Vol. XIV No.12September 16-30, 2012 Published from DelhiPost Box No : 10708, Delhi-110085

Fortnightly 16 Pages RNI No. 72289/99Registered No. DL (N)/236/2012-14

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Dr. Sara George Muthoot conferred with State Teacher’s Award-2012

Dr. Sara George Muthoot conferred with State Teacher’s Award-2012New Delhi, Delhi: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit presented Dr. Sara George Muthoot, Principal, St. George’s School with State Teach-er’s Award-2012 for her exemplary contribution in the field of educa-tion on September 5, 2012 at Tya-graj Sports Complex, New Delhi. The award was conferred by The Directorate of Education, Govern-ment of NCT Delhi.Speaking on the occasion Dr. Sara George Muthoot, Principal, St. George’s School said: “Our motto ‘Spread the Light’ is at the heart of everything we do at the school. Discipline, values, integrity, toler-ance and respecting each other’s culture are the very foundation of this school. We seek to develop and nurture the different facets of a child through varied co-curricular activities so that the child can ex-plore, find their strengths and reach their true potential. This award will always be treasured as it comes at a time when we are celebrating 50 glorious years in the field of educa-

tion.”A doctorate in Philosophy, Dr. Sara’s commitment in the field of education and social welfare for the last five decades has given a substantial shape to the nation’s education policies. Her mission to educate and empower each child as her own is timeless. Under her able guidance, St. George School follows the student-centered CCE system set by the CBSE that encourages individual-based learning with the help of modern teaching aids and methodologies, thus, making education a one-to-one dialogue with the student, as the core of the teaching-learning process. The var-ied co-curricular activities includ-ing inter-house and inter-school competitions are held to help stu-dents imbibe a sense of team spirit, positive attitude and groom them-selves to be good planners, inspir-ing, innovative and creative. Great emphasis is laid on saving the en-vironment for generations to come by maintaining eco-friendly com-post pits, rainwater

There is a pronounced increase in the communal spirit displayed in the politics and events of today causing anxiety. The judgment in the 10- year-old Naroda Patia massacre pronounced on August 29, rekindles hope that justice can still be achieved in this multi-ethnic and pluralistic society of ours. As the judgement is subjected to analysis, a good number of observers come to the conclusion that though justice is delayed –it took 10 years—it is not denied. The verdict against some of the politicians involved in the case sends the message that those breaking the law can not always hope to escape through the patronage of those at the helm of power. Such a message comes as a relief at a time when miscreants involved riots in several parts of this nation such as Orissa and Assam escaped punishment through the unwillingness of witnesses to give evidence and also because of a biased political system . The special judge Jyotsna Ygnik who presided over this trial has left her stamp on the judgement besides warning that the long arm of the law was able to reach the culprits however powerful or popular. This is the kind of judgement that should send a shiver into the minds of the communally minded, who are always looking for revenge.DANGEROUS “Taking lives of those having faith in another religion is

bound to be dangerous and it strikes at the very root of the orderly, secular society which our founding fathers of our Constitution dreamt of, “ she had observed. Further such judgements point to the fact that when the politicians fail there exists a judiciary in this land to question the murderous communal elements. The special court convicted 32 persons. The judgment is very significant since country has seen many riots and carnages, but for the first time big political leaders faced the heat for the acts committed. The credit for this hard-won victory goes to the witnesses who stood with courage against all odds and to various organizations that provided them with necessary sustenance.LONG TRIAL The trial in the case had begun in August 2009and charge were framed against 62 people while one accused died during the course of the trial. The judge heard the case for 37 months and the prosecution examined 327 witnesses comprising eyewitnesses , victims, police personnel , government officials and forensic experts . The convicts in the case included a BJP MLA Maya Kodnani who was also a former minister of state and Bajrang Dal strongman Babu Bajrangi. The conviction of Maya Kodnani, a gynaecologist by profession and one time member of the Modi cabinet, Chief Minister Narendra Modi might have to face uncomfortable questions. She was inducted into the

cabinet even after it was alleged that she had played an important role in the massacre., Modi who has tried to drop his hardline Hindutva through state wide ‘Sadbhavana missions is under threat of upsetting his Hindu vote bank. His attempt to put on a secular image stands impaired by the life terms awarded for the Naroda Patia culprits for snuffing out 97 lives. All these at a time when his prime ministerial ambitions had become very evident and state assembly polls only three months away.CONSTITUTION There are communal elements in all political outfits. In fact, though the Congress swears by the Constitution, the communal elements within as also vote bank politics make it impossible for it to translate into action its professed secular ideal. This is one reason why the party is losing its hold among the minorities. It is also a fact that the majority community may be peace loving and a few vocal hardliners could intimidate such a majority and cause mayhem and murder leading to a fear complex in the minorities. The silent majority in every community should be made to realize the need to control the deviants within the community. It is Najeeb Jung , Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, in a recent article An appeal to a Naroda convict turns his searchlight on “the champions of Indian industry who hailed Gujarat as a modern miracle.”

Naroda Patia: Securing secularismBy MPK Kutty

DEVELOPMENT “ It’s really sad that these champions , for 30 pieces of silver and a few acres of land , wish to forgive mass murder of a kind that makes humanity hang its head in shame. I would expect no responsible human being to be encouraging us to ‘move on’ from Naroda Patia and the Gujarat killings without justice being done,” he points out. This is a very relevant observation in the context of Modi’s fresh attempt to win hearts by his ‘development’ models. In another article , Keep at bay communal elements , the educationist had lauded the Constituent Assembly which “managed to frame a pristine document that till today enshrines the best of human values and remains a shining example of India’s commitment to democracy , secularism and unabashed affirmative action.” Successive governments had pampered religious fundamentalism and fallen prey to so called ‘pressure’ of religious groups. There have been exceptions, but by and large we find plaint acquiescence, kowtowing to worst fundamentalism and lazy application of law that has egged on the lumpen among the communities to just not play with life and property but put the country at risk.” He says that communalism must be fought at all levels starting with the schools. “We must bay the communal hydra in its very den, defang it and come out trumps. We can do it” he concludes.

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY September 16-30 2

A recently released study by a Christian research organisation shows that most churchgoers do not read or study the Bible on a daily basis.

The findings of the Transformational Dis-cipleship Assessment released by LifeWay Research noted that 19 per cent of respond-ents report reading or studying the Bible outside of church “every day”.

By contrast, 36 per cent of respondents said that they either engage the Bible “once a week”, “once a month”, or “a few times a month”. Eighteen per cent reported rarely or never reading or studying the Bible outside of worship.

Scott McConnell, director of LifeWay Re-search, told The Christian Post that he felt attributes from the modern American cul-ture influenced the responses.

“Regular Bible engagement is both per-

sonal and requires discipline. Neither are popular in Western culture today,” said Mc-Connell. “Too many churchgoers want the benefits of salvation without investing in personally knowing Christ and the abun-dant life He offers.”

For the study, LifeWay Research inter-viewed a demographically balanced online panel of American adults in October last year. A total of 2,930 surveys were com-pleted, with churchgoing respondents be-ing defined as those who attend a Protestant church at least once a month.

“Bible engagement encompasses more than just Bible reading. It measures the ex-tent to which individuals interact with the truth of Scripture and allow it to permeate their thinking and influence their actions,” said McConnell.

“There is a widespread desire among

churchgoers to please Jesus, but much less interested in daily wrestling with what pleases Jesus. Instead of Christ being preeminent in the lives of every churchgoer, He is often only the preamble to lives lived apart from biblical truth.”

Other findings in the study included 90 per cent of respondents agreeing with the statement “I desire to please and honour Jesus in all I do” and 59 per cent agreeing with the statement “Throughout the day I find myself thinking about biblical truths”.

In an interview with Baptist Press, Life-Way Research President Ed Stetzer ex-plained the importance of scriptural study and reading.

“God’s Word is truth, so it should come as no surprise that reading and studying the Bible are still the activities that have the most impact on growth in this attribute of

spiritual maturity,” said Stetzer.“As basic as that is, there are still nu-

merous churchgoers who are not reading the Bible regularly. You simply won’t grow if you don’t know God and spend time in God’s Word.”

While the study noted the small per-centage of regular Bible engagement from respondents, it also pinpointed six actions that “positively impact” the level of Bible engagement a churchgoer partakes in.

These actions were confessing wrongdo-ings to God, believing in Jesus as the only way to Heaven, following God with an awareness that it “may be costly,” praying about the spiritual statuses of acquaintances who are not Christian, reading a book on spiritual growth, and being mentored by a “more spiritually mature Christian.”

Source: Christian Post

New Delhi: The Capital City Church, Ramesh Nagar, is set to hold Peace Fes-tival -2012 at Balley Balley Banquet Hall near Metro pillar No. 330 between Moti Nagar and Ramesh Nagar Metro stations.

Fasting prayer and Gospel meetings will be the main attractions of this 8-day Festival. Special sessions for missionar-ies, youth and women will also be held in the afternoon. The Festival will begin Sunday the 30th September and con-clude on Sunday the 7th October, 2012. IPC northern region President Pastor P M John will inaugurate the Festival on 30th September at 10 am. Subsequently, there will be morning, afternoon and

evening sessions regularly every day. Renowned anointed servants of God

Pastor Joshua David (Faridabad), Pas-tor Tinu George (Kerala), Pastor Amos Singh (MP) and Pastor M.A. Varghese (Bangalore) will minister in this Festival. Pastor Varghese Thomas, Pastor Samuel Thomas and Pastor Laji Paul will also minister in various sessions.

“Let the grace and blessings of the Almighty God Jesus Christ be showered upon the people of Delhi and the body of Christ be enlightened and strengthened through this Festival. That’s what all I look forward for”, Pastor Biji Thomas, the organiser said.

Most churchgoers do not read Bible daily – survey

Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren, commenting on the importance of helping women who find themselves in a crisis and dealing with unplanned pregnancies, said there is no such thing as an “accidental” child.

“There are accidental par-ents, but there are no acci-dental children,” Warren said. “There are illegitimate par-ents, but there are no illegiti-mate children.

“Your parents may not have planned you, but God did.”

Warren was speaking at a banquet benefiting Care Net, a faith-centred pregnancy cen-tre.

The banquet, a part of the group’s annual “Celebrate Life” event, drew around 1,000 people in Waco, Texas, WacoTrib.com reported.

Warren, who has often spo-ken out against abortion, said that politics was not going to set America back on the right path.

“A healing in America isn’t

going to happen at a political level,” the Saddleback Church pastor continued. “It’s going to happen at the grassroots level, in churches, in commu-nities, in groups like Care Net, where you focus on helping one person at a time.”

In his speech, Warren re-minded listeners of the story of Moses encountering the burning bush in the desert, when he was called to serve God and His people. Connect-ing the biblical story found in Exodus to parenthood, the pastor remarked that it was up to Christians to stand up for those who cannot “speak for themselves”, mainly the thou-sands of babies aborted every year.

“Think of the innocent little babies that have yet to see the light of day,” Warren contin-ued. “Just because you can’t do something great does not excuse you to do nothing. You may not have $1 million, but you have something.”

Warren’s bestseller book,

The Purpose Driven Life, is one of the most successful Christian books ever written, but he reminded the audience that the first line in the book is “It’s not about you”. He also shared how, despite his financial success, he has lived in the same house for the last 22 years and has kept the same lifestyle he had before he be-came one of America’s most well-known pastors.

In a Sunday’s sermon at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, Warren again talked about the impor-tance of preserving life as well as other Christian institutions, such as marriage.

“You don’t need to apolo-gise for voting for a Chris-tian worldview which stands up for the sanctity of life, the sanctity of sex and the sanctity of marriage. You don’t need to apologise for that because everybody votes what they believe,” Warren said during the service.

Source: Christian Today

There are no accidental children: Rick Warren

Peace Festival-2012 at Ramesh Nagar

News From page 1

harvesting, planting more trees, teach-ing and using of recycled paper among others.

Dr. Sara George Muthoot has also been a recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Ex-cellence Award for Services, Personal Achievements and Outstanding Con-tribution to the society; Shiksha Rat-tan Puraskar for Meritorious Services, Outstanding Performance and Remark-able Role in the field of education; Educational Excellence Award by the Knowledge Resource Development and Welfare Group for providing Inclusive and Holistic Education and The Golden Peacock Training Award for impeccably portraying leadership qualities that de-mands commitment and inherent cog-nitive efficiency to reach the pinnacle and hold fort.

St. George’s School is managed by St. George’s Education Society, a charitable non-profit Society presently chaired by Shri M. G. George Muthoot (Chairman, Muthoot group) who believes in the

motto “Mata, Pitha, Guru, Daivam” or “Matha, Pitha, Guru, Ishwar” or as we say in Sanskrit “Mathru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Guru Devo Bhava”.

The school having over 3,000 students and 130 teaching staff provides the very best and most modern facilities for edu-cation with two well-equipped libraries, six laboratories, four excellent comput-er centres, a multipurpose auditorium, conference and in-service training cen-tre, lush green Cricket ground with two turf wickets of International Standard (This is the only school in Delhi having the entire sports complex illuminated with floodlights.)

Since 2008, St. George’s School has emerged as a National Winner consist-ently in the Green School Awards pre-sented by the Centre for Science and En-vironment. Apart from other accolades, the school was awarded 4th position pan-India in the ‘Change Makers’ cat-egory and the 2nd position in the Delhi state category for the year 2010-11.

Dr. Sara George Muthoot conferred

with State Teacher’s Award-2012

New Delhi : More than 95 lakh Muslim children ben-efitted under the govern-ment’s pre-matric scholarship scheme till the end of March this year, the government said.Minister of State for Minority Affairs Vincent H. Pala gave the information in the Lok Sabha in response to a ques-tion. The minister said, “More than 95 lakh Muslim children benefitted under the pre-matric scholarship scheme

from inception of the scheme in 2008-09 till the end of the 11th Five Year Plan, i.e 31-03-2012?.The allocation has been in-creased by 50 percent dur-ing the current year – “from Rs.600 crore in 2011-12 to Rs.900 crore in 2012-13 in order to cover more minority students under the scheme”. In response to another ques-tion, the minister said that there was no proposal to in-crease the number of scholar-

ship schemes for students of minority communities.He said the working group on the 12th Five Year Plan constituted by the Planning Commission has recom-mended to make the scholar-ship schemes “demand driven in order to cover all eligible minority students”. Students can apply online through the Online Scholarship Manage-ment System for merit-cum means based scholarship scheme.

Over 95 lakh Muslim students benefited through scholarships

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY September 16-30 3

TRAINING ON COUNSELING – IInd MODULE“Pull them out of fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”

Ministers of the Gospel who have heart to understand the importance of this ministry, there is a unique opportunity, avail this

Date: 15th to 19th Oct, 2012 Time: 9am to 4 pm (Minimum 6 hrs in class room)Venue: B- 872 (Old No: 106), Church Building, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi - 96

Faculty: Rev. Dr. Issac .V. Mathew, Ph.D, Director of Life Enrichment Counseling Center (Thodupuzha)

Rev.Dr. Saji Kumar K P, Ph.D, Kottayam, Professor at Believers Church Theological Seminary, Tiruvilla

(Classes by Well qualified, experienced and anointed teacher)

Following Topics will be taught • Psychosocialtheoryofpersonalitydevelopment• Psychopathology• RationalEmotiveBehaviorTherapy

• Counselingskills-stage2• MarriageandFamily-stage2• Childsexualabuse/Suicideprevention

Along with 2nd module, there are classes on 1st module also.Brain storming classes, discussions and exciting debates.(Medium – English only) • Food and accommodation will be available • RegistrationFeesRs1000/

Limited Seats - First Come First ServeFor further details, contact:

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Hurry Hurry

The ministry of women and child development has proposed imprisonment of up to seven years for perpetrators of corporal punishment.

In a cabinet note, prepared to amend the Juvenile Justice Act, the ministry has sought to include a new section on corporal punish-ment, which defines such punishment com-mensurate with the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for ‘hurt’ and ‘grievous hurt’ offences.

According to the ministry sources, the amendment could be put up for the Union cabinet’s approval in a few weeks and defi-nitely before the next Parliament session.

‘The proposed Section 85, which could be incorporated in the Juvenile Justice Act, spells

a jail term of up to ‘one year or fine or both’ in case a child is hurt and emotionally distressed.

‘For every subsequent offence of this na-ture, the offender can be imprisoned for up to three years,’ said a ministry official who did not wish to be identified.

For causing grievous hurt or severe mental trauma to a child, the offender could be liable for rigorous imprisonment of five years and fine and a subsequent conviction could lead to a jail term of up to seven years and fine.

Second conviction for both levels of hurt (emotional and physical) would also mean dis-missal from service for a school teacher or some-one working in a children’s home or orphanage.

The ministry’s proposal has drawn mixed

reactions. While the parents have welcomed it, school authorities have expressed their displeasure over the suggestion to punish the teachers.

VK Williams, principal of Mount Carmel School, Anand Niketan, feels such a change is excessive. ‘I am not in favour of imprisonment of teachers if they resort to corporal punishment.

‘A teacher punishes a child with good intention and not to hurt him or her. Cor-poral punishment is sometimes important to maintain discipline.

‘I understand there are cases of excessive punishment, but because of one instance the whole education system is being berated. That is unfair,’ said Williams.

Parents, as expected, have given their thumbs up to the proposal.

‘It’s a much needed move and will go a long way in making children feel safer in schools as they will know that they have a law to protect them,’ one of them said.

Although the Supreme Court had banned corporal punishment in schools in 2000, the ‘system’ is still prevalent in several institutions.

A National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) study in 2009-10 had found that 99 per cent of 6,700 students surveyed in seven states had suffered some form of punishment at the hands of their teachers.

– mail online India

Change in law to punish child beaters who could go to jail for up to seven years

Rimsha Masih, the Christian girl accused of blasphemy in Pakistan, has been granted bail.According to reports, Judge Muhammad Azam Khan has ordered her release and set bail at 500,000 ruppees.He also ordered that she be placed under protective custody out of concern for her safety.Rimsha was placed in a maximum security prison three weeks ago after neighbours

accused her of burning papers with Koranic writings on them.Her principal accuser, Imam Khalid Chishti, was arrested last week on suspicion of planting evidence against Rimsha.Blasphemy is a crime punishable by death in Pakistan but Christians and other minorities say the laws are being misused to settle personal scores.The accusation against Rimsha caused her whole family

Pakistan: Blasphemy girl granted bail

News From page 12

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY September 16-30 4

AffirmationGiving praise to God the creator, redeemer and sustainer, we, in faith, affirm that:1. God invites us as the Church in India to participate in the building of our nation and calling her to be true to the national motto of Satyamev Jayate (truth alone triumphs).2. God is the rightful owner of all land and natural resources. Every man and woman, individually and collectively has been appointed as the steward, finally accountable to God. 3. We acknowledge that all positions of leadership and authority are given by God for the purpose of service and governance. We believe that God has created men and women in his image and likeness, so they have life and fullness of life. 4. The mission of the Church includes being witnesses to the Good News, freeing the oppressed and creating a just and corruption-free society, so that all will enjoy abundant life. The Church, in theology and practice should transform the lives of people, so that everyone experiences the will and purposes of God on earth.5. Domains of power, position and authority expressed through structure and sys-tems in society and the Church, are particularly susceptible to the temptation of corruption, leading to inequality, injustice, manipulation and oppression.6. Financial corruption in all its forms is not acceptable to the Church and society under any circumstances.ConfessionChristians have always recognized that confession and repentance of our sins is an integral part of our reconciliation with God and with one another. In accord-ance with that belief and in faithfulness to the teachings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that we should first remove the “plank in our own eyes,” we repent and confess the sin of corruption in our personal lives, Church and nation, which has tainted our love for God. Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servants are praying before you. Almighty and most merciful Father we lower our heads before you and we confess that we have sinned in thought word and deed. We confess that we have not always been good financial stewards. Instead, we have often exploited and appropriated God’s assets for our own selfish advantage. We have failed to con-sistently demonstrate a sense of responsibility and accountability. Honesty, truth and integrity have tended to become negotiable values. We have not always acted justly towards each other and have sinned against God the provider. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things

which we ought not to have done. For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength.Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed to always live with honesty, truth and integrity. Grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen. CommitmentWith God as our helper1. We desire to overcome the sin of financial corruption by submitting to the supreme authority of Christ and follow His example of justice, righteousness, humility and sacrificial service.2. We will continually examine and radically change our lives in response to God’s indignation at the state-of-affairs and His redemptive desire for all crea-tion. 3. We resolve to be honest stewards of God-given resources, willingly submitting to appropriate scrutiny and correction, adopting good governance, and conduct-ing self-critical review of our practices, to encourage responsible behavior for financial integrity.4. We are committed to upholding the highest levels of integrity in all our finan-cial interactions with society at large.5. We do not encourage any irregular financial transaction with any organization or body - governmental or otherwise. 6. We commit to making and working with institutions that uphold the highest standards of financial accountability and transparency. 7. We commit to encouraging awareness and vigilance regarding bribery and unethical financial practices. 8.We commit to working towards an India that is transparent and without cor-ruption.9. We will work with other movements at every level to respond to the issues of Financial Corruption, to express God’s presence with, and love for the victims of financial corruption.10. As a community that lives under the grace, forgiveness and redemptive power of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are committed to enabling healing and reconciliation for those who repent of acts of financial corruption.In obedience to God we, individually and collectively, strive to remove corrup-tion from Church and society, thus providing avenues of healing, reparation and redemption, which leads to restoration of the body of Christ, our nation and all of creation.

Operation Nehemiah Declaration Against Corruption (ONDAC)

Bengaluru, September 2011: As corruption being the burning issue in the nation today it is commendable that church leaders in India initiated discussion of issues of corruption in the church and the nation.

A gathering of concerned Christians in leadership in the Church in India in all its glorious diversity, took place on the 2nd of September 2011, at Bengaluru, as a part of the Operation Nehemiah Movement, to be “salt and light of society.” The gathering recalled the remarkable contribution that the Church and her institutions have made to the development of India, besides dis-

cussing issues of financial corruption in the country and the Church, while grieving with its victims on the margins.Given below is proceedings of the meeting which can be informed and implemented in the congregations..

The Sin of Commission and the Sin of Omission

J.P.PalathingalLook here, you people who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make profit.” How do know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, and then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”Otherwise you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. “Remember, it is sin to know what you ‘ought’ to do and then not do it” (James 4:13-17).It is good to make plans, but they will disappoint you if you leave out of them. There is no point in making plans as though God does not exist, because your future is in the hands of God. What would you like to be doing 10 years from now? Five years from now? Two years or one year from now? What about tomorrow? How will you react if God steps in and rearranges your plans? Plan ahead, but ask for God’s guidance. Seek God’s perfect will in your planning. He will never ever disappoint you if you are doing so.Life is short, no matter how many years we live on this planet earth. Don’t be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live for Christ, to enjoy with your

loved ones, or to do what you know you should be…. Live for your Lord today! “Yesterday already died, tomorrow has to be born, you have only one day that is today.” Then no matter when your life ends, you will have fulfilled God’s plan for you.Boasting about your future life without God is evil. We tend to think that doing some-thing wrong is sin. But James tells us that sin is also not doing right. Doing wrong things are called sins of Commission and not doing right things are called sins of Omission. It is sin to lie; it can also be a sin to know the truth and not tell it. The first one is sin of Commission and the second one is sin of Omission. It is a sin to speak evil of someone; it is also a sin to avoid that person when you know he or she needs your friendship. You should be willing to help as the Holy Spirit guides you. If you are directed by God to do a kind of act, or render a service or restore a relationship, do it. You will experience a renewed and refreshed vitality to your holy faith and trust in Him. (The author can be contacted at 917509151805, johnalice@gmail.com)

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY September 16-30

EDITORIALPRAISE THE ALMIGHTY A word

with you

5

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Manager, C-6/141, Sector-5, Rohini, Delhi-110085

Pastor M.K.Babu

We often ask why people are corrupt. It is because we are living in a corrupt world. The Bible says that the whole creation has been subject to corruption because of Adam’s sin. Most Indians are corrupt. It is in our blood. It is part of our culture and social life. Nobody seriously considers petty dishonest acts as corruption. We think that it is a ‘lawful’ means of making profits. There should be a serious research on why most Indians are corrupt. Perhaps it is because of poverty, both real and pre-sumed. Most Indians are poor, in the mind. We inherited a poverty mentality, passed down through generations, due to the colonial rule of centuries. The oppressive mentality of colonialism still looms large over our nation. The people of ‘ruling class’ consider themselves to be above the law, and are quick to assert their power and privileges while willfully ignoring their duties. Even in bureaucracy, this gap be-tween the higher officer class and the lower ‘employees’ is widening. The ‘rulers’ assert time and again that they are kings and queens though without crowns. So, just like the old kings and the subsequent colonial rulers, their motto is to loot the land. They want to just utilize their position and power to amass wealth, by any hook or crook. They want to enjoy a luxurious life with wine and women while living in palaces. It is a highly competitive world, of course, to amass more and more money. The min-isters, the politicians, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, the corporate leaders, wealthy business class, the religious institutions and all those who have muscle and money power are playing together to squeeze the common man of all his possessions. The law abiding citizen has no place in such a nation. The law and the police are often with the powerful and wealthy offenders, while the common man’s rights are easily strangled. In fact, the honest common man has no rights now-a-days. This is the backdrop where society looks upon the corrupt rulers and wealthy tax-evading ‘robbers’ and the like as role models. Most ministers are involved in scams, and they are in a way very proud about it. Even if they are punished and may have to spend some years in jail, they have amassed such wealth that it will last for genera-tions. Such a ‘father’ who has amassed wealth for his posterity will be praised and respected in our society. Making money by any means is the motto of the common man also. Those who talk in English and go around in luxurious cars and live in posh houses are respected and preferred by society rather than the honest common man who lives a simple life. Here is an interesting incident to prove this. One Editor was highly respected in his village and was shown obeisance by all people as they had mistakenly heard his profession as “Auditor”. Once they understood that he is just an “Editor”, nobody wanted even to see him again. Even the poor folk in the village know that an ‘Auditor’ is to be respected because he amasses wealth through corrup-tion. Who needs a poor fellow like an ‘Editor’. The sole aim of most common people in India is to amass wealth by any means, even if it is stealing from Government exchequer or public property. Very few Indians think about the development of the nation. Others want themselves to get rich by looting public money or public property. There had been instances in remote villages in Bihar, where the locals cut out and sold the copper electric wires of electricity sup-ply lines in scrap for the night drinking session. Items from streets, public buildings, railways and such public property are usually stolen. People in the lowest rungs of the society also dream of getting rich by any crooked means. The street vendor cheats in his weights or measures. The shopkeeper cheats his customers by selling them adulterated commodities. Most business people take some extra profit by employing many dishonest means. Who wants an honest man? The auto-rickshaws usually charge the passengers much more than the actual fare. The petrol bunks always cheat by tampering the meter. Most companies service sec-tor and production sector over charge than the justified profit. The common man also tries to cheat when there is an opportunity. The private hospitals loot the patients. They are not concerned about the treatment of the patients, but about the money that can be extracted from them. They are only partly to blame, because they have to bribe the police, the bureaucracy and the politicians in order to get their licenses and other permits. Someone said that people get a government which they deserve. So, don’t be so much dismayed by so many scams and corruption and dishonesty in our present Gov-ernment and those institutions in power. Most people are unhappy that they don’t get a chance to loot like the ones in power are now enjoying. They are not corrupt because they have not got an opportunity yet. We deserve our Government.

The anatomy of corruption

Man says work is worship. God says worship first, work comes next. God is a person of relationship. He knows the person entirely whom He called out for His purpose. God is interested in developing an individual relationship with all of them prior to their commitment to work for Him. In return, it is for the man to know God and develop a similar relationship with Him. No one can know God unless He reveals Himself to him. As a matter of fact, God does not turn a blind eye to anyone who longs for Him. True worship is not generated without first knowing the object of worship. Receiving worship is not making fans. A particular activity or a typical personality trait of a person may fascinate fans. But worship is an adoration that sprouts from the depth of the heart and manifests through the physical body. In other words, worship comes out of deeply rooted love. Worship can only be offered to a living person because worship is received. Worship can only be offered to God because we won’t worship a being similar to us. The worshipper enjoys and lives in the presence of God. Worship is a total surrender. God uses those who are totally surrendered. God picked up David, a young shepherd, to do His work for His people. The job that God wanted to bestow upon him was no less significant. The job was kingship over Israel to rule, protect and provide. God wanted to make David a worshipper before he was designated as the king. First God gave him a tremendous victory that made him popular and recognition of God’s calling upon him. Next God wanted to draw him near in order to make Him known to him. For that David faced the opposition of King Saul, the most powerful person on the nation. Resultantly, he became a fugitive. He had gone through hardships, mental and physical agony which made him a person who totally trusts in the Lord. In his Psalm he sings “I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders”. He trusted in God’s lovingkindness and his heart rejoiced in His salvation. He had such a confidence that “though a host encamps against me, my heart will not fear; though war arises against me, In spite of this I shall be confident”. In his worship to God he exclaims, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him”. David worshipped God from the depth of his heart, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.”, O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water”. As he turned a true worshipper God implemented His project for the destruction of his enemy and his enthronement. No doubt, many of us who work for the Lord are playing a major role in transforming the society. Whether it is organised or the other, God is at work these days through many. Encouraging testimonies of God’s mighty deeds have replaced the sermon illustrations and moral tales. At the same time, the depressed and desperate Christian workers can’t be overlooked. Indeed, there are people who are driven by the enemy, entice the deprived with a little support and lead them astray. Apostle Peter prophesied about them, ” Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep”. 2 Peter 2:2-3. In one of His parables, Lord Jesus Christ mentioned about them rightly. “The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ “And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ Mat 13:27-28. The worker can’t pass the buck just by quoting the above Word. We must take the responsibility to become a true worshipper before we do His work. While we make many projects God implements His project, unpleasant to us, in our lives in order to make us a true worshipper. Do not be dismayed you are in processing unit of God. Stand firm and be faithful. God bless you.

Worship first, work next

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY September 16-30 6

Diagnostic machines are now on a dominant role in the healing ministry, analyzing blood, urine, sputum samples and taking pictures of hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys to determine what has caused the various ailments that confine men to hospital beds. Yet, these machines are not trained to trace the damage caused by the malfunctioning of the glands and other organs triggered by murderous thoughts, anger, bitterness, jealousy, selfish rivalry, maddening lust, thwarted ambition or heart breaks and frustrations. Until the 19th century, medical writers rarely failed to note the influence of grief, despair, or discouragement on the onset and outcome of illness, nor did they ignore the healing effects of faith, confidence, and peace of mind. Spiritual teachers and saints of the past had written a lot on the powerful influence of love on health and well-being. According to Gary Zukav, American best selling author, people will come to understand eventually that “ love heals everything, and love is all there is.”Without love we lose the will to live. Our mental and physical vitality is impaired, our resistance to sickness is lowered and existence becomes drab and dreary. Sir William Osler, the Canadian physician and medical historian said that the outcome of tuberculosis had more to do with what went on in the patient’s mind than what went on in his lungs. He was echoing Hipporates, who said he would rather know ‘what sort of person has a disease than what sort of disease a person has.’ Scientific research and clinical experiences of great physicians of the past go to show that the state of the mind changes the state of the body by working through the central nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system. A positive attitude stimulates favourably the immune system and a negative attitude depresses it. Emotions create chemical alterations in the brain. Negative emotional traits such as low self-esteem, feelings of envy, hatred, hostility, guilt

and anger depress the immune system. Positive emotional attitudes like love, happiness, peace and spiritual exercises improve the process of healing. Contentment used to be considered a prerequisite for health. So too an attitude of thankfulness to God and fellow beings and a firm faith in the power of the Creator to intervene even in an impossible situation aid the healing process. “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he” declares the Bible. Our destiny is shaped by the kind of thoughts we entertain. But man is yet to invent a fool-proof system by which control could be exercised on the thought process. Unfortunately the heart, signifying the center of all thinking, is the root of problems. “ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile the man.” (Mark 7:20,21) If your inner thoughts are dominated by “gripe” and “groan” if you are a consistent bellyacher or worrier, you are shortening the years of your life just as surely as you are growing older by the day. An unwillingness to forgive others for the real or imaginary wrongs they have done us is a poison that affects our health—physical, emotional and spiritual.. Depression, mental or emotional illness, fear, anger, bitterness, turmoil, alcoholism, drug addiction, perversity, lust, grief, jealousy, selfishness - these are all things which can destroy life. If one or more of these things is a part of your life, it is stopping you from enjoying the fullness of life The Bible is a book about healing—healing of the total man, body, mind and spirit, the healing of relationships, the healing of society and the healing of the nations. The Biblical philosophy of life, when acted upon, increases health. “Fear the Lord and depart from evil; it shall be health to thy

navel and marrow to thy bones.”(Proverbs 3: 7,8) Healing comes when we live in harmony with ourselves and our environment, maintaining a balance in the face of change and developing our own innate healing factors. The body’s self healing mechanism is activated by nutrition, exercise, environment and stress management, writes Dr A K Tharien, founder of the Felloship Hospital at Oddanchatram in Tamil Nadu. He quotes a five year study done in ‘Wickenberg in the United States which revealed that :20 per cent of the patients benefited through drugs, surgery and scientific technology; 35 per cent by ‘Placebo effect’, 15 per cent by Hawthorne effect (let off steam effect) and 30 per cent by unknown factors such as prayer and spiritual exercises. When we turn within, transform our thinking, God will heal our sickness of mind and the body. Then ofcourse we must not forget God can heal. He dwells within us. Stuart Gramenz, in his book, How you can heal the sick quotes Ephesians 3:20 to illustrate a great truth. “God can do anything we ask or think; exceeding abundantly, if we releaase the power within us.” In New New Zealand a woman came to him for prayer. She wished to give birth to more children but because of infection one of her fallopian tubes had been removed.The other had since become affected the same way. “We laid hands on her believing that the infection would clear up in the one remaining tube.” The woman, unsure of her healing ,went ahead with her surgery appointment.During the operation the doctors were amazed to find that not onlyhad the affected tube cleared up but the one that had been previously removed by them had grown back.She experienced a complete restoration miracle; much nore than we asked for. We serve a God who is able to do much more than we dare to think or ask. To quote the Bible verse:” Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the poiwer that worketh in us

A philosophy of holistic healing

By MPK Kutty

Come and join with us in a vibrant and Spirit-filled worship service. Enjoy the mighty presence of God and His power

Full Life Assemblies of God Church11747, 3rd Floor, Sat Nagar, Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110005,

Landmark : Sindhi Ghodiwala Gali

Sunday Worship time : First Service : 6.00 am to 8.00 am (Hindi) * Second Service : 8.15 am to 10:15 am (Hindi)

Third Service : 10.30 am to 12.30 pm (Tamil) * Evening Service : 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm (English)Contact Person : Pastor Solomon Kings

Mobile : 999-930-5139, 971-168-9837, 981-127-3880 Website : www.delhiag.in

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY September 16-30 7

My dear brothers and sister` in Christ,We are gathered here this morning to pray for and

pray along with our Christian Members of’ Parlia-ment as the monsoon session has begun. For our prayer and reflection, I would like to read two verses from Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

This passage from the Book of Proverbs speaks to

each and every one of us that whatever we do, we should do for the glory of God and thus live worthy Christian lives. I would like to take these words of the Lord a little further to see the implications it has for people with special authority and mandate, espe-cially for you our Christian Members of Parliament. In the Bible you will see how God at various times in history chose people and put them in positions of’ au-thority and responsibility. Moses. Daniel, Joseph and various kings like David are all examples of individ-

uals chosen by God for a specific purpose. It would not be wrong to say that some of these were placed by God in positions of political responsibility so that they could play a key role in his plan to establish a kingdom of justice and love. If this is true of Bibli-cal times, it is true for us even today. God contin-ues to choose people to help them realize His plans. Whether religious leaders or political leaders, God can influence the lives of His people through them. What one needs to do is, as the Book of’ Proverbs

Stand up and speak for justice and what is right

Following is the message delivered by Arch Bishop of Delhi Vincent M Concessao at the Parliamentarians Prayer Breakfast meeting held on 9th August, 2012 at the Cathedral Church of

the Redemption, New Delhi.

says, Trust in the Lord and discern his plans and ways and follow them.

A tremendous, responsibility is placed on you, Hon’ble Members of Parliament. The en-tire Christian community looks up to you to uphold high moral standards and seek reforms that will overcome corruption and injustice in government and elsewhere in the country. A truly Christian approach to politics and decision-making implies a sustained effort on your part to ensure equality in all areas and just treatment for all citizens. There is plenty to be done to ensure that the provisions envisaged by the Constitution of our country become op-erative all over the land. You may be a small minority in the Parliament but remember what Jesus said, “You are the salt, you are the leav-en.” Both are small in quantity but can make a big difference in the food and the dough they are mixed with. You can, with the help of God, transform our political system to embody the principles of true love and justice. It is your God given responsibility to ensure that the image of God in every human being is recog-nized and maintained with all its implications for the socio-economic and political spheres.

Specifically, hon’ble Members of Parliament, I would like to draw your attention to the plight of the Christian and Muslim dalits. If God does not make distinctions, if our Constitution envisages equality amongst all people, then it should he your priority to ensure that the Christian and Muslim dalits get their rights and privileges. Here we have a clear case of injustice and discrimination on the basis of religion. To maintain this is to perpetuate the status quo and as Christians committed to the Kingdom of God, which is characterized by justice and peace, love and solidarity it is your responsibility to change the status quo. This is what Jesus did. He focused quite deliberately on those who had been pushed aside to the margins. In his compassionate outreach to the outcastes, Jesus concretely embodied God’s reign as good news for the poor; God’s reign would mean the end of their misery and the introduction of a new order of social relationships based on the principle of inclusion. He did away with alienation and broke down walls of hostility between individuals and groups. Today in the political field you, as followers of Jesus, are called upon to give leadership in fulfilling this

Turn to page 11

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY September 16-30 8

Good newsNow you can complete the 21-day

RCLA leadership training programme in one-shot. The training programme commence on

Conclude on

Graduation Service on

5th November, 2012

30th November, 2012

1st December, 2012Resource person: Pastor M K Babu

Who can attend?

Pastors and elders who covet to be effective servant

leaders.Medium:

Hindi Please contact for details: Phone: 011-27041259, Cell: 971-610-7744E-mail : reachleaders@gmail.com

We usually try to get away with a casual approach when it comes to sur-rendering ourselves to God. From the scriptures let us try to understand what qualities of surrender God looks for in us. Luke 1:38 describes how Mary tells the angel of God (thereby God himself), “Lord, let it be done to me ac-cording to Your word.” In 1997 I fasted for seven days just to know the secret of a powerful Christian life, the way the first century disciples lived. The impact of the lives of the disciples of Jesus was so powerful that they were known as men who turn the ‘world upside down’, but today we see some-thing different in our churches. What made the difference was my curiosity. God spoke to me daily through Romans 12:1 – “Offer yourself unto God as a sacrifice….” During my prayer God revealed that a total surrender to God, without any strings attached, is what makes a powerful Christian. God made me understand that the difference in surrender accounted for the difference in effectiveness and productiveness of the Early Church and the twenty first century Church. God desires a ‘holy adandon’ from our part for Him so that we may be at His disposal – ready to be used as He wills! Nobody can make such surrender to God without knowing who God is. In other words without a

revelation of God’s nature and person, no man can offer himself to Him un-conditionally. Mary, an ordinary girl, stands out as a perfect example of an absolute surrender.

Some qualities of Mary, the mother of Jesus, seen from the passage quoted above are worthy to be mentioned here:

1. Mary believed the words of the an-gel whereas Zechariah who was a priest failed to believe the message for him from the same angel. It’s not how much of the Bible we know, but how much we believe makes the difference! Those who believe will see the glory of God. We must take God at His word.

2. To believe she had to raise herself higher than the physical realm and the rules and laws of the physical world. She had to rise above rationalism and human logic.

3. She had to sign a blank paper which might have included her disgrace, her banishment from society, calling off of her proposed wedding, etc. She was ready to go through anything to have God fulfil His word.

4. Surrender was unconditional. With no strings attached. She didn’t want anything in return. She didn’t have any personal agenda or selfish motives.

has never let down anybody who has surrendered to Him. Mary became the vessel that brought the saviour of this

world to this earth! She became the most blessed among women. See the boat that was lent to Jesus for some time: it was filled with fish in no time! See the life of Paul: The letters he wrote to the churches became part of the ever-lasting Word! He didn’t know then that he was writing the unchanging Word of God. Look at John the Baptist: He didn’t even enjoy the three basic needs of life – food, clothes and shelter – as we do, yet got the privilege to bap-tise Jesus and to pave the path for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The champions of total surrender have made it to the list of the heroes of faith. Absolute surrender – an act of com-plete yielding to the purposes of God – makes the difference!

God needs everybody for Kingdom work. Shall we hesitate to surrender our time, talents, money and efforts for the Lord? We don’t know what He will use us for, but we know He will surely use us. If He uses us, it will be to alter and impact eternity!! In Mark 11 we see Jesus sent two disciples to a village to bring the colt tied there. This is what Jesus told them to answer in case some-one questioned them why they were untying the colt: The Lord has need of it (verse 3). This is what we can say about ourselves – “I know my Master needs me.” In Mark 10:29 and 30, Je-

sus promised he will not let down anybody who followed Him. We who hold the ba-ton in the last lap of the relay, which started off with the Apostles in the first lap, have to be more zealous than those who held the baton in the first lap. The end-time Church cannot be as effective or productive like the first century one, leave aside talk of being more effective, if we don’t live up to the demand of to-tal surrender, which was their hallmark.

Enough we had of running for the world and its passing pleasures. Let us be Kingdom minded and Kingdom surrendered. Let the Kingdom passion consume us round the clock! Let the Lord use us in any way for His pleas-ure. Remember it is costly to surrender, but costlier not to surrender!! I know from personal experience that my life has undergone a great transformation and has been revolutionised since I chose to strive to make such surrender. It propelled me out of callous conven-tional living. There are yet miles to go to achieve the ideal that is being pursued, but the progress is inspirational. May God help each and every precious reader to make a complete surrender to Jesus!

(First published in ‘Akanksha’, a souvenir of FGC Sunday School De-partment, March 2009)

Total Surrenderby Pr. Shibu K. Mathai

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY September 16-30 9

PTA-ML/2012/01 Match for born-again believer girl, oct 1979, 5”4”good looking, M.Com, B. Lib, Working in pvt. School Teacher. Contact: 07837180500, 01726536671PTA-ML/2012/02 Keralie Parents invite proposals for their daughter, born again & baptised, brought in in North India, divorsed after a few month not because of her fault, 28 years, 5’5” height, MBA (fi-nance & Marketing) Currently pursu-ing B.Ss. Nursing in Dallas, Texas She is beautiful, wheatish in colour, wearing ornaments, Groom must be born again and qualified.Contact:E-mail-babu.880@yahoo.com, MOb-09825047780PTA-ML/2012/03 Delhi settled South Indian Malayalee Pen-tecostal parents invited proposals for their Son(30/5.7”,bornagain)presentlyworkingas Delhi Air Port Cargo Division Executive, from the parents of Malayalee Pentecostal girl, born again, God fearing, educated, preferably working in Delhi or willing to relocate Delhi. Contact: 9818788150PTA-ML/2012/04 Marriage proposals invited for Malayali Pastor’s daughter ,settled in Hapur near Delhi,B.Sc.Nurse doing job in Gha-ziabad,5 ft ,fair looking,25 years from the parents of employed boys born again,Holy Spirit filled,brought up in North India.e-mail:laurance2008@gmail.com,mobile:07500276231PTA-ML/2012/05 Pentecostal Parents invte proposals for their son 32 yrs, 5’.5”, BSC, PGDCA, Delhi Settled looking for Keralite Girl (Pentecost) from any location. Job profileWorking as Sr Executive in Pvt Ltd comapnyContact: 9910827468, E-mail:anumvk@gmail.com

PTA-ML/2012/06 Wanted groom born again baptized, Spirit filled pentecostal girl born and brought up in Delhi. Age 26, tgt (Eng-lish) Teacher. M.A. (English) B.ed. Contact:8447726264

PTA-ML/2012/07

Pentecostal Parents invite propos-als for their son 26 yrs. 6 months, 5’.9”, B.A.(Hons.) English B.D, from Manakala, Adoor looking for Keralite Girl (Pentecost) from any location. Job profile Working as Consultant for Govt. Office and also working God’s Ministry Contact: 8800157002, E-mail: elsammarajan@yahoo.com

PTA-ML/2012/08 Marriage proposals invited from educated boys in Christian ministry (preferably in church planting) for a Delhiite girl of mission minded family. 23 years /Spirit filled / 5’1”/fair/B.Com+DTP+Tally/min-istry trained. Working as an admin-

istrative assistant in a Christian or-ganisation. Contact : 9211330669. E-mail : shibu27km@rediffmail.comPTA-ML/2012/09 Protestant Christian pa-rents invite pro-posals for their daughter, 30 yrs, 5’5”, fair, pursuing BA studies. Also work-ing in pharma company as an Office Administrator in Delhi drawing Rs. 15000/- p.m. Staying in governmentacco-mmodation in west Delhi. Only Delhiites preferred. Contact : Mr.Ivan Ismail (father) 91-9350875556

PTA-ML/2012/10 Marriage proposals invited from ministry minded Malayali girls in north India for a pastor in Delhi. 26 years/5’7’/fair/M.Div.(SABC0/parents in ministry. Please contact :9211330669. E-mail : shibu27km@rediffmail.comPTA-ML/2012/11 Marriage proposals invited for Suit-able match for North Indian Protestant Christian girl, 28 yrs. B.A. ; B.Ed work-ing as Teacher in a school at Delhi. Con-vent educated, Fair, 5ft 2 inches. Looking for a well settled, God fearing Christian boy E-mail – glad_george001@yahoo.co.inTel–0120-3994055/08057905002/09311447557

PTA-ML/2012/12 Suitable alliance invited for a Delhiite NorthIndianPentecostalgirl:31yrs/5’8’’/ fair & slim/12th passed/employedpart-time. Please contact: 09211330669

PTA-ML/2012/13 Marriage proposals invited for Guja-rati speaking Christian boy, B.Com, MBA (Finance), CFA (group C), 5’5”, 29 years, Worked as an Accountant in Tanzania. Interested parents from similar background may please con-tact : 7600143364.PTA-ML/2012/14 Marriage proposals invited for Malayali Pastor’s daughter ,settled in Hapur near Delhi,B.Sc.Nurse doing job in Gha-ziabad,5 ft ,fair looking,25 years from the parents of employed boys born again,Holy Spirit filled,brought up in North India.E - m a i l : l a u r a n c e 2 0 0 8 @ g m a i l .com,mobile:07500276231

PTA-ML/2012/15Born Again South Indian Delhi settled invites proposal for the missionary boy (33/174,Handsome,M.A.;M.Sc.;B.D.;M.Th; PhD*), from the parents of South Indian educated girl, desiring to work in themission along with profession. Send the details to E-Mail:administrator@elcsociety.org Mobile: 09717435775

PTA-ML/2012/16

Haryanvi Pentecostal parents invite proposals fo their son, 24 yrs, 5’8’’ pas-toring a fast growing church in Panipat Haryana. Girl to be committed for the ministy. Contact:09467519320

PTA-ML/2012/17Father Seeking alliance for 33 years old punjabi Arora born again Chris-tian Girl Msc. BEd working as a govt. teacher in Punjab.contacts: 9417812822,9988550684PTA-ML/2012/18Christian Pentecost working girl, BA, 24 years, 152cm, working invites propos-als fromChristianpentecost/protestantworking boys of UP parents settled in Delhi. Please contact: 9210489214 E-mail: arti6560@gmail.com

PTA-ML/2012/19Marriage proposals invited for suitable match for North Indian Protestant girl 46,years,High school armed force,not working, Height 5”0” (152 cm) very fair Looking for a well settled,God fearing Christian man. Email Id: pinkyrikhey@gmail.com mobile no. 09910449180

PTA-ML/2012/20 Marriage proposals invited for a north Indian Delhi settled Pentecos-tal girl from Christian background 26 years,5.5,good looking B.A, B.Th.work-ing in mission school as a teacher. Look-ing for a spritual & working life partner.Contact: E-mail: ashishparkers@rediff-mail.com or call : 08130946000

PTA-ML/2012/21 Keralite parents invite Proposals for their daughter. Born and brought up in NewDelhi,Bornagain.DOB11/07/1984(28 yrs), Ornaments wearing. Height 5.1 MBA, working in Multi National Com-pany, Preferred professionally quali-fied match from North India. Contact no.07508680342/09990282335

PTA-ML/2012/22Christian Pentecost working girl, BA, 24 years, 152cm, working invites propos-als fromChristianpentecost/protestantworking boys of UP parents settled in Delhi. Please contact: 9210489214 E-mail: arti6560@gmail.com

PTA-ML/2012/23Keralite Pastor based in North India seeking alliance for his daughter(BTH, 5’4, 25) from missionary minded young men who are willing to work in North India. contact number: 9979979005.

PTA-ML/2012/24North Indian Protestant Christian Par-ents from Faridabad invite propos-als fro their Son, 28 years 5’5” Com-plexion-Wheatish, Doctor (BDS), working as Deputy Medical Suprint-endant in Mission Hospital, Jhansi. Contact:09873885469, 09999502537, E-mail:achiever.amit@yahoo.co.in

PTA-ML/2012/25Malayalee Pentecostal parents invite proposals for their daughter, 31 years, 165cm,GNM/StaffNurseatBatraHos-pital, New Delhi. Contact Mother: 07500276231

PTA-ML/2012/26Proposals invited for Born Again chris-tian girl 26 years, BA 1st year working as DBS (Domestic Breeding Checker) in health dept. M.C.D Comlextion wheat-ish 5”2” looking for a well settled, God fearing, loving and caring Christian Boy Delhiites, preferred. Please contact: 08860053152PTA-ML/2012/27Keralie Parents invite proposals for their daughter, born again & baptised, brought in in North India, divorsed after a few month not because of her fault, 28 years, 5’5” height, MBA (finance & Market-ing) Currently pursuing B.Ss. Nursing in Dallas, Texas She is beautiful, wheatish in colour, wearing ornaments, Groom must be born again and qualified.Contact:E-mail-babu.880@yahoo.com, MOb-09825047780 PTA-ML/2012/28Proposal inited for our daughter M.Com, B.Ed, 28 years, 5’3” good-looking for a North Indian, Pentecostal boy in job or ministry minded, preferably from NCR.Contact:9810489892, E-mail:iqbalmasih@gmail.com

PTA-ML/2012/29Proposals invited for Agarwall (Gupta) Christian, born again boy from Hisar (Haryana), 31 years, completed three years Bible college training. Girl should be born again, God fearing and helps in the ministry related work. Caste no bar. Interested persons may kindly con-tact: E-mail: chetnaruby@gmail.com or ruby_chetna@rediffmail.com or at 09729372123.PTA-ML/2012/30Punjabi Handa family invites pro-posal for their doughter, 26 years, 5”1’Graduate, working in All India Radio, looking for a boy working and settled in Delhi or NCR. Preferred for Punjabi Christian.Contact:9718789173E-mail: me.meenuhanda@gmail.com

Contact for Matrimonial

971610744

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY September 16-30 10

London: A petition opposing the UK Gov-ernment’s plans to change the definition of marriage has reached 600,000 signatures.The petition by the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) was launched in February and has grown to become the biggest active cam-paign in the UK.It calls upon the Government to retain the current definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman.The Government plans to expand the defi-nition of marriage to include same-sex un-ions despite strong opposition.Colin Hart, Campaign Director of C4M, said: “I hope that the Government will start listening to the millions of people who support the current definition of marriage and who are at a complete loss as to why the Government has brought forward these proposals.“Over 600,000 people have told the Govern-

ment: we value marriage and do not want to change its meaning. The Government would be advised to listen to its voters.”The petition has continued to attract sup-port despite “cheap insults being thrown at our supporters by the Deputy Prime Minis-ter”, Mr Hart continued.Nick Clegg found himself at the centre of a row this week after calling opponents of gay marriage “bigots”. The remark was made in a draft speech written and distributed to the media by his press office. The speech was later recalled and amended to replace the word “bigot” with “some people”.The Government has also come under fire for refusing to publish legal advice on the implications of legalising gay marriage.Leaked emails sent by officials from the Scottish Government to their counterparts in London appeared to give weight to the concerns of legal experts and Christian or-

ganisations.There are fears that clergy will be forced to conduct gay wedding ceremonies despite assurances from the Government.One unnamed official said in a leaked email that the Government would have to change legislation, including the Equality Act 2010, in order to ensure “full protection” for in-dividual celebrants who refuse to conduct same-sex ceremonies.“Why is the Government continuing to re-fuse to publish legal advice confirming the concerns of MPs, legal and constitutional experts, the Scottish Executive and even one of its most senior members Eric Pick-les?” Mr Hart said.Mr Pickles told the Telegraph newspaper that there had to be protection for churches and other places of worship to protect them from being forced to carry out same sex wedding ceremonies.

Mr Hart continued, “We have consistently warned that introducing gay marriage will have serious implications. Experts warn it will affect those conducting marriage cer-emonies, teachers and parents, the school curriculum and on those who work in the public sector.“The Government must spell out the full range of legal implications that making this change will have. Legal and constitutional experts are increasingly alarmed by the Government’s undemocratic and trivialis-ing approach to rewriting the definition of this ancient institution.“If the Equalities Minister really believes that this change will have no effect on those individuals and groups who do not support their proposals, then they should publish the legal advice.”

600,000 people sign petition opposing gay marriage

The victims of the 2008 anti-Christian violence in Kand-hamal have demanded the formation of a task force to ensure they are compensated properly.

Fr. Dibya parichha, secre-tary of justice, peace and hu-man rights and John Dayal, member of the National Integration Council today submitted a memorandum in this regard to Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.

They had met Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and Wajahat Habibullah, chairperson for National Commission for Mi-norities, with their demands.

The memorandum listed

shortcomings in compensa-tion, rehabilitation, employ-ment and justice delivery to the affected people.

“Victims suffer from the miscarriage of justice even four years after the violence,” it said, adding that even the centre’s employment scheme is not implemented properly.

The victims asked the NHRC to direct the state government to set up a task force for comprehensive ac-tion to help them.

The memorandum pointed out the district administra-tion’s apathy even in count-ing deaths.

Names of 27 people who died because of the outbreak of cholera, dysentery, and malaria in the relief camps

have not been included in the official list of deaths for com-pensation.

The survey list of the state government for compensa-tion for homes damaged dur-ing the communal violence 2008 is not accurate as hun-dreds of families who lost their homes were not regis-tered, it alleged.

It is estimated that approxi-mately 10,000 victims are still living outside their respective villages in other districts of the state or migrated to states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.

The Kandhamal violence killed 90 people, rendered 55,000 Christians homeless. The attackers looted 5,600 homes in 415 villages.

Kandhamal victims demand proper compensation

The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has called for a participatory Church in India where clergy, women religious and lay Catholics work together and serve the people of the country.

“Collaboration and cooperation among the hierarchy, clergy and laity was required at this juncture when the Catholic Church in India is facing many challenges and threats,” said Eugene Gonsalves, national president of AICU, in a press statement.

He was speaking at the conclusion of the dialogue between the AICU and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) on the matter.

Gonsalves said that transparency and joining of hands would lead to a stronger Church at the grassroots level in parishes.

He said that AICU’s demands and suggestions to the bishops are based on the provisions of Canon Law and the Code of the Oriental Churches as well as the Documents of the Second Vatican Council held in Rome 50 years ago.

There was no confrontation, nor acrimony in the relations. Bishops and the laity could not exist without each other, he added.

AICU submitted a memorandum to CBCI, suggesting the formation of Catholic associations and diocesan and parish councils in all166 dioceses in the country.

It stated that lay participation in matters of financial management and in educational and other institutions would go a long way in removing current infirmities.

The memorandum also stated compulsory admission for Catholic children in Church-run educational institutions.

This is a matter of the right of the children to a Catholic education, and a duty of the Church, Gonsalves said.

Besides Gonsalves, the 93-year-old apex laity organization was represented in the meeting by national vice president Lancy D’Cunha and honorary treasurer Anthony Maddala.

Chairman of CBCI laity commission Bishop Stanley Roman of Quilon and member Bishop Abraham Mar Julios of Muvattupuzha and Secretary Fr. Vincent were present in the meeting from the CBCI side.

UCAN

Catholic union calls for a participatory church

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY September 16-30 11mission, irrespective of the parties you belong to because justice is a far greater cause of humanity.

Today there is a need for political conversion i.e. a commitment to change unjust structures and systems by building into them justice and equality. Perhaps a parable of a modern factory will help you understand the implications of your mission for the millions of the suffering people in our country.

There was a young engineer who decided to put up a car factory with the latest technology available. He did a wonderful job. Everything seemed to have worked out well but for one lacuna. For lack of provision of adequate safety, the workers now and then met with accident . Some got their fingers cut, some even lost their hands. Close to the factory there was a youth group which offered its services to rush the wounded persons to the hospital close by. In the meantime the car be-came more popular, the engineer installed more machines, there were better sales and more accidents. The Rotary Club of the township felt concerned about the Increasing number of accidents and they provided an ambulance so that the youth could get the patients treated promptly after the accidents. In the meantime more demand, more cars and more accidents, The Management then felt that they too should do something about it and they put up a dispensary in the premises of the factory. Soon the dispensary became a hospital. The number of beds increased year after year and the hospital itself’ became another industry until a new man-

ager came and asked himself whether it was enough to deal with the symptoms of the problem or whether it is time to identify the root of the problem and deal with it. This is what change in the system and structure is all about.

The parable clearly indicates the consequences of the relief measures though we need them in certain situations and the consequences of the change of an unjust system into a just one. We need to go to the root of the problems and cre-ate more just and equitable structures so that the Kingdom of God is not just a concept but an experience of millions of our brothers and sisters who at present are deprived of the basic necessities of life.

Today, we pray for you in a very special way dear Members of Parliament.May God the Father of, all, bless you abundantly and give you the courage to

stand up and speak for justice and what is right.May Jesus be your role model to seek out the suffering and discriminated per-

sons in society and empower them.And may the Holy Spirit accompany you and show you the right path in all that

you do in your personal lives and also as the chosen ones to represent the people of our country.

May God make your efforts to bring about a new society, bear abundant fruit and ensure a better future for our marginalized brothers and sisters in our country. God bless you all.

Stand up and speak for justice and what is right

SOLVE THE PUZZLE IN THIS CROSSWORD – 2/12 (SEPT – II)

These ten names are hidden in this puzzle (upwards, downwards, diagonally upwards, diagonally down-wards, rightwards, leftwards):- (1) A daughter of Job; (2) A single chapter book of the Bible; (3) A son of Jesse; (4) A friend of Job; (5) Two precious stones used in the foundation of New Jerusalem; (6) A brother of Jesus; (7) A woman who labored with Paul at Philippi; (8) Hometown of Nathanael; (9) Micah prophesied in the days of this King of Judah too!Tell us which words you have found out. E-mail your answers to shibu27km@rediffmail.com before 23rd September 2012. The names of the winner(s) will be displayed in the next issue. In case of a tie, the first entry will be judged winner. Please write your name and city while sending entries.

SOLUTIONOFCROSSWORD-PUZZLE1/12(SEPT–I):

THREE TRIBES OF ISRAEL: Zebulun, Naphtali and Judah THREE DISCIPLES OF JESUS: Philip, Cephas and Andrew THREE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Jonah, Micah and Job THREE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Mark, Titus and Jude

WINNERSOFPUZZLE1/12:FIRST: Beena Paulson of Sarita Vihar, New Delhi

SECOND: Jaunita Johnson

Adopting a fixed timetable for meals could be a more effective method of dieting than trying to cut out fatty foods, say researchers. People who snack on healthy food can put on weight if their eating patterns are not maintained properly, according to new study.In contrast, the researchers said, sticking to strict meal times is good for the metabolism and helps the body burn off fat, allowing a more liberal choice of food, The Telegraph reported.Previous studies have shown that both a high-fat diet and eating patterns that disrupt the natural body clock can interfere with our metabolism and raise the risk of obesity.Scientists from the Hebrew University of

Jerusalem tested the effects of timing and fat intake on four groups of mice over an 18-week period to determine whether careful scheduling of meals could lower the effects of a high-fat diet.Half were given a high-fat diet that would normally be expected to make them obese. Of these, a quarter was fed at the same time each day and another quarter could eat as much as they liked, whenever they liked.The other half was fed a diet that was lower in fat. Again, one quarter had a fixed feeding time, the other had not.All four of the groups gained weight over the course of the trial, with the group that ate a high-fat diet at irregular intervals

unsurprisingly gaining the most weight, while those on a low-fat, scheduled diet gained the least.But more surprisingly, the mice that had been fed a high-fat diet at regular intervals finished the trial in a better condition than those that ate low-fat foods whenever they wanted, despite both groups consuming the same number of calories overall.The mice in the scheduled, high-fat group had 12 per cent lower body weight, 21 per cent lower cholesterol and 1.4 times higher sensitivity to insulin than the unscheduled, low-fat group.The diet also changed their metabolism so that they burnt off the fats they ingested

to produce energy in between meal times, rather than storing the fat in their bodies.“Our research shows that the timing of food consumption takes precedence over the amount of fat in the diet, leading to improved metabolism and helping to prevent obesity,” the paper quoted Prof Oren Froy, who led the experiment, as saying.“Improving metabolism through the careful scheduling of meals, without limiting the content of the daily menu, could be used as a therapeutic tool to prevent obesity in humans,” he suggested.The study was published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Keeping food diary could be key to staying slim and fit

Vol. XIV No.12 September 16-30, 2012 Published from DelhiPost Box No : 10708, Delhi-110085

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Supporters of imprisoned Iranian Christian Youcef Nadarkhani began celebrating as news reports sur-faced that the pastor had been released by Iranian officials, mere months after it appeared a final execu-tion order had been handed down.

Nadarkhani, 34 and a native Iranian, was found guilty in 2010 of apostasy and sentenced to death for refusing to recant Christianity. He has spent the last three years in jail awaiting his fate.

The American Center for Law and Justice, a con-servative Christian group founded by Pat Robert-son, has been keeping careful tabs on the pastor’s situation, and broke the news of his release Saturday morning on its website.

According to the ACLJ, the pastor was freed fol-lowing a nearly six-hour court appearance. The Washington-based group cited sources “close to the case” as saying officials ultimately lowered his charges from apostasy to evangelizing Muslims, which car-ried a three-year term. Nadarkhani, who has a wife, Tina and two young sons, was therefore released with time served.

Speculation leading up to this most recent hearing in front of the Iranian Supreme Court was that Na-darkhani might be brought up on new security-based charges, which could have been used as an excuse to keep the pastor in jail, Fox reported.

However, speaking to Fox News, Jordan Sekulow,

Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani released

executive director of ACLJ, said the pastor had in-deed been released.

“Today our sources in Iran reported that Pastor Youcef was acquitted of apostasy and released from prison. After languishing in prison for almost three years, he has been reunited with his family,” Sekulow said.

Sekulow subsequently tweeted a picture of Na-darkhani apparently surrounded by family members.

Huff Post Religion

to be taken into police custody and hundreds of Christians reportedly fled the area.The Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), which provides free legal aid to persecuted Christians in Pakistan, welcomed the release of Rimsha but remains concerned for her safety and the welfare of the wider Christian community.It wants to see the Pakistani government take action to stop more unfounded blasphemy charges made against the country’s minorities.Nasir Saeed, CLAAS UK Coordinator commented: “The charge of blasphemy against Rimsha Masih was based on false evidence and this is not an uncommon occurrence in Pakistan. Sadly the blaspemy laws are frequently misused to stir up animosity and hatred towards Christians and even to take their land or property.“We wish to thank the Pakistani and international press for their keen interest in this story and for bringing it to the world’s attention. This has certainly played a part in Rimsha’s release. There are, however, many accusations of blasphemy against Christians and other minorities in Pakistan that never make the news headlines and some of these nameless victims pay the price of these unjust laws with their lives.“Even those who do not fall victim to extra judicial killings face the death penalty or years in prisons where the conditions are terrible. We appeal to the Pakistani government to review these laws with urgency and implement reforms that will bring an end to their misuse and the suffering of minorities.”

Pakistan: Blasphemy girl granted

bail