"The World has come to us"

I have heard the phrase "we no longer need to go into the world because the world has come to us" thrown around a lot as of late. The context of this statement is always to emphasize the point that our culture here in America is becoming vastly cross cultural. We can no longer assume that people know how to do things because they simply live in America. The world definitely has come to us and it didn't take me but a ride on the SEPTA (southeast pennsylvania transit authority) a couple mornings ago to be confronted with that realization, as if I didn't already no that. I boarded the #13 trolley at about 6:19 a.m. headed toward Center City. As I approached my normal seat (the single seat near the rear door) I noticed that the lady sitting in front of me was completely covered in the traditional Muslim dress. She had the long black dress to her feet, the headdress, and the covering for her face (forgive me for my lack of knowledge about the actual vocabulary for this outfit). This sort of caught me by surprise because you normally don't see this everyday. It put a smile to my face to some degree just thinking about the true diversity of southwest philly. On our block alone we have about 5 families who are west african refugees, 2 chinese families, 3 caucasian families (us included) and 10 african-american families. This truly is a blessing to Rachel and I because it really feels like we can minister cross-culturally without even leaving our country. As true as the statement "the world has come to us" might be, I still feel like we, as believers, need to have a heart for the nations. Not only for the nations, but to go to the nations. I'm not one of those people who feels like everybody needs to be a missionary but I do feel like everyone (believers) need to be globally minded. I must confess that it is extremely hard in America because while there is great strife and protests in Burma this week, signifying the mere sanctity of life and living freely, all we hear about on our news networks is the latest fashion of Brittany and how her baby is doing. It truly saddens me to know that very often I fall right into that trap. The NL wildcard race is so important right now, I mean, there are only 3 games left and the Mets are choking....God have mercy on me. Many times I am thankful for friends and family who divert my attention to things globally.

My sister-in-law is serving in Odessa, Ukraine in an orphanage. She first travelled to the Ukraine while in college and ever since has had a deep passion for the people, especially children of Ukraine. She just goes over to Odessa, lives, and works in the orphanage loving on these children. Her main passion, which is so exciting and challenging to hear, is for adoption. She returns to the States every summer and speaks in churches and groups about the possibility of adopting a Ukrainian boy or girl. Hearing the stories of the number of children that she has had the opportunity of seeing adopted to loving, Christian homes in America is utterly amazing and often times makes me think what the purpose is of sitting in a seminary class. God does bring all things together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Hallelujah!!) but still....wow!!

I am thankful for people like my sister-in-law who constantly challenge me to think and pray globally. There are many others in my life who have shared their passion for a particular part of the world and I am truly thankful for them as well.

Though the world may have truly come to us, our response to the wonderful grace of Jesus and the work of the Gospel should be to take that message to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the remotest parts of the earth (Acts 1:8) for our God is indeed zealous that "they will declare My glory among the nations." (Isaiah 66:19)

For HIS name and fame.............