Yes, I am actually blogging again. About 100 of us are gearing up for another mission in Zorrillo, Mexico with True North Helping Hands. Same school, more buildings, fence and a playground in the community. My daughter Angeline is coming again. So are 13 others from Red Deer. It is really quite exciting. My Spanish is still minimal but way ahead of last year. We'll see how it goes.
Why do I think this is so important, you ask. (Oh, you didn't? Well, you should have.) Being saved is great. Knowing I have a place in heaven is great. But lounging in the pew is not an option. God created me and all you other believers for good works. Not just random, whatever-we-think-is-cool good works. He has an actual plan for this whole planet (besides toasting it and taking the redeemable remains to heaven). His plan revolves around people and their lives. I don't know all the details but I do know that those of us who have (have food, clothes, education, money, hockey equipment) need to engage ourselves in feeding, clothing, educating and equipping those who have not. God sees something disciplinary in people suffering the consequences of their sins, but He sees something downright holy and spiritual in people overcoming the suffering of poverty. I got turned up by John Wood who left Microsoft to bring books and education to the third world. These things will at least raise the level of hope and standard of living for people world-wide even if Jesus said the poor we will always have with us. Who better to be vitally involved in such mission work that believers who can also bring the gospel mesage, the one about salvation from sin and death. In fact, how can believers talk heaven to people anywhere while multiple millions are suffering on earth. What do we say? "Some day it'll all be over and you'll go home to God." That's not much hope. Hope begins now with the world in which we live, the one that God has already created for us and placed us in. Jesus may come back at noon and end all this or He may tarry another few millenia. Whichever the case, the plan for human history was not that everyone would suffer their way into heaven through a miserable life on planet earth where things only continually get worse. God plans for this world to become a better place for people and the plan for transformation involves me (and many of you).
That's why I'm going to Mexico at the end of June... and to the seniors lodge to visit some lonely people at the end of this morning.
I'll enjoy heaven when I get there. In the meantime, Let's get this planet and its people going in the right direction. I seem to remember someone praying, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."