Interview: I Realised That God Wants Us To Think

Ganesh realised that there was more to this life than what he knew. He met the Creator through His word. Since then, his journey with the living God has helped him grow personally and professionally. After completing his degree at IIT Bombay, Ganesh moved to the United States for his Master’s.

Ganesh started as an atheist and scientist. But a deeper search into how science and faith can coexist led him to God. He says, “Jesus said to love God with all your MIND, heart, soul and strength. So I realised that God wants us to think.”

“We need to think rationally. How does one think rationally? Why should I trust my thoughts if we are just random electrons? A rational mind, in my opinion, suggests that we were designed by an intelligent creator.”

“Morality, if subjective, will lead to dangerous results. We cannot decide based on our feelings or ideas of right or wrong,” says Ganesh. “Feelings can change, and with it, our understanding of right or wrong. Some love their neighbours, others eat their neighbours.”

“Some people believe there is no right or wrong. What happens if someone takes your wallet and says it belongs to them? When things get personal, we quickly understand good and evil!”

As a technology sales professional, what are two or three things necessary to sustain long-term relationships?

Sales is a service, and serving is in the DNA of every salesperson.

First, build trust. Trust requires truth. Communicate to the customer both the capabilities and limitations of your product.

Second, walk with the customer during the process. It is crucial when sustaining a relationship. Getting the customer to understand how your product impacts their business at each stage will build their confidence and help produce better results.

With employee advocacy programs ramping up, what are your tips on how employees should use social media?

  1. Post content that is consistent with your values
  2. Don’t oversell
  3. There is great value in sharing experiences. Help people evaluate complex subjects and simplify them
  4. Use the platform correctly — each social media platform reaches a specific audience. Plan your content according to the audience and platform profile. E.g., a LinkedIn profile is for professionals, and Instagram is for a younger audience
  5. Make sure that the content you share is appropriate for both your work and personal life. Only share things meant to be public, not private.
Ganesh Venkataramanan, is a graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology. He works as Vice President at a Software Technology company.

Connect with Ganesh Venkataramanan


Opinion: For The Sake Of Humanity

Humanity (ability to care) is breaking down. Human vulnerabilities are being exploited. Social Media Technology and the Workplace have become critical mediums of negative influence. We often ignore what we cannot see, but, what about how we feel? Our minds and hearts have been targeted more than ever in the last two decades. 

Social Media use is hurting mental health across ages. The digital world gives us the illusion of connectedness, leaving humans lonelier than ever. 

Global data on the mental health concerns in the working population reveal;

  • One billion people living with a mental disorder in 2019
  • 15% of work-age adults experienced a mental disorder. 
  • Work amplifies wider societal issues that negatively affect mental health. 
  • An estimated 12 billion workdays are lost annually due to depression and anxiety costing the global economy nearly US$ One trillion. 

The mental health crisis is the biggest challenge out there that requires everyone’s attention and action.

What we engage with daily as a way of life has its negative influences. 

  • The Workplace is rewriting our purpose
  • The Media is corrupting minds and hearts
  • Technology is disrupting human experiences
These three influences are getting inseparable with time, as we move to an increasingly technological world.

A job is a need, but the workplace isn’t only about paying the bills, and making a difference to the world around you. It has begun to shape why we are on this earth. Our purpose of life has become subject to corporate purposes. It has taken over life to such an extent that families are getting stretched, strained and separated. When families divide, society crumbles, and the world runs into chaos.

Media has become a weapon of mass destruction, corrupting minds and hearts with biased narratives. Technology has the power to customise engagement that puts people into various silos of thoughts and ideas, further dividing the world.

We are in an invisible war that is producing visible impact.
What is the need of the hour? A heart guarded by wisdom that helps us discern the times.

What concerns me most is how unprepared we are. We don’t see the attacks coming because we’ve lost the ability to discern. And as we try to heal from the ways we’ve been conditioned, we find ourselves defenseless, confused, vulnerable. In moments like these, I’m convinced that wisdom isn’t just helpful - it’s essential. It is the only thing left that can truly protect us.

As we grow older, experience life, we learn to question everything we believe in. ‘Why do I believe what I believe?’ Is a relevant question to ask yourself today.

In the end, we take nothing with us. What is all the hustle for? What matters the most in a life where people need to be loved and things are used? We live in a world where people are being used and things are loved. 

Our seeking and reflecting must go beyond surface-level ‘who we are and what we do’. We need to go deeper and respond to the nudges of our conscience before it gets numb. 

We are created with purpose, and turning to the Creator is a start.

Interview: Breaking Free From Pornography

This interview with Jonathan Harris first appeared on the LiveJam blog.

There are many voices in this worldly wilderness we live in. What makes life meaningful? When you meet people and movements that unite to make the world a better place. Pornography is destroying young minds and hearts. The spiritual binding is too powerful for a person to break on their own. Jonathan’s life changed when he rediscovered his journey with God through LiveJam. Not only did he learn to overcome porn addiction, he found a community that reignited his walk with God.

How did you get to know about LiveJam?

I was in school when I first met Bonny who came to conduct a BreakFree Tour session. I intentionally bunked the session and was on my way out of school. My teacher saw me loitering about and took me to meet Bonny. Bonny spoke to me for a minute, and I was greatly encouraged. After the meeting with Bonny, I joined a youth community.

What was your life like before you met LiveJam in school?

I was introduced to Porn when I was in class 7 in school. I could not focus on my studies as the images kept playing. I felt my heart cringe and get drawn to the lust of the flesh. It further affected my relationship with my parents. The growing frustration in my heart triggered anger and a rebellious nature. I would respond rudely to my parents, and eventually began to believe the lie that my dad hated me.

What feelings did you encounter during the healing process?

I was struggling internally because I knew I was wrong. The shame associated with watching and indulging in lewd acts when I was alone, haunted me. I’d often fall after being optimistic about having overcome it. To make matters worse, I was rebelling against my parents. Often displaying anger that made me feel sorry for my mother later. I always thought my dad hated me because of his constant correction. The frustration would drive me back into sin again. I was changing, but the struggle was real. I started to understand how to deal with my feelings better.

What impact did the community have in your life?

The youth community was a great support. Being with like-minded individuals, most importantly, those who understood or have been through similar issues. The new friends I made through the community were a great source of inspiration. Their stories resonated with mine, and I became more confident about overcoming the issue. Eventually, the love and support along with intercessory prayer changed me completely.

I will say that you can find all sorts of people out there, good or bad. It’s your choice who you want to be with If you stick around with the wrong people you will inherit the wrong traits and vice versa.

What are your plans now?

The future is in God’s hands. I want to do whatever God leads me to do. I am already on the way and trying to make each day count. I love what LiveJam is doing, reaching out to troubled teens and youth. I want to be a seed sower and an encouragement to others like Bonny and my Youth teacher were to me as there are so many waiting for that one word of encouragement that can make a difference in their lives.

What is your message to fellow youngsters?

Remember the three D’s in life — DECISION, DETERMINATION, and DESTINATION. If you take the wrong path, you will end up in a mess. If you take the right path, your future will be the best.


Note: This interview was part of my part-time work with LiveJam, a nonprofit based out of New Delhi (Now, New York)