आलोचना होइन प्रश्‍न गर्ने विश्‍वासी बनौं

आज ठूलो संख्यामा नेपाली जातिले येशूलाई विश्‍वास गरेको छ र यो संख्या दिनानुदिन बढ्दै गैरहेको छ।  देश-विदेशमा रहेर पनि परमेश्‍वरमा विश्‍वास गर्न हामीलाई कसैले रोक्‍न सकेको छैन।  नेपाल र भुटानमा भएको सतावटले पनि हामीलाई रोकेन।  भारतमा भएको खेदो र प्रवासीपनले पनि हामीलाई येशूबाट टाढा हुन दिएन।  विकसित देशहरूको व्यस्तता, स्वतन्त्रता र भौतिक सम्पन्नताका अवसरहरूले पनि हामीलाई येशूबाट अलग गरेको छैन।  हामी जहाँ छौं, जस्तो अवस्थामा छौं, प्रभुको अनुग्रहले सँभाली राख्‍नुभएको छ।

यस्तो आशिषमय अवस्थामा नेपाली विश्वासीको लागि एउटा ठूलो आन्तरिक चुनौती छ।  समयमै यो चुनौतीको सामना गरिएन भने यसले धेरैलाई सजिलै धोका दिनेछ।  त्यो चुनौती हो “अल्पज्ञान र अशिक्षा”।  अशिक्षाले नै अल्पज्ञानलाई जन्म दिन्छ।  आजको सामाजिक सञ्‍जालले जोडिएको संसारमा जसकसैले पनि आफ्नो विचारलाई प्रवाहा गर्न सक्छ।  त्यो विचार सही हो या गतल भनेर छुट्याउन हामीले अध्ययन र अनुसन्धान गर्नु पर्ने हुन्छ।  तर साधारण विश्‍वासीले सजिलै उसको सामु प्रस्तुत गरिएका विचारहरूलाई स्वीकार गरिदन्छ।  एक पटक पनि नसोचेरै वा कुनै प्रश्‍न नै नगरी कसैको विचारलाई वा शिक्षालाई स्वीकार गर्ने मानिसलाई बाइबलले ‘बुवकूफ’ भनेको छ।  “बेवकूफ मानिसले जुनसुकै कुरा पत्याउँछ, तर समझदार मानिसले आफ्ना पाइलाहरू सतर्कसाथ चाल्छ” (होतोपदेश १४.१५)।

नेपाली मण्डलीको इतिहास लामो भैसकेको भए पनि यसको धर्मशास्त्रीय अध्यनको गहिराई निकै कम छ।  पास्टरहरूमा शिक्षा र अध्ययनप्रति चासो देखिदैन।  जिविकोपार्जनको चिन्ताबाट नै पास्टरहरू माथि उठ्न सकेका छैनन्।  जसको कारण विश्‍वासीहरूको वौद्धिक स्तरमा विकास ल्याउन सकिएको छैन।  कसैले दिएको शिक्षालाई निश्पक्ष धरातलमा उभिएर प्रश्‍न गर्न नै जानेका छैनन् हाम्रा विश्‍वासी मित्रहरूले।  जसले जे भन्यो त्यसैमा “आमेन” भन्ने बानी बसेको छ।  एउटाले विरोध गरेको खण्डमा सबैले विरोध गर्ने।  सबैले समर्थन गरेको खण्डमा कसैले पनि गलतलाई गलत भन्न नसक्‍ने।  उदाहरण स्वरूप; एक जना व्यक्तिले लामो समय देखि देश-विदेशमा बस्‍ने नेपाली विश्‍वासीहरूलाइ पास्टरको स्वाङ् पारेर आर्थिक ठगी गर्दै आएको थियो।  तापनि उसले लेखेका र बोलेका कुरामा “आमेन” भन्नेहरूको सङ्ख्या हजारौं थियो।  उसले सिकाएका सिक्षाहरू पनि अबाइबलीय थिए।  तर हाम्रा सोझा विश्‍वासीहरू मलेसिया देखि खाडीको भुमिमा दुःख गर्दै कमाएको पैसाबाट त्यो ठगलाई सहयोग गर्दै आएका छन् र अँझै पनि कतिले गरिरहेका छन् होलान्।  यस्तो हुनुमा ती विश्‍वासीहरूमा भएको ज्ञानको कमी हो।  उनीहरू सोच्दछन् कि कसैले बाइबल बोक्छ भने, बाइबलले यस्तो भनेको छ भन्दै नामको अघि “पास्टर” लेख्छ भने त्यो मानिसले ठगी गर्न सक्दैन।

त्यति मात्रै नभएर यस्ता ठगहरूले यी सोझा विश्‍वासीलाई साँचो बाइबलीय शिक्षाबाट सजिलै झूटा शिक्षातिर लाग्‍न प्रोत्साहान दिन्छन्।  साँचो बाइबलीय पास्टर, प्रचारकको विरोध गर्दै आफू मात्रै जान्ने भनी दावी गर्दै अल्पज्ञानी विश्‍वासीहरूलाई मण्डली र पास्टरको विरुद्धमा उठ्न यिनीहरू उक्साउँछन्।

“ज्ञानको कमीले मेरो प्राजा नाश भयो” भनेझैं आज नेपाली मण्डली सही धर्मशास्त्रीय शिक्षा र सिकाउन सक्‍ने पास्टरहरूको कमीको कारण गतल व्यक्ति र शिक्षाको सिकार भैरहेको छ।  हप्तै पिच्छे स्वर्ग जाने र आउने पास्टरहरू, प्रत्यक रातीको सपना प्रचार गर्ने प्रचारकहरू, र पैसाको विउ छर्न सिकाउने प्रेरितहरूको कारण नेपाली मण्डली भित्रबाटै कम्जोर हुने ठूलो सम्भावना देखिन्छ। 

त्यसकारण मित्र, जसकसैले गरेको प्रचारलाई नजाँचेरै स्वीकार नगर्नुहोस्।  कसैको अनुभव उदेकको छ भन्दैमा उसले सबै कुरा जानेको छ भनी नठान्नुहोस्।  जसले सपना र अनुभवका कुरालाई लिएर तपाईंलाई केही नजानेको र विश्‍वासै नभएको विश्वासी जस्तो भान पार्दै उफ्रिरहेको छ भने त्यो मानिससँग होसियार रहनुहोस्।   जहाँ परमेश्‍वरको वचन प्रचार हुन्छ त्यहाँ मानिसको होइन परमेश्‍वरको महिमा हुन्छ।  परमेश्‍वरको वचनले स्थायी परिवर्तन ल्याउँछ तर झूटा शिक्षकहरूले क्षणिक उत्तेजना ल्याउँछन् र उनीहरू गएपछि त्यो सिद्दिन्छ।

हामी अध्ययन र अनुसन्धान गर्ने विश्‍वासी बनौं।  आलोचना होइन प्रश्‍न गर्ने विश्‍वासी बनौं।    

It's called 'Good Friday' because it has thorns!

The weather was cool in Guwahati this morning. My wife was taking care of her flowers. As I went over and asked the name of this one; she said "It's called Good Friday".

Many years ago, Tony Campolo preached his famous sermon titled, "It's Friday but Sunday's coming"!

Campolo is one of my favorite preachers. Some have questioned his biblical convictions lately. But I cannot question his love for God and people; especially what God in Christ has done for the lost and the outcast.

The religious Christians appeared to be more concerned about being right than being loving. But in Christ, God has opened the door for us to be right and loving at the same time.

Apart from Christ, there is no way we can ever be right on our own and neither can we be loving. But the ones that are lost and outcast will not respond to our rightness alone. Rightness without love always smells like self-righteousness. Self-righteousness always chases people away from the Cross.

Even the godless Google names its weekly meetings "TGIF" in which they encourage and refresh one another. But the self-righteous Christians turn Good Friday into a bad Friday.

Are you hurt and traumatized by self-righteous Christians? Don't lose hope. See, the flower is beautiful but it has its own fair share of troubles. I asked my wife, "why is it called Good Friday?" She said, "Because it has thorns".

Life may have given you some thorns but Sunday's coming. Jesus took care of our thorns and thistles. The ground is now no longer cursed. Jesus has removed the curse of thorns and thistles. We now live under the blessings of Abraham! Jesus bore the thorns so that we can enjoy the flowers!!

In Galatians 3, Paul said "13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."

Let's be ready to bask in the beauty of Christ on Sunday because Sunday's coming!

"ज्योतिषीले भत्काएको जीवन" पुस्तक प्रकाशनको लागि तयार भयो।

अक्टोवर महिनाको पहिलो सातामा काठमाण्डो आशा मण्डलीको २५औं वार्षिकोत्सव मनाउनका साथै “ज्योतिषीले भत्काएको जीवन” नामक मेरो आत्मकाहनी (जीवन गवाही)को किताब प्रकाशनको तयारीमा छौं।

आशा छ यो किताबले मेरा मित्रहरुलाई येशूमा विश्वासयोग्य जीवन विताउन प्रेरणा मिल्नेछ।  लामो समय देखि धेरै मित्रहरुको अनुरोधलाई ध्यानमा राखेर मैले मेरो गवाहीलाई किताबमा परिणत गरेको छुँ।

ज्योतिषीले त मेरो जीवन भत्काएकै हुन् तर कतिपय पास्टरहरूले पनि यो जीवनलाई भत्काउने प्रयास नगरेको होइन।  येशूको अनुग्रहले मलाई आजसम्म बचाएको छ।  आफैले पार गरेर आएका ती भञ्ज्याङ्हरूलाई फर्केर हेर्दा अहिले डर लाग्छ।  तर परमेश्वरले त्यो अवस्थामा मलाई सम्हालेको देख्दा भविस्यको डर भने हटेर जान्छ। 

धेरै प्रार्थनाका साथ मेरो जन्म देखि आजसम्का अनुभवहरूलाई मेरा विश्वासी मित्रहरू (भेट भएका र नभएका)का सामु प्रस्तुत गरेको छुँ ताकि मेरो आवाज सुन्ने र अक्षेर पढ्ने मित्रहरूले पनि त्यो आवाज र अक्षेर पछाडिको पृष्टभुमिलाई केहि हदसम्म थाहा पाउनुभएको होस्।  सफल तरिकाले प्रकाशन गर्न सकियोस् भनेर सबैले प्रार्थना गरिदिनुहोला।

प्रिय भौतिक उन्नति खोज्ने पास्टर मित्र!

प्रिय भौतिक उन्नति खोज्ने पास्टर मित्र,

जय मसिह!

तिमीलाई सम्झना छ होला कि सुरुका दिनमा तिम्रो लागि “सेवाकाई” भन्ने सब्द सारै लोभलाग्दो, चाखलाग्दो र उत्तेजनाले भरिएको थियो। 

लोभ लाग्दो थियो किनभने तिम्रो सामुन्ने एक-आद यस्ता पास्‍टरहरू थिए जसले “सेवाकाई”बाट धेरै उन्नति गरिरहेका थिए।  उनीहरूको विगत तिमीले देखेका थियौ तर वर्तमानले त्यो विगतलाई धेरै पछाडि छोडिसकेको तिमीले थाहा पायौ।  तिमीले पनि आफ्नो वर्तमानलाई विर्सेर उनीहरूकै जस्तो भविस्यको सपना देख्‍न थाल्यौ।  उन्नतिको लागि “सेवाकाई” लोभलाग्दो देखिन थाल्यो।

यो सब्द तिम्रोलागि चाखलाग्दो थियो किनभने ती सफल पास्टरहरूको जीवनमा एक किसिमको रबाफ नै थियो।  हरेक हप्ता समाजको अघि उभिएर केही कुरा भन्न मिल्ने।  सबैले शिर झुकाएर उनीहरूलाई आदर गर्नु पर्ने।  कसैको घरमा वा गाउँमा जाँदा उत्तम परिकार जुटाउनु पर्ने।  देश-विदेश पनि उनीहरू नै जाने।  हुँदा हुँदा, गाउँका सोझा साझा पास्टरहरूको आम्दानीको स्रोत पनि ती सफल पास्टरहरू नै बने।  तिमीलाई पनि त्यो देखेर “सेवाकाई” सारै चाखलाग्दो र प्राप्त गर्न लायकको देखिन थाल्यो।

“सेवाकाई” सब्द सुन्ने बित्तिक्‍कै तिमीलाई एक किसिमको उत्तेजना आउँथ्यो।  तिमीलाई लाग्थ्यो कि परमेश्वरले ती अग्रज पास्टरहरूलाई त्यसरी आर्थिक, सामाजिक र आत्मिक उन्नतिको शिखरमा लान सक्नुहुन्छ भने मलाई पनि उहाँले त्यो स्थानमा लानुहुनेछ।  “सेवाकाई”द्वारा एउटा सफल, सम्पन्न र शक्तिशाली पास्टर बन्ने सपनाले तिमीलाई धेरै उत्साहित पार्दथ्यो।

जब “सेवाकाई”मा जाने अवरस मिल्यो, तब तिमीले सोच्दै नसोचेर आफैलाई सुम्पिदियौ।  तालिममा गयौ।  बाइबल स्कूल गयौ।  मौका मिल्ने बित्तिक्‍कै विदेशतिर पनि हुँइकियौ।  धेरै ठाउँमा “सेवाकाई” गर्यौ।  कुनै चर्चलाई आफ्नो कब्जामा लिन सफल भयौ वा आफ्नै चर्चको स्थापना गर्‍यौ।  सफलताको शिखरतिर लम्किन थाल्यौ।

तर “सेवाकाई” सोचे जस्तो हुँदो रहेनछ।  त्यो लोभ लाग्दो, चाख लाग्दो र उत्तेजनाले भरिएको सब्द विस्तारै डर लाग्दो, दिक्क लाग्दो र निराशाले भरिएको देखिन थाल्यो।  कतिपय अग्रज पास्टरहरू; जसलाई तिमीले आफ्नो “हिरो” सम्झेका थियौ, लोभ र अभिलाशाका शिकार हुन गए।  कतिपय “सेवाकाई” छोडेर व्यापार र दलाली गर्न थाले।  कतिपय राजनीति र सामाजिक सेवाका बिल्लाहरू लाएर आफ्नो भौतिक उन्नतिको सुरक्षा गर्न तिर लागे। 

यता, न त तिमीले भौतिक उन्नति नै गर्न सक्यौ न परमेश्वरमा समर्पित जीवन छ।  तिम्रो प्रचारमा पनि दम छैन न त प्रभावलाई किन्न सक्‍ने पैसा नै तिम्रो हातमा छ।  त्यसमाथि आजको यो सामाजिक सन्जालले जोडिएको संसारमा तिम्रा मुनिका विश्वासीहरू पनि अन्य अभिशिक्त प्रचारकहरूको प्रचारमा मुग्ध भैदिएको देख्दा तिमीलाई असह्‍य हुन्छ।  फलानो पास्टरको प्रचारबाट परमेश्वर मसँग बोल्नुभयो भनि तिम्रा विश्वासीले भनेको सुन्दा तिमीलाई कस्तो कस्तो लाग्छ।  तिमी पनि त्यो पास्टरले जस्तै प्रचार गर्न खोज्छौ तर परिणाम झनै निराशाजनक हुन जान्छ।  त्यसपछि तिमी त्यो पास्टरको आलोचना गर्न तिर लाग्छौ र आफ्ना विश्वासीलाई यस्ता पास्टरहरूको वचन नसुन्न सल्लाहा दिन्छौ। 

तरै पनि तिमी आफ्ना मानिसलाई प्रभावित गर्न हर प्रयास गर्छौ।  विदेशी वा प्रख्यात मानिससँग खिचेका सेल्फीको फेसबुक प्रोफाइल, एरपोर्टमा पुगेका तस्बीर र विदेश पुगेको त कुरै नगरौं।  तापनि रङ्गिन फेसबुकले पुल्पिटमा आत्मिक अभिषेक दिनै मान्दैन।  त्यो गुमेको अभिषेकलाई पुर्ती गर्न तिमी चिच्याएर प्रचार गर्छौ, चाख लाग्दा उदाहरण दिन्छौ, विगतमा परमेश्वरले गरेका कामको वर्णन गर्छौ; तर विश्वासीहरूमा परिवर्तन आउनै छोड्यो र तिम्रो मनमा आत्मसन्तुष्टिको स्थान असन्तुष्टिले लिन थाल्यो।  यो “सेवाकाई” भन्ने सब्द एउटा बोझ बन्दै गैरहेको जस्तो लाग्छ अब तिमीलाई।  कहिले काहि विदेश पलायन हुन मन लाग्छ, कहिले दलाली गर्न मन लाग्छ, कहिले व्यापार, कहिले के, कहिले के। 

छोराछोरी र श्रीमतीले पनि घरमा टेर्नै छोडे।  उनीहरूलाई तिमीले कमाएको पैसा तिमीभन्दा बढी प्यारो लाग्छ।  तर भनेको जस्तो पैसा हातमा नहुँदा उनीहरूले पनि तिम्रो दुई जिब्रे जीवनको रहस्यलाई लुकाई राख्‍न तिमीलाई साथ नदेलान् जस्तो भैसक्यो।  पैसावाला पास्टरकै छोराछोरी र श्रीमती उसको बिँडो थाप्न तयार हुँदा रहेछन् भन्ने कुरामा तिमीलाई अब सङ्का छैन।  हो पनि, पैसाले धेरै कुराहरू किन्न सकिन्छ।

यी सबै कुराको कारण जुन सेवाकाईमा तिमीले एक पटक सोच्दै नसोचेर हात हालेका थियौ आज भार भएको छ।  यो भन्दा अर्को कमाई खाने मौका मिलेको खण्डमा तिमी “सेवाकाई”लाई लत्याउन तयार भएको देख्दा आफै छक्‍क पर्छौ। 

तर मित्र, परमेश्वरको बोलावट मानिसले सोचेको जस्तो हुँदैन।  आजको भोलि नहुन सक्छ कारण उहाँको बोलावट जीवनमा परिणत हुन धेरै कुराले भुमिका खेलेको हुन्छ र कतिपटक त जीवनभरी नै त्यो प्रकृयाले काम गरिरहेको हुन्छ।   होला, सेवाकाईको सुरुवातमा तपाईंले यसलाई लोभलाग्दो, चाखलाग्दो र प्राप्त गर्न लाएकको देख्‍नुभएको थियो होला।  र, वास्तम्मा येशूको सेवाकाई सारै लोभलाग्दो, चाखलाग्दो र उत्तेजनाले भरिएको नै हुन्छ।  फरक यति मात्रै हो कि हामी कुन दृष्टिकोणबाट यसलाई हेरिरहेका छौं।  भौतिक दृष्टिकोण या आत्मिक?

संसारिक उन्नतिको लागि हामी सेवामा लागेका थियौं भने अवस्य पछि गएर सेवाकाई एउटा बोझ हुने नै छ कारण भौतिक उन्नतिले मात्रै त एउटा अविश्वासीलाई त सन्तुष्टि दिन सक्दैन भने येशूको सेवामा बेइमान गरेर प्राप्त गरेको उन्नतिले कहिल्यै शान्ति दिने छैन।

तर भौतिक उन्नतिको आशालाई  हामीले आत्मिक उन्नतिको दिशातिर फर्काउन सफल भयौं भने हामी भौतिक र आत्मिक दुबै उन्नतिमा रमाउने छौं।  “सेवाकाई” सदाकाल लोभलाग्दो, चाखलाग्दो र उत्तेजनाले भरिएको हुनेछ।  हरेक हप्ता मण्डलीमा प्रचार गर्दा, वचन बोल्दा पवित्र आत्माको ताजापन हामी अनुभव गर्ने छौं।  हाम्रो सेवामा रहेका विश्वासीहरूले पनि त्यो आनन्दलाई अनुभूति गर्नेछन् र भन्नेछन् कि उनीहरूको पास्टरले प्रचार गरेको वचनबाट जीवन परिवर्तन भएको छ।

जब मानिसको जीनव परिवर्तन भएको, उनीहरूमा उन्नति आएको र परमेश्वरले उनीहरूलाई आशिष् दिँदै आफ्नो महिमाको लागि चलाएको तपाईं देख्‍नुहुनेछ तब आफ्ना सारा दुःख, असफलता र अबोन्नतिलाई पनि बिर्सनु हुनेछ।  मानिस र परमेश्वरको लागि जीवन दिन तयार पास्टरका छोराछोरी र श्रीमतीले पनि उसलाई घरमा आदर र सम्मान गर्नेछन्।  नयाँ पिडिका पास्टरहरूले पनि उसबाट मार्गदर्शन प्राप्त गर्नेछन्।  जब ऊ येशूको सामु उभिने छ तब प्रभुले भन्नुहुनेछ “स्याबास, मेरो विश्वासयोग्य दास!” 

येशूबाट त्यो अनन्त स्याबासी पाउनु भन्दा अर्को ठूलो उन्नति के होला र?

I have something to tell you!

Imagine if you were the only person living on a planet.  How would you feel?  The thing is, even though there are seven billion people on earth, most of them live a life marked by isolation.  The cliché “everyone has a story” is true.  The “story” in the cliché is not a fiction.  It is the actual human experience; the truth.  The problem with that truth is; no one knows your story except you.  Even if someone knew your story; they don’t care because they too are busy in navigating through their own stories. 

The other day early in the morning I took a chair and sat by the window overlooking the main street below.  The first person that caught my attention was a rickshaw puller who was barely paddling his means of earning for the day.    He must be in his forties but looked much older and frail.  As I watched him disappear from my sight, I began to ask myself “if I was that man, what would be going through my mind each morning?”

Guwahati is terribly hot and humid a place for rickshaw pulling.  Even to take a walk in the morning would drench your clothes with sweat.  But there are possibly thousands of rickshaw pullers who cannot say “it is too hot”.  They keep stretching their bodies, wiping their sweat and paddling through the dusty streets.  If their bodies give up, should their rickshaws break down or some violent demonstrations take place in the streets; their immediate concern would be for the next meal.  Life itself comes to them as a challenge. 

Every time my wife and I take the rickshaw, my heart aches for the puller.  They would also have hopes and dreams, wishes and wants in life.  But the misery of existence has robbed them off so much that their only dream now is to find the next meal.  This goes for everyone living in abject poverty.  Oh, the curse of poverty is such; it robs the man very dignity accorded to him by God. 

Behind every rickshaw puller, there is a story.  Every one of us has a story.  Should we be given a hearing, we could bring many to tears.  But the world is so busy.  Rich are busy in becoming richer.  Poor are busy in overcoming poverty.  Life is so busy that no one has the time to hear what others have to say.  But then, life was made to be told.  Life was made to be shared.  We are not created to live in isolation and therefore, when the silence becomes unbearable, we just give up living all together.  Of all, a pastor commits suicide, a famous celebrity takes his own life and famer sets himself on fire and so on and so forth. 

The Bible says; “man is made in the image of God” and the God of the Bible is a speaking God.  He is the Logos; the very thought system.  This Logos finds proper expression through speech.  Speech is constructed through the combination of words.  Words are comprised of letters.  Letters are made up of sounds, the voice.  In essence, language is given to us so that we would be able to tell our story to someone who cares.  When there is no one to hear us, we lose the purpose of our existence.

However, there is hope.  There is hope for you even if there is no human being willing to hear your story.  God who made you in his own image longs to hear your voice because he cares for you deeply.  The Bible is God’s invitation to call on him; to tell our stories to him.  The Logos that became human said “come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”.  You don’t have to allow isolation to take your life.  If you are willing, God is always willing to come into your darkness.  David was such a man who mastered the art of telling his story to God.  Reading through his Psalms will inspire you to enter into the inner sanctuary of God where you can have personal conversation with the creator of the universe.  He never gets tired listening to your story!         

अनुभव गर्न लायक जीवन

मानिसको जीवन एक विचित्र अनुभव हो। सुख-दुखको सङ्गम। समयको घेराबन्दी। प्रकृतिको नियम।  परिस्थितिको कैदी।  वातावरणको उपज।  

यो गजबको अनुभव गर्न मानिस आफै यो संसारमा आएन; आउन सकिने सम्भावना पनि छैन।  कसैले उसलाई यहाँ राखेको हो।  यो संसार मानिसको सुरूवात हो।  त्यसैकारण, यो संसार मानिसले जीवनदातालाई चिन्ने मौका हो।  शिशुले आमालाई आफू जन्मेको दिन देखि चिन्दै गएझैं, यो संसार मानिसको निम्ति शिशुता हो।  सृष्टिकर्ताका औंलाहरू समात्तदै, अनुहार छाम्दै, अँगालोमा खेल्दै उहाँकै स्वरूपमा हुर्किने घर हो यो संसार।  

मृत्यु पछिको जीवनको त हामी कल्पना मात्रै गर्न सक्छौं।  तर यो संसारमा रहँदाको जीवन आफैमा एक अविस्मरणीय र अनन्त अनुभव रहनेछ।  अजम्मरी जीवनमा हुन आउने सम्भावित अनुभवको अग्रिम स्वाद पनि हो।  सृष्टिकर्ताले गल्ती गरेर हामीलाई यहाँ राखेको होइन; चाहेरै राख्‍नुभएको हो।  त्यसैकारण, आउने संसारको तयारीमा लाग्‍नुमा हाम्रो भलाई छ।  “मरे पछि ...मै राजा” भन्ने नेपाली उखान र “अर्को जुनीमा गरौंला” भन्ने नेपाली मानसिकता धोका हो।  यो जुनीमा नै आउने जुनीको निश्चयता गर्न सकिन्छ भनी येशूले प्रमाणित गर्नुभएको कारण उहाँबाहेक अर्को उपाए छैन; “बाटो सत्य र जीवन म नै हुँ”।

येशू हामीलाई अर्को जुनीको निश्चयता मात्रै होइन, यसै जुनीमा पनि उत्तम जीवन जिउन सकिने शक्ति र सामर्थ दिनुहुन्छ।  येशूलाई चिन्ने, येशूको हातका औंला समात्‍ने प्रत्येक मानिसको निम्ति उहाँ गोठालो हुनुहुन्छ।  उहाँले त्यसलाई हरियो खर्कमा सुताउनुहुन्छ, शान्त पानीको छेउमा डोर्‍याउनुहुन्छ, कठिनाइका घाँटिहरूबाट उकास्‍नुहुन्छ, सत्रुको सामु भोज तयार पार्नुहुन्छ, तेलले उसको शिर अभिषेक गर्नुहुन्छ, आशिषले उसको कचौरा पोखिनेगरि भर्नुहुन्छ; करूणा र भलाइद्वारा जीवनभरि उसको सुरक्षा गर्नुहुन्छ।

परिस्थिति र वातावरणले हामीलाई कैदी बनाएको भए पनि।  दुःखले घेरेको भए पनि।  समयले डाँडा काट्नै लागेको भए पनि।  हामीले हार खानुपर्ने कारण छैन कारण यो संसार हाम्रो सुरुवात मात्र हो।  जीवनको सुरूवात जतिनै प्रतिकूल भए पनि येशूमा हाम्रो जीवनलाई अनुकूल बनाउन सकिन्छ।  जब हामी येशूकहाँ जान्छौं तब अनन्त “लोगोस” जसद्वारा उहाँले सबै थोकको सृष्टि गर्नुभयो, त्यसै लोगोसद्वारा यो जीवनमा स्वर्गीय अनुभवको सृजना येशूले गर्न सक्‍नुहुन्छ।  उहाँले भन्नुभयो; “विश्वास गर्नेको निम्ति सबै थोक सम्भव छ” (मर्कूस ९.२३)।  

मानिसका कुरालाई हामीले नसुनेकै राम्रो कारण प्रायः मानिसहरुले भनेका कुराहरूमा हाम्रो भलो भन्दा कुभलो नै लुकेको हुन्छ।  तर येशूका कुरामा सधैं नै हाम्रो भलाई लुकेको हुन्छ।  उहाँका वचनले हाम्रो जीवनको यो विचित्र अनुभवलाई अझ रहरलाग्दो बनाउँछन्। 

Success Without Happiness Is Bill Hybels

Success without a happy life cannot be considered true success.  Jacob Abbott in Alexander the Great (1876) devotes a chapter talking about Alexander’s character flaws that led to his untimely (unhappy) demise.  Having achieved the highest success before reaching 30, Alexander surrendered his life to drinking and beautiful women.  He abandoned the noble qualities that made him great in the beginning and became a reckless person hoping to find happiness in sensual living.  In doing so, he not only destroyed his life, he also left behind him a world in total chaos.  On his deathbed; his generals asked him as who should be his successor.  The great man gave a great answer; “whoever is worthy”.  He knew he had failed to be worthy even to name a successor let alone prepare one.  There went a greatest conqueror but an unhappy man.

Success without a happy life is like sailing in the ocean without water.  You are surrounded by huge body of water but that water cannot quench your thirst; in fact, should you drink it, it will make you thirstier.  Though the water is carrying you along but cannot give life.

Bill Hybels is considered the most successful pastor by far in the world today.  But the man’s life appears to be far from happiness.  In 2012, he and his family were seated on the stage for an interview at an event called “Exponential Conference”.^[1]  This was probably his first public interview together with his family even after becoming a world phenomenon for so long.  Once a while he had talked and written about the unhappy state of his marriage, but no one really thought much about that.  He was always riding the waves of success for anyone to notice the unhappiness.  But when Dave Ferguson, the interviewer at that event, asked his wife the first question, she went on and on and on how things were terrible in their marriage and how she was hurting in the inside in silence.  Ferguson had to interrupt her because it was becoming so gloomy a picture of a marriage of such a celebrity pastor.  Children were blushing and husband was visibly shaken.  Finally when Ferguson turned to Bill for his response, Bill struggled to find his composer.  He was dislodged from his seat either by what she said or by the fear that his well-constructed façade might come down.  Anyone who watches that interview can see how this famous man and his wife were living a life that was far from true happiness in the face of tremendous success.

Now in her late 60s, Lynne Hybels writes in her blog, “My husband and I have been married for over four decades.  As with many couples, there were times we couldn’t imagine making it through another year, let alone another decade or two.”^[2]  That is a very sad statement for any marriage that has lasted for so long.  Yes, marriage has its fair share of hardships but to go through such marriage year after year would certainly drain any human soul.  She confesses that in her 40s, she even lost all her faith in God and took nearly a decade for her to rediscover the love of Christ.^[3]  Writing her last blog post for 2018 in March, she still appears to be at a crossroad; “I’m not sure where this part of the journey will lead, though I do find myself moved to good tears by the beauty of the simple flowers I arrange into assorted vases and by the truth of the simple words delivered via Audible from my favorite spiritual poets.”  She goes on “The shape of this year is still unfolding, but so far it holds little structure, much quiet, a fair bit of play, my favorite people, and an intentional focus on the beauty of nature.”^[4] 

It is hard to tell if she knew what was coming her way at that time but by now we can only imagine the kind of sadness she is going through.  We can also imagine the agonies Bill is going through and his children and grandchildren who considered their dad and granddad a great hero.  If you look at the Willow Creek Church campus at South Barrington, Illinois and the worldwide impact it had, if you stack all what Bill has written and spoken, if you talk to people who are impacted by this man’s leadership conferences, you can only imagine the kind of finishing Bill would have.  Sadly the final chapter is looking so gloomy, so unhappy. 

Success (whatever that maybe) alone cannot give us happiness.  You can be happy without success but success without happiness leaves behind a trail of destruction in the same scale of success you were chasing after.  Paul the apostle writes from Roman prison to the Philippian church to be happy in the Lord always.  Compared to Bill Hybels, Paul was a failure but he died a happy man leaving behind a trail of life giving letters.  Paul’s secret of happiness was Jesus Christ, not success.  That has not changed for us either.  Don’t be driven for success but run after Christ and he will quench your thirst once and for all! 

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[1] https://youtu.be/x6BoQKBd6WA (Accessed on August 10, 2018).

[2] https://www.lynnehybels.com/about-1/ (Accessed on August 10, 2018).

[3] https://www.lynnehybels.com/blogs/happy-40th-bill-hybels-and-thank-you (Accessed on August 10, 2018).

[4] https://www.lynnehybels.com/blogs/2018/3/18/2018-the-year-of-the-radical-sabbatical (Accessed on August 10, 2018).

Secret of Abundant Life is Generosity (Hospitality)

Taste buds tell us the taste of food; sight reveals us the beauty of scenery, and hearing the sweetness of music.  Someone’s explanation about these things may give us some ideas about them but not the actual experience.  It is in eating, seeing and hearing we acquire the real experience of them.

 

Christian faith is such a thing that loses its flavor, its beauty, and its sweetness when we limit it only to talks.  It is in practicing the faith that makes it a living relationship with God and with one another.  To emphasize this point, Jesus said “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35, NLT).  We don’t have to shout out loud to the world about who we are; our lives can become the Bible for the world to read and for the church to be nourished with if we put our faith into action.

Last week I travelled to Aizawl (Mizoram) for one week’s Bible Seminar and stayed the whole week with brother Vanlalchhunga’s family.  He and his wife make a wonderful Christian home with their four amazing children and a kind hearted mother who is about 75 and still very strong.  Every time I happen to meet people like this, I am reminded of the promise the Lord Jesus made when he said “No one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life” (Luke 18:29-30).  Their hospitality and sincere desire to make my life comfortable while I was there reminded me of what John must have experienced in the house of Gaius in Ephesus.

Gaius was one of the leaders in the church at Ephesus who opened his house not only for John but also for many others who passed through the town.  Travelling ministers of the gospel would come to Ephesus and Gaius would welcome them into the church and also to his home.  He would do everything possible to send them off with some material help for their onward journey as well.  John commends him for such love and hospitality and offers a blessed prayer in his behalf saying, “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health (physically), just as (I know) your soul prospers (spiritually)” (3John 2, AMP).

So many Christians live barren lives because they fail to practice hospitality and generosity.  Much of their faith is limited to talks only and because of that, they neither exhibit the light of the gospel to the world nor enjoy the blessedness John prays for Gaius.  True taste of Christian faith comes to life when we put our words into action.  John says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.  This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence…if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask” (1John 3:18-22, NIV).

The best way to have a joyful Christian life is to put our faith into practice.  Otherwise it is a dead faith because faith without action is dead (James 2:17).  But if we put our faith into action, it becomes a living faith and produces the kind of life Jesus came to give us; “an abundant life” (John 10:10).    

Bible Seminar in Mizoram

Please pray for the flowing Bible Training Seminar in Aizawl, Mizoram.  Pastor Puia has gone ahead to prepare for it and Pastor Bhatta will follow him later.

Thoughts from Hospital

I have been visiting the doctor for sometimes now.  This particular group of hospitals is well known in India.  Comparatively an expensive place, but has somehow earned the reputation of being reliable.  In some notorious places of medical malpractices, patients go for one kind of surgery and come home with some other missing parts in their bodies. 

Visiting a doctor is simply a risk one has to take as a last resort in a culture where there is no moral ground for honesty, trust and service.  Though there is a strong belief in reaping the consequences of a bad Karma in the next life but who cares about the next life.  In fact, the person whose organs are being stolen by the doctor may be reaping the consequences of his or her own Karma in previous life.  Therefore, when you cheat, steal, and kill, you are simply playing the part in this never ending cycle of Karma; you are doing nothing wrong.  In fact, I learned from a taxi driver, alleviating someone’s suffering can be dangerous for those who believe in the law of Karma.  While waiting at a red light, an old beggar approached our taxi.  But the driver chased her away.  When we asked as why he was rude to her, he said; “she is reaping the consequences of her bad karma in her previous life and no one should prevent her from doing so.  If I reduce her suffering, then whatever is reduced from her lot will come to me.”  Didn’t argue with him much but only imagined what he would think if she was his mother or wife.    

Now, about the hospital; every time I visit the doctor, I sit in a crowded lobby, waiting for my turn.  Several doctors’ offices are situated around the lobby.  The waiting time to see the doctor, even after making the appointment, can go up to three hours and gives you the ample opportunity to watch the crowd of hundreds if not thousands of people who come and go.     

Sitting there for hours, you get to see and study all types of people.  Some well-built and good looking while others not so blessed by the nature.  Some overweight and hardly able to walk; even the sitting chairs in the lobby are not wide enough to contain them.  Others so skinny you could feel as if their bones were crackling with every move they make.  Young and old, boys and girls, and all ages rushing through the unknown on their way to see their doctors with the hope of securing better health, a better future by leaving behind whatever the maladies they were struggling with.  With the exception of few smiling faces, almost everyone carried a gloomy and anxious look.   Some were in serious pains; some were carried into the doctor’s office on stretchers and wheelchairs. 

Having sat there for a number of times now, it is not difficult for me to conclude that people will pay whatever the cost within their power if they can get their health back.  We all want to live long; none of us want to die soon.  In fact, we all long for immortality.  Yet, one day everyone will embrace death.  The good looking bodies, the well-built frames and even the healthy genes will come to an end.  Some will be cremated; some buried and so on and so forth.  No amount of treatment will secure an immortal life in this body. 

Sadly, so long as our bodies are healthy, we never think about life.  We make ourselves busy in the rat race of existence for acquiring a few perishable things.  A grocery store keeper gets up early in the morning and begins to think about the day’s business; he won’t mind to cheat, defraud and even mix some harmful and poisonous chemicals in the edibles so that he can get more profit out of his goods.  A milkman adds as much water to his milk as possible.  A butcher selling chicken pumps his meat with water so that it weighs him more in the scale.  A fisherman applies harmful chemicals to his fish so that they can remain fresh for weeks.  Same thing goes for the vegetable and fruit sellers.  The basic necessities of life are poisoned by people who are supposed to be keepers of their brothers.  The people who run government agencies to monitor the quality of food and drugs can be easily bought with the profit people make by destroying the health of general public.  Life is so cheap; everyone wants to make a few more bucks by destroying it. 

Money has become our master, and we have become its obedient slaves.  We will serve this master even at the expense of our own wellbeing.  We will keep earning this money so long as our health is okay or our age allows.  But then, should a terrible sickness visit us or an old age welcomes us, all our money is useless.  It cannot save; neither can we enjoy life because by then life would be gone. 

I have always lived as though I was on a borrowed time.  I was supposed to be killed at birth, but was spared.  I should have been dead before I turned one because of a terrible tumor, but I survived.  Constant suicidal thoughts until the age of 18 could have been actualized, but I failed to act on them and kept living for another day.  But it is only after I met Jesus of Nazareth that life took on a different rhythm.  Everyday became an exciting adventure.  Every opportunity to do good to others became a fulfilling pleasure.  Tomorrow no longer bothered me and yesterday did not matter.  Today became the center of my life and have since lived it to the fullest of God-given ability.

Even then, when this present sickness weakened my body, I began to feel as if I could have done more when my health was robust.  I could have written more, spoken more, helped more, done this and done that kind of feelings surround me when I lie on bed.  I thank God for the medical miracles which give me hope but much more than that, I thank God for the divine healing and health that has carried me thus far.  And God willing, I shall do more before my time is up.

How about you?  Do you take good health for granted and waste your time?  Have you prepared to meet your God?  Have you put your house in order?  Or will you start thinking about such things only when your health begins to give up?

So, my dear reader, believe in a God who loves you instead of the money that enslaves you.  Love your neighbor as yourself and life will simply become a wonderful adventure and a beautiful journey!