Blog@GraceJunction

“RISE UP”, a ten day jubilation of power and praise is being organized in the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. This ten day jubilation begins on September 27, 2011 till October 7, 2011. GFAG, the organizers of this event, are also the patrons of the GraceJunction website.

Some of the renowned musicians and bands from around the nation have agreed to be in Ahmedabad during this days for “RISE UP”. The list includes Rev.Johnson Varghese (Bangalore), Yeshua Band (Mumbai), Shyju Mathew (Bangalore), Sounds of the Nations (Hyderabad), Dr.Benny Prasad (Bangalore), Kirti Sagathia (Mumbai), Burning Bush (Bangalore), VJ Traven (Kochi), Rev.Thomas George (NCR). Confirmations are awaited from others like Br.Ram Babu (Bangalore) and Br. Anil Kant (Mumbai).

The theme “RISE UP” heralds the purpose behind organising an event of such scale. GFAG hopes that the youth who participate in the event would “RISE UP” to the need of this city, the needs of its people, “RISE UP” to see and grab greater possibilities and opportunities that are so much within their grasp, “RISE UP” to the challenges put forward by the stalwarts who will deck up the different days of this gala event. The event will also create greater awareness about the presence and potential of GFAG thus paving the way for more opportunities for it to fulfill its mission and purpose.

This blog will continuously feature updates about “RISE UP”. Keep coming back for more.

RISE UP now has a new identity.

Imagine you were forced to parachute yourself on to the Alps with a bottle of water in your hand. As you touch ground, it starts snowing heavily and so you take cover inside a cave. Keeping down the bottle in your hand, you clean the snow off your attire and then go out to gather rest of your gear. When you return in a few minutes, you observe that the bottle of water has frozen. What was water in liquid form is now ice. You panic and frantically try to search for someone who did this act, but there’s nothing in the cave. Eureka ! you cry out, nothing can convert water in to ice, and you write a book on the theory of everything  and try to explain that God is now fully kicked out from the equation.

This is exactly what Stephen Hawking’s new book “The Grand Design” is trying to explain mankind, about how everything that is, has come in to being. Stephen’s book although has not ignited physics, as the theory proposed by him is just an old idea in a new garb. It is a simplistic approach, yet in our secular age it is one that seems to have resonance with a skeptical public. The reason the book has sparked lot of discussion is the philosophical conclusions that he is drawing from his proposed theory. (more…)

In the general sense a word signifies an utterance of the mouth, or a speech; and as a speech is a thought of the mind uttered by means of words, therefore a word signifies the thing that is being thought; and from this, in the original tongue, everything that really exists, and is any thing, is called a word. But in an eminent sense the Word is Divine truth, for the reason that everything which really exists, and which is anything, is from Divine truth.

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‘Grey Divorce’, as it is increasingly being called, is on the rise. Couples who remain married for decades together are seeking divorce! This trend has been around for a while now but it has once again come under focus with Al Gore announcing a separation from his wife of forty years, Mary “Tipper” Gore!

The Gore divorce annoucement came as a shock to the Americans especially because just about two weeks earlier they had celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and 40 years is a really long time! As a couple they have survived emotional upheavals, the likes of which few could imagine. During their stint for the White House, and earlier even as ‘Monicagate’ loomed large over Al Gore’s political future too, they created the public image of a couple deeply in love. (more…)

What’s happening to our planes suddenly! What’s happening to the Indian flights! There have been at least four incidents in the last fortnight in which one of the incidents resulted in the loss of 158 lives, including the crew! Again another flight almost landed into an already parked aircraft on the runway! Be it an overstressed flight crew or the ground-staff (ATC) that maybe the reason for all these, but there surely is too much appearing to be at stake in the skies for now!

I never forget to say a small prayer of thanks to God whenever my flight is about to take off and immediately before and after it lands safely too. After reading about these close shaves, I should say that every take off and landing has been a favor granted! Some of you may shirk at the thought of thanking God for everything! Why to ascribe all favours to Him! If so, then let me tell you, I am sure there maybe times in your life when you really want to thank someone for something or for some situation in your life and then suddenly you realize that you don’t know whom to thank! (more…)

The prosperous state of Gujarat has an ambassador now. A brand ambassador who will become the face of the state henceforth. It is none other than “Big B”, Amitabh Bachchan, and ever since he came to the state a few days ago for photo and video shoots at different locales of this state, every move of his has been reported by the media, including what he blogs and tweets about his experience everyday!

Mr. Bachchan too has been creatively churning out impromptu slogans and jingles. Actually, some of his observations are quite insightful. Posted on one of his blogs: “What a magnificent country we own. And it is only when you visit these places yourself do you realise that it’s not just the greatness of the domain that makes this land so wonderful and blessed, it is the man on the street, the commoner that gives this nation its strength and its glory!” I say, “Awesome insight”! (more…)

This blog would be best understood if you can read it once you’ve read my last blog – “What drove him to the grave?”.
I was in Australia with one of my best friends, discussing with him and his daughter who was shattered by the suicidal death of one of her friends. She wanted to share a few questions with me, for which she was seeking answers very desperately. One of her main concern was, whether she would be able to meet her friend or talk to him any more? What exists beyond death? Would she ever have a chance to meet her friend? (more…)