Winter

Winter Morning

Bright and Early

Osnabrück

3 months more

Theology (that could change your life)

I'll start by addressing those of you that haven't been raised in the church. You probably have seen some video of Christians speaking "in tongues," or barking, or prophesying, or falling down. Those things probably make you uncomfortable. Well here's the thing, I'm uncomfortable too. Unfortunately we can't judge the reality of something based on how comfortable it makes us feel. I can't say that because it's weird and scares me it's fake, and likewise I can't say it makes me uncomfortable so it's probably really God. Instead we must look at the Bible for insight. Some things it talks about directly and other things me may have to infer from God's character. The interpretations are numerous in the church and it turns out here in Germany it is no different.

So the question of the week (or maybe longer) is what does the Holy Spirit look like in our lives? or really how should he look in our lives. The Holy Spirit is God with us, in our hearts and minds, giving direction and teaching us to have the greatest effect for God's kingdom. That includes a handful of gifts to which he gives us access which talked about in numerous places in the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 12 is a good example. It talks about healing, tongues, prophesy, wisdom etc. People will argue that that was only for the early church but I think the main reason that is argued is not because of the scriptural evidence (though you can find verses that hint mildly in that direction) but more because of how uncomfortable the idea is. I've looked for the proof because indeed I think I would like that too but I can't say with a good conscience that I've found it.

The real issue I come to is, how Biblical is it to be slain in the spirit, bark, or have seizures because of the Holy Spirit's power on you. I haven't particularly run into any verses that say strongly either way, though the lack of it's mention is suspicious. Then again the Bible always leaves space for faith, not giving every single detail. I also don't want to condemn something and then find out later that indeed it was the Holy Spirit that was responsible for it. There are so many people I respect on either side of the issue making it rather more difficult. I don't know what's right and what's wrong and I don't want to just pick a position arbitrarily. It's frustrating and has my mind spinning. The only conclusion I've yet come to is that it is imperative that we know the scriptures well. I have a lot of learning to do.

Feel free to chime in with verses or perspectives to think about. I need to find some Truth.

Terrific Speaker

This was the speaker we had last night at SMD (German equivalent of IV). He is an ex hippy and drug user... well maybe still hippy.. but ex-drug addict anyways. I didn't follow all of what he said exactly but I still enjoyed listening to him sit there and recount how God moved in his live during the last 65 years (I can't imagine being born in Germany in 1945). There were maybe 30 students there and we all sat around on pillows to listen while drinking juice. A good evening for sure.

and here's a link to see what he really looks like:

HodgePodge

Nothing in particular inspiring this post but I need to write again. The weather was actually fairly terrific yesterday. It only rained before I woke up and then again in the evening when I was mostly indoors. In between I saw the first dry roads this week and got to use my longboard.

My money transfer from the States finally came through after 5 weeks of being ridiculously frugal. I suppose that was good practice and will help my money last, though I immediately bought a scarf. Amazingly, it's predominately dark green with strong accents that allow it to work with clothes that are both in the gray/black/white family and things that are shades of brown. Usually that color combinations is contradictory because everyone knows that black and brown don't usually work together (or gray and brown, note that this website is on the brown side so there are no blacks). Most of my wardrobe can be broken into those two categories and the items that can go cross-category are particularly valuable. I mostly only packed brown though because I only had room to bring brown shoes.

And speaking of brown shoes, I set my scarf on my brown leather boat shoes that I wear everywhere and someone commented that it would smell like feet. Well, it didn't. Then I decided to smell the shoes. After the use those have gotten they deserve to smell, and they did, but they only smelled of leather (and I love that smell). No feet smell at all. Note that well, alway take the chance to have leather shoes.

Last week I found my home church for my time here. It's called FIT Gemeinde. Its a group of perhaps 20 people which is much smaller than other things I've seen but I think since I have 4 more months it will let me connect quicker and deeper. One of the things I didn't really expect to find in Europe, just from what I had heard, was the Holy Spirit and I figured I would miss him while I was gone. That was one of my main concerns for if I were to ever live here long term in the future. He is definitely here though so no worries. I guess it's like Elijah when he thought he was all alone and God's like "hey now, there's 7,000 other people following hard after me, not just you. I can draw people to myself. There's no place that is above me." I guess I should expect that God is awesome enough to make awesome believers all over the world in every culture. That said, there falls another barrier keeping me from living in Europe. Maybe I should make a list of barriers to help me better look at my time here.

Lastly, a family in the church invited me to Christmas and New Years with them so that will be enjoyable. I hear that in Germany they really celebrate Christmas, but very differently than we do. Lot's of Christmas markets to go to in every city. I'll write more about it as we get there.

Weather

I find the hour by hour forecast to look like this every day. Temp between 35 and 45 with 30% chance of rain showers all day and all night. Chance of sun... about 5%

Choir Singing (with live Orchestra accompaniment)

I found it rather amusing how long it took for the choir to stand up. You think they are all standing and then another person pops up for a good 30 seconds. They did sing beautifully though.

Quieting

Concentration Camp

-Bergen-Belsen, Deutschland

Margot Frank passed away from Typhus at age 19 and Anne passed away a few days later from the same epidemic before her 16th birthday.

Osnabrück!

10 shots

First, don't write German words on your hand... they won't fit.

Second, feet look great in every country

Third, the side of "the castle" on campus. I need to get a shot from the front.

Fourth, there was lovely piano music drifting out that window.

Fifth, another building on campus with a different style.

Sixth, this is still that building.

Seventh, the darkest most ominous building on campus. I feel like weapons should be made here.

Eighth, it's like RIT; it's under construction.

Ninth, but the architecture is better perhaps.

Tenth, and more tastefully colored.