The God-Seeker

The Traveller-Between-Worlds

2012-01-06T18:02:00.002+01:00

there is a realm...
travelling by the speed of energy, no borders, no walls
nothing is hidden, all is felt
traveller between worlds, where does he belong?
...time ceased to tick and began to flow until it washed over him,
a depth of dimension, more real than time itself
the vision crystal clear, deeply involved, touched to the core
traveller between worlds, he´s longing for more

what´s the matter traveller-between-worlds, he asked.
"I just fell from one world into another from a place of perfection, a fall that made my heart burst into pieces."
I see the pieces like small mirrors, he said, I see reflections in them of people and of the other world and of yourself.
"Brokeness is all I see" said the traveller-between-worlds, "brokeness, is all I feel, brokeness must be the name of this world. I hope I can gather up the pieces, soon to be on my journey again."

where have you been, traveller-between-worlds?, he asked, perceiving he must have been on some interesting journey.
"I went to mysterious places of past and of present, to places of most intimate communion and struggle. To the place of a wide-open heart and from there to a heart in battle, a whirl-wind of emotions; fear, anger, desire... but I can´t say more now, as I got to be on my way."

Friendship

2011-04-09T17:23:00.002+02:00

I just want to say that I have met some incredible people here. Some have become like family- a home away from home. I am very thankful for these friends and the time I can spend with them. Why is it that certain people convey this acceptance, a feeling that you can totally be yourself? This is not only a Christian quality, even though it should be; so how do you become a people-lover?

less than perfect- sometimes

2011-02-26T18:35:00.001+01:00

Looking at a westerner, most people are completely sure that our financial resources are endless because everybody from Europe is rich, right? Well, compared to the average Indian it is true; our money is worth more and we usually earn much more but does this justify the practice of asking between 5-10 times higher payments from us? This can be annoying and a saddening experience- it makes you feel people don´t really see you, they see the money they can make with you. On the other hand it´s understandable, everybody wants to survive and besides, the world – sometimes even our own soul - is a place of greediness.
The unwritten laws of culture can also be quite annoying. Why, for heaven´s sake, is it such a problem for women to show a piece of leg while it´s totally okay to show your big belly? Why do I have to wear this much when it´s so hot that I would prefer to walk around naked? Of course women are not supposed to smoke, drink or walk around after dark, while men can do all these things and more. I wonder if women actually have any identity at all apart from being married and having kids. I remember one situation where, after trying to explain for about 10 minutes why I don´t have children, I finally shouted in both Englisch and Tamil „I don´t want!“. I have wondered if I shouldn´t simply invent some phantasy kids to stop this. In spite of it all I still really enjoy being here and each day is special! Thanks Lord, for everything!

Video

2011-02-11T11:48:00.002+01:00

Mal sehen ob´s funktioniert...

Bathroom Experiences

2011-02-08T18:06:00.002+01:00

Well, so far I´ve had quite some company in my bathroom. From cockroaches in various sizes to spiders, lizards, frogs and ants. I do like the lizards and I still wonder about the frog; how did he make it up here? The most horrendous experience I had yesterday night though, when all of a sudden thousands of ants- I am not exaggerating!- came out of different places around the window, out of the cracks in the wall, out of the electricity switch... This was really wild!!! I was burning different things because the smoke drove them away. Today there are no ants. Wonder what will come next.

India- Thoughts and Experiences

2011-02-06T20:16:00.001+01:00

Yes indeed, India is amazing!
Amazingly colorful, beautiful, noisy and dirty. After I´ve been here now for almost a month, the thing that strikes me most is the experience of contrast. You read about this in books, so one is somewhat prepared but still, to experience it is altogether different. One contrast that strikes me again and again is the one between country and city. Travelling through the country-side, the landscape is of a breath-taking beauty. It is so beautiful, that it brings tears to my eyes. As soon as you get close to a city though the beauty abruptly ends and what you see is garbage and dirt. Passing by a river makes you feel sick because of the smell. In the midst of all the garbage there are animals: Cows, pigs, dogs, cats... The way Indian women dress is another experience of colour and beauty but the houses, shops and even restaurants are in a sad state, often with little sense for an outward attractivity. More contrasts are to be found in the technical realm. Up-to-date mobile phones and internet next to someone who irons clothes by using an ancient iron which is filled with hot coals. And I simply can not get used to the sudden appearance of cows in the middle of traffic or in front of a shop, or somewhere you simply would not expect them to be. The greatest experience are the people I´ve met! Even complete strangers have been so incredibly open, helpful, and of an overwhelming hospitality... amazing India! I´m thankful for the time I´ve had here so far.

About Love

2010-11-02T22:59:00.004+01:00

If you´ve never really loved someone, there´s also something missing in your revelation and knowledge of God. The more you love, the greater the risk of getting hurt. Hurt by seperation, brought about in whatever way; circumstances, strife, betrayal, rejection or death. Despite the always present danger of being hurt in and because of love, there is no other way to ever be deeply touched and changed by the God who IS love.
Life without love is being dead alive.
This is what took Jesus to the cross. Love. Suffering from the seperation between God and man-kind, He suffered the seperation from God. No one has greater love, than the one who lays down his life for his friends. Love. Love! Love!!!

The TV Church

2010-06-10T11:40:00.002+02:00

Imagine being the leader of a Church. One old Lady comes to you and says: "The music is too loud, if you don´t change it, I will leave." Right after that a young guy comes up saying: "The music isn´t loud enough, if this doesn´t change, I´ll leave." What will you do? Try to find a middle way? Have one service for the old and one for the young? Teach on tolerance?
I think attitude of heart matters in all of us, when it comes to these questions.
We can zap ourselves through the different styles of Church services until we find a program we like, with an attitude that says: I am in control. I decide what I like. I can zap through the channels or turn the program off, whenever I want to. But the body of Christ, no matter which "style" is preferred locally, is not a TV show. And the ultimate control is with God. What does He want me to turn on or off?
The old Lady and the youg guy... can they come together in a spirit of love and put personal preference under God´s greater goal of fellowship?

What is Life

2010-04-14T23:21:00.002+02:00

What is life? Life is beautiful and yet so very fragile. If we´d be aware of its fragility we´d live differently. And life is very short; at least compared to the dimensions of creation, the universe and God. God, who is the creator of all times, as already Augustine had said. Time is created and we know no existence outside of time. We can not grasp a dimension without time. Yet God is there in time and outside of time. The final cause, the ultimate reality. And all that is can only be because He upholds it.
What do we live for?
Oh God, Oh God... I long for you

Speaking inTongues

2010-01-12T23:11:00.006+01:00

I just can´t get over it. Recently I bought a CD by Lisa Gerrard. I remember when I first heard her music I really liked it and found it very moving. It was deep and emotional and different from all the wishy-washy stuff that´s playing on the radio. So I found out that she is singing in an unknown language of her own and that she has won quite a number of prices. Very interesting indeed!
Here are the charismatics trying to explain, why speaking and singing in unknown languages is biblical and right and having to justify themselves before other denominations as to why they do this without an interpreter present and so on...not daring to do this in a public setting with unbelievers present...and there is this lady, who absolutely doesn´t care about what others might think or say and who doesn´t give interpretations, nor explanations for her singing in an unknown tongue. AND her music is heard and appreciated by millions.
Check out the Link and read the informations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnPzR1-Dp2c

2009-11-26T23:51:00.002+01:00

Today at dinner with the students an old Lady stepped into our dining room. She had lost the key to her room, where she had locked up all her baggage. She was a guest here and had wanted to return home. For some reason something within me clicked and I felt I should go over to them and try to help. So I did, had a good chat with her, but wasn´t able to open the door. I prayed on the way: God, where is the key? The impression I got was: The key is in her son´s car. The son was still working and later on I bumped into him, while he was searching the ways for the key. Let´s go to your car, I said. He had already searched the car but did it anyway. And there, in a hidden and unsuspected place was the key.
Isn´t it strange, I thought later on, how all of this happened? I could have ignored the Lady and her problem...How could I help anyway? But for some reason I didn´t. May be because I´ve made the experience of finding something with God´s help before. I guess that was it. I trusted His gift in me. Then accidently I happened to run into the son and we found the key in his car. I was a blessing to someone today. Happy and amazed at the same time I say: Thank you Lord!

Bible-Bashing

2009-11-06T23:07:00.002+01:00

Travelling through and searching the Net can be a real eye-opener...Recently I happened to come across several sites that make Jesus prayer for the unity of the believers in John 17 seem like the biggest Utopia the Bible has to offer. More improbable than God creating the World in 6 literal days. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, that you love one another..." I find the Bible is being abused; one group attacking and degrading the other with their particular understanding of certain passages... and everybody so convinced that they are fighting a "Holy War" for truth, slandering brothers and sisters in the name of the Letter.
This is so sick!!!
Look at the Cross! Here is love, vast as the ocean! Here is Jesus giving his all for his ENEMIES! If a person confesses Christ as the crucified, risen and only saving Lord, no matter how different our opinions might be, this person is my BROTHER and SISTER and not my enemy. Sigh...Fight for truth we still must, but in which spirit???

Versuchungsgeschichte

2009-09-28T22:53:00.002+02:00

Ein weiterer Auszug aus den Proseminararbeiten- diesmal zu Lukas 4,1-13

Jesus wird vom Teufel versucht, aber er wird auch mitten in diesem Geschehen vom Geist geführt. So bleibt Gottletzten Endes in Kontrolle. Jesus isst in dieser Zeit nichts. Fasten dient im NT (oft in Kombination mit Gebet) als Weg zur Erfahrung besonderer Gottesnähe und als Waffe im Kampf gegen dämonische Mächte. In 4,3 tritt der Teufel in Aktion. Er nimmt den Hunger Jesu zum Anlass und schlägt ihm eine Lösungsmöglichkeit vor. Der Teufel spricht in Form eines realen Konditionalsatzes, der den Titel „Sohn Gottes“ enthält. Das impliziert, dass der Teufel Einblick in die vorhergehenden Ereignisse besitzt und sich auf jene bezieht. Er geht davon aus, dass Jesus tatsächlich aus einem Stein Brot machen kann. Was wäre falsch daran, wenn Jesus dieses täte? Es scheint dem Teufel daran gelegen, dass Jesus etwas in Unabhängigkeit von Gott tut, dass er seine Kraft einsetzt, um sich selbst zu helfen. Problematisch ist nicht die Art des Lösungsvorschlags, sondern wer diesen anbietet. Jesus antwortet in 4,4 mit einem Zitat aus Dt 8,3. Er bringt seine Situation in direkten Zusammenhang mit der Situation Israels in der Wüste (siehe Dt 8,2!) und nimmt das Wort, das an Israel erging, für sich persönlich geltend in Anspruch. Er schließt sich ein in das, was für alle Menschen gilt; der Mensch lebt nicht vom Brot allein. Bedenkt man, dass das Dt und speziell die Kapitel 6-8 die Mitte der Torah darstellen, dann lautet seine Antwort aus dem jüdischen Kontext heraus verstanden: Der Mensch lebt von der Torah.

Atmosphere Change

2009-08-11T18:42:00.004+02:00

One person can make a difference! This video demonstrates, how one person can change the atmosphere. How did it happen? Someone dared to be different.
I believe as Christians we too are called to be "indifference-breakers" and "atmosphere-changers".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jedd2FiZTqM&feature=channel_page

2009-08-08T22:44:00.001+02:00

Wollte mal was von den BA Arbeiten reinstellen...Hier ein Stück aus der AT Pro über Genesis 3,1-8

9. Theologische Reflexion

Wenn es um Verbote und deren Übertretung geht, ist Gen 3, 1-8 ein unschlagbares psychologisches Meisterstück. Der Text lässt sich auf praktisch alle Verbote anwenden; Verbote von Eltern für Kinder, staatliche Gesetze und Gottes Gesetze. Wir können solche Begrenzungen unserer Freiheit solange annehmen, wie sie uns sinnvoll erscheinen, solange uns der Geber vertrauenswürdig und gerecht erscheint und solange in uns nicht irgendwie ein Verlangen aufkommt, sie zu übertreten. Genau in dem aufkommenden Verlangen liegt jedoch das Problem. Wir sind nämlich selten zufrieden mit dem, was wir haben, sondern ständig getrieben von dem Verlangen mehr zu haben, mehr zu können, mehr zu wissen, mehr zu sein. Interessanterweise ist dieses Verhalten nicht nur charakteristisch für den „gefallenen“ Menschen, sondern bereits im ersten Menschenpaar sichtbar. Somit ist das Begehren zwar schöpfungsbedingt im Menschen angelegt, aber in der Unabhängigkeit von Gott wird es pervertiert, wird es etwas Negatives.
Von allen Bäumen im Garten durften sie essen, außer von einem.
Aber der Blick richtet sich weg von der Fülle, die man hat und für die man dankbar sein könnte, hin auf das Eine, was man nicht hat. Das erinnert an König David, der obwohl er viele Frauen haben konnte, ausgerechnet die Eine begehrte, die ihm verwehrt war. Batseba fesselte seine Aufmerksamkeit; sie war eine Lust für die Augen. Davids Begierde siegte über das Wissen, etwas Verbotenes zu tun, ungeachtet der Konsequenzen (2. Sam 11 und 12).
In der Versuchungsgeschichte setzt der Schlangerich diesen Prozess in Gang. Er leitet die Aufmerksamkeit auf das Verbotene und zeichnet ein Bild von Gott, das auf sehr subtile Art seine Liebe, Gerechtigkeit und Integrität in Frage stellt.
Paraphrasiert sagt er: „Ach, ihr Armen dürft ja überhaupt nichts. Was für ein harter Gott, der euch etwas vorenthält, obwohl es doch gut für euch wäre. Er hat wahrscheinlich Angst um seine Position. Was er gesagt hat, das mit dem Sterben, meint er gar nicht so.“
Und vielleicht liegt dahinter nicht einmal böser Wille. Vielleicht hat der Schlangerich tatsächlich dieses Gottesbild.
So fällt ein Schatten auf die ungetrübte Gemeinschaft mit Gott im Garten und es entstehen neue gedankliche Perspektiven. Möglicherweise ist Gott es nicht wert, dass man ihm gehorcht.
Möglicherweise hat Ungehorsam keine negativen Konsequenzen. Ich glaube, dass diese doppelte Täuschung so aktuell ist wie eh und je.
Und paraphrasiert könnte die Frau denken: Ja, warum hält Gott mir etwas vor? Warum will er nicht, dass ich klug werde? Er gönnt mir das nicht. Was wenn der Schlangerich recht hat?
Und mit dieser Frage, diesem Zweifel, ist sie nicht allein. Die Frage nach dem Charakter Gottes bewegt die Menschheit und die Theologie seit jeher.
Nicht umsonst wird mehrfach darauf hingewiesen, dass hier der Anfang der Theologie- des Redens über Gott, anstatt mit Gott- zu finden ist. God has been objectified. The first record in the Bible to practice theology in the place of obedience.1 Gerade die Theologie als Wissenschaft täte gut daran, diesen Text als Warnung und Ermahnung zu verstehen, über dem Reden von Gott das Reden mit Gott nicht zu vergessen.
Ich glaube das „in-Gemeinschaft“, „im-Gespräch-mit-Gott-bleiben“ und das vertrauensvolle Hören auf sein Wort, kann uns helfen, nicht Opfer unserer Begierden zu werden. Was menschliche Gier in Unabhängigkeit von Gott bewirken kann, dazu bedarf es keiner Beispiele; die Welt ist voll davon.
Dennoch ist es Gott, der die Polarität und Potentialität von schönem und schlechtem, von gut und böse, in die Schöpfung gelegt hat. Der so genannte „Sündenfall“ war für ihn keine Überraschung. Ob nun der Preis der Freiheit die Möglichkeit des Mißlingens ist, ob die Erfahrung von Leid und Sterben notwendig, um letzten Endes in Christus ewiges Leben wieder zu erlangen; darauf gibt Gen. 3 keine Antwort.
Gott kümmert sich jedenfalls auch nach der Übertretung um die Menschen; sie sterben nicht unmittelbar nach dem Essen. Allem menschlichen Ungehorsam zum Trotz gibt er seine Geschöpfe nicht auf; darin liegt unsere Hoffnung.

2009-06-08T23:21:00.002+02:00

I think my last post was somewhat dramatic... I had a bad day and was feeling very lonely. Such things do happen, even to people, who believe in Jesus.
What I don´t believe is, that we as human beings are meant to find all of our satisfaction in God. God made one man and saw that IT WAS NOT GOOD for him to be alone. That man was in unbroken fellowship with the creator, but there was still something missing... Don´t tell me it´s just you and Jesus, we are meant to have a social life. In that sense: Jesus isn´t all we need- we need each other. Jesus can not meet all our needs- it wasn´t good with just man and God... more was needed....

Phantom continued

2009-04-28T00:04:00.003+02:00

I was thinking again today about why this Phantom of the Opera movie speaks to me in such a profound way. It is primarily the identification with the phantom himself, in his deep connection of love and desire for Christine and in his heartbrokeness, caused by rejection and a life of solitude. Can anybody love him for what he is? Can anybody love the man behind the mask? Can anybody free him from his solitude?
For some moments he experiences that indeed, someone does break all the barriers and for once in his life he doesn´t feel alone.
Speaking about human love, I as well have experienced that once and what an experience it was! It tore me apart and left me broken for years, when it fell apart.
No wonder that we can forgive- even to the point of murder- that he tries everything to keep that experience.

Christsein und Klorollen

2009-02-07T15:56:00.004+01:00

Es ist schon interessant; manchmal sind es gerade die banalsten Kleinigkeiten, die tiefe Offenbarungen enthalten... . Jeder, der in irgendeiner festen Verbindung mit anderen Menschen zusammenlebt weiß, dass diese Kleinigkeiten zu erheblichen Kontroversen führen können.
Das beliebte Beispiel der unverschlossenen Zahnpastatube, die irgendwann einen Ehekrieg auslöst kennen wir ja. Nun, bei mir sind es die leeren Klopapier-rollen. Nachdem ich des öfteren die nicht sehr aufwendige Aktion des Klorollenwechsels ausgeübt hatte, ohne mir viel dabei zu denken, gab es einen Tag, an dem ich mir die Frage stellte: Wieso eigentlich schon wieder ich? Und so boykottierte ich den Klorollenwechsel und bekam dabei ....ja, wirklich...ein schlechtes Gewissen!!!
Ah, das ist lächerlich, werden einige denken...Aber ist es das? Was kommt denn zum Ausdruck, wenn ich diese Aufgabe einfach meinem Nachfolger überlasse? Im besten Falle Vergesslichkeit; die aber zeigt, dass ich mich um mich selbst drehe und es für andere keinen Platz in meinem Kopf gibt. Aber auch so unschöne Charakteristika, wie Egoismus, Verantwortungslosigkeit und Faulheit begründen ein solches Verhalten. Und die Frucht ist Ärger und Streit.
Diese Dinge offenbaren unseren Mangel an Geistlichkeit, bzw. unsere Fleischlichkeit. Es sind Einstellungen, die Gott absolut nicht gefallen (Röm. 8,5-8 und Gal. 5,16 ff).
Gerade diese kleinen Dinge können große Gelegenheiten sein um ganz praktische Liebe zu lernen, um sich im Kleinen als Diener zu erweisen und um Jesus ähnlicher zu werden.

Sehenswert

2009-01-21T21:12:00.007+01:00

Ich wollte doch ein paar Links über Manifestationen des Geistes hier reinstellen...
Nun, da kommen sie...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sthm3vH6ixY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQiK_hMVC2k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N04A2yEHWQs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p692CMRR_Ps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SgByE0pX1M&feature=related

Über Copy and Paste in die Adresszeile des Browsers einfügen.

Only Love

2009-01-16T21:49:00.002+01:00

I am alive today
want to live this moment for love
with love

For all the selfishness and greed
that causes so much harm
For the hatred in this world
Is there any cure?
Don´t you see it´s time to change?

Love can change the world
It can change yours and mine
I open my arms and cry out to the God of the universe for a heart of love

Bend us Lord!

2009-01-12T21:18:00.006+01:00

Jo, here we are again. Back to School. Back to teaching. Back to my peaceful student room.
Yesterday I spend almost all day watching YouTube clips from different churches. I wanted to gather some material about manifestations of the Spirit and was amazed to find that there´s so much out there!
So may be I should put some links together....
For those who don´t know; I am a student of Theology at the Misssionsseminar in Hermannsburg.

Experiment

2009-01-10T00:38:00.000+01:00

Okay, nun hat mich der Blog- Virus auch erwischt und ich muss hier erstmal einen ersten Gehversuch starten und rausfinden, wie das alles funktioniert...Ist also ein Experiment...