Grow or Row

"Growing in Christ" or Rowing with Satan

The Nepali version of last quarter of 2012 Sabbath School lesson has been unique one because it was translated in three continents-North America, atmospheric heaven (over 35,000 feet from New York to Delhi flight) and in Nepal (Asia). Written by Kwabena Donkor, the director of GC Biblical Research Center, the title of the lesson is "Growing in Christ". It is a call to grow in Christ, in spite of the row that is being created by Satan. This lesson touches some of the core doctrines of SDA Church but mainly focuses on the great controversy. It does not hesitate to point out that the Church is one of the stages where great controversy between Jesus and Satan takes place and each member is taking a decisive role on which side he or she is on without giving a choice of middle ground. Do we want to grow in Christ till we reach the stature as He planned or spend our precious life in getting busy with the row that takes place within the church or the church family? The answer to it is left to us. Man, salvation, God depicted in the Book of Revelation, power of evil power, God's law, life of a true Christian, last days events and all things will become new are some of the topics that this lesson dwells. The pictures of front and the back cover pages are the pictures of Niagara Fall which I took to give the message that no matter how much water fall we get (in the Bible water represents people, therefore no matter how much people fall on us), like the rock and plants underneath the fall we should stand firm in Him and not hesitate to grow. Since I do not have a copyright to put the global SS lesson picture for its cover, therefore I exercise the liberty to put the cover page that best suits the lesson. Though the picture of Jesus is the appropriate one, but because Nepal is an image worshiping society and it is easier to worship an image than the idea behind its image. I tend to avoid putting Jesus' imaginary image on the SS lesson. I do trust no matter in what language the lesson is being studied each reader will be helped to form a spiritual "Intellectual character (Ron Richhart) that the General Conference of Seventh Day Adventist wishes upon its member. We all need Christ's intelligent peace (EGW) and there is hardly any other alternative to the study of God's word for that peace.

    While working on the translation of this lesson, I had a privilege to meet the hard working Sabbath School Team in General Conference. It was quite transpiring meet Elder Goldstein, publication manager Lea Greve and Favlo Fowler. Of course I would have loved to meet other team members but due to the pressing of time I could not meet them. I am thankful for their moral support. It is the finest task the Lord has been placing on me for the last seven years in other to compensate the loss of my wife. Setting aside what I want to do but doing what the Lord wants me to do, the translating task of SS lesson or Bible study has been the most glowing aspect of my solicitude life.

     Though anyone is welcome to contribute for this ministry to grow, I am thankful for a friend who has been putting his effort to gather fund to print the 500 copies of lesson, Pr. Umesh who dispatches the lesson and Sujit Shah to get the lesson ready for the press.

   Above all God be praised for constraining the producers to bring out the lesson so that along with the Bible, it can help to form the image of Jesus in each recipient and reader of the Sabbath School lesson, for which Paul struggled two thousand years ago (Gal 4:19).

    I wish you a happy solitude life with the Bible Study.

Bhaju Ram Shrestha bhajupurna@gmail.com

Cover and back page

Pr. Umesh and Pr. Naseeb Unveils

With Lea and Elder Goldstein

With Brother Favlo Fowler

Lincoln Morikon Passes the Torch

    After serving for five years as a medical director of Scheer Memorial Hospital, Banepa, Nepal, Elder Lincoln Morikane passed his torch to Mrs. Cathy Jenson to take over the hospital. Cathy has taken over the hospital as an interim director. On August 25, 2012, there was a special function to say good bye to Lincoln and his best half Drucila and to welcome Cathy Jenson flanked by her husband Pr. Charles Jenson, who is the director of Nepal Field. On this occasion several officers and church leaders of SMH spoke recalling the contribution of Lincoln, also admitting the hospital was going through one of the most tried time. They hoped that during the tenure of Cathy, the hospital would be able to see the new sun rise. Mr. Ramchandra, Mr. Rakesh Lamichane, Mr. Sunder Thapa, Pr. Abirman Puri, Pr. Kumar Adhikari, Dr. Fernando, the medical director, Mr. Simon Lewis, the ADRA Nepal director expressed their appreciation for the contribution of Lincoln to the hospital and the church. Leaving the admonition from Ecl. 11:13, 14 Mr.Lincoln told the audience to stay close to God and it is not the people but God who will bring everything including secret intention into His judgment. In a tearful good bye, Drucie said heaven was waiting for the faithful ones to meet each other. Accepting the challenge, Cathy said because there were people who loved the church and God's work, the hospital was existed, and hopes that the same commitment toward the hospital and the church would be seen in her tenure. Pr. Jenson made an appeal to pray for the hospital, church and the Nepal Field.  Anil and his group sang "Side by side we stand."

September, 3, 2012

Bhaju Ram Shrestha

bhajupurna@gmail.com

http://bhajpurna.blogspot.com for photos

Mr. Lincoln and Durcie Morikone

Pr. Charles and Cathy Jenson

Would You Take My Mind?

            I would like to welcome to my Blog-Bhaju's log that is created with the help of my son Jitendra. I realize that this can be a neat way of sharing mind with those who think alike and would like to think alike without feeling my write-up is a waste of time, but realizing that it is the best of time.  This Blog is an ocean where I can throw bottles with all sort of things hoping that friends, loved ones and thinker alike would fish them out to see what things are in it-mostly things that erupts in my mind. Things such as: transpirational human interest story, interacting with people who are simple, complicated, duplicate (pretend to be who they are but not), politicians, Hindus, Buddhists, Communists, atheists, Christians (since I do not claim to achieve to this height to call myself a Christian, but only as an undivided dJC-devotee of Jesus Christ), Jews, men and women regardless of nationality, children, my multipurpose life with multi directional life, pushing myself to take 1 Peter 5:1-3 (as an elder feed the flock without expecting anything) personal experiences, miracles, cultural life, work life, submission (since I don't work for the mission, I call my visit to different churches as a submission trip) trips to about a dozen congregation to teach, preach mainly to inspire so that I can be transpired, fishing out gems from the Scripture, and wisdom from the street and lastly not the least, accepting the challenge "to deal with minds which is the nicest work which a man can ever be engaged "Ellen G. White, 3 Testimony p.269.

I will be sharing my goal, vision and mission. I will be sharing what made me VAP (value added personality) in Jesus but not a VIP (very important personality) while choosing to remain vip-very insignificant person because I want to see other increase and I decrease. My English language will not be controlled by Oxford or Webster, for who gave them authority over the English language anyway? While I may stumble grammatically, I will follow universal writing formula, "Write, write, write, and don't think grammar while pouring out stormy thoughts from mind."  I will be sharing my past life, lest I forget for past life was the foundation for present, and present life is the foundation for future, and future life is the foundation for eternity. I will be sharing the spice of humor without which we would not be able to live meaningfully.

Within Nepal's context I am living a borrowed life after I crossed 60, and the work that I am doing is under the grace period securing myself to be a minute man which means being thankful for every minute I have. So, whatever thoughts or experience emerges within me I considered precious and pleasure to share with you.

I do trust you will be willing to swim with me in the ocean of my solitude life. I assure you, you will not feel wasted but feel rested together in the joy of the Lord.

I would of course highly appreciate any graceful response from you. To keep the privacy, I will BCC -bhaju's close companion-it. My blog is not for the public and should not go on in the facebook.

 At Folly Beach,NC

My you have breastplate of love and faith while wearing the helmet of salvation.

Bhaju the "Ram" (sheep) dJC