Ka Editorial team 2022-2024
Editor: Sandra Ramsdam
Associate Editor: Allan W. Kharkongor
Dkhot: Banlum A.Khongsdam
Sairos Jyrwa
EDITORIAL
Ka theme jong ka Youth Sunday mynta u snem 2023 jong ka Jingiaseng Samla KJP Assembly ka long “Ki Samla kiba Kyrmen Ha U Trai” ( Jer.29;11). Kane ka theme ka long kaba dei por, kum ha kine ki sngi ba bun sa tang ka jingduh jingkyrmen, khamtam ia ki khun samla kiba don ha ka jingphet bad jingiatyllun ha ka jylli jong ki jingpule, ne ha ki kam ki jam. Pynban, ngi lah ban ong ba ha man la ki ia jong ka histori u briew, ki don beit ka jingduh jingkyrmen, namar ka jingim u briew hi ha sla pyrthei, ka don beit ia ki jingeh kat shaba u phai. Wat ha kita kiba ngi khot ki sotti juk ne ki juk ksiar, ki don la ki jong ki jingeh. U briew u sah hi u briew, bad da lade hi un ym lah ban thaw pyrthei, wat la u pyrshang ban ai ia ka jingbha bad ka jingkyrmen. Dei tang haba u briew u phai sha U Blei, ba ka don ka jingkyrmen hangta. Kaei kaba u Blei U kular ka long ba uta uba kyrmen ha U Trai un shem ia U , bad haba u khot kyrpad ia U, U Trai un shahshkor ia u, bad Un pyllait ia u na ka jinglongmraw. Ka jinglongmraw hangne ka thew ia ki jingteh jingkhum kiba bun syrtap. kiba ngi ki briew ngi shah synshar katba ngi dang don ha kane ka doh, “hynrei kita kiba ap khmih ia U Trai kin pynthymmai bor…” ( Isa.40:31). Kine ki long ki dkhot kiba ai ia ka jingkyrmen kaba ka pyrthei kan ym lah ban ai, hynrei tang U Blei U Kpa na bymjukut. To ai ba ngin iai kyrmen ha U Trai Jisu, U Nongpynim jong ngi ba ngin nang jop ha ki jingialeh jongngi baroh.
U Blei Un kyrkhu!
Sandra Ramsdam
Editor
Chronicle, SCYO&C.
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BISHAR
Miss Iaishah S.L Kharbani
Jingiaseng Samla Balang Presbyterian Mawiong
“Pyrkhat shwa ban kren,
Bishar shwa ban jam”
‘Bishar’ ka mut kaei kaei kaba ngi pyrkhat, peit, wad bniah lane thew, woh, nujor ia kaei kaei lehse ioh don kano kano kaba wit ne sniew (briew) hadien habud lane hashwa ban pyndonkam ia ka (tiar). Ka kyntien Bishar ka mut ba kdew ne wad bniah ia ka jinglong jingman jong kano ka bynta. Ngi lah ban bishar ia ka jinglong (kaba kynthup ia kiei kiei baroh ) tang hadien ba ngi la don jingtip lypa shaphang jong ka.Ban kham shemphang shuh shuh ia katei ka kyntien la phiah ia ka ha ki ar bynta, kata:
1. Bishar da u briew
Naduh dang pun ha kpoh ka kmie la nang bishar ia ngi iwei pa iwei ha kiba bun bynta.Ha pyrthei don bun ki nongbishar, hynrei don tang uwei ba la shah pynkupbor, kata u Nongbishar (Judge). U nongbishar u bishar ia ki briew katkum ki ain ka pyrthei . Ha ki por mynshwa don tang uwei u nongbishar ia ki hajar ki raiot jong u; uta dei u Syiem. Ka kam u nongbishar kam kut tang ha ka jingbishar hynrei ka don ruh ka bor ba ia ryngkat bad u syiem.(Salm 2:10). Baroh ngi bishar hi iala ka kam ka jam lane kiei kiei kumba u Blei Ula ai ka hok longrynnieng ha ngi. U briew u bishar tang ia kiei kiei kiba paw shabar.
Ha ka Testament Bathymmai ngi ju shem bunsien ba la kren shaphang kane . Hooid, ka long kaba dei ban bishar ia kano kaba bha bad kano kaba sniew. U Khristan u bishar ia kiei kiei baroh da ka ain U Khrist (Phil.1:10; 1Kor 2:15). Ban bishar ia kiwei kam long satia kaba suk bad kaba bha namar kam dei ia u briew ban bishar parabriew . Ka ktien U Blei ruh ka kren shai ,”Wat bishar”(Math. 7.1).U Paul ruh ha ka shithi sha ki nong Rom14:10 u ong “Balei me bishar ia la u parabangeit”. Hynrei mynta ka la pher bak- ly- bak ba wat mangi ki khun khristan ngi im sngi ban bishar parabriew. Ha ka jaka ba ngin ai mynsiem ne hikai ban leh bha pynban ngi bein kylla ia ki.
Kawei ka jinglong ba ngi ki briew ngi don ha kum kine ki sngi kiba mynta bad kaba bakla shibun ka long ba ngim bishar shuh ialade hynrei ngi kloi ban bishar ia kiwei . Kata ngi bishar tang ia kiei kiei ba paw shabar (Ioan. 7: 24) khlem da pynshong nongrim lane tip ia ka tynrai. Hynrei, kawei kaba ngi bakla Shibun ha kine ki sngi ka long ba ngim bishar shuh ia ki kam lade khamtam ha kaba ia dei bad ka jingngeit jong ngi. Lada ngi iohsngew ne ioh jinghikai shaphang kaei kaei bunsien ngi klet ban da bishar bha ne pynshong nongrim na ka Ktien U Blei. Ngi shu ngeit bad pdiang kat kaba ki ong ne pynsngew ha ngi bad ong “Oh! Ka dei shisha.”Hynrei ngi klet pat ban phai sha ka ktien U Blei ban wad bniah ia ka jingshisha kaba long katkum ka Ktien jong U. Dei kane kaba pynlong ia ki khun Khristan ban shah ialam bakla ne pynthame ha kiba bun kiei kiei jong ka pyrthei. Kawei na ki dawba pynlong ia ngi kumta ka long ba ngim ju pule ia ka Ktien U Blei (Salm 105:119).
2.Bishar da U Blei :
Kum ki khun Khristan ngi tip shai ba shisien ka sngi ngin sa shah bishar ha U Blei. Kane ka long ka jingbishar ba khadduh bad kaba eh shibun ia ki briew shi tyllup ka pyrthei ki bym im katkum ka mon U Blei(Ka bainong ka pop ka long ka jingiap). Ka Ktien U Blei ka kren shai ruh “Lada phi ieid ianga to sumar ia ki hukum jong nga” (Ioannis 14:15). U Nongbishar ha kata ka por U dei U Blei (Heb 12:23)da U Jisu Khrist bad ki angel (Rom.2:16; Math. 13:24)Ha kane ka jingbishar ka nongrim jong ka ,ka long halor ka jingngeit kaba paw bad kaba rieh ha U Jisu Khrist kum U Nongpynim ka pyrthei (Hebru 11:6). Ma U hi u kren da ka jingshlur haba u ong,”uta uba kynja mynsiem u bishar ia kiei kiei baroh hynrei ia u hi ym don ba bishar”.
Ha kiei kiei baroh to ngin long kiba bishar bniah bha ialade. Ngin ym peit ia u thngiat kiwei lane ngim dei ban bishar ia kiwei hynrei ngin bishar shwa ialade (Math. 7:3-5;Rom. 2:1). Ngi dei ban sumar kaba kren pyrshah ia la u parabangeit ioh ngi paw kum kiba bishar ia ka hukum. Hooid, ym shym la khang ia ka jingbishar hynrei la khang ia ka jingbishar bym hok (Math7:1). Kaba mut ngim dei ban bishar ia kiwei khlem da bishar shwa ialade. Ha kiei kiei baroh ba ngi dei ban bishar da ka jingieit bad ka hok.
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Handling Defeat and Failure: Christian Response
Sandra Ramsdam
Phudmuri Presbyterian Church
KJP SYNOD SEPNGI
In a generation of tremendous expansion in the field of technological advancement, it is also surprising to note that there are still so many youths who are out of jobs. According to CMIE data, the recent rate of unemployment in India is 7.8%. In the North Eastern region, the rate is 5.73%. There seems to be no ending to the woes of our young people today, be it in unemployment, substance abuse, drug addiction, suicidal tendencies, failed relationships, trauma, and the list just goes on. One wonders why at such a time when opportunities seem to open its gates for everyone, yet failures and defeat stare on the face. It is a fact that with more opportunities come bigger challenges. With better opportunities there may be more disappointments ,more schedules, more effort and more competition. The most enviable jobs come with a bigger price of losing leisure time, family and even health and other issues and sometimes the climb up the ladder can be very shaky .With greater expectations, sometimes we feel unable to meet them, and this adds up to feelings of failures and defeat. ‘Everybody fails‘ is a curt response by those who have not actually been there. But how do we, as Christians, respond to our own failures and others’?
The Bible is full of examples of failed individuals, be it Moses, David, Jonah, Paul etc. They all flunk many times of their lives, but by God’s grace, they have all looked failure in the face and turned to their Maker, the all powerful life-changer. Some may say that that sounds so easy. How do we practically handle a failure in our project work? Or, a failed interview, a lost opportunity, a failed marriage, or an incurable illness? What are the solutions to our failures, defeat or loss ? Failures are pillars of success, so goes the saying. Hence pillars need to be built so they can support the whole system. What are the pillars we need to build in order to overcome defeat?
1.Own up defeat. Well, the problem with the first humans was that they never owned up that they failed. They started blaming each other. Many a time, we try to put the blame on others. Studies show that women mostly blame themselves for failures, while men would blame on other factors, like a failed sound system, bad management, peer pressure, overwork and so on. Telling ourselves that, yes, we have failed, would enable us to see our weakness and work on it. Psychologist Saul Rosenzweig in the 1930s, classified three different types of people based on a test that he had developed to assess anger and frustration. Some people are extra punitive—prone to unfairly blaming others. Some are impunitive: They either deny that failure has occurred or deny their own role in it. And some are intropunitive, often judging themselves too harshly and imagining failures where none exist. In times of failure, we can identify ourselves with these types, and work our way through.
2. Embrace new strategies . There are many ways to help us bounce back from our defeat or failure. The following strategies could be of help:
- The first is to listen and communicate. Many a time we do not listen. Most failures happen because one has not listened carefully to instructions, or to a voiced problem, or to an inevitable break up. It is when problems surface that we realise we have failed in listening. So, start listening and engage in interactive communication. In Church situation, this should be practised. Leaders of the Church should encourage members to speak out their problems, and being open to receiving feedback. It applies to personal relationships as well as in work spaces.
- The second is to reflect on both the situation and the people. At the end of each project or performance cycle, we must think about things that might have pushed us or others into extra-punitive, im-punitive, or intro punitive reactions. How did we respond? How did our colleagues? Was everyone on the same page? If not, why? What effect did situational and interpersonal factors have on the outcome? As Christians, we are expected to be reasonably responsible for our failures, taking into account all the factors that may have led to the subsequent situation so as to make things work out for the better.
- The third strategy is to think before we act. When failures happen, responding immediately or impulsively may worsen things. It’s not always possible to right the wrong, but it’s almost always possible to make things worse by overreacting in a highly charged situation. Most failures in Church circles have been the result of hasty decisions, though with all good intentions. We learn about divisions amongst Christians and we wonder how these happen when we believe in the same Savior? Thoughtless words, mindless policies or radical changes have been some of the major reasons behind irreconcilable differences. Thinking before acting, or even speaking, gives us time to reflect, pray and act. Let us also be mindful of our tongue, as the Word says, lest we ‘poison‘ ourselves and others (James 3:8).
- The fourth strategy is to search for a lesson. Mistakes happen. Sometimes a colleague or group of colleagues is at fault. Sometimes the responsibility lies with us. Sometimes no one is to blame. It is Biblical command that we search for the truth, as the Apostle James reminds us that , “if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins“( Jas 5:19)
3.Face the Fears of Failure
If we’ve spent most of our life avoiding failure, it can feel really scary when it finally happens. Facing our fears, however, can be the key to reducing the discomfort. The Apostle Paul had learned his greatest lesson on failure, which he referred to as a thorn in the flesh; facing his defeat , he proclaimed “For when I am weak, then I am strong”
( 2 Cor.12;10)
Most of us perhaps have never stepped out of our comfort zone. Learn to step out of it. Young people have increasingly avoided Church because they do not want to shoulder any responsibility. This is a bad trend which should be sorted out. We could do things that might get us rejected or try new things where we could fail. Over time, we’ll learn that failure isn’t as bad as we might imagine. It will help us learn to face our fear of failure in a way that can be productive and help us reach our goals. One of the greatest examples of facing defeat is the case of Samson. When the strongest man was captured and rendered helpless and useless, he cried one last time to God, and the Bible tells us that in death, he killed more enemies than he did during his lifetime (Judg.16:30)
We should not feel threatened by failure. We should remind ourselves that we are not alone in failures. One of the most successful persons in the world, Bill Gates, was rejected many times before he successfully created his first Microsoft product. The corporate world abounds with many failure to success stories. How much more should soldiers of Christ overcome defeat! True Christians should echo Peter who said that wemust rejoice when faced with trials( I Pet.4:14) It is only in knowing Jesus personally that would give us that bold faith, because our Lord has pronounced that He has overcome the world; so what shall we fear? One thing that we as followers and believers of Christ should remember is that no matter what failure we encounter, we must never disgrace our Lord and His Church; as Paul writes to his Roman brethren, “Who (or what) shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress or persecution,or nakedness,or peril, or sword?” (Rom 8:35) Of course , Paul referred to the persecution that believers would face in the spiritual warfare, but it applies all the same to us now, living under the stress of this high tech generation, that whatever failures or defeat cross our way, we are bound to glorify our God.
References:
New King James Bible
New Testament, Gideon’s International
www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/6-stories-of-super-successes-who-overcame-failure/240492
www.executive-power.com/learning-from-mistakes/
https://sites.rhodes.edu/academic-and-learning-resources/news/how-turn-failure-successhttps://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/wisdom-why-failing-is-good
N.B. The above article was published by the PYF, PCI in its magazine ‘Youth and Witness’ (2022)
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Sailing Home
Kong Rikyntilang Kharkongor
Balang Presbyterian Lumparing
As we walk through difficult, dreadful terrain,
As we sail through winds in the deep blue sea,
The devil against mankind’s brain
Hit him back and forth in the war of sea.
While we sail and sail as fast as we can,
While we dream of Peace! Yet war awaits.
There’s no way! My friend to be triumphant!
Still we’ll sail in Hope, Love and Faith.
A “not yet part” has taken over,
An “already part” is losing its place.
Our Faith gets grim no good or better,
We stared at each other with a gloomy face.
Big storms and high waves of Covid-19,
Kept the boat in the threat of sinking.
Health, poverty, death hit like a strong wind,
We’ve caught each day in moments of wondering.
We are braver than we think, stronger than we seem,
Success on our way when together we stand.
We’ll soon reach our land of our beautiful dreams,
Alone we’d do nothing but together we can.
Praise God for the trials sent as Cords of Love,
Binding us more closely to the things above.
Let’s keep sailing with Faith that nothing can dim,
To the land where loved ones gather in Him.
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POR SAMLA
Mr. S. L Decruse
Jingiaseng Samla Balang Presbyterian Mawiong
Don bun kyrdan ha ka jingim u briew,
Ba u Blei u la buh;
Ki iapher kawei na kawei;
Baroh kim long kumjuh.
Ka por khyllung, ka por khynnah,
Ba dap jingkmen suda;
Ynda kynjoh jinglong samla,
Ka pyndap jing lynga.
Por Samla! Por Samla! Ki ong,
Baroh ki sngew muja;
Hynrei phi tang bakla ban jied,
Junom phin sa babe kylla!
Shisha ka dei ka por ba kmen,
Ia uwei-pa uwei;
Ka dei ruh ka por ka ban rai,
Naka bynta ka lawei.
Shuwa jinglong Samla ban kut,
Dei nangne ban saiṅ dur;
Ban ioh iaka lawei ba phyrnai;
Ngim dei ban rai thurmur.
Ban shim iaka rai kaba kut,
Ha baroh kiei-kiei;
Kynmaw shuwa sh’U Blei ban phai;
Jingsuk kan shlei kyrhai.
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