This is such a thought provoking book

as author, David Platt shares his [first] journey into the Himalayan trails -

The suffering and poverty he encountered is almost unbelievable to someone, like me,

who lives a comfortable life here in the U.S.

- But as I read, I thought of the things I've seen right here in the good ole USA ...

a 3 month old sexually abused by an uncle... a five year old boy sexually tortured by a middle-school aged brother... a young teenage sold by her father for $5 per sexual encounter... Yes - I worked in child protective services at one time... but I've also known families who threw food out to their dog rather than give it to their mother who lived right next door, because that was another family member's responsibility (and they weren't bringing her food either,) and families who spent all of an uncle's money while keeping him locked in his bedroom with only a bare mattress and no access to a toilet... adn I also remember meeting kids in college who didn't grow up in church, and some who grew up in remote areas of the western states, who had truly never heard that Jesus was the Son of the One True God.
I guess I share the above to say there are horrendous needs EVERY where - both physically and spiritually. David Platt does a great job sharing these needs that so many want to close their eyes and not see.

Some thoughts that jumped out to me:* Make God's grace known -
* Be the kind of church that can change the world - your world, my world [community]
* Consider the unique way each of us can be a part in sharing Christ with others -

And a favorite quote from his journal:

"Oh, God, please help me to do whatever you want me to do with all you have given me."
I love that Platt ends with the challenge for us to seek what God wants each of us to do - right where we live - We are not in our particular community by accident - God has given us unique opportunities to share His love in our world, where we live every day.

Platt encourages us to:
* Help well amid earthly suffering -
* Work hardest to keep people from eternal suffering -
* Live with a holy sense of urgency - and
* Run the race God has called us [individually, uniquely] to run -

Join the simulcast as David Platt shares more:

[click here for the link -]