I, The Convert - Anand Mahadevan, Editor, Outlook Business

I came across this article in Annie's Face book. Annie Stephen is my friend and was collegue at TWWI. Thanks Annie for helping us to grow in God's love and wisdom. May God bless Annie and Anand Mahadevan.----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I , The Convert - Anand Mahadevan, Editor, Outlook Business

My conversion was not a change of religion; it was a change of heartI was born a Brahmin and am the grandson of a priest whom I dearly loved. I am educated and my current professional standing indicates that I am reasonably intelligent. I am also affluent and my income would put me distinctly in the upper middle class bracket. I guess that would make me high-caste, rich and smart. In other words, I am not a tribal, or poor or dim-witted. And yet, I chose to become a follower of Jesus Christ.The world would call me a convert to Christianity. I have no problems with that, though I see my faith more as a relationship with God through Jesus Christ than as a religion. And for the record, I can truthfully claim that no one financially induced or threatened or deceived me into converting to Christianity.

I am fiercely proud of my national identity as an Indian and I am completely at peace with my cultural identity as a Hindu. I retain the name my parents gave me. My wife, who also shares my faith, continues to go by her Hindu name. We have two children and we have given both distinctly Hindu names. In fact, many of my colleagues and acquaintances who may happen to read this column are likely to be surprised. They have no inkling about my faith, for I generally don’t go about announcing it. But if someone does ask me the reason behind the joy and hope that is everpresent in my life, I am always delighted to share it with them.

I write this piece to make one point—that my conversion was not a change of religion but a change of heart. To explain this, I need to go back to my childhood in Chennai, similar to that of so many other Tamil Brahmin boys like me. My grandfather, every bit the virtuous priest, had enormous influence over me. I absolutely adored him and as a toddler, always clung to him. He too loved me to a fault. There was no wish of mine that he would not rush to fulfil. But even in my early, formative years I was unable to relate to the religion he fervently practiced. Later, in my school days, I once spent my summer holidays with him in Trichy. Memories of dawn walks with him, for the ritualistic dip in the Cauvery river, cow in tow, are still fresh in my memory. I learnt many shlokas, some of which I still remember. But I never understood any of it and none of it helped me connect with God.

When I was 19, a Christian friend with whom I used to play cricket invited me to his house for prayer. If he had invited me to a pub, or party, I would have gone too. At his home, he and his sister prayed for me. It was a simple yet delightful conversation with God that lasted all of five minutes. I don’t remember it verbatim, but they articulated a prayer of blessing on my life, future, career and family. It was a simple affair—no miracles, no angels visiting. All they did was utter a deep human cry out to the creator God and His only son Jesus Christ. When they said Amen, I felt in my heart a desire to follow Jesus.It was a faith encounter with God that I shall not even attempt to understand, rationalise or explain. I simply accept it. It is my faith. It is what I choose to believe. That evening I did not change my religion, for in reality I had none. Hinduism was my identity, not my religion. It still is.

The Christianity I acquired that evening is not a religion. On the contrary, it is an intensely intimate relationship with Jesus. Over the past fifteen years, I have come to know this Jesus even closer. I know Him as the pure and sinless Son of a Holy God. And I know Him as a dear friend to whom I pray and talk to every day—about my career, my dreams, successes, failures, finances and even my sexuality.

If I read a good book, watch a good movie (Rock On is terrific, mate), or eat a good meal at a new restaurant, I would naturally tell my friends about it.In Jesus, I have discovered a truly amazing friend, guide, leader, saviour and God. How can I not tell all my friends about Him? And if anyone does listen and he too comes to believe in Jesus, I am delighted. The world would call it a conversion; I call it a change of heart, like mine.But I would never force anyone to listen to me, leave alone financially induce, coerce or con him into believing. That to me is pointless and against the very grain of my faith. But I do have a constitutional right to practice my faith and to preach it without deception, force or bribery. It pains to see such basic rights of mankind being cruelly violated every day in this great Hindu nation.
God Bless this Nation

I need to confirm this message with Anand.

India joined elite moon club. but it all started from village church.
Abstract of the Article for Times of India, Bangalore edition, 22nd October 208, page 15.
India's space research programme began at a church in Thumba, Kerala in the year 1962.
Bishop of Thiruvananthapuram helped ISRO to convince villagers who were emotionally attached to the church to hand it over to ISRO to begin its space research programme.
"the villagers paused a while, and chorused, "Amen", indicating that they were ready to give up".
Space experts later commented that that it was an auspicious beginning for India’s space missions. The small place of worship became the mainstay for the team of rocket scientists, including Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

India hasn't quite gone cycling to the moon, but the scientistists and villagers will all remember the church where the space expedition began in th right earnest.

Thanks to Times of India.

I beleive Advanis, Murali Manohar Joshis, Ashok Singals, Praveen Togadias, , etc, could have read this article.

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"

No comments

Eastern gate and His second coming

The year was 1967. The occasion was the Six Day War. As the fate of the new state of Israel hung in the balance, the turning point came on June 7 when the Israeli army broke through the Lion's Gate and returned control of the ancient city of Jerusalem to the Jewish people for the first time in 1,897 years.
The very next day, some members of the Jewish commando groups that had been involved in the assault on the city, had suggested catching the Jordanian defenders of the city off guard by blowing open the sealed Eastern Gate. But the leader of the group, an Orthodox Jew, had vehemently protested the idea, stating that "the Eastern Gate can be opened only when the Messiah comes." Hence they left the gate unopened. It is History.


In Ezekie chapter 43 the Lord gives Ezekiel a vision of God's glory entering the Millennial Temple from the east, through the Eastern Gate. The Lord then says to Ezekiel: "Son of Man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of my feet where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever" (43:7). The Lord then reveals to Ezekiel that the Eastern Gate will be closed and will not be reopened until the Messiah returns in glory (44:1-3).


This prophecy was partially fulfilled more than 400 years ago in 1517 when the Turks conquered Jerusalem under the leadership of Suleiman the Magnificent. He commanded that the city's ancient walls be rebuilt, and in the midst of this rebuilding project, for some unknown reason, he ordered that the Eastern Gate be sealed up with stones. Legends abound as to why Suleiman closed the Gate. The most believable one is that while the walls were being rebuilt, a rumor swept Jerusalem that the Messiah was coming. Suleiman called together some Jewish rabbis and asked them to tell him about the Messiah. They described the Messiah as a great military leader who would be sent by God from the east. He would enter the Eastern Gate and liberate the city from foreign control. Suleiman then decided to put an end to Jewish hopes by ordering the Eastern Gate sealed. He also put a Muslim cemetery in front of the Gate, believing that no Jewish holy man would defile himself by walking through a Muslim cemetery.


The Gate has remained sealed since that time. The Muslim cemetery still blocks the entrance. The old walled city has eight gates, and the Eastern Gate, and it alone, is sealed — just as prophesied in Ezekiel 44. It is not an "amazing coincidence." it is a "God-incidence."

The Eastern Gate is proof positive that the Bible is the Word of God. Its sealing is clear evidence that we are living in the end times. The Gate awaits the return of the Messiah. Then and only then, will it be opened.

When He came the first time, Jesus rode a donkey from the Mount of Olives down into the Kidron Valley and up to the Eastern Gate where He entered the Temple Mount for His last days of teaching. As He made that ride, the Valley of Kidron was filled with thousands of admirers who had heard about the resurrection of Lazarus. They waved palm branches and chanted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Within a few days that same fickle crowd was shouting, "Crucify Him!"

We are told in Revelation 19 that when Jesus returns He will come as a victorious military conqueror, riding through the air on a supernatural white horse. In Isaiah 61 we are told that He will come from the east, and in Zechariah 14 we are told that he will touch ground on the Mount of Olives. Revelation 19:14 says that all the Redeemed will come with the Lord.

Do you want to witness the Lord's return?

With angels hovering above and millions of the Redeemed filling the Kidron Valley, Jesus will ride up to the Eastern Gate on His white horse, and as He approaches the Gate, it will blow open. He will then enter the City of David, and to the triumphant shouts of "Hosanna to the Son of David," He will be crowned the Kings of kings and the Lord of lords. Will we be there? Will we also shout "Hosanna to the Son of David"?

"Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle...The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory." Psalm 24
My Friend in Jesus Christ, come let us witness his return together. Let us praise our king when returns triumphantly.

Thanks to Dr. David R. Reagan

Why Israel is special to us?

About 80% of our Bible is about Israel.
Our faith has its roots dug deeply into Israel's soil.
Our Lord walked there.
The prophets preached there.
Jesus started His Church there.
The Apostles took the Great Commission to the world from there. And of course the Scriptures were given by God to His choice leaders there.

The nation, Israel, itself is a miracle too.

A miracle is that it even survives in the midst of the Islamic Middle East.

The cell phone was developed in Israel by Israelis working for Motorola.
Voice mail technology was developed in Israel by Israelis working for Microsoft and Cisco.
Instant Messenger for America Online was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis.
Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies outside the United States and Canada.
Israel has the highest number of scientists and technicians per capita in the workforce. One hundred forty five out of every ten thousand Israelis are employed in these technical professions.
Israel is the only country to enter the twenty-first century with a net gain of trees.
Israel ranks number 2 in the world with the second highest per capita [publishing] of new books.
Israel has the world's best airline flight security.
Israel also has the largest number of biotech startups per capita.

And this one is just flat-out mind blowing - between 1901 and 2006 there have been 750 Nobel Peace Prize winners. Of the 750 winners, Jews have accounted for 158!
Twelve million Jews account for twenty-two percent of all Nobel Peace Prizes.

Will the world come to an end in the year 2012-2015?

There are number of news about
- Mayan calendar (21st December 2012),
- The aligning of the sun with the center of the Milky Way galaxy (2012) &
- The ‘Blood Moon Eclipse’ (2015).

Will the world come to an end?
Will our Lord come back during this period?

There are two different events in relation to Christ’s return.
One is the ‘rapture,’ the other one is the ‘second coming.’
One is invisible and one is visible.

Rapture: (Invisible)

1 Thessalonians 5:2

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”

Mat 24: 36-39

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man”


1 Corinthians 15:51-52

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

In order for the ‘Second Coming’ of Jesus to coincide with the 2012-2015 date range; the Church would have to be Raptured no later than the end of 2008. Remember, the Rapture has to happen first. Rapture has not happened so far.


The Second coming (Visible)

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Old Testament pointed to one Messiah but two manifestations. One as a ‘Suffering Servant,’ the other as ‘Conquering King.’ Jesus will come back to Earth seven years after the Tribulation period begins - 3 ½ years after the ‘Abomination that causes Desolation.’ (Daniel 11:31).

The Third Jewish Temple

The Jewish Temple is in the early stages.

Scripture is very clear that there will be a Jewish temple in the last days. This temple is currently in the birthing stages. “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” - Daniel 9:27



War of Gog and Magog

Russia, Iran and their depraved coalition with evil intentions have yet to attack Israel.

Russia, Iran, Libya, Syria and other nation hater’s of God’s chosen people will attack the Jewish nation revealed in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.

Good news! God, as always, wins!! Israel will be divinely protected and restored.

“On that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, in the valley of those who travel east of the Sea. It will block the way of travelers, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley Of Hamon Gog.”

“For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. All the people of the land will bury them, and the day I am glorified will be a memorable day for them, declares the Sovereign Lord.” - Ezekiel 39:11-13

Anti-Christ

Anti-Christ is yet to step onto the world stage.
(He most likely is here, but his power is limited.)

“The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain.” - Revelation 13:5-8 (NIV)

666 (The mark of the Beast)
The ‘Mark of the Beast’ in not fully implemented; and won’t be until anti-Christ’s reign.

“He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.” - Revelation 13:16-17 (NIV)

This technology is already available and being used today. This doesn’t mean the anti-Christ is pulling the strings. This technology must be used on a global scale with the only available ‘opt out’ policy being death.


The lining up of the sun with the center of the Milky Way galaxy (21st December 2012) could very well have environmental and ecological consequences predicted by Jesus Himself:

“There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” - Luke 21:11

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” - Luke 21:25-26


"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Mat 24: 42, 44)

My conclusion:
Let us be alert and prepared to meet our Lord as long as we are alive on this earth. If we are alive when he comes we will be raptured else we will be resurrected from our graveyard. Why should we join hands with Lucifer’s army?
We are God’s chosen people. Let us live like God’s own people.

Malachy's Prophecies

St. Malachy was born in 1094 A.D. at Armagh, Ireland. He died as he himself predicted. On his last trek to the holy see in Rome, in 1148, Malachy accurately predicted the place and time of his own death: Clairvaux, France, on All Souls Day, November 2, of that same year.

Saint Malachy was, who, while on a visit to Rome had a vision of all the popes who would ever reign. Malachy "saw"-and committed to paper- a series of Latin phrases describing the popes to come.

He predicted that a total of 112 men would hold the office of Pope from then till the End of the Age and gave cryptic descriptions of each one that have all been reasonably accurate, lending credibility to the prophecy. Malachy made the prophecy in 1139.

The pope about to be named is number 111, next to last on St. Malachy's list. As per Malchi’s vision, the current pope is the last but one. The next pope will be the last pope.
The last pope, called Peter the Roman, "will feed his flock amid many tribulations; after which the seven-hilled city (Rome) will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people."
Will the papacy of this 78 year old pope be short lived?

Is this the beginning of Tribulation?

Will the next pope be the last pope?

Will the next pope be a Roman and choose the name Peter?

The Or, will Tribulation begin AFTER the Anti-Christ has shown himself as a person of peace and already made peace with Israel's enemies for seven years?

God, the Father only knows.

Plane landed by miracle - News item in Kuwait Times

Believe, Miracle will happen in our live also.

Madurai Thirumalai Nayakar was a Christian

Notes taken from Wikipedia.
I am not telling you story. ok?
The great king of Madurai was killed because he was about to embrace Chrisitianity.
Friends, This is history, not a myth.
read...
Thirumalai Naik died in 1659. He was between sixty-five and seventy years of age at the time and had reigned for thirty-six years. His territories at his death comprised the present districts of Madurai (including the territories of Ramnad and Sivaganga), Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Salem and Thiruchirapalli, with Pudukkotai and parts of Travancore.
According to legends that were current regarding his death, he nearly converted to Christianity that he stopped his expenditure on the temples of the Hindu Gods. This roused the Brahmins, and some of them, headed by a priest of the great temple, enticed him to the temple under the pretence that they had found a great hidden treasure in a vault there, induced him to enter the vault and then shut down its stone trap-door upon him, and gave out that the goddess Meenakshi had translated her favourite to heaven. Another story states that he had an intrigue with the wife of a priest and that as he was returning from visiting her one dark night he fell into a well and was killed. Thirumalai was succeeded by his son Muttu Alakadri Nayak in 1659.
A letter written by one of the Jesuit priests just after his death states:
It is impossible to refuse him credit for great qualities, but he tarnished his glory at the end of his life by follies and vices which nothing could justify. He was called to render account to God for the evils which his political treachery had brought upon his own people and the neighbouring kingdoms. His reign was rendered illustrious by works of really royal magnificence. Among these are the pagoda of Madura, several public buildings, and above all the royal palace the colossal proportions and astonishing boldness of which recall the ancient monuments of Thebes. He loved and protected the Christian religion, the excellence of which he recongnised; but he never had the courage to accept the consequences of his conviction. The chief obstacle to his conversion came from his 200 wives, of whom the most distinguished were burnt on his pyre.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirumalai_Nayak

East Gate - Jerusalem - WOW!, A fulfilled prophecy. Believe it

Ezekiel 44:1-3 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince; the prince!

Time period : 593 BC to 571 BC.

Facing the Mount of Olives on the eastern side of the Old City of Jerusalem is the Golden, or Eastern Gate. The Bible indicates that Jesus passed through this gate many times while he was in Jerusalem. Jewish religious tradition teaches that the coming Messiah will enter Jerusalem through this gate. To prevent this, the Muslims sealed the gate during the rule of Suleiman.The Eastern gate is presently considered by the Arabs to be their exclusive property. It is sealed up and blocked off

Luicfer's Army

I guess the size of the army of the Luicfer must be around 90 crores.

PROMISSORY VERSE 2008

PROMISSORY VERSE 2008
(Thanks to Rev.Daniel and Trinityword Church, Australia for this prayer. Dear Friends, /i recommend you to take copy of this and paste it at your work place. do not forget to pray every day. God bless you)

Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken and I will do it. Ezekiel 36:36

The year 2008 is a special year of blessing. This year, the Lord will rebuild your broken walls and provide you with abundant prosperity. He will lift you up in your workplaces, provide you with financial growth and he will make you to be a blessing to many. If you faithfully call upon his name and claim this promise each morning, you will see great things happening in your life each day. What the Lord has spoken he WILL DO IT!!!

Prayer,
Heavenly father, I come before your presence. Father, I give you all the glory and praise for being with me throughout the previous year. Lord Jesus, I surrender every day of this New Year into your hands. I thank you for your promise to rebuild all that was destroyed and to replant what was desolate. I believe that what you have spoken; you will do it. Thank you for going before me into this New Year and preparing a blessed path for me. With faith I commit everything into your loving hands. All this I ask in Jesus name. Amen