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Unbenanntes Dokument
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THIS IS AWESOME!
by Michael Furchert
with quotation by Billy Graham
CHALLENGING GOD
In the early sixties the Communist regime of East Germany decided to build a giant radio and television tower, a powerful political symbol of their superiority and might. Their underlying motivation was to build a tower that would stand taller than any other building in the land and overtower the beautiful historical churches and cathedrals of East Berlin.
No longer should the bright shinning crosses on their tall steeples and copulas serve as beacons of hope to the East German believers. The atheistic Communist regime could not tolerate the cross of Christ competing with its dictatorial grasp for power. A remarkable and representative monument of Communist control was to be erected.
"LET US BUILD A TOWER..."
It was certainly no coincidence that they started to build their symbol of political power right next to the famous Church of Marien that so far had been the tallest building in the center of East Germany's capital. "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves" (Gen:11:9) they might have thought as they spend the next five years building themselves a 1200 ft tall monument of "Socialist Superiority" that could even be seen by the West.
People used to draw encouragement and strength from the cross on the steeple of The Church of Marien. It was their beacon of hope. But this giant monument of Communist power and control over the land and its Christian church would now overshadow it and dominate the skyline.
THE CROSS OF CHRIST
But when the tower was completed, something unexpected and amazing happened during the commemoration ceremony. As the Communist officials and political leaders stood at the foot of the tower and looked up in pride, the sun broke through the clouds and hit the globe-shaped glass dome of the tower. Illuminated by the light of the sun, a huge bright cross reflected from the dome shining over the city of East Berlin.
The Communists were furious. In their "superiority" they had forgotten to consider this phsycial phenomenon. They tried everything they could to get rid of the cross. They painted the dome, used physical distortion techniques, tried to cover it up. Nothing helped. Just as they could not get rid of the sun they could not get rid of the bright shinning cross reflecting from the dome of the East Berlin television tower across the city.
GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS
Instead of becoming the symbol of Communism power and control, the East Berlin Television Tower put a secret smile of hope and encouragement on the faces of many believers behind the Berlin Wall. It reminded them almost daily of God's love and faithfulness in the middle of challenging times.
This brilliant irony became affectionately known as "God's Vengeance" among the East German people. Many times I myself would go through Berlin at a sun shiny day, reflect about my life deprived of freedom and liberty behind the Berlin Wall and then look up to the television tower and see the bright shinning cross of Christ towering over our city. We still had our beacon of hope after all. Just more majestic, much taller and for ALL in East Berlin to see! God was still with us! He was still in control! And He was stronger then those who sought to oppose Him and our Christian faith. In Him, and in the cross of Christ, we had the victory!
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BILLY GRAHAM ABOUT THIS STORY
This story of the East German television tower is so amazing that even Billy Graham mentions it in his autobiography "Just As I. Am" when he speaks about his visit to East Berlin:
"...another pastor told us how he had been only a few days away from leaving East Germany when the wall went up, making it impossible for him and his family to depart. He said God had given him peace about it, he believed that God had called him to minister in East Berlin and that it would have been disobedient of him to leave.
"Still another pastor pointed to the giant modern television tower the government had erected in East Berlin several years before. Near its top was a huge globe-shaped structure housing a restaurant and other facilities. The remarkable thing was that once it was finished, the people discovered that a sunlight always reflected off the globe in the shape of a cross! The authorities had tried everything they could think of to prevent this optical phenomenon (known as asterism), even covering the dome with paint. But nothing worked. "No matter how hard they try, they cant get rid of the cross," the pastor who had pointed out to the tower commented wryly"
Billy Graham "Just As I Am" Page 515
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Please send this awesome story to your family and friends to encourage them in their life and faith. Lets spread how awesome our God is even in the midst of difficulties and trials! And never forget, that God is in control! No matter where you are He will let the cross of Christ shine into your life, too!
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Copyright Kartenedition Pawlowski Berlin
THE BERLIN TELEVISION TOWER TODAY:
Still today the renovated and modernized television tower is a must on the list of sight seeing for many visitors and guests of Berlin. Each year around 1 Million people visit the Tower and enjoy the great atmosphere and view across the city. To this very day the East Berlin Television Tower carries the record of being the tallest tower in all Germany. (Including East and West Germany) And when the sun comes out it still reflects the cross of Christ across the land. If you ever go to Berlin, don't forget to stop and look up ;-)
Copyright Herst.u.Verlag Schoening & Co.
Copyright Herst.u.Verlag Schoening & Co.
Copyright Herst.u.Verlag Schoening & Co.
ABOUT MICHAEL
Speaker & Pianist Michael Furchert, from Berlin, Germany, has been touring the USA since 1998 performing and speaking in churches, schools, colleges, festivals, on radio and television. He shares the story of faith as his family and himself held true to their faith in God from the times of the Nazi regime of Hitler Germany to the raise and fall of the Berlin Wall. His story was published in Billy Graham's "DECISION MAGAZINE" and his testimony and music was featured on the Billy Graham radio program "DECISION TODAY"
If you would like to learn more about Michael and his Challenger Music and Evangelism Ministry, read his moving testimony or get a hold of his emotion filled music, feel free to visit his website...
Michael Furchert Music & Evangelism Ministry
Listen to Michael's composition
 Cascades of God's Passion and Love
Michael's CD
"Peace of God Remains"
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This page contains some images from www.televisiontower.de
and www.Marienkirche-Berlin.de
Picture of Billy Graham used with permission of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
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