GlocalNet

Mazhar Mallouhi and Paul Chandler were simply incredible to hang out with.  Though Chris and I had been up all night, “except” for a 5 hour nap, we hit the ground running and asked him so many questions.  He more than lived up to what I expected.  I felt like I was meeting a kindred Spirit with Mazhar.  He’s a small man in his 80’s and so very full of life.  He told me all he cared about was “living the life of Christ” and he explained to me how so many of his Muslim friends had taught him so much.  Paul Chandler was brilliant. We sat around and played “what if” theology games and “what now” no kidding, no game, no nonsense discussions on engagment.  What I most took away from my meeting with Mazhar.  He told me how he had been arrested and in jail in Syria and thought he’d never get out.  He thought it was all over.  He was so upset and told God how he should deliver him and how he had let him down.  Then he heard Jesus telling him, “It’s because I love you Mazhar that I am letting you share in my sufferings.  I’m letting you in on my deepest pain.” After that, I was so grateful and it made me know God at a radically different level.  So, suffering was to him discovering who God was.  We see it as a curse, and thereby miss God.

Just preached three times at Dr. Lee’s church Global Mission Church. Wow! What a church.  I really enjoyed it. He went through a similar experience as I did and God broke him.  He has been preaching glocalization and transformation. We’re talking about doing some serious mischief together.  I enjoyed preaching in Asia--my first time in a church here.