“As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me” (Ps 40:17). Every morning, Lula and I take a walk. Hamburg in winter is cold and rainy. For about the past month we have noticed a homeless woman sleeping on a gray wicker couch in the alcove of a restaurant. … Continue reading The Lord Takes Thought for Me
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). Yesterday I met “Ali,” an Iranian parishioner, in Hamburg’s Steindamm district near the central train station, to help him with some logistical issues. This is an area heavily populated with immigrants—mostly from Islamic countries. Walking past … Continue reading Every Good Thing in Life Comes from Him
In some parts of Europe, Holy Week is also called “silent week,” a time in which everyday activities are suspended to carve out time for reflection. What did our Lord do between Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday? We know that He cleared the temple on Monday, taught on Tuesday, taught or rested on Wednesday, washed … Continue reading Christ Is Risen For You!
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for My name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Mt 19:29). We have often talked about how many of our Iranian Lutherans here in Germany have paid a steep price for becoming Christian: … Continue reading Leaving for My Name’s Sake
“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11: 28). Lent is a season of repentance, a period of some 40 days of solemn meditation as we mentally walk alongside Jesus on His way to the Cross. Lent concludes on Easter, as we celebrate our Lord’s … Continue reading A Pastor for Israel’s Lutheran Church
“And so we came to Rome. And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage” (Ac 28:14-15). *** I lost my father when I was fifteen. After the graveside service, countless friends, … Continue reading On Seeing Them He Took Courage
“…and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2), said the Apostle Paul to his student Timothy, encouraging the young man to teach others who in turn would instruct yet another “generation” of students. Fast forward … Continue reading Teach Others
Dear friends, Amazingly, it has been almost three years since we deployed to Germany / Eurasia. As such, it is time for us to go on home service. That means that Lula and I will be traveling throughout parts of the U.S. this spring to give missionary presentations in local LCMS churches. In most cases, … Continue reading Lenten Greetings from Germany!
“And when they bring you before the…authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Lk 12:11-12). I recently accompanied one of our Iranian parishioners to his asylum interview before the German … Continue reading Defending Your Christian Faith
“Love is patient and kind” (1 Cor 13:4). I am currently coaching four Iranian parishioners requesting asylum here in Germany, trying to make sure they are prepared to defend their Christian faith (1 Pe 3:15) in court. A few days ago, I met with one of them whom I had not seen for a while. … Continue reading Love is Kind
The Tiews in Germany 