Pattaya, Power, and Frustration.

As we roamed the streets of Pattaya, the women called us in, the shop owners handed us their cards, and the neon lights lit our path. It's almost an overwhelming culmination of noise, as the traffic weaves and moves, horns honk, people converse, and music screams at the night. We found our way to the coast and met a guy named Bon. He tried to sell us drugs to which we politely denied and explained to him the effects of drug use, as he we curious why we didn't want the good stuff. We also talked about Jesus, but he said that he has money, and that he is happy. I think he also made a reference about him having buddha, and thats the "same same" as Jesus.

It was kind of frustrating, because it felt like I had to convince him that he was unhappy, which I didn't do. He says he's happy. He says he has everything he needs. But somehow, I have this feeling that if he had the option, he wouldn't be standing on the street corner selling drugs

It's in these moments of feeling powerless that I realize it's all about the power of God. But amidst my fears and doubts, I often struggle with the understanding of bringing this power into these situations. Do I pray and just believe that the Lord did something, even though I didn't see anything actually happen? Or do I pursue that? Pray and Pray until something happens that I can see with my eyes, or rather, pray until he actually feels the Lord encounter him?

Seems I need to figure out some theology. Or maybe just believe? I can't really say that I've ever had a power encounter with the Lord, but I believe that it can happen. Theology shouldn't be formed around what's not happening(thanks Bill Johnson!), and so is it a consistent pursuit of something that brings it?

What do I do to show Bon the power of God?

If your lookin

Lately I've been rollin to the ear candy of John Mark McMillan. If you want some folksy rock n' roll thats creative and all about Jesus, then John Mark will satisfy even the most demanding. John Mark is one of the worship leaders at my church so I have heard not only his music, but also his heart, as he has shared here and there on sunday mornings.

I don't know if I'm weird with music but I always start out not liking a particular group and then absolutely loving them. John Mark was that way...

So I just wanted to throw a plug for John Mark because his cd, "The Medicine", has been inspiring me and I've had a hard time not listening to it. He's been singing to me this whole trip. Check him out...

Both of his cd's, "The Medicine" and "The Song Inside the Sounds of Breaking Down" are solid, with a capital I CAN'T STOP LISTENING!

"There's not enough gravity that can hold me now, and I know that You're gonna meet me here. There's not enough dignity that can keep me away from You"-JMM

Smiles and Perspective

Thailand is called the "Land of Smiles". It's true, there are lots of smiles here, but I often wonder at what is behind a smile. It is the universal language, as anywhere you go a smile is understood, no matter what language you speak. But a smile doesn't always mean what it portrays. Many, many times in my life I have put a smile on my face, when the reality of my heart was hidden behind the mask. It's just easier to smile and hide things.

I walk these streets and look at the people. So many people all around me, many with smiles. It's sometimes hard to believe the web of oppression in this place. The amount of things done in darkness, under the cover of night. And even during the day.

The problem here is much different then I initially thought. I had a certain image in my head when comming to Thailand about what it was like and I thought I knew all there was to know about the sex trades. But after the last few weeks of conversations with people here on the ground, my perspective is changing. And rightly so. Perspective should change when information goes from narrow to broad. Comming here I had the narrow form of perspective. Narrow amount of information and yet thinking I was learned on the subject. I will try to explain some of the perspective I have gotten in the next few days.

I love gaining new perspective. It changes the heart.