BASILICA OF BOM JESUS

                                                   BASILICA OF BOM JESUS
   

Location

   
One of the most popular churches in Goa is the Basilica of Bom Jesus truly deserves to be given the status of a World Heritage Site. It is located in Old Goa which was the capital city during the Portugal rule. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous for the preserved mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. He was the member of Society of Jesus and came to India to spread Christianity with the Portuguese. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is India's first minor cathedral and is supposed to be the best example of decorative architecture in India.

Significance of the Church

The name of the Church, Bom Jesus basically means "Good Jesus" and is used for Jesus when he was an infant. The Bom Jesus church was constructed around 1695 and it became an important milestone in the historical legacy of Christianity. St. Francis Xavier was a member of the Society of Jesus who preached the enlightening teachings of Christianity when he came to India along with the Portuguese. While on a voyage to China from India, he died on the ship on 2nd December, 1552.

St. Francis Xavier boarded the ship of Santiago from the port of Lisbon and reached Goa on May 06, 1541. Serving at the Holy Spirit Hospital in Goa for six months, he would go through the streets ringing a little bell and inviting the children to hear the word of God. When he had gathered a considerable number, he would take them to a church to explain Catechism to them. He then shifted his attentions to the pearl fisheries of the extreme southern coast of the peninsula devoting three years to preaching and converting many. In his endeavor, he reached the Island of Ceylon   

St. Xavier's quest took him to Malacca and then the Molucca Islands, Amboyna, Ternate, Baranura, and the island of Mindanao, Philippines. He met a Japanese man called Anger and baptized him in Goa. He arrived in Japan in 1549 and began preaching. After three years, he returned to Goa. Thereafter, St. Xavier left for China where he fell ill en- route. With his aggravated condition, he was offloaded at Sancian where a make shift hut had been built to shelter him. Here, he breathed his last.

It is said that the following year when the body of the saint was being transferred to Goa as per his wishes, the people were shocked to find his body fresh as ever. This was claimed to be a miracle and his body was preserved in an air tight coffin made of glass and placed inside a silver casket. Every year thousands of devotees visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus on 2nd December to see the mortal remains of the saint that is displayed publicly. Now, the practice has been stopped to prevent the body from deterioration.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus is one of the richest churches in Goa and also all over India and a renowned pilgrimage site of Christians. It is covered with marble flooring and inlaid with precious stones. Except for the elaborately gilded altars, the interior of the church is simple. The church houses paintings of St. Francis Xavier. In fact the Tomb of St. Francis Xavier (1696) was the gift of the last of the Medicis, Cosimo III, the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Carved by a 17th century Florentine sculptor, named Giovanni Batista Foggini, it took 10 years to complete. The casket containing his body is made of silver. The holy relics of the saint are displayed every 10 years on the anniversary of his death.
   
The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is held on the 3rd of December at Velha in Old Goa, which witnesses thousands of pilgrims and a special mass held here. The embalmed body of the saint, Francis Xavier, in honor of which the festival is held, is enshrined in a silver casket, in the Basilica of Bom Jesus built in 1605 by the Jesuits. It is exposed to public homage every 10 years and thousands of pilgrims come from all over the world to pay their tributes to the departed saint.

Architecture of the Church

A fine specimen of Jesuit architecture, the design of Basilica De Bom Jesus was inspired by the Church of St. Paul, which is now in ruins. Built of laterite, the church is cruciform on plan having a tiled roof. The exterior of the church, excepting the facade was lime plastered which was subsequently removed. The three-storeyed facade of Basilica De Bom Jesus, with delicately carved basalt embellishments is one of the richest in Goa.

The facade serves as a visual delight for your eyes and its Ionic, Doric and Corinthian columns depict the fine use of classical orders, in the Renaissance style. At the top of the facade you can see an intricately carved basalt medallion which depicts the emblem of the society of Jesus. As the facade follows the Baroque style, the layout of the basilica with its single rectangular nave follows the Renaissance style. In the ground floor of the basilica you will see three portals, on the first floor there are three corresponding long windows while on the second floors are three circular windows.

One of the most popular churches in Goa is the Basilica of Bom Jesus truly deserves to be given the status of a World Heritage Site. It is located in Old Goa which was the capital city during the Portugal rule. 

JONAH AND THE BIG FISH

Jonah and the Big Fish

God said to Jonah, "Go to Ninevah and tell the people there that I am not happy with them.  Tell them to change their ways."

Jonah heard God but he disobeyed God.
He was afraid to go to Ninevah.
Instead of doing as God had asked, Jonah chose to hide from God.

Jonah got on a big ship and sailed off.
The ship was going to a far away place.

In the middle of the ocean, there started a storm.
The waves were getting bigger and bigger.
The wind was blowing harder and harder.
The sailors were afraid and all of them began praying to God.

Jonah was in the bottom of the boat hiding from God.
The captain went to him and asked him to pray with the rest of the men.
Jonah told them the storm was his fault.
He told them that he hadn't done what God asked him to do.
He said to them, "Throw me in the sea.  The seas will be quiet and it will save you."

The men didn't want to throw Jonah in the sea.
Jonah insisted.
The storm was getting worse.
The waves were higher.
The wind blew fiercely.
Finally the men agreed and threw Jonah in the sea.

Suddenly the storm stopped.
Everything was quiet.
There were no waves,
no wind,
no storm.
The men were happy for this miracle and they thanked God.

God had a huge fish swallow Jonah to keep him from drowning.
Jonah stayed in the fish for three days and three nights.
He prayed to the Lord from inside the fish.
He asked God to forgive him.
He thanked God for His mercy
From the bottom of sea,
God heard every prayer.

God spoke to the huge fish and the fish put Jonah on the beach.
God reminded Jonah to go to Ninevah.
This time Jonah went.

He warned the people that God was not happy for the way they were acting.
God would destroy the city if they did not change.
"You have forty days and Ninevah will be destroyed if you don't change", he said.
He walked the streets for three days telling the people.

The people understood the message from God.
They changed their ways.
For this God was happy.
He didn't destroy their city.
Everyone was pleased except Jonah.

Jonah went out sulking.
He sat alone in the sun.
God made a beautiful plant that grew up so tall and provided shade for Jonah.
Then God made the plant wither away.
"Why did you do that?" Jonah asked.
"You felt pity for a plant but you had none for a city full of people?" God answered.  "That city was full of people that repented when they knew I was offended.  That made me very happy."
Jonah finally understood.
God is wise and merciful and forgiving.
 

Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran

 Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran

Childhood

Bro. Duraisamy Geoffery Samuel Dhinakaran was born on July 1, 1935, in a village called Surandai of Tirunelveli in South Tamil Nadu, India.  He was an obedient son his parents, and his parents were very fond of him, being their only child.

His father Duraisamy was a school teacher. He loved to wear white at all times. Bro.Dhinakaran fondly remembers those unforgettable days when he would be playing in the soil as his dad returns back from the school after a tiresome day of teaching. He recollects the love with which his father would hug him unmindful of the dirt all over his body and unmindful of his clothes getting spoilt.

His mother Hepsibah was a housewife. She used to take great care of him, though she was an epileptic patient. Bro.Dhinakaran often remembers the agony that she used to undergo as she would be tormented by the fits which left her only at her old age when the Lord graciously touched and healed her with His miraculous hand.


Salvation

In the year 1955, Bro. Dhinakaran's life was heading on to a point of no return. The pressures that were upon him at that point of time was too much for him to handle. He had to provide for a sick mother, find ways through closed doors for an employment opportunity and above all, his studies were heading nowhere. He took a look at his life and decided that these problems have no solution and that there would be no light at the end of the tunnel. Suicide seemed to be the only solution.

On February 11, 1955, after taking a long last loving glimpse of his beloved mother, knowing that he would see her no more, he walked towards the railway track so that the oncoming express train should take away his life and crush him beyond identification.

En-route to the track, he ran into his uncle, a Police Officer, through whom the Lord spoke in a way that would change his very outlook on life. He explained the immeasurable love and compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ, of His supreme sacrifice on the cross, and he pointed out to that the Lord Jesus was the only solution there ever was and is, to any problem that a man would be having or would ever have to face in future.

Bro. Dhinakaran asked him three simple questions:
"Can God heal my mother? Can He help me in my studies? Can he help me find a job?"
His uncle gave a "Yes" to all of these questions.
Then he sincerely asked him, "what should I do?"
All he said was to kneel and cry out to the Lord Jesus.

He returned home, and quickly entered his room, shut the door, dropped on to his knees and cried out to the Lord. The Lord, in His mercy, descended and revealed to him, as in a movie, the life that he had led for the past 20 years.

Tears welled up in his eyes and he began to cry uncontrollably. Then he begged the Lord for forgiveness and pleaded with Him for a cleansing. He asked Jesus to take charge of his life.

From that moment, his life spun around. Every night, Lord Jesus would come down and sit beside him and help him with his lessons; The Lord Himself would write his exams and gain him success. He granted an employment opportunity with the State Bank of India, India's largest banking network.

Thus, that one encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ had turned his life that was heading on to suicide towards a greatly successful one.


After his first encounter with Christ, he overcame all the failures in his life. He got a job in the State Bank of India and was appointed in Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu) and later transferred to various branches of the Bank in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Career

Ever since Bro. D.G.S. Dhinakaran surrendered his life to our gracious Lord Jesus on February 11, 1955, he begins each day reading several chapters from the Bible and meditating upon them. Whenever he reads the miracles recorded in the Bible, he prays that he should also be granted the divine power that was manifest in Jesus. He is encouraged in this by the following verse:

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38)

On October 9, 1962, he tarried at the feet of the Lord Jesus in prayer till midnight. He pleaded persistently: "Lord! Hear my prayer and now grant me Your power! Or else, slay me! I don't want to live as a powerless and phony Christian!".

Next day dawned. October 10, 1962!
After exacting work in the bank, he returned home at 9.30 in the night. After supper, he joined the family prayer. There arose in him the usual longing for the blessed vision of Jesus. The very next moment, a divine Presence descended on him! He was thrown into an ecstasy of joy. As he wondered from where this flood of joy was overflowing into him, the Lord opened his spiritual eyes. He saw a divine form standing before him with a radiant face, addressing him with a smile.

"My beloved son, I am Christ! Because you have been seeking Me diligently, I have come seeking you, to bless you."

That day, his seven years of longing was rewarded. He received the anointing of the Holy Spirit by which he set forth to fulfill the divine commission that he received from Christ.

Having received the fire in him, he passes on the fire to all those who wish to do the Lord's work by conducting the Institute of Power Ministry, which was instituted according to the Lord's will for this purpose.

Bro. Dhinakaran knows the importance of the anointing and is always filled with the Holy Spirit. That is the secret of the power in his ministry.

He passed C.A.I.I.B. exams adding a professional degree to his account. He became a great success in life as he climbed up the corporate ladder from an ordinary Junior Typist to the top-most ranking Officer in the whole Southern Division of the bank.


Having accomplished his ambition in his banking career, he resigned his job to concentrate full time in service to the people when the Lord told him to do that.

Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Passed Away

Well-known evangelist Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran passed away Wednesday 20th February 2008 at the age of 73. The long-time friend of The Christian Broadcasting Network and Dr. M.G. "Pat" Robertson is known for huge evangelistic crusades along with his Jesus Calls Ministry.

Dhinakaran, considered by many of his peers as the "apostle of this age to India", was known for holding powerful prayer rallies guided by the Holy Spirit, where he'd call out the names of people who were in the crowd, reveal their exact needs, and minister directly to them.

Dhinakaran was joined by Robertson at one rally not long after the beginning of the new millenium in Hyderabad, India, where they ministered to 500,000 people. He also worked closely with Robertson through the years in establishing CBN ministries in India.

The Indian evangelist's biography tells of a 20-year-old young man caught in poverty and unemployment at the point of taking his life. On his way to throw himself in front of a speeding train, he was stopped by his uncle who introduced him to Jesus Christ. He said an immediate peace overwhelmed him, and he went home with hope and a new purpose for his life.

The young Dhinakaran worked at a bank and ended up becoming a top executive for the company. Yet he had a heart for ministry that compelled him to start the Jesus Calls Ministry. Later, he had a vision of the Lord Jesus appearing to him, asking him to train lay people like himself to reach the people of his nation and other parts of Asia with the good news of the Gospel.

Later he started radio and television ministries across India. He also started other ministries related to Jesus Calls ministry, wrote books, and influenced many people in all walks of life for God.

GOOD SAMARITAN

 Good Samaritan

“There once was a man walking from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was alone and the road he followed was rocky, with many twists and turns. Suddenly, the robbers jumped out of nowhere. They attacked the man, beat him up and stole everything he had, even his clothes.

“The man lay bleeding to death on the side of the road and along came a priest. When he saw the man, he was so shocked, he stood and stared. The man could barely raise his head to beg for help but the priest only backed away. He tried not to look as he passed him as quickly as he could.

“The man lay in the dirt, moaning until a religious leader came along, one who preached the laws of Moses. He saw the man, all covered in blood and dirt and making funny noises in the ditch. He thought, ‘Oh, he looks terrible. I wouldn’t ever want to touch him. Besides, I’m sure he’s no one I know.’ And he passed him by as well.

“Then a Samaritan came walking along the road. The man who lay in the dirt was a Jew. Samaritans and Jews had been enemies for hundreds of years. Yet, the Samaritan came over to him. Very gently, he lifted the man’s head and brushed the dust out of his mouth. He took some water and cleaned the man’s eyes and gave him something to drink. He put wine on his wounds to clean them and make them heal quickly. Then, he carried the man and put him onto his donkey and brought him into town.

“There, the Samaritan gave some money to an innkeeper. He said. Put him in a clean bed and spend what ever you need to take good care of him until he is strong again.’ ”

“Now tell me,” Jesus added, “which of these three men was a true neighbor to the man who was robbed?”

The expert in Jewish law did not need to think very long. He said, “The one who helped him of course.”

Jesus then told him. “Then go and do just the same.”

Those who heard Jesus tell this story knew which people Jesus wanted His followers to love. The “others” were not just friends. Jesus wants His followers to love everybody, especially strangers and those in need.

Christianity: Bro.Bakht Singh

Christianity: Bro.Bakht Singh: Bakht Singh Chabra (1903-2000) is considered one of the most exceptional preacher, bible teacher and evangelist from India. He is also one ...

Bro.Bakht Singh

Bakht Singh Chabra (1903-2000) is considered one of the most exceptional preacher, bible teacher and evangelist from India. He is also one of the pioneers of Indigenous Church planting movement and contextualization of gospel of Jesus Christ to Indian culture.  Born in 1903 to a religious Sikh parents in Punjab (now a part of Pakistan), Bakht Singh became follower of Jesus Christ during his visit to England and Canada for higher studies. This life testimony offers glimpse into life of Bakht singh (known as Brother Bakht Singh).

His Childhood years

Brother Bakht Singh was educated in a Christian missionary school. But since then he had resentment towards Christians. He lived in a boarding home for 5 years. On one side of this boarding home, the Hindu students lived and on the other side the Muslims lived. He talked to everyone except Christians. Deep from within, he was very bitter towards Christianity and Christian people. He was very orthodox in his own religion and spent many hours in the Sikh temples observing all the religious rites. Sikhs are very well known for their social service to the people in society. So he also took an active part in such work but he could not find real joy in observing such rites or doing such service. When he passed his school he was given a leather bound Bible, which he tore into pieces. He kept the leather cover as it was beautiful.

A Strange Dream

During his school days, he used to have a dream. The Dream was that he was climbing a high and steep hill. With great difficulty and struggle he would reach the top but as soon as he reached there, somebody would come along and hurl him down. As he fell, the sharp points of the rocks would dig into his ribs. Thus he would be in great pain, so much so that he would cry out in his dream. But in the end he would find himself lying on a bed.
Life in England:

Bakht Singh testimony Bakht Singh A Life Testimony

After his college years he had an ambition to go to England to study. His father was a wealthy man and wanted him to join his business. He has six brothers but Bakth was the favorite of his mother. His mother said to him one day, “I will help you to go to England but promise me that you will not change your religion.” Bakth Singh was a proud Sikh man, and he promised his mother that he will never do that. His father too, agreed to send him with all the money he needed and he also promised to live economically. In September 1926, he reached England and joined Mechanical Engineering in the Engineering College of London.

Slowly he adapted into the Western world. He did not relish the food so much but he learnt to use the forks and spoons. He slowly also shaved his hair which a conservative Sikh would never do. He travelled all over Europe and England, visited museums, art galleries, worn expensive clothes; had eaten grand meals; had made friends with rich and poor, high and low; had taken part in social functions, indulged in amusements; had acquired as much education as he wanted; yet he was unhappy. He also tried smoking expensive cigars and alcohol just so that he could be just like his other English friends.

Then he thought perhaps it was not happy due to the fact that he was not fully civilized! So he asked his English friends, professor and fellow students. But none of them were really happy. He thought if India had the education and sanitation it would become like a heaven, but then he saw England which had all that but still there were greater evils  in the society, he did not understand. He concluded the world is filled with “vanity of vanities”.

A trip to Canada:

In 1928, a group of students were going to Canada and so he too decided to join them. On the 10th of August, he saw a notice showing that a church service would be held in the first-class dining saloon, at noon. He thought he should also go along with his friends but he was afraid, as he had never been to a church before. He thought to himself he has been to so many places, so a Church will do no harm to him. And so he tagged along. At the end of the service he saw people kneeling down and praying. He thought “These people do not know anything about religion. They have exploited my country and I have seen them eating and drinking. What do they know? After all my religion is the best religion.”

But he found one man kneeling on the right and another on the left and he thought it would not be right to disturb them. He began to say, “I have been to mosques and Hindu temples. I have taken off my shoes and washed my feet to show respect for those places. I must honor this place too out of courtesy.” So breaking his national pride, he knelt down.

This was the first time Bakht Singh was attending a Christian service. He had never read the Bible before nor had anyone spoken to me about salvation. When he knelt down he felt a great change coming over him. His whole body was trembling. He could feel divine power entering into him and lifting him up. The first change that he noticed was, that a great joy was flooding his soul. Then he realized that he was repeating the name of Jesus Christ. He began to say, “Oh, Lord Jesus, blessed be Thy name, blessed be Thy name.” The name Jesus became very sweet to him.

After this experience in Canada, Bakth Singh started going to churches on week days when they were empty and sat there. He felt the calmness, joy and peace in his heart. One year passed by, but he never told anyone about his  Christian experience, nor did he have the courage to do so, but the desire of smoking and drinking was all gone. In 1929, he came back to Canada to finish a course in Agricultural Engineering. There on 14th Dec. 1929, he asked a friend to give him a Bible. This friend was surprised but gave him a pocket New Testament (which Bakht singh kept with him for the rest of his life).

The next day when he was reading the Gospel of John, in chapter 3 the words “Verily Verily I say unto you” convicted him. He for the first time learned that he was the greatest sinner and his heart was filthy. He felt remorse for the blasphemous words he used for Jesus and Christians. Tears started to flow, As he was crying, the Voice said to him, “This is my body broken for you; this is my bloodshed for the remission of your sins.” He knew that the blood of Jesus only could wash away his sins But he did not know exactly how. There on that day, he accepted Jesus as his Savior and God, an unexplainable joy and peace came to his soul. He felt a real assurance that all his sins were washed away. He continued worship Jesus. In the next 2 days he received Bible (Old and New Testaments) as a Christmas gift. He engrossed himself reading this Book for hours, sometimes 14 hours in a stretch. He also read the New Testament many times.

On 4th February, 1932, Bakht Singh was baptized in Vancouver, Canada. After his baptism, he wrote a letter to his father about the conversion. It was a long letter with many Bible references. Just during that time his father had met a missionary who was talking to him about the Christ and the Bible. So the missionary gave an Urdu Bible to his father. He read the letter and the Bible references and was convinced that his son has a real conversion and that he too started believing in Jesus Christ.

Ministry in India

He returned back to Mumbai, India in 1933, where he was not well received by his family members. His parents would only accept him, if he could keep his ‘newly found faith’  a secret. Upon his denial, his family deserted him. Suddenly he bacame homeless, but the joy and love of Christ was too much to contain. He started preaching on the street of Mumbai. Soon, he started attracting thousands of people all around India. Large crowd gathered around wherever he went. His revival meetings were always followed with Signs, Wonders, Healings. He went on to plant many churches in all over India. Later on, his family also accepted him, many of whom also became followers of Jesus Christ.

Noah and the Ark

                                  Noah and the Ark




Soon there were many people on the earth.
They had forgotten all about God.
They were very bad.
All the people were bad except for Noah.

Noah pleased God.
Noah tied to live his life in God's way.
Noah taught his children to live according to God.
He taught them not to lie.
He taught them not to cheat.
He taught them not to steal.

One day God said to Noah, "A huge flood is coming. You must build a big boat, an ark, then bring two of every animal to the ark.  Your family and the animals will be safe from the flood"
God told Noah how big to make the ark and then Noah and his three sons began working on the ark.

Noah built it exactly as God told him.
It took many years to build the ark.
It was finally finished.

Noah put a ramp up to the opened doors
He could see that the animals were coming from all over to get on the ark.
The elephants stomped up the ramp.
The birds flew in the opened doors.
The cats quietly leapt.

Then the rains came.
Noah and his wife, their three children and their wives, got on the ark.
They were getting ready for the flood.
After the last of the animals had gotten on the ark, God closed the doors and they were safe and warm and dry from the flood.



Then after the forty days, it stopped raining.
Water covered the earth for 150 days.
God didn't forget about Noah.
He sent a warm wind to blow and the water began disappearing.

The ark settled on top of the mountains of Ararat.
Three months later, other mountain tops appeared as the water continued going down.

Forty days later, Noah sent a dove to find dry land.
The bird came back.
There was no dry ground yet.

A week later, he sent the dove again.
This time the dove returned with an olive branch.
Noah knew there was some dry land out there.

Another week went by and he released another dove.
This time the dove didn't return.

Noah knew it wouldn't be long, now.
Twenty-nine days later, Noah opened the door and the water was gone.
Eight weeks later the earth was dry.
God told Noah to let the animals go and wander over the earth.

When Noah came out of the ark, one of the first things he did was build an altar on the mountain side.
He gave an offering to God.

When Noah looked up he saw a beautiful sight.
God had placed a rainbow of beautiful colors in the sky.

"I will never again send flood waters to cover the earth," God promised. "Whenever you look up and see a rainbow in the sky it will remind you of my promise."
                                    

David and Goliath

                                                             David and Goliath


David was a boy.

He lived in Bethlehem.

He was the youngest and the smallest of eight brothers.

David would tend his fathers sheep.

He would soothe them by making beautiful music on his lyre.

All the people of Bethlehem loved to him play.

One day a man came to David.

He said, " King Saul sent me.  He is very sad and asks if you will play your sweet music for him."

"Of course, I will come", replied David.

David left that same day and rode a donkey to the king's house.

He played and sang his songs for the king.

Soon, King Saul was happy again and asked David to remain with him and cheer him with his wonderful music.

David agreed and stayed with the king for many months.

Soon King Saul got word that an army was marching toward Israel.

He had to leave and lead his soldiers in battle.

He sent David home.

One day, David went to find his brothers.

When he got there, he saw two armies standing across a field from each other.

In the middle of the field some men were talking to a huge man.

He was the biggest man David had ever seen.

He was a giant.

The giant roared, "Send out your best warrior and I, Goliath, will defeat him!"

David ran to the king and told him what he had seen and heard.

He said that he would fight the giant

The king said, "No one will fight Goliath.  You are just a boy.  You haven't a chance against the giant."

"When I was tending my sheep", ' David said, "the lions would come.  God would protect me from them. He will protect me from this giant, too."

The king finally agreed to let David fight Goliath.

David left to meet Goliath.

On his way, he stopped to pick up some stones for his sling.

Goliath was still standing in the middle of the field.

He was dressed in his finest armor and ready for battle.

David was dressed in his simple clothes.

Goliath was ready to fight David.

David took out a stone and placed it in the sling.

He spun the sling round and round.

With all his might, he sent the stone sailing.

The stone hit Goliath.

The giant came crashing to the ground.

David knew that God had helped him.

He thanked God.