A few weeks ago, Tyndale Publishers sent me a copy of Dirty Glory* by Peter Greig to review. I am definitely interested in growing in prayer, but I didn’t know if a book that tells the story of the 24/7 prayer movement throughout the world would be exactly what I was looking for. This book has rocked my world! It is truly one of the most inspirational books that I have read for awhile.
A couple of years ago, we moved from East Asia, a place where we had called home for over 10 years. We came back to the US to continue on in missions, but from this side of the fence, for a season. For the past 2 years, I think I would have been crushed if God called us to go back into a developing nation. But after reading this book, I think I could hear that call again. Now, I’m not saying that God is calling us to go back out. I’m just saying that I would be willing if He did.
So many things spoke to me from Dirty Glory. I could fill up a whole page with impactful quotes, but I’ll highlight here Greig’s chapter about Base Camp 20.
Through a series of unexpected events, he and his family end up living near Kansas City, helping to lead the 24/7 movement in the States. Their house was located on what was formerly known as Base Camp 20.
It was a stopover for travelers on their way to seek gold in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was meant to be a place where people got refueled and then continued on down the trail, but many chose to stay and make Base Camp 20 their home. Eventually it became a city.
At this point in Greig’s life, he had arrived at a spiritual Base Camp 20. The 24/7 movement (which he started) was growing and seeing miraculous things take place. He was receiving some recognition. He could get a paid ministry position in the US and settle, stop living this vagabond life, following Jesus wherever He would lead. He could call off the dream of Santa Fe and make Base Camp 20 a permanent home.
He decides against it. He sets his heart again on Santa Fe.
This so resonated with me. After over a decade in missions work, with no salary, living as a strange foreigner in Asia, away from my family, there has been a sweet desire to resign. God has brought us back to find renewal in this time. We may stay here and continue on, or we may follow Jesus somewhere else, but the point is that we will still follow Him.
Now, you’re probably not in the same position that we are, but it could be that you are facing a similar question- will you continue to follow the Nazarene?
There’s a story in the Bible (John 6) where Jesus draws a hard line of what people must do to get into the Kingdom of Heaven and many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed HIm. Jesus asked the Twelve if they wanted to leave as well. Peter replies, “To whom else would we go? You hold the words of eternal life.”
That’s one of my favorite lines- to whom else would we go? I’m no longer in my 20s. I’m nearing my 40s. I no longer have the idealistic view that I once had as a young person, but will I continue to dream that my life can make a difference if I continue to follow after God? And even more important that that, will I continue to seek God’s face as my “one thing”? Above all else.
Will I slow down in my pursuit or will I continue to press in? It’s challenging.
When I was single and pre-kids, the sacrifice was less. Now it seems to be greater, but the reward of knowing Jesus and raising my kids in the total will of God is one that I cannot afford to surrender.
I would recommend Dirty Glory* to anyone who really wants to grow in knowing Jesus. Not just grow as a nice person. Not just grow in their prayer life. Grow with JESUS. Because if He is the focus, you’ll fall in love with Him, You’ll want to talk to Him (prayer). You’ll want to be like him (“nice”ness). He’ll change your life and allow you to be a part of changing the world.
Do we dare to follow His invitation?
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