Comments on: Book Review: Serving With Eyes Wide Open http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/2008/01/26/book-review-serving-with-eyes-wide-open/ Thoughts on the Journey Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:11:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Chris Brooks http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/2008/01/26/book-review-serving-with-eyes-wide-open/comment-page-1/#comment-30623 Chris Brooks Sun, 27 Jan 2008 05:56:58 +0000 http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/2008/01/26/book-review-serving-with-eyes-wide-open/#comment-30623 I'm glad that we found each other. I like your brain. We should get our families together... Peace, CB. I’m glad that we found each other. I like your brain. We should get our families together…

Peace, CB.

]]> By: Bam http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/2008/01/26/book-review-serving-with-eyes-wide-open/comment-page-1/#comment-30619 Bam Sat, 26 Jan 2008 15:15:16 +0000 http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/2008/01/26/book-review-serving-with-eyes-wide-open/#comment-30619 Good thoughts here, Ariah. I've been in a season of questioning the framework of short-term missions, as well. I hope someone at your church picks the dialogue back up with you on this... Good thoughts here, Ariah. I’ve been in a season of questioning the framework of short-term missions, as well. I hope someone at your church picks the dialogue back up with you on this…

]]> By: Phil Smoke http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/2008/01/26/book-review-serving-with-eyes-wide-open/comment-page-1/#comment-30617 Phil Smoke Sat, 26 Jan 2008 09:51:56 +0000 http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/2008/01/26/book-review-serving-with-eyes-wide-open/#comment-30617 I spent my summer in Mexico, and as I thought about that trip before and after, as well as about people I saw come to Mexico while I was there, I came to the conclusion that missions trips are for us. They primarily serve those who go on them. If we approach this reality "with eyes wide open" (pardon me, ha ha), then this might sometimes be acceptable. But we shouldn't pretend that spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to travel in order to simply cook, or clean, or build, or witness is the best way to serve those in need. As you said, this "often is a complete waste of valuable resources that could be used to further the kingdom through the people who have the desire and the skills, but simply lack the financial resources (native missionaries)." On top of that, you also get into the whole issue of "commuter ministry" as opposed to "incarnational ministry," or a whole life of ministry. I spent my summer in Mexico, and as I thought about that trip before and after, as well as about people I saw come to Mexico while I was there, I came to the conclusion that missions trips are for us. They primarily serve those who go on them. If we approach this reality “with eyes wide open” (pardon me, ha ha), then this might sometimes be acceptable. But we shouldn’t pretend that spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to travel in order to simply cook, or clean, or build, or witness is the best way to serve those in need. As you said, this “often is a complete waste of valuable resources that could be used to further the kingdom through the people who have the desire and the skills, but simply lack the financial resources (native missionaries).”

On top of that, you also get into the whole issue of “commuter ministry” as opposed to “incarnational ministry,” or a whole life of ministry.

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