There and Back Again

Susy and I are enroute to Geneva at the moment. We have a layover in Washington Dulles. We are waiting in a lounge, eating free food from United Airlines.
       Traveling together to Europe has gotten me thinking. I'm reminded of the sub-title to Tolkien's The Hobbitt... "there and back again."
       I don't feel as if I am going home to Europe, although Geneva and Amsterdam have been our homes in the past. But I also don't feel like I am leaving home in Denver to go to Europe.
      So I guess the phrase "there and back again" is an apt description of my soul at the moment. I'm glad to have been there in the past and I'm glad to be going back again.

A Film That Captured My Heart

These days I am finding it difficult to articulate what is in my heart about Jews, Muslims, Christians and the relational dynamics between them.
       I often feel misunderstood, probably because I am not totally clear on my vision yet and because there is such dramatic division among these children of Abraham.
       This week I watched the film, "Arranged" and my heart was warmed, stirred. It touched a nerve in me that helps me picture the world I desire to live in, found in the lives of a Muslim woman and Jewish woman who are teachers in New York City.
       If you have a chance, watch this film (it's on Netflix, available to watch online). It will warm your heart ... or at least help you capture a bit of my inner world these days.

Lebanon Erupts in New Power Struggle

The politics of the Middle East is anything but simple and straightforward. This most recent twist in the road in Lebanon is alarming.
       The Hizballah are making a play to take over the Lebanese government. Protests have erupted in the past two days by Sunni Muslims in Beirut. Read the Time article here.
Lebanon in Flames as Sunnis Challenge Hizballah Power Play
       If you are someone who prays please do so.

Tim Keller on Religion's Slippery Slope

Those of us who consider ourselves "religious" or "people of faith" have a problem. A big problem. It's called religion. Listen to Tim Keller's 90-second explanation of the slippery slope to oppression. He had got it right.

Islam in France

It's common knowledge that the fastest growing population in Europe is people from Islamic countries and backgrounds. In some countries - Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium among others - the population shift is dramatic.
       Many people are deeply alarmed by this trend. Politicians from the far right are being elected in some countries because they are running on anti-immigration platforms. Various EU commissions are trying to create policies which provide some control of immigration. There is much talk about how people assimilate (or don't) into cultures.
       I believe that these immigration trends offer one of the greatest Kingdom opportunities the Church has seen since the Reformation. Rather than being driven by fear we have the chance for cultures to meet (and certainly clash at times) and for people to be introduced to Jesus in free western societies.
       This is all full of challenges and there is resistance for sure. Islam as a religion is evangelistic, just as Christianity is. Europeans are hungry for spirituality, and some are converting to Islam. I'm not advocating converting to Islam. I'm just saying this is the reality we are living in and we need to engage rather than retreat.

On "Wandering on Purpose"

My preparation for speaking on the SnowTrip in a week's time has brought me to the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament.
       Nehemiah was a forced wanderer. He was exiled from Jerusalem with the rest of his people and sent to Babylon (today's Iraq).
       He followed God's lead into a nomadic life, which is a great step of faith to begin with. And then he follows God to return to the land, to re-establish His people.
       My friend Brian Rice posted some quotes from Jean-Pierre de Cassuade which speaks so well to this issue of wandering. It has resonated deeply with me.
"God's action is forever new.
It never retraces its steps
but always marks out new paths.
Those who are led in this way
never know where they are going.
Their roads are to be found
neither in books nor in their minds . . ."
- Jean-Pierre de Cassuade

Preparation for Ski Week Teaching

Susy and I are heading to Switzerland in a week to be with 40+ people from Crossroads Amsterdam for their annual ski retreat. We are staying in the village of Stechelberg at Alpenhof chalet.(see photo - not too shabby digs!)
       I am preparing three talks/interactions for the group on a few evenings. I've called it, "Wandering on Purpose" (or, "Not all who wander are lost" from Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings"). We will look at 3 themes in Nehemiah to consider how God leads us to His purposes through our life's wanderings.
       It's exciting for us to be together in such an awesome place as the Swiss Alps with good friends - from long ago and those we do not yet know. It should be a blast!

Benefit Concert Tonight

If you are in Denver please join us this evening for a benefit concert for women in the Dominican Republic.
       Check out the website HERE. The concert will be held at Lookout Mountain Community Church in Golden (Genesee), just off exit 254 of I-70 beginning at 7:00 pm.


OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT
A group of women and girls from churches in Denver are traveling to La Victoria, Dominican Republic February 4-11, 2011. They plan to enter into community with the women to  show God's extravagant love. Their hope is to present ideas and ways in which they can create something that will be income producing for them. To read the details of this mission trip go to this link for the support letter.
       

JFK's Inauguration 50 Years Ago Today

Fifty years ago today John Fitzgerald Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th president of the United States. The speech is best known for the iconic phrase, "Ask not what your country can do for you ..." But just minutes earlier Kennedy said this to Americans:

"So let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.
Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms—and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.
Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah—to "undo the heavy burdens ... and to let the oppressed go free." Well said, Mr. President.

Dr. Craig Blomberg at Lookout Tonight

Dr. Craig Blomberg, distinguished professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary, is doing a seminar tonight at our church, Lookout Mountain Community Church in Genesee. He is speaking on, "Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions."
       Blomberg has studied and written extensively on wealth and poverty and the proper value of possessions in life. If you are in Denver you do not want to miss this. The seminar will be from 6:30 to 8:00pm in the fellowship hall at Lookout. No RSVP is necessary. Just show up!

Distortions Created in Our Cyber-World

According to my Facebook account I have 687 "friends" as of today. Ya right, and I have great swampland for sale in Florida!
       What is more sad than thinking I have 687 friends is hoping for 13 more people to "friend" me so I can reach 700! Then I can be in the "700 Club." Oh wait, that's a TV show.
       Here's another distortion of our cyber-world. On Skype I can make myself "invisible." Wow, isn't that great? I can see you but you cannot see me. So for all you invisible people on my Skype contact list, "come out come out wherever you are!" I promise to keep myself visible on Skype and not disappear to my friends. After all, some of us have abandonment issues.

David Brooks on Civility

Our country and our world lacks civil discourse, to the extreme. This is the best description of civility I have ever read.
"Civility is a tree with deep roots, and without the roots, it can’t last. So what are those roots? They are failure, sin, weakness and ignorance." ~ David Brooks, New York Times editorial

Three Cheers for Francis Chan

Francis Chan of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California recently stepped down from his role as senior pastor to pursue his calling in the Kingdom. Francis is a great preacher and the church grew large over the years because of this preaching gift.
      The following interview with Francis discusses why he left the church. Mark Driscoll is one of the interviewers. Mark is the pastor of a large multi-site church in Seattle. Francis' vision and courage is so incredibly inspiring to me. Mark's myopic and small view of the pastor's role is ... well, less than Kingdom minded, in my view.


What's Next for Francis Chan? Conversation with Mark Driscoll and Joshua Harris from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

On Preaching again

I used to think that preaching was about communicating truth and people understanding (gaining knowledge) - and that usually took about 40 minutes (but preferably 30 minutes).
I used to think that preaching was about what God had me say to a community about Him.
I have had a change of heart and mind.
Now I think preaching is a small part of the people of God entering into this mysterious process of WORSHIP.
I think preaching is about being part of people asking God's light to shine in their darkness.
I think preaching is about creating the environment for people to experience God and His mercy in their sabbath rest.
I have some major doubts about what I have to say and more confidence in God seeking out His people - with or without my involvement.

A Great Self-Awareness Test

My friend Miriam showed me this video about how difficult it is to see something when you are not looking for it. This is exactly THE issue for all of us called to lead. Self-awareness and self-observation are key to being a healthy, character-driven leader. But our blind spots and our inability to reflect on our growth areas can be great hindrances.