Chasing The Kingdom Dream!

As I have shared my calling to serve in Africa with so many these past 5 months, I was so surprised to hear from those that simply do not support serving the "least of these" on the other side of the globe. Is it because they just haven't had the exposure or perspective to acknowledge some of the big problems that Africa and other developing and forgotten communities around the word face? Is it because it "is not" personal enough? Or is it because, with all the financial burdens and personal struggles we face at home (high class problems in many cases), we're not capable of hearing those whispers from God to give, to love, to serve those who have no hope.

A year ago, I had to get real honest with myself. In the midst of total financial ruin, I realized that I was still among the richest in the world. That's a fact. I was richer than most! Richard Sterns, author of The Hole in our Gospel (a must read by the way) tells his story and while reading it each night as if I were looking at a mirror rather than a book, the conviction simply destroyed me. It has broken my heart forever. My selfish pursuit of the "American Dream" had robbed God of the resources (time, talent, and $$$) that were intended to "love our neighbors" and "care for the widows and the fatherless"... Read the scriptures. It all over the place. How have we missed this? And get this... what I ultimately realized was that in chasing this lie we call "The American Dream", the biggest crime  Was that, for all these years... I missed the opportunity to serve the one who I go around calling my Savior. The one I claimed to put my trust in.  "...when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me." Matthew 24:45

Forgive me Jesus!
Patrick