This Week With Jesus

Yesterday was a stormy day for me. Full of challenges and problems I just could not resolve. My economic condition was close to bankruptcy and my personal life was in shambles. This morning, I got up, lonely, tired and feeling hopeless, staring at certain disaster. So, I took a walk at the seashore near where I live, sat on a bench, my head in my hands and contemplated a ruined life and what it would look like. At first I didn't notice the old man who was also taking a walk though I did see him in the distance, till I felt him sit beside me with a sigh. He must have walked a long way, I guess. After a few minutes of silence, he asked - "enjoying nature, are you? Are you a nature person?" Not being in the mood to strike up a conversation I simply said "no". He says- "yeah, you are young and young people take life for granted and laughed". I said "don't assume things. There are so many young people who love nature and work towards its sustainabi...

Yesterday, Pastor Rajiv talked bout the second letter John sent to the Church at Smyrna where the roman emperor Caesar was worshipped. We heard about when John wrote revelation the worship of the emperor was compulsory, and churches were persecuted because they did not bow down to Caesar and burn incense at the temple dedicated to Caesar. It was called “kaiser curios” which means Caesar is lord. Persecution of Christians was a rampant order of the day. Some were strapped to racks which was a wheel and every time they refused to deny Christ the wheel was turned which stretched every limb to breaking point till, they finally died. Others boiled alive in hot oil.  So, it makes one wonder what good came out of it? When we say or think everything happens for the good, is it a contradiction, because when we read about Smyrna, Job, or even look at the problems that surround us, it does seem that way. And when we think that we cease to really believe in it. So today, as a corollary to ...

  Today Pastor Rajiv continues his series on the church that is and the church that should be from the seven letters that Jesus Christ dictated to the apostle John addressing seven churches of that day. Today Pastor Rajiv talks about the second letter, addressed to the Church at Smyrna and what we can learn from it.

Psalms 91:14 " Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name". Psalms 3:5 " I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me" . Today Francis Taylor asks a question we should always by asking ourselves - "Where and how has God made Himself abundantly present in your life? It's an interesting question! First, you need to realize that God IS present in your life. Then you need to look for him. As I was thinking about this, I remembered the movie White Christmas and the wonderful song "Count Your Blessings." What were your blessings today? Do you have your health? Did you have a nice meal? Did you find that perfect gift, or make all the lights? Do you have people in your life who love you? What are your blessings? I count my friends, my family, my home, my job. I could go on, but you get the idea. There are also significant moments – the birth of a child, recover...

Read Hebrews 11 Faith is as important to a Christian as is water to a fish. In times like these, when world events challenge our faith every day, we need to draw inspiration from Biblical heroes and heroines, including Noah. While it is good to read about Noah's faith, it is important to understand the role of faith in our walk with God, because faith is not just intellectual assent but a confident trust that leads to action and obedience. We tend to look at faith from afar, but up close it may have very different connotations. Hebrews chapter 11 is often called the "Hall of Faith" because it beautifully recounts the stories of numerous individuals throughout the Old Testament who demonstrated remarkable faith in God. Their stories teach us what faith is all about. Think of it as a powerful testament to what it means to live by belief rather than by sight. Why is faith so important to us that a whole chapter was devoted to it by Apostle Paul? The role of faith is absolute...

Genesis 6  Would you ride in a car that had no engine, no steering wheel and no brake?  When we read about the great flood and Noah and his ark, we mostly read Genesis 6 without much thought. Yes, he built a boat and saved countless animals etc. etc. But verses 15 onwards tell us that it was no ordinary boat. It was made according to God's specifications. That was one special boat. Why did God give the exact measurements? There may have been multiple reasons but before that remember the objective this boat had to fulfil. 1. It had to accommodate a huge number of passengers 2. It had to float. Unlike the Titanic It was not mean to travel or go from point A to point B. It had to be built for the successor world to not drown but float and survive. While the Bible doesn't explicitly state why those exact measurements were chosen, the most likely reasons relate to the Ark's functional requirements for stability, capacity, and survival, all that was necessary to keep a three-stor...

Read Genesis chapter 5 & 6 What Adam and Eve started, God ended with the great flood. A complete destruction of the World. The state of the world before and during Noah's time, according to the Biblical account in Genesis, was one of extreme wickedness and violence. Several key aspects characterized this period: * Widespread Corruption : The text states, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). This suggests a pervasive moral decay affecting all aspects of human life. * Prevalence of Violence: The earth is described as being "filled with violence" (Genesis 6:11). This indicates a breakdown of social order and rampant aggression among people. * Ungodliness: People lived their lives with no regard for God or his ways. They were consumed by their own desires and pleasures, seemingly oblivious to any impending judgment. * Normalcy on the Surfac...