2007 NavJeevan Missions Team
- October 31, 2007 -
For the past few years, our youth fellowship has been blessed to be able to send various teams to the India to serve at the NavJeevan Centre and the in the Red Light District. NavJeevan is basically a rehabilitation organization for children of the women who work in the Red Light District in Mumbai.
In light of the recent events in our community over the past few months, God has provided an opportunity for us to still be able to send a team this year. Minnie Thomas had been going since we started sending teams and Bobby Thomas has been serving there for the past 6 years as well. This will be Nisha Mathai’s first time going. Minnie and Nisha are leaving this Friday, while Bobby will leave on November 7th, and they will be serving out there for a month.
Whenever you remember, lift up a prayer for these guys. Here are a few requests that they have:
- Pray for their health (physical, emotional, spiritual), that God would protect them from sickness and any sort of illness.
- Pray for their safety as they travel around India and through the Red Light District.
- Pray that they will use every opportunity as a chance to minister to the people they interact with.
- Pray that they will grow together through this mission trip, and be united in spirit and truth.
- Pray for words and wisdom as they explain the situation of Binil Samuel (testimony) to the kids there.
- Pray that they will be a light and voice of truth and love to the children at NavJeevan.
- Pray that God will expand their vision of His Kingdom, and equip and empower them for great works, both overseas and when they return.
Whenever you guys remember, lift up a prayer…
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
_Romans10:14-15_
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[10.29.07] Monday Night Recap
- October 29, 2007 -
It’s that time again: the weekend update.
- [Bears] I mean, seriously? I’m speechless. I’m waiting for the chants to start coming to pull Griese and put in Orten. Let it be know, since the pre-season I’ve been wanting Ryan Leak. (Bears fan knew Griese was not better than Grossman. But, instead of waiting for something better, we simple ask for something different. Quite an analogy of a man’s heart…)
- [World Series] In case you didn’t know, it’s over. Congrats Boston. I don’t think anyone cared.
- [Dating Seminar] If you leave yourself open to be taught, you will learn. I went to the seminar with a willingness to listen, and learned so much about counseling and psychology…I’m glad I went.
- [TEDTalks] In an effort to increase my knowledge, I’ve been watching the TEDTalks podcasts, where some of the greatest thinkers in the world come together to share ideas and new innovations relating to technology, entertainment, and design. Amazing stuff, I just sit in awe with the knowledge in the world around us.
- [Project 1hundred] In order to keep my creative eye open, I’m going to be giving myself some projects to work on. The idea will be take 100 pictures of the same type of object (but all different objects, and probably different types of processing). And because of the season, the first project will be “1hundred trees“. (Yes, I changed it…I’ve been seeing a lot more amazing looking trees than leaves) We’ll see how this plays out.
I didn’t pull the camera out too much this week, but I’m realizing more and more how beautiful fall is. It’s just so colorful (and I’m just talking about the sky). Now, for your viewing pleasure:
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MTC Winter Regional Conference
- October 29, 2007 -
I just wanted to get an announcement out for the 2007 Winter Regional Conference. I’ve had gone to this conference since I was 13, then stopped while I was at U of I, and am starting up again for my second straight year. We’re really excited because we’ve got 3 amazing speakers coming this year- Pastor Peter Kim from Cityview Presbyterian Church in Chicago, Pastor Dwight Yoo from Renewal Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, and Reverend Ninu Chandy, who is the Youth Chaplain of the Mar Thoma Church from the Dallas area.
The conference is in Hillsdale, MI from December 27-30th, and is an amazing time to retreat and get re-connected and re-focused before starting out the new year. I encourage you guys to really consider it if you aren’t set for any other conference this winter time. For more information and to download the registration form, go to the regionals website.
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Nationally Recognized
- October 27, 2007 -
So I’ve been working with Google Analytics to see how it works for web stats and such, and one of the reports that has been really interesting to me is the map. Basically it looks at the geographical location of where people are viewing your site from, and totals it up. I just started trying it out a little over a week ago, and I noticed I’m pretty much recognized from coast to coast! Obviously, Illinois has provided the most views, but it seems I’ve got people checking me out from Nevada, Oklahoma, Georgia, Virginia and Minnesota too! It’d be so fun to have this entire map green, so if you got friends in other states, send them over.
I’m still wondering how realistic this is, as it also showed that I had 2 people view it from Canada, and 1 from Jamaica (if you’re the one from Jamaica, holler at me so I know!). But yeah, still some fun stuff to see. I’m nowhere near using this thing to it’s full ability, but I love things like this.
I’m still wondering how realistic this is, as it also showed that I had 2 people view it from Canada, and 1 from Jamaica (if you’re the one from Jamaica, holler at me so I know!). But yeah, still some fun stuff to see. I’m nowhere near using this thing to it’s full ability, but I love things like this.
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Say Uncle!
- October 25, 2007 -
So a short while ago, I came home from work and my sister, brother-in-law and niece were at the house, which is always fun. I put my stuff down and started playing with Alexis for a bit, and then her dad walked by and called her over. He whispered something in her ear, and then she came over to me a said “Eat my Shirts!”…or at least that what it sounded like. In reality, she was saying “read my shirt!” (which, if you look closely at, reads “big sister”).
And this was the way they told our family that they were having another baby! They are very creative with these things. For Alexis, they ordered Chinese food, and my sister made fortune cookies, with each fortune somehow relating to them having a baby. So it looks like I’m going to be an uncle…again. And this time, I’ll actually be around for the kids first year of life. Plus, babies/children are so photogenic. I call that an added bonus. Good times…good times, indeed.
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[10.22.07] Monday Night Recap
- October 22, 2007 -
In an effort to blog more regularly, I’m going to try to instill the “Monday Night Recap” – mainly a collection of randomness that normally will encompass my weekend activities/encounters, and possibly other thoughts that come up. Hope you enjoy (…let me know if you don’t…I won’t stop, but it’s nice to get feedback :) ). Here we go…
- [UIUC] This weekend I was able to make another visit to the greatness that is the University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign. Just like home…no matter how much things change, things just don’t seem to change. Good times.
- [REVIVAL] This would be Revival #6 for me, and yet another blessing. Initially I had hopes of grabbing some amazing shots, but I decided to just sit back and just absorb. I think CFC is the reason I’m a Canon shooter- you don’t recognize it initially, but throughout any event you’re bound to see at least 6 different people wandering around with the white L lens (I have lens envy, yes). I did grab a couple shots from my spot in the balcony though (with all the Indians, as usual). [side note: it truly is a family at CFC. It doesn't matter if you've been gone for a month, a year, or 10 years: they remember you, they are praying for you, and they welcome you.] As some subpoints, here’s a glimpse at the blessings/convictions/thoughts/etc.:
- God places you under authority to teach you to lead from your current position
- decision declaration is different than decision fulfillment
- an ungrateful heart will never see God
- sometimes all our human glory needs to be taken away from us, in order for us to know/see that His glory is all that really matters
- the Bible is not about Moses, Joseph, David, Daniel, Ruth, Paul, etc. (simple concept, yet strikingly eye-opening)
- God’s promises are based on the integrity of God; it has nothing to do with you
- trying to fulfill the law is legalistic; not fulfilling the law is rebellion; recognize that you have no control and you are utterly helpless – then let the Spirit fulfill the laws from within you (still digesting this one)
- [ICF] I still feel so old. Luckily, there weren’t as many freshmen/new faces, and I was accompanied with a couple alumn that came down.
- [Second Shooter] OK, so it wasn’t an event, nor did I hire him. But I do like the concept of having someone else get the shots you missed (or don’t feel like taking- I’ve got to enjoy posed pictures more). Oh, and this in a way signifies an acceptance of Nikon gear (not for me, but allowing others to shoot with it).
- [Bears] The first time I missed a game all year, and Griese throws for 300+ (and only 1 TD). Happy for a win, even happier that Robbie Gould was on his game (nice getting 10+ points from your kicker in fantasy; sad when that’s 20% of your total points for the week).
OK, well hopefully that was as exciting for you as it was for me. Now on to the pictures and a different style of processing for this batch (and congrats, not just the top 10, you get all 21!).
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natemathai | filed under: Modern Events, Personal, [MNR]Manoj & Sibi’s Wedding
- October 17, 2007 -
The past weekend, it continued: yet another set of friends getting married. My goodness, I knew this was the age group and all, but seriously? Pure madness.
Well, I grew up with Sibi, went to High School with her for a year (since she’s a few years older than me), then followed her footsteps all the way to U of I. Surprising how similar our paths were, now that I think about it. There was always something intimidating about her while I was growing up, but over the years I got to know her a lot better and got to experience that many fun and great aspects of her character.
Manoj (Unni) is another one that I’ve known for awhile, attending many church conferences together, even though he’s from Detroit. Again, from afar people might be a bit intimidated by his looks, but once you get past his “rough exterior”, he’s quite the fun-loving guy.
As always, it’s such a joy to see two friends get married, although it’s a bit sad because he’s taking her back to Detroit with him. We’ll definitely see you guys time and time again, as Detroit’s only a few hours away, so don’t worry.
Alright, I know you guys much rather would look at pictures than read my words, so here are a few for your viewing pleasure (I’m thinking of leaving picasa for flickr…you can view the slideshow here , or search for nmathaiphotography, to find it):
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I’m Touch-ed
- October 16, 2007 -
I was part of the handful of people who delayed getting an iPod because I couldn’t justify the cost. 6 years later, I started to attempt the justification, but still couldn’t bring myself to it. Then came the iPhone, and I definitely couldn’t justify switching over from T-Mobile (the cost of canceling the contract, the bandwith charges, and the cost of the new service/phone). So I continued to be years behind everyone else with these technological gadgets, yet at the same time know so much more about these toys than those who were ahead of me (it’s a sad situation to be in).
Then came the iPod Touch, and I chose to wait no more. I didn’t go crazy, as I only bought the 8GB, but that should do me just fine for now. The music/podcasts are my primary use for this, but once they start allowing us to add events to the calendar (supposedly a bug with the iTouch that should be updated probably when Leopard comes out), this will be a great PDA. In due time, I’ll be scheduling you into my plans using this! (And in a longer due time, it’ll probably be in my iPhone…).
…I wonder if I can write this off as a business expense…hmmmmm…
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Alan & Jane
- October 7, 2007 -
Another day, another couple getting married. Being a part of pretty large church with tons of people in the 20-something age group, recent years have shown quite a few marriages. This past summer there were a handful of weddings and engagements going through, and already I think there are 11 weddings scheduled for the 2008 summer (…if only I was hired for all of them =) ). I guess it’s fun to have friends getting married and moving on into that new stage of life.
It’s also interesting when you’ve grown up with both the would-be bride and the would-be groom (which is starting to happen more often as well). Two close friends are mine are going to be tying the knot next year, and have having an engagement ceremony in November. What makes it all better is they asked me to be the photographer at the engagement! It’s already a blast to have my two friends getting married, and they just increased my joy by asking me to document it for them. I’m so excited and happy for the two of them (…as well as the 500 others getting together within the next 2 years).
Here’s a picture of the couple I took recently…again, working with the novelty of textures (I think I’m going to go a bit out of control with textures…I learn something new and then go crazy…sorry):
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Alyssa’s First Birthday
- October 4, 2007 -
You might remember that a short while back I shot Alyssa’s baptism. And in that short span of time, my has she grown so much! It’s amazing to see how quickly children change and grow during those years. She was up and running around the whole place during her first birthday party.
Seeing as how it was scheduled at the same time of the Bears game, I obviously arrived late. I was able to see family again, as well as witness a rousing pinata match. I don’t remember getting a pinata for my first birthday…my how things change.
Luckily I wasn’t hired as a photog for this, as I obviously wasn’t available. I was able, however, to catch just enough shots of the celebration to whet my appetite.
I guess I’ll post a shot to whet yours as well. I’m starting to dive into some ‘fine art textures’…definitely not as a standard style for me, but it’s something that always has caught my attention. It’ll take some practice to make some quality prints like some of the others, but here’s one that I put together. What do you think?
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natemathai | filed under: Modern Events
