Blog a thon day 14 - keeping an eye out

Today I was riding on the Metro and I was struck how many people are basically oblivious to everything around them. This is why some of the pickpockets are so successful. People are just enduring the ride until they get home. I on the other hand like looking around checking out people’s expressions and dress. Some look blank, some look happy, and some look sad. They come in all ages. The other day I watched a brother and sister interacting, it was fun. The older sister kept unzipping her brother’s jacket and he kept zipping it up. There was no anger, just a game they were playing. But that is not my point. My point comes back to the level of awareness that people live in. I remember my OIC giving a lecture about this. He had these 5 different levels from level one which is oblivion to level five, feeling completely threatened. I kind of scoffed at it, but now I can see application. I purposely try to be paying attention to what is going around me and where my wallet is and such. I try to hold my backpack in my right hand, resting against my wallet in my front pocket. It makes it kind of hard to pickpockets to get your wallet when you are touching it.

I also pay attention to the people around me. I have learned to spot pick pockets by the way they look at others. Some travel alone and try to play that they not paying attention, but their eyes tell you another story. Other times they work in teams of two or more. I remember being buffed about by three of them when I was getting on to a marshrouteka. They acted like they had lost their balance, but I knew immediately what would going on. I’m not invulnerable, I just pay attention.

But this led me to thinking about this from a spiritual perspective. Am I watching to see what God would have me see? Will I see the babushka who is crying because she doesn’t know how she is going to pay the bills? Will I see the young person who is hurting because their home life is a wreck? Will I see a brother or sister in the Lord and rejoice with them? In Ephesians Paul tells us that we are God’s workmanship, made for good works. I read that so say that since He redeemed me, part of my job is to do good works; good works My Lord has prepared in advance for me to do, but how can I see these opportunities if my spiritual eyes are not looking for them?

I think I miss some opportunities because I am so bent on where I am going. I am going to the store or I am off to work or I am returning home. If I would slow down for a minute and give my spiritual eyes a chance, I bet the spirit would tell me a thing or to. Now I always seem to gravitate to the idea of giving. In fact the Lord stopped me on a bridge the other day to talk to me about that. I think I may have written about it earlier, but the opportunities that God has provided for me are there. I just need to have eyes to see and ears to hear. God cares about people. God wants us to care about them too. Yes we should love our family and friends, but shoot even non-Christians do that. Jesus says we are to love those who are unlovely. I am not sure how good I am at that, but I am willing to learn. I have been noticing a lot more of them around me. I pray and desire that my language skills would be up to sharing the Good news with them. That is in fact one of my weekly lessons. Pray with me that I would become proficient enough to share to love of God with these hurting people. Pray that I would have the courage to reach out to people who might be dirty and smelly, drunk and angry. Pray that I would be God’s light in this dark dark world.

I also would challenge you. How is your spiritual vision? Do you see bad people who deserve their plight or do you see broken people crushed by the hardness and hurtfulness of this world? If you see the first and not the latter, then I suggest you ask God to adjust your prescription and help you to see people the way He sees them. We are told that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. That joy was the thought of making a way to save all the broken and hurting sinners of the world, because He knows how much the Father loves us.

In His Grace,

Alan

Blog a thon day 13 - of faith and works

Matthew 5:16 – Let you light so shine before me that they may see your good worlds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Have you ever had a Biblical theme that you cannot get away from? This happens all the time to me. God begins to speak to my heart about something and then every where I turn I see reference to it or opportunity for application. In the letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul says that we are not saved by works, lest we boast. He goes on to say that we have been saved by grace; a true statement. We cannot save ourselves and we cannot save anyone else from damnation. We can tell them the Good News, we can share what we know about our faith, the rest is up to the Holy Spirit and the person. But somehow in the process the Protestant church has some how managed to think that works are a bad thing.

If a particular Christian faith says that we need to do works, we denounce them saying “They are preaching a works salvation!” But how can we have a salvation and there be no works. How can we say we have faith in God and there be no works? I had a very well read friend of mine say that when you take and boil down everything that both Calvin (who put God’s sovereignty first) and his antithetical student, Jacob Arminius, who put man’s freedom first, it comes to this. They both agree that the only true proof of salvation is in the works of the person.

I have become convinced that we may not be saved by works, but we were saved for works! Jesus didn’t just die on the cross to guarantee us a seat at the great banquet in the sky. He died so that we could be free of sin (basically selfishness) both its penalty and its works. God has planned good works in advance for us to accomplish. God has recreated us that we can be His workmanship, created for good works.

So what does that look like? It doesn’t mean protesting Obama. I’m pretty convinced its not supporting the protest against proposition 8 in California either. Its not starting movements called “God hates fags” and it isn’t attending gay rights parades either. Our good works are when we look at those in the world in need of care and comfort and we become the comforting arms of God. Yes there is a moral code associated with Christianity. Sexual purity is something to be striven for and maintained. But as we look at the whole some of the Bible NT and OT alike there are by far more scriptures encouraging God’s people to maintain justice for the poor and care for those in need, than there are even dealing with Holiness (as my Seminary professor once told me).

We cannot have salvation in Christ Jesus without an outflow of good works. It is not the government’s job to do good works. We aren’t really even supposed to be paying them to do that. Instead, we are to be the hands and feet of a loving God who cares for and defends the widow and the fatherless. In 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus makes it pretty clear in his illustration of the sheep and the goats. The goats (unbelievers – those who will not enter into His Kingdom) acknowledged the Lord Jesus but did no good works. The sheep (believers – those who will enter into His Kingdom), also acknowledged the Lord Jesus but feed the hungry, clothed the naked and visited those in jail.

The New Testament is pretty clear. You cannot ignore the needs of those living around you (believers and unbelievers alike) and say you have faith in God. The only belief that you have in that case is the same belief that the demons have and they shutter at the thought of Jesus.
Its easy to find excuses why not to care for others. We have bills, we have families; blah, blah, blah. I know I have and still struggle with making those kinds of excuses. But God is watching. And He cares for even the glue sniffers and prostitutes. If this seems overwhelming, I suggest you start small. Ask God to show you someone today that you could help. You may get ripped off. You may throw good money after bad, but I ask you, “Do you want to be counted with the sheep or the goats?”

We should use our money wisely in fact giving money is probably not the best way (it’s just the easiest) to help other believers and even our unbelieving neighbors. But still the plight of those in need must be answered. We don’t have to help them maintain a standard of living that so many westerners have come to expect, but we do need to make sure that those unable to care for themselves are cared for.

Lets all shine for Jesus!

In Him
Alan

Blog a thon day 11 - Just another sinner

So what should I write about today…? I can always complain about Christians… I are one and they irritate the stuff out of me. But finger pointing and waving won’t do me much good. I want to write about something important, something relevant; something I understand. I want to expose my dark side and while doing so expose yours. We all have stuff and the sooner we own up to it the better. Too many people pretend that they have it all together (some people even think I have it all together – fooled them!), most of us try to convince others that we have it all together. I cannot say that a day goes by without me thinking the worst about someone, thinking everything is dependent upon me and find myself worrying what others will think.

SO let’s us make this easy. I don’t have it all together. I have a temper that flares from time to time, a mind that was corrupted at a very young age. I procrastinate, I make excuses for not doing what I should and for doing what I shouldn’t. I justify my sin and condemn others’. So what makes me any better than anyone else? Nothing actually. I am a sinner. But there is something that helps. I have been saved by grace. Christ has paid the price for my sin and given me the promise and seal of His Holy Spirit. I have a hope and a future.

Yet there is still this sinful man living in this redeemed body. I am not sure how this all works, but I trust that God will complete the work he has begun in me. I am better than I was before giving my life to Christ. Some aspects of my life have radically changed. But somehow I start to think I am better than others… I’m not! If it weren’t for the work that Christ has and continues to do in me I would be a mess. Oh I would likely have a nice friendly exterior, but the truth be known without Christ I would just be another hell bent, self-serving human being.

So I am not in much of a position to judge anyone, yet Christ has given me a call to correct, to rebuke and to encourage because most of us are unwilling to listen to sound doctrine. We like it when people tell us what we want to hear and we hate it when they say things that we disagree with. So I have to set myself and my assumptions aside and look to both the Word of God and to God’s Holy Spirit working in me. I will likely continue to provide correction and the occasional rebuke and I pray some encouragement through careful instruction, but not because I am uniquely qualified in myself, but rather because Christ has chosen me to do so and equipped me to do so. I am no better than the next guy; guilty of one sin – guilty of all sin. But I do want to be obedient to the call the Christ has given me, so hence some of my scathing blogs. I cannot let people live out lies thinking they are doing God’s will. That isn’t very loving on my part. Matthew 7 scares me too much for that. So I will continue to write as I am either provoked or as I am led by the Spirit. Please pray for me that I do not become self-deceived in all of this or puffed up. I can do none of it apart from God, which means I need to stick as close to Him as I can. I pray that you too will learn that lesson. Stick close to God and life will be so much more doable even when it’s tough.

In Him
Alan

Blog a thon day 7

To the god of freedom
As I was praying for America this day it struck me – our nation is and has been sacrificing to another god. It is the god of choice and personal determination. It is how this nation was founded and it is a value that continues to drive us. Now we have sacrificed over 35 million unborn children to this god. And the people of the land want to sacrifice more. President elect Obama wants to sign the Freedom of Choice Act to make abortion of all kinds available to all women. And some of us actually think this is a Christian country!

It is obvious by our acts that we have made the god of choice our god. The God of the Universe is not the god we trust in. We trust in a god who will give us what our greedy little hearts desire. We want freedom to choose for good or ill. We want freedom from the responsibility of facing the consequences of our actions. We want freedom to have what our eyes see and our flesh desires no matter how damaging or wrong it might be. This is the kind of freedom that America has come to crave and thinks the rest of the world needs.

Freedom from oppression is not a bad thing, but freedom from all consequences is dangerous. Consequences teach us self control. Consequences teach us good from bad. Consequences help us to see that others are valuable too.

Christ has granted freedom to all who will believe in his name. But the freedom He grants us is the freedom from the power of sin; freedom from our baser selfish desires that cause so much of the wrong in the world. The sacrifice that Christ demands of us is not our unborn children but of our personal life; our wants our desires our hopes – our future. Being a Christian means that we are willing to accept that we many not know what is best for us. Being a Christian means that we believe God knows what’s best for us. We Americans live in a culture where the greatest good seems to be seen in an individual’s rights, but this is antithetical to Christianity, which says the greatest good is in our personal and corporate sacrifice to/for the betterment of others. The greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is not he who rules over others, but rather the one who lays his live down for the sake of others, he or she who is the servant of all.

So pray with me for America, that the people of God would wake up and realize that maybe they have been worshiping at the altar of another god. Its time to tare down our idols, repent and seek the One True God – the God who sent his son to die for our sins. The God whose desire for us is better than anything we might think or imagine. Our God isn’t a republican or a democrat or libertarian. He is the absolute God of the universe. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts.

So let us cast aside our darkened thinking and accept the mind of Christ that we might honor Him with our lives and see His Kingdom come and His Will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen

Your servant in Christ,
Alan

Blog-a-thon day 6 - Seasons in life

The weather is making a turn here. It is finally starting to get cold. I went out to day to do some shopping and I just loved the smell of fall leaves and crisp cool air. It was good to be out of the apartment for a bit. I always find it interesting looking at the trees and watching their change over the seasons. I am always looking for metaphors that point to our life in Christ. Right now the leaves have served their purpose to act as little solar powered factories that convert CO₂ and water into sugar. Now that the days are short, the tree sheds them and goes into a period of restfulness, while it prepares itself for the next period of growth.

Our lives are like that. We have times when we are taking in the Word; being fed, then there are times of quite reflection where we prepare ourselves for the next growth period. I guess that is the point of our lives in Christ, or one of them, in that we are to grow. We are to grow into people that more and more each year, resemble Him. The more a try grows the more critters it can provide a home for. The more we grow into Christ the more we can minister to the needs of others. But there will be seasons for each. Solomon states in Ecclesiastes that there is a time and season for everything.

I have also noticed that all these seasons produce an abundance of leaves that to us humans seem a mess, but in God’s plan provide for the making of good soil. We busily carry them away as garbage, but they would be better suited to being converted into compost for gardens. Sometimes we look at the results of our life and think it is all wasteful, but then maybe if we looked a little closer we could offer our cast offs to someone who could use them.

As members of Christ’s body, we are here to do a number of things. We are called to help one another, and we are called to reach out to a hurting and dying world. I am just so glad that God is at work in me making me better equipped each year. Transforming me bit by bit so that I look more and more like Him. Sometimes my life is quite fruitful, other times is seems barren and dry. But no matter what it seems like, Christ is at work in me and through me by his Word and His Holy Spirit. I am so thankful that it is not all up to me. I cannot change myself. I do not have in and of myself to become all that Christ would have me be, but I do know that He is faithful and he will complete the work he has begun in me.

I pray that whatever season of life that you are in that you would look to Him who has redeemed you and is your strength and your hope.

To God be the glory, for ever and ever, Amen!

In Him,
Alan

Elections are over

November 5, 2008
The Election is over… now our job begins

Okay, America has its first “black” president. I don’t have a problem with that. I do have problem with what he stands for, but like it or not for the next four years he is going to be the president of America and he is going to have a Democrat dominated congress to help him ram though every bill that is on the Democrat’s agenda. I weep for my nation, I weep for all the killing that will continue and will be even be made easier in abortion clinics.

But didn’t the Christians of the first century have an even more difficult time. Their meetings were antithetical with regard to Roman law. The emperor of Rome was god, and Christians denied that. Many where killed in horrible ways to sate the hate of the Roman empire for these people who loved God and loved each other. So Christian’s I guess its time to repent for our short sightedness; to repent for not praying for our nation. I don’t like what the Democrats stand for, but I also don’t always like that the Republicans stand for. I guess I would be more like a southern Democrat of the 1960’s. I hate that America as so little regard for the unborn Americans. We have reclassified them as non-humans to we can rid ourselves of them; so that we don’t have to be responsible for our actions. We have done to them what Hitler did to the Jews, Gypsies, Poles, Ukrainians and anyone else he didn’t like. I hate that America has worked at redefining marriage to include same-sex marriage. But here we are with all these people in control of our country. We can shake our fists at those who voted them in office. We can shake our fists at those in office. But it comes back to us; were we obedient to God’s commandments and Jesus’ great commission in America? I think sadly, no we were not! We failed to impact our country with the Gospel message. We have been convinced that some how people should come to us (in our churches) for the answers, when Jesus said, “Go and make disciples.” I really don’t think we have made many disciples. We have lots of church attendees, but few true disciples, because we leaders in Christ’s church have convinced ourselves that if we just preach good enough and have great services and cool programs that some how we will impact the world. Sorry, it’s going to take a lot more people than us. And it’s not programs of preaching that changes lives it’s Jesus Christ working in and through his Holy Spirit that will change us. He won’t change us into Republicans or Democrats. He will change us into the people of God who love Him, who love each other and who love our neighbors so much we wouldn’t want them to live without Him.

Okay, I have ranted enough. I guess I am just frustrated by the challenge that we now face in this nation. But God is bigger than any challenge we face if we will just set our own agendas aside and submit ourselves to His will for us. Don’t know that it is… Seek it and you shall find it… Knock and the door will be opened. God wants us to both seek Him, and to respond to Him, while He Himself reaches out to us. This election’s doesn’t mean God is powerless. It doesn’t mean that the devil has won. But it does mean that for those of us who think life is precious, that we are concerned about what the future holds. Let us all pray and seek God’s face and pray for our new president-elect that God will convict him of any wrong thinking or any wrong motives and will grant him the wisdom he needs to lead our nation with integrity and honor.

“The heart of the King is in the hand of the Lord.”

In Him,
Alan

Ukraine is in trouble

November 4, 2008

So what gives for today…
Ukraine is in for a rough ride I think. Here in Kyiv, they have just raised the price of the metro and buses 4 and 3 times what it was. For the first time that I have been here it is actually possible to get a Marshroutka for less than the cost of a city bus – crazy! To add the problems, the people have lost confidence in the banks and over the past month people have withdrawn some three and a half billion dollars from banks attempting to buy US dollars, which in turn drove the US dollar up (at one point a few days ago the exchange rate was 7.00 to $1), up from 4.6 in August. They have basically closed the banks or limited people’s withdrawals and the exchange rate has settled at about 6.00 or a bit less. Good for me, my dollar goes a bit further, bad for the average Ukrainian because soon all the prices of products that come from outside of Ukraine will be more expensive.

Because of the world wide recession, steel sales have all but dried up and steel makes up for 40% of Ukraine’s industry exports. So, massive layoffs have occurred; some 20,000 laid off from the steel industry, but country wide half a million people have been laid off. There are all kinds of dire predictions for the future of this nation, but I see it as a chance for Christians to step up and start being Christians, helping those who have lost hope, inviting others to know the hope that we have, blessing others with the blessing that God has granted us.

I know it isn’t easy. I’ve let recent financial concerns rob me of my joy. But God continues to be faithful. God continues to bless. I pray that I will be a reflection of what He is doing for me to others. I am repenting of my faithlessness. I am not looking to capitalist, politicians or philosophers to save me. My one and only savior is Jesus Christ. I pray that I will honor Him in the way I treat others around me, those who need a drink of water, a meal or clothes for their backs. God is able to do immeasurably more than I can think or imagine. I have no real concerns. I have wants, but thus far God continues to meet all our needs in this household.
Praying your day will be filled with opportunities to praise God for his goodness!

In Him,

Alan

Just blonging along

November 3, 2008
I guess I am a couple of days late on this… That is for the unofficial international month of blogging. I cannot say that is its real name, but November is considered that month for blog posting. It is a challenged raised to us to post a blog every day… Oh well already missed that. But still I want to rise to the challenge if even a couple of days late. I do have things to say, I do have opinions and stories to share so once again… here goes… (yes I like ellipses).

So here it is Monday, the 3rd say of August. What do I have to say? I think for starters I will report on my weekend. I was left alone this week end. And for Alan that is not a pleasant thing. I would much rather have people around me, even if they are just sitting there quietly. AnnMarie was at a woman’s retreat and Emily stayed at a friends. I stayed home and did chores... I did 5 loads of laundry, caught us up on downloading some favorite programs and I made homemade split-pea soup. It was my first time. I also had to go and do some foraging. In fact I went out three separate times on Saturday trying to stock up on stuff, and check the mail. I also watched a few episodes of StarGate Atlantis, Prison Break, Numb3rs and StarTrek Enterprise (thanks Kit for those DVD's). So here my wife was off being spiritually refreshed and I was just living in the flesh… such is life at times. Sunday on the other hand was another deal all together. I got to go to Chernighiv, which is my habit for the first Sunday of the month. I got to share at my friend, Valeriy’s home church. God has been talking to me about a topic… Long and short of it – We cannot be saved by works, but we were saved for works. Want to know anymore… read Ephesians and who knows I may yet get to blog about it.

But it was a great trip. I always feel used of God when I go there and I am also well received. Valeriy and I have some great theological discussions. This week we were talking about the duality of our existence as Christians. Both redeemed of God, yet living in a body that does it best to try to lead us astray, and has wants that are often contrary to our new redeemed nature. My argument was that our new redeemed life should exert control over every aspect of our life. Valeriy argued that we will always being living lives driven by flesh. Some things like jobs and food feed the flesh, other things like church, the bible and prayer feed the spiritual side of us. It was fun to wrestle with what the scriptures say and present our points with God’s word. I’m not sure either of us convinced the other of anything but it was good all the same wrestling with it and hearing his side. I am discovering that Ukrainians have some strange ideas (well strange to me anyway) about faith and spirituality and I am working at sorting out what is culture and what is scripture.

So now it is Monday. I’m trying to get back on track. I have done my scripture reading… still need to pray, had breakfast, studied some Russian and need to work on my course rewrite (will it ever end?). I’ll call this it for now… let’s see what tomorrow brings.

The preacher dude

God Sightings Part I

God sightings Part I
Category: Life

These past weeks were an interesting time for AnnMarie and me. It seems that everywhere we turned God's blessing has showed up. We knew that we needed to get new passports and visas. This meant a substantial outlay of cash as well as time out of the country. I had been counting on George Bush's, "Stimulus Check" to get us over the hump. If our support would just stay on track we would be fine, I thought. Well the check never arrived from the Government; turns out I didn't earn enough tax credits for that. And our regular support was really short (almost $500 short). But God had a plan.

He put us on somebody's heart and someone gifted us enough to make up for the
shortage and help considerably with the costs of the passports and visas. The person remains anonymous. I don't know who they are and no one is saying… so whoever you are, I thank you for being obedient to God's prompting. We wouldn't have made it through this passage without going deeper in debt. But the blessings didn't stop there.

Monday morning AnnMarie and I headed out on our adventure to Warsaw and back. It would take us roughly 60 hours to get there and back as well as take care of business.

Our first stop was at the central train station in Kyiv (Valkzál). There we found a minivan (marshrouteka) to our first stop. We had been waiting to get all our ducks in a row before we took off. We had got new passports ($150) and letters of invitation. We really didn't feel like we could make any reservations before we had those two items in hand.

Now at our next stop, Lutsk', where our friends Hillary and Michele live and do ministry. We figured if we have any problems we could get their help. We didn't known the schedule of the buses and not sure we would make the connection. Little did we know that Michele was n Kyiv when we were heading towards Lutsk'. But as it turned out things went pretty smooth there. We weren't in Lutsk' 15 minutes and I had purchased tickets to Warsaw. We called Hilary who was at home with the kids, chatted a bit and said maybe next time. Now you have to understand how far I am out of my comfort zone at this point. I don't like going somewhere I have never been before without reservations and a hotel or something we could stay at. I also have never purchased tickets without the help of a translator. We had no reservation and we didn't even know if we could get a
bus for sure. Emily had checked on line and there were a number of hostels with beds available. But still a new town, never been there and not sure of where we were going (had a map but until you are there a map doesn't do me much good). I was a bit edgy the night before and the morning of our departure, but I realized with my wife's help that I was really walking in unbelief and needed to repent. God was there for us we just needed to trust Him and keep moving forward.

Our bus to Warsaw was not all that great, but it worked. It was a 40 passenger bus with lots of glass. But the border is where things got interesting. We arrived at about 8:30 pm (much later than I had expected) and the lines were long, but I guess public transportation gets head of the line privileges. The problem started with our passports.

We gave them our new ones and had our old ones on the ready, but they didn't take them. But then they came looking for us because there was no proof of our entering Ukraine in our new passports. Then when we gave them our old ones they got upset and I was having trouble understanding what was wrong. They seemed upset that we were coming across the border when we were. The problem turned out to be a bit of Russian induced dyslexia on my part. I had looked at our registration stamp in our passport and thought it read 2 Sep (which made sense cause that is when our passports expired) because I saw the Cyrillic letters "cep" which in my mind was sep. But the letter "p" in Cyrillic is really an "r". It wasn't 02 September when our registration ended it as the second of August! The abbreviation was for the Ukrainian word for August. OOPs. There wasn't much we could do about it. I explained that I had thought it said 2 September (and oh yes the Russian word for most of the 12 months sound quite similar to their English equivalents while the Ukrainian words have no correlation to the English words for the 12 months). They wanted to know what we were doing in Ukraine. I explained that we were volunteers and worked for no pay; That I was a teacher and my wife was a secretary. They had us step outside while they called their supervisor.

Now legally what should have happened was we should have been detained at the border and brought before a judge to explain why we had failed to register and then been fined some $90 - $120 each for failing to do so. But the guy decided for whatever reason to let us go. He stamped our new passports with an exit stamp and said just show that from now on. I had been praying for diplomatic immunity and it seems that God granted us just that. Then it was on to the Polish customs agents.

It went smoothly. The only comment they had for us was the question, "Why would you want to work in Ukraine as volunteers?" Apparently, the Poles may have some issue with Ukrainians. The rest of our bus trip was smooth. Now we were not sure where the bus stopped, but Hilary had described this empty lot with a bazaar surrounding it. We arrived there, but not everyone got out, so we decided to stay aboard. The next major stop was at something that had huge letters saying "Centralny" something. I remembered from reading directions to one of the hostels not far from the Ukrainian Embassy that this was a point of reference. So I asked about it and the driver indicated this was where we should get out. It turned out to be the central train station. It was 4:30 in the morning, local. So we just hung out at the train station and tried to get our bearings. Finally we left by foot and headed towards the hostel and the embassy. It took an hour but we found it and learned that the embassy would be opened at 8:00.

We were happy to know that because for all we knew it might have been a holiday. and it turns out that they are closed on Wednesdays! We walked by and stopped at a 24 hour grocery store to buy us something to eat (yougurt & buttermilk. Fresh bread hadn't arrived yet). Then headed to the hostel.

The girl finishing up the night shift was very understanding and accommodating. She let us rest in the lobby and use the bathroom to clean up a bit. She even sold us the last 2 passes for public transportation that were good for all day. We were back at the Embassy in time for its opening even if there was a bit of a line.

Within 20 minutes we had our forms in hand and were busy filling them out. At first we thought we were in trouble because the girl behind the glass said we didn't bring all the right paper work, Yikes! But it turned out she missed seeing the critical piece of paper in the stack we gave her. She really didn't seem too happy to see us and was not happy about how we filled out the forms. When it came time to pay for our new visas she handed us a deposit slip with an address written on it. She told us it was downtown and sent us off without map or directions. My wife said "Hey, lets move to the left away from this line of people." and no sooner than we did that a taxi pulled up to dropped someone off. We got the driver's attention showed him the address and he was able to get us there no prob.
 The Rest of the Story

What I have learned living in Ukriane

13 June 2008 Okay… its been a while since I have written, so many things running around my head. One thing that I have been considering is what have I learned from living in Ukraine. I have grown up in America where we take so many things for granted… I have learned to be more observant and thankful in Ukraine for example. I have learned to watch my step. Flat even sidewalks are not a given. In many places trees are pushing up the cements blocks. Stairs are not of uniform height everywhere you go. Its quite common to be going down stairs and suddenly be taking a much longer step than you were expecting. Where American safety laws require standard stair heights and runs, there seems to be little ryhme or reason in how steps are designed here in Ukraine. I have learned to look both ways before crossing the street (even a one way street!). Ukrainian traffic laws seem to be optional. Not all cross walks work and some work only at certain times. Red lights are merely suggestions and some drivers will even honk at pedestrians using crosswalks who are slowing their drive home or to work. I have learned that just because it's a one way street doesn't mean that some one won't go the wrong way or back up long distances to avoid a little extra driving. At traffic circles its quite common (or at least is so on my street) for drivers to take a short cut along the crosswalk to avoid having to go all the way around the circle. Parking on sidewalks is permitted by law, which means cars regularly drive on sidewalks. It's not uncommon to suddenly realize that there is a car behind you waiting for you to get out of the way as you are walking along the sidewalk. I have learned to appreciate my college education regardless of what it cost me. In Ukraine some university teachers don't care much to teach, and many students apparently do not care to study (this includes international students). Many students and professors are content to call it a business deal. "You pay me, I give you a grade!" I really made sure I got my monies worth when I was in college. I know young people who are attending classes where their professors know nothing about the topics they are teaching and for students wanting to learn, they may have to find their own text books and do their own work on the side so as to learn what they need to learn. Now not all Ukrainian universities are like this, but it seems to be an all too common experience among young people I have talked to. I have learned to live with a smaller personal space bubble. Public transportation merged with western financial thinking means more people per square meter means greater earnings. I don't much care of being crammed in tightly with many of my Ukrainian neighbors, but it is a way of life. I am just glad I am tall so that I can still get a bit of fresh air and I can usually reach a hand hold. I have also learned to plan just a few things in a day, as public transportation may take a bit longer as I cannot always get a direct route to where I want to go. But I must admit that the metro (subway) is the fastest way to go when your destination is anywhere near a metro stop. I have learned to appreciate people who pick up after themselves. Ukraine when it comes to trash is like America before the big push for getting people to stop littering. If it were not for armies of people sweeping up and picking up after others, this city (Kyiv or Kiev for you Americans), would be a total mess. There are bottle caps, broken glass, plastic bottles and bags everywhere. Luckily the people who are paid to sweep and clean are pretty efficient. And by 9:00 A.M. much of the trash is swept up, but by evening, things are a mess again. It would be nice to see a "Don't be a litterbug!" campaign here. Not everyone is a mess pot, but there are enough of them to make the countryside a mess. I have learned to appreciate American women's modesty. Apparently Ukrainian women think that dressing like the cover of Vogue is normal; though sometimes their idea of style is obnoxious as well overly revealing. Some times its hard for a Christian man to find a safe place to rest his eyes. I have learned to appreciate regular running water. In Ukraine it is quite common to have your water, hot water or electricity shut off. Big cities like Kyiv its not as common, but not all cities have hot water and some have electricity on a schedule. This week and last our hot water is off, while the hot water plant gets it annual servicing. But the water has been shut off totally at least once during these past two weeks for reasons unknown. I have learned to respect my neighbors and appreciate their help. I am blessed in that our neighbors look out for us. On more than one occasion they have shooed away some charlatan or potential thief. Some of our neighbors are very quick to question strangers in our stairwell to make sure they are legitimate guest or business people. Our neighbors know how to be good neighbors and I am learn from them. I have learned what hospitality can look like. Ukrainians take grate pride in being generous with their guests. The crazy thing about it is the poorer the person, the greater the sacrifices and work they are willing to put into it. It is wild to think how those who have so little will sacrifice so much for a stranger. I am humbled by such people even if its just a culturally driven ritual, they still share greatly with we who already have so much. I have learned to see the world from a non-American perspective. Growing up in America I use to think we were the center of everything good and true. But I have met people from Ukraine, Iran, Lebanon, Cuba, Russia, Kazakhstan, Germany, Brazil, Peru, Uzbekistan, India and more. And I have come to the conclusion that America doesn't own the market when it comes to wonderful people, or redeeming cultures. No culture has it all right or all wrong. But I am looking for and finding people who reflect the values of God's heavenly Kingdom. Borders may matter to politicians, statesmen and patriots, but to God the only thing that matters is the state of a person's heart and the words and actions revealing said state. My brothers and sisters are not those who confess their allegiance to the flag, but those call Jesus their Lord, and live like His children. I may have been born in Canada, carry an American Passport, I may be registered to live in Ukraine, but my citizenship lies with Him who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. I pledge my allegiance to The Lamb. In Him, Alan

Spirital Maturity

I have come to a simple understanding of spiritual maturity.  It is when we move from the mindset that makes excuses for why we cannot do what we know is the right thing to do -- to where we where we defend our decision to do the right thing.

 

Maybe more simply said...

Before I could only think of the reasons I could not do what God wanted me to

Afterward I can only think of the reasons I must do what God wants me to do

Body Life

I have been reading and discussing what is really important with regard to church services. There are all these discussions about what is the best form for church and then all these discussion saying the church is irrelevant that the only thing that is important is our relationship with God.
Sometimes I get the feeling like some people think that fellowship with God is all we need. Yet even with the first man before the fall... God said it is not good that man should be alone. We need each other nearly as much as we need God. Some how people think a church service meets the need. It really doesn't in fact as of late... I have been talking to people at the church I attend about this very thing. Their relationships with each other in the front facing, one or a few guys doing all the talking kind of service really limits the possibilities of building relationships with other parts of the body. The bigger the service the harder it is to get to know someone. Even a home group/church offers only so much opportunity to build the intimacy that is necessary to make a "body". When I say body, I mean a group of believers functioning together to carry out God’s purposes by using the giftings He has given each of them to support and encourage each other so that they might carry out what ever it is that God is calling them to do.
Now I also attend meetings of a different kind (there are three of us) offer that intimacy as far as men can have, but we also need to see that we are part of something bigger. We cannot discount any kinds of these meetings because each has its own function. I thought a Promise Keepers event was awesome. I've never been to anything like my first one... but it lacks intimacy. But it gets you a bit charged up seeing the size and the potential of the Body of Christ. The author of Hebrews also says that it is not a good thing to keep from meeting. There is a necessity in our meeting in various sized groups to accomplish some of the body functions that God has put in each of us for the sake of the others. But there is not one answer. All of it is pointless though without the relationship with the Father, through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. And yes we need not necessarily have a group meeting to experience God's presence. But some times that is exactly how He does it. God is mysterious. Why is it that some people have the God experience in their closet and others or at other times it is experienced in the communion of saints? God only knows... I think this comes back to a friend’s discussion about our personal history and experience. Too often we think ours is the only experience that counts. If it failed for us it will fail for you. Or if it worked for me it should work for you (or there may be something wrong with you); which doesn't lead me any closer to an answer than "God ways are mysterious." We want a formula so that we can be successful. God wants worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth, whatever the venue.
Lets us worship together the Lord of creation striving together to build up each part so that it can do its part in God’s manifold plan for his church and this world.
Amen, P.A.

The New Years Bomb

24 Dec 2007
The New Year’s Bomb Category: Life

Well the landlord stopped over the other day to collect the next three months rent. He decided it was time to raise the rent. He said that starting January first our rent would be $700 instead of the customary $400. No notice... just I'm raising the rent NOW! He wasn't unkind about it, but it was so rude. No notice. No chance to ask supporters for more money... Just "oh ya I need to raise the rent" Okay I'm over stating it. Mostly he realized that what people are paying around us is much closer to $700 than our measily $400. So as a shrewd business man its a good move for him. Only problem... we don't have it. We might average $700 a month in support, so this kind of puts the bind on us. He's given us the option of coming up with the money or moving our by March.

So now its God's problem. Either we get the support or we move. I doubt we can find a place in Kyiv for less that $600 so that likely means moving out of the area. But whatever actions we choose, I trust that God will help us and help us decide the right thing to do.
Please pray with us as we consider what the right and God-led decision would be. We each have our ideas, but I really want to be on track with what God has in mind with us.
May your new Year be better and brighter as you follow the lead of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Him,
P.A.

Life As a Missionary

17 Dec 2007
Life as a missionary Category: Life

So I was having a discussion with Em to day, and it stirred up a number of thoughts in me. We were discussing people buying clothes and suddenly I was reminded about how few clothes I had growing up. My brother and I had one nice set for Sunday or other special events and a couple more shirts and pants. Not a lot of stuff. We didn't have many toys either. They could pretty much all fit on the top shelf of our closet. What we got was pretty much limited to birthdays and Christmas. We didn't go shopping to buy stuff, just because we wanted to kill some time.

My first bike wasn't a new one, it was a used bike that was stolen within a year of it being purchased... though that was my fault for leaving hit out somewhere instead of putting it away. But any way because of all the outsourcing of jobs and such things are cheaper compared than they were when I was a kid. People have so much more "disposable" income. They often have lots more stuff, unless their trying to live beyond their means by buying a house to expensive for their income.

But all that to say, we have come to expect to have lots of stuff. I think we just buy it because we can. We have credit cards and more disposable income than we ever have, so we just keep buying cool stuff because we can. We never even ask, or seldom ask, if we should buy all this stuff. Americans have so much stuff they have to buy storage sheds to keep it in, because there houses are overflowing with it!

I see it in American missionaries too. I can't speak for British or German, and this doesn't apply to all missionaries, but it seems many feel the need to live like they did in the states or better. You have probably seen me rant and rave about this before. The thing is they seem like nice enough people. They are personable, they share their homes for parties and stuff, they have lots of people over... but I cannot but think about how this affects the Ukrainians who come to visit. Ukrainians, as a whole, don't have as much disposable income. It isn't uncommon to see some of them wear the same outfit day after day. Many don't make more than $500 a month. So anyway, what are they thinking when they see American missionaries. I am afraid our money, our nice homes and toys speak louder than our Christian witness. Maybe to us they don't mean much, but to those with so little, our wealth speaks volumes. It says things I am sure we have no intent to say. Like trust in wealth. American is the answer to your problems. It must be great to be a missionary so that you can be rich.

I'm not sure I am much better. I think I live as I do because this is all my support will buy. If I had $1500, or $2000 or like some missionaries $4000 a month, I am sure I might have a few more toys. I think that would be the case, because that was my objective as an American – to have cool stuff. I like big screen TV's and computers and Palm pilots. I like DVD movies and video games. I really think God has purposely taken me to a place, financially, where I cannot have a lot of stuff. I am dependent upon him. At first I was kind of angry at all those people who don't support me who should (at least in my mind). Don't they know I am working for God and they should make the sacrifice to support me? Ouch! That isn't a great testimony or as we say in Ukraine, "that's not pretty." I have to ask myself if the bone I have to pick with "rich" missionaries isn't motivated by envy. Am I envious of all the cool stuff they have and the big homes they live in, all on their supporter's dime? You bet I am. I'm not proud of that. In fact I am working to repent of that attitude. I am really trying to be right with God.

I guess I could have worked the system; spent a year or two drumming up support. Making sure I had a clear mission statement as to why I was coming over here and all. I could write glowing reports about all the ministry we do and make sure I have lots of photo's to show on my website and such… but God did something different in me. It was like he wouldn't let me do that. He put such a compulsion in me to go, I just couldn't wait to make sure I had all the support I needed. The only promise I had was from God. He said if I go, he would make sure I had all the support I needed. Now I think there may be some difference between what I thought God was going to provide and what He knew I actually needed.

There are those who promised to support us but never provided a dime. There are those who supported us just for a short time, and there are those who have been faithful from the beginning and have even increased their support of us. It is a humbling thing to look to others for your support. If I had all my bills paid, and if I decided to do without life insurance and such, I could likely have an additional $800 or so to put to work. But the bills are still there and I guess I will just keep paying the insurance for now. I could also get some more money by dropping those missionaries we support. Isn't that crazy? I am a missionary supporting missionaries. It doesn't come out of the support we get from our people; it comes out of the remnant of my military stipend, but I cannot bring myself to do it.
Lately we have heard about people flying back to the US for Christmas, or going skiing in Austria. Someone is driving to the Netherlands and we know someone driving to Budapest. We on the other hand saw a down turn in our support and will not be going anywhere. We will be staying in Kyiv for Christmas and won't be going anywhere unless we absolutely have to. And I am okay with that. I'm really not a skiing in the Alps kind of guy, and neither is my wife. I would love to visit a few places like, Rome, Athens, Israel and such, but until God sees fit to change our circumstances we will just make the best of what we can do.

My land lord is here this week. So I am trying to get the money together for the next three months. He collects rent three months at a time them goes back to live in Crimea. I am praying he doesn't jack the rent up 'cause there is no way we can afford an increase right now. But I'm not mad at anyone. I am just learning to walk by faith. I will continue to write news letters and such and stay in touch with our supporters, and believe that God will provide for all our needs. We have yet to go hungry, not that we all couldn't stand to miss a meal or two. I may not be able to have all the cool stuff I want but I don't need it and knowing me, it would just get in the way of doing ministry. The more stuff you have the more you have to worry about losing. What I do have is God's, so if he sees fit to take it away, that's his business.

So in the mean time I am going to love my family, keep working on my writing projects, keep meeting with the guys, keep visiting our Ukrainian friends in Chernighiv, keep being a good host to all the people Emily invites and keep trusting God. I'm going to keep praying for my wife who works really long hours. I am going to keep praying for my family and my extended family. I'm going to look for opportunities to let God's light shine and I am going to walk the path God has set before me no matter how rocky it gets. I'm going to preach God's word every opportunity I am given and I am going to give thanks for everything I have.

I don't know why God blesses others more than some. I don't necessarily think America is more deserving of blessing than any other place in the world. I don't think American Christians are more deserving of stuff than Sudanese or Chinese Christians are. We will all have to answer for our lives. If God has blessed us abundantly then I am sure that his expectation will be that we are to bless others just as feely and abundantly.

So I pray that you are experiencing the good life with God. Not a life defined by possessions or by some other worldly standard. I pray that you too are being drawn into the bosom of God, learning how to depend on him day-to-day for your very breath and life. That is what my life in Kyiv is teaching me. It is teaching me that God is faithful It is teaching me that no matter what happens to me in the physical, that my eternal salvation is made sure because God loves me, Jesus has paid the penalty for my sin and I continue to live for him. I have learned that my expectations are inconsequential next to the will of God. I have learned that his plan for my life is better than anything I could have pursued. Not because I have more stuff, but because my life has more purpose. Maybe that is what Alan needed… less stuff to make room for more of God's purpose. I am grateful like I have never been grateful before. Even if I wake up and don't know exactly what I am going to do, I know that God will provide something or someone to make the difference.

Today it was sitting down to write this blog, which made all the difference. Tomorrow it may be in meeting with my friends who I serve with. The day after it may be a phone call I make to an old friend. There seems to be something most every day when I feel used of God and right in the middle of his will. Often it's little things. You see it in a person's eyes when you share some insight that God has taught you. Some times it's just the squeeze of a hand from someone grateful. Sometimes it's the look you get when you provide someone with something they needed. Sometimes it is just that sense of accomplishment you get from knowing you did what God wanted.

Blessings to all of you…

In Christ,
P.A.

Looking past the end of my nose

I'm in a strange place.  God is working in my heart, but I don't exactly know what the results will be.  The other evening when my wife and I were on our way back from Chernighiv, we were going through an underground tunnel that leads to the metro.  There were three people there being confronted by the police.  Basically they were homeless people.  One man showed evidence of having had parts of his feet cut off, I don't know if it was because of diabetes or frostbite.  There was a young woman in her late 30's and another man, whose age I wasn't sure of, but he had scars all over his face.  The weather has been frightfully cold.  Getting close to 0 F at night and hanging in the teens during the day and I assumed they where in the tunnel to warm up a bit, if not to avoid freezing to death.

 

I have been hearing stories of people being found frozen to death in the city.  One of our friends had reported seeing a man who was frozen solid to the sidewalk.  He may have fallen there drunk and froze to death… who knows.  It's not too uncommon to find drunks passed out on the side walk now and then.  But that really isn't my point.  More I am concern is how would or will God's people (to include me) react to this.  Will we sigh and say "The poor are always with us" and take that to mean there is nothing we can do.  Will we look at the situation and sigh and go "There's nothing we should do, these people don't want help other wise they wouldn't be like this."  It troubles my heart that we can so quickly dismissed those in dire need because we are unwilling to pay the cost to help them.  Quite frankly it IS expensive both emotionally and in terms of how we may have to sacrifice in our life styles but is the price really a reason that we can ignore the commandments of our Lord.  He paid a price for us that none of us could ever repay. 

 

I know there are those who play on human pity to make a living for themselves.  There are women who drug their children with vodka so they will sleep in there arms and then beg for food.  We have seen at least one old woman who wears a sling, which changes arms day to day.  But just because there are some who seek to take advantage of our good nature, need we ignore all who are or appear to be in need?

 

My heart was moved to pity by these three people in need, but I took no action.  I know giving money is problematic as they may spend it on drugs and alcohol.  But then what is stopping me from buying them a loaf of bread or a drink of water or a blanket?  Unfortunately it was Eastern Christmas eve and most shops where already closed.

 

What disturbs me further is that I know if one of these people showed up on the door steps of our church that they would likely be turned away by the "security" people who are there to protect the building from thieves and other miscreants that we don't want darkening our door steps.  Do we, if we truly are God's people, understand that God loves these people too?  Do we truly understand that justice and mercy are the weightier parts of the law?  Do we understand that when we help one of those that we are ministering to Christ?  Do we truly understand that how we treat people like those I mentioned above is a test of our faith to see if we are truly followers of the Living God?

 

Recently I have been flustered by my landlord's increase in our rent.  Yet even in moving I will have a place to live.  Even if the three of us had to move into a one room apartment we would have a place to live, we would be off the streets and have a warm bed to sleep in, even if it were a fold- out couch.  We would good food to eat and clean water to drink.  Even if our apartment was a bit cool we wouldn't be freezing to death.  Yet our Lord says that these concerns really aren't the stuff of true life.  Our true life lies in Christ; in seeking His Kingdom and righteousness.  If we can grasp this fully, the worries and concerns of this life will seem less vital to us and we will more likely to be willing to share the bounty that God has given us with those less fortunate than ourselves.

 

Pray with me that I would experience the fullness of God's freedom that I might be generous even when it seems that I have little to give.  God has blessed us abundantly with family, friends, shelter and provision.  We have so much and there are those with so little.  Pray that we would not forget them and would look for ways to bless and share.

 

Amen,
P.A.