In Another Persons Words

First off I want to say that we have amazing people at The Village Chapel! I am so blessed to work with volunteers and staff who love this church as much as I do. I wasn’t there on Sunday but I heard it went great. Thought I’d let one of my staff give the update. Here is what our Children’s Director, Chrisin said:
“Life at the VIllage chapel took place without you, in other words were all your bases covered… and i know if i start telling you we will get off on some tangent and be nonproductive, and seeing as you will probably be Sleep deprived on a short week with other things to attend to let me give you the fast de-brief

1. Point man- Karl
Did a great job with the announcements. The men stayed in a long period of prayer and Dad and Karl were pumped and excited for services prior to. He was there on time and didn’t leave till everything was attended to.

2. Point Man – Ernie
Excited to be there. There were enough men to help in the morning…everything seemed to get set up early and quickly. Matt B was there and all of his kids were on top of it, That was excited to see.

3. Point Man-Keith
Dude MAD props to Keith he was on top of everything. He got their early, he was on top of sound and set up. He came and asked if I needed anything in the beginning and also didn’t leave until everything was packed in the trailer… (Yesterday was a hot day) He made a comment about how sweaty he got loading the trailer. lol. He was really really on top of it though, and I think he enjoyed it. It was really cool seeing him step up in that leadership role as the point guy, a different Keith came out yesterday

WORSHIP- Joe really had a fun time yesterday, and Joseph did a great job on Bass… he had a quick solo for one of the songs. “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.” It was cool!!!

Pastor Rueben Cortez—you gotta hear his message..I think it spoke to everyone!!! Wow this guy completely rocked my socks off and spoke to people who weren’t Christians as well as people who have been a Christian for a long time… he shared his testimony as well. He got their a little late because he had to drive slow because the fog was so thick!! But man, he is a loveable man, and super compassionate for the souls of the lost. spoke out of john 1:1-5 AWESOME!!!!

Hospitality- donuts ran low!!! But I don’t know what that was about

Kids Church-our numbers are up again 45 kids… and we spoke about receiving the Holy Spirit and the Trinity and when the time came to ask the Holy Spirit to come in and empower you to do God’s work!!! ALMOST every hand went up…Totally rocked my socks off!!!

I think the coolest thing about yesterdays church was seeing that it really is God’s Church!! Though you were missed and Reuben prayed for you and the church prayed for you, it really continued without you!!! WE have depth and people willing and wanting to step up and help. God is moving in the hearts of our people and the time, I feel, is coming to begin to release those people in ministries..”

Couldn’t agree more.

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Sunday Update

This will be a different update than normal because I have been in Poland.
My day started with me speaking at the Free Christian Church in Bielska-biala, Poland. What a great group of people! Spoke on 1 Samuel 3 and from what I could tell it was well recieved. It is always a little stressful speaking with a translator but it went well. Tom went so far to tell me that I did better than normal because it slowed me down and I had to put some thought into what I said. Not sure how to interpret that.
From there we left for Krakow. This is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The Carlson’s, who so were so good to us all weekend long, took us to the city square and we ate a Kebab for lunch. I was able to purchase some gifts for my family. Really fun time.
Back at the hotel we met up with Kurt Kula who is one of two Calvary Chapel pastors in Europe. He has been here in Poland for 16 years. We had a great time of fellowship. He took us to the old Jewish Quarter where they filmed Schindler’s List. I was totally moved by the place. To think this was one of the first Jewish Gettos during Hitler was just powerful. We ended our time together just praying to God for Poland and the ministries there.
From what I am hearing and reading things went great at The Village Chapel. I will post later about that.

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Pray Church!

Just got a text from Pastor Ruben Cortez telling me they found four spots on His wife Cynthia’s liver. Ruben spoke for me in church yesterday amd is a dear brother in the Lord. Cynthia is already recovering from cancer and they think it has spread. Village Chapel please pray this week. She goes in for a biopsy on Tuesday.

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Krakow, Poland

“Often called the New Prague, Krakow is a magical city. It attracts thousands of visitors every year and is a major tourist destination in Poland, not without reason. At the height of summer, this stunning city is thronging with tourists who are absolutely enthralled with its Renaissance arcades, Baroque spires, and one of the best preserved medieval city centers in Europe. Located in southeast Poland, between the Jura uplands and the Tatra Mountains and on the banks of Vistula River, walking through this city is like entering an enchanted world.” Poland for Visitors
We will be in Krakow today after I speak at the home church of Greg & Heidi Carlson. We will be staying overnight close to this city center and I am looking forward to checking out some of the sites and hopefully hook up with a Calvary Chapel from Radom. This will also be the end of our trip in Poland and I am already feeling that we will miss it. (I am writing this on Tuesday)

How to Create Effective Change

Creating Effective Change
1. Create a Sense of Urgency: If it is not important you will never do it
2. Gather a Team to Help You Change: Get some cheerleaders around you who will help you achieve your goal
3. Make Your Goal Achievable: Be realistic about what you want to accomplish, then write it down
4. Tell Everyone about Your Goal: Put yourself out there by letting everyone know you are going to change
5. Empower Your Team to Hold You Accountable: When you are ready to quit or fall off the wagon give your team power to pull you back in.
6. Create short term wins: Don’t just look at the finish line set up mile markers that your can focus on in the near future
7. Build momentum: Momentum isn’t luck it is repetitive action done over and over. Once you get going it is hard to stop
8. Make it all about your new behavior: Once you have brought about change focus on the behaviors that got you there and cement them into your daily routine.

This list is adapted from the book Leading Change by John Kotter

Auschwitz, Poland

Poland is probably most known to the outside world for one of the most horrendous acts done to mankind, the concentration camps by the Nazi’s. Auschwitz was the largest concentration camp during World War II. Over 1.5 million people were killed at this camp with 1.2 million of them being Jews. Auschwitz became a symbol of the Holocaust. You can read more here.

After visiting there I am still in awe what went on there. It made me sad, sick, and angry. How one people group can hate another people group so much is beyond me. Unfortunately it us usually the Jews that are being hated.

Polish Scooter

This scooter is Eco friendly. It is powered by methane.

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A Guide to a Polish Meal

The diversity of Polish cuisine is apparent from the sheer number of choices of dishes that are available in each and every course of a meal.

This diversity is not only skin deep; it is also highly nutritious. Almost every Polish dish is made combining something from all the four basic food groups; proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins.

The First Course

To start with, the first course or the appetizer, you will be taken aback by the variety of soups that are on offer. You have the simpler ones like Zupa ogorkowa or hot cucumber soup, Kapuniak or sour cabbage soup or Krupnik or barley soup with a dash of vegetables and smoked meat.

The Main Polish Course

The Poles are heavily onto meat and nowhere is their likings more evident than in the main course. Here you have the most amazing array of non-vegetarian dishes. However, the vegans need not fret for the Polish cuisine also offers vegetable dishes too.

Amidst the meaty dishes, there is Baranina, a favorite with the mountain folks. It is a very simple dish of grilled or roasted lamb, which makes for a hassle-free preparation. Fasolka po bretonsku, which is a bean and sausage stew, Zrazy zawijane, which is rolled fillets of hashed veal in a spicy sauce and Eberka w miodzie or honeyed pork ribs are some more easy to whip up Polish dishes.

Some traditional Polish meat dishes are Bigos, an appetizing stew with various kinds of meats and sausages; Kotlet schabowy, a form of pork cutlet and Pierogi, which is a dumpling filled with meat, cheese, mushrooms or strawberries.

Ending on a Sweet Note

For those with a sweet tooth, Poland won’t disappoint you. Here you will get motley of desserts ranging from cakes, doughnuts, cookies, rolls and breads.

Sernik is a type of raisin-covered and orange flavored cheesecake, while Babka is a raisin-covered, sugary cake, which has a fan following even in the United States. Makowiec or Strucla Z Makiem is a traditional Christmas fare, which is a crunchy sugar frosted cake filled with poppy seeds, nuts and raisins.

Taken from: Poland for Visitors

Missionary Kid

The life as an American Missionaries kid is different than any other life. You are thrust into a different culture and made to adapt and fit in which is surprisingly easy for most kids, but at the same time you want to keep your culture. Adapting to lifestyle while still wanting the things almost every American kid has is tough.

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Where I am at right now

Bielsko biala is the town we are at in Poland. It is an hour and a half from Krakow.

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