the Glocal Trekker Blog

I'm so proud of all of you--you were an awesome group of interns that became a group of friends that I love deeply. I'll be here for you, and I know you'll be there for me. Having communion together last Wednesday was just awesome. When I came to the station with the picture I told Bobby I had to have that picture. The Red Dao of Taphin Vietnam are a group I have prayed for and tried to help for many years. To see the child with an outstretched hand towards the camera was just too powerful to me--you've heard the stories . . . . I had no clue what you guys were doing--putting our fingerprints on the edges during communion we prayed for God to use us. I didn't know those would be given to me to remind us that we are all working together. You know me well--things like that have massive value to me. Thanks for saying thanks--I've told you before, most people don't, if you live a life of gratefulness it will set you apart so much because most people aren't. It will also keep you in a mindset that God is the provider; therefore, every act of gratitude is ultimately directed towards Him.

Little brothers and sisters--stay on your knees. You are only as great as your prayer life. Preachers, singers, writers, etc. all come and go. Great Souls live throughout eternity. There are some who believe discipleship starts here and what we do with Jesus here determines intimacy and usability throughout eternity.

Young men and women--stay the coarse. Fads, books, ideas, models etc. all come and go, only the Kingdom of God will remain throughout eternity. Find yourself in your twenties, grow yourself in your thirties, change the world in your forties. After that leverage everything you've got for ultimate meaning and radical transformation. Stay on the same path. Don't be tempted and allow yourself to jump around--you wind up starting over again and loosing so much time and maturity and sadly sometimes credibility. The greatest stories and lives that bring about the most change and are the deepest are not the imitators of fads but those who obey a word that God gives them and God blesses it beyond their expectation. They know it was God because it was not within them to be used as God used them.

Young lions and lambs--stay courageous as you get older--only add wisdom to your courage. There is no great sailing on the beach--you have to get out in the ocean where it's just you and the compass of the Holy Spirit. I assure you, it is enough. Be lions before the face of injustice. Be willing lambs before those who would take you out--know God is with you and holds you in the palm of his hand regardless of what any man would do to you.

I'll keep running beside you as long as I can, but as I get older and your stride outstrips me, don't slow down. Keep going, but every once in a while look back, wave, grin, and tell me, "Old man, move 'em chunky legs!" And one day when we get to this new heaven and new earth and my knees are healed, and my gut is no more, move over baby, I'm takin you down!