Blessings Upon Blessings

I have just returned from a business trip in Atlanta Georgia, where I worked at a trade show most of this week. On the first night of the trade show, I had the privilege and honor to meet the precious man in the photo below. He goes by the name of HAWK, just HAWK.



As he was riding his electric scooter by my booth, the hat he was wearing caught my eye. It says "Silver Star". Having a very soft spot in my heart for every veteran who has ever stood in the face of tyranny to defend the values and freedoms represented by the flag of the United States of America, I was immediately moved to step over to him and place a hand on his shoulder and say, "THANK YOU, SIR". Tears welled in my eyes as I did so, and my voice quivered. Then, I read the brim of his hat where it said, "Gallantry In Action", and I saw his Purple Heart and Navy Cross. I thanked him again, and he said, "God Bless You" as he went his way.

We encountered one another a couple more times throughout the trade show, and the last time (shortly before this photo was taken) he told me that I had a very kind and unusual spirit. This gave me the wonderful opportunity to tell him, "The ONLY good thing in me is the Spirit of The Living God which dwells in my heart because of my faith in Jesus Christ."
Much to my delight, he said he understood and we rejoiced together about our mutual faith in the Risen Lord! (Right there in the trade show!) Well...somebody shout Amen.

Additionally, I explained to him that my heart's desire is to someday somehow be a missionary to the people of the nation of Croatia. (Yes, it just came right out.) We exchanged phone numbers and went our separate ways.

As it turns out, my friend HAWK is not only a war hero, but also the inventor of an orthopedic device that others thought could not be done, and he and his wife have a small business in Frisco, Texas. I will be contacting some people on his behalf to obtain materials to help him get started in production.

I am not sure how else the Lord will use this meeting, but he has already touched my heart with it, and I have a brand new friend - My Christian Brother HAWK.

Blessings Upon Blessings.

Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Let's Just Praise The Lord

English Class Begins Monday March 9th at 10:00 PM!
Praise the Lord! I was able to make a followup visit tonight with Ronnie, the Chinese Restaurant owner, to show him the textbook for the English course and find out if any of his people agreed to come.
He really liked the book and said it's just what they need! Ling, the waitress, was also very enthusiastic. She took the book to her husband to show him how good it was going to be. She really wants him to learn, and she has told me in the past that he hardly speaks any English at all. Her enthusiasm is very touching. She said to me, "You are very good friend". I told her it was God's love in my heart for her and her people that made me want to do it, and she acknowledged that she understood.
My heart is overwhelmed. I cannot help but believe that God is about to do something so wonderful that eye that not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Just imagine the possibilities! Ronnie, his wife, three children, his mother, his mother-in-law, Ling, her husband Peter, their two children, cousin Christine, Zao Fen, and her family, and Eric and his family, and Albert and his family all coming to know the sweet salvation we have in Christ. Oh Glory! I can hardly wait.
Here am I, send me!

Wow!

The China Sea Buffet in Arlington is the restaurant whose employees I have been trying to evangelize for the last few months by building relationships, distributing Chinese Chick tracts, giving Chinese/KJV Bibles, and sharing the gospel when possible.

The people are very very sweet and cordial, and they hunger for more information. I see the need to spend more time with them when they are not working. Well, that doesn't surprise the Lord so He's making that happen.
One of the workers asked me about a month ago if I knew where they could go to learn English, and it woke me up. I thought, "Hey! I know English. Why can't I teach them? But what is the best way?"
I looked online at the myriad of choices for courses on how to teach English to speakers of other languages and was perplexed, but God was not perplexed.
We had Mission Conference at church this week, and just as I was getting in the car to leave after service one evening, I inexplicably locked the car back up and went back inside. I had no idea why, but the Lord did. As I perused the exhibit table of Rich and Jan Godinez (missionaries to Paraguay), I noticed a colorful notebook with letters "TESL" on the front. You may be asking, What does that mean? That's right...Teaching English as a Second Language! Bam! Right between the eyes. Who wrote that book? None other than Jan Godinez, missionary to Paraguay. She wrote a Scripture-based teacher's book and student notebook with exercises and worksheets, etc. for teaching English to speakers of other languages. She sold both to me at a steep discount right then and there.
The plan of salvation is thoroughly studied throughout the course. Bam! Right between the eyes. Furthermore, she told me the best place to go online for a course to become certified as an ESL teacher. (Not that it is essential for my Chinese work, but it will certainly be a help to me to do the best job I can.)
Well, with Step One - Get the Necessary Equipment - taken care of, Step Two is to speak with Ronnie, the owner of the restaurant, to gauge the level of interest and opportunity to use the restaurant as a classroom. I dropped by the Buffet Saturday night after Mission Conference, and Ronnie made himself at home at my table. After about two hours hearing his life story and discussing Chinese history, he mentioned how he spent a year in New York (ten years ago) learning English. I said, "Funny you should mention that. I would like to teach English to Chinese people". His eyes lit up. Did I say lit up? I mean LIT UP! He said in China there is a saying, "Life is short, but education is forever". He said Chinese want to learn, and he has four people that he is fairly certain will be interested at the outset - and he will attend as well.

I have explained that it is Bible based and he understands that and the reasoning behind it. He is ecstatic and so am I. The tentative plan is for me to come in around closing time (10:00 PM) twice a week and hold class for half an hour. I will learn techniques as I teach this first group and I will be pursuing a TESL certificate as well. In addition, Jan Godinez is only a phone call away for advice, since they are currently on deputation.
(See the Godinez website: www.godinezinparaguay.com .)

Oddly enough, a different young Chinese lady at the restaurant had asked me about two weeks ago if I was a teacher. She said for some reason, she had it in her mind that I was a professional teacher. The way this has all fallen into place makes me highly suspicious that "God's up to something". :-) What a mighty God we serve! Wow!

On a personal note to Bro. Johnny Leslie in Croatia: All of the above proves Rule #3 which is, "You Never Know".

"Buddha is Idol, but Jesus is God" - Amen

Trista said, "Yes, Buddha is idol, but Jesus is God"

During a recent visit to the Chinese restaurant that I began to frequent in an attempt to win the workers to Christ, I was able to speak for a few moments with Trista, the precious little hostess with a smile that brightens everyone's day. I suspected she was already saved from past conversations about some of the gospel tracts I had given to her, but now I have a clear testimony from her. (When I quote her words below, it is by no means to make fun of her accent. Eternal God knows I dearly love these people. I simply want to convey the moment and how precious it is to hear testimony like this from someone whose first language is Chinese.


I was explaining to Trista how I want Ling (the waitress) to know who Jesus is.
Trista said to me, "In Chinese culture, very difficult. You learn at early age about Buddha. Everything Buddha." I said, "Yes, I want Ling to hear how Buddha is dead, but Jesus lives." Then Trista said the most beautiful words I had heard that day. She clearly testified, "Yes, Buddha is idol, but Jesus is God". It was so beautiful to me to hear her say that and for it to sink in to me that Trista knows Jesus. I pray she will get a strong burden for the others and become an ally in the effort to bring the gospel to them.
Amen Trista, and Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Soulwinner Spotlight - Alen Dubravec

Today's Soulwinner Spotlight is on my friend, Alen Dubravec. Upon my first arrival in Croatia in October 2006, I was pleasantly surprised to meet brother Alen, who accompanied Bro. Johnny Leslie on the two hour drive to the airport to pick me up. As soon as I saw his face, I knew the Lord was doing a work in this man's life. Later in the week, it came time to pair up and go soulwinning and Alen eagerly answered the call.
He was there again on my second arrival in 2008, and he accompanied us again. He also was faithful to pass out tracts in the town square as seen in the photos below. Alen is a faithful, kindhearted man with a desire to follow the Lord. He is a source of continual encouragement to all who know him.



Ever since that first time in 2006, Brother Alen has been a faithful soulwinning partner to Bro Johnny and/or the national pastor, Rajko Telebar. Now, within the past couple of weeks, Bro Alen has become a leader of a soulwinning team and has had the incomparable joy of leading his first convert to trust Christ while out knocking doors! Amen. Glory Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for Brother Alen's faithfulness and his desire to do what God wants every blood bought child of the living God to do - to be a witness for Him.

God Bless Brother Alen for making an eternal difference for Chirst in the country of Croatia!
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that winneth souls is wise. Prov 11:30

I am so glad to have the privilege to call this man my friend. I look forward to seeing him on my third arrival in Croatia (as the Lord provides), and seeing him in action for the Lord.

Brother Alen - Soulwinner! Amen.

Oh God, Save Ling's Soul

It is Christmas Day and I put on my best suit and took my Mandarin Chinese Tracts to my favorite Chinese Buffet. They are open on Christmas because Christmas is not a holiday they celebrate since they do not understand its significance. Its the China Sea Buffet on Hwy 360 situated halfway between my workplace and my home - about 10 minutes away.

I started eating lunch there every day about 3 months ago and. As I say grace before I eat, the curiosity of the staff has been aroused and I have been asked if I am a missionary, and if I work at a church. The staff members speak little English so a short simple answer is about all I can give. But God, who is rich in mercy, has begun to to give me His heart for these precious people. I have been able by His grace to befriend them and they have begun to attempt more detailed communications. God has now completely broken my heart to reach them for Christ's sake. I have been begging God for their precious souls for weeks now.

Recently, I ordered some nice new tracts from Chick Publications which came in on Christmas Eve - Praise the LORD. There are four different tracts, each presenting the gospel in a different way, in Mandarin Chinese.

I took some of the tracts in at lunch yesterday and the hostess took one and read it, and VOLUNTEERED to pass them out to staff so I gave her about a dozen. Her name is Trista, and she may already be saved because she knows a lot about what Jesus did, but I am not sure. Then I laid some out on my table and one of the male staff saw and asked if he could have one. Glory to God!

Today, Ling was working. She is the first one I had given other tracts to in the past, with little feedback. She is very kind and very humble, and her English is a little better than my Chinese, but not much.

I have taken my Sunday School class there for a special occasion, requesting Ling's services, and leaving a nice tip. Today, I left her a tract called THE GIFT, along with a nice tip for her Christmas gift and a note that Jesus loves her. I pray through the tracts and the generosity and the kindness and the witness that they all will come to understand why Christmas is so significant to those of us who have experienced the mercy and forgiveness that we have in Christ - In whom we have redemption, through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Dear Lord,
Please Oh God save Ling's soul. Father in heaven, she no more deserves salvation that I, but you reached down into the miry clay and rescued me from the pit, having ransomed me with your own precious blood. Oh God, please do the same for Ling. Don't let her end up in hell for all eternity. See my tears oh God and pour out your mercy upon her. Communicate to her, even though I cannot, what is the depth and beauty of your holiness and grace. Let her see the GIFT that is available to all who believe. Your word says if we go forth and weep bearing precious seed, we shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with us. Oh merciful God, all I want for Christmas is Ling's precious soul. You decided in eternity past that you wanted her soul when you knew that you would provide YOURSELF a lamb. Oh God, don't let me show up in heaven without Ling being there too. God save her, even today. Don't let my tears fall in vain.
For Christ sake.
AMEN

Thank you Lord

Thank you Lord for Bethlehem and the manger. Thank you Lord for the loaves and fishes. Thank you Lord for healing the leper and giving sight to the blind. Thank you Lord for making the lame to walk again, and THANK YOU Lord most of all for the cross where you paid for all my sin. You died that I might live and you live that I might never die! O Lord, I am unworthy, but you love me in spite of my sin.
Thank you Lord!

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.