Rev J N Manokaran

Tainos were the original inhabitants of Caribbean islands. When the Spanish people came to explore new sea routes, they reached there. Dressed in uniform and looking different the peace-loving people invited the soldiers considering them as gods. They showed amazing hospitality and did religious rituals too. Later, these Spanish people enslaved them and destroyed them. […]

Stephen Covey in his book: Seven habits of highly effective people; writes about a man who was trying to cut a log with a blunt saw. When advised to sharpen the saw, he said: “I do not have time.” Investing few minutes to sharpen the saw could help the wood cutter to cut woods fast,

Jeremiah prophesized that the Nation of Israel will be defeated by Babylonians as God’s Judgment. This was interpreted by Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jucal and Pashhur to the King as ‘anti-national’ and Jeremiah demoralized soldiers and common people. Jeremiah was unjustly condemned and was thrown in dungeon of Malchiah which had rock walls and bottom would be

One religious philosopher stated that knowing, understanding and doing what is ‘righteous’ is complicated. According to him, all are ‘relative’ and could not be segregated as just ‘good’ and ‘evil.’ Prophet Isaiah warned: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter

One young man worked as firefighter. When he was doing his duty, he died. The government gave a huge compensation for his dependent. Naturally, the money should go to his wife, who had two small children under the age of five. However, the man’s parents fought with his wife saying: “Our son’s money is our

Many times, people ask me what study bible I use and what commentaries I read. The reason is that they think I get ready-made sermons and articles from such resources. Most of the time, I reply I get them from hot furnace. Hard lessons of life are learnt in the school of affliction. Gold and

There is an interesting story about a man who was searching for a ‘perfect woman’ to get married. That search of many years included several travels, meeting several people, many suggestions from friends and relatives. Sadly, he became old and was about to die. One of his friends asked him: “Did you not find a

As kids most of us would have experienced a thorn piercing foot, sometime even through rubber slippers or even shoes while walking in country side. It is sometimes a very prolonged agonizing experience. If one thorn could make us stunned and shocked, how much pain would have been experienced by our Saviour who was compelled

“Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” (Psalms 49:20) How true this is? Herod loved his pomp and power yet did not have understanding. Sadly, he died eaten by worms. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an

King Zedekiah did not use his power to protect Prophet Jeremiah, but simply handed over to Jeremiah’s detractor who threw him into a deep hole with rock sides designed to hold water. The cistern was empty, only slush at bottom. Dark, Damp and delirious pit. There is no report that Jeremiah begged or screamed or