Suffering Missionary or Famous Football Athlete?

     We all want the best for our kids, right?  Given the choice, would you rather your beautiful sweet child grow up to be an all star athlete, be named in the Hall of Fame, have a great family, huge house, and substantial bank account - or - move across the world to suffer for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, being imprisoned- never waivering in his faith in the redeeming work of Jesus?

    We went to the 20/20 conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with 70 of our college students and some leaders from our ministry to be steeped in words of encouragement on the gospel and our part in missions. This question penetrated Doug and I's hearts because we love our children deeply, and the affirming thing that we established over chips and salsa afterwards was that we both would choose the 2nd for our kids.  In fact, we pray at night over Hunter and Addison that they would grasp the great love of Christ for the nations and that they would seek to make Jesus famous with their lives.  This is not an easy thought to have running through your mind when you snuggle with your baby girl at night or when wrestling with your son on the carpet.  You want them to experience joy and laughter and success.  But we realize that nothing can compare to the surpassing love in Christ.

It was said at the conference by Dr. Daniel Akin that the most joyous people he has ever met were those suffering for the sake of the gospel.  In America, we are clinging to things that will fade and stress us out...while treasures in eternity await for those who proclaim the good news to those who are in utter darkness and held captive by the enemy.

Our children will never really understand this concept if Doug & I don't model it for them now.  I'm trying to figure out what that looks like on an every day basis.  Does it mean simply reminding our kids that stuff can't make us happy?  Does it mean that we take them on a mission trip soon?  Does it mean that we give more of our money to organizations that take the gospel to the nations?  One thing we have done is we bought a little globe bank at World Market ($7) and Hunter puts his chore money in it for church.  At night after Bible Story time, we let him choose a country on the globe and we pray for the girls and boys in that country that don't have mommies and daddies and the missionaries who are telling those people about Jesus. It takes 45 seconds, but we pray that it will have a lasting impact.

Crazy Simpler Living

I hesitate to even type the following thoughts for fear that I must then act upon them.  Ever feel that way?  You know you need to do something, but if you keep quiet about it and don't share those pressing thoughts then maybe you can just get away with it and forget it.  But, I think there is MUCH room in our life for improvement in this area.

We have this notion that people with fame and fortune are happy, but one trip to the grocery store and eyeing the magazines exploiting the personal failures of the rich and famous should recalibrate us.
Jen Hatmaker says that "Excess has impaired the perspective in America; we are the richest people on the earth, praying to get richer."  I owe this blog post to this article by Jen Hatmaker entitled "SEVEN" in the January issue of Parent Life.

She and her family began a project called Seven.  For seven months, she and her family evaluated areas of excess in their lives and reduced their needs.  
*Month One: She ate only seven foods.
* Month Two: She wore the same seven items of clothing.
* Month Three: She took away seven forms of media.
*Month Four: She spent money in only seven places.
* Month Six: They adopted seven habits for a greener life.
* Month Seven: They observed seven daily prayers and the traditional Sabbath.

I know, right? Crazy!!" Turn the page, quick!" I thought...."before I get convicted!" But I couldn't turn. I had to keep reading because I knew she was right.  I knew that everyday I was clinging closer and closer to the "stuff" in my life.  I was craving new shoes & clothes, better hair products, and better food in my refrigerator.  This realization was doubled by my sweet friend and neighbor whose family really and truly practices simpler living.  Her husband says that the less dishes and clothes they have to wash, the more time they can spend on people and learning about God.  Think about it! The less clothes I have to choose from, the quicker I can get out in the morning to church! Seeing a family live it out in real life is encouraging, and Doug and I have talked about ways that we can adopt this philosophy.  I have begun to take a few steps removing excess in our home (much to our kids dismay when they saw their toys being hauled off in the van)!

May we remember the famous quote by Jim Elliot, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."  The more we cling to Jesus' priorities, the less we will cling to things of this world.