Dear Friends,

Greetings in the Lord. We hope and pray you are well and the Lord is keeping you in perfect peace. In the last month, we have released our latest two-part series — Sierra Leone. It has been a blessing to hear how much this series has touched people’s hearts and we know that these new episodes will serve as an encouragement for future missionaries to take the gospel to areas in need (Sierra Leone is now free to stream at www.traveltheroad.com). Additionally, we are also happy to announce Travel the Road will now be featured on Pureflix.com (The largest Christian streaming platform). Pureflix, along with other on-demand services, shows the global shift of where content is now consumed. We are excited about this and other streaming opportunities as it will allow us to reach as many as possible and inspire a new generation for missions. Moreover, we are about to undertake new Gospel Expeditions in South and Central America and we ask that you pray for open doors and open hearts as we preach the message of Christ Jesus. God is good and we thank you for your faithful partnership. Please continue in every way in the months and years ahead.

This month, we would like to share a message called — Trade-Off

Time, Health, and Money: These are three important aspects that affect everyone daily. However, two of these are perishable assets and one is not. Time is perishable because it marches on, and at some point, you will reach your end on this earth. The same is true for health. The older you get the more perishable it becomes. It doesn’t mean you can’t maintain your health into later life, but the simple fact remains, the more you age, the more your body feels the toll. Money on the other hand usually works in the reverse. You start with little and the more time that passes the more a person accrues (We are omitting from the list the most important which is the Spirit, but we will get to the importance of the Spirit later as it relates to all three).

So let us think about this for the moment. Why is it that money is valued so much more in our society over time or health? People will destroy their bodies to gain money. In modern times, most people do not work physically-intensive jobs, and one would think this would be better for a person’s health, but it’s worse. Here is what the Mayo Clinic says about the dangers of prolonged sitting:

“When you sit, you use less energy than you do when you stand or move. Research has linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns. They include obesity and a cluster of conditions — increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels — that make up metabolic syndrome. Too much sitting overall and prolonged periods of sitting also seem to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. Any extended sitting — such as at a desk, behind a wheel or in front of a screen — can be harmful. An analysis of 13 studies of sitting time and activity levels found that those who sat for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to the risks of dying posed by obesity and smoking.”

That sounds very grim, but if you are like most people who work in front of a computer you can probably attest to the bodily stress you’ve felt from prolonged sitting. We too can report that some of the most painful times have not been from injuries on expeditions in remote places, but instead from long hours of editing in front of a computer. This doesn’t mean people should never sit and work, but it is a good reminder that you should judge what the trade-off is for. There is nothing wrong with working hard. You won’t get far in life if you don’t put in maximum effort. However, where things start to go off the rails is when there is not a moment’s thought about what you are working towards. The world competes to keep most people in debt through excessive and impulsive buying, and thus, enslaves the masses to a vicious cycle requiring their health and time. If you are wondering if this is true, just go to a few garage sales and look at the number of things people gather over the years. Items become useless and unloved quickly, and if people thought about the cost of time and health that the new item will require of them, they’d likely think twice about spending their time to get it. This is not meant to be a condemnation, but rather a commentary for people to look at the world differently. It’s a reminder to think about what you are willing to trade your health and time in pursuit of and to make sure you choose wisely. Life is too short to not think about how to budget your time and health. There is more to life than what the world tries to sell you. “So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12.

Time and Health: When you have a good understanding that your time on this earth is finite you begin to respect it a lot more. Moreover, when you respect that your health will not be the same at 20 as it is at 80 you will care for it differently. Learning to budget your time and apply it to worthy pursuits will also yield incredible rebounds in health (mental and physical). If you feel unfulfilled and feel stuck in life. You are a victim of wasted time. Don’t be too hard on yourself, but also don’t accept it. You will have to make sacrifices to achieve what God has planted in your heart. But if you think about it…what is more important? The new expensive item that will cost you more debt, or finding freedom in a new outlook on life? Remember, time marches on and the longer you delay, the more you will regret the days you’ve wasted. Learn to value time, health, and your spiritual growth above the societal pressure of accumulating more things. If you do this you will live a life few ever realize. Your time with God, your family, and your loved ones is far more important than anything this world can offer.

Christian Pursuit: To the believer, we have the blessed hope and assurance of our eternal home. Our life on this earth is but a sojourn to the heavenly city that will never perish (Heb. 11:10). It is a place where time is infinite and we will never grow old. There is no sickness or disease and God has wiped away every tear (Rev. 21:4). Our trespasses are forgiven and we are welcomed like sons and daughters. This is the promise we have that was bought and paid for by the blood of Christ Jesus. Now, imagine not having this hope. Many in the world do not have the seal of Christ in their hearts and what a dreadful outlook that must be. As Christians, we want to tell people the good news of the freedom found in Jesus. This is the simplicity of the Gospel. The Christian walk doesn’t mean you live entirely separated from the world, but it does mean we set our sights on the kingdom to come. Everything in this world will pass away, but the one to come is eternal. If you remember this daily you will live differently.

At Travel the Road, we have always valued how we spend our time and set ourselves to pursue a very specific mission. Preach the Gospel to the end of the earth and encourage the church to be active in the Great Commission. With this, we work hard and undertake Gospel Expeditions in areas where the name of Jesus has not been named. We work hard to complete new episodes that will encourage future missionaries and we enjoy the labor and life the Lord has called us to. We realize not everyone is called to do the same, but we know everyone who believes can do something. You can Give, Go or Pray. At least one of these tasks each of us can do. We are so blessed to have faithful partners like you and thank you for always being there for us. God has much in store for the year ahead and we look forward to all He will accomplish. The best is yet to come. Peace be with you.

In Him,

Tim and Will