Participants:
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC202417S
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00:04 [theme music]
00:07 ♪♪ 00:43 [birds chirping] 00:50 >> Welcome to 00:51 It Is Written Canada. 00:52 Thank you for joining us. 00:53 Dr. Sereivudh Ly miraculously 00:55 survived the Cambodian 00:57 killing fields while he was 00:59 in his early teens. 01:02 Working in brutal labour camps, 01:03 deep in the Cambodian jungle, 01:05 young Sereivudh's life was 01:07 unexplainably spared 01:10 time and again. 01:11 Yet once he was set free, 01:14 he did not want to live. 01:16 >> He was filled with anger, 01:19 bitterness, and hatred. 01:21 Suffering from PTSD, 01:24 he needed help. 01:27 It was at a refugee camp 01:29 just across the Thai border, 01:31 where Dr. Ly found hope 01:33 and healing. 01:36 >> Dr. Sereivudh Ly, 01:37 thank you for joining us 01:38 on It Is Written Canada. 01:40 >> Thank you very much for 01:41 inviting me back again. 01:43 Thank you. 01:44 >> So, Dr. Ly, you went through 01:47 so much brutality and 01:49 witnessed so much killing 01:52 of friends and just people 01:54 everywhere. 01:56 You were filled with rage. 01:57 You didn't wanna live. 01:59 What changed? 02:00 What happened? 02:01 How did you change? 02:03 >> Because the bitterness, 02:04 the anger problem I have 02:07 and the guilt I have, 02:08 why I'm alive, 02:09 why my parents not... 02:12 ...I become rebellious, 02:13 become─ don't know what to do 02:15 and no meaning of life. 02:16 So I fled with my friend 02:17 to refugee camp. 02:18 That where I met Jesus 02:20 and when I began to read 02:22 the Bible, that when 02:23 I begin to discover 02:24 who I am again. 02:26 And that lead me to the change 02:28 that I have. 02:29 >> So that was a very 02:30 dangerous journey from 02:33 just going into the 02:34 refugee camp. 02:35 Did they welcome you in? 02:37 >> No. 02:38 You know, a long story there, 02:41 just across the border, 02:42 you had to cross a landmine 02:44 both sides of the border. 02:45 And you had to walk after 02:48 one another, and the dead bodies 02:50 were stuck in the tree. 02:52 The clothes blowed, 02:53 landmine blowed. 02:55 But make a story short, 02:56 when I get into the camp, 02:58 I'm not welcome because 02:59 the camp already closed. 03:00 No register for a new refugee. 03:03 So I have to learn to live, 03:05 Ihe illegal refugee hiding. 03:07 Ihe illegal refugee hiding. 03:08 So I had to go to the refugee, 03:09 the legal one, to do something 03:12 for them, work for them 03:13 taking care of their children. 03:14 They give some food left for me. 03:17 And then I have to ask them 03:20 if I can get permission to 03:21 dig the ground, because 03:22 every week the Thai soldiers 03:25 come and checking ID 03:26 for everyone, because if you're 03:28 legal, you have ID to wear and 03:30 illegal, you'd ask and have. 03:31 So we had to hide. 03:32 So ask them to dig the ground 03:34 and when they come to check 03:36 to cover for us. 03:37 We're hiding in there. 03:39 >> You dug a hole in the ground 03:41 and you were... 03:42 >> And then cover it, 03:44 make two hole for the air 03:45 coming through. 03:47 But─ because we are illegal. 03:49 That in '83 when I arrive in 03:51 refugee camp until '84 03:54 before I become registered... 03:56 ...me, become a legal refugee. 03:59 >> Where did you meet Jesus? 04:00 How did you meet Jesus there? 04:02 >> You just remember the 04:03 timeframe. 04:04 You see, when I got there 04:05 in September '83, 04:06 until August '84 04:08 when I become... 04:09 Yeah, July '84 when I was 04:12 baptized, in August 04:14 they register us 04:15 to be a legal one. 04:16 So almost a year's time 04:19 that living with hopeless 04:19 that living with hopeless 04:20 helplessness and angry 04:22 all the time. 04:23 And especially when I'm 04:24 see people happy, I'm not happy. 04:28 As I share with you, 04:30 my friend said, "Let's go 04:32 to church to find." 04:33 So we went to one of the church 04:35 which is worship on Sunday, 04:37 and listen, but my heart 04:40 is full of bitterness. 04:41 So I listen. 04:42 They always point out that 04:44 the Buddhist people will 04:45 go to hell and these people 04:47 is bad. 04:48 And I don't like this, 04:49 even though I'm angry. 04:51 So I left and we went to 04:52 the other church. 04:53 It's the other denomination. 04:55 And the priest can speak 04:58 Cambodian language very well. 05:01 So we sit and waiting for him 05:03 to finish the sermon. 05:05 And at the end of the sermon, 05:06 he gave us money at the door. 05:08 Everyone at hundred buck. 05:10 When my turn came, I said, 05:11 "I don't want money. 05:13 I'm not come here to 05:14 take the money." 05:15 He said, "All you, 05:16 all of you like that 05:17 because you come here, 05:18 just want to get the money. 05:19 Okay, go take it." 05:20 I said no, I just throw it away. 05:22 I don't want to take it 05:23 because you cannot buy me. 05:25 So from there... 05:26 [MIKE] They were kind of 05:27 bribing you in a sense, okay. 05:28 >> That's how they 05:29 practice there. 05:30 When they promote that, 05:31 if the people come attending 05:33 the service, the whole service, 05:34 at the end of service, 05:35 you get the money. 05:36 [MIKE] I see. 05:37 [DR. LY] I didn't know that 05:38 when I came in, right? 05:39 So... 05:40 ...so I was upset. 05:41 I said, "I, you know, 05:43 I don't need to believe in God. 05:44 I don't need to be 05:45 bought by this." 05:46 So I left. 05:47 I said no more with God. 05:48 [MIKE] But you had no money. 05:50 Why didn't you just take it? 05:51 >> For me, I'm so proud 05:52 at that time because 05:53 I still confuse my identity. 05:55 I said, "I survive from 05:57 killing field, I don't need 05:58 your money. 05:59 I can survive here, too." 06:00 Right? 06:01 So at the place where I 06:04 stay in the hut there 06:05 at the end, there's a church, 06:08 Adventist church. 06:09 And every morning on Sabbath 06:11 they're singing so happy. 06:13 I walked past and I said, 06:15 "Why these people so happy?" 06:17 And inside of me is jealousy. 06:20 I said, "No, you should not 06:21 be happy." 06:22 So I bothered them by push 06:24 the stick that 06:26 hold the window up 06:27 like this, when it fall, 06:29 it make a sound. 06:31 So they interrupt the service. 06:32 They run out up to me. 06:34 They try to shoo me out. 06:36 It's, "Go away, go away!" 06:37 right, because bother them. 06:39 When they do that, I'm happy. 06:41 [chuckles] 06:42 Because what I interrupt them, 06:44 now not happy like me. 06:46 So sometime I keep coming 06:49 to do it once, twice, 06:50 or three time 06:51 until I get tired and move on 06:53 to bother somebody else. 06:54 One day, one Sabbath, 06:56 I do it again. 06:57 And I didn't know the pastor 06:59 preaching inside and the pastor 07:00 ran up to me. 07:02 He said, "Brother, stop, stop! 07:03 Come!" 07:04 Because usually people 07:06 come up to me, shoo me out 07:07 and throw a rock or anything. 07:09 And that pastor said, 07:10 "Come, come! 07:11 After my sermon we can talk. 07:12 Okay, come in, come in." 07:14 So I said, okay, 07:15 if they invite me properly, 07:16 I'm going. 07:17 I'm going to sit 07:18 at the back there. 07:20 So at the end of sermon 07:21 with my friend, I said, 07:23 "Watching these people, 07:24 you know, they preach that 07:25 don't worry about, you know, 07:27 what your challenge now. 07:29 God will bless you. 07:30 You'll be safe. 07:32 Don't worry about death. 07:33 Don't worry about death. 07:33 All those things. 07:35 I said watch with them because 07:37 after 6:00 the Thai soldiers 07:38 not protect them anymore. 07:40 The foreigner, whoever in 07:41 refugee camp will get killed. 07:43 Because in refugee camp 07:44 you get killed easily. 07:46 They can preach that, 07:47 but they don't suffer. 07:49 They can go to sleep well 07:50 in the air conditioning. 07:51 We are in the mess up here. 07:54 So that day 07:57 I watched that pastor. 07:58 He didn't go. 07:59 The rest of them gone, 08:00 he still with us. 08:01 He still come back 08:02 to sit with me, with my friends, 08:03 three, four, five of us. 08:04 We drinking all the time. 08:07 We sit down and talk and said, 08:09 how you doing? 08:10 And how your family, 08:11 all the stuff going on? 08:12 And then he bring some 08:14 food in his truck 08:16 to come to eat together. 08:18 and then by 8:00, almost 9:00, 08:21 he's still with us. 08:22 It's dark already, right? 08:23 In that and that area, 08:25 it's after six, it's dark. 08:27 So I was wonder why this guy 08:29 not afraid of dying. 08:30 We could kill him. 08:32 But he stayed with us. 08:34 So from that day, open my eyes. 08:37 I want to know more. 08:38 Why this guy have that courage. 08:40 I want to have that courage. 08:42 Not afraid of dying. 08:44 [MIKE] So he wasn't afraid 08:45 of dying, he shared his food 08:46 with you... 08:47 >> And the week after, he bring, 08:49 he share the Bible, he gave me 08:50 the Bible. 08:51 So from there, what I read, 08:53 you know, because I'm still 08:55 stuck in the culture that 08:56 we came from. 08:57 In Cambodian culture, if you're 08:59 not Buddhist, you're no longer 09:00 Cambodian, right? 09:01 So I don't want to believe, 09:03 but I want to see 09:04 is there any good thing 09:05 in the Bible. 09:06 I look all the whole thing, 09:08 I said, "Oh yeah, 09:09 the book of Proverbs, it's good. 09:10 A lot of counsel. 09:11 That good. 09:12 I can use it for my life because 09:13 no parent, I don't have anybody 09:15 give me advice. 09:16 So I read the book of Proverbs. 09:18 Interesting, one by one verse, 09:20 all the way, all the end. 09:23 I say, "Okay, what else 09:24 I can read?" 09:25 I read Ecclesiastes. 09:26 Ecclesiastes answer my question 09:28 to see the vanity 09:30 during the killing field, 09:32 you know, when I evacuated 09:33 from the city, people carry 09:34 the money and they get died 09:36 because they don't want to 09:37 drop the money. 09:38 I see vanity. 09:39 I said, yeah. 09:40 That more─ made me 09:41 more interested to read 09:42 the Bible again. 09:43 So after that I don't know 09:45 what to read. 09:46 I read the book of Job. 09:48 The book of Job answer all 09:49 my question doubting about God. 09:51 Where is God 09:52 when the suffering happen? 09:53 And the book of Job answer me, 09:55 all, the whole thing. 09:56 >> So you could see 09:57 what was behind the scene... 09:58 >> Yeah, I can see 09:59 the big picture now, 10:00 because what I've been through 10:01 and God have revealed that 10:03 it's not Him. 10:04 It's not that He not doing 10:06 anything, He do something. 10:08 So after that I read the gospel, 10:10 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 10:13 I can experience 10:14 the love of God. 10:14 And then the book of Romans, 10:16 especially Romans 5:9. 10:18 It's─ God love us 10:20 while we still sinner. 10:22 While I'm still hating Him, 10:23 He's love me. 10:25 >> Dr. Ly, did the pastor 10:27 do Bible studies with you? 10:29 >> Not really, because he come 10:31 once a month, not every week. 10:34 But if you talk about 10:35 Bible study, there's a couple, 10:37 did Bible study with me before 10:39 that incident, before I met 10:40 the pastor. 10:42 And that from the church, 10:43 Adventist, too. 10:44 And the key thing that, 10:45 the reason why I baptized 10:46 is not just only for salvation 10:48 to go to heaven. 10:50 My reason I was baptized, 10:52 I just want to get healed 10:54 from my bitterness, 10:56 my problem I have 10:57 and unforgiving the grudges. 10:59 Every time people mention about 11:01 Khmer Rouge, it boiling 11:02 inside of me, right? 11:04 So...but after baptised, 11:06 I don't see miracle. 11:08 >> You were still 11:09 feeling bitter. 11:10 >> I still feeling bitter, 11:11 just feeling the same thing. 11:12 So I came to the... 11:15 ...the elders and the pastor. 11:17 They said, "You know, 11:19 we pray for you and your faith 11:21 will be strong and 11:22 you're able to do that." 11:24 But it not happen. 11:28 Let me share, can I share 11:29 the Bible with you? 11:30 You know, one time 11:32 when I opened the Bible 11:34 in the book of Mark, 11:36 the gospel of Mark, 11:37 chapter 11. 11:40 The Bible said, "Therefore 11:42 I say to you, whatever things 11:43 you ask when you pray, 11:45 believe that you have 11:46 received them, 11:47 you will have them." 11:49 That moment when I said, 11:51 "God, I believe You 11:52 that You can heal me." 11:53 I kneel down and pray. 11:55 And then while I finish 11:56 the prayer, reading more 11:57 in verse 25, "Whenever you stand 12:01 praying, if you have anything 12:02 against anyone, forgive him 12:04 that your Father in heaven 12:06 may also forgive you 12:07 your trespasses." 12:09 Twenty-six, "But if you do not 12:11 forgive, neither will your 12:12 Father in heaven forgive 12:14 your trespasses." 12:15 That moment I said, "Lord, 12:17 I want to forgive these people 12:18 I want to forgive these people 12:19 that who killed my parents, 12:20 who almost killed me. 12:22 Those people who abuse and who, 12:24 you know, even beat me 12:26 several time during 12:27 the killing field. 12:29 That the process, the first 12:29 That the process, the first 12:30 decision I make. 12:31 And then I start making that. 12:34 And later on, I begin to read 12:35 the Book of Romans. 12:36 It telling more about, you know, 12:39 Romans 8:28. 12:41 You know, "Everything works for 12:42 good for those who love God 12:43 and for those who called 12:45 according to His purpose." 12:47 Right? 12:48 So those─ that how the process 12:50 of my healing start at the time. 12:52 >> So you made that decision. 12:55 What did that look like for you? 12:56 That─ was it a continuous 12:58 decision? 12:59 [DR. LY] It continue. 13:01 The emotion will pop up and 13:02 I will go back to read 13:04 that text again and kneel down 13:06 to pray. 13:07 And from there 13:09 I─ the less painful 13:11 when the... 13:13 ...the story pop back 13:14 into my thinking, my thought. 13:16 It's no more pain 13:17 the same way before. 13:18 It less and less. 13:19 Without forgiveness, 13:20 I would not be functioning 13:21 the way I am today. 13:23 Yeah. 13:24 Forgiveness at the core. 13:27 And then also, I had to forgive 13:29 myself also. 13:30 Not just only those who 13:32 killed my parents, but 13:33 had to forgive myself. 13:34 Those are the hardest 13:35 forgiveness to forgive yourself 13:37 because you cannot get back 13:39 the parents, you know, 13:41 because the guilt that I have 13:43 if I were with my parents, 13:44 I may able to protect them, 13:47 not allow them to die. 13:48 But when I met Jesus and 13:50 accept Him as my Lord, 13:52 I can forgive that. 13:54 Because now I cannot say 13:55 to myself who I am 13:57 that say I cannot forgive myself 13:59 when God forgive me already. 14:01 >> So what you're saying is that 14:03 forgiveness isn't just 14:04 a one-time decision, 14:07 it's a process. 14:09 So talk us a little bit through 14:11 that process. 14:12 >> Sure, yeah. 14:13 It's a process, it's a 14:14 decision-making every time that 14:16 the emotion, the thought coming, 14:18 the pain coming back to you. 14:21 So you have to make 14:22 that decision. 14:23 That what I keep making 14:24 that decision when the 14:26 feeling of pain coming back, 14:28 I just kneel down and said, 14:30 "God, I want You to forgive me. 14:32 And now You said, if I want Your 14:35 forgiveness, I had to forgive 14:37 other and forgive myself." 14:39 And, but at the time, 14:40 I don't understand the whole 14:42 concept of forgiveness like 14:43 what I know now. 14:45 After I came to Canada, learning 14:47 all this thing, it, forgiveness, 14:49 it two separate thing 14:51 between forgiveness and 14:53 reconciliation. 14:54 The reconciliation is when you 14:56 make a decision to go back to 14:58 rebuild relationship with 15:00 the one that who offend you 15:01 or wrong you 15:02 and the person will be─ 15:05 build the bridge back to you 15:06 and relationship will be back. 15:08 But forgiveness, you do not have 15:10 obligation to reconcile. 15:14 Only when you want to 15:17 build relationship back. 15:19 You see, when God─ 15:20 God forgive us... 15:22 ...but God want us to heal. 15:24 That's why He want us to confess 15:26 and repent and reconcile 15:27 back to Him. 15:29 That's why He called us today 15:30 as God's ambassador to 15:31 spread this news. 15:32 If you want the people to 15:33 get healed, you should 15:34 reconcile with them. 15:35 [MIKE] Ahh. 15:36 >> That's why Jesus reconciled 15:37 with us after He forgive, right? 15:40 After he died on the cross, 15:41 He implore, He invite us to be 15:44 reconciled with Him. 15:45 He ready to accept us any time. 15:47 >> So what you're saying 15:48 is that when Jesus was 15:50 dying on the cross, He said, 15:52 "Father, forgive them. 15:53 They don't know 15:54 what they're doing." 15:55 They weren't asking for 15:57 forgiveness, but He was 15:59 forgiving them. 16:01 So forgiveness is 16:03 we release 16:05 any feelings of revenge or grief 16:07 or anger or grudges 16:09 against people, but they 16:11 have to choose to come back, 16:13 right, to have a reconciliation. 16:15 So if they still have that 16:16 bitterness in their heart, 16:17 it doesn't mean they're 16:18 gonna be reconciled 16:19 unless they choose that. 16:20 >> Yeah. 16:21 When you forgive it mean you 16:23 love the person and you don't─ 16:25 you hate sin, what they did 16:27 to you. 16:28 So when you separate sin from 16:30 sinner, you not only help 16:32 the person, you help yourself 16:34 because you're not allow the sin 16:36 that they committed to affect 16:37 your life. 16:39 You have heard the saying 16:40 that says when you not forgive, 16:43 it like you drink poison, 16:44 hoping the other one die 16:46 because the effect of sin. 16:48 And that's what Jesus did to us. 16:50 Even though He was not affect 16:51 with the sin of us, but He 16:52 had to die on the cross for us, 16:55 right, because our sin. 16:56 In the other text in 1 John 1:9 16:58 said we have to confess. 17:00 >> You have to make 17:01 the choice... 17:02 [DR. LY] Yeah. 17:03 ...to let go and to let God 17:06 forgive you and 17:08 work His forgiveness through you 17:10 in the lives of others. 17:12 >> I want to add on that, 17:13 because if you do not accept 17:14 God forgiveness for you, 17:16 you cannot forgive others. 17:18 You can give to others only 17:20 what you have. 17:21 When you say, I cannot forgive, 17:22 this one is so hard, then you 17:24 have to ask question, 17:25 who God is in your life. 17:27 Did God forgive you? 17:28 And is God able to forgive 17:30 this person or not? 17:31 God forgive all 17:33 and who we are that say 17:34 we cannot forgive? 17:35 >> So one of the things that 17:36 I found interesting is that 17:37 you did your doctorate 17:39 on forgiveness, and you 17:40 found out that there were 17:42 nonbelievers, many who were 17:45 studying about forgiveness 17:47 and how when you forgive, 17:48 you're healed. 17:49 [DR. LY] Yeah, the reason why 17:50 I'm go back to take 17:51 my doctor degree, 17:52 not because I want to have 17:53 a title, but when I talk with 17:55 one person who not able to 17:57 forgive their member, 17:58 his member, the 70-years-old 18:00 member that who not able 18:01 to forgive. 18:02 I was shocked to know that 18:04 the pastor not forgive. 18:06 So...but when I talk to him, 18:08 he will not listen to me because 18:09 he said, "Who are you? 18:10 You just start ministry. 18:12 I'm in ministry 35 years 18:13 before you." 18:15 That reason why I go back to 18:16 take my doctor degree. 18:18 Come back to the story is, 18:19 when I start my doctor degree, 18:21 in that time, research study 18:23 on forgiveness, 18:24 non-religious study 18:27 only around about 200, 300 18:29 research study because the 18:31 outside world do not believe 18:32 that forgiveness have some 18:33 effect with the physical, 18:35 with the relationship. 18:38 But just from 2005 to '11... 18:42 ...at the end when I graduate, 18:44 it more than, 18:46 I think, three, four thousand 18:47 research study unforgiveness. 18:49 It's not based on Scripture, 18:54 research. 18:55 And one research that I read, 18:56 you know, I don't remember 18:58 the number, it's maybe around 18:59 seven to one thousand people 19:01 who have cancer, 19:03 they traced back to four year, 19:04 five year before that, 19:07 most of them 90%, 19:09 even more, 19:10 they have the incident that 19:11 happen in their life that they 19:13 still hold, they cannot forgive. 19:15 Divorce or inheritance 19:18 or fighting or boss, 19:20 cheating or whatever. 19:23 Most of them. 19:25 And it was shock 19:27 when I read that. 19:28 Well, let me share with one 19:29 verse if don't mind, 19:31 because I like to share 19:32 the Word of God, because only 19:34 the Word of God that led me 19:35 to this level I am today. 19:38 Hebrews 12, you know, this my 19:39 favourite text. 19:40 This one of my text 19:42 in my research. 19:43 "Pursue peace with all people... 19:46 ...and holiness..." 19:50 You see, unforgiveness is not 19:52 holiness, right? 19:53 Because youboiling 19:54 inside of you, angry also. 19:55 You cannot sleep, 19:56 you cannot eat. 19:58 He said, "Pursue peace with 20:00 all people, holiness, without 20:02 which no one will see the Lord." 20:05 If you don't have that, 20:07 you don't see the Lord. 20:08 You don't have peace, you don't 20:10 have mind to read the Bible. 20:12 But the verse 15 is 20:13 powerful to me. 20:14 "Looking carefully lest anyone 20:16 fall short of the grace of God, 20:19 lest any root of bitterness 20:20 springing up cause trouble, 20:23 by this many become defiled." 20:26 So when we not forgive, 20:28 we said God's grace not enough 20:30 for that person, right? 20:32 We said God not able to 20:34 forgive them. 20:35 That's why we don't forgive. 20:37 And at the same time, 20:37 what affect here? 20:39 Affect here is the root of 20:40 bitterness grow, but in the 20:42 Greek word and springing up, 20:43 it not just grow slowly, 20:45 it multiply big time. 20:48 And then everyone around us 20:50 defiled. 20:51 So when you not forgive, 20:53 not just affect your health, 20:54 but affect your family, your 20:56 marriage, your relationship, 20:57 everyone that you talk to 20:58 or you connect to. 21:00 We have the power, you know. 21:02 So that the reason why I believe 21:03 that forgiveness is the key 21:05 to get the healing, 21:06 to get to healthy life, 21:08 and joyful, thankful. 21:11 You see, the Bible said 21:12 to be thankful in everything. 21:14 Now, I understand that. 21:16 Yeah. 21:17 >> That's beautiful. 21:18 What a beautiful testimony. 21:20 [DR. LY] Thank you. 21:21 >> Dr. Ly, I just have 21:22 one question for you. 21:23 How did you end up in Canada? 21:26 How did you come here? 21:27 [DR. LY] It's a miracle. 21:28 It's a long story 21:29 with that, too. 21:30 But, make a story short, 21:32 I was sponsored by one couple 21:34 from other denominations, 21:36 from other faith, and because 21:39 of my student, I was a teacher 21:40 and leader in the church after 21:43 I was baptized 21:44 in the refugee camp, 21:45 and most of my students were 21:46 sponsored by that denomination. 21:48 They came to Canada and they 21:50 gave my name to that couple, 21:52 because that couple looking for 21:53 somebody to help form 21:55 the Cambodian group 21:56 that they were sponsor 21:57 to become a church. 21:59 So he asking me if I want 22:00 to come, but my hope is 22:02 to go to Australia because 22:03 I have sponsorship to go 22:04 Australia from the Adventist 22:06 church there, because they 22:08 want me to be the leader 22:09 in that, the group that 22:10 go there. 22:11 So make story short, I was 22:13 rejected by Canadian, 22:14 by Australian, by French, 22:16 by U.S., 22:18 all four country. 22:19 Most people just sleep 22:20 and not eat if you were rejected 22:22 by that─ like that. 22:24 I was rejected today, 22:26 I go back to teach tomorrow 22:28 in the class and my students 22:29 wonder, "Oh, you come back 22:30 to teach? 22:31 What going on? 22:32 You're not...?" 22:33 I said "No, my life now 22:34 it belong to God. 22:35 If God want me to go, I will go. 22:36 If not, that's okay. 22:38 And so that's how I came. 22:40 We make arrangement. 22:43 I told him that I'm a leader of 22:45 Seventh-day Adventist Church, 22:47 but I can come and help you. 22:48 So that what I came. 22:51 Four years I help them 22:52 translate their sermon. 22:54 The pastor preach on Sunday, 22:56 I translate for them, I go to 22:58 church on Saturday. 22:59 I try to convert them, they try 23:01 to convert me at the same time. 23:03 There's a story on that. 23:04 I think I share with you before. 23:06 They even─ because of that 23:08 pastor, that's why I went 23:09 to school today. 23:11 [MIKE] So did you come to Canada 23:13 wanting to become a pastor? 23:15 [DR. LY] No. 23:16 I was running away for the 23:17 four years because I don't 23:19 believe that I can qualify 23:20 to be a pastor with my 23:22 imperfection, my rebellious 23:25 attitude that I used to have 23:26 before. 23:27 So I make excuse. 23:29 But because of the pastor 23:31 of the church that Ielping 23:33 to translate his sermon, 23:35 he said, "You need to go 23:36 to school." 23:38 I said, "I cannot because 23:40 my English is not good." 23:41 So he tricked me to go to 23:43 that school one day and 23:45 take the test. 23:46 I passed the test. 23:47 He said, "Now you can come." 23:48 I said, "No, I cannot come 23:49 because I don't have money. 23:51 So the week after he brought me 23:53 to meet a few people that in 23:56 the headquarter of that church. 23:58 So read the paper on the table, 24:01 if you agree, just sign 24:02 all of them. 24:03 So I read it, it's scholarship 24:05 for four years to go to that 24:06 university and four years salary 24:08 when I come back to take care of 24:10 the group that I arranged. 24:11 I form, I have them. 24:13 And that moment I have 24:15 no more excuse. 24:16 I told the pastor, said, 24:17 "Can I pray? 24:18 Can I think about that 24:19 one week?" 24:20 So we came back 24:22 and I told pastor, "I need to 24:23 ask you, I can make appointment 24:25 to see you. 24:26 One question that if you can 24:27 answer me, I will go to 24:29 the school. 24:31 Where in the Bible that... 24:33 ...the Bible said we need to 24:35 change from Sabbath to Sunday... 24:38 ...worship?" 24:39 Because that's all I know when 24:41 I came out from refugee to here. 24:43 I don't know much theology 24:44 at the time. 24:45 So he go around all, give all 24:47 reason from Old Testament, 24:48 everything. 24:49 I still said no, it's not... 24:51 ...it's not..." 24:52 And finally he said, 24:54 "Sereivudh, you are right. 24:55 It's nowhere in the Bible 24:56 to change that." 24:58 I said, "So why, Pastor, 25:00 why you still in the church? 25:02 Why you not obey the law? 25:04 He said, "Sereivudh, 25:06 I've been in this church 25:08 since I were born. 25:09 My great grandfather, 25:10 my grandfather in this. 25:12 And now I only ten more years 25:13 to retire. 25:14 You want me to quit on this? 25:16 Look at my children in school 25:17 right now, and my retirement." 25:20 I said, okay. 25:21 I can─ I have nothing to say. 25:23 Then he bless me. 25:24 He said, "Okay, I know you want 25:26 to do the right thing. 25:27 You can go, I bless you." 25:29 He bought the commentaries and 25:30 give me a Bible and commentary 25:32 as a gift. 25:33 That when I went to CUC 25:35 at the time. 25:36 >> And you studied and you 25:37 became a pastor. 25:38 [DR. LY] Yeah. 25:39 >> We've come to the end of our 25:40 time with you together, Dr. Ly. 25:42 I wonder if you could pray. 25:44 Pray for our viewers. 25:45 Maybe they're listening to this 25:47 now and they're saying, "Hey, 25:48 I need to forgive." 25:48 >> Yep. 25:49 Let's pray. 25:50 Heavenly Father, Lord, 25:52 we thank You 25:53 for privilege today. 25:55 And I'm so thankful for Mike 25:57 and René able to, 25:59 we can have this time together 26:01 and especially the audience that 26:02 you have brought to listen to 26:04 this interview, Lord. 26:06 It nothing accidentally 26:08 on this earth, so I just want to 26:10 pray that─ so I pray that 26:11 pray that─ so I pray that 26:12 You bless each family who listen 26:13 to this broadcast. 26:16 Each person that who going 26:17 through difficulty, do not know 26:19 how to forgive. 26:20 Lord, I pray that You reveal 26:21 to them the same way You have 26:23 done to me. 26:24 And thank You. 26:25 We know that You are sovereign. 26:27 You still listen to our call. 26:29 You still send the people 26:30 in our life and nothing 26:32 impossible for us to get healed. 26:34 We pray in Jesus name, amen. 26:36 [MIKE & RENÉ] Amen. 26:38 >> Dr. Ly, thank you so much 26:40 for joining us on 26:41 It Is Written Canada. 26:43 and sharing your 26:44 miraculous story. 26:45 >> Thank you very much for 26:46 opportunity to share, too. 26:48 >> Friends, I hope you have been 26:50 inspired by Dr. Sereivudh Ly's 26:52 experience of how he was able 26:54 to forgive the Khmer Rouge. 26:57 Yet you may be still struggling 26:59 to forgive someone 27:01 who has harmed you deeply. 27:04 When emotions run too deep 27:06 and forgiveness feels like 27:08 an impossibility, 27:10 what do you do? 27:12 >> Our free offer for you is 27:15 What To Do When You Can't 27:17 Forgive. 27:18 This little booklet will provide 27:20 practical answers that will 27:22 help you forgive when you feel 27:24 like you just can't forgive. 27:28 Before you go, we would like to 27:30 thank all of you who have 27:31 supported the ministry of 27:33 It Is Written Canada 27:34 with your prayers 27:36 and financial contributions. 27:39 Without your support, 27:40 this television ministry 27:42 could not have reached 27:43 so many people 27:45 for so many decades. 27:47 >> Yes, thank you. 27:48 And we would like to invite you 27:51 to also follow us on Instagram 27:53 and Facebook and subscribe to 27:55 our YouTube channel, and also 27:56 listen to our podcasts. 27:58 And if you go to our website, 28:00 you can see our latest programs. 28:03 >> Friends, to be honest, 28:05 Jesus is offering you a life 28:07 that is beyond our ongoing 28:09 struggles with the pain, 28:11 suffering, and sorrows 28:13 of this life. 28:16 We would like to recommend 28:17 you open the Bible, 28:19 where it is recorded that Jesus 28:21 Himself found His assurance 28:23 to defeat the devil 28:24 through the word of His Father 28:27 when He declared... 28:39 [uplifting music] 28:42 [jungle sounds] 28:45 ♪♪ |
Revised 2025-01-23