Oct. 22, 2005 - One Perspective Away

*******************Cliff notes for: "One Perspective Away" available at post bottom**************************************

.......Do I truly believe that my actions today can influence eternity for somebody? It's a question I've never really thought about before. I guess deep down, for me the idea of influencing eternity has been relegated to others more qualified than I. The Billy Grahms, the prayer warriors, and those with special training, and a special gifting. I guess in reality I've always been more comfortable with the idea of supporting these folks in prayer and lending a helping hand when needed. But for me? Anyway aren't these actions normally big, grandiose,and spectacular? Aren't they normally backed up by months of prayer and planning How can one simple action truly influence another's eternity? Do I truly believe it can happen through me? Does my life today reflect this perspective? What are the implications? What is my responsibility?...It's alot to take in...

Anyway, another week has passed for Marla and I here in Brazil, and the days are growing warmer. Looking at the calendar, we only have one week of language school left. This reality has brought up the sometimes terrifying thought that in merely a weeks time we are supposed to be "proficient" enough in Portuguese to begin to work at our church. You've got to be kidding? Don't get me wrong we've come a long ways, and we're feeling pretty confident in certain situations. And if nothing else, we've become pretty comfortable whipping out our title of "Portuguese student" any time we get into a mix up. With ease this has served as a valid excuse for our ignorance of facts everybody else just seems to know. The day is coming soon when this title will no longer apply, but God is good, and our Portuguese is coming. Last Sunday, I understood more of the pastor's sermon than ever before and we've even been able to truly worship in Portuguese a time or two.

For me, my learning of Portuguese has been a prerequisite for really learning about Brazil. I want to learn from the people what it means to be Brazilian. As my language skills have grown I have began to ask them about their stories, how they came to Christ, things they struggle with, and things that hold their passions. Not only trying to understand what they believe, but why: the cause and effect. When we begin to understand what makes Brazilians Brazilian, then can we begin to package the truths of the Bible in ways that make sense to the people here. This education has been truly interesting. Quite naturally my quest to understand these things have started with the people who speak the best English, namely our pastor and a seminary student that attends our church. In both situations I started with one simple question: "Commo voce encontrou Cristo?" How did you find Christ? And then just listened as they began their stories.

The story of Diogo, our pastor and ECC team leader (the same guy) started when he was 15. He wasn't a believer and not even interested in God. His parents had gone through a divorce a year earlier and times were generally tough. Diogo was very rebellious and his mother had no control over him. A missionary had given him a Bible which just sat on his shelf. One day, as is often the case with teenagers, he got into a fight with his mom for cleaning his room. So in anger he slammed the door and sat in his room alone. Looking on the bookshelf he saw the Bible on top of the stack of books. With nothing else to do, he picked it up and started to read. It immediately caught his attention and afterwards he sought the missionary out who had given him the Bible. He wasn't interested in becoming a Christian, but he did want to talk about the Bible and other things. And so the two began weekly meetings that lead up to our pastor giving his heart to Christ nearly 6 years ago. The story of how Marcus, the seminary student, found Christ really started 5 years ago. He grew up in a poor family in the northern part of Brazil and eventually moved to Sao Paulo to find a job. With in a few days of moving to the city he found a job at a paint store and began to make money. He spent alot of his money of beer and cigarettes, and had no interest in God. His sister was also living in Sao Paulo and had recently accepted Christ. To make a long story short he too was given a Bible and even came to church now and then. He enjoyed reading the Bible but wasn't ready to become a Christian. One day he went to a spiritist's ceremony and was seated in a chair. Although Marcus didn't know it at the time, his sister and the friend that lead her to Christ were praying for Marcus at that very moment. The person officiating the spiritist's meeting came over to him and did a dance in front of him trying to invoke the spirit of a dead person to speak through Marcus. When the leader reached over to touch Marcus, he fell over on the ground and started to convulse. Not knowing what to think, the other people at the meeting picked the man up and helped him to the side of the circle. Meanwhile another man started to preform the same dance in front of Marcus with the exact same result. Marcus went home that night relieved nothing had happened, and soon dedicated his life to Christ. All of that only 5 years ago.

I think of how both of their stories started with a simple act. Simple acts toward angry, confused, hung-over people. I think how God intervened and how their faith grew. Then I look at them now, passionate leaders dedicating their lives to the cause of Christ. In all of this I've wondered "what is it that stands in the way of God doing this again with people who pass by our church every day?" Sometimes the task seems so daunting. What will it take to reach the teens, I mean REALLY reach the teens, who always sit in the back row at church. And what about the folks that you know come faithfully, but you're not really sure why. Surely it starts with a Billy Graham, or decades of prayer, right? In my head I know these are things God does through ordinary people. So what is it about "when the rubber hits the road" that makes me so uncomfortable. In all honesty I'm not sure. The act of giving a Bible doesn't seem so difficult. Persistence in inviting your brother to church doesn't seem so hard. And what about giving time here and there to talk with a confused teen? Are these small acts enough? Are these small acts, the only thing that stand in the way of another soul finding eternity? In these questions I realize again, in a practical way, that it isn't us who does the saving. Sometimes God just needs a mouth to speak the truths that He's been whispering for years. Sometimes God just needs a hand to distribute the scriptures to someone so that He can use His word to break strongholds and change lives. Like in the analogy that Paul uses in 1 Corinthians: we are merely the laborers in the field. Some plant, some water, and some harvest. The miracle is not in those actions, the miracle is that the seed grows. And that miracle is God's alone. (1 Cor. 3:7 It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow). If only we could know in advance which part of this process we are for those who surround us everyday. Would this inspire us to plant more, water more, or harvest more? How would my life change if I truly believed that some that surround me are only separated from the Kingdom of God by one act of love done on behalf of the Father?

"Jesus, begin to open my eyes to the reality that surrounds me everyday. Fill me with the compassion and concern for the destiny of those in my neighborhood, at my school, and at my work. My desire is to be faithful in representing you. That my shortcomings would not stand in the way of the things you desire to do, and lives you desire to change. Give me then strength, boldness, wisdom, compassion and sensitivity to be a better reflection of your likeness. And to you alone will I give glory for the things you will do. In your precious name I pray. Amen."

Marla and I continue to thank you for your prayers. Our language acquisition has been very fast, and the two of us have remained healthy. Please pray for this to continue. Pray also for wisdom as soon we will enter into phase 2 of eXtreme Walk: the ministry phase. Pray for direction in where Marla and I are to become involved, and for the work that we will be doing. On a praise note, Marla has began to meet with a young lady from our church to improve Marla's Portuguese and this lady's English (the two really have a lot in common) Pray that God would really use this new friendship. Thanks for being a part of this,
in Him,
Micah and Marla
ps. The picture, (taken while I was quite unawares) explains better than words what its like trying to communicate. I call this one "...Whats the word....?"

*******************"One Perspective Away" Cliff Notes********************************************************************
In this e-mail I wrote about how Marla and I have only 1 week left of language school, and how we don't feel confident enough yet in Portuguese to feel excited about school for us ending.
I also wrote about how my doubt about God practically using me in everyday situation could in fact be hindering His will here. I explored the implications and ramifications of this thought and finished with a prayer for strength, boldness, wisdom, compassion and sensitivity.

Prayer Requests: continued language acquisition, continued good health, and for wisdom for us and our team leader
as we'll be entering the ministry phase of eXtreme Walk in 1 weeks time.
Praises: fast language acquisition, and for a new friendship for Marla with a young lady at church
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