Monday, February 28, 2011

Snail Pizza

Good Mornin faithful readers..it's been a while. I've just been so busy lately enjoying the fatherland I forgot about this blog. So I'm not going to give a really detailed account of the last two weeks, because I can't remember right now, it's 7:41 in the morning here, which is 6 in the morning in Ireland,so I'm a bit tired.

Time for a summary. The last two weeks have been awsome. So much stuff has been going on, and a lot of changed has happened, and God's done some amazing work inward. Two weekends ago, myself, a fellow college mate named Hannah and one of the office girls, Katha, had the weekend team. What that means is we had to do the cooking, cleaning and washing in the cafe breakfast,lunch and dinner. It was a real great time actually, we made some pretty crazy food, including 'GermIrishAlina' barbeque beans...we were trying to be multicultural with the name. I took some pictures of it too so when I get back to Ireland you can all see it, and I can tell you more about that weekend.

Now every semester there is an outreach week in the college where students get to go to different churches and sometimes in a different country and help out the church there, evangelise etc. and so we had to make a decision where we wanted to go. There was Turkey, France, Bavaria, East Germany and Sweden, and of course I'm opting for the cold country, so off the Stockholm, Sweden I go. I've been praying about it and its been put on my heart to go there, so I'm stepping out in faith, my finances are low, and gonna go where He leads me.

Last week God did something in my life. He answered a prayer, a real specific prayer thats been troubling me since I got here. He answered in a way I wasn't expecting, and took something away from me. The effects of this didn't hit me until maybe 2 or 3 days later, but then it did, and I got hit hard. I was pretty much in a state of brokeness, but thanks to support from my brothers and sisters here, and lots of prayer God has really shown me some stuff. He's thought me to not only just seek after him for comfort and peace, when we can't comfort ourselves, but also to be content with just Him. I had been so obsessed with wanting to be in a relationship, I was forgetting the most important relationship I have, and that is with Jesus. I knew that being with this person was dragging me down, and drawing me away from God, but in a stubborn fashion I kept going on. So it had to come to God doing this in my life, for my own good, for me to listen to him. I have a rebellious heart and he's going to fix that though. :)

This week is speakers week and we've been blessed by having Mike Neglia and Duke and Ian Knepper over here. Ian's leading worship and Mike and Duke are teaching on the last words that some major characters in the bible have said. It'sn going to be a great time just drawing close to the Lord this week and I cannot wait.

We had troika this morning, getting up early for discipline, and we started it off with boxing. A good fun laugh, Ian accidentaly made Mike bleed though, truely a man's sport. Now folks I'm off for a shower and breakfast. Forgive me for not making it a long one, but I'll try get more active on this. And if your wondering about the title, Ricky Ponce the chef made snail pizza the other week.



It was lovely.

God bless,

Danny.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Going Through Changes

I'm going through changes, and how true that is..

Ok readers my first week of bible college is finished,and I'm halfway into the second week, now my writing won't be as good today because I'm very tired because I had some death sauce, nothing better than New Jersey Fury. Right so my first week was pretty amazing, I love all my classes so far, although I have had to drop Anthropology, as I've been praying and I'm being told its gonna get pretty hectic during my time here, and not just that, I want to be able to have the time to really get into the other classes I'm doing, so I can really focus on Jesus, which is actually what the classes I have left are focused on. So far my favourite classes are Revalation and Romans, and both seem so relevant to my life. It's gonna be great studying Revelation and seeing it isn't just about the end of the world, but the focus of it is centred on Jesus. In the same way Romans really focuses on God, and both are two persons I really need in my life.The homework is pretty easy so I can have time to just be alone with God, explore the town, read and just get to know my new friends. I'm really grateful that God has given me a gift of just having a passion for studying his word day and night, and for giving me an understanding of what I'm reading, I hope he uses it in the days ahead.

I'm also pretty grateful for the new friends I have made here, and whether they know it or not they are having a great effect on my life, for the better. On thursday we had Koinania, which is like a christian fellowship time, and it was a great blessing. We all had to go up and give our testimonies of how we got saved and what God has done in my life. It was really helpful hearing them all go up and sharing what God did in their lives, and very inspiring it was. Then I had to go up near the end, and it was so good to say what Jesus did in my life, and not being afraid of the past,its really amazing to think of what God led me out of and what he's given me,and I want to be more appreciative of that. On wednesday we also had a guys meeting in the dorm, where we all just sat together and prayed for each other,saying what we want God to help us with,and it was so encouraging. I really havnt been into praying much with people before I came here, I was afraid too, and I regret I had that attitude, it is so good people to pray together and with one another, its how things get changed, I'd encourage you all to do it too, pray for each other as much as possible. :)

Now the weekend was great.On friday we went to one of the teachers, Andrew, house to watch a movie, we watched the blind side and it was very good. I would recoment it.Then satuday night we watched Jurrasic Park , havnt seen it since i was a kid but it hasnt lost its touch. On sunday I had an encounter with someone and it shook me. It was this person enquiring about freedom in Christ, and dress codes, and I'm ashamed to say all I could think about instead of preaching the gospel to her was getting away because she seemed crazy. God doesn't judge others or show partiality, so why should we, why should I? The answer is I shouldn't, it is simply wrong and unloving. Christ would want us to treat all people equally,whether they are poor or rich,black or white or healthy and sick, God loves us, so should we. I just pray God just gives me the strength to not be afraid to speak the gospel to any person, no matter what there background, and I pray you do the same.

Right people sorry its a short one but Im very tired and my body is aching, have a good day all

God bless,
Danny.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Settling in..

Well I'm settling in pretty nicely into Bible College now,the weekends gone and today I had my first class,but I'll get to that in a while.I'll start with friday..

After enjoying a great and needed nights sleep after that long plane ride,I awoke,with my towel and got a very needed shower..I walk downstairs and the next thing I know I'm on a train ride back to Cologne,luckily this time God wasn't sending me to the website,but to see the city.After about an hour or so on the DOUBLE DECKER train,that's right,DOUBLE DECKER TRAIN,my new classmates and I arrived at Cologne trainstation,compared to say Heuston station in Dublin,its huge! Now as I make my way out of the station I'm hit by something I was not expecting.My head was sent in an upward direction as my draw dropped and I gazed upon perhaps what is the biggest Cathedral my young eyes have ever seen.A beautifully crafted building,addorned with statues and frescos and the works,with two bell towers that seemed to peirce the sky itself.We couldn't help but go inside and see if the interior would compare to the exterior,it did.I wanted to go up into the tower and look at the city from up there,but the church insisted on making people pay,typical..Now the interior is amazing,a huge hall,full of stained glass images of biblical saints,statues, and huge organs,a true piece of art.Unfortunatly the reality of what kind of place I was in kicked in,in the end of the hall locked in a cage behind an alter was a solid gold metal box,where they claim lay the bodies of the 'five' wise men who visited Jesus Christ at his birth.Now something clicked and I looked around and I noticed statue after statue of 'Jesus' and many more boxes and tombs where people venerated and prayed to the bones of dead bishops,and of course the 5 euro to light a candle and pray to Mary.All I could think of was the idolatry,and just so many things that were wrong,and I got upset to be honest.But luckily God gave me whatmust have been a nudge in my heart,to remind me that he delivered me and saved me from this way of life.I am afraid that I will never be able to find a way to truely thank God,with my words,for showing me that He is real, and that is more than a big empty all full of statues and gold boxes with dead people,that he is something much more,he is a personal loving God who's desire is to know us and for us to know him in a deep,personal way.After that my mind and my heart brought me back to Ireland,and as much as I'm going to love my time here in bible college,I cannot wait to return home and to tell people how real He is and how much he loves us.I think He will have me settling in Ireland forever,and I'm quite happy with that.After that I left,took lots of pictures,ate fallofell(?) for the first time and visited the Lindt chocolate factory and a mustard shop. :)

Now Saturday was Orientation day,I'll try keep this short.Basicly we got introduced to the teachers and were told about there classes.After hearing them all I was so excited to choose my classes.I went through the registration process,got my photo taken,chose my classes and showed them to the head of the school.All in all im doing Matthew,Revelation,Romans,Men's Discipleship,Biblical Anthropology,The Reformation,and a block class on some weekend,its a discipleship class.So along with the rest of the stuff it came to 24 credits,you can only have 25 credits,so I may have overdone it for my first term.They suggested maybe dropping a class,I'm gonna go through this week and see how it is,if its too much I'll drop one class,but I think it will be fine.Later on that evening we went to the church,land began our term with worshiping our God.After that we took communion in an interesting way,we all ate the bread at the same time,and then we had to take a cup of juice/blood, and give it to someone of the same sex,say something referring to the washing our our sins by Jesus' blood and pray for that person.,it was amazing.Then we had a tour of the college,during this I found out they have a gym,which made me very happy,I can keep my weight down now and still eat kebabs.That night a group of us played a game called settlers,it was very fun.I went up to my dorm and headed to bed.I really think the classes I chose will really help me get a better understanding of God,and draw me close to him,and he'll no doubt use my knowledge in the future.

Now Sunday was a fun active day.The church service in English doesn't start until 5 pm so that means a sleep in on sunday,woohoo.So Sunday morning we decided to go for a hike up the mountains.A group of about ten of us went,again I took pictures,this country is beautiful.I couldn't find any wild boars up there though,this saddened me,but I made a walking stick,which lifted my spirits up.After a good while we made it up onto a tower and we could see miles away from where we were,and it was some sight,magical even as the sun came out and Siegen turned from a grey to a golden green tone,only obstructed by the bright yellow and blue Ikea.Sunday evening we had our church service and it was on the transfiguration of Christ,and I got the message of who Christ really is,in his true glory,and not just the handsome,beared white man in rich robes that we always picture.So basicly I was reminded by the Holy Spirit of who Christ really is and how he is the creator of all.I also did Chuck Tracks,and yknow I really really love them,I might be the only person in the nearest 10 miles that enjoys them that much,but its so full of knowledge and what not,cant help but love it.I also had a yummy kebab,worked out,had mexican food for dinner,and played an awsome game called zombies.I also took a bike ride through the town.One thing I noticed was the pride people took in their houses.They were all beautifully done up and each garden was personal to the owner.It made me think of my home estate and how much people let the things God gives them fall into ruin and give up caring about it.I myself am guilty of this too.I want to be able to take care of the things and responsabilitys God has given me and see them out faithfully,and hopefully with his help I will.

Right,last paragraph I promise,today I had my first class,it was Revelation and I think im going to love this class.It will be amazing to draw closer to Christ by reading this and gaining a knowledge of the end time events.We were shown our essays,we have to do 11 by the end of the term,but looking at an example of an A grade paper,and it was only an A4 page long,I couldn't believe it,this should have nothing on the leaving cert,but I wont get cocky.Then we had lunch,yummy cabbage soup,and then  I began my first chore,washing dished,and I must say I actually enjoyed it,,not the washing and drying part,although drying is fun,but for what where doing it for.We're doing it in order to keep the college running,it makes you truely a part of the college,and most importantly were doing it for God.I hope I can keep this in mind with everything I will be doing this semester and remember that the goal isn't about me,its about serving the Lord.Now faithful readers I am off to get personal with some more Chuck Tracks and have some mint tea.Keep on praying for me while I'm here,and pray for Calvary Waterford as they continue working on the new building,I can't wait to see it.

God Bless People,

Danny.

Friday, February 4, 2011

In the beginning..

Right lets try this..

Well World,

I'm alive and well and in Germany. To my surprise I found out they have computers here in the college ,so I get to start my blog after all. You see I wasn't going to be able to because the night before I left my laptop decided to randomly kill itself with a trojan horse,so its kinda scrapage in my room back home until I return, but I suppose its a good thing because now I wont be distracted from hours of facebook and msn,so maybe it was meant to happen.

Right so the day I left was a day of a few firsts for me.It was my first time in Icea,and I must say I liked what I saw,50c for a hotdog,a little slice of heaven.Next was my first time in terminal 2 in Dublin airport,its fancy.

Then was my first time through security,and well it didnt go as planned.Not only was I searched after going through the metal detector,thank you fillings,my bag had to be searched,I left batteries in them.Then was time for my first time on an airplane(could be spelt wrong),and I was as giddy as a school girl,barely being able to sit in my seat.Unfortunatly because of very bad weather we were not able to go straight away,and were waiting two hours before we could take off. The flight was meant to leave at 5:10 pm.Now I must say when a plane takes off it was the most amazing thing I've ever seen.I remember shouting profanity as I saw the world shrink before my eyes,we really are so small.

Now the plance ride was interesting indeed,the ear popping happened,but in a was I didn't expect.My ears went weird and it was like I was half deaf,I could hear nothing,its wasnt pleasant,along with that it felt like my eyes would have popped from their sockets,but I had a friend praying for me so it was all ok :) .But apart from that the plance ride was amazing.Spent most of it talking with my new friend Eimear,a college buddy.Now to finish off my first flight we got re routed from dusseldorf to Cologne,which was pretty cool.So the four of us waited for our collection and went to the college,Germans dont believe in street lights I've discovered.So I got to CCBC Siegen,took some cough medicane and headed straight to bed.

As I lay there I thought bout all that had happened that day,and what work God was doing in my life,where He's leading me and what He's doing,and He's already done so much for me so far. Its because of him I'm here in the first place,I never could imagine myself going to bible college,and now he has provided me with all the money I needed to get there,and more.He provided a means of transport to get me to Dublin,He had the plane delayed so no harm would come to the plane during the storm,He helped me when I felt like I could just collapsed on that plane,and He had us arrive in Cologne,which is actually closer to Siegen,even if I thought it was in France...

So it seems He really is in control of it all,and I am so grateful that I have an amazing God like this who accepts me as his own.He is revealling things to me already and I know that I am just gonna draw closed to Him during my stay here and he is gonna use me in a great way,no matter what that may be,but all I know is whatever it is,its gonna be amazing :) 

So people thats it for my first blog,I'll try keep you updated on whats going on here in Germany as much as possible.All prayers for me,the college,the students,the semester,for the church back home in Waterford,the building they are doing now,and Gods church in general will be greatly appreciated,and please,keep on reading.

God bless,

Danny.