Glocalnet Blog

BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT IN DFW - YING CAFE

2009-07-03T13:32:52Z

Nikki and I ate supper last night with Nghi and Jessica Tran and their two beautiful little girls. We had a blast. The picture you see of the lady with Nikki is May - she and her husband started the restaurant ten years ago. They had just come from China via North Vietnam and couldn’t speak much English at first. Nikki was able to get her 5 year old into a special pre-k program in the Birdville ISD and was her teacher. We love her, her family and their restaurant - if you want exceptional Chinese - it’s at the intersection of Rufe Snow and Hightower in a shopping center on the northwest corner.

We also had fun catching up with Nghi and Jessica. Less than 3 years of marriage and 2 kids - wow!!!!! Keep rocking forward guys - proud of you - God has a great plan for your life. Nghi finish your dissertation NOW!!!!!

God’s Promise of Peace

2009-07-02T12:59:43Z

SOME BACKGROUND: I read through my Bible every year and I write out a daily prayer. I read 2 to 4 chapters out of the Old Testament, a chapter of Ps., Proverbs, Job (wisdom literature) and a chapter out of the New Testament. I start by writing in my journal about things going on - good and bad and issues - and then asking God to speak to me. I’ve done this since ‘96. Some years I’ll write prayers in the Bible for my son or daughter or someone else and give them that Bible. It has where I speak, my sermons, my trips, people I meet - tons of stuff. Get a wide-margined Bible to use and you can design it how you want. ANYHOW . . . . .

MY BLOG: I know this is a blog - one that a lot of different kinds of people read - pastors, church planters, diplomats, businessmen, educators, plumbers, international people, Muslims, Buddhist, Atheist - you name it - I gots lots of friends! So when I write I try to do so in such a way that everyone can understand - whether we all agree or not.

TODAY as I write - I don’t mean to write a devotional - but this morning as I was reading my Bible - the Old Testament portion was 2 Chronicles 14-16. This would be good for all my friends - Jews, Christians, and Muslims - we all accept the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures.

Read the entire passage slowly - and reflect on your life - I’ve highlighted the verses that stood out with me. Asa was a good king but that didn’t prevent him from having people attack him and him having to respond- but he responded as God wanted because he knew that God was real. He also knew that God rewards those who seek him. What was the reward? Peace. Even in the midst of the battle. He did very well, but the reality is towards the end he turned away from God and God judged him. But it climaxes in how God works in 16:9. May that be the desire of all of us.

Are you a pastor or church planter facing some things that aren’t easy right now and you want to give up or give in? Read this.

Are you a diplomat or political leader and know there are answers and solutions but you don’t know how to get it done and fine yourself blocked at every point to find peace? Read this.

Are you a businessman trying hard in these difficult times but ready to give up? Read this.

Bottom line - for those who seek God, there is the promise of his reward. His reward isn’t our outward success but an inner-peace that knows he is in control and guiding us, and that regardless of how dire the situation may be God is in control. If we seek him, he will lead us and guide us. It can have the impact of peace in the lives of others as well.

2Chronicles 14:1 . . . . Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days. 2 ¶ Asa did good and right in the sight of the LORD his God,

2Chr. 14:6 He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and there was no one at war with him during those years, because the LORD had given him rest. 7 For he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

2Chr. 15:1 ¶ Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded, 2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

2Chr. 15:7 “But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”

12 They entered into the covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and soul;

15:15 All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had sought Him earnestly, and He let them find Him. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.

2Chr. 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. (One of my favorite verses of all time!)

Whatever your questions, circumstances, challenges, opportunities, or obstacles, may you seek him today with all of your heart.

The chinese are Taking Over!!!!

2009-07-01T12:59:56Z

I spent part of the day yesterday with Philip Kua and his wife Poh Choo. I took them to eat Mexican food – hey, they said they wanted it - and they liked it - some! Philip is a Chinese pastor at a church of over 700 in Melbourne Australia - they are a cell church. He met with our staff to learn how we do engagement. His grandfather was a pioneering church planter in Malaysia. They worshipped with us Sunday and visited a small group and submerged themselves in our church. Today we have another group coming in - we do have Turbos ANYONE can come to and get the same kind of experience - if not better because it’s focused and clear.

Anyone who studies what God is doing around the world knows what God is doing in China - but what people don’t often realize is how expat Chinese are also driving things all over the world. One of the greatest Chinese pastors is here in the U.S. at River of Life Church in Santa Barbara. Eddy Leo is Chinese of Abba Love in Jakarta and the list goes on and on and on - it isn’t just China but Chinese who have been born in other nations that God is using around the world in powerful ways. So I asked Philip why and here are the reasons he gave.

1. We are survivors and are highly adaptable people.

2. It is in us to give a lot to something we believe in and make sure that it succeeds.

3. We are travelers and have no fear of picking up and starting in another country or culture and making it work.

I also asked Philip what he sees in the American church and what it has to offer? Americans think they can conquer the world and do anything. That belief is very energizing and they think big. They are willing to include others to do great things.

I asked him if he knew the American church wasn’t doing as good - he told me he was aware, he had heard all the stories. This was his first trip to the U.S.

Finally, I asked him what the American church can do to make a difference in the world:

1. Share resources - money, teaching, and skill impartation
2. You tell your story very well, we don’t - help us do that. (I wonder if he understands bragging?! Asians don’t brag - they just “do”.)
3. Keep being generous with praise and encouragement.
4. Learn from us also!

Sharing the Good News Naturally

2009-06-30T11:53:54Z

If you go to northwoodchurch.org you can listen to the Sunday sermon. I had a good friend Suhail Khan, former White House appointee and Transportation Department - who I interviewed. He’s a very committed Muslim. I interviewed him in our church about how Christians should talk about their faith to Muslims. It was really an incredible conversation. However, our “off the record” conversations are even better!

I’m amazed at how much time we spend talking about stuff we don’t really know about and waste energy on sharing the Good News of Jesus on so many other speculative things. Some people get all caught up in “last times” speculation and are waiting for the temple to be rebuilt or something like that. Jesus has already rebuilt the temple - it was done in his resurrection. He also builds his temple in our hearts as followers. It isn’t the building of the temple that we have been commanded to do, but the building of the Kingdom of God that we are to be doing before Christ’s return.

What I love about NorthWood Church

2009-06-29T11:33:04Z

This has been a very busy week, but a very good one. My friend Suhail Khan, a Muslim Indian Republican Bush appointee has been here - wow that’s a mouthful. Met with a Mongolian leader. Had an American Hmong emerging pastor hangout with us last week. A Chinese pastor just arrived. An American pastor will be here this week with staff wanting to do serious engagement globally - lots of people in and out! They say the primary gift of the early church was hospitality - I never understood that until the past few years. You may write sermons, books, and administer in an office - but you don’t change the world there. As you plant churches and engage cities - you wind up with lots of relationships, with lots of different kinds of people all over the place. That’s what I like about our ministry at NorthWood.

Yesterday as I preached I interviewed Suhail some. We talked about how we differed in our view of Jesus and Mohammed but how we can talk about that and be really good friends. There’s much we can agree on. I was preaching on evangelism - what a Sunday for him to visit! I asked him how Christians should talk to Muslims about God. People loved it. We are brainstorming putting together a special service right now with Muslims, Jews, and us. I love the fact that at NorthWood we can have conversations that you can’t a lot of places.

Yesterday we had one group in Vietnam, another group of nearly 50 teenagers head to Hanoi to work at the orphanage, another group will be heading to Mexico this week - and some are doing daily things in the inner-city in DFW - it’s out of control, there’s so much that no one person can control it or direct it all - I love that. We were also signing up people yesterday to take exchange students from Vietnam.

Worship was good yesterday - it’s always different - never the same - and the power moments are always distributed over different things.

I’m glad I’m at a glocal, globally conscious, church planting, city engaging, kingdom focused, disciple making church. Are we perfect? No way! We have a ways to go and are always working on stuff, but we continue to keep moving forward and learning and implementing. I know of lots of kinds of churches, just not many like NorthWood where we can have conversations and do the kinds of things we all get to do here. It shouldn’t be so novel.

Conversation with Megan Hull

2009-06-26T19:28:29Z

How old were you when you first started coming to Northwood?

*
I was 4 years old, so i have been going to Northwood for about 20 years now.

What impacted has Northwood had on you?

* Without Northwood’s influence I can say I would probably wouldn’t have
lived in Vietnam this past year. Growing up in Northwood I saw how the church
itself changed and became more outward focused. As I got older I realized that
my faith was not all about me and I began to look outwards. After I graduated
from high school I went with Northwood to work with orphans in Vietnam. At that
time my eyes were really opened to see how much bigger the world is and I fell
in love with Vietnamese people. I knew that one day I would go back.

What have you been doing this past year?

* This past year I have been living in central Vietnam teaching English at
Vinh University. I taught speaking to the first year English students there.
It has been such an adventure living in Vietnam. It is so different being there
and just living day to day life. It was hard getting adjusted at first to life
there but in the end I really ended up loving it.

Did you have to raise money to go?

* I did have to raise my own support to go over and teach in Vietnam. I know
that there are some Asian countries where you can make money if you go and teach
there but Vietnam is still a developing country. They need good teacher to
serve their country. Last year I have to raise about $19,000 and this next year
I will have to raise around $15,000. This summer while I am home in Texas, I am
working on raising money for this upcoming year.

What are some of the key lessons you learned?

* I have learned so much this year. It is hard for me to just list a few. I
think the biggest thing I have learned is how big and different this world is.
There are so many cultures in this world and they were all created so beautiful.
Just seeing that just because I do something a certain way doesn’t mean that is
the only way to do it. I love how Vietnamese culture is so community based. I
truly believe that Vietnamese have some of the biggest servant hearts of any of
the people I know.

How can we be keeping you in our thoughts?

* I would ask people to be lifting up that this summer while I am home I
would be refreshed and recharged. Also, next year I will be a new city in
Vietnam, Hai Phong, and I would love it if you could be lifting up safety and
preparing new relationships that will be formed. I am excited for next year and
I am so grateful for all of the people this past year who have been so faithful
in lifting me up.

From Abraham to Yang to Haynes

2009-06-25T05:00:05Z

This is rare that I got to see it - Abraham’s tomb at the cave of Macpela. I also saw Isaac and Jacob, Sara and others buried there. My Palestinian friend got me and a couple of other guys there. What a movement starter - 3 major religions - not bad for an old dude who God called! He is still the driving force in blessing nations. Our Great Commission is a direct result of his call.

This is Daniel and Linda Yang who hung out with Nikki and I this weekend. One of the greatest Jesus movements in the world today is among the Hmong - yep the kind in “Gran Torino” - many of their friends and families were in the movie. Now they want to explore how they can serve the more global church and at the same time make an impact here. Abraham is on the move in their life to bless nations as well.

this is a picture of a very good friend of mine’s son in my office today - we start them early on blessing the nations! He loved spinning the globe. We start ‘em early at NorthWood - who knows what God may do with this young guy.

check our my daughter Jill’s blog at glocalventures.org - she’s in Hanoi this summer and is posting.

The Four House Churches Of Lindale, Texas That Shaped My Life As A Teenager

2009-06-24T11:39:25Z

When I was 15 I began to preach - this is the first church I preached at, Harris Chapel Methodist Church. There’s a lot of talk about “simple” church and “house” church - but as I was home over the weekend and reflecting I was stunned at how many of the things some people want the church to be today, in many ways, it was yesterday. No one would have called them house churches - but look at all four of these buildings - they were all the size of a small, very small house. Each will hold only about 75, if that many, packed out. This church is on the trail that opened up Louisiana to New Mexico - running right through Lindale, Texas.

This church is around the corner from where my wife grew up, Sabine Methodist Church. Her step-sister is buried here. The church was in the neighborhood - you walked to it - you didn’t drive half-way across town. The people were your friends in worship - not people you didn’t know or weren’t tied to during the week. They really did “do life” together! They had to - or they’d die. Whatever people needed - they provided it. In a sense all churches were community churches and missional.

This is St. Mary’s Baptist Church - the African American church in Lindale. I remember when having finished preaching at Harris Chapel Methodist one Sunday me and 2 football buddies drove over to the church and sat in the back and worshipped. The preacher began to preach loud and say, “We knew one day white folk would come and sit together in worship.” I didn’t have a clue about civil rights and minorities - I was white, and in East Texas - life couldn’t be better - for me. That one experience would one day have a profound impact on how I thought about race and justice, not just in the world, but in the place I grew up in.

This is Bethesda Presbyterian Church, where my wife’s mother and baby sister are buried. Last weekend we had a family gathering around the corner. JB Hicks still goes there - 87 - and to me, he and his wife Betty emulate some of the greatest people you would ever know. Their ancestors started that church. He doesn’t talk about how we “should” help people - he does it.

None of these churches are big - they’re all small. They all have a history. They cannot compete with mega-church’s youth programs, senior programs, and every other kind of program larger churches there have. If you go there - you go because you love God, and you want to be a part of community - not get a lot of stuff for yourself, but then, if you’re in a crisis, they’ll be there - and know your name - because you’re one of them - it’s what we all want - but don’t have!

Conversation With Patrick From Nigeria!

2009-06-23T12:22:41Z

I had a blast sitting by my friend Patrick from Nigeria. We didn’t know one another until we sat together on the plane, but what a guy. He was coming to Dallas for the Redeemed Christian Church of Christ out of Lagos Nigeria. Pastor Adeboye is the one who started the movement 34 years ago when he inherited the church. They’ve been in the US and have started 350 churches in that time. There are 5 million+ people a part of this church worldwide. We talked about everything - here’s just some of it:

Bob: What is the difference between the church in Nigeria and here in the U.S.?

Patrick: Because this country has freedom, no one can challenge anyone about wrong or evil. In Africa a child is raised by everyone - we speak into children. Here, if you challenge someone you go to jail! The entire community is responsible.

Bob: What is the role of church planting in your church?

Patrick: We want a church on every street - the smaller the better. We have megachurches but we want everyone to be in walking distance of a church. In America, no one cares about this much. Mostly, just big churches trying to get bigger - even spreading out campuses, but not churches.

Bob: What is another difference you see in the church in Nigeria and here?

Patrick: The Holy Spirit. You have so many doctors here. We have to believe in miracles. We are desperate for the Holy Spirit just to survive. We pray and involve ourselves in the Spirit. You Americans have this power, you just don’t use it. It’s the Holy Spirit.

Bob: Anything else?

Patrick: Yes we pray until something happens. You pray until your prayer is finished.

Bob: Anything else?

Patrick: Yes we rebuke openly for sin and deal with it.

There were lots of other things we talked about, but I was glad I didn’t get upgraded and that Patrick was right beside me. I hope, Patrick, your conference in Greenville was awesome.

Conversation with Jill!!!!!

2009-06-22T10:20:37Z

My daughter Jill is in Vietnam for the summer working at our NGO Glocal Ventures. You can visit the site at glocalventures.org. She’s having a blast. We learned to do “SKYPE” and have been skyping and it’s just a blast. There’ s something about seeing someone’s face when you talk to them.

I was so proud of her. Her flights were all screwed up but she made it, and, though a lot later than anticipated, she arrived and is settled in. She called me “Hanoi” time Sunday morning - Saturday night here, to wish me happy Father’s Day. She rocks!!!

It’s a pretty significant thing when, as a pastor, church members name their children after you. I’ve never had that happen. However, this past week, I had a goat named after me. Kinda got to me if you know what I mean - I love them Byrd kids!

Dave Gibbons New Book - The Monkey and the Fish

2009-06-11T12:53:14Z

I highly recommend Dave’s new book. He writes on third culture. This book is in a league and category all it’s own. It’s a must read for all pastors in leadership in the American church because its descriptive of who we are becoming and what the world is like.

This new book is called The Monkey and the Fish
Recently, Dave Gibbons and I were in Chicago for the Leadership Network gathering of Asian American pastors. “Be me the Irish, errrrr In the mood for Korean kimche!” David is half Irish and half Korean - some people don’t know that. I’m also part white Hmong from north Vietnam and Welsh - well only half of that is true, you figure out which! Which of these two pictures is showing his Irish side and which his Korean side . . . I’ll tell you my opinion at the end of the day - - - if I can get near a computer.

3 Trip Highlights!

2009-06-10T12:58:53Z

Thank you Jerry for helping me begin this journey to the West Bank.
It was one of our church members, a Palestinian Christian, who first introduced to me the whole conversation and ideas about the Holy Land - Israel and the West Bank - but it would be years later before I’d get that involved with it. Thanks Jerry for your patience. It was sad how hard it was for Jerry to enter the country with us. It took us 3 hours at the airport in Tel Aviv and it was simply because of his name. Omar experienced the same problem. I understand Israel’s concern for security - I don’t understand how they go about that. It’s as if it’s building the tension unnecessarily high.

Make up your mind Omar, only 1 religion per person!
Here, I am sitting, trying to help Omar, on his first trip to the Holy Land, get all the nuances of the 3 great monotheistic faiths. Explanation moves to integration and experimentation. First, he hits the Western Wall with the Jews. Then, he discovers “Mosque Planting” with the Muslims. I get him to the empty tomb - all in Jerusalem - all in one hour! He gets it all! Any questions at all you have about these 3 monotheistic faiths - Omar is ready to explain.

Life couldn’t be better. On the Mediterranean at Tel Aviv - and a HUGE Ice Cream Man!!!! I love ice cream.

God is Moving Powerfully Globally in his Church

2009-06-09T10:22:52Z

I just returned from a very small gathering of pastors from around the world. All of us have started our church, we start churches out of our church, and we engage with other nations in the domains of society. These churches are generally huge - but not all. There are things we are teaching one another and ways of mentoring each other and it is one of the most incredible things “ministry-wise” I’ve ever been a part of.

We met in the middle-east and the pace was very fast - as well as some other things I was involved in there so I didn’t have a chance to blog. I’ll do some catch up with it the next couple of weeks. Here are some observations and statements made that were unexpected that were intriguing for me:

“Asia will not be won by the house church and/or simple movement alone.” This wasn’t from one man, but all of them - each of them also having more simple churches than any other model. All of these men have huge churches, and simple, cell, and small church planting networks that also have larger churches in them. That they use all the models and expressions of the church has always been clear. They were really reacting against those that would define all models of church as being one form. In the past I’ve heard push back on U.S. mega-church “only” type guys. I was hearing a strong push back on “simple” church only. They start simple churches by the thousands, but many of those grow into large churches - each has a different function and purpose. Their contention is we are all organic if Christ is the head and the whole body needs the whole body.

“Cells, churches, and ministries must flow from the domains of society.” It’s what I wrote about in my last blog and Matt Carter talked about on the video that was there. I think we are finally starting to move away from doing “religious” work to doing “kingdom” work. All of them were talking domains at this meeting and what they were doing and how church planting was coming out of it.

“We are on the front end of something we can’t describe yet.” I heard this from every pastor. Most of these men have faced persecution or are in difficult places. Each has a sense that God is really up to something unique globally. It was thick in the air as we met. As we were sharing our models and teaching one another, there was a strong sense of “holy awe” and God’s work which can’t be systematized - but his call that must be obeyed.

Feel free to ask questions - I’m back!

Matt Carter on Mission

2009-05-29T00:36:18Z

Matt is right on. This is what I was saying yesterday. I’m always asked how did our church get so missional and global . . . where are your sermon series on that, etc., The answer is by doing it - it isn’t found in a class - it’s found in the field. Matt ties this to his small group ministry and it’s really good. Proud of you Matt - keep rockin’ little Texas bro!

THE SHOW - for May 19, 2009 - Guest Matt Carter from Todd Rhoades on Vimeo.

Mission - Community - Fellowship

2009-05-27T13:19:01Z

In the east - community is everything. It’s in the family, the neighborhood, friendships, work - all of it. So when people come to faith in Christ it is more about who God is and “small groups” are more for mission than anything - reaching out and serving and sharing. In the west - community is little - so when people look to church they focus on finding friends and community and small groups are for “fellowship” and friendship more than anything - I think that’s reflected in Churches.

Been thinking a lot about this. When a group starts focused on mission, it will ultimately get fellowship - but flowing from mission and a sense of accomplishing something together. If you start a group for fellowship - seldom do you get anything beyond fellowship - if even that. Often groups rise and fall based on people getting friendships.

Do we need to reorient ourselves in the west and learn from the east here? I think so. Focus on mission in the small group - and you get mission and fellowship. Focus on fellowship in the small group and get only fellowship - if that.