My View on Thailand's Politics

No, I'm no scholar nor a critic. I'm in no way claiming that I truly understand what is happening. Yes, I have read the papers, listened to people's thoughts and watched the news. But I'm not here to judge or to provide intelligent explanation here. This is only my humble opinion, true to my heart, on the current situations ofThailand and how we can react to it. So if this doesn't agree with what you have in mind and causes you to be offended, I sincerely apologize.

As Thailand is a "democratic" country, everyone has a voice and deserves to be heard. Many have been speaking while many others have been consuming the news. My only view, humble but decided, is that the only way possible for Thailand to resume its once-renown fame, "The Land of Smile"..."The Land of Peace" and see no more bloodshed is that Jesus needs to be in every heart and soul, especially the ousted former prime minister - Thaksin.

Now you may be chuckling to yourself or flopping out of your chairs right now as you're bursting into a hysterical laugh and thinking that I've probably gone crazy due to the graphic scenes from TV and the stress that came with watching too much news. Well, try to think with me a little bit...what a change it would be if Thai leaders and all of the people abide in God's law and live with true justice, righteousness, mercy and love! What difference it would make if we ONLY do what God's pleased!

I have been pondering a lot about how this "civil war" can be stopped. And the only sensible answer I get is it has to start from the inner of a man's heart.

Government has tried to resolve the problems with different strategies, which eventually led to the "roadmap"...five ways towards peace...Different color parties have come up with different solutions including the coup, the demonstration and the protesting. There is no right or wrong to it.

Yet...gunshots fired off somewhere...billowing clouds and dancing flames looming over the city...sobbing people mourning over the lost ones.

Bangkok...frustration...anger...hatred...death.

Is this what we, Thais, really want?

My heart has been saddened by the news that many people have lost their lives since the beginning of April. Just as the angels throw a party when one soul gets saved, I believe that they are mourning over the dead...the souls that will be lost forever. And I'm grieving with them. It doesn't matter who they are or what standpoints they are from in the political world, EVERY ONE of them was beautifully created by God and precious to His eye...whether they knew it or not.

Zechariah 7:9 says, "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.'" I have discovered that true justice happens when people are ready to repent, forgive and show compassion to another fellow human being. Everyone is flawed. We need to come clean before each other. How can you make a room clean if you still hide your junks in the closet or put them in the drawers? We all know one another's mistakes. The point is - deep down in our hearts, we want to start over. But to start over, we gotta have enough gut...enough courage...to admit our mistakes, our wrongdoings.

Jesus taught something radical which I believe, if we dare enough to take up His challenge,will bring peace unto this land.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matt. 5:38-48

I read it from somewhere on one of my friends' facebook quotes and I'd like to paraphrase it here...it goes, "If we keep to the concept of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, then the whole world will be full of people without eyes and teeth!" If you know whose quote this from, please let me know. I love it very much.

All this is to say that this isn't the time to rejoice over someone's death or sneer at the indecisive groups of people. It isn't even time to hold grudges against someone.

This is the time of prayer...the time we all need to stand strong in faith...and intercede for Thailand...the time of forgiveness...and the time of repentance. Let us be decisive on our part that we will be committed to praying for Thailand everyday...that not only this "war" will come to an end...but that Thai people will come to believe in Jesus as their own personal Savior.

Last, I wanna challenge you, Christians and non-Christians alike, to reread the above scripture from Matthew once again...and DO it. Everyone can love those who are nice. But today's dare is for you to love your enemies.

Peace,

When the rain comes, it causes a heart to ponder...

I am anticipating the rainstorm. It has been unbearably hot and the air feels like desert. Now, after a full month, the sky seems to give in to the thunder a little bit. I could hop on a bicycle and ride home right now. But my heart refused to do so. Why, summer rain is a rare treasure these days.

Talking about rain, we were driving through the mountains 2 days ago. We were on a car sneaking through the windy road of the northern hills. Our driver was ever so patient and confident in his driving that I had no fear at alll. We were surrounded by forests; the teak wood, the flame trees and many other wild plants that I have never known.

Then I saw the first sign of thunder - the hovering dark clouds. My heart almost skipped a beat, not out of fear but of excitement. It may sound weird but I love thunderstorm. It somehow gives me a glimpse of such powerful and magnificent glory of the Creator. The lightening. The whooshing of wind. The swaying trees. The growling of sky belly. Then the downpour of silver rain. More thunderbolt. More flashes of lightning.
I was sitting in the 1st class seat watching the reflection of heaven discreetly rolled out for the eyes of human to see and revere.

Suddenly, the driver slowed down. A huge tree was lying on the road and stopped the traffic in the middle of nowhere. Long lines of cars and trucks were stuck and we were awaiting help from someone...somewhere.
But God was good. The tree could've fallen somewhere else but it fell next to a police station. Things got sorted out very smoothly and in timely manner. A policeman, drenched with rain, was standing and directing the cars to use the dirt trail just beside the road. After 10 minutes, we were through.

God was good. The tree could've fallen on someone but at the moment it fell, no cars were passing by and no one got hurt or else we would've seen it.

It reminded me that despite the circumstances, there is always a way out. As the saying goes, even though all doors are closed, God always leaves a window open for us to climb out. It's just the matter of us having enough gut to do that or not. :)

Now I just can't wait for the real reainy season to come. I can't wait to be running wildly in the storm and getting soaked to the skin. I can't wait to have that sense of freedom and joy running through my blood again. I can't wait to see the earth drinking deep of the pouring rain and producing such lushness of green all over the mountain ranges and fields. I can't wait to witness God's blessings when the rain comes.

Pai

Well, being in Pai by myself isn't as bad as I imagined it would be. I have a long holiday from Sat-Mon so I decided to venture out here on my own.

The moment I dropped my stuff into the guesthouse's room, I felt like being in a desert. There is seriously no other guests at the hotel except me. I looked forward to swimming in the pool but it turned out that they haven't cleaned it for so long that it turned green and yucky. I pondered my choices whether I should stay until the next day morning and leave or wait to see if I would change my mind. I decided to hear God out.

I was greeted by a warm afternoon sun when I wandered down the street. Pai in the summer is desolate. I have only been here only in rainy and winter seasons thus I was a bit shocked by what I saw. Shops and stalls were closed. No crazy white people with mohawk and pierces. Streets were quiet. I spent my afternoon in a coffee shop where I had lime frappe and iced chocolate drinks plus a plate of club sandwich. Yah, I was starving. Then I went out to rent a bicycle...only to ride it back to my guesthouse.

I'm so thankful there's an ac in my room or I'd die. It's really hot here. Period. But God blessed my evening with a group of Karen people. I was sitting in my room writing notes to people when I heard some noise down by the pool. Curious, I peeked out to see that the owners' friends with their sons came to visit. They were lounging by the pool. What crazy was the two karen boys were swimming and diving in the pool! I was like...this can't be true. So I decided to go down and joined the party.

When I walked down, the father was squatting by the pool with one hand grabbing his youngest son's arm. I wondered why he did that so I asked. He told me that the little boy's legs don't have strength and he can't balance himself well either in the water or on the floor. So, as crazy as it may sound, I went up and changed into my swimming suit so that I could be with the little boy, Tee, in the pool and helped carrying him....that was the only reason I went into the green nasty pool.

But God is good! I had as much fun as the boys did. After we came up from the pool, we were sitting on the floor eating sticky rice, chilly paste and some pork on the sticks. I learned a good deal about Karen culture and laughed at the boys' jokes. Sometimes the blessing of God come unexpected when we aren't looking for it. :)

Today is Sunday and I woke up feeling like my shoulders are gonna come out of their sockets. When you're in the water, everything seems so light...a 7-year-old boy was like a feather...but the truth was for a half and hour I was carrying the 30-kg boy in my arms. No wonder I have shoulders pain at the moment. But I decided to get dressed and went to church. I wasn't sure why I did except that i figured i had nothing to do anyway.

The Associated Churches of Pai was consisted of 15 people or so when I stepped in. I went in feeling a bit out of place but was escorted to sit in the 3rd row of blue chairs. After 10 minutes, i really wanted to walk out. But God held me to my seat. Then out of no where, I began to realize an important truth - that I'm here as a body of Christ. There're many churches all over the world and I am a part of the body wherever i am. When I saw that we function as a global church, a global body of Christ, I was beginning to see a more complete picture of His body on earth.

Anyway, as I was sitting there listening and praying, a man from the congregation went up to lead the Lord's Supper. But he stopped by my chair and asked if I could translate the ceremony into English for a farung man beside me! The 1st thought that came to my head was how did he know I speak English?!?!?! Was it written all over me that I could translate? I couldn't find any sensible reason but that it must've been the Spirit's providence. Thus I was obliged to translate although I didn't want to. For maccaroni's sake, I am on vacation!

But God did this on purpose. And I'm glad He gave me the opportunity to do so. When life is about others, my fleshly desires don't matter that much. However, I'm also thankful that this trip is about me as well as about others. And He's doing a great job at making things balanced here. I'm getting to sit under the sun and enjoy a glass of fruit shake. I get to sleep in an ac room and not sweat my butt off. :) I also got to meet a group of Karen people...and learned more about their culture. God is good.

Now I'm going to turn the computer off, change into my bathing suit and go swim...not at the hotel's pool, of course, but at another place. :) Tomorrow I'll be heading back to Chiang-Mai and will look forward to going to work on Tuesday.

Wherever you are, may the God of peace reign in your heart.