Fluttering Memories

Schmetterling Haus

Last Sunday was WONDERFUL. After weeks of cold and gloom we had a very warm and sunny weekend. This raises your spirit like nothing else. We were able to take a day trip out to Vienna, Austria with our friends the Sano family (from Japan... see previous entry When Chopsticks collide... ). That morning we visited Calvary Chapel Vienna and had a cool time worshiping with that group of sweet believers. Then we took the tram to the center and walked in awe of spectacular Vienna in early spring (minus the summer tourists... so you could actually see something!)

We didn't have much of a plan other then to see the Schmetterling Haus (the Butterfly House) which of course as you can imagine houses a bunch of tropical butterflies. Inside the classical glass building was a virtual jungle - it was a hot, humid and sticky experience. But the butterflies were beautiful, although I expected the place to be bigger and that they would have more types of butterflies. All in all it was a great day out. Vienna is always a nice place to waste a day. And our friends the Sano's are a joy to be with - very encouraging for our souls.

Svaty Jur

A few weeks ago we were able to visit a really new and nice church nestled in the foothills and vineyards of the Little Carpathian mountains just outside of Bratislava - Cirkev Bratska in the town of Svaty Jur. Pastor Milan (who also leads Athletes in Action here in Slovakia) had invited me to preach. I didn’t really know what to expect, but in one word it was a GREAT experience. I loved that little church. It was small, simple, and very ‘real’. It was encouraging to see the Body functioning as a body - serving one another in love.

Lord willing we will be visiting the church from time to time. Pastor Milan and his wife Monika have encouraged us to come serve with them. We will keep this in our prayers for now until the Lord clearly reveals the place He is preparing for us.

If you want to find out more about CB Svaty Jur look them up at: http://www.cbsvatyjur.sk/

They also have my time of preaching on the web as well. I wouldn’t say it’s my best, but it was God’s Word so I’m sure it did something in someone’s life... at the very least mine. Check it out at: http://www.cbsvatyjur.sk/?p=117

Dinner Date

I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper, plans to give you hope and a future - Jeremiah 29:11

Sounds nice doesn't it? But is it true? Really true? Doesn't life sometimes scream at the top of it's lungs that there is no master plan, no divine hope, not a prayer for tomorrows next steps? Do you ever read Scripture and just think - wow, Jeremiah obviously wasn't living my life. If God has prosperous plans for me then why is 'all of this' happening to me? Why do I struggle so much? Why is getting up in the morning so difficult? Why do I have to deal with (you fill in the blank)...again? Why am I being eaten alive?

Yet, the prophet Jeremiah boldly declared that God has good plans for us... even when it doesn't look or feel like it. As I have been studying the life of Daniel I see that he really embraced this truth and let the powerful reality of it flow through him. Early on he was torn away from his family, friends, and homeland into captivity. Does that sound like a plan to prosper Daniel? But it is - he ends up being one of King Nebuchadnezzar's most trusted advisors. After a long career (aprox 70yrs) in the Babylonia political scène Daniel is ready for retirement. And one wild party later the Empire falls in a single night under the armies of Cyrus the Persian. It looks like Daniel's pension is toast. But for some reason the new King Darius (who may have been Cyrus himself) takes notice of Daniel. He likes him. Enough so to consider putting this emerging, expansive Empire under Daniel's control. Now that sounds like Blessing!

But it doesn't always sound like our lives. I think we often identify more with Daniel's dinner date with the lions. Living our lives in relative righteousness, minding our own business and ending up as appetizers. We wonder "why?" Yet, this is not the response of Daniel. We know that he was saved from his feline friends and he makes it clear that it was because of his trust in the Living God who had a plan to prosper him.

I think we (I) need to be more like Daniel. To get his view on life. To know that God is for us. He loves us. He is a good Father who intends the best for us. He will bless us and in fact He will even use us to bless others. We see that even in Daniel's life. During that first year of testifying God's goodness to Cyrus a radical shift occurs. After 70 years of captivity in Babylon, Cyrus allows the Jews to return to Israel and rebuild the Temple. God has a plan. It is good. It is immensely complex and sometimes unclear to us. But be assured it is good, it will bring blessing to you and many beyond. Embrace it, hope in in, expect the unexpectable. One day all will be fully revealed at the final Dinner Date.

G-Moment

Zoom-Zoom-Zobor

Last Sunday we received a very welcomed, but last minute phone call from Danny (well actually his parents) inviting us to join them for a hike on Zobor. Zobor is a huge peak that overlooks Nitra and expands out into a small, low-lying local mountain range. So, in a flash we zoomed up to the Zobor trailhead by car. It's been so cold & overcast lately that it was great to take advantage of one of the few sunny & "warmer" (like 40F) days. The boys loved getting out, running around, discovering spiders under rocks and battling with new stick-swords.

Hanka!

David and one of his favorite pals - Hanka! (Rado & Silvia's little girl)

David as David

Here are some pics of David doing what David does best - being cute! Enjoy!

Drama King

Imagine you could turn paper into rain, then yourself into a butterfly, then shift into a bucking stallion, to a ferocious tiger, then into an old grandfather pulling out a turnip the size of a VW Bug. Wild imagination or indigestion? No, it’s drama class at Skolka. As most of you know Gabie is back in Skolka (pre-school). Last week his drama class had an “open door” class where family members were invited to observe the magic of young minds unleashed. It was pretty simple, yet very creative and cool.

An afternoon with Starky

Today we had a short, but sweet surprise visit from Ivetka's Dad; Starky, her brother Jano and his family. This visit is amazing as we probably have only had Ivetka's family visit us 3-4 times during the last 8 years. Usually we are making the 3 hour journey up to Dolny Kubin. However, it's nice to travel up there - the mountains and countryside are stunning. Plus visiting Ivetka's family is really easy since ALL her immediate relatives live on the same street! Here are some picts from today's visit: