I'm feeling a bit like Big Kev right now ... well not dead like Big Kev... but excited like he was.

"Excited about what?" you may ask... well If I was to put my current feeling into words it would be something like "I'm excited about having a purpose in life"
Having a vision, having ideas for the future, dreams of the crazy and "impossible"
Sometimes its easy just to look as the current situation, the surroundings where nothing seems to be happening, a job which takes up your precious time and energy, and forget that God is going to be doing something in the midst of it all.

For the past few months here, things have been busy, things have been going ... well just going, nothing really bad, nothing excitingly good... or so I thought. But really something good has been going on. God has been teaching Tuu and I ... thats gotta be good! God has been preparing us for whatever he has for us...thats gotta be good! God hasn't forgotten the plans for He us, even if we have... thats gotta be GREAT!

Now I'm just starting to realize again (hopefully not to forget it as quickly as last time) that God's got something big in store. What?! I'm not a 100% sure. When and How ?!?! I don't have a clue.
The one thing I am sure about is, its going to be great. Thats what I'm excited about.

Right now we're still getting pulled up the first climb of the rollercoaster... looking around just waiting for something to happen, but before we know it we'll be flying headfirst into some exciting turns, some exhilarating heights, and some down right scary "death-loops".
Man I can't wait!!!
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Here is a special Christmas Carol for you all... very special =)

and for those that don't know what Tom Yam Gung is check this link
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This is my entry for the HP Magic Giveaway Entry on the Living in Theory Blog

it is a bit of an essay really =)



If I were to win the HP Magic Giveaway, I would give it away to a whole community, by using it to build an E-learning centre, where the children of this farming community in northeast Thailand could come and learn for free.

The truth is though that this farming community is not exactly a remote community, in fact it is only about 20 minutes drive out of Korat, one of the biggest cities in Thailand. In the city, most children get the opportunity to go to good schools with well-trained teachers. They have great English programs and up-to-date computer labs. Even the poorer government schools still provide the kids with the basis they need in order to “go far” if they study hard. The situation out here though, is a much different story. There is a small primary school; in fact, it is directly opposite my house. Most of the teachers walk into the class, put on a teaching video and then walk out again. While the teacher is gone, the students just cannot resist the urge to change the channel over to something a little more interesting. It is a shame though, because watching cartoons and soap operas is not going to be enough to get them into university. In fact, a mere handful of these kids will even end up starting senior high school.

My wife and I moved to this village this year. It is where my wife was born and raised, and where we are planning to raise our kids in the near future. When we moved out here, we really wanted to give to the community. To really be able to impact this community, we knew we had to start with the younger generation. By teaching them English, we could improve their chances of completing a higher education, and provide them a stepping-stone to obtain a decently paid job in the future. The way Thai society works is that, once a child is working and earning an income, he/she gives a percentage of that back to their parents and family. It is essentially their social security system. If the young of people of this village were to go on to earn a reasonable income, then they would channel that money back into the community, thus lifting the standard of life for the whole community.

Right now, our home is ALREADY an English learning centre. My wife decided to paint a sign one day, she hung it out the front, and within a few days, our living room was transformed into a small classroom. My wife and I currently teach English six days a week, to kids between the ages of six to fifteen. I also have a paid teaching position in town during school hours, in order to provide an income for our family and to enable us to give to the community.

When we were making the move here from Australia, I had a crazy thought “wouldn’t it be cool if we could set up some kind of E-learning center!” I thought about all the different possibilities of using software and educational games to teach the kids English … for free! Research already shows that putting children in a multi-sensory environment like a computer lab accelerates the learning process. Apart from that, it would just be plain FUN. A great number of Thai children do not like to learn English, because they perceive it as too difficult. If you got these kids onto a computer though, they would have such a great time that they would forget they were even “studying”. In addition to teaching English, I would also be able to teach the children many other things, whether it was as basic as using Windows, Microsoft Word & Excel, Photoshop, creating a website or maybe something more advanced. The closest thing that any of them have come to computers is for the few that have played the odd game or two at an online-gaming café in town. Recently I have come across several skilled Thai programmers / developers / graphic artists online. My favourite J2ME twitter application – jibjib – happens to be developed by a brilliant young Thai guy. Whether the kids that come to the E-learning centre end up becoming developers like him, choose a profession where they must use a computer on a daily basis, or merely simply had the opportunity to enjoy learning, it would be worth it.

After a little while dreaming, I eventually resigned myself to the fact that it was not really a possibility… well for the time being at least. There was no way I could afford the hardware to set it up. Then, I saw this competition, and I was inspired to rethink the idea. So whether or not I win this prize thank you for re-inspiring me again. I know that even if it took me a while, I could in fact build up a small E-learning centre, and it would be worth the time and effort. If I were however to win this awesome giveaway, then the dream would become a reality overnight. The package has everything we need to make it happen – minus a few English teaching programs and some headphones. The number of computers in the package is perfect, as the average size of our classes is four children. The fact that they are all relatively compact portable computers is absolutely ideal too, as we have limited space. We could not fit four or five desktop systems and desks into the current living room / classroom even if we wanted to. The possibilities and ways to use the touch screen in the classroom are endless. I would just love to see the look on a kids face as he/she interacts with the characters on-screen. Another huge bonus would be the printer, as I have been intending to buy a printer for a while now, in order to print out worksheets for the students. Taking the files into the print shop in town can be a hassle, not to mention the extra step of wiping my USB thumb-drive clear of viruses every time I come home.

I do apologize for this entry being so long, I am not even sure if you will be still reading this at this point, but a big thanks to you Living in Theory, Microsoft and HP for the great competition. I have uploaded a few pictures of our English centre in its current state.
First picture – me teaching, my wife’s Grandmother is on the left. She comes in from time to time to just to watch this strange white person speaking an even stranger language.
Second picture – is of my wife participating with the kids in a skit / drama to practice their English.
Third picture – is our current implementation of technology in the classroom. Where would I be without my trusty old iRiver h340!
By some great miracle were we chosen to be recipient of this amazing giveaway, I would definitely send you some more photos of the new E-learning English centre - in use - as soon as possible.

A blessed and safe Christmas to you,
Thomas Beckingham
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Right now kingdoms are falling. Treasures such as superannuation funds, once highly demanded stock, and expensive houses are all dropping in worth to the extent that they're as good as trash. It wasn't that long ago that I preached a sermon about trash or treasure, and only now am I starting to realize how much more I hunt for trash than treasure.

Right now, we have the privilege of witnessing God's promises come true, prophecies are becoming fulfilled before our very eyes. For many people, including myself, we expected that when God said he would make the poor rich, and the rich poor, he was simply talking about in heaven, or simply in some spiritual sense. But God is actually doing some of that right now. The rich really are becoming poor.

I wonder how some of my friends from school are feeling now, those that have spent the last 10 years investing in properties and other things. Some of them I know have done quite well for themselves, now it seems their kingdoms are crashing. I don't profess to know the mind of God, but surely he is trying to get peoples attention. Maybe the only time they will notice God, is when they have nothing left... maybe God wants to give them so much more.
They're thirsty but they just don't know it."
We've all heard the saying "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink". Well I heard a Thai pastor say the other day. "you can't make a horse drink the water simply by pushing it head into the trough, but you CAN put lots of salt in its mouth so that it will take a drink." Sounds true enough! Could it be what God is doing now? So many people refusing to drink from the well of life, from the water that quenches our thirst once and for all!! He has to put some salt in their mouth, for them to realize how much they need a drink. We know that there are a lot more hard-to-swallow things to come. the Bible calls them tribulations.

The weird situation that I find myself in now, is that God has placed me in a full-time position for the next year. I didn't like that idea at all, I resisted and I still slip back into times of unsureness about my job. But really the unsureness comes from being scared of falling into the trap to build up earthly treasures. I'm not sure if I will be able to practice what I preach. If I build up my comforts will I forget to listen to God... God knows though.
God you placed me in this job, I pray that You would not let me fall into temptation.
If I go to drink from other wells, strike those wells dry. If I bury the blessings then cause them to fade away. Lord thankyou that you're destroying the earthly kingdoms so that yours would be established. SO BE IT
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We have been rather busy, and don't have an always on internet connection so it can be hard to blog, so here is our last newsletter, and there should be a new one soon.

momentum
in the swing of things

fun
changing attitudes

slum
burmese community

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lyrics by Matt Redman

 

Befriended, befriended by the King above all Kings
Surrendered, surrendered to a friend above all friends
Invited, invited deep into this mystery
Delighted, delighted by the wonders I have seen

This will be my story
This will be my song
You'll always be my Savior
Jesus You will always have my heart

Astounded, astounded that Your gospel beckoned me
Surrounded, surrounded but I've never been so free
Determined, determined now to live this life for You
You’re so worthy my greatest gift would be the least You’re due

This will be my story
This will be my song
You'll always be my Savior
Jesus You will always have my heart

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The other day I snapped this shot. It looked even more amazing in person, the clouds were breaking apart, and the bottom of the cloud formed a rainbow. I was just waiting for the rider on the white horse to come through.

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I love food ... especially food that is full of intense flavors, whether it be Somtam (Spicy Thai Papaya Salad), or Sushi with a load of punishing Wasabi. Something though that I miss from back home is a good dose of greasy salty chips (thick cut fries). Its REALLY dissapointing though when get some food and it doesn't come with the full flavour you were expecting... its just not what its supposed to be... its a letdown. Chips just don't taste any good without salt. One time I ordered chips and the cook must have had a real moment and had put sugar on instead of salt. It was disgusting... I mean it just wasn't salty. That batch of perfectly good chips had been spoiled forever.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm not salty, after all we were called to be the salt of the earth. We were supposed to give this earth the flavour that it needs. Are we being salty or are putting other flavours into the recipie. Sometimes we feel like adding something we add it, sometimes we feel like doing something we just to do it. but what this earth really needs is salt. Guess what we as believers are called to be that salt... but how... maybe by going and helping the poor , or standing up for what is morally right ... well maybe. But when I was reading Mark 9:50 I realised that we can't be salty "out there" until we're salty with each other.

Mark 9:50 Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.

We shouldn't go slagging off at our Pentecostal or Catholic brother one day and try to share the love of God to someone at work the next... it just doesn't work.

You know why I think we're supposed to be salty, because when you eat something that is salty it makes you thirsty!
We as salt should be making others thirsty for the living water, REALLY THIRSTY for Jesus Christ, not just leaving a bad taste in their mouth.

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