Singing with the family

On Saturday we had a full house in our building. It has been 5 years since we were able to host a singing with the various regional congregations: Cologne and folks in Aachen, Germany; the French-speakers in Liege, Belgium; and our brothers and sisters in Eindhoven. We also had our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.

In 2022 we were able to hold a singing workshop where we learned some of the songs which were written or put on video during the corona years. But this international gathering hasn’t been possible for some time. So we were looking forward to being able to see everyone again and share in raising our voices to the Lord. 

It was fun to have members in Maastricht who are also able to help on a day like this. Mario is a German (originally from East Germany) married to a Belgian, attending a Dutch congregation. And he loves to sing. So it was great that he was also able to teach one of the songs in German for the group there. And since we had a group from Cologne, it was great to hear this song sung heartily. Mario will also be helping to lead the singing next week at the Family Day. 

We also advertised this day in the neighborhood and were thrilled with a few visitors who came to share the day of song and international fellowship. It is not all that common for people to sing a capella, so this was already a challenge. But to come to an event where one doesn’t know anyone was quite courageous. We were thankful for these visitors and everyone who was able to attend. 

After singing we had plenty of time to fellowship as well, sharing stories and getting to know one another. Plans have already been made for next year when we (Shirley and I and some members from Maastricht) will go to sing in Cologne. How good it is to sing to the Lord and share the joy that He brings to our lives!

(Picture: Learning a new song in German)

Whodunit Wednesday: Joost Klein’s “Europapa”

Today is a holiday in Belgium, but not in the Netherlands. In Belgium `9and Germany) they celebrate May 1 as “Labor Day”. This is for these countries a day to celebrate workers and to enjoy the Spring weather, if it has come. The Netherlands doesn’t have this tradition, so in our area, the roads going into Maastricht are full of Belgian and German cars looking to shop (since the stores in Belgium and Germany are closed). Europe may have no internal borders, but various differences remain.

Around this same time (middel of May) the Eurovisie Songfestival shows up on tv and in the news. Most people can remember how ABBA became a household name and a mega group after winning this competition with the song “Waterloo” back in the 1970’s. It became so popular and the Europe ended up having so many more countries that the competition had to be split up and not every country gets to partake every year. 

This year the Dutch contribution is considered a real contender to win. Joost Klein sings in many languages about “Europapa”. That he sings in various languages is already unique. In some of the beginning years countries were required to present their song in their native language (otherwise there were too many languages in English). This rule was finally completely abolished in 1999. So now any country causing in whatever language they wish. Klein’s song is unique in that it uses many of the various languages of Europe, while poking fun at them as well. 

While many will hear the conglomeration of languages and images as a reference to Europe, the song is also about Klein’s father. So “Europapa” refers to his European “papa” or father. Klein lost his parents when he was young. If Klein wins with his song, the Netherlands will be the hosting country for the contest next year. This year the contest is being held in Sweden who has won the contest 7 times, as has Ireland. The winner from last year is the only female singer to have won twice (she also won in 2012). 

The contest has always been s how of extremes, including the costumes that are worn. Joost Klein will perform in a blue suit (the flag of Europe is blue with yellow stars) and will be flanked by two men - one dressed as a blue bird, the other as a yellow bird. 

Whensday: 1637 - The Statenvertaling

We of course use our Bible every day. We are extremely thankful not only that there are Bibles readily available (thanks to the invention of a printing press), but that we can read God’s word in so many languages. Just as in English, the Dutch language has many different translations. As a language changes, so the translation needs to keep step in order to be understandable by its readers. 

I remember coming to faith using an NIV English Bible. I am an English teacher by training, so reading the KJV (King James Version) later was not only possible, I enjoyed it and still do enjoy it. But I understand that many people would have a difficult time reading something from the 17th century - just as they might struggle with Shakespeare. The same is true for the Dutch translations. 

When I first came to the Netherlands, I learned my Dutch by reading a Gideon New Testament which had English on one side and Dutch on the other. This way I could figure out what I was reading, seeing and knowing it already in English. This translation was a fairly old version, as was the one I came to use the most - translated in 1951. But it was the version that has become my heart version. All of the texts I know from heart come from this version. 

But the original translation, the first official translation of the Bible from the original languages into Dutch, was completed in 1637 and so is very like the KJV. It was commissioned by the Staten Generaal - the States General of the Netherlands, which is the governing body (Senate and House of Representatives) of the Netherlands. The abbreviation used is SV. 

The NBG-1951 is the translation that I came to know the most. It is an official translation from the Dutch Bible Society (NBG), presented in 1951. In the 1970’s there was a modern language version presented called “Good News” and most recently there has been a NBV (New Bible Version). But those who loved the SV also wanted a linguistically updated version and brought the HSV or Revised Statenvertaling. 

As at all times I find it most important that people read their Bible. The words need to get into their hearts and minds. If someone has a different version (there are also two Catholic versions that many people would have if they have a Bible in house), then I am more than willing to help them read it. The most important thing is that they are reading and applying what they read in their lives. 

We also have various foreign language Bibles in our building, including one in Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and even in English. We have a regular visitor who is a Syrian refugee. She has her Bible on her phone (as so many do these days - and what a blessing that is), but we have a version for her if she needs it. 

What is your favorite translation of the Bible? When did you first start reading your Bible? 

The language of love

We are back in Belgium and are thankful for our own bed - although we are also thankful for having had the chance to be in so many other places and seeing so many people. We arrived Wednesday morning and tried to stay awake all day - to beat the jet-lag. It didn’t work. We crashed for an hour in the afternoon. 

But we were able to hang on in order to share the Bible study that evening online, which meant that we stayed up at least until 8 pm, making it almost a normal day. More importantly, we were able to share thoughts about some of the Psalms, which is what we have been studying on Wednesdays. This time it was Psalm 42 and 43, a song of the sons of Korah. Looking back on this weekend, this Psalm was a great preparation. 

On Saturday as many from the congregation in Maastricht as could went down to camp for a day together. We spent the morning looking at the ‘Bible that Jesus Read’ and then shared lunch together with some from the church in Liége and some young folks from Harding University (who also speak French). We sang together in Dutch, English and French. We stood and talked in various languages about many meaningful things, and we shared a walk up to the ‘Love Tree’. 

What hit me was how good it is to have any language to talk about God and His goodness. We had people speaking in French, English, Dutch and Russian. Our conversations were about how God has blessed us in the last time, about how we can reach out to those around us with this wonderful message of true life and eternal life. 

When we made it up to the ‘Love Tree’, it became clear that the idea of ‘love’ can be varied. The ‘Love Tree’ is a tree at the top of the mountain into which young people have carved their names (the tree behind the group in the picture). You know the sort of thing: M+C surrounded by a heart, perhaps with an arrow through it. I personally know that several of the initials are the same person, changing partners year after year. Is this love? 

The next day we were finally able to be back together with the family of believers in Maastricht to worship the King of kings, our gracious Father in heaven. We were reminded how good and important it is to remember that only in Christ do we have salvation. How important it is to remember that we can only be with Him if we listen to Him, disregarding all other sounds around us. 

These are words of love. God wants us to come to Him and He has made it possible for us to be with Him eternally - if we obey Him. If we try to do it on our own - like Korah in his rebellion - then we meet death and disappointment. But, just like the sons of Korah, we can be different and put our hope and trust completely in doing what God says, as He says it. 

Our songs on Saturday and Sunday, our conversations on both days (again in various languages), reminded us once again that it is GOOD to be in Him, no matter where we come from. But that we want to be IN HIM. If I am not telling someone how important it is and how good it is to be In Christ - perhaps because I am afraid that it might come across as not loving - then I have not understood love. 

The language of love is not transient, like the wounds made on that tree. The language of love is eternal and is willing to speak truth that is sometimes hard to hear - in any language. 

Have you thought about your identity? Are you in Christ? That is the only identity that matters and is only according to HIS will, not mine. We are thankful for those who spoke to us in love so that we could find grace and joy in Jesus. And we pray that we, along with those we work with, will continue to speak in love in every language we use. 

What does church look like?

“You can’t ‘go’ to church because you are the church!” I remember hearing this early on in my new life as a Christian. And it is so true. The family, the Christians, are the ecclesia, the church. In Dutch, the word for church - “gemeente” - is the same word used for the city government. Some might use the word “kerk”, but this refers more to a building. 

This past Sunday showed once again what it looks like to be the church. In Maastricht we try to make sure that we do things in Dutch. We are, after all, a Dutch-speaking group in a Dutch-speaking city. But we are much more than that. We have 6 Dutch-speaking couples and 7 Dutch-speaking singles. But that only tells a part of the story. Most of these couples are mixed in some way. There is an Ecuadorian wife, a German husband, Belgians, and two Americans (guess who). Among the singles, there is an Iranian, Armenian, and a Belgian. And this is just the group that speaks Dutch. 

You see, although we try to make sure that things are done in Dutch, we know that we have quite a group that does not speak Dutch. So we translate into English. We have one English-speaking family and 8 English-speaking singles. There are Americans, a Nigerian (who also speaks Russian), an Albanian, a Brazilian and four Ukrainians. Around this time of year some might start singing about partridges and pear trees. 

So what does church look like? On a Sunday people filter in (some with a cultural time adaptation - if you know what I mean) and those who are earlier will be greeting each other and already drinking some coffee. After the study, some others will grab their cup of coffee in the space that we leave between the study and the beginning of our worship time together. This is a time of more greeting, hugging and general hullaballoo. 

We worship, as I mentioned, mostly in Dutch. This means that most songs are in Dutch. But we have talked with the Ukrainians and found out which songs they also have in Ukrainian and Russian. This means that the song-leader can choose songs which they know. At that time you will hear singing in Dutch and a bit of Ukrainian at the same time. A few months back, we would also hear some Spanish when Deysi’s parents were visiting from Ecuador. 

The sermon and prayers are translated into English or from English into Dutch. Sermon outlines are available in Dutch and English. Sometimes you will hear some translating of a difficult point into Russian or Ukrainian. More importantly, when all is said and done, we all gather around the coffee and discuss the lessons and how God has been blessing us in whatever language makes things clear. There is a pleasant hum of discussion and sharing. 

One of our ladies takes the Lord’s Supper to one of our shut-ins. In the week we gather online for a Bible study. The ladies just returned from a week together. Some of the members get together in the week to help each other or just meet and talk. Our Nigerian will be moving, so others will help with a car and trailer. Our young Ukrainian couple is marrying in January, so we look at how to help them get settled in. Family stuff. On a Sunday or any other day of the week.

Yesterday we spent time together having Christmas fun. We played games with gifts (white elephants), ate goodies that everyone had prepared and brought, and had a good time together. This is what church looks like. Language doesn’t matter. Where you are from doesn’t matter. There are some challenges, but we can get through those because we are family, we are church - the body of Christ. 

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.  1 Corinthians 12:12-14

(If you do Instagram, you can find us there @gvc_maastricht)

Whensday - Holidays

Just in case you haven't noticed, I have changed the name of this day from "Once Upon a Time Wednesday" to a simple "Whensday". It is not a misspelling. It is just me trying to be cute. 

As mentioned before, Belgium has lots of holidays. A holiday technically is a holy day (you can see it in the word). Of course in Dutch it is something different. The word in Dutch means a feast day. Since Belgium is basically a Catholic country, it has all of the Catholic official holidays. This means double days of Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. 

In May I talked about this because the 2nd day of Pentecost was coming up. Looking back on the day, I am thrilled with how God has created family and brings us together. The group that met at the building in The Hague, Netherlands, was a mix of all different nationalities and languages. We thought as organizer that we were ready for all the permutations of translating, but we ended up doing things in English since  the Dutch speakers could understand that well. This meant only translating to Russian/Ukrainian from English. 

We took the day to discuss together how to find peace in troubled times. The small groups had some good conversations about what this meant to them personally and practically. In the afternoon we had a sort of interview and Q&A session where we were able to apply what we were hearing from the Word. 

In between this all we took time to sing together and the kids had some classes together as well. At lunch there was a good time of fellowship for all. Everyone had brought their own lunch and enough for others should that be needed. This was indeed a feast day, a holy day. We were thankful to be able to share the time with one another and to learn from one another. God is great. Our life in Jesus Christ is full of blessings, every day. 

Here are some more pictures of the day.

Growing together

Today, Monday June 6, is what we in The Netherlands and Belgium call the 2nd day of Pentecost. All of the Christian holidays have two days: Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. For years this day (or the 2nd day of Easter) has been the day to gather the churches together for a time of spiritual encouragement. We share lessons from the Word, sing songs and conversation together in The Hague, Netherlands. 

Pentecost was of course the beginning of the wonderful harvest that God was giving the world. It was during this Jewish feast that God decided to come with power to begin new life for the whole world. And it was on this day that we read about in Acts 2 that people from many different countries gathered and heard the message of truly good news. 

Of course at that time, all of those people were Jews. They came from all around the known world, but they were Jewish. Still, God showed that He was meant to be shared with everyone. That morning the apostles were speaking of the mighty works of God in various languages. 

Today we will gather to share time with one another. We will talk about finding peace in troubled times. And as we were planning on Saturday, we struggled the most with translation. We will have Dutch speakers, English speakers and Ukrainian speakers. The Ukrainians have to translate from English, since they don’t understand Dutch. But the lessons are in Dutch. 

There will be a time of questions. These might come in Ukrainian and will need to be translated to English and then to Dutch. The singing will be in Dutch and English, but many of the songs will be ones the Ukrainians know and which they can find on their phones to sing along. 

It doesn’t matter. Today we will be together. Today we will glorify God together and share the truly good news with one another and all present - even some online. The fields are still ripe unto harvest, even in difficult times. We are thankful to be able to struggle in this wonderful way together. 

La La La and Who’s who?

One year ends, another begins, and life keeps moving on. We might have to learn how to make our fingers write (or type) that new number, but a lot of what we do remains the same. Our desire and task is to live daily in the will of God – especially in the little things.

A lot of what we are doing has to do with language, singing and relationships. At the end of 2016 we were invited by the congregation in Eindhoven to come for their monthly singing and help out with learning new songs. So now we get to meet with Christians from Liége, Maastricht and (soon) Hasselt on the first Wednesday of each month and then again with the members from Eindhoven on the third Wednesday. Learning new songs, enjoying singing together and encouraging one another is an amazing blessing for which we are so thankful.

We are also looking forward to Harding Chorus travelling in Europe. Besides hitting Germany France and the UK they will stop by Maastricht for two days and a concert. We have put together a program with local choirs as well as with the group Scott leads, called LAUS. We hope to not only touch hearts with the songs we sing and through the hearts of the singers, but also to let the neighborhood better know who we are as followers of Jesus. Think about us in your prayer time working up to May 16 and thereafter as well.

Multiple languages is simply a reality in Europe, and as more people arrive from various areas of the world looking for a safe place to live, we want to make the most of this opportunity to let people know who Jesus is. Last year we helped translate a basic book from Let’s Start Talking designed for beginning speakers. The plan was to use these with refugees.

Although we have not been able to begin this yet in Maastricht, in Eindhoven they have a group of refugees as well as a group of internationals looking to learn Dutch better. This means that we are looking at how best to get the normal FriendSpeak materials in Dutch as well. In Maastricht we are watching closely and praying about how best we can do this here. Would you pray with and for us?

Prayer is such a strength. It is in prayer that our relationships become clear. Every Wednsday morning at 7am Jan C. and Scott are together to pray for one another, fo r families, the church, the world and so much more. Brothers and sisters in Long Beach and Woodbury continue to encourage us as well as we take time together praying. What a blessing to know that we are a family and that God is in control. God’s design is glorious!

So we continue with our weekly activities. We meet five times a week with various groups to see what God is telling us in His word. Some of these are Christians and we are encouraging one another to live for Him. Others are those who are seeking God, but don’t always know where to look for what He really desires. Still others are simply trying to figure out how to get along in the relationships they have. We want to keep trying to be an example and a guide in these relationships.

As we look forward to the rest of 2017, we are excited about how God will use us. We just finished looking at 2016 at Ardennen Bible Camp and were excited by how much camp is being used not only for our summer activities, but also throughout the year by various congregations. We were thrilled recently by the news from our brothers and sisters in Long Beach who shared a gracious gift of $6000 to help make a needed renovation of our kitchen possible! This year we are planned to help out with at least two weeks of camp in the summer.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

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.