So what?

So a great trip to a far away land, meeting far away people and entering their far away world for two short weeks. For sure messages have been preached, meals shared, tears cried and laughter enjoyed. God has opened eyes and ears to what He is doing, but my question to John and myself is the title of today's post - so what? God sent us on this trip - has all he intended been fulfilled? Have the obvious and the hidden purposes and desires of God, Cesar and us been woven together, the warp and woof of a beautiful new fabric? In a few hours we will be back home, back to safe, secure,comfortable life, ministry and church - so what? We can share the story more fully than in a blog. We can be used of God to stir fresh prayer and support of what he is doing in Zamboanga. All that is good. But are we different men for having been here? In what ways have we been changed forever? In what ways will our lives and ministries take on a differnet hue? What are we bringing back in our bags which will need to be unpacked, examined, meditated and acted upon? If these questions are not addressed then we will just have been spiritual tourists seeing amazing things, capturing souvenir photos and coming home with the feeling of having "had a great time".
It would be wonderful if as you read these thoughts, you could reflect on these questions with us and for us. We invite your thoughts, perceptions and insights. Write, speak, however is good for you, we actually need your help on this.
But as a reader, you have been on a journey too. As the more or less daily email hit your inbox and you have clicked and read, has it just been an interesting journey to spectate, or are you too faced with a "so what?" deeper within? What has stirred in me as I have read? What radical thoughts have come in the moment? What fears or faith have burst forth and been quickly stifled? Are you any different from having been on the journey with us in reading, in praying?
So as we all take off our travel shoes and stand still and reflect, we are back where we started, on holy ground before God. What is he saying? The answer comes from the lips of the Teacher in Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Fear God. Do what he tells you" - (The Message) - are you up for that?