The Personal Weblog of Travis Kaiser

Even though the title above is words taken from a children’s song I find too many adults who don’t really believe it. The world is a vast mystery and even though people are saying that the world is getting “smaller” it doesn’t mean that we as Americans are learning more about cultures but rather that we are just connected with more people.

I just read a great post from The Art of Manliness website (if you are a man and haven’t seen this sight I highly encourage you to check it out!) on getting out and seeing the world. Christopher Hutchinson, the author, states that according to the U.S. State Department that only 27% of Americans owned a passport in 2007 and even fewer used them repeatedly. Mark Twain said “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” Traveling the world gives you great insight not only concerning the country you are visiting but also about the United States. You will learn how other countries perceive the US, how much our country influences the world, and how we are affected by world events.

I’m convinced there is no better way to spice you life up then by going to another country. “I had just one more chance to be a boy, and I took it”, replied Theodore Roosevelt, in an answer to a friend who asked why he had literally risked his life on an expedition into an explored river in Brazil.

I think our American churches unknowingly miss out on what God has in store for us because we lose sight of His global agenda. I’ve seen people not go on missions trips for all kinds of reasons - lack of money, they can’t get off of work, or because they’re a picky eater. I think for many people those are all masks for fear and that they really don’t believe “He’s go the whole world in His hands”.

My friends at Student Leadership University have as their mantra, “You will be the same person ten years from now expect for the places you go, the people you meet, the books you read, and the Scripture you memorize.” Why would they say that? Because those are the things that shape how we think and who we are. They introduce us to another way of living.

I wonder what our churches, families, communities, and individuals would be like if we were to travel the world more frequently. Take this challenge from Mark Twain, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

And remember… He’s got the whole world in His hands!

Trek-X, an elite journey for the next generation missionary was birthed out of Chris White’s Mobilizing Students. Rather than me trying to explain Trek-X I’ll give you Chris’ words: “If you’ve answered the call to missions and still want to pursue your education, then apply to join a select group of 60 college students from around the globe as they come together to begin an ELITE- 4-YEAR JOURNEY that will change their lives forever. You will pursue your COLLEGE degree at an online university/seminary of your choice, be intentionally DISCIPLED by our staff, and travel the world leading student MISSION teams.”

To learn more about Trek-X click HERE, otherwise check out why as a youth pastor I think Trek-X is a viable option for students!

1. Trek-X uses a strategy that our culture is moving towards – the shift of colleges to provide off-campus degrees (See the link below about the Kaplan video). The church throughout history has always used the latest technology
2. Financial freedom! Students going to college online will pay less and therefore making it more affordable to get their degree. Some colleges will even allow students to clep out of classes they already have knowledge about making a degree less expensive. The more people who are debt free the more money there is to go toward Kingdom work.
3. Students will be on a directed path of discipleship. Sometimes it’s assumed that if a student interested in missions and goes to serve alongside a missionary that discipleship will just naturally occur. This is usually not the case due to the demand on the missionary’s time.
4. Trek-X helps break the mold of the Twixters (the age group of post-college to early 30’s named by Time magazine - http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1018089,00.html ) to take responsibility rather than putting it off. Youth ministries are currently wrestling with how to help students continue in the faith through college and this provides an excellent bridge. This approach will quantum leap students beyond their peers.
5. Trek-X lines up with our high school ministry philosophy to help students have challenging spiritual experiences, to serve the needs of others, to learn and practice the spiritual disciplines, to have significant relationships with role-model adults, and to develop a Christian worldview. We believe these will help students develop into a healthy Christian adult and sell-out to the causes of Christ.
6. Trek-X calls students to a higher standard of living and to dream God-sized dreams as they see God at work here in the U.S. and around the world!
7. Trek-X captures the passion of young people and immediately gives them the opportunity to simultaneously be trained and be mobilized. Too often young people’s dreams and passions are postponed because adult or cultural standards force them to jump through hoops. This generation is geared more towards volunteering and more apt to serve than any previous generation in history (see David Wraight’s book The Next Wave).

I think every high school student should take an economics class. Economics has rooted in it the very fibers that make up life: supply and demand, utility, efficiency, marginal analysis, equilibrium, game theory, and who can forget opportunity cost.

It is that last one that I love the most - opportunity cost! I remember the day I learned that principle in class. The experience was like the rain of knowledge was pouring down on me. In short, opportunity cost is the giving up of something(s) in order to get something else. For us, it exposes the need to make choices. All choices involve opportunity cost because the decision of one option always means deciding against some other option(s). For example, if I go on vacation to Florida that means I didn’t choose Colorado, Spain, Cancun, or a whole slew of other things I could have done that week. If I were to list all the options I didn’t chose then the top item on my list is my greatest opportunity cost and all other items follow down the list according to their “cost”.

 A great Biblical principle can be learned from this gold nugget of economics. Jesus simply said to the diciples “Follow me”. The command was short but extremely difficult. It was a call to put off the old man (Col 3:9-10) and in being new creations to put on the new man (2 Cor 5:17). The same call applies to our lives when God draws us. Are we willing to put aside our selfish desires, our pride, the desire to want the attention, in order to follow Christ and allow Him to be Lord of our lives? It was unfortunate but the rich young ruler was given the same offer to “come follow” Jesus as did the disciples but chose his wealth instead. He weighed the cost but “went away sad” the Bible says. Opportunities cost!

I’ve seen this principle cripple people when mission trips are discussed. They sense God is calling them and in return they believe it means that He will provide a smooth ride. God calls us to join Him in His work. So sometimes when it comes to a mission trip we have to work, sacrifice, and be creative in order for us to make it possible with God’s help. I know people who have cut cable, stopped getting the newspaper, quit eating out, and other “outrageous” ideas in order for them to match up with what God was calling them to do. Just before I moved here I saw a 16 year old student work 60 hour weeks for two and a half months to pay for his own mission trip. Too much work? Maybe. But what I saw was the sacrifice of movies, theme parks, late night video games, and sleep in order for a teenager to fulfill God’s call. After his trip I heard that he said he would do it all over again. That’s challenging!

So… how are you doing in God’s economy? Are you choosing the “new man’s” cost of discipleship or are you in spiritual bankruptcy by following the opportunity of the “old man”?

Have choices to make? Just remember to factor in the costs!

Here’s another picture of Ellie Claire. So many of you have asked how Mary Julia and the baby are doing and we are grateful for the love we have been shown. We brag to our friends and family about how awesome our church is and this proves to be one more reminder.

 So…what you have all been waiting for - the three movies every Christian must watch.

1. Luther (2003) - This movie portrays how Luther, a German reformer, was both a rebel and leader in the Protestant Reformation in the early 1500’s. Of all of the literature on Luther this movie is a decent portrayal of the historical account. Rated PG-13 for images of violence (namely self-floggings by the Catholics and aftermath of a war).

2. Amazing Grace (2006) - William Wilberforce was a rebel of his own in the 1700’s. He spent his entire life trying to fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves. His greatest battle - ending the slave trade. Also recounts John Newton’s writing of the hymn Amazing Grace. Rated PG.

3. Les Miserables (1998)- Focus on the Family says “The moving story of Jean Valjean former convict who experiences the great injustice of the law only to wind up knowing the redemptive power of God’s grace and mercy. Rated PG-13

 These are some great date night movies for those of you who are married. So… go get some Coke, popcorn, and hit up the movie store.

Over the weekend I read a great article from The Courier Journal Newspaper. It was an interview with Steve Small who was the women’s basketball coach at Western Kentucky University from 1984-2001. Below you will find his 10 Commandments for Parents and Rules for Athletes.

10 Commandments for Parents:

1. Make sure your child knows that win or lose, scored or heroic, you love them and appreciate your efforts.
2. Try to be completely honest about your child’s athletic abilities.
3. Be helpful. Don’t coach on the way to the game or on the way home!!!
4. Teach them to enjoy the thrill of competition. Don’t say “Winning doesn’t count,” because it does.
5. Don’t relive your athletic life through your child in a way that creates pressure (I’ve seen parents do this in many areas of thier child’s life.)
6. Don’t compete with the coach. Period.
7. Don’t compare your child’s skill, courage or attitude with that of other players.
8. Get to know the coach, his or her philosophy, attitudes and knowledge.
9. Remember, children tend to exaggerate, either when praised or criticized. Temper your reaction when they bring home tales of woe or heroics.
10. Make a point of understanding courage and the fact that it is relative. Courage is no the absence of fear but rather doing something in spite of fear.

Rules for athletes:

DON”T:

…..try to understand everything. Some things will just never make sense.

…..ever be reluctant to show your feelings. When you’re happy, give in to it! When you’re not, live with it.

…..be afraid to try to make things better. You may be surprised at the results.

…..take the weight of the world on your shoulders.

…..feel threatened by the future. Take life one day at a time.

…..feel guilty abou the past - what’s done is done. Learn from the mistakes you might have made.

…..feel that you are alone. There is always someone there for you to reach out to.

One final note that Coach Small adds is, “Whether you are the starter or the one sitting on the bench, the umpire, the mom, the dad, the grandpa, the grandma, the scorekeeper, the concession worker, where you are - be all there! Be the first one to practice, the last one to leave, make sure you look your coach in the eye, say yes sir, no ma’am. And remember this: A.S.A.P. - Always Say A Prayer.