So you know that show 'The Biggest Loser'? I'm sure you have heard of it, the one where overweight people have the opportunity to go live on a ranch for up to four months and workout with personal trainers and lost 100's of pounds of weight. It's a reality show, but it is inspiring people all across the continent. Well I was watching it the other night, it's close to the end of their weightloss journey, and something struck me.
The World Race is a lot like The Biggest Loser
Now now, it is not a requirement to be overweight to go on the World Race. Don't be silly. I'm talking about the emotional, internal journey of becoming a new person. In both instances you are removed from your everyday surroundings for months at a time. In both instances you are thrown into a community of people you would have never otherwise met, and forced to live with and get along with them (although The Biggest Loser does force you to vote out one of your own each week). In both instances you work hard to change your lifestyle, change the way you view the world, and to become a new person- whether spiritually, through self confidence and esteem, or with a major weight loss and physical difference. Finally, in both instances when it is over you return to the life you left and have to figure out how to live this new life in your old surroundings.
Just this past episode, two winners of previous seasons returned to the ranch to speak with and encourage the new contestants. One winner, Helen, had managed to keep the weight off, and learned how to live a balanced lifestyle at home. The other, Erik, had gone home- reveling in his success, but not understanding how to translate his new life into the setting of his previous self. He gained weight- back up to 370 lbs- and was now working hard for the second time to lose all the weight. For World Racers it can be the same. As much as the Barnes's and the Hindes' and the Shearman's and your coaches try to prepare you, they can't go home with you. Chances are you don't live near your squadmates, or any World Racers for that matter. And as much as they try, other people just can not understand. It is up to you to seek out what you need- a new community, scheduling time to make World Race habits into becoming practices at home- whatever it takes to keep your new self, and keep your old self dead. It easy to slip back into your old life (or your old eating habits in the case of the Biggest Loser). It has to be a priority to keep your new way of living.
I'm excited for all of you new World Racers, and new World Race Alumni. I think The World Race is an excellent program, and I'm so happy for everyone fortunate enough to participate. Be encouraged that whatever you are thinking or feeling, you are not alone! We have all been there. Next time you think about going home- remember to be like Helen and find a way to keep that weight off!
Merry Christmas! I hope the season is a happy occasion for you this year.
I know it has been a little longer than a year since I have been in Thailand and keeping you informed on what is happening there. The situation hasn't greatly improved, with thousands of girls still caught in the sex trade with little hope of escaping. I have a couple of stories for you from the racers who are currently in Thailand. One of their squad leaders is my friend Andrea Wendel who was one of my squad mates. One of the stories has a happy ending, and another of the stories is still waiting for their ending. Please take time this holiday, and throughout the year, to think and pray for these girls, and all of the future racers who have their hearts broken by Thailand.
I'm tired of living the mundane. I lived the World Race last year, and this
year I have accomplished nothing. I have
held various jobs, even moved across the country for a job. I have bought a car, live in my own place and
I'm doing the things I'm "supposed" to do. I tried to do things with missions, but no doors were opening, and so I
thought maybe it wasn't the time for me. I'm not sure what happened, but I now know this- the mundane, the
regular, is not for me.
I have always said I'm not cut out for a 9-5 job. I'm not cut out for a routine and what most
see as "normalcy". I want more for my
life, I have tasted more in my life, and I'm just not satisfied without
it. What I have realized is that with
this "regular" life, it's just too difficult to have a relationship with
God. I understand why the poor and
hungry of the world have such a greater passion for God than most do here in
North America. They NEED God. God is the only way they will survive. Essentially, I can survive here in North
America without God. I'm tired of
merely surviving. I want to LIVE! I need to go back to the nations- not just to
spread the kingdom, but for myself! I am
in NEED of NEEDING God.
Last year on the race there were some difficult times, yet I
was always able to turn to God, and be drawn in. I lived in a community that wouldn't leave me
behind. I have been wondering why,
although it was difficult, was I still able to rely on God, yet here, when I
have plenty of time, and I have a more comfortable life has it become so much
more of a chore to be in relationship with God? I believe it is because I don't feel the same sense of urgency for
Him. I want to be in need of God
again. My soul longs for the community I
still see happening at AIM, and with various parts of my squad. I desire to return to the closeness God and I
had last year, and I don't think that can happen here. I still love God, still trust God for all of
His promises, and I know that in the right time He will bring me from this
season into a new one. I am trying to
look for the lesson in this- maybe I am learning to be content wherever I am,
and maybe my lesson is just discovering the NEED.
Isaiah 26:3-4
You Lord give true peace to those who depend on you, because
they trust you.
So trust the Lord
always, because He is our Rock forever.
So, I'm not one who is really able to post videos. But you really should click this link and watch the video because you can LITERALLY see legs growing. Seriously.
I was watching a movie on TV the other day- something I
rarely do because I would rather watch movies without commercials- but anyway,
it was actually kind of interesting. It
was called the Stork Derby, and apparently it was based on a true story. Look it up sometime. So anyway, I was watching this movie and
there was one particularly interesting line. There was a guy and he had just proposed to the main character. She had turned him down because she was too
busy in her activist type newspaper reporting, she asked him why he wanted to
change everything. He said “because I’m
normal. I don’t live an incredible life
doing incredible things. And neither do
you”.
Sometimes I wonder if people tell others that “it’s ok that
you don’t do overseas missions, because your workplace can be your mission
field” as an excuse to lead a normal life. I don’t believe God calls everyone to do overseas missions, because the
fact is that we DO need people to stay here because God is needed just as
badly, if not more, right here in North America. BUT just because you are called to your
hometown doesn’t mean you aren’t called to have an extraordinary life. If your workplace is your mission field then
MAKE IT YOUR MISSION FIELD! Be
intentional in your conversations with your coworkers. Live to the highest moral standard. Do things honestly, promptly, and
joyfully. Invite your coworkers to
special events at church. Pray for your
coworkers and your company!
I’m going to include a little story here. When we were in South Africa last year a few
of us went out to do some Marketplace ministry a couple of times (Terri Cash
actually stayed on to do that and is STILL THERE). Basically we went to a business and prayed
with the owners and workers for their personal lives, and for the business to
have God’s favour- that things would go smoothly and increased profits. Well I tried this a couple of months ago at a
business I worked at. I started praying
that our sales would increase and IMMEDIATELY the sales went WAY up. Every day I prayed our sales would be twice
as much as they had been. If I stopped
praying, then our day would just not go very well. Praying for your company works! I told my boss that I was praying and that’s
why our sales were going up and he thought that was great!
So anyway, I appreciate people who are called to be in North
America. It’s a tough field. Just don’t let that become your excuse to
slip into the comfortable. Live
extraordinarily! Don’t let anyone tell
you that you’re life isn’t incredible. Be incredible! Be ACTIVE in your church, don’t warm a pew. Give the Holy Spirit TIME to speak and work
through you. Be INTENTIONAL in who you
speak to, and how you speak to them. If
this is your mission field, then make it a mission field. We are all in this spiritual battle, so don’t
sit on the sidelines, participate and pray.
What is your deepest desire in the very depths of your
heart? If you could do, or see, or be
ANYTHING what would you want? My mom and
I play a game, every time we see a lottery commercial on T.V. What would you do with the grand prize (be it
one million, 42 million or a million dollars a year for life)? We both start to dream big dreams about
homes, cars, travelling and philanthropy. While she dreams of a log home by a lake filled with grandchildren, I
dream of fluttering all around the world holding orphans, and encouraging
abused women (as well as seeing a few world wonders along the way). While both of our minds wander to very
different places, both are big dreams. God has given us different desires for what we would do if we had all
the money in the world. So what are your
big dreams?
God has dreamed some pretty big dreams for your life. He is the author of all amazing things. I know some pretty incredible people, who
once they started dreaming God's dreams, have seen some really huge things
happen. I have even seen it in my own
life. Let me tell you a bit about my
story.
My whole life I had dreamed of seeing the world. I wanted to leave my little bubble, and go
out and explore the world- see what there was to see, meet new people and never
be tied down by anything. While this
dream was never quite the same- at some points I was going to live in Africa
and open a school, an orphanage, and hospital, and at other points I was going
to be a hotel critic and try out all the best things in the world for free- my
desire was always to go out into the world. Somewhere along the way though, I let my dreams die. I got sidetracked with life, and what I was
"supposed" to be doing. After high
school, I went to university, I got engaged, and began to settle into the idea
of being married, and having a job to pay the bills. I had lost sight of the desires God had
planted within me from a very young age.
Fortunately for me, God reawakened my spirit before things
went too far. I was able to break off
the engagement, and finish school with no responsibilities except to follow
God's leading. Guess where He called me? He called me to live out my biggest
dreams! I got to go into the nations and
be a part of a community of believers from across North America, and travel
with them all over the world. I fed the
hungry, clothed the naked, and loved the unloved. I began to dream big, and dream God's big
dreams for me again, and along the way I even got to see some Wonders of the
World too.
I encourage you to keep following your dreams. Don't get distracted like I did. You have big dreams for a reason. God is the master of the universe, through
Him nothing is impossible. Dream your
biggest dreams, explore where you never dared exploring. God has a lot more in store for you than you
can ever imagine. He even has big plans
for you for where you are right now. What are your biggest dreams and goals to accomplish before you finish
high school? Is it to see the salvation
of your best friend? To start a soup
kitchen in your community? To travel the
world do God's work? Whatever it is, dream
your big dreams and watch as God works in your life to make them happen.
How often do you do random acts of kindness? Do you notice others around you, or are you living in your own bubble? It doesn't take long to make a habit, so try this 50 day challenge and your whole world view could be changed.
If we all tried for 50 days to do one small act of kindness, the whole world would be a better place.
You are standing on the edge. The bottom is a long way down. Do you jump? The ropes have all been tested. The owner assures you that he even lets his small children take the
jump. You are promised over and over
that it is safe. Do you trust it?
Jumping off of a cliff is similar to taking a leap of
faith. God has given you promises in His
word. He will catch you if you fall, He
is going to provide for you, guide you, and bring good from every situation. He is never going to disappoint you. Do you trust Him?
Trusting God is more than simple faith. I was told that trust is the highest form of
faith- that faith is having hope for something to happen, and trust is already
having seen it happen. Trust in God
doesn't happen overnight. It is a
continual growth over a period of time. This past year I was fortunate enough to go on The World Race, a yearlong
mission trip around the world, and all year long I was seeing God move, and my
trust in Him was deepening. Each day is
an opportunity for you to look and see how God is working in your life. Look and see how God is keeping his promises
to you.
To view the rest of this article, with pictures, click here.
I'm tired of living the mundane. I lived the World Race last year, and this
year I have accomplished nothing. I have
held various jobs, even moved across the country for a job. I have bought a car, live in my own place and
I'm doing the things I'm "supposed" to do. I tried to do things with missions, but no doors were opening, and so I
thought maybe it wasn't the time for me. I'm not sure what happened, but I now know this- the mundane, the
regular, is not for me.
Last year on the race there were some difficult times, yet I
was always able to turn to God, and be drawn in. I lived in a community that wouldn't leave me
behind. I have been wondering why,
although it was difficult, was I still able to rely on God, yet here, when I
have plenty of time, and I have a more comfortable life has it become so much
more of a chore to be in relationship with God? I believe it is because I don't feel the same sense of urgency for
Him. I want to be in need of God
again. My soul longs for the community I
still see happening at AIM, and with various parts of my squad. I desire to return to the closeness God and I
had last year, and I don't think that can happen here. I still love God, still trust God for all of
His promises, and I know that in the right time He will bring me from this
season into a new one. I am trying to
look for the lesson in this- maybe I am learning to be content wherever I am,
and maybe my lesson is just discovering the NEED.
What is your deepest desire in the very depths of your
heart? If you could do, or see, or be
ANYTHING what would you want? My mom and
I play a game, every time we see a lottery commercial on T.V. What would you do with the grand prize (be it
one million, 42 million or a million dollars a year for life)? We both start to dream big dreams about
homes, cars, travelling and philanthropy. While she dreams of a log home by a lake filled with grandchildren, I
dream of fluttering all around the world holding orphans, and encouraging
abused women (as well as seeing a few world wonders along the way). While both of our minds wander to very
different places, both are big dreams. God has given us different desires for what we would do if we had all
the money in the world. 
Fortunately for me, God reawakened my spirit before things
went too far. I was able to break off
the engagement, and finish school with no responsibilities except to follow
God's leading. Guess where He called me? 
