They Need Christ

http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4518.mp3

Nad vajavad Kristust

There are people hurting in the world out there;

They need you, they need me, vajavad Kristust.

There are children crying and no one to care;

They need you, they need me, vajavad Kristust.

And they'll go on hurting in the world out there,

And they'll go on dying, drowning in despair,

And they'll go on crying – that's unless we care!

They need you, they need me, vajavad Kristust.

There are people living who would rather die –

They need you, they need me, vajavad Kristust –

And their Christian neighbours simply pass them by;

They need you, they need me, vajavad Kristust.

There are people sitting by a silent phone,

People cold and hungry, people left alone,

Suicides for reasons that remain unknown;

They need you, they need me, vajavad Kristust.

There are runaways who want a place to go;

They need you, they need me, vajavad Kristust.

There are alcoholics who don't seem to know

They need you, they need me, vajavad Kristust.

There are godless people who have lost their way,

And they need God's love, but they're afraid to say.

Kui sulgeme oma silmad, võibolla nad lähevad ära,

Ilma sinuta, ilma minuta, ilma Kristuseta.

by John Gowans and John Larsson © 1988 S.P.& S. Ltd.

Jesus wept.

SATB 983
1.Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not;
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness!Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
2.Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
3.Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Thomas O. Chisholm (1866-1960)

SATB 579
1.He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase,
To added afflictions he addeth his mercy,
To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.
2.When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
3.His love has no limits, his grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of his infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932)

SATB 771
1.When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
2.Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed his own blood for my soul.
3.For me be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live;
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper thy peace to my soul.
4.But Lord, 'tis for thee, for thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
O trump of the angel! O voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
Horatio Gates Spafford (1828-88)

JN 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
JN 11:27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
JN 11:28 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
JN 11:32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
JN 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.
JN 11:35 Jesus wept.

Responsive Scripture/Candle Lighting

Leader: When night comes to your world, what do you see? The darkness or the stars? Hopelessness or hopefulness? Sometimes, just as he did so long ago, God uses the darkness to reveal his stars—“The light shines in the darkness” (John 1:5). If your heart has been shadowed by the darkness of loneliness or grief or disappointment, look for the light that only he can give. “I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life” (John 8:12).
Solo 1: Come, let us adore him.
Solo 2: Immanuel, God with us.
(Lighting of the four white candles.)
Solo 2: As we light the four candles, we are called to open our hearts to the miracle of Christ's coming and to his plan for our lives.
Solo 1: Give God your time. The wise men did. Before they gave God their
gifts, they gave their presence. It’s likely that these men traveled as long as two years before locating the prince of heaven. Before that one incredible moment when they knelt before Jesus, the wise men spent many moments, months, perhaps years searching, in anticipation of that meeting. Just as the wise men devoted themselves to seeking the Savior, so can you:
Solo 2: “You will seek him and find him when you seek him with all of your heart” (Deuteronomy 4:29).

Promoted to Glory

MT 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

1TH 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

REV 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Sassilt (täna õhtul!)

Tere ja ilusaid jõulupühi kõigile!

Sellel reedel, 28.12. 2007 kell 19:00 noorteka jõulupidu Narva mnt 51 noorteruumis!

Mängime, laulame, vaatame videot, kuulame muusikat, näksime ja väike üllatus :)

Tule ise ja võta sõber ka kaasa!

Sass :)

two articles from Salvationist magazine

http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/7CAFD37505C51EA58025737600382FB0?opendocument&id=BA132826BE74B0F88025737600366A0F
‘Is The Salvation Army in danger of losing its Wesleyan heritage?' asks Colonel Glen Shepherd, Chief Secretary, Canada and Bermuda Territory
Cut off from the roots

http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/9809944EC28689BC8025736800328DED?opendocument&id=B98E64635B2CF4D9802573670049E6C5

Purity - What is it?

The above letter from General William Booth is included in Purity Of Heart - now reprinted by Salvation Books, available from International Headquarters, priced £3.95

if you're in the NYC area

http://www.singingrevolution.com/cgi-local/screenings.cgi

Go see this movie! Tim and I saw it here on Estonian Independence Day in February (that's celebrating Estonia's FIRST independence!) and it's awesome.

Village East (City Cinemas)
December 14, 2007 - December 20, 2007
New York City, NY
City Cinemas Village East

181 2nd Avenue

New York, NY 10003

SHOW TIMES:

Fri. 12/14 - Sun 12/16: (11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm, 9:00pm)

Mon. 12/17 - Thurs. 12/20: (1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm, 9:00pm)
(212) 529-6998
theater website

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You

I thank God

My "twin sister" (we're sessionmates and twins separated at birth) Vangie wrote something which I read in Commissioner Moretz's pastoral letter and really echoes my own feelings as I woke up this morning:

In closing today, I want to share an excerpt of a letter from Captain Vangerl Dupigny of the Newark Urban Ministries which should inspire us all as we look to this season and our continued ministries:
"I thank God for the support of DHQ staff and employees. I thank God for THQ support.... I thank God for community support.... I just want to say I thank God this morning for allowing me to be here ... and I am forever grateful to those who have had any part of me being assigned here for the past ... years."

A thought that keeps going through my mind lately is "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage" (Psalm 16:6).

PS 16:5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
PS 16:6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
PS 16:7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
PS 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
PS 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure....

Evelyn

in honor of all kettle coordinators and workers

See my "tribute" at http://kopli8.blogspot.com/2007/11/tribute-to-all-kettle-coordinators-and.html

The Singing Revolution

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12142007/entertainment/movies/the_singing_revolution_522827.htm

http://www.nysun.com/article/68081

aroma of praise

A man came into the corps for help today, who was one of those people who come in a little too often and don't always seem to have a legitimate story, if you know what I mean. (Yes, we help him anyway!)

Today he came in when we were in a little staff meeting (I mean little! we only have 2 employees at the moment, plus one of our recruits was there as well). Major negotiations regarding the menu and plans for everything for the next two weeks! So this guy had to wait until Andrus, our translator who also handles social work at the moment, was free.

Finally we're done, and give him our attention. And I'm thinking, what this guy needs more than anything is a SHOWER! Now, usually I have a pretty strong stomach, and can tolerate a LOT in the way of odors, but he really smelled awful.

But all he wanted was help getting HOME! He even had a letter from the police, so we felt like he was legitimate this time. He wanted to catch a 4:00 bus and it was like 3:30 already! So Tim and Andrus drove him to the bus station, and got him a ticket for a bus home, somewhere out in the country (somewhere NOT in Tallinn, which he was quite desperate to leave!).

Then two teenage girls came by. We have Teen Club on Friday nights, but they were way early and no one else was there yet. I was actually a little embarrassed because the building really reaked even though this guy was gone already. I even propped open the door, even though it's below freezing outside (according to http://www.weather.ee/tallinn/)!

Then I got some scented votive candles that I bought for our prayer room, and lit those. Then I wiped down the seat where he was (it still smelled!) with some lilac handwipes that one of our soldiers had given to me because she knows that lilacs are my favorite flower. (Boy, was that thing dirty! I bet it's never been cleaned!)

Finally, that all done, I went into my office and started looking for a cassette tape to put on. And the first one I saw was called "Aroma of Praise"!

Wow, what a contradiction in terms at that moment for me! To see the words "aroma" and "praise" anywhere near each other at that point really seemed like an oxymoron.

I tremble to think how often our "aroma of praise" actually stinks to high heaven!

It was said of Noah's offering, "The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma" (Genesis 8:21).

May it be said of us:
"Thanks be to God, who ... through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God." (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)

Who is equal to such a task? NOT I!

But -- "our competence comes from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5).

Evelyn (going to play a game with Peter now that she's done preaching!)

on not putting the cart before the horse

So, we had a bit of a debate at the corps on Sunday morning (always the best time for such things!) about whether or not people who are drunk should be allowed to come in. Since I'm the boss (Tim was home sick, so I didn't even share that role), I get to call the shots, and of course I said YES! My only rule is, no violence. But if someone is drunk, even (especially!) if they fall asleep in the corner, I don't mind as long as they don't bother anyone else (even dancing during the meeting is allowed)! I mean, I DO mind, as in, it DOES bother me that these people are alcoholics; of course, it breaks my heart! But I mean, they are certainly welcome to come in to The Salvation Army any time! I honestly cannot imagine kicking someone out just because he happens to be intoxicated!

So. That was how Sunday morning started, literally the very beginning of the day. I did have to take a big bottle of beer away and pour it out into the street quite angrily, because they were passing it back and forth inside the corps. But after that, everything was fine! :-)

Anyway, it got me thinking about this book that I'm reading. It's Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott. (Trip to America means new books to read!!!) And I want to share some excerpts with you, if you don't mind. (And since I'm the boss of this blog, I get to make those decisions, too!) :-) This is the G-rated version of her story....

[describing her first months visiting a church]

Something inside me that was stiff and rotting would feel soft and tender.... Sitting there, standing with them to sing, sometimes so shaky and sick that I felt like I might tip over, I felt bigger than myself, like I was being taken care of, tricked into coming back to life....

[describing something that happened at night when she was home]

After a while, as I lay there, I became aware of someone with me, hunkered down in the corner.... The feeling was so strong that I actually turned on the light for a moment to make sure no one was there -- of course, there wasn't. But after a while, in the dark again, I knew beyond any doubt that it was Jesus. I felt him as surely as I feel my dog lying nearby as I write this.

And I was appalled.... I thought about what everyone would think of me if I became a Christian, and it seemed an utterly impossible thing that simply could not be allowed to happen. I turned to the wall and said out loud, "I would rather die."

I felt him just sitting there on his haunches in the corner of my sleeping loft, watching me with patience and love, and I squinched my eyes shut, but that didn't help because that's not what I was seeing him with....

And one week later, when I went back to church, I was so hungover that I couldn't stand up for the songs.... I felt like their voices or something was rocking me in its bosom, holding me like a scared kid, and I opened up to that feeling -- and it washed over me.

I began to cry and left before the benediction, and I raced home ... and I opened the door ... and I stood there a minute, and then I hung my head and said, "... I quit." I took a long deep breath and said out loud, "All right. You can come in."

So this was my beautiful moment of conversion....

Finally, one morning ..., I woke up so sick and in such despair for the umpteenth day in a row that I knew that I was either going to die or have to quit drinking. I poured a bottle ... down the sink ... and entered into recovery with fear and trembling. I was not sure that I could or even wanted to go one day without drinking.... But it turned out that I could and that a whole lot of people were going to help me, with kind eyes and hot cups of bad coffee.

I'll have to stop there, but my prayer is surely that such stories would be told about us! First acceptance and love, then conversion, then a changed life.

Evelyn

6 Dec. -- St. Nicholas Day!

www.stnicholascenter.org

"The Singing Revolution" trailer online

hat tip -- the Wittenbergs

Watch the trailer at http://www.singingrevolution.com/!

Elizabeth and I just saw it, and she said, "Wow! We should send that to ... like ... EVERYBODY!" :-)

Tim and I saw this movie already (I think last year on Independence Day). It's really great.

Evelyn

listen to an Estonian woman who teaches at Houghton College (in English!)

http://www.houghton.edu/spirit/chapel%20recordings.htm

Click on November 14—Küli Töniste (should be spelled Külli Tõniste!!!)

Here is a picture of her: http://www.houghton.edu/Milieu/spring07/PeopleNPrograms/faculty.html

"I lived 10 years without Christmases; can you imagine that? ... I never knew there was Christmas."

How beautiful to hear her talk about John Wesley's teachings on prevenient grace, saving grace, and assurance.

"How do I know that I'm truly saved?"

Romans 8:15-16
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

"One more person is lost for this world.... Christians are no good for this life." This is what her mother said when she joined the church. This is such a common opinion here!

"I have an enemy.... I could sense a lot of spiritual warfare.... A young Christian who is secure in the love of God, and eager to share it, is dangerous to the enemy."

What she says about her parents is so common.

"I'm still learning that there's a daily cross, and price, to following Christ, and to be His witness. I must confess that I feel that much more often when I go home to Estonia than I do here in U.S."

Prof. Tõniste spoke at chapel on 14 Nov., just a couple of days after we had visited. At the time, I was really disappointed that we hadn't been there to hear her in person. Now, I am grateful, because I think I might have cried and that would have embarrassed Chris!

We are so grateful that this Estonian is teaching at Houghton. It's a small world, after all!

Evelyn

Advent

Tim and I just back from the grocery store, where we had run out to get Advent calendars for the kids. You know the cardboard ones with a window that has a piece of candy for every day?

And the kids have each put a slipper out for the elves to put candy in during Advent.

Returning to an old blog post at http://tartu.blogspot.com/2004/11/advent_30.html ...

http://www.elainegibson.net/parenting/lovinggift.html

http://www.elainegibson.net/parenting/xmassimple.html

As we've done in the past, we'll draw papers from a bowl which will help us choose a special activity for the day. (Putting it back and drawing again is allowed if necessary!) This will be the schedule this year:
2 Dec. Mama
3-9 Dec. Peter
10-16 Dec. Elizabeth
17-23 Dec. Chris
24 Dec. Daddy

And here's the list:
Wrap presents
Choose the book we read before bed
Go shopping with Mama
Go shopping with Daddy
Have lunch with Mama
Have lunch with Daddy
Take a family walk after dark
Choose the family game after dinner
Get help making a Christmas gift
Watch “Rudolph”
Watch “Frosty”
Go see the Christmas tree in Raekoja Plats
Attend “The Nutcracker”
Make piparkoogid with icing
Decorate the Christmas tree (this will be rigged for me to draw tomorrow!)
Have two hours of play time with your parents
Eat a favorite food
Have time to be alone
Write letters to Santa
Tape a large sheet of paper to the refrigerator door and draw
Make no-bake cookies
Have Glögg and popcorn
Have a guest over

Off to do our Bible reading for the night! :-)

Evelyn