*BeeP!
F
or centuries, society
has been slowly drifting
down a broad river of
change, but speed is picking up,
and we have now entered the
rapids. Even Christmas is not
immune to these changes It has
become just a “holiday” to the
world and sadly, even to some
Christians.
“Merry Christmas” has
been replaced by “Happy
Holidays”, and carols about
Jesus have been traded for
songs celebrating Santa Claus,
winter, family and friends.
Finding Christ centered
Christmas has become a
challenge. Snowmen and
sleighs have taken the place of
manger scenes, which were
once common in public and
BICEU Newsletter
Merry Christmas
Holiday
or
Holy Day?
private settings.
This slide away from Christ is
the natural progression of the
world, but it is not the direction that
believers should go. Drifting is easy:
you just relax and follow the path of
least resistance. But going against
the stream requires constant
awareness and diligent effort. We
must actively guard against letting
the world steal Christ from our
celebrations.
Christmas is not just a
holiday; it is a holy day the day God
came to
earth in the flesh
of a tiny baby for the
purpose of reconciling
the sinful mankind Himself.
Holidays are numerous, but
there is only one Christmas.
The world tries hard to find
pleasure in Christ-less
observances, but happiness is
often elusive when experiences
don't match expectations. If you
feel a sense of letdown, you
may have drifted away from an
authentic celebration of
Christmas. Allow Jesus back in,
and joy will return.
Nov-Dec 2010
 *Beep!*

Editorial S urprises!!! Its something that everyone of us like.....whether it's a

birthday surprise given by your friends or your mom giving you a
surprise by cooking your favorite dish or someone giving you a surprise
gift. We all love surprises! Don’t we??
In my hostel we have a tradition of Secret Santa wherein each one
becomes a Secret Santa of another person. Santa sends gifts and letters
secretly! What joy it is when you see a cute little gift or chocolate awaiting you
in the room after you come back from a long tiring day at college and even
more when you don't know who the sender is!
Well 2000 years ago God gave a big surprise to a virgin girl probably in
her late teens by sending an angel and telling her that she is going to give birth
to boy who is going to save the world! Oh...what an emotional trauma she
must have gone through! Surprise, shock, joy-she must have had a mixture of
all these feelings! Then there was a group of shepherds taking rest after their
long tiring day! For these men it was like any other day-lying on the ground
enjoying the beauty of the stars and all of as a sudden an angel appears and
tells them that a savior is born to them. then they see a heavenly host of angels
singing praises to the new born king. they were terrified. It would have taken
them quite some time to come out of that shock. It must have been the
greatest surprise they have ever received. A surprise that changed their lives, a
surprise that changed the life of the entire human race. Christmas is a story of
surprises.
Christmas is when Christ is born in our hearts. Just think of the day
Christ came to your life. just as He came to this world giving a big surprise to
the shepherds He came to our lives also with a lot of surprises and he
continues to surprise us everyday! We may not have seen heavenly hosts of
angels singing but He gave us a big surprise by coming into our lives and
making us brand new persons giving us a new identity and giving us the
greatest gift of all eternal life. This Christmas let us be thankful for the Big
surprise that he gave us and also for all the little surprises that He gives us
everyday making our lives exciting and wonderful. And remember that god
has not given us this surprise to keep it to ourselves. the shepherds shared the
surprise-the Good News- that they received with others. let us also vow to
share the eternal surprise that we have received with other during the
Christmas season and always. Maybe you can send a greeting card wherein
you can talk about Gods love and the real meaning of Christmas or you can gift
a Christian book or a Bible to you friends. let them also receive this surprise- a
surprise which can change their lives, their destiny and many other lives
through them.

BICEU Newsletter Nov-Dec 2010

 *Beep!*
Glimpses Sho w ‘ e m t he
DTC Love - Joash Thomas
DTC was conducted from 3-7th November at
Dahanu.15 students attended. Theme was 'Armor of Hey…..this goes out to all you guys who are
God'. Students were charged and encouraged to put on sick of terror n wanna make things better…..
the armor of God in their daily lives. The doctrine
sessions gave students a clear idea of the doctrines and Whatcha gonna do now??
many of their doubts were clarified.2/2 sessions and the Where ya gonna move now??
practical talks were also really beneficial. The students Do you have any chance
had their share of fun also as there were many creative To run away from this trance??
out-of-the-box games. There was good feedback from I know how you are feeling
the students and the DTC team is doing the follow-up. I feel the same way too!!
I wanna make a difference
But don't know what to do!!!
How do ya stop this??
How do ya turn terror to bliss??
You feel like killing them
But then what different are you??
Hang them upside down!!!
Parade them around the town!!!
Isn't this how your feeling??
But what's God revealing??
I tell ya man...
[Chorus]
EU-EGF Christmas Get-together Turn your guns into roses
EU-EGF Christmas get-together took place in Beat your swords into ploughs
Marthoma Church at Mulund on 28th November from 5- We gotta fight 'em with love
8.It was attended by a good number of students and No matter how much it hurts!!
graduates. Students sang a few carol songs. Captain This is the one way remaining
Manohar gave a message on Christmas& missions. Then This is the one way of shaming
students and graduates discussed on what they can do This is the one way of taming
to support the mission activities in Dahanu among the 'em with your love
Worli tribe whom the graduates had visited as part of So c'mon let's show 'em the love!!
the mission field trip during the BEGF conference. It
ended with a lovely choreography presentation by We've tried bombing ,secret raiding,
Borivali E.G.F Oh it's so frustrating.
But it all ain't working!!
But there's gotta be a way
Borivali evangelistic Christmas program A way that hasn't yet seen the day.
Borivali E.G.F. organised an evangelistic It's gotta be the only way
Christmas program based on the theme 'Christmas Cause Love will find a way!!
unwrapped' for students of that area on 4th December. So why don't we kick our guns?
About 70 students attended. Why don't we send 'em funds?
So that they could build their homes

BICEU Newsletter Nov-Dec 2010

 Singapore Trip Report *Beep!*
-Joash Thomas
th
Day 1, 25 September: I landed in Singapore at 7 am. I was picked by Mr. Esau
Thomas, my graduate host in Singapore with I was put up throughout my stay there. I
Learnings from the trip:
made it to the FES National Conference by 9.30 pm and was allotted a group. The
1) Functioning of FES: UESI and FES
theme of the Conference was 'Impacting the world wherever you are'. The motive of
this conference was to encourage students to be the salt and light of the earth by have a lot in common. Just like
being more socially involved in society and being aware of what's happening around how we have UESI at the national
us. We headed to a Hospice (a place where terminally ill patients spend their last and state level and EUs at the
days) not to evangelize directly but to share God's love with them by serving as grassroot levels, even FES has CFs
volunteers for the day. We ended up singing songs for the patients and bringing (Christian Fellowships) at the
smiles to their faces. Following this we had a time of worship and a few keynotes. I grassroots.
had a really blessed time at the conference (even though I missed most of it). 2) Student's participation and
Day 2, 26th September: I got to spend time with the graduate family I was staying involvement: I was really thrilled to
with as there weren't any FES activities happening on Sundays. see the student's participation and
involvement in FES. I was in for a
pleasant surprise when I saw a
Just a snap of me and the crowd of atleast 250 students at
good friends I made at the National Conference. During
Singapore! They're all
my stay in Singapore I learnt that it
Singapore Polytechnic
is mostly the students who take
believing students involved
in the FES ministry as the initiative in organizing
student leaders! everything. I hope to challenge our
students to take the lead and
become more involved in our
ministry.
Day 3, 27th September: Mr. Lizman took me out for lunch where I could tell him more
3) The extent of the ministry at
about myself and UESI. Then we headed to the FES office where I met up with the FES
Singapore: I was in for a big
staff and discussed our ministry in India with them. We were really surprised to find a
lot of common concerns that we faced in the student ministry. An FES staff then took surprise when I realized that
me over to the sunset prayer and CG (Contact Group) Bible study of the Arts Faculty there's a lot more student ministry
at NUS (National University of Singapore). I was really overwhelmed to see around happening in Singapore than in
40 students attending this CF (Christian Fellowship) meeting! During the sharing Mumbai. This is in spite of the fact
time I shared my testimony with the believing students and also told them more that Mumbai is almost double the
about my involvement with UESI in Mumbai size of Singapore with a bigger
student population. FES
Day 4, 28th September: I planned to catch up for lunch with some of the friends I –Singapore has around 1000
made at the conference and met Dorcas and a few other Polytechnic believing active believing students, most of
students. After a yummy South East Asian lunch we went over to a student's place them generation Christians who
where we munched on snacks, played the guitar and also a few video games. It was
come from non-Christian families.
good spending time with them in a completely informal setting. I was really amazed
by the passion and zeal these students had for the Lord. In the evening, I went to the rehearsal of an outreach oriented musical
play being put up by the believing students of Singapore Polytechnic, especially with theatre being one of my biggest passions.
Day 5, 29th September: I travelled to NUS where I caught up with Dominic and my other NUS friends for a quick lunch before I
headed to the FES office. On reaching the office I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Chowkat Moughary, a Syrian gentlemen and ex
IFES staff who now works with World Vision. He is one of the leading Christian experts on outreach to the Muslim community.
I reached Mumbai at 9 pm with a lot of pleasant memories from the entire trip.

BICEU Newsletter Nov-Dec 2010

 *Beep!*

Repentance And Turning Away From Your Sins

The Oxford dictionary defines repentance as – “to feel deep sorrow about one's
actions; resolve not to continue”
Notice here that the word actions used. True repentance is regretting one's sin
and not the consequences of it. This however only forms part of its meaning. The
other (most important) part is about resolving not to continue i.e. turning away from
one's sin.
I am not saying that's it's possible to never sin or that good works is your ticket
to heaven. The Bible says that all our own righteousness is as dirty as filthy rags and
we are made righteous only through accepting Christ's death on the cross. I speak
about turning away from the sins that dominate you right now- ones that you may
revel in, ones that you may even enjoy, ones that you may leave but you can't because
of your own weakness, ones that you do because others have done the same to you,
ones that may be ancestral, etc.The Word of God says that, “you can do all things
through Christ who strengthens you”, so if you were about to say you can' t EVEN
THOUGH YOU WANT TO, you are calling God a liar.
So now let's see what happens if one chooses not to turn away from one's sin.
Let's go back thousands of years to the time of the exodus, to the time of Moses. The
Pharaoh of Egypt chose to say -“ who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let
Israel go?” If you' re saying that the Lord hardened his heart and he had no say in the
matter, then you are wrong. In spite of the terrible (first nine) plagues, Pharaoh chose
to reject the God of Israel even after nine chances to repent. Only after that did God
harden his heart. If you reject repentance, look at Pharaoh's bloated corpse floating
face down in the Red sea.
The following is a paragraph from the book Jerusalem countdown by John
Hagee—
“Presently the idea is being floated that all who call themselves Christians will be
saved. Nonsense! The idea goes something like this: “God is a God of love and he
wouldn't send anyone o an eternal hell to burn forever.” Wrong! This is not only
deception, this is a demonic lie! The Bible says, “broad is the way that leads to
destruction and there are many who go by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult
is the path that leads to life and there are few who find it.” This simple verse means
that “many “as in the majority will be lost because they made the choice to refuse
redemption through Jesus Christ. There are many in every church in America singing-
“When we all get to heaven” who will never get there.”
Repentance is THE most important thing if you have chosen to follow Christ.
Don't think that you will continue reveling in your own sins (even though you know
that you should and have to repent) and then when you are on your death bed, you
will ask forgiveness and ALLLL will be well. You would have rejected the sacrifice at
Golgotha and God will say to you-“depart from me, I never knew you.”
- Lionel Dcosta

BICEU Newsletter Nov-Dec 2010

 *Beep!* Kavi’s
Korner
Unending
On the cross.... On the cross
On the cross
Whom I see
The Lord of my life
Dying for me

Often times,
I hear the waters,
I deny thy love
They speak of how much you love me,
You give me hope in so many ways, Oh! God pardon
This is what I can see. This wretched Sinner

Your love makes me captured in your arms, As Child of God

Your love lifts me when I fall, I will live Thy sake
You are the fire which never harms,
No more world
And therefore I give you my all.
No more sin
Shepherd, you are of my own,
Lover, you are of my soul, Thru tough trials
Thank you for making to me this known, Thru painful denials
That 'to love you' only has to be my goal. I will remember
Thy Love on Cross
I hope that this story never ends,
Let my heart just this way be set on you,
For it's my broken heart - Stanley
in every way your love mends,
Just trusting in your love is what I can always do.

- Sejal Dsouza

BICEU Newsletter Nov-Dec 2010

 *Beep!*

Testimonial
My experience at DTC was life changing as I got a whole new insight into the importance of
understanding Doctrine, quite time , group bible study and personal bible study. All the talks
were very inspiring and all the speakers were well versed in the scriptures. One thing that I
really liked a lot at DTC was the effort the seniors took to have two by twos with us. I am very
grateful to god for having introduced me to EU and for giving me an opportunity to attend
this DTC camp. I am looking forward to more camps with EU.

- Stashia Dsousa

Cell Watch: TISS

So its Wednesday 6:30pm and the door is open for “chai”, snacks and
conversations. And for those running late 7pm is also perfect, when
the Bible study starts. The venue: A flat near IIPS and TISS* near the
Govandi Station.
Please feel free to visit! But do be prepared. This believer bible study is
probably the weirdest of the Mumbai EUs. Don´t get me wrong, I wouldn't change
it for any other cell. It is formed by two family men: Shibu and Shantanu; two
graduates: Ravi and Xyna; one sweet chic: Princy; two international students: Grace
(from Nigeria) and myself (from Spain) and sporadic visits from some Phd students: Lata
and Amrita. As you can foresee, we all have different accents, different styles of praying
and even know different versions of the same song. And guess what!! Yes, we all worship
the same risen Lord! And no, that´s not the only thing that counts, it is your own
willingness to view people with God´s eyes and not yours which is essential.

PS: If you are visiting let us know. It is mandatory to know the memory verse!
PS2: Mind it! We are Social Scientists-in-the-making, questions such as Have you
wondered if John was a communist, if feminism is Biblical, if divorce is liberty
might pop up. Clarity in concepts might come handy!
PS3: At such times as mentioned in PS2, Ravi patiently bears with us!

- Victoria

BICEU Newsletter Nov-Dec 2010

 *Beep!*

Upcoming
Events Evangelistic Christmas program for
Ÿ
St.Xaviers students at Students
Center,Mulund on December 17th
Friday
Ÿ Evangelistic Christmas program at Powai on December 18th
Ÿ Weekend fest- An evangelistic weekend fest to be conducted in the
month of April.
Ÿ ATTENTION North area EGFs n EUs! As December knocks on your
door a great surprise is waiting for you on your doorsteps…Wait
and watch what we have in store for you!

Bible Study Cells Summary

No of bible study cells in Mumbai – 13
No of campus cells - 8
No of home cells - 5
Need to restart immediately are the 3 campus cells -
KEM, Kalina university and SIES.

Pla ce Da y C ell L ea der Gra duate con ta ct

B hand up Friday Sh eetal B etty Varg hese
M ulun d Friday R eshm i Ashley
T hane Thur sd ay Joa sh George Abra ham
W ednesday
M CC College Saturda y Sh eetal
D AV College W ednesday Sh eetal
S M Shetty C ollege Saturda y R ejo Ana nd
NITIE Co lleg e Saturda y Sa brina
T ISS Co llege W ed Vic to ria
Alia varja ng College Tue/Sat M ah esh/R obert
St Xaviers College Saturda y R en ee/Jo ash Sneha
Sop hia Co lleg e Saturda y Emy Sneha
Janka lya nnag ar, Ma lad W ed Sta nley Na gala kshm i
M ira road Saturda y B hagya /Ma noj
BICEU Newsletter Nov-Dec 2010
 *Beep!*

May the miracle of Christmas

Fill your heart with warmth and love.
Christmas is the time of giving and sharing.
It is the time of loving and forgiving.
Merry Christmas to all!!
- *Beep!*Team

All your valuable feedbacks and suggestions are welcome. You can also send in your articles,
write-ups, songs, poem, cartoons etc. etc. to us. Just mail it to us at biceunewsletter@gmail.com.

Thanks to all the authors, poets and all the others who have contributed to this issue of *Beep!*.
Cover page article courtesy InTouch Magazine (Dec2009).

*Beep!* Chief Editor: Emy Paul

Designed by: Rejo Varghese biceunewsletter@gmail.com