This was my Mom’s favorite song, ” one of them ” ….
She sang it over and over……smile…. MARILYN…
So ,  not playing the whole ” holier than thou ” thing
or Africa, this or Cambodia that, or Perry Township this….

but putting together a what ever for Africa…this came…

Acts 17
Paul was DISTRESSED….no, GREATLY DISTRESSED…
to see a city full of idols….and so Paul took this
” new teaching ” to them…..and the people God took
Paul too…said, ( vs19 )
” may we know what his new teaching is that you are
presenting . You are bringing some strange ideas to our
ears, and we want to know what they mean.”

( so neat how the Holy Spirit…tickles the heart of
individuals……. HE will speak to them…..)

It goes on to the whole interaction of Paul and the
men of the marketplace….so he was “out in them ”
and so it is for me in Africa…
and so it is for Gabe and Marla’s
and so it is for Tug’s and Angie’s…..
( I only know my families call to witness )

But we had a deep conversation about each of
our callings…..Shawnee/ Lima,  Cambodia, Africa…
at Christmas…..and we came to the conclusion…
” we are all CALLED ”  to proclaim JESUS CHRIST..
in many ways, to many different people….all over the
World.

From God’s perspective…..sitting on the Throne
of Heaven ….how does HE see the WORLD !
seriously ?   Like we see Lima?
….Mall to Eastgate…?
GOD’s ….PERSPECTIVE….

I use to see driving to South Dakota to see my sister…
19 – 21 hours driving…. 2 small kids….  LONG…..
Straight through….no motel…..LONG….
NOW :
How I see going to AFRICA….. 1 Long FLIGHT
How I see going to CAMBODIA…..  1 Long FLIGHT
Perspective…..

* God , back to YOU…..why all these people…
God, back to YOU….where you put all these PEOPLE…..
Africans,  Mazungu’s,  Cambodians……??

Acts 17: 26……b.
” …..that they should inhabit the whole earth; and
and He determined the times set for them and the
exact place where they should live. 27.  (KEY )
God did this so that men would seek Him and
perhaps reach out for Him and find HIM, though
HE is not far from us.”

1.  HE FILLED THE EARTH..HIS EARTH…
w/ HIS people.
2. He determined what generation we would
be born in.
3.  He put them in Africa, stricken in poverty –
no peace in the world – can’t make it on our own.
He put us in America to be stricken with prosperity –
no peace in the world – can’t make it on our own
He put them in Cambodia, stricken with
( not as much personal insight, yet )  but sex trafficking, …….
no peace in the world – can’t make it own their own…

SO THAT THEY MIGHT – SEEK HIM…JESUS…..not us.
SO THAT THEY MIGHT –  REACH OUT TO HIM….not us

vs. 27  ” HE is not far from each one of us”

That is what is amazing….
HE is NEAR for the people in Africa
HE is NEAR for the people in America
HE is NEAR for the people in Cambodia…..

” IT IS A SMALL WORLD, because HE IS NEAR ”
in the name of JESUS.