The Holy Communion Service 16.09.2012

The worshippers have five minutes of quiet contemplation. David’s song breaks the silence when the Pastor reads aloud Psalms 46: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging”. The scripture appeals to the gathering in the wake of the threats against the North-East Indians and also violent protests against the anti-Islamic film ‘Innocence of Muslims’. Each member of the Church being susceptible to such violent attacks, he praises God for His loving cares and begs for their spiritual and physical wellbeing. With the selected hymns, “Krist sisan pha vang a..” , “Lamdang lua sa in”- My Savior’s Love (BNL 168) and “Gamla pi Mual tung ah” – The Rugged Cross (BNL 87), the worshippers immerse in the spirit. The power supply being pathetic, the lead by Worship Team (WT) with an unplugged music consisting of an acoustic guitar and traditional drum makes the worship inspiring in a different way. The disciples pour out to the Lord in prayer. The congregation rises to the 4th hymn, “Kalvari Mual tung tua zingsang khat”- Blessed Redeemer (BNL 121) as the offering bowl was brought in. Upa Thiankhanmuan dedicates the same to the Lord in prayer. After a brief report on the ‘Spiritual Retreat’ in Hyderabad and his subsequent tour to Bangalore which was extremely blessed with remarkable levels of attendances, the Pastor comes to the topic of the day, ‘Spiritual Warfare’. As in the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ there is no amplification of the natural pitch. And as in the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ the message somehow gets across. The Whole Armor of God-Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV) is read out by the Pastor. The life of a victor is not absence of wars and battles. It is crucial to know the strategy adopted by the enemy. ‘Knowing the enemy’ forms a whole topic that is being elaborated in the next Sunday. The Pastor prefers to give guidance on the desirable equipment protocols in the fight against the enemy i.e. Satan. For the forces that a Christian fights against are not of flesh and blood, but are the evil spirits that controls the world. There is a unique way of fighting against such forces. Head of the Catholics, the Pope himself has once observed that the elements of disruptions in the world need to be fought with love. Thus fine tuning of one’s thinking and conduct with God’s ways is indispensable. The strength to ask forgiveness of our tormentors while being tormented is a challenge a Christian must take, in the accordance with the example set by Jesus. All Christians are perpetual warriors in the Spirit. In fact the great counselor Joyce Meyer states that the mind is a battlefield. So the fight has a target standard worth achieving which is victory over the World, the forces of which in that context always manifest itself through human imperfections and frailties like making of worldly choices, greed, arrogance, etc. An eminent Christian evangelist once played video game with his son. In the course of playing the game, under pressure of certain situation in the game, his son happened to utter the ‘F’ word. While he was battling against emotion of anger, God said to him, “Satan is trying to snatch your son”. So, hugging his son he pleaded, “My son, Satan has tried to snatch you away from God. We should not give him a chance”. With this story the pastor underscores the need to ask oneself how far one takes the struggle against Satan. Hence the indispensable need of arming oneself with God’s complete armor: (i)                The girdle of Truth. While writing the epistle to the Ephesians, Paul was in prison, always exposed to the sight of full armored guards. Sheath is attached with the girdle worn by the guards. The sheath moves about freely without causing discomfort to the wearer, even though the knife or sword comes in handy. Therefore the girdle should be a belt of truth. As Jesus himself has said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’. (ii)              Breastplate of Righteousness. The heart of this matter is found in the honesty of God fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Putting faith in Jesus Christ endows one a share in God’s honesty. (iii)            Feet shod with the Gospel of Peace. The feet is mentioned even in the Romans 10:15 in connection with the gospel. (iv)            Shield of Faith – to ward off fiery darts. (v)              Helmet of Salvation- this is also certainly for protection and better sight. (vi)            Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (vii)          Supplication in the Spirit – In the absence of prayer, the rest will come to naught. Prayer should be consistent, focused and unselfish. Concluding the sermon in prayer, the Pastor goes ahead in serving the Lord’s Supper. Holy Communion – is done in obedience, in remembrance of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. It’s also part of witnessing and propagating the gospel. One who decides to take part in it is advised to retrospect oneself. For the  Lord ‘knoweth how to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished’.  Fundamentally no one is good enough to partake of salvation, except through faith in the Son of God, by grace. As such discretion is recommended in partaking of the Holy Communion. The Minister reads out Mark 14:22-24 New International Version (NIV) as the elders come forward to assist 22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. Althrough the Minister quotes noteworthy lines and phrases of Christ and reminds the partakers of the significance of the Lord’s Supper. George Bennard’s ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ (BNL 87) is sung till all the 200 worshippers have had their share. Thereafter the Minister prays for grant of a life of victory to the partakers of the symbolic flesh and blood of Christ. The congregation rises to the last hymn, “Simlei haksatna tuang nung siah in” Beyond the earthly anguish (BNL 466). The tea fellowship and customary greeting that follows benediction, is a washed with a reprise by the WT of the last hymn. By- Lianpu Tonsing Media Team http://ebccdelhi.org/activities/latest-news/298-holy-communion-service--september-16-2012.html

Emotional Sunday 09.09.2012

On reaching the Church the disciples were helped into rows of seats in the still air filled with soft music. Upa Songzalian, of the Worship Team (WT) took the stand and welcomed the congregation in the name of Christ.
With the first hymn, “Hong pai un...” - Come let us worship the Lord, the congregation praised the Lord for the saving work of Jesus. Then WT Songzalian dedicated the worship to the Lord in prayer.  That was followed by the second hymn, “Kris Sisan pha”-  The Precious Blood of Christ, then came up the third hymn, “Ka Jesu, Ka Honpa”- My Jesus, my Saviour”. The worshippers  shouted to the Lord whose promise compares with Nothing. From there the worship moved over to Prayer. The humble submission of the worshippers continued with tunes and music and the chanting of “Nang bang omlou” No one like you Lord!, until the Mass Prayer was concluded by WT Lydia. As praises continued with the fourth hymn, “Mikhial (sual) Siam tanna Kros”- The Cross of redemption, the offering bowl was brought by Ushers from BYF South Extension, which was dedicated in prayer by Upa Kamsuanthang.
Pastor V. Nenglian who is away to Hyderabad on the request of Eimi Christian Fellowship, in connection with their Summer Retreat extending till the 13^th September, had requested Upa Damsawmthang to take the pulpit.
As a typical non-chaplain exposition, his was not as much a 'sermon' as a 'sharing' which has its own charm. The Upa who came down to Delhi in the late 1980s with his big family of nine (?) has more stories than could be related in a worship service- about how his family was crammed in a one-room flat in Delhi's Munirka, how he endured the trials and tribulations as an assistant through becoming a class I category officer in the country's Defence Headquarters and how his wife who stood behind him all through the years, was battling with diabetes. He was emotional about the rough and tumble of life he had to go through, and the eventual dawning of happy days.  Last year he was blessed with a daughter-in-law and a grand-son. And recently his eldest son joined as probationary officer in a public sector bank. Due to such worldly blessings he is at the peak of joy. What a joy it is attaining everlasting life, he intoned.
Based on the scripture 1 Peter 1:3-12, the Speaker focused himself on how hope has influenced discipleship
Praise to God for a Living Hope
³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. ¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, ¹¹ trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Drawing special attention to verse 8, the speaker expressed his perception of the power of faith, even in the realm of darkness. Faith and love that spring from the hope stored up in heaven as written by Paul in his epistle to the Colossians, is the element that sustains disciples. Abraham and Sarah, who were as good as dead, moved to a place they never knew, became descendants of people as numerous as the stars and sand; Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau; Joseph spoke about the exodus of Israelites from Egypt; infant Moses was hid for three months, he grew up and chose to be mistreated with God’s people than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin; people passed through the Red Sea; the walls of Jericho fell; prostitute Rahab was saved; some face jeers and flogging, even chains and imprisonment. Faith is the element that fuelled such steadfastness in all these testimonies.
The speaker recalled the faith of, and love for God found in the life of a pastor, who sang, ..'deny me not Thy Kingdom and Righteousnes, whatever!'
Before concluding the session, the Upa welcomed the first timers.
Thereafter the congregation rose to the last hymn, BNL No. 336 Sa in Jesu Itna lamdang The session was concluded with benediction by Upa Tualzalang.
http://ebccdelhi.org/activities/latest-news/296-congregation-worship--september-09-2012.html

Sunday Worship Service - 02 September '12

The lively gathering of disciples sang about life after the departure of the mortal body and the eventual entry of the soul to the new life, which is metaphorically referred to as the New Jerusalem.

The WT consisting of Ms Sonkim, Ms Lydia, Ms Mankhodim, Ms Remmawi with Mr. Thangsuanmung at the head reminded the believers from Churachandpur district of Manipur, about the undesirable state of affairs prevailing at home, which spelt out the implicit need of God to take over. The hymn, Ka gam uah Nang vai hawm in”, the resort of the helpless Christians, which happens to be the most frequent prayer song, seems to have more and more relevance even in the 20^th year of foundation of the Church. ‘Love’ and ‘Affection’ are gone. The Lord is begged for forgiveness, with entreaty in music, in songs and in Mass Prayer.

The WT led the gathering in chanting, “Kagam uah Nang Vai hawm in”. Mung made the final conclusion of Mass Prayer.

The wealth in terms of love, happiness, peace of mind and of course material that comes with Life in the Spirit, is anything but the result of human effort. The believers rose with the hymn, “Ka phu lou hi”- I don’t deserve. The worship in offering collected by the ushers from South Extension area BYF, was dedicated to God by Upa T. Tuanmuanthang. In terms of Indian Rupee (INR), whose exchange rate with the US Dollar comes to 55.6 for a dollar, average collection in a worship service, excluding tithes and other collections for specific purposes, comes to 5000/-  which is about US $ 90.

Drawing from the Psamist’s words, ‘I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the LORD's name for saving me’, the Pastor V. Nenglian took the pulpit for the service of Pastoral Prayer. The blessings in August, the birthdays and anniversaries in September and a host of challenges to be taken up in spirit and in body, were brought in prayer before the Almighty God.

Mr. Suakzathang and his wife Ms Muanching have contributed in the work of translating, publishing and distributing the word of God. The tradition of ceremonious handing over of certificates during annual conferences in Nagaland is relaxed under special consideration. On the request of Pastor Nenglian the tokens of honor received through courier from the Bible Society of India (BSI), were handed over by Dr. Rev. Luaichinthang, who attended the Church by chance.

That was followed by dedication to the Lord of the newly born child Jabase Lalmuan s/o Jose L. Thawnkhanlian, Secretary, Baptist Missions Committee.

Dr. Jamzathang, a pioneer in the missions, happened to join the worship service. The Pastor offered him the stand for a short sharing. The self styled missionary, who was in Delhi for personal reasons, has concern for fellow Zomis since 30 years. During his official tours he seldom put up in hotels to fulfill his desire for a fellowship in Christ with Zomi officers working in cities. The missionary who hails from Vangaitang and grew up in Bungmual, basically wanted to be a pilot. He attended a public rally in Lamka public ground and there, he changed his mind. A contemporary of EBCC Delhi members like Dr. Upa B. Langkham and Upa Kaithang Thomte, Dr. David decided to become a doctor in 1970. In July 1973 the apparently foolish decision of a fellow Mizo Mr. Lalchuangliana, an elite officer in the Civil Service, to leave behind the vehicles (garis), the swanky government residential accommodation (bangla) and the fat salary, in order to devote his full time in the service of the Lord, dealt a big blow to his spiritual life. Consequently David decided to study medicine to serve God and God alone. He had been in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, been in Evangelical Union, and when he was in Dibrugarh, he spread the gospel to his fellow students and as the years went by most of his fellow MBBS students in Dibrugarh became missionaries. After marriage with Dr. Didim, David went to Duncan, Bihar. Then he went to South India, worked for some time before being back to Bihar. The next time he returned to south India, he took charge of Van Allen Hospital as Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

Post retirement from regular service, David returned to Lamka in the year 2001. In July of the same year, he established a hospital in Gangpimual, Lamka, which is a non-denominational one. On the first day he treated four patients and earned INR 240/-. Today with a staff strength of 25 and an operation theatre the hospital earns a fair amount of income per working day. About stories of God’s guidance in his life, David said he could go on narrating for days.

God’s greatest counsel to David was to find out the need of the society, identify the talent and ability in his own self, and then only enlist the support of the masses. While at the same time calling for his fellow pensioners to toe the same line, he challenged the Zomis still in service to think about the state of anarchy in Lamka and make up their minds. “Aw lung in I gel ding uh”- Come, let’s think about it, he quoted the song sung a few minutes earlier.  

According to David, drug addicts and prostitutes in the contemporary Lamka, are, in relative terms, saints. He yearned for the days of the 1940s and 1950s when honesty of men was universal.

Apart from the many points he made, one passionate suggestion made by him was received with wild applause; instead of out casting elopers (lovers), the Church ought to outcast absentee Government employees.

Fully endorsing the report, the encouragement and the challenge of Dr. David, Pastor Nenglian emphasized the need for a follow up. He also highlighted the harmony of David’s message with the theme of the Church for the month of September; discipleship and the life of victory.

Victory, in the Christian context, has its essence i.e., (i) a sanctified life, (ii) a Holy life and (iii) a Christlike life.

To elucidate the topic of the life of victory, Pastor quoted Alban Douglas, who said, “the things that I most craved for when I was born again, was holiness and becoming like Christ. I went to Bible College and God said to me: do you think you are closer, by any degree, to what you crave for?”

Some are like Douglas, some have no craving. For believers, there are wars to fight even physically. It takes some courage to say, “Thy will be done”. Naturally you’d be having agendas. If you don’t, you better not start at all. A Christian zeal alone, according to the Pastor, is not going to take one anywhere. A true Christian ought to live above the worldly things. Post celebration of Gospel centenary, it’s not the best thing to try to attain a life of victory from singers or speakers. It only comes from God.

Quote: 1 John 5: 4&5

⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

The scripture says that unless one is of God, believes in the Son of God, he or she cannot overcome the world. The Indian Parliament could not function, be it with the BJP or the Congress, no transaction of business, only disruption. It’s a classic case of people who don’t believe in the Son of God.

Three undesirable human characteristics: (i) Being impressed that one is perfect; (ii) Having no inclination to make effort; and (iii) Having never achieved what you longed for.

Man has a tendency to forget or overlook the power and swing of sin in this world, which results in a host of undesirable evils which could manifest in things like sleeping with a neighbor’s wife. And when one says that it’s the will of God and things are going to be fine, a question arises whether there is a life of victory.

Some people look for a standard/a benchmark, and ask for forgiveness, then sin, then ask forgiveness, then sin… a vicious circle. There are elements a Christian has to battle against.

The elements a Christian is set against, as stated in Ephesians 6:12 are being dwelled on in the Next Worship Service (probably the 16^th). But a Christian needs to be battle ready first and foremost. Allowing God in one’s inner self, is the key. It’s about faith.

According to C.G. Trumbell, Faith does nothing; Faith let's God do it all. The life of victory is putting plenty of faith in God. It’s not trying to do so many things. In other words, it is trusting and not trying. Trusting in the Lord is to identify with God.

God has forbidden us to allow parts of our body to commit sin. And there is the divine assurance, as in the Romans that says that dying in and along with Him, in His death, certainly, means resurrecting with Him. Therefore a Christian has to kill what ought to be killed, reveal what ought to be revealed and be armed the way he or she ought to be armed.

The Pastor implored God to instill love for fellow Zomis among the disciples, and to help them to live a life of victory. That’s the last prayer in the Church before his return from Hyderabad, where he is scheduled to attend some official duty from 6 to 13 September.

The congregation rose to the last hymn, Tung Thangvan Gamnuam Ah Tatsa Te'n La Sa (BNL 32).

Thereafter, benediction from Upa Chinsum concluded the worship service

http://ebccdelhi.org/activities/latest-news/294-congregation-worship--september-02-2012.html

GBC Day Worship Service

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The Grace Bible College (GBC) Day for the year 2012 happens to fall on the first day of the second half of the year. So the occasion beckoned in the second half of the year as well. The first hymn,  ‘Toupa Nong Itna Lian hi’ – Lord Your Love for me is Great, rightly set the tone for the worship service. In the absence of Jesus Christ, life – be it the first six months of a year or ‘damlai khovel’ (one life in this world) as a whole, is just a worthless wilderness. Therefore the Worship Team (WT) led the congregation in pouring out the inherent spiritual emotion with the third hymn “Aw Pasian Nanglou Lawm dang nei keng” (No Friend Have I God, But You).  It’s a resolve to follow Jesus through the thorny and the barricaded path. Then the WT steered the worship to another medium, i.e., mass prayer.

The mass prayer was followed by the fourth hymn, “Aw Bible, Aw Bible” which was sang while the offering bowl was brought in by the ushers. The offering was dedicated by Upa Tuanmuanthang.

It was Upa Kamsuanthang, who made a report on the Church’s achievement its the ministry through GBC, an institution set up for academic and ministerial excellence 20 years ago.

-13 lecturers have taught in the college. Apart from the lecturers there are librarians, registrars and non-teaching staff working for GBC.

-130 regular students and 97 students through correspondence are enlisted with the college at the moment.

-3 courses are offered by the institution:

                Diploma in Theology offered to Matriculates

                Bachelor in Theology offered to Intermediates

                Master of Divinity offered to Graduates

The GBC has got accreditation from Asian Theological Academy for a period of 5 years from early 2012.

The college also conducted home based care in collaboration with The Evangelical Alliance Relief (TEAR) Fund, a Christian international aid and development agency. The project is specifically targeting HIV affected people. There is class room instruction as well as instruction given through house visits. Based on the model of care given by Jesus Himself, the team had also toured Thanlon and Singngat areas. Upa Kamsuanthang highlighted the dismal performance of Delhi EBCC members in supporting the GBC by giving the following statistics relating to contribution to GBC:

Category of Participation              Amount of donation       Number of EBCC  Delhi members

                                                                (in Indian Rupees)

Special Patron                                   5000/-                                   NIL

Group Patron                                    1000/-                                   1             

Individual Patron                              500/-                                     13          

Memorial Gift                                    400/-                                     2

Anniversary                                        400/-                                     NIL

Life Member                                      300/-                                     NIL

The Upa encouraged the gathering to come forward and diversify their ministry with such contributions.

Even at the moment of unsatisfactory participation, however the fate of GBC is so far so good. In other words it has never been in want.

It is customary to hold a pastoral prayer in the first Sunday worship service. The Pastor reminded the faithfuls about Lord’s mercy as he read out Psalms 23. Giving thanks for the blessings in spirit and in material terms, he intoned the Lords guidance and presence in the lives of the believers all through the month.

In a formal way the pastor instilled a sense of ownership to the church goers by asking them to rise from their seats under one pretext or another with regard to their involvement with GBC. At least 4 members in the congregation have attended, taught in, or made decision with regard to the GBC. And most of them have walked inside the GBC compound. Even a handful of the worshippers who have not, were encouraged to do so at least once in life.

The establishment of the seat of teaching, exchange and preservation of the word of, or truth about God is important. The Bible consists of 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. About 40 servants of God authored it, which took 1600 years in writing. Literally Bible or biblio (as derived), in Greek, means a book. II Timothy 3:16 says the Bible is inspired by God.

The Bible is canonized in AD 180, is said to have no mistake in the Bible Saint John 1:18 says, God is a soul, no one has ever seen Him. On the other hand Exodus 24:10 says that the leaders of Israel saw God. Still there is no contradiction. You look at the mirror, what you see is you, but it is not you. Therefore the scholars find no contradiction.

Why teach and preserve?

i)                    The Bible is living and is powerful (Hebrew 4:12) The highly researched works of Plato are not read daily as a nourishment, while the Bible is. As a mirror, it’s telling us what we are and what our minds are. In fact, Bible reading changes life. (Psalms 119:9, Hebrew 11:3)

ii)                   It’s a leading light.(Psalms 119:105)

iii)                 It’s a spiritual diet. Jesus said that man does not live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4; Ephesians 4:12)

So the question is as to what extent you have given efforts in the teaching and preservation of the Bible.

After the concluding remarks the Pastor reminded the Church about the Summer Retreat scheduled to be undertaken during July 6-7, 2012 in Dehradun where at least two worship services are expected to be held. On return therefrom, the Church is looking forward to hosting a Guest speaker, Rev. Dr. Isak  Ahmed, President, NIBBCS, Silchar, on July 8.

In accordance with the tradition in the Church, the first timers were introduced and welcomed.

Thereafter the last hymn of the day, “A Sang zaw lam ka delh tawn tung” was sung invoking the backing of the Lord in endeavors to climb over higher and still higher planes in the gospel.

In benediction of the worship service Upa Chinsum acknowledged the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and called for Its blessings in times to come.                         

The worshippers shook hands with the Pastor and his team of elders in the gleeful air filled with the musical poslude of  ’Hong Phat ing Toupa’ from the Worship Team.

http://ebccdelhi.org/activities/latest-news/270-gbc-day-2012-worship-service.html

Rich Dad

How’s your rich dad, you fortunate one,

Living on two square meals a day.

He worked hard for a good life.

With emotion he confided his concerns,

He must’ve held a concept even of happiness,

Alas! He'd never mentioned it, nor had I asked.

Did I see you driving a lambo,

Wooing greatness with speed?

I doubt that such idling and revving of cash,

Can make a rock star of you,

And the gallons of wasted fuel,

Will ever translate into bliss.

The nightly party and drowning spree,

That never makes you free,

Even as you splurge so much money.

They say it's chic and trendy,

Aren’t you just a five star beggar,

Asking for plastic wows and wahs?

But when you are tired of your ways,

And are ready to sit and reflect?

Together we can start business,

Bring changes and create a future,

Karma, destiny, these are just bakwash,

If you have the courage to believe!

A Trim Line Bible

Unless a person has plans to study theology or take the pulpit or is given some responsibility in the affairs of the Church, excuses come in handy before one turns to read the Bible. A person is likely to go through the morning papers while having breakfast, tear away midway through reading reports about Champions League. If you are living in big cities there is the unavoidable task of rubbing shoulders with co-passengers in city buses or navigating through the maze of city traffic. That you are racing against time with deadlines to be met is hardly a reason for concern and you only thank God for being a part of a great system. And when you get back home you hardly have time to freshen up before dinner because when you finally settle down for the day the clock strikes 12.

You feel that the Bible knowledge you have accumulated through attending Sunday school and worship services is more than sufficient. The Christian background you have inherited have prepared you so well that even in drunken stupor you often quote the scripture over a glass of country. So what would you do even if you have an expensive English Bible?

In the year 1994, I was voted to the Children Department and the Youth Department with landslide emotion followed by Ministry formation. And I gathered up Secretary Record Books of the two Departments. That was an additional responsibility. I was already the custodian of some record books of the village youth club.

As the new responsibilities related to non-secular matters, the theme of a Bible crusade rang in my ears. “Back to the Bible”. The Paite Holy Bible gifted by a maternal uncle came in handy. However after a number of Sundays-Tuesday-Thursday week days I virtually ran out of stories stocked in my head like the story of David and Goliath, Joseph, Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, etc. It’s not always expedient to relate stories everyone knew. If I studied Christian Education of Evangelical Fellowship of India (CEEFI) guidebooks that merely prepared me for taking Sunday school classes. Sometimes I had to lead the children in devotion sessions which take place just before the start of regular classes. Also the fact that I don't have a good vocal cord or a musical talent also tended to mess up matters.

I could hardly reminisce any lessons learnt from the scripture classes and Vocation Bible Schools that could be related to the children.  International Correspondence Institute (ICI) had conferred so many certificates upon me in recognition of my knowledge of the Bible. But what was that which I knew and which was acknowledged by ICI? Sadly I couldn’t recall any substantial lesson. Hoping to find some of the ICI booklets and study materials, I rummaged through the book shelf. There were a handful of copies of the old Readers’ Digest issues that goes as far back as 1976, so many issues of Kristian Thukizakna, the monthly publication of the erstwhile ECC (renamed EBCC since 1998), worn out copies of gazetteers of the world whose pages indicating identities of the publisher or editor had long gone, etc. I just couldn’t find a single copy of the publications from ICI which I hoped could be useful in Christian leadership. A copy of Jean Bruce’s Hotline that always occupied the book shelf whose cover picture I marveled over the years until I was finally able to understand English, gave me no relief either. My attempt to arm myself with deeper biblical knowledge was not making headway. While believing that reading the word of God in English could have given me a better view of Christianity, I made no further attempt.

In 1996 the degree course results were declared by Manipur University and I became a graduate. I also had received an offer of appointment from C-II Hutments, Army Headquarters. And off I went to Delhi.

20 years on I play a part in the secretarial work of Indian Parliament where one is tempted to work on Sundays during peak times. Most often I choose to attend the Church. The 29^th April, 2012 was observed as Bible Sunday and EBCC hosted brother Rajender from the Bible Society of India (BSI).

Brother Rajender praised the EBCC for being a source of blessing to BSI in many ways through contributions, prayer and motivational talks, etc. He enlightened the congregation about the aim of BSI which is to translate the Bible into the various Indian languages, print and distribute them at affordable/subsidized rates so that it can reach as many people as possible and that the demand for the Holy Bible is growing day by day.

The honor of becoming part of BSI was so simple when Rajender explained how: keep a BSI box in your home and drop one rupee every day which will come to three hundred and sixty five in a year, and that can gift a Bible each to 3 persons who don’t have them. That’s about distributing copies of an already translated, already published Bible. The more challenging task of BSI lies in the fact that Bible translation has not been accomplished even in a quarter of the 1650 Indian languages.

An outsider, who on a first visit to the Church trying to persuade us to give offers, is a turn off to my sub-conscious. So when Rajender encouraged the congregation to become part of BSI my reaction was that of ‘indifference’. It only reminded me that I still own no copy of an English Bible.

Kim has been serving in the Police Department since the year 2001. Since our marriage in 2006 she used to say that I need a trim line English Bible. 

During the tea fellowship that follows regular worship service in my Church, Kim said that it’s a good occasion to get a decent copy of the holy Bible. On enquiry however I didn't find a good one.

Parliament was in session and being in Question Branch mean that you have to process so many questions within a stipulated time. And when I plunged back to the sphere of Questions, my anxiety was over again.

On Friday the 4^th of May a certain mister Ramesh talked to me over phone and asked whether I’d take the New International Version (NIV) or King James Version (KJV). My mind quickly flipped back to the brief liaison I had with a BSI guy the last Sunday.

Since I prefer to use the poetically worded version of the Bible, I asked of Ramesh how Psalms 23 was written in the KJV and the NIV. Unfortunately he was not able to tell the difference, so I asked him to bring both versions of the Bible.

Under the sweltering heat of the sun Ramesh recognized me. He more than made up his lack of knowledge of the scripture by his good conduct in terms of protocol. When I opened the KJV Psalms 23 says:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The lines were still the same as how I remembered. The voice of my niece’s stuttering the famous David’s song came to my mind. Now it’s confirmed that’s also from KJV. The Bible was so cute; it fits even in my trouser pocket. The three notes of 500 INR I handed over to the BSI guy are more than enough for the finely handcrafted treasure.

As regards contributions to BSI, I'd have to think about it later on!   

The Supper

Across the busy traffic of the early evening circulating through the network of ring roads, the Chief with a bevy of dark onyx eyed progeny kept cursing, his wife dutifully listening as she sat by. The juniors aged 2 to 8 were playing upon the bed. The eldest one was acting as teacher. She taught her siblings how to jump, how to handle a pencil and paint without spilling. Lately the kids have learnt to appreciate the unique taste of blood. They particularly liked human blood. The eldest of them have started to distinguish between blood of a veggie and that of a non-veggie. She would temp kids of the veggie household onto her side, always kept them busy and became red with anger the moment she sees another non-veggie trying to cozy up with them.
A knock came on the door and the eldest one immediately responded by calling out ‘RP’ aloud. She jumped off and ran toward the door. The manner in which she knew the identity of the visitor was not human, but that was not a matter of wonder to the householders, or to the just arrived group of adults.
They glided in and settled upon the furniture set in circle.
The Chief was still unable to get over the trauma that darkened his psyche since the coming of the one in a networking site, which according to him was all but an attempt to eclipse and humiliate him. He had stopped cursing and murmuring, yet he was still boiling inside when RP ordered his comrades to place the trophies on the table. The smell of blood emanating from the lid of the bottle told the Chief that this could be a turning point in his life. He looked at his wife, who understandably stole out from the pack and joined her kids. She was beaming with pride on the manner how comrades took good care of her husband. She loves to join her kids play games. And when she jumped over the bed, her youngest child told her to not create a stir, so that the game could continue undisturbed. She forgot everything that happened behind her in the living room.
R P made sure that not a drop was wasted as he was filling the varied sizes of canisters laid upon the table.
MP was ceremoniously relating the way how he lifted a hammer over the head of the innocent: “I could feel intensity with which the atmosphere was charged. Yes!! The atmosphere was highly charged with hatred. Even the Roman senate was raged with anger not because of the royal imcompetence. Rome could not relish the idea of a statesman shining. Even Delhi wassn't ready to see an insignificant someone basking in the SUN. I could smell the existence of an opportunity to advance my ambition, which incited me to take the decision” he said.
“Even I found it hard, and comrates I almost faltered, due to which I prayed silently, ‘Father, this is my hour of sadness. I commit my life unto thee. But if thou wilt, thou wouldst turn this cup away from me’ ".
Saying this MP had a bead of sweat on his forehead.
And he continued, “But I saw no sign, and I went ahead. Comrades, I did fell a giant innocent. And when I drank deep from his anguish, behold I was changed!!!”
He then continued with more of the stories, “About the same time that night, when I had enough of the pure blood…” lifting a cup each on his hands, he paused for a while before he carried on the ceremony, “ I knew that the blood was a tonic, a life line, worth sharing with colleagues and comrades. But I was at a lost as to how the powerful one would prevail”
Then he handed over the two cups one to RP and another to GP, and as he slowly picked up the rest of the cups, continued, “And now we have a wonderful moment to draw life at the expense of the innocent one” He then handed over the cup in his right hand to the chief thus retaining the other cup for himself.
Thereafter he turned his gaze upward and said, “Comrades, I beseech you to drink from your respective cups. This is a pure blood, an innocent blood, a blood that would give you the power to change people’s mind. Drink to your heart’s content so that you may remember the manner how I gathered a steady multitude of following since I first drank it seven years ago”
Silently they all drank deep from their respective cups.
The silence was again broken by MP himself with a chant: “Oh Mighty one, God of the Stubborn egoists, Upholder of Prejudice, Slayer of Talent, Lord of the Pretenders, The ultimate mobilizer of the Parasites, In whose service we wrested the stands, the dias, The files and the entire sanctuaries of the Holy Trinity, For the execution of whose command, We commissioned armies of blood thirsty opportunists, Oh Mighty one, Let the power of this blood spill like wild fire, And before the Lambs could turn to leave, Let them blood thirsty comrades, Over run the length and breadth of the land of milk and honey!!" Amen!! Amen!! Amen!!