Begging for a miracle?

"And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. ” Luke 10:15

Consider the fact that Capernaum was witness to MORE of Jesus miraculous work than any place on earth, yet their fate in unbelief is spelled out by Jesus. 

However, a family of missionary servants (found in Acts 2:42-47) attracted and retained people for the Gospel. 

Miracles authenticate the authority and divinity of Jesus (they prove Him to be God in the flesh). 

A family of missionary servants shows that the greatest and most profound miracle is becoming a new creation in Jesus - living out our Gospel identity with others

Stern

Pierce enjoying Jada's swim meet

I don't like long swim meets. I guess we should have thought that through when it came to enrolling Jada in swimming this summer. What I do like is ease. Comfort. Time for recuperation after an international trip (I just got back from Slovakia a few days ago) and in general - simplicity.

That's not what I always get or for that matter, need.

Just this week we had an experience that sharpened my character in Christ and for all practical purposes ought to be recorded to encourage others.

I was putting the kids to bed after a long day. If you are a parent you know what I mean when I say the following: it was like a battle...no a war. They acted as though they had never been to bed in their lives and that sleep was an unknown commodity, foreign to their little minds. Jada was long asleep while the boys were getting put to bed. Jess and I found ourselves laying with exhaustion in bed and discussing the events of the day.

Ollie wearing his new goggles everywhere

Not ten minutes passed before we heard footsteps. Jess grabs my arm and says, "sweetie, please be gentle." I obliged with my eyes (but my heart was far from gentle) and went upstairs, hoping swift action might encourage them to stay in their beds. I spoke with sharpness but no yelling. Thinking to myself the whole time, "I'm holding it together and not getting 'mad.'"

Pierce claimed he had to use the restroom so I am waiting next to the kiddy toilet waiting for him to be done and Oliver is just hanging next to me. With a bit more force I say, "Ollie, GO TO YOUR BED." Still no yelling, just firm.

Ollie looks me in the eye and says, "I will dad, but I must pray for you first." Then, placing his hand on my back he says, "Oh God, you are the ONE true God, and your love is our love because you first loved us. Right now my daddy is being very stern with us. Do you remember how he used to be gentle, like at the Greenfield (name of the street we used to live on until March of this year)? Please help him to be like that again. Amen" Then he puts both hands on my shoulders and turns my face toward his and gets right up in my face, literally his nose was touching mine, and says, "Dad, did it help?"

My wife and my children are the greatest tools of refinement that the Lord uses in forming me into the image of His Son. Immediately I was reminded of Philippians 4:5, "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand." Be encouraged that God uses the littlest of voices to get our attention and sharpen our character in Christ.

Slovakia comes to a close

Stephen cooks his Slovak sausage...

After 12 days, thousands of miles of travel, new friendships and plenty of Gospel-centered discussion our time here in Slovakia is coming to a close.

We are sitting in the Vienna, Austria airport looking over the tarmac and considering what it is that God has for us across the pond. The team has proven to be a HUGE blessing to Ed and his team (his words, not mine). And in so doing, they have shown me that high school students are perfectly capable of discipling others and sharing their faith on a daily basis. To be sure, there were lots of memories that were amazingly fun...but those are for face to face discussions - what matters most is the relationships that were/are being forged for eternity.

Michalah with Dominika

A brief story to sum up and a few pics...On the last night I had my niece Michalah come to me in tears at the top of the stairs. Dominika was with her - also in tears. Dominica comes and gives me a huge hug and in broken English says, "we now are brother and sister..." Our goal is never just the conversion of men, but the discipleship of them as Christ calls us to in Matt. 28:18-20. The church at Stara Tura has a huge task ahead of them as they seek to pour into those who have begun a walk with Jesus and those who are still thinking about it. Please pray for them - seek to lift up especially Pavel and his leadership team as they put together a comprehensive follow up plan and works with Josiah Venture to grow students to maturity in Christ.

Church at Stara Tura

We closed the entire time with a party that started at 4pm and lasted until midnight. We cooked Slovak sausage, did the camp dance, and in general just hung out.

so we did have some fun... Yogurt in the Face

Again, thanks for all the support and prayers - continue to lift up Ed and his family as he has a difficult task ahead of him for the summer.

The church and team

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6.

Last night at camp created what the Slovaks call a “labyrinth.” Essentially this was an exercise to cause each student to reflect on those things that shape them. The emphasis by the end of the exercise is to put before the students a clear and unmistakable presentation of the Gospel message - leaving them to decide. We highlighted faith as the key element by giving them an experience with all their senses (Taste, Touch, Smell, Sight and Sound). 

Most of the students have never been made to think on this level before and it was a humbling experience for those who approached it with the right attitude. However, we are not so naive as to think that everyone at camp wanted to jump right into this whole experience. The enemy was (and is) hard at work - hating even the connections that are made this week for the sake of the Gospel. Last night was no exception. We noticed in the time leading up to the Labyrinth that there were a myriad of distractions and behavioral issues. Through the grace the God provides, both the Slovak and American teams pushed through.

This morning the students have a rich discussion happening right behind me. For most the hangup is that they believe they must do something to replace the bad things they have done. Pray for both the Slovak and American teams today and ask the Spirit to give us insight and wisdom, because explaining Christian justification (just-as-if-I had never sinned) is a very hard concept to grasp for a nation so caught up in tradition and works. 

Finally, tomorrow will be our last day at camp. We will be packing and leaving the camp just after lunch and getting on a train across the country to Stara Tura. Once there we will spend the night and go out all day Tuesday to see the sights and sounds of Stara Tura with the youth. Packing up and getting on an 8:00pm train to Zilina. Zilina is where the training center (Kompass) is located and where we started our journey. Once there we will board a bus through the night to go to Vienna, Austria in order to catch our flight leaving the following afternoon.

Home is near, but our work is not yet done with the Slovak youth from Stara Tura. 

camp drawing to a close

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6.

Last night at camp created what the Slovaks call a “labyrinth.” Essentially this was an exercise to cause each student to reflect on those things that shape them. The emphasis by the end of the exercise is to put before the students a clear and unmistakable presentation of the Gospel message - leaving them to decide. We highlighted faith as the key element by giving them an experience with all their senses (Taste, Touch, Smell, Sight and Sound). 

Most of the students have never been made to think on this level before and it was a humbling experience for those who approached it with the right attitude. However, we are not so naive as to think that everyone at camp wanted to jump right into this whole experience. The enemy was (and is) hard at work - hating even the connections that are made this week for the sake of the Gospel. Last night was no exception. We noticed in the time leading up to the Labyrinth that there were a myriad of distractions and behavioral issues. Through the grace the God provides, both the Slovak and American teams pushed through. 

This morning the students have a rich discussion happening right behind me. For most the hangup is that they believe they must do something to replace the bad things they have done. Pray for both the Slovak and American teams today and ask the Spirit to give us insight and wisdom, because explaining Christian justification (just-as-if-I had never sinned) is a very hard concept to grasp for a nation so caught up in tradition and works.    

Finally, tomorrow will be our last day at camp. We will be packing and leaving the camp just after lunch and getting on a train across the country to Stara Tura. Once there we will spend the night and go out all day Tuesday to see the sights and sounds of Stara Tura with the youth. Packing up and getting on an 8:00pm train to Zilina. Zilina is where the training center (Kompass) is located and where we started our journey. Once there we will board a bus through the night to go to Vienna, Austria in order to catch our flight leaving the following afternoon. 

Home is near, but our work is not yet done with the Slovak youth from Stara Tura. 

The Glory and the Response of God...

Ed and I at the peak of a mountain in the High Tatras 

The day began slightly different than most of the days we have had to this point. We ate breakfast and had a bus waiting to take us 30 minutes down the road to a small ski village at the foot of the High Tatras (a mountain range here in Slovakia). We were informed that it was going to be a difficult hike, but were up for the challenge. Eight miles and 5,500ft later we were at a stopping point.

Psalm 94:4 says, "In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also." On this half day hike there were moments that I walked with each student on the team from NCF to see how God had been working over their hearts. Stories of break-though in relationships began to pervade the conversation simultaneously there was a sense of being overwhelmed by the size of God's creation.

I also had some time to walk with Ed and discuss his role over the summer and the tremendous stress that it can be (though he would not admit it). God's Spirit has truly sustained him and Wendi (as well as family) during the difficult summer months and I can attest that the work they do has LASTING IMPACT and the passion with which they carry it out is palpable! Thank the Lord for missionaries like Ed and Wendi!

Each of the students on the NCF team are finding a niche with the students from Stara Tura and they are really digging into deep discussions in the free time (which is limited). A brief story of God's faithfulness in prayer that I experienced may prove to be helpful (I often share of others and not what God is using me for - so I thought it might be helpful).

Below is a picture of my roommate and I. Last night as I walked in to go to bed at 12:15am Miroslav and I began talking about the differences between Catholicism and Christianity. Just yesterday morning I had spent a lengthy time in prayer asking the Lord to pry open conversation where Jesus would be the center (I John 5:14-15). I can't recap the whole thing here, but the final question we discussed as we fell asleep (about 1:30) was, "I am wanting to understand this, does this (the Gospel) change people permanently or not?" Please continue to pray for me as I finish this discussion later tonight...

My roommate Miroslav

More will come in a few days (monday afternoon) when we have internet connectivity again.

Day 6

Isaiah 1:6 “From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.”

Bogdan (one of the student leaders) was overcome with a weight for the hearts of the students who are here. We were in the middle of an activity which required teamwork and perseverance. It was at the climax of the game where Bogdan came to the realization that these students who are having such an enjoyable experience are at the same time in anguish in their soul and don’t even know it. 

Nate and Kennedy doing the wheelbarrow

Michalah and Timo after the team relay!

God’s Spirit has been faithful. He proves us with the needed strength and grace to engage in relationships leading toward the sharing of the Gospel with a people who are desperate for the hope found in Christ. 

Each team member has unique roles and responsibilities ranging from leading music, teaching English, playing sports, making crafts, dancing, and having many conversations with the Slovak youth. 

Our goal this week (prayerfully) and our challenge to you is this; soften the bruises, raw wounds and sores with the truth found in the Gospel by LOVING WELL. It is not only the last instructions found in Matthew to all believers, but our privilege and joy as well. 

Please pray for us as tomorrow (Friday) we will be going on an all day hike in the High Tatras (a mountain range). This will be challenging physically but more than that the spiritual challenge can present a real obstacle for our American team because they will have to carry on a discussion for a few hours with their new friends. Pray for Gospel effectiveness.