The Five Freedoms

I recently shared this quote - one of my favorites - by Virginia Satir, a famous therapist, with a friend...and wanted to share it with you, too.

The Five Freedoms

The FREEDOM to see and hear what is here, instead of what should be, was, or will be.

The FREEDOM to say what you feel and think, instead of what you should.

The FREEDOM to feel what you feel, instead of what you ought.

The FREEDOM to ask for what you want, instead of always waiting for permission.

The FREEDOM to take risks in your own behalf, instead of choosing to be only "secure" and not rocking the boat.

Review - prayer for politics

Wonderful - the Christian radio and TV station ERF shows on its homepage a review on the new impulse booklet of prayer for politics. I am happy!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 @ 10:01

If God is silent

The decision, to read at least one old book for every new book that I buy is extremely good. I recently read "God on mute". Pete Greig, Head of 24-7 Prayer, an international prayer movement, which, as he says, has spread the earth faster than Pepsi, is enthusiastic about thousands of stories to tell us how he experienced God`s answers to his prayers and the prayers of others. But he also knows the painful side - to have to experience that God didn´t hear his deepest prayers and his cry for healing for his young wife suffering from cancer... I was very touched, much like The Shack, which deals with question of suffering in the form of a story. I read it in the train on the way home from Magdeburg where I had spoken in the Baptist Church of Saxony-Anhalt. It was very moving there. Christians from 18 denominations who live their faith in their world - completely different, but with love and sincerity. I spoke about SWING. balance in your life ... and I'm always happy myself when I feel or hear of people that some thoughts were helpful for them.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Saturday, January 31, 2009 @ 19:27

Mourning

Yesterday I read something nice in the ABC book of feelings. The grief describes itself this way:

I am the feeling that belongs to the release. Because I am, human sort out grieving in letting go of what is lost and what remains - a rewarding experience, as a reminder, as an accompaniment to the future. If I wasn´t, every experience would be "ex and hopp". One can not live without me, can not be richer.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 @ 14:25

New / old books

Two books that I am reading:
Newly purchased: The ABC's of feelings. Very sensitive descriptions of about 60 different emotions and moods and their meaning and purpose in our system. The descriptions will help me to better recognize their own feelings and rename them.
New lent: And that is good. My life for policy. The biography of "my" mayor. Well-written. Lets the person, who is currently governing our city coming closer.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Sunday, January 18, 2009 @ 13:48

Novel of the time of Reformation

Ok. I admit: It was a tactical mistake, to buy more than 100 pieces of the books because I was so excited - they are now available for the special price of only ? 5 (instead of 16,80). "I will see you again" is a historical novel about the life story of Felix Manz, one of the first director of the Baptist movement and its first prominent martyr - he was imprisoned and later drowned in Zurich. I found the book and find it great, because it is good to read (as a novel) and you almost incidentally get a good insight into the side currents of the Reformation and the history of the Baptist movement. Very exciting!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 @ 11:41

Communication

In the Bible there is a passage that I am very fascinated of. It comes from the story of Job (Job 2, 11-13):

11 When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. (New International Version)

Seven days silence ... "because they saw that his pain was very great!". Silence is not (necessarily) the absence of communication - it can be a very profound expression of communication. Connectedness, which is deeper than words.

Tonight, I have dreamed of a small, two-year-old boy that I like very much - one of my "favorite children." In the dream he has laid his hand on my cheek. Silent communication.

In recent months I have read Obama's biography, now I read the story of Leanne Payne, a woman who experienced a lot in the area of inner and physical healing by God. Obama has the experience of many conclusions only by images, which he tells of his life. You can guess what individual experiences have triggered in him, but he leaves room for interpretation. Leanne Payne, however, is very clear and direct. There is another form of communication, to which I must get used again.

I myself am a woman, who uses words happily and actively. But I would like to learn more to communicate differently. God talks to me in the colors of nature and the strong wind or gentle exercise, "Brother Sun and Sister Moon" as a sign disclosing his communications to be seen. And just as Jesus told many stories and left space. Space for meetings, space for own interpretation, space for life.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Sunday, November 16, 2008 @ 13:49

Eco - Al Gore, the new refrigerator and I

I haven´t read it myself, but it was recommended to me: "Eco - Al Gore, the new refrigerator and I" - the experience of a journalist reporting his way from the climate pig to an environmentally friendly citizens.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Thursday, November 13, 2008 @ 15:43 0 Comments

Communication

Phew. Yesterday I informed my customers about the new impulse booklet "communication" and was surprised by the response. I never had so much reaction by an email from me. Many people have ordered it immediately, some of them as 10-pack. That seems to be an issue for many!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 @ 08:54