This Crazy, Madness sort of Love

To the Sojourner abroad,

I just finished a book called "Madness" by Jossy Chacko. He was a born and raised South Indian who felt that missions were only for the "white" man. The Lord drastically changed his heart and he is now the head of a ministry that trains and sets up native Indian men to plant churches in India and abroad. The book is truly amazing. Now I am working on finishing Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Its incredible because lately I have been hit with these books that are calling people to step up to action. Not just any people. Believers.

Jossy at the end of his book states, "Imagine if every Christian prayed every day. 'Lord help me see everything in light of eternity'. We could Capture the World!"

Its coming on one year almost since I have been to Mexico where my whole mentality of missions was completely changed. I learned that in Mexico missions is a lifestyle rather than a choice of going abroad or not. I had this preconceived notion that some people were the senders and other people just went abroad. How wrong I was! Missions is definitely a lifestyle and we all have the calling.

Some of us are called to stay in the United States while others are called to Africa. Some go to the ends of China and others are right in L.A.. Is the man who goes to Africa any greater than the middle class man who works in L.A. giving the gospel to his co-workers? Absolutely not. Both of them are fufilling the great commission by spreading the Word to the non-believers.

Its a tendancy we have isnt it? We tend to see the man in China a hero. Why not? The man risks his life to deliver a Bible into the hands of those are thirsty. We tend to see the man in India as revolutionary. Why not? The man enters a hostile, mostly Hindu country bringing forth medical assitance and the Gospel at the point of risking his life. We tend to see the man in Africa as empowering. Why not? Hes helping cure aids, provide food to a nation that is in more poverty than most Americans could never dream of happening.

So what happens to the man in L.A.? or even Utah? what about New York? Is he not fufilling the great commission because he is sharing the Gospel with non-believers? Is that not what advancing the Kingdom of God is all about? Living for Him which then sprouts this different lifestyle that is put on display for all to see?

Somedays like today I just want to get up and walk into another country and just wham share the Gospel. Somedays I feel like I have a disadvantage because of all the training I need before I can walk into a country like India to share the Gospel. There are days like today although that I realize that I am an American with the greatest advantage of them all. I live in a country where I have the freedom of speech to share the truth about the one living God.

I like at the end of Madness Jossy says he is training Great Commissionaries rather than missionaries. The idea of missions is greatly misconceived in our culture. Its so much more than going abroad. It starts with living your life as if you are called where you are at now, knowing that your home is Heaven. We need not to focus our whole direction on where we want to go in the future but where Jesus wants us to share now.

This notion of missions has been on my mind lately. Maybe because the books Im reading right now are action calling books. I suggest reading these books, but first to read the Bible. It is the source of eternal life. It is the one way and only way.

with love,
Corrine

Dancing in the Street

To the Sojourners abroad


There is something about dancing that is just so exciting and makes me smile....

This definitely was random enough and it took this guy 14 months to make. 40 different countries.
I want to dance for Jesus in 40 different countries. Seriously.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY

Love Corrine

So this is Life...

To the Sojourners abroad,

I had spent 2 hours writing a post for an online British Lit class. I was putting some finishing touches on the assignment when i accidentally pressed a button that took me away from my post. I pressed every button you could think of to get the post back. I was on the verge of tears. You know those weeks? The ones where everything possible that could go wrong does usually go wrong? Yeah that was this moment.

Unfortunately I didnt have time to retype the assignment and submit it in time. I had to take a 0 on something that I had truthfully done. It was one of those moments when I realized something my dad has always said to me about grades. That putting your whole self into the assignment and trying your hardest was all that really mattered to my parents. In the end was one post really going to advance God's Kingdom? Not so much. So I took the zero and I pray that I can remain faithful in not being silly fingered and stupid in this way again.

Just one of those random food for thought things.

Love,
Corrine