tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44223021225050198302024-02-21T01:02:23.308-08:00Project Thailand-Summer 2011LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-3017539175979813542011-08-02T17:14:00.000-07:002011-08-02T17:14:52.221-07:00Imitating the Incarnation<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PLEASE CLICK on the ads on this page to support Nai as he is laboring with Campus Outreach and is joyfully losing his life in Khon Kaen, Thailand among the Isan people group daily for the sake of the gospel. <u>Praise the Lord for this support opportunity given by GoogleAds!</u> :) Thank you. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Just a side note to give you a picture of the Campus Outreach staff at Khon Kaen University: there are 12 staff members, 5 of whom are Thai and 7 of whom grew up in America. These men and women have given up the American Dream, a life of comfort and security, to reach thousands of Buddhist men and women who may live and die without never hearing the name of Jesus. It was so encouraging and refreshing to see the the lives of the COT staff reflecting the life of Christ in their daily pursuit of knowing him and making his name known among the nations. Laboring beside them and doing basically everything they do on a daily basis as far as ministry with students, opened my eyes so much to the of lives of those who are in </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Now, I touched on this earlier in recording what the Lord has taught me and is still teaching me, that is reflecting Christ life with our own, and want to share with you a bit more. </span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29380" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">"5</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span">Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 5px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29381" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">6</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29381B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">who, though he was in </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29381C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">the form of God, did not count equality with God</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29381D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">a thing to be grasped,</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29382" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">7</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span">but</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29382E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">made himself nothing, taking the form of a</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29382F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">servant,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 5px;"><b> </b></span>being born in the likeness of men. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29383" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">8</sup>And being found in human form, he humbled himself by<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29383H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup></span> becoming obedient to the point of death,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29383I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup></span> even death on a cross. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29384" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">9</sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29384J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup></span> Therefore<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29384K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup></span> God has<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29384L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup></span> highly exalted him and bestowed on him<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29384M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup></span> the name that is above every name, <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29385" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">10</sup>so that at the name of Jesus<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29385N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup></span> every knee should bow,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29385O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup></span> in heaven and on earth and under the earth, <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29386" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">11</sup>and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29386P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></sup></span> every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29386Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup></span> Lord, to the glory of God the Father." -Philippians 2:5-11</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Christ, who was in the form of God and is God came to earth to serve man. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"What more unnatural than that the God of the universe should become a servant in the world, ministering not to His Father only, but also to His creatures- Our Lord and Master washing our very feet? So mighty was His love, so colossal the divine purpose to save, that He though nothing of His divine majesty, nothing is His unsullied blessedness, <u>nothing of His equality with God</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, but, absorbed in us- our needs, our misery, our helplessness. He made no account of himself. <u>If this is to be our example, what limit can we set to our self sacrifice?</u>" </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-B.B. Warfield </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wow. If our example as believers, as Christ followers, is to be Christ, let all of our dignity, possessions & wealth, and our rights perish out of plain sight because Christ has saved us and called us into service. We are soldiers of the King, let fight in this short life for the joy of our King and for his majesty, glory, righteousness, never ending and unconditional love be shown to all of the earth.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #666666; line-height: 21px;"><i>"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him." -2 Timothy 2:3-4</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i><br />
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</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">"We cannot be self-consciously self-forgetful, selfishly-unselfish. Only, when we humbly walk this path, seeking truly in it not our own things, but those of others, we shall find the promise true, that he who loses his life shall find it." -B.B. Warfield</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Self-sacrifice, through forgetting our very self as Christ did to serve the world, is the path to bringing glory to God. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A HUGE resource that helped me better understand this concept of our duty and calling as Christians to literally strive to mirrow Christ's image with our lives is an article called "<u>Imitating The Incarnation</u>" by B.B. Warfield</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Click here to view & DL this article- <a href="http://share%20in%20suffering%20as%20a%20good%20soldier%20of%20christ%20jesus.%204no%20soldier%20gets%20entangled%20in%20civilian%20pursuits%2C%20since%20his%20aim%20is%20to%20please%20the%20one%20who%20enlisted%20him./">"Imitating the Incarnation" by B.B. Warfield</a> </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_WG6U_XvjpG7AgQJsiZ5APcOGGBDOaZW0HcsIvWo8OdrKuk9g05s5gvlNEMyBu8-0HnfC78sYBr2l1yLgUYy-bUZ4egBr4g5sDA4ZWi44knfXVHfyn649xbca-f9gbAQLqJ6hj1WyoQ/s1600/IMG_4377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_WG6U_XvjpG7AgQJsiZ5APcOGGBDOaZW0HcsIvWo8OdrKuk9g05s5gvlNEMyBu8-0HnfC78sYBr2l1yLgUYy-bUZ4egBr4g5sDA4ZWi44knfXVHfyn649xbca-f9gbAQLqJ6hj1WyoQ/s320/IMG_4377.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I love you team. Please pray for the lost souls that are being shown who Jesus is more and more every week as our CO Thailand team follows up with the students we engaged this summer. </span></span><br />
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</div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-4118900147807467192011-07-30T10:02:00.000-07:002011-07-30T10:02:40.664-07:00King's Cross<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35oYKfqznJx-6l57yQgJ2SHetPe7cyumEaOq5d-G0CmxJVYeU3cmoKLZE4ALPbc0ZaVhO3rPPTRKfxq4gvjmZ3HgFsMBdKTbEhpDyWoaVgSbF76q14QZGAhCcY6wV6I_MWuwCs2KzgSo/s1600/KINGS_CROSS_front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35oYKfqznJx-6l57yQgJ2SHetPe7cyumEaOq5d-G0CmxJVYeU3cmoKLZE4ALPbc0ZaVhO3rPPTRKfxq4gvjmZ3HgFsMBdKTbEhpDyWoaVgSbF76q14QZGAhCcY6wV6I_MWuwCs2KzgSo/s1600/KINGS_CROSS_front.jpeg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An amazing book that parrallels what our CCP team went through this summer in looking at the life of Christ in the book of Mark. Timothy Keller's "<u>King's Cross</u>". I'm reading it now and it is painting such a clear picture of the beauty of Jesus as our <i>Lord</i> AND <i>Savior</i>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://timothykeller.com/books/kings_cross/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Click here for more information of Tim Keller's 'King's Cross'</span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AND please click on the ads that appear on this page. Every click supports Nai, who is partnering with Campus Outreach among an unreached people group in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Making great progress so far, so keep on clicking even if you have already done so in the past. All you have to do is click on it. Thank you!</span>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-27272693020558828702011-07-29T09:36:00.000-07:002011-07-29T09:36:29.833-07:009 Days Removed<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Being completely immersed in the Thai culture for 57 days was an absolute blessing from the Lord. I think the Lord taught every single person on our team of 19 the great need for laborers of the gospel to go outside of America and more of what it means to live a life reflecting Christ's life. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Annoying ad time- Before I start, I want to give you an opportunity to help support Nai who is a Campus Outreach Thailand staff on the campus of Khon Kaen University and a dear brother in which I labored with for 2 months this summer. All you have to do is CLICK ON THE ADS that appear on this page. Just one click and you have supported Nai in his ministry among one of the most unreached people groups in the world, the Isan people in Northeast Thailand. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggG0Jc_lQwOB22RW2LgYU47FMkYdWPJx7dIqk2vAItozYffl0-hu8pMqsJtrHSlsvjMmSwvE9VeOzWUJFQxaMvemdPNEBrXsPxdsNo_848_L0y5hWviaLQLzg826gnt_owAtbCGAMKsYE/s1600/266953_10150317604723688_613053687_9525687_6927270_o.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggG0Jc_lQwOB22RW2LgYU47FMkYdWPJx7dIqk2vAItozYffl0-hu8pMqsJtrHSlsvjMmSwvE9VeOzWUJFQxaMvemdPNEBrXsPxdsNo_848_L0y5hWviaLQLzg826gnt_owAtbCGAMKsYE/s200/266953_10150317604723688_613053687_9525687_6927270_o.jpg" width="192" /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To learn more about the Isan people group <a href="http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=15460&rog3=TH">Click here</a> Thank you.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Throughout this summer, our team went through an in depth study of the book of Mark looking at the life of Christ. It was incredible. I have pages upon pages in my journal of what the Lord taught me though looking at the life of Christ. BUT, I would say the most impact-full passage of mark for me was Mark 8.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, </span><span class="woj" style="font-size: x-small;">"<u>If anyone would come after me, let him<sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24530AS" title="See cross-reference AS">AS</a>)"></sup> deny himself and<sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24530AT" title="See cross-reference AT">AT</a>)"></sup> take up his cross and follow me.</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><u> </u></span><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><u>For<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24531AU" title="See cross-reference AU">AU</a>)"></sup></span> whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24531AV" title="See cross-reference AV">AV</a>)"></sup></span> and the gospel’s will save it.</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b> </b></span></span><span class="woj" style="font-size: x-small;">For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-size: x-small;">For<sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24533AX" title="See cross-reference AX">AX</a>)"></sup> what can a man give in return for his soul?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-size: x-small;">For<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24534AY" title="See cross-reference AY">AY</a>)"></sup></span> whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24534AZ" title="See cross-reference AZ">AZ</a>)"></sup></span>adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24534BA" title="See cross-reference BA">BA</a>)"></sup></span> when he comes in the glory of his Father with<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24534BB" title="See cross-reference BB">BB</a>)"></sup></span> the holy angels." -Mark 8:34-38</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="woj" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="woj">I have read this passage before, but never took it as the literal words of Jesus, as a command of Jesus. God opened my eyes and showed me that it's not some metaphorical saying that Jesus is exclaiming here, it is what it is. 'For whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it'. WOW! We, as Christians, are literally called to lose our own lives, to lose our own desires, passions, and selfish dreams for the sake of the gospel if we want to follow Jesus. Two years ago, I would have looked at this passage and laughed saying, 'this is my life and I will decide what dreams and passions to pursue in my short time here on earth'. Now, I can't tell you exactly what it looks like to lose my life for the sake of the gospel and will wrestle with that for the rest of my life, but I do know that this life is not my own. We have been bought with the blood of Christ. He has reconciled, redeemed, and justified me from an eternal separation from Him, forever. My life is God's life. I am the created, He is the creator. I was born a sinner and deserve His eternal wrath. But his love has saved me from that. O the Joy in salvation! Life has such purpose, love, and joy knowing that I am saved and now serve the King of the world and will fight every desire inside of me that tries to keep me from pursuing Him and however he wants to use me in this life to impact his kingdom so that more can know of this love. In this life, we will always have a better possession than what this world has to offer, and that is Jesus. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It has been a battle to continue in this pursuit of Jesus, his word, and losing my life for the sake of the gospel just in the 9 days that I've been home. However, Life is War and our King is worth fighting for. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'd like to share with you a sermon by John Piper that the Lord used to help me catch a vision for life as Christian, a missionary, and an ambassador of the the King. It's called "Doing Missions when Dying is Gain". If you have a spare hour, I strongly recommend you listen as John Piper brings the heat. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/doing-missions-when-dying-is-gain">John Piper- 'Doing Mission when Dying is Gain'</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love you team and will continue to pour out what the Lord has taught me this summer. Please continue to pray for the CCP team and I as we settle back into American culture. Pray that we we will daily fight for the joy that is in the gospel, that we will not forget the vision/lessons the Lord has taught us this summer, and that we will not let off the gas pedal from learning his word and denying ourselves and losing our life for the glory of God. And, of course, PLEASE PRAY for the students in which we built such good relationships with this summer. That Nai and the rest of the 5-6 KKU COT staff members will find their strength in the Lord and have daily opportunities to share this beauty of the gospel!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></i></span></div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-42158008098501206822011-07-27T21:16:00.000-07:002011-07-27T21:18:45.571-07:00Two Faithful Men<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Would love to share with you an interview by John Piper of my hometown pastor in Birmingham, AL, David Platt, who preaches at the Church of Brook Hills which is a reformed southern baptist evangelistic faith family that is sold out for the joy of the gospel to be reached in every nation.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/john-piper-interviews-david-platt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Click here-John Piper/David Platt Interview</span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">***Please click on the ads on this page to help raise money for CO Thailand staff member, Nai, as he daily loses his life for the sake of the gospel among the students of Khon Kaen University. All you have to do is click. Thank you so much.</span>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-67434374578451303502011-07-26T20:37:00.000-07:002011-07-27T08:17:07.176-07:00Temporary Home<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"So we are always of good courage. We know that<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28867H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup></span> while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28868I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup></span> we walk by faith, not<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28868J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup></span> by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28869K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup></span> would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28870L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup></span> please him." -2 Cor. 5:6-9</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before I begin, I want to ask that you PLEASE click on the ads that appear on this page. I do not endorse these ads in any way, but with each click gives money toward my ministry leader, Nai, that is serving the Lord faithfully among the unreached Isan people group in Northeast Thailand. Each dollar goes a long way. All you have to do is click and you have helped support a missionary in Thailand. Praise the Lord! Thank you!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5dKh2vXxpBcSv1Zbn87AAIeoZrTwu467greuW3ZnCnQ7G2DYOmlTodsare8mWhhvE6h9G-r4Lh9xa90lknWOlkNirL3X5zi5FlvXWhZEYqAlJbO9jp8KFN4cX7-0eMTEkX0hiOKvuzU/s1600/IMG_4291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5dKh2vXxpBcSv1Zbn87AAIeoZrTwu467greuW3ZnCnQ7G2DYOmlTodsare8mWhhvE6h9G-r4Lh9xa90lknWOlkNirL3X5zi5FlvXWhZEYqAlJbO9jp8KFN4cX7-0eMTEkX0hiOKvuzU/s320/IMG_4291.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">COT Staff, Nai (in pink), with freshmen students</td></tr>
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I safely arrived in Peachtree City last night after a weekend of rest and fellowship in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. with Campus Outreach's Summer Beach Project team. Our team arrived in Birmingham Thursday night, July 22nd, and drove down to Fort Walton Friday morning. Exhausting? Yes. Still affected by jet lag? You bet, but it was amazing to see how much God is at work in the lives of 200+ college students who spent the summer with full-time jobs while learning how to be Christ-like leaders and laborers of the gospel to the world for the rest of their lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How is it to be 'home' in America? I have extremely mixed feelings. Yes, it has been nice to rest in a bed with 4 pillows, enjoy Starbucks/cereal/chips & salsa, and fellowship with friends and family whom the Lord has used to shape my heart and life with their love and care, but it has also been a bit frightening. Coming off a summer where I was exposed to a country that roughly 1 person out of every 250 people or so know Jesus and knowing that the surrounding countries such as Malasia, Laos, Cambodia, and China have hundreds of cultures and billions of people with similar statistics, its been a sobering reality to say the least. I'd say that being in America these past 4 days has broken my heart more for the lost nations than the summer in Thailand itself, seeing the desperate need of gospel to move forth from America to the world. Driving through Peachtree City today, it was amazing to see church after church, and some even right across the road from each other while in Thailand 100's of miles separates the nearest churches. Now, I am not saying it is a bad thing for America to have so many churches? Absolutely not. The Lord has blessed America with the good news of the gospel to be spread throughout because of the freedom of Christianity and the body of Christ through the church. But, as Christians, how can we freely receive the beautiful gift of the gospel of Christ redeeming us from an eternal separation from God through our sin and keep it to ourselves??? The nations must hear! The nations must know the name of Jesus! The gospel must go forth! The eternal souls of billions are at steak for eternity. This is the reality of life, and this is why we're alive and why we were made, to reflect his glory so that ALL may rejoice in the One True God.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>'For <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28275L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup></span>we will all stand before<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28275M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup></span> the judgment seat of God; for it is written,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i> and every tongue shall confess to God." -Romans 14:10-11</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our last dinners with Thai freshmen students</td></tr>
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</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It has been difficult, on the other hand, trying to process everything I experienced this summer. From everything the Lord taught me about overseas ministry, the importance of the body of Christ, living to reflect the life of Christ, my own vision for what the Lord wants me to do with my future, and how to effectively use my last year at Samford to lose my life, my desires, and my comforts for the sake of His name and the gospel on campus. It is even difficult writing this blog, as I feel overwhelmed with the amount of lessons I have taken away from this summer. Which is why I have come to a conclusion that I will continue to blog in short bits of the lessons and life-takeaways that God has graciously blessed me with this summer. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This summer has been difficult in a lot of ways. The Lord showed me great amounts of my own sin that I have never seen before. He has shown me how much I take comfort in the things of this world such as food, internet, sports, alone time, TV, etc. He has shown me how little I give up in my life for His name and the gospel's sake. He has shown me how selfish, prideful, selfishly unselfish, and possessive I can be over my own life even when I am not my own and have been bought with the blood of Christ.He has shown me how much I live to serve myself and not to serve our creator and provider of everything. There have been many moments of tears and trials, yes, but above all, and above how sick and sinful and deep our rotten sin lies within our souls, is the grace of God piercing through the darkness of our very being. We serve a God who loves unconditionally, a God whose love is eternal and everlasting, a God who no matter how much we run and turn from Him chases us down like a good shepherd and will NEVER let us go. Our home is not this world. We were made for a greater purpose, but while we are here on earth away from the Lord, we will make it our aim to please him. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhrFmM34bFdYy3rdgm8-2FTBPd9N8XQ8p2F0G4XOfHqS8F2sKYH2STBs5PAQYtNYCDFzqwagmCE6MRBDaEnzo41VvPLSn4CkpqWnkdGqRCY_E5moGVKqlNG2qapPqtMX8oPN7V_HzxUM/s1600/IMG_4701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhrFmM34bFdYy3rdgm8-2FTBPd9N8XQ8p2F0G4XOfHqS8F2sKYH2STBs5PAQYtNYCDFzqwagmCE6MRBDaEnzo41VvPLSn4CkpqWnkdGqRCY_E5moGVKqlNG2qapPqtMX8oPN7V_HzxUM/s320/IMG_4701.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the farewell party</td></tr>
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God is good. I thank him daily for giving me a support team that has given their money, time, and prayers to make this summer in Thailand possible and ultimately to impact God's kingdom for eternity. The gospel was heard this summer among an unreached people group through the Lord speaking through me and the Campus Outreach Thailand team, but also because God has been faithful in giving me a support team. I love you team and will continue to post this week and onward of the blessings that the Lord has provided through your support and for his glory. Please continue to pray for Nai and the students in which God used us to build relationships with this summer, that the Lord would continue to draw near to their hearts and soften their hearts to receive the greatest gift of the gospel of Christ. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please CLICK on the ads to support my ministry leader, Nai. Thank you. </span></div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-70809267207872916242011-07-20T09:24:00.000-07:002011-07-23T08:14:56.856-07:00Singapore<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hello all! I have just landed in Singapore. It has been 9 hours since we departed Khon Kaen and we are now awaiting to be seated for our 24 hour plain ride from Singapore to Moscow to Houston, TX. Pray for good rest and great reflection time. Love you all and hope that your Wednesday is filled with the Spirit of love and joy!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PLEASE click on the ad below to help raise support for my ministry partner Nai as he continues to daily share his faith among an unreached people group in Thailand. All you have to do is click on it. Thank you!!</span>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-22055044539396434592011-07-19T10:33:00.000-07:002011-07-19T10:40:57.884-07:00CCP Retreat Weekend- Khao Yai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His mercy is new every morning! Praise the Lord for bringing us safely home from our retreat weekend and through the last 2 days of ministry on campus. Tonight we had are our farewell party at the church in which we had over 125 students and staff come enjoy fellowship with food, slideshows of the summer, testimonies of CCP students summers, and games. I can't tell you the many times the last couple of days i have almost had to leave the room due to sadness and tears and thoughts of leaving the staff and Thai students which we've grown so close to. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was sharing earlier with the team today that this summer has more implications on my life than just experiencing the things I have here in Thailand and learning the things God has shown me about my sin, ministry overseas, and his faithfulness, but I believe it has changed the course of personal ministry in my life and the direction of my life in general. Jesus was not speaking metaphorically or symbolically when he tell us to 'lose our life for the sake of the gospel' and to 'lay down our lives for others'. This is what he created us for, to reflect Christ, to be a broken servant to all with humility and love that only come from the spirit through his word and prayer. We, as Christians, are called to deny all worldly passions and fleshly desires, not just some here and there, but every aspect of life should be given to dying to ourselves daily for others sake, for the gospels sake. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of course, this is not easy, nor will it ever be easy, but the joy will be ever-lasting and we trust in the fact that our Lord and savior Jesus Christ is the only one who satisfies and provides us with the only true comfort in this world. Life is war, every day, because sin never sleeps and nor should our soul ever be contempt with things of this world. I could go on for pages on what the Lord has taught me this summer about giving my entire life away to Christ, but I just wanted to share with you a small picture of what the Lord has shown me this summer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NOW, below are some sweet photos of our retreat to Khao Yai, elephant riding, hospital, and a slideshow of our entire team this summer. Enjoy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvpv3-c1plk">CLICK HERE TO WATCH CCP SLIDESHOW</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kings palace some 100's of year ago</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NJrvcTCYex5P4S6rDwlEEbYrFeMUfCdMCkHZ_h3yK4gPvz_xS5oXukYxghsw_lmylcV8s3J9AqWfPsb2N8j3xVlbsqW3_5vm_DD_1wRPwexvUWspAPNl9MGW5msMCbheIJl77rWN3fc/s1600/DSC_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NJrvcTCYex5P4S6rDwlEEbYrFeMUfCdMCkHZ_h3yK4gPvz_xS5oXukYxghsw_lmylcV8s3J9AqWfPsb2N8j3xVlbsqW3_5vm_DD_1wRPwexvUWspAPNl9MGW5msMCbheIJl77rWN3fc/s320/DSC_0100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greenery Resort</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh the 30 hour hospital time</td></tr>
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Team, I love you and thank God for you daily for your prayers and support. God's grace has been evident in using you in my life this summer and in the life of the students God has brought me to. I leave tomorrow morning. I know I will be torn and will probably cry like a baby at the airport saying goodbye to the men and students I have came to grow with and love. God has been so faithful to answer your prayer requests and well beyond anything that I could ask for.<br />
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</div><div>Pray for safe travels. We leave tomorrow from Khon Kaen @ 2:30 and travel to Bankok to Russia to Texas to Birmingham= 50 or so hours worth. Sounds like a lot, but hopefully it will fly by like on the way to Thailand. </div><div><br />
</div><div>PLEASE CLICK on the ads below to help raise support for my ministry leader Nai who continues faithfully to serve daily among an unreached people group, giving his life away for the sake of the gospel. All you have to do it click. Thanks!<br />
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</div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-82001418332553369152011-07-16T10:08:00.000-07:002011-07-16T10:08:14.716-07:00Alive & Well<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As some of you may have known, I was admitted into the Khon Kaen hospital early Thursday morning for various stomach issues. They advised that I stay overnight because I was dehydrated, had a fever, as well as bacteria in my stomach. Thankfully, many prayers were answered and 24 hours later I was released from the hospital in time to make to the 3 hour trip down south to Khao Yai for our end of the summer CCP team retreat. Khao Yai is a beautiful mountain range that engulfs hundreds of miles of east Thailand that is also a tourist attraction for many resorts and elephants. I will upload pictures very soon. It was a very relaxing time for my team and I, filled with fellowship, sleeping, meals other than Thai food, elephant riding, and different adventures for the whole team. Will explain later as well. Just wanted to let everyone know that I am doing well again and back at 100% and headed down the home stretch. Only 3 days left! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some pictures from karaoke last week:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9RcYvK3WjxiL4u8GL1GlZyGf187YJ7wxBqthNlwBvhlreOw-M9F7SWKqVlL-55fFUmOdAjRhEoS7n0MimbsANjahp0BkxDPaZbHfM0TIyybHVS1WsmJjVlZZkbdxAKJs95lL_k-H4Ds/s1600/IMG_4659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9RcYvK3WjxiL4u8GL1GlZyGf187YJ7wxBqthNlwBvhlreOw-M9F7SWKqVlL-55fFUmOdAjRhEoS7n0MimbsANjahp0BkxDPaZbHfM0TIyybHVS1WsmJjVlZZkbdxAKJs95lL_k-H4Ds/s320/IMG_4659.JPG" width="179" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-UzTlQMfutIxE_prYquKiBSUxTRKZs4IFHhIIIfgKV82Y-i9qMc_WEhVVJZaSQTnqlhhHIq3ScEfUP8G4ITfYA3D2mkVGtdl6jOOkSzWE1Nb6zI9S4rj-Xd1HyM0k41HCqhKBMXOsiw/s1600/IMG_4671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-UzTlQMfutIxE_prYquKiBSUxTRKZs4IFHhIIIfgKV82Y-i9qMc_WEhVVJZaSQTnqlhhHIq3ScEfUP8G4ITfYA3D2mkVGtdl6jOOkSzWE1Nb6zI9S4rj-Xd1HyM0k41HCqhKBMXOsiw/s320/IMG_4671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please pray for the hearts and souls of these men and woman we still continue to pour out into daily. A lot of them have heard the gospel and need prayer for the Lord draw closer to them and reveal himself to them through us, his word, and his spirit. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is the verse that was with our time with God this morning that God really used to press upon my heart and challenge me with my daily walk with him and striving to love others as Christ loves. </span><br />
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<div style="font-size: small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"For who sees anything different in you?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28424I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup></span> What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?</span></div><div style="font-size: small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28425" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">8</sup>Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28426" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">9</sup>For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28426J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup></span> like men sentenced to death, because we<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28426K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup></span> have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28427" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">10</sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28427L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup></span> We are fools for Christ’s sake, but<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28427M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup></span>you are wise in Christ.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28427N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup></span> We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28428" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">11</sup>To the present hour<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28428O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup></span> we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28428P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></sup></span> buffeted and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28428Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup></span> homeless, <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28429" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">12</sup>and we<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28429R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup></span> labor, working with our own hands.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28429S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup></span> When reviled, we bless;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28429T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup></span> when persecuted, we endure; <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28430" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">13</sup>when slandered, we entreat.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28430U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup></span> We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28430V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup></span> the refuse of all things." -1 Corinthians 3:7-13</span></div><div style="font-size: small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love you team. I can't thank you enough for your support and prayers. I thank God for you! Goodnight!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PLEASE CLICK on the ads below to help support my ministry leader, Nai, here in Thailand as he boldly proclaimed the gospel among an unreached people group! All you have to do is click on it. </span></div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-65645469848881431552011-07-13T01:30:00.000-07:002011-07-13T01:33:42.659-07:00God is faithful-Isaan Weekend Trip<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">'Then Jesus told his disciples, </span><span class="woj" style="font-size: x-small;">"If anyone would come after me, let him<sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23696AS" title="See cross-reference AS">AS</a>)"></sup> deny himself and <sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23696AT" title="See cross-reference AT">AT</a>)"></sup>take up his cross and follow me. </span><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">For</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 0.5em;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23697AU" title="See cross-reference AU">AU</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> whoever would save his life</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 5px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">will lose it, but <u>whoever loses his life for my sake will find it</u>."' Matthew 16:24</span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span">As we begin our last week here in Thailand, I want to share with you my amazing extravaganza that took place this past weekend. As you know, we traveled hundreds of miles south of Khon Kaen deep into the Isaan people groups' country side in route to visit two freshmen students homes this past weekend. By God's grace, he has given us this incredible opportunity to move to a much deeper relationship with these two men by visiting their homes and eating with their families. Visiting each others homes in Thailand are very intimate situations which the Lord has graciously provided my ministry team and I with. At both villages, we were the first foreigners to ever step foot there. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfVf18ym-UeJxz728diLQnroCDmCkwySY3pZZ7WcaaqIBYFWpifPBSO27Q_ULJdNGeJ0dt33hEYK7zEbdqiDC_c8rJAY5lxzNJIUZB1LWq-_tYVfujX23C49hhRDyMOgfBnmfwMdZqY8/s1600/Thai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfVf18ym-UeJxz728diLQnroCDmCkwySY3pZZ7WcaaqIBYFWpifPBSO27Q_ULJdNGeJ0dt33hEYK7zEbdqiDC_c8rJAY5lxzNJIUZB1LWq-_tYVfujX23C49hhRDyMOgfBnmfwMdZqY8/s320/Thai.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span">We began early Saturday morning from Khon Kaen and arrived at one students house around 12 just in time for lunch. We were able to meet his mother and sister as well as some visiting neighbors. Our ministry leader was able to share with them why we are here and what we are doing. This is one of the students that we have shared in depth, by Gods grace alone, our testimonies of transformed hearts through Jesus as well as a clear picture of the God, Jesus, and the gospel. Family plays an important factor in why students are hesitant towards Christianity; for they do not want to upset and forsake their parents and their parents upbringing of them, which is understandable. But we serve a BIG God who is able to break down any barriers in order to save the lost. </span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfaZpkNmCjMEem3VfHY4ehjAulZEK51KtP4xSp4JkndiWfv9FuB_QRqLKat9eSm5MuLWS2gmibYEU3HKpjvDP1MGd6eE3cPjjnQ7Y5D2gVrtq5lKvIFLkMjzP-Fs6cbjMufOMxwP-2Mc/s1600/IMG_4548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfaZpkNmCjMEem3VfHY4ehjAulZEK51KtP4xSp4JkndiWfv9FuB_QRqLKat9eSm5MuLWS2gmibYEU3HKpjvDP1MGd6eE3cPjjnQ7Y5D2gVrtq5lKvIFLkMjzP-Fs6cbjMufOMxwP-2Mc/s320/IMG_4548.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClag3gm8ejP2WevarACkrTyx3GJuUpzYYdgPOQHdm6LVbviButpzplDhabK1U_OHmLsaCBsqBSAFUzgGI2lm3dfTj_hCpY1gy_NyWED9WY-324ZiDC0ahmZC0UEaIvGjV3K_u1oVQaw8/s1600/IMG_4531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClag3gm8ejP2WevarACkrTyx3GJuUpzYYdgPOQHdm6LVbviButpzplDhabK1U_OHmLsaCBsqBSAFUzgGI2lm3dfTj_hCpY1gy_NyWED9WY-324ZiDC0ahmZC0UEaIvGjV3K_u1oVQaw8/s320/IMG_4531.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/26355690">Click here for video</a>. After eating an Isaan lunch, some foreign fruit, and taking a tour of the local temple and poverty stricken village, we packed our bags and were back on the road, headed towards Surin to the famous elephant village with our comfortably 10-seater Toyota 'Carryboy'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jngUrSGeBUbC95EahHkWCdOaY72g-SS-KW2M1IPhJSJTZILK7cbMsZv-U4UILQ_Umy5MwRPhtBmj0q-_x7yyxZzrBkwJsy51o3ZxjR9-Pq0JGd_SPaOrdwcxfwHL1r38lAbfb85YIyk/s1600/IMG_4553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jngUrSGeBUbC95EahHkWCdOaY72g-SS-KW2M1IPhJSJTZILK7cbMsZv-U4UILQ_Umy5MwRPhtBmj0q-_x7yyxZzrBkwJsy51o3ZxjR9-Pq0JGd_SPaOrdwcxfwHL1r38lAbfb85YIyk/s320/IMG_4553.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6zcQl7cUF5RrN8Fsf_3tJyvLAQLYBgESL1WBYD_2hQAOKfi2SdABXI-_xWhYOrwT32HpZS8YBDoZ_uRXOUyegA9FeBD1N4hbtysetGh1KZ5Cbi2GZ4pUlRjccyrIa_4gKocOnsy1_5o/s1600/IMG_4565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6zcQl7cUF5RrN8Fsf_3tJyvLAQLYBgESL1WBYD_2hQAOKfi2SdABXI-_xWhYOrwT32HpZS8YBDoZ_uRXOUyegA9FeBD1N4hbtysetGh1KZ5Cbi2GZ4pUlRjccyrIa_4gKocOnsy1_5o/s320/IMG_4565.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">None of us or the students had ever been to the elephant village before and it was amazing to see so many elephants in such a short area. After we stopped here for about an hour, we decided to skip the night at the hotel and head for another students house which turned out to be about a 6 hour ride to the province of Sisaket. This is a view of the majority of our trip. <a href="http://vimeo.com/26356119">Click here for video</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsytOcHd82neiXVJfIm85vhEqQOPl7X_01VgrKOUfGYldUVl40qf-xtAe3TFy-xV0OWpIo3ARNZvJ-rrx-Sz63rVb0Tpp7in6LmFKeikA2ur_MGeWMVWVOTrXJ100MmhhzR2zMJs32_3M/s1600/IMG_4589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsytOcHd82neiXVJfIm85vhEqQOPl7X_01VgrKOUfGYldUVl40qf-xtAe3TFy-xV0OWpIo3ARNZvJ-rrx-Sz63rVb0Tpp7in6LmFKeikA2ur_MGeWMVWVOTrXJ100MmhhzR2zMJs32_3M/s320/IMG_4589.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chicken that we caught</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT92Mj5WFP_FuToMZvgxXe7fYnrQJDTD0oRmqp5E3KQDBuwnzF9McdL_1IwI5aL-cpFLIQ0BpaE0DkhGPZCrGmi7XvpPAPQpwkoPB_SN0BQ5XnxcEWz-wKyw5H32XJQBF_2URy0huwo4A/s1600/IMG_4591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT92Mj5WFP_FuToMZvgxXe7fYnrQJDTD0oRmqp5E3KQDBuwnzF9McdL_1IwI5aL-cpFLIQ0BpaE0DkhGPZCrGmi7XvpPAPQpwkoPB_SN0BQ5XnxcEWz-wKyw5H32XJQBF_2URy0huwo4A/s320/IMG_4591.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA8zB8p9pVnCg3skVRLuyoU-Y0hr2_xsHHcsMjgYyi1CeV7rwZ-jknhXAqmIDckPZvLHfwAL-JkDFBabLQwJ7Gs_bP7PUApX-SIJgFmGdhwGGv-pufb8pvSUnVxcz8Rt51UkYodDkaOY/s1600/IMG_4585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA8zB8p9pVnCg3skVRLuyoU-Y0hr2_xsHHcsMjgYyi1CeV7rwZ-jknhXAqmIDckPZvLHfwAL-JkDFBabLQwJ7Gs_bP7PUApX-SIJgFmGdhwGGv-pufb8pvSUnVxcz8Rt51UkYodDkaOY/s320/IMG_4585.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where we slept for the night</td></tr>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Upon our arrival in Sisaket, we were greeted with an enormous dinner in which we devoured after a whole day of driving. We were able to spend some time with his family and later that night catch 2 chicken in preparation for the next days' breakfast. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6qkKBKJuSlWxW0vYhDhUuWboIGuKn40TLqbi5wyHanub8u5uoSrcpxopdUxbBPDGIZRz2X6bsj_N75pExD9UIEmTAfNSoTfMl4eAjIHZup_XRpYuQsY36S3pP9ZU0wdTvm5bXbMUdkU/s1600/IMG_4594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6qkKBKJuSlWxW0vYhDhUuWboIGuKn40TLqbi5wyHanub8u5uoSrcpxopdUxbBPDGIZRz2X6bsj_N75pExD9UIEmTAfNSoTfMl4eAjIHZup_XRpYuQsY36S3pP9ZU0wdTvm5bXbMUdkU/s320/IMG_4594.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast is served</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtL8G919Zjbf6vR__UUDghp5Is0CQ9y-te2FZ68QM3-JWNwy72T4oQ61a7e4MNEzPXWWCksQKdL0hkWoUzrkeDv6_N-XosH_N4Ojo_4Spqte5Kdi6jeIwz30sGNosssmqwX7sh6exy8hU/s1600/IMG_4598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtL8G919Zjbf6vR__UUDghp5Is0CQ9y-te2FZ68QM3-JWNwy72T4oQ61a7e4MNEzPXWWCksQKdL0hkWoUzrkeDv6_N-XosH_N4Ojo_4Spqte5Kdi6jeIwz30sGNosssmqwX7sh6exy8hU/s320/IMG_4598.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family farewell</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;">On this trip we had incredible opportunities to talk with these two students and their families more about what we were doing in Thailand, who Jesus was, and what we believe about Christianity and the gospel. Their reaction? Very interested to say the least. As we still continue to love them and build our relationships with them, we can only hope and pray that the gospel seeds, by God's grace, that we have sowed and continue to sow in their hearts, will have eternal implications and that our God will provide the growth in the souls of these men in a relationship with Himself. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"What then is Apollos? What is Paul?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Servants through whom you believed,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as the Lord assigned to each. </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I planted,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Apollos watered,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but God gave the growth. So</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He who plants and he who waters are one, and each</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> will receive his wages according to his labor.</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For we are</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field,</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> God’s building." -1 Corinthians 3:5-9</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our last week here, we are continuing to meet up with the students we have built relationships with in hope that God will use us, through our words, actions, and time, to make an impact in his kingdom for eternity, all for his glory. Here is a little taste of our ministry leader, Nai. <a href="http://vimeo.com/26355238">Click here for video</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kfi2Xy8K57PcpvRLti0sVt2jt7_gBCj1JOB0lxasP8IsA5_bjQbnuTFAuatLFguYBykt5b8n9EZuMdb7qYiI73XOPJFDd02bAsv8QAFdBfFjzzPFztt_sQQOb0_EeOzO9g0Re8kNuaQ/s1600/279441_10150308693923688_613053687_9443053_7477946_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kfi2Xy8K57PcpvRLti0sVt2jt7_gBCj1JOB0lxasP8IsA5_bjQbnuTFAuatLFguYBykt5b8n9EZuMdb7qYiI73XOPJFDd02bAsv8QAFdBfFjzzPFztt_sQQOb0_EeOzO9g0Re8kNuaQ/s320/279441_10150308693923688_613053687_9443053_7477946_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love you team and can't tell you how much a appreciate your prayers and support. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PLEASE click on the ads below to help raise support for my ministry leader Nai. All you have to do is click. Thank you!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-65657356922697993112011-07-07T03:09:00.000-07:002011-07-07T03:09:46.129-07:00In his arms<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young." -Isaiah 40:11</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">As our second to last week winds down, I just wanted to thank you all and praise the Lord for all your prayers and support. As the 8 men on this team had our discipleship group this morning, we all reflected on what the Lord has taught us and of the abundance of prayers that he has heard his children cry, and has answered faithfully. We serve a God who is faithful. We are mere men, with finite minds, who can't even fathom nor imagine how sinful we are towards God. However, our Father, Lord, and Good Shepard loves us more than we could ever dream to imagine and is guiding our steps every second of every day holding us with his right hand (Isaiah 41:13). How comforting it is to believe in a God of absolute sovereignty, infinite wisdom, and unconditional/everlasting love that will never fail us. <i>"He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32 </i>is a clear picture of the beauty of the cross of Jesus and the beauty of a God who saved us from an eternity of separation from Himself and justified us so that we may be like Christ. Praise the Lord. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi141zPxDhmSHsQf36aoal2frm1W_xOvfKumLvc6fgqDUAyC10VEliqqPQJwVUQgY8paaeceQj1UWMx6DZgqNY5NSbr6xIKNqEYFcC6dfJcqSnY56bgHMMyLdA0Farxe8D6o1xRDzF4ICw/s1600/254453_10150265874572359_714862358_8917234_1749270_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi141zPxDhmSHsQf36aoal2frm1W_xOvfKumLvc6fgqDUAyC10VEliqqPQJwVUQgY8paaeceQj1UWMx6DZgqNY5NSbr6xIKNqEYFcC6dfJcqSnY56bgHMMyLdA0Farxe8D6o1xRDzF4ICw/s320/254453_10150265874572359_714862358_8917234_1749270_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As our team continues to be broken over the thousands that surround us daily that will never hear of Jesus nor the gospel, the Lord is continuing to give us the strength to labor hard this next week and a half so that we will build connections with students to campus outreach that they may establish a relationship with the COT staff and, Lord willing, establish a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">This next weekend my ministry team (Phil, Bill, Nai, Matt) will go on a little road trip with 4 other students to visit their house in the various provinces that surround Khon Kaen. This is an AMAZING opportunity to really go deep with these 4 students while meeting their parents, getting to know them on a personal level, and, by God's grace, hopefully share with them more of the hope and truth of the gospel of Christ. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI45BhL4bu5GSIXLmWtBO7gTbY7e-XlvwKbTb_VxuhTQxiR3tQ5G-2dhONexnX5OJhp0VtJoSURZawobUky_tpPOURKfL0cweRGP0oz2iQm3UexBSdc9D9Sp30ryTLsrOJNRtySKcYHEY/s1600/Thailand_provinces.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI45BhL4bu5GSIXLmWtBO7gTbY7e-XlvwKbTb_VxuhTQxiR3tQ5G-2dhONexnX5OJhp0VtJoSURZawobUky_tpPOURKfL0cweRGP0oz2iQm3UexBSdc9D9Sp30ryTLsrOJNRtySKcYHEY/s320/Thailand_provinces.png" width="190" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are currently in Khon Kaen (5). We will be traveling through Nakom Rachasima (10) to Burirum (2), then to Surin (16), then back up through Roy Ed (13), then through Maha sara kam (7) back to Khon Kaen (5). Please pray for safe travels, amazing fellowship where stronger friendship and trust is built between the Thai students, soft hearts, and gospel conversation. We leave Saturday morning and return Sunday night. Many pictures to come, so get pumped!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFiOnFfkQcCrzrCj4L79nEXhBnl7-cUYC9ZhGyv2jgLiA-ox5INZew0BvEssG24KMrbQbnO0KOGGIDeErialjivt00em4oOxm7-OL8Y7jfxZJJVpcZyttWC5c0IZ2g7zUPAClLBXEL-4/s1600/255018_10150638899085174_509055173_19146250_6882101_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFiOnFfkQcCrzrCj4L79nEXhBnl7-cUYC9ZhGyv2jgLiA-ox5INZew0BvEssG24KMrbQbnO0KOGGIDeErialjivt00em4oOxm7-OL8Y7jfxZJJVpcZyttWC5c0IZ2g7zUPAClLBXEL-4/s320/255018_10150638899085174_509055173_19146250_6882101_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And yes, while we were eating dinner as a team in a suburb close to KKU, an elephant man stopped by and we had the opportunity to feed him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just a little video of the hundreds of students at 'Freshi Games' @ the volleyball and tekral courts. <a href="http://vimeo.com/26102700">Click here for video</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">PLEASE click on the ad below to help raise support for my ministry leader Nai. All you have to do is click. Thank you. Love you team!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</span></span></span></div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-83454916051939122472011-07-05T23:51:00.000-07:002011-07-05T23:51:49.040-07:00Week 5 in Thailand<a href="http://vimeo.com/26016133">Click here for video</a><br />
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Please click the ad below to help raise money to support my ministry leader Nai. All you have to do is click on it. Love you team!LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-20283803133553875682011-07-04T09:58:00.000-07:002011-07-05T03:03:45.112-07:00Finish the course- 2 Weeks<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." -Acts 20:24</span></i></span></div><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span></div><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With just over two weeks left in Thailand, our team is beginning to feel a sense of urgency to take advantage of this wonderful grace-filled opportunity of ministry in Thailand that we have received from the Lord. Our team from Birmingham, the CCP team from Lexington, Kentucky (who do ministry on a smaller campus in Khon Kaen-Northeastern University), and the staff from Campus Outreach Thailand enjoyed a blessed celebration of Independence day a few days early on Saturday so we could continue ministry this coming Monday. We traveled to a nearby country club where we enjoyed the pool, tennis, driving range, badminton, a Thai cookout, and wonderful community with relaxation and laughter for an afternoon as we rested up for our last two weeks. </span></div><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaev7Y1kc2ha76B7Oa-aKp2OugL0_M5lQZ0yiEprnSM46-zh3dkhHBgrn3wK3nRd3mwsXdCNsRQu10EYrksTOOwihxr7JtgVZuyPbZjT9Y_VX83PSyBiKBppkf-kOSQhG_VLmS4XbLSCY/s1600/IMG_4468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaev7Y1kc2ha76B7Oa-aKp2OugL0_M5lQZ0yiEprnSM46-zh3dkhHBgrn3wK3nRd3mwsXdCNsRQu10EYrksTOOwihxr7JtgVZuyPbZjT9Y_VX83PSyBiKBppkf-kOSQhG_VLmS4XbLSCY/s320/IMG_4468.JPG" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I have briefly explained in earlier posts, during the first 5-6 weeks of school at KKU the freshmen are involved in something called 'Freshi Games'. Each department/faculty compete against other faculties in particular sports from Tennis, to tekral, to vollyball, to ping pong, to fencing. All in all, around 15-20 sports. These events revolve around 5,000+ freshmen students, so the campus is a little crazy this week. The sophomores and juniors have been practicing and training these freshmen to compete in these games for around 4 weeks now, and the games finally began last Wednesday. </span></div><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9QQSlLEpivoVzUB5HGsORcDyNHL529dimSFoXUpo_bvSJOMlH3knDc79lS7aScZGiqFVWFB9Nq5Nnra4aVVJ1_hQdmXnKMmrwk9D7wU8uZL-Ck88qLdOH3JqS9djxzq0Lki31uMTTJQ/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9QQSlLEpivoVzUB5HGsORcDyNHL529dimSFoXUpo_bvSJOMlH3knDc79lS7aScZGiqFVWFB9Nq5Nnra4aVVJ1_hQdmXnKMmrwk9D7wU8uZL-Ck88qLdOH3JqS9djxzq0Lki31uMTTJQ/s320/IMG_4304.JPG" width="320" /></span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Science factulty Badminton practice at the church's gym</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since our ministry group has been building deeper trust and friendships with 5 or so freshmen, we have been visiting them to watch them compete in these games and have been able to hang out and talk with them after their events. This will continue until Friday.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Click here to see some of the sports:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/25971038">Fencing</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/25960239"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Volleyball</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/25960108"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Tekral</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our goals this week have changed a bit. As we continue to meet with the students whom, by God's sweet grace, we have connected well with the past 5 weeks, we want to meet with as many new students as we can in order to connect them with the COT ministry and our ministry leaders. Since we will not be here in 2 weeks, we want COT to have as many contacts as the Lord can use us (The Americans) to attract. So, please pray that the Lord directs our paths so that we may meet interested students who are searching, though they may not know, for a savior.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I want to tell you a quick story of a small conversation that I had with a freshmen science student today that the Lord may continue to use for an eternal impact. We usually arrive at the 'Complex' for lunch everyday around 12. The students usually have class at 1, so we basically have an hour with the different students we meet up with each day. It was around 12:50 when I noticed a ring in which the student was wearing that we were eating lunch with and ask him what it was and what it meant. He explained how it was a symbol for Hades and how he had an entire collection of rings that stood for each of the 'gods' you hear of in the </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Odyssey</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. I asked him if he believed in Hades or the underworld and he said yes and that he also believes in Bhuda. I then asked him if he had ever heard of Jesus and he said, 'Yes, I believe in him too' and that 'all gods lead toward heaven'. I explained as much as I could in English about my view on Jesus and asked him if he would like to know more about Christianity. He said he would love to learn more about other religions. What an amazing door the Lord opened in this short conversation. Please pray for an effective follow-up with this student. As he had to leave for class, it broke my heart to hear how sin and the devil have the entire culture of the Isaan people group either unaware of Jesus or that He is just like any other gods as a means to get into heaven. The Lord continues to remind our team of the great need for laborers in this lost world and the emptiness of the hearts of the millions around us that don't know of the unconditional love of Jesus and the beautiful redemptive story of the gospel.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uA2DUZa1lp-LGkfhy0_bU2yq6YdTUR3iZeG3V4I5RcmIAGmbTXvHk-u0VySy1lJqGeG_kye-74xUTdsqqVkC6ilZuWxSP4JAo5QvwrhV11IvVXcvj2D72c19G9CeexusBqgnZZ_GccA/s1600/IMG_4456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uA2DUZa1lp-LGkfhy0_bU2yq6YdTUR3iZeG3V4I5RcmIAGmbTXvHk-u0VySy1lJqGeG_kye-74xUTdsqqVkC6ilZuWxSP4JAo5QvwrhV11IvVXcvj2D72c19G9CeexusBqgnZZ_GccA/s320/IMG_4456.JPG" width="320" /></span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Matt & Erin Fransisco (CCP COB Staff leaders) and<br />
Nai (Science Faculty COT staff) & his wife Blaa </span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope and pray that everyone has a blessed and grace-filled 4th of July celebration in the States. If you are from PTC, you better enjoy the awesome parade on Peachtree Parkway and fireworks on Lake Peachtree. :) Please pray that the Lord will continue to use us and the COT staff to reflect Christ and His glory in a big way these next 2 weeks as well as physical and mental strength. I love you team!</span><br />
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<a href="http://thailand.campusoutreach.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Campus Outreach Thailand</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- COT website for more information</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PLEASE CLICK ON THE AD BELOW TO HELP RAISE SUPPORT FOR MY MINISTRY PARTNER AND THE LABORERS IN THAILAND. All you have to do it click on it. Thank you!</span><br />
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</span></div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-53025543479284859952011-06-30T01:03:00.000-07:002011-06-30T23:49:41.481-07:00Awake my soul- God's Mercy Reigns<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:31-32 (My theme verse for the past 2 weeks)</i></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ka Toht Krab! 'I'm Sorry' in Thai for failing to blog for quite some time now. God has opened so many opportunities; it has been a whirlwind last 2 weeks for my team and I. The middle of week 5 and the Lord's mercy and grace is clear and it is evident that he is with us. Convicted hearts, answered prayers, and sharing the gospel have been the theme of the last 2 weeks for our entire team. Moving forward with ministry these past two weeks, my science faculty ministry team has been targeting about 10 guys; 5 freshmen and 5 sophomores that we met during week 1. After the 60 or so students we have met, the Lord has been pressing upon our hearts to pour out into these men, investing our lunch's, afternoons, dinners, and late nights spending time them and trying to love and serve them as Christ did to us. Their interest level is also a sweet gift from the Lord, and a willingness to make time for us and allow us to talk, play and come into their lives has been very impacting. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Complex: KKU Mess hall where our team eats lunch</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me just summarize some highlights from last week leading up until now. Amongst the constant sweat, redundant food choices, and a massive language barrier, the Lord has given us an inmeasurable amount of strength and provision. Everyone has been relatively healthy, aside from a few stomach issues I'd rather not get in to, and everyone has been safe. We still need a great amount of prayer to make it through these next 3 weeks as our bodies will begin to wear down, get less sleep, and the devil will try to use our physical weakness to distract us from reflecting God's glory. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At "Transformers 3" together last night</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last week, our ministry team had the amazing opportunity to do what we came here to do, share the gospel with the lost world. Each of us had the chance to share our testimonies of what God has done in our lives, and how he has changed our hearts, given us purpose and meaning to life, and most importantly share how we are sinners and Jesus is the only one who has paid our merit/or sin on the cross, that we are free from sin, and reconciled to the one True God. The trust we have built was evident in their reaction to us sharing. It was last Monday & Wednesday we were able to share with 3 different students; all 3 have which never heard the gospel before. Praise the Lord. For the first time in my life it became a reality that this is what we were made to do. This is why we are alive. To reflect his glory, to make his name known, and enjoy him forever! Currently, our ministry leader has began studying the bible with one of them, and the two others we are still building deeper relationships with and pouring out Christ's love in them, by God's grace alone. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another God-given opportunity last week was our invitation to a family 'cookout' in the countryside of Khon Kaen. With 5 sophomore students, we made a road trip about 30km outside of the city from 9:00-4:00. It was an incredible time to spend fishing, cooking, and eating with our new friends and their family and God used it to bring us closer with those guys. The countryside consisted of mini ponds, rice fields, and beautiful grasslands. Isan food was served which was interesting to say the least. We tried our best to make it look like we ate a lot. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finally, we had the chance to visit one of the local orphanages which we spent around two hours playing with 2-6 year olds. Our hearts were broken for them, as we had to leave, seeing the love and desire to be held, played with, and talked to. Almost every girl wanted to adopt a foreign orphan when they get married. It was a sorrowful sight to see, but the Lord broke our hearts even more for the need for laborers of these unreached people groups. It seems like each and every day, the Lord is directing our teams' hearts for the need of laborers overseas to give up our comforts in America for the gospels sake. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God is personally shaping me in enormous ways. Constantly showing me every facet of my sins, and in every way. Whether is be seeking the approval of man, using God for my own glory, comparing myself to others, pride, and selfish motives, the Lord is daily showing me my brokenness and my need for a savior. He is also revealing to me a vision of what my future will be; whether it missions or a life sold to ministry in America, I will follow where he leads me. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me." Our mission as Christians is to take this news to these dying immortal souls all over the world so that will not perish for an eternity, but see the amazing grace Christ freely gives.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Matt Fransisco (Team Leader COB staff) vs. Nai (Ministry Team leader COT staff)</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> At science faculty Ping Pong practice:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> Nai 21 Matt 10</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Nai 21 Phil 03</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Nai 21 Luke 03</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Thailand > America @ Ping Pong</i></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please continue to pray for us our last two weeks of missions. There is still a lot of work to be done for our 10 target students, and the gospel desperately needs to be heard. Pray that the love of Christ is evident in our lives as we minister to these students day in and day out and that we will take every opportunity to know Christ and make him known, to all nations! Sinner rejoice! Our God and Father love us so much, words can't describe his goodness that he has poured out upon our team. Hope you all are rejoicing every day in knowing such a sweet, all-powerful, loving, infinitely wise, Father whose mercy never end, never fail, and last for eternity. Please keep Bill, Phil, P. Nai, and myself in your prayers (science ministry team), that the Spirit will speak to us and through for God's glory and that he would awake our souls to awake others souls. I love you team. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerers through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither life nor death, nor angles nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-37203131174804164002011-06-13T09:13:00.000-07:002011-06-13T09:13:15.297-07:00Isan people groupSome detailed information on on the Lao Isan people group that surrounds Khon Kaen, Thailand:<br />
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http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=15460&rog3=THLukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-50338349937231040682011-06-13T01:51:00.000-07:002011-06-13T19:10:55.262-07:00Ministry Week #2<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">"Only, when, like Christ, and in loving obedience to His call and example, we take no account of ourselves, but freely give ourselves to others, we shall find, each in his measure, the saying true of himself also: 'Wherefore also God hath highly exalted him.' The path of self-sacrifice is the path to glory." -B.B. Warfield</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"His steadfast love is better than life." says King David in his Psalms of praise. Amen. Week two was an example of God's love for his sons and daughters throughout our team here in Khon Kaen, Thailand. It has been a humbling week personally. God's grace has become more evident and beautiful for me through the Holy Spirit's conviction of my heart and my continual selfish and sinful heart. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" -Romans 7:24-25</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Even through our selfish motives, thoughts, and actions the Lord continues to bless my team and I revealing that we have been reconciled to our Father, the author of life through the sweet mercy of Jesus on the cross. We have been set free! Hallelujah! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our team has been studying the life of Jesus in the book of Mark. It has been incredible to see the infinite power that Jesus gave up to be like man so he could pay it all on the cross. I could write pages on all that God has taught the team and I about Christ humbling himself and becoming nothing on this earth and our call to live as Christ; a self-sacrificing unselfish life sold out, in every manner, to bring God the glory he deserves. Although we, as humans and sinful fleshly men and women that we are, cannot offer God anything, we are given a new self, a new soul, and a new life through Christ Jesus, OUR Lord. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">OKAY, now let me share the juice of what has happened in this second week of our grace-filled time here @ KKU. Our goal was to continue to meet new freshmen and sophomore students as well as reconnecting with students we had met the previous week. Our ministry group met around 10 more freshmen students in the science faculty, and have been laboring early afternoon's and evenings to build our friendships with them. The science students major in anything from chemistry/biology to nanotechnology to Information Communications Technology and the like, so talk about dealing with some smart people. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We had a good amount of rich 1-on-1/2-on-2 time with students that I feel have began a good foundation on building opportunities to go deeper and deeper in our relationships. For lunch, the same cycle continues. There are two main places we eat for lunch, Rong Chai & The Complex, consisting of nothing really more than rice and meat. After the first week, I've been experiencing with new spices and toppings to put on my rice and meet which have been delicious but not so much good on the body hours later. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3k6S172W0QTUG9DPXnJQpzr4ot_AMV2izfhSUxf6ALWE3Vi4cgtcsFNMiTKob3WEB6QnRHJKsrA9C2aI4bvtdHlyoa3NzJ5oZidT_4JusLrAiE8bzGAcNQbLpOtQLQPqXCI_OUxK-40/s1600/IMG_4281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3k6S172W0QTUG9DPXnJQpzr4ot_AMV2izfhSUxf6ALWE3Vi4cgtcsFNMiTKob3WEB6QnRHJKsrA9C2aI4bvtdHlyoa3NzJ5oZidT_4JusLrAiE8bzGAcNQbLpOtQLQPqXCI_OUxK-40/s320/IMG_4281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Mike & Fak- Freshmen w/ Ties (Philip from UNA on the left and Bill from SU on the right. Nai is our ministry leader in the top middle</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our week concluded on Saturday with a trip to the main Buddhist temple in Khon Kaen in which we invited the students to come and give us a tour through and answer a bunch of 'why' questions about the merit, holy water, relics, and the Buddhist religion. Some good opportunities to share about Christianity beliefs as well. There were 9 levels in this temple, each with different pictures and statutes on each of them paying respect to different people, items, and gods. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV4gsgtENof4TPlircJTuGsvsqG-DgJPLmILPNfTKIXxP97TDVjXPOUcgpETff2LszY7omBbDx59i01xUPFPaHLhP57pgdUvR9Jt3BZwBB7_AvBt-VsOnSXRyjqZUKq5sAqlGqdJK49A/s1600/IMG_4143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV4gsgtENof4TPlircJTuGsvsqG-DgJPLmILPNfTKIXxP97TDVjXPOUcgpETff2LszY7omBbDx59i01xUPFPaHLhP57pgdUvR9Jt3BZwBB7_AvBt-VsOnSXRyjqZUKq5sAqlGqdJK49A/s400/IMG_4143.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGqaIVfy23GqrSNpEBdX0w3rd3YeW-CkUM76agvVpRKhu1QcdhQU9WMoj5swgRfOpOelCMdN1MHKChIe1ExIpe19eJJTZeoabw_IhqdXPRzlxHcrCooBN6_QxSwmUaAE36W4N_ushrR8/s1600/IMG_4290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGqaIVfy23GqrSNpEBdX0w3rd3YeW-CkUM76agvVpRKhu1QcdhQU9WMoj5swgRfOpOelCMdN1MHKChIe1ExIpe19eJJTZeoabw_IhqdXPRzlxHcrCooBN6_QxSwmUaAE36W4N_ushrR8/s400/IMG_4290.JPG" width="222" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Following our temple trip on Saturday, CO provides a lunch at the mall for all who came on the trip. The mall is called Central Plaza and is the main place that the students hang out and is the place to go if you are in Khon Kaen. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMWK7qRBRJlwraj-xAGj-BP_2drPoS2lfhXzmiTVKaPqysE_vCqfb1N0jkH8tYgT1GFN4-ms-0EfyfLlNn8MmyAcP629JEIM3o0hlMvqNs1o6ShGK-PZLSz9ZhuviY7K-dRYH-k9W-eA/s1600/IMG_4291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMWK7qRBRJlwraj-xAGj-BP_2drPoS2lfhXzmiTVKaPqysE_vCqfb1N0jkH8tYgT1GFN4-ms-0EfyfLlNn8MmyAcP629JEIM3o0hlMvqNs1o6ShGK-PZLSz9ZhuviY7K-dRYH-k9W-eA/s320/IMG_4291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ministry Leader Nai with 5 students</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I said, God was So good to us this week and after the temple trip and lunch at Central, over 70 freshmen students came to the church to practice badminton for their freshmen competition 2 weeks from now. The church has a big gym with room for basketball and futsal games as well as 4 badminton courts and CO staff offered the gym for KKU freshmen students to practice badminton. An amazing opportunity for students to come to the church and for us all to get to know students and build our relationships in them, and an interest in CO. The language barrier is still a bit challenging but the Lord has made ways to continue building relationships. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqGOujOOf6BFnhXid5uzlehU89pkxzQeuBWvPFjeT_NR4WS-0nz6rtTtV6Bl2HNDwg7WEfu6e6p_uBncET1YsKMSrwdvxVnEWrTtN9kXJRIIKDRcJshfUVnZWxa5HgUI2uYfB6mnsFIg/s1600/IMG_4311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqGOujOOf6BFnhXid5uzlehU89pkxzQeuBWvPFjeT_NR4WS-0nz6rtTtV6Bl2HNDwg7WEfu6e6p_uBncET1YsKMSrwdvxVnEWrTtN9kXJRIIKDRcJshfUVnZWxa5HgUI2uYfB6mnsFIg/s320/IMG_4311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Freshmen Badminton @ the Church</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Praise the Lord for his faithfulness, and praise the Lord for the support group that God has given me that has been faithful in prayer. Please continue to pray, and do not stop, that these relationship foundations that all of us have built will continue on for the gospels sake, for God's glory. Pray that the Holy Spirit would move in the hearts of those students that we have engaged and that God will continue to not allow the devil to distract our team in any way. Pray for safety with travel and for good health with all of this different, yet most of the time tasty, food. I can't write in words how much I am thankful for everyone who is reading this and praying for me and has supported me. I love you team!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"For to set the mind of the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is Life and Peace." -Romans 8:6</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></span></div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-23723761377157602182011-06-08T04:16:00.001-07:002011-06-08T04:18:09.408-07:00HomeA little taste of our apartment for 2 months in Khon Kaen, Thailand just outside of the University. <a href="http://vimeo.com/24804766">Click here for video</a>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-33397581082813654452011-06-05T09:55:00.000-07:002011-06-06T03:31:07.325-07:00Ministry Week #1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Concluding our first ministry week, our team of 4 met with 22 students, most of which were freshmen. Since our group is focusing on the Science faculty, it has been a challange to find and meet with freshmen/sophomore science majors. But, God is good and lead us to speak with the students that we did. It was exausting, mentally. We know little Thai, they know little english, but it was amazing to see the Lord intervene and give the students that we met a true interest in us and in our COT ministry leader (COT=Campus Outreach Thailand). Some students knew english pretty well, and love to practice it with foreigners and we were more than happy to be that outlet to reach out to them. This next week I think we will be targeting more students as well as following up and spending more time with the students that we met this week. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God is slowly using us to plant seeds in these students hearts and we have hope that God will eventually allow us to link these students with Campus Outreach and the church. Below are Thai students that my ministry partners and I have met. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This weekend has been a resting period for the team. A much needed resting time from a long, but beautiful week. Our team has been spending some quality time together. Yesterday, we went to a King Cobra Club which was probably the most bazzare experience I have ever witnessed in my lifetime. I will post videos below. Today was another great encouraging sabbath followed by basketball and badminton with 5-6 Thai students afterwards at the church. Praise God from whom all blessing flow! I hope and pray that you all are having wonderful and fruitful summers. We are all missionaries. Same mission, different location, all for his GLORY!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/24667622">Snake Fight</a>- CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">"<i>But thanks be to GOD, that you who were once sloaves of sin become obediant from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." -Romans 6:17-18</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-64132119008233131432011-06-01T06:57:00.000-07:002011-06-01T07:01:23.760-07:00Mid-Week Glory<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the most amazing things i have tasted in my lifetime, Grilled banana pocket. The Lord was sweet today to bring across this fruit stand after a tiring yet fruitful afternoon of ministry.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-18449" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-18449" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-18449AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)"></sup> the everlasting God,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the Creator of the ends of the earth.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">He does not faint or grow weary;</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-18449AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)"></sup> his understanding is unsearchable.</span></div></span><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-18450" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He gives power to the faint,</span></span></span></div></sup><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and to him who has no might he increases strength.</span></div><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-18451" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"></sup><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Even youths shall faint and be weary,</span></span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and young men shall fall exhausted;</span></div><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-18452" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"></sup><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">but<sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-18452AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)"></sup> they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> they shall mount up with wings<sup class="xref" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-18452AO" title="See cross-reference AO">AO</a>)"></sup> like eagles;</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">they shall run and not be weary;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> they shall walk and not faint." -</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Isaiah 40:28-31</span></span></i></span></div></span></span>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-13051463585577847132011-05-31T01:39:00.000-07:002011-06-01T06:44:43.600-07:00God's Grace is SufficientA sample of what driving is like in Khon Kaen. <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/24420088">Khon Kaen Streets</a><span id="goog_785324841"></span><span id="goog_785324842"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Below is a little picture of God's grace the past two days. Some freshmen students from Khon Kaen University that we have been eating with the past two days. Nai, our ministry leader, is in the green shirt and has been on COT staff at KKU for 3 years now. Bill, one of my two ministry partners is in the gray. Continue to pray for opprotunities to plant seeds.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3vSqbaWy24c9SXhyeV4NaHlWcDlYVKZQH6X9rHra7gmpGyv-VtDhaEuj9PcXlNslQ9JzHttb0LjxOIiXQHisu5FrtUTyLvIvzq6ojsKhTtqoZGgu3NVhieRKQvTvhtbP6mna5hM789g/s1600/IMG_4162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3vSqbaWy24c9SXhyeV4NaHlWcDlYVKZQH6X9rHra7gmpGyv-VtDhaEuj9PcXlNslQ9JzHttb0LjxOIiXQHisu5FrtUTyLvIvzq6ojsKhTtqoZGgu3NVhieRKQvTvhtbP6mna5hM789g/s320/IMG_4162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sleep schedule continues to remain strange as our team is wiped the time 10 o'clock comes around. My room wakes up around 5-6 and gets some great time with each other, in the word, and at different fruit stands. The hard as rock matresses have also contributed well to the early morning starts. Thai matresses are about the exact opposite of soft, but we will manage. Mango has been the furit of choise as of late. It is yellow/green here, I guess America likes to change it orange because that's all i knew about them before now. Papaya has been the fruit of no choice (not a fan). My stomach is still confused as to why I am consuming pounds of rice each day with a chicken/pork diet for each meal. I love the food and the spices, hopefully the taste buds will coninue to enjoy for another 7 1/2 weeks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our weeks are begining to have structure as we continue to get acclimated to our goals and time management. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Monday-Friday:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">10:00- Team Training/prayer</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">11:30-2:00- Ministry time on campus and meeting with students (Lunch)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2:00-4:30- Rest time and NOH (Need of the Hour)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5-10 or so- Ministry time with students (Dinner, sports, games, etc.)</span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Saturdays consists of day trips with students around Khon Kaen, sports ministry, movies, time at the mall, etc</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sundays:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lunch- 12:00-1:00</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Church 1:00-2:30</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sports 230-4:00</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Team and personal reflection time evening and night</span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A rough schedule of our weeks. Our team has done an amazing job staying positive and flexible with the schedule that COT staff hands our way. Our mission continues to be serving the CO Thailand staff by attracting Thai students and connecting them with our ministry partners as well as CO and the church. We are, persay, the bait. Pray that God will use our team as tools and instruments to plant and water seeds and that he will, by grace alone, provide the growth to the lost hearts that are enslaved to sin. God is good. I love you team!</span></div></div><br />
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</div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-45820498532485410442011-05-29T17:32:00.000-07:002011-05-29T17:32:33.752-07:00Frist Sabbath in ThailandA little taste of our team- <a href="http://vimeo.com/24353718">CCP Thailand Team</a> P.S. Some of us didn't this video was going to be official<br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/24353718"></a>Let the nations rejoice and see that God is good. Our staff leader put it well describing worship today, 'it was a little taste of what heaven will be like; every toungue, tribe, and nation rejoicing and giving praise to Lord of lords that gave us life'. God has been so incredibly sweet to us in our first weekend in Khon Kaen. He has provided our safety in travel, a Campus Outreach Staff that has a heart to see a nation turn from darkness to the light of Jesus, and has given our team a spirit of pure joy in helping the CO staff connect with the lost students of Khon Kaen University. As we have been getting to know the staff and Christian Thai students, it has been incredibly humbling to see how powerful the gospel of grace has penetrated their souls. These men and women are sold out for the gospel which has spurred our team and has been an amazing encuoragment to share the good news of Christ through our witness to the lost students. Worshiping in Thai and English was an experience that is hard to describe. It hit me yesterday as I was eating dinner with 4 Thai students and thier discipleship leader that half way across the world, we love the same God and meet as brothers-in-Christ to sharpen each other in our faith with the Almighty. Praise the Lord.<br />
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Today is the first day of the new year/semester for Khon Kaen University and my ministry group consists of Bill and Phillip, 2 guys from my team and our group leader Ny as well as his discipleship group students, who are focused on spreading the gospel with the science department at KKU. The Thai students love foreigners, and we hope to attract them and connect to our ministry partners so that the spirit may move in the hearts of the lost. We will eat dinner with Buddist students today. Pray that the Lord will use our ministry team as tools to expand the Lord's kingdom and fulfill his sovereign purpose. Pray for opprotunities to create interest among the lost students so that they will continue to seek contact with us and our ministry team. I love you team, and God's grace is upon you in the States!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Below is a picture of two Christian Thai students that will be helping our team spread the Good News of Jesuse Christ. My & Arm. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rdQeNF9B_BSPwostOjOXAnZzEKJzcGgn3aSC6pwh0LbZRcsqDvmN-YFbo-z-0uAAplpCOa0JDtHnTlnT3h16gMScOr3HuOojm4chTWFC2elFk35JpK3MHuuOVpkDVErqwp2_2T4FAuk/s1600/IMG_4154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rdQeNF9B_BSPwostOjOXAnZzEKJzcGgn3aSC6pwh0LbZRcsqDvmN-YFbo-z-0uAAplpCOa0JDtHnTlnT3h16gMScOr3HuOojm4chTWFC2elFk35JpK3MHuuOVpkDVErqwp2_2T4FAuk/s320/IMG_4154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-48418392868269562332011-05-28T02:58:00.001-07:002011-05-28T02:58:58.141-07:00Church and campus outreach lunch<div><p>Today we continued our orientation of Khon Kaen, Thai culture, and the Thai language which, by the way, seems impossible to learn. I do know now how to say good, bad, hello, goodbye, what's up, awesome, chicken and rice, and thank you. Forming sentances seems far off, but I'm sure will come quicker than I think since I will be with Thai students every day. We also had a cookout with about 30 or so church and CO staff members followed by a mini soccer tournament, badminton and basetball. As you can guess, our team looked like fools playing soccer and badminton with everyone, but regained our confidence with a dominant win in basketball. A few guys and I refreshed our body with some fresh mango, melon, and papaya on the street afterwards. The women we ordered from laughed at our poor Thai and our failed attempt to ask for a sample. The language will be a difficult obstacle, but is a huge way to show the students that we care about their culture and we care about connected with them in their own language. Tonight we are meeting with our ministry partners to talk about goals for the summer. Later tonight, around 115AM, there is a huge party at the campus outreach building to watch the soccer matchup between Manchester United and Bacelona. Supposedly, a pretty big deal. Not sure which team ill pick yet, guess its up to who my ministry partners like. Going to read for a bit before dinner. Love you team!</p>
</div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-68071964777413995632011-05-27T06:49:00.000-07:002011-05-27T06:49:35.754-07:00The tour of Khon Kaen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today's tour of Khon Kaen brought us from temples, to shopping malls, to fruit and meat markets, to poverty stricken slums, to the hot spots students hang out at. Its been an experience that has humbled me mainly from the Thai's simplistic lifestyle without modern technology. It was great to see where we will be spending the majority of our time this summer reaching out to the Thai students. Can't wait for the spirit to move. Jet-lag is among us. Goodnight team. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4woRtuKLNQE7aPRfSovoVWWLeINWGshqiSIQABbUo8tKpAcreLI03Op_PoQ0ysWUZFq-TSMBLY8XJ9ECMqZJ7f20aulPKxrp3mriu8FHJtXekekNm6mLzTNtTFGp6qyOAZyK2HbcilJU/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4woRtuKLNQE7aPRfSovoVWWLeINWGshqiSIQABbUo8tKpAcreLI03Op_PoQ0ysWUZFq-TSMBLY8XJ9ECMqZJ7f20aulPKxrp3mriu8FHJtXekekNm6mLzTNtTFGp6qyOAZyK2HbcilJU/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmif0wnnOslArmJ_xLxiBwdxunQRrReuPQ0CyjZCA-zojEYoMsbzzeIQPjJkBOw422kNdQkZHvTkwRAKvOd9ncvzGMVDViRjbFyIuwub_R7sV_8J6YCpPFZwJ6aBL84oxd3PajZDu0ODo/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmif0wnnOslArmJ_xLxiBwdxunQRrReuPQ0CyjZCA-zojEYoMsbzzeIQPjJkBOw422kNdQkZHvTkwRAKvOd9ncvzGMVDViRjbFyIuwub_R7sV_8J6YCpPFZwJ6aBL84oxd3PajZDu0ODo/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnQmiVQMMjSkiTpwwkTwIsCADKQXdk7pJSEBKljZJHbZYljZxzoTao9zyaZgOs4AnjXz_1MgTBHbvxAZDijCf10Out7Nw0lYF4shM2dEmisCFWfSj27RRMGvjDXkS049YeZHE0IYnFKQ/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnQmiVQMMjSkiTpwwkTwIsCADKQXdk7pJSEBKljZJHbZYljZxzoTao9zyaZgOs4AnjXz_1MgTBHbvxAZDijCf10Out7Nw0lYF4shM2dEmisCFWfSj27RRMGvjDXkS049YeZHE0IYnFKQ/s320/IMG_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GmI2XcPRS6SA5ac7Z4bnIUP-gBio4O_9rqaqYghdUcZwoQ6IePXmaQj0dV63hGwd6ZXKVH3_kcOrIXOGzVThzuU4_3Kn66SzOGMndqOvQu0UhaJEjSfxrJmU1SnwnWleCDN8tETVO0A/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GmI2XcPRS6SA5ac7Z4bnIUP-gBio4O_9rqaqYghdUcZwoQ6IePXmaQj0dV63hGwd6ZXKVH3_kcOrIXOGzVThzuU4_3Kn66SzOGMndqOvQu0UhaJEjSfxrJmU1SnwnWleCDN8tETVO0A/s320/IMG_0032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-79960179119119640162011-05-27T02:34:00.001-07:002011-05-27T02:34:33.556-07:00Address<div><p>If you would like to send me mail:</p>
<p>Campus Outreach<br>
Attn: Luke Griffith<br>
PO Box 6 KKU<br>
Amphur Muang, Khonkaen 40002<br>
Thailand</p>
</div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-20278132410820550582011-05-27T02:27:00.001-07:002011-05-27T02:30:18.780-07:00Lunch @ Khon Kaen University mess hall<div><p>Omlet with chicken, if you were wondering. It was great. Today we were taken on a little tour around Khon Kaen University and the city. 26 of us all packed in the back of 3 pick-up taxis. Met more of the Thai students that are involved in CO. So far, not a moment alone and pretty exausted and jet-lagged. Pray for strength as we continue our orientation period. Goodmorning to you all! Love you team!</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkKOfHi21B_kbXShC9O82lokEpnKJiZUqN6cTC04EpoZ7YqKFAHBGm51dmFs2gzjvC7K_QFV4VwPBWohu4GvQv_KlXe9itDnfnJ87OZVtfHp6fwI2UQVGD3MGPuzvz48i5Px9jEGd6eo/' /></div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422302122505019830.post-85020334117047326262011-05-26T07:21:00.001-07:002011-05-26T07:59:24.795-07:00Safe & well<div><p>After 52 hours of traveling and little sleep, our team has arrived in Khon Kaen, Thailand! When we arrived, we were welcomed at the front gates by 50 or so Thai Campus Outreach staff families and students. It was so humbling to see their excited faces awaiting our arrival and serving us by carrying our bags and driving us to our apartments. Each student sleeps with one other student in a 2-bed 1-room apartment not even a mile from Khon Kaen University. Our team is pretty exausted after traveling for 2 days and 11 hour forward time difference, and honestly can't really believe we are here yet. Please pray for the team to catch up qhickly to the time change and that the Holy Spirit would consume us with love, joy, and a servants hearts to serve the CO staff and students. The next few days will be our orientation days for the summer. I'm feeling a little anxious and definatly out of my comfort zone. Its a HUGE culture shock, and I ask that you pray personaly for my love the lost students of this lost nation here in Khon Kaen. I love you team!</p>
</div>LukeGrifhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00203825339724547456noreply@blogger.com1