Several years ago, when I launched out on this journey to be an ambassador
of reconciliation with Libya, I had a dream.  It seemed like a ridiculous
dream at the time, but nonetheless very clear.  In the dream, had the
opportunity to meet and share the love of Jesus with Muammar Gaddafi.
For several years now, I have been doing missions work in Libya.  It is the
most tangible way I have known how to overcome the act of terror that my
brother was killed in for good.  It is the essence of the gospel, which
calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to love our enemies.
Now if you have been following the news in recent weeks, there has been all
kinds of controversy around Libya, especially about Muammar Gaddafi making
his first trip to the US and addressing the United Nations.
When I heard he was going to be at the United Nations, I asked Ambassador
Aujali, the Libyan Ambassador.  The Ambassador said he would do everything
in his power to make it happen. He is a controversial man and a true
revolutionary. You never really can predict what he will do or how he will
respond.  But one thing is true.  Few people can resist a gesture of
authentic goodwill motivated by love.
So, I arrived in New York on Tuesday, believing in faith that the dream God
gave me would become a reality.  That I would have the chance to meet
Gaddafi face-to-face and share the love of Jesus with him.  But after I
arrived, there was tons of controversy around him in the news.  It was
obvious that the general sentiment in New York was hate toward him.  He
couldn’t even find a place to stay.
On Wednesday morning, I went to the United Nations.  As I stood on the
street corner watching the leaders from countless nations arrive, I just
stood there and prayed for them silently.  It was a procession of many
different nations, several in the Muslim world that drove by, each with
their countries flags in their windows.
As I proceeded to the grounds of the United Nations, several groups were
protesting Gaddafi’s visit.  There were two Libyan opposition groups, one
led by the last King of Libya’s grandson.  He was ousted by Gaddafi during
his revolution 40 years ago.  The Pan Am 103 victims families were also
protesting.  There was a much larger group protesting Ahmadenijad from
Iran’s presence at the UN, but he didn¹t get nearly as much attention in the
media.  For some reason, the eyes were all on Gaddafi, and the comments were
not good.
There was one group of people that came out in support of Gaddafi.  This
group is the Nation of Islam.  It was a rather unexpected combination.  A
group of more than 500 african American men with dark suits and bow ties,
who are followers of Louis Farrakan and the nation of Islam. You may
remember during the election that Farrakhan called Obama the "messiah."
There were also Black Panthers in the group.  All standing, holding a rally
in honor of Muammar Gaddafi.  The speakers included Native Americans, Chuck
D former lead singer of the Public Enemy rap group and other Nation of Islam
members.  Among the crowd stood a few young Libyan students who have come to
the US to study and me.  A lone, white, Christian women in the Middle of the
crowd.  It could not have been a more political display, but at times it was
really unclear, what message they were trying to communicate.  We watched on
a big screen television as President Obama and then Muammar Gaddafi
addressed the United Nations. Even as members of the crowd held up signs
declaring Gaddafi the King of Kings, I couldn’t think of a better place to
pray.
After the rally, we (the group of Nation of Islam supporters, and myself)
were invited to go to the Libyan Mission headquarters to wait the Leader’s
arrival.  While we waited I made some new friends among several Libyan
students that were there.  One was a young women who is in the US studying
pharmacology and is due to have her first baby any day.
Well, after waiting for several hours we got word that he had been delayed.
So, I left.  At 5:30 pm, I received a call from the Libyan Ambassador who
invited me to come to the Libyan Mission to meet the leader at 7:30 pm.
So, myself and another young man who lost his father on the Lockerbie plane,
were invited to a one on one meeting Muammar Gaddafi.  He shook my hand and
we exchanged the general pleasantries. I shared with him about the fact that
I have been to Libya three times and have truly fallen in love with the
Libyan people.  I also talked about the projects we are engaged in there.
He was greatful.  I also gave him a gift.  A "Cross" brand pen and a card.
In the card I shared that I have been praying for him since my first trip in
2005, wished him the best for himself and the people of his country, and
blessed him.  Not the expected response to a known dictator and terrorist.
But, when he opened the gift, his countenance changed.  His previously stern
demeanor softened for a moment and a genuine boy-like smile came to his
face.
It was truly a historical day by many standards.  I have the t-shirt and
umbrella with a welcome for his first trip to America to prove it.  The
western media were not present, only a small delegation of Libyan reporters
when I met with Gaddafi.  They filmed and asked us questions, but the world
may never hear about it.  But as I walked out of the Libyan Mission and on
the way back to my home, I felt God’s peace.  I had fulfilled that
particular mission.  While the rest of the world was spewing hate and
rhetoric against him, one simple women welcomed him to America and shared
the love of Christ with him in the simplest ways I knew how.  I pray that it
will in someway make a difference.
Thank you so much for praying for me.
God bless,
Lisa

My cousin is the Executive Director of the Peace and Prosperity Alliance. They seek to bring together leaders from many areas to help bridge the gap between the developed and developing world.  You can read Lisa’s story in her new book, Life and Death: A Journey from Terrorism to Triumph.

What a blast.  Since my family and I were in Milwaukee already for the week visiting my parents/sisters, we decided to take the drive to Lambeau for the first day of camp.  It was a blast!!  I’ve never been when there was actually anything going.  Three years ago we visited and did the Hall of fame but it was not during camp or the season.
We got there and noticed the line of people outside Lambeau and realized that was were the players would be coming out and riding the bikes.  We got along the path and were right in the corner where they turned toward the practice field.  Some security guy was in the way of almost all our pix.  But got enough.  My youngest is 11 and high fiving the players as they come out was enough for him.  He’d have been happy to go home then.  But then we walked over and watched camp. The new bleachers were already packed full and both ends of the field were lined with people three and four rows deep.  We found two old guys and I told my boy to push in front of them and gave him our point and shoot and he took tons of pix through the hols of the fence.  I found a trash can and stood behind a couple with a stroller and hoped the kiddo would stir enough to make them want to leave.  It worked.  So I was able to shoot through the fence with an unobstructed view.  God some pix of Woodson and the D working out and then a few of Driver and the receivers catching balls.  Saw Aaron Kampman doing the river dance between plays but the camera wasn’t ready at that instant so I missed it.
After my wife and two sons were bored of practice and I got about 3 GB of shots we went over to the tent  with the things for the kids.  My sons had a blast.  Saw one kid do the football toss and he stood way back and pegged all three holds dead center.  Sign him up!  Then my son went and missed all three standing closer.   Oh well, he plays soccer and is trying out for Kicker/:Punter anyway.

The picture above is my son high fiving the players as they drove by.  That’s my son wearing the Woodson jersey on the left.  As you can see Jordy Nelson (87) and Pat Lee (22) are the players.

Yes that is my son Michael in the preview picture.

He played a great game with an inured left hand, so no goalie.  But he scored 2 goals – in fact the team’s only two goals to win 2-1.  Sadly, I didn’t get the goals on video.  But here is what I did get.  Enjoy

We just got an email from Samaritan’s Purse telling us that our Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes went to Botswana this Christmas.  Here are some pictures of the kids opening the boxes sent there by people all over the world.  If you care to you can to the site yourself by clicking the picture or here.

This is one of the many pictures I took at the recent games of my son’s High School Soccer games. He is playing backup goalie for Draugh High School soccer. This one was actually an accident. But as I noticed the right foot of the player in focus while the rest is motion blurred, I liked what it said about good technique. Firmly plant that foot in order to get a good strong kick. Click the picture to go see the other pictures.