Pray, Go, Give Blog

Before I get started let me point you to a worthy New Years Resolution (make that a life resolution).

Here are some books that share important concepts and have made a significant difference in my life. When I have the opportunity I encourage new missionaries and people looking to be involved in ministry to make these "must reads".

What an amazing time we live in! We have so many ways to keep in touch, encourage, and mobilize folks into being involved with us as we PRAY, GO, and GIVE.

This is a great time of year to remember and acknowledge the amazing things that God has done in our lives and ministries. With that in mind check out these short videos that the Cofradia team has put together.

I am available and interested in talking about how we can work together on mission related projects.

Throughout history people have wrestled with the question of how to respond to materialism and the  needs of the poor.  For a variety of reasons there have always been those who have an abundance, those who “make it”, and those that have nothing. Jesus said “the poor you will always have with you”.  The proper response to materialism and the needs of others is one that needs to be addressed more…a worthy topic for discussion and comment below.

We all live in several "worlds" where we have some level of influence...work, school, neighborhood, hobby or interest group, etc.. In Kevin Sutters book he shares keys to church planting movements along with practical insights that you can do! 

As Christ followers we live in the soap opera of life on this planet with all the drama, danger and concerns that go with it while at the same time aware that there is a Kingdom that is invisible and eternal that is our real home.  In the world we are at a critical time of history filled with change and conflict that calls for our attention and involvement. In the spiritual world the Kingdom of God is advancing in remarkable ways. It cannot be controlled and is active 24 hours a day across borders, governing philosophies, social and economic classes, languages, and ethnic groups. Spiritually speaking this is a great time to be alive.

I have been spending time thinking about the close and special relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist. There is a lot that can be written about their connected lives.

"I love it when a plan comes together."

Sustainable ...to keep up or keep going, as an action or process. To support the spirits, vitality, or resolution of; encourage.

As the director of Alternative Missions I am often asked "How do you decide where to start a new mission project?" This is a great question and one that we have dealt with many times. The answers that work for us have an individual and corporate application. I think these principles can be applied to your life as you work through what God is directing you to do. The world is full of needs and opportunities to serve. How do you decide what or where God wants you to be involved?

The anxiety level is pretty high these days over the state of the economy and political change.  Thankfully we are not dealing with economic and political conflicts at the scale of many countries around the world. Here many people are losing  their jobs and asset wealth but not their lives. The way people view their future and anticipate their financial state is in the process of major adjustment.  On the political front there are politicians that are taking advantage of the crisis to introduce new social order via the "Shock Doctrine".  Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, said the economic crisis facing the country is "an opportunity for us". "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste."  The one two punch of economic and systemic political change in the U.S. has some hopeful, others confused, and some afraid.  I would love to hear about how you are processing all this. Here are my latest musings...

Longevity in Missions is directly related to your success at building a team.

It is amazing how fast life can go bye and we are left looking back and wondering how we could have done life better. Let me offer a way of thinking about how to spend your life that will be helpful, productive and meaningful.

I was recently looking through a file of "snail mail" newsletters that I began sending family and friends in 1982 when I first stepped into the "missionary life" with my wife Linnea and at the time two children. My intent from the beginning was to make our "calling" to missions a shared experience with those who wanted to go along. It has been a long and winding road filled with surprises, accomplishments and our share of "learning experiences". I truly feel as if I have gone down this road with a community of friends. As I launch this new blog I am reminded of the hassle and cost of snail mail in the past and the complications of internet use in foreign coutries as new technologies were developing. The social networks, websites and email we use today have made life so much easier. My hope is that through this blog I will be able to be transparent, vulnerable, helpful, and communicate clear steps of action for involvement so that more folks than ever can be mobilized into missions. Please join me.