Incomparable shepherd - John 10:22-30

Jesus is repeatedly asked if he is the Messiah. What kind of people keep asking others of their importance or their identity? ones who are deaf by ear and deaf by faith. Are we the same? Do we really believe that Jesus is not just in a frame or statue but in the deep recesses of our soul which becomes apparent not during great calling of worship but in quiet moments at our worktime and reflective moments at a drive,with friends and alone.

Jesus only asks us to believe in him. In return he promises us the limitless love of him and the Father.

29	My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

The Gatecrasher - Interpreting The Bible - Chp John 10:1-10

Jesus explains and predicts ho false Gods and prophets will happen /happened in our lives. Look around us,we have so many of them. All asking their pound of flesh. Can we differentiate between the genuine and the fake? Do we know who is truthful and who carry a bag of exaggerations? Can we say who is the gatecrasher.

1

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber;

2

but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. Jesus is our true gatekeeper. He is the shpeherd who knows his sheep and the sheep know their true master. When we do right or wrong we will most probably be scared of our parents or someone we really trust because we know we only go back to them. Likewise,Jesus waits for us. No matter what.  Anybody else,the fake anti christ will jump over the fence and gatecrash to get hold of the sheep.  Wolf in sheep's skin,you may say. All he wants is to gain 'followers' like some blind social network.

Thoughts on Lent

Another year.Another Lent.Yet another chicken farm you gave up? Well I gave up a lot of cocoa beans from Ghana ( I gave up chocolates coz I can't resist them!)

Does every Lent come and go for you? Lemme know if you agree with my thoughts.

If you long for the lent to get over,don't take it.

If you keep looking at the calendar everyday,please don't take the Lent.

If you keep longing at pics of chicken tikka and gosht in magazines and masala packets,skip Lent.

If you do take Lent,keep some time aside to pray sincerely.

You can do charity on other days of the year also.

Do not think Lent is the time to lose weight and look fab for your Easter new-LBD.

Do not walk around looking pious and serene. The world is not Christian only. Your office peon does not know it is Lent.

Do not force your family members to take Lent. It should be voluntary and from the heart. That means not keeping the butter,sugar,toffee jar and mayonnaise secretly hidden in the closet!

Do not call family and announce you are on Lent. The sky won't open suddenly and rain blessings on you.

Do not show-off. It stinks.

Just like other things in life,make sure the why and who of Lent. Talking about religion maybe uncool in today's 140-character world but the very God who created oceans,homo sapiens and cute pugs also gave brains to create the 140 character tool and 'coolness'. So read and learn about why,how and when Lent came to be. Don't give excuse of time and source. Even the doodhwala has a smartphone and open wifi.

Lent is not New Year where you take 'resolutions'. and then tweet about ' shucks yaar nahi kar paya'!

 So what does Lent (or any special fasting day/period mean for you ? )