we lose something far greater in ourselves...

"When you start to close the door on anybody, the doors close on everybody"

Howard Behar

quote

"As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Nelson Mandela

pictures for last two trips, other random things...

Man.

Lots of stuff going on/happening... but I feel good about where we are.  I will be a parent soon but I feel relatively anxious free, calm, and a subtle excitement that I presume will become a crescendo as the pregnancy progresses.

I say all of this tongue and cheek because it’s one of the awesome things about being here... but one of the things I would like to illustrate in this post is that the Germans are strange.  I mean, you should see some of the running and biking gear these cats wear- SCARY to put it nicely.  That is the strange thing though- its strangely accepted with little awareness that it is so frightening.  Its cool that there is that kind of freedom here (but it is a little rough on the eyes sometimes).

The following pictures are from Regensburg (pop. 131,000, situated along the Danube, 1.20 hr SE by car) and Weissenburg (pop. 13,000, 35 min. SE by car).  

entrance to the Alstadt (city center) of Weissenburg

Matthew 16:24, written in Latin?... "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me"

random statue

Regensburg- David and Golith motif on restaurant wall

picture is worth a million words...

Regensburg, looking up the Danube

One of the things the Germans get right is ice cream!!!  Hazelnut is my favorite.

big church in Regensburg

weirdness, exhibit A- what the hell is this?

  

be blessed,

Jason

no railroads required...

For another monopoly victory.  I had to grind it out a little but no sweat...A bit more work to do this evening and then the weekend is free.  

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Colossians 3:12-16

be blessed,

Jason

hey guys...

nothing too much going on... being blessed, basically.  Last week was a beautiful blend of God's grace and intense struggling.  

-God explicitly revealed the extent to which he has plans for me personally through an article about Josh Hamilton.  

-I am admitting to myself (perhaps for the first time) that I do have a problem with food... binge eating isn't overly glamerous but knowledge is power and I am really hopeful that giving denial the kiss of death will be helpful in overcoming this stupidness.

-God has provided in other ways too- successes at work,  in our dealings with each other (one of the most powerful of the week, actually), clarification on future plans...

I'm full.  I want to go shout from the mountain tops.  I'm optimistic.  I'm encouraged.  I'm (gasp!) learning how to surrender?  Most of all, I'm overwhelmed with God's love.

Thank you Father... I acknowledge that these things have come from you and I honor you.

God willing, we'll be doing some traveling the next few weeks.

Hope everyone has a good week,

Jason

anniversary weekend

Basically awesome.  Kate and I enjoyed hanging out.  Concert was more awesome than not.  The "modest" hunting grounds of Nyphenberg Palace was relaxing which = de-facto awesomeness... weather was perfect.

Kate and I on the train towards Munich.

Adam from Taking Back Sunday

Lead singer and Tim from Underoath

more Underoath...

view looking out from Nyphenberg Palace.

...and the view looking back.

a bit (*a lot) distorted, but Emery performing "Walls"

we just visited the castle in Lichtenau earlier... pictures (and a historical video?) on Kate's blog here.

be blessed,

Jason

basking in the goodness...

Have you guys heard Kim Walker's "How He Loves Us?"  Man, amazing song- 

He is our portion, we are his prize

Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes

If grace is just a notion, we are sinking...

Heaven meets earth with a sloppy wet kiss

and My heart turns violently in my chest

I don't have time to maintain these regrets

when I think about the wayyyyyy

He loves us.. oh, how He loves us... oh how, He loves us...

I've heard it a thousand times- keep your focus on Jesus (which is followed by the standard story of Peter walking on the water).  Wow, is humanity horrible at this or what?... you see this lack of focus in the lives of Christians too and lives are negatively impacted.  I've always intellectually accepted "focusing on Jesus" but on a certain level, I dismissed the notion in my heart as "church speak."  Just like the lyrics say, though... I don't have time to maintain regrets (or a whole litany of other problems and addictions) when I think about the way He loves us.  It is truly overwhelming yet perfectly satisfying.  Pursue it.

"...Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." 

Matthew 22:37

Otherwise, 1 year anniversary this weekend- we are going to Munich.

I've been insanely excited about Texas Rangers baseball for some reason (MLB just started, ladies).  I had grown weary of baseball in recent years but it has a newfound excitement.  GO RANGERS!!!!

be blessed,

Jason