It has truly been tough adjusting from my trip to South America. Catching up on rest, battling sickness and getting back in the swing of things on a work end. I mean how can I compete on such a level with what happened while we were on mission? The bottom-line is I was a completely different person there than I am here. In Peru I was a man of God that bathed every thought and decision in prayer, shared the Gospel with everyone I came into contact with, studied the word like it was the only book that had ever been published and I had one of the only copies available to the human race. My life was not compartmentalized. I simply lived for the Lord 24/7! It was the most wonderful thing I have ever experienced, bar none.
The truth is we are called to do that very same thing here in the wonderful U.S. of A. Folks we are so spoiled rotten. It is very sad really. After being a part of that for 7 days I so badly want to beat people over the head with my bible but I know that is not the right approach and the fact of the matter is I would need to start with me.
Someone ask me yesterday what I thought about the people and the church's in Peru. My response was simply this; "they get it, we don't have a clue". They live there lives as if they truly believe what the word of God tells them. Our version of Christianity is so watered down. I mean we walk down an aisle, say a prayer, sign a card, go to church, pray every once in a while, maybe even do a bible study and think we are entering that good place you go when you pass away. Hog Wash!!! I myself walked down an aisle and did the so called right things when I was 14 years old and for the next 15 years lived a life that was nothing but a lie and disgrace to God. There was no heart change whatsoever and I am fully convinced that I would have busted the gates of hell wide open if something would have happened to me.
I know what your thinking, "yeah, yeah, yeah, Michael thinks because he went on this trip he now is all high and mighty, perfect and better than everyone else". Again, hog wash! If the trip did anything it showed me just how pathetic my life actually is. How ridiculous my time is spent! How many times I have blown an opportunity to share the gospel. How stupid I am to let certain things be important that have no meaning whatsoever on furthering His kingdom!
Ladies and gentleman I simply want to invite you to go to the following link and watch or listen to two sermons. Invest 2 measly hours of your life! Folks that is 4 episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond, 2 episodes of CSI or 1 stinking ball game that you will forget about by the time you wake up the next morning! To get these sermons please go to http://www.brookhills.org/media/page_audio_chrono_2008.htm Check out 9/7(What the gospel demands) and 9/14 (The gospel demands a radical sacrifice).
It is indeed very radical but the Truth. This truth will hurt some feelings so get ready! I know some of you think I have gone off the deep end. Call it what you will but being drastic is what we are called to do. We don't like to hear that because we are lazy Christians that do what is convenient and easy. To be honest I am not sure what this new radical journey looks like for me and my family but I can tell you this, we are evaluating our lives very closely in the Helms house and I can promise you it will look different from the half way watered down walk we have been a part of for so many years.
Know my heart on this folks, I am by no means questioning anyones salvation or trying to tell you I have it all figured out as a result of one mission trip. Simply saying that I saw people that had very little materially living their life through with everlasting joy as if they had God in the palm of their hands. Go on a mission trip, listen to these sermons. You will at least know where you stand when it is over. I know it was a reality check for me.
Michael
