President Donald Trump will arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday evening, February 26^th. For me, it brings back memories of late February, fifty years ago. I was at Long Binh Post in Vietnam, twelve to fifteen miles north of Saigon; now Ho Chi Minh City. It was the time of the Tet Offensive of 1969 and Long Binh had been targeted by the Viet Cong. The offensive was a quiet one in comparison to the ’68 offensive and there were few casualties at the post. The Viet Cong made several attempts to advance on the base but were stopped short on each occasion.

I’m going back to Vietnam in June as part of a mission to work with and learn from Vietnamese Baptist pastors and, if it is in God’s plan, to impart some of my own learning to them in return. I am humbled to have this opportunity. I thank God and praise Him that He is allowing me to revisit Vietnam with a presence that I hope will be much more of a blessing than what I brought to the people of Vietnam upon my arrival nearly fifty-one years ago.

I am praying that the President’s trip to Vietnam will result in blessings, also: blessings that diminish the tensions between North and South Korea and North Korea and the United States. Our experiences in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan indicate to me that war and threats of war result in few benefits to anyone. And I’m convinced no good can come of war between the US and North Korea. I pray that the President and Chairman Kim can see that as well and work together to create a win-win situation for all of us.

In Closing I Say,

Lift High the Cross