What did Stephen see First in Rome?

As my plane from Budpest approached an airport in Rome I had a great aerial view of the Vatican and the Coliseum's ruins. I knew I was going to be visiting both of these remarkable buildings but I also had decided that these were not my priorities in why I had come to Rome.

I study and teach the Bible. I had just finished teaching 2 Timothy to 62 college students and I knew that where I wanted to start was where the Apostle Paul ended. I have been reading about Paul being "poured out like a drink offering . . . and I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith." I wanted to see the place where Paul finished.

So I bought a metro ticket and rode the subway to the end of the line. Then I began to walk, about a half mile I imagine. I was trying to find a church that is not on most tourist maps. Wayne Stiles, on his blog "6 Christian Sites in Rome You Should Know About" (http://www.waynestiles.com/6-christian-sites-in-rome-you-should-know-about/) had alerted me to this church. It's called  "Tres Fontaine Abbey" not to be confused with the popular Tres Fontane (how could anyone confuse those two!). I didn't get lost (God has given me a wonderful sense of direction that doesn't fail me too often) although I did use my very, very limited Italian (primarily what I have picked up though watching old Mafia movies) about half way just to be assured I was heading in the right direction. I'm sure the two Italian men had a good conversation after I left!

And there it was. Really no good space for bus parking, just a small area for about 15 cars. And what was of importance to me - a church commemorating the place where the Apostle Paul was beheaded for the gospel and Lord he believed.

However, the tradition for this place is not great. From what I can ascertain, Santa Maria Scala Coeli is a 16th century pilgrimage church at the Abbey of Tre Fontane, and is only the legendary site of the martyrdom of St Paul the Apostle. Nevertheless, Paul did die somewhere near Rome and I took time at this spot to pray and thank the Lord for the Apostle Paul. We, as believers, are so indebted to him for his writings and modelling. I was moved as I thought of him lonely here in Rome; many believers had forsaken him and he desperately wanted his young protege Timothy to come to him before winter and to bring the scrolls and parchments. Paul was a student to the end!

From here it was off to the church that commemorates Paul's burial, a place that is about 2 miles from the traditional place of his execution. It's called "The Church of St. Paul Outside the Wall [ie of the ancient City of Rome]." Today the traditional ancient tomb of Paul is contained in a magnificent basilica that is huge and ornate. 

A section of ancient chain is also here to observe, the type Paul would have had on his body (I personally would take this display of chain and move it to the Mamertine Prison [see below] where Paul was actually in chains

but apparently I don't appreciate all the church politics that would make such an intelligent action completely unthinkable). I didn't feel sad here, I know what Paul wrote about "being absent from the body and present with the Lord." If his body was placed here Paul was already with Jesus. However, in the resurrection . . . 

By now I was hungry, sobered, full of deep thoughts so I had lunch at McDonalds!

 
Then off to the area around the Coliseum to find the traditional prison cell/dungeon that Paul was held in during his second imprisonment in Rome (2 Timothy) called the Mamertine Prison (the Catholic Church places a great deal of emphasis that Peter was held here too - but this is not stated in Scripture - or that Peter was even in Rome. In his first imprisonment Paul apparently was under

some form of house-arrest (Philippians) although chained to guards. I had to seek some help from an Italian policeman to find this site and it was somewhat hidden by on-going construction beside it. 
Today I was able to walk down some steps into what was a circular dungeon prison cell (some of this circular cell was later damaged and so it is not a complete

circle today). In Paul's day he would have been let down through the hole in the ceiling and then left in this dark,

damp cell. How he wrote 2 Timothy from such a place is almost beyond me. I can get distracted from writing if I need a coffee! He was able to have purpose even in the suffering he experienced for the gospel.

Up at 3:30 am today, by mid afternoon I was ready for a cold drink and a nap. I'm on vacation — so I did.

 
 

Brethren Church in Miskolc, Hungary - An Opportunity

 This morning I preached at the Brethren Church in Miskolc, Hungary this morning. Miskolc is the third largest city in Hungary. It is know throughout

Europe for its hot spring baths, the most famous one that is in a cave. For many years buses from all over the communist

world arrived here. This city also has the largest Brethren church in the nation

(though it is small

The church stretches back from this building with a V-shaped sky-lighted roof.

in comparison to many churches in North America). What a privilege to return to this historic church where I preached two years ago. 

The starting of this church is remarkable and the testimony of an early church member Anni Roth, a converted Jew, who later chose to go with the Hungarian Jewish population to be killed in a concentration camp moves me each time I've heard it. Anni had the option of using a letter which declared her to be a Christian and not be deported. She decided the Jewish people needed her more than the church and so she declined the use the letter to avoid deportation to Poland. I wonder how many she was able to lead to the Lord before she was exterminated? What faith and courage! The oldest members of the church still remember.

The wonderful restaurant where I had a delicious Hungarian dinner!

An elder of this church spoke to me at lunch and asked if I could return in the fall to speak to a special gathering of 150 young people from Hungary and Romania. I told him my schedule would not allow me to do it this year but he is wanting to schedule me for October 2016. I believe this may be of the Lord and the Word of Life Bible Institute is prepared to schedule me to come and teach around that conference rather than in March when I usually come. Would you pray that if this is His will all the details might be worked out?

After a long 10 hour day of traveling and speaking I had a chance to have dinner tonight with Paul and Jill Weaver. Paul is the Director of the Bible Institute here and a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. They are doing a great work among the students. They also hosted Dr. Daniel Anderson, President and Professor of Appalachia Bible College (also a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary) for dinner and it was a privilege and honor to get to know him! He is here to teach this week the Book of Joshua.

Tomorrow I start a week of vacation. I leave here at 4:30 am for a flight to Rome for 2 days, then to Athens for a day, and then to Jerusalem for 3 days. Not a week of rest but surely a vacation! More on that in my next blog!

Music, Drama and Videos - Hungarian Style!

 

Today was my last day teaching here at the Bible Institute of Word of Life, Hungary. I've been teaching through interruption, I'm mean translation (an Hungarian intern has been translating for me and she has been wonderful)! In the second session of the three I had today the students had the option of presenting 2-4 verses of 2 Timothy in a creative fashion. I wish you could have been there! Serious songs, humorous videos, exciting dramas by students from different cultures and countries all lent a very creative application to what we've been learning from 2 Timothy. As you

can see from some of the pictures the stage in the meeting room where I teach is under construction but that didn't seem to affect the creativity and insights that the students produced. I was blessed.
I concluded my teaching with a challenge to the students to be faithful in the presence of difficult circumstances and difficult people. I realized as I was speaking that many of these students are from countries where it is much more difficult than in America to live courageously as a believer. I prayed for them as I finished.

Each evening I have had the privilege of being hosted for dinner by one of the staff members here at Word of Life. Usually they have invited a few students to join me for dinner at their home and I have been blessed. To hear stories from staff and students about how God has worked in their lives is always encouraging and often challenging. This week I have been struggling with a cough and a little illness but that seems so small a concern when I hear the testimonies of God. If you have a young person who is looking for a place to spend a year learning God's Word and getting to know God's people from around the world, then they should consider coming here to Word of Life, Hungary for a year.

The staircase up to my room!

31 Pizzas!

Tonight the 62 students (along with many staff and some guest from the Czech Republic who were here visiting as potential students) had lots of pizza, soda and dessert due to the generosity of the members of Waterbrook Bible Fellowship (http://www.waterbrook.org/). On my last Sunday before coming here I was preaching at WBF and offer to collect any money our church members wanted to give so that the students here could have dessert one night. Not surprisingly at least to me, the generous people of Waterbrook

filled my pocket with bills and so tonight it was not just dessert but a great meal for everyone!

I wish you could have been there to see the excitement and to hear the words of thanks from these students. They were crowded into the foyer of the "castle" some time before the pizzas ever arrived! Once it did arrive there were many expressions of thanksgiving and joy. Over and over again I was told to thank the people of my home church. So Waterbrook Bible Fellowship thank you! You don't realize how proud and honored I am to come from a generous church - generous in so many ways.
 
They ordered 11 large pizzas  
from one company and 20 medium pizzas from another company, both from nearby towns here 40 miles east of Budapest. Along with dessert from a local bakery the night was delightful.

I had a long but wonderful day of teaching here, with a late night devotional still to come. I taught 3 sessions of 2 Timothy followed immediately by a chapel message to the staff and students. My translator was a former student from my first time teaching here back in 2002!

I hope some day some of you will have the joy of joining me here to see God at work in some very fine Christian young people who I believe are going to make an impact for Christ, now and in the years to come.

 

Why have I returned 10 times to Hungary since 2002?

Tonight I, along with 5 students and one intern, had dinner at Monca Rakossy's apartment. Monca was a student that Sharon and I met back in 2002 when I first came to Hungary to teach at Word of Life Bible Institute. Since then she has become the Dean of Women and is a delightful Christian lady that I look forward to meeting each time I return. She loves the Lord and the women under her care (Monca is on the top right with the Word of Life hoodie).

As we ate dinner tonight I looked around the table and realized that there was a person there from Romania, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovakia, and a young married couple from Macedonia (the husband Tony had to leave before we took the picture above). Mark, an intern from Slovakia is taking the above picture – I just wanted my good friends to know that I wasn't left there as the lone male (see the pics to the right with Mark! 

Why do I return almost every year? To teach young people like this who will have an impact for Christ around the world in the next few years!
For the next week I will teach 62 young people the book of 2 Timothy. They are from 15 different countries and speak well over 15 different languages (they each have to speak either English or Hungarian to be admitted to this Bible Institute)! I'd appreciate prayer that I will be filled with the Spirit and used by the Lord in teaching His Word.

The street in Tóalmás leading up to the gate of the Word of Life property (through the gate seen at the end of the street).

The young lady from Kazakhstan mentioned that her country is 70% Muslim and that being a Christian in this former Communistic country that is close friends with Russia can be "hard" at times. And I remembered that sometimes I complain about some of my "difficulties." The young couple from Macedonia wants to go back and plant a church in a country with very few churches (mostly Charismatics) and only a few thousand registered evangelicals in the entire country – and only a small number of these are ready to share the gospel with others. And I think of when I complained at the difficulties of planting a church!

Why do I come back year after year? So that I can learn and be challenged by the lives of these young people who are prepared to sacrifice for the Lord in ways that I have never been challenged to do. 

If you'd like to be a student here, or be part of serving here in the the summer camp ministry, check out the opportunities at: http://www.eletszava.org/

Preaching in Hungary 2015 Brethren Church

Biatorbágy

This morning I left at 8:15 am (I arrived here in Hungary at Word of Life, Tóalmás at about 10:30 pm) for an hour and half drive to a village of about 10,000 people called Biatorbágy. The Brethren Church in this village was founded just after WWII in the late 1040's. 

The gate into the Church (held in the basement of the house at the far right). 

Today it meets in the basement of a home (in the picture the home on the far right, behind a landscaping business; the white sign to the left in the picture is the church information) and consists of a large room for the main service, a nursery, kitchen/Sunday School room for kids and restroom.

This morning the main room was almost filled to capacity (maybe 70-75) and the singing just lifted my spirit. Led by a keyboard and 5 guitars, the people sang in parts and with real spirit. When prayer was announced everyone stood as the praying took place and then returned to their seats. 

The Lord's Table (communion) was celebrated with two pieces of sliced bread (each person broke off a small piece) and then two cups of wine were passed. Before the bread and wine were prayed over, something was said in Hungarian and only those desiring/ready to

take communion stood. We remained standing until we had received both the bread and the wine and then were seated again. Not everyone stood.
My sermon on Trusting God in the Testing Times was translated and after I spoke I greeted the people, a few of whom could speak English with me – especially the younger people. The Lord seemed to bless His Word as I shared it this morning from some of the gracious comments.
After church we spent lunch and fellowship with the Csikós, Mihály (Michael) and Kati. Mihály is one of the elders at the church and though retired still works with Child Evangelism of Hungary. (His son is the President of Word of Life in Hungary.) We had a wonderful time around a meal of cold fruit soup (super), chicken, baked cheese, potatoes, mixed vegetables, and onions. Followed by dessert pastries and hot tea the time with the
Csikós was a real blessing. Before I left I had the honor to pray for Kati's 90 year old mother who was resting in bed.
Tonight I'm off to have dinner with Paul and Jill Weaver (Paul was one of my students at DTS and is the Director of the Bible Institute). Then off to bed at about 11 pm (that's 4 pm Dallas time) and up for a great week here at the Bible Institute.

The Bible Reader's Joke Book

For many years I have been collecting jokes from books, sermons, lectures, magazines, etc. I have used jokes and humor stories in my sermons and classes since I first started in ministry.

The Bible Reader's Joke Book

Now I've put over 2,000 of these jokes together in a 500 page book and published it. It is available on Amazon.com in either paperback or Kindle version.

The jokes are categorized from Genesis to Revelation and there is also an extensive topical index at the end if you want to see where other jokes on the same topic are located.

The paperback can be ordered from: http://www.amazon.com/The-Bible-Readers-Joke-Book/dp/1502741202/ref=zg_bs_tab_pd_bsnr_2

The Kindle version is available at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Bible-Readers-Joke-Book-ebook/dp/B00ODFRK9C/ref=zg_bs_tab_pd_bsnr_3

 This book is designed for use by Youth Pastors, preachers or teachers, Bible Study leaders, and by anyone who loves humor and loves the Bible

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. If you appreciate your pastor perhaps this is a ministry tool that he doesn't yet have that he would enjoy!

Unique Experiences in Jordan

I think I've traveled to Jordan about 11 times in the last 13 years (including 6 times to teach and 5 tours). Even when I'm here teaching I usually rent a car and with my map (and Canadian passport for safety) I try and see as many archeological sites as I can. I also try and just enjoy the diversity of this country and I've enjoyed driving in the desert until I was almost in Saudi Arabia and even headed down the road to Iraq a ways until I thought some wise thoughts! The students in class have kidded me that I know more, and have seen more, of Jordan than they have! This year (and in every past time I've taught here at the Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary) I don't think any student has been aware of the 6th Century Byzantine Mosaic floor that is only a 1/4 away from the school. I have to show them pictures before they will believe me.
But often my highlight of any tour is when I have a chance to "get off the beaten track" and see the inside of the people and country. This past week has included several of these unique experiences in Jordan that I probably couldn't plan even with money but the Lord has graciously provided them for me.
Let me just briefly mention a few of them and include a picture of two for you

1) Preaching in Churches in Jordan. On this particular trip I have preached in an Arabic Church of the Nazarene near downtown Amman (1st Circle), at a Sudanese Arabic Church (2nd Circle) which ended up being attended by about 15 different Nationalities, and at an Alliance Church just outside Amman proper in a village called Marj Al-hamam. (also two chapels services at JETS with students here from 6 or 7 different nations). I'll also teach class for 56 hours including translation over the 18 days I am here in Jordan. I am planning to rest when I return (while, sort of, since Sharon and I leave for Israel and Jordan exactly one week from the day I arrive home!)

2) Eating and Drinking in Jordanian Homes. Years ago I would have had a hard time eating anything that wasn't from a cow and accompanied solely by potatoes and "normal" vegetables. God has allowed me to change and enjoy a wider variety of His good things. Here in Jordan I have enjoyed Arabic barbeque, Mansef, Maqluba (upside down rice and califlower or eggplant or ? with either chicken or lamb, Arabic coffee, Turkish coffee, Sahlab, and along with these meals in the tradional Arabic/Jordanian hospitality. Today I posted on Facebook the following post on my lunch today — Today I was the guest of the parents of Hassan (one of my student and a pastor of an Alliance Church in Marj Al-hamam, just outside of Amman) in Na'our, Jordan. They treated my in traditional Jordanian fashion which meant I felt I was royalty! I was fed lamb (his mother kept putting pieces on my place - I ate three!) and rice and nuts and vegetables and fruit and of course Arabic coffee (it comes in just a tiny cup but it is powerful and it was just wonderful). At one time this man owned over 100 dunams [25 acres] of land as well as sheep and goats etc. He sold much of it when land, this close to Amman, became valuable, and he kept a high hill on which he and all his sons (and uncles and cousins) now have beautiful, modern homes that would rival much of what I see in upscale Dallas. You can see the tall buildings of Amman in one direction (10 miles?) and in another direction (30 miles?) you can see the hills of Judea in Israel today.

I asked this 75-80 year old man numerous questions about his younger years in this land, the events of 1947-48 and 1967 when wars was in this region, and what it was like when he met the King of Jordan etc. etc. I was just curious and fascinated, and he loved my interest in his much loved land and country.

I have found when I serve my Lord, with what a times seems like some sacrifice, He blesses me with people and experiences that I couldn't buy with money. Today was one of them.

On Sunday afternoon I asked Hassan to stop the car so I could take a picture of the Almond Tree that was in bloom by the side of the road. As I took the picture an Arab woman came out to see what we were doing. As it turns out she knew Hassen's parents

The Almond tree that I originally was shooting can be seen outside on the other side of the road

quite well and so of course now needed to give them three bags of fresh vegetables so he could take them home. Once she met me and realized I was a guest in her country she INSISTED we come in for "just a moment" so she could feed us a little something (I had just finished a wonderful chicken meal at Hassan's home that his wife Rula had cooked). About 30 or 40 minutes later after I have eaten the BEST figs, almonds, sweet moist raisins I have ever eaten (and also I turned down oranges, apples, bananas, and the offer to come back for a

I'm kneeling down beside the "first wave" she brought in. Isn't it a beautiful room? You might never guess as you pass by outside.

meal of lamb!) and I have drunk fruit juice and then Arabic coffee (not the thick, dark Turkish coffee I often have in a home here). I was going to turn down the coffee but the pastor quickly informed me that this type of coffee signified friendship. It hardly tastes like coffee (it is made with water, lightly roasted coffee, ground with cardamom and boiled for about 15 to 20 minutes—not percolated or filtered—but boiled and this particular Arabic coffee had something else in it too but nobody could tell me what it was! But I saw it and felt it in my mouth - almost like rice?) In the past this type of coffee was used to conclude a negotiation or show reconciliation and so to refuse to drink this would be an insult. Here I am (an American/Canadian, male, professor, Believer in Christ), sitting in a very special hospitality room (attached to the home but with a separate entrance from the house entrance) being shown gracious hospitality by an Arab, Muslim, Bedouin woman! I'm glad I didn't insult anyone, I drank it, enjoyed it and look forward to having the opportunity to do this again! You can't buy experiences like this!

3) Unique Sites. This time I have been so committed to ministry (every day but one since I've been here) I haven't taken any trips solely for the purpose of sight-seeing and research. But on Sunday after dinner and before church I was privileged to see, on a private farm, a very ancient tree. It was huge, the men I spoke to disagree on its age (anywhere from 140 years back to a thousand years). No one could tell me for sure what type of tree it was (nothing that I have ever seen in my travels here in the Middle East that I can remember).

People sometimes ask me why I travel so far and work fairly hard when I could be at home with my family and grandkids enjoying my sabbatical (and let me say I enjoy every minute with my family and miss Sharon lots when I'm away). I do this because I believe the Lord has called me to do it. I think that this seminary in Jordan is strategically placed for such a time as this. There will never be any true peace here unless hearts are changed. The Lord can do this in Arab lives throughout this country and the surrounding countries. I don't do it for this great and enjoyable experiences I have "on the side" but isn't our God good to give them to me?
JETS hopes to move into their campus in August. However, they need about $400,000 to complete it to the standard the government is insisting on before they can take possession. Would you pray with me that the Lord will provide this?  

Preaching in Jordan

When I'm here in the summer (I usually come in July but because I'm on sabbatical it allowed me to come here in Febuary) I often see license plates from Saudi Arabia. I haven't seen many of them this time but I did see one that seemed to have some connection with the monarchy or at least government. I was wondering as I took the picture if a security person was going to start asking questions. Apparently I looked innocent enough and I went on my walk.
One of the real joys I have as one who enjoys both the Scriptures and the local church is the opportunity I often have to preach when I am traveling. On Saturday morning I preached in morning chapel at JETS with men and women present from at least 6 different countries. Sunday evening I preached at 1st Circle Church of the Nazarene whose pastor is a former student I taught at JETS, I was translated by a former student and translator I had at JETS, and in the audience was a former student and his wife that I taught at DTS in Dallas! Although I just had a little part in the preparation of these former students, what a joy it is to see them in ministry and to hear what God is doing through them.
 

In my class right now I have 3 students from Egypt, 1 student from Syria, 3 students from South Sudan, 1 student from Korea, and 3 students from Jordan. What will God do through these committed servants of His? Some of them have very little  and they have been through so much. I plan to give whatever I can to help them prepare to preach and teach the Word. 
If anyone reading my blog feels God wants them to contribute some money to these students, please just write me an email. You could send it to my home, meanwhile I could use my bank card to get some money and give it to them while I'm here. These students are a tremendous investment in reaching the Arabic speaking world.