RESSURECTION THOUGHTS
April 25, 2011
1 Corinthians 15:17-22, 55-57 (ESV)
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
— How dark was life when guilt stained so deeply, so completely. How hopeless was life without the resurrection of Jesus. Without His coming for me, I remained in my sins. Without His coming for me, I had no hope of avoiding the consequence of my rebellion against God. But He has come, and my faith is not futile, but rests in a living Leader, not a founder of religion that perished like the rest of us. “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” (Rom 4:7-8)
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
— Your resurrection Lord Jesus is causing change in my generation. The shockwave of Your risen life is running through the hearts of Hungarian men and women to this day. Upon Your ascension, You gave the gift of Your Spirit to all who would put their faith in You, to bear witness that You are the Messiah, the Son of God. “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Rom 8:11) I have witnessed your work in restoring marriages, breaking destructive sin habits, giving miraculous healing, renewing hope and making the alcoholic to live in freedom and joy. Men and women forgiven, transformed by the Spirit and moved in the heart to proclaim that, “Jesus is risen and He lives in me.”
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
— Though I entered this world having inherited a sinful nature from Adam, and a cursed world because of rebellion and sin, I will leave this world having inherited the Spirit of God, the righteousness of Christ and a blessed eternal dwelling with God in the new heaven and new earth. No longer will Revelation 21:3 be written prophecy, it will be my reality: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more - or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.” (Rev 21:3-4)
55“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
— Thank You Lord Jesus for swallowing up death, for removing it’s power to threaten and torment me. You went through death in order to destroy “the one who has power of death, that is the devil and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. ” (Heb 2:14-15). You are my Redeemer, saving me from the slavery of fearing death. You have unmatched might. For who else in history has taken on death and won? Who is like You, my Lord?
SUNDAY WORSHIP

Above: Tamás giving testimony about his first experience fasting (as our church was corporately fasting over the past two weeks). He spoke about how things actually seemed to get worse we he began as he had to take his child to the hospital related to serious symptoms. Tamás continued to pray and God was gracious to bring healing to his child. Tamás shared that throughout his time of fasting he had a deep desire that his brother would be saved. At the same time, Tamás admited that his faith was weak and he really couldn’t even imagine his brother knowing Jesus. At the end of the week, Tamás got a phone call from his brother. Tamás told his brother about Jesus healing his child and his brother replied, “Thats great Tamás. Guess what, I’m going to church now.” May the Lord continue to use Tamás as a witness in his family and may his family come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior!

Above: Miki’s wife Erika teaching Sunday School.

Above: Eszti with her little brother Győző. Eszti has been learning to play guitar and piano recently and was able to play last week for the first time in church.
FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS

Above: Kira’s collar bone continues to heal. She is sleeping well at night and seems to have more mobility with her arm. Please continue to pray for complete healing.

Above: Maybe this will make you feel better. Kira enjoying a smores at a barbecue we held for the teens last week. Some of them were having smores for the first time in their lives!


Above: Ben’s class had a special presentation for mothers day. They planned the presentation early knowing that Ben would be leaving for the States (wednesday). It was a special gift for Sharon and Ben even made a special card with a personal note as to why he was so thankful for her.

Above: Ben saying goodbye to a few friends.

Above: Some of the beautiful fields we see on the way back from Ben’s school.
HOME ASSIGNMENT AND OTHER NEWS
As this Wednesday's departure date for home assignment approaches, we would appreciate your prayers for us:
• We are expecting! Sharon is 10 weeks pregnant and we have seen a healthy heartbeat at our 9 week checkup. As many of you know we have experienced 3 miscarriages. Please pray for the healthy development of this little one and for Sharon.
• We are in need of new monthly supporters and even ask for you to pray for an additional supporting church. We are currently at 61% of where we need to be before we return to the field in mid June.
• Our first week back will be spent with Allen's brothers and their families in Disney World! Pray for encouraging fellowship, for Kira's collar bone to be healed by then and for safety as we drive to and from Florida.
• Elianna, Kira and Allen are sick with some kind of sinus/cold/infection. Please pray for healing.
Thank you all for your investment in our family's life... Many of you have been an encouraging and supportive influence before we even arrived on the field in 2000. We appreciate your love for us and look forward to seeing you face to face.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
— How dark was life when guilt stained so deeply, so completely. How hopeless was life without the resurrection of Jesus. Without His coming for me, I remained in my sins. Without His coming for me, I had no hope of avoiding the consequence of my rebellion against God. But He has come, and my faith is not futile, but rests in a living Leader, not a founder of religion that perished like the rest of us. “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” (Rom 4:7-8)
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
— Your resurrection Lord Jesus is causing change in my generation. The shockwave of Your risen life is running through the hearts of Hungarian men and women to this day. Upon Your ascension, You gave the gift of Your Spirit to all who would put their faith in You, to bear witness that You are the Messiah, the Son of God. “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Rom 8:11) I have witnessed your work in restoring marriages, breaking destructive sin habits, giving miraculous healing, renewing hope and making the alcoholic to live in freedom and joy. Men and women forgiven, transformed by the Spirit and moved in the heart to proclaim that, “Jesus is risen and He lives in me.”
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
— Though I entered this world having inherited a sinful nature from Adam, and a cursed world because of rebellion and sin, I will leave this world having inherited the Spirit of God, the righteousness of Christ and a blessed eternal dwelling with God in the new heaven and new earth. No longer will Revelation 21:3 be written prophecy, it will be my reality: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more - or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.” (Rev 21:3-4)
55“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
— Thank You Lord Jesus for swallowing up death, for removing it’s power to threaten and torment me. You went through death in order to destroy “the one who has power of death, that is the devil and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. ” (Heb 2:14-15). You are my Redeemer, saving me from the slavery of fearing death. You have unmatched might. For who else in history has taken on death and won? Who is like You, my Lord?
SUNDAY WORSHIP

Above: Tamás giving testimony about his first experience fasting (as our church was corporately fasting over the past two weeks). He spoke about how things actually seemed to get worse we he began as he had to take his child to the hospital related to serious symptoms. Tamás continued to pray and God was gracious to bring healing to his child. Tamás shared that throughout his time of fasting he had a deep desire that his brother would be saved. At the same time, Tamás admited that his faith was weak and he really couldn’t even imagine his brother knowing Jesus. At the end of the week, Tamás got a phone call from his brother. Tamás told his brother about Jesus healing his child and his brother replied, “Thats great Tamás. Guess what, I’m going to church now.” May the Lord continue to use Tamás as a witness in his family and may his family come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior!

Above: Miki’s wife Erika teaching Sunday School.

Above: Eszti with her little brother Győző. Eszti has been learning to play guitar and piano recently and was able to play last week for the first time in church.
FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS

Above: Kira’s collar bone continues to heal. She is sleeping well at night and seems to have more mobility with her arm. Please continue to pray for complete healing.

Above: Maybe this will make you feel better. Kira enjoying a smores at a barbecue we held for the teens last week. Some of them were having smores for the first time in their lives!


Above: Ben’s class had a special presentation for mothers day. They planned the presentation early knowing that Ben would be leaving for the States (wednesday). It was a special gift for Sharon and Ben even made a special card with a personal note as to why he was so thankful for her.

Above: Ben saying goodbye to a few friends.

Above: Some of the beautiful fields we see on the way back from Ben’s school.
HOME ASSIGNMENT AND OTHER NEWS
As this Wednesday's departure date for home assignment approaches, we would appreciate your prayers for us:
• We are expecting! Sharon is 10 weeks pregnant and we have seen a healthy heartbeat at our 9 week checkup. As many of you know we have experienced 3 miscarriages. Please pray for the healthy development of this little one and for Sharon.
• We are in need of new monthly supporters and even ask for you to pray for an additional supporting church. We are currently at 61% of where we need to be before we return to the field in mid June.
• Our first week back will be spent with Allen's brothers and their families in Disney World! Pray for encouraging fellowship, for Kira's collar bone to be healed by then and for safety as we drive to and from Florida.
• Elianna, Kira and Allen are sick with some kind of sinus/cold/infection. Please pray for healing.
Thank you all for your investment in our family's life... Many of you have been an encouraging and supportive influence before we even arrived on the field in 2000. We appreciate your love for us and look forward to seeing you face to face.
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