The Interpreter

I had a conversation with a muslim woman last week. She is a refugee from Iraq and I was driving her to an appointment. As we began to pull away, another car parked behind us and flashed the lights.
Another woman, wearing modest dress with her head covered, approached and got in the car with us. She introduced herself as the interpreter. Greetings flew in two languages, or maybe three.
Using a printout of an online map, complete with turn-by-turn directions, we arrived punctually before the scheduled time.
I took myself off to a nearby cafe to read my book on Thomas Merton and to prepare for a Bible study that evening. The tea was good. The restrooms were not. The hostess was gracious and the time passed nicely.
Returning to collect the ladies, I found the interpreter quietly reading her Quran. There was an intersection. Now for the conversation.
The map, held this time by the interpreter, guided us back to familiar territory as we discussed the common ground of our faith and practice. I too carry a diminutive holy book, the New Testament.
We parted, each blessing the other, clearly holding eachother's gaze as we contemplated the many similarities lurking not far beneath the surface of two women from very diverse backgrounds.
We shared a conversation, at an intersection of several lives, and I am richer for being there and listening.

Taking Jesus Seriously

Between my regular exposure to missionaries at my home church & camp, I was softened up to the idea that missions was a viable option for someone who claimed Jesus was Lord.

Like what Robert Coleman said in Master Plan of Evangelism,

“The plan of Jesus has not been rejected; we have just done without it. It has been converted into something worthy of remembering, that belongs to the past, but it has not been taken seriously as a norm of conduct for the present.”

Do we take Jesus seriously? Have we forgotten what He went to the Cross for?
It wasn't for my salvation. Or for yours. It was for everyone, for every tribe, tongue & nation.

We don't pray for the lost, the remote or the forgotten. We tend to worry about whether we are comfortable in church, or not. We don't sacrifice so others can hear the news which will make all the difference between whether they spend eternity in hell, or not.

Being a missionary, or participating in the gospel getting right round the world, is to take Jesus seriously.

Anything else is a mockery of naming Him as Lord.


Every day 100,000 cars go over the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The people in those cars think they are going to work or to school or shopping or for a manicure . . . .. when in reality they are going one of two places; either to heaven or to hell.

They are oblivious.

We know the God who gives choice in the matter.
We know the Son who provided the choice with His own blood.
We know the Spirit who equips us to speak redemptive analogies into every culture of the world.

And we often wander around as oblivious as the lost, and we ought to be ashamed.

Anyone can be a missionary.
If they know Jesus.
If they know someone who doesn't.
If they are willing to cross whatever cultural barriers exist between themselves and that other person so as to communicate the message, they can be missionaries.

Missionaries have a unique role in that they see obstacles like language, culture socio-economic differences, and they devise plans to hurdle them. They figure out ways around them or through them.

Evangelism is you talking to someone very much like yourself. We gotta do this or our friends & family are at risk!
Missions is seeking out someone who is very different from yourself and creating dialogue in which Jesus can join the conversation. We gotta do this or the effectiveness of what Jesus did on the cross is gonna be limited to a bunch of people who look and sound like us. God is more creative and diverse than just "us".

To have Africans and Latinos worshipping with us at the throne!
To have Asians & Europeans in the crowd!
To have islanders and Eskimos! That will be a party I wanna be at!

Are you in?

On my Way to USA!

I've been at home for the past week with an intestinal ailment that I don't want to discuss. Who knew I had a week out of my busy schedule to stay home? I am preparing for Discipler Equipping Seminars 28 April & 5 May! Ahhhh! We need more disciplers, but time is short. I'd rather do things better than to just do things in time, but this is where we are. Reuben is overseeing teaching ministries at Shore and we are working together within the time frame we have.

So please pray that a leader, or two, will arise to take responsibility for connecting those who are keen with prepared disciplers to accompany them on their journey.

I look forward to 1-2 June @Rainbow Camp!
I hope you can join us . . . . about 8 have chimed in so far from Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana . . . . for Bible study and talking and prayer and walking and . . .

Spring should be showing herself in the US as Summer comes to an end in NZ.

The seasons we share together sustain me.

Gratefully yours.

Bible Study & Prayer Retreat, without the fluff!

Watch this space for word of a Bible study & prayer retreat I'm organising, with a little help from my friends. It'll be either may 25 & 26 or June 1 & 2. I'm leaning toward the 25th, but we have to get the go-ahead from the good folks at Rainbow Christian Camp. The retreat will be free of charge! You'll need to bring your Bible, food to contribute to our communal meals, sleeping and personal items, mosquito repellent, good walking shoes and an open heart.

This will not be overly scheduled. We will gather & pray on Friday evening, dedicating our time to God. We will then sit together with open Bibles & discuss the things we care about most deeply, seeking answers & perspective from Scripture.

Saturday morning will likely include an intercessory prayer walk . . . at speed! Then more Q & A guided Bible study with some good Inductive tips thrown in at no extra charge.

Friends will be coming from Kentucky, Ohio & Indiana, but why not as far away as GA or even Central America? I'm coming all the way from NZ!

For directions to Converse, IN and Rainbow Christian Camp.

Interested? Drop me an e-mail and let me know. It'll only be better if you are there.

2 Links & a Question

On a trip from NZ via San Francisco I was able to visit Grace Cathedral which has a labyrinth in the garden outside. Walking a labyrinth is a metaphorical journey. It is not intended to confuse you, as a maze might do, but to take you within yourself and to take you out clear in heart & mind. Read further!

Another site that has caught my attention lately is John Piper's, especially his message on Prayer and it's vital connection to Missions. What do you think? See what Piper has to say and add your comments here.

I've been reading in Isaiah, one of the OT books I have least mastered. I'm good in Jonah, taught Amos & Hosea in Zimbabwe, have spent a reasonable time in Psalms, remember Dr. Black's antics in teaching the Pentateuch at JBC. Nehemiah has taught me much about leadership, project management & passion in mission. I avoid much of Jeremiah; the single & grumpy prophet. Which OT book or books do you appreciate most and why? Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your heart & mind! :-)

Diagnosis

Dallas Willard writes....A lot of us are doing Christianity at a putt-putt level. We want to be forgiven without following Jesus.

We're afraid to follow Jesus, because then we'd have to die and rise with him. We'd have to mortify our old self with its "fondest lusts," as Jonathan Edwards described them. Then we'd have to vivify Jesus' excellent virtues in their place. The truth is, we're mildly attracted to his virtues, but we're strongly attracted to our vices. We wouldn't like to lose them because they please us, and the prospect of a significant life with Jesus doesn't so much. Do we expect a new Christian life will just happen without our having to make inconvenient changes in how we live Monday to Sunday? If so, we are like people who want to be solvent and who also max out their credit cards. Or people who want to be sexually pure and who also bookmark porn sites. Or people who want to speak Japanese without all the tiresome study that's normally required. Here's Willard's devastating summary:

The general human failing is to want what is right and important, but at the same time not to commit to the kind of life that will produce the action we know to be right and the condition we want to enjoy. This is the feature of human character that explains why the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

What are we reading in '07?

Chero and I have found a fun blog for booklovers. It is not a spiritually oriented blog, just interesting to read what others are writing about what they are reading.

It offers several challenges . . . to read books that are already unread and on your shelves, to read classics or old books you've loved before in a different season of your life, to read books from other countries or cultures . . . .

I wonder what kind of challenge we might share?
Or, if not a challenge, then at least to think and plan intentionally for what we might to explore or to what we expose our minds and hearts.

Biography is great! What of a dash of history and a bit of travel? Some literature and a rhyme or two? It's totally up to you.

So, comments please. Suggestions or challenges or proposals. It's all good.