WELCOME TO VINUKONDA - My Town!!

The picture was taken when I was out to shoot something for my blog; and somehow I intrigued with this one; not that it was intriguing in and it self but somehow my mind glued to it; but the truth is no where is it better written than it is at the Railway Station. It was actually taken at the Railway Station; probably some of you might have got it already. Does anybody know why it has got the combination of yellow and black? Some say it was started off by the 'British' when they were ruling the country; and it continues even after the 'independence'. Probably, it is the best combination to be used in the 'Railway Realms'. It is in 'Telugu' on top and in 'Hindi' in the middle and of course it is in 'English' on the board. Don't get me wrong as though I am trying to explain it to you who knows what is what; I also have to bear in mind about friends whose knowledge is not wide enough on India.

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Vinukonda' is just like any other normal town in Andhra Pradesh India; probably a bit different to the ones in northern India. It has got about 52,519 people living in it. Does it constitute a huge city in some other country? I don't know. But, here in India 'population' is not taken into consideration to make small places turn into cities. people can be anywhere. Be it in a city or in a village; one thing you cannot miss is that 'people'. You find people everywhere and 'Vinukonda' is no exception. I shall continue to up load pictures of 'Vinukonda' for the coming few days. Just to give you the picture of what it is like being in here. So see you soon.

CHRISTMAS MANIA

As Christmas is fast approaching, shops are decorated, streets are busy with folk buying various things ranging from a needle to a brand new Ferrari. May be this year, this isn't the same story as markets haven been hit by the recession up and down the globe, though people do have insatiable desire to buy things. In fact, this is the season, when a lot of 'shopping' goes all around the world, one wonders if the credit cards become slimmer and thinner for their on-going swiping!!! Though the economists advise us not to over use the credit cards, people seem to have not bothered too much about it; who cares the endless flying white ribbon; though it is a result of an unnecessary purchase.

I think, it all begins with the problem of 'covetousness' and people are not content with what they have. One needs to draw a clear line between what he wants and needs. It is no wonder that folk do get muddled up for this very reason and the result is often pretty chaotic. It's kind of funny or should I say it is 'ironic' that I use this expression 'pretty chaotic'!!; though both the words are antithetical in nature; the 'English' language it self is such a thing; not that it is pretty chaotic but can be very confusing. May be, you need to borrow paradoxical elements to express one particular thing in an expressive manner. Anyway, 'Christmas' season is something when a lot of activity is anticipated. Some are good and some are bad. Often the 'spendthrifts' end up bankrupt at the end of the season which could have been avoided if enough care had been taken. One spends so much money on his fantasies and dreams because he thinks that money belongs to him. The thing is the money we have is not our own, but it belongs to God and it needs to be spent carefully in a God glorifying manner.

As my Friend said, 'Samuel, here in my country, 'Christmas' is without 'Christ'.'; which it is just a 'MAS'?? Is that true in your country too, is that true in your place too? Is that true with you too? Think and reflect. Perhaps, this is the best season to come back to Christ to celebrate real Christmas, as Saviour was born to save sinners..

Practical steps to avoid sin by Ralph Venning

The following are the advices taken from 'Sinfulness of Sin' by Ralph Venning; a non-conformist, earned his MA from 'Cambridge University' and lived in the 17th century in England. These are the practical things we must have in our mind to protect us from

evil nature of sinfulness within(inside) and with out(out side).

1.Pray to God that past sins are forgiven and see to it that there may be no future sins

2.Obey the instruction of God in the Scripture (Psalm 119:11)

3. Begin each day with thoughts of God and of good things.

4. Act quickly to hate and rebuke wrong things.

5. Keep a strict control on what you watch with your eyes.

6. Keep yourself busy in doing good things.

7. Set your affections on Godly things and godly behaviour.

8. God has told us how we ought to talk to speak (Ephesians 4:29, 5:4)

9. Talking much about religion does not make us a Christian (James 1:26)

10. Sinful words are evidence of sinful hearts (Psalm 12:1-2)

11. Evil words corrupt other people (James 3:5-6)

12. Our words are either our glory or our shame (Proverbs 10:20)

13. Idle words will have to be accounted for (Matthew 12:36-37).

One must keep these things always in his mind to avoid the unnecessary take- over by 'sin' in our lives. One must also remember this is an 'on going battle' and we, beleivers in 'Christ' must master the art of battling against the enemy, sin and the world. Having fought the battle with in and with out; against the enemy, sin and the world, we ultimately depend on His Grace to survive spiritually and the 'victory' belongs to Him.

INDIA IS BURNING...

For the last three days, Mumbai; the financial capital of India bowed its head to the unprecedented and well co-ordinated attacks by the heavily drugged and misguided maniacs who opened fire in all directions indiscriminately. It is horrendous to know that their mission was to take 5000 lives and get away unscathed. The death toll already reached up to 183 and the injured were nearly more than 280. Remember, most of the injured will inevitably be near to death. And the nation has already lost a few good men; the unsung heroes of the country who fought against the enemy to redeem the hostages. In addition to incalculable human loss, the hallmark symbols of India's prestige, pride and progress; Hotel Taj and Trident were severely damaged.

When I visited Mumbai; along with my cousin in 2000; I was awe- struck looking at the elegant gigantic structure embellished incredibly; I, then, came to know it was the so called 'Taj' hotel. Though I live far away from Mumbai, I could imagine how a normal 'Mumbaiwallah' would have reacted to see this long -standing monument being burnt and bombarded by endless rain of bullets. Will it be ever like what once it was? Whether it will be like what was once it was or not, I do not know. But one thing can be taken for granted that 'Mumbai' has changed for good and it in turn has changed the course of nation.

The Common man lost his credibility in the government; which ever it is; as it fails to safeguard his safety time and again. He is terribly up set to see the politicians hurling coarse comments against each other; their indecency reached its peak. Though the common man is paying millions of rupees as Tax to the government, his 'safety' is the last thing that will be ever on a politician's mind. One wonders if the nation is a democracy or a politician's theocracy where he is god!?? Time has come to answer the so called unanswerable. Whether we are politicians or just common men, we need to examine ourselves if we are true to our nation in all that we do. As long as we encourage selfish motives of our own and corruption, we will never find 'India' to be a safer place. Before we fight out the enemy outside, one needs to fight the enemy 'within'. Everybody knows who the real culprit is. It may be the dirty politician, or it may be 'me' or it may be 'you'. Unless one gives up his selfish motives to serve the country, we cannot aspire to see our nation progressing for we do not want to have an imbalanced growth; the unbridgeable gap between the urban and the rural. We might resurrect another 'Taj', but we can never restore human life once it is lost. So, let us start working within; cleaning up the garbage to build a better country; where life is more precious; not only the 'life' but the 'soul' too for it is better to be devastated in life than to be in eternity .
Let me end this post with this verse " Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:28, 29)"

Repentance and Trust in Christ is the only Remedy.

'Sin' is an inescapable fact which underlies within and without (outside) us; as I wrote in my previous post. By default we are sinners; it is there in the world and besides that the 'enticer' is on a prowl to do the hoodwink to snatch us away from God's fold. Before melancholy creeps in one's mind and heart that life is in this world is pointless, we are shown a way to repent and turn to Christ in faith.

What is this 'repentance' is all about? In original Greek, Repentance (metanoia) means change of mind about something or someone and hence change in attitude. Biblical meaning also involves sorrow and grief over sin (2 Cor 7:9,10); it is clearly seen in the parable of 'Prodigal Son' ( Luke 15: 11-21). And it also means to shun away from sinful life. In addition to that one must run for Christ in faith that He alone can save him from the bondage of sin as He paid the unpayable debt on the Cross. (Acts 3:19). We must make our ultimate goal in our lives to hate evil and sin. To compromise with sin is to invite disaster into one's life. It reminds me of a story; " there was a camel standing out in the desert right next its master's tent; the wind was blowing all the time; the camel started begging its master 'Master! could you please let my head in in your tent for it is very windy outside; the master lets its head in'; after a while; the master was outside the tent counting the sand whilst the camel was dozing off inside the tent." Beware of sinfulness mates, it can strike us ever more harder, if we are too welcoming to it.

Is it necessary to repent and can we still be forgiven without repentance? Is forgiveness necessary at all? I don't know how to respond to answer these questions for mind is blank; my heart aches and my mouth is dumb- stuck.

Sin is serious!..

You might be wondering how on earth is this picture related to the topic 'sin' ?!; even I don't know how it makes sense; but I must somehow grab hold of a picture every time I post an article which is quite a task really!! when I am run out of pictures, I take the easy path of downloading the stuff from the Internet. Since 'sin' is an 'abstract' (a noun as well as a verb) concept; it is not a person or a thing to be shown; so I preferred to show a 'Modern Art' picture. And therefore, do not read too much into it.

To address the issue like 'sin', one needs to know what 'sin' exactly is. People may well have thousand and one opinions about it. Are those opinions trust worthy? May be some of them truly are!!But at the end of the day, they just remain as 'opinions' which may not prove anything substantially. We tend to turn to a 'Dictionary'; every time we come across a new word; as we know that is the perfect source. For me the 'source' is important. Where is it coming from is a very basic question one needs to look for. For me the 'Bible' is the ultimate source and a believer's map, in this world of confusion and chaos. So, let us listen to what the Bible says on 'sin'.

'Sin' means to think and act against the God's law; to break God's commandments. Everyone who sins breaks the law (1 John 3:4). When we fail to meet God's standard of holiness, we sin. To break a single commandment means breaking all His commandments (James 2:10). It is like pelting a stone at glass; it is only a single stone but the whole glass is damaged and the cracks are an unavoidable sight. There are sins of commission and sins of omission. Consciously committing an act against God's law is sin, at the same time, consciously omitting God's law is also a sin. Just a bad thought is as criminal as an act in God's sight ( Matt 5:28; Mark 7: 20, 21 & 22). The more we sin; the more guilty we are; the guilt piles. Give me a break, one might yell!! but that's a fact. You know it for yourself, why asking somebody else for it? 'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23) and therefore you are inexcusable on man! (Rom 2:1). Having read this, can you still say that you are perfect, and 'sinless'?! if you can, as I said earlier; I don't know how to respond for my mind is blank; my heart aches and my mouth is dumb- stuck!!

Sin is serious!...

What is this thing called 'sin'? why am I unable to react as I ought to? Why do I loose my self control time and again? Why do I get angry? Why am I frustrated? Why am I enslaved to bad when I actually know what good is? How many times questions like these have flooded your mind? I don't know about your predicament, but the more I look into myself the more I discover evil nature within me. I know something is seriously wrong within me. Besides that I am unable to get myself out from this pathetic situation. I am unable to stop myself from sinning and to make matters even worse, my guilt is piling up every time I commit sin. Oh! what a wretched man that I am; who can save me from this body of death? (Rom 7: 24). No one else but Jesus Christ alone! These words echo through my head and heart; as they did in the Apostle Paul's.

By the way, are you convinced that this world is full of sin and you are a part of it? Do you think that something is terribly wrong with the human race? I cannot and do not have to argue with those who think that this world is getting better and better and human race is inherently good. I think they are simply denying the fact. We know that world is not a better place to live but what about your heart? Is it a better place? What a tragedy it is if you live in a terrible place in addition to having a terrible heart. We must be convinced if such a thing called 'sin' exists before we address this issue. If it does, we must look into what exactly this is and how we can protect ourselves from it. If anyone thinks, it doesn't, I don't know how to respond, my mind is blank, my heart aches and my mouth is dumb- stuck!! I shall write what 'sin' is in my next post God willing..