Whensday: 250, 200, 150, 100 years ago

We just returned to Belgium from our Home Assignment trip I the US. This is a trip of about 2 months where we visit our various supporting congregations and supporters as well as family. We returned on July 1, just before all the big celebrations in the US, because on July 4 the country celebrated its 250th birthday. This was concurrent with all of the celebrations during the World Cup games, which we mostly saw while at our last stop in New York City. 

As we returned home, we were able to renew our joy in where we live on the canal behind our house. This canal is celebrating its 200th anniversary. It was first dug and used back in 1826. For all those 200 years ships have been plying the waters going to and from Antwerp or Rotterdam. The little “bridge-watcher’s house” down the way (there is no bridge any more) has been turned into a cafe and is well attended all summer. 

Across from our house, our neighbor, Cecile (who watched our house while we were gone) will be celebrating about 150 years of her house. Her farmhouse is a monument in our village and she keeps it up very well. The kitchen, bedstead and more are authentic. Every year she invites the village and any other visitors to a birthday celebration in her gardens where fold musicians perform. She herself plays the accordeon. 

Our house was built in 1936 - not quite 100 years ago, but almost. This house was originally a cafe which served the village. It is in the street of the church, so people leaving the church could find something to drink fairly quickly. When we bought our house in 1992 it had not been a cafe for quite some tie. The original door into the cafe had been bricked up and the separation of the front room from the rest of the house had already been removed to make a living room and dining room. 

Time marches on, wherever we are. Even things that last a long time change, whether it has been 250 or 50 years. The house next door (from 1910) is being remodeled for a young couple, but they have to retain the outside walls. Some people will remember the old couple who lived here. Others will be amazed at the new house. Time moves on. We have lived 34 years in this house. It will soon see some more change again, although it will remain. 

(Photo - birthday celebration of the house across from us)

What soil are you?

In Mark 4:1-20 Jesus tells a story - a parable - about a sower, seed and various soils. It is representative of all the different sorts of reactions to the seed of God, the Word, Jesus Christ. For some, the word is never really ever entertained. For others it never really takes root. For a third group the worries of the world choke it to death. And for the last group the seed grows and bears fruit. 

This is how it is in life as well. Jesus was pointing out what we all can see. There are people who will never really ever entertain listening to the Word of God. As we have talked to people throughout the years, we have seen several of these - although we ourselves do not always see it until much later. We do not always know what kind of person we are dealing with. God does. And there are indeed people who are either disregarding God’s word or being actively hostile. 

Then there are those we have experienced in our time here who have seemed at first to be quite happy and excited with the pearl of great worth they had found in Jesus. But they did not put down roots. They did not ground themselves in the Word or in the grace of God. They liked the feelings at first, took part in the visuals, looking like someone who walks with Christ, but never really got into the word themselves or allowed the word to change their daily lives. 

Each of these categories of people are common. We always pray for everyone as they come in contact with the Word of God, getting to know who Jesus is. We do not know what type of soil they are. That is not our job. You notice in the parable that the sower sows the seed everywhere. We are willing to talk to anyone about Jesus Christ. Not everyone will listen in the same way. And we are not the only ones sowing this wonderful seed. 

This past year and a half we have seen 6 people in Maastricht give their lives into the saving hands of Jesus Christ. There have been others we know in other areas of Belgium and the Netherlands as well. It has been exciting to see how some of the “seedlings” in Maastricht have been growing. There are those who courageously stand up to prevent a brother from sinning. There are those who selflessly help others and are willing to struggle with humility. There are those who are still learning what they are capable of with the strength of God. And there will be those who struggle with the worries of the world or really setting down root. 

We all have the possibility to grow and bear fruit if we trust in God to use us wherever we are. What kind of soil are you? I accepted the seed into my life many years ago, but I still need to accept its working in my life every day anew. What are you doing with the seed that is being planted? 

("The Sower" by Vincent van Gogh in the Kröller Müller Museum)

Whatsit Wednesday: Groasis Waterbox

We know what an oasis is. If you are walking in the desert, you are happy to see an oasis - a place where water is to be found. Trees surround it, even in the middle of the desert. One might use the word symbolically to talk about how something gives comfort in the middle of a tough time. Wednesday evening singing was always an oasis for me as a young Christian in the middle of the week. 

So in 2010 Dutch former flower exporter Pieter Hoff won an award for a plant container designed to help trees to grow in dry areas. He called it the “Groasis Waterbox”. You get it - it not only is an oasis, a place to find water and rest, but it helps plants to grow. Essentially the Groasis is a plastic bucket with a lid, but it is much more than that. 

The waterbox is a plant incubator, collects water from condensation which is then  released in measured amounts to help create root structure, and keeps temperature and humidity stable through night and day. The box is installed either manually or with a digging machine, putting one to three plants in a hole. The company has even developed specific drills to make the holes efficiently.

The waterbox can be reused for up to 20 trees, shrubs or vegetable plants. Another version of the concept is called “Growboxx” and is made of compostable material which becomes food for the plant. The box was tested in Morocco where 90% of the plants survived by using the box. It is being used in Colombia, Dubai, Ecuador, Jordan and Mexico, but is also being tested with wineries and in cold mountainous regions.