Psalm 100 Reflections

Psalm 100

New International Version (NIV)
A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.2     Worship the Lord with gladness;    come before him with joyful songs.3 Know that the Lord is God.    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving    and his courts with praise;    give thanks to him and praise his name.5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

When I read this Psalm today I a lot of connections were made for me between it and what God is really trying to teach me through the Bible studies, sermons, and experiences I am having right now.  

1. First I should "Know...God"

2. I'm a dumb (helpless) sheep, but I live in God's pasture and that's why I am okay!

3. God is faithful in loving me - forever! 

Read it from a different translation:

Psalm 100

New Century Version (NCV)

A Call to Praise the Lord

A psalm of thanks.

1 Shout to the Lord, all the earth.

2 Serve the Lord with joy;

    come before him with singing.

3 Know that the Lord is God.

    He made us, and we belong to him;

    we are his people, the sheep he tends.

4 Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving

    and into his courtyards with songs of praise.

    Thank him and praise his name.

5 The Lord is good. His love is forever,

    and his loyalty goes on and on.

Life is supposed to be happy, and I have noticed my happiest moments are when I am completely and utterly focused on knowing the Lord.  My deepest depressions and fears come when I am distracted by images, activities, and sin that are contrary or absent of God.  

A side note: how do you worship?  Is it loud?  Is it with shouts?  Or are you one of those people who shy away cause you "can't" sing???  This psalm challenges us to be loudly proclaiming our excitement about who He is and what He has done for us.  

I like how the NCV puts verse 3 concerning us, "the sheep He tends."  God is tending to our needs, tending to our mistakes, and tending to our hearts that need cleansing.  He does that through Jesus at the cross and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  It's not a once and done deal (getting dunked in the water is crucial, but it's not the finish line).  God is "tending" to us every day.

I have a dog, she isn't very well trained, but I know she loves me very very much.  The problem is I don't think she is very loyal to me.  Whoever comes out and feeds her, pets her, and shows her attention - boy that's her favorite person right then.  She shows her love and affection immediately to me when I come out, but she does that to almost everyone who does.  Well God isn't like that, He does love no matter what - but He is also "loyal", and when God is loyal He expects us to be loyal too.  God doesn't get distracted like my dog does, He doesn't leave loving us just because someone better walked into the room.  His "loyalty goes on and on." 

Pray for Cambodia 

-That they would know God

-That they would let the good shepherd guide them

-And that they would experience the everlasting love of our faithful God

Psalm 95 reflections

As I continue to find myself touched by the experience in Cambodia, I want to continue using it to reflect on the Psalms I read.  During the first week of being home I taught Wednesday night Bible study (day after I got home actually), preached Sunday night, and watched like three new movies in the theater.  Now you might say I was little crazy with the movies, but I was in relax mode since my body clock was all messed up any way I enjoyed the craziness.

But you know what I enjoyed even more than all those movies?  It was the study of God's Word!  I study it often, and I didn't actually spend an unusual amount of time (couldn't the movies took up so much, along with the 10+ hours of sleep each time that ended around noon or so some days).  The reason I enjoyed it so much was because I felt God really speaking to me, sure I was creating lessons for other people, trying to be prepared to lead a discussion through some classic stories in Israel's history, but the fact of the matter was I was learning.

This Psalm really explains what I felt at the beginning, relates to the stories we studied the last two weeks on Wednesday nights (Wilderness Wanderings), and challenges my life:


Psalm 95
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.
3 For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
7 for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care.
Today, if only you would hear his voice,
8 “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,
    as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 where your ancestors tested me;
    they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
10 For forty years I was angry with that generation;
    I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,
    and they have not known my ways.’
11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

So, we are God's people, the sheep under His care.  And the challenge to our lives is to "hear" His voice and react differently than people have in the past.  I know you've read the Bible over and over (and if you haven't well Today's always a great day to start), you've heard the stories of the Exodus, David, Jesus...etc but have you hardened your heart?  Are you walking aimlessly in a desert of despair or sadness?  Or are you entering into the very real "rest" of God here and now!

In Cambodia I was challenged by our Sunday worship service experiences.  And on the plane ride back I worked on my sermon for the Sunday night I was preaching right away.  I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to preach on Worship, and how we need to be focused on glorifying God through our lives and relationships not just with the songs we sing on Sunday.  The text we studied that Sunday night was Colossians 3:12-17.

Don't test the Lord your God rather come before the Lord our maker with sincere songs, that you sing from your heart every day and are evident by the behaviors, actions, and relationships you have!

Travel Home - Day 21 and 22

Searching back in my memory for what happened after Sunday.  We had a blast Sunday afternoon going shopping at the Russian market.  I got a banner that is made by an NGO with both Khmer and English translations of Romans 12:2.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

-Romans 12:2 NIV

I am hoping to add onto our missions board in the church foyer a segment on Cambodia.  I am super excited about ordering shirts, engaging with Agape International Missions more, and seeing where God leads us as a church in praying for Cambodia.  

At the Russian market Janel and I bought "Same same but different" shirts.  We had fun walking around and experiencing what shopping is like in Cambodia.  Most of our team was all shopped out from the beginning of the trip and buying stuff at Raphas house.  We still were able to have fun shopping for trinkets and gifts for our friends, family, and supporters.  

That evening we walked down and had dinner at a restaurant along the main river drag.  I sat up on the balcony for the last time and listened again to the sounds and smelled the smells of Phnom Penh, it finally dawned how fast the trip really had gone and how ready I was to be home.  Summer was beginning for everyone, others had already been enjoying it, and I was stoked to get back and start in on all the plans I have for this Summer.  

Monday morning was a lazy one we did go down for breakfast, after I finished packing all my stuff away.  Christian was still feeling very sick, but had antibiotics that were starting to finally do their job.  We stored all the bags in my room with Christian and checked out of all the other hotel rooms.  Our flight out of Phnom Penh to Seoul, Korea was at 11:55pm.  So we took the morning to walk down by the Palace (which was unfortunately closed that day).  We got rained on, I mean soaked thru and thru on our way to getting on the bus.  From there we had lunch at Sorya mall, a really new and cool mall in the middle of town.  Our plan included spending quite a while there at the mall and we got ice cream and had fun just hanging out, even walked down a few blocks back to the Central Market which is a little different than the Russian Market in terms of merchandise.

Monday evening we spent some time with Joe Conway again.  He was gonna take us bowling but the alley had closed down a couple weeks before (but he didn't know, it was so funny to show up and see a pile of rubble expecting to see a bowling alley!)  Dinner was at the airport, Burger King.  And it really did taste very legit.  We arrived really early to the airport, but in many ways we were all ready to be there and anxious to get on the plane.

The airport in Seoul is actually called Incheon.  It is about an hour outside of Seoul.  Our layover was listed at nearly 10 hours!  So the airlines paid for us to take about a 4 hour tour of Seoul.  We saw the Blue house (the presidents palace, or similar to the White House).  After that we went to a pagoda (or temple) right smack dab in the middle of the city.  Lunch was included at a traditional Korean barbecue.  Very delicious boggy beaf and rice.  We did get a chance to wander the shopping district for about half an hour, but didn't end up buying anything.  On our bus ride back to the airport the entire team slept.  The seats were a lot more comfortable in many ways than the seats on the plane even.  I think it had to do with the amount they leaned back.  I would like to visit Korea again, and for longer I think.

In the airport we found the really nice and up to date free lounge area.  It had a movie theater, free showers, and sofa chairs (or at least that's the best way I can think of describing them).  I slept for a couple hours there, took a shower, and found some good food at a Starbucks!  That rest really helped with the long flight home.  I felt really good when we got to Seattle.

In Seattle I had to say goodbye to Janel, she flew from there to LA.  It was a blast being on the same trip together, and it was nice to have that extended time with her instead of just saying good bye back in May.  The flight into Eugene was nice, except for the fact I was really cold!  I gave my shoes all away to Rahab's house along with a few shirts, so all I had were my flip flops, which worked great in the security line (when you have to take your shoes on and off) but were a little chilly on the plane rides.

When I arrived home, mom and Hans were there to greet me, and my aunt Lynn and cousin Shawna too!  It was fun seeing all the teams families and friends coming down to support.  When I landed I also thought of all of you, and the support you gave in prayer and by reading this blog.

Thank you thank you!!!

The last week and a half have been my Sabbath of Rest.  I really took the days to enjoy catching up with my mom, spending time in my Bible, and sleeping a lot.  The body needs rest, and so does the mind and spirit.  Here is a Psalm I suggest for your Sabbath of Rest - and if you don't take one ever, I challenge you to find a way to build that into your life.  Maybe you're like my Aunt and Uncle who take a 10 day camping trip every year, or like my family who enjoy a week long ski trip each year.  It doesn't have to even be out of town, it could be like mine was recently.  I went to the movies, and enjoyed being around home with little plans but plenty of opportunity to rest.

Psalm 92 NIV


1 It is good to praise the Lord
    and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 proclaiming your love in the morning
    and your faithfulness at night,
3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
    and the melody of the harp.
4 For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
    I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
5 How great are your works, Lord,
    how profound your thoughts!
6 Senseless people do not know,
    fools do not understand,
7 that though the wicked spring up like grass
    and all evildoers flourish,
    they will be destroyed forever.
8 But you, Lord, are forever exalted.
9 For surely your enemies, Lord,
    surely your enemies will perish;
    all evildoers will be scattered.
10 You have exalted my horn[b] like that of a wild ox;
    fine oils have been poured on me.
11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
    my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
    they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
    he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Find rest in God your rock this week!

Sunday, church at Rahab's - Day 20

This really marked the end of our trip.  My friend Christian was very sick and that was a rough way to end the trip.  Breakfast was normal and I grabbed my water bottle headed to the bus.  I wore my slacks and dress shirt again which is always hotter than normal, but nothing could really have been cool in that sanctuary where we met.  I was familiar with the sanctuary, it was where we taught the kids.

We pulled up a few minutes after 8am, and church had already started.  We filed into the very packed room full of chairs and easily a couple hundred Cambodians.  They were singing their hearts out! The disciples that I had been serving, and playing with all week were there and leading the worship.  Standing in front of me was the relentless energy I could hardly believe was possible.  These kids, in some regards, were so passionate about Jesus I couldn't help but be too! After standing some we also sat down and sang.  I realized my pants were grey and they really showed the "sweat" (note to self, grey is not the color for hot situations).  I was sweating so much my pants were changing color.  None of that distracted me from the experience.

The worship was so good because of the relationships we had developed throughout the week before serving with them.  The pastor got up to preach and engaged us with a few english phrases worked into his sermon, even "same same but different" which is a classic Southeast Asian phrase found on t-shirts in the markets.  After the first couple minutes of the sermon I realized I was hearing english too! Rattanak and Darie were sitting on either side of me a few people away, translating for me and my teammates.  They poured their hearts into the sermon too, it was more than a translation!  One of the better sermons I've sat through in a while.

We sang our song, Open the Eyes of My Heart.  Phillip LaRue led us in a worship song and sang a song he wrote about human trafficking with his wife, very powerful and beautiful.  Pastor Troy also shared a short message with his box illustration about us being hidden with God in Christ.  The mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory from Colossians chapter 1.  It tied in with the local pastors lesson perfectly, which was titled "Living for the Glory of God".

My reading of the Psalms just went past Psalm 91.  This was my grandmothers favorite Psalm.  She has passed away.  I truly believe she lived for the glory of God!  She also shared a lot of the travel memories with me.  We were room buddies in Norway, motorhome pals in Australia and New Zealand, and I will still always call 747 jets "grammie planes".  I miss her, this Psalm is in KJV as she always quoted it that way.

Psalm 91 KJV


1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

I hope you hear the message my grandmother impressed onto me: Trust in God, make Him your refuge and dwelling place!

Be blessed this day by the Almighty.

Saturday Debrief - Day 19

Saturday was a reflection day.  It is funny to reflect on the reflection actually, so in writing this post I will share several of the things I reflected upon and give you an idea of what our teams debrief was like as best I can.

The morning was very nice, we were given an extra hour to get down for breakfast.  I enjoyed as always visiting with Dinah (our waiter) and the other restaurant staff.  Our mornings had become a routine of "1 lime juice, and banana pancake...thank you..."  Dinah was the hotel owners brother and had worked there for more than a decade.  Friendly guy, all of them were.  The food was so so some of the time, but the smiles made it well worth it.

After our breakfast routine we headed out in the bus to the Cambodia Women's Crisis Center.  There we got a chance to hear a presentation covering issues ranging from domestic violence to trafficking.  This NGO (non governmental organization) worked hard to prosecute and even counsel men who were abusive.  Our visit was fairly short, but it was good to see another organization involved in the care of trafficked and abused girls.

Our lunch was at Divine Pizza and Ribs again. Our friend Joe really treated us like family. And we were so blessed by him. He joined us for dinner several nights too. After we ate we turned to some reflections:

Expectations - things were different than I had expected. I really under expected the experience with AIM ministries and especially Don Brewster.

What surprised you? - the disciples at Rahabs house, they are the real deal!

Hardest part? - being at Raphas house and Agape's Restoration Center. Not knowing how to interact with the abused girls, being that I am a guy.

Aha moment? - sitting with Darie, who asked: why do you know God?

How did God grow you? - I learned more about relating with my peers to experiences overseas and dealing with ministry reflections.

Action items-
1. Get a hold of Isaac from ATC and get shirts made
2. Share at 3 churches over the next year
3. Get in touch with local Eugene Sex trafficking prevention work

How to remember?- Like Agape's facebook page, connect with staff, and add Cambodia to mission board in church foyer.

How will you live differntly? - I will take Daries advice and sing more Jesus songs.

Psalm 89:1-8 NIV

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. [2] I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. [3] You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, [4] ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ ” [5] The heavens praise your wonders, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. [6] For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings? [7] In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. [8] Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

This psalm speaks to that last point of our teams reflections. I am excited to live passionately now that I am home from Cambodia!

Grace to you!

Friday Kids club - Day 18

It's the final day of ministry at Svay Pak. A mixture of joy and depression. Last night we ate at a fun place called Freebird, but the Shwarma I ate did not sit well in my tummy. Without grossing you out, I got very very sick that night and was in pretty bad straights all day. Still pushed through and participated in almost everything at kids club even. God is a God of strength! There was some filling up and overflowing of the Holy Spirit happening in Cambodia!

I woke up and took some medicine that helped, our team calls them the magic pills. The reality is they are prescription meds for early signs of dysentery, needless to say it really solved my problems, I can happily say I am feeling 100% now after a day or so. 

After a very brief breakfast we took our normal route to Svay Pak. Driving past now familiar sights, I feel a strong connection to this little village on the skirts of Phnom Penh. I know some of the stories of people who live near by, I teach some of the children that come from the houses I passed, and I know the loving disciples at Rahabs house who are ministering to them just like I am trying to minister to the community of Eugene and Springfield. 

We arrived close to 9am this time and I took the opportunity to walk a little and pray. I prayed as best I could with my head and stomach hurting. I was dehydrated because I wasn't drinking as much water as normal, but I was afraid to drink because I had thrown up in the night and still felt queasy. My walk ended with me sitting in my normal spot amongst the children watching cartoons. I ministered again through the gift of joy through art. This time being able to simply sit and observe them work diligently over the art they created. I prayed over the kids, sometimes reflecting on what Jesus would have done, would he have sat them down and told them a Bible story? What can I do? I don't speak their language, I am not prepared, what can I do? I am putting this in writing here so that I will execute on this: I want to have a children's picture Bible app on my iPad. Either as something I have created myself...(PowerPoint or something) or an actual app that someone has designed for mission trips as an easy way to tell stories without words or speaking the same language. The joy of The Lord is still the most powerful tool, and God gave me the strength to smile and share that joy through even my limited usefulness of my iPad. Here is some of their work:

Amazing what God has created, He instilled creativity! And I am continually amazed by the children, the talents, and the love that comes from God's best design: His Children. I found the hardship of these kids so profound and overwhelming. What possibly can be done to help them? And then I look around at the impact Rahabs house has made. AIM is changing not just some hearts in the community but actually changing the landscape too! Because of AIM old brothels are now used to teach children and house rescued girls. Because of AIM there is a factory employing at risk or rescued girls. Because of AIM visitors like Nick Vuijic come. God is working through organizations like AIM to change and affect communities!

Today I taught the lesson in kids club. The story I chose was the Prodigal son. Troy our campus pastor and group leader was the father and his son Chase played the prodigal. It was a blast working one more time translating with Rattanak. The theme was neighbors are welcoming. The father welcomes his son back, even when he was foolish and unwise; this is what God does for us! He welcomes us back from sin and foolish choices, like the prodigal's story of gambling and party lifestyle, we end up crashing from the high life of money and fame. Realizing that in many ways this story is the real life experience of the kids I was teaching made it come even more alive! The difference though was that the father welcomed the son back, in the culture and the village around Rahabs house fathers are not so forgiving, loving, and caring. Instead the children often learn the foolish behaviors from their fathers who sit outside all day drinking coffee, playing cards, gambling, smoking, drinking...etc I was shocked walking around even this small community at how many parents, despite their poor living conditions, were not working. They did not pay attention to their children, instead kids just ran about on the brick, glass, and garbage infested streets, that were not paved either. This is not the picture we get in the story Jesus told, instead we see a father who is longing for his son to return. He is standing, watching, waiting, and hoping to see his son again. When he does there is action behind his watching - earnest action - the father runs and embraces his son, and gives him a big kiss! The affection of the father is what God the Heavenly Father has for us. 

Psalm 80:1-19 NIV

Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth [2] before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken your might; come and save us. [3] Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. [4] How long, Lord God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people? [5] You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful. [6] You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us. [7] Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. [8] You transplanted a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. [9] You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. [10] The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. [11] Its branches reached as far as the Sea, its shoots as far as the River. [12] Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes? [13] Boars from the forest ravage it, and insects from the fields feed on it. [14] Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine, [15] the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself. [16] Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish. [17] Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself. [18] Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name. [19] Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

We served at Agape's Rahab house, but earlier on we did visit Agape's restoration center. I believe the name for their safe house (ARC) having restoration in the title was a great choice. The work in these broken communities is what this Psalm is talking about.  Cambodia needs God's face to shine upon them, they need restoration, and this comes through Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.

May the Lord restore you as you call on His Name!

Thursday kids club - Day 17

Today we got to sleep in! It was really good, because last night I stayed up really late skyping with my parents. It was good talking with them and catching up on the goings on at home. The morning came really early. Breakfast was my usual: lime juice and banana pancake. We piled in the bus and headed out about a half hour later than usual. At Rahabs I spent the morning writing some of my blog and reading Psalms. I read out where the kids watch tv. Just like the day before it only took a few minutes and I had a whole crowd around me. 

This time I decided to try drawing a picture. They really got into it and helped me draw this picture:

After I showed them how a couple of the boys really got into it. They drew these on their own while I held the iPad:

 

 

It was lots of fun seeing them find joy in a simple whiteboard application. 

Every day this week I have eaten at the same table with several of the boy disciples. Rat Ti is thirteen and we sit next to each other. His english wasn't great, but we shared smiles and laughs. The simple ministry of being present with people is worth far more than we consciously think. I found myself touched over and over by the questions, care, and concern for me that the local staff and disciples had. Wanting to know how I was feeling, if I liked the food, and other really trivial stuff about my experience in Cambodia. They especially wanted to know if I had been here before, so I got to share with several my childhood story of living in Vietnam. As I said before, many of the families in Svay Pak are Vietnamese so the staff actually speak some Vietnamese too. I made a few special friendships by sharing some Vietnamese words back and forth during Volleyball and goodbyes.

Our kids club today was on neighbors are forgiving. Kelsay taught the lesson of Zacheus during the story time and I taught them Deep and Wide in the singing time. We sang the Grow song again too, and they loved it all over again. I noticed today how consistent the disciples are in their ministry. 4 days into kids club and there was no waning in the energy or joy. I have that kinda energy when I'm directing my youth rally, or at summer camp, but thinking about doing that almost every day of the week, all year round! I was totally impressed. 

Psalm 79:1-13 NIV

O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble. [2] They have left the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild. [3] They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead. [4] We are objects of contempt to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us. [5] How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire? [6] Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name; [7] for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland. [8] Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. [9] Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. [10] Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants. [11] May the groans of the prisoners come before you; with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die. [12] Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord. [13] Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.

This is one of the Psalms I read sitting out amongst the children. I felt the meaning really rising from the situation facing Cambodia. This idea that evil has invaded God's temple, in the new covenant the church is the temple of the living God. People are God's sacred space, and here in Cambodia their lives are not respected. Girls are abused, trafficked, sold, enslaved, and murdered by Cambodian men and foreigners taking advantage of the broken laws here. I can only imagine the questions the church here is asking, the questions of God that the disciples are asking...Why oh God would you allow this? Will you be angry with my country forever? Will you not restore us again, will you not help us for the glory of your name? Like the psalmist asks, they plead with God to hear the groans of the prisoners. I met some crazy strong servants of Jesus here and I would love to come back and see generation after generation that are proclaiming like this one is the praise of YHWH God! 

There wasn't the regular group of volleyball players again so I joined in playing soccer and just never quite. I ran around and kicked at the ball (hitting it some of the time) mostly enjoying fun times with the kids and some of the adults from the village. Physical exercise really is good for your spirit too. I found that the days I worked harder physically I felt better spiritually. 

May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!