Good Christian WebPages

English

1. ibethel.tv
2. xpmedia.com
3. ihopkc.org/prayerroom
4. thecity.org/media
5. streamingfaith.com
6. itbn.org
7. bibelserver.com

Deutsch

1. onlinepredigt.de
2. Johannes Hartl

Long time, No see!

Dear Friends, Acquaintances, and Family,
I haven't written since I am back from the US. But I think it is time to do so. I think it is time to keep you updated on what is going on in my life. (Klick Me!)

So - since I safely arrived back here in Berlin a lot of things happened.
The most significant is probably the enrollment at a college. I matriculated at Beuth university of technology for the "industrial engineer online". Meaning that I will study online, and only have to be present on campus for a day once a month. It's not exactly what I want, but it let's me start studying. The plan is, that I will change for the on-campus program in fall, but build up some credits during the first semester.

Since there is some time until university begins (it's semester break right now), I decided to do an internship at my church (GadW, Church on the Way). So most of my time went in there for the last five weeks, working in the media departement. Here at our church our media department is responsible for the book store, online store, publishing, and recording the service messages. I mostly had to work with the computer updating the online store. Making sure all the books, CDs, DVDs and more where online with all the info required, like pictures, descriptions, the right price and so on.

The third major thing that I am really excited about is my job. I started at a small company as the IT guy. So I am responsible for all the updates on the computers, making sure there is a backup of everything and helping the employees where ever they need help with their computers.

Hopefully that gives some insight in my life. I'm more than happy about any response from you.
I miss y'all. Keep in touch.
Sincerely yours, Pitt.

Favorite Preaching Series

Here are my favorite preaching series. (Klick Me)

The happy Life 2011 (about Giving)

1. The happy Life
2. It's all about the heart
3. What Test?
4. The Principle of first
5. Breaking the Spirit of Mammon
6. Am I Generous?
7. The principle of Multiplication

Broken (about Family)

1. The fall of the first Family
2. Inside-Out Families
3. Happy Wife, Happy Life
4. Happy husband, happy home
5. Happy child, happy house

Everything about Giving

1. The series above "The happy Life"
2. The Power Test

"The Hobbit" Review

Here are my thoughts on "The Hobbit". (Klick Me)

Story
I love the story in this movie. It is very close to the book, so every Hobbit fan will love this movie. In fact every "middle-earth lover" will like this movie, because it is not only showing the story of the hobbit, but merging all knowledge about middle-earth into the film.
I like how they make the connections to the Lord of the Rings trilogy and also wave the "political" clima from middle earth into the scenes.

Version
The movie was shot in 3D, 48 frames per second. Which is unusual. Normally movies are shot only in 24 fps.
I heard many people complain about that. It would be to new, the brain wasn't used to it, meaning the movie experience wasn't so good. But I disagree. I loved the 48 fps. The quality was astonishing and different scenes looked so much better. My experience with 48 fps was great.
A Video about how to see the hobbit.

Recommendation
I recommend watching the movie in an IMAX 3D theater at 48 fps. At least if that is possible for you, since not many theaters are able to play it in this setting. Only 58 IMAX Theaters are able to show the hobbit in its intended resolution. Here is a link to find the closest theater to you.

Black Friday

Why is the Black Friday called "Black" Friday?
Why not green Friday, or yellow, or blue?

The answer is remarkable, or at least was it new to me. :P
During that day would the season of Christmas Shopping begin. Almost everyone is out of work on that day. So most of the people would go and buy things for their friends and family.
Now it is called "Black" Friday, because this would be the day most companies would move from red numbers to black again. Meaning from negativ to positiv. "The companies are now writing black numbers."

That is why it's called Black Friday! At least that is one explanation :P

I side with...

Sam made me take this "test" yesterday. Now I just have to figure out if that is good, or bad ^^


One thing I know for sure: I am staying at the right place here in Amerika - Texas :D

Harvest Festival

Since yesterday was harvest festival here in Germany, I want to write about the things, that I thank God for, during the last year.

Oh man, I realize there is so much to be thankful for! Thank God!

Let's begin.

- I am really thankful for the supernatural healing my sister has experienced after the Fire Accident. A proof for what I had thought from the beginning.     Expand 

My sister is going to be all right! In fact more beautiful than before. Also the atmosphere in our family God has given us during Christmas is something I am really thankful for.

- I am done with High School! Which is something I am very thankful. God has taken me through all the exams safely and even with grades I am proud of.

- God has provided jobs for me during the last year. Beginning with the promotion job and through that starting my own "business". Through the business I was able to work at an office and acquire some experience in office work.
Then God provided a fulltime job for me within two weeks, which is amazing. That was at a home for the handicapped. Those two months were an awesome experience!

- Throughout the year God has proven himself faithful to me. -Thanks God!-
He gave me joy in reading his word more frequently and more often. Also I had some great experiences in his presence, like crying - just because he is love!

- About a year ago I started organizing a possibility to return to the states for some time. Firstly for visiting my friends and secondly working at a church called Gateway as an intern. Again and again stones got into my way and I had to fight. Which was, as I remember, very exhausting at times. Doors opened and then got closed again.
But at all times, God was with me. Gave me strength to continue fighting.
Now at the end of the process I have the possibility to go to the states and visit my friends. Which I am really excited about! Sadly it was much more difficult to get a working Visa to fullfil the second wish. Meaning I won't be able to work in the internship program, but God is so good. He has provided a way for me to attend most of the public conferences at Gateway and through that experiencing Gateways Church life.

What to say more to God except THANKS! Thanks God for everything you have done. Thanks God for the plans you have with me. Thanks that you provide.
YOU are awesome!

Coming to the US?

Will I be able to come to the US?

here is the story since the latest problems I had. I was checking for a health insurance when I realized I had something wrong with my booking of the flights. Instead of returning on the 90st day I would fly home on the 91st. Which the VisaWaiverProgram does not allow.
I brainstormed what I could do, and three things came to my mind.
1. Rebook one of the flights between US and Germany
2. Flying to Dallas and stay in the area of the Airport, where everybody is signed the Visa or welcomed back home, untill the next day.
3. Apply for a Visa that allows me to stay longer than 90 days.  Expand

In an earlier Post I said I would rebook the flights between US and Germany, so I called the travel agency that I booked the flight with, but they told me it would cost me 210€ to rebook the return fligh! Which is of corse really expensive.

I went through the other options I had.
Flying to the US and just hoping I would get approved after waiting in an area where I don't think it's allowed to stay for 9 hours, just seemed a little impossible.

So the last option came to my mind and I began my research.
First of all it was much cheaper than rebooking the flights and as I found out still possible to get an appointment at the embassy here in Berlin.
That "researching" was last week wednesday. And thank God! I got an appointment TODAY 10:00am :)

So now I am able to give you the update in this concern. I am approved!! The lady called me, I told her why I want to the US and after only one more minute she sad. "Your Visa is Approved".

Afterwards I wasn't so sure what to think. It all went so fast. I didn't have to show her all my documents I prepared and what I have sad didn't sound so well in my ears ;-p
But I am so greatful. Thanks to God! He is great!

Plans for coming to the USA

Finally it is clear, that I will come to the US! Visiting Dallas once more

The arrival date is Oct 12th. While the departure date is Jan 10th. Who ever is able to count will realize that this means 90 days in America!!!!


I'm so excited about coming! But I need prayer regarding the venture. I'd like to get around in the Dallas area, so I need a car. I have the German drivers license and I would pay for any insurance, but a car is what I don't have. :/
If anyone is able to lend me a car for those three months, please contact me!


Update #1:
Oh nooo!
I did something wrong!!! From Oct 12th until Jan 10th is not 90 days. It is 91 days!
That is a huge problem!
I'm now trying to rebook the flight so I'll arrive at Oct 13th, but I need your prayers!

Update #2:
See how God provides.

Working Experiences

In this Post I want to write about my working experiences during the last year, because for me it is also interesting to see how the Lord is leading me.

My first job outside of a friends company was at a Place called "Kinder Küche". Translated it means 'Children's Kitchen'. My assignment was to advertise the program to people on the street and convince them into giving money.
A friend of mine got me into the job and I am really glad I accepted. One criteria to work was having my own business. Meaning I had to go to the department where I could register my company and receive a tax number.
Through that the organisation "Kinder Küche" never really had to employee me. They only hired me.
After working a few hours I would bill them.
But sadly this didn't last long, only a few chances were given to me. I had to advertise enough people successfully, but miserably failed.   Expand

Now this isn't the end. I still have my "company" in hand. Which served me quite well some time after I finished high school in May. I then was able to work the same way as before (not being employed) in an office. Meaning I actually got some experience in office work.
Since that was something I had thought of doing in my future life, I am really glad I had the chance to try.


Now my latest job actually beats the office work. Somehow I enjoy it more. It is more social work where I am (this time actually) employed - a home for the handicapped.
There I do almost the same job as all my colleagues. The only difference - I have no responsibility for the kids.
It is a great way to serve these children and to be a light for them. Mostly they come from broken families and need unconditional love.

High School - Never again! :)

What about that, dear World! I finished School!!!! YEAHHHH!!!!!
13 years of sitting in classrooms, listening to teachers, having to deal with classmates that don't like you cause you're different/ striving for the best, and sitting on uncomfortable chairs for most of the day. :D

The only sad part is, that there is less time in the afternoons, cause no more school means also no more cancellation of classes where the teacher is sick, or it's to hot outside or even just because its nice weather and we want to have the chance of enjoying it :P

What else to say. I'm happy to be out, but strangely still very thankful for the time that I had in school. My grades aren't bad so I'm proud of my average of 2.2 (1=best; 6=fail).  Expand

And here a quote from a Teacher to his students. -> AWESOME, but takes some time to read ;)

Dr. Wong, Dr. Keough, Mrs. Novogroski, Ms. Curran, members of the board of education, family and friends of the graduates, ladies and gentlemen of the Wellesley High School class of 2012, for the privilege of speaking to you this afternoon, I am honored and grateful. Thank you.

So here we are... commencement... life’s great forward-looking ceremony. (And don’t say, “What about weddings?” Weddings are one-sided and insufficiently effective. Weddings are bride-centric pageantry. Other than conceding to a list of unreasonable demands, the groom just stands there. No stately, hey-everybody-look-at-me procession. No being given away. No identity-changing pronouncement. And can you imagine a television show dedicated to watching guys try on tuxedos? Their fathers sitting there misty-eyed with joy and disbelief, their brothers lurking in the corner muttering with envy. Left to men, weddings would be, after limits-testing procrastination, spontaneous, almost inadvertent... during halftime... on the way to the refrigerator. And then there’s the frequency of failure: statistics tell us half of you will get divorced. A winning percentage like that’ll get you last place in the American League East. The Baltimore Orioles do better than weddings.)


But this ceremony... commencement... a commencement works every time. From this day forward... truly... in sickness and in health, through financial fiascos, through midlife crises and passably attractive sales reps at trade shows in Cincinnati, through diminishing tolerance for annoyingness, through every difference, irreconcilable and otherwise, you will stay forever graduated from high school, you and your diploma as one, ‘til death do you part.

No, commencement is life’s great ceremonial beginning, with its own attendant and highly appropriate symbolism. Fitting, for example, for this auspicious rite of passage, is where we find ourselves this afternoon, the venue. Normally, I avoid cliches like the plague, wouldn’t touch them with a ten-foot pole, but here we are on a literal level playing field. That matters. That says something. And your ceremonial costume... shapeless, uniform, one-size-fits-all. Whether male or female, tall or short, scholar or slacker, spray-tanned prom queen or intergalactic X-Box assassin, each of you is dressed, you’ll notice, exactly the same. And your diploma... but for your name, exactly the same.

All of this is as it should be, because none of you is special.

You are not special. You are not exceptional.

Contrary to what your u9 soccer trophy suggests, your glowing seventh grade report card, despite every assurance of a certain corpulent purple dinosaur, that nice Mister Rogers and your batty Aunt Sylvia, no matter how often your maternal caped crusader has swooped in to save you... you’re nothing special.

Yes, you’ve been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble-wrapped. Yes, capable adults with other things to do have held you, kissed you, fed you, wiped your mouth, wiped your bottom, trained you, taught you, tutored you, coached you, listened to you, counseled you, encouraged you, consoled you and encouraged you again. You’ve been nudged, cajoled, wheedled and implored. You’ve been feted and fawned over and called sweetie pie. Yes, you have. And, certainly, we’ve been to your games, your plays, your recitals, your science fairs. Absolutely, smiles ignite when you walk into a room, and hundreds gasp with delight at your every tweet. Why, maybe you’ve even had your picture in the Townsman! And now you’ve conquered high school... and, indisputably, here we all have gathered for you, the pride and joy of this fine community, the first to emerge from that magnificent new building...

But do not get the idea you’re anything special. Because you’re not.

The empirical evidence is everywhere, numbers even an English teacher can’t ignore. Newton, Natick, Nee... I am allowed to say Needham, yes? ...that has to be two thousand high school graduates right there, give or take, and that’s just the neighborhood Ns. Across the country no fewer than 3.2 million seniors are graduating about now from more than 37,000 high schools. That’s 37,000 valedictorians... 37,000 class presidents... 92,000 harmonizing altos... 340,000 swaggering jocks... 2,185,967 pairs of Uggs. But why limit ourselves to high school? After all, you’re leaving it. So think about this: even if you’re one in a million, on a planet of 6.8 billion that means there are nearly 7,000 people just like you. Imagine standing somewhere over there on Washington Street on Marathon Monday and watching sixty-eight hundred yous go running by. And consider for a moment the bigger picture: your planet, I’ll remind you, is not the center of its solar system, your solar system is not the center of its galaxy, your galaxy is not the center of the universe. In fact, astrophysicists assure us the universe has no center; therefore, you cannot be it. Neither can Donald Trump... which someone should tell him... although that hair is quite a phenomenon.

“But, Dave,” you cry, “Walt Whitman tells me I’m my own version of perfection! Epictetus tells me I have the spark of Zeus!” And I don’t disagree. So that makes 6.8 billion examples of perfection, 6.8 billion sparks of Zeus. You see, if everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless. In our unspoken but not so subtle Darwinian competition with one another–which springs, I think, from our fear of our own insignificance, a subset of our dread of mortality — we have of late, we Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement. We have come to see them as the point — and we’re happy to compromise standards, or ignore reality, if we suspect that’s the quickest way, or only way, to have something to put on the mantelpiece, something to pose with, crow about, something with which to leverage ourselves into a better spot on the social totem pole. No longer is it how you play the game, no longer is it even whether you win or lose, or learn or grow, or enjoy yourself doing it... Now it’s “So what does this get me?” As a consequence, we cheapen worthy endeavors, and building a Guatemalan medical clinic becomes more about the application to Bowdoin than the well-being of Guatemalans. It’s an epidemic — and in its way, not even dear old Wellesley High is immune... one of the best of the 37,000 nationwide, Wellesley High School... where good is no longer good enough, where a B is the new C, and the midlevel curriculum is called Advanced College Placement. And I hope you caught me when I said “one of the best.” I said “one of the best” so we can feel better about ourselves, so we can bask in a little easy distinction, however vague and unverifiable, and count ourselves among the elite, whoever they might be, and enjoy a perceived leg up on the perceived competition. But the phrase defies logic. By definition there can be only one best. You’re it or you’re not.

If you’ve learned anything in your years here I hope it’s that education should be for, rather than material advantage, the exhilaration of learning. You’ve learned, too, I hope, as Sophocles assured us, that wisdom is the chief element of happiness. (Second is ice cream... just an fyi) I also hope you’ve learned enough to recognize how little you know... how little you know now... at the moment... for today is just the beginning. It’s where you go from here that matters.

As you commence, then, and before you scatter to the winds, I urge you to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance. Don’t bother with work you don’t believe in any more than you would a spouse you’re not crazy about, lest you too find yourself on the wrong side of a Baltimore Orioles comparison. Resist the easy comforts of complacency, the specious glitter of materialism, the narcotic paralysis of self-satisfaction. Be worthy of your advantages. And read... read all the time... read as a matter of principle, as a matter of self-respect. Read as a nourishing staple of life. Develop and protect a moral sensibility and demonstrate the character to apply it. Dream big. Work hard. Think for yourself. Love everything you love, everyone you love, with all your might. And do so, please, with a sense of urgency, for every tick of the clock subtracts from fewer and fewer; and as surely as there are commencements there are cessations, and you’ll be in no condition to enjoy the ceremony attendant to that eventuality no matter how delightful the afternoon.

The fulfilling life, the distinctive life, the relevant life, is an achievement, not something that will fall into your lap because you’re a nice person or mommy ordered it from the caterer. You’ll note the founding fathers took pains to secure your inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness–quite an active verb, “pursuit”–which leaves, I should think, little time for lying around watching parrots rollerskate on Youtube. The first President Roosevelt, the old rough rider, advocated the strenuous life. Mr. Thoreau wanted to drive life into a corner, to live deep and suck out all the marrow. The poet Mary Oliver tells us to row, row into the swirl and roil. Locally, someone... I forget who... from time to time encourages young scholars to carpe the heck out of the diem. The point is the same: get busy, have at it. Don’t wait for inspiration or passion to find you. Get up, get out, explore, find it yourself, and grab hold with both hands. (Now, before you dash off and get your YOLO tattoo, let me point out the illogic of that trendy little expression–because you can and should live not merely once, but every day of your life. Rather than You Only Live Once, it should be You Live Only Once... but because YLOO doesn’t have the same ring, we shrug and decide it doesn’t matter.)

None of this day-seizing, though, this YLOOing, should be interpreted as license for self-indulgence. Like accolades ought to be, the fulfilled life is a consequence, a gratifying byproduct. It’s what happens when you’re thinking about more important things. Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. Go to Paris to be in Paris, not to cross it off your list and congratulate yourself for being worldly. Exercise free will and creative, independent thought not for the satisfactions they will bring you, but for the good they will do others, the rest of the 6.8 billion–and those who will follow them. And then you too will discover the great and curious truth of the human experience is that selflessness is the best thing you can do for yourself. The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you’re not special. Because everyone is.

Congratulations. Good luck. Make for yourselves, please, for your sake and for ours, extraordinary lives.

Copied from here www.bostonherald.com.

How is the victim after the fire accident?

Actually there is not much more to talk about. Even two months after the accident with the Brandy Punch, my sister had recovered very well. And now there are no more sings of it. Only a little scar in her face and one like a bean on her arm.
But her voice has recovered perfectly (she's singing very nice, and often at home ^^).
Her hair grew back. So all around she is looking more beautiful than ever!


And the only thing I now can do is rejoicing in the Lord. He had it all in control, even when it was a difficult time. It turned out good for us, because the word says in Romans 8,28 - All things work together for good, for those who love God. [paraphrased]

What happened during the last 6 months

Hey Guys,

it was a much to long time since I wrote the last time. So I want to try to update since the accident of my sister.

I have different topics I want to go over.

• How is the victim after the fire accident?
• High School - Never again! :)
• Working Experiences
• Plans for coming to the USA

Since it is so much I decided to post about everything separately in new posts. I hope you're looking forward to those :)

Blessings, Pitt.

Fire accident

Brandy Punch

It has been a long time since I have written my last article, and since then something crazy happened.


Exactly two months ago we went to our neighbors to celebrate Christmas and have some time together. We had a lot of food and a nice atmosphere. Everyone that came added something to the table.

But the highlight was the brandy punch the adults made. Brandy punch is a drink we Germans love. It's heated dry red wine in a bowl with a sugar head on top. Now the sugar is soaked with alcohol and then lit on fire. The sugar melts, crystallizes, and then drops bit by bit into the punch. It's perfect for winter, because it is a warm drink.

Now the point is that after some time all the alcohol is burned. New alcohol has to be added so that it continues burning. When you do that you should consider that alcohol is easily flammable. So pouring it out of the bottle might not be good.

You can guess what happened.       Expand

One of our neighbors always added the new alcohol with the bottle in the past. Every time nothing happened, until this time. The fire went into the bottle and caused an explosive outward movement of new alcohol, which caught on fire as well. Then it flew directly on my sister. Her face, above the breast and left arm were on fire. Gladly she wasn't on fire for a very long time. The neighbor that had poured the alcohol immediately jumped to her and tried to extinguish the fire with his hands. Another neighbor brought a jacked shortly after and was able to put all the fire on my sister out. He then took her into another room and continued to the bathroom with her. He put her under the shower and let her shower herself with water until the emergency crew came.

While all that happened I myself had a kinda funny experience. When I looked up from my delicious cake seeing my sister burn I started screaming, like all of us. I remember, jumping up and in my lack of knowledge wanting to get some water for Emi. Now I have learned that it is really unwise to try extinguishing a fire like that with water. Well, I ran into the kitchen where somebody had dropped a bowl and I realized that I had no house shoes on my feet anymore. I had throne them off after I jumped up. I guess I had thought that I might be faster when I didn't have them. ^^ Well at the end I had a very small splinter, but nothing to talk about. ;)

I still wanted to get some water though; because the table was still on fire. When I heard someone scream "No Water!!" The fire exploded as somebody did not listen and the fire grew bigger. Gladly all of us understood now, that water would only make it worse. Some got a blanked and extinguished the fire with that - actually now nothing looks like it had been burned. Not the table, not under the table, just not anything. Even the cloth of Emi only had a small hole (nothing big). That is a wonder in itself. It only smelled burned for the next few days in the house.

in the hospital
with the self-made Christmas star

Now, the story does not stop here. While Emily came into the hospital and was nursed there I was left home alone. My parents went with her and my brother was at a music concert. I immediately called some people to pray for Emi and the neighbors that did not feel well after all that. I think Sam might be able to remember how I had called him - perplexed as I was. ;)

After some time I actually had peace in me. I brought everything to God. And then I was able to go down to the neighbor and send him peace. I hugged him, ensured him everything is going to be well and prayed with him. Later I even read Bible verses to him.

Now her arm looks much better!

3 weeks later

Now I will make it a little shorter, with what had happened after this horrible 22nd of December Day. Emi was in the hospital for only five more days, packed as she was with linen around her face and linen on her arm we didn't think she'd make it out so quick. When the day came, the doctors took her bandages in the face off. It didn't look well, but anyways. GOD is great! In less than two weeks her face looked so well again, that she could go back to school unashamed. Because of that, she only missed the first three days after the Christmas break.

Now nothing is visible anymore. Emi even said it would feel like two years ago instead of two months. :-)

I can only praise God for what he has done. The enemy tried to destroy something there, but instead the exact opposite had happened. We grew closer as family, still had a great Christmas and actually it was more about Jesus this time instead of presents. (The last gifts we unpacked 4 days late) ;D Also all of us in the house grew closer, we held together. Last but certainly not least our church prayed for my sister and stood right behind us, covering our back.

A lot of friends of Emi went into the hospital and visited her, so that she was not even able to listen to an audio book. She just had no time for that. Sometimes more than 10 people were in her room wanting to know how she was and wanting to encourage her. But every time it was the opposite way. Emi was more an encouragement to the people, because she had no grief in her and she knew, that it would turn out good in the end.

At last I can say it was horrible, but it turned out to be a great time.

Emi 2 months later

Royal Ranger Leadership Canoehike

The past two days were very interesting days.
I went with all the leaders from our Royal Ranger scouts on a Canoehike.
We started at our church GadW in Tegel. There we packed our things in waterproof baggs and then carried the boats to the near place where we watered them.

Paddel Club Wiking

God blessed our trip, because it did not rain, nobody capsized and we arrived safely at the most beautiful place I could ever imagine. A new build house directly at the lake owned by a watercraft paddling club. It was huge and looked like a five star hotel with pool, gym, etc. from the outside. Of course it turned out to be a "normal" house. Still it was quiet comfortable and unusual for a paddling club.
This comfort is the reason for nobody using the accessoires we had brought with us. We were able to cook like we do at home ;D



Well we went on having a good time of worship and then hearing a word from Daniel.
He spoke about leadership and how we could live it out in our teams. More about that here.

Rüdiger & Daniel

Since we did not have any games with us, like card games or board games, we went on playing communication games. They are at first awkward, but then you realize they are a lot of fun. And since we had our primary school teacher Rüdiger with us we had tons of those ^^






The next day we were on our way back home. And since some people wanted to try other boats we changed. So nobody complained about any inequality. We also took another route home. We went through Small Venezia, which is a very nice area of canals and their owners of land right at the water.

The lock and the fun lorry

But still we had to pass the lock which was a lot of fun, because we had too carry our boats with a lorry.

The guys taking out the water of the sunk boat

Then it happend. We had changed boats again. In one boat were three of our guys which seemed to be to much. After 20 min. in this constellation the waves swapped over in the boat! And suddenly three people were swimming in the cold, cold water. Thank God we were close to the shore, so we were able to carry the boat there and dry up again.


After that we have learned, that the boat we build ourselves is not able to carry three heavy people.
We continued our journey and were able to arrive safely back at our home.
It was an awesome trip with some action and good relationship between friends!

Group picture!

What is leadership

Daniel Sanchez talked about leadership and its use in teams at a canoe hike of the Royal Rangers Berlin.


1. Peace

• we as leaders, are in the teams to bring peace. This is our goal.
• a question I can ask myself: Does everything I do in the team produce peace?
• Joh 14,27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
• Col 3,15 - Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

2. Love

• Joh 15,9 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
• We shall love our close ones. This is very important for leadership.

3. Serving

• the purpose of leaders is to serve.
• Mark 10,45 - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
• RR Goals: Draw kids to Jesus, keep them there and equip them for the future.

Another point that got important to me is preparation. Leaders should always be preperated to have something in store. Else their leadership can be questioned by the kids, because they have no idea what to do or no idea how to lead.

The Race to Victory

Today I had a really exciting day. First a Race with my rowing club and after that an awesome youth concert in the Märkische Viertel.

Half a year ago a loud shout went through my school. My history teacher was crying out "Come! Everybody come to my rowing course! You will get a good grade." Since I didn't have any other sport outside of school at this time I went along attending this course, hoping for a fun time with an extra grade at the end.
I went to this "course" every Thursday and actually enjoyed it. It is fun moving over the water almost faster then people on a bike. Yes it is an exhausting sport, gives you pimples that hurt days after the training. But it is also a sport with disciplin, great relationships with friends and beautiful nature.
The teacher Mr. Peach and a club member called Grille were our trainers. They made us to real competitive enemies. Today was the fight!
Our two boats competed against each other. Five people are in one boat. One who strears and four that row. In my team was Lisa, Sarah, San, Mattis and me. The other boat had Laura, Tim, Jonas, Pascal and Laurin in it.
It was a close race, but a lot of fun. Actually Sarah lost one of her oar right after the start. When that happend we were loosing. We were only three that rowed. It took Sarah more than half of the 500 m to get her oar back in. We were about one boat length back. But we didn't want to give up. So all four started rowing for their lives. And the incredible happend. We passed the enemies by 1 m and went into the goal first.
That was an exciting fight.
And the coke tasted even better ^^

Now the day was not over. The youth concert was still going. I went there as fast as I could, but had to realize that it was over when I arrived. They finished with a HipHop battle with kids dancing. The winner got an iPod shuffel! And afterwards with a small meeting of all the participants to share about there day and worship God for the good time.

Exchange Year 2009/10

During the time of my tenth grade I became interested in an exchange year. As a result of that I started informing myself about the costs, which organisation would be best and I began praying for clear instructions of God.
At first EF, YFU and some others were introduced to me. I signed up at EF. It is a large organisation that sends students from one country to another all over the world. It looked alright to me, but at one point I realized that my believe in the christian religion was a huge point that couldn't be different to the one of the host family. In that organisation it was not sure to come in such a family. Though the chances in America are high to come in a christian family, I wanted to be 100% sure. So I continued looking for another organisation.
Then somebody told me about Amicus, a daughter organisation of the christian youth organisation YoungLife. It was the perfect program, they were about 1k cheaper and they would ensure me a place at a host family that at least would accept my believe.

At last I went for one awesome exchange year. Now I have a family that is American!! :)
My friends are the best and I still am in contact with lots of them.

Below only a few pictures of the 65 GB pictures I have.

My wonderful host family & Me

The drive Way

Shooting the Bow is difficult, but with some practice possible.

Our great watch dog!

The reasons, why this land is called "Farm".

The German School System

In this article I will try to explain the German school system.
I will explain how the average school life looks like and how mine looked like.

First my story:
I started with Kindergarten when I was 3 years old. There I stayed till I was 7 years old. I got into primary school with that age and not with 6 (what was average), because I was not ready with 6. I think my parents decided well at that point :)
After 6 years of primary school I went to a Comprehensive school, because I thought I wouldn't be good enough for Grammar school. I also went to that school because I liked the system (what I will talk about later). On this middle school I had 4 years time to grow through my puberty.
After that I knew I would continue with school, but I during the last two years of middle school I started to think about an exchange year. So in the 11th grade I went to America to improve my english and to get to know the American culture.
After that exchange year I managed to continue with school and not being forced to retake 11th grade, what I was really happy about. So after two more years I was finally ready with school for the rest of my life. :)
My school life (just shorter):

1. Kindergarten (3-7 years)
2. Primary school (7-13 years)
3. Middle school (13-17 years)
4. High school (17-20 years)

How My school live would have looked like, if I would have been "normal" :D

1. Kindergarten (3-6 years)
2. Primary school (6-12 years)
3. Middle school (12-16 years)
4. High school (16-19 years)

I would have been out of school one year earlier!!!
19 is average, I would say. Though it has changed a lot in the past years.
Now a lot of kids get in school with 5.
And the whole school system has been changed, so I guess I have to make another threat about the new system. It changed a little bit. :)

Beneath is the standard German school system which I was the last age group in. It basically describes possible ways, how a school life could look like.

Advanced vocational training University Technical or Trade school Grade 13 Vocational qualification University qualification exam (Abitur) 13th grade and Abitur prep 12 11 Training and education at companies and part time vocational schools (Berufschule) Full-time vocational school (Berufsfacherschule) Vocational uppper secondary school (Fachober-schule) Continuation with Gymnasium or Gesamtschule 10 9 8 7 6 5 Secondary general school(Hauptschule) Intermediate school(Realschule) Grammer school(Gymnasium) Comprehensive school(Gesamt schule) 4 3 2 1 Primary School (Grundschule) Kindergarten

Graphic copied from library.thinkquest.org, but I have modified it a little bit.

I about myself

So now I want to share a little bit about me.

My name is Pitt Biebach. I am a young adult, born in Berlin.

I live with my family downtown, Berlin.

In my family we have my parents, my younger brother and my younger sister (I love them! :-).

My high school, that I am still attending for one more year is in Berlin Reinickendorf. I have Math & English as my A.P. classes. Which I don't regret yet ;)

Now I want to tell you something about my past life.

Early in my life I was in India with my mom and my dad. I can’t tell you anything about it, because I was only a small child. But I know that I celebrated my second birthday there in India. We stayed there for half a year.

When we came back, my time in play school started. I enjoyed the “Waldorf Kindergarden” a lot.

In the last year of kinder garden I remember going to a graduation trip, where I had to sleep with a girl in one tent -,- . The other tents were full. But as I can say that I still live, I can say nothing bad happened :D

After this time I had to go to my primary school, the “Papageno Grundschule”. There I stayed for 6 enjoyable years. Me and my classmates had a lot of fun together and it was heart breaking at the end of that time.

My middle school was the “Bettina-von-Arnim Oberschule”. I went to that school, because I liked the system. The main difference to other schools in Berlin is, that we had a course system all along. While all other middle schools had a class system, we were free to choose our classes. But its to difficult to explain. (Maybe in another post)

At the end of middle school everybody in Berlin has to pass a test that is the same in all of Berlin. It's called MSA. I remember being a little scared of these exams, because my middle school was not the best and I thought I wouldn't have learned the right things. (More about the school system in Germany is to come)

Additionaly to the exams everybody had to have a presentation. Mine was about the fall of the wall in Berlin. I managed to get the best grade possible with my classmate, a one!

That's it - the time till high school. :)