Post-Christmas

Our children totally spoiled us. Getting together they pooled their money to give us a large chunk so Marina and I could go to Mexico this winter, all to celebrate our 25th (which, BTW, given all the health issues in the family, we have had neither time nor energy to plan).

Can I write here that our children are the greatest gift we have ever been given? I am in awe.
Thank you Lord for such precious gifts!

Happy Christmas!!

To all of you, I wish you a wonderful Christmas!! On behalf of everyone in our family, may Jesus be the Light in your life, and may you remember that He is the reason for the season!

The Return...

Yes, that's right. The "Natster" is back. Our dear daughter, Natalie, is visiting us from Calgary. It means our family is complete for Christmas!

And that, my friends, is the best present any parent could hope for.

St. Boniface: A Christmas Story

Life is full of God's Blessings. One of those for me has been the wonderful privilege of getting to know and work with various living heroes of the faith. One dear brother, George Grant, has been a source of wisdom and encouragement over the years. Drinking the delights of wisdom from his wonderful blog is a regular pastime for me.

George has a cool story in a recent post that is especially meaningful to me. In various travels I have had the blessing of travelling to the city of Fulda in Germany to meet with long-distant relatives who live and work there. The Gerk family originated from this wonderful area, with Sebastian Gerk moving to Russia from there in 1767.

At any rate, St. Boniface is buried there and I have had the great opportunity to visit his tomb and meditate on his missionary work to the German people.

George tells this Christmas story about Boniface:

Boniface of Crediton spent the first forty years of his life in quiet service to the church near his home in Exeter. He discipled young converts, cared for the sick, and administered relief for the poor. He was a competent scholar as well, expounding Bible doctrine for a small theological center and compiling the first Latin grammar written in England. But in 718, Boniface left the comfort and security of this life to become a missionary to the savage Teutonic tribes of Germany. For thirty years he not only proclaimed to them the Gospel of Light, he portrayed to them the Gospel of Life.

Stories of his courageous intervention on behalf of the innocent abound. He was constantly jeopardizing his own life for the sake of the young, the vulnerable, the weak, the helpless, the aged, the sick, and the poor—often imposing his body between the victims and their oppressors. Indeed, it was during one of his famed rescues that his name was forever linked to the celebration of Advent during Yuletide.

...

You can and should read the complete story here. Be Blessed!

Thought for the day...

A living faith is nothing else than a steadfast pursuit of God through all that disguises, disfigures, demolishes and seeks, so to speak, to abolish him - Jean-Pierre de Caussade

The Rest of the Story....

My good friend Len S. will be visiting us in January, coming all the way from snowy and cold Moscow to snowy and cold Kelowna...go figure!

Anyway, Len is the head of the International School of Tomorrow in Russia and is a dear brother of mine. I'm writing this to set the story straight on an event that Len has spoken publicly on, but needs another perspective so that the real truth can come out.

In July of 2003, I visited Russia with 2 of my children, Natalie and David. Our goal was to visit a number of villages that never get visitors from the west, delivering Bibles and offering a little hope to an area that hasn't changed much in 200 years.

Nat, Julie (Len's daughter) and David visit a friendly grandma who had a sad story to tell of the murder of her son


We delivered the Bibles and spent much time visiting with the villagers...one lady even wept that we would come "all that way just to visit her".

Our trip back to Volgograd would be eventful. The Volga area is much like the Prairies here in Canada. Summer storms can catch you unprepared, and since I was born and raised in the Okanagan, where such events are rare, we were taken by surprise.

It started to rain. And this was no ordinary rain...thunder and lightening also added to the experience. There were lightening strikes all around. We took a dirt road back, deciding to visit the site of our family's destroyed village...

Natalie & David at the site of the cemetery in our old village

What should have been a half hour drive to the next village, turned into a 6 hour ordeal....driving through fields, pushing the car, me going outside in front of the car to ensure there were no holes in the fields where we could get stuck...permanently. I was even almost hit by lightening at one point!

The kids were great, we all pitched in and helped push the car, braving the Russian mosquitoes and pouring rain. Did I mention not ALL of us?

While we struggled, pushed, heaved, and battled the elements, Len stayed perfectly dry and warm INSIDE his car.

Yes, INSIDE his car. Deciding that it would be best for us if he was safe and warm and rested, Len commandeered the car through the elements raging around us.

Now, I for one can attest to the goodnes of God in keeping us safe, even when I was running to direct the car to safe areas in the fields of Russia. He was even with us as we spent the night cramped in this Russian car, all 5 of us, deciding that the Russian mosquitoes were too much for us to chance staying outside.

In the morning, the rain had stopped, the ground had dried sufficiently to allow us to drive safely back to our Russian home.

Len has used our adventure many times in a devotional on God's providence. I too agree. But I just want it recorded that WE got wet while Len stayed dry. WE were eaten by Mosquitoes while Len cheerfully waved through the window. I was almost killed by lightening, while Len pointed to the areas he wanted me to "check" out for safety.

Nice and Dry Mr. Len?

This is, indeed, the rest of the story.

Gotcha Len!

Prayer for Stephanie

Our Stepharoshka is in hospital with possible appendicitis. We thought about taking her in overnight, but of course she would have languished in emerg for untold hours. Marina booked an appointment this morning with the family doc, and she confirmed our suspicion. Off to emerg for an ultrasound and blood works...ordered by the doc. Please pray that all goes well. Her team mates will miss her for tonight's basketball game, but such are the things of life. Get better and be safe Stephanie!!

UPDATE!! Steph is now out of hospital and it was not the old appendix! It appears she had an "ovarian cyst", which is not pleasant and IS painful. The healing process will be quicker and Steph should be back terrorizing basket-ball teams soon. Although just to have her pain-free would make me happy!

Remembrances

I warned you, from time to time I would write here about our family going back a few years. Family will remember in 1989 when we brought our Uncle Vanya from Russia to visit for a month. He was the youngest brother of Grandpa (Paul) Gerk and had not see anyone from our side since 1925. In 1933 when the iron curtain slammed shut, he was not even allowed to write to us. Of course, the days and weeks of his visit were filled with "catching up", mostly getting dates of loved ones and when and where they died in Stalin's GULAG. It was bittersweet for Granny because she at last discovered when her parents died and how. One place that Uncle Vanya and many of our family were sent (in 1941) was the labour camp situated in Krasnoturinsk, near Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains. I've got a book now that lists 4000 of the dead from this camp, all of German origin, who died in horrible conditions. The city now has a web page and they've even published some photos of the special memorial set up to commemorate the dead from this concentration camp (you can see the one here). It's an interesting story that will be in "The Book", you know, the one I never have quite finished! Honest...this next year...it will be done...I promise!!

I've already been overwhelmed with requests to do "look-ups", which is merely folks trying to piece together what happened to their loved one and grasp on to anything printed about the camps in hopes of closing a sad chapter of their families life. We're still trying to obtain copies of the original KGB files (no easy task). I think I'd like to be an archivist in heaven.

1989-Uncle Vanya with Andrew & Elissa

Currently Listening to:
Life Song
by Casting Crowns (CD)

A life lived....

Many years ago, a man named David Gates wrote and performed a wonderful song entitled "Everything I Own". Thought to be another addition to a long list of love songs, it was written by David in honour of his father, who had passed away.

On November 27th, 1992, My father, John Gerk, went to be with Jesus. I've often told people that while there are so many sad stories of bad fathers, my story is a happy one. I had a good Dad. While certainly not without faults, his life was a testimony of his commitment to his faith, and to his family. What more is there? When I grow up, I want to be just like him! I love you Dad and I miss you. And I look forward to that day when we'll all stand together and see Jesus!!

Here's that song...in a little different context...

Everything I Own - David Gates and Bread

You sheltered me from harm
Kept me warm, kept me warm
You gave my life to me
Set me free, set me free
The finest years I ever knew
Were all the years I had with you
And...

I would give anything I own
Give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give ev'rything I own
Just to have you back again
You taught me how to love
What it's of, what it's of
You never said too much
But still you showed the way
And I knew from watching you
Nobody else could ever know
The part of me that can't let go
And...

Is there someone you know
You're loving them so
But taking them all for granted?
You may lose them one day
Someone takes them away
And they don't hear
The words you long to say

Just to touch you once again

Praise You In This Storm

Life quite never goes the way you want it. I've learned over the years that even in the midst of much pain, that God is there with us. Not a "pat" answer, but a reality. This song speaks to me very loudly because it is so like our Father. He whispers when I want Him to shout. He gives and He takes away. Lessons that are learned when you are weeping at a hospital bed, not knowing if one of your children will live or die, or watching a parent courageously battle and then succumb to cancer.

At any rate, each of us can go on, even if we don't understand. Because He is there with us.

Be Blessed with these following words...

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
And stepped in and saved the day
Once again, I say Amen, and it is still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain
I’m with you
As your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll Praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
You are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will Praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find you

I lift my eyes into the hills
Where does my help come from
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth

+Casting Crowns

Remember....

A Prayer for a Mom & Dad

Currently Listing to:
Mark Harris
The Line Between the Two (CD)


Mind blowing song. The heart of a parent can be found in the words to this song, by Mark Harris:

Find Your Wings

It's only for a moment
that you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray
for all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know
you're walking in the truth
And if I've never told you
I want you to know that
as I watch you grow
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
and that faith gives you the courage
to dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
so let my love give you roots
and help you find your wings
May passion be the wind that leads
you through your days
and may convictions keep you strong
guide you on your way
May there be many moments
that make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
and that faith gives you the courage
to dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
so let my love give you roots
and help you find your wings
It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer you as you fly
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
and that faith gives you the courage
to dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
so let my love give you roots
and help you find your wings

Waking up the Sleeping land....

Friends of mine know about my passion for Russia. My family (including my wonderful wife) was from there, and it is something I have always felt that God placed on my heart. There is a Canadian missionary family living in Novosibirsk (where Marina was born and raised!) and they have a blog! Wonder of wonders! Anyway, I regularily check it out and a recent post really spoke to me, because of the insite it brings to this wonderful yet dark nation.
He writes:

I have recently been reminded about the darkness that exists in this country. Let me explain it to you. Before I do though, let me say that I know it is tempting as a westerner to always be able to find solutions for problems. In my first five months here I have had a long list of solutions as to how this country can be fixed. But the longer I live here the more I realise how much those ideas of mine are rooted in my own world view. I need to take the time to truly see this country through the eyes of God.

He also writes:

Russia is a depressed nation. Alcoholism is rife, suicide figures are overwhelming and the AIDS pandemic threatens to wipe the nation from the face of the earth. If current trends continue, it is predicted that Russia's population by 2080 will be 52 million. In one person's life time that is a drop of 90 million people. Putin has described the situation as a national crisis. Yet it remains to be seen what the national solution is. So few Russians have the will to live. So many men become alcoholics at an early age. It is very common to see 10 year old boys walking the streets smoking. It is also very common to see a Russian man with cuts or bruises to his face as a result of a drunken brawl with his mates. Russia is dying. The population is decreasing by 700, 000 people per year. In 1991 when the USSR was dissolved Russia's population (not the USSR) was over 150 million. Today it is 142 million. This is not just because of emmigration. It is because many are dying of AIDS related illnesses and many are simply killing themselves.

So, what hope is there? There is always hope, and Pasha knows it too:

Let me leave you with one more encouraging verse that promises that God's glory will be made known in Russia. Habakkuk 2:14 "For the time will come when all the earth will be filled, as the waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the Glory of God."

So, folks, whose on for my next trip to Russia? If you want to go, or if you want to help, drop me a line!

Happy Birthday Becky!

Our wonderful daughter Rebecca has now turned 22! Wow! She's grown into an awesome young woman, who has a heart for her patients (she's a nurse) and for her brothers and sisters. Becky, may you never lose sight of what is important in the world!

Happy Birthday Stephanie!

On September 17, an amazing girl was born. Stephanie Gerk came into our lives and we will never be the same! She is now 15! Happy Birthday Stephanie....and look out world!!!

25 Years!!!!

On August 1, 1981, I was Blessed enough to marry the girl of my dreams.

Marina is a shining light in my life. We've been through a lot together, and I love her more and more each day!

What can you say when you are this Blessed? God has been good!

Happy Anniversary Honey!!

Happy Birthday Steven!!

Hello world! Our dear Steven is 9 years old today!! Go figure. Quickly growing up to be quite the guy, Steven's dream is to some day be a pastor!

Happy Birthday Steven!! We love you!!

Happy Birthday Andrew!!

Andrew is now 18! We are proud of you son! Go out and make a difference in the world!!

Another Grad!!

Our oldest son has completed 12 years of schooling!! We are very proud of Andrew...he's worked hard, had fun and is growing into a fine young man.

Andrew...we are proud of you! Your future is before you. Seize the day!!

Happy Birthday Kristina!!

Our Kristina has reached that magical age of 13!! She is growing into a beautiful young woman! Kristina, keep God at your center, and you can achieve anything! He will continue to lead and guide you!!

We love you Kristina!!

Well done!!

We attended the awards ceremony at Heritage Christian School this past week. Cleaning up with awards were Stephanie who received the Athlete of the Year award, as well as academic and character awards for Kristina and Kimmy.

My dear ladies, you finished well! We are so very proud of you!! Bravo!!!

Sometimes, art imitates life...

Currently Reading:
The Da Vinci Code
by Dan Brown

Work is going very well. God has been so faithful!! Andrew is in Mexico for one month, on a missions trip with the school. They're blogging, keeping us updated here and here.

CCCChanges....

Wow...sorry for the long spate in posts. Life gets busy, plus I had to make sure my hero of the week actually read my comments! I'll have more heroes to post as well...after all, I have 11 children who are awesome, each in their own way, so I'm blessed to have so much material to use.

Changes are afoot. I actually started a new job this past week. There were rumblings about it earlier, and it was to start in May or June, but I was asked to start earlier...and, well, went through the door God had opened! I'll post more about the job as time goes on, but I'm working with Heritage Christian Online School. It's a great honour to work with such a great group of people!

Nat has been down from Calgary this past week...it was wonderful to see her and spend some time with her...we will miss her again as she travels back to Alberta.

At any rate, God has been good to us, although the last week it seemed that everything that could be thrown at us, was thrown at us...all as I started the new job. Hmmm, connection? Go figure!
But, I write these words on Easter Monday, and He is Risen!!

And that is the message we will focus on!!

Happy Birthday Elissa!

Our oldest daughter is now 23!

Choke!

Elissa is so special and dear to us. She is a survivor! She's tough. She's beautiful! And I know that God will continue to lead her and direct her paths.

My Hero...

Have you ever had someone touch your life by the way they live theirs? There are lots of people who we label heroes in our society. How blessed we are when we are close to these people and they touch our lives directly!

In 1987, a beautiful little baby was born to Marina and I. She had some medical problems that needed to be fixed, and after umpteen operations, she stands as a testimony to the goodness of God.

But her smile, the way she looks at life, encourages even me. She has faced all her surgeries throughout her life with a courage I can only dream of having. Her smile lights up your day. Her laugh brings joy to all who know her.

I'm talking, of course, about our daughter Natalie. Natalie is 19 now. She has her whole life ahead of her....this special girl has had the hand of God on her since she was born. We just knew that God will use her mightlily by what she has gone though. When I am down, I think of Nat. I think of her ordeals, and I think of her smile. And I think of her courage!!

Nat, you can do anything you set your mind to do! You truly are my hero!

Happy Birthday Natalie!!

Another one!! 3 birthdays in January!! Our beautiful Natalie has turned 19. Happy Birthday!!

Liberation!!

Happy Birthday David!!

Our son, David is 16 years old today! David is going places..he is smart, creative and someday will be a great asset to any company that hires him! Life has never been dull (although he might think things are boring) with him around. We love him a lot, and just want to pause and say Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Kimmy!!

Our dear Kimmy is now 11 years old! Cool...she is a light shining with a beautiful smile!!

Merry Christmas!!

Currently Reading:
The God Hunt:The Delightful Chase and the Wonder of Being Found (Hardcover)
by Karen Burton Mains

We've been going through this book as part of our Care group Bible study. It's been an adventure and I have sure learned a lot. Karen Mains' basic theme is that the footsteps of God are all around us, we just need to train our eyes to see them. Sort of like the hide-and-seek games we played as children. In other words, when things DON'T go your way, perhaps God is trying to teach you a lesson. That person that smiled and said hello, maybe they were sent to cheer you up. That need you had, God sent someon to fill it...in other words answered prayer is all around you.

Simple concept. But can be difficult to apply. We are all trained to be so cyncial. Hunters are trained to spot signs...and we can too if we give it time. I've always known that God is there and that He is involved in our day-to-day lives...but the book has been a refreshing challenge for me to look even harder.

I'm overwhelmed at times...how could I have missed Him?

"Make me know Thy ways, Oh Lord; Teach me Thy paths, Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, For Thou art the God of my salvation; For Thee I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:4-5 NAS)

Running a race

Sometimes life feels just like that. There are so many demands on a person. So many uncertainties in work and family.

I've been mulling over my work situation of late. My current job is not something I want to do for the rest of my life...but it WAS an open door...and I felt I had to go through it.

I continuously am reminded of the Apostle Paul who wrote:

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let
us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1
NAS)

Does this answer all of my questions? Hardly. But I can be focused...focused on being the best I can be wherever I am placed. It's Ok to wonder why and how. God doesn't shy away from these questions.

I just know I need to run that race...the race that He set before me.

Why pro-choicer's don't debate.....

From time to time many of us would get requests to debate the issue. Here in BC, the head of BC's pro-choice movement, Joyce Arthur, won't debate life issues. Why? I can only sum it up with the following post by Scott Klusendorf. Heh, I wouldn't want to debate him either....

…with Kathryn Kolbert at Lehigh University (PA). As I suspected, she argued along the lines put forth in this piece, all the while insisting that she wanted to reduce the number of abortions without actually banning a single one. But why is she concerned about the high number of abortions if abortion is no big deal? That is, if abortion is morally no different than having your tooth pulled, why be troubled by its high occurrence? She never answered that question. Nor did she answer when I asked “Where does the right to an abortion come from?”

But the big flaw in her argument was elsewhere. Consider her statement in this 1990 essay which she echoed again tonight:

Reproductive freedom means the ability to choose whether, when, how, and with whom one will have children….Reproductive freedom is necessary if all persons are to lead lives of self-determination, opportunity, and human dignity.

Notice the question-begging nature of her claim. She simply assumes, without argument, that the unborn are not human beings. Would she make this same claim for human freedom and self-determination if her neighbor suggested killing toddlers as well as fetuses?

In short, I was willing to buy her argument for freedom and self-determination–but only after she demonstrated that the unborn were not human beings. She never rose to the challenge. In fact, her debate manners were terrible. On three separate occasions, she interrupted my speaking (during my allotted time) and talked right over me. At one point, the moderator gave up trying to control her. Soon after, abortion-choicers in the crowd started hurling insults at me, though I refused to respond in kind. On questions of abortion legality and the provisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, I had to correct her faulty legal reasoning. And this from a lawyer I was honored to appear with her at this event...even if we did take opposite positions on this topic.
who argued her case before the Supreme Court? I’ve debated thoughtful abortion-advocates before, but Kathryn Kolbert is not one of them.

Sure, she had her supporters in the audience, but if you were a thoughtful defender of abortion, you did not leave the event proud of your side. I know. The moderator confessed that he was one of them…and he changed his mind on the issue tonight.

For the record, here in Kelowna, many years ago I was proud to debate NDP Eileen Robinson. She is truly a wonderful lady, and we both particpated in a debate at our local College. Eileen had the courgae of her convictions, and I was honored to appear with her at this event...even if we both agreed to disagree.

Happy Birthday Becky!

Our dear daughter Rebecca is 21.

I can't believe that I'm old enough to have a 21 year old daughter...where does the time go! She is a jewel that is for sure!

The truth is out there.....

Yes, here it is...the truth about my past employment history....

It's all about trust

Ah, yes. Trust and obey or you'll rust and decay! Or so the old line went.

Been thinking about that of late. We had to trust, LOTS, when our oldest was far away in a land down under, and everything seemed to go wrong. There were nights when we could not sleep...we just had to...trust...give it over to God and let Him handle it all.

I often think that the 2 questions we might be asked when we stand before our wonderful Father is...did you Trust and did you Love?

I ponder this anew as I work in my new position...trusting Him to provide for us and for future direction. Is this where I am to be? I really don't mind if that is what the plan is. Meanwhile...I must trust and I must love...there are ample opportunities to do both, wherever He places me.

Happy Birthday Steph!

The wonderful daughter that is Stephanie is now 14. Watch out world!!

On Vacation

Yes, tis true. Took the troops to sunny California and wonderful Oregon Coast. 15 days...hence, no posts here.

More coming.