Preach It Yo

"I can't stand your religious meetings. 

   I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects, 
   your pretentious slogans and goals.
I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes, 
   your public relations and image making.
I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. 
   When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want? 
   I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it. 
   That's what I want. That's all I want.

I heard this one time and it was a kick in the head to say the least. I thought about these verses the other day and started to post it on here, because I feel a perpetual guilt that I should be "blogging"- don't think I'll ever be comfortable with that word- when I noticed verse 23, with"fund-raising schemes," for the first time. My stomach kind of dropped when I read it and made me think of this World Race and the "fund raising" involved- the thought of this being considered a scheme, not only to everyone I'm asking for help, but more importantly to God, freaked me out.

It made me check my motives and want to check them constantly. I want to make sure I'm doing this right, which I'm not even sure what that looks like, but knowing, and reminding myself constantly that this isn't all about me is a good start. This trip is about developing relationships with the "least of these" and seeing communities and nations transformed all over the world. It's about pointing those who are suffering from so much to the Jesus who came to set the captives free, bind the broken hearted, release prisoners, trade ashes for beauty, and bring healing to everyone.

I pray for the right heart in this and I pray it's a heart like His that will bring pictures of Him to every place I go. I want to make sure this World Race is for justice and fairness, for hope, help, love, truth, and freedom. I want it to sing to God, not to me. I want to want the right things in this, and I pray that's what's first. I'm asking for a lot, and I've been given a lot-not just with money stuff. I've been given so much grace, love, mercy,and forgiveness that I haven't deserved, and I know this is an opportunity of a lifetime to share the irresistible love that God has had and does have for me and us. 

Here's to World Racing for the right reasons with the right intentions.