GlocalNet

This Easter was a mix of the old and the new, the good and the bad, the past and the future—it was all present.  The man standing beside me helped us start our church 21 years ago.  I love him deeply. His name is Gene Powell.  The Josh Williams family is experiencing their daughter’s first Easter!  This is the last Easter service in our present building—apart from a new church using it—be it deaf, Hispanic, or something else very unique.  One shot is from the back of our present Worship Center—one shot is from the side of the stage where you can see Brent and Jordan leading worship.  Finally, that little speck of a guy in the new Worship Center is Randy Miller, our Transparent Connection Pastor, or Discipleship Pastor, or Teams Pastor, or, well, you get the idea! 

While thousands were worshipping with us this weekend, I had several emails from friends around the world asking for prayer.  In one country, a young emerging leader was kidnapped.  His ministry was growing and he was perceived as a threat.  In another country, people were beaten with cricket bats, a pregnant woman was stomped causing her to lose her baby, and others were brutally attacked.  Most of the Easter weekend I thought and prayed for all of them, but especially the young man.  Was he alive?  Was he afraid?  Was he in pain?  Would he be brutalized like his Christ this Easter—and if precedent follows—lose his life? 

I preached with abandoned passion building a case for transformation—not merely conversion.  Why is it a Buddhist, a Muslim, or Hindu would choose Christ and thereby choose persecution and suffering?  If we all believe the same thing, and all roads lead to the same place why not just join the majority religion?  There are good people in all those religions. I’m friends with many—even a close friend to many atheists.  One reason is because what Jesus did on that cross was not merely to give us a model to follow, like Buddha, or a way to point like Mohammed, but He gave us redemption.  When we couldn’t do it, in and of ourselves, grace was extended through the cross.  Sin impacted us spiritually with God, relationally with …

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Ken Wellborn hosted an Easter event for UN diplomats May 3 and invited me to attend. It was a great celebration. His message was clear, powerful, and simple. Steve Green sang. His music is so confessional. He’s a preacher who sings his sermon.I sat at the table with Ambassador George Owuor, the DPR of Kenya, Ambassador Dr. Akec Khoc, DPR of Sudan, the Ambassador DPR of Nigeria, and Ambassador Thang, the DPR of Vietnam. We had a lot of fun. We spoke a little about politics in specific countries but more about needs and what can be done to serve the people in their countries. Water was such a big issue—go LIVING WATER!!!!!I was very grateful the Vietnamese Ambassador DPR came. I thought it made a big statement to those of us who are Christians that he values us even though he may not be one. He was very kind and gracious, as are most Vietnamese. I know that Vietnam has its problems. But, I also know that Vietnam is trying to improve her situation. Enough people are talking about what they don’t like. I want to talk about what I do like when I see progress moving in positive and healthy directions.Most Christians on the far right have been lobbing bombs at the UN, and it is a mistake. There is no doubt about it—the UN has its faults and problems. If you did away with it and started something else, you’d still wind up with the same people, because the nations represented and the leaders present are the best their countries have to offer. The world’s greatest gateway to the nations is right here in the U.S. If we really want to change the world for good, we should work with what we have, instead of trashing it all the time. Should the UN be reformed? I think so. Should it be done away with? Not at all—with what would you replace it?

In one of the countries I was in this past year, I passed one of their court buildings. Outside, there was a crowd gathered as an old lady tried to force her way beyond the front gate and get closer to the building. I couldn’t understand the language so didn’t know what was happening. She was alone—at least it appeared that way. Did her son, husband, daughter, or friend do something bad? Or, were they a victim of injustice? Some people were laughing and pointing. Some people were very somber-faced and concerned. The person I respected the most was the guard who was stopping her from entering the building. Why? He didn’t hit her or abuse her.  Istead, he spoke softly as he prevented her from going in and refused to return the weak blows she tried to deliver to him in order to get in. The other guards were laughing at him and making fun of him.  But, it wasn’t funny to him. To him, this woman was worthy of being treated not as a “hostile” but as a parent or wife—who knows. My mind raced through various scenarios of what had happened.

Later, I passed a hospital. I saw a dad holding a little girl with a severe cleft palate deformity. He was kissing her on her check. Did she know she was deformed? As the dad pulled her away, I noticed he, too, had once had a cleft palate. The scar still showed. Was she at the hospital to be examined for surgery to get her cleft palate fixed? Or, was it something else? What would her future be?

Both were forms of injustice. Which mattered the most? How do you speak to it? After I spoke at the Flood in San Diego, a sharp young man came up and asked me about dealing with social and political injustice and how you tackle that head-on. I told him injustice is injustice. If you want to tackle it in a nation, start with the injustice you both can agree on before you challenge them with your notion of injustice on which you disagree.

So often, we want to show up and give our views on things without first having earned the right to speak to nations. It’s easy to pick up a sign, or sign a petition. But, have we first given someone a cold cup of water, …

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I can’t believe it’s done - but it is - I finished my third book. It won’t be out for a year. It’s on how churches start churches out of their local church. I believe it’s the biggest missing link in what we need to see a church planting movement take place today in the West. I contrast movements, multiplication, and the role of local churches in all that. I then deal with some practical issues of how you actually do it in your local church. Lots of editing to do, etc. But the biggest part of it is over and I’m pumped. It’s taken a couple of days to decompress from the pressure - but it’s off! The first picture shows where I wrote the first half of it - Hanoi. The second picture shows where I wrote the second half - my study at home. I actually picked it up some for the picture. Generally when I write books are all over, lectures, notes, pages - not today!!!!!! My office is back to normal.

...... But not for long - I have a fourth book I will begin working on in May. I’m already reading and studying for it. It’s also something we’ve already done at NorthWood and continue to do. Frankly, it is the second most exciting book I’ve been waiting to write about. The first 3 dealt with things we’ve learned at NorthWood and how we operate and any church can. The fourth will be the same except there’s going to be a massive application component with a forward future thrust to it. This first most exciting will be when I write on the Kingdom of God - but other than talking about it in every book - I don’t want to write on that yet. Anything I write on the Kingdom at this point will be premature. I’m learning too much, changing, and developing too much here to write on it at this point. It may be 15 years before I’m ready to write on it - and even then, how can anything about the Kingdom be definitive? You’re always growing, and learning and changing - at least I hope I am.

There are other books I want to write. I’d like to write a book on parenting. I’d like to write a book …

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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 it a lot. Had my coffee, read my Bible, about to go our and …

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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

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