The Mileses

Paul and Olena Miles with Grace Abroad Ministries

Ukraine

Fireworks, Corruption, and Rallies

It has been a crazy week. Monday started with Independence Day celebrations and America celebrated freedom, fireworks, and fun (and etymology!). On Tuesday, the tone switched to angry Americans crying out for justice against Hillary. Then on Thursday, the frustration shifted toward the police after some violence in Louisiana and Minnesota… then overnight the country became pro-police again after Dallas lost some of its public servants at an anti-cop rally.

​In some ways, the atmosphere reminds me of the Maidan Revolution back in 2013. Corrupt politicians, police brutality, protests, killings, anger, a little bit of nationalism… different details for sure, but on a primitive level the frustrations are quite similar.

​When Russia invaded Eastern Ukraine, many people lost their homes and had to flee westward. Lena and I had the opportunity to meet some Christians who were refugees to Kiev, and they said something significant. They said that we, the Christians of Ukraine, were the guilty party in all of this chaos. I agreed with them about Ukraine then, and as I look at America falling apart this week, I can’t help but think the same thing about America now.
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Soviet Encyclopedia on the Bible and Christ

I have recently come across the Ukrainian Soviet Encyclopedia online (available here). It was an ongoing project over several decades in the Soviet Union, and gives insight to old Soviet mentality toward things. I looked up a few things and thought I’d translate some to give you a taste of Soviet propaganda. Here’s what the Ukrainian Soviets thought about the Bible:[Read More]

Nuances in English translations of John 3:16

One of my favorite authors calls John 3:16 the most beautiful 25 words of the English language and I agree. The book he wrote was translated into Russian, where John 3:16 only occupies 21 words (not to mention that the original Greek is actually 26 words). When the book was translated into Russian, it maintained the figure of 25 words. It was a good translation, but sometimes when we explain the Gospel, we need to use localization.
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