Out of this World

A great deal has been made in past few years about the ‘illegal alien” problem. Of course I’m not talking about an influx from Mars or Jupiter, but rather persons from abroad. I don’t have any quick fix answers, personally. I have a few opinions but those & a buck fifty will get you a coffee at Micky D’s.

I have been ‘abroad’ myself a couple of times. It’s a bit unsettling if you don’t know the culture or language. As a ‘social animal’ I was on shaky ground for the two weeks in Guatemala & the day or so in Mexico. Canada, well, what do ya say, eh?

I tried to use my simple ‘conversational Spanish’ & felt like someone driving a put-put car on the freeway! I kept trying to say ‘excuse me’ when dodging the constant wave of people & received some odd stares. Seems I was actually saying, “Spit on me.” Thankfully no one obliged!

That was not as bad as one of my co-workers, James. He persisted in saying, “Buenos Nachos!” If you know ANY Spanish you know that “Buenos noches’ means roughly ‘good night.’ On the other hand, it seems ‘Buenos nachos’ means you have a ‘good sized rear!’ No kidding. Men would laugh & point to their wives. It just wasn’t pretty. He did this all week. No joke.

We, (James particularly) were like fish out of water. We tried to learn the culture & share as best we could, but we just had a cultural/language barrier. The same could be said for Christians. Truth is those that know Christ are actually citizens of heaven & only traveling here for a short time. Kind of like aliens, only not illegal.
“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.” I Peter 2: 10-11 NLT

I have been painting a sign with that thought for our new Minister of Students. We have a new student building at FBC & he’s named it “Area 51”, you know, after the alien stuff! Again, if you know Christ, we’re just aliens passing through. We’re not home yet!
Love to share more about becoming an “Alien.” Just contact me!

www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport. Dave Jackson on facebook
ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Dave’s Desk on www.bcmasunewport.blogspot.com
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org cell 870-217-937