Stick No Bills

It goes without saying that Christmas this year was pretty underwhelming. The holiday wasn’t as festive, and it’s most likely that many innocent lives have been lost the past few weeks. I have often been numb to tragedies previously because of how frequent these events happen. This is only presumptuous cynicism on my part, but I’ve now learned to value each individual life as if it is my own. The Newtown tragedy hurt, because I was once an elementary kid. The past 10 years have been fruitful and have taught me a lot, but I still have many more years to give back to God. Those kids lost a chance to really fulfill their potential and offer change to the world. For that, my condolences go out to their families. 

Today, I lost my grandmother. It was really unexpected and abrupt. I am only upset because I prayed for my dad to reach the hospital in time to see her, but I guessed God found it best to call her up right when he landed. Either way, I can’t help but to reflect the time I spent with my grandparents in India, and the number of phone calls I made to her when coming home for the weekends. I would wake up at 5 am in the morning in Kerala to the sound of gospel songs, new testament passages, and unwavering prayers that both grandparents would practice so consistently. Even though I was annoyed, I began to value the discipline in her prayer. Prayer had driven their marriage for 70 years, and provided the vigor for them to carry out their daily routine activities.This is a huge encouragement to me, because it puts into perspective my complaints and wants, and has helped me to recognize that my communication with God should maintain a priority over anything else. The weekends I would come down from Austin, both parents would make me to talk to her, and I couldn’t find anything new to say other than ask her how she was, what my grandfather was doing, and if she would continue to pray for my studies. She was 86, and was the breadwinner of the house. I will surely miss her. I am not in grief, but can’t help but to marvel at how much her body has serviced her. Trillions and trillions of cells served a unique function for various organs of her body. Each cell served as a capacitor, storing charges in order to move muscles or create energy. The optics of her eyes helped to converge electromagnetic waves to create an image. For 86 years, she was able to utilize the greatest machine that  God foresaw, and she used it to teach and achieve good. I am thankful for that.

I woke up Christmas morning, realizing that our Savior was born to save us. He surely was the wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. It cannot be reiterated enough, but I have been blessed beyond measure. The people I have met in my life are wonderful, the experiences are worthwhile, and the lessons are priceless. I pray that this season brings comfort and joy to all of you. Make it a priority to thank and to acknowledge the people around you. Our children, our parents, grandparents, friends, and family. 

God bless. 

P.S. I’m in the middle of ‘A Grief Observed’ by C.S. Lewis. If I had the intellect of that man…

I haven’t written in a long time, but felt compelled because of how much God is working in my life, and the renewed hope He continues to provide to myself and my community. This post is dedicated to the life of a friend from high school, Lester ‘LJ’ Brooks, and his ministry. I am not in grief, because I know that the two have met at an auspicious time.

I am a Christian. I believe in the power of Jesus Christ, and from my experiences and prayers, I have accepted Him as my Savior. For the past few years, being a science major has not been easy because I have been overwhelmed with the concern that “intelligent design” was just a callow way of accepting the origins of nature. Along with the trials, my conclusion about how our wonderful Father created all of the world relies heavily on faith.

I believe in Evolution. We should spend more time to deductively reason the first few chapters of Genesis. I’ll be straightforward with what I’ve developed as my ‘fresh’ belief. What is known to the human is LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor); from LUCA, developed the various kingdoms of life that teem the Earth. The random mutations are intricacies that God has so perfectly planned and has lined up to create the human. The seven days are comprised of billions of years of God continuing to work. With time, changes may continue to develop between generations, but I am still so young in this belief, that faith is what guides me. I have a lot more learning and reading to do. I have been recommended to read more from Francis Collins.

In essence, the design is most intelligent.

My belief should not be something that drives you away from the Greater Truth. We have a Father who loves us abundantly, who has died for your transgressions. Talk to Him. I guarantee He is always listening. God Bless!

Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm to life. Pitch, rhythm, dynamics, timbre, and texture are God’s daily answers to our prayer.

When it comes to taxes, there are two pathways available.

One says, if Congress fails to act by the end of the year, then everybody’s taxes automatically go up—including the 98% of Americans who make less than $250,000 a year. Our economy can’t afford that right now. You can’t afford that right now. And nobody wants that to happen.

The other path is for Congress to pass a law right away to prevent a tax hike on the first $250,000 of anyone’s income. That means all Americans—including the wealthiest Americans—get a tax cut. And 98 percent of Americans, and 97 percent of all small business owners, won’t see their income taxes go up a single dime. 

The Senate has already passed a bill like this. Democrats in the House are ready to pass one, too. All we need is for Republicans in the House to come on board. 

We shouldn’t hold the middle class hostage while Congress debates tax cuts for the wealthy. Let’s begin our work by actually doing what we all agree on. Let’s keep taxes low for the middle class. And let’s get it done soon.

What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone? How else can we put ourselves in harmonious relation with the great verities and consolations of the infinite and the eternal? And I avow my faith that we are marching towards better days. Humanity will not be cast down. We are going on swinging bravely forward along the grand high road and already behind the distant mountains is the promise of the sun.