Going Back to the Heart of God

Our team leaves for Haiti in 2 days! This will be trip #3 for Union Baptist Church, within the past year. There are 9 members of our team on this trip. This will be my third trip, three others will be going back for the second time, and five members of our team are going for the first time! I can tell you that preparing for a trip like this is an emotional time that impacts each person in a different way. No doubt that those who have never been on a trip like this are a little nervous and anxious. Those of us returning are also anxious, but also very excited that we get to introduce more people to what God is doing in Haiti. I know our team will be blessed beyond measure on this trip, as we gain a deeper perspective and appreciation for what God wants to do in our lives and through our lives. I have recently been reading a book called "Honestly: Really Living What We Say We Believe" by Johnnie Moore. In his book Johnnie talks about the difference between cultural Christianity and true Christianity, which is a living faith that embraces doubt and answers life's hardest questions; leaves your soul feeling healthy and satisfied; enables you to get back up again when you fall and fall; motivates and empowers you to make a difference in the world; and gives you a clear vision of what life should be with God involved in it. This book asks some challenging questions that each of us should consider in our lives. I will share one passage of the book here:

"What if we decided that to the best of our ability, we would no longer live a hypocritical, halfhearted Christianity that results in unbelief and disappointment? What if we decided to not be lukewarm? What if we took all the energy we spend in doubt and frustration and used it to trust and believe? What if we went on a pursuit to actually answer our nagging questions instead of using them as excuses to avoid commitment? What if we chose to run toward God even when our disappointment with hypocrisy threatens to chase us away from him? What if we decided to actually live what we believe to the extent that people's destinies are changed and Christ is more famous because of Christians and not in spite of them?"

God's vision for the "church" wasn't grounded in buildings or places of worship. It isn't about programs and activities. It isn't about which church or denomination you belong to. It's about relationships. At the end of the day, and the end of our lives, what matters most is our personal relationship with God. After that the most important thing for us to do right is to love each other. We are to be accepting of those with different points of view, those who struggle in their belief, and those who are searching for answers. We are the tool that God uses to show grace and mercy to others. We should be building each other up, not tearing each other down. As we leave for Haiti, it is important for our team to face the challenges ahead as opportunities to show love to someone that needs it. It isn't about massive projects intended to try to "do good" for multitudes of people. It's about loving and caring for one person at a time. It's about serving and worshiping alongside others from different cultures, all to the glory of the same God. And in doing this service, we are the ones who will be forever changed.