CAR ACCIDENT IN UKRAINE

For those of you who didn't see this on Facebook.....August 26th Jeff had an accident one block from home where he was hit by another driver running a red light.  In the U.S. this would be a no-brainer as to fault, but this is not the U.S.  Jeff was sited as not yielding to oncoming traffic (we think there was a pay-off from the other driver, common here).  Jeff was not hurt other than minor bruising and we praise God that it was only a mini-van and not a semi-truck as so often travel that road.  The following was written by Jeff during one of his morning devotional times just a couple days ago:

Devotional Thoughts from my SOAP devotional this morning, based on the following verse:

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,  that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,  who are Israelites. (Romans 9:1-4)

The unfairness of being struck at an intersection by a driver who was running a red light, only afterward to hold in my hands a citation from the militia, which found me at fault for the accident, causes me to see Pauls words in verse 1 in a special light.  His subject matter, the salvation of his fellow Jews, was different (and glorious at that!), but whereas before I was enamored with his subject, today, because of these recent events, I am enamored with his passion for truth.  I think it is a special, blessed occasion, a moment of true grace, when someone can speak the truth and his concience bears witness in the Holy Spirit of God.  Today, I have this grace.  I am glad that amidst all the lies surrounding the accident that I can say, "I was partially at fault for failure to anticipate a car running a red light at the intersection."  All the while I know that the greater guilt rests on the violator.  I am also speaking the truth, and I am not lying, and my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I would pay for this accident and accept guilt ten times over if only it would lead to the violator, Andrey Aleksandrovich Yakimovich, receiving the mercy of God, and coming to repentance, being born again in God's Holy Spirit.  Therefore, on September 11, 2012 I go to court with peace in my heart, not worrying about the outcome, and leaving all in God's holy and righteous hands.


I write out my morning devotions (using the S.O.A.P. method), and shared it with Coleen. I didn't intend for it to wind up so public on Facebook. Thank you all for your prayers, for which I am all the more sure that the Father's will will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.

Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer = SOAP, in case someone doesn't know this method. You select a passage and ask the Lord to lay one or more verses on your heart. Then in your journal (or computer) you write the verses (S), your thoughts (O), what you will do in obedience (A), then write out your prayer (P). I share this with church planters and with every person who seriously wants to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.