful in the Small Things

When God gives us a task - whether big or small, glamorous or tedious - He expects our faithfulness. Fear and indifference are no excuse for not finishing our tasks. ...

Seven Habits That Will Destroy Your Faith

If you are in Christ you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) capable of developing new habits that build, rather than destroy your faith. Recommit your heart to Him and trust Him as He allows circumstances to come your way that stretch and strengthen your faith. ...

25 Ways Not to be Lukewarm in Faith

So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ...

Ten Ways to Grow Your Faith

You can deepen your faith next year, but you must be intentional about it. Here are ten steps you can take that will help you grow as a Christian this year. ...

Jesus Is Always Looking For Faith

Jesus loves it when people have faith in Him, and takes it as an unkind cut it is when people who should be displaying it do not. ...

Chapter 18: Joy

God Given JOY

We are called to always love God, love others, and then ourselves. And by doing this, we will not only gain joy for ourselves and help spread it to others, but God will feel joy for the joy that we found in him. ...

Quest for Joy: Six Biblical Truths

God made us to magnify his greatness - the way telescopes magnify stars. He created us to put his goodness and truth and beauty and wisdom and justice on display. The greatest display of God's glory comes from deep delight in all that he is. ...

Don't Let the Enemy Steal Your Joy

God gives us the power through His Holy Spirit to live free from the entanglement of sin. He gives us the power to live strong. He gives wisdom and discernment to make the right choices. He gives joy deep inside. He offers the assurance, that no matter what we face, He is with us. ...

How to Choose Joy When You're Focused on the Negatives

We don't have to complain or focus on the negatives, because we've been given a choice. And that choice is to, instead, turn our eyes whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable (Philippians 4:8). It's the choice we make when we need to have a better perspective (or a total attitude adjustment). ...

Joy and Godliness

Joy doesn't operate in a vacuum. It's directly related to godly living. Christ is its source; obedience is its sustenance. We see that in David's cry of repentance: "Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation" (Ps. 51:12). Paul knew the joy of the Lord because he trusted Christ and obeyed His will. ...

Making Joy a Priority

The things we consider assets in this life often turn out to be our liabilities because they keep us from depending on God. What is the object of your confidence? Is it your intelligence, your financial security, your social network? None of these things will bring us indescribable joy-only dependence on Christ's strength can bring us joy. We must value our relationship with Christ and treasure our gift of joy in order to experience joy at its fullest. ...

The Secret of Joy: Psalm 126

This psalm shows us not only that "laughter" (Psalms 126:2) and God go together but also God and "joy" (Psalms 126:2-6). This psalm is written to help you discover the secret of joy. ...

Section III. Life In This World

Chapter 19: Christian Life

Pursuing Excellence

Look at your life. Is it filled with godly love, discernment, and the pursuit of excellence - or has worldly trivia crowded out those virtues? ...

Seven Helpful Tips for Making and Keeping Friends

Making and keeping friends has been an exercise of prayer, patience and surrender for the past several years of my life. As I've worked through the growing pains, God has graciously brought many people into my life who have shared great insight on forming community. ...

Becoming Like Jesus Is a Slow Process

Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth. Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic; it is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life. ...

Responding like Jesus When People Judge You

God is helping me to see things. If we let external criticisms dwell as internal truths, we'll live imprisoned. You see, the peanut gallery will always have comments as to who we should be. Yet, we don't have to be who they say we should be. Who we should be is - who God created us to be. ...

Being Content With What You Have

The Lord wants you to be free from the materialism that so easily controls your non-Christian neighbors. Your earthly possessions are only temporary anyway. You will lose them all one day soon enough. So God tells you and me to be "content with what you have" (Heb. 13:5) ...

Developing a Passion for God

Even the pursuit of the knowledge of God can become a snare of arrogance. Theology can become a game, a power game to see who can display the most erudition. When it is such a game it proceeds from an unholy passion. ..

Chapter 20: Featured Articles

People-Pleasers: Seeking Approval of Others

People should seek approval of only one person, their Heavenly Father and Creator. This simplifies life enormously! A person could then say: "Wow, that's a relief (big sigh and breath of relief)!" ...

Arch-Corepiscopa Most Rev. Curien Kaniamparambil - A Great Father

There is no priest like our Arch Cor Episcopa – A UNIQUE MAN - respected as a Scholar and Malpan, by everyone in Malankara. ...

Cultural Mutation

It doesn't matter if no one has done what you have done before. Dream big because God gave you talents that are meant to make an impact in His world. It doesn't always matter what others want because YOU are the main character of your story and you have to act like it…otherwise, who will? ...

I Saw a Future Judge in My Drywall Repair Boy!

I took notice of this unusually charming and pleasant young man who came to discuss with me a drywall repair opportunity at my home. Rafa, as he introduced himself, found to be smart with his words and was equally sharp and intelligent. ...

Ancient Christian Monuments in Kerala : Some Points of Concern

Robinet Jacob, Head of Tourism Studies at Mahatma Gandhi University, says that the Kerala Christians have shown no interest in conserving heritage sites, despite having several churches that are centuries old. For example, he says, "Kottayam District alone has 15 churches more than 500 years old. Several such churches have been razed and new ones built in their places." Mr. Robinet adds that the church should immediately set up a heritage department and take steps to protect historically important sites. ...

Mannetho of St.Severius in the Syriac Text of the Holy Qurbono

The Prayer of the Celebrant, Response of the Congregation and the Maneetho of St.Severius at the Commencement of the of the Open Celebration of the Holy Qurbono of the Syriac Orthodox Church...

More Featured (Invited) Articles Found Elsewhere in This Issue

Messianic Approaches to Absolve Sin

Messiah, the word of God, incarnated to redeem the sinners from their sin. Sin is an inexorable hazard and an ingrained epidemic deep rooted in our everyday life. .. Confessing sin and communion of His Body and Blood are essential for the redemption of sins and to inherit an eternal life. ...

God Given JOY

We are called to always love God, love others, and then ourselves. And by doing this, we will not only gain joy for ourselves and help spread it to others, but God will feel joy for the joy that we found in him. ...

The Empowered Servant

God has empowered us in order to serve the world as He sees fit and to be the good in the world. He has empowered us to serve humanity as He serves whereby we can serve Him. ...

Prayer: A Fluid and Dynamic Process

My mother taught me the hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" when I was in primary school. This hymn epitomizes prayer and I very often find myself going back to the words of this hymn. Above all, my mother's faith in God's presence in every situation, especially in her last few years of life, has given me the lifeline to hang on to prayer no matter what my circumstance is. ...

Chapter 21: Family - Marriage

Seven Commandments of a Great Marriage

There are some necessary ingredients for a healthy marriage. Want a healthier marriage? Consider these 7 Commandments of Marriage. ...

How To Heal Any Marriage

The person you love the most and have committed your life to is an imperfect being. This person is guaranteed to hurt you and fail you in many ways, some serious and some not. You can expect the failures to come. ...

Is Love Enough To Make A Marriage Succeed?

Many couples assume that the excitement of their courtship will continue for the rest of their lives. That virtually never occurs! It is naive to expect two unique individuals to mesh together and to remain exhilarated throughout life. ...

Nine Truths About Sex and Marriage From the First Two Chapters of Genesis

Critics have sometimes claimed that marriage is not that important to God. But interestingly, the Bible both begins and ends with a marriage. In fact, marriage is the defining metaphor God uses to illustrate His love for the Church, His "bride." ...

The Profound Theological Importance of Husband-Wife Marriage

God intends marriage to be a source of great personal satisfaction. We live in a fallen world full of disappointments and heartaches and it is such a blessing to have a soul mate who is dedicated and loyal to you. But there is much more to marriage than personal happiness. ...

When Routine Is Robbing the Romance

But on those days when I see my marriage slipping back into the mundane cadence of passionless routine, I pull out my list of ideas, and put a smile on Steve's face. And that's my challenge to you and to me today. When we see the fire needs stoking, remember and return. It may be a little scary at first, but be brave and begin! ...

Late Have I Loved You -- On the Delay of Marriage in Our Culture and the Flawed Notions That Underlie It

At least two bad things happen the longer you wait to get "ready" to be married. One is that, the number of quality single men/women declines. The other bad thing that happens is that you often end up waiting longer and longer. After a certain point, being single becomes the norm and the thought of marrying becomes less, not more, appealing. So over time you can actually become less "ready" to get married. ...

Seven-Minute Marriage Solution

From Dr. Tim Clinton's show Life, Love & Family. Dr. Clintonm speaks with Stephen Arterburn about the things to stop and start in order to have an enjoyable marriage. ...

Chapter 22: Family - Parenting Issues

The Purpose of a Godly Parent

As a parent, you have a very important purpose in the life of your child. You are there to teach them right from wrong, provide for them, and lay a foundation in their life. ...

Seven Ways to Teach Your Kids Respect

We live in a day where respect of others is a dying character trait. Why do we think that bullying and social media rants are so pervasive in our culture today? There's no respect of others. Really, it's just the opposite–most people only think of themselves. Yet, it doesn't need to be this way. ...

The Value of a Godly Mother

Mothers play a vital role in our society. Mothers not only impact their children--they impact their grandchildren and maybe their great-grandchildren. Some impact generations even after they are in heaven because of the truths they passed on. ...

Most Common Disciplining Errors

Disciplinary action influences behavior; anger does not. When it comes to boys and girls, in fact, I am convinced that adult anger incites a malignant kind of disrespect in their minds. ...

Four Worst Compliments You Can Give Your Kids

Parents bear the burdens of the family and hold themselves responsible for their children's successes and failures. There's a lot of pressure on the job: everything we say and do as parents has a tremendous impact on our kids. ..

Why Parents Cover For Their Kid's Problems

Children need more than a parent who will talk about boundaries. They need a parent who will be boundaries. This means that in whatever situation arises, you respond to your child with empathy, firmness, freedom, and consequences. ...

Command and Teach These Things To Your Kids Early

Grab the reins of authority early in your child's life. You must train, mold, correct, guide, punish, reward, instruct, warn, teach, and love your kids during the formative years. ...

Chapter 23: Self Improvement

How to Become Outstanding In Your Field

People often ask Martin about the secret to making it in the entertainment industry. His answer often disappoints. It does not involve any tricks. Instead, it's all built on one simple idea: "Be so good they can't ignore you." Just focus on becoming good. Really damn good. Outstanding. Unlike anyone who has come before you. ...

You Can Disagree and Still be Friends

No disagreement is worth losing a friendship or a family member. Nothing is that important. When you see a conversation turning into a disagreement, stop and establish between the two of you that your friendship or relationship means more to you both than the issue at hand. ...

How to Deal With People Who Try to Bring You Down

We all have people in our lives who try to bring us down. You may have that one parent that tries to bring you down all the time. You could have a boss that is always criticizing you. ...

When You're Afraid You'll Never Achieve Your Goals and Dreams

Instead of fearing we'll never make it to the next destination, let's look at how far we've come. ...

Three Steps to Turning Every Problem into a Golden Opportunity

Adversity makes us stronger, smarter, and innovative. You must embrace the hardships that come your way in life. Wise readers will lean into them and turn the bitter into better. The problems in my life are opportunities to develop new skills, achieve personal growth, and learn from mentors. ...

Going the Extra Mile Pays