What is your passion?

Recently, my girlfriend, Friedi, was kidding me that I always talk about sports as well as my shopping escapades to the sports stores in our Area. And if I`m honest she is right. In my short stay here, I have already purchased new basketball shoes and a nice looking black-yellow training suit and I participate in the American passion for their sports. I told my friends in Germany that I play Basketball at the YMCA 3 times a week in the morning while it is still dark outside. I tell them that, “We meet at 5:45am”. Their typical response: “Are you crazy?? That`s a weird time!!” Nobody in Germany would ever think of playing basketball (or any other sport) at this time. I would have done this either if my host didn’t offer me the opportunity to join him in the freezing morning. I love competition, so it wasn’t difficult for me to go along with him. I think that if you want something badly enough, and hold it dear in your heart, you will find a way to do it.
I am currently excited about a book I am reading. It is a book written by Tim Keller called, “The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism”. I`m fascinated how he deals with difficult questions and answers them in a way that is understandable to everybody. Three weeks ago, we started a class for young adults studying Keller’s book (Sunday 9:25 – meeting at the Lobby) where we ask questions like such as, “Can there be just one true religion?”, or, “How could a good God allow suffering?” This book encourages me to share my passion, which is my faith in Jesus Christ, and get into a conversation with non-Christians. Sometimes in Germany I feel a little bit like an alien because most people don’t understand the passion I have about my faith. However, Keller says that everybody believes in something, so people must have some faith even if it is not my God? So my question to these people is, “What is your faith about?”

My home is my castle

On a frosty 19th of January I arrived in the USA. I was a little bit sleepy. During my flight I was sitting in the middle of two huge British men who did need a lot of space. I expected to see somebody like Bruce Willis pick me up at the Airport. When I saw this smiling guy Scott (nearly Bruce Willis) with his daughter Rachel, I knew that my US-adventure started.
I want to tell you something about my new American home. One characteristic of this house: It`s a huge kennel for dogs. You know, at the moment I`m staying at Scott & Julie Stanley´s house. Just kidding, it is friendly and very nice to live here. On my first evening they gave me a big welcome with pasta & chicken. But you have to know in this house there are two strong Canadian Retrievers who attack everybody, who won´t play with them. Their names are Sammy & Ranger.
Some things I like a lot about American houses. Most of them have their own fire place with a white frame. The couches, carpets and the beds with a bunch of pillows are softer than in Germany. Immediately you feel tired if you are sitting in your comfortable armchair. I think my image of a good home depends much more on the people who are living inside than on other stuff. Stanleys, I enjoy staying very much with you. It`s a lot fun. Thank you for your great hospitality.

What is important for you to make your house feel like home?

2. Post it: Garden gnome versus pickup
What`s up now? I think there`s already a big bridge between the American and the German culture. Everybody knows a little bit about the other side. But also both ends have their own funny, interesting and sometimes paradoxical ways of thinking. There`s a lot to talk about. I get the chance to experience for the next 5 month a new environment here in Kennett Square (small town very close to Philadelphia). But I`m fairly interested in your opinion. We are a part of a world, which is getting closer and closer. What is your perspective about the role of church into an international Context of a postmodern world? What would you change if you got chance to do it?
Do you think that are to big issues to talk about? You are right. We also have to speak about very normal stuff like why the Americans don`t have good jogging paths in their beautiful forests, and why they drive big cars if they always drive slowly? Are Germans really narrow minded and do they like to have garden gnomes in the front of their house?

Welcome to my blog,

“German pastor meets American church”… I want to share my thoughts of my experience as a German pastor during an internship at a Church in Pennsylvania, USA. This Blog will give you two perspectives: First, German thoughts about American culture in a fascinating evangelical church. Second: You will be able to experience my world back in Regensburg, Germany. Sometimes, these perspectives will be the same, and other times they will challenge your thinking as the perspectives may appear to contradict each other. Let`s get into a global view of different churches that share that same Faith.