A Great Sunday

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. (v. 7) We see in this verse that these Christians, although they were newly saved, became examples of what a Christian should be.
3. Because their relationship with God was right, their actions were right. (v. 8) We see that these Christians took the Gospel everywhere, so much that Paul said, "Hey, you guys have this area covered!"

Then, on Sunday afternoon, we had an awesome Bible club with 55 children in attendance. Here's one of the biggest blessings about the Bible club: there were over 20 first time attenders, all children whom we met the day before while soul winning. On Saturday morning, about 8 or 9 of us went out soul winning for a couple of hours.

First Khmer Sermon

*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 and paste this link into your web browser to watch it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vKwU0R4ja8

She's Doing Great Today

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 five years is that these are truly red-headed Cambodians.

Gospel Centrality

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.

Observations from Our First Two Weeks in Cambodia

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. The following is simply a compilation of some various observations I have made during our first two weeks in Cambodia.

• Everyone to whom I have offered a tract has taken one. Now, that does not mean that every person that has received a tract is interested in Christ. In fact, I would venture to say that most people who receive a tract are just interested in receiving something from a foreigner who speaks their language. But in any case, most Cambodians are willing to take a tract, and even listen to an introduction to the Gospel. Sadly, when it comes down to showing serious, genuine interest in learning more of Christ, most will either say, "I'm too busy to learn more," or "I am a Cambodian; therefore, I am a Buddhist."
• After living in Long Beach, California (a very densely populated suburb of Los Angeles) for two years, I thought that was crowded. Compared to Phnom Penh, Long Beach seems rather rural. (Okay, that is a bit of an overstatement.) I have never lived in a place where there was a higher concentration of people than this place.
• It is quite hot here. We have had to grow accustomed to living in a perpetual state of sweating- both inside the house and outside. Even our air conditioning unit has a hard time overcoming the heat of this place, although it does help. No complaints; it's just a part of living in Cambodia.
• I don't think I will ever get over the poverty in this place. In the States, I don't recall ever going soul winning in an area where I had to step over an open sewer to get to someone's house. Here, I did just that two Saturdays ago. Honestly, I am struggling with knowing that when most Cambodians look at me, they don't see a person who cares about them; often times, they see someone who has a lot of money. I am no better than these people. I just want to develop genuine friendships with them, and most importantly, give them the Gospel; but in the minds of many, I will never be one of them, even if I speak their language.
• I thank God for the family that we are working with. The Benefields have been our good friends for close to five years. I don't know of anyone in the ministry that I agree with more in doctrine, philosophy, and spirit than Stephen Benefield. They have been more than a blessing to us as we have been settling in to our new house and this new culture. Mrs. Benefield has been such a blessing to Linda in so many ways. And their children are just awesome! After being in the country for over ten years, the Benefields have maintained a sweet, humble spirit. I believe that is one of the reasons God is using them in such a great way.
• I thank God for the church that we are working in. "Grom-jom-nom Baptist Dom-nung La-awe"- Good News Baptist Church- is filled with some of the most wonderful Christians I have ever known. It is an incredible thought to me that just a few years ago, most of these precious people were lost, on their way to hell, and knew nothing of the joy of the Lord. Now, there are young families, elderly men and women, children small and big, and single college students who have been saved by the grace of God, and who are some of the most joyful people in all the world.

These are just a few of my initial observations. I'm sure I will have many more in the future. I look forward to sharing them.

Revival in Bakersfield, California

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 before, and I truly felt inadequate. But God, through His Spirit, directed me to 1 Thessalonians 1, and gave me the exact messages He wanted to be preached.

Sunday morning, I started in 1 Thessalonians 1:5, where the Bible says, "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost..." I stopped at the word "gospel" and preached a simple salvation message. The focus was that when Paul, Timothy, and Silas entered Thessalonica, they did not take some man-made religion or power of positive thinking message. They took with them the Gospel- the glorious message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the sins of the whole world.

Sunday evening, I moved a little bit further in the verse, where it says, "but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance..." The gist of the message was that when Paul, Timothy, and Silas entered Thessalonica with the message of the Gospel, they did not go in their own wisdom or in the power of their flesh. They entered Thessalonica filled with the Holy Spirit. The points of the message were: 1. The Clash (the flesh vs. the Spirit) 2. The Choice (to whom will we yield, the flesh or the Spirit?) 3. The Consequences (what happens when we yield to the flesh, and what happens when we yield to the Spirit?)

Monday evening, we continued through the verse, and focused on this portion: "...as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." Basically, when those young Thessalonian Christians looked at the lives of Paul, Timothy, and Silas, they saw that their message and their lifestyles did not contradict each other. There was something distinctly different about the lives of Paul, Timothy, and Silas. The message was primarily about sanctification.

Tuesday evening, we continued through the passage, and shifted the focus from the lives of the three missionaries to the lives of the Thessalonian Christians themselves. On Tuesday night, I focused on this portion of the verse: "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, and with joy of the Holy Ghost..." The premise of the message was that these Thessalonian Christians were not merely saved; they were disciples- followers of the Lord. Tuesday night, I preached about the meaning of discipleship from Matthew 16:24. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Wednesday evening, we went on to verse 9, where the Bible says, "For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad, so that we need not to speak anything." On Wednesday night, I preached about the ministry of discipleship. Basically, God showed me in studying this passage that true discipleship does not lead us to become hermits, or scholarly, stuffy, puffed up pious prune-heads; rather, true discipleship leads us to become servants.

I believe that God met with us in a might way. I certainly sensed His grace at work in my heart as I preached, and it was a blessing to see people responding to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Update from California

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 opportunities to witness to two of my brothers-in-law)
• I will be preaching the revival for McKee Road Baptist Church of Bakersfield March 13-16. Please pray for God's direction and that He would work in the hearts of His people.
• I will also be preaching at First Baptist Church School in their chapel service. I know most of these kids from our time there, and I am praying that God will use His Word to penetrate their hearts.
• Tying up loose ends here in the States before we leave on the 28th.
• Opportunities to talk to people about Christ while we are staying in Bakersfield and Long Beach.
• Speaking to young mothers at the abortion clinic in Bakersfield. This morning I went with Pastor Fies to the abortion clinic, and we stood on the public sidewalk just outside the clinic and pleaded with these young mothers to choose life for their children. I hope to be able to go back several times before we leave for Cambodia.