Read all the points by clicking HERE.Ten Thoughts and Tips. Here are the first four:
1. KNOW THAT GOD IS GOD EVERYWHERE.
Know that God is God in every corner of the world. He is not just present. They invented a word that only God can fill: Omnipresent. He is in that cafe in Paris. He is on your boat from Morocco. He is in your Ashram in India. He is on safari in Kruger. He is on that beach in Mexico. He is in your hostel in Ho Chi Minh City. He is in the Internet cafe in Idaho. Read Jonah before you go. And Jeremiah 23:24. You cannot escape him.
Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.2. KNOW THAT THIS IS GOD’S PLANET
Know that this is God’s world. Wake up every morning and thank him for it. Live for him in every corner of it. Treat God's world in the way that God desires for it. Obey him in every quarter. He searches his world as he searches hearts. But also know that most people in God’s World do not treat him as God of his world. So go in with wide eyes. And call a sin a sin. Read 1 Chronicles 28:8:
And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.3. LOVE JESUS.
Love him with all your heart. If you don’t think that you do now, then cancel your ticket. Sort out your relationship with him before you go. It is most likely that your relationship with God will probably not get better because you are overseas. And no, you are not the exception to the rule.
4. BE AN EVANGELIST
Defend Jesus, and defend God’s church wherever you go. Make it your aim to tell most people you meet that you are a follower of Jesus, and that you have your life in him. And tell them quickly. You won't tell them at 11PM in some bar after a few beers. Better to tell them in your areoplane seat. Don’t be another selfish traveler, be an ambassador for God.
5 more to come...
Then 5 reasons not to give for travel.
Discuss.
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Pic on Flickr by Giancarlo rado.
8 comments:
Good stuff all Justin, but this all assumes the traveller should travel. Have you ever advised someone not to travel for spiritual reasons, i.e. running away from fellowship and accountability, running to anonymity and potential temptation etc?
I guess these would comprise the next 5 tips, right?!
Thats coming in the Ten Reasons not to go.
Looking forward to it already Justin.
These 20 points would make a tidy little pamphlet for uni students / grads ... I'll get my people to talk to yours!
I guess this is geared to travelers and not people living overseas, although some of it relates. But, how, practically, do you keep (1) and (2) in view when grappling with the struggles of living in a new culture/language and everything seems overwhelming?
Do you mean the Christian people who have committed to you when you talk about not encouraging envy or do you mean everyone you write to?
Great advice, cheers!
Megan -- what is it about Numbers 1 and 2 that are hard to keep in mind when in a new culture? (Great to hear from you, by the way).
Anon -- good call re who the writing home is addressed to. I just canceled Number 5, wrote it into 2 points in the next post.
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