He is a refuge for all!

I just returned from Phoenix, AZ from a challenging conference about being a better follower of Christ and loving all people (before you can preach the gospel, you must wear the gospel). Challenging because I was forced to strip myself of any "additives" to my faith in regards to the Christian sub-culture. Scary because it has thrusted me into a whole new ethnic world- establishing common ground with others who are also pursuing the Creator of the universe (and that can be uncomfortable). Radical because I feel comfortable with calling God's name in another language that's not my own (Spanish), nor even my 2nd language that I'm writing in. In repentance because I have seen that I haven't truly & deeply respected other's pursuit of Him and judged them by my own religious prejudices. Revolutionary because I see that not all roads lead to God, yet God has been treading those roads seeking to draw near to Him those He is calling by name in dreams and visions. Controversial because old traditional methods aren't the "one size fits all" in all cultures. Paul & Jesus are the amazing radicals and perfect examples of the above.

"...Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings." 1 Cor. 9:22, 23 NLT

"Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, non-religious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized- whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ- but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!" 1 Cor. 9:19-23 (the message)

alhamdulillah,

~inés