Update

Well the past few weeks has been pretty exciting our trip was an excellent trip, we saw God open many doors, and he went before us every step we took.

Just before we went, my laptop screen broke, now that I'm back my cd player broke.
Now all I got left is my Bible, and it just so happens that this week is teaching on getting into the Word everyday and how to do it. God's timing is so perfect. I'm going to a mountain where there isn't much to do, going there for my final outreach. So exciting to see what I learn without all the distractions around me.

The test of truth

Its the cry of my heart that God would keep growing me and give me the opportunity to really live what I speak. And when God gave me the opportunity yesterday to really trust Him in His goodness it wasn't easy. The fless really wanted to get upset, but now that my everything is once again at God's feets and I'm trusting Him it feels so good so secure.

God gave me something and I had become secure in it, so one way or another God allowed it to be taken away so that I would become once again secure in Him. Praise God because He is so Great and His mercies endure forever and ever. There is none that can compare to God. He will never leave me nor forsake me. His arms are around me, His will is perfect. And HIS LOVE IS UNFAILING.

Really I have encountered nothing compared to what was Job went through and He still praised God.

What the enemy had meant to harm me, to take my focus away from God to myself, or even to get me to curse God, God has instead used to bring me closer to Him and to bring glory to Him. Praise God

God has a sense of humour

Last night I was praying about which outreach destination he wanted me to go on, and after a little while I felt like I should turn to James 1 and this is the first verse I saw

5 If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

At first I laughed and told God I was already asking, why was he telling me to ask again :p
but I realized he really wanted me to seek, to be patient for an answer, and to really believe Him when he answered me, not to doubt Him.
I realised today that I had only just prayed an hour before I got the verse, that God would teach me to really wait on Him for answers and not take things into my own hands.

So I'm still seeking an answer for which outreach He will have me go on ... but I will let you know, when God lets me know :)

Jesus' Blood

The blood of Jesus never fails
The love of Jesus never fails
Now that is an ABSOLUTE truth, its not just true for me its true for me its true for everyone.

I love this song from Delirious
Jesus' Blood

There's a secret I must tell
Of all the love I've found
And it's hidden in my heart
The day you tore my world apart

Hallelujah, King forever, friend and Saviour

Jesus' blood never fails me,
Jesus' blood never fails me,
Jesus' blood, Jesus' blood

And this secret, it will run
To the corners of the earth
Where every woman, every son
Will carry high their chains undone

Hallelujah, King forever, friend and Saviour

Jesus' blood never fails me,
Jesus' blood never fails me,
Jesus' blood never fails me,
Jesus' blood, Jesus' blood

Sing your songs of freedom
Praise the God of heaven
Love that never fails me
Jesus' blood, Jesus' blood

Up the ladder ...

Wow so much excitement, its only a few days before students will start arriving for DTS. Its a brand new year, with many new faces, new lives, new things God is going to do in their lives and in mine. Its hard for me to believe it was me last year stepping out into the unknown by coming to a DTS in Thailand. Now I'm stepping out even further into new unknowns, but once again EXCITEMENT outweighs nervousness or doubts of if I'm going to get through this.

I'm comforted by the picture of God holding a big cushion, to catch me when I fall, and the fact of falling is something I worry less about now than before. I know not going to 'Ace' life, I'm not going to get a perfect '10'. Even if I 'fail' there is great joy and comfort in seeing God working it out for good.

The first time you jump of high diving board it can be extremely scary, even though you've watched others do it before you, there's something different about doing it yourself and surviving, and once you've done it once you'll try it again, this time now a little less hesitant than the time before, eventually you can't wait for the next chance to take another leap.

For me in the past I've watch others take the leap of faith, to jump off the edge, but was wary to do so myself. I've made a few leaps and God has caught me, now I'm ready to take some more maybe from a little bit higher this time, The excitement and tension is building, I'm a little nervous, but watching others jump while I'm down on the ground, doesn't compare to taking the leap myself.

I'm up the ladder ... and to turn around and climb back down would be to fail

True Freedom

(Fixed Up a few things)

God longs so much for us to be free ... he's paid for our freedom, now its our choice to really live in it. To be all that he created us to be. We no longer have to be held back by the world. We have the freedom to live real life, to no longer settle for the false reality the world has sold us. God has created us to be so much more.
We were made to be more than average ... more than 'just ok' ... more than just getting by!Switchfoot sings about that in one of their songs, and movies like truman show and the matrix ... speak of making a decision to face our fears, choose life over false life (death), and living life to its fullest.

The things that God has for us do not make sense to the world, they are extreme to world, and they were extreme to me, because I had been shaped by the world. Instead of focusing on the world or myself, My focus is now on the most EXTREME person of all (at least to the world) JESUS!! he was extreme!!! and He was ridiculed for it! If I'm to be like Christ, then that would mean I would rediculed by the world too right!?... it says that in the Bible.

Ouch I never liked that!! it made me squirm and I would shrug it off, because I wasn't being persecuted for Christ. OK maybe one dayin the future I would be, but at the time I was doing just fine being accepted by the everyone, the world and the church. Though the time came when I got sick of being just average. And decided to take a risk and trust that God really did have something better, that I couldn't hold onto the things of the world and the things of God, I had the freedom to let go ... to live real life... to live like Christ.

To be honest I didn't think I would ever be to do extreme things for God, to see the impossible happen, to walk everyday trusting in God instead of myself. I didn't feel like I was able, that I was good enough ... I hadn't really belived that God's love for me overcame all of my weaknesses!
When I started accepting God's extreme love for me, thats when things starting changing. When impossible became possible. When what the great things God had for me became reality!

It doesn't matter how you look or feel ... whether you have lots of friends or none, whether you feel like you're able to do great things or you feel like you can't do anything. God has an 'extreme' life for us all to live, one that is greater than we had ever imagined.

Extreme living begins when we receive extreme love, when we realize that we are not worthy to be loved yet we are loved, when we believe we can't do anything, but we can do everything. Its something I don't get a grasp on by just hearing or reading about, its something I had to meditate on and that I had to receive ... to believe even though it doesn't make sense. I know I'm not able, but I know I will do because God will do it. And I'm not going to say in 10 years, I'll have the faith to raise the dead, or see a blind man healed ... I'm just going to live life as God intended not limited by this world, to live by the power of Jesus. Being absolutely weak, So God can make me strong. If you want to see how the paradoxs of God work, you can't just think about them you got to live them.

I was once even scared of the word 'extreme' but now I know thats what God has called me too, and you too :). It doesn't mean to throw away 'balance' but it does mean to re-evaluate what you are balancing. Are you balancing the things of the world with the things of God. YES I DID THAT! Instead throw away the things of the world, and be extreme the world, don't compromise, don't be just ok. Find your balance and wholeness in Christ ... and be EXTREME! for Christ

In His EXTREME love =)
Tom

II Corinthians 5:16-18

16 So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! 17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! 18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him.

Ephesians 3:20

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

Start staff training this Monday ... should be good to have the whole staff team togethor, and to stretch each other.

I'm really excited about the DTS, its going to be a great time, where I will learn alot through being a staff member. Anyone that is involved in DTS's, or is a disciple of Christ for that matter is always learning whether they're 'staff' or not

An updated test

Career Inventory Test Results Extroversion ||||||||||||||| 46% Emotional Stability |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 86% Orderliness |||||||||||| 33% Altruism ||||||||||||||||||||| 63% Inquisitiveness ||||||||||||||| 50% You are an Idealist, possible professions include - information-graphics designer, college professor, researcher, legal mediator, social worker, holistic health practitioner, occupational therapist, diversity manager, human resource development specialist, employment development specialist, minister/priest/rabbi, missionary, psychologist, writer

Take Free Career Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Matthew 6:19-21

Do not store up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

1 Corinthians 1:18

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God"
 

And he will make the weak strong

I saw this quote on This blog
It was taken from relevantmagazine.com
It encouraged me, and I really needed to be reminded of some of the things God was teaching me not so long ago ... it is easy to forget what God has taught you, when you start focusing on the wrong things.

"the goal is to come to the end of our own power. Just as Christ came to the cross without a scrap of His divine power, so we live our lives in a state of weakness, for only there can God truly reveal His power in us. die to everything we hope people will admire about us, and any personal desire for power, fame , wealth, public speaking or influence. in the places where we are angry and depressed, abandoned without hope or simply confused about how to think or believe, that is an opening for God to be present among us. it doesnt matter how much you dress yourself up, how well you learn to hide your sin from people, better for you to come out, and actually better, and i really do mean better--like you will be more filled with joy--to be able to say, 'you know what? know me for who i really am. im completely exposed. heres my sin; heres my Savior; ive got nothing to hide. ive got nothing to be ashamed of. ive got no fear. im totally filled with joy because im liberated, 'cause im exposed, but im not scared. and thats because i know that Gods favor for me is based on Jesus. im not scared to tell you who i really am. im not scared to tell you what my sins really are, not just the ones im comfortable with, but my real sins. im not afraid to tell you, and thats because im not condemned by them anymore, and thats because i believe Jesus is sufficient" - relevantmagazine.com

A close call

Well Praise God ... I'm feeling better, for a little while wasn't sure if I had caught something ... seen as had lots of mosquitoe bites ... and had several symptoms similar to some of the least desired illnesses in the World ... but it was just mostly a small infection, and being run down, not eating enough vegetables, and being dehydrated probably didn't help either.

Other news, passes Thai Kindergarten today :) YAY it only took 6 days to learn the whole Thai alphabet :D and we started reading today.

*Just updated my photo blog too

Thai class

Lately I have been cutting grass at the the DTS base with Somphon (another
staff) and we have just started learning Thai with a tutor.

It was amazing how God provided for us, the tutor that Somphon and I were
going to use is moving, and we can't really study at a language school, as
we only have a month before we need to do staff training.

We were recommended a pastor's wife and were told she was an excellent
teacher ... and she is.
She has lots of free time now, as many of her students are back in the US
for holidays, we started the day after we had made contact with her. We are
studying 2 hours a day mon-fri,and she doesn't charge us as much as some
tutors would, because she has a real heart to help missionaries. We are
learning how to read and write at the moment, and she is able to teach us
Thai Christian words, which other teachers wouldn't be able to do. She
doesn't actually speak to us in English during the lesson, which helps to
learn Thai much quicker.

God had it all in his hands, I didn't have a clue how I was going to be
studying Thai .
God has even provided more than enough money to cover the cost of this lot
of Thai language lessons.

And tomorrow I'm going to an orphanage near Chiang Rai to spend time with
the kids and give them gifts. Most of them don't have shoes, and some don't
even have t-shirts. We were invited to go with our Thai teacher =)

in ChiangMai

Just arrived in ChiangMai this morning ... it took us 3 hours longer than usual to get out of Bangkok as the bus broke down, then we changed bus's, which had the airconditioning turned up even colder than the first bus, I was cold even with a jumper and blanket on... but thats why I love Thailand =)

I really enjoyed my short stay in Bangkok, made some great new friends at the church I stayed at, and will be sure to go there again. They have a really good teaching English ministry there too, though I don't feel teaching English is my gifting, I'd be glad to be involved in it for a time if God called me there =)

whats happening

From now I will be in Bangkok for a few days, then will travel to ChiangMai. When I get there I will probably stay with director of the Dts for a while, then I will either be staying there to help him or studying Thai in the city.

We have staff training from August 9, then the Dts will start in September,
we have a few experienced guys coming over from the Philipines to staff with us this year. After that Dts finishes I some of us will probably goto the Philipines for some more training... I wasn't expecting this, but am quite excited about it if it is what God leads :)

At the moment I will be putting my all into being the staff that God wants me to be. this may mean not doing some of the things I thought I might do at first, but instead do training, and just focusing on staffing. And I like that idea, because I really believe that staffing the Dts's is the reason God called me to Thailand.
As we learnt during the workshop at the conference, staffing Dts isn't just something you do until God shows you where he wants you to be, it is a calling in itself. Since being here I've become much more open to the idea that God might call me to be a dts staff for a longer time than what I had first expected.

I am open to whatever God calls me to, another area that doors have been opening in are the areas of multimedia and missions.

The bride of Christ

Well this week has been awesome. It was definitely worth coming early for the YWAM conference and worth the money too. There was just so much that happened and that God spoke to me that I can't put everything into words. So here are some key points of what God taught me during the week

1) We are the bride of Christ, A bride doesn't wait until after married to get to know the groom. Christ desire intimacy now with us

2) We in the Western World are ignorant to the ways in which God is moving in Asia and the Pacific. We think that we are the be all and end all when it comes to Christianity. But I was severely humbled this week. We all need to get out and learn a few things from our brothers. I once had the idea that it would be the missionaries from Australia, America, and Canada that would be reaching the last unreached areas of the Earth, but the reality is that the Koreans, Chinese, Indians, and Filipinos are reaping the biggest harvest in history.

24 hours

Well its not too long now, been really busy the past few days getting ready to go away, saying goodbyes, had a send-off party on Sunday, with a great turn-out family and friends.
God provided me with a decent amount of money, which will really help during the first few months, I'm still trusting God for the rest, which is quite alot, but nothing for God, and over 2 years I'm sure I'll be amazed how God provides, and how much he will stretch me.

Right now feeling a little bit sad about leaving, and a little anxious about going, but most of all I'm excited for the journey ahead.
Its hard not to be excited, because I know that God's purpose and plan for me is awesome, and during this time I'm going to see God move so powerfully in my life. God is going to refine me and take me through those fires to make me who He wants to be. All glory goes to God for where he has taken me, and where He is taking me.

I will try to update this blog whenever I can, but incase I don't get to post soon, thankyou all for your prayers and support ... they mean so much to me.

Who we are || What we are to do

I love this verse - Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, prepared in advance for us to do.

The message puts it like this
He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

photoblog

decided to set up a blog just for photos :)
can be found here, there is a link on the right of the page as well

Well its not too long now and I will be back here ... this on the DTS base, in between lectures we would sit and talk on these seats, we ate our meals here too. Will be good to be back there, I probably won't be staying there until August though

back to school

this morning I got the opportunity to return to my old school and talk to the 15-17 yr olds about a few of my experiences... how God changed *my plans* for my life :)

It was a really good time ... to be able to encourage them to seek God's plan, because God's plan for us is better than anything we can engineer out of life. Encouraged them to have confidence in God, and to also to take some time to get to know God, don't put it off till you have a career

Every LITTLE thing is going to be alright

Was just listening to this song by delirious, and I really felt God letting me know that everything is going to be alright while I'm away ... even the little things ... that I don't need to worry, I felt a real burden lifted! :)


Delirious - Every Little Thing

Everything must change
There’s a mirror showing me the ugly truth
These bones they ache with holy fire
But I’ve got nothing to give, just a life to live
If your world is without colour
I will carry you, if you carry me

Every little thing’s gonna be alright
Every little thing’s gonna be alright [x2]

There’s no-one else to blame
I live my life between the fire and the flame
I’ve built my house where the ocean meets the land
It’s time to live again, pull my dreams out of the sand
Let your world be full of colour
I will carry you, if you carry me

When it’s all falling down on you
You’re crying out but you’re breaking in two
When it’s all crashing down on you
When there’s nothing you can do
There is someone who can carry you

I'm an INFP

Introverted (I) 61.76% Extroverted (E) 38.24% Imaginative (N) 56.76% Realistic (S) 43.24% Emotional (F) 59.46% Intellectual (T) 40.54% Easygoing (P) 57.14% Organized (J) 42.86% Your type is: INFP You are an Idealist, possible professions include - information-graphics designer, college professor, researcher, legal mediator, social worker, holistic health practitioner, occupational therapist, diversity manager, human resource development specialist, employment development specialist, minister/priest/rabbi, missionary, psychologist, writer

Take Free Career Inventory Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

I just took this test which Veronica pointed out :)
turns out missionary is something that I'd be suited for ... hehe just as well :D

new haircut

got a new haircut yesterday ... its one of those mini mohawk styles :) will upload a picture soon :)
Now I'm trying to get inspired to sort through stuff I need to take with me to THAILAND

BIG UPDATE

well a great deal has happened lately

Friday I preached my first sermon at Element (young adults)
That was pretty kewl... I enjoyed it too.
God was good, he got me through it... without too much stress.
GOD STRENGTH ... not mine


Saturday Went to PCLC for the free concert of He Yao SUN. She's a major Singaporean superstar. And she's the wife of Ps. Kong He. She's won heaps of awards, first Asian singer at the Grammies ... she has a #1 Dance hit in the US atm. She awesome, the concert was great fun and it was free. Her testimony was really good.
There weren't many whiteys there :p
I bought the DVD/2cd/poster/journal pack for $20 ... and got her autograph! got to shout "We love you HeYaoSUN into the camera. There was free glosticks for everyone. it was a top night

from email

I can now update this blog by simply emailing to an address ...which is what I'm doin now, I'm impressed :D means I can update with not much hassle at all

late night

was feeling pretty sick earlier with a migrane ... but I managed to sleep that off

today was my last day at work ... so from now on I'll be using my time getting ready to go away

I'm pretty happy with my laptop, which is a real blessing and will come in handy while I'm away

This Friday I'm preaching/sharing (whatever you want to call it) at element

2day

Today though quite busy was quite good, everything came up was fixable :)
Had a relaxing weekend in the end too

Oh and it finally looks like I'm getting a laptop, it was the first one I wanted, but God managed to teach me patience in the process.
I'm sure I'll be able to waste a bit of time messing around with that in the next few days.
I now have my aeroplane tickets in my hand ... the big countdown is on its 31 days or something now, woah

well I had to come down

just when I thought I had everything under control .. God reminded me I don't :)
didn't get the laptop ... long story. I thought it was the one for me, but God didn't want me to have that one.
And I'm going to be busier this week with work than anticipated, but God will get me through it, and the fact I get paid (eventually) is always a bonus :)

up and up

Things are good at the moment, just about to complete the big project we've been trying to finish for a while at work.
I might even be able to have some time off soon, to organize all the things I'm hoping to do before going in June.

Tomorrow arvo I should be able to pay my airfare :) and then maybe even pick up my laptop yay :)

work, work & more work

Well this week has been extremely busy, I've been working almost as many hours I've been awake. Its a long weekend, I worked today (sat) and will work mon. I'm really looking forward to doing some constructive things towards going away, and have a break from this stress. Its all going to work out though.

This week I booked my air ticket for the 4 June. And I will be going for the conference. Its means more money, but I really believe God wants me to be there, and that He will provide.

I'm getting a laptop this week, I'm pretty excited, and it has the multimedia features I was hoping for so I can use it while in Thailand for alot of cool things including producing a bit of music here and there. Its also great for showing Christian films on outreach as well :D

A letter from the Underground church in Romania

We don't pray to be better Christians, but that we may be the only kind of Christians God means us to be; Christlike Christians, that is, Christians who will bear willingly the cross for God's glory.

Its tha weekend!

It was a short working week, but I'm glad its the weekend!! And Element youth worship is on tonight ... yay!

The past day been sorting out possible departure dates and working out how I'm going to work the visa situation. I'll probably be booking a one-way ticket to Bangkok for the early morn of Fri, June 4th. And I will have a one-year multiple entry visa for one year, which actually works out to be 15 months, so in July 2005 I might come back home for a short stay and to get a new visa. If not I will pop over to Singapore, or make up the rest of my time there with short-term visas, which will be expensive and a hassle but I may have to do it. I wouldn't mind making that trip home, as it would re-energize me for the 2nd year.

Jim Elliot, Martyred in Ecuador

The word missionary is not in the Bible --- the word witness is.

Encouraged

Yesterday I met with my pastor, and it was very encouraging. He is very supportive of me going away and going as a missionary. I really was praying and hoping for that, because having the churches backing means alot to me. Before leaving Thailand last time, I asked 3 things of God if I was to come back to Thailand to staff DTS. 1) My parents would support me. 2) My pastor & church would support me. 3) My University would give me a leave of absence for 2 years. And God has done all of the above :)

At the moment I'm working out a tentative budget to see what my financial needs for the next two years will be. Its looking like around $AU500-$AU600 per month. Its not long until I go and I haven't really got any support organized yet, but I know its in God's hands.
One thing I can't believe is the price increase in visas. The multiple-entry one year visa is now $AU225 (was $AU65)
I'm going to need to obtain another visa while I'm there as I'm there for 2 years, but I may have to fly to Singapore to get it, as it is basically impossible to get a 1-year visa in the surrounding countries or in Thailand.

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand

Faith is never passive. It demands a response. It asks for a mission. It demonstrates the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit

A great weekend, and an interesting day

Easter camp was great, it always is, but I'm really glad I got to this one and it'll be my last one for a while :(
We had Dave Reardon speaking, and it was good to have a balanced Pentecostal speaker to mix things up :) Had a lot of good stuff to say about faith. The last night on camp was the pinnacle, having awesome worship, and a great time of ministering. It was great to band together as young people with such passion to see our youth ministry become what God wants it to be. After that we stayed up till 3:45 singing around the camp fire.

Today I was feeling a little low after the high that camp does bring, so decided to stick on some worship music, I was at work by myself so I could go crazy singing :) and I was really feeling God's presence, it was awesome ... But then the computer locked up and I lost 3 hours of work ... I was upset, but I couldn't get mad, I just had to give it to God. I said God I really need you to help me because I can't cope with this. And I really felt God strengthening me, so I got back to work with the worship music still on, and somehow I got the work done in less than half the time as before... A miracle! another miracle was hearing that the guy that works with Dad got saved today praise the Lord :)

Acts 2:24

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me -- The task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Entry #1

Just a quick intro of myself for those who don't me. My name is Tom. I live in Perth Australia. I'm 20. I have been studying Asian Studies at Curtin University. For a while I have had an interest in Asia, and a heart for the people there for a long time. Then just last year God lead me to do a YWAM DTS in ChiangMai Thailand. I grew so much there, and God really challenged me about so much. It was no doubt the most memorable and challenging time of my life. I am currently back in Perth, but not for long as I'm getting ready to back to Thailand in June, I will be joining the DTS staff for a couple years there. At the moment I am quite busy preparing to get there, and I'm really looking forward to where God is going to take me :)

I hope to update this blog to keep others in touch of what God does in my life during this time