Lost

Breathe

Michael W Smith

This is the air I breathe...

Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread...

Your very word spoken to me.

And I I'm desperate for you

And I I'm lost without you

It was a muggy summer evening. We were driving through an isolated stretch in the middle of Saskatchewan when we heard a community announcement on the radio about a lost puppy. The owner was desperate. And recently I spotted this sign at several major intersections about a lost dog. Well, I do hope they found their pets. People get very attached to their dogs. People also lose their way...they haven't found the loving Heavenly Father who is waiting for them. We all have a need to belong.

Many Muslims emigrate to the West to get away from repressive or corrupt governments. Such was the case with Asif. Although he had a good position in a company, he was being harassed by authorities for his lifestyle. Asif was severely punished for the alcohol that was found in his home. After he lost hope that anything would improve, he took his family and escaped across the desert to a neighboring country. It was there that he tasted greater freedom to ask questions about God. People like these aren't interested in challenging Christianity. They're simply done with religion and wander around looking for truth. After arriving in Canada, Asif tried fitting into a church but that didn't work out. His search for God seemed to wither and die. He is now left empty.

Farzana is formulating her own religion. She says, "I'm a no-name brand' when it comes to religion. She was tired of religious leaders telling her what she was not allowed to do. She'd be in trouble back home with her views. There are many just like her in the West who don't want conservative Islamic practices imposed on them. We've seen a growing number of atheists as a result of atrocities in the Muslim world or because of unfulfilled dreams during Arab Spring. The Iranian Revolution triggered an increased focus on conservative Islam but also a growing disillusionment. On the surface it looks like all is going well for Farzana. She seems like a stellar person. Recently we had an opportunity to give her an overview of God's message to the world...to her. She needs Jesus to find a true spiritual home.

Ayaan, a Somali writer, views herself a transformer of Islam. She sets 5 impossible conditions for reform in Islam in her latest book Heretic. Disillusioned activists and reformers like her may have political answers but nothing for the needs of the soul.

Jesus didn't dwell on the social ills of his day as much as on the underlying spiritual needs of people. "He came to find the lost people and save them."(Luke 19:10) and "...to give them a rich and satisfying life." If we get bogged down with discussing peripheral issues, we will probably miss an opportunity to share like Jesus did. So let's keep on loving Muslims and sharing Jesus. These friends are not lost to God. Praise God, there has been a rapid increase of Muslim background believers in churches.

Dear Jesus, thank you for  bringing hope and meaning to the world. I long to share this with the 'lost' people in my world. Amen

Got Compassion?

"But God said to Jonah, “You have been concerned about this vine...But Nineveh has more than one hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left... Should I not be concerned about that great city?” Jonah 4:10&11.

Jonah received the message from God to warn Nineveh (across from modern day Mosul, Iraq) of impending judgement. They were Israel’s worst enemies and terrorists of the day. Jonah ran away and set sail in the opposite direction.  In the midst of  a vicious storm each sailor desperately started calling on his own god. Jonah said, “It’s my fault, throw me overboard.” Mercifully God sent a whale to swallow Jonah whole! Inside the belly, he made things right with God. After 3 days and 3 nights the whale puked him back on shore. Now Jonah was ready to deliver the message--“In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed.” But the king did a 180, Nineveh repented and turned from their wicked ways. God had compassion on them and gave them a 2^nd chance. Jonah was furious at God. “I knew it. You would relent and not destroy them.” Zero compassion. He sulked. God lectured him “You are concerned about the vine…but not about these people?”

I often receive emails listing evil things Muslims have done. The ones that go around the world and are accepted as gospel truth. Its like, “Ed, don’t you get it?” Unfortunately they create fear and dislike of Muslims and result in reluctance to befriend them. These messages do nothing to encourage compassion and love.

Nasser and his mother and siblings had to flee to a nearby country where corruption was common. Eventually they landed in Canada when he was a teenager. He had no male role model showing him what was right or wrong. After high school, he got his learner’s license but failed the road test several times. In frigid winter weather his family depended on him to take them shopping and to appointments. I recently reconnected with Nasser. He nervously begged me to accompany him to court because he got caught for driving with only a learner's license and for speeding. He knew he was in deeeeep trouble. I picked him up and waited for his turn. The magistrate peered at him and explained these were very serious offences.  Nasser lamely explained that he hadn't gotten around to retaking the test but planned to do so asap. The magistrate was quiet for a moment and then graciously reduced his substantial fines to half and offered him to pay in monthly payments. Nasser was so relieved. The magistrate showed him mercy that he didn't deserve. I was able to come alongside this young man and help in a small way. Doesn't your heart go out to him? 

Many refugees who come here have been in survival mode for a long time. Many fled war or corrupt regimes and injustices of every kind. They come not used to rules. Some, like Nasser, need gentle reminders of what is right and wrong. I'm not a policeman or an investigator but a representative of Jesus. I want Nasser to know Jesus and experience his compassion.

Melt my heart, O God

Make it ever true

Melt my heart, O God

May I be like you.

Amen.

Beyond Felt Needs

"...they lowered the sick man on the mat down into the crowd., right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Young man, your sins are forgiven." Luke 5:19&20.

The paralytic man's friends had compassion on him. They heard Jesus was in the area so decided to take him to Jesus. They were totally convinced that he would heal their friend. Only problem how to get to Jesus because of the huge crowd blocking the entrance. What a creative way of getting through by tearing up the roof!! The paralytic man not only got healing for his body but also for his soul. "The man...jumped to his feet, picked up his mat, and went home praising God."

Meeting felt needs gives me a platform to explore the potential for a spiritual ministry. Frequently God connects us with Muslims who have a felt need but more than that have spiritual capacity. Such was the case with a Saudi student needing help with English. At the very first meeting during 'Meet and Greet' Asif offered that "I'm reading a book on 'Bill' or 'Billy' or something like that." "You mean Billy Graham?" "Yes!", my friend answered. I knew where to take that. And we shared with him about the life and message of Billy Graham. We also prayed for his felt need of healing for his bumpy marriage.

Some time ago we connected with a Muslim researcher from a limited access nation. Iman lived in a boarding house where the main menu seemed to be pasta. When we had him over for dinner, he ate the delicious salmon meal that my wife prepared and even asked to take the leftovers home! Iman wasn't here long but long enough for him to remember our friendship. Some time later a friend of his family also came as a student. She came with a spiritual capacity. We have hope that not only Karima but others in her family will receive Jesus.

Many Christians are involved with meeting felt needs of refugees. Depending on the age and ability, it takes about five years for refugees to get past being overwhelmed with the settlement process and are empowered to move forward to getting established.

So, what do we do when there are no evident felt needs? How do we even make contact with Muslims who are established and doing well? With those whom we helped earlier, its easier to maintain contact from time to time. But generally new immigrants trying to get established are super busy with working more than one job and often more than 40 hrs. a week.

To move beyond felt needs takes prayer and being sensitive to where the Holy Spirit sends us. It's paramount that we are intentional--to not only meet the physical needs but also explore the spiritual needs. I heard recently that a Muslim leader was influencing the direction of a program by demanding that there be no 'God talk'. Being convinced that I'm not in a cultural exchange program, I won't allow Muslims to have the last word. Like the friends of the paralytic man, I too want to take my new friends to Jesus.

Dear Jesus, you set the example of not only meeting felt needs but also dealing with spiritual needs. Please set our friends free from their bondage. Amen.