NEERJA BHANOT DID NOT CHOOSE IMMEDIATE ESCAPE THROUGH THE PAN AM FLIGHT 73’S EMERGENCY EXIT’S CHUTE; JESUS CHRIST DID NOT CHOOSE TO ESCAPE THE CRUEL CROSS ON GOOD FRIDAY

- Dr. Duke Jeyaraj

It was a heart-stopping event that was the talk of the then-world. The day was September 5, 1986. Neerja Bhanot was the head-turning head purser of Pan Am Flight 73 to New York from Mumbai. Just 22 years of age was this gutsy beauty. She was to celebrate her birthday on September 7th.
Enroute to New York, this flight was to stop at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan and later on in Frankfurt, Germany. It was around 4:30 a.m. when the flight landed in Karachi. What a stop for re-fuelling became a spot for terrorist-boarding!

This is what happened: Four Palestinian terrorists menacingly came towards the flight dressed in airport security uniforms. As the flight’s door was opened in the business class side, these terrorists managed to enter the flight even as the last passengers from Karachi were boarding. They carried submachine guns and grenades.

Neerja had the presence of mind to move swiftly near the phone inside the flight and call the Pilot and the cockpit crew (the co-pilot and the flight engineer). “Hijack,” she muttered and the three people inside the cockpit escaped through a hatch-way in the roof. The flight was now effectively frozen - immobilised. With the Pilot and team having scooted from the plane, the terrorists’ plan to fly the plane to Cypress and demand for the release of Palestinian prisoners being held there went for a toss. The cockpit crew logic was this: “When the pilots abandon the plane, the plane becomes an unattractive object for hijacking.”

For the next seventeen hours, the plane stood in the airport under the control of the armed terrorists – “emotionally surcharged burly terrorists” (as Neerja’s dad, a journalist, would write later on). That’s when Neerja, the senior-most flight official inside the plane, stayed cool, calm and collected. She made announcements on behalf of the terrorists. Her smiles amidst the storm was like a breath of fresh air for the scared-to-death passengers. It offered them hope of rescue.

Neerja knew that the terrorists meant business when they shot dead Rajesh Kumar, the 29-year-old Indian American who was sitting in one of the front seats when the plane’s pilots did not return even after their repeated requests and warnings. When she overheard the terrorists’ plan to kill American passengers in that plane of 379 terrified passengers one by one, till the pilots returned to the flight, she came up with a plan. She and her crew members hid the passports of the American passengers by dropping the passports on the ground and pushing them under the seats as they were in the terrorists-assigned jobs of collecting all the passenger passports.


After the power inside the flight failed because of fuel exhaustion, the flight was plunged into darkness with the hijack drama entering into the seventeenth hour having begun early in the morning. That’s when the terrorists themselves got terrorized, knowing the Pakistani forces inside the airport could now engage them in combat at any second. They started shooting the passengers and hurling hand grenades indiscriminately. Their plan – it was very clear – was to kill as many passengers as possible.
That’s when Neerja swung into action and flung open one of the emergency doors of the flight. She could have easily been the very first to exit the plane by rolling out of the ballooning slanting cushion from the plane to the ground (the chute). But instead of choosing the chute she chose to help children – three of them. Yes, she bravely chose to stay back guiding frantic and ducking passengers to that emergency exit. Neerja used her body to shield three children inside the flight even as she guided them to the exit door’s chute. She received atleast three bullet wounds – on the abdomen, the shoulder and on her arm (her dad writes). Around 20 passengers died and 120 were injured in the mayhem unleashed by the terrorists. Neerja too died. But not before rescuing those children and many other passengers.

Just as Neerja chose the safety of the still-inside-the-flight children before the chute-escape, Jesus Christ, the only God-in-flesh, chose to love and save you and me, instead of escaping the cruel cross – the only way that was available for our salvation. Jesus’ disciple, Peter, suggested that Jesus skip the cross – the cruel punishment that was reserved for the worst of scoundrels of that time – some two thousand years ago (Matthew 16:22-28, The Bible). Yet, Jesus chose to march towards Jerusalem to be crucified on a cross, the Bible, God’s Word in human words, records (Luke 9:51).

Jesus was beaten till his back looked like plowed field. He was nailed to a rugged cross. They taunted Jesus while he hung there. “Come down from the Cross”, they sneered (Matthew 26:40). He could have. He had the power to. Certainly. Rusty nails cannot hold all-powerful God to a Cross, can they? Yet, he stayed on. He died. Why? He died for each one of us. On Good Friday. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this – while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” – this the Bible teaches (Romans 5:8).
Unlike Neerja, Jesus was sinless (In the 2016 gripping movie, Neerja, some of the imperfections of Neerja are shown in a lighter vein: she doesn’t eat the food packed for her by her dear mom at her workplace, she carelessly forgets to wear a ring her mom asked her to…). Unlike you and me, Jesus was spotless. We have ALL sinned, the Bible declares (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, which is to ultimately burn in hell. This is the prediction of the Bible, a book which has never gone wrong in its hundreds of predictions of the future (Revelation 21:7,8; Romans 6:23).

Make no mistake here: Jesus wasn’t dying for his own sin like we all deserve to. One of the thieves crucified next to Jesus realized this and said: “We rightly deserve to die. But Jesus has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23: 39-43, The Bible). Jesus never committed any sin. His close relatives, his best friends and his worst enemies could not find a single sin in him, the Bible records (Matthew 3:14; John 8:46; I John 3:5).

Jesus Christ died as a sin-substitute for each one of our sakes (Isaiah 53:5, The Bible). Because he was 100 % God infinite, he could die for an infinite number of people of all times and ages (Hebrews 9:28, The Bible).


Because he was 100 % humans as well (born of virgin Mary), he could die as a substitute for you and me – members of the human race (I Peter 3:18, The Bible).

Thanks to his precious blood, each one of us can receive forgiveness of sin, the Bible declares (Hebrews9:14). But we must repent from sin and put our trust in him to receive this life-purpose-giving forgiveness, the Bible teaches (Acts 2:38).

Jesus invites you with these loving words: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest!” (Matthew 11:28, The Bible). Are you ready to come to Christ?

Don’t delay your coming to Jesus. Here’s why: the Jesus who died, rose from the dead and said he would come again as Judge of all the earth, at any second (Revelation 1:7; 16:15, The Bible). He is the only Savior who can save you today. Not only that – he is the Judge from whom there is no escape for those who reject him on the final day. At that time, there would be chance for salvation or forgiveness of sin, the Bible reveals (Hebrews 9:27). So, do it now! And when you place your entire trust in Jesus, you will have “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter 1:8, The Bible). This is what Good Friday is about. This is what Easter is about.

After you come to Christ and receive his forgiveness: 1) CHEW on the Bible. To read the Bible you could download the free ESV Bible App onto your SmartPhone. 2) CHAT with Christ in prayer. 3) CHECK-INTO a local Bible-believing, Holy Spirit-directed church. 4) CHAMPION Christ’s cause through your life and lips using your time, talents and treasures.

(This was written by Dr. Duke Jeyaraj, the founder of Grabbing the Google Generation from Gehenna Mission, a ministry to presentday people. Find out more by visiting www.dukev.org and by liking www.facebook.com/googleduke and www.facebook.com/dukebook. You can read more writings of Duke like these at www.purposespot.blogspot.com).

WHAT CONSTABLE OMBLE HEROICALLY DID ON 26/11; WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU AND ME, SIX HOURS ONE FRIDAY

-Duke Jeyaraj

The Ram Gopal Verma movie The Attacks of 26/11 chillingly showed how Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police, Tukaram Gopal Omble, a family man and a father of four daughters, armed with just a baton took on the dreaded terrorist Ajmal Kasab in a Mumbai road on 26.11.2008. Kasab acted as if hewas dead when the police fired into the hi-jacked silver color Skoda car he and his accomplice were riding on towards a checkpost. Kasab’s accomplice died in the firing. When Omble daringly took the lead to open the Skoda car door, Kasab suddenly started to move menacingly. Omble acted quickly to catch hold of the barrel of Kasab’s AK47 rifle with both hands. Kasab, in retaliation, opened fire. A spray of bullets entered Omble’s stomach and intestines. Omble tightly held onto the barrel of Kasab’s AK 47 and would not simply let go of it till he breathed his last. This brave act forcefully prevented Kasab’s AK47 – a machine that he had mercilessly used to kill innocent people in the Mumbai CST Railway Station and the Cama Hospital just minutes before this event – from firing at anyone else. Omble died but he gave the police forces enough time to reach the terrorist and catch him alive. Kasab, part of a team of 10 terrorists who entered Mumbai that day, was the only terrorist to be captured alive (Story reconstructed using various news websites). Omble sacrificed his life for many Mumbaikars who did not even know him that day.

Omble’s sacrificial act somewhat typifies what Jesus did for us in an imperfect way. He died a cruel death for each one of us when we were still sinners and far away from him enjoying the temporary pleasures of sin, the Bible teaches (Heb. 11:25; Rom. 5:8, The Bible). The punishment that brings us peace was upon him when he hung on the Cross, the Bible declares (Isa 53:5, The Bible). Our backs should have been whipped as a punishment for the sins of our body – be that over-eating or masturbation coupled with porn-watching or any other unprintable sin. But Jesus took that punishment upon his own back. Strong-armed Arnold Schwarzenegger-like Roman Soldiers whipped Jesus’ back 39 times with leather belts that had broken bone and nail pieces embedded on them. As a result his back was lacerated and looked like a plowed field in accordance to a Bible prophecy – just one of over 110 major prophecies that Jesus fulfilled during his earthly life (Micah 3:12, The Bible). He loves us so very madly that he himself took upon his body, the punishment for our sins meant for our body (I Peter 2:24, The Bible). Because Jesus is 100% God who in turn is beyond the dimension of time he could die for all humans of all times. Because He is 100% human (even while he was 100% God) he could become the substitute for every human being. As the Bible puts it, “Jesus loved us and gave himself for us” (Gal. 2:20, The Bible). No one could have loved us the way Jesus did! No one loves us the way Jesus does. And what is more - Jesus came back to life, a feat that points to the fact that he is God and he is above everyone in the long line of self-proclaimed gods, so records the Bible (Rom. 1:4, The Bible).

THE “STAR” WHO WON’T DISAPPOINT EVER UNLIKE INDIA'S BATTING STARS!

Duke Jeyaraj put key moments of the India-Australia World Cup SemiFinal in Sydney on 26th March 2015 in poetry with an interesting thought at the end

Virat Kohli is undoubtedly World Cricket’s Biggest Batting Star,

His multiple, mind-boggling, batting feats keeps raising the bar,

Batting first, the Aussies had in this knock-out game posted a total above par,

Kohli took guard when India’s target of 329, despite the brisk 70+ opening partnership, was still very far,

A menacingly-paced, match-winning 150 would Kohli score in that India-Australia World Cup semifinal war?

After such a stupendous knock would he blow kisses to Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, his girl yaar?

Those were the sky-rocketing expectations Indian fans had about their Batting Caesar.

Like my daughter, who unable to resist temptation, would often reach for the Nutella jar,

He fished outside the off-stump for balls from which he should have stayed afar,

His batting tempo appeared far slower than what he drove during the TV ad break: the car,

Pretty soon, the Aussie keeper easily caught an edge from his pull-attempting bat without a scar!

With Rohit and Raina following him soon in a whimper, India’s World Cup Celebration cake did char!

Rahane was out when his snick, notwithstanding the deafening crowd noise, caught Steven Smith’s alert ear,

Maxwell’s direct hit caught short of the crease, India’s lone late warrior that night, Dhoni, the czar,

“In Sydney, the Indian batting became a chutney!” – this, the creative critics did roar,

It’s true all human heroes will at some point disappoint us: they are all hit by the sin tar,

A vacuum in the heart results and that can't be filled-in by that cute chudithar or the latest cellular,

But know that God-in-flesh, Christ, died on the Cross for everyone - the beggar to the zamindar,

And we need to come in repentance and faith to the Christ, whom the Bible calls, “the Bright Morning Star!”

DHONI’S DREAM LEG-SIDE CATCH; THE FLIGHT BACK HOME THAT BANGLADESH HAD TO CATCH; AND AN IMPORTANT GOODNEWS TO CATCH…

Duke Jeyaraj puts in poetry the India-Bangladesh World Cup 2015 Quarter Final in Melbourne on 19 March with an important message at the end.

Will Bangladesh Tigers stop the Indians in the World Cup quarters?

Well that was the burning question for the starters!

Rohit Sharma’s elegant first-ball four beat the boundary riders,

But Virat’s early dismissal did give India the early jitters,

Roebel’s ugly send-off only fell on Kohli’s deliberately deaf ears!

Raina showed the MCG crowd why he is one of the game’s biggest hitters,

Rohit not given out when he was on 90 was one of the Umpire’s blunders,

His caressed big shots after reaching his 100 took their attack to the cleaners,

Jadeja’s late flourish ensured that India crossed 300 and sent Victory feelers!

Tamin’s early aggression implied that Bangladesh wanted to reach their target in 40 overs,

But he edged one to Dhoni and the Indian bowlers were back to their business of being run-chokers,

Jadeja’s brilliant fielding and throw-in made the batsmen in the middle look like jokers,

Memmudullah ‘s skier was taken by Dhawan as if to show that he had no butter fingers,

The way Bangladesh’s best player Shakib batted, it looked like he was in a hurry to become one of the Melbourne-Dhaka flight passengers,

Umesh’s right-on-the-money’s spell left the Bangladesh innings in tatters,

Over the hapless Bangladeshis went mercilessly over, the Dhoni’s bulldozers!

The win marked Captain Dhoni’s 100 ODI win – said the statistics-informed cheer leaders!

----
This image from this game remained with me: Dhoni diving to take an seemingly impossible leg-side catch,

This image also reminded me of Jesus, God-in-flesh who dived into Mary’s womb to snatch,

Human beings on the road to eternal hell, and a possibility for their soul’s salvation through his death on the Cross, hatch!

When you repent and put your faith in this Jesus, you join the heaven-headed batch!

LIFE LESSONS FROM DONALD J. TRUMP

- Duke Jeyaraj

From the colorful, never-boring life of U.S. President-elect DONALD TRUMP,
These unforgettable lessons, for my life, does immediately JUMP,
When the whole world goes against you, don’t ever let your shoulders SLUMP,
Don't ever let anyone take you for granted - you are a champ - not a CHUMP!
You may have to work with your once-upon-a-time-competitors (think Dr. Ben Carson) – you do not, them, ever DUMP!
You must be willing to work harder than your opponent, you must be willing to make more speeches by the STUMP!
And when it comes to thanking your family, there must be, in mouth, an emotional LUMP!
The more frankly and without pretense you speak, the louder, for you, will get the desk-THUMP!
Trump, also ultimately reminds me of the One who once healed a woman with a 18-year old, in-her-back, HUMP!
Jesus is His name - and he died on the Cross to offer forgiveness and peace to everyone – whether you are petite or PLUMP!
"My joy I give you," the resurrected Jesus says to you - and when you follow him, you will not be a GRUMP!

ONEPLUS 2 PHONE AND ‘THE ONE AND ONLY GOD IN HUMAN FLESH AND BONE’ – THE BIG DIFFERENCE

- Duke Jeyaraj

OnePlus 2 is THE phone that is the talk of the town. It’s releasing world-wide on August 11,2015. One version of it, has got an internal storage of 64 GB. So downloading WhatsApp video after video is no problem. The ample storage on this phone is the same as my MacBook 64GB Air laptop! This phone also packs an embedded 3,300mAh battery, one of most long-lasting in the market. It has a 4GB ram. My first smart phone had less than 1 GB ram and I almost broke the screen by frequently pressing its non-responsive screen! And this has 4 GB ram! Wow! Says one reviewer: “new OnePlus is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 810 chip. This chipset supports 4K streaming video and speedier camera performance. There's also an Adreno 430 graphics processor to provide 3D gaming capability. The OnePlus 2 has a larger 1.3-micron sensor that lets in more light for better low-light shots.” Another says, ‘the OnePlus 2, strikes all the right chords. The metal-framed phone keeps some of the same design aesthetics of the original, but adds a more polished feel. Together with the powerful hardware and the phone's low price compared to rival flagships, the OnePlus 2 sings a powerful song of temptation for buyers who have yet to make up their minds.’(cnet.com). “I love my OnePlus1. It compares nicely to the Apple 6 Plus my friend has. We've used the GPS maps features side by side and Google Maps on my OnePlus1 kills the Apple system. Only I saved $ 400. Can’t wait to lay my hands on the OnePlus2!” – so says a smartphone freak. And what’s more you can pay and get rosewood, bamboo, black apricot and Kevlar back-covers for this (sm)art phone!

A phonearena.com post has this following information about the “flag-ship killer” smart phone – One Plus 2 – a phone that offers the specs of a phone like Iphone6 or Samsung Galaxy6, at about 40% less the price:

'Like it or not, OnePlus is sticking to its invitation-based sales model for the OnePlus 2. In other words, only those who have an invitation will be allowed to purchase the hyped smartphone on August 11th, 2015 when it is scheduled to go on sale. How do you get a OnePlus 2 invitation? Well, that's what we're here to clarify for you. “You will notice that you cannot just secure an invite just like that, you still have to earn it.” '

"The good news is that OnePlus has a reservation list on its web page, and anyone can sign up for a OnePlus 2 invitation by leaving their email address. The bad news is that there are over 400,000 people currently on the list (as of this writing), and the number is growing steadily. Of course, it won't hurt to sign up anyway. All invitations that are sent out but not used within their expiration period will be forwarded to those who are on the waiting list."

"But even if you sign up right away, it is not easy to estimate how long it will take until your invitation arrives. With all the people already in line, it could take weeks before you're finally given the chance to purchase a OnePlus 2. That's why our advice is to brace yourself with patience. Also, you better have your credit card ready to use and OnePlus account set up in advance. Once you get your invitation, you'll have only 24 hours to use it, regardless of whether you read your notification email or not."

"While the said waiting list is scarily long, there is a way you can cut the line. That is done by spreading the word. Once you sign up and confirm your email address, you'll be given a referral link which you can share with friends and family in any way imaginable. You'll be bumped up in the queue for every person who signs up via your link. But on the downside, you can (and likely will) fall behind in line if those behind you get more referrals. (I've fallen behind more than 300 places since signing up a couple of hours ago.)” {phonearena.com}.

“However, with the implementation of the invite system, getting your hands on the phone may still prove to be the hardest hurdle to cross” says another phone review site cnet.com.

So much about smart phone craze! This OnePlus 2 phone reminds of me of the “One”. I call Jesus the “One” because is the ONLY Way to salvation (John 14:6) and the ONLY Name that can save us – a humanity lost in sin (Acts 4:12). He called himself, “the One greater than Jonah” (Matt. 12:41). He is the “One greater than Solomon” (Matt. 12:42).

He is the only ONE! But we can approach this Jesus at any time of need, so says the Bible (Heb. 4:15-16). No need to form a queue!

He says “come”. “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away….” Jesus says (John 6:37). Read that again – “Whoever!” That includes YOU. That includes ME. That includes EVERYONE! “Let the little children come to me….” Mouthed Jesus who also said that everyone who wanted to enter Heaven must repent and become like little children [who put their faith in their parents] (Matt. 19:14). “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!” – that is Jesus’ invitation for you as well. Is there that Shot Put ball of guilt in your heart? Come carrying that burden. Jesus, who died and rose again for you one the Cross, will forgive you and your heart will become light and restful! The God of the Bible says, “Come now, and let us reason together…Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18). Your sin may be unprintable. But they need not be unforgivable. Come now and they will be! “Come to me and drink!” said Jesus in the Bible (John 7:37). That was a figurative way of saying, “Have a daily, deep, relationship of faith and trust with me…."(see John 7:38).

Would you come? Now!

DYING DOING WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO LIKE DR. ABDUL KALAAM

- Duke Jeyaraj

“Former President Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, a popular head of state between 2002 and 2007, died on Monday after he collapsed during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management at around 6.30pm on 27 July 2015.” (telegraphindia.com). The 84-year old former president died doing what he loved to do: communicating key life-truths with students. “He was one of the most motivational teachers in the country who passed away doing what he loved,” said another paper.

The World was deeply saddened by the tragic and sudden loss of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. Steve was beloved by millions of fans and animal lovers around the world and was one of our planet's most passionate conservationists. He has graced Animal Planet's air since October 1996 and was essential in building Animal Planet into a global brand. Steve was killed during a filming expedition for Animal Planet on the Great Barrier Reef. While we are still collecting specific details, it appears that this was a rare accident in which Steve swam over a stingray and was stung by its barb in his chest. A doctor on board Croc One, Steve's research vessel, was unable to resuscitate Steve, and by the time a rescue helicopter reached him, he had died. And when he died we did not shed "crocodile tears" as one news magazine journalist put it. ( Coutesy: http://animal.discovery.com/).

Very few people die while doing what they love. And Steve Irwin did just that. His death reminded me of how some of the heroes of the Bible died - doing what they loved doing.

Uriah, the faithful Soldier in the army of King David, was fighting for his king - something he loved to do - when he died (II Sam 11:17). In fact he loved to fight for his king that even when his king pulled him out from fighting, gave him permission to go home, he did not want to return to his home to relax!

When Jesus died he kept doing what he always loved - forgiving people. During his ministry He mouthed these words: "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven," (Math 9:2). Those were word spoken to the paralytic who was pushed thro the roof of a crowded room). He told an immoral woman who was sobbing uncontrollably in his presence, "Your sins are forgiven." (Luke 7:48). And when he was dying he was still doing what he loved to do - forgiving people. Who can forget his glorious and gracious words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," which was graciously spoken to his tormentors (Luke 23:24).

When Paul died he was doing what he loved to do - studying the Scriptures. This student of Gamaliel, one of the best Old Testament teachers alive then, made this request to Timothy his young ward: "When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments." (II Tim 4:13). Here he was in prison waiting for execution. And what he wanted to do before he died was to read from the Holy Scriptures.

What would you be doing when it’s time to go? And that time can come to any one of us at anytime! So, let’s be ready by remaining in Christ who died for us on the Cross (John 15).