Yesterday I flew back through time sort of.  I flew from Dallas to New York then my flight to Istanbul was delayed significantly.  When I arrived in Istanbul my flight to Hatay (in the extreme southeast of Turkey) was delayed as well.  After arrival in Hatay I went by bus down to the extreme corner of the country, just across from the (disputed) border with Syria. 

Antioch, from which Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were sent out on the first missionary journey in Acts 13, is the capital of Hatay Province and is not too far from where I am staying.  I am actually staying in ancient Selucia, from which they sailed to Cyprus on the first leg of their journey in Acts 13:4.  Today there is no town of Seleucia, just a small village and an olive grove by the sea.  The original pier is about 150 meters from where I am staying, in the middle of a field.

I am staying in a small hostel right on the beach in this rural area.  I can hear the waves of the Mediterranean crashing on the beach as I write this.  God reshaped missions here nearly two thousand years ago.  I am gathered here with about 70 people to hear from the Lord together about what He might be saying to us in these days about reshaping missions yet again.  It seems to be a particularly fitting place to hear from Him about it, given the significant history here.