WORK AND DEATH

AID WORKERS IN AFGHANISTAN SHOW HIGH COST OF VOCATION | MINDY BELZ



Brian Carderelli took his eye to Afghanistan in September 2009. The 25-year-old photographer and videographer "loved to travel, to see different cultures, and he loved using his gifts for kingdom purposes," said longtime family friend J.D. Patton.

Cardelli

An Eagle Scout and recent graduate of James Madison University, Carderelli recognized the unique dangers the country posed because both his parents had worked there, but he felt it was where God was calling him. As a short-term trip stretched into months, he posted dozens of photos on Shutterfly and Facebook pages and seized the opportunity to travel with a medical team to remote Badakhshan province. He was compiling an album of photos titled "The Beauty—It's Not All War" when he and his team members were killed in early August in one of the most brutal attacks on aid workers since war began in 2001.



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WHY WOULD GOD WANT ME?

I'm not perfect. I have all kinds of problems. I have no ability. I have no gifts. I'm just not worthy. Why would God want me?

Well, did you know that-

Moses stuttered.

David's armor didn't fit.

John Mark deserted Paul.

Timothy had ulcers.

Hosea's wife was a prostitute.

Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning. 

Jacob was a liar. 

David had an affair.

Solomon was too rich.

Jesus was too poor.

Abraham was too old.

David was too young.

Peter was afraid of death.

Lazarus was dead.

John was self-righteous.

Naomi was a widow. 

Paul was a persecutor of the church.

Moses was a murderer.

Jonah ran from God's will.

Miriam was a gossip.

Gideon and Thomas both doubted.

Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal. 

Elijah was burned out.

John the Baptist was a loudmouth.

Martha was a worry-wart.

Noah got drunk.

Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?

So did Peter, Paul - well, lots of folks did.

But God doesn't require a job interview for salvation. He's our Heavenly Father. He doesn't look at financial gain or loss. He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need. He know who we are and what we are and loves us in spite of ourselves

SATAN SAYS, "YOU'RE NOT WORTHY."

JESUS SAYS, "SO WHAT? I AM." 

SATAN LOOKS BACK AND SEES OUR MISTAKES. 

GOD LOOKS BACK AND SEES THE CROSS.

He doesn't calculate how you failed in '99. It's not even on the record.

Sure, there are lots of reasons why God shouldn't call us. But if we are in love with Him, if we hunger for Him, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, what we have done, or the fact that we are not perfect!