As Heather and I embark on this missionary journey, there's one phrase we've heard over and over: "So, tell me about how you were called to missions." But I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that we've all been called... not to missions overseas, necessarily, but to follow Christ. We've experienced some of the stigmata attached to the word missionary. Sometimes, when we mention that we've been appointed as missionaries through AIM and plan to leave in about 1 year for Kenya, people shove us onto a pedestal... in their eyes we've just become godly, perfect people who've remarkably recieved God's call. I think this is a really unhealthy habit. As soon as anyone who is "called to ministry" is seen as some sort of better Christian, we're in danger of following them into some bizarre places spiritually. The truth is, we're all called to ministry as we follow Christ.
Matthew 16:24 says,"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.'"
We're all called to be servants, denying ourselves, living as Christ. That is our ministry, be it witnessing to unreached people groups in hostile spiritual environments or serving other believers in our 'safe' church body. Regardless of where we follow Christ, our lives as Christians should be marked by our unselfish, generous lives which serve as a witness for those who do not know. I had an old friend tell me, "As mama Teresa says, 'It's not so much where you are that matters, but what you're doing there.'" So, I guess the challenge to us - as missionaries now - is the same as every other Christian: Are we living in submission to Christ's broader call... denying ourselves and following Him?
09 July 2009
06 July 2009
03 July 2009
01 July 2009
Workin' man
Jim's summer off always means big projects. Last summer we replaced our roof, which was probably our biggest ever, and this summer we are finishing up some odds and ends. I am so impressed with Jim...he's gotten so much done!
We had unexpected car trouble the last week of school in May, and after borrowing rides until we had time to fix it, Jim proceeded to take it all apart. I think it is just amazing that he can take apart a hundred pieces like this and put it back on the car...and it works!!
Then he finished up the laundry room...it's hard to take pictures of it, but he finished the drywall, painted it, and put up trim. Now the laundry is that much more fun!
And on to the kitchen. Almost two years ago, Jim's dad blessed us by building us new kitchen cabinets. This also allowed us to have a dishwasher, which changed our lives! The space behind the oven has needed to be tiled, and we bought those two years ago as well, but time just flew by. So we got the other materials a few weeks ago, borrowed a saw, and Jim had a crash course in tiling, and even had a few helpers!
It looks beautiful!
And now the new project: our mantel used to be stained very dark, so Jim is sanding down, will stain it to match the rest of the wood in the house, and varnish it. Hopefully it will brighten up that side of the room some more!
We had unexpected car trouble the last week of school in May, and after borrowing rides until we had time to fix it, Jim proceeded to take it all apart. I think it is just amazing that he can take apart a hundred pieces like this and put it back on the car...and it works!!
Then he finished up the laundry room...it's hard to take pictures of it, but he finished the drywall, painted it, and put up trim. Now the laundry is that much more fun!
And on to the kitchen. Almost two years ago, Jim's dad blessed us by building us new kitchen cabinets. This also allowed us to have a dishwasher, which changed our lives! The space behind the oven has needed to be tiled, and we bought those two years ago as well, but time just flew by. So we got the other materials a few weeks ago, borrowed a saw, and Jim had a crash course in tiling, and even had a few helpers!
It looks beautiful!
And now the new project: our mantel used to be stained very dark, so Jim is sanding down, will stain it to match the rest of the wood in the house, and varnish it. Hopefully it will brighten up that side of the room some more!
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