Why are we so compulsively obsessed with immigration?

It wasn’t long ago when we didn’t see immigration headlines daily in our newspapers, isolated violent incidents connected to immigrants in Italy and Arizona didn’t result in weeks of debate about the larger issue of immigrant criminality, and Lou Dobbs had something else to talk about. Why now? What has changed? What are we so mad about?

A law recently passed by the state of Oklahoma enforces federal immigration laws in a more draconian fashion than any other state to date. In short: it prohibits driver’s licensing, access to government benefits, deputizes local police to do immigration work, and most importantly, as a youth pastor working with many undocumented youth, it prohibits the sheltering and transporting of the undocumented. Sheltering and transporting are vague, ambiguous terms making any association with immigrants legally precarious.

Oklahoma church leaders from across the denominational spectrum have spoken out saying they will disobey this new legislation and continue on with their ministry as per usual.

The Geography of Grace community has special reason to be deeply concerned about the news coming from Kenya, and to ask you to be diligent in your prayers on behalf of the Kenyan people.

Both the Center for Transforming Mission and Mile High Ministries (co-sponsors of Geography of Grace) are strongly connected to Kenya. CTM works closely with a group of delightful young leaders in Nairobi, most of whom live and serve in the “informal settlements” (slums) where much of the violence has been taking place. We have two staff families in Nairobi now, and the drama is unfolding all around them. MHM helped launch an orphanage called Tumaini Ministries just outside Nairobi, where some of our dearest friends are caring for Kenya’s children.

I ask that you join the people of Kenya in recognizing Sunday, January 6 as an International Day of Prayer for this nation.

We as CTM-Nairobi staff, the Ochiengs and Zylstras, are safe and well. From the roof of Gideon and Mwix Ochieng’s home, however, we can see the devastating damage in Kibera (Africa’s largest slum). Within minutes of the announcement of election results, several fires were started nearby, followed by gunshots, massive explosions, screaming and wailing. I have experienced seeing something on the news, and developing an immunity to it, but this pain is real and it is impacting real people.

Thank you for continuing to pray for our nation of Kenya. God is reversing what could have been a tragedy.

A lot has happened in the past week. People are mourning across the country, but hope is finally here.

This past Sunday was declared a day of prayer and fasting for our country. Church leaders from all over the country were invited for an afternoon prayer session at All Saints Cathedral. Led by the senior pastor of Nairobi Baptist Church, church leaders prayed for our nation and led us through confession and a journey toward reconciliation. Different leaders confessed on behalf of their tribes and asked for forgiveness, one tribe to another, for the sake of unity and a lasting peace in this country.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Matt. 5:9

One of the leaders we serve in the “informal settlements” (slums) of Nairobi sent me an email reporting that he has been spared violence and praising God that his small church community has chosen the way of peace. He quoted Matt. 5:9. In light of the events of Kenya this last week, I am wrestling with what it means to be a peacemaker and bear the title “children of God.” (To read more about the events in Kenya please see Joel’s post below.)

Even though I am an adult and a father with two kids of my own, I am still the youngest of four siblings and will always be the youngest. As such, the idea of becoming a “child” does not conjure up warm feelings for me. It does not evoke feelings of innocence, purity and wonder that are so often associated the word. On the contrary, it raises feelings of inadequacy, powerlessness and vulnerability. In a word, to be a child is to be weak and I am afraid of weakness. To be called a “child of God” sounds good in theory, but also strikes fear in the heart of an insecure person.

“What is the solution?”

That was the question posed by Geography of Grace commenter Mom Rose, in an offline email. Her honest questions and thoughtful interaction really touched me - I hope I am as focused on learning as she is! I am young and foolish and too often think I know something, but I think there might be a lesson in her life for me...

In terms of solutions, I really recommend the study done by the Cato Institute (here) as a starting point - they outline a very convincing argument.

I am a person who believes in the American Dream. If you work hard enough, you can achieve all things. All it takes is harder work. Get on it and get it done. My law school internship with the Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Clinic (JAMLAC) at Joshua Station was a wake-up call from that dream.

St. Benedict’s first word in the Holy Rule is “Listen.”

I just returned from Mt. Angel Abbey, which is a Benedictine monastery in Oregon, where I tried to practice this word for three days. I listened with well-trained monks as my guide, and I entered the rhythm of monastic prayer as best I could.

While at the monastery, I met with Father Jeremy Driscoll, who has been a valuable voice in my life. He is a gifted teacher, poet and author of several books. I invite you to pick up a copy of Father Jeremy’s latest book, A Monk’s Alphabet – Moments of Stillness in a Turning World. It is a wonderful exploration of God at work in the ordinary moments of life. As we enter that part of the church calendar called “ordinary time” I think you will find Father Jeremy a skilled guide.

By my accounting, (God knows, I am no accountant) “miracles” account for about 2.5% of the Biblical narrative.

When I survey the roughly 4,000 years of history in Scripture, I count about 100 years where God is actively doing miracles – I mean the big stuff like parting seas, raising the dead, and healing people, not the everyday miracles we take for granted but are no less miraculous.

The street walkers
coming off their
high

The last deal
‘neath the dying light