geography lesson

last week carey and i were in a meeting, talking about how much things would change for us if we were in college NOW rather than back when we were baby seedlings. she hit it on the head when she said "well, i would actually know where Peru is!"

he he. that is so totally true. i kind of missed something in translation during geography class, too. i cannot tell you what shape the state of maine is. kind of sad.

so yesterday when the missionary of the week came to us from nepal, i had to think. it helped when he said near india, and mentioned mt. everest (although that kind of screwed me up, too) and the himilayas. let's just say it's OVER THERE for the sake of this chat, eh?

:) it was a good sermon, not quite as engaging as the last 2 weeks, but i think it's because he didn't have many photos. missionaries need to remember photos help.


doug jacobs and his family are from alabama. however, they've spent the last 14 years in nepal. i think my pastor described the experience best (he has visited there). he said that you stand on a dirt path looking up into the mountains, and realize that you are looking at a place that the Gospel has NEVER GONE. and that you have it in your heart. you have your backpack, and your good shoes, and you go. it's as simple as that.

do you think that is why we suck at evangelism in america? because dang it, if someone wants God, there are about 1 million 37 ways to get to Him, from best seller books to GODtv to a church (your favorite flavor) in every town. sometimes, i think all of the "stuff" is just like the mountains of the himilayas, though. makes the terrain hard and crusty, and difficult to navigate.

i digress. but not really. doug's presentation of the Gospel was very simple, really. he started out by saying that the Gospel is only going to go as far as we take it. that if HE had planned things, he might have done it differently. but for some reason, God loved his crazy, inadequate creations enough to involve us intimately in the greatest plan we could ever be a part of. that's it. no more.

he also said that here in the u.s., when we say we are "blessed" - we are usually talking about our stuff. our family, our house, our job, maybe our good health, maybe even our latest purchase at the mall. he suggested we have no idea what "blessed" is, until we see a man in nepal who has heard the Gospel for the first time, understood what God has promised, said "yes" and then realized that his life will be hell from now on. that he will be persecuted, his family will be scorned, and his life might even be in jeopardy. but because he has said yes, he HAS IT. the peace that passes understanding. the Spirit inside that will change and make his life better, will "bless" him from now until eternity. doug says he has seen it time and time again. people who are changed, and KNOW that God is who He says He is.

let's get our backpacks on and GO this week, peeps. we only have to look around and find the nearest mountain.