I don’t have very much experience gambling but I do know that when I am playing with house money, I take more risk. I figure ,“it isn’t my money, there is no loss for me, go for it!” House money can commonly be understood as money won back on top of your initial investment. If I put in $100, and win $150 in blackjack, $50 becomes house money. Francis Chan commonly compares house money to the life of a believer. We have been given something, our faith, that is not of our doing, but a gift of God (Eph 2:8). In the same way as when we are playing with house money, with absolute freedom to go for it, shouldn’t our lives speak of a life of risk? Now does this look like going skydiving and bungie jumping? Maybe. But I think even more so it looks like quitting your job and moving your family to Africa to become missionaries. It looks like walking up to someone in Starbucks and telling them God loves them. It looks like taking Saturday off work when your whole life you have worked six days a week. Risk looks different to different people. The Lord is going to minister to each of us differently in this life of faith. But to others, shouldn’t this life of faith scream, “Why?!” Whatever “risk” looks like to you, do people look at you and wonder why you make certain decisions? Can only the gospel explain these decisions? When I put $100 on Red 21 in Roulette, I either really want to lose $100 or I am playing with house money. People have to wonder. Hypothetically, if this whole Jesus thing turned out to be for not, would people pity your life because of the faith you had?
I am preaching to myself. And really what I am saying is do I believe that what He says about Himself is true? When I put $100 on Red 21 in life, do I believe He will bless my step of faith? Do I believe in His character? This idea of house money is something the Lord has continually brought back to mind these past several months. Especially since for the first time, I am financially supporting myself. House money is actually applying to money. As the costs of vaccinations, malaria pills, flights, and other things build up I am constantly reminded that the house money I am playing with is not mine and never will be. I was driving home today finding myself worrying about money trying to remind myself it is His and the lyrics from the song Oceans came to mind, “He has never failed me and He won’t start now.” How true that is. Even if I just take the small sample from the start of fundraising at the end of May till now, He hasn’t failed once. I hit my first deadline of $3,500 in one day. I hit my second deadline of $7,500 three weeks later. I am currently 87% fully funded in just over two months. I came back from Training Camp with the faith to pray for a job, a camera for pictures, and a laptop for blogging. Last week I got a job and the week before that a friend donated a go-pro camera to me.
Risk takes us out of control and reminds us that He is. He hasn’t failed once, He never will but yet I worry as if He might. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Mt 7:7). How often this verse is quoted, but how often we don’t believe it by choosing to not activate it in our lives. The fact is Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He wants to be invited in and show up. He gently says, “Just ask me, just seek me, just knock for me.” When I wasn’t asking Him, I was pridefully admitting, “I got it Lord.” Several months ago, I signed up for a huge risk in The World Race, dedicating 11 months to love and serve unto the Lord. Raising and spending money that causes me to pause sometimes and ask myself, “Wait, what the heck did I sign up for?” And then I remember He’s worthy. He’s worthy of my savings account. He’s worthy of this next year. I have learned more about faith, trust, and the risk those things are more in the past two months then the past three years of being a Christian. And I’m starting to think that this is just the beginning.
Here are some “risky” SPECIFIC DONATION REQUESTS:
An iPad/tablet/laptop: Preference in that order because of lightweight and battery life. The laptop I currently is way too big and heavy. This will be primarily for blogging and uploading pictures from my go-pro to create space.
Malaria Pills: My insurance does not cover any malaria pills. If anyone wants to specifically donate towards helping me pay for my malaria pills. It will be between $1000-$1100.
ANNOUNCEMENTS!
*MY LAUNCH DATE: SEPTEMBER 6TH! I depart on this journey in less than a month. I can’t believe it!
*Please notice my team listed as Team Royal Covenant on the sidebar or click on Meet My Team (unless it is fixed, Nick Shear is also on my team. Find him under September Route 2)
*I designed T-shirts with a friend in order to help raise money for my trip. If you like any of them, let me know what size and color by emailing me at: [email protected] If you live out of state or farther away, then I can ship them to you and I will send an invoice to you through paypal.
