GlocalNet

I highly recommend Dave’s new book.  He writes on third culture.  This book is in a league and category all it’s own.  It’s a must read for all pastors in leadership in the American church because its descriptive of who we are becoming and what the world is like. 

This new book is called The Monkey and the Fish
Recently, Dave Gibbons and I were in Chicago for the Leadership Network gathering of Asian American pastors.  “Be me the Irish, errrrr In the mood for Korean kimche!” David is half Irish and half Korean - some people don’t know that.  I’m also part white Hmong from north Vietnam and Welsh - well only half of that is true, you figure out which!  Which of these two pictures is showing his Irish side and which his Korean side . . . I’ll tell you my opinion at the end of the day - - - if I can get near a computer.

Thank you Jerry for helping me begin this journey to the West Bank.
It was one of our church members, a Palestinian Christian, who first introduced to me the whole conversation and ideas about the Holy Land - Israel and the West Bank - but it would be years later before I’d get that involved with it.  Thanks Jerry for your patience.  It was sad how hard it was for Jerry to enter the country with us.  It took us 3 hours at the airport in Tel Aviv and it was simply because of his name.  Omar experienced the same problem.  I understand Israel’s concern for security - I don’t understand how they go about that.  It’s as if it’s building the tension unnecessarily high. 

Make up your mind Omar, only 1 religion per person!
Here, I am sitting, trying to help Omar, on his first trip to the Holy Land, get all the nuances of the 3 great monotheistic faiths.  Explanation moves to integration and experimentation.  First, he hits the Western Wall with the Jews.  Then, he discovers “Mosque Planting” with the Muslims.  I get him to the empty tomb -  all in Jerusalem - all in one hour!  He gets it all!  Any questions at all you have about these 3 monotheistic faiths - Omar is ready to explain.

Life couldn’t be better.  On the Mediterranean at Tel Aviv - and a HUGE Ice Cream Man!!!!  I love ice cream.

I just returned from a very small gathering of pastors from around the world.  All of us have started our church, we start churches out of our church, and we engage with other nations in the domains of society.  These churches are generally huge - but not all.  There are things we are teaching one another and ways of mentoring each other and it is one of the most incredible things “ministry-wise” I’ve ever been a part of. 

We met in the middle-east and the pace was very fast - as well as some other things I was involved in there so I didn’t have a chance to blog.  I’ll do some catch up with it the next couple of weeks.  Here are some observations and statements made that were unexpected that were intriguing for me:

“Asia will not be won by the house church and/or simple movement alone.”  This wasn’t from one man, but all of them - each of them also having more simple churches than any other model.  All of these men have huge churches, and simple, cell, and small church planting networks that also have larger churches in them.  That they use all the models and expressions of the church has always been clear.  They were really reacting against those that would define all models of church as being one form.  In the past I’ve heard push back on U.S. mega-church “only” type guys.  I was hearing a strong push back on “simple” church only.  They start simple churches by the thousands, but many of those grow into large churches - each has a different function and purpose.  Their contention is we are all organic if Christ is the head and the whole body needs the whole body. 

“Cells, churches, and ministries must flow from the domains of society.”  It’s what I wrote about in my last blog and Matt Carter talked about on the video that was there.  I think we are finally starting to move away from doing “religious” work to doing “kingdom” work.  All of them were talking domains at this meeting and what they were doing and how church planting was coming out of it. 

“We are on the front end of something we can’t describe yet.”  I heard this from every pastor.  Most of these men have faced persecution or are in difficult places.  Each has a sense …

// Continue Reading //

Matt is right on.  This is what I was saying yesterday.  I’m always asked how did our church get so missional and global . . . where are your sermon series on that, etc., The answer is by doing it - it isn’t found in a class - it’s found in the field.  Matt ties this to his small group ministry and it’s really good.  Proud of you Matt - keep rockin’ little Texas bro!

THE SHOW - for May 19, 2009 - Guest Matt Carter from Todd Rhoades on Vimeo.

In the east - community is everything.  It’s in the family, the neighborhood, friendships, work - all of it.  So when people come to faith in Christ it is more about who God is and “small groups” are more for mission than anything - reaching out and serving and sharing.  In the west - community is little - so when people look to church they focus on finding friends and community and small groups are for “fellowship” and friendship more than anything - I think that’s reflected in Churches.

Been thinking a lot about this.  When a group starts focused on mission, it will ultimately get fellowship - but flowing from mission and a sense of accomplishing something together.  If you start a group for fellowship - seldom do you get anything beyond fellowship - if even that.  Often groups rise and fall based on people getting friendships. 

Do we need to reorient ourselves in the west and learn from the east here?  I think so.  Focus on mission in the small group - and you get mission and fellowship.  Focus on fellowship in the small group and get only fellowship - if that.

Cody comes to the Revive program at NorthWood for special needs children.  You have to watch this video.  I have always believed, a society should be judged - not by what it does with it’s most gifted, but by what it does with its most challenged.  I also believe those “most challenged” often wind up showing those “least challenged” what life is all about and how to tackle it.  Proud of you Cody!!!!!
http://www.teamcody.com/

The other night we were over at Charlie and Carla Perry’s house.  Carla got a teaching degree and will be teaching elementary this fall – we were celebrating.  They helped us start our church 23 years ago.  They have a son Clinton who finished up at Biola and is now in seminary there.  Clinton was a wild man.  He was always knocking stuff over – very hyper.  He and my son Ben were best friends growing up.  I’m so proud of Clinton.  His parents are in Vietnam on a business trip right now with a group from Glocal Ventures – Charlie has been before – this is Carla’s first trip. 

BUT, this family has been so intertwined with mine in many ways.  The first was Carla’s dad – he planted many churches in the US – many that have become very large.  So when I started NorthWood, he would call me, meet with me over lunch or coffee, challenge me, teach me, encourage me, listen to me – and he really cared – he still does.  Maybe it was because he had his child and her family in our church!  But there is no doubt about it, he made a huge impact on NorthWood. 

When you’re young you question what you can or can’t do.  He never would allow me to entertain ideas about that – it was always – “OK, here is where you are – what are you going to do to get to that next level.”  In his book it wasn’t about me and my ability, but God, his Church, and what he wanted, and doing the right things. 

The number one thing most of us deal with is self-doubt.  As long as you live with that – you never move forward.  If you can ever see that it really isn’t your ability – but his work in and through you – you can move forward.  It’s not all up to us – it’s up to him.  If it’s his call it will fulfill his will.

Many of you have noticed that glocal.net has been a bit sporadic in the past few days.  Our server is having issues.  Please be patient as our host repairs the situation!  Thank you.

Whether you agree with his politics or not – no if ands or buts about it – President Jimmy Carter is a very, very sharp man.  He knows his stuff – so if you disagree with him – you’d better know yours.  He doesn’t speak from opinion or preference when it comes to international affairs, but history, accords, maps – all of it.  I was with him and a small group of people, of which Ron Sider was there, Lynne Hybels, Jim Wallis, Ambassador Andrew Young, Greg Khahil and others.  We were talking about the whole Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Obviously, I was there because of domain engagement and what that can look like for churches in terms of people-to-people projects, etc.  I also met with some churches that want to work there and are trying to get our tracks laid so others can follow.  It’s exciting.  President Carter told me he’d like to come to our church and hear me preach – I told him “No way, I want you to come and preach.” 

Been thinking a lot about inter-faith – the word describing how we relate to other faiths.  I think there are three words that have described its evolution, and a fourth I would propose.  There were Muslims and Jews with us – and we spoke on interfaith. 

First, in reflecting since the meeting, historically people have focused on “My Faith.”  All the world is see through my personal faith, values, and worldview.  My agenda is to get every person to see life through my lens.  Even though people try that – it hasn’t happened in the history of humanity.

Second, “One Faith.”  This was the idea of universalists and liberals – we are all on the same path.  All roads lead to God.  This is still advanced by an older, declining group in interfaith circles.  The goal is minimize our differences, come around where we can agree, and hopefully build a kind of “human faith” that all religions subscribe to.

Third, “Inter-faith.”  Historically, as I’ve heard Eboo Patel talk about and others with his organization, it meant liberalism and syncretism.  Not anymore.  It’s beyond tolerance, and even respect, to collaboration.  How do we work together in this world?

Monday night we had hundreds of men gather at NorthWood to hear John Garret - a coach for the Dallas Cowboys, Dat Nguyen - former linebacker for the Cowboys and now coach, Pat Combs - former pitcher for the Philadelphia Philley’s and NorthWood member, and John Tolson.  It was just awesome! 

Because of NorthWood’s invovlement in Vietnam having Dat at our church was a special treat.  I got to show him around, the Vietnamese architecture and paintings - all of that.  He got to meet Sherman and Phuc as well as a lot of other people. 

We have had 3 gatherings like this where 3 of us as churches came together, John spoke, and many people have given their hearts to Christ.  John has a book called the Four Priorities.  Many of the men will wind up going through it.  This book is written to help make disciples in small group formats of men.  I’m really excited about it.  I like what John does because he bridges the gap between evangelism and discipleship - there is no gap, it’s the same conversation.  Thanks John for an incredible experience and some fun days ahead!

Page 2 of 57 pages  <  1 2 3 4 >  Last »