Under the Cross

Lately, many people have asked, "So, I noticed there are Buddhist idols at your school, why is that?" While my mouth gives the black and white answer in my mind I think about what those idols represent. They are symbols of a lie of the devil that we daily fight against. How daily we live and work under the loving eyes of our all-seeing Father as well as in front of the unseeing work of man's hands.

On the surface, we are just a school. Underneath there is so much more.

I have Buddhist children who during FUN reading when they get to pick anything they want choose my English Children's Bible. When they've looked in that Bible they get the Thai Children's Bible and read about the stories. My boy from the mountains who has trouble speaking Thai sits next to this boy and tells him the Bible stories that he knows. When the daughter of an woman suffering from cancer who is also an ex-prostitute comes to join my class I'm thankful I get to speak into her life. I have a little girl who was just taken from her father and his girlfriend (who is a man who has decided to become a woman) because of abuse and other illegal activity. I have a boy whose parents abandoned him, and one whose parents are in jail.

Everyday our team speaks into their lives. In all the languages we speak we tell them they can overcome. With all our efforts we show them they are worth it. With every ounce of His energy we pour His love on them.

For many of them we are their only hope. Their only hope of coming to know Christ Jesus as Savior. Their only hope of receiving a good education and not being left behind. Their only hope of a better future and a life different from their parent's.

Everyday we fight to be light in the darkness. We pray that the entrenched tradition of Buddhism and the unseeing, unhearing, unknowing statues which represent it will one day be cast down. That its influence will no longer blind our children or their families to the truth of Christ.

So at times when it seems like we live under the darkness of the idols and the lies of the devil which pervade this country, we have to remember that really we live under the cross, the victorious and gracious cross of Christ. That Christ on the cross ransomed and redeemed all who will come to Him. That He is the light in this darkness, the hope for these precious ones, and the Savior of every nation.

God of all "gods"

This week we have been working hard to finish all of the necessary projects before our final inspection early next week. Yesterday, we spent the whole day cleaning up the outside. All I can say is that I am thankful we are doing this in the "winter."

Okay two pieces of information. First, we were listening to and singing along with praise music while we worked. Second, we were sitting in front of a large Buddha statue, which will soon be moved to the community temple. At one point I found a bit of irony in the fact that we were sitting before a "god" while worshipping the God. We choose to worship the almighty God who hears, sees, and acts on behalf of His children. Buddha is a "god" I can see and touch but who has no life, no power, and no love. He made no sacrifice to bring me to himself, he did not create a way to bring me life, nor does He love me unconditionally in spite of my flaws: only Jesus Christ chose to do that.

"Give thanks to the God of gods, for His loving kindness is everlasting. To Him alone who does great wonders, for His loving kindness is everlasting." Psalms 136:3-4