Light to the Balkans

After so much time

2011-07-25T05:40:00.000-05:00

I am sitting at a simple plastic folding table, the kind you might see at the local small town after church pot-luck Sunday fellowship dinner, surrounded by forest, hills, and friends, in the mountain area of Zlatibor in Southwest Serbia. Rain is gently falling and clouds are kissing the hilltops around us. In short, it is a melancholy moment that almost allows one to forget the turmoil of the world that stews so angrily around us. The massacre in Norway...the idiocy of budget talks in Washington D.C....the obstinacy of politicians who are clueless about paying bills and cutting back on expenses because one does not have the money to keep spending...the daily dialogue as to whether Greece will default on loans and go bankrupt...Libya, Syria, Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan...ad nausea and so it goes.

But here we are privileged to help train fellow Christ-followers from parts of former Yugoslavia in the ways of reaching future teachers, doctors, parliamentarians, moms, dads, lawyers, farmers, shop keepers, pastors, elders, wives, husbands, etc., with the life changing Gospel of our Saviour, Jesus. Not a Gospel that excludes someone because of their skin color, passport, language, religion, bank account, etc., but a Gospel that loves all people no matter who they are and where they live, and a Gospel that desires nothing less that all would come to know the author and finisher of that Gospel, Jesus, as their own Saviour and Lord.

While the people of Norway will mourn today and for many days following, European Union leaders, other European nations, politicians, sociologists, psychologists, educators, etc. will hold discussions, write very important (no doubt) papers, pass ridiculous laws on religion and toleration/diversity, and prattle on how someone in such a modern country as Norway and as a member of the European Union could have committed such a horrendous crime. "Where did our education system go wrong?" "Are we too tolerant of these intolerant religions that teach such silly absolutes as sin and hell and Jesus and God and only one way to God?" (Huh, I wonder what the Richard Dawkins' of today think about the Norwegian massacre?)

So let them prattle, let them pass their ridiculous laws, let them wonder how they can keep religion from corrupting European minds. We will keep teaching God's true word, God's true religion which is His love and available salvation to all people, everywhere, from the youngest to the oldest, the poorest to the richest, the smartest to the poor peasant farmer. True Christianity does not massacre, does not hate, does not look at skin color or political party membership; true Christianity shares the truth in love, and desires to show that truth and love through our imperfect yet committed to our God lives.

The training will continue and somewhere, somehow, today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, a heart here, a heart there, will hear the Truth and God will change that heart and yet one more soul will enter into God's kingdom.

2010-03-22T13:39:00.000-05:00

As one travels from Podgorica, Montenegro to Nis, Serbia the journey will take you through several spectacular canyons, some of the bluest rivers you will ever see, snow capped mountains, and millions of pot-holes in the road! Finally you arrive at your destination, but you arrived tired, your car brakes hot, and your right arm sore and stiff from all of the downshifting you will have done on the trip.

You will have also noticed how sparsely populated and rocky this vast area (known as the Sandzak or Raska)of SW Europe is. Even worse is how sparse the numbers are in terms of true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though you may see an occasional church edifice as well as many mosques, there are, literally, only a handful of believers among millions. One can, at times, sense the oppression and the grip the destroyer of the soul has had on this territory. In fact it is not unreasonable to be fairly certain that the Light of the Gospel has not penetrated this area for 1,000 years! But, God has His litttle group of followers living in one town of the Sandzak. They are lonely yet determined that God's light should shine.

They have many strikes against them: history, culture, religion, fear, among them. But they also have the God of the universe with them, carrying them in His strong arms. Pray that these friends would not be discouraged or afraid, but would be that little candle shining in the darkness and that many, including our friends' families, would soon come to know the love and mercy of our gracious God; and that He and His word are not an evil lie.

Bad Dreams

2009-10-13T12:40:00.000-05:00

I am currently reading through a recent history of the notorious Auschwitz/Birkenau concentration camp. Thanks to the brilliant teaching of Dr. Dean Rapp, Professor of European History at Wheaton College, my reading habits have drastically changed in the past few years. Now my reading du jour seems to be more history, particularly European history. The book on Auschwitz, by Laurence Rees, is particularly chilling in it's description of what the Germans did to the millions of Russians, Poles, and Polish and German Jews in their attempts to exterminate men, women, and children and wipe them from the face of the earth. I have decided it is a book I should not read at night just before I go to sleep; it causes horrible dreams as my mind dwells on the horrors of what happened in WW II.

Reading these histories also makes me wonder if reading them is a primer for survival during the coming Great Tribulation. As a dispensationalist, I believe that God is going to bring a literal seven years of tribulation upon this planet. But will the followers of Jesus Christ be left on the planet to go through the tribulation? Good question. I hope not but I cannot be dogmatic about a Rapture of the Church, though I would wish it so. So why all this rambling and what does it matter?

Since the end of WW II the cry has always been "Never again." And yet...Stalin--60 million killed; Mao--60 million killed; Pol Pot, Saddam Hussein, Ho Chi Min, Caceusceu; Soviet despots; guerilla leaders in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Liberia; DR Congo, Sudan, and Angola; the Balkan Wars of the 1990s; islamofascism in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Somalia, Lebanon, Israel where a human being is nothing more than a target for a mindless, deluded kid pulling the trigger that blows him and thousands of others to bits, while his masters sit in ivory palaces continuing to preach hate and death; the infanticide practiced openly, freely, and happily in many countries around the world as millions of babies are murdered every year; the numbers are staggering, mind-boggling, and incomprehensible. Considering Stalin alone, he murdered more than Hitler; but adding up the numbers of murdered due to war and terrorism since the end of WW II and the cries of "Never again," should cause a human to at least stop for a brief moment and wonder what has gone wrong.

Shouldn't the human race be getting better? We have the United Nations in place to solve all of our problems. After all if people would only sit down and talk they wouldn't kill. Sadly the talking heads of Europe and North America cannot see the folly and ills of the human heart. "It must be the fault of religion," they complain. Or a particular political party seems hell bent on destroying anyone or anything just to prove a point. "That President sees only in black and white. He speaks of truth. He speaks of faith. How juvenile and idiotic. That type of fanaticism only leads to more killing." And so the killng goes on and on and on and on and on...ad nasuem.

In spite of European headlines and speeches, the current President of the United States is not the "Hope of the World," he is not a messiah, and to compare him with the Kennedys and "Camelot" is, well, just plain ignorant. The Kennedys were bootleggers, adulterers, bad drivers, and they loved Hitler too. It is time for the so-called "Smart People" to realize that their dreams of evolutionary perfection are not anywhere near the surface, nor will they ever be in the forefront. The heart of humankind is sick and there is only one Answer: the true Messiah who loves and gave His life for every man, woman, and child on this planet no matter their religion, culture, language, passport, ethnicity, or anscestory. There is no killing with God because I am or you are of the wrong tribe. There is no mindless homocide bomber blowing up the marketplace because his puppet master is an evil man bent only on killing in the name of religion. Wake up people. The "Never Again" has continued and goes on every day with millions and millions more being killed or facing the reality of murder. Stop listening to Richard Dawkins, or the Nobel Committee, or Osama bin Laden, or a particular Prime Minister or President. God is not a "delusion." He is the only true reality in existence and the most pressing need for any of these aforementioned individuals as well as their students, disciples, or citizens.

Hope

2009-10-13T10:26:00.000-05:00

When President Obama of the U.S. was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, one of the rational given for the prize was that he was such a great hope for the world. Wow, how deluded people are to think that one man or woman is the hope for this world. There is only one hope for this world and Europeans need more than ever to know this Hope. Pray for dark, dark Europe.

Socialism Part 2: The Scary Reality

2009-10-13T10:21:00.000-05:00

Though we do not know the family mentioned below, many of our friends from here in Vienna do know them personally or know of them. As you read through this excerpt of an email sent to one of our friends, pay special attention to the role of the medical commission and the fact that they can determine whether this person dies or is able to receive treatment. This is exactly what so many in the U.S. are fearing and protesting against. Do not let the fascination some policticians have with European social climes and mores allow our nation to follow in the footsteps of European medical practices.

Nuni has been going through a battery of medical tests. He has an enlarged spleen. They have a diagnosis now. He has a very rare blood cancer. Ileana and us, and now you know the diagnosis, but Nuni and their kids don't know yet. They are going to meet with the doctor on Sunday for a more in depth discussion about it. Please pray for their family as they go through this awful ordeal. They are still grieving the loss of their daughter in a car accident two years ago. It's so hard to even imagine that they have to go through this now.

Last week his anemia was a 6 and this week it is a level 3. Ileana said that his body is not able to replenish his blood. And he has tumors in his bone marrow. He needs to go through chemotherapy and then some type of bone marrow transplant- maybe that isn't quite right- they have to do something with the spine (maybe drain off fluid and do something to it and put it back in- we don't understand exactly, but it's supposed to be very painful.)

The doctors worked quickly to get his paperwork sent off to Bucharest. A medical commission meets tomorrow to review his case and to make a determination if they will approve the treatment for him (the chemo and the bone treatment). If they don't approve the treatment there is no hope for him. It's one thing if he decides to end the treatment, but it's quite another not to be allowed even to have a chance to try. Ileana has to hang onto the hope that the commission will give the ok for the treatment. Just finding out that he has cancer is like getting kicked in the gut- but it will be horribly difficult to accept if they don't allow the treatment. The doctors in the hospital seem to think that because Nuni is so young and was healthy up till this point, that he has a chance with the chemo and bone treatment, but without this commission’s approval they can do nothing. That's nationalized health care for you. And even with government insurance, the costs for the tests and treatment are very high. Nuni has had all kinds of blood tests and scans and just all kinds of tests. I went to the doctor this week and they told me insurance covers only 20%, so I know all this is really expensive for them.

Deja Voux

2009-09-20T07:30:00.000-05:00

Last night--yesterday afternoon--depending upon where you live in our world, the Nebraska Cornhuskers played Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, VA. We lost on a last second touchdown pass that obliterated an awesome defensive display by Nebraska that kept Tech on the run all night. But I guess we should take heart: back when NU was somewhat respected in the college football world, we won and won and won except when playing Oklahoma, Miami (FL), and Florida State. How many times in the 70s and 80s were we ahead, outplaying the aforementioned opponent and then suddenly, one desperation fling of the ball or a trick play and suddenly we were punched in the gut, down on the field, wondering how we possibly let the game get away. Then oftentimes the team we played the next week was obliterated by an NU team that wanted everyone to know they might have been sucker punched, but it wasn't going to happen again (until the next season, that is).

So, if NU comes back and obliterates it's next opponent and then smashes its way through the Big 12 schedule, we still have a chance for a more than respectable 11-1 or 10-2 regular season. Last night's loss is a tough one, but the way we play in the coming weeks will show whether we are truly back or not.

Not Typical

2009-09-19T09:39:00.000-05:00

When one writes an autobiography of oneself, the author, the main character, usually includes all of the great things he/she did or accomplished when doing whatever he/she was noted for. "I saved the economy as President of the United States." "I led us to victory over the enemy as Prime Minister of England." Etc., etc., etc. And when the character has problems, faults, or crimes that cannot be hidden, even in an autobiography, that character usually glosses over the evil or blames it on someone else, i.e. Bill Clinton still blaming a "vast right wing conspiracy" for all of his problems while as president.

However, when one reads God's autobiography, the Bible, He does not tolerate such shennanigans or glossing over of history. God gives us pictures of all and everything, the good, the bad, the ugly, the joy, the tears, the heartbreak.

This became clear to me as I was recently reading the Book of Job, one of the more fascinating yet troubling books of the Bible. This book certainly raises as many questions as it might answer, but the thing that challenged me most was that God was not afraid to include the questions, the doubts, and the hurts of Job. A normal autobiography would never have the authors characters questioning the goodness, love, value, reasonings, etc. of the president or prime minister. But God allows us to see Job as we might be: "Why God, why is this happening? Give me a fair hearing and I will prove to you that I do not deserve these troubles. I don't know what I did to you God, but allow me to question you in court and find out the truth."

I am thankful we have a God who is not afraid of our questions, doubts, fears, etc. He already knows them anyway, so to think we can hide them from God is ridiculous. We may as well as go ahead and ask them and argue with God. And ultimately, sooner or later, we must then come to the conclusion that He is God, I am not, and He absolutely knows what is absolutely best for my life and the life of my family.

True Tragedy

2009-08-29T11:23:00.000-05:00

The BBC is even now carrying live the funeral of Senator Kennedy from a large cathedral in Boston. Yo Yo Ma is playing the cello and Placido Domingo is singing "Panis Angelicus." The local priest/pastor of the family finished telling us what a fine man Sen. Kennedy was and soon the President will tell us even more about how famous and great the Senator was to history.

As already written, the masses will pour into Vienna in late September to euologize Michael Jackson at a gigantic tribute show behind of the city's palaces.

Meanwhile in a small town in central Nebraska, another man lays dying, perhaps even this day being his last day of drawing breath upon this planet. In stark contrast to the show atmostphere surrounding the deaths and funerals of Senator Kennedy and Michael Jackson, Fox News and CNN will not be there the moment this man dies. No networks will cut into regular programming with the breaking news that our friend has died. Yo Yo Ma and Placido Domingo will not show up to play and sing at his funeral; President Obama will not interrupt his vacation to fly off to Nebraska and make an elequent speech about this man's life; the BBC will not cover the funeral live. But may I say, and try to say respectively, that our friends funeral will be of far greater meaning and significance than anything we might have observed on television or yet to come here in Vienna.

You see, our friend, Pastor Cooper, was just a simple country preacher who loved our Lord and Savoiur with all of his heart, soul, and mind. No one will have to pray and ask God to forgive Pastor's sins after he dies, as they did for Senator Kennedy. Pastor Cooper knew his Saviour, Jesus Christ, and knew Him well. Pastor and Mrs. Cooper loved people no matter what and in their own ways and words, showed the love and life of Jesus to many, many hundreds of people throughout their long life as Pastor and Pastor's wife.

Pastor Cooper will need no television audience to try and make him look good. Though he never served in politics, never rocked and rolled across the stages of the world, never sought after the fame and fortune of televangelism, Pastor Cooper made a far greater impact upon our nation and world than any politician or rock star ever did, could, or will. Pastor Cooper was in the work of changing hearts: living the Gospel; preaching the Gospel; helping the poor, the widowed, the orphan,; raising children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; all with the goal of making sure that each one knew who Jesus was, what Jesus had done for each one of them, and what it meant to have a sure and eternal relationship with the Lord Jesus. Hearts, lives, families, and marriages were saved as people understood Pastor's life and words and became followers of the Jesus Pastor and Mrs. Cooper so wonderfully lived.

So yes, family members of Senator Kennedy and Michael Jackson are mourning death, but Pastor Cooper's family will do more than mourn; they will know will all of their hearts that their husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather is in heaven and being told by the Saviour of humankind, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Irony IV

2009-08-27T10:15:00.000-05:00

The BBC today reported that a group of several hundred protesters are sneaking about London trying to set up some type of "Green Camp" outside of the eyes of the local authorities. The purpose of the sneaking about and the so-called camp are to call attention to global warming. How interesting. Meanwhile...

Vienna is preparing for a gigantic open air memorial concert for Michael Jackson to be held later in September behind one of the palaces in the city. His mother was happy about this because Michael liked palaces. The concert will, no doubt, be televised around the world using millions of watts of electricity and causing much CO2 to explode upon our atmosphere. The private jets flying in from around the world will probably cause quite the spectical at Vienna's Schwechat airport. The limos hauling all of these apparently important people from the airport to their luxury hotels, the concert site, back to their hotels, and back to the airport will, I am sure be very exciting. And let us not forget the TV cameras and journalists and their entourages. Then all of the paper and plastic that will be strewn around the palace grounds after the masses leave. I sincerely hope some sincere politician from the EU and Washington DC and Hollywood elites will manage to stop and give their opinion about global warming and CO2 just before they get back into their limo or jet. Hey, maybe Al Gore will show up!

And then, this weekend, Boston and Washington DC are preparing for the funeral of Edward Kennedy. No doubt the rich and famous from both coasts will be in attendance as will the President. Imagine the private jets flying in and out of Boston; imagine the convoy of vehicles carrying Mr. Kennedy's coffin to the church, from the church, to an airplane, to Arlington cemetary in DC; imagine all of the TV cameras and reporters driving to the events in their gas guzzling vans and cars and jets and helicopters. Imagine all of the CO2 that will blow into the atmosphere this weekend along the east coast (OK, probably not much more than a typical day of harping when Congress is in session and the President is in town).

Where are the protesters calling attention to global warming when you need them? Go figure...

Socialism: Coming Soon to a Town Near You!

2009-08-25T14:03:00.003-05:00

Unless we as citizens of the greatest nation in the world continue to take a stand and work against the radical wishes of east and west coast politicians, we have the following to look forward too (sooner rather than later [real stories from various parts of the continent upon which we as a family live. Hint: it is not North America]):

1. "Your daughter has some kind of growth in her brain. We are unable to see it well on a CT scan. She needs an MRI but, in order for your state health insurance to pay for it, you must wait 6-8 months before the MRI can be done. And oh, by the way, don't worry!" A doctor addressing some of our close friends in another country.

2. "You will be able to have the chemotherapy you need for your cancer because you are not paying enough for your state health insurance plan. You may pay with cash out of your own pocket, if you wish, but we will not give you the medicines you need; or you may pay a higher premium for your state plan and then we might be able to help you." A doctor to a cancer patient denying the necessary chemo because the state (think federal in this case) has levels of coverage and well, they didn't pay the right premium.

3. A daughter was born to a family two months premature. The hospital in which she was born did not have a neo-natal intensive care unit, so the baby was taken from the mother and sent by ambulance across the city to another hospital. Admittedly the total hospital bill was much cheaper than what would have been required in the U.S., but the care was frightening to say the least. The parents were denied any contact with the doctor in charge; questions were forbidden; and the sense was that the sooner the preemies died, the better off for everyone else. The mother of the baby was a nurse which at least allowed the parents a bit of news surreptitously as she would sneak glances at the baby's chart when possible to see what progress their baby was making.

4. Many parking areas in a city are made of cobblestone. One year ago, a group of workers, mostly immigrants, showed up and removed the cobblestones, cleaned off the dirt, and put them back in the same place. They did this up and down both sides of the street. Why? Don't know. What did it do to make the street nicer? Nothing. But it was certainly "make work" that kept the unemployment numbers low and allowed the citizens extremely high taxes to go even higher to pay for this kind of "government stimulus program."

5. As one walks the sidewalks of some cities, one cannot help but notice how uneven they are and full of lines and holes due to constant digging up. When sidewalks are dug up for new telephone lines, for example, the cable company will not also do their work at the same time, nor will the gas company, the electric company, the sewer company, and whatever other utility has lines and pipes under the sidewalk. So the telephone people will do their work, fill in the ditches and asphalt over them leaving yet another uneven spot of construction scarring. In one or two years, another utility will come along and dig up the same spot to do their work. But again, it keeps the unemployment numbers low. Government stimilus again!

6. Sales at shops must be approved by the government. Competition is not encouraged; in fact it is discouraged. Commodity prices are the same all over (no gas wars here!) so one hopes to be able to travel to another country where sugar might be cheaper; or flour; or oil, etc. Automobiles have a 32% sales tax placed upon them. In one country a discount grocery chain, also operating in the U.S., was publicly chastized by the government because they were making so money and the more expensive chains were losing big Euros. "Not fair," opined the government. "You cannot make more money than other grocery stores. You must raise your prices so that things are fair." No word as to whether the grocery chain obeyed. (Perhaps they went to a Town Hall meeting and protested to their government representative loudly, and then were accused of being right-wing terroristic fear and hate mongerers!)

7. If you must go to the doctor and can pay in cash, they are very happy. The state pays them almost nothing through the state insurance program, thus the care is oftentimes slipshod and suspect. If you need an operation or test and things look grim for you, good luck. It is better to plan your funeral service than try to wait for the needed test or surgery.

8. The elderly in one country fear having to go to a nursing home or geriatric home. They would rather commit suicide rather than have to go to one of these places. They know that if they are sent to a home they will soon be dead anyway, but it will be a longer and more painful process than if they killed themselves at home. They know the plan is to simply dispose of them, and the sooner the better.

9. Discplining one's children is against the law. So the streets are filled with characters that despise their parents, teachers, and any other kinds of authority. The state doesn't know what to do when their young people are killed while drinking and driving. Or they simply look the other way, smile sheeplishly, and assume the badness will soon be outgrown. Schools are simply places for drugs, cigarettes, and sex; especially the frequent school trips taken by middle and high school students. Teachers are angry, disinterested, and really don't care if a student makes it or not. There is no authority and no respect. Children throw fits and are smiled upon by the parents who secretly would love to put the hand of education upon the rear seats of the one throwing the fit. But the government knows best, so no seat of education.

So, if you don't like responsibility, decision making, having to choose which food shop to buy at, just wait. The government will soon be doing all of that for you/us and won't life be so much the better. Hey, "we" already own car plants, banks, and who knows what else. Whats wrong with the hospitals, doctors, grocery stores, shopping malls, Dillards, and your local McDonalds? And 55% in taxes to boot! What a deal. I for one can hardly wait!

Irony III

2009-08-25T13:48:00.002-05:00

Early this summer a notorious abortionist from Wichita, Kansas, was murdered in his own church on a Sunday morning. The outrage and condemnation was swift from those against abortion and those for it. However, there is great irony in the fact that those in favor of murdering innocent little babies have never once raised even a smidgeon of outrage over the murder of any of the babies Dr. Tiller killed, even if that baby was brutally killed one hour or one day before she/he was to be born.

Dr. Tiller had no conscience when it came to the murder of babies. He and other "doctors" of death are responsible for tens of thousands of killings each year and yet the silence over these indefensible murders is more than deafening. Killing Dr. Tiller was not and is not the way to put a stop to the infanticide that is the practice du jour in so-called civilized societies. But what will it take for these murderers of the innocent to finally realize what their scalpels, scrapers, and vaccum machines are really doing?

Generations and generations of skilled workers, loving parents, farmers, teachers, doctors, researchers, journalists; tax payers, social security tax payers; etc. have been wiped out, cut to pieces simply because they were seen as a burden; simply because it just wasn't convienent; and yes, simply because the church is not always ready to stand with and support the girl/woman who finds herself pregnant, alone, afraid, homeless, and penniless.

Even as we attempt to raise the lonely voice of protest against baby murder, let us also renew ourselves to being on the front lines of helping those who need help; praying for those who do the murdering; and helping the murderers escape their life of despair.

Wedding joy

2009-08-17T11:08:00.003-05:00

It was an honor and privilege to be a part of Johanna and Seth's wedding in June. God was honored and they are off to a good start as husband/wife and figuring out what it means to be married. Enjoy the pictures!

Irony II

2009-08-17T11:05:00.001-05:00

A large window display/kiosk in Vienna had highlighted the following message:

"STOP AIDS," the same weekend the annual homosexual ball began in the city.

2008-12-22T13:14:00.002-06:00

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord." We wish you a very blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Love,

Doug and Jan

Katie and Nicholas, Ryan and Johanna

Even more "Typical" stuff

2008-12-18T11:16:00.007-06:00

One of the cool things about living in central Europe is the plethora of old Baroque churches one may step inside of, and be awed by the paintings and reverence displayed by those who go in and out of each church. It is even cooler when one is able to do something like sing in one of these churches. Katie and Nicholas are members of their high school choir at Vienna Christian. The choir recently had the privilege to present their Christmas concert at St. Peter's Church in downtown Vienna. Not a bad place to have a concert and sing.

More typical

2008-12-18T11:11:00.002-06:00

Another "typical" privilege we have is hosting guests. We were so happy to welcome friends from Germany, Albania, and Montenegro and share memories, laughter, prayers, and ministry together. It is a privilege to have guests and extend hospitality to them.

Daily schedule

2008-12-18T10:59:00.002-06:00

Quite often we are asked to submit our schedule of a typical day or workweek on our mission field. When we receive requests we just kind of shake our heads and try to figure out what to put down on paper that will make sense to a reader far away from where we live. There are no typical days in our lives, at least they don't seem very typical. One example: when I was in Podgorica, Darko, the leader for CEF Serbia also joined Miruska and me. Darko and I spent time unloading a container of Samaritan's Purse shoeboxes and installing Miruska's kitchen! Not exactly typical for one's weekly schedule but certainly typical for us and the many and varied things God asks us to do in this work of being a light and life of our Saviour.

Mega-Church in MNE

2008-12-18T10:55:00.002-06:00

It was a unique moment, for me anyway, being a part of a special church service in Podgorica. I was in a "Mega-Church," Montenegrin style. Some 45-50 people gathered on Sunday evening for the weekly service of one of the 2 churches in Podgorica. This number represents nearly 1/2 of all the known followers of the Lord Jesus in the country. It was a great evening singing praises together, listening to His word, and then listening and observing as a couple of people requested a few minutes time to confess sin and ask forgiveness of the local body. Continue to pray for the Church in Montenegro. It is small but loves our Lord. It is new and ripe for attack by the liar and destroyer. They are encouraged by your prayers.

2008-11-13T06:29:00.002-06:00

How excellent it is that God gives Jan the privilege to share His Hope with students from around the world. These are some of her students that she tutors twice weekly at our kids' school: Vienna Christian School, an American international Christian school based in Vienna. Please pray for Jan as she works with these students. Pray for their salvation. Pray for the school administration as it seeks to solve a long running search for visas for the faculty/staff that are not able to receive Austrian residence visas.

Hyperbole Maximus

2008-11-13T06:01:00.003-06:00

You probably missed this important fact about the Obama victory that at least one Austrian news magazine has helpfully printed for us: "HOPE FOR THE WORLD: the 'New Kennedy's' and how Barack Obama's Victory will make the World a Better Place!" Excuse me, but that Hope has already been to this planet and He has already done everything necessary to make this world a better place. Yes, the secularized, post-religious world of Euroamerica might believe Mr. Obama is our hope and answer. After all he will undo or "Kill" as another publication here put it, all of the absurd and backwards restrictions upon normal life that President Bush dared to impose upon American society simply to please naieve, backwards, and biggoted religious voters who really are clueless when it comes to the modern (or post-modern) world and the views of said world. How thankful we are that Jesus, Messiah, the Saviour, came to this planet and endured the snide and hurtful comments of the religous and political leaders of His day; He endured the beyond belief torment and torture; and He gave His life as the ultimate sacrifice to become the only point of Hope and Light for this world. How awesome it is that our hope and future is not in a President, a Prime Minister, journalists, a King or Queen, or the other multitudes of gods and goddesses our world has built and worships. When you pray for Mr. and Mrs. Obama, pray too and again for Europe. This is truly a continent and peoples without Hope.

Yugoslav nostalgia

2008-10-19T13:43:00.002-05:00

In Nis, Serbia is a cafe bar called "Broz." It is a bit of nostalgica expression of a yearning for the old days of Tito and Yugoslavia. Anyway it was fun to meet up with 'ol "Broz" and even better to enjoy a lovely coffee with good friends!

Road Irony

2008-10-19T13:33:00.004-05:00

Look closely at the attached picture. First of all you will see we are following "Christ." That is good. Followers of the true and living Christ are to follow Him in all things. Now, look at the license plate on the truck. You will notice "NP" on the plate. NP signifies the city of Novi Pazar deep in SW Serbia, very near the Montenegrin border. Novi Pazar is also one of the key cities in an area called the "Sandzhak," which was a corridor set up by the Ottoman Turks allowing Muslims to travel from Turkey to Albania and up to Bosnia-Herzegovina. This corridor is still today highly Muslim with virtually no Gospel witness of anykind. The corridor runs roughly along the Serbian/Montenegrin border and is on both sides of the border. So, the irony: following "Christ" from one of the main Muslim centers in Serbia and Montenegro. Go figure! But also pray for this corridor in Montenegro and Serbia. How can we take the Truth into this large area?

2008-10-12T06:41:00.000-05:00

Dobra Voda 2008

2008-10-12T05:56:00.003-05:00

Camp was a great hit for the 35 children and teens that were a part of Bible Camp 2008 in Dobra Voda, Montenegro. The campers were challenged to have the faith and prayer life of Nehemiah while they enjoyed swimming in the Adriatic Sea, frienshipping, handwork, and the other fun parts of camp. Please pray with us about camps in 2009. Our funding for Montenegro was stopped by the person who had helped fund the camp for the past three years, meaning we have no funding at all for next year. By faith we desire to have two camps, one for children, the other for teens. One camp is approximately $4,400 or about $80 per camper. Thanks for reading and enjoying the pictures.

Soccer Fever

2008-06-18T08:34:00.003-05:00

It has been fun to be in Vienna during this month's European Soccer Championships "Euro 2008." To witness the Austrians showing their national colors and pride was a bit unusual as normally they are more reserved than the Italians or Serbians! June 19 we travel to Serbia, Montenegro, and back through Serbia for about three weeks of camps, clubs,visits, and other ministry. We will not be able to keep you posted as we travel, but upon our return we will post some pictures and other news. Please pray with us as go and as together with our colleague Miruska and a team of national followers of Jesus, we have the awesome opportunity to encourage, bless, teach, and witness of the Lord's grace to each one of us.

2008-06-09T08:28:00.003-05:00

Katie, a member of the high school choir here in Vienna, had the very cool opportunity to sing, I mean the entire choir, along with the Moody Bible Institute Choir, at St. Peter's Cathedral in downtown Vienna, when the Moody choir was on tour in Vienna earlier this spring. We were quite jealous of her!

2008-06-09T08:19:00.002-05:00

One of the best reasons we are there...

A reminder map of the Adriatic regions

Katie and a couple of the leads in "High School Musical"

Street scene in Podgorica, Montenegro

2008-06-09T08:15:00.002-05:00

It is summer in Europe and that means the European Football Championships. They began in Switzerland Saturday evening and continued here in Austria yesterday. Sadly Austria lost it's opening match 1-0 again Croatia on a penalty kick only four mintues into the match! A lot of sad Austrians were running the streets last night.

Thank you so much for praying about my recent travels. I was gone for 8 days and it was a very good 8 days. Darko Adamek, the National Director for CEF Serbia, and I had many hours together with good coffee, comfortable chairs (even AC as it around 100 degrees F!), good Serbian food (special thanks to Lidija and "Little" Darko), and the presence of God's Holy Spirit guiding and directing our conversation. I learned that there were some expectations or understandings on the part of Darko and Lidija that Jan and I had not met or failed ourselves to see and understand. We talked those things through and were able to move on to how CEF Serbia and CEF Montenegro might look in the future as two organizations yet also sharing and helping each other with different strengths and gifts. Though those discussions are not yet finished -- and that is perfectly OK -- we have a good start on things and will plan, Lord willing, to bring the entire team together in the fall to talk through expectations and how we will hope to function.

Secondly, it became clear that it is NOT God's plan for us to be involved in helping the CEF Serbia team with Bible camp in August as originally planned. There are some underlying issues that make up one part of this decision -- issues that are NOT because of anything Darko and I have done; there are others involved outside of the organization and we are still trying to understand these people and what they have done or not done. The biggest reason however is that we are really not needed. Why? As all of us CEF team members met during the weekend for camp planning meetings, there was a large number of "outsiders" present who are also planning to work at the camps. These are all national believers who have either been trained in evangelism by CEF, have a vision of reaching children and teenagers through camp, or simply want to be used by God in a camp situation. As I sat through the weekend and met new and old friends, I realized that God had gone far beyond anything we might have imagined during our first CEF camp in 2000, and brought together this group of believers to minister in His way and in His time. I began to praise God for what He is doing in Serbia and to let go of what Jan and I wanted and let God do His work.

Katie and Nicholas finish school this week and are more than ready for it be to over. Enjoy your summer as I hope they will and stay in touch!

2008-03-13T14:02:00.003-05:00

"I will look unto the hills; from whence cometh my help?" And so the Psalmist asks the question. Of course the answer is the "Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth." This afternoon as we looked out our window we could see that Psalm in action. Dark clouds were roiling over the hills to the NW of us. Surely some kind of nasty storm was going to hit even as the late afternoon sun shown brightly on those same hills. Soon the clouds thickened more and we watched what looked like snow crawl down the hill into the valley and begin ascending our own hills. It was not snow but hail. Suddenly the hail was bigger and then after a few second lull even bigger hail stones began to fall. The clouds rolled on and again the hills were bathed in the setting sun. As gasoline became $7.60 a gallon yesterday and the dollar hit another record low we also had to ask where our help comes from. The Psalmist knew; our help comes from the One who is in control of all things even currencies. "Thank you Father that you are in control. Help us to truly believe."

2008-03-11T05:52:00.003-05:00

Record lows for the U.S. dollar...record highs for oil...stock market drops...wow, what a distressing past few weeks. Since we arrived in Europe the dollar has fallen precipitously, oil has skyrocketed, and now we get to pay around $7.00 a gallon for diesel for our car! What a privilege! But, when I begin to fret, feel sorry for ourselves, or lose sleep about this, I am quietly reminded by the Father that He is in control and that we are exactly where He wants us to be: we cannot control the dollar, we cannot control oil prices, we cannot control stock markets; and even if we/I could we/I would be sure to mess it up badly. So, it is a good thing that God controls these things and even though we would desire and beg for a stronger dollar and cheaper oil, the situation now causes us to depend completely on our Father and not on our cleverness. Yes, we must watch our expenses carefully and guard against frivolous spending, but it is God that controls the overall picture.
This is another posting from $7 a gallon Austria!!

2008-03-05T09:30:00.003-06:00

Last days with our parents, siblings, and cousins at Christmas and New Years. We miss them so much.

Finally

2008-03-05T09:07:00.005-06:00

Aren't we glad it wasn't flight #666!
Hi Friends,

We are able to finally update the "blog" page a bit. Reading a compilation of the "Zits" comic strip this is something that I should be doing at least every five minutes and include all of the marvelously bizarre things my parents say and do. Well, since I would be the parent in question, it just "ain't gonna happen!!"
We are back in Europe, in Austria, under a roof, and awaiting our first trip back to Serbia. We had planned three different times to go down in February, including a trip to Montenegro. Container problems prevented those trips from happening. But perhaps it was also God's way of keeping us out of harms way during the demonstrations in Serbia before and after Kosovo declared it's independance from Serbia. Those wounds remain with the Serbs and run deep and painful. Kosovo is the spiritual/ancestral/historical birthplace of the Serbian people centuries and centuries ago and to simply have it yanked away is very hard for them to undertand or accept. I guess to put into a perspective our American friends might relate to would be the originial 13 Colonies or the Boston or Philadelphia metro areas suddenly declaring independance

and all of the sites that are a part of our American heritage and ancestory would now be in a foreign country. Just keep praying for the people and government officials in Serbia and Kosovo.

We continue to marvel at the ways God shows us that He indeed wants us back in Europe. Though it was and is so hard to have part of our family in the States as well as our moms and dads and siblings, we know we are supposed to be here, and look forward to getting back into ministry in the Balkans. Our container arrived the end of February and we were excited to see it roll up. Now we are awaiting one more move to permanent housing and we can begin to unpack! Katie and Nicholas are enjoying school and being back in real school after a semester of home schooling. They have renewed acquaintances with a handful of friends that still remain from several years ago, and are also making new friends. Jan is volunteering at the school several days a week and is enjoying being a part of the kids' school life.

Lord willing we travel to Serbia during Holy Week and renew our friendships and acquaintances there. We are looking forward to being there and spending time with our CEF colleagues for times of meeting and prayer.

OK, the blogging is done for now. Let us hear from you!

2007-12-05T10:53:00.000-06:00

Ana and Dosta are the two who write the previously posted testimony as to how God through His son has changed their lives. We are thankful we have been able to know these two girls a bit through the years but even more thankful for the care and compassion shown by the CEF team in Serbia, especially Katarina and Katarina, as they continue to make regular trips to the girls' refugee camp and show and share the love of the Lord Jesus. These two girls are some of the fruit of your prayers. Thanks.

2007-12-05T10:48:00.000-06:00

A big “thank-you”We want to take the opportunity of thanking you for everything you have given us. We thank the Lord our God because He sent such good people to teach us about everything. Thankyou for the fantastic camps on Fruska Gora, thanks for the care you showed us, for the advice you gave us, for the workshops, the outings and the brilliant games. But above all else we want to thank you for teaching us how to get closer to God.While we were living in Kosovo we didn’t know who God really was. Then in 1999 we had to come to Belgrade with our family (we have been living in the same camp for 9 years now). After everything we’d been through our hearts were empty, and we didn’t have the will to live. We didn’t think that anyone in Belgrade would help us. Then you (Child Evangelism Fellowship of Serbia and Montenegro) came into contact with us, and - just like that - joy came back into our hearts. We listened carefully to the stories and songs about the Lord, and most of all to the prayers – we needed those. That day we received the Lord God into our hearts and realised that, “Whoever has the Son, has eternal life, and whoever does not have the Son of God, does not have life.” Thankyou for teaching us to forgive our enemies, and to love. If it wasn’t for you, our hearts would still be sad and therefore we’re saying a big “thankyou” for everything.We recommend to everyone that they should pray to God for forgiveness, “since God is so good that He gave His only-begotten Son to die for our sins.” Pray and forgive others because you will be saved and have eternal life. The Lord said, “Pray continually, give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)Ana and Dosta Zivkovic.

2007-12-04T22:54:00.001-06:00

Well we are still shooting for a mid-January departure across the great pond in the sky i.e. atmosphere above the Atlantic Ocean! Continue praying with us. We only need another tiny little 13% plus automobile funds.

We had our first snow storms of the winter last weekend. Alas Jan and I had to be in Texas wearing shorts and t-shirts while plains states persons were wearing plenty more than that. But, there was always the news coming out of the Nebraska Athletic offices to take the chill off of snow and ice - a new Nebraska football coach. LSUs loss is Nebraska's gain as Bo Pellini leaves his defensive coaching position at LSU to become the new head football coach at NU. Even more exciting is the fact that Coach Pellini is bringing back Ron Brown as one of his assistants. Coach Brown is a great man of God that was instrumental in helping many NU players of the past come to faith in Jesus Christ.

No matter whether one is an NU football player or an unknown 10 year old Serbian refugee from Kosovo, the message of what Jesus has done for each one of us is the greatest and most important thing that can ever be shared.

Well...this is enough from the road. So, good-night and farewell from Dallas, Texas.

"Hail Varsity" - Nebraska Cornhusker Marching Band

2007-11-08T18:44:00.000-06:00

2007-11-08T17:59:00.000-06:00

I had the privilege to be a member of the University of Nebraska Marching Cornhusker Band when Jan and I were studying at the University. It was fun to relive some memories listening to the band's pre-game warmups.

Moving Ahead

2007-11-08T17:51:00.000-06:00

Greetings from Lincoln! It is the end of another beautiful fall day in Nebraska. The trees are at their peaks or have lost their leaves, depending upon the tree. We have had frosty mornings and clear "see your breath" nights.

We just returned from a long weekend trip that included a missions conference at Bethesda Church in Huron, South Dakota. It was great to be back with those folks and share our vision and passion for Europe. Katie and Nicholas stayed with Grandpa and Grandma (Jan's folks) and their Aunt and Uncle (Jan's brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Becky) and cousin Jon. We are sure they were not lonely or did without!

Monday we returned to the farm to get the kids and enjoyed an evening at a high school football playoff. Wow, was it cold! But once we returned to the folks that same night, the stars were amazing. There are no city lights and haze to block the stars in Naper country. It was an awesome display of God's creation, love, power, and mercy.

Now we are back in Lincoln, preparing for an Open House at Berean Church Friday night and then more fellowships in Bonesteel, South Dakota and Sioux City, Iowa next weekend.

Thanks for reading, sharing with us, and praying for us. The Father continues to move us ahead as we target January 13 for our return to the ministry field.

2007-10-16T18:09:00.000-05:00

Part of the beauty of the wide open spaces of Nebraska as we journeyed up to Jan's folks earlier this fall.

What a State

2007-10-16T17:53:00.000-05:00

Good afternoon from Lincoln! Friends and acquaintences often shake their heads in amazement that anyone would want to live in Nebraska or even claim to be from the state! But hey, where else would local television stations pre-empt normal broadcasting to present a press conference introducing the new Interim Athletic Director at the University of Nebraska? That is very cool and just one of the things that makes Nebraska a great place to live and claim! Why is that cool? I don't know, it just is! OK on to other stuff...

So now we are bloggers. Our kids told me that was a good thing. I will have to believe them since I have only read about 2 blogs in my lifetime. But I did see on Fox News that millions and millions of people around the world regularly read blogs, so...we shall see how many of those million touch base with this Awesome Bloggom! (Get it, like Awesome Blossom only Awesome Bloggom?)

God continues to move us forward toward a January return to the field: We are at nearly 85% of our required support; we are now asking God for 300 prayer partners and are on the way to that number; God has raised up nearly 45% of our outgoing expenses which include airline tickets, major appliances, shipping of our goods back to the field, and a car. In fact, our greatest need for the outgoing expense is funds for a car.

Would you please commit to earnestly pray that God will continue to raise up the support partners, funds for the car, and additional prayer partners? Thanks so much for doing this. And when you want to join us, please let us know that too and how you would like to join.

Well this is it from the state with the newly appointed Interim Athletic Director! Take care and keep praying and reading.

"Big Red" Saturday

2007-10-08T20:05:00.000-05:00

As part of a belated birthday gift from Jan and the kids, we attended the Nebraska/Iowa State football game in late September. It was a fun and memorable day, particularly when Nebraska managed to win the game! It was also fun to relive memories of being in the Nebraska marching band during undergrad days at the University when Jan and I were first married. Thanks Jan, Ryan, Johanna, Katie, and Nicholas.

Light to the Balkans First Try

2007-10-08T19:54:00.000-05:00

Greetings from Lincoln, Nebraska, home of the University of Nebraska and some very, very sad supporters of said institution's football team! After several weeks of dithering, we have joined the new century and added a blog spot to our repertoire of information giving. Friends tell us that people, perhaps millions, will die to read our blog simply because it is a "blog" and, I guess, that means we are officially cool!

Of course it also means we have to be on top of updating the blog and keeping you informed as to what is happening, how to pray, and how to praise. We look forward to trying to do just that and trust we will receive much feedback from readers near and far as they access the blog.

Thanks for checking us out. Have a great day.