Plank eye

So I walked around trying to stay focused on what was right, but everywhere I went I saw sin. Everyone seemed to have issues that were clearly wrong. How come I was the only one who could see them. My neighbor has a plank in his eye as did the deacon, and also the church elder, even the pastor's eye had a plank in it. Was I the only one seeing clearly?

Then one day I looked in the mirror and to my dismay I had a plank in my eye! I dawned on me that the plank I had been seeing in others was merely my own plank. I was so busy looking at others. I thought they had the problems when it was I not them. So I looked to Jesus and again I saw a plank but this one was different. On this plank was Jesus hanging with all my faults. This plank was beautiful because it was the cross.

Before I was distracted by others instead of attracted by my Lord. I had spent so much time looking at others to notice my own plank, but more importantly to busy to bee looking at my Jesus. Once I looked to Jesus He took my plank and the plank in others eyes were now mere specks.

Lord may I be attracted by Jesus not distracted by others.

Interesting verse

So one of the biggest challenges of working in Thailand is that Buddhism is so ingrained in the culture and customs that it's hard to know how to approach some of the customs and whether or not those customs are indeed problems for God or are they just hard for me. In Thailand it seems everything is tied to something Buddhist. As a matter of fact Thai hold three things very important (these things were taught to me in a cultural class by Thai's); The King the nation and Buddhism. I have even had christian Thai's tell me that they are Buddhist Christians, they are Christian but believe in Buddhist principle (which are also Christian principles when the list them). Needless to say it is sometimes hard to know how and when and even if to approach some of these issues because they are so ingrained in the culture they have become almost one and the same and if you question whether or not they should examine the festivals or traditions they think your trying to change their culture to more western. To be honest thats hard because I don't want to make Thailand more like the western culture I want them to remain uniquely Thai but also to adopt the culture of Heaven.

Anyways while contemplating these issues I came across and interesting verse in a pretty well known story. 2 Kings 5 tells the story of Naaman a commandeer of a foreign coming to Israel to be healed of leprosy. Elisha hears about this and calls for Naaman and asked him to wash in the Jordan 7 times which Naaman does after the prodding of his servants. Most know that Naaman did this and was cured after the 7th dip and then out of gratitude tries to give Elisha gifts that Elisha does not accept. Naaman then tells Elisha he will never offer a burnt offering or sacrifice to any other God other but the Lord. Now a verse that I had never heard as part of the story verse 18 reads:

But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I bow there also--when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.

Elisha then tells him to go in peace. What does this mean or how does it apply? It seems to go compromise. Is Elisha being culturally sensitive? Is he allowing for Naaman's weak faith or his understanding? To be honest I'm not sure but it does give me pause to think and to realize that God is truly a God of grace and compassion. Just a little food for thought. May God bless you all.

What about Alana?

So here is Alana all dressed up in some others photos, pretty cool huh. My favorite one is the first one it makes me smile.

Jonah?

So Here is Jonah wrapped in the body of older pictures the middle one certainly is funny. Is this what the little guy might look like in the future? No one knows but its fun to see these pics.

An Old Kaiya?

So here some cool little pictures made with an itouch app. You can put a face of anyone you have a picture of into the face of an old picture. Here is Kaiya some with some interesting looks from the 60's 70's and 80's enjoy the. Soon well see some of Jonah and Alana.

Congratulation Class of 2010

So these past couple of weeks were full of graduations here and I would like to say congratulations to all the 2010 graduates but especially this little group of grads, the 2010 EIS kindergardeners. Look at how cool these little guys are in their cap and gowns that were more elaborate than my college ones. We weren't thinking of putting Kaiya in school till first grade but after seeing these cool get ups how can. we pass. Though in the second pic you can see graduating can be tiring.

Obstruction of my view

So have you ever been driving on the highway and lamented the fact that there are billboards everywhere that detract from a nice drive. I remember driving cross country a couple of times and noticing that billboards littered the landscape sometimes very nice landscape at that. Well here in Thailand things are the same but a little worse. Here is a sign that is not unlike many others here that is located off the side of the highway with nice scenery, and on top of that it is huge, easily the size of four american billboards. There a quite a few of these monstrosities all over and it is a shame that to make a few dollars companies must put these behemoths in the way of God's beautiful advertisement, nature.

Bag my drink

So here in Thailand when you order a drink off the street they sometimes put your drink in a bag as to save the bottles or cups. Here you see my first drink in a bag. It feels awkward to be carrying a bag with your drink but maybe I'll get used to it. The drink by the way is a coconut smoothie, very tasty.