Radio Happy

In today’s world, the average person is increasingly – or, more precisely, constantly – bombarded with all kinds of information through various mass communication channels, including television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and nowadays the most popular medium, the internet. Some media experts even include music in this category. Everything that spreads and transmits information of any kind is considered a mass communication medium. As an introduction to the issue and to explain how threatening media can be for a Christian, we will summarize the basic influences we encounter daily, which can hinder the renewal of our mind to be like Christ’s. Since technology in modern times is rapidly advancing, it inevitably drags humanity into an era where communication between people is reduced to written words via social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. “Relaxation is best in front of the TV or YouTube; friendly gatherings are always best with a good movie.” Unfortunately, we already live in a time when not only interpersonal relationships are impersonal, but even the mirror of one’s own identity is increasingly deformed – not to mention social norms. A person is a walking receiver of information 24 hours a day. Many changes in society are caused by the media, which distort the perception and understanding of reality for each recipient of news or other content, most often in line with the political system of a given state or according to what brings the greatest profit. From a journalist’s perspective, information should be an objective expression of reality. From the perspective of media owners – television, newspapers, radio – information is a product. This means reporting on what is assumed to be most interesting to the audience, which is usually closely tied to emotions. It has been proven that information that evokes emotional experiences in viewers or listeners is the most watched. That is why everyone can notice that news is predominantly negative: car accidents, thefts, wars, deaths, unrest, protests, and so on. Simply put, what sells is what is most bought. Everything we receive – information, news, advertisement, video footage – shapes our perception of the world and of ourselves within it. Mass media are, without exaggeration, the strongest weapon of the enemy of Christians. There are countless studies on ways of media manipulation. As mentioned, media publish information considered more or less important, thereby shaping public opinion – the state of mass perception and understanding of reality. According to God’s Word, a Christian should not be guided by circumstances or by what is in the world, but by faith. And it is we who decide – holding the remote control in our hands.

Anna Širka

In the past, occultism was often in the background and the public did not have enough knowledge about it. This was because people who had knowledge in this area used it for their selfish goals.

By the end of the 20th century, we can observe a major change in this area, when occultism began to appear in public. Books on this subject started to be published, and in movies and television occultism began to be presented as something normal, everyday, as well as something new and interesting or “exotic.” Spiritist boards, as well as other occult tools, began to be sold as toys for children, with the aim that the public would accept them as something normal and safe.

Deuteronomy 18:10 – “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices divination, or an astrologer, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a witch, or one who consults a spirit, or a medium, or one who inquires of the dead. For everyone who does these things is an abomination to the Lord.”

It is clear that all these mentioned things are not from God, but are demonic. Someone may say: well, it is just a game, I don’t even believe in it – reading horoscopes, tarot cards, palm reading or coffee reading, various figurines and objects for protection, and similar things. I practice yoga and meditation for personal health, what is wrong with that? Behind all ideas and practices that are not of God, there is some spirit. The world says that yoga is only exercise for the body, because they look only at what the physical eyes see. It is necessary to realize that the Word of God clearly says that our deeds show what we truly believe. (James 2:14-26)

It is true that there are many people in occultism who deceive and try to earn money in this way. But there are also those who have gone deeper into the spiritual realm and unknowingly cooperate with the enemy, because the Word of God clearly says that the enemy disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). This disguise can be seen

Vladimir Struhar

The Church gains in value and credibility when the people believe with the heart, confess with the mouth, and confirm with deeds.

“The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews gather from everywhere, and I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them. Look, they know what I said. And when he had said this, one of the servants standing there struck Jesus and said, Is that how you answer the high priest?”

Jesus answered him: If I spoke evil, bear witness to the evil; but if well, why do you strike me?” John 18:19

Before the crucifixion, the Lord Jesus was brought before the high priest Annas, who questioned him about his disciples and his teaching. Reading the Gospels that describe this event and the crucifixion, we notice that the Lord Jesus was more silent than responsive to the deceitful accusations of false witnesses. Therefore, let us focus on the questions to which the Lord Jesus did answer. To the high priest’s question about his teaching, the Lord Jesus replied that he always spoke openly to the world, in public places such as synagogues and temples. He reminds us that these are places where Jews gather from everywhere, and that he never spoke anything secretly. As confirmation, he presents to Annas that he should ask those who heard the Lord Jesus’ teaching, for they know what he said.

Then one of the servants who stood there and listened to the conversation between the Lord Jesus and Annas struck the Lord Jesus and said: “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him: “If I spoke evil, testify to what was evil in my words.”

We notice that the Lord Jesus stands firmly by his teaching and has no fear or hesitation about having those who heard it examined to confirm whether it is so. The reason the Lord Jesus is so confident is that he confirmed everything he said by his deeds. He taught as he lived, and he lived as he taught. Whether we look at the deeds to verify that the words match what Jesus did, or read the words and examine the deeds to see whether Jesus acts as he speaks, his deeds and words rest on the same foundation—the WORD. The Word of which the Gospel of John 1:1–5 writes; the Word through which all things came to be, in which is life, and which is the light of men, shining in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

The cover of the magazine Manna is a color print—so‑called offset printing. Each color impression in offset printing is composed of millions of tiny dots in CMYK colors, that is, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key. If you looked at the cover under a magnifying glass, you would see this—but in color:

Thus, the four (CMYK) mentioned colors are mixed to achieve the desired shade. Any shade you can imagine is obtained by mixing these four colors. For a photo to be clear and sharp, each of these dots must be in its proper place. If any of these four colors were shifted by a millimeter in any direction, the image would become blurry. So, millions of dots placed correctly give us such a beautiful cover.

The life of the Lord Jesus is an image—an image composed of thousands of words and deeds, perfectly clear because words and deeds are in harmony. He taught as he lived, and he lived as he taught.

In the Gospels we have recorded cases where Pharisees and scribes gathered around Jesus and tested him with the aim of catching him in his speech and finding even a single word that would contradict his teaching and deeds. They insisted on it because they did not understand that it was impossible. The prophet Isaiah foretold it (Isaiah 53:9): “He committed no violence, nor was deceit ever in his mouth.”

In John’s Gospel, chapter 10, we have an account in which Jesus was among the people, explaining that he is the Christ. In verses 37 and 38, the Lord Jesus says: If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me; but if I do them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works. The Lord Jesus offered the possibility that we should not believe him if we found that he teaches one thing and does another. As if he said to us: Examine whether I teach the truth; if not, do not believe me. For everything he taught, he confirmed by deeds. His mind, speech, and actions were in complete harmony.

What does this mean for us? Human nature is well known to us. Everyone knows himself. We are aware that a person can think one thing, speak another, and do a third. This is the most difficult case. A slightly “easier,” but not excusable case is when we speak about something while already knowing in our minds that we will act differently. It is the sin called deceit, which indirectly harms us most of all. A person with such an attitude degrades himself. Friends and close ones trust him minimally or not at all. His words and deeds most often have no value because they are unreliable.

It is normal that a person makes mistakes. He plans one thing, but for certain reasons it turns out differently. Nevertheless, our goal is to speak and live the truth, as God strongly teaches us. Therefore, let us strive for our deeds and words to be in harmony, like the words and deeds of the Lord Jesus. Let our lives be that clear image of a reborn person—an image of a person whose life is changed by God himself. Let our lives be light in the darkness for those who seek truth—God.

As James wrote: “But above all, my brothers, do not swear—neither by heaven nor by earth nor by any other oath. Let your yes be yes and your no be no, so that you may not fall under judgment.” James 5:12

Also Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

On one occasion God said of the nation of Israel that they are a people near to him with their lips, but far from him in their hearts. With their mouths they praised and worshiped him, but in their hearts they lived for themselves. The Church gains in value and credibility when the people believe with the heart, confess with the mouth, and confirm with deeds.

Martin Širka Jr.

Last night we experienced it in full measure. There was thunder, lightning, and a strong wind blowing, while we were waiting for the much‑needed rain to fall. As the lightning illuminated our whole house and the thunder seemed to shake the windows, only two or three drops fell. This picture spoke to me. This world needs rain. It needs rain that refreshes hearts, homes, families, lives. It is in tense expectation that the long‑awaited rain will come, rain that will water the dry places in their lives. Sometimes, instead of bringing them rain, we act like lightning and thunder—lighting up their houses and shaking their windows. We make ourselves visible, we have titles, we have positions, we flash far and wide. People hear of us; we speak of what we have done, what we will do, what we possess—it thunders. Lightning and thunder are chaotic and unpredictable phenomena. They often repel, evoke fear, and create discomfort. They are only the short‑term result of an electric charge, which often causes damage on the earth. Praise that no one is like us only repels. It is a disturbing phenomenon. Such light only stirs up unease. Titles and positions are only temporary phenomena. They begin with us and end with us. Then we act like an electric charge that can bring fear and harm to the earth. It can be deadly dangerous. And yet only two or three drops of rain fall, which do not bring the needed result. People want to protect themselves from lightning and thunder. They do not want to be struck by them, and so there are many pieces of advice on how to guard against them. Lightning and thunder impose themselves violently, while rain is what everyone longs for. People wait for it in the fields, on their lawns, in gardens, in courtyards. They know it will bring the sprouting of seed, the blooming of a dry flower, the renewal of parched soil, the watering of dried grass, the refreshing of withered air. They know that rain will revive dead relationships, bring the sprouting of the seed of love, renew their dry hearts and bones, water parched families, bring life into homes, refresh the dry atmosphere in which they live. They expect rain, but often it ends with the destructive force of lightning and thunder. Lightning and thunder strike, pound, and we assign them words like rumble, crack, bang, crash. Rain waters, renews, refreshes, regenerates. There is a proverb that says: “You lived briefly like lightning that flashes and disappears.” Yesterday’s lightning and thunder brought us no benefit. We will not remember these phenomena for long. Today, the shopkeeper, when I entered the store, said: “I want it to rain.” What a hint at my thoughts today! People are once again in tense expectation of living rain…

Anna Pintir

I am going through a trial – often spoken statement. I have a hard time, but my God sees me – frequent expression of self-pity. Why me? – a question of helplessness. Often we waste days, months, years in self-pity. Often we remember Job and often in such moments we identify with him. “Job’s” days have come upon me. But Job too was tested. I am like servant Job, I must silently endure everything, that is my lot. Surely he did not have it easy, but as if we forget a small detail. There is a “small” catch. Job was blameless, upright, righteous, feared God and shunned evil. A deeply devout man. A noble man. A courageous man. A man of whom God was proud: Have you considered my servant Job? There is none like him... Ah, have “Job’s” days really come upon us? Is God proud of us? Are we tested in our blamelessness, or are we reaping the fruits of our dishonesty? Are we truly tested in our righteousness, or are we reaping the fruits of our lack of character? Are we truly tested in our devotion, or are we reaping the fruits of our own opinions? Are we truly tested in our shunning of evil, or are we reaping the fruits of our malice and selfishness? Has a trial come upon us, or our own harvest? If we are blameless, upright, righteous, if we fear God and shun evil – we are already victors. No trial, obstacle, hardship, unfavorable situation or circumstance will destroy us. God will be proud of us. He will boast. If, however, these epithets do not belong to us, Job’s days have not struck us. We have been struck by the harvest, which knows no exceptions. Even then, however, we do not remain alone and abandoned by God... it is necessary to forget self-pity, gather our harvest and begin to sow good seed of blamelessness, courage, and devotion.

Anna Pintir

Jesus found the leper whom He healed at the pool near the Sheep Gate, in the temple. The healed leper did not go to his acquaintances to tell them and rejoice together. He did not go to political leaders to boast that a man who had been rejected and pushed to the margins of society was now healthy. He did not go to the broadcasting company and the media did not speak about it. He did not reproach those who had so often passed by and did not help him. He no longer mentioned that he had no one to help him. He went to the temple. Jesus found him in the temple.

We do not know his name. We know that he waited, and waited, and waited. He did not despair. He did not lose hope. He did not give up. He was a witness to many miracles that happened before his eyes. He himself had not experienced such a miracle, but he was expecting it. On that day he experienced two miracles. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke to him, and at the same time he received the answer to his problem. I do not know which of those two miracles is greater!

Finally, we learn that the Healer found the healed man in the temple.

Where do we go when we receive the answer to our long-term problem?

Where will the Lord Jesus find us? In family idyll, on the radio, in the media, in a political position, at the top of society and the church? Will bitterness remain in us because selfish passersby did not help us when we needed it most? Where will Jesus find us when the answer comes to our situation, struggle, and need? He would most gladly find us in the temple.

Let us not give up. Let us not despair. Let us not lose hope. Perhaps sometimes we are only witnesses and have not yet experienced it ourselves. Let us expect, let us believe, and Jesus will speak to us and personally touch us.

The Healer and the healed should most gladly meet in the temple.

Anna Pintir