Wiebke and Paul

Big Sunday! February 24, 2007

What a Sunday! On February 18, 2007 we had the Grand Opening of our new church building - we moved from a cafe into a tv studio - the C3 Studio Center.

On our first Sunday in the new building, we welcomed Ps. Chris and Phil Pringle, our founders, President of Christian City Church International and Senior Ministers of the movement’s largest congregation in Sydney, Australia.

See for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upa2fhPdzKs

Throughout the day, we had 450 people visiting our church. By the end of the day, 20 people found salvation in Jesus.

But the best of it all: We only had two days to turn an empty, dirty tv studio into a church. And we did it! God worked miracles and mobilized everyone to clean floors, windows, kid’s rooms, restrooms, Mother’s rooms, scrub walls, vacuum long hallways, assemble a stage, assemble 300 chairs, hang up lanterns, hang up banners and posters, roll out carpet, and much more.

I’d love to share Before and After photos with you to show you how we all rose to a new level to build God’s house.

What a blessing to have Phil & Chris in town for our first two services in the new place. In the morning service, Chris gave us a beautiful message and reminded us girls that we are precious creations of God and made to be beautiful and strong. Chris is an amazing woman and even if you think church and all this is not for you, you would get an inspiring and encouraging word from her preaching.

I pray for all my girls to get to know, meet, hear or see her to get a revelation of how wonderfully God works in - and through - us.

We have been given the greatest gift of all: life! Let’s be thankful, be bold, make a difference, dream big and live with a purpose.

‘The future is not a place where we go, it’s a place we create.’

Look What I Got…. February 15, 2007

Paul gave me this cute new iPod Shuffle for Valentine’s Day.

I love it! And Paul, of course!

Happy Valentine’s Day! (to All) February 14, 2007

Over the past year, I started the process of changing my attitude and learning how to love. I mean, to love. As in, truly cherish the other person, respect their feelings and opinions, be understanding, have grace and patience and show them how much you care about them. (Ok, I’m still working a lot on the grace and patience stuff….)

I took so many things for granted: my beautiful sister, my always-caring and loving Mom, you guys in good ol’ Germany, my girlfriends here in SF, this wonderful man who asked me to marry him, all the opportunities and respect at work and so much more. Sure, I knew that I was one happy girl to have all these awesome things happen to me.

But did I really understand why my life is so very special? So exciting? So promising? And then the question: Why me? Do I really deserve all of this?

After 29 years, I finally had a revelation about unconditional love. And more importantly, what a blessing all of you are for my life. All of you have loved me just the way I am (was). I know now that there is a God who truly loves me. And provides for me. His love speaks through you.

These words might not reach you in a spiritual way, but I want to tell you that I am so grateful for every single one of you.

So, this one goes out to all of you who have touched my life and loved me (and hopefully still do). And I want to give thanks to our Lord who has showed me His unconditional love and grace.

Take this Valentine’s Day message and send some thoughts of love towards other people - not only to your friends and family, not only for today. Speak words of encouragement into their lives. Something that makes them feel better.

We have enough problems, sorrows and struggles, we don’t need to add to anyone’s troubles by tearing them down. Let’s build each other up.

Don’t forget: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. - 1 Corinthians 13:7

It’s Been A Good Year! February 6, 2007

If you guys have been around us lately you have probably noticed a change in both of us. Yes, we are more in love than ever. This has been a really good year. I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you guys for all the help and support you’ve given us throughout our relationship and have helped us work through issues and turn our problems into opportunities.

This year, Wiebke and I have been given new outlooks on life. Our hearts have turned around, we’ve placed ourselves in God’s hands and he has provided for us in abundance. We’ve been blessed and now it is our responsibility to pass on those blessings to others. We are both looking forward to rising up at work and at church and being able to affect positive change in those around us.

Once again, thank you all. You’ve been such a blessing to us both. Here’s to a good year.