First Sunday in Cambodia

There is a saying around posted on tee-shirts, walls, door fronts and windows: "Same, Same But Different". Sunday is same same (for everyone else) but different for Christians. It is the day they gather to worship. All over the city of Phnom there are different church gathering to worship. Chantha is the new pastor of a beginning ministry among the diaspora of Cambodians from America.

We traveled across town to the location of the building they are using. There were few in number and Chantha told me that almost half of them are not believers but they come to share their experiences together about life in Cambodia. Chantha shares the gospel with them and the love of Christ. Chantha and Sharon are doing a great job. I was asked to preach at this meeting.

The total attendance was twelve. We gathered in a circle after singing and I shared the gospel and the truth about new life in Christ from Romans 6:1-14. I passed out a card for all of them to look at called a Smart Card. It is published by Ray Comfort's ministry of the Way of the Master. The Smart Card instructions read:

"Place your thumb firmly on the box for 15 seconds. If you are a "good" person it will turn a bright green. Note: it must be for exactly 15 seconds."

Everyone l took the card smiling and at the same time pressed their thumb on the box to see if they were a good person who was good enough to get into heaven. Not one person's box on the card turned a bright green. It never would turn because the Bible says, "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." Romans 3:10-12. When Jesus was called "good teacher" he replied, "Why do you call me good? There is none good but God".

"So", I continued, "lets see if you are good according to God's law (the Ten Commandments). Have you ever told a lie?"

"Yes", they all responded.

"What does that make you?" I asked.

"A liar", was the retort.

Next I worked on two other commandments. Thou shall not steal and thou shall not use The Lord's name in vain. All agreed they had stolen things which makes them a thief. Using The Lord's name in vain is blasphemy. They were in agreement they were blasphemers. The Ten Commandments were given not to give us a means of righteousness but to demonstrate we are totally unrighteous in our thinking, words and actions.

"So, by your own admission you are all lying, thieving, blasphemous person", I added.

"When you stand before a holy God as a lying, thieving, blasphemer, would you be innocent or guilty?"

A guilty person of violating God's law will live under the wrath of a Holy God. It should concern us that we are guilty of breaking God's law and are under his judgment.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
John 3:36

Jesus Christ came from heaven to seek and save sinners. When Jesus was crucified he was crucified for our sin so that we could become righteous and acceptable to God. When a person puts their faith and trust in the work of Christ on the cross they become a child of God. This simple gospel message has the power of salvation to everyone who believes.

It was a good Sunday and a good start to my time in Cambodia.

More Heart Ache

Matthew was telling me more about the family who lost their son. He was the most out going and brilliant of the lot. He had a very bright future and now this. He is gone! I asked Matthew if there was anything I could do. He suggested that I go and visit the family. He would take me. Maybe sometime next week we will go. It is hard enough knowing what to say to people who lose family unexpectedly in the U.S. It is even harder with another culture and a language barrier.

Matthew's brother and sister-in-law came for a visit and a bit of a holiday. They are from the United Kingdom. Matthew was planning a trip to a resort for them and to take the family who lost the son. Now he does not know what to do. With all of this on his mind he received more bad news. Milan (co-owner of the hotel) found out that his brother-in-law's father passed away this morning along with two other men when they drank homemade wine that had gone bad. It was more suffering and turmoil for the family.

I have been praying for the family and talked to Milan about the loss. He was very matter of fact that life goes on but they will be missed. I am sure there is more heart ache than he lets on.

Death is the silent stalker of everyone. Rich, poor, noble or peasant death comes knocking on all of our doors. When man rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden death came as a judgment of God. The wrath of God came upon all mankind. Every funeral reminds us that we will stand before a holy God and give an account of our lives. It is especially sad to hear of someone's death when there is no hope of eternal life with God.

First Full Day in Cambodia

I woke early. You always do. The body is trying hard for figure out where you are and your regular sleep habits try and maintain themselves as you try to adjust to the new time and location. I know later I will hit the wall of exhaustion causing sleep to invade and conquer my tired body. It happened later in the afternoon and lingered silently in place for the next few days. I prepared myself for the day and went down to the lobby of the hotel for breakfast. I was enjoying the morning meal when Matthew Robinson came up and sat next to me. I brought him a much wanted I-Pod Touch Generation 5 (not available yet in Cambodia) and he was anxious to get possession. We exchanged some small talk and then he unloaded some very bad news. He is a very good humanitarian and tries to help people in need. He found a homeless family just around the corner from the hotel. He provided housing and education for their brightest son. Education is free in Cambodia but teachers charge students to take exams. Matthew has provided not only the funds for housing for the family but also for the education of their son. The day before, as I was flying to Cambodia, the young boy was swimming in the Mekong River two blocks away. The current is swift with tons of trash, limbs, trees and who knows what rushes down stream. Somehow, the boys swimming got caught up in the rubble. Two of them were able to swim to safety but the young boy, Matthew's charge, was swept downstream. This morning the family was out looking for his body. How dreadful for the family searching with such heavy hearts for the remains of their son.

Later that afternoon, Matthew informed me that they located their son's body five miles down stream and the next day would be his cremation and funeral service. Being Buddhist, cremation is part of their religious ceremony in caring for the dead. The next day Matthew would attend the memorial service for the boy. Matthew wanted to know the meaning of the phrase "man is given three score and ten". He had heard it was a famous saying about the length of life but was unsure of the source. I told him that it was taken from the King James Bible. We talked about the meaning of life and how brief it could be. None of us knows the length of our days or if we will live to see the sun rise in the morning.

The length of man's life is "seventy years or even by strength eighty" was written by Moses in Psalm 90. Moses compares the length and days of God's existence compared to that of mere man. God is from everlasting to everlasting and man lasts only as long as God allows because his wrath will ultimately end a person's life. At best the length of a persons life is only the length of a sigh when compared to God and eternity. The conclusion that Moses makes is that man needs to consider the power of God's anger and His wrath so that we will learn to fear The Lord and number our days. (Psalm 90: 10-12) When we understand that our days are numbered whether we have one, ten, twenty, seventy or even a hundred year it is not long all in light of eternity and the eternal God. We need to make the most of our days, especially today, to know God and learn wisdom from Him.

"In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2

We only have today to believe in The Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. You and I have no guarantee of having another day to put faith and trust in the finished work Christ. Today is our opportunity we cannot trust in a tomorrow to believe. Make the most of your time and trust God today!

Seoul Snow Balls

I landed in Seoul and made my way to my gate for the final excursion of my trip to Phnom Penh. I was finally in a place that had free wifi so I logged on. One of my emails was from Frank Gardner with a display of snow ice balls from Finland. As I was viewing the Power Point presentation I noticed a man kept looking at my screen. I invited him over for a closer look. He was from Phnom Penh and worked for the government in the Ministry of Finance. His English was not very good so an in-depth conversation was out of the question. I did figure out that he did not like his job working for the Minister of Finance he really wanted to work for the Ministry of Foreign Relations. I wondered how he would be able to do that without a better grasp of English. He was intrigued with the snow tires and ice balls created by the surf and weather. I sent him a copy for his computer. That was the best I could do to share the love of God.

Soon we boarded the plane and the couple next to did not speak any English only Khmer. Sleep came upon all of us after the evening meal for the six hour flight to Phnom Penh. We landed over an hour late and deplaning was easy. I made my way through customs and prepared to be reunited with my much too big and heavy carry on. It was tagged special handling and came out very quickly I thought this will be a breeze to gather all my luggage and head to the hotel. No such luck.

I collected one of my two checked bags and then I waited as suitcase, boxes, bags, golf clubs passed bye. My second bag was no where in sight. Then as the luggage passed by a large yellow sign indicated the last bag stating that there were no more bags after it. I have had this happen before where a suitcase is having more fun touring the airports between Cambodia and Columbus, Ohio. I sighed and thought about the not having all of my clothes for a few days. Just as I was getting ready to turn and head to the Luggage Claim Office I noticed a black bag lifting the black plastic strips, that conceals the baggage handers from the tacks carrying luggage, it had my distinctive green covering over its handle. What do you know? My suitcase, affectionally named "Fat Albert by Judy, emerged as the very last bag.

Now I headed to exit through Immigration and out into the hot humid night of Phnom Penh. The scene is amazing as you exit the terminal. People shouting, shoving, screaming and begging for attention. Taxi drivers are yelling for you to select them for the trip to where ever you are going. I felt like a dignitary when I spotted the taxi driver sent from the hotel holding up a sign looking for Mr. McDonald. Smiling we made contact and loaded everything in his taxi for the ride through the empty streets of Phnom Penh. He warned me about robbers who work the night shift relieving tourist of their money. He spotted a police car and stayed close to them as we passed through this rough part of the city.

Soon I was at the hotel and a good hot shower and finally able to lay out on a real full length bed. After being on a plane and in airports for over 24 hours it was like heaven. In the morning I would contact Chantha and Sharon. Now wonderful stretched out sleep is everything.

That Little Maroon Shirt

In 1996 I made my first trip to Southeast Asia. My daughter had given me a short sleeve maroon shirt that I wore on that first trip. It was a pullover with a nice pocket and was very comfortable. I wore it on my first plane trip from Washington State to the Philippines. After our time in the Philippines I wore it on the trip home. It became a tradition that I wore this shirt every trip to Southeast Asia on the first and last flight of the trip. After so many trips and adventures in the Philippines, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Thailand the shirt finally made its last trip as the first and the last. I brought it on this trip for sentimental reasons but wore a different shirt on the start of this Adventure to Cambodia. Some how the plane trip just wasn't the same without my maroon shirt. I did survive but nostalgia did race through my mind of all the places, people, and planes that have seen that shirt. It is hard to explain the emotional attachment we can have with an innate nonliving object such as a shirt. I am glad that the real first and last always travels with me where ever I go. Knowing that the Alpha and Omega, Jesus Christ Himself, is the only first and last that I truly want as my guide.

I left Wednesday, November 28th from Columbus International Airport for the journey that God has for me. I have a great desire to share with others the true First and Last and His offer of love and eternal life. I wondered who he would have sit next to me on the three plane trips and others I would encounter in the airports. I have a few hours lay over in Chicago and Seoul before reaching Phnom Penh,

The flight from Columbus to Chicago was uneventful. I sat next to the window and a business man was to my left. I wondered and prayed how God might use me. Two rows up the steward brought two men to their seats in the exit row. The youngest, the son, was under sixteen and therefore not allowed to sit in the exit row. It was like a stalemate. The steward not giving ground and the dad not knowing what to do. I spoke up and volunteered to exchange seats with the young man. The steward said okay and I moved to a seat with more leg room. I could not generate any conversation with the father during the flight. As we landed I discovered that he was headed to the Philippines with his son for a vacation. A short conversation ensued but nothing of a spiritual nature. Sometimes God does not open a door and you always have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirits leading. Arriving in Chicago's busy airport is always and experience. Making my way through the crowds and down a vast tunnel I arrived at the train that takes you to the International Terminal.

Although I had received boarding passes from United all the way to Phnom Penh I did not have the correct ones from Asiana Airlines. I was able to fast pass to the desk because of holding a gold card and get my boarding passes for Asiana. The clerk noticed my carry-on bag and said she thought it was too big. How could it be? I have used this bag the last three trips to Cambodia. It has never been too big. Then I was told to put my bag on the scales to see how much it weighed. Low and behold it was like Papa Bear in Goldilocks, it was too big! Weighed too much! They told me I would have to take things out of the bag and they would check in through to Phnom Penh (at no additional cost). "Now where and how can I do that? I only have this one bag." I thought. I told them that I did not have any other bag. One of the ladies disappeared for a short while returning with a smile and plastic shoppers bag with Asiana Airlines insignia plastered on it's side. I unloaded anything valuable and things I would need for the flight into my carry-on plastic bag. Now my true carry-on weighed correctly and I could continue to security and my gate. Once through security I made my way to the departure gate. There I ran into a lady I had met on the shuttle train to the terminal waiting to board the flight to Seoul, the one I would be on, with two carry-on bags bigger than my original one and they weighed more than mine too. Airlines just don't make sense.

She was headed to the Philippines to visit family and friends. Her family is quite large with four sons and three daughters. She is the only one living in the USA. She is married to a fifty year old American who works in construction and is gone most of the time. She is only twenty nine and has no responsibilities. Life for her is just to go shopping in the mall, watch television, take Zumba lessons and wait for her husband to come home. He is working out of state because that is where his job is at the moment. She is not interested in any spiritual conversation but lives a senseless meaningless life. It is easy to see that her life is boring and pleasure is the only medication that numbs her existence. Nothing glorious to feel or sense because self her only pursuit. Having two carry on bags are not envied by me when accompanied by such emptiness.

From the trip from Chicago to Seoul I was seated next to a young woman who is expecting her first child on March thirtieth. That is what she told me and I know from experience you do not question a new expecting mother about dates and such. She is going to Seoul to meet up with her husband in the Air Force for two weeks. She is also in the Air Force stationed in Miami Florida. It is easy to see the large multicolored tattoo on her right shoulder down almost to her elbow. It has floral fauna flowing downward with some letters mixed in which if they make up some word or words I do not know. Later as she stood to leave for the restroom I noticed some name written on her chest peaking out above the cut of her blouse. I am always perplexed by tattoos and tattoo etiquette. I mean can you talk about them with person who has one. Is the tattoo meant to be seen by everyone and if asked would the person proudly show you? I remained silent on hers in our conversations because I thought hers were meant for only her husband to enjoy and I would leave it that way. She was very articulate and well mannered. Her difficulties traveling by plane while pregnant were the swelling of her feet that caused much discomfort and frequent trips to the restroom. Her interest too did not go towards any spiritual conversation. My prayers for her continue to be that her and her husband will sense the greatness of creation when they experience God's greatness wrapped in a little baby. Not just theirs in March but by the baby who changed the world by His birth our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Hearts of Joy

Our conference for deportees was long and very rewarding. I spent the last few months in prayer and preparation. You always wonder if you will relate to the people you are sharing with and if God will open their ears and hearts to hear His truth. I guess nervousness is part of relying on the Holy Spirit to speak through an ordinary vessel like me.

We arrived early at the conference to set up and pray for the God's day of reconciliation and healing for these our brothers and sisters. As different ones arrived, I talked with them about their lives and what they were feeling. Most of them feel abandoned by their family especially their parents. I heard over and over again how anger was in their hearts because they have not heard from their parents since their deportation. Some have been supported by their parents but many have not and it has made their transition into Cambodia much more difficult. Cambodian life is based on a culture of family and friends. Jobs are hard to come by because you have to know the right people in order to get a job. When I asked how much they needed to get by on a month most of them would say between two to three hundred dollars a month. Not a lot of money but it also does not buy a high standard of living. As you can see the challenge is great and opportunities small.

Hope Now wanted to give them a time (conference) where they could experience the love of the Lord Jesus Christ and feel safe to express their feelings so healing could continue or begin. Roger did a great job of planning the flow of events with plenty of time for fun and fellowship. The meeting was at a very nice hotel directly across from the American Embassy. One of the great things was food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner was buffet style (all-you-can-eat) excursions into fullness. Many for the first time in many months could eat meat and enjoy the feeling of a full stomach. On little income of only two to three hundred dollars a month you cannot afford meat that often. Chantha and Sharon have both lost weight because they can only afford meat once or twice a week. But they do look heathy and are adjusting to life in Cambodia better than most.

Roger shared right up front that we were there to share Christ and they did not have to believe what were sharing but there is freedom in Christ and a deep sense of family. It was their choice whether or not they wanted to follow Christ. It is hard for them to follow the Lord because of the daily pressure just to survive. Temptations are strong to pull them into drinking or drugs to dull the pain they feel. Some are educated and some never graduated from high school. But all of them need encouragement, the Lord and love.

I talked to one lady who feels anger and bitterness inside since she was left to fend for herself; cut off by family in the USA. Another young man has only been here for three months, wants to work so he will not be a burden or embarrassment to his family back home. He is facing the reality that he has no Cambodian network to help in his search for employment. He is very bright and has skills that would make it easier for him gain employment in the USA but here it is a different story. A few had sport jerseys on of their favorite team back home and knew more about how they were doing than I did. I closed my eyes at one point in the conference and it felt like I was home in the states. Briefly, I could have been but, once I walked out into the hallway I knew this is Cambodia not Ohio.

Roger had many videos, games, testimonies, plus a magician (who might do hypnotism) coming after I spoke three times at the conference. We kept playing that part up all through the conference not letting them know that I was the magician too. At one part of the magic show I was going to hypnotize Roger to be a seal so he could catch a ball I would toss to him on his nose and balance it there just like a seal. When we got to that part of the magic show Roger transformed himself into a seal at the snap of my finger. When I tossed the ball up and he caught it on his nose they howled with laughter. It was good to hear them laugh.

I spoke three times starting with creation and the story of Adam and Eve who lost the innocence of paradise by rebelling against God and was deported to a country they had never been to before and could never return to the Garden of Eden unless atonement was made on their behalf. Most seemed very attentive and seemed to grasp the truth of sin entering the world with all of its consequences. My second time of speaking was on how God brings us from the feeling of desperation being orphaned in the world to the legal, moral and spiritual reality of adoption. Not just adoption in a superficial arrangement but deeply being transformed as a member of God's family. It looked like the concept was accepted by everyone in the room.

Now, for the closer. My last message was going to ask for a response. Whenever you speak and know you are going to reach for something that is out of your control Satan tries to shift your attention from the work of God and sideline it by "what ifs". Like a xylophone player striking the bars so they resonate throughout the room, Satan seeks to resonate with your fears or feelings of inadequacy. "What if no one responds". Whether you are sharing Christ to an individual or a packed room the feeling is the same and it is so tempting to never ask for a decision to repent and turn to Christ. This played heavily on my heart because up to this point we had not asked for a response of any kind. Now, can I stick my spiritual neck out and only to have it chopped off with no response? I had to ask for their response to the gospel message and eternal life in Christ.

My last message was taken from the parable of two lost sons in Luke 15. I would ask them to chose whom they would serve just like Joshua asked the children of Israel to chose this day whom they would serve (Joshua 24:15). The theme of the conference was "Chose Your Side". With my heart beat increasing as the message came to its conclusion I asked the pastors in the room to come up front and stand and then asked for a response to Christ from the men and women in the room. No one moved!

Then one stood up and so did others and soon eight men came forward to chose living for Christ. Some of them wanted change from habits that hinder their Christian walk. I could not see what was happening around me because two men stood in front of me seeking spiritual counseling. The first man wanted to rededicate his like to Christ. After we prayed together I had him talk to one of the pastors who lives and works in Cambodia. Standing a little off to one side was a man patiently waiting his turn to talk. I asked him why he came forward and he said that he wanted Christ in this life. He had never trusted Christ as his Saviour. Wow! I was so thankful that I did not listen to the music of fear and "what ifs" being played my Satan as I spoke.

I tell you there was more rejoicing in heaven when Bruce repented and trusted Christ than for all the pastors standing up front sharing and praying with those who came forward. We rejoice too - how about you?

Tuol Sleng

We stopped by Tuol Sleng this morning with a few friends from Cambodia. Tuol Sleng was one of the torture camps of the Khmer Rouge. On April 17, 1975 Cambodia fell into the hands of the Khmer Rouge and the death grip of Pol Pot secured the death of over a million Cambodians. Within 48 hours of victory the entire city of Phnom Penh was emptied of her citizens. The Khmer Rouge commandeered the school yard called S-21 as their headquarters for horrors unimaginable. They rounded up people from every social economic group and tortured them until they confessed to crimes against the Republic of Kampuchea. Once they confessed after days, weeks or months of excruciating pain they were driven out to the killing fields to meet their fate. From 1975-1978 the genocide demonstrated the depravity of the human heart. At the hands of a godless leader men, women, and children were sacrificed on the altar of communism.

In looking at the pictures below you can see the barbwire that kept prisoners held in detention without any means to escape. Tomorrow we serve at a conference to help those who are held by the same power that killed the innocent citizens of Cambodia from 1975-1978. That power of course is pure evil and personified in the devil himself. We will be speaking to many who are still held in the clutches of sin as much as the prisoners of Toul Sleng were held and tortured with barbwire and high fences. We are sharing liberation from death by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pray for our full day tomorrow. The Conference is from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. We need the strength and power that only comes from the Holy Spirit. May God be glorified in everything that is done!