This is what God can do

I have talked here often about how God continually surprises. I don’t know why I am amazed every time that He does something that I did not expect. Why did I not expect it? Is my faith so small? I have to remember the disciples in the boat as the storm raged and Jesus slept. “Don’t you care that we are going to die” they asked Jesus. He woke up (I imagine him rubbing sleep from his eyes, calmly yawning and looking at them with amazement) and said, “Why are you so afraid? Where is your faith?” Then he told the storm to be quiet and it listened. It is THEN that the disciples really got frightened. “Who is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

I have told so many people about this truth. I have seen it in our lives time and again. And still God surprises me because I forget how mighty He truly is. These last months have been some of those times. Let me tell you about one of them. 

For years we have cared for our sister in Christ, K. We have counseled her and her husband, who is not a believer. She came to Christ years ago and has done her best to be faithful in spite of the many efforts of her husband, F.,  to thwart her. He has struggled with all sorts of things in his life as well. When we counseled them, he tried to understand how to change, but couldn’t really see anything that he was doing as wrong. 
Most recently F. has also struggled with the relationship with his sons. This frustration often led to explosiveness. He would mention to all who would listen: “I can’t be held responsible for what might happen if you don’t …” The threats were often not even veiled. So at a point, K. let him know that he was not welcome in the house when he came home on the weekend from his ship (he is a shipper on the canals). 
He could have fought this - even physically. He could have come home, his home, and smashed things up. He had done this in the past when he had been out to a cafe drinking. But he said that he didn’t want to do those things. He had often said that he wanted to change. Now, as he was confronted with the reality that he really wasn’t desired and that his behavior would no longer be accepted, he started to think. 
He still had regular phone contact with K. She let him know that he could talk to me if he needed. So F. called. We talked. Or he talked and I listened. But he became more and more aware that he needed to change. In the end he stated very clearly, “I know I need to change. I want to change, but I don’t know how. I need help.” And when I made it clear to him that we all need help and cannot change without the strength of God, he asked, “Do you really think God can accept me?” 
Yes. Yes I do. At least, that is what I have told people for so many years, including F. And so I stated it again - even though I was not at all sure that F could be changed. Was he too far gone? Had he damaged his life and relationships far too much to be able to change? God had shown me in His word that this was not so. Look at the apostle Paul. Look at each of the apostles. John says that the blood of Jesus can cleanse every sin (1 John 1:8-9). 
After several meetings over several weeks, trying to make sure that F. understood what God was saying to him and what was needed, we came to a decision point. F had already said that he wanted to be a new man. He understood that it would not be easy. But if it was possible, and I was telling him from the Bible that it was, then he wanted this newness of life. So on September 27, F was baptized into Christ, washing away his old life and putting on the new which is being transformed by the Spirit in Christ. 
He knows that he needs to show that he is changing, allowing God to change him. And he is trying. We don’t expect miracles, but we do expect change. And as I have mentioned, God always surprises me with what HE is able to do. We are thankful for our new brother in Christ. K is especially thankful - although she also wants to see for sure that her husband truly does want to change. 
This is just one of the amazing things going on in the congregation in Maastricht. God is putting people together here to care for one another and to help people grow in faith. And as this happens, more are being touched - and this in a time that it looks like (seems like) fewer and fewer are finding the beauty of God. 
The storm may be raging and it may seem that Jesus is sleeping. But that doesn’t mean that he is not in control. I am so thankful that God amazes. Let Him amaze you in your life. Expect the unexpected - even though you really can’t. He always does more. 

Thank you for your encouragement of us and for your prayers for what is going on here. We pray that God is continuing to bless you too ij all you do as you walk with Him, the almighty, loving Father. 

Blessing in adversity

"Consider it pure joy when trials come your way and troubles seem to stay (around you). Consider it pure joy, my brothers, for your faith." 

(Paraphrased from James 1:2 for the song Consider it joy from Listen Up!). 

The last two months have brought all sorts of learning moments and challenges to help us grow. God is always good and has stood by us in every way. That is what is so wonderful to see happening. And it is what we need to remember when we are in the midst of adversity. You are not alone. With God’s help, you will overcome. 
Looking toward the summer, we were not sure that our summer Bible camps would be able to take place, due to corona restrictions and rules. We had three weeks of youth camps planned, teams formed and ready, lessons prepared and campers registered before we truly knew if camp would be allowed or if campers from other countries (remember that we have campers from The Netherlands and Belgium) would be allowed to attend. And then, just as we heard that we had a green light, the rains hit hard. 
I was so thankful for the questions and comments and prayers from so many who contacted us to know how we were doing. It was clear that the news from Belgium had reached other parts of the world as well. Almost twice the amount of rain that we usually receive for the whole summer was dumped on Belgium (a naturally wet country) in less than two days! 
Some of our families from Maastricht were down at camp for a family vacation when it was happening and had to quickly evacuate, even leaving things behind as our little camp creek became a raging river running through the middle of our campground. We saw pictures in the news of places we go every summer with our kids from camp, now inundated with water, buildings collapsing into the river. 
Within a few days the rain had stopped and we could asses the damage at our camp. Water had run into parts of our building about 1 meter high, bringing all sorts of sludge. Our driveway stones were strewn all over our playing field, along with the broken glass from some windows we had been saving. All sorts of tools and trash from houses and properties further up river were strewn about the field and creek. But our buildings had stood - except for the wooden shed that housed all of our tools. That was washed completely away. 
We had to act quickly and make some decisions. The very next week would be our first week of camp - for the older teens. Could we have them come and help clean up? What about the week following when we would have 30 kids (8-11 year-olds) coming? Would it be safe? Clean? Even allowed by the government? 
The last question was answered for us: no youth camps were allowed in the city limits of Jalhay (where our camp is situated) until the end of the month of July. So we knew that we would have to find other accommodation for the first two weeks of camp and hope to be able to clean camp up in those weeks if we were to host the third week back at camp. 

A desperate scramble began to find places, realizing that we would not be the only group looking for a place to hold a youth activity. The scouts typically hold their camps just down the road from our camp. They, too, were looking for other accommodation. Thankfully, the scramble led to some good options. The older youth found a location in Malmedy (still in the Ardennes) and the Benjamins (8-11 year-olds) found a place in the middle of Belgium. 
Shirley and I were with the Benjamins. This was a summer to help train as well as host the youngest group. Shirley was assisting Tonia in the kitchen instead of leading the kitchen. This would give Tonia the chance to see what it was like to cook for this type of group. Scott was training two assistent camp leaders so that they would have the opportunity to learn what it was to be a camp leader. At the same time, this was one of the biggest group of kids we had had at Benjamin Camp for many years - but now it would be in a different location. 
Head on over to our pictures to get an idea of what our location looked like and how the week went. As God always does, He surprised us with some wonderful moments and some new challenges. Where we would have been able to let our kids roam a bit free at our own camp, this new location meant that we were all packed into a compact little area - along with lots of animals. But it was a great week with some wonderful lessons. 
The Saturday that Benjamin Camp ended, Scott took Shirley and Chester home to recover, took a quick shower, and headed down to our own camp for Teen Camp - the first group to meet together at camp since the flooding. 
This was only possible because groups of volunteers had been very busy in the intervening two weeks to get everything ready. People from the French-speaking churches in the area (who also had to deal with the flooding in their own area), members from the church in Cologne, and folks from all over Belgium came to clean, pick up rubbish (and we are not talking paper, but pieces of machinery and more) and clean some more. When we got to camp, we had a camp that was clean and usable in every way. What a blessing!
The Teen week was also a time to give others a chance to grow in leading. Scott was able to simply be teacher, presenting lessons on the parables of Jesus, because there was a great team of leaders caring for the campers and the specifics of the week. You can see the group and what the week looked like right here. 
Although we had planned to also visit Family Camp the following week, Scott had to admit that he had gotten a year older and couldn’t handle another week of camp. We did make it down for two days of lessons and short visits with the families that were able to spend the week together being blessed by God's word and presence at camp. 

In these months we also welcomed visitors at services in Maastricht. Scott taught at 3am (his time) for a series in Colorado and led a funeral service for the man he has been a carer for for the last 7 years. It was just days later that the city where this service was held was also inundated in the floods. 

Difficult times always come with moments of care and comfort. The rain reminds us how good it is to see the sun. In the coming weeks and months, we will try to remember this as we continue to try to navigate the uncertainties of corona rules (will they close the border again?), opportunities to get together, struggles that have become acute because of the long year and a half of corona. We look forward to meeting again with brothers to help look into becoming leaders. We hope to be able to meet again internationally to sing together. And we are so thankful that God has His family in so many places. We all need to hang on, hang on tight to the vine, and know that God is almighty. 

Thank you for your prayers for us. We pray that you, too have been blessed by the adversity you have faced and are facing in the coming days. We cannot face it without our King. Don’t do it alone. Know that we are a body together in Christ. 

Life and death and Life

What does it mean to live? In this past year many questioned whether they were really living, whether it was worth it. In the church, where we know and can find true Life - in Christ - we had to struggle with how to retain life in the midst of what seemed like death. When people cannot sing together, when we cannot see one another, when we often cannot even be outside, then a cold, dark inside feels like death. 

So we struggled and we have seen life where we didn’t expect it. We are thankful for the way that Jesus Christ has arisen - out of the grave - in the lives and hearts of the members in Maastricht. Our Bible studies have blossomed and included more people than ever. Members have taken the opportunity to contact each other in other ways, knowing that meeting together was not possible. And when we could finally meet together mid-April, we thrilled at the time, spending Sunday mornings together well past the midday hour. 

In addition we have seen new life growing. Our weekly study with G has been an amazing journey. She grew up in a culturally Christian home, but never made any kind of choice for Jesus as Lord. It was her Iranian friend who awakened her to the death she was walking in. They were both baptized and G looked for a family, finding us in Maastricht. Now each week we spend time together getting to know Jesus. Shirley and Scott are thrilled to see her grow in faith. 

Sometimes death gives opportunities. Scott began reading the Bible years ago with R. This turned into a relationship where Scott cares for R, even now as R has gone to a nursing home to wait out his days on earth. R. Has asked Scott to be the one to celebrate R’s life when he passes. IN the meantime, Scott has gotten to know R’s family and M’s family. M is his girlfriend who has also asked Scott to care for her end of life. So, in looking to what death brings, Scott has made new relationships and been given opportunities to speak of real life. 

That is what it is really about - real life. We spend time in the Bible each week with members - encouraging faith and growth - and with seekers, people who don’t yet know Jesus. We spend time mentoring members once a month to develop leaders. We allow God to use us in any way to reach young people, including helping with a new initiative for international youth. The last gathering of the CIA (Christians in Action) had more than 60 young people (12-17 year-olds) from all over Europe. In June, the group from the Netherlands is organizing the evening. 

We are thankful that our plans for summer Bible camp weeks are able to go forward. The group of Benjamins (8-11 year-olds) is shaping up to be one of the biggest groups we have had for a week of camp. Scott will also help lead the teens (12-14 year-olds) the week after. These are opportunities to train up new leaders as well as help young people to learn about new life in Jesus Christ. What a thrill it is to know that God gives real life. 

Which is why even death cannot overcome the love we have in Jesus Christ. This past month we said goodbye to one of our dear sisters in Christ in Eindhoven. Nita Blaakmeer touched many lives in many ways with the love that Christ brought into her life. We were blessed to be able to gather to celebrate her life and say goodbye - for now. 

Death is not the end. If we are willing to die in Christ, then death can only bring true life. That is the amazing truth and reality we have been working with these past months. That is the truth we will proclaim each week and in each month that God gives us to live with Him on this earth - wherever we are. 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

Submit to one another

What does a 2 year-old have to do with a blushing bride on her wedding day? I have had the privilege of officiating at several weddings. And I have the great privilege of being a dad of two boys who were at one time 2 year-olds. Lately, while working on making a lyric video for a song my sister in Christ wrote, I was struck by this connection and the true meaning of submission. 

I remember at one time one of the brides who had asked me to officiate at her wedding struggling with the idea of the text in Ephesians in regard to the woman. She was a woman who fit well into Western European society and the idea of a woman being submissive in anything just stuck in the craw. Why in the world should a modern woman even have to consider being submissive? But this was also a sister in Christ, so she didn’t feel like she could very well just toss that bit of scripture out. 

In recent years I have been working on song workshops, encouraging members of the church to allow scripture and their creative abilities to combine to write new songs for the churches. During the past corona year I have been putting these songs into video’s and placing them online so that churches can use them in their services or so that members can simply be encouraged. Sometimes the songs were recorded before COVID came along. Some of the songs I sang in myself. Still others were put together as a virtual choir. 

The video’s are put together with pictures or video fragments from the internet. I look for pictures that fit well with the words being sung. And as I looked to complete this song, I was struck by what for me was an amazing lesson. You probably figured this one out a long time ago. Thank you for allowing me to share my joy at learning it now. 

What kind of picture do you look for to show submission? The song comes from the text in Ephesians 5:21. This is the text that precedes the bit to the wives telling them to submit to their husbands in all things. The verse says: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” But how do you show this? I had pictures in my mind of a strong hand, strength in an arm, bowing down. But all of these seemed quite negative. It hit me that this is what the bride had been hearing and feeling. She couldn’t get any other picture in her head than this. 

But this was not the picture I had from the verse and was certainly not what I have in my mind about how Jesus loves us. It is not how I see Him asking us as the church to submit to him. And the more I looked around, the more I ended up with pictures of people helping each other. People grabbing one another’s arms to help them up from a fall. People helping others climb a mountain. People praying with and talking to one another. The “one another” passages kept popping up in my head. 

That’s when the 2 year-old showed up. Not literally. My boys are long past 2. But I remembered the 2 year-old who would say, “I can do it.” Shoving the helping hand away so that he could do it HIMSELF! Sometimes a 2 year-old can be pretty forceful. But other images flooded my memory as well. The outstretched arms asking to be picked up. The hand reaching up to be held as we crossed the street. And yes, the little boy allowing me to tie the shoe or put on a skeeler. 

A 2 year-old knows very well how to submit. Submission is essential if we are to be helped in any way at any time. It is even only when I submit that I can be loved. That blushing bride had already submitted by opening up her heart to that young man to be loved. Submission is not at all a strange thing to us. We have all learned it growing up and in the most beautiful of ways. 

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” means that we understand how thankful we are that Jesus was able and willing to save us. It is that thankfulness and joy that is part and parcel of our submission to one another so that we can assist each other in life. And that is how, later in life, we learn again and again through difficult times and times of great joy how wonderful submission truly is. I already knew this, but I discovered it once again. I had always heard it in the word "love". But there it was, standing firm in that strange word: "submission". 

I am so thankful for my sister, Nita Blaakmeer, who is struggling now with cancer and her own fears, but who has long taught me about submission and helping one another. This is her song (and her voice as well), recorded in 2019 with other brothers and sisters - as such a song should be. 

Whither in winter weather?

In the Netherlands it was supposed to be a historic snowfall and terrible winter conditions. We live in the south, so it turned out to be a bit different. But we got some snow and we certainly got plenty cold temperatures. But it has been interesting to see how people ar dealing with it all. 

Usually, we would be heading down to Germany this week for ABSS (Advanced Bible Study Series). Of course this is not possible in corona days. It doesn’t matter that it is also very cold and perhaps completely snowed in. ABSS cannot continue as it usually would. But that doesn’t mean that it won’t happen. As with so many things, the week has gone online. 

That actually means that more people will be able to attend than might have been the case. At the moment the British contingent cannot get into Europe. Some past members have in the meantime moved to the US. And for many, the long journeys has always been a challenge. But now they can all be present fro their own living room (even wearing their pajama’s). 

So instead of worrying about travels, many are contemplating their internet evenings. And back in the Netherlands the whole nation began a conversation about the 11-city-trip. This is an ice skating competition that only happens when enough of the water in the Netherlands has frozen that the route between 11 cities can be skated. The last time it was held was 1997. 

So, as soon as the possibility arrived that water was going to freeze, people started thinking about skating. And suddenly the whole country had something else to talk about, something else to concentrate on, than some strange virus or vaccins or masks or government orders. Social media has been flooded with video’s and pictures of skating fun and the country has enjoyed a well-earned breather - in the middle of freezing cold weather. 

It continues to amaze me how God can turn what seem to be unbelievably impossible conditions into something that is truly a blessing for many. Some churches meeting online has meant that peoples in places where church must be clandestine have had more opportunities to enjoy some kind of contact. We have also had to go back online in Maastricht. This means that we have been able to be complete again, although we still look forward to the time when we can see one another in person again. 

People who might never have considered God have also been confronted with difficult times and have found their way to God’s family because of the internet. I had an email and video call with a student who was struggling through the dark days. She found her children’s Bible and wondered who this God was and why she felt she really needed to find out. She will be reading the gospel of Mark this week and wanted to know if she could contact me with her questions. 

Sometimes we do not need to go anywhere to get all the way around the world. I am thankful then - not necessarily for all the hardship and frustration. I have to admit that I am still not happy with all of that. BUT, I can say with the apostle Paul - if God can use my weakness to be immensely strong, then I will glory in being weak that He may be strong. Actually, he said it like this: 

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

So I am looking forward to the coming days when I will see the crocuses popping their beautiful heads out of the ground letting me know that Spring is on the way, but I will continue to revel in the mighty majesty of my God who can turn withering winter into wonderful. (Forgive me, I like alliteration). 

New year, new chances, new life

Yes, we really have started a new year. And we are determined to make sure that we pay attention to the new opportunities and chances that we can have. We want to focus on the reality of walking with Jesus each and every day. That is what matters more than anything else. So, although I have let my exercise slip - even before the year began - and have not been eating as I might wish, I will continue to keep God’s word in my heart every day and look to how to serve Him daily. 

Normally we would be planning a singing workshop for sometime in the Spring. And to be honest, although singing has been one of the major things to have been cancelled in these times, I feel like I have been singing more than ever. In December I was able to finish up work on four more lyric video’s of songs for the church. At the same time, we have been updating our songbook at the church and that has taken a good bit of work as well: fixing comma’s, checking layout, printing and putting the books together. 

In January I sat with a friend to try and translate some songs we want to learn in the church, but in Dutch. They are beautiful hymns, but figuring out how to fit Dutch sentences into the rhythms created for an English sentence is a real challenge. We were able to finish off all three songs which are now ready to be recorded at some time in the coming months. 

In the last few weeks, songs from Listen Up! have been added to the mix. For those of you who know Listen Up! - the a capella singing group with which we traveled much of Europe preaching through song - we stopped singing together in 2011, but have always wanted our songs to be an encouragement to any and all. Now all members have allowed me to make lyric videos of our songs. If you are interested in hearing them again, or singing along, visit the playlist: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFXofVK3dvg8eiLBFkCqsHGpeTQWFhv0b

January is also the time that we meet to officially plan our Bible camp season. We are not sure what the summer will look like with corona rules, but we are planning for the summer in any case. We were so very thankful for the chance to hold our camp weeks in 2020 and look forward to being able to help our young people grow in faith this coming summer. Shirley and I will be working with the Benjamins and I will continue on for another week, helping to train some new leaders in both weeks. 

In our normal, everyday life, we have also been excited by new changes and chances. A new sister has joined us in Maastricht. She has moved from up north and will be trying to make her life down in the south. We are thankful that she has found her way to us and look forward to how God can help us in helping each other and serving Him. 

We also have met another very new sister in the faith. She gave her life to Christ in the summer and is learning quickly every day what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. We are meeting with her weekly to help her grow in faith and in knowledge of the word - starting with getting to know Jesus better. Keep her in your prayers as she grows and learns. We were excited to welcome her to the worship time this past Sunday. 

Another new situation is the brothers meeting that was moved from a Friday morning slot to a Monday evening slot. The hope is to help young brothers learn from older brothers, to give space for leaders to grow. We want to have a place where questions can be asked and answered in an encouraging atmosphere. We have had our first evening and I am looking forward to the second coming up in February. 

Some things stay the same. We are thankful that we still have mornings and evenings walking with Chester (our Cocker Spaniel). He is showing his age, but still loves chasing after cats when he gets the chance. And we still get to talk to our boys and daughters-in-love almost every week. Isn’t technology great at times! And we enjoy sitting together, sometimes playing a game of Trivial Pursuit, watching a film together or having a good conversation. 

Thank you, Father, for new days, new opportunities and the certainty of Your everlasting love and grace in our walk with You.