Homecoming queen... or just SHANE COMING HOME!

Here they are crew... all you needed to know... and even the stuff that you didn't... THE FLIGHT DETAILS!
I'll see you all soon...

Thu, Jul 6-Fri, Jul 7: THAI AIRWAYS INTL LTD, TG 0985
From: BANGKOK, THAILAND (BKK) map
Departs: 11:10pmThu, Jul 6
Departure Terminal: TERMINAL 1
Gate: Check for latest information

To: PERTH, AUSTRALIA (PER) map
Arrives: 6:55amFri, Jul 7
Arrival Terminal: TERMINAL 1 INTERNATIONAL


Class: Economy
Seat: Check-In Required
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: J4SHH4
Meal: Meals
Smoking: No
Aircraft: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE 330 JET
Mileage: 3327
Flight Time: 6 hour(s) and 45 minutes

HAPPY 45th BIRTHDAY!

MY MUMMY!

You have lived 45 Years & I have been blessed to be there for 21 of them! YOU ARE A BLESSING... And I'm crying!

I MISS YOU XOXO... I'll see you soon!
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!
I hope to live out everything that you and dad have taught me!
I LOVE YOU! XOXO
Shane

see also: 45 today... & May everyday be Mothers Day...

Moving on up... moving on up... time to break free... nothing can stop me!

Ok... well actually... we just moved EAST (about 5 hours by train)... not Up! & Well... we didn't need to break free from Kantharalak (it was kinda weird & sad to leave)... and we actually had to stop a few time on the train trip... at train stations...

I don't know... that song just came to mind... IT KINDA WORKS?!? In an opposite kinda way :-)

WE ARE HERE... I'm not actually even sure of the name of this city... FOR about 1&1/2 weeks. We are staying at a church - the pastor of this church is the brother of the pastor we worked with back in Kantharalk.

I will keep you posted on what we will be doing here. I guess that we will most likely be doing some english teaching in schools or an english camp :-) but i don't even know that for sure. hehe SO WHEN I DO... I'LL LET YOU KNOW!

Sorry guys... i just really wanted to let you know what was going on here in Thailand... but I'm not really sure myself yet. Right now all i know is that PULSE WON STATE YOUTH GAMES... and TOM (my bro) PUNISHED THE STICK DANCE!!! YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

SERIOUSLY... 21!

(check out that NEW Blog Banner - by Shehan Abrahams!) Shesh seriously... You are ABSOLUTELY AMAZING BRO! If i was at home i would have fully been trying to make a B'day Banner for my BLOG... and here I am in Thailand without FLASH! AND SHESH COMES TO THE RESCUE! THANK YOU MAN... IT LOOKS SWEET MAN!

Hey crew... TODAY IS THE BIG DAY... the BIG... TWO... ONE. 21?

Last night we Kicked of the celebrations at 12 oclock... we got on our FLIP FLOPS and went for a walk to the nearest (and only in Kantharalak) 7/11 - a 24hr convinience store! We stocked up on junk (just like we would of at home)... and then attempted to eat it ALL... it was sweet except for the sick feeling we had in our tummies after! It was worth it ;-) hehe

Today we have just been hanging out. We thought it was going to be a clean up day around the Church where we are staying... but something kinda happened to that... and now we are just PUNISHING the hang out?!? SWEET! I don't know how i got the DAY OFF?

THANKS SO MUCH CREW FOR ALL YOUR SMS, EMAILS & PHONE CALLS AND BLOG BANNERS!!!! You guys have seriously ALL made my day! I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! AND MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY! I'll see you guys in AUZ July 7!

GOD BLESS!
XOXO
Shane

ALMOST ANOTHER YEAR... I'm trusting it has been EVERYTHING it should have been!

ME ON TOMS BIKE
Originally uploaded by Shane Beckingham.

Wow... try writting that in your blog's post title & try to not start to cry (thats what i'm doing). Well atleast with the tears welling up... standing in the security of God's loving hands & knowing He has a plan... somehow it all seems OK! :-)

ALMOST 21 YEARS OLD! I remember something that God spoke to me earlier in DTS... "How can a Man make something of His life? How can he make a name for himself that lasts? How can he ensure that he makes a difference for the Kingdom? IN & OF himself he can ENSURE nothing! But if He trusts in God and follows... HE CAN BE SURE!"

Now I have another year to continue to respond to that... MAY IT BE ALL THAT MY KING HAS PLANNED!

So on Thursday, 1st June I will be 21! I'm pretty sure that I am set to miss ALL of you big time on my Birthday! YEAH THATS PRETTY MUCH A GIVEN! hehe :-)

I love you guys!
GOD BLESS YOU!
Shane (sticks) Beckingham

Spend a day in an internet cafe? Who would do that? :-)

What do you do on a day off? Well if your me... I guess you come to the local Kantharalak Internet Cafe - its not much of a cafe actually... but they do have internet here... it kinda works ok ;-)

Today we just get an opportunity to hang out... so i put up some more photos of what is going on here, in Kantharalak!

On both Saturday & Sunday I got to be a Radio DJ for an hour! "Welcome to 106.2 FM" - Well i think Piyarat said that in Thai... i just smiled and looked nice :-) Piyarat (my DTS staff) was the radio host & my translator... she did great! It's kinda crazy when you think that the area this radio station services has about 2 million people in it. So maybe 2 million people tuned in... OK I guess maybe a few less did... it was still AWESOME anyway! The first day we PUNISHED a whole lot of english songs (United, David Crowder & Switch Foot) & the second day we HIT those thai songs (School of Worship 04 & 05). I got to share about being a Christian in Australia & being a Christian furan (foreigner) here in Thailand! As well as share a whole lot more! I even made a SHOUT OUT to all the DTS crew! PUNISH THAT!!!

Well I have to run... we have to get back to talk about what to teach the kids tomorrow at school... and to go to a WEDDING RECEPTION (it had been canceled the last 2 nights on account of RAIN... so tonight it might actually happen!) I let you know :-)

How do you WRAP things up?!

Two days ago, Monday, 15th May, we left base at 4:45PM. I was the last one packed as was predicted, must have had something to do with the 2 hours sleep the night before. I had to try and wrap things up... "try and get my house in order" as usual! It takes something like outreach to make me complete the things that need to be :-) I spent the night burning "The God's Story VCDs" & burning photos to cd for some crew + hanging out with the all nighters :-) I think things are alot more exciting when there is the prospect of not being ready to leave hanging over your head! Is it really the only way i pack?

This last week (last lecture week & the weekend) was packed out... well as much as was humanly possible! So it must be possible to live with only 2 hours sleep! It was pretty much all we allowed for! Alot of nights we averaged watching 3 movies a night & then ended up sleeping in the class room. As DTS ends we're trying to make the most of it... knowing that it's not long until it will not be the same. So we grab after every last moment when life & these relationships are this easy. Soon they will be harder & a 7+ hour flight, but their worth will not change! The end doesn't look easy (leaving for outreach was hard enough), but it will be the start of the rest that God has planned (Psalm 139:16).

So here we are, 24 hours worth of travel later @ KANTHARALAK CHURCH - the envangelical fellowship of Thailand. It is a small church of 20-30ish people at high season (when people are back from working away). This Church has had alot of YWAM teams come through in it's 6 years & they are seeking to reach out to the community.

We arrived here at about 4:30PM, yesterday - Tuesday night. Unpacked some of our stuff. I'm sharing a double bed with Will and Johno bagsed the floor! The girls are all sleeping on mattresses in 1 rooms, then Pi Num Yai & Pi Nam Khang are in the other room.

The first thing i did was PUT MY PHONE OF CHARGE! Now we'll see what happens :-)

May everyday be Mothers Day...

My mum
Originally uploaded by AlbinoAsian.

This is TRUE of the one i have the privilege to call my MOTHER...

PROVERBS 31:10-31

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than
rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of
value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her
life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is
like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it
is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant
girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a
vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong
for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the
distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to
the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she
has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She
makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her
husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders
of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the
merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can
laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful
instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her
household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and
call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is
fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward
she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

"I will call her blessed... for the LORD has made all her ways prosper! She speaks truth and life! She can always be trusted! She is honoured in the sight of man & God! She has loved without condition... I will love her forever!"

love... your son

EASTER... A privillage to know!

Easter was an amazing time for me this year. It wasn't the being in Thailand part, but the being in the Kingdom part that meant so much! I think i finally realised some... it's a privillage to know!

If i went through Easter... and if all it meant to me was a whole lot of chocolate eggs, a bunny and a public holiday then the 3 days wouldn't be a big deal. However, I'm willing to believe that Easter is a BIG DEAL! I have 3 days to try and understand what Jesus did... and at the end of it still not comprehend... but marvel at everything He did!


On that Friday// my Saviour was betrayed, arrested, falsey accussed in a trial that was a sham(the people in power found no fault in Him... desiring to set Him free), wipped & beatened, mocked and spat at, sentenced to death, still he spoke forgiveness, died on a cross with people left saying "Surely this was the Son of God!" - Mark 15:39

Saturday// He was in the tomb & still the Pharisees feared Him! "The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."" - Matthew 27:62-64

Sunday// He rose from the dead! Appeared to people! CHANGED MY LIFE! "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." - Revelation 1:18


As I sought to honour Jesus with the 3 days of Easter... God took me on the journey with Him! I'm thankfull that i can try and understand his suffering for me and see what it should now mean to my life! I want to respond to Him... a response that required my life! Why would the King of Everything... the One who deserves all glory come down to earth to bring me back to Him! That doesn't seem to add up! STILL I AM CONVICED THAT EASTER IS A BIG DEAL! MY WHOLE LIFE & ETERNITY WAS CHANGED BY IT!

JESUS RECIEVE YOUR GLORY!

Princess

Today my princess became 1 year older. It's amazing what one sleep will do... yesterday she was one day younger & then came the sunrise. My heart is full of love for her & eyes full of tears of joy. My King said that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. I'm sure that He has done this for us in giving us her! Beautiful, precious, Godly, honourable, clever & intelligent, she is everything that honours the King & makes people wonder at what must be in store for her future. For now we believe for another year filled with God's blessing and after that for a life of the same. I love you my princess and so does our family. Camille... You are our blessing, daughter and sister! HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY!!!!! xoxo

Open My Eyes

For DTS I had to read a book... I read a book on Spiritual Warfare by Dean Sherman
As the book report... I wrote a song, "Open My Eyes"

You can check it out here

Wow!! Where did all the time go?!? I feel like i just got back from OUTreach and I'm going OUT again... I think the proof of that is in the Cha Yen>> the last time i Blogged i had just got back from outreach & the time before i was just leaving to go there! Confusing hey?!? So how can i summerise this 4 weeks before another 2 get away :)

Well straight up it has gone just amazingly quick... but not to quick to make decissions. Each day has been a day where i have been able to choose to seek what God has instore with an open and teachable heart or to just wander through. And there have been times of wander. But there have been times of God speaking clearer than the light of day! And it seems to be up to wether i want to listen to Him or not. This is the struggle of alot of humans i think... somedays we just drift through... (and I'm thankfully for the weekend so i don't mean days of chilling, but just days that we don't acknowledge God) Will i choose for today to be rightfully God's or will it be unrightfully mine. So my resolve is to give it rightfully to God! Maybe not as easy as it sounds, but definately not as hard as I make it out to be. And I am comforted as a think about all the things God has taught me so far on DTS & what amazing truths that He is just looking for an oportunity to pour out.

so 4 weeks of lectures have passed... But I'll just let you know about some of it.
Teaching on: Sin & Repentance / Openess & Brokeness
Coming into that week i was abit unsure. I had my reservation i think? I knew/thought there could be some aspect of public confession of sin & I wasn't too sure of that. Do I have to dig up all my past? It's forgiven. I had read the scriputre before about "confess your sin to one another and you will be healed". Before the week started i was sitting down and was in the proccess of Gin Cow (eating food/rice) and chatting with some of the crew here. They shared their reservation about digging things up to speak things out & I replied pretty confidently... yeah i'm not really worried about this week... I think thinking that there was really nothing that I hadn't confessed before God. And as the week went on i realised that was true. But there were some things that I had never shared with anyone else. So as God spoke to me i started to share. The enemy had spoken to me before saying you haven't ever said anything about it... you're scared... you haven't really been forgiven because you're hiding... if you had you wouldn't be! So things needed to come out into the open, but the reason they had never come out before was that they needed to stay where no one could see them? Well so I thought? God has brought about healing in this... and thats better than hiding in a corner of some room. So pray about taking the opporunity to step into openess with God and maybe one of his people aswell.

SO WHAT NOW!!! Chiang Rai? When: This Sunday! & What are we doing there? ...well thats a good question... & thats where it gets EXCITING!!! We don't really know! :-) All we know is
that God has spoken to some people in our team of 11 people to go to a village near Omkoi
(about 3 hours out of Chiang Rai). We have decided to go for around 4-5 days & other than that everyday we will simply pray and ask God where He wants us to go and what He wants us to do! There are 2 other team going to Chiang Mai to just follow whatever God says! Thanks for your prayers! This is gunna be amazing! I can't wait to see what God has planned. Going with no planned accomodation or purpose leaves alot open... so i praise God for that!

Back... well... kinda home!

We're back @ the DTS base after 2 weeks of outreach! What a great, blessed 2 weeks it has been! It had its fair share of hard labor work. We moved a lot of dirt around & around & around and hand mixed a bulk load of cement (the roof was up and the walls were partly built so we were laying the foundation the "thai way"... second). The bucket line we had going worked a treat! But we also were blessed to really be given opportunities to pray for people too! For the grandmother of the chief when she was sick, to pray blessing for kids on their birthdays, to prayer walk, to pray for a guy to be set free, to bless the church & it's people, & pray for the chief too...

I've cranked up some pictures so you can see what it kinda looked like
and Straight up... heres a glimpse of what our lingo was like while we were in the hisouse "don't hold back... CUT LOOSE!!" "I'm just gunna GO FOR IT!!!" "Gin Cow guys... Gin Cow!!!!" "God is good all the time... All the Time God is good!!" "that pretty much what I'm talking about..." "...and I'm not even kidding"

I think the biggest think that I learnt on outreach was that God does give and he takes away. No matter if I have a lot (have it all easy) at this moment or have nothing (finding it hard) I will bless the name of the Lord! He is truly good to me no matter where I am & what my circumstances are. I was feeling pretty taken back as I knew tom was flying out of Thailand back home. I was counting the minutes till he would touch down at home. And realizing that I was only 1 plane ticket away from being together with the WHOLE family again was pretty pressing on my heart! But God spoke something to me in my time of having less than what I would have loved (feeling like I was in a desert place). Whether God gives me time to be with my family or takes that time away... I will praise His name... It is best that his name be blessed no matter what. God bless you my family!!!


Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Oh, There's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Well Blessed be your name

Matthew 19:29

And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or
mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as
much in return and will have eternal life.

What A Friend I've Found - Delirious

what a friend i've found
closer than a brother
i have felt your touch
more intimate than lovers

Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, you're my friend forever

what a hope i've found
more faithful than a mother
it would break my heart
to ever lose each other

Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, you're my friend forever

Here I go!

I will be away for 2 weeks starting from today (sunday). we are leaving @ 2pm and traveling about 45 minutes from here (from Chiang Rai). The village we are going to is called Hui Nam Rim. It on a mountain. We will be working with a Pastor called Aje. We will be helping to build the cement foundation of what is I believe their first cement CHURCH building there. I think that there has been a church (people) there for a while... but now we will be helping them have a new place to meet.

Please pray for protection while we are there... For both us & the stuff we are taking with us. I believe the area we are going to has issues in these things. We have been encouraged not to go off alone. But God is strong! He knows the place that we are going to & what will happen which make confident. Your prayers would be a blessing!

As a DTS we have split into 4 teams for this outreach... we are all going to different locations in northern Thailand. So please pray for them as well.

I think i will be without internet & phone coverage for the 2 weeks... so that will be interesting for me ;-) Crazy hey!!

love you all!
Speak soon!
God bless!

Sweet McGrega

Guys... how long has it been since i have posted!!!
SORRY GUYS ABOUT THAT ONE!! & a just as HUGE apology for my lack of emailing everyone & anyone! I was bad at that back at home... so i pray i start to get abit better at that here! I miss you guys heaps! xoxo


So a quick summary of the massive amount of gear that has gone on in this last 4ish weeks must be in order. (there is NO WAY I COULD HAVE SAID THAT IN THAI... At least not yet :-D )

Well I guess thats a good place to start... :-) PASA THAI = Thai Language
MAN WHAT A LANUAGE! Yesterday when trying to introduce Dad, Mum & Tom to the crew here at DTS I accidently said MUM was a Dog/Horse or something like that... HOW GOOD IS THAT! just incase you don't know yet. I think PASA THAI has aleast 4 different tones you can use for any one word... the only problem is that it changes its meaning totally... FROM MUM TO DOG (Kortort Krup MUM :-) = excuse me MUM)

BUT ON A POSSITIVE PASA THAI NOTE... I am actually learning some thai. Like the basic greating... food names... how to say > where? here! there!... and heaps of other cool gear! :-) But man you should hear TOM speak thai... thats cool!

Hey well i live in a village that is called Barn Den (sorry about the spelling... that will take me even longer than the speak thai i think). The word for Village is Moo Barn. So you say to the bus driver... Moo Barn Barn Den (but Barn Den for short). And this viallge i live in has alot of christian kids boarding houses here. So that is cool! This is kinda hard to explain... but i think that each Moo Barn has a Village leader & there might be like 20 properties in our Moo Barn. But just next door is the next Moo Barn... so its not like we are all by ourselves. OK! hope that helps.

Probably the next big news is that we have just finished 4 weeks of lectures so that has ben teaching on 1.Prayer 2.Worship 3. Character, Nature & Father Heart of God 4.Relationships.
& that has been awesome. I have honestly learnt alot about Worship & Prayer. That Worship & Prayer both are about being honest with God from our hearts and loving him from there & then the actions and express follow (singing, music, dancing, prayer & other gear). I definatly don't have it all figured out but I am trying to Worship God out of my heart and the overflow. & this might be crazy to say... but i think that before there has been alot of times when i have got through to the 2nd last song in the music set at church and still haven't really wanted or asked or desired God to have my heart... and still have that abit here... but God is getting me to be more open and honest with him quicker... which is sweet!

I love you guys and i hope that made sense and maybe helps you abit.

Now that 4 weeks is up we are going on 2 weeks of outreach. I am going with a stack of other furungs (foreigners) & a few thais (champs) up into some mountain. I will try and find out where so i can tell you all... but we must be called the Aje team for some reason... maybe that is where we are going. But Aje in Thailand not Aje in Indonesia. We will be leaving on Sunday at 2pm to go for 2 weeks... and i will be with out my phone... but thats not too scary... but please pray for us. We will be helping to build a church & i think it is the first church building they have had there. Please pray for protection as the area is apparently not that safe for anyone to go of alone. I don't know exaclty why... but that is what we have been told. But we will not be affraid cause God is there with us... AWESOME!

I have to go cause @ 11 the computer has to go off.
God bless you guys. and sorry that this has been so long in the PROVERBIAL!
Speak soon!
xoxo

UPDATE... BETA VERSION

hey crew... missing you all as much as G-DOG misses his HOOD!

It is seriously past my bed time so I'm making it my goal this weekend to update you guys on whats actually happening here in the THAILAND DTS hood! Thanks so much for your emails, sms, SHOUTBOX msgs, and phone calls! They all mean so much to me!!! love you guys heaps! i will write back ASAP!!!

I'VE CRANKED UP SOME NEW DTS PHOTOS... so click on the "Pictures" button just above this post or click here!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
love the stix ... or as they say here in Thailand STICKY MAN! :-) or Mr. Sud Yod (my thai spelling isn't quiet up to my thai speaking level yet :-)

In da house!!!

hey crew :-)

Just a quick post to let you all know that i am in the Thailand hood now!! I had a cool flight over... I will give you the details now :-) and maybe crank some of my journal (first entry) up here later!

Well as some of ya know i cranked out of Perth at 9 on Friday morn & that was a good flight, but fully long! I couldn't believe it... I thought "are they taking me somewhere cause this seems longer than you think on the map!!!" But NO.. we got there! so i hung out for about an hour in the transit area and got my first ASIAN FLAVOURED MENTOS - 1. red orange & 2. something else! hehe :-) and then back on the plane to Bangkok. I kept falling alseep and kinda heard them say something about an extra 45 mintues. Well when i final woke up from my half dazed state i found that my connecting flight was due to leave in 20 minutes and we were only just touching down!!! so i did the good old RUN! and finally got to the transit area and then sat around for about 2+ hours :-) but then again. so did everyone else. All the flights were delayed. and mine circled bangkok for 45 minutes and i wasn't alone on that one! but met a Christian couple that are working with World Vision up in Chiang Rai... so it was actually a blessing in the end! so finally got on the plane and cranked to Chiang Rai! I got in and was collecting my bags... but as every second past i realised that so did the chance of my 2nd bag turning up! So filed a missing bag report, met some DTS crew and was on my way!

The LOTS BAG was found today it came in from somewhere on a plane :-) with the way the Chiang Rai airport was last night it could have gone to africa and back! But God blessed me big time and i got all my stuff in the end (clean clothes... yay!!)

well i gotta run and get tea!! but seriously miss you all big time! this feels abit crazy being here, but good at the same time!

AND A MASSIVE HAPPY WEDDING TO LUKE & NAOMI - so spewing i couldn't be there with you guys today!

God bless you all!
love the traveling stick - shane :-)

DANCE like G-Dog

learn to dance like Napoleon Dynamite

click here

Peluca

click here to see Peluca...

the short film that inspired Napoleon Dynamite. Featuring John Heder & written by Jared Hess. SWEET!! It's... Amazing!!! It's Awesome

May you all have an awesome CHRISTmas as we Thank GOD 4 sending our KING JESUS! Praise God that He is what CHRISTmas is all about!

Seemingly an IRIVER Update

As we speak I am listening to music on my new and improved Iriver H320 (mp3 player)! Was just about to blog something... as I haven't blogged for sometime and plus my mate Shehan checks my blog each day to see if I have updated. But before I began I thought to see if the awesome people at Iriver had been busy at work on a firmware upgrade for my H320. Well what a pleasant surprise! V1.29K has arrived :-) YESS!!! - Napoleon Dynamite moment. You can check out the details here.

On a more serious and eternal note... I am really thankful for this mp3 player. Some people may say it is just technology... and fair call... but as i am heading off to Thailand I am blessed to be able to take a whole bunch of worship music over there with me. Just then it was Approx. 29 days 00h 44m 13s till I leave Perth for Thailand for 6 months (if go on one of a few different flights)! What a step... what an adventure... maybe what a test... even maybe a trial... but definitely God's will and that makes it the best place I can be! A friend said they believe I will be a man of many sorrows... like my king. Someone who will look at the people around and feel their pain and sorrow… and I PRAY know what God desires me to do. I don't know what God has in store, but I wait like a kid the morning before Christmas. This seems like the present I have waited all my life to open... I have picked it up... felt it... shook it & listened to see what I heard move around inside it... but NOW finally... the wrapping is being TORN OFF! HERE WE GO!

Bro. Ferdie Flores WEBSITE UPDATE

(TAKEN FROM FBC's WEBSITE - CONNECTED to Ferdie Flores)


UPDATE

November 1, 2005

As of this morning we had received dozens of e-mails and phone calls from several countries from many concerned parties requesting information concerning rumors about the impending execution of Bro. Ferdie Flores. Apparently the information is circulating via e-mail and SMS. I've contacted a source close to Bro. Flores regarding those rumors. That source has responded as follows:

"The information you have received is not correct. That information has been going all over the Philippines and even to the States the last couple of days. Actually Ferdie and his family have experienced quite a bit of persecution recently instigated by the Roman Catholic Church. Several threats have been made by priests, but there has not been any physical harm done to Ferdie as of yet. Although last week a mob of about 250 people did surround Ferdie with stones, sticks, and machetes, but the Lord intervened and the crowd was dispersed without incident. As of now things are calm, but could erupt at any time. Ferdie has requested much prayer. But, he was never arrested and was never scheduled for execution as was reported. Hopefully this will clear things up for you. Thank you for writing."

This is all the information we have at this time. Further updates will be posted on this page as we deem necessary to do so.

While we praise the Lord for this report, we do want to encourage you to continue in prayer for the Flores family.

Widest dissemination of this information is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Robert D. Monteith

Pastor

FBC CHURCH's email response

Faith Baptist Church
Misawa, Japan

Dear Friends,

Thank you for the many kind e-mails expressing your concern for Bro. Ferdie Flores. I've updated our website with all the information we have at this time. You can view this update and any future updates at

http://www.fbc-misawa.org/missionaries/Flores.htm

Again, we thank you for your concern and prayers.

Sincerely,
Pastor Monteith

More... Regarding Ps. Ferdie

Extract from BIMI World - Online Magazine, simply describing some of his life.

Ultimately, Bruce and Jeanne are joyful because their ministry has come full circle. One of the Bible College graduates is committed to going to East Timor to plant churches. Ferdie Flores, already a seasoned church planter and pastor of Linamon Baptist Church, in a town two hours from Cagayan de Oro City, has resigned his church. Seeing Ferdie move toward a ministry in missions is particularly gratifying to Bruce and Jeanne because Ferdie was one of their first converts when they arrived in the Philippines. After Ferdie came to the Lord in 1987, he faced severe opposition from his family in Mindanao. They had planned for him to have a successful career as an engineer in the Middle East and support the education of his five sisters.

Ferdie remained faithful and attended Lapasan Baptist College. By the time he had graduated, both of his parents and all of his sisters had become Christians and were baptized into the fellowship of Lapasan Baptist Church. Ferdie’s deputation period is over and the Flores family arrived in East Timor in April 21, 2001. With his wife and two young daughters, he is presently living in the capital city of Dili, with a population of approximately 200,000. They are learning the Tetun language, and will eventually begin a work in one of the smaller villages outside Dili. Pray for them in this potentially dangerous and certainly frightening field.

Bruce wrote in a recent missionary letter after reporting on his resignation from Lapasan Baptist Church: “On July 30, my last Sunday as pastor, we had 899 persons in attendance on Sunday morning with four people saved, ten baptisms, and three transfers of membership. When I think back to when Jeanne and I first arrived in 1986 and then look at what God has done in this place in spite of us, it is just simply amazing. May Jesus Christ be praised!”

Adoniram Judson took a step of faith and preached the gospel in a country most people of his time didn’t know existed. Years later, Bruce Rice read Adoniram Judson’s biography and followed the Lord to the Philippines. There he would eventually meet and mentor a young man who would hear the same call to a land equally unknown to most people as Burma was in 1812.

We can only wait to see whom Ferdie Flores will touch in East Timor and where the mission call might take those new Christians. It is true that God has no grandchildren, but He has a long line of older brothers and sisters who pass on a testimony of His promises and faithfulness to the next generation.

And this is a link to a blog with peoples comments regarding the sms'

http://speak-not.blogspot.com/2005/10/pray.html

Like one person on that blog said, "...the rumour of his execution are inaccurate, thank the Lord!"

TRUELY WE DO HAVE THIS TO PRAISE HIM FOR!!!

Prayer Board

this site
http://light-a-candle.org/

is a Prayer Board site. There have been many prayers for Ps. Ferdie Flores & also many statements quoting the FBC site stating the facts as 'inaccurate'.

In the end it is God who knows what their needs are... so we are taking it to the right place. To him!

REGARDING Ps. Ferdie Flores - email to church

Here is an email that i have sent to a church... that seems to be connected to the missionary Ps. Ferdie Flores. (the subject of a large number of sms' 31.10.05)
I will post The Church's response here on this site when i received one.

Dear people at Faith Baptist Church in Misawa, Japan.
http://www.fbc-misawa.org/

My name is Shane Beckingham from Perth Australia, I attend a church here in Perth.

I am writing to you regarding the Flores Family. Today (31st of October) we have experienced a major prayer chain phone message for Ps. Ferdie Flores from East Timor. The message has been sent around a major number of churches here. And many people have been earnestly praying for Ps. Ferdie and his family. Even myself included. However, we have come across your site... and seen your page written by Ps. Ferdie

http://www.fbc-misawa.org/missionaries/Flores.htm

I am so amazed at how many people have really been praying for them & i would like to encourage people to continue to pray for them!
However, i desire that they can pray about the truth & persecution that the family does still face.

Can you please confirm for us that this phone message has not been totally ACCURATE.
And inform us of how we can continue to pray for this family.

We have been encouraged through this situation... feeling called to pray for the persecuted.

Thank You in Christ!
Shane Beckingham



(THEN I SENT)

I forgot in my email to you earlier to mention that the phone messages stated
"Please pray for Pastor Ferdi Flores, missionary in East Timor. he is going to be executed tomorrow by beating.please forward to Christians". This would mean for us that he will be executed on the 1st of November.

Thankyou for your help to know the truth.
shane

here you can see a large list of missionary pages stored on the Faith Baptist Church's web server. http://www.fbc-misawa.org/missionaries/

or see the family listed specifically under their ASIA page
http://www.fbc-misawa.org/asia.htm

These claims may or may not be true. And i don't desire to ask people to cease praying for this family, but may we pray even more for the missionaries around the world!

What is the Direction?

some BIG NEWS in the HOOD :-)

most of the People i know will probably know the news... but there are some out there that might not so wanted to post it here on my BLOG. Now everyone will understand when i say... "I CAN'T WAIT FOR JANUARY!" :-)

on the 11/09/2005 at 22:59 i got an email accepting me to the 2006 YWAM Discipleship Training Schools in Chiang Rai. This is going to be HUGE for me! I can't wait to see what God will teach me... how He will shape me and weed out junk in my life! Inspire me and teach me to serve Him with more zeal! What an adventure...! I will miss my FAM HEAPS & my Friends! Even still I will follow!

Psalm 119:1-19

This is such a blessing to me... these words give me hope for what is ahead! LORD I thank You... because You have shown me the direction and I will follow You!

Psalm 119:1-19 (The Message Version)

1 You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD.

2 You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.

3 That's right--you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set.

4 You, GOD, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it.

5 Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set;

6 Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.

7 I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.

8 I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me.

9 How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word.

10 I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.

11 I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt.

12 Be blessed, GOD; train me in your ways of wise living.

13 I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth;

14 I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches.

15 I ponder
every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it.

16 I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it.

17 Be generous with me and I'll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road.

18 Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders.

19 I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions.

OBEY... YOU

This song feels like it is straight from God to where I am at... cutting right to my heart... bringing conviction.


To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice
by Keith Green

To obey is better than sacrifice
I don't need your money
I want your life
And I hear you say that I'm coming back soon
But you act like I'll never return

Well you speak of grace and my love so sweet
How you thrive on milk, but reject My meat
And I can't help weeping of how it will be
If you keep on ignoring My words
Well you pray to prosper and succeed
But your flesh is something I just can't feed

To obey is better than sacrifice
I want more than Sunday and Wednesday nights
Cause if you can't come to Me every day
Then don't bother coming at all
La,la,la etc.

To obey is better than sacrifice
I want hearts of fire
Not your prayers of ice
And I'm coming quickly
To give back to you
According to what you have done
According to what you have done

MY PRAYER:
May i OBEY You GOD! I don't want to ignore Your words anymore... You are meant to be my LORD! I should follow You in all Your request. I NEED Your forgiveness for not coming to you everyday! I want to have a real relationship with You... not just on the days that i am in church... God You know that this is true! Make in me a heart of fire... that will be ablaze with Your light.

MY BLOG?

You may have noticed that something is not right with my BLOG & its something other than me actually posting for once :-) hehe. My pictures and countdown timer arent working... its something to do with my IINET hosting - so please be patient with that.

Well this problem has produced something good... I thought i should POST... firstly to let you know what is going on with my blog, but secondly to let you know what is going on in my life.

EVERYTHING has been FULL ON this last few weeks. I think i've experienced a whole gamet (hehe that word just jumped into my head, heard someone else say that before and then we all laughed at how OLD SCHOOL it is) of emotions.

• I have been soooooo!!!!! stoked(happy) with getting to spend almost a MONTH with TOM (my bro) while he has been on holidays back here from Thailand. I just love him STACKS... and i show that with alot of kisses, hugs & my prickly beard (all these things TOM loves!... but in moderation... and still maybe not the beard) hehe :-) No guessing what my Love Language is!?! He's back in Thailand... serving OUR KING... doing what he loves most. Go it Bro!!! That brings with it sadness... but Joy that he is doing what God want him to!
  
• I have been HEAPS! flat out with EXO. It is such an awesome event that Christians run in local High Schools around Australia to share The Gospel of Jesus Christ with the students. It went really awesome in our school with a Christian Band (doing both secular & christian song - all recieved awesomely by the students), a free BBQ for 900 STUDENTS (crazy?... YES! worth it?... For Sure!), Testimonies (they were HUGE... one Yr 8 student just proclaimed the grace of God... quoting JOHN 3:16 and saying what it means to His life!... go it Seth!) It was soooo good, but full took it out of me. PLEASE PRAY that as this outreach continues... this Friday Night... Students who are going to come to a Christian Youth Event will be convicted and give there lives to Jesus!
• And in the middle of all of this I strugle with the sin that so easly entagles us... BUT READ ON! CAUSE WE WILL THROW IT OFF IN JESUS NAME!
  

HEB 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

HEB 12:4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

HEB 12:6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

HEB 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

HEB 12:12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

This is AWESOME! We must be disciplined for our sins because GOD loves us! And this discipline may not seem pleasent at the time (we may ask... why do i need to follow God... why His ways and not my own), but we will see in the end that we are HIS Children... and we will see a harvest of righteousness and peace... BECAUSE HE TRAINED us!

I LOVE YOU LORD! Thanks for your faithfulness to me!