Joe Ragan

So, again, technically it isn’t Monday.  I spent Monday doing some work in the apartment, then had to go several places (the home repair store included).  By the time I got home, took my dog for a walk, and had a lite dinner, I was extremely tired and sore and it was still after midnight before I went to bed.  And thanks to my dog, I woke up at 5:30!

Sunday evening I attended Golgotha church.  It is in far southeastern Donetsk about 25 minutes from my house. It is a nice fellowship of believers and I have enjoyed my visits to this church.

The first sermon was from Ps 103:1-2.  “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits”

The preacher shared a story of one of his visits to a homebound believer.  This believer has been confined to her home for many years and cannot even leave her apartment.  Yet, every time this man visits her home, he finds her in tremendous spirits.

Then he asked how each of us felt, being able to get out and get to the evening service.  While we may have struggles, illnesses, etc, we should still find plenty to praise the Lord, just like this woman. The preacher did a fine job helping us see how often we bless the Lord in the good times, but it is during those hard/ tough times, we sometimes forget to thank Him for those as well.

Needless to say, I know I can thank God each and every day.  Truly I can Bless His Holy Name.

Today is Easter Monday in Ukraine and many other Slavic countries.  It is a national holiday, with many businesses and schools closed.  That is why many Evangelical churches will plan evangelical events during the day.

Gethsemane Church is the largest Baptist church in Donetsk.  They have a wonderfully talented choir and they prepared an Easter drama and performed it in one of the cultural houses in town this morning.

I shared with a couple of Americans that all of the voices are recorded since they lack the equipment to do it live and they didn’t show the crucifixion scene.  Yet, I left there today excited to have seen the last days of Christ life portrayed and the Gospel message was clearly presented.

This afternoon, as I was walking through town with a friend, I reflected on the drama I witnessed today compared to the ones I have been a part of or seen in the US.  I thought of how we used special techniques to show the resurrection, the crucifixion, etc. in US.  I thought of the thousands of dollars spent each year on advertising, ticketing, etc for such events.

Please do not misunderstand me.  I am not trying to condemn one method over the other.  They are different.  However, the Gospel message is the same and I thoroughly enjoyed its simplicity today.

I think too often in my life I am trying to use the new, better methods for presenting the Gospel.  The Gospel hasn’t changed in 2,000 years.  The Message is still the same.  And God is still using that Message to knock on people’s heart, and giving them opportunities to respond, no matter the language, budget or presentation.

I thank the Lord for reminding me of this important fact today.  May I remember it tomorrow and in the future.  Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, indeed!

I must admit that I am not a very patient person.  There have been times that I get upset at the smallest inconveniences.

I remember going through Domodedovo Airport in Moscow once with a colleague.  We were at the gate, waiting to board when something happened and before I knew it, I had said some words to the gate person that I immediately regretted.  He told me to calm down and that everything would be alright.  He was right, it was, but I still remember losing my cool that late night.

I believe that I have grown over time to be more patient, yet, still, I do struggle from time to time.  Most cultures are not as time oriented as America, and so I have really tried to be less upset with people when they don’t show up on time.  Ukrainians tend to be less time oriented and so I have had to learn to go more with the flow.

Buddy has provided me with new insight into this arena.  When we go for walks, I often have to stop and wait for him to decide to follow me.  Another issue is his lack of toilet etiquette at the moment.  He isn’t housebroken yet (and looks like it is still weeks away!) and so I am having to learn to be REAL patient in this area.

I want him to understand that there are pads for him to use, yet he hasn’t used them.  I have caught myself getting angry over this, and then I am reminded he is a puppy who hasn’t learned yet to go when and where I want him to go.  His is still very much a baby.

This morning as we were walking I was reflecting upon this and wondering when he might start using the pads, etc.  I was struck by the need to be patient with him, much like the Lord is patient with me when I get upset when things don’t necessarily go the way I thought they should.

The Lord is good about gently and lovingly rebuking me when I step over the line and am not patient when I need to be.  The Lord is good about trying to re-mold and re-shape me into His image so that I can be as patient with others and He is patient with me.

Later, today, when I need to take Buddy for his evening walk, hopefully I will be as gentle and loving with him as the Lord is with me.

I know that I am a day late in posting my Monday Morning Message.  Time got away from me yesterday.

Monday morning I took Buddy for a walk.  From the moment he arrived last Wednesday, I have taken him 2-3 times a day for a walk.  I wanted him to get used to the leash and to learn that he needs to use this opportunity to take care of his business.

Monday morning we woke up early and so I fed him and then we headed out the door.  I have found a place nearby where others take their dogs for walks and so we have started going there.  As usually is the case, Buddy, at least once, will sit down and refuse to walk.  He pulls against the leash, jerking, squealing, whining. I have learned that if I just stop and allow him to have his fit, eventually he will stop and continue the walk.

Yesterday, as he was throwing his fit, the Lord tugged at my heart.  I realized that Buddy represents me from time to time.  Occasionally, I am the one kicking and screaming as the Lord tries to gently lead me.  I am the one resisting and pulling away from the Lord, all the while, He is waiting patiently for me.

Oftentimes, we think we know what is best for us.  We decide to journey a path that the Lord hasn’t set for us.  Hopefully, eventually, we see our waywardness and correct our course. I am thankful for Buddy (and the Lord) reminding me of this yesterday.  It is a lesson I needed!

This past weekend I visited Lugansk, UA.  Lugank is the first place I lived outside of the US and where God gave me a heart for the Slavic peoples.

Going home is always interesting.  You never quite know what to say to people after not seeing them for so long.  Yet, after those first few moments, you settle in and things seem just right.

That is the situation I found myself in.  Just moments after arriving at Emmanuel Church where we would spend the weekend, I met one sister I have known for 16 years.  One look at her smile and I knew everything would be alright.

A little later my friend Sergei arrived.  Sergei is the pastor of Emmanuel.  I cannot begin to tell the ways Sergei helped me during those 3 years I lived in Lugansk during 1994-96.  He came to my rescue on many occasions, even driving 2 hours late at night to pick up me and my friend Doug in another city after we had an accident.

Throughout the weekend, I saw people I have known since those early years in Lugansk.  Each of them helped mold me into the person I am today.  I am extremely thankful to the Lord for allowing me to live in Lugansk and have those friendships and connections with people.

As I drove out of town Sunday afternoon, I reflected on what had taken place over the weekend: a prayer walking seminar, a youth meeting and a Sunday service.  I felt blessed to have been a part in each of them.  The visits to Lugansk do not happen often, but when they do, I leave the city with my heart filled with new memories to add to those made so long ago.

Last weekend, our team went to Svyatogorsk.  Saturday afternoon found us exploring the Holy Mountain where there is an Orthodox church and monastery.  It was a cool afternoon with temps in the lower 40′s, but for the most part, the sun was shining.

The temps that night dipped below freezing and our wood burning stove went out during the night, so the morning proved to be really cold.  But it was a great time to be away.  You can see more photos by clicking on the FLICKR link on the home page.

Tonight as I was driving home from a meeting about an hour from Donetsk, I was reminded about “finding beauty” in all things.  You see, about 6 p.m. it started snowing.  At first it was light snow, but eventually it began to really fall heavily.

My meeting lasted until about 8:30 at which time I began the journey home.  I was driving down this long stretch of road that has lots of potholes and I was trying to watch for them and forgot that I was near the end of the road that deadends at a major highway.  I realized it when I say lights from both sides of the road.

I immediately started breaking, but since I have ABS, it was only slowing down a little and I realized I was not going to be able to stop in time.  Additionally, with the snow on the road, it was slippery.  I didn’t want to slide off the end of the road or get hit by either of the cars, so I decided to hit the gas and make a quick left turn onto the highway, praying that both cars were far enough away that I wouldn’t cause a wreck.

Did I mention that I don’t like to drive at night since I have bifocals and sometimes have issues with not seeing things correctly.  Well, fortunately for me, both cars were further away than I thought and I made the turn safely and without sliding off the road.  At that moment, the Lord reminded me (again), to find the beauty in all things.  The snowfall, while isn’t a great thing for March 26, it is a beautiful site that lights up the darkness.

I thanked the Lord for the snow and drove a little slower and more attentively the rest of the way back to Donetsk.

March means that one of my favorite flowers is in full bloom in Texas.  The Texas Bluebonnet has always been one of my favorite flowers, but it has taken an even deeper place in my heart since I can only enjoy them through pictures that friends share with me.

I tried my best to grow some last spring.  I started the seeds in my bedroom with the flower box near my heater.  As the sun came out more and warmed up the enclosed balcony, I put them out there.  They sprouted, grew very tall, but most of them never blossomed into the deep blue/purple like I am used to seeing in Texas.

I live in the city of Donetsk, UA.  It is not know for much natural beauty due to the city being an industrial city.  However, I have found several spots in the city that I enjoy very much, one of them being just minutes from my apartment.

This past weekend, I traveled to Svyatogorsk (means Holy Mountain), which is about 2 hours north of Donetsk.  It is a favorite among the people living in this area.  I would say it is the first or second most mentioned place to visit in our area.

  Spring is not in full bloom yet, so there wasn’t much greenery in the area at the time, but it is still a place of beauty.  The church and monastery sit on the bank of the Severo-Donets River.  It was built in the 14-15th century.

Our team had decided to have a retreat at a Christian camp located on the edge of town.  We spent the afternoon exploring the monastery and the hills around the church.  It was a bit cool and windy up on the mountain, but I spent some time reflecting while doing all the walking and it caused me to think about the beauty that surrounded me.

Society today places a high value on outer beauty.  But, Jesus warned us about doing this in Luke 11:39.  Sometimes, I’m afraid I may miss a blessing because I am not seeing it in the right light.  Sometimes, maybe I struggle being around a person because they say things I don’t like.  Yet, Jesus says, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” (Luke 11:39)

I certainly don’t want to be like the Pharisees, but probably I am like them too often.  My desire is to see the beauty in all things.  Pray that I will see people through Jesus’ eyes and love them with Jesus’ heart.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Gideon.  God used his story to ultimately move me from Wichita Falls to Lugansk, Ukraine in February 1994.

Each and every time I read Judges 6-8, God teaches me something from it.  This morning as I was reading in chapter 6, Gideon was questioning the angel of the Lord about all the great stories he had heard from his forefathers.  Gideon was obviously aware of the exodus from Egypt and, as a somewhat “child” he wondered why God had forsaken them.

Then, without answering Gideon, the Lord said “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the and of Midian; do not I send you. 6:14″  The Lord asked Gideon to do something that apparently wasn’t in Gideon’s strength to do.  Yet, the Lord has chosen him for just that task.

Gideon offers up a weak excuse in saying, “how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manesseh and I am the least in my father’s house. 6:15″  Isn’t that just like us to suggest that!?  Lord, I cannot because…my family is the weakest.  Lord, I cannot because… I am the least in my family.  Lord, I cannot because ____ (you fill in the blank).

In late 1993 and early 1994 I was just like Gideon.  I was trying to offer up excuses for why I couldn’t move to Ukraine.  I had felt God’s call to go back in May 1992 and I was running out of excuses.  Then in January 1994, while sitting in a Promise Keepers meeting in Wichita Falls, God used some preacher who preached from this text to tell me that it was time to GO!

God is ready to use His children to fulfill His will, if only we will allow Him to do so.  Like Gideon, we need to strive to be all that we can in doing the Lord’s will.  We need to strive for greatness.

I just finished reading Joshua last week.  I love this book and enjoy reading every time I do.

As a student at Southwestern Seminary, one of my professors told us that whenever we see a word or phrase repeated we should pay close attention to what the Lord is saying.  One of the words or phrases often repeated in Joshua is the phrase “be strong and courageous.”

The opening verses of Joshua find those words often repeated.  However, there is one that I especially paid attention to this time: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  (Joshua 1:9 ESV)

God was preparing Joshua for what might seem like an impossible task.  He was going to lead the Israelites into the land which God had promised them after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.  He had made this promise to Moses and now the time had come for Him to fulfill this promise.

I believe God was preparing Joshua mentally and spiritually for what was about to transpire.  They enjoyed many victories and a few set backs that were caused due to their disobedience.  By the time the book concludes, we see that God gives them victory wherever their foots set upon and they enjoyed peace with their neighbors.  God also fulfilled what He said to Joshua in verse 9.

A few years ago, as I was about to go through one of the most painful and difficult times in my life, the Lord drew my attention this promise: “I will be with you.”  This is my paraphrase from the various ways it is stated in the Old and New Testaments.

Oh, how I clung to this promise during those “dark days” in 2009.  Ultimately, this promise helped lead me through those days and continues to lead me to this day.  Whenever hard times may come upon me, I lean on this promise to help me see through those times and, hopefully, see the blessings that await on the other side.

Through this study a few years ago, I was ultimately reminded of Jesus’ last words to His disciples in Matt 28:20,  “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  I look at this kind of like bookends, God promised the Israelites as the Old Testament opens, and Jesus reassures His followers He will do the same.

Much comfort to come from those words… rest in them.