Worldly Holiness

Wenona, originally uploaded by papalars.

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to be at the launch of my pastor, Eugene Cho, and his wife’s non profit called, One Days Wages. The event was hosted by the Q Cafe, included some live jazz music, Hors D Oeuvres, and important conversation with the guests about global poverty. One Days Wages is an international grassroots movement dedicated to ending extreme global poverty [www.onedayswages.org ]. We were reminded during the evening that nearly 3 billion people live on less than US$2/day. About 1.4 billion live in extreme poverty = less than US$1.25/day.

ODW exists to promote awareness, invite simple giving, and support sustainable relief through partnerships, especially with smaller organizations in developing regions. ODW believes that the collaboration of technology, social media, and human relationships is one way to invite people around the world to join in the fight against extreme global poverty, simply by donating 0.4% of their annual salaries, otherwise known as their One Day’s Wages.

ODW invests 100% of all public donations in grassroots organizations around the world that are already fighting extreme global poverty in alignment with the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. Of his family’s decision to donate their entire 2009 salary to help start the organization, Cho says: “We want to communicate to people that they don’t have to be a rock star, a millionaire, or on Hollywood’s A-List to make an impact in the world. If everyone does their part, we can end extreme global poverty in our lifetime.” ODW is inviting both the Seattle and global community to join the movement in some of these practical ways:

1. Visiting http://www.onedayswages.org and donating their One Day’s Wages.
2. Following One Day’s Wages on twitter (http://www.twitter.com/onedayswages), joining the Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/onedayswages), and spreading the word to family, friends, colleagues, and beyond.

I think sometimes in western evangelicalism we use the words of Jesus to discourage ourselves from thinking we can really make an impact on the issue of global poverty. “The poor you will always have with you” came from the mouth of Christ we say[Matthew 26:11]. We must remember, however, that this same Jesus just a chapter earlier said the following, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me…” [Matthew 25:35]. This should keep us alert to what Jesus calls us to do. I highly recommend partnering with One Days Wages. It is a great way to do something about the poor.

On my way to the event last Saturday night I stopped by the Ballard marina to grab this picture of the boat above. I was struck again by all the interesting names people put on their boats. This evening I noticed Joy, Four Winds, Heidi and Charity and this one, Wenona. There is a story I’m sure behind each name.

Enjoy my slideshow of select photos from the trip to the Pastor’s and Spouse retreat in Banff. You can buy prints by clicking the link or slideshow below. Have a great weekend!

It’s been awhile since I posted a photo on my Friday Fotos feature. It might have something to do with the fact that we bought a house in May and have been occupied with the ins and outs of finishing it. Not that we are doing all the work. As someone said to me recently, you want certain jobs done by a professional. I would be dangerous with a plumbers wrench, let alone a back hoe. Put a camera in my hand and I will claim some level of expertise however.

This series of pictures was taken when I was at a Pastors’ and Spouse retreat in Banff Canada 2 weeks ago. I was there to network, tell the story of what God is doing with our project and some of the things I offer local churches. It was a great time to connect with over 80 leaders from our Covenant churches across Canada. The hard part of this trip was the Canadian Rockies. This fits into the category of “suffering for Jesus,” a regular bullit point on my job description. Just kidding.

Anyway, I was able to get up to Lake Louise before the meetings started for sunrise. Turned out I got lucky. I hit the only sunny day of the week which yielded some beautiful views and colors of the sky, the wild turquoise water, the jagged mountains and incredible reflections on the water. This was an amazing day and it was very serene before the rush of people showed up.

I think my favorite picture in this series is the one I entitled “dynamic serenity.” I got this wild idea to produce ripples in the lake with a snowball. To me true solitude is bringing the movement and activity of one’s life to the quiet place where we can appropriately reflect on it in God’s presence. If the quiet moments are totally void of any of the stuff of life, it seems empty to me. Yet if all of life is merely full of ripples we have another kind of empty…a life of action void of meaning, purpose and anchors that give some kind of orientation to life.

Prayer and solitude are critical to my journey with God and with others. It grounds my action and relationships with purpose and meaning. I need both and the back and forth creates a rhythm to my life and walk with God. By the way, this photo already has over 350 views on my flickr account. Check it out. You can buy this or other prints in the series on my SmugMug account now too.

Beauty Contest, originally uploaded by papalars.

I’ve been invited by Covenant pastor, Chris Brueninger, to join him with a regional religious leaders group to pursue inter-religious dialogue. More opportunities like this are increasingly coming into my orbit. In a way, this is what I engage in each time I step into a mosque. I grin sometimes when I know I’m being “evangelized.” Fair game. It is fun and I’m trying to figure out the protocol and how best to do the exchange.

It takes time to get beyond the stage of what I like to call the “divine beauty contest.” My goal clearly is to move beyond putting our best foot forward and getting to issues of substance. An important criteria all along this path, however, is to be a trustworthy conversation partner. I’m not going to set up straw men in the other religions only to tear them down. I’m not going to denigrate the other religious practice in order to win points. I am going to make every effort to sustain a friendship as far as is possible. “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” [Heb. 12:14].

A point of clarity might help at this point. I’m not trying to change a Muslims’ religion [aka: culture] anymore than I tried to make good Protestants out of Catholics in our Bible studies in Mexico. I do seek to bear a clear witness to Jesus. It is important to get the words of the Gospel correct but I must be careful that they are heard and understood in the Muslim context, not just articulated from my western evangelical perspective. Also, my grasp of the Kingdom of God, my understanding of the Good News of Jesus Christ is not perfect. Out of a learning posture among Muslims, I gain new insight as I read scripture with the eyes of Muslims. I see stuff that I did not see before. God is sovereign, not me, nor my understanding of God and the message of the Gospel.

Every time I engage Muslims I come away with a deeper sense of how much we share, how easy it is to talk about spiritual things, and also I experience a fresh clarity concerning the Gospel. The encounter whittles away at my own warped versions of the Good News, helps peel away my own cultural accretions that have attached themselves to the simple message of Jesus. This is important work, not just because I am called to do it, but because the mission of the church is what keeps the Gospel alive, fresh, and unencumbered. So our work involves listening and hearing as much as in telling. It is discerning where God is already present and active among Muslims, helping shape their experience of God. Ditto back in the church when I share with them the story of God’s active work among Muslims. In some way it is making important distinctions between the Gospel and our respective cultures. On both sides. Feels similar to the dynamics I read about in chapter 15 of Acts when the Jerusalem Council was deliberating on these kinds of issues. I have the wild privilege of being at that intersection.

muslim-prayer, originally uploaded by papalars.

I was talking with my pastor, Eugene Cho, recently and he asked me what I thought about joining Muslims for prayer, especially during Ramadan. Apparently, Brian McLaren was getting some intense fire on the Blogosphere for joining Muslims during Ramadan for prayer. [Two helpful links to give more context: "Driscoll: McLaren's Ramadan Fasting Observance is "Insane at Best" and "Muslims Find new Ramadan fast Partners: Christians"]. Maybe those voices didn’t know I was doing the same thing. I didn’t blog about it either. Maybe I’m a coward. Clearly, I must not have the same profile [tongue deeply inserted in my cheek...oops, I'm leaking] as Brian McLaren. LOL.

Anyway, the point for me on whether to pray with Muslims or only for them is this–If I retain my identity as a Christ follower, why not join Muslims for prayer during Ramadan? The criticism from some is that by doing so we send the wrong message. We are compromising the Gospel they say. I don’t get it. Did Jesus compromise his identity or his message by hanging out with the tax gatherers and sinners? Who is my model when I go to the mosque, Jesus or these contrary voices? What is the wrong message being sent by being with those we seek to serve and share the Gospel with?

My objective when I go to the mosque is to bear witness to Jesus Christ. I’m clear that I follow him. I seek to share the Gospel in appropriate ways. I engage Muslims on their terms, seek to deal with their issues, concerns and questions, not mine. As evangelicals we are too often guilty of getting our words straight, our doctrine correct and we want to deliver our message without engaging life.

During my last visit to the mosque, I gave a gift to my Imam friend and stayed late to participate in their prayers. It was a profound time. I was impacted by the deep pathos with which my friends were seeking God’s mercy and favor, and their corresponding sense of unworthiness. There supplications sounded very much like the Pslams of lament. As I was leaving the mosque, the Imam took me aside to ask for advise. He was a little troubled by some aggressive Christians who came to his mosque the week before to do some “evangelism.” Some of his people were traumatized by the experience. I’m sure these people had a “praise report” back in their church, but the flavor they left in the mosque was anything but sweet. I’ve come to learn that for Muslims, the Mosque has a distinctive spiritual function. It is the place which rekindles the Muslim’s spirituality, and which provides a sense of sanctity, calmness, and inner peace. That is something we should respect as we join them and learn from them.

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