There is a time: August 2013

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Good statement on maturity

I found this statement very specific and helpful. Very often we use maturity in many, many ways. This is good summary:

Possess a Maturity Well-Beyond Your YearsOne mark of maturity is the willingness to assume responsibility. As Ed Cole said, “Maturity doesn’t come with age; it comes with acceptance of responsibility.” Another sign of maturity is consistency—routinely delivering results. A third indication of maturity is character, or the willingness to do what’s right even when it’s costly. A fourth and final mark of maturity is confidence. People more readily follow leaders who exude faith in their abilities. (John Maxwell).

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Justice

"What does God require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8

How do you if someone is taking advantage of you?

An email I shared to several young people, especially girls, on 29 January 2010. I thought this is still very good to take as warning.

You know if someone is taking advantage of you when you do not feel safe with them. Anytime there is a question about someone's motives, that is an indication that you cannot trust that individual.

People who care about you wont try to take advantage of you and you will feel secure around them.

I'm going to assume the person you're asking about is male (since "player" usually refers to a guy). Here are some clues:

He takes cell phone calls out of your earshot. ("This is a business call--I have to take this privately.")

He checks his phone's caller ID and refuses to answer certain calls, then won't answer questions about who called, or tells you it was a telemarketer or a number he didn't recognize.

That thing about always "working late" or attending work functions that seems like a cliche? It's usually not.

He's more attentive and/or sexual than usual. On the surface this seems like a good thing, but it can be suspect because he could be using it to counter his guilt or keep you from getting suspicious.

Mood swings! Does he become very chipper when he's got someplace to go? Is he moody when he's "trapped" at home with you for long periods of time?

If he's playing you with someone you both know, keep an eye out for him talking about that person more often than usual, or getting defensive should you say something negative about her.

His taste in music suddenly seems to change, or he's watching new TV shows that you would've never expected him to watch.

He's sexual, but not necessarily affectionate. He may stop saying "I love you."

He's more protective of his privacy than usual. He "guards" his cell phone and computer.

There are unexplained charges to any of your joint accounts.

He gets angry and defensive if you bring up anything that seems suspicious. He may even argue and storm out of the house. Guess where he's going?

Your intuition just plain tells you that something's not right. Trust your instincts, because you're probably on to something.

(Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_know_if_someone_is_taking_advantage_of_you)

Wireless baby

Very humorous (Courtesy: A Facebook user).

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Usually I don't like to watch Parliament proceedings. It is always a mess. But this time I keep myself abreast of what's happening because there is one Constitutional Amendment that I am interested in.

I keep wondering why our top leaders are so messy. They are completely not gentle, they are very much like drunkards near the liquor shops. One is speaking, another shouting or protesting.

Yesterday I watch a 20 minutes clip of the Lok Sabha discussion. I felt very sad for the Speaker Meira Kumar who has to deal with less than childlike behaviour.

Today I read The Hindu (21 August 2013) report, "The Weekly Infographic: Parliament's performance report". Below is an abstract:

The 15th Lok Sabha, elected in 2009, is on its way to becoming the least deliberative in history: it has passed the least number of bills. Excluding the Monsoon 2013 session (ongoing), it planned for 380 bills but passed only 149, a "pass" percentage of 39%.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Photos from Wagha Border

My colleagues took these photos on 11 March 2009.

Memories of Nasik

Date: 2 Sep 2009

Dear friend,

Today I arrived at Nasik, India for a brief visit. I was here in 2004 for my training on linguistics. Linguistics is a pre-requisite training for those in Bible translation. We had subjects which I have never heard: Phonetics, Semantics, Phonology, SociolinguisticsJ. Being a fresh graduate from a Bible college, it was quite a shift! But God helped me and my friends learn them well.

My memory is flooded of those days of training (June – Sep 2004). 13 of us studied together. We played volleyball almost everyday. We learned “funny” sounds from Phonetics class. It was humorous in a way. Those friends are now mostly in various ministries. Four went on to become Bible translators. I met one of them an hour ago. He is now married and has a kid. He translates Bible for those who are deaf. One statement that came to me is “God has been faithful.”

Looking back to my life, I am happy over what has happened. I am once again reminded of the time when the Lord planted this vision which began in a conference in Kerala. Last week I read an email I wrote in Dec 2, 2002 at 1 pm. In that mail I requested for training opportunity and that happened. Later days I had the opportunity to visit 10 language areas. We could do various testing tools to find translation needs among them. That was good. And also able to work more with a team of young people committed to this task. So many things have happened. I praised God for many wise leaders who have provided opportunities and influenced me in multiple ways. Reflections humbled me. Please pray that I would remain committed to His will and His cause. always.

Liahey (and for Simasa)

Sep 2, 2009

Nasik, India

a phone in my village

An email announcing the installation of a public phone in my village (Date: 28 August 2009)

Hi Everyone,

On August 8, 2009 I received the first phone call from my village. My village is located in Arunachal Pradesh, India where for 140 km there is no road. The government had just installed the first public phone in the village beginning this month. My parents decided to call us together in the evening of that day. But my father came down to watch a football game. On seeing a queue in telephone room, he went and found the operator had my mobile number. He just dialed? My mom had to make a separate trip in the evening.

Last 2 weeks people called any number they have. There is a queue from morning to evening. The operator has to stay the whole day. When he wanted to play football matches, he had to close down his shop. I asked my dad how is it like having a public phone in the village. He said "people are excited here". So far I received 5 calls. Every time I get calls, they remind me they are calling from the village, in order to make me believe! One fellow was informing me that he was returning from his farm and just took care of his buffalos.

Some people were talking over phone for the first time and just learning to see what a phone look like. One person came with the postal pin code, from which his son sent a letter. The next time he came with another number which was not a phone number again. The third time he got it right. Some still not willing to talk, though they will just come and watch. Still learning.

I pray as we look at the many languages in our country, that they will have access to the Lord's Word. Especially, for those 56 languages whose need for Scriptures have not been even evaluated yet. I look forward to our God that they will have access to His Word. So that they are excited knowing/exercising the access before the Almighty. and express childish joy, just like when calling phone for the first time.

Sincerely yours,

Liahey and Simasa

Reflection from AICOCIM 2009

Date: 20 October 2009, An email I wrote after attending a conference.

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Dear friends,

Last week I had the privilege of attending the All India Congress on Mission in Church, held at Secunderabad. It was 4 intensive days, represented by mission organizations from all over the country. Lots of events took place there. But one continues to stay on in my mind: Celebrating the achievements of senior leaders in mission.

We spent one hour celebrating. 30 of them were honoured. They were people who led movements in yesteryears. They impacted mission tasks and led hundreds in their sphere of influence.

This hour greatly impacted me that I noted all of their names, their contribution, their words of encouragement. Few observations out of this:

1. Everyone had significantly contributed in their missions, either founded an organization that is serving widely today or led a movement that greatly impact India today.

2. They served not just a year or two. They lived and served lifelong and greatly focussed to what they were called. One among them celebrated 97^th Birthday that day and still engaged in some way.

3. They were greatly educated people; two were IAS officers before entering into full time mission task. I realized that good education, merged with passionate commitment and backed up with high calling can make huge difference as exemplified by these great leaders.

Each of them was given 1 minute to speak! Some said: This is all of God alone (John Richard), Kingdom belongs to fruit bearers, Mat 21:43 (PM Thomas), Do utmost for Christ (Joyce Janet Khanna), All done for the glory of God (Lalchuangliana). On top of them I heard many mentioned their unworthiness to be honoured so much.

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your former leaders, who spoke God's message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith.

From this, I take encouragement at the moment, pick up a fresh perspective of honouring God’s people in leadership, and I remember those greatly influenced my life.

Liahey (and for Simasa)

Justice advocates for Kandhamal victims

I am very glad to read a news today that a team of people have visited Kandhamal District. They are trying their best to deliver justice to people who have not been able to find themselves and where the authorities are just silent (Christianity Today).

In my recent visit to this district, I heard how Christians have suffered so much. They had to ran for their lives, lost properties, some left their home village and settled elsewhere.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Trip to Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Nepal and Bhutan

Between Sep to November 2006 was very extensive travel. We covered three states and three countries.

A beautiful Bhutanese kid.

River that separates India and Nepal, near Pani Tanki.

The Baptist Church where Graham Staines worshiped in Mayurbhanj, Odisha.

India - Bhutan border gate.

Entrance to Mission Gate of Graham Staines.

Graham's family photo.

Howrah Bridge.

Khoragpur Railway Station.

A church built under the bunyan tree where once stood a temple.

This was how we traveled.

Bridge between India and Nepal. Only rickshaw ran between them. Nepal side is clean. India side very dirty as classic.

Tram in Kolkata. This is very slow and can easily ran after that.

Photo: 12 August 2013

A year after the photos above, a JCB bulldozed the road next to my rented home and tried to repair the road. It worsened. I couldn't park even my bike at home. I had to leave outside.