By Sean Nelson, Pastor of Discipleship
As I gear up for my upcoming trip to Atlanta for a Leadership Conference, I am suddenly overwhelmed by the amount of preparation I need to do before I leave. Disclaimer: I have 5 kids and my wife isn’t feeling too good right now – you’d feel overwhelmed, too. In light of my trip to Atlanta and bills that are due/coming up, for some odd reason I can only focus on my immediate travel expenditures – the coordination and expenses necessary to get me from here to there and back again.
With summer looming the average family/individual is in a frenzy trying to finalize travel plans. In a recent American Express article the columnist quoted the following…
~ “With Americans willing to spend more this year on summer travel, there’s a bit more inclination to make each and every vacation moment count,” said Claire Bennett, executive vice president at American Express Travel. “Whether it’s a historical tour of Europe’s capitals or a family beach vacation, consumers are spending the time or money it takes, and relying on expert resources like travel agents, to create authentic experiences with those that matter most.” ~
This interest me for many reasons – First, my wife and I are currently planning our summer vacation around my oldest son’s AAU tourney, and secondly because the extent in which we plan for travel sometimes limits itself to physical destinations that only lead to lasting memories.
You probably saw the connection I was making to a bigger picture than vacationing and personal travel. In the Christian faith, we have been given a grace that allows us to have a personal relationship with the only true and living God. This relationship has requirements that sometimes even I prioritize lowly throughout my life and day.
I’m reminded of Moses at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 3:5-6 and 33:16-23. God’s desire to be intimate with man is displayed through the relationship here with Moses especially in Exodus 33:11, “thus the lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” If we are to grow and go with God we have to continually count the cost of our relationship. Our time spent with God is transferrable to the people we spend time with.
In Luke 14: 26 – 35 Jesus teaches about the “cost”. King’s and builder’s are the example but the audience is you and I. If we are to make necessary travel that advances the kingdom of God we must consider the cost of discipleship and the purpose v.33-35 of being his disciple. The willing will see peace and the stubborn will labor in vain.
Web source: http://about.americanexpress.com/news/pr/2013/summer-travel-soars-americans-spend-more.aspx
As I gear up for my upcoming trip to Atlanta for a Leadership Conference, I am suddenly overwhelmed by the amount of preparation I need to do before I leave. Disclaimer: I have 5 kids and my wife isn’t feeling too good right now – you’d feel overwhelmed, too. In light of my trip to Atlanta and bills that are due/coming up, for some odd reason I can only focus on my immediate travel expenditures – the coordination and expenses necessary to get me from here to there and back again.
With summer looming the average family/individual is in a frenzy trying to finalize travel plans. In a recent American Express article the columnist quoted the following…
~ “With Americans willing to spend more this year on summer travel, there’s a bit more inclination to make each and every vacation moment count,” said Claire Bennett, executive vice president at American Express Travel. “Whether it’s a historical tour of Europe’s capitals or a family beach vacation, consumers are spending the time or money it takes, and relying on expert resources like travel agents, to create authentic experiences with those that matter most.” ~
This interest me for many reasons – First, my wife and I are currently planning our summer vacation around my oldest son’s AAU tourney, and secondly because the extent in which we plan for travel sometimes limits itself to physical destinations that only lead to lasting memories.
You probably saw the connection I was making to a bigger picture than vacationing and personal travel. In the Christian faith, we have been given a grace that allows us to have a personal relationship with the only true and living God. This relationship has requirements that sometimes even I prioritize lowly throughout my life and day.
I’m reminded of Moses at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 3:5-6 and 33:16-23. God’s desire to be intimate with man is displayed through the relationship here with Moses especially in Exodus 33:11, “thus the lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” If we are to grow and go with God we have to continually count the cost of our relationship. Our time spent with God is transferrable to the people we spend time with.
In Luke 14: 26 – 35 Jesus teaches about the “cost”. King’s and builder’s are the example but the audience is you and I. If we are to make necessary travel that advances the kingdom of God we must consider the cost of discipleship and the purpose v.33-35 of being his disciple. The willing will see peace and the stubborn will labor in vain.
Web source: http://about.americanexpress.com/news/pr/2013/summer-travel-soars-americans-spend-more.aspx
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