Posted in This and That by Sarah Burrows on 5/25/2009
It could be argued that this act of faith is a little more involved than the ones I shared yesterday. But, it still involves this idea of stepping out in your everyday faith into what God's calling you towards.
Ben is a senior in college who I met when he was a baby freshman in our bible study my senior year of college. I went back to visit a friend over spring break who had an interesting looking book called "Green Bean Spirituality" sitting on her nightstand. I picked it up and saw the author was Ben MacKinnon.
"ummmm Colleen? Is this the Ben MacKinnon from DCA?"
"Yes. He wrote a book."
"Seriously? Is he done school??? That's amazing."
"oh no, he still has a year left... he's pretty motivated huh?"
Yeah. I'd say so. Later we ran into Ben in a Mexican restaurant and I asked him about the book. His response was "Well, I always wanted to write a book. God said do it now... so I just kinda made the time and wrote it last year."
Ummmm I don't even think I have time to write email and Ben wrote a book and raised the funds to have it published... while he was a junior in college... working part-full time to pay his way through school. Wow. This floored me. And the book isn't half bad either! J
In the book Ben shares his faith via 5 points in the Gospel message: Sin, God, Jesus, Grace and Faith. What intrigued me from the beginning is what he shared in the preface. He encountered a 12 year old who was bold and courageous in sharing the gospel with one of his friends.... At first he was taken aback and even offended and the "canned" gospel message presented ... but as he built a bridge and got over it, it encouraged him to write this expression of his faith.
Here's an excerpt: (...s are added by me... i don't know how to properly excerpt something, sorry Ben!)
"Spencer is a child prodigy whose left brained prowess has enabled him to take 400-level math classes at the age of 12... In the academic sense it could be said that Spencer is much better at math than I am, and if you feel you are impervious to bitterness, try being trumped in any area of your life by somebody who has yet to reach puberty. I did not realize how intense this self righteous rage was until a friend of mine had a run-in with my pint sized counterpart.
My friend Dave was walking out of class one day in the Physics building and Spencer pulled him aside... and began questioning him. He was asking if Dave has ever lied, stolen, cursed, etc. Dave answered these questions as honestly as a twenty year old should, which gave Spencer the fuel to move to his next point. Spencer told Dave he needed Jesus!
... My knee jerk reaction to this story was to rip into the math departments' pre-pubescent evangelical. I thought this kid was completely wacko thinking that canned theology was going to have an impact on anybody... Did this kid realize he was dancing in murky water with people who are much smarter and much more combative than he is? In mid-rant my friend Dave stopped me and told me his presentation was fair. According to Dave, Spencer mentioned sin, grace, Jesus, God, and faith with elaboration on each part by use of his twelve years of experience to draw parallels. Dave even mentioned there was a lot to be said about a twelve year old kid stepping up to the plate and sharing the gospel with people almost twice his age. Dave may have been right, but I still thought this kid was a looney-in-training. When I later got home I began to think about what it was that made me so vehemently opposed to this young man's tact."
And the result of this thinking was Ben's expression of faith on those same points Spencer shared in his gospel message in a busy college hallway.
When is the last time you were obedient knowing the road He was calling you wouldn't be easy and you would probably be rejected along the way?
If you want a copy of Ben's book to support this young author, display the cool cover art, or even perhaps to read you can buy it on Amazon: Green Bean Spirituality
In my blog yesterday I shared a bit about what's been happening (or not happening) with my faith the last few months. Here is the first of 2 blogs about some people and actions that have been inspiring to me recently.
Jamie is one of my dear friends here at school. She is ready to change the world... one small act a time. She has a huge vision for her life and is a great model to me of using the here and now to build the foundation for the bigger life things God is calling her to. A week before Easter an email arrived from Jamie inviting people to her house to enjoy Easter dinner. As I was reading this 10 sentence email I was blown away... there were at least 3 powerful professions of her faith. When I examined more closely I discovered... this wasn't just sent to our group of "Christian" friends. It was sent to the whole list-serv!
"If you were planning on spending Easter alone, please, please come over and enjoy the company of others; it would be a shame to rejoice in this glorious day alone!"
Another sister of mine here in St Louis, Ali, has this incredible burden for her friends who don't know Jesus yet. It's amazing... I feel like every week she comes in jazzed up about who she's praying for, who she might see this week, and who is talking about coming to church with her. She comes alive when she is someone's "Christian Friend." It means they see something unique in her... which means they see Jesus. One of the really creative ways she shares her faith is during holidays. For Christmas and Valentine's day she has a zillion cards made up with a picture of her and her dog Budweiser (we live in St Louis... it's normal I promise... I have met several dogs named after beer/ Cardinals players). She writes a one line saying "Happy WhicheverOccaisionItIs! Love, Ali and Buddy" and fills up the rest with scripture. Then she sends them to everyone... classmates present and past, family, friends, etc. People love the cute picture and often comment how the scripture was a great reminder of what it's all about. Sometimes she sees one in the trash or finds one crumpled up back in her mailbox but her response is always something to the effect of "Sweet, they read enough scripture to get ticked at me for sharing it! At least that means they read it!" I love this idea and how she turned sometime so common into a statement of faith.
When is the last time you told someone about the victory of Jesus over the grave and invited them to the feast?
Complacency is alarmingly comfortable. I haven't written a blog on here in months. The list of excuses is pretty long and fairly predictable. But the one I'll highlight here, and perhaps the best reflection on where I've been is complacency. Last semester I was high on world race spiritual steam. Last fall some rough life stuff happened and I would literally just put all my faith in Jesus, call him up to bat... and things would work out. This was my mantra:
"I need to put God first, choose people second, and let everything else fall into place behind that."
And it worked... for a time. But this past semester those priorities got all kinds of out of whack... and before I knew it I was a busy student and that was without a doubt my #1 priority. The scary thing to me is I didn't really know it had happened until I came up for air and God knocked on my butt (He is so good at that isn't he?).
I think in some ways I got sidetracked expecting God to call me to my next great act of faith. "Send me to the other side of the world! Tell me to quit school and go! Make something happen so I can show you how greatly faithful I am!" There's a lot of "me" in that line of thinking.
I'm learning (slowly) that it's a greater act of faith to step out in the everyday. When something huge happens (good or bad) it's really not that extraordinary a measure to show God we love him... when the ground is shaking I am more desperate for God. It's the seemingly small, mundane acts... the waiting and rejoicing in the small whispers... where faith really begins to mature.
Although I was pretty lame this semester, God is never so. In the next 2 blogs I'll post are a few of these "small" acts of faith I have encountered in the last several month. They don't involved World Racers on the other side of the world or anyone that is "in ministry." They remind me that God just calls us to be obedient wherever he places us and whenever he calls.... which often requires a great faith.
Posted in Adventures by Sarah Burrows on 1/17/2009
I am back from the Dominican Republic. It was awesome. I intend to write about it but I started school again on Monday and am too brain dead to process it all... plus i got sick (have i mentioned on here yet that I was not sick once on the world race and have been sick 3 times living in St Louis?!).
In the meantime, here is an awesome blog that Matt Snyder (January 08 World Race) wrote recently. If you're reading this and have been thinking about going, shoot me an email, lets talk.
10 Reasons to Go on the World Race
Maybe you're sitting behind the computer screen
contemplating reasons why you should go on the World Race.Here are ten reasons for you:
1.You learn
who you are.Going on the World Race
introduces you to the person that God wants you to be.You won't necessarily be the Jack Bauer or
Indiana Jones of missionaries, but you'll definitely learn what the heart of
God is and how He wants to use that to show you who you need to be in the
Kingdom.And let's face it - you're more
than just another employee slaving away in a cubicle, or a student going
blindly into the �real world' after college.
2.You get
to see the world.Surely somewhere
within you there's a desire to see the world.Most people think it's only a fantasy or a fairytale, but let's be
honest, with God anything is possible.The
World Race takes you to over ten different countries across four different
continents... and God pays the bill, not you.Plus you can tell everyone you've been to Africa.
3.You can't be labeled a boring Christian.Most people think that Christianity is kind
of a drudge and there's propaganda everywhere claiming that.Well, thankfully, you don't have to be a
boring Christian.Twenty-four hour bus
rides through the African bush is anything but boring, and feeding orphans and
widows is a lot more adventurous than people give it credit for.But there's only one way to find out.
4.You will
change the world.This isn't meant
as a joke � you really will change the world.For each life you touch and empower with the love of God, they in turn
will touch a life.It's just like the
pay-it-forward principle, only with Jesus and love.It's pretty cool.This gets engrained into your everyday life
when you go on the World Race.Maybe
along the way you'll change the life that's going to find the cure for AIDS.
5.You learn to hear God's voice.Seriously, God still talks.There are a lot of rumors going on out there
that He has a British accent and that He even talks in Spanish.Moses and Jesus weren't the only ones who had
an �in' with God; you do too.Going on
the World Race perfects your ear for His voice.
6.You get to
learn the things you didn't learn in Sunday school.What if, hypothetically speaking, they didn't teach you something in Sunday
school?Would you know what is?Because on the World Race, they know what you
didn't learn... and they're willing to teach it to you.
7.You'll raise
the dead.You really will raise the
dead... literally and figuratively.There
haven't been any reported cases of World Racers raising the literally dead yet,
but maybe you will be our first.It's been prophesied... are you it?
8.Learn
about the Matrix.Maybe the
Wachowski brothers were onto something when they created that infamous movie
back in the late 90's.What if you
really are living in a reality that isn't really reality?If you've ever wondered if there's something
behind everything you see, you should check out the World Race � swallow the
red pill and see how far the rabbit hole goes.
9.You learn
what community really is.Relationships can only go so far with people
when you're sharing just a dorm room for nine months.Community runs a lot deeper than a dorm
room.Living life with a group of people
united in purpose and Truth changes things � like the world.Explore the heart of Acts community and see
it come to life through relationships that you'll maintain even after the World
Race.
10.Pursue
the dream God's planted in you.Sometimes
there are dreams we have in life that get crushed by your typical 9-5
obligations.The World Race helps awaken
your wildest dreams and plants a picture in how they can fit into the
Kingdom.Do what you love doing while
seeing God's Kingdom come to life through your life.
So what's it going to be?You're sitting on the edge of something great and it's as easy as
applying.This is more than a mission trip. Go on the World Race and
change your life and others'.There's
something more out there... are you willing to look for it?
So you know when something starts as an idea.... and you kind of think about it a lot... and then all of a sudden you are seeing this idea everywhere and slowly but surely it kind of overtakes your thoughts for awhile? Maybe that's just how my brain works... but thanks for coming along for the ride.
For weeks now I have been praying for missionaries in America like Gary and Lisa who have dedicated themselves to serving my generation and waking us the heck up! Or Colleen and Jeff who graduated from college and decided to put off the world of jobs and home owning and pursue their passions. Colleen is doing campus ministry with athletes at UD and Jeff became wrecked for boys living in inner city Wilmington and has committed to Father them through Urban Promise.
And the January squad has been on my mind... how myself and other past racers have an opportunity and responsibility to carry their cause, cover them in a thick blanket of prayer and support.
I keep wondering how it's possible that people who have decided to follow God's call could be struggling with finances. I understand (in a very basic way) that there's a financial crisis. Right now, I live in the world of grad school where everyone is living on borrowed funds (hellooooo student loans!). Cash is tight. But I still buy coffee.... and fuel up my car to drive wherever I want.... and buy Christmas presents out of tradition.... why? I think consciously I know where my money should be spent.... and occasionally I get it right. But culture is a sneaky and pervasive thing.... it's engrained in us and it becomes part of our subconscious. So when not actively trying to weed it out of my system.... it's the default world view from which I will make my decisions.
I think as a whole people want to give to something bigger than themselves. We want to be free from our culture and to be a part of kingdom of God. But it's a hell of a lot of work and we get tired. So what I want to pray is for the kind of energy that doesn't come from sleep and for the will to press in and donate our time and resources to things that are lasting. ESPECIALLY at this time when our culture is saying "buy buy buy, this is what you need!"
Maybe this year I'll buy a few less gifts and give G42 for Christmas, or give one baby being held in swaziland by a world racer, or just give away some of myself....
Here are a few more things that came into my consciousness recently... I hope they will inspire your imagination like they have for me:
Posted in This and That by Sarah Burrows on 12/10/2008
Is them!
Look at this picture! How could anyone not want that?
This is the next squad of world racers who have answered the call to pack up the life they know it, shove it all in a backpack, say their goodbyes and head out into the unknown. When I look at this picture I see JOY and energy. They will need it! They will be stretched and broken. They will be set free of all the baggage they have carried with them for so long. They will be changed and transformed and will never be the same. Trust me, it's impossible to go back to the way you were.
They will experience all of this AND they might just get to set some captives free and bring the light of a savior to places filled with darkness. They might get to hold a baby in Africa and tell him that God is in love with him. They might see an angel in China. Perhaps they'll see a miraculous healing. They might. We don't know at this point what they will get to do and see, it's all part of the mystery.... But we do know they want it. And it's beautiful!
I am getting to join this squad in the Dominican Republic this January to help launch them into the great unknown. Again, I don't know what will happen, but I know God is calling me to invest here and what an exciting call that is!
Here's the deal. They want it. And anyone who has had experience with the world race and seen and felt what it's all about... we want it for them. They need a little help getting there! MANY of them are in dire need of support and the deadline is bearing down quickly. I remember the highs and lows my team experienced with support raising... it is a tough process because it is not of this world but the miracles that happen are amazing. I LOVE World Race support miracles!!! I'm praying for about 16 of those in the next week!
Please consider supporting one of these amazing world racers to be. If you go to the world race homepage you can get to their blogs by clicking on the January 2009 link.
If you want to connect with a racer that I have some personal ties with, let me introduce you to Di Dinnis. Di and I connected through Dave Berg when I was still in the field. Di met my parents and I in Georgia and has asked my Parents and I to cover her in prayer and to mentor her this year... and all this when my Mom was starting to get her life back with our squad back from the race and blogging less and less ;) We got to meet her at REI over Thanksgiving and pick out a beautiful pink sleeping bag (among other really "serious" camping gear!).
She is a fireball of energy and an amazing woman. In the short amount of time we have gotten to know her she has planted herself deep in our hearts.
Di didn't grow up in a church family and so is in need of some churches to take her in by praying for her and supporting her financially! What I want for Christmas is donations to her account. You just click the "Support Me" link on the left hand side of her page or by clicking the handy direct link I've set up below. It's an investment in her transformation and in God's kingdom. Giving at a time when money is tight and storing up treasure in heaven... wow, that's hard to wrap and put under a Christmas tree but what a gift it is!!
Posted in This and That by Sarah Burrows on 10/30/2008
Lots of funny things happen when you come home from the World Race: the ole ordering a coke light, repeating yourself 3 times, and thinking something is "off" with the waitress when she has no clue what you're talking about, insisting that someone takes your name badge holder when they compliment it (I lterally forced it into this woman's hand)... walking away thinking, "crap that's not normal here," Or this:
Last night I was lying in my bed, unable to sleep from drinkinh a Chai too late in the day. I was alternating between wishing Colleen was there to do shadow puppets with me and thinking about writing a blog. I guess it kind of brings me full circle. Initially I applied to the World Race because it seemed more fun that grad school applications... and now I'm writing blogs because it's more fun that grad school essays!
My "transition" has been pretty seamless. I arrived home, loved on my family and friends, and moved to St Louis to start grad school. I live with an awesome family across the Illinois border. I love school. It's busier than I ever could have imagined but it's nice to have my brain stretched again. God confirms all the time that he put me here for a reason... and it's a little different every day so I have to pay attention! I'm thankful to shower regularly, be back in a real life gym (turns out I miss the company when I run, but am adjusting really well to not having to rebuke angry dogs in the name of Jesus!), and for so many other little luxuries I don't take for granted anymore!
It's also been really hard. I intend to write a blog about a particularly challenging couple of weeks next. I have to brace myself every time someone posts a blogs from the Philippines... it gets a little emotional! I miss my team, my friends around the world, being on the move, eating interesting foods, having the freedom to wake up and say "where do you want me to head today Jesus?" Don't get me wrong, I still ask, but these days he pretty much says "go to class."
But class is a good place to be... for now.
Also, I got ambitious and made a video. Well, to be clear, Danny was no longer around to do this for me, so I had to make a video.
This video highlights our year, it follows on Team LESS's theme verses from Isaiah 61 and the music is one of our Sqaud's favorite songs. I hope you'll relive our year with me and lift up each of these countries in prayer!
Posted in This and That by Sarah Burrows on 9/18/2008
Hello Everyone!
This is the quickest, most effective way to do this... and I apologize for using the blog for this purpose.
The lunch that is scheduled on Sunday in Wilmington is going to be postponed (date TBA). Please pass the word around if you read this! We'll have it announced in church on Sunday as well.
Why you ask? Last night Sarah Lapp, one of my best good world race sisters, lost her Mom to her fight against cancer. We've prayed and prayed and prayed for her and believed in a miraculous healing right until God brought her home. So instead of lunch and pictures in Wilmington I'll be joing the party in Louisville, Kentucky. As Gary reminded me several times last night... she is dancing with Jesus right now. So we're going to do a little dancing on this end and celebrate her life.
(As a note... I'm still going to make the wedding, don't worry Mar! Flying in and out of Louisville instead of St Louis... just using that as homebase for awhile!)
Sorry for the unexpected change.
The remaining thoughts in my head are: be blessed today, spend time celebrating life, do a little dancing for the folks in Louisville, and don't forget to praise the one who made you!
I'm home... it's really fun and really surreal and not really like life... but fun, so we're going with that for now.
I posted this on the exact day that we started having problems with the website (of course). But not it looks like it's better (again on the day I post! :)) So, here is a blog a posted during the confusion in case you want to take a look:
I wanted to post the video that Danny made for our final banquet highlighting our year. But then... I got a little carried away. So here is that video followed by all of my favorites from the year! Danny did an AMAZING job summarizing our lives into beautiful videos. So here they are to reflect on your favorites or catch one you missed along the way.
Also, I will be taking applications for someone to continue to summarize my life in beautiful video format...
Tomorrow's "the" day. We fly back to the good ole US of A, back to the only life we once knew, back to family and friends, back to opposite ends of a really big country. Final banquets, love notes from teammates, last dinners, meetings, hugs… I need to go pack my pack and load up my sweet 70s green suitcase I inherited for extra stuff…
It's becoming increasingly more difficult to live in denial that it's over and it's just beginning. Recently all of my thoughts come in pairs… "Next week I get to play tennis with Troy! … crap, next week I won't be going to get coffee with Colleen" "Wow… Sunday I get to go to Aldersgate (my church)!... man, next week I'll be away from my world race church"
It's a confusing little world to be in. In one breathe it's exciting and sad. Mourning and celebration. Basically, it's life at it's finest.
Yesterday I was talking and this quote from Adam's Return by Richard Rohr has been playing on repeat in my head
"Ultimate security allows you to suffer small insecurities without tremendous effort. If you are tethered at a center point, it is amazing how far out you can fly and not get lost."
It's a little scary going home. It's filled with tremendous uncertainty and insecurities about how to do this away from the ever changing location of here. There are a very many small insecurities. But I walk out of this confident that I have become tethered. Even this year I feel myself fly out away from God and waver but he always pulls me back. I can tell you confidently that I will fly out even further in the future… but I will never get lost. That's God's grace in all it's beauty.
To all of my supporters: Thank you for sending me out into the world to find God in a way I didn't know was possible. Thank you for supporting me in my endeavor to fall flat on my face as many times as possible in my attempts to find God. Thank you for your prayers, comments, finances, emails, and on and on the list goes. I'm not sure I will have concrete evidence for each of you of the fruit of this year (I hope you will see just a little of it in my life and in the stories we'll share)… but I promise you that you have stored up for yourselves some treasure in heaven if I have anything to say about it (which I don't, God's kind of in control of that bank!). I can't wait to see you and continue to walk out life with you.
