“Therefore, …let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and…run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Lula and I recently attended … Continue reading Overcoming Life’s Sorrows
“For this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:32). Recently, hundreds of masked police—their service weapons drawn and machine guns at the ready—raided Hamburg’s so-called “Blue Mosque.” The authorities had determined that this Shiite mosque was doubling as an outpost of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and … Continue reading Forgiving the Younger Brother
“I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonders that … Continue reading Greetings from Wittenberg
Jesus Christ promises His disciples and, by extension, all Christians: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). *** I recently visited with an Iranian mother and her teenage daughter—both Lutheran parishioners here in Hamburg. The mother praised the girl’s amazing progress in school and remarked how well she has adjusted. I was impressed how proficient … Continue reading Caliphate – in Germany?!
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55, KJV). Last week here in north Germany, I was invited to lunch at the home of a local Lutheran (SELK) pastor and his wife. We exchanged stories of our ministries. Somehow, we arrived at the topic of funerals and how … Continue reading O death, where is thy sting?
„Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Mark 10:46-47). Last Sunday was mission Sunday at Zion and Trinity, the two SELK churches in Hamburg, … Continue reading South African Beggars
[Content warning] “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). Back in Hamburg, I recently met with an Iranian parishioner who is preparing for her asylum court hearing. Our Iranian congregants—like all asylum seekers in Germany—have to defend their Christian faith before a judge. As always, there is tension in … Continue reading The Shedding of Blood
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters” (Ps 23:2). Lula and I are back in Hamburg after eight weeks of home service during which we were blessed to have 25 appointments in ten different states. I was able to share with many people how the Lord is blessing … Continue reading Dear friends and supporters,
“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Back in Hamburg after instructing at Riga Luther Academy’s Summer Intensive in Lutherstadt Wittenberg this past week. At our “youth hostel” (Colleg Wittenberg), we bumped into a group of students from Concordia Ann Arbor, whom one … Continue reading Love and Mercy
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” (1 Chr 16:34). The Lord is doing amazing things among Iranians in Germany and also back in their homeland. Although Iran is officially 98.5% Muslim and its mullah government is infamous for causing political unrest and wars in the … Continue reading Do You Know a Farsi Speaker?
The Tiews in Germany 