Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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Do you choose what country you are born in?
Do you choose what your parents believe in?
Everyone of you can answer ‘no’ to these questions……
 
Do you choose what you believe in?
Do you worship what and who you want to worship?
Most of you can answer ‘yes’ to these two questions……..except those of you who live where you must practice and believe in what you were born into. In other words you were born into a Muslim family,  therefore are branded that. You can choose to leave this practice…..you can….but you should also be prepared to flee the country or basically go into hiding. No big deal right?

They can’t stop you from becoming a Christian, but they can prevent you from having the label Muslim taken off your identity card. If they catch you worshipping in a church, you will be arrested; and that church’s license will be revoked. What do you do? What do you choose to follow?

Are you the woman who flees to the US to protect her own life, so she can worship her God freely?
Are you the woman who gets up at 2 in the morning to read her Bible, so her husband doesn’t know she has chosen a Savior?Do you risk being disowned by your family or even putting your family in danger?
Will you risk being arrested and beat…..possibly murdered? Being singled out as a traitor?
What age are we living in that these questions would even be asked? The fact of the matter is, many religions react in similar ways when a follower leaves. Judgement, condemnation, anger, frustration, etc. Are these all emotions that drive people away from religion?
I listened to a Nigerian Pastor the other night, and he reminded me of something that is easy to forget:
Christianity is not a religion, it’s a unique relationship with God.

We get so caught up on how to do things ‘right’ in our spiritual lives. How to pray right, how to preach right, how to read the bible right. We get caught up in routines: read this many chapters before bed (and remember nothing), pray at this time each day- pray the same prayer, etc. We do the same traditions, the same thing at church, and are afraid to widen our box a little more. Yes, we put God in a box.

Traditions and routine aren’t necessarily bad……just when they overshadow God. How is that possible? Well, we forget about one important aspect: our spirits. Instead we allow our minds to lead us in our worship and daily prayer.

Kris Vallotton says in his book: Developing Supernatural Lifestyles that our spirits will take us places our minds would never go.

I think that it is easier to keep God in our comfortable box……to not allow ourselves to explore more of His spirit. It could just get too weird……it’s not what I grew up doing……it’s not really um……proper??

As I learn more and more about being a Believer, in Malaysia, I see people around me trapped. There are literally padlocked gates everywhere: to get into your driveway, your front door, your back door, etc. This may not be that abnormal, but then I think about the hush hush secrets here. Non-licensed church’s being held in homes late at night, former Muslim Christians living a double life. I wonder if the women I see walking around with veils feel caged in….do the men doing their prayers 5 times a day ever feel padlocked to their Faith??

I personally choose a ‘religion’ that is ruled by a mighty and forgiving Father, who wants to have a personal relationship with me. Who forgives me, when I turn my back on Him in ignorance….. with open arms he welcomes me back.
So…..I say yes to the questions above…..I would risk everything to follow a King of Glory, a God who is Mighty to Save. He is the only one who can judge me, who can redeem me….my fellow Christians have no part in it. No cages here….no obligations, no routine……I can freely live a life for my King, because he has chosen me to be a part of His Kingdom…I have a place in Heavan.