A REFUGE FROM THE STORM
I was TOTALLY blessed today when I read this portion of Isaiah's prophetic prayer in chapter 25, O LORD, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them. You turn mighty cities into heaps of ruins. Cities with strong walls are turned to rubble. Beautiful palaces in distant lands disappear and will never be rebuilt. Therefore, strong nations will declare your glory; ruthless nations will revere you. But to the poor, O LORD, you are a refuge from the storm. To the needy in distress, you are a shelter from the rain and the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall, or like the relentless heat of the desert. But you silence the roar of foreign nations. You cool the land with the shade of a cloud. So the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled. In Jerusalem,the LORD Almighty will spread a wonderful feast for everyone around the world. It will be a delicious feast of good food, with clear, well-aged wine and choice beef. In that day he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The LORD has spoken! In that day the people will proclaim, "This is our God. We trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!" This is all wonderful, but in our busy lives, let's also remember what the LORD says a few chapters earlier, But all your feverish plans are to no avail because you never ask God for help. Heavenly Father, thank You that you are our refuge from the storms of life. LORD, please forgive us for not asking You for help in all our plans. We need You more than we realize! Thank You, LORD Jesus, for setting us free through the Cross and thank You for the abundant life You give us. May we never forget Your promises and may we always be quick to repent when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. Amen!

Kevin, Can, Tabea, Simon, Susan, & Judith
I WORSHIP YOU, O LORD!
Six-year-old Kevin came running up as soon as we arrived in the downtown area of Berlin-Spandau yesterday, very excited and happy to see his Kindergarten teacher, Can. Kevin sat with us for close to an hour playing the shaker, praising Jesus while others of us shared the good news of Jesus Christ. Seeds were planted and one man asked Jesus into his heart! As we talked to Kevin's mother, she told us that he adores Can, talking about him all the time. This little guy loves to pray and has been begging his parents to take him to church! Not knowing anything about Jesus nor the Bible, they finally bought him a children's Bible for his birthday & now they are all reading God's Word! This reminds me of when Jesus quoted Psalm 8 ("O LORD, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and nursing infants to give you praise.") to the religious leaders who became angry when they heard the little children in the Temple shouting to Jesus, "Praise God for the Son of David." YES, LORD!

ALL OF GOD'S PROMISES HAVE BEEN FULFILLED IN HIS SON!
This morning the LORD reminded me that I could trust Him TOTALLY because He is faithful to keep His promises! Several weeks after arriving in Berlin in 2002, I asked the LORD, "What am I doing here?" and later that day, while walking on the bridge over the Spree River near my flat, I saw a beautiful rainbow. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, "Just delight yourself in me and I will do the rest." Tears rolled down my face as I stood there, my eyes fixed on the beauty of God. I thought about how after the flood, the LORD told Noah, "I am giving you a sign as evidence of my eternal covenant with you and all living creatures. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my permanent promise to you and to all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with everything that lives. Never again will there be a flood that will destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth. Yes, this is the sign of my covenant with all the creatures of the earth." And today, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, never wavers between yes and no. He is the divine Yes--God's affirmation. For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in him. That is why we say "Amen" when we give glory to God through Christ. It is God who gives us the ability to stand firm for Christ - He has commissioned us and he has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment of everything He will give us. Our heavenly Father already knows all our needs, and He will give us all we need from day to day if we live for Him and make the Kingdom of God our primary concern. AMEN!

WORSHIP EVANGELISM AT KUDAMM
Like me, both Tabea and Can love to worship God AND they love to tell people about their wonderful Savior, JESUS! So today we did both down at Kudamm. We prayed, we sang, we spoke, we listened, we rejoiced, we proclaimed, and we saw God touch hearts. During the 2 hours there, we talked with a couple of young guys (Thomas spoke great English) vacationing here from Lithuania, a fellow who goes to school here from Cameron, a few Arabic Moslem drug dealers from Lebanon, a homeless man, and some visiting students from Bavaria, to name a few. My friend Simone came and helped translate for me. Both Tabea and Can are looking forward to going back SOON! WILL YOU PLEASE SET THE BERLIN PEOPLE FREE, JESUS? THANK YOU, LORD!

Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution
And even though evil people and impostors will flourish, deceiving others and being deceived themselves, we must remain faithful to the things we have been taught in the holy Scriptures. The Word of God has given us the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. Yes, all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right – it’s God's way of preparing us and fully equipping us for every good thing He wants us to do. I recently read some advice from an anointed servant of God. He said, “First read the Bible and then obey it. Then read it again!” GOOD ADVICE! God and Christ Jesus will someday judge the living and the dead when He appears to set up His Kingdom, so until then we are to preach the word of God. We are to be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. We are to patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage others with good teaching. We should keep a clear mind in every situation and not be afraid of suffering for the Lord as we work at bringing others to Christ. I pray that we each complete the ministry God has given us. AMEN!

Worship evangelism with Can, Tabea, Simon, & Asia in Berlin-Spandau; Cathy, Asia, Tabea, & Can; Starbucks with Asia; Berlin FIRE Bear!
FUN WEEK WITH ASIA
Tomorrow Asia leaves for Poland to visit family & friends and it has been wonderful having her here. As missionaries with evangelistic giftings, we both love to talk to people about Jesus, so for me, it has been so much fun having her here! Yesterday, we again went to Kudamm with Tabea & Can to evangelise. Simon, Tabea's brother, also joined us. We spoke to several people including a few punks, most of whom have very painful pasts - many seeds were planted - but we all want to return, next time with guitars, drums, and Simon may bring his paint to do prophetic art as well - GO GOD! And last night, we had Bible study at Maria's - John 18 this week - and we also read through the list aloud of "Who I am in Christ" - very powerful as we proclaim the truth! (Click here to see list.) HALLELUJAH, JESUS LOVES BERLIN!

Pensacola Beach Sunset
GOD'S PROMISE
"How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God's secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure. And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ--everything in heaven and on earth." (Ephesians 1)

Full of WIND, full of COLOR, and full of FUN!
VISION
Today the LORD gave me a vision for a friend of a big sail, very colorful, very full of wind and blowing across the water having great fun! To me, this speaks to all who have ears to hear... the Wind is the Holy Spirit Who guides and directs us, the colors are the gifts and callings of God, and the fun is the joyful journey we have when we focus on Jesus, the Author of our faith and the Savior of our soul!

WHILE WALKING THROUGH THE PARK TODAY
Asia and I had a couple of divine appointments. The first was a girl who sat next to us while we fed the ducks/birds/swans bread crumbs. She was from Georgia and was Orthadox, so she knew about Jesus but wasn't sure what it meant to be born-again. We talked more with her and after giving her a tract, we prayed for her which must have blessed her, as she then gave me a big hug & said, "Thank you!" SAVE HER, LORD JESUS! And the second was with Adam, a man orginally from England who was walking his dog, a pretty Irish Setter. I first noticed him walk past us because of his dog. Then later, I happen to notice him again on the other side of the lake, so I prayed for him. Finally, there he was AGAIN sitting by the fountain in front of us! So I thought, "Ok - we need to talk to this guy!" So we went up to him - he was friendly and when we started to talk about Jesus, he said he grew up in a Christian home. However, he now wasn't sure about God and the many tatoos up and down his arms told of an intense past. I pointed to his arms and commented that it looked like he had been "down some roads" and then shared that I too had traveled some painful paths, telling a bit of my testimony. Without going into detail, he spoke some of his struggles which included loosing his children. We told him how the LORD wanted to renew His relationship with God, like the prodigal son, and that His heavenly Father was waiting for him, ready to run to him with open arms. The Holy Spirit was touching his heart and he said something like. "You don't realize how significant it was that you came and talked to me today." He let us pray for him & I gave him a tract about forgiveness. LORD JESUS, PLEASE SAVE ADAM AND MAY HE DISCOVER THE HEALING POWER OF YOUR LOVE THROUGH THE FATHER'S HEART!

Photo from Topography of Terros in Berlin
60 YEARS AGO
Today Germany is honoring those Germans who actively opposed Nazi tyranny. 60 years ago today the most famous plot to kill Adolf Hitler with a briefcase bomb was attempted by Col. Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg & some of his officers. Stauffenberg placed the bomb in a conference room with Hitler, but when the Nazi leader escaped the blast, the aristocrat and his cohorts were arrested and executed. This plot is just one example of anti-Nazi resistance by Germans. Stauffenberg co-conspirators Maj. Gen. Henning von Tresckow and Maj. Gen. Hans Oster were already plotting as early as 1934 to bring Hitler down. In Munich, students formed The White Rose movement, distributing pamphlets urging "passive resistance" starting in 1942. Helmuth James von Moltke's Kreisau Circle started working in secret to end the dictatorship in 1940. Like Stauffenberg, von Tresckow, Oster, von Moltke and the principals of The White Rose were either executed by the Nazis or committed suicide. German President Horst Koehler hailed the July 20 plotters as "patriots" as "they did what they did for Germany, for the self-respect of our country and for a better future."

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.