A Blog by Josh Agerton

TIA: Redemption

Posted on 16. May, 2009 by Josh Agerton in Formation, Uganda

Sitting on the back porch right now working on my sermon for tomorrow morning. (Making sure I stay on the porch so John the security guard won’t mistake me for a thief and tag me with his spear.) It’s been an amazing day here. Each day is full of so much, I feel like it will take a long time to process what all my eyes have seen and heart has felt. But I can sum it all up in one word…REDEMPTION. The kind of redemption that Isaiah wrote about:

“…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:1-3

Redemption is happening here. And the neat thing is that he lets us get in on the action of it…he allows us to be a part of it. Take this picture for instance. It’s a young kid named Ashilaf, 11 years old looking at a picture of my sister, Emily, who is sponsoring him. It’s a picture of two completely different worlds connected by Christ and the love that he has put into one of his followers. I’m seeing a young man now with hope and a future. Trust me, this kid is jacked up about being sponsored…as they all are. He believes that someone else in this world believes in him and loves him. It’s a completely different picture around here from my last visit a year ago. Redemption. It’s what Jesus is all about. Taking the junk of our life and making it the hallmark of his glory. Many more stories to tell and write about, but not tonight. Got to get to bed.

Amongst all this fun and great stuff, my heart is missing Leslie, Benjamin, Liza and Grace. I love you all and am praying for you.

(P.S. Main picture at the top is our team serving lunch to about 200 kids…all cooked over a fire.)

Tags: Redemption, tia