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!

I read some research today from HomeWord ministries. I wanted to share them with you so here they are:

• The cell phone will be the greatest distributor of pornography for kids before the year 2011.
• “Sexting” is the new craze reported CBS news last week. 1 out of 5 kids have received an unwanted text photo of someone naked on their cell phone.
• 160,000 kids stayed home from school today (and everyday) because of bullying and they literally are afraid to go to class.
• 12 million people in America participate in self-injury (mainly cutting) each year with most of them being young people.
• Today there are at least 25 different Sexually Transmitted Diseases people can catch. Time magazine reported: of the young people who are sexually active, they will have 7 different partners by age 25. One out of five has a sexually transmitted disease. Do the math – it isn’t pretty!

It might sound gloomy but since Eden the people have God have always had the responsibility of sharing in the redemption process. It’s crucial that we help this generation grasp the calling to family life. As adults we need to apply more of the Bible into our life, read about parenting more, actually SPEND time with our kids and INVEST in them, and model family life to those students with a broken concept of the family. Let’s start TODAY!

You can visit HomeWord ministries at www.homeword.com