Meet your prof: Mike Barnett teaches intercultural studies at Columbia International University. He met the Lord while a student athlete. Later, he became a businessman in the Houston steel industry, a mission pastor and church planter in North Texas, served twelve years as a foreign missionary, and now fifteen years in higher education.

Auschwitz: 1.3 million incarcerated, 1.1 million murdered, 90% Jews, others: Roma, handicapped, orphans, Poles, Russians. How Could They Do That?

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:1-3)

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the peoples there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples, James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them? But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village. (Luke 9:51-56)

What Were They Thinking? Which Vision?

The Samaritans Missed It! “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. (John 4:29-30)

The Disciples Missed It! But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. (Luke 10:33-34)

But Jesus Didn’t Miss It! He had read his Bible. He got it!

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17)

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)

What Vision Drives Us—God’s Endvision or Ours?

Who are our “Samaritans”? Muslims, immigrants, illegal migrants, refugees, or even our neighbors who are different? A different color, background, culture? Could we do it?