You’re Invited to Travel with us to Oberammergau, Germany

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | Direct Download For the Passion Play presented there every 10 years.

Every 10 years the town of Oberammergau, Germany performs a special Passion Play. It

has done so for over 400 years. This is in fulfillment of a vow made in 1633 when they

promised God to do so if spared from the bubonic plague. By law, all the 2,000

performers, musicians and stage technicians must come from this village, or have lived

there for 20 years. The first performance was in 1634. The last opportunity to see it was

2010. The next opportunity is next year, 2020. After that we have to wait for 2030!

Oberammergau's Passion Play | Photo courtesy of Roderick Eime

About half a million people are expected to attend this event, many like us will be from

various countries around the world.

In addition, during this 10-day trip we will tour sites of the Great Reformation including

the 900 year-old fortress in Coburg where Martin Luther took refuge. We’ll explore

Wittenberg where Luther lived and taught for 36 years and posted The Ninety-five

Theses on the Palace Church door. We’ll visit Luther Halle where Luther lived with his

family and Schlosskirche where he is buried.

In Eisleben we’ll be in the town Luther was born and died, and we’ll visit the St. Petri

Church where he was baptized. We’ll also visit the Luther Family House Museum.

We’ll enjoy a visit to Eisenach where Luther lived during his student days and Wartburg

Castle where he translated the New Testament into German. We’ll see the town of

Worms where Luther was tried in the infamous Diet of Worms.

Wartburg Castle | Photo courtesy of Travelspot

In addition, we’ll tour the city of Mainz where Johan Gutenberg developed the process of

moveable print leading to the printing press. We’ll go to the Reichstag Museum and

Nuremberg where the famous war trials were held. We’ll visit Munich and Innsbruck

where the Winter Olympic Games have been held two times.

This wonderful trip will be co-led by our dear friends Pastor Carlos and Lisa Sales, who

head a ministry they started called Reaching the Hungry. Carlos also serves as chair of

the Board of Directors for our ministry, Discipleship Journeys with Jesus.

All the details of the trip can be found HERE, including a link for registration.

Here are 4 reasons why I think you should go on this trip of a lifetime:

1. The inspiring Passion Play, which we might never get to see again.

This six-hour music and drama performance is very special—the most important Passion

Play in the world.

It is only performed every ten years. This might be our last opportunity to see it!

2. The joy of sharing travel with friends.

Traveling with friends will be wonderful. It increases the enjoyment and enhances the

experience.

I love the old saying, “Shared sorrow is half the sorrow and shared joy is twice the joy.”

In addition, you’ll likely make some new friends of those who will be on the trip with us.

3. The inspiration of the life of Martin Luther.

Luther risked everything for Jesus and nearly lost his life in the reforming of the church.

We’ll be inspired by his tremendous efforts and impact as we visit the actual sites of

world-changing history. Few have impacted the world like Luther.

4. The beauty of Bavaria.

I love visiting new and gorgeous places. Most people seem to feel the same.

Furthermore, we’ll be traveling in style in comfortable buses, staying in wonderful hotels,

and eating great food. Such comfort wasn’t even available in Luther’s day.

When you see, touch, taste, smell and otherwise experience new places, it makes an

unforgettable impact. After visiting about 75 countries, I know how true this is.

CONCLUSION:

All the details of the trip (plus a wonderful video) can be found HERE, including a link

for registration.

By the way, in case you missed it, we have a tremendous pilgrimage to the Holy Land

planned for this coming January and we’d love to have you join us for that!

I hope you’ll join us!

If you have questions, please let me know through the Contact page on this website.

Help Spread the Word!

If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media

or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical

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What is your favorite childhood memory?

Do you have a favorite childhood memory? Perhaps you have one specific memory or maybe

you have several. Recalling a favorite memory from childhood can be a great blessing. It can

warm our hearts and bring us cheer, when the pressures of life weigh too heavily upon us.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.

I, like perhaps many people, have more than one favorite childhood memory. But, the first one that comes to mind are the Sunday dinners that we had with my maternal grandparents. There was always plenty of good home-cooked food, laughter and fun. My grandmother had the gift of hospitality and grandpa was a practical joker.

There were also vacations and trips to Disneyland. Summers spent at the beach and birthday

parties. School field trips, summer camp and Girl Scout’s activities.

However, the childhood memory that I am most grateful for isn’t one specific event, but rather the security of knowing that I was wanted and loved by my father and mother. My parents cared for my brothers and I at great personal sacrifice. Today they are both in their 80’s and I am deeply indebted to them for giving me a lifetime of love and support.

Most people probably have a favorite childhood memory, perhaps indelibly etched in their

minds; while others may struggle to remember a favorite childhood memory.

Recalling a favorite childhood memory can be fun. A good childhood can provide a rich

storehouse of memories to withdraw from and replay to bring us joy. But, for some people trying to remember a favorite childhood memory can be a painful process.

Childhood should be a time of innocence. We are born dependent on others for survival, wide eyed with wonder, trusting and unwearied.

However, no childhood is perfect, because even those with an ideal childhood still had imperfect parents and families, even though well meaning.

If we’ve had a good childhood and can recall a favorite memory, then we should praise the Lord and give Him thanks. It is right to remember His goodness to us.

"I remember the days long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.” (Psalm 143:5 NIV)

But, for those who didn’t have a good childhood and can’t remember a favorite childhood

memory; please know that as believers in Christ, we have a perfect heavenly Father, whose love for us is constant.

He planned for each one of us to be born and live, and we are very much wanted by Him. We can let God’s truth heal painful memories, and minister to our hearts, minds and souls.

Psalm 139:13-16 says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (NLT)

We don’t want to let the pain of a childhood memory keep us stuck and steal our joy. It’s better to work towards forgiving those who have caused us pain, than to remain bitter about a painful past. The past shouldn’t defeat or define us; because as believers, our identity and worth should be found in Christ.

As Christians, we are God’s children and He can redeem painful pasts and give us purposeful futures. He can give us a life of meaning, and make everything new.

• John 1:12 says, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (NLT)

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.” (NLT)

• Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (NIV)

We can remember and give thanks for favorite childhood memories, and those with difficult

childhoods, should seek God’s help to forgive others and to heal (Psalm 34:18). We forgive

because we have been forgiven by God through Christ. In addition, forgiving others, is a gift we give to ourselves, because it sets us free from harboring negative and harmful feelings.

Most of all, we can strive to live in the present with gratitude, knowing that our identity, worth and value are found in Christ alone; and we can look forward to the future that God has prepared for us.

Please comment below and answer: What is your favorite childhood memory?

Please click here if you would like to accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior now and

read more about the next steps that you can take to grow spiritually in your new faith.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word!

If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or

otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance.

Thanks for your help!

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.

What Keeps Sinful Me in Check?

And I Pray Always Will!

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Sadly, stories of ruined lives, ruined marriages and devastated testimonies litter the Christian landscape. Infidelities, financial improprieties, heavy-handed leadership,

addictions, abuse and other indiscretions have marred the testimonies of multitudes of

Christians, pastors, and other Christian leaders. This week I even heard about a prominent

Christian pastor accused of trying to find a contract killer to “take out” his ex-son-in-law.

Insanity!

Yet as the saying states, “But for the grace of God there go I!” I know I’m no more

righteous than any of the “failures” that litter the evangelical Christian landscape.

Yet I’ve escaped scandal. Why?

Let me share what I think keeps my sinful soul in check, and I hope always will!

Here are 3 things that keep the sinful me in check:

1. Jesus!

Sorry if you wanted something more novel or innovative. But He is the best I’ve got!

In fact, I owe it all to Him—whatever I may accomplish or avoid.

However, there is something that I believe many miss about Jesus and that is while He is

always there, we’re not always there with Him. To be specific, many Christians avoid

spending time with Jesus and therefore don’t allow Him to impact their lives on a daily

basis. Thus, they fall into temptations.

To be even more specific, the practice of spending time with God in prayer, thanksgiving,

Scripture, devotional reading, submission, and confession is the first priority of my day. OK, yes, I do shower first and put in my contact lenses so I can see. Then I get a cup

of tea or coffee.

But when I’m ready to start after my “routines,” my first order of business is time with

God. It’s not Facebook, Twitter, email, working out, reviewing my to do list or any of the

other common day-starters. Those are all fine and come later for me. The first thing,

however, is to rededicate myself to the Lord.

It’s not a legalistic thing, it’s just a priority and a practicality. If I don’t do some time

with God first, my day starts off on the wrong foot: I’m cynical, negative, lacking

Ultimate Direction, frustrated with myself and have other symptoms of a merely

perspective.

But in putting God first, I’m grateful, hopeful, faith-filled, refreshed, cleansed and ready

to face the challenges, excitements and temptations of a new day.

I understand some people are not morning people as I am. To you I would just say that if

it is not first thing in the morning, your priority of time with the Lord must be of highest

importance sometime in the day. Otherwise, you greatly increase your chances of going

off the rails.

2. Marriage!

Sexual allurements abound today, perhaps more than any other time, ever. With the

availability of the internet in most parts of the world and the easy access to pornography

in the privacy of your hiding spot, the statistics of how many men and women are hooked

on porn are staggering. This includes Christians.

The antidote, along with Jesus, is a happy and fulfilled marriage. That’s not my own

prescription, it’s the clear teaching of Scripture.

“It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.” (1 Corinthians 7:9b NLT)

This summer Carolyn and I will celebrate our 40 th anniversary. We were married August

4, 1979. It’s been an awesome marriage run, thank God. And I’m looking forward to

much more. And one of the great blessings of our happy marriage is that we never have

to say, “I can’t get no satisfaction.” Satisfaction certainly helps ward off temptation.

I’m very grateful for this gift that helps keep me in check.

3. Guardrails!

There are other factors that have helped keep me in check, and one of the biggies is the

guardrails I’ve put around myself.

For example, marriage is a great help to stay godly, but only if I protect it with guardrails.

US Vice President Mike Pence has been severely criticized for adhering to the “Billy

Graham rule” of not spending time alone with a woman. Women have complained that

this puts them in an inferior position with someone of power like Pence. But the truth is

that it is a huge protection for women as well as the Vice President, Billy Graham, and all

who practice guardrails.

It’s ironic that in the midst of the “Me Too movement,” someone who completely avoids

the temptation to abuse women is criticized for doing so, instead of being appreciated.

Pence is an evangelical Christian, and is simply practicing biblical instructions to:

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV)

“Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with

those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22 Berean Study Bible)

This is what I have tried to do, and it has been a safeguard to help keep the sinful me in

check. Carefully using guardrails shows the greatest respect to my marriage, to women I

come into contact with and to myself.

Other guardrails:

• I don’t meet in a room with a woman if it doesn’t have a window.

• I am careful about counseling a woman sharing her marriage frustrations.

• On social media I post lots of photos of Carolyn and myself and make our marriage a prominent feature.

• I talk a lot about Carolyn and our marriage.

If you don’t like my safety rails, that’s fine, just develop your own. Whatever works for

you. Just make sure they work!

Of course, I have guardrails in other areas of life and ministry:

• I am accountable to a Board of Directors for our ministry.

• Our Board meets in Executive Session without me present after every Board meeting, in case there are items they need to address without me present.

• I don’t handle the funds donated to our ministry.

• I avoid alcohol.

• I don’t “check out” sinful practices or places so I become “street wise” or “informed” Christian leader.

• I have an accountability partner who I can share about my temptations with and receive prayer.

• I try to welcome and learn from criticism and concerns expressed about my behaviors if they come up.

CONCLUSION:

So those are the three biggies that help keep the sinful me in check.

Of course, my race isn’t over. The Evil One will continue to battle against my soul to try

to destroy my life, marriage, and reputation for Christ.

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring

lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT)

You and I must always be on guard in this battle!

One more thing: If you are not sure that you have received God’s gift of salvation

through Jesus, learn about how to be positive HERE.

Help Spread the Word!

If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media

or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical

guidance. Thanks for your help!

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