FriendSpeakers & Faith Seekers

A rabbi taught that experiences of God can never be planned or achieved. “They are spontaneous moments of grace, almost accidental.”

His student asked, “Rabbi, if God-realization is just accidental, why do we work so hard doing all these spiritual practices?”

The rabbi replied, “To be as accident-prone as possible.”

I love the following “accident-prone” story from our Altamesa Friend Speak ministry:

They teach basic English classes using easy to read versions of the Bible. Business has been slow so they had been praying for some new students, some hungry to learn but also hungry for God, some real faith seekers so to speak.

At the start of the New Year our FriendSpeakers arranged for a large sign to be placed at the busy corner of Hulen & Altamesa. “Conversational English classes offered here.”

Last Wednesday evening three new students came to class. Each seemed to appreciate the lesson and enjoy the hour. And perhaps they were seeking something more.

One of them, a young man from Turkey asked if it was alright that he comes to this class, wanting to make sure they know he is Muslim. He pronounced his name, Fah-tee Say-ker. He invited the teachers to his home for a meal. They enjoyed getting to know one another and promised Fahtee they’d come over.

Then he handed David Yarbrough a handwritten note with his name and address. He may have pronounced his name “Fah-tee Say-ker.” But written his name clearly reads:

Fatih Seker

Maybe they found the faith seeker they've been praying for at Friend’s Speak?

You can read “Make Me Ready,” a similar “accident-prone” story I originally published in The Blog back in 2005 by navigating here.

If You’ve Ever Wondered What You Can Do About Terror Read This

As you read this, an Altamesa group is somewhere on one of the 7,000 islands that make up The Philippines. From my perspective our group is on a strategic Christian response to the war on terror. It is a peaceful mission that brings hope and builds trust.

During the first part of the two week trip the team will be on Mindanao Island, one of the southernmost islands in The Philippines. My son Elijah and I were a part of this trip last year.

Mindanao and its neighbor island Jolo are home to Islamic fundamentalists. The week we visited Mindanao in 2007 Filipino and American troops engaged and killed over a dozen terrorists on Jolo.

In the incredibly beautiful tropical mountains of Mindanao, near Butuan City, is Sunrise Christian College. This is where our team will work in a medical and dental mission. They will see the surrounding communities and visit some churches. They will also network with many students and faculty of Sunrise.

Sunrise Christian teaches a curriculum based on Christian values to hundreds of elementary students, high schoolers, and graduates who can stay to work toward advanced university degrees. In addition to the three R's they learn three big E's: Ethics, economics, and equal opportunity. Most of the students come to the school impoverished with little hope or prospect for a better future. They leave with a great education. And many leave with a newfound Christian faith. Many become teachers in schools that will teach the same values they have learned. Others will be preachers and leaders of one the rapidly growing number of churches in The Philippines.

Don't you suppose the fundamentalist militants would like to get their hands on hundreds of Filipino kids and teenagers? What brand of values, ethics and helpful opportunities do you think they’d like to share (or impose)?

Sunrise Christian College is in the northwest part of Mindanao whereas the Islamic bad guys tend to stay to the south. As far as I know we did not see or come near anyone who has considered tying a bomb around their waist when we were there last year. I do not believe our group last year was or our team this year is in imminent danger. While I never once felt unsafe, I do believe with Sunrise Christian we are engaged in the most important part of the war on terror.

Let me clear. Direct confrontation with Abu Sayyaf militants or other Al-Qaeda linked terror groups is not my point here. We will win the war on terror only if we win the hearts of the people. A long term “boots on the ground” effort like Sunrise Christian College is the best example of being a good neighbor I can think of.

And this week we’re a part of doing just that. Keep them and the reach of God’s love in your prayers.

Just 10 Months Away!

In my three years of blogging I don’t think I’ve ever commented on politics. Here’s a first.

The Iowa Caucus is upon us. We’ll be inundated with political advertisements and debates for the next forty weeks. We’ll see the front runners smile on Meet the Depressed and we’ll occasionally hear an interest story on the more obscure candidates if we keep tuned for all thirty minutes of the newscast. As I type that it occurs to be that I have not seen an entire network newscast in at least five years.

We'll get tired of it all for sure. But I’ll take our too long and too expensive process over Kenya's and Pakistan's. How about you?

In no particular order here are some thoughts on the election season.

It’s early but it’s worth noting this: America likes Barack Obama. So far he comes across as extremely likable. Oprah likes him and I find myself thinking, “I like this guy.” And America tends to vote for the guy (or gal) we like…

I don’t think America likes Hillary much, if at all. I find myself feeling sorry for her, wondering when she'll discover that the ladder she's climbed is leaned against the wrong house.

I’m not sure which Republican I can get excited about.

When will people figure out that politics and politicians can’t save us?