Talking Donkey

...but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm  -  Proverbs 1:33

Dear Saints in the making,

Here's a question for you,what would you do if you found yourself in the company of a talking donkey ? I understand that even finding a normal non-talking donkey in B'lore is tough,let alone a talking donkey.In-fact I don't even remember seeing a donkey in B'lore ever (except for people sometimes behaving like donkeys that is,me included).But for a moment lets contemplate this impossible scenario,while you are thinking,here are my thoughts on this,I'll first try to understand what the donkey is saying,then if it has something interesting to say I'll indulge in a conversation with it and when it starts getting boring I'll try to sell the donkey thru eBay, if it is an uninteresting donkey I'll immediately try to sell it thru eBay (I believe there are enough schmucks in this world who would like to buy a talking donkey,interesting or un-interesting) both ways -  I'll be rich  ha ha ha very rich.... ha ha ha ha ha ha

Jokes apart,in the Bible there was this guy who found himself in the company of a talking donkey,his name was Balaam ( Numbers 22-24 ).He was a very influential diviner who, although aware of the true God YAHWEH, made his services available on a freelance basis.He was commissioned by King Balak of Moab to put a curse on the incoming Israelites (BAD IDEA - U don't mess with JEHOVAH's people.Period.) God warns him but he ignores it and chooses to follow his own plans,finally God makes his pet donkey speak to him and thereby gets his attention.Like Balaam many a times we have this inclination of not listening to God's voice and going our own ways.We do have this little voice inside telling us not to go a particular way,but we choose to ignore it.Dearly beloved,as disciples of God,we really only have one job... to follow God and only God.To do what God wants and only what God wants.To say what God would say and only what God would say. As disciples of God and followers of Christ we ought to listen to that small voice of the Holy Spirit guiding us and warning us when on a wrong path.The question is, - "Are we listening to this small voice,or would God our father have to make a donkey speak in our lives to get our attention ? "  People,are we listening ?

Open your hearts to the Holy Spirits promptings today.

THINK THIS OUT 2DAY

God does not command us to live in hair shirts and chains, or to chastise our flesh with scourges, but to love Him above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. - --Saint Charles of Sezze

SAY THIS OUT LOUD 2DAY
My hope is in Christ, who strengthens the weakest by His Divine help. I can do all in Him who strengthens me. His Power is infinite, and if I lean on him, it will be mine. His Wisdom is infinite, and if I look to Him for counsel, I shall not be deceived. His Goodness is infinite, and if my trust is stayed in Him, I shall not be abandoned.

luv n prayers,
Piyush

Steve Jobs and Evangelization

"He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.." - Mark 16:15

Dear Saints in the making,
"The post below has borrowed heavily from the writings of Eric Sammons "

About a month back the Consumer Electronics Show was held in Las Vegas and the big buzz was for tablet computers. It seems every tech company is jumping on the craze created by Apple’s iPad. What I found fascinating was comparing the sales pitch for these new tablets with the one given by Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs last year when he announced the iPad.
When Jobs was talking about the iPad, he spoke about it being “magical” and how it is a great way to experience the Internet. He gave practical examples of using the iPad and emphasized its ease of use and how fun it is to use.
When the others introduced their tablets, they talked about how they had dual-processors, included so many gigs of memory, and ran the latest Android OS. They reiterated the great tech specs their tablet had compared to the iPad and other tablet devices.
Which do you think is the more effective sales technique? The non-Apple CEOs were selling toothpaste; Steve Jobs was selling white teeth. Instead of focusing on the details of his product, Jobs instead focuses on how his product will change people’s lives.


I think this topic tells us something about how to effectively evangelize.


If you look at the early Church, especially in New Testament times, you see that the first apostles took the “white teeth” approach to evangelizing. They proclaimed that they had seen the risen Lord and that he had transformed their lives. Again and again St. Paul speaks of the transformation his experience with Christ had on his life – and that others can have the same transformation. He did not get into the details of exactly how Christ is God or things of that nature; he spoke of the power of Christ to change lives.
When evangelizing, eventually one will need to discuss the details of the Faith: exactly what the Church teaches and why. But that is not the main thing ; instead as Jesus Youth we must proclaim that Christ has changed our lives and that He can change yours as well. Those who are in most need of Christ will be drawn to our experience and it will lead them to want to know more about this Jesus Christ and His Church that have so radically changed our lives.So today in our workplaces,our homes,our schools and our colleges,let us take the 'white teeth' approach.As Jesus Youth we have been called to demonstrate the life changing power of Christ to the people around us.There are only 4 Gospels in the New Testament,we are the 5th and sadly we could be the only Gospel that some people will ever read.So Saints,rise up to the occasion.Onward Christian Soldiers...........................


Have a spirit-filled day !


Point2Ponder:
Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only: there is nobody to make them Christians. -- St. Francis de Xavier


Prayer Intentions:
Pray for Vocations
Pray for all the prayer groups active in and around Bangalore.
 
Courtesy - Mr.Eric Sammons - http://ericsammons.com/
Composed by  - Piyush Philip

Patron Saint of Software Engineers ???

       "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" - Mat 5:6

Dear Saints in the making,

A few months back I was having trouble with the delivery of a piece of software.I was assigned the development of a particular set of code and the way things were going I didn't see the delivery happening on the specified date.I mean 1 woman + 9 months - 1 child possible but 9 women + 1 month - no child,common-sense,eh ? But,its all part of my job...and after many days and nights of slogging I tried to take in some extra help...special help.I thought I'll find the patron saint of software engineers,and ask for his/her intercession.So here I was,googling 'Patron Saint of Software Engineers'....I searched,I searched and then I searched some more...but to no avail.I mean there is St. Isidore of Seville,but he is the 'Patron Saint of the Internet',its too generic,I wanted someone specific and I wanted someone quick.But no such luck,apparently we don't have a 'Patron Saint of Software Engineers' as of now.So I called on my old and trusted friend 'St.Jude Thaddaeus' the 'Patron of Hopeless Cases' and hopeless I was.As expected,I got my inspiration through his intercession and I am happy to say that things went smooth and everything happened with clockwork precision. All God's grace.

This brings me to an important point - aren't all of us supposed to strive for sainthood ? BTW who is a saint ? The dictionary definition - 'person of exceptional holiness' . The goal of all Christians should be to become as holy and perfect as Jesus,our Lord and Saviour.The Masses we attend,the prayer groups we go to,the Confessions we do,the Rosaries we say,all of them have a common purpose - to help us on our road to sainthood.Dearly beloved,this is my challenge for you today - that all of us strive for sainthood.So humble yourself before the Lord and ask for this very special grace.I consider myself to be a work in progress and to tell you the truth I intend to become 'The Patron Saint of Software Engineers'. { NOTE - This position already has a contender - ME,my advice - FIND YOUR OWN NICHE } What's so funny ? The position as you know is vacant I may as well try for it,right ? And yes on our walk we may fall,but always remember this adage,'every saint had a past and every sinner has a future'. So,keep walking ! Hope and pray that you enjoy your road to sainthood.

Have a righteous day in the Lord !

Point2Ponder :

"Ultimately life holds only one tragedy - not to have been a saint." - Charles Péguy

Prayer Intentions:

• Holy Father's Prayer Intention(General) - That the family may be respected by all in its identity and that its irreplaceable contribution to all of society be recognized.
• Holy Father's Prayer Intention(Mission) - That in the mission territories where the struggle against disease is most urgent, Christian communities may witness to the presence of Christ to those who suffer.
• Pray that every Jesus Youth strives for holiness and righteousness.

Written by - Piyush Philip , Bangalore Jesus Youth