Each week I write something for you to read, to pray about and delete. I ask God for help and most weeks I enjoy writing, sometimes it feels like a bit of a chore. Maybe sometimes I just shouldn’t write. I want to apologise for last week’s RPD. Enough said.

A friend once asked me “Jono what is God doing in and around you”. That is what I want my RPDs to be about. About God and what He is doing. When you read I want you to be uplifted, and when you pray – I want you to be informed, and when you delete – well I don’t really care.

Thanking God

I have been reminded of the importance of thanking God for all things. Last week my laptop mysteriously died. I could not even get it to turn on. What a blessing to have Jon here in Ukraine with his knowledge of computers – he was able to resurrect it. Praise God for the use of technology.

I remember receiving a book once titled “Never Say Can’t”. I have heard many such motivating talks about following your dreams and seeing problems as stepping stones to opportunity etc. But recently I have been challenged with a different thought. Pride says “I can”. Humility says “I can’t”. Pride blocks the door to Jesus working in me and I start to function in my own power. Humility acknowledges that apart from Him I can do nothing. The world of modern humanistic western thought acknowledges accomplishment. We are an outcomes based society. Consequently we are full of pride. And subtly even the church measures success in similar terms. We are outcomes based rather than spiritually based. How much did I allow the Spirit of God to work through me today? Or have I sorted out my Christianity so that I can basically live it by myself and just top up on Sundays? I am more and more believing that I can’t. I believe true Spirituality is a lot more mystical and a lot less systematic than the Bible College courses like to teach us. O God, be my teacher, my guide, my life, my all.

This is a short RPD doubling up with the monthly update – soon we’ll be back to regular.

Thank God that Ruth and Jon were able to find an apartment for rent near their place of work in Kyiv. We found it yesterday and today we have the keys – they will move there at the end of next week.

Thank God for Kolya and Jeanne who announced their engagement this week. Kolya is one of my good mates here in Ukraine. They will get married in January and live in my house while I am in Australia and NZ. Pray for the many plans they have to make – but mostly, that they will create a family that is glorifying to God.

Thank God and pray for a kids’ festival next week here in Rzhyshchiv. About 70 kids will come every day to learn about God and who Jesus is; to sing, memorize the Bible, play games etc. I plan to help out for most or all of the week.

Here are some thoughts that have been given to me recently.
My Dad wrote a letter quoting another guy.
“If I have been injured by another, let me think to myself – how much better to be the sufferer than the wrongdoer.”

Mum is laid up with a broken ankle at the moment and she wrote the following in an email:
“You don’t realise how wonderful it is to have a healthy body until you don’t have it!!! And all I have wrong is a broken leg bone. It has made me think a lot about people who have permanent disabilities, especially those who live alone like elderly widows.”

I have been watching some seminars about abiding in Christ by Mike Wells.
“The secret is to walk with an empty bag.”

Keith Green’s song,
“There is a redeemer – Jesus God’s own son”

And again from Dad’s letter (advice to a new young missionary)
“Keep low, look up, and press forward.” (also good advice for any aspiring All Black forward)

A huge thank you to everyone who prayed for camp last week. It was an awesome time with over 120 people on an island together for 5 days. The biggest thanks is to God. The weather was great, we had just one night of rain plus a couple of small showers. The boat did more than 30 trips (that’s about 30 hours of boat driving) and the motor kept running with only minor repairs needed (changing spark plugs etc.).

Most of all God used the time together and His Word to speak to people. A number of people spoke to me about how God had challenged them in regards to what love for their neighbour really meant. Hopefully over the next couple weeks I will hear more testimonies.

And in the midst of all this, Daniel somehow managed to come up with an illustration that compared God being with us, to body odour. The rather unpleasant but memorable example means that whenever you get a rather strong whiff you will remember that God is with you. Please send all enquiries about this to dan@danandpris.com 