Quick call CNN...Peace among (perceived) enemies
I am traveling a lot lately, and usually I spend my days in the field and meet with local farmers. I see the development that is taking place then go back to a guest house or hotel for a little dinner then off to bed. So this past week was not much different until I ran into a couple of guys on Monday night.
In my normal way I struck up a conversation with these two guys. They were strangers in our new country and I just wanted to find out why they were in Mozambique and what they do for work.
Have you seen the movie Blood Diamond? These guys were real life uncut diamond traders. They were in town to meet with sellers from Zimbabwe who were smuggling diamonds across the border into central Mozambique. They said that the business is good and that the market out of Zimbabwe is huge. Which is scary considering that this will be another way that Mugabe will use to systematically destroy the lives of the Zim people. Anyway, we just started talking and in the conversation I found out that one of the guys was from Jordan and was a Muslim. The other guy was from Israel and was Jewish. The power of the dollar at work. Two guys who in general can't stand each other, working together in Mozambique. A true CNN moment.
So here is the point. During our conversation I transitioned the conversation to Jesus. We talked about the Jewish culture still waiting for the Messiah, although Gad, the Jewish guy, questioned whether Jesus was the Messiah or not. He said that maybe the Jews missed it. Incredible! Mark, the guy from Jordan, obviously not his real name but he said I would never remember his Muslim name, began to talk about the Quran and its claims of Jesus and ties to the Jewish religion. Like Abraham building Mecca and Jesus predicting Mohammed's coming. Then the fun started. We had the chance to talk about biblical authenticity and what it means for another group, Muslim, Mormon, Branch Davidians or whoever to add or takeaway from the Bible. We talked about the irrefutable claim of scripture being the most trusted document in the world, the fact that it is easier to prove its authenticity over the life of Julius Caesar. Truly an amazing conversation. Then we transitioned to the Life of Jesus. Mark absolutely believes that Jesus lived, he says because the Quran says that Jesus was a prophet it proves that he was a real person and did the miracles that the New Testament tells about. Gad said that he believes that Jesus lived, his argument was that if it was not true how then does the whole world believe in him, why is the calendar configured around his death? And other things. So I finally said, "guys, if Jesus was a real person, if he did the miracles that are in the Bible and was crucified as history confirms ad rose from the grave 3 days later, it changes everything." They said, "we agree, it changes everything." So we continued talking about Biblical claims, Old Testament prophecy being fulfilled with Jesus and the inability to add or takeaway from scripture. It was an eye opening conversation, very honest, very peaceful ad very challenging.
Then I did something that I never thought would have ever happened. I asked if I could pray for them. They said, "what do you mean?" I just told them that I wanted to pray for them, that I wanted to thank God for this opportunity. Then Gad said, "can I pray too?" Then I encouraged Mark to pray. After a small discussion about the ceremony of praying and clean hands, uncovered heads, and other things they agreed to pray with me. Gad cover his head with his right hand, Mark got up and washed his hands quickly then we bowed our heads and prayed. I started and prayed in English, out loud, asking God to come to these guys, asking that He continue to draw them to himself. To keep them safe in their travels and to reveal to us all the mystery that is God the Father. Then Gad prayed, in Hebrew! He prayed for a minute or two, then Mark prayed in Arabic! Each of us sensed the time ending then all three of us said Amen at the same time.
This is an amazing story that I will remember for the rest of my life. I do not know if I will ever see these guys again, probably won't, but I will pray for them. I will pray that God (the one true God) will use this particular incident to transform them. That He will draw them with the unmistakable power that only God has, to see that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. I pray that they will one day see their need for Christ.
It is amazing what we get to experience when we just walk by faith and take a few chances. Christianity is not difficult, loving and talking to people is not too hard when we just relax and let the spirit that raised Christ from the dead lead and direct us.
Be encouraged today. Seek the Father today. Walk a bit more upright today because we serve a Mighty God who loves us, Christian, Muslim or Jew, we all need Jesus. Jesus came so that none shall perish. Lets tell the world that the grave is empty and that Christ is coming back to claim His own.
God Bless!
Steve
In my normal way I struck up a conversation with these two guys. They were strangers in our new country and I just wanted to find out why they were in Mozambique and what they do for work.
Have you seen the movie Blood Diamond? These guys were real life uncut diamond traders. They were in town to meet with sellers from Zimbabwe who were smuggling diamonds across the border into central Mozambique. They said that the business is good and that the market out of Zimbabwe is huge. Which is scary considering that this will be another way that Mugabe will use to systematically destroy the lives of the Zim people. Anyway, we just started talking and in the conversation I found out that one of the guys was from Jordan and was a Muslim. The other guy was from Israel and was Jewish. The power of the dollar at work. Two guys who in general can't stand each other, working together in Mozambique. A true CNN moment.
So here is the point. During our conversation I transitioned the conversation to Jesus. We talked about the Jewish culture still waiting for the Messiah, although Gad, the Jewish guy, questioned whether Jesus was the Messiah or not. He said that maybe the Jews missed it. Incredible! Mark, the guy from Jordan, obviously not his real name but he said I would never remember his Muslim name, began to talk about the Quran and its claims of Jesus and ties to the Jewish religion. Like Abraham building Mecca and Jesus predicting Mohammed's coming. Then the fun started. We had the chance to talk about biblical authenticity and what it means for another group, Muslim, Mormon, Branch Davidians or whoever to add or takeaway from the Bible. We talked about the irrefutable claim of scripture being the most trusted document in the world, the fact that it is easier to prove its authenticity over the life of Julius Caesar. Truly an amazing conversation. Then we transitioned to the Life of Jesus. Mark absolutely believes that Jesus lived, he says because the Quran says that Jesus was a prophet it proves that he was a real person and did the miracles that the New Testament tells about. Gad said that he believes that Jesus lived, his argument was that if it was not true how then does the whole world believe in him, why is the calendar configured around his death? And other things. So I finally said, "guys, if Jesus was a real person, if he did the miracles that are in the Bible and was crucified as history confirms ad rose from the grave 3 days later, it changes everything." They said, "we agree, it changes everything." So we continued talking about Biblical claims, Old Testament prophecy being fulfilled with Jesus and the inability to add or takeaway from scripture. It was an eye opening conversation, very honest, very peaceful ad very challenging.
Then I did something that I never thought would have ever happened. I asked if I could pray for them. They said, "what do you mean?" I just told them that I wanted to pray for them, that I wanted to thank God for this opportunity. Then Gad said, "can I pray too?" Then I encouraged Mark to pray. After a small discussion about the ceremony of praying and clean hands, uncovered heads, and other things they agreed to pray with me. Gad cover his head with his right hand, Mark got up and washed his hands quickly then we bowed our heads and prayed. I started and prayed in English, out loud, asking God to come to these guys, asking that He continue to draw them to himself. To keep them safe in their travels and to reveal to us all the mystery that is God the Father. Then Gad prayed, in Hebrew! He prayed for a minute or two, then Mark prayed in Arabic! Each of us sensed the time ending then all three of us said Amen at the same time.
This is an amazing story that I will remember for the rest of my life. I do not know if I will ever see these guys again, probably won't, but I will pray for them. I will pray that God (the one true God) will use this particular incident to transform them. That He will draw them with the unmistakable power that only God has, to see that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. I pray that they will one day see their need for Christ.
It is amazing what we get to experience when we just walk by faith and take a few chances. Christianity is not difficult, loving and talking to people is not too hard when we just relax and let the spirit that raised Christ from the dead lead and direct us.
Be encouraged today. Seek the Father today. Walk a bit more upright today because we serve a Mighty God who loves us, Christian, Muslim or Jew, we all need Jesus. Jesus came so that none shall perish. Lets tell the world that the grave is empty and that Christ is coming back to claim His own.
God Bless!
Steve
posted by Sniders in Africa at 4/21/2007 09:36:00 AM
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