Are Friends Forever?

Michael W. Smith had a song come out a long time ago. The lyrics went like this. "Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them."

I started thinking about this song, and I wondered if friendships really can last forever. I guess the answer is in the second part of that line where it says, "...if the Lord's the Lord of them." God has to have priority and and lordship over the friendship or even a relationship for it to work. I realized, I met a lot of people here in New York, and I made some good friends. The question is, will I be able to maintain contact with them and build on that friendship? Throughout my life, I have also lost a few friends along the way. When I look back and examine my friendships, I realize there were friendships that really built me up in Christ and then there were those casual acquaintances that I later realized our friendship wasn't built on the Solid Rock. I know for sure the folks that I have become really good friends here with I'll keep in touch with them because they have been a big part of my training, and it's not just about us but rather our friendship has a solid foundation on Christ. I thank God for that.

To my readers, I really do apologize for not posting for more than a week now. I really should try to make the time for it, but sometimes, I just get caught up in the active and busy life of an Achen, and I'm not even one yet. One thing is for sure, there may be people that go through practical training and quit, but for me personally, I realize I just can't quit. I don't want to. A friend of mine who was in the Navy and then spent time as a cop told me that being a cop can be addicting. Even though there are no guarantees of coming home or always chasing and catching, this can be addictive for them. For me, I feel that way with the ministry. My belief is, if Christ came to save the lost, so who are we not to accept them? Then I ask, "If I accept them, shouldn't I help them understand Christ's love for them?"

Friday, June 24, 2011, I went to the Aramana, and I helped out there. It was a lot of stuff, but it was the stuff I usually do. I worked on a few PowerPoints, some Word Documents, and I didn't get to the Excel spreadsheet. I feel like I came in at the proper time, so I could take care of some of these things that they needed me to do. I must say, I have a lot of respect for K.E. Geevarghese Achen as well as Saji Chayan. Geevarghese Achen is the Secretary Achen, and Saji Chayan is the office aide who has been working there for nine years. They hear so many things about the Mar Thoma Church, and it saddens me about some of the complaints that come there. Yet, they work tirelessly for the church, and they do so without grumbling.

Saturday, June 25, 2011 and Sunday, June 26, 2011, I spent it at Staten Island with Baby John Achen. I was picked up by a friend on Saturday morning, and he took me to their teachers' meeting, and we were there for a while. We had breakfast and lunch at that house. Lunch was only because Achen's family and myself stayed there that long. After the teachers' meeting, I was asked something by Achen that I had never been asked before. Can I preach in Malayalam? I literally dropped my jaw. I've never preached in Malayalam, but yet I still said yes. He also told me to assist in the next day's Malayalam Holy Qurbana. That evening, we went to one of their prayer meeting, and I preached in Malayalam and English (largely English even though there were only a few kids). It was about love and how none of our "Spiritual" acts matter if we don't have love, based on I Corinthians 13:1-3. Then, I go back and I prepare for Sunday's sermon. I also incorporated Malayalam into that as well, but it was once again mostly English. I also assisted in the Malayalam Holy Qurbana. Then, right after church and lunch, we went to a Yuvajana Sakhyam meeting for which I didn't prepare a sermon for, so I ended up thinking of some stuff based on Jeremiah as well. That was almost all Malayalam. The reason I mention these things is not for me to brag, but to say how great my God has been leading me during my training. It's been such an awesome experience, and as the days go by, I get more and more sad about having to leave my training. Also, Baby John Achen was really kind enough to give me some constructive criticism to really help my ministry. Kochamma was awesome. She and I had a deep talk about different things, and she gave me a lot of really good advice. One thing she told me that stuck out to me was how we are similar to gems in the raw. We must be brushed by God so much that the luster really shines forth. She really helped me examine why I wanted to be an Achen as well. She asked me why I wanted to be an Achen, and why I didn't think about being a missionary or a social worker. I had to do some seriously hard thinking, but I was able to realize just exactly what God was telling me and give her that response. On the drive back to Biju Achen's parsonage, I had four Staten Island guys bring me back. I had a lot of fun with those guys. They were hilarious, had some deep insight, and really saw me as one of the guys. Sometimes, that's the most important thing. I know I'm going to be an Achen, but why should that stop me from being a typical guy?

Monday, June 27 and Tuesday, June 28, 2011, I was at the Aramana helping them again. Thirumeni has been travelling this whole time. He went from Seattle to Vancouver to Calgary, and then to Edmonton for Family Conference. We got a lot done this day as well. They are some really funny guys. I have a good laugh with them. It's good to know there are Achens and uncles out there that can have a good sense of humor.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011 was a crazy day. Biju Achen and family left to Canada for the Family Conference, and so I'm currently staying with a couple of my friends. Tomorrow, I will be staying with another friend. I've been blessed with guys I know that I can stay with, and they won't have a problem with it. That's how much they are considerate of me. I went with my friends to take Binu Achen (the Achen of Long Island MTC) and his family to the Newark, NJ airport. It was a far drive in a van with no AC, and two boys that acted like typical brothers, and not to mention the traffic here. I really felt like I was in India, but I enjoyed it. It was fun. In the night, we went to go catch Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon. It was a 10:45 PM showing of it in IMAX 3D, and I really enjoyed it. It was an awesome movie! I mean, this really made up for the second one! There were nice cars in there, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley almost made up for no Megan Fox (Yes, I did google her name! You know who you are), and the robots were impeccable. It was a movie worth watching at the theaters. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a movie worth watching at the movies as well, but not worth it to catch the midnight screening. There's a lot of really good movies coming out. I'm excited for Captain America! He was also one of my favorite superheroes along with Batman when I was a kid, and even to this day.

Thursday, June 30, 2011, I went to the aramana to help Saji Chayan file some documents. Currently, I'm just chilling. My friends' parents have their anniversary and their dad's birthday was yesterday, so we have a small surprise get together here for them. We might also go bowling late night. This late night hanging out stuff is fun! In Dallas, I'm curfewed, and in Denton, I have no one to do this with. There is a certain friend of mine who refuses to do anything while he is in Denton.

I think I covered all of my week's major events. Everything continues by the grace of God.

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

-Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) 

Becoming a New Yorker, yet Behaving like a Tourist

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, a British journalist, novelist, and poet once wrote, "The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land."

I had to reread that quote once again to understand what it means. To be honest, I thought that was awesome once I understood the meaning. I deeply wish I could travel so much that when I come back home, it would feel like foreign land to me. I think that's the whole concept of enjoying life. Many people find ways to enjoy life with the wrong things, but if you're going to spend your money on something, why not make it worth your while? When I was sightseeing New York City, I walked like a New Yorker, and I kinda behaved like one too. Yet, when it was time to take pictures, my behavior became like a typical tourist. I was taking pictures, and I was super excited.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 was a fantastic day! Biju Achen and I went to the city, and he was busy from about 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM there, so he told me to go sightseeing by myself. I willingly agreed, and I had a remarkable time. It was a lot of walking, but I liked that. I got to see Times Square, and I thought it was so glamorous. I wished I could have seen it at night. I happened to catch a guy playing sitar and another guy playing the tablas and performing very well. After this, I went to the UN Building. Some might call me a nerd and ask why it is that I went to the UN Building when there is so much more to see in New York. To be clear, I'm not a nerd, but I am crazy about history. I love history, and I love landmarks like this. To see all the flags of the country that are part of the UN flying next to one another really fascinated me. After this, I went to my last sight of the day, which was the Ground Zero site. When I was on my way there, I had to stop and ask a crossing guard for directions. She pointed me along the right way, but she also told me that going to that area really creeps her out. There is a different atmosphere there, and I must say, I agree with her. Ten years later, and it is still weird to not see those two huge buildings. I got to go through their 9/11 Memorial Site and see the timeline. There is construction going on over there. I wished I could have seen Rockefeller Center, Wall Street, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and more. None the less, it was still a great experience.

Today, June 22, 2011, we had the Lord's Tent Bible Study, and it's been the same group of guys that attend every week, but they are a great group to study the Word with. We covered all of Ephesians 1 today. I hope their Bible Studies continue to grow as well.

There's not much else to post today. Keep praying for me!

"The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

-Psalm 121:7-8 (NIV) 

A Time to Relax

I saw this quote yesterday which I really liked. It's from Ralph Waldo Emerson; "The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us."

This quote really blew me away. I thought it was one of the most well thought out statements by Emerson.

Today has been a not so busy day. We had a few folks come over to the parsonage, but nothing really happened. I enjoyed relaxing today, because I doubt I would have another day like this throughout my whole stay.

I spoke to Biju Achen about dating and such today. He told me that I shouldn't show injustice towards anyone. Psalm 15 is perhaps a perfect depiction of what a person is to not do in order to "...dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?" What I got from this conversation was that the biggest thing we should focus on is to not show injustice to anyone. If you're partying, drinking, hooking up, drugging yourself out, and all these things. You're showing an deep injustice towards God, your fellow man, and your own self. To those filled with curiosity, I haven't begun dating anyone here. To those that are even more curious, I haven't been in a relationship either. I'm single and I haven't been ready to mingle.

That was really all today was about. It was a very relaxing day.

"Lord who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He who does these things will never be shaken."

-Psalm 15:1, 5 (NIV) 

Driving in New York

Billy Graham said, "A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets of society."

Therefore, I would like to take this time to wish my father, and all the fathers out there a Happy Father's Day! It's great that America has days to honor Mothers, Fathers, and Grandparents. They really are important in our lives. They mold us into an integral part of society rather than detrimental to it. They love us so much that they will accept us even if we mess up, and they will stay by our side when all our friends back away. My parents really played a big role in my life, and because of their faith, I didn't go chasing after all the worldly pleasures (not to say that I'm perfect or ever will be).

I have been in awe of how God has been leading me. There HAS to be some divine intervention in my life. There is no possible way I can be living when I am running around everywhere, and being super busy. Friday, as I mentioned in my previous blog, we went to Envision 2011. I didn't get to spend too much time there, but the time I was there was really influential. There were four women (African American and Hispanic) environmental activists, and they were conducting a panel. The reason I emphasize their race and gender is because from their cultural background, they had so much insight to share about the capitalistic society and the environmental struggles that America is facing. I was literally blown away by them! Not because they were women or of other races, but because they really opened my eyes to the world at large.

Friday, June 17, 2011 was very busy. We were in the city, and after this conference, we went to lunch at this Japanese restaurant which is really small, and by sheer luck, we stumbled on it. I must admit, I really liked the food there. I had a sushi craving for a while now, and that really satisfied it. After this, Biju Achen had something that he needed to take care of. While he was doing that, I went to the New York Public Library which was nearby, and I sat down and began to prepare my sermon for that night at Long Island MTC YF's Bible Study. I began scribbling away, and I managed to write up a sermon right before they closed. That was all God, because I wouldn't have been able to come up with the words I did, if He didn't guide my thoughts. After this, we take the long journey home. Actually, it's really not that long, but traffic is a pain! I realized the people in the city can be a little sour, but it is justified when they have to spend a huge chunk of their day in traffic. In the midst of all this, there was rain and hail (for a few minutes), and it made the roads flood a little bit. There was even a point in the street where a pipe must have busted, because there was water gushing in the middle of the street. It seemed like a fountain, and I found that funny. Due to being stuck in traffic for two hours, I barely made it in time for Long Island's Bible Study. Biju Achen didn't come, but we arrived back at the parsonage in time for me to be picked up for it. By the time I got there, the Praise and Worship had finished, and they were onto Intercessory Prayer. I found this part of their Bible Study super awesome. What happened was there was this teddy bear, and we threw it to each other, and we were to respond to the question, "What is a lie that the devil tells you?" Then, we had corporate prayer, and we all prayed together. After this, I spoke about Matthew 7:13-14 which is about the Narrow and Wide Gates. After the Bible Study, I met many people in the Long Island youth group. They are some awesome youths, and I know God is doing great things through them. I've gotten to have a few one on one conversations with some of them, and they really just inspire me, and they "warm my heart" (Inside joke).

Saturday, June 18, 2011, we woke up at around 6:00 AM, and we got ready and everything. First, we went to the St. Thomas Tournament, and I really found that tournament interesting. It was a lot smaller than they usually do, and it was much more different and simple than what I'm used to in Dallas. After this, we went to a baptism at St. Andrew's Mar Thoma Church. While I was there, I got to reunite with a few of my Mexico Mission buddies. I got to see Roy, Rena, Jaison John and Christina and their family. It was just a blessed opportunity. Then, we went to a Long Island wedding which Biju Achen officiated. Prior to this, I hadn't been to a Mar Thoma wedding in so long, so I was excited for this. I think the bride saw me a couple of times, and she had this curious look on her face, because I wasn't someone she knew. I was a wedding crasher! Finally, we went to a prayer meeting at the residence of a member's of St. John's. They happened to be related to Dennis Abraham. As I'm typing this post, Dennis Abraham and Alex Kolath are in India being ordained as Deacons of the Mar Thoma Church. My prayers are with them at this monumental time in their life, and that God blesses their ministry to be impacting on everyone they come across. Upon arriving at home, I had a sermon to prepare for Sunday. In this day alone, I saw three of the seven Holy Sacraments (Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Matrimony), and Sunday there's two more (Confession and Holy Communion), so I have two more to go.

Sunday, June 19, 2011, We worshiped at St. James Mar Thoma Church. I assisted and I gave the sermon. I wasn't aware I was to assist until Mathew Varghese Achen told me at the last minute that he wants me in there. I was overjoyed because I had wanted to assist after coming here. I preached on the second lesson for today which was Ephesians 2:11-22. I was telling them how Christ was the bridge that bridged the gap between us and God. I really felt the Holy Spirit move within me, and I'm sure the prayers of a new friend of mine really helped me. After this, I also preached at their youth meeting for a short while on the same thing that I said at Long Island. Then, after spending a little bit of time at the parsonage, we went to a Long Island prayer meeting. I have to admit, Long Island has been so welcoming to me. From the parents to the youths, I really feel welcome in this church. Not to say these other churches haven't welcomed me. It's just I've been involved in more Long Island activities.

I may be repetitive by saying how busy I am, and I apologize for that. I must admit though, nothing compares to this. As tiring as it may be, and as pressuring as it may be, it has really been worth it. Two weeks have passed me so quickly. I hope the rest of this trip doesn't end so quickly. It has been a rewarding experience.

"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit."

-Ephesians 2:14-18 (NIV) 

That Satisfied Feeling

One of St. Augustine's confessions goes like this; "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."

That is definitely how I'm feeling right now. I haven't really had the chance to sit down and post, and the thing is, so much has happened in this past week. Hopefully, I can quickly recollect it all.

Monday, June 13, 2011 was quite an interesting day. Where one life ended, another one began. Actually, ever since I've been in New York, I've been to two wakes and one funeral (all different people), and in Chicago, Benji Kurian passed away. There has been so many deaths in this past month, and I'm just astounded about what is going on. My deepest condolences to the families of these people, especially Benji Kurian. Benji Kurian was a guy in his late 20s or just turned 30. He was an active member of Chicago Mar Thoma Church, and he had been married for about a year and a half. Last Saturday, while he was playing basketball, he felt a pain in his shoulder, went to sit down, and decided to take a nap. After a while, when his friends tried to awaken him, he wasn't getting up. They called the paramedics, and by the time, he received medical care, it was too late. I honestly can't imagine what his family must be going through. He was the only son that his parents had, and they must be gaping because of this. Also, his wife had only been married to him for about a year and a half. I don't even know what she is going through. How can one get over such pain and grief? The words of Paul in Romans 8 verse 24-25 comes to mind at this time. "For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." It seems that this hope of seeing your loved ones once again keeps us going. Otherwise, we should be grieving like those without hope. Again, my prayers go to these families. In the midst of all these funerals, on Monday, we went and visited this house. There was an uncle, aunty, their son Shymie and his wife Mary, and they had two little boys named Samuel and Stephen. Samuel is about two years old, and Stephen was just born. They must really have their hands full! We went there right after the funeral, so when I saw this baby, I began to think that when one life ends, another begins. What is our life? One day we are born, and then one day we die. What happens in between? Why don't we make the most of our time on this earth? Beyond all that though, I felt a sense of awe of the power of God. He returned one to the dust, and he brought one out of the dust. It's an awesome cycle.

A lot of other things have happened between that day and today. Last night, we went to Envision 2011 which is a conference, and the theme is, "Caring for the Community of Creation - A Native American Perspective." There is a Native American speaker who gave the main talk, and I really liked his points. We're about headed that way now. It's at the Riverside Church in Manhattan, and I was in awe of the structure of that church. Too bad one day, "...not one stone here will be left on another..."

Hopefully, this upcoming week I'll be able to post everyday. It was just that this week I had this big assignment with our liturgy that I had to work on. I finished it at 2:30 in the morning. To be honest, I really enjoyed doing it. I found a satisfaction that I contributed in a way that affects the whole Diocese. Beyond that, I felt that God really brought me here at the correct time to put my talents to use, and I am indebted to Him for the opportunities I get being here.

"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."

-I Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NIV) 

Powerful Experience of Worship

James H. Aughey has said, "Christ is the Good Physician. There is no disease He cannot heal; no sin He cannot remove; no trouble He cannot help. He is the Balm of Gilead, the Great Physician who has never yet failed to heal all the spiritual maladies of every soul that has come unto Him in faith and prayer."

First of all, let me just congratulate the Dallas Mavericks for winning the first franchise championship. Great job guys! That was a stunning performance! This was a team filled with guys and a coach that got so close, but could never win a championship separately, but when they were brought together, it was almost magical. Clearly, God was on the side of the Dallas Mavericks. Also, way to go Dirk Nowitzki for being a great leader, player, and now the Champion MVP! (Granted, you probably won't see this, but a guy can hope, can't he?)

Sunday, June 12, 2011 was just a spiritually enriching day. Biju Achen and I went to Long Island Mar Thoma Church where he was the Celebrant, and along with him, there were three other Achens there. I was in the midst of some of the finest Achens in our church. I've had some great conversations with them during my stay here, and they've proved to be real spiritual leaders led by God, and I felt astounded. Biju Achen also gave the sermon today, because it was his first Qurbana with the Vicar from that church (The Achen was transferred over here this past May).

Not having to run A/V really gave me a chance to sit there and evaluate the Mar Thoma Liturgy. I was able to participate in the Qurbana, not as a tech guy, but as a member of the congregation, and that just felt so surreal to me.

I met some of the youths at the Long Island MTC, and they were great folks. They are hosting this year's National Youth Conference, and that made me happy for them. To see that the conference is in great hands made me feel as though this year's conference will be really great, and I'm looking forward to it.

In the evening, we went to a prayer meeting at the residence of a member of St. John's Mar Thoma Church. The uncle of that house gave his testimony at the prayer meeting. Man, I was blown away! Back in the end of February, this uncle had eight blockages in his heart. He was on the ventilator for several days, and when he finally awoke, the doctors said he would probably be blind. Nothing of the sort happened to him, and then a few weeks later, they discovered a clot in his leg, and he was in the hospital again. Yet, throughout it all, God proved to be faithful, and he healed uncle completely. Uncle said the second day that he couldn't see his wife, son, and daughter sat in the waiting room, closed the door, and cried out to God. The next day, guess what happened? Uncle could respond and speak. They asked him for his house phone number, because they called his daughter, and she didn't answer her phone, so he gave them the house phone number, and they called his family. Listening to that testimony really got me to realize life. When we hear such testimonies, that is when we realize just how great our God is. Sometimes, we get into a routine of Christian life - church, praying, reading the Bible, and going to Bible studies/prayer meetings, and it becomes more of a routine than an experience, and we forget who exactly we are praying to, reading about, or loving. Hearing this testimony made me realize just that and fall in love with God again.

On our drive home from the prayer meeting, that was one of our points of discussion. The other point of discussion was the worship. I asked Biju Achen a question. "After going so many places, counseling so many people, interacting, preaching, and so much more, doesn't leading Qurbana just make it all worth it?" He said, "Absolutely." Then, we began talking about our favorite parts of the Service. I told him that I had a few. One was the Prayer for Pardon and Mercy. It is part of the Promeon, right before the Sedra. It goes like this; "O Lord God, who alone can make holy, who alone can pardon and remove our sins, blot out my many, great and innumerable sins and those of all your people." When I stand and hear these words being uttered by the Celebrant, my heart just melts. I close my eyes, and I pray that prayer too. In humility, I reach out to an awesome God and ask Him to forgive me. First, the Celebrant acknowledges that he is not perfect, and even though he is the shepherd of this flock that's been entrusted to him by God, he will make mistakes, and he has many sins. Second, he takes the role of a leader, and he prays for the forgiveness of his flock, and to me, both of these things show great leadership. Next is the part right before the Nicene Creed and after the Sedra. It is saying Amen when the Celebrant says, "Holy is the Holy Father, Holy is the Holy Son, and Holy is the living and Holy Spirit." Whenever I heard this in Syriac, I love it even more. The church is agreeing on the fact that our Triune God is holy, and He is. The next part in the Service that I really like is the Consecration of the Holy Elements. Back when I was a kid, I always liked this part. I don't know why, but I thought it was amazing. Then, I found out that this was straight out of I Corinthians 11:23-26. I thought that made this part even more amazing! This is strictly quoted from the Bible! It's talking about the Body and the Blood of Christ, and it really made me appreciate it even more, and I realized that I shouldn't take it for granted whenever I took part of it, but rather, I should always express my undying gratitude to the One who gave it all for me. Finally, this might be my most favorite of all the parts in the Holy Qurbana. This is how I would quote it; "The Holy Body and Blood of our Messiah, broken and shed on the cross of Calvary for the forgiveness of sins. Take, eat in remembrance that He died for you." That breaks my heart. I mean, what is more meaningful than to hear that the bread and wine you are about to partake is not just any bread and wine, but rather the body and the blood of the One who redeemed you? All the pain, the broken body, the shed blood was all for me, and that brings me down to my knees at the cross. That is why I cannot understand why people say that they do not get anything from our Holy Qurbana. I don't understand why people find Nondenominationals so fascinating (I go to the Village when I'm in Denton during the evenings, so I'm not bashing the nondenominationals), but I feel I get more here than I do there. If you are one of those people, then let me explain why you do not get anything, and you see it as a routine. It is because you do not open your heart to it. We cannot go into the Worship with an unwilling mentality because if you do, then you won't be able to experience the power of the Holy Spirit. It's not about what church you go to physically, but rather where you go spiritually. Just because you are in the church doesn't mean you're there in spirit and truth, and that's how Christ expects of us to be there worshiping Him. Don't allow your heart to be hardened, but rather allow the Spirit to move within you, and you can worship God from the sewer, and you will still feel the experience of Pentecost because the power of the Holy Spirit is definitely unmatched.

"At the cross I bow my knee,
Where your blood was shed for me.
There's no greater love than this.
You have overcome the grave;
Your glory fills the highest place.
What can separate me now/" 

-Hillsong United, "At the Cross"

"How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord." 

-Psalm 116:12-13 (NIV)

Probably my longest post. If you have the patience to sit through this, then I am grateful to you. :)

Going from 3 to 30

D.L. Moody once said, "Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man."

As you may have inferred, I am a big fan of D.L. Moody. He is definitely one person that inspires me. You know, coming from Dallas to New York where there are many more churches and many more youths, I did expect a larger turnout for Bible Study, but at the church I was at yesterday, I saw the same number I would at our church for Bible Study. (My title may have been slightly exaggerated in saying that there is only three people at Bible Studies. Yes, there is more.) I really wonder what makes the attendance for Bible Study lower than a concert or if a youth group wanted to go see a sports team. People would flock to it. I believe I received my answer today. More on this later.

Friday, June 10, 2011, I spoke at the Bible Study. It was a quick ten to fifteen minute spiel (not that fast, but I find this word to be amusing, so I thought I would use it). I spoke about Philippians 3:12-14. It is a passage I have long found intriguing. I am a big fan of Paul's writings, because there are two different types of truths applied to it: Temporal Truth or Universal Truth. Temporal truth is what is needed during the time and context of his writing. Universal truth is what applies then, applies now, and will apply in the future. I found these verses interesting, because prior to these verses, we see him boasting about his earthly knowledge and his stature as a Pharisee (back when he was known as Saul). Then, to experience Christ, and to come to that point of repentance changed him so much that he ended up considering all the knowledge and status as rubbish. How powerful is that?! Everything that he knew he found it to be a waste. We tend to think about our brains, and how smart we are, and all the knowledge that we have. Yet, it becomes such a part of us that we rely on it too much. Here Paul lets all that go. He lets go of his past as well. Paul had made some seriously terrible mistakes in his life. He had so many regrets, but he realizes that Christ's grace is more than sufficient in saving him from those regrets and sins. Even though he believes this, he acknowledges that he is not perfect. We may think that Paul was an almost perfect (if not perfect) man, but he will be the first to say that he isn't. He knows he has let go of his past, but he also knows that he will sin in the future. That's the belief that we should walk in. That doesn't mean we deliberately sin, but when we do sin, we repent of our sins, so that our Savior may forgive us. What his duty was, and what our duty is, is to strive toward what is ahead. We must push ourselves to the brink, so that we may become Christlike. That doesn't mean we become Christ, but rather a spitting image of him.

Now, let me go into today's events, and you will see why I feel that my question about poor attendance has been answered. Today, Biju Achen dropped me off at Long Island Mar Thoma Church where there was a Regional One Day Conference. Yep, I was in the midst of ladies, but no worries, they were all way older aunties, and I definitely knew off the bat that I wasn't going to find my future Kochamma here (Just kidding. Hehehe.) I sat and listened, taking notes of the main talk. Afterwards, I met all the Achens, and then we had lunch. I met a guy there today. He's an older youth, and he had some surprising insight that just baffled me. He told me that the Mar Thoma Church has two main flaws that must be addressed in order for the church to flourish. Flaw one: The Achens must use their talents at the pulpit to the fullest ability. Whenever Achens speak, many of them do not captivate the congregation, and their sermons do not engage the congregation. For example, Billy Graham is the greatest evangelist of our time. Hundreds of thousands of people would go to hear him speak. Why? Because he knew how to engage the audience. That is what many Achens lack today. If this can be solved, then all the other excuses will go into the garbage, and churches would be packed. Flaw two part A: People that shouldn't take leadership do. Flaw two part B: People that should take leadership don't. In order for a church to be utilized to its full capabilities, the church must have strong, solid leadership, and that is lacking in many of the churches. These were some of the things my new friend shared with me today. I definitely do agree with him though.

Just as my message said, our churches must also forget the past and move forward with strong leadership and make the ride worthwhile here in this earth.

"Not that I have already obtained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. "

-Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV) 

This is definitely not an "R&R" Time

It has been said, "Rest is for the weary, sleep is for the dead."

Well, it gets so busy here that rest and sleep seem like it's for dead people. I do get a good amount of sleep here, but we are very busy. I'm not even an Achen yet, but I am super busy.

Yesterday, June 9, 2011 was a long and tiring day. I don't understand how my mother does a twelve hour shift, and at night, nonetheless! We arrived at the Sinai Mar Thoma Center around 9:00 AM, and we left at 9:00 PM, taking only the lunch, dinner, and tea breaks. Thirumeni, Geevarghese Achen (Diocesan Secretary), Biju Achen, and myself sat together and began to revise the Liturgy and began preparing it to become a book. This book has all the sacramental worships as well as a few other. I think it was a very unique time. For some reason, as I was sitting and reading the original copy and making changes as we went on, I felt a sense of peace and a sense of humbleness as I read the worship. I wasn't even in a church, but something about it rushed a feeling of a sense of humility. I must admit, I really do appreciate the St. James' Liturgy. It gives me a fear of the Lord.

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

-Matthew 23:12 

No "Lost" Experience, Just a Simple Flight

Alistair Cooke once said, "New York is the biggest collection of villages in the world."

After arriving in New York, I realized that is very much true. Many people talk about the city life, and how glamorous it is (and I'm almost sure that it is), but I haven't been to that part yet. Currently, I'm in Long Island, and there is a lot of trees and houses. It seems like a simple suburban area, and I was shocked to see that. I think that is why Cooke said what he did. Otherwise, he may have had another meaning for it (perhaps the diversity of culture), but New York is definitely not the big buildings, insane taxi drivers, and "City that never sleeps" attitude everywhere. I believe that just as everywhere else, they have their quiet areas, and they might even have a country-side. When I was on the plane, I was speaking to the girl that sat next to me, and she told me that she lives in Long Island, and she goes surfing quite a bit. I don't know about you, but whenever I think of surfing, I think about Hawaii or Florida, so imagine my surprise when a New Yorker tells me she likes to surf here in New York! Well, that just shows the diverse areas of this great state, and I hope to get to know it soon enough.

I must admit, Tuesday, June 7, 2011 was a pretty interesting morning at my house. We rushed around and made sure I was ready. Then, we got to Dallas Love-Field Airport, and I immediately found out that all my parents, my brother-in-law, and my sister could do was drop me off and then leave. After I unload my things, I'm alone until I get to New York. This was an interesting feeling for me, because I had never traveled alone on a plane. Fortunately, I got through everything okay, and I boarded the plane. We stopped at Little Rock, AR, and from there, we got to Baltimore, MD, and I got out there. I waited for a two hours, grabbed some Panda Express for lunch, and then I was on my way to the place which has been sung about, made movies about, tv shows, and so much more. It was on that flight that I met that girl. Her name was Leanna, and I found her to be a really nice person (Mind you, I only thought of her as a nice person - nothing more). I had perhaps the most enlightening conversation with her. We spoke about art, philosophy, religions, and spiritual things. I find it refreshing whenever I can have a conversation like that with a person. I got a chance to share the Gospel with her, and I really hope that makes an impact in her life for the glory of God.

I step out of the plane, and I get my luggage. I stand outside waiting for Biju Achen who arrived just as I did, and we loaded all my bags into his car, exchanged a handshake (overjoyed to see each other) and left the airport. We drove to his parsonage, and as we were driving, I experienced a different side of New York. Granted, this is Long Island and not the city, but it was still more peaceful than I imagined it to be. Biju Achen brought his two-year-old son Jeevan with him. I must admit, I think that is one of the most cutest kids I know. I have been debating whether or not I want kids (because frankly, they can be a pain in the butt), but I can tell I like this kid. He doesn't cry too much, and he loves to socialize with people. If I can have children like that, then I'll be happy.

My first evening and morning are coming to an end in New York. As the afternoon and evening approaches, I will be busier, as there is a Bible Study here at the parsonage. I'm very excited to see what God has in store for me, but I also feel slight nervousness. All I know is, I can take comfort at the words that He gave Joshua and believe that those words are for me as well.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

-Joshua 1:9 (NIV) 

How the 'Send' Button Can Change a Person's Life Part II

The first time the 'Send' button changed my life was because it put me on the radar with the Diocese. This time, it was with the Sabha. Now, it's official. Backing down now is like punching King Kong, you just don't do it.

Friday, June 3, 2011, Noble Achen forwarded me the BD (Bachelor's of Divinity) Preparatory Application Form. He called me and told me I should fill this up and send it to the Sabha Secretary before I go to New York. Sabha is the Mar Thoma Church Headquarters. This is the place that controls EVERY Diocese and the churches within those Dioceses. I easily filled out the form, and I typed the email, but I faced the same hesitation that I faced when I emailed our Bishop in New York. I thought to myself, "If you hit that button, you're not just placing yourself on the radar of the Diocese of North America and Europe, but you're placing yourself on the radar with the whole Mar Thoma Church." I felt like I was hesitating to pull the trigger as some police officers do when they have to take the first life on the job (Clearly, Osama Bin Laden wasn't that fortunate). I eventually hit 'Send' and left it at that. The next morning, I received an email from the Sabha Secretary, and he thanked me for emailing them the form, and to wait for the next few steps that the Diocese will continue to fill me in on. Another day, another email, and another step closer to becoming an ordained minister of the Mar Thoma Church.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you." 

-John 15:16 (ESV) 

Grabbing Life by the Horns

It has been said that, "Some people make things happen, some watch while things happen, and some wonder what happened."

In my life, I've always been one to make things happen or watch while things happen. I can never sit on the sidelines. This may be a good thing or a bad thing. I haven't figured that out yet. I might let you know in another post sometime in the unforeseeable future. I knew I needed to send that email for practical training and prepare myself for it, but the reason I actually thought about doing it was because my friend and fellow future Achen Sean John George had gone the year prior. I thought to myself, "This guy is younger than me, and he's already taking steps in preparation for the ordained ministry." I hopped on board, and I sent the email as well. Then, I began thinking, "What will I be doing there? Am I preaching or am I just observing or maybe it's a bit of both?" Well, answers to those questions haven't been provided to me yet, so stay tuned. I realized that if I am to preach in churches where I don't know people, I should probably get a good feel for it in a place where I know the people. I had already preached at St. Paul's on Good Friday, and I wasn't sure if the people wanted me to preach as frequently as the Achens do, so I thought that Sehion might be a good place to preach. It's a small church, and I know many of the people there, so I figured it would be a good precursor to the actual training. I went over to Jaisen Achen's parsonage one day, and as we were talking, I brought this up to him. He thought it was a great idea, and he gave George Varghese Achen a call. George Varghese Achen was up for it as well, so they arranged for me to preach on Sunday, May 29, 2011.

I thought to myself, "Achens don't always get time to prepare their sermons weeks prior, so why don't I wait until the last week and begin then?" This was a great excuse for procrastination, and it's definitely not worth trying. Unfortunately, I did, and I almost didn't have a sermon. The week prior to the sermon, I began to become lazy, and I would play games or waste time on Facebook, but I wouldn't focus on my sermon. Then, Wednesday came, and I began to focus on the sermon. This is when my parents decided that we need to go visit some people, go to the store, etc., and I began to lose my mind. I immediately recalled that episode of "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" where Will decided to study the night before for a chemistry test, and his family kept needing him to take care of things, so he didn't get to study. I found myself in the same shoes, but fortunately, by God's grace, I was able to finish my sermon which I entitled, "Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life" after that day's Lectionary.

My sermon was about Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and exactly why Jesus didn't heal Lazarus, but rather, waited to raise him up from the dead. As I began to preach, I felt the power of the Holy Spirit move through me, and I felt the most fluidity and ease to preach. Many times I've preached, and I would be petrified up there, even though I've done this so many times, but this was the first time, it actually felt easy, and I believe that's because the Holy Spirit fueled me. I realized sometimes we begin to question in our lives where is God in certain struggles and obstacles in our lives. When we think He is the farthest, that is perhaps when He is the nearest. If He never delayed, then would we not take Him for granted? If starving children in Africa had a McDonald's on every corner, would they not take their food for granted like we do? It is because the rarity of the food they get that they cherish it, and we tend to often waste it. Even still, we do that with God. We take Him as Savior of our lives and turn Him into Santa Claus 2.0. It is when we realize that God works according to His will and for our benefit that we understand why He delays. In the situation of Lazarus, if Jesus healed him right when he heard that Lazarus was sick, would many people have trusted in Jesus? It was because of the love that Jesus had for Lazarus along with the power bestowed on Him by the Father, that He did such a marvelous miracle and raised Lazarus from his physical death and many others from their spiritual death. I heard many people's positive comments about my sermon which made me feel good, but also very grateful to God for speaking through me. I know it's not me, but it is Him.

As the quote says, don't wait for things to happen or wonder what happened. Go make it happen. Grab life by the horns as Dodge so quaintly puts it. (Yes, I live in Texas, so I will make redneck analogies from time to time. Maybe, I'm slowly turning into a redneck). When we do strive to make things happen, we realize that we are not in control, but rather, God is in control, and that might just be the best thing to ever happen to us.

Now, it's basically ten hours and forty-five minutes from my flight. I'm feeling a little queasy, but I'm excited and awaiting to see what God has in store for me. I pray that He grants me an open mind and heart to see things from the other side of the haikala (Haikala is the space in between the Madbaha and the place where the congregation comes to kneel for Communion).

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

-John 11:25-26 (NIV) 

Which Criminal are You?

C.T. Studd once wrote, "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."

During the days of Lent, we usually give up meat, sweets, Facebook, alcohol, etc., and this is also a time for meditation for us as we think about our relationship with Christ. I took this time to give up a ton of things, and I spent time in meditation, but I believe I felt more spiritual growth towards the end than I did as I went through it. It was definitely a tough fifty days, but there is a sense of accomplishment when you finish something you began.

As the fifty days comes to a close, we remember the Passion Week. It begins with Palm Sunday which was the day of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, followed by Thursday's Last Supper, and coming to the climax of Good Friday with the greatest celebration of Easter Sunday of our Lord's glorious resurrection.

On Good Friday, we have three parts of Worship Service. There is no Holy Communion this day, but the first part is in English, and the remaining two parts are in Malayalam. A few weeks prior to Good Friday, I asked Noble Achen if I could speak on Good Friday. Noble Achen being the kind Achen that he is, graciously said yes.

During the days that followed, I spent reading the different passages about Jesus' crucifixion and everything that happened from Gethsemane to His death. I prayed asking God what I should speak about. I also read the passages that pertained to the theme that the Mar Thoma Church had set for that day. Initially, I thought I should speak about Peter, and his denials of Jesus, but I just didn't find comfort in that. Then, I reread the story of the two criminals in Luke 23:39-43. For some reason, when I read this passage, I felt moved by it. It convicted me. I began to ask myself, "Do I examine myself? Do I see myself as the first criminal or the second?" Many more questions arose in my head, and so I began to pray over that passage. Then, I clearly felt led by the Holy Spirit to preach on that. I began to create my sermon on that.

Not to go into the whole sermon or anything, but I figured I would ask you the reader some questions about this passage. Have you examined yourself to find out which criminal you are? We might jump and say that we're the second one who rebuked the first one and asked to be remembered by Christ. Sure, the first criminal did mock Jesus and question His authority as well as His innocence, but there is another aspect about the first criminal that I found when I read this passage. The first criminal wants to be physically saved or temporarily saved. He doesn't want that eternal salvation that Christ offers. Sometimes, we tend to desire to be saved for a short while. We want to be saved from that broken relationship, backbreaking job, sleepless schoolwork, or whatever else. The question is, do you want the eternal salvation or just be temporarily saved in those situations? That was the underlying factor between these two criminals.

As I type this post, I am about thirty three and a half hours from my flight to New York. I'm definitely excited, but I do feel a sense of nervousness. One thing is for sure, this will definitely help me examine myself. Sometimes, you must leave the place you've grown close with to realize just what it is that you have. As my dear friend reminded me today, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

-Luke 9:23 (NIV) 

How the 'Send' Button Can Change a Person's Life

Dwight Lyman Moody once said, "If He laid down His life for us, is it not the least we can do to lay down ours for Him? If He bore the cross and died on it for me, ought I not to be willing to take it up for Him?"

On average, a person probably sends around five to seven emails per day. Have you ever thought that one of those emails you send can really change your life? I send emails like they're text messages. Some are church-related, some are region-related, some are school-related, and some are just purely random (No, I do not send chain emails or forward emails, because I feel that's a waste of time, and I really doubt God will be hurt by me not forwarding those emails). This is the story about the email that changed my life.

On March 26, 2011, I sent an email to our Bishop Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius requesting to do practical training. Prior to this, everyone would ask me what is my future plans and when I planned on going to seminary. I would often answer after I receive my Bachelor's degree. It went from four years, to three, and now to two. Well, I guess it didn't hit me how long two years really is or how fast it goes by. When I was typing that email on that late March 26th night, I realized just what I was doing. It took me a long time to hit 'Send'. I asked myself, "Is this what you want to do? Do you realize there is no going back from this?" When God calls you to do something, you just can't say no. I know that, but I wondered what would happen if I did. Sending that email meant I was now on the radar. Thirumeni (Bishop) would respond back, and he will be setting a date with me. Other Achens (Ministers) would know who I am. Now, I really can't back out from this. Finally, I sighed and hit the 'Send' button on my email. To my surprise, Thirumeni replied back before I even woke up the next morning. After a few back and forth emails, we finally set the date.

Last Friday (May 27, 2011), I was texting our Houston area's Youth Chaplain, and I thought I would let him know that I would be in New York during the summer, and I will be doing practical training. He tells me that he already knows. Last week, the Achens had a clergy meeting in New York, and ALL the Achens were there. To my surprise, I was one of the points of discussion. They were talking about youths interested in the ministry, and they said that I would be coming to New York for practical training. It's official now. All the Achens know.

This was my first biggest step into the ministry, and it's about to start in less than a week. Now, I know that I will be going to seminary in two years, and that's really not a long time. I'll be experiencing a whole new life that is going to be outside of my comfort zone. There are those that back out, and there are those that go into the ministry, and they make some really bad choices and end up having to face the consequences. My prayer is that God keeps me from backing out or making bad decisions, and that He keeps me on the straight and narrow path.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

-Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)