COMING HOME

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TOMORROW!! I REALLY THOUGHT I MIGHT BE HOME FOR THE FOURTH THIS YEAR, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. DECIDED TO WAIT FOR THE 5TH AND BETTER AVAILABILITY SO I DON'T GET STUCK LIKE LAST YEAR. I WILL BE FLYING OUT OF LONDON. THERE ARE SEVERAL FLIGHTS TO CHOOSE FROM THERE.

I UNDERSTAND YA'LL ARE GETTING TOGETHER FOR THE 4TH. GOOD ON YA'LL. HAVE FUN. DON'T THINK ABOUT ME. I'LL BE ALL RIGHT. ((

I WAS ASKED TO PREACH YESTERDAY IN THE AFTERNOON AT A CHURCH CALLED "ALIVE AGAIN". THE DENOMINATIONAL LINES ARE LITTLE MORE BLURRED HERE THAN AT HOME SO THEY DIDN'T TELL ME IT WAS PENTECOSTAL. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I GOT SOME TALKING IN TONGUES AS A RESULT OF MY PREACHING. SHOULD I CELEBRATE? NOT SURE.

READ MY "CRAZY LOVE" LAST NIGHT. REALLY GOOD.

LORD WILLNG, I'LL SEE YA'LL WEDNESDAY.

STEPAN

COLYA LOOKED AT ME AND SAID THAT STEPAN'S CHILDHOOD WAS SO TRAGIC THAT IT AFFECTS HIM UNTIL TODAY. THAT HAS TO BE TRUE. WE ONLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME OF THAT MUST BE LIKE. THE INSTABILITY OF NOT BEING WANTED AND WATCHING SUCH UGLY THINGS HAPPEN TO YOUR MOTHER MARK A YOUNG BOY FOR LIFE.

WE HAD MADE PLANS TO TAKE STEPAN TO THE REHAB CENTER, BUT HE WOULD NOT ANSWER HIS PHONE AND WE COULD NOT FIND HIM. I HAVE ASK COLYA TO KEEP ON TRYING TO FIND HIM AND WHEN HE IS MORE SOBER, THEN TAKE HIM OUT THERE. I KNOW YOU WILL PRAY FOR HIM.

I AM IN ESTONIA NOW AND WILL PREACH HERE SUNDAY AND THEN HEAD BACK HOME. THE BEST DAY FOR AVAILABILITY LOOKS LIKE TUESDAY, BECAUSE OF THE 4TH PROBABLY.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

WHAT I UNDERLINED CHAPTER 5

...serving leftovers to a Holy God...

There is no gentle rendering of the word spit in Greek...

I'm not against scholarship, but I do believe there are times when we come to more accurate conclusions through simple reading.

He wants all or nothing. The thought of a person calling himself a Christian without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurd.

We're will to make changes in our lives only if we think it affects our salvation.

...our concern is more about going to heaven than loving the King.

In the midst of our failed attempts at loving Jesus, His grace covers us.

..there is room for failure and sin in our pursuit of God.

...we don't feel needy...

God gets a scrap or two only because we feel guilty for giving Him nothing.

Leftovers are not only inadequate; from God's point of view they're evil.

Does anyone enjoy token praise?

Physical sicness we usually defy. Soul sickness we often resign ourselves to.

He measures our lives by how we love.

According to God, we are here to love.

...little in their lives propels them toward Christ.

What scares me most are the people who are lukewarm and just don't care.

...nothing should concern us more than our relationship with God;...

GREAT STUFF. WHAT DID YOU UNDERLINE???

Love ya'll. Ya'll love each other.

jeb is gone/alexander/stepan

JEB LEFT YESTERDAY AND SO I AM HERE ALONE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO WORK WITH JEB THIS SUMMER. HE IS GOOD AND BECOMING WELL RESPECTED AMONG THE PEOPLE WE WORK WITH. HE SPEAKS REALLY GOOD RUSSIAN NOW AND HE IS GOOD WITH THE RUSSIANS. HE PROBABLY ALSO WILL COME UP WITH A CURE FOR THE COMMON COLD. LOVE OLE JEBBY.

WENT BY TO SEE ALEXANDER AND HIS FAMILY YESTERDAY. IT WAS GOOD TOSEE HIM. I REMEMBER WHEN HIS DAUGHTER JULIA WAS MARRIED, AND NOW HER SON ANDREI IS A BIG BOY GOING TO MILITARY SCHOOL. ALEXANDER IS A GOOD FRIEND AND HAS BEEN A HUGE BLESSING TO US. THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW HIM HER WAS TAKING A SHOWER OUTSIDE IN HIS UNDERWEAR.

ON A REALLY SAD NOTE, I TALKED TO STEPAN ON THE PHONE LAST NIGHT AND HE WAS SO DRUNK I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS SAYING. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE HE IS AND GO SEE HIM BEFORE I LEAVE.

(UPDATE ON THAT) – I MET STEPAN TONIGHT AND HE IS IN TERRIBLE CONDITION. I AM GOING TO TRY TO GET HIM TO THE REHAB CENTER IN DESNAGORSK BEFORE I LEAVE. WILL YOU REALLY PRAY FOR HIM. SERIOUSLY.

I PLAN TO LEAVE TOMORROW AND HEAD TO ESTONIA. I WILL PREACH THERE ON SUNDAY AND TRY TO FLY HOME MONDAY.

I DON’T HAVE MY CRAZY LOVE BOOK IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW SO I CAN’T GIVE YOU MY UNDERLINES. WHAT WERE YOURS? I DO KNOW THAT IT WAS MY FAVORITE CHAPTER SO FAR.

HOW YA’LL DOIN?

LOVE YA’LL. YA’LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

CLEANING UP

YESTERDAY, (ACTUALLY SATURDAY NIGHT) WE LEFT SMOLENSK AT 11 P.M. AND HEADED FOR MOSCOW WITH THE GROUP. OUR PLAN WAS TO TAKE THEM BY RED SQUARE FOR THOSE WHO HAD NOT SEEN IT TO TAKE A LOOK. WELL, IT RAINED THE ENTIRE DRIVE AND WE DECIDED TO ABORT THE RED SQUARE PLAN AND HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE AIRPORT. WE ARRIVED SAFELY AND SAT IN THE AIRPORT WITH THE GROUP UNTIL THEY WENT THROUGH PASSPORT CONTROL. THEN WE HEADED STRAIGHT BACK TO SMOLENSK. MY ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO HEAD ON THE ADYGEA, BUT THAT PLAN ALSO CHANGED DUE TO SOME CONFLICT IN LEONID'S SCHEDULE.

WE MADE IT SAFELY HOME, ARRIVING ABOUT 1:00 P.M. THANKS FOR PRAYING AND REMEMBERING JEB IN HIS AUTO PERSECUTIONS.

NOW,WE WILL KINDA CLEAN UP THE REAMINDER OF THE THINGS NEEDED TO DO HERE. JEB WILL LEAVE TONIGHT ON THE 3 A.M. TRAIN TO MOSCOW AND I WILL LEAVE LATER IN THE WEEK FOR ESTONIA AND THEN HOME. SOMEWHERE ON LAND OR IN THE AIR I UNDERSTAND JEB AND LUDA WILL CROSS PATHS.

WE HAVE CERTAINLY MISSED YA'LL AND IT WILL BE GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN IN GOOD HANDS. GOD'S AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LEADING. I AM PROUD OF YOU.

THIS CHAPTER OF "CRAZY LOVE" IS MY VERY FAVORITE SO FAR. CONVICTING. I WILL POST MY UNDERLINES TOMORROW. WHAT ARE YOURS?

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

WORK COMPLETE

YESTERDAY WE FINISHED UP THE PROJECT AT THE ORPHANAGE. IT WAS A GOOD DAY. WE HAD A PICNIC WITH THE KIDS, THEN A CONCERT WITH AND FOR THEM. THEN PLAYED A BASKETBALL GAME WITH SOME OF THE PENN. GUYS. JEB, COLYA, AND I VERSES THE YOUNG GUYS FROM PENNSYLVANIA. (SERGEI WAS GOING TO PLAY WITH US BUT HE ALMOST CUT HIS THUMB OFF WORKING. SEE THE NICE PHOTO BELOW) THEY WERE BRAGGING ALL WEEK ABOUT HOW THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE US. WE KILLED 'EM. NOT EVEN CLOSE. WE WON THE "GREEN DRAGON".

IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL WEEK. I THANK GOD FOR THESE GOOD GUYS WHO CAM AND WORKED REALLY HARD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. REALLY GOOD TO WATCH JEB WORK AND JUST SEE HOW HE IS MATURING. GOOD BOY/MAN.

THE GROUP WILL KINDA CHILL TODAY AND SIGHTSEE SOMOLENSK AND BUY THE NECESSARY SOUVENIRS. TONIGHT WE WILL LEAVE FOR MOSCOW ABOUT 11 P.M. TO TAKE THEM TO THE AIRPORT. I WILL STAY THERE AND TRAVEL ON TO ADYGEA AND LEONID FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

THANKS FOR ALL YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AND ARE DOING.

CRAZY LOVE.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

HURT FEELINGS

KINDA GOT MY FEELINGS HURT YESTERDAY WHEN SOME DOUBTED MY WORK SKILLS. BUT YOU WILL NOTICE SOME MORE SHOTS HERE THAT WILL BANISH DOUBT.

YESTERDAY WAS A GOOD DAY. SOME OF THE GUYS WORKED LAST NIGHT UNTIL 11 WITH JEB. GOOD GUYS. WORKING HARD.

TODAY WE WILL FINISH THE FLOOR AND HAVE A CELEBRATION WITH THE KIDS. HOPE YA'LL ARE GOOD. THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS.



TRYING TO MAKE THOMAS PROUD!!!ANYBODY ELSE NOTICE THAT I AM GETTING BALD?

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

TYPICAL DAY ON THE JOB

SEEMS LIKE I DID A SOME OF EVERYTHING YESTERDAY.

AS ALWAYS I AM "HANDS ON" THE WORK SITE. IT IS ALWAYS SPECIAL WHEN I CAN TAKE THE TIME OUT TO SHOW THE CREWS PROFESSIONAL CARPENTRY SKILLS.

YES, IT IS TIRING, BACK BREAKING WORK. BUT I'LL BE BACK AT IT AGAIN TODAY.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

THANKS

JUST WANTED TO POST A FEW PICS TODAY FROM THE WORK YESTERDAY. THE KIDS AT THE ORPHANAGE ARE WORKING WITH US AND WE ARE DOING SOME OTHER THINGS WITH THEM. THEY FIXED SOME SALADS AND CAKES YESTERDAY. TRYING TO TEACH THEM SOME THINGS THAT WILL HELP THEM IN THE HOME SOMEDAY.

WANT TO SAY A BIG THANKS FOR THE HELP THAT YOU SENT. IT WAS GREAT THAT YOU DID THAT WITHOUT MY EVEN NEEDING TO ASK. ALL I NEEDED TO DO WAS WHINE. YA'LL ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

FIRST DAY AT POCHINOK

TODAY WE BEGAn OUR 2011 PROJECT HERE. IT STARTED SLOW, LIKE IT ALWAYS DOES AND PICKED UP WELL BY THE END OF THE DAY. WE HAVE A LOT TO DO BEFORE THIS GROUP LEAVES SATURDAY. JUST GIVING YOU SOME SHOTS OF THE DAY.

WHAT I UNDERLINED IN CHAPTER 4 "CRAZY LOVE":

....(1ST QUOTE)...

...sold all he had so that he could obtain the only thing that mattered...

....in the U.S. , numbers impress us....

...Jesus began speaking in parables..."so that"...those who weren't genuinely listenig wouldn't get it...

He just wasn't interested in those who fake it.

Do not assume that you are good soil.

...most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns...

Most of us have too much in our lives.

..."godly enough...

..the American church is a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament christianity....

LUKEWARM PEOPLE PROBABLY DRINK AND SWEAR LESS THAN AVERAGE, BUT BESIDES THAT, THEY AREN'T VERY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR TYPICAL UNBELIEVER.

What did you underline?

Correction from yesterday's blog: I meant to say, hasn't Jeb become a pretty good writer. My bad.

Love ya'll. Yall love each other.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

WORK BEGINS TODAY AT POCHINOK

YESTERDAY WAS A REALLY GOOD DAY OUT AT POCHINOK CHURCH. IT WAS THE CHURCHES 15TH ANNIVERSARY AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE A BUNCH OF THE OLD PEOPLE AND CELEBRATE WITH THEM.

I GOT TO SPEAK FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND JUST REMEMBER WITH THE FOLK FOR A LITTLE WHILE ABOUT THOSE DAY WHEN WE FIRST STARTED HERE. IT WAS REALLY FUN.

AFTER CHURCH WE HAD A NEAT LITTLE PICNIC THEN WENT OVER TO THE ORPHANAGE TO LOOK AT THE FLOORS WITH THE GROUP AND MEET WITH IGOR. THEN WE CAME HOME AND TOOK A GOOD NAP.

IN THE EVENING WE HAD A TEAM MEETING WITH THE GROUP AND THEN WENT FOR SUPPER AND I LITTLE STROLL THROUGH TOWN SINCE THEY HAD YET TO SEE ANY OF IT.

JEB AND COLYA TOOK ME OUT LATE LAST NIGHT TO A SAUNA FOR FATHER'S DAY. IT WAS A SWEET GIFT. I LOVE A GOOD SAUNA. JEB'S GOOD. A LOT OF THE TIME GROUCHY, BUT GOOD. AND HASN'T BECOME A PRETTY GOOD WRITER? WOW.

I KNOW HE WROTE YOU ABOUT OUR VAN TROUBLE, SO PRAY WITH US ABOUT THAT. WE REALLY NEED THAT TRANSPORT.

TODAY WE BEGIN WORK AT THE ORPHANAGE. I AM SITTING IN CHAO ITALIA RESTURANT PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW STEALING THEIR SIGNAL AS A WRITE THIS AND NOW I HAVE TO GO.

A MILLION, ZILLION, THANKS FOR THE FINANCIAL HELP GROUP. THANKS FOR THE THOUGHTFULNESS TO DO THAT WITHOUT ME NEEDING TO ASK. IT WAS A LIFESAVER AND I WILL NEVER FORGET IT.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

GOOD MORNING!!! AND HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE BEING A DAD TO THE GREATEST GUYS ON EARTH. I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE HAD A REALLY GREAT DAD AND TO HAVE REALLY GREAT BOYS MYSELF. REALLY BLESSED.

YOU DADS (AND DADS TO BE) THERE HAVE AGREAT DAY.!!!!!!

WE PICKED UP THE GROUP YESTERDAY IN MOSCOW. GOT HOM ABOUT MIDNIGHT AND TODAY WE HEAD TO CHURCH OUT AT POCHINOK WHERE WE WILL CELEBRATE THE CHURCHES 15TH ANNIVERSARY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING SOME TIME LATER TODAY READING THE NEXT CHAPTER IN "CRAZY LOVE". I HOPE YOU ARE TOO,

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

SATUDAY JUNE 18TH

HEADED TO MOSCOW TO PICK UP THE GROUP TODAY. JEB, COLYA AND I. LOOKS LIKE RAIN.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

FRIDAY STUFF

PICKING UP MATERIAL AND TRANSPORTING IT TO THE ORPHANAGE TODAY. IT'S BEEN KINDA COOL HERE IN THE EVENINGS AND MORNINGS. THE GROUP ARRIVES TOMORROW.

WE WILL LEAVE IN THE MORNING AT ABOUT 9:30 TO PICK THEM UP AT DOMODEDOVA AIRPORT IN MOSCOW.

THE LAST TIME I WAS HEADED THERE, A BOMB BLEW UP IN THE ARRIVAL HALL.

JEB LOOKS GRUMPY TODAY. JEB IS GRUMPY TODAY.

THE GROUP IS NOT HERE YET AND WE ARE OUT OF MONEY.

GOD IS GOOD. IT 'S AN INCREDIBLE DAY TO SERVE HIM.

ARE YA'LL STILL THERE?

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

BULLDOGS BASKETBALL

LAST NIGHT WE GOT TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THE OLD SMOLENSK BULLDOGS FROM THE 2001 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM AND PLAYED SOME BASKETBALL. THEY ARE OLDER, FATTER, SLOWER AND DON'T SHOOT AS WELL AS THEY USED TO. BUT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO BE WITH THEM AGAIN. THEY ARE SOMETIMES JUST STUPID FUNNY.

WE ARE TRYING TO PLAN A BULLDOGS REUNION FOR THE FALL OR WINTER AND PUT ON A 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOURNAMENT. THAT WOULD BE WAY FUN AND IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET THEM ALL TOGETHER AGAIN. SOME ARE IN MOSCOW NOW AND A COUPLE ARE IN THE UNKNOWNS, BUT WE WANT TO TRY TO FIND EVERYBODY. WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

TRYING TO FINISH PREPARATION FOR THE GROUPS ARRIVAL TODAY AND TOMORROW. THEY WILL ARRIVE SATURDAY AT 3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON.

GOT THE WORD LAST NIGHT THAT COURTNEY IS WAY SICK. I KNOW YA'LL ARE PRAYING FOR HER. SENDING PRAYERS FROM HERE FOR ALL OF YA'LL AND WE APPRECIATE YOURS AS WELL.

THE HORSEFLY KING ESCAPED. IT IS JUST AS WELL, I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY GIVEN HIM MERCY ANYWAY. I'M JUST THAT KIND OF GUY.

NOBODY GETS THIS PICTURE? THERE IS A MESSAGE HERE. JEB CAN'T GET IT EITHER. FIRST ONE TO GET IT AND POST THE ANSWER HERE WINS A PRIZE ALL THE WAY FROM RUSSIA.

"CRAZY LOVE"

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM MOSCOW YESTERDAY AND WAS ABOUT 2 HOURS OUTSIDE OF SMOLENSK WHEN I HEARD AND FELT THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE HAD GONE FLAT. YOU KNOW THAT FEELING YOU GET WHEN THAT HAPPENS, RIGHT?

I LOOKED AROUND AND REALIZED THAT I WAS IN ONE OF THOSE SPOTS WHERE THERE WAS NOTHING AND NOBODY, AND I REALIZED THAT I COULDN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I HAD SEEN ANYTHING OR ANYBODY.

NO BIG DEAL. JUST CHANGE THE TIRE. PUT ON THE SPARE.

I STEP OUT OF THE CAR AND AM BOMBARDED BY THE BIGGEST, MEANEST, AND HUNGRIEST HORSEFLIES I HAVE EVER SEEN. THEY ARE ON A MISSION. "EAT AMERICANS!".

(I'M SITTING WITH JEB AT CHAO ITALIA HAVING BREAKFAST AND HE IS WAXING THEOLOGICAL TODAY)

BUT, I'VE GOT TO CHANGE THE TIRE. SO THE WAR IS ON. I LOOSEN THE LUG NUTS AND FIGHT HORSEFLIES. NOT EASY, BUT I GET IT DONE. THEN I PULL OUT THE JAPANESE JACK. (THE REAL, OLD FASHIONED, AMERICAN CAR JACK HAS GONE THE WAY OF THE FLOOR BOARD LIGHT SWITCH). STILL FENCING WITH THE DEMONIC FLIES I GET THE CAR JACKED UP.

THE TIRE WON'T COME OFF. PULL AND TUG AS I MIGHT, IT IS STUCK. THE FLIES FROM HELL ARE LAUGHING AND GOING TO TELL THEIR FRIENDS TO HURRY FOR FOOD. BY THIS TIME, I AM WALKING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD JUST SHOOING FLIES AND WONDERING HOW AM I GOING TO GET THIS TIRE OFF. REMEMBER THERE IS NOTHING AND NOBODY NEAR.

I TRY FLAGGING A CAR FOR A MINUTE TO NO AVAIL. I THEN NOTICE A ROAD SIGN AND A TINY DIRT ROAD ABOUT 1/2 MILE AWAY AND I FIGURE I CAN EITHER STAND HERE AND BE EATEN ALIVE ( THEY WILL HAVE TO CALL CINDY MOORE FOR MY DENTAL RECORDS TO IDENTIFY ME), OR WALK DOWN TO THAT ROAD AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING TO IT.href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOrNRSK1gBfKu8H-4GFRU_0_5ZUGVvG4pE6Iweu-rL8MldpsKCJptxwzLrBX3ZTLPs21jJx3_D48KL-815H-E7tK5mM8U0AHl3md3KAphPHunJfV-OJlTno5qufkFfrrIxKTgQlipekvD/s1600/IMG_0248.JPG">

I WALK DOWN THERE THINKING, WHY DIDN'T I PUT ON MY RUNNING SHOES SO I COULD DO MY RUN RIGHT NOW. THE ROAD IS NOTHING MORE THAN A PATH, BUT I FIGURE I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE (I CAN NO LONGER SEE THE CAR SINCE IT IS SURROUNDED BY OTHER WORLDLY HORSEFLIES).

I HEAD TOWARDS A CURVE IN THIS PATH HOPING TO SEE SOMETHING ON THE OTHER SIDE....NOTHING.

DEJECTED, I THINK ABOUT TURNING AROUND WHEN I HEAR THIS WHINING SOUND, LIKE A WEED EATER. I WAIT AND SOON I SEE THIS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. A 40 YEAR OLD RUSSIAN ZHIGULI. (THAT'S A CAR). IT SLOWLY MAKES IT'S WAY TOWARD ME, (THINK MR. BEANS VACATION AND THE OLD GUY ON THE SCOOTER) AND INSIDE ARE THESE TWO YOUNG GUYS FROM A VILLAGE SOMEWHERE DOWN THIS PATH. THEY STOP AND GET OUT OF THE CAR. THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT PLACE TO KILL ME IF THEY WANTED TO. THEY DON'T WANT TO. I TELL THEM THE SITUATION AND THEY STAND THERE THINKING FOR A MOMENT. CURIOUSLY, THE HORSEFLIES DON'T BOTHER THEM. THE HORSEFLIES ARE AFTER EXOTIC FOREIGN BLOOD ONLY.

THESE GUYS TELL ME TO HEAD BACK TO MY CAR AND THEY HEAD BACK TO THEIR VILLAGE. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER THEY PASS ME HEADED TO MY CAR. THEY ARE THERE WHEN I GET THERE GRINNING AS THEY SHOW ME A BIG HAMMER THEY HAVE BROUGHT FROM THE FARM. THEY DIG IN THE TRUNK AND PULL OUT TWO PIECES OF FIREWOOD, CLIMB UNDER MY CAR AND, USING THE STICKS OF FIREWOOD AS EXTENSIONS, BEAT THE TIRE OFF FROM THE UNDERSIDE.

TRIUMPHANT THEY CLIMB OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR SMILING HUGE, TOOTHLESS SMILES. PROUD OF THEMSELVES. WE PUT THE SPARE ON AND THEY TURN TO LEAVE. I WANT TO PAY THEM FOR THEIR HELP, BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANYTHING. I INSIST, BUT THEY REFUSE. I ACTUALLY FIND THIS SPIRIT OFTEN HERE, AND IT IS ALWAYS REFRESHING. AS THEY ARE LEAVING I ASK IF I CAN TAKE THEIR PICTURE AND THEY TAKE THEIR HATS OFF BASHFULLY AND POSE. AS THEY DRIVE OFF, I SLAP A 500 RUBLE BILL ON THEIR DASH BEFORE THEY CAN REFUSE AGAIN....AND THEY ARE OFF.

AS I GET BACK IN MY CAR, I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND THE HORSEFLIES ARE CRASHING INTO THE WINDOWS TRYING TO GET IN. AND IT IS MY TURN TO LAUGH. ONE OF THEIR OWN IS TRAPPED INSIDE WITH ME AND CAN'T GET OUT. I LIKE TO THINK THAT HE IS THEIR LEADER, AND I HAVE CAPTURED HIM. I WIN.

OBVIOUSLY, I MADE IT HOME.

WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR THIS MORNING, HE WAS STILL FLYING AROUND LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT. I AM NOT SORRY FOR HIM. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE ATTACKED ME. I WILL WAIT AND PONDER HIS FATE.

THIS IS THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

WHAT I UNDERLINED AND HIGHLIGHTED FROM CHAPTER 3

(YOU STILL HAVE YOUR PENCIL AND HIGHLIGHTER?)

...God's absolute and unlimited love for us....

...my own love and desire for my kid's love is so strong that it opened my eyes to how much God desires and loves us....

....Matt. 7:11....

....our motivation changes from guilt to love....

...fear....reverent intimacy....

....God knew me before He made me....

...God knew who He was creating, and He designed me for a specific work...

....so why, when we constantly offend Him and are so unlovable and unloving, does God persist in loving us?....

...if God's mercy didn't exist, there would be no hope...

....Jesus doesn't have to love us...

...the irony is that while God doesn't need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don't really want Him most of the time....

...God's one goal for us is Himself...

...are we in love with God or just His stuff?...

WHAT DID YOU UNDERLINE? WHAT IS RESONATING WITH YOU??

SO, NO ONE GETS THIS PHOTO?

THINK ABOUT IT.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

INDEPENDENCE DAY IN RUSSIA

TODAY IS INDEPENDENCE DAY IN RUSSIA. IT COMMEMORATES THE END OF THE SOVIET UNION. IT IS NOT THE HUGE DAY THAT JULY 4TH IS FOR US BUT, NONE THE LESS, IT IS A RUSSIAN HOLIDAY AND THEY LOVE THEIR HOLIDAYS. I'M GOING TO A PARADE NEAR RED SQUARE THEN HAVE DINNER WITH AN ASSISTANT PASTOR FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH HERE. I'LL BE BACK IN SMOLENSK TOMORROW.

TRUST YA'LL HAD A GREAT DAY YESTERDAY.

WHO GET'S THIS PICTURE??? LET ME KNOW IF YOU DO.

DID YA'LL ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER YESTERDAY?

READ CHAPTER 3 IN "CRAZY LOVE" LAST NIGHT. WILL SHARE MY UNDERLINES TOMORROW.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

SUNDAY 19TH OF JUNE

IT MUST BE HOT ALL OVER THE WORLD.

IT'S HARD TO THINK ABOUT COOL WHEN YOU'RE HOT.

SEE, JEB CAN TALK AND EMAIL WHEN HE HAS A MIND TO.

YESTERDAY WHILE I WAS RUNNING AND I MUST HAVE STEPPED ON SOMETHING BECAUSE I HAVE THIS STONE BRUISE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY STEP ON THE LEFT FOOT THAT IS REALLY IRRITATING ME TODAY. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN RUN ON IT. I DON'T LIKE NO BEING ABLE TO RUN.

TODAY I AM GOING TO THE BIG INTERNATIONAL CHURCH HERE.

SOMETIME THIS EVENING OR TOMORROW YOU WILL READ CHAPTER 3 IN "CRAZY LOVE". I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL RECEIVING WHAT GOD WANTS FOR US THROUGH THIS STUDY IN DIFFERENT WAYS. BUT IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT ANY OF US CAN DOUBT HIS LOVE FOR US. IT IS ALWAYS MY LOVE FOR HIM THAT IS THE QUESTION.

HERE IS A LITTLE TEASE INTO TODAY'S CHAPTER.

TOMORROW IS A HOLIDAY HERE THAT I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT. IT'S INDEPENDENCE DAY!! I'VE BEEN INVITED TO JOIN THE FESTIVITIES HERE. THERE WILL BE A BIS RED SQUARE PARADE. I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL OR NOT. WE'LL SEE. RUSSIA LOVES HOLIDAYS.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

MOSCOW

I DON'T THINK THAT GOD EVER INTENDED FOR PEOPLE PACK IN TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE. HE INTENDED FOR PEOPLE TO SPREAD OUT AND DEVELOP CULTURES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THAT COULD BEST GLORIFY HIM. WHEN PEOPLE TRIED TO CONGREGATE TOGETHER AT BABEL - HE SCATTERED THEM. I DON'T THINK HE LIKES IT. I DON'T EITHER. - WRITTEN FROM MOSCOW.

TOMORROW IS THE LORD'S DAY. ENJOY YOUR FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO, ON PURPOSE, ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER. SUPER, SUPER, SUPER IMPORTANT. ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO WILL LEAD YOU IN WORSHIP.

.....I LAUGH IN THE FACE OF DANGER. I DROP ICE CUBES DOWN THE VEST OF FEAR........---EDMUND BLACKADDER (from the book, "Cycling Home from Siberia")

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

I REMEMBERED THE FLASH STICK

SPENT THE MORNING PUTTING A NEW FILTER IN THE LEXUS. LET ME RESTATE THAT, JEB AND COLYA PUT IN A NEW FILTER AND NEW BELT ON THE VITA. THEY HAVE BECOME GOOD MECHANICS. YOU'LL LOOK A LONG TIME BEFORE YOU'LL FIND BETTER THAN JEB. WHAT A GUY. HE HAS BECOME NOT ONLY GOOD WITH HIS HANDS BUT HAS A GOOD HEAD AND IS DEVELOPING SOME WISDOM. I'M WAY PROUD OF HIM.

WE WERE ABLE TO FIND AND ORDER MOST OF THE MATERIAL THAT WE NEED FOR THE PROJECT YESTERDAY. I THINK THAT WE ARE PROBABLY 80% READY FOR THE GROUP TO ARRIVE.

I PROBABLY WILL NOT BLOG FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. I AM GOING TO MOSCOW TO MEET DEMA AND A GUY WHO IS INTERESTED IN GOING TO KRASNAYARSK TO BEGIN A WORK THERE IN SIBERIA. I WILL BE THERE TILL MONDAY PROBABLY.

I'M REVIEWING MY UNDERLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTER TWO IN "CRAZY LOVE" TODAY. TRYING TO MEDITATE AND COJUTATE ON GOD. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I CAN DO THIS SUMMER IS GET TO KNOW GOD BETTER. GUYS, IF WE CAN DO THAT.........

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.