http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org Rusty Jackson - Be the Blessing en-us Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:28:54 GMT 30 http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-heavenly-honeymoon http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-heavenly-honeymoon Another blog by Ericka Jackson Okay...cheesy title I know, but it really really was! Not 'heavenly' because it was perfect (though it sure was close!), but 'heavenly' because it was a GIFT FROM GOD!   The night we got engaged, we met the sweetest newlywed couple from Colorado who offered to help us find a good place for a honeymoon. We were thankful, assuming they would help us find a less expensive place since they knew the area. We had no idea that they would find us a FREE CABIN!   That's right- I said FREE! Meet Shelley & Mike Krause, the generous couple. Having never met us, they volunteered to let these two poor missionaries use their cabin for FREE! We were blown away!   So, off we went to Colorado. We spent almost a week in our beautiful free cabin in the mountains. We also got a FREE upgrade in our rental car, and spent 2 days in a condo in Breckenridge for 1/2 off!   THANK YOU GOD!   The trip was wond Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=mr-and-mrs-jackson http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=mr-and-mrs-jackson My beautiful wife is the author of this blog:)   Well, if you couldn't make it to the wedding, and you haven't guessed by now- WE'RE MARRIED!!! Sorry for the extended absence on my blog! As all you married couples know, life is busy taking care of someone else too! It's been a wonderful 7 weeks so far, so I'll try to catch you up in the next few blogs...   The wedding was beautiful! We couldn't have planned more perfect weather.  After such a stressful season of moving, planning, and some mishaps the week before the wedding, the day came off without a hitch!   Seth Barnes, Andrew Shearman, and Michael Hindes were there to marry us. We were so thankful to have our 'spiritual fathers' there to be a part of our special day! The presence of the Lord was there.  The ceremony was so special to us, and included several of our friends who provided the most beautiful music.   We also had many friends and family members who attended. Lots Tue, 9 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=new-october-race-route http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=new-october-race-route NEW! October 2009 World Race Route Interested in joining the World Race?  APPLY HERE!     Guatemala A country aged with beauty and rich in history, Guatemala is the perfect place to initiate your World Race experience. Outside of its aesthetic appeal, it is a country in desperate need of God's touch. Gripped by poverty and bound to a spirit of religion, the people of Guatemala are hungering to see the kingdom of God invade their lives. World Racers radically change the atmospheres that they find themselves in. So the kingdom of God that Guatemalans are eager to see? You'll bring it to them in the form of relationships, hard work, and miracles. Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=we-need-your-help http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=we-need-your-help :: The World Race :: 11 countries, 11 months :: This month is your opportunity to become a part of something big, something revolutionary, and something that cannot be stopped.  All across the world there is a movement of radicals changing the world.  And this is your chance to step in and become a part of it. How do you join the movement?  It's easy.  You invite others to become a part of it.  :: Week 1 :: May 4 9 :: Distribute!  Distribute!  Distribute! That's the easiest thing to think of this week.  Print of this flier and plaster it all over the place.  Dorm rooms, your college campus, coffee shops, community boards, news stations, bathroom stalls, or your car window.  Just get this thing in front of peoples' faces.  Invite them to get their hands dirty and become a part of the movement that you're a part of. :: Week 2 :: May 10 16 :: Grab coffee. Everybody likes to hang out in coffee Mon, 4 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=released http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=released Alright, so as you've seen in my last two video posts, the World Race is changing and impacting lives out in the nations. But, this next blog is about how God is transforming the lives of the people that go on this thing. Last week we had training camp in Gainesville, Georgia for the June 2009 team. Now, this group will begin their trip in just a couple months down in Central America, BUT before that happens each World Race squad must go through a week long training camp.  In this blog, June 2009 racer Taylor Griffith, talks OPENLY about his experiences at training camp.  Theology and doctrine BEWARE...   Eighteen years ago I became ensnared by the attractive web of hardcore porn.  I was a six year old Christian and the 18 years that followed have been full of many different struggles.  I mean, I'm sure we can all attest to having mommy and daddy issues, issues of self-worth, loneliness, insecurity, and hopelessness.  I experienced all Wed, 8 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=bringing-life-to-swazi http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=bringing-life-to-swazi Here is another excellent story of how the World Race and Adventures in Missions (AIM) is impacting lives in Swaziland. It was put together by July08 racer, Katie Rowland; and it features January07 racer, Morgan McKeown. Mon, 6 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=producing-lasting-fruit http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=producing-lasting-fruit      "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last."           Most you, my readers, know that on the World Race, participants travel to 11 different countries over a period of 11 months. On the surface it may seem that a few weeks to a month in each country is not enough time to truly make a difference in the lives of the people we minister to. However, in 2007 and 2008 we sent out three teams each of those years, and this year we are sending four. Now not all the teams, but most follow along a similar route so we can come back into the same locations and build upon the relationships and work established by previous World Race squads.      Here is an example of just that. This story takes place in Swaziland and was put together by July 2008 World Racer - Katie Rowland. Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=my-reading-list http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=my-reading-list This is a bit of a random post, but my mentor, Michael Hindes, posted an interesting blog about a week ago documenting his reading list over the last year. To check it out click here. Dude's been reading, like 50 books a year for the last 20 years.   I've been meaning to post my own list and ask you folks out there to join in. I'm curious what ya'll have been reading lately. Please feel free to leave a comment with your list.   Here we go, in order, starting from January '08 to now: 1) Seven Seasons of the Man in the Mirror - Patrick Morley 2) Sacred Romance - Brent Curtis and John Eldridge 3) Dangerous Wonder - Michael Yaconelli 4) Heavenly Man - Brother Yun 5) Chasing the Dragon - Jackie Pullinger 6) Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers 7) Velvet Elvis - Rob Bell 8) From Wild Man to Wise Man - Richard Rohr 9) The Shack - William P. Young 10) Passion and Purity - Elizabeth Elliot (per Ericka's suggestion) 11) Grace Walk - Steve McV Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=activation http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=activation This is why we do what we do at the World Race. Forgive me for this "christianese" statement I'm about to make, but it's about waking up a generation of young people. Simply put, it means folks becoming aware of the need around them AND, here's the important part -  going to fill that need. Pretty simple stuff. Our desire is to see people travel to and minister in the nations for a year, come back home passionate about a call God has given them, and then go live it out.   Here is an example of someone waking up to God's call in his life. Meet my former teammate Eli Martorana. Eli just finished taking and passing his GMAT - an entrance exam to business school. That's where he's heading in the fall, but first Eli is going back out into the nations.    Eli's vision for heading to Argentina in his own words....   My contacts are two missionaries from my hometown, Monroeville, Alabama, who have been in Argentina for the las Mon, 9 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=its-that-simple http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=its-that-simple      It really is this simple.     "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." - Jesus   For me it reads like this: Rusty stop looking at your own needs and focus on the needs of others.      Something that's very hard for me, a first-born child and a first-born grandson, to do. From day one, it was all about me and I got albums full of baby pictures to prove it! I always had what I wanted, when I wanted it. So, as you can imagine I was never good at putting other people's needs first. In fact, I'm pretty sure I was quite shocked when I realized there were other people in this world besides me. And I can promise you, it took me a lot longer to see that they were real, living people - and not just "objects" in my world.      I dare say I'm not the only one out there who has walked this walk. I think we can all agree that kids nee Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-valentine-story http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-valentine-story           This past weekend Ericka and I celebrated our first and only Valentine's Day as an engaged couple.        And I can guarantee you folks, we'll never forget it!        Now, before your gag reflexes kick in HA! This story is not so much about us, as it is about our wonderful World Race family here in Michigan who flat out blew me and Ericka away by blessing us with an amazing evening. I mean, check out the picture of this set-up they had waiting on us!        The girls called it "The Tavern of Love" and it was absolutely breathtaking. The place was illuminated by, I'd say more than a hundred candles, and they had just the right dinner music picked out. Andi and Kim seated us and served us good ole southern sweet tea something you can't find here in the north. The meal was excellent we started with ceasar salad and then moved to th Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=swot-analysis http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=swot-analysis      We've been breaking it down these past several days in Gainesville, Georgia!           As a World Race staff we have spent the better part of three days picking out the greatest strengths of the program, evaluating our weaknesses, pinpointing opportunities and identifying potential threats. It's called a SWOT analysis and it's a means to an end.           Our short term "end" in mind is sending out 1,000 participants in 2011.           So with that being the goal, we evalauted the entire program marketing, IT (web and internet tech stuff), admission, sales, customer service, training, leadership development, the role of our current alumni base and an external funding source. What can we improve on? What can we streamline? What are the strengths we can use to capitalize on our opportunities? What weaknesses n Mon, 9 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=that-guy http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=that-guy      I was once a missionary, but now I'm a marketing guy.        Well, I'm still a missionary, just not the kind that lives overseas in some cool country that most like to read about. So, I'm a marketing guy working for a missions organization trying to find better ways to market and attract people to our product the World Race.          However, this IS mission work, because the things I do affect hundreds of participants and thousands out in the nations. From our office, uh actually our house, we feed the poor, clothe the naked, and house the homeless. From our, OK, house office, we see the lives of hundreds of world racers impacted on a daily basis. And from our house office on Military Road in Port Huron, Michigan just across the river from Canada, we are aggressively working to bring more young people into this experience. Each day we talk to potential world racers. These "p Mon, 2 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=adopt-a-team http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=adopt-a-team This blog was posted by Seth Barnes, founder of Adventures in Missions, a few days back. It's a short read and well worth it. This is something we've been doing for about 9 months and it's great way to partner with our World Race teams overseas.   So often we search for a more hope-filled and inspired life, but lack a practical way to engage.  One of the things that keeps me plugged into what God is doing in the world are the faith stories I hear in real time from overseas.  Not only do the World Racers we follow have wild stories to tell, but they themselves go through such interesting changes as they radically abandon everything for a year.   So here's my suggestion: Adopt a World Race team for year. Follow their adventures going around the world and help pray for them as they confront their challenges. I promise you: it will begin to impact your life. We have developed a method for the World Race teams to communicate with their prayer sup Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=by-faith http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=by-faith           Now that I'm getting settled into my new home here in Port Huron, Michigan I plan on keeping this blog updated a lot more than I have been. Lately I've posted other people's blogs, picture blogs and a support blog - but that's about it.        I'm changing that today.        Two years ago when I started this whole crazy journey, writing was one of the biggest ways God spoke to me and through me. I remember getting many emails and comments from people I knew well and others I didn't know at all. And it was amazing to see how God was changing and touching their lives through my life. I loved writing with such honesty and openness. And it's not like I have stopped doing that, it's just that I have stopped writing altogether. Back then it seemed like my willingness to let it all hang out brought others to a place where they felt like they could share their fears and struggles. Which Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=top-10-reasons-to-go http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=top-10-reasons-to-go   Ten reasons to go on the World Race by: Matt Snyder Maybe you're sitting behind the computer screen contemplating reasons why you should go on the World Race. Here are ten reasons for you:  You learn who you are. Going on the World Race introduces you to the person that God wants you to be. You won't necessarily be the Jack Bauer or Indiana Jones of missionaries, but you'll definitely learn what the heart of God is and how He wants to use that to show you who you need to be in the Kingdom. And let's face it - you're more than just another employee slaving away in a cubicle, or a student going blindly into the real world' after college.     You get to see the world. Surely somewhere within you there's a desire to see the world. Most people think it's only a fantasy or a fairytale, but let's be honest, with God anything is possible. The World Race takes you to over ten different countries across four different con Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=support1 http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=support1       As most of you know I spent the last year of my life leading a team of 26 people around the globe on a trip called the World Race. We served in refugee camps in Peru, worked in orphanages in Bolivia, India, Mozambique, Cambodia, fed orphans in Swaziland, and evangelized and encouraged churches in Malawi, Botswana, Southern Africa and Thailand. Our teams also worked closely with the underground churches in communist Vietnam.      It's because of your prayers and financial support that we were able to live out "The Great Commission" (Matthew 28:19, 20). You helped us bring light to dark places and HIS hope to those that needed it the most! Not only did we make a spiritual impact in the lives of thousands around the world, but we were able to meet some physical needs as well. Here are a few things that your financial support provided:   1.    Beds, food, and improved living conditions for orphans worldwide. Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=her-side-of-the-story http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=her-side-of-the-story I thought some of ya'll might like to hear Ericka's side of our engagement story. This is what she posted a few days back.     For those of you who may have not seen the news of facebook or Rusty's blog, let me update you... I'M ENGAGED!!! Sunday night Rusty asked me to marry him and of course, I SAID YES!     The proposal was surreal- I think I'm still a little in shock! I'm an extremely hard person to surprise (some of my friends don't like to watch TV or movies with me because I figure out what's going to happen next and blurt it out ;) and Rusty is terrible at keeping secrets. Needless to say, I was really doubtful he could surprise me with something so big. Wow, was I WRONG!   I have so much to say in this blog, so instead of telling my side of the story I'll let you hear all about the engagement from him. He does a wonderful job of explaining AND he got it all on VIDEO! So for more pictures, the video, and the full story - Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=she-said-yes-engagament-video http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=she-said-yes-engagament-video      Well folks let me try and set this up for you - a week or so ago Ericka and I bought an engagement ring. So obviously she knew it was coming at some point. And since that day I've been having the hardest time trying to figure out a way to surprise her with the big question. You see, that was my top priority - to shock her with a totally unexpected proposal!      Alright, so fast forward to last night, (Sunday the 14th) Ericka was at a Christmas party/fundraiser for her non-profit - The Sound of Hope. The event was going on between 7 and 10 Eastern time. Well, she wanted me to be there, but because I was giving a presentation that morning at my church I told her there was no way I could make it. But for all you folks that know me, ya'll know I can drive like the wind. So I made the 569 mile trip from Monticello, Arkansas into Louisiana, across Mississippi, Alabama and into Georgia to Atlanta in 8 and a half hours! She had NO CLUE ! NONE! Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=road-trip-over http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=road-trip-over Alright so I'm a little late in getting this posted - so forgive me. But here are the pictures from my time with Ericka's family and friends in Alabama.     Meeting the parents in Oxford, Alabama!        Ericka's younger brother Jaron.       Ericka's grandfather       Ericka's other brother Brent with his girlfriend and their dogs.           Cheering on the Gators after Ericka's talent competition in Mobile, AL     After my first Auburn University singers show.     It's over folks! After traveling through five states, nine cities and 2000 miles - I finally got Ericka safe and sound back at the Adventures in Missions office in Gainesville, Georgia.  If ya'll want to see more photos from the trip just click on the "pictures" link. Or, to see ALL the pictures from our trip, click here: Part 1 Part 2   Also A VER Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=road-trippin-in-arkansas http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=road-trippin-in-arkansas      Well I didn't realize when I got home from the World Race a couple weeks ago that I'd be doing again!        Now hang on a second folks, I'm NOT going overseas anytime soon. I'm talking about all the traveling I've been doing since I picked up Ericka at the Memphis airport last week. Check this out, after leaving Memphis we've made stops in Forrest City, Monticello, Cabot, Fayetteville, Monticello again, and now we are in Oxford, Alabama - Ericka's hometown.        I also want to thank all you folks that have been following along on this crazy Rusty and Ericka journey. It's been such a special time for us and it's made more special by ya'll rejoicing with us. So, thank you very much.   Here are some pictures from our time in Arkansas.     Thanksgiving day at my parents house in Monticello     Ericka, mom, grandma, sister         Mom an Thu, 4 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-wait-is-over http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-wait-is-over It all started this Wednesday morning with me hiding out in the Memphis airport.     More than four months of being apart was about to come to an end!     My beautiful, sweet Ericka is back IN PERSON in my life.     And now we are about to embark on a 5 state, 9 city, two week tour through the southeastern part of the US. The purpose of the trip is to meet our families and friends and share with them God's call on our lives.     Please keep us in your prayers these next couple weeks.   I gotta give a BIG THANKS to my cousin David Eldridge who took the pics of Ericka and I at the airport. Thank you cousin! Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=home1 http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=home1 Home     I can't tell ya'll how nice it is to actually wear CLEAN clothes!   Well folks, after 323 days my journey around the world has come to an end. I got back to Monticello Friday night around 10:30. Since that time I've been hanging out with my family and catching up on rest. And oh yeah, I've also watched tons of football and eaten EXTREMELY well:)     I'm still trying to find the words and thoughts to describe what I've been through over the last year. I guess in time those things will come. Right now I just want to thank all you folks who have supported me through prayers, as well as financially. You guys made this happen. Ya'll made it possible for me to serve my team and be a blessing to them. Your support allowed God to work through my life and touch countless others around the world. I'd love to catch up with as many of you as possible and I hope to do that over the next few weeks. God has given me an incredible story and Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=its-a-wrap http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=its-a-wrap It's absolutely crazy to think that this wild ride is OVER! I know it won't hit me until I land in Little Rock in a couple days. Below is a rockin' video of our squad that Kim Daniels put togther. ENJOY:) Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-must-read http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-must-read I'm sure you have noticed over the last few weeks or so I have been reposting many of my teammates blog entries. I do this for a couple reasons - one, I want you to meet the people I've been spending the last year of my life with. And two, my ministry has been a bit different this year. As their leader my call is to SERVE them - THEY are ministry. And this is my passion, seeing good ole nice people become crazy radicals for Christ who want to take that passion inside them and impact the world around them for Jesus. My call is to equip them so that they may go and bring Jesus to the nations. This is a MUST READ blog by Kim Daniels!   Kind of like something shifted in me the night we got held at gunpoint in Johannesburg, South Africa, something shifted in me the night I found myself on the rooftop in Phnom Phen, Cambodia yelling freedom over the city with my brother Matt. Most of our squad is in Cambodia working in the slums, but 8 of us are back in Bangkok, T Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=dropping-our-rights http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=dropping-our-rights As Laura Johnston will tell you, all year long I've been telling my team, "We got NO RIGHTS! - NONE!" Here's the deal folks, If God gave up HIS rights as GOD and came down to earth as a man 2000 years ago - AND then let sinful, know-it-all, arrogant men kill him. (Philippians 2) Then we too gotta give up our rights as Americans and Westerners. You see what I'm saying - God was God and he could've lived in the finest homes and had the sweetest set-up down here on earth. Instead he was born a poor peasant kid in a freakin' barn! So for example, even though we as Westerners all grew up with indoor plumbing, we got no right to it out here living with the poorest of the poor. Laura's blog is about her struggle to continue to deny her rights as she gets ready to come back home.       Here I am in Cambodia.  Actually it's not much longer until we are actually leaving Cambodia and going to FINAL debrief in Thailand.  I always knew I would ma Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=cambodia-orphans http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=cambodia-orphans To give online, click HERE.   To donate by mail, make a check out to Adventures In Missions. In the memo line, write "Cambodia Orphans". Mail it to:  Adventures In Missions Attn: Ericka Bennett 6000 Wellspring Trail Gainesville, GA 30506   Just so you know folks, as we speak there are three kids Pastor Nuthpich and his wife Ravi are trying to bring into the orphanage. The kids are from the Cambodia - Vietnam border area and their parents just recently died of Malaria. Pastor wants to get the kids as soon as possible, but he does not have the funds to care for them. The money you send will help bring these three kids into a safe and loving environment.   Tue, 4 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=continuing-on http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=continuing-on Meet an awesome man of God, my good friend and brother - Mark Stratmann. Mark's blog is about the struggles he's facing as he, and the rest of us, get ready for re-entry back into the states. Included are also a couple photos of our trip to the Angkor Wat ruins yesterday here in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Tomorrow we leave for our ministry site in the capital city of Cambodia. We'll be working in the slums, an orphanage and one of the local churches. Continuing on. It ever so slowly hits me every day that I have a mere 4 weeks left until life as I have known it since January 4th ends...kind of... Everyone here has to admit that in many ways we are all exhausted.  We have been traveling since the beginning of the year, pouring ourselves out to people all over the world, and it takes it's toll on your physical body.  Matt, Gretchen, and I were walking down the street the other night and we walked through some disgusting mess of trash on the streets (well, we walk Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=to-become-less http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=to-become-less Meet another one of my squadmates, Matt Peters. He's a canadian from an extremely conservative religious background. Dude has had his theologoy and life turned upside down. Now he's bringing KINGDOM to the poorest of the poor. That's what I love about this trip folks, it's not so much about LEARNING who God is- as it is UNLEARNING what you thought about God!   We are a chosen people, royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that we may declare the praises of him  who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light! (1 Peter 2: 9)   Like Peter writes, we are a Holy NATION, a royal PRIESTHOOD. Not a holy person, or a royal priest. We're called to this as a body. As a group. United! Not in our own little worlds. We're to be the Kingdom!!   So, if we are called to live and love as a body, then why are our churches splitting up? Why are we arguing over minute things with those around us. Why do we choose so often to esca Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=she-loves-us-yall http://rustyjackson.theworldrace.org/?filename=she-loves-us-yall This blog was written by my sweet and beautiful girlfriend Ericka Bennett, who has served and loved me and my squad, JAN08 World Race, above and beyond what anyone could have asked. Thank you Ericka. One blue bracelet.       It's just a few pieces of blue thread, braided together, and tied tightly around my wrist. Nothing much to look at, but to me, it's pretty important. And it will be around my wrist for 39 more days.   See, I've been reading some things about the significance of "40 days" here lately, and a couple of nights ago Rusty and I were talking about how it might be a good idea to pray specifically for something for the next 40 days - since that was how much longer he and the rest of his squad had out on the World Race before they come home.   I'll admit, I'm a little attached to this squad. Yes, it may be because the man I love is on it, and it's been over 3 months since I've seen him (and over 10 months since I've seen Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT