Let’s not just exist in this place but joyously pursue life here.  Let me give you an illustration and then form a conversation out of it.  I have witnessed over the last few weeks how people have maneuvered their lives and friendships around two very important things: Ravens Football and the “Office Wedding”.  People have purchased special clothes, food, decorations, invitations, beverages, and new TV’s for the occasion.  They started weeks ahead with phone calls, emails, text messages, Facebook causes, etc…  There were reminders sent out and jobs assigned to insure that the event was perfect.  No one coming to the party knew what the outcome was going to be.  Would the Ravens win?  Would the Office Wedding actually happen without a major blow up?  Yet, the party was planned as if it was going to turn out for the best for those throwing the party.

Now I need to make my point clear.  We know how to prepare for an event.  Get ten people with the same likes and passions in the room and the voices will rise and laughter (or anger) will erupt.  How do we take this type of intentionality into each day?  Days full of laundry, house cleaning, grocery runs, homework, bringing work home, leaking roofs, paying bills, soccer practice, teachers’ conferences, business travel, job hunting, dating, dating your spouse, time with kids, etc…  I don’t have all the answers, yet I want to figure this out.

We are so wrapped up in our own lives.  This is not necessarily all bad.  Yet, if we are going to make progress in our city, we are going to need to be intentional in our time with God and each other.  I would like to begin a discussion on this from two opposite perspectives.  The first scenario is from a Christian (God- Focused) and the second is from a Non-Christian (anti-theist/not necessarily an athiest).

Scenario #1:  A friend of mine recently engaged in a theological conversation with another friend.  They were wrestling with some of the mysteries of the Bible.  One of them spent 6 hours in a three-day period studying to know better how to engage the opposing view found in his Christian friend.  In the meantime, they both spent no time discussing the mysteries with any of their non-Christian friends.  No time for them.

Scenario #2:  Another friend of mine is a non-Christian and is most evenings sitting at a pub in our neighborhood.  He doesn’t believe in a God and can’t understand how anyone can believe the Bible.  He spends hours talking about his disdain for God with other people who disdain God.

What would happen if we kept a mutual love for one another, and the people from scenario #1 and #2 began spending time with each other?  Yes, they would have different opinions.  Yes, someone might be insulted.  Yes, it’s not easy!  That’s why people who think alike hang out with only each other.

Look at where it’s gotten us.  Can we “intentionally” try something different?  We might be shocked by the results.

To Be Continued…

Grace and Peace.

What would make people of all races and ages dance and sing to the song “Sweet Home Alabama?”

Why would people cry for someone when they heard the word, “Positive?” (”Positive” was spoken 32 times!)

What would make people walk a combined total of over 100 miles on the streets of this city just to pass out invitations to receive a free HIV screening?

What would make a chain restaurant pass out nearly 1,000 free box lunches?

Who would have imagined that people would give one to two vacation days to stand on there feet all day to serve the people of this city?

Why would someone pay hundreds of dollars to love on a Baltimore local, get blisters on their feet, perspire on the streets of the city, and loose all kinds of sleep?

Let me tell you what my answer is…

There is a way of living that doesn’t make sense under the laws that govern our thoughts and decisions.  There is a King that setup a reign that established a new administration and code.  That King has a perfect city that will someday descend from Heaven and establish a new way of living.  Baltimore was exposed to people focused on acting out the character of that new city.

The King of that new city is Jesus the Christ.  I would love to talk more about this great King now, but time will not allow.  Please join the Gallery Church at one of this weekends services as we answer the question, “Why do we believe in Jesus?”

I have had a lot of Christians and Church leaders reading my blog.  That is a high compliment.  I want to be a good steward of the people who are reading the words that come to these pages.

HIV is an issue that many in the “faith” or “Christian” communities fear or misunderstand.  Yet our understanding is not as important as what people with HIV are hearing or seeing from us.  Why are people with HIV not running to the church for care and counseling?  Why are most HIV counseling centers secret and carry a bad stigma or promote a low self-worth?  It comes back to the first sentence of this paragraph.  The Church (the movement in which Jesus started to spread the “Good News”) has allowed itself to become uninformed and judgmental of HIV and those who have contracted. When in reality, through the reality of Christ himself, we, the Church are called to love people who have or have not contracted HIV.

Why is this?  This is not a simple answer and I don’t think that I can write a few sentences and give out the proper information.  Here is a starting point.  Most church leaders are sharing 1980’s information.  They have 1980’s information on how it is transmitted and who transmits the HIV virus.  In the 1980’s people thought that HIV was a gay white man’s disease.  In our city, in 2009, HIV is transmitted higher through heterosexual activity than homosexual activity.  HIV is impacting people of African decent in our city and destroying the lives of women who have been loyal to one man.  HIV is transmitted not by sitting on a toilet, kissing, sneezing or hugging, but through sexual fluids, blood (transfusions, tattooing, and IV drug use), and breast milk. Yes, I did say tattooing!  Anything that involves blood and needles can spread HIV.  HIV is looking for a home in our immune system.

HIV is not AIDS!  HIV can become AIDS if you don’t take the time to inform yourself and get tested.  You can live a long and fruitful life with HIV.  AIDS is not as friendly.  Babies can be born to HIV mothers and NOT contract the virus.

Today, we are asking everyone in Baltimore to be tested.  There are 11 sites where you can go and receive a 20 minute free mouth swab (no blood needed) HIV screening test.  There will be more to come in the next day.

*Bethel AME*
1429 McCulloh Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21217

*Mt. Nebo Ministries*
240 North Franklintown Road
Baltimore, MD 21223

*Libreria Cristiana*
107 S. Broadway St.
Baltimore, MD 21231

*Central Church of Christ*
4301 Woodridge Road
Baltimore, MD 21229

*STAR Mobile Unit*
1700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217

*Eutaw St. Satellite*
16 S. Eutaw St.
Baltimore, MD 21201

*7th Metro Church*
1916 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

*Hope Village Comm. Center*
1501 E. Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21231

*Friendship Acad of Sci & Tech*
801 South Highland Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224

*Bethlehem Baptist Church*
6420 Belair Road
Baltimore, MD 2120

*WAR Mobile Unit*
414 E. Baltimore St.
Baltimore, MD 21202

Well, yesterday, I had another special moment.  I was invited to sit at a table with people who love the people of this city.  There were doctors, nurses, administrators, receptionists, counselors, technicians, pastors, volunteers, HIV positive people, and a video documentary maker, just to name a few.  These people have been investing long hours (overtime) to the first phase (City Uprising) of a citywide initiative know as Project Shalem.  These people have been giving their best efforts and energies to help our city deal with the HIV pandemic that is attacking it.  Many have given up vacation, family time, and meals to pick up a dream we dropped in their laps 8 months ago.  I was humbled.

There was something special about that meeting.  Not everyone at the table believes in God or a God for that matter.  Many have had bad experiences with the church and church people (priests and pastors included).  Others were active church members and believe passionately in a loving Heavenly Father.  In the moments sitting around the table you could feel this common joy.  Everyone may have described it differently, but to me it was peace.  Peace that was beyond understanding.  It was a place where love was not challenged by race, education, or agendas.  Love was felt from one to the other even though many of us had never met.  Peace.  It was a special moment in humanity; a moment where it felt like Heaven and Earth met for a moment and everyone knew it.

You may be an atheist, an anti-theist, or a believer in a world religion – but had you been in the room yesterday, you would have experienced a moment in human history where God was active and smiling on His great people in a great city.

Thinking?

Here are two very obvious ways to “rise or elevate” our great city in renown.

Baltimore could focus on being totally evil.  Think about it.  Who are some of the most common household names?  Hitler, Bin Laden, Stalin, McVeigh, Mussolini, Manson, Cruella deVille, Pol Pot, Joker, Wicked Witch of the West, Darth Vader, etc…  The world remembers evil.  You can make statistics say a lot of different things, so I don’t rely on them totally.  But right now Baltimore is known for crime, violence, drugs, political corruption, poor education, and a high rate of HIV and Aids.  That’s just naming a few!

Or

Baltimore could focus on being really compassionate/good.  The flip side to being really evil is obviously good.  Now who comes to mind?  Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Firemen of 911, Moses, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Lincoln, St. Augustine, John Hopkins, George Washington, Dalai Lama, Wilberforce, etc…  Think about these names.  What if Baltimore focused on these great characters of history and their area of passion as a total city?  We would see the sick cared for, the walls between us torn down, selfishness become history, and hatred replaced with love.

That would be a “City Uprising.”  There’s a little story about a great city in the Jewish Scriptures and Old Testament in the Christian Bible.  The story is about a city that, in the eyes of God, was a great city of 120,000 people.  The story was about God’s compassionate heart towards them.  They were a hurting and evil city, but God could see their potential.  God can also see the potential of Baltimore.  It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that God thinks that Baltimore is a great city.

These next two week’s worth of blogs are going to be about us as a city, rising to the nickname of “great” and understanding how much God loves this city (including all of its 600,000 plus people).

Yesterday, I was in a cab on the way back to our hotel and the cab we were in broke down.  The cab drive flagged down another cab and told us to get in.  We assumed the man knew where to take us.  We drove for about 10 minutes and the cab stopped and said, “You here.”   We looked at each other and realized that we were in a cab with a nice man that spoke little English and he had no idea where we wanted to go.  We eventually made it back to our hotel.  My favorite mode of transportation here in Cairo is by far – WALKING.  Everything else is stressful.

You will see pictures below from the past few days.  One picture is of a church in the most impoverished areas of the city (57,000 people live in this area).  The church is cut into the limestone – yes, it is actually a cave that seats over 15,000 people.  We had the chance to sit down with the Christian who started this church and here the story first hand.  It was an honor to meet and spend over an hour with this wonderful man who loves Our Heavenly Father.   I spent most of the time holding back tears and the rest of the time crying.  I was crying for my city and it’s hurting people.  So much of what I was hearing him say was what I desire for Baltimore.

We then left and had a meal in the home of a family new to Egypt.  They had to flee another Middle Eastern country because they were about to be killed.  The wife was born and raised in Iraq and the husband was from another Arab country (sorry, I forget which one at the moment).  I asked her to tell me her story.  After only a few minutes, I again could not contain myself – the tears came again.  Hearing her personal story of salvation and prayers for her people and specifically the belief of her family moved me.  (I cannot write any more on this now)

One thing is for sure; God lives and breathes in Egypt.  I have seen him here.  When 1 John in the Bible talks about God being brought into full expression in our love – IT IS TRUE!!!!!  I have seen it.

As I close my writings for Egypt I will tell you about how we cross the CRAZY streets.  As a group you stand in a line – one person on the end looks to see if the first step is safe – if that person decides it is time to go – everyone steps out slowly together - crossing traffic that is 4-6 lanes wide – no cross walk – no stop light – as the cars come (and they do come) – no one makes eye contact with the driver – all you do is walk together – slowly – until you get to the other side.   That is what I have learned about leadership and community this week.  I have learned to walk slowly.

This monastery dates back to 300 AD and is a tribute (I believe) to the Disciple turned Gospel writer, Mark.  He inspired Egyptians to trust in Jesus and that trust led to a Coptic Monastic movement that birthed this amazing place.  I know I’m in Egypt and I should use Arabic, but I’m tired and not really very smart (I fake it) so I will use a Hebrew word for this place… “Shalom.”   This word encompasses the peace of Creation before sin entered it.  The peace of God to Man, Man to Creation, and Creation to God – not just peace in war, but a harmony that is played when things are the way they were intended.

The people here have suffered great persecution, wars, natural disasters, and personal attack, yet they truly believe in the ONE – the CREATOR – the SAVIOR!  They give their life to daily pray for the world — not just the food in front of them – the World!!!  There is a monk praying in this place 24/7/365.25!!!  Everything they think about during the day has to do with the ONE and His plans for the creation.  I felt like I had been with someone who had really seen God or at least a “burning bush.”  This feeling must have been what Aaron felt when Moses shared his story.  It was undeniable.

I wonder if people can tell that I believe in God and can notice convincingly that I look back at several moments in my life as “burning bushes?”   Do people around you believe in God because you do?  If not, what is it that we are missing?

We started the day with one of the most beautiful Egyptian men I have met.   He loves people and God like I have only desired to be able to do.  He has given his life to sharing good news with his neighbors… I wish I could write more on this now… but I WILL NEXT WEEK – SO CHECK BACK!  He shared with us his personal journey and my life was truly blessed.

Then we went on a three-stop tour – a place in Cairo where they believe Jesus and the holy family stayed, a magnificent mosque, and the Egyptian History Museum.  I FELT SO SMALL!   This world has a story and Jesus has a story that has surpassed my few decades – and I got to see it.  My eyes saw things dating back to over 2,600 B.C.  Items that have been preserved before and during the time of the Abraham Covenant, items from the Greek and Roman Empires, items from the greatest pharaohs in Egyptian Dynasties, and that is just cracking the surface.   The man responsible for one of the greatest Egyptian discoveries stole the show for me.  This man convinced wealthy British investors to support an archeological dig for a lost tomb.  For SIX YEARS he and his team dug and searched, yet found NOTHING.  Not ONE artifact!   He was told that his money would stop in two months because they no longer believed in him.  He continued to dig and within days discovered a step that led to others – which led to an untouched tomb of a pharaoh from 1,300 years B.C.

God has a story that is much older than we are!  Sometimes He let’s us play a cool part!  You might not discover a lost city or tomb, but what are you days away from discovering, but never will due to discouragement and lack of support from those around you?  Do you know what will get you through to the day of discovery?  Knowing you are obeying a God who has written an amazing story of redemption.

More pictures of our time in this wonderful land!

When you see the pictures you will know why this is my focus.  You will see the faces of kids who don’t know the joy of a family or the security of a dad’s arms, experiencing the way it was meant to be.  We got to surprise 10 children with the joy that comes when you have someone who loves you surpass your wildest imagination.  You think you are heading on a bus for a normal trip out for a day of routine, only to discover that your family wanted the day to be anything but routine. They had no idea that they were getting to spend the day at an amusement park.  Even as I am typing this, I am reliving the moment and my eyes are filling with tears.  These children smiled so big you could see their wisdom teeth!   They, for a day, felt the joy of family and a dad’s arms.   I only wish we could have been there when they got back to there rooms where we had two new outfits (complete down to the shoes) and several pairs of underclothing waiting for them.

What would our life look like if the “unstoppable smile” happened for twenty minutes a day for at least five of the seven days in a week?  Maybe our faces muscles would get conditioned to it and wouldn’t hurt the day after.  Maybe we would find that others need us to make them smile too.  Let’s commit to the 20-minute’s a day workout, but let’s not attempt this alone.  Let’s commit to doing this with people who don’t have cause much to smile.

Here are a couple of pictures… but sorry… I can’t post pictures for the kids on the internet.

Today, I want to celebrate two women while I am in Egypt.  The First is my Mom.  She’s not computer savy and probably will never be able to read this.  Yet, I feel compelled to tell you.  I have a mother that would have given her life for me.  What more can you ask for?  I remember a time when I was being chased (brother too) by a neighbors dog.  Without fear she ran across the yard and grabbed a horseshoe stack from the ground - in stride by the way.  She then defended her boys.  The problem with a mom so loving is that she worries so much about us.  I hope that doesn’t shorten my days with her.  No greater love can anyone show another… than to lay down your life.  Thanks Mom for showing that kind of love to me.

The Second (and not because of rank :)) -  MY BRIDE

My wife is not only a physically beautiful woman… she is intelligent.  She graduated first in her class (I was around 50th).  She is humble, yet has every right to be proud (from a human perspective).  With her wisdom and knowledge… hot-off-the-chart looks… and the essence of love that she gives… she should struggle with pride.  Yet - She walks humbly, shows mercy, and stands for justice.  On top of that… she is teaching our children to be the same.  Every time I see our kids love, allow others to go first, and get upset about injustice — I thank God for my Wife!  She is teaching them to follow Jesus like no one I have ever seen before.  My kids generally fill people up when they are around them… That is a testimony of a great mother!

I love my Mom and I love my Wife!  Today I wish I was with atleast one of them.

Enjoy a few more pictures from Egypt