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My phone rang at 4am - Handsome Ritchie called to tell me International Church, in New Jersey will have it’s first public worship service tomorrow.  Pray for them.  Go Ritchie Go!!!  You’re not just handsome, but smart, and you love God.

It’s been too long since I’ve had a trip like this to Hanoi.  The past 3 years, when I’ve come to Vietnam it’s been a blur of meetings from early until late.  This trip, for the past 3 days has been slow.  Tomorrow I fly down to Melbourne, Australia to speak for 2 days then back to Hanoi.  I’ve enjoyed it so much.  What I’ve experience the past 3 days has reminded me what it is of Vietnam that I love so much.

I found my old motorcycle driver - and he took me all over Hanoi.  Later Dung from Glocal Ventures, Minh Song, and myself went and drank tea at Westlake and then hung out at Minh Song’s painting studio.  I also spent about 3 hours with a guy named Tim that does some contract work for us.  WOW - what a guy - very very very impresssed.  We talked lots of philosophy, etc. 

Nikki and the education team are knocking it out of the ballpark - officials from across Vietnam have approached her about doing the same conference in many of the provinces - not sure about how we’ll respond to that but it’s a nice compliment.

These are some of the highlights and condensing.

It is an honor to be with you.  I love Vietnam.  I love the country, the culture, the food, the smells, the traffic, the nature, the literature, the art, the architecture - all of it.  I’ve been coming here for many years now and it never gets old. 

What it is about is relationships.  We see each other beyond being American and Vietnamese or capitalist and communist - but as global citizens. 

The world is going global and Vietnam is propsering, and as it does it is imperative that she not forget her least, her poorest, and her most disadvantaged.  A society is judged and guaged not by how she treats her most wealthy and most powerful - but by how she treats her least.  As we begin this conference on Special Needs and Public Education lets never loose our heart for the “least of these.” If Vietnam will do that, she will be great. 

You can lead the way.  The other night I saw Vietnamese writing on the TV and it was Mrs. Universe in Vietnam!  My wife and I were so excited.  We were disappointed that Mrs. Vietnam didn’t make it to the finals.  We were stunned Mrs. USA fell down.  (We think Mrs. Laos tripped her!) Across the parking lot of this conference is Vietnamese Idol - just like American Idol.  We may share fashions, music, and many things - but as the world globalizes - Vietnam has things to offer the world and my country in particular.  There are 6 unique things about Vietnam and one huge opportunity.  You are now on the world stage - it is not enough for you to just think of yourself - but of those you can serve and influence.  You have taught me these 6 traits in the years I have been coming to Vietnam, you have used these for yourself - it is time to use them for the world.  If these 6 traits are used in the world - you will make a big difference. 

Recently our church built a new building to worship in because we have grown a lot.  Many of us gathered to pray before we began our religious services there.  As we were praying I looked on the back of a chair and it said …

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My bags made it a day later.  Nikki and the team made do with what they had though i wasn’t easy.  Her materials came when my bags came as well.  Maybe it was putting them on the plane so early - not sure - I’ll find out.  Had fun with the Director of Glocal Ventures, Sherman Chau, spent day talking.  Done is good.  Our hotel ac didn’t work - not a good thing in Vietnam - but it is now.  We have a nice room overlooking Lake Kiem - we like it.  Last night, Dr. Yen and her son Ki went out to eat with the team at a place called Pho Bien - it was good.  This morning it was pouring rain - I got up early did my reading and reflecting then headed out for a run.  I’m glad to be here.  It feels good - the smells, the people, the food - all of it - it’s addictive.  There’s something about Hanoi.  I’ve really had some good time to read, reflect, and think - I never can get enough of that. 

Things are changing here - so many cars, so many people wearing motorcycle helmets - they’r even obeying some of the traffic laws - oh for the good ole days!  This place is changing - may it all be for the good. 

Please keep in mind Matt Wellborne - gotta run . . .

Matt Wellborne is wrong!!!!!  My flight leaves at noon today - he told me to go out at 6am and I could get a bulkhead seat.  Soooo, Nikki and I went to the airport to check in at 6am - did it work?  No!  Matt - would you give me a ride to the airport? 

We celebrated Johnnie’s retirement yesterday - we mourn it today!

I got to see a close Aussie friend David Nix yesterday - we have known each other or years.  Hopefully, we’ll get to see more of one another.

I look forward to this trip to Vietnam - my past few have been very fast paced from event to event - this one is informal!  I’ll be meeting with lots of people - but no formal meetings.  In the middle of the trip I’ll be heading to Melbourne Australia to hang out with Steve Addison and some other guys.  It won’t be a long trip - but a good one. 

I’ll try to blog as I can -

Today is the last day I will go in to my office and be working with Mrs. Johnnie Morgan.  Obviously I’m sad about it.  For the past 9 years she has been my executive assistant.  I will forever be grateful.  No matter where I go around the world, or people that I meet with, she always is brought up by others.  She’s a class act.  She can deal with the most needy or the most powerful in any situation or place.  She has been here as the ministry has grown substantially and grown with it.  She’s always ahead of the game, always on top if not in front of things.  She’s rare and will be missed by me significantly. Thank you Johnnie for all you mean to me, my family, NorthWood, and the kingdom of God.  You’re the best -

Islam is the greatest opportunity for Christianity! I LOVE Muslims.  NO, I don’t agree with them - and they don’t agree with me, but I still love them.  Someone I love, I don’t throw rocks or make predictions about what bad things they may do - knowing I have my hands full with me!

The Jews were the “greatest obstacle” to the early church if you read Acts - until you realize that most of the early believers and even leaders in the early church in her first 300 year history were Jews.  Communism was the greatest obstacle to the Gospel - right?  That’s what we heard about those “godless” communist.  No, it has become the seedbed of Christianity and focal point of what God is doing with the church in China being the largest and most explosive ever.  Frankly, I’ve come to know some of those “communist” and it may amaze you to know some of them know Jesus.

THEREFORE, do you get the implication?  If history repeats itself, Islam will be the greatest spreader of the Gospel the world has ever seen!  I know , I know - don’t Muslims persecute and kill Christians - some, but not all.  BUT, didn’t Jews, didn’t communist, and even Europeans! 

This has huge implications for how we treat Muslims if we really love them.  We shouldn’t see them as obstacles or an inevitable conflict or foe, but as people that Jesus loves and gave himself for and people we should love and serve - even if they don’t follow our faith.  Some of us still believe in freedom of religion! 

Therefore, love Muslims.  Doesn’t God?  It is never our place to say who will follow Jesus and who will not.  It is never our place to predict which group of people are beyond Jesus.  It is never our place predict war and put the stamp of evil on someone’s forehead. 

Frankly, the greatest obstacle to Christianity - is Christians who don’t look like Jesus.

Vince Antonucci and Forefront Church in Virginia Beach have begun working with Glocal Ventures, Inc. – NorthWood’s NGO in Vietnam – and are seeing changed lives.  Below, you’ll find a letter written to Dennis Jeffares, International Director for GVI from Dan Pollard of Forefront Church.

“We made it back safe and sound and are now trying to tell everyone about how awesome our trip was. I’m emailing to tell you how fantastic the GVI Hanoi staff is. From start to finish, they were nothing but awesome, friendly and just plain fun to be with. I LOVE being there and I’m missing the Ta Phin School and our friends there. What a year!
I know God has got some awesome things ahead for us, GVI, and those we serve. I want you to know that personally, I’ve been changed by this experience. There is a part of me still on that new slab of concrete in Ta Phin and I know I speak for the rest of my team when I tell you that because of GVI’s hard work, we were able to realize things that were only dreams a year ago. Thank you so much for your leadership and Bob’s vision. We look forward to a long partnership.
Sincerely,
Dan Pollard”

Anybody who would want to partner with us in Vietnam – you can contact Dennis Jeffares at http://www.northwoodchurch.org – you can find out what we do and how we work.  If you’re up for it, we can make a difference together.

Yesterday was quite a day!  Great prayer, great run, good study for my sermon Sunday and then off to meetings.  I wish I could tell you about my first meeting, but I can’t.  It’s too sensitive.  Other than to say there are people following Jesus all over the world who have paid dearly, been in prison, been beaten, and tortured, but still remain true.  I had lunch with one of them.  They are at the epicenter of a great movement of God in their country.  It doesn’t seem right that they pay such a price and, yet, live obscurity and are doing more to see the Gospel proclaimed and lived out than anyone close to it here.  As I was eating with them, and saw many people in suits having “power lunches,” I couldn’t help but think about how there was this “angel” in their midst but they were unaware.  It was incredibly humbling.

My next meeting was with Oleg.  I like this guy.  He’s 32, married and has a son.  He’s very smart. Has a PhD from Stanford ( I think), or somewhere like that--I may be wrong.  He loves God deeply. He teaches at a seminary in Moldova, and works around the world building relationships with Muslims much like I do.  It’s so cool. Here is this guy--we’ve never met--and, yet, our philosophy is so similar. God is saying the same thing to so many.  He’s here to raise money for his seminary. He needs just another 30K. Come on some rich guy reading this--email me and I’ll connect you! 

I’ve come to love Muslims and Middle-Eastern people a lot.  Like many Americans, many years ago I feared them. I do not anymore.  Sure, there are some nuts, but, then again, I’m from East Texas and we have our share there, as well! 

I’ve recommended this book before, but Paul Gordon Chandler’s “Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road” is a MUST READ.  The person written about in the book is Mazhar from the Middle-East.  Mazhar is coming to spend a few days with me in August.  Thursday August 21, I’m looking at having a meeting for anyone who has read the book and would like to meet him and ask …

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Great article.  A must read for everyone!

Yesterday at church we had a powerful story of a man who went to Vietnam for the first time to work at an orphanage with a group of people from NorthWood.  His story was very good and God did a work in his heart and life.  He shared and then we prayed with people coming forward all across the front of the worship center. 

When we finished praying I went back to my seat and I was standing there singing and thinking about how so many churches have asked us to help them engage nations like we are.  I was thinking about the training, writing, all that goes into that and how we are trying to do it in a scaleable way.  I was thinking about nations and opportunities.  I’m often asked, how do you get a church to do what NorthWood does.

It hit me - faith.  Core to “missional” values is always faith.  You see the opportunity and you do it.  We had no manual, no 10 step process for doing it.  Yes - I know - we may be in that 3% of innovators that figure it out and do it.  BUT, the reality is we don’t have a story because we read someone elses manual and then did it.  We have a story because we saw an opportunity and just starting moving towards it. 

I began to think about other leaders in the Bible - most didn’t have strategies, they just pulled up stakes and went - be it Abraham, or Noah building an ark, or David with a sling shot, or Paul following the Spirit to different places.  MAYBE that’s the curriculum, how to hear God’s voice.  That’s what Paul wrote about and others.  They loved God, they worshipped him, he put things in front of them, and in faith - they moved towards them.  Unexpected things happened and God WON! 

Last night on 60 minutes I watched the story on the Sudan and Darfur.  How tragic and horrendous.  Where are we?  Who will go?  How much more do we need to know?

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