Joe Ragan

I cannot believe the incredible weather we have been enjoying here in Karaganda.  In Texas we would refer to this weather in October as “Indian Summer.”  However, here we call it “ba-ba letom”  (grandma summer).
I’m not sure where either expression came from, but I am sure enjoying the effects…

[Read more →]

for complaining doesn’t necessarily sound easy does it.  I know that there are times where I seem like all I do is complain.  I came across the following 12 point cure from Christian Communicators Worldwide (CCW).
The first point is “God commands me never to complain” taken from Phillippians 2:14 “Do all things without complaining and [...]

[Read more →]

I traveled to Astana on Tuesday afternoon. The dealership had promised me the car would be ready Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. Tuesday became Wednesday and then Thursday…
I had to travel to Pavlodar for the day on Thursday, and sure enough the salesman called me at noon to let me know the car [...]

[Read more →]

I went to the local Post office today.  There was a sign on the door announces special hours for October 9.  I didn’t read the rest of the sign, but saw that they were decorating and so my curiosity was piqued.
So, as I left I read the announcement as I left and discovered that October [...]

[Read more →]

I “celebrated” my birthday in August.  However, it wasn’t much of a celebration…
This past Saturday, I received some unexpected blessings. A brother in Christ, Edik, from Ukraine arrived last week to help with ministry in Temirtau. He came to visit me yesterday and had a birthday card and pen from one of the [...]

[Read more →]

Last Thursday I finally got to play “some” basketball. I say some as there were sooo many guys there that we had 4 teams and most teams had 5 or more players (and we were playing 4 on 4). So, that means that I was able to play in two games.
Several guys have [...]

[Read more →]

Please note that you are free to leave comments.  However, I do not administer my website (a wonderful brother named Steve does…thanks Steve).  Which means that I only receive notification after Steve approves the comment.  If there are questions to the validity or personal information left in the comment, he usually notifies me before approving [...]

[Read more →]

Americans will be voting for the next president of the US. I do not usually discuss politics here, however, after reading several political articles I am perplexed and uncertain if there is a candidate to which I can support. None of the candidates get me excited about voting. Several of them make [...]

[Read more →]

Some time ago, I wrote about how God has given me different eyes to see with here in Kazakhstan.  When I lived here in 2005, I “saw” with different eyes, I really didn’t see the beauty of the land.
Yesterday, I was driving home from Astana (around 200 km) and about half way I notices some [...]

[Read more →]

Third Day has a great song from their “Wired” CD called Rock Star.  In the end, Mac “discovers” that he doesn’t have what it takes and that its alright.
Well, I don’t really have any aspirations of being a rock star, now would I really want to be.  However, my colleagues and I have been trying [...]

[Read more →]