As we near the close of this month, I would have to summarize it as more of the same, only better. We are still volunteering at some local schools, and still shepherding two local churches, but this month stands out as one of renewed vision.
Recently, the Japanese missionaries that put yellow signs all over the country and pass out tracts made their way through our area. This has opened doors to share the Lord with folks several times already. One example that stands out in my mind is a recent class Vem taught. The kids were full of questions about one of the signs that had been put up in their neighborhood – so she spent a good deal of time fielding questions about what Jesus was all about – and then posing a few questions of her own. “So what about you? Where will you go when you die?” etc.
In pastoring the churches here, I still have a tough time at times expressing myself when preaching and teaching in Thai. I am beginning to think that often the toughest things to say are things that I might as well not even try to say – but rather to stick with “safe” stuff. Like rather than use an illustration or analogy that I’m familiar with to explain a truth from scripture, just find an example in the gospels or the old testament that illustrates it, and read that. Win win – I am understood, and the teaching is that much more biblically sound. Why didn’t that occur to me sooner? Paul seemed to have come to a similar conclusion in his own teaching, when after a tough time in Athens, he went to Corinth and says
“I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2 ESV).
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