DO A RCB AND FACE DISQUALIFICATION DESPITE THOSE SIXES?

-Duke Jeyaraj

 

"Does 6s matter? RCB with most sixes (103) in IPL6 could not qualify to the last four, while CSK conceding most 6s (80) tops the table!" writes Mohandas Menon, a smart cricket statistician. By hitting those sixes, several of those were totally unnecessary given the match situation, the RCB batsmen were playing to the 'gallery'. They were responding to the crowd's demand. The result of such foolishness is for us to see - a disappointing failure to qualify for the playoffs narrowly for two years in a row. We too can 'do a RCB'. Let me explain: we can do those things that are pleasing to the crowd and fail to walk in the "narrow", unpopular, way which Jesus talked about (Math 7:14). The end result of following the broad way, the popular way, is 'disqualification' from eternal heaven (I Cor 9:27). The consequences of this folly is an everlasting torment in hell-fire - a place Jesus talked about eight times.

A BRUTAL BUILDING CRASH IN BANGLADESH & A SANDESH (GOOD NEWS)

- Duke Jeyaraj

Have a look at this heart-rending picture from the deadliest industrial disaster to hit the South Asian nation of Bangladesh when an eight-storey building (called Rana Plaza) which housed five garment factories (that employed 4000 people) collapsed. In this chilling frozen frame we see two victims of this disaster lying covered in debris together — blood hardened on the man's cheek like a permanent tear. Many photographers documented the April 24, 2013 tragedy, standing silent testimony to the high cost of cheap labor. As more bodies were recovered on Friday, 10 May 2013, the total number of people confirmed dead rose to 1,039, even though 2400 survivors were rescued, said Maj. Zihadul Islam, a fire service official. But Taslima Akhter, in particular, shot a heartbreaking image that put a face on the tragedy for countless viewers across the world — starting with Akhter himself. Workers continue to find bodies, many of them in decomposed state, difficult to recognize.

(From various websites)

Rewind two thousand years. The town – Jerusalem. In the country of Israel. Another tower crashes. 18 people get killed as a result. The tower had a name – the tower of Siloam. Some escape by the skin of their teeth. Narrowly. There was no newspapers then. No Times of India. No Hindustan Times. No Deccan Chronicle. By word of mouth the news reaches this man. Who? Jesus. God in flesh.

He told the crowd around him something which made their ears tingle: "Those 18 in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse sinners than all other Jerusalemites? No not at all. Unless you repent, you too will die!" (Luke 13: 3-5, The Message).

Jesus was implying that death for all of us is inevitable.

In the previous set of verses (vs. 1-2) Jesus was told about how the Roman Political ruler over the Jews in the area of Galilee named Pilate killed a few of them as they were making a sacrifice and went on to mix the blood of the dead folks in the sacrifice they offered. In the present passage, 18 people had died in an building crash accident. The implication is this: all of us would have to die – whether by assassination or by accident.

Jesus’ point here was this: those who escaped that particular building crash weren’t more righteous than those who died during it. Jesus’ message was this: all the survivors had to check there was sin in their lives and then repent from it, if there was. Jesus’ warning was this: if there was no sincere penitence there would be sure punishment. The punishment that Jesus referred to here was the punishment of perishing. “Perish” was a Bible word for an everlasting life in ever-burning hell.

Jesus is patient towards you that he does not want you to perish (in hell) but instead you would choose to take a U-turn and come to Him without wasting anymore time – that’s Peter’s point (2 Peter 3:9). Rahab, a prostitute did not “perish” because she repented (she was ready to relocate from her brothel and go with the True God believing spies who came to visit her) and believed in the True God of the Bible (see Heb 11:31). Would you also repent from sin and believe in Jesus so that you will not ‘perish’ in eternal hell?

Immediately after Jesus wrapped a message of repentance around the building crash event/the killing of Galileans event he told a story: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9). What did Jesus try to convey here? It is this: “If we have escaped an assassination bid or an accident, it’s not because we are more righteous than those who have perished by it. It is because I, Jesus, have been gracious to you to give you another chance. Another chance to repent. Another chance to take a U-turn and come back to me, who died for you on the Cross. But if you stay stubbornly in sin, a day is surely coming when you will be ‘cut off’ – go to hell!”

Having escaped “certain death” would you run straight to His arms, saying ‘no’ to sin? Do it now!

Kings XI Punjab's Ice Cool Prince David Miller's Dad & Your King of Kings Dad!

Duke Jeyaraj wraps the Good News around the RCB Vs KXIP game in Mohali on 6 May 2013





He perhaps played the greatest ever IPL innings - 'the 38-ball-101' David Miller,
He scored his last 74 runs off just 20 balls, hitting four after four and sixer after sixer,
Miller was batting on 41 when the RCB skipper, Virat Kohli, dropped an absolute sitter,
It was as if Kohli's hands were made out of butter and 'You have dropped the match, mate' Miller did perhaps silently mutter,
And to think just the previous ball, Kohli had given an heated advice to the Vinay Kumar, the bowler,
Post that dropped catch Miller, 41 not out then, blitzed 60 runs off 17 balls, RCB's hopes to shatter,
His cluster of boundaries had a terrorizing effect on RCB - there was a misfield even from De Villiers, the fielder,
As Miller lifted Gayle for a typical V area six, Kings XI won with couple of overs still available as a filler!
And you could hear a stadium full of Kings XI fans in Mohali and owner Priety Zinta in joy, holler!
Post the match, Miller talked about the batting tips given him by his father,
'When the ball is in the V, hit it over the tree and hit it out of the park when it's in the ark' - so advised the Miller, senior,
And on that magic night, obedient to his daddy was David, the brutally brilliant V-area ball-striker!

This reminded me of the loving invitation of the Bible's Luke 15 Heavenly Father,
'I want you, son, home - that you have been rebelling against me, all this while, it doesn't matter!'
'I want to give you a ring to wear and your face, I want to, with kisses, smother!'
'My perfect Son, Jesus Christ died in your place, and therefore comes this forgiveness offer!'
Would you be obedient to this Heaven Dad loving call, as David Miller was to his dad's charge, dear sister and brother?

SANJAY DUTT AND THE GOODNEWS FROM GOOD FRIDAY

Duke Jeyaraj

 

Bollywood Actor Sanjay Dutt was sentenced to a five-year jail term for illegal possession of weapons in the 1993 Bombay bomb blast case. Having spent 18 months in jail he will have to spend three-and-half years in prison as per the court verdict released a few days ago. To this he responded fighting back the tears, “I have not applied for pardon. There are others who deserve pardon.” (The Hindu, March 29, 2013). Dutt is saying in-effect here: “I deserve this punishment!” That reminds me of what one of the thieves crucified alongside Jesus two thousand years back said. He said, “We are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man (Jesus) has done nothing wrong.” This thief was saying in-effect: “I deserve this punishment!” And he went on to tell Jesus, “Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” (Lk 23:41-42). This dying thief exhibited two things: a repentant spirit and a visionary faith. He was sorry for the life as a robber. Though Jesus did not look any different from them at that point in time, he had eyes of faith to see Jesus as King of Kings with a kingdom! Upon seeing these two qualities, Jesus promised him paradise (Lk 23:43). The lesson: we may have squandered our lives, we may be sinners of the worst sort, but if we truly repent and totally trust Christ and what he has done for us on the Cross, we too will go to heaven! What is more, life on this earth will be meaningful and purposeful!

What Men Rob Women Of

- Duke Jeyaraj

What men, in general (though there are exceptions) rob women of I have put it in the form of an acronym ‘w-o-m-a-n’:

W-wages. World over, women do still get paid much less than men, even if both end up doing the same job.

O-rgasm. This point applies to married couples only, and those planning to get married. While men want to have a great time in the bed, they aren’t, generally speaking, considerate enough to ensure that their wives equally share in this enjoyment.

M-ansions. Certain parents show partiality when it comes to dividing their ‘mansions’ – properties. The boys get a better share, most often than not.

A-ttention. When a woman speaks, many men go, “There is nothing I am going to learn from this person for after all she is a woman!” and switch off their prejudiced minds.

N-ight Freedom. A woman cannot travel alone, eat out alone, or even take a walk, late at night without fearing for her safety in our time, most times than not. The reason: yes, there are men who still behave like beasts out there.

Only an encounter with Jesus, who entered the world born of a woman (Gal 4:4) can soundly convert men so that they will stop robbing women.

READING THE LINES THAT SHAHRUKH WROTE COMPARING RELIGION TO HIS FATHER’S SPECTACLES WITH “THE SPECTACLES OF REASON!”

- Duke Jeyaraj

Shah Rukh Khan wrote the following words in a recent, widely-talked about essay published by the Outlook magazine group: “For I believe, our religion is an extremely personal choice, not a public proclamation of who we are. It's as person as the spectacles of my father who passed away some 20 years ago. Spectacles that I hold onto as my most prized and personal possession of his memories, teachings and of being a proud Pathan. I have never compared those with my friends, who have similar possessions of their parents or grandparents. I have never said my father's spectacles are better than your mother's saree. So why should we have this comparison in the matter of religion, which is as personal and prized a belief as the memories of your elders.”

Shah Rukh compares the religion he followed to his father’s spectacles, here. This comparison he makes needs to be read by wearing “the spectacles of reason.” In other words, we must put our thinking caps and analyze what Shah Rukh has stated about religion here! What Shah Rukh seems to say in the aforementioned essay is simple: the main reason he has stayed put in his religion without converting to another, is that, it was handed over to him by his forefathers. When the claims of Jesus Christ’s uniqueness in a world of many religions are presented to folks, they generally voice the very same point that Shah Rukh so eloquently talks about here, using different vocabulary to defend their conviction that it is not necessary to convert to Christ, turning aside from the faith of their forefathers. How should one respond to this?

Come to think of it - there are many things, which many of us follow which weren’t given to us by our fathers or forefathers, in the first place! There are number of things we have to ban in our lives if we use the not-so-sensible logic that goes, “We will not embrace anything that our fathers or forefathers did not embrace!” Cricket came to us from England – not from our forefathers. Yet, we play that game! The mobile phone was invented and used first by Martin Cooper of Motorola in the country of the United States, in the year 1973. None of our great-grand fathers ever used it. But we use it, nevertheless! An American college student invented Facebook. But it’s part and parcel of our daily existence, isn’t it, even though it never crossed our ancestor’s mind? Shah Rukh Khan has openly talked about his addiction to the smoking habit in several forums. But even smoking is not something that came from an Indian grand-father or great-father. To tell the truth, tobacco came from North America. Yet, many Indians, like Shah Rukh smoke! The I-10 Hyundai Car that Shah Rukh promoted via ads is a car made by a Korean company! We could go on and on in this debate! When we embrace some stuff that never came from our ancestors (say cricket, mobile phones, Facebook, etc) and why do we hesitate to embrace religious faith our ancestors, perhaps, never followed, if that religious faith was indeed true and unique? Why this double-standard? Why this hypocrisy?

Let us get to the bottom of what I am trying to say through all of this: if we are honest, we would admit that we do indeed practice things that our forefathers never practiced; if we are truthful, we would surely admit that we accept things that our fathers never accepted. So, the question we must ask when we choosing our religious persuasion is not, “How can I embrace a religion which my father or grandfather never embraced?” Instead, we must ask the question, “Is the religion that I blindly follow because my father follows(ed) it, true?”

And Jesus, the only God-in-flesh, claimed to be “the” truth and that there was no other way to God the Father, except through Him (see John 14:16 in The Bible). In other words, Jesus indicated through this claim, that any claim of anyone else contradicting this His claim, was fully false. And Jesus gave proof of this claim through his pure life (even his worst enemies could not find a single fault with him) and powerful life (he worked outstanding miracles which even his enemies acknowledged). What’s more, he died on a cruel Cross, as a substitute for the sins of people of all religions, races and time, the Bible teaches (see Hebrews 9:12 in The Bible). Whoever we may be, whatever religion we may belong to, we must all repent from our sins, wrong beliefs concerning God, and put our total faith on Jesus who is going to judge all of the world on the final day, to experience salvation, true life, real joy and lasting peace – the Bible teaches (Acts 17:29-31). And there is simply no other way!

THERE'S A PONTING IN US SOMEWHERE LURKING

- Duke Jeyaraj





Pugnacious Australian Ricky Ponting is finally retiring,
He will be remembered for his attacking batting,
You may have never seen a better batsman, the short ball, pulling,
The runs which accounted for his team's win, like none other, he kept accumulating,


Not to forget - the finest among his generation was his acrobatic fielding,
On really big occasions when other Captains had their head spinning,
And did foolish things like play reverse sweeps - think of Jayawardane and Gatting,
That's when Ricky Ponting found his most murderous timing,
His score in the 2003 World Cup Finals - Indians won't forget - was 140 batting,

There's another aspect of Ponting's career about which we cannot avoid talking,
That is that he did not mind ill-mannerly protesting,
When the umpires made decisions that were baffling,
He did not shy away from claiming,
Catches that he had taken after the ball did the bumping,
"The leader of a pack of wild dogs!" - that's a title he once ended up from Roebuck receiving,
In a particular press conference he did not mind reporters to be leaving,
If it was his integrity that they were doubting,

There's a bit of Ponting inside us somewhere lurking,
To take care of that, Jesus, God in flesh, under-went bleeding,
He did that to save a brash generation, which to hell, was speeding,
Come to him, right now, repenting and believing,
You will discover a peace, that will be still be there when troubles raise to the height of the ceiling!