South Asian Connection - Portal for South Asian Christians - Articles - Relationship And Marriage

Mom, Dad, Let Me Find My Own Husband

no@spam.com (Sarita James) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:47:06 MDT

MY Suitable Boy was seven years older than I with a gentle Superman wave of hair at his forehead and broad shoulders that defied the reedy build of our South Indian heritage. The son of a family friend, he often visited us in our northeast Indiana town, a few miles east of the Dan Quayle museum. Affable with dinner guests and handy with sports scores, he was adored by my parents. And I realized quickly, despite my parents' denials, that they wanted me to marry him. . . . . "Suitable boy" is a term used by Indian families to describe a strong marriage candidate — someone who comes from the right religion, region, community and family background. Within my circle of American-born cousins, however, we used the term only to tease each other about our parents' marriage schemes.

Arranged Marriage, Love Marriage and Cross-Cultural Marriage

no@spam.com (R. Stanley) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:09:29 MDT

Arranged marriages, until recently, have been normative in Indian culture. But now the number of love marriages is on the increase. Arranged marriages are an inconceivable idea for the westerners. Eventhough the eastern culture is considered to be too conservative, divorce rate is much less and family ties much stronger here. . . . . Eventhough love marriages are becoming more and more common in India, a recent poll in some of the major cities reveals that nearly 80% of the young people prefer arranged marriages. This is encouraging. However no two young people are alike. Even within a family one child differs so much from the other.

David - A Man After God's Own Heart

no@spam.com (Molly Banerjei) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:03:41 MDT

We note that like David, we too can find a special place in God's Heart. David was not perfect. Like all of us he fell again and again. Yet every time he fell, his response was immediate repentance. This act restored his relationship with God. God knows our short-comings. That is why He sent His Son Jesus. He has paid the price for all of us for all times. Once born again all we have to do is to learn to enjoy the very real presence of God in prayer, in the Word and in fellowship. I am confident that since God is no respecter of persons, He will make us people after His own Heart too as we learn to spend time with Him

My Soul Longs For You! Nothin' Else Will Do . . . .

no@spam.com (Pastor Pritam Singh Sandhu) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:50:34 MDT

My Soul Longs For You! Nothin' else will do. . . . . Yes, True and Almighty Living God. My souls longs for you. . . . . . I have been listening to "My soul longs for you, Nothin' else will do . . .. .nothin' else will do" over and over again. At night, during the day, while online, while asleep. . . in fact all the time in different worship postures of kneeling, postrate on the floor face up to the sky and face down to the floor, standing, hands raised up etc. . . .in silent awe, with watery tears in my eyes, with deep Holy Spirit inspirations and an awesome presence of God. This song is incredibly annointed! Listen to it and you will know why? Isaiah 26:9 . . . .my soul longs for You . . . my spirit within me seeks You diligently.

I'm Christian Dating a Non-Christian Possibly Intending To Get Married. Need Advice

no@spam.com (Pastor Pritam Singh Sandhu) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:47:46 MDT

I am a Hindu and have received a proposal from a Christian girl who converted from Hinduism three years ago. Whilst my parents expect her to follow my religion after marriage; I am of the view that she can follow her religion but she has to partake in all my Hindu religious activities; and that we have to have a Hindu marriage. I also respect Christianity and she can go to church etc. with myself accompanying her whenever possible. She has come back to me saying that all the above will be a sin in Christianity and that she will be punished if she participates in my activities. I have been advised by my Hindu priest to participate in her activities where possible. I respect her choice of religion because for me there is only one god; it's just that we all have our own ways of faith.

Father's Love Letter - Unconditional Love From The Father Of Creation

no@spam.com (Pastor Pritam Singh Sandhu) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:35:03 MDT

Father's Love Letter is a compilation of bible verses from both the Old & New Testaments that are presented in the form of a love letter from God to the world. Each line in the Father's Love Letter message is paraphrased, which means we have taken each scripture's overall message and summarized it as a single phrase to best express it's meaning. The power of God's Word has the ability to change lives because it is God's Word. The Bible describes God's Word as living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) and promises not to return empty (Isaiah 55:11). Today we live in a fatherless generation where many people believe that God's angry and distant from His creation. The world is crying out to be unconditionally loved. The Church is crying out to be unconditionally loved. We all desperately need to hear the truth that God loves us and is the Father we have been looking for all our lives.

What Is Friendship?

no@spam.com (Jessica Masih) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:40:04 MDT

Dictionaries define ‘friendship’ as a friendly relation or intimacy. Is that all it is? No, it’s so much more then just that. Friendships are made and broken all the time. When they are broken it may be for good reasons or bad. I myself have lost a great deal of friends, and in finishing my 12th year I know I am bound to lose more. Everyone is going there own ways, doing their own things; they are all leaving high school behind them. So I am dedicating this article to the friends I’ve made, the friends I’ve lost, the friends I know I will always have, and the friends that I’ll make in my future.

Beware of Jealousy, Anger and Suspicion

no@spam.com (Zac Poonen) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:56:34 MST

There are many lessons that we can learn from Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-12). Cain was jealous and angry with Abel, because it had gone so well with Abel (for God had accepted him). How do you feel when you find it going very well with someone whom you are closely associated with? When you find a fellow-brother who is preaching victory over sin and you find that his life is consistent with his preaching - that there is no evidence of anxiety or anger or impatience in him, but on the contrary, a perpetual spirit of triumph and joy and peace; and in contrast your own life is miserable and gloomy and defeated (because you do not believe that a life of victory is possible) - Do you then find a root of envy creeping in and a desire to see him fall somewhere so that you can gloat over his failure and drag him down in the eyes of others? That was the same spirit that drove Cain.

Meeting God In The Monsoon

no@spam.com (Reuben David) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:08:31 MST

When were the last time you cried wanting God more? I mean not some long, fancy, flowery prayer but deep, passionate, heart rending cry for more of God? A child when lost cries out to her mother. For it knows nothing can substitute the feel of her mother’s lap, nothing can equal the comfort of being cradled by her mother. And so should we, like a child, cry out to God for that’s where our real comfort is. Without the touch and comfort of the presence of Jesus we are but cosmic orphans, waifs of the universe, left alone and abandoned. We all have gone through many religious experiences, done many things for God, been there in that mission field, explored those mission courses, taught Sunday schools, preached in churches, poured over Bible. And yet still the heart feels an inconsolable longing to enter into intimacy with God.

Unholy Matrimony - Dowry, An Evil Practice

no@spam.com (Stephen David) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:58:03 MST

Most of us pay lip service to condemn dowry as a contemporary social evil, however, this ancient Indian custom continues to destroy families in our present age as well. Before bringing up this issue to the whole world, I believe that this must first be addressed to the professed people of God who are called to be the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). It is for Christians to confront this issue and explore fully to know whether dowry is acceptable or despicable. Let us reason, examine and find out - Is demanding dowry a perverted practice? Do we have any biblical proofs in order to come to this conclusion? Is requiring dowry in marriage unbiblical, or to say further, an anti-biblical practice? This message might be offensive and discomforting to many money-loving readers. However, the fact remains – truth is bitter but makes our lives better. Therefore, I encourage you to read this message with an open mind and a humble attitude.