Wellington Church of Christ

I remember one of the most frustrating feelings when the 9/11 attacks happened was not understanding who the enemy was.

It was easier to identify enemies in the past.  Hitler was easy to identify.  When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, it was easy to understand who the enemy was.

I believe that every generation from the moment that Jesus ascended back to heaven up through today has hoped and maybe even believed that He would return in their generation.

Yard work feels better to me than it ever has before. It’s not because I’m in better shape, I’m not. It’s not because I don’t have anything else to do; I’m never short on work.

It’s simply because I can see a finished product after I’m done.

Okay, so I expected Smokey Mountain National Park to be good, but I kept my expectations low because I didn’t want to drive all the way here and be disappointed.  Why would I think that way?  Why would I be disappointed, you might ask?

The older I get, the less and less things I get excited about in this world.  Spiritually speaking, I think that’s a good thing, but I must admit that I miss the excitement that I used to feel.

For instance, on the night that I’m writing this article, I have just finished spending the day with the family at Dollywood, which is a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  It’s basically a little bit smaller replica of Silver Dollar City with a few quirks that make it different, but not much.

The LeFlore’s set out Sunday afternoon, April 23^rd, and headed east.  We made our first stop in Hot Springs, Arkansas and stayed at one of only two hotels that we’ve been able to locate that will allow seven people in the same room.

Some will see a title like this and immediately feel defensive or offended.  I promise, I have no intention of making you feel either way.

It is simply a question.  It is a question that I ask myself regularly.  Of course, without context, the question can be interpreted in different ways, so let me say what my intentions are.

Sometimes it’s hard to answer the same question time and time again. 

Whenever I talk about foreign missions, one such question comes up, in one way or another, every time.  The question is, “Why are we helping people in another country when there are plenty to people to help here?”

Just a Few Reasons

When Jesus told his disciples and, by extension, us, to go into all the world in Matthew 28:19, He didn’t give us a long list of personal benefits of our going, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t benefits!

Jesus said in John 10:10, ¹⁰…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Jesus had many purposes under the umbrella of his ministry and one of those purposes was not only to make it possible for us to live again after we die, but also, to truly live while we are in the here and now, or as He put it, to have life abundantly.