There where God is

This past week, as with most years, I was down in Gemünden, Germany for the Advanced Bible Study Series (ABSS). This is a week of Bible study with people from around Europe sitting at the feet of teachers from around Europe and one or two from the US. It is always a time of intense conversation and thinking as well as relaxing walks and even fun goofiness on the Thursday evening. 

It has always struck me how amazing and good it is to be with brothers and sisters from various places talking about the truth of God. This past week we were talking about the presence of God, how we see this in science, in beauty, in suffering and how we lear to follow Jesus in this Way. It struck me that there is no place where God is not; there are loci everywhere where God IS, together with His people. 

This is the very experience we have had throughout the years we have been blessed to serve in the area of Belgium and The Netherlands. We are blessed to be here because people in many places give their finances, encouragement and prayer so that we can be here. This past week reminded me of this truth as well. I was working through our financial statements in preparation for doing our taxes for the US and was reminded of all those who are it possible for us to be here. 

After this year we will no longer have financial support from the S. 11th and Willis congregation. They were the ones with whom we started our married life and were always a missional group of followers of Christ. Although this congregation has now folded into another in Abilene, Texas, we hold the memories and encouragements from through the years close to our heart. 

Another group of followers who have long supported and encouraged us is the congregation in Muscatine, Iowa. They, too will be dialing back their financial support in the coming year. Knowing the hearts of many of the members there we pray that they will not lose their focus on the mission of God around the world as they strive to discover how best to use the funds God has given into their care. We are thankful to be connected in many ways to the living fellowship there and to remember with joy how we are welcomed with open arms when we come “home”. (Find them here)

In a continuation of this movement towards the North we land at the Woodbury congregation in Woodbury, Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul area). This is a group of people who have encouraged us from the beginning and worked through many changes to keep us in their prayers and minds and hearts. Every group of followers changes throughout the years as new people are added to the body and others go to their reward - waiting for the rest to join them soon. Woodbury continues to look for ways to pass on the grace of God in any way possible not only to the surrounding area 9which has changed immensely through the years) but also throughout the world. (Find them here)

Our sponsoring congregation and encouragers from the beginning are the members of the Lord’s body in Long Beach, California. It has always amazed me to see how this group has struggled through the various changes that come through the years, but always trying to focus on grace and salvation to any and all who come. This family makes sure we are linked to the others who financially support us, so that all goes well on the front. But they also continually share their hearts with us as well, praying for our needs. (Find them here)

Most recently (in 2023) we have become linked to the Oldham Lane church in Abilene, Texas. Although we still need to get to know this congregation better, we are thankful for their willingness to help us financially. We look forward to getting to know them better the next time we are in the US (normally that would be in 2026). 

Besides these various groups of people, we are also blessed with the encouragement, financial support and spiritual mentorship and friendship of various individuals and families. The Eck’s first visited us as students to work with us I this area and continue to support this work. The Bundy’s have supported and taken part in work in many places around the world including Belgium and continue to encourage, support and be an example to many, including us. The McNeill’s traveled in the past, experiencing this very idea of God’s people everywhere. Their hearts continue to be with the people they know and the people God knows in places around the world. The Cron’s and the Jablonski’s in California, and the Stovall’s now from Iowa, have remained strong encouragers and supporters throughout the years. In years past other families have helped, visited, encouraged and worked together with us, including the Skarin’s, Tornij’s and Rampton’s. 

God is in all places. He is here in the group of followers in Maastricht who also support us daily in their spiritual encouragement and monthly in their financial support. We have a connection with God’s family all over Europe, through to Asia and Africa, down through South America and even in Australia. God wants his family to be everywhere. And He is able to use any and all of us to make this possible. We are thankful that He has used us and continues to use us, with you, to reach people who do not yet know Him here. 

Know that God still wants to use you wherever you are now and that He is able. We are so very thankful for God’s faithfulness and for so many of you who have helped so many hearts here. 

Where oh Where Wednesday: Paris Olympics

In just 2 days the Olympic Games will begin in Paris, France. The plan is to have the opening ceremony along the Seine river, which runs through the city center. Preparations have ben extensive, from trying to make sure that the water is clean (several events will take place in the river) to trying to make sure that no one will be able to cause any Upraor during the opening ceremonies. This has meant basically closing down large parts of the city center - often even to those who live there. 

The Olympics have been in Paris before. This will be the third time that Paris has hosted the games although the last time was in 1924 - 100 years ago. Paris also hosted the games in 1900. So it has been awhile. Paris has plenty to offer as host city, but there has been quite a bit of competition those the event until more recently when cities have come to see how expensive everything can become. 

In 2024 there will be a total of 32 sports planned for the competition. Some newer sports include 3x3 basketball (which first appeared in the 2020 games), breakdancing (first time this year), karate, sport climbing and surfing. In earlier versions of the games in Paris, people could have competed in croquet, polo, or even tug of war. 

This year several events will be hosted in some unique venues. The equestrian events and modern pentathlon will be held at the chateau de Versailles. Beach volleyball will be contested in a venue built at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Archery, athletics and road cycling will take place next to Invalides (where Napoleon is buried). At the Place de La Concorde you could watch 3x3 basketball, breaking, BMX freestyle cycling and skateboarding. 

Interestingly, some of the events will not be in or even near Paris. Surfing will be contested in Tahiti. Several of the soccer (football) games will be played in Nice, Lyon and Marseille. The sailing will also be hosted in Marseille. But the tennis will of course be held at Roland Garros, in Paris. 

For many tourists, this organization of the games in Paris was a sign that this year was not the best to visit the city. Many people figure that the city will simply be too busy because of the games. Interestingly, the prices of hotels and bed and breakfast accommodations has hit almost rock bottom because of this reality. It seems that Paris will have fewer visitors than normal this summer. 

We will be down at camp for much of the games, but the rest we will watch online from a distance. We will be watching Belgian, Dutch and American athletes in various disciplines. Which sports do you enjoy following the most?

Wild wonderful Wednesday

Once again, I am going to do something a bit different om this Wild Wonderful Wednesday. It is the first 5th Wednesday of the year (try saying that five times quickly!). And while we often have taken a walk somewhere, even if it is through our personal history (like this time), this month I would like to take you on a walk through our reading habits. 

Shirley and I both like to read or watch detective stories. Sherlock Holmes (in all versions, classic or modern), all of Agatha Christie’s characters (although the Belgian Hercule Poirot has a special place) and many other detectives make for fun and educative reading. We do not mind what the setting is. We have read Brother Cadfael mysteries set in the 13th century, Inspector Monk mysteries set in London of the 19th century, or Inspector Pitt mysteries set a bit later in the same city. 

On our last Home Assignment, David Cron took us downtown Los Angeles and mentioned a series with Detective Bosch which is set in LA (and we visited a building from one of the books). It was interesting to me that detective Bosch’s first name is Hieronymus. He is named after Jheronimus of Aken or Hieronymus Bosch, who was a Dutch painter from Brabant in the 15th century. The detective is not a painter, but the painter’s works are rather grotesque - which types of scenes detective Bosch often has to deal with. 

Last year I read a whole series about Owen Archer who is - can you guess - an archer who becomes a detective of sorts (or spy or apothecary) in the 14th century. It is wonderful how books can take you anywhere at all. The Foundation series from Isaac Asimov will even take you into outer space in the future. It’s science fiction, but it is basically a detective story. 

And these books have taken me to Canterbury, York and London. They have taken me to Shrewsbury and over the border into Wales. I have traveled with Maigret to Paris of the past or with Bosch to Los Angeles. Ray Bradbury has even taken me to Mars. Truly wild, wonderful destinations, all from the comfort of a nice, dry couch on any wet, dreary Belgian day. 

Where have you traveled in your reading? What do you like to read?  

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. 

Informed or transformed?

This last week we have enjoyed a visit from Raymond Blasingame, one of the elders at S. 11th & Willis church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. This was our very first home congregation as a married couple. We married on a Friday, traveled on a Saturday (arriving from Arkansas in Texas) and attended Willis that Sunday morning. 

Raymond was on a world tour, stopping in to visit us before moving on to Kenya where he would meet with others supported by the congregation and finishing up in the Philippines where his father-in-law shared the gospel for 50 years. He would then move on around the globe back to Texas. 

We wanted to be able to share with Raymond what we do and were especially thankful that he could meet many of the members of the congregation we serve with. He joined us for various Bible studies in the week and spoke on Sunday morning. But we were also thankful for the other moments in the week we could share. 

We walked around Maastricht to show him the city where we live. Scott can do a pretty good tourist tour of the city and we saw quite a few of the things most visitors want to see: the medieval walls, Roman ruins, churches turned into all sorts of other things and the two main church buildings right downtown. In the evening we drove to Eindhoven for our monthly singing there where Raymond could also meet the members in that congregation. 

On Thursday we visited our Bible camp and enjoyed the beautiful ride down there through the countryside, before heading back to the city for another Bible study in the evening. On Friday Raymond was able to go golfing in Belgium and The Netherlands on the same day and same course. And then we finished the week with a visit walking around Brussels. All of these days were blessed with beautiful sunshine  - quite a treat for our part of Europe. 

On each of these days I was touched by how we were able to share information about the world and places, but were also able to see how important transformation in Jesus Christ truly is. There are so many places in Europe that are culturally Christian - meaning not Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist. But people who choose daily to live a life full of grace in Jesus Christ is truly amazing. 

On the Saturday in Brussels we were able to meet up with a former exchange student who spent some month with Raymond back in 2003. She has experienced all sorts of things in her life since then and is willing to think about what it really means to find Jesus. At a concert on Sunday, Raymond was able to talk with a man who was not really interested in religion - having lost the little bit of faith he had as a young man growing up. 

Choice is something that we all have in our lives. Time moves on, sometimes far more quickly than we even could have guessed until we stop and look. But if you can see the choice, you can still make it. And people do. Some consider information the pinnacle, the top of the mountain. 

But information only brings us to the choices we must and can make. Transformation is what comes from choosing to follow Christ, from allowing grace to actually touch your daily life. That was beautiful to see in the various encounters this past week with Raymond and the people we met. 

Are you informed? Or transformed? 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Proverbs 1:7

We hope to see you there!

Putting together our travel plans for May-June is quite a puzzle, but fun at the same time. We will be in quite a few places and look forward to seeing as many groups as we can, considering the time. We already know that we will not get to see all of our family (Scott’s dad and older brother), but we have also had some fun surprises. 

Back when Scott first moved to Colorado with his family, his dad needed to travel back to the East to finish hos military requirements and retire (at about 40 years-old). This was the last time that Scott saw any of his family, who mostly live on the east coast. But now that Scott and Shirley will be landing in New York and driving up to Rochester, they saw that Newburgh, New York was along the way. Scott got contacted information and it turns out that they will be able to visit his aunt who still lives in the same house Scott visited back when he was a teenager. 

If you are anywhere near where we will be, we hope that you will get in touch with us before we leave (April 26) so that we can plan some way of getting together. Maybe we can meet somewhere in the middle. Maybe we can call. Maybe you are in the same city and we don’t have your contact information any more. Drop us a comment here if you don’t have our contact information. 

We are also looking forward to meeting all sorts of new people in the congregations that support us. It has been a long 4 years since we last back and a lot can change in 4 years. It has here in Maastricht and certainly will have done where you live. So when we get to your city, your congregation - don’t be shy. We want to meet you. We may not be able to get to know you well, but we want to know who you are and thank you for your working together with us in God’s kingdom. 

Here again are the cities and states we will be visiting. We will begin in New York (and also visiting in Connecticut). We then move on to Minneapolis-St. Paul and the Woodbury congregation. They will help us on the next long leg of our trip to Omaha, Nebraska; Muscatine, Iowa; Indianapolis, Indiana and even making a quick stop in Chicago before returning to Minnesota. 

After the Midwest loop, we will fly down to Texas and drive out to Abilene, hoping to do some visiting along the way. From Texas we fly to Colorado where we will visit up and down the Front Range in Colorado Springs and Denver. By this time we will have hit our oldest son, Stephan and daughter-in-love Natalie (in Indianapolis), Shirley’s family (in Nebraska) and most of Scott’s family (in Indy and Colorado). 

We finish the trip by flying first out to California to visit our sponsoring church in Long Beach and to see some more of Scott’s family in San Diego. From LA we fly to NYC to finish up by visiting with son Sean and daughter-in-love Jill. After 8 weeks of traveling we will get back to Belgium before the end of June and just in time to have a church get-together down at Ardennen Bijbelkamp on the Saturday after our arrival. 

Where oh Where Wednesday: Visits

We are extremely blessed to be able to visit all sorts of places because of where we live and work. Many Europeans would love to visit all the places we see in the US on our Home Assignment. Many Americans would love to be able to see the places we see as a matter of course in our work here in Europe. And we are very thankful for the opportunities we have had to travel, but also to meet Christian family in so many places. 

We are only 4 hours from Paris, France, so have visited there a few times - just to visit. We also were able to take day trips (or a day and overnight) to Rheims. But we have also been as far as Marseille a few times to take a group down to “Christians on Mission” - a week of missions with the church in Marseille. And we visited the church in Lille, singing there with Listen Up! in those days.

In Germany we regularly spent time at a castle youth hostel in Bacharach for German youth retreats where we sang with Listen Up!. Cologne is only an hour away, so we have visited the church on singing days, but have also shopped at the Music Store with the boys when they were younger and growing their interest in music. We have also visited the church in Hannover and Hildesheim, gone on the Euro-American retreat in Rothenburg and visiting Scott’s memories from his youth in Berlin. 

We regularly visited Switzerland as well, taking groups of kids from Dutch and Belgian congregations to the soccer tournaments organized by the church in Schaffhausen. At other times we traveled to Zurich, Thun, Bern, Lucerne and Schaffhausen with Listen Up! on a singing tour. At least twice, Scott went with a group led by Doyle Kee on a hike in the Swiss alps. 

Another trip with Listen Up! took us to Graz and Vienna in Austria where we sang with and for the churches there. This same trip took us to Zagreb and Varazdin in Croatia. 

We have visited the church in Prague as well as taken a midweek trip there when we could get free. Other midweek trips took us to Budapest, Hungary; Rome, Italy and Barcelona, Spain. We have visited brothers in England and toured the British museum. When you can fly around Europe for 20 euro a person, it makes a short trip (the flight is often less than 2 hours) quite easy. 

Back near home, we have visited various places in Belgium and the Netherlands regularly - with the church and simply on a day trip together. Antwerp, Brussels, Brughe and Ghent are all cities we have visited with youth weekends and evangelistic campaigns as well as tourist trips. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Haarlem have also been places where we go as a matter of working with the youth and the church in the Netherlands. 

We are always thankful for the opportunities to travel places with the church and to be able to see and meet with the church in all of these places. God’s family is everywhere, it feels like. We are not alone. And we are not working alone. I regularly remember the verse in 1 Peter which reminds us of this and how good it is to be working together in the family of God. 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.  1 Peter 5:6-9

You can find some pictures from our travels here. 

Whatsit Wednesday: Manneken Pis en Mestreechter Geis

He has hundreds of costumes, a whole team of people to make sure that he is always presentable and a horde of tourists that visit him every year. “He” is “Manneken Pis” and yes, that is exactly what it sounds like, but no, it is not being rude. This is “little man peeing”. He is one of the main attractions in Brussels and has become the mascot of the city. 

When Sean was studying in Brussels, he stayed with friends who lived just around the corner from this interesting little man (thank you Bill and DeeDee!). Most people from Brussels know where he is and walk past him daily. He has become a normal sight. It is the groups of tourists that are more interesting. Hundreds, even thousands of people trying to get a selfie with this little man peeing in the background. 

The stories about the statue are myriad and are more than likely simply stories - as the story in the Netherlands about the boy with his finger in the dyke (but that is for another time). The interesting thing is how the city embraces the statue with stores in the adjoining streets selling statues of all sizes of this statue. You can purchase a mini “little man peeing” or a larger one. You might even be able to purchase a “life-size” version. Perhaps to place in your garden at home? But then you would have to make sure that everything was always working well, as do the maintenance crews. Although this little man is a little man, he is more of an age to have prostate problems. No one wants his stream to stop, so he is constantly cared for. 

And he is dressed in all sorts of costumes for the various holidays and occasions throughout the year. It is even considered good protocol for visiting dignitaries of all sorts to bring a costume for him to wear. He can wear a military uniform, look dapper in a tux or stand in the colors of the national football team - all while urinating on the corner of the street. 

In Maastricht, they also have a statue that clearly represents the spirit of the city. As a matter of fact, he is called “Mestreecter Geis” or “the spirit of Maastricht”. Maastricht is in the southern tip of the Netherlands. As such it is a Catholic city, the capitol of the province. These southern, Catholic areas celebrate Carnival and “Geis” (which is also a normal name in the south, although spelled differently), represents this well. 

The statue is downtown near the river where the parade walks by during Carnival in the Spring. But this holiday actually begins on 11-11-11, the 1tth day of the 11th month at 11 minutes past the 11th hour. All those 11’s show a bit of craziness. Geis, the statue, embodies this craziness and desire to enjoy, no matter what. That also well represents the feeling of the normal person from Maastricht. 

It has been important for us to be aware of what feelings are important for the populations where we live and work. It has especially been important for us in our work in Maastricht to understand the idea of enjoying fun and placing an emphasis on not being too serious.