Change in Perspective

I've been taking a class entitled "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" and it has completely given me a new perspective (as promised) ! I'm not sure I'll be able to read the Bible the same, share the Gospel the same, or view the world the same. As referenced in my last post, ordinary life as I knew it is long gone.

So this brings me to the purpose of this post. One of the sections of the course is the Historical Perspective of Missions. This section discusses the different mechanisms that the Lord has used to spread His Word. Briefly they are "Voluntary Going", "Involuntary Going", "Voluntary Coming", and "Involuntary Coming".

Before I continue I have to flash back to a conversation I had many years ago. I've had MANY conversations over the years about immigration but this one has always stuck with me. My friend asked me about a certain situation he was faced with... the janitor at his church was an illegal immigrant. He asked me how I would handle the situation. My answer came very quickly... "circumstances don't dictate truth". The specific details of this person's story did nothing to sway my position; he was here in this country illegally and something needed to be done about it.

As I read about "Involuntary Coming" and this mechanism that the Lord used to bring people to a land they might not otherwise come to, due to the circumstances they left behind, I started to rethink my position. I still believe that truth is not dictated by circumstances or emotions, and I still believe (quite strongly) that the government needs to fix our immigration policy. What changed is my perspective. What is my responsibility in all of this? What opportunities are we missing in all of this if we focus on the political side of the issue. Think about it? MILLIONS of foreigners are in this country and while the details of each of their stories may be different, the reality remains the same - they are here! Many of these foreigners come from countries that missionaries aren't able to go to... and the Lord brought them to our doorstep!

What a difference we could make for the Kingdom if we reached out to them. They may be able to return to their own countries with a citizenship in heaven that they are ready to share with others. Many of these 'visitors' are never invited in to American homes. How can we share the love of Christ with them if we don't meet them.

Here's what I'm doing about it... I'm learning how to teach them English. Actually, I've been learning and start tutoring a lady from Brazil this week. She's been in this country for many years, but is wanting to get her GED and needs some help preparing for the essay portion. Pray for me as I spend time with Elizabeth. Pray that she will be able to see the love of Christ in my life as I share Him with her. I look forward to meeting many others like in Elizabeth in this coming year as I reach out to those the Lord has brought here for us to minister to. I'm grateful to my church for thinking of this ministry and being on the front lines of changing the conversation on immigration among believers.

Until the World Hears!

Ruined for the Ordinary

This book changed my life. I hope that doesn't sound cliché because I don't want to take away from what I'm trying to say. For quite some time I've been frustrated with the ordinary life. I knew there had to be more to things than just figuring out what job or man would make me happy. This book started me on the process of finding that "more".

My purpose is to bring Glory to God and in that worship share the gospel of Christ with the Nations. Never have I been more excited about anything. Never will I be able to go back to ordinary life.

Today I start the challenge that springs from this book. For those of you who know me, my normal approach to things is to go full-speed ahead with a plan without thought to anything else, or without any patience for the process. In doing this I'm trying to change that. I'm going to take the next year to prepare for what God has for me. I believe that to be full-time ministry, but I still don't know what that looks like fleshed-out so I wait. While I wait, I pray and prepare... and that's where this challenge comes in.

The Challenge consists of 5 steps:

1. Pray for the entire world - Matthew 9 "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field". Before he told them to do anything else, Jesus told his disciples to pray, and not just to pray for the needs, but to pray for those who should and will go.

2. Read through the entire Word - Christians around the world either don't have the Bible in their language or sometimes risk their lives to be able to have a Bible. I have a Bible degree, and I must confess to have never read through the whole Bible. That changes this year.

3. Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose -- the word sacrifice means that this might hurt at times, but our hearts follow our money.

4. Spend your time in another context - If we are to accomplish the global purpose of God, it will not be by primarily giving our money (although this is important if you look to point #3). It will be done through giving of ourselves -- that is what is required by the gospel. Taking the gospel to the nations is not an option or a calling -- it is a command!

5. Commit your life to a multiplying community - this is where the other 4 points converge. We don't do this alone, we stand with other believers who are committed to a Radical faith and to multiplying the gospel by making disciples.

So this is what the next year of my life looks like. I'm scared -- as excited as I am, I know it won't be easy, but JESUS IS WORTH IT! I covet your prayers through this year as I know that the devil will seek to change my plans but greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.