Delhi

A view of the Qutab Minar from the ruins around it

I arrived in Delhi yesterday and took advantage of a free day to see a little of the city, which I was visiting for the first time. I had booked myself on a coach, but nobody else showed up, so I wound up with first class treatment at economy prices. One more instance of how God spoils His servants! :) Being alone, I did not have to see everything the tour guides wanted me to see and ended a couple of hours before schedule. I am not much of a "tourist" and was glad to return home soon. Home this time was with a lovely young man named Rohit Abraham and his mother. I move to take up occupancy in the Bishop's house on the 30th, when I start my mission in Delhi.

Discipleship Program, Thane

St. John the Baptist Church, Thane (March 23-25)

Nearly 1,000 people spilled out of St. John the Baptist Church on the final day of my first mission in Thane, a city adjoining Bombay. My host this time was Bernadette Pimenta, a wonderful lady who did much to promote the program in the diocese, ensuring its success. Ms. Pimenta works with prisoners and does much for the underpriviledged as well as lends a hand to other religious and charitable organizations, and yet again I found myself blessed to meet somebody truly special.

Discipleship Program, Poona

St. Anne's Church, Solapur (March 19-21)

I returned to Pune (Poona for those who still aren't used to the new name) to conduct HSI's Discipleship Program exactly four months to the day since I was here last. It was a very anointed retreat and I was blessed to have the Bishop of Pune, Msgr. Valerian D'Souza, in attendance along with several other priests. Msgr Valerian, or Bishop Vally as he is affectionately addressed, called me after the program ended to tell me how much he enjoyed it and invited me to do more programs in the city soon. I will admit to feeling very honored and immensely encouraged. With all the persecution that one suffers taking the Gospel to others, such things often help keep one going, and I am truly grateful to His Excellency for his gesture.

My gratitude also to Fr. George, and Michael and Maria for making this Program happen and for their warmth and hospitality during my stay in the city.

Christianity and the Art of Mountain Climbing

I received an e-mail last week from the editor of Divine Voice, the magazine of the Divine Retreat Center in Muringoor, soliciting an article for Lent. I found myself a bit surprised by the request - it was not one that I had expected - but pleased, nonetheless, because the magazine reached out to quite a few people. I wrote a 900 word article today titled Christianity and the Art of Mountain Climbing, a title that I hope will be on my next book. After I submitted it, I discovered - to my greater surprise - that the editor had run an old article by me (Resisting Temptation) in the current issue. It was one of the first articles that I had written way back in March 2004, and I was happy to see that it didn't show any signs of immaturity, despite the fact I was a new Christian then.

The Corruption of Saul

Over the past three years I have come across many people in ministry who appear to have lost their way completely (and going by the actions of some of them, their minds too!). I found myself wondering how men who were apparently so blessed when they began working for God could lose the special anointing they seemed to have and end up worse than "ordinary" people. I found the answer in the first book of the prophet Samuel, where a great anointed of God went sliding into insanity due to pride, arrogance, jealousy and disobedience to God. The Corruption of Saul made for my third article in as many weeks, and a return to the Lessons from the Old Testament series.