Joseph Devadason Steinway & Sons, founded in 1853, is the maker of the finest pianos in the world. They make grand concert pianos and also smaller family living room pianos. Steinway pianos are unique; no two Steinways ever sound exactly alike. Each and every Steinway has its own distinctive personality. Some have a quieter voice and others have a big, booming sound. Steinway explains that it is impossible to build “perfect” pianos, because they are all different. It is the difference that makes them special to individual musicians. When famous artists select their pianos for their performances they try one piano after another till they find that one particular piano that exactly suits them. Steinway attributes the different personalities in each piano to their unique, hand-made building process. Building of a
Q& A
Steinway begins with a careful search for wood from Alaska. This is followed by months of curing. An entire team of 450 craftspeople (many of them second and third-generation Steinway artisans) work
meticulously for 12 months. About 12,116 parts and more than 125 patents go into the Steinway. This is why to most world-renowned pianists, these Steinways aren't just pianos. They are like living beings, loyal friends each one unique, alert, and responsive. Steinway builds less than 5,000 pianos in a year
Q: Is it OK to tell a lie if it is for a good cause?
A: Most people would say that lying is wrong, except when there's a good reason for it - which means that it's not always wrong! The modern day people have come up with various arguments to justify some forms of lying. This falls under the banner of Situational Ethics. So they use the example of Rahab in the Bible to prove that lying in certain situations is permitted if our intention is good. One of the things to note is Rahab lying to the soldiers to save the Israelite spies is not intended to be model for us to follow. Rahab is praised for her faith in the book of Hebrews 11:31 and for receiving the spies in peace and not for the sake of her lying. The Bible also says Rahab is a prostitute and that doesn't mean that prostitution is permitted in the Bible. On the basis of this story we cannot conclude that Bible permits some forms of lying. Rahab's lying is a sin. But we have to understand she didn't have the knowledge of the living God. She did all she could in her abilities in order to save the Israelite spies. She could have chosen a different way of protecting the Israelite spies which would have been commendable. God honors her not for her lying but for her act of faith. Rahab had her weaknesses like all of us but she trusted in God and acted on behalf of God's people. This needs to be the highlighted instead of her lying. The story of Rahab doesn't give a leeway for Christians to lie even if it is intended with good motives. Similarly, both Abraham and Isaac lied to the foreign kings (Gen.12:11-20, 20:1-12, 26:7). As God did not rebuke or punish them openly, some say, that God didn't really think Abraham's and Isaac's lies were such big deals. This is a faulty interpretation of the events. God's silence cannot be taken as his approval. Lying is clearly condemned in the Bible (Lev. 19:11, Prov. 6:16-9 and 12:22, Col. 3:9 and, Jn. 8:44). The Bible unmistakably draws a distinction. Lie originates from Satan (Jn.8:43-47) whereas God is the source of Truth (Num.23:19, Jn.14:6, Heb.6:8). By Ashwin Ramani
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DID YOU KNOW? I n 1 7 3 3 , A a r o n o f Cuddalore, one of Zieganbalg's converts was ordained as the pastor of the Tamil Protestant church in Tr a n q u e b a r ; t h e f i r s t indigenous Protestant Pastor not only in India, but also in Asia. 唠 Krishna Pal, the first convert of William Carey happens to be the first Indian missionary. In 1804, he was sent by the Serampore missionaries to Calcutta. He preached Christ in many places for twenty years until his death. The Marthoma Evangelistic Association formed by a group of Syrian Church members in 1888 is the first indigenous missionary movement. They initiated cross-cultural missions outside Kerala. 唠 Tamil is the first language to have a Bible in India. The first Tamil New Testament was published in 1714 and the Tamil Bible was published in 1728.
Matthew Paul Faith and trust are most essential for the very existence of human race. For example, we trust our milkman. If we have a little doubt about his milk, we would not be able to have morning coffee with milk in it! We trust rail way time tables. We trust taxi drivers. We trust people around us to make our lives. Otherwise our life will be miserable. Sometimes we get deceived. Some people are not trust worthy. In spite of this vulnerability, we are compelled to trust to make our life on earth. The word 'faith' is a misunderstood word. To many, faith is believing something which is not real. But the Bible says faith is assurance, faith is evidence of things unseen (Heb.11:1). Unlike people, God is always trustworthy. His word is always true. Jesus said, "heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not... (Mt.24:35). So when we trust God's word, we are putting our trust in something which NEVER changes, never deceives. There are hundreds of clear promises in the word and all are for anyone who believes (Jn.11:40). Do you have a mountain to be removed from your life? Find if there is a corresponding promise of God in His word. Take hold of the promise of God and tell Him that you trust His word and go on trusting His word without a speck of doubt and see the mountain being removed from your life. Amen.
Editor: Sam K. John Editorial Team: Joseph Devadason, Shibu K. Mathew & Ashwin Ramani SOUL CONNECT is published by Things Above Friends Network (TAFNET) with the objective of inspiring Christians for authentic discipleship lifestyle and to kindle a passion for World Missions.
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Vol. 1
Inspiring you to live for Christ
Relax! God is at Work!! Sam K. John
T
he Bible begins on a grand note. The first two chapters of Genesis give a vivid description of the creation account. God kept repeating, “Let there be…” until all he had planned came into being in perfect unison. In spite of the fact that human language cannot fully capture the wonder of God's creation, we are simply awestruck! Therefore, while reading a spectacular narration like the creation story it is quite possible for us to miss those things that are not so bright. Have you ever paused for a moment or two at Gen.1:1-2a, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep…” It is very difficult for us to think that there was a time when God’s creation was filled w ith darkness, emptiness and shapelessness. Before the earth adorned with beauty and glory,
INTERVIEW
In God’s Hands...
while another popular piano maker mass-produces 2, 00, 000 pianos in a year. When God made you and me, he was like the Steinway piano maker who carefully handcrafts each and every piano. Each one is unique and each one is different. When people leave organizations, some say: “Men may come and men may go but the organization goes on forever,” or “No one is indispensable.” But in God's world, I am indispensable and you are indispensable. Everyone is indispensable. The reason: each one is so unique that no one else can replace; no one else can make that contribution for which you and I are uniquely gifted. King David's expression is fitting as he says to God, “I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.”
it underwent a 'dull and difficult' phase. We do not know how long it remained like that or why God chose to do so. For some reason (not known to us), God allowed the earth to remain dark, empty and formless! Even in our lives, God sometimes takes us through dark, empty and formless periods. During such times, it is very difficult to make sense of one's life. Everything in our life may seem to be falling apart. We may not be able to see our future or prospects. We may become depressed, bitter, and frustrated with life. Some would even begin to question God and His purposes. In our moments of desperation, we forget the fact that God is at work even in our dark times. Now take a close look at Gen 1:1-2, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty,
darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Even when the earth remained in darkness and emptiness, the Bible notes that the Spirit of God was at work. When our focus is so much on the surrounding darkness, emptiness and formlessness, our eyes fail to see the Spirit of God hovering over our lives. Dear friend, you may be going through a difficult time in life right now; a dark, empty and directionless phase. I want to assure you that God is at work in your life. Perhaps, you are not able to understand what He is working out. You are not able to see Him at all. You are worried about some outcome. Relax. He is at work in your life.
Rebecca Thomas is a pianist par excellence. A teacher at the Bangalore School of Music where she has taught since 1991, she has performed in many concerts and accompanied many a famous musician. Recently she was part of the choir that performed for the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
What inspired you to take up music? My parents enrolled me in piano lessons when I was 9 years old. I guess they were more inspired than I was at that time. There were times when I loved the piano and enjoyed practicing, but there were other times when I was forced to practice by my parents. But with constant encouragement from them, and a very experienced and loving teacher, with whom I studied for 12 years, I was able to successfully pass the Piano Performance Diploma in 1995. . Were your parents supportive about your decision? They have been absolutely supportive of my decision to take up music as a career. They have provided me opportunities to excel. As a child, I was always taught to do what I love doing and to do my best in it. Even today, I try to follow that principle. Best moment of your career as a musician so far? For the past 5 years I have been involved in music therapy, which is, reaching out to children with special needs with the gift of music. When a handicapped child whose response to stimulus is very very limited by their physical and mental condition, is able to smile, clap, sing, move and “create” music that is by far my greatest moment as a musician. Nothing compares to the joy I have, than when I can share music with the less privileged.
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Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Your life is in the hands of a God who knows well what He is doing. He will never make a mistake. At the right time, He transformed an empty, dark and formless earth into a beautiful and glorious human paradise! In the same way, he knows how to change your mourning into dancing and tears into laughter! Trust Him!!
Bee a Christian! To make just one tablespoon of honey, a bee has to visit 4,200 flowers! A worker bee will make up to 10 trips a day, visiting 400 flowers. And to make 500ml of honey, worker bees need to visit more than 3 million flowers and travel the equivalent of three times around the world!
Inside... Pg 2 The Way Out Of Porn Addiction Is It Possible To See God?
Pg 3 Ideas For Christian Giving
Pg 4 Lying For A Good Cause, Is It OK?