We have too much “sexy� going on in our world today. It
effects our culture, society, our roles in family and community, our
relationships- it even permeates our view of world missions.

When I signed on for The World Race back in early 2008, it
was not because I smelled the stench of curry and death from the streets of Calcutta
and wanted to bring life , nor because I felt my entire body shaking and aching
from some unknown sickness. It was because I thought world missions was “sexy.�
I have seen the videos (Invisible Children, The World Race). I have read the
books (Disposable People- Kevin Bales, Always Enough- Heidi Baker). And it made
me want to walk down an African road, or dig wells in Central America. I
imagined these beautiful, glamorous environments, and heard these magnificent
soundtracks, and there was no way I would turn down an opportunity like this. Plus,
who wouldn’t want to be like Brad and Angelina?

But I finally got on the mission field and realized there
were a few things missing. There was not a comfortable couch to sit on while I
was seeing images of orphans playing in the garbage. I did not have a bag of
popcorn in my hand as I prayed for God to heal a man with diabetes. And worst
of all, there was no heart-warming music playing in the background as I told
people about the Kingdom of God. It was just life. Real life. No actors. No
directors. No green room. No orchestras. Just life.

And I realized that it was never about the music, the
culture, the stamp in my passport. God did not call me to travel the world in
order that I may smile for the camera for the perfect photo op. Jesus spoke the
words “Follow Me.� And it was in that following that I realized what it was all
about.

I mentioned in my recent post, Revisited: India, about us
all being created by the same God, and we’re all loved by the same God. Christ
calls us to radical lives in His Kingdom in order that we may be more connected
with our brothers and sisters. There is real pain in Manila, Philippines. There
is real fear in China. There is real corruption in Africa. There is real death
in Calcutta. There is real anger in Eastern Europe. There is real hopelessness
in Central America. And among all of this are our real brothers and sisters. Real People. And we’re called to live
Real Life alongside them.

And it’s ugly. There’s nothing “sexy� about cramming into a
little cardboard house to pray for a sick man. There’s nothing “sexy� about
thirty young boys and girls walking around like zombies from glue inhalation.
But it’s Real. And that is what God calls us to.

So let’s stop with all this talk about “bringing sexy back�
and start talking about bringing the Real Kingdom of God.

 

Ministry Update!

Starting June 8, I will be leading the largest Real Life team
to Uganda! I, along with twenty five college-age men and women, will be going
to Kampala and Lira, Uganda to work with a few different churches/ministries in
sharing the Love of Jesus Christ with our brothers and sisters there. We will
be back in the US July 31, and we’re all excited to see how God is going to
work in that two month time.

To keep up on our ministry, keep watching here for the
website address (when I get it). Please pray for us as we go out and abandon
ourselves to see God work in mighty ways.

Also, as a leader, I need to raise $1500 to cover the cost
of my trip during these two months. If you would like to partner with me in
this specific ministry, please visit the Support Me! button on the left side of
this screen. Thank you for your investment!