So just recently I had a “friend” come home from a long trip over seas.  This “friend” happens to be my best friend and he was in an “uncharted country” , well as far as christianity goes.  Anyhow he has been home for just over a week and we have had a lot of chances to talk about his experiences that he had while away.  At first there was the weird “getting to know you  again” phase but after that he and I didn’t skip a beat and we got back to talk about his experience.  I think the thing that is so incredible about his trip was the fact the GOD IS HUGE.  In the culture that he was in God was there, it was a dark country for the most part and the feeling of darkness surrounded him all the time, however God is great and was at his side the whole time.  None of our American western church influences or our 2 songs, message, 3 songs routine, just him… and God.  There are a million things that i could talk about but only one seems right, at the moment.  My “friend” has and incredible view of the big picture, a gift of visioning is what I refer to it as, so talking to him is always a treat and to hear where and how God is going to be moving next.  All that to say this.  At my church at the moment we are in the middle of building a new facility to worship, grow, fellowship, play… ect. in and sometimes I have to admit it seems that sometimes my church gets a bit complacent with the best way to spend funds.  Being somewhat on the inside loop at church I hear numbers thrown around about the price and the expenditures that this new building will have and the number seems so large that get a bit discouraged with the question of, is this a want or a need.  So I asked my friend how he felt about it, being an international missionary do you think that spending x amount of money for such and such does it discourage you the same as it does me.  I will never forget his reply, he said, ” Cookie you know i have been thinking about that some to, while I was on my trip I learned a few things, one of which was, life in general you know its about spurring one another on, its not my idea is right when you talk to someone about your faith, thats never gonna get you far, instead its about affirming and then maturing, that is the only way that someone will accept you and your beliefs.  I think that the same goes for the church and our church for that matter.  Before I left to go on my trip I talked to the pastor and I asked him how much of the budget goes towards missions and over seas work and he told me, i think like 10% and I got a little upset and got no where with trying to convince him that 10% wasn’t enough.  Instead I think that something along the lines of…. Wow 10% thats great  I would have never guessed is was that much, may have gone a little better.”  Wow that is some words of wisdom if I have ever heard any.  Yeah maybe I too feel that 10% isn’t enough either however isn’t that all that we are called to do, give 10% of our first fruits for the growth of Gods kingdom.  So in closing, is a 60 inch plasma tv in the youth room a need or a want.  I think that it may be a little of both, imagine if you can the one kid that comes to youth group to check it out and he sees that thing and in a second decides this might be a cool place and it changes his whole outlook on being there and then 3 weeks later accepts Christ only to become a youth leader or a pastor and shepherds others into the Kingdom of God.Thought of the week:  there is a difference in wilderness and desert…. The jews went into the wilderness and good provided for them… Jesus went into the desert to be alone….. I love exploring the wilderness often times trying but over all I discover new things about myself almost daily.