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It feels so good to be back home. This was a long, busy, and, in some ways, hard trip--yet incredibly fruitful. I have a lot of work to do from the trip, but all of it is engagement that makes a difference in the world. Several people told me they saw me on CNN, I didn’t see it. If you find the link let me know. I made a lot of new friends that are on the same path from the Middle East to South Korea. It’s amazing how God is bringing all our paths together. We are all very different in our expressions of the church, yet we all have the same passion for Jesus and vision for the world. Two people I really appreciate in all of this. . .

My wife - Nikki. I don’t like being away from her, maybe it’s because our kids are gone now and she is my home. When she met me at the airport yesterday, decked out in her jeans and red blazer and black turtle neck - woooo baby . . . . . But beyond that--her prayer, her walk with God, her faithfulness, her servants attitude to so many women and pastors wives in our church, her “give ‘em all you got Bob” kind of spirit - I couldn’t do these things without her. Some women, are really beautiful when they’re in their 20’s and after that it’s all down hill, not just looks, but Spirit and attitude, and maturity. God gave me a wife who is a class act--her beauty outwardly is more than matched by her beauty inwardly. Thank you Father for my wife. (Nikki, we need to talk about that BMW motorcycle later today! - just kidding!)

Chris Seiple - I’ve been with him a lot in delegations and meetings and etc. We are constantly interweaving our networks and relationships - we both do top down and bottom up engagement - but his speciality is top down and mine bottom up. His is more the realpolitik diplomacy, mine is more the realpeopleola connectatoa. He really loves God, thinks deeply theologically, debates vigorously sensitive issues when we are alone, and doesn’t mind laughing at me a lot. Two weeks is a long time to spend with someone - we had a blast. How he does diplomacy and how I do church is very …

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Korea reminds me a lot of Arkansas and Virginia!  It is nothing like Vietnam.  The culture is far more formal--everyone bows.  They treat leaders like kings.  It was Confucius that impacted the culture historically.  I’m at an incredible retreat center way up in the mountains.  It snowed all night and the snow is about 3 inches deep outside my window. They assured me I’ll be able to leave tomorrow. I’m ready to get home.  When they said it would be cold here, I thought it would be like Vietnam. When they say it’s cold in Vietnam--it’s not to me.  In Korea, when they say it’s cold--it’s cold! I have only shirts and a suit jacket!  It’s been incredible here with 400 pastors.  These are the people from where the great moves of God began about 30 years ago.  They are struggling with it continuing now.  They are trying to find their way.  I’ve been challenging them to stop facing West and turn and face the East and march on with the Gospel.  Last night was powerful.  All I did was tell them our story.  Today is the first calm day I’ve had since I’ve been on the road.  I speak twice for two hours each time--once is in the morning and once in the evening.  I’ll be interviewed by some papers and TV later today.  This trip is going to take some time to process--the Middle East, Korea, the projects, the people, there is a lot here!  I continue to be amazed at how God uses NorthWood.  I also become sad when I think of where the church is in the West.  Everybody has a formula. I get them emailed to me all the time.  Forget formulas or forms, just pray and act.  You wouldn’t believe the kinds of ministry they are doing here in Korea--it’s pretty incredible.  There are some incredible men and women of God here.

Bob speaks at Wheaton Bible Church’s ”Missions on your doorsteps” Conference March 1. Read about, and register for, the conference here.

Mazhar Mallouhi and Paul Chandler were simply incredible to hang out with.  Though Chris and I had been up all night, “except” for a 5 hour nap, we hit the ground running and asked him so many questions.  He more than lived up to what I expected.  I felt like I was meeting a kindred Spirit with Mazhar.  He’s a small man in his 80’s and so very full of life.  He told me all he cared about was “living the life of Christ” and he explained to me how so many of his Muslim friends had taught him so much.  Paul Chandler was brilliant. We sat around and played “what if” theology games and “what now” no kidding, no game, no nonsense discussions on engagment.  What I most took away from my meeting with Mazhar.  He told me how he had been arrested and in jail in Syria and thought he’d never get out.  He thought it was all over.  He was so upset and told God how he should deliver him and how he had let him down.  Then he heard Jesus telling him, “It’s because I love you Mazhar that I am letting you share in my sufferings.  I’m letting you in on my deepest pain.” After that, I was so grateful and it made me know God at a radically different level.  So, suffering was to him discovering who God was.  We see it as a curse, and thereby miss God.

Just preached three times at Dr. Lee’s church Global Mission Church. Wow! What a church.  I really enjoyed it. He went through a similar experience as I did and God broke him.  He has been preaching glocalization and transformation. We’re talking about doing some serious mischief together.  I enjoyed preaching in Asia--my first time in a church here.

I’m at the airport at Tel Aviv. I soon depart for Amman where Chris and I will spend the night at the airport. Hopefully, we’ll find some business lounge. All up in the air--part of the adventure, then on to Beirut where we’ll meet with Paul Gordon Chandler and Mazhar Mallouhi. I can’t wait.  I’ve endorsed and told many people to read Paul’s book, Pilgrim’s of Christ on the Muslim Road. He’s the Anglican Bishop of North Africa--he writes about Mazhar.  Mazhar would be like a Muslim E. Stanley Jones.  E. Stanley Jones is the person who has impacted me the most and helped me in understanding the world and culture.  From there, tomorrow night, we sleep economy to Dubai.  Then, Chris returns in business class (the dog) to the US and I head to Seoul Korea in economy!!!  So, that’s two nights without real sleep.  But no matter, as my wife can attest, when I don’t get sleep, I’m in really good moods--it doesn’t affect me at all.  (Could I be lying?!!)

Nikki, so glad we came in January. We ran to the church of the Holy Sepulcher to see Golgotha and the empty tomb. Then, toured the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Dome of the Rock). Then, saw David’s Tomb.  I once again met with the Grand Mufti of Palestine--great meeting.  We, then, met with the Israeli State Depart--all good meetings where we listened and learned. 

My brother in Christ, Randall Mayne, who helped us start our church, went home to be with the Lord.  How I loved him and will miss him.  He was always steady, faithful, and, to me, Randall.  He lives on in the lives of those of us who knew him and loved him. 

Keep me in mind. I’ve a ways to go.  I’ve had several great reports about last Sunday at NorthWood--that’s what it’s all about. Not a one-man show; never has been and, if we are the church God has called us to be, never will be.

On pda--don’t like this but only way to blog. President Abbass was very gracious and encouraging--will write more later.  His chief encouraged us to fill up the churches--he’s Muslim. Sad--Christians are losing their voice and once gone not good.  Great meeting with pastors in Bethlehem. On my way to visit with Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, then Israelis.

I made it to Bethlehem. Chris and I had to fly all night to Istanbul, Turkey and then here, but we made it.  Was I in for a shock.  When I arrived I got to meet one of my childhood heroes--Brother Andrew of God’s Smuggler.  He used to smuggle Bibles behind the iron curtain.  He always prayed, “You made blind eyes see make seeing eyes blind.” He meets with some of the most controversial figures in the West Bank--be it Hamas or Jihad.  He has been reaching out the past few years trying to show the love of Jesus to people most would write off.  As he was speaking to one of those leaders today who has suffered massive loss of family and other things, he spoke of forgiveness.  The man shot back, “You only forgive those who are worthy!” It gave an incredible opportunity for him to share with him about grace and what forgiveness is really all about. 

We’re sitting in Bishara Awad’s office with Don Anderson from Kensington, along with other leaders here trying to figure out how we can be a blessing and servant to the Palestinian people. 

I wound up hanging out a lot with the Grand Mufti of Bosnia, Supreme Islamic leader of Bosnia, and I like him a lot.  I’m going to do a whole blog on him when I can. One statement he said was, “Our worst fighting is reserved for our own, not those most opposite us.” It’s time for us to really “fight” for things that are right and no longer spend our time on petty non-eternal things.

Keep us in mind - many significant meetings tomorrow.

Wow, what a morning! Here at the World Islamic Forum sponsored by Brookings and the Sheikh of Doha--they brought us as together as faith leaders.  I met an Egyptian Muslim who views development and enagement much like me.  He’s the equivalent of a “televangelist,” yet he’s Muslim.  I explained what we’d done in Afghanistan and asked how he would feel partnering on different projects. He was very open.  We ate lunch together and really connected.  I’m convinced the future will not be us showing up doing our thing, but living the life of Jesus as we connect to see radical transformation in the world.  We will not do it apart from other religions, but respectful all the while not compromising who and what we believe.  This was illustrated by an Assembly of God pastor and an Imam from Nigeria who used to literally fight one another.  God convicted the pastor, they started a ministry of reconciliation.  It reflects Jesus and is good for the church.  Globalization, communication, all of this has, for good or bad, put us in the same playing field.  We need not fear the power of the Gospel to stand strong on its feet around other “religions” - it was born out of Judaism, in a polytheistic Roman empire.  The Grand Mufti of Bosnia was in our meeting.  He said he was so tired of meetings and inter-faith dialogue.  It was time to move beyond that to doing some projects together.  Sweat equity is what we need.

I got to visit with Ambassador Zalmay Khalilizad--one of my heroes. He’s an American Afghan who is now the Ambassador to the UN.  President Karzai speaks tonight.  Last year’s conference was good, but this one is even better. 

Thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Rabbi Peter Knobel--he also would like to partner in some type ministry.  All of us agreed, our faith should be active and we should be at the forefront of leading out in peace.  Can you imagine it, Jew, Muslim, Christian, African, Etyptian, Palestinian, American--all of us wanting to do something together.  None of us wanting to be Universalist--all of us committed to our faith--every one of us willing to try to make a difference. 

I’ll write as I can. Those of you who know me well know how hard it is for me to sit still . . . but so far …

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As I speak and write, and at the same time engage in the world, I’m often frustrated that the American church, in particular, doesn’t get the global issues and how it’s affecting what they do at home and around the world.  Even the most “progessive” and “contemporary” and “emergent” expressions of the church in the West today don’t really address this.  It often shows up in my writing and speaking.  There is a sense of arrogance and the coolness factor of being the “IN” crowd and yet how “OUT” we really are to lunch when it comes to the world and how it is impacting us without realizing it.  Postmodern world, etc.--those kinds of words and phrases generally show our ignorance--postmodern west, yes--postmodern world, absolutely not.  HOWEVER, at this conference there are people from so many domains of society, and what we are experiencing in the church is no different from what communication is experiencing (open and closed formats), what business is experiencing (Starfish and the Spider), what education is experiencing (West vs. Rest) and every other domain.  The whole world is in flux, each domain is struggling to find itself--what an incredible opportunity for the church, or a nightmare that will lead to old metrics that no longer measure what really leads to change or old paradigms that were new 30 years ago--still based on a dream of modernity. 

I just came out of my task force in which I learned a tremendous amount.  It dealt with Democracy in the world and America.  Jason Brownlee, sharp young international relations expert from UT, made the most profound statement about America and Democracy “Those places we did less wound up leading to more democratic reforms, and those places we did more wound up with less.” I begin to insert America for church and Democracy for church planting in my thinking.  The lessons were incredible--some of which I’ve already known--some not.  Democracy (CP) must be contextualized.  Democracy (CP) must not be tied to money, yet incentives.  Democracy (CP) should facilitate the emerging leaders not set up her own tied to America.  Democracy (CP) in each country must have her own heroes.  This stuff is big!  There is much cross-disciplinary learning to be done here, and I’m learning a lot.

Randall Mayne & Craig Fresch--I’m praying for you two men--and Brenda.  Kick cancer hard.  Do what the doctors recommend, …

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Wow, what a morning.  Here at the World Islamic Forum sponsored by Brookings and the Sheikh of Doha--they brought us as together as faith leaders.  I met an Egyptian Muslim who views development and engagement much like I do.  He’s the equivalent of a “televangelist” yet he’s Muslim.  I explained what we’d done in Afghanistan and asked how he would feel partnering on different projects--he was very open.  We ate lunch together and really connected.  I’m convinced the future will not be us showing up doing our thing, but living the life of Jesus as we connect to see radical transformation in the world.  We will not do it apart from other religions, but respectful all the while not compromising who and what we believe.  This was illustrated by an Assembly of God pastor and an Imam from Nigeria who used to literally fight one another.  God convicted the pastor; they started a ministry of reconciliation.  It reflects Jesus and is good for the church.  Globalization, communication, all of this has, for good or bad, put us in the same playing field.  We need not fear the power of the Gospel to stand strong on its feet around other “religions” - it was born out of Judaism, in a polytheistic Roman empire.  The Grand Mufti of Bosnia was in our meeting.  He said he was so tired of meetings and inter-faith dialogue.  It was time to move beyond that to moving to doing some projects together.  Sweat equity is what we need.

I got to visit with Ambassador Zalmay Khalilizad--one of my heroes.  He’s an American Afghan who is now is the Ambassador to the UN.  President Karzai speaks tonight.  Last year’s conference was good, but this one is even better. 

Thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Rabbi Peter Knobel--he also would like to partner in some type of ministry.  All of us agreed, our faith should be active and we should be at the forefront of leading out in peace.  Can you imagine it, Jew, Muslim, Christian, African, Egyptian, Palestinian, and American--all of us wanting to do something together.  None of us wanting to be Universalist--all of us committed to our faith--every one of us willing to try to make a difference. 

I’ll write as I can - those of you who know me well know how hard it is for me to sit still …

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