Ben, Julie & Elijah James Alexander Zambra ARE IN THE HOUSE...

Well... Almost... :-)

tonight @ 11:30 the family of 3 who when they left Perth the last time where not quite yet are family of 3 but not just a family of 2 will fly into the hood. They are here for Russ & Beks wedding (which i will be groomsmaning at) and to show of the lovely new baby. It's gunna be a great week coming up, but it is going to be as busy as anything.

I'm sure i will see you at the other side...
of the week that is :-)

P Plate Drivers? to be or not to be...

This Wednesday just passed I cruised on down to the licensing centre in Kelmscott to undergo a rigorous test. To be scrutinised on my HAZARD PERCEPTION SKILLS!!! Good skills hey?

Would the ROAD ever be the same again if I was on it? Would you hand in your license just to get out of my way?

HERE IS HOW IT WENT...

BEFORE & AFTER
(click on the links above to download the .MP3 files to you computer and then play it)

On this FOUNDATION we stand?

I went along to a youth rally tonight... I became desperate for God to speak. Just praying "Lord what is with me and what is with my desires?" Feeling like I have been really just trying to build my own life with my own two hands lately.

Then He spoke "the foundation that you build your life on, you must be willing to stand on!" As I sat there with Him these were my thoughts. If I build my life on persona, charisma, words and even my actions I better be willing for those things to be what saves me when I need saving. If I build this life with my own hands and my own plan I will only have sand left when all the sweat and tears are washed away. But if ask God to build my life upon Him I can be sure that He will be the one to save me. His walls will never be shaken and His foundation never washed away!

But I am left with a choice.
PUT MY HOPE IN A HOUSE OF SAND OR CEMENT?
if I build a house (my life) on sand (my own efforts, all things that I have to maintain)... when the storms comes and my foundations are getting washed away and I need saving...I have 2 options left. Stay and be washed away or run to Gods house to find refuge (where it is built on cement). Why not choose the CEMENT in the first place?

I find in my life that when the storm comes all you can think about is the storm... you can't control your emotions and pretend to be something your not anymore. All your efforts that held you together get washed away and you a left with your pile of sand. If we only ever chose God's cement life there would be no need to pretend let alone say we "have it all together" in the first place.

MATTHEW 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Thankyou JESUS that you are preparing a room for me in your FATHER's house!

Forgiveness

This is out of praise to God for FORGIVENESS


click here

Cry of my heart. ONLY YOU!

How I want to do what is right, but I don't seem to do what is right!
I think I want the best, but I choose the worst!
How is this?
Wouldn’t I be committed to do what I know is right.
But why do I choose to commit to everything else first.
What is this war I am in? A war for my heart!
Please win this war! I pray. I know only You will!

A photo of my family on a fully cranking holiday! a big one to remember!

are you serious? 1 day left? what is this... a house for ants? :-)

hey all

pattaya

pattaya
Originally uploaded by Shane Beckingham.

This is a photo of the walking street in Pattaya (from a distance). It's a full on place! It's basically just one street lined with brothels & full of foreigners. Dogey vil! But there is a YWAM ministry, the Tamar Centre, that is working in the area. They are helping to give the prositutes a new life. Praise God that He gives us all new life.

PHOTOS IN THE HOOD

postage stamp

ive put up some more photos on my photo flicker. got heaps more to upload though, but don't have the camera with me today. so keep your eyes on the spot.

You can use the link on the side of this page :-) just over >>> that way a bit

the day after yesterday so its pretty much 5.5 now

this morning we got into the Chiang Mai at 5ish. we jumped on a bus last night at 8:50 and cruised all the way here from Bangkok. it was cool. but now im feeling like i could grab a bit more sleep. that would be pro.

hey check this out. last night when we jumped on the bus. they started playing this movie. the name was MEGIDDO. it looked pretty dodge because it had kid that got consumed by fire and didnt burn up. then he tried and killed his younger brother. then went to this evil looking priest guy and it goes on. so im like man... this is in thai... i cant understand it. whats up with this!

... but i kept trying to follow it. Im going "Tom, this look dodge man". but then i was like "Tom, this look like a movie about the antichrist".

How crazy is that man. jump on a bus in the middle of Thailand. and they chuck on a Christian film. MEGIDDO (hebrew) translates as Armageddon.

http://www.8x.com/films/megiddo/

check it out. they did a pretty good job.

I WONDER WHAT THE PEOPLE ON THE BUS THOUGHT?

by the way. the beast gets chucked in the lake of fire. God kicks it.

I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR HEARTS WHEN THEY WATCHED IT?

6.5 to go

man it flying ahead. its approx. 6.5 days till i will be at home in oz again.

man i have a stack of stories to tell. so i will chuck them up here as time goes on.

Its been a full on time here, but an HUGE time at that! God has blessed tom with great friends here. and i have got to spend a heap of time with them. And know i consider them my mates too.

have to run.
see ya all soon.
Worrrd out!

cranking

today is thursday, that means one day left until my fam heads back to perth. its been a Huge week and a bit!

Its great to hang with the whole fam once more. With five plates set out at the table. we normally set five out at home and then realise that tom is in thailand, except when ryan comes to eat, then the fifth get put back out. :-)

hey Tom is crazy (he is seriously thai) it's true. he speak, lives and eats like one. its amazing and it is God who enables him to speak like he does. His church family put on a feast last night to say goodbye to the rest of our fam and toms mate somphon (full bomber guy!). His church family here is great. fully welcoming to him and everyone who comes.

All toms gdogs (mates) here are full nice. it has been great to meet them all. I feel like they are my mates and i only meet them a few times each. from peoples testimonies here... they are challanged so much, not just DTS but just life in church here... i can only imagine what God will do through the people here.

WORRRD out...
God bless!

my photo blog

go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/50178246@N00/

will chuck some more up soon :D

In the thaiLAND of my brother!

Hey crew.

We are in Chiang Mai! Full up towards the top of Thailand. We jumped on a plane full early this morning and started the trek. After just over 6 hours of flying... we had a "one" hour stop over in Bangkok = 1 hour in the terminal & 1 on the tarmack. But honestly it was really cool :-) On the rest of the plane trip sat right next to some people talking about evangelism. So decided to talk to them. They are here short term, and will be encouraging Christians. Got their email to catch up... go the crew all the way from America!

We got here and booked into our hotel and then went cruisin'...

1. We grabbed our complimentary free drink from the lobby.

2. stopped by MacD's - I cranked out the double cheese burger (i thought of you matty mort - GO THE CHEESE! I got myself a FEEEEEEEDDD!!!!) Mum and Dad got into the PORK burgers? And BRUCE(camille) got into the good old chicken! what a HUGE way to start off in ASIA - the land of the noodle!

3. We stopped by the 7/11 - purchased some pepsi (good chris!!!) - ice & fire flavours? haven't drunk them yet.

4. Dad bought a lovely pair of Board shorts

5. Then we walked all the way here - the internet cafe - costing us a grand total of $1 per hour.

And is's only 15:40 - we got so much more of the day to go. Go the markets night. On friday we should be moving on up to Mai Taeng to visit Tommy. CAN'T WAIT! will keep you posted.

WORRRD OUT!

send me

here are two desktop backgrounds that i have made using some sweet photos taken by my brother, Tom. The first is called "send me" - based on Isaiah 6:8 & the second called "strong fire burn" - about passion for Jesus our Saviour and His Holiness. If you would like these in a larger size feel free to let me know.

strong fire burn

Reconsider Purity!

This post comes from something God has just been stirring in my heart in these last few minutes. And I pray that my frankness will serve as a glimpse of Gods truth & heart on this issue. And all I can give is a glimpse, because his purity and desire for it is so much greater than that of mine and He is completely different to me (HOLY).

RECONSIDER PURITY TODAY! before it is too late. I sit here and see the lust of our hearts. We are corrupt and we don't know it, or desire not to recognize it or we will be undone.

I say as a single person, "I desire purity!" and strive with all my heart to achieve this goal. But should there ever be a time when this Standard is allowed to lapse? Can I come up with any excuse or "reason" that will acquit me for a time that I might have a fling with the lust of this world. OF COURSE NOT! NOT NOW, NOT WHEN MARRIED, NOT EVER! But sadly I believe that Purity is considered to be something for the single. Can I say that this shouldn't be so. That it may be in fact more necessary for the married couple!

When someone is connected to their husband or wife, becomes one body, one flesh (MARRIAGE). Then chooses to give in to the lust of the flesh(yes this includes what is watched on tv & done behind closed doors, alone or together), they also defile their wife or husband. Their body is not their own because it belong to the other person.

I heard it said the other day, and believe it reflects the thoughts of this world (the church is not excluded), "it's ok for me to look at that because i'm married" & "I know that it's dodge, but its ok because they were married." HOW CAN ONE THING REPULSE ONE BELIEVE (single) AND BE OK FOR ANOTHER (married). MY KING IS NOT A GOD OF DOUBLE STANDARDS. I believe it is true that in marriage every thing is meant to be done with complete respect for the other person. 1 Peter 3:7 says this,

"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat
them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious
gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers"

It says, be considerate... and treat them with respect.

A marriage is a God ordained thing (brought into being because He wanted it). It is a reflection of what the relationship will be between God and his bride. You may save yourself for marriage, but when married you must act in the way that pleases God. God's marriage will be lived out in Purity and that is his desire for each person's marriage.

My frankness may seem to say that i believe this is an easy issue to resolve or that i have got it sorted. I do not know the struggles of marriage and don't think that it is easy. However, Reconsider Purity!, because God says in Romans 13:13&14,

"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and
jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not
think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

So choose to put to death the lust of the flesh, don't think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature, because you know that it is wrong.

I pray that God will help you to bring into His light (as in the daytime) your life, whether married or single, that you might understand God's standard of Purity and ask for His Grace to meet it.

My Fam :-) ... well minus the dog and the bird

Here is a pic of my family. Taken just before Tom left for Thailand bout 3 months ago.

A New Freshness

When we begin to second guess people's intentions.
LOOK TO JESUS

When we start to re-think the power of God that we have once know &
trade it in for something less than His All Powerfulness.
LOOK TO GOD

When we've lost our innocence & the world says that's the way it must
be.
TRUST GOD'S RESTORING POWER.

When we live with passion for our King less than a consuming
fire.
ASK GOD TO LIGHT OUR HEARTS AGAIN.

When He reigns in our hearts & rules over our lives.
LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY.

Zechariah 7:9 - "This is what the Lord Almighty says: Judge fairly and honestly, and show mercy and kindness to one another."

In my heart something is happening. A freshness is coming. Honestly for far to long I have been cynical of both God & people. And i hunger once more for the innocence I've known. A heart that doesn't judge or second guess. But trusts and believes!

So I'm look to God's heart! Every time I sin. Every time I repent. I find forgiveness. God doesn't second guess my intentions. Or question my prior motives in my act of sin. Simply, He embraces me. My faults cease to matter anymore.

I'M PRAYING FOR THIS IN MY LIFE.

I don't know anyone who can forgive because they in themselves have the power. Even have of themselves a kind of love that could overlook fault. But I do know people who can do this. So what is the answer to this tension. The answer is - God's love. It is only God's love that can cause this. His Amazing love in us that can produces forgiveness.

And once more I want this to be!

So I'm resolving to let Him change me - my thinking & my heart.

God's word late @ night... does He ever sleep?

God took these words from the pages of His Bible and really spoke them to me late the other night.

PSALM 146

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, I tell myself. I will praise the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God even with my dying breath. Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When their breathing stops, they return to the earth, and in a moment all their plans come to an end.

But happy are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God. He is the one who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He is the one who keeps every promise forever, who gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads. The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. The LORD will reign forever. O Jerusalem, your God is King in every generation! Praise the LORD!

Thats what I talking about :-)

Hey guys :)

I know its been along time. and I would like to say sorry to all those who have been waiting each day for me to write. I would even come to my blog and wonder when this guy was gunna write. "Why hasn't he posted yet....? ahhh.... he must be lazy!" and then I realised it was me... :-)

So here I am. WORRRD to you all!

It been a huge time of late. Since I've last posted we have had STAMPEDE (a highschool outreach event @ Church), which I believe went really well!

And I have started a new job. I've started at WORLD WIDE ONLINE PRINTING. With Peter from church. It is really a great job. Im going to be streached heaps in my design working there. Feeling it already. He is going to give me harder jobs as we go along to see what I can musta (you like that WORRRD?). So tomorrow is my fourth day there. Im in my second week, working Monday & Wednesday, 8:30-5:30!

Its school holidays so it means no doing schools ministry for 1 and 1/2 weeks more, unless we want to talk to the carpark. Doesn't really work that well. :-) just messing.

Im almost off to bed now... gotta get some sleep to get up early tomorrow. and crank some work.

May God bless you all!
Go hard in pursuit of our KING

I'm back by public demand :-)

Hey guys. It's been a long time between blogs... so i'll bring you up to speed :-)

WORK: Well for the most of this year i have been working at a place called Airs Technologies. A company that works on developing air pilot training material. It's been a good time working for a christian boss, but now i feel it's time to move somewhere else.

God is so faithfull and has provided me with a job in a field that i know im going to love. Working at World Wide Online Belmont. And for a Christian boss once again. In 2 weeks im making the big move... and it's exciting... i was alway really interested in graphic design and do the promo material for my Youth Group. (Peter the boss at WWOBelmont goes to the same church as me and does all the printing for Youth Group at cost price - such a blessing). So i will be starting of just getting print jobs ready i think and doing some basic layout and information changes, but will have plenty of opportunity to learn :-)

God is so looking after me.


MINISTRY: It is going great! I guess this is a good time to let you know exactly what me and the crew do.

In School: Ben(our youth pastor), Kym(our schools pastor), Ryan(my ministry mate), Cherub(the school chaplain), and myself run a few different things to see the Gospel spread in Thornlie Senior High School.

Every Tuesday us guys help run a class. The class is called "Study of Teaching". This is a class focused at students who have some interest in going on to be a teacher (or just thought it sounded like an easy class[but it isn't that]) :-) However it is a great class.

What we are doing is help facilitate a mentoring program. Us Christian guys and girls get the opportunity to mentor the yr11's and yr12's that are doing the class as they mentor yr8. It is such an awesome idea. We help them help kids in the school. While been given such a huge opportunity to share God with these Students.

Already through this class and our other contact in the school (for example: Core & State Youth Games) we have seen about 16 people come to know Jesus(ill check that number soon and make it accurate). Those people have become Christians in just about the last 6 months... thats another amazing thing God is doing. Putting us right in the middle of a mini-revival (that how our schools pastor Kym described it & i agree).

Every Thursday we run a lunch time meeting called CORE. It is seriously just CHURCH AT SCHOOL. It goes for their whole lunch time... 20 minutes :-) Out of those 16 students that have chosen to follow God, most of them have come to know Him at CORE. Almost everyweek someone gets saved. It is amazing what our AMAZING GOD is doing. Nothing can hinder His plans. And I'm sure He will get His reward for His suffering, He will have these students as his treasure. He deserves them.

FAMILY: My family is Great! I have such a good relationship with them all. They are all Christian and following the plans God has for their lives.

My Dad: The head of our house... A God fearing & following man. He is an Electronic Engineer... and alot more. He own 2 businesses - Digital Radio Systems & Wialki Electronic. One specialises in Radio communications and the other in Smart Battery-chargers and Power Supplies. My Dad is seriously a technological genius. And a fully anointed worship-leader. God uses him greatly.

My Mum: xoxo. She is the best Mum that I've ever had & if i ever had another one I'm sure she would still be the best! My Mum looks after me. If you stand by me for just one day... you can be sure my mobile will ring.. and you will hear me say "It's my Mum! :-)". I totally don't mind being labelled a mummies boy... especially when it is true. A definatly Godly mother who is beautiful on the outside, but so very beautiful on the inside. My mum is just like the lady in Proverbs 31:10-31.

My Bro: Tom - He is great. He is out on the mission field right now and will be for there next two years. He is an inspiration, because God has called him to Thailand and so that is where he has gone. He had just recently got back from YWAM Thailand in Chang Mai, where he was as a student in the DTS and has just 15 days ago gone back to staff it. Go Tom! Your apart of God's mighty move in Asia. - check out his blog @ http://www.tomdts.blogspot.com

My Sis: Camille - My beautiful Bruce (that is my affectionate name for her. I know it sound like a weird name. But that is why i call her that, it is a stark contrast to what she is really like... the most loveliest sista two brothers could ever have). Bruce is in her last year of High School at Thornlie Christian College. She is the School Captain there and serious from the marks she gets... the top of the class.

I am blessed with a family that has always followed Jesus & will never change it's ways. He is so faithful to us.

Testing this email post thingy

WORD! it works :)

PULSE! PULSE! Give us a wave!

I just got back from a weekend of sport, called State Youth Games. It was great.

Thornlie Church of Christ's team known as Pulse took out second place, only 34 points behind Whitford Church (last years champs). Thats just over one first place (30 points). With so many 3rd placings we were right up there.

We really gave it a good go and had great results. And were without doubt the loudest team there.

Hopefully we can go one up next year.

WORD!!!!

My Bro Inspired Me

Hey all,

Well my bro inspired me to start my own blog.
Seems to be a great thing to keep people up to date with what is going on.
And take this journey of life with other Christians. So may God bless you all.

shane