Do you think time is going to last for ever? Don’t you think there is a time appointed for the end? If you have never thought about it, now is the time to think.
Jesus said, “Night is coming, when no one can work.” The Bible says yet again, it is appointed or destined for people to die once, and after that to face judgement. These are truths that point to the end.
Your end can come unexpectedly. If you are not prepared for it, you have nothing to hope for, but eternal doom. Health, wealth, influence, power, and relationships do not last forever. You cannot trust any of those to help you cross over from death to life!
Your only hope of mercy is at the foot of the cross where Jesus bled and died for your sins. In him you will find life, forgiveness, and hope. When you trust in him, you’ll have the courage and confidence to face your appointed time. It will surely come.
The world is fast moving towards its appointed end. It will be a time of trouble like the world has never known. If you are not alert and watchful; pleasures of this world, worries of life, and pursuit after riches, will dull your senses to the reality of coming judgement.
At this time, God’s warning signs are seen everywhere. At the same time, God is showing great patience and extending mercy to all; for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” For the end is near and approaching us with speed and finality. Are you ready for your appointed time?
Jesus is coming soon. It is going to be a sudden coming, a majestic coming, a joyous coming, and a momentous coming. Let us look at how this next great event on Planet Earth and witnessed by all is going to happen.
Warning and Encouragement
When Jesus comes back it will be like a flash of lightning.
It will happen in the twinkling of an eye.
Those who are ready will be taken; others left behind.
When the LORD Jesus comes down from heaven,
with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel,
and the sounding of the trumpet call of God,
the dead in Christ will rise first.
When Jesus comes in the clouds with power and great glory,
believers who are left and still alive at that time,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air
and be with him forever.
Others will be left behind.
A Sudden Coming
The second coming of Jesus will be a sudden coming.
Without warning, when people least expect him,
when they say “peace and safety,”
when mockers and scoffers who follow their own evil desires ask,
“Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?”
When people are busy planning, eating, drinking, and making merry;
then Jesus will come like a thief in the night,
and there will be sudden destruction and judgement by fire.
And people will not escape.
So be ready. Look to Jesus with hope;
for there is not much time left to decide where you will spend all eternity:
Hell or heaven is totally your choice!
A Majestic Coming
The second coming of Jesus will be a majestic coming.
He will come as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
And as the Judge of the living and the dead.
And his coming on the clouds of heaven,
with power and great glory,
will initiate events that will lead
to final and inescapable judgement.
So be ready. Look to Jesus with hope;
or else you’ll be left behind.
A Joyous Coming
The second coming of Jesus will be a joyous coming.
For Jesus is coming to take us to heaven;
all those who have believed in him
and in his shed blood on the cross
for the forgiveness of their sins;
that they also may be with him forever.
But if you are left behind,
the world can offer you NO hope,
for the world in the end times will witness great trouble,
never ever before seen in the history of this world.
So be ready. Look to Jesus with hope.
You who have this hope in you purify yourself;
in the precious blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God,
so that you may not be left behind.
A Momentous Coming
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.”
No one knows about that day or hour of his coming.
Be on guard! Be Alert!
You do not know when that time will come.
Are you ready for his coming?
Or will he find you unprepared and sleeping?
The Bible declares that the present world is reserved for burning with fire and a time is coming when elements will melt in the intense heat. The possibility of a nuclear warfare can make this come true even as God’s Judgement Day will burn like a furnace.
Jesus also spoke about hell as a fiery furnace where there will be continual weeping and gnashing of teeth, torment, and consciousness that makes anyone there cry out desperately for a drop of water to cool the tongue because of the agony of the fire!
When the love of God towards men and women is spurned, mocked, rejected, and rebelled against; nothing else remains but for the wrath of God2 to fall on them. It’s a kind of invited disaster. Yes, the end of the world is near!
Jesus himself asked the religious leaders of his day: “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” At a later time he wept over the city of Jerusalem thinking of the future judgement coming on the city saying that they did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them.
The world is moving towards a one world order where there is going to be a one world economy and a dirty marriage of politics and religion. Trade will be the lynchpin on which everything revolves as the world is slowly converging towards the mark of the beast 666 as prophesied in the Book of Revelation. And it is related to who you will worship—whether God or Satan? Permission to buy or sell will be granted according to this choice you make.
Natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, famines and pestilences, wars and revolutions, signs in the sun and moon and stars,pollution, global warming, tsunamis, and pandemics are but signposts reminding us time is running out for Planet Earth.
Therefore great is the urgency to decide your destiny. Life on earth is a chance given to you to get to know your Creator and the salvation he has provided to all freely through his Son Jesus through the blood of his cross.
If you look to him in faith, then you find peace with God. Many have postponed this life-changing encounter with the Son of God only to find the sun go down on them to rise on them no more!
Other Biblical References: 2 Peter 3:7, 10, Malachi 3:1, Matthew 13:42, Luke 16:24, Luke 19:44, Revelation 13:17, 18, Matthew Chapter 24, Mark Chapter 13, Luke Chapter 21
Pandemic Covid-19 has changed the global landscape completely. It has made us realize how unpredictable life is. I would like to focus today on the social and humanitarian changes brought about by the pandemic.
The first change that has been effected by the pandemic is social distancing. There is an increased awareness of keeping oneself safe while going about one’s daily routines and businesses. Wearing of masks has become the norm while fashion statements are made through them too. Normal social greeting like handshake has disappeared while smiles are hidden by the masks we wear.
The next change brought about by the pandemic is the isolation and confinement it has brought on the elderly as well as little children below ten years. Many elderly people are now unable to meet their kith and kin due to travel restrictions and the need to stay at home. Children who are used to grow up playing with friends, going to school and having an outing in the park or beach find themselves totally imprisoned within the four walls of their homes. This can seriously affect their socializing and making friendships beyond their immediate neighbourhood.
Again we find classes going digital. It has brought with it possibilities as well as challenges. There are small segments of the student community who do not have access to internet and unable to buy proper gadgets required to continue studies. At the same time geographical boundaries now do not prevent you from taking a course on the area of your interest from esteemed massive open online course provider aimed at professional adults and students like Udemy for example.
Another change we cannot forget is how the definition of work has changed. With the aid of technology Work from home (WFH) has been effectively implemented. It has been prominent in the IT sector. Work from home has created much stress as people are made to work more and be available on duty for more than normal working hours. Reduction of local as well as international travel related to work is also part of the change.
We also need to remember how wedding ceremonies and the way funerals are conducted have changed as a result of the pandemic. We need to see the fact that many top brands have faced a decline in sales as people started to rethink on the futility of displaying the pride of life through brand statements they made.
On the humanitarian side we have a new awareness of how sacrificially medical and paramedical staff including doctors, nurses, volunteers, ambulance drivers etc. has stood along with us to fight the pandemic. We cannot forget the role of the law enforcing agencies which mainly consists of the police and their constant alert and vigilance which has helped us prevent rapid community spread of the Corona virus in many areas. We cannot forget the media which has played a critical role in raising awareness about the need of personal hygiene and the importance of simple hand washing using soap or sanitizers.
But the greatest challenge in the humanitarian front seems to be the plight of daily labourers. This includes, for example, auto drivers. Many people have lost their daily means of sustenance due to less business activities. Many businesses have closed. Any move to normalcy should take into consideration lending a helping hand to those put out of business by enabling them to have access to long-term loans and other infrastructure support.
We also need to seriously consider the attitude of people towards those once affected by Covid and then tested negative. These people should not be discriminated against and awareness should be created so as to how they can come to back to resume their normal life at home as well as in their careers.
Let me end by saying that Pandemic Covid has disrupted life globally. It has a many-sided socio-economic and humanitarian impact. We cannot expect Governments alone to handle the crisis. NGO’s and other organisations have a key role to play in rebuilding normalcy as far as it is possible. We all have a role to play.
Let us approach this situation with trust in God, with optimism and hope. Let us lend a helping hand to all who need it. And let us believe in the words of the old negro spiritual that we shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome some day, oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome some day! Thank you.
My best friend and I were standing outside our church premises talking. This was early 1990’s.
Sunday morning it was. Time around 11:30am. From the footpath where we stood, suddenly we saw a man walking barefoot on the tarred road.
He was lean and thin. His eyes looked fierce and piercing. He had a slight beard, face weather-beaten, and hair raven-black. He was wearing a white shirt and dhoti.
He looked like a fiery prophet of old leaping straight out of the pages of the Bible to life.
He was looking at no one and speaking to no one; but simply walking ahead on the royal highway of the Trivandrum city just in front of Museum gate near LMS Compound.
Hanging from his neck were two cardboard placards on the front and back, one in English, the other in Malayalam.
It was written in bold black thick letters:
Prepare
to meet
your God
–Amos 4:12.
It was a silent fearless proclamation of a great truth. That man is destined to die once, and after that face judgement.1
Neither the intense heat of the day nor the traffic distracted the stranger. He kept walking on and on.
Pandemic Covid-19 the likes of which the world has never seen before triggered in my mind the memory of that lone stranger walking.
I wonder how long it will be before his message becomes real; frighteningly real?
1Hebrews 9:27
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of hosts– Malachi 4:1
If you are broken in heart because of your sin, your mistakes, your failure or any other reason you can think of, come to God who will show you mercy.
If it is sin, there is a fountain of cleansing opened for you.
If it is mistakes you have made, there is with God the possibility of making good to come out of them.
It it is failure of some kind, and you are thoroughly defeated, still God will give you hope and strength to rise up.
All this because you cannot exhaust his mercy.
“O God, help me” is a prayer to which he responds with full attention.
“O God, remember me” is a cry he hears even when death is creeping in through the doors.
When you feel forsaken, rejected, alone, and having no strength to take even one more step; then cry out to God. You will find mercy.
Oh, the riches of God’s mercy! It is undeserved kindness towards us. He remembers that we are but dust and has great compassion on us.
The hands that stretched wide on the cross and bled is the surest sign of God’s great mercy to you that is wider than you can think or imagine. So come and find mercy.
Do not delay to come to God. The Bible says soon someday this world will see the wrath of God against sin and evil; and the judgement of God. Then the door of mercy will be no longer open. 1Psalm 51:1 Bible
We all fear death. The reality of death should make us think. Why is life on earth brief? Why is there pain, sickness, suffering, and finally death?
I am not trying to be pessimistic but truthful. The Bible declares that the wages of sin is death! Sin here doesn’t refer to some particular wrong in your life but to the problem faced by entire humanity.
Sin as a virus has infected all human beings. No one is exempt from its infection. in fact, the first social distancing happened in the Garden of Eden when man sinned against God. The virus of sin then created a separation between God and man.
Just like one virus infected person can spread the infection to another all mankind got this sin infection in their blood because of the rebellion of our first parents, Adam and Eve, against God in the Garden of Eden.
The Bible also says that not one of us can escape death or earn our salvation or forgiveness by doing good deeds. The bonus points we gain through our good deeds simply do not add up. It falls short.
Why? Because we all are sin-virus infected; we owe a moral debt to God so huge we simply cannot pay on our own. Someone else had to do it for us.
Therefore God send his Son Jesus as a human being to this earth to pour out his innocent blood on the cross to solve the sin problem. This was possible because the blood of Jesus was not infected by the virus of sin as he was born of a virgin. And his sinless life on earth made sure that his blood was not infected by the sin virus.
Therefore Jesus is able to gift eternal life to you who believe in the power of his shed blood on the cross to completely, thoroughly, wash away your sins.
Therefore the Bible declares: “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”*
Therefore the gift of salvation.is given free to all who say “Thank You” and receive it.
But that is not all. Jesus came back to life from the dead. He lives forever. And to those who receive the gift, death is not the final curtain. Instead it is the bridge to life never ending!
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
—
*Romans 6:23 Bible
“having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross”
Welcome all to the 74th Independence day. This time we are celebrating in the midst of a global crisis due to Covid-19.
This is a time we cannot come together to celebrate the joy of independence. At the same time we cannot miss to observe this most important day of Indian history.
Therefore we have joined together online to mark the occasion.
Let us remember with gratitude all freedom fighters and all those who sacrificed much to make India free.
Today, we are in the front ranks of the nations of the world and we can be proud about our secularism and democratic principles that has stood the test of time.
Freedom, as our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in his famous First Independence Day Eve speech Tryst with Destiny 1 said, brings responsibility. So dear children, freedom not only brings privileges but also duties. Therefore let us join hands today to preserve our hard-earned freedom.
We should remember and never forget that democracy survives on freedom of speech. Therefore tolerance and respect should be the watchwords that we should keep in mind to maintain unity in diversity in this colourful and pluralistic land of rich traditions and ancient heritage.
On this occasion of Indian Independence Day, let us remember the meaningful words of Rabindranath Tagore which he penned in his great work Gitanjali:
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection; Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit; Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
Let us therefore pledge to do all in our strength to guard the flame of independence and freedom that our freedom fighters lit for us.
Let us say no to all divisive forces. Let us salute our national tricolour and proudly say Mera Bharat Mahan!
Life has changed after Covid-19. Classes are online. I miss the warmth of friendship, the ambience of learning, and the fun of doing things together.
Life has thrown new challenges. In this context, as I look back at all my experience of teaching, I think there are three things every student should know. Let me share that with you.
First of all finding yourself where you are now was never your choosing.
When you were young it was your parents who decided things for you; perhaps they still do.
You might not like everything they do and might not agree with all that they decide for you. But there are no perfect parents on earth and yours are no exception. Learn to forgive in case they are wrong.
At the same time do not give up when you find yourself in a course of study that was never your first choice.
Instead make best use of time and opportunities that are present for you. Do not compare yourself with others and feel inferior. Negative circumstances are just the right conditions for you to excel.
Who knows! If you show passion for the subject that you find yourself in today, your skill in it might just be the most wanted in the changed world tomorrow.
Secondly, learn to do ordinary things exceptionally well.
Let me start from the simplest of examples. From drawing a margin in your notebook, writing today’s date on the blackboard when given the chance, tying your shoelace properly, are all indicators of greatness.
No task is below your dignity if you can stamp it with a divine “nothing left undone that could be done” attitude. Whatever you do, do it with enthusiasm and as if there is no second chance.
When such an attitude becomes a habit there are no end to possibilities. What is mundane and routine becomes ablaze with glory.
So then, aim high and keep on doing the ordinary with the best of your efforts every single time you attempt. Let there be no exceptions.
To the people taken captives and in exile, to a people who had nothing to look forward to or hope for, God spoke through Prophet Jeremiah asking them not to lose heart but to work with all their hearts in the land of their captivity:
But what means this song to you and me today?
One, it is a message of present opportunity. And it is a clear call to you today as well: Do not look back at lost opportunities and wasted years in life. Instead do what you find to do right now with all your heart and strength. Do it with enthusiasm.
Two, there is promise of God’s helpin the midst of hopelessness. The message is that God has not forgotten you even though he has disciplined you. He is compassionate.
Third, God has plans for your life. Even though circumstances of today seem to restrict you, do whatever your hands find to do to the best of your ability.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”2
Yes, there is a future for you. It doesn’t matter how others have tried to make you feel despair, useless, and as having no worth; God will reverse your fortunes once again.
Therefore do not yield to despair. Instead connect with God. There is no one else who can repair the smudges on the canvas of your life like he can. He listens when your heart sighs in despair and feeling of hopelessness. For,
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.3“
Now listen to the song once again: It was the voice of despair of a people taken captive in war: “Now how shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” It was the cry of broken hearts!
But that was what the captors demanded. “Sing,” they had said. 2500 years later, the very words of lamentation of a people in exile and captivity expressing their inability to sing have conquered the world as a song of hope.3
Covid 19 has changed the face of the world. Faces have been masked, handshakes are not welcome anymore, social distancing is the norm, classes are online, and work from home (WFH) and video-conferencing is the new culture.
A lot of changes in quick time has happened. And change is never easy.
There are three things you can do to cope with change:
One is acceptance. There is no good in closing your eyes to changed realities. The longer you resist change the harder it becomes for you to adopt and adapt. So show a positive attitude to change.
Second is managing fear. The pandemic has made man realize how fragile life is. Carefully laid plans are disrupted, dreams crash, and hopes dashed in the blink of an eye. Being wise in practical steps and trust in God along with it are the means to handle fear.
First of all, don’t be afraid of change.
It has to be seen in a positive light. Know that every act of change is accompanied by doubts. Some of these doubts, if entertained for a long time, can stop you from acting. Therefore it is important to act and make needed changes before opportunities close their doors on you.
The second step is to know that there is no survival without change.
Though there is nothing new under the sun, change keeps happening. If you resist change, you will soon be outdated. Your competitors will get far ahead when you have not even begun. So be open to change. And be willing to learn and add new skill sets to your profile. Yes, with a learning attitude most of the difficulties accompanying change can be overcome.
Thirdly, be excited about change.
There is nothing like enthusiasm which can change your attitude. Instead of finding excuses for not changing, why not find reasons to be full of joy and anticipation about the change that is coming into your life? After all, expectant mothers look ahead with hope to see the newborn’s face even when they know that their world is going to change dramatically with the arrival of the child!
Finally, many people have found COVID-19 an opportunity to vent their anger against God and to proclaim him dead. I do understand their feelings. There are lot of questions I too do not have an answer to.
But what if the pandemic is a simple reminder from God to man that in spite of man landing on the moon and probing space like never before there are lot of things he is yet to understand!
Even though it sounds very difficult just thank God for all that went wrong this morning if it did for you. Sometimes plans that get upset are Godsend to save you from running into greater difficulties during the day. In our busy world, we often need attention-grabbers; and interruptions early in the day can mean just that.
Know that a bad start does not change the big purpose of your life, whatever that be. Race along in the slow pace that is possible even when you had a bad start. At the end of the day, you’ll be surprised to note that you were able to accomplish far more than you dreamed was possible.
Let me conclude by saying that it doesn’t matter if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. What matters more is with what attitude you are going to face life today. — “For his [God’s] compassions never fail. They are new every morning” — Lamentations 3:22b, 23a Bible.
The world has seen a very small microbe Covid 19 become a giant global showstopper. Life itself is a big question mark to millions. Economy has slowed down. Man’s busyness has taken a back seat. Death has wrecked havoc in countless homes. We are disrupted in every way.
Now there is every reason to fear. At the same time I would like to encourage you to keep up hope. And not to lose courage. These are times when we need to cling to God and seek his help and ask for his mercy to be shown.
This is a time to hope and to value our loved ones; to keep them close to our hearts and be thankful for the loving relationships that make our life on earth meaningful.
This is a time to hope and to review all our activities and let go those that are simply stealing away our time. Instead focus on those few that will make a meaningful contribution to others.
This is a time to hope and to prepare for the unseen future. It is going to be tough. Jobs might be lost overnight. Prices of essential commodities might soar. Travel might continue to be restricted. Save by minimizing expenses.
This is also a time to hope and not to get lost in the tsunami of social media posts. The time people lose in scrolling from post to post is enormous. True, there is much that is useful and entertaining. But it can make you lose perspective and make you lose initiative.
Let me conclude by asking all of you to be thankful to all in government authority, medical personnel and law-enforcing people who are selflessly working day and night to fight the Covid threat. Let me remind you once again that when fear of what the future is going to be hits you, this is a time to hold on to God in hope.
Most of us worry constantly. We worry about our health, our finances, our marriage, our careers, our children, exams and interviews, and our future. Many, if not all, worry about their appearance as well.
Why are we constantly worrying? Even though we know that worry accomplishes nothing positive, for some strange reason people do not stop worrying. Neither you nor me! Why is this so?
Fear and insecurity might top the list of worry-causing factors. We fear almost everything. Starting from fear of the dark and strangers, it can move to fear of failure and rejection and many more of the like.
It is easy to say, “Get rid of worry.” Practically it is difficult to achieve. But it is important that we try.
Most of us worry about tomorrow.It is such a killer disease. That is why Jesus asked us to learn a lesson from the birds of the air. He said that they don’t sow or reap or collect food in barns. Yet their heavenly Father takes care of them.
Yes, through this example, he was trying to get our attention to the fact that it is a complex daily process, worldwide in scope, that God is seeing to everyday without fail.
But that is not all. He asked a question, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” This is another way of asking, “Don’t you know that you are my child and you belong to me because you put your trust in me? Will I fail to meet your life’s daily needs when I’ve taken care of your eternity?”
He also asked us to look at the grass of the field and consider how God has clothed them. The point he wanted to make was that your heavenly Father knows your needs even before you ask him. In another context he said that even a sparrow sold for a small amount does not fall to the ground without your heavenly Father knowing it. Even the very hairs of your head are numbered. Therefore do not be afraid.
The point is that God who does not forget the sparrow will not forget you or any of your needs. Let me conclude by saying that the one way to get out of the habit of worrying is to trust in your heavenly Father’s care. He knows you by name. He knows your inner struggles, conflicts and despair.
What if you knew that he is not pointing an accusing or condemning finger at you! His arms are opened wide. If only you would come to him! It takes time, a lot of time, even a lifetime to learn to trust God’s leading in one’s life. But God is patient. He waits for you to learn to trust him. He wants you to be glad and without worry!
That in no way means life is going to be easy. That in no way means there won’t be sickness, hurt in relationships, or financial difficulties. That in no way means you won’t face any difficulties in your career. But what it means is that your Heavenly Father knows what your are going through; his watchful eyes are on you; and he will provide what you need at the right time of his choosing.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
This post is based on Matthew 6:25–34, Luke 12:6, 7. Bible
“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him”
— 1 Peter 5:7 (Bible, Contemporary English Version)
“And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure”
— Psalm 94:19 (Bible, Contemporary English Version)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6, 7.
“Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” — Corrie Ten Boom
How to talk on such an occasion is difficult to say. Emotions play a major role. But still some guidelines might help.
1. Try to establish your connection with the deceased person. Is it as a friend, colleague, teacher, student, or a familial relationship.
2. Speak of the manner of passing away. Was it peaceful? Was it is untimely? If it was a prolonged illness how did the person cope with it.
3. How has it impacted family, friends, and others known to the person?
4. Try to state family history, upbringing, schooling and college education, employment, and married life whichever is applicable.
5. Recall one or two instances where the person’s unique qualities shone through. This is especially comforting to the members of family.
6. End with a note of support to the surviving members of family.
7. If there is a positive message that the person’s life exemplified, do mention it as something to be emulated and followed.
Death is a time when the future looks like a huge question mark. No one has easy answers to give. Yet if someone had firm faith in God, you can always highlight the certainty of hope he or she had. It is this hope of meeting one’s loved one again; more alive than now in the presence of God that makes the rainbow seen through the tears.
The reality of death should make all think. How long before it is my turn? Before It comes how can I live with a purpose? Can I help make a positive difference in the life of others? In one word, the death of someone should make us wise in how we live in this world and how we are preparing ourselves for a life beyond earth’s final farewell.
Note: Avoid mention of negatives. It is also good not to describe the person in too many superlatives; that might come across as insincere.
Be brief in your talk. Remember to pick instances from the person’s life that show his or her love and care for others, exceptional academic, co-curricular or work-related achievements.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
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Conclusion of speech by Princess Diana’s brother at her funeral:
I would like to end by thanking God for the small mercies he has shown us at this dreadful time. For taking Diana at her most beautiful and radiant and when she had joy in her private life. Above all we give thanks for the life of a woman I am so proud to be able to call my sister, the unique, the complex, the extraordinary and irreplaceable Diana whose beauty, both internal and external, will never be extinguished from our minds.
No one can forget the scene. On top a hill lifted up on a cross hung wounded and bleeding, Jesus, the Saviour.
You call him a good moral teacher, a divine healer, a great prophet, a worker of miracles or even a revolutionary. But this death he died for all mankind changed it all.
He came to take his cross and walk; and to be lifted high on it. Love then was on exhibit; naked and bleeding—a public spectacle!
Why should it have been so? There is only one answer. God’s love for you on one side; and on the other side, God’s judgement on man’s sin and rebellion against him.
When you feel forsaken; one look of faith at him is enough. It was love that made him shed his last drop of blood for you.
With one look of faith and love on him who was crucified and risen, you can pass on from death to life, from despair to hope, and from darkness to light.
This my friend is the magnetic pull of the cross! It then bled love, and now it spells LIFE for you!
It is said that you sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
Yes friends, our habits form our future. So let us cultivate healthy habits.
There are four kinds of habits. They are: Spiritual
Physical
Educational and Social
All of them are important for children.
Spiritual habits
include praying to God when we get up in the morning and thanking him for the gift of a new day. We should also pray when we start to study to ask God to give us wisdom to learn.
Physical habits
include brushing our teeth in the morning, taking bath properly and wearing clean dress. We should also spend some time playing in the outdoors so that our bodies stay healthy and strong.
Educational habits
include reading and studying well, listening to teachers, doing homework and going to school regularly. We should try to take part in all the activities of the school as it will help to improve our personality.
To conclude, healthy habits will help us to excel in life. Only children with excellence and character can build a strong democratic nation. Like good friends, healthy habits will stay with us always. Thank you.
Note: Covid–19 virus outbreak around the world in 2020 has compelled all, including children, to wash their hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub, It can kill viruses that may be on your hands. Thus washing hands has become a very important healthy habit.
