Where Oh Where Wednesday: Haarlem or Harlem?

In October 1982 I moved to Haarlem, the Netherlands. I had been there on a campaign the summer before with a program from York College called the Master’s Apprentice Program (MAP). Now I would be working with the evangelist in Haarlem (Jim Krumrei) for 2 years in the same program. 

I have never been to Harlem, in Manhattan. We had some travel time while visiting Sean and Jill this past Spring, but we didn’t make it to Harlem. Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan. We were staying down in Chinatown, not far from where Sean and Jill live and work. Most people think of Harlem as a black neighborhood, considering its history in the 20th century. 

Originally, Harlem was a Dutch village, organized in 1658 in New Amsterdam - which would become New York. It was named after the city in the Netherlands. It has been home to large Jewish and Italian populations as well as the African-American migration in the beginning of the 20th century. Harlem in the 1920’s and 30’s was the place to be in many ways. 

Haarlem - in the Netherlands - is the capital of the province of North Holland. It received its city rights in 1245 and the first walls were built in 1270. It is sat on a thin strip of land which is above sea level and surrounded by bits that are below sea level (which is much of the country). The nearby airport of Schiphol is built on what is literally “ship hollow”. It is home to the painter Frans Hals and was famous for tulips, printing and beer brewing. 

I remember learning to speak Dutch among the local stores and listening to playing children. Learning how to talk about my faith with people who were sometimes interested and often not, taught me plenty about people and myself. I was thankful for the areas close by that also afforded respite and comfort. 

From Haarlem I could bicycle to Spaarndam where the statue of the boy with his finger in the dike stands. The statue is based on a book written by an American who clearly did not know what a dike looked like. On the other side of the city I could bike out to the dunes and the sea to watch the sun rise. Or I could head downtown and enjoy the busy market on market day, walk past the cathedral or consider the history that you can simply breath in wherever you walk in the city, like the smell of a sharp cheese. 

It was in this city, on the steps of the city hall, that my colleagues Ruud and Karla were married. Not far from the city hall is the home of Corrie ten Boom. Just a short walk further and you are among the canals where in the Spring a market is held throughout the night to sell flowers. Two years is not very long in a lifetime, but for a young man it was a time to fill up on amazing memories. 

We are still very thankful for the church in Haarlem, being able to share time with our brothers and sisters there whenever we can see them - even if it is elsewhere. Most recently we were able to send time with members of the congregation during Family camp. Jim and Ruth Krumrei, who are now in their 90’s, came to Family Day just 2 weeks ago. 

I haven’t visited Harlem yet. But I hope that we get the chance some day. Whether Harlem or Haarlem, both places are full of intricate, complicated, enticing history. 

We are the church

A few years ago we held a questionnaire in our neighborhood asking people about church. We asked if church had a place in society, and if so, what? Most people were very clear about the first part of the question. Yes, certainly, church had a place in society. And then they spoke of how having a place that was quiet, a place where people could contemplate life, was absolutely necessary. Most people, when they thought of ‘church’ thought of a building in the neighborhood. A place to go. 

People also talked about how the church should be a place that taught values and norms for society. When they were asked further if they attended a church anyway, most admitted that they did not. Several commented, “Yeah, I guess that isn’t very consistent of me.” They understood that if they thought church should teach values, that they would have to attend in order to receive that teaching. 

We of course think a bit differently about church. We are the church. It doesn’t really matter where the church meets. When people are with us, they should be able to experience and feel the presence of God and His grace and love. That is why we look forward to all sorts of different activities with the church all around Belgium and the Netherlands. 

Most recently we were down at camp with at least 10 different congregations for Family Day, organized this year by the church in Ghent, Belgium. We were able to sing, share meals together, play or walk, and share conversations about how God is working in our lives. It was a time of fellowship, but also of showing body strength (she last week’s thoughts). 

Last week we had a games day in Maastricht. Our young Ukrainian couple, Andre and Adriana have started these to encourage the church members. We stayed after services and played together - some card games, a board game and more. This is a time that we can also invite others. I learned as a young Christian that Christians know best how to have fun. Fun was, after all, designed by God. 

This coming weekend we will hold our Youth Day with the church from Maastricht. But we decided to hold it elsewhere so that more kids could come. And immediately we are looking forward to at least 6-8 kids from other areas. This is an opportunity to be church and be the body of Christ in a different way. We are so thankful that we are able to organize these types of activities and that God is using these to touch people’s lives. 

No matter where we are, if we are children of the King, then we are also the church. When we are gathered - whether it is a few our many, whether it is at a game or going to a movie or attending some other activity, whether we have a sign saying that a church is meeting or not - we are the church. We pray that we are sharing God’s presence and love in all of these moments. 

Whensday: Union

Belgium and the Netherlands have long been at the forefront of what has become the European Union. The treaty of Brussels signed in March 1948 set up the Western Union, a military union of France, United Kingdom and the three Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) set up in September of the same year. In 1957 the Benelux, France, Italy and West Germany signed the treaty of Rome, creating the European Economic Community (EEC). Within this community they formed a customs union, making trade easier. 

The United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland joined the EEC in 1973. The first elections to a European Parliament were held in 1979. In 1981 Greece joined and soon after the Schengen Agreement made open borders possible. This meant that travel within the outer borders of Europe could be done without passports. 

I remember the first time that Shirley and I came to the Netherlands on campaign in 1981. A visit to (West) Germany meant a stamp in your passport. When I came to the Netherlands from 1982-84, some of the most interesting stories and experiences in my life were because of border crossings (ask me sometime about sleeping on the way to Switzerland). So when Shirley and I visited in 1987 to research returning to work with the church, it was interesting to see the changes. 

The European flag was adopted in 1986 and Portugal and Spain were added to the group. In 1990, as the Eastern Bloc was falling apart, East Germany was reunited with West Germany and was added to the community. By 1992 the 12 member states were ready to sign the Treaty of Maastricht (which came into force in November 1993). This treaty set in place the basis for the European citizenship, a single currency and common security policies. 

The single currency finally showed up formally in 2002, the Euro supplanting all the other currencies, like the guilder, the franc and the mark. We had moved to Belgium in 1991 and we remember vividly the ease that came with a common currency - not having to carry three different currencies because of where we live on the border. But it also meant that prices - of almost everything - doubled. 

Currently the EU consists of 27 countries. There had been 28, until the United Kingdom exited. There is quite a list of countries waiting to join the EU as well. To think that three little countries joining themselves in the Benelux showing that cooperation was useful could have been the start of such a union. 

Body strength

Our bodies are amazing creations. God has created us to be able to do amazing things, even when we are damaged. Our bodies are made in such a way as to heal and recover. Most of that is down to the design and how everything works together. It is often important that we allow our bodies the time to recover. 

I have been acutely aware of this in the past year and most recently due to a strain of a muscle and, just last week, a hernia operation. Physical therapy and stretching did wonders for the muscle. Doctors using laparoscopic surgery took care of the other. This week I am taking it easy and recovering, but our bodies are amazingly well designed.

The past few months have also been difficult in other ways. We learned that our nephew, a new father of one and soon-to-be-father of a second, passed away at the age of 26. And we hurt for his wife, his brothers and especially for his father and mother (Scott’s brother and sister-in-law). We had not been able to visit with them when we were in Indianapolis. 

Less than a month later we received news that Shirley’s brother unexpectedly passed away. We had seen him on our visit to the States and enjoyed being able to spend time together. The news of his passing hit hard. It felt like a blow to the stomach for Shirley. Her family (she comes from a family of 8 kids) has been reduced to just three. 

Last week we received a call from Scott’s youngest brother that his brother, Marc had passed away. We were able to follow the memorial service held in Colorado Springs yesterday evening. We had also missed seeing Marc on our visit to Colorado while we were in the States earlier this year. His passing seems a bit surreal. 

It is at times like this that we are thankful that God has designed the body so well. We are not made to be alone, to work alone. We are made to depend on one another, to help in the recovery and healing of one another. One part cannot work without the others. That is how the body of Christ, the church, is designed and truly works. We are so very thankful for family and spiritual family. 

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians talks about this body and how we are dependent on each other (1 Cor. 12:12-26). Thank you for being there as part of this body. Praise God for His design and His amazing love, in times of distress and in times of joy.

Whatsit Wednesday: Firehose

The last week has been a warm one in our area. This coming week the temperatures have cooled down (both in Fahrenheit and Celsius) with plenty of rain. So, while some may have been thinking of fires last week, they do not want to see another drop of water this week. 

But those two things obviously go together. Fires have always been a problem for those who build. We must have fire to keep warm, but how do you keep warm and safe at the same time. And if you yourself are quite safe with a fire in your house, what about your neighbor? If fire breaks out in their house, it could spread to yours. As cities grew, this was a very real concern. 

Some of the worst disasters have been due to fires in cities. London burnt down and had to be rebuilt. San Francisco burnt down and had to be rebuilt. Chicago Burt down, supposedly because of a cow and a lamp. The city had to be rebuilt. Modern high rise flats have shown that they are disasters waiting to happen if a fire breaks out. And of course we can build with better, flame resistant materials, but fire remains a danger to all living in the city. 

Which is why we for a very long time have had people willing to work at putting fires out. Where in the past it may have been a bucket brigade from the village, all villagers helping one another, it soon became a group of dedicated people willing to work hard to put any fire out. But how to bring the water to the fire? 

This is where the firehose came into play. Amazingly, it was designed in Amsterdam at the end of the 17th century by Dutch painter and inventor, Jan Van der Heyden and his brother. The made a better design for a pump, but also designed the hose so that they could better reach the flames. The hoses were made of leather and sewn together like a boot leg. 

Later improvements were made in the centuries to come, making firefighting easier and more efficient, though still very dangerous. These days we are all thankful for the men and women of the local fire brigade (like our brother-in-law) and for the materials that have been designed to better keep us all safe. 

An eventful day

Some days just stay etched in your mind. I remember hearing from people who could remember everything that happened on the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. I remember watching the first landing on the moon and know exactly where I was when the Challenger blew up. In the Netherlands people remember where they were when they heard about the Bijlmer catastrophe (plane flying into a block of flats) or when the fireworks blew away a whole neighborhood in Enschede. In Belgium people remember the time hearing of Dutroux (a man who kidnapped and killed young girls) or the gas pipeline explosion near Ath. 

Some things just stick in your mind, become part of the tapestry of history of a place. That is what this date is for many in the world. September 11 brought some major changes in the world which are still reverberating today. We stood watching the news on the television repeating, “What? What? Oh no!” The boys were not quite sure what was happening and why we were so upset. It seemed at that moment that the world was falling apart. 

And yet, that was a very eventful time for us in general. When we first came to Belgium it was to work with the church in Maastricht, the Netherlands. We lived for a year in Antwerp, Belgium to get into the language and still be able to be with a congregation before we would start things with a new team in Maastricht. 

We were able to get a permit to stay in the country which was renewed every year. When we looked into how we would work things with the team, it was easier to stay living in Belgium rather than move into the Netherlands.  So we found a place to live, close by the border, and continued renewing our permit. This worked well for us and at one point we were able to get a 5 year card, instead of renewing every year. 

But coming up on 2000 the government decided that they needed to change things concerning foreigners in the country. It was not a problem to be working for a company, but religious workers were not going to be allowed to stay any more. We were informed that we would need to leave the country. 

Around this same time, the opportunity to become a Belgian opened up. Both the US and Belgium technically allow dual citizenship and the more we looked into it, the better it looked. The process to become Belgian was fairly simple. We wanted to be sure that we would still be able to get back to the US if needed, so only Scott went through the process. We heard the good news right around September 11 in 2001. 

Now it would be possible to stay in the country and continue our work with the church in Maastricht and churches in Belgium. As with the apostle Paul, we would now be able to use both nationalities, both citizenships. We would now be able to move freely within the European Union and preach the gospel. This was a real blessing that we could not have foreseen. And it came at a time when we wondered what was happening with the world. 

Clearly, God has a different perspective on what is happening in the world. We have good friends all around the globe who experience things others may never even hear about. Have you heard of the struggles in Sudan? Of the elections in Kenya? Of the hurricane that basically wiped much of St. Maarten away? Of the tsunami in Indonesia? And so much more (including a war in Ukraine). Or most recently, the earthquake that has killed thousands in Morocco? It may seem like the world is ending. It may look like there is no way forward. It may feel like God has forgotten. But we know that this is not true. We have seen so many times before (look at all the times in the Old Testament) that God has been faithful. He knows what is going on. He can use even this time for His glory. 

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.  Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5

Whodunit Wednesday: Temperatures

It’s going to be a warm September day. Not that it is all that common for a September day to be so warm here. It is not unheard of, but 30 degrees - which is considered tropical - is pretty warm. And then our living room gets even much warmer. We have lots of windows that let in light, which is a good thing in the dark winter months. But on a warm day, light means warmth. 

But how can 30 degrees be warm? It is under freezing! Of course here in Europe we use a different scale for temperature. In Europe we use the Celsius scale (or centigrade), which goes from 0-100 degrees (the points where water freezes or boils). It can of course also go further. Temperatures below freezing become negative temperatures, for example -10 degrees. Although Belgium gets negative temperatures, its is nothing like what people in other places get (like in Minnesota or North Dakota in the US). Temperatures past the boiling point of water simply go higher than 100. 

In the Untied States a completely different scale is used to measure temperature. The Fahrenheit scale says that water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. So 0 degrees in Fahrenheit is quite cold, well below the freezing point. On the other hand, someone using the Fahrenheit scale might say that it is 104 degrees outside. A European would amazed that anyone could even be outside in such temperatures - well above the boiling point (on the Celsius scale). 

So where did these scales come from? Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in the 18th century. He originally used a 0-100 scale as well, but he measured the freezing point of a brine and the body temperature of a human (which is right around 96 degrees Fahrenheit). But by the 20th century it was the freezing and boiling point of water that was measured and became the beginning and ending points. 

Fahrenheit was born in Poland, but was of German heritage. At the age of 15 he moved to the Dutch republic where he lived the rest of his life. So he can be claimed by Poland, Germany and the Netherlands. In any case, it is still going to be a very warm day today. 

Family time

You have heard me talk many times about family. It is still amazing to me how God created family and uses it so wonderfully. Family is God’s design for how we work best. We need each other. We grow by struggling with relationships together. We learn from one another. We practice love and hope and courage when we care for one another. We see what is real by seeing it in the examples of those around us. Family is simply amazing. 

And that is true whether we are talking about blood family or God’s family. Not every family works as it should do. But it is family that shows us how things can and should be. So I keep my eyes open for family moments and I relish every moment that teaches me another truth through family. 

This month we have several church family moments coming up. This Saturday we will be down at camp with members of the church from around the Netherlands and Belgium. The church in Ghent is planning the Family Day. We are looking forward to seeing some of the teens we had at camp, some of their parents, and many others from various congregations. It is always a great day - and we should even be getting some sunshine to go with it (a real blessing in Belgium)!

We already had our singing evening this past Friday in Maastricht. The last Saturday we are planning a youth day. This week Shirley and I will be dropping in on our young Ukrainian couple for a study and some games. We were planned to see them last week, but the car broke down. We are thankful for good garages and the funds to take care of things so that we are now able to visit them. 

In the Fall we are looking at starting up some Saturday walks in the neighborhood to encourage the church and also share the gospel. In November we look forward to the COPA Benelux - an indoor soccer tournament with teams from the various congregations. The last one was held in 2019. (The picture is from 2015!) We may not be playing this time (although we might), but we will definitely be there to encourage all who attend. Family time is always good. 

On the other side, we are also thankful for family in difficult times. This past week Shirley heard that her youngest brother unexpectedly passed away. It hurts to know that we cannot be there, although we know this is simply reality. But it is good to know that there is family there to care for one another. Roger - Shirley’s brother - had a whole family of co-workers who cared about him and cared for him. His children, whether they were from his loins or not, feel the loss and are there for each other. Please keep them and Shirley in your prayers. 

Take time to look around and see how God is using family in your life. Be thankful for the connections that are there. And know that God’s design for family, the church, is just what we all need - at all times.