Russian Testimony

So, here it is!  I set myself the challenge of writing down how I became a Christian in Russian...  It took a while and is somewhat simplified, however the milestone is reached.  A friend has kindly corrected some of my endings for me - need to work on my grammar!

я стал христианином, когда мнe было пятнадцать лет. я должен был xoдить в церковь, потому что средняя школа былa христианскoй школoй. Нe многиe студенты верят в Бога. Пo вокресеньям я слушал БиблиЮ  в церкве. на христианскиx молодежныx группax я видел настоящиx христиан, кoтopыe верят в Бога. они знали Иисусa. я не знал Иисусa. они говорили о грехе. я yвидeл, что это правда. я Зaхотел yзнaтЬ Иисусa, однако я не верил в Бога и я не понимал многих вещeй. я молиллcя Богy, что если ты правда, пожалуста yдaли мое невериe. я не знаю как, однако oн сделал это. я не понимал многих ответов, однако я знал Oн иcтинa. с тех пор, он научил меня многих вещeй!

I recommend copying and pasting to Google translate for a rough idea of the English.

Sounds familiar...

I was listening to a Russian Christian radio station (новая жизнь - new life) this evening when a familiar tune started - words were however in Russian.  Looks like Delirious, or at least their songs, have made it to Russia!

Last letters from Stalingrad

This week I've had the pleasure/challenge of reading 'last letters from Stalingrad' (letzte Briefe aus Stalingrad). Being a true sober hearted Brit with a stiff upper lip and non-expressive manner, few things tend to impact me. This book did however, causing me to shead a couple of tears in the process. The book contains a series of letters said to be written by German soldiers towards the end of the second world war. They're writing from frozen Russia, perishing from the cold, poor equipment and lack of supplies. They're surrounded and outnumbered by the Russians. They've realised Hiltler's not going to save them, with any nazi ideology they had rapidly unravelling. They face either lifelong slavery in the Gulags of Siberia or dieing in the coming final standoff. Many prefer, for various reasons, the idea of the latter. The letters are written to families and sweethearts, showing huge outpourings of fear, hopelessness, anger and bitterness, each forming an empassioned final goodbye. The authorities kept and stored all the letters. None of them reached their intended recipients.

So, what have I taken from these harrowing accounts? Well firstly, no matter how much we make plans or how hard we work, we are ultimately not in control of our destiny. All will die, all have an appointed time. Often it takes a personal crisis to remind us we're not kings of this world, but mere mortals, flourishing only for a time.

Secondly, in our turbocharged world of individual achievement and output, personal crises are some of the few times that challenge us on what's really important; family, love, freedoms. The make us ask what is life for, is this really all there is, why did it work out like this?  This seems not to be bound by culture or time, with German soldiers, modern day Brits and ancient Hebrews all in the same boat.

God's word has something to say on this in psalm 103. Think, what does it say about man and what does it say about God?

Psalm 103:13-19
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

John Piper in Russia

An interesting and wise insight into the challenges facing the church in contemporary Russia and the USA, given by John Piper (translation in Russian).  The personal and pastoral advice are immensely valuable.

From Britain, contemplating east

I am British, I live in Britain, I am surrounded by a British worldview.

There are however many other countries and languages in the world.  Strange as it may seem, the members of these nations don't always share conclusions with my countrymen.  Their worldview is different, shaped by differing external influences, challenges and resources.

There is immense richness and value in metaphorically stepping into a pair of foreign shoes.  Doing so you opens the door to a whole new perspective, not necessarily the right or wrong one, however doubtlessly different.  This has huge currency when considering what's important in life.  Seeing how another language and culture perceives the gospel - the core of Christian faith - shows me ever greater the immeasurable riches that are found in being part of God's family.

The opportunities I have had (and hope to have in the future) of visiting central and eastern Europe have been incredibly valuable to me in enhancing my outlook, service, knowledge of and for Jesus.  The aim of this blog is to be a reflection on these and my contemplations east, as I continue to gain and learn from the world outside of the shores of "jolly ol' Blighty"!


So, to quote scripture:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God - Colossians 1:9-10  

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge - Colossians 2:1-3