Teacher and Student
I sat down to journal this morning, and found myself trying put into words all that was going on in my heart and mind. Our physical circumstances had been trying to this point: Day 4 with no electricity and Day 3 without running water. My teammates have had the most awesome attitudes, but I know that going to retrieve water from the cistern about 20 times a day is getting old.
Then things took a good turn today around 11 AM. That’s when Camilo stopped by the LIFE House.
From my front porch chair, I put down my pen, closed my journal and went to the front gate to meet him.
“Hola!” I said. “Como estas?”
“Muy bien – muy bien,” he responded.
Standing there in the last bit of a light rain, I asked him how I could help him. I noticed he had a small plastic trash bag in his hand with something in it. I couldn’t quite make it out.
“Si, yo tengo una preguntas acerca de este,” he told me.
Oh, he had some questions. He opened the bag to show me some sheets of paper on which he had written some things.
OK, I thought. This should be interesting. I’m not sure how much help I can be since my Spanish is not that good. I asked him to sit with me on the porch.
When he sat down, he opened his small trash bag and pulled out all of his Bible study worksheets and a New Testament – both given to him by the missionary Carlos on his follow-up visit with Camilo.
I quickly scanned the sheets and noticed that all the fill-in-the-blanks had answers in them except for one section. Quickly, I figured out that this was a good sign. Only one week after he had accepted Christ, he had taken the initiative to complete a Bible study on his own without anyone else’s help.
He turned to a page where there were still some blanks and asked what the section was all about. It was part of a section about what the Bible is and that there is an Old Testament and a New Testament.
As I started explaining it to him in my feeble Spanish, I asked him if he had a Bible. He showed me the New Testament and said that was all he had. To show him the difference, I went and got the one complete Spanish Bible I had bought before this trip.
I opened it to Genesis and said (in Spanish), “See, this is the beginning of the Bible. ‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.’ That’s where it all starts – with creation.”
He was nodding his head like he understood, so I continued. I quickly showed him some subtitles in Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. I stopped for a moment to show him the story of the Fall of Man and the first prophecy of Christ in Gen. 3:15. He nodded again. I told him that’s where the first sin occurred, and that sin that separated Adam from God is the same thing that separates us from God – our sin.
Pulling away from his position where he was leaning over the Bible, he sat back and began to talk.
“I realize this now,” he began. “Up until just recently, there was nothing else in my life except baseball and drinking. There was nothing else. Inside, I knew something was wrong,” he told me with a far away look in his eye.
“But a few weeks ago, when Pastor Jake and Roberto came,” he continued, referring to our baseball clinic, “I could tell that there was something different about these guys. All of them. They all seemed so happy and so full,” he said as he took all of the fingertips on his right hand and touched them against his heart. “That really got my attention.”
“One night, after a baseball clinic, I went home and tried to read some Scripture. But I felt something was telling me to pray. I just felt like I was supposed to pray. But I didn’t know exactly what to do.” He paused for a moment and moistened his lips with his tongue.
“The next day – that was the day that I talked to Jake. He told me that it was the Holy Spirit that was trying to get my attention, and that He wanted me to respond to God. When Jake talked to me, I knew that was what I needed. After he talked to me, I prayed right then.”
I couldn’t tell if there were tears in his eyes, but I definitely had them in mine by now. I never tire of hearing people tell their stories of their encounters with God.
“Now, my heart feels different. I don’t even want to live like I was before. I want to do what’s right.”
“Well, that’s because you are a different person now,” I told him. “Just like you saw that Jake and Roberto had a peace and a fullness, you now have that in here,” I said, touching my heart just like he had touched his just moments before.
“That’s true, that’s true,” Camilo responded, nodding his head.
“Now you can begin learning about God’s Word and what He wants for your life so that you can share with others,” I explained.
“You know,” Camilo started. “I am the oldest of seven kids, and I always felt the burden to care for them and to look out for them. Even now, for all these guys that I’m coaching, I feel like I should look out for them,” he said.
“I want to share this with them – all these things that you are sharing with me,” he told me. “But I don’t know as much as you do.”
At that moment, I drew a blank. Now what?
Then God gave me an idea.
“You are a good baseball player, right?” I said to him. “I played baseball in high school and I played softball for my church, but I’m not as good as you, right?”
He smiled and nodded. He knew it was true -- and I knew it, too.
“But did you get good in one day? No, it took lots of practice. Every day you practice hitting and catching and throwing. Every day – little by little, right?”
“Si, si,” he nodded while looking at me.
“It’s the same way with the Christian life. Every day, you read from God’s Word. Every day you spend time in it. Just this morning, I spent about 20 minutes reading from it.”
I could tell this was connecting with him.
“I accepted Christ when I was just a boy, and I’ve spent over 30 years now learning from God’s Word. I know a lot, but there are still things that I don’t know. Just like there are a lot of things about baseball that you know that I don’t know. Does that make sense?”
“Si, si…I understand,” he said.
“What you have to do is to make it a part of your everyday life to read the Word and to learn it. That way you understand it and help others,” I concluded.
“Muy bueno,” he told me. “I will keep reading and studying. Carlos is coming this afternoon to talk with us?”
“Yes,” I said. “He will be here at 4 PM.”
“Good,” he said. “I will be there. I am looking forward to it. And I will have some other guys there as well,” he committed to me.
I shook his strong hand and looked into his soft eyes. They seemed so hungry and so humble at the same time.
He picked up his things and his new Bible that I gave him, and he got onto his motorbike and drove away.
This is what it means to make disciples, I thought. One person at a time. Just being available and being here to answer questions. I didn’t even have to hunt him down or beg him to meet with me. He made an effort to come to my house and to ask me questions.
Then I thought back to what I was doing when he came. Just moments before Camilo showed up at my gate, I was wondering what God was doing with me here. I doubted that I could accomplish anything for God here in this place.
All at once, I found myself in an unusual position. As I sat teaching Camilo, I found I had been sitting at the feet of the Master as He taught me.
“Go into all the world and make disciples…and remember that I am with you always.” The Great Commission
Friday, September 12, 2008
DR Trip Day 1
The journey was long but we’re finally here. After a couple of flights, a quick shopping trip and fumbling around to find our own way out of the bustling city of Santo Domingo (our first major obstacle), we were able to arrive at the LIFE House on Saturday night around 9 pm.
At the house, we were met by Darlin, a high school guy that was befriended by people from Life Community on the last two trips we’ve taken to the DR. I took the keys for the house out of my backpack and Darlin offered to open up the house for us. We got past the sidewalk gate just fine. But we couldn’t find a key that worked for either of the porch gates – our second obstacle. I called Carlos the missionary in Santo Domingo and he spoke with Darlin. When he hung up the phone, Darlin took off to his house just down the street and came back with a hacksaw that he used to cut through the chain on the porch gate. Finally, we were in the house.
I reached over and flicked a light switch. But nothing happened. “Uh oh. This isn’t good,” I thought. Darlin and I checked every breaker and every switch we could find, but still nothing. By this time, it was almost 10 pm. Time to make a decision. We would spend tonight in the hotel.
In the morning, we were awakened by torrential downpours. Hurricane Ike was passing just to the north of the DR, and we were getting some serious rain. In 10-minute bursts, it would rain so hard you could hardly see one block up the street. We had a break in the weather around 9am, so we packed up and headed back to the house.
Things looked more promising in the daylight – even if it was overcast and rainy. But we still had no luck in figuring out how to get the lights on. And we didn’t have running water either. The house has storage tanks, but they require electrical pumps to get the water into the house. So we set about dipping our water out of the cistern and cleaning the house.
Amanda and Sarah worked hard to mop and clean the house and the kitchen. We worked to put away the supplies that we had bought and to tidy up the house. We were finally starting to feel settled in.
Later that evening, we went out to find some candles and batteries for our electric lantern. We came across a little store that was open – unusual around here for a Sunday. They had what we needed except for oil for our hurricane lamps. The store’s co-owner said that he could send someone around the corner to buy it for us, so I gave him some money. He told us to sit down and wait for her to return.
There on the side of the street, we sat in a makeshift circle with him, his daughter, his grandson and a friend of theirs. I struck up a conversation with them about our situation at the house. They were so hospitable. They were asking what else we needed and what we were here for. I told them that we were working with a church back in the States to start a new church in our neighborhood. They said that was good. In a few minutes, we said good-bye and headed back to the house. With lamp oil and batteries, at least we would have light tonight.
Which reminds me of why we came here in the first place. So that this place might have light. Not the house. But this town. We have come here to spread the Light in a place that has so much darkness.
With God’s help, we will do our best to share Christ with these people. We will start sharing the Bible and the light of God’s truth with these people. They are living in darkness, and we have the Light. Pray that God will use us – those of us here in the DR and all of us who are part of Life Community Church – to reach the people of Monte Plata.
by Micah Ray
At the house, we were met by Darlin, a high school guy that was befriended by people from Life Community on the last two trips we’ve taken to the DR. I took the keys for the house out of my backpack and Darlin offered to open up the house for us. We got past the sidewalk gate just fine. But we couldn’t find a key that worked for either of the porch gates – our second obstacle. I called Carlos the missionary in Santo Domingo and he spoke with Darlin. When he hung up the phone, Darlin took off to his house just down the street and came back with a hacksaw that he used to cut through the chain on the porch gate. Finally, we were in the house.
I reached over and flicked a light switch. But nothing happened. “Uh oh. This isn’t good,” I thought. Darlin and I checked every breaker and every switch we could find, but still nothing. By this time, it was almost 10 pm. Time to make a decision. We would spend tonight in the hotel.
In the morning, we were awakened by torrential downpours. Hurricane Ike was passing just to the north of the DR, and we were getting some serious rain. In 10-minute bursts, it would rain so hard you could hardly see one block up the street. We had a break in the weather around 9am, so we packed up and headed back to the house.
Things looked more promising in the daylight – even if it was overcast and rainy. But we still had no luck in figuring out how to get the lights on. And we didn’t have running water either. The house has storage tanks, but they require electrical pumps to get the water into the house. So we set about dipping our water out of the cistern and cleaning the house.
Amanda and Sarah worked hard to mop and clean the house and the kitchen. We worked to put away the supplies that we had bought and to tidy up the house. We were finally starting to feel settled in.
Later that evening, we went out to find some candles and batteries for our electric lantern. We came across a little store that was open – unusual around here for a Sunday. They had what we needed except for oil for our hurricane lamps. The store’s co-owner said that he could send someone around the corner to buy it for us, so I gave him some money. He told us to sit down and wait for her to return.
There on the side of the street, we sat in a makeshift circle with him, his daughter, his grandson and a friend of theirs. I struck up a conversation with them about our situation at the house. They were so hospitable. They were asking what else we needed and what we were here for. I told them that we were working with a church back in the States to start a new church in our neighborhood. They said that was good. In a few minutes, we said good-bye and headed back to the house. With lamp oil and batteries, at least we would have light tonight.
Which reminds me of why we came here in the first place. So that this place might have light. Not the house. But this town. We have come here to spread the Light in a place that has so much darkness.
With God’s help, we will do our best to share Christ with these people. We will start sharing the Bible and the light of God’s truth with these people. They are living in darkness, and we have the Light. Pray that God will use us – those of us here in the DR and all of us who are part of Life Community Church – to reach the people of Monte Plata.
by Micah Ray
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Last Lecture
A couple of weeks ago, I was talking to Pastor Jake, the senior pastor at my church. He had just read a book that he recommended. It was The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Maybe you've heard of it.
I read through it in just a couple of days. Wow. It was a powerful book. I was really touched by it -- especially the last chapter. Pausch, at the time of the writing of the book, was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer. The book came out of a "last lecture" that he was asked to give at Carnegie-Mellon where he was a professor. Only this hypothetical "last lecture" would really be just that. In this lecture, he recounts what was most important in his life looking back, and why he chose to live his life like he did.
I read just now that Randy died today.
I recommend that every guy read his book. It will help you remember what the real priorities should be in your life.
I read through it in just a couple of days. Wow. It was a powerful book. I was really touched by it -- especially the last chapter. Pausch, at the time of the writing of the book, was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer. The book came out of a "last lecture" that he was asked to give at Carnegie-Mellon where he was a professor. Only this hypothetical "last lecture" would really be just that. In this lecture, he recounts what was most important in his life looking back, and why he chose to live his life like he did.
I read just now that Randy died today.
I recommend that every guy read his book. It will help you remember what the real priorities should be in your life.
"And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, 'Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money.' You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, 'If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that.'" the Apostle James
For A Burst of Creativity
As I was writing for a post on my Draw What You Hear blog, I went to McNair Wilson's blog to check out what he's been doing lately and to link to it.
If you like creative stuff, you'll love his blog. If creative stuff makes you a bit squeamish, then you might want to start with some a little more mild before you head over there to check it out.
I had forgotten what a source of creative inspiration he was for me.
He is a former Disney Imagineer (cool), author, actor, director and creative consultant (very cool). He is an awesome and powerful speaker.
His blog delves into all sorts of things creative -- especially journaling. He's the one I credit with taking my journaling to a whole new level. He gave me some great advice in a couple of conversations at the writers conference in 2006, and we've had some email conversations after the conference.
If you like creative stuff, you'll love his blog. If creative stuff makes you a bit squeamish, then you might want to start with some a little more mild before you head over there to check it out.
I had forgotten what a source of creative inspiration he was for me.
He is a former Disney Imagineer (cool), author, actor, director and creative consultant (very cool). He is an awesome and powerful speaker.
His blog delves into all sorts of things creative -- especially journaling. He's the one I credit with taking my journaling to a whole new level. He gave me some great advice in a couple of conversations at the writers conference in 2006, and we've had some email conversations after the conference.
New Blog for Draw What You Hear
For those of you who are taking my class -- or for those of you who wish you could take my class but you can't so you just want to get the condensed online version -- you can check out my newest blog where I'll post the summary of each class.
Also, from time to time, I'll post other tips or thoughts about using graphical elements in your notes.
Or I might post a link to a good article on visual notes.
Or I might post a picture of someone else's notes.
Or I might...
Well, you get the point. Check it out when you get a chance. It's http://drawwhatyouhear.blogspot.com.
And leave me a comment if you'd like.
Also, from time to time, I'll post other tips or thoughts about using graphical elements in your notes.
Or I might post a link to a good article on visual notes.
Or I might post a picture of someone else's notes.
Or I might...
Well, you get the point. Check it out when you get a chance. It's http://drawwhatyouhear.blogspot.com.
And leave me a comment if you'd like.
Micah Ray
Monday, July 21, 2008
Draw What You Hear - July 23
Do you see pictures or images when you are listening to a sermon or a talk? Do you find yourself doodling when you are taking notes? Have you ever thought that there must be a better way to take notes.
This Wednesday, July 23, I'll be offering a class called "Draw What You Hear."
I know that I've talked to several people over the last few months about my journaling techniques and my note-taking techniques that I use during sermons and lectures. And I know that I have promised to teach a class about how to use these techniques.
Well, now's the time.
I'll be teaching the class for the next four weeks at Life Community Church. I'd love to have you join me, and learn how to use the skills and talents God gave you to make the most of your note-taking.
Let me know if you plan to come. Or just show up. We'll have fun exploring the world of graphic note-taking. See you there!
This Wednesday, July 23, I'll be offering a class called "Draw What You Hear."
I know that I've talked to several people over the last few months about my journaling techniques and my note-taking techniques that I use during sermons and lectures. And I know that I have promised to teach a class about how to use these techniques.
Well, now's the time.
I'll be teaching the class for the next four weeks at Life Community Church. I'd love to have you join me, and learn how to use the skills and talents God gave you to make the most of your note-taking.
Let me know if you plan to come. Or just show up. We'll have fun exploring the world of graphic note-taking. See you there!
Friday, June 27, 2008
A Glimpse of The New Earth
I just got back last night from a three-day trip with Hannah’s dance troupe. They went to do some volunteer work for a ministry to the poor people of the Appalachian Mountains. We stayed at a beautiful family campground called Cherokee Cove. The following is something that caught my attention on Monday night, June 23.
* * * * * * *
It was a long day of travel, and when we finally arrived, we had to hurriedly set up our campsite. Then we were off to a wonderful dinner in the conference center / mess hall of the Cherokee Cove campground. There’s nothing like carrying your camping gear down a 35-degree incline, setting it all up and then hiking a half-mile back up that incline to work up an appetite. Fortunately for us, the campground manager was also a former chef and restaurant owner.
Since it didn’t work out for the girls to perform their ballet piece for the camp attendees, their leader decided to allow one of the dance instructors to perform solo for the crowd after dinner. Joy performed a ballet dance to the song “I Will Lift My Eyes.” Words cannot express the beauty, simplicity and worship that characterized that performance. The delicate movement of her hands toward the wood-paneled ceiling, the sweet smile on her face, the extension of her legs so gracefully before and behind her as she was gliding across the makeshift stage – it was also beautiful and appropriate for the words of the song.
As I looked around the room from my position in the back, I could see the smiles on people’s faces and the tears forming little streams across their cheeks. Little girls on the front row were entranced as they watched one of their heroes perform so confidently for her audience. Mothers wiped tears from the corners of their eyes as they thought about the future of their daughters and their dreams and aspirations for them as future women. Fathers welled up with pride to think that their daughter could be a dancer like that someday. And you could tell that almost everyone there was transported to a place where they realized that lifting our eyes to our Maker will lead us to a place where our help will draw near to us in our times of trouble. And for that and for Him, we worshipped together. The gentle swishing of Joy’s body across the stage could easily have been mistaken for the gentle wind of God’s Holy Spirit as it descended on that place. His presence was almost palpable.
It was about halfway through the first chorus of the song that I suddenly had a glimpse of what the New Earth will be like. I could see our little crowd – and maybe many more – gathered in a beautiful place to see one of God’s children dancing in worship to a song written for His praise and glory. I envisioned all of us worshipping together as we thought of the One who redeemed us and was worthy of our praise. I imagined that the Savior Himself might show up for such a performance and grace us with His presence to receive the praise and honor He is due. I felt the warm anticipation well up in my chest as I thought about that wonderful day when we will worship in that wonderful place – together with Him and with each other.
All of this was going through my mind and heart when I was suddenly distracted by someone making their way through the doorway to my right. As a reflex, I glanced over to see who it was.
It was a mother of one of the dancers making her way toward an open spot just in front of me, pushing her son Jordan in a wheelchair. He was lying back at a 45-degree angle, his small, soft hands drawn up in his lap, his slender legs crossed, his head and its fine brown hair leaning back against the headrest, his eyes fixed on a nonexistent point far away in the distance.
I turned back to watch Joy continue to dance.
When I looked back at these two new audience members near me, Jordan's mother pushed him up close to the open spot where she could look over him to see ballet of worship. Leaning against the edge of the staircase landing, her left hand found its way over to her son, and lovingly, she traced her fingertips through the fine strands of the hair on his head. With the strong sound of the music swells and with his mother’s hand on his head, his hand suddenly lifted at an awkward angle and drew quick lines through the air above his body, a stark contrast to the smooth, controlled and graceful movements in the ballet dancer that I could see just beyond him. Then his little hand came to rest in his lap again.
I turned back to watch Joy continue to glide across the open space with such ease and in a spirit of uplifting worship.
“Only there won’t be any of this.”
That was the thought that shot through my mind as I stood there in the back of a small mountaintop conference center.
Just moments before I had a wonderful picture painted for me of some of things that will be a part of the New Earth. And while I was standing there enjoying that picture and anticipating that day, God added a few more brushstrokes to that painting.
He reminded me of what will not be in Heaven or on the New Earth.
There will not be any more physical illnesses.
There will not be any diseases that rob people of the ability to function as God intended.
There will not be people who cannot walk.
There will not be any deformed hands or feet.
There will not be any wheelchairs.
Heaven and the New Earth will be filled with healthy bodies, sound minds and worshipful hearts as we join to work for and offer praises to the One who redeemed us.
We will enjoy eternal blessings and shed these broken bodies for new ones. And it will all be possible because His body was broken for us.
When we all get there to worship together, it will be a glorious scene to behold and to enjoy. In that new and wonderful place, I can’t imagine what it will be like to see Joy dance in worship.
Better yet, I can’t wait to see Jordan dance.
* * * * * * *
It was a long day of travel, and when we finally arrived, we had to hurriedly set up our campsite. Then we were off to a wonderful dinner in the conference center / mess hall of the Cherokee Cove campground. There’s nothing like carrying your camping gear down a 35-degree incline, setting it all up and then hiking a half-mile back up that incline to work up an appetite. Fortunately for us, the campground manager was also a former chef and restaurant owner.
Since it didn’t work out for the girls to perform their ballet piece for the camp attendees, their leader decided to allow one of the dance instructors to perform solo for the crowd after dinner. Joy performed a ballet dance to the song “I Will Lift My Eyes.” Words cannot express the beauty, simplicity and worship that characterized that performance. The delicate movement of her hands toward the wood-paneled ceiling, the sweet smile on her face, the extension of her legs so gracefully before and behind her as she was gliding across the makeshift stage – it was also beautiful and appropriate for the words of the song.
As I looked around the room from my position in the back, I could see the smiles on people’s faces and the tears forming little streams across their cheeks. Little girls on the front row were entranced as they watched one of their heroes perform so confidently for her audience. Mothers wiped tears from the corners of their eyes as they thought about the future of their daughters and their dreams and aspirations for them as future women. Fathers welled up with pride to think that their daughter could be a dancer like that someday. And you could tell that almost everyone there was transported to a place where they realized that lifting our eyes to our Maker will lead us to a place where our help will draw near to us in our times of trouble. And for that and for Him, we worshipped together. The gentle swishing of Joy’s body across the stage could easily have been mistaken for the gentle wind of God’s Holy Spirit as it descended on that place. His presence was almost palpable.
It was about halfway through the first chorus of the song that I suddenly had a glimpse of what the New Earth will be like. I could see our little crowd – and maybe many more – gathered in a beautiful place to see one of God’s children dancing in worship to a song written for His praise and glory. I envisioned all of us worshipping together as we thought of the One who redeemed us and was worthy of our praise. I imagined that the Savior Himself might show up for such a performance and grace us with His presence to receive the praise and honor He is due. I felt the warm anticipation well up in my chest as I thought about that wonderful day when we will worship in that wonderful place – together with Him and with each other.
All of this was going through my mind and heart when I was suddenly distracted by someone making their way through the doorway to my right. As a reflex, I glanced over to see who it was.
It was a mother of one of the dancers making her way toward an open spot just in front of me, pushing her son Jordan in a wheelchair. He was lying back at a 45-degree angle, his small, soft hands drawn up in his lap, his slender legs crossed, his head and its fine brown hair leaning back against the headrest, his eyes fixed on a nonexistent point far away in the distance.
I turned back to watch Joy continue to dance.
When I looked back at these two new audience members near me, Jordan's mother pushed him up close to the open spot where she could look over him to see ballet of worship. Leaning against the edge of the staircase landing, her left hand found its way over to her son, and lovingly, she traced her fingertips through the fine strands of the hair on his head. With the strong sound of the music swells and with his mother’s hand on his head, his hand suddenly lifted at an awkward angle and drew quick lines through the air above his body, a stark contrast to the smooth, controlled and graceful movements in the ballet dancer that I could see just beyond him. Then his little hand came to rest in his lap again.
I turned back to watch Joy continue to glide across the open space with such ease and in a spirit of uplifting worship.
“Only there won’t be any of this.”
That was the thought that shot through my mind as I stood there in the back of a small mountaintop conference center.
Just moments before I had a wonderful picture painted for me of some of things that will be a part of the New Earth. And while I was standing there enjoying that picture and anticipating that day, God added a few more brushstrokes to that painting.
He reminded me of what will not be in Heaven or on the New Earth.
There will not be any more physical illnesses.
There will not be any diseases that rob people of the ability to function as God intended.
There will not be people who cannot walk.
There will not be any deformed hands or feet.
There will not be any wheelchairs.
Heaven and the New Earth will be filled with healthy bodies, sound minds and worshipful hearts as we join to work for and offer praises to the One who redeemed us.
We will enjoy eternal blessings and shed these broken bodies for new ones. And it will all be possible because His body was broken for us.
When we all get there to worship together, it will be a glorious scene to behold and to enjoy. In that new and wonderful place, I can’t imagine what it will be like to see Joy dance in worship.
Better yet, I can’t wait to see Jordan dance.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
