Tidbits

Well I'm 3 months into this rather unexpected detour...I am content with the first quarter. My German is still far behind what I would like but I am making progress albeit slowly.

I have only been to one other country besides Deutschland so I'm hoping to visit more in the months ahead.

Although there are many similiarities between here and North America, there are also lots of differences. People's attitudes, lifestyles, just to name a couple. But I have found the people as welcoming and kind as my last visit here. And I guess that is the main thing.

I have made my little flat more "my own" since moving in. It does feel like coming home more often than not. Having the internet and being able to hold video conferences with my family makes it seem like we're only a couple of hours away.

The church services here are quite different. I would use the words reserved & structured. (Even more so than traditional Newfoundland churches.) I would have to say I really haven't felt God's spirit in the services but rather in the fellowship and after-service worship I spend with the Cadets.

Speaking of which, I quiz the Cadets mercilessly on college life and Die Heilsarmee. Just to get a feel for how our two systems compare.

Das ist richtig!

Essen - Germany

I gotta say Essen is great city; much nicer than I expected :-)

First snowfall...in Newfoundland

Well the first snowfall is always a time for dancing & celebrating! Not really I am quite content knowing that I won't be shoveling snow this winter. Having your car buried in snow and doorway snowed in isn't as "cool" as it seems.


So in honour of all those shoveling snow, I'd just like to point out that it is 12 C and sunny here in Essen today!

FYI...I still love Newfoundland, I'm sure everyone here is sick & tired of me saying how wonderful it is :-)

'54, '74, '90, 2006

Germans love their football...
I wish they had won last year :-(

Pachelbel's Prayer

Father, Father in heaven
I need you desperately
I am waiting here for you,
Let your love wash over me.
Father, Father in heaven
I lift my soul to you
Hear me crying for mercy
Let your love wash over me.

Cleanse me in your presence,
Setting my mind on things above
Purify my spirit
Overwhelm me with your love
[Purify me with your love]

Father, Father in heaven
My soul yearns for you
Like a rain from the heavens
Let your love wash over me.
Father, Father in heaven
From the depths I cry out to you
You’re my hope and salvation
Let your love wash over.

-Sam Rowland "Pachelbel's Prayer"

I met Sam Rowland at my first Youth Councils in 1995. He made a special effort to talk to me and make me feel important. As an awkward, shy teenager who was afraid of his own shadow, our simple conversation was perhaps the beginning of my Christian faith taking root. I never forgot that after all these years. This was a song on a CD I bought from him...he autographed it and wrote "David, keep looking out for God's Fingerprints"
This song was like him; genuine, true and just passionate for Christ. Thanks Sam.

Finding the way

Then the Lord said to Job {David},
“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
Then Job {David} replied to the Lord,
“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.” -Job 40:1-5

The rain falls on the righteous and the wicked

Mine is not to reason why this is

In this I rest in this I find my refuge

That my thoughts and ways are not His

I spend my life on looking up the answers

It’s rare that I can’t find a reason why

But reasons fail at children without mothers

His plan is more than I can know

________________________________________

Have you ever held in doubt

What this life is all about

Have you questioned all these things that seem important to us

Do you really wanna know

Or are you a little scared

You’re afraid that God is not really exactly what you’d have Him be

What should I hold to and what should I do

How do I know if anything’s true

I’m somewhere in-between Canaan and Egypt

A place called the wilderness

__________________________________________

I’m not one who always trusts their feelings

I don’t believe in what you’d call blind faith

But faith that you can do all that you promised

And you said it all works for good

It’s safe to say I don’t see the big picture

I can’t see the forest for the trees

And if five hundred lives

Were mine to get to know

You all could be spent on just this

_______________________________________________

God do you really understand what it’s like to be a man????

Have You ever felt the weight of loving all the things you Hate???

Have You struggled??…have you worried??

How can You sympathize?

__________________________________________________

I have spoken too soon put my hand over my mouth

I can’t contend with You

Your ways are so much higher

And we pass through the fire that Christ endured before us

When You were in the wilderness

~OC Supertones, Wilderness

Cartoon Characters

WATCH YOUR THOUGHTS; THEY BECOME WORDS.

WATCH YOUR WORDS; THEY BECOME ACTIONS.

WATCH YOUR ACTIONS; THEY BECOME HABITS.

WATCH YOUR HABITS; THEY BECOME CHARACTER.

WATCH YOUR CHARACTER; IT BECOMES YOUR DESTINY.

*******

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." --Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)