Month: January 2015

8.1.15
– Imputation ~ insinuation
– 2Esdras 7:29
– Apostles as living epistles of Christ!
– If being an ethical vegetarian is the right thing according to you, then why can you not also see exclusive monogamy as the correct sexual ethic? Isn’t man a ‘natural’ omnivore &  promiscuous creature? Isn’t culture all about taking nature forward?
Yes, but promiscuity doesn’t involve bloodshed! Gen. 1:29-30 + Gen. 9:4
Plants – green life
Animals – breath + flesh + blood (soul)
Human – breath + flesh + blood + divine image!

9.1.15
– Theology of sleep & the reality of evil
– Is it possible to be steady without being slow?
– Blood > wine > water
Water >> wine >> blood
– “We are forced to live as if we were free.”
The sovereignty of GOD guarantees human responsibility. We have no choice but to exercise our freedom… Not to do so would be to blaspheme our maker & commit spiritual suicide!
– Law – I love the world, so I am going to prohibit everyone from doing anything that would either harm themselves or others, and make it compulsory to live in such a way that would benefit all concerned.
– Distinguish:
Freedom
Liberty
Independence
Autonomy
– Salvation – healing, liberation & transformation
– Just as this life is beyond the imagination of the fetus in the womb, so will the afterlife be to us!
– Why is it that the one thing we need to do to renew ourselves is the one thing that is always beyond our reach?
– Only the ones who take the leap of faith can know the Hand underneath them, in the midst of the chasm!
– In the end, when you stand before the One, you will be naked – without any covering (deeds, possessions, recommendations, etc.)!
– How can I get out of this death called life, & get into the life called death??
Caught in between life & death, stuck in the rut……
– “Even in the Jewish sacrificial system, it is highly doubtful whether the sin-offerings were meant to change God’s attitude (from justice & wrath, to love & mercy) toward his sinful people. Man has, of course, to carry out the ritual, but it is GOD himself who has provided this means of reconciliation!”
– A psychoanalytic reading of the Bible
WOW!
– Some forms of theism are more deicidal/homicidal than atheism!

11.1.15
– Grace = GOD’S greatness in my life or in my experience or in my perception
– GOD as the watcher.
YES! There is an audience.
Amen.
– Forgiving as the essence of giving.
– Travel narrative (toward the Passion)
– How are Christians to respond to the challenges facing (Indian) society today?
Entering into education outside of the limited circle of institutional religion. Dissolving like salt into the soil of the future generation!
– Consider HOW you hear His words!
What is the response desired by the speaker from the hearers?
– MY faith IS the (evidence of the) power of GOD (to me).
– Try to connect your heart with the heart of the author as you read/listen to his words.
Let the Source reach & touch you!
– What does it mean to tell (yourself or another), “Be strong!”?
– Word >> root >> fruit!
– WHICH light are you living by?
WHAT is that which gives meaning, purpose & value to your life, especially when the going gets tough/dark?
– GOD > Jesus > Scripture > Church
Church >> Scripture >> Jesus >> GOD
– Submitting & surrendering to Him, because you are captivated by His glory (beauty, wisdom & love)!
No adoration, no obedience

12.1.15
– No more feasting, & eating only half-stomach, until I get rid of this tummy and attain an ideal body structure.
The moderation rhythm is for those who have already attained a reasonable level of excellence & want to maintain it, not for those who are still striving to break out of mediocrity.
– Maybe despair and salvation are NOT that far apart! Complacency is more remote.
Just like the opposite of life is not death, but like-warmness.
– I think the Law is not about what we should not do, but all about what we CANNOT do (& still prosper as humans). It is NOT GOD trying to limit our freedom, but GOD reminding us of our own finitude, fallibility & fragility.

9.1.15

Passion – take up your cross, carry it, and finally die upon it!

The inner mystery of the divine life
Love ~ unity ~ fellowship
Trinity – nature, history & personality

Jesus Christ – each of us is also in the divine image, but not in the same sense/equal level.

Person ~ persona ~ personality

Revelation & mystery
Knowledge & faith

Love:
I am fully yours,
I belong to you, and you to me.
But I can never be completely possessed…
Nor can I comprehensively know you!

Understand ~ control

Yes, the (one) self/person is greater than its (many) identities. But the (contextual) self cannot be (fully) realized without (the aid of) these (concrete) roles!

Without death (evil), there can be no suffering (ugliness). And without suffering, there can be no passion, or compassion (beauty)!
Without good, there can be no evil,
And without evil, there can be no greatness.
Right?
Evil > suffering
Sin > immorality
Evil as spiritual deprivation

I can progress as an individual, only if I am able to stick to the plan I have made (in the past), even when my present state of mind is not conducive for it – pressing into the (envisioned) future.
“Faith is all about continuing to believe what you found reasonable (in the past), even when your (current) senses & emotions don’t agree.” – C.S. Lewis

Trinity – being, personality & action

Distinguish:
Faithfulness
&
Dogmatism
Holding on to the original faith, but open to reinterpretation.

Faith is to believe that one is free – can be free & destined for freedom – even when one is still a slave!

Allergic rhinitis & psychological depression – clear that fucking nose!

“The great mystical work of the Holy Spirit is in the dim, nether regions of our personality which we cannot get at.” – Oswald Chambers

13.1.15

Taking life as it comes, one day at a time, focusing on momentary devotion, faithfulness & love – piety, role-playing & responding to needs as they arise, without any well thought out theology or futuristic plan – may also be a legitimate form of spirituality! This does not imply a lack of intentionality.
But this is not suitable for a leader/thinker.

Movies:
“Ladies and Gentlemen” (Hungarian)
The last scene is important! 😉

Be sharp, hot & bright!

Is the entire solar system revolving around something else?!

Psychology is not just about feelings, thoughts & behavior, it’s also about the heart, the conscience & the will!

I think that Liberals & Evangelicals are just two constitutionally different types of people who worship the same GOD. But this might just be a liberal opinion!

Liberal Evangelicals
Evangelical Liberals
I am one of the latter. Right?

How can one be candid & bold, without being loose & rash??
I don’t know! 😔

Is there a proper place for shame (like guilt) in (my) life, or should it be completely eliminated?
Being confident without becoming impudent…

14.1.15

Al Jazeera – this is what I call news!

Politics
Vs.
Governance

Strongman

Hobbesian

Vivekananda
Vs.
Hindutva

I am not Charlie!

Bookmarklets:
Evernote Clearly for Chrome (Windows)
Readability for Chrome (iOs)

30.12.14
– Are passion & balance opposites, or are they just 2 sides of the same coin?
– Complementarity & incompatibility
Synonyms or antonyms?
– Can you remain a Christian if the Bible and the Church are no longer an integral part of your life?
– What is the difference between church and Church?
– Distinguish:
Stress
&
Busyness
– To feel that you are getting somewhere is essential to being comfortable with where you are now, & to be fully in the present is essential to getting the most out of life as a whole.
– Not all people who seem to be shallow are completely shallow, & not all people who seem to be deep are really deep.
– Compare (GOD & me)
Master-slave
King-people
Father-son
Husband-wife
Mentor-friend
– “Knocking at the Open Door”
– What to tolerate and what to condemn: that is the question!
– Monetary, fiscal & financial policies
What is the difference??
– Earn, spend, save, invest & owe
– Learn, unlearn & relearn
– History is neither purely linear nor cyclical, but a spiral!
– Consistent & dynamic
– Averments
Gainsay
– Unflagging
Indefatigable
– Vidwan
– A minister’s minister
– Awards season
Public persona
– Distinguish:
Success
&
Status
– Salvation/perfection/enlightenment:
To be everything,
To want only one thing,
And to do nothing!
– Man-made weather hazards
– Imagination, insight & industry
– Teacher-education

2.1.15
– What needs to continually change (the inner life) remains stagnant, and what must be relatively stable (external environment) is in constant flux!
Is it advisable to live rightside up in an upside down world?
– You don’t have to run away from the social structures which seem to suffocate you, if you can find a way to breathe underwater!
Give-&-take
Compromise
Negotiation
Distinguishing the negotiable – can be sacrificed for the sake of relational harmony – from the non-negotiable – should be zealously protected as one’s own soul – is absolutely vital!
– What is the quantity & quality of your investment in your own personal growth?
– Spiritual evolution
Sexual revolution
Political reformation
– Knowing when to attack & when to defend is the essence of the game. Placing – attacking without taking too much risk – & counter-attack are other weapons. ALL of them are necessary to win!
NEVER mix game practice & match-play.
– FUCK happiness/comfort/safety!
LOVE wisdom/growth/joy!  ☺

5.1.15
– Consciousness shift – the center/ground from which you live needs to shift from the future-past (self/ego) to the eternal-present (GOD/Life)!
– Serials:
“The Sopranos” (Season 1)
So are his parents to be blamed for what he has become? The previous generation has become the haunting death-dealing ghost (like Adam) instead of the progressive life-giving spirit (like Christ)! How can one get out of this vicious cycle??
– Movies:
“The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies”
We live in a time of war – the only way to save your soul, is to fight, but for the right cause – i.e. not just for yourself!

6.1.15
– Movies:
“Holy Motors”
Imagination + finitude = philosophy
“Point Break”
Break-point!

7.1.15
– Negative value
– Talent + discipline = skill
Passion + focus = character
– Holiness >> joy >> love
– The perennial question:
What is the meaning, purpose & value of this/my life?
– Can I do ministry without any formal structure or programme??
Is it worth trying?
But I am afraid!
– Is there a secret way (that I don’t know yet) to resurrect myself?
– Power-signs – I don’t want a life that is full of miracles! Instead I wish to live full of wonder…
– My dog is dead!
– What is a man without a cause?
– Who I am > what I am + whose I am
– This world is mine, yours, ours & GOD’S
So what about the other species?
– He died, because he forgot (how) to breathe!
But (how) is that possible?
– If your work involves a lot of reading, observing & listening (student), then make your devotional time full of music, silence & writing.
– Spirit vs. Flesh
Spirit in flesh
Spirit with flesh
Spirit through flesh
Spirit over flesh
Spirit for flesh!
– What does fear of GOD have to do with fear of death? Exo. 20:18-20
– Remember/memorialize
Observe/revere
Sanctify/consecrate
Liturgy-ritual – rooted in the past.
Everyday life – immersed in the present.
Working hours – moving toward the future.
Community ~ tradition
– Learn ~ follow
– Word ~ message
– Image – Adam-Eve
Idol – Golden Calf
Icon – Jesus
– Exo. 20:11 & Deut. 5:15
Exodus ~ Sabbath ~ Resurrection!
– Decalogue – why is the commandment about coveting the neighbour’s wife given separately from the prohibition against adultery?
– Deut. 5:29 – “If only……….”
You wish!
– Right ~ correct ~ best

29.12.14

Try this weekly rhythm:
Sabbath day => 2 working days => freak day => 2 working days => contemplation day

All the problems one has with other people & the world are just symptoms of deeper conflicts within the self!

Being/contemplation > doing/work > wanting/relax – in priority
2 > 1 > 3 – in duration

30.12.14

Nautical

Distinguish:
Discount
&
Markup

2.1.15

Difficulty + opportunity = challenge!

The special & the ordinary – NOT apart from/contrary to/above & beyond, BUT in & through/among/by way of!

But if I have love, and no knowledge, what good can I do??

Christmas is mystery – a poor baby, who is the ultimate solution to the world’s predicament!
Hope (for the future) requires faith (in this past event)…

Noel
“Feliz Navidad”
“In exelcis deo”
Do you know what these mean?

Never underestimate the cumulative effect of a lot of small things!

“It is the mark of a good action that it appears inevitable in the retrospect.”

Fire-eater
Hothead

Off-License

I miss you:
Do you just feel my absence or is it also painful?

The past – the initiation of salvation
The present – the progress of salvation
The future – the consummation of salvation!

1Cor. 15:45 + Rom. 6:5 = we will become life-giving spirits, not remain as living persons, just like Him!

Bio-mathematician

7.1.15

Art of living:
Know when to dance,
When to play,
And when to fight.

The inadequacy of identity labels!