MLTR-Eternity Album Review

Michael Learns to Rock is back with the Album "Eternity". A 12 Song Album with the usual MLTR style of ballads.The Danish band has come with a disco style song "When tomorrow comes" which is very unlikely of them.

Jascha's voice is awesome. The songs brought back the good ol' memories of being a kid, back when I used to listen to MLTR a lot.Now its a change for me to listen to MLTR again after listening to a big dosage of Modern and Classic Rock.The songs "Shadow side of me" and "I do" and "You want more" is very much MLTR style of songs.

MLTR have a gr8 talent of producing amazing love ballads.

Tracklist :
01. When Tomorrow Comes
02. It's Gonna Make Sense
03. Shadow Side of Me
04. You Want More
05. Sweetest Surprise
06. Family Tree
07. I Do
08. Look Around
09. The War is Not Over
10. Lonely Satellite
11. Walk with Me
12. Eternity

"I,The Convert-An awesome Testimony"

I recently came across a article in outlook. It was a testimony of Anand Mahadevan a editor with Outlook.It really touched me and its a must read for all especially to those accusing christians of doing forceful conversions.

I was born a Brahmin and am the grandson of a priest whom I dearly loved. I am educated and my current professional standing indicates that I am reasonably intelligent. I am also affluent and my income would put me distinctly in the upper middle class bracket. I guess that would make me high-caste, rich and smart. In other words, I am not a tribal, or poor or dim-witted. And yet, I chose to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The world would call me a convert to Christianity. I have no problems with that, though I see my faith more as a relationship with God through Jesus Christ than as a religion. And for the record, I can truthfully claim that no one financially induced or threatened or deceived me into converting to Christianity.

I am fiercely proud of my national identity as an Indian and I am completely at peace with my cultural identity as a Hindu. I retain the name my parents gave me. My wife, who also shares my faith, continues to go by her Hindu name. We have two children and we have given both distinctly Hindu names. In fact, many of my colleagues and acquaintances who may happen to read this column are likely to be surprised. They have no inkling about my faith, for I generally don't go about announcing it. But if someone does ask me the reason behind the joy and hope that is everpresent in my life, I am always delighted to share it with them.

I write this piece to make one point—that my conversion was not a change of religion but a change of heart. To explain this, I need to go back to my childhood in Chennai, similar to that of so many other Tamil Brahmin boys like me. My grandfather, every bit the virtuous priest, had enormous influence over me. I absolutely adored him and as a toddler, always clung to him. He too loved me to a fault. There was no wish of mine that he would not rush to fulfil. But even in my early, formative years I was unable to relate to the religion he fervently practiced. Later, in my school days, I once spent my summer holidays with him in Trichy. Memories of dawn walks with him, for the ritualistic dip in the Cauvery river, cow in tow, are still fresh in my memory. I learnt many shlokas, some of which I still remember. But I never understood any of it and none of it helped me connect with God.

When I was 19, a Christian friend with whom I used to play cricket invited me to his house for prayer. If he had invited me to a pub, or party, I would have gone too. At his home, he and his sister prayed for me. It was a simple yet delightful conversation with God that lasted all of five minutes. I don't remember it verbatim, but they articulated a prayer of blessing on my life, future, career and family. It was a simple affair—no miracles, no angels visiting. All they did was utter a deep human cry out to the creator God and His only son Jesus Christ. When they said Amen, I felt in my heart a desire to follow Jesus.

It was a faith encounter with God that I shall not even attempt to understand, rationalise or explain. I simply accept it. It is my faith. It is what I choose to believe. That evening I did not change my religion, for in reality I had none. Hinduism was my identity, not my religion. It still is.

The Christianity I acquired that evening is not a religion. On the contrary, it is an intensely intimate relationship with Jesus. Over the past fifteen years, I have come to know this Jesus even closer. I know Him as the pure and sinless Son of a Holy God. And I know Him as a dear friend to whom I pray and talk to every day—about my career, my dreams, successes, failures, finances and even my sexuality.

If I read a good book, watch a good movie (Rock On is terrific, mate), or eat a good meal at a new restaurant, I would naturally tell my friends about it.In Jesus, I have discovered a truly amazing friend, guide, leader, saviour and God. How can I not tell all my friends about Him? And if anyone does listen and he too comes to believe in Jesus, I am delighted. The world would call it a conversion; I call it a change of heart, like mine.

But I would never force anyone to listen to me, leave alone financially induce, coerce or con him into believing. That to me is pointless and against the very grain of my faith. But I do have a constitutional right to practice my faith and to preach it without deception, force or bribery. It pains to see such basic rights of mankind being cruelly violated every day in this great Hindu nation.

Source:http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20081027&fname=Conversions+%28F%29&sid=5

Prayer of Faith

Well Beloved Abba, Father, God give me a renewed faith in You. Because the faith in You alone is that prepares me to face the battles of every day life. Not only on the days when I am going great and winning and nothing seems impossible, but on days when I wonder if I am brave enough, smart enough, strong enough. Don't let me quit, not ever. Let me keep anunwavering faith in You. No matter how many people discourage me, doubt me, laugh at me, warn me, think me a fool, don't let me listen. Let me hear another voice telling me, "You can do it, and you will because I, the LORD GOD is with you" I know there will be times when I doubt my own ability, I will be discouraged, on the verge of despair. Don't let me give up, hold on to me so that I may not get drowned in my self doubt and in the lies the enemy bring forward. Fan the fires of my faith so that I will try even harder. Give me even more faith in Your grace, mercy and Your complete control over all aspects of my life. You are the source of my abilities and my faith. Teach me Your ways. Lead me in the path of Your will so that I may be successful beyond measure. I know that you will give me what I ask because You delight in showing Your mercy to those who count on You. Through the grace of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

My Reward

"My reward" is the song in my player these days.An awesome song with amazing lyrics.


I want to hear You say the words to me “well done'
I want to hear You say “good and faithful servant'
I want to hear You say “I've prepared a place for you'
Let all the treasures of this world fade away

Jesus, You are my reward
To hear Your voice on that day is all I'm living for
Jesus, You are my reward
To see Your face on that day is all I'm living for

In the twinkling of an eye, we'll all be changed
We'll meet you in the sky
We will meet You face to face



After all this is wot every christian lives for.The reward that is far superior than any treasures and fame on the earth

When you .......................

When in sorrow,
call John 14.

When men fail you,
call Psalm 27.

If you want to be fruitful,
call John 15.

When you have sinned,
call Psalm 51.

When you worry,
call Matthew 6:19-34.

When you are in danger,
call Psalm 91.

When God seems far away,
call Psalm 139.

When your faith needs stirring,
call Hebrews 11.

When you are lonely and fearful,
call Psalm 23.

When you grow bitter and critical,
call 1 Cor. 13.

For Paul's secret to happiness,
call Col.3: 12-17.

For idea of Christianity,
call II Cor. 5:15-19.

When you feel down and out,
call Romans 8:31.

When you want peace and rest,
call Matt.11: 25-30.

When the world seems bigger than God,
call Psalm 90.

When you leave home for labor or travel,
call Psalm 121

"Some days are made for rain"

Yesterday happened to be one day as if it was made jus to rain.And yeah it was by far the best rainy day in Hyderabad for me. I was on my way back in the evening to my room from the client site.Oh boy it poured out very heavily and within 20 min the roads were flooded.

Still puzzled abt how bad the drainage system is in most cities.Its not tht only Mumbai,even the other cities suffer when there is a heavy downpour.

Coming back to the rain there is a cool quote which says

Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet

well I planned to get wet, and there was almost 1 foot of water and I couldnt make out the difference between a manhole,ditch and the road.And no autorickshaws in sight.

And yeah the ppl who got most benefited out of the rain was autowalllas,the fares were double and yeah ppl who didnt mind payin it to get back home as fast as possible.

"HE paid my ransom"

I have to pen down this dream of mine I had yesterday.I used to have lot of dreams,but this one I remembered and stayed fresh in my mind.The dream had both the extremes.

In the dream I was swimming in filthy life I was njoyin life to the fullest.Often when I do sin I was reminded by someone tht am goin astray frm the path am supposed to walk.The other side another person shows me the pleasures of life and encourages me to indulge and njoy them.

My heart asks me to go after the momentary pleasure without looking into the aftereffects of it.As i swim in the pleasures of sin and njoy life without worry.Now then the same guy who encourages me to sin comes in all of a sudden and says "Now that you have njoyed and benefited the pleasures I have given,you must be my slave" and I think momentarily and show to him a sigh of displeasure.
He gets red in anger and yells that I have to be punished for sins I have committed.Now i get restless and feel deserted.There was no one around me who can stand by my side.I felt that my fate is sealed.I was about to be punished, and I was ruing inside me for taking the sinful path.

All of a sudden a man walks in and shouts at the dark funny dressed man and says "I have paid the ransom for him".I was totally taken back who wud want to take my side and protect me.I looked at him and there he stood with brightness and I could hardly see him fully,that much was his glory.

The dark man was shivering at the sight of the man in brightness.He again said to him "I have paid the ransom for him,leave him alone".And at the end of it my dream came to an end.

I woke up with a sense of happiness in my life and a new refreshing start.The dream did exactly match my life.I often fall for the momentary pleasure of sin and then regret badly for wot I did.
But one thing made me strong,even though I strayed away from GOD's presence HE was always faithful to me.I felt ashamed at not being faithful to HIM.

The only words ringing in my ears the whole day was "I have paid the ransom for him".The words have rejuvenated me.Truely HE is an awesome and forgiving GOD.