Magyar Egyház, 2004 (83. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2004-07-01 / 3. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 23. oldal registered members. That number is growing week by week. Praise the Lord! After two year behind us we feel that we are a great team, where God’s power and presence is there day by day. We have witnessed abundant joy and received Godly experience. We see that God’s Word becomes alive in people’s life and something new and wonderful become alive. The Bible says in Romans 8:29: “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.” What else could be more wonderful? God is not doing it after we die, he is going to do it in this life on this earth through the Holy Spirit living in us. We experience what it means to be calm in God and to believe that Christ lives in us, doing his work through us. In Galatians 2:20 the Bible says: “lam crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. ” This is the most wonderful thing that a saved Christian could experience in his/her life. This directs us and encourages us to be faithful to our God, our Savior. We experience this love and miracle in our congregation. “Why, You Don’t Want Them Birds, Mister... ” There once was a man named George Thomas, a pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Several eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak... "I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. 1 stopped the lad and asked, ‘What you got there son?’ "Just some old birds," came the reply. "What are you gonna do with them?" I asked. "Take ’em home and have fun with ’em," he answered. I’m gonna tease ’em and pull out their feathers to make ’em fight. I’m gonna have a real good time." "But you’ll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?" "Oh, 1 got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I’ll take ’em to them." The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?" "Huh? Why, you don’t want them birds, mister. They’re just plain-old field birds. They don’t sing -- they ain’t even pretty!" "How much?" the pastor asked again. The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said "$10?" The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten-dollar bill. He placed it in the boy’s hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story... „One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait 1 knew they couldn’t resist. Got ’em all!" "What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked. Satan replied, "Oh, I’m gonna have fun! I’m gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I’m gonna teach them have fun!" "And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, I’ll kill ’em," Satan glared proudly. "How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, you don’t want those people. They ain’t no good. Why, you’ll take them and they’ll just hate you. They’ll spit on you, curse you and kill you! You don’t want those people!" "How much?" He asked again. Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your tears, and all your blood." Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price. The pastor picked up the cage, he opened the door, and he walked from the pulpit. Think about it... you are priceless. Jesus died for you... Yes that’s right Jesus, God’s own son, died for you. You have not been bought with gold or silver but with the tears and blood of Christ. You are special. Do you want to know more about how special you are ? Call either Pastor Tibor or András at 702-360-5853. We’d love to spend some time with you describing just how important and special you are to God and to us here at the Free Hungarian Presbyterian Church. You can also e-mail us at hunpresbyterianus@yahoo.com God bless You ! Pastor Tibor G8SO Az egyház „Egyház azért van, mert tetszett Isten jókedvének, hogy még a világ teremtése előtt kiválassza magának Krisztusban azokat, akiket Igéjével és Szent Leikével az Ő tulajdon népévé nevel. A kiválasztottakat igazságnak beszédével és az üdvösség Evangéliumával összegyűjti, bölcsességnek és Kijelentésnek Leikével megvilágosítja. Felfedi előttünk az O akaratának titkát: Krisztusban újra egybeszerkeszteni a bűn miatt széthulló világot. Ennek az új teremtésnek fókusza és záloga Krisztus. Ő a világ Ura, közelebbről az anyaszentegyház feje, az egyház pedig az O teste. Éppen ezért az egyház akkor egyház, ha és amennyiben minden gondolatát, érzését és cselekedetét Krisztus irányítja. Az egyház akkor teljesíti szolgálatát a világban, ha úgy gondolkodik, ahogyan Krisztus gondolkodott, úgy érez, ahogyan Krisztus érzett és úgy cselekszik, ahogyan Krisztus cselekedett. Ha prolongációja Krisztus életének; állandóan az Élet Forrásából telítődő és tisztuló folyó. Hang, amely Krisztus evangéliumát visszhangozza minden népek között a világban, annak végezetéig, és „test”, amely minden tagjában a Fejnek engedelmeskedve növekedik hit- és szeretetközösséggé .... Pap Béla: Új teremtés (részlet)
