IT’S AS IF OUR JOB ISSUPPOSED TO BE ENJOYABLEAND FULFILLING ALL THE TIME;

if not, it’s time to change jobs. Perhaps at times we forgetthat it is a "job". As a pastor and a Christian counselor I'moften reminded of the same rhetoric that comes from oursecular elite; if you’re in a marriage and not happy, then byall means get out and find someone that makes you happy.Who promised that our jobs, our marriages, or our life wouldalways be happy? It has been my experience that all threetake commitment, hard work, service and sacrifice.To answer the question properly, I must admit I don't alwaysLIKE my job. God has made me a servant, and as a servant Iwear many hats. One of the hats I wear is to serve withVision Beyond Borders. For most of us a job is something wemust do, but service is elective. My service exposes me toextreme poverty, disease, starvation, depravity, abandonment,murder, torture, and suffering of all kinds. Is it fun or do Ilike it? Obviously not, however like our families and ourmarriages there is fulfillment and joy when I help to meet theneeds of others, making life a little easier for them, especiallyin this world filled with misery.Following God is easy when we’re sitting in a crowd waitingfor a free lunch of fish and bread, or sitting on a hillside on asunny day listening to Jesus give a sermon. It’s entirelydifferent when we have to pick up our cross and followChrist. Somehow we’re not as driven; suddenly life isn't funand may require commitment and sacrifice. It may revealthings that are unpleasant and difficult; we may experienceabandonment or may be required to lay down our life.Following Jesus will expose us to suffering; however it makesus sensitive and observant, eager to be used, equipped for theworks he has prepared for us, and ready for the task. OurLord himself suffered unspeakable pain and abandonment;however it didn't keep Him from completing His task. He isour example. Johnny Erickson Tada said suffering is a fork in the road; wecan try to escape it, or meet it head on. Jesus paid specialattention to those who suffered, those who were blind, lame,or suffered from any number of disabilities. When we seeaffliction our nature wants to escape and turn the other way.On my recent trip to Asia I met a beggar on the streets of Bangkok. He had severe cerebral palsy and his tiny bodytwisted in uncontrollable movement. When I first saw himmy natural instinct was to look the other way. Instead, amoment later, I held his hand. He couldn't understand mywords; however his smile and eyes spoke volumes as heworked to hold me close. This was truly a moment to lovemy job, as I contemplated how Our Lord equips us for thesemoments.

AS AMERICANS WE AREPRIVILEGED MORE THAN MOSTOF THE WORLD.

We almost expect life to bepleasant, joyful, happy, safe, and financially secure. Certainlythere is nothing inherently wrong with those desires; howeverwhen we turn away from evil or unpleasant things in thisworld we often miss the greatest opportunity to be aninstrument of God’s service and compassion, to be the hands

Most Americans don't like their jobs;however that doesn'tkeep them from doing it.

RECENTLY I WAS ASKED "DO YOULIKE YOUR JOB?" IMMEDIATELY IREALIZED I WOULD NEED TO QUALIFYTHE QUESTION.

and feet of Jesus Christ. When we show those who suffer theLove of our Savior, it opens a door of purpose in our livesand gives hope and direction for others. One of my contactsin Burma spoke with great wisdom saying, "I like to think of myself as a servant, as a servant you will always find a joband no one will try to take your position; unlike being thepresident or CEO of a large corporation." Most will stand onthe sidelines and watch you work, curious as to what makesyou tick. I have found that those who just watch oftenbecome critical, calloused and insensitive to others.I meet many Christians who prefer to serve what I call thehappy god; they create this god in their minds and will servehim as long as life is happy. Such people become very shallowin their Christian life and it is evident when hard times come.And trust me they will come. The God of the Bible allowsthese difficult times in our life for a reason. At these times Heis teaching us, refining us, and molding us to a personadequate for the job. We seldom grow when life is well. Ionce heard a speaker at a family life event say, "I don't trusta man who has not been broken." I believe broken people arethe most useful in Gods kingdom, they are sensitive to painand suffering because they have been there, they are empty of themselves and able to hear His voice.I returned from Burma on the 17th of June. I went as avolunteer with Vision Beyond Borders with the goal of helping the people who are suffering by bringing food,clothing, medical supplies, seeds and Bibles. Most of the deltaregion will take years to rebuild. According to our contactsthe people of Burma have suffered great loss; approximately200,000 dead or missing, tens of thousands displaced andabout 60,000 orphans were left in the aftermath of CycloneNargis. We are laboring to make a difference, buildingorphanages, supplying rice seedlings and bringing vegetableseed. There are reports of huts that look like Christmas treesas the tomato plants climb all the way to the top filled withred tomatoes.As this work continues in the delta there is much sufferingand evil on the border. What I am about to expose to youmay be hard to believe. The UN refuses to expose this eviland certainly doesn't plan on doing much about it. On theborder with Thailand there are over 100,000 refugees fromBurma trying to escape persecution from a ruthless militaryregime that continues to commit atrocities and outrightgenocide against ethnic tribal groups, especially the KarenChristians. This is nothing new, however it must stop.Military troops continue to fire mortars in the camps, poisontheir water with weed killer, rape the Karen Christian womenand torture the men by dismembering them or burning themalive. They even arm the Buddhist children to fire upon theirown people that are Christian. So why do I bring thissuffering to your attention-- something so evil? My guess isthat most of you are unaware of what's going on in Burma;the media seldom addresses this painful subject so I willattempt to take their place. No longer can we look the otherway, God has moved me to take the suffering of our brothersand sisters in Burma to the Free Church in America. This isnot a war, they are killing unarmed civilians.

I ONCE READ,"NO ONE IS FREEWHILE OTHERS AREOPPRESSED."

This is especially true forChristians. Since my return I certainly would agree with thatstatement; I am no longer a free man. I have been to Burmamany times, and each time I return I leave a little more of myself in Burma. When I close my eyes at night my mind isfilled with faces, faces filled with unspeakable loss andsuffering. I have shed enough tears to form a creek. They area people that only desire to be FREE, to go home and live inpeace. The problem is that the military raids and burns theirvillages, then plants mines around them to keep the peoplefrom going home. I have come to that fork in the road, andnow must meet suffering head on.

I REALIZE I MAY BE MOVINGYOU OUT OF YOUR COMFORTZONE HERE,BUT I MUST ASK,"WHERE IS THE CHURCH?"

It is tothe church that I make my plea. Yes America does haveweight in the world, however I question whether the currentadministration has the fortitude to do the right thing. Itwould be a noble thing to free Burma, but it is Gods peoplethat can bring the greatest change. I bring their plight to ourreaders because as Christians we need to be on our kneesbefore the Living God to move through His people. It is myprayer that you feel their pain and suffering; if your heart ismoved you can’t help but act, get involved, and make adifference. I'm not smart enough to say I have all the answers,but God does. All of us have different gifts and talents, thequestion is, will you let the Lord use you as an instrument of change to make a difference, to seek justice and to showcompassion to those in need.The UN refuses to act because of pressure from China andRussia. I find that so bizarre, why would we expect onecommunist country and another that is rapidly moving backin that direction to fight for freedom and human rights forChristians and minorities in Burma? That's like asking for a"dependable British car", unlikely. This writer believes thatthe greatest move Obama could make is to seek freedom forthese people, work with the Thai government to help in the