Some Christmas pix

Erik and Arden worshiping before Christmas dinner!

Mary Jill and Arden doing the "clap" they were doing at Trinity Chapel on the internet!

Slowly, some pictures are coming in from our Christmas celebration.

Christmas 2007

Pretty much the only "bad" thing about this Christmas is that my digital camera bit the dust on the 23rd...so, now I have to wait for my friends to send me some of their pictures so I can post them to my blog. For now, words will have to suffice!

What a FUN Christmas we had in Debrecen, Hungary. It's definitely one for the memory books. Erik, Sara (Swedish medical students) and I drove to Debrecen to stay with Mary Jill and Edith for the holidays! Sunday afternoon we went to a really cool Japanese restaurant where the food comes by each table on small plates along conveyor belts and you just take whatever you want to try! Then we walked downtown to see if there was a movie showing in English...no luck... so we spent very little time outside the house due to cold temps, and just lounged around, cooking, eating, watching movies at home, and laughing, laughing, laughing like crazy! I cannot remember the last time in my life when I laughed as hard, as long and as often as I laughed during these 5 days! We made such sweet memories together! God is good all the time!

Christmas 2007...Scripture God put on my heart...

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15)

This is an important season...for forgiveness. I cannot imagine wishing someone Merry Christmas if I have unforgiveness in my heart toward them. May we take the words above to heart this holiday season, recognize the amazing grace we have received and continually receive every moment of every day, and extend that same forgiveness and grace to every person in our lives, allowing the love of God to pour forth into every relationship.

First Christmas surprise for 2007

Marta and Arden!!! My wonderful Christmas surprise!!!!!

Sara, Erik, Mary Jill, Tibor and Kati at Pastor Ed and Sibyl's flat after church.

Greetings from Debrecen, Hungary, where it is cold and gray but warm and lovely in my friends' Mary Jill and Edith's home where I, Erik and Sara are spending this Christmas holiday!



We arrived Saturday just in time for church at the International Church of Debrecen. At one point during the service, Pastor Ed told everyone to stand up and mingle for a few minutes, at which time I, while sitting in the back, turned to see my friend MARTA come walking in the door!!!! What a miracle! Marta and I first met last February by God's divine appointment at the train station in Ukraine when MJ, my other friend Jenn and I were going there to do ministry. Marta was working at the Hungarian orphanage in Nagydobrony, Ukraine and we immediately had a "God connection".



Since last February, I'd made two more trips to the orphanage to see Marta and the girls there...but we'd not communicated nor met since last May. Tears came to both of our eyes as we hugged and hugged last night...she had only 10 minutes, but those10 minutes proved to be one of the best Christmas surprises I could ever ask for!

Oswald Chambers

"Never be sympathetic with a person whose situation causes you to conclude that God is dealing harshly with him. God can be more tender than we can conceive, and every once in a while He gives us the opportunity to deal firmly with someone so that He may be viewed as the tender One....People want the blessing of God, but they can't stand something that pierces right through to the heart of the matter.

If you are sensitive to God's way, your message as His servant will be merciless and insistent, cutting to the very root. Otherwise, there will be no healing...Deal with people where they are until they begin to realize their true need. Then hold high the standard of Jesus for their lives.

Jesus Christ came to "bring...a sword" through every kind of peace that is not based on a personal relationship with Himself."

As we celebrate what many people in my host country call "the holiday of love", I am reminded that the entire reason Jesus entered our fallen world was to bring the kind of love that would fully restore humanity to the Father. That love is not an 'ooey gooey' kind of sappy love full of hugs and kisses, but a heart-wrenching, life-giving, sacrificial, selfless, unconditional love that is willing to die...willing to lay one's life down for another. And then Jesus said something quite radical: "They will know you are my disciples by the way you love one another." He spoke difficult words for people to hear, but He loved them, unconditionally. He forgave. He accepted. He saw them as the Father sees them. And He still does that today through us, His followers.

Britain's Got Talent and thoughts on Jesus....

Many of you have probably already seen the video below from Britain's Got Talent. It was sent to me months ago, but I only opened it today. As you see the judges faces when this guy walks out on stage, you can see how "seriously" they take this guy upon outward appearances. "He had no comeliness that we should be attracted to Him...." is the verse that God dropped into my head upon watching this video. I have a student at school who, any time the name Jesus comes up, immediately rejects Him and the idea of taking Him seriously. She even laughs mockingly. In this video, it is only when this gentleman opens his mouth and begins to sing his song that every person in the place is humbled and amazed by the beauty. Likewise, we as believers, may not be "much to look at", but shouldn't it be, when we open our mouths to "sing" about our life in Jesus, that others are stunned by His beauty in our lives, and by His grace, and their views are radically changed about Him? Have a look. (You may have to cut and paste the link into your browser bar).

http://www.maniacworld.com/Phone-Salesman-Amazes-Crowd.html

Click Here: Check out "Phone Salesman Amazes Crowd - Paul Potts - Video"

Christian Educators Outreach Women's Retreat

The basilica in Esztergom at night!

Arden, Keri, Joanna, Laura and Lea, at the hospital!

Laci, Lea and Keri Nemeth as they wait for the newest little one to arrive!

Miracle of miracles...we found a weekend when nearly everyone connected to or friends with those of us in CEO were free to have a weekend get-a-way just before Christmas! Arden, Lea, Joanna, Keri and Laura all "escaped" our respective cities and retreated to Esztergom, a beautiful town on the Danube River, from which you can literally walk to Slovakia! (We didn't, but thought about it!) Of course we had grand plans to shop and visit the thermal baths, eat, talk, laugh, worship, etc., but the Lord had different plans. Keri, our dear Hungarian partner, is in hospital, due to an infection and the resulting affects it has had on her unborn baby, causing a high heart rate in the fetus. So, Lea, Joanna, Laura and I checked into our panzio on Saturday, went to lunch at a great little restaurant at the bottom of the castle's hill, then picked up cakes on the way to visit Keri in the hospital and hang out with her! What a BLESSED and wonderful time we all had just hanging out and chatting in Keri's hospital room for hours! Then we headed to the shop and bought "dinner" food items, returned to our panzio, enjoyed a smorgasbord for dinner and stayed up late talking, laughing and encouraging one another.

Today, after a wonderful breakfast, we made our way back to the hospital where we again hung out with Keri, got to see her hubby, Laci and their first little girl, Lea, and just enjoyed being together!

So while we didn't get to the baths, or see the basilica, or drive or walk across the bridge to Slovakia, we had a precious time hanging out and just being together! God is good all the time!

Friday at 7 - Christmas party!

FOOD!!!!!!

FELLOWSHIP!!!!

AND FUN!!!!

Great 2007 and looking forward to an even more blessed 2008!

We had our final meeting of Friday at 7 - International Christian Fellowship this past Friday evening and had our regular meeting plus a Christmas party with lots of food and drink! We sang some worship songs, then a couple of Christmas carols and then Jim gave a talk on the first part of John 4. Two new people showed up, one of whom saw our big sign which we have outside the church on the sidewalk each week and decided to come in! God has truly blessed the start of ICF and all of our meetings since the beginning of October! We look forward to what He wants to do in 2008 as we continue to seek Him and follow His leading alone! Blessings on YOU for praying for us!

Friends and babies

Yes, I love to kiss babies!

Aunt Agi, little Bori, and Gergely, with mom Bori hiding!

Little Gergely Attila!

Little Bori...finally smiles!

I visited my friend and hairdresser, Bori, today. Surprise visit, and got to meet her newest little one, Gergely Attila!!! He's 2 months old and on this visit, was awake! This precious little family is doing very well; Bori looks great although she didn't want any pictures taken of her due to lack of sleep; they will be needing a larger place very soon...all 4 of them, mom, dad and two kids share one bedroom. However, they don't complain...they have food, a roof overhead, clothes, family and friends. That's what matters!

One reason why I teach in Hungary

People here often ask me "Why do you stay here in Hungary?" One of the many reasons is pictured above. This is my 12a class...seniors, bilingual, and I've taught them for FOUR years! One of the blessings of teaching here is the fact that you start with a class in the 9th grade and you get to see them through all the way til they graduate! As you can see, it's a small group...we were missing one student today...and I've actually grown quite fond of these kids. We've had our ups and downs, our knock-down drag-outs, but it really struck me today just how much I've grown to love these students. We were finishing a Christmas story in class, and then I read them a poem called "The Touch of the Master's Hand", and nearly through tears, told them that each one of them is so incredibly valuable. Anyway, they are precious to me and I cannot believe we only have 4 more months together. I plan to make the most of every lesson with them!

Christmas trees in school and interesting discussions

Yep, THAT is a picture of a very large Christmas tree INSIDE our school! Public school...not private...wow, huh?

4 kids showed up today for our "open discussion" time...the main question discussed was what is the difference between all the different religions? Great time to lift up Jesus! They also asked me if I believe in reincarnation. Finally, my Catholic boy asked me what the Bible says about sex. So, it was an interesting conversation, to say the least!

Last 2 weeks of school in 2007

I enjoy the last two weeks of school before the Christmas holiday. The blessings of being a "conversational English teacher" include being able to talk freely about Christmas...and in that, one is able to talk about EVERYTHING connected to Christmas, including Jesus. This week, we're reading non-traditional Christmas stories in most of my classes, all of which lead to neat discussions about things like reconciliation and restoration, good vocabulary words as well for 2nd language learners. Next week, the guitar will be attached to my neck as we'll sing Christmas carols in all my classes. It's really nice not to have to "watch my step" in this public school like I would have to in the U.S.A., where the idea of freedom of speech is simply not true when it comes to speaking about Christmas. I pray the freedoms here remain so that the Truth of this season can go forward to many young people who need the hope that only God can give!

More pix from Christmas party!

Robi and Erika sampling the appetizers and drinks!

Judit and Gabi just camped out in the kitchen with the plethora of food!

Erika and Arden....say cheese!

We have lots of left-overs from the party this year...which I haul to school on Monday, and we again, enjoy them during the day!

18th Annual Deak English Dept. Christmas Party

Maria, Laci, Melinda, Kati and Mari at my place enjoying yummy food!

Maria Horvath and Arden!

My wonderful friend and Hungarian teacher, Kati!

Melinda, Kati, Mari, Krisztina and Gabi.

Yep, we've been having English Department Christmas parties for 18 years at Deak! Each year, the "native English teacher" hosts it...so that's been me for the past 8 years! I love it! We always have so much fun playing at least one or two games, and choosing and stealing gifts, and EATING!!! Everyone brings a dish and a drink and we just hang out and talk, laugh, and enjoy being together outside of school! I think we are the only department in the school with such a party and rich tradition! This year we had only 12...much smaller than in previous years, but it was actually really nice...much more intimate. I'm so thankful for such wonderful colleagues!

We need each other.....

Here are some thoughts from a devotional which I believe are very important; it seems basic, but for those of us living and serving overseas, we really need those of you "back home" in the ways that this man expresses, largely because we do not have the same "resources" you all have, whether it is materials or more significantly, personal contact/fellowship. I'm so thankful for those God has placed and is placing in my life...

The Apostle Paul said we are to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12) That doesn't mean our salvation is based on works or on what I do. Salvation is the free gift of God and there is nothing you or I can do to earn it or deserve it.

What that verse means is that you and I are responsible for our own spiritual growth. Your pastor is not responsible for your spiritual growth. You are. Your Sunday School or small group leader is not responsible for your spiritual growth. You are. Your spouse is not responsible for you growing in the Lord - that's your job!

Here's the good news: While you are ultimately responsible for your own spiritual growth, you don't have to do it by yourself. In fact, you can't do it by yourself. You need the instruction, encouragement, edification and insight of others in order to become all that God intends you to be. There are things you don't know, experiences you haven't had, mistakes you haven't made and insights you haven't yet gleaned from the Word, and you need others to share these thing with you.

Have you seen the commercial where a doctor is trying to talk a patient through surgery on the phone? "Now make a 3-inch incision just above the forth rib..." the surgeon says as the perplexed patient is sitting at his kitchen table holding a butter knife. "Shouldn't you be doing this?" the patient asks. The commercial uses that outrageous scenario to make the point that there are some things that we just can't do for ourselves. Let's face it: when it comes to seeing ourselves honestly, we are not qualified. We tend to either see ourselves as better than we actually are or we are too hard on ourselves and see ourselves as less than we really are.

Robert Burns, the renowned Scottish poet once wrote, "O the gift that God would give us, to see ourselves as others see us." He's right, you know. It is very, very difficult for us to objective about ourselves. For that reason, we need those who know us best and love us most to help us in process of becoming the man or woman of God that He intends for us to be. Who are those people in your life? Are you leaning on them for advice, support and encouragement? Are you asking them to make sure aware of "blind spots" in your life that can hinder your growth or compromise your witness? You need them to grow in your walk with the Lord! Rev. Alan Riley

Friend....

I'm very, very thankful for this young lady pictured above. God has given me this woman, Sara, as a friend, prayer warrior buddy, and someone to laugh with too! God's provisions are quite wonderful!

ICF December

Marlo and MJ!

Jim, Tanya, Jennifer, Sara, Erik and Judit.....in response to "everyone look here and say "hi"!"

Marlow giving Erik a prophetic word.

MJ, Arden and Tanya!

We had another smaller turnout this evening at ICF. Maybe it's because students are studying for exams...but it turned out to be a good meeting and very different than usual. Yes, we had worship, and fellowship, but we put John's gospel on hold....

MaryJill's friend and pastor from New York, Marlow, was visiting, and he did a bit of teaching on the prophetic...and demonstrated what it looks like. A number of people were encouraged by the words and the prayers they received.

Erik did a great job of leading worship, and in the end, we were having to "clear people out" to lock up just before 10 p.m.! Our last meeting for 2007 will be next Friday and we're gonna have pizza and a Christmas party!

Christmas in Szeged

Concert...featuring a very famous flaotist as well as a cellist from the Budapest opera...seated on the right.
Tusi and Arden, after the concert. Tusi plays violin in the local orchestra!

This says: "Happy Christmas" and is on the front of the City Hall building here in Szeged!!!

These are the lights going down Karasz utca, our "walking street" downtown. You can just see the lights on the big Christmas tree in the middle of the square on the far right of the picture in the distance!

Yes indeedy, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the city! Lots of concerts, lights, hot-spiced wine, and Christmas markets! Tonight, I was invited to a symphonic orchestral concert during which they played a truly Adventi song as well as Vivaldi's Four Seasons. (Eat your heart out Foley). Afterwards, I took a stroll downtown, and yes, the "Happy Christmas" lights are on the CITY HALL building! (You won't see THAT in the U.S.A. anymore, sadly). December is definitely a month to celebrate and engage in lots of fun Christmasy activities here in Europe!

Christmas gifts from ICF tithe

At ICF, the leadership team decided that this month's tithe would be spent on two kids. Klaudia, age 10 and her brother, Janos, age 8, are children who live with their mother in the battered women's shelter. A local foundation is sponsoring a Christmas program where people can either donate money to buy gifts that each child wants or actually buy those gifts for the children. We at ICF decided to go ahead and buy the gifts. In the above picture you can see the doll, hairbrush and comb and wrapped book of tales for Klaudia and the cool car and book of tales for Janos! Thank you ICF folks who give, for making it possible to bless these children this Christmas!

Christmas in Hungary

Next week, I'll post a picture of the Christmas tree that is up in our school. Yes, a CHRISTMAS TREE in a public high school! In fact, on December 20th, we'll be having the annual SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTY, which involves classes and teachers performing various funny, serious, dramatic and vocal skits, songs, scenes, and choruses! Yes, people sing and talk about Jesus! Yes, I'll be singing a song I wrote this summer which clearly talks about God's love.

You see, as I've blogged in year's past, here in Europe, they separate Santa and Jesus. In fact, tomorrow is Mikulas Day here in Hungary...i.e. Santa Claus day, and children get chocolates and small gifts from Santa. The one who brings the presents on December 24th? You guessed it: Jesus!

Conversation

I had the first "unofficial serious topic" conversation with 4 of my 9th graders on Tuesday. I'm amazed by the seriousness of their questions...15 year olds thinking about life, death, God, church teachings vs. what the Bible actually teaches, luck, blessings, atheism. This was a voluntary meeting for them...they could have been hanging out with their classmates during their free period, but they chose to come talk with me. They choose the questions and I'm very excited to see how this unfolds in the coming months!

More on inflation

I'm "stealing" this info from another blog.

Petrol, that's gasoline for Americans, now costs $6.25/gallon here in Hungary!

Prices of utilities increased 20%.

Life is challenging...but God is able!

Inflation

I just browsed over to a friend's blog where he outlines the rising costs of things here in Hungary. To add my "2 cents" worth to the discussion, I heard that a report was published recently about inflation in european union countries. Inflation this past year was at about 4% (if I remember correctly) across each country in the EU...however, in Hungary, inflation was 13%! Can you imagine the outrage of the Hungarian people, as well as the desperation so many are facing as salaries in the public sector are not increasing at all.

My friends in Debrecen said that burglaries (i.e. break-ins to people's homes and thefts) are SO bad right now that a call that went into the police about a break-in at 8 a.m. was only responded to by 8 p.m. that night because the police were having to respond to so many other break-ins! And, in this particular break-in, the theives left their MATCHES behind...these thieves cannot even afford a flashlight?

People are getting desperate, and as the dollar falls...it's down now to 173 Forints to $1.....from 216 just a year ago.....those who are dependent upon dollars are also feeling the tremendous pinch. God is our provider; pray for those who do not know Him to come to know Him because otherwise, life is growing increasingly bleak for them.

More from the Sacred Romance

I finally finished The Sacred Romance. Good book...a bit wordy, but I was able to dig through that to find some neat kernels which hit my heart in particular at this point in my journey.

"Satan's seduction of our heart always comes in the form of a story that offers us greater control through knowing good and evil rather than the unknowns of relationship."

"Not realizing it is a journey of the heart that is called for, we make a crucial mistake. We come to a place in our spiritual life where we hear God calling us. we know he is calling us to give up the less-wild lovers that have become so much a part of our identity, embrace our nakedness, and trust in his goodness."

"Whatever the object of our addiction is, it attaches itself to our intense desire for eternal and intimate communion with God and each other in the midst of Paradise---the desire that Jesus himself placed in us before the beginning of the world. Nothing less than this kind of unfallen communion will ever satisfy our desire or allow it to drink freely without imprisoning it and us."

"Our lovers have so intertwined themselves with our identity that to give them up feels like personal death. Indeed, they have kept us from knowing the emptiness of our heart's cup. We wonder if it is possible to survive without them.....
But we who would be born again indeed,
Must wake our souls unnumbered times a day
And urge ourselves to life with holy greed.
Now open our bosoms to the wind's free play,
And now, with patience forceful, hard, lie still
Submiss and ready to the making will,
Athirst and empty, for God's breath to fill."

Any thoughts out there????

Friday at 8?????

Because of a "conflict" of events in the room where ICF usually meets, we had our Friday at 7 meeting at 8 yesterday evening...we believe, as a result of the change of time, numbers were down. In total, including 5 on leadership team, we had 15 show up, but it was still a very, very blessed time in the Lord. I led the worship and Edith spoke on the last verses in chapter 3 of John's gospel.

We were very excited to try out our new/used mixer, which we'd just gotten from the States through a generous donation. Well, as we plugged it in to the transformer and turned it on, sadly, it began to smoke...so we quickly turned it off, and we are hoping and praying that it's not "toasted". We still had our shakers, and djembe (drum) and a brand new tamborine...so our musical instruments section is growing!

One young lady who had not been there for about a month showed up at 7 and wanted to know how she could help. Agi is studying to be a pharmacist and is in her first year at the medical university. She is a sweet young lady and asked, at the end, if we might need another guitar player as she plays, "a bit". We're excited about how people are starting to ask how they can be more involved.

We are tithing off of the offerings we receive each week, and this month we have "adopted" a brother and a sister, who live with their mother in the battered women's shelter...we are "allowed" to spend about $30 on each of them for Christmas and we're excited to buy them the gifts they really want! Klaudia has asked for a baby doll, a hairbrush and comb, and a story book. Her brother, Janos (John) has asked for a big truck and a story book.

Sorry no pictures...my camera stayed in its bag, but my friend Edith has said she will send a picture or two from her camera once she downloads them onto her computer. We have just 2 more meetings before the Christmas holidays, so we are hoping many come and hear the Good News that Jesus loves them!!!!