Forum

Searching for a free download picture i discovered this one called hotel room You know this picture perhaps from "LwF"- group. I called it there "Your study" The strange thing now is that the lamp in that photo is the same as in my living room. And the arrangement with armchair and small table on the right side is almost the same. Please convince yourself

Tekoa Camp Meeting Central Standard Times on August 4, 2011 and August 5, 2011 9:30 to about 12:00 or 12:30 19:00 to about 20:30 or 21:00 Live feed during those times at stevebrownministries.com (Steve Brown Ministries)

http://www.bigfoto.com/ Commit your way to the LORD and trust in him! (Psalms 37,5)

A devilish-clever Question “Does Job fear God for nothing?” (Job 1,9) Saint Job by Laurent de la Hyre For me, and presumably for you also, it looks strange that God listened and talked to the devil. I would have expected the contrary. But we don`t know how far the the book of Job is a real story. It could also be a fictional story to spot a religious theme. Or a mixture of both!? As for example Goethe s Faust is. Well, in the story God and the devil discuss about Job, the example of a god-fearing man. God praised Job for his obedience as a man would praise his “good wife” for her love. But the devil tried to poison God`s heart. He claimed that Job`obedience is the result of a clever calculation. “Does Job fear you for nothing or for all the blessings you have given him?” ("Does your wife love you or your money?") The devil is clever guy, isn`t he? He knows human heart and its weaknesses very well. And indeed, can we really be sure that our obedience to God is so true and honest, as we often think and proclaim? Continuation will follow

A god-fearing man In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. (Job 1, 1-3) Saint Job by Laurent de la Hyre( link from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_%28religious_figure%29) We see here a righteous and very wealthy man living named Job in Uz, presumably lying in a Syrian desert. He seems to be the example for a god-fearing man. And as a result of god-fear God`s blessings were evidently. 10 children, sheep , camels, oxen, donkeys and a large number of servants. The greatest man in the whole East! So, here the story could stop and finish with, … and he lived luckily till the end of his days! But the story doesn`t stop here, it only starts! It is a remarkable story which shows us that there can come in everyone`s life a time, where God proves our faith. Well, I do not say that it will come! But it can come. So, let us look what happened to Job! Continuation will follow

Here is a beautiful devotional poem by Guru Rabindranaath Tagore,whose 150th birth anniversary was on 7th of May! Purity Life of my life, I shall ever try to keep my body pure, knowingthat thy living touch is upon all my limbs. I shall ever try to keep all untruths out from my thoughts, knowingthat thou art that truth which has kindled the light of reason in my mind. I shall ever try to drive all evils away from my heart and keep mylove in flower, knowing that thou hast thy seat in the inmost shrine of my heart. And it shall be my endeavour to reveal thee in my actions, knowing itis thy power gives me strength to act.

Part 3 __________________________________________________________________________ We rode in Juergen`s car to the park. The whole tour it kept on raining. Heavy, dark clouds accompanied us from above. We sat side by side without talking. Inside I felt now a slight tension. There was no hint for an upcoming miracle. Had I gone too far? Would I be proved as a bigmouth? Suddenly, when we turned into the park road, the sky broke open and the sun was shining. It really looked somehow bizarre. As if in the sky had opened a small window directly above the park and the sun was looking through it. I smiled and said to Juergen, “Do you see it? The sun directly above the park! What do you say now?” He parked the car and we got out, starting immediately our park walk. In the park I asked him , “So, do you now believe in God?” He looked surprised at me. “Why should I do?” Now it was my turn to look perplexed at him. “Why you should do? But, you saw a miracle. We prayed for good weather, and here it is!” He laughed, “Ah, you mean God has done it? No, it is only a coincidence!” I stared at him in disbelieve. He really hadn`t got it, or didn`t want. But it is such a clear sign, I thought by myself. And for the first time I had the feeling, that he perhaps never would become a believer. I smiled disappointed, “OK, let´s enjoy the walk!” And so we walked two hours through that wonderful park under the small "sky window" with the shining sun. Under that big sign, God had given! * Some years later Juergen died in Norway, where he had lived his last years. As far as I know he never became a believer. The End

A brotherly deal One day Esau came back from his work on his father`s field or from hunting It must have been a very hard working day for him. Now, he was so hungry and exhausted that he felt to be near death. For me, I am not a physician, it looks as if he had some kind of a collapse. Perhaps caused through a sunstroke. I remember very well my own break down during a bicycle tour. ( look at the bottom link) Objectively there might have been no mortal danger, but you feel somehow near death. So, when Esau reached the familiar tents, he saw his Brother Jacob sitting in front of a steaming pot of soup, he might have felt big relief: “Thanks to God! Something to eat!” When Jakob saw his brother coming along, he presumably recognized Esau`s bad state immediately. “What`wrong with him? I never saw him like that!” And then he heard his brother saying, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (Genesis 25, 29) And Jakob jumped up, helped his brother to sit down and quickly filled a big cup with red, tasty soup. “Here, take it, Esau!” he said with deep worry and compassion in his voice. Ah, no! Sorry, this was the wrong text! Instead of what you and I would expect in such a situation, Jacob kept cool and replied, “First sell me your birthright. ”Can you feel the slap burning on Esau`s face?” *** http://mauerblume.de.tl/The-Sting-of-the-Mosquito.htm# Continuation will follow

The Escape and Return of Jacob Jacob a second-born twin of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and his wife Rebecca. And his character and life style was very different from that one of Esau, his first- born twin brother. The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. (1. Mose 25, 27) Such a contrary between twins does´t mean automatically that they would dislike one another. But in that case it might have been. At least the love of their parents was separated. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob ( look above) Isaac was a very rich man with flocks and herds, and a big household with many servants. He lived with his family in Gerar, in the heart of Kanaan. And according to the rules of that time, Esau as the first born would inherit everything after the death of his father. Rebbecca and especially Jacob would then have to live under Esau`s commandment, dependent on his mercy. So, knowing Issak`s wild character, they both may secretly have feared it. And may have spoken about it. Perhaps Rebbecca said more than once to Jacob, “Dear Jacob, I wish you would be the first born. Things would be so much better in future!” And this might have worked for a long time in Jacob`s mind, when he suddenly saw a chance to change the normal course of life. Continuation will follow

Part 2 of my new short story "The Sign" (the photo is taken from Bigfoto.com) _________________________________________________________________________ One Saturday afternoon Juergen dropped in, because we had agreed a walk in a nearby park. But it was raining cats and dogs, and so he greeted me with following words: “Well, I think that we can forget about our park walk!” I answered: “OK, let`s wait and see!” Meanwhile I made a coffee for both of us and we sat down in my living-room and chatted for a while. After a quarter of an hour he stood up looked through the window: “Ah, shit, it is still raining!” He lifted his eyes to the sky: “And only dark clouds! Well, I think we can forget our park walk.” When he had sat down again I said to him: “Well, you know that I believe in a god, who can do miracles. If you agree, I would like to pray for better weather.” For a moment he stared surprised at me, then he burst out into laughter: “You never give up, eh?” Then he added: “OK, do as you like! But it won`t help. You shall see!” I smiled and answered: “OK, we shall see!” And so I started to pray loudly to god, that he should sent better weather and finished with “…, so that we can take our walk and Juergen will see, that you are a living God!. Amen!” I felt really confidence, that the miracle would happen. And so I said to Juergen: “OK, let`s go!” _____________________________________________________________________ Continuation will follow

Border Crossing _______________________________________________________________________ I have started with that theme a while ago :http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/normal-life-and-border-crossing It is for me a really special one, as you can see in the text above. My earliest clear remembrance is a border experience :-) I personally think that border crossing is one of the most exciting themes in life. It can become or an existential experience or a life-changing adventure, or something else. You leave a well-known world and walk, jump, fall etc. into a new unknown world. (the photo is taken from bigfoto.com) One of the most famous cross bording stories is that one of Christoforo Columbus, the "discoverer" of America. This is a really fascinating story. Later perhaps more about it. Or in literature take that of Robinson Crusoe. His border crossings brought him at last through fate on a lonesome island. He never would have expected it. So you can never be sure what is waiting for you beyond the border. It maybe a new "continent" or a "lonesome island" :-) Luck or misery, or something else! I want to start with a border-crossing story in the Bible: The Escape and Return of Jakob-Israel _______________________________________________________________ Continuation will follow

The Sign (the photo is taken from Bigfoto.com) Presumably most of you know that the Bible is talking of “Signs and wonders”. And honestly spoken, the difference between a sign and a wonder seems to be not totally clear. At least for me. In the following short story happened a wonder, which could be interpreted as a sign. But, please read the story and make your own mind. * You remember my friend Jürgen from the dramatic story “In the Spell of evil Magic”? He played there, without knowing about it, a main role. The annunciation of his upcoming death was the begin of a big crisis, during which I converted to christian faith. Well, the “annunciation” was wrong and Jürgen lived on. He was a close friend of mine and, as you may remember, a confessing atheist. So now, after my conversion, I used every opportunity to convince him of the truth of my new faith. I gave many good arguments and told him almost every detail of my conversion, except one. The wrong “annunciation” of his death I kept secretly. In our conversations it was a taboo for me. But all my efforts to convince him seemed to be without any effect. He always listened patiently, gave his own arguments, and at the end of a long discussion or a narration he often laughed and said: “Well, you cannot convince me! There exists no god. He exists only in your imagination!- We are only nature, and when we are dead we are gone forever!” Slowly I began to understand, that it was really not in my power to convince him! Continuation will follow!

Part 7 of my new short story: _______________________________________________________________________ The next day, the day of baptism, became a really hard one for me. In the morning we had a three-hour service in Jesushouse. After that a short lunchtime and then we drove to Grevenbroich for the baptism assembly. At this time I had already reached an “I-do-not feel-anything state”. Strong, increasing headaches pressed me hard and I reduced my activities to the necessary functions. So, I got somehow over the baptism ceremony and also over an after-baptism party. At the end of the day only the result counted. I was now a baptisized one! Here my story could end, but one detail should not be unmentioned. I really had felt bad and also lonesome during that day. But the stream of peace inside me had continued throughout the whole day. It was so strong that my headaches had not that power over me they normally would have had. I felt inside totally safe. And one time I thought :”My headaches are earth, but my inner peace is heaven!” And heaven was surely high above earth! The End

Part 6 of my new short story ____________________________________________________________________ For some minutes I laid awake in my bed, enjoying that warm, deep stream of peace inside me. Total relaxation! I folded my arms in my neck and thought about what had just happened. “Friend or enemy?” had been my question in my first panic. Well, this was answered now. It must have been a “friend”! But why had he come? Well, feeling that wonderful streaming peace inside me, the answer seemed to obvious. The aim was to strengthen and encourage me for the upcoming baptism. "Was it an angel? Or Jesus himself”, I asked myself. But there was no answer. Only a deep feeling of gratitude and contentment. And that deep stream of peace as witness of the “Friend`s” touch! ________________________________________________ Continuation will follow

Part 5 of my new autobiographical short story ___________________________________________ Maybe an hour later I suddenly woke up. And had immediately a strange, intensive feeling, “Someone is here in the room!” I knew it with absolutely clarity, although I didn`t dare to open my eyes. I did`t dare to move my body and pretended to be still sleeping. But I asked myself fearfully, “Who is it? Friend or enemy?” With the same clarity I knew that someone was inside my sleeping-room, I knew that it was no human being. It was a spirit! But “friend or enemy? I laid stiff as a poker in my bed and waited fearfully, what would happen next. Suddenly, for a second a hand touched my forehead. And in the same moment a stream of deep inner peace run through my whole body. And in the next moment I knew, that I was alone again. Carefully I opened my eyes and looked around. The window was closed as before. In weak light from a streetlight I could see, that everything was at its place. No proof of a nightly visitor, except – that the stream of peace still kept running through my body. ________________________________ Continuation will follow

Part 4 of my new short story: It had been a long Saturday. The whole afternoon I had participated in that baptism course and then, after a short pause, visited the evening assembly. It was 11 o`clock p.m, when I left Jesushouse and rode home with my bike. Nevertheless, it had been a good time. My last doubts had gone. The Elder of the course had made clear, that adult baptism was corresponding with the Scripture. More than that! The last order of Jesus on earth. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28 - taken from the New International Bible) We all, three men and four women between 16 – 65 years-of-age, had nodded approvingly. When I opened the door of my home I felt totally tired and my head ached. And I had only one deep desire: Sleep! The next day would become hard again. First ,from 9 to 12 o`clock a.m, the morning assembly and then in the afternoon the baptism in the Grevenbroich church. I drove away all my worried thoughts according to the next day and laid down in bed. A minute later I fell asleep. Continuation will follow

Part 3 of my autobiographical short story: Next day I had to handle with something in Jesushouse-office. When I had reached the second floor and stood in front of the bureau door, I noticed a sheet of paper fastened to it. I read: “Next Sunday the … adult baptism takes place in Grevenbroich Chapel. Registration for it here in bureau!” My interest was stimulated. I went inside and asked the secretary. “Hello! Please, tell me … the annunciation on the door. What is meant with adult baptism?" Ten minute later, when I left the office, I had been registered for the upcoming baptism on next Sunday. And also for a preparation course on Saturday. “This is a condition for the baptism. You will get there all advice and information you need ” , the secretary had told me. Now outside the bureau I felt a little bit uneasy. Had I decided correctly? Or had I made my decision too spontaneous? The secretary had informed me that the adult baptism based on the New testament. “First coming to faith, then baptism! Not vice versa!” I had come to the same result in my bible study. Nevertheless I normally would have taken my time for such an important decision. But it was already Wednesday and time had been pressing. The next chance for such a adult baptism would perhaps be months later. “My bible reading … The sheet of paper. No, this could not be a coincidence! Now is the time!”, I thought. And began to feel a little bit more easy. Continuation will follow

Part 2 of my new short story My story started on a normal morning some months after my conversion to Jesus. As usually after breakfast I was occupied with my daily bible reading, when came to the point, where was told that all Christians had been baptized after coming to faith. Well, I probably had read this before and perhaps It had been also mentioned before in a preach, but I never had had the feeling that it would have a meaning for me. But this morning I suddenly became aware that I hadn't been baptized after my conversion. There had been a baptism at the age of 8 in a catholic church. But this was 20 years before coming to faith. The first Christians in the Bible had been baptized after coming to faith. I felt slightly confused. Did I need a "new" baptism? Continuation will follow

The Touch The iconic image of the hand of God giving life to Adam. As I have mentioned often before my conversion to Jesus Christ in the summer of 1985 had been a decisive point in my life. Presumably the decisive point! There is a “before that” and an “after that”. You can easily check that since this time almost 26 years now have passed. Half of my lifetime! Enough time for observation and evaluation, I hope! So, I think that I can honestly tell you that during this time I have experienced uncountable proofs of God`s existence and his favour according to me. Most of them were daily-life-experiences. Small hints, little helps and encouragements, advices, also sometimes an admonition, lessons, sometimes a dream, a gift and so on. Uncountable! But some of those experiences were very extraordinary and therefore unforgettable. They were so intensively that they seem to be “burned” into the bottom of my soul forever. “The five Clouds” is one of them! And from another one I want tell you now. Please enjoy! Continuation will follow!

Part 6 of my short story: God had given me an extraordinary revelation. This was for me now completely out of question. But what should I do now? How should I react? The bible passage of Moses and the burning bush came in my mind. When he saw that the bush wasn`t burning up, he realized that this was a heavenly revelation. And suddenly God spoke from within the burning bush: “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (2.Mose 3,4+5) Well, for taking off my shoes it was too cold. But I knelt down and thanked God for his revelation. Then I stood up and turned around. Without any further at the place of revelation I went straight ahead into the forest and took the direct path to Pastor John from Ghana. Continuation will follow