New Years Eve Reflections

Several someones have suggested that one of the devil's tricks is to keep Christ-followers so busy that Christ is crowded out - out of their thoughts, out of their time, out of their relationships, out of life. I struggle with this sin, this thinking that by somehow accomplishing more tasks, ministering to more people, doing more for Jesus will make Him happy with me. On the mission field this problem is magnified ten-fold, as I rush from task to task, person to person, as if I were their savior, as if I were on a race against time, trying to save as many people as possible before… before… before what?

If you don't go see that person now, they're going to think you don't care.

They won't like you unless you make a good impression.

If you don't get that done, you're on a slippery slope to failure. 

If you make a mistake, you will ruin your chance at this ministry.

Lies. Guilt.

The Cost of Christmas

Christmas in a formerly atheistic, now predominantly Muslim nation is a very different experience than in historically-Christian America. Instead, New Years is the major holiday. In my Muslim neighborhood, people are decorating New Years trees and putting up New Years lights. December 25th will be a day just like any other for most people in Albania.

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year in the States with everybody getting into the decorations, festive music, TV specials, concerts and Christmas baking, but in my neighborhood it takes some effort to "get in the spirit of Christmas." I re-watched the movie, The Nativity Story, to help get myself "in the spirit." It focuses on the lives of Mary and Joseph when they suddenly found themselves called by God to an incredibly difficult task.