missions

Why I left the World Race

There’s absolutely no drama here. If you’re looking for me to say I discovered it was really Hogwart’s school of sorcery, you wont find it. That’s only partially true. (I kid…) I have zero regrets for going. I’m still all about kingdom journeys and my WR experience was a great step in the right direction.

If you haven’t read part 1 – “Why I joined World Race” you might want to refer briefly to that. In summary, I joined WR largely in part for logistics and Christian community, the most important of those being Christian community.

First, how might I describe a Christian community? One way would be as Christ-centered, Spirit-lead community that draws its strength to love God and people from a foundation based in Truth. I find it difficult to believe this can be had apart from Bible-centeredness. By Bible-centeredness, I mean strengthening our foundation of truth by consistently pouring over, discovering, and understanding the word.

The Bible is clear about the value of God’s word and its essence as truth. Scripture says, “The sum of your word is truth…” (Psalm 119:160) The Psalmist knows he can make no moves without this truth saying in all earnest, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) He cries to the Lord, “Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me.” (Psalm 43:3a)

And as if to answer this plea with the ultimate guidance and essence of word and truth, “… the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) In His own words, Christ says to us, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

And as we proclaim to be followers of Christ, Christ-centered, and working on His behalf, everything we do should be rooted in truth, in the word, in Christ.

Prayer – The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)

Worship – God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)

Loving and Serving – Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth. (1 John 3:18)

The lives and love we pour into others will ultimately be a reflection of that which we fill up on through our Spirit-lead discovery of God’s word. I don’t mean to say that apart from being a theologian with degrees in exegetical studies one cannot properly love; however, our affinity for the word should be like the great Psalmist who proclaimed, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” For without such an affinity, our capacity to love cannot begin to breech its truest potential.

How does this relate to my experience with WR community? First of all, the WR is not anti-Bible. People are kind-hearted and love God. I even experienced people who are passionate about the Word and thirst to enrich their relationship with God through this. However (my experience) the greater community culture lacked urgency for incorporating deep discovery of the Word into our God experience. A Christ-centered community must value studying and sharpening each other in God’s Word as much as do-gooding, spectacular views, smiling children and great cappuccino. (All of which I thoroughly enjoyed FTR!) If we believe that God’s Word is Living Word, we should feel it, experience it, and approach it with the same awe and wonder as the other amazing gifts God has given us in His creation.

That’s the kind of community I thought I was joining; a balanced group who understood the value of experience, and love and everything being rooted and grounded in the Truth of God’s Word.

Fortunately, the Kingdom Journey continues!

(BTW, I started this as a 2-part, but it might become more of a mini series. There’s a lot. No drama; just … a lot…like disease and pestilence and stuff)

Not (yet) The Story You’ve been Waiting For

In January, I took a year long LOA from my “high falutin” job to do full time international missionary work. You know, in Africa and stuff.

Oh Boy…

You’re not one of those are you?

There’s more. It’s complicated. I’m really not a hippie.  I may be quixotic, but a hippie, I am not. No shade.

In fact, let’s just get this out of the way early –

I’ve been called impractical before. Honestly, I’ve been called quixotic. But in my (possibly flawed) thinking, since perceived practicality doesn’t always produce good quality of life, why cling mindlessly to it? Pack that away for later – quality of life. Even so, I don’t shirk at practically; I recognize its place in my world. In fact, I’ll be sharing some of the stupid things I’ve done – impractically. That’s right, big surprise, quixotism can lead to doing stupid things.  Luckily I’m not in the business of making poetic excuses for, well, my stupid things.  Freely comment, “I told you so” whenever you feel lead. It’s cool; we Quixote’s always find a little hope yet.

With that said, between Zambia in January and India now (is it already April? Whoa), a LOT has happened, much of it testing my little idealist mantra.

These are the headlines:

  • I’ve pretty much pushed my physical limits with disease over the previous 2 months.  February and March were not health amazing.

  • Thank God, I’m still on the mission, though not with the same group. That’s right, I broke camp.

  • My parting ways with the group is only loosely connected to aforementioned illnesses. There’s so much more to the story. No drama.

  • I’m currently partnered with an awesome church & ministry that is near and dear to my heart.  You’ll be hearing more about this RACE so soon.

The subsequent blogs may or may not go in that order to fill in the blanks; just look at those as coming themes.

While this may not be the full catch-up story you’ve been waiting on, bear with me, I promise it’s coming.  Or you can come back in a few weeks when the past finally converges with nowness.