Brown's Daily Word & India update12-1-08

Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for the season of Advent, where we are again watching for the coming of the Christ into our world. The Gospel reading for Yesterday, the First Sunday in Advent, was taken from Mark 13. When Mark writes his short, powerful story of Jesus’ life, he devotes two chapters to the return of the Messiah to this earth. Mark sandwiches this two-chapter discourse between Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the end of the last week in Jesus’ life. It is as though Jesus knew his time was about finished for his earthly ministry, and he is reassuring his disciples that regardless of how things look in the next few days, or months, or years, that the Messiah of God, the Christ, will return again to this earth to finish the work he has begun.
In this passage, Jesus makes his point clearly. First, he points out that there are signs pointing to the coming — the advent — of the Messiah — and that when we see the signs we know that the Messiah is near, right at the gate, the outside door:
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.
Then, Jesus reminds the disciples that they are to watch, and gives them a real life example of the kind of watching for the master’s return that he expects: “It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.” – Mark 13:29, 34
The servant who is assigned to keep watch is watching for the master’s return. Why? The master has already been there, he has already established his power and authority, he has already assigned his servants the roles they are to play. Why do they need to watch for his return? Why does one servant have the sole duty of watching at the gate, the outer door? It is because first century homes did not have video surveillance, doorbells, or other devices to alert the homeowner inside of approaching guests, the doorkeeper stood at the door. The doorkeeper’s job was to monitor the door, open it for welcomed guests, and secure it against un-welcomed intruders.
The doorkeeper is referred to in Psalm 84:10 where the psalmists says –
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
The position of doorkeeper was a servant’s job, not a privileged position. Unlike the doormen in the famous hotels or apartments of New York City, the doorkeeper was not particularly rewarded for his work — but he was expected to do his job.
After both of the Isaiah passages that Jesus quoted, God shows up and vindicates his people. In Isaiah 14:1 -
The LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Aliens will join them and unite with the house of Jacob. – Isaiah 14:1
The point is, when things are at their worst for the people of God, God is not far away — God is at the door, close by, about to appear, again. Just as he did in the Old Testament, just as he did in the ministry of Jesus, God is coming and we are to watch for him, watch at the gate so we can open the door and admit him without delay.
Often, when the master of the house was gone activity at the house slowed down. The servants went about their chores, but it was a good time to paint, and take care of other routine maintenance, and there were still herds to be looked after, and household business to attend to. But when the master returned, he returned to a house ready to come alive again, ready to throw a party to tell all the neighbors that he was home, and ready to celebrate his homecoming.
Stories like that of the prodigal son, while not exactly the same, illustrate that point. The homecoming of a son, even a wayward one, was cause for celebration. Even more so the homecoming of the master was reason to rejoice! Plans were made, food was purchased, cooks were busy, invitations were sent out — it was a banquet for all who would come. Stories like the parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24) are examples of this kind of celebration. Invitations were sent, and when those invited did not come, the master sent his servants to find those who would come because the feast was in full swing and nothing could stop it, not even ungrateful guests.
But there is another coming of the Christ, another way he comes to us again. In Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus has given John messages for the churches. The seven churches also represent the people of God. Then Jesus says to all of the churches, representing all of the people of God, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with hiim, and he with me.” – Rev 3:20 Jesus is at the door, knocking. But where is the doorkeeper? Why is no one watching? Why doesn’t anyone hear his voice? Why don’t we have the banquet ready? Why have the invitations not been sent?
That is what Advent is about. . . Watching at the gate, looking for Jesus. We are not to get so distracted by all of the things in our busy lives that we fail to keep looking, hoping, waiting, and watching. Just as he came in the form of a baby 2,000 years ago to a nation who was not looking for a messiah, so he comes today, in human form again. He is present with his people — the church, coming home to his great creation. He will keep coming again, in and through the church, if we let him in, if we hear his voice, if we open the door, and if we watch at the gate.
The words of John the Revelator ring in our ears and resonate in our hearts –"Amen, come, Lord Jesus!"

It has been a wonderful Thanksgiving Season. Keep in mind that a thankful heart opens the door to Advent and Christmas. Only if our heart is truly grateful to our Lord for all that He is, all that He does, and all that He gives us can we be ready to meet and greet the Emmanuel of Christmas. He is God with us, and for that we should be truly grateful.
It was great to have Laureen and Jessy with us for Thanksgiving Day. We had 17 gathered around the Thanksgiving table. We truly give thanks to our loving Lord for all of the blessings He bestows upon us. Sunita and Andy arrived on Friday, just moments before Tom came. We had a full house - full of love, laughter, and joy. We missed having Janice, Jeremy, Micah, and Simeon, but we connected with them by telephone a few times over the week. Micah was talking about how she loves the beach! They spent Thanksgiving with some of their very good friends, and then went shopping at Downtown Crossing on Friday, taking the kids out by 6 AM.
May Jesus Christ be praised,
Brown


Mon, 01/12/2008 - 9:26am Pastor. Srinivas Naik beaten by VHP activists in Devarakonda, Telangana, A.P.
On 25th November 2008, night Pastor. Srinivas Naik had a film show (Karunamayudu) in D.N.T Hostel at Devarakonda, Telangana, AP., with the permission from the hostel warden. After the film show, when the team members were about to leave the place, some persons claimed to be VHP members stopped the van. The perpetrators dragged the team members out of the vehicle and started attacking them. The team members were severely beaten up and vandalised their vehicles . They also tried to set fire the van, but the police arrived and stopped them. The police arrested the team members, Rev. K. Srinivas Naik (General Secretary of GBBM), Purushotham (driver of the van), K. Raju and Naresh. The team members were arrested and sent to remand and bail was not granted. The VHP activists involved in the assaulted of the team members were not arrested
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Mon, 01/12/2008 - 7:45am Maoist’ posters put up in capital of Orissa against VHP
BHUBANESWAR: The city police were on their toes on Sunday when posters allegedly belonging to banned left wing extremist outfit CPI (Maoist) were detected on walls and culverts in a few residential areas of the city.
These posters threatened those who would support Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) with dire consequences. “Everybody in the country has the right to practise and preach their own religion. Nobody should come to obstruct the process,” the poster said. “Advisories and warnings” were written in Oriya language.
Posters were found in Rental Colony, Jagannath Vihar and Khandagiri area, city police said here.
Commissioner of Police Bijay Sharma said, “we have taken the matter very seriously. Seven posters have been seized. A formal case has been registered. Investigations are on to verify authenticity of the posters.”
Last year the literature of CPI (Maoist) was found from the premises of Orissa High Court in Cuttack sending the police administration into a tizzy. Posters were also found in front of Ravenshaw University.
Although intelligence agencies have long been indicating that naxalite groups were strengthening base in urban areas, the issue has never been taken seriously. This was the first such occasion when posters purportedly bearing characteristic Maoist literature were found in Bhubaneswar.
Nayagarh, a district headquarter town, was reportedly raided by Maoist cadres early this year. It had marked first invasion of naxalite outfit into any coastal district.
posted in: Current Issue, Beliefs, East India
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Sun, 30/11/2008 - 3:36pm Home Minister of India Shivraj Patil resigns-Chidambaram appointed
New Delhi, Nov 30 - Home Minister Shivraj Patil resigned today, taking moral responsibility for the failure to prevent terror attacks such as the one in Mumbai.After being subject to severe criticism at last night's Congress Working Comittee (CWC) meeting, Patil met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this morning and submitted his resignation.Mr chidambaran will hold charges of home
Political sources said that 74-year-old Patil has been of the view that the Congress party and the government should not suffer because of the terror attacks and that is why he had taken this decision.
They felt that Patil did not want officers of his Ministry to be made scapegoats. After so much criticism about his failure
posted in: Current Issue, Secular, North India
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Sun, 30/11/2008 - 11:41am Church blasts: Four acquitted 12 get life imprisonment
Bangalore:The 14th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court on Saturday awarded death sentence to 11 members of the banned Deendar Anjuman Chennabasaveswar,an Islamic organisation, and sentenced 12 other members to life imprisonment, for bomb blasts in several churches in Karnataka in 2000.
The 23 belong to a sect called Deendar Channabasaveshwara Anjuman founded by Moulana Siddique in 1924 in Gulbarga district in North Karnataka.
A special court headed by S M Shivanagoudar pronounced death and life imprisonment sentences after eight years of hearing the case.
Shivanagoudar said though no one was killed during these blasts, the attacks amounted to anti-national activities.
The Karnataka police told the special court that though the sect was started apparently for establishing religious equality, there was a hidden agenda of "jehad" to attain Islamisation of India. The court was hearing cases related to the serial bomb blasts in churches in Karnataka in 2000. It convicted 23 members of the banned organisation while acquitting four others. The accused were found guilty of carrying out blasts in the churches in Hubli, Wadi (Gulbarga) and Bangalore.
After the death of sect founder Moulana Siddique in April 1952, his eldest son Zia-Ul-Hasan became head of the sect and is now settled in Mardan, Pakistan, with his family, the police said.
The death sentence was awarded to Mohmad Ibrahim (40), a resident of Bangalore, Abdul Rehman Sait (50), Chikkaballapur, Amanath Husain Mulla (58), Sayed Muneeruddin Mulla (40), Hubli, Shaikh Hasham Ali (30), Hyderabad, Mohammad Sharfuddin (37), Mohmad Akhil Ahmed (29), Sayad Abbas Ali (28), and Mohammed Khalid Choudary (32), Ijahar Baig (32) all Hyderabad and Hasnu Zama (55), Nuzvid in Andhra Pradesh.
The following were awarded life Imprisonment - Mohammad D Farook Ali (30), a resident of Hyderabad, Mohammad Siddiqi (45), Chikkaballapur, Abdul Habeeb (48), Tirvoor AP, Shamsu Zama (49), Nuzvid AP, Shaik Fardin Vali (45) Movva AP, Sayed Abdul Khadar Zilani (36), Nuzvid AP, Mohammad Giyasuddin (35), Huzurnagar AP, Meerasab Koujalagi (49), Batakurki, Rish Hiremath (40), Hubli, Mohmad Husain (45), Mumbai, Basheer Ahmed (52), Sangli Basha (45), both Kokatanoor in Karnataka.
‘Waging war’
Those who were acquitted: Mohmad Riyazuddin (30), a resident of Kodad in AP, Mohmad Zafer (23), Hyderabad, Ismail Akki (35), Gadag, Ameer Hamza (58), Basava Kalyana.
They were charged with the offences like waging war against India, sedition, causing disturbance to the communal harmony, causing mischief by fire in the places of worship, transporting and causing of explosions and endangering human life and conspiracy to perpetrate the above offenses.
In Pakistan
Five others including the main accused are currently in Pakistan. They would be tried only after their extradition. Two of the accused were killed on the spot while another was injured while transporting the explosives on July 9, 2000.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, South India
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Sun, 30/11/2008 - 11:31am Archbishop contrasts treatment of Hindus in Britain with Orissa Christians
Monday, 17 November 2008,
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, on the eve of his visit to one of England's renowned Hindu temple, contrasted the "organized attacks" on Christians in Orissa with the treatment of Hindus in Britain.
He said the violence on Orissa Christians, most of them the poorest of society, "is truly shocking".
"Rather than improve, the situation in Orissa seems to have deteriorated and, indeed, to have spread to several other states, such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. I understand that more than 50 Christians have been killed, and many tens of thousands have become refugees," he said in the letter to the Moderators of the Church of North India and the Church of South India.
He noted that India risks losing its place as "an international beacon" if the violence continues.
"In this country we seek to maintain positive and respectful relationships for the good of society with Hindu communities and organizations who are a minority," he said.
The head of the Church of England also voiced his concern over re-conversions stating, "Inappropriate pressure to reconvert is as unacceptable as inappropriate pressure to convert."
The Archbishop on Saturday visited the Shri Venkateshwara (Balaji) temple, what he described as a sign of friendship and hope. He also planted an olive tree on a 'Christian Hill' at the temple premises.
Williams in his letter praised the achievements of India and said t was not only the world's largest democracy but also a model for "rich religious diversity, and respect between most of the major faiths of the world"."Yet, your Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condemned what is happening as a 'national shame' and asserted that 'Christianity is part of our national heritage'. I too feel that if a small minority community (less than three percent of the population) continue as the target of attacks - attacks which often seem to be organized - then India will have lost its place as an international beacon," he said
He urged the central government to render justice and protection to the minorities, particularly those affected by the violence in Orissa.