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It’s been a wild ride. My clothes didn’t make it - so I’m wearing another man’s clothes - hope he doesn’t have any diseases! Last night we met at the US Ambassadors home - it was nice - opening remarks, etc. Then, several of us went to different art galleries to look - looking for a special painting for our new worship center. I’m sitting beside Dave Gibbons from New Song Church in Irvine, CA. Takes me back to our days in the early 90’s with Leighton Ford. Dave was always making wisecracks, disrupting the class, doing stupid stuff.  He’s a real live Irish/Korean/Texan wannabe! I’m on his computer—he tied into someone’s open wireless system, and in Vietnam everything is open! Dave is nodding his head as the lecture is going on, oh wait - - -  he’s not agreeing - - -  he’s sleeping, now snoring—should I wake him? There’s a Vietnam TV cameraman filming—will they get Dave? Nope, ain’t gonna wake him, this may get good.
I am sitting in a room with some of the greatest pastors in all Vietnam, some of the greatest scholars on religion and rule of law in the world, and my good buddy Chris Seiple. He’s just done an awesome job putting this together. There are some 85 people in the room. Representatives from all over the world are present, scholars, religious leaders, and others. Phuc Dang is two down from me sitting by Pastor YKim - NorthWood, he’s doing great and sends his greetings to all of you.
I can hardly believe what is happening here . I remember my first trip here in ‘95 - Vietnam is growing in every dimension - it’s economy, it’s education, it’s global involvement. No things are not perfect, but they are changing. We had meetings set up for Malcolm Morris of Stewart Title yesterday and he’s studying the whole real estate explosion here. Kent Humphreys is also visiting with key leaders trying to look at different business opportunities. Sherman Chau, head of Glocal Ventures here has made great inroads - between NorthWood increasing it’s involvement and now USAID here, along with a couple of foundations - we should have a fantastic year up and coming.

I’m convinced more than ever, that whether working in Vietnam or the Middle East, the way of the future is engagement. Communication and transportation has connected us. …

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I’m in an airline lounge in Taipei waiting for a flight to Hanoi. Had a fantastic talk with Malcolm Morris, President and CEO of Stewart Title.  He told me the story about how Living Water International started.  I asked him, “as a layman, was this your initiatve or the pastor’s.”  He told me it was his plus a group of men.  It was just another “add-on” if he wanted to promote it—the primary work being that of the “church” work they did in Kenya—not water.  He did it anyhow.  As a result, Living Water has closer ties to the Kenyan government and society than any mission organization there, and there are hundreds in Kenya!  Start with the society not the church.  Oh yeah, and it has led to people accepting Christ and churches getting started.  It’s now an “official” evangelism strategy.  It shouldn’t be—it’s an official kingdom perspective that sees the whole and not just one segment.

David Neff, of Christianity Today, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is determined to lay foundations for Middle East peace.

I’m packing.  In about 8 hours I jump on a plane with Niki and head to Hanoi, Vietnam. I’ve not been there for several months—been all over the place, but not there. However, a couple hundred people from NorthWood have been on many different projects, etc. I’m ready to see the green rice fields, the smells, the graceful people on bicycles, the cyclos, the food, my friends (some pastors, some communists, some villagers, Ti’s family, my motorcycle driver!) all of it.  I’m ready to see it, feel it, experience it. I’m ready for my cell phone not to work! So is Niki!

This won’t be a relaxing trip.  Upon arrival, I’ll have 3 hours to regroup, clean up and tackle a lot of meetings with key leaders in Vietnam from government, to religion, to business, to education—checking on projects, initiating other things. Introducing some pretty significant American businessmen to leaders there in Vietnam. We will get to spend some time up in Sapa one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth—maybe catch a couple of treks.

The whole “community engagement” thing is driving so much of NorthWood, and my life. I’ve recently turned down some speaking events not because I was speaking somewhere else, but because there were projects in which I had to be involved. I love it—speak less—do more. Let my talk be the story. not the theory or ideas. “Show me whatcha got” in religious circles has come to speaking ability—not fruit bearing.

I’m going to try to blog daily. Keep in mind it may be 36 hours until my next blog because of flight, etc. I’ll be checking this for about the next 6 hours then packing and heading out.

Soooooooo, with that in mind, ask me anything you want.  If you could ask a typical Vietnamese a question, a diplomat, a pastor, a tribal person, whoever—what would it be that you’re curious about? If it’s too sensitive I won’t post it - so feel free to ask anything, you’re safe and so am I!

Yesterday I had the privilege, along with Chris Seiple, Joel Hunter, John Jenkins, Ron Sider, and David Neff, to meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The meeting wasn’t a photo opp. We didn’t take any. It wasn’t because 3 of us were mega-church pastors, one a prominent professor, another a diplomat/humanitarian, and another President of all of Christianity Today publications. Except for we three pastors, we all live in different worlds that converge at times. It was because in each of our own ways — all six of us have lived an “activist ” or what some might call “missional ” faith that engages hurting people where they are. We use whatever God puts in our hand be it a pen, a congregation, a briefing, a lecture or protocol. It was because of what most of us have already done — be it Vietnam, Afghanistan, Pakistan, environment, or our own inner-cities, etc. and what we are burdened about in the West Bank.

In the West, we Christians talk a lot,  we write a lot, we “conference ” a lot, we “worship ” a lot, but compared to other parts of the world, we really don’t do a lot. I know someone will be quick to say we have to “be ” first. They’re right — but being never stays cooped up inside — it flows out. Credibility and access doesn’t come from vision, aspiration, and the presentation of what you want to do — but of what you did and are doing. I wish we could get that.

Secretary Rice was appreciative of the letter that many evangelicals signed supporting her and President Bush on the two-State solution for the Israelis and Palestinians. She was recently in the Middle-East and visited Bethlehem — she told us about it — said it was moving to be where her Savior was born, but also sad to see the conditions of the people there in Bethlehem. She told us even though she had 14 months left that she and the State Department would do all they could to help and resolve the situation.

Obviously, my concern was more the people to …

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I guess I need to be careful here—this is an entire chapter coming out in my book The Multiplying Church in February. But, it’s true. Last night I was teaching our interns that when you start a church you should never focus on the preacher and church or you basically become a “Sunday event.” But that your focus should be on the disciple engaging the society that will be served. “Church” should be the culmination of living incarnationally holistically touching the hurting people of society. For the most part in America, we start churches apart from the society and do things thereafter along the way for society as someone has interest or self-interest. One of the key differences between missions and missional is the direction, focus, and the beneficiaries of the work. This was driven home to me by an email I was shown from one of our members who has been trying to minister to this person.  Upon reading about the home makeovers they said, “I just can’t get over this. What a wonderful thing to do. I am so impressed with your church giving back to the community! Many give and do for missions (which I know your church does, also), but, so few actually do for the community.” Did you catch that? So few actually do for the community.” Did you catch that? There is the perception that missions and serving the community are different! I wonder why?

A few days ago I was in a Christian bookstore. I went over to the current events section and basically it was primarily end-time books. Sadly, we don’t know what to do with current events other than identify two or three sins and look at the world and cry like Chicken Little. The overwhelming majority of them were taking current events and tying them to their personal eschatology. As a teenager in the 70’s, I saw this done.  In the 80’s,  the “87 reasons why Jesus is coming in ‘87,” then “88 reasons why Jesus is coming in 88, then the 90’s with the Gulf War, and now Iraq and Afghanistan along with current tensions with Iran have brought many books out doing the same. As I browsed a couple of the books they literally wrote that the U.S. should have a “preemptive strike” to one country in particular. One said if it didn’t happen in the next 18 months it’s over for America. (Funny if they believe all that prophecy like they say they do, they need not fear.) Another book stated “Jesus came for the Gentiles, not the Jews” thereby not requiring the Jews to accept Jesus like everyone else. Not only has this man twisted Scripture, but I wish he knew a little church history. Christianity began as a Jewish movement! Soooo, last night when I’m channel surfing, I hear this one guy preaching, who writes on this,  and he was literally stating “We should send a preemptive strike on. . .”

What is the difference between Jihadist and this guy? They’re both calling for war in the name of God. I regularly read the Gospels, I’ve never seen where Jesus organized the Apostles into 12 platoons and sent them out to take over the Romans. If church history is accurate, except for John, the Apostles all died preaching their faith, not warring for it. I have read where he told Peter to put up his sword and that his kingdom was not one made on the system of this world. Jesus’ life and message and words were very clear. When we emulate him, we lay our life down. We die for our faith—not kill for our faith.

I’ve heard other Muslims say unless attacked the Koran doesn’t call for war/jihad. I’ve heard their words, but I’ve seen their terrorist and question it. Sooo, if they’re sitting …

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What makes someone concerned about injustice in the world enough to heal and then show mercy? It is not education or information. We are bombarded by images of starving children, splayed bodies in war, ghettos and slums, refugees in deserts - if merely information were enough, by now we would have healed the ills of this world. I was reflecting on this last night. I want everyone to be concerned about Vietnam and its development. I want everyone to be concerned about Afghanistan and the ills of war there and years bondage. I want everyone to care about Bethlehem, the poverty, and Palestinian Christians who suffer and seemingly have been forgotten if not abandoned by the church in the West. Why are these things more important to me than all the images - I’ve either been there, or know someone who is up close and personal in those areas and get first hand accounts of what’s taking place. Alas, my justice and mercy and propensity for action is based and driven more by relationships than by information. Truth is objective - truth neither weeps nor laughs - it is. Is my compassion too man-centered? I see it, I touch it, I hold it, and I weep - because I’m connected with it in a very personal way. On the other hand, truth without connection doesn’t always do a lot - a great report, information, facts - but what does it change? Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life?” What did He know and understand that we don’t about truth and compassion - He had them both. Does one start and the other pick up - or are they inadvertently wrapped together like a DNA helix? It cannot be compassion alone - or me, mine, humanity is at the center of the universe. It cannot be facts alone - or nothing happens. What is pure justice and mercy? I’m not sure . . .

Jeremiah 12:5 If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses?

Yesterday Aaron Snow was married to Morgan Mitchamore. It was a beautiful ceremony. I’m so proud of Aaron and Morgan.  They are real deal, real stuff people. I believe in them big time and am excited about how God has used them and and what He will continue to do. They have a ministry called Intentional Gatherings where they are meeting in small worship communities and serving the poor. They are going to be heading to Las Vegas to do the same thing there and hopefully see their network expand to other cities.  He’s on the front end a huge learning curve, and he knows it, which is key for what he’s doing.

Aaron is special to me because I knew him “when.” My first memory of Aaron, beyond seeing a little 4 year old in church, was being with him at children’s camp, him mad at some kid, getting in a fight and literally having to pull him off the other kid. He was foaming at the mouth, seething red,  It was bad and funny at the same time! He had a time where he was away from God—had to figure it all out on his own, but when he came back—he came back. Aaron’s cool - his hair, totoos, body piercing, clothing style - and in an attempt to stay “current” he did the only thing he could - marry a hip hair stylist who also loves God!

At that same kids camp - Nikki and I were the sponsors - not many kids - but man are they incredible. It was well over 15 years ago and I have a picture I saw a while back - now trying to find it. It was me and all these little boys. They’ve all grown up and done, or are in the process of doing some really cool things. In that picture is me, Aaron and his brother Isaac who’s in college, my son Ben - who is working with an international education firm, David Grubbs - a techno guru like his dad who’s helping us on social networking and a pretty big project, Kyle Neiman - one of our youth pastors, Jeremy Denson - engaged and working for a corporation, Clinton Perry - now at seminary at …

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Nikki and I sat in the Orlando Airport yesterday about an hour waiting to board out plane. There were baloons and banners everywhere.  About one hundred children were coming in from all over the world for a Children’s “miracle” and “make a wish” foundations. These children were very sick. American Airline employees lined up each time a plane would come in with two or three children from each plane. While we were there, we saw it happen at least twice. They would line up, maybe 50 or more of them, and clap and greet each child as they got off the plane. They would usher them over and then have them sit on a “throne” and take pictures of them. Those kids were so so happy. Nikki and I wept. We couldn’t help it. One mother was smiling with her daughter and weeping at the same time. In terms of what those children valued significant, this was going to be the highlight of their life. Just doesn’t seem right. I thought of heaven. People who know Jesus and are ready to meet him, they arrive in all shapes, sizes, and conditions all hurt and wounded, some with resolve, some with despair, some more than ready, and some ok—but one day all home and accounted for. All exiting the plane, a cheering line of those who have preceeded us, angels, and at the end of the line the Son of God with his arms outstretched, “Welcome home, good and faithful servant!” What could be better than that? May it be so.

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