KICK BOXER

I tasted the blood on my cut lip and smelled the sweat of my own fear. The roar of the crowd faded beneath the sound of my own racing heartbeat and the grunt of my opponent as I landed the next brutal blow.

My name is Somchai Soonthornturasuk - "Macho man." As a Mai Thai kick boxer my duty was to deal out and counteract lethal blows. The aim:victory and ruining the career of my opponent in the ring. The satisfaction of delivering visious lightening-fast punishment was one way to overcome my own body's agony after the match was fought and won. I owed it to myself, my fighting reputation, and my hordes of faithful admirers. And I paid my fans back handsomely with the huge amounts of money they'd gambled on my win.

As I jumped from the ring I felt their love and concern over my bruises. Hurting badly I'd stagger later when no one could see. Soon these good fellows would take me out to the best of Bangkok's nightclubs. The liquor helped dull my sore ribs and battered thighs. I don't know why it never occurred to me that while they were getting richer and fatter, I was suffering more and more. But popularity is a strong drug. Despite my rigorous training sessions it was becoming more difficult to gain peak condition. But drinking, smoking, and carousing were softening me up for a painful shock.

After a long session with my warm-hearted friends, I doubled over in an agony that would not quit. I ended up in Bangkok Hospital with ulcer perforations. My friends tried to cheer me saying, "Don't worry, you are young and can start over again. Of course I would. Pain was not new to me. I believed in myself. My career was my life!

But as dreary day followed dreary day, I invented new excuses for the absence of my friends. Finally, like the venom of a cobra strike the truth sunk in. Even now they'd be fawning over young hopefuls. A heavy blanket of depression settled over me and I didn't care if I died. The fight had gone from me.

But right at the point of my deepest need, God stepped in to the ring of my life. A group of young Christians visited the hospital to say hello to patients and share with music and some told of their relationship with Jesus Christ. I'd never heard anything like it before and listened closely. I needed no convincing I needed a saviour because sin was real to me. And after i asked Him into my life, the great weights of disappointment, frustration, and bitterness left. I felt as fine as I did before a match. Needing some new guidelines to follow now, I entered a Bible college to learn more about this.

So the work that Jesus began in me continues. Once I fought for fame; now I fight so that others may receive the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Somchai shared the above testimony with me and it has been such a wonderful experience to have worked with him all over Thailand for the past twenty odd years. The best part is the distribution of thousands of Thai John's Gospels in Buddhist schools, prisons, hospital, orphanages, tribal areas, and market places where we have freedom to tell the Good news. We never denigrate Buddha, instead we uplift Christ. He is all anyone needs.

Rita has published a historical trilogy. See: www.ritastellapress.com and facebook

UNFINISHED HOUSE--By Christine Lindsay

Psalm 127 says, Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.

This psalm goes on to say, It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors: For He gives to his beloved even in his sleep.

This verse always speaks with power. Either it encourages me to be confident that the work I am involved in is His will.

Or it makes me stop.

Is the work that I produce on my laptop for 8 to 10 hours a day really His will? Or am I 'building a house' He does not want?

Writing is like breathing to me. I'm willing to put in the long, long hours, the months, the years to hone my craft. It's been 8 years of seriously pursuing a ministry/career in Christian fiction, with a great many sacrifices along the way.

This is the norm for writers. It's common that once an author is published, the money they make is a pittance. There's certainly no job security. When one is published, the author is only as good as his or her last book. And the pressure to market themselves and their book takes away from the labor to produce another.

Yet, with all artists, the desire for wealth and fame is meaningless. It's the art that tugs on our hearts—the desire to use that art to glorify God. It's this that urges us to give and give and give to this labor.

My desire is to use the literary arts to help others 'see' God within the words and scenes I type on the page. I want them to understand something of what I glean from the Word of God. What He has taught me through my life’s tumultuous journeys to help others trust in Him.

But we live in a world where food must be put on the table, the roof over our heads must be financed. The gas bill must be paid. And I look at this verse in Psalms and I ask myself---Lord, am I doing what you want me to do with the labor of my hands?

I crave the confidence that He is leading me.

Is this stirring in my heart to write Christian fiction from God? Or my vain imagination? After all, I'm a writer, my imagination works overtime.

I don't know for sure. All I know is that the Lord only gives us one time around on this earthly life. I’d rather give myself this chance, and if I fail, and must take whatever day job I can find to make financial ends meet, then I will know I tried my best to reach my artistic dream.

And yet . . . every day, the Lord keeps nudging me forward. Don't stop, keep going. I'll provide.

Then I read the verse in Psalms again. . . . for He gives to his beloved even in his sleep . . . .

While I sleep my Heavenly Father is looking out for my earthly concerns. He sees the dreams within my mind. He inspires them.

Why do I fret?

If you'd like to read more by this Canadian author, Christine Lindsay, drop by clicking on her website, www.christinelindsaycom

Christine was born in Ireland, has lived across the entire country of Canada at various times in her life. Received the 2009 ACFW Genesis award for Historical, and in 2010 won 2nd place in the RWA Touched by Love contest for her historical romance SOFI'S BRIDGE. Christine is hard at work giving that novel its final polish.



This article will also be cross-posted on The Inkswell blog on Dina Sleiman's webpage, click here Inkswell

Three "Demned Ds" by Rita Stella Galieh

I'll name them. Discouragement, Disappointment, & Depression.

I guess everyone who has ever lived has experienced their awful see-saw effect in their lives. Often it's when circumstances or grief overwhelms us. Or when things we hoped and planned for never eventuate. Maybe it's the downside of creeping depression. Perhaps the weight of disappointment dragging at us. Sometimes it's hormonal. Whatever. Each has the ability to crush us, body, soul, and spirit.

You just want to curl up and go to sleep. Or eat fast food or chocolate - a quick hit. Or wish for a dream holiday to escape reality for a time. This is when you need someone you can trust. Someone who won't think you're wallowing in self pity. Someone who understands perfectly, even before you can get the words out. And most of all, someone who won't judge.

If you have a friend like that, cherish them. But are they on call every hour of the day?

Oh, friends, you do have someone. Maybe someone you've been holding at arm's length for too long. Check this out for yourself. And if, after reading Psalm 139, your heart doesn't respond, read it again until it sinks in. Then believe it and hold onto this wonderful truth for all its worth.

Who else could know you better then you know yourself?

I have several booklet titles on Discouragement & Depression, and Loneliness. Perhaps you have a friend needing some encouragement, if so, leave a request in your comment & I'll post them to you gratis. May God bless you.

www.ritastellagalieh.com