It is always interesting to see where God is stretching me. . . there are so many areas that I need to mature in, . . . .  and so, it’s fun to see which one God chooses at different times in my life

I had the opportunity to speak at the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) group at Penn High School this morning. . . . it was actually very funny to see young people actually moving and talking, and generally . . . . . just alive, at 7:30 this morning, b/c . . . . usually in my first class . . . . . . . . I sometimes see my college students in a lucid form of sleep as the make their way to their seats. . . . , and that is at 9:00!

What an honor it is to be able to influence the young minds of this generation. . . . . . . and I think today. . . I finally learned (emphasis on “finally”). . . about being content with step #2. . . . .

So. . . what is step #2. . . . well, it started with a nudge of the spirit back in June. . . . . Hey, I want you to be one of the first from this area to go to India (this December) on the Justice Team. . . . . ok! sounds great!! . . . . . .  . . . . . .then I started to realize that this trip was going to be unlike the countless trips I have been on before to places all over the world. . . . . . . this time. . . . there may not be tangible successes. . . . . . completed “projects”. . . . very little evidence of doing “anything” – no houses built, no wells dug, no food distributed, no conversions, no drastic life changes, etc…. – but, in a 15 step process of someone coming to know the freedom of knowing Christ. . . . this may be step #2. . . . . . . . and we all KNOW, logically, that #2 is just as important as #15, but . . . . . my stubborn heart is finally starting to get it. . . . let’s look back at God’s hand -

1. Nudge for mission trip to India on Justice team

2. Learning that our mission may be one that “JUST” involves initial relationship building (just time being around natives), and learning about the horrible situations in more detail 

3. An overt reminder from my friend and justice teammate Don Reynolds - that being an obedient pioneer into a new adventure is a worthy call – regardless if the ONLY thing that we do is make mistakes (that future teams can learn from) and try and love people while we’re there.

4. I hear this message about being a domino in the line of someone coming to know the love of Christ (see post on 9/11)

5. My wife sends this video to me – see it in my 9/24 post

6. I get surprised to hear God telling me to not prepare much for my FCA gig this morning

7. I understand that it was not preparation that God was against, instead he was preventing me from trying to be step 14 or 15 when I was supposed to be #2. . . .

8. I I ate breakfast with some of them, I told the group a great personal story to connect with, I made the students laugh, I ended the story with the point that God loves them and that He has your back, and I encouraged them to have a great day – and come back next time. . . . .

9. I walked to my car content. . . . content to have just been one small, somewhat forgotten, step in a student’s long journey. . . . content to have been obedient to #2. . . . . .

You see, I always want to be 14 or 15. . . . . . . because those are the glory spots. . . . those are the spots that you can hang your hat on and feel good about yourself because there is “proof” that you made an impact. . . . . . . . . . the problem is . . . . . . there are lots of people out there that need a 1-13, . . . . and I want to be able to be ready for wherever God puts me. . . . . . . So, thanks father for being patient with me in the past about not wanting to be a step 2 guy, you know I will probably need reminders every now and then, but thank you for nurturing me, for stretching me to be an even greater force for your kingdom. . . amen