Archive for Bible
March 19, 2008 at 2:40 pm
· Filed under Bible, Culture, Family, Leadership, News, Youth, church ·Tagged Abortion, Canada, liberalism, low-marriage, Quebec
I was recently searching for some pro-family organizations in north of the border and came across some really distrubing trends among French-Candiaans. Of all the Canadian provinces, Quebec has the lowest marriage rate. It also has the lowest birth rate—the province is literally dying out. Quebec’s abortion rate is higher than all other Canadian provinces! Quebec leads the other provinces in divorce and suicide rates as well. See reports in Montreal Mirror, Maclean’s, Christian News, New York Times etc.
Montreal has become a notorious haven for pedophiles. Abortion rate is right up there with impoverished developing countries. The 2002 abortion rate was 42.6 abortions per 100 births—over four times that of Holland, over twice that of France and well ahead of the rest of Canada and the States.
Some calls this the Quiet Revolution of declining marriage rate, growing cohabitation,mouonting divorce and rising abortion rates is changing the face of the province. It is not simply quiet or silent, but a clearn sign of end of civilization or should I say the province. It has not only moral and legal implications, but is sure to affect demographic, economic and immigrations policies in the state.
Once a traditional Catholic society that maintained high moral and ethical standards in the communities. It had lower marriage age, cohab was unheard off, sex was permitted strictly within marriage. As the liberal culture makes inroads and brushes aside what held the society together and helped to prosper, is self destructing itself. Also a clear warning to other nations.
Read an excellent article in First Things by John Neuhans. Another good read would be ”What happened to Christian Canada?” by Mark Knoll. I generally enjoy Mark’s insights and hope to get my hands on understanding Canadian Christianity. If any of you read this, please give your inputs on what is causing this cultural shift in Canada?
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March 7, 2008 at 3:36 pm
· Filed under Bible, Culture, Family, India, Leadership ·Tagged Abortion, feticides, India, Punjab, sex-determination
India is facing a new problem - girl deficit! Economy is booming and so is confidence level among the young generation for their palce in the world. Surplus can be seen in almost all facets, except for girl babies. Another progress paradox. Problem is more acute in North India and even in developed states like Punjab.
UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children report found that India’s already abysmal sex ratio is getting worse, with 80% of its districts recording declining child sex ratios (more male births than female) since 1991. Kerala, Pondicherry and the Lakshadweep islands were notable exceptions.
For those girls who do make it out of the womb, survival isn’t a guarantee, say child rights activists. Many die in their infancy because they are given less food and medical care than their brothers. Those who do survive will generally get less of an education — in both quality and quantity — than the boys in the family. Life isn’t always fair to the fairer sex.
Stricter laws against abortion, feticides, infanticides may be easier to pass, but harder to implement. The abhorrent practice of pre-natal sex determination and the many bogus doctors waiting exploit pregnant women cannot be easily contained. The cultural view of a girl child as burden got to be changed. Gender equality need to upheld. THey are not a liability or an investment without return.
Only a worldview that values and nurtures life in every forms can release us from the bondages of the traditions and form a life-affirming culture. We become so self-absorbed that we stake our future with our own. A soceity or nation that does not defend its most vulnerable is destined for doom.
Bible says, “God created human beings in his own image. God created them male and female” (Gen 1:27). After creating woman, God was very pleased and said “very good.” We are created beings and we bear a divine image. God values, affirms us and loves us dearly. That’s why God send Jesus to die in our place.
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June 6, 2007 at 2:34 pm
· Filed under Bible, India, News, church
Most coverage on India on the global media is bouyant, fast growing economy, largest democracy, shining stars etc. Let’s not forget there is another side of India - 300 million people who are considered poor. Read a series of insightful articles in Outlook about the other side of India.
Rising income disparity, urban poverty, malnourishement of small children, inadequate health care and educational opporutnity, no electricity or running water etc. are still a crude reality for large masses of India. They are yet to send their first email (or even to see a computer in a country that has made great in roads with its computer skills) or make their call on a mobile telphone.
If you have not brushed shoulders with poorer masses of India, it is hard to even imagine. I suggest you take a trip through northern Bihar and Orissa on a second class coach on a local train (some of the least developed regions in the country).
As followers of Christ, we are challenged to make a preferential option for the poor, namely, to create conditions for marginalized voices to be heard, to defend the defenseless, and to assess lifestyles, policies and social institutions in terms of their impact on the poor.
What are you doing today for the marginalized masses of the world?
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May 21, 2007 at 2:19 am
· Filed under Bible, Culture, News, Youth
Today’s teenagers are the first generation whose health is worse than their parents. A major research study on global adolescent health appeared on the UK based medical journal - Lancet. See also a report in Daily Mail.
Nearly half of the world’s population is below the age of 25 - largest ever in history. Despite living in an age of unprecedented medical advances, health information, prosperity and life expectancy, adolescents are reversing the long-term trend of ever-rising good health. The journal reported teenagers are doing worse than their predecessors across nearly all the traditional measures of health.
The leading causes of disease burden for adolescents worldwide was AIDS and depression. And hazardous alcohol use now accounts for 86% of the 8·6 million substance related deaths of 15-29-year-olds globally.
Teen eating habits, leisure activity, extra-curricular activities etc have dramatically changed in recent years. Youth workers must engage our young people on issues like use and abuse of their bodies. Bible tells that our bodies are a temple of the living God (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19). How can our bodies become a dwelling place for God? How could keep it from desecration? How to reclaim it highest honor? How to see body as God sees it?
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May 6, 2007 at 4:31 pm
· Filed under Bible, Culture, Family, Leadership, Ministries, News
A new set of billboards advertisements are creating quite a stir. A Chicago based divorce law firm started promoting their services over billboards saying, “Life is too short, get a divorce.” See Fox News report on it.
This is nothing new in a anti-marriage culture that is prevailing in the American society. For lawyer it is just business as usual. They have no moral framework or can understand the implications of broken marriages on children, society and nation at large. They just want their buck. Make money by hook or by crook.
Family organizations had been quick to condemn such commercialization of divorce. One went on public, saying “life is too short, work on improving your marriage…”
If one is unable to work through relational issues and know how to make marriage work, they are less likely to make the new relationship work. Second marriages have 50% more likely to fail and third marriages over 75% more likely. Marriage Problems are seldom about the other person, but ourselves and our selfishness. Moreover we can never change another person, but ourselves. And that too we might divine intervention to bring about lasting desirable change. If we begin to work on our end, things will turn out for good most of the time.
Trading old cars for new, use and dump, utlitarian mentality of the modern world seems to pervade into life and relationships as well. To cherish and nurture wife of youth is a countercultural message. Bible says ‘between you and your wife of your youth’ - 3 things: Rejoice (Prov 5:18), Lord is the witness between you both (Mal 2:14). Do not break faith (Mal 2:15).
This law firm and the ad campaign is simply promoting what the Lord hates. (Mal 2:16)! Besides condemning such media stunts, will those concerned about marriages really step out to help those struggling in their relational life? Will church and christian be salt and light in divorce ridden culture of ours by building our marriages and helping others arouns us who need help.
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March 19, 2007 at 6:56 pm
· Filed under Bible, Culture, Family, Youth
I have heard from numerous parents and youth leaders about their discomfort on talking about sex to kids growing up in their homes/communities. In Indian culture, such topics are never discussed openly and considered a taboo. Not to mention how awkward we feel talking about this stuff publicly. It was never done to them and they do not know how to go about.
Many Indian parents wants to believe that their kids are not doing it. But sadly reality is it is on their minds often and the media, popular culture and friends are constantly bombarding them with message to ‘just do it’, ‘everybody is doing it’, ‘there is something wrong if you haven’t experienced it already’ etc.
According to figures from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 750,000 teen girls get pregnant each year. Thirty-one percent of young women get pregnant before they turn 20.
10 Tips on Sex-Ed for Parents & Youth leaders
1. First, encourage communication by reassuring kids that they can talk to you about anything. 2. Look for teachable moments. A friend’s pregnancy, a TV show/movie, baby etc can help you start a conversation. 3. Listen more than you talk. Repeat what they are saying to make sure what he or she meant to ask. 4. Don’t jump to conclusions. The fact that a teen asks about sex does not mean they are sexualy active. 5. Answer questions simply and directly. Give factual, honest, short, and simple answers. 6. Respect your child’s views. Share your thoughts and values and help your child express theirs. 7. Reassure young people that they are normal — as are their questions and thoughts. 8. Teach your children ways to make good decisions about sex and coach them on how to get out of risky situations. 9. Admit when you don’t know the answer to a question. Suggest the two of you find the answer together on the Internet or in the library. 10. Discuss that at times your teen may feel more comfortable talking with someone other than you. Together, think of other trusted adults with whom they can talk. (Source: www.advocatesforyouth.org)
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December 22, 2006 at 6:45 am
· Filed under Bible, Culture, News, Resources
Who got time to watch TV during Christmas holidays… especially days leading upto it. Travel, shopping, decorations, cooking etc.
Let me suggest a program that you would not regret watching. CNN’s seasonal special feature called After Jesus -The First Christians . This week in the evenings. It is a 2-hour program on the development of Christianity from the time of Jesus to the Nicene Council (323 AD).
You may not agree with everything, but it will spark your curiosity and force you to reread gospel narratives of Jesus’ birth in a new light.
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November 27, 2006 at 3:48 pm
· Filed under Bible, Culture, Ministries, News, Youth
Children are growing up sooner these days. Child development experts say physical and behavioral changes that would have been typical of teenagers decades ago are common among children age 8 to 12.
Read the story in Chicago Tribune, LA Times.
Younger kids are going on “dates” and have cell phones. They listen to sexually charged pop music, play mature-rated video games and spend time gossiping on MySpace. And girls wear makeup and clothing some adults consider beyond their years. They are watching R movies and sexually explicit content on Internet. Sexual experimentation has also begun earlier. At 12. they even think that they have now “grown up.”Their bodies are developing faster; with more girls starting menstruation in elementary school. Doctors attribute it to improved nutrition and, in some cases, obesity. With reduced parental involvement, increased peer pressure, greater social permissiveness etc. may have contributed to this trend. Technology and consumerism have accelerated the pace of life, giving children easy access to influences that may or may not be parent-approved.
What does this mean for youth ministy, parents or church? Identity formation and confusion will begin early. Faith shaped lifestyle, making choices, discipleship has to beging early. We simply cannot leave kids between ages 8-10, to sunday school approach to ministry - story telling, kido curriculum and teachers who have no clue whats on the mind and hearts of todays kids.
See tips for parents in Intl Herald Tribune. Read my chapter on Identity: Who am I (pg 48 in Coconut Book)
‘Who am I’ question is best answered along with two other questions - Who are you, God? (Exod 3:13) and Who are my people? (1 Chro 29:14). The popular identity formation theories of western psychologist are often secular, individualistic and humnanistic. Will we recalim who we really are in relationship to God and a community.
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October 31, 2006 at 3:56 am
· Filed under Bible, Events, Leadership, church
Last weekend I was in Carolina Beach, NC attending a mission conference of Seaside Chapel on behalf of RIMI. Met some great people and greatly encouraged to see a church catch mission vision.
On sunday I spoke on Great Commission, particularly Acts 1:8. My primary emphasis was on why our mission involvement has to be at 4 levels. J-J-S-E paradigm - Being witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and End of the Earth. The geographical ripples has to be understood along with the key connecting word “and”. The verse does not say “Or” and not even “then/afterward”. The final commandment of Jesus to his disciples is that they bear witness to the work of Christ in the power of spirit in all four realms. Not just in one or do one at the cost of other. It is not sequential, but our commitment should be for all four realms simultaneously.
We are asked to fire on all four cylinders! How many cylinders are working in you/your church?
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August 24, 2006 at 11:44 pm
· Filed under Bible, Leadership, Ministries, Youth
Book tour is coming its end. This weekend, I am in Boston and then the labor day weekend in Indianapolis. It was an exciting and exhausting summer for me. I have written things in the past and spoken about them at events. But never was on road for three month to promote a publication of mine.
The summer long adventure of travelling through many cities and attending national events had been fun and enriching experience. These days, before I get to a city, people there have heard about the book, some have checked out the website or interested in hearing more about the book (like the story behind the book, how it came into being, what did it take to pull it together, why did you want to write it etc.)
The book has opened many new doors for me. I met many wonderful people as a result. Networking emerging leaders is tough job. They lie under the radar of most institutions and organizations. I hope to serve the emerging leaders well by bringing them together, introducing them to each others and together seek what does take to men of Issacher, ‘who understood the times and knew what Israel must do’. (1 Chro 12:32)
I do have few more book related travels later this year. But for now, I will wrap up the initial launch phase promotional activities. Now as people get to read and digest these findings, it is going to generate more interest. I really hope younger leaders will start their ministries at a better place than us by leveraging our learnings; insteading of building from scratch, they will use of some of the building blocks; will not commit the same mistake we made and go through the iterations, but learn from our blunders and go on to build more effective ministries to the coming generations.
Blessings
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