The Afghan government recently reported that around 50,000 Afghans cross illegally into Greece each year, a country which is both on the outer reaches of the Schengen zone and relatively easily reached from Turkey.

and

Becoming victims of such criminality and exploitation is a constant risk. The situation for marooned Afghans in Greece is so bad that the Afghan government plans to open an embassy in Athens to help deal with tens of thousands whose dreams of moving deeper into Europe have turned into a nightmare of limbo with no money or papers. Their plight is often made all the worse by smugglers who keep their passports until they are paid in full.

“It is a lot more difficult to get asylum protection in Greece so it is just a transit point,” said Jean-Philippe Chauzy, a spokesman from the International Organisation of Migration. “There is a lot of resentment against migrants in Greece, especially with the economic crisis, which makes it very hard to make money and continue their journeys.”

Read the whole article here.  Please pray for Greece.  Pray for our refugee friends (Afghan and otherwise).  Pray that justice would roll down like waters and righteousness like ever-flowing streams (Amos 5:24).

Also, John Piper – via Desiring God – is offering his new book “Bloodlines” for FREE (here).  I don’t know if this is a short-term deal or not, so don’t wait.  Download the e-book now.  ”Bloodlines” is Piper’s very personal (the first section is entirely autobiographical) examination of the gospel and race: unpacking and applying “the power of the gospel” to “the roots of racial strife.”  I haven’t read it yet, but I look forward to diving in.

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Today we remember the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. I am always inspired by Dr. King’s speeches. I’ve posted the end of his famous “I Have A Dream” speech below. Read the entire speech HERE (the audio version is also available via the link).

Reading this speech (his passion for justice and reconciliation) brings one set of questions to my mind: What is my dream? What am I willing to fight for, to be jailed for, or even to give my life for? And then… What am I doing to see this dream out?

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

What is your dream?

Like a flower in the sun, we’ve seen “A’s” heart open before God’s rich grace.  Please continue to pray for her.  Here’s more info from our teammates Kent and Myrna:

Another big news item for us is that our friend “A” has been accepted to immigrate legally to Germany where her son is currently living.  We are SO happy for her to be able to go without worry of being caught and sent back and to have a place to go.  Life has been VERY hard for her here but through it all she has kept her sweet spirit.  She is truly one of my favorite people and I find as I am writing this that the tears are starting to flow as I think about her going away.  There are so many bittersweet moments in this ministry.   We are thankful that she will have a chance at a better life.  We are thankful that her son is a Christian so she will not stop hearing about Jesus but our hearts ache with the thought of not being a part of her and her sweet children’s lives.  Pray for her as she goes.  Pray for her husband who is a heroin addict and not a kind man.  Pray that her son will be a strong witness to her and her husband.  Pray for us because it hurts to say goodbye and the temptation is to close ourselves off from loving new people because of the fact that we will likely have to say goodbye to them as well.

…which reminds me, I’m working towards reading through the entire Bible this year.  Anyone care to join me?  It’s not too late to start!  Find a reading plan here (and let me know, I’d love the company).

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters, by Tim Keller (Dutton, 2009). The human heart is an idol factory, argues Keller (invoking Calvin). Often times idols are truly good things that we seek to fashion into god-things. Interlacing biblical stories and contemporary culture with stinging insight, Keller unpacks the power of idols such as money, sex, and power in our society and our personal lives. He masterfully draws us back to the gospel, however, demonstrating how only Christ can truly fulfill these deepest longings. Keller’s examination of idolatry also includes a short comparison of “surface idols” and “deep idols” – a three page (pp. 64-66) summary that alone is worth the price of admission. A great read on several levels. My Grade: A+

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t, by Jim Collins (Harper Collins, 2001). Good is the enemy of great.  Great organizations are not characterized by charismatic leaders, product trends, or media hype.  Rather, great organizations are doggedly disciplined around what Collins terms a “hedgehog concept” – the singular intersection of what an organization is passionate about, what an organization can be best in the world at, and the economic engine of an organization.  Once an organization understands its “hedgehog concept,” greatness means discipline: disciplined leadership making disciplined decisions in the context of its “hedgehog concept” – resulting in a disciplined culture.  This sort of determination isn’t the result of training, but of recruiting.  The “who” of an organization must take priority over its “what” – or as Collins says “who first, then what.”  Good to Great is an engaging and thoroughly interesting read. Although the research is in the context of the business world, it is readily applicable both individually and in other organizational contexts.  My Grade: A+  [Also if you're in the non-profit world, be sure to check out the follow-up monograph Good to Great and the Social Sectors.]

The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited, by Scot McKnight (Zondervan, 2011).  Defining the gospel has become a battleground between warring theologies. Is the gospel primarily about justification by faith, the kingdom of God, or the restoration of all things?  McKnight’s offering here is an important (game changing?) contribution to the discussion. McKnight begins at First Corinthians 15 and fleshes out the contours of the gospel: The story of Israel (shorthand for God’s self-revelation throughout the OT) brought to completion in the story of Jesus.  This is the gospel that Paul preached, and Peter (McKnight walks us through their “gospeling” in Acts).  In fact, this is the gospel that Jesus preached: Himself – and ultimately His own death and resurrection – as the fulfillment of God’s work in Israel.  McKnight calls to repentance the contemporary church, which often sees the gospel only in terms of salvation (four spiritual laws).  This truncates a rightful understanding of God’s work in history.  McKnight’s contribution to the gospel debate is a must-read.  My Grade: A+

Don’t Waste Your Life, by John Piper (Crossway, 2003). “Don’t Waste Your Life” is a manifesto for gospel-centered living. Piper clearly and passionately explains the basis for Christian joy: the glory of God. When one lives for God’s glory, he or she finds life’s deepest joy and purpose. Piper unpacks this profound truth in relationship to suffering, vocation, risk, mission, and much more. Piper offers an invaluable service to the church: understanding the glory of God in light of the cross – the “blazing center of the glory of God” – as it informs one’s daily life as followers of Jesus. Very helpful. My Grade: A+

Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels, by Tullian Tchividjian (Crossway, 2010).   Pastor Tullian moves artfully through the book of Jonah, pointing out gospel landmarks and Jesus-sightings along the way.  Surprised by Grace is moving and powerful as it reminds us that it’s grace all the way down – God’s unthinkable grace to Jonah; His scandalous grace to the Ninevehites; God’s amazing grace to you and me;  His immeasurable grace both to reckless rule-breakers and legalistic rule-makers.  Wherever we are, we are people in need of God’s grace!   A heart-stirring reminder that we are all in need of the gospel.  My grade: A

Honorable Mentions:

King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus, Timothy Keller (Dutton 2011).

The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of the Leaderless Organization, Brafman and Beckstrom (Portfolio 2008).

Leaders Who Last, David Kraft (Crossway 2010).

Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck – Why Some Companies Thrive Despite Them All, by Jim Collins and Morten Hansen (Harper 2011).

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, by David Platt (Multnomah 2010).

What about you?  What was your favorite book last year?  Any books that you’ll looking forward to reading in 2012?

We hope everyone had a great Christmas: full of joy, laughter, and – most of all – Jesus!  Hot off the press – you can download our latest newsletter here!  A text-only version is available below.  Thanks so much for your love, support, and prayers!

By God’s Grace -

Brett, Kristin, Sofia & Emma

Loving the Overlooked, December 2011

PRAYER 2012

Baby #3

We’re expecting! Kristin is about 5 months along (due May 15th).  We’re thankful for another little one — please join us in prayer for protection and good health!

Ministry

The ministry center has been full all fall and winter.  Many new refugees continue to pour into Greece — especially from Afghanistan and Iran.  Please pray for the gospel seeds that are being planted daily.

Team

Our team has gone through a number of staff transitions over the last year.  Please continue to pray for our unity, strength, and focus. We are genuinely thankful to be a part of such an excellent team!

New Believers

God continues to call refugees to Himself!  Please pray for the faith and growth of new believers.  They face a lot of grief and persecution for their decisions to follow Jesus.  And several are still living on the streets. Your prayers are needed!

Teaching

My (Brett’s) first love is teaching and preaching; although limited, I am thankful for opportunities to do so here. Pray for wisdom as I seek more opportunities to grow and develop as a teacher.  Pray for Jesus to be centerpiece of all I say.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

We are thankful for you: your friendship, your prayers, your support, your encouragement! Thanks so much! As we enter 2012, we continue to deeply appreciate your partnership in God’s work.

As 2011 closes out, would you prayerfully consider a year-end gift? With a third child on the way and rising costs here in Greece (taxes, health care, and more), your financial support is as important as ever!

If you can help, please send checks to International Teams, (411 W. River Rd.; Elgin, IL 60123) or give on-line by clicking here. Either way, simply indicate that your gift is for the “Sanners in Athens.”

Thank you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!