Live by Faith, Not by Sight

Thais say "We believe what we see"
คนไทยกล่าวว่า "เชื่อในสิ่งที่เห็น"

Most peoples judge what they see outside.

Acts 10:34 – "God shows no partiality"

Hebrews 11:1 – "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Romans 12:2 – "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind"

Normal christian life : Live by FAITH, NOT by SIGHT

Thailand & Colonialism

After ending of GCYC. There’s a wonder in my mind about nations. Why pples from nations around Thailand speak foreign language fluently? In spite of Cambodia & Vietnam. I’ve found some reason from WikiPedia and quote interesting few sentences here.

"Although English is widely taught in schools, proficiency is low." [Thailand]
"Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power."
"Thailand was never colonised by a European power."

Let’s see the map of "World empires colonies territory" below and tell me what you see from asian region?

Yeah…You see that’s true! … I ever thought that pride of thai pples about this & nationalism is SIN and that’s why we can’t develop communication as much as we should. However, I realize the cultural pattern of other countries. Their original feature have been swallowed in the meantime of later generation by european conception. Finally, they all demanded for independence. In the present, my foreign friends still confuse which way of culture they are walking. How is it important in the globalized world!?

As the map…how is it possible that our country eludes from Colonialism?  We have not many chance to practise or use English as crown colony but we can speak our language widely & freely. Let’s be proud without sin..why we gotta force ourself to lose worthy culture. Believe me…Thais are not stupid to reject learning good things such as English. I just want to present the world why we poorly use other languages & it’s not our fault. We are trying!!

 

One thing I’m worried now, it’s about faith instead. Thais normally think that Jesus is religious philosopher. It makes me think of book of Daniel & Ephesians which mention about principalities, rulers of darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Thailand is the land of freedom but first missionary came here 100 years ago. There’s a wondrous information from WikiPedia. "Christians, mainly Catholics, represent 0.75% of the population". What happen?? We may pray not enough to break strongholds of Principalities. We gotta do something to remove the hiding power on freedom. Let’s turn the world upside down!  Plz pray for our country…

GCYC – Gateway Cities Youth Convention 2006 (V)

This is the ending of conference. I felt nervous a bit to hear that some friends will go back today. Just short time but it seems we’re bound by the love of same God. So we gotta ask them for giving us emails & take some photos together. They’re from 4-5 countries…Cambodia, Japan, Vietnam & Malaysia which will leave here today.

In the afternoon, we drew lots to join group. We’ve got only 10$ for shopping & walked along the map. Someone incited us to try "Lak-Sa" [2$ per spoon ]. Its taste is similar to Thai noodle (Ka nom Jeen). I like visiting decrepit house in between walking. We gave the old mans the breads that we had bought from store & sang SLALU [Hit song of GCYC from Indo] in english version.  When we tried durian cake from famous store. Two japanese gals looked like shocking for its taste! I never smelt strong like this as well. There’s no "Mon Tong" (Golden Pillow) durian in Singapore but it’s all Sha-ni. That’s why it’s so smelly!

Finally, we got the destination & made the sign of GCYC on the sand. We produced MV Slalu at the beach with the coconut trees. Really amusing! We’re given a BBQ…umm  very sweeeeet. After finish, Pastor Hee Guan came to talk about G12 accidentally. I believe this’s from God to let us know more the overview of new system. I forgot to have a supper & let Safus participate in this conversation. It’s good idea but I can’t belong all aspect cuz never try once. At the night, I wanna keep away from pples to seek God but I enjoyed talking too much.  This night everyone aimed to say goodbye to japanese friends cuz every nations showed impression bout this country on the stage!

Later day, I woke up from strange dream & went to Sentosa with Thai friends in the morning. We paid only 3$ to get inside & take a lot of photos. Artificial beach is so beautiful but we know that’s not real.  Kae made an appointment with her new singaporean friend. So, we had a camera boy to help us take it wherever we would. Joyce can lead us to Simlim in the afternoon but someone want to buy instant noodle of Korea!!!  near Little India. I started to know the meaning of the last dream. No glad to…[…]

We [Kae, Joyce & Terence] wasted more time to wait for them without leaving to another place cuz we could not find & let them know that. By the time we reached Simlim, the time is gonna run out of this day. Anyways, Thank God to teach about LOVE, endurance  rejoice tho it’s really boring. Before our leaving, there’re delegates from few countries who didn’t go back yet. So we could say goodbye them, Sri Langka, Filipino & Chinese.

I must miss you & hope that next times I can join warm meeting again.  Plz pray for Thailand cuz I pray for you all countries. You are in my prayer every nights. Thank you sisters & brothers in Jesus Christ from every nations. Especially thanks Singaporean friends for any welcome & taking care. You are very humble. Welcome you too. If you will be in Thailand, plz ask me to help you anything you would. May God bless you to walk in the LOVE of Jesus, all the rest of life! Bye Bye Bye …  – THANK GOD –

GCYC – Gateway Cities Youth Convention 2006 (IV)

I cannot remember what happen this day correctly.

Umm…I’m trying to recall  … Last night, gal from some church in BKK asked us helping to argue with her leader that youth should be presenter for country today. Yeah…we had prayed before went to her leader’s room. I plainly asked this adult why u don’t deliver this business to youth for presenting. She instantly answered me it’s leader’s duty. Yeah…but it should be leader who is still youth, not adult. She said that nobody can speak English well.  OK…I know what happen lah…it’s enough, then I left there.

Today, No wonder why my friends & I were disappionted presentation of our country very much.  We consulted each other that non-youth (adult) should not trouble this issue at all.  Youths had to take order from her & cannot offer any creative idea. Presented 5 strongholds are not main problems in Thailand. That’s why singaporean staffs informed thai coordinator that no need adult to come along with youth delegates.  Anyways, we could not solve this problem cuz senior woman came from different church. Dont wanna take umbrage among us!

Joyce & Jean joined the conference in the afternoon & gave me  a sunflower.  THANK you! In the praying time, I went out before stage & 2 pastors prayed for me. A pastor gave me a prophetic message which is quite important for encoragement. Thank God! [I still forget which cities present today?]

About 3 pm. we all went to near beach to have a dinner together. Thais are very freindly for all foreigners, make friend, enjoy talking, etc… If I remember correctly, tonight was all about China. We received information bout China & pray for them.  It seemed like we all should ask God to open the eyes & get big vision for this country especially. Umm…I hope to get there for evangelism but I heard that chinese christians are very strong in faith & larger than Thai christians. If God  want to use me, He will reveal His purpose someday. I’m really glad cuz it’s country of my mother

In this night, I tried to seek God but the body’s weary so much. Anyways, God let me know something about the nations & coming of Jesus via book of Isiah. Before devotional time, I had talked to young gal leader from VN, she prayed for extension of last judgement. I don’t think so cuz 2 Peter 3:12 guide us to haste the time of the Lord and I believe that is very soon. Another reason is John 12:25…I agree this verse much long time ago.

GCYC – Gateway Cities Youth Convention 2006 (III)

First presenting from Malaysia. They’re pretty all and did good job.  I can’t remember what the second is.

Tonight, Japanese youth pastor asked for forgiveness to China for WWII. Then, Pastor Kong called chinese delegates to bow down before them & speak to forgive Japan. Special feeling touched in my soul while we all prayed for this 2 nations. I cried  for China so much cuz I ever read a lot of book from chinese writers who died in the jail [Watchman Nee is my favorite chinese writer. He wrote many stories which broken down my heart  for Jesus, very deep in spiritual revelation. I ever read "Heveanly Man" of Ps Yun who fought for the gospel in China as well.] and I also cried  for Japan cuz they’re in the same situation like Thailand. We serve God among religious nation & it seems difficult to release peoples from their sins while they still worship idol & unknown God.  Prayer requests had interesting topic…they need supernatural incidents!

My heartbeats  are certainly about evangelism. Especially, when I sing  "We speak to nations fall on your knees".  This is my calling to tell the world about living God, JESUS. (I wanna shout "You must bow down & worship Jesus") Some pastor told me that everyone is called to preach good news. Yep…I think so but they don’t get our situation in Thailand what difference between massive and personal calling is. We have too little bit of christian. [1% th & 20% sg – different passion] The country which is free but hard to win their soul by our own strength. We need miracles from up above to prove fatherless person know that Jesus is still living.  I cannot do but everything is possible by God!

Mike Francen & T.L. Osborn mention "A miracle settles the issue" & once miracle is better than thousand sermons.

In the canteen, thais threw the party of MaMa (famous brand of instant noodle from Thailand) in late night. Even I felt sleepy  … I met younger brother from Vietnam  whom we had exchanged international MaMa before this time. We talked about how to become christian & the calling. He testified about pocket money to come to Singapore.  He had nothing to pay for plane ticket & asked the Lord about 100$ USD but God gave him more than 1000$ USD instead. Amazing??!!! God is GREAT!

GCYC – Gateway Cities Youth Convention 2006 (II)

We quickly had a breakfast before leaving home and congregate at the Expo. We were welcomed every service, English, Mandarin & Youth, for blessed prayers. I touched the powerful presence of God within the hall. In the mandarin service, I saw a little girl dropped her tears & soaked up Holy Spirit. I know her name later "ZungZung" from China. This makes me long to study mandarin seriously cuz my friends told me that the worship song in mandarin can give us greater feeling than english. It will rise from the deepest soul. Yeah…I hope to worship God deeper, more & more.

 

We looked around all booths of nations, very interesting. I wondered why Malaysian guys & gals look like us (chinese) cuz I imagined them all of my life that they’re like Arabian people but they all are absolutely not! BTW, many many pples greeted me such a chinese gal LOL Yeah…my mom is chinese but I’m Thai-Chinese khaaa.

 

In the opening of conference at dinner room, when we sang "And as we worship build Your throne", I started to cry cuz everybody cried out in their own languages. I sang in Thai with overwhelming peace & felt about the glory of Jesus through all friends in that room. Even we all came from many nations, we can worship the same one God, same song. It’s awesome!

 

Tonight, we made new friend with a lot of them. No-Jo-Me from Japan is friendly person and welcome us to stay in Japan sincerely 5555 but we more welcome all to Thailand lah cuz we’ve still got only 1% of christian. We need more missionaries & moving of Holy Spirit as well.

GCYC – Gateway Cities Youth Convention 2006 (I)

Hi…friends from 10 nations [Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippine, Sri-Lanka & Thailand]

First of all, Thank God…Jehovah Jireh, who prepared everything when I lived in Singapore. Thank for hospitality, sincerity & all taking care of Singaporean friends.

Early day, I went along with Joyce (my host ^_^) to see her sister’s baptism. It’s surprise for me cuz the pool is on the 2nd floor & everybody can see it! — LOL — We worshipped & looked at new 500 christians drowned under water at the same time. I can say "This is wonderful worship" since this first times in FCBC hall.

Latter day, we early woke up to take  City Walk for celebration of Singapore.  It’s an experience that I will never ever forget it! I will welcome them to walk around Bangkok when they visit Thailand. They’re so strong to persist long-walking and let the sun burn in the midday.  We took a break for lunch at Marina sqare & continued shopping around Little India. Everything is very cheap but nothing interesting lah. Suddenly, we all gotta dodged the rain at Indian Restaurant. Grace asked for chicken with green sauce (I forgot about bird flu) & I got salty yogert! Its flavor is alright but when I tried indian coffee-tea of Jean, I started to flush & shock! After that, I got cold & felt sick all time in Singapore!!!

At dinner, I really love Joyce’s mom. There’re many rewards on the stand from cooking contest. This time I was taking meal from the winner!  That made me feel better than this afternoon but my body still shook a bit.

Nightly, we went to Night Safari & met Safus & Jeab there. (just a few minutes) They all were excited with night animals.  I love it if I didn’t get cold cuz my mind without any feeling but felt cold all this trip, sooo sadddd. Anyways, they took a lot of pictures for us, especially the zebra! — LOL