Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Stefan & Antje heiraten!

Monday, May 12, 2008
Faith...
I'm moving to Spain on September 1st... after being in my present city just 1 year and 4 months.
A poem by Emily Dickinson
Faith -- is the Pierless Bridge
Supporting what We see
Unto the Scene that We do not --
Too slender for the eye
It bears the Soul as bold
As it were rocked in Steel
With Arms of Steel at either side --
It joins -- behind the Veil
To what, could We presume
The Bridge would cease to be
To Our far, vacillating Feet
A first Necessity.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
empowering thru M-A-W-L
A statement that makes sense, at first...
1) "I am never going to run or organize or start or develop anything myself. I'm going to train someone else to do it (thereby, meaning to: delegate, coach, train, empower, etc.)."
This sounds good --on the surface. We don't like to control others. We don't want to take over something that might later end up being dependent on us, versus God. We want those we influence or pray for or teach to learn to be self- starters. Afterall, can't God speak to & through them as well as to us? Maybe we're just too tired? Or are juggling too much &, therefore, have to pass on some responsibility way early. Perhaps we hope to use our skills in internet research, coordinating and stimulating discussion. But don't take the time ourselves to put shoe leather to the task and do it!
We can pass on key concepts or ideas, & the other person can actually do a better job of starting a Bible study, or a small group, or a program, or even a church, that 'speaks' to people like himself-- than if I tried to start or run something that might end up looking like it's in "My image." It may frankly be cultural irrelevant, if I do it!
Ok. So here go my concrete brain answers talking back to me, to such a philosophical nebulous idea like that...
-- "So I want this new pilot to fly a jet; yet he never saw a plane before." (after all-- we don't want to influence how he might want to develop a plane that fits his culture, his color preferences for the seat fabric, his background, and needs!)
-- "And I want to never let the new pilot see me fly a plane for awhile before he takes over -- let me just teach him in a classroom (or a simulator... or maybe even a living room or in a Cafe) about flying techniques, and wind sheers, the cockpit and handling emergencies..."
-- "And maybe let's even take it down to a kid's level-- riding a bike. The 7 year old just gets my coaching verbally -- while he stumbles and falls-- but Mommy or Daddy won't risk a 'boo- boo' on their knees to show him how to do it first!"
Of course, I'm being a bit childish. This sounds sarcastic & ridiculous & I may be blowing a statement somewhat out of proportion. But, yes, I have heard this and SEEN this kind of mentality in action more than once.
We're setting people up to fail, because we're afraid of stiffling their creativity and God's speaking through them. Why not "both- and"-- shared by an interesting acryonym: M-A-W-L.
Model. Assist. Watch. Leave. We train people in stages. We "model" what we hope they can do or at least something close to what they're expected to learn. And then give them freedom as they "assist" us (& of course we assist them) hands -on, to figure out God's plan as well as their giftings & 'shape' that is specifically THEM! Later we "watch" them do it, and continue to give feedback, advice and prayer. Eventually, we may in fact actually be living somewhere else. We "leave." Or only have sporadic contact, but we hear about what is going on & trust them (& keep praying)-- from a distance!
Friday, February 01, 2008
When handing out some cookies and invites at the Fine Arts College, we visited 2 of the German hosts for the students, Friedemann (middle, red shirt) and Ollie (black/yellow jacket), in their college "office"-- as grad students they get a place to work on their master's theses projects.
Our Friday night event was a "mini- retreat" at our church.
We invited some very special guests, friends from Cloppenburg (where I did lang. school years ago). Justine and Marco work with YWAM, helping troubled and homeless youth in South Africa. It was great to catch up and I'm just SO proud of their dedication, faith and courage!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The term "foosball" is actually an English version of the German
On Wednesday we had pasta parties in 3 locations, followed by an evening in the basement of a local campus pub, to read a popular story from the Bible about a son who ran away from home, and discuss it together.Monday, January 28, 2008
the "amis" are here!
"Ami" is a nickname (can be derogatory but doesn't have to be; just sounds shorter to me) for Americans... this month we had a great time with our German- American Exchange Week with 10 here from Union U. in Tennessee. They stayed in the apartments of college students -- Andreas (left) was the host of Chad (middle). Brad is also with them (doing an internship; from Rhode Island).
and helped our Connexxion group host tons of events-- like a country -western party -- up above are Andreas, Chad, and Brad. Below... Friedemann (Germany) and Tommy (from OU) are looking quite "country" don't you think?
a campus worship, 
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Family Christmas
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Let it SNOW
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Candy canes, Cookies & the Christmas Season
Saturday, November 24, 2007
potatoes and games
I thought you might like to see a photo or two of our Monday night baked potato "party" in the dorms. Isaline, from France, who lives in this residence hall, had a birthday on that day and some of her friends
helped her celebrate, too! I think Christoph, Tommy and Katie are waiting for the next game, Taboo, to start up.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Kids Weekend
Monday, October 29, 2007
just what are you waiting for?
"For God alone my soul waits in silence,
from him comes my salvation....
For God alone, my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken."
(Psalm 62:1 & 5-6)
Who am I waiting on, what am I waiting for? A LOT of things and people, I could answer. For starters, I'm waiting for the German society (as a whole) to be "nicer" and less direct. I could be waiting for friends to come through for me or initiate… OR God could bring people to initiate with me or act upon my overtures & let me know they have interest in a deeper friendship. I could rest in the fact that God loves me. And out of this overflow reach out, in a balanced way, to others.
I could wait on family to be there for me, to notice from a distance when I need a phone call or to realize what would make me happy. To buy the fun things I like to eat when I visit. OR, I could rest in the Lord and give to them without expecting. Be grateful for how they tend to my financial details back at home, and make the first move in researching for plane tickets for me for Christmas.
I could wait upon my supervisors to come through for me. To think of me and acknowledge my leadership in ways which I would determine. Or- hey, maybe I should be making THEM look good, and thanking them profusely for opportunities that they have put before me!
No, I want to wait ONLY on God. But how!?
Another thing I've realized is that waiting is not just passive, sitting around and praying for something to happen (though that might sound as if I feel prayer is passive, which it's not; for some of us it's less threatening than "getting out there and acting on guidance from the Lord!).
In Lamentations 3:24-26 it says the Lord is good to those who wait, to the soul who seeks Him. That means that although my waiting may look lethargic or in-active, it is actually ACTIVE – not impatient. But looking to the Lord for His answer, seeking Him for Him. And seeking His action on a matter!
I heard recently from a friend, who told me a lot of church starters that he knows think they can spend hours a week just sitting in Starbucks and then -- whoosh-- a church will appear! James 5:7 talks about the "husbandman" (the farmer) who is patient for the rains, that will bring about the fruit he’s waited for. Maybe he does have a time for a nice cup of Starbucks. But being a farmer? That involves a ton of activity—God is wanting us to expect and wait. But also ahead of time, or during this waiting, to act! To plant, to plow, and THEN to wait. And this activity is repeated over and over again in succession. Plant, plow, pray, wait, plant, pray, plow, wait, pray, etc. Sometimes we attempt to live out this statement: “it’s all about God” in an un-true way. Meaning that we just sit here & think we can be passive. God the Creator is not passive. We, too, can emulate His character, even in the waiting.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
More on waiting
"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!"
(Isa. 30:18)
Another translation says that the LORD "waits" (longs) to be gracious to us. God waits. Why? He greatly desires to do good things for us. Oh, I thought if He's a God of justice, then He's ready to "judo-chop" me when I mess up ... ?! He is not "out to get us;" instead He is longing for fellowship to be restored. Is that my image of God, that He's waiting for the chance to show me compassion and mercy? He waits for us to come to Him and get rid of the sin; to stop fleeing from His plan. In verse 15 of chapter 30 it says:
'In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.'"