Slavná nadìje

ince ancient times, the month of May has been called a month of love. This is a pagan tradition that has survived in our society to this day. Spring is a pleasant season, full of inspiration for artists and poets. Nature blooms in all its beauty, and radiates freshness. Trees become concert stages where birds put on their musical performance. It is interesting that this period of “love” arrives shortly after Easter. All Easter events are interwoven with love, but with love of a different kind—God’s love. Without this love we would not have Easter. Because of this love it was possible to complete the great work of salvation as God planned it. In the climate Contents:

Editorial - Natasha Legierski .................................................................50 91st Convention Information................................................................51 Letter to the Convention - Stephen E. Markwood............................51 Czechs and Slovaks and the Bible, Part 7 - Natasha Legierski....52 Naše národy a Bible, èást 7 - Nataša Legierská...............................53 A Journey of Yelding - Joseph Abraham .............................................54 Love Matters - Garth Priebe..................................................................56 Biblická studie, 4 èas: List Júdov - Peter Abraham.........................58 Few Words about Someone Special - Natasha Legierski .............60 Nìkolik slov - Nataša Legierská ...........................................................61 Question Box, The Observation Tower - John E. Karenko .............62 My Parents Struck It Rich in America - John E. Karenko................63 Syn, 1. èást - Marie Frydrychová ..........................................................64 Makers and Builders of a Conv. - Vlado Canji ..................................66 From Our Readers..................................................................................67 In Memory - Jerry Rand ..........................................................................67 Children’s Corner ..................................................................................68 A Special Day - Amy Nesvadba ............................................................68 Youth Scene - Jane Branda...................................................................69 From the President - Robert Dvorak ...................................................70 Ladies’ Page - Barbara Manas .............................................................71 Tell Us About You - Natasha Legierski ...............................................71 Ježíšova matka - Nataša Legierská ......................................................72

Glorious Hope / Slavná nadìje May 2000, Vol. 26, No 3 (USPS 009334) ISSN 0700-5202 Published Bi-Monthly by The Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of USA and Canada Periodical postage paid in Philippi, WV.

Publication Office: Glorious Hope 1524 Lancaster Dr., #134, Oakville, ON, L6H 2Z2, Canada Editor-in-Chief: Natasha Legierski Electronic Publishing and Art: Vit Malek Assistant Editors: Janice Cermak, Ján Banko Editorial Staff: George Sommer, George Legierski, Joseph Novak You may send articles to above address POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Glorious Hope / Slavná nadìje Rt. 1, Box 58D, Philippi, WV 26416-9717 USA Next issue deadline - June 15, 2000

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zone we occupy, spring brings new life to the plant and animal kingdom. Golgotha brought not only new life, but also a new hope which is in the resurrection. Do we realize this connection as we admire nature in the spring? If so, let us raise our voices to praise God as we are called to do in Psalm 66:1, “Shout with joy to God, all the earth!” In the practical life of the Christian, however, it is not enough merely to praise God with words. Our entire lives should be great concerts of praise; in other words, our style of life should praise God. Is this really the case? I am afraid that often, instead of praising God, we grieve Him. Does Jesus have to weep over us as He wept over Jerusalem? The Christian of today does not lack knowledge about how to live according to God’s Word. The problem lies in the changed thought process of modern man, and this is reflected in the way Christians understand God’s law. We are concerned by various natural disasters that disrupt or even destroy nature completely. Why do we tolerate changes—“disasters”—in the lives of the individual limbs of the church? Why do we not fight for the purity of the church and of relationships between people? Shouldn’t we be as concerned with spiritual pollution as we are with polluting our environment? The answer is the weakening of our relationship with God the Father—becoming lukewarm and abandoning the first love, the love that shook the world from the cross, the love of Jesus Christ that we should have in our hearts, a love that is unchanging and is willing to sacrifice itself for another. This is the love that only God can put in our hearts. This love is able to love until the end in any kind of relationship. We should live in this love not only during this month, but throughout our entire lives. Editor-in-Chief Natasha Legierski ìsíc kvìten—máj, je od pradávna nazýván mìsícem lásky. Je to pohanská tradice, která se udržela v našem národì až do dnešní moderní doby. Je to pìkné období, plné inspirace pro umìlce i básníky. Pøíroda se rozvine do plné krásy a oplývá svìžestí. Koruny stromù se promìní v koncertní pódia ptaèího zpìvu. Je zajímavé, že toto období „lásky” následuje po velikonocích. Všechny velikonoèní události jsou prodchnuty láskou, ovšem láskou jiného druhu—Boží láskou.

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Omluva Tiskaøský šotek si s námi zalaškoval, v minulém èísle èasopisu, ve všech èeských a slovenských èláncích. Velmi se všem ètenáøùm omlouváme. V tiskárnì, kde se èasopis tiskne (v Západní Virginii, USA) nikdo z Èechoslovákù nepracuje a Amerièané omylem použily k vytisknutí jiný typ písma. Jistì se vám podaøilo všechno úspìšnì rozluštit a chybìjící písmenka doplnit. Dìkujeme za pochopení. Redakce Slavné nadìje

Front cover: Corel Photo: Every season has a beauty all its own Back cover: Corel Photo: Baume-les-Messieurs, France Photos : George Sommer and Ben Nesvadba

Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

91st Convention Information General he 91st Annual Convention will meet • You must send payments with your registrations. in Philippi, June 29–July 2, 2000. • Use an individual registration form for each family unit. Do not Please read carefully other instrucregister your relatives or other families on the same registration form, tions on the registration form, but do include all of your own family members. which will be published in the May issue of • Send payment with each registration form. Do not send one Glorious Hope. payment with multiple registration forms. • Send all registration forms and payments • Much additional information is printed on the registration form. in $US (except Canadian delegates, who will Please read and complete it carefully, particularly when adding up pay the registration fee in Canadian dollars) to your totals. Check your calculations! Helena Pojman, 1516 Pembroke Dr., Oakville, ON, L6H 1V9, George Sommer, CANADA. Phone and FAX: 1-905-338-3833. After June 24, 2000, Convention Coordinator 1-304-457-4287 or FAX 304-457-3043. Fees • The regular registration fee is $18 for all persons 18 years o and older. The late registration fee is $25, applicable after June 13. One-day registration fee is $10 for those who arrive on Saturday. Persons under 18 years of age—no registration fee. Canadian delegates will pay the registration fee in Canadian dollars! You may send your personal check. Meals • The Convention will pay for meals for children 12 years and younger. • Children ages 13–17 years will Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: pay one half of the full meal price; Convention will pay the other half. As always, it is a pleasure for me to personally invite you to return to the Persons 18 years and older will pay mountaintop here at Alderson-Broaddus College for your summer Convention. full price. Full Price Half Price We, in the A-B family, and you, in the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention, have Breakfast $3.70 $1.85 developed a special relationship bonded in our common love for our Lord and Lunch $5.70 $2.85 nurtured in our common Baptist beliefs. Our relationship has matured into one of Dinner $6.40 $3.20 brother/sisterhood and mutual respect as we here at the College, and you in the Banquet $9.00 $4.50 Convention, carry out our special tasks as critical components in God’s “Master Accommodation Plan.” • Kincaid (formerly LQRC), Benedum, and Priestley $12.00/night/ As we at the College begin to meet the educational challenges of the third bed. Children 12 and under free! millennium, with its technology explosion from the information age, you must rise Therefore it is imperative that you to the challenge of providing God’s message of love in new ways to an increasingly state the ages of your children. skeptical world. Yet, as the skepticism in the world grows, the need for God’s love • Linens for residence hall guests grows even more. Therefore, both the College and the Convention must continue $6.00/bed/stay, available only for to increase their personal efforts and the development of new methods of delivering those who travel by airplane. His message to fulfill God’s “Plan.” • Erickson Alumni Center already fully booked. No vacancies availI again look forward to personally welcoming you into the A-B family for able. another summer Convention. May this be a time of joy and peace for you and • Super 8 Motel in Philippi availyour family. able for $45.00 per room per night Yours in Christ, plus state tax. Call (304) 457-5888 ASAP to make your own reservations. You will need to state that you are from the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention to qualify for reduced price. Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

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Czechs and Slovaks and the Bible - Part 7 Natasha Legierski

Mothers Throughout Our History

ome time ago I heard the saying “Behind every great individual there is a woman.” It is probably possible to interpret this phrase in various ways, depending on whom we’d like to flatter. I believe, however, that this phrase originally referred to mothers and that the author wanted to emphasize the important role that a mother plays in the life of every person. In the Bible, we encounter a number of women, many of them mothers, who played an important role in the history of the Israelites. This Mother’s Day, we have an opportunity to glance back into the rich history of our nation and have a look at the mothers of several key figures. Let us look back to the year 880, when Methodius baptized Borivoj along with his wife Ludmila. Although we do not have much information about Ludmila, we know that after the death of her husband and both sons, the Czech nobles entrusted her with the upbringing of her two grandsons. This responsibility may give us an idea of her sincerity as a Christian. Slavic mothers took their Christianity seriously. How else could the nation endure and remain faithful in times of persecution? During times of turmoil, mothers were given the difficult task of maintaining the faith of their ancestors and keeping the family unified. Through remembering the courage, suffering and strength of their ancestors, mothers sowed precious seeds into the hearts of the next generation. These seeds sprouted and grew to the benefit of the nation. Although we’d like to know much about the lives of the mothers of our great national figures, very little has been recorded. We can only guess at their great sacrifices and moral strength founded on Biblical principles. John Hus remembers his mother in one of his works from 1412, “…she taught me to say Amen, may God be willing....” A legend tells us that when his mother walked him to school, she knelt seven times along the way and prayed for her son. She followed the example of Anna, the mother of Samuel (1 Kings). John Hus led his followers to honor and to love their parents. In Bethlehem Chapel, Czech mothers learned to love the Bible and to sing hymns. This was later reflected in the Czech Reform Movement.

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When reading the literary works of Peter Chelcicky or Jan Blahoslav, we can get a feel for their relationships with their mothers. Havel Zalansky, a preacher from Prague and Kutna Hora, stresses the role of the mother, not only within the family but in Christian society as a whole. In his works from 1615, he also describes her role in the social arena. Jan Amos Komensky lost both parents at the age of twelve. We know little about his mother. Her name was Anna and she came from a family from Uhersky Brod. Of her four children, Jan was the youngest. Based on Komensky’s literar y works in which he stresses the importance of a good pre-school upbringing, she was an excellent teacher to her children. Komensky also emphasized the importance of a woman’s education in her role as a mother. He realized that only a well-educated mother and properly raised and educated children can reawaken the church and the nation. In one of his wellknown works, Komensky deals with the subject of honoring one’s mother. He describes the Unity of Brethren as a mother, who on her deathbed divides spiritual gifts among her children. Generations of mothers who raised their children in godliness and taught them to love truth and God’s Word have come and gone. From among them arose the great figures of the national awakening. To this day we encounter the influence of the Christian mother within our nation. The beautiful text of the Kralicka Bible was often the only source of our mother tongue as it was taught to children whose families were forced to emigrate. The rich tradition of hymns from the Unity of Brethren church continues to this day. Hviezdoslav, the Slovak poet, says that the old hymns of the Unity of Brethren accompanied him throughout his life. Komensky’s teaching methods that reformed the education system around the world are still used today. As we look back into history, it is amazing to see all that God has led our nation through. Much evil and injustice was intermixed with periods of apparent calm. Those who had a love

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Naše národy a Bible Nataša Legierská 7. èást

Matky v historii našich národù dysi jsem slyšela rèení: „Za každou velkou osobností se skrývá žena.” Pravdìpodobnì lze tuto vìtu vysvìtlit nìkolika zpùsoby, podle toho, komu chceme polichotit. Myslím si však, že pùvodnì byla zamìøena na matky a autor tohoto rèení chtìl zdùraznit, jak dùležitou roli hraje matka v životì každého jedince. V Bibli se setkáváme s øadou vzácných žen a matek, které sehrály svou roli v historii Izraelského národa. U pøíležitosti svátku matek, bychom se mohli zahledìt zpìt do naší bohaté historie a zjistit, jaké byly matky klíèových osobností našich národù. Vracíme se tedy zpìt, pøibližnì do období kolem roku 880, kdy byl kníže Boøivoj pokøtìn Metodìjem i se svou manželkou Ludmilou. Nemáme mnoho zpráv o této knìžnì. Víme však, že po smrti manžela i obou synù jí byla èeskými velmoži svìøena výchova dvou vnukù. Tato skuteènost nám napovídá o upøímnosti jejího køesanství. Slovanské matky vzaly køesanství vážnì. Jak jinak by se projevila síla národa a uvìdomìní v otázkách víry zvláštì v dobách pronásledování? V pohnutých dìjinách byl vìøící matce uložen tìžký úkol: strážit víru pøedkù a rodinnou pospolitost. Vzpomínkami na utrpení, stateènost a sílu pøedkù, zasévaly matky vzácná seménka do srdcí dìtí. Tato seménka vzklíèila a pøinesla mnohý užitek ve prospìch celého národa. Chtìli bychom se mnoho dozvìdìt o životì matek velikánù národa, ale historie nám o nich mnoho nepoví. Pouze tušíme nekoneènou obìtavost a mravní sílu matek, postavenou na biblických zásadách. Mistr Jan Hus vzpomíná na svou matku ve svých Výkladech (z roku 1412): „…uèila mne øíkat amen, tak dej Bùh….” Legenda vypráví o tom, jak jeho matka, když ho vodila do školy, cestou sedmkrát poklekla a modlila se za nìj k Pánu Bohu. Øídila se tak pøíkladem Anny, matky Samuele (1. Král.), Mistr Jan Hus vedl své posluchaèe k úctì a lásce obou rodièù. V Betlémské kapli se èeské matky nauèily lásce k Bibli i k duchovnímu zpìvu, což se odrazilo také v èeské reformaci. Vztah k matce mùžeme vyèíst z literárních dìl našich národních osobností, a už to byl Petr Chelèický nebo Jan Blahoslav. Pøedchùdce J. Á. Komenského, Havel Žalanský z Žalan, kutnohorský a pražský kazatel, zdùrazòuje význam matky nejen pro rodinu, ale i pro

køesanskou spoleènost. Ve svých spisech (r. 1615) vykresluje její poslání také na poli sociálním. Jan Ámos Komenský ztratil oba rodièe ve dvanácti letech. O jeho matce rovnìž mnoho nevíme. Jmenovala se Anna, pocházela z m욝anské rodiny z Uherského Brodu a mìla celkem ètyøi dìti, nejmladší byl Jan. Podle záznamù v literární tvorbì Komenského, kde je kladen nesmírný význam na pøedškolní výchovu dìtí, se posuzuje, že byla vynikající vychovatelkou. Komenský poukazuje na dùležitost vzdìlání ženy jako matky. Pochopil, že jen vzdìlaná matka a vzdìlané, dobøe vychované dítì mùže obrodit církev (Jednotu bratrskou) a národ. Úctu k matce vyjádøil Komenský ve svém snad nejkrásnìjším spise „Kšaft umírající matky Jednoty bratrské” (kšaft—odkaz). V tomto díle Jednotu bratrskou pøedstavuje matka, která na smrtelném loži rozdìluje pozùstalým dìtem své duchovní dary. Prošly celé generace matek, vychovávající dìti ve zbožnosti, vštìpující lásku k pravdì a k Bibli. Z øad evangelických matek vzešli velikáni národního obrození. Dodnes se setkáváme s odkazem vìøící matky v našich národech. Nᚠrodný jazyk, uchovaný v pøekrásném textu Kralické Bible, šíøený matkami, prvními uèitelkami dìtí, byl jediným zdrojem mateøského jazyka v emigraci. Dodnes žije slavná tradice èeské zpìvnosti a ohlas bratrských písní matek se ozývá v díle potomkù. Hviezdoslav (slovenský básník) vyznává, že ho staré bratrské písnì provázejí celým životem. Doposud žijí a stále se praktikují metody vychovávatelské a vyuèovací (pedagogika) Komenského, které zreformovaly školství po celém svìtì. Pøi pohledu zpìt do naší historie žasneme, èím vším Pán Bùh provedl naše národy. Kolik zla a nespravedlnosti se mísilo s vlnami zdánlivého klidu! Ti, kteøí si Boží Slovo zamilovali, vytrvali. Dnes èerpáme z naší minulosti povzbuzení i ponauèení. Dotkli jsme se jen nepatrného zlomku z celku dìjin našich národù. Na potomcích vidíme, jaké byly matky. Jaké máme matky dnes, pøi pohledu do budoucnosti? Vštìpují matky lásku k Božímu slovu i v dnešní dobì, kdy je kontakt rodièù a dìtí omezen na minimum? Svìøují péèi o dítì pøedškolního vìku institucím nebo nekvalifikovaným vychovatelkám? Jak pøipravují své dìti pro budoucnost? Uèí je milovat bližního a sloužit mu, anebo jsou uzavøeny ve svých domácnostech

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J.O.Y—A Journey of Yielding Rev. Joseph Abraham

alatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,…” Joy, Joy, Joy. Joy. Much like love, joy is one of the most misunderstood words in our dictionary, even in our spiritual vocabulary. How many times have you heard it said, “I don’t feel joy today ”; “You don’t look very joyous”: “You’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in your heart …Where? How far down is it? Come on up here, joy. Please. Let’s go one step further. You’ve explained many times that joy is not happiness. Joy is inner peace, while happiness is dependent upon outward circumstances. Okay, I’ll buy that. But how about changing my circumstances, Lord? One acronym often used for joy is J-esus, O-thers, S-elf. Put Jesus first, others second and, as former Chicago Bears running back Gayle Sayers said in the heart-warming movie Brian’s Song, “I am third.” There is a lot of practicing truth to this acronym, I must admit. As you put Jesus first, there is joy in serving others and forsaking yourself. Especially when I submit to Matthew 6:33, “seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness”; Colossians 3:2, “to set our hearts and minds on things above”; and Hebrews 12:1, “fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Jesus is the first ingredient to joy, no doubt. It is His gift to us, His fruit of the Spirit. This acronym is fulfilled in the Old Testament law’s summation, found in Matthew 22:37–39, “to love the Lord your God with everything (Lebanese version) and to love your neighbors as yourself.” That’s all. That’s it. JOY, according to God’s word. But there exist many difficulties in this biblical formula. What happens if I have an unhealthy love for myself? I am saved, yes, but can God really love me for who I am? Can I now truly give to others without expecting something back in return? An improper self-love, negative or arrogant, will pervert how I relate to others, and perhaps even to God. Our serving, which may look so good and sacrificial to others, may be contaminated by needy motives within. Is there perhaps another acronym that might fit and even purify the definition of our word, joy? I’m glad that you asked. I would like to submit the following. Joy is a J-ourney o-f Y-ielding. Let me qualify and then personalize this for a moment. To qualify, let us be certain of one thing. Joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit, not something that can be conjured up or manufactured. It is a gift of God to the recipient who has realized his or her need of a Savior, to the person who confesses his or her sinful state before a holy God and receives the gift of forgiveness through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is joy’s author and perfecter. But how is joy practiced and maintained? We all have personality types. Though I have been known to be a bit “crazy” around others, in my private self I might be considered very melancholy. My spirit can tend to become

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slightly depressed if I am not careful; I might see the cup as “half empty, not half full.” That’s why I love it when God puts visionaries and dreamers around me. They help fire up my “joy and thank” tank! But do I know joy? Absolutely! Turn with me to John 15:9–11. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” There is no joy in the truest sense apart from the love of God for you and me, and our love back to Him. But it doesn’t stop there. “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be made complete.” Joy, therefore, is dependent upon two ingredients. First, my love for Jesus because He first loved me. Second, joy will be experienced through obedience. Obedience. This hardly sounds like a “joyful” word. But let’s return to our acronym of consideration, a Journey of Yielding. Life, for all of us, is made up of hundreds of daily decisions. Most seemingly have little impact on our life’s outcome; others can alter our life’s direction, positively or tragically, one step at a time. Joy is surrendering your hopes, dreams, desires (even lusts) to the Living Word of God and the God of the Living Word, at the moment of truth. Joy is trusting the word of God by faith, as you honor the One who loved you and gave His life for you. He is the Father who knows best! He is the One who said in John 10:10 that we might have life to the full! Do you believe that? Joy follows obedience, but it doesn’t always make sense. The Bible provides illustration after illustration. Hebrews 11:8 says that my great, great relative Abraham (only sort of a joke!), when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Didn’t know where he was going, you say? Big deal. That’s me most of the time. I have two adolescent sons; I know. Where are you going, what are you doing? I don’t know. But here, it is God calling us to faithful obedience, following His call into at times a seemingly painful, risky or unpleasant situation that just make no earthly sense. Abraham trusted His heavenly Father. God said go; he went! And his joy, not just from the peace that passes all understanding, was rewarded with a son by the name of Isaac, born when Abraham was 100; with his redemption from the test of fire and the knife in Genesis 22; and with the superceding grace that would be available to Jews and Gentiles, alike, by embracing the Lord Jesus Christ. Abraham is the joyous father of all nations. How about Moses? He was in a position as Pharaoh’s adoptive son to enjoy the pleasures of sin and the riches of the treasures of Egypt. Instead, he chose to suffer affliction with the people of God and esteemed reproach for the sake of Christ and His riches even greater (Hebrew 11:25,26). And aren’t we glad He did! There’s my other namesake, Joseph. Cruelly abandoned by his Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

brothers, sold into slavery, imprisoned but what you will.” Yielding to His falsely, he turned from the enticement Father’s plan brought deep joy to our of sexual sin, fleeing lustful temptation Savior, a joy that came (Hebrews 12:2) and honoring the word of God. His joy from enduring the cross, scorning its through obedience delivered the whole shame and sitting down at the right nation of Israel out of a dire famine, hand of the throne of God. physically, spiritually and politically. All of us here, young people especially, Joshua, strong and courageous in the remember that sin looks good, feels Lord, ridiculously marched around the good and tastes good— for a moment. wall of Jericho seven times at God’s Then the trouble begins, your joy is command, blowing the horns of demise stolen, and the devil can get a grip on that would fell the wall. Make sense? your life. God’s desire for you is joy. Yes - God said so! Little David stood It is His gift to you through the Lord Fellowship up to the mighty Goliath in the name Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit; it is of the Lord with a little sling and a stone. Daniel continued experienced by you as you yield your will, your every decision, to pray to His God, despite the threat of being the lions’ to the word of God on your journey through life. Walk by evening meal. faith, and watch Him fill your joy tank and prepare you for the Little Zaccheus, the despicable tax collector, left the sycamore overwhelming blessings that will follow to all that call upon tree to sup with the Lord Jesus physically and spiritually. His the name of the Lord. reward: eternal life for his household, and he blessed those he July 1, 1999 “may” have cheated many times over. There is joy in giving! Czechoslovak Baptist Convention Peter and John continued to preach the word of God in the Philippi, West Virginia early days of the church, despite continued persecution. Their o messages trained the young deacon Stephen, whose courageous testimony upon being stoned to death planted seeds in the heart of an ornery Pharisee named Saul. And if it weren’t for the mission Editorial … Pokraèování ze strany 50 work of Saul, turned Paul, we wouldn’t be here today! Personally, I am so thankful to God. Even when my faith Bez této lásky by totiž velikonoce ani nebyly. Díky této lásce mùže was weak, he showed me that it was better to abstain than to být uskuteènìno veliké dílo spasení èlovìka tak, jak ho Pán Bùh give in to youthful lusts. Joy followed years later with the gift naplánoval. V klimatickém pásmu, ve kterém žijeme, jaro s sebou of my wonderful wife, Debbie, and two sons, Jeremy and Chad. pøináší nový život jak v pøírodì, tak i ve svìtì zvíøat. Golgata Twenty-two years of blessed, life-changing ministry with the pøináší nejen nový život, ale i novou nadìji, která je ve vzkøíšení. turning down of a $50,000-a-year job in Saudi Arabia sports Uvìdomujeme si tyto souvislosti, když obdivujeme jarní pøírodu? development, to raise and earn $10,000 annually to minister in Jestliže ano, pøipojíme své hlasy k chválám našeho Boha, jak nás k a group,at that time beleaguered and in debt, by the name of tomu vyzývá žalmista: „Hlahol Bohu, celá zemì!!” (Žalm 66,1). Greater Cleveland Youth for Christ. I lost my “blood” family over V praktickém životì køesana však nestaèí pouze vyslovené chvály. that choice for several years, but what joy the Lord has brought our Nᚠživot by mìl být jedním velikým komplexem chval, jinými slovy, way. This “yielding” was overwhelmingly rewarded in the winter zpùsob našeho života musí chválit Pána Boha. Jak to ve skuteènosti cold of January, 1979, when my father professed his personal faith je? Obávám se, že mnohdy místo chval Pána Boha zarmucujeme in the Lord Jesus Christ, one day before his death! a znovu køižujeme. Nemusí Pán Ježíš nad námi plakat jako nad I am not trying to be boastful. For every victory, there is a Jeruzalémem? Nelze øíci, že by dnešní køesan nemìl dostatek struggle. But many of you know what I am talking about. You vìdomostí, jak žít v souladu s Božím Slovem. Problémem je zmìna could fill in the blanks with your own testimony of difficult myšlení moderního èlovìka, a to se odráží i v køesanovì chápání obedience, followed by great joy and blessing. Sometimes the Božích zásad a celého zákona. Jistì nás rozruší katastrofy, které “feelings” of joy are present, and a true happiness abounds. zpùsobí rùzné poruchy v pøírodì nebo dokonce pøírodu nièí. Proè Praise the Lord for those times. But sometimes, the choices tolerujeme zmìny—katastrofy—v životì jednotlivých údù církve? are made in severe isolation, surrounded by pressure pointing Proè nebojujeme za èistotu církve a vztahù mezi lidmi? Nemìli you strongly away from God’s best. It is during these times bychom horlit stejným zpùsobem o nápravu jako horlíme pøi that the key to joy is the yielding, obeying God’s word during zneèištìní vodního toku chemikáliemi? Odpovìdí je ochabnutí vztahu your life’s journey. èlovìka k Bohu Otci—ochladnutí, opuštìní té první lásky. Lásky, Just words from our Savior? Hardly! No one knows it better která zatøásla svìtem tenkrát na køíži. that Jesus, who agonized in the garden of Gethsemane, with the Lásky Pána Ježíše, která má být v našich srdcích. Lásky, která direction of eternity at stake for the entire world. Overwhelmed se nemìní a obìtuje se za bližního. Takovou lásku do srdce vloží to the point of death, he could have bailed out, thinking of his jenom Pán Bùh, tato láska dokáže milovat až do konce v jakémkoliv own self and needs. He could even have pulled off a great miracle, lidském vztahu. Ve znamení této lásky bychom mìli prožít nejen rising to life from the cross before expiring, thus letting us die tento mìsíc nebo rok, ale celý život. hopelessly in our sinful state. But He didn’t! “Not what I will, šéfredaktorka Nataša Legierská o

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Love Matters Rev. Garth Priebe

Galatians 5:22,23; I Samuel 20:1–17 alking through an old folks home a few months ago, I noticed an unusual plaque. It read: The Philosophy of Love If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it will always be yours. If it doesn’t come back, it was never yours to begin with. But… If it just sits in your living room, watches your TV, messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money, and doesn’t appear to realize that you actually set it free in the first place, you either married it or gave birth to it! Read for a moment these words: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galations 5:22,23). Isn’t that profound? In the next few days we are going to sojourn in God’s orchard. We’re going to stop and smell the fruit blossoms. We’re going to sink our teeth into holy fruit. We’re going to linger beneath the branches of our Savior’s trees and allow the sap of the Holy Spirit to flow through our veins. It will be quite a journey. So let’s begin. Let’s stop and ponder this next thought: let us discover why God begins with love, why that is the first flavor we taste. The apostle Paul states: “Now abide these three: faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13). The Lord requires much more from us Than just an outer show; True love for Him will give itself To people here below. I cannot think of a more practical narrative to share with you this evening than that of David and Jonathan. There birthed in the pages of God’s Word is a valuable treasure that witnesses the fruit of God’s Spirit in one heart and the acts of sinful nature in another. One demonstrates godly love, and the other, a heart of malice. “Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David and warned him, ‘My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there’ ” (1 Sam. 19:1,2). Later, King Saul made an oath that he would not harm Jesse’s son, that he would spare David’s life, But that, too, was just a passing whim. It was outrage and animosity that destroyed a relationship and broke up a friendship. It was spite and jealousy that

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chased away a person who could help King Saul the most—for David was a man after God’s heart. And King Saul needed the stability of God within his life. After narrowly escaping the spear of King Saul, David vanished under cover of darkness and fled to where Samuel, God’s prophet, was hanging out. Filled with questions, fear and disbelief, David shared his heart with God’s prophet. Meanwhile, back at the palace... Hate fosters murder. And murderous thoughts gripped the king as he pursued God’s anointed servant. With seething enmity he hunted David, leaving Jesse’s son a fugitive and an outlaw in his own country. It was under these perilous circumstances that “…David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, ‘What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?’ ” (20:1) Jonathan was a friend who loved at all times. He wasn’t a fair-weather buddy who hangs out with somebody because they are cool, hip or in. Jonathan loved David even when his friend was labeled a renegade and a desperado. To this man David fled too. To this man David pleaded for an answer. With this man David searched for reasons that a death warrant had been put on his head. We can always go to that someone who models the Spirit’s love, because we know that he or she will walk with honesty, integrity and decency. That person who walks closely with God will exhibit a love that is patient and kind, a love that doesn’t envy, or boast, a love that doesn’t give in to pride. Jonathan was never rude to David when his friend accused his father of murderous intents. Jonathan never turned to self-centeredness because David questioned him about his father’s anger. Jonathan never flew into a rage even when he responded: “ ‘Never!’ Jonathan replied. ‘You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything great or small, without confiding in me. Why would he hide this from me? It’s not so!’ ” (20:2) Jonathan was not easily angered at David’s doubts. Bad-mouthing his long-time friend was the farthest thing from his mind. Jonathan wanted to investigate and discover for himself the ambitions of his dad. What a young man of integrity Jonathan was. God had His hand on his life, for the love Jonathan manifested went far deeper than surface friendship. Jonathan loved as God loved. “But David took an oath and said, ‘Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, “Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.” Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only one step between me and death.’ Jonathan said to David, ‘Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.’ So David said, ‘Look, tomorrow is the New Moon festival, and I

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am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. If your father misses me at all, tell him,“David earnestly asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because an annual sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.” If he says, “very well,” then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me. As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?’ ” (1 Sam. 20:3-8) Hate, anger, bitterness, malice, rage, brawling and slander are the things we need to rid ourselves of. Those things are contrary to love, let alone to the Spirit of God. When God dwells within us, there is not anything that can remove the kindness and compassion we can show to another, neither will we withhold forgiveness when we are wronged. We will forgive as God forgave us in Christ Jesus. Love is beautiful when it covers some person’s life. It drives away the garbage and the filth that promote the ugliness of sin. Love comes from God, for God is love. So David positions the stage. The curtain is opened and the drama is set to begin. It was the time for feasts and sacrifices. It was a time for celebrations. In spite of Saul’s prodigal ways he still insisted on taking the form of holiness. His virtue tarnished by the quivering spear in the palace wall, his horrible death oath spit out in fiery anger, his tired soldiers whom he commanded to pursue an innocent man, and yet Saul prepared the public feast to bring honor to God. God tells us that if we say we love Him yet we hate our brother, we are liars. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: “Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (I John 4:20–21). Somewhere between the oil from the ram’s horn to this present time in Saul’s life, the king lost his walk with God. It is at this feast that the character of Israel’s first king will be revealed. Love doesn’t delight in evil, but rejoices at the truth. But in a few short hours Jonathan will realize his father’s vengeful heart. Evil drives away love. Evil destroys, but truth always embraces the Spirit’s love. So the trap is laid. The two friends prepare a plan that will expose and uncover Saul’s homicidal heart. “ ‘Never!’ Jonathan said. ‘If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?’ David asked, ‘Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?’ ‘Come,’ Jonathan said, ‘let’s go out into the field.’ So they went there together. Then Jonathan said to David: ‘By the Lord, the God of Israel, I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? But if my father is inclined to harm you, may the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away safely. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. But show me unfailing kindness like that of the Lord as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.’ So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘May the Lord

call David’s enemies to account.’ And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself” (I Samuel 20:9–17). There is something about God’s love that warms the heart. In the midst of this catastrophe Jonathan renews an oath, a covenant he has made with David. A covenant of love. Terrible things are occurring all around these two comrades. Lives are being threatened, charges are being laid, posses are being prepared. And in the chaos Jonathan recalls a vow of love: a vow that was never made on an impulse, a vow that was as solid as the ground they stood upon. To Jonathan this was a vow of love that always seeks to protect, always trusts, always perseveres in the midst of disaster. To Jonathan it was love that never failed, no matter what difficult roads lay ahead. God’s kind of love sticks like that. God’s kind of love doesn’t cease or fade away with the changing tide of fair-weather friendships. God’s spiritual love goes beyond the call of duty, goes beyond public opinion, goes beyond even the most inconstant camaraderie. In other words, God’s love serves (Galatians 5:13). God’s love sticks closer than a brother. God’s love must be sincere (Romans 12:9). God’s love does not harm its neighbor (Romans 13:10). God’s love builds a person up (I Corinthians 8:1). Jonathan would find out his father’s motives. There before hundreds of guests a few days later, Saul would fly off the handle and curse Jonathan’s mother. In his fit of rage he would call for David’s execution, then angrily hurl his spear at his own flesh and blood. Jonathan would warn David, he would urge David to run like the wind and never look back. He would beg him to hide till the way was safe and the dust had cleared and the Israel’s Most Wanted posters were ripped off the shops in all Judea. But that is not the most important factor this evening. It comes down to a four-letter word known as love. Not the kind of love the world talks about, but a Spirit-driven love. A Spirit-controlled love. A Spirit-focused love. Jonathan parts with David that day, but not before he challenges his friend with their vow of love. Never forget what has been said between us, Jonathan says. Never forget the promise that has been given. Never forget that love is to be shown between our clans forever. God’s love would be shown to King Saul and Mephibosheth. David would exhibit the Holy Spirit’s love as time and time again he would spare King Saul’s life, no records of wrongs, no delighting in evil, just patient love for a man who would rather bury him than enjoy his friendship. David’s love would persevere through those long dark nights. Later, David would generously bestow a heart of love upon Jonathan’s son, a cripple. He would take him into his home, he would care for him and provide for his servant. David’s love never failed because it came from God. We must remember God said that the greatest of these is love! Remember God tells us to put on love. I trust that you have got the flavor of holy love this evening, that through the lives of biblical heros you have witnessed what it means to walk in Spirit-controlled love. Amen. o

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Dávajte pozor Peter Abrman List Júdov

4. èas

P

isate3⁄4: Júda, pod3⁄4a Matúša 13:55, je den zo štyroch bratov Pána Ježiša. Slovensky preložené meno „Júda“ malo v èase Pána Ježiša aspoò dve formy; v hebrejèine „Judah“ a v gréètine „Judas“, do slovenèiny preložené aj ako „Judᚓ. V Novom Zákone rozoznávame aspoò osem mužov s týmito menami, a preto je potrebné si upresni, ktorý z nich je pisate3⁄4 Júdovej epištoly. Júda, brat Pánov, sa najprv nestotožòoval s uèením Ježiša, svojho brata, ale po Kristovom zmàtvychvstaní sa stal jeho úprimným nasledovníkom. V prvých storoèiach nášho letopoètu bolo podozrenie, že list Júdov nebol inšpirovaný Svätým Duchom, a preto by nemal by súèasou Nového Zákona. Toto podozrenie podporovali nasledujúce dôvody: (1) Žiaden pisate3⁄4 Nového Zákona sa neodvoláva na Júdove výroky z jeho epištoly. (2) Júda sa neoznaèuje vo svojom liste ako „apoštol“, ale ako „sluha“, èím sám naznaèuje, že nemá apoštolskú autoritu. (3) Krátkos listu (štvrtý najkratší list v Novom Zákone). (4) Nie je prítomná ani jedna základná doktrína kresanského vierovyznania. (5) Citovanie „nebiblických“ textov (verše 9 a 14). (6) Nie je uvedený konkrétny adresát. Napriek týmto a iným námietkam, list Júdov bol zahrnutý okolo roku 170 n.l. do takzvaného Muratoriánskeho Kánonu a v priebehu 4. storoèia bol všeobecne prijatý celou cirkvou z nasledujúcich dôvodov: (1) Júdov vzah k Pánovi (bol Jeho bratom). (2) Jeho priame, oèividné svedectvo o zmàtvychvstalom Kristu. (3) Júdovo zastávanie sa viery a jeho zápas za vieru. (4) V Júdovej epištole nie je žiadny rozpor s uèením kresanskej viery. Júda žil poèas prvého, ve3⁄4mi krutého politického prenasledovania prvotných kresanov Rímom a zároveò poèas silného napádania viery v zmàtvychvstalého Krista. Podobne ako Ján, ktorý žil ku koncu prvého storoèia, Júda húževnato pracoval

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na povzbudzovaní prvých kresanov a obhajovaní Kristovho uèenia. Význam mena Júda: „chvála“. Hlavnou myšlienkou Júdovho listu je jednanie s falošným uèením a to v troch segmentoch: (a) upozornenie—verše 3–4, (b) príklady falošníkov— verše 5–16, (c) povzbudenie—verše 17–25. Naši nepriatelia Júdovou túžbou bolo napísa svojim milovaným spoluvykúpeným list, ktorý by pojednával o „spoloènom“, v inom preklade „všeobecnom“ spasení. List, ktorý by azda vyjadroval zázrak spasenia, naplnenie proroctiev èí nádej na prekrásny život v prítomnosti Spasite3⁄4a. Je však prinútený písa o výstrahe, upozornení a zápase. Dôvod? Júda si bol vedomý nebezpeèia èíhajúceho na mladú cirkev, mladé uèenie a mladých veriacich. Vo svojich slovách, verš 3: „…aby ste zápasili za vieru…“ nemal na mysli, aby sme bojovali za udržanie si nášho spasenia, ale aby sme vieru, ktorá bola raz daná svätým obhajovali a zápasili za òu. Preèo obhajova vieru? Preèo zápasi za vieru? Júda vedel o tých, ktorí chceli znehodnoti èisté uèenie viery, ktorí mali záujem prevráti èistú pravdu o našom Spasite3⁄4ovi. Zápasi o èistotu viery je našou povinnosou. Ak nemáme takýto postoj, aké je potom naše presvedèenie o tom, v ktorého sme uverili a o tom, v èo sme uverili? Júda vo svojom liste upozoròuje na nepriate3⁄4ov viery, ktorí sa vyznaèujú piatimi charakteristickými vlastnosami—verš 4: 1,—„...sa kradmo boènými cestami votreli niektorí 3⁄4udia...“ Pri tomto bode nechcem iba konštatova to, na èo apoštol Peter upozoròuje v 2.Pet. 3. kapitole, že budú takí, èo sa budú snaži tajne votrie do ovèinca, ale hlavne sa chcem zamyslie nad nasledujúcou otázkou: „Ako je to vôbec možné, že sa takíto 3⁄4udia dostanú do kruhu vyvolených?“ Po dlhšom uvažovaní som prišiel k tejto odpovedi: Preto, lebo tí èo majú stráži, pospali! Nechcem vylúèi ochranu Božej ruky nad Jeho vyvolenými, ale Slovo Božie nám jasne

Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

na mnohých miestach hovorí o „strážení“ viery. Apoštol Pavol píše v Gal. 2:5 „...ktorým sme neustúpili ani na chví3⁄4u...“. V 1.Tim.5:17 hodnotí: „Starší, ktorí dobre spravujú, nech sú považovaní za hodných dvojej cti, najmä tí, ktorí pracujú v slove a v uèení.“ Efežanov v 6:10–11 povzbudzuje: „Ostatne, moji bratia, mocnejte v Pánovi a v sile jeho vlády. Obleète si celú zbraò Božiu, aby ste mohli obstᝠproti taktike a úskoènosti diablovej.“ Apoštol Peter pripomína v 2. Pet. 3:1–4: „Toto vám, milovaní, píšem už druhý list, v ktorých to listoch upomínaním povzbudzujem vašu èistú myse3⁄4, aby ste pamätali na slová…vediac najprv to, že v posledných dòoch prídu posmievaèi, ktorí budú chodi pod3⁄4a svojich vlastných žiadostí a hovori: Kde je to zas3⁄4úbenie o jeho príchode?…“ Pisate3⁄4 Židom napomína v Žid. 13:17: „Poslúchajte svojich vodcov a ustupujte im, lebo oni bdejú za vaše duše ako takí, ktorí vydajú poèet, aby to robili s radosou a nevzdychali, lebo to by vám nebolo užitoèné.“ Z týchto a ïalších podobných miest Slova Božieho môžeme konštatova, že ak sa niekomu podarí votrie do zboru a kona dielo skazy, máme h3⁄4a da chybu najprv v nás. 2,—„…dávno vopred zapísaní k tomu odsúdeniu…“ Júda nepíše, že Boh urèil niektorých k odpadnutiu, èi k falošnému uèeniu v tom zmysle, že by èlovek nemal slobodnú vô3⁄4u rozhodovania. Júda tu píše, že takí, ktorí sa rozhodli neprija pravdu, èi prija faloš, sú „…vopred zapísaní k odsúdeniu“. A to iba právom! Apoštol Pavol píše v tom istom zmysle v Ef. 4:17–19. Boh nemôže a ani nebude trpie vo svojej prítomnosti žiaden hriech a neèistotu. 3,—„…bezbožníci…“— pôvodné grécke slovo „asebes“ popisuje nadobudnutú negativitu osoby. Tento výraz neoznaèuje èloveka, ktorý nemá jasno v oblasti viery, ale èloveka, ktorý má ve3⁄4ké poznanie pravdy, ktorú vari v živote i praktizoval, ale nikdy ku Pravde nepatril. Mat. 12:45: „vtedy ide a pojme so sebou sedem iných duchov, horších ako je sám, a vojdúc prebývajú tam, a posledné veci toho èloveka bývajú horšie ako prvé“. Mal podobu pobožnosti,

ale jeho život nebol v súlade s Pravdou, ba dokonca zapieral Pravdu, vystupoval proti Nej a prekrúcal Ju. Júda nás vyzýva, aby sme zápasili o vieru—bojovali za vieru, práve proti takýmto bezbožníkom. 4,—„…ktorí obracajú milos našeho Boha na nehanebnos…“ Toto je prvý z dvoch cie3⁄4ov, ktoré chcú „bezbožníci“ dosiahnú. Ale preèo práve takýto cie3⁄4? Títo bezbožníci sa z vlastnej vôle postavili proti Bohu a všetkému èo je Božie. Pýcha, podobne ako u Satana, im zabránila podriadi sa Božím pravdám, ktorými boli raz osvietení. K Bohu chcú prís vlastným úsilím. Pohàdajúc Božou milosou preukázanou v Pánu Ježišovi, zároveò uèia, že Božia milos nie je potrebná a je naniè. Pokia3⁄4 títo falošní uèitelia pochádzali zo židovského prostredia, nemusíme sa divi, že si túto úlohu zvolili ako svoj životný cie3⁄4. Len sa zamyslime nad nasledujúcou otázkou: Ako pristupovali 3⁄4udia v starozákonnej dobe k Bohu? Mali na to stovky príkazov, zákazov a nariadení, ktoré museli dodržiava deò èo deò. Po celé tisícroèia ich praktizovali. Zrazu sa tu objaví niekto, Galilejský muž, ktorý o sebe prehlasuje, že je Synom Božím (Mat. 26:63–65), že On je tá Cesta, Pravda i Život (Ján 14:6: „A Ježiš mu povedal: Ja som cesta i pravda i život; nikto nepríde k Otcovi, len skrze mòa.“) A takúto cestu milosti mnohí nemohli prehltnú. Ako príklad možno spomenú Saula na ceste do Damašku, Skut. 9. 5,—„…a jediného samovládcu Boha a nášho Pána Ježiša Krista zapierajú.“ Toto je druhý cie3⁄4, ktorý sa snažili bezbožníci dosiahnu. Pokraèujme v uvažovaní z predchádzajúceho bodu. Židia verili v „jedného jediného“ Boha—JAHVE, (JEHOVA). 5.Moj.4:35: „Tebe to bolo ukázané nato, aby si vedel, že Hospodin je Bohom, a že niet iného okrem neho. Po celé tisícroèia toto verili, uèili a hlásali. Boli na to hrdí. Luk. 3:8: „…Veï otca máme Abraháma!…“ Títo falošní uèitelia nemali v záujme iba potrie „nový“ vzah k Bohu—JAHVE, ale aj „meno“ a podstatu Kristovej osobnosti. Po prvé sa snažili zaprie fakt, že On je „... jediný samovládca…“ a po druhé, že On je „...nᚠPán...“. Chcem podotknú, že jeden z najpoužívanejších textov gréckeho Nového Zákona vynecháva slovíèko „Boha“, èo nám presvedèivejšie a jasnejšie urèuje, kto je „jediný samovládca“. Apoštol Pavol dosvedèuje túto skutoènos v liste Kol.1:16 „…lebo v òom je stvorené všetko, všetko, èo je v nebesiach i èo je na zemi, vidite3⁄4né i nevidite3⁄4né, buï tróny buï panstvá buï kniežatstvá buï vrchnosti, to všetko je stvorené skrze neho a cie3⁄4om neho,…“ Ján, vo videní poèul slová, ktoré zaznamenal

Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

v Zjav. 4:11: „Hoden si, Pane a nᚠBože, vzia slávu a èes a moc, lebo ty si stvoril všetky veci, a pre tvoju vô3⁄4u sú a boli stvorené.” Áno, Pán Ježiš Kristus je „samovládca”! Po druhé, bezbožníci zapierali fakt, že Ježiš si „zaslúžil” by nazvaný Pán—Pán vo význame zvelebovania. Veï Zákon ich uèil v 2.Moj. 20:5: „Nebudeš sa im [iným bohom] klaòa ani im nebudeš slúži, lebo ja Hospodin, tvoj Boh, som silný Boh žiarlivý“. Toto nebezpeèie falošného uèenia vôbec nekonèí. Dokonca je ešte väèšie ako kedyko3⁄4vek v minulosti. Žijeme v posledných minútach èasnosti na Božích hodinách. Satan si je tejto skutoènosti vedomý a koná so svojimi prívržencami všetko, èo len môže. Evanjelista Marek zaznamenal upozoròujúce slová nášho Pána vo svojom evanjeliu, Mar. 13:22 „…Lebo povstanú falošní kristovia a falošní proroci a budú èini divy a zázraky, aby zviedli, ak by bolo možné, aj vyvolených.“ Avšak my môžeme spoèinú v zas3⁄4ú bení, ktoré nám Pán dal v Mat. 16:18: „A ja ti tiež hovorím, že si ty Peter, Skala, a na tej skale vybudujem svoju cirkev, a nepremôžu ju ani brány ríše smrti…“. Potvrdenie histórie Júda nám pripomína koniec troch prípadov nevery, vzbury a 3⁄4a hkovážnosti naproti Bohu. (1) Verš 5: 1⁄4ud Izraelský vyjdúc z otroctva s nádejou nevstúpil do Zas3⁄4úbenej Zeme. Kvôli svojej nevere a neposlušnosti, prameniacej zo strachu, zostali tesne pred òou a nevstúpili do nej. Zaèali sa beznádejne túla po púšti ïalších 38 rokov. Okrem Jozuu a Kálefa, všetci vo veku nad dvadsa rokov vychádzajúci s nádejou z Egypta, beznádejne pomreli. (2) Verš 6: Anjeli, žijúci v ponebeských oblastiach v prítomnosti svojho Stvorite3⁄4a, ktorí sa pridali na stranu Pýchy, vzbúriac sa spolu so Satanom proti Najvyššiemu, nemajú ani len nádeje k návratu a tak ich oèakáva beznádejná veènos. (3) Verš 7: Júda tu dáva za príklad extrém 3⁄4udskej nemorálnosti. Obyvatelia Sodomy a Gomory, holdujúci „…inému telu…“, sa oddávali rôznym zvrátenostiam. Pravdu, ktorá prebývala v ich strede, brali ve3⁄4mi na3⁄4ahko. Tento 3⁄4ahostajný prístup ku pravde ich priviedol do záhuby, ktorej ani muž viery, Abrahám, nemohol zabráni. Spoloèná èrta všetkých „poblúdených“ je vystihnutá vo verši 8: „Podobne však aj títo, pohrúžení v spánok, telo poškvròujú, panstvom pohàdajú a slávam sa rúhajú.“ „Pohrúžení v spánok“—grécke slovo „enupniazomai“ znamená „sníva“, „ži v snoch“, „ži mimo reality“. Títo falošní uèitelia žili vo vysnívanom

svete, mimo skutoènej reality. Žili v klamnom svete, uverili Satanovej lži, ktorej pod3⁄4ahol i prvý èlovek. 1.Moj.3:5 „...a budete ako bohovia...“ Je vhodné si povšimnú súvislos medzi prijatím tejto lži a vonkajšími prejavmi týchto falošných uèite3⁄4ov. Po prvé, „…telo poškrvòujú…“. Keï èlovek zaprie Božie pravdy, žije len pre sebecké uspokojenie svojich telesných žiadostí, ktoré nepoznajú medze, pravidlá èi poriadok. Naèo však taký èlovek zabúda je to, že takýto štýl života nesie so sebou aj negatívne následky, a to nie len v oblasti telesných chorôb, ale aj duševných porúch. Po druhé, „…panstvom pohàdajú…“. „Panstvom“—grécke slovo „kyriotes“ znamená „vládu“, „autoritu“, „poriadok“. Všetka vláda a autorita pochádza od Boha. Èi to už je autorita civilná, zborová alebo autorita v dome. Falošní uèitelia sa vymykajú spod Bohom urèenej autority. Samých seba urèili ako jedinú autoritu, a to nie len pre seba, ale chcú vládnu aj nad inými. Chcú presadi svoje „ja“ za každú cenu. Tento postoj ich vedie k tretiemu prejavu, a to „…slávam sa rúhajú…“. „Slávam“—grécle slovo „doxa“, znamená „nebeské bytosti“, „nebeské výsosti“. Èlovek, ktorý nemá rešpekt pred autoritou Stvorite3⁄4a, nemá rešpekt ani pred tým èo Boh stvoril. Rúha sa všetkému a pohàda všetkým, èoho sa dotkla Božia stvorite3⁄4ská ruka. V protiklade k tomu Júda pripomína v 9.verši archanjela Michala, ktorý si ani len nedovolil vyriec rúhavý súd nad Diablom v spore o telo Mojžišovo. Bezbožníkov, bez oh3⁄4adu na to, v ktorej dobe sa nachádzajú, stihne „Beda im!“—verš 11. Apoštol Pavel to vystihol nasledujúcimi slovami v liste Gal. 6:7: „Nemý3⁄4te sa, Bohu sa nebude nikto posmieva. Lebo èoko3⁄4vek seje èlovek, to bude i ža.“ Júda nám po poh3⁄4ade do minulosti vyobrazuje v 12.verši zbor napadnutý „bezbožnými“: „Tí sú škvrnami na vašich hodoch lásky, ktorí sa spolu hostia bez bázne sami seba pasúc…“. Nedovo3⁄4me, aby naše hody lásky boli poznaèené akýmiko3⁄4vek škvrnami! Jasné riešenie Verše 20–23: „Ale vy, milovaní, budujúc sa na svojej presvätej viere, modliac sa v Svätom Duchu, strážiac zachovajte sa v láske Božej oèakávajúc milosrdenstvo nášho Pána Ježiša Krista cie3⁄4om veèného života. A nad niektorými majte 3⁄4útos karhajúc ich a robiac rozdiel a iných zachraòujte bázòou vytrhujúc ich z ohòa, nenávidiac ešte len aj tej od tela poškvrnenej

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Few Words about Someone Special inally we arrive at our destination. In 1969 Marija and George came I get out of the car and stretch to the United States and currently they my limbs, all numb after an work at the Alderson-Broaddus College eight-hour ride. Four days of in Philippi, West Virginia. Thanks to their fellowship in a beautiful environment active role within the convention, we can await us. During the entire year we look gather in the pleasant environment of the forward to the convention, and finally we college every year. George’s abilities have are here. On the way to the registration also contributed to raising the standard of desk we recognize many familiar faces, Glorious Hope to what it is today. and one embrace is followed by another. It is wonderful to see how God leads a At the registration desk we are greeted by person from the very beginning of his life, Helen Pojman’s smiling team. Helen has through adulthood and into the period an important message for me. I need to of life when a person might be entitled find George right away; he’s been asking to some rest. It is interesting that those for me three times already. Indeed, I am who are active servants of God rarely rest. at the right place. This is the familiar Although brother Sommer may start to atmosphere of the behind-the-scenes consider retirement, he will certainly not organization of the convention. George rest. Our dear Sommers are always very should be waiting in the sound room. I welcoming. Each of their visitors feels like quickly take the side stairs, but I arrive the most important guest. late. He has already left. I return to the We wish our brother guidance, blessGeorge Sommer registration desk. I just missed him, but ing and presence in the future years of his he has left me a message about where I life. We also thank him for his responsible can find him. He urgently needs to speak to me, so I must find and selfless approach to all his work within our convention. him quickly.... He never seems to slow down, I think to myself Natasha Legierski o as I try to track him down.... I could continue with my description of each convention day from an organizational perspective. We may not have realized how many interesting, humorous and sometimes unpleasant History—Mothers … Continues from page 52 situations arise, how much confusion needs to be cleared up and for God’s Word remained strong. Today our history is a source how much needs to be kept under control. However, to go into of encouragement as well as a warning. We have only touched a detail would take up too many pages of our magazine, so I’ll tiny fragment of our nation’s entire history. We can see what the limit my description to one key person, who is really the reason mothers of past generations were like. What will the mothers of that I am writing this article. our future generation be like? Do the mothers of today teach their Yes, you guessed correctly, the person is George Sommer. We children to love God’s Word, when contact between children all know him well, his selflessness, and his energetic approach as and parents is often minimal? Do they entrust the upbringing he completes all the various tasks in his role as executive secretary of their children to unqualified strangers or institutions? How of the Czechoslovak Convention. It is difficult to imagine do they prepare their children for the future? Do they teach the convention without him. He is always in the right places, them to love and serve their neighbour, or are children isolated giving advice, taking photographs…only he knows the secret of from others? Today, with various technological luxuries, it managing so much at once. His wife Marija is his right-hand has become possible, even for those in the same household, person. I’m not sure if anyone is aware that Marija and George to live isolated lives. taught the local cooks how to make the traditional Czech meal, As we talk of the past, we must also think of the future. roast pork with sauerkraut and dumplings. History helps us to understand the past and learn important Why is it that I am writing this article about George in the lessons for the future. In other words, history is our teacher. first place? The reason is that on April 13, our dear brother Families that are grounded in the principles of God’s Word celebrated his 60th birthday. provide fertile ground for individuals who are faithful to God He was born in Czechoslovakia, in the city of Ostrava. We can and His teaching. May our children be devoted to God and witness how he has used the gifts God has given him to glorify his spread His love as they grow up and leave our homes. I would Lord. Already as a young man, he put his organizational talents like to wish for everyone that our mothers might be prayerful to use in his youth group. Even today members of his generation pillars of Christ’s church, so that there may be more of those remember how much self-sacrifice he put into everything he did. who decide to follow Him. His friends from his youth group joke about how they sometimes did not want to listen to his instructions. o

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Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

Nìkolik slov… oneènì dorážíme do cíle. na Alderson-Broaddus College ve Vystupuji z auta a Philippi, v Západní Virginii. Díky protahuji své údy, jejich aktívnímu se zapojení do práce ztuhlé po èeskoslovenské konvence, mùžeme osmihodinové jízdì. Máme pøed se každým rokem scházet v krásném sebou ètyøi dny obecenství Božího prostøedí této univerzity. Schopnosti lidu v krásném prostøedí. Celý rok Jiøího také pomohly k pozvednutí se tìšíme na konvenci a koneènì èasopisu Slavné nadìje na souèasnou jsme zde. Cestou k registraci úroveò. potkáváme známé tváøe a jedno Je úžasné, jakými rùznými objetí støídá druhé. zpùsoby Pán Bùh èlovìka vede Kousek nebe na zemi! U od samého pøíchodu na zem, pøes registraèního stolu nás vítají dìtství, vìk dospìlosti, až do období, úsmìvy týmu sestry Heleny kdy má èlovìk nárok odpoèívat. Pojmanové, která mi zároveò Je zajímavé, že ti, kteøí se stanou pøedává dùležitou zprávu. Mám se aktivními pracovníky na Božím poli, okamžitì hlásit u Jiøího, už mne prakticky neodpoèívají. Bratr Jiøí by Marija and George Sommer Robert Dvorak (right) prý tøikrát hledal! již mohl zaèít pomýšlet na dùchod, Ano, jsem na správném místì, ale odpoèívat urèitì nebude. Naši to je ta správná atmosféra zákulisí pøi organizování konvence. milí Sommerovi vynikají pohostinností, každý návštìvník se u nich Èeká na mne v „kukani” (tak øíkáme zvukové místnosti v kapli nad cítí jako ten nejvzácnìjší host. hlavním sále, kde je hlavní sídlo Jiøího po dobu konvence). Tajným Pøejeme bratrovi Jiøímu Boží pøítomnost a zmocnìní do dalších schodištìm se dostávám rychle nahoru. Pøicházím však pozdì. let života, spolu se zdravím a hojností Božího požehnání. Zároveò Odešel již druhou stranou. Ale kam? Vracím se tedy k registraci. mu dìkujeme za jeho odpovìdný a obìtavý pøístup ke každé práci v Zase pozdì. Právì zmizel a nechal mi tu vzkaz, kde ho hledat. Nutnì rámci naší èeskoslovenské konvence. se mnou potøebuje mluvit, musím ho tedy najít…. Ten èlovìk se snad Nataša Legierská o nikdy nezastaví, øíkám si, a vydávám se po jeho stopách…. Mohla bych pokraèovat v popisu jednotlivých dnù naší konvence Historie—Matky … Pokraèování ze strany 53 z pohledu organizaèního. Netušíme ani, kolik zajímavých situací, jako v nedobytných pevnostech? Dnes, pøi všech technických humorných i nepøíjemných se vyskytne, kolik zmatkù je tøeba uvést vymoženostech to je možné. do poøádku a hlavnì mít všechno pod kontrolou…. Zabralo by to Hovoøíme-li o minulosti, nutnì musíme myslet na budoucnost. však pøíliš mnoho stránek našeho èasopisu. Omezím se tedy pouze Historie nám pomáhá porozumìt minulosti a vytìžit pro budoucnost. na klíèovou osobu, kvùli níž vlastnì tento èlánek píši. Jinými slovy, historie nás uèí. Z domácností založených a Ano, domýšlíte se správnì. Je to bratr Jiøí Sommer. Všichni vybudovaných na zásadách Božího Slova vycházeli jedinci vìrní ho velmi dobøe známe, jeho obìtavost a neubývající energii, se Pánu Bohu a Jeho uèení. Pøeji všem ètenáøùm, aby z našich domovù kterou vykonává všechny mu svìøené úlohy v roli generálního vycházeli osobnosti oddané Pánu Bohu, šíøící kolem sebe Boží sekretáøe èeskoslovenské konvence. Bez jeho osoby si prùbìh lásku. Pøeji nám všem, aby naše matky byly modlitebnicemi a konvence ani neumíme pøedstavit. Hned je tam a zase jinde, fotí, pilíøi Kristovy církve, aby tìch kteøí se rozhodnou k následování radí, informuje…jak to všechno zvládne, to ví jenom on. On a jeho ještì pøibývalo. o manželka Marija, která mu je pravou rukou. Nevím, zda-li milovníci tradièního èeského jídla knedlo-zelo-vepøo vìdí, že Marija s Jiøím nauèili místní kuchaøe uvaøit knedlíky i zelí. Proè vlastnì o bratrovi píši? Tento milý bratr se totiž dožil All information about významného životního jubilea. Tøináctého dubna oslavil své již 60. narozeniny!! 91st Annual ConvenPøišel na svìt v dalekém Èeskoslovensku, v hornickém mìstì tion in Philippi, WV Ostravì (nyní Èeská republika), s raneèkem darù od Pána Boha. you can find on our Jsme svìdky toho, jak se tyto dary rozvinuly, jsou používány a new web site slouží k Boží slávì. Svými organizaèními schopnostmi vynikal již jako mladý muž v ostravské mládeži. Ještì dnes jeho vrstevníci vzpomínají na neúnavnou obìtavost pøi všem, co dìlal. Tehdejší mládežníci si vyprávìjí humorné historky o tom, jak ho nìkdy nechtìli poslouchat. V roce 1969 Marija s Jiøím odešli do Spojených státù a pùsobí

www.AB.edu/czslbaptconv

Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

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Question Box Do you believe in eternal security? Yes, of “the believer,” i.e., someone who continues to believe (present tense of the Greek verb, which means that a person habitually practices faith: see Hebrews 11:6). But no, of a person who claims to believe, but shows no proof of salvation from sin (Matt.1:21). Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt.7:20). “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20,26). I’ve been praying about something, but have no answer. Does God always answer prayer? Yes. Your answer is probably “wait.” Other answers are “Yes,” and “No.” Sometimes no answer is a “no” answer: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me, but verily God hath heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer” (Psm.66:18,19). What does it mean that God is sovereign? He is supreme, all-powerful, independent, and rules the universe; He is in charge..in control and responsible for everything that happens anywhere and any time. That’s what “Thy will be done” (Matt 6:10) means. There are things we don’t understand:

“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong unto us.... that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut.29:29). Do you talk in tongues? The miracle of being able to say in other than your own language the “wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11) is no longer happening. “Tongues shall cease” (1 Cor. 13:8). In chapters 12-14, Paul corrects the “charismatic” Corinthians by prioritizing gifts of the spirit and commending rather love, prophecy and things that edify others. Should America practice the separation of church and state? No. The constitution, the pledge to the flag, oaths in our courtrooms, the swearing in of public officials, our currency, and national anthems clearly indicate our Godly heritage as a nation. It is still true that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov.14:34), and “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psm.33:12). Are the heathen or pagans lost? Yes. They have rejected the testimony of creation and conscience (Romans 1:19,20). The Bible says that “they are without excuse.” Nineveh responded in repentance and God forgave them (Jonah 3,4). How are law and grace related? Salvation is 100% by grace through faith (Eph.2:8,9) and not of works, but works follow as an evidence that the salvation was real (James 2:17–26), for “faith without works is dead.” As Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt.7:20). The Rev. John E. Karenko o

The Rev. John E. Karenko 1330 Normandy Dr., Godfrey, IL 62035

The Observation Tower Victory in Jesus Rev. John E. Karenko

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f “Confession is good for the soul,” as someone has said, I’m going to “bless my soul” by my testimony of teen time temptation and triumphant victory “in Jesus.” When I was 161⁄2 and a senior in high school, the Lord “touched me” with salvation. It was wonderful, and for several days my feet didn’t touch the ground. Wow, wow, wow! But then the specters of some besetting sins reared their ugly heads and I was devastated. To be 99.44% pure wasn’t good enough. I was miserable. I had slipped, fallen into old habits that I thought were buried in the depths of the sea! (Mic. 7:19). My guilt pestered me. It recurred again and again. I felt like the apostle Paul as he described his similar experience (Rom. 7:15): “What I hate, that I do.” Like Paul, I cried out, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (v.24) Somehow I missed the answer in the next verse and chapter. I began a struggle of several years to overcome sin, but “I” failed repeatedly. I tried to bully myself, to browbeat myself into submission by various means. I made vows. I recall once promising

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over half a week’s salary to God if I did it again, and I had to pay up! What was otherwise very good had black blotches of sin, and I couldn’t defeat the devil, no matter how hard “I” tried to resist. “Old things” were supposed to “have passed away,” but not for me! It wasn’t until a friend pointed out to me that Jesus overcame temptation by quoting scripture to Satan (Matt. 4:4,7,10). My friend said to me that the Word of God was “quick (alive) and powerful” (Heb. 4:12). God had promised, “My word that goes forth from my mouth shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in

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Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

My Parents Struck It Rich in America John E. Karenko

y parents came to America in 1911–1912. They sought material happiness, but not knowing the language, experienced little success in this goal. My father was very religious, had a deep bass singing voice and served in the Orthodox church as a liturgist (deacon). My mother baked the bread used in the liturgy. They had icons in the home and were “Christians.” But alas, my father was a drunkard and this evil was ruining our home. A Baptist co-worker gave him a Bible. He read that drunkards do not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor.6:9,10; Galatians 5:19–21). His religion was useless, but in the Bible he also read that God loves the sinner (John 3:16) and is ready to forgive all those who turn to Him in repentance and faith (Mark 1:15). He learned that “Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor. 15:3) and that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin; that if we confess our sins to Him, He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7,9). That was good news. He kept reading… “What must I do to be saved?” The Apostle Paul answered this question by saying, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and all your house. And he preached the Word of the Lord to him and all in his house… and he and all his were straightway baptized, and rejoiced, having believed in God with all his house” (Acts 16:30–34).

In the same way, my parents believed, with repentance, and were baptized by faith in 1918. God saved my father from his drunkenness and life changed in our home completely for the better. My parents found not material but spiritual good fortune and happiness. The Apostle John in his first letter, Chapter 5 verses 11–13, says to US, too: “God has given to us eternal life [heaven] and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son [of God] has life; he who does not have the Son does not have life. I wrote this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you would know that you, believing in the Son of God, have eternal life.” Not only my parents believed and became happy, but I also (at the beginning of September in 1933) repented and in faith received Jesus as my personal Savior, and consider that I also am fortunate and happy. Death for me will be “gain” and I will be “with Christ, for this will be far better” (Philippians 1:21,23). If you do not yet know this joy and good fortune that is in Christ, I strongly urge you to immediately, without delay, turn to Him in earnest prayer, with repentance, and receive Him personally—and you will be saved, striking it rich in America (2 Cor.8:9). Amen! o

Victory in Jesus … Continues from page 62 the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa. 55:11). There was a way to win I had not used. But then my friend pointed out an even greater “help”: he pointed to a powerfully able and available Jesus: “For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help them that are tempted” (Heb. 2:18). Jesus has power to keep me from falling (Jude v. 24). Jesus can enable me and strengthen me (Phil. 4:13). Jesus is greater than tempting Satan (I John 4:4). I learned that there was victory in Jesus (Rom. 7:25). Jesus “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in Him” (Eph. 3:20). That was wonderful news to me! I wasn’t alone in the battle against sin and Satan! “The Lord is my helper” (Heb. 13:6), and “my help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:2). My solution was simply to “Ask and you shall receive” (Matt. 7:7). The bottom line was this: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:32,36). In Christ and His Word I had overcoming help. Things have improved tremendously since I found the “secret” that there is “Victory in Jesus!” He is available and able (Matt. 11:28–30). That’s great! I recommend the written and living Word for overcoming Satan and sin in all its forms and disguises. Don’t miss defeating the devil “through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). Look to Jesus (Heb. 12:1) for liberty and freedom. From Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

my own experience I can witness and testify there is victory in Jesus for you. I am not claiming sinless perfection, but with the new strength available “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). However, there is a sense in which we can be perfect by our desire to be perfect...to be holy (1 Pet. 1:15,16), and “to be conformed to the image of [God’s] Son” (Rom. 8:29). With His help that has become more and more a reality in my life, and may it be for you. Amen! o

All convention gifts may be sent in the enclosed envelopes: US residents may use the Business Reply envelope or send their gifts to Vera Dors, 6621 Elmdale Rd., Middleburg Hts, OH, 44130, and Canadian residents may send their gifts to Henry Pojman, 1516 Pembroke Dr., Oakville, ON, L6H 1V9, Canada. Make checks payable to Czechoslovak Baptist Convention, and on the bottom write to what account you are sending your gift: Convention, Glorious Hope, Trust Fund, or Scholarship Fund.

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Syn

Vìnováno všem mladým lidem, kteøí jsou nešastní a cítí se nepøijati a odmítnutí. Na základì vyprávìní muže, který tento pøíbìh prožil, zapsala

Marie Frydrychová

1.èást Nenávidìný arodil jsem se pøed druhou svìtovou válkou v Praze. Moje matka byla nemanželské dítì a také mne mìla za svobodna. Její rodina ji proto vyhnala z domu. Když jsem se narodil a matku propustili z pražské porodnice U Apolináøe, šla se mnou na most a chtìla mì hodit do Vltavy. Tak byla zoufalá. Pøistihla ji policie, na ètrnáct dnù ji zavøeli a pak jsem jí byl odebrán a poslán do dìtského domova. Tím zaèal mùj život. Ranné dìtství jsem prožil v dìtských domovech. Až do sedmi let jsem o své matce nevìdìl vùbec nic. Jiné dìti dostávaly balíèky, já lhal, že mi pøicházejí ještì vìtší balíky, ale nebyla to pravda. Byl jsem velmi nešastný. Nikdo se o mne nezajímal. Velice jsem toužil po lásce, ale znal jsem jen jeden zpùsob, jak si ji vydobýt. Musel jsem být silnìjší, než ostatní dìti a tak získat jejich respekt a obdiv. Od mala jsem silou vynikal, takže jsem si prvenství vydobyl a to jsem pokládal za lásku. V sedmi letech, bylo to v Mostì, mì jednou pozvali do kanceláøe a tam stála žena, kterou mi pøedstavili jako moji matku. Po celou tu dobu jsem velice toužil po matce, jako ostatnì všechny dìti, které byly kolem mne. Nesmírnì jsem si pøál být milován. Byl to podvìdomý cit, ale velmi silný. Když jsem se s matkou poprvé sešel, polekal jsem se. Byl jsem šasten, že je, že se objevila, ale zároveò jsem se jí díval do oèí a bál jsem se. Ona mì oblékla do nových šatù, vyfotografovali mì a odvezla mì do Plznì, kde žila s mužem, se kterým mìla další dítì, malou dvouletou holèièku. Ten muž plánoval, že si matku vezme a mne bude adoptovat. Nedošlo k tomu. Byl nasazen na práci do Nìmecka a už se nevrátil. Zùstali jsme sami a já brzo rozpoznal, že jsem v téhle domácnosti pøítìží. Ano, aèkoliv už jsem byl velký chlapec, pomoèoval jsem se a nìkdy jsem i trochu zadrhoval v øeèi. Matka mou pøítomnost snášela velice tìžce. Èasto mì bila a trestala a nebyl tu nikdo, kdo by její odpor vùèi mì zmírnil. Asi po pùl roce dostala dopis, že její maminka, moje babièka zemøela v Podìbradech. Tehdy jsem ji vidìl plakat a zdála se zlomená. Odjela i se sestøièkou na pohøeb a zùstala tam ètrnáct dnù. Po tu dobu jsem byl v bytì sám. Vyjedl jsem všechno, co tam bylo k snìdku. Když se matka vrátila, øekla mi, že my dva už se neuvidíme. Sestøièka zùstala v Podìbradech, kde byl muž, buï nᚠdìdeèek nebo strýc, pøesnì nevím, ke kterému se matka chtìla odstìhovat. Ale beze mne. Mne vzala a odjeli jsme do Hradce Králové. I po cestì ve vlaku mi èasto opakovala, že se vidíme naposled. Nerozumnìl jsem tomu. Aèkoliv jsem se jí bál, mìl jsem ji rád. Do dìtského domova už jsem nechtìl a tak jsem se jí držel jako klíštì, aby mì nìkde nezapomnìla. V Hradci Králové jsme pøišli k jakési budovì, která vypadala

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jako pevnost. Uvnitø mì pøijal lékaø. Mluvil se mnou o samotì, zatímco matka mìla poèkat na chodbì. Pamatuji si na jedinou otázku: „Mᚠrád svou maminku?” „Ano,” odpovìdìl jsem rychle. „Ano, mám.” „A dokázal bys jí to i pøede mnou ukázat?” ptal se ten muž. Trochu jsem zaváhal, znal jsem matèiny reakce, ale když ji lékaø zavolal zpìt do ordinace, utíkal jsem k ní, chytil jsem ji do náruèe a volal jsem: „Maminko!” Matka mì odstrèila a vykøikla, že jsem ji kousl. Lékaø jí dal do ruky papír a vyprovodil nás ke dveøím. Já jsem tehdy nevìdìl, co je v tom dobrozdání napsáno. To jsem se dozvìdìl až po ètrnácti letech, v roce 1957, kdy jsem už jako dospìlý mladý muž hledal svou identitu a kopii tohoto výnosu obsahoval mùj spis založený na Ministerstvu vnitra. Stálo tam: „Buïte pyšná na svého syna. Sám bych byl rád, kdybych mìl tak oduševnìlého chlapce. Vašeho syna nemùžeme pøijmout do našeho ústavu k likvidaci.” Ano, moje matka mì chtìla nechat usmrtit jako debilní dítì, což podle Hitlerových zákonù bylo možné. Do ústavu mì nevzali. Co tedy se mnou? Vzpomínám, že jsme šli jakousi polní cestou kolem zemìdìlské usedlosti. Pøipadalo mi, že bloudíme a matka ode mne utíkala a øíkala, že si musí odskoèit, abych se na ni nedíval, ale já jsem se bál a držel jsem se jí v patách, aby se mi neztratila. Neztratila se. Vrátili jsme se do Plznì a odtud jsme se za krátko odstìhovali do Podìbrad k tomu dìdeèkovi, kterému ale já musel øíkat strýèku. Byl profesorem nìmèiny na podìbradském gymnaziu. Strýc bydlel ve vile Carmen hned u nádraží. Pro mì však nastaly ještì t잚í èasy než pøed tím. Nemìl jsem tam nic, ani postel. Nejprve jsem mohl být v kuchyni, ale protože jsem se stále pomoèoval, zavøeli mì na záchod. Ano, žil jsem na záchodì. Tam jsem bydlel, jedl i spal, stoèený do klubíèka kolem záchodové mísy, pøes léto i pøes zimu. Jídla mi dávali velmi málo. Na zaèátku jsem chodil do školy, ale já kradl, nádražákùm jsem bral svaèiny z tašek, a když se to mùj strýc dozvìdìl, vzal mì ze školy a zavøel na trvalo. Mým vìzením byl buï záchod nebo koupelna, to podle toho, kterou místnost míò potøebovali. Já èasto køièel, doslova vyl a tehdy mì radìji zavírali do koupelny, protože ze záchodu bylo všechno slyšet i do ostatních pater, kde bydleli jiní nájemníci a vyptávali se, co se u nás dìje. Mìl jsem hlad. Mou jedinou potravou bývala polévka a chleba. Matka si stìžovala, že jsem žrout a zlodìj. Byla to pravda. Když jsem se dostal do ložnice, kradl jsem alespoò jablka, která byla na lískách pod postelí. A pak mi bylo zle. Pamatuji si, že jednou o vánocích mi matka ukázala stromeèek a dárky, které nakoupila sestøièce. Pro mne mìla jen dvì nahnilá Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

jablka a kus uhlí. Jedl jsem i to uhlí. Tolik jsem si pøál, aby i kousíèek té nádhery patøil mnì, ale nepatøil. O tìch vánocích odešli všichni nìkam na návštìvu a já vlezl do pokoje, abych si nabral nìkolik certlí ze stromeèku. Pøistihli mì. Dostal jsem náøez. Jindy zase odešli a zamkli mì. Potøeboval jsem na stranu a nebylo kam jít. Udìlal jsem to do papíru, papír jsem zabalil a strèil ho do kamen až ke komínu. Zakrátko chtìla matka zatopit, ale kamna nehoøela. Pøi èištìní zjistili, že je tam balík s mou stolicí. Ten den jsem dostal v koupelnì k obìdu na talíø místo polévky svou stolici a matka chtìla, abych to jedl. A já, ano…já jsem opravdu pojedl nìco svých výkalù a matka se smála jako šílená. Ona nevìdìla co dìlá, urèitì nevìdìla. Po nìjaké dobì jsem byl soudnì pøidìlen do mìsteèka Králiky, což byly Sudety—vlastnì tehdy už Nìmecko, a odtud do lágrù pro nìmecké sirotky. Tady jsme mìli být navždy odtrženi od rodin a vychovaní nìmeckým štábem pro budoucí pøidìlení na východ jako vedoucí, kteøí mìli pozdìj i rozhodovat o zabraných slovanských územích pro slavnou Velkonìmeckou øíši. Uèili nás nenávidìt Slovany, slovanské národy byly oznaèovány za podøadnou rasu, uèili nás prát se a bít. Vyhledávaný Naštìstí po pùl roce válka skonèila a nᚠdomov obsadili Rusové. Z budov si udìlali lazaret a nás rozpustili, respektive pøevezli nás do Mladkova, kde nás rozmístili do ètyøech zámkù v okolí. Dohromady nás bylo asi pìt set dìtí, samých nìmeckých dìtí a ty ètyøi zámky, které jsme postupnì obsadili, jsme úplnì zdevastovali. Støíleli jsme prakem do lustrù, do obrazù, nièili jsme všechno, co bylo pìkné. Byli jsme velice zpustlí. Potom nás soustøedili v lágrech, v bývalých koncentraèních táborech v Mladkovì a v Polesí. Ostøíhali nás dohola, sedláci si silnìjší z nás brali na práci na sena, na žnì a na brambory. Mìli jsme hlad, øádily mezi námi rùzné nemoci, nìkteøí umírali. O nìco pozdìji se objevila èeská vojenská mise, vedená generálem Svobodou. Uèili nás øíci Dobrý den, dostali jsme každý sáèek bonbónù a øekli nám, že mùžeme zùstat v Èeskoslovensku, a tato republika nám umožní získat vzdìlání. Poprvé s námi byla sepsaná kartotéka. Co jsme uvedli jako údaj, bylo pravdivé. Nikdo o nás nic nevìdìl. Ti, o kterých Èervený køíž našel nìjaké doklady, byli dávno odesláni do Nìmecka. My jsme byli mladí lidé bez rodin, bez pøedkù, bez koøenù. A tak jsem se postupnì znovu ocitl v dìtském domovì, tentokrát v Èeských Køídlovicích. Tam nás rok uèili èesky a opìt nás dìlili do rùzných domovù. Já skonèil ve Štípì u Gottwaldova. Když jsem dokonèil školní vzdìlání bylo mi sdìleno pracovním úøadem, že stát se o mnì dlouho staral a proto bych mìl jít nyní tam, kde mì stát potøebuje. Pøijal jsem to s povdìkem. Odjel jsem do Karviné, kde jsem se osmnáct mìsícù uèil horníkem. Práce pod zemí byla tìžká, na lidský život tu èekalo mnoho nástrah. Jednou se s námi utrhla klec. Zùstali jsme sice viset, ale já si u toho zlomil nohu, takže jsem musel do nemocnice v Orlové. Jindy pøišel tangenciální tlak, který se nedal pøedvídat a ono to zmáèklo celou stìnu. Tenkrát to bylo velice zvláštní. Tìsnì pøed tím jsem vyšel ven, protože jsem mìl dojem, že mì nìkdo volá. Venku nikdo nebyl, ale najednou pøišla tlaková vlna a odmrštila mì do chodby. Moji ètyøi kamarádi uvnitø štoly pøišli o život. Já zùstal, jenom stojka mì praštila pøes nohu, takže jsem mìl opìt zlomeninu. V té dobì se u mì projevila slabost srdeèního svalu. Postupnì jsem byl zbaven práce pod zemí a asi po devíti mìsících jsem

Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

byl pøidìlen do Tatry Kopøivnice, kde jsem se vypracoval až na referenta technicko-hospodáøských norem. Stále jsem chodil na pravidelné lékaøské kontroly se srdcem a našli mi mitrální stenózu. Byl jsem kandidátem na operaci srdce. Øíkalo se, že v Nìmecku a ve Spojených státech už srdce operují. U nás se mìlo s operacemi srdce teprve zaèít a lékaøùm vyhovovalo, že já nemìl rodièe. Byl jsem v poøadí tøetí adept, vlastnì takový pokusný králík. Pøipravovali mì ve Vítkovicích na internì u doktora Neuwirta. Sama operace se odehrála v Hradci Králové u profesora Bedrny. Ve stejném Hradci, kde jsem mìl jako chlapec o život pøijít, jsem nyní mìl život získat. Ano, operace srdce se zdaøila. Celý další rok jsem byl v rekonvalescenci a to právì v lázních v Podìbradech. Nejdøív znovu Hradec Králové a potom znovu Podìbrady. Mìl jsem spoustu èasu na to, abych procházel tajnì ulicemi, které jsem si pamatoval z dìtství. Zároveò jsem se bál jestli mì nìkde mùj strýc nebo matka neuvidí. Co by se stalo, kdyby mì poznali? Nakonce jsem se odvážil vejít do vily, kde jsme kdysi bydleli. Našel jsem tam profesora Smrèku a starou paní uèitelku Máèkovou. Pan profesor mi vyprávìl o nìjakých Modlischewských, kteøí tam za války týrali jakéhosi chlapeèka. Aèkoliv mi bylo v té dobì tøiadvacet let, stará paní uèitelka mì poznala. Ale já jí øekl, že jsem z kriminálky a hledám informace právì o Modlischewských. Ukázal jsem jim prùkaz ROH, oni byli staøí, bylo jim to jedno. Nakonec mi dali všechen písemný materiál, který se po mých pøíbuzných zachoval. Našel jsem tam i svoji fotografii z doby tìsnì, než mì matka vezla do Hradce Králové, aby mì tam nechala usmrtit. Dala si mì vyfotografovat na památku? Pøes rùzné úøady a s pomocí jednoho advokáta a lékárníka jsem zaèal pátrat po svých pøíbuzných. Dozvìdìl jsem se, že profesora Modlischewského po válce zatkli a odsoudili ho k osmnácti rokùm vìzení v Praze na Pankráci pro velezradu. Pídil jsem se po sestøièce a po matce. Pøes Mezinárodní èervený køíž jsem zjistil, že matka je provdaná v Mnichovì a s novým mužem má dvojèátka. Zatvrzelý Na Ministerstvu vnitra mi dali nahlédnout do mých osobních spisù a tehdy jsem èerné na bílém èetl, že mì moje matka chtìla nechat usmrtit. Zachvátila mì zžíravá nenávist vùèi této ženì. Zaèal jsem si vyøizovat žádost, abych ji mohl v Mnichovì navštívit. Tak jsem ji nenávidìl, že jsem mìl v úmyslu ji zabít. Do Mnichova jsem se opravdu dostal a s matkou jsem se setkal. Plakala, když mì vidìla, ale já to bral jenom jako divadlo. „Nenávidím tì. Proto jsem pøijel, abych ti to øekl. Nenávidím tì a proklínám tì,” vychrlil jsem hned v prvních chvílích našeho setkání a vzápìtí jsem ji opustil. Myslel jsem si, že dám-li prùchod svému hnìvu, pøinese mi to uspokojení. Opak byl však pravdou. Proklel jsem sice svou matku a vrátil jsem se zpìt, ale najednou jsem vidìl, že jsem nešastný èlovìk, jehož život je zlomen. Cítil jsem se sám, opuštìný ode všech lidí. Rozhodl jsem se zùstat v Praze a užít si velkomìsta. Chtìl jsem kamarády, chtìl jsem být milován nebo aspoò obdivován. Ano, v Praze jsem brzy našel kamarády i obdiv. V hospodì. Pil jsem, stal se vùdcem party, kradli jsme, vykrádali, pøepadávali, provádìli rùzné podvody. Trvalo to nìkolik mìsícù. Mìl jsem i svoji pøezdívku. Pak nás dopadla policie a já byl odsouzen jako vùdce party. o

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Vlado Canji was born as the third son in the thereafter, I became seriously ill. Through this illness I felt that family on July 7, 1935. My God wanted me to attend the school. I yielded to God’s will and father had been saved and promised to enter the school as soon as I was well. Even though baptized in a Baptist church my sickness was serious and the doctor predicted it would last in 1931, before I was even born. six weeks at least, God healed me immediately after my decision. My mother was concerned about The doctors were surprised and did not know what to make of my spiritual life and took me every it. I prayed that when I told my parents, three days later, of my Sunday to Sunday school in the decision, they would not object. To my amazement my father Baptist church. This went on till I gave me the needed permission and promised his support. So I reached age of 15, and at that time, was able to register in the school, even though it was late, on I made a decision for Christ. On October 15, 1955. October 15, 1950, I was baptized and became a member of the In June 1961, I finished my education in the Bible school and Baptist church in Sid, Yugoslavia. was faced with the decision of either going to full-time ministry My conversion was influenced by two things. The first was or working in my trade and serving the Lord part time. I prayed the Word of God, heard from my mother and preached in church, that God would show me His will. On August 1, 1961, during which convinced me of my sins. I realized my devotion, He spoke to me through His that without Christ I was lost and a sinner. Word from Luke 4:18,19, and I became The second was an incident which occurred sure that He wanted me to serve Him full in 1949. Two Jewish families decided to time. Since then I have served Him in move from my town of Sid to Israel with the different ways as He has led me. desire to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem God gave me a loving and beautiful and wait for the Messiah. This brought me girl to be my life-long partner and friend, to think of the scriptures from Luke 21:24 Ljubica Mrakovic. We celebrated our and Romans 11:25. I was afraid that the wedding on May 19, 1963. We have been time of the Gentiles would soon come to happily married for 36 years and have three an end, and I would be left out. I therefore children, Tihomir (Ted), Teofil (Neno) committed my life to Christ and received and Tabita (Susie). forgiveness of my sins and assurance of From 1961 to 1970 I served in three eternal life. Baptist churches in former Yugoslavia, in When I look in the past I see the two Leskovac, Pakrac, and Zagreb. things through which God was preparing In March 1970, Ljubica and I immime for full-time ministry. First, the Baptist grated with our small children to Windsor, church in Sid did not have a full-time pastor, Ontario, Canada. Canjis but was served by its members, and I was In July 1971 I was called to be a partsometimes called to serve too. I was 15 years old when I preached time pastor at Grace Baptist Church, Windsor. my first message. The more I served in the church, the more On October 15, 1974, I was ordained by the Baptist concerned I became for lost souls. I was convinced that God Convention of Ontario and Quebec. expected me to fulfill the Word from Matthew 28:19,20 and from I remained at Grace as a part-time pastor until March 1975. Ezekiel 3:17–19, to testify of Christ to the unsaved. In April of that year, I became a full-time associate pastor at Second, I liked to read biographies of missionaries and Grace, and continued serving there until October 1991. ministers. My reading increased even more with my desire for From November 1991 my five Ljubica and I were called to be full-time service in this work. I especially enjoyed reading Acts, missionaries in Slovakia and Yugoslavia with the Canadian Baptist the beginning of the first church and missionaries, along with Ministries. the journeys of the apostle Paul, who was my hero. In 1972 for the first time, Ljubica and I attended the In order for me to make a final decision for full-time ministry, Czechoslovak Baptist Convention in Campbell, Ohio. In 1974 God touched my life in a special way. In 1954, a Baptist the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention was held in Windsor, Ont. theological school was opened in Zagreb. I felt a definite call I published a small newsletter for an invitation and Convention to attend the school. Since my father was a strict Lutheran, I program. Many brothers liked it, and the Rev. H. Boubelik could not find enough courage to ask for his permission and encouraged me to continue. The Convention elected the Rev. support to be able to enter the Bible school. This happened S. Hibbins, Rev. J. Novak and Rev. V. Canji to be editors of again, one year later, at the beginning of the school year, and I Glorious Hope — Slavna nadeje. missed entering school for the second time. However, shortly In 1975 the Rev. J. Novak resigned as editor of Glorious

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Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

Dear Vera 4/20/2000 We hope all is well with you. This has not been a very good year for my dad. He has fallen several times and was in emergency three times since the first of the year. He is now under nursing care full time but still rejoicing, singing hymns, and quoting scriptures. He has blessed so many people in this place. We certainly appreciate your prayers. God bless! Love in Him, Judy Shoff ) Dear Vera Wheeling, IL 4/13/2000 Enclosed please find a check in memory of these dear friends who have died recently. They are Victor Wilcox, Joe Gregor, Mary Stupka, and Gertrude Sedjo. Also in memory of Ed Miller, member of our former church. Trust you are all well and looking forward to the convention in June. In His Love, Andrew and Alice Kmetko o

Canji … Continues from page 66 Hope, and all the responsibilities were on my shoulders—typing, printing, mailing, etc. For three years we printed Glorious Hope on 16 pages, four times a year. In 1977 we started to print six times a year. In 1980 we started to print in a larger size. In 1981 we added four more pages. It was 12 pages in Czech and Slovak, and 8 pages in English. Over four years we wrote over 800 addresses by hand. My whole family were involved. Our basement was full of Glorious Hope materials. First we put together inserts. Then we put them in the magazine and inserted everything into an envelope. Then we put two stamps on every envelope. Then we divided everything by countries and by the number of copies in each envelope. Our first copy machine wasn’t good and when we put the address labels on the envelopes and pressed them, the addresses were erased, and we had to do them all over again. Later, brother G. Sommer developed a database for addresses, and printed addresses for us on computer. It was a big help. Ljubica and I were able to attend the Billy Graham Conference on Evangelism in Amsterdam in 1986 and we both felt God’s call to go on the mission field. In 1989 I resigned as editor of Glorious Hope. We are both grateful to all who continue to make Glorious Hope today a beautiful magazine with good articles. Many people are blessed through reading it. Vladimir Canji o Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

Jerry Rand (Jaroslav Racinsky)

Feb. 9, 1919 - Feb. 23, 2000 Jerry Rand was born in Michalovka, Poland, on February 9th,1919. In 1925 the family moved to Hviezdoslavov in Slovakia. After his immigration to Minitonas, Manitoba, in 1929, he was baptized at the age of 16. When he was 18, he left home and found work in Timmins, Ontario, at a lumber camp and in the gold mines. He married Olga Marek on June 21, 1940. In 1941 they moved to Toronto, where they belong to the founding families of the Czechoslovak Baptist Church. Three children, Irene, Dagmar, and Ron, were born in Jerry’s family. Jerry was a successful businessman. He was among those who helped new arrivals. In this work he never stopped, even after retirement. He helped establish other businesses where he fully applied his experience. He was active in church also. He was always prepared to help with anything. He sang in the choir and for a number of years he was the president of the church. The Lord of life and death called faithful servant Jerry Rand to eternal glory on February 23, 2000. The funeral service was led by pastor Jan Banko. “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). o

The cassettes with the Czech music, which we offered in the last President’s letter, will be shipped in May 2000. We are sorry for a delay, but we faced technical difficulties to obtain the tapes.

In the last issue of Glorious Hope, in the article Builders and Makers of the Convention, we omitted one paragraph: Brother Joe Hynek was also Financial Secretary of the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of USA and Canada for many, many years. [Editors] o

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For All Children!!

ave you ever imagined what it would have been like to have the Lord Jesus as a sibling and to grow up with him? Imagine he was your brother. You could play chess with him, play catch, climb trees, go fishing or whatever. Do you think he was different from boys today? Jesus’ mother knew he was an exceptional child. Did his brothers and sisters know it too? Did he belong among miraculous kids that stand out with some sort of extraordinary ability? We do not know too much about Jesus’ childhood. We do know that he showed great maturity and knowledge at the young age of twelve. That is how old he was when he met the elders and teachers of the law at Jerusalem. Could anyone play a game like chess with him? He would win for sure! Or play hide-and-go-seek? You can’t hide from Him! Write us what you think Jesus was like growing up, kids. Or write what you think it would be like to have Jesus in your family as your brother. We know you will come up with lots of creative ideas, and we will publish them in a future Glorious Hope! Natasha Legierski

Všem dìtem!!

øemýšlely jste už nìkdy nad tím, jaké by to bylo mít Pána Ježíše jako sourozence a vyrùstat s ním? Pøedstavte si, že by to byl vᚠbratr. S bratrem mùžeme hrát šachy, hrát si s míèem, lézt po stromech, chytat ryby atd. Myslíte si, že byl docela jiný, než jsou chlapci dnes? Matka Pána Ježíše vìdìla, že je to zvláštní dítì. Zda-li pak to vìdìli i Ježíšovi sourozenci? Patøil mezi zázraèné dìti, které vynikají nìjakou neobyèejnou dovedností? Z dìtství Pána Ježíše mnoho zpráv nemáme. Víme však, že vynikal vyspìlostí a rozumností již ve dvanácti letech. Vzpomeòme si na setkání s uèenými muži v Jeruzalémì. Mohl s ním nìkdo hrát šachy? Urèitì vyhrál! Nebo na schovávanou? Vždy pøed Ním se nelze schovat! Napište nám, dìti do redakce, co si myslíte o tom, jaký byl Pán Ježíš, když vyrùstal. Nebo napište o tom, jaké by to bylo ve vaší rodinì, kdyby tam byl Pán Ježíš jako jeden se sourozencù. Víme, že vás napadne mnoho zajímavých myšlenek! Rádi vaše myšlenky uveøejníme v pøíštích èíslech Slavné nadìje! Nataša Legierská

A Special Day Amy Nesvadba

On Mother’s Day we remember our mothers who brought us into this world. They instill in us the values that are important to live our lives. A mother is with me throughout my time She will always hold a special place in my heart. No matter where I go and what I do, Her love will always be there to comfort me. Our hearts are filled with love so dear An emotion so deep it will cry a tear Our mothers are there to guide us, and make sure we know we are truly loved. Love is unconditional. Drawings by Nicole Malek

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Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

Knowledge Is Not Enough—Jane Branda nyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (James 1:23–24). I have chosen to study the book of James with my Sunday school class this year, and I have truly taken many blessings from my preparation for these lessons. I would like to share a few thoughts about what I learned from my meditation on the above verses from James. This passage indicates that it is possible for a person to look at God’s word carefully and accurately and still be ignorant of its relevance to one’s own life. I have often thought about the idea in connection with those individuals who hold doctorates in theology or religious studies but study the Bible as a mere intellectual exercise, and detach themselves from the truths it contains. Using James’ mirror analogy, it is as though instead of observing and studying one’s reflection in the mirror, these individuals study the mirror itself. How can someone’s heart and mind be so closed in as to treat God’s word as just another historical or philosophical text? How can one see sin portrayed as the horrible evil that it is and discover God’s gracious gift of salvation, yet walk away as if one had never been exposed to these realities? Recently I came into contact with a professor who fit this description. In my final year at the University of Toronto, I had the opportunity to take a seminar course that deals with the Renaissance and the Reformation. The enrollment for this particular course was limited to just fifteen students, and this condensed class setting forced us all to contribute actively to discussions and, in an indirect way, to reveal where we stood spiritually. In preparation for these discussions we had to read a number of primary documents written by Martin Luther, William Tyndale and John Calvin, then compare their ideas and contrast them to those of the established Church. It soon became apparent that our professor had a very solid understanding of the Protestant faith. However, he was also evidently an atheist who spoke about salvation with contempt and insolence. I found this to be a tremendous paradox, and although I had a lot of respect for

him as a historian, I realized how worthless his Ph.D. was if he did not know the Lord. In 1 Corinthians 1:18 Paul says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” In verse 20 of the same passage Paul asks, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (See also 1 Corinthians 1:26-30.) I have discovered in my university studies that being a Christian can be perceived in the academic world as a sign of weakness, decidedly beneath the scholarly pursuits worthy of “true intellectuals.” However, Jesus responds that “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Unless we humble ourselves before God and realize our own worthlessness and inability to achieve salvation on our own, all of our wisdom and knowledge are meaningless. Moreover, they can become stumbling blocks in the way of making the final decision to follow Jesus. Professors and scholars are not the only people who are in danger of becoming satisfied with a mere knowledge of Scripture and Christian teachings. Many of those who attend church can also feel a false sense of contentment by simply listening to the sermon each Sunday and knowing the basic doctrines of faith, without any intention of actually applying and living out these profound truths. However, God wants more. He wants to have a personal relationship with us that requires an active belief on our part. I praise God for reinforcing the truth of James’ words through my experiences at school. I am also very grateful for the reminder that the Bible is not just something to read and grasp but that it is truly God’s Word, and that a proper reaction to its truths calls for humility before God, and a changed life. o

Keep inTouch Attention!!

MOVING ?

Please write to: Glorious Hope Rt.1, Box 58D Philippi, WV 26416 USA Include your mailing label from a recent issue of Glorious Hope for faster service.

Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

Listen up, young people. Convention is only a couple of months away, and we want you all to come! As usual, bring your cleats, bathing suits and whatever else you need for sports and games, and a quiet heart for fellowship. Everyone is welcome to share any talent they may have (singing, instrument playing, magic, whatever) at the annual Saturday night concert. The convention is once again being held on the Alderson-Broaddus College campus from June 29 to July 2, 2000. See you all there! Natasha Legierski

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ummer is coming. Hooray! I suppose there are some people for whom the summer may not be ranked first on the list of season. But for most folk, especially those of us in the northern climates—oh, how we look forward to that time of year. And if you are a friend or member of the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention, the coming of summer also means convention time and our annual return to Alderson-Broaddus College. Philippi, WV, has become a home place to the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention. We are so glad that George and Marija Sommer in the late 1980’s proposed the idea of meeting at that school where they have serve on faculty and staff for a number of years. We now love the place. So about this annual convention—few other dates in the calendar give us opportunity for so much fellowship, singing, recreation, and spiritual nurturing all wrapped into the package of a few days. We meet each other, and we surely meet Christ. We are fed with abundance at mealtimes, and we feast on the Word. And we really, REALLY, want you to be part of the experience. There is so much goodness to it. How could we help but want to share the richness of convention days with as many people as

Biblická studie … Pokraèovanie zo strany 59 sukne.“ Niekde som èítal, že Èínsky Múr nesplnil svoje ochranné poslanie trikrát poèas svojej existencie. Avšak, v každom prípade boli strážni podplatení. Pevná a silná ochrana závisí od pevných a silných obrancov. Tento princíp platí i v duchovnej sfére. Ak zbor chce zotrva èistý, tak každý z nás musí by dostatoèné silný a schopný postavi sa proti „…taktike a úskoènosti diablovej. Lebo nie je nám zápasi s krvou a s telom, ale s kniežatstvami, mocnosami, so svetovládcami temnosti tohoto veku, s duchovnými mocami zlosti v ponebeských oblastiach.“ Ef. 6:11–12. Ako teda môžeme v praxi oponova nepriate3⁄4om viery a udržiava èistotu a jednotu v cirkvi? 1,—Musíme pozna Slovo Božie. Každý zbor by mal by „biblickou školou“, každý kresan by mal by študentom Biblie. Z našich kazate3⁄4níc musíme káza jasnú pravdu a otvorene odha3⁄4ova lož. Nemôžeme sa necha unies „každým vetrom súèasnosti“, každou novotou uèenia alebo každým výmyslom filozofie, nech je na poh3⁄4ad akoko3⁄4vek pekný a dobrý. Ef. 4:14: „…aby sme už neboli viacej nedospelými, zmietaní vlnami a sem a ta nosení každým vetrom uèenia, závratníctvom 3⁄4udí, schytralosou mámi do bludu…“ Ef. 6:13–17: „Preto vezmite na seba celú zbraò Božiu, aby ste mohli odola v ten zlý deò a vykonajúc všetko stá. …A vezmite aj prilbu spasenia i meè Ducha, ktorým je slovo Božie,…“ 2,—Musíme „bdie a modli sa“. Nepriate3⁄4 neprichádza niekedy v ïalekej budúcnosti—on už je tu! Nikto z nás si nemôže dovoli èo len zadriema. 1.Pt 5:8–9: „Buïte triezvi a bdejte, lebo vᚠprotivník, diabol, obchádza ako revúci lev a h3⁄4adá, koho by zožral, ktorému sa postavte na odpor, pevní vo viere, vediac, že vaše bratstvo inde po svete znáša tie isté utrpenia.“ 3,—Vodcovia zborov musia rozpozna èloveka, ktorý nesie iba

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possible! If you participate, it will be like finding a new shine on that “pearl of greatest price,” the metaphor Jesus once used. This year at our 91st convention the schedule has been shortened to four days, Thursday, June 29 through Sunday, July 2, or one weekday less day than the pattern of recent years. (Attendance has normally risen sharply with the approach of the weekend anyway.) The adjustment reflects an attempt to keep costs well within bounds for all our delegates. You are welcome, however, to come early and stay a little later than the convention dates at cost, but for that arrangement please communicate with our executive secretary, George Sommer. A number of folk appreciate the opportunity to enjoy the West Virginia scenery and stillness, since they have traveled some distance to be present. In a few short weeks, then, we will have opportunity to do very much more talking together and enjoyment of each other. I feel confident we will also know the arms of Christ wrapped all around us at convention time. Till then, God bless you. Register early! Robert Dvorak o

„podobu pobožnosti“ a v pravý èas a správnym spôsobom reagova. 2.Tim. 3:5,8 : „…ktorí majú tvárnos pobožnosti, ktorí však jej moc zapreli. A tých sa stráò. …A ako èo Jannes a Jambres sa postavili proti Mojžišovi, tak sa aj títo stavajú proti pravde, 3⁄4udia, skazení na mysli, nedokázaní èo do viery.“ 4.—Všetci veriaci v zbore musia „skúša duchov“, hlavne preskúmava kázané slovo. 1. Ján 4:1: „Milovaní, neverte každému duchu, ale skúšajte duchov, èi sú z Boha, pretože mnohí falošní proroci vyšli do sveta.“ Nakoniec, všetci musíme by odhodlaní zasta sa Pravdy. Chráòme ju ako aj apoštol Pavol. V Skut. 20:24 èítame: „Ale ja na to na všetko niè nedbám, ani môj život nie je tak drahý, ako aby som s radosou dokonal svoj beh a službu, ktorú som prijal od Pána Ježiša, to jest, aby som pevne svedèil evanjelium milosti Božej.“ Naša viera, postavená na Pravde, je nezaplatite3⁄4ným darom Božím. Je raz daná svätým a to za vysokú cenu—za cenu vyliatej krvi nevinného, svätého a dokonalého Baránka—Syna Božieho. Žid10:10,12: „v ktorej vôli sme posvätení donesenou obeou tela Ježiša Krista, raz navždy. …Ale on donesúc jednu bitnú obe za hriechy navždy sa posadil po pravici Božej.“ Nikto z nás nemusí padnú do osídla omylu. Pamätajme ako sa Júda lúèi na konci svojho listu a komu sme naše životy odovzdali: „…tomu, ktorý vás môže zachova tak, èo neklesnete, a postavi bezvadných pred tvárou svojej slávy v plesaní, jedinému múdremu Bohu, nášmu Spasite3⁄4ovi, nech je skrze Ježiša Krista, nášho Pána, sláva a velièenstvo, sila a vrchnostenská moc, ako pred všetkými vekmi, tak i teraz i na všetky veky. Amen.“ Napriek mnohým pochybnostiam o inšpirácií Júdovho listu Svätým Duchom, jeho obsah bol aktuálny v každom storoèí. Nie je tomu inak ani dnes, keï sme vstúpili do 21. storoèia. o Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

October 28, 1996 Monday Morning 4 a.m. n our way to church last night while driving along Ridgewood Drive, we noticed a bright red car driving next to us. Being inquisitive, my husband inquired what kind of car it was. As we neared the intersection of Ridgewood Drive and Ridge Road, we both had to stop at the red light. In the bright lights I could see it was a Porsche. I kept looking and smiling as I noticed the driver was a very nice-looking, friendly young man. I also noticed his window was lowered about half-way. I wanted to lower my window and say something. My first thought was “I’ll be praying for you” with the emphasis on the “you,” and

my second thought was “Excuse me, Sir, but do you have a cellular phone?” The light changed to green and I missed my cue. I didn’t say anything. We all just smiled and he turned… That night at church something “stood out” in our text. Ephesians 5:15 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live, not unwise, but wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” I thought of that dear young man in that bright red car. Knowing the potential power of that car and its monetary worth, I am so sorry I didn’t use that opportunity to plant the seeds of kindness by saying, “I’ll be praying for you.” He might have thought I was a little crazy, but I wanted to warn him in a nice way. Seeds sown in love and said “in the Spirit” bring good fruit. I’m still praying for him… Barbara Manas o

Tell Us About You—Natasha Legierski Dear Sisters, ast year towards the end of summer, I received an invitation to attend a women’s Baptist conference in the Czech Republic. The conference was held with the sisters from Slovakia. After consulting General Secretary George Sommer and at the recommendation of President Robert Dvorak, I accepted the invitation and took par t in the conference in Czech as a representative of the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of USA and Canada Ladies’ Union. The conference was held from August 7 to 9 in Ostrava, Moravia. I shared some precious moments with the sisters from Slovakia and Czech and strongly felt the binding love of our Lord Jesus Christ. I returned enriched and encouraged to continue the Lord’s work. You will all hear more about this when we meet in Philippi this July at the convention, Lord willing. In His Love, Natasha Legierski

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Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • May 2000

Milé sestry, minulém roce, na sklonku léta, jsem obdržela pozvá ní na baptistickou konferenci sester v Èechách. Konference byla spoleèná se sestrami ze Slovenska. Po konzultaci s bratrem tajemníkem, Jiøím Sommerem, a na doporuèení našeho presidenta, bratra Roberta Dvoøáka, jsem pozvání pøijala a zúèastnila jsem se konference v Èechách jako reprezent antk a Èeskoslovenské baptistické konvence USA a Kanada, odbor sester. Konference se konala poèátkem dubna (od 7. do 9. dubna) v Ostravì na Moravì. Prožila jsem vzácné chvíle se sestrami ze Slovenska a Èech a okusila jsem silné pouto lásky Pána Ježíše Krista na této zemi. Vrátila jsem se obohacena a povzbuzena do další práce na Božím díle. Více o této cestì se dozvíte pøi našem setkání v èervnu ve Philippi na naší konvenci, dá-li Pán. V jeho lásce Nataša Legierská

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Stála tam, s pohledem upøeným pøed sebe. Snad už ani nevnímala, nesmírnì—nesmírnì trpìla. Umíral. Umíralo její vzácné dítì. Její? Bylo skuteènì její? Pøišlo do jejího života náhle a náhle odchází… Matka se chvìje, Ztrácí syna! - ženo, to je tvùj syn! - Jane, to je tvoje matka! Zvedla oèi, a spatøila tváø Spasitele. Pochopila.