Hello Fofer's

This past Tuesday we talked about the LAW and how we are redeemed from the curse of the law.  Law is defined as: the system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties.  But what is biblical law?  It’s Gods means of consecrating his people to himself.  In Romans 4:13, Paul goes to great lengths in chapter 4 to make a theological point.  He traces the Jewish heritage back to Abraham, who lived hundreds of years before Moses and the Old Testament law.  Abraham, says Paul, pleased God exactly as we do: through faith.  The Old Testament law was never meant to bridge the gap between God and people. Only Jesus Christ could do that.  Paul stresses that the law was given not to bring about redemption, but to point up the need for it (Romans 5:20).  In chapter 3 of Galatians, Paul uses clever arguments to put the entire Old Testament law in a new perspective.  The law was never intended to make possible a way to God, he says (Galatians 3:11, 21).  Rather, the law was given to “lead us to Christ” (verse 24) by convincing us of the impossibility of gaining God’s acceptance on our own. 

Happy New Year!

What a great time of year! Fresh clean slate!

At FoF this week we discussed how we have been given new birth into a living hope! This year, we want to see God do mighty things in our lives. Yet, the passage we read assures us we may see difficult times. Whether 2011 brings more trials or triumphs, “Praise be to God!”

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:3-6

We also worshiped together by discussing how Christ is seen in everyday objects. It’s amazing how many biblical analogies for God relate to everyday, natural things. A cup reminds us we each have a cup to be filled, and Christ is our living water. A salt shaker reminds us we are the salt of the earth. A bird reminds us he protects us like a mother hen guards chicks under her wing, and that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31). We can be grateful that we have a God who so desires relationship with us that He reveals Himself to us.

Join us next Tuesday, January 18th, as we hear from Jan!

And mark it on your calendar: January 25th will be our Mystery Dinner Party. Get ready to have your socks knocked right off!

Adopted into God’s Family

Bob and Sue visited us at FoF  on Tuesday, and reminded us that as Christians we are, in fact, adopted as sons and daughters of God! 

The New Testament is full of language about how we who received Him, all we who believe on His name (John 1:12), are sons of God. For example, see Galatians 3-4, Romans 8:14-15, II Corinthians 6:18, Luke 20:36, Hebrews 2:10, 12-18.

But, Bob reminded us, we were not always children of God. There are barriers that must be overcome before we can accept God’s adoption. We were “shut up under sin,” trapped and condemned (Ephesians 2:1-3, Galatians 3:22-23, Psalm 14:1-3). Not all who are born into Christian families become Christians. But if we are born again (John 3, Romans 10:9), we will be saved. We will be given every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3), and we will adopted as children of God!

As children of God we receive many benefits. Galatians 3:26-27 tells us a few.

• A new relationship with Him- we are now “sons of God.”
• We are baptized with Christ- He is now to us a brother, our closest friend.
• We are clothed with Christ- He has given us coverings of righteousness. He has covered our guilt, shame, nakedness, and vulnerability with clean, white robes.
• We are part of a family, and heirs of the Kingdom of God.

Galatians 2:20 teaches that as children of God, with Christ in us, we can begin to live not for ourselves, but for others. We can begin to have compassion, our self-serving attitudes will begin to be replaced with the fruit of the Spirit. And we have the responsibility to act and live as sons and daughters of God.

1. Resist the enemy and his temptations.
2. Exercise our faith.
3. Grow and mature.

Thank God he has saved and adopted us!

We also thank God that Bob and Sue were brought to Poland and influenced so many lives here. Pray for them as they transition back to living in the United States. We wish you all the best, Bob and Sue!

Start the New Year with FoF

Who:  Come one, come all!

What: Guest Speaker Bob Taber

Why:  Learn more about our identity in Christ

Where:  Sweet Surrender Café, ul. Krasińskiego 1/1

When:  7pm (19:00), Tuesday, December 14

How: Take a tram to Most Teatralny and walk down Roosevelta (away from the city center) & the café is on the left on the corner of Roosevelta & Krasińskiego

Call (512391366) if you get lost!

Theresa for FOF!!!!

Check out the latest FoF news at www.fofnan.blogspot.com

A time of Praise and Worship

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

Tuesday night the café on Krasińskiego Street was filled with the sound of singing as Andrew led us in a time of worship and prayer.  It was good to pause and enter the throne room of God in prayer and praise!  There was an “open mike” time when people shared testimonies of what God is doing in their lives.  Below are a few of the stories. 

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With three exams coming up, the studying was intense.  The day before the exams Kristian felt he couldn’t study anymore, so he paused and read Ps 27:14.  He decided then and there to stop studying and instead wait on the Lord.  He felt the presence of the Lord, such that he was laughing and smiling because he felt God meeting him right there in that moment.  The next day, the test results were positive – at times he wasn’t even sure how – but he felt encouraged by God.  He was able to share his experience with a friend and it helped him too.  Kristian truly felt a touch of God by spending time in His Word!

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Lane shared how he had agreed to join his family for six months in Poland, away from their home in the States. When the time came for them to actually go, he found it hard to let go of his schedule, independence, and freedom. He commented that by letting go of his schedule and plans, he had a change in perspective.  He was able to get out of his bubble and see more of the world.  He gained new appreciation for his family and discovered more fully the need to pray for missionaries.  He is ready to head back to the US, but knows the transition will certainly be interesting.

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Amy said her time in Poland has been valuable as she has seen how placing anxiety in the back seat of her life is freeing.  By letting God have a front seat in her life, she found her days, which would normally be consumed by worries, were instead filled with peace.  She said the worries are still there, but really are not consuming her thoughts throughout the day.   Amen!

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As Amy and Lane (& Hannah!) will be heading home to England and the USA, respectively, let’s pray for their transitions.  Thank you - Amy and Lane and Hannah - for sharing your lives with us during your time in Poland.  It’s been a blessing!

Gingerbread House Championship

Friday the 11th of December the annual Polish World Championship of Gingerbread House Making(PWCGHM) was hosted at the Ytterlands flat in Poznan, Poland. Selected people from all over the world came to enter the contest. We had the famous Judith from Austria, the creative artist Piotrek from Poland, Roberto the latinobaker, the notorious Lithuanians Ausra and Ina, Bruno the Italian pastaexpert, the young but very experienced Amy from England, Eirik the Norwegian Islander, and Stephanie and Coralanne representing the USA. 

Pastor Richard Nungesser aka Cookiepastor, was our honored judge of the evening. The group was divided into three teams; team Ginger, team Bread and team House, and the artists combined their talents to design, cut, bake, glue and decorate their houses. 

Team Bread, and Piotrek is doing his art,

Team Gingers prebaked house, Judith busy cutting the windows.

Team House, 

Gingers house postbaked

Ausra showing off her powdered sugar skills.

Every Austrian house needs snow.

Putting Santas legs down the chimney

3 houses, only one could be the winner.

it was hard, but at the end team House won, as you can tell from Roberto presenting the mighty Santa trophy.

Ina had been training for this event all year, so it was sweet to finally get her handz on the prize..

But no one loves Santa more than Bruno.

So at the end Team House won the victory in a convincing manner, but will they be able to keep regain it next year??

3rd annual Gingerbread House Contest, Dec 10th

Hey one and all! 

Andrew-The reigning Champion!

It’s back, and waiting for your participation….the 3^rd annual Gingerbread House Contest.  You won’t want to miss it  Andrew is the reigning champion from last year.  Let’s see if he will keep his throne!!!!!!

Along with the fun of the house making, there will be a festive spirit at the Ytterland’s apartment for this 2^nd Annual Christmas party.  Included will be the film “Elf”!  For some people Christmas isn’t Christmas without watching this film.

So, grab a friend, dive into those snow boots & take to the streets to get to the FoF Christmas party at the Ytterlands.  Along the way pick up something salty or something to drink to share with all!

It will take place this Friday, December 10 at 19:00 (7pm) at ul. Jezycka 40/65.  

Some of last year's competition!

At tram stop Most Teatralny, head down Roosevelta like you’re heading to Sweet Surrender Café, but then keep going.  At the stop light (the bottom of the hill) you will be at the street called Poznanska.  Turn left.  Keep going until you get to the next light.  There you will see the road turns into 3 streets (well four if you count the one immediately to your left too).  Take the middle of the 3 streets toward your right, it is ul. Jezycka.  Follow this to ul. Jezycka 40/65. 

If you get lost, call Coralanne:

+48508710256

:)