Archive | November, 2010

Cobras and Pythons Slithering into Bangkok Homes

I wish I hadn’t read this.  I was thinking it was going to be a utopia over there.  And maybe Lori wont read this story, it would probably be better for both of us.

You say, “What does this have to do with missions?” Well, it has to do with missionaries.  This is my recruitment post.

BANGKOK, Nov. 28 (UPI) — With housing developments going up in former rice paddies and forests in Thailand’s capital, more calls are being made to report intrusive snakes.

Yutasak Romchatthong, head of the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department, said there had been 2,935 calls by the end of October bout snakes in houses, the Bangkok Post reported. There were 1,582 in 2008 and 2,744 last year.

Because only calls where the fire department actually finds a snake are recorded, the actual number of calls is probably significantly higher, Yutasak said.

Firefighters are trained to catch the snakes using low-tech equipment, including a net, plastic bag and hook.

Banjong Proybamrung, a volunteer at the Bang Khen Fire Station, said he responds to about four calls a week.

“Most of them are pythons,” he said. “But if we find a cobra, there is no choice but to kill them.”

Story found here: http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2010/11/28/Snakes-slither-into-Bangkok-homes/UPI-96791290924999/


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Stuff Lori is Thankful for

I am thankful for…

My Savior who has given me life…

He has loved me, died for me, rose again for me, chose me, pursued me, saved me and gave me a new life in Him, and seeks to glorify Himself through my life

I could not be thankful for the following if not for Him and Him alone.

God’s Word…

I am so very grateful that the Lord has given us His Word that we can cling to in every season of life. In times of happiness, sorrow, doubt, assurance, in times of storm and in times of calm. At every mountain top and in every valley, His Word never changes. It endures forever. His Words are a comfort, they are convicting, they are humbling, they are encouraging, and they are life.

My wonderful husband…

I could not have asked for a better man to follow. I could not have dreamed up a better, more honorable man. He is something only God could have placed in my life. I thank God for Philip’s leadership. He leads in a way that I cannot help but respect and follow because I know He loves God and seeks His guidance above all. I know that He loves God, pursues God, and desires to please God in all that He does. No matter where the road takes us on deputation, on the field, or wherever, I can follow him because I know the One he follows hard after. I thank God for the man He has made Philip to be.

My family…

I thank God for a loving dad who always provided for us. He loved me and taught me so much through the wisdom God has given him. I thank God for my mom who was so patient, so loving, and so kind. The kind of mother that would give the last of anything she had to make sure our needs were met. I thank God for my 4 sisters and 2 brothers. We always had a great time together growing up! Getting into trouble and all:) I am thankful for Lea Ann & Jason, Bryan & Stacia, Brad & Aly, Lesia, Lacee, and Lindsay. And I thank God for all my nieces and nephews too. God sure placed me in an awesome family and I am so grateful to Him for His goodness and provision.

My church…

I thank God for Vision Baptist Church. I have never seen a church so active and involved in getting the Gospel around the world. I love being involved in a church that is full of excitement, and busy about all that God has given the church to do and accomplish for His glory. I can go to Thailand with assurance that I will have, not just a family behind me, but one beside me. I know they will be praying and loving. I am thankful for the leadership of our pastor and for his teaching of the Word of God. I am thankful for the example of a great pastors wife who loves and cares no matter what.

The list could go on and on…

Words would never be enough for the gratefulness in my heart for God’s goodness! He is so good. He is worthy of praise. He has been so good to me.


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Stuff I’m Thankful for this Thanksgiving

I feel like I have more to be thankful for than anyone else in the world.  


  • I am thankful for my wife. I cannot believe how good of one I got! Dont know how I did that, but I sure did a good job. She is super encouraging, helpful, grateful, and loving. Not to mention that she is gorgeous.  I haven’t figured out why she wants to go to the other side of the world with me and live in poverty till we die in obscurity, but I couldn’t be more amazed by her.  I love you babe!
  • So often I feel like I don’t deserve to get to do what I am doing. In the past 3 months I have had the chance to preach in 7 different states traveling around meeting a ton of fantastic people, and just enjoy the whole time with my bride. Its unbelievable
  • What the Lord has put in my heart to do. There is no reason He should have chosen me to serve Him in any way, but He did and I seriously feel like I get the best job out of all the ones that he has ever chosen. Im looking forward to Thailand, but I am enjoying every step on the way there.
  • His provision.  I could tell you story after story of how the Lord has been providing.  You hear those stories from preachers and think that that will never happen to you, but it has. Its amazing to see Him just prove Himself to you, that he really does care, and that He does see your need and supplies it.
  • He who saved me.  Why is God so good?  He could have been merciless with no compassion or patience, but He loves me instead. And He saved me forever and sheds abroad His love in my heart, teaching me every day that He is gooooood.
  • A ton of little junk. I am spoiled and have been given so many gifts that I don’t deserve. I have a nice house, computer, phone, car, clothes, shoes, hairpiece, radio, guitar, bed, books, and on and on. And all those things are luxuries, but He has given me them richly to enjoy.
  • People that surround me. You are always concerned about someones friends because they turn out to be just like them, and good influences make or break your life. I didn’t realize how deterministic the decisions made immediately out of school would be, but looking back they are really the ones that will shape my life most, so I am thankful for His leading to a group of over-achieving fanatics that love the Lord with all their heart.
  • My pastor is the one that has more influence on my friends than any other and has instilled a passion for Him, serving Him, and His word. So I am thankful for his work and labor and the love it took to be such a good influence.
  • My church is one that I hope I can reproduce. One zealous and passionate and happy about serving and loving the Lord. One that really loves the things of God instead of just acting like it a few times a week.
  • Family. I know I already said my wife, but my family really is super. Like every other family, there are people all over the board, but I love em. I hear about my grandpa wherever I go, and I feel lucky to have such a heritage. My mom is always so good to me, and even though she tried to talk me out of getting married so soon, she finally realized that I know whats best :) and is always so generous to us and helpful.  My brother is one of my best friends and I am glad we get along so well.  My dad has been through some tough times, but still loves us. And my grandma gets more excited about me being a preacher than anyone else, and I love talking with her.
  • All those that support us already and the ones in the future that make it possible to go to Thailand as missionaries.
  • All those crazies that read this blog.


Im having a blast and am thankful to God Himself, because of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To whom be glory forever and ever, amen.


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2,000 fetuses discovered at Bangkok temple

Image: Thai officials arrange bags containing dead fetusesAbout 2,000 human fetuses have been found at a Buddhist temple in Thailand’s capital, according to reports.

Thai authorities discovered the remains in the temple’s mortuary, where they had been hidden for a year — apparently to conceal illegal abortions.

A woman who was detained earlier this week in connection with the discovery confessed Friday to performing illegal procedures, Thai media said.

Lanjakorn Jantamanas, 33, allegedly took the fetuses to a morgue at the temple, the Bangkok Post reported.

Police found 348 fetuses on Tuesday after nearby residents complained of a foul smell. Temple staff traced the smell to a compartment in the morgue, where they found plastic bags containing dead fetuses.

Police later raided three clinics in the Thon Buri neighborhood of Bangkok and arrested Jantamanas, the report said.

At least 1,500 more fetuses were found Thursday night, police said.

Jantamanas admitted to transporting bodies for the abortion clinics and said a doctor at one of the three sites taught her how to perform abortions, police allege.

She told authorities that she had been hired by a number of clinics to transport the fetuses and had been doing so for at least five years. The clinics paid her 500 baht ($17) per trip, she said.

She began performing abortions after a doctor she worked with moved to another clinic. She charged patients 5,000 baht ($167) if they were up to three months pregnant and 30,000 baht ($1,000) if they were up to five months pregnant.

China’s Xinhua news service reported that an undertaker at the morgue had confessed to storing the fetuses. Suthep Chabangbon, 46, said he usually cremated the bodies but the crematorium had not been working properly.

Original Article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40269486/ns/world_news-asiapacific/


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We have the money for our trip!

I had no idea that the Lord would provide so quickly, but we have the money needed for our survey trip to Thailand!  We just wanted to say thank you to everyone who had a part in giving toward it, and I am humbled by the generosity of so many and am encouraged from the zeal I see about missions work.  Thank you so much for being so generous.

A special thank you to a few churches.. My home church, Vision BaptistGrace Baptist in LA, and Peace Haven Baptist in NC.  Thank you for partnering together with us in a special way for our survey trip to Thailand.  

We look forward to getting to the field!

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In The Life of Philip and Lori…

Just a random personal update from life on the road.

From Philip:
Deputation is not proving to be a healthy lifestyle for me. While Lori lost weight, somehow I have gained 20 pounds. My shirts hug my belly and I ran out of holes on my belt. 

Also, I can tell that Lori is excited about all the audio books because for some reason she is uncomfortable when I try to read while driving down the highway. 

I have a fantastic wife and I don’t know how our marriage could be any better. One thing about deputation is that we get to spend a lot of time together in a crazy new situation every week. It’s a good thing we like each other or this would be terrible. 

From Lori:  
I enjoy getting to hear Philip preach multiple times a week. It is an amazing thing to see how God works in and through Him. 

It is a lot of fun to get to meet new people and to gain new friends. 

No doubt, the most amazing thing on deputation has been to see the Lord provide for us. I know He cares about me because I see Him give beyond just my needs. Very detailed, specific answers to prayer have definitely added to my faith! His grace in our lives is so humbling.

Its fun to spend life on the road with my best friend. I am glad Philip and I enjoy time together or it would be a whole different kind of adventure:) We have had so many good laughs, like when I knocked an alligator head off the wall and it fell on my head.  That hurt.


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More Realistic View of Thai Buddhism

The People’s Buddhism – OMF has a video discussing folk Buddhism—a more realistic display of Buddhism than what we see/hear through Hollywood celebrities. Warning: there are some graphic images of self-torture.


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Stereotypes Aren’t True, and We Shouldn’t Be Stereotypical

It’s a shame that Christians are thought of this way, but I don’t think any of these are true.  Usually we will misconstrue something that we don’t understand precisely because we don’t understand it.  I just find it disappointing that this is the Christian stereotype.

People might have Googled this about the Pharisees in their day, but I don’t think this is what the common people thought of Jesus.  They heard him gladly!  I think they would have gone home and Googled, “Why is Jesus so gracious, powerful, convincing, loving, caring, captivating, convicting, miraculous, hard on the pharisees, capable, good…

I think you would agree, if you are honest.

We should be more like the One we claim to follow and temper some of our stupid, judgmental, ignorant, hateful, intolerant, mean, narrow minded, hypocritical, and annoying tendencies. Lets add a little grace to our lips, speak the truth in love, and compel people to come to Christ as He did.

Now Jesus did confront peoples’ sin with truth, don’t get me wrong, but the woman at the well didn’t run away with these adjectives on their lips.

And, I would say the rich young ruler probably accused Him of being ‘narrow minded’, and I readily claim that title, because there is only ONE way, truth, and life and no man comes to the Father but by Him. And there is ONE Lord, ONE Faith, ONE Baptism, ONE God and Father of all.  

Yep, I’ll admit it, I’m pretty narrow minded.

But I think it is a shame when our narrow minds extend beyond what scripture addresses. I am afraid a lot of times our zeal for truth mutates into a zeal for my culture, personality, and preferences.  And while there is nothing wrong with having a culture and preference, we should hold them loosely, and be quick to condescend to another’s preference.  ”In honor preferring one another…”

Jesus sure did a lot of condescending when he came from his culture (Heaven) to ours (this nasty earth).  We should do the same.

We can’t put our culture (whats not in the Bible) on the level of Scripture (what is) and be narrow minded when we don’t have a biblical basis to stand on.  That is just being selfish.

As Scripture influences our culture, we should be more like Jesus, not the Pharisees.

Now, about Buddhists being happy:

I don’t believe it for a second. Why am I so narrowminded? Because I know all about them from scripture and statistics.

If 95% of Thailand was happy as a Buddhist, then they wouldn’t

- lead the world in homicide with a firearm
- lead the world in sex trafficking and prostitution
- lead the world in opium production
- have such a divorce rate
- have such a suicide rate

The facts just don’t add up.

Even if they were happy, they don’t have the truth, and the only way to have the greatest joy, for the greatest time, from the greatest source, is to know Jesus as their Savior forever.

So even if they are happy already, don’t worry, they will be infinitely happier with the Gospel.

There I go being judgmental and narrow minded again.


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Site Contact Form Works Again…

Well, I just realized that our contact form on our website has been broken for an unknown amount of time, so if you tried to contact us through that and we didn’t respond, I am sorry.

It should be working now!  

Send us a note.


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October Update

Deputation Update
The Lord continues to raise our support for Thailand! We are currently at 10% of our needed monthly support in just two months! We have driven about 8,500 miles and have had opportunity to present the ministry in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida in the last month. 

Life on the road is definitely different but Lori and I love what He has called us to do and churches have been very encouraging and excited about starting churches in Thailand. It continues to amaze us how the Lord provides things for us, big and small, as we depend on Him. 

Survey Trip to Thailand
Praise the Lord that He has provided money necessary to purchase our ticket to go to Thailand in February! Thank you for those who gave many generous gifts toward this need. This was our urgent need to purchase the plane ticket at a reasonable rate but we still need about $800 in the next 3 months for the other expenses associated with our survey trip.  

If you would like to give toward this, you can send a special gift to:

Philip Bassham
Vision Baptist Missions
P.O. Box 442
Alpharetta, GA 30009

Thailand Update
The need for gospel preaching churches in Thailand is still great. The latest version of Operation World, the de-facto handbook for religious activity around the world, was released last month and shows the entire evangelical population of Thailand to be 0.5%. That is even lower than what we thought.  

Never in the history of Thailand has there been a great awakening to the gospel. Please pray for a surge of laborers to Thailand!   

Our Generation Summit
This December 31-January 1 we will be a part of the Our Generation Summit, a family oriented missions winter retreat in Pigeon Forge, TN. We would like to encourage and you to consider being a part. 

We have been involved in it for the past 5 years and have seen God do incredible things every year! Some have described it as a missions conference on steroids and we look forward to seeing what He is going to do this year. For more information visit www.bcwe.org 

Yours for the Gospel in Thailand, 
Philip and Lori Bassham


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