Good morning, conviction!

My blog entries have become so few and far between! Here’s an extensive one, and I hope it makes up for my absence!

This morning, friends [Thomas and Jonathan] invited me to attend a local church with them [one that we have visited a few times before], because there would be a man speaking from Uganda. This friend shares my love for all things Africa, and knows I would be interested to hear what he had to say. After our usual Starbucks run, we pull in to this church [this church meets in a local school gym here in Rockwall, and is actually a branch of Francis Chan’s church in California, called Cornerstone].

So we’re pretty excited about hearing this man from Uganda. We walk in and do the typical/cordial “hellos” to our acquaintances and sit in our usual spot [stage right, middle of the section… our comfortable spot]. We do what the majority of America does – try to avoid any real conversations with anyone, and only make conversation between our “group”. We stand when we’re told to stand, spend a little time in worship through song… all the while commenting on our mutual frustration due to the fact that they’re singing songs no one knows. Because we all know… you can’t fully worship our Creator unless you know every word of every song [please note the sarcasm]. We sit when we’re told to sit.

As I’m sitting, browsing the bulletin, I notice “special guest speaker, Francis Chan”

“Wait… what?” I had purchased his book [crazy love] earlier this spring, was able to read the first chapter of it before a friend borrowed it to read [due to my constant “ERIKA! You HAVE to read this when I’m done… it’s so good, so far!” [It’s okay, Erika, I forgive you]. :) But I haven’t had the change to finish it. First of all, his joy is apparent in everything he says. His sincerity and love for the poor is obvious. Basically, the entire morning was Chan speaking on behalf of the poor… challenging everyone to GO and DO… BE the hands and feet of Jesus with nothing holding us back. He mentioned his book. Not in the “go buy it” way, but that the book will earn over $1 Million in sales. What does he do? He [and his wife, of course] choose to sign over the entire profit of the book to go towards the poor and oppressed.

Then he illustrates just how much flack he received from that decision. The Church basically told him he was crazy, irresponsible for not keeping some for himself… in case of “emergency”. “EMERGENCY?” Chan questions… “What is an emergency???! Saving for retirement? Comfort? What about the poor and opressed? What about the injustices of sex trafficking? What about eradicating diseases? Is that not an emergency?”

My question – Are we too disconnected from all of this to stand up and be advocates, ourselves, for a greater cause? Maybe every Christian needs to see it for themselves to truly digest the injustices of the world and act on what God urges each one of us to do?

“Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless; Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy.” [Proverbs 31:8-9 paraphrased]

Afterwards, the three of us went to lunch and basically “debriefed” from all that we had been told this morning. Stuff we knew… but it never was presented in such a ‘what are you waiting for?’ kind of way. We all started questioning “WHAT AM I DOING??? Why am I here? Why am I not living in the midst of these precious children of God? What can I do HERE, of all places???” and actually started getting very depressed and seemingly apathetic towards everything we’re doing now. I don’t think that was the intent of Chan’s words… his challenge was not “you’re all terrible people for not doing a,b,c…” but rather, we need to obey the commands God has given to each of us individually. If God is telling you to take a trip to Africa, Asia, Russia – then that is your command. However, if God is telling you to stop purchasing clothes, if God is telling you to go next door and have a discussion with your neighbor, or go downtown and hang out with the homeless – that is not a lesser mission. Each one of us are called to be “missional”… depending on your gifts and abilities, God’s plan may be that you serve in a ministry locally… but it may be to serve internationally – and all we can do is be open and willing to go as He leads. He does not use the best looking, the most eloquent [thanks for that, God], the ones that have loads of money… God will use the willing. It’s our job to be that and accept, joyfully, His will for our lives. It’s also our job to be the voice.

My friend [Thomas] that invited me this morning has been to a certain country [Ghana] every Summer for 8 or 9 years in a row. This year, God made it clear to him that he wasn’t to return this time. That totally broke his heart, because that’s his favorite place in the entire world, and it enables him to be transformed by the Spirit each time he goes. He becomes more like Christ with each trip he takes… not because of anything he is doing, but because of what the Lord is doing through the people he is able to meet. Sometimes even the willing are told “not this time”, but we can rest assured knowing that His sovereign plan is faultless. Nothing is “by chance”, and God will use him wherever he is. My life quote is “the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will”, and that is just a constant reminder that I shouldn’t be worried or overwhelmed by anything… all happenings are part of a larger plan [sounds cliché, but it is true].

Obedience should not be based upon what other people are doing. Instead, we must WHOLEHEARTEDLY obey the commands God has given to each of us individually. Trust that He will reveal it to you… and in the meantime, check out local ministries you can get involved in.