21 to win off the last over...

-Duke Jeyaraj's poem on the most exciting IPL game in the 70-game league phase on 22 May 2011 between Kolkota Knight Riders n Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens, Kolkota, written on 23 May 2011


21 to win off the last over of the final league game of IPL-IV, this is what the scoreboard said
The Mumbai Indians' chances in that game almost seemed buried and dead
Laxmipathy Balaji was to bowl it - a bowler known to bowl using his head
The first four balls, to the boundary ropes, unbelievably and furiously sped
The ball kissed the edges of James Franklin's blade and Balaji's heart bled
The fifth ball was bowled better and after Franklin stole a single, Rayudu got the strike instead
He thrashed the last ball for a match-winning six making maximum use of the juicy fulltoss he was fed
And thousands of hearts in Eden Gardens, including Shah Rukh's and Piggy Chop's, were heavy as lead
Now KKR must clash in a 'quarterfinal' with the MI in their own backyard - a contest they'd naturally dread
To win the IPL-IV they've got to win three games in a row, instead of just two, it needs to be, now, said

Yes, the last over of a tight T20 Game can be indeed spine-tingling
But I know someone who puts spine in your backbone and is far more exciting
It's Jesus - even as an embryo living in a virgin womb, he had someone (John the Baptist in also in embroyo form), in joy, jumping!
He went to the Cross to voluntarily die for your sin - the pain not withstanding
If you repented from sin and believed on Him - You will have life everlasting!

Two People Who Walked Voluntarily Into Tough Situations – Dhoni and “Guess Who?”

Duke Jeyaraj

India had to come up with the best ever chase done in a World Cup Final – overhaul Sri Lanka’s 274 – to win the Cup. Sehwag, first and Sachin, later, got out cheaply. India’s score stood at 31, when Sachin, just one short of his 100^th ton, got out. When the well-set Virat Kohli after a fighting 83 run partnership with Gambhir got out, India were in real danger. Danger of losing the World Cup Finals. Danger of not becoming the first ever team to win a World Cup at home. That's when Captain M. S. Dhoni stepped in. He volunteered to bat No.5. He could have stayed back and sent into the tension-filled middle, the in-form Yuvraj. But he marched out of the Indian Dressing Room to bat at No.5 when India still needed 161 runs to win in the 22nd over (161 from 170 balls, to be precise). In his previous eight innings leading up the Final, Dhoni played, he scored a grand total of just 150! Yet he backed himself.

He volunteered go up the batting order when India were in a crisis. He stuck his neck out saying, “I will do this for India!” In the middle, he was sweating, he was blowing his running nose and he received treatment for his back. But he kept going. He was the calmest soul in Wankhade Stadium, Mumbai, when he hit the Cup-winning six for India with 10 balls to spare. And India were home. Quite memorably!

You and I are in danger. The danger of living a life of hell (life without purpose, meaning and real joy, a life in which you are empty despite having everything) and going to a literal hell (a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth forever, a place which Jesus spoke about 8 times). That's when Jesus stepped in. Jesus could have stayed back in heaven and sent someone else to save you from going to hell. He did not. In eternity past, there was a meeting held in heaven. In that meeting Jesus stood up. “I will go Father! Just give me a body! I will get into it, become a human, go to the earth and die for the human race. I will march down the Calvary route and open a doorway to save the human race!” (my imagination based on Psa 40:6-8). He came down and became a man. He chose to swim the amniotic fluids of Mary rather than swim in the praises of angels and cherubs in Heaven. God took on flesh and bone. Yes, He did it for you. Yes, He did if for me. For everyone - he did it. When he was stopped from the Cross-route, he was determined to keep going (Luke 9:51). He called ‘Devil’ the one who discouraged from walking down the road to Golgotha. On the road to the Cross, Jesus endured infinitely more discomfort more than Dhoni did in the World Cup Finals. The following 12 's' things Jesus endured to win the only true salvation offer for u. Here they are:

First, Sold (Judas sold priceless Jesus for a price that was less than the price of a man 20 to 60 years old – Lev 27:3. We sell Jesus even today when our friends apply peer pressure on us, don’t we?). Second, Sweat (In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus sweated blood – Lk 22:44. This happens only when a person experiences highest tension. That punishment would have been apt for a pleasure-lover. But Jesus took it upon himself). Third, Strapped (Jesus was rope bound before High Priest - John 18:12. Jesus was dying for a poisoned, bound generation – a generation bound to drugs, alcohol, Facebook!).Fourth, Spat upon (This happened twice - Mt 26:67; 27:30. Only an irresponsible husband was to be spat upon - Dt 25:9. We were irresponsible when it came to using what God had given us and the punishment went to Jesus). Fifth, Slapped (He was slapped by the High Priest's servant - Mt 26:67. His sinless mouth was hit hard. The reason - he was dying for a human race that consistently uses its mouth to sin - by lying, by using abusive language, by having oral sex outside of the marriage bond). Six, Scourged (When Jesus was whipped, his back became like a plowed field with strips of flesh hanging loose. Only the back of fools was to be whipped - Prov 19:29. We were foolish to race behind temporary worldly pleasures (Heb 11:25) ignoring the eternal pleasures at the right hand of Jesus (Psa 16:11) and the punishment for that sin went to Jesus). Seventh, Stripped (To make fun of him, he was also clothed in purple color too - Mt 27:28. He was dying for a generation that takes pleasure in making fun of others while the affected live in excruciating pain). Eighth, Splinter-pressed (The thorns were pressed on his head. It was you and me who had a big proud head. Those thorns should have come upon us, but Jesus, in his great love, took it upon himself). Ninth, Shamed (Cross punishment was akin to be urinated upon in public those days - Phil 2:8). Tenth, Spiked (Nails were thrashed onto his two hands and legs. Those nails should have gone on our hands - we sinned against him with our hands and legs. Sins such as cigar-smoking, masturbation while porn-watching, fondling the intimate, inner, parts of the opposite sex, and walking into an adult movie show. But Jesus took our place on the Cross. He was our substitute – Isa 53:4,5; Gal 2:19,20. The nails did not hold him to the Cross. Love did. He could have ripped them off and come down when he was challenged and scoffed at. But he stayed on because he loved you). Eleventh, Separated (God turned his face away from him as all of our sins were placed upon Jesus. With his Heavenly Father Jesus was ever so close and this separation was heart-breaking for Jesus, and so he cried, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?". He became lonely to lift the loneliness in your life, the loneliness that comes when even you are rubbing shoulders with your friends in packed party). Twelfth, Speared (This treatment was given to him, even after he was dead - Jn 19:34. The final blood drops in his body came out then. Every drop says, 'I love you!' Only this blood can cleanse you from you from every sin!).

How do you respond to his great love so supremely demonstrated (Rom 5:8)? You could, in stone-hearted stubbornness, press the nails onto his hands a bit deeper, by continuing to live in sin. You could press down the thorn crown on his head roughly and crudely, once more, in rebellion, by continuing to flirt with the Devil and the world. That’s one way to respond. Or will you, repent like one of the dying thieves beside Jesus on the Cross? And would you believe on him (him, who is alive today, him, who is coming back), like the Roman centurion who screamed, "This is indeed the Son of God!"? The choice is yours.

This article was written by Duke Jeyaraj, an Engineer turned fulltime presenter of Bible Truths to the Google Generation. Connect with Duke via his email id – emailduke@gmail.com or his facebook account – www.facebook.com/dukejeyaraj

He said he that would live till 96, but..

-Duke Jeyaraj

Virender Sehwag said that he wanted to bat through the innings in all his World Cup games. In the Bangladesh game he batted beyond Over Number 45 and scored 175. That was a good attempt. But he got out in the 2nd ball he faced in the Finals. Another man said that he would live till 96. But he breathed his last at 85. On Easter Day, 2011. He died on the very day the World recalled the raising from the death of Jesus. 85 is not that far from 96. Again a good attempt! I told my wife that I would exercise five times a week, regularly. But I have gone wrong that prediction of mine about myself, horribly :). You could add a story like that from your own life too, here - I bet you would! Let's not crucify, defame, these folks I have just talked about! As MERE MEN, As ORDINARY HUMANS, NOTHING BETTER COULD BE EXPECTED FROM US DESPITE OUR BEST INTENTIONS AND EFFORTS OF GREAT SWEAT. But God is different. Far, far, different. He is not a man that he would lie, the Bible declares."Does He (God) promise and not fulfill what He promised?" the Bible dares (Numbers 23:19). If the God we are talking about is the TRUE LIVING GOD, HE WILL FULFILL ALL HIS PROMISES. Yes, only Jesus, has fulfilled every Word of prophecy about Him, over 110 major ones, with 100% bull's eye accuracy. "Jesus would enter Jerusalem to be crucifed, 483 years from this day!" That was Prophet Daniel's prophecy made simple (Dan 9:24-25). Jesus fulfilled that astounding prophecy! Yes, He entered Jerusalem to be crucified exactly on the day Daniel predicted - a prediction made 483 years before! That is just one example. Fulfilling prophecy was pretty easy for Him to do, because as the ONLY GOD IN FLESH, He could control events in time and eternity with effortless ease. He alone is worthy of worship and life devotion! He alone is the way of salvation, as He himself said (John 14:6). If we believed that there are other God-avatars, apart from Jesus, it would amount to calling Jesus a liar. But He is NOT a liar. The one who never got it wrong when it came to prophecy fulfilment is NOT A LIAR. HE IS THE ONLY LORD! So, I live the one life I have, surrendered wholely to Him. I makes sense that I do that. What would you do?

THE TWO WHO DID NOT STAY BACK IN THE COMFORT OF THE HUT & SEND SOMEONE ELSE INTO THE MIDDLE

A Duke Jeyaraj poem on the World Cup Final 2011 at Mumbai between India- Sri Lanka on 2 April 2011

As Dilshan brilliantly caught & bowled the well-set Kohli, Dhoni could have stayed back in the safety of the Indian hut,
And sent into the middle, the in-form Yuvraj Singh, to bear the pressure's brunt,
But Dhoni walked into the middle, voluntarily, with a steely determination to keep India in the275-run hunt,
His trademark strokes were thankfully back after a long time - the shovel power drive, the sizzling helicopter cut,
To let go of his golden opportunity to win it for India - he was no senseless nut,
And along with gutsy Gambhir, he gave a fitting reply in response to Sri Lanka's first inning run glut,
His body was tiring, his nose was 'running', his back was breaking, but he kept batting in what was an amazing display of gut,
In the end, when he hit that six, he ensured, in India's camp, the World Cup, for the next four years, would stay put!

As the whole world was caught in the web of sin and was going to eternal hell, Jesus could have chosen stay back in the comfort of Heaven's hut,
Worked out an alternative plan or sent-in Angels to save humanity and bear the horrible consequences of sin's brunt,
But Jesus himself voluntarily walked toward Jerusalem to be crucified for your sake, in a daring display of his loving gut,
He sweated blood, his back was ripped open, a crown of thorns was pressed down his his head, but on the Cross route he stayed put,
All for your sake, all so that you can be forgiven, and if you refuse this amazing love of his, I am afraid you have to only be a senseless nut!

MISBAH AND YOU

A poem on Misbah's baffling batting tactics in the World Cup Semifinal Between India-Pakistan, 30 March, 2011, by Duke Jeyaraj 'We can always accelerate later; Chasing 260 is not a big deal after all we have chased 320 plus in this ground against India in the past!' - that's what thought Misbah, The way he blocked the balls instead of bashing them made the onlookers, in amazement, drop their jaw, Ball after ball, he just defended without rotating the strike, and on the spectator's neck "put saw", It allowed desperate India, the opportunity, to slowly back into the match, claw, Not taking the Batting Powerplay earlier on, was to Pakistan's chances to get back into the game, the proverbial last straw, The big sixes that Misbah hit at the fag end only made, for the furious Pakistani fans, the memories of the T20 2007 World Cup Final, irritatingly raw, "We just love you, Misbah!" - this is what the Indian fans updated on their Facebook accounts, ha, ha! When before Christ's Calvary demonstrated love, we make our hearts, become like ice that stubbornly refuses to thaw, We too, in our spiritual lives, are like this Misbah, 'We can live in sin now and come to Christ to ask for forgiveness later!' - in that thought process there is a major flaw, After our death (and it can come at any second) we will not be offered chances for salvation - this is the Bible law, When Jesus suddenly returns the 2nd time as Judge, it would be too late to accept him, this is the truth from Revelation 6:16, I just saw, So let's run into the wide open loving arms of Jesus, right now, and to sin, say, "tata!"

When Raina Let The Cat Out of His Bag...

Duke Jeyaraj's poem on the climax of the India-Australia World Cup Quarter Final in Ahmedabad, 24 March 2011

When Captain Dhoni was out, India's semi-final entering hopes was staring down the mat,

India still needed 70 plus runs to get, when steel-nerved Suresh Raina walked out to bat,

Chewing their nails, at the edge of their seats, the Indian spectators, with unbearable tension sat,

'Would Raina prove to be a better choice than the left-out-from-the-XI Pathan?' - this was the topic of every cricket chat,

As Yuvraj and Raina batted sensibly rotating the strike, hitting the odd boundary, the asking rate never got unmanagably fat,

When Raina hoisted the bleeding Bret Lee for an over-the-head six, from Yuvraj, he got a big hug and an approving pat,

As Yuvraj cover-drove Lee n sank on his knees to celebrate, every Indian joined him, from a Jain to a Jat,

At that point in time, Ricky Ponting, the two-time World Cup winning Aussie captain, wished he could hide in a hole like a rat!

Speaking to a commentator after the game, Raina, released from his bag, the proverbial 'cat',

"It was because of God's grace," he could do what he did, he said, in humility, adjusting his India hat,

Did you know that God's grace was supremely shown, when upon sinless Jesus' face, evil men spat?

He shed his blood to wash away your sin when he hung on that Cross - my friend have you ever heard that? When you repent from sin, and join Jesus, you'll discover your life become full of meaning and never becomes flat!

MICHAEL DOUGLAS N A NAME OF JESUS WE RECALL DURING CHRISTMAS

- Duke Jeyaraj

Michael Douglas had it all. Fame and the money to with it, he had it - he was an Academy award winning actor and among the highest paid actors in Hollywood. 'Sizzling' sex outside of marriage, he had it - he was part of the one of most watched movie sex scenes in the planet. A beautiful wife, he had her - he was married to Catherine Zeta Jones, a gorgeous actress. Yet, he was on the hunt for peace. He reportedly planned a visit to India hunting for peace (The Times of India, Hyderabad Times, October 22, 2010). All the things he already had apparently did not quench his inner thirst or give him permanent peace.

What robs our hearts of its peace? Many a time it is sin. The Bible, a Book from God to us in a language we can understand, talks about this. "The wicked are like the tossing sea," a Bible prophet wrote (Isa 57:20). Yes, when you and I commit a sin, our heart loses its peace and we feel as if we tossed up and down in a turbulent stormy sea.

What gives true and lasting peace? A relationship with Jesus. A living daily walk with the one who was called 'Prince of Peace' in the Bible (Isa 9:6). A Priest named Zachariah compared Jesus the Sunrise from on High who came down to guide us in the 'way of peace' (Luke 1:78,79). Jesus promised his disciples his own peace; He said, "My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives..." (John 14:27). The peace that Jesus give is far different from temporary peace that the world and its pleasures give. It is permanent. It does not depend on happy circumstances or swank comforts around. It is born out of a deep relationship with Him.

Your life may in turmoil. You may caught in a storm even as you read these words. The storm of family dispute. The storm of rebellious children. The storm of financial difficulty. The storm of your loved one betraying you. The storm of addiction to destructive sinful habits. But let Jesus get into your life boat. And allow him to speak to your storm. And then, trust me, there would be great calm (Mark 4:39). Your problem may still remain. But in your heart, there would be great peace.

I know what I am talking about here. I have experience what I am talking about. Let me elaborate: Before I left my worldly job, it was working in a couple of Call Centres so that I could support my family and ministry with the money I earned from there. I also ran three minute fellowships in Office.

It was my dream at that point in time to work for Google's office in Hyderabad, India, the city where I live. Some of the most modern youth of my city, the group I wanted to touch with the message of Jesus Christ, worked there. I got through fairly difficult rounds of interviews that came first-up. I reached the stage where I was to have the very final round of interview with a senior manager with Google. She was the final barrier I had to get past, in order to start working in Google. I prayed to the Lord Jesus to give me grace to get through in that pivotal interview. But alas, I could not. I was informed that I did not make it. I was sad. But I still had the strange peace which Jesus alone could have given me at that hour of dour disappointment which could have easily made me very sour. The calm that my Creator gave me that hour did not depend on the circumstances around me. I again experienced this heart-warming calm when my application for a US Visa was rejected in August 2010. I was to go to the US on a trip fully-sponsored by a Christian organisation. I had to play the role of a coach in a large youth event. As I walked back in the long passage, minutes after this heart-breaking rejection in the US Consulate Office in Hyderabad, I was very gloomy. But pretty soon, deep down, a deep assurance swept over my heart that told me what had happened was actually for my ultimate good. I was at peace with myself because I had the peace that Jesus Christ had given me - a peace that I still had, no matter what happened around me! What the Bible told taught about Jesus I found to be true with my own life experience - he is the Lord of peace who gives peace at 'all time and in every way' (II Thess 3:16, NIV).

To give you this peace , this calm will only come after your sins are forgiven, Jesus went to the Cross. The Scripture declares, "The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him" (Isa 53:5). When Jesus hung on the Cross, bloodied, bruised, bashed-up and broken, he did what it takes to give you peace - peace on the inside. The blood he shed on the Cross is your passport to peace. You need to be forgiven of your sins by his blood. Where is peace? It is not in fame. It is not in the dame. It is not in a sex-game. Ask Michael Douglas, he would tell you, if he were honest. It is in that Name. Only in that Name, the Bible declares (Acts 4:12). The name of Jesus. He is the Prince of Peace and He alone can give you peace. Would you repent from your sin and trust him right now?

Jesus had this to say about the stiff-necked people of Jerusalem - the people who repeatedly rejected him: He said, “If only you knew on this of all days the things that lead to peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes" (Luke 19:42, Common English Bible). They had rejected Jesus, the way to true inner peace repeatedly and now it was too late for them to find that peace - this was Jesus' point here! What a costly miss! Right now, even as you read this piece on peace, you have an opportunity to discover true peace that is only available only through Jesus Christ. But if you keep rejecting him, a time will come in your life, when it would be too late to come to him to discover this amazing peace. After you die (death can come to any one of us, anytime, please remember!) it would be too late. After Jesus comes back to this earth to judge everyone, it would be too late. After the Holy Spirit stops speaking to the repeatedly stubborn you, it would be too late. At that sad point in your life, you would be hopelessly meandering toward eternal hell - a lake of burning fire and sulphur where you would have lost forever your peace! But now, you have an opportunity to avoid all that by coming to Christ in true penitence to receive lasting peace!