Some recent thoughts on ministry in America. 

I have long struggled with our career centered culture.  The “American Dream” if you will (bet you have never heard that one before!!!).  Everyday I go to work, and many of those days I long for something more meaningful.  I think Followers both young and old struggle with finding  the ”calling” for their life in the midst of the chaos and never ending grind of corporate America (or running a small business…..working full time, you get the picture).  I am tired….I am exhausted…and at the end of the day did I advance His Kingdom? 

This is the struggle for me in a nutshell  (everytime I use that phrase I think of Austin Powers….”no this is me in a nut shell, help help how did I get into this nutshell…what shell has a  nut like this?”)  .

In the last 2 years, having visited South Africa and Zimbabwe, while working with my Pastor on his non-profit, I have come to realize that with great discipline and perseverence, we have the opportunity to turn our working ways into a gigantic movement toward advancing His Mission.  I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THIS COUNTRY and our wealth.  I am encouraged to use our culture and wealth more wisely.

The recent economic developements have emphasized this in the past several months.  What if we lived comfortably, yet far below the level we could,  and devote the created excess to eradicating poverty?  How as a society can we garner so much wealth, yet find ourselves in the midst of an economic depression?  It is mind boggling, and I am convinced this Nation, set to face possibly very trying times, is ripe for a revolution directly related to how we spend the money we have been so richly blessed with. 

What if I, instead of purchasing a home, choose to live with my parents or several roommates ( I am single), and devote a large portion of the $1200 or more I save to making a difference for those who have nothing?  How can I justify spending money on life’s luxeries knowing that there are children in need of simply food and shelter?  Don’t get me wrong, I will undoubtedly continue to spend money on entertainment and “wants’, and I could forever debate within myself whether spending any money above my basic needs is right, with so many impoverished in this world.  BUT, I have to make changes. 

 I have to take responsibility for how I am using the money I receive as a direct result of the culture I am proudly engulfed in.  Using this money in a responsible, Spirit feeled manner can be done in many ways (and would be fun to debate).  If I take this approach, then when I end my day, do I reflect on that day and see meaningless work?  NO I DO NOT, because I am no longer working to build my own wealth, but rather I am working so that I am using the financial flexibility I have been blessed with to make a difference in the lives of those who do not have such an opportunity.  It would almost be irresponsible not to work, if my finances were truly devoted to HIM.

More thoughts to come on this….

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