A police station attacked by who some would call terrorists. Car bombs set under specified authority vehicles. Political turmoil masquerades itself around as religious feuding. Serious speculation is rising right now if these are signs that the bitterness between two people groups will erupt in what has already been 400 years of bloody conflict. Anger, murder, deceit, war, all packaged into one lense with the letters G.O.D. on it. Here I stand in the midst of high sensitivty and emotion declaring that I’ve been sent by the same God that is the entity of animosity. I want to wash all the patriotic bug splatter that muddles seeing God and the Christian faith clearly. This isn’t something new to me. I recently talked with a pastor that said he visited a church in Florida one year. He walked in on the first Sunday in July and he didn’t know whether Americans were worshipping God or the American flag. It amazes me that people have more faith in government and nationalism than they do in God! One of the main themes in the Old Testament is that the people were proud to be an Israelite more than they cared to be a child of God.
Protestants and Catholics…… Children of God.
Fortunately, for me, mistaking Northern Ireland for Ireland (which I did in front of a whole congregation) or walking ignorantl
y around without knowing the cultural environment will for the most part only cause people to label me a stupid American. Working near Belfast’s city center is giving us abundant opportunities for relational outreach. Yesterday I introduced myself and team during worship at Fisherwick Presbyterian Church which is our ministry and housing contact (they’re letting us stay at their church for free after hearing that our original plans were to find a campground to call home).
y around without knowing the cultural environment will for the most part only cause people to label me a stupid American. Working near Belfast’s city center is giving us abundant opportunities for relational outreach. Yesterday I introduced myself and team during worship at Fisherwick Presbyterian Church which is our ministry and housing contact (they’re letting us stay at their church for free after hearing that our original plans were to find a campground to call home). So I learned a new word here this week… Craic. My goal this month is to give out as much craic as possible. The more craic people experience, the lighter and freer their hearts will be. Eventually if craic can spread far and wide enough maybe there’ll be a chance to find peace here again. That’s my mission this month, to be an agent for craic to those that haven’t had any for a long time. Don’t know what craic is…. you can look it up.
