Worldly Holiness

The Bean in HDR, originally uploaded by papalars.

“If Focus People are to be enabled to see the Christ of the Gospels, they must first see the likeness of Christ in his followers.”

Whether we like it or not, we reflect something to our world, to those we meet and those we seek. In my work with focus people, I am aware that many times I reflect a stereotypical American whom they perceive as hating their religion and people around the world. This is not my idea, but what my culture and passport say to focus people before a conversation even begins. I would maintain that this is a distortion of what I feel in my heart toward them. But how will they know what is in my heart unless I engage them in an honest, open friendship? By the way, this sounds a little bit like Romans 10:14-15. Why don’t you pause and think of this passage as you pray for me, for those I meet and those I seek. Would love it if you did that.

I find a big part of my work is to clear up distortions—in two ways. In the church I speak of focus friends that I know, clearing up stereotypes of the bearded militant who wants to kill Americans. With focus people I am developing friendships that show love, sincerity, a posture of humility, learning and hopefully, the love of Christ extended to them. This is different than what they expect.

So with this edition of my prayer requests please focus on praying for a clear understanding on both sides of the conversation that takes up most of my life.

Specifically pray for:

1. My conversation with the Department of World Mission this weekend as I present a modified proposal of my role with the Mosaics project that has me based stateside. I hope to be involved more with mobilizing, training, and developing local church ministries to focus people. I can send you the proposal upon request. Just email me at: prayformosaics@yahoo.com.

2. New focus friends in the Seattle area. Some wonderful doors are opening up into the Focus community at both a lay and leadership level. Pray that distortions be minimized, that the light of Christ be seen, understood and embraced. Pray especially for 3 new contacts that I am developing.

3. Family as we continue to launch our children and careers. Pray for our relationships with each other, for good mental and physical health and for clarity and passion for our future[s].

4. Pray for the development of my “Glocal” strategy. At home that means clear direction in the who, what and where of the Mosaics project. I also want to develop a local team who would join the ministry. The other part is far reaching as I develop our approach to mobilizing, empowering local churches and individuals.

If you look closely at this picture of the Bean in Chicago, you can see me with my tripod, snapping happily away. I love to take pictures of the Bean. The distortions are fascinating. As you look at the photo, why don't you pause to ask yourself, "What do others see when they look at me?"

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”
2 Corinthians 2:14

Old Mansion, originally uploaded by papalars.

Yesterday I was invited to speak about my work with focus people in a Christian High School close to Black Diamond. Close to Auburn as well. The school is out in the woods and the drive took me on fun roads that are a little off the beaten path. Golden opportunity to drag my camera along and enjoy the views. I share with you one of my HDR [High Dynamic Range] photos for this edition of Friday Fotos. HDR is a process of making one dynamic photo and sandwich from 3 photos shot at different f-stops or shutter speed. It affords a greater range of color, sharpness and overall quality. 

This is an old mansion that is also a historical site in the region. The date on the sign says 1894. To realize we lived all last year in Barcelona where human civilization of some kind was in the area before the time of Christ makes me chuckle thinking of how relatively "young" this place is. I guess it goes with the territory in these parts. When Rome was building roads in present day Spain, the state of Washington was inhabited with some Native-American Indian tribes but probably mostly trees. Our broader culture was dreaming about building a mansion somewhere.

Anyway the class I taught today was very engaging. It consisting of 10 and 12th graders and went well. They were eager to learn and hear of what God is doing in the focus world. It continues to strike me how much our youth engage the focus world and are spiritually curious. When I ask in groups of people who has a friend from the focus world, most are under 30. I think they know something that my generation does not. Our future will have more to do with religious and spiritual stuff, discussions between religions, conflicts stirred by warped religious passions and much less about the goals that gave my generation apparent meaning. 

Our future is ultimately NOT about secularism and materialism which the leading thinkers of the 20th suggested. You may remember that Marx and others believed that the more educated and economically productive people became, the less religious they would be. Even though America did not officially subscribe to that doctrine [we believed in God and the other guys were atheists], we are perhaps the country that most embodies the idea–value is measured by material wealth. But David Brooks in the Atlantic Monthly states: "It's now clear that the secularization theory is untrue. The human race does not necessarily get less religious as it grows richer and better educated. We are living through one of the great periods of scientific progress and creation of wealth. At the same time, we are in the midst of a religious boom…secularism is not the future; it is yesterday's incorrect vision of the future." Atlantic Monthly, March 2003. 

This weekend I take another road trip up north, with a full load of speaking engagements on Sunday. First, I get to share in worship [that means preaching], followed by a Q & A for Sunday School. After that is all over, I then take a boat trip with a bunch of men where I give a different talk on marriage, parenting and family. The title of my talk with the guys is "Relational Fidelity: Reaching the Summit, Going the Distance." I took some time in the woods the other day, thinking and praying about what in the world I could share with a bunch of men about relationships. This is a bit of a new challenge for me. I don't feel adequate to the task. I know I could be doing a lot, lot better in this area of my life. Who am I to give a word about this topic? Pray for me this weekend on this topic in two ways. 1. How I actually live the stuff I'm going to talk about in my family. 2. How I speak about it with others in such a way that God is brought into the equation, showing us the way. But for now, enjoy my Friday Foto!

Drop me a line when you have time. Would love to hear from you. What do you think of the photo? What is your vision for the future? What do focus people have to do with your future?

Aladdin + Barcelona from Top of Tibidabo, originally uploaded by papalars.

Again it has been awhile since I posted something to my blog. What's up with that? It has been even longer since I asked for prayer in this space. I'm long overdue. My upcoming trip to Europe and other parts is prompting me to write–finally.

I appreciate the comments of encouragement and support received on this blog, in personal emails and greetings as I have visited churches the last few months. Let me give some updates on our ministry, answers to prayer and then invite you all to continue to pray for some very important, upcoming events, some planning and strategic decisions.

1. Wahab's visa application to study in England was refused last week but it turns out the option to study the same degree has opened up in Sweden. Way to go Sweden! We have observed that Sweden has been the most generous of late in immigration laws. Pray for Wahab as plans begin to come together for his studies and for God's hand to continue to be upon his life. I will get to see Austin, Wahab's father next week in Barcelona which will be very sweet.

2. Pray for an upcoming trip back to Barcelona and parts beyond. I begin a 3 week trip this Friday that will take me to Europe for our European team staff retreat in France and a visit to a Middle Eastern country for some training and mentoring in our contextual ministry model. I will begin this trip with a few days in Barcelona to reconnect with friends and ministry partners there.

3. Pray for an upcoming, important discussion with the World Mission Committee regarding some strategic moves with the Mosaics Project and my personal role with the ministry. We are re-evaluating some opportunities and want to discern the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Interest and response to our project is growing and we need to be more proactive in mobilizing and training our churches and young people. Stayed tuned and keep praying for God to guide conversations and strategic decisions.

4. Pray for our Euroretreat next week and for my main ministry partner, Ken, as he transitions back to France. In the next month, he will need to find a place to live and begin to re-engage ministry and relationships that he left last summer. Pray also for wisdom in directing our project and connecting the dots of workers to opportunities and developing our team strategies.

5. Lastly, pray for my family this month. We all need to know God's presence and guidance, especially during times of transition, which seems to be a theme in our lives for now. Pray for mental and physical health, for purpose and direction, for fruitfulness in the Kingdom that reflects well upon God. Pray also for joy in the journey.

Thanks for your partnership in the Gospel among focus people. This is their time.

Beach Stroll, originally uploaded by papalars.

I was called this morning by Wahab from Pakistan. Remember, he is the son of my friend back in Barcelona. I have asked in a previous post for you to pray for his visa application to study in England. Here is the quick news and follow-up.

The first pass on the application was refused. The British Embassy is suspicious of everything related to Pakistan these days because of recent events as you can probably imagine. So, each visa application is treated with extra scrutiny and this is the case with Wahab's application as well. He is hopeful that the second review will go well and has submitted more important, supporting documents to help his case. He has 28 days from yesterday for a second phase to his application. Please pray that his visa will be granted.

So, please make a concerted effort to pray for Wahab, for his visa application to study accounting in England, and for the entire process to go smoothly and quickly.

Another prayer request. I spoke with Wahab's father, Austin, over Christmas and learned that he had a mild heart attack in early December. He is doing better now but will need an angioplasty procedure to repair a damaged vein in his heart. Wahab was grateful his father was under excellent medical care in Barcelona but also somewhat anxious that he, nor anyone in his family, could be there to be with his father. They have been separated if you recall for over 6 years. So pray for Austin as well, for his health and for the separation from those who love him, his family. Pray for God's abundant comfort, for healing, for good health and for a successful medical procedure. 

I will be visiting Austin in March during a trip to Europe. Thanks for joining me in prayer for these very special friends and partners in the Gospel.

The Main Gate, originally uploaded by papalars.

Sometimes I wonder about prayer, don't you? Like "why pray when God already knows the need and is more concerned than I am about the need?" Like, "does it make any difference?" And finally…at least for this post [I really have more questions about prayer, but I need to post this so I can, well, pray!], "why not just work for the solution instead of speak to God about it, thereby delaying movement toward a solution?"

I know I cannot answer all these questions but they do give me pause sometimes. My simple answer for now is, "for some reason, God enjoys our partnership in building his Kingdom and seems to do things and move in new ways when we join him in prayer."  It is one of those amazing mysteries. I have been dipping into Yancey's book on Prayer and found this nugget to help you as you pray through my list below. He makes mention of Frank Laubach, the founder of modern literacy and a missionary. He says this about praying for others beyond your immediate circle of influence [which is what I ask of you each month]:

"According to Laubach, we would accomplish more for the world by praying faithfully than by walking into the White House or Whitehall or the Kremlin with suggestions. Our personal advice would most likely be misguided, but prayer for leaders [or others] summons an invisible spiritual force that can have real effects, not by persuading God to try harder, but by persuading leaders [or those involved in your request] to try harder." [see Yancey's book on prayer, p. 309]. Wow, that gives me some fuel to keep praying. Will you join me?

As you pray please lift up these specific requests:

For our friends back in Barcelona:
• Pray especially for Austin´s son [here are stories about Austin for a refresher, here and here], Wahab who plans to move to London from Pakistan for studies. He has been taking advanced studies in English, has been accepted to a top school in London and is applying for a visa, which are hard to come by these days, on December 12th. Pray that his visa be granted and his transition smooth.

• Pray also for Miguel , who has just become the President of a very important Latino mission agency that trains, prepares and cares for Latino missionaries working in North Africa. He is a dear friend that needs support in this vital, expanding role. We are trusting God to continue collaborating with Miguel and this agency in the future.

• Pray for Nate , our Covenant short-term missionary who is working with the Latino cell group we supported in Barcelona last year with Fabio. Pray also for his bold efforts to reach out to and serve focus friends. He is doing a commendable job and plans to be in Seminary in a year.

For Us:
• For responsiveness as I share/preach in churches. I want to encourage and challenge churches to open up to focus people with the Gospel and not shrink back in fear.

• For my trip to Tucson next week as I visit a ministry that is doing some great stuff to serve and reach the focus immigrant community.

• I’m just finishing up a semester of Arabic at the local community college. Pray for ways to build on this understanding and for an opportunity to insert myself in an informal conversation group with Middle Eastern students at another University in town. Pray for good friendships and witness for Christ.

• Please continue pray for our family, for our children as they our take bigger steps toward careers and college. Pray for good health, direction and God’s hand in all we do.

Once again, thanks for your partnership in the Gospel. We really could NOT do this without you standing with us. Believe me. The challenge sometimes seems daunting but the grace of our Lord and the company and support of others makes it all possible. And for some reason, God influences events and people through your prayers. I think it has something to do with changing us as well, into his generous, over-flowing desire to love and bless others!

By the way, the foto is from the Medina in Fez, Morocco. You don't go through that door without a guide or you get lost. I felt safe in the medina [walled city] when we visited back in May, just always keeping an eye on our guide so I would not get lost. Here are previous stories on my blog about the medina in Fez with accompanying fotos both here and here. Enjoy and leave a comment.