Today was my last Sunday with West Penno church for quite some time. My good mate Dave Peacock preached a cracker sermon from 2 Peter 3 about the day of the Lord. I'm about to head back to Ukraine. I compare so many things between life here and there. I think about the up coming months and the plans further into the future. I was greatly challenged to have a much greater focus upon the day of the Lord. Do I look forward with joy and anticipation toward the coming of Christ? Am I making every effort to live a holy and blameless life?

Whatever this week holds for you, I hope this short note refocuses your vision, and mine, upon things which are eternal. And if you have the time, listen to Dave's sermon.

I was at a gathering of Christians in Zambia who were singing songs and praying in the Lunda language. I was passed a song book that had an English translation of the songs underneath. These two following songs really spoke to me. What thoughts should be uppermost in my mind? What did Jesus do for me and what should my response be?
The first song:

Lord, it is good that you have gone
To sit on the throne of the Father:
Your path of sorrow is finished,
You will not suffer again.

We rejoice always to think of
Your walk here on earth
You Holy Son of God
In the midst of sinners.

We are always amazed to gaze at
Your cross of sorrow and shame:
When you died for us
You took away our sin.

We think also of your grave
Empty, you have already left it:
And the power of death is finished,
You saved us by your death.

We rejoice to see
Our Lord seated in Heaven:
To hear all the heavenly ones
Welcoming Him with clapping.

In 2004 I took part in Ukraine's Orange Revolution. Now I'm sitting in Africa - Zambia - a country where corruption robs the people of the land's richness. I recently read this: "Revolutions are aptly named: they revolve. They turn one lot of sinners out, and put another lot of sinners in. The trouble with virtually all forms of revolution is that they can change everything - except the human heart. And until that is changed, nothing is significantly different in the long run" (Discipleship by David Watson).

God what do you want us to do? How do you want us to live? How should Christians in Australia, Ukraine or Zambia live? What are Your goals for their lives?
A friend wrote to me recently that everywhere we look - no one is seeking God. No one is looking for God on a day to day basis. They seek only for themselves.
God may my life see after You - a heart that is after You - like David's - and You can work a revolution in my heart.

Yesterday Gaven’s father was swept off his boat while fishing off the coast of Tasmania. At this point he is still missing – feared most likely dead. As I write, Gaven is boarding a plane to head home.

Please pray for Gaven, his Mum and brothers Travis and Scott. Pray for strength and comfort over the next few days, weeks and months. Pray for Gaven while traveling. Pray for wisdom as Gaven will be making decisions regarding his Dad’s farm and looking after his Mum. Pray for his future decisions and timing to return to Ukraine.

Please also pray for the Strawberry Farm here that Gaven has been managing. This will put a great strain on Daniel’s time and energy. Pray about my involvement at the farm if that is what God would like.

Pray for the church here – that this experience will draw them closer to God and to each other.

Please remember – that God holds our lives in His hands. Only He knows the number of our days. Are you ready to meet Him if He should call you today to give an account of your life?

Here is a quote from a recent news source:

“President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved Ukraine's parliament and called early elections Monday, but parliament refused to acknowledge the order and vowed to continue meeting as the country slipped further into political turmoil. The deadlock follows months of maneuvering by Yushchenko and his rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, and signals the possible return of competing protests, tent camps and political rallies to the streets of Kiev - two years after mass protests helped propel Yushchenko to power.”
For the full story click here: http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0407/410902.html

So what?

Instead of trying to give my spin on politics – I want to quote some verses from the Bible. The wisest man who lived wrote about governments in the book of Proverbs.

My challenge is for anyone involved in Ukrainian politics to read these Bible passages and reflect. If you know anyone involved in Ukrainian politics – please pass this email along to them.

MISS, IS THAT A WIG YOU’RE WEARING?

I’ve been in London for less than a week but it’s been go go go. Here are a few of my impressions, thoughts, observations and happenings.

• Students calling me ‘miss’
• Students asking me if I’m wearing a wig, pulling my hair and saying “Ooooh it is attached!”
• Everyone on the tube reading the tabloids
• People thinking the tube is crowded (come to Ukraine and I’ll show you crowded)
• Getting up at 5:30 am and getting home at 6:30 pm
• Finding a Russian shop just up the road from where I’m staying.
• Ruth watching lots of cooking shows in TV (and cooking great meals too)
• Fast wireless internet
• A great view of London from the top of the London Eye
• Hearing many languages spoken and sometimes not even understanding the English

Jono

Hi friends, the following request is from my sister in Paraguay, readit, think about it, pray about it, pass it on, do something.

Jono

Hi!

Today I got a phone call from my friend in Ciudad del Este. She asked me if I knew anyone who spoke English!!!!

Attached is her request – if God is calling you, or if you know someone who this might just be for………………….

Jono Miller

Today I got running water again at the house. You can't imagine how happy I was! I flushed the toilet, I've done heaps of washing, I cleaned the kitchen and I'll soon have a shower.

Water is such a necessity for life - and an abundance of running water is just - such a blessing!

But I've also been listening to a sermon by John Piper about contentment. Paul said he had learned to have little and he'd learned to have a lot and in both cases was content.

I had this thought: "If God allowed my water to stop working again tomorrow and it took another week or two to fix it, would I be able to say that in all things I have learned to be content?"

I want to come to that place in my life where I have real contentment because I know that the only thing I need is God. I need to know this in every-day life, not just in my head.

Go and turn on your tap. Watch the water run out - and say "thank you God". Then whatever little thing it is that you want right now and don't have, be content with out it.

Jono Miller

I write this statement to ask you to stand with me in prayer through a difficult time in my life.
Together with Daniel Gollan, I have decided that it is best for me to stand down from spiritual leadership in the church here for the remainder of this year.
There are some deep personal issues that need to be resolved in my life before I continue in such a role.
Please pray for me as much of this is difficult.
Please pray for the church here, I feel I have let them down - pray that they become stronger.
Please pray that God's work is advanced and Satan's kingdom weakened as a result of obedience to God.
I thank you all for your prayers and your love.
And I say to myself and to you -

Keep Looking Up
Jono

Jono Miller
Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 73:28

I squeeze myself into the last seat at the back of the bus. it's a hot day, the bus is crowded and the air conditioning is not working. The guys on either side of me are hot and sweaty too.

It's a bumpy 1 1/2 hour ride from Krakow out to the camp site and when I get there all I want is fresh air and a toilet stop.
We start to wander through the camp, reading the information and gazing at the photographs with very little actual understanding of what took place here and what it all means.

All I know is that my legs are sore and I want to sit down - or I'm hungry and I want to have lunch - or its hot and I want to get into the shade.

BUT WHERE AM I??!!

I am in Auschwitz! The site of the mass killing and the cruel forced labour of 100s of 1000s or Poles and Jews and Gypsies.
It's not the same as it was 60 years ago. Its cleaned up and full of tourists. Although the images are stark and sometimes even eerie, I cannot comprehend their full worth.