GlocalNet

For the past few days here in Dallas the Laussane U.S. task force has been meeting.  Leighton Ford, one of my chief mentors started Lausanne with Billy Graham back in ‘74 - when they had their first Congress - they had their second Congress the 80’s and they are preparing for the 3rd in Cape Town 2010.  It was fun being there with theologians, missiologists, and a few practitioners.  Though it was a “pastors” gathering, I think there were more missiologists and theologians than anything.  I wanted Jordan to see me standing with Darrel Bock - one of his hero’s - Darrel said he thought I was probably smart!  He kept smiling big in the pictures - I told him to smile academically - I finally gave up - the guy likes to laugh and love life.

I got to hang out with Brad Smith, Leighton, Erwin McManus, Walt Kallestadt, and a few others.  I really enjoyed meeting Francis Chan - I like that guy - he seems to have a genuine passion for Jesus - not the preacher stuff!  I think he’s the coolest guy I’ve met in 10 years.  The conversation was pretty much by missiologists and theologians - they spoke and for 20 minutes after 3 segments we responded.  Same old conversation - no one spoke on the practicalities of engagement that much.  Chuck Van Engen did and was really good.  He said much of what I’ve written about in the book ”Glocalization”.  He told me he’d googled our church and ministry - several phrases while he was speaking I thought, “I’ve said that too!” Well I did - and he was saying it from having been at our site!  I also enjoyed Peter Kusmic from the former Yugoslavia.  I once got myself in trouble with him in a practical joke I pulled on him with Leighton and a bunch of young guys in the Arrow Leadership program I was in with Leighton.  I didn’t remind him - and hopefully he didn’t remember!  Dave Gibbons - do you remember what I did?  . . . . .

The thing I heard was they were about framing the conversation so we can know how to respond.  I don’t think you can frame the conversation outside of the context.  Presbyterians - God love them - and I do too - in an anglo church in Texas with a bunch of white religious intellectuals peppered with a handfull of sharp but quieter Korean Presbyterians - will not lead to the right actions.  I’m convinced our only hope is to connect and engage.  I know, I know, I know - - - - - if we don’t have conversations then we will not act right.  Where in history has a conversation led to right behavior? Conversations outside the trenches only lead to intellectual imperialism and “wow” statements that soon dissipate.

From the Great State of Texas every once in a while someone comes out with something like “Why Jesus will come back in 1988!” Then it’s updated every year.  It stopped in 1992 with books like that.  I’d like to add my own to the list - knowing I don’t really know BUT . . . .

My own opinion - The Great Commission will be fulfilled in 12 years. 2020 all will see!

It will be impossible for it not to be fulfilled.  I don’t mean everyone accepts Christ - I mean everyone hears.  How can it not be in this globally connected world and it not happen?  It will be near impossible for it to not be fulfilled!  You can read about that in 8 mos. when my new book comes out.  Only sheer disobedience and sabatoge will prevent it from being fulfilled.  It will happen from unknown people loving Jesus sharing him and connecting across all kinds of lines.  It’s what Chuck Van Engen called “Poly-centric” - I’d never heard that before - I described it in my book but didn’t have the term.  Between the internet and the jet - ALL great ideas and philosophies will be transported.  The question will not be, “How do we get the message out there,” but, “How does the message not get lost out there?” And the answer to that one isn’t as easy . . . . my suspicion - it will be from the Eastern & Southern Church modeling and teaching us all - and we will join “THEIR” conversation - excuse me - “THEIR” practice.