I thought this might be the best way to update everyone on my travels through Europe to N. Africa. Jeremiah and I are leaving Frankfurt later this morning (+7 to Central Time) to visit our friends.  We are excited and hopeful for our visit to be a blessing to them.

While in Frankfurt, we've enjoyed the scenery and culture here.  We made a visit to the Apple Store to get a power supply for Jeremiah's MacBook (pricey) and explored the area around there.  We found authentic sausages in rolls (think brats on a french bread roll – just way better than home).  After that, we found some baked pretzels with asiago cheese (again, awesome) and saw several shops selling mostly – you guessed it – sausage. Both of us people-watch, so we were just able to soak in what was going on around us.

Last night, we went to Adolf Wagner's (link is in English) for dinner.  This restaurant has been in Sachsenhausen (the district we're in) since 1931 – a feat considering this town was bombed quite a bit during WWII.  Look at the pictures on the site and you'll get an idea – it's an old country dining hall that stays pretty loud.  We were outside (sort of) with heating lamps and kerosene blowers.  All the food was amazing and we rolled out feeling like we got our worth for the Euro. 

Other quick highlights:
1. Getting adjusted to taking a cab everywhere is an interesting, but quick adjustment.
2. I would certainly welcome the chance to stay a little longer in Germany any time.
3. The people, especially the ones in our hotel, are very friendly and perfunctorily helpful.
4. Frankfurt is much more culturally diverse (more people from different countries) than a city of 600,000 might otherwise be.

Love you all and look forward to updating soon.

Chris
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Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3

     Gracious and sovereign Father, remembering your big story of redemption is not only a great joy but a critical discipline. For so many different narratives compete for our hearts, days, energy and resources. Remind us today of the main storyline which unfolds in the Bible, connects all of history and reveals your generous heart. And help us, once again, to find our place in this story.

     We praise you for making incredible promises to a non-suspecting pagan, Abram—promises you alone can keep. Indeed, from beginning to end, your story is a story of sovereign grace.  

     Father, thank you for the promise of the land. It began in the Garden of Eden, continued in the land of Israel and will culminate in the new heaven and new earth. Place and space matter to you. You have promised to redeem and restore your entire fallen world, not just one part of it. We praise you for your inviolate plans and great strength.

     Thank you for the promise of “the seed.” From the one man Abram, you created a great nation as the birthing canal of the Messiah, Jesus. You promised the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15), and you did not lie. Jesus came into the world to destroy the work of the devil and he has succeeded. His cross and resurrection guarantee that just like Abraham, we are counted righteous in your sight by faith (Gen. 15:6; Rom 4. We praise you for the everlasting gospel of your saving grace.

     Thank you for the promise of “the blessing.” Father, it has always been your plan to redeem a family from all families on the earth. Indeed, you made Abram, Abraham—the father of many nations. All of history is bound up with your commitment to redeem your people “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Rev. 7:9 ESV). We praise you for your magnanimous heart and measureless generosity.

     Father, thank you that you have made us to be characters in and carriers of your great story of redemption. So let us live and so let us love. In Jesus’ name we pray, with gratitude and awe.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/2011/02/12/a-prayer-for-remembering-god%e2%80%99s-big-story-of-redemption/

"Lust is wanting something right now," said one of my seminary professors. The celibate season is a time to cultivate patience, especially in the sexual arena. Patience grows from trust — believing that God will allow even our sexual lives to unfold in His time, in His way.

Part of the problem with lust is that it assumes that we need to have sexual experiences immediately because we may miss the opportunity. Although some people never marry, the vast majority of people — more than 80% — eventually do marry. When we realize that these experiences are most likely ahead of us, but are reserved for a different season — in which they will be beautiful and right — rushing becomes unnecessary.

Lustful thoughts, however, will come. We may be especially vulnerable when we are trying to pray against them. Instead of getting caught in a cycle of praying against lust only to have a fresh onslaught, we can shift our focus. "Try looking at your mind as a wayward puppy that you are trying to paper train," Anne Lamott wrote. "You don't drop-kick a puppy into the neighbor's yard every time it piddles on the floor. You just keep bringing it back to the newspaper."

When our minds wander in unfortunate directions our job is to bring them back to those things that are good, true and lovely (unless of course, a lovely person is what got us into trouble in the first place). We may have an especially hard time redirecting our minds when we're alone with our thoughts. When we're feeling really tempted, we may be able to break the cycle by doing something as simple as getting up to get a glass of water or better yet, picking up the phone to call a trusted friend.

"A Season of Celibacy" – Jenny Schrodel (http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0002348.cfm)