News Update

Holiday evenings in lounge

   

 

 It's been a busy summer in Haus Barnabas and before we, Phyl and Len, take a little break in our camper van, heading south to find more sunshine, we want to give a little report on the season.

Setting off on the 2.9 km mountain coaster in Todtnau

   

The first four pictures show those who came with the Pitsea Family Holiday enjoying various activities.

At the top of the Belchen, approx 4,600 ft

  

There was strong Christian element to the holiday with morning devotions for those who managed to get up, a children's programme after breakfast during part of the fortnight when the theme was the Biblical story of Daniel and occasional evenings for discussion on a particular subjects with the adults.

Steam train on the 3 lakes line from Titisee

    Because of the size of the group twelve needed to be accommodated in village rooms which makes us long to be able to begin our deveopment project in our large roof space which would provide more guest rooms.

     Immediately following the Family Holiday we had another large group from the Christian Walkers Club anda this too was a great success. 

Phyl with Charlotte from France

     We are deeply thankful to God for providing willing voluntary helpers during the summer and so grateful to them each for their diligent work.

We conclude this brief report with a few pictures of some of those who have given of their time and  talents to serve God in Haus Barnabas with us thius year. Apologies if your picture is not included..

Kate and Charles

Andy & Henry working in our forest

Daily Manna: Bible readings with meditation

Scripture readings

He will not be afraid of evil tidings.

       He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."

       Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;  For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

       Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

       And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord

       And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Psalm 112:7 - Ps 91:1-2 - Prov 3:25-26; Ps 27:1 - Ps 56:3-4 - 2 Kings 19:14 - Rom 8:28-29.

Suggested additional reading:  2 Kings 19 14-20; 32-34

Meditation
adapted from C.H. Spurgeon's 'Morning & Evening'

He will not be afraid of evil tidings. -  Psalm 112:7

       Christian, you don't need to be frightened by bad news. If you are, what's the difference between you the unbelieving world? Others don't have your God to fly to; they have never proved His faithfulness as you have, and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed with fear. But you profess to be of another spirit; you have been born again unto a lively hope, and your heart lives  in  heaven and not on earthly things. Now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men, what is the value of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess?

        Again, if you are be filled with alarm, as others are, you are in danger of being led into the sins so common to others under testing circumstances. When unbelievers are suddenly confronted with bad news they often react against God. They murmur, and think that God deals unjustly with them. Will you fall into that same sin? Will you provoke the Lord as they do? Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means in order to escape from difficulties, and you will be sure to do the same if your mind gives in to the present pressure. 'Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.' (Ps 37:7)  Your wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea, “Stand still and see the salvation of God.” For if you give way to fear when you hear bad news, you will be unable to meet the trouble with that calm composure which nerves for duty, and sustains under adversity.

        How can you glorify God if you play the coward? Saints have often sung God’s high praises in the fires, but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had no one to help you, magnify the Most High? Then take courage, and relying in sure confidence upon the faithfulness of your covenant God, “let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:1)

 

Prayer

         O Lord God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see;

         O Lord our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone.                                                                   2 Kings 19: 15-16;19

News Update

Todtnau Chairlift up Hasenhorn mountain

 If you have holidayed with us in Haus Barnabas you will have appreciated the wonderful provision of the Konus Guest Card. All guests staying in the area are duty bound to pay the local 'Kurtax' which for Utzenfeld is now 2.40 Euro per night. In exchange you receive a guestcard and a number of tokens for free or concessionary use of local tourist attractions and entry into museums etc.

    Your guestcard acts as a bus and train pass for free use of public transport over a very wide area of the Black Forest. In fact it will take you as far as Karlsruhe, 170 km north of us, all for free as long as you don't use intercity trains.

     The good news is that in 2014 there are added concessions. Now in addition to free entry into our

Mountain coaster (2.90 km) back down mountain

open air swimming pools and use of mini golf as often as you like you, there is a token for a free ride up the Hasenhorn mountain by chairlift and free ride down the longest mountain coaster in Germany, (2.9 km). See pictures. Other tokens give FREE entry into a local amusement park  (Steinwesen),  the cable-car and tower on the Feldberg mountain, two different thermal baths as well as several museums.

   Guests of all ages enjoy these facilities and many have expressed astonishment at the German efficiency and regularity of the bus and train services and the consideration and helpfulness of most of the drivers.

Guests arriving at top of Hasenhorn mountain

Group photo at approx 3800 ft

News Update

At long last more news from Haus Barnabas

The above picture shows some of us at our Easter Conference. Peter Ninnis, who has recently retired from his pastorate in Truro, Cornwall gave us five extremely helpful talks on the subject of 'God's Providence' having himself been much blessed by the puritan John Flavel's book The Mystery of Providence in recent years. Our resident guests over the weekend came from a wide area, Yorkshire, Huntingdon, Cheshire and the Alsace region of France and we were pleased to welcome more local visitors from Switzerland and Germany to a few of the meetings.

The week after Easter was also eventful with a visit from a Malaysian Christian couple with a Chinese background who are currently teaching at a Bible school in Malaysia. 'Joey' is also working on a doctorate at Spurgeon's College and they were visiting Europe before returning home. It's a tremendous blessing for us to meet Christians from all over the world and to hear how God in remarkably wonderful ways has called them to faith in His Son Jesus. Also immediately after Easter we had a 'Fellowship and Prayer Weekend' for 'Friends of Haus Barnabas'. Spurgeon commented that prayer can be likened to the moon! The moon moves the tides, and the full moon, reflecting the full face of the sun, has the greatest effect, causing the greatest movement of the waters. As we prayed for the Black Forest, for the witness of Haus Barnabas and all future developments, i.e. in regard to staff and projects, including the proposed extension into the roof with more guest rooms and a seminar room, we can believe that asking in the name of our Lord Jesus, our heavenly Father will move in power and do what seems Him right for our blessing and His glory.

There are always many jobs to do the house and grounds and the enthusiastic, practical support of guests and friends who see ways in which they can help and arrange to come back specifically to combine a holiday with some works thrills us. Here in the picture it was our Easter guest-speaker who stayed on to exercise his practical skills.

There are exciting new developments taking place in 2014. A new couple Jonathan and Ruth join us next week with the possibility of a longer term involvement in the ministry. Also building plans for a small apartment, adapting a loft room over the double garage for Len and Phyl's partial retirement, have now been passed by the local authority. There are indications that much of the work on this can be carried out by voluntary helpers! Your continued interest and prayers are so much appreciated. Please also find the opportunity to come and spend time with us. The income from our guests together with financial support from like-minded friends keep the work going and we are humbled by the testimony of those who have found encouragement and blessing in Haus Barnabas and some for the first time brought to a living faith in Christ.

Len and Phyl with Tim and Deb Brooks and Tom and Esther.

www.haus-barnabas.com