Merry Christmas

"For God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

We hope that this Christmas season finds you and your loved ones well. In this time of the hustle and bustle of everything that has become "connected" with Christmas, we must keep our focus on the reason for Christmas. God gave the world a gift on that first Christmas, a gift that we often ignore or take for granted. He gave us the opportunity to spend eternity in His perfect presence. Only the perfect is allowed in His presence. I know that the only way for me to attain perfection is through the saving grace of Jesus Christ. As we have spent this Christmas season here in Ukraine, it has provided a new perspective. We haven't watched much television, so the ever present ads are not there. The primary focus of celebration here is for the new year. Christmas is celebrated on January 7 in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, so that time of celebration will be after the new year festivities. Little things, simple things, seem to be more special than before. Walking to the grocery store, not having a hundred brands of every product, but having everything we need. "Things" are important to people here, just as they are in the US. There are just fewer "things" available. To see the delight on a person's face when they receive a gift that we might consider insignificant, gives me pause to remember that it isn't the "things" that are important, but the people, the friends, the relationships. These are also of the most importance to Jesus. He and the disciples traveled without "things". They cared about, and ministered to people - usually people who were considered outcasts, socially challenged. The "good" people thought they had it all together, all figured out, so they didn't need what Jesus was offering. It is easy for us to think that we too have it all figured out. We are constantly told that we can do-it-ourselves, it is owed to us, what "we" want is really all that matters.All of the distractions, all of the propaganda can only serve to lead us away from the narrow path that leads to Christ and eternal life. Don't let the world distract you from what is really important, the only thing that matters for eternity. Place your trust and faith in Jesus Christ - the only way to true peace and joy, the only way to life eternal in the presence of a mighty and loving God.

God Bless and Merry Christmas

Steve, Gail, Igor, Yulia and Masha