missionaries

Today's message is dedicated to the many missionaries, around the world.

You know you've been a missionary too long if......

1. You can't answer the question, "Where are you from?"

2. You read National Geographic and recognize someone.

3. You have a time zone map next to your telephone.

4 You consider a city 500 km away to be "very close".

5. You watch nature documentaries, and think about how good that animal would taste if it were fried.

6. You can cut grass with a machete, but can't start a lawnmower.

7. You speak with authority on the subject of airline travel.

8. You read the international section before the comics.

9. You have friends from or in 29 different countries.

10. You sort your friends by continent.

11. Fitting 15 or more people into a car seems normal to you.

12. You refer to gravel roads as highways.

13. You haggle with the checkout clerk for a lower price.

14. You don't think that two hours is a long sermon.

15. You marvel at the cleanliness of gas station bathrooms.

16. You think you've died and gone to heaven when you go into a foreign grocery store.

17. You think a "foreign school" conducts classes in English.

Before I get a flood of letters, let me assure you that I realize that not all missionaries work in conditions described above. But what an important role is filled by those willing (and able) to fulfill Jesus' commission to carry the gospel to "all the world" (Mark 16:15)! I never cease to be amazed at the dedication and willingness to sacrifice that I see in the missionaries I know, as well as their obvious love for Jesus Christ and for people.

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:14-15)

May God grant a special blessing today to those of you who have such beautiful feet! And I encourage all of my readers to offer a special prayer to God on behalf of the missionaries you know.