on humility in criticism

just read a great blog post by tim keller of redeemer presbyterian church on our attitude in criticism and debating theology. check it out:

How Do You Take Criticism of Your Views?

ukrainian road repair

i was driving up to kiev last weekend and thought i'd give everyone an understanding of how ukraine deals with road problems (very similar approach for many other problems):

rather than fixing the road, they just put up signs that let you know, "for the next 3 km, this is gonna suck." well, at least they're not pretending that these road conditions are acceptable and warning you about it. ah, ukraine, you never cease to amaze. :)

Ukraine: A Democracy at Risk

i just read this article from the widow of murdered ukrainian journalist, gregory gongadze. it pretty well sums up the steep, downhill ride that ukrainian democracy has taken since the orange revolution in late 2004/early 2005 and the resulting mindset of many ukrainians as they head to the polls this january. very sad, but unfortunately true. if you're interested in where ukraine is at or is heading as a country, i'd recommend it:

Ukraine: A Democracy at Risk

abby's jokes

lena is praying with abby tonight in russian and she finishes and says "Аминь" (a-meen')....

abby: "mama says 'a-meen'?
lena: "yes."
abby: "papa says 'amen'."
lena: "yes, papa says in english 'amen' and mama says in russian 'a-meen'."
abby: "oh.... abby says "oh, man!" like in cartoon (dora). "swiper, no swiping... oh, man! hahaha!"

things i missed about ukraine in the states and things i miss about america here

things i missed about ukraine while in the states:

1. real food: unless you are going to a farmer's market in the states (and paying thrice the standard price) food is tasteless, especially the meat. like a wet sponge.
2. fellowship in church: i don't know if its just part of the american culture or what, but it seemed in every church we were in, that as soon as the service ends, at least 80% of the people rushed for the doors. another 15% were gone within 5-10 minutes. maybe it didn't help that we were in indiana and the colts were playing almost every week. :) here in ukraine we hang out and fellowship after service for sometimes up to an hour.
3. toilet paper: yes, that's right, i like the brown ukrainian toilet paper. its just so darn sturdy!
4. the medical system: allow me to clarify. the kids got on medicaid this time, but lena and i got turned down. when i went to the pharmacy to get a prescription filled, i was told the medicine cost $120! i passed and upon returning to ukraine found the same medicine for like $8. so ridiculous! they should destroy the whole medical funding system and start from scratch (with a completely universal system).

things i miss about america here:
1. good coffee: not that it doesn't exist in ukraine, but is very rare and usually cost more than the bux in the states.
2. cheap technology/clothes: yes, both of these things cost MORE here than in america. fortunately they are things you can stock up on once every 2-3 years.
3. wi-fi everywhere: gotta love that. here its mostly only at mcdonald's.
4. the medical system: it may be expensive as all get out, but at least they are all about quality care.
5. customer service: a concept largely lacking in ukraine. the best example in america during this trip i can think of this was the apple store. i brought my macbook in that i had for 2.5 yrs. and had just about every part on it possible replaced (under warranty so it was free). but when i brought it in for another repair this time, i told the manager about all the problems i've had with it (very unusual for macs, btw). i was hoping to get a free battery out of the deal or something. he goes away and comes back and says "we're gonna give you a new macbook". sweet! way to take care of your customers, mr. jobs! i was already hooked on macs even with the hardware problems, but they have just won a very satisfied life-customer.

cc svitlovodsk video

so i've been meaning to post this video on here for a while. oddly, we have better and more consistent internet connection here in ukraine than we did in the states. this is a video i put together with pictures of people and events in our church as well as interviews with people to let them share how Jesus has worked in their lives since coming to calvary chapel svitlovodsk. the interviews are subtitled in english. enjoy and pray for us!

in addition, be sure to check out our church's website and podcast.

authentic ukrainian cuisine

ok, not so much. my wife decided to use some won-ton skins we had in the freezer for the last i don't know how many months. so she whipped up some egg rolls that could seriously have been from a high-class chinese restaurant. they didn't last long. :) my wife is so talented! here's a shot of the goodness:

in ukraine, the good times never end

so, my family and i were in our neighboring big city, kremenchuk, yesterday doing some shopping at the equivalent of a wal-mart. we were strolling down the office supplies aisle and were looking at the permanent markers when we spotted this:

sharpies? no, look closer. they are "skerples"! yes, that's right, a knock-off sharpie look-alike (even the logo script looks the same). but yes, it is a "skerple". i couldn't stop laughing and thought i'd share the fun with you all. i almost bought them just so i could keep laughing, but then considered it and figured they'd break in a few days, so i passed.

the sordid tale of politics in ukraine

i ran across this brief synopsis of the last dozen or so years of ukraine's political history on radio free europe and thought i'd share. for any who are curious or interested in understanding what it going on over here and how ukraine got to the place it is, this article is a really good start:

Constitutional Instability In Ukraine Leads to Legal Turmoil

d) it is written

so a little while back i watched this year's best picture academy award winner, slumdog millionaire. if you haven't seen it yet, it's definitely well worth the 2 hour run-time. i'll try to summarize the basic plot (this may contain spoilers, so go watch it first before reading the post if you like surprises). a young man from mumbai gets to the final stage of the indian version of "who wants to be a millionaire?". the cops are suspicious when this boy who grew up in the slums and works a lowly job knows the answers to all the questions. the film basically explores his chaotic life and the series of unique circumstances that have given him the answers to the questions. the film opens with words on the screen:

Jamal Malik is one question away from winning 20 million rupees. How did he do it?
(A) He cheated
(B) He's lucky
(C) He's a genius
(D) It is written

the cops think the answer is A at first, but come to see this is not the case. jamal himself admits that it's not C. so basically the audience is left to determine whether it is B or D. another main theme of the movie is jamal's relationship with a girl (latika) he has known since they were both orphaned as little kids and is hopelessly in love with. he will stop at nothing to find her, and is on the game show only because he knows she watches it. the movie ends with jamal winning the game show and 20 million rupees and being reunited with latika, overcoming all impossible circumstances. at this point the answer to the opening question is flashed on the screen: D) it is written.

now, the movie is very well done (as most of danny boyle's films are), the actors are great (especially the little kids who are totally adorable) and it's set in a culture which is very "other" and intriguing for people from the west. but what is it about this movie that set it apart for a full 8 oscars including best picture? what is it that struck a deep enough chord with a wide enough audience to send this small-budget film to fame and $350 milliion box-office revenues worldwide and earned it the praise of "the feel-good film of the decade"? i believe it is the last 5 seconds of the film. no, i don't mean the dance party during the credits, but the answer to the question: D) it is written.

i honestly think that if the answer "B) he is lucky" had flashed at the end, the film would not have enjoyed near the success it did. the message of slumdog is that this young man was able to go through all the suffering in his life and that it had a purpose, that it was not in vain, that it "all worked together for good", if you like. despite overwhelming circumstances, he ends up on top and with the girl he loves, but not simply because he is lucky, but because "it is written". the chord in the movie that i think resonates with so many people (whether they realize it or not) is the desire in every human heart to know that the events of life are not simply chaos, but that they are ordained, destined by a benevolent Someone, and that no matter how bad things get, that Someone has a plan for us for good. it's ironic that the 21st-century, western world seems to value absolute autonomy above all. many people get riled when you try to speak to them about a sovereign, benevolent God from whom they are not independent, who has a plan for their life and that of the world. the idea that they are not free to create their own reality and purpose in life rubs many people the wrong way. yet deep down this is what we all long for: not simply to get lucky in life, but to know that "it is written".

the other element that put this movie over the top is two fold: that jamal will stop at nothing to be with the girl he loves. even when she has written him off, moved on with life, thinks it is impossile to ever be with him, he comes for her. finally, she escapes from her hollow marriage to a gangster who is basically just her sugar daddy and goes to find jamal. additionally, jamal's older brother (who had been working for the gangster and helped to hold latika prisoner to him) repents of his ways, and gives his life in helping her to escape. these moments also call out to another desire of every human heart: to be relentlessly pursued by One who will not give up, even when we write Him off, and the understanding that for the good plan to be accomplished, someone must give their life.

of course, these longings of the human heart, these desires that slumdog resonated to, are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. the message of the Gospel is that there is Someone who is sovereign and benevolent, that He is the one who ordains the happenings of life. and this same God happens to also be the One who relentlessly pursues us with His love, who does not give up on finding us, even when we have given up on Him, and who Himself laid down His life to see that we should find the ultimate happy ending. maybe it's just coincidence that danny boyle was at one point planning on becoming a priest. who knows. but it is the truth that "it is written" and written by a God who loves us, who can turn the worst tragedy to good (as ultimately evidenced in the Resurrection of Jesus), which i believe propelled this movie to the list of the top-grossing 150 movies of all time. as king david wrote in Psalm 139,

"And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them."

d) it is written.