Joshua Lovebomb

Home

We made it home. My dog is doing great even though he missed us terribly. Fortunately for us, he is very forgiving and is acting as if we never left him.

Everyone has been asking us how the trip was. At this point, it's still hard for me to know where to begin. One friend asked me to share 2 sentences about the trip. The first sentence that came to my mind was, "We don't know Arabs." The second sentence that came to my mind was, "We need to get to know Arabs."

My closest group of friends have been great. At this point, they aren't worried about how the thoughts and feelings in me come out, they just want them to come out! The result is that they continue to ask questions that force me to process, organize, and articulate my thoughts. I can't begin to express how comforting it is to have a safe place to share the un-edited stuff in me. It's easy for me to get caught up in analyzing whether a thought or feeling is right or wrong and end up feeling paralyzed. Over the last several years I've seen more and more how my words affect others without me ever intending them to. My worst fear is that I'll say something that will indirectly hurt or offend someone. I'm glad I have some friends who are doing their best to help prevent that.

More than anything right now, I miss our friends in Jordan. Unfortunately, it's rare that we get to spend time with such great friends who challenge us, make us think, laugh with us, think in ways we want to think, and give us grace as our own thoughts and conclusions are formed about the world and how to we relate to it. I'm so grateful we have these people in our lives. I just wish we lived closer together!!

Day 5 Continued...

This afternoon we met with an Arab Christian.  He spoke about life as a Christian in the east compared to the west.  It was incredibly eye-opening.  He spoke of friends and communities of Christians that have had to make hard decisions regarding the invasion of Iraq through their lands.  Many have had to flee for the safety of their families.  Because of this, not only are Arab Christians losing their land, but the Middle East is losing Christians!!  The outlook is not good at all.  What's even worse, they believe the Christians in the west are totally unaware of what's happening.  Even that is giving us the benefit of the doubt because a worse scenario is that we are aware and not doing anything about it! 

As we listened it became very apparent that these people are dangerously close, if not already there, in giving up on the Christians of the west.  To put it bluntly, we are failing our brothers and sisters.  This is no longer about them having the ability to be a force for good in the world.  We are to the point where we are talking about their very survival.  Our idolatry of nationalism is killing the church of Jesus. 

This stuff really bothers me.  It's been bothering me all week but I haven't blogged about it because it is so taboo to talk about.  After being here for only a short time, I can guarantee Jesus would be talking about it.  Unfortunately, He would probably be killed again.  Why is it that the conversation around nationalism, war, poverty, Islam, and Arabs can only take place behind closed doors?  Why can't the American church talk about this?  Everyone else is!  If we ignore the problems does it mean the problems don't exist?  Or, do we think they will just work themselves out?

Tomorrow we begin the long journey home.  Right now, I need the journey to be long.  I have so much in me and don't really know what to do with it.  Because of what I know about myself, I'm scared of some of the things inside me.  Expressing them could mean criticism, alienation, misunderstanding, and hurt feelings.  Not expressing them could mean more anger, bitterness, cynicism, and worst of all, disobediance.  There's something in me that I usually want to die or at least go away.  My fear is that it is the very thing that God wants to come more alive. 

Thanks for being on the journey with us.  I will continue to blog about this experience until it is no longer healthy for me to do so.  I will probably be out for the next couple of days catching up with what's been going on in my dog's life while we were gone.  Peace.   

Day 5

This morning we went to the site where Jesus was baptized outside Bethany.  We could see Jericho in the distance as well as the hill Elijah was taken up to heaven from.  It was trippy.  Sitting on the edge of the Jordan with my wife, dangling our feet in the water Jesus was baptized in was an incredibly powerful experience.  We were given the gift of having a break in the tourist stream and getting a few minutes by ourselves.  All you could hear were the birds singing.  Even writing about it right now is hard and emotional.  I sat there longing to feel what it must have felt like for John to baptize Jesus.  I would give anything to go back in time and experience that moment.  Even a little taste today left me with a deep longing to see, hear, touch, and experience Jesus.  I'll never forget it. 

Before we left, we took an empty water bottle and filled it with the murky waters of the Jordan River.  In a couple months we hope to Christen our little baby girl with that water.  I can't wait.

We also went and swam in the Dead Sea.  Actually, I take that back.  We FLOATED in the Dead Sea.  Due to the salt content of the water, your body floats as if you are laying on a raft.  It's crazy.  I still can't believe it.  I have never experienced anything so bizarre.  It is physically impossible to keep your entire body under water at the Dead Sea.  I was told that before I went and didn't believe it.  Well...it's true!!!  What a weird deal.  It was also one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

More from Day 5 to come.

Day 4

Today we went to Petra.  It's this city in the desert that was built in and out of rock.  It's easily one of the most spectacular things I've ever seen.  Also, it's really big.  They say you could spend 2 to 3 weeks there before you would see the whole thing.  I totally believe it. 

Because it was so big, my pregnant wife needed some help moving around across the rock under the hot desert sun.  So, we rented a donkey.  I have to be honest, it was really weird to be walking in the desert next to a donkey that was carrying my pregnant wife.  We were totally Mary and Joseph.  It was hilarious!

It's amazing how the stories of Jesus are getting more contextualized while I'm here.  I don't have time now, but when I get home I'll probably write about some specific stories in the gospel accounts that I will never read the same again.  I loved the story and the person before.  Now... even more. 

Day 3

Today we visited some non-formal education classes for boys.  Many of the boys in impoverished neighborhoods don't stay in school.  The reasons vary from needing to work for the family, behavioral problems,  being abused by other students and teachers, as well as other various things.  They have started a program for the boys to learn how to read and write that is more experiential, participatory, flexible with time, and overall, more focused on the needs of the boys.

When we walked into the center, formerly known as "school," the boys were all sitting in chairs anticipating our arrival.  The facilitators, formerly known as "teachers," welcomed us and invited the boys to share their thoughts and experience.  All of the boys were there because they wanted to be, no one was forced.  They shared about how much the program has changed their lives by getting them off the streets, helping them to learn, creating a positive environment of friends, being flexible for their family obligations, and given them a hopeful future. 

My degree is in education and I have spent some time with students.  I can honestly say, I have never been in a classroom where the students were as excited to be there learning as these "at risk" boys were.  It was very clear they were on their way to becoming men.  The learning that is happening is not just reading and writing.  They are learning how to engage socially, treat others and themselves with respect, and most of all find hope. 

Once again, I am hit with how much we need to learn from our Arab friends.  The numbers of young boys in Minneapolis that are dropping out of formal education is scary.  Our system is not built for young boys of 2006.  Today I got a glimpse of a system that has principles that could help us so much. 

This experience is continuing to show me how much we are missing out when we don't look beyond our own culture to learn from others.  It's humbling to see how smart, resourceful, creative, and professional these people are.  It's really embarrassing that it is coming as such a surprise.  I'm so thankful they have so much grace for me.  I need it!! 

Day 2

Too many stories with too little time...I'll just share one.

Today I met with several college students who volunteer in mentoring street kids in Jordan.  I got to ask them questions and learn about their experience mentoring and indirectly, being mentored.  One of the great surprises was the Dean of the college who also joined us.  Out of everyone, he was definitely the most excited about the program.  During the discussion the students quoted the Qu'ran and the New Testament to reinforce the centrality of forgiveness to Muslims and Christians.  They told stories of forgiving within themselves as well as the children they mentored.  It was inspiring.

At the end, the Dean came up to me to ask me a few questions.  One of the things I mentioned was the idea of creating language that transcended the cultural and religious language of Islam and Christianity so we wouldn't get hung up on our differences and could stay focused on what was important...forgiveness and reconciliation.  As soon as I said that, this Muslim man lit up.  He said, "Anytime I hear Islam and Christianity, I think it's the same thing."

Now...when he said that, immediately my mind stopped and thought, "Well, actually they are not the same thing."  But within a second of having that thought, he continued with a complete surprise.  He went on to say, "They are the same thing in that their secret language is love."  HELLOOOOO!!!    I immediately yelled, "YES!!  You are right!!"

After realizing we both wanted the same thing, he said to me in broken english, "I was standing over there for about 2 minutes trying to decide how to say 'goodbye.'  I had decided to shake your hand.  But, now I need to hug you because you are a good brother."  And with that, this man opened his arms and embraced me as a friend and brother.  It was beautiful.  Once again, I was totally surprised at the spirit and heart of these people.  I love this place.

     

It's Better to Pray than to Sleep

It's about 4:00am Jordanian time.  Right now, the streets are ringing with the call to pray.  As I understand it, the song that is being sung is saying something to the effect, "It's better to pray than to sleep."

Here are my current thoughts.  First, I really admire the discipline and devotion.  It feels very monastic to me.  I guess a big difference is that this monastery is approximately 2.5 million people!  All of that said, jet lag has me wide awake right now.  If I was sleeping like a baby, I don't know if I would necessarily be thinking the same thoughts.   

Secondly, what kind of sound system do they have pumpin' that deal out!  This city is huge and it sounds as if the man is singing right outside our bedroom!  That's amazing.   

Day 1

Day 1 in Jordan is coming to a close.  It's really strange, in some ways, everything feels really foreign and in other ways, really familiar.  I feel very comfortable here.  I wonder if it's because I don't have anything to protect.  There isn't any doubt that I know nothing about these people so it's not even worth pretending.  It's actually very liberating to sit down with people who think, act, and talk different than you and realize I'm totally ignorant and everyone in the room knows it.  I never thought being so clueless could feel so free.  Maybe I feel free because they don't expect me to know.  Or, maybe it's because I don't expect me to know.  Either way, my mind and heart have needed this for a long time.

I thought of my friends so many times today because the concepts and ideas that were being shared are so desperately needed in America.  The question is, "How does it all translate?"  One of the most fascinating conversations was led by 3 Muslim men talking about spiritual formation.  This is not a Muslim thought so they were wrestling with the title and language, but nonetheless, very passionate about the concepts.  Their ideas for formation center around compassion and forgiveness.  They believe it is the only way to shrink the gap between the rich and poor as well as disrupt the cycle of violence we see in our world.  What really blew my mind was their ability to say it in ways that transcended the religious language that we so often get hung up on.  These men are more like us than I ever imagined.  They want the same things I do.  They desire to see young people live in redemptive ways vs. destructive ways.  They want to see the violence in our world get thwarted by courageous hearts who forgive.  They want to see the marginalized of society come to life and offer the things that only they can offer to their communities.  This is the kind of stuff that really messes with your head.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I can't wait.  What the Jordanians are helping me do more than anything is to see myself and my own culture more clearly.  And, what's rising up in me more than anything is hope.  The question will be whether or not we are willing to learn from others.  If we are, maybe we can begin to address the violence, anger, and loneliness that is sweeping the US as well as the world around us.  However, after only one day, I am convinced it will only happen if we are willing to partner and learn from Arabs and others around through world who desire the same things.

We Made It...Late

We've made it to Jordan.  We ended up spending an extra night in Paris due to delays and a missed flight.  I wish I could say that we took advantage of the time, but instead, we went to the hotel and slept!  Anyway, Jordan is amazing. 

Today we spent the day talking with the staff of an organization that is doing social work in Jordan, specifically working with street kids.  My mind is mush right now.  Not only did we get a lot of information, but the information and thoughts we received don't fit the thinking we are familiar with.  I kind of believed it coming in, but now I am certain that we (America) have a lot to learn from our Arab friends.  They are way ahead of the game on some things concerning the development of children, families, and the society at large. 

I'll write much more as we go.  Right now, I'm just trying to process an afternoon of feeling like a 3rd grader.  There is so much to learn about people and how to care for them.  I'm so glad I get to learn from so many different kinds of teachers.       

Jordan

24 hours from now, my wife and I will be on an airplane flying over the Atlantic. Our destination is Amman, Jordan. After almost 3 years of waiting, it's hard to believe that it's actually going to happen. Over the last few weeks, many people have asked why we are going to the Middle East. Some ask with a spirit of curiosity, others ask with a spirit of "are you freakin' crazy!" People's reactions have been very interesting.

I don't have near enough time or space to share all the reasons why we are going to Jordan, but here are a few.

1 - We have friends there and we want to be with them.

2 - It's America's Samaria and whether we like it or not, Jesus is spending time there. We might as well go see what he's up to!

3 - I want to see the humanity in those we have dehumanized.

4 - I want to learn from people who see the world through a different lense than I do.

5 - I'm really curious.

6 - I want the world that my kids grow up in to be less violent than it is today. That's not going to happen with me sitting at home watching "CSI Miami."

7 - I need a vacation.

There are many more, but I'll stop.

Updates of the trip will be coming regularly. See you in Amman!