So Long Self

Last night Mom, a friend & I went over to Eureka to hear Dr. Teri McCarthy speak. Her husband Daryl spoke Monday night at our Perspectives class and she spoke at our 4th class several months ago. She is one of the most, if not the most, dynamic speaker I have ever heard.

(Warning - If you are a Christian and have no intention of ever going to the mission field, don't listen to her. She could, with her story & passion for Christ & missions, light a fire under the most spiritually-dead Christian. She has allowed God to use her in ways that are so amazing.)

They both brought up some statistics that are very disturbing.

• North America, between Canada & the U.S., has 95% of the world's Christian resources, including radio stations, book stores, universities, etc.
• The United States has 1 Christian worker for every 306 people.
• The Muslim world has 1 Christian worker for every 4,800,000 people.
• The Hindu world has 1 Christian worker for every 5,600,000 people.
• 2.7 billion (yes, that's billion with a B) or 4 out of every 10 people have never heard the name of Jesus Christ.
• Muslims make up 1/3 of the world's population. Only 6% of Christian workers work with Muslims.

No, going overseas to a country where Christians are hated will not be easy. Most people will probably think I am an idiot. I would rather be an idiot in the eyes of man than an idiot in the eyes of God.

Do I fear disobedience more than I fear discomfort? Discomfort from physical conditions, from fear of what others will think of me, from fear of persecution?

I can only pray for God to give me His strength & courage. There is no other way for a weak, pitiful human like me to do something of the magnitude that He asks, no - demands of me as a follower of Christ.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

After hearing this message, I got in my car & the first song on K-Love was MercyMe's new So Long Self. (Click the link to {hopefully} listen.) This song describes so perfectly what I need to do - say goodbye to my selfish wants for comfort & life of ease, so I can be used to show those who might otherwise never know the one & only true, living God. I want nothing more than to be used to glorify God with my life and to one day hear "Well done, good and faithful servant".

So Long Self
...
Well if I come across a little bit distant
It's just because I am
Things just seem to feel a little bit different
You understand
...
Believe it or not but life is not apparently
About me anyways
But I have met the One who really is worthy
So let me say
...
(Chorus:)
So long self
Well it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long self
There's just no room for two
So you are gonna have to move
So long self
Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me farewell
Oh well, Goodbye, don't cry
So long self
...
Stop right there because I know what you're thinking
But no we can't be friends
And even though I know your heart is breaking
This has to end
...
And come to think of it the blame for all of this
Simply falls on me
For wanting something more in life than all of this
Can't you see
...
Don't feel so bad (don't feel so bad)
There'll be better days (there'll be better days)
Don't go away mad (but by all means)
Just go away, go away