Faith in action - News Release Basketball

In this post I want to share an amazing story that I´ve experienced during this years´ News Release Basketball Tour in Lörrach.

It is a story about the impact of prayer:

When I first met with the team at the end of July in Loerrach I felt an immediate connection to my future fellow players on the team. Normally it is usual that basketballplayers have a special bond. But the fact that all of these guys are walkin´ where the Good Lord leads added an even deeper connection. It was truely a blessing.

Our first game was against an election team from Switzerland. Their best player happened to be their coach as well. Until half-time it was an intense game and we were up with only 4 points. During the game their best player (and coach) started some really dirty talk. Fortunately he was cursing at our players mostly in german, so his trash talk didn´t have that kind of an impact on us. But we all could feel the hostility that the guy threw verbally in our direction.

Unfortunately we simply couldn´t ignore his provocations and kind of gestured back at him. And although we won with over 20 points in the end, this trash talk was definetly the negative note of our first game together.

As fate would have it, we were goin´ to play this guy again four days later, since he was the coach of the local YMCA Lörrach. That game kind of presented us the opportunity to get things straight: After Game 1, in our team meeting, we talked things over. And we agreed to pray for this guy in particular before our next game against him.

On gameday, right before the game, still in the locker room, we got together in order to pray for the game. It was our pregame ritual to ask God for His presence and guidance during our matches. And we prayed especially for the players that were to give their testimony during half time. The difference on this day was that we included the others´ team coach and player into our prayers. Tim Jones, one of our coaches, prayed for patience, love and understanding goodwill for that person.

After the prayer was over and as we stepped on the court, I felt an immediate transformation. I didn´t see the guy as a bad or hostile person any more. In this moment I really understood the truth that God loves him as much as he loved anybody else in that gym ! My main focus simply wasn´t any more on his inappropriate behaviour or bad attitude.

My thoughts were:
" Man, we prayed for this guy. And although he is our opponent on the court, God loves him as well as anybody else ! And didn´t Jesus give us the command to pray for our enemies and love ´em ? This is a fine lesson !"

I don´t know it for sure but I think we all felt that way. One example was Tim Jones. There was an ingame scene in which Tim Jones happened to foul him pretty hard. He was upset of course but Tim simply directed some nice words towards him and finally gave him a clap on the back: Understanding goodwill !!!
All in all we simply didn´t buy into his lil´games. We had the patience and the love.

We won the game that night again with over 20 points. But from the spiritual point of view, we really won that game to a 100 %, because we bridged the gulf, through the help and impact of prayer, to walk the walk instead of just talkin´ the talk.

For me, this was faith in action. And Jesus is right: It is something special to be able to love our enemies. This game was a perfect lesson on how a simple prayer can shift our attention to a higher level (spiritual realm) and finally enables us to love our enemies, ´cause God loves our enemies as well !

Thank you, News Release Basketball !

The essence of prayer

Sometimes, when we wish or pray for something and it doesn´t happen, we may believe that God didn´t answer our prayers.

But God always answers our prayers; it´s just that sometimes the answer is no. Perhaps what we are asking for came from kind of fear based desires and attachments rather than from a commitment to growth and learning, which often entails letting go.

True prayer is done with faith, without attachments to outcomes, with the sense, "Thy will be done !".

Sometimes we ask for things without considering whether they serve our highest good:

Some years ago, I met Arthur, who used to be a professional taxi driver. He prayed one day for having one million dollars. He kept working hard. And one day finally he did get his million....A truck collided with his taxi, and he won a 1.6 million-dollar settlement in compension for permanently losing the use of his arms and legs.

When we ask for something, we do well to add, "If it serves my highest good and learning" !

- From the book "No ordinary moments!" by Dan Millman

Our body - A gift from God !

When in balance, our body is one of the finely tuned instruments in creation. The moment we appreciate our human body as a miracoulus gift from God we feel naturally moved to take better care of it.

And however our body may look, whether it pleases us or not, we get only one, and it lasts a lifetime. To put this another way, our lifetime only lasts as long as our body. And the quality of that lifetime will parallel the quality of our body. During life, with all its cycles, we will say good-bye to friends and loved ones; we will lose a lot of things, but our body, loyal to the end, will stick with us for life - guaranteed. When this truth penetrates fully, we begin to take good care of our "best friend": Our body !

So what are the precise benefits of physical exercise ? And how can I get into it ?

Exercise strengthen muscles, including the heart; it expands our lung volume, increasing oxygen supply to our brain, other organs and all our cells; and it stimulates our nervous system.

In addition to these well-known physiological benefits, exercise clears blocked emotional energies and also raises our metabolic fire, developing an artificial fever that helps purify the body of toxins, making it less hospitable to invading bacteria and viruses.

Those of us who do move regularly know the secret: Physical activity can expand our energy field and can often invigorate us far more than a nap or a rest. Phyisical exercise also stimulates endorphins, the body´s natural painkillers and relaxants.

Not everyone has to compete in athletics or even pursue intense fitness activities to enjoy the benefits of physical training. Appropriate kinds of training exist for every body, every age, and every level of condition.

Fitness and vitality used to refer to brute power, size or muscularity. That´s not the case any more. For instance, lifting weights can build strength, but if we lose our sense of proportion, we end up building more muscles than we need. Muscles weigh more than fat, so we end up carrying around extra weight that serves no useful function.

An excerpt from the book "No ordinary moments" - Dan Millman

Geduld

Die Geduld besteht im Erinnern der Tatsache, dass die Dinge sich zur gegebenen Zeit entfalten, ohne dass es dazu eines besonderen Anstoßes bedarf. Wenn man nicht versucht in diesem Augenblick irgendwo anders zu sein, entwickelt sich die Geduld von selbst.

Man kann die Jahreszeiten auch nicht zur Eile herantreiben. Der Frühling kommt. Das Gras wächst von allein. Eile führt gewöhnlich zu nichts und kann viel Leid verursachen - manchmal für uns Selbst und manchmal für unseren Nächsten.

Geduld ist eine stets mögliche Alternative zu notorischer Ruhelosigkeit und Ungeduld des Geistes. Aus der Perspektive der Geduld geschehen Dinge, weil andere Dinge entstehen. Nichts existiert unabhängig oder isoliert voneinander.

Und es wird uns gelingen, den Augenblick auszubalancieren, wenn wir verstehen, dass die Weisheit in der Geduld liegt, wenn wir uns bewusst sind, dass das, was als nächstes geschieht, dadurch bestimmt wird, wie wir jetzt sind: ...geduldig !

- Jon Kabat

Woody Allen interviews Billy Graham

"Serafim" - A wise christian monk !

Serafim is a christian monk from russia.
In the book "The journeys of Socrates" he discusses faith with his student. But let´s take a look at his words of wisdom:

"In truth, you have no opponents but yourself. Make peace within, and there will be no one who can overcome you. And no one you will wish to overcome.

God remains a mystery even to me. There was once a wise man named Hillel, one of the Hebrew fathers, who said: There are three mysteries in this world...air to the birds, water to the fish and humanity to itself...

I for myself have found God to be the greatest mystery of all, yet as intimate as our heartbeat, as close as our next breath...surrounding us like air, like water...always present. But the mind cannot fathom God, only the heart.That is where you will find the faith.

Abide in the mystery. Trust it. Let go of knowing what should and shouldn´t be, and you will find your faith once again.

The intellect is a great ladder into the sky, but it stops short of the heavens. Only the hearts wisdom can light the way.

Put one foot in front of the other ! You are only a player in a drama greater than anyone but God can conceive.
We can only play the role we are given. Those who appear in your life - whether to help or to harm - are all given by God. Meet all of them with a peaceful heart, but with a warrior´s spirit. You will fail many times, but in failing you will learn, and in learning you will find your way.

In the meantime surrender to God´s will, to the life you were given, moment by moment !

Faith does not rely on knowing anything with certainty. It requires only the courage to accept that whatever happens, whether it brings pleasure or pain, is for the highest good !

Memories themselves are faded paintings. Some we cherish, others are painful. There is no reason to throw them away. Just tuck those you want to keep in a safe place, to review as you wish. The past is not meant to intrude on the present.

In any case, I remind you again that there is nowhere to go. Now is all you have. Wherever you walk, you will always be here.

I don´t even know if the sun will rise or whether I´ll wake up in the morning. I don´t even know if God will grant me my next breath. So I chose to live on faith rather than knowledge - and accept whatever comes, welcome or not, bitter or sweet - all of it, a gift from God.

Each day is a new life and each moment you are born anew. This is one meaning of grace.

How to know God´s will ?
I only know that God speaks through your heart, and that your heart will show the way...to becoming a true man...and a peaceful warrior.
You´ve learned the warrior´s way, so fight:

- Make war on hatred.
- Battle against ignorance.
- Fight for justice.

Only light can banish the shadows from this world."

Die Schönheit der Frau

Dieser Beitrag handelt von der Rolle der Frau und insbesondere die Schönheit, die jede Frau in sich trägt. Eine von Gott gegebene Schönheit.

Das Buch "Weisst du nicht, wie schön du bist ?" von Stacy und John Eldredge hat sehr gute Ansätze. Hier folgen nun Auszüge aus dem Buch:

Zunächst mal ein paar Beispiele, um die Stellung der Frau in anderen Kulturen zu beleuchten:

- Einem chinesischen Sprichwort zufolge soll eine Frau wie Wasser sein: Sie soll keine Form annehmen und keine Stimme haben.

- Ein indisches Sprichwort besagt:
Einer Frau Bildung zukommen zu lassen, ist so, als würde man den Garten das Nachbarn wässern. Sprich: Bildung für Frauen ist sowohl sinnlos als auch Zeitverschwendung.

- Im Hinduismus gilt eine Frau weniger als eine Kuh.

- Nach islamischen Recht braucht eine Frau drei Männer als Zeugen, damit ihre Aussage berücksichtigt wird. Das Wort eines Mannes ist also dreimal so viel Wert wie das der Frau.

- Die Beschneidung der Frau ist vor allem in Afrika immer noch eine weit verbreitete Sitte. Dabei werden die weiblichen Genitalien verstümmelt. Eine beschnittene Frau ist für immer gezeichnet und wird sexuelle Gemeinschaft nie genießen können. Eine sexuell empfindsame Frau gilt in den betreffenden Kulturen als gefährlich. Weiblichkeit muss im Zaum gehalten werden.


Doch was lehrt uns die Bibel über die Identität und die Stellung der Frau ?!
Hierzu sollte man einen Blick auf die Schöpfungsgeschichte werfen:

Dann passiert etwas ganz Erstaunliches. Gott setzt sein Ebenbild in die Welt. Er schafft ein Wesen, das ihm ähnlich ist. Er erschafft einen Sohn. (1.Mose 2,7).
Adam erscheint als Gottes Ebenbild. Mit diesem Geniestreich vollendet Gott sein Werk. Und doch, der Meister ist noch nicht zufrieden. Zumindest vermisst er noch Etwas....und dieses Etwas ist Eva !!!

Sie ist der Schlussakkord, das letzte, erstaunliche Werk Gottes.
Die Frau. Die Schöpfung findet ihren Höhepunkt nicht in der Erschaffung Adams, sondern von Eva.

Sie ist der geniale letzte Pinselstrich des Meisters.
Kein Postskriptum, kein verspäteter Gedanke. Nicht nur eine nette Ergänzung. Sie ist Gottes letztes Werk, der endgültige Beweis seiner Meisterschaft.

Was können wir von Eva lernen ?

Gott wollte etwas von sich selbst offenbaren, deshalb hat er uns Eva gegeben. Denn Gott ist durch und durch beziehungsorientiert und schließlich hat uns Gott in Eva seine eigene Schönheit offenbart.

Für Gott ist Schönheit wesentlich. Eigentlich müsste man es noch stärker ausdrücken: Schönheit ist eine Wesensart Gottes. Das wird uns erst durch die Natur bewusst, ein Geschenk Gottes an uns. Aus der Bibel wissen wir, dass die ganze Schöpfung erfüllt ist von der Herrlichkeit Gottes. Die Natur dient nicht in erster Linie einem Zweck. Sie ist in erster Linie schön.

Gott hat Eva eine schöne Gestalt und einen schönen Geist gegeben. In beidem verkörpert sie Schönheit. Sie bringt Schönheit einfach dadurch zum Ausdruck, dass sie Frau ist. Schönheit ist ihr Wesen, so wie Gottes Wesen Schönheit ist.

Und um es unmissverständlich deutlich zu machen:
Schönheit ist für uns immer beides: Körperliche Schönheit gepaart mit Schönheit der Seele, der Person, des Wesens.

Fazit:

Wir Christen sollten also die Frau als Krönung der Schöpfung ansehen. Und die Schönheit in ihrem Wesen erkennen. Die Welt verramscht und prostituiert Schönheit, indem sie sie lediglich auf eine willkürlich definierte perfekte Figur reduziert.
Wenn wir uns aber die Schöpfungsgeschichte vor Augen halten, dann hat Gott uns mit der Frau ein sonderbares Geschenk gemacht. Ein "schönes" Geschenk !

Death isn´t sad !

Death is life´s ultimate tragedy. That something that always makes a broken heart.
Who hasn´t experienced it ?
And no one can lose a loved one without ending up with a broken heart.

Actually there are a lot of good ways to face the topic of death. In this case the bible is an amazing treasure.

At first take a look at this story and its essence:

One day a young woman lost her three year old son. She told her sister: "I can´t bear the pain and sorrow !"
Her sister replied: "My sister, did you mourn when your son was born ?"
"Of course not !", she answered.
"Well then, you need not to mourn for him now. He has only returned to the same place, his original home, before he was ever born."

This story reveals a basic biblical philosophy. We all have our eternal home in Heaven. We all come from God and we all go back to God.

Just think of death as a transformation, a bit more radical than puberty but in the end it´s just one of the body´s changes. When it happens, it happens. Death isn´t sad. The sad thing is that most people don´t live at all.

Let´s take a closer look at the hope that is found in the bible and especially in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master:


Romans 8, 38-39:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


John 3, 16:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


John 11, 25, 26

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.


Romans 6:23

The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Am I rich ?!?

"Then said Jesus to his disciples, I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go trough an eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
- Matt. 19, 23 - 24

In this situation Jesus was referring to wealth in the common sense.
He said it is not worthy to amass great possessions and collect tons of money.

Jesus never really owned something. To the world´s definition he was actually a poor man. But nevertheless he lived a fullfilled life.

So how should we handle money ?! And what is the proper definition of being rich ?!?

Actually you are rich when you have enough money to satisfy all your desires.

So there are two ways to be rich: You earn, inherit, borrow, beg, or steal enough money to meet all your desires; or, you cultivate a simple lifestyle of few desires; that way you always have enough money.

Jesus actually had the insight and discipline to choose the simple way. He knew the difference between needs and wants.

We have a few basic needs but endless wants. And if we put our full attention to God and every moment we live with Him, that makes us truly rich and happy. The secret of happiness, is not found in seeking more, but developing the capacity to enjoy less.

Take a look at the life of Jesus: His main concern was not money. His main concern was Love and Grace ! So let´s copy this kind of lifestyle and forget about getting rich in the common sense.

Alles Roger - Positiver deutscher Hip Hop

"Man kann die Zeit nicht zurückdrehen. Manche Dinge muss man hinnehmen. Man muss nach vorne sehen !"

"Nach vorne schaun !" heisst der Song von Roger (Blumentopf) und er hat es für einen Freund geschrieben, der ne Trennung hinter sich hatte und ziemlich unter Liebeskummer gelitten hat.

Diesen Song find ich deshalb so gut, weil man ihn eben nicht nur auf eine zerbrochene Beziehung anwenden kann bzw. sollte.

Ja, manche Dinge muss man eben hinnehmen, man muss nach vorne sehen !

Hinten haben wir schließlich keine Augen ;) !

Viel Freude mit dem Song:

Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum

When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best

Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
Gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best

Never been a sinner I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with
The spirit in the sky
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best

Praise the Lord and pass Him munition ! =)

Sing along with the Dixie Chicks:

Is your heart right ?!?

From the sermon "Unfulfilled dreams" by Martin Luther King


And this brings me to the basic point of the text. In the final analysis, God does not judge us by the seperate incidents or the seperate mistakes that we make, but by the total bent of our lives. In the final analysis God knows that his children are weak and they are frail. In the final analysis what God requires is that your heart is right.

Salvation isn´t reaching the destination of absolute morality, but it´s being in the process and on the right road.

Some weeks ago somebody was saying something to me about a person that I have great, magnificent respect for. And they were trying to say something that didn´t sound too good about his character, something he was doing.

And I said:
< Number one, I don´t believe it. But number two, even if he is, he´s a good man because his heart is right. >
And in the final analysis, God isn´t going to judge him by that little seperate mistake that he´s making, because the bent of his life is right.

And the question I want to raise this morning with you: Is your heart right ?
If your heart isn´t right, fix it up today; get God fix it up.
Get somebody to be able to say about you, "He may not have reached the highest height, he may not have realized all of his dreams, but he tried."

Isn´t that a wonderful thing for somebody to say about you: "He tried to be a good man. He tried to be a just man. He tried to be an honest man. His heart was in the right place."

And I can hear a voice saying, crying out through eternities:
"I accept you. You are a recipient of my grace because it was in your heart. And it is so well that it was within thine heart."


I don´t know this morning about you, but I can make a testimony. You don´t need to go out this morning saying that Martin Luther King is a saint. Oh, no. I want you to know this morning that I´m a sinner like all of God´s children.
But I want to be a good man !

Oh, this morning, if I can leave anything with you, let me urge you to be sure that you have a strong boat of faith. The winds are going to blow. The storms of disappointment are coming. It will be dark sometimes, and it will be dismal and trying, and tribulations will come.
But if you have faith in the God that I´m talking about this morning, it doesn´t matter.

And I say to you this morning: Yes, I´ve seen the lightning flash. I´ve heard the thunder roll. But I heard the voice of Jesus, saying still to fight on.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone !

And when you get this faith, you can walk with your feet solid to the ground and your head to the air, and you fear no man.

John Q - Fatherly love !

The following video is an excerpt from the movie "John Q" with Denzel Washington.



This scene is so beautiful, ´cause it reminds us of the fatherly love that God has in store for us.

John Q simply wants the best for his son.
With God it is the same way. He also simply wants the best for us !
`Cause we are his children:

1 John 3,1-3

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.

Everybody needs love !

1 Corinthians 13

Love

If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Words from MLK´s Funeral

In the sermon "The drum major instinct !" Martin Luther King Jr. basically spoke the words he wanted to hear at his funeral.

"Every now and then I guess we all think realistically about that day when we will be victimized with what is life´s common denominator - that something that we call death.
We all think about it. And every now and then I think about my own death and I think about my own funeral. And I don´t think of it in a morbid sense. And every now and then I ask myself, " What is it that I would want said ?" An I leave the word to you this morning.

I´d like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr., tried to love somebody.

I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question.
I want you to be able to say that day I did try to feed the hungry.

And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked.

I want you to say on that day that I did try to visit those who were in prison.
I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.

Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness.

And all of the other shallow things will not matter.
I won´t have any money to leave behind. I won´t have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a commited life behind. And that´s all I want to say:

If I can help somebody as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,
If I can show somebody that he is traveling wrong.
Then my living will not be in vain !

If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,
If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought,
If I can spread the message as the master taught,
Then my living will not be in vain !

Ray Allen - Life goes on !

Ray Allen, Shooting Guard of the Boston Celtics, compares in this scene Basketball with life:



"I think Basketball is like life. When things go bad for you, you know, there is another game. When you miss a shot, you got another shot !"

The essence of this quote is actually a biblical principle. All the great people who were anointed by God had to withstand struggles and endure some really hard times. But instead of giving up, they kept holding their head high, ´cause: Life goes on !

Look at Joseph, he got excluded by his family and experienced slavery at a really young age. But did he give up ? No !

Look at Peter: He denied Jesus. But did he give up ? No !

Look at Paul: He was severely prosecuted and suffered enormous physical pain. Did he give up ? No !

Look at Job (Hiob): He lost literally everything. Did he give up ? No !

And if you take a closer look at the final destiny of those characters, they all ended up as blessed people.

So let´s never turn our back towards God, even though we have to endure really hard times:

Psalm 23, 4:
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Alles hat seine Zeit !

"Alles, was auf der Erde geschieht, hat seine von Gott bestimmte Zeit:

geboren werden und sterben,
einpflanzen und ausreißen,
töten und Leben retten,
niederreißen und aufbauen,

weinen und lachen,
wehklagen und tanzen,
Steine werfen und Steine aufsammeln,
sich umarmen und sich aus der Umarmung lösen,
finden und verlieren,

aufbewahren und wegwerfen,
zerreißen und zusammennähen,
schweigen und reden.

Das Lieben hat seine Zeit und auch das Hassen,
der Krieg und der Frieden."

- Kohelet 3,1-9

Long story short !

"We love Him because He first loved us."
- 1 John 4, 9-10

Jesus Christ - Saviour of the world !

As we all figured out, disciples are those that follow the principles of a particular person. In my mind however, the question remains, what makes someone worthy of having a following? What is it about a particular person that makes him or her someone who should have disciples?


Normally in different academic fields, those people who have revolutionary ideas have disciples. In Psychology for example, Sigmund Freud came along with a whole new way of thinking about human behavioral patterns and today, years after his death, there are still people who would consider themselves disciples of Freud. The same can be said in athletics, politics, or any other field of human endeavor. Something special, something different, and something new must exist in a person for people to follow them.

Jesus certainly brought something special, something very different and something new to the table when he began his earthly ministry. Those that began to follow him were moved by his energy, his charisma, and his new ideas about church. But there was something about Jesus that made him different from any other revolutionary thinker. He was the Son of God and anyone who follows Jesus must know this fact; we must know who it is that we are following. We are not simply following a set of ideas taught by a very wise man, we are forming a relationship with the savior of the world.


A disciple of Jesus needs to know who He is. He's the Messiah; the answer to all of our problems; the Son of God; the eternal Lord of lords in human flesh. There can't be any confusion about this. If there is, discipleship can't happen.

(A post from Tim Jones)

Being a Disciple....

As I may have mentioned I am an adopted Celtics fan. I am a Die-Hard Spurs fan, but they lost to the Lakers so I must root against the Lakers and being in Springfield its hard not to root for the C’s (especially since I can watch all of their games on TV and I have a ball signed by the entire team from this year). Last night’s victory was amazing. It was the most lopsided victory in a Final’s deciding game ever. Though some would argue that Boston was more talented, I believe that it was clear that their teamwork and their LOVE for playing together and in the system made them nearly invincible. When you have that many talented basketball players truly buying into the philosophy of a great coach, it is nearly impossible to handle (as Kobe and the boys found out this series). They were disciples of Tom Thibodeau and DocRivers. Listening to his defensive strategy and following it made them who they were.

We are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ and it is in our listening and following his plan for our life that we are made to be in his image.


Disciple comes from the Greek word that means “pupil or learner” but in the Bible it has a much stronger meaning. A disciple is not someone who simply learns, a disciple is one who learns and puts things into action, one who takes instructions and makes it their way of life. Stated differently, a disciple is one who is willing to sacrifice their current way of life for a better way.

Ray-Ray, KG, and Pdouble each had to sacrifice the way that they played before to play a way that would bring them each a championship. As we grow in our discipleship in Jesus, this is exactly what happens, we give up our old way of living in exchange for a new way. And this new way leads to many rewards namely an abundant life and an eternal reward in heaven (John 10:10 and John 3:16).

(A post from Tim Jones)

Bill Wilson - Wounded Soldiers !

Bill Wilson - Pastor und Gründer von Metro Ministries in New York.

Der Hauptdienst besteht aus einer "Sunday-Sidewalk-School" für Kinder, um ihnen in den schlimmsten Gegenden von NYC das Evangelium von Jesus Christus zu verkünden.
Ausserdem werden die Kinder regelmäßig von Mitarbeitern der Organisation besucht und durch Paten weltweit unterstützt.

Hier Auszüge aus einer seiner vielen Predigten ("Wounded Soldiers!"):

Teil 1:


Teil 2:


Teil 3:


Teil 4:

Patch Adams

Der Film Patch Adams ist ein sehr lustiger, aber auch emotionaler Film.

Er handelt von dem etwas abgedrehten Medizinstudenten Patch Adams(Robin Williams), der nicht die Krankheit, sondern den Menschen an sich in den Vordergrund seines ärztlichen Handelns stellen will und dem der Eid des Hypokrates, eben nur zum Wohle des Menschen zu praktizieren, sehr am Herzen liegt.

Er lernt in seinem Studium die Frau seines Leben kennen, die in ihrer Vergangenheit selbst von vielen Männern enttäuscht wurde.

Kurz nach ihrer Heirat eröffnen sie, wenn auch ohne Lizenz, eine kleine Privatklinik. Dabei wird seine Frau von einem manisch depressiven Patienten in dessen Anwesen ermordet.

In der folgenden Szene ist Patch einem Selbstmord nahe und er redet dabei mit Gott. Dann ereignet sich etwas Besonderes. Aber seht selbst. Die Erklärung folgt dann unten:




Erklärung:

Seine Frau hat ihm im Verlauf des Films über ihre enttäuschenden Beziehungen berichtet, woraufhin sie zu ihm gesagt hat, dass sie wie eine Raupe vorkommt....gefangen in ihrer Vergangenheit... und dass sie so gerne ein Schmetterling wäre !

Patch dreht sich nach dem Dialog mit Gott um und das erste was er zu Gesicht bekommt ist ein Schmetterling.
Als ob Gott zu ihm sagt: "Sie ist immer noch da ! Zwar nicht in dieser Welt, aber sie ist an einem guten Ort !"

Der Schmetterling ist ein Symbol für Wiedergeburt.

Ich finde diese Szene sehr beeindruckend, da sie zeigt, dass Gott durch viele verschiedene Dinge zu uns sprechen kann und vor allem, dass er ein lebendiger und ständiger Begleiter in unserem Leben ist.

Hate is baggage !

Das Ende des Films American History X ist sehr beeindruckend. Danny, der in der Szene gerade erschossen wurde, zieht in seinem Strafaufsatz ein kleines Resumée.Er selbst, ist den "Neonazi-Spuren" seines Bruders´ Derek gefolgt. Derek hat sich im Gefängnis resozialisiert und bringt Daniel leider zu spät zur Vernunft.

Daniel kommt in der Szene zu der Erkenntnis:
Hass ist Ballast oder Hate is baggage !





"So I guess this is where I tell you what I learned.
My conclusion, right ?
Well, my conclusion is: hate is baggage.
Life´s too short to be pissed off all the time.
It´s just not worth it.
Derek says it´s always good to end a paper with a quote.
He says someone else has already said it best so if you can´t top it, steal from them and go out strong.

So I picked a guy (Abraham Lincoln) I thought you´d like:

< We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.
Though passion may have strained, we must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched as surely they will be by the better angels of our nature.> "

(Wir sind keine Feinde,sondern Freunde. Wir dürfen keine Feinde sein. Leidenschaft mag die Bande unserer Zuneigung anspannen, aber zerreissen darf sie sie nicht. Die mystischen Klänge der Erinnerung werden ertönen wenn die besseren Engel der Natur sie wieder berühren).

Good Will Hunting

Eine sehr schöne Szene aus dem Film "Good Will Hunting":

Proverbs

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"Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die."
- Joe Louis
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"Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact."
- William James
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"You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough."
- Joe Lewis
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"The crisis of yesterday is the joke of tomorrow."
- H.G. Wells
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"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
- Eleanor Roosevelt.
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"To appreciate heaven well,´tis good for man to have some fifteen minutes in hell."
- Will Carleton
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"It´s a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don´t quit when you are tired - you quit when the gorilla is tired !"
- Robert Strauss
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"I´m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it."
- Thomas Jefferson
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"Don´t brood on what´s past but don´t forget it either."
- Thomas Raddal
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"If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started by a mouse."
- Walt Disney
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"Love all, serve all !"
- Firmenspruch einer bekannten Restaurantkette
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Answer - Sarah McLachlan

I will be the answer
At the end of the line
I will be there for you
While you take the time
In the burning of uncertainty
I will be your solid ground
I will hold the balance
If you can't look down

If it takes my whole life
I won't break, I won't bend
It will all be worth it
Worth it in the end
Cause I can only tell you what I know
That I need you in my life
When the stars have all gone out
You'll still be burning so bright

Cast me gently
Into morning
For the night has been unkind
Take me to a
Place so holy
That I can wash this from my mind
The memory of choosing not to fight

If it takes my whole life
I won't break, I won't bend
It will all be worth it
Worth it in the end
'Cause I can only tell you what I know
That I need you in my life
When the stars have all burned out
You'll still be burning so bright

Cast me gently
Into morning
For the night has been unkind

König David

" Als Gott Davids Herz ansah, da sah er alle seine Taten. Er sah hunderte Menschen, die durch seine Hand vielen. Er sah Auftragsmord und Ehebruch. Er sah Familienkrieg und Hass.

Aber er sah auch Hingabe. Er sah Gesang für ihn und ein Herz, das für ihn brennen werde. Er sah einen Mann nach seinem Herzen, auch wenn es ein Mann mit Sünde war. Er sah Davids Herzensstellung, die Stellung zum lebendigen Gott. Und er nahm dieses sündige Herz an. Er machte es zum Herz des größten Königs, der je gelebt hat, Jesus ausgenommen.

Was hat Gott wohl bewogen David zu erwählen? Sein Herz der Hingabe oder seine Taten? Was errettet uns wohl? Unsere Herz des Glauben oder unsere Taten? Die Antwort kennt ihr. Und ihr wisst aber auch, dass ein Herz des Glaubens trotz allem nach Taten strebt. Lasst uns Gott dienen, mit dem Herzen, mit den Taten und letztendlich mit dem Verstand, der durch ein Herz geleitet wird.

-August Danuliv"

(Ein Beitrag von Jens)

News Release Basketball

"In Christ through Hoops to the World !"

Das ist das Motto des US-amerikanischen News Release Basketball Teams.Jedes Jahr werden von christlichen College Basketballern einwöchige Basketballcamps in Deutschland veranstaltet, um Jugendlichen die gute Nachricht von Jesus Christus zu verkünden.

Die "Basketball Skills" werden von den US-Boys natürlich auch gebührend vermittelt und durch gemeinsame "Bible-Studies" bekommen die Jugendlichen auch geistlichen Zugang zu den Amerikanern.

Ich selbst war bereits auf 3 Basketballcamps in Lörrach, als Teilnehmer und Jugendbetreuer. Ich bin jedes mal auf´s Neue begeistert und hatte eigentlich immer das Gefühl, dass alle Teilnehmer, nicht nur aus sportlicher Sicht, von den Camps profitieren konnten.

Das unglaublich Tolle ist im Moment, dass ich letztes Jahr von dem damaligen Tourleiter gefragt wurde, ob ich 2008 Interesse hätte im News Release Team zu spielen und zwei Camps mitzugestalten. Heute habe ich nun die schriftliche Zusage erhalten und bin echt dankbar, dass ich diese Erfahrung machen darf !!

I love my Mom !

5. Gebot: "Du sollst deinen Vater und deine Mutter ehren !"

(Eigentlich finde ich Reggae ja nicht so der Bringer,aber dieser Song ist nicht nur aus textlicher Sicht genial!)





Thank You mama for the nine months you carried me through
All this pain and sufferin
No one knows the pressure you bare ,oh, just only you
Give you all my love ,oh yea
Thank You mama for the nine months you carried me through
All this pain and sufferin
No one knows the pressure you bare,oh, just only you
It's my words and my utterin

Mama I would never let you down
I'll never go away
I'll always be around
You know why you do it
Such love that you found
I'm always gonna let you wear that crown
Through the roughest of times you maintain your count (eh)
I was your only (yea)
While shelterin me from the storm
And when its cold you wrap me in a towel so warm
Oh ma oh ma
I'm so glad I was born

Chorus

I'm gonna make u so proud
Such good son you have
You are the one who teaches me all the good from the bad
Even when the system keeps pressurin my dad
You got high hopes
Thanks be unto the most high Jah

Chorus

I'm a big man now that's something gold
Things you do to survive only jah he knows
Fiercely protecting us while watchin us grow
You been (oh) even when its on the down low
Work so hard to see us go to school
Blisters on your fingers so they cant take us for fool
I'm here for a purpose, I'm here to rule
Most high jah Rasta fari will see us through

Chorus

Now it's my turn to make life
I'm so mature
(u know) I got my kids and my wife and im positivley sure
I'm doing fine
And still can be so much more
You have prepared me for the future (my love you deserve)
You been doing your thing while others not knowing
But deep inside your heart mama you know where it was going
Can a mother lose her tender care for her child that she may showin
Some how your star keeps glowin

Powerful Soul Music !

Hold on I´m comin´ (Sam & Dave)





Well don't you ever be sad
Lean on me when times are bad
When the day comes and you're in doubt,
In a river of trouble, about to drown.

Hold on, I'm coming.
Hold on, I'm coming.

I'm on my way, your lover
When you get cold, yeah, I'll be your cover
Don't have to worry because I'm here.
Don't need to suffer because I'm here.

Chorus Twice

Reach out to me for satisfaction.
Call my name, quick reaction.

Well don't you ever feel sad
Lean on me when times are bad
When the day comes and you're in doubt,
In a river of trouble and about to drown.

A lil´ song of hope !

"Father forgive them....!"

Dieser Post ist eine Hommage an Jesus´ Gebet am Kreuz.
Die Auszüge stammen aus ´ner Predigt von Martin Luther King.
Das Ganze "in english" !

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do ."
- Luke 33,34

Few words in the New Testament more clearly and solemnly express the magnanimity of Jesus´spirit than that sublime utterance from the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." This is love at its best.

He could have said, "Father, get even with them," or "Father, let loose the mighty thunderbolts of righteous wrath and destroy them." But none of these was his response. Though subjected to inexpressible agony, suffering excruciating pain, and despised and rejected, nevertheless, he cried, "Father, forgive them."

First, it is a marvelous expression of Jesus´ ability to match words with actions. One of the great tragedys in life is that men seldom bridge the gulf between doing and saying.
But in the life of Jesus we find that the gulf is bridged. Never in history was there a more sublime example of consistency of word and deed:

- During his ministry in the sunny villages of Galilee, Jesus talked passionately about forgiveness.

- Jesus also admonished his followers to love their enemies and to pray for them that despitefully used them.

The moment of testing emerges. Christ, the innocent Son of God, is stretched in painful agony on an uplifted cross.

What place is there for love and forgiveness now ? How will Jesus react ? What will he say ?

The answer to this question bursts forth in majestic splendor,
Jesus lifts his thorn-crowned head and cries in words of cosmic proportions:

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

This was Jesus´ finest hour; this was his heavenly response to his earthly rendezvous with destiny.

We sense the greatness of this prayer by contrasting it with society which is slow to forgive. Those who disobey the laws are often left in the dark abyss of condemnation and have no hope for a second chance:

- Ask an innocent young lady, who, after a moment of overriding passion , becomes the mother of an illegitimate child. She will tell you that society is slow to forgive.

- Make your way to death row and speak with the tragic victims of criminality. As they prepare to make their pathetic walk to the electric chair, their hopeless cry is that society will not forgive. Capital punishment is society´s final assertion that it will not forgive.

Such is the persistent story of mortal life. The oceans of history are made turbulent by the ever-rising tides of revenge. Man has never risen above the injunction of the "lex talionis":

" Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."

Jesus eloquently affirmed from the cross a higher law !
He knew that the old eye-for-an-eye philosophy would leave everyone blind.

He didn´t seek to overcome evil with evil.

=> He overcame evil with good:
Although crucified by hate, he responded with aggressive love !

What a magnificent lesson !

Generations will rise and fall; men will continue to worship the god of revenge and bow before the altar of retaliation; but ever and again this noble lesson of Calvary will be a nagging reminder that only goodness can drive out evil and only love can conquer hate !

And Jesus was right about those men who crucified him. They knew not what they did. They were inflicted with a terrible blindness.

Every time I look at the cross I am reminded of the greatness of God and the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. I am reminded of the beauty of sacrificial love and the majesty of unswerving devotion to truth.

We must see the cross as the magnificent symbol of love conquering hate and of light overcoming darkness.

But in the midst of this glowing affirmation, let us never forget that our Lord and Master was nailed to that cross because of human blindness. Those who crucified him knew not what they did.

Tear Drop from Heaven Part I

Tear Drop from Heaven Part II

G.O.A.T. = The Greatest of all time !

Sprüche (witzig bis geistreich)

Dieser Post ist ein kleines Sammelsurium an witzigen bis geistreichen Sprüchen:

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"Kleine Bosheiten soll man überhören - es ist christlich - und ärgert mehr !"
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"Es gibt Gottesdienste, die machen sogar Heiden Spass !"
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"Gott ist tot." - Nietzsche ....."Nietzsche,gest. 25.8.1900" - Gott
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"Wer Gutes tut und darüber redet, will in die Zeitung. Wer Gutest tut und nicht darüber redet, in den Himmel."
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"Erste Missionserfolge: Kannibalen essen freitags nur Fischer."
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Die gute Tat, die ungepriesen stirbt, würgt tausend andere, die sie zeugen könnte !"
- William Shakespeare
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"Die meisten Menschen haben Schwierigkeiten mit den Bibelstellen, die sie nicht verstehen. Ich für meinen Teil muß zugeben, dass ich gerade mit den Bibelstellen Schwierigkeiten habe, die ich verstehe."
- Mark Twain
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"Niemand ist so schlecht wie sein Ruf und keiner so gut wie sein Nachruf."
- Erich Thaler
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"Christen sind komische Leute. Wenn sie den einen nicht mögen, lieben sie den Nächsten !"
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"Wenn dieses Universum in all seiner millionenfachen Ordnung und Präzision das Ergebnis eines blinden Zufalls sein sollte, so ist das so glaubwürdig, wie wenn eine Druckerei in die Luft geht, worauf alle Druckbuchstaben wieder herunterfallen in der fertigen fehlerlosen Form des Duden-Lexikons."
- Albert Einstein
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My Sacrifice

"When Jesus is with us, we´re free !"
Thema des Songs !






Hello my friend, we meet again
It's been awhile, where should we begin?
Feels like forever
Within my heart are memories
Of perfect love that you gave to me
Oh, I remember

When you are with me, I'm free
I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others we'll fly
This brings tears to my eyes
My sacrifice

We've seen our share of ups and downs
Oh how quickly life can turn around
In an instant
It feels so good to reunite
Within yourself and within your mind
Let's find peace there

When you are with me, I'm free
I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others we'll fly
This brings tears to my eyes
My sacrifice

I just want to say hello again
I just want to say hello again

When you are with me I'm free
I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others we'll fly
This brings tears to my eyes
Cause when you are with me I am free
I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others we'll fly
This brings tears to my eyes
My sacrifice, My sacrifice

I just want to say hello again
I just want to say hello again

My sacrifice.

Himmlische Poesie

Auszug aus Dante Alighieri´s "Göttliche Komödie":

Paradies, Erster Gesang:

"Die Glorie des Bewegers aller Dinge
Dringt duch das Weltall,und von ihr erstrahlen
Mehr oder minder die verschiedenen Sphären.

Im Himmel, der das meiste Licht empfangen,
War ich, und ich sah Dinge, die kann keiner
Verkünden, der von dort herniedersteiget;

Denn unser Geist, der dem ersehnten Ziele
Sich naht, muss sich darein so tief versenken,
Daß das Gedächtnis ihm nicht Folge leistet.

Gewiß, so viel ich aus dem heiligen Reiche
In meinem Geiste Schätze sammeln konnte,
Will ich sie nun in meinem Liede singen."

Denzel Washington

Der Film "He Got Game" mit Denzel Washington und Ray Allen handelt vordergründig von Basketball. Die Rahmenhandlung dreht sich allerdings rund um das Thema Vergebung.
Bei einem familiären Streit wird Jake (Denzel Washington) gegenüber seiner Frau handgreiflich und schuckt sie. Sie kommt mit dem Kopf so unglücklich auf der Herdkante auf, dass sie an Gehirnblutungen stirbt.......

Jesus(Ray Allen), Jake´s Sohn, ist das High School Basketballtalent von Amerika. Eigentlich hätte er allen Grund, Gott für seine Skills dankbar zu sein, aber er ist, wenn es um den Tod seiner Mutter geht, einfach nur verbittert und gegenüber seinem Vater mit Hass erfüllt. Jake hat seinem Sohn aber einiges zu sagen und zeigt auch, wie er die Sache sieht,... aber seht selbst !

Die Szene beginnt ab 0:45 min. :



"What´s wrong with finding Jesus, hu ? What´s wrong with that ?!"

"How come that you never hear Jesus bein´praised in the loser´s locker room then, hu ?!......God ain´t shit !"

"Number 1: Why you gotta use all this kind of language ?! What are you some kind of hero ?!? You make no mistakes !? When you are out here shootin´ ?! Do you miss no shots !?!? never?! ever ?!
People make mistakes, people are way off their paths...so what ?! God forgives them !"

"Has God forgiven´you for killin´ my mother ?!"

"I pray that He has, son ! I believe He has ! When will you ?!"

"Never !"

Disciple - Thousand Things

12 Stones - The way I feel

Lately I've been wandering
Off the narrow path
You've given me so many things that I've never had
All in all I know it's you that always pulls me through
If you reach deep inside you'll see my heart is true

Cuz I hate the way…I feel tonight
And I know I need you in my life
Yes I hate the way I feel inside
And I promise to make the sacrifice…yeah

Come on

The world I know is pulling me, more and more each day
I feel like the odd man out as I begin to pray
Spiteful eyes are watching me
With everything I do
In the midst of darkness, Lord
My spirit calls for you

Cuz I hate the way I feel tonight
And I know I need you in my life
Yes I hate the way I feel inside
And I promise to make the sacrifice yeah
--Bridge--
(You know sometimes deep inside...)
I feel like death...
--Solo--

Cuz I hate the way I feel tonight
And I know I need you in my life
Yes I hate the way I feel inside
And I promise to make the sacrifice
Yes, I hate the way I feel tonight
And I know I need you in my life..yeah
The way I feel, I hate the way... the way I feel...