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issue 10 JUly 2013
TALENTS Christian Magazine
discovering talents for gods’ kingdom
Stephen Devassy
CCCI Business Conference and 3rd Anniversary The Camp that God Built ~ By Jenny Svetec
Contents Table “I can do all things..” -Stephen Devassy
4 When Serpent Suicide Slithers in
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~ By Ingrid Albuquerque
The Camp that God Built ~ Jenny Svetec
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CCCI Business Conference 3rd Anniversary
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5Talent Magazine is a webzine published monthly. MISSION: - Promote the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - Impact the character of individuals in the ’Body of Christ’ based on the word of God - Advertise programs and ventures that fulfills ‘The Great Commission’ for the end time purposes 5Talents Magazine grants permission for any original article to be quoted provided 5Talents Magazine is indicated to be the source. For use of an entire article permission must be granted.
Nation at Prayer Canada PUBLISHER Deepakshi Kolia EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Premasis Satman EDITOR IN CHIEF Elveera Redwood CREATIVE DIRECTOR Elizabeth Clayton
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“Business as a Mission”
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ou’ve heard it before: “Give a man to fish and you will feed him for the day. But teach him how to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime.” We can simplify this aphorism to “charity versus ability.” Ability wins every time in every area, even spiritually! Giving something to someone may alleviate a temporary hardship, but it often does little to prevent the hardship from recurring. Worse than failing to teach, it creates dependency. Whether parenting or governing, we need to encourage self-reliance, not dependency. Local churches can offer opportunities for vocational training provided by volunteers. For example, sewing machines enable adults with special needs and mothers of children with special needs to earn a living while working from home. Funds to be used to help churches to provide life skills, income generation to improve what they have, and help people create small businesses. The vision of the Church should not be limited to spiritual activities alone, but also to break the cycle of poverty and raise the quality of life, of poor families thus impacting communities and their country. ‘Business as a Mission’ is a contemporary term describing the integration of business goals and the call to the whole church
to take the whole gospel to the whole world. It is an answer to the prayer ‘May Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven’, as people and communities are positively transformed through, for-profit business activities. The idea of integration is important; this is not ‘ministry’ tacked onto business for convenience or business tacked onto ministry. Instead the mission is outworked in and through the business, through its activities, through the products and services and through relationships. The business itself and life in business for those involved becomes the means of carrying the good news of Jesus through word and deed to the ‘ends of the earth’. Business has the potential to generate new wealth through a combination of creativity, risk and work. A profitable and sustainable business is able to create new jobs, drive new innovations and increase resources for society. Business can provide goods and services that are needed in a community and it is established on a wide network of relationships. These activities, products and relationships are integral to business and part of the God-given potential of business to transform society and glorify Him. ‘Business as a Mission’ leverages this potential of business as a force for good in the world. It can address spiritual needs hand in hand with social, economic and environmental needs.
Premasis Satman Executive Director
Stephen Devassy
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With God all things are possible...
Stephen Devassy is a man who built himself upon his dreams. He did his schooling at 7th day Adventist high school, Ottapaalam from where he started walking into the world of music. He got his first ever keyboard of his own, as a gift from his Dad PK Devassy, from when and where he started to pave his way forth as a musician. Stephen had started to learn to play keyboard since when he was in the 5th standard. He used to perform in churches even during his small age which finally gave him the confidence to present himself in a show before the public, and that too when he was in the 8th standard. As he made his way to NSS College, Ottapaalam to do his pre-degree, he had made up his mind not to let go of music ever in his entire life. This gave him the motivation to develop himself and gave him the opportunity to do his first tour abroad while he was in the first year of his pre-degree, with the legendary singer Padmashree Hariharan. The passion in him grew to know no limits with what he achieved his degree and a record by completing his 8th grade piano at the age of 16 from Trinity College, London. His keyboard tutor was Leslie Peter and his Piano teacher was Fr.Thomas Chakalamattath, Chetana Academy at Thrissur.
Stephen Devassy never found it hard to be active in the NCC too, along with his experiments with music. He still finds his selection of being one among the only 3 NCC cadets selected from Kerala to represent the state, for the Republic day parade at Delhi during the year 1998, as one of the greatest recognitions he has got.  A R Rahman’s music has influenced Stephen to explore more about the technical aspects of Sound Engineering and Music Production. He started recreating the tones used in ARR songs. This interest developed at a very fast rate and Stephen started doing keyboard programming for many leading music directors in Malayalam. Passion for music took him to next level, when he shifted to Chennai during 2003. His music programming skills gave Stephen an own identity in the Tamil industry and soon he became one of the busiest keyboard programmers in the industry. His music production style took him to the Bollywood scene, where he worked as the programmer for music directors like Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Anu Malik etc.  He has worked with more than 50 music directors in many Languages like Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada and programmed over 2000 songs. 5Talents Magazine
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“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
In association with Kosmic Music, Stephen has also set to tune, Sanskrit slokas, Mantras and Verses from the Upanishads, with the background of western music called “Sacred Chants” of Kosmic Music. His instrumental Phil 4:13 albums includes “Romanza” and “Different Vibes”. He has also composed REX Band’s started with the Jai Ho tour starting with Jai Ho International albums. Calicut show. A call from the man ARR himself was like the perfect catalyst for his caliber and Stephen’s career as a music producer began dedication to music, which he considers to be to deviate eventually as his need to become a gift from God. a live performer began to increase. His schedule became filled with more and more Stephen always wanted to do something for shows which in turn boosted his popularity the aspiring youth and wanted to provide and thereby making him the most wanted quality education for them in the field of Audio Keyboard and Keytar live performer in India. He and Music. Thus in 2010 with his brother Sam, does shows on a regular basis ranging atleast he completely developed Muzik Lounge 10-12 shows a month in India and abroad . studios, which they had started at Chennai Stephen’s playing accent and the perfection in 2007, into Muzik Lounge school of Audio he maintains, made him the youth’s idol. He Technology at Chennai with the latest state is undoubtedly the fastest keyboard player of the art technical support with a vision to and his swimming fingers on the keytar have provide international standard education. always pushed the audience to the state of awe. The energy he delivers while playing the His family includes his Dad PK Devassy, Mother instrument makes him enjoy each and every Susy Devassy, Elder Sister Biju Solomon & note he plays, which in turn tells a story to the Elder Brother Sam Devassy . audience. Any musician or singer is happy to perform on stage, if it’s Stephen on keyboard. On 16th November 2010, Stephen found himself a partner to share his life with, namely His on stage association with A R Rahman Jesna Joy.
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When Serpent Suicide Slithers in By Ingrid Albuquerque-Solomon
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young and desirable Indian actress, just 26, committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling. The reality of individuals retreating into despair has shaken not just Bollywood. On the heels of that tragedy, there have been several other suicides. Can anything change the tide?
same cliff-hanging edge, but survived. We met once a month to encourage one another; now we are not without joy, hope and a promising future for ourselves and our children in our uplifted lifestyles. She cancelled her death plans and asked to join the group.
It was 10.45 in the night when a person called to tell me she was committing suicide. She had Everybody – especially in today’s mercurial and already called her friends to say goodbye. mercenary times – needs to have a spiritual companion (distinct from a friend or family She did not know me; she’d only called because member) with whom he or she can set up a she promised her best friend she would. The weekly God-present confidential meeting details of my Single Mom Meets appear in the where they can be mutually accountable to one newspapers with my contact number, which another, encourage and advise one another. her friend had jotted down. So that God can use them as instruments to speak to and through one another, it is best if Her story: She was eight-and-a-half months they are not friends (who could be emotional pregnant, had not yet reached her first rather than objective and righteous in counsel). anniversary and her husband had left her for another woman. Over the next hour, I was given That way, when all doors appear firmly closed heart-wrenching details of the humiliation she’d and serpent suicide comes slithering in, the had to endure. “Life has nothing to offer us and God-friend can open the window and let the I have no choice but to opt out, I hope you sun come shining in. understand.” Lord, You are the Way, the Truth and the Life! I had walked that road myself. She wanted to Please be there for those who are drowning know how I was still alive. I informed her that in darkness and have lost the will to live. At I too had tried to make one last call before that desperate moment, rescue them and give blowing out the candle. I’d rung up a spiritual them light and fresh new hope for the future. companion to say goodbye. I told her about other single moms who’d also struggled at the 5Talents Magazine
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Tears of the Bride is priced at Rs 275 + Rs 25 postal charges. Cheques in favor of “Berean Bay Media House Pvt Ltd�. The book is also available on Amazon Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D7CCWBI. Email tearsofthebride@gmail.com or call 9880174153 for more details. Postal Address: 001 Geobirds Manor, 2 Cline Road, Cooke Town, Bangalore 560005
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Hindi Music Album
NACHOONGA
Sheldon Bangera
Sheldon Bangera, having a great singing experience in the classic worship songs presents Nachoonga. It is a collection of popular English worship songs by well known lyricist Matt Redman, Martin Smith, Tim Hughes and others performed in Indian flavour. It provides a path from English speaking worship to the Indian community across the globe. Now we hear “Here I am to Worship”, “In Christ Alone”, “Your Grace Is Enough”, “Blessed Be Your Name” etc in Hindi. Price 125.00
Format : ACD • Aizawl 0389-2348688 • Bangalore 080-25432850 • Chennai 044-26420816 • Coimbatore 0422-2524644 • Dehradun 0135-2710643 • Dimapur 03862-229370 • Goa 0832-2422908 • Guwahati 0361-2732098 • Hyderabad (OM Campus) 04027872145 • Hyderabad (City) 040-27800778 • Imphal 0385-2423398 • Kochi 04842396333 • Kolkata 033-22265260 • Kottayam 0481-2582333 • Mumbai 022-24319314 • New Delhi 011-23364670 • Pune 020-26050825 • Shillong 0364-2228232 • Trichy 0431-2792005 • Trivandrum 0471-2533338 • Tura(Meghalaya)03651-224618 • Vellore0416-2235151 • Visakhapatanam 0891-2567544
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New Releases Music 10,000 REASONS TO WORSHIP By Various
Passionate Worship, Exuberant Praise. 33 tracks features songs of Matt Redman and Tim Hughes, Chris Tomlin & Brian Doerksen, Hillsongs , Jesus Culture, and Third Day are included here. Includes ‘Here for You’, ‘Not to Us’, ‘Saviour of the World’, ‘Came to My Rescue’, ‘Lead Me to Cross’, ‘Let It Rain’, ‘Let Your Kingdom Come’, ‘Deep Cries Out’, I Will Follow’, ‘Awesome Is the Lord Most High’, ‘Sanctuary’, ‘The River’, ‘Love the Lord’, etc.,
Format : MP3 Rs.99.00
50 STORIES FROM THE BIBLE [MP3] Various
MY DAD - WORSHIP FOR KIDS [DVD] Toby This exciting new animated series follows the story of Toby, an ordinary little boy who becomes best friend with Jesus and goes on adventures with his cool friend into his heart and beyond. Choose from 9 vibrant music videos or eyecatching animated sing-along titles and dance routines.
Price : 149.00
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50 Stories from the Bible is a collection of stories from the Bible. For thousands of years the stories in the Bible have been passed from generation to generation. Now as ever they are an important part of our children’s heritage. These timeless truths have been especially created to be read aloud and heard, with rhythm and humour that ensures they will be enjoyed again and again.
Price : 99.00
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ACOUSTIC SESSIONS, THE - VOL 1 [ACD] Casting Crowns
The Acoustic Sessions: Volume One is the first compilation album by American Christian rock band Casting Crowns. It was released in January. The album is all acoustic music that contains worship music elements. Track list includes “If We Are the Body” , “East to West”, “American Dream”, “Who Am I”, “Here I Go Again” etc..
Price : 149.00
50 INSTRUMENTAL GOLDEN HYMNS [MP3] Various
A Unique collection of 50 Instrumental Hymns. Includes both contemporary and traditional interpretations, including solo piano, flute, celtic harp and pipes together with luxurious orchestral and ensemble arrangements.This collection of hymns include “Stand up Stand up for Jesus”, “All for Jesus”, “Pass me not”, “Onward Christian Soldiers”....etc
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CHERUB WINGS THE KING’S CASTLE [DVD] Various The King’s Castle help children to understand that keeping their hearts clean and pure is just as important as caring for their surroundings. Children will learn that God is more important than material things or money.
Price : 149.00
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Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam This book will take your leadership to the next level! Each chapter focuses on a skill that will shape your life as you put the action assignment into practice. Jon writes from a wealth of experience both in leading and in training other leaders. This book will be a personal mentor for your leadership journey. “Most ministries languish not for lack of God’s power, but for the lack of effective leadership - most Christian leaders suffer not from a lack of character, but a lack of leadership skills. Jon’s book will help. It’s a goldmine of pragmatic, applicable ideas that will help leaders lead at a higher level!” —Mark Miller, VP Training and Development, Chick-fil-A, Inc., author with Ken Blanchard The Secret! What great leaders know – and do
ART OF PASTORING, THE [REVISED] David Hansen
Pastoring requires many practical skills. But what isn’t so easily found in books is a focus on the heart of the ministry. This book provides that missing focus. Here are wonderful stories of nearly a decade of ministry in the mountains of Montana. Price : 129.00
LANGUAGE OF SCIENCE AND FAITH, THE Karl Giberson, Francis Collins
Science often claims to explain nature without including God. The Language of Science and Faith explains how God cares for and interacts with His creation while science offers a reliable way to understand the world He made.
MARRIAGE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED, THE Gary Chapman Gary Chapman looks at the key issues that will help you build the marriage you’ve always wanted. Dr. Chapman delivers advice on all the “big issues”: money, communication, decision making, inlaws, and much more. Price : 99.00
PSYCHOLOGY & CHRISTIANITY : 5 VIEWS
Eric Johnson L
How are Christians to understand and undertake the discipline of psychology? Psychology & Christianity: Five Views presents five models for understanding the relationship between psychology and Christianity.
Price : 175.00
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GREAT OMISSION, THE [REVISED EDT.] Robertson McQuilkin
Becoming the Father Your Children Need Robertson McQuilkin in The Great Omission thoroughly investigates the reasons so few Christians attempt to carry the message of Christ to the “so many” who have never heard of Him. As he is well-versed on trends and strategies in world missions, he presents the challenge of world evangelism in an unforgettable way. Price : 99.00
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Bibles NLT CHRONOLOGICAL LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE tThe Bible is the story of God’s interaction with his creation. It is a story that occurs over time, in many places, and through many events. It includes the lives and lessons learned by many people from many cultures. It’s often easy to lose sight of the way in which God’s story fits together when our primary way of looking at the Bible is a bit here and a bit there. The new four-color Chronological Life Application Study Bible combines the proven resources of the Life Application Study Bible with a chronological format and several brand-new resources. The Bible is arranged in 10 chronological sections that help the reader to see how the various pieces of the Bible fit together. New section intros and timelines set the stage for the passages in each section. New archaeological notes and photographs help to bring God’s story to life in a whole new way.
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NKJV - VELVETEEN BIBLE [COMPACT] This new offering for little ones, The Velveteen Bible features soft fur and a fuzzy tail! Inside, the New King James Version scripture is accompanied by whimsical images of bunnies and other baby animals, colorful borders, and lovely sentiments from the scriptures. The Bible is packaged in a keepsake treasure box.
NIV - THINLINE BIBLE COMPACT [Orchid/ Razzleberry] Pick your favorite Bible from NIV Thinline collection. Whether you are going to church, heading to work, or touring the globe, this Bible is ready to go with you. Its size makes it easy to keep the timeless truth of God’s Word at hand, no matter where life takes you.
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KJV - HOLMAN FAMILY BIBLE With the Holman Family Bible in your living room, you are making a statement of faith that is strong and clear, simple and inviting. You are opening wonder in a child’s eyes through captivating Masters’ paintings and Bible stories. You are linking hands with those who have shared your family’s story by capturing in print their names, their lives, their special moments.
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KJV - COMPACT THINLINE BLOOM COLLECTION BIBLE
NIV - STORY BIBLE, THE
This KJV Compact Bible in convenient size easily allows you to carry it in just about anything: your gym bag, your glove box, your backpack, or your laptop bag. This flower-inspired Compact Thinline Bloom Collection Bible is the ideal way to keep God’s Word at your side.
God goes to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what The Story is all about—the story of the Bible, God’s great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible chapters, The Story Bible sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation.
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The Camp that God Built ~Jenny Svetec
R
emember the childhood story, “This is the House that Jack Built”? Well the book of Numbers could be titled, “This is the Camp that God Built.” In the first chapters of Numbers, God ordered a census for Israel, establishing each tribes’ position in the camp, as He assigned rooms for all His children. Each tribe was then relayed their numbers, what order they were to march out of camp and where they were to camp in relation to the tabernacle. Sounds almost like family camp, when cabins are assigned and the information booklets are handed out, doesn’t it? After instructing Moses about the details of the tabernacle, and seeing His people respond with obedience and generosity in the establishing of the “tent that God built”, suddenly God takes an unexpected turn in construction details. God commands Moses to move everyone with leprosy, those with oozing sores, those menstruating, and those whom had been at a deathbed out the camp. Moses and the Israelites quickly obeyed. Hold on: Cast out the grieving, the ill, women menstruating and men with discharge? What was going on here? In order to unlock the principle, a crucial key is to hear what God is saying: Put out both male and female, put them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camps in the midst of which I dwell( Numbers5:2, NKJV). Dwell, shakan, in Hebrew, is a word which means to permanently move in and settle down. You see, it was almost moving day in Camp Israel. God’s intention was to permanently settle as the centre of Israel, with all His power and His presence, the Hub of His people, with the twelve tribes settled like spokes around the tabernacle, a massive bird’s eye illustration of God as the focal point of life for His people.
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In order for God to move in, certain ground rules had to be maintained. Camp Israel, by virtue of God’s Presence, had to maintain a standard which pagan, Egyptian-raised Israel would not be expecting: the camp needed to be holy. Upon uttering His intention for permanent residency, Moses acted quickly, for God was not suggesting a conditional rental agreement, a twelve month lease, easily broken and quickly abandoned. God was outlining His desire to stay with His people and Moses eagerly moved to meet His conditions. Holiness to God is by its nature, uncompromising. For the people of Israel, whose living experience of worship was limited to Egyptian idol worship and wilderness groans, leaving the tabernacle to the priests seemed normal. Yet God, in establishing His residency, informed Israel that His greatness impacted more than His tabernacle; in fact, by virtue of His holiness, anywhere God lived had to be holy, set apart, which meant the entire nation would be impacted, without exception. Hence the decree that all with leprosy, discharge or exposed to a corpse needed to leave. Quite the object lesson. Notice the set standard. Basically, Moses said: If you are unclean, get out. This is no ordinary KOA campground. This is Camp Israel. God is our midst. We are not an ordinary nation. We are extraordinary. For anyone ill, Camp Israel was not exactly a comfortable environment, though it was definitely an honest one. Yet why was discharge such an offense? And what was the problem with leprosy? Why banishment for being near a corpse? In Israel’s days, leprosy, a contagious disease of the flesh, was a literal illustration of the decay process, one slow day at a time, until disease overtook the afflicted one. Discharge was a sure outward w w w . 5 Ta l e n t s M A G . c o m
sign that illness was present in an individual and unchecked illness always lead to death. Corpses were deadly, literally with the threat of disease multiplying the longer the body decayed. With the command to remove those near death and diseased, God, the Giver of Light, firmly illustrated that He will not live with our darkness. Darkness and light can’t cohabitate. One encompasses the other. Just as light can’t cohabitate with darkness, so death cannot abide with the Source of all life. With the command for the diseased to leave camp, the Israelites understood what holiness actually meant – no wiggle room, no excuses, no rationalizing of sin, death or disease. If you were diseased, you were out. No exceptions. God was in the camp and His Presence would have a huge impact on Israel. God’s terms of His occupation with Israel were clear: Be holy, as I am holy. Be whole, be set apart and be honest with the condition of your sin. With God present, Camp Israel could never be a place where anything goes. The defiled and ill, the contagious had to leave, because the Holy One was coming to stay. But what of those put out? What of the women, who were thrust outside of the settlement trying to understand the God who had removed them from the camp? What of the lepers who were banned from the camp? Or those dazed with grief at the death of their mother, father, or child? The book of Leviticus brings us an answer with good news for the diseased and grieved in Israel: Outside of the camp is where His mercy and healing flows deepest. For beyond the camp was God’s infirmary, where the diseased were healed, the grieving were restored and the priesthood was at its best.For the leper, Leviticus 14:3,7 explains how the priesthood was more than equipped to deal with this disease, stating: And the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall examine him; and indeed, if the leprosy is healed in the leper… And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose in the open field. Leprosy wasn’t a death sentence with God around. In fact, the outskirts of the Israelite camp was actually a place of healing, not banishment. When
the priest journeyed out of the camp to verify the miracle, and the man or woman was declared clean once again, he let loose a bird to fly so that all the camp could see that restoration had happened. For a woman with discharge, Leviticus 15 offered similar days, cleansings and offerings. For the man with discharge, Leviticus 15 established clear expectation for the man to wait, to clean, to atone and to be restored. God’s intention for the camp outskirts was for healing, not neglect. Outside of the camp, the individual would wait for healing, and then a merciful and compassionate priest would bring relief, declare the person healed and welcome them back into the camp where God lives. Unlike Egypt, God, Jehovah Ropha, the God of Healing lived at Camp Israel, thus restoration and mercy ruled the day. If an Israelite journeyed outside the camp to find God in their darkness, they could return to God in the camp and be transformed by His light. Now consider, if God required holiness for the people of Israel, a stern reckoning of sin, which was transparently addressed and ministered to, what does God require for us, His people, who are temples for Him, the living God? Peter, in his letter says not much has changed on that account: Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”( 1 Peter 1:13-16, NKJV) God hasn’t changed his plans. He still plans to permanently dwell within us. As we rend our hearts before Him, we need to remember the place of mercy outside of the camp, that beloved cross of Calvary for our diseased hearts, fleshy minds and broken bodies. Let’s go to our great High Priest who loves and gave Himself for us and receive the forgiveness and healing needed, that we may return to live a life which glorifies God. May we each humble our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in holy living as we delight in the Camp which God built, to His great glory and to our great wonder. 5Talents Magazine
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3rd Anniversary Celebrations and Business Conference
Saturday 6th July 2013 Marriott Hotel Tank Bund, Hyderabad
CCCI Business Conference 3rd Anniversary The Christian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) celebrated its 3rd Anniversary with a ‘Business Conference’ at Marriot Hotel, Hyderabad, on 6th July. CHRISTIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY UNIFIED GROWTH FOR E XCELLENCE
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CCCI, which has been growing steadily under the stewardship of former Director General of A.P. Police, Mr. Noel Swaranjit Sen IPS, and other senior members. CCCI had a successful full day interactive session which was open to all, and attracted delegates from across the country and overseas as well. Dr William Dar, Director General, ICRISAT, a special guest for the occasion, spoke on the latest agricultural practices and their implementation. Mr. Abid Rasool Khan, Chairman Minorities Commission, AP, spoke on the initiatives taken by them on ensuring that minorities problems are brought to the appropriate level for rectification. w w w . 5 Ta l e n t s M A G . c o m
ADVerTORIAL
Dr. Jayasudha Kapoor, MLA (Secunderabad), and collaboration with their countries. Ms. Christine Lazares, MLA, were effusive in their greetings and remarked on how CCCI had grown Numerous business stalls from a variety of in the last few years. enterprises were also on display and attracted a great deal of interest and visits. Mr Pradeep Chandra, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Government of Andhra Pradesh, All entrepreneurs, especially the small and medium spoke on opportunities in Industry along with Dr ones benefited from the talks given by top C. Kondaiah, Former Director General, National bureaucrats and industry professionals. As CCCI Institute for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, leaps into the next year many new initiatives, with whose talk was particularly useful to the budding an increasing focus on management training for entrepreneurs in the audience. Other sessions members, as well as B2B meetings and enabling included talks on banking, loan availability and formal networking among members is planned. subsidies, realty and infrastructure. New chapters of CCCI are planned to be established The afternoon session focused on the global in many places in India and one in Dubai. scenario. Representatives from Embassies / Consulates of the USA, UK, Australia and Israel, Noel Swaranjit Sen, IPS shared insights into current opportunities Former Director General of A.P. Police available for trade, investment, and alliances and 5Talents Magazine
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hat is happening? is a recurring question right across the country as the general public and community, business, and other leaders try to comprehend the numerous allegations of abuse of office, corruption, and fraud made against elected and appointed representatives. For weeks such allegations have dominated news casts. No level of government and no political party seems to be immune to such allegations. Whatever the truth of particular accusations may be, there is a general perception that something is wrong that needs to be addressed. Early in the ministry of Nation At Prayer. a person close to the political scene urged us to pray that “what is hidden will be made known.” We recently reminded that individual of our conversation, and of how the Lord is honouring the prayer. He said, “Now we need to pray that leaders will have the wisdom to know what to do!” This is a time to remember that things often look the messiest and most out of control when the Holy Spirit is most active - bringing things to light, cleansing, healing, transforming. It’s a time to remember that answers to prayer may not look the way we imagined, and that God’s response is not restricted by our limitations. This is a time to remember that we cannot expect from people what only God can do, that human beings often fail, and only God is perfect. This is a time to take heart, to dig deep in prayer, and to trust God. Daily we are reminded of the weaknesses and failings of systems and people; we need also to remind ourselves that nothing is beyond God’s knowing and reach. He alone has the wisdom, authority, love and mercy to answer our prayers according to His perfect will. The Holy Spirit is capable of transforming any situation and any individual; through prayer every one of us can be a powerful instrument of transformation.
Nation At Prayer has reached a significant milestone as we celebrate 10 years of ministry. For a decade we have been meeting one-on-one for prayer with elected representatives at all levels of government, encouraging Christians across the denominational spectrum to pray for their own elected representatives, encouraging the development of community-wide prayer breakfasts and other gatherings to pray for civic and community leaders, and providing a variety of resources to strengthen individual and community prayer life. Elected representatives respond to the nonpartisan, non-issue foundation of the ministry. For 10 years we have witnessed the powerful moving of the Holy Spirit, leading in ways we could never have imagined, transforming both people and situations. It has been a 10-year journey of living the truth that “the One who calls us is faithful and He will do it!” And the journey has just begun! What is happening? The Holy Spirit continues to work among and within elected representatives, and the opportunities for prayer continue to expand at every level of government. Christians are joining together across denominational lines in ever-increasing numbers to worship and to pray for community leaders. Community prayer breakfasts continue to spring up across the country. There is a hunger to know God through prayer and His Word among Christians of all ages. First Nations and Aboriginal leaders bear witness to the power of the Holy Spirit in the midst of tremendous challenge. As Christians, we must not elect, and then neglect, our politicians. Let’s make this Canada Day a day of celebration and thanksgiving - and let us begin the day with prayer for the Prime Minister, your Premier/ Territorial Leader, your Mayor, Chief or tribal elder, and your federal, provincial, municipal and aboriginal council representatives. 21 5Talents Magazine July 2013
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April 2013
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