GlocalNet

The conference is over, I’ll be reflecting over the next few days on all of it. Met some really cool people and no doubt we’ll be partnering in various ways. Nothing wild happened until the meeting was over.

We wound up sitting with one of the leaders at the Brookings Institute, the head of the Alliance for World Civilizations at the U.N., Ron Sider, Chris Seiple, myself, and Joel Hunter. The Brookings guy and the UN guy both began to ask us what we got from the conference and, as evangelicals, how was it that we came to our various positions. We explained to him that not all evangelicals are on TV or even agree on the same views. They began to ask how they could partner more with “evangelicals” who were more open on things like the environment, the Arab-Isreali crisis, etc. Some pretty cool stuff came up. It was just incredible. We’ll see where it goes, but, for everyone present, the UN Muslim guy and the Brookings Institute guy want a lot more dialogue and interaction.

It’s sad to me that we have basically taken ourselves out of key conversations in which God would have us involved. In the New Testament, we are warned not to lord our leadership over others like the world does. Yet, that seems the very thing we’ve done. What are we missing? What doors have we closed? What opportunities are ignored, unknown, or unavailable because of our understanding and positioning ourselves out of being salt and light. While we argue and debate the nature of the church, which matters, we are forgetting to be the church in the moment in which we find ourselves.

So, so, so sleepy. Staying up late. Body not switched over - the conference is over and it was well worth it. Got to meet a lot of people from different parts of the world. It was primarily an Islamic Forum - which has been very different in many respects - but incredibly educational. I wound up visiting a lot with Robert Pinsky. He’s so dang funny. He’s somewhat “Jewish” - so he started telling me Jewish jokes. Then stories - he told me one about how Mormons were getting baptized for all the Jews who died in the Holocaust. He didn’t like it. They asked him about it. He said, “No big deal, I’m going to start circumcising dead Mormons!” I’ve seen him on T.V., etc., doing poetry - calm, erudite - but in private - wild, crazy, and a heck of a lot of fun.

I spoke this morning and it went well. I was given lots of good comments by different people. I had to speak on Governance, Religion, and Politics - where should the lines be drawn, what rights and responsibilities should be accorded to religious minorities? What happens when religious mores and public decisions make a collision on social issues? Is there room for compulsion?

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah was there along with other world leaders and various people. I told briefly about my engagement with Afghan imams and how it had sharpened my faith as a believer. I said if ever there was a need for a Ghandi - that time is now. It may be King Abdullah of Jordan, perhaps the Sheik of Qatar. I dealt with freedom of religion, separation of church and state, protection and practice. I then gave four recommendations: First, partner imams and pastors in 6 global cities for a work project where we sweat together and get to know each other. Second, take turns going to each others’ seminaries. Third, honor each other in our various churches and mosques. Fourth - declare a love war - Elijah showed the true God by calling down fire - let us call down love.

I’m sleepy, tired, a long way to go - ready to get home —

Woke today and found myself in the Gulf States paper along with Mark Galli and Joel Hunter. They interviewed us for a story. Galli blew me away - he was on the plane and an Arabic college student asked him to his home for a meal. Mark went and had a fantastic experience. What is it about sitting down with a meal with people that changes everything? It puts us all in the context of community.

Today I visited some with Robert Pinsky, former Poet Laureate from the United States. I told him I liked the poets because they always asked the best questions. I told him though a male and from deep East Texas I love poetry and have enjoyed many of his. This is a conference on Islam and the west which means religion - so we talked a little. He told me speaking at a Christian University in Oklahoma - he said he was neither! Yet, he is very good at dialog.
Spent time with Dr. Abudullah Abdullah today. He was the former Foreign Minister for Afghanistan - now working with the Massoud Foundation. He’s doing all he can to rebuild his country. I feel that they’ve been given the short end of the stick. Iraq sure hasn’t wanted us - but we’re there - Afghanistan has really wanted help - we’re not there like we should be. To be an educated man, yet also a soldier for most his life - here is a man of conviction. He likes pens - I like him all the more.
Tomorrow I speak - it’s a very academic and intellectual crowd. The past four years has produced a lot of discussion but not so much in terms of action. Who knows where this is going. The Sheik of Qatar who spoke last night was so profound in many things he said. The most powerful was - listening to the voice of his children. The best way I’m convinced to prepare for the future is to listen to the Voice of God and the Voice of the children.
The problems we face in the world are real and so extensive - only when people step out and begin to engage is there any real hope of any change. I think, if I were a diplomat, or global politician - I would despair.

I have had quite a day. It’s late but I start early in the morning and saw a computer open so jumped on it. I need to process a lot of my thoughts but for now, here are the highlights. First - I spent time with a Muslim comedian - the first I’ve ever met - and he’s a blast. He has a beard like a Talliban but a sense of humor like Eddie Murphy - wish they’d turn him loose a few times today. Really like Joel Hunter of Northland Church in Orlando - we’ve hung out a lot, he’s really wanting to see evangelicals engage Muslims and others. Sat by Bernard Kalb? - who used to report with Walter Concrite, then ABC - really warm man. My highlight was getting to meet Abdullah Abdullah - the commander of the northern alliance troops that went into Afghanistan. I told him, “Abudullah Abdullah - meet Robert Robert!” He laughed - I told him how I’d prayed for him and the impact Afghanistan has had on my life and faith. We’re going to try to spend some time together tomorrow. Met several people from Algeria - professors, diplomats - they are really cool people.

Today listenned to people who research Arab attitudes towards America and visa versa - not anything you wouldn’t expect. We’re all very suspicious of one another. Neither had that positive of views towards the other. However, to me the real sad thing was when asked for solutions neither side has a clue of what to do. If ever there was a time for a “Middle Eastern” Ghandi that time is now. Someone who could bring all sides together and speak truth.

Tonight at supper I sat with a group of people passionate about Palestinians - incredible discussions. There’s a lot of anger over this and I felt it in the room at several times. The Sheik of Qatar is a class act - in a session on the Arab - Isreali conflict - unlike the others, he began by talking about “their” failures and mistakes and different things that could be done. At times, you felt it was all one sided. It’s midnight and I have to be up at 6a.m. - I’m defintely going to reflect on all this - just too much too fast.

This may be the best-traveled trip I’ve ever had. As I got on the plane from Dallas to London, I arranged all my reading, Maya Angelou - Celebration, Deepak Chopra - Peace is the Way, David Garrison - Church Planting Movements, David Naugle - World view, my Bible and my journal - I thoroughly confused the Texan sitting next to me - it was funny.
From London to Doha I sat by Ron Sider - who’s book that came out in ‘77 - Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger - has impacted me and many others - really cool guy, had fun talking with him.
I am so amazed at all the Asian believers from the Pacific I met all throughout my travel - all the way here. Grace and Clara - my nieces - if you’re reading this I believe some of the greatest Christians in the world are Filipino - they may be God’s greatest ambassadors. I met them everywhere - in service industry primarily - but living and sharing God’s love everywhere. You know your Texas history and ancestry - make sure your Dad teaches you Filipino history as well.
Had fun with a guy who has the “look” of a radical Islamic - not at all though - he’s a comedian from Chicago and a hoot at that. I like him a lot - we’re going to have fun. Met one activist from the U.S. who is Sudanese, then met a Sudanese official here - obviously different viewpoints of the situation in Dar fur.
We start in a couple of hours. Slept from 10pm to 7 am this morning. Great prayer, journaling, reading, and getting ready for all this. Great run and workout along the ocean. Pray for me - I know much of what I’m going to say but haven’t written it all on purpose, wanted to listen and get the feel of this place. I’ll write more later - but for now
Father, give me ears to hear not just words but emotion and attitude. Give me wisdom to look beyond the surface, discernment to know what to say and how to respond. Give me insight to know what to do. May there be much salt and much light from all of this.

Today, I leave for Doha, Qatar to be a part of the U.S. Islamic World Forum. I’m very excited about it. I was invited after Chris Seiple recommended me. The main sessions are things like: How do we see each other and what are our different narratives? The conflicts that divide us, finding a productive way forward. Heading off a clash of civilizations. I’ll be speaking on Governance, Religion, and Politics: Where should the lines be drawn? What rights and responsibilities should be accorded to religious minorities? What happens when religious mores and public decision making collide on social issues? Is there room for compulsion in religion? The Brookings Institution is driving the conference. Professors, universities, diplomats, government ministers, a Muslim seminary President, artists, business leaders, and U.N. officials will all be present.

So why am I there? Glocalization - that’s it - not the book - but the idea that I’ve been living my life by the past few years. For a long time, I had no words to express it - it was just this stream that turned into a river that I found myself in. Because of the development work we’ve done globally where faith and society cross - I became “glocal” and began to live in 2 worlds and learn 2 langauges and operate 2 ways yet all with one core. Faith and government at times have been viewed at odds with one another from an American perspective - but not so globally. The idea that diplomats could sit down and solve the world’s problems without any input or involvement from people of faith when faith issues are core and central to conflicts is and has been absurd.

The world is not as safe as it was nor will be for a good while to come. If communication and dialogue does not take place innocent people will continue to suffer. This is our responsibility - that we can make a difference and shouldn’t shrug off the world’s most difficult issues. If convictions do not hold fast - we will loose the core of who we are and the message of hope we have. If compromise and respect are not shared by both sides - each taking responsibility for their “sin” before that “sin” being pointed out by the other side - we will never have …

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