Archive - February, 2010

Thailand: Nation of Fire

February 25, 2010 in Thailand with 0 Comments

This is a portion of a word that was given at Jaisamarn Church of Bangkok on 24 Aug 2008 by Chuck Pierce.

Here is the Word that the Lord has been speaking to me over and over for Thailand. He has spoken to me clearly all year. He has said, “The Nation that I have chosen that it is now time for CHANGE is THAILAND.”

“The Spirit of God says Thailand is going to be baptized with fire. HE has said to me that this is your defining time. The leaders of the movement of God in this region are ready to advance into their next anointing. A new generation is rising filled with passion and fire. There from this night forward, the Spirit of God will start circling this Nation. HIS Fire and Passion will come alive in such a way in this Nation that the Fire began to burn in this Nation.

And He has said to me “You will be known as the Nation of Fire!!”

This Nation is now being released under the Fire of God. That means a new passion of the Lord will overtake this ENTIRE NATION…

Tiger’s Apology and Asian Shame

February 21, 2010 in Commentary, Thailand with 2 Comments

Tiger Wood’s mother, Kultida, is a native of our beloved Thailand.  This makes Woods himself half Asian.  Some people may already know this fact, but what they may not understand is how this ancestry affects his recent public apology and confession.

Thailand, as with many Asian nations, is a shame based society.

This is in contrast to other cultures which may be “guilt or sin based.”  Being shamed or bringing shame upon one’s family is the cardinal “sin” of this worldview.  Many would argue that there is nothing worse.  Having multiple affairs is wrong in the eyes of most cultures, but in Asia the reproach brought upon one’s family through public exposure is even worse.  This is especially true when a person holds themselves, or is seen to have held themselves, to a higher standard yet has fallen short of it.

So in a shame based culture, “being honorable” is more important than “being right or wrong.” Theoretically one can do wrong things, but still keep up a good “face” and everything stays smooth.  But once a person “loses face” and causes family to “lose face”, he has committed the highest “sin” if you will. Continue Reading…

Is the Buddha a Higher Power?

February 20, 2010 in Buddhism with 1 Comment

As some people, like Tiger Woods for instance, go through the process of dealing with addiction, many are encouraged to look to a “higher power”  or a “god as we understand him” in order to help them overcome.

People in 12 step programs are encouraged to connect to that “higher power” for help to be free from addiction.

So, what about Buddhism?

Is the Buddha a “higher power” ?

Can people chose “Buddha” from a list of  ”higher powers”,  if he better suits one’s own “taste”?

In my humble opinion, no.

There are some who erroneously pray to the Buddha as a god, but he never claimed to be one or desired worship.

This idea of praying to “my god Buddha” is an aberration of true Buddhism.

It parallels the idea of Christians praying to “the saints.”  Nice thought, but no power to really help us.   Buddha called people to follow the principles he discovered and laid out in the “Dharma”, or teachings.  He taught that humans should only rely on their selves for the help they need.

Some may feel that the Buddha is a good “role model”, but he is certainly no higher power. Continue Reading…

Tiger Woods, Buddhism, & Power Over Temptation

February 19, 2010 in Buddhism with 2 Comments

At his recent public mea culpa, Tiger Woods mentioned that he was raised in the Buddhist faith but he had fallen away from his faith later in his life.  He said that Buddhism teaches him “to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint.”

Indeed Buddhism does teach that all suffering is caused by craving or desire.  This is the first Noble Truth of Buddhism.  We can clearly see that Tiger Woods as well as many others are suffering because of his choices.

However I think this brings up a thought I want to share with you…

As normal human beings, even though we many times know what is the right thing to do, we don’t do it. Given the right circumstances and opportunities each one of us could fall prey to desires that have the possibility of destroying us. Whether its lust, the love of money, hatred, lying, or the like, we are potentially susceptible to falling.

So, how do we have the power to do what is right?  I would like to show you a little of the Christian answer to this problem that is common to ALL people. Continue Reading…

Lao Officials Force Christians from Worship at Gunpoint

February 10, 2010 in Missions with 0 Comments

Many of you will remember my first hand reporting from Laos on a recent ministry trip.  Here is another fresh recent true story illustrating the horrible persecution Christians are facing in the Communist ruled country.

This is yet another ugly stain to the national pride of Laos.  Until the Lao government puts a stop to this sanctioned hatred & persecution of Christianity, this is NOT a country that you want to spend your tourist dollars in if you are a backpacker or adventurer!

Pray for the Christians of Laos.

> Lao Officials Force Christians from Worship at Gunpoint.  Church members marched to open field, deprived of homes.

LOS ANGELES, February 8 (CDN) — About 100 local officials, police and villagers put guns to the heads of Christians during their Sunday morning service in a village in Laos last month, forcing them from their worship and homes, according to an advocacy organization.

Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF) reported that in Katin village of Ta-Oyl district, Saravan Province, Lao authorities including the village chief, a religious affairs’ official, three district police and a 15-man volunteer unit joined 15 village police officers to force all 48 Christian adults and children of the church to an open field. Continue Reading…

Why the Tim Tebow Superbowl Ad was PERFECT.

February 8, 2010 in Commentary with 2 Comments

The highly anticipated and controversial Tim Tebow Superbowl ad sponsored by Focus on the Family was perfect.  It took the steam right out of the criticism and had people scratching their heads saying, “what was the big deal again”?

It was charming, warm, and funny which is everything the critics hoped it wouldn’t be.  They hoped to have the ammo to continue to paint people who hold pro-life views on the abortion debate as mean spirited bigots who are only out to hurt women.

All of the controversy only served to get the message out to a broader audience more than probably anyone at Focus on the Family could have hoped for.   Continue Reading…

The “SAINTS” Always Win!

February 8, 2010 in Commentary with 1 Comment

Being a native Cajun from Louisiana, it was very fun to write this post given the Super Bowl 44 win of the New Orleans Saints. Great to see New Orleans makin a comeback!  Who Dat?!

But let’s go a little deeper and find out why someone might name a football team “The Saints.”  Hang in there and check it out for yourself!

When you think of the word “Saint”, what do you think of? Many people think of someone who lived an extraordinary life of supreme separation from the world and was “cannonized” by the Catholic church as a Saint.

But did you know that the Bible speaks of EVERYONE who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord as SAINTS?

The word “saints” is found almost 100 times in the Bible.  See a few of the key places below!

Many times when the churches of the New Testament are addressed, they are called “saints at ______(insert name of the city).  They were all alive at that time, not dead!  The Book of Revelation also speaks of future saints.

The whole duty of ministers in the New Testament age is to

“equip the saints for the work of the ministry.”  Ephesians 4:12.

That means every person who has received Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Every true believer is called a “saint”! What a high calling!

So what does the Scripture say about “THE SAINTS”?? Continue Reading…

When The Saints Go Marching In…

February 8, 2010 in Commentary with 0 Comments

When people hear the word “Saints” many times they will think of the old song, “When the Saints Go Marching In” made famous by Louis Armstrong, but not really know the lyrics or understand what that means.

The song is used as a New Orleans funeral march & is ALL about the coming of Jesus Christ, the glories of eternity in heaven, and the “saints” who have been saved through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and take posession of the Kingdom of God.

Will you be in that number??

Here are the powerful lyrics: Continue Reading…

Nirvana…

February 6, 2010 in Buddhism with 0 Comments

Smells like teen spirit? No, I’m not talking about the American band Nirvana.  Actually I am referring to the Buddhist goal of existence.

I can only comment below on Theravada Buddhism of which I am familiar.

A simple definition of Nirvana is: a state of being free from suffering (or dukkha).

“Nibbāna”, in the Pali language, literally means “blowing out”…a ceasing to exist, which means a ceasing of suffering.

Sound difficult to understand?  Well, it is!  And most every person you talk to has a different idea of what they think it means, including Buddhist teachers.

Nirvana is the goal of every Buddhist, theoretically.  However, when I talk with everyday people on the street, Continue Reading…

Worldviews: Messiah Jesus & Guatama Buddha

February 5, 2010 in Buddhism with 6 Comments

Do you agree that how we see the world determines how we make our choices in life?

Ever wonder what some of the major differences of worldview and reality there are between the two “great faiths” of Christianity and Buddhism?

Here is a simple list that I pulled together from my own observation and study living in the land of Theravada Buddhism.

CHRISTIAN                                                           BUDDHIST

Believes in God as Creator                                   Believes in cause & effect, nature

God is Supreme Being                                           Buddha, not God, but only teacher

God is unchanging                                                Nothing is permanent

Concerned w/eternal salvation                         Concerned w/suffering elimination Continue Reading…