Bridges Don Janet 1993 Germany

8/10/2019 Bridges Don Janet 1993 Germany

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Landstuhl, Germany

ield

Address:

on

Bridges

Kaiserstrasse

79 Landstuhl

West Germany

May 1993

The American presence in Europe is changing. Communities that

once indicated an American population have been returned to the

German government. While many bases, posts and sights have

been or are being shut down, a few areas are building up.

Landstuhl is one of those areas. The population here is

experiencing growth even after units from here have been

deactivated or deployed or re-assigned elsewhere. There is

actually a housing shortage in this area because of all the

personnel being transfered to here. All indications are that this

area will be one

of

the main regions for the U.S. military.

Along with the drawdown changes taking place, I have noticed

other ways in which the military is changing. Since President

Clinton has taken office, the military have had new policies and

tensions emerge. Landstuhl is the major hospital serving southern

Germany, the Middle East and North Africa. A policy change

which has taken place is that abortions are now allowed to take

place in military hospitals. However, all of the military doctors (at

least, as far as 1 know) have refused to perform the procedure In

the Stars Stripes newpaper letters to the editor column, many

have written in praise of the doctors' decision not to perform


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abortions.

Of course,

there are some

who disagree,

but

they

are

not the ones whohave this power to take life in their hands.

Another issue is that of allowing

homosexuals (the

word

gay

tends

to

softpedal

the

issue ) into

the

military.

Again,

a

storm

of

protest can easily be seen by merely reading the letters to the

editor column (one succinct letter read God created Adam and

Eve,

not

Adam and

Steve ).

Recently,

a

task force was sent

to

hear what active duty Navy sailors thought about this issue-and

the

response was open and frank.

Morale

would be

greatly

affected Itis

one

thing to talk about an

issue, but

it is altogether

different

when

itisa reality

that must be dealt

with

day

by

day.

In our local area, it seems another issue is on the table. Wiccans

(a

nice word

for

witches) have

sought the

right

to use

base

chapels

for

their

meetings. According

to

the witches,

they do

not

perform

sacrifices or hold orgies, but they are merely nice people

who want to

help

others. One

day,

I

had

the

president

of the

local

wiccans

chapter in the bookstore. He kept

saying

that it was

hard

to find anything that was accurate about witches. I asked him how

he knew if it was accurate? It was then he identified himself as

the

president. Advertisement has appeared

announcing then-

meetings.

I

have even

seen

a

classified

ad

announcing

a

pagan

support group. (How sad that even pagans need to have a

support group ) The controversy continues.

These are just a

few

of

the issues

which are

battling

for the

hearts and minds of the men, women and children here.

Vandalism, theft, marriage infidelity and divorce are

more,

and

the list

could

go on.

There

is a solution for all of

this, however,

but only one.

Jesus,

the Son of God, is the only answer

For

though

we

walk

in

the flesh,

we

do not

war according

to

the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but

divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are

destroying

speculations

and

every lofty thing raised

up

against

the

knowledge

of

God,

and we are

tsiking

every thought

captive

to the

obedience

of Christ. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures

upon earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... for

where you treasure

is,

Aere will your heart be also. Fixing our

eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faifh... These verses

sum up what the ministry at Landstuhl Christian Church is all

about. We

spend

a lot of time looking at Jesus, trjdng to create

faith in Him.

When

people

believe

Jesus, they

are

willing to do

whatever He

asks

The

bookstore expands that ministry. I

have

a lot of people who


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come into the store to get materials they can use for themselves

and for others. If Landstuhl Christian Bookstore did not exist,

there wouldn't be any place locally to obtain materials (for us or

anyone else). Quite often conversations arise about passages in

the scripture, issues in the

community

or why I don't carry

certain materials. This gives me an opportunity to plant some

seeds. I steer clear of opinions and traditions, but ask how their

Bible reads about this subject. Quite a few churches in the area

use materials I recommend which are published by Standard or

College Press, and they come back for more of this kind I think

it is important to get good materials intopeople's hand.

NEWS

This past year, Janet and I have moved. We now have a house

with a spare bedroom. If you are in the area, we will be more than

happy to put you up. After living in my apartment for over

11

years, the landlady got emotional when I left. She said it would

be hard to find a good renter like me. I thanked her for the

compliment. Janet and I have been enjoying a heated houseno

more going out to get ten liters of heating oil and filling the room

heater every two days It's really nice not to have to hurry to

another

room

to find

some

semblance

of

warmth

AIM, Adventures In Missions, came this past year to do the

youth program at the Mid-Winter Rally. The church and ourselves

hosted tiie group and enjoyed their work and witness. Their

willingness to help in anyway they couldwas greatly appreciated.

This past May 15th, I lost a friend and companion whom I've

had for the past 18

years.

My dog Kuia died of old age. She was

known by many in Landstuhl because she had only three legs.

She helped to start many conversations with others because of her

uniqueness. Many have inquired about her recently because they

haven't seen us walking in the woods. People tell me, 'she was a

good dog.' I agree with them. I will miss her Of course, I

understand that unless you are a dog lover, you will not

understand this emotional loss. Just think of losing a close friend

after 18 years of being together.) then the dust will return to the

earth as it was, and the spirit will retum to God who gave it.

In hr i s t


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a i6 w j

trOiMW

This is a copy of picture

taken

January 10 1993

pre ching in

h is

Church He

does

no t

have a

beard

only

a shadow t h e r e

Documents

Bridges Don Janet 1993 Germany