Video calls

Getting to talk to family is a blessing. We both grew up in a situation where we were separated from family for longer periods. In those days, that meant air mail letters or long distance phone calls of very short duration. These days we can send video messages, songs, pictures and more by our phone or computer. And we are thankful that we are able to connect with our boys, their wives and our granddaughter via the computer on video calls. 

We were able to talk to Sean for quite a while yesterday, checking in with his life and sharing ours. Everyone has a busy life. When we were younger and starting our life together, we were sure that our life was full of busyness. Of course now that is exactly where our children’s lives are. Which is why it is so nice to be Abel to “drop in” on a video call. 

We can hear the fire engine sirens screaming by our son’s window as they race to a fire on a snowy day in New York City, while we sit comfortably on our couch in the closing of the day in Belgium. Or we can show our midday snow to our granddaughter who is just waking up 6 hours away. It is always a bit of adapting, but it is good to see one another. 

It is even better to hear one another. The cadence of speech reminds us again of times when we were together. The laughter we share warms our hearts. And it is sometimes much better to share things “face-to-face” than in an email or letter. 

Of course it is also nice to be able to show off anything new in the house, or let the dog say hello. Most of us are used to being on video while talking these days. We use it for our weekly study with the members (which means more people can join the study). We also hold a video study with the younger people who are English-speaking - and spread to various places in Europe. Whereas some might turn off the camera (we don’t, since I am teaching, but others do) to avoid video weariness, we are thankful to be able to see one another, especially on these family calls. 

But in a few months we will get to take the next step and actually hug our kids. We are looking forward to being with Stephan and the family in May and Sean and Jill at the end of our trip in June. Along the way we will also be able to see others in our family with whom we do not have video calls - although I guess that would also be possible if we all wanted it. 

We are thankful for technology, for mobility and for possibilities to gather together in various times and places. 

Whensday: January 2, 1994 - Blender

In January 1995 a Dutch guy named Ton Roosendaal and his software company released version 1.00 of an application called “Blender”. The software had been released internally the year before, was publicly released in 1998 and was distributed as shareware (does anyone remember shareware?) until 2002. When the company holding Blender went bankrupt in 2002, Ton Roosendaal changed course and made it into free open-source software. 

This software is perhaps best known for its 3D modeling capabilities and what it has been used for. It is an extremely capable and useful application used for various forms of modeling. It can simulate smoke, dust, rain, fluids, hair, clothing and rigid bodies. The files are forward, backward and cross-platform compatible. 

The software was used professionally for Spider Man 2 for the storyboards. The French-language film “Friday or Another Day” was the first 35mm film to use Blender for all its special effects on Linux work stations. Most recently Blender was used entirely for the 2024 Latvian film “Flow” (assisted by a Belgian company). This movie received two nominations for the 97th Academy Awards and won the Best Animated Feature. 

Family around the world

Today I will head off to ABSS (Advanced Bible Study Series) in Germany. This time three other guys will join me in the car. Alexander and Andrey are father and son from Ukraine who have lived in Belgium for the last 5 years. Alexander is a former widower who is now married to a Belgian. Andrey is his youngest son who came out with him and is now married to his high school sweetheart and living in Belgium. Both are amazing encouraging brothers in the congregation in Maastricht. 

Along with them I will be picking up Evgeny from Haarlem, The Netherlands. He is originally from Russia, but has lived in THE NETHERLANDS for quite some time. I first met him before he was married, when he was living and working in Maastricht. He was an integral part of the congregation then and now serves with the church in Haarlem. 

I am looking forward to the time in Germany at this study week because people from all over Europe gather there to learn from each other and encourage one another. I will see some folks I have not seen in quite some time, and others I see regularly. That is the beauty of the family of Christ. 

This past Saturday we were included in the church family from Eindhoven because we help them sing every month. We also feel part of the congregation in Haarlem for the same reason. I look forward to seeing Uli from Cologne again this coming week - we always plan a singing day together in September. The church has connections with church family in Uganda and Ukraine, Kenya and Canada and all over Europe and the US. We are so very thankful for the way that God builds family and that we can be part of this wonderful body. 

In May and June we will be traveling to the US to visit family and church family. We look forward to rekindling those bonds and reconnecting with family there. There will also be some time to meet new members of God’s family - whether they are simply new to us or new in the family. Next week I will post about our travel plans. We hope to be able to see some of you when we come through the US. 

(Photo is ABSS 2025)