20 minutes later, I got a call...from Feroza! And this is what she told me: "Daniel, I have 2 daughters (~ages 23 and 22) but 10 years ago I also had a son. In 1999, my son died, but when I met you today, I felt like Allah had given me back the son that died. You are like my son now." She was overjoyed that we had met each other...and I couldn't believe it.
After only 30 minutes, this woman had accepted me as a son (I hope you can grasp how really wild that is...). And the more I think about it - the more I like that idea. Because it would be pretty culturally infeasible/inappropriate for me to have much of a relationship with Feroza under any other circumstances than if I was a part of her family. But as her son, I'm freed up to love her as though she was my own mother.
Wednesday morning, I looked for some Bengali Bibles online, and hopefully they'll be coming very soon. May this be the start of a whole movement of Bengalis being invited into the kingdom. Because I believe that Feloza is a woman of peace, and I believe that she's going to be a person that impacts the lives of other Bengalis all around the Buford Highway area.
When I got home Monday night, I just felt so humbled that I had gotten to be a part of the Kingdom of God like that. It wasn't hard, really - just taking a few talking points from a couple of Carl's CDs and praying that I would meet some Muslims and get to do likewise.
Humbled that I'm even getting invited to this Jesus party, and thanks for letting me share....
Daniel
"May I boast only in the cross of Christ"
Friday, April 2, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Muslims, Burger King, and Jesus Part II
Turns out Feroza has been in the US for over 20 years. It's been over 11 years since she's been back to Bangladesh, in part because she's actually a Muslim woman who has been divorced. Talk about shame...I was able to just be very empathetic to her pain at this point.
In the spirit of Carl M., I decided that that was a good point to start talking about Jesus (Issa), at which point the conversation took on an interesting twist. This newfound Muslim friend of mine told me that just like Jesus was my God, that Muhammed was hers. I had never heard this before, so I told her 'did you know that the Qur'an seems to say that Muhammed wasn't even sure where he was going (Surah 46:9)? If he was god, do you think he would know the way to heaven?' The fact that I had read the Qur'an and had respectfully asked her such an insightful question was mildly shocking to her again, but I kind of regretted the question after having asked it....and needed to change courses (fast). Even though the question could have been interpreted as a slam on Muhammed (not intentional), she saw that my demeanor was one of an inquisitive peacemaker, and instead was just even more impressed that I could speak eloquently about the Qur'an. (thank you, Jesus, for saving that situation)
At this point, I just said "Feroza, can I pray for you? (Carl M. asks to do this with every Muslim he meets; I like it.) I'd like pray for God's favor, revelation, and blessing to fall upon you." "Yes, you may pray" she said.
So there in the Burger King booth, I prayed a fairly simple prayer that God would reveal Himself to her, this Bangladeshi woman who had children almost my age. When I opened my eyes, I looked up at her - to see a face full of tears. At this point, Feroza's whole complexion had changed. While the tears flowed down her face, she told me of all the difficulties of being a single Muslim woman in a workplace that seems to show mild discrimination towards Muslims, about how much guilt and shame she's felt, about how hard life has been, and all sorts of stuff. I silently prayed that I would exhibit the face, emotions, and body language of my Abba father towards her. Within 15 seconds, my own eyes started to well up with tears. "God loves you, Feroza, and He wants to be near to you" was all I could think to say.
She then started to get excited. "Daniel, while you were praying, I felt this very good burning sensation in my stomach." (That's what I'm talking about! When Keter talks to people, he oftentimes asks them if they feel things in their gut...in this case, I didn't even need to ask! =))
"Feroza, that's the spirit of God - his 'Ruhallah' - confirming it within you that He loves you and wants to be near you." (WOW!)
Yes, the Holy Spirit was in that place, you guys. The air was thick with Him....and I love it when that happens.
Feeling a little bit giddy at this point, and really sensing the Spirit at work in that Burger King, I decided to keep moving forward. "Feroza, I would like to buy you a gift - I would like to buy you a Bengali Injeel. Would you like to receive an Injeel?" (Injeel = Bible)
"Yes, I would!" she said "And, would you like for me to teach you how to study it?" "Yes, I would!" she said (Oh boy!)
Turns out Feroza has another Bengali Muslim man named Sam who lives in her same home, and then she invited me to come to her house very soon and start teaching her to study the Injeel. And we're going to give Sam one also; she thought that would be a good idea =)
Got her cellphone number...and then she was leaving....but the story wasn't over yet....
(to be continued tomorrow....)
(End of Part II)
In the spirit of Carl M., I decided that that was a good point to start talking about Jesus (Issa), at which point the conversation took on an interesting twist. This newfound Muslim friend of mine told me that just like Jesus was my God, that Muhammed was hers. I had never heard this before, so I told her 'did you know that the Qur'an seems to say that Muhammed wasn't even sure where he was going (Surah 46:9)? If he was god, do you think he would know the way to heaven?' The fact that I had read the Qur'an and had respectfully asked her such an insightful question was mildly shocking to her again, but I kind of regretted the question after having asked it....and needed to change courses (fast). Even though the question could have been interpreted as a slam on Muhammed (not intentional), she saw that my demeanor was one of an inquisitive peacemaker, and instead was just even more impressed that I could speak eloquently about the Qur'an. (thank you, Jesus, for saving that situation)
At this point, I just said "Feroza, can I pray for you? (Carl M. asks to do this with every Muslim he meets; I like it.) I'd like pray for God's favor, revelation, and blessing to fall upon you." "Yes, you may pray" she said.
So there in the Burger King booth, I prayed a fairly simple prayer that God would reveal Himself to her, this Bangladeshi woman who had children almost my age. When I opened my eyes, I looked up at her - to see a face full of tears. At this point, Feroza's whole complexion had changed. While the tears flowed down her face, she told me of all the difficulties of being a single Muslim woman in a workplace that seems to show mild discrimination towards Muslims, about how much guilt and shame she's felt, about how hard life has been, and all sorts of stuff. I silently prayed that I would exhibit the face, emotions, and body language of my Abba father towards her. Within 15 seconds, my own eyes started to well up with tears. "God loves you, Feroza, and He wants to be near to you" was all I could think to say.
She then started to get excited. "Daniel, while you were praying, I felt this very good burning sensation in my stomach." (That's what I'm talking about! When Keter talks to people, he oftentimes asks them if they feel things in their gut...in this case, I didn't even need to ask! =))
"Feroza, that's the spirit of God - his 'Ruhallah' - confirming it within you that He loves you and wants to be near you." (WOW!)
Yes, the Holy Spirit was in that place, you guys. The air was thick with Him....and I love it when that happens.
Feeling a little bit giddy at this point, and really sensing the Spirit at work in that Burger King, I decided to keep moving forward. "Feroza, I would like to buy you a gift - I would like to buy you a Bengali Injeel. Would you like to receive an Injeel?" (Injeel = Bible)
"Yes, I would!" she said "And, would you like for me to teach you how to study it?" "Yes, I would!" she said (Oh boy!)
Turns out Feroza has another Bengali Muslim man named Sam who lives in her same home, and then she invited me to come to her house very soon and start teaching her to study the Injeel. And we're going to give Sam one also; she thought that would be a good idea =)
Got her cellphone number...and then she was leaving....but the story wasn't over yet....
(to be continued tomorrow....)
(End of Part II)
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