circularthoughts

Sympathetic reading...

I like to read. I read a lot. In fact, I’ve read twenty books in the last sixty days. Assuming an average book is two hundred pages long, that means I’ve read four thousand pages in sixty days. 

I say this not to boast. You see, reading for me is essential to my mental and spiritual growth. In all reality, it probably hampers my physical situation as instead of exercising I read. Anyway, if I’m not reading, I’m not growing.

I mostly read books on theology and missiology. I currently have nine books on my desk, four of which I’ve started and the rest of which I plan to start in the next couple of weeks. In addition, I have at least eight books on my Kindle app on my iPad that I’m either currently reading or plan to start reading in the next couple of weeks. Almost all of these are on theology or missiology.

One of my favorite ways of reading is what some call sympathetic reading. This happens when I read something I don’t agree with, something that challenges my current thinking. I have found that this way of reading is crucial for my spiritual and mental growth.

Sympathetic reading helps me to understand the point of view of the author; what is driving his or her thinking. In seeking to understand a different point of view I often find that weaknesses in my own understanding are revealed. I also often find where my own way of thinking, and those who think it with me, may have contributed to the reaction of the author I’m reading. 

Sympathetic reading is not reading for the sake of tearing apart an author’s argument. Instead, it is for seeking to understand in the hopes that you might learn something, either about the subject of the read or yourself.

Try it sometime. It can be very enlightening...

Evangelism as initiation...

Yesterday, I began reading the second book for my Art of Evangelism course at Fuller. The book is called The Logic of Evangelism and was written by William J. Abraham. 

The main thesis of the book is that evangelism should be understood as the primary initiation into the kingdom of God, as opposed to simple proclamation of the good news or as a means for church growth. To throw a spark on this idea, Abraham suggests:

any vision of evangelism that ignores the kingdom of God, or relegates it to a position of secondary importance, or fails to wrestle thoroughly with its content is destined at the outset to fail. This is so because the kingdom of God is absolutely central to the ministry of Jesus and to the mission of the disciples that launched the Christian movement into history. (17)

I have always been taught that evangelism is the way we go about letting others know of their need for salvation. We tell them the good news that Jesus has died for their sins and that he rose again, from the dead, conquering death so that we might have eternal life. If we have been well trained we say that eternal life begins here and now, but, most of us focus on the afterlife part of eternal life. In other words, evangelism, I have always been taught, is the process of telling others how to get to heaven.

In recent years, my problem with the above is that it really offers nothing for the here and now. This, I think, is what Abraham is talking about when he suggests that evangelism is the primary initiation into the kingdom of God.

If the kingdom of God is seen as the reign and rule of God, in and through Jesus, both now and in the future, then, evangelism should be seen as the process of leading others into such reign. It is the process of helping others see that there is a different way to live in the here and now. This way of living has less to do with our performance or compliance with a list of rules. Instead, it is centered in our pursuit of God’s will, here on earth, of heaven in the here and now.

So, yes, evangelism is about the cross and what Jesus accomplished on such. But, it is about so much more.

I think I’m going to enjoy this course!

Bonhoeffer on Christian formation...

In his book Ethics, Bonhoeffer discusses the concept of Jesus being the true human being, the ultimate and only true example of what a human being is. Therefore, for right Christian formation to happen we must begin with a proper understanding of Jesus.

Bonhoeffer refers to Jesus as Ecce homo – the man. This is taken, of course, from Pilate’s words in the gospels as he presents the beaten and ready to be crucified Jesus to the crowds. What Pilate surely meant as sarcasm is meant as reality for Bonhoeffer. In the crucified and resurrected Jesus, Bonhoeffer sees the true human, made new and presented as the one through whom humanity is measured and revealed.

Christian formation, for Bonhoeffer, is the process of being conformed to Christ. This is possible because of the humanity of Jesus, because he is the true and ultimate human and in his life and death and resurrection we have the ability to experience such. Christian formation, in this case, is not so much a path or even a set of beliefs and behaviors to be mastered. Instead, it is the process of Jesus taking form in us, which is really a matter of faith. The work has been done in the life of Jesus. We must now walk forward in faith in the reality of such.

 

Conversion: Fast Food or Fine Dining?

My current course at Fuller is called The Art of Evangelism. The first book we are reading is called Conversion in the New Testament: Paul and the Twelve, by Richard V. Peace, who just so happens to be the course Professor. In this book, Peace compares the dramatic, single-point-in-time conversion of Paul to the slow, progressive and even fuzzy (when it comes to when it happened) conversion of the Twelve. In doing such he is asking the question of which one is the norm. 

In Western Evangelicalism, the norm seems to have always been that of Paul. I was taught that I needed to be able to identify the specific point in time that I prayed to receive (trust) Christ. Failure to be able to do this was seen as a potential weakness in my own testimony that might cause doubts as to my actual salvation at some point in the future. Thus, our western evangelism is designed to fit this paradigm, in that we push for a decision.

Peace suggests that the conversion experience of the Twelve was more like a pilgrimage. It was a progressive revelation in which they first saw Jesus as a Teacher, followed by a Prophet, on to Messiah and then to God incarnate. In other words, he argues that the Twelve would have been hard pressed to pick out the specific point in time when the actually trusted Christ, but, their conversion was just as valid as that of Paul’s.

I’m intrigued with this idea of progressive revelation and progressive trust. I think that this “both/and” understanding of conversion might open the door to a more gentle, less confrontational/polemical form of evangelism, which would be a good thing, especially for those on the receiving end.

Bonhoeffer on cheap grace...

For Bonhoeffer, “cheap grace means grace as doctrine, as principle, as system” (Discipleship, 43). Cheap grace is that which requires no true repentance or change. It is grace without transformation. It is grace without discipleship. Costly grace, on the other hand, is that which causes us to be transformed, discipled and to follow Jesus. It is a grace that costs us our lives. It is a grace that was also costly for God because of his incarnation and his death.

Discipleship is commitment to Jesus Christ. It is not the study of any system or doctrine or way of belief. It is, instead, the following of the God-human and the life he lived and will live in us. It is more than an increasing of head knowledge; it is instead an increasing in heart knowledge, an obedience that comes from belief and a praxis that reflects the life of Jesus Christ.

The root and foundation of discipleship is found in the Sermon on the Mount. At the center of the Sermon is, of course, Jesus. However, love is the summation of the entire Sermon. Disciples are those who are allowing Jesus to mold in them his way of undivided love, the love that was reflected in the cross and the love that is reflected in the sending of rain on both the righteous and unrighteous.

Quotation taken from this book...

Bonhoeffer on judging...

For Bonhoeffer, “judging is the forbidden evaluation of other persons. It corrodes simple love” (Discipleship, 171). When we judge others we are doing so by establishing a standard in Jesus. On the surface this appears to be acceptable, at least having the standard of Jesus. However, Jesus is not a standard, he is the judge. He has judged me and that gives me no right to judge others. We hold others to a standard that we have not been able to measure up to. This is judging and forbidden and the opposite of love. Instead, we must learn to “reverse the I and the You” (Discipleship, 174) in our relationships with others. We must be able to see them as we see ourselves and give others the same grace that we give ourselves. We must see that there is no difference between the evil in us and the evil in others. It is only when we do this that we are in right relationship with others. I believe that Bonhoeffer would remind the church in the US to stop judging those who are not a part of the church. He would tell us to stop holding others to a standard that we will never meet. He would tell us to learn to love others and to accept them where they are. After all, this is what Jesus has done with us.

Quotations taken from this book...

Bonhoeffer on community...

I recently completed a course for my seminary work at Fuller called The Ethics of Bonhoeffer. I first read Bonhoeffer’s Cost of Discipleship roughly 10 years ago. It has been a formative book for me. This course introduced me to much of his other works as well.

One of those was a little book called Life Together: Exploration of Faith in Community. This 122 page read is a deep discussion of what true Christian community looks like. Bonhoeffer wrote it while leading an underground seminary during the late 1930’s. The seminary had to be underground because of Nazi efforts to control the German church.

The key to this book is found in Bonhoeffer’s argument that any community founded on anything but Jesus is nothing more than a “wish dream.”

Every human wish dream that is injected into the Christian community is a hindrance to genuine community and must be banished if genuine community is to survive. (27).

I’ve seen this so many times. Churches, ministries and so forth are built around dreams and ideas that are close to Jesus, but, not Jesus. These dreams and ideas can take the form of a particular style of worship, they can be an intense focus on discipleship or even a certain way of preaching. Somehow, in the process, Jesus often gets left out, or minimized, or marginalized. 

I’ve been wondering lately if our pursuit of right doctrine can be one of Bonhoeffer’s “wish dreams” and thus a hinderance to community...

 

Countdown to Nomads 2011...

Nomads 2011

 

Go here to register!

February 2011 India Trip Report

 

Morality via taboos...

What do you think of this long quote from my anthropology textbook?

As American Christians, many of us grew up under the influence of rather strong taboos against such things as drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, dancing, masturbation, going to movies, using vulgar language, neglecting daily devotions, missing church services, necking, and thinking lustful thoughts.  Our leaders were often not very subtle in their suggestions that God is a fearsome divine Punisher who is ready at any moment to lean over His heavenly balcony and bring justice to any who stray into the taboo areas.  This approach to Christian morality amounts to the use of taboo for the control of behavior.  Our leaders did well to be concerned that we not fall into most of these things, but the manner in which the warnings were given amounted to control by fear and guilt, the power behind taboos.  Many of us have ever since had difficulty relating to a God who seeks to motivate through love rather than fear.  Charles H. Kraft, in Anthropology for Christian Witness, page 352.

What do you think?  Have you ever felt as if others were trying to control your behavior in this way?  Have you ever been the one who is controlling others? 

If you can't say something nice...

Yesterday I introduced the concept of ethnocentrism by asking the question, “Is it wrong, or just different?”  Today I want to dig a little deeper.  By the way, much of this information is being adapted from the book, Anthropology for Christian Witness, by Dr. Charles Kraft.

Another word for ethnocentrism is monoculturalism.  One of the major ways we know if we suffer from monoculturalism is through our language.  If we use pejorative terms to contrast the ways of others with our ways, then we are probably guilty of monoculturalism.  Let’s look at some examples.

Advanced and primitive.  When we compare our culture to another we often say that ours is advanced and theirs is primitive.  What does it mean to be advanced and who gets to decide this? 

Civilized and uncivilized.  Who gets to decide what it means to be civilized?  We, in the West, have the capacity to kill millions of people through our nuclear arsenal and smart bombs and such.  Is that civilized?

Developed and underdeveloped.  What does it mean to be underdeveloped?  Who gets to decide this?  Aren’t we just judging other cultures in the areas we excel while ignoring the areas where we are weak?

Religious and superstitious.  Every culture has religious and superstitious elements.  To call one culture superstitious while ignoring the superstitious elements in our own is monoculturalism.

As you can see, a simple examination of the language we use when talking of other cultures can test our level of monoculturalism.  If we want to be the cross-cultural ministers that God has called us to be we must learn to look at others through a lens that does not make these kinds of differentiations.  We must learn to look at others as God does.

Is it wrong, or just different?

Ethnocentrism is one of the major hurdles of effective cross-cultural ministry.  All of us suffer, at some level, from this because it is what we have been taught to be.  We are taught from day one that our culture is the best, that our way of doing things is the right way and that we are more sophisticated, smarter and more advanced than others.  This teaching may or may not be overt, but, it is there. 

My anthropology professor, Dr. Charles Kraft, says that “ethnocentrism is at the cultural level what egocentrism is at the individual level.”  None of us like to be around an egocentric person.  Surely this is the same for people from other cultures when it comes to any ethnocentrism we are hanging on to.

Ethnocentristic people are not able to appreciate or even begin to understand other points of view.  My favorite example of this is the use of a toilet. 

In much of the world, a toilet looks like the one here in the picture.  You can imagine how difficult it is to squat over this thing and actually not make a big mess.  We, in the West, think that this is an inferior toilet.  Trust me, I’ve heard this from so many Westerners that I think I can safely say that most of us would feel this way.  However, how do you think those from other cultures feel about our Western style toilet?

Most would feel that our way is inferior because we actually allow our body to come into contact with the surface of such an implement.  I once saw an Asian man run into an airport men's room after a long flight from somewhere in Asia.  I watched as he opened door after door, looking at the Western style toilet and in frustration moving on to the next stall.  I could tell from his facial expressions that he was disgusted when he finally realized that an Asian toilet wasn’t available. 

It’s all about perspective.  We, as cross-cultural ministers, must learn to view others and their ways as not wrong or inferior, but simply different.

Forms and Meanings

Cross-cultural ministry can be a daunting task.  This is especially true if we are unable to differentiate between forms and meanings.  When we assume that our forms, i.e., preaching, baptism, dress code, worship style, meeting time, use of buildings and other church rituals or ceremonies, are sacred in and of themselves we are flirting with idolatry. 

What we must remember is that it is not the form that is important, rather, it is the attached meaning that results from such form.  We, as guests in another culture, have neither the right nor the ability to attach meaning to forms.  Therefore, we must approach the use of forms with great caution because it is highly probable that the receptor culture will attach a meaning to our form that is different from what we intend. 

An example would be monologue preaching.  In the West, great value is placed on monologue preaching.  It is the central point of most church worship gatherings.  Because of this, we have often made the mistake of assuming that monologue preaching is sacred rather than simply being a cultural form of communication.  In reality, monologue preaching is nothing more than a lecture. 

Most cultures are significantly more communal in nature than that of the West.  In such cultures, communication typically happens in the form of communal dialogue rather than monologue.  Lectures are rare and foreign.  When we insist or carry the unquestioned assumption that monologue preaching is sacred, we run the risk of having the receptor culture attach a meaning that we don’t really intend.  Instead, we need to learn how the receiving culture communicates and adapt and adopt their methods.  This will better assure that the proper meaning is attached, and that is what is really important.  This is just one example of many, which is what makes cross-cultural ministry so much fun.

training for a 5K...

I'm training for my first 5K race.  I'll be running in the 5K Run for Refugees in Oklahoma City on September 4.  This run is a fund raising event for The Spero Project.  Heart of God Ministries is partnering with Spero this year in our Beautiful Feet Boot Camp, HGM's missionary training program.

In the past, the students who attend HGM's Beautiful Feet Boot Camp have stayed on our campus just east of Oklahoma City.  This year we are having the students live in Oklahoma City's inner city where there is a fairly large population of immigrants.  The logic is that the real time experience of living among people from other cultures is much better training than reading about it or hearing about it in a lecture.  In the mornings, we have lecture time and in the afternoons we have them working with the refugees at Spero or immigrants in their neighborhood and other similar type situations. 

In the past, we have also had physical training as a part of the missionary training.  We have had the students do a daily PT class, which was easy for us to do when they lived on our campus.  Now that they live off of the campus we have had to change the way we do PT.  One of the ways we are doing this is to have the students train and run in the above 5K. 

I thought it would be fun to do this with them and have even thrown down the challenge that I would post a better time than any of the students who are over the age of 30 (only three of the ten fall into that category so I thought that was a fairly safe bet).

To train, I am using the C25K (Couch to 5K) for iPhone app.  In the first week it has you do a warm up walk for five minutes followed by a cycle of running for 60 seconds then walking for 90 seconds and so forth.  The run/walk cycle repeats 9 times and then you cool down with another 5 minute walk.  I have completed the first two days and so far so good.

The app lets you program your own music selection, which is nice.  Here are the songs I chose:

Acrobat, by U2

All Because of You, by U2

Authority Song, by John Mellencamp

Baba O'Riley, by The Who

Bartender, by Dave Matthews

Beautiful Day, by U2

Kashmir, by Led Zeppelin

Limelight, by Rush

Magnificent, by U2

The music plays in random order so you never know which song is next.  I like it...

As I mentioned above, the race is a fundraiser for Spero.  If you would like to sponsor me in the race let me know, either through an email, a comment to this post or on Facebook.  Thanks so much!

some thoughts on conversion...

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the term “conversion” and all that goes with it.  I’m wondering if what we mean when we use the word is what is heard by others.  I’m also wondering if we are even sure of what we mean when we talk of conversion.

My thoughts reminded me of a scene in The Princess Bride:

[Vizzini has just cut the rope The Dread Pirate Roberts is climbing up]

Vizzini - “HE DIDN'T FALL? INCONCEIVABLE.”

Inigo Montoya - “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

The simple idea behind conversion is that of the process that one goes through when he or she changes his or her beliefs, views or faith.  It is a process of making a fundamental shift. 

The problem that I see, however, is twofold.  First, how is the idea of conversion received by those we desire to see follow Jesus.  Second, what is the object of the conversion.

In my experience, most people who are not following Jesus don’t hear what we want them to hear when we use the word conversion.  They hear something more along the lines of “conformism,” which is the idea that one must conform to the ways of a system or certain rules of behavior.  They hear that they must fall in line with an often foreign way of doing things.  They hear that they must leave their culture for a new one. 

I once visited a very remote island in the southern regions of Bangladesh, which is nearly 90% Muslim.  As we walked toward the center of the island and found the local market we were soon surrounded by a mob of curious onlookers.  One of the older men spoke a little English and he immediately asked me if we had come to force them to convert to Christianity.  My response was to quote him a verse from the Qur’an:  “There is no compulsion in religion.  Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path.”  (2:256)  I then told him that we were there to share with them what we had learned about the Right Path as well as learn from them what they had learned.  This set them all at ease and we had a couple of days of great ministry before we had to leave to head back home.

Virtually no one wants to change their culture.  I don’t, and, honestly, didn’t when I became a follower of Jesus.  Why is it, then, that others think that what we are looking for when it comes to conversion is a change in culture?

I think it may be because that is exactly what we really mean, whether we have thought about it or not.  Is it possible that the object of the conversion that we desire for others to go through has become Christianity instead of Jesus?  Is there really a difference between a conversion to Christianity and a conversion to Jesus?  I think so and I think that this is the problem behind the word conversion.

Conversion to Christianity is a change in culture.  Christianity, as it has developed over the past two thousand years, is both a religion and a culture.  I don’t think you can truly separate the two.  Too often, when we present Jesus, we present Christianity.  Most of us can’t even differentiate between the two.  However, again, my experience as a missionary has shown that there is a difference.  For example, the western concept of church, which falls under the umbrella of Christianity, is often seen as the “right” way of doing church.  We meet at a set time on a set day for a set period.  We have organized meetings where we know what is going to happen and who is going to do it.  I’m not saying that this understanding of church is necessarily wrong.  However, it is cultural, not biblical.  It is one way of doing church.  There are many cultures around the world where this form of church would never work or be embraced and to expect it to be so is to expect a conversion to our way of doing things, which is simply another way of expecting others to convert to our culture.

Jesus never told us to convert people to a new religion.  He never told us to have people change their culture.  What he did tell us is to make disciples of all nations by going to them, immersing them in the reality of the Trinity and teaching them to obey all that he had commanded.  In other words, Jesus is to be the object of the conversion we seek, not Christianity. 

Instead of the word conversion I have been trying out the concept of a change of allegiance.  The process of making disciples is more like the process of helping someone change their allegiance to Jesus by turning away (repenting) from their allegiance to themselves, their religion, money, power and so on.  I like this so far because it seems to carry far less baggage. 

What do you think?  Does the word conversion have too much baggage?  Are conversion to Christianity and conversion to Jesus always the same thing?  How do you feel about the concept of changing allegiance instead of conversion?  Is it just a play on words or is it a better way of expressing the desired result?

My new friend...

My Honda Shadow Sabre 1100!

Blog posted here.

Leadership by example...

Have you seen Invictus?  This Clint Eastwood directed movie staring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon is well crafted and tells a beautiful story.  There are also several leadership lessons that just seem to jump off the screen, one of which I'd like to share today.

The IMDb website summarizes the movie as follows:

 The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's rugby team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1057500/plotsummary)

There is a scene where Mandela (Freeman) first meets Francois Pienaar (Damon), the player captain of the South African rugby team.  Toward the end of their meeting the conversation goes like this:

Mandela:  How do you inspire your team to do their best?

Pienaar:  By example. I've always thought to lead by example, sir. 

Mandela:  Well, that is right. That is exactly right. But how to get them to be better than they think they "can" be? That is very difficult, I find.

That's all Mandela said.  From that point on, something happened.  The team went on to play like they never had and, well, if I tell you what happened you'll have an excuse not to watch the movie...

What's the leadership lesson?  It comes down to the example we set.  If we, as leaders, don't believe a goal can be reached, it won't.  If we, as leaders, don't believe that things are going to be better, they won't.  If we, as leaders, don't set the example, getting people to move forward or do the impossible will never happen.  It all starts with us.  We must set the example, and when we do, those who are following will catch the vision.

Vacation!

We are headed to Arizona tomorrow!  First we are going to the Phoenix area to attend this:

Then we are headed here:

And here:

And here:

I can hardly wait!  My reading list for the trip?

I'll be back in a couple of weeks!

Homebrewed Bishop...

I have been slowly reading through N.T. Wright's latest book, After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters for several weeks now.  I received a free copy with the condition that I write a blog post within a month of receiving the book.  Well, I was doing just great and then came down with my first case of malaria.  This set me back a bit and I'm still trying to catch up.

Today, I received an email that provided a way to take me off of the hook on posting a review of the book.  I decided to jump on the offer.

There is a new interview of Bishop Wright on Homebrewed Christianity that was posted a few days ago.  Take a listen and see what you think.  You can find the post here.

By the way, the book has been one of my favorites that Bishop Wright has written.  I would suggest you pick it up.

the karma police...

I’ve been taking a course on Hinduism this term.  What a fascinating study.  Hinduism is virtually impossible to define because there are so many different branches and streams and lines of thinking.  I’ve been saying, since starting the course, that Hinduism is post modernism on steroids.  In other words, literally anything goes.

One of the main streams of Hinduism is the concept of karma.  I’ve talked about karma before.  Karma is that belief system centered in the concepts of “reaping what you sow” and “what goes around comes around.”  The more I think about karma the more I am convinced that most of the world is under the control of this way of thinking.

I saw this even today as I read my Bible.  I was reading in Genesis, chapters 42 and 43, the story of Joseph’s brothers traveling to Egypt to get food for the family.  If you haven’t read the Joseph story (Genesis 37-50) in a while you should go read through it as it is full of some amazing stuff.

So, where did I see karma in this story?  Look at Genesis 42:21...

Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen.  That is why this distress has come upon us.”

The distress they were talking about was that Joseph was requiring them to return home to their father and bring back their youngest brother, Benjamin.  They had no idea that Joseph was their long, lost brother.  In other words, they saw their current predicament as payback for what they had done to Joseph when they threw him down a well and then sold him into slavery.  Karma had found them and payback was coming.

Joseph, who had every reason to take advantage of his political power to exact some karmic revenge on his brothers, chose a different path.  He chose the path of grace.  Before his brothers left to go get Benjamin, Joseph arranged to have the money they had used to purchase food placed back in their traveling sacks.  When the brothers discovered this it only added to their distress.  When they returned with Benjamin they told Joseph about the money and his response was one of grace.  His actions and his response show that he had broken free of the karmic stronghold.  We see Joseph’s response in Genesis 43:23...

He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid.  Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you.  I received your money.”

Do you see it?  Joseph’s brothers were living a life of fear, one in which karma (can God be thought of as a form of karma?) punishes when we do bad things and rewards when we do good things.  Joseph was living a life of freedom from this kind of fear.  He was walking outside of karma.  He had broken free.  This meant he was able to show grace to his brothers.

What happens when we seek to follow God but do so through a karmic lens?  Do we not end up with a God who punishes us when we do bad things and blesses us only when we do good things?  Do we not end up with a performance based religion that is driven by fear?  I’m not saying that there aren’t consequences in life.  Clearly there are.  However, consequences and punishment are not always the same thing.

Jesus broke the karmic cycle.  His path is one that walks outside of karma.  That’s the path I want to be on.  What about you?

Nomads 2010

to register, go here

trip reading list...

I am leaving for Taiwan and Indonesia this coming Saturday.  I am going to visit with some amazing folks. 

Long flights like this are fairly boring.  I typically fill the time with some combination of reading books, sleeping or watching stupid movies.  This trip I think I'm going to drop the movies and spend my time sleeping and reading.  For the whole trip I'll probably have more than 36 hours on a plane, so, that's a lot of reading and sleeping time.

These are the books I plan to take with me.  Have you read any of these?  If so, how did you like it?  Which one should I start with? 

 

 

 

Thoughts on the parable of the lost sons - The Younger Son...

For most of my life I have read this parable through a lens of the younger brother being the rebellious child.  I often thought of some of my high school and college buddies when reading it this way.  You know who you are...

My thinking went something like this.  The rebellious son had a rich father.  The rich father gave his son everything he wanted, which the son quickly squandered and/or destroyed.  The son then goes off to college, aka "the far country," where he parties hard and fails out of his classes.  He then returns to his father with his "tail tucked," to be received with grace and named Vice President of the family business. 

Is this a good lens?  Is this what Jesus was trying to portray?  If not, what have I been missing all these years?

My studies have shown that reading through this lens leaves a major gap in the story.  There is no clear picture of an atoning sacrifice.  Where is the cross in the above reading?  In fact, the above understanding seems to imply that man can be reconciled to God through his own efforts, which is what has led many Muslim commentators to suggest that Jesus is reflecting Islamic theology in this parable.  

When it comes to the younger son, the first thing I now see is that he is more than rebellious.  Instead, he is mutinous, even murderous, in his actions.  To request his inheritance prior to his father's death is to admit that he can't wait for his father to die.  He would rather live life on his own than trust his father.

Second, in requesting his inheritance the younger son has not broken any law.  There is no prohibition in the law that says a son can not request his inheritance early.  What has been broken is a relationship.  Remember, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees and the scribes.  I think he is telling them that relationship is more important than the law.

Third, in the parable there doesn't seem to be any true repentance in the younger son.  Most English translations say that the younger son "came to his senses" or "came to himself."  Neither of these suggest repentance.  Even in his planned story to his father he doesn't use language that reflects repentance.  Instead, he is scheming to deal with his hunger.  When he returns to the father he is not expecting to be restored to the family.  He has no idea what is coming.  He is simply hoping for the best in a terrible situation simply because he was hungry.

So, where is the cross, and thus the gospel in this story?  I think we will find more when we look at what we can learn from both the father and the elder son.  I hope to post on these soon.

the year of jubilee...

Leviticus has always been a tough book to read for me.  So many rules and details.  However, chapter 25 introduces a concept that has always intrigued me; the concept of jubilee. 

Every 50 years, the Hebrew people were to declare a year when all debts are forgiven and when all property must be returned to its original owner.  It was to be a year of liberty throughout the land.

What a beautiful concept.  The captives are set free.  The debtor can stand with the lender on level ground.  Truly a season of celebration.

One of my roles in life is that of mission director for HGM (Heart of God Ministries), which is a missionary training and sending organization focused on the unreached peoples of the world.  We have a beautiful campus just east of Oklahoma City.  The campus has low cost housing for our staff and for our missionaries who are home for a brief stay.  Over the past year some of our staff have fallen behind on their rent.  The rent isn't much but it had accumulated in some cases into a difficult climb. 

Last Friday, we declared a year of jubilee for HGM.  All debts are forgiven!  Everyone gets a fresh start!

Of course, with the jubilee comes responsibility, on both sides.  Those whose debts have been forgiven should do all they can to avoid getting back into debt.  At the same time, those who are in the position of lender need to lend responsibly.  If the lender knows the borrower can't pay, then the loan should not be made.  If the landlord knows the renter can't pay, then other arrangements need to be made.  Both sides must work in a responsible manner to avoid a difficult situation (Leviticus 25:14-17).

I am truly jumping for joy at what we have done at HGM.  Now, if we can only get the rich countries of the world to do the same...

Loving Muslims...

I saw the following on a friend's blog.  Thought you might enjoy it...

Christian approaches to Muslims

If we see Muslims as …
Enemies
Our approach will be …
Attack!/Defend!
Our heart attitude will be ..
Hate

If we see Muslims as …
Foreigners
Our approach will be …
Separate Coexistence
Our heart attitude will be ..
Indifference

If we see Muslims as …
Poor, uncivilized, uncultured
Our approach will be …
Invite them to be like us (join us)
Our heart attitude will be ..
Pharisaic/condescending

If we see Muslims as …
Rivals
Our approach will be …
Polemic debate
Our heart attitude will be ..
Proud

If we see Muslims as …
Human beings
Our approach will be …
Respectful dialogue
Our heart attitude will be ..
Listen and learn

If we see Muslims as …
Unresponsive
Our approach will be …
Resigned to do nothing
Our heart attitude will be ..
Hopeless

If we see Muslims as …
Lost people Jesus died for
Our approach will be …
Salt/light (demonstrate love)
Preach the Gospel (speak truth)
Pray for their needs (show power)
Become all things to all people (Pauline)
Our heart attitude will be ..
Love

I can't take the hatred...

I'll probably get a lot of flack for this post, but here goes anyway.

Yesterday, I read a long, heated argument on someone's Facebook page about whether or not it was possible to be both a Christian and a Democrat.  The man who was arguing that it was not possible was quite belligerent and seemingly very un-Christian in the expression of his views.

This morning, popping up all over my Facebook newsfeed is a link to a video that claims to have proof that President Obama is a Muslim.  I watched the video and was deeply disturbed by the double threads of fear and hatred that were woven throughout.

I am also beginning to see posts referring to the Ft. Hood shooter, Major Malik Nadal Hasan, in terms that equate what this one man has done to what any Muslim would be capable of doing.  Things like, "I'm not surprised," and "What did we expect?"  Of course, these kinds of comments are founded on the assumption that all Muslims are terrorists.

I guess the thing that bothers me the most about all of this is when it is Christians who propagate it.  It is as if somehow we have mixed up our patriotism and love for country with our faith in King Jesus. 

How can we follow Love and hate those who are not like us?  How can we pray for our enemies when we are so busy demonizing them?  How can we hope for Muslims to ever know Jesus when we are so busy killing them? 

I just don't get where Jesus is in this way of thinking.  I can't take the hatred...

To confront or not...

I received the following email from a circularthoughts.com reader yesterday:

My friends and my girlfriend, even my father, all whom I hold very dear to me, take the Lord's name in vain all the time, and it really bothers me.  I don't do it. But I wonder if I'm sinning too by not correcting them. This is such a hard issue for me.  It plagues me. Please help.

This was my reply:

Thanks for your question.  I can understand your concern.  I once had a boss who did the same.  It was like he couldn't say one sentence without doing it.

I have a question for you?  Are your friends, your girlfriend and your father believers in Jesus?  I think whether they are or not determines whether or not you need to confront.

My understanding of Scripture, when it comes to confrontation of sin, is that we are not to confront the non-believer.  To do so, in my experience, does nothing but push them further from the real Jesus.  However, we are encouraged to confront believers in matters of sin.  Of course, we are encouraged to do so in humility and love.

When we look at Jesus, we see this very pattern played out.  He never confronted those who were considered to be sinners.  He spent time with them, had meals with them, even drank with them.  The Pharisees, who were supposedly the "good" people, on the other hand, is who he confronted.  He confronted them on many occasions for not loving those who were considered sinners and for making it hard on them.  I think this is the pattern I would suggest you take with your friends, girlfriend and father.  In other words, if they are not followers of Jesus, then I think you need to not say anything about their language.  Instead, let your light shine and love them to Jesus.  If they are believers, then I think you can have a discussion with them and tell them why this bothers you.  Don't be judgmental in approaching them, just share why it bothers you.  In addition, you need to pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you to the right time and the right words to say.  Make sense?

I hope and trust this helps, at least just a little.  I'm more than willing to talk about this further if you would like.  Thanks again for asking and thanks for reading the blog.

Blessings,

Eric

The reader replied as follows:

When you say let your light shine and love them to Jesus, you mean lead by example and pray for them, rather than confronting them thus pushing them away right?  I want to say thank you so much for your expedient and thoughtful reply.  It really means a lot.  I look forward to future correspondences in matters of faith.  May Christ keep you and walk with you on a righteous path.  

---

Confrontation is a tough call, I think. It does seem to be the default for many Christians, meaning, let's confront first and love second.  I'm just sharing from my own experience, on both sides.  I have both confronted and been confronted when I shouldn't.  So, here are my questions for you?

Where do we draw the line?  Do we confront those who don't claim to be following Jesus?  When do we confront our brothers and sisters?  What horror stories do you have?

Thoughts on the parable of the lost sons - Context...

con-text

- noun

1.  the parts of a written or spoken statement that precede or follow a specific word or passage, usually influencing its meaning or effect: You have misinterpreted my remark because you took it out of context.

2.  the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event, situation, etc

---

When we want to go deeper in our understanding of Scripture one of the most important steps is to study the context.  Failure to do so can result in at best a limited understanding of what is being taught and at worst a complete misunderstanding.  It is important to try and understand what has been said both before and after the passage we are studying.  It is also important to know as much as we can about both the historical and literary context of the passage in question.  In this post, I hope to answer some of the questions of context when it comes to the parable of the lost sons.

When I read this parable the first thing I want to know is to whom Jesus is telling the parable.  This seems to be a fairly important question as there could be two or three different emphases to the parable depending on how this is answered.  In Luke 15:1 & 2 there are two groups of people mentioned; the tax collectors and sinners, and the Pharisees and the scribes.  If we come to the conclusion that Jesus is speaking to the tax collectors and sinners then we will most likely focus on the younger son and assume that Jesus is teaching the tax collectors and sinners about the grace and mercy of God the Father.  When we do this we will typically not know what to do with the elder son and just think his part of the story is either an afterthought or secondary.  On the other hand, if we come to the conclusion that Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and the scribes we will more likely focus on the elder son.  We will do this because we will see that Jesus is telling the Pharisees and the scribes that they are like the elder son in that they cannot extend grace and mercy to the younger son who represents the tax collectors and sinners.  A third option would be that Jesus is speaking to both the tax collectors and the sinners and the Pharisees and the scribes.  If we come to this conclusion we would assume that Jesus has a message for both groups in the stories of the younger and elder sons.  So, which is it?

I think the key can be found in one word in Luke 15:2; the word grumbled.  The Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling about the fact that Jesus was defiling himself by hanging out and eating with the tax collectors and sinners.  In Luke 15:3 we see that Jesus told "them" a parable, well actually three parables.  Jesus had heard the grumblings of the Pharisees and the scribes and he answered them with the parables. We can also see evidence that Jesus was addressing the Pharisees and the scribes in Luke 16:14, which says that the Pharisees "heard all these things, and they ridiculed him."  In other words, the parable of the two lost sons, along with several other parables surrounding such, is sandwiched between the Pharisees grumbling and their ridiculing Jesus.  This should provide more than enough evidence to convince us that Jesus was speaking directly to the Pharisees and the scribes when he told the parable of the lost sons. 

Why is this important?  I think it adds weight to the argument that these parables were more of a warning than stories of what the Father is like.  I'll get into this more in future posts.

Another contextual issue that I think is important is that of the societal structure during the time of Jesus.  We who live in the Western world live very individualistic lives.  We don't really understand the communal nature of most of the rest of the world.  When we read this story through this individualistic lens we are going to miss much of what Jesus was saying.  The family dynamics during that time were such that in the story both sons brought shame to the Father.  This is an important factor that adds to the significance of the warning I spoke of above.  I'll go into details of this factor more in future posts.

The final contextual issue that I think is important to understanding this story is the significance of the two parables that precede the parable of the lost sons; that is the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin.  There is a strong connection between these three parables.  In all three, something was lost.  In all three, that which was lost is found.  In the first two parables, someone went to find and recover that which was lost.  This did not happen in the third parable and this is a very important factor, one that adds strength to my argument that these parables are more of a warning than they are stories of God's goodness and grace.  But, I'll save that for future posts...

Thoughts on the parable of the lost sons - Introduction...

I've been spending a lot of time thinking about and studying the parable of the lost sons over the past month or so.  This parable, which is usually referred to as the parable of the prodigal son, is found in Luke 15.  It has been called the gospel within the gospel and has been used countless times to paint a picture of grace for those of us who have ever gone astray.  It is a beautiful story.

My study, however, has helped me to see that the typical understanding and presentation of this story, while beautiful, falls short of what Jesus was intending to communicate.  I have now come to see that this story is as much of a warning as it is a story of grace.

I plan to take the next few posts and share some of the things I have learned.  Most of what I will be sharing has come from a book by Kenneth E. Bailey called The Cross & the Prodigal: Luke 15 Through the Eyes of Middle Eastern Peasants.  I've owned this book for some time but have just now read it.  A second book that I will draw from is called The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith, by Timothy Keller.   I also listened to a sermon series by Keller called The Prodigal God.  This sermon series tracks with the book.

My plan is to do five posts, including this introductory post.  The second post will be a discussion of the context of the story.  The third post will look at what we know about and learn from the younger son.  The fourth post will be a discussion of what we know about the father and what that teaches us about God.  The fifth and final post will look at the elder son, who is really the key to understanding what Jesus was saying.

I look forward to writing these posts and to our discussion as well.

Way to go Dad...

Today, my Dad was named Youth Worker of the Year by the Arkansas Coalition for Juvenile Justice.  Dad is an Intervention Specialist with Health Resources of Arkansas in Heber Springs.  He works with troubled teens and does all he can to get them back on track.  He is 70 years-old and is finishing well.  My Dad is one of my heroes and I am really proud of him.  This is my Dad and Mom soon after he received the award.  We kept it a secret from him for over two weeks and he was really surprised when it was announced that he had won.  It was a great morning...

ReJesus: A Wild Messiah for a Missional Church

ReJesus:A Wild Messiah for a Missional Church, is the latest offering by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch.  In this book Frost and Hirsch argue that the church in the West has lost her focus and direction and needs to recalibrate her mission around the person and work of King Jesus.  They do this by exploring the "connection between the way of Jesus and the religion of Christianity" (6).

When I am asked if I am a Christian I normally respond by asking the person to explain what they think a Christian is.  Almost without fail the answer I get is not the same as my understanding.  For example, in the United States, I often hear things like, "A Christian is a Republican," or, "A Christian is a person who hates gay people," or "A Christian is a person who is mean and judgmental" and various other not so flattering descriptives.  When I am overseas I hear things like, "A Christian is a pork eating, wine drinking, adulterer," if I am in the Muslim world, or, "A Christian is one of these," which is said while making the sign of the cross on their chest.  I honestly do not remember anyone ever answering my question with anything close to my understanding of what a Christian is; that is a person who follows the way of Jesus.

This is exactly what Frost and Hirsch seem to be suggesting in this book.  The church, at least in the West, has been taken captive by so many special interests and denominational superstar personalities that no one really knows what this thing we call Christianity is really all about anymore.  The answer, according to the authors, and I agree, is to return to our founder, to ReJesus the church.

When the called out ones (which is the meaning of the Greek word ekklesia which is translated church in our English Bibles) turn back to Jesus some very interesting things begin to happen.  First, the called out ones will follow the example of Jesus not some denominational founder or superstar.  The called out ones will also take back up the practice of equipping everyone to be ministers of the gospel instead of seeking to simply get people into pews.  The called out ones will also take on an outward focus of service instead of the consumeristic what's in this for me downward spiral that seems to have entrapped so many.  The called out ones will have a much broader understanding and experience of worship.  They will see it as a service to mission as all things are offered up to God, not just some songs.  The called out ones will practice the presence of Jesus in ways that are not performance based or legalistic but instead an "intense and private connection between a disciple and his or her heavenly Father" (182).  The called out ones will see the need for consistent re-evanglization so as to avoid the pitfall of becoming self-reliant and self-righteous.  In other words, the called out ones will continually remember the cross and what Jesus did for us so as to not slip into a false belief that it is our "pietism or our personal devotion that sets us free" 184).  The called out ones will "abandon its preference for good-manners piety and adopt again the kingdom values as taught by Jesus" (184).  Finally, the called out ones will devote themselves to scripture and the exercise of the spiritual gifts, for the purpose of building up and caring for each other.  (The points in this paragraph were taken from Chapter 7 - The Church That Jesus Built, pages 165 - 189)

I liked this book very much.  It is actually my favorite out of all the books that Frost and Hirsch have written, both as co-authors and individually.  My recommendation is this; if when you read the Bible you see a difference between the way of Jesus and the religion of Christianity, then buy the book and read it.  If you don't see a difference, then don't buy the book.

For additional reviews of this book go to the page dedicated to this book on The Ooze Viral Bloggers site.

A Theology as Big as the City

Bakke, Ray. 1997. A Theology as Big as the City. Downers Grove, IL. InterVarsity Press.

Ray Bakke is Chancellor and distinguished professor of global urban ministry at Bakke Graduate University in Seattle, Washington.  He founded International Urban Associates (IUA) in 1989.  IUA has developed and facilitated a network of more than 100 urban-based church and mission leaders in many of the largest cities of the world.  Bakke has extensive experience in urban ministry having worked in more than 200 large cities on six continents.  He has also authored The Urban Christian: Effective Ministry in Today's Urban World (InterVarsity, 1987).1

The thesis of this book is that the primary challenge of the church regarding the city is theological. (14)

Bakke takes 26 chapters to develop and defend his thesis.  In the first chapter, Bakke tells his story of how he was pushed and led into urban ministry.  Chapters 2 through 13 are an exegesis of a consistent Old Testament theme of the city.  In these chapters, Bakke discusses the role of the city in God’s mission to reconcile his creation.  Chapter 14 is a look at the role of the city in the intertestamental period.  Chapters 15 through 24 continue the exegesis of the city, but from a New Testament perspective.  Chapter 25 is committed to describing some of the author’s urban ministry heroes and heroines.  The final chapter is Bakke’s conclusion of his theology of the city and it includes a listing and description of ten tensions or themes that he sees as critical to a balanced approach to urban ministry.

I liked this book very much and believe that the author did an excellent job of defining and defending his thesis.  His personal storytelling style of writing evidences his extensive experience and adds great authority to the book.  This book was a paradigm shifter for me.  In particular, there are two different themes that I see having a major impact on my current ministry context.  First, the church must repent of its nationalistic tendencies.   Second, the missionary strategies of Paul were city oriented, which is something that I must learn to embrace as a sender.

In several chapters, Bakke addresses how our nationalistic tendencies are not a part of the plan of God.  He shows from the stories of Jonah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Ruth, the Jerusalem Council in Acts and several others that “the whole gospel for the whole city is what’s required” (100), not just for those who are like us.  He also points out that Stephen’s sermon, in Acts 7, seems to be focused on calling into question “Israel’s ethnocentrism and geographical patriotism” (141).  For this, Stephen was killed.  He then points out that many Americans are guilty of a similar thing by “wrapping the gospel in the U.S. flag” (141).  This type of ethnocentrism is nothing short of a sin against God and his plan to redeem all peoples.  We, the church, must repent of this if we are going to join in God’s plan.

In Chapter 19, Bakke outlines Paul’s urban missionary methods.  First, Paul always approached cities instead of rural areas.  The key is how Paul approached each city he went to.  Paul’s wisdom was in realizing that no two cities were the same.  Paul “varied the three m’s - the message, the meeting place and the methodology - to better reach the different audiences of those cities” (154).  We must learn to do the same.  We must learn to seek where the Holy Spirit is already at work in a particular context and then design our strategies around such.  Paul’s methods show that this is both an acceptable and effective approach to finishing the task.

1 Board of Regents - BGU.edu - Bakke Graduate University. http://www.bgu.edu/profiles/regents (accessed February 14, 2009).

Good to Great

Collins, Jim. 2001. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don’t.  New York, NY. HarperCollins Publishers.

Jim Collins researches great companies to learn how they grow.  He takes what he learns and teaches good companies how to become great companies.  He has written and co-written four books including Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, which he co-wrote with Jerry I. Porras.  Collins holds degrees in business administration and mathematical sciences from Stanford University, and honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Colorado and the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. 1

The thesis of this book is that “almost any organization can substantially improve its stature and performance, perhaps even become great, if it conscientiously applies the framework of ideas” (5) presented in the book.

Collins takes nine chapters to develop and defend his thesis.  Chapter 1 is an introduction to the thesis of the book along with a description of the research process followed by Collins and his staff.  The next seven chapters each discuss one of the key concepts Collins presents as key to going from good to great.  These concepts are, Level 5 Leadership, First Who...Then What, Confront the Brutal Facts (Yet Never Lose Faith), The Hedgehog Concept (Simplicity within the Three Circles, A Culture of Discipline, Technology Accelerators and The Flywheel and the Doom Loop.   In the final chapter, From Good to Great to Built to Last, Collins links the findings from this present book to his findings from his previous book, Built to Last.

I liked this book and believe that Collins did a good job of developing and defending his thesis.  I feel that  Built to Last provided more practical applications than Good to Great, but Collins’ discussion in the last chapter of how the two studies go together and how Good to Great is like a prequel to Built to Last helped provide some synthesis and overlap between the books.

I am reading from a non-profit, ministry context.  I found solid concepts in each chapter that will help me in my leadership.  There were two, however, that stood out to me above all others.  There were Level 5 Leadership and Confront the Brutal Facts (Yet Never Lose Faith).

Level 5 Leadership describes several characteristics of great leaders.  Level 5 leaders are “a paradoxical mix of personal humility and professional will” (39).  They are driven to achieve great things beyond themselves and are able to put the goals of the company, or ministry, above their own personal goals.  They are also able to accept the blame when things go wrong.  The key, in my opinion, to being a Level 5 Leader is humility.  As I read this chapter I was drawn to Matthew 20:20-28, where Jesus discusses with his disciples the practice of servant leadership.  We must learn to lead through humility.  This will result in great things.

Collins discusses what he calls the Stockdale Paradox in Chapter 4.  The Stockdale Paradox requires a leader to “retain absolute faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties, AND at the same time confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be” (88).  This concept speaks of bravery and perseverance.  It speaks of an ability to confront issues head on and get to the root cause without wavering from fear.  It reminds me again of Jesus’ teaching his disciples to persevere in the face of persecution (see Matthew 24:3-14).  Strong leaders and ministries must do the same.  This is both our calling and the example we have been given.

1 Jim Collins “Biography,” http://www.jimcollins.com/bio/index.html (accessed March 8, 2009).

The Starfish and the Spider

Brafman, Ori and Rod A Beckstrom. 2006. The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations. New York, NY. Penguin Group.

Ori Brafman holds a BA in peace and conflict studies from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford Business School.  He is an entrepreneur who has founded a wireless start-up, a health-food advocacy group and a group of CEOs working on public benefit projects.  Rod A Beckstrom holds a BA and an MBA from Stanford and was a Fulbright Scholar.  He is also an entrepreneur and founded CATS Software, Inc., which he took public.  He has also helped start and build other high-tech firms. (book jacket) 

The thesis of this book is that organizations that are decentralized and organic in nature have a competitive advantage over those that are centralized with top-down leadership because the “harder you fight a decentralized opponent, the stronger it gets” (26).

Brafman and Beckstrom take nine chapters to develop and defend their thesis.  Central to the book is their description of the fundamental nature of the starfish and the spider.  The starfish  is a decentralized “network of cells” (35) which means that when an arm is cut off a new one grows in its place.  In fact, in some species of starfish the arm that is cut off actually becomes a new starfish.  The spider, on the other hand, represents a centralized organism with a body and a head.  If the head is cut off, the spider dies.  Each chapter deals with a different aspect of decentralized organizations including the hidden power of catalytic leadership and hybrid organizations.  The authors conclude the book with 10 Rules of operating in this new and exciting era of decentralization.

I liked this book very much and believe the authors did a very good job of developing and defending their thesis.  I am drawn to the concept of decentralization as I believe it is a key to seeing the church spread throughout the world, especially in unreached areas.  In particular, I appreciated the authors’ discussion of catalytic leadership and hybrid organizations.

A key for a catalytic leader is “letting go and trusting the community” (111).  A catalytic leader knows that what the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu said is true: “A leader is best when people barely know that he exists; not so good when people obey and acclaim him; worst when they despise him” (115).  In other words, a catalytic leader understands that he or she leads by example and that true leadership happens when followers are given ownership in the outcome.  I am currently in the process of re-writing the Mission Policy for our ministry.  I will be setting up a secure, online discussion board for our missionaries.  My goal is to let the missionaries write the new policy.  They will be given the old policy in segments and asked for input in what works and what doesn’t, thereby giving them ownership in the process.

After reading this book, I am now seeking to develop our mission department into a hybrid organization.  In the past we have been top-down and centralized.  This has resulted in too many rules which has restricted the creative talents of our missionaries.  I am now seeking to instill the vision of each missionary team being an autonomous entity that is responsible for reaching the unreached people group to which God has sent them.  They are the ones who will make it happen, not our central office.  My role is to act as a catalyst by releasing each team to pursue God’s plan to reach their specific people group thereby decentralizing our efforts.  It is my belief that this will result in the decentralized DNA that is necessary to reach entire people groups.

No Line On The Horizon

If you are a U2 fan, you already know about the new release.  If you are not, you need to be, and you need to know...

This, in my humble opinion, is an incredible record.  I have been listening to it constantly since I downloaded it on Tuesday.  It is one of the band's most spiritual records.  My favorite song right now is Magnificent.  Here are the lyrics:

Magnificent / Magnificent / I was born / I was born to be with you / In this space and time / After that and ever after I haven’t had a clue / Only to break rhyme / This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue / Only love, only love can leave such a mark / But only love, only love can heal such a scar / I was born / I was born to sing for you / I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up / And sing whatever song you wanted me to / I give you back my voice / From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise… / Only love, only love can leave such a mark / But only love, only love can heal such a scar / Justified till we die, you and I will magnify / The Magnificent / Magnificent / Only love, only love can leave such a mark / But only love, only love unites our hearts / Justified till we die, you and I will magnify / The Magnificent / Magnificent / Magnificent

Built to Last

Collins, Jim, and Jerry I. Porras. 1994. Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies.  New York, NY. HarperCollins Publishers.

Jim Collins researches great companies to learn how they grow.  He takes what he learns and teaches good companies how to become great companies.  He has written and co-written four books including his latest, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap … And Others Don’t, which has been translated into 35 languages with more than 3 million copies sold.1    Jerry I. Porras is the Lane Professor of Organizational Behavior and Change, Emeritus, at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.  His focus has been the study of how companies pursue “their purpose and core values to produce lasting high performance” (back book jacket).

The thesis of this book is that the primary success of visionary companies is “from underlying processes and fundamental dynamics embedded in the organization and not primarily the result of a single great idea or some great, all-knowing, godlike visionary who made great decisions, had great charisma, and led with great authority” (41).

Collins and Porras use eleven chapters to develop and defend their thesis.  Their methodology includes the comparison of eighteen visionary companies with eighteen good companies seeking to discover those factors that differentiate between visionary and simply good.   The first two chapters introduce the companies studied and the methodology of the study.  The remaining chapters each discuss a different factor that makes a company visionary.

I liked this book very much and believe that Collins and Porras did a very good job of defending their thesis.  My interest lies in the development of a visionary ministry not in a visionary company.  That being said I believe that most, if not all of the principles discussed in the book have application for ministry.  In particular, I found two principles to be significant paradigm shifters in my ministry.

First, Collins and Porras discussed the concept of the Genius of the AND. (43-45)  Most good companies are trapped by what is called the Tyranny of the OR, which is “the rational view that cannot easily accept paradox, that cannot live with two seemingly contradictory forces or ideas at the same time” (43).  Visionary companies figure out how to do both A and B instead of believing that a choice needs to be made.  I see one example of this being played out in our ministry in countries closed to the gospel.  The Tyranny of the OR would force us to choose between security and aggressiveness.  A visionary ministry, on the other hand, will figure out how to excel in both areas.

Second, the authors discussed in Chapter 5 the concept of Big Hairy Audacious Goals, which are defined as goals that are “clear and compelling and [serve] as a unifying focal point of effort - often creating immense team spirit” (94).  Big Hairy Audacious Goals are bigger than life.  They call for risk-taking and creativity.  For our ministry, the Big Hairy Audacious Goals are seeing an entire unreached people group reached with the gospel of King Jesus.  This is truly a daunting task, especially in the areas we work.  As a leader of missionary teams I must help my missionaries fight the tendency to focus on seeing individuals come to faith in Christ, which is not a significant enough of a goal to get the task done.  I must keep the Big Hairy Audacious Goal of the pursuit of people movements constantly at the forefront of my leadership.

1. Jim Collins “Biography,” http://www.jimcollins.com/bio/index.html (accessed February 8, 2009).

Help for the people of Gaza...

I received a letter from my friends John and Pim Gibby in the UK.  It was a letter they received from Bishara Awad, who is the President of Bethlehem Bible College, located in Bethlehem, Palestine.  This letter discusses the current situation in Gaza.  In addition it provides a mailing address where funds can be sent to help out the Palestinian people of Gaza who are in great need.

You can read the letter here. 

We plan to make a contribution and I hope you will pray about doing the same...

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Matthew 5:9

Resolutions for 2009...

The following is what my resolutions for 2008 were and how I did...

In 2008, I resolve intend hope might:

1. Exercise - well, I went to the gym about 20 times and then quit going and gained another 10 pounds...
2. Watch what I eat - successful at this one.  I watched my food go from the plate to my mouth...
3. Spend less time on the computer - what was I thinking?
4. Write more, while spending less time on the computer - actually wrote less due to a period of grief and isolation due to death and illness in the family...
5. Read more biographies - don't even think I made it through one this year...
6. Start wearing socks - what was I thinking?
7. Plant a vegetable garden - well, I actually did this and we successfully grew tomatoes, okra and cantaloupe...
8. Wash my vehicle with something besides rainwater - what was I thinking?
9. Take more naps - yes.  this is really a good thing and I suggest that you try it if possible...
10. Start caring about sports - well, does fantasy football or playing Madden '09 on the PS2 with my son count?

I was 2 for 10, or 3 for 10 if you cut me a little grace on the sports thing.  In baseball, 3 for 10 will earn you a million dollars, but 2 for 10 will land you in the minor leagues.  OK, I just used that sports analogy hoping you would cut me a little grace on the sports thing which would push me to 3 for 10 and maybe result in a million dollars.

I've debated, in my mind, about whether or not to do a list for 2009.  But, since I have my readership's attention, all three of you, I guess I'll do it.

In 2009, I resolve intend hope might:

1. Exercise - I've really got to do this and the odds are on the increase because someone just gave us a really nice elliptical machine...
2. Read more biographies - I'm going to try this one again as I think the lessons to be learned from those who have gone before us are invaluable...
3. Plant a vegetable garden - I'll do this again for sure, except I won't plant so many tomatoes since I'm really the only one who eats them...
4. Write more - This I really want to do.  I took a break from writing due to the illness and isolation we experienced in our family this year...
5. Study Mandarin more - This I really need to do as I have six different teams in the Middle Kingdom now...
6. Spend more quality time with Grant - He's 12 now and at that age when not spending time with him could result in our losing his heart...
7. Finish cleaning out our basement and build a good workbench - I just carved my first pipe and enjoyed the process.  I need a better place to do it and some more tools...
8. Go hiking and backpacking more - Grant and I used to do this together.  What a way to help meet resolution number 6...
9. Have more date nights with Staci - We already do this quite regularly, but in this case, more is good...
10. Fast more - This is a spiritual discipline in which I am really weak.  I hope to fast several times a month.  Of course, I can't tell you if I succeed with this one, can I?  (Matthew 6:17-18)

What about you?

1. Exercise - well, I went to the gym about 20 times and then quit going and gained another 10 pounds...
2. Watch what I eat - successful at this one.  I watched my food go from the plate to my mouth...
3. Spend less time on the computer - what was I thinking?
4. Write more, while spending less time on the computer - actually wrote less due to a period of grief and isolation due to death and illness in the family...
5. Read more biographies - don't even think I made it through one this year...
6. Start wearing socks - what was I thinking?
7. Plant a vegetable garden - well, I actually did this and we successfully grew tomatoes, okra and cantaloupe...
8. Wash my vehicle with something besides rainwater - what was I thinking?
9. Take more naps - yes.  this is really a good thing and I suggest that you try it if possible...
10. Start caring about sports - well, does fantasy football or playing Madden '09 on the PS2 with my son count?

I was 2 for 10, or 3 for 10 if you cut me a little grace on the sports thing.  In baseball, 3 for 10 will earn you a million dollars, but 2 for 10 will land you in the minor leagues.  OK, I just used that sports analogy hoping you would cut me a little grace on the sports thing which would push me to 3 for 10 and maybe result in a million dollars.

I've debated, in my mind, about whether or not to do a list for 2009.  But, since I have my readership's attention, all three of you, I guess I'll do it.

In 2009, I resolve intend hope might:

1. Exercise - I've really got to do this and the odds are on the increase because someone just gave us a really nice elliptical machine...
2. Read more biographies - I'm going to try this one again as I think the lessons to be learned from those who have gone before us are invaluable...
3. Plant a vegetable garden - I'll do this again for sure, except I won't plant so many tomatoes since I'm really the only one who eats them...
4. Write more - This I really want to do.  I took a break from writing due to the illness and isolation we experienced in our family this year...
5. Study Mandarin more - This I really need to do as I have six different teams in the Middle Kingdom now...
6. Spend more quality time with Grant - He's 12 now and at that age when not spending time with him could result in our losing his heart...
7. Finish cleaning out our basement and build a good workbench - I just carved my first pipe and enjoyed the process.  I need a better place to do it and some more tools...
8. Go hiking and backpacking more - Grant and I used to do this together.  What a way to help meet resolution number 6...
9. Have more date nights with Staci - We already do this quite regularly, but in this case, more is good...
10. Fast more - This is a spiritual discipline in which I am really weak.  I hope to fast several times a month.  Of course, I can't tell you if I succeed with this one, can I?  (Matthew 6:17-18)

What about you?

Thoughts on Gaza...

I am sure you are aware of the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel.  Since this past Saturday more than 360 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air-strikes and four Israelis have died from the dozens of rockets fired by Hamas.  (go here for more information) 

Yesterday I received an email that really bothered me.  It was a "forwarded" email and its title was Israel Finally Attacks Gaza.  What bothered me was the word Finally. This word seems to condone and approve the killing of Palestinians, whether "terrorists" or civilians.  But the thing that bothered me most about this type of email (this wasn't the first of this type of email I have received) is the implication that Christians should be supportive of Israel's actions. 

I am not an expert on Middle East politics.  I do know that it is a hotbed of conflict and there is really no way to lay the ultimate blame on one party.  Everyone is guilty of wrongdoing.  There is more than one story, but mostly what gets heard in the US is one side.  I know because I've been there and have heard and seen the other side.

I haven't visited the Gaza Strip but I have spent some time in the West Bank, particularly in Bethlehem.  I was shocked on my first visit.  It felt as if I was visiting a prison.  There is a wall that surrounds Bethlehem.  On the Israeli side of the wall everything is green and beautiful.  On the Palestinian side of the wall things are brown and dead or dying.  On the Israeli side of the wall there are shopping malls and parks and modern hospitals.  On the Palestinian side of the wall there are limited supplies and refugee camps and sub-Western hospitals.  I went to a Palestinian hospital with a Palestinian Christian friend to visit his mother.  She was in a room with about six other people.  He said that the doctors didn't have medicines or equipment to properly treat her.  I asked if he could take her to an Israeli hospital.  No, was the answer.  "We are Palestinian.  They would not accept us."  Not that they could even go because a Palestinian has to receive permission from the Israeli Army to leave Bethlehem.  My friend has not been able to leave Bethlehem for several years.

What I saw in my two visits to Bethlehem was one group of people, the Palestinians, being oppressed by another group of people, the Israelis.  It is an oppression beyond anything I have seen in all of my travels.  I would equate it to apartheid in South Africa.

It is an oversimplification to suggest that there are three camps that we North American Christians fall into when it comes to the modern political state of Israel.  I'm sure there are others, but my experience has shown me that there are three broad groups.

First, many Christians "blindly" support Israel because of their belief that Israel is God's chosen people and therefore not to support Israel would be to go against God.  These folks know very little about the establishment of the modern political state of Israel in 1948.  They don't know that many Palestinians were run out of their homes and forced to live in refugee camps, many of which still exist.  They also don't know that many conservative Jews do not recognize the modern political state of Israel as the Biblical Israel because they believe that it was established by man not God.

Second, there are what are called Christian Zionists.  These folks read the Bible through an end-times prophecy lens.  They see the establishment of the modern nation state of Israel in 1948 as fulfillment of prophecy and a sign of the beginning of the end.  They also view events in the Middle East with excitement believing that such are one more piece of the puzzle that must be completed before Jesus returns.  Christian Zionism, at least in the US, has its roots in dispensationalism, which came out of the teaching of John Nelson Darby in the mid-nineteenth century. 

The third group of people doesn't really have a name and they are much smaller than the previous two groups.  This group believes that God does not have favorites. (see Acts 10:34-35)  They believe that both Palestinians and Israelis must go to God through Jesus.  They believe that it is the responsibility of Christians to pray for all peoples and share the gospel with all peoples, including Palestinians and Israelis.  They believe that the only solid sign we have been given of when the end is coming was given by Jesus when he said that the "gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14).  They also believe that the leaders of both Israel and Palestine will be held accountable for the injustices each has propagated on the other.

I happen to fall in the third group, thus my frustration with the email.

We have been called to make disciples of all nations.  The all means all, not most or all but one.  I am convinced that both blind and active support of the modern nation state of Israel's oppression of the Palestinian people is doing more to slow down the second coming of Jesus Christ than to speed such up.  I say that because in the Muslim world there is a strong belief that the US is a Christian nation.  Many Muslims see the US support of Israel as Christian hatred of Muslims.  It's that simple.  Many times I have been asked why Christians hate Muslims.  When I ask why they would ask that they say it is because we (the US and thus Christians) support Israel.

So, what do we do? 

First we must pray.  We must pray for the kingdom of God to come among the peoples of Israel and the peoples of Palestine.  We must pray that the Lord of the harvest would call out workers into both fields.  When we pray this prayer, we must be willing to go ourselves.  The call is there.  Are we willing to go?

Second, we must educate ourselves.  We must look into the teachings behind our end-times beliefs and see how they developed and fit within church history.  We must also evaluate whether or not having an end-times focus fits with what we have been commissioned to do.  Remember, even Jesus said he didn't know when the end would come. (Matthew 24:36)  If Jesus doesn't know and doesn't seem to be all that concerned that he doesn't know, neither should we.  Of course, we do need to remember that we have been given limited time here on earth and we will be judged according to what we have done during that time with the gift we have been given. 

Third, we must learn to love our enemies.  To be a disciple of Jesus we must obey his teachings.  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught us to love our enemies.  He said that such love will confirm that we are truly sons (and daughters) of the Father. (Matthew 5:43-48)  That's pretty strong.  We must ask ourselves if we are able to love Palestinians as much as we love Israelis as much as we love ourselves.

Finally, we must be peacemakers.  Again, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that those who seek peace will be called sons (and daughters) of God.  (Matthew 5:9)  This is a serious teaching.  When we either blindly or openly support one side over another are we being peacemakers?  I just don't think so.  Violence begets violence.  We must seek peace.  This is Jesus' way and it must be ours.

Chapter 3: How Do Westerners Picture the World?

In Chapter 3 of Christianity with Power: Your Worldview and Your Experience of the Supernatural, Dr. Kraft describes some of the characteristics of the Western worldview.  He begins by giving a brief synopsis of the influence the "Enlightenment" has had on Western culture.  The "Enlightenment" was a period during which "modern science was being born...[and] humans became very impressed with themselves and with their ability to work things out rationally" (page 25).  We have inherited this mindset in such great depth that most of us don't even realize that we think this way.  

Dr. Kraft then gives six characteristics of the Western worldview:

1.  Our worldview is naturalistic.  Westerners have divided the world into two worlds, the natural and the supernatural.  Most Westerners then ignore the supernatural world since it cannot be explained by science.  "Occasionally we interpret something that happens as a miracle, but by definition we see such an act as a matter of God's interference in normalcy...which seems to contrast with Jesus' view that such acts ought to be considered normal in the kingdom of God" (pages 28-29).

2.  Materialism dominates Western Society.  We define success and security by things that can be seen and controlled.  We are driven to acquire more because in that more we find comfort and peace.  This pursuit of more keeps us focused on the visible and measurable, which means we have little time to focus on or believe in that which is not visible and not measurable.

3.  Western society is humanistic.  Many in the West are convinced that human accomplishment has no limits. (page 30)  "It is just a matter of time and effort, we believe, before we conquer such-and-such a disease or learn how to control the weather...and if we can just create an organization big and powerful enough to handle the whole world, we will at last have attained peace" (pages 30-31).  "Now our real religion is science, and our priests are the scientists.  For it is science that gives us control over the material universe and the promise of future control over everything else" (page 32).

4.  Reason has become our primary way of understanding REALITY.  The "Enlightenment" resulted in reason and rational thinking taking precedent over and dominating any suggestion of human intuition.  In fact, such intuition "and imagination in the discovery process [is now] ignored and scorned" (page 32).  Also ignored and scorned are "any recognition of unseen beings and powers, since they [are] not subject to the rigors of rational analysis" (page 32).

5.  We highly value individualism and independence.  This focus on our independence and individualism results in an isolation that "makes both Christians and non-Christians very vulnerable to Satan in the deepest recesses of our being...[where] problems such as anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, worry, fear, and lust are to be kept out of sight, even though they fester within us and make us sick [and give Satan freedom] to gnaw away at our emotional problems like a rat working under cover of darkness" (page 33).

6.  Westerners do tend to be open to change.  Kraft argues that one beneficial characteristic of the Western worldview is our openness to change.  We have experienced so much change in our lives that we are both expectant and open to such.  We do "tend to be much more hesitant when it comes to change in religious ideas or allegiances" (page 34). 

Dr. Kraft concludes this chapter with a discussion of "felt needs," which are "needs or wants that people have a strong urge to satisfy" (page 34).  "When the answers of science, materialism, humanism and naturalism fall short, people then begin to look for spiritual answers" (page 35).  Many Evangelicals are at a point where their felt need is not being met and they are sensing "that there must be more to Christianity than we have witnessed so far" (page 35).

I was at that point once.  What about you?

Eric

Merry Christmas...

 

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. (John 1:14, The Message)

 

Peace to you.  Just as the Father sent me, I send you." (John 20:21, The Message)

 

Much has been made of keeping Christ in Christmas.

So...

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

Can it simply be that God came to us?

Or...

Is it possible that there is more to it?

 

God became flesh and blood and lived among us.

He did this because He loved us and was making a way for us to be made right with Him again.

The birth we celebrate at Christmas is an incredible blessing.

It is truly a gift.

In Jesus we have been given much...

 

Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities! (Luke 12:48, The Message)

 

Almost half of the world's population has never heard of Jesus; or if they have, what they know is incomplete.

Jesus came to us.

Are we willing to go to them?

 

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus this year, pause to remember those who have never heard.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what your role is in taking the gift of Jesus to those who have never heard.

 

Take what you have been given and give it to others...

(2 Timothy 2:2)

 

Merry Christmas from Eric, Staci and Grant...

 

Read about our unforgettable Christmas...

A very special announcement...

I have recently accepted the position of Mission Director for Heart of God Ministries (HGM).  I am so excited about this opportunity to expand our work.  Let me tell you about it.

 

HGM is a ministry that focuses on training and sending folks to the 2 billion people in the world who have never heard of Jesus.  They currently have 56 missionaries, not counting children, serving on 9 teams in 6 different countries.  The Mission Director is responsible for providing strategic leadership and missionary care for this amazing team of missionaries.  

 

You may remember that I went over to the HGM campus just east of Oklahoma City in September.  I went to teach on contextualization.  On our last day there John Zumwalt, the founder of HGM, took me to breakfast and asked if I would take the Mission Director position.  The position had been open for several months following the passing of Orv Halley earlier this year.

 

I was shocked.  I had met Orv.  He was an amazing man who lost a battle with pancreatic cancer.  How could I ever replace Orv?  This was the first question I asked John.  He said something like, "You can't.  I'm not asking you to.  I'm asking you to be the Mission Director for HGM."

 

My thoughts then went to Every Nation.  What about Every Nation?  I can't abandon the amazing work that God is doing through Every Nation?  Again, John had a response.  He said something like, "Don't.  I'm not asking you to.  We love what God is doing through Every Nation.  Let's figure out a way for you to do both.  Oh, you're going to have to continue raising your own support because that's the way we do it too."

 

So that began a two-month journey of prayer, fasting and seeking God's guidance and leadership.  I argued with God and told Him why this was not a good idea and how impossible it was and how unqualified I was.  I felt like Moses must have felt when he was talking to that bush.  No matter what excuse I made all I heard God say was "Trust Me."  And so that is what I finally decided to do.  I am trusting God to do the impossible, which seems to be what He loves to do.

 

Please be praying for us as I take on this additional leadership role.  Between Every Nation and HGM I am now providing strategic leadership for 67 missionaries who are living and serving in 9 different countries.  In addition, I am helping to facilitate our training and sending ministry in India.  God is already doing the impossible though us.  We are grateful and honored to be used in this way. 

 

Your prayer and support is and has been a huge part of our journey.  Now, more than ever, we need your partnership. 

 

I know you must have many questions about this new position.  To help answer some of them I have decided to do a Frequently Asked Questions section.  If you have a question that I didn't include, send me an email.  Otherwise, thanks for reading this long email and for your continued prayers and support.

 

Until ALL Have Heard,

 

Eric

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What will happen to Every Nation?

Every Nation will stay just like it is.  I will be hiring an assistant to take over the administrative workload.  Please be praying that I find the right person for this job and that God provides the money Every Nation will need to fund this position. 

 

Is HGM going to pay you?

 

HGM, just like Every Nation, is a faith-based ministry, meaning most employees must raise their own support.  I will continue raising support for our family and for my travel expenses through Every Nation.  I will be an employee of both organizations but will only be paid by one.  This is just the way it is in this line of work.

 

Will you have to move to Oklahoma?

 

No, but I will drive over from time to time.  What I will be doing can be done via email, skype and field visits.  It is a good time to be alive as modern technology makes this kind of working arrangement possible.

 

What does this new role mean for your seminary degree?

 

I will continue to work toward the Master of Arts in Global Leadership degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.  I have about two years to go and HGM is supportive of this work.

 

What does this mean for the Every Nation missionaries?

 

They will continue to work through Every Nation and I will continue to provide leadership.  I have talked with all of the Every Nation missionaries and they are all very supportive suggesting that they would actually benefit from the experience I would be getting through the new work with HGM.

 

Are Every Nation and HGM merging?

 

There is a significant amount of synergy between the two organizations, however, for now we feel that it is best that we keep them separate.

 

How can you work for both Every Nation and HGM?

 

The key is my staff.  HGM has an incredible staff.  Once I hire an assistant for Every Nation the workload will be manageable.  Please be praying for the right person for the assistant job.

 

What does this mean for the work in India?

 

We will continue to provide training and support for the Indian house church leaders.  In fact, I am hoping to send a team in March and probably two others next year.  Want to go?

 

Will you still have to travel?

 

I prefer the word "get" to "have" but yes, I will still travel.  I will be providing leadership in mission strategy as well as overseeing missionary care.  This will require frequent trips to the field.  I won't be traveling any more than I do now.

 

Will you still lead short-term teams?

 

Only one or two per year to India for training.  The rest of my travel will need to be reserved for field visits.  I will miss leading the short-term teams but I sense that that season of work for me is over, at least for now. 

November Ministry Update...

Well, 2008 is rapidly slipping away so we thought we would post a small update before we ran out of time.  Why is it that the older we get the faster time seems to go?  Anyway, things are good and we appreciate your prayers and support.  It has been a hard year, but a good year and 2009 is shaping up to be even more exciting.

 

Immanuel Baptist Global Impact Conference

 

We will be participating in Immanuel Baptist Church's Global Impact Conference later this week.  You can go here for a brochure.  The Brown family from Southeast Asia had to cancel so we were more than happy to fill their spot.  I (Eric) will be manning a booth on Wednesday night with Matt and Lori B.  Saturday morning I'll be teaching the Islam 101 class and Saturday afternoon we will be taking the youth to visit a mosque in Little Rock.  Saturday night we will be at the home of the Holt family.  The address is on the brochure.  Sunday morning we will be in one of the adult Sunday School classes.  Also, don't miss Steve Shadrach, who is the Director of the Mobilization Division for the US Center for World Mission, as he will bring the Sunday message.  We would love to see you at some of these events.

A New Missionary for Every Nation

 

We recently sent out our eighth missionary.  Karin E. is living in Southwestern China.  We are excited to have Karin on our team and we continue to be amazed at how God keeps bringing good quality folks to Every Nation.  Each missionary on our team raises their own support.  My (Eric) role is to provide missionary care and strategic oversight.  It is truly an honor to be able to partner and work with the fine people on our team.  We now have four missionary units in China, one in Bethlehem, one in the Dub@i, one in the M@ldives and one in Uganda (a missionary unit is either a family or a single).  Keep praying for all of our people and for us as we seek to provide the best in both care and leadership.

 

Publishing a book in China

 

Every Nation was given some money earlier this year.  The church that gave the funds requested that it be used for work in China.  We have been praying and waiting on the Lord to lead us in how to spend the funds.  We believe He has done so.  We are in the process of publishing a book that was written by an Indonesian Musl!m who became a follower of Jesus.  This book is the story of his journey.  It is written in a way that would be very comfortable for Musl!ms, meaning it was written using their spiritual terminology.  We are having this book translated into Chinese and hope to get an ISBN so we can sell the book in Islam!c bookstores.  There are more than twenty million Musl!ms in China.  Our hope is that this little book will play a major role in the kingdom of God coming among Chinese Musl!ms.  Please pray with us as we move forward on this project.

 

Update on Jim, Staci's father

 

Jim is doing very well.  His health is back to normal.  He has officially retired and is now spending his days catching up on the many projects around the house that he has wanted to work on.  He drove himself to Wichita recently to visit his brother and is making plans to go on a fishing/camping trip.  Thank you again for your prayers for Jim and our family earlier this year.  We are grateful beyond what we could ever express.

 

Our first holiday season without Brenda

 

Brenda, Staci's mother, loved the holidays.  She loved decorating and making plans and preparing the meals.  Those of you who have lost loved ones know how hard the holidays can be, especially the first time.   Will you be praying for us as we go through these next few weeks?  

 

Seminary update 

 

I am almost finished with my eighth course in the Master of Arts in Global Leadership degree I am pursuing from Fuller Theological Seminary.  I have all A’s so far!  I love this study program and the material is exactly what I need to be studying at this time of my life.  I continue to need help with funding for this.  The fees for the class and books that I am currently taking are on my credit card.  I did not have time to let the need be known because I was traveling to both India and China within a three week period.  The amount needed for this is $1,500.00.  In addition, the next need will come in February.  I will travel to Pasadena for a two-week on campus seminar.  We will cover the basics of two courses during these two weeks.  The required work for these courses will be done over the rest of February through June.  I will need $3,000.00 by early February to cover these two courses.  In addition, I will need approximately $1,500.00 to cover my travel expenses for the two weeks.  Pray with us that God will provide for these needs, as He always does.

 

Raise update

 

You may recall that the Every Nation Board of Directors recently authorized a $500.00 per month raise for us.  This would be our first raise in eight years.  In order for this raise to begin we need to receive monthly commitments for the $500.00.  To date we have received $405.00 in commitments, meaning we are only $95.00 short.  Pray with us that God will prompt those who are to make up this final commitment.

---

Thanks again for your faithful support of our family.  We are so blessed.  As I said above, it has been a hard year, but a good year.  We are excited about the future and continue to covet your prayers.  You have been used by God to help us make it through this year.  Thank you and God bless you.

 

Until ALL Have Heard,

 

Eric, Staci and Grant G.

Every Nation

PO Box 94564

North Little Rock, AR 72190

Eric's email

Staci's email

 

Staci's art

He has provided...

I forgot to post on this, but just three days after I posted Please pray for our current financial need for our work in India, God had provided more than what we needed.  In fact, it looks like we may be covered through the end of the year.  Praise the Lord.  Let me tell you how it happened.

On the day I posted the above I got a phone call from a friend who works for a local church.  She said that someone had just come by and dropped off a $5,000.00 check for me.  She said the person had found the check on their desk that morning.  It had been written in November of 2007 but never got delivered to me.  It had been misplaced for almost a year.  In addition, two days after posting I received an email from a friend who said he was sending $2,000.00.

Once again God has provided in an abundant way.  Thanks for praying...

Please pray for our current financial need for our work in India...

Please pray for the need for funds for our work in India.  We began the month needing $4,000.00.  That need is now down to $2,600.00.  This has partly been met by a change in the exchange rate between US dollars and Indian rupees.  Praise the Lord!

 

It is strategically important that we meet this need by the end of this month.  We only have five days to go.  Please pray that God will make it abundantly clear to those He is calling to give.  Ask Him if you are one of those who are to give.   

 

If you would like to give to help meet this need, please go here to make a donation to the India account from your checking or savings account or use your credit card to make a donation.  If you would like to mail a check, please make it out to Every Nation, list India on the memo line and send it to the following address:

 

Every Nation

PO Box 94564

North Little Rock, AR 72190

 

Thanks for being such an important part of this work.

 

Until ALL Have Heard,

 

Eric

ps:  You can find out more about our work in India by going here.

2 Timothy 2:2 video

I wanted to share this video of what a 2 Timothy 2:2 network looks like.  This is the discipleship network for just one of the men we have trained in India.  It is one of many that we could show you.  Each name on the chart represents a house church.  This is what multiplication looks like.  Enjoy!

Praying through Ramadan...

I wanted to share with you a website that provides daily prayer requests for the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.  I plan to lead my family through this prayer guide and I hope you will too.

 

Ramadan is a 30-day season when Muslims around the world fast and seek the favor of God.  It is a season during which Muslims are more open to hearing from God.  Will you join with my family and so many others in praying that the truth of the Gospel of Jesus be made known among all Muslim peoples?

 

The website can be found here:  2008 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus

 

Scroll down about midway through the page to see links to the daily prayer topics.

 

Thanks for joining with us.

 

Until ALL Have Heard,

 

Eric

Back in the day...

Wish I still had the burns...

We did this here... 

For more crazy photos of me and Staci, go here...

I can't believe this happened...

OK, so when I'm overseas, my white hair often results in some solid advantages; respect, honor and so forth.

Yesterday I went to the hospital cafeteria to buy lunch.  My father-in-law was on his 31st day there following surgery for a lacerated ulcer.  (He came home today by the way!)  The lady rung up my purchase and I wasn't sure what she said.  I heard the word discount, but, well, I just wasn't sure.  I went and sat down and took a look at the receipt. 

Do you see it?  She gave me the 10% VIVA Discount.  Any idea what the 10% VIVA Discount is?  That's right. 

SHE GAVE ME THE SENIOR CITIZEN'S DISCOUNT!

OUCH!

I didn't go pay the $0.60, but thought about it. 

OK, let me have it...