Medjugorje

How do you explain Mary to unbelievers? Why would Mary want to come to the middle of a mountain town in Bosnia to a bunch of kids? Why would this phenomena draw millions of pilgrims from around the world for the last thirty years? We made the journey last month with those very same questions.

In search of what it all means, I asked Jesus to show me himself there and I asked for the eyes of understanding. The eyes I got were those of a mother. I tend to look out of mother eyes quite a bit with seven kids of my own and a lot more that I love and call mine.

Mothers tend to have this problem. They like to take care of everybody. I do. It's a “built in” thing. The older I get, the stronger it gets. I saw thousands, yes, thousands, of people in search of a Mother and the Son that she introduces them to.

These are truly pilgrims. I don't think I understood the word pilgrimage until I became a part of this. These millions who come are on a search for something. I know I was. I want to understand why it takes something like this phenomena of Mary appearing to a bunch of kids to get people right with Jesus? Most of these pilgrims go to church most Sundays, I think. Probably more than that do. Why do they have to go across oceans, then clear into the middle of nowhere to really get converted to Jesus Christ Himself?

Part of the mystery is in climbing to the top of the mountain where the girls first saw the vision. As I climbed Apparition mountain, I thought about how hard it was. It is a tough climb to the young or old. Here we were trudging up a mountain with no solid footing anywhere, nothing but rocks the size of your head everywhere and for what were we doing this? Everywhere around me people of all sizes, shapes, ages, and languages were doing the same. What was running through their minds?

We didn't need a guide. They didn't exactly offer them. You just maneuver on your own. You can't see where you started and you don't know where you are going. (It is sorta like, shock here: REAL LIFE!) The way is nothing but rocks and trees and unsure. Sometimes you might need a little help from someone else. Everybody is on their own path. You can't take another's, although you can sometimes almost trail them, you can never exactly put your foot right where theirs has been. You can't really watch what the other guy is doing either. If you do, you will lose your footing and might fall.

There is something very peaceful about climbing this unknown. People are quiet and reverent. It is an almost surreal feeling. Lost in my own thoughts I wondered about innocence and purity. Most people view life through their own filter: rich, poor, city, country, jew, gentile, protestant, catholic. Everybody has on a different pair of glasses.

Thinking about puberty age kids in an obvious third world culture, it's easy to imagine true innocence thirty years ago when they encountered the Madonna giving them messages. The culture then was even more primitive than today. Why? I think it has to do with hope. That is a really great word. I hope my car doesn't die. I hope my kids live a good life. I hope. For what? I hope that the world knows Jesus. The Savior who hung on a cross for them.

Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Whether or not anyone believes it or not, it really doesn't matter. Thirty years ago a bunch of kids in Bosnia started having visions of Mary telling them terrible things were going to happen to their land. There would be war, people needed to quit playing around with God and get right with Him. They needed to pray for the conversion of sinners to Jesus. That is not a message I can argue with.

When I reached the top of the mountain and surveyed where I had come from, I was amazed. I had actually made it there, to the place where a couple of girls had first heard messages from Mary about conversion and coming judgment. I saw the beauty that surrounded this place, the mountains and valleys in their glory. I could have never seen this from below! I looked at the people around me, everyone so very unique. A true representation of a vast and endlessly creative God, who makes all things to glorify Him!

If it takes a pilgrimage to Medjugorje for life long Catholics to be converted and get right with Jesus, then so be it. The Muslims have Mecca. Protestants have IHOP and Bethel. I don't know about other places because my glasses work ecumenically, American, Catholic and Protestant. I know that God is BIG and has a lot of variety. That is why He is God. He can do as he pleases. He does not have to work on someones presupposed theology. HE IS GOD AND I AM NOT. That should be enough for anybody.

Welcome to Narnia

Alan and Lori just returned from a training trip to Ireland with our YWAM branch, Kerygma. It was hard to explain why we were going, but it was an excellent time and here's why. There will be pictures later.

Why did you have to go to Ireland and the Global Gathering?

We went to Ireland because we needed to be there.

These aren't friends who kind-of understand our vision and strategy. Kerygma is our family. They understand. These are those most able to know what we know and are on the exact same track as us: The total balance of ecumenism, Holy Spirit, YWAM, pioneering spirit, aggressiveness, global vision and youthfulness. It was the most empowering trip we could make.

 These people can teach us more about what we do. They're doing things and talking about concepts we could never dream up. They've been down the roads we're walking now. There is nowhere in the US we can do that. The average YWAMer in the US has never heard of Kerygma.
This was like going home for Christmas and we're the young married couple in the family, the Yuppies. Upwardly mobile.

What we did learn:
“Reboot is about recognizing the moment we are in.” said our leader Bruce Clewett.
It was so solid, so focused  on exactly what we need to discuss and and be encouraged about.
What are your non-negotiables with your partner ministry? What do you not bend on?

What are Kerygma's Distinctives? What are we saying that no one else is doing? Our Executive Team taught on:
1.    Look at all the Catholics who came to the Lord and don't evangelize.
2.    Why Catholics and Protestants should do missions together
3.    Why Protestants should serve in the Catholic World.

We found out we should work more closely with our local YWAM bases. Our relationship with the YWAM family is more important than the issues.
They brought in a top notch German Catholic teacher to inspire us, Johannes Hartl, associated with the International House of Prayer, and leads that organization in Germany. Johannes spoke at length several sessions.

Our reunion with our Kerygma Team Family is a taste of heaven It was like entering heaven, because all the key people we met in India immediately came out the door to embrace us when we arrived at 9:45 AM.

Our schedule was full and lacked opportunities to travel anywhere but the sleepy village a 7 minute walk away. We went to the church for two Sunday masses and two weekday masses, shopped at two markets and twice to an Irish Pub. Once with banjo and guitar players. We had a chance to talk to some locals, mostly merchants and shop clerks. Met a few people after masses. They are pleased to meet folks from the U.S. These people seem to live in a very small world.

How was your trip to Ireland from a personal basis?
1.    A Fascinating new culture to experience
2.    Old World, Mystical scenery and settings, like Narnia. A place I'd like to go back to.
3.    Very beautiful, Refreshing, Breathtaking, Like being in a movie
4.    The locals were very closed up. Fairly friendly, but not nosy. They thought it cute that you were from Texas if you brought it up, but that was the end of their interest in us and they didn't let you know anything about them. It would take a long term relationship for evangelism.
5.    Everyone spoke English, only kinda funny, with hilarious accents and diction
6.    Mild days and cool nights, but harsh, cold winters we heard.
7.    The local YWAM staff were wonderful. We could work at that base and live in that house.
8.    Excellent facility.
9.    Best mass choir we ever heard.
10.    A relative safe feeling.

We returned from our trip to Europe refreshed, energized, rebooted and ready to hit the floor running. Join us as we continue to touch hearts.