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 

Please pray for camp.
The stuff is all out there and ready to go. I have done 11 trips so far in the boat – and praise God it has gone well. The weather has been really rough – very windy as well as patches of heavy rain. Pray that the weather will not be the most memorable thing from camp – but that people grew in their knowledge and love for God. That they grow in their love for each other and that they are challenged to be instruments used by God to take His love to the ends of the world.

Half time, down 11-6, and not looking too flash, I wandered over to the young Cooper kids and asked, “What do you think of the game?”
“Good and bad”, replied 13 yr old Ariel. “Good because NZ is playing and bad because they are losing”.
“So what are you going to do about it?” I joked.
“Pray” she answered.
I countered, “What does God do if you are praying for NZ and a girl from South Africa is praying for them?”
“He's Got His Plans”

Ariel was unfazed. Her trusting faith knows she can talk to God about anything, yet she recognizes that God is ultimately in control of everything.
Why do I fret, why do I spend so much mental energy thinking about how I can work out life’s problems? Why don’t I recognize that He has His plans? I should turn my eyes upon Jesus. So should you.

Sitting in front of the computer today I asked myself:
What do I want to write?
What do you want to know about?
What does God want me to write?

The last couple of weeks have been awesome. The challenge to focus all of life upon Jesus has taken on a new meaning. The reality of letting my life be ‘broken’, be out of my control, means that it has to be in God’s control, it has to be Him who works through me – and only then may I be useful in His Kingdom.
A story I learned long ago in High School was impressed upon my heart so I share it with you now – it’s a long one – but worth it.

There are so many reasons to praise the Lord. I remember a song that says:
“Lord I praise you because of Who You Are, not for all the mighty things that you have done.”
The Bible tells us to praise God – when my attitude is one of praise to God – life with Him just fits – it works.

It's Not Just About Ukraine

Let me take you east of Ukraine through Asia, drop south of China, and nestled to the northeast of India you will find Bangladesh. Just 144 000 sq kms, with a population between 130-150 million, this means about 1000 people live in each square kilometre.

Economically, Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world. And spiritually they are very needy. The country is 86% Muslim, 13% Hindu, leaving just 1% for Buddhists, Christians and other groups. Moreover, there is just one missionary for every 366 000 people in Bangladesh.

The church of God must look outside its four walls. Wherever you are in the world reading this, please tap into the heart of God for the poor and needy of this world. Please consider what you can sacrifice this month to assist the spiritual and physical needs of the less advantaged. Pray for Bangladesh and let God work in your heart.