The Cambodia Chronicle

There's Only a One Letter Difference Between Idiom and Idiot

2012-01-23T06:26:00.000-08:00

Recently, my family and I went out to eat with some of the young men in the church. We had a wonderful time of fellowship at Lucky Burger, the closest thing to McDonald's here in Cambodia. In the course of our conversation, we started talking about the fact that Khmer people for the most part are vertically challenged (short), and foreigners (white guys in this context) tend to be a little taller

Pleasing God Pt. 3

2012-01-23T06:10:00.000-08:00

I recently listened to a wonderful message on this topic of "Pleasing God." In the message, it was clearly stated that there are some in Christianity who adopt this line of reasoning: "God is pleased with me no matter what; so what is the purpose of living a godly life if He is pleased with me when I am ungodly?" Then, on the opposite side of the spectrum, there are those who believe that we as

November/December 2011 Prayer Letter

2012-01-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

What a blessing it is for me to write to you again and report about what God is doing in Cambodia. Over the past few months our faith has been stretched, which is quite an uncomfortable experience sometimes; but without this stretching of our faith we would not see the mighty hand of God at work in our lives and in the lives of others around us. Language I thank God that He has allowed me to

Adjustments Part Eight- Troubling Sights and Experiences

2011-12-22T09:47:00.000-08:00

It is a common sight in Phnom Penh. Young boys, some as young as seven or eight years of age, walking casually through the streets holding a clear plastic bag filled with a light yellow colored liquid. Every few seconds they lift the bag to their mouths and inhale the fumes from the bag. That yellow liquid is glue, and the damage it does to these boys is devastating. It is just a cheap way for

The Blessing of a Faithful Pastor

2011-12-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

My wife and I were looking through some pictures from the past year, when I came across this picture from my ordination service. This is my pastor, Derik Lawrence, doing what he has done countless times in my life- giving me words of wisdom and praying with me. This picture captures the influence that Pastor Lawrence has had on my life. He was my youth pastor throughout my middle and high school

Learning to Lean

2011-12-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

Here are some areas in my life that I am learning to lean on the Lord. More than any other time in my life, I am learning that apart from God's grace I am absolutely void of all ability to serve Christ effectively and faithfully. The following are areas in my life that I have had to throw my hands up in the air and say, "Lord, I don't know how to do this. I don't know what to do. I don't know

Adjustments Part Seven- The Weight of Words

2011-11-21T07:33:00.000-08:00

I am figuring out quickly that some words in the English language that are not so "heavy" actually carry quite a bit of weight when translated into Khmer. Unfortunately for me, the way that I have learned about this important aspect of the language has not been so much from my language teacher, but from my own ignorant usage of these words in public. I will just say that I have had a couple of "

September/October 2011 Prayer Letter/Update

2011-11-08T17:00:00.001-08:00

Dear Pastors and Praying Friends September/October 2011 The past two months have been a whirlwind! I don’t know if I have ever worked harder than I have worked over the past two months; but I will tell you that serving the Lord in Cambodia, while there are certainly challenges, is a

Pleasing God Pt. 2

2011-10-21T10:06:00.000-07:00

A little over a month ago, I wrote an article entitled "Pleasing Him." It was a response to a erroneous teaching that I have encountered in recent months that teaches that we as God's children can do nothing to please our Heavenly Father. You can read the article by following this link: http://phillips4cambodia.blogspot.com/2011/09/pleasing-him.html If you have read the first article, you have

I Can Sense His Enabling

2011-10-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe the Benefields have been in the States for one month already. How strange it was one month ago to be the one taking them to the airport to say goodbye to them before they flew to the States. I must admit, driving back home from the airport without them was a strange feeling. It reminded me of the feeling I had when I first jumped into the deep end of the swimming pool; or

August 2011 Prayer Letter/Update

2011-09-12T06:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Pastors and Praying Friends, I am thrilled to write this prayer letter/update from our home in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. After spending longer than we had originally planned in Bangkok, it was a sweet feeling to walk through the front door of our house with a new, healthy addition to our

Pleasing God

2011-09-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

"Satisfied" is a song that God has used to edify me and encourage me to live a life that is pleasing to God. The premise of the song is two-fold: I am satisfied in Him because of all of the many blessings I have received from Him; because of His outpouring of blessings upon my life, I want my life to bring a smile to His face. I am satisfied in Him; and when He sees the choices I make in my life,

"The Grace That God Gives"

2011-09-08T17:36:00.000-07:00

I hope you will enjoy this traditional Khmer style Christian song entitled, "The Grace That God Gives." This is my absolute favorite song that we sing at Good News Baptist Church in Phnom Penh. The Grace That God Gives Video Update from Chad and Linda Phillips on Vimeo.

We're Back Home!

2011-08-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

How blessed we are to be back home here in Phnom Penh! After two and a half months in Bangkok, it was an amazing feeling to walk inside our front door with a new addition to the family. We arrived on Friday, August 26, and spent Saturday getting settled back into the house. Sunday, we were thrilled to see the church family again, and God truly blessed us with some marvelous services. Five people

Emily Faith Phillips

2011-08-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord, on August 17, 2011, at 6:51 a.m., Emily Faith Phillips was born into the Phillips family. She is our third child, and we thank God for another precious one on whom we can pour out our love, and whom we can bring up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. She was 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and 20.5 inches in length. Praise God, it was, according to Linda, the smoothest delivery of the

Video Update from Bangkok

2011-08-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

My pastor, Derik Lawrence, asked me to put together a video update for my church family this past week. I thought those who read my blog would be interested to hear the update as well as see some photos from Phnom Penh and Bangkok. Please, no comments about the vanishing of my hair. :) Much thanks for my wife for intercutting the pictures into the video. Update from Bangkok from Chad and Linda

A Verse of Hope for Cambodians

2011-08-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

Psalm 96:10- Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. One of the most difficult concepts of the Gospel for Cambodians to actually believe is that there is a Righteous Judge Who will one day hold every person who rejects Christ accountable for his sins. The idea of real justice makes some

Adjustments Part Six- The Cultural Difference in Conversations

2011-08-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

Being raised by parents who hailed from Arkansas and Mississippi, and growing up mostly in Georgia, I am by nature a Southerner. My Southern culture is a key influence that shaped my view of what is and what is not acceptable in casual conversations. It is, as I have always believed, completely acceptable to ask questions such as the following when getting to know someone: "So, how is it that

Cultural Do's and Don'ts for Any Mission Field

2011-08-02T19:21:00.000-07:00

The following list of Do's and Don'ts was written by Pastor Austin Gardner, pastor of Vision Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA. Bro. Gardner served as a church planting missionary in Peru for over twenty years before God lead him back to the States to start Vision Baptist. God used him mightily in Peru, and to this day the ministry God allowed him to start is thriving, and Peruvians reached

Cadillacs and Volkswagens

2011-07-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

The following is an excerpt from a book I am reading entitled Loving God by Charles Colson. I read this and thought, "Do our independent Baptist churches in America think this way?" "During 1975, the church (Eastminster Presbyterian Church of Wichita, Kansas), then 850 members, had raised $500,000 for an addition to its always-crowded sanctuary. The architect's drawings were nearly completed and

You've Got To Be Kidding Me

2011-07-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

God has blessed us by allowing us to meet a family from Cambodia who is staying four floors above us in the apartment complex in Bangkok. It is a man and his wife in their early fifties, and she is receiving treatment for a back injury at the same hospital where Emily Faith will be born. Also staying with them is her younger sister, who has accompanied them in order to be their full time chef.

"Do You Have Any More of Those...?"

2011-07-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

We were doing our weekly shopping at the nearby grocery store, and, as always, people were admiring our children. Usually, I have Judson in my cart, and Linda has Elisabeth; and there is never a dull moment shopping with these two characters. Linda was just a few yards away from me at the end of the aisle, and I heard and saw one of the security guards say the word, "Sa-aht!" pointing at

My First Attempt at Writing a Tract

2011-07-27T01:21:00.001-07:00

I have spent the last three days writing a tract that I hope to translate in Khmer when we return to Cambodia in the next couple of weeks. Praise the Lord, there are already many good Gospel tracts in Khmer that have been greatly used by God. My motivation for writing this tract was not because I had nothing better to do, or to try and replace any of the good tracts that have already been written

June/July 2011 Prayer Letter/Update

2011-07-27T00:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Pastors and Praying Friends, We are still awaiting the birth of Emily Faith in Bangkok, Thailand. We visited the doctor today, and he said the birth could take place literally any time. He has had Linda on some medication that has prevented her from having contractions; but now that she has

Thoughts about God's Precepts, Liberal Pundits, and Carbon Monoxide

2011-07-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine

The Heritage of Emily Faith's Name

2011-07-18T05:54:00.000-07:00

Each of our children has been given a name that carries with it a godly heritage. Elisabeth was named after Elisabeth Elliot, a woman who has been greatly used by God both as a missionary and a Christian author. Judson was named after Adoniram Judson, the first American missionary to leave the shores of our blessed country. Our third child, who is to be born in just a couple of weeks, has been

Adjustments Part Five- Weird Questions and Direct Insults

2011-07-13T22:35:00.000-07:00

The following accounts of my conversations with two different Cambodian ladies are examples of some of the bizarre questions I have been asked and the in-your-face, blast-you-out-of-the-water insults I have received since moving to Cambodia. A few weeks ago, a group with BIMI came to visit the Benefields. Almost every day, I would take their laundry to the neighborhood cleaners. After several

What We Miss about Cambodia

2011-07-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

As we draw closer to the birth of our third precious child, and as we enter our second month in Bangkok, we are not only thrilled about this new addition to our family; we are also eager beyond description to be back at home in Cambodia. It seems a bit strange that I am having these feelings about Cambodia. Humanly speaking, there is really nothing about Cambodia that should draw a Georgia-boy

God's Unique Teaching Methods

2011-07-06T02:17:00.001-07:00

At 1:00 this afternoon, we reached that highly anticipated point of the day that Linda and I always look forward to- Ellie's and Judson's nap time. Now, don't misunderstand. We cherish our children, and we enjoy them. But the truth is that while Ellie and Judson are at large, Linda's rest and my productivity are nearly impossible to accomplish. And there is only one solution that can allow

Update from Bangkok

2011-07-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

We have been in Bangkok for almost a month already. We thank God that He has provided the necessary funds to sustain us while we have been away from home. We are aching to get back to Phnom Penh, but we know that for this time we must be here. Being in Bangkok has been a tremendous physical help to Linda. The apartment where we are staying is substantially cooler than our apartment in Phnom Penh

Adjustments Part Four- Humor

2011-07-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

I love to laugh. I love to joke. I like slapstick humor, corny humor, dry humor, sarcastic humor, and even puns. I love to laugh with others, and if I can brighten someone's day by making them laugh, I do. Khmer people love to laugh; but they don't always get my humor. The following is a classic example of my attempting to joke with a Khmer in my own weird way, and utterly and awkwardly failing.

"Those People Love Us"

2011-06-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, June 28, we will buy lunch and eat with the maintenance staff of the apartment where we are staying in Bangkok. Four of the ten people we will be eating with speak Khmer, and the other six speak exclusively Thai. The Lord put this idea on my heart a few days ago, and I am praying that this time of fellowship will help us cultivate a good relationship with all of these people, and that

Waiting in Bangkok

2011-06-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

The grey building in the very center of this photo- with the bright green writing in the building's top, left corner- is Sumitivej Hospital, where, Lord-willing, Emily Faith will be born in just a few weeks. This picture was taken from the roof of the apartment building where we are staying. Our current situation is not what I would have picked for our family. Because Linda is showing signs of

We Can Talk!

2011-06-18T04:41:00.000-07:00

For the past week, I have been constantly frustrated because of my inability to converse with Thai people. It's enough to make me pull out what little hair I have left! I'm not frustrated with the Thai people; I'm just frustrated with the whole situation. I wish I could just learn enough Thai to at least discuss some of the shallower things of life. Of course, my heart's desire is to learn

Homesick

2011-06-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

I remember well my first visit to Cambodia. It was June of 2006, and I was within months of beginning my senior year at West Coast Baptist College. When the plane touched down at the Pochentong International Airport of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I had not the faintest idea what to expect from this strange, distant land. After getting my visa and gathering my luggage, I walked out the doors of the

Adjustments Part Three- Khmer

2011-05-31T08:21:00.000-07:00

This adjustment seems so obvious that it is scarcely worth mentioning. But I must say that this adjustment- learning the Khmer language- is a more formidable task than I ever imagined. Although God granted me the opportunity to lay a good foundation in the language before we ever moved here, adding to that foundation has proven to be one of the greatest challenges of my life. The reality of this

Adjustments Part Two- Traffic Anarchy

2011-05-13T18:31:00.000-07:00

This adjustment is not as spiritually significant as the first mentioned adjustment in this series. But it does carry its fair share of significance as far as my peace of mind is concerned. First of all, my primary mode of transportation has shifted from minivan to motorcycle. Secondly, gone are the days of driving in a country in which, for the most part, the traffic laws are both followed and

Adjustments Part One- Poverty

2011-05-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

This being the first post of this series, there is a plethora of examples of adjustments that we are making that I could write about. But the adjustment that seems the most difficult to deal with right now is living in a country in which most of its citizens live under the poverty level. Here are just a few specific things I am struggling with right now: It bothers me that when we come out of

Adjustments

2011-05-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

I thank God for the nearly six years of experience working with Khmer people before we moved to Cambodia. It has proven to be invaluable. Bro. Benefield made a great point a few days ago when he told me, "You will probably never know what it is like to move to a country and literally know nothing of the language or culture when you arrive. I had to go through that 11 years ago. But you probably

A Great Sunday

2011-04-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

We had a blessed Sunday this week. God allowed me to preach my first sermon in Khmer, and I sensed His enabling. I preached from 1 Thessalonians 1, and used the example of the Thessalonian Christians to encourage our church family in the following three areas: 1. Even though they experienced affliction, they had joy. (v. 6) 2. After salvation, they continued to walk with God and grow in Christ.

First Khmer Sermon

2011-04-25T07:40:00.001-07:00

*Please note: If you choose to watch this on YouTube instead of watching it from the blog, there will be suggestions for other videos on the YouTube website that I do not condone. Therefore, I recommend that you just watch this video from this blog if possible. *I was told by a couple of people that they could not see the video from the blog. If you are having trouble seeing the video, copy

She's Doing Great Today

2011-04-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

I didn't know her well. I met Aing, a 14 year old Cambodian girl who was saved at the Grom-jom-nom Baptist Dom-nung La-Awe- Good News Baptist Church- of Phnom Penh. I had the privilege of meeting her and her younger cousins when I took my first trip to Cambodia in 2006. She is the tallest child in the picture, directly behind me. One memory about this family that has stuck with me over the past

Gospel Centrality

2011-04-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

I have noticed the terms "Gospel centrality" and "Gospel-centeredness" used quite frequently on several blogs and on many tweets as of late. Frankly, I like the terms. The Gospel is the message that changed my life. The Gospel is the only message that has the power to change this world. I am all about having a Gospel-centered life and a Gospel-centered ministry. But the trend that I am seeing

Observations from Our First Two Weeks in Cambodia

2011-04-12T01:13:00.000-07:00

It is hard for us to believe that we have already been in Cambodia for two weeks. It seems like yesterday we were just beginning deputation, and the thought of actually living in Cambodia was only an abstract idea, an event that would take place in the distant future. And now two weeks of living in Cambodia have passed, and we are truly thankful to our Heavenly Father for bringing us this far.

Revival in Bakersfield, California

2011-03-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

God greatly blessed during the revival meeting at McKee Road Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California- the church where Linda and I were married nearly four years ago. The pastor is one of my dearest friends in the ministry- Fred Fies. He and his family have faithfully served at MRBC for over five years now, and they have seen God do some wonderful things.I had never preached a revival meeting

Update from California

2011-03-08T11:50:00.001-08:00

It doesn't seem real, but Lord-willing, we will be leaving for Cambodia three weeks from yesterday. We are spending these last three weeks in the States in California. We are spending some good time with Linda's family in Bakersfield, and we will spend a few days in Long Beach. Please pray that God will use us as we endeavor in the following areas:Witnessing to Linda's family (already had

A Lesson for Missionaries from the Marines

2011-01-29T21:47:00.001-08:00

At my grandparents' house in Taylors, South Carolina, my family was watching a special on the History Channel about the war in Iraq. I was captivated by the content of this well done documentary; but I was not expecting to learn a valuable lesson about missions.One part of the documentary focused on a certain Marine unit's battle plan in a particularly volatile and violent part of Baghdad.

What Am I Complaining About?

2011-01-28T20:20:00.000-08:00

Today, I took my son to Eastside Pediatrics in Taylors, South Carolina for a follow up visit concerning an ear infection he had a few days ago. Our appointment was at 10:50 a.m. I arrived punctually at 10:45, expecting to be admitted into the room within ten minutes. The ten minutes passed, and soon another ten minutes passed. Nearly an hour had passed. I went from being slightly impatient to

Pray for the Keos

2011-01-28T19:06:00.001-08:00

The following is a prayer update concerning our dear friends, the Keos, first-term missionaries to Cambodia. Please pray for this precious family.As you know the Keo family arrived here nearly a month ago to begin their first term as missionaries. It seems as though God has been allowing them to undergo serious testing almost from day one. We mentioned two weeks ago that Bro. Keo's mother came

My Ordination

2010-12-17T14:12:00.000-08:00

On December 5th, God allowed an event to take place in my life that I never imagined I would experience. By His grace, I was ordained into the Gospel ministry. It was truly a sacred, sobering day that I will never forget. I was blessed to have the following men on my ordination council: Jim Phillips (my grandfather), Jack Baskin, Clayton Shumpert, Thurman Wade, Ray Warren, Steve Sparks, Don

Where Love is Felt

2010-11-30T21:53:00.001-08:00

Several weeks ago, my grandfather, Dr. Jim Phillips, was preaching at Faith Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California. Knowing that he was within ten minutes of my in-laws' house, I called him and asked if he would visit them. He had actually already planned on doing that. The only time he had ever met Linda's family was at our wedding over three years ago; but he was thrilled to see them

An Embarrassing Moment on Deputation

2010-11-28T13:32:00.001-08:00

I love meeting young people in the churches that we visit. I love everyone, but I have an especially great time joking around with kids and teenagers when we visit a church on the deputation trail. One way that I break the ice with children and teenagers when I am introducing myself and my family is attempting to guess their names. It goes something like this:Me: So, what's your name?Kid: It's...

The Anthem Every Church Should Have

2010-11-24T19:36:00.000-08:00

It is a good sign when I walk into a church on a Sunday morning and see several people who are NOT wearing suits, ties, and knee-length dresses. When I see this, I can pretty much surmise that I am in a church that is reaching out to people; and that is a great thing. On the same token, I become a bit concerned when I enter a church on a Sunday morning and EVERYONE is dressed perfectly. Obviously

Jumping Into the Deep End

2010-11-24T15:53:00.000-08:00

If I had to explain how I feel right now about our upcoming move to Cambodia, I would use the following analogy.I feel like a kid who has had a couple of swimming lessons. He can somewhat hold his own in the shallow end of the pool. And then, his dad takes him by the hand and begins to lead him to the high dive. "Son," the dad says, "I want you to jump of this high dive into this water that is 20

Questions and Answers

2010-11-22T06:41:00.000-08:00

Recently, I was considering the reality of the decision to follow the Lord to Cambodia. I guess these thoughts were triggered when I looked at the calendar recently and realized that our departure is only four months away. As I have been thinking about this life-changing move we are preparing to make in just a few short months, I have asked myself some questions, and have been assured with some

Outflow

2010-11-17T21:15:00.000-08:00

Tonight, the during the last service of the missions conference at Harvest Baptist Church in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, I had the privilege to sing "A Passion for Thee" for the offertory. A passion for TheeOh, Lord, set a fire in my soulAnd a thirst for my God!Hear Thou my prayerLord, Thy power impartNot just to serveBut to love Thee with all of my heart.After I finished singing, Pastor Kurt

Being a Realist

2010-11-11T21:08:00.000-08:00

Tonight I was in a service at a large fellowship meeting. There were many missionary families present, as well as many pastors and laymen. I went alone because my daughter was sick, and my wife needed to be with her. I slipped in a few minutes before the service started, greeted some familiar, friendly faces that I have met on the deputation trail, and took my seat. The choir sang wonderfully;

The Phillips Family Setup Fund

2010-11-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

Thank you for taking a minute to find out what the Phillips Family Setup Fund is all about. If you will look to the right-hand side of the screen, you will find a brief description of the Setup Fund, as well as a detailed list of items we will need to purchase immediately upon arrival to Cambodia on March 29, 2011. If you would rather send a check, please make check out to:Macedonia World Baptist

The Dark Places of the Earth

2010-11-04T16:01:00.000-07:00

Psalm 74:20- "Have respect unto the covenant; for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty."If there ever were a spiritually dark place in this world, it would be the country of Cambodia. The Gospel first reached Cambodia in 1923 when David Ellison went in as the first evangelical Christian missionary. From the time the Gospel entered Cambodia until the Khmer Rouge took

A Special Missions Conference

2010-11-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

From October 27-31, God allowed us to be at Bible Baptist Church in Matthews, NC for their missions conference. This is a dear church to our hearts for a couple of reasons. First, my grandfather, Dr. Jim Phillips, pastored this church for 21 years (from 1978-1999). Under his leadership, God allowed the church to see thousands saved, baptized, and discipled. The church grew from an average of 50

Why Give to Missions?

2010-10-25T19:19:00.001-07:00

I have heard some awesome preaching on deputation. I even wrote an article entitled, "The Best Missions Message I've Ever Heard." Since I wrote that article, God allowed me to be in a missions conference at Tucson Baptist Temple in Tucson, Arizona, pastored by Brent Armstrong. The preacher for the conference was Dr. Austin Gardner, pastor of Vision Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, and

The Best Missions Message I've Ever Heard

2010-09-29T07:16:00.000-07:00

Last night in the third night of the missions conference at Tri-state Baptist Temple of South Point, Ohio, Dr. Clayton Shumpert preached the greatest missions message I have ever heard. His text was Isaiah 53. He preached a simple yet powerful message on everything that Christ did for us and everything that Christ is to us. The premise of the message was this: "If you know Him, you will love Him;

How Moon-like are You?

2010-09-22T20:30:00.000-07:00

It's interesting to me that in Genesis 1, the moon is called a light. Skeptics have tried to use this to discredit the Bible by saying ridiculous things like, "Ha! See, the writer didn't even know that the moon is merely a reflector of the sun, not a light in and of itself!" Obviously, God was referring to the function of the moon as the means of giving off light at night; He was not going into

The Challenge in Cambodia

2010-09-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

Stephen Benefield, the missionary with whom we will be working when we get to Cambodia, emailed me the top three questions that Cambodians ask him when he is soul winning. These three questions give us a glimpse of the formidable spiritual challenges that await us in Cambodia.1. Do you give people a salary? This is referencing the fact that many Cambodians are not nearly as interested in

Walk at Liberty

2010-08-25T05:10:00.000-07:00

Psalm 119:45- And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.Society today dupes us into believing that true liberty comes when we shrug off all rules, responsibility, and accountability. The guidelines and precepts found in the Bible are, according to secular spiritual skeptics, straightjackets that prevent us from living truly liberated lives. To them, freedom is found in living a life

Walk in Love

2010-08-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 5:2- And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor."Here we are given a very simple command: to walk in love. The love to which this command is referring is the same love found in 1 Corinthians 13, and the same love that is mentioned in Galatians 5:22. It truly is a simple command; and yet, it is a

Taking a Short Rest Before the Rest...

2010-08-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

We are thankful that we will be heading home next week after a three and a half month long stretch of deputation meetings. Praise the Lord, before we began this particular leg of deputation we were receiving fifty percent of our needed support; now we are receiving just over seventy percent. Lord-willing, we will be home in Loganville, Georgia for a couple of weeks, during which time we will be

"That Ye Love One Another"

2010-08-07T18:58:00.001-07:00

I am thoroughly enjoying reading A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot. Her boldness for Christ and her devotion to Christ have greatly challenged me in my walk with the Lord. The following excerpt from her diary is an indictment on all of us who are co-laborers in the harvest field, and yet cannot love one another and serve peaceably with one another. I am

Don't Delude Yourself

2010-07-31T16:47:00.000-07:00

The following is an excerpt from the book, A Chance to Die, The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael, by Elisabeth Elliot. The first quotation is by Elisabeth Elliot, and it is a description of how Amy Carmichael felt about "good" missionary meetings (for example, a meeting like our modern day missions conferences) back in England. The second quotation is taken directly from Amy Carmichael's diary."

A Cambodian Martyr's Story

2010-07-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

The Cambodian Christians who were slaughtered during the Killing Fields over three decades ago were truly a perfect picture of true commitment to Christ; and, like those martyrs mentioned in Hebrews 11, the world was not worthy of them. And yet, their stories are seldom told in most churches and Christian circles today. The following is an excerpt from the gem of a book, Killing Fields Living

Reflections at Salem

2010-07-09T19:55:00.000-07:00

Last week I took my family to Salem, Massachusetts. When most people think of Salem, the first thought that enters their minds is "The Salem Witch Trials." However, we did not drive to Salem to investigate that rather insane chapter of American history. We went to Salem to learn more of the man after whom we named our son. We went to witness the very place from which Adoniram and Anne Judson

Friendship at a Laundry Mat

2010-07-05T16:57:00.001-07:00

We thank the Lord for the opportunity we have had over the past couple of weeks to get to know a sweet lady named Nagwa. We met her at a laundry mat in Concord, New Hampshire. Linda gave her a Gospel tract, and she received it happily. We talked to her for nearly the whole hour we were in the laundry mat, and before we left she invited us to her home. She is a refugee from Sudan, and was brought

The Killing Fields: A Perpetual Nightmare

2010-07-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

To understand the people to whom you are ministering is absolutely vital. For us to understand the Cambodian people, we cannot separate the current state of Cambodia from the horrors that took place thirty-five years ago. In Cambodian history, the years 1975-1979 have been given the grim title, "the Killing Fields." It is estimated that over twenty-five percent of the population of Cambodia

A Thought

2010-06-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

Either Christ is the answer, or He is not. If He is not the answer, then what in the world are we doing? If He is the answer, then why in the world aren't we doing more?Could it be that we really do not believe that He is the answer that this sin-sick world needs? Or are we so cold and indifferent in having the answer that we are perfectly content to do nothing with it?I believe that Christ is

Marks of a Fantastic Missions Conference Pt. 3

2010-05-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

I believe that this mark of a fantastic missions conference could be the most important, outside of having the power of God upon the conference. A third and very crucial mark of a fantastic missions conference is connection between the people of the church and the missionaries. I believe the key in seeing this accomplished can be summed up in one word: time. If the people do not have time to get

Marks of a Fantastic Missions Conference Pt. 2

2010-05-13T17:54:00.000-07:00

After discussing this topic with my wife, we came to the conclusion that another mark of a fantastic missions conference is organization. While great missions conferences may vary in different areas, one area they all have in common is that they are organized. On several occasions, I have received a letter, an email, or a packet over a month before the conference began that gave the schedule of

Marks of a Fantastic Missions Conference

2010-05-08T09:51:00.001-07:00

We have had the opportunity to be in numerous missions conferences over the past eight months. I want to use the next few entries into this blog to discuss some common characteristics that I have found present in those missions conferences that were fantastic, not just mediocre. Characteristic #1: There is an evident spirit of anticipation amongst the pastor and the people.You can just sense it!

Some Deputation Thoughts

2010-04-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

The following are just a couple of thoughts that helped me when we were on deputation from 2009-2011. There are varying views on how to approach deputation, and there are good men who hold to all of these views. I certainly don't claim that my view is in any way superior to anyone else's; these are just some approaches that proved to be successful for our family. 1. It is not necessarily a bad

But Also in Power

2010-04-30T06:13:00.001-07:00

Paul, by the moving of the Holy Ghost, penned these words to the Thessalonian believers: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: so that ye

A Four-Month Stretch

2010-04-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

We leave Saturday for a four-month long stretch of traveling without returning to Georgia. Here's where we're going:Faith Baptist Church- Pikeville, TN- May 1-6 Missions ConferenceGospel Light Baptist Church- Rogers, AR- May 9- All DayCalvary Baptist Church- Connersville, IN- May 12Grace Baptist Church- Attica IN- May 23-26 Missions ConferenceBible Baptist Church- Jacksonville, AR- May 29-June 2

Ignore

2010-04-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

Have you ever hit the "ignore" option on your cell phone when someone was trying to call you?Webster defines "ignore" in this way: "to refuse to take notice of."What are some reasons we choose to hit that "ignore" option on our phones? Here are a couple of thoughts:1. We are simply too busy to take the call. Now, this does not mean that we dislike this person who is trying to call us. In fact, we

Be Good to Him

2010-04-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

(Aunt Marty is pictured here, sitting down. My Aunt Linda is standing with her, wearing the red sweater.)I always loved Aunt Marty very dearly, although my time with her was always limited. We always lived several hours apart, and only saw each other at family gatherings every couple of years. But she was a part of my life. She saw me grow from infancy to manhood, and every memory I have of her

What is Success in Soul Winning?

2010-03-11T20:23:00.000-08:00

I recently heard a preacher give an account of over 300,000 people being saved in India in one ministry in one year. I must confess, I was a little bit skeptical when I heard that report, but I hoped that my skepticism was wrong. The next morning I went soul winning with this preacher, and I quickly learned that my skepticism was justified. At our first door, we woke up a young man in his mid-20'

Where we're going...

2010-02-19T19:26:00.000-08:00

The next few weeks have us going all over the place, praise God. What a blessing to see much of the United States before we leave for four years.Providence Baptist- Augusta, GAColonial Baptist- Rogers, ARNew Life Baptist- Dalton, GAHarbor Baptist- Charlotte, NCGospel Light Baptist- Rogers, ARFaith Baptist- Fairless Hills, PALayton Chapel Baptist- Spring Lake, NCPromised Land Baptist- Gastonia,

The Consecrated Lives of Jeff Jupp and William Borden

2010-02-17T05:30:00.000-08:00

The word "consecrate" literally means "to place into the hand." When a person consecrates his life to the Lord, he is placing his life in God's hands. I want to describe how God used this word "consecrate" to direct my family to Cambodia.Bro. Jeff Jupp came to Lancaster Baptist Church during my sophomore year at West Coast Baptist College to present his ministry at the missions conference. The

Perfect Love

2010-02-02T16:01:00.001-08:00

1 John 4:17 is a verse that God has greatly used in my life over the past few years. "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." I have read this verse hundreds of times, but it was not until a couple of weeks ago that the Holy Spirit revealed the meaning of the phrase, "Herein is our love made perfect..."The key

What is Driving Our Deputation?

2010-01-05T18:44:00.000-08:00

I have been restless in my spirit because of a nagging question that continues to haunt my heart. It is the same question that haunted the mind and heart of Adoniram Judson, the first American missionary to the foreign mission field. The only difference is that this question did not hit him until he had been in Burma for over a decade- the question has hit me before I have even boarded the plane

God's Economy

2009-11-05T00:10:00.000-08:00

A couple of people have commented to me about the discouraging fact that "this is a horrible time for a missionary to start deputation." On the contrary, I can't think of a better time; because right now, I am not trusting in the affluence of the churches, but in the supernatural provision of God.I have been amazed at several of the churches we have been in while on deputation during this

More Blessed

2009-10-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt, one of the most precious moments of my 2006 survey trip to Cambodia was seeing Candace, Deborah, Emma, and Faith Benefield as I opened up that suitcase. That suitcase was solely dedicated to bringing long-anticipated goodies from the States- Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, children's books (Candace and Deborah are avid readers- I'm sure by now Emma has become one as well!), various

Where We're At & Where We're Goin'

2009-10-05T21:06:00.001-07:00

Just a quick update on where we are and what we are doing. So far, we have been in the following churches:North Hollywood Baptist Church- North Hollywood, CACentral Baptist Church- Houston, TXVictory Baptist Church-Loganville, GAZion Hill Baptist Church-Greenville, SCBethel Baptist Church-Hampton, VAHarvest Baptist Temple- Jonesboro, GAVision Baptist Church-Alpharetta, GAFannin Road Baptist

More Precious Than Gold

2009-09-26T20:35:00.000-07:00

Oskar Schindler was a man who understood that life is more than simply aquiring silver and gold. He was a wealthy man to say the least- he was a successful German businessman who moved to Poland in the middle of World War 2 to take financial advantage of the German takeover. He did much more than that.Schindler purchased an old factory, and, because of his powerful connections with certain Nazi

God Is Blessing

2009-09-22T18:17:00.000-07:00

God is truly blessing our deputation so far. We have been in eight meetings, including the following:North Hollywood Baptist ChurchCentral Baptist ChurchVictory Baptist ChurchZion Hill Baptist ChurchBethel Baptist ChurchHarvest Baptist TempleVision Baptist ChurchFannin Road Baptist ChurchGod has faithfully taken care of us financially, giving above and beyond what we every thought possible. I

God's Confirmation

2009-09-02T22:01:00.000-07:00

Two months ago, our calendar was completely empty during September and the first half of October. In the past month, God has filled our calendar by giving us five unexpected missions conferences and a Sunday night meeting.Two months ago, January through March was one big blank spot on our calendar. In the past month, God has written some things in that blank spot by giving us nearly ten meetings

Focus!

2009-08-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

Now that our Bible college days are over, and there is no one to ask, "Did you do your devotions today?", it is vital that we keep our focus on what God has called us to do. Below are the elements of my life that I am asking the Lord to help me stay focused upon:1. My walk with Christ- without this, going to Cambodia is futile. After taking Homeletics, Eschatology, Ecclesiology, Theology,

Opportunity of a Lifetime

2009-08-13T10:38:00.000-07:00

Pictured above are some of Linda's relatives in Cambodia. Next to me stands Boo Pan, Linda's uncle; in front of him stands Jing, Linda's cousin; to Linda's left, holding Elisabeth, stands Ming Chea, and on the end is Ming Chea's husband, Boo Tap. Linda's parents escaped Cambodia in 1980, and eventually found refuge in the United States. The people pictured with Linda and me, with the

Much to Offer

2009-08-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

I can usually handle horrendous smells. My gag reflex is pretty stable, and it takes something quite putrid to cause me to lose control of myself. However, the Phnom Penh city dump actually pushed me over the edge. As soon as I stepped out of the truck, I nearly "lost my cookies" all over the place. And that's when I looked up and saw these two girls digging through the very source of the stinch

Killing Tree, Living Tree

2009-08-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

In the fields of Choeng Ek, Cambodia, just a few miles outside Phnom Penh, stands a tree- probably more than one, but this one is forever embedded in my memory- that was used for something for which it was never created. From 1975-1979, because the Khmer Rouge did not want to waste their valuable ammunition on small children, this tree was used as a "killing tree." The soldiers would grasp these

When Broken is Good

2009-07-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

The very first morning that I awoke in the land of Cambodia durning my first survey trip three years ago introduced me to something I had heard about, but did not really believe actually happened.Bro. Benefield told me to take a walk if I so desired on that first morning. His only request was that I wait until sunlight. We were to meet together at nine o'clock that morning, but since I was

Evidence of Commitment

2009-07-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

Christians in 2009 struggle with commitment. We give up to easily. Hardships come, and we run the other way. Instead of asking God to teach us through trials, and strenthen us through trials, we ask God to remove the trials, and we have no interest in what God wanted to teach us. We just want life "our way." The following is a quote by Adoniram Judson, the first missionary sent

From Their Lives: Life Testimonies of Christians in Cambodia

2009-07-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

When my family and I landed in Cambodia in June of 2008 for our month-long survey trip, there were two people waiting for us with the Benefields: Ta, my dear friend and Bro. Benefield's "right hand", and Karona, the lady you see pictured here. Karona has been my Khmer language teacher both times I have been there, and she is a magnificent teacher. But more than just being a great, effective