Thanksgiving for Mission

Today is Thanksgiving 2012...having traveled again this past May to Zambia I am still freshly reminded of the truly remarkable material and physical blessings my life features...wealth and health and food and clean water and housing and transportation and entertainment and medicines and education and comfort so, so far beyond the wildest dreams and imaginations of the vast majority of the people in our world...

In a week away from my work world and our daily life in Grand Rapids, I am reminded how much I love being with my kids and my wife...there's nothing greater than relishing being a family together...

And in 2012, I am remarkably grateful for a mission, a life calling, a purpose in my life and my career that connects and flows from the heart of the One who has created, redeemed, and empowered even me to be part of His compelling and beautiful and most satisfying vision for our world and lives...

I'm thankful for the privilege to introduce people to the transforming and life-saving and life-giving words and example of the man, the Lord of all named Jesus...

I'm thankful for the chance I have daily to invest in and develop future and present leaders who will be incredible voices and vision-casters for the church for generations to come as they discover and begin to use their strengths and passions...

I'm thankful for the chance to seek to be part of building a community of young men into a model of athletic excellence and surprising character as we play the beautiful game in a very different way on and off the pitch...

I'm thankful that diseases like HIV/AIDS and MALARIA and issues like extreme poverty and modern-day slavery and oppression have gripped the heart and then moved the hands of hundreds of students on our campus and millions across the world as we seek to help God's Kingdom emerge in every place and person on our planet...

I'm thankful to have the chance learn about and then communicate together with colleagues near and far about the spiritual journey of this next generation of students inside and outside the church walls...

I'm thankful to work toward creating a dynamic and life-changing four years plus where young adults are prepared for cultural and global engagement in all arenas and all settings after their college experience...

I'm thankful for dozens and dozens of lunches at QDOBA and coffees at Starbucks with current and former students and staff members working through life's challenges and changes and opportunities as our lives are WRECKED and RESTORED by a God who remains good and present thru it all...

I'm thankful for the chance to teach and debate and search the Scriptures together in academic settings looking at global issues of poverty and justice...

And I'm thankful for a mission in this life that isn't just temporary or unfulfilling or empty or shallow or boring or short-term in nature...may God's grand mission for my life continue to be a beacon of light and the clearest of voices in the days and years to come...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING...