Friday, March 31, 2006

Thru Gates of Splendour


I started reading this book by Elisabeth Elliot yesterday and couldnt get away from it until I had finished it. I met Jim, Nate, Roger, Ed and Pete, who lived not long ago just around half a century ago.
The end of 1955 brought them together to reach the killer tribe of the Aucas in Ecuador. And after weeks of efforts including flying over their territory daily, dropping gifts, shouting out friendly slogans in the native language they had memorized earlier until their throats were soar, they dared to try and make physical contact with them.
Primitive ignorance caused the Aucas to doubt their intentions and in the end[?], all the five men were killed in an ambush.
It moved me to the core to meet these young guys not much older to me who braved and risked it all to see the Kingdom advance, who gave it all not just in words but in their actions, who caused their own lives to be living sacrifices to the glory of God. They were common men, with their own problems, flaws and doubts but what they shared was the zeal to scale mountains for God, mountains and terrains that no one had dared to scale before. Oh that the same zeal would burn in each of our hearts!!
Before they left on January 3, 1956, they sang the following lines
"We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender,
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise
When passing through the gates of pearly splendour
Victors, we rest with Thee through endless days."

- 'Through Gates of Splendour', Elisabeth Elliot, Living Books, Illinois, pg. 179.

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Meaty Munchies


I just began 'Through Gates of Splendor' by Elisabeth Elliot. The very first page contains this quote by her husband Jim Elliot:

'He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose'

Munch on...

On Moving and Following


I was reading about Elijah and the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17 and God spoke to me very strongly about moving in the purposes of God according to His will.
Here are my insights or rather what I heard:
* Elijah didn’t move until God moved him. God had directed him to Kerith ravine earlier and he stayed there until God told him to move. [v. 9]
* God moved Elijah strategically. [ Luke 4:24-25]
* Elijah did not hear from God and then merely sit back waiting for it. He brought the word of God into fruition by his initiative and action. [v. 10-15]

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

King of the World!!


Our home group leader Shane led us into blessing God today and worshipping him for who he is. God turned my attention to Psalm 47. This amazing psalm talks of God as the King over everything. So, here I present to you the psalm of the King:

1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
2 How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!
3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Praise God!! He is moving in my city!


I live in Cardiff right now but my home, where I grew up is the City of Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat in India. [I have posted an aerial view to give you a taste]
Tony is in India right now and they had a great time of the Spirit in a meeting in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
You can read about it on our apostle's blog. The url is http://www.chandrakantchavada.blogspot.com

You might want to browse through some of his other posts. I bet you will love them.

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Changing Time

Well! I hadnt really thought much about the changing of time that occured today so hardly had it in mind. So even though I had heard Kendra reminding everyone of it numerous times, I forgot it by the time I was ready for bed. And as I was trying to drift off to sleep, there was the annoying beeping of my cellphone and alas!! I had left it on the table. So, now this involved me taking off the covers, getting up from my bed and going to fetch it. I did it alright and what do I find but a text from my housemate Hannah [who was at another place for the night] reminding me to change the time.
So, at 11:51 last night which then turned to 12:51, I realized again how much friends are to be valued.
And if you want some good godly insight into the same, Chris Hamer-hodges has done a great post on it and as I havent figured out how to add a link, his blog url is http://www.chrishamer-hodges.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 23, 2006


Introducing Baby Angelina!! She is the fifth of the legacy of girls in our family. My eldest sister Grace is her proud mum. And as Tony always calls us the 'sacha tribe' continues to grow. Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Rest in Him!!

We have Per Arne Gerde from Norway for this week and he is teaching us on the Attributes of God. What he taught today spoke to all of us strongly. It was like a opening of my eyes even after my eyes were open.
One of the things that he taught us was how resting in God did not mean that we get worn out and then we take a break, rather it is enjoying the gifts that we have recieved from God. I had always struggled to understand this but today as Per Arne spoke the light of the Holy Spirit just shone my brain into understanding.
Praise God for His rest!! Praise God for Per Arne who has taken time off from his schedule to invest into our lives!!
Everyday as I sit in our classroom. listening intently to our professor for the day, I feel more and more privileged and in gratitude to God for his multitude of mercy that he has bestowed upon me and indebted to all, not just professors but spiritual fathers and mothers who are investing so much into their lives. My heartfelt prayer to God is that they be proud and more than content of not having spent that time in vain over me but that I take on the baton from their hands and take it much further in the purpose of God.

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Habbakuk 2:14

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together!

Cardiff has been beautiful and sunny today and we felt more than just the warmth of the sunshine as God's people from Swansea, Merthyr and Cardiff met together at All Nations Centre for a time of worship.
I felt so privileged and happy that I was stewarding this week because I got to welcome all these people of God! We had a great time of worship and had a feast on the Word with the master chef, Tony Ling in the house. And later everyone shared lunch together.
It was such a great sight to see God's family all at one place proclaiming the oneness and unity of the Body of Christ!

Saturday, March 18, 2006

The Incredible Adventure of St. Patrick's Day.

It was around 9 pm. I was cozily curled under my blanket enjoying the romantic spy adventure of ‘Charlotte Grey’, when Cameron, Reuben, and Tim knocked at my door with an adventurous proposal. They had a bottle with them and this bottle was to be the prime instrument of our expedition. We were to take that bottle to the cross roads and spin it. Then, we were to go into the direction it pointed to until we found a pub in honour of St. Patrick.
My brain cells raced into action weighing the pros and cons of this proposal. Should I brave the cold or should I content myself with the wonderful story of Charlotte and Julian? Should I brave the pub where I usually never drink and end up hating the stinking smoke or should I stay in the warm house and have a early night? What should I do and as if the powers that be had already made a decision, against all odds, I consented immediately. The only other person with the same amount of mettle proved to be Amy Cole from 39, Llanishen Street.
So, there we were, five of us, outside Heath Pub at the cross roads and I was given the honour of spinning the bottle. It pointed towards Crwys Road and there we went. And might I say we met up with a pretty good pub which wasn’t crowded at all. We actually got pretty good seats too. And there, we spent most part of the evening chatting about St. Patrick, graduation, the ‘innumerable Steves in Canada’ story by Cameron and much more. Later in the evening, we were also joined by the Mr. Nathan Caughey who was an incredible boost to our crew.
Our adventure ended with a trip to a great kebab shop and a good walk back home, after which I listened to ‘The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ while I had my delicious chicken burger.
So that was the end of our adventure and I went to sleep at 2:30 am with a content heart of having achieved something substantial for posterity and having, after all these days, at last had a midnight snack.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Gone are the days....

I couldnt believe the four days with Tony were over. We actually completed a whole topic on 'Giants'. It was a great class once again.
Tony taught us on the strategy giants employ at all times, whether they are physical giants like Goliath of old, or more contemporary ones like that of immorality and world systems. And the best comeback against them is to take hold of their weapons and kill them with it. If the giant says you are no good, you agree and then, remind him of the redeeming blood of Christ that translated you into the Kingdom of light and the giant will be smitten.
So, its time we grasp what we have been designed to do, we become who we are, GIANT KILLERS!!!

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Thats what he is!!

I have been reading 'Through New Eyes' by James Jordan lately and today as I was reading it, I came across this Holy Sonnet no. 14 by John Donne. I wont post the whole sonnet but the last three lines and tell me if it doesnt make your heart reach out to God!

Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you enthrall mee, never shall be free,
Nor ever chast, except you ravish me.

PRAISE THE LORD!!

I confess that though I started this blog with the notion to document my moments of retrospection, there was always the desire to have an audience for it.
I had fiddled with the sitemeter website for long and at last got it installed on my blog. And today it told my site had fourteen hits!! Now, i know for the blogging giants this is nothing but for a turtle like me, it is amazing!!
So thank you very much everyone, who care to click on to my humble link. I hope I keep providing those fourteen people [and more..] some good stuff to read.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

The first Adam and the last Adam!

We had a great class with Tony Ling today. It was, as expected, an amazing time in the Word of God. I am going to present just a snippet of what he taught us.
While talking about the giants and the Ark, somehow we went to the first Adam and the Last Adam and he presented these insights to us.
God put the first Adam into a deep sleep, the last Adam was put into a much deeper sleep, Death, though for a little while.
The first Adam's side was pierced, the last Adam's side was pierced, out of which came out blood and water, blood for redemption and water of cleansing.
Out of Adam, God made Eve. Out of the last Adam, came the second Eve, the "Church".

Saturday, March 11, 2006

A friend in need is a friend indeed!!

Yeah, I know its quite a worn out phrase but still I want to give this title to my post because its a tribute to all my friends at the School of the Word.
In the grand tradition of landlords, ours didnt respond to us for a week when our heating broke down last Saturday and needless to say, our house has been freezing ever since. And yet, all my dear friends who live in 39,Llanishen Street and 7,Edington Avenue have been so warm in welcoming us anytime and letting us lounge around their houses for as long as we want to. In fact I spent last night at no. 39 because I couldnt take the cold anymore.
Its good to have friends especially ones in the same pursuit of the Kingdom of God. So heres to you guys!!

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Keep ploughing for your own good!!

“Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12

In His judgment against Israel, God declares that,

“I will come over her fair neck with a yoke.” Hosea 10:11

And yet, this yoke might prove a blessing to Israel because, in the very next verse God instructs Israel in His way. If Israel returns to the ways of the righteous, she will reap according to God’s hesed. If she determines to seek the Lord in utter loyalty, he will come and rain righteousness on her.
The key here is sowing continually, breaking up the fallow ground. This breaking up is not a day’s work; it is a work involving time, energy and determination. God has been speaking to me regarding this very strongly for some time. If I want to his righteousness to rain upon this land, upon my land, I need to ‘break my fallow ground’. The interesting thing is that it is not for his benefit but for my training and my growth that I need to do it because as a result of this continual ploughing, I will set aside all my plans and my agendas and depend on Him for everything. And with that, who can stop me from advancing His Kingdom?

“Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth, O seed of Abraham, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!” Psalms 105:4-6

Hurray! DAY OFF!

Our most beloved principal Dr. Roger Aubrey gave us a day off today. Everyone has their plans ready. Some are going our for a bike ride and some are going to Cafe Mao for brunch.
And boy! its raining today!! But those of you at work, dont be pleased because we are still determined to make the best out of this wonderful day.

Friday, March 03, 2006


ha ha ha! very interesting world cloud!  Posted by Picasa

What Passion!!

I was just reading our dear professor Trevor Llyod's blog. He had posted a quote that spurred me to think of Isaiah 63:!,

Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save."

It is so overwhelming to simply think of our Saviour who tread the winepress and satisfied the wrath of God. More awesome is the fact that they are the same ultimately in the wonderful mysterious Trinity of the Godhead. How mysterious and wondrous it is that though we understand in part what He did for us. it is impossible to take our eyes off this amazing picture of the King coming, a King who is mighty, righteous,victorious!!

IN CHRIST ALONE MY HOPE IS FOUND!! MY ALL IN ALL

Hesed!!

I have been grappling with the meaning of hesed through all these days and you might want to expect some good posts on related topics next week. For now I want to leave you with a meaningful definition of God's hesed to meditate upon.
“It is a covenant word that refers to the faithfulness or loyal love that binds two parties together in covenant. When a person shows hesed to another, he is not motivated merely by legal obligation but by an inner loyalty which arises out of the relationship itself. Such covenant love has the quality of constancy, firmness, steadfastness."
God has bound himself to us with this hesed!! What a privilege to be wedded to the Most High God! What a privilege that we are his Bride!

- quote from Anderson Bernhard W., The Living World of the Old Testament, Longman Group Ltd., London, 1971. pg. 248