A great day in the House of God on Christmas Day

We had great day in the House of God on Christmas Day! The Lord blessed through the preaching of His Word. Bro Johnny Leslie, preaching in the Croatian language, did a marvelous job. God met with us!  We had a total of three services, and over 100 people in attendance over the course of the day. The photos show some of the highlights of our services.

Some of the children doing a skit for our Christmas program

The big finale - Hark the Herald Angels Sing.  Amen!

Hannah Leslie singing a special in our evening service.  She sang beautifully!

Bro Scott Holcomb singing Silent Night in English AND in Croatian. Wow.

Bro Scott Holcomb and Bro Kevin Brown playing a special in the morning service. Praise the Lord!

Special Project, Please Help:

Stjepan Juras, a kind and gracious man about 65 years old came up to us on the street today. He was happy to see us standing for Christ with our gospel signs. After he found out we were from America, he told us he has family in America, but has lost contact with them. He lives with a broken heart wanting to find his lost family members. I have his complete address and would love to help him reconnect with his loved ones. Please re-post the following or whatever you can do to assist.

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Stjepan Juras is searching for his loved ones in America. He heard they may be in the Carolinas, but really has no idea. He is about 65 years old and misses his family dearly.
If anyone in America knows the Juras family from Croatia, please contact SAM WARD through http://www.godsavecroatia.com/ for Stjepan's complete address.
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Are you quoting the King James Bible?

Many common English sayings have their origins in the King James Bible.
English speaking people have quoted the King James Bible for generations, whether they know it or not, and whether they intended to or not.

This is a small list of sayings I found in the King James Bible in my regular
reading.  I am sure there must be more that I haven't yet noticed.

Do you know of one? If so, leave it in a comment.

blind lead the blind - Matthew 15:14
drop of a bucket - Isaiah 40:15
leopard change his spots - Jeremiah 13:23
gave up the ghost - Lamentation 1:19
in the mean time - Luke 12:1
good while - Genesis 46:29
put words in his mouth - Exodus 4:15
high time - Romans 13:11
such and such - 2 Kings 6:8
heard tell  - Numbers 21:1
the other day - Judges 13:10
holier than thou  - Isaiah 65:5
used to do - Judges 14:10
now a days - 1 Samuel 25:10
played the fool - 1 Samuel 26:21
heard say - 2 Samuel 19:2
take it to his heart - 2 Samuel 19:19
the half was not told me - 1 Kings 10:7
light thing - 1 Kings 16:31
here and there - 1 Kings 20:40
his day shall come - 1 Samuel 26:10
wit's end - Psalm 107:27
hold ye your peace - 2 Kings 2:3
skin of my teeth - Job 19:20
see eye to eye - Isaiah 52:8
showers of blessing - Ezekiel 34:26
apple of his eye - Deuteronomy 32:10
salt of the earth - Matthew 5:13

Golden opportunity on the corner

Today as I was standing on my corner with a gospel message at rush hour, two older ladies with worried looks came up and one asked me if I thought there were any taxis in town.  There are none, so I let her know that and asked where they needed to go.
It turns out they had locked themselves out of their car at the nearby hospital and needed a ride across town to get another key. 
I was only too happy to oblige and this gave me a perfect opportunity to be a blessing and a witness to them, and to practice a little Croatian along the way.
Praise the Lord!

Glorious time on the streets today

We had a glorious time during "School Bus Rush" time in Cakovec today. Matthew Holcomb, Xavier Holcomb, and Josh Leslie all came out to take a bold stand for Christ. The Lord gave us good weather and PLENTY of traffic.
Hundreds and hundreds had the opportunity to read the gospel message as they drove through town, including all the high schoolers who ride all those buses in the background.
We praise the Lord for the opportunity to stand up for HIM.

Only Jesus Saves. Ye must be born again

This is Bro Scott Holcomb standing with me recently during rush hour in Čakovec, letting the whole town know, Only Jesus Saves. Ye must be born again.

Talk about Ice Cold

Croatia is a beautiful place and I love it. However, this year we apparently skipped right over fall and went straight into winter. During many recent days, I have looked at the weather on the web and seen the words "freezing fog". The photos I took on the way home from church the other day show what happens to the grass and trees when fog freezes.
So far this year we have had no snow, but we've certainly had a fair share of ice.

Redemption is in Jesus Christ, Not Santa Claus

(Originally posted Sunday, November 30, 2008)


Redemption is in Jesus Christ, Not Santa Claus

Unfortunately, even Christians in America often teach their children more about the mythical and magical Santa Claus than they do about the true and living Jesus Christ who really loves them and can really answer their prayers, and who is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him.

It breaks my heart to see how the mythical Santa has stolen so much glory and worship from our Saviour, and how he has managed to steal the hearts and imaginations of the children in America.

It breaks my heart to know that the manger scene has been outlawed in many places because it "infringes" on the rights of others, but the mythical Santa is welcome everywhere.

It breaks my heart to consider that teaching children the lie of Santa Claus can often inhibit their ability to trust in the True and Living One. How much damage is done to the faith of a child when that child realizes his faith has been misplaced and his parents have deceived him?

If a survey were to be done, I would imagine that many more children in America would be able to answer a series of questions about the myth of Santa than could answer a similar series of questions about Jesus Christ. Kids in America memorize rhymes and songs and lists having to do with the mythical Santa at an early age.

Children are taught the song,

He knows when you are sleeping

He knows when you're awake

He knows when you've been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake

Are they also taught the Scripture? Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Who is Santa trying to imitate? Whose invention is he? I remember the Scripture where one who was lifted up with pride declared, "I will be like the most High".

Children learn of Santa, who sees everything, goes everywhere, was not born and never dies, hears their requests, knows their behaviour, rewards good, punishes evil, lives in the north, and has an endless supply of whatever they need. That sounds like characteristics possessed by only one who is real - the Most High.

Santa has effectively replaced our God and Saviour in America and has done so with all subtlety, where even Bible-believing Christians think articles like this one are ridiculous.

Consider that the early years of life are a time when a young mind can be led to Christ in simple, child-like faith, but instead we make the mistake of deceiving them and leading them to Santa. What a tragedy.

For as long as I have breath, I will sing praises to the One who loved me and gave Himself for me. Santa will not get an ounce of the Lord's glory from me.

Christmas is about Christ and no one else. He is the one who came that we might have life.

Let us remember that glorious night:

Luke 2:8-14

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Let's sing praises to the One who alone is Worthy

Oh come all ye faithful

Joyful and triumphant

Oh come ye, oh come

ye to Bethlehem

Come and behold Him

Born the king of angels

Oh come let us adore Him

Oh come let us adore Him

Oh come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord

Sing choir of angels

Sing in exultation

Oh sing all ye bright hosts

Of heaven above

Glory to God all glory

in the highest

Oh come let us adore Him

Oh come let us adore Him

Oh come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord

Ye Lord we greet Thee

Born this happy morning

To Jesus to Thee

be all glory giv'n

Word of the Father

Now the flesh appearing

Oh come let us adore Him

Oh come let us adore Him

Oh come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord

Let us give ALL the glory to the One in Whom we have redemption.

A double dose of encouragement

After fighting the flu last week and feeling fairly worthless, it was good to be able to get back out on the street today. As I was preparing to hit the street, I stopped by the ATM near the grocery store where a Christian man recognized me from seeing me on the street with a gospel sign many times before, so he called out to me and wanted to talk for a few minutes and tell me how much he loves to see someone lifting up the word of God on the street. He also said his teenage son brought home a gospel tract I had given him and he thanked me for reaching out to his son with the gospel message.

My next stop was the sign shop where I needed to pick up three new signs. The owner of the shop told me that he knows for a fact many people take notice of the signs during rush hour. He enthusiastically said the times he has left one of my signs standing in his lobby he has received all kinds of comments about it. He said people remember seeing them and are amazed that anyone has the courage and faith to stand that way. He reminded me that no one has ever seen anything like this in Croatia before, so it is amazing to them.

Well, we all know that God gives the courage and all the glory goes to Him. But, what a blessing it is to have these two words of encouragement today just before hitting the streets again. God knows exactly what we need when we need it.

Praise His holy name.

Andy Rooney - Heaven or Hell?

Anytime a famous person's death is published in the news, the first thought I have is, Did their eternal soul go to heaven or hell?

Admittedly, I can only know that I am saved and going to heaven and I cannot possibly know about anyone else.

However, I do know from the Bible that strong intellect, fame, and business success won't take anyone to heaven.

The only One who can save is Jesus Christ. By faith in Him you can be saved, guaranteeing you a place in heaven for all eternity, regardless of your popularity, talent, or wealth.

Did Andy Rooney ever place his faith for salvation in Jesus Christ and Him alone? Only he and God know that. Although apparently a gifted writer, the only thing that matters to Andy Rooney today is his relationship with Jesus Christ.

This is what the Bible says about how to be saved:

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Ro 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Ro 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Ac 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ...

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Building a reputation as a great writer and making a mark on a worldly profession doesn't purchase a place in heaven.

God is not impressed with worldly success. God is not impressed with great wealth or talent.

God sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay for Andy Rooney's sins. God offered him the free gift of eternal life, if only he would believe on Jesus Christ and call out to Him for salvation. God gave him 92 years to accept the free gift of eternal life.

Andy Rooney was quoted saying he was an atheist, but God's mercy is so great that if Andy Rooney turned to him in faith even in the last moment of his life, God would have saved his soul.

Did he ever accept Him? If not, it is eternally too late for him.  One thing is certain. Andy Rooney is not an atheist anymore.

It's too late for him, but it's not yet too late for you.

On the streets of Varazdin

Here is about 100 good reasons to stand up for Christ in Varazdin.
We saw at least 1,000 of these young people today as they prepared to board buses. We are doing a big push here this week, hoping to see the Word of God make an
impact on the hearts of these precious people.

The Gospel in Romanian (Evanghelia în limba română)

The Gospel in Romanian (Evanghelia în limba română)

ISUS CRISTOS SALVATORUL

În primul rând, omul trebuie să creadă că există Un Adevărat şi Real Dumnezeu. Iar în al doilea rând, că Dumnezeu poate face orice pentru el aşa cum se scrie în Biblie: că a făcut şi face tot binele pentru om. Numai Dumnezeul Acela care salvează sufletele este Dumnezeul Bibliei. Si numele Salvatorului este Domnul Isus Cristos. Biblia spune în Fapte 4:12 "Nici nu este salvare în nimeni altul; fiindcă nu este nici un alt nume sub cer, dat printre oameni, prin care noi trebuie să fim salvaţi."
O persoană este salvată numai punându-şi încrederea completă în ISUS CRISTOS, deoarece nimic altceva nu o face ca să ajungă în Rai. Şi încrederea aceasta este adevărata credinţă. Credinţa adevărată trebuie să vină, nu din minte, ci din inimă. Iubeşti şi te încrezi în soţia ta sau în soţul tău, cu mintea sau cu inima?
Plato, Aristotel sau Einstein au putut gândi numai atât de departe cât mintea lor finită le-a putut permite. Nu au putut rezolva probleme ale acestei vieţi: dureri, suferinţe, boli, foamete, moarte.

TOŢI SUNT PĂCĂTOŞI
Ai păcătuit vreodată? Doar o dată? Doar o minciună? Doar o hoţie sau un furt? O singură dată şi este destul, pentru că Dumnezeu spune în Romani 3:23, "Fiindcă toţi au păcătuit şi nu ajung la gloria lui Dumnezeu;". Un păcătos salvat are păcatele iertate prin credinţa în ISUS, iar un păcătos nesalvat rămâne cu păcatele asupra sa atunci când moare. Nimeni nu poate intra în Rai cu păcatele neiertate, căci nimic necurat nu poate intra acolo.
Deci, problema este ce trebuie făcut că să scapi de pedeapsă pentru păcatele tale?
Se adună şi se înmulţesc zi de zi păcatele tale! Sunt prea multe ca să ţi le mai poţi reaminti! Ştii zicala: "Atunci ce este de făcut?" Isus ne spune în Matei 11:28, "Veniţi la mine toţi cei ce osteniţi şi sunteţi greu împovăraţi, şi eu vă voi da odihnă." Poţi spune aceasta la cineva? Nu? E drept! Numai ISUS CRISTOS poate.
În venele tale şi ale mele curge sângele tatălui nostru, Adam. Deci, suntem născuţi păcătoşi fiindcă Biblia spune în Romani 5:12, "Din această cauză, aşa cum printr-un singur om a intrat păcatul în lume şi moartea prin păcat; şi astfel moartea a trecut asupra tuturor oamenilor, pentru că toţi au păcătuit;". Tu ştii că eşti vinovat şi un păcătos şi ştii că vei muri.
Sângele nostru nu este bun şi nu este curat, deoarece tot Biblia spune în Ezechiel 16:6, "Atunci eu am trecut pe lângă tine, te-am văzut tăvălit în sângele tău, şi am zis: Trăieşte chiar şi în sângele tău!", şi de aceea vom muri.

SINGURA SOLUŢIE
ISUS CRISTOS nu a fost conceput de OM, pe aceeaşi cale cum am fost concepuţi tu şi eu. Biblia spune despre Maria în Matei 1:20b, "fiindcă ce a fost conceput în ea este din Duhul Sfânt." Aceasta înseamnă că ISUS, ca OM, a avut ca tată pe Dumnezeu. El a avut în venele sale propriul sânge al lui Dumnezeu.
Tot Biblia ne mai spune în Evrei 9:22a, "şi fără vărsare de sânge nu este iertare." Sângele nostru este poluat sau întinat şi din cauza aceasta nu poate îndepărta păcatele noastre. Numai sângele lui ISUS poate curăţi păcatele tale, fiindcă numai sângele Lui este fără păcat sau cu adevărat curat. Sângele Lui poate curăţi păcatele tale; chiar de ar fi atât de multe încât ar acoperi pământul de la est la vest. Şi Dumnezeu a zis că nu Îşi va mai aminti de ele. Nu este aceasta o veste minunată? Nu doreşti tu aceasta?

SINGURUL PĂCA
Acum citeşte următoarele! Oamenii nu merg în iad pentru păcatele lor! Ei merg în iad datorită faptului că Îl neagă, adică, Îl resping pe ISUS CRISTOS ca Singurul lor urtător de păcate, sau Singurul lor Înlocuitor, Singurul care a murit în locul lor şi pentru păcatele lor. Biblia ne spune în Ioan 3:18,"Cine îl crede pe el, nu este condamnat; dar cine nu crede este deja condamnat, petru că nu a crezut în numele singurului-născut Fiu al lui Dumnezeu."
Isus a ştiut cât de multe păcate ai săvârşit, dar te-a iubit pe tine şi a murit pentru tine. A primi salvarea este ceva supranatural petrecut între tine şi Dumnezeu. Omul nu are nimic de făcut sau de adăugat la aceasta; doar să creadă! Nu doreşti chiar acum să te rogi lui Dumnezeu şi să te încrezi în ISUS CRISTOS ca în Unicul tău Salvator?

DECIZIE PROPRIE
Cred că sunt un păcătos şi cred că ISUS a murit în locul meu. Îl primesc chiar acum, ca pe Unicul meu Salvator şi mă încred în el, ca în Singurul care mă poate salva de la pedeapsa iadului. Cu ajutorul lui întenţionez să îl mărturisesc înaintea oamenilor. "Dar tuturor celor ce l-au primit, le-a dat autoritatea să devină fiii lui Dumnezeu; chiar celor ce cred în numele lui," (Ioan 1:12)

Missionary Scott Holcomb singing the great hymn 10,000 Years

My friend, Missionary Scott Holcomb, sang for us at a recent Bible Conference in Budapest. He did a marvelous job. (Buckle up before listening...just to be safe. )

Mormonism is a cult

Mormonism is definitely a cult. Mormons are not Christians.
What follows is a summary of some of their beliefs. These beliefs are in contradiction to the Bible.

1. Mormons believe God is not eternal, or even the only God, but one who  inhabited a planet in the star system Kolob. 
2. They believe they can be saved by obeying Mormon doctrine.
3. They believe that God had a god that elevated God to godhood and that they, too, can be elevated to godhood.
4. They believe they lived as full-grown adults (the Doctrine of Pre-existence) in a spirit world before they were born. In Pre-Existence, they had friends and family and relationships and knowledge. While there, they were presented with the Plan of Salvation, which included being given a choice to be born as humans with the prize at the end being godhood of their own planet. They didn't have to and some were content to stay in the spirit world where they were already in heaven instead of taking the plunge and getting a shot at being God.
5. They believe that when their spirits passed into existence, they also passed through a Veil of Forgetfulness where they forgot their previous spirit lives. Here, they recreate their pre-existent families as eternal families.
6. Jesus and Satan were brothers and God liked Jesus' plan best so Satan rebelled. Mormons don't believe in the sin nature, or 'original sin'.
7. Mormons believe the purpose of human existence is to become like God.
8. Mormons also believe it is ok to lie about their beliefs and affiliations to non-Mormons and to new Mormon recruits under the 'principle' of "milk before meat.". So they are free to deny the crazier parts, (God was a man, there are lots of Gods, including them, they take spirit wives to become goddesses, etc.) on the principle that until a Mormon has been sufficiently indoctrinated (brainwashed), they will recognize how crazy it sounds and maybe refuse to join or even quit and then spread the word.
9. Mormons believe that after they die, they move back to the spirit world.  Some of them are imprisoned for not believing the Mormon gospel while on earth. Those that never heard the Mormon Gospel will be visited by Mormon spirit missionaries.
10. Mormons believe that the dead can be saved after death if they are baptized by proxy by living Mormons.  Mormons in this spirit world can still sin:  "Those who are righteous in this life will still be righteous. Those who were unrighteous will still be unrighteous. We will have the same desires after we die as we had while on this earth" (Gospel Fundamentals, "Life after Death," pg 195.).
11. Resurrection is in several parts and only those that had a perfect knowledge of the divinity of Christ yet chose Satan will be damned. The rest will go through various stages of perfection while in the post-life spirit world.
12. If you miss your dog, don't worry. Fido, (as well as every other dog, cat, hamster, pigeon, aardvark and platypus) will ALSO be resurrected during the last of the seven different resurrections taught by the LDS (Latter Day Saints, i.e. Mormons).
13. The Mormon Plan of Salvation is in seven parts as well, with final stage, logically enough, called the Final Judgment. At Final Judgment, those finally judged go to one of three heavens, as befits their works, or to the Outer Darkness, which is Mormon hell.

Great Time at a Bible Conference/Fellowship in Budapest

Bro Scott Holcomb and I had the privilege to attend a Bible Conference/Fellowship in Budapest this past week from Wednesday through Saturday at the home/church of Missionary Jim Pranger. It is safe to say that "heaven came down". The preaching was marvelous and the fellowship was tremendous. And, on top of that, Mrs Laura Pranger and a few precious helpers did a wonderful job preparing all the food and we ate very well.

People attending the conference also included American missionaries to Romania, American missionaries to the Gypsies of Europe, Romanian pastors and preachers, as well as Hungarian pastors and preachers. As the preaching was going on in English, there were translations being given for the Romanians and Hungarians. There is something about hearing that that really blesses your heart. Just knowing that all these groups were hearing the same things from God's word at the same time was very encouraging.
God truly blessed this conference and we returned home refreshed, excited, and fired up about what God has done and is doing here and in other parts of Europe.

Bible Baptist Church of Budapest

The Lord prepared a table.  Amen!

Bro Jim Pranger singing a special.

One of the young men playing special music.

Missionary to Romania, Isaac Lawrence

Missionary Scott Holcomb singing "10,000 Years".  God blessed him in a mighty way. He did a tremendous job.

Romanian pastors and preachers singing a special for us.

Conference preacher, Pastor Roger Green from Ohio. God spoke through this man.

Missionary to the Gypsies of Europe, Walter Stevens. Also from Ohio, and himself a Gypsy.

Hungarian father and daughter. He is a man of God. Debora is a ray of sunshine.

Romanian pastor playing hymns on a tree leaf. Yes, only a tree leaf. Sounds like a harmonica. A blessing.

Bro Scott Holcomb and I singing, "What a day that will be!"

Hungarian family singing a special for us.

Bro Phillip Flannagan giving a testimony. He travels the world with his pastor, Pastor Green, and is his pastor's right arm. What a great blessing this man is! He even went out of his way to be a blessing to me.

Missionary Isaac Lawrence again, This time playing the guitar and the harmonica. He also speaks English, Spanish and Romanian fluently, preaches and sings. God really gifted this man.

Bro Jim and Mrs Laura singing a special for us. She cooks too!

Gypsy missionary Walter Stevens giving a testimony. That is Hungarian pastor Zsolt Kovacs providing the Hungarian translation.

Most of our group got into the final group photo, but some had to leave early to catch flights back home. We praise God for all these servants of the Lord. What a blessing!

Debora (Ray of Sunshine) and her brother getting in some practice time.

Crossing the beautiful Danube heading home, refreshed and rejoicing in the Lord.

Steve Jobs - Heaven or Hell?

Anytime a famous person's death is published in the news, the first thought I have is, Did their eternal soul go to heaven or hell?
Admittedly, I can only know that I am saved and going to heaven and I cannot possibly know about anyone else.
However, I do know from the Bible that Buddhist faith, intellect and business success won't take anyone to heaven.
The only One who can save is Jesus Christ. By faith in Him you can be saved, guaranteeing you a place in heaven for all eternity, regardless of your popularity, talent, or wealth.
Did Steve Jobs ever place his faith for salvation in Jesus Christ and Him alone? Only he and God know that. Although apparently very gifted as a businessman and designer, the only thing that matters to Steve Jobs today is his relationship with Jesus Christ.

This is what the Bible says about how to be saved:

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Ro 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ro 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ac 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ...
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.


Building a great business and making a mark on the technology of the world doesn't purchase a place in heaven.
God is not impressed with worldly success. God is not impressed with great wealth or talent.

God sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay for Steve Jobs' sins. God offered him the free gift of eternal life, if only he would believe on Jesus Christ and call out to Him for salvation. God gave him 56 years to accept the free gift of eternal life.

Did he ever accept Him? If not, it is eternally too late for him.

It is not yet too late for you.

My office in my home town of Čakovec, Croatia

This is a photo of my office in Čakovec Croatia! The heat only works in Summer and the AC only works in Winter, but utilities are free and the city even sends a big truck to sweep it for me once in a while. (Also at no charge!)
I love standing up for Christ on the streets of Croatia.
Glory to God!

I Received A Great Email

Monday morning I awoke to find the kind of email that I wish I could get every day.
A man in the capitol city of Zagreb had found our Croatian gospel tracts on my website, which I had scanned and uploaded along with several others in hopes of getting the gospel around the world.
On the website, there are gospel tracts for Croatian, Hungarian, Romanian, Albanian, Bulgarian, Italian and Polish.
http://www.godsavecroatia.com/gospel.html
The man who sent the email has a burden for his people right here in Croatia, and now is about to receive the tools necessary to help him get the gospel out.
I was able to ship a shoe box full of tracts to him today and we will stay in touch and keep him supplied. Soon, we may be able to meet and find out more about him and his potential there in the capitol.
It was an encouraging day!
Praise the Lord!

This is a powerful anti-abortion testimony from someone not ashamed of the name of Jesus Christ

Pat Robertson strikes a nerve

Pat Robertson, a well known personality in America, was quoted this week as saying something to the effect that it's ok to divorce your spouse if your spouse gets alzheimer's.
Well, Pat Robertson struck a nerve with me on that one and I cannot remain silent.
Not only is he completely wrong on that foolish notion. His comments go against the direct teaching of the Bible, against most marriage vows I know of (you know that pesky "till death does us part" thing and "in sickness and in health"), against human decency, and against all common sense.
So, husband or wife, if your spouse has been diagnosed with alzheimer's, don't go rushing out to find a new mate just yet.
First consider what the Bible says. In Matthew 19:6, God says (still says-present tense), Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. When two are married, they become one and God views this as permanent. When was the last time we considered what God thought instead of our usual situational ethics.
Robertson was quoted as saying that alzheimer's is a "kind of death", so he could see where it makes sense to divorce. Well, Mr Robertson, we don't "kind of bury" alzheimer's patients when they are diagnosed so your logic there is seriously at fault.
Furthermore, this life is not about you - husband or wife - skulking about trying to fulfill your fleshly appetites. This life is supposed to be about glorifying God. Remember 1Co 6:19-20: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Those words are still in the Bible, even to this very day.
You may say, "Well, my spouse is so far gone, they won't even know I left."  Sir, madam, God will know you left! Your children, friends, associates, and enemies will know you left. Will that Glorify God?
If you are in a circumstance like this, I feel for you. But you do not have the green light from God to begin your search for someone else to fill the void in you life. God is there to fill the void. Try giving Him the opportunity to do so, and see what He can make of your life as you honor him and obey His word. For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Heb 13:5b.
He also says in His word Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. God knows your circumstance and your need and His promises still stand. He means what He says.
Pat Robertson is absolutely wrong, and he owes God an apology and the world a retraction. I will be waiting to see his retraction.

God is smarter than we are

Many months ago I posted a blog about a man I met in the mechanic shop lobby while waiting for my car to be repaired. We had a great conversation, and I was able to witness to him and invite him to church, etc. I was very excited about the possibility of this man coming to church, getting saved, and living for God. Well, sadly I had not heard from Drago again.
However, today, after our church van failed inspection, we had to go back to the same mechanic shop to have it looked at. Lo and behold, Drago was there again having his car repaired. We were able to have a nice visit and he was able to meet Pastor Telebar. Then, he said to me, "I have been wanting to ask you something. I see you on the streets a lot of times with the signs (my gospel signs) and I wonder what kind of response you get from that."
It blessed my heart that he had been seeing the gospel messages on the street and it had been on his mind. I had the joy of explaining that God wants to speak to people and is trying to do so, and the signs are one way to get people to think about what God wants.
I told him about people who stop to talk to me about the signs and also about believers who have been encouraged to see someone standing up for Christ. I also told him how I run into people all the time that say, "Hey! Didn't I see you out on the street with a Bible sign?" and things like that.
The man seemed to take in all in very thoughtfully. His car was soon ready and it was time to part ways once again. Perhaps his heart will be burdened to find out more about why God so clearly wants to speak to him.
If we had passed our inspection today, this encounter would not have been possible. But God is smarter than we are and He knows what He is doing.

Amen.

Propovijedi o radosnoj vijesti na hrvatskom jeziku

Za propovijedi o radosnoj vijesti na hrvatskom jeziku molim Vas kliknite ovaj link:

http://stablozivota.com/Propovijedi.php

Efežanima 2:8-9 Jer milošću ste spašeni, po vjeri, i to nije od vas, to je Božji dar!  Ne po djelima, da se netko ne bi hvalisao.

Spancirfest in Varaždin

We have been busy over the past few days passing out gospel tracts and talking to people in the streets at the Spancirfest in Varaždin. These photos show a little bit of what kind of event it is and why the crowds flock there to see all the attractions.

A couple on electric bikes making beautiful music with symphony-like sound and operatic singing.

Crowd following an act of acrobats on stilts.

Many products (some home-made) on display for sale.

Discount book dealers are always around at festivals.

An artist making another painting for sale.

Children's play area set up near one of the most beautiful castles in the country.

One of the entry ways to the downtown area.

Crowded streets.

Multitude of eternal souls

Spancirfest is the largest annual festival in the city of Varaždin and multitudes attend, giving us a great opportunity to stand for Christ and pass tracts to thousands, and witness to all who will listen. For ten days, thousands come to town from all over Croatia as well as several other countries.

This year's attendance is very good and we rejoice in this opportunity to stand for our Saviour, who so graciously stood for us all the way to the cross.

He died for me.  I will gladly stand for Him.

Getting the Word out

Bro Scott Holcomb has a goal to put a copy of John and Romans and several gospel tracts in every mailbox in every village around Čakovec. Čakovec has already been done, so now we are going after all the surrounding communities.
In the photos are the Holcomb boys doing their part on a Thursday morning in the village of Belica. In a little under three hours, we were able to fill over 700 mailboxes with the Word of God and God's plan of salvation.

May God bless the distribution of His Word.

We look forward to the day when we know the language well enough to go back and knock every door and give a gospel witness to every one. In the mean time, we will do all we can.