"Introspective thoughts for the mission-minded..."

Isn't it just like God...when He really wants us to learn something, or He really wants to get our attention, haven't you found that He surrounds you with that topic? In music that you hear, in the books you are reading, in a 'so-called' random TV show that you turn on, in a conversation that someone starts with you, or in a periodical that just 'happens' to get delivered to your house! Well God I hear You, and as Samuel said after the 3rd time you called him...I'm listening.

received a copy of New Man magazine this week (www.newmanmagazine.com) and on page 42 the title to this post appeared. The purpose of the article was to get you to think about our lives and the missionGod has us on...

" To become world-changers, we must change our thinking when it comes to risk. Jesus' followers are called to lay down their lives, if necessary, to see God's purposes fulfilled. Will you play it safe...or gamble hard on God's way?"

The article goes on to quote famous people as follows...

"The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything."
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."
- C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

"Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: Will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?"
- Odysseus, from the movie Troy

This is making me think about the opportunities God places in my life every day. What will I do? Will I aim at heaven? Will I love fiercely, fight bravely...or will I ignore the harm that I see, and not do anything about it?
If you have not taken the chance, please click on the link next to this post about seeing a picture of how AIDS affects children in Africa. Maybe by viewing this you will get a picture of the "harm" that AIDS brings to the innocent children of Africa, and maybe the Lord will call you to become a world-changer, here at home and around the world...

How Will You Be Remembered?

epitaph
n 1: an inscription on a tombstone or monument in memory of the person buried there 2: a summary statement of commemoration for a dead person

I was reading recently, and came across Benjamin Franklin's autobiographical epitaph and found it very interesting.

" The Body of B. Franklin, Printer; Like the Cover of An Old Book, It's Contents torn out, And Stript of it's Lettering and gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the work shall not be wholly Lost: For it will, as he believ'd, Appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and Amended By the Author."

This got me to thinking (and it doesn't take much :-) about my life. Will it's contents be torn out and wholly spent for the Author? Or will I still have lettering and gilding left on my pages? Will my life have been meted out, as Ben Franklin used to say "For the good of Mankind", or will I have spent my life on myself, and selfish pursuits? Lord help me to, each day be "stript of my lettering and gilding."

Cilff or Solid Rock...

What are we looking at the cliff or the Solid Rock?

In a recent string of comments from my last post, I have been really challenged about where my faith is, and what I put my faith in. A friend who is in Tanzania stated;

"We think we're stepping off a cliff when we do something for him and we view it as a leap of faith, but I don't believe that's what He sees. I believe He knows that we have tons of faith because we are willing to go so long without Him and His hands of protection, but when we come to that place of decision, He knows that we're not stepping off of the cliff but onto the Solid Rock. For the world-wide renown of His sovereign glory...What are we so afraid of? "

And, isn't it amazing how God uses many different things to get your attention? I read this from David in Tanzania, then in a book I am reading by Erwin McManus he states...

"How is it possible that, for many of us, being a good Christian is really nothing more than being a good person? The entire focus of our faith has been the elimination of sin, which is important but inadequate, rather than the unleashing of a unique, original, extraordinary, wonderfully untamed faith."

I get it God! Enough already....I guess you want us to stop being our "ordinary good Christian people" and start living lives of "untamed faith". Why don't we see more Christians living to change the world for Him? Do we really believe the the Creator God is giving us the faith and freedom to live out dreams greater than ourselves? Go ahead..............JUMP OFF THE CLIFF

Can you see the "Opportunities"?

At a meeting last Saturday night, and we were talking about provision, God's Provision, in meeting our needs. We were praying together, and one person prayed the atypical prayer about how our fellowship of believers needs to be a place that "draws People In".

Now I have heard that said from the pulpit, and prayed for many years (over the past 5-7 at least) and something in my heart this time just SHOUTED, noooooooo! It 's not about "drawing people in! God never promised that if we prayed and fasted and put on our "Sunday Best" that He would compel them to come in. Isn't it about GOING OUT?

Then, in prayer I got a picture of God's provision. And I think I heard God saying...What do you think My provision looks like? Do you think it is monetary? Do you think it is nice possessions? Do you think it is 'Grand Cathedrals'?

Then He said, what if you are looking for something that doesn't exist? What if My provision is not what you expect it to look like? What if my provision is..........THE HARVEST!

Why are we waiting from the people to be drawn in, when clearly Jesus told us to look to the fields that are white, ripe for harvest? We must pray for eyes to see the opportunity God is clearly putting before us...The opportunity to touch people and meet their needs right where they are, not waiting for them to come in. Then, and only then will we see the provision of God for our Fellowship of Churches...

Another Opportunity for You?

In my thoughts about our time spent in Africa, I cannot help but to remember the faces of the children. So full of joy when we played "futball" with them, so accepting of us even thought we were so different. These children, who had lost everything to poverty and AIDS, are still so accepting. They are not the "angry young man" steriotype that is so typical here in the west.

I just want to encourage anyone out there, that you can make a difference! We are just an ordinary middle class American Family who has seen the opportunity to make a change in the lives of some orphans in Tanzania...you can make a difference also. Let God open your eyes to the various opportunities that surround you every day! You can make a difference...

If you want to read more, here is a good link.

Here is a bunch of opportunity...13 kids who could use anyone's help! All orphans, but all loved!  

Sunrise in Arica 

"opportunity" quote

Just read a little of Erwin McManus' 'an unstoppable force'...in his thoughts about envisioning the future, he talks about HG Wells' time machine and our thoughts of a time machine..."Most of us dream instead of a machine that would cause time to stand still. Time moves forward-without prejudice or regard to the quality of the moment. Tomorrow is always its destination. We must stop resisting history's relentless pursuit of the future and instead capture the present opportunity."

On a recent "Opportunity" with the whole Family 

Thinking

Just thinking about my time in Africa...There was so much opportunity! You lived, breathed, and swam thru opportunity just to go to the corner! In Tanzania, 47% of the population is aged 14 years old or younger! There are children everywhere...Many are orphans who search the streets for food, begging or sniffing glue to take away the hunger pains. As I left Africa, I became numb...just overwhelmed by everything we take for granted here in the US. I am now trying to live my life deliberately thankful for the little things (clean running tap water, electricity on a daily basis, smooth roads, refrigeration) and I am trying to think of ways that I can affect Africa, the things I do, the way I live, and in living that way, maybe the people around me will get a sense of what I am doing, and want to help the "Orphans and Widows" they come in contact with every day. God is opening my eyes that there are orphans and widows that I run into every day...Do I see them? How about you?