In October 2010 in the woods of White, GA@World Race Training Camp I entered the twilight zone. I've worshipped in manners I never had previously. I've sought and found God in new and crazy ways. I've stopped walking my spiritual journey solo and have made some incredible spiritual partnerships. SO much has come out of this race and we're barely halfway through. So TWR has it's own culture. The community we live in is very different from "the real world." I figure I'll explain some of the stuff I'll be coming home talking about (and trying to implement with my family/friends) now so then we can all just jump right in! Cool? Cool.
1) Prophecy: Racers loooooooove them some prophecy. We do it in so many different ways. We've got the "Ring of Fire", "Speed Dating", "Secret Santa", "Questions" and more. I've learned that it isn't eyes rolling in the back of your heard and the voice of God booming through you (that's a prophet giving a prophetic word)…it's simply speaking truth and life into others. It's being Spirit lead and love guided in sharing encouragement with your brothers and sisters. It can be a word, a color, a dream, a Scripture, an icream flavor, etc. It is simply taking the time to consciously plug into our Buddy- The Holy Spirit- and letting Him use you.
2) Love Languages: Yet another passion of World Racers. I never heard of it before, but I'm a big fan. It reminds of a book we read for class about the various pathways to God. There are 5 Love Languages– Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. Knowing what you and those around you are make for a much happier community. You make think you're showing your teammate so much support and appreciation because you always tell him how great he his, thank him for all his help, etc., but He thinks all he does goes unnoticed and no one cares because what he needs is quality time. It doesn't work if you're speaking two different languages and lack the means of interpretation. Man, this is some good stuff for y'll married and soon-to-be married folks. Check out the book!
3) Make-a-Memory: Never in my life have I considered that I'm actually making memories. Yes, I've had maaaaad memorable experiences, but it was never an overt planned memory-making excursion. I actually really love the intentionality (word? Whelp, it is now…) of being told to go make a memory. The first time this happened was at training camp and although I didn't really understand it I was excited to do it. When we got new teams in April I knew it was time for another memory-making journey and I was down. There's just something really cool to me about doing/creating something that will last forever in my mind.
4) ATL: Contrary to what most of you are thinking, this is not a city in Georgia. ATL stands for Ask The Lord. There's lots of ways to do this one. Sometimes you just do it on the spur like my old teammates Katie & Peter. They began walking and would stop ever corner and ask, "Aaight God, which way?" They had some pretty amazing encounters simply asking and following. You/a group of folks can also take some time to pray and download from the Holy Spirit. Like prophesy, you may get colors, numbers, places, faces…whatever. Just write it all down and go for it- trust Him; He works. My most recent ATL experience was like this: Me and two squadmates prayed together and saw carousel, blue, kids with backpacks, mall, bird, Burger King and circus. So we knew we were headed to the mall. We walk in and see a group of nursing students in blue uniforms. Right before we saw them we saw one of those carousel rides you pay $0.25 for. In the food court, right near Burger King and a circus animal carousel, Bekah felt we needed to talk to an employee on break. As soon as I sat down to talk to her, a bird landed beside us. To make a long story short, all of it happened. We had some awesome encounters, got to pray and encourage people, were encouraged ourselves and spread kingdom. Explicity listening to the power of God in us leads to some pretty ridiculous things!
5) Community: This IS the World Race. It's what makes this experience unique. It's what causes the growth. It's what challenges us. It's the thing we all love and hate. It's what we'll all miss when this is over. Living within intentional community is BOMB! Knowing that we've all agreed to go on this journey together, to be there for each other, to give honest feedback no matter how difficult, to go after God together in new ways…it's amazing. I really can't even explain it here/in words. My suggestion- go live in community for a month or two. You'll never be the same…
6) Feedback: It's way more than a(n inappropriate) Janet Jackson song! ;o) This is the toughest and greatest part of living in true Christian community. People call you up (not just out) on those things that are out of character and or should be/are a part of your character. We've all agreed we want to look more like Jesus by the end of this year. Soooo when we see each other acting/talking/thinking/dressing…contrary to God and who we are in Him we speak on it. We also speak when someone does demonstrate the attributes of God in order to encourage them to continue. Feedback is not a cold, hard, negative-only type deal. It's showing love, it's calling someone into their destiny, it's a partnership/investment. It's dope! I neeeeeds this in my life back home. I love my girls and appreciate that they'll tell me about myself if I'm trippin'. I need it from a Christian perspective and out of a desire to see me walk in my God-given destiny as well.
QotM:
You don't need a better self-image you need to see God and realize you're looking at yourself.
SotM:
