IT
was a great experience for me at the Pepperdine Bible lectures. I combined the
trip with the National Prayer Day Breakfast at the Reagan Library ...was able
to go from Pepperdine (5/6) to Simi Valley (5/7) & back to Pepperdine for
the two final days (afternoon 5/7 & all of 5/8) ...lots and
lots of options in terms of speakers & topics...both large & small
sessions...The only session where I felt disagreeable was with the one about ISIS & Islam (read more below)
"Praise be to the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
1 Peter 1:3
...This speaker sounded a
lot like president Obama a few weeks ago when he
was criticizing Christians at the prayer breakfast for the sins of the
so-called "crusades" of centuries ago. This speaker reminded us of
the crusades as well. I whispered to the person next to me that if these
so-called "Christians" were massacring innocent people they were NOT
Christians even if they called themselves such. Nonetheless, it doesn't answer the question about NOW ! Two wrongs don't
make a right. I got the feeling that this speaker, like Obama, was speaking to
the audience as a bunch of "dummies" ...rather than genuine,
intelligent, concerned people who want to address the real issues rather than
be told that we shouldn't judge because our "kin" (the crusaders) were violent towards others back in the
day. It's a non-sequitur, as if we are so stupid. The whole group seemed to be
discontent with the presentation, and conveniently,
there was NO Q & A at the end . We are NOT IDIOTS! Don't treat us like it.
A lot of us have travelled overseas, have done mission work, are involved in
ministry, and here we have one missionary
guy talking to us like we're a bunch of elementary kids , the same way Obama
talks to us.We KNOW not all muslims are dangerous , not all evil, not all
plotting to kill us. We don't need to be told this again & again. What we want to know is how to address the small
percentage of Islamists who are potentially dangerous...how to minimize their
chances of success ! And we also know that
neither the missionaries, nor the professors, nor the president, et al have any
real answers, and we know that their only response is to think they have to
talk down to "the people" as if they [we] are emotional idiots, and tell us what we already know (that not all muslims
are dangerous, not all of Islam is Islamist in nature (ie have terrorist
potential)....we know, we know, we know ! Tell us something we don't know !
richard beck did an interesting presentation about how progressives (as he calls himself) need to become a little more like conservatives in terms of action & less rhetoric. Nice to find a progressive willing to be self-critical & even self-depragating at times. This was a very honest presentation.
these guys who seemed to be close friends...talked about prayer and making space for prayer or reflection...talked honestly about how sometimes their public prayers seem forced ...more aimed at pleasing the public rather than honestly talking to God. I found that candor to be refreshing because I myself do not like how public prayer is so often just part of the expected "ritual" at church & various Christiane vents, and loses it's genuine value as such..;.I prefer silent prayer & reflection
jay milbrandt did an intersting talk on "go & do", mostly about explorer David Livingstone ( which his recent book is about ) and global justice ; also see
the final large session speaker of the event, about making heaven happen here & now...he made a point that racists might be in heaven but they won't enjoy it because they will be alongside persons of all skin colors & ethnicities...so that if we want to not just"go to heaven" but enjoy heaven, we need to start preparing now but re-creating heaven as much as it is possible here and now...if I understood his point correctly
Rick Gibson gibson along with Mike Cope et al is one of the organizers of the event
"All
Scripture is God-breathed & is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting
& training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17
dr. Kent Brantly, ebola survivor, was a popular speaker. interviewed by Mike Cope
GREAT SINGERS EVERY DAY ! The UNITED CHURCH of CHRIST does not BELIEVE in USING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS...everything is done acapella
sokhum hun was a survivor of the Cambodia "killing fields"...he spoke about his experience & how he came to be a Christian & is now active as a pastor & missionary, also see http://cambodiaministries.org/
some of the family members of Sokhum
