Another Blog

Check this out everybody... Another Blog from Jon. It's actually the same old one just with new content. Click Here!

Black Forest Cherry...

Today we went to a little village in the Black Forest called "Höfen". We stopped at a restaurant we'd been wanting to visit for awhile called "Zum Ochsen" and had ourselves the second best Black Forest Cherry cake. The first best would have to go to Albertson's Backery in Portland, Oregon. ;-)

After we had eaten our cake, we went to a park attached to the restaurant/hotel. Jamie had a hay-day cleaning dirt out of a drain. He stunk like a madman afterward.

There was also this fountain that he would have done a header into, had I not stopped the camera to catch him.

Then of course there was the slide. Jamie loves slides! No matter the size. 

Actually, the bigger the better. I just have to make sure and not let him slide down alone. So far that's been pretty easy. I always have to be with him anyway. But someday sooner than later, he'll be flying down those things at lightning fast speeds. I just hope that somebody will be there to catch him. If he's anything like me, which certainly can't be the case, he'll want to show everybody how big he is and doesn't need anybody to help him with the slide. Then we might have to make sure that there's a grandma around to carry him home after he hurts himself. ;-)

Jamie's is a real kick in the pants

Today was Sunday. And it was restful. We spent the morning at the church service. Well... not really. Kristine actually sat in the sanctuary and took part in church. I was in the children's room with Jamie for the most part, playing with trucks and legos. That's the way church should be if you ask me. ;-)

Jamie then showed us all what a great communicator he is, while playing with Grandpa's cell phone. He wasn't about to let anyone show him how to do it. He was trying to show us!

We're pretty spoiled people, so after lunch we went to the park with some friends and had a blast making the area unsafe. Jamie is such an outdoorsy kinda guy. He loves lots of space, being able to explore, whatever he wants to, without being told too often that he's not allowed. He loves hittin' the slide hard with Pops and just doin' his own thing. I love that boy.

As you can see... don't you just wanna cuddle him too? Oh wait... I mean... what a manly man. Er... uhh, yeah that's right. Who needs cuddlin'?

Hangin' at the church

Yesterday, Jamie and I went for a walk to an old church here in our village. It was great. We played in the courtyard. Found pine-cones, moved them from one grassy knoll to the other and then back again.

The conclusion was Jamie opening and closing this big iron gate in front of the courtyard. He really goes all out. My boy... he's got the blood of a scottish man in 'em. Or maybe he's just another american mutt. Whatever his blood makeup, he's one strapping boy!

Fishies Part II

It is at this point I would like to proudly say that my son and I were, for the 2nd time, together at the Fish farm not far from our apartment. 

The mission was trout. At least that was my mission. Jamie's mission on the other hand was not merely to look at trout, but to experience the trout. He attempted to dive into one of the trout ponds a couple times. After I wouldn't let him, he settled for dropping his little blue rake in instead. 

This all took place inside 5 minutes. At which time I promptly decided to strap his little body into the buggy and find a playground. 

Trout farms are no place for 1 year olds. Nevertheless, I enjoyed finally once again making it the the trout farm together with my boy. He's a real kick in the pants.

Link to Greece pics

Okay here's the link to the Greece pics. Hope you like.

Walkin'. Yes indeed I'm talkin'...

Yes it's true. The rumors you've heard shall hopefully be confirmed here before your very eyes, by this wonderful video. Jamie started taking his first steps in Greece! We're pretty stinken proud of him. Hope you all enjoy. He's not yet talking though. Please don't be misled by the title. And the video was shot on location in our Backyard in Germany after getting home from Greece. Just wanted to be sure you didn't think Greece was that green. ;-)

I'm uploading a bunch of pics from Greece. As soon as their up, I'll post the link so you can look at them as well. There's quite a few.

Greece was great

Well, we're back from Greece! Had a great time and took some pics. I'll post some tomorrow, whenever I am more awake. Sure missed sharing with you. More to come.

Tired...

Okay you guessed it... I'm tired.

The last few nights we've been getting to be relatively early. Around 10.30pm. We're trying to put Jamie to bed a little later and we're going to be a little earlier these days. That way he sleeps longer and we can too.

True to form he's getting all his teeth at once. I know it's not like that with all babies, but I'm sure there's quite a few, who have it similar. Looking into the inside of his mouth reminds me of looking out over the Alps. He's got little pointy mollers coming in all over the place. It's made for a few long nights. 

He's also getting more and more personality. Which makes it on the one hand more fun to be with him but on the other hand more of a challenge. It's great as long as he's asserting himself at the proper times. The problem is... he never knows when to stop asserting himself. ;-) lol.

Sorry no pics this time. I've been camera lazy.

One little, two little... Indians

Can you even post a blog with the name "Indians" in it? Or is that too un-PC? 

Our little boy running around, trying to pull an indian hat off his head, which he made with his mommy in the little "ankle biter's group" at church, is to say the least the sweetest thing. He runs around with an expression on his face between a smile and a scream of protest. He didn't really like the thing on his head, but he sure does look cute.

I think I learn everyday, more about God's grace and desire to be with us people. I really don't think there's anything Jamie could ever do that would make me not accept him. That I wont always agree with all he does. That's of course a different story. The funny thing is: I know he wont be able to understand this dichotomy, until he has children himself one day. May he be pat

ient and gracious with the other life forms on this planet until then.

Jamie playing with the camera

This is not the video of how Jamie got his bruise. The bruise happened a day later.

Cuts and Bruises

Well Jamie got his first real good bonk on the head the other day. The worst part is... I was right there next to him and was actually trying to prevent him from hitting his head. In the end I think I even played a role in him hitting his head even harder.

He fell down in our bathroom and landed on the edge of some tiles. It really looked nasty for a couple days. But like kids are, it only took about three minutes after hitting his head, for him to find something else that captured his attention enough, to make him forget about the pulsing pain above his eye. He's a tough one.

There has been so much going on the week. I would really like to write every day or every other day in the blog, but it just doesn't work out. I hope you all understand.

I was really moved today by the story of Jesus raising Jairus' daughter to life. He took her hand and said, "get up little girl". I was encouraged to remember that Jesus likes doing what no one expects Him to do. He likes revealing the show of those stooped in religion. He likes pulling back the curtain, while we're really deep in our religious prayers and saying: "why don't you just ask?" 

If Jesus wants to move my heart to deeper faith He will. I just need to make sure that I'm not so caught up in what I believe Jesus wants from me, that I'm no longer able to hear the words of the Father, whenever He wants me to do something that bursts my "christian" bubble.

A Day in the Life of...

Today I am writting this post in mac's Safari browser. Normally, I've had to use Firefox because Safari was unable to display all the functions of blogger.com. I must say... Thank you Apple! This is the best browser experience to dato.

The other day we hung out in the park as a family. It was loads of fun. Jamie is always looking for adventure, which makes going with him to the park an exciting extravaganza.

Had a terrible headache yesterday. Took 1000 miligrams of some 

good stuff and it didn't help. Finally, I fell asleep only to wake up still having my headache. I know some of you have such experiences often. I don't! It was

by no means fun. I had called my sister earlier to see if she'd be home later to talk with. Later I had a headache and was unable to talk with her.

Hope to yack some at her tonight.

Little Boy Sleeps

It's Monday morning. Jamie is taking a nap and I just finished watching a John Piper sermon.

I wish for our family, for myself, Kristine and our littel boy Jamie that we could live in such a way that many would understand the message of Christ. Forgiving and Forbearing one another daily.

Gone the whole day

Had a long day today. Got home a little while ago and sat down next to Kristine. She read some until she finally fell asleep on the couch. I really don't like being gone from the morning till the evening. Sometimes I leave around 9am and get home shortly after 10pm. Sometimes I leave home at 7.30am and get home at 11.30pm. Other times I get home around 4pm. Those are wonderful days for our family. They seem to be few and far between though.

Listen to me... Just got home from a whole week with the family in Austria and I'm already complaining. I guess that's just it though. Like the saying goes, "you don't know what you got till it's gone". The week with Kristine and Jamie (of course there were a lot of people from the church there as well), was like balsam for my soul. Inside I began dancing and feeling the spirit of my Kristine in ways I couldn't imagine. After spending just a week with her, every day all day, her problems, worries, fears and dreams are more real to me and make me look at her differently in our day to day life now.

Vacation is not for the week at heart but rather for those, who have grasped the truth behind a healthy mind and spirit, and the magic that happens in the community of ones family in the time you are away together.

Go on vacation more! All of you!

All Things New

God really does make all things new. The only problem is that we are often unable to see how new we are becoming. We get discouraged by the lack of progress we are making on a human level and begin trying to make ourselves look good on the outside. We get more caught up in trying to look Christian than in "being" Christian.

I really hope that we can use the means available to us today (like this blog for example) to encourage each other to not merely act like Christians are supposed to act but much more to encourage toward obedience to the call of Christ, which was a call to go out and be what you could never be on your own. To do the impossible because the God of all Creation is alive in you.

Be encouraged to take the next 5 minutes to focus on where God is leading you. Not where you want to go, but what God is wanting to make your heart into. Maybe that means loving someone who you'd rather hate. Or skipping a TV show to talk with your kids. Whoever you are and whatever your poison, ask God to give you eyes to see His work in the next 5 minutes.



It's often hard to be dad and mom sometimes. There's constantly someone there sucking you dry. Kristine gets to spend more time with Jamie than I do so she could write a book about being sucked dry. At the church retreat though, I got to feel what it's like to have Jamie around 24 hrs a day and it was a wonderful experience. I was really challenged to ask God what His heart was for the next 5 minutes. Made me look at Jamie with new eyes... every 5 minutes. It was hard, but thinking like that really made me enjoy every second of our time together.

I cannot simply say I believe in the love of God and then keep it all to myself. Or even worse, select the people, whom I'm going to give it to.

Be encouraged, and be bold! If you are in Christ, you have been and are being made new.

New Pics

All the pics from the retreat are up online, if you want to take a look at all 108 of them. If not, don't feel pressured. You don't have to look at them. Click on the title for this blog entry "New Pics" to be directed to the gallery page. Or just click on this word "Link".

Home again, home again

Jamie's birthday was the best. I think he really enjoyed getting some surprises and especially the cake with all the people singing to him. It was a great time. There's nothin' like seeing your little boy smiling at his birthday party.

Of course the time we spent together at the retreat was the best. Not just the birthday party. We went for a boat ride on a big lake and saw some incredible views of the mountains in the area. Absolutely breathtaking.

As good as it was though, it was great to get home today. I'll be posting all the pictures from the trip soon so, if anyone would like you can take a look at them all.

As for now...

It's late and I need to get to bed. Jamie wishes you all sweet dreams and a blessed year.

Vacation with Family and Friends

It's actually called a "Family-Retreat". Sounds pretty official, but I have to say, we are really enjoying ourselves here. We're right in the middle of one of the most beautiful parts of Austria. It's called "Tirol". It stretches through Austria and into northern Italy.

Last night Jamie couldn't sleep, so I got up with him and walked around. Had to do it twice cause the first time didn't take. The second time I had to get up and walk around with him (around 2am), we went to a quite room somewhere on the east side of the building. (Facing the Moonrise). It was a full moon! The sky was pretty clear and the moon shown between the mountains like a beacon of hope. It was an encouragement and a reminder. Dark times do come and joyful times will once again greet us in the morning. But the tears of the night, we still have to cry.

May you be strengthened today, knowing that God sends the moon as well as the sun. And sometimes he takes them both altogether. It's our task, no matter what; to remember that it all serves His greater good. It's just that His "greater Good" is not always recognizable for as such from our side.

Jamie turned a year old yesterday! Oh, how we shouted for joy! God be glorified and praised for the life of our boy, whom He gave! Jamie, may you be granted with ears to hear the voice of your great Father, and eyes to see His beauty, always!

We love you and are proud of you!

On our way to Achenkirch Austria

This week we're going to beautiful Achenkirch, in Austria. It's part of a family retreat with our church. We're looking forward to getting out together. Although it wont be "real" vacation, we will have much more time together than normal. I only have minimal obligations at the retreat, so our days are going to be filled with trips into the mountains; visiting the little village "downtown" area; maybe going to the swimming pool and mostly just relaxing together as a family with other families.

Yesterday, I was at our denominations Regional Youth Conference. I was asked to preach there. From a purely rhetorical standpoint: it was a flop. I none the less hope that Christ was able to use me to really motivate some people to think about their Christianity. Other than through His divine intervention though, there wont be any good fruit coming from my being there. I pretty much made every speaking mistake possible. I tend to do that every now and then, and it's always a good experience for me to lean on the Lord and trust Him to make the foolish words of a foolish man into something so godly and divine that hearts would be transformed to action. Please pray for yesterdays conference. The youth who were there really need motivation from God's Spirit to live a life given-up to Him.

I'm tired. Kristine is already in bed and I don't know why I'm sitting out here writing so late.

April Showers...

...bring May showers and what do Mayshowers bring? At best... washed out Pilgrims.

It's incredible how much it's been raining in May over here. In April it was just cool. But, as far as I can remember, it didn't really rain in April. Now it's hot and thundering showering. But that's the way it's been for a least the last week. The weeks before, it wasn't necessarily that hot, but it sure did rain alot.

So my question is... what's going to happen to all the Pilgrims? I mean, without their Mayflowers they're kind of washed-up right?

(Let it be known that there is hope for the Pilgrims. Although May has brought an abundance of rain, the flowers have fought mightily to maintain their resplendence).

Not much time

We've been running around like crazy the last week. Funny how there's always something to do. It's actually not very funny. It's sick and nuts. I long for the days to return, when the setting sun told everyone to go inside and take a break. When people lived so far away from each other that it was impossible to get everybody together at the church more than one evening a week.

It's ironic that I am the family Pastor at our church and experience weeks, where I only see my family on Saturday or maybe only a Sunday afternoon. It's not right. But first, I need to learn how to act differently. I already "know" that healthy family life cannot continue long under such pressures. But "living" a different kind of life, consistently is hard. I need a mind and a heart change.

This is my struggle currently...

God is good all the time...

This weekend was filled with wonderful experiences. Friday evening began at our church a 24/1 prayer day. We hope to have a 24/7 sometime soon, where the church will be filled with prayer for 24 hours a day for the entire week. The 24/1 went over really well. Had a great start with a group of about 10 to 12 people to kick it off. Really beautiful. Different age groups. Fantastic.

Saturday, was a relatively relaxing day. We cleaned and then Jamie and I got to hang out together, while Kristine went and took care of a bunch of stuff that mommies don't ordinarily get to do, because they never have the time. Both Jamie and I and Kristine really enjoyed it.

Saturday evening we got to go to a Music School reunion of Kristine's parents. It was a joy to see them among their old colleagues and get to know a little more about their life as it was in Uzbekistan. I felt like I got to know them a little better.

Sunday, we went to a church service at one of our churches here about an hour away to translate some American guests from a ministry called LIVE (http://www.liveministriesonline.org/) check out the website. It was a great time with them. Very encouraging.

Sunday night, I went alone to Maulbronn (http://www.maulbronn.de/relaunch/e_800/html/maulbronn.php) check out this website if you want. I was invited to preach there to a group of people looking for more depth in their spirituality than what the state church (Lutheran Church or Catholic Church) is offering them. I cannot describe the blessing, which the Holy Spirit gave to me there. I thank God for his ever new confirmation of grace on my life. May I learn to understand and live from it more.

Concentrating in the last weeks on today. I want to be more open to hearing God today. Often, I get carried away and think about the kind of life I would like to one day be known for. I forget that I will never have that life, if I do not concentrate on today. I just want bigger ears, and a more patient heart for God's poured out word in my soul today. That His poured out word would necessarily produce action in my life. But an action, which I could never organize think up, or plan, rather an action, which springs forth from the spring of His labors in me.

Unexplainable

I look at my little boy and I can't explain how unexplainable the love for him is. He likes to sort out our collection of Data CDs that we really don't need anymore. Lots of Printer Drivers and old Operating Systems from Windope.

Right now he's sitting on his "throne" eating an apple. All by himself. Slowly he's starting to feel less and less like he belongs to us. More and more as though he is his own little person. Doing what he wants to do. Going to the places where he wants to go. The good thing though about this stage in his life right now is, he always gets to the point of needing to come over to one of us for assurance. He wants us to be involved in what he's doing. I know that even that will change. But for now it is my greatest joy to be his dad. Being there for him when he needs me. Idealistically, I always want to be able to be there for him. Realistically, I know that I will let him down often. God be gracious and merciful to me.

He's amazing! Whenever he gets a piece of apple skin or the piece of apple he bites off is too big, he just spits it out and keeps right on going. He just came that way. We didn't even have to install that feature. ;-) I really enjoy spending time with him.

I'm realizing more and more what my role is in God's Kingdom work. At least for now. Starting to hear, to what type of ministry God has been calling me. It doesn't really change my job at all. Just gives me confirmation in the work that my spirit already knows it should be doing. I've been listening to people too much. Been listening to my own heart too much. God did not not make himself into man, (something totally illogical and fantastic) in order to give us a logical, well ordered, definable Christianity. No, he called us to give up our lives, if we are to find them. Something, which really makes no sense at all. That's why it's impossible for someone who is truly being led by the Spirit of the Holy God, to be taken off the course of the Holy God. In fact I would even go so far as to say: if you can be taken off the course you think you're on for God, then it wasn't God's course to begin with.

He guides and directs. Even when the path becomes illogical and too painful to bear or understand.

Hillarious Apple Video

I think this video is really worth watching. Had to laugh really hard. Inside.

Feeding my head

This Sunday evening I'm going to be preaching at an inner church movement called 10till6. Which is a play on the phrase 10 minutes till 6pm. The church is about 25min. away from where we live in a village called Maulbronn. Mom went there with us, while she was here last year. Not to the church but to the village. I'm looking foward to it. And while I'm reading so much Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Oscar Romero, the sermon has to be on the Cost of Discipleship. What it really means to say yes to Christ.

"Yes" to Christ is a necessary "no" to everything else. Anything that would threaten my devotion to the call, of the God became flesh, must be lost. It cannot be that I would first think about, whether I want to lose everything or not. It just hast to happen as a necessary response to the call. If it doesn't, then there is not a positive response to the call of Christ, which means there is not a transformed heart. Whithout these things there is no true Christianity. Check out the gospels in the bible for more info. Jesus never negotiated salvation with anyone.

It really makes one think... Good thoughts to ponder. Good thoughts to turn into action.

Pics of Rome

By the way...

If you want to look at all the pics of my time at Rome... Here's the link. Just click on the Titel up above "Pics of Rome"

You'll be taken to the page where you can then click on the "Rome" Folder.

Sweet Home Pforzheim

Well I made it back home.
Safe and sound after a rousing week in Rome. I really think we did more walking that really looking. Anyway, it was a fabulous time.

I was challenged during the Pastor‘s conference to really think about my convictions. I would like to challenge you in turn to think about why you believe what you believe or do you even believe? If your faith is something that can be destroyed than it is most likely faith that never got put into action.

True Faith requires true Obedience, which has been poured out in action, although the doer of the action is totally aware of their own inadequacy to carry the consequences of that action. The result is a faith producing obedience. Without this „stepping-out“ in obedience, to do the impossible, can faith never really become faith. She will ever be illusive and all to pompous a stoic effort to conform to a law, which is impossible to fulfill.

Think about it. It‘s about life and death.



Coming home was a grand adventure. I‘m sitting here now at the breakfast table on Monday morning. Our little boy is taking his morning nap and I‘m just happier than ever to be able to be close by him again. Seeing Kristine again made me see anew, the graceful splendid way about her. Not as an end in itself, but as a splendor being lived out in the way she raises our son and her love for me.

It was a good thing to be gone for awhile. I was able to come home and really see some things for the first time. Yesterday, was a beautiful Mothers-day. We didn‘t do anything „special“. It was special enough just to be together.

Please don‘t misunderstand. It‘s not romance that makes me say these things about my Kristine. It‘s blood, sweat, yelling, hitting and getting ugly and older together that makes me say these things. There is something beyond words about being with my wife for almost seven years that fills me and freely forces me to give praise to God for her.

We stuck in the video of our wedding last night to find a certain song. I watched her walk in and her father give her to me. We were young and romantically in love. As I watched I looked at her sitting, with her elbows on her knees on our couch. Her hair flowing down her back like waves on the ocean. In the same moment I smiled at her on the video, I gave her a smile this side of the computer screen. But the smile was different. The smile in the video, was one of false expectations and a misunderstanding of romance. The smile now, as I watched her smile in return, was simply because I knew what it took to get where we are and being prepared to continue traveling this road together. Seeing crows feet beginning to crawl out of our eyes, the crows feet that we made together, love and romance receive new, real definitions.



It‘s funny, I write these things and I have to think about my idea of love earlier. It wasn‘t much different than it is now. The only difference is: The reason for my feelings are deep, hard-wrought experiences with my Kristine. I could say, and did say similar things about her seven years ago. They just didn‘t carry the meaning they do now. I would even go as far to say that the words I spoke then, were almost empty. Like a young youth saying: Life is meaningless. Work is meaningless. Only love counts. Ergo: I‘m not going to work, I will only love. This statement is true, but is void of context. An older man looking back on his life and saying: Life is meaningless, work is meaningless, I will only love, is a résumé of a life deeply lived. He neither disdains work, nor despises life. He has simply chosen to cling to love the more deeply. Had he chosen to disdain work or despise life, much as the youth would in saying the same thing, he never would have truly learned what it means to love.



I could not learn to love until I had loved.



Thank you Kristine for loving with me. I will be with you ever steadfast.

If Birds Could Speak

Over the last couple days, I have seriously been asking myself the question: „What if birds could speak.“

Walking around Rome you can‘t help but take notice of the many birds. They fly around living life for no other reason than that it‘s been given to them. It glorifies the creator that they live because He‘s given them life to live. For what other reason does a bird fly than to please the almighty? It‘s somewhat ironic that these birds, who have been around in Rome longer than the Romans, live for the very creator, who to this day is not recognized in total obedient surrender and worship. How is it that a flock of birds can be more intelligent than humans?

I‘m very tired though I do find this topic interesting and will most likely find myself continually coming back to this basic idea.



Today some of the pastors left for home and now there‘s a group of about 20 of us who are still here. We went into the city together this evening and just got back a little while ago. It was a good time to be with friends and finally enjoy some fellowship together. Rome is truly a city worth coming to in order to explore. Just walking the streets without a goal is destination enough. Around every corner lies some sort of unbelievable beauty, which you just need time to take in. And that‘s precisely the problem. Rome doesn‘t allow enough time to see her. She has you moving from here to there. The rhythm of her heart beats steadily and constant. She doesn‘t stop, feeding on you for her own survival. And you let her because you want to be taken in by her and shown everything, even though you know it‘s just about time to make your way back home.



I have to be honest: I‘m more looking forward to going home than to staying in Rome. But I can see that feeling and even feel inside my own bones. There is something about this city that invites you to stay. It truly is incredible.
I spoke with my wife this evening, That is an experience, which goes beyond all human understanding or reason. I am enthralled by her and desire to just be in her presence. She is my Jezreel sanctified. Thank you sweetheart.

The Brotherhood

These guys here are spectacular.

Wonderful God-fearing, God-searching men, whom I really enjoying being around. We have a common goal, a common calling which binds us to one another.

Nevertheless, whenever I receive a picture of this little guy on my cell phone from Kristine, my heart skips a beat. There‘s no other boy on the planet who can make my heart as joyful as my son.

Then I start thinking: what in the world am I in Rome for? Why am I not just taking a week off and spending it all with my son? I justify this trip to myself, by telling myself that this is a „work-trip“ and not pleasure. Maybe, but where will it end and how often will I be going on work trips in the future? I want to be careful to not put anything other than Christ and His calling, above my family. And Christ‘s calling in it‘s very nature includes my own family does it not?

Yesterday, we saw candles that could be lit to represent prayers and penance. I have to think of the people going by with the religious looks and believing hearts. They believed in the meaning behind the symbols. They came expectantly with their coins and paid a price to see a light light up as an outward sign of inward piety. Or maybe not. Maybe they are content with the outward symbols but have no inward affection for which they take part in. Be that as it may… The religious tenor of these believers at all the churches we were at was similar. They came to put into action what they believed. No matter how great or small that belief may be. Some came thousands of miles. Crossed oceans. Defied their families.
And this coming Sunday we will go to church and complain about who preached, how he/she preached and then rip the songs apart from top to bottom, no matter who was playing. What about understanding that we are supposed to come to church with an expectant heart to give all that we have, because we know that nothing more and nothing less, is required of us? What about coming to the service on Sunday with an attitude of expecting to be heard, and a willingness to share your own heart?
It might change everything. It nothing else, it would make for more interesting table conversation after the service.

Stones, Stones and more Stones

Today we got stoned again. And again. And again.



There really seems to be no end to the amount of interesting stones to look at in Rome. Sadly to say, like tigers and lions and flowers in the field, I have gotten to a point, where I can't tell them apart anymore.



Michelangelo has my full respect. Seriously. I just think it's too much to do in three days. Or less. One or two sites a day would be more than enough. I never really was one of those, who liked "speed-tourism."



Since yesterday evening, the only thing I've wanted to do is sit down in a nice Eiscaffe with a good pastor friend, drink a nice cold beer, eat some ice cream and talk theology. It's still a good time.



The conversations we do have are really great and tend to continue throughout the day. I really enjoy being with these fellows and am strengthened by community with them.



I've just had enough of getting "stoned". It's pretty warm here in Rome. Today only around 21 Degrees Celsius and 70 Degrees Fahrenheit. Nevertheless, the sun in shining and does a good job baking. Yes, I've decided... It's time to go get iced. Wish me luck.

Lost in deep thoughts

It's a beautiful thing to awake to a headache and Roman birds chirping. These birds have a story to tell. Think of it. Generation for generation these birds have been flying over this city, watching this folk. Or maybe the thought really isn't that interesting. It's just me trying to come up with some really deep thought.

Today the plan is to check out a bunch of churches and the relicts there. After yesterdays extravaganza, I am not all that excited about the great deal of walking and direct sun rays promised for today. Had enough yesterday. The buildings and churches here are so enormous and historical that it would be enough to spend a day in each. I would have nothing against being left behind at the first church we walk into. There are so many photo happy pastors along on this trip. I'm sure between the pictures from all of them, I could make 360 Degree Photos from each monument and fresco.

Don't misunderstand me. It's beautiful. It's just that I like to enjoy.

First Impressions of Rome

It was a beautiful day today in Rome. Never thought I would seriously be here. The first here is taken directly after coming up from the Subway. The first thing you see…
is the Colosseum! It‘s breathtaking and paradoxical. To think that there is now a Subway station next to one of the oldest remnants of antiquity is absolutely amazing.



We walked around from one end of the city today to the other. Starting at the Colosseum we then went to the Roman Forums and then to Saint Peter‘s Dome.




There really has never been a city quite like Rome. Maybe there never will be again. The Romans invented the City. It would take another idea completely, another form or an „uncity“ if you will, in order to be comparable to the significance of the change, which the Romans brought to human sociological development.



It‘s definitely possible that something like a new „better“ form of the city could be reached. But something altogether different? The Romans reached a form of deity with all its problems.
The biggest being:
They found there was already a greater power at work in their game. Today the city feels like a stage for puppets. As though there once was power here but no longer. Other people here on the trip might say something else. A lot of people find Rome to be the last standing refuge of Christendom.



When they‘re here they feel the weight of the power of God. Either I‘m not very spiritual or just insensitive, but all I feel is emptiness, which has quite a weight of its own.