Reminder

As an aside to the last post, let me just say that whatever we do, I want us all to be in it together.  I'm not at all giving up anything else we have talked about.  But I do maintain what our mentality should be, and that we should focus on how we can be different and spread the Gospel.

Of the Burden on the Heart

Guys...I gotta be honest.  I've been really struggling between what I still see as two options.  Before I go into all that, though, I just want to share a little bit from one of the most powerful church services I've been to, which was this morning.  Our pastor, David Platt, continually blows me away.  But the thing about it is, he's really just pulling straight out of Scripture.

Basically he asked this primary question:  "Do we really believe this Book?" (meaning of course, the Bible).  And he asked, "I mean, REALLY, do we believe it?"  He pointed out that there are "radical implications" if we do.  He referenced a couple of passages from Matthew and Luke that talk about the cost of following Christ.  So in essence, he was pointing out that if we believe the Bible and decide to give our lives to Christ, these passages tell us what that should mean:  Luke 14:25-35 and 9:57-62; and Matthew 8:18-22.

So being a true disciple, a true Christian, has radical implications.  Jesus tells us that to follow Him we have to give up everything we have (now I don't know if that means physically selling everything and living off of charity as you walk around sharing Christ).  But we do have to make Jesus more important than anything else that is important to us.  Over any responsibility we think we might have, even to bury our own fathers (which in that culture was an enormous cultural obligation, and is even still so now), we have a higher responsibility, a higher obligation.  And that is to Christ.  There is no denying that this is our primary reason for even being here, now that we have received salvation.  The Bible states that clearly.  But we continue to deny that.  We concern ourselves with security and comfort, when Jesus "had no place to lay His head."

He then asked:  "Do we believe what this Book says about the lost?"  Hard as it is to accept, the Bible is also clear on this.  Read 2 Thessalonians 1:7 and Revelation 20:15.  Scriptures like this are harsh to read, and sometimes we know in our heads that they are there, but in our hearts we deny that they can be true.  But again the Bible is clear.  Those who deny Christ will be shut out from the Majesty of God.  But as bad as that is, it is not just being shut out...it's the eternal destruction they face.

Also:  "Do we believe what this Book says about the poor?"  We know the statistics and all that stuff...but we don't have to think about those people.  "We are not inconvenienced by this extreme poverty because those stricken by it are not only poor...they are powerless."  And they are dying because of starvation and preventable disease.  

If you take nothing else seriously from this, please take this seriously:  "God measures the integrity of our faith by our concern for the poor."

I promise you, I know how this might sound.  I think the "fire and brimstone" preachers have missed some major points.  That's not what this is.  I'm simply convicted by what the Bible states clearly about our responsibilities as true Christians.  But God calls different people to do different things.  Right now, I just feel like God has made security and comfort an unnecessary luxury that I'm not supposed to focus on.

So anyway, blah blah.....why am I saying this:  I mentioned one of the times we were meeting that I had this idea to do documentary-style videos for a situation like the one with the pilots of MAF mentioned in the 2nd blog.  And we kinda just said that we needed more money and wouldn't be able to pull off something like that now.  But I'm kind of wondering if that's really true.  Perhaps that's just us talking, and without any trust in God whatsoever.  Speaking of which, I just saw this quote as a tag at the end of an e-mail...'Never hearken back to what you once were when God wants you to be something you have never been before.'  I swear, things like that keep popping up on me everywhere, like God is for real telling me something.  So just to refresh you on the idea, we would go somewhere like that, make a documentary, come back here and finish it, then show it all over the country at medical schools, churches and Christian organizations, make a website, etc...then after like 8 months take all the help we've raised back there to help get them jump-started on whatever the issue is.  Obviously, that's extreme simplification on that last part, I know there'd be a lot of logistical detail.  I just think it's the kind of thing we wouldn't have to do alone.  We could easily raise money to do this one time around, then after that, we could probably function off of our earned reputation with grant money or donations.  Shoot, who knows, maybe some big time millionaire would be so convicted he'd give us everything we needed.  I don't know.  All I do know is that we are given talents for the sole reason of using them to glorify God.  And as of right now, I don't know how else to maximize that.  But if we can consider this and refine it, maybe we can get something more efficient.

I know we already talked about it briefly, but I want to know what both of you think.  I'm not talking about throwing out the idea of doing business.  We may be able to do that as well, and this might only be a starter.  If you remember, one of the tips Jake gave me was to do some pro-bono work, because it's a great way to establish a reputation and get positive exposure.  And if we're going to do something like that, why not make it flippin' awesome?  Like doing it in Africa or China or South America?  And if you're worried about how we would pay for something like that...my trip to Africa was paid for completely by donations ($3000).  I feel like I might be able to enlist the help of David Platt for contacts, because he has a lot of experience with international missions.  But say, somehow, we are able to do one.  How amazing would that be, really?  Even if we only do it once, it would be life changing and so influential to meet people all over the country, while making a big difference for people who are powerless.

I don't know how it would work.  But because I feel like God has given me this vision, there's no need to worry about it and I should trust Him.  I'm going to try and talk to David Platt to get some advice.  Before you tell me what you think, really think about it.  Maybe God is calling you this way.  There's got to be some reason we all worked at East Hill those 2 summers, and have all expressed interest in doing media together, and that we all get along so well (not to mention I think we'd work together well no matter what we do).  Whatever the reason, it's got to have some implications for spreading the Gospel, so give me your thoughts and honest anxieties (because I have the same uneasiness).  No matter what we do, the Bible is clear about some things.  So let's figure out how we can obey God in doing it.

Really Creative Title Involving Thought

So I've been thinking...a lot. About work, about school, about Breakwater, about life. In visiting FullSail a few weeks ago, it really kind of hit me...I could be making a few huge decisions pretty soon. I just took a few days off this past week and really had a lot of time to myself driving all over the state of Florida. It was so helpful. I really recommend just getting in your car and driving somewhere sometime. It doesn't have to be to a certain place...just somewhere. And, if your looking for a cheaper option...just walk somewhere. I can't tell you that I have everything figured out after all that alone time, but I can tell you it will help you break down all the thoughts and simplify those thoughts into something you are able to view from an outside perespective. I have spoken to my parents for countless hours about what decision I should make, and of course they tell me...go for it. But it's not that simple. I have a life in Tallahassee, I've got future business plans, I've got a lot of decisions. I will say this though. My mom told me that if you want it badly enough, just choose to do it. Figure out everything else after. So I guess...take it as encouragement, or whatever you want to take it as...we all have a lot on our plates right now. Don't think about how successful we are going to be..right now...don't think about all that we have to do, don't think about disrupting your comfortable life. Think about what it is that God is truly leading you towards and go for it. Everything else will work itself out.

Of the Endless Seeking

Fellas.  I have found that there can be value in just talking to people about what we are trying to do.  The more we speak to people we know about it, the more they can offer help directly or point us to someone who can.

I had a brief but positive conversation with a family friend and a member of Bradfordville, Larry Strom, this past Sunday.  He is a proven businessman and a better person, and has been very generous to me and my family.  Taylor, I think you know him, or at least know of him.  Anyway, I just mentioned it to him in telling him my current status, and he wants to talk more with me about it at a later date.  Now if anyone could really help us get going in terms of some business operations knowledge, he's the guy.  He might even be a person who would be interested in investing in Breakwater down the road.  Who knows.  But Mr. Strom knows people.  And he could surely give us the kind of advice we will need.

So anyway, the point is, try and bring up the company with people any chance you get.  You never know where it can lead.