
The Red Door
By Jos Tharakan

The Red DoorDec 24, 2020

Millions of Miles Apart but Close in Christ!
We are waiting for the savior. We can align ourselves close to Christ and change the world around us. Listen for more!

Healing The Divide!
We are in a mess. We must heal our country. I think some of that is the great work that is before us as a country, and certainly before the church and people of faith. How can we be healed? Listen for more.

Grace and Peace Within
We are in Advent. This is the season of grace and a season of peace. How do we find these two in the midst of everything that is going on in and around us? Let us visit more about this in this episode lead by Dr. Kathleen Jackson.

An inside job!
What is an inside job and who is responsible for it? Listen to what Jesus says about change and how we can do it well.

Poverty and Suffering
Is poverty and suffering in this world because of what we do to ourselves or to our neighbors or does it exist without us doing anything about it? What is our role in creating or eradicating poverty? Let us visit more on this topic in this episode.

Is America Socialst?
There are lots of Christians who are afraid of our country becoming socialist because we elected Joe Biden as our next president. I can not speak of the political fears associated with such anxiety. However, I am sure this is a time for us to get in touch with ourselves, our true beliefs, and our call to live a Christian life. It is time to delve deeper into what it means to be a Christian. Share your thoughts after listening to the talk by Fr. Jos+

Blatant Justice
Calling American public to an act of blatant justice. In the end, we are a professed Christian nation. At least many believe so. If we are, then it is time for us to define that means and how we live it.

Science and Religion
How do we look at Science contributing to our religious life? Listen for more to understand how might God look at Science.

Christian Civic Duty
We all have certain civic duties in life. Voting is one of them. Listen for more.

Listen More, Speak Less
If only we can listen more every day our lives will be better. If only we can speak less and let others in, we will be a better community. Listen for more.

An Year of Not Breathing
How important it is for us to let others live while we live. How important it is for us to breathe in and out, literally and metaphorically, so that we might live our lives joyfully. Listen for more.

Finding Spiritual Freedom
Without internal spiritual freedom, none of us can make it in this world. Listen more on this topic.

Peacemaking During Civil Unrest
How to find peace within and in our communities? Listen to discussions on this topic right here.

Peace Making
What is peace making and how can we achieve peace? Listen to Dr. Kathleen Jackson, Dr. Robert Berg, Fr. Mark Ohlemeier, Ms. Tessa Eggers.

Christ in all persons
Do we see Christ in all people? If not, why not?

Shepherd Of The Flock
Who is the Shepherd of the Flock? Who are to Christ and who is Christ to us? Who leads us in times of anxiety and fear? Listen to Dr. Kathleen Jackson leads the community in meaningful conversations.

Shepherd of the flock
Jesus as the shepherd of the flock and more

Doing Good Versus Right
Should we do good or right? Listen to hear for more

Peacemaking During Civil Unrest
Peacemaking During Civil Unrest

Tired and Dreaming!
We all get tired in life because life brings surprises we are not prepared for. When you are tired and depressed, a lot of people go to sleep, because they don't want to face the day or the effect of such unexpected life situations. We are like the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Old Testament. We can dream like them and climb the ladder. Listen to learn more about who we are and how we can celebrate ourselves.

Dignity of all people
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5
He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:13-17
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. Proverbs 14:31
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:11-12

Wise Counsel
Proverbs 19:20-21 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future. The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

Personal Integrity
We urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. 1 Thessalonians 5 :12-28
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs 10:9

Recovering Christianity
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Matthew 25: 34-36

Black lives matter! Why?
Listen to why "Black lives matter." The reason why we speak of black lives matter is that we care about the lives of all who are in danger. And today, now, and in this time of history, it is about the blacks. Listen more to understand why now is the time for us to rise up and empower the lives of those who are marginalized for the color of their skin.

Following Jesus
We are called to be the followers of Jesus. We all need to reflect deeply on what that means. Following Jesus is not the same as being a fan of Jesus. And there are many fans, not enough followers in Christianity.

Path to Healing Our Divisions
We, the developed nation called America, are broken. Our system is in need of healing and change. Each of us has a responsibility to change, and we are called to make that happen by simply following the American call to justice and truth. Listen to learn more and understand how to make that happen.

American myth exposed: We are naked

Breathing Life Into The Dry Bones!
God breathes life into the dry bones if we allow it. God comes into us and shakes the grounds we stand on, but never leaves us without being changed.

My Brother's Keeper
Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!” Genesis 4: 9-12

Empathy
Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.. Philippians 2:1-4

Coming Out Of Lock-Down
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Mark 10: 21
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 41-42
Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13
To further the conversation
We have been living in the strange new world of COVID-19 for what seems a long time now. We have been living in the world of isolation and social distancing in the midst of a global pandemic. So, what have we learned so far? I have been meditating on that question a lot. For me, I would say I have learned a great deal more about humility. I have been confronted once again with the true nature of my fragile being and my complete dependence on the Spirit. I have seen panic and fear, but I have also seen courage and compassion. I am learning what I value, not in the abstract, but in the real time of my own life. I am learning what would remain if everything else was taken away.- Bishop Steven Charleston
You (Teresa of Avila) lived that beautiful balance between active service and quiet contemplation. Teach us to be of use in this troubled world at the same time we cultivate joyous intimacy with the Beloved who lives inside us. -Mirabai Starr
Life is not the way it is supposed to be. It is the way it is. The way you cope withs it is what makes the difference. -Virginia Satir
My grandma who is in isolation accidently dialed a wrong number yesterday and spoke to a random lady also in isolation for twenty minutes about their lives. They’ve exchanged phone numbers to keep in contact and meet when this is over. -unknown author
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- Who have we become under isolation?
- What spiritual lessons inform how we will re-emerge in society?
- What new ideas might we have to restructure communal worship in our churches?
- What might we want to retain or discard from our time in isolation?

Lockdown Lessons
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist. Proverbs 23:4
But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:33-34

Intentionality of prayer
Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 1Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. James 5:13–16

Be the church
When our churches are shut down and not meeting in our building, should we not be the church in our homes, is the subject matter of our conversations behind the red door today. Listen for more.

Followers of the way
Following Jesus is an easy concept, a great idea, and a wonderful thought for many who claim to be Christian. What does it really mean to be a followers of Jesus. Listen for more.

Trust
Building trust is important in personal, interpersonal life.

Living the Beatitudes
Everyone in the world is fascinated by the Beatitudes. I have heard that even Mahatma Gandhi is taken by it and lived by these principles. Listen for more as we talk about the Beatitudes.

Passion and Compassion
Jesus had the passion to live his call. But it was strengthened and supported by his compassion for people in the first place. Listen for more as Bishop Martin Field and others talk about it.

Unconditional forgiveness
What is forgiveness and what does it looks like your life, is the theme of this conversation. Listen for more to understand the journey we all have to take to be a forgiving person.

Fear Not
Do not be afraid is a phrase we hear repeated often. Jesus says it many times. The Old Testament asks us not to be afraid. Listen for more why we shouldn't be afraid.

How to be a lighthouse
When there is darkness, we are called to be the light. Where there is light, we are called to shine brighter. Our call is to be the Christ. Listen for more.

Following Jesus
What does it mean to follow Jesus. There are followers and fans. Who are you, the follower or the fan

Love Is The Way
Love is the way of the Scripture. If you live your life according to the Bible there is no other way you can live it, other than loving your neighbor as yourself.