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Part 5 of my short story There was a point where the nature path went over from open area to a big forest. And just there was placed an old bench. I knew that from earlier walks. So, I had adapted myself to relax there for a while. But when I reached it I saw an old couple sitting there. “Well, it is not my day,” I thought by myself. No one else was visible than that old couple just sitting on my bench. I was already prepared to pass by, when they suddenly arose and walked away into the forest. With a feeling of slight relief and thankfulness I now came to rest on the old bench. I stretched out my feet and stared absent-minded in front of me. (OLD BENCH © James Gibson | Dreamstime.com) It was really a beautiful winter day. A blue sky combined with clear, fresh air. But I wasn`t able to enjoy that. I felt depressed and exhausted. The shock of the last hour had been to deep. While I was sitting in that strange on the old bench my eyes went unintentionally into the sky. And they got caught,- do not ask me why -, on some white clouds in some distance of me. They were exactly five ones standing side by side. “Have they been there all the time?” I asked myself. Normally it would have been ridiculous for me to watch some clouds in the sky, but here wasn`t to watch anything else. A strange thought came into my mind: “Don`t they look a little bit like letters?” So, I tried to look at them keeping this aspect in my mind. And really, I realized with great astonishment that every single cloud seemed to be shaped as a letter. And then I got it. At the sky was written, shaped by five clouds the word: J_e_s_u-s I stared disbelievingly at the clouds. Could that really be? Was I am dreaming? I took off my glasses and tried it again. There was no doubt. The five clouds were shaping the name Jesus! And in the same moment came a bible verse into my mind: “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth …Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4,11 + 12) And then I realized it in one moment. God had answered my prayer. He had let me see a miracle to help my fainting faith. I was stunned. Could it really be that God would do that? But it was obviously. He had really done. At the sky was clearly readable the name above all names: Jesus Continuation will follow

Part 4 of my autobiographical short story "The five Clouds": (That free photo is taken from bigfoto.com) Actually, I calmed down a little bit! “So, what should I do now?” , I asked myself. Suddenly “Brother John” came in my mind. This black pastor from Ghana, who had settled down in Duesseldorf half a year ago. I liked and trusted him! “OK”, I thought by myself, “this is a good idea. I will visit and ask him!” Two minutes later I left my home. For a moment I thought about taking the bus, but then I decided to walk. “Brother John” was living in the neighbour district and there was a lonesome nature path to it. I had used it sometimes before. When I walked through the small forest still in the near of my home, a new thought suddenly came in my mind. “Perhaps I should pray!?” But immediately it was countered by another thought. “You will pray to a God whose existence you are doubting?” For a moment I hesitated. But then I said to myself, “Anyway, it may help. I will pray!” And so I stopped and prayed. “God, you see my inner trouble. l, help me out of it!” I felt a slight relief. But naturally, that heavy burden was still laying on my soul. Absorbed with confusing thoughts and feelings I continued my walk. * Continuation will follow

Part 3 of my autobiographical short story: It happened on a sunny winter morning. I just had had breakfast and had already done my daily bible studies. Busy with some home works I now was listening radio, but not much intensively. But at the end of the ten o`clock-news the speaker caught my full attention: “In Africa archaeologists have been grabbed out human bones of 30 000 years-of-age. The age of the bones has been established through the C-14 method, which is known as a very precise one. It is a sensation … “ The rest of the news passed unheard. My own thoughts had taken over the the rule of my mind. “30 000 years-of-age … but this is not possible … the bible says that Adam lived 6000- 6550 years ago!” I felt panic rising up. There was difference of at least 23 000 years. And I knew that the reliability of the C14- method was out of question. A horrifying question manifested in my mind, “ Is all wrong what I have believed the last six months. Is my faith, are Jesus and God an illusion … a fake!!??… Am I in sect, as my parents believed? Have I betrayed myself?” From one second to the next I felt myself in a deep emotional trouble. It seemed that the ground had opened in front of me and I would look into an abyss. With desperation I said to myself: “Stop it! You must keep cool and think clearly!” So I sat down and tried to collect my thoughts. Continuation will follow

The five Clouds “When you think that you are standing, take care of yourself that you do not fall!” (Bible) In the first six months I made quickly progresses in my new faith. Like a dried swam I absorbed everything I could get. So I went at least three times a week into the Pentecostal Church of my hometown and studied daily my bible. Besides I was interested in Christian Literature generally, especially in autobiographical stories. More than this, I talked enthusiastically with others about the truth of my new way. I tried to convince them like a “good Christian” should do! If someone would have asked me “Are you really total convinced of your faith? Without any doubts?” I would have answered without any hesitation: “I am absolutely convinced! There is no doubt possible. It is the truth!” And I would have been proud of my new and strong faith. Well, I didn`t know the upcoming day, God had made to test my faith and show me my heart! The Continuation will follow

1985 surely was a very decisive year in my life. Perhaps the decisive year of my life! It was the year, when I became under dramatic circumstances a believer of Jesus Christ. I told about it before. (http://mauerblume.de.tl/-The-Visit-of-the-Lord.htm) But in the following year something happened that might be called the most extraordinary story of my life. At least it should compete with three or four other candidates for that “award”! And here is the title: The five Clouds Continuation will follow

I have just completed my autobiographical narrative "The Sting of the Mosquito" on my homepage http://mauerblume.de.tl/The-Sting-of-the-Mosquito.htm

The Departure 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. (Genesis 12) We do not know whether Abram lived a good life in Haran or not. At least it seems that he wasn`t a poor man. He was married, had "people" and possessions. And probably the leader of that community. But when God`s call came into his life he didn`t hesitate. At least we do not read about it! He went! So, a small party departed out of Haran and they came to Kanaan, a wild country of many tribes and with no government. Well, ask yourself! Would you go when you have got such a call from God. Give up all your present daily life and go into a country without a concrete vision and securities? Only the promise of God that he will show and help? I personally think I would do! But perhaps with a "greasy feeling" in my stomach!

In German is a Proverb that reminds us: "Unexpected things often happen suddenly and by surprise!" Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen. Conan O'Brien, Final Tonight Show Speech, 2010(phot taken from bigfoto.com)

9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 (New International Version) +There is nothing new under the sun but there are lots of old things we don't know. Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914) Truro, der Verwaltungssitz von Cornwall

I like that quote from the Book of Jeremia (chapter 17) 14 Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. http://www.bigfoto.com/sites/galery/photos10/apples-tree.jpg

You may delay, but time will not.Benjamin FranklinUS author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)Portrait by Joseph Siffred Duplessis.A similar one:He who hesitates is a damned fool. Mae West (1892 - 1980)Well, are you a vaciliator? Someone, who often hesitates and delays? I am, sometimes! This attitude has often helped me to avoid doing something stupid or wrong. On the other hand, there is obviously also a danger in it. One can miss the right time for action.

I'm an idealist. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way.Carl Sandburg, Incidentals (1907)US biographer & poet (1878 - 1967) Carl Sandburg in 1955 I like that quote as far as I am a christian, who is often in struggle between realism and idealism. So you can replace the word idealist in the quote through your own word. It will be always correct. Most of times you do not know your way you have to go on earth :-)

This is my first onlinebook telling my story coming to christian faith http://www.bookrix.com/_title-en-heinrich-in-the-spell-of-evil-magic For looking into it you have tov register at bookrix, but it is free ansd you can delete it at every time

"Life is not always fair. ... but God is good!" ( Schuller) This morning I heard a preaching about this proclamation. I liked it! Later the Josephstory from the Old Testimony came in my mind.- I think that it is a really good illustration of the statement from above. Life wasn`t always fair, especially in his younger years, with Joseph. It happened a desaster with deep consequences for his life. It took him offroad. But with God`s help he could deal with the circumstances and difficulties of his life for many years, and at the end it came to a real happy end Here you can read a short synopsis of it: http://www.dltk-bible.com/genesis/story_of_joseph-cv.htm *** Life is not always fair: ... but God is good! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgA-6FI3wuY

Become a "private detective"! Do you think that you understand yourself, the things around you and in the world? Well, I myself sometimes believe it . But to be honest, this is far away from truth. Naturally! No one can understand reality completly. Only a very,very tiny part of it may be possible. The own life, the things around us and what`s going on in the world are a big puzzle.- So should we become resignative now? No , naturally not! I think that we should try to understand life a liitle bit better than before. And research the aspects of our own lives as a "private detective" would do.

Here a poem I found today. It reminds to use the possibilities of life in time : When I'm Gone By A. Peri Writing your own obituary is a good idea. So is writing your own eulogy: I want to say that when I’m gone I want you to remember me in the sheets of rain, flashes of lightning and the roar of thunder that rides over the nighttime skies. I don’t want you to sit beside a hole in the ground to weep. I’m not there. I left. I’m in the folds of tulips, the fragrance of jasmine, the whispers of a child and music that makes you want to dance until you’re breathless. But wait. Remember me as someone who sometimes faced doors I never entered. I was afraid. Afraid of failure, criticism and ridicule. Entrance was given to me and I chose to ignore it. I defied it. No, that’s a lie. I killed it. I killed it with the knife of insecurity. I stabbed it and chewed on it for years until it dripped blood just as surely as if it met a mad cannibal in a dark alley. I never talked much about fame or success. It was something that happened to others. Not me. Give us this day our daily bread. I would have liked my edible daily bread but that sustenance was for others. I felt unworthy so I left. But I loved. Oh, how I loved with unimaginable depth and intensity: my children, my family, my closest friends, my home, my garden, my baking and every snapshot ever taken. Now I’ve come to a place where there are no doors to open, no unknown trails no risks to take no fame no success nothing to offer because I left. Whenever you can: take every chance, open every door, learn the destination of and walk every unmarked trail. And while you walk along those paths I want to leave you with a song in the crystalline core of your being. May it be a raucous clamor, a carefree din that tempts you to dance until you’re breathless. And while you’re doing all of those things, remember me.

My earliest remembrance is one of three or four years-of-age. I was riding on a scooter to one of the borders of my little world. When arriving at that border, a railway crossing , I stopped and looked curiously into the unknown land. On that day I didnt cross that border, but later in life I crossed several others. And not always such you can see, and not all crossings were good. It seems obvious to me that we all live our normal lives inside of visible and invisible borders. But sometimes the time is ripe to set out for crossing a border. Or you cross a border you better not have done. I will try in the next time to research this theme a little bit more here. (the photo is taken from bigfoto.com) Continuation will follow

The legend of "King Artus and Camelot" is a very famous one. Today I saw a nice poem: Don’t let it be forgot That once there was a spot For one brief shining moment that was known As Camelot So may be everyone has he own "Camelot" that (s)he will not forget although that time passed by and the spot is not the same as before

Fork in a road was the word in my English trainer for today. It means to stand in front of a big decision "If your career has come to a fork in the road, take some time off to think about it, or at least go the pub and talk it over with your mates."

[Jesus Again Predicts His Death] Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”- Matthew 20: 17-19 Isn`t it strange that this day is called in English "Good friday". So it was a good day when Jesus died innocently at the cross, as bible tells us. Well, it was surely not a good day for Jesus himself, but a good day for us! He died for our eternal salvation at the cross. This at least is the faith and the message of the New testimony. The bible verse above reminds us, that he knew before about his death and accepted this as the will of god. John Berry - The Old Rugged Cross