The Greeks, the Jews, a Great Crowd all come to see Jesus, but with different intentions.
A Christmas message based on John 12:21 (from Hindi to Tamil). It draws inferences on different people & groups in that chapter who come to meet Jesus. Presenting each one's perspectives of their search of Jesus through wisdom, political power, signs, etc. Mariyosh goes on to present the true form of worship.
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It was wonderful watching the way India bat and chase the decent total put on board by the South Africa Team, in the T20 World Cup match yesterday. Though not a big die-hard fan of Cricket, I could not resist the urge to write about that one moment. Yes, that moment when in the very last Over, not choosing to strike the winning shot, the Indian Captain MS Dhoni consciously gave away that moment of glory to his teammate Virat Kohli. “Ah! What a man!” was my only expression. Dhoni had scored NO runs (in this match) but had won ALL hearts. What a beautiful quality and value that Dhoni was emulating! To the interviewer Harsha Bhogle who commented on this act of Dhoni he replied, “He (Kohli) deserved it”.
And to Halley’s surprise, Newton had discovered the explanation of planetary motion five years earlier! Halley encourages Newton to publish all his works into a book, but it were as though that they fell into deaf ears. Halley approaches the Royal Society on this matter only to know that it is in heavy debts due to the poor sale of a previous publication, ‘History of Fish’. So much so that even Halley was paid his salary not in money but in-kind, copies of that book! He persuades the Royal Society, subdues the rivalry between Hooke & Newton, encourages Newton to work on the book, edits it and publishes it by his own efforts, but in Newton’s name. If not for Halley this world would not have had the greatest scientific discoveries through The Principia and much of Newton’s major discoveries would have largely remained unknown. In the Scientific world when academic publications are considered the pinnacle of one’s success, here is a man, a Scientist who not caring about his name or fame, takes all the pain, to publish another person’s works!
Unfortunately, these are only exceptions and not the norm of any society or time. Reading from the book ‘Bonhoeffer-Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy’ this morning I found in one of the pages the author writes about this incident in Bonhoeffer’s life when as a 22-year-old young man he goes to Barcelona to take up his first ministry assignment as Assistant Pastor. As incharge of the Sunday School his first class had only one girl! Hardworking Bonhoeffer could turn that into thirty within two weeks time. In the absence of the Pastor Olbricht, Bonhoeffer was scheduled to preach on Sundays. The author Eric Metaxas writes, “On Easter, with Olbricht away, Bonhoeffer preached again and the next week too. Each time he challenged his hearers and somehow won them over, It soon happened that whenever Bonhoeffer was scheduled to preach, the congregation grew noticeably. Olbricht noticed and promptly discontinued announcing the preaching schedule!”
As a child and school boy I have enjoyed playing pranks at school and at home on this day, the April Fool’s day. As all do, I wanted to fool as many as possible on this day and to be cautious to not be fooled by anyone! Is it that with the growth of my wisdom teeth went away the pranks? Hmmm.. Can’t say! They did eventually go away, but what shall I credit that too??