Are you serious?

Watch the video above and then continue to read what I have to say, the video is a commercial that I saw the other night.

After I saw that commercial the only response I had was “are you serious?” Don’t get me wrong I love pets, especially dogs as we have had one forever, but seriously do people need to donate their money to improve the health of a dog or cat? People in the United States have idolized pets and have held them higher than God in their lives. What about the kids in poor countries that die everyday because they don’t have enough food or clean water? That reason alone is why I cannot stand celebrities and other rich people. They always talk about donating money and try to guilt other people into giving, but what are they doing? They’re living in their several million dollar mansions, in which they have a couple of them, and they might give very little money to help other people. That is ridiculous!!! They would rather help an animal (which yes they are cute), but let’s face it when that animal dies, it dies; there is not eternal life with or without God. On the other hand, those children that are dying because they don’t have the basic necessities of life, will find their eternity in either heaven or hell and let’s hope that those of us who say we truly care, cared enough to share our resources and the Gospel with these people because the reality is, their death and their eternal life, that’s on us (‘Christians’). Here’s a heart check for you, do you care enough to sacrifice a night out in order to give somebody else a chance for life, and are you willing to let go of yourself and your pride and go tell these people that they don’t have to spend their eternity separated from God? I hope that you will truly consider the latter questions. I am not trying to guilt anybody into anything but I hope that God convicts you and burdens your heart for lost people around the world (and in your own backyard) so that you will go and show them the love that Christ provided all of us. Stop holding it in and being selfish. Get outside of your comfort, sacrifice what you have, Christ sacrificed his life for you!!!! Will you continue to sit there and be passive?

Argentina

Well what can I honestly say about our trip to Argentina other than the fact that it was the greatest and most amazing trip I have ever been on!!! The main reason that this trip was so memorable is because I have never been on a trip where everything that was done was done with the intentions of showing and sharing the Gospel with every person that we came in contact with. All week we would start out by having breakfast and doing a morning devotion and prayer time and then we would go to the towns (either Clarinda, Laguna Blanca or Espinillo) and we did some door-to-door ministry. This experience was awesome because people are so receptive and inviting and most people would invite you into their homes or shops and sit down with you and listen to what you had to say and talk with you about it. It was great seeing God work through us and in the response of the everybody we talked to. The best thing about us sharing the Gospel with these people is that we started a relationship with them which was followed up that night with events for their kids and time for the parents to talk with us more and watch a film. Also, in doing this the local church got their names and contact info in order to keep up with and make visits with them in order to follow up on the seeds that were planted. After door-to-door we would have lunch and 'siesta,' which meant that the entire town went to sleep and was basically a ghost town! Then we would get ready to do some VBS and kids/sports ministry which was really fun! As most know, I love to work with kids and I love to play sports, and I love telling people about the love of Christ and being able to put all these things together was great. Towards the end of the week my Spanish was getting pretty good and I was able to talk with the locals and just share with them how Christ changed my life. This was seriously one of the greatest experiences of my life! I thank God for allowing me to go on this mission trip to Argentina/Paraguay, but it also taught me several things. I continue to learn how to become a follower and to remain humble, but the main thing that continued to burden my heart all week was the fact that we are so eager, willing, and quick to share Christ to those who don't speak our own language, but to those who speak our language and share our cultural experiences we are reluctant and afraid. Why is this? I am not sure, but in looking back to our week it all boils down to intentions. Everything we did was intentional and was done for the sole purpose of sharing and showing the love and saving name of Jesus. So in coming back to our comfortable culture and language I continue to ask myself in everything I have done, what are my intentions? It's great that we go to the nations to share Christ, but let us not forget about those who are around us crying out and who desperately need to hear the name of Christ! Going to class, riding the bus, buying food, whatever I do, I do with the intentions of showing the love of Christ so that others will be able to see Jesus through me! The main question that we have to continue to ask ourselves is: what are your intentions?

Like A Child

The following was written on the plane ride from New York to Sao Paulo, Brazil:

I often think about my faith and how much I truly rely on and trust in it. Today I was sitting on a plane for what seemed like forever, but right beside of me was a mother with her two young sons on either side of her. Both boys were laid out and sleeping in the comfort of their mother's arms. So peacefully and securely they rest in knowing that they are in the arms of one who loves them and will do absolutely anything for them. I reminisce and think back to my childhood when I so often rested in the arms of my parents. The reality is that our heavenly Father calls us to His arms to find that same rest, comfort, and security. He has done everything already for us, including dying on a cross so that I don't have to experience the death and punishment I deserve, due to my sin. All we have to do is completely trust in the faith that we say we have in the saving name of Jesus! Do you have faith like a child?

In Argentina

Since I am in Argentina for the next week, I will not be able to post everyday so check out the family blog.

Intentional

This is something that I strive to be every day. In all that we do in the name of Christ, we are to do it in excellence and to the fullest. All of our actions should be intentional and for the sole purpose of bringing people the loving salvation of the one and only Savior! Be intent on one purpose (Philippians 2). Today I am leaving along with 11 other people to go to Argentina to bring the Gospel to people who have probably never heard it, or who have never heard the saving name of Jesus. I will try to keep writing here while I am away so that you can know how God is using us, but your prayers are important as well. God has laid a path and an opportunity in front of us and we are going intent of that one purpose. Are you being intentional?