Sunday was a great start to this year's Missions Week. Many people have shared with me how challenged they were by Fred Whitman's sermon during the morning service. Fred listed several obstacles to following Christ as his disciple and in particular to surrendering for missionary service. It seems to me that the notion of surrendering all to Christ is neither popular nor easy. And yet it is the secret to living life to the full.
While talking with the Carltons in our home yesterday, we brought out a football that had been signed for us by Tony Dungy. Beneath Coach Dungy's name is the Scripture reference Matthew 16:26, which says: "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" These are not empty words to the Coach. In full surrender to the Lord, he lives them each day. As happy as I am about the Colts winning the big game, I am challenged to follow the example of full surrender to the Lord.
On Sunday we also were challenged in Sunday School by missionary Joe Mita. Joe is one of the missionaries we will be working with for The Nippon Initiative, the outreach ministry to Japan that is part of The Something Greater Project. Today is the Day of Prayer for Japan. I invite everyone to follow the link to the message board on the www.nipponinitiative.org site to learn of some of the prayer requests we are taking before the Lord today.
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