GlocalNet

The following was in the comment box - I wanted to respond to it in the form of a blog . . . .

Randy Ehle says:
Sep 30, 2008 at 10:29 PM
In less than 36 hours I will be leaving Portland with a team from our church heading to Liberia for 12 days. This is the first foray into what we anticipate will be a long-term partnership in the region, a significant piece of which will involve encouraging and training pastors. Earlier today I received a list of questions they have asked for help with; four of the five areas focused on money (Biblical teaching, prosperity gospel, church and pastoral accountability for money, and issues of money between Americans and Africans). The other question was on the role of a pastor.

One thing I’ve been wondering since getting that list was how much of the present financial situation in the US can be translated into the current situation in Liberia - a country that was devastated by a 14-year civil war and is just over the past couple of years getting its footing again. Your prayers (and input) would be greatly appreciated.

Randy - here’s my response:

Just like the U.S. is sending economic tidal waves across the world so we do the same with our expression of Christianity.  Emerging economies are devastated by our level of greed to the degree many would like to be freed from the “dollar” and come up with another form of currency. 

The real “emerging church” not the post-Western, postmodern, but as Fareed Zacharias would say, the “Post-American” church has already shifted it’s spiritual currency and is booming.  The problem is, there are many pockets of western religious imperialism that continue to dictate what Christianity looks like - and from a primarily Western format.  In the West, we all admit we don’t even have a good handle on what the “church” looks like - but we have no hesitation in exporting our past expressions despite our current frustrations or even failures for that matter. 

Notice the majority of the questions are on money.  If it were a group of Chinese, Middle-Easter, South American Christians going to partner in the same way - do think they would be asked those questions?  Why are you being asked those …

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The stock market is open - Congress is not. 

We spiral on the brink of something we haven’t seen in 75 years - a potential depression - I’ve been hearing about it on the news from all of these academics and economists.  Who’s right and who’s wrong?  How can we know from where we sit.  People we’ve entrusted governance and leadership to are very partisan and self-centered.  No wonder both our Presidential candidates are spouting change - we all know it needs to happen - but who is there and where is the moral fiber needed to speak and lead us out of this mess. . . . . .

We are running out of gas.

Just a matter of time now until it’s all gone.  Our grandchildren will run their cars on something else - but what?  In the meantime, because of the lack of invention and creativity the price for a gallon of gas will continue to rise destabilizing US and global economies . . . . .

War is everywhere.

Not just ours in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Burma, Congo, Sudan, Lebanon, Georgia not to mention people groups like the Saharwi, Kurds, Palestinians and others.  Who can mediate these things?

The American dream is in foreclosure.

I drive up and down the roads of my community and see the for sale signs.  Sad reminders of families who’s economic pipeline ran out.  I pass by houses seeing little kids outside playing - knowing some of them have parents sweating bullets not knowing if they’ll be next either from their poor financial decisions or some banks or some stock broker somewhere.

Our self-centerdness and greed have now come full-circle and we are paying for it.  It may take a generation to fix this - probably will.  This will require a new approach - one that produces a new kind of person - which requires a new kind of parent.  Adults aren’t made overnight - they require a good solid 20 years of being poured into from their parents- another 20 years of learning to succeed and fail at the same time to get to a point of significant leadership in their 40’s.  Financial success can come quicker - but not maturity and depth of character. 

I’m not so sure a “President” can …

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At NorthWood we have a lot of things that we do for special needs children - and adults.  Henri Nouwen you would be proud - if you’re looking down.  From Sunday morning special classes, to a program called REVIVE for parents of special needs children, then there’s our ministry to Vietnam where we write curriculum and teach others to teach teachers of special needs students. 

One of the most exciting things are the adults that come to NorthWood with special needs.  This picture is only half - I couldn’t make my iPhone get them all in - but there are close to 50 involved.  They come as a group to worship and have their own time at the church on Tuesday nights. 

I call these the “more than” people.  They are more loving, more forgiving, more kind, more everything.  That extra chromosome some of them have - has made them exceptional in so so many ways.  Why are they all that way?  Why isn’t there something where people are born mad and are more harsh more angry and more negative?  Oh yeah - I’m sorry I forgot -that’s the rest of us!  We’re missing what they got - I wonder if it’s in that extra chromosome that makes them so much more!  I love you guys -

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 …

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Part of my job is staying on top of what churches are planting churches, what organizations are resourcing church planters, who’s training and coaching church planters, who is writing books on church planting, and the list goes on.  Here’s what I’ve found - church planting is big business today!  Don’t get me wrong, I’m very excited to be living in such a time where new churches are being started on a daily basis!  Things, for the most part, are going well for church planting!  We are pre-assessing potential planters in record numbers, we have planters signing up for our Turbo Trainings (next one is March 5 & 6, by the way, registration is open now), and we have planters looking for coaches and mentors.  By the look of things, church planting is exploding!  But when we dig deeper, we see that the numbers just aren’t enough.
In his book, ”The American Church in Crisis”, David Olson paints a reality picture of what we need here in N. America as far as church planting goes.  As great as it seems to be in church planting, things need to be better.  We need more churches planting churches (remember, organizations and denominations don’t plant churches; churches plant churches).  But, it’s like Bob once told me, “It’s not about planting churches, it’s all about making disciples.” He’s absolutely right, it’s not about churches, it’s about the disciple.  But great disciple-making leads to great church planting.
In a survivability report I recently read by Ed Stetzer and Phillip Connor (2007), new church plants with a strong disciple-making program have a greater rate of survivability.  It’s not a great Sunday event, it’s about how well you and your people are making disciples.  One of the first questions I ask a potential planter is, “When was the last time you shared Christ with someone?” Sadly, I hear, “Uhm… well… I think it was...” Wrong answer.  If you’ve done it in the last week, you’d remember it.  If you’ve done it the past 24 hours, you remember it.  Making disciples starts with relationships.  Know your neighbors, know their hurts, their struggles, and pray for them and with them.  Make disciples.

One more thing regarding church planting.  It’s a team endeavor.  It takes both the husband and the wife to make it work.  We are very blessed …

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I love the spontaneity and unexpected nature of worship at NorthWood because of the people and circumstances.  I love it when Muslims come from around the world who are my friends - they are very transparent and don’t know the “protocol” of church so sometimes will break it - and when they do it’s poweful.  I’ve seen the same thing with diplomats, communists, people from other countries and others who come to our church.  They know we are evangelical and may not agree with their theological or political positions, but they know that we love them and care about them. 

Sunday was one of those days.  For the past many years we’ve had exchange students come from Vietnam - primarily Hanoi - come and live with our church members during their senior year of high school.  Most wind up going to the university in the US somewhere - they are always very very very smart. 

The lady who has been in charge of that program from Veitnam is Mrs. Ngha.  Her grandson is one of the exchange students this year.  Most of their parents are business, educators, government, etc.  major leaders in Vietnamese society.  During the first worship service this week - one of the young ladies from Hanoi came up to me (she’s staying with a Kenyan family who attends NorthWood - she’s getting quite a cultural education).  She told me that we should pray for Dzung that his grandfather, Mrs. Ngha’s husband had died this last week.  I want you to get the picture - these are not Christians - but they are in our worship service and they know you pray in a worship service. 

Soooo, in between songs, I went up to the microphone and said we needed to pray for Dzung and his family in the loss of their father and grandfather.  Dzung came and stood beside me in front of everyone.  We all prayed for him and his family - everyone stretched their hands and prayed “Korean” style for him.  When the last Amen was said - we were to walk down - but he stopped and shouted out - he didn’t have a mic - “Thankyou everybody - very much -from my family.” It was very impromptu and when he did - everyone exploded in clapping for him affirming him. 

This morning as I was …

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Recently there have been several articles and things written about NorthWood in books and magazines that are both “sacred” and “secular”. I posted this one because I think it’s important not pronounce any single type of church “dead.” God uses all kinds of churches, worship styles, generational focuses, to see his kingdom come about.  I love them all - house, building, simple, traditional, contemporary, mega, tini-tiny, multi-ethnic, single-ethnic, young, old.  Just about the time you count someone out - and they begin to even count themselves out - God does something and starts a movement from that very spot.  I think it’s about dependence and humility.

I’m the first to see the excesses, sins, and challenges of a mega-church.  But - it ain’t my church - it’s Jesus church - he’s the head.  We didn’t start out or plan to be one - it just happened.  We were faithful in following God and it just grew.  I didn’t pick my face, my skeletal system, my body shape - it was given to me.  I’m not so sure that’s not the case with “church.”

The important thing is this - we shouldn’t stand in front of the mirror starring or admiring or being depressed at how God has made us - we should just use the “body” he gave us see transformation in lives and communities we are placed.  Sometimes I think all the discussion on “church styles” are like fashion shows with each model walking out prissin their goods before everyone showing why they’re the best.  We must never forget - it isn’t a fashion show - it’s a harvest field and we all should be sweaty and dirty!

Baylor University survey reveals Americans’ attitudes about God, churches
BY TERRY LEE GOODRICH
tgoodrich@star-telegram.com

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Baylor study disputes common notions about religion in U.S.
Baylor University survey reveals Americans’ attitudes about God, churches

When someone at the 3,000-member NorthWood Church in Keller is hospitalized, another member often makes it to the bedside before NorthWood’s pastoral staff.

That’s because close friendships spring up in the roughly 175 smaller groups or “transformation teams” that meet weekly or every other week, said Mike Reed, executive pastor.

Megachurches may be big, but they are not impersonal.

That …

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The past couple of weeks I’ve been to different universities and different denominational headquarters and various organizations speaking on engagement.  I focus on the themes of what the Gospel of the Kingdom looks like - how we engage it - how we use our jobs - the critical nature of the disciple and how we make disciples - the society, etc. etc. etc. - if you follow this blog or have read my stuff you know what I’m talking about.  It’s a field that is always growing, it’s never static - I think because frankly it’s so new.  Though we’ve known about it - and even talked about it at different times - the reality is very few people have actually done it from the West. 

I was speaking somewhere and someone came up and asked me - “Do you think these people really get what you’re talking about?  I told them - as much as they can - they listen and they fascinated because they know it’s all changing and there are so few stories of this kind of stuff.  BUT, if they go and experience it - there is no comparison.

I’ve lectured, taught, etc. but when I take a church member, an intern, or another pastor to see what we are doing and to be a part of what we are doing - it’s like all of a sudden a switch goes on in their head.  I once had an intern tell me - “I’ve traveled in the US with you, I’ve been at NorthWood, I’ve heard you speak - but seeing this stuff up close and the people you talk about and the projects - it does something to you - there is no comparison.”

Soooooo . . . . here’s what I’d suggest if you really want to “get it” in terms of the global nature of God, the church ,and the world - get on a plane and go somewhere and sweat.  Go to Vietnam with us, or the West Bank with some of my friends, or Afghanistan with some of my friends, or Egypt with some of my friends, Belize with some of my friends, or Kenya with some of my friends, or Nigeria with some of my friends, etc. etc. etc. 

Read the books in the section I have listed - and then go …

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CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE “NEW” EVANGELICAL

FCC and IGE explore who the “New” Evangelicals are, and what they mean for the November election.

The Fairfax Community Church (FCC) and the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) team up again this year for the Global Leadership Forum 2008 in a two day discussion entitled, “The New Evangelical: Policy, Practice and Profile.” The event will take place on September 26th and 27th at the Fairfax Community Church in Fairfax, Virginia. Dr. Chris Seiple, President of IGE, will moderate the three 90 minute panels.

Confirmed speakers include:

Jay Hein, Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Dr. D. Michael Lindsay, Author of Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite
Mark Galli, Senior Managing Editor, Christianity Today
Dr. Mary Habeck, Special Advisor for Strategic Planning and Institutional Reform, National Security Council, White House
Colleen Carroll Campbell, Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center
Suhail A. Khan, Counselor, U.S. Department of Transportation
Paul-Gordon Chandler, Author of Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road
Nicole Bibbins-Sedaca, Former Senior Advisor for Global Affairs, U.S. State Department
Bethany Hoang, Director of the IJM Institute for International Justice Mission
Check-in/registration begins at 5:30 PM on Friday September 26th. The conference will begin promptly at 6:30 pm, ending at 8:00 pm in order to watch the presidential debate live in the FCC sanctuary. (Participants are encouraged to stay for the debate and follow-on conversation in FCC’s “Great Room.”) Saturday’s discussions begin at 8:30 am, with check-in/registration at 8:00 am. 

Registration for this event is $25 and free for students with a valid student id or .edu email address. Register at http://www.globalengage.org/glf/.

The Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) promotes sustainable environments for religious freedom worldwide. As a faith-based organization, IGE believes firmly in universal human dignity and is committed to the protection of all faiths through the rule of law. See http://www.globalengage.org for more information.

The Fairfax Community Church and The Great Room Lecture Series work on “equipping followers of Christ for greater Kingdom impact in the ‘marketplace.’” See http://www.Fairfax.cc for more information.

If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Dr. …

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It ain’t over - the fat lady hadn’t sung - but she’s loosing her voice and that’s a good thing.  It’s been a 24 hour roller-coaster.  My little brother sent his family north to Conroe, he stayed in his high rise watching over all his legal stuff - he’s a lawyer.  I was worried a lot about him, called him every 2 hours - he did fine.  When he got out to see his house - it was fine.  His neighbors weren’t so lucky.  I have had a hard time talking to him today - the phones keep dropping the call. 

My relatives from Beaumont are with my family in Tyler - they got out of one storm only to be in another.  They’re all at my sisters house and have lost power but are ok and will be ok. 

A close friend of my dad’s- a preacher friend of his - couldn’t get out of High Island.  You may have heard about the story on CNN or the Chicago Tribune or other papers.  Black Hawk helicopters got 60 of them out but the other 11 - Bucky was one and his wife - could not be rescued.  They were told to write their names and social security numbers on their bodies so they could at least be identified.  They made it.  When they called this morning they said a gazebo had been destroyed outside their house but two 2x4’s had come together to make a cross.  They made it and were very grateful. 

I’ve got some members down there now with the government doing rescue and overseeing the restoration process.  Right now there are a few conflicting reports - as is always the case - as to how serious it all is, but one thing is for sure - everyone needs prayer.  Keep them in mind. 

It’s raining outside here in DFW - just a little remnant left.  Last night they were calling this the biggest storm ever to hit Texas and one of the biggest of all time - I don’t think so - but it was serious.  No doubt there will be the need for volunteers - you can follow the northwoodchurch.org site or my blog glocal.net to be kept up to speed. 

So to all my friends in Vietnam, China, Indonesia, the Middle-East, Africa, Central & …

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