I am in Laos for the weekend speaking to a group of International Workers. The capital city is Vientiane which sits right across the Mekong River from Thailand just a couple of hours by air from Ho Chi Minh. This small city has a definite "Thai" look as far as its building styles. Even the main terminal has a curved roof that looks "Thai". Then there are the many Buddhist temples that look like what we would expect to find in Thailand.
While we see Buddhist temples in Vietnam of course, they don't appear to be as numerous (I am making this comparison from a wealth of ignorance) nor are they in the Thai style. Buddhism is much more evident here in the person of monks as well as temples.
Laos and Vietnam share the same sad history regarding the war of the 1960's which did not conclude until 1975. Since that time they have shared the same style of government. But while these countries share a border and some history they are quite different in language and culture. I have read about this and now for a couple of days I get to observe the differences.
Let me shift gears and say that we from western cultures in 2011 are very different from those in Israel around 700 BC. Yet we share a sad, strong tendency to sin - even those of us who know and love our God. How fortunate we are that God is gracious and merciful. He is eager to forgive those who look to Him.
Isaiah shares this Good News in many places, two of which I noted this morning. Hear these remarkable gracious words to Israel: "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake and remember your sins now more." 43:25 Again Isaiah writes: "I have swept away your offences like a cloud, your sins like a morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." 44:22
Are you convinced; are you living daily in the deep down joy of knowing your God is both quick to forgive and delighted to forgive your mistakes, your failings, your sins?
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9
While we see Buddhist temples in Vietnam of course, they don't appear to be as numerous (I am making this comparison from a wealth of ignorance) nor are they in the Thai style. Buddhism is much more evident here in the person of monks as well as temples.
Laos and Vietnam share the same sad history regarding the war of the 1960's which did not conclude until 1975. Since that time they have shared the same style of government. But while these countries share a border and some history they are quite different in language and culture. I have read about this and now for a couple of days I get to observe the differences.
Let me shift gears and say that we from western cultures in 2011 are very different from those in Israel around 700 BC. Yet we share a sad, strong tendency to sin - even those of us who know and love our God. How fortunate we are that God is gracious and merciful. He is eager to forgive those who look to Him.
Isaiah shares this Good News in many places, two of which I noted this morning. Hear these remarkable gracious words to Israel: "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake and remember your sins now more." 43:25 Again Isaiah writes: "I have swept away your offences like a cloud, your sins like a morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." 44:22
Are you convinced; are you living daily in the deep down joy of knowing your God is both quick to forgive and delighted to forgive your mistakes, your failings, your sins?
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9
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