Today’s ONE THING: Ever Been to Bolivia? Bolivia, North Carolina that is.

• Acts 17:1 (NKJV) Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

How would you like to live in Muck City, Alabama?  Or how about Deadhorse, Alaska?  (Perfect if you really like winters and you’re not a horse.)  And then there’s Chloride, Arizona, Bald Knob, Arkansas and Frying Pan, California; all, I’m sure wonderful little places to put down roots and enjoy the American dream.

Every state has some small out of the way places.  For instance, have you ever been to any of these little towns in my home state, South Carolina: Coward, Due West, Little Switzerland, Ninetimes, Ninety Six, North, Round O, Six Mile (Sonja your home town made the list!), Southern Shops, South of the Border (I worked there), Townville, and Welcome?

As today’s bible verse indicates, Paul was in uncharted territory.  As a missionary apostle, Paul was going places that the average person of his day would have never gone.  Travel was hard, expensive and dangerous.  They didn’t have frequent flyer miles programs and clean motels and certainly not a Cracker Barrel along the way.

However, there was one thing that you could predict about Paul wherever he went.  As you read through the book of Acts, you will notice that whenever he went to a new town he always looked for the synagogue (church) first.

In other words, his mission directed him (preaching the Gospel first to the Jew and then the Gentile).

He may have had to stay in a flea-infested barn or a fine Inn but it was his mission that directed him.  His diet may have been mush or home cooking but it was his mission that directed him.  He may have traveled by ship or on foot, but it was his mission that directed him.

Dear friend, remember why you are doing what you’re doing today.  Right now your main mission in life may be raising and providing for small children that will one day grow up to serve God.  Dirty diapers, little sleep and even less time for yourself may not be fun, but let the mission direct you.

Currently, God may have dropped you down in a difficult job to be a witness; let the mission direct you.  Or maybe it is some other tough place or situation or stage of life; whatever it is: let the mission direct you.

In the end, whether it is New York City, New York or Yaphank Yonkers, New York (or any other place in the world), you’ll look back one day and be thankful that you were faithful to the mission that God gave you.

Bless you my dear fellow traveler…whether you’re heading to Bolivia or Bolivia, North Carolina or somewhere between or beyond.