Bangladesh

Another part of living radically is through praying.

David Platt suggests praying for the entire world.
So I'm going to give it a shot. :)

Bangladesh is located right next to India.
In 2010 there were 164,425,491 people in Bangladesh.
47.5% of the people in Bangladesh are literate.
Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest nations.
They experience devastating floods and cyclones that cause loss of life and extreme poverty. Nearly half of the population lives on less than $1 a day.
Bangladesh is often rated as the world's most corrupt nation.
Islam became the state religion in 1988.
Officially there is religious freedom,
but this is being steadily eroded by Islamist pressure
and a legal system which gives no safeguards to ethnic or religious minorities.

If you want to pray for Bangladesh, here are some of the things I prayed about:
1. A long term and deep level transformation of its economy,
which is underdeveloped, and their lack of education.
2. The government and them assisting those in need.
3. Religious discrimination and tension because forced reconversion
to Islam is an increasing threat.
Pray for freedom for all to practice their own religions.

All information on Bangladesh was found {here}.

The {Radical} Experiment

Here's the thing.
God is radically changing my life.
Over spring break I had the opportunity to read Radical by David Platt.
You should look into buying it {here}.

Lately, my relationship with God hasn't been the way I want it.
I haven't been loving God the way I should.
Reading Radical reminded me of what it means to love Him with every inch of my being.
Jesus is worthy of all my devotion.
Jesus makes it clear that if I want to follow him, "I am to abandon everything--my needs, my desires, even my family."
Following Christ requires radical abandonment of everything, including myself.

This book helped me refocus my desires and dreams toward the one thing I was created for:
To love Him, love others, and bring glory to Him.

This book encourages readers to live a radical life.
It begins with living one year of life turned upside down.
After that, living radically should become easier.
I am up for the challenge.

"The purpose of our lives transcends the country and culture in which we live.
Meaning is found in community, not individualism;
Joy is found in generosity, not materialism;
Truth is found in Christ, not universalism.
Ultimately, Jesus is a reward worth risking everything to know, experience, and enjoy."
David Platt.

Within the first year, Platt lays out 5 things that need to be done:
1. Pray for the entire world.
2. Read through the entire Word.
3. Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose.
4. Spend your time in another context.
5. Commit your life to a multiplying community.

I chose to blog about this every day
because I feel like I can be accountable
if I have to make it a point to blog about it every day.
We'll see how that goes.

I want to live radically everyday for Him.

Guacamole

Before I had real friends,

I did not like guacamole.

Now that I do.

I LOVE IT.

8.9

"An 8.9 earthquake off the Pacific coasts sets off a massive tsunami,
resulting in floods, fires, and the closure of airports and transit systems.
Up to 300 bodies are found on a beach in Sendai, on the northeast coast,
with another 110 confirmed dead elsewhere."
Los Angeles Times

While I sit comfortably in my cozy farmhouse,

this is what is happening on the other side of the world.

There's something wrong with this picture.

And I feel like I can't do anything about it.


The only thing I can do is pray.

And know that God is in control.