Passionate about Jesus

There is an annoying box underneath my profile picture on my Facebook page. I don't think anyone really knows why it is there - but it is. The content amongst my many Facebook acquaintances ranges from the obscene to the philosophical, but all largely detailing some aspect of the individuals life that it is crucially important that I know prior to meeting them.

I have a continual love hate relationship with Facebook, Twitter and any other time wasting/social networking/communication/'important feature in your life' device. I love that I am able to communicate easily with people who live far away or that I wouldn't otherwise be in contact with. I hate that it swallows my time, is unashamedly addictive and ironically encourages me to keep in touch with people that I wouldn't otherwise be in contact with.
My little box on my Facebook page reads: 'I am passionate about Jesus Christ. I have 30 pairs of shoes. In my spare time i like to watch rugby, read and play my guitar called Eric.'

It is not crucially important that those who don't know me read this information. What is important is that I am passionate about Jesus. And I want people to know this via any means possible, Facebook, Twitter, the whole social networking community.

This summer has been a massive summer in my life. I experienced life changing events on my first missions trip to Moldova, met important people at various festivals throughout the summer and finally left my job a week ago. I went from being lukewarm about God to passionate about being a disciple of Him in the space of six weeks. I have fallen in love all over again.

Moldova is a tiny country, dealing with a troubled political and economic past and a corrupt leadership. There is much poverty, alcoholism, prostitution and sadness throughout the country. Working in a tiny village in rural Moldova was challenging and hard, painful to heart breaking. Despite the hardships there is a minority of the community out there dedicated to relying and trusting on God's faithfulness, truly believing he provides; trying to evoke hope in a dying nation. It was utterly humbling. The Moldovan locals were able to communicate a desperate passion for Jesus: without the little Facebook box. They didn't need mere words to express their life, they lived it fully, humbly and gracefully - qualities that universally translate.

I am Passionate about Jesus Christ. I do have 30 pairs of shoes (shamefully). I do love rugby, I do love reading, and I do love playing my guitar (which again, shamefully, is in fact called Eric). My next challenge is to live my life fully, humbly and gracefully - or in the words of Micah 6:8 ' to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God'. I don't need to use words to do this.

I might delete my little Facebook box. I might keep it. Or at least delete the bit about the shoes...