We were in worship Sunday and my mind gravitated toward….Sprite.

Doubtful the producers of the Sprite commercial had any idea they’d stumbled into a profound theological question when they asked: “What’s my motivation?” One of the nuances of orientation is small group worship, simulating a Bible study that leads to a church plant. Our group has 11 people counting two kids.

Our task Sunday was to look at Isaiah chapter 6. This of course is a passage of Scripture that many people associate with a calling to go overseas as a cross cultural witness, however, I saw something in these passages that I’ve been chewing on for a couple days. It launched Isaiah on his journey and should keep me – keep you – on yours.

Verses 1-4 reveal the intense holiness of God, so much so that as Isaiah witnessed this holiness he was devastated by his sinfulness. Think about that. Here’s a guy who was already a cut above others in his culture (read the first five chapters to find out how depraved the culture was) and he was already serving God as a prophet. This “good” man was rocked by his sinfulness when compared to God’s holiness. Verse 5 recounts his reaction, God allows for (atones for) the cleansing of Isaiah’s sin in verse 6-7.

Verse 8 begins the famous calling passage that culminates in Isaiah saying, “Here am I, send me.”

I wonder: Would Isaiah have been so eager to volunteer if he’d first been given the next five verses (6:9-13)? Doubt I would have been. Read them. God brings judgment on the people for their sins and Isaiah is the guy to deliver the news.

Here’s the application: Isaiah was motivated by encountering a holy God and NOT the task he was given. The application for the workers here at orientation preparing to go overseas– and any follower of Christ for that matter – is that the Christian life will ebb and flow and tasks are subject to personal likes and dislikes. However, obedience to the will of God grounded in the unchanging character of God is all the motivation any of us should ever need to live a successful – albeit sometimes difficult – Christian life.

Something to mull over next time you’re drinking Sprite.

 

“What?” I thought, totally perplexed. “That’s an odd thing to say.” I may have anticipated something like, “Be sure to close the door to keep the kids from staring at the white guy;” or “Don’t mind the flies, it’s like that everywhere;” or even, “Take a deep breath and hold it before you go in there.” But, “be sure to chase the roosters out before you go? Is he serious?”

 

Dead serious.

 

As I was about to straddle the porcelain trench, sure enough, I had to shoo the community roosters which were lurking about. He learned the hard way. Glad I got the tip! (And by the way, there was no door and the white guy drew a crowd, the flies really aren’t that bad everywhere – just squatty potties in remote villages, and I needed a respirator more than a deep breath.)

 

I was reminded of that story as I entered the cafeteria bathroom here at the facility in Virginia where our family is preparing to go overseas. Third stall to the right, open the door – BOOM – China flashback, minus the rooster. Here in the first world, in a building with perfectly good plumbing and three other “real” toilets, is a squatty. Now THAT is commitment to preparing people to live cross culturally! (Now if they’ll just teach us about bidets!)

 

This whole journey began most recently with a call back in November to see if we’d “be willing to throw some things in a crate and move back overseas.” Michelle and I lived in Panama before but frankly had settled into a nice little life in Middle Tennessee: Great church, great school for our daughter, great friends at work and plenty of affordable municipal golf courses nearby. Well, long story short, house is gone, job is gone, school is gone, clubs are crated – along with everything we didn’t sell (which isn’t much) – and we are eight weeks away from moving to Europe for only God knows how long.

 

So to document this journey, I decided to launch a blog, Travels With Me, so you could come along for the ride. I’ll take you places that I’ve been, places where we’re going and take you on trips with me to places across Europe and countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. However, not all trips will be to geographic places. Some journeys will be spiritual, as God continues to carry my family and me down a path that began years ago. Ultimately it is life’s spiritual journey that matters much more than the geographic.

 

So welcome. I plan to post frequently…and I’ll try to give advance warning if there are roosters ahead!