Where to go?

For so long now, I would love to go on a long term mission trip. The ability to live outside of the distractions of a politically correct life, outside the temptations of getting lost in my selfish desires. The ability to life a life as a family, community, and servant (Which we have just as many opportunity to life that here). To be able to love on people who are so open to hearing the good news, rather than facing those who are stuck in their own subjective logic (I, myself, am not separate from this).


My view has always been that those of us in America have so many opportunities to hear the Word, with a church on nearly every block, If you don't receive Christ, it's out of your own ignorance. Why should I try to share this grace if you have no desire to learn of it? And once again Jonah comes to mind.


Jonah ran from God not because he had no desire to serve, but because he didn't feel the people God was calling him to go to deserved God's grace. There have been people in my life that I can't stand to be around. Every time they talk I cringe with hate. I didn't want to share God's love with them because I didn't want them to have it. And it doesn't seem like much has changed. I've withheld God's love of those around me because I didn't feel they deserved it. How much of a jerk have i been? Who am I to judge? I am no greater than any one who walks the dust of this earth. 


But theres more to Jonah's running away. God was calling Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capitol of Assyria, and proclaim to them on the streets to repent and ask forgiveness for their sins or they will be destroyed. The funny thing is, at the time, the Assyrians were the enemy of Jonah's people, the Galilean's. Really God? To go to your enemy's streets and yell to them to ask forgiveness to for their sins or they will be destroyed? Maybe Jonah ran because he felt the Ninevites didn't deserve Gods grace, maybe he ran because he feared they would surely kill him on the streets. Either way from the perspective of man, Jonah had legit reasons to run. 


When Jonah finally went to the streets of Nineveh the entire city fasted and asked forgiveness. And what did God do? He forgave them. This is where Jonah's reaction gets interesting.

 ¹ But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. ² He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity

Jonah 4:1-2

Jonah actually got angry at God for showing them grace! How often do we hold back God's love because we're either afraid fro our lives, both physically and socially, or that we don't feel those around us deserve God's grace? 

Come the end of this year I will no longer be tied down by school, one roommate who will be moving in with his brother, and another roommate who may be in Tanzania (Which is awesome!). Then on top of that I have a job that allows me to work from anywhere. What does this mean? what does this point to?

As much as I desire to live and serve full time I can't help but feel there are multiple things holding me back. First of all myself. I know there's part of me that fears dropping everything I have lived my life for up until this point, and serving. There's part of me feeling that I am not prepared both spiritually and in wisdom to be the Christ like example in people's life. But at the same there's so much out there that needs the love of Christ. How much I would love to aide those who were trapped into human trafficking, Or bring God's word to people who don't even have the Bible translated in their own language! There's so much work to be done and here I am making pretty little graphics on my computer. 

Then theres part of me that feels my calling is here. That I have the ability to make large amounts of money and give it all away. To support those who are reaching out for Christ, Those ambassadors that fearlessly go where God call them to be. 

So who am I? The ambassador or the supporter?

safe: word study

This is a word study on safety. How we define safety, and how God defines safety. And what it means to be safe.

First, on a personal note. I've never been some one to worry about finances (is that safety? being financially secure?) nor have I been someone to be a physically obtrusive person (is that safety? being physically safe from danger?) Is safety something that we desire as man? or is it something that God places over us? Where do we draw the line between being safe, and taking that leap of faith for what we believe in?

Going in to my graduation theres a lot still up in the air. and I guess a lot shat should be brought into consideration. How am I going to live? Being the man that God created me to be, I desire adventure. To travel the world and back again, to go to Mordor and destroy the ring in Mount Doom, To join the rebel alliance and take arms against the sith lords, to sacrifice everything that I am to share the love of God's grace. So I ask again, What does it mean to be safe?

In the ESV translation of the Bible, the word 'safe' is mentioned 28 times. 12 of those times is found in Psalms and Proverbs. Only 3 times in Jesus's ministry does he mention safety. And only one of those times does he mention the safety of man. (the other times were of man's protection of his possessions (Lk 11:21), the other the safety of a calf (Lk 15:27))

12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me

John 17:12.

It's interesting how the one time Jesus mentions safety, it is of how the triune God keeps us safe. There are so many instances in both the new and old testament of how man fails to keep himself safe, but God continues to protect his people.

...because, as surely as the LORD lives, you are safe; there is no danger.

1 Samuel 20:21.

1 Keep me safe, O God,

for in you I take refuge.

Psalm 16:1

28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;

through love his throne is made secure.

Proverbs 20:28.

One of my favorite verses as a follower of Christ:

6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

Ps 118:6.

After Francis Chan published his first book Crazy Love He was told by his publisher that his book has become a best seller and will generate over 1 mil $ in revenue. After praying over this with his wife they decided to sign over all of the income from the book to charities. ALL of it. He was soon approached by some members of his congregation who were concerned for his safety. saying he should at least keep some if it in case of an emergency. His responded asking them, is what is happening elsewhere in the world not an emergency? is my safety more important than others having clean water to drink? (this did not do it justice)

The idea is we so often try to keep ourselves safe with our possessions, with our steady jobs and steady income. We try to keep ourselves safe by living in a good neighborhood. By politically positioning ourselves in our communities and social networks. To live a life in the flesh there is so much we try to keep ourselves safe from: mentally, physically, and emotionally.

But what is the greater risk than a life that fails to live in constant pursuit if God's will?