How Indian Mind Works

I got an email from a friend. I thought i should share it in my blog. It's kind of funny but also true for the matter of fact. Read it and enjoy it.

NOT A STORY BUT A TRUE INCIDENT
An Indian man walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. He tells the loan officer that he is going to India on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000. The bank officer tells him that the bank will need some form of security for the loan, so the Indian man hands over the keys and documents of new Ferrari parked on the street in front of the bank. He produces the title and everything checks out. The loan officer agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the Indian for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral against a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drives the Ferrari into the bank's underground garage and parks it there. Two weeks later, the Indian returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41. The loan officer says, "Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multi millionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow "$5,000" ?


The Indian replies:
"Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return'"

Ah, the mind of the Indian... This is why India is shining

Cheers..

The Message for the Church

Rev. Dr. Hwa Yung, The Bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia
preaching God's Word with a simultaneous translation into Tamil by Rev. Laurence

Indeed it was an honor for us, the people of TMC Tamil Settlement, Ipoh to have our dear beloved Bishop, Rev. Dr. Hwa Yung preaching God’s word on our Centennial Celebration Worship Service (31st May 2008). One important point that he made in his preaching was, challenging the Church at large (TAC) and Tamil Settlement Church on three specific areas.
Firstly: Evangelism and church planting.
The majority of the Indian community in Malaysia still does not know Jesus. What are we as a Tamil church doing about it?
Secondly: Reaching out to the poor and needy around us.
The Hindraf movement is a challenge to us! Do we have the courage to take up the challenge and get into the field to elevate poor and marginalized Indian to a better living? Bishop also commented on the formation of the 'Centennial Benevolence Fund' as a proactive action towards this course. Yet there are many more ways we can help the community.
Thirdly: Men and Women for ministry.
Are we willing to give the best to the Lord? Are we willing to send our children for full time ministry? Are we willing to give our selves for the Lord’s ministry both in and out of the church?

I believe that the message and challenges that the Bishop preached on the day was indeed a prophetic message for the Church. We have been praying much for the Bishop and his message prior to the celebration so that God may speak to us. Indeed, God clearly spoke to us and challenged us.
I also believe that this message has its relevance to all the Tamil speaking churches. Church planting among the main line churches seems to be slow. We are not aggressive enough in our evangelism ministry. I believe that Christians has some how or rather slowed down in evangelism comparing to the scenarios in the 1980’s. In promoting evangelism I would also want to remind us that firstly we the evangelizers should first and foremost live the Gospel ourselves. Christ must be projected in our lives and that would bear the greatest testimony of the risen Savior. Apart from that, only Christians especially the Tamil Churches can shed hope into the hopeless state of the poor and marginalized Indians in our community. The church should take proactive measures to channel our resources for the blessing of the community rather than spending our entire fund for self-edification (of the church members only) and keep on spending millions of ringgits in property maintenance and other related activities.

Centenniel Celebration Thanksgiving Service

The Tamil Methodist Church, Tamil Settlement’s Centennial Celebration Worship Service was indeed a remarkable one. Held on the 31st May 2008 with about 1600 people and 30 Pastors attended the worship service. It was a time where the whole congregation of the Church with guest and friends came together to give glory unto God for His faithfulness and grace that has sustained the Church for the last 100 years.
I had the privilege to lead in the worship session with the Centennial Choir backing me up (more than 70 singers). Also cccompanied by the shofar blowers.

The Guest of Honor, Bishop Rev. Dr. Hwa Yung; Rev. P. Tevaraji (President TAC); Rev. Dr. A.E. Joseph (Perak Dist. Superintendent) joined us in the worship.

** I will attach more photos in my next entry.

Pastors and Finance (a reflection from Pastors School)

Rev. Laurence D.B., Senior Pastor of Tamil Methodist Church,

Tamil Settlement, Buntong. Ipoh. (also my senior Pastor)

In another workshop, Rev. Laurence D.B. spoke about Pastors and finance. Many Pastors who attended the Pastors School expressed their financial difficulties and struggles. Some struggles so much that at times even their ministries are affected. The overall sentiment of the School was, Pastors are underpaid and constant rising cost of living in Malaysia affects them and their families badly. Some claims that they have not even been able to get a small gift for their wives during their birthdays. Or even bring out their kids to the fast food restaurant for dining. Those Pastors feel that, their financial constraint has deprived their wives and children from enjoying some basic pleasures of the world. Apart from that, some Pastors even resort into borrowing money from church members and friends to meet their constraint budget.

Reflection: It saddens my heart to hear about the financial crisis that some of my fellow colleagues face. I really wonder how the Conference (TAC) could help. Will a salary hike solve the problem? How much is enough? Does every Pastor have the same need/s? In reflecting upon some of these questions, I realized that every Pastor will have their peculiar needs involving finances. A salary hike alone will not help. One Pastor may need an addition of RM 300 / month; another Pastor may need an addition of RM 1000 a month. So, how much is enough? So, in my own opinion Pastors should resolve their financial struggles wisely. First, be diligent in spending. Secondly, encourage their spouses to earn a living. I notice that most of the Pastors who were sharing about their financial struggles have non-working wives. I think this is where the wives must also learn to shoulder some responsibilities and ease the husband's financial burden. Pastor’s wives should find for themselves a job that will generate some income for the family and at the same time increase the spending ability of the family as a whole. It is kind of hard for me to accept the arguments of some Pastors who make comparison of their financial state with their church members. Often time Pastors forget that most of our church members has working wives. Perhaps at the current age, it seems to me that it is indeed essential for both husband and wife to earn a living to avoid any major financial constraints. So, it is unfair for Pastors to make comparison with church members who have both their husband and wife working. As for me, I am not rich but I don’t go through major financial crisis because I have a working wife. Her earning has helped us tremendously in our monthly budget. Praise God that I have not asked people for financial assistance at least thus far in my ministry. So, In my own view and reflection on this matter, I feel that when a Pastors wives goes to work to earn a living, they would definitely ease the financial burden or rather bondage that clamp down many Pastors and their ministries. This view may be subjective. But, for me it really worked! I think it also works well for my other colleagues who have working wives.

Pastor a Visionary (reflection from the Pastors' School)

This session was moderated by Rev. Joseph Yesupatham and the panels were Rev. C. Jayaraj, Rev. Devadass Ratnam and Rev. Dennis Raj. I must say that the three panels did a great job. They shared their views and the dynamics involved in the Pastoral ministry especially being a visionary pastor. One main issue that was discussed most of the time during the session was the issue of whose vision is it? For an instance, Pastor A is transferred to a Church. Thus, he prayerfully gives a vision for the Church. The Church receives the vision well from the Pastor and works towards achieving it. However, even before the vision is fulfilled, Pastor A is transferred out of the Church. Now, Pastor B is posted to the Church. However, Pastor B may not share the same vision that of Pastor A’s. So, he may also prayerfully give the Church another direction and vision to follow. Now, the question is, how can there be different visions given to the same Church when different Pastors are posted there? Pastors who are visionaries struggle to share or work within the frame work of their predecessor’s (Pastor’s) vision when they are entrusted to take over a Church from another Pastor. So, the lay people struggle to understand whose vision shall they follow? Whose vision is from the Lord? This is an ongoing issue within the TAC Churches. After a long debate and discussion, the moderator concluded the session by saying that Vision does not change when the Pastor is transferred, but direction and approaches to achieve the vision may vary from one Pastor to another.

As for me, it is still easier said than done. I strongly feel that TAC should formulate a frame work within its transfer system that would create ample of space and time for the outgoing and incoming Pastors to work out and discuss many outstanding matters which also includes the God given vision for the Church prior to any transfer taking effect. A new Pastor should be told and understand the God given vision to the Church. This will avoid many potential misunderstanding and confusion when the transfer of Pastors takes effect. Pastors should also humble ourselves to accept and work towards the fulfillment of the vision that is given by God to our predecessors without any pride and prejudices

TAC Pastors' School

The Tamil Annual Conference's Pastors' School was held on the 28th to 31st May 2008 at YMCA Ipoh. Indeed, it was a time of blessing for all of us who attended. 52 Pastors, Supply Pastors and Church workers attended this school (the one with the grey t-shirt is Rev. Hendry Ponnaiah from England. Our Pastor who have joined the Methodist Church in England. He was back for a short break...and joined us for a day). Here with i attach some photos taken during the school. I will write my reflection once i am back from a short break...hurray...i'm on leave for the next 3 days....balik kampung ma...

The guest speaker, Rev. Dr. Henry Ramaya (in white shirt) ministering to the Pastors. The one in the red t-shirt is our Conference President, Rev. P. Tevaraji.

Pastors praying and ministering to one another. It was a wonderful and meaningful time where Pastors could minister to one another. I believe, God was truly healing many of us emotionally. In fact, this time of prayer also brought us closer to one another. My prayer partner was the guest speaker himself.........sorry no picture...busy praying....in fact no one to take for me.

On the final day……ummmm……this is the only photo besides the group photo that I appear in. Ya loh….what to do…..i had to become the camera man ma………but it was a great joy to capture many wonderful moments of the school on my Olympus (semi-pro) digital camera. Total pictures taken…219.