Day 5- Worms and Heidelberg

Only Jewish Graveyard Left in Germany

 Ice Cafe

 German Castle

 Luther Statue

Heidelberg Castle

Day 4- Eisenach and Marburg

Okay yeah! I'm pretty much exhausted!!!!!!:) We've been running around like chicken's with our heads cut off! The culture here in Germany is really different and it has been fascinating to watch and try to communicate with them. Let's just say as far as the whole communication thing goes, they really can't communicate with us at all. OR... maybe I should say we can't communicate with them... either way they don't know English and needless to say, we know absolutely NO German.  I think that among all of the European countries my family has visited, this has been the most challenging with language barriers. So lets talk about food... Where to start. First let me just say this, that chickens running around with their heads cut off, barely have time to eat (or maybe they don't eat at all, but that's another matter:)) and with our tight schedule eating takes up a very short amount of our time. All that to say we still have been able to enjoy several really yummy German things and some really not as yummy German things! Potatoes are everywhere, potatoes au gratin, french fries, potato salad, croquettes, mashed potatoes, and boiled potatoes. Lots of hot dogs (they call them Bratswurst)... not my favorite but we've eaten them numerous times (they're quick). Oh and they have horse hot dogs if you want to get adventurous! With dinner tonight, we had creme puffs. The flavors were chocolate, blueberry, apple and vanilla... HEAVENLY!!! I had more than my share! I could go on, but I'll just leave it there, since your mouths are already watering.  Their clothing and attire is rather interesting and definitely reflects the state of their relationship with the Lord. There is absolutely no definition between sexes, same hair cuts, pants, tops, shoes, etc. and it saddens me as I've come to realize how much our culture is heading in that direction. If anything girls and boys, please let this be a wake up call to delight in the role that we've been given. If you're a women act like one, dress like one... If your a man, behave like a man and take joy in the calling you've been given. God delights in the differences in both of us and they are both sooooooo important but most assuredly different.

Well that is all for now...

Meghan

 Wartburg Castle (Eisenach)

 Inside Wartburg Castle

 Dad working!

 Au Gratin Potatoes

Creme Puffs

Day 3 - Eisleben and Erfurt

Today we began in Eisleben, the city where Luther was born, died, and also occasionally preached.  The second half of our day was spent in Erfurt, a fairly large city.  Luther attended the University in Erfurt and served as a Monk and Priest in the Monastery there before he moved to Wittenburg and started the Reformation.  

City of Eisleben

Church at Eisleben

Monastery in Erfurt

City of Erfurt

It rained today!

Day 2- Wittenberg and Leipzig

Yesterday we spent the day in the hometown of Martin Luther. We were able to visit the church where he preached and is buried as well as the home where he lived. It has been interesting as we have learned the difference between the beliefs of Calvin and Knox vs. Luther. We also visited several churches where J.S. Bach played the organ and also saw his grave. We spent the night in Eisleben and plan on touring the city today. 

Blessings,

Meghan Murphy

 Statue of Luther

 Room located in Luther's house

 Luther House

 Martin Luther's Church

 Johann Sebastian Bach's Grave

 Our Hotel in Eisleben (previously a castle)

 Luther's Church

Day 1- Berlin and Travel

Yes! We are in Germany and most definitely experiencing jet lag!!!! We landed in Frankfurt this morning, spent the afternoon in Berlin and are now in Wittenberg, where we are spending the night. The time difference is seven hours and we got next to nothing as far as sleep goes last night:) While in Berlin today we rode around in the bus and stopped at several locations to take pictures. We first stopped at the border gate called Checkpoint Charlie. This is the border that stood between the western and eastern sides of Germany after WWII during the strife between America and the Soviet Union. The second place we got out was the Brandenburg Gate which was once the entrance to the city. Lastly we were able to walk up and down the memorial to the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust. Here are several pictures for y'all to enjoy! Good bye for now… sleep is calling:)

Meghan 

Atlanta Airport-

 Remains from Berlin Wall-

 Checkpoint Charlie-

  Brandenburg Gate- 

 Holocaust Memorial-

Life's Extra Crazy Around Here... Yes! We're Traveling!!!

For all of you faithful blog followers, get ready for a change of scenery!!! We're headed to Germany and then to Switzerland and will be leaving on Monday!! EEEEEEEPPPPPPP! Super excited... no promises as far as blog posts but I will do my best to keep y'all updated.

Bye For Now!

Meghan 

Today I Have a Longing for- Renewed Victory

Pictured above is a shot I snapped of The Coliseum while in Rome. It's still impressive but in ruins none the less. It always tickles me when I read of someone in history who chooses to set themselves up as invincible, or everlasting. It may seem like it in their day but just because that is what appears to be happening doesn't mean it is. The only empire that is everlasting, invincible, unconquerable, and impregnable is Christ's Kingdom. There were many empires that thought themselves eternal-  Babylon, Rome, Persia, Greece etc. but in the end it was the motley group of Christians that prevailed.

The only thing that is left of those "eternal" empires today, are great history lessons, fascinating history tours and impressive ruins. Okay, so we get the point Meghan, they all collapsed and are no longer existing… so what are you really trying to say? What I am trying to get at is this. Christ's Kingdom is victorious and one day, here on this earth, the majority of the people will be worshipping with us, awe struck at the one true and living God. As I've studied eschatology, I have been shocked and saddened by the predominance of pessimism seen among Christians in our generation. Christ Kingdom will not expand like it should, until Christians wake up to the fact that the victory is ours, that we can take dominion and that Christ's followers will become as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands on the seashore. Our misunderstanding of God's word shows a lack of faith. So even if at times it may be hard to see, that doesn't mean He can't do it. Just because we don't have the faith to believe it, doesn't mean that He doesn't have the power to fulfill it. 

"May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! May desert tribes bow down before him and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!" -Pslams 72:8-11

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." - 2 Corinthians 2:14

I want to challenge each of you to study God's word, to learn from those greater than us, who have gone before. How you view the end will effect the way you run the race and your courage as you run it. I would STRONGLY recommend that each of you read An Eschatology of Victory by J. Marcellus Kik! He is very clear and uses scripture to back up all his views, so please get it and read it, not because I recommended it but because I want each of my friends to know what they believe and to base it off of God's word.

Blessings,

Meghan Murphy