Building a Robust Strategy

The word strategy is becoming more and more conversant in every field of human life. All field of science have started using it to build their organizational plan around it. The Wikipedia defines strategy this way; “it is a high-level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty. Strategy generally involves setting goals, determining actions to achieve the goals, and mobilizing resources to execute the actions.”

We notice in the Bible how Joseph translates Pharaoh's dream into a robust strategy. Gen 41:34-46. Joseph with a divine spirit had an astounding encounter with Pharaoh and used his gift to interpret his dream. A point to be noted, interpretation of dreams was not a recent gift Joseph developed, God has gifted him that ability from a very young age. God revealed to Joseph about the future happenings and developed him for a greater purpose. Joseph learnt to exercise personal management and professional management at a very high standard. Irrespective of several hardships lashing at him consecutively, Joseph remained consistent in every area of his life and exhibited spiritual maturity.

Pharaoh met Joseph in a completely disoriented mental status because of the recent disturbing dreams he had. Little did the king realize that the dreams were from God and it was about the future status of the nation. His leadership team unfortunately had no clue and were absolutely unprepared  to even fathom the implications of his dream. Joseph becomes the spokesperson for God. He not only interpreted the entire dream but also drew up a watertight strategy to save lives and build the nation.  The basic stages of building a strategy from the dream is typo graphed in the following figure:

I am sure each Church was started with a vision/mission as revealed by God. It will do a world of good if Churches ask themselves the question if our vision/mission is strategically deciphered and disseminated so that the impact of what we are investing today becomes meaningful and measurable in the future. Habakkuk 2:2 says “…Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”. The verse is demanding that our vision is documented and translated into action plan, so that the reader is motivated to run with the mission.

The leaders and the core team (may it be from church, or organization, or small groups) to ponder on these questions and reconsider if it is not very active;

1.      Where have we been? (this will help the leader reminisce on the early days and recognize            successes along the way).

2.      Where are we today? (give status on the current state of church, organization, institution)

3.   Where we hope to be in the next 3, 5, or 10 years?

May our dreams and vision be translated and become strategic and Holistic in nature and be a blessing to our community.

Blessings

If Jesus is physically present now

How many times we thought if God was physically present to address the most demanding challenges of the present times and of our lives. Right? 

During the desperate times, when we come to a point that we can't take anymore with the evil surpassing over everything, we are left clueless. Sometimes in a flick of a moment we want it to be true to have Him walking around us in person. 

Looking back in the Bible when Jesus was in this world moving with the people, we noticed the political situation was not better, actually worse. There were classes among the people, friction and huge differences between clergy and laity and in fact continual plots against God Himself. And the world thought they can't have God live among men. Fear of God ruling and taking over was making them insecure, Power play was heightened and as a result killed a God who was giving life and making a radical difference in individuals.

History would again repeat and murder this same God if He chooses to live among us physically once again. What people are in search is a God who is not existing and unknown. Paul says in Acts 17:23 "I notice in an altar inscribed "To an unknown God" and it so true even now, when we believe god to be superficial.  We want to fashion our own God, customized to our own specifications and give us more wealth and prosperity alone. We promote selfishness and live as per our own standards.

Therefore, I am convinced it is a blessing to be substituted with His spirit dwelling among us and to have the Holy scriptures testify about Him. We have a reason and a privilege to trust in our God who is real and to walk in the path He has paved for us, as the song that says "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus". We have a privilege to feel Him every moment in our being, if we are rightly connected to Him. He is now more personal and felt every moment unlike during Jesus time in the earth where we have to physically commute to reach where He is. If we believe in the deity of Christ then we have all the assurances and unfailing promises to help us and take us through every situation. 

Faithful in executing justice

We live in an age where everything is instantaneous and quicker. We are attracted by the fastest services and settle where we are benefited in the shortest span of time. I don’t think anyone in this world would prefer to wait unless it is promised, or been ensured of the assured consequences. Thinking about the great task entrusted to Moses and Aaron to get the Israelites who were in bondage to be taken out from Egypt, these two great men would have thought probably in the first encounter with Pharaoh, he would let the people in bondage go. But as you know the story, it did not happen that way. We read in Ex 10:3 where Moses and Aaron paraphrases the Lords voice by saying “…How long wilt thou refuse to humble before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.” and then at the same time we see the desperation of pharaoh’s servant too as they articulate in Ex 10:7 “…How long shall this man be a snare unto us? Let the man go, that they may serve Lord their God: Knowest thou not yet that the Egypt is destroyed.” The desperation to see things happen quicker, developed on both sides.

 David in Psalms groans seeing the wicked spread and that he brings infamy to the Lord. In Ps 74:10 David questions “How Long, O God shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name forever”? Do you see relevance? I am sure everyone at some point of time had to wait for a short period, and yet larger number for a longer period of time, and then when it gets still longer our inner heart cries, “how long”. Yes waiting is not very easy especially when you are waiting for justice or may be a favor. You need to have a greater level of Faith and Trust to be serene in such situation. After much communion with the Lord and through the experiences David in Psalms states in Ps 40:1 “I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined to me and heard my cry.” Nothing can go unnoticed my friend. Solomon in Prov 15:3 states “The eyes of the Lord are in every place watching the evil and the good.” You don’t have to try various means to get the Lord in action, the Lord is sovereign and always in control.

And then if you recollect your readings from Habakkuk the prophet starts the book Hab 1:2 by asking a question “How long O Lord will I call for help..” He is frustrated to see the wicked gaining strength and “..Justice is never upheld” Hab 1:4 and mostly perverted. And we notice his questions become even more sharper as we read in Hab 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to approve evil and you cannot look on wickedness with favor, why do you look with favor on those who deal treacherously,,” We look around and see the surfacing of corruption in all level and how sad to know that there are much possibility to become victims and sometimes sufferers. How do we go about it? The prophet finds out the answer and articulates in Hab 2: 4 “… the righteous will live by faith.” and ends the book by saying “The Lord God is my strength” Hab 3:19. I think the greatest gift and blessing we need is to see our faith being strengthened and understand that God is our strength.

Prov 13:12 Says “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” What do you wait for? Why do you wait for? Is your waiting justifiable and then what do you desire to achieve by waiting? In all this do you see God as a central figure? Just keep thinking and sharpen your thoughts on the light of the word of God and close communion with Him. I would like to draw your attention to the verse of Hope in Rev 10:6 “that there will be delay no longer”. Where do you stand? Do you justify your deeds? Or you think it’s high time that you introspect your life and get right with the Lord so that your waiting makes sense, definitely not to expect the evildoer to perish but the Lord of justice to restore righteousness and justice. Is 42:3 says “A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish, He will faithfully bring forth justice in the earth,” and in 42:4 “He will not fail nor be discouraged till He have set justice in the earth.” May the Lord God help us to maintain righteousness and exemplify the standard for righteous living, and He may help us to trust on the Lord that our longings are not spent in pain but with Hope and shaping our lives in Him. God knows your aspiration and desire. Prov 10:24 says “…the desire of the righteous will be granted” because “the desire of the righteous is only good..” Prov 11: 23.

 

Blessings

David Raj

"The MASTERS who are ruling US"

“O Lord other masters besides you have ruled us, but through you alone we confess your name.” Is 26:13

Who controls us?  How are our decisions being influenced?  Whom do we follow in real life? Whose style do we follow?  Who is our icon? What fascinates us? Who are we when we are in private? If you happen to give some thought on these, and ask yourself such pointed questions and may be more, then unquestionably the real image of yourself is displayed, and you know what predominately holds you and who controls you. How often in the Bible we find the Lord underscoring that there should be no God beside Him that we should worship or look onto, and even warns us not to make gods in any forms and shapes. Sadly most often for our convenient reason we interpret other gods to the deities that resembles to the idols and religions only and not to some of the habits that we aren’t free yet, and to the negative behaviours that has captivated us.

This above verse conveys that at one point of time there were masters besides Him who ruled them, but then through HIM alone they confessed and were delivered. For some people it is the power that rules them, and to some the position, to some the entertainments of the world, for some the lies, for some the gossips, for some the infidelity in all forms, the list goes on. Micah 2:1 says “Woe to those who scheme iniquity, who work out evil on their beds! When morning comes they do it. For it is in the power of the hands.” The masters that rule you and the choice that you make to be ruled by them together leads you the stage of wretchedness Rom 7:24. How often we make meaning from what matters to us, and attach meaning to anything important to us. If this is what we are then we better review who is ruling us and who our masters are. Quite often it is seen that we do what we want to do based on how it is going to benefit us, and then we use the word of the lord to justify what we do. Sadly all have their own rationale to make others believe, that it is from the Lord. It will be great if we try doing some spirituality check and consider our ways as said in Haggai 1:7, and get closer to God in reconciliation and have our Lord Jesus as our Master.

Micah 3:11 says “Her Leaders pronounce judgement for a bribe, Her Priest instructs for a price And her prophets divine for money, yet they lean on the Lord saying, Is not the Lord in our Midst? Calamity will not come upon us” We see the prophet Micah speaking the strong words of the Lord. I pray that we do not fall under the deceit thinking the Lord is our master when actually we are controlled by different rulers that is leading us to disaster. We are so familiar with the story of Samson in Judges, who vehemently took the Lord for granted while he was under the captivity of sin. And we read in Bible that the Lord departed from him, but he did not know that the Lord has left him and was trying to perform as usual Judges 16:20. A personal review in the light of His word, and conviction from the Holy Spirit will help us to see that we confess Him alone. Micah 4:5 “Though all the people walk each in the name of his god, as for us,  we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”  What a strong assertive statement is made here. Can we confess strongly that we will allow our eternal Master our Lord Jesus Christ to rule us?

May God Bless us as we continue in the journey to know Him more and have our Lord Jesus Christ as our Master.

Blessings.

Displaying YOU

There was a time if we could recall the transmitting of Christmas & New  Year greetings was so extensive among all age groups, hearts were filled with curiosities and expectations, happiness and relationships had its prime place, be it from any religion the feelings of joy and happiness was  exuberantly high. If you notice, the intensity has quite reduced in these days. The change of times are resulting to lesser and weaker relationship with one another and with God. A small writing which is humorous but makes sense;  “ 21st CENTURY LIFELESSNESS..!!  Our communication – Wireless, Our dress - Topless , Our telephone - Cordless , Our cooking - Fireless , Our youth - Jobless , Our food - Fatless , Our labour - Effortless , Our conduct - Worthless ,  Our relation - Loveless ,  Our attitude – Careless,  Our feelings - Heartless ,  Our politics - Shameless ,  Our education - Valueless ,  Our follies – Countless, Our arguments - Baseless ,  Our religion - Creedless ,  Our faith – Godless.”

I am sure everybody will recount the sad happening in December, where the 23 year old girl lost her life by a horrific and heinous act of few miscreants. The ghastly assault and rape of female paramedic in Delhi has produced an avalanche of protest and comment on why we treat women so badly. The whole nation is disturbed and are working on various solution to arrest such kind of crimes in future. Don’t you think many such acts are the result of serious moral problem, all the good living is not able to address it, and sadly we are bound to live in a very unsafe environment. Living a good moral life, teaching moral values and value education alone would definitely not going to help at all. So Sad to see all forms of vulgarity is promoted by media, newspapers, etc.  How we display, no more matters. Our dress culture has changed so badly even Christian young people are no exception. One of the placard held by a girl during the protest in Delhi says like this, “ Don’t teach me what to wear, Teach your sons not to Rape” How sad our generation is not willing to understand the root problem.

It’s high time that we Christians need to rise up, and model a Holy life to the whole world. Paul puts in 2 Thes 3:9 profoundly “…to offer ourselves as a MODEL for you, so that you would follow our example”  Can we seriously try with help of the holy Spirit to model a holy life and thereafter  challenge everyone to follow us as Paul 1 Cor 11:1 “Be imitators of me just as I also am of Christ”.  Let us make a commitment to live a holy and acceptable life for God. With every New day and New year we are only moving quicker towards death or to the coming of the Lord whichever will take us first. The world needs a model to follow can we be the one?

In case you have gone accumulating sins by which so often grieved the Lord and the Holy Spirit then it’s high time we stop adding sin to sin as said IS 30:1 “..Do not add sin to sin. You cannot live a double life and show yourself a model to the world James 1:8. Even God hates to see you compromising with Sin PS 50:16-22 “…when you see a thief you are pleased with him and you associate with adulterers…”  Yes may be when you live a godly life you will be left alone but please be encouraged with this beautiful verse which says Num 23:9 “For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations” God will watch you recognize you and identify you as His own.

Lastly set up a pattern  in the way you do things so that people identify you and follow you. Paul while he ends 2 Thes 3: 17 confirms saying “ I Paul write this greetings, with my own hand and this is a distinguishing mark in very letter: this is the way I write”  Do you have a pattern?  How are you recognized?  Let the world know that Christians has a particular pattern in all that they do.  May God help us in offering  ourselves as a Model, stop adding sin to sin and set up a pattern in order to draw the world to Jesus in the new Year 2013. May the lord crown the year with His  goodness Ps 65: 11, and you have blessed year ahead.

God Bless

David

Apples of Gold

Have you noticed how the wisest man of the earth, Solomon beautifully decorates and makes the placement of words in an high setting, to make it magnificently attractive to the visual ability as you read in  Prov 25: 11. NASB Like apples of gold in the settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances . If you take consideration you will notice that all of us in spite of our rich learning’s and experience most of the time err to communicate correctly in a given circumstances. 

Words takes the prime position in the creation story, and thank God for the greatest gift of words by which we are able to express us to God and to everyone around us. One remarkable statement captured by Dr Luke about how Jesus communicated is seen in Luk 4:22  “all were wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips”. The words of Jesus were simple and sublime which attracted small kids, young and older groups of people. Paul is inspired too, and advises to utter the words comprised of grace.  Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt…”  We need to understand that while we speak we communicate our intentions too, which means words reflect the state of the heart and mind as we learn in Mat 12:34 “…For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” So sad to see how people sometimes use prayer as a medium to make their presence known and to be noticed to people than to God. Jesus sensitises us on how we should not use vain words while we pray just to be recognised for our selfish motives “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” Mat 6:7.  And more importantly we need to bear in mind what we speak and how we speak can destine our eternity.  Mat 12:36-37 says that Every careless words that we speak shall we give an account in the day of judgment, and follow what it is said in verse 37 “By your words you will be justified , and by your words you will be condemned” isn’t it alarming? How often our words fail to make meaning to us and to others. A study by researches says that an average male person manages to speak  little over 2000 words per day  and that the women can speak an average 6000- 8000 words per day. I don’t know the authenticity of this research but yes we all communicate so much expressing our intentions, but the big question will remain how much of our words are like apples of Gold.

 I would like to draw the attention to one of the incidents from the Bible that is spoken about Joshua. It is seen in Jos 9:3-6 that when the Gibeaonites heard what Joshua did to Jericho and to Ai, they were afraid but to save their lives acted craftily. They sent envoys who came to meet Joshua having worn- out sacks on their donkeys and wine skins worn out to meet him and to give an impression that they are from a far country, and then they implored to consider their lives precious and not to kill them,  It is said that Joshua made peace with them and  promised not to kill them Jos 9:16. After 3 days Joshua came to know that they were not from a far country but lived within their land. Joshua though did not take counsel from the Lord 9:14 but the Lord still honoured the words of Joshua. Now after 300 years there was a great famine for 3 years in the days of David and the land was disturbed. And  David sought the presence of the Lord and the Lord spoke to him saying that it is for Saul and his bloody house because he put the Gibeonites to death. 2 Sam 21:1 The Lord was mindful of the promise that Joshua made with the Gibeonites that he would not kill them. This reminds us and cautions us that we need to be so much careful in how and what we speak because none of our words go unaccountable.

It is seen in  Job 11: 2 a question is pointed   “and should a man full of talk be justifed” ?   We live in the days where we are not able to trust all that we hear so much, from those who are dear to us. Most of the time people have learnt to speak so eloquently devoid of the truth.  How often we make false promises to maintain relationship, just for the sake of realising our presence we utter words that are so void. Psalmist says one who does not swear deceitfully will be noticed and dwell in His holy place Ps 24:4. Sometimes we see people emotionally make vows even with God and soon forget Eccles 5:4-5. Solomon summarises that we should be more cautious in not committing sin by our speech. Eccles 5: 6 “ Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?”. May the Lord help us to speak right in every situation and communicate our intentions that will motivate and influence others. May we pray every day as David Prayed in Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

God Bless

David Raj

“Life is one indivisible whole”

“But whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all”.  Jam 2:10

I am sure you are familiar with this powerful statement made by Mohandas Gandhi “One man cannot do right in one department of life, whilst he is occupied doing wrong in any other department. Life is one indivisible whole”.  I hope this makes sense to us. We keep compartmentalizing our life for multiple reasons of our own, most often for our own moral reason. We also hear and witness how Christians make a segmentation of their life and call as ‘Sacred’ and ‘Secular”. Life is sacred and is consistent. One area which disturbs most of us is to see and witness some, who are so convincing in the podium and in their inspirational deliveries to others, are so contrary in their lifestyle. We forget that the Lord is watching us intensely. Pro 5: 21 says “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He watches all his paths”. How often Bible is stretched left and right to communicate their personal agendas. How pathetic and heartbreaking to see such categories of people who are “walking encyclopedias but living failures”.  Tit-1:16 says “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”  

James 2:10 Puts in this way “But whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all”.  It is just not possible to manage spirituality and live a consistent life in one situation and continue to do wrong and be inconsistent in another situation, we will be deceiving ourselves.  Pro 20:10  “Divers weights,  and divers measures, both of them  are alike abomination to the LORD” There is an old saying that comes to my mind “A person who is nice to you and rude to the waiter is not a nice person” Davd Barry. We tend to be nice based on how favorable the situation is to us and cultured to  professionally display ourselves as nice and good and sadly prove to be inconsistent. These are the categories of people who not only mess their life, but end up in wrong prejudices and in encouraging the wicked. Prov 17:15 says “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord”. The Making of wicked in most cases happens by such categories of people who live in contradiction. Some have their defense, saying it is just not possible to remain consistent and perfect as we are all fallen human being. Did you notice what Jesus said in Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,….”. which means  that we are blessed to  have the power of choosing to do  right and be consistent. And moreover we need to thank God for leaving with us the helper, as promised by our Lord in John 16:7.

.Jam 3:11 says “Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water” definitely not! Why then we adhere more to such contradiction in life and be erroneous? Remember if you prefer error, truth will remain dormant, but in the pursuit of truth, error is always a casualty, unless you want to hold both the true and false as true. Jesus explained a simple principle in Mat 12:35 “The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” How we behave and display depends on what we have treasured. A good man will bring only good things in any situation. You cannot even pretend to display yourself as a good person, which is even worse. In Luk 20:20  it has been documented about the people who pretended. Follow this as it says “So they watched Him and spent spies who pretended to be righteous in order that they might catch Him in some statement ...” this is documented and even today we come  to know that there were this group of people who lived in double standard.  May the Lord help each one of us to live focused on our lord Jesus Christ who never changes. Let us be reminded that “Life is one indivisible whole”

God bless