glocalnet t-lounge

Here - Rockin and Rollin

We are here and doing well. We stayed awake after the first day and the second we painted the ABCD clinic we helped fund and start - a clinic for children. Dr. Ha the director then took all the young interns out to eat lunch. I think she was as intrigued by them as they were of her. Johnnie Morgan, my assistant, and her husband Bobby, have been on this trip and having a blast - though Johnnie isn't used to the food. I wish Chandler, Paul, and Ritchie could be here - BUT, this is your world, but to see the eyes of the interns openning for the first time to something bigger than the West is as always - fun.

David Rush had fun visiting with the "Dali Lama" of Taipei, he was on our flight from Seattle to Taipe - he had prayer beads made from the skulls of dozens of previous generations of "lama's". David can speak some Chinese - it was really cool.

Pray for me NorthWood writing hard. If Zondervan is reading this - don't worry - just 200 more pages and I'm finished!

NorthWood, you'd be so proud of the new Glocal Ventures staff here. Sherman is just incredible and his assistant "Dun" has been given the matra from Andy Wallace, "Get it Done." When I met him the first time, he tole me he would "Get it done!" They're winners. We may have found some offices and a guest house not far from the Birla Orphanage where we work.

I'll try to post more later - just kind of busy for a while.

HANOI OR BUST!

I leave in a few hours for Hanoi with our interns. My administrative assistant, Mrs. Johnnie Morgan, and her husband Bobby - will be going with us on this trip. For years she's helped out - finally she gets to see it all first hand. Long flight - but lots to do. I hope I get a lot of my third book written. Got a couple of incredible links you gotta hit. First, is my wild man friend Ken Lockard - pretty incredible for adventure freaks like some of us -- Kens the one who has me on the motorcycle kick - I'll be on one in Hanoi - just not 1200cc - more like 100cc!

http://jet-man.com/playervideo.swf?video=jetman2007.flv

This one is from our worhsip pastor and theologian Jordan Fowler - it's brain food:

http://www.glumbert.com/media/shift

A Love War!

When I was speaking in Doha at the U.S. Islamic World forum, I mentioned that what we need is not more “holy wars” but “love wars.” I reminded everyone of the story of Elijah and Mt. Carmel. They knew who God was by who destroyed the sacrifice (1Kings 18). Instead of guns and wars, what if our “faiths” were in competition over good works? What if the true God would be seen more from acts of love and compassion and service to humanity than by anything else?! “Let’s declare a love war and out-serve one another!”

Dalia Mogahed, a brilliant young lady who works at Gallup and describes herself as a researcher, wife and young mother was telling me about a verse in the Koran that says the same thing as I was proposing.

The Holy Qur’an 5:48 And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which God hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth which hath come unto thee. For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced out way. Had God willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So race one with another in good works. Unto God ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.

Matthew 6:15-16 says, “Neither do men light a candle and put it under a basket but on a candle stick and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Meeting in Doha

Galli (left), Hunter (centre) and Roberts during a meeting. pictures: Jayan

Understanding faiths will ‘reduce’ conflicts Published: Sunday, 18 February, 2007, 08:49 AM Doha Time

BETTER understanding among the people of different faiths and cultures will lead to a decrease in the number of conflicts that the world witnesses today, said a representative of the Church of Resurrection, an American Christian denomination working for the residents of Illinois.
Mark Galli, who is managing editor of Christianity Today, a magazine published by Christianity Today International, has come to Doha to attend the US-Islamic World Forum 2007, the fourth edition of which began at the Ritz-Carlton yesterday.
Sharing his views on the importance of having frequent exchanges of ideas, opinions and thoughts among members of different faiths living in the US and their “Islamic brethren” in the rest of the world, Galli feels that the root cause of all problems that the world confronts today is the lack of faith among people of different faiths.
“We are still in the process of learning more about Islam, its teachings and its wider applications in various issues,” said Galli.
“My advice to Muslims is to understand the good teachings of other faiths and draw a lesson or two from them,” he said.
While acknowledging that the West is slow in understanding the Islam, the editor feels that regular participation in conferences like this and exchanges of opinions would help create better understanding about each other’s religion. “There should be regular interactions among people of different faiths,” he stressed.
Noting that there is a higher level of ecumenism of late among followers of different Christian sects in the West, particularly in the US, Galli said it had resulted in a better understanding of the religion among its followers and also has taught the members of the necessity of studying good points of other’s faiths.
Dr Joel C Hunter, a senior pastor of the Northland church, a protestant denomination, also echoed similar views.
The world is passing through a turbulent phase and there is a greater necessity for talks among not only leaders but common people of different nations themselves, said Hunter.
“What one requires most in a society is freedom of expression and hence the right to talk. There is no freedom of religion where there is little scope for freedom of speech,” said the pastor, who is attached to one of the growing Evangelist sects in the US. His church, he said, has more than 3mn followers.
Hailing from Chicago, Hunter feels that Muslims face absolutely no problem in practising their religion in a world society as the US. Conceding that his knowledge of Islam is very limited, the pastor said one of his Orlando-based Saudi friends is helping him these days to understand the religion better.
Hunter appreciated the freedom granted to non-Muslims in Qatar. Bob Roberts Jr of the Northwood church of Texas said he was honoured to be invited to the forum.
“It is an opportunity to not only meeting representatives of various Islamic states and forums, but also a rare occasion to exchange our views on Islam.”
Author of a book, Glocalisation, which he said has an element of Japanese in its name, Roberts said he believed in action more than words. “After all, the talks here should in any way be translated into action.” said.
He said his church members were actively involved in community service in a predominantly Islamic society like Afghanistan and has set up a number of medical centres, schools and rehabilitation units for the people of the war-shattered Central Asian nation.
“The best way to take others into confidence is by doing community service among its people,” feels Roberts Jr.
Attributing the problems confronting the world to lack of faith, Roberts said while the West viewed Islam with a lot of suspicion, non-Muslims in most Islamic countries feared the faith.
Talks being held in Doha, he said, should help change both the suspicion and fear.
Lauding Qatar for hosting an event of this magnitude for the fourth successive year, Roberts said the country’s association with such events would eventually lead the West change some of its perceptions in the long-run.

The God Meeting

The conference is over, I'll be reflecting over the next few days on all of it.  Met some really cool people and no doubt we'll be partnering in various ways.  Nothing wild happened until the meeting was over. 

We wound up sitting with one of the leaders at the Brookings Institute, the head of the Alliance for World Civilizations at the U.N., Ron Sider, Chris Seiple, myself, and Joel Hunter.  The Brookings guy and the UN guy both began to ask us what we got from the conference and, as evangelicals, how was it that we came to our various positions.  We explained to him that not all evangelicals are on TV or even agree on the same views.  They began to ask how they could partner more with "evangelicals" who were more open on things like the environment, the Arab-Isreali crisis, etc.  Some pretty cool stuff came up.  It was just incredible.  We'll see where it goes, but, for everyone present, the UN Muslim guy and the Brookings Institute guy want a lot more dialogue and interaction.

It's sad to me that we have basically taken ourselves out of key conversations in which God would have us involved.  In the New Testament, we are warned not to lord our leadership over others like the world does.  Yet, that seems the very thing we've done.  What are we missing?  What doors have we closed?  What opportunities are ignored, unknown, or unavailable because of our understanding and positioning ourselves out of being salt and light.  While we argue and debate the nature of the church, which matters, we are forgetting to be the church in the moment in which we find ourselves.

The Conference is Over

So, so, so sleepy.  Staying up late. Body not switched over - the conference is over and it was well worth it.  Got to meet a lot of people from different parts of the world. It was primarily an Islamic Forum - which has been very different in many respects - but incredibly educational.  I wound up visiting a lot with Robert Pinsky. He's so dang funny. He's somewhat "Jewish" - so he started telling me Jewish jokes. Then stories - he told me one about how Mormons were getting baptized for all the Jews who died in the Holocaust. He didn't like it.  They asked him about it. He said, "No big deal, I'm going to start circumcising dead Mormons!"  I've seen him on T.V., etc., doing poetry - calm, erudite - but in private - wild, crazy, and a heck of a lot of fun.

I spoke this morning and it went well.  I was given lots of good comments by different people.  I had to speak on Governance, Religion, and Politics - where should the lines be drawn, what rights and responsibilities should be accorded to religious minorities? What happens when religious mores and public decisions make a collision on social issues?  Is there room for compulsion?

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah was there along with other world leaders and various people.  I told briefly about my engagement with Afghan imams and how it had sharpened my faith as a believer.  I said if ever there was a need for a Ghandi - that time is now.  It may be King Abdullah of Jordan, perhaps the Sheik of Qatar.  I dealt with freedom of religion, separation of church and state, protection and practice.  I then gave four recommendations: First, partner imams and pastors in 6 global cities for a work project where we sweat together and get to know each other.  Second, take turns going to each others’ seminaries.  Third, honor each other in our various churches and mosques.  Fourth - declare a love war - Elijah showed the true God by calling down fire - let us call down love.

I'm sleepy, tired, a long way to go - ready to get home –

Log Entry

Woke today and found myself in the Gulf States paper along with Mark Galli and Joel Hunter. They interviewed us for a story. Galli blew me away - he was on the plane and an Arabic college student asked him to his home for a meal. Mark went and had a fantastic experience. What is it about sitting down with a meal with people that changes everything? It puts us all in the context of community.

Lots of Learning

Today I visited some with Robert Pinsky, former Poet Laureate from the United States. I told him I liked the poets because they always asked the best questions. I told him though a male and from deep East Texas I love poetry and have enjoyed many of his. This is a conference on Islam and the west which means religion - so we talked a little. He told me speaking at a Christian University in Oklahoma - he said he was neither! Yet, he is very good at dialog.

Spent time with Dr. Abudullah Abdullah today. He was the former Foreign Minister for Afghanistan - now working with the Massoud Foundation. He's doing all he can to rebuild his country. I feel that they've been given the short end of the stick. Iraq sure hasn't wanted us - but we're there - Afghanistan has really wanted help - we're not there like we should be. To be an educated man, yet also a soldier for most his life - here is a man of conviction. He likes pens - I like him all the more.

Tomorrow I speak - it's a very academic and intellectual crowd. The past four years has produced a lot of discussion but not so much in terms of action. Who knows where this is going. The Sheik of Qatar who spoke last night was so profound in many things he said. The most powerful was - listening to the voice of his children. The best way I'm convinced to prepare for the future is to listen to the Voice of God and the Voice of the children.

The problems we face in the world are real and so extensive - only when people step out and begin to engage is there any real hope of any change. I think, if I were a diplomat, or global politician - I would despair.

DoHa conclusion of Day 1

I have had quite a day.  It's late but I start early in the morning and saw a computer open so jumped on it.  I need to process a lot of my thoughts but for now,  here are the highlights.  First - I spent time with a Muslim comedian - the first I've ever met - and he's a blast.  He has a beard like a Talliban but a sense of humor like Eddie Murphy - wish they'd turn him loose a few times today.  Really like Joel Hunter of Northland Church in Orlando - we've hung out a lot, he's really wanting to see evangelicals engage Muslims and others.  Sat by Bernard Kalb? - who used to report with Walter Concrite, then ABC - really warm man.  My highlight was getting to meet Abdullah Abdullah - the commander of the northern alliance troops that went into Afghanistan.  I told him, "Abudullah Abdullah - meet Robert Robert!"  He laughed - I told him how I'd prayed for him and the impact Afghanistan has had on my life and faith.  We're going to try to spend some time together tomorrow.  Met several people from Algeria - professors, diplomats - they are really cool people. 

Today listenned to people who research Arab attitudes towards America and visa versa - not anything you wouldn't expect.  We're all very suspicious of one another.  Neither had that positive of views towards the other.  However, to me the real sad thing was when asked for solutions neither side has a clue of what to do.  If ever there was a time for a "Middle Eastern" Ghandi that time is now.  Someone who could bring all sides together and speak truth. 

Tonight at supper I sat with a group of people passionate about Palestinians - incredible discussions.  There's a lot of anger over this and I felt it in the room at several times.  The Sheik of Qatar is a class act - in a session on the Arab - Isreali conflict - unlike the others, he began by talking about "their" failures and mistakes and different things that could be done.  At times, you felt it was all one sided.  It's midnight and I have to be up at 6a.m. - I'm defintely going to reflect on all this - just too much too fast. 

Doha Day 1

This may be the best-traveled trip I've ever had. As I got on the plane from Dallas to London, I arranged all my reading, Maya Angelou - Celebration, Deepak Chopra - Peace is the Way, David Garrison - Church Planting Movements, David Naugle - Worldview, my Bible and my journal - I thoroughly confused the Texan sitting next to me - it was funny.

From London to Doha I sat by Ron Sider - who's book that came out in '77 - Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger - has impacted me and many others - really cool guy, had fun talking with him.

I am so amazed at all the Asian believers from the Pacific I met all throughout my travel - all the way here. Grace and Clara - my nieces - if you're reading this I believe some of the greatest Christians in the world are Filipino - they may be God's greatest ambassadors. I met them everywhere - in service industry primarily - but living and sharing God's love everywhere. You know your Texas history and ancestory - make sure your Dad teaches you Filipino history as well.

Had fun with a guy who has the "look" of a radical Islamist - not at all though - he's a comedian from Chicago and a hoot at that. I like him a lot - we're going to have fun. Met one activist from the U.S. who is Sudanese, then met a Sudanese offical here - obviously different viewpoints of the situation in Darfur.

We start in a couple of hours. Slept from 10pm to 7 am this morning. Great prayer, journaling, reading, and getting ready for all this. Great run and workout along the ocean. Pray for me - I know much of what I'm going to say but haven't written it all on purpose, wanted to listen and get the feel of this place. I'll write more later - but for now

Father, give me ears to hear not just words but emotion and attitude. Give me wisdom to look beyond the surface, discernment to know what to say and how to respond. Give me insight to know what to do. May there be much salt and much light from all of this.