The comments from the last post really stirred my heart and mind. I would like to comment on several things said...

Starting with David’s comments. I love that scripture in James, “Pure and Undefiled Religion is this...” I believe with my whole heart that we are called to go and do everything within our means to impact this world for eternity. We cannot leave the job to someone else—God has entrusted it to each of us who desire to follow Him.

It isn’t about “doing” just for the sake of “doing.” It is about living a life devoted to something much greater and more important then “self.” The comment was made that people get busy with church. I love what Dennis (my dad) said in his comment: “Let's not be busy for the sake of business. Let's rather make sure our lives have significance because we are pouring them into the lives of others and reaching the lost with the awesome good news.” Isn’t that what it all comes down to? Are we going to live a life gratifying and fulfilling the desires of “self” or are we going to spend our lives spreading the Gospel?

Here is what it all boils down to for me:

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

So is it this “must do” approach just part of the “rich and powerful” American mindset? I don’t believe it is. I think that mindset is evident in Christ as He walked His final days on earth. I do not believe that God would have provided a Savior for our souls if in His heart He did not have the “must do” mindset. He loved us so much, that no matter the cost...He was going to give each of us an opportunity to spend eternity with Him. As each of us makes a decision to follow in Christ’s steps we must also choose the same. The more we fall in-love with our Lord, the more we will fall in love for His children. As we “have the mind of Christ Jesus” take shape within our own minds...we will begin to have a deeper and clearer understanding that there is no other option then to offer the Truth to this world, no matter the cost is to self.

I also understand what Madcupmum was saying about the Gate. I think you were saying that Christ is the one who will guide us, like a shepherd gently guides his sheep, through the gate. If the “break down the door” analogy seems too harsh, then the other analogy works just as well. (Just to clarify things...that analogy was never meant to mean we should go Westernize the world...that is the last thing we should do. It just means that whatever barriers exist that we are capable of removing by us being pliable and flexible...then lets move them).

What do you think it is about the shepherd that causes the sheep to trust him? I read once that a shepherd touches each and every sheep as he enters his gate each night and speaks to the sheep. That is why the sheep recognize and now the voice of their master. It is his loving hand, his loving touch. How much more can we follow in Christ’s steps then by offering our loving hand to this world so that through us they might feel the loving and healing touch of their Father?

My “missions trip” doesn’t start when I get off that plane in Tanzania no more then it ends when Allison and Lauren come back from Mexico. My life is a mission...this is a race and I have to decide each and every morning if I am going to run it with all of my heart, soul, and mind. My “mission” is to reveal the heart of my Father to every person who God allows to cross my path...

Why Not...Part 2

I would like to continue the discussion from the previous post.... I would like to focus some things that Dale and Brent said.

Dale said, “When it comes to callings...and doors of opportunities....and all that stuff that we construct to create some valid reason why we don't obey God...well, I just don't believe in those things anymore.”

Pastor Dale told me something along the same lines when I first got to Rhode Island and it has challenged me in every area of my life. He told me that so often we wait for an “open door” but scripture doesn’t really talk about open doors. If the door is not open, then try a window, and if we can’t find a window...then run as hard as we can through the wall and try to break through the wall. If can’t break the wall and we die from the impact of hitting it, then at least the wall is a little weaker and will be a little easier for the next person to break through.

When I first visualized that I thought...wow, how many opportunities have I missed because I had no door to walk through? I mean, I do not even know when I developed the attitude that I needed God to “open doors” but I remember praying from a young age that God would show me His will by opening and closing doors. Imagine what would have happened in the early church if they waited for open doors? They gave their lives to spread the gospel because there were no open doors...they broke through the walls.

Dale also said, “I propose that we all take our lives and hit this world as hard as we can. Yep, it will cost us our lives.” Spending our lives is something that goes completely against the grain of American culture. Our culture is constantly trying to make our lives more comfortable and easier to live. The “American Dream” is defined by many as the ability to acquire wealth. Even within the church, we counsel our kids to pick careers that will help them achieve “success” and often they chose paychecks over passion. If we, as believers and followers of Christ, are not spending our lives to impact this world...then what are we saving it for? Why are we building ourselves into a box with satin cushions...why are we obsessed with comfort? That comfortable, cushioned box I lived in was nothing more then a coffin. A friend of mine recently told me that he wants to “live his life without borders.” That is what I want to do...live my life without borders. I want to take my life and hit this world as hard as I can. Is my life more valuable then others? Is my comfort more important then sharing love and life with others who are in desperate need?
Brent made the comment, (refering to the great commission) “...so why don't we at every opportunity given to us?” I loved that. You know, this opportunity to Africa is not a once and a lifetime opportunity. The opportunity to go into any part of this world is always there (you can always go by yourself or create your own trip), but at what point in our lives are we going to just do it? I want to take every opportunity to share the message of Christ with people. I want to take every opportunity to love those who have never really experienced love. The trip I am taking to Tanzania is something that I know God can and will use me in...I will be able to love on these kids who have grown up on the streets and share Christ with Muslims and people who do not know God—I also know he will awaken my eyes, hands, heart, and soul to what real need is and what I really need to do to impact this world. I want to take, like Brent said, “every opportunity given” to me to change this world.