Doing My Patriotic Duty

Happy Superbowl Sunday! While most people were trying to decide whether to root for or against the Patriots, I was busy doing my own, um, patriotic (?) duty.

That's right... I signed our family up for insurance through the Healthcare.gov exchange.

Ugh.

It pains me to say that, to be honest.  I don't even want to get into the ins and outs of how I feel about the Affordable Care Act, or how it was passed, or what implications it has for our nation. In a nutshell, I will say that I am NOT a big fan. (That's an understatement of grand proportions, by the way, in case that didn't come through loud and clear.)

What I do want to talk about is *why* I spent my Superbowl Sunday signing us up for insurance in a country we don't even live in through an exchange I never thought should have existed because of a law I disagree with.

We've done a lot of praying about this whole situation. We've researched the law, gotten advice from others, checked with everyone from our tax advisor to our U.S. Senator. And, what it all boiled down to in the end for us is that we have a choice of which citizenship is most important to us - our U.S. citizenship, or our Kingdom citizenship (Phil. 3:20).

I bet you can guess which one won out.

First off, let me be clear that we are absolutely, unequivocally going to need to either buy insurance or pay the fine for not doing so. Yes, I am aware that we live outside the U.S. so no one *thinks* it should apply to us. Yes, I know that a lot of people *think* the law says X, Y, or Z, so they *think* it doesn't affect us. Yes, I know that there actually are exemptions available, even exemptions for people living in a foreign nation. But - trust me on this - I've explored this law inside, outside, and upside down, and there really is no way to get around it for us. At least, not while maintaining our integrity and following what we know to be right.

As a U.S. citizen I know that there are probably ways around buying mandatory insurance that, while technically not meeting the letter of the law, would certainly be acceptable enough and in keeping with what most believe is the spirit of the law, at least. (That is to say, most people wouldn't give them a second thought, and we'd probably never get in any trouble for doing them.)

These are things like just checking "yes" on our taxes when asked if we have insurance through our employer. I mean, technically we do. Kinda. Except that my employer isn't really an employer since I'm just a volunteer.  Oh, and our insurance doesn't meet the minimum coverage requirements set forth in the Affordable Care Act law. Oh, yeah... and our insurance is in GUATEMALA.

So... yes, we have insurance. But, no, it doesn't count. And, even though we could have saved a whole lot of hassle by just checking, "yes" (and hoping we never got audited), it wouldn't have been honest or legal. Maybe as a U.S. citizen I'd have been tempted to do the easy thing, but Kingdom citizens do the right thing. For me, this is about a whole lot more than fines or laws or getting caught. James 4:17 says that if I know the right thing, and do something different, it is a sin. A sin, y'all.

I'm not willing to sin over the ACA law.

But why would not buying insurance be a sin?

Romans 13. That's why.

As much as I might not like it, or completely understand it, or feel happy about it, God (through Paul's letters to the Romans) tells me that I must be subject to the rulers above me, because all authority has been established by God.

<giant sigh>

Well... there you go. If God has established the authority of the president and congress of the United States, and they have implemented this law, then I am going to follow it. Let me be clear here - I'm not saying that there are never circumstances under which people should disobey the law or work to overthrow the authorities above them. For example, if a law requires me to act in a way that is against my Christian principles or Biblical requirements, I will break that law. My Kingdom citizenship will always outrank my U.S. citizenship. But, when the two are not in conflict, no matter how irksome it may be to me, the former requires me to obey the latter.

This is where the rubber hits the road. This is where I've got to decide if I *really* believe that the Bible is my guidebook in all areas of life. This is where I decide if I'm going to live out my faith every day of the week, or just on Sundays and when it's convenient. This is where I get to live out Romans 13 in more than just a theoretical way, even if it hurts.

So, regardless of whether the Seahawks or the Patriots win, I know I've done my patriotic duty - not just as a U.S. citizen, but as a citizen of the Kingdom of the Most High God.  Now that's an authority I'm proud to serve for eternity, which makes even signing up for insurance in a country we don't even live in through an exchange I never thought should have existed because of a law I really disagree with all worthwhile.

16 Days Left

Alright, it finally just hit.

Do you realize we are moving to Guatemala?  

No, like really moving to Guatemala.  Like, selling all our stuff, quiting our jobs, and taking our kids to Guatemala.

You know, this whole journey has been very odd.  I find myself getting upset over things that don’t seem like they should be that important, and sometimes I want to hang on to things that don’t really matter.

I used to have a small collection of NASCAR cars and mini baseball stadiums.  Last year when we had a garage sale I sold them.  This was a collection that I had worked on for a number of years.  But, they are gone to other loving homes now.  That was a hard day.  It was kind of like taking part of my identity away.  I was sad for a little bit, and then I realized He has called me to something more important.  So, that part of my identity is now filled with Him.

There have been so many of those moments over the last year.  They are too numerous to mention, and mostly I forgot about them, because in the grand scheme of things they don’t matter.

When I am greeted in heaven by Jesus I do not believe he is going to ask if I enjoyed my NASCAR collection, or say that He is proud of me for getting that mint condition Kyle Busch collector car.

He is going to ask, "Did you feed the poor?  Did you tell people the good news?  Did you love everyone, including the unlovable?"

 I am hoping to be able to say, "YES!"

So, in sixteen days, my family and I will be leaving for Guatemala.  Even if we come back and live “normal” lives in two years, we will never be the same.  I will never get this job back. I will never get the house back that I love so much. I will never be able to get the stuff back that is part of my identity here.

Instead my identity will only grow stronger in Him, and that will lead to a stronger “YES!” in heaven.

Matthew 25:34-36 (NIV)
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

It's All a Matter of Perspective

This is really happening. We're really going to move to Guatemala. Like, to live. Holy cats, Batman! How did this happen!?

Of course, there is a whole lot of backstory, and a whole lot of years of God wooing us and working on softening our hearts. But, the long and short of it is that He called us - quite clearly. So clearly, in fact, that we kinda had to give up arguing and do what He said. I believe it's called 2 by 4 communication. (You know - He made it as clear as a 2 by 4 upside the head.)

Anyway - despite our weeks of, "are we?"s, we knew it was really real once we told our families. Up until then, there had been very little risk. Very little challenge. Very little pain.

It was not easy to tell our parents that we were going to move to a kindasorta dangerous place. It was not easy to tell our parents that we were going to short circuit the plans and dreams they may have had for us. Most especially, it was not easy to tell our parents that we were going to take their grandchildren from them.

And, in case the subtext isn't getting through, 'not easy' doesn't even begin to cover it.

They were absolutely wonderful and supportive about it, though, which was further confirmation of:

1.) the fact that God really is calling us to do this. (For real, God? I mean, if my parents said 'no,' then we'd have to honor that and back out right now. Right? Right?!?)

2.) the fact that our parents are truly spectacular human beings, and deserve all the good things that life has to offer.

Good things, for example, like frequent visits and close geographic proximity to their grandchildren - precisely the things we are taking away. Oye.

I was praying about this a few nights after we made the announcement to our families. I was crying out (or, just crying/whining maybe) to God. Our conversation went a little something like this:

ME: But, God! How can you ask us to do this!? How can you ask us to take our children away from their grandparents? I know we're only committing to two years, but what if You call us there longer? What if it's five years? Eight? Maybe even longer? Isn't that unfair to do to them? They love us, and they love our kids. Family is an institution that YOU created. Are you sure you want us separated like this!?

GOD: Oh, Andrea. [I think He has to say this to me a lot, by the way...] I am truly sorry that your family will have to be apart for a short time. But, surely you understand that your brief separation from loved ones is for a purpose. It will help ensure that I don't have to have an eternal separation from those whom I love and am sending you to. Are you willing to spend a few of your years for their eternity? I promise - I will be with you through it all.

<sigh> You can't exactly argue with that, can ya?

I am learning - little by little - what it means to have an eternal perspective. Yes, I always rejoiced at the fact that my salvation through Christ's sacrifice granted me an eternal victory and life with Him. However, He is starting to teach me that part of that prize includes a responsibility for the eternities of others, as well.

Eternity is a long time, folks. Longer, even, than a few years of painful separation from the people I love so very much. Longer, still, for those who might spend it in agony and separated from God, if I am unwilling to go where He tells me to go, and do what He tells me to do.

Guess it really is all a matter of perspective after all, isn't it?

If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters , yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

-- Luke 14:26