Cab Drivers at T4G....(1)

One memory I have from T4G was the drive to the airport.

With 7,000 men from around the globe descending on Louisville, I was a bit cautious of being a clanging cymbal of white evangelicalism to an Indian cab driver just doing his job. But, when I found myself taking a cab solo it seemed like an open door.

On the drive to the airport the man I spoke to claimed to be Muslim and had taken his trip to Mecca. He didn't seem very strong in the teachings of the Koran, and he didn't know what his standing was before God, but he did believe that he held to the Law as written in the Koran. He believed in the Law of Moses and the 10 Commandments.

"Do you think you've kept all the commandments?"

"Well...yes."

"Like what about lying? Have you ever told a lie?"

As we raced to the airport he told me several times that he had lied to his friends a couple times. "But every time it was only a joke. I was just kidding--and told them later."

He shook his head 'no' with confidence when I asked him, "Is your god of the Koran a god of love?" He later said he didn't know where he was in his standing with God.

"I....I don't know....I...don't know...." He said in a kind of hopeful way.

Out of the jet-lag I found the Lord gave me His compassion for Abib. Out of what can only be Christ's love for him I shared the good news.

Have You Quit?

My apologies for a long time in posting. I've been recently encouraged by folks to keep the posts coming. Some of the reason for the delay has been...

1. Relational. I've found it difficult at points to "quickly" blog interactions I have with folks if it hinders a long-term relationship in some way. In other words--without permission from the person I've wondered about the wisdom of posting something too quickly. I think you get that.

2. Busy. I've been a bit busier than a year ago.

3. Desire to write other things. For better or worse.

4. Lazy. Let's face it. This is what gets all of us. If you fail to plan to reach out to people--you plan to fail. I can make excuses till I'm blue in the face but it doesn't change the fact that I can get very lazy in interacting with people who need to hear good news. One of the very reasons I started this blog.

So...please pray for me. I need to get back at it. Maybe you do too?

FYI...next post will be on Craig Cabaniss and the interaction we had with a cab driver at T4G.

Would You Move to a Miserable City to Plant a Church?

One enjoyable memory that will stay with me from the T4G conference in Louisville was going with a friend from the church to eat sushi for the first time with some of his friends from Detroit Michigan.

The memory will stay with me for at least 2 reasons.

First, it was my first time to go sushi I decided to really go for it. I feasted on raw fish and even ate an eel ninja role that tasted just like it sounds. Unfortunately I made it through about 20 minutes of Al Mohler’s session before I got sick and spent the rest of the evening in my hotel room. Sorry Al. It really was the sushi.

Secondly, I learned a little bit more about Detroit. My new friends talked about the difficulty the city has experienced for years—how racial tensions still cast a dark cloud over the city—about how all of them would love to move out but are upside down on their homes because of the depressed economy (I’m talking about a lot folks). I also learned that Detroit has huge pockets of cultures including one of the highest Arab populations in the country helped along by the auto industry for years.

What struck me about this conversation was that I was recently talking to my wife about a recent Forbes listing of “Top Cities for Jobs.” Texas has the top 5 on their list (Starting with Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio).

While discussing what this means for Texas in years to come we discovered their list of “America’s Most Miserable Cities” with Detroit coming in #7 among major cities. Among the reasons given are the scandals surrounding its mayor, continued decline of the auto industry, and the highest crime rate of any major city in the US. Only the success of the Red Wings and the winnings of the Pistons seemed to knock it off of its 2007 crown of Most Miserable City.

So, with all the people moving out of the city, and the growing rise of urban church planting, I wondered if anyone was moving IN to this city. I discovered this article and was encouraged by the families that have partnered together at great cost to advance the good news of Jesus to a city in need of joy.

So, I asked myself the same question I ask you.

Would you move to a miserable city for its joy in Jesus?