Irony is I would have replied much quicker if I hadn't been immersed in that tale.. and what a tale it was'!!!!
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which tale. . . . . there are a bunch back there. . . . .
And here's the best I can do for the movie "Cowboys Don't Cry". Love it.
How's that fit with the whole Zen Buddhist philosophy, Hotttnickkk?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092791/
How's that fit with the whole Zen Buddhist philosophy, Hotttnickkk?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092791/
The one with your wife who is a midwife of course.. hard to deny that God was at work there... right place at the right time!!!
my wife gives our girls the credit. She was outbound for timbuktu or anywhere. . . .else. . . . but the kids insisted at every fork in the road "Aunt Hannah".
what can I say. God speaks to whoever will listen. I love these kids.
Wise words.
LogGrad98
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What? Sorry I wasn't listening.
while my irony detectometer is pegged with this comment, I rather suspect you are in a frame of mind much more susceptible to divine re-direction than you are assuming at the moment.
I'm thinking of proposing a new research project in the psychiatric field in regard to the hypothesis that people who can laugh are more teachable than people who can't laugh.
nobody will understand this until they want to.
the term "want" embraces in that sense much more than a passing impulse. It reaches the level of actually being committed to the belief that what God would say is somehow better than whatever you have now.
and, actually, "following Jesus" is pretty much a lifelong process. . . .
OK so I think this might be the best place for this..
So I've just touched down in Thailand..(Bangkok) trying to see if there is a future for me here helping out with the missions, churches, etc. I know it's only been 1 day but boy am I overwhelmed by the challenge.
1. Buddhism is still very very strongly rooted here. I was in various conversations with people about my experiences as a new Christian and people just listened politely (I know they're just slowly dismissing this weird dude like "What's he on?")
2. Sin is something people here aren't shy about at all. It's very very acceptable and it's the norm here. I just went to a lunch with some of my parents' old friends. One guy offered to take me out to "places only guys are allowed". When I gave him this blanked look, he even said "Oh don't worry, you don't need to touch them - you can just watch".
<<<< OH Lord, please give me the STRENGTH!!! >>>>>
3. Looking at this place with a new fresh pair of eyes (after becoming a Christian) is very very different to what it once was (anything goes, who cares?).
==========================
Anyhow, guys... those who know what I'm talking about, please pray for me that I'll find my answer here. Whether or not there is opportunity for me to make a difference here.... or am I meant to do something else with my life? I know it's only been 1 day, but it's not looking promising....
So I've just touched down in Thailand..(Bangkok) trying to see if there is a future for me here helping out with the missions, churches, etc. I know it's only been 1 day but boy am I overwhelmed by the challenge.
1. Buddhism is still very very strongly rooted here. I was in various conversations with people about my experiences as a new Christian and people just listened politely (I know they're just slowly dismissing this weird dude like "What's he on?")
2. Sin is something people here aren't shy about at all. It's very very acceptable and it's the norm here. I just went to a lunch with some of my parents' old friends. One guy offered to take me out to "places only guys are allowed". When I gave him this blanked look, he even said "Oh don't worry, you don't need to touch them - you can just watch".
<<<< OH Lord, please give me the STRENGTH!!! >>>>>
3. Looking at this place with a new fresh pair of eyes (after becoming a Christian) is very very different to what it once was (anything goes, who cares?).
==========================
Anyhow, guys... those who know what I'm talking about, please pray for me that I'll find my answer here. Whether or not there is opportunity for me to make a difference here.... or am I meant to do something else with my life? I know it's only been 1 day, but it's not looking promising....
Stark realities. . . . . .
Well, thanks for picking this place for this question.
I had a friend years ago who went on an LDS mission to Thailand. He worked as a chemist, a shift leader direct level manager in the lab. His wife was Thai, but somehow in America the freedom is a bit much for some Asians. When he was at work she was out having too much fun, and life seemed unbearable to her hubby. He stole some cyanide from the storeroom and took it home and put himself to sleep permanently. I've known only a few Thais, probably Thailand is the country I've had less contact with than anywhere in the world.
And I think from the rumor mills it's got Bali beat as the sexpot capital of the globe.
I'm thinking your second coming to Thailand will produce a starkly constrasting view of the place. Yes, anywhere you go you can "make a difference" if you want. Might not be the best place for you to make your difference. It sounds like you've got no ballast in your life. . . . no wife with weight enough to keep the keel down. . . . . uuhhhhmmmm..... or to tip you over either, for that matter.
I sorta wish I could just go there myself.
I hope you'll use this little niche as a sort of travel log and report for your adventure.
I think the fact that you've been in the dominant religion path yourself should enable you to open up a lot of conversations along your way. Maybe not the best angle to start with though. First thing out of your mouth is what determines where the conversation is going to go. Being someone who believes in Jesus will help you find those who could be interested. If people get that first fact, they'll tell their friends, and maybe someone will come looking for you.
Remember it's Jesus who really does His work, just be there and be known for Jesus, and the people who are interested or "drawn" to Jesus will come to you.
Duck Rodgers
Well-Known Member
So what you're telling us is that Bangkok is not the #1 tourist destination in the world now because people like sitting in a big sauna 24/7 or Monsoon season? I really think about 50% of the white people that are in Bangkok at any given moment are probably total pervs. To Catch a Predator should just stake out airports for incoming Bangkok to US flights.
I would hope for better things. . . . uuhhhhmmmm. . . . . I'm hoping that ordinary thai people live fairly responsible humble lives, love their family members, treat their neighbors with some decency, hold themselves responsible to others within their little circles. . . work hard. . . . do their time in the rice paddies, take a nap in the heat of the day, get up early and enjoy the cool rainy evening hours with their families. . . . Gotta be a lot of decent people who might be curious about other religions, maybe even looking for "answers". . . .
Duck, you're right about the pervs. . . . but c'mon, lets identity who these pervs are who can afford to just fly to Thailand for a wild time. Bill Clinton probably does weekends there, or uses it as a layover flight connection between speeches. UN officials probably meet there unofficially in hordes. Top flight corporate honchos worldwide are probably almost as enthusiastic about these places as fascist government shills. . . . Nobody is gonna meet these folks on their incoming return flight home, and arrest them.
And I bet the kids who get Shanghai'd to these 'establishments' comprise most of the modern slave trade around the globe. If government officials as a class were not such pervs, they would do something about the slave trade today. In fact, they could just go to their favorite hangout and pass out plane tickets home, if they wanted.
Thailand Update
OK, after that initial "meltdown" episode, I resumed normal life routine here in Bangkok. I went to church on Sunday at my mom's old school which was a Christian school. The chapel was very warm and inviting, people were hospitable and very kind. They were enthusiastic in meeting new people (there were about 8 new people including a few foreigners as well - we were introduced individually during the service). There were 3 sets of choir that sang during the 2 hour service. This is probably one of the richest church in Bangkok in terms how wealthy the congregation is, it's location (Sukhumvit). Here is a photo of what's it like inside as people started to come in.
What really surprised me was there was a free lunch at 12pm at the end and everyone is invited to sit around and chat (before bible study resumes between 1-2pm).
Well what can I say, except that this really warmed my heart. This is exactly the kind of thing I really like to see. Parents bringing their kids to a Sunday service and teach them early about Jesus, ethic, morality, responsibility, love & kindness, and discipline.
I was told the church had just finished a new building that will be used for all sorts of activities, learning English, Christian camps, holding various cell group meetings, etc. Their new mission is to concentrate their effort in encouraging on-going cell group meetings of ex-students (who are young adults). A couple of dedicated cell groups or Young Adults have already utilized the facilities and are meeting weekly on Thursday to do Bible study, discuss life and pray. Their hope is that these people will become future leaders and set an example for future graduates to keep coming back (instead of drifting back to Buddhism, drink, do drugs, etc).
Their hope is to have 30 more of these dedicated cell groups going in the future (may be grouped them in terms of their Year or what Classes they were in when they were attending the school).
To me this is the right approach. Start with the young people and keep continuing the process. We need boys/girls here who have a strong moral core & values and who are willing to dedicate their lives to doing the right thing, bring justice, prosperity and advancing the Kingdom.
Suddenly, I can see a glimmer of hope in what I could do and become a part of here in Thailand, or at least in Bangkok.
Any comments much appreciated and I'll keep you guys posted.
God Bless.
OK, after that initial "meltdown" episode, I resumed normal life routine here in Bangkok. I went to church on Sunday at my mom's old school which was a Christian school. The chapel was very warm and inviting, people were hospitable and very kind. They were enthusiastic in meeting new people (there were about 8 new people including a few foreigners as well - we were introduced individually during the service). There were 3 sets of choir that sang during the 2 hour service. This is probably one of the richest church in Bangkok in terms how wealthy the congregation is, it's location (Sukhumvit). Here is a photo of what's it like inside as people started to come in.
What really surprised me was there was a free lunch at 12pm at the end and everyone is invited to sit around and chat (before bible study resumes between 1-2pm).
Well what can I say, except that this really warmed my heart. This is exactly the kind of thing I really like to see. Parents bringing their kids to a Sunday service and teach them early about Jesus, ethic, morality, responsibility, love & kindness, and discipline.
I was told the church had just finished a new building that will be used for all sorts of activities, learning English, Christian camps, holding various cell group meetings, etc. Their new mission is to concentrate their effort in encouraging on-going cell group meetings of ex-students (who are young adults). A couple of dedicated cell groups or Young Adults have already utilized the facilities and are meeting weekly on Thursday to do Bible study, discuss life and pray. Their hope is that these people will become future leaders and set an example for future graduates to keep coming back (instead of drifting back to Buddhism, drink, do drugs, etc).
Their hope is to have 30 more of these dedicated cell groups going in the future (may be grouped them in terms of their Year or what Classes they were in when they were attending the school).
To me this is the right approach. Start with the young people and keep continuing the process. We need boys/girls here who have a strong moral core & values and who are willing to dedicate their lives to doing the right thing, bring justice, prosperity and advancing the Kingdom.
Suddenly, I can see a glimmer of hope in what I could do and become a part of here in Thailand, or at least in Bangkok.
Any comments much appreciated and I'll keep you guys posted.
God Bless.
Thank you for the pics and the hope.
I can understand your initial reaction. . . . and your rebound, especially considering what it looks like. You have connections here. . . your mom's old church. . . .
You've done the trip into Buddhism, though I take it you skipped the major downside "experiments" and were a pretty serious accolyte of the Buddhist "faith". I put quotes on the faith there because I hesitate to call a system that tolerates such a wild range of behavior a "faith" considering from my perspective "faith" basically means sacrificing a lot of worldly "pleasures" and/or values in favor of living the way God would direct, per my own understanding and/or per spiritual guidance from another dimension "beyond the veil". And yes, I realize it means for most of us living here and now according to the best and most personally fulfilling standards. . . . living according to principles which do uplift us in this world. . . .
But on the plus side of your path. . . . you can relate to others in the condition you have been in, and you can speak to them on those terms, which I could not, for example.
This might very well be the place God would have you stand to "make a difference". I can see where you are prepared to help others in ways that most of us could not.
I love the pics, and the comments about them.
I sometimes go to Philippine sites just to see the pics they post there about their local group activities. Almost like "being there".
I can understand your initial reaction. . . . and your rebound, especially considering what it looks like. You have connections here. . . your mom's old church. . . .
You've done the trip into Buddhism, though I take it you skipped the major downside "experiments" and were a pretty serious accolyte of the Buddhist "faith". I put quotes on the faith there because I hesitate to call a system that tolerates such a wild range of behavior a "faith" considering from my perspective "faith" basically means sacrificing a lot of worldly "pleasures" and/or values in favor of living the way God would direct, per my own understanding and/or per spiritual guidance from another dimension "beyond the veil". And yes, I realize it means for most of us living here and now according to the best and most personally fulfilling standards. . . . living according to principles which do uplift us in this world. . . .
But on the plus side of your path. . . . you can relate to others in the condition you have been in, and you can speak to them on those terms, which I could not, for example.
This might very well be the place God would have you stand to "make a difference". I can see where you are prepared to help others in ways that most of us could not.
I love the pics, and the comments about them.
I sometimes go to Philippine sites just to see the pics they post there about their local group activities. Almost like "being there".
Duck Rodgers
Well-Known Member
Cool stuff, Nick. Wishing you much success.
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Thanks guys really appreciate it.
I have talked to several people who are involved with helping this church about the direction of Christianity in Thailand and the message I got was it's still very sparse. However, one of the things they're excited about is how a couple of big time celebrities have since come out and openly declared themselves as Christians. That's good news because Thais love their celebrities and often look up to them/copy what they do. So to have these singers/actors raising the profile is good - it's also making it an acceptable/viable option for some people. I'm joining a training of future youth leaders on Thursday at a different church (this time on the outskirt of bkk), so I'll let you guys know how that went as my next update.
