Christmas Wish List

Anxiously waiting in line to finally get a turn to sit on Santa’s lap, whispering into his ear exactly what we hoped his elves were making, promising to behave for mom & dad, then proudly marching off with a candy cane and new coloring book---all of which led to an eager expectation for what we might find under the tree Christmas morning! Oh, the annual trips to see Santa!

I was reminded of these trips to Santa’s Workshop this last weekend  while spending time with my two young cousins. They’ve written to the North Pole, sat on Santa’s lap at the mall, and have their wish lists memorized! Seeing the spark in their eye as they began to share about the elf that has visited their house already and the carrots they were going to set out for the reindeer…i couldn’t help but yearn for that same kind of excitement again!

The philosophy in our house that we ‘strictly’ abide by is “If you don’t believe, you don’t receive.’  Yet it has been years since I have sent  a letter off to the North Pole or agonized over what exactly it is that i want for Christmas.

Though a wish lists is not really a part of our holiday traditions any more, there is a different kind of wish list that i have poured over for hours.

 It’s a Wish List to God.

At the last gathering for Student Mobilization (the campus ministry i’m involved in-- www.ksustumo.org) we created wish lists to be asking God for focused on the last part of the semester, then for the coming year.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.   ~Matthew 7:7

Initially, you would think creating a wish list for God would be easy. Right? Then you get staggering reality that we ask so little of God. We ask for a tub of popcorn, when He owns and wants to give us the entire theater!

My personal wish lists has been revisited, revised, and will be an ongoing creation, but here’s some tips to get us started on creating our own Wish list. This is a slightly revised version from the experts at ehow.com

Creating a Wish List 101

• 1.) Determine why you’re making a list…are you going to use it?
• 2.) Be specific.
  • How many people do you want to share the Gospel with? Who, by name, can you invite to a bible study? What exactly do you pray to have a conversation with your parents about?
• 3.) Broaden your scope.
  • Think of personal relationship with God, your family, people you work with, world we live in, etc.
• 4.) Back everything up with scripture.
  • ex: Invite 3 girls to SMC (www.smc2011.org)
  • For where 2 or 3 come together in  my name, there am I with them. ~Matthew 18:20
• 5.) Post it where you will be reminded of it often.
  • On the bathroom mirror, on your dashboard, by your bed, in the cover of your bible, etc.

Wish lists to God are so much more fulfilling than any wish list we created as a child. As we dream and imagine with God we rediscover the child-like excitement that we once had. We too can experience the same kind of excitement that the shepherds felt on the night of Jesus’ birth thousands of years ago!

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." ~Luke 2:15

O’ Christmas Tree

Christmas music, snowflakes, peppermint mochas, Christmas   movies, and school breaks are few of the highlights of December! But for myself it’s quite possibly more exciting to decorate the house for Christmas than it is Christmas day as we rush to open gifts.

There is so much anticipation as all of the boxes are taken to their designated room of the house, carefully opened, and  flown to the side as the beautiful decorations are pulled out.

Christmas music is streaming from the iHome and a Christmas mug brimming with coffee is always within reach as Mom and i transform our home into a Christmas wonderland.

The very best part while decorating is the Christmas Tree. There is still just something so magical as the lights are plugged in and the whole tree lights up a dark room with ornaments, garland, and an angel on top twinkling

Homes and stores full of trees always mesmerize me. Each with different themes, sizes, and colors---and I can’t help but think about how our own lives can be illuminators like Christmas trees are.

When we see a Christmas tree in a home we can begin to hear some of the story of which that family tells with their life. It’s kind of humbling when you think that a simple Christmas decoration can begin to tell the history of a home.

If our lives were Christmas trees-let’s just say a good solid 8 ft. tree sitting in the family room next to the fireplace—how would it look?

The basics: What color of lights? What style of ornaments- handmade or purchased? Popcorn garland or gold beads? Would it be a bright colorful tree---one welcoming kids to fall asleep underneath? Or a Victorian tree so perfect people fear breaking a bulb if they get too close?

Granted, this thought process does seem more like a 4th grade art assignment to be taken home to mom & dad, but it does begin to question a few things.                      

                                                                                                                         How would people describe us?

Do others see us as loving, cheerful, and giving?

Does our lifestyle align with what we expect from others?

Going along with the old saying, ‘do our actions speak louder than our words’?

What kind of fruit is our lives producing?

Who would people say we are following?

As we are given some time now to enjoy family and be reminded that Christ’s birth is the real reason for the celebration, may we question and perhaps reevaluate what our lives are portraying.

In the same way let your light shine before all men, so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.    ~Matthew 5:16

Christmas isn’t about giving gifts. It’s about giving love. Giving a love that shines so brightly that it could only have been ignited by a small child in a manager decades and decades ago. 

Stars & Sushi: Part 2

 

This year it is was easy to be overwhelmed by the beautiful parts of the country that we come from. But these simply pale in comparison to the beauty that’s you. The world we live in does take my breath away, but there is nothing that leaves me more in awe than people.

Oh, how this family makes my heart smile. This year our team had the chance to travel to Japan, and this was my host family while we were there. While in Japan we learned how to introduce ourselves in Japanese "Watashi no nama awah Bethany Bohnenblust des," experienced the Asian culture, ate lots and lots of sushi, and had the thrill of riding on the subway and having no idea what anyone else was saying. One afternoon we had the chance to go and actually hang out with a FFJ chapter, Future Farmers of Japan. We listened as they welcomed us in and taught us the FFJ dance-it was hecka sweet!

The day's festivities concluded with meeting our host families. I went home with this fabulous family, with huge smiles, lots of questions, and not a word of spoken English. The first night I cried myself to sleep as I just wanted to be with my own family. I wanted a hot shower, to sleep in a warm bed, wear clean clothes, and to eat something that wasn't raw. The next day I was straight up miserable, thinking only of what I wanted. I wanted to get back to my own home and was desperate to be back around people like who I could understand.

The second night Tomanai, my host sister, had invited a couple of her friends over for a slumber party. Using a Japanese/English dictionary, I asked if I could help make dinner-sushi of course. As I began to learn from these girls how to take an ordinary bowl of rice and turn it into an extraordinarily beautiful meal of sushi, I looked up and realized how selfish I had been. I was speechless.

No, they weren't like my family and I wasn't in my own home-but they had gone our of their way to make me feel special. They made me 'American' coffee for breakfast-a sure way to my heart, the sister had moved our of her room to give me her bed, the grandfather and mother made me handmade gifts, and the dad gave me a hand-written note saying his family was forever my family.

Once I quit thinking about me and let myself see how amazing these people were, I fell in love with them. It wasn't them who needed to change; I needed to shift my perspective.

When has your selfishness been a hindrance? When you weren't selected the MVP of your sport team? When someone took your vied for parking spot? When your alarm went off a little early this morning? Or what about when you became the jealous boyfriend or girlfriend? We all definitely have our moments, but what could happen if we were willing to shift our perspective?

When I chose to set aside my selfish thinking we had a slumber party not soon to be forgotten full of lots of pictures, origami lessons, and me sharing with those girls American pop music and high fives.

Speaking of high-fives, check this out: hold out your hand as if to give a high five. In one human hand there are 29 bones, 34 muscles, and 48 nerves. On square inch of skin about the size of your thumbnail has over 19,000 skin cells in it.

Yeah, that's pretty deep science lesson, but if I would have been viewing my host family as this unbelievable creation of science and beauty the entire time, I wouldn't have been viewing them in anything but awe.

People don't leave us in awe just because of their scientific backing but because of the great things you do in this world. I keep a little red book. This book was started in Tennessee last January. In it I capture down people who are living our their passions and the purpose they were created for.

Here are a few of people I met: 

• I'm in awe of the work ethic I witnessed in brothers Dalton and Austin from Housatonic Valley, Connecticut. They work harder on their family's dairy than anyone else their age I've ever met. They have already invested more in their family business in hours and resources than more businessmen ever will.
• I'm in awe of the hearts for service I observed. Kendall, a state officer from Georgia, has created a Facebook page as part of her service project at WLC to remind girls how beautiful they are. Check it out on Facebook 'Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.'
• And I'm in awe of the attitudes I saw. The Michigan State Officer team has found an incredible way to serve this year. On member shared with me how to live with KIP. K-I-P, standing for keep it positive. How awesome is that!

Living in awe doesn't stop at just seeing this amazingness around you. It's about respecting these people more. Showing the same respect to the 6.8 billion other people that we share this world with that we ourselves want. It means going up to a competitor and congratulating them even when they beat you. It means respecting our parents and guardians even when we don't feel like it. It means saying thank you to the FFA advisors and sponsors who brought us to National convention this week.

When we're focused on everyone else around us, we're not thinking about ourselves. Eating sushi with my host family taught me to live in awe of others. This world it's not about me and you.

The reality of how much more beautiful and pleasing life is when we're not on the throne, but instead humbled before it has forever changed my life.

My relationships have different intentions, actions are strategic, a purpose reigns, and my person top priority-God-never wavers.

Every single day I wake up in awe at what we get to experience, where we call home in this country, in awe of the difference you make in your communities, but most importantly this last year I've been left in awe of you. Friends, you have blessed me. You have taught me about what joy there is in being small.

A person who lives in awe knows we can never have too much humility, too much faith, too much belief in a greater purpose, to much clarity, or too much zeal in doing good to others. So let us continuously be laying our own plans aside and being pushed forth to other.

A movie about this world wouldn't have anything to do with you and me. We simply get to be supporting actors and extras to the real glory to be given.

Stars and sushi have taught me about my rightful position on this earth. Where have you placed yourself?

I'm not asking any of us to be perfect at this. We can't be. I am asking for us to think beyond ourselves to commit tonight to seeing beyond this world of population one. As you leave Conseco Fieldhouse look up at the night sky and be reminded of how small we are. Start a conversation with the person next to you and be left in awe of their gifts.

It is promise that favor will be shown to the humble. If not the here-and-now it's guaranteed in the next.

By living in awe we see the universe and its people in an entirely new way. We can be humbled at what we get to be a part of. Be a part of the bigger picture. Go live in awe!

Stars & Sushi: Part 1

This is part 1 of 2 of my retiring address at National FFA Convention.

 Growing up dress-up clothes was the attire, make believe was the game, and a box office hit coming from two young film producers, my brother and i, was on the line. From cowboys and Indians, to K-State football player and cheerleader, to a princess being saved by her prince charming, we had BIG ideas, BIG imaginations, and one BIG star of the show....ME! 

I mean, I was the oldest, I was the girl, and I had watched my fair share of Disney movies to know what I was doing.

Seriously though, my poor brother. I always insisted on being the star. Truth was I was selfish. Somehow I thought that I deserved to be up here on the throne, to be in the limelight. Fail.

There is nothing pleasing about being prideful, boastful, or arrogant about one’s self. Let's be honest to any of us really enjoy spending time with someone who can think only about themselves. We've been taught from a young age that favor will be shown to the humble. So why aren't we reaching for it?

I definitely don't have this idea of humility figured out, but it's something that I'm striving for. This year I have learned that humility starts with not thinking about me all the time. It's not that we need to degrade and devalue ourselves as people, but it does mean thinking about me less. I believe there is a way to view this world that can help us see where we fit into the big scheme of things. When we see this world as more than population one we live in awe.

The word awe means 'having a feeling of wonder, amazement, respect, and reverence.' Check out Urban Dictionary: 'a moment of awe is a moment without words.'

Two things taught me to live in awe this year: a starry night and a lesson in sushi making. In order to truly see ourselves as we should we must live in awe of two things: Live in awe of the universe and live in awe of others.

Where are my friends who are from the south? Where are my friends who are starting to talk like they're from the south? Last summer as part of a campus ministry, I lived in the great southern state of Florida. One of the greatest memories was on the final night that we were there. It was everything this Kansas girl could have asked for, an open fire on the beach and conversation with some of my greatest friends. As the star tipping and volleyball games began to slow down my friend Cindy and I slipped off.

We walked up and down the coastline for what seemed like hours. We reminisced about the summer, wondered what our futures held for us, and then sometimes we just stood in awe of our surroundings.

We eventually got a distance from everyone else and just laid down on the sand and gazed up at the stars. How small a night sky pierced by millions of twinkling lights can make us feel? We can never fully take in the night sky; our minds simply can't comprehend how far the stars stretch. Our eyes feast on meteor showers and our minds wonder just what else is out there. It was in those moments staring up at the never-ending sky that my thoughts were a million miles away from my own needs.

Have you ever had one of these moments? When you get goosebumps-it's a staggering powerful reality of how small we are. Our thoughts have completely left ourselves and are looming in awe of what we see. I never feel as close to my Creator as when I'm gazing up at a night sky.

What if we lived each moment like we do when we're gazing at the stars? With the perspective that we're not the center of the universe. We all know someone else who thinks the world revolves around them. Truth is each of us has our moments too.

But how can we even begin to think that this life is about us? Right now, we are in the city of Indianapolis. Indianapolis is one city, in the state of Indiana, which is one state in the United States which is only one country in North America, which is but one continent on planet Earth. This is basic, we all know this stuff.

But this is when we are about to be speechless. Planet Earth is one of eight planets in our solar system. Our solar system; however, is only one of about 70 in our galaxy. And our Milky Way galaxy is only one of what could be 80 billion in our universe.   

 

Still following...that little dot is our sun. every human being that has ever lived has lived under the sunlight of that dot.

It that doesn't take your breath away, if that doesn't leave you in awe, I'm not sure what does. Haven't we all be guilty of thinking that the world revolves around us? We think we deserve the big diesel truck, the new iPhone, to have gotten that college scholarship, or to get anything we ask for.

Humility begins when we have a proper view of ourselves-we set aside our own plans and see the big picture. When we're caught up in our own little world we miss out on everything else that's going on. But when we choose to be overwhelmed by the beauty that we live in, we can see a bigger picture and a purpose that we get to be a part of.

For me it took nothing more than getting outside and seeing the stars. Take a walk at night. Get up early for the sunrise. Maybe even get up at 3 o'clock in the morning to see a meteor shower.

It's a conscience decision that we must make to live in awe. Each morning, I take time and choose to be overwhelmed by my Creator. Maybe for you it means looking at biology or geography as more than a class but the world we live in, volunteer at your local arboretum or park and truly appreciate nature, and definitely check out the YouTube video 'Indescribable.'

When we're thinking of what's out there, we're not thinking about ourselves. Stars, they taught me how to live in awe of the universe.

This world it's not about me and you.

"To Be" Lists

T-Minus 10 days before nearly 60,000 of our closest friends
descend upon Indianapolis for National FFA Convention!
Oh my goodness, it's so close. Our team can't believe that a year has flown and a new beginning is just around the corner.

With all of the excitement for convention, it becomes so easy to get wrapped up in the 'To Do' lists of life.

Right now a glance at mine:

• Memorize session scripts
• Review Event remarks
• Wrap Gifts
• Write Thank Yous
• Call Home
• Catch Up on Facebook
• Post a Blog
• Laundry
• Each of these things are well and good, but sometimes I get so bogged down by how many 'things' must be crammed into 24 hours that I forget a few of the Lord's most basic commands.

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the
Lord, not men. ~Ephesians 6:7

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as
working for the Lord, not for men. ~Colossians 3:23

Currently, our team is in the middle of prepping, which is so exciting. But in the same breath though, I get nervous, overwhelmed, worried, anxious...wondering will the work get done? How much more can I memorize, really? Am I doing everything I can to glorify God?

Stepping back we just need to be reminded that how we approach and execute things on our 'To Do' lists ultimately determine our "To Be" lists.

This doesn't mean that doing our work or chores isn't important---in fact it's quite the opposite. Serving a greater purpose starts with the attitude of looking for the joy or opportunity in all situations.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ~Psalm 118:24

Get Over the Sun

Row 4 seat E sat a gentleman who demonstrated to me one of the most important marks of a Christian. At the age of 58 he travels as a speaker on terrorism and trafficking and this morning he was on his way to such a speaking engagement. What was more remarkable than his incredible story of how he became a renown speaker is the fact that he has never gotten over Christ.

In college he was approached by Campus Crusades and was introduced to the 4 laws and as he said, 'I was hook-line-and-sinker for Christ.'

4 Spiritual Laws by Bill Bright
* 1. )God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.
* 2.) Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life.
* 3.) Jesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life.
* 4.) He must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.

Over 35 years later, he still gets tears in his eyes as he talks about his Savior. He believes everything that happens is by God's appointment. He knows that his life is meant to glorify God, and everything should be done in a way that only brings love to Jesus' name.

He said he ever get over the magnitude of the beauty of the Gospel. And neither should we.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift from
God is eternal life in Jesus Christ Our Lord. ~Romans 6:23

Many men and women go to church each Sunday, join a bible study, are baptized, pray before meals, and own a bible. But so many of us 'get over' the gospel. We know it, we can shake our heads 'Yes' we accept it, we teach it, we consider ourselves Christians, yet we also allow the gospel to lose its 'awe' factor.
I'm just as guilty as the next person. Just this week there came a moment that I was focused on literally everything but the cross. I had over 50 sticky notes up on the wall each containing a part of my to do list. I had my day scheduled out hour-by-hour in an attempt to get all of the work done. I was a girl with a plan, but not a girl with an overwhelming reminder of her Savior.

Everything under the sun is meaningless, like
chasing the wind. ~Ecclesiastes 1:14

My eyes had become fogged over with things of this world and my view of the cross was hazy. Has this ever happened to you? Have you allowed it to get fogged over by other things in your life; the Gospel is not as crystal clear as when you first heard it? Get over the sun and focus on things with eternal value.

Do whatever it takes to remind yourself of the Gospel. The gospel can never be made too alive in our hearts!

• Read the Gospel of John


• Check out the 'Bridge' Diagram


• Teach your roommate the 'Bridge'


• Pray to Jesus to make the Gospel more real to you. He's the Ultimate Physician.

A true mark of a Christian is an ever
growing reality of the grace we've been given!

To Follow

This morning while we were getting ready for work-my roommate posed the question, "If Jesus walked in the door right now and said 'Follow Me' would i follow?"

Our Answers: YES!!!
i want to go, but wouldn't feel worthy.
i'm so bogged down with life--could i leave?
Would i be prepared to go?
Could i leave my family?

How would you answer?

Hopefully it's a resounding YES, YES, YES!!!

This should have been a simple conversation, key words 'should have been.' However as humans we continuously have barriers standing between us and knowing God more. Some of the challenges are created because of the decisions we make, some we have no control over, and all of life experiences are able to draw us closer to Him.

What's holding you back from fully committing your life to following Christ?

Perhaps in the next few months we'll dive into some more of the barriers between us and God---but this month we'll focus on this idea of thinking we'll wait until we're perfect. Big picture: We will never be 'good enough' to follow him or 'cool' enough to be a part of his crowd. Good news, we don't have to be. Jesus makes up for all of our fallacies.

This excerpt from a recent read is one of my new favorites. A reminder that we will never be made perfect until we reach heaven.

"Holiness" by J.C. Ryle

There be imperfections in our best works: we do NOT love God so
much as we are bound to do, with all our hearts, mind, and
power; we do NOT fear God so much as we ought to do; we
do NOT pray to God but with many and great imperfections.
We give, forgive, believe live, and hope imperfectly; we speak,
think, and do imperfect; we fight against the devil, the world,
and the flesh imperfectly. Let us, therefore NOT be ashamed
to confess plainly our state of imperfection.

Being Content

Click here to listen to "I am Loved" by Above the Golden State while reading!

Sitting at Chicago O'Hare airport for only 20 minutes and I've heard over 30 conversations of complaints from people walking by. Some of them are in regards to late flights or delays, others about how they look or the shoes they are wearing, either their food is too hot or coffee too cold... but in general nothing seems good. How many times have we found ourselves in this situation of self-pity? Wishing that things were simply different? (Chasing the Cross

I hear people consistently complaining about their surroundings-i wonder if they forget they are loved by a God far grander than the circumstance they are in. We always want to be someplace else, in a different job, around different people, wishing we were single or that we were married, etc. It's at this point, that we need a truth time.

(chase the cross)

Truth: God has placed us in this exact circumstance with the exact people in the exact location that He has wanted us in.

(chase the cross)

Let's say that out loud: I, (insert your name), am exactly where I'm suppose to be.

(chase the cross)

I'll be the first to admit, that there are moments that I struggle with being content. For example, just thinking about returning back to college I start to think of where I'm going to live, classes i'm to take, what will I be involved in, who will I spend time with, should I graduate early, should I even be studying the majors I'm in....surely there is something I should be doing NOW to 'fix' these things. With my sight set so far on the future, my enjoyment for today is lost.

(chase the cross)

I must remind myself that I'm in an airport waiting for my next flight to leave---not really in any position to try to figure life out for next semester. However I am in a position to be thankful for where I'm at, thankful for this last weekend with my family, and thankful knowing that i'm loved deeply.

(chase the cross)

We should definately hold an eager expectation for what is ahead of us in life, yet contentment should always be the foundation we live from.

Recently reading in "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow, i found this Prescription for Contentment

• Never allow yourself to complain about anything-not even the weather.


• Never picture yourself in any other circumstance or someplace else.


• Never compare your lot with another.


• Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.


• Never dwell on tomorrow-remember that is God's, not ours.

Love it! Committing to make these standards of contentment, I hope that you'll join me!

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be
content in whatever circumstances I am in. ~Phillippians 4:11

Books: A Few Favorites

"I cannot live without books!" ~Thomas Jefferson

Recently, walking through Jefferson's book collection, on display at the Library of Congress, I began to wonder what people might think if they strolled through my book shelves. It's an ever growing collection, but I thought I might share some of my favorites!

(love)

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

My favorite book of ALL times!

One of the only books I've ever read twice.

Check it out at www.crazylovebook.com

love

love
lovelove

love love

love

love)

Humility by Andrew Murray

Jesus taught humility to be one of the most important

characteristics that we can possess. When we discover the true

estimate of ourselves, we know the true honor God deserves.

(lovelove

humility

humility

humility

humility

Desiring God by John Piper

love love

Introduces this idea of a Christian Hedonist. Knowing that

a hedonist is one devoted to the pursuit of pleasure-Piper's teaching shows that our greatest joy is found when devoting ourselves to God. Which is His greatest joy as He is glorified in our lives.

(love)

lovlove

God

Godlove

The Forgotten God by Francis Chan

love

Never before have I been made so aware of the essential

need for recognizing and seeking the Holy Spirit. Even reading

in the book of Acts this morning, i read it differently because

of perspectives addressed in this book!

love

lovelove

loveHoly Spirit

love

love

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

This classic book guides us to fall deeper and deeper

into a relationship with our Father and Lord.

love

love

I would love to hear any of your thoughts on these books. And I'm always looking for new suggestions. Getting ready to go and dive into a new one: The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges. A good book & cup of coffee- reminder of God's love!

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your Truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. ~Psalm 86:11

One Element

Last night our team finished up State President's Conference, here in Washington DC. This week was spent with people from all across the nation including friends from Puerto Rico and our parents. Each day was spent touring, advocating, and learning more about our role as leaders in the FFA. Our theme "One Element" was focused on the power that we have to spark a revolution. (ex: It took one idea from Steve Jobs to create Apple and one voyage to discover the American continents.)

This week our purpose was to shape our influence on what the future of a youth organization can look like, yet we can also apply this mindset to our faith.

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ~John 14:6

(love Jesus)

Important Elements of the Christian Faith: (www.biblecentre.org)

*Jesus Christ died for our sins.

*Grace is offered freely to each of us.

*We are promised eternal life with God if we receive Christ.

(i love Jesus)

These are basic truths that we've been hearing since Sunday school or VBS lessons, but check out Romans 6 http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rom&c=6&v=1&t=NIV#top and read with a new perspective. These are the same truths that have lead thousands of people to give their lives to God's service-to develop a passion for serving Him that lead them to the ends of the earth. How will these elements of truth reflect in your life?

__________________________________________

• At the age of 18 a young man set out to share his faith. William Carey is now known as the Father of Modern Day Missions. One believer, one element, and so the story of the bible was shared with China.

• Dawson Trotman set out to 'Know God and make God Known' among the men in the navy . The ministry now stretches throughout the world, especially on college campuses. One man, one element, and Navigators campus ministry was born.

• The Gutenberg Bible was the first major book printed with a printing press. This technology started a revolution. One book, one element, and now it is the most printed book in history.

• One man was crucified on a cross for making claims He knew to be truth. He died an innocent death to save all of mankind. One death, one element, and Jesus granted us eternal life in His name.

Just as these people before us identified the truth in their lives, so we too are able. When we identify the element of truth that we hold to, we can identify what our element of purpose in life is and what the element of result in our life may be.

Our single responsibility today, the one element that we must bring to this world is to CELEBRATE the truths we know. No complaints, worries, or concerns. Only joy--the element of pure joy.

Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. ~Psalm 118:14

A Group Set Apart

While down in the South, Randa and I made a roadtrip over to see some friends in Gulf Shores, AL. 150 college students living there as part of the campus ministry, Student Mobilization, (check out http://www.stumo.org/ to learn more) They are holding full-time jobs during the day time, then spending nights and weekends growing in their faith and leadership. Just a year ago I was in Destin, FL with this same group- my life will never be the same.

Spending nearly every day with large groups of people, I have to question what was it that causes this group of people to be so different. There was an evident difference in these people-they were glowing with joy. We saw it even during the few hours that we got to visit them. Nearly every action, every encounter could be characterized by these three words.

Desire. Urgency. Submission.

But if from there you seek the Lord our God, you will
find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and all your soul. ~Deuteronomy 4:29

Desire

When a song like "Chariots of Fire," generally used to pump-up for a football game, comes on to prepare for campus prayer you simply cannot help let out a shriek of excitement. People jumping on tables, dancing around, screaming, all from a graciousness for the opportunity for them to come before the God of the Universe in prayer for each other and Kansas State University---amazing.

In the entire environment is a desire to invest in other more, to memorize more scripture, to read more of His word, to share the Gospel more, and a desire to know the Lord of our lives more. It's a burning desire that rattles their bones to know Christ more and to make Him known.

At that time many will turn away from the faith,
and will betray and hate each other. ~Matthew 24:10

Urgency

There is no time wasted. Even in everyday conversation they immediately jump to questions that cause you to be vulnerable and open to share. The spirit is so present as there are discussions about how to be a more holy being everyday, wondering how one person shares the Gospel compared to another, and even the invitation to share your testimony with others.

Going to India for mission work next summer or to go into full-time ministry are discussions happening daily. These conversations were such a reminder that there are billions of people in this world who have yet to make the decision to follow Christ and millions who have never even had the chance to read or reject the name of Christ. For these people it's not a question of if they are to serve Christ, rather it's where---Awe-inspiring.
They live out the reality that no one is guaranteed tomorrow, why waste a moment in bringing others closer to our Savior.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil,
and he will flee from you. ~James 4:7

Submission

If one were to go around the room of Kaleo participants, nearly every person would be able to share something that they gave up in order to come. Scholarships were given up, family support left behind, jobs turned down, reputations altered, relationships ended----all for Jesus.

And everyone of them would share that their sacrifice was worth their life.

It's such a beautiful thing to see men and women living in communion with each other wanting nothing more than to spur one another on to love and good deeds. The men want to serve the women as the creations they are, and the women desire to empower the men to be the warriors God made them as---breathtaking.

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Many of these people are friends of mine and all of them are brothers and sisters in Christ. Each of them are desperately seeking to be bound with Christ even more. Join me in praying for these people as they spend their last 3 week in Gulf Shores, then as they return back to campus or to their post-graduation plans to Glorify God more.

Pray for them to

*Continue to Grow in Wisdom for Christ

*Be Bold with the Gospel

*Witness all they've seen this summer

When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord, " they said, "you made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and everything in them." ~Acts 4:24

Give It Away

Yesterday on a flight from Texas to Utah I finally reached first class status on an airline. Yahoo! As we were walking onto the plane I didn't know what kind of luxuries were ahead or how much of a difference there was between us and other passengers.

Settling into a bigger seat with more leg room, most would think that this was going to be one of the best flights of my life thus far.
Truth was it was awful From the moment the first class passengers were welcomed onto the plane, I was unsettled.

love Jesus.

Why were we treated so differently, we did nothing to deserve it. As everyone else was patiently awaiting the drink cart with complimentary soft drinks to come around-we were offered warm towels, a full breakfast, and a continuous questioning of our comfort.

Finally arriving, I was so grateful just to get off the plane.

Why was this luxury so hard for me to accept, why didn't I just enjoy it?

Those who love pleasure become poor; wine and luxury are not the way to riches. ~Proverbs 21:17

I am no different than anyone else on the plane, and it broke my heart that those I was surrounded by felt their contentment was based off of them getting the beverage they thirst for or if the airline had the fresh fruit they were craving for breakfast.

In first class we were getting anything and everything that we needed. Here in the United States in particular in comparison to other parts of the World we have access to nearly everything that we could ever imagine needing or desiring...including the gospel, a church to go to, fellow believers to worship with, worship music, and bibles in our native tongue.

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. ~Matthew 18:20

The lifestyle that I've been blessed with has left me longing for very little, which makes it that much harder to fathom people in this world who are living off of $2 dollars a day (I go through this much at a single vending machine stop) or of people who go to bed each night having no idea where there next meal comes from. But even more crazy is to think there are people in this world who haven't even been given the opportunity to reject the Gospel.

Millions of people have NEVER
EVEN HAD THE CHANCE TO REJECT JESUS CHRIST.

On the plane I was only rejecting a first class seat, but at least I had the opportunity to turn it down. Wanting nothing more than to give it to someone else, I spent the majority of the flight in prayer with a growing burden for those people in this world who have so little.

Granted, we are a giving society. I read in an article "A Nation of Givers" that we as a society can take comfort in the amount that we do give. In 2008 it was an estimated $307.65 billion. According to statistics that's 7x a much as the Germans and 14x as much as the Italians-even more comfort in how much we give.

Yet, monetary giving doesn't even hold a candle to the real gift that we should be trying to give. Maybe you're not giving up a first class plane ticket or going overseas for a missions trip, but what can we be doing to move the Gospel forward throughout the world?

Are we doing everything that we possibly can to give the Gospel away?
In our actions? In our words? With our Money? In prayer?

Don't store your treasure here on earth, where they can be eaten by
moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. ~Matthew 6:19