Monthly Archives: June 2015

7 out of 10 Americans don’t know there neighbor!

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7 out of americansRecently Jen was researching for a speech she was going to hold at a citywide neighborhood watch captain meeting and found this information. 7 out of 10 Americans (70%) don’t know there neighbor. Isn’t it sad that we don’t know the people that live closest to us? The article also talked about that when neighbors actually know and have relationship with each other, crime goes down in those communities. Why? Because everybody is watching out for each other.

When we think about the 2 greatest commandment Jesus gave us in Mark 12.30-31 we see the biblical implication of this:

30  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ’There is no commandment greater than these.”

Jesus called us to love our neighbor as the second highest command, but how can we do that if we don’t even know them? This is a challenge for each one of us! I remember when Jen and I started to say hello to neighbors on the street and then started having barbecues brunches, dinner etc. The outcome of that was that we ended up having wonderful neighbor friends that we love dearly. But it took an action to get to that place.  Here are some questions to ponder on:

  1. How can I meet my neighbors? (bring over cookies, have them over for dinner etc.)
  2. How can I love them? (help them shopping, being a listening ear etc.)
  3. What actions do I have to take? (greet neighbors, have a brunch, come up with a plan etc.)
  4. What do I have to change to set times for that? (work schedule, social schedule etc.)

When you start doing that, not only your neighbors will benefit from that, no but you will. You will have great friends that live really close to you.

Hey friend

Relationships, Relationships, Relationships! This is the biggest part of our life here in San Francisco. During the last week we went to Neighborhood watch captains meeting where Jen was asked to speak. It was a great time that keeps connecting us with people in the city that are passionate about there neighborhood.

IMG_0038We also had our Winter DTS Graduation which was in one way a happy thing but on the other side a sad thing. We will miss those wonderful students!! Pray that God will guide them in there next steps and how to move forward in their lives.

Last Saturday we celebrated that I got my permanent Greencard with a Greencard Party with neighbors and friends that have the same privilege. It was as well a wonderful time to connect.

We want to encourage you with the first part of the blog and our life to invest in relationships. It has the power to change your life, neighborhood and community.

Markus and Jen

What is giving me life?

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what gives me lifeThe other day I was sitting at home, enjoying a day off, when I got a phone call from a friend. He told me that he is in the neighborhood and that he wanted to see if we are home. I said yes and i ended up spending time with him for 5 hours. This was not planned, and on my off days I often just like to be introverted and read a book. But this day ended up looking very different. We spend time praying for each other and sharing a meal. When he left that night I felt so encouraged and uplifted by the words he shared and just by the time we spend.

It showed me again that sometimes we think we know what is best for us, but sometimes that is different to what is really good for us. Ask yourself these questions:

  1. What is giving me life?
  2. After what activity do I feel the most refreshed (Physically, emotionally and spiritual)?
  3. How can I make sure I have those things as an essential thing planned into my life and my schedule?

Hey our friend!

jurassic worldWhat a fantastic summer we have so far. A follow up to one of our favorite movies came out this summer Jurassic World. Jen and I were so excited for that for a long time so that we had a hard time waiting to finally see it.

We also had a wonderful week going deeper in relationships we have. Its amazing to see how relationships are key. You can see that actually over the whole bible, God uses relationship to move. We want to encourage you to build friendships to people right around you, your neighbors.

Thank you so much for being a part of our life! You are a blessing. May God bless you richly.

Markus and Jen

What matters in your life?

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what matters in your lifeRecently I started reading “love does” by Bob Goff which is a book that really shows how little things matter. I highly recommend to you to read it! One quote that stuck out to me was this one: “I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I am more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”

This is really something to think about. What do we want to say at the end of our life when we look back. Are we working towards what we are actually passionate about with everything we have even with the risk of not succeeding in it, or are we living a life that makes us succeed in things that don’t really matter? Living in San Francisco I meet people that have a passion for God and want to pursue Him, but then choose their job and career over that goal. Some end up succeeding in there career but in the process loose what they really wanted to do. In a world where everything is built on a mentality of always wanting more at whatever price and even at the cost of others it is important to stay true to what we are called to do.

Ask yourself those questions:

  1. Am I living my life towards succeeding in Gods calling for me?
  2. If not where do I have to make adjustments?
  3. How can I become even more effective in the things that matter?

Hey our friend

During this week we had a wonderful game night which brought many people from the community together. It’s a great way to meet new people and have a fun time together. Think about what you can do in your community.

Thank you for partnering with us and the work here in San Francisco. You are a true blessing to us. May God bless you richly.

Markus and Jen

It is well with my soul

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it is well with my soulLast year when we were on our way to Germany to go to the funeral of my grandpa we had to go on a 6 hour drive to LA. On that drive we listened to worship music and the song it is well with my soul just kept coming back on. It really encouraged me and brought me hope during that time. When I looked into the story of the song I was amazed. It was written by a Chicago lawyer after he went through many tragedies. First he lost his son, then he lost most of his wealth in the big Chicago fire and then he sent his wife and daughters to Europe for a vacation on which trip the ship collided and all 4 of his daughters died. On his way over to meet with his grieving wife he wrote this song:

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say:

Chorus:
It is well, it is well, with my soul. It is well, with my soul!
It is well, with my soul! It is well, it is well, with my soul!

2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control, that Christ has regarded
my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul.

3. My sin, o, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: if Jordan above me shall roll,
no pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
the sky, not the grave, is our goal; O trump of the angel!
O voice of the Lord! Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll. The trump shall resound,
and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul.

His life was hit by one tragedy after the other, but in all of that he kept his focus on God. I’m sure he didn’t understand why things happened the way they happened, but he choose to keep believing that his Father in Heaven is good and does not want any bad for him. Ask yourself those questions:

  1. Do you truly believe that God is good even in times of challenge?
  2. If not, what do you think makes you believe it is not true?
  3. Spend time praying and ask God how you can see this truth again in your life!

Hey our friend

We hope you had a wonderful week. My brother and his wife left to go back to Germany. We had a wonderful time with them and look forward to see them again!! I was also meeting with a friend who uses the ministry concept to bring hope to his community. We also shared with one of my old students from Switzerland on how to impact his area with the ministry concept. God is starting to bring in more people who have a heart for their neighbors and community and want to use the concept there. Keep praying that all those starts will be fruitful.

Thank you for your Prayer and financial support. You are such a huge blessing to us. We are still in need of $1440 more monthly support to be fully funded. If you or someone you know would like to join our team in that way click on this link to see how!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Encouraged and challenged daily

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Encouraged and challenged dailySince Jen and I got married we read through the yearly bible 3 times and started just recently on our 4th time. It is a great start into the day by just reading the plan on the phone or let the phone read it to you. Many times we leave encouraged and also learn something new that God is speaking to us during those times.

Today part of the reading was in Psalm 37. It was so encouraging to read the promises in there. As an example Verse 5:

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.

What a call and what a promise. When we commit everything we do including our work, our off times and all other times, it will build trust in us and God can show us through it his help. Wow what an encouragement. And all of that by just spending 15 minutes per day to read the bible.

We want to encourage you to start a one year bible reading plan and to be encouraged through his word. You can either way buy a one year bible or you can just download the you version bible app to your phone and select the one year bible under the reading plans. To succeed in going through ask yourself those 3 questions.

  1. What is a good time for me to do that (morning, night, afternoon etc.)
  2. What is my plan to not quit after I missed a day?
  3. Who can I invite to join me?

Now be encouraged by reading your bible.

Hey our friend

We hope you had a fantastic week. We had a week full of events in our apartment like a memorial bbq with friends from 5 nations, a visit from my brother and his wife from Germany and a german night at our house. Its wonderful what can happen when you create a place for community to happen. We want to encourage you to be one of those places in your neighborhood.

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen