shifting gears to accelerate

With its five-speed manual transmission and turbo diesel injection engine, I love shifting through my Jetta’s gears to aid acceleration as I merge into high-speed traffic on the interstate. I especially love driving it with the windows down and sunroof open, just before dusk, when the setting sun casts its red glow across the sky. There’s exhilaration in acceleration.

I’m accelerating my Kiev support raising work, and I want you to share in my exhilaration: God is building his kingdom in Kiev, in your city, and in our hearts!  Are you caught up in the excitement of his kingdom’s coming?

Up to this point my pace has been slower than I’d intended, but now I’ve got most of the tools in place to pick up the pace of letters, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings, inviting you to consider giving to support God’s building his kingdom in Kiev by sending me there.

Recently I’ve been reading and reflecting on Proverbs each morning while eating my breakfast. There’s lots of practical, day-to-day wisdom and encouragement in verses like these:

“Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.” (24:27)

“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.” (28:19)

I’m comforted when I remember that its the favor of the Lord that establishes the work of my hands. In other words, this process of raising support is yet another glimpse of his grace working in my life, another angle on the diamond-sparkling glory of Jesus.

With approximately seven months until my target date of full funding by Orthodox Christmas on January 7, 2011, I have a lot of work ahead of me. I need your:

1. prayers for diligence to pursue my work in the time God’s given me
2. participation when I call or meet with you; and
3. prodding (encouragement) to keep building my team of supporters.

There’s a lot of work in front of me right now, and the task looks pretty daunting. Yet as I shift gears, I’m reminding myself that the real work, the work behind the work, is already done: Christ Jesus died, and was resurrected bodily to life, securing my rest in him. Because of his work, I can be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that my work in him is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

And that frees me to enjoy the wind as I accelerate through the gears, perhaps on my way to meet with you face-to-face.