Tubb to the Rescue

Recently I found myself on the back of a motorcycle, putting up muddy mountain trails to visit a little Karen Baptist church in the hills.  I get invited to preach in different places from time to time, but this was a first for this village.  About 15 minutes from the village, my friend tells me over his shoulder that in addition to preaching, I’ll need to join him in sharing a special song with the congregation.  He’d decided the song would be “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.  The plan was that he’d sing I Thai, me in English, and a few men from the congregation would sing in Karen.  I thought for a second – dang.  I only remember the first verse of that one.  But wait!  I have a few of my favorite songs tucked away in my phone for easy listening.  What have we here?  “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” sung by Ernest Tubb.  I refreshed my memory with a quick listen.  Then we practiced as we drove.  Our practice earned me a concerned look over the shoulder from my friend. It turns out that unlike Tubb, the Karen like to sing in key (I’m sure that’s the ONLY reason I would be off).  Unfortunately too, Tubb’s version only covers the first two verses – and the church we were at sings three.  I wonder if anyone noticed me recycling the first verse?

Songs for Camp

The last time I spent any length of time at the temporary shelter at Mae Ra Moe, I came away with some nice music recommendations. This time when I went, I brought one.

My wife and I have really been enjoying the music of Josh Garrels. A great unique sound, with fresh, thoughtful lyrics. Give the guy a listen or two, I think you’ll like him as well. Here is the best song from his most recent album (sorry, it’s live):

Available here.

I Can't Relate

Life is tough in suburban North America. Just ask this guy:

Test Post

What does the paragraph below look like?  A bunch of butchered Roman letters, or a bunch of rounded, curvy Karen letters?  Working on getting a font mapped to render right for ALL comers.

vX w> vDR xl vDR ,dm M.

e u td. zJ vJ.I

t 8h> 'f tHR<A,GR tJ. [D. cd. zd A

wkR t[h. vDR uGHm t zd cGg td. w 8R CD<A

'f od; u ,J> ySR vX t pl> uhR em uhR tDR

w 8R v> v> M.<t ok w [; 8DR w 8hR 'D; <

u M> b. w> rl t xl t ,dm vDRI

,dR[. A3;16

t 8h> 'f tHR<A,GR tJ. [D. cd. zd A

wkR t[h. vDR uGHm t zd cGg td. w 8R CD<A

'f od; u ,J> ySR vX t pl> uhR em uhR tDR

w 8R v> v> M.<t ok w [; 8DR w 8hR 'D; <

u M> b. w> rl t xl t ,dm vDRI

,dR[. A3;16

The Road of Resistance

A few years ago, four friends came to northwest Thailand to gather footage of the atrocities being committed against the Karen people just over the Thai border in Myanmar. This film is the fruit of that trip. Since your're sitting at the computer anyway, why not take forty minutes to watch this documentary, and discover what has been going on in Burma for decades?



For more information, visit http://roadofresistance.com/

California Guy in Northwestern Thailand

Thailand lost a very special missionary, and we lost a special friend. James Garwood is no longer a California guy, or a missionary, but one of the many worshipping around Christ's throne - In November he succumbed to dengue hemorrhagic fever, which he contracted while serving Jesus in the jungles of the Karen state.




You will be missed, buddy. Serving God in Thailand won't be the same without you.