COPA Benelux

This past weekend we were united in fun. Really. Every year the COPA Benelux - an indoor soccer tournament for teams from around Belgium and the Netherlands - is organized. In Maastricht we try to form a team to play, but the last few years this has not been possible. So this year three of us from Maastricht joined three from Gent and one from Haarlem to form a team. We are FUN United.

You see, the teams are split up in Pro and Fun. The Pro teams are serious. They usually have people who know how to play, are basically fit and are serious about winning - although they are also there to have fun. Christians know how to have fun. God made fun. The other teams, made up mostly of kids (at least 10 years old), people who don’t know that much about soccer and older people make up the Fun teams. 

This year there were only 3 fun teams and 7 pro teams. But the fun teams definitely had fun. Our team did not win any games, although we made some of them fairly exciting. Still, we got third place. (This is where one would put an emoji sticking his cheeky tongue out). It was fun to play although my body definitely feels it still, two days later. We had some beautiful goals and plenty of screaming to root one another one. 

In between matches I always enjoy meeting new people and checking in with people we do not get to see very often. There were some players from Antwerp that we only see during this tournament. And it was good to check in with them. One of the other Fun teams was from Den Haag. As a matter of fact, last year I won the Fun tournament as part of their team. This year they also won in a thrilling final that only ended after penalty shootouts. 

I am always thankful for people around the country who make the effort to put something like this together. This is a place where young people can get together. It is a time when older people can connect with younger people in a different way. It is a moment when everyone sees that perseverance and fairness are part of having fun. It was great, nearing the end of the day, when we all gathered to sing praises to God and hear a pep talk. Like Luk Brazle always mentions - soccer and singing go together. We love singing to God who gives us such fun moments. 

The photo is of FUN United. You can find more photos of the day here. 

Where oh where Wednesday: Deventer

Because of a busy week, I missed Where oh where Wednesday on Wednesday, but I didn’t want to leave you without this post. So we will put this Wednesday post on a Sunday and just pretend it is still Wednesday. 

Several years ago Shirley and I were able to take a few days off in the middle of a week in the winter. This is usually when we are able to get away and celebrate our wedding anniversary and Shirley’s birthday. In those days I was still singing with Listen Up! Which meant that we were also giving Christmas concerts throughout December. So finally being able to get away for a few days was great. 

We decided to go somewhere we could reach with the car and that we had not yet visited. This included a stop in the city gf Deventer. Deventer is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. It is already mentioned in the 9th century and is mentioned in 952 as a city. It was part of the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages. It is home to the oldest stone house in the Netherlands. 

We knew of the city because of my singing with Listen Up!. Years before we had been asked to sing at a soccer match between Ajax (Amsterdam) and PSV (Eindhoven) - the two teams at the top of the league that year. The game was being played in the ArenA - the home stadium of Ajax. We were to add atmosphere by singing Christmas songs wearing Charles Dickens costumes. 

The reason we had been contacted was that someone had heard us at one of our Always CHRISTmas concerts and knew that we had a repertoire and could sing. He was part of a group that did enactments with Charles Dickens costumes. This was something that was done every year in … Deventer. Not only that, but this city also host the largest book market in Europe every year. So stopping off in the winter was a bit of a no-brainer for the two of us. 

Most recently Deventer unexpectedly became the center of an even bigger celebration as its own professional soccer team won the Dutch Cup, beating PSV on the way to the final. Deventer is a city of fewer than 100,000 inhabitants, but its Go Ahead Eagles (their stadium is the Eagle’s Nest) not only went to the final for the second time in their rich history (they lost 60 years ago), but won the cup. 

Little Words

The last weeks have seen me trying to help someone who I have known for more than 20 years. We started reading the Bible together and I helped him out with moving, small things around the house, parenting tips (he is a single father) and more. 

Recently he was operated on a perforated intestine and almost died. His son - who is now a 26 year-old lawyer - reminded him after the operation that he had been given a second chance. You see, he has never been an easy person to live with. I have tried to remind him of an amazing truth I learned many years ago (as I mentioned a few weeks ago about pizza evenings with the youth group). The simple words “please” and “thank you” make the world a completely different place. 

While he was in the hospital a nurse came to assist him. She mentioned her name when he wanted to call her “miss”. Later, when I went looking for coffee, because we needed to wait for quite some time, she showed me the way. I thanked her and mentioned her name. A smile lit her face. It was nothing more than a simple “thank you”, but it meant a lot to her. Nurses have long days. 

So, we (his son and me) have given this man a challenge to learn these two simple sayings. He started his chemo this past Friday and immediately had some opportunities to practice. It is NOT something that comes naturally, although Ince you learn it, it can become normal. I saw this reality this past weekend in another way that we might not expect. 

This weekend was the COPA Benelux. The last COPA (the cup) was in 2019. Covid rules killed this indoor soccer tournament for the churches in Belgium and the Netherlands in the years between. We had people from 7 or 8 different congregations. We had 5 Fun teams and 5 Pro teams (each team being at least 5 people). We came with a Fun team from Maastricht. The Fun teams aren’t that serious and are often comprised of younger players. 

The COPA is also a time for members from the various congregations to see and talk to one another. It is a time to invite people we know who may or may not know Jesus to an event where we talk about and show what fun is like when Jesus is in our lives. 

During the play I remember hearing Luk Brazle, who played for Ghent Fun, calling out to the goalkeeper of Rotselaar Fun, “Good stop, Eva!” His teammate had just tried to score and the goalkeeper had kept the ball out. It was a great stop. It deserved the attention. So Luk made sure that the encouragement was there. 

Throughout the day you could hear and see these kinds of things happening. People thanking one another, enocuraging one another. During the Pro games I saw players admit when they had kicked it out, rather than wait on the ref. In fact, once their was a bit of a dispute about whose ball it was. The ref said one thing, a player said something else. Finally the opposite player simply said, “No problem. Their ball.” And the game continued. 

This is what people who know Jesus have discovered. Complaining may have its place in life, but it can only get so much done. And it seldom changes people. Gratitude changes hearts and situations the it is real. It doesn’t have to be big or flashy. It doesn’t really have to be noticed by anyone, except the person to whom it is addressed. Gratitude admits that YOU are not the most important at that moment, that someone else was needed. Gratitude allows humility to be present and grow. The same thing happens when we use “please”. 

Amazing that these are things we could learn early on in our lives. But we can still learn them later in life as well. Please keep A in your prayers as he tried to put his second chance to good use and learns to change his world. 

Thank you so very much for your encouragement of us in our lives and for how you show the love of God where you are. Enjoy your day of Thanksgiving this week, and remember that it is possible to practice this every day, in any month of the year. 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Whodunit Wednesday - Soccer greats

In a little more than a month the World Cup will be held in Qatar. This is the World Cup of football (or soccer). Yes, it is being held in Qatar. That might help you understand why it is being held in the winter instead of the summer as usual. But, putting these discussions aside, most Europeans all have their eyes on these match-ups. Belgium and The Netherlands both have high hopes of going far. 

At the last World Cup (2018 in Russia) Belgium made it to 3rd place after having had a chance to go to the final. In 2014 it was The Netherlands in 3rd place, The Netherlands went to the final in 1974, 1978 and 2010 and were third place in 2014. Belgium have never made it to the final. But let’s be honest, these are small countries making it this far. 

When we talk football players, Dutch and Belgian names are often readily available and well-known. On the Belgian side, names like Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaud Courtois, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard are known around the world - in English, Spanish, French or Italian. On the Dutch side, the names of Memphis Depay, Virgil van Dyke and Frenkie De Jong are well known in football circles. Historically the Dutch are also well represented with Johan Cruyff being perhaps the best known. 

Even several current coaches are former well-known players. Philippe Clement is a well-known former Belgian player who now coaches AS Monaco. Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst won the Champions league with Barcelona and now coaches Rangers. 

On the women’s side, the United States has always been a force to be reckoned with. But along with them, the Dutch women have held their own in recent years. The Dutch women lost in 2019 to the US. In 2023 the Dutch will once again be one of the teams to watch. Names like Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal) and Lieke Martens (Barcelona) are well known. The Belgian ladies have been knocking on the door for the last few years, but still have a way to go.

For those who like and follow football, Belgium and The Netherlands have more than enough to offer. We will certainly be watching this winter (for the men) and next summer (for the women in Australia and New Zealand).

Give your best and be prepared to be surprised

A few weeks ago we went to Switzerland to fellowship – and play some football. I got to play with the Benelux amateur team – a group of young, enthousiastic kids and two adults. We (the adults) said – “Give your best” – and that is what these kids did. We didn’t win a single game (I don’t think we even scored). But we had fun and we were good for each other. To keep your eye on your goal is important – helping one another, giving your best, being kind to others along the way.

I was recently reading in Luke of when Jesus meets Peter. Peter didn’t expect anything to happen when Jesus told him to let the nets out. After all, he – Peter – was the professional. But Jesus makes it possible, when Peter thinks it is not possible. It reminded me that we try all sorts of ‘methods’ to reach people with the gospel. But it is the presence of Jesus that changes things. And we have no promise that people will listen. We are simply to be faithful in fishing. Give your best.

We had fun and we gave our best in Switserland. And I want to keep doing that each day. Tomorrow we will be welcoming Harding’s Chorus and singing at a special concert. We will give our best and be prepared to be surprised (is it possible to prepare for surprise?).

You can find pictures of our weekend on facebook (Football weekend thayngen) and here. After the concert I will have pictures up on Facebook and our picture site. Keep an eye out.

A part of the whole

Kinetic sculpture from Carl Zachmann

Last weekend was spent running around and sitting. The Copa Benelux, an indoor soccer tournament organized by the church in Ghent, brings members of the church and friends together to enjoy a day of sport in a christian atmosphere. It is a time to reconnect with members from congregations across Belgium and the Netherlands; there were players from Haarlem, The Hague, Eindhoven, Maastricht, Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels, Rotselaar and more.

This past week we visited Eindhoven for their monthly singing evening. This was a time to encourage one another, but also to talk about how best to use our time singing together. How do we help one another? How can we be better song leaders and singers? It was a challenging evening. We hope to share some more of these in the coming months. 

Both of these activities reminded me of how important the individual and the whole is. A soccer team doesn’t work when there is only one person playing. It has to be a team effort – each member of the team doing his or her part. Some are better at shooting a goal, but sometimes the defender pushes through to make or receive a pass and score. And sometimes the striker has to return to defend against an attack. It is a team effort. Those who do not play as a team, do not make it further.

Singing, as God has designed it for us in the church, is also a group effort. The whole point of our singing is only accomplished as a group. We are speaking to one another of the glory of God, encouraging one another to remain true and strong in the faith, sharing our feelings of struggle or joy or comfort. If we do not sing together, we do not accomplish what is possible through the Holy Spirit. And yet we each take part, individually, in this communal song.

We are individuals, created as unique beings, meant to be only part of a whole. We are indeed simply cogs in a machine – or better, as Paul states it in 1 Corinthians – body parts. We must be active as individuals, but we must not forget that our purpose is in the whole. That is when we truly work as a team. That is when we truly make harmony. 

We are so thankful for the opportunities God gives us not only to take part in these activities, but to be reminded of this wonderful truth of His working through us for His purpose. 

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 3:10-11

The tie that binds

There are all sorts of reasons to get together. The last weekend of April saw me in Switzerland with people from all over Europe. We were kicking around a ball in a gym and trying to make conversation in whatever language (or parts of) that we could muster. But Remco Dijkstra hit the nail on the head on Sunday morning when he pointed out that the real reason we were there was because we understood the value that God had given us.

We are so valuable to God that He was willing to leave everything and die for us. He was willing to die for people who didn’t even know Him and certainly did not want Him in their lives (at that time). And because He considered us so valuable, we consider each other to be so valuable. We drive hundreds of kilometers, put up with sleeping on a gym floor (or trying to sleep as well as one can through some super snoring) and sore muscles, struggle to make ourselves understood in various languages because we know that we are Family.

Some haven’t been added to the Family yet. It was exciting to hear a story of new life from one of the young men from Marseille. And it was great to see people praying for one another, taking care of one another even in competition. Because it is about how much we are worth, not how well we play (although it was awfully nice to see Geneva and Paris fight it out in the final). You can find more photo's by clicking on the photo above or going here. 

A weekend later and I was down at Ardennen Bijbelkamp where, once again, a wonderful patchwork of folks had gathered to get dirty and sweaty. This time everyone was from all around Belgium and the Netherlands and we were fixing up camp, getting things ready for the summer. But it was all for the same reason – we understand how valuable we are to God and therefore to one another. We are Family.

We got a whole lot done because everyone was willing to chip in wherever they could. The funds that were needed showed up, the people who showed up were needed in all sorts of jobs, and we all had a great time together. Mowing, weeding, cleaning, building, digging, cooking, assembling. Camp is from all of us (and many of you who also helped out with the funds and encouragement). There are more pictures of this work camp by others here and on Facebook. 

A weekend later and we were walking around Maastricht with Stephan’s in-laws - Natalie’s parents and sister - who took the time in their quick visit to Europe to check out Belgium and environs - and spend time with us! We enjoyed good food – Belgian chocolate, waffles and much more – and good conversation. We celebrated our life in Christ together on Sunday morning and friendships on Sunday evening.

In another week we will be in Minnesota and soon in various other places in the US. We will be visiting family and Family all over. It is so good to know and experience how valuable YOU are. We are so thankful for the love of the Father who has taught us what it is to truly love and be loved!

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.  Colossians 1:3-6

Every age, every tongue

God’s family is amazing! Even though I grew up in a military family - moving fairly often and living far away from aunts and uncles - family still always meant everyone together. Old (I considered my parents at that time ‘old’ although they were only mid-30’s) and everything in between. There was an age-range of 10 years between us all as kids as well. Family is the group together. I love seeing how family interacts and how this helps us grow.

Family is designed by God and is exactly what we need to help us grow in faith. So it is great to see activities that bring different age groups together to reinforce the idea of family. Both young and old have examples right before their eyes, both groups helping the other to stretch and grow. Young people get a vision of older people who are serious, loving and who can also interact with young people. They see how to live out faith in the lives of these ‘elders’. Older people are challenged by the energy and desire of youth to be active, see things in a new way, be daring and excited by the truth as it is discovered for the first time.

Every time we get the opportunity to share in intergenerational activities, we encourage everyone to take part. We also do our best to plan such activities. Recently we went to Switzerland for a weekend. It’s a six hour drive for us and we only stay about a day and a half, but it is well worth it. Church members from all over Europe gather, young and old, to play soccer and have fun as children of the Lord.

We take the time to get to know one another as best as possible, speaking several languages. We worship the Lord together in at least three languages, singing praises as I imagine it will be in heaven. And we play soccer, learning how to deal with frustration, play fair and be just, put things into perspective and give your all. We see young people jumping every language and cultural barrier to get to know one another. Older members try to be a good example in fair play. And all of us see that it is possible to live this life with Christ, having a great time. 

This past week I ran down to our Bible camp facility – shared and maintained by the various congregations in Belgium and the Netherlands, both Dutch-speaking and French-speaking – to help with one of the work weekends. 

Camp is another place where family gets together. Yes, we encourage one another in our summer

Photo thanks to Luk Brazle

sessions with Bible lessons and good teaching, placing an emphasis on our knowledge of Christ. We also have every opportunity to observe this knowledge in working as we shovel dirt, move rocks, try to explain how to get certain jobs done, put up with having to do the cleaning that no one will see, face tasks that are neither fun, nor glorious or easy and do all of this together. Young observes older and ‘old’ (do we ever really get old?) and their example. Old is encouraged by and observes the growth of young.

It is good to be together. It is challenging and encouraging to incorporate this unique design – intergenerational activities and learning. God calls it family. 

Check out some of the pictures at camp! 

For more pictures of the Swiss soccer tournament, check on facebook.

Every nation and language

This past weekend it happened again – we had a great weekend in four different languages! The church in Schaffhausen, Switzerland organizes a soccer tournament for churches who want to take part. This year Semiye Verheijen, Michaël Marx and Shirley and I went from Maastricht. Don’t worry, Shirley did not play. But we all enjoyed the fellowship enormously.

Imagine again (I know I have talked about this weekend before) – when we play a ten minute game, we are opponents. The ‘Pro’ teams are quite serious about winning (as are some of the ‘Fun’ teams). Our Belgium Pro team is made up of members and friends from all over Belgium. Everyone on the team puts his/her best foot forward. Even in the Fun games there is some serious play.

But Saturday evening we put the balls away, set out some mats on the gym floor (this is an indoor tournament) and we sing. And suddenly we are one. We sing in French, in German, in English, but we sing together to praise God and thank Him for His goodness. We may be from various different cities, different countries, different cultures, but we praise God together. We come before our King as one family. We join together in worshipping Him, because there is no other way to do it.

At the end of the singing, Luk Brazle reminded us that we not only have voices to praise our King, but bodies to worship Him as well. So we are encouraged, again, to be Christians, followers of the Way, who are playing soccer, not soccer players who are Christians. I love this emphasis and am so thankful that we have this kind of opportunity to show our young people (and plenty of not-so-young folks as well) how important and good it is to worship in all we do. It wasn't every nation and tongue yet, but it was a great taste!

Hope to have a link up soon to some of the pictures from this year, so check back soon. 

Now that's fellowship!

Thanks to Luk for the photo

Once again, members from the various congregations around Belgium and the Netherlands gathered for some fun fellowship. It is moments like these that thrill me about God's family. I learned long ago from my first mentor, Ron Carter, that Christians are the best one's to know how to really have fun. And the COPA Benelux is a good example. 

Usually the congregation in Maastricht brings a team as well - as a matter of fact, we have won the FUN cup twice (in the 4 years the competition has existed), but it's not about the winning (is it?). But this year we had several members not able to make it, so Scott and Michael sought a team that might need some extra players. We hooked up with the guys and gals from Brussels for their PRO team ... and look what happened! 

Not that our presence was that important to the win, but we sure had fun! And to be able to meet with brothers and sisters, having conversations in English, Dutch or French, making plans for other activities in the year, encouraging one another with struggles - it is a great time to be together. Luk Brazle's lesson on the body and finding our place was an encouragement for our spiritual lives. 

I am glad that Christians understand that something like this day is helpful, encouraging, beneficial and fun! I think of the years of camp in Colorado, California, Nebraska or Iowa, or of biking in the Tour de Togo in Minnesota (haven't made it yet, but I will), or so many other activities. Getting to know one another, encouraging each other, learning how to deal with winning and losing, showing non-Christian friends how to really have fun ... that is what a day like this is all about.

Football fun and fellowship

(photo by Kay Minne)

Last weekend a bunch of people got together to play some football (soccer for the Americans). Actually that’s not quite right – family from all over the Netherlands and Belgium got together to share some wonderful time of fellowship. Football happened to be the catalyst.

It is so important to know that we are family, to spend time getting in touch with one another again, to meet new members of our family. I am so thankful for activities like the Copa Benelux (organized by the guys over in Ghent) to do just that. The church in Belgium and the Netherlands strives to be a family, a close family. But that is because we have gotten to know one another, we pray for each other and we share our lives together.

So this last weekend we had fun, most of us. In Maastricht we definitely had fun – we took the “FUN” trophy home with us for the second time. But we also had some great conversations, talked about what was concerning us in our congregations, sang together to praise our Lord, and spent some time getting to know people we were acquainted with but didn’t yet know.

In Maastricht we understood very well that, trophy or not, we came home real winners.

By the way, my camera was lost at this tournament, but you can see some more pictures (from Luk Brazle and Kay Minne) by going here.

Keep the trash out

- thanks to Olga Zhigulina for the foto -

During our weekend of footbaal in Switzerland I was the goalie for "Holland Pro" (don't take the names too seriously). I didn't keep my goal completely clean. One or two got past me. But the only reason I was able to keep some out was because I wasn't alone. My teammates kept running back to defend, save, help.

It is so good to know in my life with Christ that I am not alone. My brothers and sisters are helping, running themselves ragged sometimes. And when they are standing in the goal, trying to keep the trash out, I am there for them as well. We are a team, a body. We dont work alone.

Champions of fun

Last Saturday was the inaugural "Copa BeNeLux" - a football (soccer) tournament for the churches in Belgium and the Netherlands. We got this idea from the Swiss churches last year. Thanks to Pieter Good, Luk Brazle and Dennis van Erp a local variant was organized. 

There were 10 teams from 6 different congregations and plenty of friends of members taking part. It was a great day! The teams were either "fun" or "pro" depending on how serious they wanted to be. In Maastricht we put together a fun team, decided which color to wear and headed out to just have some fun. 

It was great to see how our young people worked together. A lot was learned that day: keep going, even if you are afraid; perseverance will get you where you want to be; be fair and honest - it is the most fun. I was so proud of everyone!

And in the end, we were the "fun" champions!

(Thanks to Elisa van der Oest for the picture of team Maastricht ready to play)

Football for a weekend

Netherlands 2
Originally uploaded by sraabs.

This past weekend we took a group of almost 30 people to Thayngen, Switzerland to play football. Luk and I heard of this opportunity, organized by the church in Switzerland, while we were in Switzerland last year singing. We thought we might be able to get a few people from Belgium and the Netherlands interested. Turned out we were able to bring four teams!

This was a weekend of great moments. We had to drive all night Friday to get there, played all day Saturday and drove back on Sunday, but in between we had some great fun, built relationships with the youth in our churches, made new friends from all over Europe, practiced our French and German, worshiped God together, sang, shared good food and fellowship and were wonderfully blessed!

If you want to see some of the pictures you can click on this picture or you can go here (from Luk Brazle) or here (from Christian Goebbels) for more.