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“History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heart-breaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.”
-- B.C. Forbes

Because NorthWood has grown and had a unique ministry and planted many churches I get lots of calls from young pastors dealing with different issues.  This week, I’ve fielded a few calls and even met with some guys.  One guy struggling with family issues, a couple with financial issues (hang in there guys - it’s tough for everyone but just remember God’s Kingdom economy is bigger than the US economy), and a couple with leadership issues in their church dealing with negative people.

I deal with all that stuff too - don’t kid yourself.  I learned many years ago everyone does.  Doesn’t matter how big or small they are, house or building, it’s just all part of it.  There are days I want to quit - just like anybody else - buy a cabin in Colorado by a stream, hide out, run naked with a spear through the woods . . . !!!! 

I don’t know of a single leader that at times hasn’t had enough and wants to quit.  In a church, you never can and never will please everyone - it’s just impossible.  That’s why you have to do what’s right and do it for God.  Better to make someone angry following God than trying to follow them.  I’ve also learned, some people are always upset about something - so if you appease them in one area, it won’t be for long, there will be another issue. 

As I was doing my personal worship this morning I read 2 Chronicles 15:2 . . . “Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin!  The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him!  Whenever you seek him you will find him.  But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.  3.  For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them. 4 But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found Him.  5.  During those dark times, it was not safe to travel.  Problems troubled the people of every land.  6 Nation …

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July 4th weekend is here.  What are you preaching?  Most will preach something about the love of America, etc.  That will be good.  What about preaching on what religious freedom is about and what separation of church and state is and why it matters to Christians?  It’s such a sometimes controversial topic, and complex that many often run from it.  I did for years.  BUT, the more I studied the Kingdom of God and worked globally the more I realized that this was crucial to Christianity and the potential of it’s future growth. 

Here’s, your text:  The Woman at the Well - how did Jesus deal with her with reference to challenging her to follow him, how did it impact the others . . . .  it’s a fun text for that.

Here’s outside sources, these four books, all current and very good:  Os Guiness - The Case for Civil Society, Steven Waldman - Founding Faith, Pople Benedict XVI - Jesus of Nazareth, and Jonathan Sacks - The Home we Build Together. 

Here’s some things to think about:

Freedom of religion is really about freedom of thought.

Freedom of religion means we are giving people the right to choose their authority for life.

Freedom of religion means we live more by moral covenant than social contract.

Freedom of religion opens us up to divine possibilities of what the world can be with Christ.

Freedom of religion matters here and to Christians because what we provide here, we can ask for and promote in other parts of the world.  Some people tell me, when Islam will let us build churches as freely in the Middle-East as they do mosques, then they’ll support it.  I disagree - the fact that I believe in their right to exist here, gives me the moral high ground to say, “I respect your views and right - would you please respect mine?”
Freedom of religion matters because if someone must follow my faith because of law or a sword - what kind of faith is that?  …

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Thursday night I spoke at the annual convention of the Baptist General Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, it was on the evening when they appointed foreign missionaries to different countries.  It was a lot of fun, I spoke on domains, engagement, and transformation.  This weekend there was a big conference for Texas city-managers and city leaders in Arlington.  On Sunday morning those who wanted could participate in a time of teaching that I was asked to lead.  David Miller, the city manager for Forest Hill asked me to come, when they lived in our area, they used to come to NorthWood.  I really enjoyed it.  I spoke on domains, the Great Commission, and the unique role of a city manager - how of all people, those who were followers of Jesus were more equipped to transform cities than anyone else.  They were connected to all the parties involved, they knew all the players, they got the big picture.  They received it really well.  As I was speaking and looking at them, it just really hit me, how far off track we are that who would think of a city manager as the greatest potential “missionary” of all.  When it was over, a lady who worked with one of the most significant cities in Texas came up to me and asked, “How would this look”, if me, as a Christian, were to set up a sister city relationship - where would you go?  How would you connect the people?  She went on to say, we’ve connected governments, which is good - but not nearly enough or getting any of us where we thought we would be. . . .  Stay tuned ma’am . . .  Go Hub is on the way . . . .

One of my recent new converts in Africa - it was a little difficult getting her baptized, but we did the job!

Just a reminder to all Church Planters, Pastors, and Business Leaders looking to make a transformational difference in the world.  We have seats available for the August 14 & 15 Turbo.  Click on “Turbo” above and fill out the registration.  It’ll be a time of interaction with Bob, NorthWood Mission staff, and some very special guest speakers!  Hope to see you there!

It’s been a wild 24 hours but a great 24 hours.  I met with the Prime Minister of Vietnam yesterday.  Since becoming Prime Minister, this was his first trip to the U.S.  He was a very sharp man.  There were about 9 of us that met with him and got to bring greetings.  We listened to each other and I think the meeting went really good. 

I told him that we had been coming to Vietnam since ’94 working with the government – that hundreds of our people have been there, I listed some of the projects, we talked about the exchange students (many of whom parents are diplomats with the Vietnamese State Department).  Dennis told him about Glocal Ventures.  I also thanked him for the progress being made in the area of religious freedom and asked that things continue to move in that direction.  I told him about our new worship center, the style of the hallways and all the Vietnamese art and architecture.  I explained to him that Vietnam had “made our church” what it is today.  Vietnam made me see the world . . . . . He seemed moved and his aides very excited about it – all of them smiling very big. 

Chris Seiple, with IGE, pulled several sharp people together for the meeting and I enjoyed all of them BUT ESPECIALLY Cardinal McCarrick.  He was the archbishop of Washington D.C.  He’s one of the warmest men I’ve ever met.  He’s been a lot of the same places I have, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Vietnam . . . . . . the list goes on.  There are some people you get around – and you can just sense God – he’s one of them.  I was told he did Tim Russert’s funeral last week.  He was an incredibly humble man.  He has a great sense of humor and a very shrewd, humorous way of addressing issues, that addresses them without putting everyone on edge.  I was learning a lot from him.  I asked him to set up a meeting with me and the Pope – I told him I was kidding, but he said I could get a group audience with him – so who knows . . .

It’s 4am and I’m getting ready to jump on an early flight to D.C.  I meet later today with the Prime Minister of Vietnam.  Yesterday at NorthWood we were trying to place three more exchange students from Vietnam.  Hey NorthWooders - we’ve got 5 kids from Hanoi on the way with 3 more needing homes.  One is a sharp young man.  His grandmother is the one who works in Vietnam certifying the kids to come, and the other young lady is sharp as well.  Another young lady has already had her sister come, she’s a student at TCU and sometimes sings when we do a mass choir at NorthWood.  Having an exchange student is one of the greatest things that you can ever do.  Nikki and I had one, many of you know him - Ti.  We talked to him the other day - he’s working with Intel traveling all over the world.  It’s one of the greatest things you can do in your family.  It let’s someone else see our country.  It lets you discover another culture.  It allows you to help someone else out.  Of all the different projects we’ve done in Vietnam, I don’t know anything, long-term will have the same impact of having an exchange student.  From face to face diplomacy to showing hospitality - it’s just good all the way around.  Nikki and I - along with Ben and Jill - whole heartedly endorse it and recommend it to you. 

I have a friend that’s an artist and they recently became follower of Jesus.  To celebrate the occasion they gave me one of their works of art.  I can sit here, in my study and look at it and think of the person and pray for them.

How are you sharing your faith?  How are you living your faith?  We have become so one dimensional - giving people sermonettes!  We should always be ready to give an answer.  But I would say our life should be an answer as well.  Who are you serving?  Who do you care about?  Who are you there for?  We get so busy with God’s “big” work that often times, we forget the face that God puts right in front of us - today - he’s going to put someone in front of you - who will it?  It may not be the person you recognize …

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This morning I was reading 1 Chronicles 21 how David built an altar.  A few months ago I became intrigued by how before Judaism, they would build altars to God.  There were no houses of worship, no temples, no churches, no “tents” - instead, wherever God spoke, they would build an altar - right there.  God had met them in a particular place, and they worshipped.  I could do it for you, but do your own Bible study on it, it’s fascinating.  Worship and action were tied together.  Worship was personal, private - yet very public.  Altars weren’t built inside of buildings - but out in the open. 

How would this affect our worship today?  The Vietnamese have taught me about God - where would my personal altars be there?  I’ve seen God in Afghanistan - where would my altars be?  When God did something great in our life, we often go back to the place, the spot, and we drill down and sit and reflect.  This morning in my reading I read another verse God gave me 15 years ago - it took me back to a place, a time, an event.  I wrote about it in my Bible.  It’s like driving by the house we grew up in when we were little kids - it takes us back.  It’s like seeing a place that we once visited where something special happened.  When the Children of Israel passed the Jordan into the promised land - there were rocks made as a memorial to remind so their descendants could know, “this is where they passed” and I’m sure many of them upon seeing those rocks would kneel, touch them, and thank God for those who crossed over before them. 

Where are my altars?  Where are your altars?  Just thinkin . . . .

I heard Ray Bakke once speak on the theology of the place - I don’t know this fits there - but it may.

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people who say they want to be church planters and “build authentic community,” yet their actions don’t back it up.  For instance, just a few days ago I was talking with a young man who was telling me his dream of planting a church because he wanted to be a “transparent pastor” and “create an authentic community” (whatever that means).  He went on to ask me if I knew of any tools to help aid in that endeavor.  I asked him if he had a Facebook or Twitter account, or even (heaven forbid… personal opinion) a MySpace account.  He proceeded to tell me this long, drawn out story of how he liked to keep to himself and how his personal life was, well, personal.

Do you see the disconnect?

I think that every pastor and church planter should have a blog, Facebook, or a twitter account at least (pick one, at least one).  Live your life with your people.  You don’t have to give all the gory details, but let people know what you’re doing, what you’re going through, and what you’re learning.  You want an authentic community… be authentic.

GLOSSARY:
“Twitter” (http://www.twitter.com): “Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?”

“Facebook” (http://www.facebook.com): “Facebook is a social utility that connects you with the people around you.”

Well, for all of you who have been calling and emailing asking when the next Turbo is going to be held, we can finally give you a date! 

August 14 & 15, 2008

Here are just a few details:
Registration will be open on Monday, June 23rd (click on the “Turbo” link above on that day and it will take you to the registration form)
The cost is $199 per person, unless you bring a group of 5 or more, then prices drop to $179 per person (if you plan of bringing a group, please email us via the “Contact us” link at the top of this page and we will arrange for a group #).
It will begin at 8am on August 14 and go until noon on the 15th.
Seating is limited to 100 for the August Turbo.
For other details such as hotel reservations and such, click on “Turbo” above on Monday.

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