Kingdom Stories

A Story: Keith, and a small group of friends, were on a short term missions trip to a Muslim country. As they arrived and hung around the hotel restaurant trying to stave off jet-lag, they struck up a conversation with a few Muslim men. The men were only too happy to talk with foreign visitors; typically Muslims are very hospitable. Most anyway, because on this particular day all were, except one. As a matter of fact he would prove to be extremely antagonistic towards these Americans invading his world. "Don't even speak with these Westerners!," he said to his friends. According to him, Keith and the other Americans were probably 'Missionaries', a word in which he pronounced with great disdain. "Are you missionaries!?," he wheeled around asking Keith directly.

"What's a missionary?," Keith responded, being sure to let the kindness of his intonation equally match the negativity of this man's voice. "You know, missionaries. They work for the CIA and come over here to convince mentally handicapped people to change their religion without knowing what they are doing!," he replied with utmost confidence. With a look of incredulity, and seeing a loophole, Keith replied, "Oh! Then no, I am definitely NOT a 'missionary'!," (At least in how this man defines the term). Keith continued, "However, I do feel God sent me here today, at this very moment, to hear what He is doing in your lives, and to share with you what He is doing in mine." "Well, as long as you are not 'missionaries', then we would be happy to talk!," the man replied still a little distrustful.

They talked, and as they did so, the antagonism seemed to subside. Eventually Keith and his friends had to go to sleep. Having jet-lag they looked forward to sleeping in late. However, the next morning at 5am there came a loud knocking at Keith's door. And he, being from the northeast, put a pillow over his head and promptly instructed his polite southern roommate that if he should open the door he would suffer a slow and painful death. But being from the south, the cultural tension of southern politeness overrode threats of death - the roommate opened the door. The Antagonist was back! Swinging the door open wide, he entered the room & rounded the corner. Then, as if he had known them for years, he planted his middle-eastern posterior right on the edge of Keith's bed. "Mister, you awake?," the man asked shaking Keith. The pillow came down, "I am now". Keith frowned at his roommate. "I had a dream you must interpret for me!," the man begged. Apparently now they were best friends and confidants.

These were uncharted waters, Keith had never interpreted a dream before. "Tell me your dream," Keith said sitting up intrigued despite the interruption of sleep, but somewhat reticent. "My father was in it. He has been dead for years. I dreamt that he and I unearthed some crosses in our backyard while digging together. The crosses shone brightly with power, and made us glow. What do you think it means, Mister?," with great anticipation in his voice. "What do YOU think it means?," Keith wisely replied, (the only safe answer at the moment). "I think it means that my father is giving me his blessing to hear this message of Jesus from you, that Jesus has some power for me!," was the man's reply.

That story was told this week by a friend of mine as he taught a lesson in the Perspectives Course. As he taught, I prayed. I have heard the lesson before, and some of the stories which he shares are even my own; I half listened as he taught. I was just there to hang out with my friend Keith, a little man-cation between classes. But, to make myself useful, I prayed that God would give me an encouraging word for someone in the class, or possibly for the class as a whole. I closed my eyes and an image came of a little girl with a screen in front of her. The screen was filled with a disturbing loud static. After a few moments the girl reached out and touched the screen. As she did, a pleasant image came into focus, the noise subsided. Then I got a sense of peaceful water.

Keith ended his class, and I was not called on to give any sort of word to anyone (I figured if God would like me to share this with the class, He would make it painfully clear). It seemed that my little vision was not meant to be shared, and to be honest, I could not tell if I were making it up anyway. Fine by me, I am not always that comfortable sharing these things out in the open anyway - don't want to sound like a kook. People started to gather in small circles and talk about what they had learned. And it was then that a 27 year old girl turned to me and asked a question about Indonesia, where I had served for years. She was attractive, and obviously well educated, but there was something awry in her demeanor. I couldn't put my finger on it.

In the course of conversation, I found that her husband, a youth pastor who had struggled with a chemical imbalance, had 'recently' taken his own life. I asked her when it had happened. Her response was, "Well, this is the 22nd...it is three months to the day." Which explained very clearly why this girl had a distant, and almost foggy, stare about her. I expressed my empathy touching her arm to redirect her gaze back at me since I realized God did have a plan for my small vision. I said, "I am so sorry to hear about your husband and your pain, and it is so recent. I imagine you are going through so much..." She seemed to be trying to take it well. Commendable. But you could tell she was a bit shell-shocked. I then explained that the Holy Spirit may have some encouragement for her. I told her of my vision and asked if it made sense to her. She said, "Ya, that makes sense and means a lot." I then asked that seven word question which gives many of us hives, "Can I pray for you right now?" "Yes, please do," she said. I did, she cried. More direction and other things were uncovered as we prayed and talked. Eventually, we said our goodbyes, and I left.

She was not 'complete' by that prayer, but God had placed someone in her life who took a small risk to ask Him what to share, and with whom. He spoke. She, as a result, walked away a little clearer, a little more hopeful, with a little more direction, and reminded that Jesus loves her, and is walking with her. A complete stranger was given an encouraging word for her - her static would cease, clarity, and peace will come. Keith's middle eastern friend heard about Jesus because his southern roommate couldn't muster the rudeness of a Northerner. If we look at our day with expectation. Wanting and believing the Kingdom of God can and will break through, there are stories to tell - Jesus will use us. Do you want stories? Pray God will use you in a kingdom way today and listen for direction. And when the opportunity arises, chase the fear out of your heart by replacing it with a deep love for the person God has led you to minister love and grace to.