Thursday, April 25, 2013

Workers in Vineyard – Lisu version

Photo: art-wallpaper.com

This is the second time I relate to this parable from life incident. May be because I am from farming background – I am partial professional in farming paddy fieldsJ.

Yesterday I heard a funny incident that took place in my home village. A young man was delegated to organize a Panchayat project. He organized some workers, mostly ladies, and promised to pay Rs 150/day. They agreed and worked.

At the time of paying, he paid exactly that amount. But someone, jokingly or seriously (no idea), said “we got more than that”. On hearing that two women came and complained to the young man. He restated their agreement but they won’t listen even after repeated explanation. Rather they raised their voice. Frustrated, the young man chased them out of his house.

But the women went and complaint – one to their sons and the other to her husband. In the first case, the sons got very angry and thought of beating the young man. But as they talked their father overheard their discussions. He scolded them saying, “Why did you go? If I were him I would have beaten you.” After that the sons calmed down. The woman who complained to the husband received the same kind of response. At last she said, “You are defending him!” and stopped.

I remember then the parable of workers in Vineyard. The owner faced similar kind of protest.

Once again, I begin to appreciate the relevance of Jesus’ parables. He was not telling cooked up stories. He told the ones that was taking place at that time. No wonder he captivated his audience with his powerful teaching. 

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Funny

Best friends don't judge each other, they get together and judge everybody else.

Good quotes on Reflection

Sometimes, you have to look back in order to understand the things that lie ahead ― Yvonne WoonDead Beautiful.

If I speak of myself in different ways, that is because I look at myself in different ways ― Michel de MontaigneThe Complete Essays.

I am a writer of books in retrospect. I talk in order to understand; I teach in order to learn ― Robert Frost.

There is music in words, and it can be heard you know, by thinking ― E.L. DoctorowHomer & Langley.

Habit rules the unreflecting herd ― William Wordsworth.

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards ― Søren Kierkegaard.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Fan repaired

Before: This fan in my workplace is slow. I need to start manually meaning I have to push the fan to start. Sometimes I sat right under the fan.

From 16 April: Its running fast, doesn't need to "push". I can sit 7 feet and still get the air.


Its hot this year, even in March. A news report mentioned this kind of heat repeats after 15 years.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Clarity & Order

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God's holy people. --1 Corinthians 14:33.

Even in church meetings, God wants order and peace. How much more in individual's life!

That's why I am concerned when I meet friends who are rushed, no idea what to do next. In such incidents I would definitely say "where is your trust in God?" That is definitely from God for sure. But something else.

Even Philippians 4:7 says "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

People who know God are protected so that their minds are at peace, trusting Him.

Training to maturity


In the 1990s a group of researchers did an anthropological study in Rajasthan. They were captivated by the way people recognized the communities by looking at their turbans! They mentioned the size, the colors, the binding style etc. For those visitors those descriptions did not make sense even after asking. But those local people knew instinctively. They have been trained to see and recognize right from childhood.  I read this interesting quote, “Size and style of Turbans changes every 15 km”.

Spiritual maturity is something like ability to know “which turbans?” They have been trained to know the difference between right and wrong (Heb 5:14). Not trained in worldly views but in God’s Word. They don’t believe everything they hear or see. Like Bereans, “…they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth (Acts 17:11, NLT).

Babes in Christ know the Sunday school lessons by heart. They tell you memorized Scriptures, quiz/facts but they have no response to the question “Why?” Babes can tell you the answer “Who was the first king of Israel?” but you won’t get response for “Why did God choose Saul as the first King of Israel?”

The matured wrestles with the deeper things of God. They know each word in Scripture is intentional, nothing accidental. They carefully look to each thought because they want to know God’s mind in minute details.

For everything, the mature Christians as “Why is this so?” The external cannot cheat them. They learned to differentiate the core from outer. They know the actual reasons and the intentions of God.

How do you evaluate yourself: Are you satisfied with Sunday school understanding and not willing to go beyond? Would you sweat until understand God’s Word?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Prejudice with Psalms


Over a month, we have been going through the life of David at the office. Amazing to learn from this giant of faith. I enjoyed learning each day. Simultaneously, we (family devotion) began reading the book of Psalms, chapter by chapter for the first time in Lisu language. Interesting expressions I learned for the first: “oh, my King”, “God is angry and he sharpens his sword”, “If you are not with me, my enemies will tear me like lions”.  

But I began thinking recently, why I didn’t like Psalms? While all our church members and my colleagues seem to like it.

The answer is much more complex than I thought. But I remembered an incident that could have made a negative impact in my life. It happened in 2000 when I was just beginning Bible college education. One lunch break I slept off and reached almost the end of the first class after lunch. Obviously the teacher was upset and I was ashamedL. Then he gave a punishment – to recite Psalms 32! Perhaps, this could be one reason I have less fascination for this book.

My experience with Psalms triggered these questions:
·         Are there negative incidents in our language communities that would reject any Scriptures that will come out?
·         I have been trying to encourage my brother and sisters to daily read the Bible. It is like pushing them. What is hindering them?

Hope this also stimulate to reflect ourselves – Are we selectively reading and selectively not reading some books of the Bible?

Thursday, April 04, 2013

Paid for using toilet

First I read in Reader's Digest (April 2013). I did not believe it and so little searches provided lots of results and its true in Tiruchi town,  in Tamil Nadu, its amazing. Link

Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Having Local People

In 2000 a team of researchers from Bangalore came to my village, at a time when the road was 10 times worst than as it is now. They first came on a pack of three elephants. The elephants could no longer go beyond half away because the terrain was rugged and provisions were running out. They had to turn around and go back to Miao, the nearest town.

After a few days, they got porters from Chakma and other communities who do not know the geography. But they came handy so they were employed. Their target was to reach Chaukan Pass, a border point between India and Burma beyond my village.

These porters travelled just little beyond my village, but they won’t go beyond. They had lots of fears like the place is covered with snow, gods will get angry etc. Helpless, the researchers had to return.

13 years later another team of 4 trekked the same route. I met one of the team members in Bangalore. Their aim was trekking expedition to Chaukan Pass. Learning from experience of previous researchers, they employed Lisu people as guides and porters, who knew A to Z of the geography. Without any difficulty they reached the border point and slept near that stone overnight!

I learned and reflect a few lessons:
·         It’s amazing to experience acceptance by local people when their people are with us. Not many questions of suspicions are shot at us.
·         Our learning becomes more reliable. You gain “insiders” knowledge.
·         Many more…

Right people… Right link… Good chance of success.