Here are some pictures from our medieval dinner show about 3 weeks ago?  Basically, it consisted of too much food (12 courses) and this guy in the first picture playing these old instruments and doing these magic tricks.  We didn't know what to expect... The Germans aren't exactly known for theatre so I didn't have my sights set too high... but in the end, it probably wasn't too far off from what I would have imagined.  Formula for success went like this:

lots of food + lots of beer + music and magic tricks by the elf looking guy in the first picture = a good time.

It was fun... not something we probably would do again though.   

Entertainer for the evening

Uhh, like, I said... not known for theatre.  A picture show put to music, as memory serves

SSgt Rudd, one of my co-workers

el diablo?  This is my supervisor.  This picture alone made the trip worthwhile.

Kate and I

LONG LIVE LOVE,

Jason

my heart is full

A few months ago, the chapel announced a new couples Bible Study... I immediately felt God pushing us to go (and ask Kate, immediate anything isn't exactly common).  The study started last week and sadly, I was scheming how I could lie to Kate about not going.  Sadly, I was thinking about how I could sound shocked about forgetting... perfectly aware that I was choosing selfishness over God.  Silly humans, when will we learn?  So, tonight I went, representing Kate and I... and it was amazing.  The study was God's you know?  It was honoring to Him, I think- studying to become more Christ-like in this wonderful institution called marriage.  My heart is full (which may give way to anxiousness considering the homework mounting)... and I suspect Kate's will be as well when we go together next week.  It's an awesome feeling when you feel your heart overflowing with God's goodness.  I think when we try to take the goodness and hold on to it, it becomes overwhelming... funny how when we appropriate it by simply thanking the One who gives it in the first place, it becomes manageable, it becomes something that flows through us.

I found out today that I will start supervising someone on Monday.  This means writing a decoration... an EPR (enlisted performance report).  I'm taking a business management class.  I used "manageable" in the last paragraph.  AHHH, its coming... yep, its coming.  It'll be good though.  I'm mostly excited.

So, inauguration... did you guys watch it?  I missed the speech but I'll catch it online soon.  Thoughts?  Wow, being president.  Man, republican/democrat aside, it really takes a special person to do that job.  Can you imagine the focus you must possess?  I can barely focus long enough to write a coherent blog much less focus all day, every day at such a high level.  Well, we should be praying for our new leadership definitely.  There is a lot of stuff out there to deal with.  God be with us.

peace,

Jason

new year, new post, new opportunities

I had the worse day of my 8 month old marriage a few days ago on New Years (consequently, I may have made it Kate's worse day as well).  It was a pretty special mood, let me tell you.  Kate was upstairs, I was down in the living room... we hadn't talked for about 5 hours.  I really wanted to switch but I was so hateful, I couldn't bear the thought of a smile, of conversation, of anything of the sort.  I was actually reciting in my mind the most heartless & loveless way to ask if we could swap floors every few hours... when at last, Kate comes down- "WHATS WRONG???"  "Nothing," I reply.  (Of course it's nothing, right?  GOSH!)

That morning, after having taken a shower, I sat at my desk wallowing in my selfishness.  I glanced over, picked up a small book and this is what I read:

Each Day...

It's quite.  It's early.  My coffee is hot.  The sky is still black.  The world is still asleep.  The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive.  It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun.  The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day.  The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race.  The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.  

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands.  It is now that I must make a choice.  Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose.  And so I choose.

I choose LOVE...

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness.  I choose love.  Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose JOY...

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.  I will refused the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker.  I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.  I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose PEACE...

I will live forgiven.  I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose PATIENCE....

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.  Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so.  Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray.  Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose KINDNESS...

I will be kind to the poor, for they are along; kind to the rich, for they are afraid; and kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose GOODNESS...

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.  I will be overlooked before I will boast.  I will confess before I will accuse.  I choose goodness.

I choose FAITHFULNESS...

Today I will keep my priorities.  My debtors will not regret their trust.  My associates will not question my word.  My wife will not question my love.  And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose GENTLENESS...

Nothing is won by force.  I choose to be gentle.  If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.  If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.  If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose SELF-CONTROL...

I am a spiritual being... after this body is dead, my spirit will soar.  I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal.  I choose self-control.  I will be drunk only for joy.  I will be impassioned only be my faith.  I will be influenced only by my faith.  I will be influenced only by God.  I will be taught only by Christ.  I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  To these I commit my day.  If I succeed, I will give thanks.  If I fail, I will seek his grace.  And then, when the day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest

Max Lucado

When God Whispers Your Name

May you be much less successful than I was in ignoring this on New Years.  Kate and I have have written down some of our goals for this year... hopefully, you have made time to do the same.  Here's to the hardships and opportunities of 2009!

Be blessed,

jason 

greetings...

Turns out, I still have my fingers despite Kate's vicious threat of biting them off with her teeth... thus, new post.

Kate and I went to Rothenburg earlier this week... it is one of three walled cities left in Germany and is situated along the "Romantic Road" which stretches from Fussen in south (Foothills of the Alps) to Wurtzburg in the north. Situated at the intersection of two important trade routes, the city prospered in the early days. In 1274, Rothenburg was designated a "Free Imperial City" and was one of the 20 largest cities in the Holy Roman Empire. The Thirty Years War (Catholics vs. Protestants) began in 1618 and in 1631, General Tilly of the Imperial Catholic Army chose Rothenburg for a winter quarters. The people of Rothenbrug chose to fight (5,500 vs. Gen. Tilly's 40,000 men). However, the main storehouse of gunpowder situated in a tower on the exterior wall exploded and Rothenburg's chances went up in smoke. Tilly's men pillaged the town and in 1634 the Black Plague took what Tilly's army didn't. Rothenburg would sit dormant for 250 years before before being rediscovered in the late 1880's. Fast forward to World War II...in March of 1945 a German general and his troops left battered Nuremberg and moved to Rothenburg where the order was given to defend the town to the last man. On March 31st, 16 planes dropped bombs on Rothenburg killing 39 people and destroying six public buildings and over 300 houses. However, due to fog, the bombs had missed the city's center. It was further preserved by Deputy Secretary of State, General John McCloy. He knew of the city's beauty from his mother's paintings, who had visited before the war. He gave the order that the town should be spared if the citizens could guarantee that the town would no longer be used for further resistance. Negotiators caught the German General out of town and the German Major left in command, knowing the war was lost, agreed to surrender. The date was April 17th.

Rothenburg's wall is 4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles) long and 6 meters (nearly 20 feet) high.

Now that you know the history, how about some pictures...

Looking into the city center with Christmas booths lining the market 

Similar picture to the first the next day... that first building is the Rathaus (City Hall)

Outside one of the towers along the gate.

Kate + The Night Watchmen before the tour.

Night Watchmen in his shop the next day.

Looking along the gate much of which can be walked.

St. Jakobs Luthern Church... this is the masterpiece by famous sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider completed over six years in 1505.  You'll see the scene is of the Last Supper where Jesus is giving Judas a morsel of bread.  John is laying in Jesus' lap although its hard to see in this picture.  Judas is actually removable and they typically remove him between Good Friday and Easter.

Dinkelbuhl, another town along the Romantic Road

Opening night at the Nuremberg Christmas market.

Be blessed,

Jason

pictures...

Actually, only one.  But there will be many more in the new post which is coming soon (which will probably replace this one... if I'm still alive...)  If you don't get a post by the end of the weekend, definitely send your inquiries...

Seriously though, I love my wife.  She basically rules.  I'm not seeing the congruence between this face and Tinker Bell, though....

Kate and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.  May it be filled with joy, peace, relaxation and the realization that Jesus is truly the greatest gift of all.

Love.

Rollo May said, " Care is a state in which something does matter."  Care is the foundation of love... its active, it steamrolls apathy, etc... At the end of the day, people just want to matter.  If we don't care, how can we love them?

LONG LIVE LOVE!

I hope my readership of 3 had a good weekend.

Be blessed,

Jason

Other Munich Pictures

Castle +  my girl

Dog in Starbucks