the drum|rob fairbanks

The State of Marriage (inside Russia) - from Rita's Ramblings

I have been in Russia for 7 days now and have found the experience incredibly enriching.  Starting Friday Robi and I will be leading a Marriage retreat with Christian Associates Board chair, Rita Warren and her husband, Michael. 

The link below is to Rita’s blog.  She describes our endeavor and the hope we have as we embark on the retreat.

Please pray for us 4 as we share a Christian view of life and marriage.

Here’s the link:The State of Marriage

r

 

St Basil's in Moscow

 

To Haiti and Back

Last week I had the distinct honor of visiting Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The later I have been to many times and love, the former…never.  The reason was to pay a visit to Julio and Suzette
Volcy.  They are church planters with Christian Associates.  His intention is to start a church in Petionville, a part of the massive city of Port au Prince. I believe the official numbers for residents of the city are around the 5 million mark.  Most say it is about the size of Chicago – an immense city (some estimate many more).

I know Haiti has gained a substantial amount of international attention since the earthquake in 2010.  It was a gigantic quake with literally scores of aftershocks.  The Haitian government estimate at least 316,000 died in the catastrophe.  The multiplied tragedy is that Haiti was the poorest country in the western hemisphere before the mindboggling natural disaster occurred.  The city is enormous  without a central sewage system.  The road system is quite undeveloped and transportation is arduous, and that is an understatement. If you think the roads are bad in your city, quit complaining. For many of the roads in the city you need to think of driving through a wheat field, only about 10x worse. I needed a kidney belt just to drive around. The picture to the left is the highway just before the Haitian / Dominican border. Also, the poverty is pervasive (I just read over 50% unemployment, some say it is up to 60%).

Into this context Julio and his wife Suzette (and 3 beautiful kids) are seeking to establish a church with a missional/incarnational approach.  The percentage of churched in the country is quite high (I heard up to 40%), but in many ways it is an institutional model tethered to traditional mindset. It appears that the church is mostly insular in its approach relegating Christianity to obeying rules (many which are church established) and going to worship services.

The work we (CA) are doing is based upon a premise that the church is for the world. Julio and his team get this.  They are involved in clean water projects, health care, education and discipleship of young men (Julio runs a Teen Challenge ministry mentoring up around 50 young men). What I discovered while there is Julio is an incredibly influential leader in his community.  It seems that he is looked up to by most folks and is poised to make a tremendous impact. I got the distinct impression while there that this group is not only planting a church, but preparing to re-Jesus the city, even the country with a fresh recasting of the Gospel…a whole Gospel.  They are not only planting a church, but praying and working to change their country. 

That is what I am in this for. The transformation of the nation with the transcendent hope of Jesus.  God’s plan?  I am persuaded that it is through establishing a different kind of church…Kingdom outposts doing the King’s work throughout the world.

I am grateful.

r

To Haiti and DR

Headed for Haiti and the Dominican Republic today.  Please pray for me that I would have a sensitivity to those around me and that God will keep me from sickness.

I will be with Steve Adams (CA’s Latin American director).  On the way back, I will stop in Denver for CA’s Engage event (candidate assessment) and a colossal strategic planning day.

rf

Do You Love Your City?

In Psalm 102:14 it says, “For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets.”

Do you love your city?

I just returned from a whirlwind trip through Europe seeing some of the most amazing places in the world. You doubt me?  I was in Nice and Cannes, France.  I was in London and Cambridge. I visited the amazing cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and the historic Utrecht. There are many other beautiful cities, but those listed above are at least on the list.

The thing that I realized though was, I  love my city.  If you don’t know already, I kind of travel for a living. Each time I am gone I am more resolved as I return home that, at least for now, I am called primarily to a mid-sized city on the eastern side of Washington state, in the U.S. Spokane. It is not THE most beautiful city in the world, but it does have it's allure (the picture to the left is of the riverfront park downtown at dusk). I do love it. To many, my city is like a modern day Nazareth. You know the part of the Bible; “What good can come from Nazareth?” To many of my internationally savvy friends the thought of being in Spokane seems beyond the pale.  Way to insular…limited. It’s too mono-cultural, it’s too small, and it’s at the “end of the road.”  You will actually hear people, kind of tongue in cheek, refer to my city as, “Spo-Vegas” or “Spo-Compton.” I’ve actually used those caricatures before myself.  However, I do occasionally get defensive as well. I suppose the old adage applies, “I can talk about my __________, but don’t ever let me hear you do it.”  As the proverb goes: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” I guess that is where I am. I see all of the above listed shortcomings, but there is obviously something more than the raw observation. I think it has something to do with calling.

I am not sure that everyone has this feeling for his or her city, but if we hope to do mission, we must love the city where we live. It needs to be sort of a love affair (ok, love/hate maybe). We must not look beyond it. Ask God for a deep, enduring affection for the pains, the laments, the laughter, the joys…the people of your city. That really is the genesis of authentic mission.  Falling in love.

By the way, the Messiah came from Nazareth. Bam!

Crossroads Amsterdam - Next Sunday

I am speaking at the Crossroads International Church of Amsterdam this next Sunday.  I had the treat of visiting there and teaching a seminar on the missional church this last Sunday.  It is the second church that was planted by Christian Associates (the first being Crossroads Geneva) and stands as arguably one of the most innovative and impactful churches in Europe. The worship is passionate and the new teaching pastor, James Paton is clear and insightful in his exposition of the Bible (with a wee Scottish accent as well).  It truly is a tremendous sign of the Kingdom of God in Western Europe.

Here is a shot of the service I attended – one of 3 

Actually, the picture was taken by my Dutch colleague, Rogier Bos.  I was actually paying attention to the sermon. J  As you can see, the church meets in the round and the speaker stands in the center of the crowd.  Kind of a cool vibe.  Hopefully, I don’t forget to turn like a rotisserie. If I forget, one part of the crowd will stare at my butt for an hour --- AWKWARD!

Pray for me as I seek to encourage the brothers and sisters who attend there.  It is not only a privilege for me, but also a sacred trust to be able to share my life and heart with them.

Thanks!

Catching Up from Holland

So sorry about being so dormant on my blog of late.  It’s like I have gone underground.  In a way, I have.  I have been traveling and busy and blah, blah, blah.  You get the idea.  Anyway, I hope to start logging some of the things that have been piling up in my heart during my recent globetrotting. 

Just so you know, I am in Europe at the moment (Rotterdam) staying at the Bos hotel (my friends Sophie and Rogier Bos’ house).  They are remarkable hosts and incredibly generous with their lives and home.  I have been traveling for some time and have hit the collision wall between the romance of travel and the reality of travel.  Only those who do it for a living “get it.”  Just so you know, I left Spokane on Feb 22^nd, to Denver, to DC, to London, to Nice and Grasse, FR, to London again, to Amsterdam (Rotterdam, The Hague) NL, to Leuven, BE, back to Rotterdam and today to Antwerp, BE and back to Rotterdam.  Tomorrow I migrate back to Amsterdam until the 19^th, when I return home.  Awesome…not awesome!  J

Rogier (Ro) and I went to Antwerp, Belgium today to traipse about a bit.  We talked; we walked and considered if this might be a place for one of Christian Associates' new projects.  It is an easily accessible city with beautiful architecture, people and…well, and chocolate.  Take a look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could not resist the Belgium Waffle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More later, but I just needed to get re-started!  Peace to you!

Walking in Europe or My Dogs are Tired!

There is one thing about walking in a European city – you just don’t know how far you’ve walked.  You guess by how long it’s been.  I wanna say that my feet are killing my and my old knee is starting to creak. 

With my best estimate (at least 20 min miles), since my arrival in Spain on the 1^st, I have walked about 20 miles.  The hours just pile up.  Not that I would want a car in Barcelona or Madrid, but just say’in.

Both cities are amazing, active, beautiful and full of good food and wine.  I actually stopped at a place just off of the Plaze Puerta del Sol called “Museo del Jamon.”  The Museum of Ham!!!  Are you joking me?   Can you say awesomeness?  Wall to wall ham (see pic).  Three of us had three beers, bread and, you guessed it, ham for 5 euro.  If you may have a problem with eating cured pig that's your problem, but it was a place I would go to all the time if I lived here.

Please pray for me and the Christian Associates tribe as we start our annual Leadership Summit tomorrow.  Thanks!

Oh, and one more thing…Go Zags!

 

"Freakin Out" In Flight

I had a bizarre experience on my flight from Washington Dulles to Tampa on Saturday.  I was sitting next to a guy and one of those flight shortening conversation (anytime I can get in a convo, the flight seems to disappear quickly).  The jet had in-flight Internet and I tried it just after we took off, but decided just to be sociable.  About an hour from Tampa we both we talking about and looking at how cool our iPhones were and he began to log-on to the Internet.  As the screen came up to choose which service to use we observed that there was two services available: 1) In-flight Free WIFI and 2) I am a Terrorist.  I am being completely serious.  We immediately notified the flight attendants. The undercover Air Marshals quickly got involved and things became quite intense. They put the plane on lock-down….nobody could move, nobody got to use electronic equipment, everyone was very curious about what we going on.  My conversation buddy and I were the only ones privy to the real skinny.  We finally arrived at our destination and were detained by the FBI.  After around 30 minutes were free to go.

What had happened, as best as I can figure, is somebody (with a great deal of tech savvy, but without a shred of common sense) on board got online and opened up another hotspot (easily done on a MAC) with the “terrorist” title.  Why?  Who knows?  Ontological question: Why do nutty people do nutty things?  I do know, because I was being interview by the Marshals (I felt like someone on CSI or something), that if they were to be or did get caught that it would not go well with them.  They would be taken somewhere they did not want to go…for a long, long time (Can you say, “Gitmo?”  Can you say, “Waterboard”).

It did freak me out a bit when I saw that on my phone while flying at 35000 ft., but at the end of story I arrived safe and sound and enjoyed a fantastic time with CA colleagues, Frank and Dawn Wilder.  Whew!!!

 

Missional Globetrotting

I am in my final preparations for one of my longer trips.  If you want to pray for me, here are a few of the details.

I will be in D.C. this next week at the Ecclesia National Conference.  I really like these guys, particularly my buddy, J.R. Woodward.  While there, I get a chance to spend the day with one of my favorite people and most enduring friends, Al Tizon (we went to WPC together waaaay back in the day).  I should say, the venerable, Dr. Al Tizon.  He teaches at Palmer Seminary in Philly and is driving over for the day.  I am so pumped to see him.  He carries with him huge passion for the Kingdom, astonishing intellect and a prophetic voice for the nations.  Ok, I’ll stop gushing about him.  It is beginning to sound like I have a crush on him.  I wish you could meet him.

From there I head to Tampa, FL for a few days with CA staffer, Frank Wilder.  He is involved with Tampa Underground, an innovative network of missional communities.  It will be fantastic to see the Wilder’s and to just get warm in Tampa.  Did you know that I detest the cold?  Oh yeah, I guess I mention
that, like everyday during the winter.  Drip, drip, drip.

After that, I head across the pond to Spain for the Christian Associates Leadership Summit.  While there I will be in Barcelona (visiting one of CA’s missional initiatives), then Madrid (speaking at Mountain View Church’s leadership retreat and their Sunday morning service) and then to Segovia (where the Summit will be held).  Ok, I am tired of traveling right now, but these stops in Spain will be cool.  Check out these pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all, I will be gone 24 days.  Yikes!  Please pray for clarity of thoughts and speech, eyes to see the good I am to do and endurance to stay upright and passionate for Christ throughout the time. 

Thanks!!!

On to the Emerald City this Weekend

I am heading to Seattle this weekend to hang with some of my favorite people. 

• Dave Grisanti – Calvary Chapel, Silverdale – hired (read rescued) me some 20 years ago when I was ready to give up on ministry. I was on his staff for 3 years (ok, almost that long) and spent tons of time laughing, dreaming and being healed. He will be interviewing me in their Sunday morning service.  
• Keith Webb – CRM Coaching Guru – he is helping with CA’s Church planting progression.  He is a great strategic thinker.
• Jon Sharpe – He was one of the guys that consistently encouraged me in my doctoral program.
• Mark and Josephine Anderson – joined New Community in the early days when we had no people, no money and no reputation.  They believed in our community before we did.  When they decided to stay was one of the big turning points in the church's history.
• Zac Fairbanks – that’s right!  My oldest son who is a student at Cornish, studying Jazz Performance.  He has a recital on Monday.  I am so excited to see him.  He is so amazing and talented!  I love him more than words can express!

I am seeing lots of other folks that are very important to me as well.  What a great trip!