Category: Bruce Posts (Page 84 of 211)

Wittenberg Castle Church

I’ve just returned from a memorable three days in Germany.  The original intention was to safely deliver Bronwyn, our 17yr old daughter to the Nuremberg YWAM base for her Discipleship Training School (DTS), which took place without a hitch thankfully.  I couldn’t get an immediate return flight at a decent cost, so ended up having 2 days to spare.. what to do?

While much of what I saw and experienced is still soaking in, and most of my photos are already on facebook, I’d like to document some of what the Lord impressed upon me during a whirlwind tour of this amazingly beautiful, and historically rich part of Europe.

Germany has been for me, a certain molded stereotype.  I suppose it’s from WWII, and the limited understanding through Hollywood and various documentaries.  When I was about to leave, even my 9yr old son Noah was worried about my trip exclaiming, “You are going to Germany?!  Are they still bad?’ – Noah plays too many video games.  The mold was to be broken as I interacted with both history, the kind and polite people (I got lost many times).

What immediately impressed upon me was how affluent Germany is.  In many ways, it’s more advanced and impressive than anything you’d see in the US.  Incredibly smooth roads, even in the many very old towns.  Everything seemed to be automated as well, which threw me for a loop as I attempted to figure out even the bathrooms.   You don’t have to pay for your gas before you pump (trusting!), and there are few if any speed limits on the major highways.  They expect you to self – govern, go figure!  There’s a certain respect (for laws and humanity) and freedom in place that surprised me.  I realize this is still relatively new, and the brutal history of the past war is still eerily present in many unspoken memorials and museums.  Speaking no German, my charade skills were seriously put to the test.  Fortunately some Russian helped in a pinch, though confused the poor hearers as this American, lost in a small German village switched to Russian for directions.

I had rented a hatchback, 5-speed, economic little car and I intended to redeem the extra few days.  Redeemed and then some!  It was an incredible 48hrs, traveling back in time to interact with history that has shaped my own personal faith and the faith of millions.  I put +1500km on that little engine in 2 days!

Far left you can see the Castle Church in Wittenberg, then in center two statues of Luther, and Melanchthon.. and the far right the church they would preach in together.

First I traveled to Wittenberg, about 5hrs north of Nuremberg.  Huge accident on a major highway forced all of us through Rural Germany – I was happy to see it!  Did I mention how fast Germans drive?  It felt like a Rally Car event through the countryside – I found myself yelling “Whooo Hooo!” like the guys from Top Gear.  Driving was again fun!

Arriving just before sunset, I was astonished at how well preserved it was.  The Castle Church, where Luther, on October 31, 1517 nailed his 95 thesis after being declared a heretic for his infamous challenges to then corrupted ‘Church’.   His lesser known but brilliant companion Melanchthon, their homes, studies – preserved.   I could have spent several days here, but I had to keep moving.

Typical town passing through – I was stuck on a little bridge and took this photo.

I had a lovely dinner outside on a Cafe patio, with a view of the famous church.  The Germans have really fresh, but tasty food with a wide variety of cuisines available.   I was among 100 or so tourist, most of the elderly variety.  An Italian gentleman with his wife was as wide eyed at the surroundings as I – and asked me to take their picture.  Everyone there, if they were a tourist, was there to pay homage to men of faith, and the God that emboldened them forward. This leaves an interesting feeling of unity and harmony among everyone in the town – folks from every culture congregating to witness where such doctrines like the “Priesthood of the Believer’ and “Salvation by faith alone” re-emerged in the Gospel.

These were men that swam upstream, and lived in continual threat, outcast and knew mostly difficulty.  They were thrust forward by something greater than the promises of temporary happiness on earth – conscience.  They possessed a ‘faith convinced’, an inward passion to do right, no matter what and entrust to God the results.

I reluctantly left Wittenberg, wishing for only another few days and my wife to somehow teleport to me to enjoy it together.   I had another historical and inspiring place to visit!   5hrs to the East, nestled by the Czech border and Poland was a small, unassuming community called, Herrhut, where the Moravian church began, and my personal hero of the faith, Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf lived and led.

You can learn more about the Moravian missions movement, and this inspiring history here if you are interested!  This dude blazed a trail, and was so humble going about it.

http://www.moravian.org/the-moravian-church/history/

I was still basking in the experience of Wittenberg, so visiting this place on the very next day was a bit overwhelming.  What century was I in again?  1700’s, ok so about 200 years ahead.  The reformation was still in effect happening, it caused all sorts of heartache for families, division, and much persecution towards those ‘breaking away’ from the established church.

My heart was stirring with the importance of obeying and trusting God.   I was able to visit a museum, the original church (re-built interior due to the Soviets pushing back the retreating Germans, the entire town was scorched).   The graveyard was probably my most favorite part of my visit to Herrnhut.

This is where Zinzendorf originally walked with his wife, on top of this hill lies the Cemetery to right – the village of Herrnhut 1km.

I’ve always felt drawn to cemeteries.   I still visit them here in Ukraine (my wife probably wonders where I am sometimes!)  I don’t think this is a morbid thing.   I think that death, and even those lives now completed on earth, speak to us.   Death is the most sobering and unifying thing of our existence.  We will all die.  Yet, we are now, at present, alive.  The deepest questions seem to be allowed to surface when you allow yourself elongated moments pondering the real questions of life.  My faith and corresponding theology is put to the test each time I walk around and consider the brevity and meaning of life.

I think as a culture today, we avoid death like the plague, but we shouldn’t.  We are, I think, required to think upon death and allow our faith to rise up to its awkward and ugly face.  A solid theology, one based on the life and resurrection of Jesus will have no problem removing deaths sting, so that each one of us can smile at it and even embrace it when it comes.   This is nonsense to the one who constantly avoids deaths reality and refuses to stare intently at it.  In short, what do we really believe?   Where does our hope truly lie?

The sweeping views of the Moravian cemetery, complete with 1000 or so identical gravestones of the believers from that first 100 pioneering years, is, well, moving.   These men, women and children were part of a missional movement that led to over 100 missionaries being sent from their tiny village in the first 25yrs, and +1000 missionaries over the next 75.   Literally the four corners of the earth were felt by the spiritual awakening that took place in the hearts of the believers in this town.    It’s called “God’s Acre’, and I believe it is.

Bronwyn arrives early so gets to pick her own bunk..

I dropped off Bronwyn, my own little history maker!  She’s with a crew of 70 or so similarly aged, passionate creative types.  She is however sharing a room with about 10 other girls and a bathroom with 30!  She will be sharing in some suffering 🙂  I’m so proud of her, and know this is going to be an incredible opportunity to meet with God regularly and grow in Him and build some lasting friendships.

This was the funniest little hotel we stayed at. This greeted us in the hallway..

On the way home to Ukraine, I wrote down some questions that were immediately present in my mind.  I’m still mulling them over, but they are fresh and I wish to document them.  They center around the lives and work of those who inspire like Luther, Zinzendorf, Bonhoeffer (highly recommend this book http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7501962-bonhoeffer) , I finished it on audio while driving around Germany, adding to the historical effect.

• Be God’s, not mans.
• Life will go on without us, leave breadcrumbs for the next generation.
• “Preach the Gospel, die and be forgotten”  Count Zinzendorf
• Will God smile at my grave?
• Persecution, Resistance, Misunderstanding – will by nature accompany any real work for the Kingdom.
• Focus on sweeping, grand, revolutionary change – not nit picky small stuff.
• Prayer, Faith, God’s Word, the Holy Spirit – we have all we need.
• Be the Worlds.  Incarnate Christ.
• Christianity conceals within itself a germ hostile to the church – morality and religion.  Through pride, they attempt to circumvent God’s Way through faith alone in Christ by attaining God some other way(s).
• “Where the people of God pray, there is the Church”  – Bonhoeffer
• We must critique the church in order to keep it from dead forms.  Reformation is like Repentance is not only an event –  it’s a dynamic, fluid call to form into His image.
• “Flee to His wounds and you will be safe!” Erasmus

Perhaps some random quotes above, but we all desire to live a life worth living don’t we? We can all confidently look into deaths abyss and be free from fear in Christ.  These men lived for eternity, they set their hearts on passing THROUGH death into reality.  I look forward to meeting them, but not yet!

There’s work to do for our King.  Be encouraged friends.  You are not alone, He is with you – lean into His arms, surrender and be filled with hope in believing.   I really enjoyed my 2 day journey in Germany.  I already miss my little girl.  Life is a gift.

Bruce & Deborah

Every evening we enjoyed this sunset – ahhh.

Last week Deb and I went, without kids, to Greece for a week vacation.  Bronwyn and Brent watched the crew while we slept, ate, walked, talked, and repeated 7 times!

Besides the rest and gorgeous weather, a highlight was visiting some ancient ruins.   One was on the island of Delos.  Click here if you are interested in history – this tiny island was home to a bustling port of 30k, 10k of which were slaves +2,500yrs ago.  What makes it so unique, as a world heritage official site, is the preservation of streets, market places, statues, amphitheater – sitting in the middle of the Aegean Sea it literally sat, for a 1000yrs unspoiled.

The birthplace of Apollo & Athena, a polytheistic and multicultural melting pot that even included one of the oldest remaining Jewish synogogues as well, predating Christ by 300-400yrs.

History was a major theme during our time away.  I grew up in Canada, went to school in the US – our ideas of history date back a whopping 200yrs.

To visit places of antiquity, take in the immovable scenery, touch the same stones – connects you in ways textbooks can’t.

There are over 500 Greek Islands.   Many make it their summer destination each year and visit new ones.  It was incredibly windy, the entire time – Ukrainians would have a fit trying to stay away from the breeze 😉

On the way home we had a 3hr layover in Athens.   We wanted to try and at least see the city center, namely the Acroppolis, even if it meant driving past – but the airline workers and most of which I read online said, “minimum 5hrs needed.”   Athens is about 40min by car from the airport, so we decided to grab a taxi and go for it.

We are so glad we did!  God provided, and I don’t say this lightly, a young man named Anatoli (Tony) who was excited to try and make it happen for us.  He lived only blocks from the Parthenon, and knew the city like the back of his hand.

Thankfully it was nighttime, the streets were mostly cleared but for scores of tourists wandering about Athens.  Our first stop was the most moving for me.

Tony drove around the tiny streets, up over and around some blockades I’m fairly certain were to keep cars out – until he stopped about 3 meters from a massive rock jettisoning out of the ground.  He said, “Get out.  Paul here.”  I excitedly jumped out and noticed the engraved speech from Paul (Acts 17) on his visit to Athens.

What it looked like during the time of Christ.

The Acropolis of Athens by Leo von Klenze.

For 5000yrs, this collection of massive rocks became the place of gathering, of worship and ideas.  What hit me immediately was the myriad of young people, possibly 100’s (it was dark) gathered on this particular historic rock.   It continues to draw, like a magnet.  Paul chose this place to lay down the gauntlet of Jesus Christ, the Monotheistic God who has come to destroy sin on His back and set searching hearts free.

You see, what blows my mind and strengthens my faith as we consider in particular the Roman and Greek history – is that what stood for centuries in columns of immovable and impressive cement fixtures – was rendered irrelevant and unnecessary by Christ and His disciples in one lifetime.  The Gospel’s power grabbed hold of civilizations arm and swung it into light – nations were transformed.  Looking backward, we see the mission of God – the plight of man, the grappling in ignorance, then, in an instant, the coming of the Son.  When Jesus comes, in His authority and salvation, change happens!

Theater where 5k would gather for entertainment on Delos.

We are His triumph, the surrendered people of God.  We are marching still, through history.  We posses the same power to persuade the heart of men in the Gospel.  We have the power to transform cultures and destroy all that speculates against the Truth of Jesus Christ.  I came back energized by the Gospel through it’s power displayed before my eyes.

This is our hearts desire for Ukraine.  We’re not building massive temples or statues, but vehicles where the love of God can be experienced.  Vehicles like a Cafe, or park.  This is not easy, for there’s a battle and the hearts of men are so easily focused on the wrong things.  Every nation wants to be great, wants to be ‘free’.  Without Christ, we are an enslaved people.  No amount of flags, no amount of national pride or independence will free us from our greatest enemy – sin.   In the words of Erasmus of Rotterdam: “Flee to His wounds and you will be safe.”

Halfpipe ready! Where’s that liability form?

We have lots to do.  The park is still in full swing – the halfpipe has been completed and is amazing!  Shane, Josh and Nazar did an incredible job – this was from scratch folks, no pre-made kit.  We now need to quickly get some safety gear as kids are already starting to use it and if you know skateboarding, it’s just a matter of time before someone gets hurt.  What have we built!?  🙂

I do think we need to consider a campaign to raise $ for equipment and some boards to sign out, especially for the young kids.  We have gone over budget on the park unsurprisingly but can’t afford to just open without some thoughtful rules and requirements.   It’s going to be a huge draw and meeting place.   Our own Acropolis!

Besides the park, we are getting our kids ready for school like everyone else.   The starting of the school year in Ukraine is a bit like a series of false starts at an Olympic Race (By the way we saw the first olympic stadium too!).  It sort of starts, then is stops, you give some gifts to teachers, starts again, need documents… oh and the search for the official uniform each year because your boys grow too many inches.

We have students returning this week as well, some already texting and excited to visit – I’ve missed many of the young boys God has surrounded us with.  The girls were able to do internships this summer and all of them grew in their faith – we are praising God for this and now plan to encourage further growth through some leadership opportunities.  Pray for us, for them!

Ok time for work, vacation is over.   Oh by the way really enjoying the audio book “Bonhoeffer” if you also enjoy history.   On Thursday I’m taking Bronwyn to Germany for school, have rented a car and hope to visit Wittenberg as well as Herrnhut.    Reformation and Moravians, it’s history month!

Bruce & Deb

Tucker and Brent back together, after their first ever break.

I enjoy seeing my kids return.  Still learning to love the arrows being sent 🙂

Brent has been working in Canada this summer with his oldest brother Broderic.  It was a joy to hug him again today and feel a piece of our family fit back into place.

His voice has deepened, he’s more confident, and gained a few pounds from Nana’s cooking.

The trips to Kiev take about 1hr each way without traffic.  They provide a nice time of reflection and prayer (when I’m not dodging horses, wagons, grandmothers).

While in Kiev I was able to meet a friend for lunch unexpectedly.  He has served as YWAM’s Eastern European leader and serves in leadership with Loren Cunningham (it’s founder) directly.  I cherish conversations that are meaty, and get to the root of our motivations and mission.  I also really love talking with fellow pioneers, folks used to the tension that come from working around those focused on the local in-gathered church and the gospel movements that birth them.

Bronwyn, or eldest daughter is leaving for YWAM Nuremburg, Germany for DTS in 10 days!  A course called, “Marriage of the Arts” – she’ll be gone for 6 months and includes a 2 month outreach in another country.

Here’s a link to the school if you are interested – http://ywamnuremberg.com/    We are excited to see how God uses this gifted girl in the coming years.   I’ve asked her to write up a little background on what God is doing in her life, the decision to attend this school, and keep our home church/partners in the loop.  She won’t be fundraising for the school part, thankfully we can provide this for her, but the outreach will be a test of her faith and will appreciate any help from our friends and family later this year.

My baby girl – managed to scare off all male interests to date. Not been easy.

Broderic is about to start at Augustine College in a couple of weeks over in Ottawa, Canada.  The college is taught by a small group of PhD’s with a passion for defending the Gospel (Apologetics) in humanistic / agnostic settings.  This school is quite costly (mostly for living) and he’s been working several jobs trying to save up – proud of you young man! http://www.augustinecollege.org/

8yrs going, this trampoline continues to draw dozens of new faces each summer. 3 tarp replacements, +50 springs, Sam’s Club record for sure.

If you would, please pray with us about this fall and a particular meeting coming up with our partners and friends from Belarus at the end of September.

He has connected with us, providentially I believe, with some really neat existing and emerging leaders of the body of Christ in Belarus.  God is stirring something quite significant in my heart, it won’t go away, and it is going to stretch our faith beyond the starting of this Cafe and ministry.

We are planning to gather with one agenda, to meet with Jesus and hear His voice.  We know He is working, opening the hearts of this next generation, and is doing much of this outside of traditional church structures.   Focused, targeted ministries, from ice cream stands to coffee shops, businesses, skateboard ministries, and everything in between – more mobilization coming, especially in the FSU.

What does a move of the Holy Spirit look like?  What role does He want us to play?  How can the bride of Christ in the FSU (Former Soviet Union) grow in number, in beauty and in mission?  What steps can we start taking this fall?

We all have similar desires to use music and creative arts to provide environments for the Gospel to awaken hearts.  These guys and gals are incredibly talented and willing.   Our family feels a kindred connection, we are supposed to move ahead together somehow – they are also pioneers, and taking risks already, willing to take more for Jesus.

Our friends there already traveled to 7 cities to host worship nights this past spring, and would have continued but did not have enough money for gas – they are individually living on $200-400 per month in a major city along with the rest of the people of Minsk suffering from a collapsed economy.   God sees their willing hearts, and He also sees the harvest – we must lift up our eyes together and get into this field more actively.

We need your prayer, we need God so sharpen our ears, soften our hearts and most of all we need his power.   He will provide all the many needs for what is next, but without His power it won’t produce life:

“The history of missions is the history of answered prayer. From Pentecost to the Haystack meeting in New England and from the days when Robert Morrison landed in China to the martyrdom of John and Betty Stam, prayer has been the source of power and the secret of spiritual triumph.”
Samuel Zwemer

We are signing off for a week and we rest up for a crazy September ahead!  Love and blessings from Ukraine.

Bruce & Deb

Tonight we held an impromptu worship and prayer evening at the Cafe.  It’s neat to rally various worshipers of Christ on demand and seek Him together.  I needed it.  It’s been a difficult week with many problems.  Sometimes problems seems to pounce and come at you in waves.

Entering the prayer time I was feeling pretty empty from various battles.  I was reminded of Psalm 51 in David’s prayer, “A broken and contrite heart you will not despise.”  In times of emptiness, whether from sin or simply beaten down in the battle of life – we can cherish this promise too.

We are always accepted in Christ when we come broken, humble and acknowledging our need for our Savior.

Sometimes we think we need to earn His acceptance.  Bring out the sacrifice, the bulls and rams.  Let’s pat ourselves on the back with some good ole self righteousness before we come into His presence!  Thankfully the instructions are quite the opposite.  If we come broken, hungry, thirsty and we’ll always find the open arms of the Father.

It’s a bittersweet time as we say goodbye to Natasha from Minsk.  She volunteered her time this summer to work with us specifically with the interns.  The 3 girls, along with Natasha just returned from a week together in Western Ukraine’s beautiful Carpathian mountains.  They had an amazing time and some really cool stories of God’s grace.

We were able to pray and send Natasha, along with her freshly sprained ankle back to Minsk.  Incoming, we have Josh Neibert from Crossroads (our home church in Texas) here for the next 6-7 weeks.  Josh is 18 and already fairly traveled among our Crossroads mission locations.  He’ll be serving primarily with youth and currently helping Shane build the halfpipe  – started this morning!

It’s been cool to have the “Big House” this summer free to host families, teams and interns! So many cool mixes of nationalities and languages this summer.

We’ve had Andrei & Ira here from Minsk all week.  Andrei c0-pastors in Minsk at CFN Church, both he and Ira are graduates of the bible school there.  It’s been neat to get to know them some more – they don’t speak any English, so it’s been a real solid test of our Russian.  We love their heart and what God is doing in their lives.

The Minsk connection has been a blessing in our little town.  I look forward to seeing how continued networking can infuse more life and friendships among both nationalities.  The church is greatly encouraged when believers unite in mission together.   Deb and I both feel God is doing something special among the Belarussian believers – they have a desire and maturity that is going to bless many more nations beyond Ukraine.

Some areas to pray for us:

• Legal issue: we are taking Pasha to court again for the robberies at our house this past year.  We gave mercy at the last proceeding, but this mercy was repaid with another attempted break-in last month (we have camera footage outside).  Please pray for him, and us as we make difficult decisions towards justice, and safety for our family.
• Another issue: we had a man come to the cafe a few nights ago and harass our female workers.  It centered around some Russian language on our signage/menu and he took issue (an understatement), yelling at the girls for over 20 minutes and provoking them to tears and argument.  He refused to leave the front counter space of our Cafe, making a spectacle of himself.  We have it on video.  I was called to help, and asked him to leave – thankfully he did but then the next day reported our Cafe to the authorities – claiming he was instead insulted and treated poorly.   We have several witnesses and video to prove otherwise and were already thinking to have our lawyer help us keep him legally from coming again to our peaceful cafe – he threatened to return with ‘more’ patriots.  Anyway, we want to be a people of peace, and the whole situation needs prayer and wisdom please!
• Park: please pray for our remaining stages of this park.  It’s coming along but so slowly. It’s hard for my American brain to understand why everything here has to be so bulky – the answer for everything in Ukraine is cement, and more cement.  I just want to have some swings and grass..  Pray for patience and help as we’re about $2k over budget, but it’s going to be really a great park and a real attraction for many students and young parents/kids!

Lots of stuff coming up as September hits.  Widows ministry continues, a big pizza party being planned for incoming 1st and 2nd year students, and we’re looking to hire more staff for the fall.   God fill us with your power, your presence, your joy!  We need to believe Him for spiritual victories, and focus on the eternity ahead.   May we learn from the difficulties and become more useful instruments in His hands because of them.

Bruce & Deb