Poverty vs privilege
The walls were multi colored
The dirt floor covered with trash
The air thick in smoke smelling like rotten fish
Working all day to stay poor,
The family sat together with empty bellies
There were elegant designs on the marble walls
The floor was reflective and clean
From the celling hung a crystal chandelier
On his annual vacation
The man walked out of the bathroom and paid for his $200 meal.
Why?
Because He is love. Because he made us for fullness, and joy in relationship with him. Because everyone has this phenomenally beautiful opportune invitation, and we have the phenomenal opportunity to invite those who have not yet responded.
He is calling his bride. As we walk to him with doves eyes, a fixed gaze on him alone we portray the purpose of existence. We answer the question. We simply mirror his love.
Because the world is not experiencing this freedom. The richness of life is quenched by oppressors, greed, and selfishness. Even though I am the selfish one, I can respond out of God’s selflessness to extend his love to the needy.
Because complete satisfaction is where he made us to be, in his presence.
Fullness
It came to me on a bus in Bangkok. Thinking of the night before in a red-light bar in Phuket I realized the significance and simplicity. As I sat (with a ministry team) in front of a 19 year old girl serving drinks I was able to share with her about a hope unknown to her. I shared about another way of thinking, which gave value to her as a woman. There is available fullness, joy and purpose. She hated her job, so I told her of another way to make money outside the bar.
I realized on the bus, that unless I woke up that morning fully experiencing the intimate relationship with Jesus I told her about it was pointless. Was it just an idea, or a reality. The only reason for me to share about this freedom was to know it, and her only reason to respond was if she saw that I lived it.
Too often become able to talk about intimacy without experiencing it. I can write about it without growing in it. That night showed me yet agin how desperately I need this freedom as much as anyone.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Cambodia Transformed
I was so blessed during my stay in Cambodia to see the way love truly transformed a community. As I listened to Clayton Butler and Don and Bridget Brewster I began to see the power of empowerment. Just a few folks moved to the notoriously dark Svey Pak, phnom phen, Cambodia and began working with and releasing up Cambodians into ministry.
Visit Hope Ink for the story
X-brothel building in Svay Pak is now Rahab's House of AIM for Asia
The bedroom used to photograph a majority of the worlds child pornography is now the bedroom of pastor Chantha and his wife Bohnthan, who rescue children from those horrific situations
Bohnthan runs health clinics, child care, and other ministries in Svay Pak
VIP room upstairs was used to as the virgin room, as men would pay top dollar for young virgins
Room 9. This room remains unchanged from the original brothel. Children would service as many as 10 clients a day.
Large gathering of the Svay Pak community as truth is proclaimed Sunday morning.
Patients wait in line for the free weekly medical clinic at the converted ministry center.
Children of the community now have a safe place to play, learn, and are taken out of the risk getting trafficked.
Bohnthan caring for the sick.
Rotanak spends his time pouring into neighborhood children teaching them self worth, love and the truth of the gospel, which is transforming Svay Pak
Youth, drug dealers, and gang members are given free access to a gym, and breakdance floor, which is bringing new hope to this dark corner
Visit Hope Ink for the story
X-brothel building in Svay Pak is now Rahab's House of AIM for Asia
The bedroom used to photograph a majority of the worlds child pornography is now the bedroom of pastor Chantha and his wife Bohnthan, who rescue children from those horrific situations
Bohnthan runs health clinics, child care, and other ministries in Svay Pak
VIP room upstairs was used to as the virgin room, as men would pay top dollar for young virgins
Room 9. This room remains unchanged from the original brothel. Children would service as many as 10 clients a day.
Large gathering of the Svay Pak community as truth is proclaimed Sunday morning.
Patients wait in line for the free weekly medical clinic at the converted ministry center.
Children of the community now have a safe place to play, learn, and are taken out of the risk getting trafficked.
Bohnthan caring for the sick.
Rotanak spends his time pouring into neighborhood children teaching them self worth, love and the truth of the gospel, which is transforming Svay Pak
Youth, drug dealers, and gang members are given free access to a gym, and breakdance floor, which is bringing new hope to this dark corner
Thursday, September 3, 2009
the web
The contributing factors of the sex industry in Thailand is an intertwining web of many issues. I love lists, but could not figure out how to list these as they are all involved with each other.
Buddhism and its world view creates much of its own impoverished people. Looking around at the elegant temples dressed in gold and fine jewels completely paid for by those living in poverty struggling to support their families is one small, but clear picture of how Buddhism plays a significant roll in this issue.
Another factor Buddhism plays is its world view. These young women earn merit and honor as they provide financially for their families as is expected. (the men usually sit around and drink beer starting around 8 or 9 am)
Poverty plays what seems to be one of the largest rolls in this issue. The bars offer income without requiring education. Many of these women try to find work to support their families yet it is extremely difficult without education. The bars pay more and require less, so many parents send their daughters to the bars.
Thai culture dose not promote creativity, so dreaming of innovative sources of income is not prevalent. This when mixed with the worldview of Buddhism idea that if you are born into poverty you should just accept it. The income you get is what the god's have chosen for you (changing it is not an idea most seem to interested in)
The demand of selling sex is great as "sex tourism" is an extremely profitable business in this poor economy. The demand is great.
Government turns a blind eye most of the time as it creates much income. The Government receives money from the west and the UN to create a means to crack down. Yet at the same time much income is generated by the bars as well as the bar owners paying off the Government to turn their blind eye.
Depravity of heart is creating this issue. All involved are trying to fill this void by gaining something from selling or buying or allowing this issue to go on, and the only cure is restored hearts.
All these are just a few glimpses into the web of what creates this industry.
But there is so much being done in spite of the seemingly great darkness.
I am finding many people not confronting the factors, which contribute to the issue, but confronting the issue itself. The heart.
The YWAM Tamar Center is seeing God break through in these individuals lives on a regular basis. Because of the Tamar center may women have chosen to leave the bars. and work with the Tamar center's Cafe, card making shop, salon, or bakery.
In Cambodia God is bringing awesome transformation! One of the absolute most notoriously perverted brothels on the face of the earth known for petifilleia in Svay Pak has been shut down. Now a Church and ministry center use this building to show Christ's love to all in this area. It no longer known as a safe area to buy or sell children. Many in this dark corner of the globe are now being transformed by the gospel, and shining their light to others. AMEN and AMEN!!!
HOPE is always greater than the greatest injustice, and I am finding that more than true in Pattya Thailand, Svay Pak, Cambodia and everywhere that has been created by the loving God wooing his bride to freedom.
Buddhism and its world view creates much of its own impoverished people. Looking around at the elegant temples dressed in gold and fine jewels completely paid for by those living in poverty struggling to support their families is one small, but clear picture of how Buddhism plays a significant roll in this issue.
Another factor Buddhism plays is its world view. These young women earn merit and honor as they provide financially for their families as is expected. (the men usually sit around and drink beer starting around 8 or 9 am)
Poverty plays what seems to be one of the largest rolls in this issue. The bars offer income without requiring education. Many of these women try to find work to support their families yet it is extremely difficult without education. The bars pay more and require less, so many parents send their daughters to the bars.
Thai culture dose not promote creativity, so dreaming of innovative sources of income is not prevalent. This when mixed with the worldview of Buddhism idea that if you are born into poverty you should just accept it. The income you get is what the god's have chosen for you (changing it is not an idea most seem to interested in)
The demand of selling sex is great as "sex tourism" is an extremely profitable business in this poor economy. The demand is great.
Government turns a blind eye most of the time as it creates much income. The Government receives money from the west and the UN to create a means to crack down. Yet at the same time much income is generated by the bars as well as the bar owners paying off the Government to turn their blind eye.
Depravity of heart is creating this issue. All involved are trying to fill this void by gaining something from selling or buying or allowing this issue to go on, and the only cure is restored hearts.
All these are just a few glimpses into the web of what creates this industry.
But there is so much being done in spite of the seemingly great darkness.
I am finding many people not confronting the factors, which contribute to the issue, but confronting the issue itself. The heart.
The YWAM Tamar Center is seeing God break through in these individuals lives on a regular basis. Because of the Tamar center may women have chosen to leave the bars. and work with the Tamar center's Cafe, card making shop, salon, or bakery.
In Cambodia God is bringing awesome transformation! One of the absolute most notoriously perverted brothels on the face of the earth known for petifilleia in Svay Pak has been shut down. Now a Church and ministry center use this building to show Christ's love to all in this area. It no longer known as a safe area to buy or sell children. Many in this dark corner of the globe are now being transformed by the gospel, and shining their light to others. AMEN and AMEN!!!
HOPE is always greater than the greatest injustice, and I am finding that more than true in Pattya Thailand, Svay Pak, Cambodia and everywhere that has been created by the loving God wooing his bride to freedom.
Not a dreamland
When I first got to Pattya I was extremely overwhelmed by the level of darkness. Everywhere I looked I saw old white guys with young Thai girls. I saw a world feasting on the dark desires of their hearts, yet lonleyness filled their eyes. It seems as I watch these thousands of men interact with these women that I am watching them in a dream land, or fairy tail. I wanted to wake them up and yell "go home" or just ask "how are your wife and children?", yet i remained silent feeling helpless.
After just a few days I have began to get excited for what I am seeing in this city. As I have seen more darkness the longer I've been here I have gained hope. I have seen so much more of what God is doing in the darkest place I have ever seen. God is using those at the Tamar center to bring restoration to individuals who were hopless. I am seeing young girls leave the bars to work with in bakeries, salons, cafes and make jewelery and cards to export. They now walk with smiles that penetrate deep into a place that cause joy to rise in my heart. Hope walks the streets. Now these women go to the bars and share with the young women about the possibilities beyond the bar. This is working.
Now when I see the men everywhere I am sad, yet hopeful. I am disgusted, yet excited. I long for these men to meet their creator and be filled by the only one who can satisfy our empty hearts. This too is happening.
(two girls on right are Tamar Center staff inviting the bar girls to English class)
After just a few days I have began to get excited for what I am seeing in this city. As I have seen more darkness the longer I've been here I have gained hope. I have seen so much more of what God is doing in the darkest place I have ever seen. God is using those at the Tamar center to bring restoration to individuals who were hopless. I am seeing young girls leave the bars to work with in bakeries, salons, cafes and make jewelery and cards to export. They now walk with smiles that penetrate deep into a place that cause joy to rise in my heart. Hope walks the streets. Now these women go to the bars and share with the young women about the possibilities beyond the bar. This is working.
Now when I see the men everywhere I am sad, yet hopeful. I am disgusted, yet excited. I long for these men to meet their creator and be filled by the only one who can satisfy our empty hearts. This too is happening.
(two girls on right are Tamar Center staff inviting the bar girls to English class)
Friday, August 28, 2009
First night in Pattya
At night surrounded by red neon signs I see emptiness grabbing for purpose at the empty beauty which will never satisfies. I gaze at the giver of life, our creator, my lover, who gives exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. Surly the empty would forever be changed by just one encounter with the living God of love, the giver of purpose. But how?
When I talk to folks here - the drug dealers on the beach, the men buying women for change, and the women selling their bodies for a days worth of meals, I sense a void of recognizing the emptiness in their own heart. They say “I am happy” last night a cocaine dealer told me “I don’t want everything, I have everything”
Oh, my beloved you are missing the one thing of worth. To stand face to face with the giver of life, and to be found as his spotless bride through his own death given for you. This God dose not require you to make empty acts of merit, but unrelentingly pursues you and invites you into the eternal dance of love, woos you to the safety of his wreak-less love, and all you must do is simply accept this gift. You are loved, search no more. You are valued, receive it. The king delight in his
This man continued to ask my friend Matt and I “ why come? you don’t want to smoke, do drugs, take ladies, go to disco?” we told him because we already are full of joy without all of those empty things. He was confused. We continued to tell him of our fullness. We are going back tonight.
Father would you come and encounter Bon. Make known your love.
When I talk to folks here - the drug dealers on the beach, the men buying women for change, and the women selling their bodies for a days worth of meals, I sense a void of recognizing the emptiness in their own heart. They say “I am happy” last night a cocaine dealer told me “I don’t want everything, I have everything”
Oh, my beloved you are missing the one thing of worth. To stand face to face with the giver of life, and to be found as his spotless bride through his own death given for you. This God dose not require you to make empty acts of merit, but unrelentingly pursues you and invites you into the eternal dance of love, woos you to the safety of his wreak-less love, and all you must do is simply accept this gift. You are loved, search no more. You are valued, receive it. The king delight in his
This man continued to ask my friend Matt and I “ why come? you don’t want to smoke, do drugs, take ladies, go to disco?” we told him because we already are full of joy without all of those empty things. He was confused. We continued to tell him of our fullness. We are going back tonight.
Father would you come and encounter Bon. Make known your love.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Freedom for the captives!
Who are the captives?
It is easy to hold the villain responsible for oppressing the innocent. What is to be done when no one is found to blame? How do we impact an issue made up of world views shaping a valueless humanity. Hold the oppressor accountable, yet all I find is the depravity of heart. Poverty stricken people in need of financial breakthrough to make ends meet. Surly I will not call a girls mother a bandit for wanting to feed her child, yet it is not right for her to send her daughter into a den of sexual exploitation for her own profit.
What do I do when young women choose to work the bars. Who then is my adversary? I will stand with the will and word of my God, even, and especially when I see no way of hope.
He promises love. And in love is freedom, is wholeness is the fullness of life. Where these things live there can not be a void.
With you, no heart would long for another. What do you say creator who they are? Oppressed and oppressor, whoever they may be are completely loved, valued and desired as my only child.
You alone can release an empty heart from captivity. Come and restore! Show me your love so I can love. All I want is what you want to be. Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Come manifest your desires through me, and set these captives free. Liberate hearts to delight in yours.
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