Jesusgiri....

The other day we screened a movie in church. The name of the movie was Time Changer. Basically the movie talks about how as Christians we cannot separate Christ from His spoken word. Moral values can be subjective. Something that is right for one person can very well be wrong for the other. Who's the right one then?

Had there been no laws, no standard set for right and wrong, the world would've been a culmination of utter chaos (not that it's any less right now: P ). Precisely what the movie said; you cannot separate Christ from his spoken word and the standards that He has set.

A day later I was watching the ever so famous, funny and inspiring, Lage Raho Munnabhai., the sequel to the movie Munnabhai MBBS. The movie that made Sanjay Dutt a household name. The movie that inspired people to walk on the paths of Satyagraha. To get your work done not by force or Dadagiri but by Gandhigiri. Well I must say it is a good movie with a very thought provoking concept. But the makers didn't really do their homework very well. The credit was given to someone who never really deserved it.

It wasn't Gandhigiri that Munnabhai was following. It was what I call, Jesusgiri. Yes you read that right. Think I'm insane? Go get your facts right. Well Mr. Monhandas Karamchand Gandhi may have said that if someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other one rather than hitting him back, but unfortunately or should I say fortunately he does not have the copyrights for the same. Don't believe me. Check this out.

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. - The Bible (NIV), Matthew 5:39

Long before Mr. MK Gandhi even came up with the concept of Satyagraha, Jesus had given this commandment to His people. So now what do you call it?
Gandhigiri or Jesusgiri? Think about it.


Mahatma Gandhi said,” Hate the sin, love the sinner."

Well, good thought Gandhiji. Here's what Jesus had to say 2000 years back....

And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." - Mark 2:17

Well I know for a fact that God hates sin, it’s the one thing that keeps us away from Him. But I also do know that He loves the sinner, more than someone who claims to be without sin.

Well I’m not trying to prove anything here. I’m just saying that you guys are following the wrong person. It was not Gandhi who said all this. He was just quoting what Jesus’ teachings. It is a know fact that Gandhi loved quoting scriptures from the Bible.
Being good and doing the right thing alone will not take you to heaven. It’s not only about following what He said; rather it’s about following Him. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

John 3:16 has to be the most well-known verse from The Bible.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16

It says whoever believes in HIM; not only his teachings. Through Him we are saved.
It’s about having a personal relationship with Him.

Being the human I am, I’d like us to give Him the credit to His teachings. But you know what? He deserves a lot more than just that. He does not want the credit. All He wants is you. He loves you, and died for you and me. The least we can give Him is the life that He has given us.

So remember, it’s not Gandhigiri……………it’s Jesusgiri !!!

Well since I’ve written so much about his teachings, I’d like to end with a Hindi song that talks about the same.....

अपनों को तो, इस दुनिया में

सब प्यार करते हैं

दुश्मन को भी प्यार करना

मसीहा सिखाता है

Just the way you are!

When I was down and all hope was gone
I lay on the road bruised and battered
You picked me up and gave me living water
You saved me, just the way I was

Each time I ran away from You
You waited patiently for my return
Even though I went astray
You took me back, just the way I was

You hung on the cross for my sins
Yet I mocked and spat on your face
Still begged to the Father to forgive me
You forgave me, just the way I was

Till the last breath I breathe
I will tell of your mercies to the world
I will proclaim your name to the ends of the earth
Because you love me, just the way I am

Are you someone looking out for love?
For someone who knows and who cares
Jesus Christ is the one you need to turn to
Because He loves you, just the way you are!

I'll Miss You!

Never thought I’d be leaving
It never crossed my mind
Never thought how life would be without you
It was all right there,
Guess I was pretending to be blind.

You came into my life
Like a silent breeze
Blowing through my hair as you walked by
I could do nothing
But your beauty, sit and stare.

Eventually everyone leaves
How much more can one stay?
There’s a world out there waiting for us
Whether we like it or not
This is LIFE; that’s how we got to play.

Thanks for being there
You mean a lot to me
I’ll cherish every moment spent with you
As I step into a new phase in life
I’ll miss you!

Baldie Blues..... Ep 3

Like any other Sunday I got up early and was getting ready for church. When I was having my bath my mom yelled, "Shampoo chahiye? Ooops, mein toh bhool gayi tum ganje ho.... "

So much for moral support....

I left for church at about 7.15 am. I enter the church, and I get the exact dialogue I was expecting, "Yeh kya kar diya?". I mean can't you see??? I've gone bald. That's what I've done. Why does every other person have to ask the same god damn question? Some of them just add to the question. "Is this your way to beat the heat?", "Is everything fine at your end?","Didn't your parents tell you anything?"....

Most of them asking these stupid questions were the elders. I mean c'mon.. Is it written in the Methodist Church Rule Book that one cannot shave his head??? Alas, all I could do was answer politely with a wide smile as if they didn't bother me at all. Like I had any other option!!! Well as far as the leading the worship part goes, fortunately no one broke into laughter. It was just fine. Although a certain elder did come and tell me how I should not ask the congregation to stand up and clap their hands during worship..... yeah rite!!! Take a hike!!!

So overall it was a very obvious day, very obvious reactions, no rude comments as such. Thank God mum and dad weren't in church today. Or else people would have bombarded them with questions as well. Ohhh and by the way, our very own Dr. Caleb Harris(Surgeon at Tata Memorial & a youth member) has some weird theory about the whole going bald thing...

He says that going bald, helps you to build up you self confidence???? Strange???
Go figure. .. I'm not really sure what He was talking about.....That's it for now... Let's see what's more in store....

To be continued....

Baldie Blues..... Ep 2

Just when I thought everything was going smooth, something just popped out. I got a call from Anand, asking me to lead worship in church tomorrow. He asked me to select a few songs, and I was quite OK with it. Bu then I realized that I'll have to do all this in front of the entire congregation, with my brand new bald look. Gosh! I was so freakin scared. Actually kind of embarrassed.

I don't really have a problem going to church like this, but then leading worship.......I was in a fix. I wasn't sure. I was worried.

What if someone from the congregation burst into laughter??? That would be so embarrassing.

So I called up my beloved elders for help. Both Godfrey and Ashley said it was OK and blah blah blah. Basically encouraged me to go ahead with it. It was good to know that Ashley had done the same last Easter. According to Godfrey Sam Moses, it would be a great lesson for the congregation to not look at the person leading but to look at the Almighty God.

Ya so basically, right now I'm a little nervous to go there with my 'ujdaa chaman'.... I'm hoping everything goes well.

Will update what happens........To be continued

You are who you are for a reason....

It was the official farewell for us TY's in college. Like every year, they had a service in the Chapel for the graduating students. Our beloved Principal, Dr. V. Sirwaiya with his 'witty' humour and 'great vocabulary' and not to mention his excellent sense of dressing, was successful in ruining the entire program. It was after this torture that Prof. Sam Skariah came up and read this poem to us. By far it was the only thing that we could take back. So here it goes....

" The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what He does for us." - Romans 12:3

You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You're just what He wanted to make.

The parents you have are the one's He chose.
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,
And they bear the master's seal.

You are who you are for a reason.
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!

- Russel Kelfer

Baldie Blues..... Ep 1

For the past two days my dad's been nagging me to go and get a haircut. Well today when He comes home, he's in for a shock. Why??? Cause I've gone bald.Yes, you read that right. And my dad had strictly said 'NO' for the same. Why? Coz he thinks that me shaving off my head will result into grey hair. Supposedly that's what happened to him in his teens. And because of this stupid reason, my parents never shaved my hair. Not even when I was an infant. So you can say that I just did something that every child goes through in his early days.

As I entered the shop, the barber asked me, "Daadi banani hai???" Although it was a genuine question, I felt it was very sarcastic. C'mon I hardly have any facial hair }:| . When I told him I wanted a haircut, he was all set with the spray and a pair of scissors. That's when I told him that I need to shave it off. I told him to first trim it off using a zero machine. So he started fooling around with my hair. He trimmed off everything except for a rectangular patch in the center. He was like,"Yeh WWF wale log aise hi baal rakhte hain!". Well it actually looked very funny. And then after some strokes here and there, it was finally done.

How does it feel??? I'd say mixed emotions. My initial reaction was, "Gosh! I miss my mustache." Probably having the mustache would've looked better. Considering the unbearable heat of Mumbai, it feels good. I feel light and cool. My friends started laughing even at the thought of me going bald. My mom couldn't stop laughing when she saw me. My mom thinks I look like a 'gunda'. My neighbour said I look like Viv Richards...yeah rite!! My youth advisor called to ask about my haircut...can you believe that. I don't know, I think I look the same, just minus the hair (|:P)

Well all said and done, I'm happy with the new look. I mean, they grow back don' t they?? It's my first shave in 20 years....it's OK!!! My dad's still not home. I can't wait to see the look on his face. He's gonna be annoyed for sure. But then I'll handle it. If I get a lot of grey hair....i'll go for the salt n pepper look. And then we also have hair color, don't we? Well that's it for now I guess. To be continued.....

You and Me!

With a smile on her face
Innocence in her eyes
She lay on her bed, sleeping.
I wish I could be the one
Lying next to you
And tell you how much,I love You.

I miss the days I spent with you
The time we had together
I wish those days came back again
Just You and Me forever!

Well I still remember the day
The day we first met
O what a sweet sweet time
Violins played my favourite song
And I fell for you
My love for you baby is true.

I miss the days I spent with you
The time we had together
I wish those days came back again
Just You and Me forever!

'Good' Friday?

10-03-2010
What is this 'Good' Friday?
Why is it called 'Good'?
I hear that someone died this day
What's the big deal?
Even you and me one day would

What's so 'Good' about this Friday
Just that someone was hung on a tree?
All criminals died the way He did
How is He different
Why should they have set him free?

They say He was the Son of God
That He died for you and me
They say He is our Saviour
Know the truth
And the truth shall set you free

I'd wonder why they call it 'Good' Friday
Shouldn't it be a day of mourning?
Why celebrate a day of someone's death
I know why
Because He took away all my suffering

Now I know why it is 'Good'
I realize the significance of that day
On the cross of Calvary my Saviour died
He shed His blood
So that we could live this day

Today I celebrate Good Friday
Because for me He paid the price
But every cell in my body now knows
That He is God
And on the third day, from the grave
HE DID RISE!

SUNDAY to SUNDAY...

02/03/2010

Yesterday was a fun day
That's how every Sunday is
They call it the day of resting
That's a good enough reason for me

Mondays can get very irritating
You get a list of things to be done
On your mark, get set and GO!
It's the end of the weekend fun

Tuesdays you actually start working
Your in the right frame of mind
Your boss just loves to get on your nerves
But still you behave as if you don't mind

Wednesday is like the midway to the week
You've got so much on your head by now
Time flies as you get all your work done
You just want to get it done somehow

Thursdays can get very hectic
Finsh work and off to church for practise
By the time your home your half dead
All you can think of is to hit the bed.

Friday is when you start planning your weekend
Work is done just for formality sake
You boss hates you coz he has no plans for himself
You just give him a smile that is obviously so fake

Saturday morning, no work, all play
You wait for this day like no tommorow
Afternoon shopping and evening to church
Nothing better than this to forget your sorrows

Once again it's a lazy Sunday
Once again comes the day of rest
However good any day in the week may be
There's nothing like a sunday; It's the BEST!

P.S - This one is dedicated to all my working friends from my youth group :D

A Piece of My Mind!

28/02/2010

My parents say this is what I should do
Just because they themselves at some point wanted to
Are parents supposed to impose their dreams on us?
Can someone give me an answer, I have no clue
I'm confused!

They say we know whats best for you
But the truth is they don't know me at all
Still they want to take all the decisions for me
Please for once let me take the call
I'm pleading!

They did all in their capacity to give me the best
I'm not saying they don't love me
They may have seen a lot more than what I have
I just don't want to be you, I want to be ME
Let Me be!

I'm not saying what you say is wrong
But you can't always be right, can you?
I'm expecting a lot more than just career guidance
I have so much more to tell you
We should talk!

If only you could understand what I'm going through
All I want to do is speak my mind
If I can't run to you with my problems
Who else in this cruel world can I find?
Are you listening?

Even I've got my own dreams, my desires
And I wish to fulfill them before its too late
Just for once look at things from my perspective
Why is that only your choices are great?
I too have a plan!

I hope you won't be offended by all this
I know someday you would understand
We all make plans for what we want from Life
But I believe He already has everything planned
I Trust him!

PS - Just wanted to give you a piece of my mind

Take A Hike

21/02/2010
This is for all the so called CRITICS!


At times when I'm on my own
And have nothing else to do
I sit and write these poems of mine
Wasting time, paper and ink, blue

Why do I write them, they ask
Why waste time on something so lame
I really don't have an answer for this
I have no one else but myself to blame

I know my poems aren't that great
I need to work on my writing skills
Someday when I become a better poet [like that's gonna happen ;)]
I'll probably use them to pay my bills

All said and done, I still love my poems
I never wrote them to please any of you
If you still have issues with what I write
Just don't read them, go TAKE A HIKE!

UNtitled.

20/02/2010

A boy and a girl
Why cant they just like each other
Now when she is madly in love with Him
The ignorant pig doesn't even care to bother

A few years later
The guy liked a girl fair and pretty
He thought He'd impress the girl for sure
He thought He was very witty

He wanted to be sure about Her
So he went about taking a public poll
Surprised was he to see the response
The Result:Dude! Don't get into this 'Jhol'

Was it the end of His story?
Maybe it would have been,but then He met Her
This time He was God damn sure about it
He said,"Dude! Were just way too similar"

Watched and waited
He wanted to take one day at a time
So what if she was No.2 in a year
Does the Indian Penal Code say it's a crime?

And then just when He was sure
The whole world went for a toss
Someone else grabbed the chance He had
A Rolling stone gathers no moss

"Alas! I was late", He said
If only I didn't wait for the sun to rise
Things would have been so much different right now
I wouldn't have had to pay such a heavy price

Things didn't look that bright since then
He was in an extremely dicey situation
"Dhobi ka Kutta, Na ghar ka na ghat ka "
Something like that was His condition

Finally He got back to his senses
He understood how big a fool He was
There was someone who loved him all along
He understood that He was the one at loss

One fine day He went up to Her
"Look, I've been a jerk all this while", He said
He asked,"Girl, do you still love me?"
"Of course I do you dumbass", she said

All's well that ends well
It was fate that had brought them together
Marriages are made in Heaven, they say
And they lived happily ever after!


P.S - The characters and situations mentioned in this note are NOT fictitious :P

Beauty!

11/02/2010
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who’s the fairest of them all?
"Not you for sure", it said
With a heavy heart I go to bed

Next day morning I see myself
In the same mirror that insulted me
"I am fearfully and wonderfully made", it says
Couldn’t you work a little more on me?

Every single day as I face this world
I see people so handsome and pretty
Where the hell did I go wrong?
Why was I made this ugly?

If you think all this is a joke
Why don’t we switch lives for a day?
You’ll realize how low I feel this night
The feeling is not very happy and gay

Why O Lord, why have you forsaken me?
In this world so cruel and bad
I thought you were my only refuge
I thought with you I’d never be sad

But then I look at the unprivileged
At the children without their mom and dad
"Don’t you think you have a better life?", He said
I realized how blessed I was!
I felt so glad!

Reality Check!

06/02/10
The first time I met her
We hit it off really well
Who would have known?
That in my heart she’d dwell

As days went by
We met almost everyday
I asked her,” What’s your favorite song? ”
She said, “How to save a life by The Fray!”

Eventually I fell for her
It was but a little obvious
My friends said try and get over it
And I was pretty sure I would

The day had come for me to decide
‘Aaj ya toh aar ya phir paar’
I decided to give it a shot
I was pretty sure it wont go ‘Bekaar’

Never did I think
That I would have the guts to do it
Don’t know about you
I was damn sure I’d screw it

With all the courage I could gather
I walked myself to her
Shedding all my inhibitions
I told her how I felt about her

And just when she was about to reply
A splash of water on my face
I wake up
I realize
I was DREAMING!

The Curious Case Of The Stolen Slippers

02/02/2010
Someone wearing a shoe
Wanting to go to the Loo
Took away his slippers
Finders keepers losers weepers.

"I'll take away your sandals", he said
He was in a hurry to go home
It was a neat brown pair
The sole was made up of foam.

He finally found it inside a bag
Someone just played a stupid prank
None of us helped him to find his pair
No one but himself he had to thank.

The lecture was so damn boring
I had nothing else to do
Wrote these lines for a friend of mine
When He was busy in the Loo!


I wrote this in the practical lab today when my friend's Slippers went missing!

Special thanks to Benitto a.k.a BABA and Jeruel a.k.a Jerry!

FastTrack!!!

A year has passed by
I'm stuck at square one
The situation demands 'Do or Die'
I'm in no mood for fun.

I tried to get over it
Easier said than done
I might have lost the battle
The war is yet to be won

I feel like a fool
I feel so darn stupid
Who's to blame for this mess?
Is it me or is it cupid?

A year has passed by
I'm stuck at square one
I still haven't found the answer
Is she really the one?

This is where my journey ends
In a few months I will be gone
May be we were never meant to be
I guess it's time to MOVE ON!!!

Is She The One?

24/01/2010

I met this girl in college,
She had a pretty smile
Could she be the one for me?
I pondered for a while.

We met, we spoke and time passed by,
She swept me off my feet
I’d look at her from the corner of my eye,
Sweeter than the sweetest sweet.

Time passed by, we became good friends,
For life I hope we be
I wish her all the love and care,
I hope she’ll remember me.

I think to myself, is she the one?
The one I long to see?
I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
Bono keeps reminding me.