Light of the workplace - Christmas worship service at Dara Academy 2014

Teachers of various departments sing anthem 

Last evening I had the opportunity to escort my mother to Dara Academy's Christmas worship service, well actually it's my main responsibility as my her driver : ). This was my first time to participate in this service so it was quite special for me but it must have been more important for the one i'm driving for. My mother after serving as a teacher and the principle for more than thirty years, she now attends as a retired teacher. I have changed jobs and visited my previous workplace for various occasions and for each single time it felt differently but I could not imagine my mother's feelings last night. Visiting her former workplace where she spent most her career serving. Perhaps a mixture of joy, relief, longing or even regret was erupting inside her heart. An exclusive sensation only for those baby boomer, whose loyalty belongs to only one organization through out their working lives. Such a  practice no longer exist in the current self center World. People in at least my generation (I am in the middle of X and Y) promptly leave their post when ever a better offer is propose. Some may consider this professionalism as we can see in modern commercial sports, teams trade their players like stocks. It is an exercise of optimization and effectiveness but in contrary it is also an execution of dedication and empathy. 

Anyway time pass and the World changes, every generations have their tasks to achieve and challenge to overcome but where ever we as Christian are placed, we must be the light of God as the last night sermon emphasized. Christmas is about love and God's grace and we must pass on such love and grace to others who are around us. Ironically many so called Christians have did the opposite to their colleagues and conducts such act that resembles those who scold Jesus in his last day before the cross. In any workplace or phase of life we are in our purpose in Christ is to be the light of God to others that include those unlikable people in our workplace. A mission so hard that most of us unconsciously try to ignore. The good news is Christmas will always be there to reminds us of this timeless mission. So let the Christmas season not only be a season of gifts and joy. May it also be a time to remind ourselves reignite ourselves the light of love and let it burn brightly through out the coming year. 

Mathew 5:15-16 "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven".

2014 AFF Championship and Reconciliation

The Thai National team win the AFF Suzuki Cup 2014

The 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup meant a lot for us Thais. It was our first championship from a twelve year absent. The win sparked the national football fever and granted a legendary status to the team's coach, Police Lieutenant Kiatisuk "Zico" Senamuang. Whose journey started from a remote village footballer into 15 years of playing service for the national team and now the head coach of a young and winning Thai team.   

Kiatisuk Senamuang
Now a legendary player and coach

More over from such hype what I found new is the interaction between internet users from most the tournament's participation countries. When ever the AFF cup's official YouTube channel posted a video of matches played, then comments section would be flooded with bluffs starting from the funny appreciations to harsh insults. Interestingly many Thai social website posted selected translations of some of the comments written by our neighbors. Most of them were nice and touching but some provoked the extreme hardcore which stared a long going debate and cyber bullying, in the end some people were asking for "Peace and Love" among these ASEAN web users. I personally was happy to see how technology helped us to freely communicate with our neighbor countries (It took weeks for a post card in the old days) but also felt sad of how many treat such blessing with out care.

Diversity is something that we have to accept. I am studying Theology in a class mixed with various nationalities, religious background and denominations. The Class had and will continue to have debates but up until now I have learned to accept these differences opinions. This reminds me of my pastor's sermon during this year's Candle light Christmas about "Reconciliation". You can reach reconciliation only if you have learned how to accept diversity. A practice of learning how to lean towards the thoughts of others (which might be irritating to you) while standing firm in yours.   

This 2014 AFF cup did started an AEC community and hopefully it will be a smooth transition while we learn and accept other cultures (not only the food) from our neighboring countries. Learn to love things that we might hate because in the end we are all sinful humans. 

2 Corinthians 5:19-21
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Note: Pictures are from www.thenationmultimedia.com

The unknown missionary

 

Acharn Austin House sermon about the unknown missionary.

Acts 11:19-26

20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

The unknown name missionaries

The story about Kru Chai Ma as he went to Laos to evangelize the Kamu people and was successful he came back to Thailand and star in the movie Chang. Later he went back to Laos but due to loneliness he committed adultery in 1915 he came back to Nan and confessed to the missionary and the reconcile with the church, which also confess that they did not take care and prepare him well enough as they sent him to be their alone. They both forgive and was forgiven. That was the true meaning of the gospel

The truth is we are weak as human and need God to empower us. We must recognize our sin and keep hold on our faith. Even though we sin we must not stop our relationship with God. Be humble there is no loosening face with God.

Answering 4th graders.

4th graders from Prem international school. Little guys with big questions.

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-3

Today a class of 4th grade students from Prem International school (http://ptis.threegeneration.org) came to
visit us. They are learning about world religions. Associate Pastor Sirikanya and I hosted them in the church prayer room. They had lots of questions. Some were very interesting such as;


Student: "When was God born?"
Me: "Well no one knows, but we trust that he was born before the beginning"

Student "Was God created by the Big Bang?"
Me: "Umm...Actually I think he was the one who created the Big Bang?"

Student: "Where is heaven?"
Me: "Some where good, which no one actually knows. If i went there i would try to come back and tell you"

Student: "Why did God have to choose Jesus to come and Die?"
Me: "Jesus is his son, yeah i know it is a little hard to understand that"

Student: "Why is it the cross?"
Me: "It was used to kill people who were not Roman citizen at that time"

They were a lot more questions, some were very amazing. But I found it very hard to clearly explain how i really felt about Jesus. How much God love us sinners, how much God had to sacrifice and how much pain Jesus had endure to them. It really makes me think that i should be more involve in Sunday school.

Well at least to learn more how to communicate with these cute little fellows.:)

Funeral service

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.-2 Corinthians 5:6-8 

Today i had the join the pastor team to pick up a body at the hospital and to the church to do the ceremony.

To be honest i have very few experience about funerals and only twice in my life that i intend the ceremony at the morgue.

I was shaken a bit (well a lot actually). This is really like a call check for me. Since this is one of the pastor's duties.

I once asked my Myanmar friend John "Have you ever carried a corpse?" His replied "Well all the time friend"
Hopefully if it is God's will i might get use to it someday.

Also i learned that there are a bunch of things that a pastor have to ask the host.

Accumulations;
The Cross - Do they need an extra cross in front of the coffin?
Cover cloth - Also for the coffin
Do they need a money box for offering and a lock?
What do they want to put on the service left let?

Time schedule;
When will the night service start? (In Thailand we do night services normally starting from 07.30 pm to 08:00 pm)
When will they finish on the last day? We normally have a final service during noon at the church on the last day then we will move the body to the crematory.

Host treat;
Normally the host will provide a snack after the night service but on the last day noon service it is an option to provide lunch or not?

Crematory;
Which crematory they choose?
What do they want to do with the bones? Some keep some release in water.

Man power;
Do they need the church musician?
Do they need church volunteer to lift the coffin?

Musicians
Who will provide the truck on the final day
Who will lift the coffin?

Mission-Passion-Context a lesson learnt

My presentation about cross culture

I had the opportunity to speak about cross culture missions yesterday. I tried my best to prepare the slides and was excited to share about cross cultural mission. And close was to our churches but things happen differently as I struggle with my condense animation power point and lost confident because I couldn't connect with the majority of the audiences,who didn't quite understand my point. Most people felt that there is still a lot of need around our neighborhood why should they be concern about cross culture.

After the meeting i was in low spirit but didn't have much time morn because i had to rush to see a movie with my family. We watch a Thai film name "Teacher Diary" or "Kid-Teung-Wittaya". A story inspired by a true story about two teachers who tough in a very remote school above a dam in Lumphoon province. They had to cope with many obstacles, hardship and rethinking about their passion. They were connected through a diary the first one (the heroine) left and the later(the hero) continue to write on. It was a Love story but I learnt many things about "Mission", "Passion" and "Context".

In the movie a student left school to help his father as a fisherman. The heroine tried to point out the importance of education to both the kid and father but i was the her own student that point out that what would education help him in his daily life as a fisherman, our heroine was devastated that she failed her "Mission" and her lost "Passion". She gave up and left the school. A year later the second teacher (the hero) found about this kid through the diary and went to this student house and beg to his father to allow him back to school when the kid asked what will school do for him? Our hero replied "you will be a fisherman that is hard to be fooled". The kid returned to school and even after another year of failed exam he succeed in the following year.

I realized I was like the heroine, felt that i had a "Mission" and "Passion" but i still didn't understood the "Context" and how to communicate my point in a way that other people could relate to. I still have a lot and must be patient and ask God to open my heart and prepare me for the Mission, Passion with in the Context that he will use me in.    

You can never get rid of all the weeds!

The recent weeks or perhaps months I have been suffering from a vicious circle of feeling attached to God then --> falling to sin --> feeling guilty to ask for forgiveness --> feeling insecure --> seeking for God very hard --> feeling attached and it goes on and on again.

I struggle and i tried but in the end their seems to be sins that i could not conquer even how hard i try. I feel very bad of myself, feeling that i let God down again and again.

I consulted my mentor and he said life is not about living sin free life it is more about being sensitive to them and being able to confront them more and more through living and spiritual growing.

Father Tommy, an Indian priest who is visiting our campus gave me an interesting illustration.

"If life is like a garden. No matter how much you try you will never get rid of all the weeds. Instead if you focus more on planting flowers everyday in the end those flower will occupy most of you life".

In the end it really remind me of the Lord's prayer.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debt as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:11-13)

As we should pray and thank God for our everyday meal. It is also necessary to ask for a daily forgiveness. That means we may sin everyday but a healthy Christian would sense it, regret and confess and try every given day to be a better person, moving closer to GOD.

Talking to one's self

"Talking to one's self by Cake (Sleepy circle)

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27)


This picture was drawn by my fellow student "Cake" from the M.div Thai section. She named it "Talking to one's self" she drew it while listening to a Thai song with the same name. 
She posted it on Facebook today and i was so amazed how great this picture is. 
How amazing people are! We all still struggle with sin but we all still have great things with us. If man who has fall down so badly in sin can create such marvel then how great our creator is?

McGilvary Work Camp 2014

2014 Mcgilvary School of divinity work Camp
Photo from @Pual Cabincrew 

Mcgilvary School of divinity work camp has started yesterday. Most of my fellow students endured a 5 hours travel to Hyuahom (ห้วยห้อม) church Amphor Mae La Noi in Mae Hong Son province. The main objectives during this 12-15 March camp are to build a small room and teach some English. Also for the community to spend time together and learn new cultures. I will join them on Saturday and Sunday.