Glorious Hope / Slavná naděje - Czechoslovak Baptist Convention

Glorious Hope / Slavná naděje - Czechoslovak Baptist Convention

P
EACE
The Christmas holidays symbolize peace. The Christmas
carols and songs we hear bring that
across. Printings with Christmas
motifs show peace. People desire
peace. It is so important for us to
spend these holidays at ease surrounded by our loved ones. A countryside blanketed in snow in the
silence of night only enhances these
feelings. We cannot help remembering our childhood, when Christmas was a magical time and everyContents:
Editorial - Natasha Legierski ................................................................122
God Became a Man at Christmas - John E. Karenko .....................123
Opuštìná láska - Jaroslav Pospíšil .......................................................124
Waiting and Watching - Andrew Kmetko ..........................................127
Svedectvo - Anna Kulaèíková ...............................................................128
Observation Tower: Confession - John Karenko .............................129
Sermon on Abraham, Part 2 - Andrew Kmetko................................130
TWR: The Listeners Post - George Cooper ....................................131
Abrahám, veriací a poslušný, èas 3 - Jozef Kulaèík ........................132
From Our Churches - Minitonas: History - Aldrich Novotný..........134
BWA News - Denton Lotz.....................................................................135
From Our readers ..................................................................................136
65th Wedding Anniversary - Andrew and Alice Kmetko.................136
Youth Scene: A Formula for a Beautiful Fall - Brian Dors .............137
Invitation: Mission Trip to the Czech Republic ................................137
Children’s Corner: Fireflies, Part 2 - Jan Karafiát ...........................138
Brouèci, 2. èást - Jan Karafiát...........................140
In Memory - Charles A. Soltis ..............................................................142
From the President - Robert Dvorak ..................................................142
From the Executive Secretary..............................................................142
Ladies’ Page - Natasha Legierski .......................................................143
Poem - Silent Night/Tichá noc ............................................................144
Glorious Hope / Slavná nadìje
November–December 2002, Vol. 28, N 6
(USPS 009334), ISSN 0700-5202
Published Bi-Monthly by
The Czechoslovak Baptist Convention
of USA and Canada
Periodical postage paid in Philippi, WV.
o
Publication Office: Glorious Hope
1524 Lancaster Dr., #134,
Oakville, ON, L6H 2Z2, Canada
Editor-in-Chief: Natasha Legierski
email: [email protected]
Electronic Publishing and Art: Vit Malek
email: [email protected]
Assistant Editors: Janice Cermak, Ján Banko
Editorial Staff: George Sommer,
George Legierski, Joseph Novak
You may send articles to above address
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Glorious Hope / Slavná nadìje
Rt. 4, Box 58D, Philippi, WV 26416-9717 USA
email: [email protected]
thing seemed so beautiful,
so different.
The arrival of the Lord
Jesus Christ to ear th
brought peace. If we gaze at
a sleeping newborn, the peace radiating
from that little face will surely touch us. God
in His wisdom chose this as the way the Savior
would come to this world. Any other way could
have raised controversy. A newborn: defenseless,
pure, completely given over to the arms of its
mother, resting peacefully.
After centuries, year after year, it is as though
these things were reoccurring.
The miraculous arrival of the Savior is what we
are remembering again this year, at a time when the
world, torn by war, wants peace. The Bible makes us
aware that the more we call for peace, the further off it will be
(Ezek. 7:25).
Peace came to earth with the infant Jesus. It is impossible to
separate peace from the person of Jesus. If you want peace in
your heart, you need Jesus in your heart. If you accept Jesus, you
gain peace, peace that transcends all understanding (Phil. 4:7).
This peace really is impossible to comprehend. It is a peace that
will last through the toughest of life’s battles. God’s peace. We
are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Does the peace of God
radiate from us to reach those around us?
We wish for all readers to be reached with a new wave of God’s
peace in the coming holidays. We wish, for you as well as for us,
that this peace will fill our hearts every day in the coming year.
We desire this peace, God’s peace, to spread unstoppably, like
an avalanche, until it fills all the earth!
Editor-in-Chief Natasha Legierski
P
OKOJ
Vánoèní svátky symbolizují pokoj a mír. Tato nálada nás
oslovuje pøi poslechu vánoèních písní a koled. O pokoji hovoøí
obrazy s vánoèními motivy. Ano, èlovìk, ve své podstatì, po pokoji
touží. Tolik nám záležím na tom, abychom tyto svátky prožívali
v pohodì, obklopeni svými bližními! Zasnìžená krajina v noèním
tichu, tyto pocity jenom umocòuje. Neubráníme se vzpomínkám
na dìtství, kdy vánoce mìly zvláštní kouzlo. Všechno se zdálo tak
krásné, jiné….
Pøíchod Pána Ježíše na svìt, pøinesl pokoj. Zadíváme-li se na
spící nemluvnì, pokoj vyzaøující z jeho tváøièky, nás jistì osloví. Pán
Bùh, ve své moudrosti, zvolil právì tento zpùsob pøíchodu Spasitele.
Každý jiný zpùsob mohl vyvolat kontraverzi. Nemluvnì, bezbranné,
+
Pokraèování na stranì 123
Front Cover: Corel Photos: Hoar-frost covered oak forest
Convention photos: George Sommer, Vlastimil Pojman
Back Cover: Corel Photos: Decorated night lamp
Next issue deadline - December 15, 2002
122
Printed on recycled paper
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
God Became a Man at Christmas
Rev. John E. Karenko
E
veryone celebrates Christmas (the birth), but who
exactly was born and why?
An important question! The
Word of God clearly answers
this and we know that his “Word
is truth.” (John 17:17)
“For unto us was born a child
and a Son was given. His name
shall be called the mighty God, the
everlasting Father, the Prince of
peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) These words
of the Prophet Isaiah predicted
the birth of Jesus Christ as God.
The Apostle Paul confirms who
Jesus is with the words: “God
appeared in the flesh.” (I Timothy
3:16) In another place he writes
about this with these words:
“Christ Jesus, being in the form of
God…came in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:5–7) Note
that Paul testifies: “According to the flesh, Christ came, who is
over all, God blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 9:5) “The Word
was with God and the Word was God…and the Word became
flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father…the Jews sought all the
more to kill Him, because He…said that God was His Father,
making Himself equal with God.” (John 1:1,14) Many other
Scriptures corroborate this truth.
The Bible teaches and Christians believe that Jesus
Christ is God in the flesh. That’s what Christmas and
Easter are all about! “We know that the Son of God has come
and has given us and understanding that…This is the True God
and eternal life.” (I John 5:20) That’s awesome!
The Apostle Matthew also writes of this: “Behold, the
virgin will bel with child, and will bring forth a Son, and they
shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with
us…and you shall call His Jesus, for He shall save His people
from their sins.” (Matthew 1:23,21) The Bible says that in
Him: “We have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:14) “For there is born unto you this
day in the city of David (Bethlehem) a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord.” (Luke 2:11) It is clear that a Savior saves those who
by faith accept Him. It is written: “Believe in the Lord Jesus
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
Christ and you will be saved and all
your household.” (Acts 16:31)
Christ Himself said: “For God
so loved that world, that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish,
but have everlasting life.” (John 3:
16) Jesus commanded: “Search the
Scriptures, for…they testify of Me,”
and reprimands the listeners
thus: “But you are not willing to
com to me that you may have life.”
(John 5:39,40) What shall we say
to “Our great God and Savior Jesus
Christ’s.” (Titus 2:13) Words? He
sill calls: “Come to Me.” (Matthew
11:28)
The apostle Paul said, “I live by
faith in the Son of God Who loved
me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal.
2:20) What will be your gift to Jesus this Christmas? He
asks: “Give Me your heart.” (Proverbs 23:26) If you do, you
get eternal life. (Romans 6:23c) His gift to you! You can’t
beat that for giving!
o
Editorial … pokraèování ze strany
122
èisté, naprosto odevzdané do náruèe matky, spoèívá v pokoji…. Po
staletí, rok co rok, jakoby tyto události znovu ožívaly….
Zázraèný pøíchod Spasitele si pøipomínáme i letos. V dobì, kdy
celý svìt, v bolestném zápase, po pokoji touží. Boží Slovo nás však
upozoròuje na to, že èím více budeme volat po pokoji, tím více se
pokoj od nás bude vzdalovat (Ezech. 7;25).
Pokoj sestoupil na zem tenkrát s nemluvòátkem, s Ježíšem.
Pokoj od Pána Ježíše nelze oddìlit. Chceš-li mít pokoj v srdci,
musíš pøijmout do svého srdce Pána Ježíše. Pøijmeš-li Pána Ježíše,
získᚠpokoj. Pokoj, který „…pøevyšuje všeliký rozum…“ (Filip. 4:7).
Tento pokoj skuteènì nelze rozumem pochopit. Je to pokoj, který
pøetrvá i v nejt잚í bouøi života. Boží pokoj. My jsme následovníky
Pána Ježíše Krista. Vyzaøuje z nás ten Boží pokoj, který oslovuje
kolemjdoucí, naše bližní?
Pøejeme všem ètenáøùm, aby byli zasaženi novou vlnou Božího
pokoje v tyto nadcházející svátky. Pøejeme vám i nám, aby tento
pokoj plnil naše srdce v každém dni budoucího roku. Toužíme, aby
se tento pokoj, Boží pokoj, šíøil nezadržitelnì jako lavina a zasáhl
celý svìt!
Šéfredaktorka Nataša Legierská
o
123
Opušìná láska
Jaroslav Pospíšil
Text: Zjevení 2, 1–7
Téma: „Ale to mám proti tobì, že už nemᚠtakovou lásku jako na
poèátku“ ( Zjevení 2,4)
J
istì si nìkteøí z vás øíkají: „Co ten èlovìk chce ještì o dopisu ze
Zjevení do Efezu povìdìt? Slyšeli jsem na nìj mnoho kázání“.
Jednou jsem sloužil v Karlových Varech na text o marnotratném
synovi. Pøišel za mnou jeden z mých blízkých pøíbuzných. Øekl mi,
že byl zvìdav, co nového chci na tento text øíci. Slyšel již na tento
oddíl 15 kázání.
Nejde však o to slyšet nìco nového, ale novì slyšet slovo, které
již vyprchalo z našich životù. Zeptáme se: „A jak mùžeš vìdìt, že
vyprchalo?“
Zvl᚝ bych se chtìl dnes s vámi
zastavit u verše: „Ale to mám proti tobì,
že už nemᚠtakovou lásku, jako na
poèátku“. Nebo jazykem Bible kralické:
„Ale to mám proti tobì, že jsi tu první lásku
svou opustil.“ Po jednom kázání na tento
text pøišel jeden èlovíèek za kazatelem a
øekl: „Bratøe kazateli, mᚠpravdu, nevzal
jsem si svoji první lásku. Vzal jsem si až
tøet텓
„Mám proti tobì to, že jsi tu první lásku
svou…“ Je Pán Ježíš Kristus skuteènì ještì
tou první a tedy jedinou láskou mého a
tvého života? Dá se povìdìt, že ta první
láska, která vznikla ve chvíli, kdy jsme
Ho smìli poznat a pøijmout, kdy On se
stal skuteènì jedinou láskou mého života,
je ještì poøád první a jediná? Anebo už
máme druhou, tøetí, pátou,desátou, stou
lásku svého života? A Pán Ježíš je nìkde
v tom zástupu lásek na kdo ví jakém místì.
Patøí Mu opravdu to první místo?
Nìkdo øekne: „A jak se to pozná, že
Pán Ježíš je ještì první láskou, tou jedinou láskou mého života?“
Dovolte, abych vám trochu otevøel své srdce a øekl vám, jaké
to bylo, když jsem se zamiloval do své manželky. Zaèalo to, když
jsem sám v sobì pocítil, že je to ta jediná, která se mi líbí. „Tu mi
vezmìte“—vyjádøeno slovy, které použil v podobné situaci Samson
vùèi svým rodièùm. Bydleli jsme v té dobì od sebe ve vzdálenosti
asi 120-ti kilometrù. Jezdil jsem za ní každý víkend po práci, pøesto
na mne sedla nìkdy v týdnu neodbytná myšlenka. Skoèil jsem po
práci do auta a dvì hodiny jsem jel, abych s ní mohl být pùl hodiny.
Když je nìkdo láskou vašeho života, hledáte každou pøíležitost k
tomu, abyste s ním mohli být. Každá pøíležitost je dobrá k tomu,
abyste mohli být v jeho blízkosti, abyste s ním mohli mluvit, abyste
ho mohli slyšet. Vidìli jsme se každý víkend, ale zajel jsem za ní
nìkdy i v týdnu. Kromì toho jsem oèekával ve støedu její dopis.
124
Nebyl-li tam, musela si v pátek odpoledne vyslechnout, jak si to
pøedstavuje, nechat mne tak dlouho èekat.
Jak je to možné, že se køesan obejde bez své Bible ne jeden
den, ale nìkdy celý týden? Nìkteøí ji nechávají v modlitebnì, aby
mìli jistotu, že ji tam pøíští nedìli najdou. Také mají jistotu, že se
jim bìhem týdne nebude plést do jejich rozhodování. Èlovìk, který
miluje, se tìší na každé slovo od toho, koho miluje. Nedokáže si
pøedstavit žít bez nìjaké zprávy, nìjakého slovíèka. On si totiž za
tím slovem pøedstavuje toho, koho miluje. Kdosi povìdìl, že náš
vztah k Pánu Ježíši Kristu je vyjádøený našim vztahem k jeho slovu.
Pán Ježíš to øíká také: „Ten, kdo mne miluje, ten zachovává má
pøikázání“.
Manželka mi nìkdy øekne: „Hochu, to
je sice pìkné, že mne mᚠrád, jak øíkáš, ale
tam je hora nádobí. Nevím kam døív skoèit,
dokaž mi svá slova tím, že ta hora nádobí
zmizí. Øíkáváme: „Pane, já Tì miluji, bez
Tebe si to nedokáži pøedstavit“, a hora
nádobí stále zùstává na nìj. „Pane, to je tvoje
starost, chci žít úspìšný, nádherný, šastný
život a to ‚špinavé nádobí‘ mi k tomu vùbec,
ale vùbec nepasuje“.
Jestli skuteènì milujeme Pána Ježíše
Krista, jak je možné, že jsou shromáždìní, ve
kterých chybíme? Jak je to možné? Jestli Pán
Ježíš Kristus je skuteènì tou první a jedinou
láskou mého života, nemohu chybìt tam, kde
On zaslíbil, že bude. Kde se v Jeho jménu
shromáždí dva nebo tøi, bude uprostøed.
Nìkdy ovšem platí: „Tento lid se ke mnì
pøibližuje svými ústy, ale svým srdcem je
na hony, na hony vzdálený.“ Nìkdy naše
tìlo sedí pìknì ve shromáždìní a naše mysl
bloudí po místech pustých.
Moji spolupracovníci byli na øeèi o mé
manželce obèas alergiètí. Øíkali: „Liduška toto a Liduška tamto,
už to známe, ušetøi nás…“ Èlovìk má potøebu o tom, koho miluje,
neustále mluvit; neustále sdìlovat tìm ostatním, jak je to úžasné,
jak je to nádherné, co ten èlovìk dokáže, jaký je. My však nìkdy
dokážeme o Pánu Ježíši Kristu dlouho ani nepípnout. Lidé, se
kterými jedete ve vlaku vám i „nahrají na sme蓗jak øíká bratr
kazatel Poloha starší. Teï je možné vést „útok na s흓, a my? Máme
obavy, že by se nám vysmáli. Jestliže skuteènì miluji Pána Ježíše
Krista, pak si nedovedu pøedstavit, že bych o nìm mlèel. Prostì,
èeho je srdce plné, tím ústa pøetékají. Možná proto tolik øeèníme o
autech, o výhodných investicích, o nepoøádku ve vládì, o tom, jak
to bude v dùchodu (osobnì se na dùchod pøíliš netìším, protože v
roce 2026 prý na dùchody nebude). Èeho je srdce plné…
„Ale mám proti tobì to, že už nejsem tou první a jedinou láskou
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
tvého života. Dokazuješ mi to tím, že mluvíš o nìèem úplnì jiném;
všechny nevinnì trpící, všechny køivdy na svìtì. Bude mrkat, co já
tím, že mé slovo tì již tak moc nezajímá, že se bez nìj obejdeš celé
všechno proti nìmu mám.“
dny, nìkdy týdny, mìsíce, celé roky; tím, že necítíš potøebu mne
Pán Bùh však v Bibli øíká, že se jednou, èlovìèe, nebudeš staèit
vidìt, mluvit se mnou“.
divit, co všechno má On proti tobì. Co jsi shromáždil sám z vlastní
Nìkdy žasnu nad tím, jakou máme pøedstavu o Božím pùsobení
vùle tím, že jsi to prostì zahodil. Odložil jsi to ve svém životì jako
v našem životì. V jednom sboru, ve kterém jsem sloužil, za mnou
nepotøebnou vìc.
pøišel èlovìk a øekl: „Bratøe, mìl bys domluvit tìm, kteøí mají úvody k
„Ale to mám proti tobì, že už nemᚠtakovou lásku jako
modlitbám. To by mìl být skuteènì úvod k modlitbám. Nenacházím
na poèátku.“ Pán Ježíš Kristus již není první a jedinou láskou
tam žádné vybídnutí, žádnou inspiraci k tomu, abych se modlil.“
Efezského sboru. A všimnìte si, kolik je tam èinnosti: vím o tvých
Odpovìdìl jsem: „A co Boží práce ve tvém a v mém životì? To
skutcích, o tvém úsilí, vytrvalosti; nemùžeš snést ty, kdo jsou zlí;
jenom ten bratr nebo sestra, která slouží, má ve mnì vzbudit nìjakou
vyzkoušel jsi ty, kteøí se vydávají za apoštoly, ale nejsou nimi,
inspiraci?“ Neinspiruje mne každodenní poèínání mého Pána? To
shledal jsi, že jsou lháøi. Mᚠvytrvalost a trpìl jsi pro mé jméno
by svìdèilo jen o tom že s ním nežiji, že žijeme oddìlené životy, jak
a nepodlehl jsi únavì. To je èinností—a bez lásky. Toto všechno
je to dnes moderní.
se dá dìlat, aniž by byl Pán Ježíš první láskou tvého života. Kolik
Byl bych rád, kdybychom si teï všimli jednu vìc. Pán Ježíš
provozu je nìkdy v našich sborech! Jak se nìkdy díváme se závistí
Kristus øíká: „Já mám proti tobì, že už nemᚅ Mám proti tobì
na jiný sbor a øíkáme si—kéž by se dalo takto pracovat také u nás.
to, co už nemáš. Kolik vìcí ve svém životì odložíme a poztrácíme.
Pán Ježíš Kristus øíká, že ho ani tak moc nezajímá, co dìlá Efezský
Budeme žasnout, až pøijdeme do nebe. Uvidíme tam hromadu
sbor. S Pánem Ježíšem má jednu jedinou spoleènou vìc:
námi odložených vìcí, které nám Pán Ježíš Kristus
„Ke tvému dobru pøièítám, že nenávidíš skutky
dal. My jsme je odložili jako nìco nepotøebného.
Nikolaitù stejnì jako já“. To je jedna jediná
Pán Ježí øíká: „Já tvou lásku, tu první lásku
spojnice, která ještì existuje.
„Mám proti tobì to,
mám. Ty ji už nemáš. Já ji tu mám, našel
Nìkdy lidé øíkají, že pokud
jsem ji na cestì tvého života. Ležela tam
nìkdo
trpí pro jméno Kristovo,
že jsi tu první lásku svou…
jako pro tebe naprosto nepotøebná a
musí Ho také milovat. Byl
“ Je Pán Ježíš Kristus skuteènì
vyøazená ze tvého života. Øekl jsi,
jsem jednou na biblickém
že se bez ni obejdeš.“
kurzu. Byl jsem ubytován
ještì tou první a tedy jedinou láskou
Boží slovo øíká, že Pán
v rodinì, která mìla asi
mého a tvého života? Dá se povìdìt, že
Bùh bude mít jednou mnoho
jedenáctiletého hocha.
dobrých svìdomí, které mnozí
Byl to velice vzdorovitý
ta první láska, která vznikla ve chvíli, kdy
lidé ztratili. Sice pobloudili od
chlapec se svéráznou
jsme Ho smìli poznat a pøijmout, kdy On se
víry, ale ve srovnání s dneškem,
pøedstavou o tom, co
nic vážného se nestalo. Proè
to znamená poslouchat
stal skuteènì jedinou láskou mého života, je
nìjaké dobré svìdomí? V dnešní
rodièe a dìlat všechno,
ještì poøád první a jediná? Anebo už máme
dobì—proè vùbec svìdomí?
jak se má. Vzal jsem
Chce-li mít èlovìk úspìch, chcesi
ho stranou a trochu
druhou, tøetí, pátou,desátou, stou lásku
li prosperovat, chce-li to nìkam
jsme spolu mluvili. Øekl
svého života? A Pán Ježíš je nìkde v
dotáhnout, musí se nejprve zbavit
kromì jiného, že už neví
svìdomí. Dejte mu pokoj s dobrým
co
má dìlat. Kamarádi
tom zástupu lásek na kdo ví jakém
svìdomím. To si nemùže dovolit. To
se mu posmívají, že je z
místì. Patøí Mu opravdu
je takový luxus, který dnes nezaplatíte
„pánbièkáøské“ rodiny. Pøedhazují
žádnými penìzi. A tak èlovìk zahazuje i své
mu,
že jeho rodièe se jen modlí a
první místo?
svìdomí. Pán Bùh øíká: „Já to zase všechno
neustále „chytají Pána Boha za paty.“
pìknì, po cestì tvého života, sbírám.“
Øekl jsem mu, že vlastnì trpí pro jméno
V úvodu k modlitbám jsme èetli z epištoly Jakubovy:
Pána Ježíše, aniž by Mu patøil. Skuteènì lze
„Ten, kdo umí dobøe èinit a neèiní, má høích.“ A hle, on nemusel
trpìt pro Pána Ježíše a nemilovat Ho tou první láskou.
nikoho zabít. Je tam snad napsáno, že nìkoho zabil? Ukradl nìkomu
Naopak, mùžete to cítit jako nìco nepøíjemného, nìco, co vám lidé
nìco? Pomluvil nìkoho a ukrátil ho na cti? To tam napsáno není.
pøišívají naprosto neprávem. To, že nìkdo trpí, ještì není dùkaz, že
Tam je napsáno, že ten, kdo umí dobøe dìlat a neèiní, má høích. (Je
miluje.
snad èlovìk, který neumí dobøe dìlat? Chodí po této zemi èlovìk,
Nìkdy jsem slova dopisu Efezskému sboru vnímal jako výtku:
který neumí dìlat dobøe pøinejmenším sám sobì?) Sobì samým
ty, ty, ty! Ty už nemᚠprvní lásku! Ale v urèitém období svého
umíme všichni udìlat dobøe. Nemùžeme se vymlouvat, že neumíme.
života, jsem pochopil, že je to vlastnì úžasnì bolestný povzdech
Pán Bùh øíká: „Já jsem to umìní dobøe dìlat našel. I to jsi zahodil.
Pána Ježíše Krista. Zkusili jste už žít s lidmi, kteøí vás nemají rádi?
Já to mám a mám to proti tobì.“ Proto øíká Boží slovo, že jednou,
To je „život“, v tom si èlovìk lebedí! Vnímám to tak, jakoby Pán
až pøijdou lidé do nebe, onìmí. Kolik máme pøipravených výmluv!
Ježíš øíkal: „Vzpamatujte se! Chtìli byste žít s nìkým, kdo vás nemá
Kolik mají lidé pøipravených argumentù a už se tìší: „Jestli skuteènì
rád? Ty mne už nemᚠjako první a jedinou lásku svého života“.
pøijdu pøed Pána Boha, jak øíkáte, tak to mu vytøu zrak. Bude koukat,
„Do svého vlastního pøišel a vlastní jeho nepøijali ho.“
jak mu vmetu do oblièeje všechny války, všechny umírající dìti,
U nás, v Teplé, není veøejné osvìtlení tak intenzivní jako
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
125
v Ostravì. Poblíž našeho domu nejsou žádná svìtla, která by
zakrývala krásu noèní oblohy. Jednou, byla krásná letní noc; vynesl
jsem si køeslo na terasu a pozoroval jsem hvìzdami poseté nebe a
bledý mìsíc. Vzpomnìl jsem si, jak èasto Pán Ježíš odcházel v noci
na horu, aby se modlil, pozvedl své oèi k nebi. Pán Ježíš opustil
slávu Otce, ponížil se, pøizpùsobil se ve všem nám lidem. Jak se mu
muselo stýskat po jeho Otci, když se díval do nebe na tu krásu!
Vzpomnìl jsem si, jak se mi, malému dítìti, stýskalo po rodièích.
Odvezli mne se spálou na infekèní oddìlení nemocnice v Karlových
Varech. Maminka za mnou na návštìvu nemohla. Jednou v nedìli
jsem se náhodou podíval z okna a uvidìl jsem ji u plotu, jak vyhlížela
okno, za kterým jsem ležel. Nebyl jsem k utišení. Usedavì jsem
plakal, protože jsem chtìl za svojí maminkou.
A teï si pøedstavte, že jste mezi lidmi, kteøí vám pøímo „jdou po
krku.“ Jste mezi lidmi, kteøí vás chtìjí zabít, kteøí každé slovo obrátí
proti vám. Jste mezi lidmi, kteøí øíkají: „My nechceme, aby tento
nad námi kraloval“. A v této situaci se Pán Ježíš díval na nádhernou
noèní oblohu, na tu pøedsíò pøíbytku svého nebeského Otce. Jak se
mu muselo, mezi námi lidmi, stýskat! Èlovìk, na jeho místì, by to
zabalil a øekl by, že se na to tady, na zemi, vykašle. Øekl by: „Když
chcete jít do zahynutí, tak si bìžte! Jen si bìžte, udìlal jsem již dost,
já jsem se ponížil. Nechal jsem se vám ve všem pøipodobnit. Jednou
jsem øekl, že se ve mnì naplnilo mezi vámi Boží zaslíbení. Vyvedli
jste mne na sráz hory, na které stálo vaše mìsto, a chtìli jste mne
shodit dolù. Kašlu vám tady na to! Proè bych já mìl tady za vás
pokládat život?“
To je bolest, která mluví ze srdce Pána Ježíše Krista. Vy, za
které jsem zemøel, za které jsem udìlal všechno, aby jste nemuseli
propadnout hnìvu Boží spravedlnosti; aby jste mohli mít podíl na
obrovském daru Boží lásky; vy jste mne postavili nìkam jinam, než
má stát ten, kdo pro vás toto všechno udìlal. Toto neznamená: ty,
ty, ty! Toto je výkøik milujícího srdce. „Ty do mé lásky kopeš, ty o
ni nestojíš, jsem ti k nièemu…“
To, co je napsáno na konci dopisu Efezskému sboru, by nás mìlo
vzpamatovat: „Rozpomeò se, odkud jsi klesl a navra se a jednej
jako døív. Ne-li (nemusíš, Pán Bùh nás k nièemu nenutí), pøijdu na
tebe brzy a pohnu tvým svícnem z jeho místa, jestliže se neobrátíš.“
Kdybychom èetli závìr prvé kapitoly Zjevení, dozvìdìli bychom
se, že ty svícny, mezi kterými se Pán Ježíš prochází, pøedstavují
jednotlivé sbory. Jestliže Pán Ježíš øíká: pohnu tvým svícnem,
znamená to, že ty, jako sbor, pøestaneš existovat. My lidé poznáme
cenu nìèeho, až tehdy, když to ztratíme. Možná ti dnes sbor, který
tu existuje z Boží milosti, nic neøíká. Možná ti bratøí a sestry, kteøí v
nìm jsou, zvl᚝ ti starší, pro tebe vùbec nic neznamenají. Dovedeš
si svùj život bez nich a bez sboru docela dobøe pøedstavit. Nikdo
by po tobì nevyžadoval úèast na biblické hodinì. Nemusel by jsi
poslouchat nìèí napomínání, kde jsi byl v nedìli, proè jsi nebyl na
mládeži a na dorostu; proè jsi se nezúèastnil té èi oné akce sboru,
práce kolem budovy sboru…
Pokus se pøedstavit si, že by ti Pán Bùh tento sbor zlikvidoval.
Sbor pøestal existovat. Možná si nìkdy kazatel myslí, že by mu bylo
lépe, kdyby kazatelem nebyl. Je unavený z tìch žabo-myších válek,
ke kterým máme tak blízko. Je vyèerpaný z neustálého zápasu o
urovnání rùzných tøenic. Mohl jsem tøi mìsíce zakoušet jaké to je,
když nejsem na kazatelnì. Vrátil jsem se zpátky ke svému pùvodnímu
povolání, k truhlaøinì. Vždy v tu dobu, kdy jsem mívali biblickou
hodinu a nedìlní shromáždìní, jsem cítil, jak mi nìco zoufale chybí.
126
Cítil jsem, že jsem nìkde, kde nemám co dìlat, protože Pán Bùh
mne povolal do jiné služby. Teprve tehdy, když ztrácíme, poznáváme
cenu toho co mizí.
Na jednom pohøbu byl hrob doslova zavalený kvìtinami. Sloužící
kazatel ocenil snahu pozùstalých tìmito slov: „Škoda, že jste za
maminkou pøišli nìkdy, když ještì žila. Jak by se rozzáøila její tváø
nad každou malinkou kytièkou, kterou byste ji pøinesli jako projev
své lásky. Dnes už ty kvìty nejsou pro ni. Jsou tu proto, aby vás lidé
nepomluvili. Ona z toho už nic nemá“.
Moji drazí, pokuste se pøedstavit si, jak by vypadal život bez první
lásky k Pánu Ježíši. Jak by to vypadalo, kdyby Pán Bùh proto, že
už nemáme první lásku, zlikvidoval tento (váš) sbor. Možná potom
pochopíme k èemu máme uši a poznáme, že Duch k nám mùže
mnohem lépe a dùslednìji hovoøit. Potom se budeme zcela jinak
rozhodovat. Pán Ježíš øíká: „To, že jsi opustil lásku ke mnì má své
dùsledky. Shromažïuje to v mých rukou naprosto nevyvratitelné
dùkazy“.
Amen.
Záznam kázání bratra kazatele Jaroslava Pospíšila v nedìli ráno 26.5.2002
v ostravském sboru BJB. Jaroslav Pospíšil je kazatelem Bratrské Jednoty
Baptistù v Teplé u Toužimì v západních Èechách.
o
Check our new Convention Web page:
www.ab.edu/czslbaptconv
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Glorious Hope, Trust Fund, or Scholarship
Fund.
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
Waiting and Watching
Dr. Andrew Kmetko
B
asically we are an impatient
people. We don’t like to wait. We
don’t like to stand in long lines.
Have you ever noticed people waiting at
a bus stop? They get nervous and step
out into the middle of the street to see
if the bus is coming.
Believers get a little impatient waiting
for the return of the Lord, and yet that
is exactly what the Word of God asks
them to do.
In the light of Christ’s return, Peter
asks “…what kind of people ought you to
be?” (2 Pet. 3:11) How should we behave while we wait
for Christ to return?
Earlier in the same chapter, in verses 1 and 2, Peter
reveals his purpose in writing this letter: as a reminder
“to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.” He wants to
remind his readers of something he had previously said in
the writing. What was the reminder about? The soon return
of Christ. And what is Peter’s source? The holy prophets.
Peter reminds us of the condemnation of God (2 Pet.
2:5–9) when the world was destroyed by water in Noah’s
day, and when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed in
Lot’s time. Peter asked us to recall the words spoken by
the holy prophets and confirmed by our Lord through the
apostles. How important it is to remember the Word of
God. It teaches us not only how to behave but also how
to view the “end times.”
By linking Jesus, the apostles, and the prophets together,
Peter placed them on the same level of authority. I have
always believed that all scripture is inspired by God. It
doesn’t matter whether it is the Old Testament or the New,
whether it was said by Paul, Jesus, or John, or even Moses.
“All scripture is inspired.”
I have always been impressed by the conversation Jesus
had with two disciples on the road to Emmaus after the
resurrection. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets,
he explained to them the things concerning himself in all the
Scriptures” (Luke 24:27).
And of that experience the disciples said, “Were not our
hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on
the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?” I can just
imagine Jesus quoting what we know as the 23rd Psalm.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want….” It is no
wonder, then, that Peter in this letter said that God “has
granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.”
Did the Lord in that conversation remind them that He is
the Good Shepherd and that, even though we walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us? It is no
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
wonder the disciples’ hearts burned. Does
not your heart burn when you think of
these wonderful promises and truths? Mine
does!
Earlier Peter mentioned Noah and the
flood and the building of the ark. According to Heb. 11:7, it was an act of faith
that Noah acted on the Word of God: “By
faith Noah, when warned about things not
yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save
his family. By his faith he condemned the
world and became heir of the righteousness
that comes by faith.” The Lord had not yet
sent rain on the earth (Gen. 2:5), but streams or a mist came
from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.
You can imagine how great the faith of Noah had to be. Just
so, some of the prophetic events mentioned in the Bible seem
highly unlikely. And so we have scoffers who do not believe
and who give to people who do believe strange names such
as the “religious right”, extremists, fanatic, opinionated,
dogmatic, etc. What do you suppose they called Noah? He
was a religious nut. What do you suppose happened to those
scoffers when the first drops of rain fell, then came down in
torrents? What about the scoffers, the mockers, today? Oh,
they are still around, just as they were in Noah’s day. So, in
view of the return of the Lord, what kind of people ought
we to be? What must we do?
We must flee, and we must pursue.
We must flee from unbelief and pursue faith; flee from
lies and pursue truth; flee from wickedness and pursue goodness; flee from ignorance and pursue knowledge; flee from
lust and pursue purity; flee from giving up in despair and
pursue perseverance; we must leave unkindness for kindliness;
and hatred for love; and we must do all this through faith in
God, the faith that Noah had, faith to build a boat though
there had been no rain upon the earth.
o
MOVING ?
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Glorious Hope
Rt.4, Box 58D
Philippi, WV 26416 USA
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127
Svedectvo
Anna Kulaèíková
M
ám jednu zvláštnu skúsenos,
ktorá sa mi už nikdy zo života
nevytratí.
V roku 1987 keï som prijala Pána,
dostala som veršík zo Žalmu 50. v. 15.:
„Vzývaj ma deò súženia, vytrhnem a a ty
ma budeš oslavova.“
Bola som šastná, mali sme v tom
roku svadbu a tak som nie dos dobre
rozumela preèo mi Pán Boh dáva práve
takéto vážne slová, v situácii kedy
prežívam rados a šastie. V tej chvíli
som jeho slovám nerozumela. Nevedela
som, že celú vec pochopím až o nejaký
èas…. Ba až o nieko3⁄4ko rokov. Veršík
som mala stále v mojej Biblii, ale až v roku 1993 mi ho Boh
daroval v inej, pre mòa úplne novej situácii.
Boli sme ako každá iná rodina. Manželský pár, ktorého
ve3⁄4kou túžbou je ma diea. Ve3⁄4mi som prosila pána Boha
o tento dar, podrobila som sa neskôr množstvu vyšetrení a iste
každý, kto cez nieèo podobné prešiel pochopí, èo to obnáša.
Bola som plná otázok, oèakávaní a nádeje. Pri jednej návšteve
lekára a v èase, keï to pre nás vyzeralo celkom potešujúco,
som sa musela podrobi drobnej operácii. Verili sme, že po jej
skonèení bude už všetko v poriadku a my sa budeme teši na
rodinu. O to väèšie bolo však naše sklamanie. Z rozprávania
môjho manžela viem, že kým som ležala v narkóze odohrali
sa dos dramatické veci. Chví3⁄4u pred biblickou hodinou
zvonil u nás doma pod3⁄4a dohody s mojim ošetrujúcim
lekárom telefón. Manžel od doktora oèakával povzbudzujúcu
správu—namiesto toho ho oblial studený pot. Ako mi neskôr
povedal, bol to jeho najhorší telefonát v živote. Doktor mu
totiž oznámil správu, ktorá mu podlomila kolená. Nielenže
nebudeme ma diea, ale naopak operácia signalizovala
pozitívny nález nebezpeènej choroby. Doktor bol skúpy, na
otázky nechcel ve3⁄4mi odpoveda, jedno však priznal: život
vašej manželky je v ohrození. Objavili sme rakovinu. Bol
to obrovský šok. Nieèo úplne iné, než sme èakali. Boli štyri
hodiny odpoludnia a v príprave na biblickú hodinu v ten deò
už nemohol pokraèova
Neskôr som premýš3⁄4ala èo sa vtedy odohrávalo v mysli
môjho manžela? On bol doma so svojimi otázkami a ja som
v narkóze prežívala èas svojho nevedomia, a ani som netušila
do èoho sa zobudím. Chví3⁄4u kedy som sa prebrala z narkózy
si už dobre nepamätám. Viem len, že v ruke som mala malý
lístok—„láska moja všetko bude v poriadku…“
Prebrala som sa ako z ažkého sna. Až za chví3⁄4u som
si uvedomila, že ide asi o dos dôležité veci. Netrvalo dlho
a pochopila som, že namiesto dieaa sa musím vyrovna
s rakovinou…. V mojom živote nastal obrovský zlom. Predtým
som si myslela, že ak by ma niekedy postihla takáto choroba,
premohol by ma strach a nepokoj. Bála by som sa smrti, tak
128
som to aspoò prežívala dovtedy…. Doteraz
si vlastne neviem vysvetli, ako je to možné,
ale stalo sa nieèo úplne iné.
V ten moment, keï ma doktor neúprosne
informoval o mojej chorobe, prežila som
nieèo, èo sa ani nedá dobre vypoveda.
Zvláštny, rozumom nevysvetlite3⁄4ný pokoj!
ڞasné Božie uk3⁄4udnenie. Cítila som
Božiu prítomnos a seba v jeho naruèí. Pán
Boh mi daroval taký pokoj, že som mohla
potešova aj svojich najbližších. Prežila som
na vlastnej koži prítomnos Boha utešite3⁄4a,
ktorý ma povzbudil k novej nádeji. Mohla
som preži a precíti, že je tu On, nᚠPán,
o ktorého slovo sme sa opierali.
Vedela som vždy, že nᚠBoh je Bohom nádeje, ale až teraz
som to prežila hlboko vo svojom srdci. Z nádeje, ktorá mi
dovtedy bola vzdialená, som prešla k nádeji, ktorá sa mi stala
osobným darom. V ten veèer som si otvorila Bibliu a èítala
som Žalm 50. v. 15 v úplne inom svetle „Vzývaj ma v deò
súženia, vytrhnem a a ty ma budeš oslavova“. Naraz som si
uvedomila, že to nie sú len akési historické alebo všeobecné
slová, ale že Boh prišiel za mnou až na moje nemocnièné
lôžko do Bratislavy, aby ma potešil. Prišiel mi poveda, že chce
by s nami, chyti nás za ruku, privinú a obja nás v náruèí.
Neskôr som prešla drsnou lieèebnou kúrou. Neznášala
som dobre chemoterapiu. Viem ale, že môj Pán viedol
ruky lekárov. Aj keï boli všetci nesmierne obetaví a vysoko
profesionálni, verím, že ten najvyšší lekár bol môj Pán a on
môj život zachránil z nebezpeèenstva smrti.
Toto je moje svedectvo, ktoré ma sprevádza až do
dnešného dòa. Stalo sa mi každodennou skúsenosou, a nikdy
ma neopustilo. Poznala som, že utrpenie, ohrozenie a boles,
majú v živote kresana aj svoj pozitívny význam. Nechcú nás
znièi, ale privies bližšie k Bohu.
Pochopila som, že veriaci èlovek môže by šastný aj
v utrpení a bolesti. Pán Boh nás v Písme svätom nikde neuèí
ako sa máme utrpeniu a bolesti vyhýba, ale ako ho máme
znáša. Pán Ježiš tým, ktorí ho chcú nasledova hovorí:
„Kto chce prís za mnou, nech zaprie sám seba, vezme svoj kríž
a ide za mnou“ (Mt 16,24). Prija „kr힓—to vždy znamená
sebazaprenie. Aj ohrozenie, aj boles. Naša nádej je ale v tom,
že nie sme na tejto ceste sami. On je s nami. A dáva nám
bratov a sestry, s ktorými môžeme spoloène vola k Bohu.
Bolo pre mòa nesmiernym potešením, keï som poèula ako
ma bratia a sestry podopierajú na modlitbách. Preto ïakujem
môjmu Pánovi za zázraèný prejav Jeho moci a budem za to
chváli len Jeho, na veky vekov.
Prajem aj Vám, aby ste prežili mnoho krásnych chví3⁄4 na
modlitbách s Pánom, a tešili sa z vypoèutých modlitieb.
o
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
The Rev. John E. Karenko
1330 Normandy Dr., Godfrey,
IL 62035
The Observation Tower
Confession
Rev. John E. Karenko
D
id you hear about the fellow who
wrote the IRS and sent them a
check for $300, explaining that he
hadn’t been very exact about his figures?
He couldn’t sleep at night, so he thought
he would ease his conscience by making this
correction. He added a P.S.: “If I still can’t
sleep, I’ll send the rest of the money that
I owe.”
A local Baptist pastor told me this true
story of something that happened at his
church. A member who had not attended
church for some time came on Sunday
morning and gave them a check for $5,000
as being back tithes that he owed, explaining that his conscience was bothering him,
so he thought he should make it right. The
surprise was that he came back that evening
and gave another check for $2,000 more!
Makes me think of the incident where
a new minister in town was given 30 cents
more in change at the checkout counter at
the local grocery store and as he walked out,
he battled with his conscience as to keeping
it, but finally turned around and went back
and returned the coins. The clerk said, “I
knew you were the new minister in town,
and I wondered whether you would be worth
listening to.” The clergyman almost fainted
as he went out the door, thinking that Judas
had betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of
silver. But he had almost done it for thirty
cents!
I recall in college days when a revival broke
out in chapel one day, as students began to
give their testimonies. One tearfully confessed
to stealing a stamp from her roommate’s desk
drawer. I heard that office workers routinely
steal paper clips, rubber bands, pens and
paper from the offices where they work.
The largest losses in department stores
are from employee theft. How sensitive
are we? How small a thing can we steal
without a twinge of conscience?
All the above illustrations deal with
breaking the eighth commandment,
“Thou shalt not steal.” God asks, “Will
a man not rob God?” and answers, “In
tithes and offerings”(Malachi 3:8). Sad to
say, most Christians fail here, although
the Bible clearly says, “All the tithe...is
holy unto the Lord” (Lev. 27:30). God
promises several blessings to those who
tithe (see Mal. 3:10–12). It pays to be
honest with God!
The Bible says: “The love of money is
the root of all evil….” (1 Tim. 6:10), and
“…Ye cannot serve God and mammon
[money]” (Matt. 6:24). However,“…sin
is a transgression of the law” (1 John 3:
4). Obviously in God’s special ten, there
are nine other commandments that are
being broken that need our attention
and contrition as well: “If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
King David committed the sins of
both adultery and murder. When confronted with these sins by the prophet
Nathan, he said, repenting, “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I
have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my
transgressions to the Lord,’and You forgave
the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
o
129
Sermon on Abraham
He Staggered Not
Dr. Andrew Kmetko
Part 2
A
ccording to the Word of God,
Abraham was a friend of God
but he, Abraham, is also the
father of all believers. In James 2:23 it
says, “…and he was called the friend of
God.” In Romans 4:16 it is said, “…he is
the father of us all,” that is, all believers.
The reason he is called our “father” is
because of faith. The only way a person
can become a Christian is by faith in
Jesus Christ. That is, we must believe
that Jesus Christ died for our sins, that
He bore all our sins past, present, and
future in His own body on the tree. It
was Abraham’s faith that was credited to
him as righteousness. It is the believer’s
faith in Christ that is credited to him as
righteousness. I am righteous because
I believe in Christ and it is my faith or
belief that makes me righteous. It is not
something I did but rather something I
believe that makes me righteous.
The Life Application Bible says,
“Abraham never doubted that God would
fulfill His promise. Abraham’s life was
marked by mistakes, sins, and failures as
well as by goodness and wisdom, but he
consistently trusted God. His faith was
strengthened by the obstacles he faced,
and his life was an example of faith in
action. If he had looked only at his own
resources for subduing Canaan and
founding a nation, he would have given
up in despair. But Abraham looked to
God, obeyed Him, and waited for God
to fulfill His Word.”
In Romans 4:25 it says of Christ, “He
was delivered over to death for our sins
and was raised to life for our justification.” An exchange took place: our sins for
His righteousness. When we believe, an
exchange takes place, not a very fair one;
that is, my sin for His righteousness. We
give Christ our sins, and He gives us in
130
Romans 4:16–25
exchange His righteousness and forgiveness. 2
Corinthians 5:21 says,
“God made him who had
no sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we might
become the righteousness
of God.” There is nothing
we can do to earn this.
Only through Christ
can we receive God’s
righteousness. What an
incredible bargain this
is for the believer, for me, for you! But
sadly, many still choose to pass up this
extravagant gift, to continue “enjoying”
their sin.
In Romans 4:22, Paul explains that
Abraham had pleased God through
Abraham’s faith alone, before he had
ever heard about the rituals that would
become so important to the Jewish
people, and the Commandments. We are
saved, like Abraham of old, by faith plus
nothing. Sad to say there are many today
who think that by being good, whatever
that means, they will be saved. It is not
by loving God and doing good that we
are saved. Neither is it by faith plus love
or by faith plus good deeds. We are saved
only by faith in Christ, trusting Him to
forgive all our sins. And we should not
stagger, as Abraham did not (Rom.4:20),
from unbelief at the promise of God.
I said earlier that the promise God
gave Abraham stated that Abraham would
be the father of many nations. Gen. 17:
2-4: “ ‘I will confirm my covenant between
me and you and will greatly increase your
numbers.’ Abram fell face down, and God
said to him, ‘As for me, this is my covenant
with you: You will be the father of many
nations.’ ” So the entire world would be
blessed through him. Gen. 12:3: “I will
bless those who bless you, and whoever curses
you I will curse; and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.” This promise
was, of course, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Jesus was from Abraham’s line, and truly
the whole world was
blessed and is being
blessed through Him.
Just think of the
thousands of people
who are being blessed
today by hearing the
Word of God and
applying it to their
lives. “This is love: not
that we loved God, but
that he loved us and
sent his Son as an
atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John. 4:
10).
Of Abraham, Herbert Lockyer said,
“Abraham’s place in the Bible’s portrait
gallery is altogether unique and unapproachable. He stands out as a landmark
in the spiritual history of the world.
Chosen of God to become the father of
a new spiritual race, the file leader of a
mighty host, the revelation of God found
in him one of its most important epochs.
In himself, there was not much to make
him worthy of such a distinction. His
choice was all of grace.
Abraham’s life is given to us in detail,
and we know him as we know few men
of the Bible. He was from the great and
populous city of Ur, and therefore a
Gentile, although he became the first
Hebrew. He was a rough, simple, venerable Bedouin-like sheep master. He
uttered no prophecy, wrote no book,
sang no song, gave no laws. Yet in the
long list of Bible saints, he alone is spoken
of as “the father of the faithful” and as
“the friend of God.”
For the first time in the Word of God
our attention is called to four phrases,
each one of them destined to be frequently repeated. Look at Gen. 15:1:
“After this, the word of the Lord came
to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid,
Abram, I am your shield, your very
great reward.” The Word of God has
been proclaimed ever since. How long
has that been? Four, five, six, perhaps
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
ten thousand years? The Word of the
Lord came to you this morning. Are you
listening? The Word of the Lord came
to me, this morning! It is my custom
to read the Bible every morning. I read
ten pages of the Old Testament and two
chapters of the New Testament every day.
In a year, that takes me through the Old
Testament a little over once and through
the New Testament twice, and I’ve been
doing this for over fifty years. So I have
read the Bible from cover to cover at least
fifty times, and it has always been a great
blessing because I take literally what God
said to Abraham. The Word of the Lord
came to me just as it came to Abraham
and just as it is coming to you! Remember
that Abraham was steadfast in faith; he
“staggered not.”
One of the first things God talked to
Abraham about was fear. Abraham had
just returned from a battle with Chedorlaomer in which he was victorious. But he
did live in some fear that the enemy would
pursue him. However, God appeared to
Abraham and said “Blessed be Abram by
God most high, creator of heaven and
earth, and blessed be God most high, who
delivered your enemies into your hand”
(Gen. 14:19–20). There was some reason
for Abraham to fear. The enemy might
seek revenge. Three successive promises
had kindled his hopes but they seemed as
far from realization as ever. Not one inch
of land, no Canaan. No sign of a child!
Nothing of all that God had foretold.
Abraham and Sarah were childless. It
is amazing that they had not yet had a
child. From the time of the prophecy by
the Lord until Isaac was born was some
25 years. Just think of a promise made
by God not being fulfilled for that long
a time. Today we want our prayers to be
answered immediately, like yesterday. If
our prayers are not answered soon, we
get up and think or even say that God is
saying no! Unanswered prayers are usually
interpreted in that manner.
It was under such circumstances that
the Word of the Lord came to him saying,
“Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield and
thy exceeding great reward.” God does
not always wait for us to come to Him.
He often comes to us; He draws near to
us in our worry or anxiety. His tender
assurances of comfort are more penetrating than the roar of the waves of worry.
“Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
“Let not your heart be troubled, neither
let it be afraid.”
I believe Abraham was consoled by
the presence of God. At this moment,
after the battle with Chedorlaomer, he
may have felt alone, lonely. But God
assured him, “I am thy shield.” What
could have been more reassuring at this
moment to the defenseless pilgrim, who
had no stockade or walled city in which
to shelter but whose flocks were scattered far and wide, than to hear that
God Himself was present. It is a very
helpful thought to some of us. We go
every day into the midst of all sorts of
temptations and unkind insinuations, evil
suggestions and taunts. All of these are
against us and our faith. But, if we are
doing God’s will and trusting in God’s
care, ours is a charmed life. The Word of
God comes to our assistance. “The Lord
God is a sun and shield.” The shield of
God even though invisible protects us.
He is our “hiding place and our shield.”
“Behold, O God our shield, and look
upon the face of thine anointed.” “His
truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” The
Divine environment surrounds us. We are
unaffected by attack. We are protected. In
Isaiah 54:17 we read, “No weapon that is
formed against thee shall prosper.” “Thou
shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;
nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor
for the pestilence that walketh in darkness;
nor for the destruction that wasteth at
noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side
and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it
shall not come nigh thee.” Happy are they
whose faith has not wavered or staggered,
those who have learned the art of abiding
within the tranquil protection of the eternal
God on Whom all worries are blunted, all
swords are turned aside; all sparks of malice,
jealousy and pride are extinguished.
+
November/December 2002
A
young lady wrote, “Dear
T WR! Just recently I
discovered your evening
programs. I am 14 years of age
and became a Christian about a
year ago. Since my family is nonChristian, you are a main source
of information about faith, God and the Bible. Thank
you for sharing of God’s Word clearly and without pressure. I pray that you will reach even more listeners.”
An older lady wrote to “God’s loved TWR staff!”
She said, “I wish you many gifts of God’s grace and a
lot of strength, patience and wisdom. I was comforted
with the letter I received. Thank you for explaining some
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
Continues on page 137
other Bible names for my collection. I do apologize for
my late answer. I have time enough, it’s just that my
strength fades away. The envelope of my life withers;
nothing seems as sure as death. The other day your
broadcast was jammed. I sighed and from the depth
of my heart prayed for a remedy. At that very moment
the broadcast became clear again. It sounds like a fairy
tale but it’s true. It is possible to understand only by
faith.”
Your prayers can be answered, too, as you pray for
the listeners in the Czech and Slovak Republics. Pray
especially for the children during this coming holiday
season.
George Cooper for TWR CZ/SK
o
131
Abrahám, veriaci a poslušný
Jozef Kulaèík
Èas 3
P
ovedali sme si, že Abrahám
apoštola Pavla v liste Galatským
je vykreslený ako muž, ktorý bol
spravodlivý v božích oèiach tým, že veril.
Pavel ho akoby Židom, resp. judaistom
zobral a jeho starozmluvnú interpretáciu
vysvetlil v zornom uhle Novej Zmluvy—
kristocentricky. Boh prostredníctvom
viery stvoril nového èloveka—z Abrama—
Abraháma. V najhlbšom slova zmysle sa
zas3⁄4úbenie dané Abrahámovi splnilo až
v Pavlovej dobe. Tak ako Abrahámom
zaèali dejiny spásy, tak v Kristovi dejiny
spásonosných božích procesov vrcholia,
zaèína doba cirkvi. Až v Kristovi, v dobe
cirkvi môžeme v plnosti pochopi kto sú
dedièia božích zas3⁄4úbení. Kým témou 3.
kapitoly Galatským bol èlovek spravodlivý
skrze vieru, predmetom R 4:16–25 je
ukáza Abraháma ako istý pravzor, archetyp
veriaceho èloveka a vykresli v èom je
podstata viery a ako sa prejavuje.
Keï Pán Boh dáva Abrahámovi
zas3⁄4úbenie, bol to už starý muž. Je len
logické, že Abrahám, keï sa díval na seba
a na svoju ženu Sáru, na 3⁄4udské možnosti,
resp. nemožnosti, muselo sa mu božie
zas3⁄4úbenie javi ako nemožné, nelogické.
Aj on aj Sára to vedeli a nedávalo im to
akoko3⁄4vek poèítali žiaden zmysel. Abrahám
práve v takejto situácii, mohli by sme
poveda napriek všetkému, nepochyboval,
ale veril. V tomto paradoxe je aj základná
charakteristika jeho viery. Niektorí vykladajú
Abraháma a hovoria, že uveril tomu, èo je
nemožné. Definujú vieru ako silu, ktorá
koná v protiklade so všetkými 3⁄4udskými
kalkuláciami a pravdepodobnosami. Áno,
viera je paradoxná a v tom je jej sila.
Stredoveký filozof povedal: Credo quia
absurdum est. Iní sa s takýmto výkladom
neuspokoja a hovoria, že viera, o ktorej
tu hovorí Pavel nespoèíva jednoducho len
v tom, že èlovek verí v nepravdepodobné,
132
R. 4:16–25
nemožné, nepochopite3⁄4né. Argumentujú
tým, že Abrahám akoby len neveril
v nepochopite3⁄4nos a v absurdum.
Nepravdepodobnos ako taká nemohla
by témou jeho viery, v takéto veci sa neverí.
To by sa vymedzoval dos negatívne. Téma
jeho viery bola, naopak, pozitívna, bolo to
božie zas3⁄4úbenie. Na božie zas3⁄4úbenie, na
jeho slovo sa Abrahám upriamil celou svojou
bytosou. A pretože mal pred oèami božie
zas3⁄4úbenie, pretože si ho privlastnil, prijal za
svoje, nemohlo ho k pochybovaniu o božom
zas3⁄4úbení pohnú ani to, že nevidel nijaké
3⁄4udské možnosti na jeho splnenie. A to
je podstata viery. Drža sa pevne božieho
zas3⁄4úbenia aj keï èlovek nemá niè 3⁄4udského
na èom by mohol budova. Dokonca aj vtedy,
keï proti tomu hovoria všetky rozumové
dôvody.
Keï Abrahám veril, robil to nie preto, že
by bol zavrel oèi pred realitou, ale rozhodol
sa veri napriek tomu, èo vedel a videl.
Na prvý poh3⁄4ad sa zdalo, že jeho situácia
vyluèuje akúko3⁄4vek nádej. A on sa predsa
pevne tejto vylúèenej nádeje. Je to paradox,
ale viera je èasto taká. Aby tak mohol urobi,
preto, že svoj postoj založil nie na svojich
pocitoch, ale na božom zas3⁄4úbení. Tieto
dve veci, že totiž na jednej strane nebolo
nádeje a na strane druhej Abrahám predsa
nádej mal, dúfal, sú pod3⁄4a Pavla podstatné
pre vieru. Povie to dos zvláštne: proti nádeji
s nádejou uveril. V tom bola pochopite3⁄4nos
aj nepochopite3⁄4nos aj ve3⁄4kos Abraháma.
Mohli by sme to poveda aj tak, že veril
napriek sebe samému, proti svojím vlastným
logickým úvahám, pretože sa spo3⁄4ahol na to,
že božie zas3⁄4úbenie je relevantnejšia istota
ako èoko3⁄4vek, èo myslí alebo vymyslí èlovek.
Bez nádeje, a predsa s nádejou—to je znak
skutoènej viery. Viera je len tam, alebo práve
tam, kde tieto dve veci navzájom zápasia.
Uvedomme si, že v situácii, v ktorej si èlovek
môže pomôc vlastnými prostriedkami,
nejde predsa o vieru v Boha, ale o dôveru
v seba. Viera je priamym protikladom
dôvery èloveka v seba samého. Viera je
v protiklade k spoliehaniu sa na vlastné
sily a vlastné prostriedky. Výstižne o tom,
èo znamená viera, hovorí Karl Barth vo
výklade tejto kapitoly. Hovorí, že Abrahám
nebol ve3⁄4ký v tom, že si vybral najlepšiu
z viacerých možností. Abrahám rôznos
možností dokonca vylúèil. Abrahám, píše
Barth, „proste poèúvol to, èo mu bolo
od Boha povedané. Svoju existenciu
vzh3⁄4adom k božiemu slovu neposudzoval
s pochybnosami, t. j. z akéhosi dvojitého:
jedného „veriaceho“ a jedného „svetského“
h3⁄4adiska.
Práve tento dualizmus, hovorí Barth,
je podstatou akéhoko3⁄4vek pochybovania.
Abrahám naopak, všetko vsadil na jednu
kartu. Všetko posudzoval len z jediného
h3⁄4adiska, o ktorom sa samozrejme mnohí
radi domnievali, že nemôže vôbec tvori
nejaké východisko. Abrahám jednoducho
nepoèítal s neverou ako s druhou možnosou, ale len ako s onou vylúèenou
nemožnosou—to bola sila viery, ktorá
mu bola pripoèítaná za spravodlivos.
Nie kvôli nemu samotnému, ani nie pre
krásu a håbku tejto viery, ale len preto,
že tým (21) vzdal Bohu èes, t. j. preto,
že pritom odhliadol sám od seba a h3⁄4adel
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
k Bohu, aby ho nechal by Bohom, tým,
ktorý má plnú moc uèini a splni to, èo
s3⁄4úbil a od ktorého vernosti je možné
oèakáva splnenie za všetkých okolností.
Preto, že bola Abrahámova viera takýmto
odhliadnutím od seba a h3⁄4adením na Boha,
bola mu pripoèítaná za spravodlivos.“
(Barth, Rímskym, str. 50)
Boli takí, ktorí chceli vysvetli
Abrahámove konanie ako konanie èloveka,
ktorý ignoruje skutoènos a nechce vidie
jestvujúcu realitu, chápali ho ako únik
do iného sveta. V niektorých rukopisoch
dokonca posunuli význam a preložili 19.
verš v tom zmysle, že Abrahám nevidel
svoju neschopnos, a práve preto mal
skreslený poh3⁄4ad na veci—z toho vraj pramenila
jeho nepochopite3⁄4ná viera v zas3⁄4úbenia.
Ale Pavel v tomto verši hovorí pravý
opak. Preòho veri neznamená zatvára
si oèi pred skutoènosou, viera nemá niè
spoloèné s optimistickým sebaklamom
alebo 3⁄4ahkomyse3⁄4ným oèakávaním, že
nakoniec sa všetko nejako vyrieši. Abrahám
videl skutoènos takú, aká bola, nemal
chybu zraku. Dobre si uvedomoval všetko,
èo z 3⁄4udského poh3⁄4adu znemožòuje uskutoènenie Božieho zas3⁄4úbenia. Abrahám
v tomto zmysle stál oboma nohami na
zemi. Veri neznamená presta by realista,
nevidie svet taký aký je. Veri neznamená
strati schopnos racionálne posudzova
veci. Toto všetko Abrahám mal, a predsa
nezoslabol vo viere, ale naopak, vo viere
zosilnel.
Èo pôsobí na vieru posilòujúco a èo
naopak oslabujúco? Pavel nám aj tu podáva
úplne iný výklad, než by sme oèakávali.
Mohli by sme si myslie, že viera slabne,
keï sa objavia ažkosti a problémy. Logicky
by sme si dokonca mysleli, že èím väèšie
ažkosti, tým menšia viera. V skutoènosti
však vidíme, že u Abraháma je to naopak.
Abrahám prešiel celú zas3⁄4úbenú zem, mal
za sebou mnoho kilometrov, a keï prišiel
do zeme Kanaán, zistil, že ju okupuje
cudzí národ. To bolo obrovské sklamanie.
Bol sklamaný, ale neoslabilo to jeho
vieru! Sklamanie a prekážky patria úplne
prirodzene do života viery. Pravá viera nikdy
nie je bez problémov, viera sa v problémoch
dokonca upevòuje a zoce3⁄4uje. Pavel hovorí,
že keï klesajú vlastné možnosti, silnie
viera, lebo èlovek nebuduje na svojich
schopnostiach ale na Bohu a jeho vlastnom
zas3⁄4úbení. Práve preto, že Abrahám
nebudoval na svojich možnostiach, neslabla
jeho viera. Mal božie zas3⁄4úbenie a toho sa
držal. Aj viere sa treba uèi. Viera nie je
pocit, romantické vzplanutie, chví3⁄4ková
nálada. V istom zmysle je to systematická
práca.
Boh a viera, to pod3⁄4a Pavla patrí
nerozluène spolu. Nemôžme hovori
o viere, ak súèasne nehovoríme o Bohu.
Viera pramení z Boha. Viera je boží dar.
Viera je samostatná autentická duchovná
velièina, nie je to len nejaká psychická
funkcia alebo vnútorná vlastnos èloveka.
S vierou sa nerodíme, vieru môžeme
dosta, o vieru môžeme prosi.
Tým, že Abrahám uveril v božie
zas3⁄4úbenie, vzdal aj správnu a pravú
èes Bohu a oslávil ho. Bohu patrí sláva
a moc na veky vekov (1Pt. 4:11). Pavel
v prvej kapitole listu Rímskym píše aj
to, že v dôsledku hriechu odmietli 3⁄4udia
vzdáva Bohu èes (1:21; 23). Môžeme
poveda, že to, èo hriech Bohu vzal, to mu
viera vracia. Viera uznáva a vážne berie
Boha a Jeho božskú slávu. Viera to je
jediná správna bohoslužba. Jedine vierou,
nie rozumom môžeme Boha ucti. Boha
môžeme pochopi viac vierou a srdcom
ako hlavou. Božou vecou je, že dáva
zas3⁄4úbenia, našou vecou je, aby sme týmto
zas3⁄4úbeniam verili. Táto viera je èes,
ktorú môžeme a máme dáva Bohu. Len
vo viere má èlovek správny vzah k Bohu.
Abrahámovu
vieru
a spravodlivos
vyjadruje Pavel slovami „vzdal Bohu
slávu“ a vedel celkom isto, že èo Boh
s3⁄4úbi, môže aj urobi, preto mu to bolo
zapoèítané za spravodlivos (4:21). Takto
rozoberá apoštol Pavel Abrahámovu
vieru, a takto ju vysvet3⁄4uje a uèí èita aj
nás novozmluvných èitate3⁄4ov. Pretože
v Kristovi sa Abrahámova viera týka aj
nás všetkých. V Kristovi je totiž Abrahám
najèitate3⁄4nejší. Abrahám bez Krista by asi
ani nebola biblická postava. Tento muž by
sa pravdepodobne bol stal len židovským
historickým pamätníkom. Pavel nám,
pohanom priblížil Abraháma a vysvetlil,
že je aj našim Abrahámom. Abrahám je
príklad, archetyp èloveka spravodlivého
skrze vieru. Skrze tú vieru, ktorú môžeme
ma aj ako veriaci z pohanov.
Abrahám veril v Boha, ktorý „oživuje
màtvych“—tu je dôležitá teologická
spojnica, ktorá vedie priamo ku Kristovi.
Tak ako Abrahám veril v Boha, ktorý
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
oživuje (kriesi) màtvych, je Bohom života,
tak my kresania veríme v Ježiša ako
toho, ktorý bol vydaný na smr, a ktorého
božia moc z tejto smrti vzkriesila. Tak
ako Abrahám, aj my veríme v Boha,
ktorý oživuje màtvych a vzahujeme túto
vieru vo vzkriesenie nielen na okolitý
svet, ale aj na svoj vlastný život. Viera
vo Vzkrieseného je aj našou nádejou (1
Kor. 15). Na prvom mieste Boh vzkriesil
Ježiša a my vieme, že tento boží èin sa
v jeho Synovi neskonèil, ale naopak, len
zaèal. Vzkriesením zmàtvych bol Ježiš
ustanovený ako nᚠPán a hlava nového
3⁄4udstva. Viera vo vzkrieseného z nás
robí deti zmàtvychvstania. Apoštol ho
oznaèí za „prvotinu vzkriesných“ (1
Kor. 15). Všetci tí, ktorí veria, už teraz
vo viere prešli v Kristovi zo smrti do
života. O vzkriesení preto nehovoríme
len v zmysle poslednej udalosti nášho
života. Viera vo Vzkrieseného nám
hovorí, že sme boli oslobodení od moci
hriechu a smrti, a toto oslobodenie nás
radí už teraz do novej kvality života,
dáva nám nový, iný, znovuzrodený život.
Skrze Krista koná Boh na nás svoje
dielo každodenne. Toto je v struènosti
zmysel ospravedlnenia. Ospravedlnenie
je vyjadrenie novej božej spravodlivosti.
Spravodlivos neznamená, že sme úplne
dokonalí a bezúhonní v etickom èi
morálnom slova zmysle. Dopúšame sa
chýb a pokleskov. Spravodlivos Božia
nie je morálny èi filozofický, ale naopak—
teologický pojem. Spravodlivos kresana
neznamená charakteristiku, èi opis jeho
èinov, spravodlivos je boží súd, božie
vyhlásenie, božia interpretácia všetkého.
Kresan je spravodlivý nie tým, èo robí,
ale tým ako ho Boh v Kristovi vidí.
Tak ako na jednej strane ved3⁄4a seba Pavel
stavia naše hriechy a Kristovu smr tak na
druhej strane spája naše ospravedlnenie
s Kristovým zmàtvychvstaním. Ak by
nebol Kristus zomrel, v božích oèiach
by sme nikdy neboli spravodliví. Kristus
bol vydaný na smr pre naše hriechy
a vzkriesený pre naše ospravedlnenie.
Kristova smr a zmàtvychvstanie tvoria
nerozluènú jednotu. Ak Kristus nevstal
zmàtvych, márna je vaša viera, povie Pavel
v 1. Kor. 15:17. V tom je naše dúfanie aj
naša slávna nádej.
o
133
Our Church History: Czechoslovak Baptist Mission
First Czechoslovak Baptist Church
Cornerstone Baptist Church
Minitonas, Manitoba
1929 - 2002
To God Be the Glory
he history of Cornerstone Baptist Church may be traced
to the early days of the Christian Reformation. The followers of John Hus (1415), John Comenius (1670), and
the Moravian Brethren Movement were dispersed throughout
Europe by persecution. These devout Christians instilled into
their children—by teaching and example, by life and by death—
their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As they lived in groups, the
Czech language survived in foreign lands. A contingent of Czechs
living in Volynia Province, Poland (Russia before World War 1),
fearing further wars and hearing of economic opportunities and
religious freedom, moved with their families to Canada.
In 1929, seventeen families met at the home of Vaclav
Moravec, and organized the Czechoslovak Baptist Mission.
Working with missionaries from Winnipeg—Rev. Karel Bohatec
(1930-31), Rev. Vaclav Vojta (1932–35), and layman Frank
Dojacek Sr.—the fledgling congregation sought by faith in God
to carry on the Reformation tradition and raise the Christian
banner to a new frontier and to a new generation. On January
3, 1932, the mission adopted the name “The First Czechoslovak Baptist Church—Minitonas.” Even at this early stage, the
congregation had a choir and band. On September 4, 1932, a
motion was passed to buy the property on which Cornerstone
Baptist now stands, for $150.00. Brother Vaclav Hibrant paid
the first $10.00 and $40.00 was to be paid by October 5, 1932.
The balance was financed at 7% for two years.
According to Joe Nemez, who was a teen at the time, volunteers used teams of horses to haul logs for the new church
structure from the south mountain to Burnett’s sawmill, at what
is now 291 and 293 Second Avenue. The foundation was begun
about mid-June 1934. The sanctuary was built in four and a
half months, and dedicated to the glory of God in a two-day
celebration on October 28 and 29, 1934. The place was filled
to capacity with over 300 people sitting on benches (men on
the left and women on the right) or standing outside open
windows. It is interesting to note that on account of the labour
and sacrifice of members, the building, which might have cost
$3,000.00, was debt-free when dedicated. Help also came from
local English, German and Ukrainian Baptist churches; from
friends in Minitonas, Swan River, and as far away as Chicago;
from the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention; and from Manitoba
Baptist Convention.
The first resident pastor was Rev. Joseph Zajicek, with his wife
Olga. Rev. Zajicek served from September 1937 to November
T
134
1938. He continued to visit from Winnipeg. During his short
stay, Rev. Zajicek held Czech classes for the youth on Saturdays. In February 1939, a church constitution was drafted and
accepted by the membership. Everyone knelt during prayer. Rev.
Ludvik Miksa served July 6, 1941 to September 25, 1946. Czech
school reappeared. Rev. Karel Marek, with his wife Herma and
family, pastored from 1948 to 1956. Ministry in English was
introduced at the youth level. Rev. Marek reached many Slavic
people through ministry on Radio CJGX, Yorkton (1950-55).
The white chapel behind the first church was originally built as a
studio for preparing radio programs. To help people remember
their Reformation roots, Rev. Marek observed John Hus Day,
July 6. The event included the burning of a pyre. Czech school
was taught by Rev. Marek and Slava Marek. In January of 1950,
the total membership was 218. Rev. Stanislav Sveb from Czechoslovakia, with his wife Alena, stayed from 1960 to 1961. The first
evangelistic meetings in the English language were conducted
by Rev. Dan Widlidka in April of 1961. Effective April 5, 1964,
Sunday school was switched to take place before the main service.
Rev. Jozef Tucek also came from Czechoslovakia and served
during 1966 and 1967. Both Rev. Svec and Rev. Tucek taught
Czech school. Rev. Daniel Kolman, with his wife Jirina and
family, ministered to the church and community from 1968 to
1972. Rev. Henry Boubelik, an evangelist, with his wife Mabel,
began a dynamic new phase in our church: the change from a
Czech ministry to a ministry in English to the whole community.
They served from 1973 to 1977. Pastor Allan Martens, with his
wife Terri, was our first fully non-Czech pastor, and ministered
1978 to 1980. Pastor Martens and three other committee members—Walter Buress, Jerry Novak and Aldrich Novotny—drafted
our current constitution in1980. The constitution was revised in
December 1991. The ministry of Pastor George Adrian, with his
wife Florence, saw the return of a church daughter to minister
here with her husband from April 5, 1981 to January 2, 1987.
The present sanctuary was built during their tenure, and Pastor
Adrian was the first to speak from its pulpit, on July 22, 1984.
Pastor Art Lemon, with his wife Shirley and family, helped serve
the community for the Lord from May 1987 to April 1991. A
church name change was voted upon December 8, 1988, but
the motion did not receive a two-thirds majority. Pastor Bruce
Schnurr with his wife Margaret came from Portage la Prairie to
lead us from 1991 to September 30, 1996. Bruce and Margaret were the first occupants of our church manse at 256 Third
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
Avenue. Ken Stainthorpe with his wife Jean, both of whom served
as directors of Pretty Valley Bible Camp, agreed to serve as interim
pastor from October 1996 to June 1997. Our present pastor, Garth
Priebe, with his wife Karen and family, assumed his duties in June
of 1997 and is continuing our history and tradition of Christian service. The name change idea was resurrected in 2000, approved, and
through due process, “Cornerstone Baptist Church” was selected.
We want to remember the many visiting pastors and lay people
who ministered, visited, prayed and listened during the absence of a
pastor. We wish to recognize those who as teachers have influenced
young hearts and minds at Sunday school and camps. The
Lord used scores of cooks, moms and grandmas, who missed
celebrations just so they could cook for the crowds in the
sanctuary, at picnics or at camp. Thanks to those who used
their gift of intercession to win souls. Not wealth, not power,
but more souls in Christ was a goal of our predecessors.
Cornerstone’s mission statement reads: “We are a family of
believers who come together to glorify God, become more
Christ-like, and share salvation with others.”
Compiled by Aldrich Novotny
o
Baptist World Alliance News
November 2002
From the General Secretary
Denton Lotz
Love is the Theme!
L
istening to the churches in India and the Middle East:
The 21st century has already been categorized as one of
“the clash of civilizations,” or very simply the conflict of
religions! Recent statements by leading Christian ministers in
the USA against Islam and their Prophet have brought untold
suffering, anguish, discouragement and persecution to our
brothers and sisters living in minority situations. On the one
hand the Baptist World Alliance defends religious freedom for
all people everywhere very strongly. And yet at the same time
we must appeal to our brothers and sisters living in the West to
be circumspect in what they say, so as not to contribute unwittingly even more to persecution in a very volatile and emotional
world situation. To attack another person’s religion closes the
door to effective and meaningful evangelism! It is not only a
question of fulfilling the Biblical command to love, but it is a
question of the proper missiological methodology.
Our Baptist believers in the Middle East and India have told
us of their deep pain caused by such derogatory statements from
Western Christian leaders. They shared how such statements
made their evangelism even more difficult and endangered
their safety. They have asked us to tell Christian leaders in the
West to help them by preaching the gospel of the love of our
Lord Jesus and not to make destructive statements! We need to
listen to those suffering in minority situations, often enduring
persecution and death for the sake of the gospel!
The National Council of Churches of India stated: “The
Council wants to make it very clear that we condemn such
statements and the churches in India disapprove of any such
derogatory statements by individuals which are against the
teachings of Jesus…. We stand in complete solidarity with our
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
Muslim brothers and sisters, declaring mutual respect
between these religions….”
The Middle East Council of Churches stated: “A commitment to stop violence, all violence, should also include
a commitment not to utter verbal violence…. Uttering
statements that project hostility and enmity and in generalizing tones make you part of the problem confronting
our world today and not part of the solution…. Could
your faith and belief afford to accept others, irrespective
of their backgrounds? Could you please be a force of
healing in our troubled world?”
The Sunday after speaking with our brothers and
sisters in the Middle East and India, I was in my home
church and we sang the hymn “Love is the Theme.” I
thought to myself, “This is what Christians worldwide,
even in the midst of enduring the cross, must sing!”
Indeed, did not the apostle Paul remind us: “Love bears
all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all
things” (1 Cor. 13:7). The apostle John states it simply:
“…God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God,
and God abides in him” (1 John 4:16).
Our plea to Baptist leaders and believers everywhere in
relating to people of other religions, cultures and ethnic
backgrounds is to make love your theme! Let the love of
Christ so live in you that others, having seen you, will
also want to follow Christ. Love is the theme!
o
135
Dear Natasha,
The July-August issue of
Glorious Hope has just caught
up with me. Thank you for the
remarks you made in your editorial. It is true that our society
does not know how to rest! In
our fast-paced world it takes
time and meditation, a discipline we have lost. (Don Shoff)
How to find a balanced life between calm and busyness takes
discipline. Certainly Isaiah 30 does offer us the answer. Thank
you for that timely reminder!
This year I have joined a BSF study. It has given me
the discipline to do some in-depth Bible study. I have really
been challenged with the BSF study on John. It is so simple
and yet so profound. John is all about believing in Jesus and
by believing having life. Somehow my life has gotten so earthly
or secular, or some other word which I cannot find, that I have
lost the wonder of heaven and the wonder of my salvation and
new life that Christ gives me. What a wonderful Savior!
Love in Jesus,
Ruby Mikulencak
)
Milá sestro v Kristu,
Vìøím, že díky br. Vladimíru Dvoøákovi, mne ve schránce èekalo
milé pøekvapení—èasopis Slavná nadìje. Jsem velice vdìèný
za tento èasopis, který mne (nás) volá do rodiny Božích dítek
v našem rodném jazyce. S manželkou pocházíme ze sboru
v Pardubicích. Má èinnost ve sboru, v nedìlní škole i v mládeži,
byla pøerušena na 10 let, kdy jsem byl uvìznìn. Po celá ta
léta jsem na tu práci vzpomínal. To bylo to, co mne ve vìzení
dodávalo sílu. Odlouèení od práce na Božím poli bylo tìžké,
ale nezlomilo mne. Zùstal jsem Pánu vìrný.
Dìkuji Bohu i Vám, v Pánu milí, za Vaši práci a námahu na
roli Boží.
S bratrským pozdravem VᚠJaroslav Vala, Florida
o
O
N October 18, 2002, Andrew and
Alice Kmetko celebrated their 65 th
wedding anniversary. Since their family
is scattered from Pennsylvania to Indiana, Illinois,
Minnesota, Arizona, and California, only some of
them were able to come.
Andrew had celebrated his 85th birthday in Los
Angeles last May, when he was surprised to see
some of our family there from Arizona, Minnesota, and Illinois. Between the two occasions, we
were able to have almost all of our family celebrating with us.
They had five children. Now they have five
grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren too.
Their church family also celebrated with them.
They honored Andrew and Alice with a lovely cake
during the coffee hour following the morning
service.
Andrew and Alice have spent many happy hours
attending the Czechoslovak Baptist Conventions,
where they are able to serve their Lord, Andrew
as Bible teacher each year and Alice as assistant
secretary. Andrew teaches an adult Sunday school
class and a home Bible study each week.
They thank their Lord for His many blessings
and loving care. He has given them many years
together, and they praise Him for it.
Alice Kmetko
Andrew and Alice Kmetko celebrated their
65th wedding anniversary.
o
136
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
A Formula for a Beautiful Fall
Brian Dors
F
all has come again. At dinnertime it’s already dark outside,
and the trees are dropping their leaves. Yet this fall, for
much of our continent the splendorous change of colors
was not as dramatic as normal. One night, watching the local
news I learned that this is due to the smaller amount of rainfall
we had this year. To display vivid colors in fall, the leaves require
sufficient rain during the growing months. Because we had a
mild drought during the spring and summer, the leaves are tending to dry out, turn brown and fall off, and are not spending
much time in their colored phase or showing the intense hues
they are capable of. The fall has been quite rainy, but this does
the tree no good because it has reached the end of its time set
for growing. The tree’s leaves will never reach the full vividness
that they are capable of.
The parallel of this to our lives in Christ jumped out at me.
Scripture admonishes many times over that as young people we
should be making efforts to grow, by reading God’s word and
listening to the wisdom of our spiritual parents. This is what
nourishes us during our growing stages and helps us achieve
our full potential at life’s peak. Proverbs 6:20–22 provides an
excellent lesson: “My son, keep your father’s commands and do
not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them upon your heart
forever; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will
guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you
awake, they will speak to you” (NIV). Let’s take the lessons taught
by our earthly parents and heavenly Father, and feed our souls
so that we will be able to attain the full beauty that God has
o
destined for our lives.
Invitation: Mission Trip to the Czech Republic
I
n the January issue of “Glorious Hope”, Dr.
Joseph Solc gave us the opportunity to read
about missionary work, and if you faithfully
read our magazine, you have probably already
read the news of work at the Senior Centre
in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The youth have
received many invitations to work there, and
we are currently receiving specific job information. This is a great opportunity for missionary
service in our homeland, to contact young
people in Czech and to help not only senior
citizens, but also young adults and children.
The language should also not be a problem, as
many Czech youth speak English as well.
If you are a person who has the desire
to lead others to Christ, this invitation is for
you. God willing, this trip is being planned for
the summer of 2003 for about two to three
weeks.
If this interests you, write a letter or email to
the editors to let them know, and if you want to
get in touch with other young people interested
in going, we will give you their email addresses
(e.g. the Toronto youth). For organizational reasons, please reply as soon as possible, and
come because it will be fun!!
Remember: “The door into the Czech Republic is wide open. God desires that all people
be redeemed. God is capable of bringing the
whole Czech nation unto Himself as He did
during the time of John Hus. But remember
that God uses His missionaries to bring about a
great awakening. Are you still ready to become
God’s ambassadors? It is risky but highly
rewarding.” (Dr. Josef Solc, “Doing Missions
in the Post-Communist Czech Republic”)
o
Bible Study … Continues from page 131
But God defends us not only from
dangers without but also from within. It
was as if He asked Abraham to consider
how much he had in having Himself.
Think of it. If we didn’t experience any
divine blessings at all but had Christ
within, how much more should we want?
God promised Abraham land, a son, and
blessings untold, but suppose none of
these existed? We could well imagine a
conversation something like this: “Come
now, my child, and think; even if you were
never to have even a foot of soil and your
tent were to stand silent and empty, amid
the joyous laughter of childish voices; yet
you would not have left your land in vain,
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
for you have Me. Am I not enough? I
fill heaven and earth; cannot I fill one
lonely soul? Am not I thy exceeding great
reward, able to compensate you with my
friendship, to which you are called, for
any sacrifice that you may have made?
o
137
Fireflies
Jan Karafiát
Part 2
W
hen he had enough of this he jumped up on a
blade of grass, shook himself free-of the dew and
whizzzz—flew straight off to Godmother’s house
under the oak tree. He stopped by the window.
“Lucinda, you’re not cross with me now, are you?”
“What makes you think I’m cross with you?”
“I say, I’ve just had such a glorious bath. Can you swim,
Lucinda?”
“Oh no. Fancy me swimming!”
“I can. I can swim like anything.”
“That’s all very well; but I’ve got to help mother.”
“Where is Godmother?”
“She’s out in the yard, chopping up wood. Come along
and see.” Godmother interrupted her work when he came.
“Well, Lucius, what brings you here?”
“Oh, nothing special. I’ve
just had a bath. Have you got
anything for me?”
“Well, I do happen to have
something rather nice, but I’m
not at all sure that there will be
any of it for you. What about
behaving so rudely to Lucinda,
calling her such an unkind name
and then going off without
another word? You made her
cry.”
“Did I? Well, I won’t call
her names again.”
“We shall see. Just look
what a big pile of wood I’ve
chopped up. Suppose you go
and help Lucinda to stack it all
up under the roof so that it won’t get wet when it rains. You
must lay one piece neatly on top of another. When you have
finished you’ll get something good.” Lucius was quite ready,
and began working away as hard as ever he could. Godmother
thought he was almost overdoing it.
“Lucius, don’t try to carry so much at once.”
But Lucius was determined to show them what he could
do and kept on busily carrying the logs across the yard.
Instead of arranging them in a neat pile, however, he just
threw them down and Lucinda tried to stop him.
“Lucius, don’t do it like that. It’ll fall down.”
“It won’t fall down. Do you mean to tell me I’m doing it
wrong?”
“Yes, you are. There! You’ve just upset them all again.
They have to be laid neatly on top of one another.”
“Oh, all right then; you can do it yourself if I’m not doing
it the way you want.” And there was Lucius getting angry
138
again! He stopped working, sat down on a little stump with
a very cross face.
Lucinda didn’t take the slightest notice of him and went
on with what she was
doing. It was a little while before her mother said anything.
“Lucius, can’t you do any more? You don’t seem to be
very strong.”
“Oh, it isn’t that, Godmother. But Lucinda will keep
going on at me.”
“I’m not surprised. You’re such a funny little firefly. Have
you forgotten about the treat I’ve got for you?”
“Is it something very nice, Godmother?”
“Nice? I should think it is. As sweet as honey. Come
along now and do some more work. Quick!”
So Lucius got up and started again. Lucinda had moved
nearly all the wood
by now and had
stacked it up neatly;
so it was not long
before her mother
stuck the hatchet
into the stump
and called. “Come
along, children.”
In the hall to
the right of the
kitchen
stood
the cupboard. It
was locked, but
the key was stuck
in the keyhole.
Godmother turned
it and opened the
door. Lucius caught sight of a white plate on the top shelf.
But what was on it? Godmother took it down, but it was
covered with another plate.
“Guess, Lucius; what do you think it is? Don’t tell him,
Lucinda.”
“I know, Godmother,” said Lucius. “Strawberries.”
Lucinda laughed, and Godmother said, “No, Lucius, it is
sweeter than that.”
“Raspberries, then.” Lucinda laughed still. “No, Lucius,
much sweeter.”
“Well, then it must be blueberries.” Lucinda laughed
louder then ever. “Oh, Lucius, you are a bad guesser. I told
you it was sweet as honey.”
But Lucius could not think of anything else, and Lucinda
had to tell him, “You silly firefly; it’s honey!”
“Honey! Is it really honey, Godmother?” said Lucius.
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
And what delicious honey it was indeed.
But it was growing late and Godmother had to light the
fire and cook the supper. Lucinda had to go off to get some
kindling and Lucius
prepared to set off.
“Don’t forget to
give your parents our
love.”
“No, I won’t
forget.
Goodbye.”
And off he went.
He
had
only
just got as far as the
meadow when he
met his father with
Godfather.
“Daddy, I’ve been
to Godmother’s house
and we had honey. It
was lovely!”
“ Wo n d e r f u l ,
Lucius. But you’ve
forgotten to say how do you do to Godfather.”
Lucius kissed Godfather’s hand.
“And have you been good? What will your mother have to
tell me?”
“Oh, Daddy, I didn’t put it out, and she is not going to
say anything about it.” Meanwhile they had reached home.
Mother saw them coming from the window, and came to meet
them.
“How is it that you are so early today, father? I’m afraid
supper isn’t ready yet.”
Father kissed her. “You see, the cold weather is setting in,
dear, so we started back rather earlier than usual. Very soon
there will be no more for us to do.” And now mother made up
the fire and soon had the soup ready. Father sat down in his
chair to rest. His wings were hurting him. Lucius climbed on
to his knee for a ride.
“And how has our child been behaving, mother? Has he
been vexing you?”
“Well, father, he did vex me just a little, but he begged me
very hard not to tell you, and as he promised never to do it
again I said I would say nothing about it. And, anyway, he was
at Godmother’s nearly all day.”
“Well, mother, how about if they kept him there? We could
have Lucinda here. She’s never naughty.”
That reminded Lucius of something. “Mummy, they had
honey at Godmother’s house and I had some. Oh, it was
sweet.”
“And didn’t Godmother send us something?”
“No, nothing.”
“Are you quite sure?”
“Yes, quite.”
“Lucius, do you mean to say that Godmother sent us no
message?”
“Oh, yes, Mummy, I forgot; they sent their love.”
“Run along now, Lucius, and put the chairs round the
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
table. It’s supper-time.”
Lucius put the chairs round, and his mother brought in
the supper. They said grace and enjoyed the soup. It was
delicious, flavoured with carraway seeds. Father had two
platefuls and Lucius had nearly two as well. They didn’t stay
up very long. They were all feeling sleepy. They knelt down
and father said their evening prayer.
Underneath your sheltering wings,
Take, we pray, all living things.
Watch us all from heaven above,
God of mercy, God of love.
After this Lucius added: “May God guard us from all
harm.”
Then he kissed his father and mother good night and
they all went to bed. His mother stretched her hand across
to his bed so that he could take hold of it. And very soon
they were all fast asleep.
Oh, and they slept so well.
o
Drawings: Klára and Nicole Malek, Natasha Legierski,
Attention! Attention!
Firefly!
Do you children enjoy the stories about Lucius?
Surely you can imagine what
the little firefly looked like. We
know that it had wings so that it could fly and he
certainly had little legs so that he could crawl.
He also needed a lamp with which to light his
way. You know what kids? Draw a picture of Lucius, and
send your picture to the publishing office. We would like to
know what you think he looks like. The story about Lucius
is very long, so we will publish it in short episodes that will
be continued in every issue. We will gladly illustrate your
picture of Lucius in our magazine.
Don’t wait! Pick your pencil or crayons up now and draw!
You can even paint Lucius if you want to. Send your picture
as soon as possible because we are preparing the next
issue of Glorious Hope and we need your picture in it! o
139
Brouèci
Jan Karafiát
2. Èást
K
dyž se už dost vykoupal, vyskoèil si na vìtvièku, rosu se
sebe setøepá, a frr—rovnou èarou pod dub ke kmotøièce.
U okna zùstal stát.
„Beruško, už se nezlobíš?“
„Co pak bych se, Brouèku, zlobila?“
„Pane, to jsem se vykoupal Jestli pak ty umíš také plavat?“
„I ne. Kde pak bych já umìla!“
„Pane, já umím plavat.“
„I nech, Brouèku. Já musím jít mamince pomoci.“
„Kde pak jest kmotøièka?“
„Ona seká na dvorku chvojí. Pojï se podívat.“
A Brouèek se šel podívat. „Co pak nám neseš, Brouèku?“
„I nic, kmotøièko, já jsem se koupal. A vy nìco máte,
kmotøièko?“
„Mám, pane, nìco dobrého, ale já nevím, jestli ti dám. Kdyžs
Berušce tak škaredì øekl a paks utekl. Ona plakala.“
„Ona plakala? Však já jí už tak nebudu øíkat.“
„Nu, uvidíme. Vidíš, tady už mám toho chvojí hromadu
nasekaného. Tak pojï a odnášej je s Beruškou tamhle pod
støíšku, aby nám nezmoklo. Ale musíte je pìknì rovnat do rázu.
Pak ti nìco dám.“
Brouèek že ano, a poèal nosit, co mu jen síla staèila.
Kmotøièce se to zdálo být až moc.
„Ale Brouèku, neber si toho tak mnoho najednou.“
Ale Brouèek, ó, že on to unese. A nosil. Ale místo co mìl
šaklíèky pìknì do rázu rovnat, Brouèek je tam jen tak házel, a
to Beruška nechtìla.
„Brouèku, to tak nesmí. Maminka to tak nechce. Nám by se
to skácelo,“
„Ó, nic se vám neskácí. Co pak to nedìlám dost pìknì!“
„Nedìláš. Vidíš, užs to zas jen tak hodil. To se musí pìknì
rovnat.“
„Tak si to dìlej sama, když ti to nedìlám dost pìknì.“
A už se Brouèek hnìval. Nechal všeho, sedl si na paøízek,
mraèil se a díval se pøed sebe, Beruška ho nechala a hledìla si
svého, Až za chvilku zaèala kmotøièka:
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„A co, Brouèku, už nikam nemùžeš? To nejsi jaksi moc
silný.“
„I ne, kmotøièko. Ale když ona se poøád se mnou vadí.“
„Inu, když ty jsi takový divný brouèek. Co paks už zapomnìl,
že nìco mám?“
A jest to, kmotøièko, dobré?“
„I, to si myslím! Jako med sladké. Jen jdi a honem ještì
nos.“
A Brouèek honem šel a ještì nosil. Beruška to bez toho už
skoro všechno odnesla a pìknì srovnala. A tak už to dlouho
netrvalo, kmotøièka zaala sekyrku do špalku a
„Teï pojïte, dìti.“
A dìti šly. V síni, v pravo od kuchynì, stála almara zavøená
na zámek, ale klíè vìzel v nìm. Kmotøièka jen zatoèila, a už bylo
otevøeno. Ale teï, co tam? Ten bílý talíøek na tom nejhoøejším
prkénku Brouèek hned zpozoroval. Ale co na nìm? Kmotøièka
jej sundala, ale on byl pøikrytý jiným talíøkem.
„Nu tak hádej, Brouèku, co to jest. Ale, Beruško, nepovìz.“
A Brouèek: „Ó, já vím, kmotøièko, to jsou jahody.“
Ale Beruška se smála, a kmotøièka:
„Ó ne, Brouèku, to jest ještì sladší.“
„Tak to jsou maliny.“ Ale Beruška se ještì smála.
„Ne, Brouèku, to jest mnohem ještì sladší.“
„Tak, kmotøièko, to jsou borùvky.“ A Beruška se mu teprv
smála.
„Ó, Brouèku, to nedobøe hádáš, jest to jak med sladké.“
Ale Brouèek už nic nevìdìl, až to Beruška prozradila: „Ale
ty hloupý Brouèku, vždy jest to med.“
A Brouèek: „Tak jest to, kmotøièko, med.“ A byl to med, To
si pochutnali!
Ale už bylo hezky pozdì. Kmotøièka že musí dìlat oheò a
vaøit veèeøi, Beruška aby honem skoèila pro trochu chvojí, a
Brouèek aby už šel domù. A tak Brouèek že pùjde domù.
Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
„Nezapomeò doma pìknì pozdravovat.“
„Ne, já nezapomenu. S Pánem Bohem!“
A šel. Sotva že pøiletìl k palouku, tu letí od potoka tatínek s
kmotøièkem. „Tatínku, já jsem byl u kmotøièky a dostal jsem tam
medu. To vám byl sladký!“
,,Nu, dobøe, Brouèku, ale nejdøív pìknì ruku políbit, tadyhle
kmotøíèkovi napøed.“
A Brouèek políbil pìknì ruku.
„A jestli paks poslouchal? Nebude maminka žalovat?“
„Tatínku, já jsem to mamince nezhasil, a ona to nepoví.“
Zatím už byli doma. Maminka je vidìla oknem, vyšla vstøíc
a „Co pak, tatínku, že dnes tak brzy? Já ještì nemám veèeø
hotovou.‘
Tatínek dal mamince hubièku: „I, milá Beruško, už zaèíná
být chladno, tak jsme letìli o nìco døív. Už toho bude brzy zas
konec.“
A tak dìlala maminka honem oheò a stavìla na polívèièku.
Tatínek si sedl na stolièku—bolela ho køidélka, a Brouèek už se
houpal tatínkovi na kolenì.
„A, maminko, viïte, Brouèek vás pokoušel?“
„I tatínku, skoro pokoušel. Ale když prosil a sliboval, že už to
víckrát nebude dìlat, tak já jsem mu slíbila, že to na nìj nepovím.
A potom on byl skoro poøád u kmotøièky.“
„Nu tak dobøe, maminko. A si ho u kmotøièky nechají, a my
si vezmeme Berušku. Ta nepokouší.“
Brouèkovi napadlo: „Maminko, u kmotøièky mají med, a já
jsem dostal, To vám byl sladký!“
„A nám kmotøièka nic neposlala?“
„Nic.“
„Ani nemᚠco vyøídit?“
„Ne.“
„Ale, Brouèku, ani nás nevzkázala kmotøièka pozdravit?“
„I, ano maminko, já jsem zapomnìl. Že vás pìknì
pozdravují,“
„Vidíš, ty Brouèku! Ale už jdi, pøistav židle ke stolu, budeme
veèeøet.“
A Brouèek pøistavil židle ke stolu, maminka už nesla na stùl,
pìknì se pomodlili, a to jim ta polívèièka zas chutnala! Byla
taková dobrá, zasmažená, s kmínem. Tatínek jí snìdl dva talíøe, a
Brouèek skoro také dva.
Dlouho pak už neskøivali. Chtìlo se jim spát. Klekli, a tatínek
se modlil:
Pod veèer tvá èeládka,
Co k slepici kuøátka,
K ochranì tvé hledíme,
Laskavý Hospodine.
Brouèek na to: „Pán Bùh s námi a zlý pryè,“ dal pac a pusu,
maminka mu podala do postýlky ruku, on ji držel, a už všickni
døímali.
Pìknì se jim to spalo.
Kresby: Klára a Nicole Malek
o
Pozor! Pozor!
Brouèek!
Líbí se vám vyprávìní o Brouèkovi, dìti?
Jistì si umíte pøedstavit, jak
takový malý Brouèek vypadal.
Víme, že mìl køidélka, aby mohl létat.
Urèitì mìl nožky, aby mohl lézt. Potøeboval
také svìtélko, aby mohl svítit. Víte co, dìti?
Nakreslete Brouèka tak, jak si myslíte, že vypadal
a pošlete obrázek do redakce. Rádi bychom vìdìli, jak
si Brouèka pøedstavujete. Vyprávìní o Brouèkovi je velmi
dlouhé, budeme Brouèkova dobrodružství otiskovat
na pokraèování. Vaše obrázky s radostí použijeme pro
ilustraci.
Neèekejte, vezmìte si tužku nebo pastelky a kreslete!
Mùžete použít i barvy a Brouèka namalovat. Pošlete
obrázek, co nejdøíve, protože pøipravujeme další èást a
o
možná vᚠobrázek bude právì ten nejvhodnìjší!
Charles A. Soltis
Charles A. Soltis went to be with the Lord on November 20. He was 92 years of age and passed away on our
65th wedding anniversary. He was a fine Christian gentleman.
Mrs. C.A. Soltis
Columbus, North Carolina
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Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
141
T
he end of the year has come—again. And
a changeover again takes place, at least on
the calendars.
Former President Jimmy Carter said in his
speech at the Nobel Awards ceremony in early
December that one of his teachers in the oneroom schoolhouse he attended as a child in Plains,
Georgia, taught him something utterly simple and
unforgettable. It went something like this: Adapt
with changing times, but keep true to unchanging
principles.
Here is one of ours: “I know Whom I have believed, and am
persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto
Him until that day!” Will you keep living by the gospel, doing
the work of discipleship, and inviting people to meet Christ?
Such are the things we have committed to the Lord out of our
lives. They have been our principles since our foremothers and
forefathers started this convention; they will be our principles
until God calls us home and, by the grace of God, summons at
last our children’s children to the farthest generation.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, stay centered even as the world
and time move forward into 2003 and whatever lies beyond. And
on behalf of all the convention leadership, I wish you and yours
a refreshing year blessed by the love of God, the friendship of
Jesus Christ, and the care and keeping of the Holy Spirit.
Robert Dvorak
O
pìt se pøiblížil konec roku. Znovu se objevují
pøedsevzetí—aspoò v kalendáøích.
Poèátkem prosince byla bývalému
presidentovi USA, J. Carterovi, udìlena Nobelova
cena. Pøi svém proslovu Jimmy Carter zmínil jednoho
z uèitelù jednotøídky, George, kterou navštìvoval jako
dítì v Plains. Tento uèitel Jimmyho nauèil nìco
naprosto jednoduchého a nezapomenutelného:
Mìnící dobì se pøizpùsob, nemìnícím se zásadám
však zùstaò vìrný.
Jednou z našich zásad je tato: „Vím, komu jsem
uvìøil a On je mocen i zachovati to, což jsem já u Nìho složil, až
do onoho dne!“ [Slova písnì ze zpìvníku „Písnì duchovní“, vydaném
konvencí Èeskoslovenských baptistù v USA a v Canadì v roce 1947,
pozn. pøekl.] Vytrváte v životì podle evangelia, konávajíce práci
uèedníkù a zvouce lidi k setkání s Kristem? To je pøece to, èím jsme
se Pánu zasvìtili. To jsou naše zásady již od poèátku této konvence.
Našimi zásadami zùstanou až do té doby, dokud si nás Pán Bùh
neodvolá domù. Tyto zásady jsou pøedurèeny dìtem našich dìtí až
do nejvzdálenìjšího pokolení.
Proto, bratøi a sestry, stùjme pevnì i nyní, pøi vstupu do roku
2003, a s sebou pøináší cokoliv. Jménem celého vedení konvence
vám všem pøeji obèerstvující rok, zbohacený Boží láskou, vedením
Ježíše Krista a starostlivou péèí Ducha Svatého.
Robert Dvoøák
o
T
he mid-year meeting of General Board
took place on November 1, 2002, at
Grace Baptist Church, Windsor, Ontario.
After the meeting and a delicious dinner, the
evening service was led by the pastor of the
local church, Rev. Stan Mantle; Dan Widlicka
led us in hymn singing; and then we heard
a message from Andy Kmetko. As always we
had blessed obecenstvi—fellowship.
The theme and verse of the 94th annual convention, which has
been set for July 3–6, 2003, in Philippi is
You’ll Never Walk Alone
I will place my dwelling in your midst, and I shall not abhor you. And I
will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people.
Leviticus 26:11,12
Bible Studies: High Priestly Prayer
John 17
Jesus Prays for Himself
John 17:1–5
Jesus Prays for the Disciples
John 17:6–19
Jesus Prays for Future Believers John 17:20–26
Dr. Andrew Kmetko—English,
Slavo Kral and Daniel Valenti—Slovak
Special guests at the next convention will be the musical group
Matuzalem, a very talented group of five members from Bratislava
Baptist Church, Slovakia.
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o
Other important information:
•Again, as in previous years, Canadian delegates will be paying the
registration fee, meals, and accommodation in Canadian dollars.
This will simplify payment procedures and will be easier on their
pockets.
•There will again be a lot of exciting events during the 94th annual
convention. Also the Third Annual Independence Day Fireworks.
Come and see!!
•There will be a camp for young people during the convention.
More information about the camp can be found in future issues
of Glorious Hope.
•Date for the 95th annual convention is tentatively set for July 1–4,
or 8–11, 2004.
•Next mid-year meeting of the General Board will be held at Hatch
Hollow Baptist Church, Union City, Pennsylvania, in October or
November 2003. Hatch Hollow Baptist Church will be celebrating
its 75th anniversary.
We will have more information about the annual convention in
the next issues of Glorious Hope. For additional information, check
the convention web page: www.ab.edu/czslbaptconv.
Have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.
George Sommer, Executive Secretary
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Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
Are Your Concerns in the Right Place?
T
he Christmas holidays are a
time when our nerves are
maximally strained. It is no
surprise to us, because we know
what is expected of every housekeeper. After all, our concern is for
the happiness of the entire family. It
is important that everyone be content. We try to fulfill the wishes of
each family member. We also have
our friends in mind. As Christmas
approaches, we realize how short
each day is. We don’t have enough time. Today I was
asked an interesting question: “How is
the Christmas season treating you?” It
is a fitting question that led me into
deeper thought. If a person or thing
is handling me, then that means that it
has complete control of me. In other
words: I am deprived of my own will,
something is manipulating me, and
someone is making decisions for me. I
have become a slave.
Is it possible that the Christmas
season has enslaved us? Each one of us
needs to answer that question for herself. These modern times have turned
Christmas into a highly commercial
affair. This reality greatly influences
our families. It is said: “A woman
either builds a home or breaks it.” This
can be applied at Christmas. How the
Christmas holidays are experienced
depends on us women. However, let us
not allow Christmas to become a time of strained nerves
and commotion. Certainly everything has its place. It is
necessary to secure all that is required for the family to
exist. Nevertheless, it is more important that God’s love
be felt during all Christmas activities. Jesus came to earth
thanks to this love. He came because God so loved you
and me (John 3:16). God sent his son so that we would
learn to be aware of God’s presence in our lives. The birth
of Jesus brought God closer to us. It is all very meaningful. It is very important, however, that our fellow human
beings feel the reality of God, possibly more so than at
any other time. In this, the bliss and blessing of Christmas
is rooted.
“Live love, spread love, this love is God.”
I hope that all readers will use these words as their
motto for this year’s Christmas holidays.
Natasha Legierski
Peèlivost na správném místì?
V
ánoèní svátky jsou obdobím, kdy jsou naše síly napnuty
na maximum. Nedivíme se, protože víme, co se od
každé hospodyòky oèekává. Jde pøece o blaho celé
rodiny. Záleží nám na tom, aby všichni byli šastní. Snažíme
se, aby se splnila pøání každého èlena rodiny. Myslíme i na své
pøátele. S blížícími se vánocemi zjišujeme, že den je krátký.
Prostì nestíháme. Dostala jsem dnes zajímavou otázku: „Jak
s tebou zacházejí vánoce?“ Je to pøilehavá otázka, která mne
vedla k zamyšlení. Jestliže se mnou nìkdo nebo nìco zachází,
znamená to, že mne to plnì ovládá. Jinými slovy: jsem zbavena
své vùle, nìco mnou manipuluje, nìkdo za mne rozhoduje.
Stala jsem se otrokem.
Je to možné, aby nás vánoèní období zotroèovalo? Na tuto
otázku si musíme odpovìdìt každá sama.
Moderní doba promìnila vánoce ve vysoce
komerèní záležitost. Tato skuteènost velice
zasahuje i do našich rodin. Øíká se, že žena
buï dùm tvoøí nebo boøí. Totéž mùžeme
aplikovat na vánoce. Na nás ženách záleží,
jak se vánoce prožijí. Nedovolme však, aby
se vánoce staly obdobím napnutých nervù
a shonu. Jistìže má všechno své místo. Je
potøeba zajistit vše potøebné k tomu, aby
rodina mohla existovat. Dùležitìjší však
je, aby bylo cítit Boží lásku, vznášející se
nad všemi vánoèními aktivitami. Pán Ježíš
pøišel na svìt díky této lásce. Pøišel proto,
že tebe i mne Bùh tak miloval (Jan 3; 16).
Pán Bùh poslal svého Syna proto, abychom
se nauèili vnímat Boží pøítomnost v našich
životech. Narozením Pána Ježíše se k nám
Pán Bùh také pøiblížil. To všechno velmi
dobøe známe. Je však velice dùležité, aby
tuto skuteènost cítili naši bližní snad více,
než kdykoliv jindy. V tom spoèívá štìstí a požehnání vánoc.
„Žij lásku, rozšiøuj lásku, tou láskou je Bùh“.
Pøeji všem ètenáøkám/ètenáøùm, aby se tato slova stala
mottem letošních vánoc.
Nataša Legierská
o
Ladies’ Contribution may be sent in the enclosed
envelope.
US residents to Joan Rotar, 4 Lee Dr., Poland, OH
44514. Canadian residents to Donna Nesvadba,
2029 Laurelwood Dr., Oakville, ON L6H 4P2.
Make checks payable to Czechoslovak Baptist
Women’s Missionary Union.
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Glorious Hope • Slavná nadìje • November–December 2002
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