My Heroes

Chris Williams taught me that God meant business when he decided to communicate to Human Beings through the Bible. That Christ was all consuming and not a Sunday morning game.  I may not be a very strong man, but a large part of the existing strength has been gained through his teaching. A lot of my theology comes from his teaching.  In a way, he attempted turning boys to men, we might not have, but thats our fault. I met my LORD through his teaching. I cannot stop loving him. 

Stephen Williams, taught me that a guy can be young, cool and in love with God. That Christianity trickled down to a daily living and was not a two faced thing. I learned to pray from him, to ask God for much better things... much richer things. 

Francis Chan taught me to be genuine. If I can believe God half as much as he does, I can't say I would be satisfied, but... I still want to be there. I love Francis Chan. 

C.S. Lewis: It is hard to do justice to what he has taught me because he has taught me a lot more than what I can tell you or put in words.  I have not read a lot of Lewis, but his direct and indirect influence is far beyond what I have read and heard about him. Some Men don't influence you in words but they involved in changing you. They make you like themselves so that the outflow of the result, whether direct or indirect is still an influence of them. That is what lewis does to me. Though there may be something I do, think or write tomorrow, that could qualify as original, there are good chances of it being an influence of Lewis. 

Some of the things that he taught me and come to mind are:

- People are souls not bodies or brains. 
- Sometimes, fiction is a better way of communicating truth. Infact sometimes truth is so overwhelming and out of this world, that the only thing that might do a decent job is fiction. 

Blaise Pascal: Unlike Lewis, what Pascal taught me could be summarized in his quote: 

"All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves." There might be very, very few things, outside the bible, that have changed me as much as this quote has. Pascal taught me to look at the world differently... more clearly. He channeled my love for Jesus. 

Matt Reagan: Matt tends to have a freeing effect on me. He fights, not only for me to think a certain way, but also to feel a certain way. To feel the truth. If I am a Christian Hedonist at all, it was Matt that made me one directly, and not Piper. 

John Piper: I am going to make a big statement here. What Piper calls 'Christian hedonism' is, in my opinion, the most mature way to live. John Piper is like my spiritual grandfather. He has been in dangerous areas of thought and brought out from the deep mysteries, cool and satisfying waters so that some of us can have them freely. Even before I was saved, he has thought and written things that amaze me today. 

Priyadarshan taught me that a man can be an athiest/agnostic and still genuinely love people, trees and nature, far more than me a believer, and be willing to give his life for them. I find that amazing. 

My Uncle taught me that it is possible to love your brother's children as much as yours. 

Dad showed me that it was possible to love your family more than yourself, and sacrifice all your life for it. 

While I say, 'they taught me', I can't completely say, 'I have learnt these things'. Some success I have had, but not even that would be possible if God were not pleased in working in those men and in me to produce the change. 

If you happen to read this, here is the intention: I love these men. Theoretically, if death was painless, I would rather God kill me now and distribute my remaining life to some of these. I am not much of a man, but understand that if it weren't for these men, I would be far worse. So don't forget to invest in the lives of people around you.