How Christians Should React to Meghan Markle After New Revelations.

Since the time of the New Testament,Christians have been working out the relationship between unchanging Gospel and current culture. Too often we have been caught in culture to the point of losing the sight of the Gospel. As Christians we should consider carefully our response to the latest information about Meghan Markle. The situation with Meghan provides an opportunity to speak of standards of Christ vs. the world. 

"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." Ephesians 5:11

Connecting with God or connecting with the flesh

Growing up in Russia I strived to make friends, to connect with people. I was bullied a lot. It was hard for me to make friends. In fact, it was nearly impossible. Many people considered me cursed because of my physical deformities.

Stepping Stone

I have come across many articles that talk about how we meant to be great and to do great things.
That philosophy of self-centeredness has also penetrated Christianity. Many best-selling modern Christian authors talk a lot about how God has a great plan for your life: health and wealth.

Like a Fog

In the past eight years I have seen more fog compare to all the previous years of my life. In Newfoundland fog can come in any season: spring, summer, fall/autumn,and winter.

Joy Indestractible

People like to make pans. Many plan their lives, including their career path.  We don’t know the future, our God does.Quite often our lives turn out not the way we expect. Quite often we experience changes that can cause much distress. Some changes are good: many aren't.  

Today I live far away from my family, on the other side of the world.It hasn’t been easy. But we know that this arrangement is the best. 

Just When We Linger Where We Should Avoid

Near the Border

Most of my life I spent on the island--Sakhalin Island. Although I was born on Kamchatka Peninsula. Several years our family lived in Kuril Islands. During my time in the US as an high school exchange student, I lived near Canadian border. Living near border is quite different.

When you live close to an international border you are more likely to meet people from a neighboring country. You encounter checkpoints. Military presence is more prominent, although not always the case. You encounter symbols of the country that's across the border: flag, coat of arms, etc. If you are lingering around border, you most likely to get arrested, in some cases you might get killed.

It's illegal to enter a country without proper identification ( passport, visa). Sneaking to another country may lead to arrest, prison sentence and deportation. It's possible to sneak in through unguarded border section.
What is the most guarded city of the country---its capital.You see capital city is where the
  But once you are inside that country--anything can happen to you. You can get arrested, deported, send to jail, or even executed.
Bible reminds us that we are sojourners. We belong to the Lord. Our home is Heaven, where God is.

And when we are lingering...

I had a great chance to go snowshoeing in February. It was so nice to get away from all hustle and bustle, to pend time with God. The path from woods lead me to a waterfront. I checked the ice. It was solid. Few minutes later I heard cracking noise. And there it was--crack on ice. My heart sank. What's next? I looked, checked the crack. It was only on the surface. It was safe. Nevertheless, I got of the waterfront. The rest of my walk was on land. That night I heard on the news about two people who went under ice on a snowmobile. Both of them died. If I fell under the ice, I would have been dead from hypothermia.
Too often we underestimate or overestimate the situation. Bible tells us to not to worry. At the same time we have to be on guard. It is so easy to fall into traps. Satan is constantly looking for the opportunities to attack us, to destroy our lives,our testimonies,and our bodies. We have to put the whole armor of God. If we don't have it on, we'll be under attack(s) for sure.

Where we are safe

 There is only one safe place for us--God's presence. While we on earth we are not safe anywhere, because we live in a war zone. Some live in places where war-- actual war--is taking place. However, every Christian is in the midst of war--spiritual war. Our bodies are temporary. Souls are forever.
To often we live on earth as if it were our permanent home. It's not--we are passing by.  This life is a journey. Heaven is the only place where we will be free of sorrows and burdens and safe. We never know what next moment brings.

    

Spiritual Strife Shock

 We all have moments when we feel down, crushed, desperate; those moments when you hurt so much that you focus on your pain entirely. You scramble, attempting to recall Bible verses, but you are in so much pain that the voice of reason is barely audible. The voice of pain screams, muffling everything else. Fellow Christians  tell you that everything will work out in accordance with the Lord's will. However, pain engulfs you to the point where you don't want to hear any of it anymore. You run  away from God. Sometime later--for some people can be moments for others days., or even longer---you feel ashamed and guilty because of what has happened. All that time God is waiting for you to come back to Him. He waits with arms spread wide.

Blessings&Burdens

Well, let's put aside Internet addiction and focus on blessings, shall we?!
I have been blessed so much! I've met so many amazing people and made new friends! When you haven't seen your mom for four years and the rest of your family since you were 18 (I'm 24 now), you can get discouraged very easy! The voice of temptation says that you should take some time off and stop going to church.

Internet is an idol

So today our Internet has been installed, finally after 17 days of waiting. I am extremely excited!! I know that I totally went over the data plan on my Black Berry. Frankly, I don't care. At this point it's hard to imagine how on Earth I was able to live, not just exist, without Internet. Diagnosis -- Internet addiction. Treatment -- other activities. Cure -- the Word of God. Part of me realized that it's possible to live without an Internet at home but it's not easy.
I am sorry that I did not say it at the beginning, I am a Christian! An Evangelical to be exact. I'm not perfect. In fact I have many struggles. But the Lord never promised us an easy life!  We live in a fallen world! But we should never forget that: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble -- Psalm 46:1. Too often we rely on ourselves rather than God.
I need internet for checking e-mails, connecting with people, checking the news and the weather. However, Internet should not be a substitute for real life. Remember lost time cannot be redeemed. True friends are treasures!