Chennai Again

I took a very early morning flight to Chennai, leaving home about midnight and reaching about 8 in the morning. As with night flights, you can't get much sleep and I think I got about 30 minutes of shut eye. I managed to get an additional hour of sleep once I reached St. Teresa's parish, where Fr. Lawrence Raj, a great priest if there is any, once again graciously put me up, but if I thought the lack of sleep would ruin my talk, it didn't. It was great. I was to speak on Sin and Temptation, but at the very last moment, the Spirit inspired me to change it to Second Chance, as He felt there may have been a few people in the audience who needed that. There were about 150 in attendance for this, the first of what are going to regular monthly sessions, but I had little doubt that the next time there would be much more.

A Second Chance

We all deserve a second chance. And sometimes we do great things with it. See what David did with his. Or Peter. Today's talk was on second chances.

HSI Discipleship Program, Nungambakkam

The three day Discipleship Program at St. Teresa's Church in Nungambakkam, Chennai was a tremendous success. There were less than 300 people the first day, but long since immune to any disappointment in lesser numbers it didn't bother me any. 500 people showed up the following day. There were 750 on the third!

Fr. Lawrence Raj, another one in a rare, but magnificent series of priests I have met lately with a heart for God and His Kingdom, invited us to start a regular program there, and I couldn't help but be delighted at God's favor upon the work that we do.

Perambur, Chennai

For the first time in seven years I preached alongside a priest (Fr. Januario from Goa) and the experience was a good one definitely to be repeated. This took place over two days at  Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Perambur, Chennai, where I was invited to preach a retreat titled: At the Foot of the Cross: The Place Where Life Begins. Quite a mouthful, I know. But then they may have known how much I can talk! :)

I met some wonderful people while I was there belonging to the Elohim Community, including the leaders Marcello and Marcia, who had orgainzed the retreat. They have lovely hearts and I am sure that we will be doing a lot of things together. It delights God when his children can work in harmony because then they show that they are working for His Kingdom, not their own, and I wish more people will realize this.

End of Days

Is the world coming to an end? This was the subject this week at the HSI Communities in the UAE.

Breathing Life into Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37 tells a powerful story of God breathing life into dry bones. We believe that God is doing the same thing today: in the world, in the Church, and in the people. Breathing Life into Dry Bones was the message of tremendous hope in the HSI Communities this week and we felt our lives rejuvenated and refreshed as God breathed his Spirit anew into us.