Deciding to be different!

We are in an age where mob mentality prevails. One doesn’t want to be seen as someone unique. People are seen compromising in terms of values and ethics but not willing to stand out different. We usually follow the crowd to feel safe and accepted. Standing out can bring social pain or rejection. Fitting in feels easier than fighting back, even if it means giving up personal values. This need to belong is a powerful human drive that shapes modern behavior.

Humans are social. Being alone or judged by a group feels dangerous to one’s basic survival instincts. Agreeing with the group protects people from attacks or arguments. Thinking like everyone else takes less effort than forming our own hard choices. To be different takes conviction and courage to stand different especially in the matter of truth, justice, work, ethics and, in the matter of faith and belief. 

Many young people today fall prey to the peers who force them to cut corners and go out of the way to compromise in terms of values and life choices.  Many even though they have their own inhibitions, give up. It is very hard to say no when friends push you to do wrong things. Many young people feel scared to stand alone, so they change their mind and break their own rules just to fit in with the group. The common notion is the group must be right because it is loud. 

Let me lay out the life story of Jesus. He was constantly opposed and accused of speaking the truth. In fact, the Jews, especially the pharisee who were well-versed with the religious laws saw Jesus’ prioritizing compassion and mercy over legalism. Jews observed Sabbath the seventh day as rest, holy and condemned if someone worked on that day. People were legalistic and religious in their relationship with God. Bible records Jesus healed several people with various sickness who encountered Him on sabbath day. The Pharisee, priest and the scribes lashed out at Jesus saying why He is healing people on the sabbath. But Jesus continued to be different. Jesus healed a man with the withered hand, Jesus freed a crippled woman who had been bent over by a spirit for 18 years, He healed a man with the dropsy, He healed a lame man suffering for 38 years, He healed a man who was blind, He cast an unclean spirit out of a possessed man in a local synagogue. All this happened on the sabbath day. For Jesus, life was important than legalism and rituals. 

Then there is the story of the 12 disciples who closely followed Jesus for three and a half years. After Jesus’ death resurrection and ascension, the disciples for the next 60 to 80 years went to different parts of the world to speak about Jesus’ death, resurrection, proving his deity and about the eternal life. We read from history all the disciples were martyred for their faith. They wanted to stand for the truth and be different. Nothing stopped them. If you are choosing to stand for the truth and be different you may be opposed. What you choose to stand for matters. Jesus stated, in John 8:32 recorded in the Bible. "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free".

 

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Suffocated by Comfort!

Do you realise you can be suffocated by too much comfort?  Yes, it is possible! Usually, we conclude being constrained and depressed because of the troubles and crisis we face and experience.  Too much of comfort can be a silent trap. Staying in a cushy routine breeds complacency, dulls your ambition, and slowly suffocates your true potential. If you look carefully, growth, purpose, and meaning begin only when comfort ends.

Today we get to see many parents lavish and even force satisfaction to their children without properly balancing the responsibility matrix. The result, children especially the teens and young people, evade responsibilities of any kind. Overindulging children — providing too much, too soon, and doing tasks for them which they are very much capable of doing independently — deprives them of essential life lessons like responsibility and delayed gratification. This "soft structure" often leads to a strong sense of entitlement, learned helplessness, and a reliance on comfort. Comfort devoid of responsibilities can be suffocating overtime. As we are all aware that this age is infested and addicted to social media. One can spend hours doing nothing but just scrolling and consuming unwanted worthless stuff. People call it rest. This digital age has redefined comfort.

A book by Michael Easter, “The Comfort Crisis”, Easter makes the case that modern life may be too cushy for our emotional and psychological well-being. When all our most fundamental needs (food, warmth, safety) are so thoroughly and perpetually satisfied, he says we not only lose our appreciation for what we have but we also “move the goalposts” and fixate on social comparisons that make us miserable. 

There is a parable in the Bible called Prodigal son where Jesus enlightens the people with the story of a son who sought comfort and pleasure in his term.  His purpose and goal in life were comfort and happiness. And he used all means to pursue it. It talks about two sons who lived in the father’s house comfortably and with all luxury. Soon the younger son felt there can be something out there which can guarantee more pleasure and comfort. So, the younger son demanded his share from his father and left home in pursuit of pleasure and comfort. The story states that he spent all the money with his friends on wine and women. When all his money extinguishes, he is gradually overtaken by crisis. Unable to handle his crisis for long he works as a servant and goes through a humiliating experience. But at one point he realizes his folly and comes back to his senses. He remembers the true clean comfort of his father’s house and takes a decision to return. 

True comfort is found in finding your purpose in life. Travel for career and business is not wrong unless it aligns with your calling to follow the Saviour Christ Jesus who has promised life and life in abundance. When you find the purpose in God, your journey will start becoming visible to you. The true purpose is knowing the true God, Christ Jesus who has promised life and eternal pleasures.   The Bible states, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” (Psalms 37:23 Bible). Comfort is not your end destiny but your journey with Christ because He holds your future. 

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We always carry death in us- Is there a hope?

 

Death is something no one likes to associate with.  It is an unwanted guest that will take us in the appointed time. While I was on my bed thinking about this, especially the miracle of sleeping and getting up in the morning, though it looks so natural, but it is not. Sleep feels simple and natural, but it suspends our conscious control. Waking up in the morning is not always a guarantee. Opening our eyes in the morning is a gift we often take for granted. We carry death in us, always. It is just that we don’t realize when it is going to overtake us. God who orchestrated the universe has designed humans beautifully and brilliantly, beyond human intelligence. It looks like all functions are just obeying the laws of the metaphysical world. But it is more than that. 

Jesus made a powerful claim, “… I have come to give life and life in abundance.”  Jesus could make this powerful statement because He is the source of life. The entire creation came from Him. The clarity the creation story in the book of Genesis, in the Bible gives a clear logical perspective which is compelling for an authentic reader compared to any other worldview. Human existence never dies. Jesus made yet another powerful claim, “Because I live, you also will live”. Now, this is yet another unique claim made by Jesus in the entire human history. This addresses the problem of life and death. For Jesus death was not the ultimate story. The actual story began after His death, after He resurrected from death. 

People who face chronic, life-threatening illness often think about death every day, while healthy people give it the least thought. They feel strong and have many years left to live. Pain or weakness makes sick people face their limits. Healthy people can distract themselves with daily tasks. The truth is all of us carry death in us but in a Christian worldview there is hope. The big story is  that Jesus was  resurrected from death and that communicates a lot. That tells us that we shall live too. This Jesus  who claimed to build an eternal kingdom for anyone who believes in His deity, confesses all wrongdoings to be forgiven and be freed from his guilt and accepts Him in his/her heart by a verbal prayer (expression of the heart in words) finds salvation. It is as simple as that.  

Though we carry death in us, we remember His most powerful claim about life after death, “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.”. 

An eternity with Jesus sounds philosophical? Not at all. No worldview is convincing as this one, because there is hope in Him. We are usually used to a belief system where when one gets very old and passes away it doesn’t hurt us much. But then death continues to linger around us. What matters is how one prepares to live and find hope in this life, despite problems, sufferings and sickness. Jesus Heals, restores and guarantees life now and forever. Worried about your loved ones being abandoned? Don’t worry they are in His hands, too. Would you like to invite Jesus in your heart to find peace and hope forever. Try Him. 

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When Power wants to rule!

Power is such an enticement that allures everyone to crave for it and attain it by any means. Power is a common theme in human stories, including in different religions and their myths. Many ancient texts show gods fighting wars, winning lands, or defeating rivals. These tales often reflect the human societies that wrote them. People gave their gods human traits like anger, pride, and the desire to rule. Also, there are stories of religious leaders demonstrating the power by waging war, killing those whom they think are their opponents, capturing kingdoms, forcing conversion etc.

Talking about family system spouses, parents, in-laws, all want to be in power including infants and children. The same spirals in society and workplaces too. Power wants to rule. It sounds exhausting to feel like every relationship around you—from your own home to your workplace—is caught in a constant struggle for control. It is completely valid to feel overwhelmed when it seems like everyone, even children, are competing to dictate the rules.  Dr Bob Beare states, “Most problems are due to power hunger, which is rooted in a childhood safety deficit. Control hunger leaders are never satiated. Power hunger cannot fill the hole in the soul.” 

Bible narrates the story of a very powerful person named, Paul. Originally known as Saul, he was a devout, strictly observant Pharisee and a fierce persecutor of early Jewish Christians. He actively hunted, arrested, and persecuted early followers of Jesus out of religious conviction, viewing them as blasphemers. He experienced a dramatic turning point on the road to Damascus. He had a visionary encounter with the resurrected Jesus, which led him to turn from persecuting the church to becoming its most prominent missionary. 

After Paul started preaching Jesus in different parts of the world, he preached the gospel across the Roman Empire during three major missionary journeys, traveling through regions like Syria, Cyprus, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), Macedonia, and Greece, and finally preaching in Rome. At one point while Paul was there in Asia talking about the resurrection of Christ to the crowd. There was a commotion and some started to oppose his teaching. The Bible records, that there was a riot and the mob wanted to kill Paul. 

The reason for this riot is recorded in the historical narrative in the Bible. Asia was saturated with people worshipping idols. The business of gods made with silver was flourishing. The businessmen were powerful and were in full control to make gods out of silver and sell to the whole world. It talks about a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis provided a great deal of business for the craftsmen. The Bible states, that “when he had assembled the crowd, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business.”. The complaint against Paul was that, not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia, he persuaded people by saying that “gods made by hand are not gods.”. When Demetrius found, his power was connected to the business of making gods, he realized he was losing it and revolted. 

Paul was preaching Jesus and His resurrection. Then opposers further expressed their fear by saying “not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited but that the temple will come to the verge of ruin. And mark what they said “the very one all of Asia and the world worship”. Interesting to know how someone thrived in a business of making gods.

Jesus was a God of love who though had an unmatchable power, why I say that because He raised people from dead and yet hung in the cross of Calvary not as a defeater but creating a way for us to receive forgiveness and salvation. He did not use His power to capture kingdom proving that He is God. He created the universe and does not need to conquer anything. Do you want to know Jesus more, who is powerful in loving us immensely? 

 

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Refused to be convinced!

Have you come across people who refuse to accept what you say even when you are right and have proof? I am sure we all have experienced that. Often people approach one-another with a preconceived notion whether it is to do with the personal or business affairs. How much ever you try to explain they still come up with some negatives to water down all your efforts. If you have encountered such scenario, don’t worry, it is not about you but it’s about who they are. When people refuse to see your true character or actions, it is often because accepting the truth creates painful mental conflict with their own fixed beliefs, biases, or egos.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb cites, “You will never fully convince someone that he is wrong; only reality can.”. Your truth may challenge the safe narrative they built in their own minds, therefore, they actively look for flaws to match their false assumptions. In such cases stop over-explaining. Pushing harder often makes them dig their heels in deeper. Know some people are committed to misunderstanding you. When someone decides to misread your words on purpose, no amount of extra explanation will fix it. They do not want clarity. They want to protect their own view of you or keep control. They want to keep you on the defensive so you stay off-balance.

If you look at the life of Jesus, He constantly faced this challenge. People realized that He is God incarnated yet refused to be convinced. The crowd witnessed His miraculous birth, the virgin birth. The crowd also endorsed His immaculate, pure and holy life to an extent that even His enemies couldn’t find any fault. The big crowd were the beneficiary of the extraordinary miracles Jesus performed. Healing people from all kinds of sickness to raising people from the dead. His death was miraculous because He is the only one in history who predicted the nature of His death and His resurrection. And the only person in human history who rose from the dead. He claimed to be the way, truth and the life, yet people did not want to believe Him as the Messiah. Jesus did not force. He left them to their own assumption. Jesus deliberated absolute freewill and a choice to all, to either accept or reject Him. Jesus is not a religion but a relationship. The Gospel writer John stated, “But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name.” We become His rightful heir, His children when we believe and accept Him in our heart. Having said that Jesus also emphasized this, “Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”

During the trial of Jesus, the Bible records that the people condemned Jesus with false accusation before Pilate. Pontius Pilate was greatly amazed when Jesus refused to answer the huge charges brought against Him by the chief priests. This striking silence contrasted sharply with the typical behavior of defendants and displayed a calm composure that deeply surprised the Roman governor. Jesus was silent till the time of His crucifixion. The story did not end with a defeat of truth but resurgence of truth. Jesus rose from the dead and that shook the world history. 

Your story will not be hidden too. If you are struggling to make your truth known, don’t worry. All those who wish to condemn will find the truth at one point resounding out in jubilance at the right time. Jesus controls your story. I encourage you to study His life story, because in His story, your story also is imbibed. 

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What Will Be Your Eulogy?

  

Death is never a news that we want to hear. It stirs in us feelings of fear and the finiteness of our existence. When we hear of someone we know has passed away, our thoughts are stirred towards how we related with them in the past. Also, on their passing away people share with each other what that person meant to them or played a role in their life. But some people’s passing away can bring back traumatic thoughts of how they almost destroyed you.

 

Eulogy is a speech given at a funeral saying good things about the person who has died. But what if the good that people speak is a lie.  Have you thought about this? You may be famous for your good works, or you were a powerful person so many knew you, but you had a side that was cruel and merciless that people will have to lie to say good things about you. That would be more tragic than death itself.

 

Jesus Christ is the only human being whose life and death spoke the same. His disciples died as martyrs, witnessing and speaking of His life, His death and resurrection. It was one seamless story where it wasn’t difficult for people to speak of all the miraculous healings and life flowing teachings He imparted when He lived on this earth. He taught us how to show compassion and how to condemn hypocrisy and wickedness. Jesus’ enemies were those who didn’t like Him speaking the truth and doing the right thing.

 

Is there something that we can learn from Jesus here? When He was human, Jesus taught us to live according to God’s purpose, that means holding on to Godly principles and values and never compromising even if it means you must face excruciating death. All of us want to live a life that pleases the world and the people, we never fear what we would do when we face God. The Bible says, “My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgment.” Psalm 119:120. We don’t use the life, the resources, the power given to us in a godly way, instead we use it as we wish, leaving a trail of destruction and cruelty. It’s good to give a serious thought of how your eulogy should be. Will it be a speech where even your enemies will be compelled to speak the truth or where your friends will end up speaking lies to make you look good, knowing full well who you really are? 

 

Wake up if you are in a deep sleep, living your life in your terms because there is a day all this will end and you will be standing before your creator giving account of every wicked deed and thought that you did to people, even worse to His children who were precious to Him. You may get accolades here from people while saying goodbye to you for good but fear what God will say about you, as it would mean the difference of hell or eternity. Surrender your life to Jesus and come out of your pretense. He is willing to accept you as you are because He first loved us. Turn from your evil ways that people here on earth and angels in Heaven will have the same thing to say about you. The truth, the real you.

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I am not sure if the person just lied or spoke the truth!

I am not sure how many of you  struggled to find out if the person with whom you had been conversing spoke the truth or lied to you. Welcome to the world of deception and manipulation. Navigating a conversation where truth and falsehoods are blended can be mentally draining. Detecting deception is notoriously difficult, with human accuracy only slightly better than a coin flip (approx. 50%).

Lying isn’t just about hiding the truth — it’s about power. When someone lies and believes you won’t notice, they’re not just avoiding accountability, but placing themselves above you. They assume:

you lack awareness

you won’t trust your instincts

you’ll doubt yourself instead of them

Even if you find out, you are powerless to be a threat to them

In fact, that’s disrespect. People who lie often rely on a familiar mechanism: gaslighting, small distortions, half-truths, plausible stories. Not to convince you, but to confuse you enough to stay quiet. The moment you realize someone is lying and thinks you’re too naive to see it, trust is already gone. Mistakes can always be discussed. But arrogance disguised as manipulation is evil.

In the book “Telling Lies” Paul Ekman states, “LIES FAIL for many reasons. The victim of deceit may accidentally uncover the evidence… Someone else may betray the deceiver. An envious colleague, an abandoned spouse, a paid informer, all are major sources for the detection of deception... Deception clues or leakage may be shown in a change in the expression on the face, a movement of the body, an inflection to the voice, a swallowing in the throat, a very deep or shallow breath, long pauses between words, a slip of the tongue, a micro facial expression, a gestural slip... Some lies are performed beautifully; nothing in what the liar says or does betrays the lie. Why not always? There are two reasons, one that involves thinking and one that involves feeling.”

Liars somehow want to navigate their way through all odds. And they would never bring God into their life puzzle. The Bible consistently condemns lying, identifying it as contrary to God's nature and destructive to relationships. Scriptures warn that habitual liars face severe spiritual consequences, including exclusion from eternal life, and note that deception is fundamentally tied to evil and the Devil. The Lord explicitly hates a "lying tongue" and detests "lying lips". According to (Proverbs 16-16-19 Bible) a lying tongue is one of seven things God considers an abomination. Most importantly, lying is the result of the mess in the human heart. When one’s heart is messed up the person would use any means to make his/her way out. 

The God of the Bible emphasizes those who follow Christ to put away falsehoods, "speak the truth with their neighbor" (Ephesians 4:25 Bible), and pursue trustworthiness, as this is what delights the Lord (Proverbs 12:22 Bible). You may try certain discipline to choose not to speak lies, but it doesn’t guarantee you would remain that way always. But Jesus transforms every detrimental habit that can impact your soul when you ask forgiveness and repent from such habits. If you confess your sin and accept Him as a Savior of your life things would take a new turn altogether. Would you like to take a try?

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