Expelled - No Intelligence Allowed

Ever since I watched this trailer for the first time a few months ago, I've been interested in seeing the movie. If you have somehow managed to miss the controversy surrounding this film and haven't heard of it, here's a quick overview. Ben Stein takes an in-depth look at the Intelligent Design and Darwinism viewpoints, giving time to both sides. This film flies in the face of the many western scientists and thinkers who have been persecuting and trying to silence creationists for the past few decades. It has the potential to affect serious change in the lives of those who take it seriously. So I suggest you watch this trailer - or better yet, watch the movie. Then let me know how it is - no theaters are showing it in Austria so I have to wait till I come back to the States to see it!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xGCxbhGaVfE#

How Great Is Our God

This is a long video, but well worth your time, especially if you're interested in the melding of scientific research with the truth of scripture and the majesty of God. Louie Giglio spends time in this message outlining the wonder of the world we live in, from the grandness of space to the intricacies of the human body. I was left speechless and moved to the worship and praise of our great God. I hope the same goes for you.

http://quicksilverscreen.com/watch?video=16481

Happy Easter, Jurgen!

Jurgen Habermas, Europe's most influential philosopher, has spent much time considering the role of the Judaic ethic of justice and the Christian ethic of love. His conclusions are shocking, yet very encouraging.
Here is the link if you would like to read the article:
http://www.tothesource.org/2_19_2008/2_19_2008.htm

A Journey into Outer Space...where (almost) no man has gone before

Our class spent a couple of months studying one of the most amazing parts of God's creation - space. Of course there's only so much scientific theory you can delve into when you're working with 7 year-olds....but it was a blast for all of us anyway. I tell you, it's really true that one of the coolest things to witness is the moment when the light bulb goes off in someone's mind (especially a child's). I got to see that over and over again with this unit on space. Kids are so transparent - they were so excited and awed to investigate the size of just our galaxy. It blew their minds. :)
Our class wrapped up the unit by visiting the Vienna City Planetarium and watching an amazing program about the sun, moon, planets, and Milky Way. Of course, the whole presentation was in German, which posed a challenge for some of us! I tried (stress "tried") to translate some of the info for my ESL kids...I think they go some of it, maybe. :) But everyone was mesmerized by the entire domed ceiling covered in stars and planets - one of the coolest inventions of modern technology, in my opinion.

Please pray!

So we just finished with the first day of school! I have a small class so far - 9 students. We had a wonderful time getting to know each other today, and I'm excited about what God has in store for this year. I plan to send out a more thorough update about my summer and the coming year (with pictures hopefully!), but right now I'm writing to ask for prayer about a situation that has come up with my old landlady.

Some of you know about this already, but here's a quick synopsis just in case: Somehow in the midst of finishing school, packing, and moving, I forgot to stop the automatic transfer of my rent. So I had moved in July to my new place, and a few days later my rent for the old apartment went out. Oops!
I contacted my old landlady to explain the problem and have her transfer the money back to me, but she has been uncooperative. Mrs. Avery (our school secretary and "apartment finder") has been helping me with this, but we have gotten nowhere with this woman. My old landlady's name is Frau Arnold (Mrs. Arnold), and she has had over 6 weeks to make this transfer but for some reason has chosen not to.

I'm asking that you pray especially over the next 2 or 3 days that her heart would be softened to return the funds by Monday. Without those funds I will be unable to pay for both my rent and my new transportation pass (they are both needed by the end of the month). We know that our God answers prayer, and that He is in control of all the events in this world. He certainly has control over this situation, so I ask that you join me in asking for His intervention in this situation, that He might recieve the glory.