0
November 10, 2011
|

This was our first year attending the Family Retreat hosted by the Atlanta Mar Thoma church and it was a great blessing for us as well for the many who have attended. The speaker was Dr. Vino J. Daniel, MD from Philadelphia, PA. We weren’t sure what to expect of the speaker besides the great words that were passed along by other members of the church. The theme was “Sanctified Community”. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the theme as I walked in but as I walked out from the conference it became much clearer. Dr. Daniel emphasized key points on how a christian community should live in this world. An Indian community living among the midst of many cultures, its very easy to loose track of what’s right/wrong. He reiterated that we should turn towards the Bible in terms of seeking instructions on how we should live rather than follow the crowd. He also mentioned that we can’t serve both God and Satan at the same time. Yes we have all heard that saying but we all do it. If God is in our temple well it can’t have any place for evil to linger. He also mentioned the importance of reading the word of God. Not casually reading but really spending time understanding what God was intending for his people. As it’s written in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” I hope what I learned can be applied in the daily walks of my life. Hopefully this verse may sum up some things

I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. John 17:13-19 [NIV]

Here are a few pics from the conference and we also happened to see a cotton field for the very first time. It was very cool.

P.S: For all my fellow photogs; all pics were from the x100 and processed via lightroom