David & Katya

Hey, guys!  I’m pretty excited about some new projects that our church is starting on right now.  We just got a camera to work with for the church, and I’m really fired up to start shooting, cutting, and producing videos for the different ministries here.  Please be praying for me – I have a LOT to learn.  One of the main things we need right now is new equipment – we need a LOT more lighting at the church, and I’m looking at different software packages for editing and stuff.  The lighting there at the church for anything is AWFULLLL!!!!  (Yes, the quadruple-L was totally intentional.)

This is acutally something I’ve been thinking of for a while, and one of the reasons that I made the Lion Kink Chronicles with the youth group – I wanted to learn the basics of how to move with a camera, how to plot a storyline, and how to cut and do post-production.  Here’s the first episode:

Thanks a lot for your prayers, views and support!

I just got done reading an AMAZING, three-chapter, 99 cent book, and it really opened my eyes to some scriptural principles that I knew, but wasn’t putting into practice in my life.  I really wanted to recommend it to you guys.  It’s called the Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness.  It’s a book by Timothy Keller.  Like I said, it’s all of three chapters and a preface with some questions at the end, and it’s only 99 for Kindle (you can get the program free on www.amazon.com).  Mike Pratt, my pastor, recommended it to me, and, seriously, you guys gotta check it out.  It’s based on 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, which talks about how Paul’s whole identity is in Jesus Christ.  I don’t want to spoil the rest, but, if you have 30 minutes to read a great book, you won’t be disappointed!

Hey, guys!  I just realized that not everyone knows that Katya and I are holding off on getting married!  😀  I know that the date for the wedding’s already past, so if you’re just hearing now, I’m SO sorry!  If you would like to sign up for my e-mail updates, please click here to make sure you’re getting them!

Here’s what I wrote in the e-mail:

Katya and I were originally planning to get married at the end of October, but, after going through some pre-marital counseling with Mike and Michelle (my pastor and his wife), we both feel like we were rushing things, and some things were just not practical*.  We’re going to take some more time to plan, pray, and prepare.

(Click here to see the whole e-mail.)

*i.e. – A lot of other logistical stuff, including none of my family being there.

So, anyways…  Thanks a lot for you guys prayers and support!  😀

Just for your entertainment, here are a couple of sites, a video, and other stuff I’ve been working on…  Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/horizonlviv – Our existing church Facebook page (I made a couple of tweaks).
http://www.facebook.com/koinoniakafe – Our new Koinonia Kafe Facebook page
http://www.horizonlviv.org/koinoniakafe – Our new Koinonia Kafe page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WxP9Vij1Co – A promo video I produced for Koinonia Kafe

The flier for Friday…

Wow, it’s been a busy time lately!  Between our church starting a new concert and cafe ministry (www.facebook.com/koinoniakafe), our already existing English program (http://www.horizonlviv.org/english/), and plans for Katya and me getting married, I’m pretty busy!  I’m really glad God is working in L’viv and using us!  Please be praying for us this week as we’ll be passing out around 3,000 fliers for the cafe ministry.  We’re officially starting that on Saturday with a local band called Provider.  They are a Christian rock band that’s been recommended to us.

The other day, I was walking Katya home like I usually do.  I think we were coming back from discussing some wedding details.  While walking and talking, we noticed a dog trotting along with us.  He was very friendly, and we called to him a little bit.

That didn’t last long, because, all of a sudden, some other dog jumped out of the bushes and tried to attack that first dog!  Katya’s first reaction was to grab my hand (which was already in hers) really tightly.  My first reaction was just the opposite – I whirled around to put myself between her and the dogs and wrenched my hand free from hers!  I wanted to be free to attack them or defend her as needed.  I don’t know if I’ve ever had a quicker reaction to do something like that…  My whole concern was Katya’s safety; I had no other thought.  The whole thing was over in a split-second, because the dogs had already ran away from us, but it left an impression in my mind.

He saw us in the dangerous situation of mire, sin, and destruction and He had no other thought!  He only wanted to save His beloved – you!  He came down and gave Himself up for our transgressions – He put Himself between us and the danger so that we could live while He died.

I believe He is still our Savior today, and He saves us from the things that enslave and entangle us.  Though He’ll never die again, the Bible says that “He always lives to interceded for us” and that He is “able to save [us] completely” because we draw near to God.  (Hebrews 7:25)