Was reading an article on the multi-billion dollar machine that scientists are desperately hoping gives them more ‘actual’ evidence for the big bang theory, check out this paragraph:

What will we learn from it? Scientists hope the £4.4billion project will help them to understand how the universe was created and find “missing” particles which are thought to exist but have never been observed, including the Higgs boson, nicknamed the “God particle”. It could answer the question of what causes mass, or even surprise its creators by revealing the existence of a fifth, sixth or seventh previously unknown dimension of time and space.

Thought to exist, but have never been observed?  Even surprise its creators by revealing the existence of a fifth dimension?  All this sounds more like faith to me!

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Heb 11:1

I sat beside a Japanese molecular scientist once on a flight to Russia a few years ago.  She was explaining to me, as best she could in non-technical terms, what they did with these massive machines explained in this article.  They are convinced they will find another element, or particle that will unlock the mystery, because as it stands now, there is nothing to hang their ‘faith’ on.  I asked her what they would do when they found it, because the question will still remain, “Ok, now where did this come from?”.  Something from nothing, that’s their worldview, and they are happy with that?  ‘They consider all other theories ‘unscientific’.   This is faith, pure and simple, and in my view, unreasonable faith.

Jesus said, speaking to the skeptical Jews, “Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.” John 3:11

I don’t believe something comes from nothing.  It’s not reasonable, it’s not science.  I embrace the scientific method in my defense of the gospel.  Jesus was a man, He came to earth, undeniably documented within and without of scripture.  He was much more man than a man, He had the nature of God, because only a non-created being can create (water to wine, deaf to hear, rise from the dead, and much much more).  We have to, using the scientific method, come to some conclusion about this history changing character.  I choose reason.

Don’t let science scare you.  It is simply a method of study.  Too often facts are thrown around to denounce our Christian faith, but when you dig deeper, you find those facts have been manipulated to fit a scientific faith.  Christianity is the most reasonable belief system on the planet, I would switch the moment someone convinces me otherwise.   I simply cannot believe this world came from nothing, in the words of Spock, “That would be illogical Captain.”

Two more days with the crew from NYC here, been a great time of fellowship and productive work.  Thank you all for praying with us!

Bruce & Deb

We had a great morning of worship and testimonies.  Our New York brothers shared their unique stories and really blessed the entire body.  Here’s a taste of our morning!

George, member of BrickThink from NYC tops off our temporary water supply for construction.

We’ve had a great start to the small team from NYC.  5 members of BrickThink, a construction missions ministry have come over to expedite work on the Cafe.  The group has been serving with our Ukrainian team of 5, making for a very busy work-site.

I’ve enjoyed watching folks from the bus station across the street stare in wonder at what is actually going on inside that big white building.  Vehicles pulling in and out, materials unloading, strange foreigners with white t-shirts walking around the property.. I’d love to know what they are thinking… I’m trying to spread the news about the coming cafe at every opportunity, people are starting to respond with, ‘yes we’ve heard!’

The City water was shut off all week, so we had to get creative

Lighthouse Center & Cafe Street View

Tom and Vlad getting ready to build stairs

Monday, Lord willing the Mayor is supposed to stop by and visit the team.  We’re planning to feed him lunch and hopefully have some time to share the heart (again) for the cafe.  The town won’t really understand (at least not naturally) why we are doing this and why there isn’t profitable alcohol sold at the cafe, but we pray God will touch their hearts each and every time we share our vision for the property.  We are currently enjoying favor with our local officials, we don’t take this for granted!

Vlad posing for us in the newly tiled bathrooms (great job!)

This weekend we plan to give the team the service time to share both through music and testimony. We’re very blessed to have them here this week and I know they are already having a positive influence on some new believers, and a few that aren’t yet.  God is so much bigger than our little town, the family ofGod is massive and these little trips encourage in seen and unseen ways.  Please continue to pray for their safety, and unity for the remainder of the week, they leave next Thursday morning.

Mommies little monster

Deb, Neil, Shane, and Lena (our new cooking helper) have been providing meals, sharing the load.  This weekend we plan to take them out on the Dnepr for a short tour and to Kiev after church to see Kiev. Pretty much everything else in our life has come to a standstill, from Texas work and family life, but it’s a lot of fun and great to meet new friends that share our love for God.

Sergei and Lesya are back, haven’t seen them yet but I heard they arrived safely last night.  It should be quite a time together this Sunday in our little 2nd floor of Dan’s house.  By the way, some have asked specifically for an update on Dan.

He has been doing great since his last stroke.  The doctors could not however find any reason for the stroke, and although he’s had 2 in two years, they told him basically to keep on living, and he is taking some medication.  They are comfortable with the situation, having visit a number of doctors, including foreign (good hospitals in Kiev) and Dan is very active water skiing and building.

Thanks for stopping in, we’ll try and post some more pics soon:)

Bruce & Deb

Deb with her crazy boys

Life is hectic and full of challenges!  Quick update on life over here in Ukraine, this will sound a bit negative but not meant to be.. it’s what’s going on and where the Lord is helping us along!

– Mold problems in our basement from all the rain, trying to salvage rugs, putting in more drains, redoing sheetrock.

– Fire inspector trying to charge us $2k for his approval on cafe (includes some special paint and a buzzer that rings the local truck in case of fire).

– Several other document ‘issue’s’ working through including registering the business property as an investment, changing project for gas from private to business, electric from private to business, and Svetlana continues to work away at them as well as Alyosha.

– Van was rear ended this week, Tom is getting all insurance things together and attempting to process, think America x 10 the process and no guarantees even if other guys fault).

– Group coming in less than a week.  Materials mostly in place, look forward to a great productive and spiritually fruitful week with these New YOAHKers from Times Square Church.

Corn is coming along nicely, Deb waving for me!

– Wonderful times of Bible Study each week, teaching through gospel of John, 4 weeks in, good amount of Ukrainians coming.  I’m personally learning a lot as I prepare weekly.

– Leadership team here is working on a fall student outreach plan, it’s cool to see the desire and energy to work together strategically to ministry on a number of levels.  We want to provide a welcome packet for incoming students, and start building relationships sooner than later, as well as clearly communicate opportunities for them to grow and take the next step in their faith.  Pray for that, it’s a lot of planning and organization, and we’ll need some funding for the packets and events we hope to host.

– Hoping and praying my drivers license (and debs) make it before they expire in less than a month.  Mine was delayed by mail and a lot hinges on me getting that thing soon (registration of vehicle here, not to mention ability to drive).

– Got my medical information back from the Dr’s for my resident application.  I opened the sealed envelope in front of the secretary at the hospital and she almost fainted.. “Sir, I don’t think you were supposed to open that.”  I guess the patient is not approved to know his own health, I couldn’t understand it anyway, but I did get a lot of stamps so that must be good right?

– Crazy truck (my Toyota) has gone in for what I thought was a minor repair now 4 times in less than a month.  A quiet clinking noise from the front right tire, pretty easy to fix I thought.. Well, $1000 later, I’m about to take it back yet again because now the left tire is clinking, and loudly this time… Just another ‘waste of time and money’ thing that is frustrating with lots of other stuff going on, but I haven’t choked anyone yet 😉  Let patience have it’s perfect work, and God please fix my wheel!!!

– Broderic is off in Kiev staying at a friends house he met from camp.  His voice is changing, soon he’ll answer the phone and I won’t think it’s Deb!  Brent is currently taking over the ‘sounds like Deb’ on the phone, the other day I called him babe.. he wasn’t took impressed I thought he was my wife:)

Bruce & Deb