In April this year, on Good Friday, I was at St. Thomas Mount Marthoma Church. Okay, I know this blog should have been made 4 months back. But for some reason it was left as an ofline draft.
We had a nice sermon on what is the importance of the death of Jesus on the cross and how sin came in to this world. It was well said by the preacher with the below 2 stories.
Why sin came into this world?
A boy was advised by his father not to take the road to the market that crosses through a river side. But he disobeyed and took this road which was a short cut. On his way he fell into the river and began to cry for help. His father heard it, jumped into the river and saved him.
The father had advised him not to use that road, but the son disobeyed. Out of his (father's) sheer love for his son, he still went ahead risking his life and saved his son. This is the same case with Adam and Eve. God asked them not to eat of the fruit of the tree of life but they disobeyed God and sinned. God being merciful did not destroy them, but sin came into the world. God gave humanity a way out of it. Believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Now why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Why did'nt God just forgive?
God could have. But sin is not so trivial to be just forgiven. God is merciful but even more, righteous. Sin must be punished. To prevent us humans from being punished, he sent HIS only begotten son Jesus Christ into the world. Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead so that whoever believes in HIM will be saved and will have eternal life. That is the significance of the Crucifixion of Christ.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Quick View : Time in different cities
www.timeanddate.com helps you find time at diff places in the world in an easy to view format.
View the time in diff places of interest.
Now you too can you create such a link :
Step 1 :
You can add your list of interested cities, by adding the relevant 'ID' to this url. Search and find the ID ('n') in the website http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/.
Here look at the link for your city. Eg: for New Delhi it is http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=176
Step 2 :
Hence 176 is the city id and just add it to the below list for the cites parameter.
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/personal.htm l?cities=553,127,70,179,188,136,248,33,236,122,240 ,57,2,676,19,195,570,83,257,116,95,262&sort=2
At work I have this bookmarked in my web browser. Very useful.
View the time in diff places of interest.
Now you too can you create such a link :
Step 1 :
You can add your list of interested cities, by adding the relevant 'ID' to this url. Search and find the ID ('n') in the website http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/.
Here look at the link for your city. Eg: for New Delhi it is http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=176
Step 2 :
Hence 176 is the city id and just add it to the below list for the cites parameter.
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/personal.htm l?cities=553,127,70,179,188,136,248,33,236,122,240 ,57,2,676,19,195,570,83,257,116,95,262&sort=2
At work I have this bookmarked in my web browser. Very useful.
10 definitions for Web 2.0
Here is a good blog by Ian Delaney that tries to define what is web 2.0. It is a bit technical and assumes a few things in terms of the words used. But still worth understanding and reading.
From the article, some highlights on what it is :
* It contains the wisdom of the crowds
* Any app that uses Web as a platform
* There is more colaboration in web 2.0
* Apps with a rich user experience
* Its a marketing buzz word
http://twopointouch.com/2006/08/17/10-definitions-of-web-20-and-their-shortcomings/
From the article, some highlights on what it is :
* It contains the wisdom of the crowds
* Any app that uses Web as a platform
* There is more colaboration in web 2.0
* Apps with a rich user experience
* Its a marketing buzz word
http://twopointouch.com/2006/08/17/10-definitions-of-web-20-and-their-shortcomings/
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
New planets for our solar system ?
We are going to have 3 more planets added to our solar system soon.
Hooray that's going to bring down property prices :-))
The current number of nine planets in the solar system will change to 12.
If this proposal gets through, then the 12 planets in our Solar System will be Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Charon and 2003 UB313. There will also be a category called plutons which is actually something like a standard for including a celstial body. A pluton is a prototype like the planet Pluto.
Check out
The International Astronomical Union website for more details.
Hooray that's going to bring down property prices :-))
The current number of nine planets in the solar system will change to 12.
If this proposal gets through, then the 12 planets in our Solar System will be Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Charon and 2003 UB313. There will also be a category called plutons which is actually something like a standard for including a celstial body. A pluton is a prototype like the planet Pluto.
Check out
The International Astronomical Union website for more details.
Da Vinci Code
I am not a prolific reader of books. I only buy books or borrow it from a library and keep them in my shelf (and ofcourse return the borrowed books only at the return date not a day earlier :-) ) The books i take are what most people consider boring like self learning stuff, thought for the day, technical books etc. And rarely do I buy a novel. But I did read Da Vinci Code. It was an accident - just when a friend told me about the controversial book, the book changed hands back to its owner, right in front of me.
With all the controvery behind The Da Vinci Code, I was not surprised to see that it got a mention even in the ODB too a few months back.
The story is good. I would not consider it such a great thriller though.
I do not see why people let the author have his way by allowing him to rake in a controversy and make more money than he deserved ! I am sure end of the day, no believer would have left the church, Dan Brown made more sales of his book than expected and people got another controversy to chew on for a few days.
Another aspect I see is that this may have had a more positive effect on non-believers. I say this because if you needed to know what the controversy is you needed to understand the true nature of Jesus. That would have atleast made a few people curious about Jesus and learnt more about Him.
The controversy in DVC is they promote goddess worship and self-deity and deny The Biblical Jesus.
With all the controvery behind The Da Vinci Code, I was not surprised to see that it got a mention even in the ODB too a few months back.
The story is good. I would not consider it such a great thriller though.
I do not see why people let the author have his way by allowing him to rake in a controversy and make more money than he deserved ! I am sure end of the day, no believer would have left the church, Dan Brown made more sales of his book than expected and people got another controversy to chew on for a few days.
Another aspect I see is that this may have had a more positive effect on non-believers. I say this because if you needed to know what the controversy is you needed to understand the true nature of Jesus. That would have atleast made a few people curious about Jesus and learnt more about Him.
The controversy in DVC is they promote goddess worship and self-deity and deny The Biblical Jesus.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Our Daily Bread
I just love Our Daily Bread, and make it a point to read this book every morning along with The Bible. I have to say thanks to my cousin, Sajichayan who introduced me to ODB. I still remember he gave me a few of these books back in 1993 and I have tried to read it every day, ever since.
Its published by RBC ministries (www.rbc.net) and distributed in India by IBL.
You can get a copy by mailing India Bible Literature, 67 Beracah Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010.
Not sure how much it costs for the subscription now, but it sure is worth the daily read. I would recommend it to children and adults too. They have versions in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.
For those in India who want a free copy, email me your address and name and I will try to gift a one year subscription to you ! You can find my email id in the last para here.
Its published by RBC ministries (www.rbc.net) and distributed in India by IBL.
You can get a copy by mailing India Bible Literature, 67 Beracah Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010.
Not sure how much it costs for the subscription now, but it sure is worth the daily read. I would recommend it to children and adults too. They have versions in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.
For those in India who want a free copy, email me your address and name and I will try to gift a one year subscription to you ! You can find my email id in the last para here.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Stock Markets limping back ?
Stock Markets are almost getting back to May levels after the stock market crash. Atleast as far as Mutual Fund NAVs are concerned. I have been an investor in Franklin Templeton blue chip fund for over 2 years.
The NAV on May 25, Rs 104.07, and the NAV as of August 4, 2006 is 102.59.
Eventhough the markets may not have fully recovered and is still considered very choppy, it looks on the path to recovery. Ofcourse this is a mutual fund that invests in the best companies of various sectors and normally these companies are the first to bouce back on an equity market recovery.
I would consider this a good time to start investing in stocks/equity market (via mutual funds) and is surely better than the shock i got after the stock market crash :-). Ofcourse you should have already, I hope. With lots of nice ways to time the market you could start investing in funds more regulary now. I will get back later on how I time the markets ;-)
Good luck investing !
The NAV on May 25, Rs 104.07, and the NAV as of August 4, 2006 is 102.59.
Eventhough the markets may not have fully recovered and is still considered very choppy, it looks on the path to recovery. Ofcourse this is a mutual fund that invests in the best companies of various sectors and normally these companies are the first to bouce back on an equity market recovery.
I would consider this a good time to start investing in stocks/equity market (via mutual funds) and is surely better than the shock i got after the stock market crash :-). Ofcourse you should have already, I hope. With lots of nice ways to time the market you could start investing in funds more regulary now. I will get back later on how I time the markets ;-)
Good luck investing !
10,000 Crores and Indian Railways
What 10,000 Crores ? I guess you already know, that's the profit the Indian Railways led by ex-Bihar CM, Lalu Prasad Yadav achieved for the Indian Railways. If you thought the Bihar politician was all for only Aam admi and the earthen cups, you are wrong.
He is a politiican and a tactician to the core. When he gets going, he could achieve what he wants.
Eventhough the train fares have not be increased on the look of it, there have been considerable increase in other areas of train travel and railway services. Recently I had to make a Tatkal booking from Madras to Chenganuur. What do you think is the Tatkal charges now : its Rs 150 (previously Rs. 50), for non-season times, its Rs 75.
Previously there were only 72 seats under Tatkal. Now too it looks like 72 seats but you can even book a Tatkal waiting list ticket. What that means is that you could book up WL 25 to WL 50 in tatkal waiting list and 'pay' money, jump the normal waitinglist queue and get a ticket. For those having a waiting list ticket closer to WL 20 to WL 50 need not actually get it as tatkal WL tickets are given priority - so it looks like a bidding war kind of sorts. If you have money, then you could go for a tatkal ticket, pay the Rs 150 extra and jump the queue.
No comments on whether this is good or bad. Previously people go through brokers and travel agents by paying the extra money (Rs 200) and get a ticket. Now they can go through legitimate ways. Another enhancement :-) to the pricing is tatkal tickets are only for the full travel of the train, meaning if you are planning to get down at Chenganuur, you still need to pay all the way to Trivandrum (last stop). That's another new, pay for what you do not want.
Well if you think I am trying to say these price increases alone have led to the railways turnaround, it is not. I understand transporting goods on trains have become dearer by over 30%. Yes that actually increases cost of consumer goods, but not the primary product of the railways - basically railway travel and hence the minister still remains the darling of the poor while the blame for price rise goes to the rest of the market !
Whatever, kudos to the railway minister and all the best to give a us a train service that rocks !
He is a politiican and a tactician to the core. When he gets going, he could achieve what he wants.
Eventhough the train fares have not be increased on the look of it, there have been considerable increase in other areas of train travel and railway services. Recently I had to make a Tatkal booking from Madras to Chenganuur. What do you think is the Tatkal charges now : its Rs 150 (previously Rs. 50), for non-season times, its Rs 75.
Previously there were only 72 seats under Tatkal. Now too it looks like 72 seats but you can even book a Tatkal waiting list ticket. What that means is that you could book up WL 25 to WL 50 in tatkal waiting list and 'pay' money, jump the normal waitinglist queue and get a ticket. For those having a waiting list ticket closer to WL 20 to WL 50 need not actually get it as tatkal WL tickets are given priority - so it looks like a bidding war kind of sorts. If you have money, then you could go for a tatkal ticket, pay the Rs 150 extra and jump the queue.
No comments on whether this is good or bad. Previously people go through brokers and travel agents by paying the extra money (Rs 200) and get a ticket. Now they can go through legitimate ways. Another enhancement :-) to the pricing is tatkal tickets are only for the full travel of the train, meaning if you are planning to get down at Chenganuur, you still need to pay all the way to Trivandrum (last stop). That's another new, pay for what you do not want.
Well if you think I am trying to say these price increases alone have led to the railways turnaround, it is not. I understand transporting goods on trains have become dearer by over 30%. Yes that actually increases cost of consumer goods, but not the primary product of the railways - basically railway travel and hence the minister still remains the darling of the poor while the blame for price rise goes to the rest of the market !
Whatever, kudos to the railway minister and all the best to give a us a train service that rocks !
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