is it in distant voices across a telephone line
in where i grew up, the place i left behind
is it in the smiling faces that surround me
in warmth, laughter and conversation
or in the silence that greets me
in the empty room i call my own?
in all of these is a part of me
places i've been...places i will be,
people loved, lost, some yet unknown...
in a forever called eternity,
in all of these, is a place called home.
31.10.07
13.9.07
its a beautiful song by jars of clay.....
In open fields of wild flowers
She breathes the air flies away
She thanks her Jesus for the daisies and the roses
In no simple language
Someday she'll understand the meaning of it all
He's more than the laughter
Or the stars in the heavens
As close as a heartbeat
Or a song on her lips
Someday she'll trust him
And learn how to see him
Someday he'll call her
And she will come running
Fall in his arms, the tears will fall down
And she'll pray
I want to fall in love with you,
i want to fall in love with you.
Sitting silent wearing sunday best
The sermon echoes through the walls
A great salvation through it
Goes to the people who stare into nowhere
Can't feel the chains on their souls
He's more than the laughter
Or the stars in the heavens
As close as a heartbeat
Or a song on her lips
Someday we'll trust him
And learn how to see him
Someday he'll call us
And we will come running
Fall in his arms
The tears will fall down and we'll pray
I want to fall in love with you,
i want to fall in love with you.
Seems too easy to call you savior
Not close enough to call you a God
So as I sit and think of
Words I can mention to show my devotion
I want to fall in love with you,
I want to fall in love with you...
In open fields of wild flowers
She breathes the air flies away
She thanks her Jesus for the daisies and the roses
In no simple language
Someday she'll understand the meaning of it all
He's more than the laughter
Or the stars in the heavens
As close as a heartbeat
Or a song on her lips
Someday she'll trust him
And learn how to see him
Someday he'll call her
And she will come running
Fall in his arms, the tears will fall down
And she'll pray
I want to fall in love with you,
i want to fall in love with you.
Sitting silent wearing sunday best
The sermon echoes through the walls
A great salvation through it
Goes to the people who stare into nowhere
Can't feel the chains on their souls
He's more than the laughter
Or the stars in the heavens
As close as a heartbeat
Or a song on her lips
Someday we'll trust him
And learn how to see him
Someday he'll call us
And we will come running
Fall in his arms
The tears will fall down and we'll pray
I want to fall in love with you,
i want to fall in love with you.
Seems too easy to call you savior
Not close enough to call you a God
So as I sit and think of
Words I can mention to show my devotion
I want to fall in love with you,
I want to fall in love with you...
12.9.07
picture of you
if i could paint a picture of you...
of all you are,
and all you can be....
would it be as beautiful as i saw it
in the strokes of my imagination?
if i could tell in hues of color
a story you're yet to see?
would it say enough,
or fall short by much
i do not know - not yet,
as the canvas remains
it waits for this-it waits to tell
in shadow and light
in color and hue
vibrant and bright
a picture of you.
of all you are,
and all you can be....
would it be as beautiful as i saw it
in the strokes of my imagination?
if i could tell in hues of color
a story you're yet to see?
would it say enough,
or fall short by much
i do not know - not yet,
as the canvas remains
it waits for this-it waits to tell
in shadow and light
in color and hue
vibrant and bright
a picture of you.
4.9.07
clutter
funny how days seem so full.....
not of things to do, but thoughts in your head
clutter you dont need
funny how we justify the unneccessary
with our own fabrications of assumptions
they come quick, but dont go so easy.
its strange, what we build in a moment.
space filled with insignificance.
clutter....
it has to go.
not of things to do, but thoughts in your head
clutter you dont need
funny how we justify the unneccessary
with our own fabrications of assumptions
they come quick, but dont go so easy.
its strange, what we build in a moment.
space filled with insignificance.
clutter....
it has to go.
18.8.07
mosaic
there's something you can't quite define about mosaic. a quality that captures because by itself, a piece that forms the art would be incomplete.
mosaic is beautiful....pieces with their own character - colors, sizes...translucent,transparent,opaque,reflective. just like we are. but sometimes we get so caught up in 'needing' to fit in....wanting approval...often at our own expense,the reasons seem trivial against the cost. we forget the unique in the differences.
thats why i like mosaic. its in the many that oneness is achieved, without losing the character of any single one piece. they all fit together :)
mosaic is beautiful....pieces with their own character - colors, sizes...translucent,transparent,opaque,reflective. just like we are. but sometimes we get so caught up in 'needing' to fit in....wanting approval...often at our own expense,the reasons seem trivial against the cost. we forget the unique in the differences.
thats why i like mosaic. its in the many that oneness is achieved, without losing the character of any single one piece. they all fit together :)
7.8.07
sigh
i have nice quiet evening ahead, a few cooking experiments to provide for interest.....ah. the simple joys. :)
just as this
its not finished yet.
take a look and see.
sometimes it doesnt turn out right
it just may need to be
re-made
re-worked, re-done....start over...
it'll add to the beauty.
3-4 So I went to the potter's house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot. 5 Then God's Message came to me: "Can't I do just as this potter does?" (jeremiah 8, the message)
talk about illustration. so clear. JUST AS this potter does. Pastor spoke a little on God re-making us. and sometimes i do, literally, feel like a 'lump' (ah, i see the pun there!) of clay. so glad for the second chance of grace and the hope in the work still to be done :)
take a look and see.
sometimes it doesnt turn out right
it just may need to be
re-made
re-worked, re-done....start over...
it'll add to the beauty.
3-4 So I went to the potter's house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot. 5 Then God's Message came to me: "Can't I do just as this potter does?" (jeremiah 8, the message)
talk about illustration. so clear. JUST AS this potter does. Pastor spoke a little on God re-making us. and sometimes i do, literally, feel like a 'lump' (ah, i see the pun there!) of clay. so glad for the second chance of grace and the hope in the work still to be done :)
1.8.07
lets say we did a lot of differentiating at cell group! :) this one's called the 'pond' and 'river'. stillness and movement. stagnation and change. identifying the ponds in our lives. or where the water was so hazy, we couldnt tell the difference.
the word is full of streams and rivers and flowing water. go on. get moving. dive in.
the word is full of streams and rivers and flowing water. go on. get moving. dive in.
to decide or to choose?
interesting this is. the distinction between choice and decision.....is apparently a clear one, though most of us would interchange the two in varying contexts. Bert highlighted this during our cell group discussion the other day..... where decision involves eliminating 'options', but choice doesnt. when i decide, i decide based on something......but when i choose, i just choose. just so. not because plan b isnt feasible. i read something while looking it up that was put nicely. choice implies freedom, while decision implies selection. choice is more of a capacity, while decision is more of a result.
hmm.
hmm.
20.7.07
walk on
when you leave behind what you couldnt let go
for what you cant see ahead
when the reason remains a blur,
choose to walk on.
when what was past comes by again
and stares you in the face..
the past is gone...don't look back
instead, walk on.
when love washes it all away
takes the pain and fills with grace,
when you look back with a smile
'cos the pieces are falling in place
lean on Him and look ahead,
there's so much more..
He will complete what He's begun.
Walk on.
for what you cant see ahead
when the reason remains a blur,
choose to walk on.
when what was past comes by again
and stares you in the face..
the past is gone...don't look back
instead, walk on.
when love washes it all away
takes the pain and fills with grace,
when you look back with a smile
'cos the pieces are falling in place
lean on Him and look ahead,
there's so much more..
He will complete what He's begun.
Walk on.
13.7.07
static to dynamic
savio had this very interesting idea the other day....a concept of a 'human wall' - of actual people! holding hands....a welcoming wall, one that wasnt intimidating in contrast to a 'material' divide. in case you're wondering about the context of this conversation, it was ideas for a visitor's lounge in church. we're not that weird.
made me wonder why we dont have divides that do not appear as the literal translation of the word.....to design walls that interact. we architects love talking about spaces that are dynamic, but eventually do we just end up with visual silence? aesthetic but not enganging? can we converse with a wall that's organic.....that changes colour & texture, look and feel with the sense of touch??
mili is a talented textile designer who works at srishti school of design. she's researching interactive textile designs.....that communicate, change patterns or colour depending on the user. its an intriguing study, and inspires questioning why we still sometimes live in the static when people, time and life are in essence, constantly changing....
static to dynamic.
stillness to life.
captured in spaces we live and work in, and products we use. we're getting there. slowly. but getting there:)
made me wonder why we dont have divides that do not appear as the literal translation of the word.....to design walls that interact. we architects love talking about spaces that are dynamic, but eventually do we just end up with visual silence? aesthetic but not enganging? can we converse with a wall that's organic.....that changes colour & texture, look and feel with the sense of touch??
mili is a talented textile designer who works at srishti school of design. she's researching interactive textile designs.....that communicate, change patterns or colour depending on the user. its an intriguing study, and inspires questioning why we still sometimes live in the static when people, time and life are in essence, constantly changing....
static to dynamic.
stillness to life.
captured in spaces we live and work in, and products we use. we're getting there. slowly. but getting there:)
10.7.07
the feathered tribe that is family :)
last night was special.....a lovely cell group evening of fun, food & love :) hannah's farewell took on the 'native american'... complete with headbands, feathers, weapons, facepaint and unpronouncable tribal names! talk about 'getting into the act'! :) what never ceases to amaze me is how much of themselves people give into doing what they can best.....organising, cooking,serving, cleaning up......n having loads of fun while at it.
like a friend said..(hoping jerry doesnt mind me quoting him) "Ws thinking & conversing with God y’day abt cel. And I realized that it’s really awesome when people know their abilities, limitations and respond with whatever they can & submit to each other in humility. What’s nice abt the cell is that people take initiative/ownership & show commitment towards seeing it to completion. There’s no hounding. Everybody does what he/she has committed to & job gets done. That’s awesome. It’s marvelous. Paul said in 1Cor 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" Do you realize that it’s the coming together & not the individual stuff that makes the event awesome? I think everybody deserves a pat on the back, not for a job well done, but for showing initiative, commitment, humility, preserving unity in the spirit & spreading love & happiness.
there you go. key words being 'coming together' . family. the body of Christ.
like a friend said..(hoping jerry doesnt mind me quoting him) "Ws thinking & conversing with God y’day abt cel. And I realized that it’s really awesome when people know their abilities, limitations and respond with whatever they can & submit to each other in humility. What’s nice abt the cell is that people take initiative/ownership & show commitment towards seeing it to completion. There’s no hounding. Everybody does what he/she has committed to & job gets done. That’s awesome. It’s marvelous. Paul said in 1Cor 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" Do you realize that it’s the coming together & not the individual stuff that makes the event awesome? I think everybody deserves a pat on the back, not for a job well done, but for showing initiative, commitment, humility, preserving unity in the spirit & spreading love & happiness.
there you go. key words being 'coming together' . family. the body of Christ.
we gifted hannah a scrapbook....memories put together...pictures, quotes, notes of encouragement...Quoting 'Big Chief' (the largest feather there:) Bert Cherian... "there's history here in these pages'. there sure is.
4.7.07
nothing less
There's nothing less I could give
time stands still
in the measure of eternity
there's nothing less I could say
to the praise of Glorious Majesty-
my words are few
in the measure of all He's done for me.
There's no simpler way
to seek His face
my life is my pursuit.
there's no simpler truth
that captivates this heart
than His endless mercy and grace.
thats all i have so far! this was inspired by my conversation with janie last night.....she was talking about how all that we can do is never really enough when it comes to seeking God. no easy way to do this.....'nothing less' was the phrase it began with. hopefully i can complete it sometime...ideas are welcome!
time stands still
in the measure of eternity
there's nothing less I could say
to the praise of Glorious Majesty-
my words are few
in the measure of all He's done for me.
There's no simpler way
to seek His face
my life is my pursuit.
there's no simpler truth
that captivates this heart
than His endless mercy and grace.
thats all i have so far! this was inspired by my conversation with janie last night.....she was talking about how all that we can do is never really enough when it comes to seeking God. no easy way to do this.....'nothing less' was the phrase it began with. hopefully i can complete it sometime...ideas are welcome!
2.7.07
strike!
akash and i went bowling yesterday. had a fun time......and i've applied my very own 'profound' analogies to the game ;)
gutter ball : a common occurence with amateurs. as in life, we totally lose focus, get lost, and take a while to get back in the game.
strike : a rare phenomenon. if and when all goes well, success happens. brings levels of surprise (if its a fluke), joy, and sometimes, as in my case, an idiotic display of jumping glee.
general gyaan : it always takes a few tries to get the hang of it. not to mention practise.
what i like most : there are always second chances :)
thus endeth the lesson!
gutter ball : a common occurence with amateurs. as in life, we totally lose focus, get lost, and take a while to get back in the game.
strike : a rare phenomenon. if and when all goes well, success happens. brings levels of surprise (if its a fluke), joy, and sometimes, as in my case, an idiotic display of jumping glee.
general gyaan : it always takes a few tries to get the hang of it. not to mention practise.
what i like most : there are always second chances :)
thus endeth the lesson!
we go way back
it was nice catching up with old friends after ages. it was great, actually. just the fact that we 'co-incidentally' landed up in the same city gets me :) we've been friends since III standard :) from childhood games to middle school dilemmas, teenage crushes, crazy stunts and countless sleepovers....to the time we left and had to say our goodbyes, not knowing when,where or how our paths would cross again. fast forward a few years....and here we are again.... but time does tell :) conversations on work, relationships, future, who's where doing what....and memories. lots of them. the vaguest one bringing an outburst of laughter...funny how we remember the strangest things :) im so glad we get to do this, and i hope we'll keep the tradition on :)
29.6.07
creative best
what i learnt today: Galatians 6 : 4-5 "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." (the message version)
we're one-of-a-kind, custom made....with our own special giftings, characteristics, our very own brand of quirks and eccentricities:) not a mass clone reproduction from a manufacturing line. we're also responsible, for understanding that about ourselves.....and doing the creative best we can with our lives. 'sinking' into the work we're given, the work we love. not just giving our best, but our 'creative' best. now, thats a loaded phrase. its an immense challenge, and an exciting journey :)
we're one-of-a-kind, custom made....with our own special giftings, characteristics, our very own brand of quirks and eccentricities:) not a mass clone reproduction from a manufacturing line. we're also responsible, for understanding that about ourselves.....and doing the creative best we can with our lives. 'sinking' into the work we're given, the work we love. not just giving our best, but our 'creative' best. now, thats a loaded phrase. its an immense challenge, and an exciting journey :)
28.6.07
i like the view from my office :) the greenery of tree tops, leaves dancing with the breeze....the city skyline against cloudy skies.....sunsets splashed in bright hues of orange......n if you stay late enough, the glimpse of a bright moon too:) n no, this is no 25th floor. we're on a humble third floor, thankul for few tall buildings!!
welcome home
Welcome to this heart of mine
I've buried under prideful vines
Grown to hide the mess I've made
Inside of me
Come decorate, Lord
Open up the creaking door
And walk upon the dusty floor
Scrape away the guilty stains
Until no sin or shame remain
Spread Your love upon the walls
And occupy the empty halls
Until the man I am has faded
No more doors are barricaded
Come inside this heart of mine
It's not my own
Make it home
Come and take this heart and make it
All Your own
Welcome home
Take a seat, pull up a chair
Forgive me for the disrepair
And the souvenirs from floor to ceiling
Gathered on my search for meaning
Every closet's filled with clutter
Messes yet to be discovered
I'm overwhelmed, I understand
I can't make this place all that You can
Come inside this heart of mine
It's not my own
Make it home
Come and take this heart and make it
All Your own
Welcome home
from 'Invitation to eavesdrop', an album by Shaun Groves.
always loved the lyrics.
I've buried under prideful vines
Grown to hide the mess I've made
Inside of me
Come decorate, Lord
Open up the creaking door
And walk upon the dusty floor
Scrape away the guilty stains
Until no sin or shame remain
Spread Your love upon the walls
And occupy the empty halls
Until the man I am has faded
No more doors are barricaded
Come inside this heart of mine
It's not my own
Make it home
Come and take this heart and make it
All Your own
Welcome home
Take a seat, pull up a chair
Forgive me for the disrepair
And the souvenirs from floor to ceiling
Gathered on my search for meaning
Every closet's filled with clutter
Messes yet to be discovered
I'm overwhelmed, I understand
I can't make this place all that You can
Come inside this heart of mine
It's not my own
Make it home
Come and take this heart and make it
All Your own
Welcome home
from 'Invitation to eavesdrop', an album by Shaun Groves.
always loved the lyrics.
22.6.07
ethos
ethos.......meaning the fundamental character or spirit of a culture.
just read an article the other day, titled 'broken pieces'....an amazing bit of writing on making healthy disciples of broken people, By Erwin McManus, the pastor of a church called mosaic. brilliant name for a church, that. A community of broken, fragmented people, brought together by the master artist to reflect His beauty, especially when His light strikes..... (full visual artistic connection and all here!)
its true. we suddenly find ourselves in a highly individualistic generation, where the power of community is lost. the power of ethos........the culture that informs your values and inspires change.
it talks about a culture of servanthood that heals. A culture that serves Jesus by serving people.
I want to be part of that culture. More, i want it being a part of me.
just read an article the other day, titled 'broken pieces'....an amazing bit of writing on making healthy disciples of broken people, By Erwin McManus, the pastor of a church called mosaic. brilliant name for a church, that. A community of broken, fragmented people, brought together by the master artist to reflect His beauty, especially when His light strikes..... (full visual artistic connection and all here!)
its true. we suddenly find ourselves in a highly individualistic generation, where the power of community is lost. the power of ethos........the culture that informs your values and inspires change.
it talks about a culture of servanthood that heals. A culture that serves Jesus by serving people.
I want to be part of that culture. More, i want it being a part of me.
16.6.07
Worship is....... (excerpt from interview-Mac Powell, Third day)
Well worship to me, in a sense, is really the Gospel. Because it's us dying to ourselves and really giving credit for life, and peace, and love, and everything that we have to God - and thanking Him for those things, and giving Him the credit that He deserves.There's a great scripture in Romans that says, "Brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices. Holy and pleasing to God." It goes on to say that, "This is your spiritual act of worship." A lot of times within America, and within the church, we kind of feel like worship is music and lifting our hands and that's a great part of it, but that's not just worship.
Worship is when we die to ourselves and we allow God to come into our lives and change us and live His life through us. That to me is worship.
=)
Well worship to me, in a sense, is really the Gospel. Because it's us dying to ourselves and really giving credit for life, and peace, and love, and everything that we have to God - and thanking Him for those things, and giving Him the credit that He deserves.There's a great scripture in Romans that says, "Brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices. Holy and pleasing to God." It goes on to say that, "This is your spiritual act of worship." A lot of times within America, and within the church, we kind of feel like worship is music and lifting our hands and that's a great part of it, but that's not just worship.
Worship is when we die to ourselves and we allow God to come into our lives and change us and live His life through us. That to me is worship.
=)
11.6.07
the reason
the weekend just whizzed past. like all other weekends :) something about saturday made me think though....we had 'campies'! at elevate...a 'prestigious' annual award ceremony post youth camp. it was amazing to see the tremendous amount of effort, creativity n team work it took to make that evening special. and it showed. the reason?? simply because these young people love God.
the challenge: to choose to glorify and love God not just in the 'churchy' stuff once a week...but in the everyday, in the ordinary, in the mundane.
In the measure of what God has done for us, this may never seem close to enough. but the reward for what we do here in this life? eternal :) amen to that.
the challenge: to choose to glorify and love God not just in the 'churchy' stuff once a week...but in the everyday, in the ordinary, in the mundane.
In the measure of what God has done for us, this may never seem close to enough. but the reward for what we do here in this life? eternal :) amen to that.
8.6.07
square one
So...here it is. A blog. Not just any blog....after much deliberation, wondering,extensive thought, (see how many times you tend to do the same things??) , 'should i should i not' syndrome, and the all time winner.... 'but will i have the time??'......lets just say 'the arbit muse' had already been through much. and it has arrived,unscathed. :)
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