A BEAM OF HOPE

She was called an idiot for a long time. Probably that was the reason for her to get herself transformed. Real life stories. She’d been through many makeovers and handled by many hands that over the years have worked hard to get her a figure so beautiful that every household will want to own her. Through all times good and bad she will stay with you even when you stick her up against the wall. She lost weight to look as slim as she can get, improved on shaping her curves and her pixilated skin now blushed to shun the glare so we could get a better view through her.

We all love to have her and somehow we will. Cause we know with her openess she will bridge the gap between east and west, north and south. She can bring you the colors of the rainbow or make you go color blind. She can take you places you have never seen, she will teach you , educate you, inspire you or fire you. She can show you heaven or hell.

Though we don’t give her a second thought she leaves the decision to you. And you don’t have to ask her when you want to touch her. She can make you sing and dance, make you cry or shed a tear of joy. She is there for your pleasure. And therefore you must enjoy her.

Did I say you don’t have to ask her when you want to touch her? Yes, not when she is your television. But are we watching the right stuff?
If you are looking for inspiration, then get inspired..............watch  

     DAYSTAR TV – Experience it.  

If you do, you will find there is something for everyone and inspiration for all. You would surely have had a good experience. If you did then……….                                                                      TELL A FRIEND                                                                  *SPEND TIME WITH THE FAMILY                          ......................AND GET INSPIRED*

Value of Education

Pastiche- able

What’s in a name?
Why Pastiche-able?

Pastiche literally means an imitation, otherwise commonly known as a copy-cat. And 'able' simply means we are able to imitate others. But that all depends on how we perceive art. In the human world I am original. Here on social media we are universal and spiritually connected.
With that on my mind, let me in my words explain what is in a name. In a human world, we are able to create ART as an original of our inner thoughts and feelings. What we create is a fingerprint of ourselves. Unique and all with different strokes. Original within us humans.
Our universe is one, and we are spiritually connected. Therefore we have to perceive art in a spiritual world. If that is how we perceive ART then we are all merely imitations. And there is only one masterpiece, JESUS. Beautifully framed by the wonderful perception of GOD.
We are born in this world without knowledge. From the first word we utter to this moment, whatever we say and do has been learned from someone, 9somewhere. A mother or a father, a brother or a sister, a teacher or a leader. All we say and do is an art learned and applied differently. Then are we not all imitations? Spiritually YES. We transform brushes to pens, paints to ink & canvas to paper, we try our best to paint a picture as best as the masterpiece. We can come as close as we get but can never be the masterpiece. Just an imitation.
On a global platform, I am another artist here to display my art, and yes, I am ‘PASTICHE’ and ‘ABLE’ to create my own art. I will try to paint the best picture I can but will never be a Masterpiece.

Filling the pangs of hunger

Filling the pangs of hunger – National Food Security Bill of India

The National Food Security Bill -  an  applause for an initiative by the Government that would appease the masses. But at what and whose cost? 

Like a dove with an olive branch to the sparrows in the distance the flight path is turbulent and beneath are landscapes with flocks of vultures waiting not in hunger but greed. Will the dove cover the distance safely, by the people, for the people, to the people.

BY THE PEOPLE : The Government must be praised for an initiative to fill the pangs of hunger  but cost must not be a slap on the face for the innocent and uneducated. (IR 64) that costs Rs 26/kilo will sell for Rs 3/kilo. What may start with a ripple of excitement may soon turn to a force of a tsunami.  A political stance that  carefully  needs to be considered  for future stability of any Government that is dedicated to serve the people by the oath.  A major obstacle that  must be eradicated with a stringent system  to avoid the proliferation of corruption   between initiative and acceptance.

FOR THE PEOPLE :  As much as the excitement by the people for the low price is welcome they must be educated  on the importance of the initiative and consequences of misuse. With street view experience there is a capacity where misuse in reselling to gullible traders is a possibility for personal gain at the expense of flaws or loop holes in accountable   governing.  Nothing can be sold below the cost price that won’t lead to a deficit spending in a long term which will eventually lead to inflation in other commodities.  To avoid manipulation of the bill another Rs 2 added for cost towards security will not cause  much to worry for putting a bill permanently in place.  Pressure on the government is soon passed on to the people by way of another election.

TO THE PEOPLE  : The people must take responsibility to not misuse the bill of the Government. In other words, the Government must label in several languages with rules for who is entitled, quantity  entitled to an individual and the consequences of misuse. Packing must be secure and tamper-proof. And whoever involved in corruption must be held responsible.

The above statement is not intended against any political party or person  but rather views and  experiences of a common man that has been through the grinding machine similar to what turns wheat to flour with an agonizing groan of a street side vending machine.

Value of Education ~ To sow a green seed

Value of Education ~ To sow a green seed.

If sustainable development is the spearhead of future living then why not bury the green seed in the soil of our future earthlings. And where else do we find the best soil if not in our Nurseries, Schools & Colleges.

For a young mind to flourish with thoughts of development the classrooms must be more than concrete blocks and blackboards.

With the advancement in technology to an extent that could swell your brain to an explosion of ideas, then the ideas should be planted in a place where growth is sure to be productive for the future. Nurseries, Schools & Colleges must be turned to green buildings where the children would not just learn, but live the experience and embed in them the knowledge and importance of their surroundings.

 With the children as a focal point, the importance of green living will  fall  a responsibility with them to carry the education to the future. With the young brains as the eye of the storm, peace and calm will remain at the core but the ideas will circle around them.  Day after day.   A productive today for a green solution tomorrow.

From the  bathrooms to classrooms, from the offices to the play grounds.  One room at a time remodeled, one idea at a time educated & one green application for sustainability.  A small child looking to make a big difference. Not too big a price to pay for a green world, if that is what we want.

The Ten Commandments - a marinade for the living flesh

My preview is about the recipe of a heavenly steak and the product is YOU. Get marinated for a life filled with peace & love shared with joy & happiness. For that is the only meal we will all be craving for.

Making a perfect steak has never been easy. The ingredients are simple but the procedure to cook it needs special care and knowledge. You need the best quality of the meat, attention to the cooking time, how long to marinate the meat and skills to tickle the palate. Like waiting for the pores to open and absorb the marinade so you get that scrumptious taste in every bite. Maintaining the temperature to the right degree and very important to know when it is perfectly cooked. And finally presented with the hope and pride a delicious meal to be complimented.

Now most of you must have seen that steak made at Hell’s Kitchen. Fine, now that we do not use the fat from the meat for a steak, I'll chew the fat instead to give you a preview of a steak from the Heavenly Kitchen. And by the way I am not a Master chef from Hell’s Kitchen or a Pastor chef from the Heavenly Kitchen.

The ingredients are simple, just ten of them, all in one pack called the commandments. And just as any other steak a single ingredient missing does not make a perfect steak. Likewise here too you need all of them. The recipe is easy but getting done needs one to be seasoned well. Unlike the complication in cooking a steak at Hell’s Kitchen, here it is different. As I said the ingredients or commandments are important and the right ingredients mixed together will enter the pores of the living flesh. The marinade interacts and self produces heat through a citric reaction that slowly cooks you to a living steak. The perfect steak from the Heavenly Kitchen described on the menu as ‘God’s Child’ – a beautiful soul marinated by the best ingredients to naturally produce a succulent product filled with peace and love for all humanity . The only scrumptious meal you can serve God is a well seasoned soul.

Just like Hell’s Kitchen you have a lot of failures but the contestants strive hard to get to the top. Not all of them do, but the attempt pays off. They are still certified from Hell’s Kitchen, a great pride for the contestants. Likewise, you don’t have to be a Pastor Chef in The Heavenly Kitchen, not all of us will be. But the attempt will still get you a place in The Heavenly Kitchen. And you will be a certified participant, with pride for a lifetime.

As we all learn from the experts, so do I. Many attempts have I made, many times burnt my fingers, and still struggling to get the ingredients right. But I will keep trying because I know as a fact that Jesus is so hungry for a perfect steak. As you expect a compliment from the Heavenly Father to be the perfect steak, you must remember that Jesus does not expect you to be a chef of the Heavenly Kitchen but just take part in the cooking. 

Last but not least don’t forget your grace before the meal….. just say-

“ Jesus, I am not the best cook in your kitchen and  I cannot afford the best quality of products for your recipe. But I tried hard to follow the procedures and failed many times. If my meal I present to you is not good enough, then I ask you to be my Chef for guidance. I ask you this through God, your Father”

Amen.

The Timeline

The Timeline

There is a thin red line with a striking difference between the exodus of Syrian people seeking for divine peace and an enigmatic government with alibis & allegations throwing the dice on the face of the clock. 

Though the Syrian government has accepted  the agreement of the  Chemical  Weapons  Convention  which is a welcoming respite, yet more important is that the killing of innocent people have to stop between the time frame. Before the hands of the clock come together and strike on the hour of the given timeline I think the Arab League must come to find a solution not only for Syria but the whole Middle East in order to further progress for a better world.

Destruction has consumed millions of dollars in looking after refugees and rebuilding infrastructure. War in any  one  region  will affect the whole Middle East region.  While the world puts their focus on economy revival, conserving ecology and sustainable development, here in the Middle East war seems to be putting a strain on the economy, reconstruction of infrastructure, restricts tourism growth  and blurs the focus on future development.

On  a global scale friendly relations with the world is not a choice but a requirement. Peace is the only way to progressive development. And the arabic community must remember when we say ‘Assalamaleikum’  several time a day it means ‘Peace be with you’. So be it.

The Power of One

THE POWER OF ONE

“United we stand, divided we fall” – an age old adage that at some time we all have come across in some form or the other and may now sound plain & boring. That is why we got to perceive it differently and   view it from another angle, “The power of One”.

Think about it, anything less than one means nothing or in other words useless, yet more than one is greater but is a division. Nope, this is not about mathematics or technology, it’s not about science and the universe, it is  about being logical. It is about you & me. Our common sense is like salt, so common that we disregard its importance.

I have a sense of urge to write about how I feel, about what I see happening around the world. An urge I find hard to describe, a chill that flows the inner part of me, yet warm on the outside. As if some electromagnetic waves that I need to bounce off me as I sit and watch, the scenes are appalling, cowardly   and drastic and a deep sense of anger rages within. Your eyes burn, your muscles twitch and a tingle that seems to change places. You change channels to get some respite but magnetically it appears again.

A young girl that should be a pictured on the beach playing with the froth on waves is instead foaming to death in Syria, In Afghanistan, soldiers who left their families, their wives and children to sacrifice their lives for their country are bombed and their bodies split apart like mannequins. Women who serve the men at home are now been mowed down by the very same species. The elderly who need sticks for support can only find guns around and fear stalks their mind to grapple for support. While blood that like fountains spurt and guns that act as a display of fireworks. Who are we fighting for or against? What are we fighting for and for whom?. Questions battling amidst sadness and helplessness.  A feeling of guilt, I switch channels. Yet, with the burning sensation still playing magic within, I put pen to paper. That is all I can do for now.

In one country a forest fire rages, firemen forget their own safety to protect their people, yet in another they add fuel to fire. In one country food irresponsibly stored and distributed to children who get sick, yet in another people dying of hunger. One country seeking a resolution for peace, yet another, a solution to disintegrate every single piece.

George Carlin in the eighties said, “We have conquered the atom but not our prejudice, we have conquered outer space but not our inner space”. Words that are a profound prediction for  today.  We have come a long way and changed our lives from black & white to color, albeit the contrast not much. All we see now is red - blood red. We have forgotten the green grass & blue skies, the crimson sunset and   honey-dew sands, the full moon nights and starry skies. It is time we bring it back, not for us but our children of the future. The land, our universe is not ours alone.

If we do not bring the powers of the universe to find a solution now then of what use are the powers at all. It is time we replace the sword and shield with a pen and a book. It is time the United Nations as it sounds find a resolution. The killings must stop. I know as a matter of fact if the wise leaders from the great nations come together as ONE with a resolution for peace, then it will prevail.

And to the people who are disillusioned   raise your voices in peace.

Burning buildings and bridges only disconnect the finding of a solution. It is like damaging the roofs of your own houses and then complaining of the weather, and how long are you from the next sunrise, the next rainfall or the next storm?

We the people must not divide ourselves rather distinguish ourselves. To quote an example let me simply put it like this. As a family we distinguish ourselves as father, mother, son or daughter, we do not divide that as a family. Likewise as a country we distinguish ourselves from our leaders, our politicians, the law etc. we do not divide ourselves. On a peace seeking platform we can distinguish countries but not divide our universe. Because   we   simply   cannot.  

God bless us all !

Al Sawadi, Muscat, Oman

Al Sawadi - Stay the night http://anewralph.blogspot.com/2013/06/al-sawadi-stay-night.html

Power of One

THE POWER OF ONE

“United we stand, divided we fall” – an age old adage that at some time we all have come across in some form or the other and may now sound plain & boring. That is why we got to perceive it differently and   view it from another angle, “The power of One”.

Think about it, anything less than one means nothing or in other words useless, yet more than one is greater but is a division. Nope, this is not about mathematics or technology, it’s not about science and the universe, it is  about being logical. It is about you & me. Our common sense is like salt, so common that we disregard its importance.

I have a sense of urge to write about how I feel, about what I see happening around the world. An urge I find hard to describe, a chill that flows the inner part of me, yet warm on the outside. As if some electromagnetic waves that I need to bounce off me as I sit and watch, the scenes are appalling, cowardly   and drastic and a deep sense of anger rages within. Your eyes burn, your muscles twitch and a tingle that seems to change places. You change channels to get some respite but magnetically it appears again.

A young girl that should be a pictured on the beach playing with the froth on waves is instead foaming to death in Syria, In Afghanistan, soldiers who left their families, their wives and children to sacrifice their lives for their country are bombed and their bodies split apart like mannequins. Women who serve the men at home are now been mowed down by the very same species. The elderly who need sticks for support can only find guns around and fear stalks their mind to grapple for support. While blood that like fountains spurt and guns that act as a display of fireworks. Who are we fighting for or against? What are we fighting for and for whom?. Questions battling amidst sadness and helplessness.  A feeling of guilt, I switch channels. Yet, with the burning sensation still playing magic within, I put pen to paper. That is all I can do for now.

In one country a forest fire rages, firemen forget their own safety to protect their people, yet in another they add fuel to fire. In one country food irresponsibly stored and distributed to children who get sick, yet in another people dying of hunger. One country seeking a resolution for peace, yet another, a solution to disintegrate every single piece.

George Carlin in the eighties said, “We have conquered the atom but not our prejudice, we have conquered outer space but not our inner space”. Words that are a profound prediction for  today.  We have come a long way and changed our lives from black & white to color, albeit the contrast not much. All we see now is red - blood red. We have forgotten the green grass & blue skies, the crimson sunset and   honey-dew sands, the full moon nights and starry skies. It is time we bring it back, not for us but our children of the future. The land, our universe is not ours alone.

If we do not bring the powers of the universe to find a solution now then of what use are the powers at all. It is time we replace the sword and shield with a pen and a book. It is time the United Nations as it sounds find a resolution. The killings must stop. I know as a matter of fact if the wise leaders from the great nations come together as ONE with a resolution for peace, then it will prevail.

And to the people who are disillusioned   raise your voices in peace.

Burning buildings and bridges only disconnect the finding of a solution. It is like damaging the roofs of your own houses and then complaining of the weather, and how long are you from the next sunrise, the next rainfall or the next storm?

We the people must not divide ourselves rather distinguish ourselves. To quote an example let me simply put it like this. As a family we distinguish ourselves as father, mother, son or daughter, we do not divide that as a family. Likewise as a country we distinguish ourselves from our leaders, our politicians, the law etc. we do not divide ourselves. On a peace seeking platform we can distinguish countries but not divide our universe. Because   we   simply cannot.  

VALUE OF EDUCATION AT HOME - 2 ~ The unfinished agenda ~

Value of education was first written by me on request for someone else, yet little did I realize the impact it would have on myself.  And yes, I want every mind to understand the power and value that lies NOT in your Government & Politicians, not in Preachers & Teachers, not in music and poems, not anywhere & everywhere but in YOU and at HOME. It’s where you start. Understanding EDUCATION at home is so important to every human mind because it’s a VALUABLE disease that will cease only when you are deceased.

Let me hit the nail on its head and with mighty force, for the scars of a rusty nail is ugly much after the pain subsides. I would not want another beautiful mind rust.

 RAPE – a global phenomena and the Indian agenda.

Yes, I said Indian agenda simply because I too am Indian. And with the recent protests  against rape that  has only fuelled the causes with little effect.  Now the agenda has to be reshuffled. Every human being needs a reconciliation of the values and the power of our minds. Ok! You may ask, ‘How do we do that’? Not easy as it sounds, right? Wrong! All you do is see into yourselves. Begin at home.

Let me conceivably say to every parent, that they planted a seed with the best hope they reap the fruit cultivated full of sweetness. And that does not happen without the education of daily care and attention to the valuable soil & water required. It’s a spiritual process that will require pruning from time to time.

Don’t just LOOK after your daughter SEE into her. Your vision to clear the obstacles in the path for a beautiful girl should not be blinded by the beauty portrayed outside. She is beautiful inside too. Forget the cosmetics that cover her ugliness on the outside for it does not hurt more than the ugly scars if left on the inside. Let her know of her vulnerability and the dangers lurking in the form of love and let her know her love is vulnerable, yet teach her the powerful force of love  and the spiritual glory that will shadow her for life.  Let her know she is like a beautiful flower to the admirer yet can be pinched off the stalk with a click of two fingers.

Get the chemicals in your mind to mix and react to a solution. Yes! A solution like that required to rid weeds of a beautiful garden. A garden that will bloom with flowers dancing in the winds throwing its beauty under sunlight and the spectrum of colors that will touch the soul of the beholder.

Mums and Dads, it’s never too late to bring out the beauty in your little girl. Take time now that will save many girls from being raped.

(One Day of Favor is worth A Lifetime of Labor – By a preacher on Daystar)

From a rusty nail getting itself getting polished.

Al Sawadi - Stay the night

Al Sawadi - Stay the Night


Seven friends on a Island, Out to camp for the night. With some glimpses of the beauty of Oman. Surrounded by water, we spend the night chatting, music and BBQ. The wild side of life. Wonderful experience and moments that will always be remembered.

Al Sawadi - Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

Al Sawadi, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

http://main.omanobserver.om/node/87843

St. Francis Xaviers Cathedral, Bangalore

ABOUT 

The first church of St. Francis Xavier was built in 1851 by Fr. Chevalier, the first parish priest. The Church was built on a site measuring 550 square feet. The site was sold to Fr. Chevalier by Mrs. Zulime Watkins, a French Catholic and the widow of an English Commander Capt Watkins.

Fr.Servanton  In 1884 Fr. P . Jansoone was appointed as the parish priest and later Fr. J.B. Servanton was appointed as the assistant parish priest. In 1889 Fr. Servanton took charges as the parish priest.

Then the parish boundaries comprised of the areas under present parishes of Holy Ghost , St. John The Evangelist , Ascension Church, St.Pius X Church, Good Shepherd, Our Lady of Lourdes and a portion of Christ the King.

The Foundation stone for the new  Church was laid in 1911 and after much efforts the new church was opened on the 26th May 1932.

In 1940, Bangalore was erected as a separate Diocese and St. Francis Xavier’s Church was chosen as a Cathedral. Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Pothacamury was the first Indian Bishop of Bangalore and was appointed in 1942.

Fr. Servanton died at the age of 83 on March 25 1948 and was laid to rest at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral.

MEMORIES