Paulsonoscope

I was not well, so I did not make it to the church today. First time in my life, as far as I can recall, I bunked the church on Sunday!I finally got up at 5:30 am after many hours of interrupted sleep. My watch logged 4 hours of sleep, down from the usual 7 hours I get on a normal day.I was healthy enough to shower, shave, and dress. But the fear that the centrally air-conditioned church would…

Yesterday, I said a final farewell to an old friend who inspired me to believe that a productive life need not end with retirement. We had shared many conversations together. On two occasions, I stayed in his management institution, XIME. Our last meeting was over lunch in his office. I enjoyed the home-cooked hot meal, Kerala style, his wife sent through his driver for the two of us. Prof. Joe…

This blog explains why we should live to impact the lives of others.

The intensity of loss we feel when dear ones depart is directly proportionate to their impact on our lives.Recently, a beloved member of my community bid farewell to his granddad, who had lived a long, fulfilling life. He had the joy of seeing his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren thrive, and his presence was a constant throughout their journeys. His passing was deeply felt despite…

Christianity is not just another religion with different beliefs and rituals. It is a way of life as disciples of Jesus Christ. This is the powerful message that Dallas Willard has for us in his book DIVINE CONSPIRACY. Though written in 1998, its message is even more relevant now as the Christian faith struggles to stand up to alternative truth claims.Dallas Willard was a renowned philosopher,…

Many of us may not know that two of the sixteen classical prophets in the Old Testament were from royal families.By the way, classical prophets is a technical term for the prophets whose names we have books, like Isaiah, Amos, Jeremiah, etc. At the same time, despite their antiquity and prominence, Elijah, Elisha, Gad, or Nathan do not fall in this category since we do not have books in their…

What does delivering a person to Satan in 1 Corinthians 5:5 mean?

What does delivering a person to Satan in 1 Corinthians 5:5 mean? Paul said this regarding the person who lives with his father’s wife or stepmother, a sin considered particularly grave in the Christian context. This sin is not found among those who have not known Christ. Paul says such a thing is “not tolerated even among pagans” (1 Cor 5:1). When he heard about this, Paul wrote to the…

A devotional thought for the day.

God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt” -Exod 13:17 God considers our strengths and weaknesses when he maps our journey with him to eternity. There will be hurdles on the way, but he will not…

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want” (Prov 11:24). In terms of finance, this verse is an absurd proposition. It seems highly unlikely that any finance expert or someone with average skill with numbers would admit that the more one gives, the more one will have. It is common sense that the numbers will be negative if the…

“The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times” (Psa 12:6). Words are not tangible objects like precious metals purified in a crucible. However, the metaphor of the Lord’s words purified seven times in a furnace affirms purity. Simply put, it means the Lord will do what he has assured us he will do. Note that this confidence in the…

The content communicates a deep reflection on the themes found in Psalm 21 and provides valuable insights into the significance of trusting in the Lord.

“He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever” (Psa 21:4). Psalm 21 thanks the Lord for answering the prayer for victory that the people prayed in Psalm 20 as the king set out for the battle. The people had confessed that it was not their military strength but the Lord’s might that made their army win the war. Now, the king and the military have come back…

The content provides a thoughtful reflection on the importance of utilizing spiritual gifts for serving others. It emphasizes the need to actively cultivate and use these gifts for the benefit of others, drawing on biblical references to support.

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6—7). Paul wrote this letter towards the end of his life to his young colleague Timothy, who will continue the ministry by caring for the churches they founded. Paul advises Timothy to…

A powerful message about the Christian faith and the need to focus on heavenly things.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col 3:1—2). Christian faith is not just a set of beliefs but involves experiencing the Lord daily. Growing in faith means experiencing more and more of our Saviour and Lord and becoming increasingly…

The content provides a detailed analysis of Psalm 20 and its historical context, emphasizing the trust in the Lord despite the military challenges.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright” (Psa 20:7—8). Read Psalm 20:1—9. Wishing the king success as he set out for military campaigns was a significant part of the life of nations in the ancient world. Only one party wins any battle. Defeat is the last chapter in the life of that nation. The…