Radical Living. Real Results. Recommended Reading =)

   With the recent popularity of books like Francis Chan's Crazy Love and David Platt's Radical (the first I've read and absolutely recommend; the second is sitting in my room, on my summer reading list), it seems that many American evangelicals are beginning to realize that they are missing an important part of their faith. Though we call on Christ's name for our salvation, our lives don't seem all that different because of Him--where does the call to "deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow me" come in? (Luke 9:23) Even when we have the strength through the Spirit to overcome sin and selfishness and deny ourselves, what does that look like in our modern, materialistic world?

    Katie Davis has found one answer; she does not claim to have the answer for everyone, and she would never, ever claim to be speaking for God. However, her story is one of the most moving and inspiring testimonies of God's power in and through one life that I have read in years. Consider just these brief excerpts from her book:

        "Sometimes I wanted to spend hours upon hours talking with my best friends about boys and fashion and school and life. I wanted to go to the gym; I wanted my hair to look nice; I wanted to be allowed to wear jeans. I wanted to be a normal teenager living in America, sometimes.
         But I wanted other things more. All the time. I wanted to be spiritually and emotionally filled every day of my life. I wanted to be loved and cuddled by a hundred children and never go a day without laughing. I wanted to wake up to a rooster's crow and open my eyes to see lush green trees that seemed to pulse with life against a piercing blue sky and the rusty red soil of Uganda. I wanted to be challenged endlessly; I wanted to be learning and growing every minute. I wanted to be taught by those I teach, and I wanted to share God's love with people who otherwise might not know it. I wanted to work so hard that I ended every day filthy and too tired to move. I wanted to feel needed, important, and used by the Lord. I wanted to make some kind of difference, no matter how small, and I wanted to follow the calling God had placed on my heart. I wanted to give my life away, to serve the Lord with each breath, each second. At the end of the day, no matter how hard, I wanted to be right here in Uganda." (Kisses from Katie, p. 24)

         "In the days of Jesus, He expected everything of His disciples. Do I believe He requires the same today? I do. And I want to live like I believe it. I do not claim to have the answers. I do not claim to be "doing it right." I do claim to believe that the words of Jesus are absolutely true and apply to me, right now today. I want to give everything, no matter the cost. No matter the cost. Because I believe that nothing is a sacrifice in light of eternity with Christ." (Kisses from Katie, p. 232)

    Acting on what she says she believes, Katie moved to Uganda after high school, and is a mom to thirteen little girls there. She gave up every semblance of a normal teenage life in pursuit of the one she truly loved, her Lord and Savior. There is so much more to her story, though, and you should read about it! Seriously (I know, I say that a lot...), if you make time for one book this summer, make it Kisses from Katie. It's not a hard read, but it's an incredible story. Where Crazy Love absolutely challenged and inspired me on a theological level, this book touched me on a personal level, and I'm not going to forget it any time soon. I can make a difference. One person really can. Because Katie did.

P.S. If you're interested in learning more about Katie or her ministry (before you buy the book, of course), her website is amazima.org. Amazima means "truth" in Luganda, the secondary language spoken in Katie's area of Uganda =) Check it out!