goals for peace

IRAQ WINS!

Defeats Saudi Arabia 1-0
in Asia Cup Final!

kentucky vs. iraq

The story goes that when my father was born on the farm in rural Iraq, the labor was so difficult and long that when he was finaly delivered all the men in the family went outside and fired their rifles into the air to celebrate.

And on many occasions, while hiking around the Kentucky River near our home in Wilmore, I often heard the sounds of large guns being fired off in the distance, usually follwed by calls of "Woo-hoo!"

After almost six years living in Wilmore, along with all my travels in and experiences with the Middle East, I've noticed that sometimes there is not much difference between traditional Kentucky clans and Iraqi tribes. That is why I thought this piece was hilarious (and just so you know, this is not a real news story).

First Born Son will be out of touch for a few days as we make the transition to Arkansas. Be sure to check back this weekend for some updates on the move.

Salaam. Shalom. Peace.

dual citizenship: kingdom or country?

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to preach at my old home church in Texas. The week the worship staff asked me to send them the answers to four questions regarding my topic so they could prepare for the service. The above picture was the title slide they created based on my answers, which I've added here:

Major Theme/Title?
Dual Citizenship: Kingdom or Country?

Summary Sentence?
Stories and observations of growing up Iraqi-American in the realm of the Cross of Christ.

Scripture?
Hebrews 11:8-18 (Today's New International Version)

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

The Take Away? (what do you want the congregation to leave knowing)
To value and be thankful for our nationalities, but to have a better sense of where citizenship really is. To press into the deepest sense of identity as citizens of Heaven, and stress that this is not primarily for the future, but immediate.

Not one hour after I sent in these answers, I received a response from one of the staff who told me that because it was the Sunday before the 4th of July we would have to sing the "obligatory patriotic songs" during worship. Then I was told to make sure my message did not "undo or work against those patriotic songs."

Awkward.

I'll post more on that later, but for the time being you can listen to my sermon online here. Let me know what, if anything, you think I worked against or undid.

Praying "The Great Thanksgiving" during the Eucharist last Sunday.
(special thanks to Alan Hitt for all of his insight and help... and for lunch)

omarica

Those of you who have been with First Born Son for a while have heard me talk about our sleepy town of Wilmore. Every year Wilmore celebrates the 4th of July with a parade down Main Street. And every year the highlight of the parade is the John Deere Lawnmower Brigade. And this year I had the honor of being a member.




You may notice a first for the parade this year: dual flags on a mower. Jenn had the video camera and captured a bit of our magic. We have six precision moves, and Jenn was able to capture one or two. And, since they took over our pickup four days ago, I also added a little bit of the Walt Cousin Camp float (which was basically our truck throwing up American flags and Chris Tomlin posters).

patriot praise

First Born Son has been back in Dallas this weekend for multiple reasons. I had the opportunity to preach in all three services at my old home church on Sunday (look for an audio link soon). Jennifer took the above picture during the worship music, and I can't help but wonder "What's wrong with this picture?" (click on photo to enlarge and read lyrics)

This week is our last week in Kentucky before we move to Arkansas. Pray for us as we pack boxes and say good-by to friends.

More to come...