Lou Wagenveld

Thanks, Dan, for putting your very cogent thoughts down; most of this makes a lot of sense to me.  And I have given it considerable thought ever since writing a 1987 (?) front page Banner piece titled "Open Hearts, Open Borders?"  That was right after the 1986 Immigration Control and Reform Act ("Amnesty Law").  I still stand by my piece, although as you can see by the question mark after "open borders"? that there needs to be considerable qualifying about that.

    Your piece does a good job doing that.  Here I only wish to address one aspect of what you write.  The figures you use at the end, and calling on us to contact our representatives to move on them, imply - to my reading - a "wall."   I endorse a phrase that many are using lately: "That is not who we (as Americans) are."  Yes, money for "border security," but no more walls - the world has too many of them.  

Thanks, Liam, for a sensitive thought process yet in the end decisive resolution to this dilemma.  Scriptural, and good missiology.

Ground for the kingdom has been lost in the past for lack of what I'll call "staying power."  Witness El Salvador in the 80s.

fraternally, Lou Wagenveld

Thanks, Shannon, for sharing some resources; of the ones I recognize they will be a blessing to those who pursue them.

What did disappoint me was the very top recommendation - Richard Rohr's Center for Action and Contemplation.  Based on just the last week's worth of postings it can easily be demonstrated how far away he is from the faith "once for all delivered to the saints."  The presumption shown by his disdain for historical Christianity is saddening; more pretentious than charitable.  Does he really think he/CAC leads a "New Reformation"?!  The OSJ can do better than that.

PS  If anyone wants an analysis of the last week's "worth" of postings, send me an email:     [email protected]

Que Dios les acompanye.

I was so relieved to see at the end of the article, the awareness of the coincidence (not) with Reformation Day.  On almost the cusp now of the 500th Anniversary of that historic happening, we should redouble efforts to both educate the next generation and also figure out how we are going to engage our Roman Catholic neighbors constructively.  

Grove City is a nice place, and the college a good one.  (we have relatives there).  Enjoy, and blessings.

Ok then, just to say "hi"!  Will post something also...

Hello Mark and Steve.  Anyone else?!  This convesation supposedly started in March; I haven't seen much of anything on this.  One marginal comment from someone said this wasn't going anywhere... I hope that isn't correct.

Who's at the plate?     Lou

"While you were sleeping...." Wow!  Daniel, you have quite an agenda, and one while not unfamiliar to me, is "bigger than both of us"!  And throw in a whole lot of others for good measure!   I trust that this will get the attention of some folk, both in the trenches and in the  offices.  I'll try to call this piece to the attention of a few people I know, and see where it goes.  Steve, we count on you to get this circulated also (OK, people see this here...good) beyond this site to a few key people you know.

(forgive me, but I'm on three, four other "projects" right now that are stretching me time wise; but I respect the topic/issue)

I may not understand the function of these pages*.  But six months have gone by and this is only the forth post on what could be so very important for missions and the denomination.  Where are the "people in the pew"?  They must be reading  the funnies, or who knows what. 

Fellow retired missionary colleagues, where are you?  Short term missions leaders, where are you? 

Lou

PS *Wendy, maybe I should have known that this topic was for "the upper levels."  But then I ask, why did Rev. Dykstra go public with it, and why was it put on this public/social media page?

Wow, am I glad I am basically out of this conversation that supposedly was started by me (see 1st post -top - a year and a half ago) but went quite in another direction.  I'm very interested in that (development/business) also, but can't contribute for a couple reasons right now..  

   One is because I am following closely - maybe hoping to lead - the pivotal things that are happening in CRWRC with the survey sent out to 10,000 people over the last weeks, purportedly about a "possible name change."  I'm writing and talking with people about what the means for "word and deed" in the ministries of the CRCNA.  Please pray with me for wisdom.      -Lou      

PS And keep up the good conversation; Greg, much appreciated your anticipated participation....sometime we have to get Karl Westerhof in on this as well.

PPS  If anyone reading this blog/forum has insights into matters related to what I started with at the top (that Conversation about a Concept of a Global Missions agency) PLEASE contact me directly at    [email protected]   ( I hope that is OK to do; otherwise tell them you got my address from the Yearbook: Lou Wagenveld)