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Good afternoon everyone! I had a lengthy conversation with a good

Posted by friend the other night. She's a missionary. Please sm on March 18, 2010 at 14:23:01:

I left that coversation feeling terribly sad.

She handed me a letter and said to read it "later." Basically, it's a letter outlining her next mission trip, which is to African this summer, and she outlines what she will be doing, etc., and then she asks you to donate.

She does this for all of her mission trips. She believes that God leads her to people and she really prays ahead of time and if they are open and willing, they will give towards her trip.

Well, she explained that MORE nonChristians give to her missions than the Christians she knows. That blew my mind. She said that money comes through people she would have never, ever thought would donate, and those that she thinks "will" never do, i.e., the Christians.

I can't get this out of my mind. I'm really beginning to think and see that a lot of people use the term "Christian" yet either don't know what being a Christian really means OR use it to hide behind who they really are, while the "nonChristians" do what is right just because it is right. Make sense?

I'm just as guilty. I'm not just pointing fingers, but I'm also speaking from experience.

It just saddened me, that's all. Now, I have to pray about what I'm going to do with the letter she handed to me, too. I want to give, I just have to talk it over with my husband on how much we can give towards this mission.

Follow Ups:

One more thing here-- I just plain have a problem (sm) Shawn 11:46:25 3/22/2010 (23)
- That's my beef mainly with my friend, and way more with her husband. I love her dearly, but just because you think you're better (sm) Mandi 17:41:39 3/22/2010 (19)
  - Oh, I have huge issues with the "called by God" concept. I could go on and on about that- or should I say, I could go OFF about that. (eyeroll) Shawn 19:36:52 3/22/2010 (18)
    - Until you experience such a call, it's completely up for ridicule. sm Estelle 23:23:00 3/22/2010 (15)
      - That's according to *your* faith. What doesn't seem to (sm) Shawn 12:09:29 3/23/2010 (12)
        
        For all of human ineptness of Christianity, the spirit of the gospel is very much alive and well. sm Estelle 14:01:13 3/23/2010 (6)
        
        See, I don't believe there's a difference between the spiritual (sm) Shawn 15:05:43 3/23/2010 (4)
        
        I know you don't. Paul was a spiritually changed man. Yes, I do. >;D Not necessarily. nm Estelle 16:43:11 3/23/2010 (3)
        
        Yes you do not necessarily what? LOL (sorry, missed your point here) Please try again ;+D Shawn 19:17:36 3/23/2010 (2)
        
        yes, I do believe I am saved and have the answer to all things (at least Estelle 19:36:30 3/23/2010 (1)
        
        Okay, thanks much! Liked your "garage" reference in the post above, btw... Shawn 11:22:29 3/24/2010 (0)
        
        Also meant to add that while other faiths/beliefs are practiced sm Estelle 14:12:58 3/23/2010 (0)
        
        And really, it isn't even into 3rd world countries or other lands. Have you ever been to the NSP board? SM 12:43:56 3/23/2010 (4)
        
        I've not posted there, but was directed there by someone (sm) Shawn 14:56:46 3/23/2010 (3)
        
        Now don't get me wrong though - I don't mind like here - people sharing beliefs - SM 15:39:37 3/23/2010 (2)
        
        You have summed up my whole entire issue with Christianity. It is, by nature of their faith, their way or the highway. Not cool, IMO! Mandi 16:58:49 3/23/2010 (1)
        
        I think what you say here is a great admonition for all of us- to be respectfully interested and nonjudgmental re. beliefs or thoughts of others. Great post. Shawn 17:08:42 3/23/2010 (0)
      - I have no problem with sharing your words with people who have not ever had the chance to hear them. (You is not "you" of course) sm Mandi 23:46:33 3/22/2010 (1)
        
        On the surface, you make perfect sense. When I get time later, I'll tell you why Estelle 14:23:05 3/23/2010 (0)
    - That was tongue in cheek on my part, as well. I believe in humanitarian missions. But I'm not for spreading or force-feeding the word. Mandi 21:02:38 3/22/2010 (0)
    - PS, You caused me to think of Hunter "Patch" Adams- someone who ranks high on my 'List of Good Guys I'd like to hug.' (and he's got a pony tail like my man) Shawn 19:49:50 3/22/2010 (0)
- P.S. Just told SGTex, "Boyhowdy, I'm prob'ly gonna get kicked off my own board." He says, "Why would I wanna do that, Honey?" LOLOL :+) 11:48:33 3/22/2010 (2)
  - I absolutely love that we can have adult conversations without turning the argument against the person we're talking to. Way cool! Mandi 02:08:36 3/23/2010 (1)
    - I agree. I've always said that I don't mind discussions, but I hate fighting and debating. nm Estelle 14:36:48 3/23/2010 (0)
My best friend ever is leaving for the UK at the end of the month for a 2-year mission with YWAM. I know that their hearts (sm) Mandi 17:43:50 3/21/2010 (1)
- I lived in the UK for 6 months, just long enough to make (sm) Shawn 11:38:24 3/22/2010 (0)
Another point I just thought about. sm Estelle 13:20:12 3/21/2010 (0)
I don't think you will like my answer at all either. sm 20:59:08 3/20/2010 (1)
- I agree with you on all points, especially the guilt-tripping. Thanks for posting. nm Estelle 11:48:35 3/21/2010 (0)
Hmmm....You may not like my answer----(sm) Shawn 17:32:45 3/19/2010 (2)
- I agree with your first statement, especially if their church happens to be Estelle 20:17:57 3/19/2010 (0)
- Meant to say "....leave the country to travel..." woops 17:33:52 3/19/2010 (0)

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: I left that coversation feeling terribly sad. : She handed me a letter and said to read it "later." Basically, it's a letter outlining her next mission trip, which is to African this summer, and she outlines what she will be doing, etc., and then she asks you to donate. : She does this for all of her mission trips. She believes that God leads her to people and she really prays ahead of time and if they are open and willing, they will give towards her trip. : Well, she explained that MORE nonChristians give to her missions than the Christians she knows. That blew my mind. She said that money comes through people she would have never, ever thought would donate, and those that she thinks "will" never do, i.e., the Christians. : I can't get this out of my mind. I'm really beginning to think and see that a lot of people use the term "Christian" yet either don't know what being a Christian really means OR use it to hide behind who they really are, while the "nonChristians" do what is right just because it is right. Make sense? : I'm just as guilty. I'm not just pointing fingers, but I'm also speaking from experience. : It just saddened me, that's all. Now, I have to pray about what I'm going to do with the letter she handed to me, too. I want to give, I just have to talk it over with my husband on how much we can give towards this mission.

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