Of Whom Shall We Be Afraid

What strikes you about this photo?

 

Is it the lean of the spirit house?
The gaudy green color?
The desecration of a natural area by a man-made object?

To me, one of the interesting things about this spirit house (and many others) is the presence of a ladder.

The spirit house is a structure built to make offerings to the land-spirit in return for using the land.   They are present in most yards and agricultural fields. Devoted worshipers will leave fresh offerings every day.

But why the ladder?

Does the spirit actually need a ladder to get in the shrine?

In a similar way, old traditional Thai house were built on stilts with a ladder to get in.  The ladder could be pulled up to keep the spirits from getting in the house.

I don't know about you but to me, a spirit that needs a ladder to get to the shrine does not seem terribly intimidating.

Mind you, I take the spirit  world seriously and don't want to trivialize their power or presence.
 
But whom shall we fear?

Jesus said: "I'm speaking to you as dear friends. Don't be bluffed into silence or insincerity by the threats of religious bullies. True, they can kill you, but then what can they do? There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands." Luke 12:4-5 (MSG)

Many are those who go about their days without giving a thought to God.  They are concerned about things of this life: what to eat, what to wear, how to be safe, etc.  Concerned about their earthly existence, they buy car insurance and wear a seat belt.  But they neglect their soul.

Here in Thailand, people will make offerings at various shrines and temples, trying to placate a plethora of deities, yet not acknowledge the God who created us (though some may add an image of Jesus to their shrine as if to hedge their bets).

Of whom shall we be afraid.

King David wrote:

  The LORD is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
  When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.  
  Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.  
  The one thing I ask of the LORD— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.  
  For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.  
  Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the LORD with music.
   Psalm 27:1-6 (NLT)  


Don't be afraid of the one who needs a ladder,
Fear the One who created the world on which it rests.

Cup of Happiness

One of the premises for the founding of my home country is that all people have the right to pursue happiness.  (No guarantee that you will find it but only that the government shouldn't stop you from trying.)

One of the popular promises of the current government of Thailand is that they want to return happiness to the people.

Everyone, so it seems, wants to be happy.

Why wait?  Your opportunity has come!

A little over a year ago, a new coffee shop opened in Wiang Kaen.  It is the most expensive coffee shop in town, probably out of the range of most of the people in the waiting area of the hospital across the street.

But it is a coffee shop.  I mean, there might be a couple of tea items on the menu, but mostly they sell coffee.  No cake.  No cookies.  No biscotti.  The decor of this place tells you that this place is about coffee.





And the coffee is good.  Flavorful.  Not bitter.  And they make it the way I want it.





The decor is a bit different.  There is a book theme going on.  There are lots of books--real books--not just the borderline porn that passes for popular magazines that you find at the other coffee shops.







The name they chose for this place: เปี่ยมสุข - piam suk.





Which translates: cup of happiness.





The problem with my cup full of happiness is that an hour after I start drinking it, it is not merely not full, it is rather quite empty.

So much for my happiness!

So where do I get a cup that never runs out?

Jesus said there are two things we need to do to keep our cups full: ask and abide

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
     John 16:24 (ESV)

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
     John 15:7-11 (ESV)

Jesus promises something that Piam Suk, as good as it is, cannot do.

A full cup.  Forever.

Take a big sip.  It's still full.  The ultimate bottomless cup.

All we have to do is abide and ask.

And not only enough for us.  There's some to share as well--because our cup overflows.  As King David wrote at the end of one of the more famous passages of scripture:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
     you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
     and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
          Psalm 23:5-6 (ESV) 

Now that's a good cup o' joe.