Was Glauben Sie?

Baby Love, my Baby Love..

2011-11-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

So now that we know we're having a son,...(still so foreign to me say that, just as husband was when we were first married), this whole process is just getting better and better. Amazing to see the body of this creation within me and know that it is all an amazing gift from God, beyond anything we could ever imagine- such a bonding privilge of marriage. Overwhelming feelings of awe, fear, praise, love, anticipation all compete in my heart, mind, body and soul. Moments of guilt wave over me as I wonder if I've done everything I can for this little life who's had no chance at all to fend for himself regardless, yet comfort always follows right behind, assuring that God is greater than any little mishaps I'm responsible for, and completely in charge and in control of this life. I also cling to the hope that He wants to answer my prayers of faith to keep this little one perfectly healthy and whole with a simple breath.

My love for Rich has even grown in this process as together we walk blindly into this. Although we trust God as His hand is the one knitting our child together at this very moment. What an experience as I squeezed his hand, as we heard for the very first time what our very first child would be; while looking at his first pictures and rejoicing of the good news of his current status. For the first time we could say "our son.":) As I move into this stage of my life, I've watched in wonder at every little life that I encounter, something not to be taken for granted.

Songs and verses such as "How deep the Father's love for us" become more dear to me as I reflect on the love of my earthly father and his unconditional love, the love of our heavenly Father which is obviously greater than all, and then the love that I have for this little being that I can't wait to meet, hold and love.
God puts an innate mothering instict into us to love others- whether they be our own or others.' This love is only a glimpse of what we can only imagine God's great love to be like in our finite minds.

As I drove to work this morning the sunrise was shining so bright, and as I was thinking about the wonder of this child in me, I thought of how great it will be when we are in the presence and embrace of our heavenly Father, once and for all- eternally His. I can only imagine, but thank you God for this current picture of how great the love that you've given us really is.

How can we cleanse our way? What gives us life?!

2011-08-25T18:58:00.000-07:00

It isn’t wrong to only read the Psalms if that is what you need. However if we never read the rest of Scripture we’d never learn much about the reason those Psalms were written. I find myself, when low of energy or time, reading tidbits like the Psalms and proverbs, or old favorites like Paul’s concise letters of recommendation to the saints, which always empower my mind and spirit. But I long to know more about what God’s written, since every book within the Bible front to back is inspired by Him; but it takes devotion! We must discipline ourselves regularly to do it so that when His Words are written on our hearts, they will come forth on our tongue to others which is what gives us strength from day to day, helps sustain us spiritually and teaches others about God’s truth. There is no way we can live with God’s Word- it is our lifeline and even if He does not judge us according to how much we know, we know Him so much more intimately when we take the time and delve into what gives us our only lasting hope in life. So I encourage you along with my renewed personal challenge, to spend more time in the Word and to memorize it so that my life will not be less than what God would have for us.

Ironically, after I wrote this, our pastor on Sunday also spoke also on the importance of the Word of God. He declared several times that “this is not an idle Word!” I loved one thing he said about how Jesus quoted Scripture, because He knew He needed it! It’s not a sin to be weak in the flesh because that is our disposition, we just must acknowledge it and take God’s Word up to stand guard against it and we WILL win!

What is on our minds when we are weak, doubting, and alone? What will be bleed when we are cut? If the Words of God are what accompany our minds in the darkest of times, then we will be enriched. It is then we are made stronger through it! Praise God we have an out. We must read the Word and pray every day, and we will grow, otherwise we really have no hope.

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word!..”

I love that verse and after reading/praying it this week I saw it at a friend’s house and was encouraged as I saw that all of us while reading God’s Word see the truth of God, the truth about us, and when we put them together, that gives us hope and the ability for life and godliness! We must admit our susceptibility(s) and take heed according to God’s commands, for He desires to keep us!

RE-STor-a-tion

2011-04-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

I love to do word studies to learn where words originate.
In the definition of the word restoration, we find that something once beautiful, though it lost it's glory, is now being put back together.
I wonder about the breakdown of the syllables which isolates the four letter word REST. I don't know if this is any root of the word but I find it's solo meaning ironically fitting. While we must work to restore something completely, we must also realize that good work is not to be done without some measure of rest. The LORD Himself rested after creating the world and commanded in the OT that peoplet take a day of rest. In the NT we are assured that we can come to Jesus, weary as we often are, as He will give us rest (which we know brings much restoration).

My co worker was explaining to me just yesterday, with a twinkle in her eye, all the highs and lows of restoring the house her and her special friend are working on. My distracted mind went on to think of the endless reality shows presenting multimillion dollar projects that many Americans sit on their back breaking couches to watch, while those on the screen endeavor to polish up the "junk in their lives." It is fun to watch the joy in their faces throughout the process of restoring all kinds of old things; houses, antiques, and so on...

Many people do this for a hobby; some, to save from having to buy a new house, but I'm sure in some way, they all come away with the same satisfying feeling. I thought "what a perfect portrayal of what Christ is doing in all of our lives?" He takes us; dirty, broken and empty, and renovates us from the inside out. He builds us up again upon the love He offers and the new life Him that promises hope and brings joy that is wrought from within, which is then ever beckoning to burst out and appear on our faces and shine in circumstancial disaster.

What once was lost, now is found; what was blind, now sees.
"Though our sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow."
"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin left a crimson stain, HE washed it white as snow."

According to your faith...

2011-03-10T04:06:00.000-08:00

Many times in Jesus' ministry we saw Him heal, and it was usually (if not always) connected to their ability to believe. In Matthew 9 He says to the blind men "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"

Upon their unanimous "yes," He went on to say "According to your faith let it be to you."

Praise God we have this simple yet magnanimous power invested in us by the grace of God by the power of His Spirit to ever even begin to believe! While the world we walk in is often hopeless, His light shines SO bright wherever He chooses upon when able to see it, we can have but only one response to our Master in Heaven; "Yes God!" ...but we must first believe.

The eyes of our hearts once darkened must be begged open. As He offers us life and deliverance from the powers of darkness to convey us into the kingdom of the rich life He offers us in Christ (Colossians), we can step forward in faith that He will accomplish all that He wants and wills when we ask it in and FOR His name and according to the faith that is in us.

Our church prayer night last night was so uplifting. Praying Scripture with fellow believers is hands down one of the best things we can do with our lives. It offers hope to all; both those praying and those prayed for. If done right, we will not stop at small things but lift of those of our world who are hurting and in need; therefore no one will go unnamed, and the Spirit will intercede for us where and when He knows what we desire, yet have not the words, time or capacity to accomplish.

And so let the theme of our lives be ever praise to Him and let the words of our mouths always be "praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below!..." We can and must believe as He is a God of infinite might which we can only behold once we take the leap of faith in belief and prayer so often written of in His Word. For then and only then, can we cross over from darkness into light.

Learning How to Die

2011-02-17T03:46:00.001-08:00

"He takes our bodies slow..."

The song by Jon Foreman, telling the truth of our very temporal lives as we ought to consider and realize. Our bodies begin to break down once finally fully grown. I realize this now as I'm about at the point where youth begins to while yes "change" is one way to look at it, I believe "fade" is more accurate.

To witness the purity and innocense of three year olds daily with their blemish free and soft seemingly perfect skin, is a falsehood to believe that they should last forever. At the peak of our prime, from 18 to 30, unfortunately often the toils of life begin to snare...and we must know that this shell is not to last.

Oh how I look forward to the perks of eternity, selfishly speaking, to gain resilience and energy everlasting. Yet eternity is only as great as it will be because God is there; we must remember.

He is our sole joy and purpose in life, and as our bodies reflect their perfect creator' THIS is what we must rejoice in; His perfection and ability to create a handiwork that much resembles the kind of God He is.

Thank you God for this life, but may we hold high above anything this world has to offer, the esteem for eternal riches in You and Your glory. May we endure the suffering for a night as true joy comes in the morning!

He set the captives free!

2011-02-13T05:28:00.000-08:00

As Christ must assuredly came to deliver us from evil and bring glory to His Name, we should find ourselves more "prostrate in the dust" before Him in humble gratitude than we many times are. He tells us that He came that we "may have life and have it to the full" in John 10. In Isaiah, the foreshadowing of His coming presented for us the hope of "good tidings to the poor, healing for the brokenhearted, and liberty for the captives!"

Yesterday I went to the maximum security prison in Raleigh for a training to enable me access on future occasions. Our church is beginning a ministry to share in the lives of women and men in prison whom are so desperately broken. We know our place in this world and as sinners as awful as they, though we've perhaps not gone to the extent that they have in regard to choices, we are equally inadequate before our God as they, and carry the same hope for salvation!

As our hearts go out to them to see the forgiveness that we have been shown, we know we must remember when we are in a prison and they are there for a reason! But we know we've been given second, third and many more chances to repent of our sin and want them to know the same. Their physical surroundings they may not be able to change, but as we know that is not where true joy lays. There lays yet a potential of real and true freedom from what has imprisoned them in the first place, carrying with it the hope of redemption!

THIS is what I hope to help relay and as many other women of all ages, races and religions poured in the room for our elongated textbook training, there was a sense of sweet fellowship that filled the room. The intentions of empathetic hearts attempted to go where they had not gone before, to show a love we are so grateful to know, to a world that has yet to grab hold of what they are so longing for.

We ourselves were sinners, slaves to sin, but set free by the power of the Holy Spirit and His love, His Word, and His work in our lives.

LORD Jesus, thank you for setting us free from the bondage of sin and give us wisdom to to enable others to take hold of this wonderful truth by the power and for the glory of your Name!

Songs of Scripture

2011-02-02T04:38:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like reading the Word and a song pops up in your head. Music is a gift from God that I don't think we can thank Him enough for. What a blessing to help memorize!

John Foreman has multiple songs that ring in my head when reading Scripture.
God is my shepherd, I won't be wanting.
He makes me rest in fields of green, and quiet streams.
Even while I'm walking through the valley of death and dying.
I will not fear cause you are with me, you're always with me.

Shepherds staff comforts me....

So uplifting to the soul!

He also writes of this life in ways that bring to our minds the "ought-i-tude" I like to call it. We ought to think on these things; "a mirror is much harder to hold," "Learning How to Die," and so many more.

Thank God for language that expresses only the surface of the truth that lies at the feet of our lives' purpose. Thank God for His Spirit who intercedes for us as our words cannot express even the slightest of what He deserves.

But oh the mercy that follows us...just as the song also says "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Amen.

Wisdom from King Solomon and the pen of Paul

2011-01-26T03:56:00.000-08:00

These two writers wrote some of my favorite passages; they are simple, to the point and very applicable!

Proverbs says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. SO we know that as we revere our God and come to know Him all the more we will indeed increase in wisdom.
As we lead our lives, or follow them, we find that through the mundane and cyclical pattern that it rolls on it can be a bit tolling on our bodies and minds. I've also been reaffirmed by the messages by my father in law Ken Rudolph, as he spoke recently on the Lord's Prayer and the part we must beg God daily for our daily bread in a world where we are so in need of His help. Give us this day our "daily bread! And lead us not into temptation!" and so on. We cannot get away from the curse in this world yet can and must cling to the hope, truth and wisdom that helps us along and that gives us joy amidst it all!

Ecclesiastes also says that in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases in knowledge increases sorrow. I think this is because just as we are more aware of the curse around us, the hope of our present life fades extremely so and thankfully especially in comparison with the only joy that can be found eternal; that is in Christ. At least we have this hope! Without it we would be better to be ignorant and pretend throughout our innocent little lives that everything is fine or at least in our ignorantly blissful little minds. All until the end it would be at least; then there would be the greatest tragedy of all! We must then live in light of the truth that Christ brings us, that He Himself is our wisdom.

So then the way we ought to live and how it is to look among this fallen world is clearly expressd through the pen of the apostle Paul as he writes about the wisdom of this world and how God really crushes it in comparision to the greatness of his power and knowledge that supercedes all.

Our minds cannot fathom it all, and that is where faith trumps out the fear of the unknown and where the miraculous accomplishes things not fully known to man. His wisdom is a treasure we ought to seek for continually and the wisdom and attainment of worldly acceptance is relentlessly empty.

“For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” …. “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

“And my speech is not with human wisdom..” (1 Corinthians 1 and 2)

So let us then not toil as we often do in despair of the curse brought onto our lowly earth and bodies, but rejoice in the hope that we were created with purpose for someone greater and higher and wiser than we even know, yet have the hope of knowing greater as we seek Him and can be found fully in Him forever and ever! Eat, drink and enjoy the labor of your hands; or else truth be told, life will be miserable!

Understanding our salvation

2010-12-16T04:04:00.000-08:00

So how do we know we are moving? How do we know our Christian walk isn't just something we've taken ahold of, like a kite in the wind, yet just plopped down to sit rather than run to watch it fly.

It's kind of like a ship. When we ride on a ship we know we are moving because everything we pass gets closer and eventually passes on. It is the same with life; we move because life changes around us and those objects or circumstances that arise may even be too close for comfort, yet will indeed pass away if we steer straight and don't allow them to be a boulder to crash into.

God promises to carry us through if we take ahold of what He says. He tells us in Romans through the pen of Paul, that as Christ endured suffering even to death, He has risen to brings us life and that through Him we are MORE than conquerors. Nothing will be able to separate us; life or death, angels or demons, anything present or to come, the greatest heights or depths, nor any other thing created by the hand of God Himself will be able to separate us from Him and His love.
So then our movement comes from the hand of God as from His hand came everything that is as Hebrews says "God who spoke through prophets and now His Son whom is appointed all things through whom He made the worlds." Also, the Psalmist expresses in this reality of God, that His works are manifold and in wisdom have been made. "The earth is full of His possessions,..living things both small and great."

We know if we steadily trust His hand, that when life happens we have THE source of it to draw from. Hopefully we will draw from it every day to keep our well full of water so that should a drought occur, we will not thirst.

We know that when sin rears it's ugly head also, the truth of God's word will not return void, and His Spirit Himself will intercede for us when we have not the words. He is our helper who abides with us forever; whom the world cannot receive because it knows Him not. We know Him because He dwells in us and will not leave us (John 14). God also reveals His many wonders to us through His Spirit. "For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of man but his own spirit? Even so no one knows the things of God except His Spirit. We have this Spirit from Him, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God!"

How beautiful are the words of God to those who believe!?

This is how we understand our salvation; while day by day His mercies pour over us to reveal once again His greatness and power, our finiteness is seen and our therefore need for such a Savior. When our minds can't comprehend this, we can bow our knees and pray for one another as Paul did that God would grant to us the riches of His glory to be strengthened with His might and that He may then dwell with us while being rooted in such a great love. We know the message of the cross is foolishness to the world but to those who believe it is the power of God!

We know that love is what makes the world go round and pretty much solves all problems. The root of our sins stem from a lack of love so often, yet when we grasp how wide the love of God is, we are able to cope with the fact that there is no one that can love us more than Him we need not rely on men for this fulfillment.

We can then go forth pouring out His love on others, which will then enable the world to spin again. If we sit to long and wait for anything to move we will grow stir crazy. We must then be proactive in stirring up love amongst one another as love covers a multitude of sins and surpasses any attempts that this world and their forces of evil and egotism can approach.

After all, it is the God of heaven and earth, the LORD almighty who created all including love itself, and who is able to accomplish more than we could ask or think.
So help us God, to understand the salvation you've freely given us and the love that accompanies it which is able to conquer all!

The Gospel in Les Miserables

2010-12-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

This movie was the first of many in a long time that caused me to weep. I watched as a depraved man, a thief, was shown mercy which began for him a life of showing the same mercy while paying others back for the gratitude he had for a man and his wife whom not only spared his freedom, but gave him above and beyond what he deserved to show him mercy.

He then began a life of honesty and generosity. He was a “changed man” as he’d claimed he would be, and yet there were of course, still the consequences of his former sin which he had to live with. While his life was sought extensively by the ‘evil one,’ he lived in peace knowing he’d covered his bases; yet this evil one was out to prove him wrong. He did feel a deep sense of remorse for his past, and was willing to take the charges, should they be proved against him while others were potentially put to the stake for being mistaken with his actual account. He rescues many from failure and hardship, and the very life and nurturing of an orphan he promised to care for. He takes what his past represented and attempted to spare her life from anything close to it, yet goes to the extreme as sadly so many overly fearful though loving parents mistakenly do. He wants to hinder this child from the world and its ugliness, but the day comes where it is not possible. What he could have done was teach her the truth and how to combat the harsh realities of life with the power of God. However, while they do break out into reality, and life makes for harder decisions, his honor keeps him to the end. He does what he can out of love; having been a receptor of such deep mercy and grace, he then extended it on to many generations.

His attempt at reviving the life and love of one whom was shown no mercy for her sin, showed a beautiful picture of what some of the world would see as unjust. Our very God is just yet the justifier too, and we know His hand to be perfect in our lives when others may see it as not right in their own eyes.

The evil man in this movie was so bound by sin, and the law he felt he must keep that he showed no mercy even when such a changed and blameless man was snow before him. He could not get past it, and his wicked schemes did not let him rest until they lead him to death, as sin we know always does.

In the end, our main man goes free; and walks away down a road and info a flock of birds that then fly up into the air, representing the likeness his heart clearly felt as his burdens and weight of the past sins in his life too, flew away.

Many times his life was pictured to me as Christ’s while though he was a sinner, he had come back to repentance and changed and though still sought after, he was always willing to give up his life and freedom for others. You can’t help but love him as all main characters, especially with such renovated and pure motives for the well being of others. And you can’t help but despise the disgusting man who sought his life, as his lack of mercy was so relentless and unjust. Sin does this to our lives, as is vies to strangle us with every ounce of strength it holds on our life. We must run from it, and know its end.

We must pour mercy on those who need it, as we’ve been shown this great mercy! And never forget the unconditional love we’ve been shown; as there is NO greater love than that one should lay his life down for his friends. God in Christ Jesus did this, and His very life was laid on our account, to forever wash us clean. Our slates are new; what can we do but show mercy today!?

Markers of Sanctification

2010-11-18T03:27:00.001-08:00

It is such a blessing to be known by God, and personally know Him.

When situations beyond our control spin new things in and out of our lives, it gives me peace knowing there is absolutely nothing I can do to prevent what God has planned; if i try it will just be harder on me:)

I am encouraged that through job situations and highs and lows, we can embrace each change that comes as a way to say "God knows" and "I" do not. He has it all worked out and when I try to make things happen that are not meant to be, I will just fall flat on my face. Sensing Him and trying to follow His steps laid out before us are sometimes clear, sometimes not. I think our clarity is fogged by our own desires sometimes though, and we only keep ourselves from seeing further. I love that as a follower of Christ we are given His Spirit to us as a helper. As Jesus said in John 14 "The Helper, the Holy Spirit, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance things I said to you. Peace I leave with you, not as the world gives..." and later "These things have I spoken, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."

1 Corinthians 2 also tells us that "God has revealed (the things He is preparing for us) through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes the deep things of God." What greater joy can we have than that!? Our Creator has given us truth beyond ourselves to give us incite into His wisdom and knowledge; of course not yet complete, but something to be hoped for in the coming of the redemption of the purchased possession, as it says in Ephesians 1. Such wonderful things to be hoped for!
I know now that as He gives me grace to respond how I would not otherwise on my own accord, when difficult circumstances arise, I can give Him all the glory for He has enabled me to do so. It is not I, but Christ who lives in me. "This is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?!"
AMEN.

A place to live

2010-09-15T04:43:00.000-07:00

It is awesome to have moved into a place we can call our own. We all want that right? Well as much enjoyment as it is so wake up to your own place, schedule, letting nothing else controling your surroundings, and to use beautiful things unwrapped after a three year period in storage, I feel so grateful for what I know I do not deserve, while even a bit hesitant to allow myself entitlement to it.

There is much we don't need- I LOVE the less is more principle. I hate the American "I need more and bigger!" mentallity. God help us not even gradually let our hearts reach that point. I know we will always work to beat our greedy hearts into submission to Christ's call on our lives to lay down whatever this world longs for us to cling to. Yet, I am thankful He reminds me daily I don't deserve any of it- that it ALL is His, and that I must know that stuff does NOT equal happiness; it only begets more desire. "The eyes of man are never full" a favorite Proverb wisely states it.
Many people never dream of "owning" what we do. And as I feared my own impending doom of "losing" it all the other day due to leaving our stove burner on:/ I was so thankful for God's gracious hand in preserving "our things" and kept my conscious thankful notion that all things are from Him, for Him, and must be given back to Him.

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow!"

Eat, Pray, Love

2010-08-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

I entirely agree with the title of this movie; but in drastically different measures than intended by the author. The woman here, who sets out to find what she 'really' wants in life, finds that thorough enjoyment of giving into every indulgence her heart desires, leads her onto the road of true happiness; or so she thinks. While leaving the 'love of her life' as we've seen oh too many times before, she sets out to pursue religion, seclusion, and flat out pure hedonism at it's heighth. A natural tendancy, sure, many have. To 'listen to your heart' as the popular 80's sing star Roxette puts it, brings you to what YOU really want in life, disregarding all the broken relationships of those you've committed to, now severed on your behalf. Something I think we've actually been warned against, if we actually take heed.

The Bible says it best, in that true love, everlasting love "endures all things, hopes, forgives, believes,"...and so on. We are so susceptable to pursuing things that don't last, to love the things which produce yes happiness, but inevitably fade. Our God is to be worshipped first of all, and then enjoyed THROUGH the world which He created. As in Romans it says that "What may be known of Him is manifest in us, for God shows it to us. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are seen, even His eternal power and Godhead; so we are without excuse...but although many know God, we often do not glorify Him as such, are not thankful, but are futile in thought. Our foolish hearts can be so dark, and as the world claims to be wise, foolishness is the actual state. Then while changing the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man...we exchange the truth of God for a lie, worshipping and serving creature rather than Creator; who is (or SHOULD be) blessed through our lives forever." (Romans 1)

Our worldy love and worship is so contrary to what I've come to know through the words of our Lord and Savior from whom perfect love is given. He's given us life through Himself, which was ordained before time, from God the Father from whom also proceeds every perfect gift. (Hebrews and Matthew)

So then "to be carnally minded is death. But to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans) So to think upon ourselves and our ever pressing urgent needs, desires, and wants leads only to a life of narcissism. We get trapped within ourselves to believe this way of life, yet we so long for peace. So where does this peace come from?

One source, a true source. A reliable source; not some figment of our imaginations, serenity through quiet, or chanting to a god who is dead. We have hope in God, THE God whose Holy Word says He created heaven and earth, us, calls us as His own, and "desires that none should perish, but come to repentance." We seek fulfillment in life, and He says "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest." He also says that "you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." (John)

So when we set out to 'find ourselves,' our source of life, and purpose therein, where do we find it but outside of ourselves of course. Serving and loving others surely produces joy, regardless of your reasons for it. But where does this service come from? Emptying of self is a gift from God who Himself was "emptied and poured out as an offering" for us, but for HIS glory. He humbled Himself through Jesus' life, whose live's we are to emulate, doing "nothing out of selfish ambition, but considering 'others better than ourselves,'" as He did. (Philippians).

So go out into all the world; travel, eat, enjoy new people, places, cultures, and nations. But give thanks to God our Father who created it all, and to whom all should give glory to and for. And then also set out to pray, that the eyes of your understanding be enlightened; to know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints; the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all power and dominion, and every name that is named forever."
And finally love, and pray that He will grant you such according to His glory, to be strengthened with might though His Spirit in the inner man, that He may dwell in your heart through faith; being rooted and grounded in this love, able to comprehend with all the saints what the width and lenghth and depth and heigth is, that is the love of Christ which passes all knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
If we live this, we will be able to eat of His gifts, pray to Him Him for all things, and love as He loves; which proves no selfish thing, but endures forever. This is the greatest of all, and what truely brings about the peace and hope in life we are all searching for.

AMEN

Have you ever had a dream you felt was so real?

2010-07-15T05:00:00.001-07:00

I know you have, because I think we all do. We wake up in a stupor as though we just got through an intense movie, and our life was as the main character!

In this case, I was held hostage for who knows what reason, but needless to say, it was a bit threatening. I began to ease in the situation while surrounded by people of evil intentions, as I found compassion within myself to ask them simply why they were doing what they were, and desiring also to share with them about Christ and give them hope beyond whatever or wherever their evil intentions were taking them.

I don't remember much else, but then this morning read on in Matthew where I've been studying for awhile, to refresh my memory of the verses where Jesus tells His disciples that we must not fear those who can kill the body but not the soul. Our soul belongs to God and noone out there can keep us from this eternal love and keeping. It was interesting as I had even awoke to thinking upon this verse, and was comforted by the fact that truely noone and nothing can keep us from our Lord-neither life nor death is to be feared with God on our side. Christ goes on to say that he brought the sword to divide and prove those who are worthy of Him- those who will deny, and follow Him.

As we are weak in flesh, He can be made stronger, and if we allow Him to be magnified in our lives and proven, He will then prove us true to His Father God in Heaven. Jesus is the way, the answer- the key to living this life with eternity in focus- as His life is life to us, and His death is also; so must be our lives- whether we live or die, to Him be all the glory.

I also thought on persecution recently as I read from a book full of stories of those who had undergone bouts of it. It brings questions to our minds as to why, etc. But we are then confirmed when and if we do go through this, just why and even beforehand, that it is inevitable in this life. From harsh to almost non existant as in these westernized countries it can be, we still have some answers even if not all fully explained. And so are my thoughts on the next blog.

blessed are those who are persecuted...

2010-07-02T13:36:00.000-07:00

So we often wonder how it is that our lives will or should look as followers of Christ; a paradox for sure, as we die to ourselves to live to Christ. In our weakness He is made stronger in us, we are to put others first, while in the kingdom of heaven those who were first shall be last, and the last first. We wonder if God will “bless us” as His word seems to intend. However our view of blessings can be skewed by the ways in which our narrow minds conceive.
Spiritual blessings are to be above all treasured, and material can also be nice, but if our real treasure is laid up in heaven as Matthew says it should be, we will have our minds so set there that temporal things don’t phase us quite so heavily. I have now come to understand that we do not deserve anything as sinners, and that every gracious gift given to us comes from our Father in heaven, regardless of whether we deserve it. We don’t have answers for everything; for pain, for blessings per se, or cursings, for God no longer works consistently has the God of the ‘big stick’ in order to beat us to submission. He works as a compassionate one who gave us free life through His Son Christ Jesus the heir of all things as is reiterated all throughout the Bible. So there we have it at first hand, the riches of Christ and blessings eternally laid up in heaven for us. We shall not want for more; and yet we do. We are here on earth and we desire the temporal. The temporal, though beautiful as it may be in the short term, is nothing to be compared with the beauty of Christ and the blessings to be poured out when we enter His presence in eternity. We live for now all to often, and see the pain this world so easily bestows when our hopes are here. We are given such good lives, in some terms, and yet not all of us do.
We see fellow believers of Christ being persecuted for their faith, yet this is a God honoring thing in this world for it is written in His Word, blessed are those who suffer for His sake. We can take this to heart, and rejoice in the Hope and faith His gives us through the knowledge of His Son, knowing that as He says, “the genuineness of our faith, being more precious than gold, though tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1)
God gives us a huge manual to tell us of the short comings of many men, His hand in their lives, and how to avoid wrong doing. He tells us His righteousness has been GIVEN to us, so we need not work for salvation, but we must live in light of this glorious lot in our lives.

Psalms says “the good mans steps are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. ..I am young, and now old; Yet have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.”

Well we know that none are actually good- except Christ, but that He has now laid on our account, His own righteousness. So then those who live according to His word, or even just those who are His may receive this blessing? Well there you see, material blessings in the way of provision, and I truly have seen this in my own life ONLY by grace MANY times. I know believers have perished for their faith- so there you wonder of safety provision, but ultimately their true valued treasure was not kept from them, and their lives are now an honor to the Lord even by their death. I read stories of those faithful to the Lord amidst rough family derission, yet through all the toil and pain they endured, God brought them through even the most unbelievable physical circumstances to prove their faith.

And so you have it, some who are spared and some who are not. We know not which we will be, if ever we even truly have to face trials such as these. But count it a blessing, if so, for then our faith will be given opportunity to prove Christ what honor is due. May we live in such light of His eternal blessings, that they far outweigh any menial life circumstances that beset us in this life. May we live in the light of His glory and grace, and be imitators of God in this world, being holy, that is ‘set apart’ as he called us to “be holy, for I am holy.”

HOPE drives

2010-06-19T19:55:00.001-07:00

What drives you?

Rich told me today that he has to wonder why I am the way I am. And I retorted that I also wonder the same of him. I think that is just the nature of marriage, and living with another human being. We all tic the way we do because of a number of things; our family, our genes, and our situations in life. Even two people growing up together may handle the very same situation completely different; in the same way that those who grow up completely opposite may also handle the same situation the very same. We all have heros, life changing events, moments; and these all occur at different times and places, based on what I believe, is God's sovereignty in putting them there to make you who you are.

So it is, with my busy personality, that he wonders why I never stop. I came to a concise conclusion during the sermon today which out of Romans 8, pointed us to the fact that we have a hope- which is obviously not seen, because what is hope in something that is already seen? It isn't hope at all.

And so I have this hope, not just in the spiritual sense which does of course trump all other hopes, but I have hope in life. I truely hold strong faith in many things and avenues of exciting potential for life that I simply cannot stand to waste my life not pursuing them, almost to the point of error.

I cannot watch much tv, I cannot spend too much time doing the same thing as there is too much else out there to not be a part of. I cannot have one best friend (besides Rich:), and I cannot stand to take the Bible as I know it, and not search for more great truths yet to be learned.

God's Word has given us so much to uncover, that we scarcely understand all that He intends. I hope also that my life will be worth something to those who it touches, in the way of impact and inspiration, and as I know that no one leads others by sitting around and staying stagnant; I also cannot do this.

I think we all can have faith and hope in life that true joy comes from knowing our God, and the ability He gives us to learn about and contribute to this world He's created to order.

Motives

2010-06-09T04:44:00.000-07:00

So as we often discuss with people who are yet to be married, or now have been for sometime, the topic of 'motives' driving this union inevitably come up. We all have our grounds for 'why' we do the things that we do, and can argue quite reasonably (at least I'd hope so). But sometimes our reasoning sounds so good in our heads, while out loud really just stinks.

We just got through a sermon series at our church going through Ephesians, and of course then ending on the topic of spiritual warfare in chapter 6.

Well one of the tactics of spiritual warfare which I believe bids us much frustration in life, is that of our very own thought life and self talk. Ephesians 6 tells us that we must prepare for the battle we are fighting against the enemy; taking on faith, which quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one. And so we must drown out also, the ways of selfish talk that comes from every angle around us, predisposing us to a life of unhappiness while seeking self gratification 24/7.

How hard it is, for us to forget ourselves, and put others in front of our pressing desires so natural to strive for. Within reason, we of course must maintain what we must to live and be able to serve; but then as in most relationships, with marriage it is supposed to be about the 'giving,' and not so much the taking (although receiving on the other end does make for an easier time together).

We read books, including the Bible, influencing our ways of thought and helping us transform our innate pursuit of egotism, and slowly we realize that it is more blessed to give than to recieve, that encouragment indeed breeds reciprocal encouragment, doing to others often ends up in the same treament being directed back, and so on.

But behind the motives of anything can still creep in slightly selfishly hinted desires. Money, recognition, and of course love, are not bad things, but alone can drive us to stomp on those we love to receive them; which in turn does just exactly opposite of what was initially intended.

And so as in marriage, I often wonder how much of our minds are really ready to just lay down all we are, when at the marriage alter, to ensure that this person we share our vows with will enjoy their life to the best of their ability, and become better through it. As Christ followers we are to take up our cross and die to our own self while putting others first, as His love allows us to do. If we focus on His sacrifice and our purpose in this life, it is easiER, and much more then gratifying for all!

God help us remember that! If we don't, we will suffer, for noone is more miserable that those who are in a rutt to seek out the best life for theirself. Even the most moral of human beings regardless of spiritual beliefs knows this. And so as those who know the very God of heaven and earth who has given us a real purpose in life AND death, we must live in reflection of His sacrificial love and mercy to those both deserving and undeserving; for we ourselves, also are not deserving for such love. It is mercy we've been given, and so we must give it back!

Rejoicing like a strong man to run its race

2010-06-06T04:34:00.000-07:00

I can't say that yesterday I ran what I did in Durham's annual 8k race, with complete rejoicing as in a strong man running his race. I do, however, give thanks to the Lord for strength to run, for a community of people who enjoy the same sport, for beautiful weather, and an opportunity to come together for an overall enjoyable event.

Again, I believe running points to SO many life analogies. I signed up for this race awhile back, with the great 'intention' of pushing myself to train hard, in hopes of some sort of prize. Now not knowing what the competition would be, nor having the experience of running an 8k length before, combined with lack of motivation to push myself against the wind which gives no frame of reference for competition, I fell a little short.

Again, an enjoyable experience, but this time I learned something that I already knew- if that's possible, that I simply cannot train alone.

And so out of it comes another sermon for thought- that even as a runner cannot train alone, (or at least not nearly as well as with others beside him), our Christian walk is the same; not meant to be walked alone. God did not intend for us to be lone rangers, and we hear this all the time.

We know we have weaknesses, but that when surrounded by others, we can together pull one another up when the others fall. Or even better, when we run against someone with more strength altogether, or whose already been past the mile marker we are running on, they can help explain just how it may go, and what helped them when they were there. They can explain obstacles in the way, or again just simply let competition's drive push them in their stride to compare, match, or outrun those next to them; in all actuality just making the one next to them work harder too, at becoming better than he was before.

We are to sharpen eachother in our skills, or lack thereof. We are to train, not just hope to train, and then think we will just somehow win.

We run for a prize in these life events sometimes, but ultimately our goal should be to honor Christ, and find joy in Him through all of life's races. We are to see that all this world has fades in comparison to the joy and satisfaction that knowing GOD brings, and therefore not continually fail or allow ourselves to be disappointed when we don't match up to the world's standards. This world is not our home, we are just passin' through..as an old hymn says, and we can keep that outlook if we sharpen each other to stride our best through this life, seeing everything that comes and goes as a sharpening tool.

So as the picture in the verse I read in Psalms 19 today states, "The heavens declare the glory of God;..In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, (boasting almost), and rejoicing like a strong man to run its race." We are to be ready, prepared, strengthened, and embody the picture of strength on the race of life- as we take heed from the power of the Lord and His Word, allowing it to sharpen us along with others to run as a strong man would be after training hard. We have the tools, we must use them, and our race will be all the better for it.

Vergissmeinnicht!

2010-05-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

SO I copied the below paragraph from Wikipedia instead of trying to rewrite what was unnecessary to do so. I thought it to be a fascinating little story, at least to those of us with a fondness in German folklore:) I had to research these flowers a bit before I planted them, after having been given a tiny packet as a going away gift from our German friends.

"In a German legend, God named all the plants when a tiny unnamed one cried out, "Forget-me-not, O Lord!" God replied, "That shall be your name."[2] In another legend, the little flower cried out, "Forget-me-not!" as Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden.[2]
The Christ Child was sitting on Mary's lap one day and said that he wished that future generations could see her eyes. He touched her eyes and then waved his hand over the ground and blue forget-me-nots appeared, hence the name forget-me-not.
Henry IV adopted the flower as his symbol during his exile in 1398, and retained the symbol upon his return to England the following year.[2]
In 15th-century Germany, it was supposed that the wearers of the flower would not be forgotten by their lovers. Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but because of the weight of his armour he fell into the river. As he was drowning he threw the posy to his loved one and shouted "Forget-me-not". This is a flower connected with romance and tragic fate. It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love."

So too, we should be!; faithful to God, and to the ones we've committed our lives to in love, whether that be a spouse or friend. Our friend Marion gave these to us, and Im thankful we have them now to remember our German friends by, as each time we walk past the will in their own little way cry out "Forget me not!"

Home

2010-04-29T03:37:00.000-07:00

SO we are finally HOME. Whatever home really means; I suppose for us at this point home is truely only where the heart is. Our family and friends and various homes of the last three years are all so widespread, we believe finally now we will be here for a period of time longer than one year. It is a good feeling, yet as on the plane I listened to the ironic lyrics of Michael Buble's hit "Home," I found it nastalgically bringing me mixed thoughts as we returned "home." Home was where we lived in Germany, but home is also where friends and family are here in the states. The lyrics even mention places like Paris and Rome, and while we went to Paris and were only kept from going to Rome due to the recently cancelled flights, I resonate that it is great to travel, but home is by far the greatest place to be. I always read the life of the apostle Paul as seemingly exciting, and feel privileged to have been a part of now so many churches, ministries, and different people's lives. I guess that's why God's allowed us to do so.

And as we all know, our real home dosn't settle in till we are gone from this earth, and if we find Heaven our resting place. That will be our real home. Yet for now, it is good to say, we are finally "home!"

Vanity

2010-04-29T02:41:00.000-07:00

So we thoroughly enjoyed our recent nine hour flight filled with reading, relaxing and watching movies. From speculating on the lives of those in movie documentaries from the editor of Vogue, to the drug worn Rolling Stones. Oh how I do not desire the spotlight of vanity they enjoy- as it has brought them somewhat into hints of artificial realities of life. Touching the greatness of love and adoration, yet being in their overly elevated and improper positions, their lives are in bondage to outperform even themselves- a burden too heavy for any human being. Their professions in and of themselves can be fun, creative, and produce a life full of joy I believe, but IF a soul source of satisfaction- seem to prove empty, and ever changing. Fasion changes, rotating decades in between, and people, driven by the luxuries that only accessorize their egocentrically adorned bodies only for their own glory, are never a fun bunch to mingle with.

I realize that my fascination in watching them though, is proven by my own habits of watching reality movies and shows, and only reading non fiction and biographies. I do so because I love meeting new people, learning their lives, and understanding why they do what they do. I cannot even put down my pen when I watch them or read, as I am fascinated by the similarities in all people; the need for the basic loves, etc., and also continuous results in the lives of most people, whether different by culture or custom; seeking to enhance their current state of happiness by deriving it from false and boastful sources.

I rarely finish a movie, or a book- without a long lapse in between. I am always eager to meet the next character, and can't deal with too slowly drawn out plots. I tend to get lost in day dreaming, and need a purpose to my step. I'm sure there is some error to this, but I also see it as something that is ingrained in me for a reason, and I intend to try to use it.
I like to read a little, watch a little, and then write a lot.

Rich and I love to watch movies and see parallels into life, and even the Gospel, as far as the need for a Savior's love that is so everpresent. I also love to do the same as I write, and reflect on the lives of those who I in the moment surmise to be ever so short of this love. All I know is people's stories drive me, and I long to make them even more impactful by drawing these points out of them to show a world who needs to hear current testimonies of what we've already seen and heard written in God's Word. It's a wonder that when we read it we can actually prevent the chaotic lives that we too often produce by our ignorance. Let's take heed, and watch for our lives not to be caught in the same tread.

Flug, Zug, und Autobahn

2010-04-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

So this week we have spent more time in transit than anything else. Whether that be on a plane, a train, an automobile, or just our own two feet- we have have the privilege of enjoying many memories with many people whom we could only meet if caught in the circumstances we have been in.

Germany has a little system they like to call 'mitfahrgelegenheit,' meaning- the opportunity to ride 'with' someone else. It is a more organized way of hitchhiking to put it simply. We pitched in a very reasonable price to ride with a van full of the most collectic group of people you could imagine, for 5 straight hours. In the US we are afraid of getting a gun pulled, while to Germans- well this is just simply- a cheaper way to go, no worries about it.

Then we, by mishap of a wrong way ticket by one I wont name, (thought not myself:), we had to rent a car to leave Berlin- of which ended up bumping us to a C class Mercedes which Rich took the liberty of 'flying' us in, to Frankfurt just an hour short of our destined time:)

And last but not least, as the infamous Volcano blew, we were stranded one extra day in Vienna with friends for an enjoyable longer weekend than originally planned as well.

We then proceeded to spend 9 hours traveling shoulder to shoulder with foreigners from all over the EU, interspursed with a few hours of sitting. We met marathoners from the day before in Vienna, missionary anthropologists to Holland, a really tall law student from Lithuania (who informed me a bit on their ever shrinking population), and last but not least, a lady who literally talked our ears off for almost two hours straight! It's one thing to listen to German- another to engage in a conversation in German, and a whole other thing to engage in German with an 80 year old woman with a dialect from who knows where, and who humored not just us, but herself quite as well.

Needless to say, our long and stuffy journey ended up being a great experience that will, for our memorable circumstances, go down in history for life:)

running for the prize

2010-03-29T00:09:00.000-07:00

I ran my second half marathon yesterday in Berlin, and as always before, the adrenaline rush of subjecting your body to something that is challenging and while participating with thousands of others, the experience is a bit contaging. I woke up today as excited as yesterday beFORe the race, after such a great experience. When God gives you a passion to do something that you're able to enjoy for yourself, yet see His hand upon you in the midst, it brings you no greater joy. I will never be a gold medalist, yet I find the strength through a discipline that shows reward in the end, while I "put my body into this subjection" for awhile, in order to accomplish a premeditated goal. Many non-runners think runners are crazy, and I completely agree. But as the infamous Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland asks "Have I gone mad?" while Alice responds,
"I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. all the best people are."

It is great to be mad (or passionate) about something, and together with many others, understand the mad obsurdity. It is even greater to meet together shoulder to shoulder with, literally yesterday 90 some nations, in a city of such exteme impact on our world. A sense of "gemeinshaft" or "fellowship" comes from the commeraderie with those you experience the same toil yet joy with, through something like a long distance race. And as our tummys churned, we each individually set out for goals of our own, to accomplish something as individual humans that we might leave feeling proud of.

I always take with me verses of the Bible that represent physical similitude in accordance to our spiritual life. Paul in Corinthians says "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only ONE gets the prize? (This could be disconcerning or self defeating) but as we set back and just realize that God created those we find to come in 1st regularly hailing from the most talented African continent, it seems that the general consensus is still not to just give up, but aim for our own goals. Paul then says "Run in such a way as to get the price. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but WE do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

And our outlook must be so; I enjoy each race embracing the opportunity I have to beat my own PR. And in our Christian walk in life, we must look to Jesus the author and FINISHer of our faith. He has won the victory over life and death. He calls us to Himself to believe and be sealed with the promise that we CAN win. But we must bring our bodies into subjection as He calls us to die to ourselves, our personal desires, and lives for His. And when we do, when we fight the good fight, with strength in fervor for something outside our personal momentary interest, it proves to be far greater and more satisfying than everything else in this world which pales in magnificance to Christ our Savior. There is unfortunately only one 1st place winner here on earth, but with Christ- there is one who has won it for all of us, and more importantly so, for eternity!

A Tablespoon of Culture Shock

2010-03-13T10:52:00.000-08:00

The other week we had the opportunity to eat on the local Air Force base. The Air Force base is like America junior, where it has restaurants and things that you would find in America. On base there was a Macaroni Grill that we wanted to try out. Julia and I do not go out to eat much, but whenever we do we have always gone to a place that is not on an Army post, but a regular German restaurant. Julia and I had become accustomed to the way of German dining. Let me give you an idea of German dining. In German restaurants there are rarely any hostesses, but it is find a table that looks good and have a seat. If all the tables are taken, go find a table that has extra seats and sit next to someone you don’t know and eat next to them. When your waitress comes to get your order and drink order they usually seem like they are annoyed that you are there. There are no free refills, even on water, in German restaurants so drink slow, and make sure you don’t have a spicy meal or you will be in trouble. If you ask for anything extra don’t expect to get a nice smile, but an annoyed scowl. They do not work on tips so they are not scared to make anyone upset. If you find anything wrong with your food, like a hair, don’t think it’s going to be a freebee, you’ll be brought the dish remade while the other person’s food gets cold. After experiencing German restaurant culture and now being able to get a taste of American restaurant culture was a culture shock. A hostess brought us to our table and our waitress greeted us with her name and a smile. Then we ordered drinks and I asked if they were free refills, she assured me they were and I had to have the waitress reaffirm me that the ice tea had free refills. I took full advantage of this thing called “free refills”. I had 4 refills on my ice tea, as I sucked them back faster than she could refill it. She continued to refill our bread until our meals came and she asked us how the food was. At the end of our eating she came and boxed up our left over food for us and did not scowl at the fact that I was taking it home with me. I had never left a restaurant more gleeful in my life. I was in culture shock, I thought in my mind, “they like me, they really like me.” After we left I thought about what other things I will face in culture shock when I go back to America; Heating more than one room, saying “nice to meet you” to someone after you meet them, awful American drivers who don’t know how to use the passing lane. It’s always interesting when you live in another culture and you start getting used to it, I know with our waning weeks in Germany we are going to start thinking about all that we are going to miss.

A Parade Day

2010-02-28T13:09:00.000-08:00

Julia and I had a great opportunity to enjoy a taste of Germans culture a couple of days ago. I wish I could have written about it earlier, but with my schooling I am somewhat bogged down at times. Every Monday before “Ash Wednesday”, a ritual observed by the Catholic Church, there is a huge parade and celebration. Everyone I talked to made this parade and event made it sound like it was the craziest thing I would ever see. People dress up in costumes like it is Halloween and pretty much drink all day, I guess it’s a little nuts. In order to go to the city that the parade is held at we had to take a train. While we were waiting for the train, we were surrounded by people in costumes, which made me feel reassured we were going to the right place. The train pulled up and it was already packed with people. There was not one seat available nor was there barely standing room. We were slammed into the train shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of other people who started there day by putting beer in their cereal instead of milk. I think the greatest example I can give you about their drinking is that the straps that are used in the military to hold ammo, were being used to hold mini shots of alcohol. As we stopped by each stop, we could see crowds of people waiting to get on the train. Our train was so full we couldn’t let any of the waiting people on our train. My nose could testify how many people were in the train because of the stench of body odor that permeated. We arrived to Mainz and saw everyone walking toward the big parade. When we arrived I realized it was like every other parade I had ever seen. Bands were marching in single file order while playing songs no one knew, floats were riding by while throwing candy, rubber balls, and yes bread…Germans love bread. After we froze for 30 minutes, we knew that there was another 3 and a half hours left to this parade. Instead of freezing outside and to catch 5 more mini chocolate bars, we decided to watch the rest of the parade from a nice cafe from its second floor admiring people falling all over the ground for little things that were thrown from the different floats in the parade. I love each and every experience I get here even though my last could be experienced at any Fourth of July parade.

Ages 0-99

2010-02-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

I told Rich the other day I'm really going to miss the children we work with.

There's a raw relationship you have with these kids as they are uninhibited, and as we are pulled to our wits end much of the time, their emotions run wild and so we jump right through the normal stages of adult relationships and go right to the "storm" stage that inevitably brings you closer in the end.

When I first started I asked a girl who was PCSing for the states, "what will you miss most?" and she replied "the kids." I thought this was a bit funny at first, as the kids can also be the reason you want to drop everything and walk out many times. They don't listen, they fight, they cry, scream, and doing everything in their power to emotionally, if not physically, hurt those around them sometimes.

Now after spending time with these kids ages 7-12, they have grown on me, and as I pray God will preserve them from much of the corruption many have already been succumbed to, my heart too, has connected to them in a way that it only can with kids.

As we grow up we learn to hold back our emotions, while as children they have yet to learn how to do so. And so as I repeat the lessons we all must live by, I see the same characteristics in these little people, as in people of all ages. "You must love those you don't FEEL like loving," as biblicaly commanded, yet though without the ability to give that exact explanation, it still leaves our circumstances in better condition than when we fight back full of anger.

These kids retaliate with anger while originally just seeking affirmation, while often is the case in our world of chaos today. As we grow, we learn how to handle what comes our way, but still have the same innate desires and needs as all people, young and old.

I'm so thankful for these precious little ones we were able to help impact while they also have impacted my life, and helped me see the lessons necessary to teach that are still pertinent to us until the day we die.

Heartburn

2010-02-09T02:15:00.000-08:00

I have been reading through the book of Luke lately and yesterday I was able to hear Luke 24 read out loud. This passage is one of my favorites in Scripture and after I heard it read out loud I started crying. Luke 24 is after the death and resurrection of Jesus and two men are having a conversation about the events that have just taken place with Jesus. They are having some trouble realizing everything that Jesus had just accomplished through His death and resurrection and were doubting. Jesus appears to them on the road they are traveling and begins talking with them about the events that have just taken place in Jerusalem. He knows their doubting hearts and explains to them starting with Moses and all the Prophets and taught them through the Scriptures concerning himself. Jesus then goes to eat with these 2 guys, they realize its Jesus, Jesus then disappears. Then the men say in Vs. 32, “They said to each other, did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures.” I love that verse so much because their hearts burned when they heard the fulfillment of Christ and the Gospel explained to them by Christ. Their lives were radically changed from doubting in Jesus to proclaiming the Good news of Christ rising from the dead. I think many times I can become a stale bag of chips, as my brother said in a message one time. I forget the work Jesus has done and how it has changed my life and will change others. I think many times this is why we have such a passionless effort for local and global missions. The Gospel has become stale and something we have forgotten about the Gospel. We have replaced the main thing with minor things in our lives and forgotten about the redeeming work of Christ and our command to bring the good news to the world. I think if we refocus and study Christ in his Word and his plan of redemption through the Bible or hearts will burn for him and a fervor and passion will begin to grow for missions by wanting to bring the Gospel to the nations. I want my heart to burn after I read scripture and I want my actions to back up what I read. May we never forget the power, beauty, and life changing work of the Gospel or we will easily forget about missions and the great commission.

Finite minds

2010-02-02T00:21:00.000-08:00

Today I read a bit in Revelation, about where we will one day remain forever in the presence of God. I found it a bit humorous and strange that we should, as it says, have “His name on our foreheads.”…This is the mark of those who really truly love someone, and is not today found normal in any case. So as often, I told God that though we don’t understand this, how great He is and must be in beauty as he enables us to spend eternity with Him, and there also contain His very name on our heads!

Then as I was running and coming back to our aptmnt, I saw the sun reflecting off the snow as it so rarely does here, and as did the castle we can see in the distance was truly picture perfect. I thought it was a beautiful picture of how Christ IS reigning and will forevermore reign on His throne. His beauty is much like this, only better, than we can imagine. I also thought again how funny it will be to have his name there engraved, yet as I also remember not too long ago I did almost the very same thing that many adolescents do when overwhelmed with the attraction of another. I so ignorantly obsessed with my friends over the infamous Leonardo DiCaprio. We never ceased to write on paper, talk about, and buy necklaces bearing his name. I was taken with his appearance, as we so absurdly are often in this life, and it was nothing strange to me then to obsess in this way.

And so we were created, to worship, to obsess over and bear the name of one greater and more beautiful that we or anything we can imagine- only that beauty is found in our Lord whom we have yet to completely understand and behold before our eyes. I’m sure our finite minds incapable of knowing the truest beauty will set back, sigh, and have the biggest ah ha moment of our life, when we finally have before us the greatest one that ever was, is, and evermore will be.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery

2010-01-24T09:16:00.000-08:00

I sometimes enjoy watching German tv shows, and again I say sometimes. Someone asked me what their tv shows are like and I stopped and thought they are exactly like ours, as a matter of fact they just take most of ours and dub them over in German. One that is exactly like ours is called “Deutschland sucht den Superstar”. This is German’s form of “American Idol”. Everything is the same and I mean everything. It is like watching it only in German. The only thing that is different is the guy who is supposed to be Randy is white and skinny, little disappointed in that one. They even have the German Simon who is mean and makes people cry, and the people who think they are good and try to make the show. They had one guy who looked like Paul from the wonder years try out. He was dressed like Michael Jackson and tried to perform the dance moves of Michael. To say the least the only thing he could do consistently like Michael Jackson was the crotch grab, very disturbing. After that they said no, he was mad, and the Ryan of the show interviewed him and yada yada yada. This made me think, what if we pursued following Christ like that. Trying to imitate him where it wouldn’t be a secret what I was imitating. I can’t say I accomplish that all the time, especially through hard times at work. When you are being told no by kids or told “you suck” by a kid because you wont let him play with something or stressed out because you have 21 kids in your room all being very loud and it’s a little crazy. Christ is easy to imitate when everything is going well, but when things go bad is when sometimes we fall. This is the beauty of the Gospel though, when I fail I know my identity is in Christ and he picks me up and shows me that he lavishes his grace upon me and assures us that life is a race and to lay aside the sin and be imitators of him because of our new identity in Him. Praise God for the Gospel, where I fail He has conquered through the cross and the empty tomb. What a great life we can experience as our identity is now found in Christ that we may imitate the person whom are identity is found.

Hello again!

2010-01-21T14:59:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have not kept up with our blog lately, but I will post more frequent this coming year. For a while I was doing well with it and then it just kinda fell off my map. A quick review since Thanksgiving; went to Berlin, had Christmas and New Years here, my brother Chris came and went to Paris, went to Berlin again and had an opportunity to speak there and now school is starting back up. I forgot to mention that Julia now works at my building with me and likes it better, but on a daily basis we both have to ask for grace to get through the day, as our 2 weeks notice is always a “print” away. It’s really just living life in another country, while working with American kids who need parents, and seeing ministry first hand from a German perspective, while at the same time having an opportunity of a lifetime. I have had a great detox from American Christian subculture that really strips away a lot of things you can hide behind as a Christian, and this detox makes you look straight at God. I can’t say I pass many test with flying colors, as this last week after preaching on Joseph and his awful circumstances and his Gospel response he gave. I some what failed the test not loving work and having a unbiblical response to my emotions, as I was picking kids off the floor and separating others from hitting each other. We are entering month 5 soon and I am very glad to see where and what God has brought us through so far. We have made some very close friendships and continue to make new ones. Cant wait to see what happens in this next year and thanks again for continually encouraging us and praying for us.

green harvested

2009-12-31T11:36:00.000-08:00

I was apolled today as I listened to a doctor describe the way our plants even considered "vine ripened" are grown. picked green, sprayed and kept to suffocate in a plastic bag, while they change color then to be sold, is what they term "green harvesting."

I was disgusted as an all too deeply involved health freak, but then also observed the parallel of what that also looks like in our lives when we appear to be "vine ripened," (spiritually speaking) but are really snipped off of the true living source. We may have an attached vine and pretend to be living, but when we are only stubs representing what was once there, we can only live healthy so long, or should I say short. Our nutrients flow from the original source, as Jesus said "I am the vine and you are the branches," and much like our poor produce today, sometimes we are lacking many necessary nutrients.

Our desire for the righteousness comes from reading the Word and other spiritual resources. When we cut off our life line of reading and being taught and encouraged in these resources, we become dry. We must not set aside this source of life which gives us only what appears to be a healthy lifestyle, but was only made so by an instant or inefficient method. It takes time to reap true and healthy fruit, but when it is done, it's the best quality of life we can find!

Away but Home

2009-12-25T10:30:00.001-08:00

Today is the first time Julia and I have ever been without one or the other’s family during Christmas. It is also the first time we have been in Germany for Christmas. I was thinking it would be a very sad occasion. I can truly say that God has really given us grace from being depressed and lonely. I will say the opposite has happened and we are having a great time! God has richly blessed us with people here who seem like family, so last night we had a great time eating, talking, and playing games with the Landolls and others. That is the beauty of the church, even when you might be away from your “blood” family, you are still able to have a family atmosphere when real Christian brotherly love is there. The bond we have in the church is through Christ, who is the Head of the Church. He came into this world over 2000 years ago and a verse that has become radioactive to me regarding Christ and His birth and death is, Col 2:15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him. When you read scripture through the lens of God’s sovereign plan unfolding, you can really see how he put them to open shame and has triumphed through all Scripture. We are beneficiaries of Christ work on the Cross in our lives, and one of the benefits is having family where ever the church is. We thank God for His Church this Christmas season as we celebrate with our spiritual family.

we love display baby Jesus

2009-12-21T12:35:00.000-08:00

This Christmas season Julia and I have had a great opportunity to visit many different Christmas Markets. Each one is unique from the other and they all are very beautiful, each are lit up at night with lights and have either bands or choirs singing out Christmas songs. As you walk through the markets you get the smell of roasting nuts, deep fried food, and wurst. You walk through each row and look at each booth to see what unnecessary good they are trying to sell and by the end of the night realize you have no more money. While walking through this last one in Stuttgart, I saw a booth that was selling all of their baby Jesus’ and “religious things”. As a Christmas song was sung in the background a thought stuck to my mind that had been resonating this whole Christmas season, everyone loves the idea of “display baby Jesus” because he doesn’t say much and we can do what we want with him, but not too many people likes the “real Jesus” that is talked about in Scripture. People don’t love Bible Jesus because he changes your life and says hard things to stomach like deny yourself and live for His glory even through the good times and hardships. We sometimes like to fit Jesus into our own man made profiles and not scriptures profile. It breaks my heart for those who may know everything about Christmas and Easter Jesus, but do not know Him for their salvation and life transformation. What a kind shepherd He is, who laid down his life that we may have life in Him. I can easily forget about what He has taken me from and what grace He has put me into. May we see Jesus through scripture and not some man made ideas.

"half of my heart.."

2009-12-13T13:14:00.000-08:00

Isn't this just how it is- we are half hearted in what we do many times, yet we can't admit it most of the time:/

A few lyrics from the artist John Mayer have stuck out in my mind as very real. He sings "Half of my heart has a grip on the situation,..." and then goes on to sing that half of it does not, as we too are often conflicted between our emotions and the truth.

Another song he sings "belief is the heaviest armor" and truthfully states that it is so, as we all believe something, and it truely affects us either strongly, or else we are mocked by it.

Does what you believe always show? If we say we believe we must live it wholeheartedly, as when not,we only hurt ourselves, the potential of the belief's of the world around us, and we just glide through life neither making a great difference nor exceeding our own expectations for what Christ has to offer.

It is sometimes hard for us to be in a country where we don't sing our own heart language at church, and are not uplifted the same way as a tongue which reaches the depths of your soul with just the right words to sweep out any lingering unnecessary objects of affection. You are not penetrated from the pulpit with sharp words which also knock down walls that should not be there, and you don't get the same face to face confrontation of discipleship that could come from someone who knows you well enough to pick apart your weakness and ask the hard questions.

So though not alone in the journey, it is a stretch and preparation for the times when we have to live with mostly the strength of Christ alone in our relationship. In this case it is easy to feel half hearted at times. But one of the most important things I've continued to learn, is that we do NOT go by what our heart in it's momentary affliction or selfish desires wants, as strong as it may be at times.

We must pray that half our hearts are not only involved when we set out to accomplish life, but the whole heart in it's entirety, as we will then make a greater difference in the world. We must be real before Christ and God our Father as we repent from our daily sins- He has forgiven yes, but we must be up front and know our place before His Holiness.

It's the people who are whole hearted that make a difference and stand out. Sometimes our weary bodies get in the way- and we can only do as much as they allow. Our tanks run low, our needs run high, and we just can't do it all- but if we can make it our aim to fight with vigor, our affect in this world will be much greater.

Our first snow!

2009-12-12T04:10:00.000-08:00

It was an awesome view Saturday morninng to Baumholder's "Jingle bell jog." The hills that we enter from our city in the lower valley, was dusted upon with the first snow as in a movie that shows transition from fall into winter. There is a major altitude change, and a not so slight variation in the climate when climbing these hills and upon entering the city they chose to place this army base, for clever reasons while it sits in an area that reaches points of extreme fog even, causing then a sort of disappearing for any enemy's eye.

It was a perfect backdrop to the 5k holiday race as well, as it was the only beauty in sight, while the roads themselves were only lined with stereotypical baracks and cement building hiding the secrecies of warfare preparation. Such a depressing place these bases can be, and adding that alongside the PTSD that beguiles many a soldier homes, we can only pray that God would use the light and glory of Christ to light up these dark places of the world.

The world is huge, and God's placed us here at this time to work on the army base as a byproduct of our initial intention just as a place enabling us to do our "real" mission. But pray that in the lives of those whose hope could be destitute for joy in an evil, violent, and ever so greedy, nation manipulating world, we might help be a beacon of hope and light as Christ is allowed to shine through us by the love He only so mercifully gives.

He calls us to love all people, and especially in the more lovingly resistant places where only His love is made evident. It takes His power to do this, and we pray that it is done so.

After running this race, I felt it necessary to purchase a "poor mans" eggnog latte from the only Starbucks within too many miles of where we live. Thank God for their bringing THIS taste of America to the army base; for it too brings a particular beacon of hope and light to our little city:)

Things better aged

2009-12-06T00:22:00.001-08:00

There are a few things that get better with time. Besides wine and cheese, on a more serious note, marriage and our relationship with Christ. Now I say this hesitatingly, as likely just after I write, I will get into what may not be a huge fight, but some sort of disagreement, with Rich. Nevertheless I write that however altogether, I thank God for His love and friendship, more each day (most days:) and this thought came to me as I thought of other things that grow richer and better tasting with time, and as we all know that supposedly "good things come to those who wait."

So we've been married 2 plus years, and it is true that when done right, marriage gets better with time. I laugh as one friend once told us that nobody else could be married likewise to both Rich or I, as we were uniquely made for one another. Although that notion isn't true because we are all bound to not work perfectly with any other human being, at least we know as our relationship with Christ and understanding of His love AND forgiveness abounds in us, it is possible to grow together into a deeper love- contrary to the frivolent falling in and out of love theories. I write slightly from response to the book my Dad has pleaded with us to read " Family driven Faith," as the author writes with joy of the marraige that God has given Him, not due to His perfection but through what God has brought them to understand what marriage should be about.
Yesterday Rich told me, as He has many times before, that he has "fallen more in love with me today than yesterday." This is something I could unfortunately get too used to hearing, but currently, remain so thankful that it is not the opposite. I know not everyone has the best of marrital bliss, and on the contrary, many have completley opposite. I know we don't always, but that the work we put into it brings back much more gain that if we lived out our short lived bursts of frustration or whatever else. Thank God He never gives us more than we can handle- and that dosn't mean almost more than we can handle, just probably right to the point where we think we can no longer make it.

I don't say this to brag, as it is one thing in life that we can enjoy speaking of and still appear humble, as it is one of God's favorite institutions. I also say this because it is awesome to see the silly parallels in life, such as cheese and wine, in which God brings to us the lessons He wants us to understand most. Many things truely get better with time. :)

"Because I said so"

2009-12-05T23:17:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how much we inherit the methods or traits we were raised with. One thing I find myself saying all too often at work with the ever disobedient little children, is "because I said do." I hated this phrase when I was growing up, simply told to me just because my parents could, when I always desired an explanation for it. These kids are just like I was, actually still am at times. I know I always want to know "why" even from God, whom shouldn't have to be demanded for an explanation, and yet these questions still linger sometimes. He has told us that "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God. For we did not receive the spirit of bondage to fear, but the Spirit of adoption..He bears witness that we are children of God, and then so heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ." We are not bound to live a life of fear of anything, as we've been given something greater than we know.

This inheritance is a great treasure, and yet we are now responsible to answer to our God. As Job went through trials, he threw a fit of anguish yet praised the Lord through His pain and quandry; this must also be our answer. And as Romans says "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the Potter have the power over the clay..?"

We were adopted as sons, as many kids in this world need so badly, with the lack of necessary guidance. As it is with God, we need this greater authority, while we are much better off with it, and lead much straighter lives. So then, we accept the implications of His rule.

Tim Keller said in a message I recently heard, that when Christ leads our life, there are two implications; He always demands more from us than we expected, and yet also always returns much more than we ever expected. This is how we grow. In almost anything we strive for we must give of ourselves to reap positive return. This world is a paradoxical place; pain is gain, giving is more blessed than to receive, etc.

At work I constantly break up fights and fits of rage, take fists in the face, and separate buddies from provoking one another to disregard my word; (keep in mind these are preschoolers). And although they don't like me for the moment, I do what I do because I do know better than them, can simply tell them "because I said so," and they have to learn to trust my authority.

Hopefully we too, will learn to accept this discipline in life when it comes from God our authority who is much more adequate to deliver it:) God disciplines those He loves, His Word says, and another thing I heard from Kellar I believe resonates with all; that the real Jesus should, and will disturb you. He pushes us beyonds limits we never knew were there.

Does Jesus disturb you? Because He should:)

No nonsense

2009-12-04T22:32:00.000-08:00

I am going through Jesus specific words in Matthew right now, that evidence the faith necessary for the salvation that we so thankfully are given; as opposed to the works that many in the world only hope to obtain. I know we still get caught up in the thought of these too, however, and want to keep my soul resting in the truth that eliminates any fears that it is up to me to be a ‘good’ person, as I’ve discovered by now that there is no hope in that area.

Christ calls us to follow Him, no matter what the cost is. Many of his disciples initially did this; when He called them, they just got up and went. Following Him produces perseverance when we are brought through things we don’t chose beforehand to accept when He calls us to Himself. We live on the edge of faith when we can’t see, and we step into a dirty world full of disbelief. When the Pharisees (who did all supposedly “right”) and were bewildered that Jesus spent time with those of “second rate” social status, He responded that “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…’I desire mercy, not sacrifice;’ for I’ve come not to call the righteous, but sinners.” He always brings up thought provoking, facilitative, no nonsense and in your face answers. So able to knock our senses to the ground when they should be, yet wise enough and able to do so, because He is God, and we dare not oppose His omniscience.

I pray we not think ourselves ‘above’ those who need Christ, or cease to embrace relationships with those outside of our own comfortable realm or sphere of choice influence.
Jesus also often gives what clearly seems to me to be a ‘duh’ factor type response. I see this also when others asked him why His disciples did not fast at the time He was with them. He said “Why fast while I am here, for I will soon be taken away, and then they can fast.” So fitting and obvious an answer, as to only fast because they “should,” would just be considered a ‘duty.’ So then we also must allow the Holy Spirit to work in our own hearts to give us wisdom for each decision and how it is fitting for our life and the context it is lived in. We will be all things to all men, as Paul proclaimed, and are held no longer by the power of the law but by grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ and the freedom to know that He will lead us to truth to live by; not necessarily by the commands of every other man’s personal consciousness.’
There are many misnomers about Christianity, and the “chains” people want to think it enslaves us into. But there are also these many lies that the world can sow into our minds when we are not led by the truth. Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Also “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:31-36).

Thank you Jesus for the truth that we are no longer slaves to sin, but to righteousness only by your name and the freedom you give us to lives worthy of something greater than ourselves!
I am not a theologian, so if you can give greater feedback on any Scriptures mentioned, I’m always up for reproof. :)

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T06:19:00.000-08:00

Today is Thanksgiving and is the first time I have ever celebrated either Thanksgiving or Christmas without one of our families in America. It does not feel like a real holiday because everything is open and there are no parades and no football game to digest food to. On our way to Berlin Julia told the flight attendant that we are going to Berlin to “ wir essen und danken”, we both looked at her as it sounded weird in German to say “we eat and thank”. These are the times I think we go through “missionary growing pains” when we have to be without family for this special time of eating and going around the table to say things we are thankful for, which in the Rudolph home ends with people in tears and hugging. It is a true blessing to be able to have other friends to celebrate with though in Berlin, as you are all pursing the same goal, to bring the nations to worship God through Jesus Christ. It has already been a joy to spend a little time in Berlin with Kristi, who we are able to share and exchange funny stories about our time in Germany. We were also able to sympathize with each other after going to the grocery store and laughing about the frustrations we have there, as you must race against the clerk to put away all your groceries into your bag before she is done so you do not hold up the line and get dirty looks from the Germans. There is not the same feeling of Thanksgiving here as it does in the states, but there is a feeling of friendship and our thankfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who I do not thank enough for the grace He bestows upon us abundantly through the Gospel.

What are Germans like?

2009-11-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

So many people have asked me what is missions in Germany like...so I made a video about Germany

My pastor is guy driving the truck at the end...He looooves his schnitzel

are you listening?

2009-11-19T13:33:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday night we watched a film that was made in Germany called “Jesus Liebt Dich”. It was filmed by unbelievers about Christians coming to Germany during the 2006 world cup to witness to people. The people coming on the missions trip let these filmmakers follow them from before they went all the way until they left Germany. I laughed in amazement in the movie when they share the Gospel with others they don’t listen to the people they are trying to tell about Christ, nor do they really share the Gospel. Time and time again in this film they seemed to have little concern about what the people had to say, but insisted to pile “christianeze” on them. That night I laid in bed and thought about when I share the Gospel do I really know what I am saying and do I listen to the people’s questions. I know to the world the Gospel is foolish, but we need to be able to share it understandably. I also thought how many times we add religion into it instead of just the Gospel. I have prayed for opportunities to really share it and today I able to. I was talking with 3 of my co-workers on a break when the topic of religion came up. It was my turn and they asked me what my religion was. I shared what the difference was between religion and a relationship with Jesus Christ is, and shared scripture and the Gospel with them. We had a great discussion for 30 minutes if not longer. At the end of the day one co-worker talked to me more about it and I told them to read the book of John and I would bring them some good sermons too. I thank God for his Gospel and letting it be by grace through faith in Christ and not in myself or anything I can do. Here is a clip of the movie on youtube, I would recommend you buy this dvd, it is very interesting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLIABeXhB84&feature=related

only hope

2009-11-17T15:04:00.001-08:00

What would I do without a living hope? Today when I was at work getting hit in the face with a basketball and restraining kids from killing each other, I wondered how aimless and hopeless my life would be without an infinite living hope in Christ. I have to continually check my heart about what it is I am living for. If we make our hope a finite object it will sooner or later bring no joy and disappoint us, like a new car, a relationship, vocational success, a vacation that is around the corner, money and ect. As a Christian, I would agree with that factually, and say Amen in a sermon, but do I really believe that? It’s easy to voice agreement, but our actions will lead us to what we really believe. My flesh wants to stay away from any sort of suffering and bail out when it seems unbearable. The beauty of the Christian life is that our suffering, sorrow, and tribulations drive us into our hope and bring us joy in a greater way, this is unfathomable to anyone who does not know Christ. I have been feasting on I Peter and enjoying a great sermon by Timothy Keller on I Peter. They focus on how our sorrow and suffering, that will happen in this life, will actually drive us into joy and love for Jesus. Our suffering is what brightens our hope and makes it precious to us. What is the object of that hope? It is Jesus Christ, who not seeing we love and with a joy inexpressible we live life for. Are there times I need a hope adjustment? Definitely, but this hope drives me to wake up, go to work, and do everything we do for God’s glory and pray to see many saved and churches planted. We must all be faithful to pray that many will go into the harvest to live out the living hope and bring it to those in need, because the harvest is ripe and ready.
Here is a link to the Tim Keller message, http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/born-hope

Welche sprechen sprichts du?

2009-11-15T23:49:00.000-08:00

Friday we had our first meeting with our 20+ age group. We met for dinner at our apartment, at 8 30 which ended up being the earliest possible, but really perfect while getting off of work at 6, and needing a little time between. We had only given a late notice to the few at our church who fit this age group, and to our sister church in Kaiserslautern, where Rich made his announcement previously written about. We had belated the visit to the “K-town” church due to schedule detours, and God clearly planned out our ways. We made our announcement just over a week ago now, which happened to be the week our friend now, Anne, was attending for just the second time. She is a student at a local university, and had been searching for a church to call her own. She came Friday and brought her friend Simon, both of whom are originally from Freiburg, Germany. We spent two plus hours over dinner AND speaking mostly German. Granted ours is far from correct, it was so encouraging to spend an evening like that, able to communicate with our minimal language, and able to enjoy it with these girls who are excited to be part of a group and grown in the knowledge of Jesus Christ with those who are likeminded.
We may begin with choppy prayers, and broken “D-English,” but regardless it is encouraging to gather with fellow believers, with like mindedness and age too, as God’s Word exhorts us to “increase and abound in love to one another so He may establish our hearts blameless in holiness before God.” We feel a whole other sense of “our” God here in a country where we often don’t even hear prayers uttered in our own language. God is not English, He is multi-ethnically reigning, and it is powerful to hear prayers offered up, of which all of, He understands.
We are excited to see this group grow, as there are only a few from each church even in our age group. It is a missing piece in the churches, but we are determined to help change that! Thanks for your prayers, we have faith in our God for greater things to come!

comforters

2009-11-11T12:46:00.000-08:00

I have just had a birthday and I think the older I get the more boring my gifts get. I have seen the progression in my life that started out with toys, then video games, then clothes, and now I am at the stage where I buy house hold items. This year, my choice of gift was affected by living in Germany. For some odd reason in Germany nobody has a big comforter nor sells them. A bed for 2 people will consist of 2 small comforters. You might find this odd, but let me explain this to you. Each person is given a little slat of comforter and is to thin to cover you when you turn and is to short to cover your feet if you are over 6 feet tall. I had to get 2 extra blankets to sleep at night to cover my back and my feet, there is nothing worse than being uncomfortable at night. I wonder how they sleep and have for years with this discomfort. I am not sure why they have their comforters like this but maybe either to make them tougher or for some eco reason, I don’t think anyone has a real answer. So for my birthday I asked for a real king size comforter from my parents and they got me one. I am wondering if I can bring a revolution of big comforters to Germany, by setting them free form sleeping hardships to sleeping joy.

Hold the Applause Please

2009-11-08T15:14:00.000-08:00

Today Julia and I had the opportunity to go to another church to invite their 20-30 year olds to join our 20-30 year olds group here at church. The ministries that we are involved in are all in German, so I had to make this announcement in German. I speak some German, but not enough to make a coherent announcement. I asked Michael to help us write it all in German. I did not want to chance splitting their church by something I might say wrong. We arrived at the church and were greeted by the man in charge of the service and asked when I would give my announcement. He told us that it would be during testimony time. The hard thing is sometimes it is a time of prayer request and sometimes it is time of testimonies, so I had to make sure that I picked the right time. The service started and half way through people started sharing prayer request so I waited, then decided this might be the time to make the announcement, because it seemed to shift to testimonies. I whispered to the leader and he told me it was a good time. I waited for some silence and had my statement all prepared in perfect German. I read through the announcement and at the end said, “I had to read it because I am learning German”. After I was all done, the church applauded me. I was somewhat surprised that they would applaud an announcement but didn’t think much about it till I got home. Immediately after the service a lady came up to me and asked how much I understood and I told her things here and there, but understood what was going on, she seemed surprised. She then said she was very impressed at how perfect my German was in the announcement. I just said, “thank you” and carried on to another conversation. Then another lady told me how great my German was especially the written part and then another comment came from another guy. It was not till I got home that it dawned on me that these people thought I, Richard Rudolph had written this, not a German translating it from English to German. I had a good laugh about it later, and thought that I have set a pretty high standard if ever make another announcement in that church again, which means next time Julia will make the announcement.

Life is harder than it looks

2009-11-07T09:02:00.001-08:00

You name it, almost anything in life is easy to talk about or watch, but much harder to practice.

God gives us gifts which thankfully come easier than others, but then there are the times of proving what we can do, whether through marriage, school work, jobs, sports, music, etc. I've found that by working in a day care- it's easy to say I will persevere in this atmosphere where weeping and gnashing of teeth are a daily occurance, but when my spirits are low, I'm hungry, alone with ten wild ones, and my voice seems to be heard by none, my body wants to give up. Thank God He gives us strength to endure these times of weakness.

I also attempted to defeat the temptation to keep the same hair style I've so much enjoyed for the last ten years, and after braving the purchase, was surprised to come out with an evenly distributed reddish brown hair color. I began to doubt, as Peter did in the Bible when he stepped onto the water; as I squeezed the bottle filled with dye that contrasted very greatly the highlights that have become my usual thick head of hair, fear arose that had before reared itself during the first few disasters of this long lasting highlighting trend. The thought once again came to mind, that things are always harder than they look.

Happiness begets an accomplished choleric, but we must not readily accept this as a constant state, because once we get comfortable "acheiving" we should know all too well, that there will be yet something else to stump our abilities.

Man or Chicken

2009-11-03T12:00:00.001-08:00

Julia and I have just gotten back from a great time in Vienna spent with my parents and some dear friends of ours. We flew back to Frankfurt and were taken from there to a huge mall in Frankfurt. We decided to eat dinner in the food court after we did some shopping. In the food court was a place called “greatest wurst in town”. Our young friend Micha was with us, he loves this place because they have the hottest wurst you will ever eat. They range from A heat to F heat and you’re unable to buy anything past a C until you are over 18. Micha is only 17, but has had everything up to a C, but was dying to try something a little hotter. I decided that I wanted to try “F” and show my manhood. Micha was very giddy as I went up to the counter to order the “F” wurst, and he coached me with what to say, in fear that I might order something wrong. I got up to the counter and asked for the wurst type “F”. After I said that it was as if, I just said a curse word or mentioned a word that was illegal to be spoken. Both of the men working behind the counter looked at each other and then at me and could not believe their ears. They said something to each other, and then said something to me that I could not quite understand. I asked Micha what they were saying, and the one who knew English asked me if I had ever had the “F”. I was a little nervous at this inquire because usually people give you your food that you order without questioning you. I answered and told them no, and they said, “you want ‘F’, we’ll let you taste a little ‘F’ before you eat it. They were telling me these ridiculous stats on the F as they were putting just a little bit on a plastic fork. They handed me the fork and I licked it off, not knowing what would happen next. This was the hottest hot thing I have ever had in my mouth in my life, and I believe Micha thought the same as he tasted the fork as well. As it was burning its way down my throat, my head was sweating and my eyes were watering. They asked if I still wanted “F” and as I could barely talk, I told them I would just take the “D”. I asked for a cup of ice and they said no sorry…but gave me some extra bread. I brought the “D” back to the table and chanted with Micha “man or chicken” at everyone at the table till they ate it and had tears in their eyes. On the ride home, I was in a little pain and I can say, when It came out of my system it did not feel the greatest either. This is just another great thing to offer our guest when you come to visit…the hottest wurst in town!

How to end up in a German prison

2009-10-27T02:43:00.000-07:00

I have been taken a missions class on; how to handle them, how to communicated, how to build relationships with those around you. I do live in a Westernize culture, but it is still different from my roots in some ways. There are similarities, but something’s will make you scratch your head as an “auslander”. I have decided to share the things that would put you on a most wanted list in Germany.
1. Start your car to warm it up for a while, without you in it. Let those fumes fill the air, and let the inside get really toasty. Then after 10 minutes go get in it and ride away.
2. Turn your heat on all day and night during the winter
3. Over light your house. Have more than a couple of lamps on at the same time.
4. Do not separate your trash accordingly…throw plastic in with the compost (that might get you put in prison)
5. Take a really hot shower
6. Tell them that global warming is a myth
7. In the Cashier line take your time, pay the cashier, and then load groceries slowly in the bags you brought.
8. Try to substitute your choice of a side on the menu for the one that is already given by the restaurant

Das geht ab

2009-10-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

I was able to go to another fair, but this time I had learned to avoid the rides that spun around for 10 minutes straight. Growing up we never really went to big fairs and now that I think of it I have never been to a circus. I think the reasoning was because my dad is very nervous around big crowds because he doesn’t want to get in trouble or do something wrong and my mom always thought the fair people who put together the rides were irresponsible and not to be trusted. If we ever did go to a fair or something with games and food we were only given enough for half a hot dog, so it was never a really fun experience.
We were able to go with some people from our church who are in our age group. We walked around the whole fair grounds and while doing so I picked up some different snacks and was able to try some horse. It is a food that you must try before you die. The pastor we work with enjoys digesting his horse with a good “high ho silver” at the end of his meal. At first I found it a little strange that we were eating every little girls dream animal, but then I realized I have probably eaten dog or cat in my life, so horse had to be better.
During our loop around the fair ground we saw a huge tent with a band. We decided to go back because it seemed to be where the majority of the people were going. This place was packed with huge picnic tables with almost every seat taken. We found a table and I noticed that there was a great dance floor. I could not pass up this opportunity to dance with Julia, while listening to some great 80’s and early 90’s music. While we were up on the dance floor, I noticed while we were dancing that there was a man all by himself. He was a pretty old bald guy dancing like Michael Jackson trying to bust a move. At one point during the night I noticed he was attempting the moon walk. These were not common songs that you would break dance to, it was “Ache Breaky Heart”, sung by a guy in a cowboy hat with a half painted white face like the mask from Phantom of the Opera.
Later while we were there, we were able to hear some classic German songs, to which all of the people sing and dance to. The ages were from very young to very old. We joined in and acted like we knew the songs and what to do, the key is to mumble in the same tone as everyone else and no one knows. At the end of the night I thought what a need there is for all of these people to hear the Gospel and the need for churches to do it. We assume that everyone knows the Gospel story and the truth the Jesus has died on the Cross to take away sin to anyone who believe in him. The problem is that those assumptions can kill the fervor for missions. I pray that God will send laborers into the harvest because the fields are white, that truth is continually displayed to me each and every time I see a large gathering of people.

Harvest Time

2009-10-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

This season of “Harvest” is one of my favorite. I appreciate the smells, sights, and tastes of all that come from it. We’ve already carved pumpkins, gone to a harvest “fair” like the rest of the fairs in the world really, with cheap toys you wouldn’t even want for free, and body-rotting-delicious, sugar-coated EVERYthing; and we’ve even been given riper than ripe grapes right on the vine from a lady in our church whose parents own a vineyard.

I was reading in John 15 when Jesus says that He is the true vine and His Father God is the vinedresser. Every branch that doesn’t bear fruit He takes away; and those that do, He prunes to bear even more fruit!
He tells us “abide in Me, and I in you,” as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself. He says without Him we can do nothing, and if we don’t abide in Him we wither and are thrown out. We may wonder “really nothing?” As a self driven society we must remember that truly all that we have and do is from and for Him.

I’m trying to create for myself an all inclusive picture of what being a “disciple” looks like, as we see much alluding in the Bible to what we are to “do.” Many of us know it is nothing we can do, but that once we receive full belief through Jesus’ mercy poured out on our lives, we show changes that evidence a difference. Our fleshly desires war against our new desires, but when we abide in Him and His Word, we bear fruit. God relieves us through His Word which only makes sense when we actually read it, after trying to reason with things that cannot be reasoned with alone in own sin infiltrated thoughts.

It’s only when we abide in Him and His Word, we may ask and receive, bear more fruit, and can glorify Him as His disciples. Disciples produce more disciples, so in our pruning process we must help one another stand firm to prove that which is truly His!

Let us drink with one another

2009-10-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

Today I was able to partake in communion for the first time since being here. The thought did not occur to me that in Germany communion is a little bit different that what I am used to in the states. No, it was not with wine, we still had grape juice. I mean the way in which we partook as a “body of Christ”. I think I understand “being one body” a little bit better after today as well. They started the service, we read and sang together, then it was time to pass out the elements. We started just like it would start in the states with passing out the bread and we partook. After the bread the part came that would bind us together as a congregation, the drink. Julia and I are sitting in the back and realize they only have 2 cups. One was for one side of the room and the other for our side. Our side seemed to have a larger population of people. I saw Wilhms partake and then handed the cup to another elderly lady, at that moment Julia and I turn to each other and started giggling like little girls together. Then the thought crossed my mind if I could fake drink it or just drink it without putting my lips on it, to which my wife said, you can’t do that. For sanitation purposes they wipe it with a cloth at the mouth part, to try and ease your mind that it’s not germy. I don’t think if you sprayed the lip part with anti-bacterial spray it would make much of a difference, because we are all backwashing in one way shape or form. As the Elder passed it from row to row, it came time for me to partake. I was very nervous, it was show time, so I took it and thought, while in Rome do as the Romans do, and gulped it back. While I was drinking, I thought what would they do if I downed the whole thing? The thought made me laugh to myself and I knew I had to bury my head before Julia saw me laugh and had the juice go through her nose. When we were done, I thought how easy someone could say “they don’t have communion right”. I am guilty of that at times, posing American ideas of church on church. I continue to enjoy being in a foreign land that I am making home. It helps tear away “American ideas” and just truly following the Bible and what the Gospel truly is. It’s refreshing and very fun, the joy of missions. I would never trade these experiences in life for anything else. I can’t express how much fun Julia and I are having!

First week of Work

2009-10-17T03:15:00.000-07:00

Well I have completed my first week of work. I am working with children in a before and after school program that ranges from 1st grade to 6th grade. This week they had me go to training sessions in the morning and in the afternoon went to the school age center to work with kids. The last training videos they had me watch were mostly made during the Ronald Reagan president term in office. You can usually date the videos because the men’s and women’s lenses in the glasses were so large, when they were done using them you were able to send them to a 3rd world country and use them for house building materials. Another hint was that the jeans were stone washed and rolled on the bottom, and more perms than the eye can see. I could also date the videos because the high tech graphics. At the time it was pretty sweet to rewind everything really fast and put some fast piano music to it.
When doing CPR training, I told my instructor my manikin was ok and didn’t need attention or it was to unsafe and I am unable to give him CPR. That didn’t fly and I had to perform CPR on Adult, Child, and infant manikins a couple of times. Now I am CPR certified and First Aid trained!
A couple of my training course that I had to take, were also attended by Germans. The beginning of one of the classes the teacher made us do some Yoga like stretches and breathing. She wanted us all to get into a zone and close our eyes. I had to peak around the class to see what the German thought of this and she had a very dumb founded look on her face. She was half heartedly doing the stretches and had her eyes opened and with a look that seemed as if she was wondering why the teacher for food handling was making us “reach for the sky and breathe in and out slowly”. I took this class with all women about food prep and handling and at the end they all decided to do the next class at a buffet, you can only imagine how side track they got talking about recipes of their favorite dishes.
The Afternoons that I had with the kids was very fun and encouraging. It is great when you play basketball with little kids and they ask you if you played professional and are compared to an NBA player because I can bounce a ball between my legs. I just simply reply “No, I had to give it up early in life, so I could come here”. The kids are also amazed at my Lego building experience. I tell them it took time and some practice, but they can build like me some day as well. I have also had the great opportunity to share why Julia and I are here and have been able to have some great conversations. Please continue to pray for us as we work our Jobs and continue to work within the church. It’s great to see God continue to provide and bring people into our lives that we may be a light to and share the Gospel with.

Detour

2009-10-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

So as far as yesterday went, I hadn’t yet the opportunity to get lost in my new surroundings. I’ve always had ONE really frustrating experience each time I’ve moved, to discover roads that I’d rarely have taken on my own accord. Yesterday I made the notion that I’d wait to use the autobahn, and now day two of holding a new license, there was actually no way around it. After dropping Rich off for work, and thinking I had the whole morning to accomplish “my” agenda, I was thoroughly enjoying the breathtaking scenery of roads that are only suited for car commercials exposing the luxurious facets of the cars only our idolatrous eyes may gaze upon.

Well lo and behold, I had my first opportunity to encounter the new signs I now had to remember, and discuss the ‘Umleitung’ options with my fellow German roadmen. Whether I’m the new and ignorant American, or these Germans played a prank on me, I spent another involuntary hour in the car finding my way back to where I came from, and going in a huge circle until after three more people giving me directions for this detour, made my way more clear. Rich later said it sounded like a child’s storybook, as before I made it home I had come into contact with a construction worker, a store clerk, a taxi driver, and a ‘polizei.’ He also comforted that only this would happen to me, of which I believe is true. As I listened to the only CD we have in our little five gear auto, the words were quite ironic coming from the lips of David Crowder “just you and I,” referring to God and myself. It was true, a time to spend with Him that was unexpected, and the glory He’s adorned Himself with reflected in His creation of this beautiful country was the only redeeming factor to my madness.

I was able to observe the fall leaves that colored together reminded me of the frozen combination of peas and corn that I hated so much as a child. Random humorous circumstances can all too often turn out for our betterment, should we choose to see them that way. I must DAILY drop my agenda, not let the devil win in my anxious heart which fights for my own way or the highway, and let what comes, come as it may. I only feared my hubbie’s awe struck face were to tell him of the gas I wasted, but then again as our dear friend Michael here always remarks with a smirk; “Rich, what is the main point of ‘Calvinism?’ and to which Rich responds, “God’s sovereignty.” I told Rich if one of the greatest things we learn, relearn, and or remember from this internship with Michael is this ongoing reminder of God’s hand in our life, then we will look back with a smile and be all the more better for it:)

Autobahn..- not so fast;/

2009-10-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

Today I passed my German driver's license test. I learned something very inciteful; to study more than one time proves to be a good thing. I humbly admit I failed the first time, but only by two I have to disclaim. I feel a little more official as one who holds a new license in a new land, lets just hope I remember all the new rules! And as far as the autobahn goes, I think it's good if I avoid the passing lane there these first few months.

We went to our first mid week Bible study of which turned out to be cancelled due to the 'herbstfeiren' or fall break detaining many members. What was going to be our first 'hauskreis' ended up being a spontaneous movie night we imposed on our friends holding the what was going to be this 'hauskreis.' We watched "Marley and Me" for the second time; yet the first time 'auf Deutch.' They say this is good to do, to watch movies you know in the language you're learning, which supposively helps you much. Although very sad, I have to admit there is a lack of emotion emitted from a language that is not your own. It will be sometime, I believe, before we receive the eloquence that dresses communication when it is ordered just so. But the relationships we build in the process and the bit by bit we learn are all part of the road that leads to "Rome."
It will be built; we will learn this language:)

The greatest thing

2009-10-10T03:54:00.000-07:00

The greatest thing about the call to follow Christ is taking the love that we've been given around the world. We love the family and friends he's given us, but can't imagine not testing the waters of foreign missions, as the world is an exciting place full of people in need; both physically and spiritually. We desire to fill a need where it is most needed, but the problem with that is that there is not necessarily one need that is greater than another in terms of which "place" or "people" to reach out to.

While heart strings are pulled when distance is a factor, nothing can stop a heart with a passion to do what it's been set on. While the spiritual need is the most present in a land like western Europe, we see ongoing news reports of those without homes who could probably live a lifetime on the money that we only hope to pay of the rest of our loans with. So then the question is in mind, "should we go where we know our help would be so gladly recieved first for the physical, and then spiritual? For Jesus said " when you fed the poor, you also fed me; and gave the thirsty a drink, you did also me." The poor are in need of help and love, and are more recieving to the Gospel for their souls because they see the destruction that is able in this world. When rich eyes can't get past what's in front of them, they see little need to draw upon a spiritual need and future that they believe is likely years away for them.

Well the beauty of the body of Christ is that when move away from loved ones, we still keep their contact and prayers with us. We are more empowered by those who are lifting us up in prayer, and we reciprocate that cooperation through communication with them and for them through prayer.

We can continue our life where we believe best, and still take up opportunities to take the church we now congregate with and meet the needs of those in the countries that they too can reach out to both physically and spiritually. We are all one body, and we are more empowered by the work that we can now as two different nations, bring together to serve a third wherever that is. We pray the Lord will use us here to continue the passion for missions that has taken us here, and use it to serve alongside them, the other nations who are in need.

This is eloquently put in Psalms 96 "Sing to the Lord all the earth. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples!"

Saving my hair...

2009-10-09T10:28:00.000-07:00

Today I started my job which was huge! It is awesome to see how God worked out everything and continues to place us where He wants us. Yesterday before I started my job I figured I should go get a haircut. I went to a German place that is owned by a member of our church. This would be my first hair cut here in Kusel and my 2nd one I have ever had in German. For some odd reason there is a theme in my life when it comes to haircuts by people that do not speak English. When we lived in St. Pete, I found a place right by my neighborhood that was a yellow building that said, “hair and nails”. It was a cheap ($7 a cut) Korean haircutting place, that oddly enough sold random pieces of jewelry, dvds, and electronic equipment that looked like it was ripped from people’s houses or car’s. The only words they knew in English were, money, numbers, shorter, or longer, and a couple more that were random. I received one of the worst haircuts of my life there from a man by the name of “Uncle”. He shaved my head and only left the bangs and seemed enthralled at how wonderful it looked. I ended up shaving my head after that one and had to another time when I lived in Scranton (a country of its own). Those times in my past I would feel nervous when I would get my hair cut because I didn’t want to have to “lose” what I had worked so hard for. I was frightened to lose something that would grow back, kinda like Uncle Jesse from Full House, loving my hair. I have since that time in my life cared far less if they mess up or something goes wrong where I have to lose it all again, because I know it will come back, and if it doesn’t its only hair. Now we look at that idea of protecting our precious hair as silly in over all view of life, because we know it is very temporal. That thought brought me to think about our lives here on earth. If we look at our lives in history they are a mere vapor. This body is temporal and this life time on this earth during your 80 years or however it is, is only temporal. As a Christian we have the hope of eternity spent with Jesus and should continue to think, “to live is Christ and to die is gain”. Why do we make such a big deal about our physical lives on this earth? If it is only temporary why are we not taking our lives and using them and as resources to reach the world for Christ? These thoughts continue to burn in my mind as I read the book, “the Costly Call”. It’s about people reaching the unreached with the Gospel. Some were brutally beaten, forsaken by family, and scared for life. They would say, It was worth it because they wanted to lay hold of the eternal, Jesus Christ. When they had a relationship with Christ their lives changed and they used every resource they had materially and physically to reach the unreached. The song of one of my friends continues to play in my mind when I read the book, “What are you saving your life for”. We have one life here, why not use it for Christ to do something out of the ordinary? (no that is a old haircut I had in the summer)

Budgie-

2009-10-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of a budgie?

Today my tutor-ee learned the British word "budgie." As we read through his vocab list, I came upon this word and to my knowledge believed it was not in our American vocab. So asking a fellow pastor here, he directed me online, believing it was the word for 'parakeet,' and sure enough it was. So then as we proceeded with our lesson, each time the word "budgie" came up, I'm pretty sure Nick wasn't quite sure why I was laughing, but I just could not help but find these random and few British words so different and so humorous. I still don't know if I pronounced it right, but regardless, we both learned a new word today:)

What we have done in a month

2009-10-07T02:42:00.000-07:00

A month ago we left…
We first just want to thank everyone for praying for our journey here in Germany. We have seen God do so many amazing things already. Our major prayer request was for Julia and I to get jobs and to get our visas. Both of those things happened very quickly and we are amazed how quick God moved. We have not worked yet, but I am hoping to start on Friday after I get my finger printing done. Julia and I will both be working with children in a before and after school program. I can not tell you how many times we have been to the military base that we are working at. It seems like every couple of days we have been there to do paper work or to wait in a waiting room for medical clearances. We have had plenty to do as we have been waiting to start our jobs. I have a full load of seminary that I continue to work on and Julia is tutoring a boy in English 3 times a week. On top of that we are trying to learn German, which we will rev up when we get a routine schedule. We have made so many great connections with people inside and outside the church. We don’t lack things to do during the week, we are lacking time to fit it all in. Here is what we have done in our first month and is how you can continue to pray for us…

1. Received our visas
2. Received jobs that enable us to work at night with the churches events
3. I have gotten my German drivers license (Julia is going for hers tomorrow, pray!)
4. Massive piles of paper work that drive you crazy
5. I fined tuned my stick shifting skills (Julia already knew how)
6. Fixed the car we were given
7. Made many connections with people that Lord willing will only grow!
8. Painted our apartment
9. Went to IKEA
10. Drove to France for fun one day (we live only 30 minutes from there)
11. Told the glories of a horse sausage and was rebuked for not eating one yet
12. Disco slides
13. Fussball game

Prayer Request

1. Learn the language
2. For our group that we will be trying to start here in the near future
3. Spiritual wisdom
4. Job’s will be fun!
5. More people to be missionaries

We are in awe of the work that God continues to do here in Germany. Please continue to pray to where he might lead us in the future here! Thank you again for your prayers, they are felt and are coveted.

waterloo

2009-10-06T00:52:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the great opportunity to go to the “schwimm bad” or the indoor swimming pool. Julia was invited to go to a girls house for a tupper ware party and her husband was going to the pool. He invited me to go to the pool with him and his son. He speaks only German so this was a great opportunity for me to practice. The problem with my German is that I can only have small conversation if someone usually asks me questions, and I can essentially repeat them back like a parrot. I have a hard time forming questions that merit more than a one word or short phrase response. We arrived at the pool and I end up following this man around because I am not sure what the customs are in Germany for pool educate. Finally after some confusion about whether or not I already had my swimming suit on, I went to the showers. As I tried turning the shower knob for a while, nothing came out and I had to ask for help. He showed me that they were motion sensors and then it comes out. I had the temperature set to freezing cold so it was a nice present when I turned the shower, as let out a shreek as it hit my nice warm exposed skin. Then we made our way to the pool area. I went and dove in and swam some laps and then got out and sat next to him and some other people. They then asked me to go down this huge slide with them. This slide was like a huge water park slide. Not only was it huge, but for some reasons the German culture loves disco tech music and disco tech lights. This slide had speakers as you go down and disco lights that changed colors that made you want to dance as you slid down. I had never seen anything like this. The slide was so fun and fast, I felt like Napoleon from the movie “Bill and Ted’s excellent adventure”. I acted like I had never gone on a slide before. I was running up the stairs and was tempted to push the slow walkers aside. After I had gone down the slide about 13 times, no joke it burned a little hole in my swimming trunks because of the speed and number of times. I decided it was time for the hot tub. As I was sitting in there with some of the people we were with, I noticed the plethora of Speedos; every shape, size, and color. If there was ever a shortage and there was need for Speedos in another country, I think we could send the relief aid. My eye’s needed to be washed after we were in the hot tub and a very old rather large man, with a very selfish and small black Speedo decided to join us. I had a great time swimming and getting to know the people and they invited me to go next week again with them. No one I was with, wore a Speedo, but there is peer pressure to get one….so you never know, maybe I will have to put on one, because as Paul was all things to all men, I must be all things to all men, even if that means Speedo wearing.

Throw me over board

2009-10-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

I would call myself the Jonah of sports. It was because of Jonah that a beautiful day for sailing turned into a horrible storm. When they realized that it was Jonah who brought these troubles to their ship they threw him over board. The reason I call myself the Jonah of sports, is not the fact that since I have started being interested in sports at a young age, I have never seen any team I like win a championship or have a successful winning percentage. The reason I deem myself the Jonah of sports, is because my effect on the fussball club team we live by. I went to one game and we won, which put us in first place. It was after that game that I became more interested and to paid closer attention. Today they had a game against the worst team in their league. It would be like UNC playing North Carolina technical school. It was supposed to be a very easy win. We decided to go to the local doner kebab place to watch it. They have a great sign out front that is made out of cardboard that says, “every goal, every game” written in black magic marker. We knew we could count on a place like this to catch our beloved Kaiserslautern. As we strolled in, the regulars one by one followed in and sat in their usual seats. They ordered what they probably always order and started smoking their cigarettes so that we could take away 3 months of our lives from the second hand smoke. The game started and I kid you not within the first 17 seconds the other team scored a goal. We were in shock and at that point, I knew it was me. This city had never seen something like this, so I stood up and shouted for them to throw me out of the restaurant and into the river because it was my fault! They picked me up and did as I asked. I’m just kidding, but seriously they did. The team came back and tied the game. It ended in a tie, but the curse of Rich’s teams lives on. It was a great experience to enjoy a game with Micha, Lukas, Janna, and Julia. I am just hoping the German national team does not suffer because of my residency in the country. (and yes that is a picture of my brother in law Luke who use to be a Redskins fan)

Contagious

2009-10-02T09:28:00.000-07:00

Julia and I like to watch tv as we walked around our house and get ready in the morning or if we are getting prepared for something. We watch it not because we have a favorite show or can understand the shows, but to try and help us learn German. In Germany they will take an American comedy and dub over with German voices. Usually when we watch one of these shows you will hear one us yell out words that are familiar to us like this morning, Julia yelled out, “butcher!” This morning we saw the show “The Nanny”. If you have never seen the show you aren’t missing anything. The ladies voice makes you want to be at a 6th grade flute recital for beginners instead of listening to her. I do not know if it was because I couldn’t understand what was going on because of the language, but I noticed that in this comedy at the end of every sentence there was a laugh track that went off. I kid you not, at the end of every sentence there was a laugh track, even when she said, “hello” as she entered the room. The reason why they add these laugh tracks to these awful comedies is because they are hoping that this laughter will be contagious. It will make you think it’s funny and maybe make you laugh at it. The thought of being a contagious came to mind. I think of the life of Paul in Acts 16. He was put in prison and had everything going against him. He was just beat and his response was to sing and praise God. It said that the whole jail heard him and Silas and after the Lord freed them, the jailor ran in and asked what he might to do be saved. Paul’s love for Jesus gave him a joy that was different from other people. The Gospel should change our lives to the point where our lives look different to the outside world. We have a hope in Jesus Christ, we have an eternal joy that is ever lasting! I am convicted because many times when I should be exemplifying Gospel joy, I exemplify a bad attitude. Julia and I have been in many waiting rooms and have had a lot of paper work to do here in Germany, and I will admit I have not always had the greatest attitude. What is great is that we are continually given opportunities to take up our Cross and follow Jesus daily. I hope that we as Christians live a life that makes the watching world, ask of the hope that is in us that we may give an answer for that hope.

Already Dead

2009-09-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

Today as I was walking by a cemetery, I prayed that I might find a Rudolph grave stone in there. I thought it would be pretty cool, since my roots are from Germany. I have tried finding other ancestors in other cemeteries and I can’t say it was a success, another story for another time. I came up to the stone wall fence and looked across and saw someone with the Rudolph last name! Not only was his last name Rudolph but his first name was Richard! He died the same year I was born, just 2 months before my birthday. It was very strange and exciting to see your own grave stone. Many thoughts came to my mind, one in a spooky way I thought that it’s a sign that I will die in a couple of days, but better thoughts came as well. I thought right away about what Christ said when we are to take up our cross and follow him. We must die to self. That is the way we are to look at our lives, dead to self, but alive to God! We must see our own grave stone and follow Jesus to where ever and to whomever he chooses. I have been reading a book about the persecuted believers who were at one time Muslim in the book “The Costly Call”. At one point in the book a man is being beat day after day by the police and they told him that if he renounces Jesus that he will not die. His response was “I am already dead”, referring to picking up his cross and following Jesus. At this point they let him go because he was unbreakable. What an amazing testimony we can be to the watching world, for the glory of God, when we suffer or die for the sake of the Gospel. Christ died that we can glorify and live for him. We have one life to live on this earth, so what are you doing with it?

Getting our German drivers License

2009-09-29T07:56:00.001-07:00

Today I took my German Drivers license test. It is one of the things on my check list that I am able to check off so I can move to the next thing. In order for me to get my license I first had to take a 2 and half hour class. On our way to class Julia wanted to take my picture with my book in hand. I did not want her to take a picture before I walked in, as she insisted, because I felt like it was my mother taking the classic first day of school picture with your lunch box and book bag in hand.

If you know German culture, you know that Germans don’t mess around with the rules. When there is a rule, you must follow it to a T. Julia and I went to our class room and I look at a sign that said, “no eating or drinking allowed in class room.” As I am reading the sign Julia is taking out her bag of almonds to snack on, and I quickly told her to put them away and showed her the sign. She did and then moved on to her classic water bottle that she carries with her. Julia then said something along the lines of “it’s probably ok to have water,” she then placed her water bottle on top of her purse. Class then started at 8 o’clock and in came the teacher of our class. A German gentleman, who’s English sounded like the classic German scientist from the movies that pronounce their English like, “zing instead of thing”. He looked as if he just woke up to make it to class with his beer belly hanging out of his shirt, which had the front untucked and his hair as if he just got out bed. When he came in he saw that someone had a water bottle on their desk and told her the rules and made her put the bottle outside the classroom. Then as he looked back he saw someone who was slouching on his desk and told the man, that if he wants to sleep, he does not have to take the class and can leave. At this point Julia and I looked at each other and she ushered her water bottle away in her purse so that she was not the next person to get yelled and deemed a rule breaker. We then had to fill out some paper work, as usual, and our teacher didn’t want anybody to fill out anything on the sheet ahead of him. Some girl had disregard his request and then was scolded by our teacher. She seemed to irritate him, because he would find something wrong with her paper work throughout our time of filling things out. Then came the great video of European driving rules we had to watch. It was hosted, not by David Hasselhof, but by the head of the German police force. The man seemed as natural of a public speaking as a Junior High boy who realized that his mom bought him girls jeans instead of boys jeans for back to school shopping, both very awkward. The music that was behind him when he was talking in very stiff English was music that you would find in a dance club or a rave someplace. I am not sure if this was supposed to inspire us to break out some German dance moves, or to make us think that Euro driving was best. Class was over and then I took my test 3 hours later and passed! Julia will take her test as soon as she gets her visa (waiting on our marriage license), but it was a great experience to have and to share with each other. We are loving every day and enjoying every moment. I can’t believe it has only been 3 week here!

Wie heist du? "How do you say?"

2009-09-28T10:31:00.001-07:00

I had my first tutoring lesson yesterday, and it went great! Or so I think. I meet with Nick, an eleven year old whose mother insisted we study together three days a week, for one and a half hours. It sounds long, but really goes pretty quickly. Although our language is a tough one, and really has some inexplainable terms, it is an awesome opportunity to help teach language, as I seek to learn another one myself. I learn a bit of German while with him, as he knows barely any English. You have to give it to the boy; he comes from a Russian home, which speaks German, and he just transfered from a school that taught him French! I only wish that was my weak point- so many languages to decipher between!

I am constantly amazed at the barrier that stands between two people of different languages. You can want to communicate all you possibly can, but without the language, there is an end point that you just undoubtedly hit when neither of you can get your point acrossed. It can be very frustrating, yet is an awesome task that in itself shows me just another wonder of our Lord. His omnipotence to create such a diverse world, with so many beautiful people, places, and languages.

It inspired me to look back into His word to study the origin of all this confusion, and it was at the tower of Babel that it all began as the people came together to build what they said would "make a name for themselves," or else they would "be scattered across the face of the entire earth." As the Lord oversaw what was taking place, He saw that with one language, "nothing these people do will be beyond them." He then confused their language so they couldn't understand one another, and scattered them across the face of the earth."

Interesting isn't it, that just as we often desire to stick together in our comfortable common places and do "great things" that we miss the point of going outside of where we "belong" to accomplish purposes outside ourselves. In this case the people would have become so self absorbed and not accomplish what He desired. And so in the times we sit under the confusion of a language that is beyond us, we seek God for the strength that He created everything with, and ask that He accomplish through us, something outside of ourselves.

Seen as so amazing through creation and its counterparts, our God has a way of making His omni-potence, science, and presence,coincide so that nothing is impossible- even the transformation of our minds which He created.

US vs Germany

2009-09-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

There are many things we love about Germany, and there are a few we are getting used to. Today we went to Ramstein AF base. I knew I was in some sort of US territory when I had a heater IN my bathroom stall. We are lucky if the heat is actually ON inside sometimes here:) As Americans, our conservancy is much lower than Germans in that we heat whole houses, turn lights on, and don't recyle quite as much. I understand this way of life, it sure saves money- but I can't say I was too disappointed to find a surprise heater in the bathroom.

One thing they sure beat the US on though is cleanliness; and preparation. When in doubt, the toilet paper will never run out. They usually stock it several rolls high behind or to the side. A pet peave of mine is to not check before I choose my stall and get stuck with no tp, and yet in Germany you are secret safe even when you don't check! Thank God for the German mindset- fully prepared, and ready for anything!

*We've even got a florescent vest in our car we are borrowing- in case we get stuck on the road at night. Fashion statement or not, we WILL be safe:)

First Fussball (soccer) Game

2009-09-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

Today was a day that I will never forget. I went to my first German soccer game. There were 39,747 fans making their way into the Kaiserslautern Stadium, when it dawned on me that I had never in my whole life seen this many police dressed in riot control gear in my life. I then asked the people I was with, “why are there were so many police in swat gear.” By their tone their response was supposed to bring a comforting answer, they said, “because last time these two teams played there was about a 1,000 or more people fighting each other.” I responded with, “oh ok”, but my thought in my mind was, “great first game I pick to go to, I end up being beat by 10 opposing fans who hate me because I am wearing red, and end up in the hospital.” Of course the worst possibility goes through a Rudolph’s mind whenever we enter a new situation. As soon as I entered the stadium I got chills. The fans were going crazy; chanting cheers for their teams, waving flags, and holding up their scarves in their teams honor. I got caught up in all the cheering that I started chanting whatever it was they were, but with no real words, just sounds as if I fell down a flight of stairs. Then a thought hit me and went through my mind the whole game; what am I using my energy and life for? I love to watch my favorite sports teams, and get very into the games. I give all this emotion and energy for something I am really not even a part of, I am only a spectator watching others play. The thing I am apart of is the church. I am Christian and I am a participant in life. I am to live my life for Jesus Christ and count the cost to follow him wherever he asks me to go and do whatever he asks me to do. The question then is; what do I give all my energy for the thing I am actually a part of or the things that I am just a spectator in? I thank the Lord for the Gospel, and for making it possible for us to give our lives back to him as a spiritual sacrifice, so that we can give it all, because He gave it all.

Time with family

2009-09-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

We just enjoyed the last several days with Jinner and Ken- Rich's parents. They flew in to continue travels for conferences and school speaking engagments acrossed Europe, and started out with us! Many times there were tight moments between train schedules while running to and from each train- many times a common denominator in our stories.

I met Rich with his parents the first morning after riding with the senior group from our church to the start of our tour on the Rhein river. It was a blast being snugly fit between these jolly elderly friends, whom were quite delighted to help heighten my understanding of their language. Grabbing me closely and speaking loud and clear, I learned a few new things, I think, and we spent much time that day conversing with those there who were diligent in persevering through our language skills, or lack thereof. We saw more beautiful castles than we could ever ask for, such an awesome sight, just like the fairy tales:)

We've also blessed to borrow a smart car sized vehicle for transportation for now, and have become accustomed to driving it on the ginormous hills that we must brave on our trek to work and back. Michael took us to practice with our new ride way up past herds of sheep and deer who stared at us as we practiced first gear time and again on the 45 degree incline. Thank God I've had the experience driving stick for a few years; and Rich has now got it down also, despite the ridiculous angles we have to get around, and the non fluidity the clutch can seem to give us:)

It was great to have Ken and Jinner zip around with us in our little "death trap" as Rich would say. After Ken spoke to our partner church in Kaiserslautern, we drove just over the border into France just so we could say we've been:) We enjoyed that church and their fellowship, as well as that of our own church team here in Kusel as Ken and Jinner hope to be a help to their ministry through this new mobilzation position they've taken with their mission board. We pray God may allow us to take part in His plan to let the nations know Him, and particularly through us here in Europe for this time.

What is God preparing you for?

2009-09-16T02:50:00.000-07:00

God has a purpose for your life and is preparing you to do His work for His glory. We as Christians should never look at our lives as our own, but know that we were bought with a price. We also find joy in living for him, wherever and however He chooses. When we look at men and women God used in the Bible or in the history of this world, it is evident that he was preparing them before they were ever “used” for a specific task. We look at Moses’ life and it was at the young age of 80 before he was sent to free the children of Israel for the glory of God. His life up to that point was preparation for that great work that God was preparing for him. The same is with David, and not till later in his life that he was the king, but many events had occurred in his life to prepare him for that time.

Now I stop and think about my life as a Christian being in a foreign land that I did not grow up in, how did God prepare me for this? This thought hit me pretty hard last night, when I went to a men’s Bible study. The Bible study consisted of men that were well above my age and all of them spoke German besides the 2 people I went with. As soon as I arrived I thought I had found a time machine to my past. I grew up in a very German family, where you have a strong German last names like; Rudolph, Klotzbach, Schlogenhof, Bullwinkel, Deininger, Kopp, just to name a few. When I arrived I felt like I was at a Klotzbach or Rudolph family reunion. During the Bible study one of the men was dozing off in a lazy boy, which is a regular occurrence for my grandfather while we are in the living room at night. Then after we got done with the Bible study, this guy ended up talking about his job, which often happens around the Rudolph dinner table. Then the real flashbacks started, as soon as we got done talking in a circle, we headed to the dinner table. There were 2 different kinds of potato salads, 2 different types of wurst, a salad, and a melon. Potato salad and wurst are staples at every family get together we have ever had in my life! As I was eating I thought and laughed to myself, wow God prepared me for how the Germans eat by putting me in the Rudolph family. I don’t know many other families in which potato salad, kraut, wurst, and pickles are a staple.
It was a great time with the men at the Bible study, even though I know enough German to say a couple of things, make random odd statements, as well as incline my ear to the occasional understanding of pieces of conversations. We are loving it, and I know God continues to prepare us for the mission field…so what is God preparing you for?

Das gross Hugel

2009-09-15T05:32:00.000-07:00

So we both agreed that we love the terrain here that is much like where we lived in PA. It is cold already like in PA as well, although we hope that may change before the winter actually comes! Kusel is in a valley between steep hills like the little town of Clarks Summit where the summit is like here, and over looks our little city. It is beautiful to see all the streets, church steeples, etc.

The dialect here is actually going to be a bit of a "hill" itself to get over, as it is different than the hoch Deutch that we've learned most of from the north. We've been told to ask people to speak this hoch or "high" German with us, so that we don't learn what they may not be able to understand, in the whole of Germany. To add to that twist, my friend I went shopping with last night actually speaks mostly fluent Russian and then knows German also, so we taught one another as we shopped because neither of us speaks even close to fluent of one another's language- it was so much fun! I applaud her for teaching me a language she dosn't even speak much, and told her I'm going to be speaking Russian on accident if I learn some of that from her as well!

I was a little curious how this shopping trip would go, but we got around great! Whenever we could not get our point acrossed, she laughed as I always resort to a shrug and the reply, "Ich weiss nicht?" Half the difficulty in shopping for me is not finding what I need, but also trying to read the nutrition labels, a whole other story in a foreign language!

Rich and I were both pretty tired sunday, and so the message at church was a little tough to retain, BUT we enjoyed the fellowship and then also a delicious lunch at one of the elders' homes. We also helped serve coffee, cake, and wursten at a soccer gathering for a local soccer tournament, very much the typical German cuisine on a day to day basis.

Das gross Hugel means "the big hill," and I am not sure how to say it in plural form, so those of you who know it can correct me. I just thought I'd take the opportunity to teach you some German along with us as we learn it!

Making progression!

2009-09-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

We are highly encouraged after just four quick days here in Kusel. With a driver mentality, I love this!:)
We have completely painted three of our fours walls ORANGE, moved our furniture, applied to and just about clinched two great jobs. We have yet to finalize those, but the opportunities were very widely open for us, which was not necessarily expected.

We have learned a bit more of this beautiful area, which is always a mind easing activity. We love it more here day after day, as Kusel is a big town/small city feel altogether. Everything you need right at your foot, yet a drive one mile outside brings you to the hilltop overlooking the villages and as I said before, even a castle! We've got great running/biking/walking trails that go for miles, and very safe!
Rich points out Im so easily excited by these little things, but come on we're from the US where it seems much less exciting. Sorry friends, you'll just have to visit us to see this! Although I know the goal in life is not to be ultimately satisfied in your own comfort and enjoyments, I do believe the Lord changes the desires of your heart to become like his- so likely where He puts us when we are seeking Him we WILL enjoy- not matter what or where.

One of the greatest things about being here in a German church and less English speaking area, is our daily communication which turns into much laughing. It's like playing one of those games when you can't use the word you are describing, because you literally don't know what that word means, or visa versa. We have to use our descriptive abilities with those who know English yet still don't know all words, and with those who don't know much at all, we are stretched very much to think through all our vocab to paste together something to make sense. It helps to have those who speak both fluently help us translate when we must, and when they speak together we are able to listen as though skimming the page of a book, while catching several words and getting the gist of it all.
Many times Rich and I smile and nod as we try to think through what just happened. It keeps our attention in check for sure, as if you zone out you will really lose it. But we really encouraged, and love the laugh it brings when figuring out new things.

Our friend Adrian took us to discuss our jobs with the Army base today and spoke mostly German with us, which was awesome. We just went to drop off our applications but had to return so we stayed awhile at an eis cafe (ice cream shop), read, and translated the German newspaper with Adrian while Rich took notes in his new little notebook he now carries everywhere with him, and I got rescued from the bathroom from the man I ordered coffee from. He expressed in his broken English that he thinks I am a girl, and I agreed after realizing this and turning around myself. I'm not sure if his comment was actually "broken" English, or if he was just being sarcastic in stating "I think you are a girl." I'm not too worried about my misttaking people of this however.

Adrian also spent most of the day with us painting our apt this week. My favorite conversation that day was asking him for a hose, of which after him not understanding this word we went into describe it as "a long tube/rope with "sshh" water coming out?" He was so confused. This is just one small example of how silly it all sounds- but we love it. Glad we can laugh!

culture change

2009-09-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

As we head to bed now almost 2am here, my biological clock is a bit confused while it is still only dinner time as our bodies know it. After staying up way longer than we felt like we could, then finally crashing for twelve hours, unfortunately we still recall the second night is usually the hardest. I only regret the futher sleep cyle it will throw me off into.

Other than that, it is so great to be here already. We've almost unpacked all the belongings we could cram into two bags of 50 pounds each; in addition to the carry on that carried over half that in weight:)

We have enjoyed much company of the pastor and his family that we will be working with. They've offered so much to us already, by way of rides, shopping, and entertainment; i.e. we enjoyed our first German soccer game at their house this evening, of which by the way they won by four.

Michael and his wife Li, he a German and her Swiss, are extremely hospitable as they continually either house young interns, or at least serve them for meals with their family. We love our little apartment attached to the church, but it is always nice to be accompanied by friends in a new place. I already know by the time we leave we will miss this little town, which looks much of what you would think a little German town may look like if you could imagine. There is a castle in the distance, and a variety of old and new buildings, most of which follow some form of European structure, and the little cars as well as mopeds speed down the streets, weaving in and out.

We have spoken to those in charge of employment through the military base, and received hard copy applications which we will turn in once we locate every peice of information on paper that has ever been recorded of us. THEN, we may just land a job if nobody at the top of the list falls into place; those being the actual family members of military officers. We do not worry though, as we have literally been here just over 24 hours, and have a few things to finish before we'd like to jump into full time work. God has a plan, and our jobs are in it!

We love listening to the German language, as our God created it, and so we believe he will enable us to conquer whatever he wills. It sounds quite far from our ability to mimick as eloquently as we hear it, but we are however feeling encouraged as we listen and pick up at least bits of understanding. It is a fun challenge, and we are excited to face it, one day at a time.

You may wonder what 'glauben sie' means? Well clearly not English, you may not be surprised to learn that is is actually German, and means "do you believe?" I actually intended it to somewhat throw out there the question "What" do you believe, but I named it before I knew exactly what I was writing, and therefore will keep it the way it is. It is basically as simple as it sounds, intending only to ask others of their beliefs, in general. The actual meaning "DO you believe" makes it a little more pointed, and I guess you could say it sounds a little more dogmatic in question if meant in regards to religious beliefs, of which we do make much of our focus. But we will leave it as simple as it sounds, as we do state the things we believe on this blog, in regard to the world around us, both here and abroad wherever that is. Nothing is new under the sun, so it won't be anything profound, but just that which God has enabled us to learn through the years he gives us on this earth. I find it makes for great conversation when we learn new things and share them with one another. So share with us too; if, what, and how you've come to believe what you do.

1st day at the fair!

2009-09-09T06:10:00.000-07:00

The first day in Germany was great! Julia is going to write later about the trip over, but I am going to share about our first day experience.

The pastors family that we are working with decided to take us to a local town fair. It was right down the road from where we are staying so we walked down and went through all the booths until we came to the rides. Now these German rides can only be dated by the ride displaying "Kid and Play" on the backdrop.
The first ride that we went on was one of those pirate ships that swings you upside down and around many times until you almost throw up. After I got off the ride I was given some peanuts and gingerbread, and then talked into another ride. I should have stopped because this ride was a crazy spinning one which went faster than any one I've ever been on in the states. As Julia and I rode with our friends, I started to realize that this ride seems to be longer and faster than usual.
At this point I started to feel my stomach sloshing back and forth. I knew at this point that I was going to throw up and asked Julia for the cup from the water that she had thankfully just gulped down before we got on the ride. As she gives it to me I start hurling in the cup, and as it spun from side to side I started missing the cup and throwing up and hitting everyone on the sides.

The ride finally ended, and as I got off somewhat spewn on my arms and legs, I waddled through the fair and back to our apartment. I felt so bad for the people that I hit, but I was comforted by the fact that this must happen to them all the time. Yet I wonder why would anyone stand by this ride.

Things are going great, and Julia will write later because her writing ability surpasses mine!

freedom

2009-07-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

So on my morning run this weekend of much choice liberties, I was finally warmed up after about 2 stiff miles, and reminding myself how liberating exercise is after a period of bondage to sedentary habitats. I always love the parallels that the harsh climate of bodily training and our spiritual lives form. This is a weekend where we remember our, not so currently but usually wonderfully run, country.

Several centuries later we recognize our freedom's and rejoice in them as people who always long for freedom from any sort of bondage or hindrance in our lives.

The words from Martin Luther King Jr. for some reason echo in my mind, as he stated at the end of a terribly hateful time in history, "free at last! free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last!" Those words could be echoed amongst many people for various reasons throughout our world of billions. However there are many who even today cannot claim that victory. Whether involved in slavery in foreign countries abroad; whether involved in some intense warfare under extreme dictatorship; or whether stuck in the middle of a bad situation of abuse and bewilderment of why we end up in the situations that we do; there is certainly not global freedom, of which will likely never be the case. As sadistic as that sounds, I am also a realist, but bring a proclamation of truth to our world as a whole, from the only freedom that I believe has the power to save us all from our trials and tribulations.

I don't know much, and the more I know, the more I realize I don't know, as is often said. I know three simple things though; that God is God; I am not; BUT I know His truth can set me free from the bondage of sin.

That freedom may not even declare me free for the rest of my life from physical bondage, whatever case that may be. I will continue to struggle with sin, as I believe Paul was somehow stating in Romans when he said that "For I know that in me nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice....o wretched man that I am- who will deliver me from the body of death? I thank God- through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but the the flesh the law of sin."

I thank God His righteousness is laid on my account, because of my inability to fulfill a perfect law. That is true freedom, and the only freedom that we all can take hold of in this life- "for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" Paul also said, and must be made true as we may be in bondage to money, to people, to life's every abounding obstacles- but we are free eternally from spiritual bondage.

In the book of John Jesus tells us that he came "that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly!"

Kinisthetic learners

2009-06-28T05:44:00.000-07:00

For those of you like me, who struggle with a need to see before believing, I've found at least two passages recently that help gratify that desire to know more than just the written word of God. I've been studying a German Bible, so I might learn two things at once, and have loved the book of first John. He talks of "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life. The life was manifested.." again, having been seen, and witnessed, John is declaring this eternal life which was from the father God, and then manifested in person TO us, in Christ!..and goes on to say that they have seen, and heard..etc. Well if I can't personally see Jesus now, then of course God's Word is the only place where we find consistant accounts of his life by those who either knew of his future coming, or those who saw and heard him. If we trust their accounts, we just as well might have seen Him as they so clearly emphasize their experience with Him.
Paul also says the same thing, in Ephesians, as he figuratively "bows his knees," he prays to God that we would be granted strength and might through His Spirit, that He would dwell in our hearts through faith (the unseen), but rooted and grounded in love, (the obvious when in true form); that we might comprehend with all the saints the width and length and depth and height- the love of Christ which passes all knowledge; and filled with all the fullness of God. Many of these things become more unseen, but known by those who know Him, but then fulfill our desire to have seen Him ourselves, through the testimony of those who have seen Him.

He also claims to be the least of all saints, as I think we all would find ourselves too; and then preaches these "unsearchable riches, to make all see what the fellowship of this mystery is, from the beginning. He says that these things hidden in God who created all, might be made clear by His wisdom to all principalities and powers according to His purpose in Christ who gives us boldness and confidence in approaching Him through faith!
That is pretty profound a priviledge to approach Christ, as many of other faiths do not find solace in. Our personal access to our Lord makes the Christian faith not one of more astute followers, but only that which gives us the grace to be made more humble as we can each one speak with the Creator of all things.
The first part of first John as well as Ephesians states, "That which was from the beginning." These things have always been; so we who are so young and ignorant, can trust these ancient words which have gone through such deep review and withstood the years of ridicule. They testify, "concerning the Word of Life," or "vom Wort des Lebens," as written in German. The German tone resonates in my heart and mind, as words carry with them strong implications, and in a tongue I only begin to learn, the continual and necessary review allows me to meditate more closely than I would in our familiar language.
Vom Wort des Lebens- Concerning The Word of life; may it bring you life, and more abundantly than you can imagine.

The simple Life

2009-06-08T08:04:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be an oxymoron and say that I slightly feel this may be one more thing to further my distractions, and that it is a varied duplicate of every other form of communication that we've had since the telephone was created. However I'm excited to share incites and learn a world of new incites from other people as well.

I've just joined, and just hope that the time I put into this is worth it. How much is too much? Balance is key in life, and as long as putting people first is not at the beginning of my motives, but only Christ, then others, I think this will be a good thing.

I feed of other peoples great ideas, as we all do; for nothing is new under the sun, and thats what relationships are for right?

We don't so much have the simple life anymore; everything from scratch, low level technology, and a few great friends. We have the capacity to greet thousands of people each year, through internet, and networking, and that is just what we were created for; relationship. Ultimately relationship with Christ should rise above all, but as we engage in communication with other people of diverse backgrounds, we are better for it. There is a reason for everything, so I believe each person can and will affect us in a unique way to make us who we are.

As my sister in law Liz recently observed with us as we visited Germany, her for the first time; people are people, we are all the same when it comes down to what we desire in life. We just manifest it in a variety of ways based on culture and upbringing.
I see the world of people we live in as a helpless group of people. Some brilliant, rich, poor, weak, strong, confident, humble, falsely humble, fake, genuine, beautiful, despised,..and so on; but altogether, nothing without our Lord, whom gives all to all. All things come from Him, and should be given back to Him.

And so lets not strive for unattainable goals, but only that which He has truely set forth for us to follow; the calling that He has given each of us- to teach, to learn, to build up, and find our true worth in Him who has promised us His truth from the beginning to the end.

Alpha and Omega; Your will be done.