So we’ve briefly discussed the Father and the Son, so now we naturally come to the Holy Spirit. Now as people, we have a tendency towards imbalance. Our inability to be completely measured means that we often move from one extreme to another. Throughout the modern Church history, this imbalance, at least when considering God, has often been centred around the Spirit, sometimes flocking to the excesses that prioritise experience, and other times to the poverties that ignore or are oblivious to his role.
The Holy Spirit is personal. That is to say that he is not an ‘it’ but a ‘he’ (Jn. 16:13). He thinks and knows and can be grieved (1 Cor. 2:10; Eph. 4:30). Furthermore he is divine, being described as God’s own Spirit and equally with the Father and the Son (Matt. 28:18; 2 Cor. 3:17-18). He is said to be sent by the Father and the Son, (Jn. 14:26, 16:5-7) and thus has a special function in the time between Christ’s incarnation and return. The Spirit is thought of in connection with the giving of life. This includes not just the creation but people as well (Gen 1:2; Job 27:3, 33:4; Ps. 104:27-30)[1]. He is also responsible for revealing God and his Word to us such that we can respond to the gospel (Jn. 16:7-11; 1 Cor. 2:12-16, 12:3; 2 Pet. 1:21). Thus the Spirit plays an important part of our salvation, being the inspiration and source of the Scriptures as well as our ability to understand and accept as truth. The Spirit was promised in the Old Testament as well as by Christ to dwell in our hearts (Ezek. 36:25-29; Rom. 8:9-11; Eph. 2:21-22). This is a promise which conforms us to the righteous image of Christ (Rom. 8:1-11; Gal. 5:16-25). It is important to recognise therefore that all Christians have the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9-11; Eph. 4:4-6). This indwelling of the Spirit means he is our helper or counsellor and advocate, the one who aids us in every aspect of Christian life (Jn. 14:15-17, 26). The Spirit enables our perseverance as he intercedes for us, giving us hope and assurance in God’s promises (Rom. 8:16, 26-30; Heb. 10:15-18). Indeed he is the seal or guarantee that the promises of God are certain to be given to us (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13-14). The Spirit was thus given essentially to enable God’s people to do his will. This includes our faith and character, but also the ministry and service that we do in response to the gospel. In this vein, the Spirit is also the giver of gifts that are to be used in service of the Kingdom, and he is the one who is at work to make them effective (1 Cor. 12:4-11).
In short, and in general, the Spirit is the one who makes the Christian faith real in our lives. It is his work that teaches us to put faith in Jesus and God’s promises and his work which produces the fruits of our faith. We need him to be at work in us because without him, there is simply no work. This may sound like a debilitating weakness on our part, however really it is a testament to his power. Our frailties are superseded by his strength. Indeed, the Scriptures speak of the Spirit as our guarantor, and so we ought to trust not only that he is at work in us and others, but also that because he is working, we can know with certainty that the future promises that are yet to come will indeed be given.
As we think of the Spirit then, be sure to recognise that he’s there – that as we grow in faith and maturity, as we see God working in us, we are seeing the Holy Spirit at work. Give God thanks for him because without him we really would be nowhere. Pray also that we would learn to trust him, that we would be trusting God to work through his Spirit rather than trusting in whatever strength and skill we think we have.
Next time we’ll have a look at the doctrine of the Trinity, and what it means that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are God, one and yet three.
[1] In the original Hebrew, the same word that denotes “breath/wind” also denotes “Spirit”. In context then, the use of terms such as “breath” or “wind” in the Hebrew are often connotative the Spirit in theme.
Having considered the Father, we now turn to Christ the Son. It can be safely assumed that out of the three persons, he is the most well known in the Trinity. The Christian faith, after all, bears his title. While it may be that our understanding of Him is most fully formed, we must be careful that we do not presume that our understanding as complete. Again, this is simply a brief survey.
Jesus is titled the Son (Matt. 3:17; Mk. 15:39; Lk. 1:35; Jn. 11:27). It is an identity with which he holds eternally, and essentially refers to his divinity. It is not a reference to his being made or born by the Father. The Son is the incarnate God (Matt. 1-23; Jn. 1:14; Phil. 2:5-8). That is to say that he entered into it as a man and though God, he is also fully human. He was present and active in creation (Col. 1:16) and upholds and sustains it (Heb. 1:13). He is perfect and sinless (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet 2:22). He is crucified and raised in payment and victory over sins. He is the target of the believer’s faith (Acts 20:21; Rom. 3:22; Heb. 12:1-2) and the security upon which the promises are kept (1 Cor. 15:5-26; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). Christ has and shows his love for the world (Rom. 8:35-39; Rev. 4-6). He stands as the prime example of how humanity is to live (Col. 2:6; 1 Jn. 2:6). Christ submits to the Father’s will (Matt. 26:42; Mk. 14:36) and along with him sends forth the Spirit (Jn. 14:26, 16:5-7). He mediates between us and God, and does so with a real understanding of our struggles (Heb. 2:14-18; 1 Tim. 2:5). He is the head of the Church (Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18) and the one whose example we follow (1 Cor. 11:1; 1 Pet. 2:11-21). He fulfils the Law (Matt. 5:17-18; Rom. 10:4; 2 Cor. 1:20). He is the only one who is worthy to usher in the final judgement (Rev. 5) and he will return, and with him comes the Kingdom (Matt. 24:30; Tit. 2:13; Rev. 19:11-16).
In many ways, the Son is the focal point for the Christian faith. This is a natural consequence of his role in the gospel, being that he was the one who came to fulfil it and the person in whom we put our trust and are saved. Perhaps more significantly however is the fact that as the incarnate Son, Christ (and the gospel), reveals God to us. He is the final and full revelation of God, not only of who he is, but also of how we ought to relate to Him (Jn. 1:1-14; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:1-2). It is right then for us to commit a large portion of our devotional lives to a consideration of Jesus. This is not to imply some sort of neglect of the Father or the Spirit or indeed the triune God. Rather we see that as we grow in our understanding of Christ, we come to know God better, and so are enabled to grow in other areas of life and understanding as well.
Christ is the first point of reference and engagement in every aspect of the Christian life. When our lives are considered in light of Him, the proper response is thanks and worship. We are to marvel at his goodness and power, and marvel at the most profound truth that he uses those things to serve us. We are to recognise our need for his atoning work on the cross and give him thanks. At its heart, seeing Christ reveals to us our place, both as sinners in desperate need of a saviour, and sinners whose desperate needs have been met. This is God’s grace, and while this ought to arouse humility within, it should also arouse confidence and peace. Christ’s completed work has already won a glorious and joyful eternity. Through him we know God, and through him we can live with God now and forever.
In consideration of Christ today, give him praise. Consider him as John does in Revelation 1:5-6, as faithful witness, firstborn from the dead and ruler of all. And give him thanks for what he has done, for loving us and freeing us from our sins by his blood. It is, after all, nothing short of miraculous, the provision of a need which we had no rightful claim. It is what he deserves, and it will be given. For,
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!”
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Rev. 5:12-14)
Still to come, a consideration of the Holy Spirit, and of course, the doctrine of the Trinity.
In the previous article, we considered God’s distinctiveness from humanity. It was suggested that it is a common, but also crippling, error to evaluate God and his actions according to human expectations and limitations. Well in the next few articles, we will be examining an area of Christian belief in which we must be mindful of this error. We’ll be exploring the nature of God as Trinity, and how each person of the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, fit into that.
In the first few articles in this series, we will briefly examine what the Bible says about each individual person of the Trinity and then finally we will examine the doctrine of the Trinity as a whole. It’s important to remember that this is by no means a comprehensive study.
Generally speaking, the Father is often how we think of or picture ‘God’. (It is interesting to note that the New Testament writers often use the word “God” in reference to the Father, e.g., 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6). He is the one who creates (1 Cor. 8:6) and elects (Eph. 1:1-6; 1 Pet. 1:2). He is the one who foreknows all things and whose will is followed. It is to his authority and direction that the others submit and rejoice (Lk. 10:21, 22:42; Jn. 6:39-40, 12:49-50). It is his glory that is served (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:9-11), and he is the general target for our prayers (Matt. 6:9, 26:39-42; Col. 1:3) and worship (Jn. 4:16-26; Rom. 15:6). The Father is often depicted as the one who loves us (Jn. 3:16; 2 Thess. 2:16). He is also the one who forgives (Mk. 11:25; Lk. 23:34) as well as the one who judges, though this is delegated to the Son (Jn. 5:22). In the Bible’s language, it is the Father who sends both the Son and the Holy Spirit (Jn. 8:26-29, 42, 14:26; Gal. 4:4-6). He is the Sovereign Lord. All things are within and under his power.
This brief and simple survey of what the Bible says about the Father shows what he does, and therefore in turn, something of who he is. When these actions are considered, we see that in large part they speak of the Father’s sovereignty, the freedom of his will, and the love and grace with which he chooses to exercise it.
When we consider the Father in these terms, it seems that our view of God as a whole is significantly informed, perhaps even dominated, by our view of what the Bible attributes to the Father. This is not necessarily problematic. There is something right about seeing the Father in defining terms (Jn. 8:54). We must however recognise that there remains to be some nuance and distinction between what we might direct specifically towards the Father, and how we think of the triune God.
As we consider the unique person that is the Father though, the biblical testimony about him seems to be one of grandeur. Certainly this is not to diminish the greatness of either the Son or the Spirit, only to say that the Father seems to take this place: the one to whom all glory and praise is pointed.
Jesus himself affirms this as he foreshadows his impending crucifixion in John 12:28 and reiterates it again in his prayers before his arrest in John 17. And it is from this perspective of Jesus’ relationship with the Father that our understanding of the Father, in all his glory, ought to produce in us a sense of encouragement. To Jesus, the Father is not just ‘the’ Father, but rather ‘his’ Father. This is no mere symbolism, but an analogy that reflects the true nature of their relationship. It is one of intimacy. And as we are brought into God’s kingdom, like Jesus, we too call on the Father as our own. We too call on the Father with a profound intimacy, and this despite the distance that our sinfulness ought to produce.
In our lives, whether we find ourselves in times of joy and peace or whether we are in times of hardships and suffering, the picture of the Father is a comforting one. It is of the great one who receives glory and praise, and yet in love chooses to graciously enter into a relationship of intimacy with us.
Perhaps it is in this vein that the Old Testament writers thought of God as they described him in summary, “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Today, as we consider the Father, think and pray to him in these terms. Consider him as Jesus does as he directs his disciples in prayer: Our Father who is in heaven, whose name is great, whose kingdom will come and whose will is done in heaven and earth. Who provides our needs, forgives us for our sins and enables us and protects us from sin and evil.
When considered in isolation, it may appear that the Father is tangibly and substantially superior to the Son and the Spirit, but this is not the case. Stay tuned as we consider the Son in our next article, the Spirit in the one after that, and finally the Trinity as a whole to finish!
These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver! The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightlyI will show the salvation of God!
(Psa. 50:21-23)
Sometimes when we find ourselves contemplating the mysteries of life, we find ourselves feeling a tension between what is and what we think should be. We find ourselves wondering how God can allow, and even enable, certain things when our estimation of them is that they are inconsistent.
There are actually a lot of examples of this. The most common one is probably the question of suffering in the world. Many presume that God’s goodness means that suffering should be an impossibility. Similarly many contemplate the priority of God in bringing himself glory and can’t help but view it as narcissistic and self important. Some find the enormity of God’s abhorrence for sinners and sin, and his consequent wrathfulness, incompatible with his description as love and loving. And others consider the sending and sacrifice of his Son to be an act of abuse that is well beyond the possibilities of a Father who loves.
While these things appear logically sound, the mistake here is one of conflation. Sometimes we take the attributes of God and consider them against those same attributes as they are expressed in people, and then expect that they are fully alike. The mistake here is to make God like a human. It’s to make God’s goodness, God’s love, his Fatherhood and his self-glorification exactly the same way as we would our experience of goodness, our love, our understanding of Fatherhood and our experience of the self-glorifying. Now this is not to say that there is no similarity or correlation between God’s attributes and our experience of those same things. Only that God and his attributes should not be viewed and understood in identical terms to how we might do that with each other.
In 1887, the historian and writer, Lord Acton, penned a letter which contained a most profound and provocative statement. He stated that, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Since then, this piece of insight has been used to critique and justify many things, one of which has been the goodness of God relative to his power. The argument goes that if God has absolute power and authority, then it stands to reason that he is absolutely corrupted and unable to do good as Christians claim.
The deficiency of this reasoning is clear. What applies to humanity, which itself wasn’t proven but simply stated, does not necessarily apply or apply in the same manner as it does to God. It is pure foolishness to think that the weaknesses and shortcomings of humanity are vulnerabilities that also apply to the creator God.
Psalm 50 is emphatic in this regard. It is in foolishness and presumption that people consider God in the terms of a shared humanity. And so God responds to such, that as humanity forgets his identity and worth, he displays his distinction through his judgement and salvation. It will be shown, that God is unlike every other being. He is God. And as people who serve him, we do well when we recognise the difference.
God is in an entirely different category of existence to people. And so it is a mistake to apply the rules and principles of humanity to God, as if he is bound by the same constraints. It would be like looking for feathers on a chimp and a thumb on a bird simply because there is some similarity in that they are both animals.
Though we come to appreciate certain things about God in our experience of attributes that we also have, and though our understanding of God can be profoundly enriched by this, we should not and cannot come to the conclusion that we have fully understood God’s possession of them. They are simply not entirely the same. We cannot make God so small that he is limited by the sorts of pettiness and weakness that we are. Indeed we must do the opposite. As we are exposed to God’s revelation of himself in Christ and the Scriptures, we should be awed at his magnificence, even when there is mystery as to how it works out.
If our human frailties are to teach us anything, it should be that we need help. It should be that they teach us to seek God’s strength and to trust his perfection, rather than to doubt his existence or his reliability. Essentially what this means is that we need to be careful as we read God’s word, that we are not reading our experience, and therefore our imperfection, into it, but that it speaks into us and shapes our experience and understanding of God and the world.
In the course of the next few months, on this blog we’ll be exploring some theology which can pose this very temptation. And as we do that we need to make sure we’re in the right place. We need to recognise firstly that God is greater and different to us, and is capable of things that are beyond our experience. Secondly we have to be able to see that though God reveals much about himself and the world to us in his Word, he has not revealed everything, and as Bible believing, Christ submitting Christians, we need to be okay with that.
God says in Isaiah 46:9, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” Let’s give him the esteem that he deserves, not just in our lives but also in our theologising.
A Question to Answer When have you found yourself wrestling with something about God because your human experience makes it seem unlikely or inconsistent?
In 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the doors of the Church in Wittenberg, he provided a catalyst event for what would be known as the Protestant Reformation. It was from here that the Christian Church, as we know it, came about. This event however was not an isolated one. It occurred in the context of a social, political and even a technological setting. More importantly though, there was also a theological setting, as the Theses were themselves a product of Luther’s own personal journey with faith.
Luther was an Augustinian monk who taught theology at the University of Wittenberg. It was in this phase of his life that Luther wrestled with his understanding of salvation. As a believer, Luther was keenly aware of his own sinfulness, and was consequently sensitive to the frailties of his works. His decision to become a monk itself is perhaps indicative as he cried out in desperation, making a bargain with God, that he would become a monk during a thunderstorm in which he was almost struck by lightning. Thus Luther’s sense of his own sinfulness, coupled with his fear of God culminated in a deep restlessness with regard to the security of his salvation.
On a trip to Rome in 1510, Luther visited the Scala Sancta (“the Holy Stairs”), which in Catholic tradition were the stairs upon which Jesus stood in his trial before Pontius Pilate. Pilgrims would (and still do) visit these stairs, on each step offering prayers to God as a way of mitigating temporal punishments for sin. Luther climbed the steps on his knees, saying the Lord’s Prayer and kissing each step as he went, and when he had reached the top said to himself, “who knows whether it is so?” Luther was struck by the frailty of his works. He realised that there was no guarantee that they had any effect, and when taken in consideration with his own sinfulness, he recognised that neither should they. His trip to Rome was thus deeply disappointing to him. He left and summarised his experience saying that he “like a fool, carried onions there and brought back garlic.” In his search for peace with God, he had made offerings in his poverty and exchanged them for a different kind of the same.
It was only in context of Luther’s exploration of Paul’s letter to the Romans that his outlook began to change. Specifically, it was his discovery of the true meaning of righteousness in Romans 1:17. Medieval theology understood that “the righteousness of God is revealed” in the sense that it was revealed in his wrath. Luther’s perspective was such that throughout life, God’s own righteousness was being shown to humanity as his wrath was poured out on people for their sins. Thus his sense of his own sinfulness resulted in a deep uncertainty as he was constantly questioning whether or not he had done enough to receive salvation. As Luther studied Romans more closely however, he realised that contextually, the revelation of God’s righteousness was something else. It was by faith, not works, and this was the way that the righteous lived! He discovered that God is revealing his righteousness in the sense that he is giving righteousness to those who have put faith in him. By faith, righteousness was something that Luther freely possessed, and he could be secure and joyful in it rather than fearful of God’s wrath. Luther described this realisation as the difference between hating God and joyfully loving him. He discovered the doctrine of God’s grace, and it was glorious!
This changed everything. Good works were consequences of salvation, not means of earning it. And so everything about Christian life and ethics was to be revaluated. And it was here that the core doctrine of the Reformation took shape in Luther’s mind.
There are a number of remarkable things about this. Perhaps the obvious one is that the doctrine came to define a period in history. Though the Protestant Church’s separation from the Catholic Church was over a number of issues, this was its theological heart. And the differences would provoke much argument, even physical confrontation and sadly in some cases, war. It was also remarkable for the way it changed people’s practices as many long standing traditions were deemed inappropriate and flawed or needing modification. For some there was even a sense of social upheaval attached to the Reformation.
But what is most remarkable of all is still the enormity of the gospel. In this one revelation we see the power of God to save a man, from a life of fearful works to a life of joyful worship. Certainly God would use that life to have great effect on the history of the world, but at the heart of it is still the story of the gracious redemption of Christ.
As we work our way through Romans as a Church, don’t be blind to the glorious power of the gospel. Believe, that as we come to grips with what it says, the same power that moved Luther and many others throughout history is also at work in us. Believe that it changes us, and believe that in that change lies both the possibility and the opportunity to change the world…
The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. How can we possibly allow it to sit idly in our hearts and in our hands?
“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and becomes judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” (James 2:1-5)
About a year ago, I remember visiting a Church with a group of people from Hebron. It was a really good experience, not just to observe the different way things were done, but also to be able to sit under God’s Word alongside of other members of God’s family even though we didn’t necessarily know them. I remember that at the conclusion of the service I said (too loudly), “now let’s see if anyone talks to us”. It took a little while but a friendly couple eventually came over to us and said, “Hi”. Of course, embarrassingly for me, they mentioned that they had indeed overheard my too loud uncertainty regarding the welcome of their church.
Welcoming is one of those things where our good intentions are often left behind or forgotten as we rush to get settled into the things that we are used to. It’s one of those things that we know are important but regularly neglect. How then do we deal with this? How do we connect our beliefs with our behaviours?
Well essentially, it comes down to conviction. We have to come to appreciate that at the heart of the welcome of the church, is the welcome of God. The way in which we greet and make welcome those that enter into our gathering should match and reflect the way in which God greets and makes welcome those who seek to enter into his presence.
James 2 puts this is no uncertain terms. God is a God who shows no partiality. His welcome is one that extends equally and unequivocally to any and all who seek after him. And so similarly, our welcome is not to be one which takes into account the distinctions of human social standing either. It too is to be one of no partiality.
God asks all, one and the same, to put their faith in Jesus. It does not matter what age, sex, or status we are. Who then are we, to act as judges and alter our welcome based on those things!
On reflection then, our tendency is not so much that we are entirely without welcome. It’s that our welcome is selective. We gravitate towards people who are easy and comfortable to talk with; people with whom we can identify at first glance a shared element or thread. In doing so we neglect the other and we are poorer for it. We fall short of the welcome that God has shown to us and so we miss opportunities to show that welcome to others.
We can actually see this in not only the manner in which we relate with visitors, but also the way in which we relate with regular members. In a Church and congregation that has much diversity, it is easy to forget to offer the welcome of community to each other as we huddle in our groups of comfort. It’s a moment where we forget the impartiality of God’s welcome, and we neglect the richness of our oneness in Christ.
Though we may sometimes find it strange to seek to engage with each other even when we are separated by issues of age, gender and likes, it is stranger still that people who are made one family and body under Christ might not!
This is important because it is from here that the welcome of visitors begins. The welcome of ‘strangers’ is not an artificially generated act that is done purely for the sake of some facade. Rather it is an extension of the genuine care that we hold for each other. It is an act which shows the nature of our community – that because of Jesus, it is warm, friendly and full of love. And in many ways, it is also an offer: to become one of the family of God as we testify to his love through ours.
The only thing that is going to drive and motivate us to go beyond our circle of comfort is the gospel itself. It is only through a consideration of and a response to the welcome of God shown through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. And this isn’t just true of our practice of welcoming at our church, but also about all the interactions we have with others as we seek to witness to Him. It is not a matter of mere social politeness. It is a matter of the gospel and the responsibility for witness and evangelism and even for the fellowship that we have as God’s people.
We have the opportunity to live a life of community that profoundly articulates the extent of God’s grace and mercy in the gospel! And whether it’s towards those who are regular or new amongst us, it all can start with something as simple as, “Hi”.
Some questions to ponder
Who do you never or rarely say hi to at church?
If you were a visitor somewhere, how would you feel if people mostly ignored you, and how would you feel if people greeted you warmly?
What kind of part do you think you can play in welcoming and evangelism at church?
Bonus Question: What is going on with the “holy kiss” in Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26.
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19:7-11
One thing that no Christian can ever grow to no longer need is God’s word. The simple fact that the scriptures are God’s own revelation to us means that our faith, our beliefs, indeed our whole lives, are governed and informed by it. It doesn’t matter whether life is up or down, good or bad. God’s word endures and speaks into the circumstances and situations that we face each and every day. It is by God’s word that we live, and by God’s word that we live well.
As the Psalmist reminds us, God’s word is incredibly precious. Its value is beyond reckoning and its power far exceeds human ability. In it is the energy, the wisdom, the joy, the vision, the peace and the righteousness that we all seek and yearn for in the instability and unpredictability of life. We yearn for these things, and yet so much of the time we ignore that its provision is, has been and always will be there for us. We just need to appropriate it. We need to read God’s word, dwell on God’s word and be formed by God’s word.
Yesterday in our Sunday Service, a 5-day a week Bible reading plan was included in the bulletin. Here’s a digital copy if that suits you better. But whatever means and mode you use to help you walk in consistency with your Bible readings, the important thing is that you do it. The important thing is that as God’s people, we actually are putting ourselves under the word that he has given.
At the heart of the scriptures, lies the heart of the gospel. It’s Jesus. God’s word shows us Jesus that we might put faith in him, and so be made like him. So let’s together commit to reading God’s word. Because as we grow in our love and knowledge of him, so too do we grow in faith and obedience. We grow in those things which please our Lord, and we are better off for it.
If Jesus never died, no Christians would have lived. If Jesus never died, no grace for God to give. If Jesus never died, no Bible would we read. If Jesus never died, no gospel to believe.
If Jesus never died, our hearts would live in sin. If Jesus never died, our future would be grim. If Jesus never died, our lives would have no reason. If Jesus never died, our works would all be treason.
If Jesus never died, we would be bound for hell. If Jesus never died, nothing for us but prison cells. If Jesus never died, God’s wrath we’d have to bear. If Jesus never died, no hope for us share.
But Jesus did die, He did! He died to rise again. He did die, He did! But He’s alive! And we’ll see him at the end.
Jesus did die and Jesus did rise. In Him God seeks to save our lives.
Amen.
If Jesus Never Rose…
If Jesus never rose, the church would not exist. If Jesus never rose, no saints would persist. If Jesus never rose, the faith would not have spread. If Jesus never rose, no martyrs would have bled.
If Jesus never rose, He would be called a liar. If Jesus never rose, He would not be Messiah. If Jesus never rose, He’d not be God’s own son. If Jesus never rose, no victory He’d have won.
If Jesus never rose, God’s justice would be broken. If Jesus never rose, God’s grace, the merest notion. If Jesus never rose, true life could not begin. If Jesus never rose, no forgiveness for our sins.
But Jesus did rise, He’s alive! He rose in defeat of death. He did rise, He’s alive! So with hope we endure every test.
Jesus did die and Jesus did rise. In Him God seeks to save our lives.
Over the Christmas and New Years period, the English Congregation sent a team to North Thailand and Myanmar in order to experience, visit and help some of the overseas ministry’s that our Church supports. Here you will find a journal that we kept while we were there. For each day there is a record of the different things that we did, followed by a video of a team member sharing their thoughts and reflections.
We hope that in sharing this journal, you will be able to have a more tangible insight into our time overseas as well as some of the things that we learnt and were challenged with as God’s people.
Day 1
When we got to Sydney Airport at around 8am, everyone was looking and feeling pretty fresh. This is despite most of us being up late the night before. Somehow no one was late and we wound up having breakfast together at the airport maccas. We prayed together and then went to our gate to board the plane. It all was going pretty smoothly, but then our plane was leaking fuel or something because of the heat! We wound up sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours. This, on top of the fact that they were unable to seat us all together flight a little bit of a bummer.
By the time we landed in Bangkok it was almost evening rather than the mid-afternoon we had planned for. Nevertheless it was nice to finally be on foreign soil. Naturally we took and photo and Facebook’d it. The ‘likes’ were encouraging… We managed to find some cheap phone SIM’s which gave us a week’s free internet. This turned out to be pretty crucial to getting around as we had to spend an hour on two trains and taxi’s to get to our accommodation for the night.
It was a bit surreal. Being in the train stations didn’t feel all that different from home, but it was quite a lot more foreign when we made it to the street. One (unnamed) team member remarked that it smelt different… So far though, the biggest cultural difference we’ve seen is that everyone is very friendly and ready to help. Service seems to be their thing here. Whether it was a waitress, railway guard or taxi driver, there seemed to be a readiness to lend a hand.
Tomorrow we travel North to Maesai where we begin the first ‘real’ part of our trip. But for now we rest.
Thank you Lord for safe travels and new experiences. Give us strength to keep going for you and your kingdom. Amen.
Day 2
We woke up for breakfast downstairs – it was pretty awesome. It was a buffet + fresh juices + delicious chicken congee. We also met Peter who was a friend of some people who donated some accommodation to the team. He was a very interesting character with many, any stories to tell.
After breakfast we some time to spare before our flight so we walked down a road near our hotel. It was quite a cultural experience. It seemed to be at that point when it really hit many of us that we weren’t in Sydney anymore… There were a lot of random shops like motorbike repairs, hairdressers, internet cafes etc. The smells also took some getting used to. We also saw a rat eating some thrown out rice on the sidewalk… interesting… never seen one in broad daylight before… so daring! (They’d actually be kind of cute if they weren’t so disgusting.)
We then made our way to the airport, but not before a certain team member stopped to get a ‘quick’ passport photo taken. The man stroked their hair… hahahah… Anyway, we flew Chiang Rai where we finally met up with Keith (and Pastor Eugene). Keith was lovely and talkative. He drove us in a borrowed pickup truck to our hotel, some of us travelling in the back tray! It was super fun and exciting! Felt a bit naughty sitting in the back of a pickup truck unharnessed, and flying down some highway. But the thing that made it was really the fact that road rules, speed limits, lane changes and indicating didn’t seem to mean anything here…
Anyway Keith took us to an amazing restaurant for dinner. THE FOOD WAS AMAZING!!! There was also a private function on so we had some pretty shocking karaoke singing to provide hilarious ambiance all night. Before I forget, dishes included: Tom YUM (named very appropriately), soft shell crab, fried fish, steamed fish, delicious fried rice, and the most delicious of all – seafood cooked in a coconut. Unbelievably amazing! All this, plus the pitch perfect tunes of a 70 year old Thai lady signing to some awesome synth beats made it a very surreal evening. We were floored when told it cost us $9 per person. We would have paid $50 for a meal like this!
Being already very full, Keith than took us to dessert to some street milkshakes on the way back to the hotel. They were really… creamy and ‘milk’ tasting… slight different to Australian milk. We then went back to the hotel and prepared for a church service the next day.
We’re all sort of tired already, so Lord, Please give us strength to serve you faithfully and humbly.
Day 3
Our first night in Maesai was pretty uneventful. Most slept well except for the all night ‘bong’ of the elevator at the end of the hall. Breakfast at 8, our first green curry of the trip and them some small errands and we were ready to go to the Maesai Grace Church for Sunday Service at 9:30.
It was a short trip by pickup truck through the back streets to the Church. We got there and were greeted by Pastor Mong. We were a bit early and the objects of many a gaze. While waiting for the service to start we peeked in at their Children’s Sunday School. Lots (70?) of kids! They were all very energetic. One guy was wearing a Superman suit (cape included!)
Service was so interesting! They began with singing and it was rockin’. (Their gear was better quality than ours at Hebron!) They then moved in to a more traditional service. We were a bit thrown becaused we thought we were meant to run the whole thing today! But turns out we only had to share an item. We sang Silent Night and King of Kings for them in rounds. Boys v. Girls. Not entirely sure of our quality, but everyone was very gracious. Then Eugene shared a gospel message – that Jesus is God’s needed and desired gift to the world.
Pastor Mong also preached but we had no idea what he said as it was in Burmese. It was interesting and encouraging though that they sang some English songs that had been translated. (Lord I Lift Your Name on High, and Heart of Worship) It was great to be able to sing with them! We even met a lady from Germany there with WYWAM. It was so encouraging to see so many different people serving there.
We then had lunch with them. Chicken and Ginger Noodles, Shan style. Very yum! We then went and had traditional Pad Thai. Also very yum! It was also our first taste of Thai Coke.
From there we went in to a bit of a tourist mode. We visited the Golden Triangle and Opium Museum. Very educational. Then we saw some of the sights around the area including a Buddhist Temple and a photo sport where you can see 4 different countries in the one view! (Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and China) We then had a bit of a rest before dinner, which was All you can eat BBQ/hotpot. Very yum again! We were very full, and much silliness ensued. It was fun, and really great to see how the team has bonded and come together.
The fun continued as we walked through a nearby night market. One of us haggled (poorly) a cheap pair of sunnies. Much advice was given, though little appeared effective. (hah!) We finished the day with a team meeting where we planned for our Kid’s Program the next day. Our ‘puppet’ show needs work! Haha
Thank you Lord for your people from all over the world. Thank you that we can worship together because of Jesus. Help us and give us energy for tomorrow’s Kid’s Program, especially since most of them are not Christian’s. If it is your will, reveal yourself to them and save.
Day 4
The day started with hotel brekky and a quick crawl through the produce market. Then we headed off to the Church once more. Massive moment – Eugene sat in the truck tray with us! It was fun and really nice to all sit together and laugh on the way there. We got there and the kids were super excited to see us, though really we were all being a bit awkward. We drove down to a nearby park and started our ‘program’.
We found out very quickly that we were slight in over our heads. We had to think quickly on our feet and be super flexible as we had 2 hours at the park, in the sun, on wet grass with about 60 kids ranging from K-6. It was suddenly a bit unnerving. But we jumped in and started with a game of Stuck in the Mud. It was slightly chaotic and it got a bit confusing with game rules but we all still had fun. The kids also loosened up at this point and started climbing on top of us, competing for our limbs!
We then ran through the skit that Yixin and Avi had organised. The kids were super attentive and the translator did really, really well. It started to get a bit hot in the sun though so we moved to some shade for games of ‘Follow the Leader’ and ‘Dragon’s Tail’. They loved it! It was so good to see them so happy and excited. The team also got really into it and we really bonded with them.
By now it was snack time… which then turned into free play time and lunch. We ended up joining the teachers circle for lunch. We had this very tasty bean and nut salad with fried rice. It was so kind of them to prepare food for us and we could see the teachers were excited for us to try their good and join them for some conversation. We had a good time!
Soon, it was time to go and after some group photos we handed out some koala gifts. After that there was some intense waving and high-5 byes. We went back to the hotel and found ourselves in possession of a little free time and so we went out and explored the local markets. After about 5 minutes, we all realised that we were interested in different things and so the group split up… girls v. boys.
After that we joined up together again and Keith drive us to Chiang Rai where we visited the long neck village. It was amazing to see the different tribes and people groups, and especially meeting the long-necked women. It was so strange to actually meet these women who we had heard about at random points in our lives. Apparently the iron rings around their necks don’t actually elongate them, but rather push down their collar bones. Ouch! Those things were super heavy…
Anyway, after this stop off, we headed to the centre of Chiang Rai to eat some delicious pizza at a chain called The Pizza Company. We had a Tom Yum pizza which Keith had raved about. (admittedly it was pretty good) After dinner we headed in to the Night Markets there and had a good walk around with a few picking up some bits and pieces.
It’s been really awesome and encouraging how well the team has been getting along. Everyone seems easy going and ready to laugh constantly. There are always countless memorable quotes, remarks and retorts going on.
Lord, thank you for the opportunity to meet the kids and spend time with them today. Help them to acknowledge your presence and love for them in their lives. Thank you also for our team and how we have bonded together. Give us unity together in Christ. Please continue to strengthen us daily and give us energy and sustenance as we have many travels still to come.
Day 5
Day 5 started like most other days had so far except there was a bit more anticipation in the air. We woke and had breakfast a little earlier than usual as we wanted to make the border crossing into Myanmar as soon as possible. We walked the 500 or so metres to the crossing handed in our passports. They didn’t give them back! Then we stood around waiting for them to process our visa’s. In the meantime we met Eh Ywa (Nohtoo’s sister in law) who would guide us to Keng Tung.
Having passed through the border, we set out on the 4 hour drive to our destination. It was both very bumpy and bendy. Impossible to sleep through (though we all tried). At least this time we all had a seat inside the vehicle! Haha… Halfway through our journey we stopped for lunch. It was a little shed run by local women. We had some very delicious chicken noodle soup. We all had two bowls… and were flabbergasted that each bow cost something like 60c.
When we got to Keng Tung we stopped by the Church Compound to say hello to Pastor Richard and Pastor Nohtoo. They greeted us very warmly and served us tea. It was so nice to see them! And they seemed genuinely excited to see us too! We then went to our hotel, settled in and then had a little walking tour of Keng Tung. It was kind of a strange sort of experience. It was almost too normal for a place that was ‘closed’ and under military governance. We ended our tour at a local tea shop where we relaxed and had some local milk tea. Different, but very tasty!
We went back to the Church Compound for dinner. They had prepared a great spread for us and we were all very satisfied. All this talk of terrible good had proved untrue so far! Then, we went back to the hotel where we rested for a little while. They had a snooker table! So we passed some time there.
Next we prayed together as a team and then we headed off to the Church for their Christmas Eve Night Service. When we got there, the children were all playing games so we joined in. We played their version of musical chairs and then a game called ‘Boot, Shoot, Dying’.
When it was time, we went into their Hall for service. It was just like a normal service except with their own traditions. Their songs were LOUD… Rock concert loud! Pastor Eugene preached and then we all had hot chicken congee together. It was very welcome given the freezing cold.
Back to the hotel and there was no electricity. Bedtime.
Thank you Lord for safe and smooth travels. Than you for your people here. Please keep building them up and please help us to be a blessing.
Day 6
It’s Christmas! And to be honest it feels a bit strange. It’s definitely not our typical Christmas experience… But still, some things are the same. We had breakfast, then headed off to the Church for Christmas Service. When we got there, the Church was packed and we saw a wonderful variety of items in praise of Jesus. Everything from solo’s to choirs and even a violin orchestra!
We’ve pretty much figured the typical structure for a Burmese Service now though. It goes LOUD music, a Bible reading, hymn, prayer, item, sermon, hymn, announcements, benedictions and Amens. We sang a song for them too (Silent Night) even though their items were so much more polished. Pastor Eugene preached – Jesus is the promise one who saved the world – the only one who could do it.
We had lunch with everyone after that and had some good times with our new friends. Then we caught up with Pastor Richard/Nohtoo and passed some of the Church’s financial support to them. Form there our day opened up as we had moved some plans around. WE went back to town and explored a little, taking a scenic walk around the lake. We had lots of time so we rested a little while before heading to dinner back at Pastor Richard’s house. They are spoiling us…
Pastor Nohtoo then took us to a local yoghurt café… It almost felt like their equivalent to going out for froyo! We had milkshakes… and some great sharing and fellowship.
It was now late so we went back to our hotel. We had short meeting and some prayer together. Thankfully we still had some time so we spent it organising our Kid’s Program coming in two days time.
Dear God, Thank you for the relationships and connections we can make with your people around the world. Help us to serve them well, trusting you for all power and strength.
Day 7
A new day and a new experience! After breakfast, we set out to visit one of the nearby villages that had converted to Christ a few years ago. We waited a while for a bigger car to arrive but then ended up squeezing into the one we had anyway! The ride took more than an hour and was extremely bumpy! It’s a good thing we were in a 4WD. Some of us felt sick… while those in the ‘boot’ felt bruised… haha
We made it to the village and while in some ways it was quite charming, it was clearly very poor, especially compared to what we are used to. There were pigs, piglets and dogs walking around everywhere. Chickens too. Everything was really dusty. All the buildings were made of wood from the surrounding jungle. We sat in a ‘living room’ where we were able to chat with some of the villagers (translated by Nohtoo of course). We found out that they had moved the whole village from a remote area where they used to cultivate poppy. This was something they did after they received Christ! They served us tea and these fried sticky rice things which are dipped in salt. Different but tasty! They were chewy with an almost popcorn like flavour. We then walked around the village. They had running water piped from a river. It flowed constantly from an outlet made out of a Coke bottle! We also saw their church building which was quite cost. We then took some photos with the villagers then left them to go to see some local hot springs. Bumpy, bumpy ride again…
When we arrived, the smell of sulphur was immediately noticeable. It wasn’t the most clean looking place but it was definitely popular. We got some eggs and boiled them in the spring! And ate them some really soft and delicious fish from a vendor there.
From there we went to the Church Compound to have lunch (yes, more food) even though it was already 2pm. Some of us got to travel back via motorcycle! Fun times. After that we rested till about 6:30 where we went in to the ‘Opening Ceremony’ Service for the training conference that we were taking part in. Yixin shared his testimony and Simon preached the message – God reveals himself to us – in creation but most importantly in his Word.
After that, we had late dinner and then went back to the hotel. Team meeting and prayer, some planning for the days to come. Then sleep!
Lord, give us strength and energy for the busy days to come. Make them fruitful and encouraging – times of real fellowship with your people here in Myanmar. Please build them up, and all for your sake.
Today we all woke early (at least earlier than we had been) because it was the first day of full program for the training conference that are helping with. So we had breakfast and then grabbed our lift to the Church. We were there early but as we have been growing accustomed to, they run on ‘Burmese Time’. Things starts… whenever people feel like it is about right…
The Bible training for the Pastors started first. Pastor Eugene was late! Because we didn’t know things had started and that they were waiting for him. He taught on the big picture story of the Bible (for 3 hours!)
A little while later the kid’s gathered and the fun began. There was a little ‘puppet’ show telling the story of Jesus’ birth (like on Day 4). Lots of games were also played. The kids are so easy to have fun with. And they are so energetic. We ploughed through all the games we had prepared really quickly.
After a bit of a break, it all started up again. We shared the story of Levi and how God came to save us from our sins. Then more games. Meanwhile Simon was teaching the Pastors and helping them to think through the process for deep and detailed interpretation of the Bible when preparing teaching resources.
We finished up at about 3 and went back to our hotel for some rest. Then back to the Church Compound for dinner and then a night service. It was very rushed as the Burmese Pastors had a business meeting afterward. Hester shared her testimony and Simon gave the message – humility and prayer are essential to life under God.
We came back to the hotel and then spent some time reflecting on the trip so far, praying and preparing for the days to come.
Thank you God for carrying us through so far. Thank you for the children and the chance to get to know them. Thank you also for the Pastors and leaders here who live to serve you. Bless them, build them up and give them faith.
Day 9
It’s Saturday today but it feels like we’ve all lost sense of time. Today we have ahead of us quite a full schedule. We had the usual breakfast with the usual lift to the Church. Today though the team is split into three groups. Some went to a nearby university to be present at their end of year celebration. The others were at the Church with Eugene teaching the Pastors (overview of Galatians) and those left running the Kids Program (the nature of sin and Jesus’ death and resurrection!)
After that was lunch but those who went to the university ate there with the students (Chicken Rice!) When they returned, the team set off to visit another village that had converted to Christ. It was another very, very bumpy ride. But this time 5 of the team went there on motorbikes! Lots of fun, wind through the hair and great views of trees, mud, rice paddies and the mountain…
The village was almost entirely made of bamboo. It was much more run down than the first village we saw. It had pigs, dogs and chooks everywhere though. There were also ltos of kids who were very friendly and playful. Although the village was made of bamboo, they were building a Church building out of concrete! They had to transport all the materials a long way up the mountain to do it… but it was their way of giving God their best.
We chatted to the villagers a little and then handed out little koala souvenirs to the kids. We forgot to bring them along at the first village… Then we took a group photo and headed off to dinner at a local church member’s house who had had a thanksgiving worship at their house that day for a new marriage.
We went back to our hotel from there. The ‘bikers’ were filthy! A little rest, then our usual team meeting and prayer. We practised a song to sing for the next day (Blessed Be Your Name). Some of the team had munchies so we got bread from the bakery downstairs (at 9pm!). Finally it was bed time and we settled down for some much needed rest.
Thank You God for opportunities to see, meet and have fellowship with so many different people. Help us to encourage and love them. Please give us good rest and energy for the rest of our trip.
Day 10
Even though everything here is different to our typical lives in Australia, there is one piece of normalcy here. It is Sunday and so today we are going to Church! It turns out though that their Sunday is a very long sort. Things began at 9am. Most of the team taught Sunday School. It was two classes split roughly between primary and secondary school students. Songs were sung and then the Parable of the Lost Son was taught. At the same time the adults gathered for bible study (which was really a pre-sermon sermon). Simon encouraged the congregation to pray as their means of spiritual warfare.
After that everyone gathered together for their usual Sunday Service. Loud music, then some more traditional things. There were also lots of musical items. Simon preached (on suffering and the glory of God), and the team sung the song they had prepared the night before. The song seemed to resonate quite well!
After that the message was translated a second time into Lahu (it was just English – Burmese at first). The service wound up being almost 3 hours long! We also found out later that afterwards they have women’s fellowship and then youth fellowship (which are basically run like services!) but we were not involved in them.
After the service we had lunch together with Pastor Richard and his family and much merry conversations were shared. We still had a few hours till our night engagements so we headed back to town. We walked the city again but this time headed to check out the Catholic Church and the Buddhist Statue. The story apparently goes that the Catholic Church was on the highest point of the town. The government did not approve of this so they built a giant Buddha that was higher than it. The problem though was that lightning kept striking the Buddha’s finger which was meant to point blessings to the town. The locals thus began to see this finger as more of a curse than a blessing. The government did not listen to them though and kept rebuilding it.
From there we walked back to our hotel for some rest. We bought bottled water along the way (tap water here is not safe and we had exhausted our supply). At around dinner time we were picked up and taken back to the compound. After dinner there was a devotional meeting with the conference Pastors (they had travelled back to their churches for Sunday Services and had returned for the rest of the program). At least there was supposed to be. We were sitting in the meeting hall when it was supposed to start when we found out that it was cancelled! There was some business that the Pastors had to attend to and so we were free to go! We decided to go back to ‘My Cup’ (the local yoghurt place from Day 6) where we chatted for a little while before we walked back to the hotel.
When we got back we had our usual night meeting. We prayed together, did some preparation, and then went to bed.
Father God, thank you that you have saved people all over the world. Thank you that in Christ we can have fellowship together even though we do not really understand what is going on! Please help us to continue to build relationships with them. For the sake of your holy name…
Day 11
Our day began a little differently than usual. As usual we started with breakfast but this time we went out to the morning markets to have some special beef ball noodle soup. (Apparently they are so well made that they can bounce like ping pong balls…) Keith was searching for a specific stall but we could not find it so we are at the first one we found. We finished breakfast with Burmese style milk tea that we’ve all come to enjoy. From there we were picked up and taken to the Church for the days program.
Once again though there were some changes to our plans. School had started again so many of the children were not present. There was only the kindy kids (who had their own teachers anyway) and primary kids whose school was closed for another couple of days. The Kid’s Program continued as usual anyway but with less people. This was easier in some ways and this made the age range much tighter. They learnt about faith and the forgiveness of sins through the story of the paralytic and the story of the bleeding woman. Meanwhile Eugene taught the Pastors in the morning session – continuing on in Galatians while Simon taught in the afternoon – overview of Ephesians. Right after the afternoon session, everyone came together to take a big group photo! It was pretty strange for us because as the guests, they insisted that we sat down on the seats in the front row. It was like we were taking school photos or something…
We soon learnt after that that the night devotional meeting was to be replaced by a seminar session so that the Pastors could wrap things up a little earlier. This meant that the team was now free… except for Eugene. He would teach the night session and complete the Book of Galatians. Everyone went back to the hotel to rest but then went back to the Church Compound for dinner.
After that, while Eugene was teaching, the team split up. Some went to town with Nohtoo on some errands while the others hung out with the children (who apparently had no homework). Eventually the team was together again and watched a movie with the children. It was kind of boring, until the movie changed to something animated…
When Eugene finished, we all came back to the hotel. We had our team meeting and prayer, some prep for the next day (which was to be light) and then went to bed!
Thank you Lord for a good day. Thank you for the opportunities you have given us to teach and encourage those who are here. Help them and us both to grow in our faith and godliness.
Day 12
It’s New Years Eve! And we started it quite early as it was the ‘closing ceremony’ of the training conference. It was really just a simple service. The girls sang an item, ‘It Is Well’, alcapella. They sounded very sweet! Then Eugene preached the message – it is God’s fight even we the task is enormous. The only other extra thing was a special ‘dedication’ prayer for the Pastors.
There was nothing scheduled for the late morning/afternoon and so we spent it with Nohtoo’s family and the children. It was time well spent, especially as our time in Myanmar is soon to end. We shot an interview with Nohtoo and played various games with the kids. We taught them to play cricket (so Australian!) and handball. We used a plank of firewoord that we found as a ‘bat’! A bit harsh on the hands but still effective.
Dinner was a bit different. A local church member had invited us to their home. So we had a more typical Burmese dinner there. It was saltier and fattier than usual, but still tasty… We also ate a lot of sunflower seeds for the New Year! From there we went to our hotel for some rest but soon returned to the Church compound for night festivities! They had a fire going and were preparing for a Lahu Sticky Rice Cake competition. We joined in. It was crazy tiring! We had to beat the rice into a consistent texture and then mould it into small circles. It was much, much more tiring than it looked… the stickiness really fights back! We ended up coming 2nd last… but we’re pretty sure they were just being polite to us. It was still fun though, except now our arms are wrecked.
At about 10 we all went into the Church for a service. It was also a compressed one. Nohtoo preached – on something… After that everyone had congee supper together. Really tasty and just right for the cold night air.
When it was about 10 minutes to 12, we huddled around the fire cooking and eating some of those Lahu Cakes. Naturally when it was time, we counted the New Year in. It was strange to be away from home in that moment. There were some fireworks in the distance, which lasted all of about 30 seconds, which we didn’t really expect (we were next door to an Army base). Then it was home time.
We found the owner of our hotel celebrating in the lobby/dining room. We had gotten to know his children somewhat as they were often at the hotel, so we exchanged greetings in Chinese (they were Chinese). He gave us some cake, and offered us some Australian wine! It was nice to experience that added extra gesture of kindness and friendliness. It felt very homey…
Thank you Lord for the past year and all the things you have taught us. Help us to serve you well in 2014. Also we ask that you give the believers here a fruitful and encouraging year.
Day 13
The first day of the New Year and everyone was a little worse for wear. We didn’t really have a very late night but the two weeks on the road has been catching up with us. The 3 who made the Lahu cakes were the sorest! We woke for breakfast and then checked out of the hotel. This time though we hopped into the minibus that would eventually take us back to Tai Chi Lek and the Myanmar-Thailand border.
We went first through to the Church to attend their New Year’s Day Service. The team sang ‘How Great is our God’ for the Church. It was in much too high a key for us… but hopefully it was still encouraging! Keith gave the message – the new life the new mission that God gives to us. From there it was ab it of a mad rush. We left the service before it was technically over because we needed to leave by a certain time. Still we managed to squeeze in the lunch that they had prepared. It turned out to be all too rushed. We said our goodbyes but it wasn’t as nice as we would have liked (too quick), especially with the kids. It has hard to leave everyone. We took one last photo with Pastor Richard and his family before we hopped on the van to go. Sadness all round. The girls cried a lot…
We then spent the next four hours sad and on the bumpy bumpy road downhill back to Tai Chi Lek. Not a fun trip, especially for the Cake makers… they felt every jolt! We briefly pottered around the local markets at the border and then it was time to cross back in to Thailand. After a little wait, we got our passports back!
We made our way back to the hotel and then rested a little while. Eugene said that it was New Year’s so a good meal must be had… Generously he decided to shout the team. More Thai food… more yums! We thought that some might lose some weight while on this trip but everyone has been so generous that we’re pretty sure it’s the opposite.
We then went searching for a special mango sticky rice dessert but couldn’t find any so we settled for ice cream instead. By then we were very full and very tired so back to the hotel we went, where we had some prayer together before some sleep.
Thank you Lord for safe travels. Thank you for a challenging and life changing time. May you Kingdom and glory increase in Myanmar and Australia… indeed all over the world. Please keep giving Pastor Richard and Pastor Nohtoo strength and faith in their ministry. Thank you for their generosity to us. Bless them in all their endeavours. Thank you Lord also for the kids. Please grow them and teach them. May they trust and serve you all the days of their lives.
Day 14
Our last full day together as a team… Everyone is relaxed but some are still pretty tired. We had a latish breakfast and set out on the trust pick up truck to Mae Sa Long. We stopped at a cute little place called ‘Banoffee Coffee’. The owner was very nice and even put a picture of us on his wall! We then set out on the hour plus drive up a winding mountain road to see the Khun Sa museum… some ½ Chinese drug lord. It was interesting learning of some of the history of the area. The bumpy car ride made it a little difficult though as some people got car sick…
We also visited some tea/flower plantations along the way. Very pretty. We stopped in this town for noodles. Excellent! It was interesting though because the whole town was Chinese! Apparently Chinese refugees had settled there in the late 40’s and it had continued to hold on to its roots. We also stopped by a tea shop where we sampled a variety of locally grown products. It was very interesting seeing the owner pour tea in the traditional way.
After that we made a spontaneous stop at the local Chinese Church. It was packed with kids because they were there for after school Chinese school. We met the Pastor and his wife and chatted with them a little. The church was quite old, but they showed us their newly finished building which was yet to be dedicated and used. It was huge, 2-3 times bigger than our Church building! It was a really big contrast to their old building… It was built mostly via foreign donors. They had this big chart of donations on the wall with names and amounts listed.
We made our way from there back to the hotel and had dinner at local street vendors. Keith remarked to us that because the trip was basically over, it was now safe to eat lots of vendor food because it wouldn’t matter if we got diarrhoea…
Tomorrow we are just travelling out of Maesai and the trip is officially over.
Father God in Heaven, you are full of grace and power. You are a God of unfailing love. Thank you that we have seen so much of your goodness displayed over these last few weeks. Thank you for the things that you have taught us and the experience that we’ve had. Thank you for keeping us and going before us in all the things we have done.
Help us Lord to continue to remember and be mindful of the things you are doing in this world. Help us to share well the things that we have seen, in order that our church would be encouraged and spurred on in the mission that you have given us all.
