GlocalNet

The last day we were in Hanoi I stumbled onto an arts festival that was just incredible. I’ve always wanted to be an artist and got to be one! They had an interactive painting wall. The Vietnamese student handed me a paint brush and then interviewed me as to what it felt like to be a “painter.”

One of the coolest displays was the “butts in seats” art display. Sadly, that could count for success from a lot of pastors perspectives.

Eat your heart out Eric Swanson - always showing all your food on your blog. And you Andrew Jones - eating cruelty free food - yeah right. I was recently in Hanoi and was invited by close friends to their home to feed me some special food. What could that be? Bowser! Fideo! Who knows for sure, I know I’ve been growling lately when I see cats and running over to trees unexplainably. What food am I? Did I sin? All I can say was - it really didn’t taste like chicken - more like stringy roast beef! What am I? I’ll tell you tomorrow - but for now comment on what you think it was and comment on if you think I sinned or not.  Or, was I just as my recent book Glocalization says - being a Glocal Christian?

I can’t say that I’ve ever been with a group of people that I enjoyed more. It was the Race Track Chaplaincy of America. I’m standing here in front of Lone Star Downs with Edward Smith the President of the RTCA and Sam Spence the Chaplain. They wanted me to come out and see what they are doing. They now have a church they started there and I got to see it. There are around 200 horse racing tracks in America and they have ministries at around 125 locations--many with churches that have been started there.

Last night I spoke at their convention in Louisville, Kentucky and it was just awesome. I met some of the finest people I’ve ever met. Pat Day, maybe the winningest jockey of all time, was there. He loves Jesus. A powerful testimony. I want him to come speak at our church. They are going international! They had read my book GLOCALIZATION and had chaplains from at least 15 countries. Sometimes people don’t respond favorably to them when they tell them what they do and where they do it, but where else would you want a church? The more I thought about it the more I began to think, man, we need churches wherever people are, be they “good, bad or indifferent.” As usual, the Aussies were there--sharp people and even a couple of Kiwis! Lots of South Americans and others, as well.

When we get to global church planting status, here are 3 key things: the context which is the Glocal, the disciple which is behavioral-based, and the theology which is Kingdom. But, beyond that, there are 2 practical things that will have to happen. First, to have a global cpm, it will have to be churches in flat places. Entertainment, airports, and societal domains may be the new places we start churches as opposed to pieces of land. Second, to have a global cpm, it will come from unwanted and 3rd culture people. They have the ability to span multiple cultures and lead to tipping points.

Be creative. What are some other places and other kinds of churches we could have based on where “sinful” people like all of us are?

Long term + relationships + specific projects(wholistic engagement) + personal sharing and living = impact

For the past 2 years, everytime I show up, it’s as if things ramped up a notch or two. It seems as if it happens without us - it just keeps evolving with all our work. The same is true of NorthWood and has been true of Glocalnet. Been thinking math lately - though we have a lot to accomplish - we have come a long way. It hasn’t happened over night. It’s as if, the ramp up time is so slow, and then once it begins to roll - it goes so fast. Sounds like that Tipping Point stuff. Let me break down the formula:

Long term - most of us want to do dine and dash, that really doesn’t work if you want change. You have to be there - really be there. Something Len Sweet taught me about Bono once - he’s always in the moment. Because we want the big and the bad and we are impatient - because we don’t live in light of eternity - we totally miss the greatest opportunities God is putting in front of us.

Relationships - you don’t do anything if you don’t know anyone. Who has God put in front of you. I was asked on this trip - “How did you get to know all these people?” My answer, “It was all flukes.” We were being faithful in something small and led to something else.

Specific projects(wholistic engagement) = the rubber has to meet the road. Put the book down, instead of going to another conference, get a shovel and find a barn - you’ll learn more in that barn than you will at a conference with incredible speakers, thinkers, and writers. If those projects are tied to wholistic engagement of society - domains, etc,. - then you’ll gain credibility. If it’s just a project - then you don’t get anything sustainable.

Personal sharing and living - it’s got to be real in you and when people ask - and they always do - you have to be ready to give an answer. They see it, and hear it.

Impact - you make a difference.

It’s my last morning in Hanoi - I’ll do everything super slow to relish …

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We are here and doing well. We stayed awake after the first day and the second we painted the ABCD clinic we helped fund and start - a clinic for children. Dr. Ha the director then took all the young interns out to eat lunch. I think she was as intrigued by them as they were of her. Johnnie Morgan, my assistant, and her husband Bobby, have been on this trip and having a blast - though Johnnie isn’t used to the food. I wish Chandler, Paul, and Ritchie could be here - BUT, this is your world, but to see the eyes of the interns openning for the first time to something bigger than the West is as always - fun.

David Rush had fun visiting with the “Dali Lama” of Taipei, he was on our flight from Seattle to Taipe - he had prayer beads made from the skulls of dozens of previous generations of “lama’s”. David can speak some Chinese - it was really cool.

Pray for me NorthWood writing hard. If Zondervan is reading this - don’t worry - just 200 more pages and I’m finished!

NorthWood, you’d be so proud of the new Glocal Ventures staff here. Sherman is just incredible and his assistant “Dun” has been given the matra from Andy Wallace, “Get it Done.” When I met him the first time, he tole me he would “Get it done!” They’re winners. We may have found some offices and a guest house not far from the Birla Orphanage where we work.

I’ll try to post more later - just kind of busy for a while.

I leave in a few hours for Hanoi with our interns. My administrative assistant, Mrs. Johnnie Morgan, and her husband Bobby - will be going with us on this trip. For years she’s helped out - finally she gets to see it all first hand. Long flight - but lots to do. I hope I get a lot of my third book written. Got a couple of incredible links you gotta hit. First, is my wild man friend Ken Lockard - pretty incredible for adventure freaks like some of us—Kens the one who has me on the motorcycle kick - I’ll be on one in Hanoi - just not 1200cc - more like 100cc!

http://jet-man.com/playervideo.swf?video=jetman2007.flv

This one is from our worhsip pastor and theologian Jordan Fowler - it’s brain food:

http://www.glumbert.com/media/shift

When I was speaking in Doha at the U.S. Islamic World forum, I mentioned that what we need is not more “holy wars ” but “love wars. ” I reminded everyone of the story of Elijah and Mt. Carmel. They knew who God was by who destroyed the sacrifice (1Kings 18). Instead of guns and wars, what if our “faiths ” were in competition over good works? What if the true God would be seen more from acts of love and compassion and service to humanity than by anything else?! “Let’s declare a love war and out-serve one another! ”

Dalia Mogahed, a brilliant young lady who works at Gallup and describes herself as a researcher, wife and young mother was telling me about a verse in the Koran that says the same thing as I was proposing.

The Holy Qur’an 5:48 And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which God hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth which hath come unto thee. For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced out way. Had God willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So race one with another in good works. Unto God ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.

Matthew 6:15-16 says, “Neither do men light a candle and put it under a basket but on a candle stick and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. ”

Galli (left), Hunter (centre) and Roberts during a meeting. pictures: Jayan

Understanding faiths will ‘reduce’ conflicts Published: Sunday, 18 February, 2007, 08:49 AM Doha Time

BETTER understanding among the people of different faiths and cultures will lead to a decrease in the number of conflicts that the world witnesses today, said a representative of the Church of Resurrection, an American Christian denomination working for the residents of Illinois.
Mark Galli, who is managing editor of Christianity Today, a magazine published by Christianity Today International, has come to Doha to attend the US-Islamic World Forum 2007, the fourth edition of which began at the Ritz-Carlton yesterday.
Sharing his views on the importance of having frequent exchanges of ideas, opinions and thoughts among members of different faiths living in the US and their “Islamic brethren ” in the rest of the world, Galli feels that the root cause of all problems that the world confronts today is the lack of faith among people of different faiths.
“We are still in the process of learning more about Islam, its teachings and its wider applications in various issues, ” said Galli.
“My advice to Muslims is to understand the good teachings of other faiths and draw a lesson or two from them, ” he said.
While acknowledging that the West is slow in understanding the Islam, the editor feels that regular participation in conferences like this and exchanges of opinions would help create better understanding about each other’s religion. “There should be regular interactions among people of different faiths, ” he stressed.
Noting that there is a higher level of ecumenism of late among followers of different Christian sects in the West, particularly in the US, Galli said it had resulted in a better understanding of the religion among its followers and also has taught the members of the necessity of studying good points of other’s faiths.
Dr Joel C Hunter, a senior pastor of the Northland church, a protestant denomination, also echoed similar views.
The world is passing through a turbulent phase and there is a greater necessity for talks among not only leaders but common people of different nations themselves, said Hunter.
“What one requires most in a society is freedom of expression and …

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