She is the mother of a daughter, 17, and a son who is 9 years old. She and her husband had a comfortable life, she as a screen and comedy writer and he as a show business entertainer. She was adamantly opposed to her husband entering the political world. He was elected president of Ukraine. Now Olena Zelenska, age 44, is thrust into the life and death struggle that is Putin’s War. Listen closely, that’s what this horrific invasion of Ukraine by Russia is being called, Putin’s War.

In a remarkable show of world leadership, Volodymyr Zelensky has inspired a nation and won the admiration of the world. He has also proven to be a formidable opponent of Russian aggression. His addresses have brought tears to his translators and standing ovations in the European Union. I wanted to highlight a little of what Olena Zelenska, (Zelenska is the feminine form of Zelensky), has been revealing to her people through her Instagram messages since the invasion Thursday February 24.

As I write this on March 1, I do not know how the Zelensky family story is progressing by the time you read this. According to news reports, at least one assassination attempt has been prevented. I cannot imagine what it must be like for any family, famous or not, to suddenly have everyone and everything you love under attack with real weapons of mass destruction. Picture Tulsa or any other favorite city with missiles and bombs exploding in the city centers and random suburban areas, rich and poor alike. There is no safe place to run or hide, even in a country the size of Texas. In these times, a full-scale war anywhere is a war everywhere, just like a pandemic. As you are praying for the Ukrainian people, know that Baptist relief efforts are underway in partnership with the mission ministries and agencies in the surrounding countries. 

After her husband stated on Friday, February 25 that Putin had designated him as “target number one” and his family as “target number two,” Olena wrote to her nation:  It is said that many are a crowd. It does not apply to us because thousands of Ukrainians are not crowds; this is an army! I shall not be in a state of panic or weeping. I’ll be composed and certain. My kids are staring at me. I’ll be right next to them. And right next to my hubby. And with you. 

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Support a free Ukraine. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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My first dog was named Nickel because his mother was named Penny. It seemed logical at the time. I called him Nicky. Nicky was a mixed terrier. He loved chasing mice down holes and digging up anything he could find. We had him for a few years before he was hit by a car and gravely injured. The vet “put him down.”  I was heartsick as most who lose a favorite pet. Children occasionally ask us, “Do dogs go to heaven?” Grief is a tricky emotion.  I was reminded of this when I came upon a story about a woman’s grief. After her dog died, she confessed that she missed her dog more than her father. 

Dogs have a way of demonstrating unconditional devotion to their owners. The woman’s father, it seems, was distant and judgmental. She could talk to her dog but not to her father. Her father died. Her dog died. She felt guilty, sad, and angry about the whole thing. Do dogs go to heaven? Her dog was affectionate and would curl up next to her whenever she sat down or went to bed. She and her father could not even hug each other. Her father was not a bad man or abusive. He just retreated into himself and never did live up to her expectations of being an affirming, loving Dad.  Grief and guilt walk hand-in-hand. 

Our girls grew up with a dog named Dusty. He died of old age at 16. When the girls were pre-teens one of the young adults from the church took them home for us one Sunday evening. Dusty lived in our backyard. The girls could not get in the house, so they all went around to the backyard to wait for us. Dusty, seeing a strange man in the yard, immediately sprang into action. He started barking and positioned himself between the girls and “the stranger” until we got home. Dusty was their protector. They never forgot his spontaneous devotion. Of course there are dogs in heaven—and cats, horses, lions, lambs, and other incredible creatures of God’s making we know nothing about yet. In our grief and in our guilt, it is good to spend time in quiet reflection. Include Psalms 145 and 148 today.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Spend time with your family and your pets. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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A British man who works in Brooklyn, New York, Josh Wardle, invented an internet word game to play with a friend way back in October of 2021. Someone in New Zealand discovered it and started sharing it with their friends. The game found it’s way to the US again and now it is the puzzle rage of the world. Mr. Wardle called it Wordle. Meanwhile, five years ago when he was 18, Steven Cravotta of California invented an app for a word game that he called Wordle! See the difference. Mr. Cravotta’s game, which had not attracted much attention, was suddenly downloaded 200,000 times in a single day a couple of months ago. He thought someone was trying to pull a scam on him. Those first 200,000 people got a different word game to play. Mr. Cravotta contacted Mr. Wardle to talk about Wordle. Both agreed they had no idea about the other, and they were enjoying their new-found incomes. They agreed to both send a portion of the proceeds to a non-profit literacy program called Boost! West Oakland.

Mr. Wardle’s Wordle is a fancy version of the old game Hangman using only one 5-letter word. Mr. Wardle sold his game to the New York Times. He did well. The player gets six tries to guess the word of the day. The player starts with a random word. Correct letters in the correct place are highlighted in green. Correct letters in the wrong place will be highlighted in yellow. All wrong letters will be grayed as out of play. There are approximately 130,000 5-letter English words. About 1,000 of those words are the ones we most commonly use. There is a British version of the game if you want to learn some extra 5-letter words. 

I had managed to avoid this game until last week. Dorothy and I work the puzzle together when we have time. A success story like this motivates other puzzle creators. Now there is Worldle, a geography game, and Nerdle, a mathematics game. The most amazing thing about this story for me is the level of courtesy and restraint demonstrated by the players to not reveal the answer to the word of the day. People can play nicely with others on a world-wide scale. We can treat others like we would like to be treated. We can show respectfulness. We can refrain from spoiling someone’s joy and pleasure. We can be a people of integrity. 

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Play well. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

Bro. Darryl

This is a free internet game: www.nytimes.com/games/wordle 

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I did not even know time was something to be anxious about. But here it is showing up in some of the current events I am reading about—Time Anxiety. This is another something (malady?)  that has bubbled to the surface because of the pandemic. Time anxiety is defined as a form of  chronophobia, “the fear of the passage of time.” It is a dread that some express that time is slipping away too quickly; their time on earth is limited; they have wasted their life; or it’s too late to accomplish their goals in life. In other words, there is too much to do and too little time in which to do it. Also known as every day.

I talked about the Great Resignation last fall. It is still happening. Millions of U.S. workers continue to resign from their current jobs every month. But that is not the whole story. While these millions have left their jobs, we have near full employment of the work force. The labor shortages are in the low wage, less rewarding jobs. The lock-down period of the pandemic was characterized by a Great Exploration. An unprecedented number took the opportunity to sign-up for on-line enrichment and educational classes. Many invested in their life hobbies by creating a “side hustle,” or new income stream. Working from home eliminated commuter time and vehicle expenses. Many have chosen to “retire” to give a deeper meaning to their relationships and explore their spiritual nature. Others have found higher wages in less stressful jobs. According to some sociologists, political activism is replacing traditional religious fervor and volunteerism. 

The answer to time anxiety is a re-evaluation of what truly matters, followed by consistent actions to “seize the day.” Poverty, disability, perpetual debt, and medical uncertainty are overwhelming. Anxiety overload is detrimental to our well-being no matter the circumstances.   Things do not always work out for everyone the way we plan, but Psalm 90 is a good place to start. Here are a few other Scriptures I have found helpful: 

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.”   (Isaiah 41:13)

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.    (Psalm 56:3)

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   (Philippians 4:6)

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Redeem the time. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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