GlocalNet

Where is that?  Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa!  I’m upset though - it never snows in Texas and I’ve missed both snow storms and I’m a little kid when it comes to snow.  I spoke to Nikki on the phone and told her to build a snowman - so she built a snow woman!  I’m so proud of her. 

Valentine’s Day at NorthWood Sunday was a blast - you can go to northwoodchurch.org and listen to the service online or watch it either way.  Glad I was home to preach - but then I crashed! 
My trip was incredible - the man in the green shirt is Dion Rober’ - he’s the pastor of the largest church in the country - and one of the largest in the world.  Last year their goal was 200,000 in cells - they missed it by 10,000 - next year their goal is 300,000!  If only they could be from Texas - what could they do!  This man is an apostle in the fullest sense and meaning of the word.  They plant tons of churches, have thousands of cells, and he is a spiritual Father to so many.  The President of his country came and brought greetings at his event.  He gets domains and society and has merged that with his cells.  They’re biggest project right now is building a hospital that ultimately will cost millions if not billions. 

The other man beside me is Ishmael - and it gets better - that is his “Christian” name given after he became a Christian!  He was an incredible translator.  I preached a message on the Great Commission entitled “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael.”  It went over huge - there are Muslims and Christians in the country and the whole concept of multifaith and spreading the faith in a different way simply went over huge.  I was mobbed by people wanting my email, being asked to speak all over the place.  I met many who had been Muslims and had become Christians and are now pastors.  They told me the multifaith approach is the only way to do it and it allows everyone to get along.  I was asked, “Why was I the first white man to talk about things like this?”  It made me sad, made me realize how much “western” views have been exported versus the Gospel of Jesus.  Not sure, but get the feeling Ill be going back.

MAY 3! MARK YOUR CALENDAR - IT WILL BE LIMITED - WE’LL HAVE DEON AND 6 OTHER GLOBAL PASTORS LIKE HIM SPENDING THE DAY AT NORTHWOOD JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE GLOBAL CHURCH.  If you want to come, email us.  No publicity or big event, we want to keep it somewhat small.

The other two men together are Jack Taylor and Jim Hylton.  Jim is the reason I went.  He invited me.  Jim attends NorthWood and is going to be planting a church in downtown Fort Worth.  He had been a pastor at Lake Country.  Jack Taylor, of Castle Hills in San Antonio, from many years ago was a real joy.  To be with 2 saints in their 70’s - hound them and pound them with questions was a blast.  What amazed me is how open they still are to learning.  Most people are very closed.  They asked me a lot about domains and engagement but more than that they wanted to meet Muslims and imams and kept asking me if I’d take them to the middle-east or somewhere to be with me when I do what I do. 

These men are open to the Spirit - and in my opinion and understanding of the Bible - very Biblical and accurate.  Anyhow, the night before Jack kept asking me, “Please let me go with you.”  He had tons of questions about how we should talk to Muslims without being hateful.  I’m in the middle of nowhere, where the conference is in this really nice hotel.  The next morning I’m waiting for the elevator alone on my floor when the door opens.  It was packed - but one spot - but I didn’t want to presume so I said, “I’ll wait for the next one. It may not hold one more fat guy like you guys!”  They laughed and said, jump on - so I did - so tight I had to face everyone!  I said, “You guys look Middle-Eastern - where you from? (That’s how we subtle Texans do things.)  “Syria!” they said.  “Muslim, I presume?”  “Of course” they said.  I said, “Salaam Alaikum!”  They responded in kind.  I told them I’ve been to Syria. Really. They immediately began to talk.  Asked me what I was doing there - told them I was speaking to Christian pastors that are trying to learn to love and get along with Muslims.  They said, “Wow, could we meet them.”  I said sure. As we were heading down on the elevator one was involved in Christian-Muslim dialogue and invited me to Syria.  I walked outside to Jack and Jim, and said these are Syrians, and Muslims, and they’d like to meet you - well . . . . . I’ll fill you in next year how this story ends.  But how incredibly, incredibly miraculous - In Africa - Jack wants to meet Muslims - he meets them from Syria - and we’re invited to go there!!!!!!  Too bad the only thing supernatural some people see is healing, etc. How much work and technical planning did it take the Holy Spirit to make all those events fall right into line for all that to happen?!!!!!