GlocalNet

I’ve not fallen off the map - I’ve been super busy at NorthWood - at this time of year I read through my journal, we do a lot of critiquing and refocusing and then preparing for the next year.  We have been through a process of examining our communication, clarifying our messaging, aligning our ministries, budgets, and tracks to accomplish all our goals for next year.  I’m excited.  2010 was a challenging year for NorthWood and 2011 we reformatted and we’ve grown and laid some pretty major tracks. In addition, I’ve been speaking, and refocusing a couple of things I’m involved in outside NorthWood in the same way.  I also have a book to write this month!  Pray for me people!  The previous blog of Justin & Amanda . . . I want you to know they raised all the money for the baby and are waiting now for scheduling the travels!! 

Yesterday I met with a close imam friend of mine and another muslim leader in DFW to talk about possible things we will be doing next year.  It was fun to have Josh Daneshforooz in the meeting, he’s been invaluable the past few months for many reasons - but his multi-faith background has been a Godsend.  A good bit of the meeting we just horsed around and talked about everything from beards to “Muslims in America” - I told them I didn’t know any Muslims like those that were being portrayed on the special on TV - they said they didn’t either!  Oh well.  A Muslim told me that the Muslim lady on the show who’s opening a bar needs a hijab on her legs!  A lot of the talk of our meeting centered on how successful the events have been the past 3 years and the challenges we all face. 

Tonight Nikki and I will be spending the evening with an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi and his family.  I’ve done this with Reformed Jews, but not Orthodox - other than once in Jerusalem.  Without sharing his name or information - I thought I’d share the email - read it - and as you do - what stands out most?

“Hope all is well.  Just wanted to give Pastor Bob and Niki a brief guide as to what to expect in case this is their first attendance to a traditional Shabbat (Hebrew for Sabbath) dinner.  The dinner begins with singing Shalom Aleichem (welcoming Shabbat angels who bring peace and tranquility to the home) and Eishet Hayil (Proverbs 31, to honor of the woman of the home, in this case my dear wife)!  We then recite “Kiddush” (a short prayer sanctifying of the day) over wine (actually grape juice as the kids don’t like wine) and everyone receives a small cup of juice.  We then walk into the kitchen and wash our hands for Challah (sweet bread).  We don’t talk between washing our hands and eating the bread.  Once we eat the Challah it is smooth sailing.  We talk, sing, discuss anything and everything including the portion of Genesis that the kids are studying in school.  Generally, in Orthodox custom, men and women who are not related don’t shake hands with the opposite gender, though we surely will if someone puts out their hand.  Dress is formal… and the food is very good.  We are truly looking forward to meeting them.”

What did you see?  What I saw was excitement over connecting!

Then I got another email from a good evangelical friend who has begun connecting with Muslims in the US - and overseas - - read it and what do you pick up on??

“Last night I attended an event sponsored by . . . .  at the invitation of Imam . . . .  To be honest, his invitation was the only reason I said yes.  The dinner was fabulous and the conversation engaging, but the speaking was dominated by mainline Protestants who believe the only way to have peaceful dialogue is to jettison any sort of solid identity.  Nevertheless, I managed to make it through the evening and make a few new friends along the way.  When it was over, I had two prevailing thoughts:

1.  My heart is broken that the only “Christian” groups that seem to be seriously reaching out in this way are theological liberals who don’t believe in evangelism, and this likely leaves the Muslim population thinking that this is the only avenue to dialogue and building trust.

2.  Evangelicals should have been the FIRST to engage these precious people, and we don’t have to jettison truth to do it, just our isolationist tendencies.  Our inaction has brought the Muslims to believe that liberal Protestants—who will NEVER give them the Gospel of Jesus—are the only friends they have in the Christian community, and that evangelicals have no interest in building friendships. That said, _____ and I spoke again about getting our families together, possibly after a visit to the mosque one Friday where he leads their worship. Additionally, there may be opportunities for some of our pastors to go to _______, again at the invitation of this group!”

What stood out?  To me it was how well received this evangelical leader was and how he could be himself and how hungry they were to have friendships with them. 

Here is what I am discovering and think a lot about this Christmas - the world is open to our good news - but alas - we are not open to the world - and to taking our good news to the world in a way that they can understand.