March 2001

While preparing material for this 300th issue of Blessing Magazine, just out of curiosity I browsed through the Bible to find out if the number 300 had any significance. Interestingly the seven occurrences of this number I picked up gave me a list of SEVEN EMPHASES laid by this Magazine during its 30-year history of publication!

1. ENOCH - Personal Walk with God

"Enoch walked with God 300 years" (Gen 5:22).

Teaching the devotional disciplines of Bible meditation and prayer has been a priority of the Blessing Magazine. How to study the Bible? How to pray effectively? There had been scores of articles on these topics. Personal holiness in thought, word and deed has been repeatedly emphasized. Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon have been the oft-repeated examples to challenge youngsters. Numerous self-examination questionnaires have been published.

2. THE ARK - Family Blessing

"The length of the ark shall be 300 cubits" (Gen 6:15).

As the family goes, so goes the Church. As the Church goes, so goes the world. One reason why the Blessing Magazine has become the favorite of many is that it brings out articles of practical interest to improve husband-wife and parents-children relationships. Frank answers on love, sex and marriage have saved many a young person from going to wrong sources and imbibing ungodly worldly views.

3. JOSEPH - Brotherly Love

"Joseph gave Benjamin 300 pieces of silver" (Gen 45:22).

One of the endtime signs is the loss of brotherly love (Mt 24:12; 2 Tim 3:1-3). "Gifts without fruits" is the badge of our shame. One of the messages in the very first camp of BYM, 1971, was from Psalm 133. The indispensability of sound interpersonal relationship has been stressed in the Magazine frequently through expository messages and practical guidelines. The year 2000 was devoted to the study of the theme of Brotherly Love.

4. GIDEON - Self-denial

The Lord said to Gideon, "By the 300 men who lapped (from the water with his tongue) I will save you" (Judg 7:7).

Unless we are gripped with a sense of urgency and die to selfish interests and comfort-seeking, the Kingdom of God will not advance. On this basis 31700 men were dismissed from Gideon’s army of 32000! The Blessing Magazine is a voice in the wilderness calling God’s people to bear the cross, to deny self, to sacrifice comforts, to embrace suffering and to risk life for the Gospel’s sake (Rom 16:4).

5. SAMSON - Power of the Spirit

"Samson caught 300 foxes... tied their tails together in pairs... fastened a torch to each pair of tails... lit the torches and let the foxes run through the fields of the Philistines" (Judg 15:4,5).

History of revivals which swept nations like wild fire under the ministries of men like Charles Finney and John Wesley is published from time to time to encourage God’s people to seek the Lord for the latter rain. The Mission is committed to labour for a Holy Spirit Revival to result in New Testament Evangelism.

6. ESTHER - Spiritual Warfare

"The Jews killed 300 men at Shushan" (Esth 9:15).

Victory through Christ over sin and demonic powers is one of the main subjects taught in the Blessing Magazine. Ignorance of what Christ has earned for us and our position in Him is the primary reason for the defeated and dwarfed lives of believers. The people of God are also warned against unscriptural practices done in the name of spiritual warfare.

7. MARY - Lavish Worship

"Why was this fragrant oil not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?" (Jn 12:5).

For the onlookers it looked like a "waste," but for Mary it was an act of "worship." Pure worship, which concentrates on the Lord and not on what’s received from Him, is regularly taught through various articles. This year, 2001, is declared as the Year of New Song. We are on an expedition to find out how we can worship our God more acceptably than ever!

[top]

BlesSentenceS

A compilation of Sample Sentences from each of the 300 issues of the Blessing Magazine,

January 1972 to March 2001

1. "O Lord, how great You are!"

2. Let’s be Acts-of-the-Apostles-people to obtain Acts-of-the-Apostles-results!

3. "Dear young men, look at India, your motherland! Weep for her!"

4. Burn! Learn! Earn! All to turn men and women to Christ!

5. Selfishness and silence are naked sins.

6. The people around you are your opportunity, and you are their opportunity!

7. Power to be a witness for Jesus is the basic purpose of the Spirit baptism.

8. A Bible message should lift up the Blesser above blessings.

9. No person is too small to be neglected and no sinner is too cruel to be saved.

10. Without the Holy Spirit we cannot; but without us He will not!

11. The order is always, Fact first, Faith second, and Feelings last. Never change this.

12. There are two ways to kill God’s work: one is to oppose it; the other to neglect it.

13. "Bend me, Lord!"

14. We must not love our group more than we love our blessed Lord.

15. Real Christians revel in desperate ventures for Christ.

16. Everyone wants to be a leader, but the need is for more labourers.

17. Do I have the better-than-thou attitude?

18. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!

19. India is not yet evangelized because of our disobedience and indifference.

20. I will fight with all my might against the world, the flesh , and the devil to the end of my life.

21. If the devil can tie down ninety percent of the Church in the pews at special meetings, he has won a great victory.

22. The need is the call!

23. Step on pride. Crush it, break it, and above all, expose it — not in the other person but in yourself.

24. We need an earth-shaking revival resulting in an earth-sweeping evangelism.

25. Forget all injuries.

26. Each one, reach one!

27. What you are is more important than what you say.

28. God’s standard for a New Testament Christian is not "tithe" but "total!"

29. We are sometimes so highly organized that there is no room left for the free, spontaneous, supernatural work of the Spirit.

30. Joy in Jesus! Join Jesus!

31. Give us the tools and we will finish the job.

32. The cure for grumbling is praise!

33.Only a busy soulwinner can understand most of the New Testament passages because the New Testament was written by soulwinners to soulwinners.

34. Our thoughts are the decorations inside the sanctuary where we live.

35. The ‘Shekinah’ glory descended into the Blesso pandal!

36. You must respect the servants of God, but never idolise them.

37. Silence is a strong weapon of love if handled with care and not dipped in tears.

38. The gift of prophecy is not designed for the purpose of introducing new doctrines.

39. A revival of personal evangelism will be the rediscovery of the spirit of the New Testament Christianity.

40. Let us believe that God is at work around us and that we are labourers together with Him.

41. Religions are man’s search for God. Therefore there are many religions. The Gospel is God’s search for man and therefore, there is only one Gospel.

42. This generation of saints is responsible for this generation of sinners.

43. It is impossible for God to direct a life that does not want to be directed.

44. "I could not control my tears while listening to your missionary challenge." —A Pastor.

45. Are you proud? Do you talk of what you have done rather than what Christ has done?

46. The Holy Book of the living God suffers more from its exponents today than from its opponents.

47. God did not call you to criticize; He called you to pray.

48. "God, grant us a spiritual coronary—an attack of burning-heart like Paul’s."

49. Meekness in its highest sense is not a virtue of the weak but of the strong.

50. We are not proprietors, but trustees, of God’s blessings.

51. Law calculates, but love calls for sacrifice.

52. Little souls delight in fault-finding; big ones in appreciating.

53. Let us take time to repent.

54. "God send us men of faith, fire, and fearlessness in this awful hour!"

55. Self is the root of all lack of love and obedience.

56. We only possess what we hold under pressure.

57. Oneness, love and righteousness in the Church was the goal of Christ’s prayer.

58. The laymen will write the last chapter of Church history.

59. The devil needs red-hot shots fresh from the foundry of the Holy Ghost.

60. We are living in enemy territory.

61. Unfortunately in today’s Christendom, there is more of discussion on the Second Coming than preparation for it!

62. What a difference between the spiritual "glory-hallelujah" shoutings of Bible saints and the cheap, jazzy, soul-destroying ones of modern-day Christians!

63. God puts us together with others whom we wouldn’t naturally like, to expose and deal with defects in our character.

64. It is better to have your bank in Heaven than to have your heaven in a bank.

65. Sinning and winning cannot go together.

66. The prayers that go up to Heaven have their share in the history of this earth.

67. "Through this ministry the Lord will be raising apostles and prophets even without your knowledge," said Brother D.G.S. Dhinakaran while dedicating the Blessing Centre in Vellore, 11 Feb 1979.

68. A soulwinner’s first pew is his own household.

69. If God were always the sole object of our desire, we should not be disturbed so easily when our views are not accepted.

70. There is no place in the Body for competition.

71. We are blessed to bless; and we are blessed when we bless.

72. Rather than fighting, we are to seek shelter in God, so that He may step forward to fight the battle for us.

73. It is true we were prodigals one day, but now we are priests!

74. When we remember the poor, we acknowledge the truth, "For our sakes Jesus became poor."

75. Do you want your wife to treat you as a King? Well then treat her as the Queen!

76. Let each day be a day of revelations, not from the sky but from the Scriptures!

77. Praise is the result of a decision.

78. God shapes the man to suit the hour.

79. "Bus or bus station, wherever we were, we made it our pulpit!"

80. God never intended His church to be a refrigerator to preserve perishable piety. He intended it to be an incubator to hatch converts.

81. Keeping sin away by exhortation is essential to fellowship.

82. If you do not steal hours for prayer the world would steal your prayer hours.

83. A noble character is the product of years of divine training and discipline.

84. Whether in factory or office, Christians must remember they are somebody’s Bible.

85. God chooses ordinary young people to manifest His extraordinary power and might.

86. I should watch my tongue to say no unkind word that would wound another.

87. By the death of Jesus the river of life was opened so that its saving streams might resusciate our guilty world.

88. Prayer alerts the devil; praise arrests him.

89. The pathway to prosperity is to eat the Word of God, think it and do it.

90. In D.L. Moody it was seen what God can do with a man wholly given to Him.

91. Revivals are born in the womb of prayer and nurtured by praying hands.

92. When asked the secret of his success, Hudson Taylor said, "The sun never saw me on my knees."

93. A life of purity leads to a life of prayer.

94. To be a mature Christian is to be a soulwinning Christian.

95. Great eagles fly alone; great lions hunt alone; great souls walk alone — alone with God.

96. The conclusion of my years of study of the Scripture is that God is greater than the greatest and I am smaller than the smallest.

97. The wide-open hands of Jesus should be the pattern for our life.

98. Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice before everyone has heard it once?

99. Let no man be foolish to bring the huge great God into his finite understanding.

100. Home is the father’s kingdom, the mother’s world, and the children’s paradise.

[top]

101. Prayer becomes delightful when saturated with praise.

102. Backsliding begins when knee-bending stops.

103. Revival is for saints, not for sinners. What sinners need is resurrection.

104. If Jesus had treated us the way we treat people we would not have been saved for sure.

105. Go and send.

106. The only antidote for the works of the flesh is the fruit of the Spirit.

107. David was greatly distressed, but he encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

108. Any work that exalts the Holy Spirit above Jesus Christ will end up in fanaticism.

109. Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.

110. If it is not a soulwinning Church, it is not a missionary church.

111. Are you suddenly called to occupy a difficult position? Go forward counting on the Lord.

112. The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of faith is the end of anxiety.

113. The only sin that causes millions to miss Heaven is unbelief.

114. Delay in repentance makes the wall of separation thicker everyday.

115. The greatest need in our students ministry is more shepherds.

116. God despises every human effort to be holy when it is done in man’s own strength.

117. Accept that you were born at the right time at the right place and for God’s purpose.

118. God sometimes allows certain temporary failures in our lives just to alert us.

119. Smile is the easiest way to invite people to come and talk to us.

120. The peace of God is the reciprocal blessing of the peace with God.

121. "Pastors, give God the best hour of your day!"

122. About 50 ladies recited the First Epistle to Thessalonians in Revivo ’84.

123. The Workers Training Camp was truly an experience of Psalm 133.

124. "Lord, bend the Church and bless the world!"

125. Famous men tend to be kind. It is little people who do the mean, uncharitable things.

126. Do you love those who do not agree with your views?

127. Let’s never forget what we told the missionaries while sending them forth: "You jump; we will hold the rope!"

128. Character is what God knows you are. Reputation is what men think you are.

129. Why do you harbour bitterness against your coworker?

130. Because God’s Word is not preached from many pulpits, thousands remain dead in the pew.

131. God does not answer certain of our prayers for our own good.

132. The hymn, "Just as I am," by Charlotte Elliott (1834) has brought more people to Christ than any other ever written.

133. It is of utmost importance that Christians learn to live within their income.

134. Waste no time; spend it for souls. Then you will not regret in eternity.

135. The Lord of Hosts is with us.

136. A New Testament Church is a fellowship "in Christ," not around a doctrine.

137. God has no favorites.

138. You can never outgive God.

139. True faith sees in the difficulties of this life proofs of the Fatherhood of God.

140. There are three secrets for a successful ministry— First prayer, second prayer, third prayer.

141. To stir up sickly saints to rescue the perishing, we need the smell of hell.

142. It costs everything to be Christ’s disciple.

143. A faithful servant contradicts not the nature of his master.

144. Go in spite of threats in the field!

145. When we rest on God’s Word we will enjoy His rest.

146. God judges what we give by what we keep.

147. "Holiness unto the Lord!" This should be our watchword.

148. We cannot question God.

149. There is nothing so powerful as single-mindedness for a lifetime.

150. Expect a miracle!

151. Get dirty for God!

152. The need of the hour : Holiness in life, power in the ministry, love in the family, joy in the Church, and peace in the world.

153. The whole truth does not lie in "It is written" but in "It is written" and "It is written again!"

154. All great men of God have been men of the Bible.

155. There is always vacancy in God’s work.

156. Open doors do not mean absence of problems and oppositions. In fact they often go together!

157. The gifts of the Spirit thrive in the soil of tolerance and trust.

158. Christian life is leaving and then cleaving (Phil 3:13).

159. A true prophet of God preaches and practices self-denial.

160. Gifts without fruits is a tragedy, a jeopardy and a malady.

161. The heart attitude is what God considers to teach His Word.

162. We are born to win, not to lose.

163. We must let God be God.

164. Revivals are given by God when His will is done by man.

165. God’s worry is not Communism or Romanism but dead formalism in the Church.

166. We cannot serve God effectively until and unless we learn to walk on two legs : Spirit and Truth.

167. We are Christians to make others Christians.

168. Casteism is a plague both in the Country and the Church.

169. Growth in Christian life means growing in faith.

170. If you have never failed, perhaps it is because you have never tried.

171. God promises a safe landing but not a calm passage.

172. The Church holds the key to national prosperity.

173. Faith, like a muscle, grows by stretching.

174. The sin of prayerlessness is the granddaddy of all sins.

175. Parents, give your best to God. Motivate the most intelligent and industrious child to go for ministry.

176. God’s vision is always for the whole world.

177. Ministers of the Word should learn to entrust to other responsible men the business matters.

178. The best exercise for the heart is bending and helping.

179. In prayer I lose my burdens and receive God’s.

180. Our problem in prayer is we give up too easily, too soon.

181. If it doesn’t motivate me to action, I don’t really believe it.

182. Even after betrayal Judas was Jesus’ friend.

183. The first book of the Church is called ACTS. But we have only WORDS — in plenty!

184. Fasting means concentration.

185. Pride is a quality that peeps in the moment we think we don’t have it.

186. Faithfulness does not depend upon the person to whom you are loyal.

187. Prayer and holy life are one. The absence of one is the absence of the other.

188. "This book changed my life. So I am buying and selling it without profit."

189. Baptism is to discipleship what wedding is to marriage.

190. Nothing is more dangerous in the Christian life than to separate oneself from other Christians.

191. Pentecost turns cowards into men of courage.

192. Rumination is a zoological term equivalent to meditation.

193. What are Churches for but to make missionaries? What is money for but to send missionaries?

194. A thorough spiritual check-up helps us see unhealed places in our life.

195. I do not pray for lighter load but for stronger back.

196. If preaching is not prophetic, it will be pathetic.

197. Mahatma Gandhi told some missionaries, "If you come to us in the spirit of Christ, we will not be able to resist you."

198. Many allergies stem from our unforgiving attitude.

199. Freely we have received; freely we must give.

200. Read any book you lay your hands on that helps you understand the Bible.

[top]

201. God repeatedly alerts His people to be extra-sensitive to widows.

202. Exaltation of God and examination of ourselves are the right preparation for submitting our petitions before Him.

203. The most valuable thing that parents can spend on their children is time, not money.

204. "We have found the King!" This is our message.

205. Faith does not worship money.

206. You too can drive out demons!

207. Make young people see the challenge of the job, and they will respond more readily to your call.

208. The Christian need not go after gold and money. Instead, goodness and mercy shall come after him.

209. Let the Gospel be our gossip!

210. To undertake the will of God is my privilege; to undercut the will of God is my peril.

211. Girls are dedicated to the goddess Yellamma at Saundatti, Karanataka. Is there no Amy Carmichael for us?

212. "I bandage; God heals!"

213. If God gives us work to do, and fits us for it, and strengthens us in it, that is enough.

214. We have made an errand-boy out of God. We forget that He is the General Manager.

215. TB affects the lungs; TV affects the heart.

216. Missionaries are also men.

217. The Samaritan donkey will make our beautiful cars look cheap in Heaven unless they are surrendered to be used for the glory of God.

218. Parents should know the limits of each child and never push him beyond his limits.

219. The Holy Spirit is the greatest Joy-producer.

220. Certain lessons can be learnt only in the School of Suffering.

221. A leader who maintains a good conscience before God and man need not be afraid of conspiration.

222. Parents, stop! Give God a chance to bring your prodigal back to his senses.

223. The customers for the health-and wealth Gospel are obviously the Biblical illiterates.

224. Genuine and lasting results follow in the wake of personal evangelism.

225. The embattled home is good breeding ground for indisciplined children.

226. Billy Graham said, "I’m an optimist because I’ve read the last book of the Bible!"

227. Taming the tongue surpasses talking in tongues. Failure in the former dissipates the power derived from the latter.

228. Lengthening our patience is the best way to shorten our trouble.

229. Bartholemew(Nathaniel) was flayed alive in Armenia.

230. Smooth seas don’t make skilful sailors; nor does an ideal home produce a virtuous woman.

231. When will the preachers of Tamilnadu and Kerala leave their Jerusalem to reach out to Samaria?

232. Don’t carry a child who can walk.

233. Hudson Taylor challenged the Christians, "God is looking for some wicks to burn; oil and fire are free."

234. Our faith in God as the Saviour prompts and motivates us to warn the world of the impending judgment.

235. Being Scriptural is spiritual; but all that is spiritual may not be Scriptural. Unless a Christian knows this difference he may be deceived.

236. He who does not prepare for death is more than an ordinary fool. He is a mad man.

237. Mrs. Martha Ravenhill informed us, "My husband is now with the Lord he loved supremely and served faithfully."

238. Work as if everything depends on you, and pray as if everything depends on God.

239. India lives in villages.

240. By appropriating first the victory of the cross and then Christ’s mighty resurrection- life, we shall be able to keep ourselves unspotted from the world.

241. Be a child at heart when you read the Bible.

242. If God’s will alone is done, no doubt the place will be transformed to a little heaven.

243. The innkeeper missed the first Christmas while the shepherds were celebrating it in his backyard.

244. What we believers need today is not more light but more obedience.

245. God is heavy-hearted. People are hard-hearted. But we Christians are light-hearted. "Father, give tears to our dry eyes."

246. We can obey our husbands unsubmissively, just doing the act grumbling and griping. It is also possible to disobey our husbands submissively, graciously explaining our inability to obey.

247. One of the expensive failures of the Church is its negligence to motivate and mobilize the youth force for evangelism.

248. Holy anger is daring to call evil as evil.

249. Paul did not die a prisoner of Rome but of Christ.

250. Conviction without courage is a paper boat. It takes you nowhere.

251. I mourn over youngsters who have lost their God-given originality because they have gone mad imitating star preachers.

252. Prophets walk before men for days, but have walked before God for years.

253. God’s delays are opportunities for our development.

254. No sacrifice is acceptable if it is not salted. Obedience is salt.

255. Marriage is like a garden. Unless it is regularly tended, weeds and thorns will grow and destroy the plants from fruitbearing.

256. If I go not to those who have not heard God’s precious Word, shall not their blood-guilt be upon my hands?

257. Love is the root and obedience is the fruit.

258. When women become men, the worst affected is the home.

259. Revival is the fruit of the pursuit of God, not of His gifts.

260. We are to give light to the world, not to the Church where there are thousand lights.

261. Dear teachers, the students are a mission field which has come to you!

262. After marriage the outward looks will take the back seat and the inward qualities will jump into the front seat which could be the driver’s seat as well.

263. Unless we learn to walk in pace with God we will miss His will.

264. History is crowded with men who would be God, but only one God who would be man!

265. A leper can enter Heaven, but a sinner cannot!

266. Prayers for revival must be focused on God’s promises rather than our programmes.

267. Pray for every detail of your life. Your prayer life will be exciting and your prayer closet the safest place for ventilation.

268. A little leaven called Samuel affected all Israel. If all mothers dedicated atleast one child for God what an array of missionaries we will have tomorrow!

269. It is ridiculous for anyone to think today that he has an anointing of the Spirit which can go beyond the writing of the Scriptures.

270. People are always more important than schedules.

271. The devil can counterfeit miracles but he cannot duplicate holy people.

272. Nothing can happen in life that you and God together cannot handle.

273. Years wrinkle the face, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

274. Excuse is the most unprofitable item ever manufactured, especially in Christian life.

275. Relationships are a barometer of our spirituality. Hostility hurts hearts.

276. Many a man becomes empty-handed because he does not know the art of distribution.

277. The prosperity gospel invented by materialistic countries has brought forth more Ishmaels than Isaacs into the Church.

278. The Southern Christians are suffering from elephantiasis. Unless they move to the North, there is no hope for India.

279. Christianity is charity!

280. A message without miracles leaves a more lasting impact than miracles without message.

281. Faults appear thin when love is thick.

282. Avarice first claims our souls, then seals our destiny.

283. "Lord, let me never remove the missionary glasses You have given me for constant wear!"

284. We are not commanded to "Christianize" the world but "Evangelize" it!

285. A leader can challenge and motivate people only to the extent of his own sacrifice.

286. Let us lower our standard of living in order to raise the standard of life of others.

287. Preachers should not consider people as cows to be milked but lambs to be fed.

288. We are not living in the last days but in the last minutes!

289. Believing God and His promises on the face of opposition keeps us calm and composed.

290. "We rejoice, O Lord, that fires of persecution will only help the Church for purification and multiplication!"

291. The purpose of Pentecost is not to speak in unknown tongues but to reach the people of all tongues with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

292. God’s work done in God’s way will not lack God’s supply.

293. When you have the power to hurt someone and you hold it back, God honours it.

294. Weeping for souls precedes winning of souls.

295. The world is moved not only by mighty heroes but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.

296. If we prove ourselves faithful in mundane matters God will entrust us with spiritual matters.

297. God over-answers prayers!

298. The musical delight in our soul is because the guilt is gone and there’s no more condemnation.

299. God will hold this generation responsible for the murder of all His prophets and apostles from the creation of the world.

300. It has pleased God to bless this literature ministry with the stamp of His approval for the glory of His Name and the good of His people.

[top]

What they say about what we write

I became a Life Subscriber for Blessing many years ago and have read every issue since then. I praise the Lord for the stand you have taken in many areas and for your writings.

—Zac Poonen, Bangalore

The contents of Blessing have always helped me. They are timely, Biblical, direct and written in the style that is attractive. It’s informative as well as stretching. It centres on Mission as the natural expression of holistic Kingdom living, without becoming theologically distracting. It personalises the "Commission & Commandmant." It gets published on time!

—Dr. Sam Kamalesan, USA

We both are great admirers of you and Lilian and praise the Lord for you. Your writings are a great blessing to us. We appreciate you for the Biblical principles and values you uphold through your preaching and writing.

—Dr. Theodore & Esther Williams, Bangalore

I have been tremendously impressed with the quality of your teaching - so scriptural, so practical, so uncompromising yet so inspiring.

—J. David Pawson, Bible Teacher, UK

Thank you very much for sending us Blessing for the last two years. We have really enjoyed reading the articles in it.

—Dr. Paul Brand, USA

I have been blessed by your Magazine Blessing. My wife takes real interest in reading the articles written by Dr. Lilian Stanley.

—Dr. John Thannickal, Principal,

New Life College, Bangalore

I will go through Blessing atleast twice. It’s truly reviving. I share it with my fellow-believers.

—M. Uday Kumar, Sunabeda, Orissa

I am personally blessed by reading Blessing. The messages are really transforming me and our ministry. Your books have made a great impact in my life.

—Lal Vanderwall, Gospel For Asia, Srilanka

I just want to thank you for your articles in Blessing. They are solely based on the Scriptures and written with no personal interest.

—David Cherian, Kuwait University

We regularly receive copies of Blessing in our hostel reading rooms. We were delighted to read your poem. It has been displayed on the Bulletin Board of the School.

—Premica Rabha,

Anand Niketan, Lamtaput, Orissa

Thank you for sending Blessing. I praise God for Brother Stanley’s Frank Answers. I am sure such answers will be helpful for many fulltime workers.

—N.Gnanaraja,

General Secretary, Scripture Union

I read though your Frank Answers (Vol 2). God has enabled you to write it so excellently. We badly need such books these days. Please send me 100 copies for our book stall.

—Evangelist Mohan C. Lazarus,

Jesus Redeems, Nalumavadi

This nation does need your service. May God grant you long life.

—Pastor James, Tungabhadra Dam,

Karnataka

Your article, "Saved to Save," renewed our spirit of evangelism. It was circulated to the members of our cell to check ourselves.

—A. Muthumani, Scientist, ISRO, Bangalore

Thank you for your Open Letter to Preachers on financial matters, which I trust has challenged all those who read it. We do need this kind of transparency and integrity among Christian leaders.

—A.C. George, Southern Asia Bible College, Bangalore

I found the article, How to Discern the Spirits, to be very helpful and am passing it out to friends. There’s a lot going around here, too.

—Ruth K.Gervat, USA

The Word of God encourages us to speak the truth in love which you have done. May the Lord bless you for your courage to stand for the Lord.

—V.M.Abraham, Consultant,

Christian Literature Crusade Intl.

I have read many of your articles. May I encourage you both to write continually. I wish that each one of our pastors receives your Magazine.

—Rev. Raja Selvaraj,

CIG Mission, Sathyamangalam

Blessing is like a good Pastor who nourishes me spiritually. I preach messages from it in the churches.

—Seileen Sithoa, Bethel School, Kangpokpi

Your Blessing brings much joy and blessings to me as I go through each page of it. Your answers to "What Girls Ask" were very practical. Congratulations! If you permit we may use some of these questions and answers in our magazine "Saving Circle." I enjoyed your article "Decisions of a Mother" published in "India Focus" of Campus Crusade for Christ.

—B.K. Pramanick, General Secretary,

The Bible Society of India

The October ’98 issue of Blessing has lot to say on old people. Perhaps it was high time someone spoke with authority on an important issue like this. I am sharing Blessing with others.

—Rev. Philip Bawdekar,

Kedgaon, Maharashtra

Your Magazine has been a great source of blessing to me and my people. I am deeply involved in students ministry (UESI- North East).

—Dr. K. Daikho, Manipur

Thank you very much for the wonderful contribution to the Epistle of Hebrews. The books by you and your wife will give fruits and inspire many even after many many years.

—Rev. Jacob Sundarsingh,

Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church, Akkur

I wish to thank and congratulate you for writing the article "If you are called..." to help future missionaries. I believe that the Lord will use you and your ministry as a guiding tool for many.

—Rev. Diamond Donald, Bangalore

Please send us a few copies of "How to Discern the Spirits." It’s the best we’ve found on a subject troubling many here. Thank you.

—Wayne McCroskay, USA

We read Blessing with lot of interest and are learning much from it.

—Dr. Jacob M. Zachariah,

Ongole, Andhra Pradesh

I would like to convey my heartiest gratitude to you and to say "Thank you" for your Magazine. It’s such a blessing.

—Rev. Dziesekieo, Immanuel Baptist

Church, Kohima, Nagaland

I read Blessing in Gujarati. I am extremely inspired through it. I have learnt so many things and been greatly challenged.

—Elveena Arul Mecwan,

Methodist Technical Institute, Baroda

I printed 1000 copies each of six of your articles from Blessing and distributed to the believers in our Church and friends. Yours is a quality magazine.

— Mrs. Hephzibah Pratapsingh,

Trinity Full Gospel Church , Chennai

I have been working with Indian Evangelical Mission for 23 years as a missionary. I am greatly blessed by your articles. I know that God has raised you to be a voice in the wilderness.

—Gladson Anchan, Bangalore

I would be thankful if you will give me permission to use some of your articles in our Magazine whenever the relevant topic is the theme.

—Mrs. Dora C.Abraham, Editor, Nurses Link,

Evangelical Nurses Fellowship of India.

Thank you for your article, "Tongues Today?" I was awaiting an enlightenment on this subject for many years and now you have given it to me.

—Dr. E.J. Chandran Job,

Surgeon Commander, Indian Navy (Retd.)

I enjoy your Magazine very much.

—Elizabeth Handford,

Editor, The Joyful Woman, USA

The Blessing Magazine speaks the truth, chases away false doctrines, explains scripture by scripture, maintains balance, affects thousands, and glorifies God. From my rebirth in 1988 this Magazine blesses me next only to the Bible.

—S. Paul George, Vellore

We have understood Christianity and the Gospel clearly only through the Blessing Magazine.

—S.A. Perumal, Chairman,

Agricultural Coop. Bank, Kalichettipalayam

I have been recently reading your book, "Fire in My Bones." God has used it with power in my life. I wait with anticipation until we can renew our acquaintance in person.

—Pastor Phil Oswald,

Sun Grove Community Church, California

We have read many of your books and think very highly of you.

—Amitabh Singh,

Centre for Excellence, Calcutta

I consider the editors of Blessing as my spiritual parents. This is the best magazine I have come across.

—Sarumathy Satyanathan, Trichy

I am receiving Blessing for the last 25 years. I use your articles in my preaching and teaching. Thank you.

—Rev. Joseph V. Jayaratnam,

New Life Fellowship Church, Canada

"Letter kills; but the Spirit gives life" (2 Cor 3:6). Your writings kill my "self" and revive my soul.

—Pastor G.A. Sugumar,

Peniel Church, Agasthiarpatti

Almost every issue carries with it the right and relevant message relating to my spiritual condition, as if it had been prepared exclusively for me.

—V. Jonathan, Dhoraji, Gujarat

I am writing this letter to express to you my appreciation for your "Frank answer" to the question, "How about independent Ministries?" Apart from being Biblically correct and doctrinally sound, the answer is very well balanced.

Raja B. Singh, R.K. Khanna & Associates,

Chartered Accountants, Mumbai

I will be in Heaven because of your writings. Please don’t come to Heaven with me. Stay longer on earth to send more souls to Heaven!

—C. Govindan, Bangalore

[top]

Editiorial Policies of the Blessing Magazine

We praise God for the continuous publication of the Blessing magazine since 1972. The editiorial policies were never written down, but under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the editors of this Magazine have consistently maintained the following 10 policies in publishing every one of the 300 issues released so far. It has pleased God to bless this literature ministry with His stamp of approval for the glory of His Name and good of His people. Pray with us that these godly traditions may be upheld in all the years to come.

1. The Blessing Magazine will carry messages of edification for believers rather than evangelistic articles for unbelievers. Even though the Blessing Magazine is the official organ of the Blessing Youth Mission, it will not essentially be a promotional literature for the organisation. Not more than 25% of its space will be allotted for the ministerial news and such items.

2. Although each author is responsible for the content of his or her article, all the messages will be checked for their Scripturalness. The contents should be practical and balanced. Eccentric views and extra-Biblical stuff will not be encouraged. Delicate issues will be examined in Biblical light but with cultural sensitivity. The articles must have a "message." The Magazine on the whole should be a prophetic voice.

3. False doctrines and unscriptural methods can be exposed without subjectively attacking any preacher. It is possible to be analytical without getting critical. But if someone hates us for teaching the truth, it cannot be helped (Gal 4:16; Eph 4:15). Because copyright laws are not so stringent in India, several publishers reprint our articles (most of the times without permission!) blowing up certain sentences and paragraphs to their advantage, for which we are not responsible.

4. The photographs of the writers or the main preachers of the Mission will appear only rarely in the Magazine. Action pictures which convey a message and field photographs which will challenge or encourage the readers will be used.

5. We will not hesitate to freely use reliable modern Bible translations for quotations. Obsolete words and language style which cannot be understood by the younger generation will be avoided. We will spare no pains to produce a magazine free of printing errors.

6. Utmost care will be taken to be as accurate as possible in reporting. Exaggeration does not glorify God. If we cannot count our catch as "153 fish," we would say "over 100" rather than "about 200!" (Jn 21:11). In the present situation in India, it is advisable to say so many people have "believed" on Christ instead of so many have been "converted."

7. Appeal for money in the Magazine will be as minimum as possible. When we bless the readers spiritually, they will bless the work materially in turn (1 Cor 9:11). Needs will be presented plainly. Pressure tactics, sympathy appeals and enticement techniques will be avoided. If contributions exceed the need for any project, the same will be unhesitantly announced in the Magazine (Ex 36:4-7). The financial report of the Mission will be published annually.

8. We will not accept any paid advertisements. We ourselves will inform our readers of worthy programmes and materials.

9. We will clear all the bills of the printers before the next issue is sent to the press. For the first few years the number of pages of the Magazine was only 12. Now it is 16. Requests to increase the pages and go for 4-colour cover for every issue are many, but counting the cost we still use ordinary paper and two colours only. Continuity is important.

10. We will not give our mailing list to other publishers or organisations. People have trusted us with their addresses and we must continue to enjoy their favour alongwith that of God!

[top]

The Prize-winning Report of Aroma 2001

A Dialogue in Hell

Sharmili Johnson, Theni

Satan

Lost, lost, everything is lost. What shall I do? What happened to my foul-smelling daughters?

TV demon

Oh, how I dandled them for hours together and entertained them! How I encouraged them that seeing all my programmes for any length of time is ok! Where did I go wrong? I had a long list of movies for Pongal. Oh boss, it’s the Sitteri Hills. It is the Rajalakshmi who deserted us who is giving all the trouble. She is taking so many girls to Aroma 2001. Even when she started to pray with another girl, I told you boss, we should stop them. But you said they won’t pull on for more than a week. See now, they are ten and we are stumped.

Satan

I tried my best. I charged them heavily for the buses. Now see how many buses and vans are going! I saw to it that the place was too cramped to sleep and made them shiver in the night. I even made the floor uneven and uncomfortable. But see how these girls are happy and laughing! It is all due to the chain-prayer nonsense. I saw to it that there was not enough rains this year but water keeps coming like the five loaves and two fish. I poured a spirit of grumbling at the meals queue but the idiot Sam is joking over the microphone and tickling everybody to eat more. Damn the cooking team! Their cooking tickles our palate too!

Spirit of Slumber

Look at them boss, I filled all of them but see how they enjoy the talent night! How did I become so ineffective? They are so tired yet so lively.

Lucifer

I thought none of them will stir at 6 am because of the cold. I am shocked they are all assembled in the auditorium at 7 am and singing and clapping like maniacs. It is mass mania. Christy Rajappa, where did you learn to talk so sweetly capturing the attention of this rowdy gang?

Dirty Demon

Let’s see how Minvelli talks. She thinks she is Headmistress here too. I will show her she’s a flop... Oh goodness! Why are all these stupids standing up for altar call? Don’t they understand?

Satan

Oh no, look at them crying. My my, nearly 800 of my precious pigs! They are given heart-searching questions. The Word of God is convicting them. We are fighting a losing battle. Whisper in their ears that they can’t enjoy the world if they commit their lives to Christ.

Evil Spirit

I can’t, boss. I am tongue-tied. The Spirit of the Lord is moving.But sir,don’t worry. Let them be born again or whatever. I will tell them they are not at all saved.

Dirty Spirit

Why is Rachel George going on the dais? She is a mischief-maker. Look at what she says, she is teaching them to trust in facts and not on their feelings. Your gimmick will not work.

Satan

Let’s plan to slide them back into our hole when they get back home. Oops! Shakuntala Israel! Today she is her best. Why did we let her come to Aroma? She is so forcibly teaching to read the Bible regularly and pray and cleverly showing them how to overcome temptations.We have no chance against this lady. She is S.I.

I am depressed. Everyone is bubbling and drinking tea. Please get me a Calmpose this very minute.

Demon 1

Here boss, take two.Night is going to be still worse. It is the Chennai Daniel Thomas School team, the kalakkal team. They are going to enact Graham Staines murder.

Satan

May be we shouldn’t have murdered that fellow with his two sons. He is worse dead than alive. He is creating an international uproar and now these tender hearts are moved to tears. Bugs,bugs. Crooks they are acting so well. We made a mistake in the first place.

Evil Spirit

This morning who ? Oh, Jemima Sugirtharaj! The terrible lady who is leading many to receive the Holy Spirit! Let me fill the minds of these girls with doubts. No,no,I can’t believe what I am seeing. More than hundred received the Holy Spirit.

Satan

Stop it! That’s not a big problem. We can deceive them and make them disobey the Spirit.