For Rent?

As I was driving into Kamalasai from the north, I was taken aback when out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a sign รับเช่าพระ which translates Phra for Rent.

Phra for Rent Sign

"Phra" is a word that carries a lot of different meanings, but one of the more common ones is to refer to monks. So my brain quickly interpreted this as "monks for rent," and I was a bit stupefied. Is this some sort of temple prostitution being advertised? Which would be really weird because it it not really a thing in Thailand. It would even be against the teachings of Buddha. So there had to be some other meaning.

The Thai language has a very rich vocabulary and there are often many ways to say the same thing. So to me it is odd that they have words like Phra that have so many different connotations. So, on another day, I went by on my bicycle and looked more closely at the sign. There were images of amulets on the poster. Then I understood the meaning—someone was renting out religious charms. There are other words they could have chosen to be more clear about this meaning, but I guess thay chose Phra because it is the shortest.

The use of amulets is quite common in Thailand, particularly among men. Most people have at least one amulet hanging around their neck. Some people have so many amulets, I wonder how they keep their head up straight against the weight of them.

People believe that amulets have special power to protect one from dangers and hazards of various types. There are magazines dedicated to the subject where one can research which amulets can be used for particular types of protection. These pendants can be quite expensive, especially for a charm that was worn by a particular person that protected that person from harm. Or maybe the charm has special powers that were given to it by a monk who prayed an incantation over it.

Amulet vendors are everywhere and it is not unusual to see someone studying a pendant under a magnifier trying to determine if it is genuine.

Amulets for Sale

Since powerful amulets can be quite expensive, it makes sense that someone would make a business renting them out. Someone might want some special protection for a certain event. Or maybe they just need to impress someone in particular with their choice in amulets.

It can be easy to ridicule people for such superstitions, especially for someone like me who grew up in a religion that didn't use much in the way of symbols. I even struggle sometimes with the way that Christians use crosses.

The Bible is full of prohibitions regarding the use of idols—images resembling people, animals, birds, or mythical creatures. So it is interesting to hear people in Thailand say that one of the reasons they don't like Christianity is precisely because it doesn't have the idols. The are many people who want something that they can look at or touch. It is part of what makes their religion real for them.

The writer of Hebrews tells us: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1-NIV)

There is a saying that goes, seeing is believing. What makes Christianity difficult for some is that it reverses this to something like, believing is not seeing.

Since I grew up without the use of idols or amulets, it is easy for me not to depend on them. But it must be really hard for those people whose culture is full of statures and images and charms worn on the body. I really can't imagine what it must be like for them to believe in a God they cannot see. But one thing I do know is that when I put my trust in the One I cannot see, Jesus Christ, His presence became very real to me, as real as any statue that I can touch with my fingers.

Thomas, one of Jesus' disciples, had difficulty believing that Jesus rose from the dead. Then, when he finally saw Jesus, he believed the resurrection had actually happened. Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29-ESV)

There is no need for us to buy or even rent a charm or statue. We need only put our faith in the One who died on the cross and rose again. We may not see Jesus, but He is real, and He is alive.

Symbols

We live in the province of Kalasin, Thailand. One of the symbols of the province is the dinosaur. The reason for this is that in the northern part of the province they have found lots of dinosaur fossils.

Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum in Kalasin

So you can find statues or symbols of dinosaurs all over the place.

Not waiting to find out if they really are herbivores

Dinosaurs are surprisingly mobile. At this rate they should be taking over Thailand soon.

Dinosaurs invading the city of Kalasin

Some dinosaurs like to hang around coffee shops.

Dinosaur coming to steal my coffee

Dinosaur giving rides while we wait for out coffee

Earlier this week we found a dinosaur that had been trained to ring a gong.

Kalasin's trained dinosaurs

We humans like to use symbols. They can be an easy way to express the essence of something or even our emotions (emojis).

Emojis as symbols of feelings

Symbols can be powerful tools for making something easy to recognize—like the golden arches at McDonalds or the donkeys and elephants used to represent political parties in the USA. Back when we lived in Haiti, we happened to be there for their first democratic elections, ever. The ballots had the names of the candidates, their photograph and a symbol for their party. Even the illiterate people could recognize the symbols.

Haitian Election Ballot from 1992

For centuries now, the symbol for Christianity has been a cross. It is almost trivialized now, but in its day, the cross would be recognized as a brutal form of execution. Using a cross as a symbol is akin to using a gallows or guillotine, which makes it a really odd symbol. But it makes sense when you think that Jesus taught that the way to life is through death. Jesus died for our sins on the cross to secure our salvation. But He didn't stay dead. First came death, then the resurrection.

The Cross as a symbol of Christianity

Jesus, looking ahead to His crucifixion, wrote,

And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵ Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:23-26 (ESV)

But Jesus wasn't just saying this about Himself. Whoever, He says, loves his life will lose it. Dying is the way to a life of fruitfulness.

Paul also writes about this. In Romans 8:13 (ESV) we read: "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." And again in Colossians 3:5 (ESV) "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

The challenge with symbols is that after a while the symbol becomes more important than what it is supposed to represent. The cross becomes merely a fashion statement or a religious symbol rather than showing one's desire to die to self or even even die for one's faith. Some, ironically, complain when governments try to remove our cross symbols from public places. When someone wants to remove a sign that should say we are willing to suffer for our faith, we complain and can become belligerent even to the point of being obnoxious, even though we aren't actually suffering. We are very unlike the first century Christians who rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. (Acts 5:41)

When Jesus said we should be willing to take up our cross, I don't think he had in mind a piece of jewelry strung around our neck or a symbol erected on top of a building.

The cross is a reminder that we are strangers and exiles on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13) We are willing to die to the things of this world because we are looking forward to a better one. We read in Hebrews 11:35 (ESV): Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

I've found that this cross thing is not always easy. Sometimes I get to a place where I have to choose gratifying my human desires or pleasing God. At other times I have to choose between responding to situations according to the wisdom and ways of this world or according to the ways of the Kingdom of God. I don't always get it right.

We read James 3:15-17 (The Voice translation): The wisdom of this world should never be mistaken for heavenly wisdom; it originates below in the earthly realms, with the demons. Any place where you find jealousy and selfish ambition, you will discover chaos and evil thriving under its rule. Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy, and other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy.

God, when I see the symbol of a cross, help me to remember that not only did Jesus die on the cross for my sins, but also that He called us to be willing to die to the things of this world for the sake of His kingdom

An Appointment With Jesus

Today we received word about one of my wife's uncles. The message we received from his daughter via my sister-in-law was:

"My dad is in heaven I can hardly believe it! He had breakfast, walked to his room and sat in his chair where he reads his Bible and they found him there."

It seems that Uncle Garry had an appointment with Jesus. This was a little different than the previous ones, in that it started in his usual meeting place in the care center, but ended in a much more glorious one in the presence of Jesus.

Parkinson's had robbed Uncle Garry of his mobility the past few years, but not his mind. He had much wisdom to offer those who had patience to listen, as his physical limitations made it difficult for him to speak.

Uncle Garry and his wife, Connie, had spent most of their adult lives moving around Canada and Europe to tell and show people about the love of Jesus. In his later years, his ministry was to international students living in Canada.

We actually did not see him very much, because he was usually living someplace away from the rest of his siblings. (In that way, they were a lot like us.) He was a soft spoken man, and when I think about him I am reminded of the words of Paul, "let your conversation be always full of grace." (Colossians 4:6) I hope I can speak so well as I mature.

Uncle Garry passed his love of Jesus on to his children who continue to minister that love to others.

Uncle Garry with my Father-in-Law

We will miss you, Uncle Garry, but we're happy that now you can lift your head to see Jesus face-to-face.

Not As I Planned It

I like to ride my bike because it is a good way to get exercise and, while doing so, I generate my own wind, which helps make the activity more bearable in the hot humid climate of Thailand.

Usually, though not always, I start off with an idea of where I will go. Sometimes it is a route I've been on before, on other occasions it may be a route I picked out on the map. Such was the case one day last week. But while I was out exploring, I noticed the map showing a bridge across the Phan River, and when I got to that road that this supposed bridge was on,  I found it was a wide, paved road. Change of plans. I wasn't really thinking about how I would also cross the Pao River, which I would need to do to get home.

Shortly after I crossed the bridge there was a "road narrows" sign, but with the narrowing also came an ending—of the pavement. I kept going, checking the map now and then to see that I was still on roads that might go through to somewhere I would like to go. After a brief stretch on pavement, I found another road that, according to the map, had a bridge across the Pao River. Off I went.

After going about 50 yards I was wondering why there would be a bridge on that road, it was just a farm road and not even a good one at that.

Oh, that's why.

Bridge Across the Pao River

I'm not sure what kind of load the bridge was rated for, but I felt comfortable crossing on my bicycle. Just after I crossed the bridge, I hit pavement.

Yesterday was similar. I worked my plan for the first 8 kilometers. Then I got to where the map showed two options to get to where I was planning on going. But the option I chose turned out to not really be a road and I ended up on another track going in a different direction, but hey, at least the map showed the possibility of getting across the rice paddies to the road back home. The first part was a bit rough and I debated turning back. But then I came to a village and turned onto a better track. This next route, even though it wasn't paved, was smoother than some of the paved roads in the area. And there was another bridge to cross, this time over an irrigation canal.

Bridge Across Irrigation Canal

After crossing the bridge, it was quite scenic. The ride may not have been as I planned it, but it was probably better.

Scenic Spot Along the Way

Though there was a short stretch of less developed trail.

Road Narrows

Our ministry life is similar to my bike rides. We have a meeting with our core team on Tuesday mornings. Except on weeks when something comes up (most of the time)—in which case we switch to another day. We finally got a rhythm established of when we will do things like making house or hospital visits, teaching English, youth activities, and church worship meetings.

Planning Meeting

English Class

Hospital Visits

Sunday School

Youth Activities - Before Songkran Holidays (no masks required)

But then came the Songkran holidays, a time of year when people travel to their home provinces to visit their families. This year, Songkran corresponded with a new outbreak of COVID-19 in Bangkok and surrounding areas, so many of these vacationers brought the virus along for the ride. Next thing you know, there is a call from the village head to suspend church meetings for two weeks. Then things got worse, COVID-19 wise, nationwide and now there are even more restrictions on travel and gatherings. So we find ourselves spending most of our time at home and avoiding crowds when we go out. Nationwide, it is mandatory to wear a mask outside the home—this includes traveling in a car when you're not by yourself, even if you're with a family member—and the fine for breaking this law can be up to 20,000 THB (about $650 US).

This is not how we planned it.

But, hopefully it will be like yesterday's bike ride, where the road was be a bit rough at first, but it gives way to something better than we planned. We just need to push through the rough part and not turn back.

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

There's No Place Like Home

Yesterday, a friend of ours made a post on Facebook which got me reminiscing about and missing New England. It's been eight years since we've been back to that part of the world and it looks like it will be a few more years before we can make it back again. So, let me indulge some nostalgia.

We'll start in Maine. Back in the old days, when I was living in Dover, New Hampshire, I would sometimes bike over to the York, Maine, area—it was closer than some of the New Hampshire beaches. We have been back several times since, the last time was in winter with snow.

York Harbor, Maine, in Winter

This photo of the Nubble Lighthouse was taken in a warmer time of year.

Nubble Lighthouse, York Beach, Maine

Maine has a lot of islands. On one occasion we visited Vinalhaven Island. It was in the fall, about a week before most of the tourist industries would be shut down for the winter. Already, there weren't many choices for eating, etc. But it is a beautiful place. A tidal creek flowed under our hotel room.

Vinalhaven

On to New Hampshire. When I was young, I dreamed of living in New Hampshire when I became an adult. I made several trips to the White Mountains as a teenager to go hiking. I even went to that state for my University.

Hiking in the White Mountains in the mid-1970's
Mount Lafayette from Mount Lincoln

God had other plans for my life, however, and I haven't lived in New Hampshire since 1980. I still like the state, however, and have been there to visit many times in my adult life. The highest peak in New Hampshire and home of some of the most severe weather in the world is Mount Washington. I never actually hiked to the top when I lived in New England—we only made it to the summit on a family trip taking the cog railway. Since I've left the area, I've actually driven to the top three times and hiked it once—and that was also one of the times that I drove there. On that occasion, we had planned on hiking as a couple, but Ingrid had messed her back up bad on our travels to New England. So she stayed at our cabin in Bartlett while I hiked to the top. The weather was so nice, I decided that she should not miss the opportunity to visit. So I phoned our cell phone, which she had (this was in the early days of cell phones) from a pay phone on top of the mountain (it was a toll call to our California number) and asked if she wanted to drive up. Then I quickly hiked back down the mountain, drove to Bartlett and picked up Ingrid, then drove around to the other side of the mountain to the Mount Washington Auto Road. On another occasion, pictured below, we drove to the top, then I hiked over to Mount Adams and back.

Mount Washington from Mount Adams

In my youth, winter was my favorite time of year. I loved being out in the snow. Not so much anymore. Hiking, or snowshoeing or cross-country skiing were fine. Or maybe just donning some ice skates. On one occasion we were in the Wolfeboro area when we found a place with cross-country ski rentals.

Cross-Country Skiing Near Wolfeboro

Moving south to Connecticut. While waterfalls in Connecticut aren't near as large as some of the waterfalls out west, we do have some pretty ones. Northwest Connecticut has some beautiful country roads to explore. Not far from the quaint village of Kent is Kent Falls.

Kent Falls, Connecticut

Probably some of my most fond memories are from my back yard. Russell's Pond, as we called it then, or what is now known as the Russell Preserve, was our playground. Grab your skates, hop on a sled for the trip down the hill to the pond.

Russell's Pond, Wolcott, Connecticut

Ice Skating on Russell's Pond

Next let's head back north to Massachusetts. Massachusetts has some nice areas along the coast. Plum Island is home to a beautiful wildlife refuge.

Sunset at Plum Island, Massachusetts

Further inland are places such as Shelburne Falls, a typical New England small town.

Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts

Just north of western Massachusetts is Vermont. A typical feature in many New England towns is a church on The Green. These churches might have doubled as town meeting places back in the day. The Green was where you might park your horses when you went into town. Often the church buildings are white, but sometimes they are made of stone, or as in Jericho Center, out of brick.

Jericho Center Congregational Church

At this point, I'm not sure I'll ever be a permanent resident of New England again. But God has led me lots a places that I'd never dreamed I would live, so it is not impossible that I might end up there. As beautiful as New England is, there are many other pretty places in this world. But the important thing is to be where God wants me to be, and right now that is in Kalasin, Thailand. And wherever I end up, I am assured that God is present.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:7-10 (NIV)

Moving Up

Just after we moved to Chachoengsao, during our first term in Thailand, we had a housewarming party that included many members of the church we were associated with. During that time, we were given Thai names. Phi Chin was given the responsibility to name us. He decided on Mana and Nit. You can read more about the names here.

With our church in front of our Chachoengsao home,
where we first received out Thai names

Along with these names came titles: Uncle and Aunt. Uncle and Aunt are common titles for people who are older, but not quite seniors. So for the past ten years we have been known as Uncle Mana and Aunt Nit.

Now we have moved into a new community in the province of Kalasin. In our first meeting with the small community of believers we are part of, they were trying to decide what to call us. After some discussion, they landed on Grandpa Mana and Grandma Nit.

Enough gray hairs to qualify as Grandpa and Grandma

We are definitely old enough to be grandparents, but  at first it was a little hard to accept this constant reference to our oldness when we are called Grandpa or Grandma. But the nice thing about it, culturally, is that these titles also convey respect, kind of converse to North American culture. (See an earlier blog on this topic here.) To go from Uncle and Aunt to Grandpa and Grandma is an increase in honor. It is a move up.

The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.
Proverbs 20:29 (NLT)

Thank you, God, for the 60+ years of experience You have given us. Help us to use the wisdom we have acquired to use our lives to be a blessing to others.

Anniversary Celebration

We we're so busy, it almost slipped right past us. Ten years ago this month, we moved to Thailand.

Entry Stamp on Our Move to Thailand

It's been a crazy ten years, not at all how I imagined our life in Thailand would be.

And what better way to celebrate the anniversary of our move to Thailand than with...moving. So, on our anniversary week we were loading a truck to bring our belongings to our new home. This time we moved to the province of Kalasin, Thailand. From Phon Phisai on the Banks of the Mekong River to Kamalasai on the banks of the Phao River. Our new home is in a row house with two floors. It is the biggest place we have lived in since moving to Thailand, and a bit more "urban" than our last place. This is a small town, though, and rice paddies are close by, just not right next door like where we used to live.

We Live in the Left-most Unit

Housewarming Party

Phao River on the North Side of Kamalasai
The walkway is not contiguous and little used.

Lots of Rice Paddies, Even More So Than Phon Phisai
The landscape is very flat like the middle of California's Central Valley

We jumped right in to ministry, too. We are working with Goong, an intern from Central Thailand. She has been living in Ajan Nat's house since January.

Goong Helping Lead Action Songs

It's been a lot of fun getting to know some new people. We have been helping with children's Sunday School, teaching music and even teaching how to make tortillas!

English Games With Sunday School Kids

Guitar Instruction

Goong and Ngok Rolling Out Tortillas
Both ladies liked our Mexican(ish) Meal

It seems a bit crazy, picking the hottest time of the year to move. But the good news is that hot season is also the beginning of mango season and March is Mango Month at Swensen's. So what better way to celebrate 10 years in Thailand than with a mango sundae.

Mango and Sticky Rice at Swensen's

To top it all off, we ended our anniversary month by getting a 1-year visa extension for both of us! We weren't sure what to expect when we went to the immigration office as this was a different kind of visa than we have had before and it was an immigration office where no one knew us. And while we were requesting a one-year extension, we were not sure they would give us that long.

Visa Extension

We thank God for what was the smoothest and fastest visa renewal process since moving to Thailand! We started out by going to the bank to get some finance documents we needed to renew the visa. Then we went to the immigration office in Kalasin City. We handed in our documents fairly quickly after arriving and then sat around a bit until they called us to process the visa. After getting our passports stamped, they also let us do our 90-day reporting, even though we were a few days early—that will save us another trip. All of that, including our time at the bank, took only 2-1/2 hours!

This week is Passion Week, and we're looking forward to some more celebrations. It will be the first observances of Good Friday, the Lord's Supper and Easter for our new small community of believers. We're grateful for this new family that we have here to celebrate with.

What will the next ten years look like?

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:7 - NIV)