March 23, 2013 Update

Our church is going through a sermon series on the topic of Christian hope.  It has been said that just as memories connect us to our past hope Christian connects us to our future.  This season while churches around the world remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead let us stir within us our hope of the resurrection of the dead in Christ Jesus at His second coming!

Not long ago the Ukrainian people observed a holiday called "Maslynytsa."  This can roughly be translated as "Buttering Day."  This is an ancient holiday when the people gorged themselves on various kinds of thin butter pancakes called "blinchiki."  Many other items are placed inside these thin pancakes.  Some enjoy their pancakes with sour cream, various meats, or perhaps jam.  But, for me the strangest ingredient to insert inside is caviar.  Anyway, this holiday is the preparation for Lent.  Before Lent you are supposed to gorge on these pancakes, get all your anger out on your family and friends, and then forgive everyone.  We hope that nationals will do more than just observe a cultural practice in jest.  We hope they will experience the true forgiveness with God through Jesus Christ.

Another thing that we are hoping for here in Ukraine is spring like weather.  Our first winter snow arrived on December 3 of last year.  There has been snow on the ground ever since.  It seems that I have had to shovel snow several times per week.  When I want to use the car I have to first clear the snow.  For those who are counting this means we snow now for four months.  Just when I thought the snow would melt away a blizzard arrived.  Over the past 24 hours we have had more than 2 feet of snow.  Snow drifts are 5 and 6 feet tall in places around our house.  I almost couldn't get out of the front door.  So, we are still hoping for spring weather.  Will you hope and say a prayer with us?