Podzimní ráno. Slunce svými paprsky rozehrává pestrou škálu

Convention Mission Statement The Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of USA and Canada exists 1) to assist in extending the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in lands of central and eastern Europe, particularly the Czech and Slovak Republics; 2) to support the work of Baptists and other evangelical churches in North America that minister to persons of Czech and Slovak descent, and 3) to provide a Christian context for worship, fellowship, teaching, and appreciation of heritage among those in the United States and Canada who bear interest in the nationalities we represent. Misijní poslání konvence Československá baptistická konvence Spojených států a Kanady byla ustanovena za účelem: 1) napomáhat v šíření evangelia našeho Pána Ježíše Krista v zemích střední a východní Evropy, zvláště v České a Slovenské republice; 2) podporovat práci baptistů a jiných evangelikálních církví v severní Americe, které slouží českým a slovenským potomkům; 3) předložit formu bohoslužby, obecenství a učení, vážit si dědictví těch, ve Spojených státech a v Kanadě, kterým leží na srdci národy, které reprezentujeme. Contents:

Editorial - Natasha Legierski................................................................. 98 Christ in the Act of Thanksgiving - Thomas Cosmades................... 99 The Power of God - Robert Dvorak.....................................................100 God’s Servant, part 2 - Miroslav Sauer..............................................102 Boží služebník, část 2. - Miroslav Sauer.............................................103 News from the Mission Field................................................................104 Zprávy z misie...........................................................................................105 Bible Study, Part 2 - Donald Shoff.....................................................106 Biblická studie, část 2 - Jan Franka.....................................................108 The Springle Family Reunion...............................................................110 Youth Scene - Johnny Alac....................................................................112 From Our Readers..................................................................................112 TWR: The Listeners Post - George Cooper.....................................113 Children’s Corner: Fireflies, Part 17 - Jan Karafiát ..........................114 Broučci, část 17 - Jan Karafiát............................116 From the President - Robert Dvorak...................................................118 From the Executive Secretary - George Sommer............................118 Ladies’ Page - Esther Tarr, Donna Nesvadba....................................119 Convention Echoes in Pictures - Part 2.............................................120

Glorious Hope / Slavná nadìje September–October 2005, Vol. 31, No 5 (USPS 009334), ISSN 0700-5202 Published Bi-Monthly by The Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of USA and Canada Periodical postage paid in Philippi, WV.

Editor-in-Chief: Natasha Legierski 1524 Lancaster Dr., #134, Oakville, ON, L6H 2Z2, Canada email: [email protected] You may send articles to above address

Desktop publishing and art: Vit Malek Assistant Editors: Janice Cermak, Ján Banko Editorial Staff: George Sommer, George Legierski, Joseph Novak POSTMASTER: Send address changes to

Publication Office:

Glorious Hope / Slavná nadìje Rt. 4, Box 58D, Philippi, WV 26416-9717 USA

email: [email protected] www.ab.edu/czslbaptconv Next issue deadline - October 15, 2005

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n autumn morning. The sun’s heating rays cover the full spectrum of colour and all its various shades, ranging from yellow, beige and brown, to a deep crimson hue. Tremulous leaves on trees are reminiscent of delicate trills played on a keyboard. The wind blows, and falling leaves sound like the strings of a harp. Nature resounds in a hushed symphony of colours and motion. Sunlight bathes nature in a shining robe of optimism. Autumn. This word signifies some sort of end. It is an end of everything that was awaited during spring and brought about in the summer. Nature is cleaned during harvest. The quality of a year is determined by autumn—good or bad, fertile or unfertile. Autumn testifies about how hard someone worked during the year. After a hard year it is easy to fall into melancholy and the pessimism that inevitably follows. A person feels tired and exhausted. Suddenly he or she awakes to a beautiful autumn morning with a clear blue sky and bright sunshine, to a morning offering optimism to all who are willing to be aware. Aware of what God has prepared for us. During everything a person experiences, is confronted with, and has to battle against, he or she can take time to stop, breathe, and take a look around at the surrounding nature, consciously absorbing its beauty. Someone who is able to do this is surely filled with gratitude

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odzimní ráno. Slunce svými paprsky rozehrává pestrou škálu barev všech možných odstínů. Od žluté, přes béžovou, hnědou až po temně rudou barvu. Chvějící se listí připomíná jemné trylky na klávesnici piana. Vítr zavane a padající listí téměř zní jako struny harfy. Celá příroda zvučí v tichou symfonií barev a pohybu. Slunce odívá krajinu do zářivého roucha optimismu. Podzim. Tento výraz s sebou nese náznak nějakého konce. Podzim tvoří tečku za vším tím, co bylo během jara očekáváno a co se v létě událo. Na podzim se sklidí úroda. Podle podzimu se hodnotí kvalita roku—dobrý nebo špatný, úrodný či neúrodný. Podzim svědčí o tom, jak člověk během roku pracoval. Po těžkém roce se může snadno upadnout do melancholie přinášející pesimismus. Člověk se cítí unaven, vyčerpán. Tu se probudí do překrásného podzimního rána s modrou oblohou a zářicím sluncem. Do rána nabízející optimismus každému, kdo je ochoten vnímat. Vnímat to, co Pán Bůh pro člověka připravil. Při všem, co člověk prožívá, s čím se potýka, s čím těžce zápasí, při tom všem se může zastavit. Zastavit se a nadechnout, rozhlédnout se a vědomě se kochat přírodou, která ho obklopuje. Ten, kdo se dokáže zastavit, je jistě naplněn vděčností nejen za tu přírodu, ale za všechno, co má a co se v jeho životě odehrává. Možná, že při jednom takovém zastavení byl Anthonio Vivaldi inspirován, krásou Boží harmonie

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Cover: Convention midyear meeting 2005 Photos: Vlast Pojman, John Jeren, Jr., George Sommer, Darko Siracki

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Christ in the Act of Thanksgiving Thomas Cosmades

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hanksgiving has its origin in Christianity. The most reflective exultation in the New Testament is summarized in these words: “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! (II Corinthians 9:15). Sinners redeemed by the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ have the profoundest sense of thankfulness and appreciation. God offered the costliest provision to redeem sinners in order to reconcile them to himself and transfer them from death to life. Christian people are called by their Lord to put into words their deep sense of gratitude. The New Testament records three distinct occasions when God’s son expressed very specific thanksgiving to the Father for the fulfillment of what he commissioned him to fulfill. These glowing incidents admonish his follower never to falter in his/her indebtedness to give thanks. The faith of the Christian is always expressed with a thankful heart: “...giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light…And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 1:12; 3:17).

I. Thanks for the miracle of the fish and the bread Matthew 15:36;

John 6:11; Psalm 104:27, 28 David prophesied about this miracle with amazing clarity (cf. Psalm 104:27, 28). In the words of the Psalmist God stands out as the GIVER. The GIVER of all benefits (cf. James 1:17) became Incarnate in order to provide the mightiest of all gifts for mankind. The beloved Son died for the sin of the world (cf. John 3:16). The striking element in the Father’s giving his Son to all mankind, and through his Son meeting every person’s need is COMPASSION (Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:2). Before giving thanks for the miracle Jesus said, “I am not willing to send them away hungry” (32). Through this we see the Lord’s compelling urge to do everything for the human race --all the way to laying down his sinless life on the cruel cross. How willing are you to carry out some ministry which will be costly to you, whether in the area of evangelism or an act of social ministry for His sake? We shouldn’t forget his crucial question, “How many loaves do you have?” (15:34). He is ever willing to do amazing deeds in our midst. What are you offering to bring about his miraculous intervention? He could have fed the four thousand without the

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seven pieces of bread and those few small fish. But he showed the importance of human participation in opening the way for this amazing miracle. “Then He gave thanks” (36). All evangelists record his thanks to the Father, but do not mention his words. This points to his oneness with the Father who had sent him to extend tangible help to every individual. Jesus Christ performed all his deeds in perfect harmony with the Father. The Father-Son cooperation was absolute in all He did. He thanked the Father for the authority and privilege he had given him to come to the world in order to extend assistance of all sorts. Can we learn from the Lord’s expressions of thanksgiving? Do we always thank God? For what do we thank him? What do we offer to him? To what extent do we present ourselves for the multitudinous acts that God wishes to execute through us? At this point, we ought also to remember his command, “Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost” (John 6:12). Are you a good steward of God’s manifold benefits, including the food on your plate? Or are you a waster of the provisions on the table? Wasting his benefits is a paramount display of ungratefulness.

II. Thanks for the miracle of raising the dead John 11:41, 42 Christ raised the dead. There are three such cases in the four Gospels. In the raising of Lazarus John mentions the thanksgiving of our Lord: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me” (11:41, 42). This thanksgiving prayer of our Lord has rich content for extensive theological discussion. As in the previous miracle, the gist of the thanks is the complete unison and oneness of the Father and the Son. Our Lord thanked the Father for sending him to the world with the authority and privilege to give life to both the physically and spiritually dead. This is a divine act in which the Father and Son work together in total unison. The Son did not do anything on his own. He is praying that people may believe in him as being sent from the Father (cf. John 12:28–30). Jesus Christ emphasized this frequently (cf. John 5:20, 21). He thanks the Father that he always hears him, including the

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The Power of God: Its Intensifying Strength Dr. Robert Dvorak Isaiah 40:28–31

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here are at least four stages in life through which most human life normally passes. The first is childhood. We begin our journey weak and vulnerable. First hours, weeks, and months outside of the womb are hard and threatening, all but impossible were it not for the faithful, loving care of parents. What were you able to do for yourself in those days but scream “bloody murder”? Thank goodness none of us remembers that part of our individual history. Any major bump, quite sustainable five, ten, or twenty years later, could in infancy finish the child off. Parallel with this weakness, however, is the growing power to get one’s way, which begins to develop almost from the earliest moments of emerging into this world of sights, sounds, and hard realities. This commanding of attention refines itself as childhood years accumulate. To get one’s way— to get fixed up, comfortable, and taken care of—the baby yowls. Then everybody in the room rushes to attend to its needs, and everyone has her or his own idea about what to do. Baby likes that very much! The second stage is youth—manhood or womanhood just around the corner and the gaining of ability to prove self, to show off and dazzle others with growing physical power, beauty, and grace. Yet at the same time this season of life is characterized by plenty of insecurities. How easily the ego and id bruise, having not quite enough history or maturity to cope. More seasoning needed, more time and experience. They’ll get there, these young adults; their day is coming. But not yet! To get one’s way—to get fixed, comfortable, and taken care of—one must do a lot of pretending, flexing of muscles, and hoping that nobody will call the bluff. Full power is not yet in hand. The third stage is one’s prime. O, Lord God, at precisely what moment does this arrive? When is it that wits are finally under control, the economic house in order, and a place and position under the sun fixed in place? Perhaps even the admiration of others who take note? At this point body and mind are working in wonderful sync with each other. “God is in his heaven and all’s right with the world!” Pardon me, but when, exactly, does this occur? When does one come to the top of his or her game, empowered to live harmoniously with any and all circumstances life is dishing up? To be at “prime!” The trouble is, like the Federal Reserve Bank rate with which this stage of life shares its name, prime keeps dodging around. Up and down it goes, like a yo-yo. Lo here, lo there! Maybe there is a day in the span of one’s time on earth

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when real power for real life comes about. But how come I cannot identify when it happened for me, now that I am sure that the moment is well past? Or why am I unable to feel convinced it will ever take place, now that I am growing suspicious of the whole idea? To get one’s way—to get fixed, comfortable, or taken care of, it takes another lifetime to figure out what went wrong with this one. It takes another whole run at things to correct the voluminous mistakes and stupidities already accumulated in this experience of “prime.” The fourth stage is—I’m sorry to report— decline. One already knows that if personal power ever did exist it contained little more than a surface kind of depth. Having arrived at this stage in the journey, a person now understands with some pointedness the testimony in the 40th chapter of Isaiah, verses 6–8a: A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades…. Then also does the truth of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2, come roaring through: What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. and I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me—and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. Oh the mirage, abridgements, the vanishing quality of so much that we think is terrifically important in life! The declining or waning season of life is ushered right out of view in much of our surrounding society. To get one’s way—be fixed, comfortable, or taken care of—sometimes even requires leaving the remainder of one’s long-term welfare in the hands of others. There you have them. Four stages, four pursuits after that most elusive prize: power in living. By all measurement, the whole experience does not end well. At the end, one is left without power in the heart and lungs. When this point is reached, then it is required of each one of us to hand back every vestige of whatever small power we may ever have exerted. It’s all over. Mr. Rockefeller occupies space not substantially grander than that of a deceased vagrant.

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Personally, I would like to organize things differently and bring another conclusion to bear. But I do not run the universe. The One who does has let old Job give the ultimate summation: Naked came I from my mother’s womb and naked I shall be making way back to earth. Is that all there is? Of course not. I am a minister of the gospel; of course this is not all. But it is real. And unless you make your peace with your creaturely circumstances, you will never catch on to the rest of the story. First of all the acceptance that in this life you have only what is permitted to you: 1) a relatively brief borrowing of time, 2) the possibility of improving upon some raw potential planted a long time ago in your genes, and 3) the certainty that each of us must be ready to give up everything at a moment’s notice. Thereafter you find there are supports to life also allowed, among them: 1) use for a while of a great planet crafted by no mere human hand, 2) consumption of goods and services in whose production none of us has had more than the minutest participation, and 3) a course of life that, by grace, has repeated instances of protection, blessing, sustenance, and delight in spite of what we deserve. That is to say, my own personally generated power for life is small indeed, but much has been given me, I know, when I reflect wholly on my experience. When you have come to an embracing of these conclusions, you are ready for the hugely good news. It arises out of Isaiah 40:28–30—some of the sweetest words in all scripture. The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint. He strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Therefore, relax! Breathe with some ease. The Lord is your friend. In the preceding messages of the 95th convention week, you have been hearing all about real power. 1) The encouragement to stay right in place (wherever that may be) until you have been clothed with power (someone else’s provision for you of a necessary wardrobe); then stay in place no longer, but do what needs to be done in God’s name. 2) The promise of Acts 1:7 that you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. It is an explosive change intended for life’s long journeying, and it will affect all who come close to you. 3) The locus of this power is Jesus Christ, who is, was, and always will be behind anything that matters. Remember, in the beginning before everything came, the Word was! Neither forget how St. Paul teaches that

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God put his power to work for us in Christ when he raised him from the dead. The point is, something has been broken loose about us and our ways, about inabilities, weaknesses, sin outcomes, about the frustrations of never arriving no matter what the present stage of life or how long we live. Here is a pivotal understanding for any Christian: life is not just about you or your experiencing of it. It is about you and God together. It is about the very Spirit of Christ within you. At the well-spring of who you are, at the determination point of what direction you will take from now on, is this security: Christ in you! Here is the important reminder at the beginning of the Isaiah 40 text: Have you not known? Have you not heard? Where have you been? When will you understand? The Lord, the everlasting One, creator of the ends—far ends—of the earth, does not grow fatigued, faint-hearted, or dispirited. You may faint. You may sink into powerlessness. But he gives power back to you. It is as if an even exchange: his power for your powerlessness. What a deal! And according to the text it picks up speed: walk /run/fly! There is no reining it in, no brakes to slow things down. The source is ever renewable. It is as pervasive, deep, and unquenchable as the eternity and infinity of God’s own being. This, by God, is what is in you. That your body may fail you? What’s that got to do with anything? Winding down will not prevent life. You just walk from then on without wearisome flesh (a concept youth cannot possibly begin yet to understand). You’ll take a hike without lungs, run without breath, fly without wings. These are the prospects for those “who wait upon the Lord.” Can you bear such a big gift? I once put an “elect lady,” Dorothea Johnson, in the ground. I was standing at the edge of her grave with a minister’s words and prayers as she descended. She had exhausted herself well into the 90s range of life years. But we had known each other pretty well toward the end of that time, and now a little bit we smiled at each other as the words came tumbling out: …shall mount up with wings, shall run unexhausted, shall walk to the end of eternity…. Isn’t it a magnificent hymn, All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name? [Editor’s Note: This sermon was delivered by Robert Dvorak, president of the convention, on the final day of the 95th Czechoslovak Baptist Convention, July 11, 2004.] 

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God’s Servant



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Extraordinary Tales of Ordinary Days Miroslav Sauer Part 2 Alcohol – My Only Joy

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he route that I drive ends in one small village. The Socialist administration rented out a house to five adult men in this village. They always rode with me in the bus, always in a horrible state: always drunk, sometimes almost unconscious. I had to then clean up after them, washing the seats as well as the rest of the inside of the bus. I didn’t like taking them, but when they were in a sober state, it was ok. Things went so far, however, that eventually nobody wanted to drive them and they had to stay at the bus station overnight. In the end we were forbidden to drive them. At first, everything inside me rebelled against my orders. I felt sorry for them, and so I drove them against orders. They were grateful for that. One of these five men was Baldur by name. He rode with me once and told me the story of how his girlfriend had left him. He didn’t want to live without her, and so he decided he would drink himself to death. As he said, so he did. His friends supplied him with alcohol and Baldur didn’t even leave the house. For weeks he didn’t eat anything, but just drank. He didn’t have the will to live. After a while I saw him at a bus stop. His girlfriend had promised to meet with him, but he had waited in vain. Looking terrible, just skin and bones, Baldur could hardly stand on his own two feet. Suddenly his feet gave out under him and he fell to the ground. I jumped out of the bus to help him up. His body was cold. I drove him to his house and helped him inside. He talked about ending his life, and it was obvious he was in need of some help. I prayed quickly, then said that if he were to take his life, that same day he would find himself in hell. I went on to tell him that Jesus loves him and is able and willing to help him. Baldur broke down and cried. He couldn’t understand it or believe it. He had gone through prison and he considered himself to be the worst of men! How could anyone love him? He just couldn’t get that concept into his mind. I promised him that I would come back to him as soon as I had driven my bus back to the garage. Even though it was already late in the evening, I had to go see him. During the ride there I asked for strength and guidance, how to talk with him so that he would accept what I was telling him. We were the same age. Only after fifty years did Baldur find out that Jesus loves him. Maybe he had heard it

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earlier in his life, but didn’t apply it to himself. I entered the house and was shocked at the havoc that greeted me. Hundreds of bottles were strewn about and the dirt was beyond description. He didn’t have anything to eat. I didn’t know where to start. So, I left everything as it was and began to take care of him. It was a Friday night and I had Saturday morning off. I left cleaning up for the morning and gave my undivided attention to Baldur. I told him about the Lord Jesus, who came to Earth, so that no one had to experience eternal death. I explained to him that he had to repent, so that he could have a new life. He did so that same night. I prayed with him, and in tears, he gave himself over to Jesus. I asked on his behalf that he would find mercy…. Then Baldur prayed for the first time in his life, without me having to dictate anything to him. He prayed that God would forgive him. He was sorry for everything and asked: “Lord Jesus, take me to you.” He shed bitter tears. I prayed for his healing and for strength. He couldn’t walk, he could only take a few steps. The next day I made Baldur some chicken soup and brought him other various treats. He couldn’t get more than a few spoonfuls of soup into him. I also brought him a Bible and audio cassettes with evangelical sermons. We read the Bible together many times. I let him know that he needed to reconcile himself not only to God, but also to other people. He confided to me that he had a son, who he had seen perhaps twice in his life. He found his son’s address and contacted both his son and his wife. His son was twenty-two years old, and came at once to visit his father. Baldur only lived for a few more months. He read the Bible and listened to the word of life through brother Erlo Stegera’s sermons. His four housemates mocked him, but listened with him (I will tell you their story some other time). Baldur ended up falling into a coma. After a few days the Lord called him home. His son sat with him to his last breath. Even his wife came to his funeral. “…whoever comes to me I will never drive away…” John 6:37 “…if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed…” John 8:36 Translated by Elizabeth Legierski 

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Boží služebník aneb

Nevšední příběhy všedních dnů Miroslav Sauer 2. část Alkohol—Jediná Radost

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utobusová linka, na které jezdím, končí v jedné vesnici. Sociální úřad v ní pronajal dům pěti dospělým mužům. Jezdívali se mnou posledním autobusem v hrozném stavu. Opilí, někdy téměř v bezvědomí. Musel jsem pak po nich uklízet, umývat sedačky i vnitřek autobusu. Nerad jsem je bral, ale když byli ve střízlivém stavu, šlo to. Došlo to tak daleko, že je už nikdo nechtěl vozit a museli zůstat na autobusovém nádraží do druhého dne. Nakonec nám je zakázali vozit. Zpočátku se to ve mne všechno bouřilo. Bylo mi jich líto, a tak jsem je bral i přes zákaz. Byli za to vděční. Jeden z nich se jmenoval Baldur. Jel se mnou a vyprávěl mi, že ho jeho přítelkyně opustila. Nechtěl již bez ní žít, a tak se rozhodl, že se upije k smrti. Jak řekl, tak udělal. Kamarádi ho zásobovali alkoholem a Baldur ani nevycházel z domu. Celé týdny nic nejedl, jen pil. Neměl chuť žít. Po nějaké době jsem ho viděl na zastávce. Přítelkyně mu slíbila, že ho přijede navštívit. Čekal marně. Byl na něho hrozný pohled, kost a kůže. Sotva se držel na nohou. V tom se mu nohy podlomily a spadl na zem. Vyskočil jsem z autobusu, abych mu pomohl. Jeho tělo bylo studené. Dovezl jsem ho před dům a pomohl mu do bytu. Mluvil o tom, že si vezme život. Bylo mi jasné, že potřebuje pomoci. Krátce jsem se stišil k modlitbě. Potom jsem řekl, že jestliže si vezme život, ještě ten den bude v pekle. Dále jsem hovořil o tom, že Pán Ježíš ho miluje a může mu pomoci. Baldur se rozplakal a nemohl to pochopit ani tomu uvěřit. Vždyť prošel vězením a sám se prohlašoval za nejhoršího člověka! Jak ho někdo může milovat? To mu nešlo do hlavy. Slíbil jsem mu, že se vrátím hned, jakmile odvezu autobus do garáže. Přestože už byla noc, musel jsem zpátky k němu. Cestou jsem prosil o sílu a vedení, jak s ním mluvit, aby to přijal. Byli jsme stejně staří. Teprve po padesátce se dozvěděl, že ho Pán Ježíš má rád. Možná to slyšel i dříve, ale nevztahoval to na sebe.

Vešel jsem do bytu a zhrozil jsem se nad tou spouští. Stovky prázdných lahví a špína k nepopsání. Neměl nic k jídlu. Nevěděl jsem kde začít. Nechal jsem tedy všechno tak, jak bylo a začal jsem se starat o něho. Byl pátek večer, v sobotu ráno jsem měl volno. Odložil jsem uklízení na ráno a věnoval jsem se jen Baldurovi. Vyprávěl jsem mu o Pánu Ježíši, který přišel na tuto zem, aby nemusel nikdo věčně zahynout. Vysvětlil jsem mu, ze se musí obrátit, aby mohl začít nový život. Učinil tak ještě tentýž večer. Modlil jsem se s ním a předal ho v slzách Pánu. Prosil jsem za něj, aby našel milost.. Baldur se modlil poprvé v životě aniž bych mu předříkával. Modlil se, aby mu Pán odpustil. Litoval všeho a prosil: „Pane Ježíši, vezmi si mne k sobě.“ Hořce plakal. Prosil jsem za jeho uzdravení a o sílu. Nemohl již chodit, zmohl se jen na pár kroků. Druhý den jsem Baldurovi uvařil slepičí polévku a přinesl jsem mu různé dobroty. Nedostal do sebe víc, než pár lžic polévky. Přinesl jsem také Bibli a audio kazety s evangelizačním kázáním. Několikrát jsme spolu četli Bibli. Pověděl jsem mu, že se má smířit nejen s Bohem, ale i s lidmi. Svěril se mi, že má syna, kterého viděl asi jen dvakrát v životě. Zjistil si adresu a navázal kontakt s manželkou i se synem. Synovi bylo dvaadvacet. Přijel hned tátu navštívit. Baldur žil jenom několik měsíců. Četl si Bibli, Slova života a poslouchal kázání bratra Erlo Stegera. Jeho čtyři spolubydlící se mu posmívali, ale poslouchali s ním. (Jejich příběhy zmíním někdy příště). Baldur nakonec upadl do bezvědomi. Za několik dní si ho Pán vzal k sobě. Jeho syn u něho seděl až do posledního dechu. Na pohřeb přišla i jeho manželka. „…a kdo ke mně přijde, toho nevyženu ven…“ Jan 6, 37 „Když vás Syn osvobodí, budete skutečně svobodní.“ Jan 8, 36 

Bible Study … Continues from page 107 and eventually they reached and rescued all nine miners. It was almost unbelievable that all the miners involved in that terrible accident were rescued unhurt. The governor of the State of Pennsylvania spoke to the media shortly after the miners had been rescued and stated that the 18-hour interruption was an act of providence. It allowed them to pump more water out of the mine before the drilling broke through into the chamber where the miners were trapped. He said, if things had gone according to schedule, all the miners would have drowned. How true that is with many of the crises we face. We will not understand the full significance of the things that happened to me until one day we stand in His presence. Until that day, I pray that God will enable us to join with the apostle Paul and say in the face of our difficulties, Hallelujah anyhow! 

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From Africa

From the Czech Republic

Ruby Mikulencak (current head of SIM Ghana)

The Potmas

This year, sister Ruby celebrated her twenty-fifth anniversary of service in Ghana. Memories of these past years, both joyful and painful, would surely fill hundreds of pages. All of them, of course, lead to a grateful heart for God’s presence in every situation. Prayer requests: • Pray that the help provided in food aid will create a hunger for God, and that many will find Jesus Christ as their Saviour. • Pray for wisdom and insight leading the SIM Ghana team into new priorities and emphasis. • Pray that with the challenges of leadership sister Ruby will not lose sight of God, and that she will not run ahead of or lag behind the Spirit’s leading. E-mail: [email protected]

Mark and Gretchen, plus their four children born in Prague (Lukas, Noemi, Benjamin and Elise). To the sisters from Convention, the name Potma is not unfamiliar. For a number of years now, this family has been doing missionary work in the South City. They have been able to find a unique way of reaching those that do not yet know Christ. Teaching English has become their bridge. The Potma family have presently traveled to their home in Windsor (ON, Canada). Various tasks and responsibilities accompany a visit home (e.g. visiting with those who support their work, motivating and speaking with potential missionary workers, visit TEAM’s home office, continuing ongoing education for future ministry, undergoing required medical evaluations, and visiting with family and friends). Let’s hope there will be time enough to relax and recover! The Potmas will be flying back to Prague in July of 2006.

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E-mail: [email protected]

The Poenarus

Dan—surgeon Ditta—nurse Chriss and Daniel—creative boys, full of energy After an exhausting period of time serving in the exotic land of Africa, the Poenar family traveled from Kenya for a four-month vacation at home in Canada. A vacation with a rich programme will cer tainly bring many closer to missionary work as well as their day-to- day lives. In their most recent letter, the Poenar family expressed a desire for this vacation to become an opportunity to motivate others for missionary work and to strengthen friendly ties in North America. The whole family is visiting Toronto’s congregation the Sunday of October 2, 2005. E-mail: [email protected] 

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The Marks Edith and Jerry Mark visited the Czech Republic in the year 2004. They began working with seniors there, and they now return to this work. They will also continue the Potmas’ work (teaching English and working in the church in the southern part of the city). We must not forget that English instruction leads to Bible studies. The Marks also live in Canada (Minitonas, Manitoba). Their desire to spread the gospel led to the decision to spend the next nine months under the TEAM organization in Czech Republic (from September 2005 to May 2006). E-mail: [email protected] 

Note: These missionaries are supported by the Convention, mainly through our Women’s Missionary Union. We would like to provide information for you on a regular basis, information on their work and especially on the thousands of different ways God’s power is manifested, which take one’s breath away. For this type of work, continual prayer and sincere support (not just financial) is a precious foundation. We are disclosing the e-mail addresses of these missionaries with encouragement to readers not to forget about God’s servants. All it takes is a couple of hits on the keys, clicks on the mouse and the words of comfort or encouragement that result will warm a heart even hundreds of kilometers away! Editor-in-Chief Natasha Legierski.

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Afrika

Markovi

Ruby Mikulenčáková (nyní již vedoucí SIM Ghana)

Edita a Jaroslav Markovi navštívili Českou republiku již v roce 2004. Započali práci se staršími lidmi a nyní se k této práci vrací. Budou rovněž pokračovat v práci Potmanů (vyuka angličtiny) a ve sboru v Jižní městě. Nesmíme opomenout, že vyuka angličtiny vede k biblickému studiu. Markovi také pochází z Kanady (z Minitonas, provincie Manitoba). Touha šířit evangelium vedla k rozhodnutí ztrávit dalších devět měsíců, pod hlavičkou TEAM, v České republice (od září 2005 do května 2006). E-mail: [email protected]

Sestra Ruby letos oslavila 25. výročí služby v Ghaně. Vzpomínky na uplynulé roky by jistě zaplnily stovky stránek. Vzpomínky pěkné a veselé, vzpomíky smutné a bolavé. Všechny však vedou k vděčnosti za Boží přítomnost v každé situaci. Podněty k modlitbám: • za to, aby pomoc nabídnutá v oblasti potravinového zásobování vzbudila hlad po Bohu, a aby mnozí našli Ježíše Krista jako Spasitele. • za moudrost a správný pohled (co se týče vedení SIM týmu v Ghaně) k novým prioritám a na co je kladen důraz • za to, aby sestře Ruby nezastřely problémy, které s sebou nutně nese vedoucí postavení, pohled na Boha, a aby sestra “držela krok” s Duchem Svatým (to znamená: Ducha Svatého nepředbíhat a ani za Ním nepokulhávat). E-mail: [email protected] 

Poenaruovi Dan—chirurg Ditta—zdravotnice Chriss a Daniel—tvořiví hoši, plní energie Po vysilujícím období služby v exotické Africe, Poenaruovi odcestovali z Kenyi na čtyřměsíční prázdniny domů, do Kanady. Prázdniny s bohatým programem jistě mnohým přiblíží práci i všední život misionářů. Poenaruovi ve svém posledním dopise vyjádřili touhu po tom, aby se tyto prázdniny staly příležitostí misijně motivovat druhé a upevnit přátelské svazky v Severní Americe. Celá rodinka navštíví sbor v Torontě v neděli 2. října 2005. E-mail: [email protected] 

Čechy

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Poznámka: Tito misionáři jsou podporováni naší konvencí, zvláště sestrami. Chceme vám pravidelně přinášet informace o práci, kterou vykonají a zvláště o Boží moci, která se projevuje tisíce různými způsoby, až se tají dech. Při takové práci je vzácným základem ustavičná modlitba a upřímná podpora, nejen finanční. Uveřejňujeme také elektronické adresy misionářů a vyzýváme čtenáře k tomu, aby na Boží služebníky nezapomínali. Stačí pár úderů do klávesnice, ťuknutí na myš a slova útěchy či povzbuzení prohřejí srdce i na mnoho kilometrů vzdálených! Šéfredaktorka Nataša Legierská

MOVING ?

Please write to: Glorious Hope Rt.4, Box 58D Philippi, WV 26416 USA Include your mailing label from a recent issue of Glorious Hope for faster service.

Potmaovi Marek a Gretchen a jejich čtyři děti, narozené v Praze: Lukáš, Noemi, Benjamin a Elise Setrám z konvence jméno Potma není neznámé. Již několik let tato mladá rodinka misijně slouží v jižní části Prahy. Jedinečným způsobem navazují kontakty s těmi, kteří neznají Pána Ježíše Krista. Mostem se stala vyuka angličtiny. V současné době Potmaovi odcestovali domů, do Windsoru, (Ontario, Kanada). Návštěva domova s sebou nese spoustu úkolů a povinností (např. setkání s těmi, kteří tuto práci podporují, oslovení potencionálních misijních pracovníků, setkání s domovskou misijní organizací TEAM, pokračovat ve vzdělávání se, projít věchna potřebná lékařská vyšetření, setkání s rodinou a přáteli). Věřme, že bude čas i na odpočinek a zotavení! Do Prahy se Potmaovi vrátí v červenci 2006. E-mail: [email protected]

Check our Convention Web page:

www.ab.edu/czslbaptconv

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Philippians – Epistle of Joy Joy in Difficulties

Part 2

Dr. Donald Shoff

Philippians 1:12–18

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any people consider Beethoven one of the greatest musicians of all time. He began losing his hearing when he was 31 and gradually descended into a life of silence until eventually all he had left was the memory of sounds. He went through a period of severe depression and considered suicide. But eventually he began to recover and started composing once again. Before long he reached a point where he was able to say: There is no greater joy for me than to pursue and produce my art. Oh, if I were only rid of this affliction I could embrace the world. But I will seize it by the throat; most assuredly it shall not get me wholly down. In that condition of total deafness he produced some of the greatest musical works of all time. Whether one appreciates Beethoven’s music or not, one has to admire his indomitable spirit. Neverthless, as far as we know, Beethoven never came to the point of rejoicing in his adversity. He endured it and emotionally rose above it but never embraced it as a friend. What a contrast with the apostle Paul. In the first chapter of the book of Philippians, he expresses his reaction to one of the most painful events of his life. He says in verse 12, Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. He doesn’t recount what it was that had happened to him. There was no need to do so; the Philippian believers knew already. As we follow the accounts of his life and ministry as recorded in the Book of Acts and the epistles, we can arrive at an understanding of what he meant by what has happened to me. He was Christ’s apostle, divinely commissioned to take the gospel to the

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Gentiles. He was a master missionary strategist and from every indication, it was his intention to fulfill the Great Commission in his lifetime. He did not just plant churches. He planted churches in centers of influence, places where they would have a great impact on a whole region. He poured a lot of time and effort into the church at Antioch. Antioch was not only the capital of Syria, but also the hub of the Roman Empire in the East. He planted a church in Ephesus, the most influential city in Asia Minor. Ephesus was the center of Diana worship and home of the massive Temple of Diana that brought thousands of visitors every year to the city. This structure was one of the wonders of the ancient world, being four times larger than the Parthenon in Athens. Luke’s assessment of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus gives us an appreciation of his church-planting strategy: This went on for two years (i.e., his teaching and preaching), so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. He also founded a church in Philippi, a key city in Macedonia, located on the much-traveled highway that linked the eastern provinces with Rome. He started a church in Athens, a university town and the center of intellectual life of Greece. Ideas espoused in Athens radiated throughout the civilized world of that day. He planned to preach the gospel in

Rome, the capital city. Usually what happened in Rome had repercussions throughout the civilized world. In fact, he wrote the book of Romans, not only to set forth the theological basis of the gospel, but also to prepare the church in Rome for his coming. From Rome he planned to go on to Spain—the ends of the earth in the minds of most people of that day. Well, now he is in Rome…but as a prisoner. He is not free to move about and to evangelize that great city as he had once anticipated. Instead he is chained to a Roman soldier. Godly ambition thwarted. What he had given his life to accomplish now seems frustrated. Why? Was not Christ’s commission to take the gospel to the ends of the earth? If so, why is he now a prisoner? If God was able to protect him from the plot of the Jews in Jerusalem, why is he now a prisoner? What would your reaction have been? I am embarrassed to think of how I would have handled it. However, notice the apostle Paul’s response to one of the great disappointments of his life: Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel…. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice (12, 18). In essence he is saying, this isn’t what I planned and it certainly is not what I would have chosen, but the cause of Christ is being advanced, so Hallelujah anyhow! Let’s bring this truth out of the first and into the twenty-first century. Let me personalize that phrase what has happened to me. I know a man whose goal was to be president of the company he worked for by the time he was 40. The year he turned 40 they replaced him with a younger man. I know a lady whose dream was to have a happy, godly family. When she stood at the marriage altar and said until death alone shall part us, she meant it with all her heart. Unfortunately, he didn’t. Today she struggles not only with loneliness but also with the task of being the breadwinner for

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the family as well as being mom and dad to her two children. I knew a couple that loved each other dearly. They worked hard, lived frugally and looked forward to their retirement years together. However, they were not prepared for the call from the doctor when he told them the tests indicated the cancer had spread. Today, the husband faces retirement…alone. What has happened to me—you fill in the blank. We have all walked the road of difficulty to some degree. For all who have tasted deep disappointment and hurt, these four insights that follow are for you. First, What has happened to me can provide opportunity for our most effective witness. He says, what had happened to me has really served to advance the gospel… throughout the whole palace guard…(1:12, 13). The palace guard was ten thousand of Rome’s best—an elite group of the finest soldiers from every corner of the Empire. Then he adds, not only has the gospel advanced to the palace guard, but to everyone else. That is, to everyone else in Caesar’s palace. Many of these were government officials with significant influence in the government. Roman guards worked six-hour shifts. So, every six hours Paul was likely face-toface with four new, rude, profane pagan soldiers. This may sound a lot like the place where you work. You may be tempted to ask, how can I bear witness for Christ in this cesspool? Not so the apostle Paul. He was thrilled that every six hours he had a new audience with whom to share the gospel. The power of the gospel, and Paul’s faithfulness in proclaiming it, is reflected in the closing greeting of this Epistle: All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household (4:22). Also, this greeting is a strong testimony to the truth that difficulties provide opportunities. The greatest impact on Caesar’s household was not the impact of Paul’s words, but rather, the impact of a life filled with joy, while struggling with hurt. Joy in difficulties, like a stone thrown in a pond, creates an ever-widening circle. The apostle Paul came to faith in Christ as a result of a face-face-meeting with the risen Christ. Given the supernatural nature of the events surrounding his conversion, it is easy to overlook the part a man by the

name of Stephen had in Paul’s salvation. The Lord seems to refer to the impact of Stephen’s testimony when He says to Paul, It’s hard for you to kick against the goads. The frenzied crowd that stoned Stephen laid their garments at the feet of a young, zealous Pharisee named Saul. As Stephen was dying, Paul heard him pray, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. The memory of how one believer in Jesus Christ reacted in the face of injustice was not only a goad to his conscience, but the single most powerful witness Paul received in his preconversion days. The most effective witness we give to our neighbors, family or co-workers is usually not what we say with our lips, but how we react when the bottom falls out of our lives. Secondly, What has happened to me can be a means of bringing revival to the church. Paul states, Most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly (1:14). This is another way of saying that the church at Rome had been in a state of spiritual decline. The church needed revival, and God used an unlikely means to bring it about. He used the hardships of one Christian brother to stir to fervency the hearts of a whole congregation. There were also some in the church at Rome who were jealous of the apostle Paul and were happy to see him in prison. He tells us, Some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry…out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains (1:15, 17). Note Paul’s reaction to the carnal group in the congregation, But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice (1:18). He did not react in bitterness. He didn’t fight back. It was that spirit of quiet trust in God that was the means God used to bring revival to the Roman Church. Are fellow Christians challenged by the way they see us react to suffering? Judy’s dad, Michael Sivulka, was a vital part of this Convention for many years. He went to be with the Lord some three years ago. For the last six months of his life he had an inoperable tumor and the pain grew increasingly severe. At night when he couldn’t sleep because of the

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pain, he would sing. At his funeral two nurses who had taken care of him shared how God used Mike’s joyful spirit to touch their lives. One of them came to faith in Christ and the other to a closer walk with Him. It was not Mike’s words but his joy in suffering that God used to touch their lives. What has happened to me can also open the door to our most effective ministry. How very much poorer the world would be if Paul had not been a prisoner. If he had been free to travel and minister personally in those scattered churches, he would have had little reason to write letters. The prison epistles—Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon—are a rich treasure that the Holy Spirit has used in untold lives through the centuries. Lastly, What has happened to me can lead us to a discovery of the secret of victorious living. Philippians 4:13 is one of the best-loved and most memorized verses in the Bible. How often, when I have faced a task too big for me, has the Holy Spirit brought these words to mind, I can do everything through him who gives me strength (4:13). Paul may never have learned that marvelous truth, had he not faced a difficulty beyond his own power to handle. In July 2002, nine Pennsylvania coal miners were trapped 240 feet below ground at the Quecreek Mine in southwestern Pennsylvania. The miners knew there was an abandoned mine nearby but they did not know how close. When their drills broke through into that abandoned mine, 50 million gallons of water flooded the shaft of the Quecreek Mine they were working. Some miners escaped; however, nine were trapped by the rising water. They ran to the highest part of the mineshaft and waited. Rescuers did not know at that time if anyone was still alive down below. However, they marked the most likely spot the miners would be if they were still alive. They brought in drilling machinery and frantically began drilling through the equivalent of 20 stories of solid granite. One-third of the way down the bit broke and drilling came to a halt. It took 18 hours to repair the bit, and hope faded that anyone would be found alive. However, the rescue team kept drilling

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Continues on page 103

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Radosť v utrpeniach Fil 1,12–30

2. Časť

Pastor Jan Franka

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a jednom balkóne, ktorý sa hlboko nadklaňal ponad ulicu, sedela skupina ľudí a  pozorovala ľudí prechádzajúcich sa ulicou. Skupina na balkone bola tak blízko ulici že mohli tajne načúvať všetkým rozhovorom dole idúcich, rozprávať sa s nimi, kriticky sa vyjadrovať o ich chôdzy, smere cesty, o jamách na ceste, a pod. Aj keď sa vyjadrovali o problémoch dole idúcich, predsa boli iba divákmi a všetky problémi o ktorých diskutovali boli iba teoretické. Na rozdiel od nich, na ceste sú chodci ktorým spomínané problémi nie sú iba teoretické, ale nadovšetko praktické. Pre chodcov problémi na ceste (prečo je na ceste mláka, jama, ostrá zákruta a pod) nevyžadujú momentálne pochopenie, ale rozhodnutie–ktorým smerom pôjdeme, ako to urobíme a pod. Ľudia na balkóne a ľudia na ceste sa ceste sa môžu zaoberať tou istou otázkou, ale podstata je rozdielna–jedny iba teoretizujú, druhý sú v strede konrétneho problému. Našou témou je radosť v utrpeniach, a pre ľudí ktorý sa tou témou zaoberajú iba teoreticky, môže to znieť veľmi nereálne, nemožne, alebo aj fanatický. Ostávame v kresťanskom kontexte utrpenia a predsa človekova logika v  utrpení nepripúšťa radovať sa. Čítajúc svedectvá veriacich ktorý prešli cez určité utrpenie, bývame posmelený, lebo Pán dáva silu aj v takých ťažkých momentoch nie iba vydržať, ale radovať sa. Spoznávame že radosť nie je z utrpenia, ale z Pána, a toto je kľúčoví moment ktorý nachádzame v našom oddieli. Aby sme porozumeli ľudí ktorý trpia v Pánovi a radujú sa, musíme aj mi byť v tom istom Pánovy. Pekne to vyjadril Peter v 1 Pet 4:1 „Keď Kristus trpel telesne, vyzbrojete sa tým istým zmýšľaním...“ Pozrime sa cez text v Fil 1:12–30 ako sa Pavel radoval aj keď trpel.

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Pavlovo uveznenie V Písme máme tri záznami o Pavlovom

žalarovaní. V každom z nich vidno Pavlov postoj: nezúfať, ale veriť v Boha a oslavovať ho. Pavel si uvedomil že aj keď je v službách najsilnejšieho kráľa, jemu, ako poslovi, sa nekladú koberce na uvítanie, ba opačne: palicovanie a veznenie. Satan, panovník tohoto sveta, sa protivil rozširovaniu Božieho kráľovstva. Vidno to už v prvom Pavlovom vezení vo Filipis (Sk 16, 23–40) keď boli ohrozené záujmi vládcov tohoto sveta. Nepredpokladamáme že Pavel písal tento list už zo svojho prvého vezenia, o ktorom máme záznam že trvalo krátko a Pavel bol vyslobodený. Druhé Pavlovo vezenie bolo v  Cezarei (Sk 21, 27–23, 35). Pavel bol znovu uveznený pre zvestovanie Krista. Toto vezenie trvalo dlhšie, ale jeho záznam v liste Filipanom hovorí že celá stážnica (pretórium) počuli že je uveznený pre kázanie Krista a nie smesi istý či Cezarea, kde bol uveznený, mala takú veľkú stážnicu o ktorej on hovorí. Tretie Pavlovo vezenie bolo v Ríme, známejšie ako prvé uväzneni v Ríme (Sk 26–28). Veľká je pravdepodobnosť, že slová radosti a  potešnia pre Filipanov, boli napísané práve z tohoto vezenia, alebo z  takzvaného druhého Pavloho veznenia v Ríme ktoré Pavel neprežil. Vezenie ukázalo na radosť v Pánovi Pavel mal plod Ducha radosť, a  radovanie sa aj v utrpeniach, je iba pohľad na radosť z iného uhla. Ide o istý plod Ducha,

iba okolnosti sa lišia. Vezenie, ktoré malo zastaviť Pavlovo zvestovanie Evanjelia, vykonalo opak, iba poslúžilo k zvestovaniu – z čoho sa Pavel veľmi radoval. Pavlova služba bola ohraničená, ale iný boli posmelený. V prvej cirkvy vzniklo slovo „Martír“ čo doslovne znamená svedok. Toto slovo sa stalo synonimom pre svedkov v utrpení pre Krista. Martíri boli ako semeno Evanjelia: čím bolo viacej marírov, tím sa Evanjelilum rýchlejšie rozširovalo. Vezenie malo znemožniť, ale ono iba pospešilo zvestovanie Evanjelia. Pavel bol v okovách pre Krista a počulo o tom niekoľko tisíc vojakov v strážnici. Celkom bolo nezvyčajné že je niekto v okovách nie pre politické, alebo kriminálne, ale pre náboženské dôvody. O Pavlových okovách počuli aj „všetci ostatný“, pravdepodobne kresťania a nekresťania. Pre Pavla bolo dôležité že vo vezení nešlo o neho, ale o Krista. Nie je on centrom záujmu, ale Kristus. Nikto sa nepýtal kto je Pavel, ale kto je Kristus. Okovy určite boleli, ale srdce sa radovalo, lebo Kristus bol položený do stredu pozornosti. Aj „bratia“ sú posmelený z  toho že Pavel tu nevidí koniec všetkého, ale sa raduje v  Pánovi a  nezúfa. Pavlov postoj otvoril dvere zvestovania evanjelia. Bratia neboli poslaný, ale posmelený Pavlovou radosťou a dôverou v Pána. Dobrý príklad je viacej ako poslanie alebo rozkaz. Uveznili Pavla, ale nie aj Krista Pavel je v  okovách, ale nie aj Kristus, ktorého zvestoval. Raduje sa z  toho že Evanjelium ide ďale a nie je uväznené spolu s nim. Evanjelium nestojí na Pavlovi, kazateľovi, tebe alebo mne, ale na Kristu. Boh si vždy vzbudí tých ktorý ho budú niesť ďalej. Aj keď Boh dovolil vezenie, to Pavla nezbavilo zodpovednosti za svoje počínanie si vo vezení. Svojim postojom mohol niekoho posmeliť, alebo aj deprimovať. Vidno že Pavlovo vezenie posmelilo niektorých bratov na kázanie Krista, sice, niektorý z dobrej vôle, ale niektorý so závisti. Tí prví vyšli na ulice kázať z lásky ku Pavlovi, ale nadovšetko z lásky ku Kristu.

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Povzbudení boli Pavlovou odanosťou Kristu. Taktiež, keď videli že ani vezenie nezobralo Pavlovi radosť z Pána, boli posmelený v kázaní. Možno ich kázne neboli tak silné ako Pavlove, ale Duch bol ten istý. Tí druhý vyšli na ulice kázať so závisti voči Pavlovi. Mohých bolí úspech druhého človeka, tak to bolo aj s  tímito kazateľmi. Nečítame o  nich že sa Pavel sťažuje na ich učenie, ale na motív kázania. Niektorý z  nich asi Pavla nemali rád, lebo vedľa neho nemohli prísť do výrazu. Pavel je vo vezení, teraz prišiel ich čas. Ich najväčší problém bol že kázanie videli ako súperenie–kto lepšie odkáže. Domnievali sa že tím keď oni teraz budú kázať, Pavel bude žiarliť. No Pavel sa raduje, lebo Evanjeliu pre ktoré je on vo vezení sa zvestuje. Oslobodený je od toho že to koná niekto iný , alebo že to koná nieto lepšie ako on. Však to nie je jeho dielo, on je iba Pánov vojak ktorý verne koná svoju službu. Výsledky patria Pánovy, nie Pavlovy. Pavel nestaval cirkev na sebe, ale na Kristu, preto bol schopný radovať sa z úspechov kazateľov ktorý pokračovali kázať tam kde on zastal. Dôvera v Pána pôsobí radosť a mier Pavel sa vo vezení opiera na dve pomoci: modlitby filipských (stále prosí aby sa modlili pre neho) a božskú pomoc (napomíhanie Ducha Ježiša Krista; Fil 1,20). Tieto dve veci mu poslúžia na spasenie. Nevieme či tímto myslel na vyslobodenie z tela hriechu, podobne ako to písal do Rimu v R 7, 24, alebo skôr to môžeme rozumieť ako vyslobodenie z vezenia. Pavel je istý že pred Kristom bude spravedlivý, bez ohľadu či bude oslobodený, alebo nie. Vie že za sebou nechal čistú „tvár“ v službe, bez ohľadu že niektorý zneužívajú jeho neprítomnosť. Vždy dôveroval iba Bohu, záležalo mu najprv čo si Boh myslí o jeho službe, a tento postoj mu teraz prináša radosť a mier. „Vrúcne čakám a dúfam“, na koniec súdenia, hovorí Pavel, ale nie v nedočkavosti či bude odsúdení alebo nie, ale ako Ježiš z  tohoto všetkého bude oslávený. Pavel konal všetko pre Ježišovu slávu, preto chce aj ukončením tohoto procesu osláviť Pána. Ak bude vyslobodený, Ježiš bude oslávený v ďalšej plodnej práci. Ak bude odsúdený, zomrie preto že zvestoval Krista. Oby dve cesty vedú k  istému cieľu–osláviť Ježiša

Krista. Ak by si mohol vyberať, vybral by si smrť, ktorá pre neho nie je koniiec existencii, ale odchod k  Pánovy. Hovorí: „tiahne ma“, radšej by bol navždy s  Pánom ktorého zvestoval, ale nie je sebecký, ostal by aj s veriacimi, lebo vie koľko ešte duchovnej práci zostalo. Netúži po tom čo by bolo jemu lepšie, ale čo je užitočnejšie. Smrť mu je predo dverami, ale on má pevnú nádej že zostane, a už sa vopred raduje novej službe. Veril že vyslobodenie by znamenalo

rast viery Filipanov, lebo sa modlili pre Pavlovo vyslobodenie. Nevieme presne povedať či bol Pavel z tohoto vezenia vyslobodený, alebo oslávil Krista mučeníckou smrťou. Jeho vernosť Pánovi aj v najťažších životných momentoch je príkladaná aj pre súčasnú kresťanskú generáciu. Jeho city k Pánovy neoboli založené na okolnostiach v ktorých sa nachádza, ale v skutočnosti že Ježiš miloval najprv Pavla, „ešte vtedy keď bol hriešny“ a dal aj svoj život pre Pavla. O  svojich utrpeniach píše aj do Korintu „Lebo toto terajšie ľahké bremeno súženia získa nám prenesmiernu hojnosť večnej slávy, keď nehľadíme na viditeľné, ale na neviditeľné“ 2 Kor 4,17–18. Toto je kontext Pavlovej radosti. Žite hodne Mnohý skúsili pravdivosť porekadla: to čo jeden pokazí, ani desiati nenapravia. Mesto Filipis sa pýšilo na svoje vydobité práva v  rímskej ríši. Rímsky občan mal mnohé privilégiá, ale aj záväzok voči svojmu štátu: žiť hodne ako rímsky občan. Na tomto úzadí píše Pavel 1, 27 „Len nažívajte tak, ako je hodné evanjelia Kristovho“. Aj veriaci Filipský trpia a Pavel ich povzbudzuje aby v utrpení žili hodne evanjelia. Mnohý v utrpení zapreli svoju vieru v Krista, preto ich Pavel povzbudzuje „nie iba mne, aj vám sa dostalo milosti trpieť pre Krista“. Radosť ktorú mal Pavel so svojho Pána a Spasiteľa

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Ježiša Krista nemohi vytrieť ani vezenie a hrozba smrťou. Teraz spolu pre Krista trpia, ale chce aby sa spolu z Krista aj radovali. Silné prenasledovanie v ľuďoch pôsobý strach a Pavel im píše: „Nedajte sa zastrašiť“. Pravdepodobe nešlo iba o obavy, ale o skutočný strach. V pôvodine je tuná použité slovo ktoré sa používalo pre splašené zvieratá, ktoré nekontrolovane utekali, šliapali jedna po druhom a nedali sa zastaviť. Protivenie nepriateľov bolo iba znamením od Boha že nepriatelia zahynú a  veriaci budú spasený. V danom momente sa im to nezalo, ale Pavel dvíha ich pohľad viššie, podľa toho ako to vidí Boh. Keď sa začali pýtať: prečo Boh dovolí prenasledovanie, zlo (dnes choroby) a  celú svoju silu sústredili na problém a nie na Pána, malo to za dôsledok že strácali vedomie Božej moci a dobroty. Dnes so študovania tohoto odielu môžeme vidieť že ich utrpenie nebolo náhodné, nebolo to ani vyjadrenie Božieho hnevu, ale vyjadrenie Božej milosti. V krajinách kde veriaci zažili prenasledovanie pre svoju vieru v Krista, akoby sa veriaci boli vedeli viacej radovať so spasenia v Ježišovi Kristovi. Žite hodne evanjelia Ježiša Krista–v ťažkostiach zostante verný, jednotný, bojujúci za vieru a  radostný že je Ježiš s vami v strede ťažkostí. Možno nie sme prenasledovaný, ale máme rôzne iné problémi ktoré odrátia náš pohľad od Pána. Keď Peter kráčal k  Ježišovi po vode, začal sa topiť vtedy, keď svoj pohľad odvrátil od Ježiša a uprel na svoj problém. Ako dobre že sa znovu otočil k  Ježišovi hľadajú pomoc. Možno práve teraz je niekto v  začiatkoch, alebo v strede určitej choroby alebo problémoch, ktoré odoberjú každý radostný moment. Je pravda, z choroby sa nemôžeme radovať, ale z Pána áno. Nech sú slová proroka Habakuka 3:17– 19 aj našim rozhodnutím: „Hoci figovník nekvitne a ovocia niet na viničoch, a sklame úroda olív, polia nedodajú potravy, ulúpené sú ovce z  košiara a  dobytka nieto v  stajniach. Ja radovať sa budem v Hospodinu, a jasať v Bohu mojej spásy. Hospodin Pán je moja sila. On jelením robí moje kroky a vyvedie ma na moje výšiny.“ 

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The Springle Family Reunion July 30 to August 1, 2005

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his was the first Springle reunion since 1967. Families of the four Springle brothers, Joseph, William, Milton and Tony, and their two cousins, Bill Cap and Olga (Cap) Zajiček, with whom the Springles have had a close connection through the years, were represented. Their mothers, Alžběta and Maria, were the only two of seven sisters and two brothers from that Springle generation to come to North America. Familiar names that from left Harry Tarr, Esther Tarr, Ron Springle, Doreen Gazo married into the clan such as Buress, Racinsky, Syptak, Luksa, Tarr, and Nesvadba were present. Of the elder generation, Tona Springle (Tony) and Betty Cap (Bill) were present. Vlasta Springle (Joseph) at age 93 was unable to attend. Marie Hynek, second cousin to the Springle brothers and the Caps, represented the Hart/Tucek side of the family. The festivities started in Masaryktown, Toronto, on the morning of July 30, 2005, when all the sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. met, some 130 family members, from as far away as the Bahamas, British Columbia, California, Florida, Ohio and New Hampshire. A representative of the Luksa family came from the Czech Republic. Some second and third cousins met for the first time and others became reacquainted after many years. Masaryktown is a beautiful park and a great setting to fellowship. It was a perfect day: warm in the sun and cool in the shade of the old trees. There were two volleyball nets well used, as well as swimming and especially lots of reminiscing. The evening meal at the Prague Restaurant, which is located on the grounds of Masaryktown, was a true Czech dinner: řísky, knedlíky and zelí. Bill Springle emceed the evening program and

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Tim Racinsky led us in the singing of familiar choruses, with Donna Nesvadba at the piano. We sang two Czech anthems from the Chvalospěv: Chval Každý Boha (Psalm 67, “Let the people praise Thee”) and Pán Světlo Mé (Psalm 27. “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation”). Many shared wonderful reminiscences and stories. We gave thanks to God for His goodness to us. We gave Him thanks for our forefathers and their faithfulness. Ron Springle closed in prayer expressing our gratitude. On Sunday many of us attended the service at the Czechoslovak Baptist Church in Toronto. Pastor Banko, aware that not all understood the Czech language, preached in Slovak and then seamlessly translated into English so that everyone could understand the message. He spoke of the “fruits of the spirit,” particularly the “fruits of discernment.” All present felt warmly welcomed and it was good to worship in the House of the Lord together. On Monday, as some family members had to leave for home, about 75 of us met at the Luksa farm for a very enjoyable day. We enjoyed more reminiscing/ fellowshiping, volleyball, swimming and eating. It was indeed difficult to say goodbye. “What a fellowship, what a joy d i v i n e . ” We from left: Rebecca Cap, Betty Cap, Tona Springle, Beth Springle g ave t h a n k s for our forefathers’ perseverance to serve Him in spite of adversity. They were willing to sacrifice much in order to worship the Lord

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in freedom. Originally exiled after the battle of White Mountain in 1620, they moved their families from Bohemia to Russia/Poland

Back row: Dennis Springle, Ed Springle, William Springle, Ron Springle Front row: Donna Nesvadba, Milly Syptak, Esther Ward, Libby Racinsky, Margaret Springle

to Czechoslovakia (some directly to North America) and on to Canada/USA and further. We praise the Lord for His faithfulness. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” (Joshua 24:15). Margaret Springle

from left: William Springle, Libby Racinsky, Elena Holt, Margaret Springle, Rebeka Eisbrenner

Christ in the Act of Thanksgiving… Continues from page 99 matter of raising the dead. The Father always heard the Son’s requests. Right now, he is listening to the Son’s intercessions in heaven in his high priestly ministry (Heb. 2:17; 4:14; 5:10). As the Father heard the Son during his earthly ministry, he now listens to his intercessory prayers in heaven. This prayer is a firm assurance of the believer’s stand before the Son and the Father. Christ thanks God for the unlimited privilege granted him. The Father sent the Son to the world with absolute authority—no limit or restriction. The people standing by the dead man’s grave had to know that this Person was sent by the Father in his full authority. Christ himself was aware of it. Those who refuse to admit this until now ought to know that the Father has bestowed absolute authority on the Son, including the raising of the dead. When this truth is established in the heart of the unbeliever his entire outlook changes. It is apropos to pose a question: Are your prayers heard by God? Are you certain of this? If you are sure, how often do you lift your voice in thanksgiving to Him? III. Thanks for the bread and the cup—surety of the covenant of redemption Matthew 26:27; Mark 14:23; Luke 22:17, 19 Following a spectacular ministry the climactic event was at hand. The Lamb of God was to lay down his life in a few hours. He was sitting with his disciples around the table for the last time. This was the hour to unfold the new covenant based on his suffering body and shed blood. Christ is thanking the Father for granting him the privilege of being the establisher of the new covenant, anticipated and prophesied throughout the Old Testament era. At the very hour when the disciples were plunged into grief and distress, Christ was thanking the Father for the joy of laying down his life to atone for the sins of the whole world. This crucial hour was a time of jubilation for the Savior. There is another occasion of Christ celebrating in jubilation

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before the Father (cf: Matthew 11:25–27; Luke 10:21, 22) for his revealing the truth to babes while hiding it from the wise and understanding. It ought to be a great encouragement to every believer that Christ was revealed to that person by none other than the Father. This theologically loaded prayer of our Lord reveals much as to the Father’s call and election of those to whom the Son is made known. The infinite Father can only be known by the infinite Son, and the infinite Son can only be known by the infinite Father. The babes are included into this exclusive relationship, not through intelligence or religious excellence, but by divine revelation. The mystery of this relationship is that the Father reveals the Son and in turn the Son reveals the Father to little children, to those burdened with the loads of this arduous life. A formidable hour was about to dawn upon the Master and the band of disciples who needed their burden to be made light. Jesus Christ has taught us a most valuable lesson about rising above any crisis. He displayed a noble fortitude and offered thanks to Him. In his remarkable composure we observe the mien of one capable of encountering the most crucial hour in his life on earth. With deep gratitude He turns his mind and attention to his Father in heaven. Christ sets the triumphant example to every believer of how to encounter crises in distressing times. He shows that the attitude of thanksgiving is not only for the times when we pleasant gifts, but also for when the sky is totally dark. Romans 8:28 is often applied by many, even in hard circumstances. In the case of our Lord, we observe the conduct of one who acknowledges God’s sovereign purpose behind what is to be his extraordinary suffering. Consequently, we too can trust in Christ as the ultimate Victor and Vindicator of all injustice. 

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Argument for Small Churches Johnny Alac

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ecently I’ve been thinking of the concept of the mega-church. You know, the type of place that has 2000 people attending, 1000 members, four services on Sunday morning. On the positive side these places can get huge projects done because of their great financial power. On the negative side, as I’ve experienced, it’s the type of place you can get lost in. And it’s a comfortable type of getting lost: you can go, get your 15-minute, three-point sermon, sing a few songs and go home without really talking to anybody. In fact, you may go to this church for years and never be noticed, and you may like that. Why is this? In today’s society we have become alienated from each other. We live in one place, while we have to drive 30 to 45 minutes to go to school or work in a completely different place. We may never really get to know our neighbors and never get to have a local community. We are used to living in our comfortable shell and we want churches that will fit into our model of living. For centuries life was not like that. You lived, grew up, and died in the same town. You knew every single person in that town,

many of them intimately. The church was a close-knit group that existed to serve the community around it. I’ve recently had the privilege of attending a small gathering of people who have reinstituted community as a central pillar of their congregation. It’s a small setting with 15 people in which everyone knows each other and shares their lives and their journeys with Jesus. They eat together, support each other, and are also completely open to the neighboring community. Attending this type of intimate church where you are accountable and an equal participant is at first extremely challenging to the modern disconnected person. However, with time and effort this type of fellowship will help you to become more grounded, and a more fully developed child of God. In Canada this small-church model may be forced upon us because of the possible loss of non-profit status for churches who refuse to perform gay marriage. If this is the case, many churches will fold from being unable to pay their bills, and underground churches that meet in homes with small numbers of people will be the only way to go. Considering the many benefits of small churches with close-knit community, that may not be such a bad thing after all.

Vážená redakce Slavné naděje. Ostrava 14.7.2005 sme s manželkou pravidelnými čtenáři Slavné naděje, kterou nám pravidelně po dlouhá léta posílá br. George Sommer, za což mu děkujeme. Rád bych tímto informoval všechny čtenáře časopisu o tom, že jsem jako dlouholetý kazatel naši církve, nyní však v důchodu, sepsal své zkušenosti s Pánem, kterému přes půl století sloužím. Při pohledu zpět musím vyznat, že vše, co jsem z Boží milosti prožil, by mohlo posloužit mnohým čtenářům a pracovníkům církve. Popisuji v něm nesnadnou práci v době totality i po ní. Tajná policie (STB) vyvíjela veliké úsilí a nebývalý nátlak přimět mne ke spolupráci s nimi za všech okolností. Můj životopis má celkem asi 180 stránek s mnoha příklady a jsem ujištěn, že každý pozorný čtenář v něm najde něco pro sebe a svou duši. Pro vaši představu opisuju ve zkrácené formě jeden z nich. Téměř rok mne pravidelně tajně navštěvoval jeden důstojník STB s pověřením mne získat pro spolupráci s policií. Konečný výsledek byl ten, že jsem se se svou rodinou v okamžiku mého odmítnutí octl propuštěn. Nikde mne však nesměli na jejich příkaz zaměstnat. Jelikož jsem jako duchovní nebyl nijak zajištěn po stránce materiální, věděl jsem, že to

nebude snadné k přežití. V té době jsme měli dva syny, kteří navštěvovali základní školu. Jednoho večera mi manželka se slzami v očích oznámila, že už ráno k snídani nemá co dát dětem. Ihned jsem šel na kolena vše předložit svému Pánu. Nevím, po jaké době jsem obdržel odpověd, že zítra bude o nás i děti postaráno. Spěchal jsem s touto radostnou zprávou k manželce. Odpověděla mi, že v našem vsetínském sboru nezná ani jednu osobu, která by nám mohla pomoci. Odpověděl jsem, že je to pravda, ale náš Pán je bohatý a zná dobře naši situaci. Ráno uvidíme. Druhý den ráno nás přišla navštívit jedna sestra, která byla zaměstnána ve Zbrojovce kde se vyrábějí výbušniny. Posadili jsme se v kuchyni na otoman a takto jsme byli osloveni: Drahá Mařenko a Danieli. Počínaje dnešním dnem vám budu nakupovat vše potřebné v obchodě. Po tobě chci jen, abys na kousek papíru sepsala vše, co potřebuješ nakoupit. O ostatní se už nestarejte. Bylo to, jako blesk z nebe. Jak jsi k tomu přišla, co Tě vedlo k tvému rozhodnutí? Jako otec rodiny jsem jí navíc řekl, že navrhuju, abychom vše zapisovali a až budu pracovat, že vše po částech splatím. Rezolutně to odmítla s poznámkou, že dostala příkaz nic od nás nepřijmout. Takto slavně se náš Pán o nás postaral. Po mém nástupu do práce jsme už tuto službu nepotřebovali. Patří mu však naše díky za Jeho věrnost ve chvílích nejtěžších. Daniel Průša

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ust letters…good, bad, great, wonderful, and fantastic!

Good! Dear Brothers, please send me a CD with yesterday’s Thru the Bible program that touched me a lot. It really doesn’t matter how much we take in through our mouth, but what comes out of it. So, I hope to use this program not just for myself. Recently when the MW transmitter was silent for a while, I felt like I was missing my own hand. Strangely, the transmitter of Radio Proglas, also airing your programs, had a breakdown at that time. Only then I realized how much I long for your gospel ministry. Bad! To the TWR office. Even though I downloaded several of your articles and programs I do not agree with one of them. It is called “Chip Totality.” You present it in a way that is not necessary because those who really are Christians (and really follow the Lord) don’t have to be afraid (of the Antichrist) etc. ...Many of your other articles I like, and I believe you will go on with your ministry. [Editor’s comment: I’m thankful this person feels the freedom to disagree and express it.] Great! My well loved brothers, I cordially greet all of you. Thank you for your work in the Lord Jesus Christ. I have a desire to support this ministry, so please send me the number of your bank account. I am a regular listener of God’s Word in your programs, especially the program Thru the Bible that helps build in me the character of God. Thank you! Wonderful! Dear ones, I listen to your evening TTB program on MW and I am very glad how faithfully and with what passion you are able to preach God’s Word. I wish to your broadcast only the best, much of God’s blessing, and His grace so that your programs and God’s Word might touch the closed hearts of our nation. Fantastic! Dear friends! I have failed God’s love so many times that today I live only on the crystal grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Part of His grace to me are your programs. May the grace of the Lord Jesus richly cover you with blessing and peace and joy. George Cooper, for TWR Czech and TWR Slovakia

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ba listy... dobré, zlé, úžasné, nádherné a fantastické! Dobré! Drahí bratia, prosím pošlite mi CD s včerajším programom Světem Bible, ktorý ma veľmi oslovil. Naozaj nezáleží na tom, ako veľa príjmeme ústami dnu, ale skôr čo z nich vychádza. Takže dúfam, že tento program nevyužijem len pre seba. Nedávno keď MW vysielač stíchol na nejaký čas, cítil som sa ako keby mi chýbala moja vlastná ruka. Práve v tom istom čase bol aj vysielač rádia Proglas, ktorý tiež vysiela vaše programi záhadne ticho. Iba vtedy som si uvedomil ako veľmi túžim povašej evanjelizačnej službe. Zlé! Pre TWR kanceláriu. Aj keď som si stiahol niekoľko vašich článkov a programov z internetu, nesúhlasím s jedným z nich. Volá sa „Čip totality“. Predstavili ste to spôsobom, ktorý nie je nevyhnutný, preto že tí ktorí sú skutočne Kresťania (a naozaj nasledujú Pána) sa nemusia báť (Antikrista) atď. ...Mnoho vašich iných článkov mám rád a verím, že budete pokračovať vo vašej službe. (Poznámka redaktora: Som vďačný, že tento človek cíti slobodu vyjadriť nesúhlas.) Úžasné! Moji milovaní bratia, srdečne vás všetkých zdravím. Ďakujem vám za vašu prácu v mene Pána Ježiša Krista. Mám túžbu podporiť túto službu, tak prosím, pošlite mi číslo vášho bankového účtu. Som pravidelný poslucháč Božieho slova vo vašich programoch, hlavne programu Světem Bible, ktorý mi pomáha budovať Boží charakter vo mne. Ďakujem! Nádherné! Milovaní, počúvam váš večerný TTB program na stredných vlnách a som veľmi vďačný ako verne a s nadšením ste schopní hlásať Božie slovo. Prajem vášmu vysielaniu iba to najlepšie a veľa Božieho požehnania, Jeho milosť aby sa váš program a Božie slovo dotýkali zavretých sŕdc nášho národa. Fantastické! Drahí priatelia! Zlyhal som v Božej láske tak mnohokrát, že dnes žijem iba na kryštáľovej milosti Pána Ježiša Krista. Časť Jeho milosti sú pre mňa vaše programi. Nech milosť Pána Ježiša vás bohato prikryje požehnaním, pokojom a radosťou. George Cooper za TWR Česko a TWR Slovensko preložila: Miroslava Kopčoková 

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Fireflies Jan Karafiát

Translated by Daniela Bísková

Part 17

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nd another day soon, when father was returning home and was already beyond the brook, his two little sons came to meet him. “Daddy, Daddy, we have a little sister, such a pretty girl. Look, here she comes to meet you, but she can’t walk very well yet.” The little sister came out. “Daddy, Daddy, what are you going to call me?” she asked. “Jeanine brought us some honey and she says I ought to be called Lucinda, but Mummy wants me to be called Jeanine.” Father was amazed and Lucinda stood in the doorway and laughed and was happy. “My precious little daughter, my dear little daughter. Why, you have eyes like Jeanine’s, and a little nose like Jeanine’s. You are the very image of Jeanine. We must call you Jeanine.” Mother was very pleased about it and the new Jeanine was happy too, and all of them were happy and loved one another. Father did his shining and mother did the housework and the children played on the grass in front of the house. “Take great care of Jeanine,” mother would say, “lest the buzzard should get her.” And they answered, “Oh, we’ll take care of her.” They took great care of her. But one day they came running into the house. “Mummy, Mummy, a great buzzard came. He didn’t get Jeanine, we frightened him away.” Mother was greatly alarmed. “Are you sure it was a buzzard?” she asked. “Yes, sure. It was very big and had green wings and a long, long beard, and made a buzzing noise.” “That can’t have been a buzzard. Buzzards have beaks and feathers.” “Feathers? No, it didn’t have any feathers. Perhaps it wasn’t a buzzard. It buzzed and buzzed and had a long beard.” Whatever it was, mother was glad it did not carry off her Jeanine. Before long there was another little brother, and then another little sister. Father was happy and mother was delighted with all their children. But father was beginning to get worried. “I don’t even know what to call, them,” he said, “and where are we going to put them all?” “Surely we’ll be able to think of some names,” said mother,

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“and don’t forget the little empty room in the yard.” And before long they had four more sons and one more daughter. Here are their names—little Lucius, John and Jock, James and Jack, Teeny and Weeny, little Jeanine, little Lucinda and Tiny. But Tiny had one lame leg. She could hardly use it at all, but she managed to get along somehow, and when she could go no farther her brothers would take her up on their shoulders and carry her. They were all very happy together. Father did his shining, mother looked after the house and all ten little fireflies played together. Mother loved watching them. And Jeanine also loved them all. She would say, “Come on, children, come, I’ve got something you can help me with.” They liked helping her and afterwards she would tell them a story and, of course, give them something. Then she would say—“Off you go, and be good. The Lord God likes good fireflies.” And off they went. All the brothers learned to fly. They flew from the roof as far as the meadow and across the meadow to the oak tree and back again. The little sisters stood and watched them to see who would go farthest. And they would all come home hungry; oh, how hungry! “Mummy, Mummy, I’m hungry,” shouted little Lucius, “isn’t dinner ready yet? I cannot even walk.” “You must wait till father comes home,” mother would tell them. “But, Mummy, we can have another dinner then.” So mother would give them their dinner and when father had come home they had it all over again. I must say it didn’t do them any harm. Mother had to exchange all her little saucepans and get big ones instead. Little Jeanine, little Lucinda and Tiny were very helpful in the kitchen and everybody worked hard getting in wood. Some of them chopped it up, some carried it to the wood pile and some stacked it up neatly. They had enough and to spare. And when they had done their share of work they would all go out and run about. One day when they were running about after breakfast and had reached the top of the slope not far from the brook; they saw a tiny little beetle. He was all red with seven black spots and

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beautiful eyes. He was sitting on a fern looking at them. The little fireflies stopped and looked at him too. “I…m not afraid of you,” said the little beetle. “You’re fireflies, aren’t you? My father told me that you are good.” “And who are you? And what are you doing here?” they asked. “I’m the little ladybug from the rose bush over there. Can you see it? I’ve just seen father off and I’m having a rest.” “Have you any brothers and sisters?” asked the fireflies. “Yes, we’ve got a little Veronica. But she’s at home with Mummy. Won’t you come along and see her?” The fireflies said they would like that very much and off they went. Veronica was standing beneath the rose bush looking out. “Mummy, look at all these little fireflies!” called out the little ladybug, “they are coming to see us. Where is little Veronica?” Little Veronica came running out and was very surprised to see so many fireflies. Ten of them! “Why do you have to be carried?” Veronica asked Tiny. “They are happy to carry me. I have one lame leg, but I can also run.” And now Tiny jumped to the ground and started to run about. Mother ladybug went from one firefly to the other and stroked each of them in turn. When she came to little Lucius she said, “Your eyes are just like your father’s.” And then she asked them, “Would you like something to eat?” and sent little Veronica to fetch a wreath that was hanging on the pole. Then all the little fireflies stood in a row and mother ladybug shared out something which looked delicious. “Do you happen to know what it is?” mother ladybug asked them. “Figs.” And she gave one more to everyone, to her children too, and little Lucius got the biggest piece of all. Then father ladybug arrived. “Daddy, Daddy,” called little Veronica, “come and see all these little fireflies.” Father ladybug was very pleased to see them. “It’s very nice of you to call on us,” he said. “Are you obedient fireflies? You have to be, don’t you? I sometimes see your father; he is very obedient.” When the little fireflies finished their figs they said they ought to be getting home. “Go home now and give your parents our regards,” said mother and father ladybug. And the little fireflies went. What a lot they had to tell when they got home! “Daddy, Daddy, we’ve called on the ladybugs in the rose bush, far, far away. They send you their regards. And they gave us something; it was so good. And their mother said that I have eyes like yours and she gave me the biggest piece, twice,” reported little Lucius. “No, she didn’t,” shouted the others. “We had two pieces too and they were just as big as yours!” “And what did you get?” “Something very sweet.” “Was it honey?” “No.” “Strawberries?” “No.” “Cherries?” “No.” “What did it look like?”

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“It was flat and it came in a wreath.” “So it was figs.” “Yes, Daddy, figs, figs, we had figs.” All the little fireflies were pleased, mother was pleased too and so was father. And when Jeanine heard about it she was pleased as well. “Now, children, did you say thank you, nicely?” asked Jeanine. “Oh, we forgot to say thank you,” the little fireflies admitted. “That’s a pity,” said Jeanine, “but I’ll tell you what to do. I’ll give you some honey and then you can take it round to their house, thank them nicely, and give them our love.” And so Jeanine gave them honey and mother and father sent their regards. The little fireflies returned with the honey and passed on the message. Autumn came. The days were shorter and it began to get cold and father said he wouldn’t be flying any more. They all wanted to meet at Jeanine’s. All ten little fireflies went with mother and father. All fireflies from the twigs went too. It was a big gathering. They all sat round the fire, ate and drank and talked about Godmother and Godfather and the old days. Father told them about his first visit to the beautiful big house beyond the town, among gardens, and how the man had preached from the scaffolding: “It is better to obey than to sacrifice,” and how nonetheless he, father, hadn’t been obedient. “And when will you fireflies be ready to fly?” asked Jeanine. “Oh, soon, won’t we, Daddy?” “Hopefully, if the Lord God wills, you might be ready by next Midsummer night,” father said. “All right then, Lord God willing I’ll come to see you off,” promised Jeanine. The old firefly from the twigs prophesied that it wouldn’t be a hard winter this year. He had learned this from observing the ants. All were pleased to hear it. They said their prayer and the fireflies from the twigs hurried back under the oak tree, the others helped Jeanine to get things ready for the winter and when they had finished they kissed her and went home. When they had finished their own preparations they prayed: Underneath your sheltering wings, Take, we pray, all living things. Watch us all from heaven above God of mercy, God of love. Then they snuggled down in bed and slept and slept and slept. Oh, how they slept. Reprinted with permission Drawings: Nicole Malek You may order English version of Fireflies for US$19.50 postpaid at following address: Glorious Hope, Rt. 4, Box 58D, Philippi, WV 26416, USA 

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Broučci Jan Karafiát 17. část

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dlouho to netrvalo, když tatínek letěl jednou zas domů, a byl už za potokem, tu mu běželi Broučínek a Broučinínek naproti: „Tatínku, tatínku, my máme berušku takovou hezounkou. Vidíte, ona vám jde naproti. Ale ona ještě neumí moc běhat.“ A ta malá beruška šla tatínkovi naproti. „Tatínku, tatínku, jak pak mně budete říkat? Janinka nám přinesla medu, a povídala, že se budu jmenovat Beruška, ale maminka povídala, že ne, že se budu jmenovat Janinka.“ Tatínek byl celý vyjevený a Beruška stála u chaloupky ve dveřích, a srdce jí plésalo, a tolik se smála. „I ty má malá beruško, i ty má zlatá beruško! Vždyť ty máš očka jako Janinka, a nosíček jako Janinka, a všecko na vlas jako Janinka. To ti musíme říkat Janinka.“ A maminka byla ráda, a ta malá beruška byla ráda, a všickni byli rádi, a měli se rádi. A tatínek svítil, a maminka hospodařila, a broučci si před chaloupkou hráli. „Dejte mně na Janinku pozor, ať mně jí luňák nevezme!“ říkávala maminka. „Ó, však my dáme pozor!“ A dávali pozor. Ale jednou přiběhli. domů: „Maminko, maminko, byl tu luňák. Ale nevzal nám Janinku. On se nás bál.“ A maminka byla celá ulekaná, „Opravdu? Byl to luňák?“ „Byl to luňák. Takový velikanánský, a měl zelená křídla a dlouhanánské vousy, a tolik bzučel.“ „I to nebyl luňák. Luňák má zobák a peří.“ „Peří? Tak to nebyl luňák. Ale bzučel, a měl dlouhanánské vousy.“ A maminka byla přece ráda, že jí to Janinku nevzalo. A dlouho to netrvalo, a měli zas malounkého Broučka, a zas to dlouho netrvalo, a měli malounkou Berušku, a tatínek mě radost, a mamince srdce plésalo. Ale tatínek počínal mít už starost. „I, já ani nevím, jak jim budeme říkat. A kam pak si je dáme?“ „I, však my si na nějaká jména zpomeneme. A vždyť tu světničku do dvora máme ještě prázdnou.“ A dlouho to netrvalo, a měli Broučíčka, a měli Janouška, a měli Janínka, a měli Svatojánka, a měli Berunku. Deset jich měli, sedm broučků a tři berušky. Ale Beruška byla na jednu nožku chromá. Ani nemohla na ni stoupnout, běhala však přece dost. A když už nemohla, vzali ji broučci na ramena, a pěkně ji nosili. A měli se rádi. Tatínek svítil, a maminka hospodařila, a všech deset broučků běhávalo pohromadě. Maminka se za nimi dívávala, a srdce jí plésalo. A Janinka je měla také ráda. „Pojďte, broučci, pojďte, Mám pro vás práci.“ A oni jí to pěkně dělali, a ona jim něco vypravovala, a pak—i to se rozumí, že jim něco dala. „A teď si zas

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jděte. Ale pěkně poslouchat! Páni Bůh má jen poslušné broučky rád.“ A oni zas šli. Broučci se učili lítat, se stříšky až k palouku, a přes celý palouk až k dubu, a zas zpátky, a berušky se dívaly, který dál. A to pak býval hlad, ale to býval hlad! „Maminko, maminko, to mám hlad,“ říkával Broučínek. „Nebudeme ještě večeřet? Já jsem už sotva došel.“ „I počkejte, počkejte, dětičky, až přijde tatínek.“ „Ale maminko, vždyť my můžeme pak ještě jednou večeřet.“ A tak večeřeli, a když přiletěl tatínek, zas s ním večeřeli, a nic jim to neškodilo. Ale ty malé hrníčky na vaření musela maminka všecky dát pryč, a koupila takové veliké hrnky. Za to jí berušky v kuchyni pomáhaly, a když dělala o dříví, tak jí všickni pomáhali. Jedni sekali, druzí odnášeli, a jiní rovnali. To měli dříví, až nazbyt! A když už se dost napomáhali, běželi se proběhnout. A když si jednou tak vyběhli, bylo to hned po snídani, a už byli tam konec stráně nedaleko potoka, tu viděli takového hezounkého malounkého broučka: celinký červený se sedmi černými puntíčky, a ta krásná očka jako oheň. Seděl na kapradí, a dívá se na broučky. Broučci zůstali stát, a dívali se na něho. „Však já se vás nebojím,“ začal ten brouček. „Viďte, vy jste svatojánci. Tatínek povídal, že jste hodní.“ „A kdo pak ty jsi? A co pak tu děláš?“ „Já jsem Verunek tamhle ze šípku. Vidíte jej? Já jsem vyprovázel tatínka, a teď si odpočívám.“ „A ty jsi sám? Nemáte víc broučků?“ „I ještě máme Verunečku. Ale ona jest doma u maminky. Pojďte se na ni podívat.“ A broučci že půjdou, a šli. Verunka stála pod šípkem, a dívala se. „Maminko, podívejte se, to jest svatojánků. Oni se jdou k nám podívat. Kde pak jest Verunečka?“ A Verunečka přiběhla, a ta se jim divila! Když ono jich bylo deset! „A co pak se, ty beruško, necháváš nosit? ptala se Verunka. „I oni jsou rádi, že mne mohou nosit. Já jsem tadyhle na tu nožičku chromá, ale já umím také běhat.“ A skočila na zem a běhala. Verunka šla od jednoho k druhému, každého pohládla, a když přišla k Broučínkovi, povídala. „Viď, Broučínku, ty máš očka jako tatínek. A jestli pak byste, broučci, také něco chtěli? Verunečko, skoč do komory a přines ten věnec. Visí na bídélku.“ A Verunečka skočila, broučci se postavili do řady, a maminka je podělovala. To to bylo dobré! „A jestli pak víte, co to jest? To jsou fíky.“ A ještě každému dala, a Verunkovi a Verunečce také, a Broučínkovi dala hodně velký kus.

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A tu letěl Verunek. „Tatínku, tatínku, my tu máme broučky.“ A tatínek byl rád. „To jste hodní broučci, že jste se k nám přišli podívat. A jestli pak pěkně posloucháte? To musíte. Já vašeho tatínka vidívám, a on krásně poslouchá.“ A broučci jedli, a pojedli, a že zas půjdou. „Tak jděte, a pěkně doma pozdravujte.“ A broučci šli. To bylo doma povídání. „Tatínku, tatínku, my jsme byli u Verunků v šípku tam daleko, daleko. Oni vás pozdravují, A oni nám něco dali, takové to bylo dobré, A jejich maminka povídala, že prý mám, tatínku, očka jako vy, a dala mně takový veliký kus, větší než jim.“ „Ó, však ne,“ bránili se druzí. „Ona nám dala také takový veliký kus, a dvakrát.“ „A co pak vám to dala?“ „I takové to bylo slaďounké.“ „Med?“ „Ne.“ „Jahody?“ „Ne.“ „Třešně?“ „Ne.“ „Jak pak to vypadalo?“ „Takové to bylo smáčknuté, a byl toho věnec.“ „Tak to byly fíky.“ „Fíky, fíky, ano tatínku, fíky, fíky to byly, fíky.“ A broučci byli rádi, a maminka byla ráda, a tatínek byl rád, a když to Janinka slyšela, také byla ráda. „Ale broučci, jestli pak jste pěkně poděkovali?“ ptala se Janinka. „Poděkovali? Ó, my jsme zapomněli.“ „To nebylo hezké. Já vám povím: Já vám dám kousek medu, zanesete jej Verunkovi a Verunečce, pěkně poděkujete, a že je všickni pozdravujeme.“ A Janinka jim dala medu, a tatínek a maminka pěkné pozdravení, a broučci to tam zanesli, a pěkně to vyřídili. A měli se rádi. Tatínek svítil, a maminka hospodařila, berušky jí pomáhaly, a broučci se učili lítat. Však už hodně uměli. A byl podzim. Světla ubývalo, a zimy přibývalo, a tak tatínek, že už nikam nepoletí. Jenom že se u Janinky všickni ještě sejdou. A sešli se, všech deset broučků i s tatínkem a s maminkou, a ti z roždí také všickni. To jich tam bylo! A seděli kolem kamen, jedli a pili, a povídali o kmotříčkovi a o kmotřičce, a jak to bývalo za starých časů, a jak tatínek ponejprv letěl oknem do toho velikého krásného domu tam za městem v zahradách, jak ten na tom lešeníčku kázal: „Aj, poslouchati lépe jest nežli obětovati, a jak tatínek pak byl přece neposlušný. „Nu, broučci, kdy pak vy poletíte?“ ptala se Janinka. „Ó, už brzy, viďte, tatínku.“ „Snad, dá-li Pán Bůh, o příštím Janě.“ „Tak dobře,“ slibovala Janinka. „Dá-li se mně toho Pán Bůh dočkat, já vás vyprovodím.“ A starý brouček z roždí prorokoval, že letos nebude zlá zima, že to pozoroval na mravencích. A byli rádi. Ještě se pomodlili, a ti z roždí spěchali pod dub, ti z pod jalovce Janince na zimu všecko snášeli a rovnali, už to měli, dali pac a pusu—doma to také hned měli, jen ještě: Pod večer tvá čeládka, Co k slepicí kuřátka, K ochraně tvé hledíme, Laskavý Hospodine, a už leželi a už spali, a spali a spali. Dobře se jim to spalo. Přetištěno s povolením        SeptemberOctober 5

Editorial … Continues from page 98 not only for that nature, but for all the possessions and events in his or her life. Maybe it was during one of these moments that Antonio Vivaldi was inspired by the beauty and harmony of God’s creation to create the violin concerto, “The Four Seasons.” Gratitude for the harvest is expressed through the holiday of Thanksgiving. It is good that this day has become a state holiday. Thanks to this, each individual can realize that what they have is not guaranteed and warrants gratitude. Yes, God gives. God also allows. That He allows and never abandons is the experience of many Christians. The optimism of certain elderly men and women is fascinating. The eternal resource is available to all, yet many fail to draw from it. Through gratitude we learn to accept that which in the given moment appears to be a catastrophe or tragedy. We cannot understand everything that happens, especially on a worldwide scale. We can accept only by faith because we believe in the omnipotence of God’s direction. We were able to observe testimonies of this kind of faith during television programmes about nature’s recent catastrophes that reached the North American continent. The scripture from 2 Corinthians 12:9 comes to mind, “…my grace is sufficient for you…” A safe place does not exist save in God’s embrace which opened to us back on the cross. Through the cross of Jesus Christ, the hearts of human beings can be filled with peace in suffering, and joy through sorrow. Morning shines with optimism because in the Lord Jesus Christ lies hope, no matter what happens. Editor-in-Chief Natasha Legierski Translated by Elizabeth Legierski 

Editorial … Pokračování ze strany 98 v přírodě, k vytvoření hudebního díla Čtyři roční období. Vděčnost za úrodu je vyjadřováná dodržováním svátku díkůvzdání. Je dobré, že tento den je ustanoven státním svátkem. Díky tomu si každý jednotlivec může uvědomit, že to co má, není samozřejmostí. Ano, Pán Bůh dává. Pán Bůh také dopouští. Dopouští a neopouští, to je zkušenost mnohého křesťana. Fascinující je optimismus u lidí pokročilého věku. Lze za tím tušit věčný zdroj, který je na dosah každému. Přesto z něho mnozí nečerpají. Učíme se s vděčností přijímat i to, co se v daném okamžiku zdá být katastrofou či tragedií. Nemůžeme rozumět všemu dění, zvláště ne ve světovém měřítku. Pouze vírou přijímáme, protože věříme v dokonalou Boží režii. Svědectví o této víře jsme mohli sledovat při televizním zpravodajství o přírodních katastrofách, které zasáhly americký continent. Na mysl mi přícházejí slova „…dosti máš na mé milosti…“ (2. Kor. 12,9). Neexistuje bezpečnější místo, než Boží náruč, která se pro člověka otevřela tenkrát na kříži. Skrze kříž Ježíše Krista je nitro člověka naplněno pokojem v utrpení, radostí při zármutku. Skrze kříž Ježíše Krista je člověk schopen vnímat podzimní ráno. Každé ráno. Ráno prozářené optimismem, protože v Pánu Ježíši Kristu je naděje, ať se děje cokoliv. Šéfredaktorka Nataša Legierská 

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o when you think about everything that is part of today’s world and your place in it, when you consider the multitude of changes that have occurred over the course of your lifetime, and when you wonder whatever is going to become of the people, places, and things that are dear to your heart, what kind of paths does your mind go down? Confident? Easy-going? Nervous and anxious? How do you weigh all things together? In quite an out of the way place of the New Testament (2 Peter 2:17), there is a word that always causes me to smile and say, “Listen to it, Robert, and settle down.” That passage instructs, Since you are forewarned, beware that you do not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability. What God offers us in the living of our days is the summons to keep on a track of faith and trust that we clearly know and have known a long time. A lot of other stuff may collapse, but. . . don’t get carried away now. You know who has got all things in hand. He made the world. He sent Christ. He brings us and everything to himself when the time is right.

I have often thought how much I would dislike trudging through this planetary journey without knowing that it is basically a pilgrimage that began with God and will conclude with the same destination point. One could get discouraged, you know—come ‘unglued’ (to use the parlance of the day). Careful now, says the apostle. You do know what is right and what’s what. You’ve heard what the Lord has to teach us many times over. Therefore, do not get carried away with ‘what ifs.’ Do not go unstable on me, is the message. I’m grateful for the admonition. It is part of my Bible memory bank at this point in my life. Don’t you love it? Don’t get carried away! Or to quote it in more positive terms: The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. I believe that would include everything, even what has a certain built in—lawless issues, people, and me (plenty of the time), all of which lives and moves and has its being in the creation. It’ll get straightened out in due time. In a general thanksgiving season, it is good to be grateful not only for the past, but for what is happening all the time and what lies ahead. So glad to share this Czechoslovak Baptist Convention fellowship with you. I am grateful for each of us whom God has brought together.

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ttention!! The 97 th annual convention will be held July 6–9, 2006, in Philippi, West Virginia. This is a change from earlier information. We are planning some changes. More details will be published in the next issues of Glorious Hope. • Midyear meeting was held on Friday, October 7, 2005, 1:00 p.m., at Christ Community Church in Campbell, Ohio (former Campbell Baptist Church). The General Board meeting was very productive. Board members brought some new ideas and discussions about the convention program and other organization matters. There was an evening service and after that we had, as usual, “An Old Fashioned Hymn Sing with Bob Dvorak at the Piano.” At Sunday service, October 9, 2005, President

Robert Dvorak

Robert Dvorak was preaching. • Check the convention web page www.ab.edu/czslbaptconv for pictures from the 96th annual convention and other news and announcements. • Send all new and change of Glorious Hope addresses to the Glorious Hope Publication Office, not to the editor’s address: Glorious Hope Rt. 4, Box 58D Philippi, WV 26416-9717 or email: [email protected]

The address database is located at this address. George Sommer, Executive Secretary 

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82nd Annual Meeting of the Czechoslovak Baptist Women’s Missionary Union Saturday, July 9, 2005

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ere we are looking back at another wonderful time in Philippi, West Virginia. We were once again blessed with great weather, warm fellowship, meetings and services where we praised the Lord through song, and heard the Word! There was a fine attendance at the Women’s Missionary Union Rally, and the monies raised for missionary endeavours as well as for Glorious Hope were thankfully received. You will be hearing further from our Canadian treasurer, Donna Nesvadba . We are thankful for the leadership that Dorothy Dvorak has given our ladies over the past years. As I was thinking about the past, I remember that my Mother, Olga Zajicek, had been the president for a number of years long ago. I have come across some of the articles that she had written for Glorious Hope and once again I have been thankful for a godly, praying mother. As I step into the presidency this year, I ask for your prayers for the executive as we continue the work of the Czechoslovak Baptist Women’s Missionary Union in the coming years. President: Esther Tarr Vice President: Margaret Springle Secretary: Jane Widlicka Treasurer for Canada: Donna Nesvadba Treasurer for United States: Grace Niswonger There is no secret what God can do, What He has done for others, He will do for you! Looking forward to seeing you at next year’s Convention! Esther Tarr

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adies, I would like to sincerely thank you for the truly generous offering we collected during the women’s meeting on Saturday morning at the convention. We were small in numbers but big in giving. Due to some reserve from last year, we were able to meet our budget fully. Good job! I would also like to encourage you to consider giving throughout the year. There are other outreach programs that we could and would like to support. During our executive meeting we heard from George Cooper of Transworld Radio about the opportunity to sponsor a children’s storytime. But air time is not cheap, $25.00 for 15 minutes. Wouldn’t it be heart-warming if we could sponsor at least one program a week? As I write this, I realize that telling you about this opportunity is the easy part. So, I will put out a challenge to you. I commit to giving $10 per month, and I challenge each of you to match my donation. Maybe we could even sponsor two or three programs a week! I thank you in advance for your response to this challenge. Please remember that your donations throughout the year to our Women’s Missionary Union are always needed and appreciated. Donna Nesvadba Treasurer, Canada

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Donation All donation should be send in enclosed envelope. The checks will be delivered to right financial secretaries. (Vera Dors, Henry Pojman, Grace Niswonger or Donna Nesvadba.) ! Gifts for Ladies’ work—make check payable to Czechoslovak Baptist Women’s Missionary Union. ! Gifts for Convention—make check payable to Czechoslovak Baptist Convention. On the bottom of the check mark to what account you are sending your contribution: Convention, Glorious Hope, Trust Fund, or Scholarship Fund.  You may send separate check (one for Ladies and one for convention accounts) in the same envelope.

      SeptemberOctober 5

 If you are sending contributions for convention (Convention, Glorious Hope etc., you may send only one check, and write on the bottom how you want to divide the amount (for example: Total $150; $100 Convention, $50 Glorious Hope etc.) You do not have to send two separate checks. For your information, financial secretaries’ addresses are as follows: USA: Vera Dors 6621 Elmdale Rd. Middleburg Hts, OH, 44130

Canada: Henry Pojman 2393 West Ham Rd. Oakville, ON L6M 4P2

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Convention Choir, Lewis Hall Conducting

Bob Dvorak, Jerry & Gloria Andrs

General Board Meeting

The Youngest Convention Delegates

Obecenstvi at the Sommers

V-P Dr. Dennis Stull Welcomes Convention Delegates

Joza Novak and Dick Niswonger at Communion

Dvoraks, Stulls and Davidsons at the Banquet

Obecenství

Convention Youth Choir

Obecenství

Worship Team