When the Flame Stands Alone

By Ianpassion 

Cooking on the firewood 

One cool evening, a young student came to visit his teacher in the countryside. The smell of wood smoke filled the air as the teacher was cooking over a fire made of dry firewood. The flames danced brightly, warming the small kitchen.

The student sat down quietly and said, “Teacher, I’ve decided not to join the others for worship anymore. I can pray to the Father by myself. I don’t need to gather with them.”

Set Apart by the Father’s Hand

By Ianpassion 

Nemi's Drawing 2025

 
What I’ve noticed lately is how different my son is from the group and from what is usually done. He likes to stand out, not just for the sake of being different, but because he follows his own way rather than the traditional crowd. 

I can even see it in the small things, like the way he places his water bottle on the table after drinking at the taekwondo gym, completely unlike the other athletes. His uniqueness also shines through in his drawings.

Called to Fruitfulness, Not Projects

By Ianpassion

Cassava I harvested

I recently harvested the cassava I planted last year. It all began when an excavator passed by our house to dig a trench for the village water pipeline. After the work was finished, the soil was left soft and loose. I decided to plant cassava trunks in that ground, and after a year, we were able to harvest them. My wife shared some with one of the Agape members, who used it to make a Thai dessert, while I boiled the rest with coconut milk and a little salt.

As I reflected on this, I was reminded of the parable the Son told about the sower. He taught that seed planted in good soil will surely grow and produce a harvest, some thirty, sixty, or even a hundredfold. But seed that falls on rocky ground, among thorns, or on the path will not bear fruit.

Living Water Refreshes Our Tired Soul

By Ianpassion

Refreshing river stream in Manang, Satun, Thailand 

I went into the forest for a hike.

What refreshed me most was the stream of fresh, cold water where I washed my face after hours of hiking and sweating. With the Thai scarf on my head, I took it off to dry my face. 

The Greatest Gift a Father Can Give: His Presence

By Ianpassion
With Nana and Nemi

Fathers, our presence is more important than perfection (think about your own dad). Our children may or may not remember our mistakes, but what they will surely remember is that we were with them when they fell and when they celebrated their victories.