Muslims and Christians. How can we get along?

The view from my office in New York City overlooks Ground Zero. Every day I’m in the office, I have the opportunity to observe the massive construction project as well as the thousands of visitors to the 9/11 Memorial pools. It is all a stark reminder of how a person’s faith can be radicalized and politicalized.   Unfortunately, violence perpetrated by those who have hijacked their faith continues to occur on almost a daily basis.  The Islamist terror group Boko Haram has killed hundreds of Christians in northern Nigeria since 2009. The killings have escalated in recent months, and security forces have clearly failed to protect lives, forcing hundreds to flee for safety. Earlier this month, al-Shabaab from Somalia attacked two churches in Kenya leaving 17 people dead and scores of people injured, including women and children. However, attacks are taking place against Muslims as well. Last week an Islamic Center in Missouri was torched. Earlier this year a mosque in Queens was firebombed. Whether deaths occurred or not, all these acts of violence need to be condemned by all faith leaders.  To read the rest of the blog click here.

An anniversary for the world’s youngest nation.

Today is the first anniversary of the independence of South Sudan. The world marvelled at the initial peaceful transition. However, today huge challenges are being faced as the South Sudanese people seek to build a new nation. An entire national infrastructure has to be developed to provide health care, education and other basic services. Add to that the flood of hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Republic of Sudan. On top of all that there has been ongoing disputes in the border states and intertribal conflict that has seen thousands die. So much needs to be done at so many levels. Our partners at Integral Alliance are responding to the refugee Crisis in Unity State. The South Sudan Evangelical Alliance has been working at peace building and reconciliation. Our Sudanese leaders have joined us at the UN Arms Trade Treaty Talks to speak out for the need for a comprehensive treaty which includes ammunition. As Sudanese Bishop Taban said, “A gun without bullets is just as stick.” The WEA is engaging in some diplomatic efforts to bring greater peace and stability.

On this anniversary of the newest nation of the world let’s say a prayer for those who struggle for hope in South Sudan.

After a long delay I’m back to writing my blog!

After a long-delay I’m getting back to writing my blog.

The last few months have been filled with remarkable opportunities to be messengers of hope, peace and reconciliation. 

These broad-ranged endeavors have included:

• Engaging with senior government officials in China.
• Partnering with top TV producers on a major docudrama on the entire Bible.
• Holding a peace conference in South Sudan
• Conducting an Egypt Summit for Christian leaders.
• Speaking to the 10,000 delegates at the World Prayer Assembly in Indonesia.
• Providing input to the diplomats negotiating the UN Arms Treaty.
• Launching Unashamedly Ethical - A focus on ethics in the Marketplace.

Seeking to be good news people takes us into all sorts of situations. 

Lot’s more to come this summer.

Seeking to follow Jesus,

Geoff

Update on Jewel

As I continue to travel the world in my role as CEO for the World Evangelical Alliance, I encounter hundreds of people every week. A day does not seem to go by that people do not ask me about Jewel.

A great example was here in Hawaii this week, where I was speaking at the Baptist World Alliance Global Congress. I was deeply moved as the senior leadership of BWA and leaders of other Christian communities inquired about Jewel.

It is always an encouragement to tell people about the progress that Jewel is making and thank them for their prayers.

Since its been way to long since I have updated this blog, I thought it would be helpful for you hear directly from Jewel. (Her reflections are below.)

On the Journey,

Geoff

Update from Jewel

Thank you so much for continuing to pray for me. Your emails and phone calls continue to encourage me.

I have had my six month check up at the cancer clinic and they have given me the stamp of approval! I am cancer free!

This is a strange time in the process. God has blessed me with a strong healing body. I am living with 60 % of my energy having to take one to four hour naps in the day time. I am able to live with a very gentle schedule breaking my larger strength-draining task over a number of days. I am able to do 30 min of gardening. My chemo brain is fading but at times it is evident that I am still struggling with memory loss. I am able to eat everything as my insides have stopped burning. It is so wonderful to be able to eat all of these great veggies and fruit in season.

I am actively persuing a body cleanse to rid my body of all the toxins from the chemo and radiation. This has quickly and radically helped me. How wonderful to have my radiation burns finished and my skin healed up.

Instead of focusing on what I do not have enough energy to do. I have been asking God, how to live smart. He has answered in so many creative ways. It is deeply reassuring to have a God who helps me each step of the way.

I would appreciate your prayers that I will continue to mange my time and energy well as I try to pull my life back together.

Love, Jewel

Update #43

Here I sit in meetings in Washington connecting with all sorts of interesting people with the hope of advancing God's Kingdom.

But my thoughts continue to drift back home thinking about Jewel as she completes her last radiation treatment today.

Then an email comes from Jewel with a quote from her journal. Jewel writes:

“I am deeply grateful to the cancer clinic for all of their professional expertise and treatment that they have given me. I have just finished my last treatment of radiation. What a relief to have these treatments completed. I am now in the “recovery mode”. Each day I feel my body being knit back together. This is an amazing process and I am truly thankful to God for His healing hand.

In this last five months I deeply understand more than ever that while God will always answer our prayers in His own way and His own time. I truly believe that God will answer all of my questions when l I see him face to face and can understand the answers. I now know with clarity that in my times of struggle God offers me Himself, His presence, His companionship, His comfort, and the reassurance that no matter what happens in life, He is wise, good and righteous. As I held onto the hand of God in the toughest moments this understanding flooded my every cell.”

It is such a privilege to be married to such a godly and wise woman. She has taught me so much as we walked this journey.

I'm so glad that Jewel's close friend from Chicago will fly in tonight to spend the next few days catching up and "celebrating" the end of her radiation.

For me, I get back to my meetings to try to change the world. :-)

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff

Update #42

Update for Prayer

This next week I begin travelling and Jewel will continue her radiation treatments. She has now received 8 of the 25 treatments. Prayer for endurance and strength for Jewel would be appreciated.

I would appreciate prayer for the following travels. (Jewel’s sister from California and another friend from Chicago will stay with Jewel while Geoff is travelling.)

Jan 11-14 Tennessee (Meetings with WEA Partners and Lausanne Cape Town 2010 Leaders)

Jan 14-15 Travel to New Delhi, India

Jan 16-18 Micah Challenge International Board Meeting in New Delhi, India

Jan 19 Evangelical Fellowship of India

Jan 20 Travel to New York

Jan 21 Meetings with WEA Partners in New York

Jan 22 Travel home

Feb 1-5 Washington, DC.

• Presidents Prayer Breakfast
• Private meetings with political and faith leaders from different parts of the world

Feb 21-23 Phoenix

• Entrepreneurial Leadership Summit

Feb 26–28 Madrid, Spain

• Spanish Evangelical Alliance Congress

Thanks for your prayers and support.

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff

Update #41

Jewel has now had 3 of her 25 radiation treatments. She continues to struggle with tiredness and nausea. We continue to be blessed by the highly professional yet warm and caring team at the Cancer Clinic.Yesterday at the clinic we ran into some friends we had not seen in quite some time. They were accompanying a family member who was also being treated for cancer. There is an immediate bonding that takes place at a moment like this.

As we conclude this year and prepare to enter a new year we recognize that our journey takes some expected turns. While we live complex and often complicated lives our experience of these last few months has driven us back to simple faith in Jesus Christ.

As we prepare for 2010, I am reminded of the following story. (It’s a bit long but I think makes a profound point.)

A man at LAX was worried about missing his plane. He had no wristwatch and could not locate a clock, so he hurried up to a total stranger and said,

Excuse me; could you give me the time please? The stranger smiled and said, Sure. He sat down the two large suitcases he was carrying and looked at the watch on his wrist. It is exactly 5:09. The temperature outside is 73 degrees, and it is supposed to rain tonight. In London the sky is clear and the temperature is 38 degrees Celsius. The barometer reading is 29.14 and falling. And, let’s see, in Singapore the sun is shining brightly. Oh, by the way, the moon should be full tonight here in Los Angeles, and...

Your watch tells you all that? The man interrupted.

Oh, yes, and much more. You see, I invented this watch, and I can assure you there’s no other timepiece like it in the world.

I want to buy that watch! I’ll pay you two thousand dollars for it right now.

No, it’s not for sale, said the stranger as he reached down to pick up his suitcases.

Wait! Four thousand. I’ll pay you four thousand dollars cash, offered the man, reaching for his wallet.

No, I can’t sell it. You see, I plan to give it to my son for his twenty-first birthday. I invented it for him to enjoy.

Okay, listen—I’ll give you ten thousand dollars. I’ve got the money right here.

The stranger paused. Ten thousand? Well, OK. It’s yours for ten thousand even.

The man was absolutely elated. He paid the stranger, took the watch, snapped it on his wrist with glee, and said. Thanks as he turned to leave.

Wait, said the stranger. With a big smile he handed the two heavy suitcases to the man and added, Don’t forget the batteries.

As we enter this New Year, we want to be careful about the excess baggage we take with us. Our lives are stripped back to the basics of faith and trust in a God that brings hope and meaning. So while we face another year of twists and turns we do so knowing that God goes before us.

Happy New Year!

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff and Jewel