"Jesus promised his disciples 3 things: they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble." - G.K. Chesterton

This issue really transcends foreign missions and comes down to daily living for each of us. As leaders we must also wield the lens of truth in grace to discern what tables need turned over.

http://www.HouseofMaritalBliss.com/ (click on "Argentina Blog" to read the post)

"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention". Matthew

Wax on. Wax off.
Breath in. Breath out.
Vigorous with Total Attention

Hosea 6:3 NLT

Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.

An interesting idea posted on another blog this week about how sold-out leadership and sold-out following of Jesus can put in places that have a lot of "friction" (potential for conflict or failure), but they can also be seized to create amazing traction for the advancement of the Kingdom.

I like the gem of a thought.

You can read it here.

I was thinking recently about how timid we can be about the Life in/of Christ. Jesus and the Gospel can begin to resemble a life condiment - to be applied sparingly and completely at the liberty of individual taste. Putting the cookies on the bottom shelf is obviously great - Jesus didn't speak in complex dissertations. Yet, when is it about chasing yesterday's fickle whims?

I was reading a church planting guy's blog and he had this post:

I love reading about the Red Bull brand. When they first taste-tested their energy drink, consumers said it was awful. But founder Dietrich Mateschitz defied their opinions and pressed forward with a culture-shaping vision. Even today, half the people who taste Red Bull hate it. But the other half have turned into a cult following. And what a cult following... They've created
an entirely new beverage niche in what is now a $1.3 billion industry.

People vote with their actions, not feedback forms. Howard Schultz put his instincts ahead of the masses and got Starbucks to show for it. Steve Jobs says most people don't even know what they want until you show it to them.

If you're following feedback forms instead of "making tastes" for people, you will always lag behind in innovation. You are responding to culture, not shaping it.

I arrived at this idea in thinking about the spiritual disciplines. I read a number of writings on the subject geared at creating "novel" ways of checking the box of holy pursuits without inconveniencing a previously defined agenda. "How to Pray and Read Your Bible Without Missing American Idol." If you present a discipleship journey that interferes with life as normal, will people like it? Do you want a God, faith or life that wouldn't interrupt "life as usual?"