Category: Bruce Posts (Page 140 of 211)

My daughter, who turns 14 today, has been writing an essay on humility this week.  I’m very proud of her.

When we Christians think about humility, we have a very different meaning than the world around us.  In many cultures humility is a sign of weakness.  It communicates meekness, trepidation, and lack of confidence.  It’s strange how a concept or even word can become so misinterpreted and misrepresented.

Are you a humble person?  Do you find humility attractive?  What is true humility anyway?
Ghandi, I think, comes very close in defining the true nature of humility.  He writes, ” Humility is an accurate assessment of ones assets and liabilities.”   I would suggest that this ‘accurate assessment’ focuses more on ones liabilities.  A humble person is someone that has come to grips with the reality of sin.  A humble person has a clear God-perspective on the human condition and our equally desperate need for grace!

God hates pride.  He ‘resists the proud’, yet gives grace to the humble.  Why?  Maybe it’s because proud individuals have an inaccurate assessment of themselves.   They think they are wise when they are truly not.  They believe they are better than others, when in fact, they are at best equal.  The proud person doesn’t quite accept the objective reality that they are selfish by nature, willing rebels against God’s good Law and deserving retribution.   A proud person may say they want forgiveness, but inside they don’t think they really need it.

Humble folks have come face to face with their nature, their disposition, and status before God.  They recognize their fallen state, and fall on God’s grace for forgiveness.   They know they can’t earn forgiveness, only accept it.  They offer grace to others because grace has been experienced.  The proud, not so.   The proud continue in the delusion that they are an exalted being.  They’ve over-valued their stock, misrepresented their assets and deceived themselves into believing they are better than others, stronger, holier, wiser, more beautiful.. and the lies go on and on.   God hates pride, because He hates this deception.

One last thought.  Is God humble?  Was Jesus humble?  If Ghandi was close to being correct and humility is simply having an accurate view of oneself.. then the answer is a resounding yes!  Jesus, who came in the flesh as God’s son to showcase God for us, had an accurate view of Himself.  Every claim He made was proven true and certified through the resurrection.  Jesus didn’t think more highly of Himself than was reality, nor did He think less.  When he rebuked sin in the religious leaders, He was accusing them of false pretense – or pride.  He continually elevated honesty, transparency, integrity, kindness, mercy – all of which we see represented in living color through the gospels.   God can, in this sense, expect worship from His creation because He truly deserves it.  He’s not suffering from pride or insecurity if the reality IS that He is perfectly holy, good and deserving of honor.

Jesus was humble.  Jesus came ‘down’ to earth, making Himself a servant to mankind.  If He didn’t lay down His life we would all be left in our pride and shame.   He came for the sick, those walking in the delusion of cocky independence.  To be like Jesus is to first recognize our accurate position before God as rebels, and lay down our swords.  This is humility, this is beautiful.  To be like Jesus is then offer the same grace received to others, without recompense.

God give us an accurate view of ourselves that we may walk in honesty toward you, and one another.  Give us this gift of humility.   Let it impact us from the inside out.  May we never be a people given to false humility, just another form of pride and deception.

Bruce & Deborah Crowe

Missionaries | Rzhyshchiv, Ukraine

This Sunday we had fun with the kids from Kuzmenci (above).  For some their first time on skates.  The 3rd one over, tall boy wearing black is Nikita.  Four yrs ago he stole Brent’s bike and then broke into our house and took other things.  We have a special bond now, so much in common!  It was neat to bring him into our house as a guest and friend.   The last time he was here Deb was chasing them out of the kids room window.  His dad is in and out of jail, and mother not caring for him.  He’s spent most of his life in and out of the government orphanage/fostering system.  The two girls in the pink coats are super sweet.  One of the girls (on Bron’s right) is Ira, she’s full of sparkle.  I’ve met her mom now twice.  She has substance abuse issues and her parental right taken away.  Pray for her Mom, her name is Alyona.

Our little Abbey enjoying something.  I have no idea who gave her the ‘something’, or who took the picture.  I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Deb.  She has 5 brothers and a sister (and a dad) that enjoy giving her little treats – who wouldn’t?!   She’s 10 months now, crawling finally and starting to play with Noah a bit. {update, I guess I gave her the cookie, and Deb took the picture}.

Winter has swung back in full force.  We got hit with more storm today.  I found myself singing Christmas carols – Even Noah today asked, “Why is Christmas back?”  It’s absolutely gorgeous outside, a winter wonderland and quite fun to drive as long as you aren’t in a rush.   The only problem with the snow is keeping the rink shoveled.  We are doing it in shifts.

I’ve included a quick video for Jon and Ruth, Jono, Gaven, anyone else that knows our little town and has driven up this fun hill in the winter!  I’m thankful daily for 4-wheel drive.

Quick Cafe Update!

• $3,000 was donated to help towards remaining documents!  Everything is moving again.
• We have been told about 7 weeks until property and permits are complete.
• Gas documents are progressing again thankfully!
• Feb hope to purchase flooring for upstairs classrooms/office area.

Looking at possibly going to Texas with Broderic in March to get his Learners/Beginners Driver’s License.  My boy is growing up!  This Fall we hope to get his full license.. just in time for winter.  We will seriously enjoy the extra help driving kids to school and running errands in general.  Have to get him an old Lada.

We’re trying to increase our Russian learning speed-  This week Masha is coming up for Coffee and some grammar help!   Praying quite a bit about the start of a new ministry in our town/area centered around discipleship.  We’re in touch with Bo and our home church Crossroads (Texas) about this and seeking for God’s direction and timing.  Join us please in prayer about this major shift and directional decision for our family long term.

Thanks for checking in!

Bruce & Deb

Some Ukrainians laugh at my optimism.  I thought for sure by now we’d be smelling the fresh baked dough and rich aroma of coffee at the Cafe.  I made a sign this past fall which confidently declared, “coming soon!” out front.   Instead, it’s a dark, cold, lonely place and my once proud flag annoys local passerby’s.

This is Ukraine.  I’m sure it’s like this in some of the neighboring countries as well, but Ukraine continually ranks near the world’s worst Corruption Index’s and terrifies most international business investors.  It is the opposite of ‘business friendly’, and seems to systematically attempt to grind your optimism into dust.  If Ukraine was a person, it would be saying to us, “Who are you to think you can waltz into our country and just sell us pizza?  Are you a son of the president?  No.  Do you have rich powerful friends? No.  Do you think we will just let you pass by without extorting every possible cent?  Silly foreigner, this is no place for optimism.’

Sometimes it works.  I get discouraged.   We’ve spent our savings on property downtown to be a light for Jesus Christ.  We’ve received countless donations from friends and family to renovate the building into a beautiful space, complete with kitchen equipment, tables, chairs and bathrooms.  We’ve been engaged in a series of document challenges over the past two months which are requiring even more money.

I’m writing this not as a complaint.  This is for us to remember personally how trying and costly this investment was.   So often we forget to document the reality, the difficulty.  To bolster our faith when it is opened, and we encounter even more difficulty.  We know that we’ll be touching hundreds of lives through this property.  It won’t be just pizza and coffee.  We’re spending money hand over fist for stamps and a ridiculous amount of paperwork because lives are important to God.  The second floor at the Cafe will be an amazing spot for ministry collaboration, for prayer, study of God’s Word, planning and changing of lives.  I have to remind myself of this daily, because the effort it’s taking just to legally operate a small pizza cafe is daunting.

We’re currently awaiting the conversion of the building to business.  This is a series of 5 steps (actually more like 20, but 5 is a nicer number). We’ve completed step 1, the supposedly most expensive and time consuming one.  It wiped us clean of all our resources, but we were very thankful to have the funds set aside for that.  Step 2 is underway now, and supposed to be finished within 3 weeks.  They’ve come back to us however last week and changed the price, from $1,000, to $2,000 for this particular document.  We’ve contested this increased charge and they are going back to re-negotiate the final price with their extortioners in Kiev.  Once we have step 2 complete, step 3 is only a few hundred bucks (only!) and should take a week or two.  Then, Step 4 is the last one to achieve final ‘business permit’ status, which will allow us to sell to the public.  This is supposed to be about another $1,000.

Besides the actual business / building permit that is taking months to secure, we have to get our Gas back on.  Right now the head chief in Khargalyk has been kind and now that our step 1 (from above) was completed, he’s approved us moving forward.  We ‘could’ have Gas back on in the Cafe within a month or two.  At this point it’s anyone’s guess, they don’t move very quickly, there isn’t any competition so why would they?  We are trying hard to not ‘gift’ anyone to expedite things because it only creates more expected giftings and in turn establishes you as a ‘gifter’.   When its appropriate and someone does an exceptional job or shows us real favor, we give chocolates, sometimes a tip, to reward excellence vs paying for something that should be done legally without a gift.  We all feel good for being rewarded when we do a good job, nobody feels right taking money because you are holding a situation hostage.  Yet, it’s the norm too often.

So, big question, when will the Cafe open?  I answer:

– When the Building and Land Documents are 100% finsihed (1-2 months?)- When the Gas is back on (1 month?).
– When the Electric and Fire are activated under the new business.
– As the Lord provides the finances and help to expedite all of the above.

For everyone else that doesn’t read English or our blog, the answer is “skora”, or in english, “soon”.   I could be spiritual and say, “God knows”, the Ukrainians chuckle at this response in agreement mostly.   We’re swimming in mud.  It’s slow, messy and not a lot of fun.  I don’t know what God really ‘knows’, but I do know He understands our situation, the layers upon layers of bureaucracy, and our limited funds to navigate through the final steps.  The fact that I believe He knows this, and cares, and is with us, is all I need for the final push.   He’s also given us friends and family that are praying and holding us up for the journey – that is comforting and we encourage you to not let up!

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Gal 6:9

Bruce & Deb

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from Ukraine – Someone out there drink some eggnog for us and eat some juicy American (or Canadian) turkey!  Our ice rink is glistening and ready to go just in time!  Just need to get some lights out there for our Christmas skate.  Wish you could join us!

Very thankful for our health, our warm house, and some time off regular scheduled programming – I hope you are able to rest, refocus and allow the Lord to deposit some fresh vision and inspiration for the coming year.  Reminded how much we need him – He truly is our fuel and brings ultimate meaning to all things.

As most of you know Ukraine doesn’t celebrate Christmas on the 25th, but rather the Orthodox Calendar (which for centuries has refused to adopt daylight savings) is currently Jan 7.  We’re going to wait and celebrate fully on the 7th with my parents who arrive on the 6th. 

“He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other.” – CS Lewis

Bruce & Deb