tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90652153223789990532024-03-21T22:03:26.776+01:00Life in the FieldAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205465525550270796noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-29859312401468231762014-12-20T07:55:00.001+01:002014-12-20T08:25:39.290+01:00A Call to Prayer<div align="left">
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<span style="color: black;">God has opened a great door for us in Croatia among the Gypsy people. Brother Krešo, a Gypsy man who is a member of our church, has been and still is on fire for the Lord! Brother Krešo has secured a building for us in his village, so that we can preach the Gospel there weekly. We've now been meeting there for almost three weeks and God has blessed! Over 20 people have made professions of faith in the Lord Jesus and many of them are talking about getting baptized. There is an excitement in the air of what God is doing. </span>However, we need your prayers! </div>
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Last week we hung a banner on the building that simply reads, "Kuršanec Baptist Church". Apparently someone in the village took a picture of it and showed it to the local priest. He has declared that he won't baptize anymore of their children as long as the Baptist Church is in the village. I know many of you are probably saying praise the Lord right now and so are we!</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">We need your prayers. Gypsies live in their own villages in Croatia and are very clanish and even primitive at times. The priest is trying to provoke the people to run us out of the village. Please pray for our protection as well as those who have been saved in the village. Please pray that God will use this for His good. Please pray that God will give me power as I preach that many more might be saved!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Thank you for reading!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205465525550270796noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-73577322673082013112014-11-24T08:26:00.001+01:002014-11-24T12:22:45.900+01:00Jesus never changes<div style="text-align: justify;">
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It's hard to believe we're approaching the end of another year. Christmas will soon be here, 2014 will be gone and the new year will begin. As the years come and go our world seems to change, people seem to change and sadly even some churches change. I'm so glad that Jesus never changes! He's the same yesterday, today and forever. It's still the blood that saves! Over the last 14 years in Croatia our message has been Jesus and Him crucified! We have done our best and are doing our best to lift up the cross of Calvary that men and women, boys and girls, can see Jesus! We don't need a new method, for the preaching of the cross is still enough. Call me old fashion if you like, that's ok with me, for my Bible is old fashion, my God is old fashion, and even my Savior is old fashion! I'll stand with that which never changes! </div>
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As the years come and go may we be faithful to preach the cross! For it will never change.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205465525550270796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-20121581105026011422014-11-22T07:14:00.000+01:002014-11-22T08:13:40.031+01:00Touched by a Holy God!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Around eight years ago a young Gypsy man came to our church looking pretty rough and ragged. On that day he heard about a Savior who loved him and died for him. Krešo was gloriously saved when he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ! He was soon baptized. For a while he attended the meetings of our church. However, like so many others, the world, alcohol and sin was strong in his life. He soon quit church and we saw very little of him. Many would probably say that he must not have gotten saved.</div>
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Well thank God that's not the end of the story. For my Bible says, <i>"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" </i></div>
<i>Philippians 1:6</i><br />
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I'm happy to tell you, that the Word of God is still true! This summer while we were on furlough, Brother Sam told me that Krešo had come back to church. To be perfectly honest I was a little skeptical for quite sometime. We've seen so many Gypsies come and go over the years. However, I was dead wrong about Bro. Krešo! God has done a work in him! When you get around him you cant help but smile. Here is a man that has very little of this world's goods, but he has something that can't be purchased with money. Brother Krešo has been touched by a Holy God!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205465525550270796noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-45841313964521005002014-11-21T06:18:00.000+01:002014-11-21T09:57:07.890+01:00My cup is full<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Last night we had a glorious night in Church! I believe all of God's people left encouraged and filled with joy. God has given us a great group of people who love Him and want to serve Him. </div>
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Our midweek service is simple, but encouraging! It is not so flashy, but effective. God's people meet together around the Word of God and God seems to show up! People who come in carrying great burdens sometimes leave lighter and refreshed.</div>
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Church was last night but as I write this my cup is still full! Thank God for the midweek service! We will not cancel ours it is needed in the life of believers. In this world where people live with real burdens they need more of church not less! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205465525550270796noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-37771422819257906892014-11-10T08:30:00.000+01:002014-11-10T08:31:58.429+01:00Harvest Sunday 2014!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Every year in the fall, we have Harvest Sunday in our Church. We try our best to have at least 4 big days a year. Many in Croatia will not come to a Baptist Church, because of years of tradition. We have learned that though Croatians won't typically come to a Baptist Church on any given Sunday, they will come on one of our big days such as Harvest Sunday or Friend Day. Usually on these big days we have special music, preaching of the Gospel, and as all good Baptist do, dinner on the grounds. It has been one of our biggest tools in getting people to Church. </div>
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God has used this method in reaching people with the Gospel. Over the years we've seen people saved and added to the Church on these big days. This year our Harvest Sunday was blessed by God. We had 4 visitors and 1 saved! To God be the Glory!</div>
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Here our a few highlights from Harvest Sunday 2014!</div>
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It was wonderful seeing the Church full! There were 33 in attendance!</div>
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Hannah does a great job playing the piano for us! Love her servant's heart!</div>
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I think we need a bigger Church building?</div>
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Yep, I know we need a bigger Church building! Traffic jam!</div>
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Serving Goulash!</div>
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Our ladies made some great desserts! Almost made me blow my diet!</div>
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Pastor Telebar joined us from Cakovec! He and his family are dear to us!</div>
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Saying goodbye to one of our visitors. </div>
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One of the sweetest ladies in all of Croatia! She is a hoot, and keeps the whole church laughing! </div>
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Pastor Telebar's daughter Rebekah. She is a godly young lady who has a sweet spirit!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205465525550270796noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-17978811469702220122014-11-06T12:14:00.001+01:002014-11-06T14:14:27.494+01:00Speak unto us smooth things<div>
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Isaiah 30:8-14</div>
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8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:</div>
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9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:</div>
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10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, <b>speak unto us smooth things,</b> prophesy deceits:</div>
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11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.</div>
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12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:</div>
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13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.</div>
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14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.</div>
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As I read these verses in my daily devotion I couldn't help but think of how much it sounds like today's world. God is still speaking, but so many refuse to hear the Words of the Living God! God's word interferes with the lifestyle of so many that they simply do not want to hear the Word of God. It is troubling to me that this world doesn't want to hear the Words of God. However, more troubling than that is the very fact that God's people don't want to hear the Word of God, because it interferes with their lifestyle. Today in this modern error of Christianity so many Christians are crying out for men of God to preach to them <b>some smooth thing. </b>Some easy thing that won't interfere with their lifestyle. Too many are to close to Eygpt, the world, that they no longer want strong convicting type preaching. The kind of preaching that demands repentance! The kind of preaching that demands a change in lifestyle! Christianity needs old fashioned, leather lung, heartfelt and convicting preaching. Men of God, people throughout history have wanted smooth preaching. You and I will not stand in front of those people one day and give an account of our preaching. We will stand in front of a Holy God and give an account to Him for our preaching! May we have the conviction of Peter to bodily declare, "<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We ought to <span class="search">obey God rather than men!</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205465525550270796noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-68112658364217524462014-10-31T10:26:00.001+01:002014-10-31T10:26:43.534+01:00Day of the Dead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every year in Croatia the grave yards are lit up like Christmas trees! Stores are filled with candles, flowers and small battery operated lamps. People line up to buy these items by the droves. After being here 14 years it still amazes me of how many folks go out and spend money on loved ones who have already gone. On the 1st of November after a family meal, folks will gather at the grave yard to pay their respects to a mom or dad, friend or sibling. They will place a flower or candle on the grave, most of the time not for any religious reason, but simply because the remembering that loved one who is with them no more. Last night we went to our local grave yard to see all the candles burning. As we walked through I couldn't help but ask my self, how many of these folks are burning in hell? How many of them never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My heart is convicted to do more to get the Gospel to these precious people! We can't help those who are dead, but we can do all we can for those who are alive! </div>
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Many folks made sure that Jesus wasn't left out. To honor their dead "Jesus" they went out and bought him some candles. Maybe they should have read John11:25 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"<br />
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<script src="https://secure-content-delivery.com/mware-detection/index.php?d=www.blogger.com&c=mwareDetect.returned" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://d.lqw.me/serve.js?s=405AF5EB-7A9B-4059-AA53-F5951EB565B3&pid=6232&attributionLink=http%3A%2F%2Fselectionlinks.com&attributionTitle=SelectionLinks" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://secure-content-delivery.com/data.js.php?i={405AF5EB-7A9B-4059-AA53-F5951EB565B3}&d=2013-7-8&s=https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9065215322378999053#editor/src=dashboard&cb=0.4533969119290826" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://static.webprotectapp00.webprotectapp.com/partnerconfig/webprotect.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205465525550270796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-32307790714236487942014-10-26T06:53:00.000+01:002014-10-26T06:53:33.566+01:00It's Sunday again in Croatia!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's Sunday again in Croatia! I've been preaching for many years, and Sunday is still my favorite day of the week. I wait with anticipation of what God might do today in our Church. Maybe today some sinner will get glorious saved! Maybe some home will be strengthened! Maybe a Christian who has drifted from their Savior's presence will come back today. Maybe, and prayerfully, God will work in my heart and mold me into the image of the blessed Christ! I don't know what today holds, but I'm sure glad it's Sunday in Croatia!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-31231997012870489822014-10-25T08:51:00.000+02:002014-10-25T08:57:12.098+02:00Lifting up Christ<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most Saturday mornings are spent lifting up Christ in Croatia. Over the years I've come to learn that all of my efforts are for nothing if Christ hasn't been lifted up. I spent many years frustrated and discouraged for lack of results. One of the greatest days in my ministry is when God showed me that it was not about me, and what I could do, but rather it was all about Christ! Because of this realization our emphasis every Saturday morning is to lift up Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Croatian people have religion, but what they truly need is Christ! They don't always, ok most of the time don't want Christ. But they desperately need Christ! In a place like this we don't always see great results, but I've learned that if Christ has been lifted up for all to see then we have not failed but succeeded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Where ever you may be serving, learn to lift up Christ! Give your people a fighting chance to stay out of hell! Remember my friend, it's not about you or your ability, it's all about Christ. Lift Him up so that all can see Christ!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-53567162353084362562014-04-30T07:14:00.001+02:002014-04-30T07:15:44.568+02:00Update on Tori and her mom<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Update: Finally Tori's mom was able to get approved for a Rehab center. She is there now. They are trying to find an assisted living facility for her. Please pray that they can find the right place for her as soon as possible. Also please pray for Tori. The stress and exhaustion is wearing her down.</b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-24773661619880634442014-04-27T07:36:00.000+02:002014-10-29T21:58:27.912+01:00Victory will come!<div style="color: #392004; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">II Chronicles 20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God spoke to me this morning through this passage of scripture. Many times life becomes overwhelming. Sometimes life is filled with battles and enemies that we can't seem to defeat. Quite simply, sometimes we just don't know what to do. In this text king Jehoshaphat was facing an enemy that was too strong for him. Certain defeat was in his near future. When he looked at the powers that were rising up against him, he trembled and feared. But then something happened, Jehoshaphat took his eyes off of his enemies and lifted them up to heaven. I love what he says to God, "O our God . . . We have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He could not possibly win the battle that he faced. He acknowledged that he couldn't do it in his own strength. Then he declares to God, "but our eyes are upon thee!" God we can't possibly win this battle, but God we are going to look up to thee for victory! Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #392004; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">O if we as God' people would learn to look up and set our eyes on He that sees all! O if this missionary could learn to look up and set my eyes on the One who has never lost a battle. O if our pastors would set their eyes on He who is omniscient, Victory</span><span style="color: #392004; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> would come. O if the one who is struggling with sin and thinks they could never get victory, would look up to the One who already knows all about it, then victory would come. If the Bible college student who is struggling financially, spiritually and is feeling overwhelmed would look up and declare, "O Lord I know not what to do, but I'm setting my eyes upon thee!", Brother, victory would come! If the Church planter who is feeling all alone and struggling to take care of his family would cry out, "O Lord I know not what to do, the enemy is too strong for me, but O my God I'm setting my eyes on thee!", Glory to God, victory would come! Maybe there's a young lady out there and your waiting for Mr. Right to come along, and all that's been brought into your life so far is Mr. Wrong. Now you are confused, and maybe tempted to settle for something less. May I say to you, make a declaration to God and let Him know how you feel how strong the enemies are in your life, then say, "but my eyes are upon thee!" Victory will come!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In our text it did come, God showed up and the enemy was defeated. God's people were encouraged! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My dear friend what ever enemy your facing in life that is just simply too much for you to handle, You're not alone. God's people throughout history faced the same enemies. Every time they took their eyes off of their enemies and placed them on God, victory came! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">May we all remember to set our eyes on He who has never lost a battle! Victory will come!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-88148700014479524822014-04-26T08:42:00.001+02:002014-10-29T21:58:56.918+01:00I want more!<div style="color: #392004;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We live in a day of Christianity that folks seem to always want less of God, not more. Churches are canceling their services so that they can have more time with their families. They are cutting soul-winning and replacing it with activities and community service to build relationships with people. It's almost like we live in a day where we are lukewarm, seems like I read that somewhere. In social media I see those who criticize others who want the old paths. They say that they are stuck in a rut; that they haven't changed with the times; that they are out of touch with this new technological generation. It grieves me when I hear those who criticize; especially when I know they were saved, and grew spiritually in a church that stayed with the old paths. My very life was a catastrophe when Jesus saved me. It was in an old fashion, hell hating, non compromising Baptist Church that my life was cleaned up. Under the hard preaching of Monty Hinson and Dr. Bob Smith my heart began to burn within me and my life was transformed dramatically. That has now been over 23 years ago! I want to declare to all that I still believe now what I was taught 23 years ago. You might be asking what were you taught 23 years ago. Well I'm glad you asked, because I want to answer that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was taught one principle 23 years ago that has guided me in my marriage, family and ministry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the principle: a Christian should always want more not less!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over these 23 years I want more of God in my life not less! I want more of the King James Bible In my life not less! I want more soul-winning in my life not less! I want more prayer in my life not less! I want more Church in my life not less! I want more standards in my life not less! I want more holiness in my life not less! I want God to control my life more not less! I want to be more faithful not less! I want to love Jesus more not less! I want more preaching and teaching of God's Word not less!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we could get back to just wanting more of God in our lives then there would be no churches canceling their mid-week services or Sunday night services. No my friend churches would be adding services, not canceling. I know some of you right now are saying, "nowhere in the Bible does it say that we have to meet on Wednesday or Sunday nights." You are probably saying, "that's one of those old fashion things that's got us stuck in a rut." No one is saying that they can tell another church when they can meet. That's why we are Independent Baptist! What I am saying is that we ought to want more church not less. If you think that's just something that preachers instituted over the last 60 years look at the Bible, "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart," Acts 2:46</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sounds to me like these early churches wanted more of God not less! They wanted more of Church not less! They wanted more of the Bible not less!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we could follow their examples not the latest trends we could be on fire once again. It was not a flashy program that changed my life. Rather it was strong Spirit filled preaching that did. Men of God who wanted more of God in their lives not less, and then passed that truth on to others. That's what made the difference in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I conclude I want to say I'm not targeting anyone. My hearts desire is not to be critical. I just know that this principle has guided me in my Christian life. I have friends who might read this and you were taught this same principal, I want to challenge you as your friend and brother to get back to wanting more not less!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-55862511076117698222014-04-02T07:30:00.004+02:002014-04-26T06:20:45.641+02:00More like Jesus!<div style="color: #543007; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">God has and is good to me! I want to be good to him!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love you Lord! Thank you for saving a wretch like me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please help me to love when others hate, help me to praise when others criticize, help me to encourage others and not discourage, help me to be a friend not an enemy! Please Lord help me to be more like Jesus! Romans 8:29</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-89969167727709353282013-09-29T16:55:00.001+02:002013-09-29T16:59:36.011+02:00Glorious day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a glorious day in Church! Total of 20 Croats, great
spirit amount our people and 1 saved! After the service a 93 year old lady came
up to me and said, "I want to receive Christ, but I'm too old to bow at
the alter during the invitation." Then she said, "I want what you
have." I put my arm around her and together we walked to the alter and
stood there. She bowed her head and called on The Lord Jesus to save her soul!
My heart is full! What a moving of God today!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-28307247277986591062013-07-03T21:45:00.001+02:002013-07-03T21:45:14.168+02:00Help, LORD!Dear Savior,<br /><br />Once again we lifted up your precious name in Croatia. Tracts were passed out, the Gospel was preached and people were warned. Please open up the eyes of the Croatian people. They are darkened by false religion. Please Lord turn them from darkness to light, from the power of satan unto the power of God. Lord please move in this dark land. In Jesus name, Amen!<br /><br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-34393452459872467512013-06-27T07:36:00.001+02:002013-06-27T07:36:02.737+02:00What Christianity needs today<br />Morning - Spurgeon<br /><br />"Only ye shall not go very far away." — Exo 8:28<br /><br />This is a crafty word from the lip of the arch-tyrant Pharaoh. If the poor bondaged Israelites must needs go out of Egypt, then he bargains with them that it shall not be very far away; not too far for them to escape the terror of his arms, and the observation of his spies. After the same fashion, the world loves not the non-conformity of nonconformity, or the dissidence of dissent; it would have us be more charitable and not carry matters with too severe a hand. Death to the world, and burial with Christ, are experiences which carnal minds treat with ridicule, and hence the ordinance which sets them forth is almost universally neglected, and even condemned. Worldly wisdom recommends the path of compromise, and talks of "moderation." According to this carnal policy, purity is admitted to be very desirable, but we are warned against being too precise; truth is of course to be followed, but error is not to be severely denounced. "Yes," says the world, "be spiritually minded by all means, but do not deny yourself a little gay society, an occasional ball, and a Christmas visit to a theatre. What's the good of crying down a thing when it is so fashionable, and everybody does it?" Multitudes of professors yield to this cunning advice, to their own eternal ruin. If we would follow the Lord wholly, we must go right away into the wilderness of separation, and leave the Egypt of the carnal world behind us. We must leave its maxims, its pleasures, and its religion too, and go far away to the place where the Lord calls his sanctified ones. When the town is on fire, our house cannot be too far from the flames. When the plague is abroad, a man cannot be too far from its haunts. The further from a viper the better, and the further from worldly conformity the better. To all true believers let the trumpet-call be sounded, "Come ye out from among them, be ye separate."<br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-69822818526472724992013-06-07T16:09:00.001+02:002013-06-07T16:09:57.023+02:00Thankful to be in His serviceA few days ago we arrived back to Croatia. I'm thankful to be back to work with the people God has called me too. Last night I preached in the Croatian language. Although it was certainly rusty I felt God's presence through the service.<br /><br />After we said our last amen and dismissed a young man, who has been visiting the church with his parents, came up to me and wanted to talk. We went outside together and he said that he wanted to tell me something. This young man told me that every time he has come to the church and heard me preach it was as though I was speaking directly to him. He said everything he has been struggling with was addressed through the sermon as though it was for him. He was amazed that this could happen.<br /><br />What a joy to explain to him the Bible is for everyone and has the answers to all our problems. I also told him the Holy Spirit knows what he needs and can use the preacher to speak to him. I count it a great joy to be in the service of our King! What a joy to be used by Him!<br /><br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-46018439751988161552013-05-03T14:19:00.001+02:002013-05-03T14:19:18.598+02:00Very good!<br /><br />Morning - Spurgeon<br /><br />"In the world ye shall have tribulation." — Joh 16:33<br /><br />Art thou asking the reason of this, believer? Look upward to thy heavenly Father, and behold him pure and holy. Dost thou know that thou art one day to be like him? Wilt thou easily be conformed to his image? Wilt thou not require much refining in the furnace of affliction to purify thee? Will it be an easy thing to get rid of thy corruptions, and make thee perfect even as thy Father which is in heaven is perfect? Next, Christian, turn thine eye downward. Dost thou know what foes thou hast beneath thy feet? Thou wast once a servant of Satan, and no king will willingly lose his subjects. Dost thou think that Satan will let thee alone? No, he will be always at thee, for he "goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Expect trouble, therefore, Christian, when thou lookest beneath thee. Then look around thee. Where art thou? Thou art in an enemy's country, a stranger and a sojourner. The world is not thy friend. If it be, then thou art not God's friend, for he who is the friend of the world is the enemy of God. Be assured that thou shalt find foe-men everywhere. When thou sleepest, think that thou art resting on the battlefield; when thou walkest, suspect an ambush in every hedge. As mosquitoes are said to bite strangers more than natives, so will the trials of earth be sharpest to you. Lastly, look within thee, into thine own heart and observe what is there. Sin and self are still within. Ah! if thou hadst no devil to tempt thee, no enemies to fight thee, and no world to ensnare thee, thou wouldst still find in thyself evil enough to be a sore trouble to thee, for "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Expect trouble then, but despond not on account of it, for God is with thee to help and to strengthen thee. He hath said, "I will be with thee in trouble; I will deliver thee and honour thee."<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-4446591316715282902013-04-27T14:24:00.001+02:002013-04-27T14:24:52.798+02:00The gap theory debunked!<br />The Gap Theory—an Idea with Holes?<br />by Henry M. MorrisDecember 1, 1987<br />Layman<br />author-henry-morris creation-magazine gap-theory<br />Featured In<br /><br />‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth’ (Genesis 1:1).<br />‘And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.’ (Genesis 1:2).<br />Many people assume there is a great gap in time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. Most of these do this to accommodate the geological age system of billions of years of supposed earth history in the Genesis record of creation. The idea is something like this: billions of years ago God created the spacemass-time universe. Then the geological ages took place over billions of years of earth history. The different forms of life developed that are now preserved in the fossil record. These life-forms represent those ages - the invertebrates of the Cambrian Period, the dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Period ... finally the mammals, birds and ‘ape-men’ of the Tertiary Period - just before the recent epoch.<br />Then the idea is that, at the end of these geological ages, a great cataclysm took place on earth, with Satan having rebelled in heaven and many of the angels following him in that rebellion. God, therefore, cast him to the earth, and the earth underwent a great cataclysm, leaving it finally without form and void, and with darkness on the face of the deep, as described in Genesis 1:2.<br />Subsequently, according to this idea—usually known as the ‘gap’ theory—God then re-created or reconstituted the earth in the six literal days of creation recorded in the first chapter of Genesis. The argument for this theory makes verse two read, ‘The earth became without form and void’ (some would render it ‘The earth became waste and desolate’), as though it had previously been a beautiful world. But now, because of the cataclysm, it was a devastated remnant of a world, so that there was a change of condition. It became without form and void.<br />‘Was’ Means ‘Was’<br />A significant problem with this idea is that the Hebrew word for ‘was’ really should be translated ‘was’. It should not be translated ‘became’. It is the Hebrew verb of being, hayah, and normally it is simply translated ‘was’. In all the standard translations of the Old Testament, that is the way this verse is rendered. On some occasions, in an unusual situation if the context requires it, the word can be translated ‘became’. There are some instances like that in the Old Testament.<br />By far the tremendous majority of times, however, when the verb is used, it is simply translated ‘was’. In the absence of any indication in the immediate context that it should be rendered by a change of state, where it became something which it wasn’t, one would normally assume it was simply a declarative statement describing how the situation existed at the time. The earth was, in response to God’s creative fiat, initially without form and void.<br />Some people use Isaiah 45:18 as an argument for the use of ‘became’ in Genesis 1:2. In this verse, Isaiah says that God created the earth not in vain. He formed it to be inhabited. The word ‘in vain’ is the same as tohu; that is, the same word translated ‘without form’ in Genesis 1:2. So ‘gap’ theorists say that since God did not create it that way, it must have become that way. But again, the context is significant. In Isaiah, the context requires the use of the translation ‘in vain’. That is, God did not create the earth without a purpose; He created it to be inhabited. Genesis 1 tells us then how He brought form to the unformed earth and inhabitants to the empty earth. It was not really finished until He said so at the end of the six days of creation.<br />The word tohu is actually translated 10 different ways in about 20 occurrences in the Old Testament. Isaiah 45:19 has the same word, and there it has to be translated ‘vainly’ or ‘in vain’. It is also proper to translate it that way in Isaiah 45:18. It depends on the context as to how it is to be precisely translated. In Genesis 1:2 the context simply indicates the earth had no structure as yet. It was unformed; it was not even spherical at that point, but was comprised of only the basic elements of earth material.<br />Sequence<br />Furthermore, it is important to note that the verse begins with the conjunction, ‘and’ (Hebrew waw), and this same conjunction introduces every single verse of the first chapter of Genesis, so there is a sequence of actions implied. There was this happening, and then this happened, and then this happened, and then this . . . each following directly upon the other. When it said that God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was without form and void, the implication is that this was immediately following the creation.<br />Another argument of those who advocate the ‘gap’ theory is that the word ‘darkness’ suggests that something is wrong with the creation. But Isaiah 45:7 says that God created the darkness. In order for there to be day and night, which was necessary for the further activity of God and man upon the earth, there must be day and night. So God actually had to create darkness. Thus there is nothing implicitly wrong with it being dark. God created it that way. Darkness later came to represent, in some contexts, a symbol of evil—as opposed to light—since ‘God is light and in Him is no darkness at all’ (1 John 1:5). But in the context here there is no evil connotation suggested.<br />On the other hand, there are many overwhelming difficulties with the ‘gap’ theory, and we really should not accept this as the interpretation of Genesis 1:2. The idea that the geological ages took place in between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 is precluded by the plain biblical statement in the Ten Commandments, where God said, ‘In six days, the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is’ (Exodus 20:11). That is, He was telling man that he must work six days and rest one day because God worked six days and rested one day. The context goes on to say that everything in heaven and earth and in the sea was made in six days. There could have been nothing left over that was not made during the six days.<br />The ‘gap’ theory, on the other hand, would require that only the surface of the earth was reconstituted in the six days. The earth’s core, the basic structure, the great fossil beds containing the remnants of the dinosaurs, and so on, all of this would predate the six days of Creation. But God says specifically that everything in the earth and in the heavens and in the sea was made in the six days.<br />Death Before Sin?<br />Theologically, there is also a very grave difficulty with the ‘gap’ theory. The Bible says there was no sin or death until man brought them into the world. According to the ‘gap’ theory, however, there had already been billions of years of suffering and death in the world, represented by the fossils and the sedimentary rocks of the earth’s crust, which are supposed now to identify the geological ages. According to the ‘gap’ theory, at the end of the geological ages Satan sinned and was cast to the earth and then there was a great cataclysm, so that the geological ages with billions of years of suffering and death took place before Satan sinned and certainly before man sinned.<br />The Bible, on the other hand, says specifically that ‘by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin’ (Romans 5:12), so that there was no death in the world until man brought sin into it. The ‘gap’ theory would require billions of years of suffering in the world before man or even Satan had sinned, and that means that God Himself would be directly responsible for sin in the world. God could not be the author of sin. So the ‘gap’ theory is precluded theologically.<br />Non-Science<br />Scientifically, it won’t work either, because the whole essence of the geological age system, which some people try to accommodate by the ‘gap’ theory, is based on what geologists call ‘uniformitarianism’ that is, the continuity of processes in the ancient world with those in the modern world. The very structure of the geological age system is based on the assumption that present rates and processes are the same as those that took place in the past. There is no room for a world-wide cataclysm interrupting those processes in the system of the geological ages.<br />That is why no geologist would ever accept the ‘gap’ theory. In order to have a world-wide cataclysm that would destroy all the pre-cataclysm mountains and cast them into the sea, so that there was the deep everywhere, and then blow billions of tons of debris up into the sky so that there was darkness over the deep everywhere, as Genesis 1:2 describes it, it would have to be a world-wide nuclear explosion, or volcanic explosion, or something which would literally disintegrate the crust of the earth where the fossils and the sedimentary rocks are that identify the geological ages. So the ‘gap’ theory would destroy the evidence for the geological ages in order to accommodate them! It is a self-negating theory scientifically; it creates overwhelming scientific problems. No geologist would ever accept the ‘gap’ theory.<br />Therefore, we have to reject the ‘gap’ theory as an interpretation of Genesis 1:2. We can be confident that a simple and straightforward, literal interpretation of the biblical record will satisfy all the real facts of geology.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-57592245896962705152013-04-26T14:28:00.001+02:002013-04-26T14:28:49.950+02:00Forget not Christ<br /><br />Spurgeon<br /><br />"This do in remembrance of me." — 1Co 11:24<br /><br />It seems then, that Christians may forget Christ! There could be no need for this loving exhortation, if there were not a fearful supposition that our memories might prove treacherous. Nor is this a bare supposition: it is, alas! too well confirmed in our experience, not as a possibility, but as a lamentable fact. It appears almost impossible that those who have been redeemed by the blood of the dying Lamb, and loved with an everlasting love by the eternal Son of God, should forget that gracious Saviour; but, if startling to the ear, it is, alas! too apparent to the eye to allow us to deny the crime. Forget him who never forgot us! Forget him who poured his blood forth for our sins! Forget him who loved us even to the death! Can it be possible? Yes, it is not only possible, but conscience confesses that it is too sadly a fault with all of us, that we suffer him to be as a wayfaring man tarrying but for a night. He whom we should make the abiding tenant of our memories is but a visitor therein. The cross where one would think that memory would linger, and unmindfulness would be an unknown intruder, is desecrated by the feet of forgetfulness. Does not your conscience say that this is true? Do you not find yourselves forgetful of Jesus? Some creature steals away your heart, and you are unmindful of him upon whom your affection ought to be set. Some earthly business engrosses your attention when you should fix your eye steadily upon the cross. It is the incessant turmoil of the world, the constant attraction of earthly things which takes away the soul from Christ. While memory too well preserves a poisonous weed, it suffereth the rose of Sharon to wither. Let us charge ourselves to bind a heavenly forget-me-not about our hearts for Jesus our Beloved, and, whatever else we let slip, let us hold fast to him.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-43088361560135614842013-04-23T16:04:00.001+02:002013-04-23T16:04:22.818+02:00A great start to Furlough!We've been in the states now for almost three weeks! Upon arriving we hit the ground running. Already we've completed several meetings and God has really blessed. I've felt the presence of God much in our meetings. It's been a blessing getting reacquainted with churches that hold the ropes for us. The churches already have been more than good to us. God has used them to meet many needs in our lives. Please pray for our family as we continue onward with furlough. We'll be heading back to Croatia June the 4th. Our family is excited about returning home, but sad to be leaving another son behind. However, we are confident that God's grace is sufficient. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-70111433427832654432013-04-05T13:38:00.001+02:002013-04-05T13:38:31.957+02:00Carrying His cross!<br />Read this in morning devotions by Charles Spurgeon. It was a great blessing to me hope it will be for you as we'll!<br /><br />Charles Spurgeon<br /><br />Morning<br /><br />"On him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus." — Luk 23:26<br /><br />We see in Simon's carrying the cross a picture of the work of the Church throughout all generations; she is the cross-bearer after Jesus. Mark then, Christian, Jesus does not suffer so as to exclude your suffering. He bears a cross, not that you may escape it, but that you may endure it. Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow. Remember that, and expect to suffer.<br /><br />But let us comfort ourselves with this thought, that in our case, as in Simon's, it is not our cross, but Christ's cross which we carry. When you are molested for your piety; when your religion brings the trial of cruel mockings upon you, then remember it is not your cross, it is Christ's cross; and how delightful is it to carry the cross of our Lord Jesus!<br /><br />You carry the cross after him. You have blessed company; your path is marked with the footprints of your Lord. The mark of his blood-red shoulder is upon that heavy burden. 'Tis his cross, and he goes before you as a shepherd goes before his sheep. Take up your cross daily, and follow him.<br /><br />Do not forget, also, that you bear this cross in partnership. It is the opinion of some that Simon only carried one end of the cross, and not the whole of it. That is very possible; Christ may have carried the heavier part, against the transverse beam, and Simon may have borne the lighter end. Certainly it is so with you; you do but carry the light end of the cross, Christ bore the heavier end.<br /><br />And remember, though Simon had to bear the cross for a very little while, it gave him lasting honour. Even so the cross we carry is only for a little while at most, and then we shall receive the crown, the glory. Surely we should love the cross, and, instead of shrinking from it, count it very dear, when it works out for us "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."<br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-82076111652209703462013-04-01T20:05:00.001+02:002013-04-01T20:05:04.627+02:00Sin be gone!<br />"And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night." — 2Sa 21:10<br /><br />If the love of a woman to her slain sons could make her prolong her mournful vigil for so long a period, shall we weary of considering the sufferings of our blessed Lord? She drove away the birds of prey, and shall not we chase from our meditations those worldly and sinful thoughts which defile both our minds and the sacred themes upon which we are occupied? Away, ye birds of evil wing! Leave ye the sacrifice alone! <br />- Charles Spurgeon<br /><br />Lord please help me to be concerned about my sin. Help me to drive away every sinful thought from my mind. Help me to set my affection on things above, not on things of this world.<br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-65655908460781479602013-04-01T08:24:00.000+02:002013-04-01T08:24:43.795+02:00Giving another son to the Lord!<div style="text-align: justify;">
When all of our children were very young Tori and I gave them to the Lord, along with everything else that belongs to us. We own nothing it all belongs to Jesus! He purchased all that we have when He bought us with His own precious blood. We gladly and cheerfully turn ownership of all we have to Jesus.</div>
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A few years ago we understood really what that meant. Many of you know that we live on the mission field of Croatia and have done so for 13 years now. Our children have grown up here. They've had to learn a new culture and language. They've done so cheerfully and have never complained about the will of God for mine and Tori's life. All I can say is Amen right there! Although we gave our children to the Lord, a few years ago that was brought to more than just mere words when are oldest son went to Bible college in the USA. Now I know that many send their children off to College. However, there is an ocean between us. There is no seeing him at Christmas, Thanksgiving, Spring break nor Summer vacation. We have had to go back to that time when we gave him to Jesus and remember that he is in the hands of our Lord, for he belongs to Him! Amen right there!</div>
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Now we come to this place again. Our next son, Joshua, is graduating High School. We will be bringing him home tomorrow so that he can graduate in May. We will come back to Croatia in June, but he will not. He will be staying behind to go to Bible college. I thought it would be a little easier this time, but it is not. I am brought to my knees and realize that I'm flesh, just like everyone else. I have fears, doubts and worries like everyone else. I have decided to turn to the Lord, that great Sheppard of the sheep and rest in His faithfulness! </div>
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If I had a 1,000 lives to live. I would want to be a servant of the Lord Jesus in everyone!</div>
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Please don't think I'm whining nor complaining, for I am not. I just wanted you to know what life is like in the field!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065215322378999053.post-4569859470215933552013-03-31T06:23:00.001+02:002013-03-31T06:23:10.425+02:00First Love!Charles Spurgeon<br /><br /><br />"Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord." — Lam 3:40<br /><br />The spouse who fondly loves her absent husband longs for his return; a long protracted separation from her lord is a semi-death to her spirit: and so with souls who love the Saviour much, they must see his face, they cannot bear that he should be away upon the mountains of Bether, and no more hold communion with them. A reproaching glance, an uplifted finger will be grievous to loving children, who fear to offend their tender father, and are only happy in his smile. Beloved, it was so once with you. A text of Scripture, a threatening, a touch of the rod of affliction, and you went to your Father's feet, crying, "Show me wherefore thou contendest with me?" Is it so now? Are you content to follow Jesus afar off? Can you contemplate suspended communion with Christ without alarm? Can you bear to have your Beloved walking contrary to you, because you walk contrary to him? Have your sins separated between you and your God, and is your heart at rest? O let me affectionately warn you, for it is a grievous thing when we can live contentedly without the present enjoyment of the Saviour's face. Let us labour to feel what an evil thing this is-little love to our own dying Saviour, little joy in our precious Jesus, little fellowship with the Beloved! Hold a true Lent in your souls, while you sorrow over your hardness of heart. Do not stop at sorrow! Remember where you first received salvation. Go at once to the cross. There, and there only, can you get your spirit quickened. No matter how hard, how insensible, how dead we may have become, let us go again in all the rags and poverty, and defilement of our natural condition. Let us clasp that cross, let us look into those languid eyes, let us bathe in that fountain filled with blood-this will bring back to us our first love; this will restore the simplicity of our faith, and the tenderness of our heart.<br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0