That super-smart man Einstein once said that life can be lived in two ways: either by arguing that miracles don't happen, or by living as if everything in the world is a miracle. I think that Christians need to look at everything that surrounds them, and understand that God performed a miracle and continues it every day.

Often we are surprised at how talented people can be. We shouldn't be, though. We come by it naturally. You only need to look at the world around you and look at yourself to see that the talents of God, Creator of the universe, are countless and surpass all our imaginings.

From July 15 to 21 God gave us an excellent time at youth camp in a picturesque corner of the Poltava region - downstream on the Vorskla river. And there was a reason we chose that place. First, we searched for a place that most of the campers wouln't know and that wasn't close to the main roads, second, we wanted it to be suitable to accommodate tents for up to eighty people, - third, we wanted to camp at a site where the river was clean. And all of this (especially the clean part), we were able to enjoy for all the wonderful days of camp.

Thinking back on my excitement at summer vacations, I can understand what today's kids are feeling. The awakening of nature after winter makes it hard to concentrate on lessons, the pages you read don't leave the slightest trace in your memory, and all your thoughts turn to running out onto the street and playing with your friends!

On July 4th 2012 scientists from the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) announced the discovery of a new elementary particle - the Higgs Boson. The search for the Higgs Boson was one of the main reasons for building the large hadron collider - a particle accelerator 27 kilometers (almost 17 miles) in circumference.

On the first of July on the banks of the Vorskla river Salvation Church held its latest baptismal service. This may sound a little on the formal side, but for us it is a truly notable and important occasion. Every time a believer makes a promise to God to serve Him in good conscience, the Heavens rejoice and God is glorified in His omnipotence, power and love. Only the Holy Spirit can inspire a person to take this step - to dedicate his life to the Unseen God. And there were 11 such believers in Salvation Church.

At last the soccer battles began to rumble in the Ukrainian motherland. Mission accomplished: the stadiums were ready, the fans had arrived at their destinations, the souvenirs were on display. The evangelical churches of Poltava (Salvation Church, Living Water, God's Family, Poltava Christian Church) were united and not standing on the sidelines for this big event. Through the Sports Village that these churches organized many Poltavans heard about the Living God and saw Christianity in action.

The Christians of Poltava have no cause to complain about a lack of worthwhile cultural activities, they just need to take advantage of the opportunities for creative and spiritual development that the Lord provides us with.

At times the proddings of the Holy Spirit seem natural, His teaching, His revelation through the Word. The unity of believers, serving with our gifts, the revival of our spirits, victory over the desires of the flesh, the feeling of God's presence - all these are the actions of the Spirit of God in and through the Church. And for most of the people on this Earth, these concepts and incomprehensible.

Closeness to God is not something we earn, but a privilege. Once the teacher of Israel, Nicodemus, tried to understand human life filled with God's Spirit and the process of rebirth, but no human wisdom can grasp that. The Holy Spirit is a priceless gift, a treasure, the pledge of our salvation. Only through Him can we understand that we belong to the father, only through Him can we get a taste of Heaven, in His strength is the secret of our victory, in His councils is the source of our wisdom, only under His direction can we be influential, only He is able to revive a dead spirit.

Another Sunday School year has come to an end! Spring calls us to get off the school benches and get out on the street, or even better, to drive out to the pond in the woods, where we can fully dive into the miracle of spring's awakening! We can get our fill of listening to the birds, whose songs we would like to record and take back with us. We can breathe the fresh acacia- and pine-scented air until out heads spin. And we can simply tip our heads back and see how the tops of the pine trees reach into the unusually blue sky with pure white clouds.