I am adding Just Courage: God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian to my recommended list of books.  Just Courage is written by Gary A. Haugen, President and CEO of International Justice Mission (IJM).

If you want to stay safe and just be a church attendee, this book is probably not for you.  But if you want to go on an adventure and make a difference with your life as you follow Christ, you will devour this book.  I did.  It spoke to my soul and gave me great encouragement as it refreshed my resolve to be brave and follow Christ in what I call "point of need ministry."

I love when Haugen talks about the great commandment of loving God and people.  How can we love God who we can not see when we don’t love our neighbor who we do see?  If we love our neighbor who we do see, we will follow Jesus and seek justice for them.  This will cost us something.  It will require action from us as we do something with our life to make a difference for those who are oppressed.

My favorite chapter in the book is titled “Would You Rather be Safe or Brave?”  You can be a Christian and be safe, but you can not be safe and follow Christ.  To follow Christ you must be brave because it may cost you your life.  It just takes courage.

Seek justice,
   Rescue the oppressed,
   Defend the orphan,
   Plead for the widow.  (Isaiah 1:17 NRSV)

If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
   Then your light will rise in the darkness,
   And your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will Guide you always;
   He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
   And will strengthen your frame.
   You will be like a well-watered garden,
   Like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isaiah 58:10-11)

And Jesus says, “Come, follow me.”

Know that you are loved,

@PastorGreg
Founder, www.LovingGodFellowship.org