Comments from CBS Sunday Morning

Remarks from CBS Sunday Morning

I only hope we find God again before it is too late!!

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu .. If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of g getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on
your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they
will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

Anticipating Christmas

We don't always remember that Christmas begins with the word CHRIST, but that is the reason we celebrate this time of year. It is precisely because of Jesus that a time of celebration is observed. It's easy to forget that with all the emphasis on gift giving. Let's help one another rejoice in the true meaning of Christmas which is the gift of eternal life through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

MISKOLC ORPHANAGE MINISTRY. Last week 12/3, we made the trip to Miskolc, this time to help the Neni's (caretakers) at the orphanage purchase Christmas gifts for the children. A military chapel in Germany has donated the funds and each child will receive a hand-picked gift. It was fun getting reacquainted with the Neni's and getting to know a few of the newer caretakers. Since it is my hope to interact with them on a weekly basis when I start going regularly in January, it was a fun way to connect.

On December 20th we are planning to spend the day with the kids, hanging out,making and baking cookies, and sharing a bit of Christmas cheer along with the story of why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Please keep this in your prayers. It's always a challenge to corral all the kids in one place with their diverse schedules and also varying interest in spiritual truths.

DEBRECEN WOMEN'S MINISTRY.
This past Saturday December 6th, the women of Calvary Chapel Debrecen came together at the Greathouses for a Women's Christmas Tea. Everyone brought loads of goodies to share, the youth group came early and helped me prepare sandwiches and fruit salad and other treats, and everyone shared a belly laugh while playing the "White Elephant" gift exchange. This was something new for the Hungarians so it took a bit of time to fully understand it was OK to "steal" a gift from your neighbor. It was a special time for us to just have fellowship time together, time being a rare commodity at this time of year.

GYPSY MINISTRY IN BOSZORMENY.


Mikulas (Santa Claus) came to the Gypsy church a bit early this year since our regular meeting time fell on the 2nd of December. Usually Mikulas makes his appearance on the 6th. Here is a photo of the Hungarian man who played the part of Mikulas and handed out a package of goodies to each child and adult. There were at least 100 people crammed into our tiny church that night!

Szundi and Dani, our teaching leaders had the brillant idea of showing how unreachable God's gifts are unless they are accessed through the blood of Jesus. To illustrate that idea, they brought in a large gift wrapped box. Inside were 4 baloons filled with helium and the words LOVE, HOPE, FORGIVENESS, and ETERNAL LIFE. The baloons immediately flew out of the box once opened and drifted far above the reach of everyone. They then shared that through the blood of Jesus we have God's gifts to us if only we will reach out and accept them. It was a really powerful demonstration and we are hoping everyone there understood what it all meant.

On the 11th of December, we will be shopping with a group of volunteers for the Christmas food baskets to be delivered to our Gypsy brothers and sisters on Saturday the 13th. While delivering the baskets, it's a great time to talk about God's love, His provision for them, and the free gift of salvation. I hope to have some photos to upload and share with you later. Please pray for our time with the families and for ears to "hear."

CHRISTMAS AT THE GREATHOUSES. It will be a bit different this year. We have invited 6 of the orphan "graduates" to come and spend the holiday with us December 24-28th. It's always a joy for us to be "Mom and Dad" to the kids and Rob outdoes himself spoiling them with his cooking and special treats.

To each and every one of you reading this blog, we wish you a blessed Christmas filled with many memory making moments. Thank you for your love, your encouragement, and your financial support this past year. Thank you for standing in the gap with us.

God bless you one and all.
Rob and Carol, Debrecen

An update at last!

Between busyness and an internet provider that goes up and down faster than the stock market, it's been a bit of a challenge to find the time to keep our readers updated.

The last time we wrote, we shared our renewed commitment to the ministry at the orphanage in Miskolc. Since then, a lot seems to be happening and it's all centered in Miskolc!!! Go figure.

First off, thanks to all of you who have prayed for Reni and David. As you may remember, Reni is one of the orphan "graduates" who has a young son and for a time, had been homeless.

God has certainly moved hearts and it seems, mountains, in order to get Reni and David established in a permanent home. Reni and David's father had purchased a 150 year old house which after they broke up, was totally gutted with nothing left except the bare walls. There was no way Reni could move back and was in jeopardy of losing David if she didn't have a home suitable to Social Services. That's where the body of believers stepped in and have provided many of the things necessary to set up housekeeping. The two most important things were a way to heat the house and a bed for Reni and David. Both of which were donated in time to meet the criteria of Social Services and eliminate the concern David would become a ward of the State.

During the past several weeks, many trips to Miskolc (about 4 hours round trip) were made in order to get the donations to her. There has also been money donated to help them with food until she is able to start working. There is a promise of a part-time, 3-days a week job, beginning in January. David is signed up to begin pre-school at the same time.

Again in Miskolc, November 21-22nd saw a large group of volunteers come together to share an American tradition...Thanksgiving.











During our two days there, we played crazy games (think fear factor), heard a gospel concert by Bible School students, saw a pantomime with a spiritual message, heard the children's choir from the orphanage, baked and decorated Christmas cookies, and ate a huge Thanksgiving meal together.

We've shared before that Rob has a twice a month cooking class for the young people at the church (photo of them at left). Well this year 4 of the most daring agreed to head up the cooking in each of the 4 houses at the orphanage. The rest of team were on hand to lend a helping hand (with the exception of Luca who is in California) and all in all, everyone enjoyed the time together and the yummy food. We give thanks to all the helpers, translators, and teachers who shared their love and God's blessings on our beloved orphans.

God Answers...In His Time

Working with the children at the orphanage in Miskolc has been an on-going joy in my life. From 1997 until 1999, it was hit and miss as I was still living in Colorado and could only take part in the ministry during my trips to Hungary. Once Rob and I moved to Debrecen in 1999, it became a full-time part of our ministry. Then in early 2001 after having helped plant a church in a gypsy village in Hajduboszormeny, it became apparent that God was telling me I needed to make a choice of where to focus my efforts.

As you know, for the past 8 1/2 years we have been involved to a great degree with the growing church body at the little church in the Gypsy village. Since November of last year, God began nudging me to once again refocus my efforts on His behalf toward His children in Miskolc.

Well of course, I put up a bit of a struggle...it's never been easy for me to give up people in my life...and we have been praying along with others who were also praying with and for us for wisdom in this. Many things needed to happen before it would be possile to turn the ministry over to the Hungarians and God in His faithfulness, did answer those needs...in HIS time. God has now brought forward people with cars to take over the transportation needs and Hungarian speaking teachers especially for the littlest children. Instead of just having a caretaker (me) they are now receiving teaching from the Word at their own level of understanding.

The prayer has always been that this ministry would be taken over in full by the Hungarians and in the fullness of time, God has answered that prayer.

Hence, beginning in January I will no longer be working with the Boszormeny church on a weekly basis. Instead, I will begin to get reacquainted with the ministry at the orphanage in Miskolc. A big emphasis for me will be working with the teen girls as well as with the older girls who have left the orphanage and are still living in the area.

To that end, we have invited all of the older girls to come and spend the Christmas holidays with us in the guesthouse from December 24-28th. These are young women who have not had an easy life...growing up in the orphanage, with no parents or family support for the most part. It is our hope that they will continue to stay connected with each other and the local church in Miskolc and feel that the Debrecen church body is their 2nd family.

We covet your prayers as we transition into this (re)newed ministry focus.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Pray for the church body at the Gypsy church, that they would continue to draw closer to the Lord and realize a fuller understanding and trust in their Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayers for the children in Miskolc that God would become a presence in their lives. That God would bring forward an Hungarian woman, who speaks English, who would assist in the outreach to the young women living at the home.

Please pray for the leaders of both ministries that God would continue to bless them with wisdom in sharing the Word of God.

Visions of the Wild West!

Russ Chun who heads up GoodSports Ministry here in Debrecen had an unusual experience last week, harkening back to the wild west days!

While moving a ping pong table to the local Reformed Church in preparation for their first ever Youth Group meeting, Russ had loaded the table into the back of a horse pulled wood wagon.

It was at this point that something spooked the horse which was being led by his 12 year old assistant and neighbor (who had volunteered his horse and wagon)for the project. The horse took off, dragging the young boy, and as Russ was holding the reins and trying to get the horse under control, the horse began zig zagging back and forth across the road, Russ lost control of the situation and was thrown out of the wagon along with the ping pong table which whizzed over his head.

The outcome was that Russ landed on a stake which the neighbor had placed around his front garden. Landing on it caused two ribs to be broken from the stake, he also had an additonal broken rib, a fractured wrist, and a gash in his head requiring 7 stitches.

Once all the x-rays were over, it was decided that Russ needed to stay in the hospital for 4-5 days to make sure the broken ribs would not cause a breathing problem.

We're happy to say Russ is home and recovering. He is joking about his "wild west" adventure so his sense of humor is still intact.

We invite your prayers for Russ' continued recovery. Also, please pray for the ministries he heads up, i.e., baseball ministry, orphanage ministry, and the soon to start youth group meetings at the local Reformed Church in Mikeperc. He is being told he needs to take it easy for another 5-6 weeks and for those who know Russ and his legendary energy, not an easy task for him.

Looking Back

On a beautiful Fall morning with a chorus of birds singing outside our windows, I am looking back over all that has happened this summer.

Eventful would not begin to describe how wonderfully the Lord has been working in the lives of the young people in our small Debrecen church. God has blessed our church with a Youth Pastor who truly cares about his flock. Pastor Dani has inspired our young people to truly live out the message of Matthew which encourages all of us to "go and share the good news of Jesus Christ." They have done that through their willing hearts at the summer sports and English camps, through their teaching of God's word to the littlest children at the Gypsy church in Boszormeny, and through their on-going mentoring and encouragement of the orphans in Miskolc.

We thank God for each person who has stepped up to the plate, sometimes literally, as they have participated in teaching/coaching American Baseball.

In gratitude for such willing hearts, Rob and I decided to host a bar-b-q for all the youth group members. We spent an afternoon and evening enjoying each others company eating bar-b-q, playing badmiton, volleyball, and praising God in worship.

Thank you one and all for your continued prayer for the work of God's hands here in Hungary, always remembering "the prayers of a godly man/woman availeth much!!!

Blessings in Christ,
Rob and Carol

A Friend in Need

A friend who was instrumental in our coming to the Lord is now in need of prayer as she battles cancer. Carol Porter is our former pastor's wife and is beginning a difficult treatment for Metastic Melanoma which has spread to her lungs and liver.

We are asking our friends and readers to lift Carol in prayer as she begins the journey towards restored health. You can follow her progress by reading her blog at: http://www.carolsclimb.blogspot.com/

Thank you for standing in the gap.

Rob and Carol