Salvation: Faith Alone

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

Faith is a powerful thing. It is a miraculous thing. It is the hopeful belief in something that is beyond us for good or for ill.

Many people in the Bible demonstrated faith. You know people in your own life that no doubt demonstrate faith in something, even if it is something not altogether worthy of being a recipient of their faith. God is always a worthy recipient of our faith.

It is a simple acknowledgement placing your faith in God. It means developing a hopeful belief that He will, can, and has provided an alternative to your sinful nature. It is this faith at work in us that, when combined by the extended grace of God, ushers us into salvation.

Some would teach that you can only be saved by showing some outward sign, perhaps baptism, or the demonstration of some spiritual gift. It is my belief, and the clear point of this passage in Ephesians 2, that the only condition for salvation is faith. Simply put, you must acknowledge and want God alone as the source, recipient, and channel for your belief.

Faith is a many-faceted thing. It creates a mountain of possibilities in our lives, but its principle purpose is straight forward. Faith is the Holy Spirit working in our heart, mind, soul, and strength in a way that empowers us to trust in God beyond our own means. Grace alone from God received by Faith alone. That is salvation at work in us.

More in this series. Grace Alone Christ Alone

Salvation: Grace Alone

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

Grace is a gift of God. It is THE gift. By its very nature you cannot earn, pay, deserve, or trade for it. It is a gift. Grace is a miraculous blessing bestowed upon fallen man by a loving God. It is our undeserved rescue. Grace is God's good and generous gift to me. It is His good and generous gift to you. You can't fit it in a box, wrap it up in pretty paper, and tuck it under a tree to be opened on the day of your choosing.

Because of my sin I deserve death, eternal death, and separation from God. That's what I have earned. Because of grace I am given eternal life and wonderfully adopted into the family of God. Grace is the loving, willful, attribute of God which inexplicably overrides my incessant desire to sit on my life's throne. Grace is the lasting longing extension of God's loving goodwill to humanity. Grace is the invisible element which holds the stars to their course and keeps the laws of physics in check. Grace is the shadow of a whisper of joy at each unrealized potential devastation. It is the heartfelt loving embrace of Abba Father holding us back from the precipice of our own inclination toward destruction.

Grace alone, by grace alone, To reach the Father's heart, May be my prayer, this quiet hour, And find God's favor there.

More in this series. Faith Alone Christ Alone

The Best

Tonight I watched my high school alma-mater compete in the Arkansas high school football state championship game for the second time in my lifetime. I was at both games. The preceding event was twenty years ago and I admittedly remember very little about the game other than it was bitter cold. Tonight's game still rings vividly in my mind. The hard hits, almost plays, and intense effort of players on both sides of the line of scrimmage, as well as the clamoring emotion of the crowd, are a testament to the passion my old hometown reserves for its beloved mascot and pastime. It is and has always been a football town.

Chiefly this is probably one of my biggest points of disconnection with my hometown as I have never been overly fond of football. I do appreciate the athleticism it requires and the strategic minds of those who guide the combatting forces from the sidelines. One thing that I love about watching young athletes is their heart. They lay it all on the line every play. They hold nothing back. They give it their best.

Tonight their very best moment came on the opening drive of the second half as a repeated series of small running gains led to the team's only touchdown of the game. I enjoyed watching the crowd's response to the effort of those boys. There was a suspended moment of elation and euphoria as the hundreds of fans in attendance all erupted in a brief celebration of hope. Sadly, it would not last. They would go on to lose the game 28-7, but there was no doubt that they did their best.

What about your best? What does your best look like? Is it the same today as it was ten years ago, or will be ten years from now? Like those young athletes, are you willing to lay yourself on the line, are you willing to be spent for something?

The truth is, all too often our best will not add up to produce the results we desire to attain. Sometimes that is because our desires are skewed. Sometimes it is just because someone is better, but always we can, and should, know that giving our best is pleasing to God.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men... (Colossians 3:17, 23 ESV)

Even better--God gave his best for us, all of us, He gave himself. Thankfully, even though our best may sometimes miss the mark, His never has and never will.

Move the Pillow

It's midnight, and after a long crazy day of full throttle activity you finally crawl in bed. You're ready to sleep. Sleep sounds really good. So good. You settle in, and begin steering your consciousness toward dream land. Only there is a problem. It's not the blanket; those are just right. And it's not the temperature, noise level, or your pajamas. Everything seems perfect except for one thing...your pillow. For some reason your pillow just doesn't seem right. I mean, it's still your pillow. It feels like your pillow, smells like your pillow, and holds like your pillow, but something is off. Have you ever felt like that? You lay down at night ready to snooze, only you can't because your pillow just doesn't seem quite right. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm nuts. But it doesn't really matter how tired I am, when I lay down my pillow has to lay just the right way for my head to find all the correct familiar lumps. I need the right lumps to navigate me into the Land of Nod. The pitiful thing is that all of too often I will hit the bed, lay on the pillow and, even though I realize its not positioned to my optimum comfort level, I will try to ignore it. I tell myself that I can still sleep, that I am too tired to mess with it, that I can just ignore it and all will be ok. I am almost always wrong. If I sleep without moving it, I never rest as well as I could have. Or, if I do rest, I wake up with some minor ache in my neck from having my pillow out of sorts.

Perhaps that all sounds crazy. I may sound like some kind of obsessive compulsive pillow nut. That's not far from the truth. However, there is another truth in my rambling. Tragically, all too often people go through life dragging along some sinful something that they refuse to deal with. It is like their comfortable pillow. They know it has its lumps. They know that they may wake up wishing they had made a change, but they don't.

I believe that God wants more for His kids than to let us wrestle restlessly through life. He wants peace, and joy, and all of the other things that the Bible talks about that are fruits of His Spirit at work in us. Sadly, many people will not embrace the change that Christ offers. It's not a matter of you and I working it out. We don't earn it. We can't earn it. It's simply a matter of acknowledging our need for Him, wanting a change, believing Jesus made it possible, and embracing that belief. Discounting that is a lot like refusing to move the pillow, except the consequences are much worse than a bad night's rest.

Youer than You

I am always deeply saddened when I meet a young person that has written off their future because of their past. It is far too common. This quote from Dr. Seuss's "Birthday Book" hits the nail right on the head--pointing to an incredible spiritual truth we all too often overlook.

Our perspectives, understanding, and experiences are shaped by time. We are bound to time. The only day we have today is today. We only have the right now. The yesterdays are no more, and the tomorrows never will be. We are here today. What we experience, what we do, and how we feel, are all products of how we allow moments that are not right now affect us. Yes, you may have done something terrible some long ago yesterday, but that is not who you have to choose to be today. Even better! You can begin right now to set apart each new today, choosing to make it so that every tomorrow becomes a better today.

All of us feel this incredible pressure to be someone special. Too often we want to pour ourselves into the mold we feel destiny has shoved our way. Tragically, many people allow their mistakes to push them in that direction, and in the process become something deeply different than the wonderful masterpiece God had intended for them.

The truth is that God loves us, has provided reconciliation for all of our wrongdoing, and is longing to lovingly bring us back into the fold. When you look in the mirror and see the addict, liar, or any other number of things, God sees you. He sees the youest-you. He made you to be that kind of you, and no one else can do it. He wants you to be you in all of your joyous eccentricity. Be the youest you you can be. Let God shape how that plays out. After all, you were made in His image.

Miracle on 42nd Street

Many of you, like me, were no doubt touched by the story coming out of New York City following the actions of 25 year old police officer Lawrence DePrimo. Officer DePrimo was working on 42nd Street on a really cold night in November when he noticed a shoeless homeless man walking down the sidewalk. The officer stepped into a nearby shoe store and emerged with a pair of all-weather boots, which he then helped the man to put on. The moment was captured on her cell phone camera by a tourist from Arizona.

It was a moving moment that demonstrates love and generosity to a culture often overshadowed by cynicism and negativity. This time of year many people become more generous. Whether it is a reflection on the spirit of the season or a reflection on our nature, it is a great thing. The moment I heard the story of Officer DePrimo I immediately thought of this passage from Matthew's Gospel.

Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?"

And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:34-40 ESV)

You can read more about this story here.

Or see the original post on the NYPD Facebook page here.

10 Soap Box Thoughts

Some of these thoughts I gleaned from other places. Some are original. All are important ideas to me, which is really the only commonality that they share. 1. If we give our favorite political ideologues more time than we give Jesus, we are following the wrong master.

2. The Youth Pastor isn't called to disciple your kids. You are.

3. The American Church desperately needs to redeem the concept of religion and religious activity within the context of Christianity.

4. You don't have to be right. You don't have to prove your point. You don't have to win the argument.

5. A political change can not fix a moral dilemma.

6. I am called and commanded to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), but that starts at home. Church leaders who can't lead their own family have no business trying to lead God's people.

7. Humility, Humility, Humility. You're not nearly as smart as you like to think you are, and by you I mean me.

8. Political correctness is stupid.

9. Everyone with a valid high school diploma or recognized equivalent should be able to attend any public university full time for one free semester at the beginning of their college career.

10. Your present is God's gift of now. Use it well.

BAM!

Today I wanted to punch a stranger in the face. I really did. So why didn't I? Virtually every person present that would have witnessed the event would have most likely cheered. But would that have made it ok? No, it wouldn't have. A popular consensus does not always justify an action.

What about the way I felt in that moment? Was that ok? I mean I was really angry, annoyed, and put off by this incredibly unpleasant person. Maybe. Feelings do not carry any moral weight on their own. In other words, being mad or upset is not inherently sinful. However, where you allow those feelings to lead you, how you act on them, is absolutely a moral matter.

Punching Unpleasant-Man in the face might have felt good briefly, but only because some part of me somewhere inside felt infringed upon. It illuminated a measure of pride that I never even realized was there. So what did Jamie and I do? After a brief and unproductive rant on Twitter I started praying for the guy. Right there in the restaurant I bowed my head and asked God to help me sort through my emotions without causing a scene, and to shut the loud mouth up too. Guess what? BAM! He did both.

1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

The following is a copy of the proclamation issued by President George Washington concerning Thanksgiving. [New York, 3 October 1789]

By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor--and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be--That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in thecourse and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions--to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

For more information you can check out this site.

A Reasonable Thanks

If I were to begin to try to calculate or quantify the many things I have to be thankful for I would still be sitting here trying to write it all up when my mom pulled the smoked turkey out of the oven in a few hours. Most of us with the ability to read this live blessed lives which we so often take for granted, even if we don't mean to. The one thing we can all be thankful for is what God has done for us. I hope this beautiful passage from Psalm 118 will serve as an encouraging reminder of a reason we all have to be thankful, not only today, but every day. Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalms 118:19-24 ESV)

Tree of Life

The forbidden fruit was tasted, and a curse fell upon mankind. A curse of sin and separation. The inaugural human couple was thrust from the Secret Garden, angelic sentries poised at the indiscernible entrance, and immortality was mercifully kept without the grasp of man. Thank God. Genesis 3 recounts to us the story of the fall of man. Some terrible things are at work, but in the midst of the great tragedy of the fall, there is also an incredible mercy. God separated mankind from the possibility of an attainable physical immortality. What if He hadn't? What if God had never allowed physical death?

You see, many people I know, or have read, who discount either the goodness of God or His sovereignty often do so by building a case upon the existence of death. Why would a good God allow death? How could an all powerful God allow death? To these I say, how could He not?

Had mankind been allowed to eat of the Tree of Life we would have been hopelessly lost in our immortality. We would have been forever stuck in this less-than-real existence, the super-reality of the spiritual realm lost to us. Furthermore, to fix this, God's Son Himself took on the form of man and allowed Himself to be murdered, to die, in order to restore the gap between human transgressors and the divine Godhead. Without death, there is no cross, no sacrifice, no atonement, and no resurrection.

48 Hours

The last 48 hours were a whirlwind of awesome. I departed Friday afternoon from Russellville First Assembly of God in the company of 17 other excellent individuals as part of our Chi Alpha missions team "Kairos". Our destination? Memphis International Church. We arrived around 7:30 pm Friday and didn't waste any time getting to work, but the purpose of this entry is not to highlight what our team did this weekend. That will come in another later writing. I just wanted to take a brief moment as I lie here ready to catch up on some sleep and reflect on the remarkable nature of the church I spent the weekend with. Memphis International Church is a place that is light on resources, but steeped in compassion. It is their driving motivation. And in a place full of such diversity, it is the tie that binds. I was utterly blown away by the level of outreach they are able to accomplish with what little they have. To that end, search your heart and support them if you find it in your means to do so.

I have been in a LOT of churches in my life, but never one that is so on target in terms of understanding their community and engaging it with the unfettered love of Jesus. This is a place that is deeply connected to the Great Commission. They get it. They aren't trying to shape people into homogenous hive-mind-like drones. They are showing and sharing Jesus with every brick on their property, but it doesn't stop there. They are regularly reaching out into their community. They understand that the Church is much less about a building, and much more about the connected Christ-centered community.

It's not a large church. It's not a large congregation. But they are making a difference where they are at that puts a lot of places I have seen to shame. What an incredible weekend!

More to come soon.

Why I'm Thankful for My Mistakes

Mistakes hurt. Sin hurts. This stuff creates pain in our lives. Many times, after God has helped someone come through a difficulty, they want to forget it and act like it never happened. Of course not everyone is like this, but it happens. Most of us are guilty of doing just that from time to time. I'm not happy about the awful things in life that I have done; the bad judgment calls, the willful disobedience of the Father, the selfishness, or the legalistic idolatry, and many, many, others that would be impossible to remember and/or quantify. I'm not happy about my mistakes. However, I'm exceedingly grateful for where I find myself in life in spite of my many failures. There is a part of me that recognizes this journey that I am on, and is entirely thankful for my mistakes.

Jamie and Ethan are the world to me. Nothing else I do in this life is as important, or should be, ministry included; and I would have never been in the place to meet this awesome woman of God if not for a series of monumental errors in my life. In fact, the biggest mistake of my life set me on the path that lead, not only to this incredible relationship and family that I adore so very much, but also to this ministry that means the world to me.

I don't glorify my sin. I also don't pin it to myself for all to see, so that I might somehow wear it as a badge of honor. But I don't run from it either. I realize the errors I have made, and at times still make. I seek forgiveness. I repent. I share the truth of my many failures in moments when I feel that they might make a difference in someone's life. Above all of that, I offer up continuous thanks to the wonderful Father who continues to shepherd me through it all. Him I do glorify, as best as I know how.

If I Were the New Grand Poobah

Life usually doesn’t fit into nice neat little lists, but that doesn’t keep me from trying.

Like you I am sick of politics. So, I promise that this is my absolute last blog about politics for a long time. At least until my next one. This is a list of ten policies I would implement if I were the Grand Poobah.

1. Pedantry and Reality TV would be crimes punishable by death.

2. All professional sports would be permabanned, with a one time concession that NASCAR, golf, and bowling are actually sports.

3. FedEx, UPS, and other similar shipping companies would be forced to hire drivers from the pool of suddenly unemployed NASCAR drivers, who would only be allowed to make right turns.

4. I would reestablish space exploration by sealing Lady Gaga in a time capsule and launching her into space, towards the Sun.

5. My national bird would be Woodstock from the Peanuts.

6. Chemical warfare would mean dropping dirty diapers via drone.

7. Tony Stark, I mean Robert Downey Jr., would be Secretary of Defense...and Chris Evans would have to legally change his name to Steve Rogers.

8. George Lucas must go door-to-door to every American home apologizing for Jar Jar Binks.

9. There would be no such thing as money, or dubstep.

10. I would start this thing called The Hunger Games, where once a year 24 political commentators fought to the death with whiffle bats and sock puppets.

11. No Christmas music before Thanksgiving, no exceptions.

The Story

Your life is a story. It is. It is your story. You will experience cast changes, genre shifts, and season finales. You will suffer through cliff-hangers, tragedies, and bad writing. Budget cuts, box office success, and misinterpretation are to be expected.

What is your story? Where, when, or how? Many of us become intricately woven into the tedium of predicting, or manufacturing, our ideal ending; but what about the moments that lead up to the closing credits?

The greatest stories are not those told frivolously without thought, or care, or creativity invested in the telling. The best stories are always told with passion and purpose. I believe that God has set you upon this world to be, join, and live a story. His story, your story, and a story that we all share in together. Sometimes it takes us a while to warm up to the part. Some sadly never discover their role in the story. Many never realize they are the sum of their own story. While still others think that their story is the only story of any importance.

How will you steer the nature of your's? Will you get lost in your own narrative? Or will you join your story to the Greater Work. We have been given the chance to join a bigger narrative. A story larger than our own. We must only take our role.

"The Most Important Election"

Today is Election Day. I capitalized it because our culture has turned it into it's own twisted kind of holiday. It's own kind of holy day. A day that we either choose to, or not to, celebrate the democratic process by casting a ballot. I voted. I think it's important to vote, but not necessarily for the same reasons you may think it's important to vote.

I have heard it said every four years going as far back as 1988 in the race that won George Bush Sr. the presidency that "this election is the most important election of our lifetime." And maybe that is true. Maybe each presidential race carries an inherent level of immediacy and magnitude that promotes it to the epitome of electoral importance. Maybe. However, even if that were the case.  Even if today is the most important election of our lifetime, what does it really mean for you? In 24 hours how much will the results affect you personally.  In four years (or eight years) and 24 hours, how much will the day's events affect you personally. For most of us, barring extreme circumstances, not much.

Participate in the political process. Do it because it is your right and your chance to freely express your political opinion without fear of reprisal. But let's none of us be naive enough to think some man sitting somewhere in the Not-Quite-Circle Office will really affect that great of a change on our lives.  And if he can, if that man holding that position can assert himself in such a way, whether actual or imagined, that it does indeed truly affect your daily disposition, then I am deeply sad for you.

Enjoy today, because after today is over we will hopefully have at least four more years until the most important election of our lifetime.

What do I do when...

The question arises, in a not altogether sarcastic nature, What do I do when I'm not being an idiot? Maybe, in an act of questionable quandary, some nefarious interrogator has lobbed this same inquisitive rhetoric in your general direction. If so, maybe I can help. A question bridled with such lofty purpose as to ascertain the carrying on of my less-than-imbecilic moments is a weighty one. It is a question not to be rushed through, and must be carefully contemplated. My first response, a kind of mental-knee-jerk-reaction, would be to assume that when I'm not being an idiot I must, by way of opposites be doing something not idiotic. Curing a horrible illness, solving the nation's terrible financial woes, and feeding starving children in Africa are certainly not idiotic, but I have done none of those, and so they cannot help to answer the question.

Secondly, I could propose that something I do actually do might be less than idiotic, like feeding my cats, taking out the trash, or voting; but then again there will be plenty of ballots cast in a most idiotic way in this election cycle so I suppose that doesn't hold up well either depending on your particular political leaning.

Lastly, I consider that there must be a greater philosophical question at work. If I am at some point doing something that is something someone does when they're not being idiotic, then there is the lofty insinuation that at some point I must not be idiotic. I am afraid there is very little evidence to support such a claim.

Perhaps it is a requisite gender trait or a lasting permanent defect, resultant from watching far too much second hand reality TV, or ingesting a hulking amount of preserved frozen chicken. Maybe it's a systemic flaw in the great American education system. Or maybe it's nature. My nature.

Maybe my default position is idiot. Maybe I don't do anything when I'm not being an idiot because truly I'm never not an idiot.

10 Things the Church Must Not Forget

Life usually doesn’t fit into nice neat little lists, but that doesn’t keep me from trying. Welcome to my Tuesday 10, where I try to fit the messiness of life into a list of ten. This week's Ten was written by lovely wife Jamie. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

1. When everything is going well, pray and praise! Don't wait for the downtimes. People are watching you in the good times to see who gets the glory.

2. You can not tell other people their convictions. You must pray God convicts them through His Spirit.

3. If you can't love them while they are in the church there is no way you can love them outside it.

4. Christians have been Supernaturally sustained and provided for in historical periods, under terrible government, in wicked countries, and endured persecution that is far worse than anything you are probably dealing with.

5. Yes if God brings you to it he will bring you through it, but you must be fully armored for the spiritual warfare. Eph 6:13

6. There is no biblical commandment to hoard. The command continuously is to give and go.

7. When you have done everything stand firm. Eph 6:13 Firm. Not back on your heels in fear. Not on your toes trying to do too much.

8. The biggest lie Satan convinces people of is that they simply don't have the time for Christ. Christian and non-Christian.

9. To covet someone else's blessing is to tell God, He doesn't know what's best.

10. The heartbeat of Christ can be summed in three words: Love, Give, and Go. [He LEFT heaven cause He LOVED you and GAVE everything].

Some Reasons Why I Did Not Watch the Debate

Life usually doesn’t fit into nice neat little lists, but that doesn’t keep me from trying. Welcome to my Tuesday 10, where I try to fit the messiness of life into a list of ten. Last week was the vice presidential debate between sitting VP Joe Biden and probable future vice president Paul Ryan. I watched it, and enjoyed it. I chose not to watch this week's town-hall style debate between President Obama and Gov. Romney. Here are some reasons why.

1) I was eating ice cream while cuddling with my wife and son.

2) I was pretending to __________ (verb) _____________ (carnival food) in __________ (fantasy land).

3) My mind has been made up concerning this election since 2009.

4) Listening to President Obama makes me miss President Clinton.

5) I can get a word for word breakdown from 200 pundits and several million wannabes via Twitter.

6) Both candidates have repeatedly shown their ability to fill time quotas while saying absolutely nothing.

7) I didn't want to.

8) I had an episode of "Last Resort" waiting for me on the DVR.

10 Things I Learned Via Missions

Life usually doesn’t fit into nice neat little lists, but that doesn’t keep me from trying. Welcome to my Tuesday 10, where I try to fit the messiness of life into a list of ten. I have worked as a Missionary Associate with the U.S. Missions Department of the Assemblies of God for almost a decade. Crazy how fast that time has flown by! When I started I was incredibly focused on reaching those nearest me, with a singular, and often narrow-minded purpose. In the time since I have come to understand the remarkable value to be found by participating in missions on a greater scale. Here are some things I learned along the way.

1. Airplanes aren't as bad as I once believed. I used to be terrified of flying.

2. I paid much better attention in Spanish class than my report card may have indicated.

3. God is not American. While I have instinctively known this for many, many years; both my time abroad and Gungör helped to reinforce the idea.

4. Nail + Foot = Terrible Pain

5. When you commit yourself to loving and serving others unconditionally, you will humble yourself to do just about anything.

6. Most Americans are spoiled self-entitled brats.

7. If it doesn't fit in the bag, you don't need it.

8. A 3 oz. bottle of shampoo/conditioner will last for at least twenty showers.

9. Worshipping in a multicultural international congregation that transcends language barriers is incredible!

10. No matter where I go, or how important my work there seems, it has always had a more profound impact on my own life than that of those I have tried to help.