Seeds and Fruits 

The beginning of the year arouses my thoughts of a brand new start,  such as sowing seeds for a future harvest. The Word of God in the Bible is also depicted as a seed in the human heart.  Since last year, I have had more opportunities for contact with our university students in the dormitory, and sometimes I feel a bit frustrated when I observe their talk and their walk.  However, it also reminds me to question whether I am a teachable person in God's Word.

Our students have been Christians for at least 2 years before they enter into our scholarship program.  They have also received basic discipleship training and have been involved in regular service at their home church.  However, some of them become fascinated with worldly things, especially those that are really ‘attractive' to their hearts like materialism, a sense of superiority or special privileges.  Others may be on the opposite side:  they have become used to sharing their desire to serve God, thanking God for His grace and protection or miracles that God has done for them.  During the sharing on Thursday evenings, they take turns leading the Bible studies, and I feel that sometimes they are just doing their ‘duty,' instead of having a passion for God's Word.  It also reflects on my ministry that sometimes the service just came from ‘obligation' instead of a fervent heart to serve.   I would like to share with you some situations that they face in the following paragraphs:

Punctuality Vs Sincerity

We have a problem that people are always coming late for worship, prayer meetings or regular gatherings.  Perhaps it is due to their cultural perspective of time and spatial perspective (being an agricultural country).  Even though they may arrive on time, they won't come into the chapel until they see more people are inside or the program has started.  Sometimes, the praise leader may come late (or be absent), and they will wait until it is absolutely necessary to begin.  However, when it is the time we share about our experience in God, they express their gratitude and willingness to serve God.  It makes a contrast that we appreciate God's grace but we come to worship Him with a casual heart.

Emotion Vs Practice in Truth

There was a student who had a fight with a graduate in public.  Actually, they were relatives and friends when they stayed in the dorm.  Afterwards, both felt ashamed and did not want to attend church because of their embarrassment.  One thinks that he lost ‘face' because he was hit by a junior brother, the other one felt worried about criticism by the church members.  I tried to ask them to face the problem face to face but they never have the courage.  Their egos overwhelm the proper way to solve their conflict as the Bible has told us - Love your neighbor as you love yourself; lay down your offering to God until you get reconciled with your brother.  It makes a hindrance in the growth of faith if we put our feelings before the truth of God.

Survival Vs Uprightness

Some students thank God because they can escape from the police although they did not wear a helmet or install a side mirror on their motorcycles.   To them it may be already taken for granted that police are the ‘BAD GUYS,' because they do nothing but take money from ‘innocent' people.  It seems it doesn't matter what issues are involved.  Actually, we all know that wearing a helmet is an important safety measure to protect life and has nothing to do with corruption, especially as there are lots of fatal traffic accidents here in the city or countryside.  The things we should do become confused with survival from UNLUCKY ENCOUNTERS.  As long as it costs us money or effort, they say, ‘I don't care.'  It makes our lives have double standards in words and deeds.

May God have mercy on us that we have the wisdom and courage to do what He has told us for our own good.

Prayer points

1. Thank the Lord that all the 3 overseas teams visited Cambodia safely and fruitfully

2. May the Word of God become the root of our faith, especially for our young people in Cambodia

3. May our words and deeds become a testimony to the church members and community

4. Remember the preparation work for the annual mission district meeting in March

5. May God revive more leaders and pastors in our Free Methodist churches

II Peter 1:5

Davis Lam

Cambodia Mail Address: P.O Box 602, Phnom Penh, Cambodia  

Dormitory life

Our graduate, Soklin's wedding