Yesterday I read a biography of William Carey.  (I think it's the one I posted here.)  Carey is called the Father of Modern Missions because he was the force behind the founding of the first modern missionary society.  He was also one of the first missionaries sent by this society.  He went to India with his wife and three young sons, not even knowing the language.  By the time of his death, years later, he had translated the entire Bible into several different Asian languages, and spread the Gospel throughout much of India.  He accomplished all this although he began as a poor shoemaker/preacher in England.  His motto was: "Attempt great things for God.  Expect great things from God."

While I was reading this, I asked myself, What great things have I attempted for God?  Truthfully, the answer is, not much.  Am I so absorbed with my neat, safe, life that I have forgotten what I am here for?  Am I willing to sacrifice all my possessions for God?  Am I willing to sacrifice my life plans for God?  Am I willing to risk my life work for God's master plan?  It's a scary thought.

On my facebook page, I wrote, "My goal in life is to jump off a cliff every day and prove God is faithful."  (Of course, that's not a literal cliff.)  It is true, though, that whenever I feel God calling me to do something scary, and I actually DO it, He NEVER fails to work in and through that action.

Maybe I won't go to India, but I can go to a neighbor or a co-worker.  Maybe I won't rescue a child from starvation in Africa, but I can be a mentor to a child in my own town.  Maybe I won't start an international ministry, but I can teach Sunday School.  I just need to step outside my comfort zone, and expect God to supply what I need.

When I sit alone and consider

How my life has blossomed from a bud

Into a flower, opening to the sun:

I am amazed by my growth.

I am amazed by my reach.

When I consider the surprises

That have jolted me like an electric shock,

Repositioned me, built new connections,

And destroyed what once was solid:

I am amazed at the power of living.

I am amazed at the power that brings change.

Life is not the shortest distance between two points;

It cannot be solved with geometry or even calculus.

Life is the trail of a housefly:

Here--there--still--whizzing around.

I am amazed at the path I have taken.

I am amazed that I have traveled this far.

I got invited again last week to drinks at one of the local bars.  The inviter knew, of course, that I would say no.  I'm not really sure if it counts as a real invitation if the inviter knows the invitee will say no, and the invitee knows the inviter knows the invitee will say no.  (Makes sense, no?)

I feel frustrated in these situations.  It's almost like I am being made fun of for my moral stance.  Actually, I AM being made fun of for my moral stance.  It's like they're saying, "Hey, look what you're missing out on, you loser!"

But I'm not a loser; I'm a winner.

If I wanted to, I could go to the bars, hang out, party, sleep around, and that would be fun for a bit.  However, my relationship with Jesus is way more awesome than any party could ever be.  Jesus really is worth all of that and more to me.

And not only that, but those things of the world lead to death and destruction, while following Jesus leads to joy and contentment.  Jesus isn't asking me to give up happiness for him, he's asking me to give up activities that are bad for me anyway, so that I can obtain real happiness.

After a bit of thought, I just want to tell all those inviters, "Hey, look what you're missing out on!  Why don't you follow Jesus too, and join ME in the best life ever!"