Tennessee teams with Connexxion

This week our Connexxion campus ministry has had a grand time with 6 guests from Tennessee (Union Univ.) along with 2 American colleagues who work at a boarding school in south Germany. Here are some of us (left) in front of "Hanfried," the founder of the FSU university.

Julie B. (far rt. above, with Jess, Andrew & Kasey) worked a couple of years here with our group, and it's great having her back 'home' & leading the college exchange group. She & I are roomies again for 2 weeks. Both inside a main campus building & outside on a large plaza under festive umbrellas... (it was about 80 degrees!) ...we spent 3 mornings handing out about 1000 chocolate chip cookies and talking with students about our "Spot On" week. Jeff (on our staff) & Andrew (both left) are inviting some students around lunch time. It's the same week as our university's international days, so we fit right in.

World Cup Craze!

Growing up in Tampa, I remember Germany soccer games being televised on a local channel on Saturday afternoons. Well, now I live here & have the chance to savor the flavor of the game-- and right now, right here in Germany is THE WORLD CUP -- it only happens every 4 years, and moves around to different countries. So get ready, people-- it's BIG!

Tonight I joined my colleagues Jeff and Deanna and their 2 darling kids for french fries & chicken fingers, and watching the FIRST game of the event-- Germany vs. Costa Rica! (Man, i gotta get a Deutschland shirt like Jeff and the kids!) While the game was in the second half, Deanna and I ventured out to mingle with the hundreds of people watching it on big screens, in several cafes and pubs on the street where they live! Then we went to an open- air courtyard near their apartment, flanked by old city towers, & watched it on a big screen along with a few thousand viewers (well, the heads in front of me blocked most of it) -- WE WON! (4:2) Let me teach you some German-- can you say: "Gooooooooolllll"? (Translation: "Goal")!!! On Wed. our Connexxion group will co- sponsor a big-screen event at our church, when a group from Tennesse comes in to have an 'exchange week' with our ministry. It's gonna be a packed week!

Moments in May

A few moments of May here... to show you all the exciting places where God, who is so abundantly gracious, lets me move, and grow and love and live! Don't you think the lilac and pink- colored rhododendrons look fabulous?

My friends from Florida, the Sharps, were here & are standing by a famous statue in front of the Theater House in Weimar (neighboring city) of Goethe and Schiller. They say that Goethe was shorter, but they made his likeness the same heighth as Schiller's. This was because Goethe was esteemed the more gifted poet and playwright (he wrote "Faust"-- it's a play, hours and hours long, totally done in verse, like Shakespeare!). Well, any visit to Germany deserves a few visits to a local ice cream parlor-- they have them all over the place, and they're run by Italians. Many of the desserts come in large, fluted glasses creatively decorated with syrup and fruit and candy, etc. Stefan, a student at FSU in Jena, joined us for this evening.

The "Bundeskonferenz" is the Baptist & Brethren churches' Convention's convention each year (does that make sense?!) on the "Pfingsten" (Pentecost) holiday weekend. I was invited to attend & got to hear some sessions & visit the booths (and Christian bookstore-- that in itself was a real treat because I've never been to a Christian bookstore in Germany, other than a limited selection of bookshelves, etc. at a few churches). You can maybe make out from the photo the fact that a panel of dignitaries (governing persons) are sitting at a long table on the stage. I wasn't sure how the system exactly works, but there was plenty of time for people to speak from the microphone from the floor, and hear responses from those on the stage.

A couple of my German "heroes" were there, including 2 men who do full-time evangelism & support of new church starts, Jörg S. and Helmut G. (2 on left). I've been at 3 evangelistic "tent missions" where they have done the speaking. And Helmut was a retreat speaker for our campus group. The other gentleman is Wilfried B. and he organizes Willow Creek in Germany and supports church starts and development.

Vision Trip- Go Glorieta

Yahoo-- yee haw! Well, I'm still doing some 'back-blogging' from photos & impressions of the last fun & full months. Our first night & next day on the Connexxion Vision Trip (March 2006) was spent as the last 3 years, with folks from Hope Church in Ft. Worth.

Harold Bullock, Bob Brandon & a group of 13 faith-filled other people started this church in the late '70's & have trained hundreds of people to start new ministries & churches. They "drew outside the lines" in their philosophy of church, paving the way for many more. For years they weren't recognized as a 'real' church (only a 'mission'), only because they didn't have a building.

They have a dynamic way of reaching people through their emphasis on values & 'heart attitudes' in their small groups. They also have a running club (sponsor a River Race yearly) & photo club. We have a morning seminar with them each year before leaving for Oklahoma (and then ... spring break in Glorieta, NM).

Last spring a key leader from our group, Stefan (see the cowboy hat!), was an intern for 5 months with a like- minded NEW church called Breakthrough, which has specially concentrated on reaching collegians at UT in Arlington. He's pictured with his pastor/ friends Andy & Stacie Wood. I was especially honored to visit with our family friends, James & Betty Washburn and their granddaughter, who greeted us at the Mexican restaurant our first evening!

All kinds of weather greeted us for our Conference, entitled "Follow me, as I follow Him." Special speakers included Mike Story, from Colorado (pictured left with some heroes of mine, Max & Sandra Barnett, former director of the BSU at OU and now coordinating campus work in Colorado -- all the buildings in Santa Fe look like this-- stucco, mission style!) ... as well as Dr. and Mrs. Howard Hendricks (see Dr. H. below)!

The worship times with over 300 students were impacting, but the one- on -one times I met with people was just as encouraging in a different way (I can't begin to name all of you dear people, but for starters I felt hugged hanging out with people like Kate Moore-- who should be a relative-- so bubbly... and friend Nancy J., top of page, in the snow)! I also got to speak twice at a seminar during the week, as well as host a fun "evening excursions" for dozens of students 1 night in my hotel/ apartment room.

My roommate for the week was my very great friend Anja G., our former Connexxion staffer, who is now studying at Southwestern Seminary. She brought cool snacks that she knew I can't get in Germany (You're truly a kindred spirit!). I think you can see a tear when she says "good-bye" to us (pictured with Sebastian & Lukas... I miss ya, Anja!)

At the end of the week there was a huge extravaganza-- talent show type event-- our group put on brown shirts & sang on stage -- a CRAZY volks song from Germany about monkeys looking for a coconut! Yes, this is Deutschland-- the great nation known for technology & complicated inventions, high-speed trains that run on time, outstanding classical music & opera, concern for world affairs & the environment, putting together the EU, a world-changing Reformation, and breathtaking castles-- but when we "let our hair down" -- watch out, folks! :-) It was embarrassing... all the students taking our photos after the event-- like we were celebrities!

California Vision Trip -USC (Pt. 2)

We were incredibly blessed as a Connexxion Ministry to spend 1 week, after attending a college conference in New Mexico, to observe a growing campus ministry at the Univ. of Southern California. They have a similar desire to win & mentor students, & reach the world. We took our 4th annual Vision Trip. (see blurb on part 1, further down, from April 30). I worked on staff there for 2 amazing, learning years with the Christian Challenge group (more info? click on their name!).

Neil and Melinda Walker moved to LA fully on faith, with their 4 kids in the late '80's --renting a house in an Asian neighborhood, 'living on next to nothing,' planting their lives to 'found' a campus outreach (from scratch) on a private, prestigious campus. They have also served alongside a church start, with Randy & Cindy Lanthripe, called Church in the Valley. Both fellowships have grown amazingly!

My friends Jeep & Cate were trained in the ministry and now serve on staff-- 10 hours a week (between raising 3 kids & his full-time job as an engineer).

We got to hear from staff during special seminar times created just for US!, attend their campus worship service & dorm Bible studies, stay in apartments of students, drink Starbucks coffee, prayer walk around this red-bricked campus, and, of course, do some sight -seeing. Like see the Heisman trophy of OJ Simpson, who attended college there. And walk by the Cinema School, which has been sponsored by folks like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg!

Ya hungry?

A couple came in from Frankfurt recently to "prayer walk" with us in our city of Jena. We were so grateful that they'd take the time to visit.
One reward of their hard work was a "bratwurst break" at lunch time, with our staff team, Jeff (w/ couple next to him) & Deanna in her pink LL Bean poncho, & Thomas in sunglasses.

Being Single in Europe

I was blessed last month to be invited to speak at a weekend singles conference near Berlin, for single adults who are in the International Baptist churches (English speaking) in this region. This retreat happens twice a year. There were 70 of us from different nationalities (Romanian, American, German, Danish, British, from the Kongo, Italian, etc.) who work in some very interesting jobs in various places throughout Europe—Prague, Rome, Siberia, Nice, Madrid, etc. (and even someone flew in from Dubai). And the music and creative worship team sent by the Kentucky Baptists was just awesome.

I shared 5 messages specifically designed for single adults (but mostly with timeless principles) with varied titles that all fit a mountain climbing theme-- such as: “Reaching the Summit as a Team” (on sharing my faith in the community of others) & “Carrying a Light Pack to the Top” (forgiveness). For those of you who weren’t able to come (smile!), the following is a smattering of quotes from that conference which I thought you might appreciate reading.

• “People have to belong before they believe.” – Karl, Dublin
• The best prepared fisherman, without a pond and without a fish, won’t catch a thing! I have to get to know ‘seekers’ in order to share my faith with them (in my ‘pond’; Matthew 4:19).
• Regarding pain and the emotions we feel when working through forgiveness, sometimes we are not mad; we are actually sad and we need to process that!
• We all need 3 friends: 1) a Pacesetter (Schrittmacher) – mentor; 2) a Peer (Mit- Streiter) – accountability partner, and-or friend; & 3) a Pupil (Schüler) – someone under my wing. (from Waylon Moore)

• Moral standards are like guardrails on a cruise ship, so you can freely enjoy
the smell of the salt and get a load of the spectacular view, without falling
over into the abyss of impurity.

• Avoiding bitterness and embracing forgiveness: one key is to feel your pain (vs. numbing yourself and pretending it’s not there). You get 2 results: you experience God more deeply & stay humble AND you can empathize with others in their hurt and pains (Galatians 6).

• Willi Unsoeld: “...You've climbed the highest mountain in the world. What's
left? It's all downhill from there. You've got to set your sights on something higher than Everest.”

• I get nearer to God in different ways–sometimes by snuggling & sharing & talking, but I’m afraid sometimes I get nearer to Him by ‘wrestling.’ – (see Jacob’s story in Genersis 32:28 & Psalm 73:28)
• “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” (C. S. Lewis, The Problem with Pain)

More Berlin

Since I was in Berlin on two back-to -back Saturdays in May, I have a bit of photos-- one time I was on a bus tour with singles from a conference-- so except for stopping ONCE for 30 min. all the shots were from a moving bus-- ahhh! The next weekend was when my friends from Tampa came; then I did my best to give them a driving tour, but also to stop when needed to get a better look! On both trips a stop was made at the Brandenburg Gate-- which by the way is also where there is a Dunkin Donuts just down the lane -- a rarity here in Germany-- yummy!

The Berlin Cathedral... we call a cathedral a "Dom" in German, which maybe is where the English derived their word to describe how the roof on a big church looks, all rounded (a "dome")?

The East Side Gallery consists of graffiti type (but planned) paintings adorning the east side of the Berlin Wall, that once separated the city. I loved seeing this piece of history and am SO glad that everyone didn't tear down the WHOLE wall back in 1989. But frankly, it would be just too cool to have a real piece of it. Aren't you glad for how God did a total miracle, and days after Erich Honecker said the wall would stay for another 100 years, it got torn down?! I'm awesomely thankful to the Lord to be able to live here, and to share about Him in total freedom.


The Spree River runs through the city... I guess you can take a boat tour on it, too.

There was some sort of protest going on ("demonstration" is called in German a "demo"), so our tour bus had to make a detour to make way for the huge Soviet tank -- keine Ahnung what they were doing! (= "no idea")

Well, thanks to an evening with some fun girls, hazelnut coffee, and a DVD ("Pride & Prejudice"!), I'm staying up ridiculously late... and need to say good night, folks!

Berlin & Friends

My good friends Uncle Buster & Aunt Doris S. from Tampa were recently here, visiting a few days. Now they're on a Reformation Tour with others from their church. (This sweet group, by the way, showered me & my colleagues with goodies from the US-- such as grits, Pam spray, oreo cookies, & a Tampa company Vigo yellow rice).

I picked them up in Berlin and we toured around for a day. On the left is Checkpoint Charlie where they controlled traffic in and out of the formerly split city of Berlin. The Brandenburg Gate is still a highlight to see!

Sebastian, a friend from Jena, also accompanied us and helped me give the tour (i really do not know my way around there well). He is praying about where to move to, to continue his studies in civil engineering, and wanted to check out a local college.

ÜberLeben 06

Last week we had a campus- wide outreach to share Christ in Jena (called Survival 2006, a play on words meaning "above life"). It was organized by our Connexxion student ministry as well as 3 others groups. Each night there was a guest speaker in a large lecture hall, in the afternoons we had a seminar & during the days we handed out free coffee & homemade cake -- 80 cakes in all -- & invited students to the events.
(on the right are Philipp, Sebastian, Nicole & Thomas in the band singing, among others, a song by Switchfoot).

Our group helped at the contact tables, & planned the nightly creative introduction to the evenings' themes: such as a band, an insightful or comedic skit & interviewing the speaker. We also provided a bistro snack table afterwards to encourage conversation. Each night between 80-160 students attended and heard the Good News. (I'm in the left photo, far right).

Spring Shots (photo potpourri)

I have a smattering of fun photos! I wanted to share them all, from various events the last weeks -- so here is my modest attempt at remaining sensible & tantalizing you with curiosity by including just a random few! Jeff, my co-worker, and son Jeff are enjoying the sounds of Antje's Australian didgeridoo! She brought it to our spring retreat & played it for the talent night. (no small feat!). Growing up in the tropics of Florida, I missed all the wonderful northern blooming trees & cold-loving flowers, such as tulips! Hurray for living in Germany right next to Holland!

After our retreat, some of us went to ride on a summer tobaggan ride-- (left to right) little Georgia, Tep (our worship leader who came in from Spain), Deanna, Vera, Jen, Caro, & yours truly. (for the record-- i have no qualms at people seeing my feet-- really, i don't! But somehow I wonder why it's so common for folks to take your ENTIRE body when they shoot a photo--and often leaves out things much more interesting than feet & ground-- in this case the small town behind our heads was hilly & quite quaint...)


John & Jen Kelsey from Oklahoma came to speak at our retreat & we enjoyed a bit of sight-seeing while they were here, including a favorite place of mine, the Wartburg Castle. This is where Martin Luther translated the New Testament (from Greek into German) in just 11 weeks (in 1521/22). It resulted in a standardized version of written German. Jen & Kels as friends were fun & so encouraging; plus it was inspiring to exchange ideas about campus ministry!




This incredible piece of architecture is found in Erfurt, our state capital of Thuringia, and houses a terrific Italian restaurant!

Spring has sprung -- Retreat

I just keep getting more and more behind on blogging-- ahhh! Which is a good thing, in a way-- that means my life is full of meaningful things & sometimes DO-ing cool stuff is more fun (sounds like the sanguine in me!) than reflecting on it or recording it... but i hope to do both, of course!

John and Jen Kelsey were recently here from Oklahoma University to lead our spring retreat. Connexxion campus ministry was simply WAY blessed by the fellowship and spiritual teaching we all enjoyed. Good to "connect" with God and each other at the front end of the new spring/summer semester. Jen shared about what she's learned from dealing with a chronic illness and pain: “I feel green and nourished …on the inside, even though I live with pain… it’s worth it, it’s worth it-- to know God in this way.” Wow!

From "Kels" (John) on commitment: Understand the difference between: 1) training & 2) trying. Did you TRY to understand quantum physics? Or Russian? No. You don’t dabble—you train to learn these things. But what if I’m committed & under grace & get really excited about God, & have a cool T-shirt—and I “try” – and put a Christian sticker on back of my car? Isn't that like asking, 'can’t I just show up and throw the shot-put at a track meet-- without training'??!! I just can’t experiment, but I have to TRAIN!