RECENTLY I WAS ASKED "DO YOU

LIKE YOUR JOB?" IMMEDIATELY I

REALIZED I WOULD NEED TO QUALIFY
THE QUESTION.

Most Americans don't like their jobs; however that doesn't

keep them from doing it.
IT’S AS IF OUR JOB IS
SUPPOSED TO BE ENJOYABLE
AND FULFILLING ALL THE TIME;
if not, it’s time to change jobs. Perhaps at times we forget
that it is a "job". As a pastor and a Christian counselor I'm
often reminded of the same rhetoric that comes from our
secular elite; if you’re in a marriage and not happy, then by
all means get out and find someone that makes you happy.
Who promised that our jobs, our marriages, or our life would
always be happy? It has been my experience that all three
take commitment, hard work, service and sacrifice.
To answer the question properly, I must admit I don't always
LIKE my job. God has made me a servant, and as a servant I
wear many hats. One of the hats I wear is to serve with
Vision Beyond Borders. For most of us a job is something we
must do, but service is elective. My service exposes me to
extreme poverty, disease, starvation, depravity, abandonment,
murder, torture, and suffering of all kinds. Is it fun or do I attention to those who suffered, those who were blind, lame,
like it? Obviously not, however like our families and our or suffered from any number of disabilities. When we see
marriages there is fulfillment and joy when I help to meet the affliction our nature wants to escape and turn the other way.
needs of others, making life a little easier for them, especially On my recent trip to Asia I met a beggar on the streets of
in this world filled with misery. Bangkok. He had severe cerebral palsy and his tiny body
Following God is easy when we’re sitting in a crowd waiting twisted in uncontrollable movement. When I first saw him
for a free lunch of fish and bread, or sitting on a hillside on a my natural instinct was to look the other way. Instead, a
sunny day listening to Jesus give a sermon. It’s entirely moment later, I held his hand. He couldn't understand my
different when we have to pick up our cross and follow words; however his smile and eyes spoke volumes as he
Christ. Somehow we’re not as driven; suddenly life isn't fun worked to hold me close. This was truly a moment to love
and may require commitment and sacrifice. It may reveal my job, as I contemplated how Our Lord equips us for these
things that are unpleasant and difficult; we may experience moments.
abandonment or may be required to lay down our life. AS AMERICANS WE ARE
Following Jesus will expose us to suffering; however it makes
us sensitive and observant, eager to be used, equipped for the PRIVILEGED MORE THAN MOST
works he has prepared for us, and ready for the task. Our OF THE WORLD. We almost expect life to be
Lord himself suffered unspeakable pain and abandonment; pleasant, joyful, happy, safe, and financially secure. Certainly
however it didn't keep Him from completing His task. He is there is nothing inherently wrong with those desires; however
our example. when we turn away from evil or unpleasant things in this
Johnny Erickson Tada said suffering is a fork in the road; we world we often miss the greatest opportunity to be an
can try to escape it, or meet it head on. Jesus paid special instrument of God’s service and compassion, to be the hands

and feet of Jesus Christ. When we show those who suffer the
Love of our Savior, it opens a door of purpose in our lives
and gives hope and direction for others. One of my contacts
in Burma spoke with great wisdom saying, "I like to think of
myself as a servant, as a servant you will always find a job
and no one will try to take your position; unlike being the
president or CEO of a large corporation." Most will stand on
the sidelines and watch you work, curious as to what makes
you tick. I have found that those who just watch often
become critical, calloused and insensitive to others.
I meet many Christians who prefer to serve what I call the
happy god; they create this god in their minds and will serve
him as long as life is happy. Such people become very shallow
in their Christian life and it is evident when hard times come.
And trust me they will come. The God of the Bible allows
these difficult times in our life for a reason. At these times He
is teaching us, refining us, and molding us to a person
adequate for the job. We seldom grow when life is well. I
once heard a speaker at a family life event say, "I don't trust
a man who has not been broken." I believe broken people are
the most useful in Gods kingdom, they are sensitive to pain
and 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 a
volunteer 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 delta
region will take years to rebuild. According to our contacts
the people of Burma have suffered great loss; approximately
200,000 dead or missing, tens of thousands displaced and
about 60,000 orphans were left in the aftermath of Cyclone
Nargis. We are laboring to make a difference, building
orphanages, supplying rice seedlings and bringing vegetable
seed. There are reports of huts that look like Christmas trees
as the tomato plants climb all the way to the top filled with
red tomatoes.
As this work continues in the delta there is much suffering
and evil on the border. What I am about to expose to you
may be hard to believe. The UN refuses to expose this evil
and certainly doesn't plan on doing much about it. On the
border with Thailand there are over 100,000 refugees from
Burma trying to escape persecution from a ruthless military
regime that continues to commit atrocities and outright
genocide against ethnic tribal groups, especially the Karen
Christians. This is nothing new, however it must stop.
Military troops continue to fire mortars in the camps, poison
their water with weed killer, rape the Karen Christian women
and torture the men by dismembering them or burning them
alive. They even arm the Buddhist children to fire upon their
own people that are Christian. So why do I bring this
suffering to your attention-- something so evil? My guess is
that most of you are unaware of what's going on in Burma;
the media seldom addresses this painful subject so I will
attempt to take their place. No longer can we look the other
way, God has moved me to take the suffering of our brothers
and sisters in Burma to the Free Church in America. This is
not a war, they are killing unarmed civilians.
I ONCE READ, "NO ONE IS FREE
WHILE OTHERS ARE
OPPRESSED." This is especially true for
Christians. Since my return I certainly would agree with that
statement; I am no longer a free man. I have been to Burma
many times, and each time I return I leave a little more of
myself in Burma. When I close my eyes at night my mind is
filled with faces, faces filled with unspeakable loss and
suffering. I have shed enough tears to form a creek. They are
a people that only desire to be FREE, to go home and live in
peace. The problem is that the military raids and burns their
villages, then plants mines around them to keep the people
from going home. I have come to that fork in the road, and
now must meet suffering head on.
I REALIZE I MAY BE MOVING
YOU OUT OF YOUR COMFORT
ZONE HERE, BUT I MUST ASK,
"WHERE IS THE CHURCH?" It is to
the church that I make my plea. Yes America does have
weight in the world, however I question whether the current
administration has the fortitude to do the right thing. It
would be a noble thing to free Burma, but it is Gods people
that can bring the greatest change. I bring their plight to our
readers because as Christians we need to be on our knees
before the Living God to move through His people. It is my
prayer that you feel their pain and suffering; if your heart is
moved you can’t help but act, get involved, and make a
difference. I'm not smart enough to say I have all the answers,
but God does. All of us have different gifts and talents, the
question is, will you let the Lord use you as an instrument of
change to make a difference, to seek justice and to show
compassion to those in need.
The UN refuses to act because of pressure from China and
Russia. I find that so bizarre, why would we expect one
communist country and another that is rapidly moving back
in that direction to fight for freedom and human rights for
Christians and minorities in Burma? That's like asking for a
"dependable British car", unlikely. This writer believes that
the greatest move Obama could make is to seek freedom for
these people, work with the Thai government to help in the
Vision Beyond Borders • P.O. Box 6770 • Sheridan, WY 82801 • Phone: 307-672-5995 • vbbonline.org
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humanitarian effort, and perhaps share the burden to seek
peace. I know there are some who will look for excuses,
stand on the sidelines and say not my problem, not my war.
Many Americans will turn the other way; we did the same
thing as a nation when we watched Germany bomb Britain
for a year, killing thousands of civilians. Of course history
would prove we would be forced to deal with the evil set
before us.
AS I SAID BEFORE, AT TIMES I
DON'T LIKE MY JOB,
ESPECIALLY WHEN FACED
WITH SUCH EVIL AND SIN.
However, God has given us a responsibility to our brothers
and sisters, realizing that when one part of the body suffers,
we all suffer. I am blessed to know that God can use even me
to be an instrument of blessing, compassion, and mercy to a
precious human being who has been abandoned, abused and
forgotten. God can use you!
Pray for our government officials to be an instrument of
change; God at times uses the ungodly to accomplish His work.
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WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1st: The bible gives us many examples of what can happen
when Gods people pray. We need to be on our knees before
the Living God crying out on behalf of our family around the
world. Pray for our government officials to be an instrument
of change; God at times uses the ungodly to accomplish His
work. Pray that the Thai Government would seek peace and
justice. Finally, pray that the Church in the free world will be
a pebble in the shoe of those who can make a difference.
2nd: Call and pressure your congressmen to pressure the UN
to step in and take action.
3rd: Call Vision Beyond Borders and ask how you can help
the people of Burma or schedule a representative to speak at
your church or event (307) 672-5995
4th: Contact your local representatives and be a pebble in
their shoe. It's a place to start.
Pastor Wes