Traveler's Checks vs. Cashier's checks

So Tracy and I have been extremely blessed by so many people who helped out in contributing to our car fund!  We are feel so loved by so many people.  We actually met our goal!  I had communicated with my mom to bring me cashier's checks so we can purchase the vehicle.  You see I was confused and for a moment I thought they were interchangeable.  So when my mom and sister came and I took the checks to the bank I was very surprised when I heard that it would take 4-6 weeks to have the check cleared...my heart sank.  I was to return home with a large sum of money and I thought I would be able to get a vehicle for my family by the weekend.  I went home and broke the news to Tracy...we were both heart broken.  I admitted to her that I needed to repent...I had idolized this vehicle, thought it would rescue my family and make our lives so much more convenient...and thus better.  As I knelt by my bed that afternoon and asked The Lord to forgive me of my idolatry...I felt a peace of our future.  So here we are waiting...and enjoying life!  Jesus is so good to my family and I...and He is showing me so much as I wait on Him.

Cecil

Sharing life

So I have learned so much about how The Lord works in the past 13 years of being close to Him.  One is that He always bring just the right people in my path, at just the right time.  When I was 21 years old I lived in Lima, Peru for 5 months and without even looking for it He brought college age Christians in my life.  When I was in Vancouver, BC He brought guys like Rhyson and Arnold in my life to be a great source of encouragement and men who would allow me to pour into their lives but were men who were rich in the Word as well.  Here in Thailand there are many people that I have been blessed to know.  I will mention two of them.  To the far right is a young man named Jay.  Jay is a missionary here for the states and he and his family have been here almost a year and a half.  He goes to the same language school as we do, the truth is ever since I've met him I have been really impressed with his Thai.  Recently our families have become good friends, they have two little boys as well.  The amazing thing is The Lord brought Spy into my life--the young man in the middle--and since he speaks little English and my Thai is still at a basic level I have had a difficult time communicating with him at a deeper level.  Recently he has been going through a very difficult time in life and Jay has been a huge blessing as he has ministered to Spy and translated to me when I needed it.  We recently had coffee together and I was able to share with Spy part of my story growing up, and that if after being in Thailand for 10 years if the only life that was changed was his...it'll all be worth it.  As I shared this with Him, with tears in my eyes, I was so honored for his friendship and willingness to allow me to be part of his life.  I honestly couldn't have communicated the heart of my message without Jay.  The Lord certainly gives you exactly what you need...exactly when you need it!

Cecil

Most Misused Verses

                                            

So just finished reading this book, and it was a pretty good book and very informative.  Some of the verses he went through were: "Do not judge, or you will be judged." Matthew 7:1. This was fun for me to go through.  Truth is before I read this book I learned that many Christians, and non-Christians for that matter, misinterpreted and misused this verse quite frequently actually.  Usually is quoted when someone does want to hear a rebuke, or what they are doing is wrong...many times it's usually when a guy is sleeping with his girlfriend, or someone is feeling uncomfortable about a situation or conflict has been raised.  That isn't what this verse means at all.  In fact, we see Jesus exhorted his disciples to take the "plank out of their own eye so they can see clearly to take the plank out of their neighbors eye."  We also see through Proverbs how "many kisses come from the enemy--flattery and fake compliments--but faithful are the wounds of a friend."  It also says that, "a foolish man thinks himself right in his own eyes but a wise man seeks counsel."  Yet another one shall we, "rebuke a fool and he will curse(hate) you but rebuke a wise mine and he will become wiser."  In the New Testament we see many examples of believers being called to exhort, admonish, challenge and even rebuke our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are also called to watch out for the wolves and to call out false teachers.  More and more I see this done less and less.  I see a great fear and battle going on in the hearts of men and we on I know who love Jesus.  Many have "fear of man" issues.  Many seek the "approval of man rather than the approval of God."  Jesus Christ himself says, "woe to you when all men speak well of you."  We are called to "judge."  The apostle Paul makes it clear on the letter to the Corinthians that we are called not to judge those outside the Church but those in the Church.  We are called not to judge their hearts or motives-only Jesus knows those--but we are called to judge the words and actions.  I know many say, but it needs to be done "in love."  What they really mean is it needs to be done being ultra sensitive, politically correct, overly nice, indirect, subtle, with your voice low, head bowed, and posture insecure.  I agree it needs to be done in "love" but that's not always loving...I see love as being personified and portrayed perfectly in Jesus...and I didn't see him take that posture too often.  He had boldness, strength, authority and a confidence about him that sadly many followers that I have met don't have.  Many times the language He used was so stark, harsh, and strong many would deem it as inappropriate and "un-Christian!"  Truth is I desperately want to be like Christ...I want to follow Him...and I want to live for His approval, rather than men.

Cecil

Driving anxiously

So this picture kind of emotional state I was in earlier this week as I was driving to pick up our boys.  A friend offered me his manual transmission truck to pick up the boys from school.  To be perfectly honest I was praying the whole time.  I actually haven't driven in Thailand at all and we have lived here for 6 months.  Grateful The Lord protected us and we made it home in one piece.  The picture is an accurate description if my emotional state.  Ita like riding a bike really...just need to keep at it.

Cecil

Beseech...

My friend suggested to me recently that I pray before I venture out with our family each day.

And I've been thinking about that a lot.
A lot...
Thinking about my prayers for our family...

I have been praying.  I can say without any intended exaggeration that I have committed a serious prayer to the Lord every time I have left the house on my bike since we got here in December.

And at the time, or before too much time I pray to Him while crossing through our gate from our property to the street.
And I pray at the first speed bump.
And at the guard shack, while leaving our neighbourhood, with either kid in the seat behind, I earnestly plead.
I beseech the Lord.

I pray for safety.  I pray we will not be hurt.  I pray that THIS DAY will not be THE day.

And when we get to where we're going...  I pray.  And I thank God.  And I say, "YOU did that Jesus."  YOU cleared the road.  YOU kept my tires from veering.  YOU made the other drivers see us.  YOU did that.  And Cecil and I celebrate with a high-five and a shout a praise to God.

I had been praying that we could see Jesus' work here and be ASTONISHED and that we could (like John) "BEHOLD the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!"

When we return home from some place.  I AM astonished.  And so thankful.  And I don't ever want to take his protection for granted.  And I know I have BEHELD the very Lamb of God.

But what about when I DO get hurt while I'm out?  What about the cuts and bruises and falls and tears?
I've been wondering...  What about THOSE?

If I pray for safety, then why does stuff still happen?

I'm still thankful.  Thankful the falls aren't as bad as they could have been.
Glad we fell into the bush and not into a ditch.
Glad it was me, and not our friend who was pregnant and riding while she was in language school.

 Glad the kids are always not only unharmed, but sometimes not even phased.

Brings me around to another lesson I've learned many times.  That the answer to my prayer isn't always what I expected.

Does this story end happy and wrapped up in a nice little red bow?  Not yet.

I just wanted to bring you into a quandary I've had with the Lord this week.

And when I was thinking about my prayers, I realized for the first time today.....
that I've been BESEECHING him.
 BESEECHING.

I leave the neighbourhood and ask him... for our lives.

And I know it may seem a silly or at least strange thing to pray.
I just feel that if HE DOESN'T protect us and actually PRESERVE our very lives....  than we won't be.

Psalm 116:4

Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I beseech You, save my life!”

well.........  just a glimpse into my mind's pursuits.

-Tracy

Glory

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! (John 17:20-24 NLT)

This is part of Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17.  Truly a phenomenal section of scripture.  I remember the first time I heard this passage preached was at a college retreat at Hartland Christian Camp.  Galen Norsworthy invited a friend of his Bert Downs, former president of Western Theological seminary, now the chancellor of Western.  He preached about how followers of Jesus have His glory...it was so impactful.  I couldn't believe it.  A guy like myself who grew up without a father, insecure, without much money or influence, could have the glory of an almighty, all-knowing everlasting God, is truly beyond me.  The scripture says The Lord  gave us this glory to be one, so that the world would know that world may know that God sent Jesus His only son, and that they may know that the Father loves them as He loves the Son.  This is amazing news.  I am convinced that it is imparative that I encourage and build up the missionaries here, those part of MB Mission and those in my realm of influence.  It truly is a battle...I meet so many missionaries who are struggling maritally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Many of them have no one to talk to...they feel all alone.  May the Spirit of God come along side them, comfort them, build them up, bring the body of Christ around them and unite them to reflect His Glory, His light.  I heard one pastor say "we are meant to be a light, that means to be a reflection of His affection."  My desire is to demonstrate unity with fellow believers and to remember this amazing concept that, in a sense, Jesus has given me his glory.

Cecil

Hell bound or Erasing Hell

                                   

So about a year and a half ago I went with a friend of mine named Arnold Mayorga to Regent College in Vancouver BC to see the showing of "Hellbound."  To be perfectly honest this film really questioned a lot of my beliefs regarding how and eternal torment.  I think it's a good thing when someone calls into question your belief because it caused me to dig deeper theologically.  

Recently I was staying up watching Netflix and came across Hellbound once again.  After I saw the film again I thought to myself, "I would love to read up on some material specifically about Hell.  The next thing you know a missionary who lives in my neighborhood--named Jay Ballou--let me borrow his Kindle and said for my birthday he wanted to challenge me to read a book a week.  I actually didn't think I would be able to but as I looked over his list I realized that he had the book "Erasing Hell" by Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle addressing the very topic of Hell.  Well, it's been a week and I devoured the book!  The Lord provided it in a very pivotal time, many questions that I had after watching the film was answered in the book.  The film called into question that the Bible actually taught about a physical Hell, the book answered that.  It also called into question whether Jesus and His disciples actually believed in the notion of a place of punishment for eternity, and the book answered that question as well.  Truth is many people feel very uncomfortable at the notion of Hell and consequently try to edit The Lord and His Word.  This is something that I would never want to do.  My deep desire is to fear God and not man.  One of the reason why I am here in Thailand is because I believe most people living in Thailand today are living away from the love and grace of Jesus and that due to their rebellion and rejection of him when they die they will not go to be with Him in eternity.  My desire is that they would know, love and trust him in this life...and in the next.

Cecil