Newsletter

- Pastor Godwin

What a weekend it had been for the followers of Jesus. All of their hopes and dreams seemed to vanish on Friday when Jesus died on the cross. According to Luke 24, they were in a state of shock and fear. Everything had happened so fast. Early on Sunday morning (Easter to you and I) the women went to the tomb of Jesus. They rushed back to the disciples with the news that Jesus had risen. Peter and John ran to the tomb and discovered that it was indeed empty. That very afternoon, two of the discouraged and frustrated believers, Cleopas and an unidentified companion, set out for their home in Emmaus. On the way they met a stranger. It was actually the risen Jesus, but they did not recognize Him.

I would like to mention three things that happen when a believer in Christ is discouraged and frustrated. First, discouragement and frustration can cause a believer to walk away from the fellowship of believers. As these two journeyed they were moving away from the fellowship of the other believers in Jerusalem. They had forgotten the truth found in Isaiah 43:2-3 which says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior" (NIV). When Christians allow themselves to become preoccupied with their dashed hopes and frustrated plans they often withdraw from the strength found in the fellowship with other believers. Secondly, discouragement and frustration can cause us to live in the past. When Jesus joined the two disciples as they walked along they were in a deep discussion. Jesus asked them what they were discussing and why they were so sad. By asking this question Jesus allowed these disciples to express their deepest hurts, angers and frustrations. He knew their hearts and knew their needs. But he still asked them a leading question, and gave them opportunity to pour out their confusion and disappointment. He was Jesus the Nazarene. He was a prophet. He was mighty in deeds. He was mighty in words. He was loved by the common people. He was hated by the religious leadership. They summed up their condition very neatly when they said in verse twenty-one, "but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel." Notice the use of the past tense, "we had hoped," which strongly implies that this was not relevant to the present or they would not have been so discouraged and distressed. The saddest death of all is the death of hope. They had hoped but now the flame of hope was all but extinguished as made clear as they continued, "And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place."

And finally, discouragement and frustration can cause us to question God's care. We might have expected Jesus to respond by saying, "I understand." But in verse twenty-five He says, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" When He says they are slow to believe "all" that the prophets have spoken, it indicates that the disciples were selective. They believed part of the word of God, but not all. These disciples had been guilty of believing the word of God selectively, believing those things that fit in the neat little box that they had created for God. Heartbreak happens this way. We think God should do something based on our faulty knowledge of His word. He does not do it. We get discouraged and think God let us down and that He has disappointed us. The problem is not with God but with us. His words are not meant to harm or insult but to challenge our belief.

What truth do you not believe? Is it that God cares for you? (1 Peter 5:7). "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" Is it that God provides for you! (Phil. 4:19) "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" Friends, we worship The Risen Lord and He is willing and able to give you Peace and provide all your needs according to His Riches in Glory. Amen.

- தேவப் பிரியன்

திருக்குறள் says,

"அறங்கூறான் அல்ல செயினும் ஒருவன்
புறங்கூறான் என்றல் இனிது" (குறள் #181)

It is more pleasing to avoid gossip that to preach or practice virtue (Christian Virtues are faith, hope, love, wisdom, justice, courage, integrity and perseverance)

திருமறை says,

கலாத்தியர் 5:22, 23 யின் படி நாம் ஆவியின் கனியை உடையவர்களாகவும் இருக்கவேண்டும், அதே சமயத்தில் யாக்கோபு 1:26 யின் படி உங்களில் ஒருவன் தன் நாவை அடக்காமல், தன் இருதயத்தை வன்சித்து, தன்னைத் தேவபத்தியுள்ளவனென்று எண்ணினால் அவனுடைய தேவபத்தி வீணாயிருக்கும். கடவுள் நம்மிடம் இரண்டையும் எதிர்பார்க்கிறார்

Kural gives more importance to gossip than virtue by saying that it is better to not gossip than to even preach or practice virtue. However Bible expects you to preach and practice Christian virtues like Faith, Hope, Love and also to get rid of gossip

- Joe Kingsly

மாயமற்ற அன்பு

- Sujaya Robin

A remote mobile home gleams faintly in the crisp autumn sunrise. Within that metal refuge in the high deserts of central Oregon, a young mother is having a quiet time with the Lord. Her toddler is still asleep. Her husband is a full time college student, and the couple is surviving on $400 per month. They have no home church, no friends nearby, and she does not drive. Even the expense of a long distance phone call might leave them without milk or bread in weeks to come.

Such is the backdrop of Laurie Klein's classic praise song, "Love You, Lord", written in 1974. During early mornings, Laurie would pull out her Bible and guitar and begin praying and singing songs. "That morning I was so empty," she says, recalling her time with the Lord. "I knew I didn't have anything to offer Him. I asked if He would like to hear me sing, if He would just give me something He would be in the mood to hear." Klein describes "I Love You, Lord", as a gift from God that emerged spontaneously: "I sang the first half and put the chords with it with no effort," she says.

I love You Lord and I lift my voice To worship You O my soul, rejoice!

Intrigued and moved by these words, she remembers thinking, "maybe I should write that down." She stopped long enough to get a pen. When she came back, the last two phrases came just as easily:

Take joy, my King in what you hear May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.

Laurie's husband, Bill, recognized the simple beauty of the song and encouraged her to play it for a local pastor and some visiting musicians. Eventually the song surfaced at Jack Hayford's Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. But its greatest exposure was on Maranatha Music's Praise 4 in 1980. It has since been translated into other languages. Today, Laurie's simple prayer has become one of the most popular praise songs of all time. "It changed everything for me," she says. And 30 years later, it's still touching lives. I have always wondered how fans can stand in line for hours to buy tickets to a rock concert or a football game. It is because they love the band or the football team. I have also wondered about those folks who stood in line overnight to get Nintendo's Wii and Apple's iPhone? It is because they love gaming and technology so much.

Love makes sacrifice a privilege, service an honor, suffering a joy. The love which God has for us and has placed within us – do we show this love to others and do we give this love back to God or to the elements of this world? I don't know about you, but I have struggled many times to focus on transferring GOD'S love instead of transferring MY love to people. I have to constantly remind myself that love that flows through me from God is the purest kind. I have to let THAT pure kind of love filter through me to reach others. Have we cleaned our filters lately?

Crossword No. 11 (Interactive)

Congratulations! Correct entries for Crossword No. 10 submitted by
Hannah Daniel, Aurora, IL
Edith & Adeline Andrews, Chennai, India
Kharun, Josh & Sangeetha Samuel, Naperville, IL
Charles, Cynthia and Kids, Hoffman Estates, IL

TUCC newsletter is a publication of Tamil United Church of Christ, Chicago
All articles represent the views of the authors only (whether disclosed or undisclosed) and should not be assumed to represent the view of TUCC.