Copenhagen

There's something about the streets of Copenhagen that didn't seem right to me. It may have just been the fact that we had gotten up at 5:00 a.m. after a long night, flown to Copenhagen airport, and it was still only nine in the morning. But in any case it was dark. I've been to many "dark" cities like Berlin, Dublin, Istanbul, but this place was different, at least I thought so. While we wandered about looking for a place to sit and eat I felt like the atmosphere was pressing down on us. The atmosphere continued to press as we quickly got lost in the all so similar looking streets of this famous Danish city. As we tried to find our way I was quietly praying, "God, you've got to do something. There are so many people, so many cities like this one who seem to lack any kind of spiritual light. God, use us...use our ministry and others alike to reach these people and these cities while we are still here on this earth." I was imagining what the world will be like after the rapture, after the only light on earth is taken away. For some time there will be no more joyous assemblies. No more true gospel messages. No more street preachers. No more gospel tracks being handed out. No more believers going door to door bringing the light of the gospel.  No more sketchboard. No more words of faith.  How important is it that we use our time wisely and bring the light to this dark world while we are still here? The world needs what we have. They need the fullness, the joy, the intimacy, the security, and the consistency that the Life of Christ brings into our lives when we believe. If only they would receive, these streets of Copenhagen would be full of laughter and singing. People would be excited about living each day and they would love with all of their hearts. This is our burden and our desire, that God would give us these cities and fill the churches with hungry believers who have tasted and seen that Lord is good. Praise God that we have this life and that we can give it to others as we preach, evangelize, and reveal Christ everywhere we go in every area of our lives.

Upcoming Events to Pray for

Here's some of the things coming up in the near future here on the field:

- Trip to Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden.  2/20-23

- Pastor's meeting in Tampere, Finland (Discussing many things including new church plants in Finland).  2/28

- Trips to Vaasa, Finland in April and May including Easter Seminar.

- Pastor Scibelli and the Missions Conference here in Helsinki before Eurocon. 3/13-15

- EUROCON 

- Trips after Eurocon (Berlin, Prague, possibly Romania)

- Trip to Turkey hopefully in May

- Trip to Palermo, Italy in April or May

- Starting trips to Porvoo, Finland in March and April. 

- Trip to Yvaskyla, Finland in April or May.

- Trip to St. Petersburg, Russia in Spring.

- Continuing Young Men's Bible Studies on Mondays, Student Outreach on Thursdays, Teen Evangelism and Youth Meetings on Saturdays. 

"Jesus Only, Jesus Ever"

A phrase that Oswald Chambers had said once really hit me today while on a train coming back from the small nearby city of Hämeenlina: "Jesus Only, Jesus Ever." I was thinking, "What am I doing here? What's the most important thing in my life? Is it my work here on the mission field? Is it preaching? Is it soulwinning? Is it Bible College? Is it studying, prayer, church... What is it?" And then it hit me... Jesus... Jesus only... Jesus Christ is why I am here.  I didn't get here on my own. I got here by following him in faith. My life is not my own, but it's his. Have I forgotten Jesus? Has he gotten lost in the midst of the details of life? Maybe for a moment, but thank God the Holy Spirit will never fail to bring me back to the reality of the living Christ. Look again at him on his throne. Is there anything that can compare to his majesty? Is there anywhere else where you can find and experience the very FULLNESS of God that is in him? Who was it that shed his perfect, precious blood on the cross? Who else can plead my case before the throne of God in heaven? Who has the right? Who is qualified? ... Jesus... Jesus Only. It is he that died in my place. It is he that nailed all the documents and records of sin to that cross. It is he that chose to lay down his own life so that I, through death, could experience true life in him. That same life that can give sinners the assurance of eternal life, alcoholics victory over their addiction, drug addicts a clean and pure life, depressed people unspeakable joy and clarity of thought... Who else has this life? Who else can even come close in comparison? Who else would we preach? Who else would we give our lives to? Jesus Only. It's only him and forever him. Only his sacrifice was ONCE and for ALL. Only he has sat down at the right hand of the Father to give us a place of rest in him eternally. Only he has the power to be our advocate forever in the courtroom of God. Only the stains of his blood will forever be so fresh upon the Mercy Seat in the Temple of Heaven. Jesus Ever... He will never leave us and never forsake us... He has overcome the grave and the fear of death... He ... He is MY Savior, MY King, and MY friend. Will I fail him at times? Most definitely. But will he see it? Never. Will he love me at all times? Yes. Now? Yes. Forever? Forever. In HIM we live, move, and have our being. JESUS ONLY... JESUS EVER.