{{2016_03_31_t1.jpg}} {{2016_03_31_t2.jpg}} {{2016_03_31_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2016_03_31|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_viii|| Topics Collection viii ]] ======Go Special, renewed! ...====== Thursday, March 31, 2016. Sometimes we realize that we need to go one step further. We need to go special steps, new steps, choose a new direction. Often, this comes when we have time to think, when we are taken out of our routine - by whatever events. A holiday might be a good starting point, or some calm days, or the Easter celebration ... {{2016_03_31.jpg }} **New Directions ...** We had something like this in January, when we realized that we need to do something with the refugees which turned up in our church, but did speak mainly Persian. So we opened a special bible study group for refugees - and until now it has been quite an active interaction point, one evening a week, plus translation in the Sunday services. And we start to get to know the people better, we start to see the huge span of background and ability. Some speak some German already after some month, others do not really make much progress. Some are afraid to try, but they come regularly. It is a broad mixture, and quite an adventure, but with good experiences so far. These people bear their special burden, with a background of fear and war and difficulty. And suddenly they are in an environment where freedom and trust is the key thought - that is quite a change! Thinking about what is next, I realized that I need to take some new steps. Part of new steps, that is an important condition, is to cut some old activities. You cannot just add and add and add to the things you do already. When you realize that new steps are needed, you need to cut the old things, you need to throw out old hats! Clean up and then you are ready for the new things which are to come! {{ 2016_03_31_2.jpg}} **Old men is dead ...** The worship service of Good Friday was a quite important day for me this year. We talked about the death of Jesus - and I interpreted it in the light of the biblical text which say: with him the old men has died, and a new creation started. The apostle Paul writes that it is us, our old self, which is buried with Christ. And we are invited to a new life, to new steps. That is quite important and it is quite remarkable. I am full of hope that this new life is reality, that it is bound to come for those who believe. God is there, he is the living God and savior. Jesus is risen, and he sent his spirit, the Holy Spirit, who wants to be in our life day by day, from dawn to dusk. He is there through the nights! Something new is bound to come. Like every day has a new morning. God is the God of healing, of new steps, of new life, of forgiveness and mercy, of truth and love. Something new is bound to come for all of us. And we are invited to live it, to follow his spirit, to listen to his word and to do it, to let it fill our motives, our desires and our longing. He makes everything new! (RWEP) [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_viii|... more texts]]