GlocalNet

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 him questions.  It would be in the evening at my home or at the church, depending on how many come. I’ll interview him in our worship service August 24—both services—9:30 and 11:00 am.  If you are in the DFW area and would like to come to the meeting August 21, email us @ .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and let us know.  Church planters and global people would love this. 

I see much of today’s “missiology” as refurbished 19th century missions so tend to read more secular books on society and globalization.  I still get publications and books sent my way.  This months publication of Mission Frontiers was utterly incredible, and, for me, shocking in a positive way.  I never would have dreamed they would have done an issue like they did on Islam.  It’s worth reading. 

  Salam Alikem