Asia, Can, Tabea, & Cathy (left photo) and Cathy & Monk
ON THE STREETS OF BERLIN AT THE KUDAMM
This week Asia, FIRE missionary to Germany orginally from Poland, is visiting me and today Tabea & Can joined us as we walked around Kudamm, talking to people about Jesus. The most interesting conversation was with Monk, a young man who was sitting with the punks and goths. He and I made eye contact and so we began talking - his English was quite good - and come to find out that he in on a journey to seek truth through God! He had given up drugs and alcohol because they didn't help him. Monk listened to everything we had to say and even let us pray for him, but he struggled about Jesus, which of course is no surprise since Jesus is THE ONE Who makes ALL the difference! It was a divine appointment and after I gave him my testimony tract and before we left, he said, "I am going to have to think a lot about all that you said!" I told him, "If what we are saying is not true, who cares, but... if what we are saying IS true, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT!" Yes, the Holy Spirit really nailed him with His love - halleluajah! Of course, while we were witnessing to Monk, a punk sitting nearby was lighting one of my tracts on fire. LORD, PLEASE SAVE MONK AND MAY THE FIRE OF GOD IGNITE A HOLY JESUS REVOLUTION IN BERLIN!!!

And I believe the LORD is saying...
"Yes, you are my beloved child in whom I am well pleased! Arise and come away with me and do not believe the lies of the wicked one. You are mine, you always have been and you always will be - nothing will separate my love from you, my beloved. On the cross the work was finished, now simply believe this and walk in confident faith. By my wounds you have been healed and I sent my Word and healed your diseases! This is TRUTH and the truth brings freedom. Come and allow me to wash off the cares of the world as you bask in my presence even now. Your are my chosen, accepted, anointed, appointed, gifted, beautiful child FOREVER and EVER!" Then the LORD showed me a waterfall and we were standing under it, enjoying the refreshing, clean, cool water as it flowed over us - our eyes were closed and we had a BIG smile on our face! AMEN!!! Yes, LORD! May we have faith to believe the truth and walk in it each day. Thank You, Abba Daddy, that Your Word washes us and refreshes us by Your Holy Spirit. DANKE JESUS!!!

ALIYAH!
Aliyah (Hebrew for Jewish immigration to Israel) is on the increase despite terrorism, economic instability and Israel's uncertain political future. Jews from around the world continue to move to the land and today, more than one million olim (Hebrew for new immigrants) from the former Soviet Union constitute Israel's largest immigrant population. It is biblical prophecy being fulfilled ("In that day the Lord will bring back a remnant of his people for the second time, returning them to the land of Israel from Assyria, Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, Ethiopia, Elam, Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands. He will raise a flag among the nations for Israel to rally around. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth." Isaiah 11)! And just this past Wednesday, nearly 400 more Jews arrived from the USA and Canada.
More info:
Nefesh B'Nefesh
Fulfilling the Call: Bringing God's People Home - www.cbn.com
Teaching on Aliyah - www.ebenezer-ef.org

WE PRESS ON!
In an effort earlier today to bring attention to the abortion dilemma, I sent out an email asking what the difference was between the Nazi holocaust and the current abortion holocaust. Then I added an intense account of a man who lived in Germany when Hitler was hunting down & murdering the Jews (click here to read it - very powerful!). The question is, what does a person do to stop abortion today? Over the years I have written anti-abortion letters to editors, volunteered at a pregnancy crisis center, taught post-abortion Bible studies, voted pro-life, called and wrote my representatives, handed out pro-life flyers, talked to girls & their families outside abortion clinics before and sometimes after, wrote & sang pro-life songs, stood on street corners with giant posters of aborted babies, shared my personal abortion story with many, walked in pro-life parades & rallies, currently am passing out tracts in English & German which tell of my abortion pain & healing from Jesus, started and am maintaining a pro-life/pro-Israel website, and of course, I have prayed and will continue to do so. But is it ever enough? It doesn't matter. We continue and we don't stop. I know from reading about Nazi Germany, most all who protested against Hitler either lost their lives or were imprisoned. Am I willing to take that kind of risk? I'd like to think so. The whole abortion issue is very frustrating and it is easy to get emotional about it. In faith, we go forward with the mind of Christ and with God's wisdom & His holy boldness to obey in love what the Spirit is telling us individually!

Click on each deep-space photo to see enlargement
THE CONCEPT OF DIVINE CONTROL by Oswald Chambers from My Utmost for His Highest
. . . how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:11)
Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct in this passage for those people who have His Spirit. He urges us to keep our minds filled with the concept of God’s control over everything, which means that a disciple must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek. Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, "My heavenly Father knows all about this!" This will be no effort at all, but will be a natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise. Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but now you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those people who have His Spirit, and it works on the following principle: God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry? Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him. At times God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. Not even the smallest detail of life happens unless God’s will is behind it. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. "Ask, and it will be given to you . . ." (Matthew 7:7)

The Berliner Dom and a spider web
DON'T WORRY ABOUT EVERYDAY LIFE
Nature often speaks to us and over the years the LORD has used spider webs to remind me of His provision. Yesterday was no exception. While my friends, Stacey & Mark, and I were looking at the magnificent view from the top of the Berliner Dom, I noticed a very small spider web in a corner and as I watched briefly this little spider carry dinner across her web, I was reminded of the passage in Matthew 6 in which Jesus tells His followers, "Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." God feeds the birds and they don't plant seeds nor harvest food - He simply provides for them and the LORD loves us so much more than the birds! And this little spider spins her web and patiently waits for dinner to come. And each day, God provides not only for this little spider but for each of us who trust in Him. Thank You, Abba Daddy, for Your faithful love and daily provision!

PRAISE THE LORD!
Praise God in his heavenly dwelling; praise him in his mighty heaven!
Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!
Praise him with a blast of the trumpet; praise him with the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that lives sing praises to the LORD: PRAISE THE LORD!
(Psalm 150)

Cathy, Stacey, Mark at the Berlin Wall
THE CRAYTON"S COME TO GERMANY
On their way home to Atlanta from a mission trip to India, my long-time friends, Mark & Stacey Crayton, are here for a week's visit! As fellow believers in Jesus and passionate intercessors, we are prayer-touring significant historic sections of this fascinating city. Stacey is a teacher and writer while Mark is master carpenter with a love for history. May the LORD be glorified through His bride today - hallelujah!

REALLY BELIEVE AND DO NOT DOUBT IN YOUR HEART
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. I assure you that you can say to this mountain, `May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and your command will be obeyed. All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart. Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too." (Mark 11)

Walid today with his family in the USA and as a teen in front of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem near where he grew up as a Muslim
A TERRORIST WHO TURNED TO LOVE
Walid Shoebat is a wonderful example of hope. Over the past year, I have read his story several times and saw a brief video (takes a few minutes to load) in which he tells about his life prior to becoming a Christian. Today, there is an internet interview of him which gives more insight into the thinking of terrorists, which he once was. May the LORD continue to bless him and use him more and more each day!

OLYMPICS PAST AND PRESENT
(photos: Torch passed in Berlin June 30, 2004; Berlin Olympic Stadium today; One of many excluded Jews in 1936, Grete Bermann; American champion Jesse Owens; 1936 Berlin Olympic Bell calling all youth)
In 36 days, the Olympics begin in Athens. When I was in high school in Burbank, California, we were very excited when Cathy Ferguson, one of our fellow students, went to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and won two gold metals in swimming. Then in 1996, while living in Atlanta, my daughter told me about an explosion she heard while downtown & then saw people running towards her, only to discover later that a bomb went off at Centennial Olympic Park sadly leaving two people dead and over a hundred injured. Just last week, I visited with friends the Berlin Olympic Stadium which was built by the Nazis and began reading about its history. In 1936, the hope was that the Berlin Games would be a beacon of hope in the global shadow cast by the Great Depression. Germany's Third Reich planned to use the Games as a glittering showcase of Aryan superiority. However, African-American sprinter Jesse Owens, "the fastest human being," captured four gold medals and became the hero of the Olympics. Interestingly, it was in 1936 that the first Olympic torch relay tradition began. The torch, lit at the Temple of Zeus in Greece, passed through 3,000 pairs of hands across seven countries before it reached Berlin's Olympic stadium. Today the Berlin Olympic Stadium is being renovated for the soccer World Cup in 2006, but next year the stadium will host the "Calling All Nations" global gathering June 25, 2005 which is a vision for stadium worship where people from all around the world will gather to worship Jesus Christ, the true Champion of the world!
Read about some Olympic Christian athletes:
Shelia Burrell
Penny Heyns
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Eric Liddell

THE PARCHED GROUND SHALL BECOME A POOL
Isaiah 35 Hope for Restoration
"Even the wilderness will rejoice in those days. The desert will blossom with flowers. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel's pastures and the plain of Sharon. There the LORD will display his glory, the splendor of our God. With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those who are afraid, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you." And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will shout and sing! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the desert. The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived. And a main road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-hearted people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God's ways; fools will never walk there. Lions will not lurk along its course, and there will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will follow it. Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return to Jerusalem, singing songs of everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be overcome with joy and gladness."

NEUE SYNAGOGE IN BERLIN
Today, Germany is one of the most reliable allies of the State of Israel. Limited diplomatic relations were established between the two states in 1956 and in 1965, relations were fully normalized, even though the move led to the severance of relations between Germany and most Arab states. In subsequent years, Germany has become second only to the United States in its economic relations with Israel, by importing and exporting, and providing assistance in the form of grants and loans. Additionally, Germany has played a leading role in shaping the pro-Israel attitudes of many European countries. And this past April, the Conference on Anti-Semitism, was held in Berlin with many world leaders including US Secretary Colin Powell. Click HERE to read more.

KRISTALLNACHT (NIGHT OF THE BROKEN GLASS) NOVEMBER 9-10, 1938
On this night, thousands of synagogues, cemeteries, Jewish homes and shops throughout Germany were looted and burned, followed by increased pursecution of all Jews by the Nazis. Click HERE to read more.

MENORAH
One of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith is the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple. The kohanim lit the menorah in the Sanctuary every evening and cleaned it out every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. Construction of the menorah is found in Exodus 25:31-40. It has been said that the menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and our mission to be "a light unto the nations." (Isaiah 42:6). Click HERE to read more.

DEPENDING ON GOD ON INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Growing up in America, today was always a big celebration with friends and family as we looked with great expectation to nightfall so we could light fireworks in front of our home. It is Independence Day as we Americans celebrate our freedom as a nation. However, we must acknowledge that the great majority of our founding fathers were passionate followers of Jesus Christ who believed the Bible and depended on God. Did you know that 52 of the 55 signers of The Declaration of Independence were orthodox, deeply committed, Christians? The other three all believed in the Bible as the divine truth, the God of scripture, and His personal intervention. It is the same Congress that formed the American Bible Society that immediately after creating the Declaration of Independence that voted to purchase and import 20,000 copies of Scripture for the people of this nation. Patrick Henry, who is called the firebrand of the American Revolution, is still remembered for his words, "Give me liberty or give me death", but in current textbooks, the context of these words is omitted. Here is what he actually said: "An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. But we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God that presides over the destinies of nations. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone. Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death." These sentences have been erased from our textbooks. Was Patrick Henry a Christian? The following year, 1776, he wrote this: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." And consider these words that Thomas Jefferson wrote in the front of his well-worn Bible: "I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator." He was also the chairman of the American Bible Society, which he considered his highest and most important role. Today, as a missionary in Berlin, I continually talk to people who consider themselves atheists and do not believe in God. So after telling them about Jesus, I encourage them to ask God if He is real and who is this Jesus. True freedom, something we all want and enjoy only comes through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, who says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

FINAL SOLUTION
Today our friend, Manfred Glimm, gave us a wonderful tour of many significant Berlin sights before Sharolyn leaves on Sunday. And for me, the most intense & gut-wrenching was our visit to the Wannsee Conference House. Here in the formal dining room of this beautiful villa (once owned by a Jewish businessman) on January 20, 1942, fifteen high-ranking Nazis met to discuss the "final solution" to the "Jewish problem". The extensive exhibition gives full documentation with many photos of the horrific history of the holocaust as it describes the social exclusion, persectution, expulsion, confinement, deportation, and finally murder of the European Jews before and during WW2.

SPACE
The above photos taken of Saturn, a galaxy, and deep space more than prove there is a Creator, and His name is Jehovah God Almighty, the Great I AM, everlasting Father, JESUS! "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." Together these made up one day." (Genesis 1)

THE HOLY PLACE
Every Thursday and Friday night, The Holy Place in Berlin-Spandau is open to all to worship the Lord, pray, fellowship, and enjoy the sweet presence of the our Bridegroom King, Jesus. (For more info, please call 030 / 362 3181, email dan@crazy-christians.de, or go to their website: www.crazy-christians.de)

SHARING JESUS IN THE PARK
Yesterday, Sharolyn and I joined Maria and Rosemary in Hasenheide Park located in Neukölln, home to many Muslims. While sitting on the grass worshipping the Lord with guitar, Ali came over to listen. He is one of the many Palestinians drug dealers that do business in this large and beautiful part of Berlin. He heard the Gospel and received a New Testament in Arabic. While Sharolyn and Maria were talking to him, a few Muslim girls sitting not too far away keep smiling at me and said something, so with guitar, I went to them. One asked in English if I would sing to them, so I asked her name and ended up singing a personalized song to each one about how much God loved them. Maria joined me and was able to help translate although they seemed to speak good English. The girls, 13, 14, & 16 were with their mother and baby sister. Feeling a bit limited, as they obviously believed in Allah and not my Jesus, I wasn't sure what to say next. But the Holy Spirit guided me to share how I came to find Jesus as my Savior and told them about forgiveness of sin through His cross and resurrection. They listened and asked some questions, so we gave them each a different tract in Arabic, including the Gospel of Luke. SAVE THEM, LORD JESUS! (Note: Three months ago, following weeks of controversy over Islamic headscarves, municipal lawmakers barred Berlin city employees from wearing "visible religious symbols" of any kind, which bans the wearing of Moslem headscarves, Christian crosses, Jewish skullcaps and Sikh turbans by school teachers, police officers, firefighters, court officers and municipal office workers. This created great public debate as Berlin has a large Moslem community consisting primarily of immigrants from conservative rural regions of Turkey, where women routinely wear headscarves - some 136,400 Turks live in Berlin, representing 5 per cent of the total Turkish immigrant population in Europe, not to mention Muslims from other countries. Berlin became the sixth state in Germany to bar headscarves, following similar legislation in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Hessen, the Saarland and Lower Saxony.) On our way home, we prayer-walked by the very large controversial new mosque which was built it too tall, so Berlin officials won't let it be used at this time. LORD GOD, PLEASE BRING FREEDOM AND TRUTH TO THOSE DECEIVED BY ISLAM, WE ASK IN JESUS NAME. (Read the stories of former Muslims who are now Christians HERE!)