Category: Bruce Posts (Page 54 of 211)

Vik & Natasha Wedding. Natasha babysat our girls each week in Minsk during YFM – Vik drummer for XDH band and super creative.

Back in Ukraine for a about a week when Deb and I took the short flight to neighboring Minsk, Belarus. Joining the wedding festivities of Vikente & Natasha, we anticipated simply enjoying friends at the wedding on our brief two day visit.

While we did get to hug several necks and enjoy some gorgeous weather (the illusive sun actually came out!), both Deb and I were surprised to ‘feel’ a sense of anticipation, of God at work in this nation – unexpected, moving.  What is God doing?

When we left Belarus last winter after our 3 month stay in Belarus, it felt as though we ‘finished’ a chapter, something the Lord had asked us to to. To be honest, we left fairly discouraged – discouraged by the lack of faith among incubated, even suffocating religion. To see so many young believers, so talented, yet so curiously satisfied with meeting and ‘doing’ church services, left us dumbfounded.

Great to see Anya, our YFM graduate from last year – she’s been serving in youth prisons and camps. So cool to see a missional heart emerging!

The past two days kickstarted something fresh in our hearts again. Not only did Deb and I both independently feel the Holy Spirit in several conversations (with non church going friends in particular) but a sense that something is about to break out, or break in –  so ripe, hearts prepared.

We need to be praying for Belarus, and possess a posture of readiness as a family, ministry. We’ve experienced revolution in Ukraine, we know what it feels like to ‘wake up’ the next day to a new reality.

The Holy Spirit is awakening us to a needed posture, and filling us with His desires.  Ironically, foreigners can now stay for up to 30 days visa free. This fits perfectly in line with our refreshed desire to stay connected to what God is doing there – we are praying about timing but fully intend to re-enter as the Lord leads.

There’s a keen interest, openness, even hunger among Belorussians – it’s a hunger for hope. From the waiters at restaurants, to uber driver’s, each of our conversations as we ran around the city was engaging, filled with possibilities – it was significantly difficult to leave these conversations – In just 24hrs we could have started a home group of 4-5 people, without any intentional trying – just by embodying hope and talking to folks.

Hope is drawing this next generation in Russian speaking world – like moth to flame, an irresistible longing.

Everyone loves Collins. Should be a TV show.

As believers embracing the loving nature of the Father in Christ, we have a purpose and hope lit within our hearts. When we’re around fellow light bearers, it seems easily muted, or forgotten just how illuminating it is.

Peter is super connected in Russian speaking world and excited to be working more closely on new projects. Shouldn’t drive while talking, at least with me.. thus the public shaming ha.

This is why I’m less excited to hang out with believers than those who haven’t tasted the hope in Jesus.  There’s something incredibly moving, motivating in my own faith when others start buzzing around the light in my heart.  This doesn’t mean that fellowship in a worshipping community isn’t life giving, but the primary unifying element ‘of’ community, I think, should be disciple making.

Christ sends and goes with us into the world to make disciples, entrusting us with the seeds of faith in every heart, nurturing to maturity in Christ.

Sometimes the church acts like the mission is to ‘go into all the world and meet’.. or ‘make services’..  That was not commanded – Paul only mentions the necessity of gathering regularly once, and contextually had nothing to do with faithfulness to a specific Sunday meeting but being bold in public witness during times of persecution.

Point being, we will gather as we are on-mission making disciples together. That’s what families do. If we’re gathering as an act of obedience, we’re obeying a command never issued. Make disciples, and the body will gather in united force, in many modes and culturally relevant methods.

Christianity is a revolution of heart, a wildfire of relational, contagious, infectious influence.

As we engage the hopeless, loving them for their value’s sake, and not for some intended finish line, we ourselves are filled to overflowing. This is the ‘light yoke’ and overwhelming life-giving burden of Christ.  The burden of Christ crushes in weight as it lifts our spirits to unearthly passion.

I think this is what Jesus meant when he declined the disciples lunch menu in Samaria. “I have food you don’t know about.” To release hope into the heart of the hopeless, whether they fully respond to the beckoning call of surrender or not, is most satisfying. It’s the will of the Father that His heart fill us.  Need more of this food!

We finished our time with lunch with Peter, Mir’s Belarusian director, hearts stirred.  Beyond the many logistics and increased works in this country, the Lord is stirring our hearts – a most important revelation.

It wasn’t the projects we’re planning or new chapters beginning that most moved our hearts – it was the sense that Aslan is in fact on the move – through prayer, fasting, and careful listening, you can hear this call to prepare, something is ushering in Belarus.

This doesn’t mean it will get easier – please pray for Belarus with us.

Dozens upon dozens of soviet style apartment complexes neatly organized around the City in 9 regions – over 1 million in Minsk, extremely young City filled with university students.

Bruce & Deb

I’m working on a paper.  It’s in sections, from all OT genres revealing the Missio Dei (mission of God) woven thru scripture. I’ve been studying light, and just getting started – but I love the concept of light!

My first ‘section’ in on the creation account, here’s what I have so far. My intent is to work through the OT, shedding light on, well, light! The nature of light reveals God’s nature as knowable, and thus grounds us in meaningful relationship.

Section 1: Pentateuch (Gen-Deut)
Passage: Gen. 1-5

In the creation story, we find God working with a formless cosmos in utter darkness. Ancient Greek poet Ovid writes,

“Before the seas, and this terrestrial ball, And heaven’s high canopy that covers all, One was the face of Nature; if a face: Rather a rude and indigested mass: A lifeless lump, unfashion’d and unframed, Of jarring seeds, and justly Chaos named.”

Within the chaos of darkness and disorder light appears illuminating the stage in which divine creation will be revealed. The Creator, the master builder, is a God of distinction. He separates, orders and builds with intention. From the onset, we see God revealing His nature. God has nothing to hide, for all that is good is worthy to behold. Light is the “Grand medium by which all His other works are discovered, examined, and understood, so far as they can be known.’ (Clark). This intentional illumination reveals something very specific concerning the nature of God and His resulting mission. He wants to be seen, understood, and therefor known insofar as we’ve been made in His image to comprehend. Knowing requires requires a certain dispelling of darkness, of ignorance through incoming divine illumination. “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9).

This trip kicked up a lot of dust. As it settles, I’d like to share a few things we’re learning, being affirmed in and probably a few things I’ve said already.

Church

The Church is alive, she is not losing ground.  Forms are being re-imagined by the leading of the Holy Spirit, shaped and positioning for harvest in a vastly different world. Date the model, marry the mission. The western church model in Protestantism must re-grid and get to work in the trenches of life. The eastern world would be wise to think fresh, borrow little from forms of the past and stick to eternal principles. Idolize form too tightly and you’ll go down with the titanic of religion. The Spirit brings life, and life likes to break out.

What God is doing in Ukraine is not unique, though we have the opportunity to uniquely explore alongside first generation believers. There are hundreds, thousands of pioneering efforts like Lighthouse emerging everywhere. We are not alone.

Friendship

I’ve rediscovered that within vulnerability lies the treasure of friendship. The potential is all around me, but I have to want it. Life lets us down, people let us down, but the joy of deep human connection is richly satisfying. Laughter is healing, and motivating. I have been surprised this trip with new, emerging friendships.

Learning

Learning is a posture. The more I read, study and collaborate with others WITH a learning posture, the more contagious learning becomes. When we learn with a motivation other than to grow ourselves, we’re not really learning. I need structure and accountability in my learning – without which my interaction with the grace of God is severely hampered. When you’re laughing, you’re learning.

Marriage

This is a fierce commitment. It is tested in seasons. One spouses strengths can inadvertently overshadow and inhibit growth in the other. We need to be intentional with helping each other grow. Our commitment to transparency in all things, leads to exceeding joy and passion – though the road there can be crushing – the aroma is worth it. A great marriage is made up of two broken people committed to rediscovering love.

Love

To be deeply committed to the highest interest of others, from the inside out. I’ve considered emotional ‘love’ to be something that safely resides in the context of marriage only. I’m beginning to actualize a new love for others, both for men and woman. God has granted me a fresh glimpse into the magnificence of the human soul. My capacity and desire to interact with this risky love is a curious and hopeful new course in my life. To love well, honorably, restrained only by the wisdom of Christ – is this possible? I’m starting to believe it is.

Leadership

The most impressive leaders don’t ‘try’ to be leaders. They enable and serve through influence, motivated by love. They champion the gifts of others, making space and possibility of expression. They are differentiated (amazing little clip here watch)

More dust will settle. We received more encouragement, even prophetic ‘words’ this trip than ever before – much processing to do in prayer. Returning filled and challenged.

It’s a fascinating thing to leave your native culture and revisit for brief stints. Your culture is like a favorite pair of jeans. They fit perfectly, snug in all the right places.

Leaving your culture of origin requires adapting to a new one, at least to some degree if you have any hope of flourishing in it.

Something takes place over the years; your shape begins to change.

Others won’t be able to tell. You may look a bit different on the outside, but the general assumption is that you’re the same on the inside. After all, who really changes? However, a very definite rewiring of the brain has begun for those that are being formed in the cauldron of another culture. It’s more than mere perspective shift.

The way we form sentences, begin and end conversations, and act in public alters. Your concepts of friendship, of love, what is considered funny or offensive. The other day a good friend of mine from Texas mentioned I no longer use articles in my online text messages. I’ve dropped the ‘a’ and ‘the’ whenever possible. It’s Russian thing. I think in short, literal sentence and draw upon 1/3 less vocabulary – it tends to shape your approach to many things – Russians GET TO THE POINT.  Please forgive my directness 🙂 I find now the English language wasteful, superfluous, unnecessarily vague in most conversations.

After ten years in Ukraine, our visits back to Canada and the US have become something of a joke for Deb and I. For the first few years, it was very confusing.  We were thrilled to be back, like gasping for native air.

Over the years, things have shifted, and we long for returning to Ukraine. Deb and I chuckle now at how out of place we feel and function in North America. We’ve stopped trying to put both legs in the formerly comfy jeans. We miss them, we remember them, they just don’t fit anymore.

We were designed by God to flourish in one culture.

I believe this to be true. I’m not suggesting we’ve fully integrated, we still struggle with language and must go deeper to fully inculturate. Culture is real, the worldviews which emanate from our cultural shapes are vastly different. Our meaningful questions in life are as different as the answers to them. This is partly why international diplomacy and current political tensions are so fascinating, and frustrating.

Nobody knows their own cultural shape until they attempt to integrate into another.

Integration takes years, even a lifetime. For those foreign missionaries returning home, be aware of this reality. For those returning from extended military duty overseas, remember this. Give us grace, and let us be confused. When we’re staring at self-checkouts at Target and completely oblivious how to use them, help us. When we’re processing out loud, don’t judge us – we’re just trying to put an old pair of jeans on.

As believers, I believe the process of growing in Christ shapes us too. We become fitted for the Kingdom. This world becomes increasingly foreign and we begin to long for the pure air of another culture. Thankfully, His Kingdom has come now, and we can begin our inculturation  of righteousness, peace and joy by the mercies of Jesus.