Bentilo Kath: Today, as usual caught up in the horrendous hour long traffic jam, my car engine got overheated and shut off and just wouldn't start. I let vehicles go past me in that slow traffic, while I tried repeatedly to get it started, all in vain! Five minutes or so went by, still in desperation with palpitations, I was getting more and more tense. THEN...a gentleman driving a duster from behind pulls up slowly and asked ''start na ulai, dhakai dibo?'' Without hesitation I replied 'OK please'. He alighted from his vehicle and along with one taxi driver gave the push, with some effort I got my engine back!! I couldn't get down and thank him as traffic was on move. I smiled and thanked him (profusely from my heart). The ACT OF KINDNESS AND GESTURE he did today was just for 2-3 minutes but surely it has touched me for lifetime.
Truly indebted to you SIR if you are in here. We need more of an amazing GENTLEMAN like YOU. God bless you!
Soul Searching- Does that sound Christian to you?
Barth Humtsoe: Last evening as I was returning back home after having my daily dose of poison, I decided to have a smoke and headed for the nearest shop. As I stood there smoking my ciggy...This guy (a deacon) asked me why I indulge in such vices (he knows I gamble sometimes too) and that I should fear going to hell and a good Christian should abstain from all these.
I was taken aback since he would hardly greet me any other time but I composed myself and replied.
You are a deacon if I am not mistaken... tell me how many homes of poor people have you visited for family prayer? The Church in Nagaland look upon small time local rice beer sellers with disdain yet the same church has no qualms in visiting houses of established well off bootleggers. Does that sound like a Christian to you? A person commits a small crime or a minor sin and his/her name is struck off from the Church's register while the biggest thieves and criminals who are destroying the State and the future of the youths occupy the front pews. Does that sound like a Christian to you?
When lives of youths are being destroyed by denying them equal employment opportunity, and their studies are being affected by delaying or part paying scholarships, some kids have guaranteed money to enjoy lavishly and a Job when studies are over. There are pastors who use their position as head of church to induce a minister or a bureaucrat in getting an appointment order from the department for his son/daughter. Does that sound like a Christian to you?
When the Church forces a daily wage earner who can hardly make both ends meet to dole out 200 bucks for 4 little pieces of rice cake all in the name of fund raising, does that sound like a Christian?
When honest officers are targeted and harassed but still yet the Church remains a mute spectator, does that sound like a Christian to you?
When a person decides to open a small shop to earn an honest living only to find letter pads with Nagalim for Christ inscribed in it the next day, does that sound like Christian to you?
When a poor person is in his death bed and he requests for a prayer how many times will the pastor accept and how many times will the pastor come up with some flimsy excuses. Whereas when a well off person is sick, the same folks need no invitation to reach the hospital because they know they won't be heading back home empty handed.
You told me to fear going to hell, but I will tell you a little secret that they won't tell you in the Church. You, me and everyone else in Nagaland need not fear going to hell. We are already living in one.
Azo Vezokho Nyekha: Mathew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.15:17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
In the next conversation when you meet him again, ask him how many missionaries did his church send for preaching the gospel to the Hindu land, Buddhist lands like Myanmar and China, help the sick, help old men or women, looking after the widows, help the orphans and desperate children in need of his service, preach the word of God to those Hindus and Muslims in our land itself, has he freed himself from indolent, does he give tithes regularly, is he a genuine peacemaker, can he give his whole for the kingdom of God and finally ask him what food Jesus Christ commanded us to eat and what not to eat.
In fact Christ only teaches us temperance and to love our own body as it is a temple of God, and not judge eating habits. Yes, even eating excess meat, rice or vegetable is even harmful to our health, too much wine or cigar, khaini, paan, paan marsala too may be bad for health, that's all.
