God's calling me

A stirring of dismay
I read an online book that bothered me. It was authored by Noam Chomsky and is titled, "What Uncle Sam Really Wants." Noam Chomsky is a leading linguist scientist at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and has the title of "University Professor." This means that he is qualified, and able, to teach any of the subjects taught at MIT.

Chomsky is also known as a political activist who is suspicious of big media, big business, and big government. The book mentioned above is exhaustively researched and the sources Chomsky uses are extensively documented, coming mostly from declassified U.S. documents.

In other words, this stuff is real.

It bothered me. If you don't want to be bothered, don't read it. I'm serious. I have to be very careful here, and keep in mind the command in scripture to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20).

A confirmation of the burden on my heart
What would Jesus do? I've heard that before, and seen it on bumper stickers and bracelets. But seriously, what would Jesus do? What DID he do? He visited the poor and the widows. He dined with sinners. I want to do something to help change this.

I've been exposed to a lot of things recently that seem to be culminating now. I've been learning in my Sociology class about some of the glaring flaws of our national and global economic systems. In my Philosophy class I've been learning about some of the injustices and contradictions of our foreign policy. Then, yesterday, my girlfriend and I are on our way to breakfast when she tells me about a movie she just saw titled "Invisible Children."

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'll probably check it out soon. From what she described, it sounds a lot like the tactics used by government or paramilitary forces in recruiting/coercing children soldiers, as described in Chomsky's book. As she was telling me about this (I hadn't yet told her about Chomsky's book), a big smile spread across my face. I don't believe much in coincidences, and in this case God was clearly telling me something. The fact that this has become a burden in my heart, and now my girlfriend is telling me about a similar experience she's had, was clear evidence in my mind and heart that God is at work in this.

What to do?
First of all, I need to learn more. I'm currently reading "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It." Next, I'm going to see how I can make some immediate differences in the lives of people right here, right now. I pray that God would glorify Himself through what I do, and that He would guide me in doing His will.

On a side note, I just want to say that I am blessed beyond measure by God with the most awesome girlfriend! After I shared this with her, and some of the things I want to do, she told me she supports this 100%. This is also something that is important to her. It means that our lives together won't be about the nicer and nicer house, newer cars every couple of years, fancy toys, etc. But she's never been about this anyway. God's put in her heart such a love for people. She rocks! (High-five, God.)