City of Life?

Here is a picture that I took a few days ago of the famous Erawan Shrine in downtown Bangkok. The shrine is jammed into the middle of streets, skyscrapers and the monorail system. It was actually funded by the adjacent Hyatt hotel to appease the spirits because too many workers were dying during the hotel's construction.

I think it is ironic that you can read "Bangkok City of Life" on the monorail track and there below are crowds of people praying to a lifeless metal idol. The imagery is very informative about the character of Bangkok and the Thai people. The people wear western clothing, they enjoy most of the same modern conveniences that we do, and they even like many of the same movies and tv shows. My teacher in school today just told us she is watching a whole season of Prison Break on DVD. But below the surface, their worldview and thinking are very much still rooted in ancient eastern beliefs.

Please join with me in praying that God will deliver many out of the darkness of this place into a true city of life. A city where living water flows from the very throne of God and where nothing and no one will receive worship except for Him to whom all is due!

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him."

-Revelation 22:1-3