I am now back in the Kingdom, safe and sound, and spending time with my wonderful family just before Christmas. As I wrote in my last post, my trip to India has left its impression on me.
Humility,
Sacrifice,
Hospitality,
Service, and
Honor
were some of the key qualities I experienced that left the deep impression on my heart.
College Students
During my first few days, we traveled to many different “hostels” where young people live while they are going to college/school. In these places, we found young men living 30 to a small room and sleeping on the floor. Their few posessions were placed around the walls of the room and their clothes hung up the windows to dry.
Each place we spoke, the boys and men listened to our message with their full attention, moving very little. At the end, most if not all of them responded with prayer and asked us to pray for them as well. Their humility stood out to me.
Leading Them to Surrender to God's Will for Their Lives
Many of them were first generation Christians who had lost much for deciding to follow Jesus Christ. One man who was studying to be an engineer was identified by his friends as their leader. He would not recognize himself, but they pushed him forward.
He told us that he had been disowned by his family for becoming a Christian and they cut him off from his inheritance. He told them, “It is of no value to me anymore, but Jesus is worth it all.” Then he told us that God had comforted him through the scripture that says, “It has been appointed for you to not only believe in Jesus, but to also suffer for His name.” This brought him the courage he needed to press on. Many we met faced these same challenges with similar resolve and strength. To me, this is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. We are willing to face the loss of all things for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ. There is no half-heartedness allowed and these brothers knew it and were walking it out.
Pastors sleeping in Stadium
As we traveled to the field to see the preparations that were taking place for the large outreach, we heard of Pastors who had been working night and day for two months to see this event become a reality. Most were away from their homes for this time, eating whatever was placed before them, and sleeping on whatever spot they could find on the ground. We found many who had been up all night sleeping in the grimy concrete stadium on the ground with nothing under them or on top of them.
At least fifty women had been fasting and praying every day for a month from morning until 3pm for the event. When they pray there is no sound system or worship music in the background, just prayer with weeping. I was able to see some of these women sitting on the floor crying out to God with tears for Him to move in the city and save people. These beautiful women of God were not adorned merely outwardly, but with “a meek and gentle spirit which is precious in the site of God.”
Women Praying
The churches had gathered together to pay for this event and many of the members were sacrificing their gold which is like a savings account for them. The Indian ministry idegenously raised $20,000 to put on the outreach in a city that is six hours drive from its main base. In India, that cost is staggering, but because everyone was sacrificing to reach people who were far from God, it was achieved. At the end of the day, 70,000 people showed up!!
At every home we visited, we were served. Our hosts would serve us a meal and made us eat until we refused to eat anymore. They watched and waited for us to eat then they themselves ate, but in another room. This was their custom we were told. If we mentioned liking something, they would leave to look for it and wouldn’t return until they had it. We had to watch what we said! It seemed that everyone prefered the other before himself. No one wanted to take the best seat. No one wanted to take the best piece of meat. They seemed to want to die before they embarrassed their guest or made them feel uncomfortable. I don’t think this was just Indian culture, but that it was their Christian culture.
As we would travel to churches, we were always warmly received and after we spoke the Word of God people always asked for prayer. Most of them would kneel, others would bow with their face to the ground.
Children Learn Reverence for God From Their Parents
It was most humbling when the Indian Pastors would ask us for prayer. They would be willing to kneel in the dirt, hands on the ground before us to ask US to pray for THEM. Some of these men had been in the ministry for 25 years or more, lived in a thatched grass roof hut as they sacrificed to plant the church in their village. They were the ones paying the price, we were here to learn from them, but they asked us for prayer. It humbled me deeply to see this.
I was only able to hear a few testimonies but the ones I heard were staggering. Dreams, visions of Jesus, deep heartaches before coming to God, supernatural scriptures being given in dreams, being illiterate but only being able to read the Bible, and even raising the dead were just a few of the themes. Many others had suffered the loss of all things for the name of Jesus, but were joyful in the sacrifice. I wish I could have heard many more testimonies. I know there were more to hear, but the time didn’t allow it this time. What I thought about after this was the fact that I would be standing next to these believers in Heaven before God. What would my testimony look like?
Christian Homes At the Base of a Coal Fire Plant
With my own eyes I saw, the places where Pastors were living as they worked to plant a church in a nearby village. We wouldn’t even put our pets outside in such places in America. One place was made of mud and looked like a large oven or igloo. Inside was all of the Pastor’s meager possessions and outside was the nicer “prayer hall” where the new believers gathered to meet. It was basically a shed with open sides and a thatch roof. I wish I could have taken a picture of this, but I was too caught up in the moment to think about it. I was a little shocked.
On the other hand, we met believers who were wealthy and lived at a different standard. One of them was a business man who had a wholesale food business. It wasn’t a large business and it was run out of the back of his home, but it was enough to keep a few of his own shops open as well as supply other local businesses. This man provided 2000 packages of food for the workers of the outreach and a place for us to stay while we were in his city. He joyfully fed us, no-feasted us, until we were ready to explode. He also helped the ministry much and gave as God prospered Him. Still others we met were more highly educated, had “good” paying jobs, and lived in apartments. We also met Indians who had been songwriters and producers from “Bollywood” who had been become Christians within the last few years. They were now using their talents to serve God and bless the Indian people. I guess the point is that everyone we met was all in with the vision and each sacrificed as God led them.
"Ghee Sweets" factory/business at the back of the home of one of the more wealthy believers.
These are just some of the things I saw and learned from. I have not yet talked about the night of the big outreach event and many other things I experienced, so stay tuned for the next installment. Which one of these things do you think would affect you the most if you experienced it?
Living in Thailand, I have talked with a few people about the idea of karma as it relates to what happens when you are “reincarnated.” Buddhists believe that what is done in this life will affect your quality of life in the next. For instance if I am wealthy and able to travel in this life, I may have been an angel in my past life. If I suffer hardship, disease, poverty etc. in the life it was because I did not acquire merit in my past life. If this is not a true representation of karma teaching, it is at least “street theology” from a smart Thai person who considers themselves a Buddhist.
In contrast, Christians believe that we have one life which will soon pass then we will stand before God our creator for judgement. Humans stay human always and only come around once. We don’t believe it because it pleases our ear the best, but because we believe it is true. (Hebrews 9:27)
As I was talking with my friend one day I asked her why most of the rich and globally mobile people of the world were not Buddhists? I didn’t say none of them were, but most are not. Many are a variety of other faiths or have no faith at all. My reasoning went like this, “If I lived a good life in the Buddhist way, gaining merit for myself by doing various good deeds specified by Buddhism, and I came back as a rich Westerner who has no faith in Buddhism or who doesn’t live in a Buddhist majority country, isn’t that counterproductive?
Shouldn’t karma automatically know that I would not be thankful enough to come back as a stronger Buddhist, even as a Buddhist teacher or monk.” Why did I get to come back as a flaming capitalist living in America or Europe or a Saudi Muslim oil billionaire? Of course, I ask these questions “tongue in cheek.”
My other question was, “Isn’t harder to have compassion on someone who is suffering if you believe they actually deserve what they are getting because of their bad deeds in a former life”, to which my friend had no reply except for acknowledging that it does seem that bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people in this life and that it didn’t really make sense.
Finally, I wanted to know if Karma is true then why has the world’s population continued to grow every year? Where are all of the new souls coming from? With all of the bad in the world continually growing and less people turning to Buddhism globally for the help needed to gain a better life next go around, you would think we would have more animals and LESS humans!
Think about the monks who recently got caught up in sex scandals (see article below). Clearly in the Thai Buddhist mind they were well on their way to gaining Nirvana, but then they broke their vows and essentially wiped out their “merit bank account” practically guaranteeing that they come back as an amoeba, a protozoa, or some other sub creature! Now they have to start all over climbing the karma ladder when they were oh so close!!
To be fair, Christians do believe in what we call the “law of sowing and reaping” which basically says that we will reap what we sow, whether in this life or at the judgment of God. If we sow to the sinful nature we will reap death, but if we sow to the Spirit, we will reap life. This article sums up the Bible’s teaching best:
Job 4:8 says, “As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.” Psalm 126:5 says, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” Luke 12:24 says, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” In each of these instances, as well as all the other references to reaping and sowing, the act of receiving the rewards of your actions takes place in this life, not in some future life. It is a present-day activity, and the references make it clear that the fruit you reap will be commensurate with the actions you have performed. In addition, the sowing you perform in this life will affect your reward or punishment in the afterlife.
This afterlife is not a rebirth or a reincarnation into another body here on earth. It is either eternal suffering in hell (Matthew 25:46) or eternal life in heaven with Jesus, who died so that we might live eternally with Him. This should be the focus of our life on earth. The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:8-9, “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
We must always remember that it was Jesus whose death on the cross resulted in the reaping of eternal life for us, and that it is faith in Jesus that gives us this eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Therefore, we see that the concept of reincarnation and karma is incompatible with what the Bible teaches about life, death, and the sowing and reaping of eternal life.
To me, this is what makes sense.
What about you? How do you view it? If you have a belief in karma determining your lot in a next life, how do you answer my honest, though tongue in cheek, questions?
The Thai people have been dealing with Buddhist monk scandals for a while now. But scandals involving alcohol, drugs, sex, and these men of the orange cloth have been popping up with more frequency lately.
In the age of the internet and video, what was once confined to a local village issue is not being broadcast throughout the country and even the world. Most Thai’s are deeply embarrassed by these stories, but they are also beginning to question the motives of the ones who are looked at by many as the examples of morality and spirituality in the kingdom.
The two most recent stories coming out may have rocked the faith of many even further given the grievous nature of the incidents. read more…
We have finally transitioned into our new home and have wi-fi…woo hoo! It only took about a month.
Alot of my time has been spent making this new house a home for my wife and boys and I feel like I have accomplished that goal… (three pats on the back for me) I can honestly say that even though our new place is not like our former home, there is much more peace here. After four moves in seven months, I am glad to just finally be done with all of the lifting, painting, purchasing, cleaning, and organizing.
I am taking it all in stride though. Everything in this first year has been a lesson for me. I can see the hand of God in all things these past few months, even in what seems to be like delays and distractions. I am really learning alot about myself, trust, patience, perserverance, faith, and all of those other life lessons we might love to skip out on if possible.
What always keeps me pressing forward, besides the grace of God and my awesome family and friends, is the cool things that are happening in the lives of Thai people around us. Here are a few recent things:
-New believers are being baptized,
-People are hearing the Gospel for the very first time…ever,
-University students from other nations are being saved,
-Prisoners are experiencing the freedom of Jesus,
-Doors of opportunity are opening in new villages,
-Wisdom for new outreaches is being received,
-Thai People are testifying of God doing miracles for them, and
-Underground believers in a restricted nation are being encouraged in practical ways.
So for these reasons and more, we continue to press on for the hope what is yet to come for this place.
What is it that has motivated you and driven you through the difficult times of transition in your own life? I would love to hear…
During one of our stops, we were clandestinely brought into a home where a group of believers meets. There we met with a group who had been faithfully meeting for some time. Their desire was to eventually be recognized by the government as an official church, so they made an application. They had not heard anything as of yet, but they told us that they had been working hard to demonstrate that they were a group that could be trusted in their community. Our Lao contact felt that while this was certainly to be respected, he encouraged them to stand firm in their faith no matter what the outcome. They were already a “church” that had been accepted and received by Jesus Christ. They were accepted and authorized by Him!
As we spoke with them, we could not help but overhear a loud wailing coming from outside. The members seemed to try and ignore it, but it was nearly impossible. As our friends talked in Lao and Thai, we were getting a little lost in translation. Eventually we were able to hear the story of what was going on. read more…
Remember Us.
*Update: This recently released news story from Compass Direct matches with the first hand story I just shared about persecution, threats, denial of medical care, schooling for children, etc: Click Here to Learn More.
“One brother asked for us to come. This brother NEEDS us to come.” This is what our Lao contact said to us as we headed to our new destination to encourage a family that was facing real life persecution for being Christian.
The villagers had already shut off access to water and kept their son from attending school as a way to force them out of the village. The boy was now very sick and needed to see a doctor, but the village doctor refused to see him and the drug store owner refused to sell the parents medicine. As the parents searched desperately for a solution, they contacted their brother in Christ to come and help them.
This would be one of many real life dramas we would encounter on our journey throughout the countryside of Laos. read more…
Once we decided to go to Laos, it seemed like everything tried to work against us to keep us from going. My friend Freddy got a high fever and a very bad stomach flu the day before we were supposed to leave. My landlady had also just told us that we would have to move within ten days which was only a couple of days after I was set to return from the trip. It seemed that hell was breaking loose on us at once. We came to the conclusion that this resistance was even more proof that we were doing the right thing in taking this trip.
The night before we our meet up, we prayed for Freddy’s healing. He got up the next day and headed up to meet us in Udon Thani. As he soldiered forward, he progressively got better. Before leaving, I had talked with my wife about our situation and we both felt we would deal with the situation when I returned. In some way, I knew that everything would work itself out. And eventually it did. After I returned, my landlady gave us another month and a half in the house before we needed to move which was just enough time to get into our next home.
Getting Ready to Cross the Border
Freddy came to Thailand from Cambodia with the intention of going into Laos. When he mentioned the trip to me, I felt strongly that I wanted to go, so I began to make plans. Freddy found our Thai contact through a friend of a friend from Cambodia. This Pastor then connected us with our contact in Laos. Freddy also invited an older Thai man who spoke good English to come with us as our interpreter. One brother who was thinking of coming with us backed out at the last moment and it turned out to be a good thing. We would not have had a seat for him in the truck we traveled in. We later saw that if another one of us would have backed out of the trip, it would not have been possible for the rest of us to go. Everything had to line up so that this trip could be accomplished.
Once we arrived at the border, our interpreter was only able to get a three day visa because his passport was within six months of expiring. Another hurdle for us to overcome that cut our trip by a few days from our original plans. After we met our contact in Laos, our plans changed on the spot. We were going in the exact opposite direction that we talked about going. Not only that, but our ministry plans had changed and both Freddy and I were beginning to feel that we might have to separate and go our own way. read more…
I recently returned from a trip to the country of Laos where I was able to see and learn so much. I want to invite you to come with me into this modern day story of those who are paying a high price for their faith in the Lord Jesus.
For the sake of protection I will be general in description of people, places, and timing. It is my hope that you will be challenged and encouraged by these stories, and energized to pray for and support our brothers and sisters who live in this reality every day.
Let me start things off with a little background first.
Laos is a very diverse tribal country of over 6 million people with over 90 languages. Over 80% of the population makes their living from subsistence farming. The average income is only 1.3% of the median income for America which comes out to about $1.00 per day.
The forces of globalization and modernization have long left this country behind. The majority of the people living know very little, if anything, of the modern materialistic life being lived out in the mega cities of the world and in the West. Even the Northeast of Thailand, which is the poorest area of our country, seemed to be modern compared to what I saw and experienced in the countryside of Laos.
The country gained independence in 1954 when the French were defeated by Vietnamese and Lao communists. The Communist party is still in control of the government to this day. After the Vietnam War, Laos gained the dubious distinction of being the most bombed country in the world because of the ordinance dropped on it by the US, 30% of which was left unexploded. The battles fought in Laos during the Vietnam War has come to be known as the “Secret War.”
Major persecution of the Christian church by the communists began after the pull out of 1975 and continues on to the present time. Although Christians number less than 2% of the population, Christianity has been declared the NUMBER ONE enemy of the state. According to Open Doors, Laos ranks in the top ten most persecuted countries in the world for Christians. On our journey, we heard first hand reports of imprisonment, torture, and murder. I will share a few of these stories in my next posts.
Though the government allows a “registered” church to exist, mainly in the capital city; evangelism, church planting, and new building is against the law. Most, if not all of these registered churches, were in existence prior to 1975. Still many have been shut down and their buildings have been destroyed by the government. Others have been infiltrated by government spies who report on any growth and “illegal” evangelistic activities.
Laotian Leader Praying With Us
Despite the heavy restriction of religious freedom, there is a growing underground movement led by indigenous Lao and tribal leaders who are taking responsibility to see that the Good New of Jesus Christ goes to their whole nation. They carry the burden of their people daily and live to see them come to know the freedom that is found in Jesus Christ.
They carry out their mission in secret knowing that any moment they could be found out and suffer the consequences along with their families. Many have already been imprisoned, tortured, and lost their families because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
To me, they are modern day heroes of whom Hebrews 11:37-38 says, “the world was not worthy of them.”
