some lights are only made brighter
by putting them out
Steven James - Story, p. 169
Pics from Wadden islands to Schiphol Airport! (Click pics to enlarge)
(1) Juist (one of the German Wadden islands)
(2) Friesland
(3) Wolvega and Heerenveen
(4) Urk - this town used to be an island [see insert]
(5) IJsselmeer
(6) Flevoland
(7) Noord-Holland
(8) Zaandam
(9) Noordzee Canal and IJmuiden
(10) Rottepolderplein near Haarlem
(11) Hoofddorp - home sweet home!
(12) Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Departure from Helsinki Vantaa airport, Finland 
Some impressions from my visit to ISBM (International School for Bible and Missions) in Santala, Finland. I've made many pictures and I really enjoyed the hospitality and friendship from my Finnish brothers and sisters. More to follow... (click pic te enlarge)
I am now writing in the teacher's room of ISBM in Santala, Finland (near Hanko). Just returned from a prayer meeting and I am very encouraged! Finnish people are very sincere and calm. I couldn't understand what they were saying to our Lord in their language, but I trust God has no problems with it - even if we call out to Him from all corners of this world in all languages you can imagine! It's Pentecost all over again and I am enjoying it!
This morning I will share a Bible study about Revelations 1 - One Like a Son of Man. It is really a blessing to be able to do this. Preparing the study was a blessing in advance and now I can't wait to share this treasure with my Finnish brothers and sisters.
Yesterday we had a 'Holland' meeting in church. About 15 dedicated Christians were attending the presentation and they were very interested and asked good questions. This is a small Evangelical church, but the people have a big vision for the world. Every now and then they invite a foreigner to tell them about his or her country, so that they are well-informed if they pray for other parts of the world and the Kingdom. Isn't that a great example for us all? It is such a privilege to be part of the world-wide body of Christ. I love Jesus and I love his Church! Greetings from Finland and thanks for your prayers.
"Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One, I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades" Revelation 1:17-18
I will be in Finland for the next couple of days. I am invited by a church in Hanko in the far South of this great country to talk about what is going on in our little corner of the world, the Netherlands. Finland is 8x the size of my country, but our population is 3x the size of theirs! I would appreciate your prayers for me and my family!
Blessings, Paul
(click pic to enlarge)
He is no fool who gives that what he cannot keep to gain that what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" (Jesus in Luke 9:23-25)
I came across a website of a foreign student, living in the Netherlands. I really liked his collection of well-known Dutch proverbs (i.e. well-known in the Netherlands, but now also made available for the rest of the world!) Please try to make sense of these sayings and expressions yourself, if you need an explanation, please leave a comment and I will try to clarify the double Dutch for you. But remember - the greatest Dutch philosopher, Johan Cruyff, once said: "If I wanted you to understand, I would have explained it better."
Here are a few interesting proverbs that also give insight into the Dutch mentality; first, some that make sense to an American without explanation:
Keulen en Aken zijn niet op één dag gebouwd = Cologne and Aachen (Charlemagne's cathedrals) weren't built in a day.
Het beste paard struikelt wel eens = Even the best horse can stumble once.
In de kleinste potjes zit de beste zalf = Good things come in small packages.
Holle vaten klinken het hardst = Hollow pots make the most noise.
Er is altijd baas boven baas = Every boss has a boss.
Wie het kleine niet eert, is het grote niet weerd = He who doesn't value small gifts isn't worthy to receive large ones.
Komt tijd, komt raad = After some time (thinking) you will find a solution (to your problem)
Als de ene hand de andere wast, worden zij beide schoon = If one hand washes the other, they will both be clean.
Second, some that refer directly to the Dutch environment (i.e. water):
Je moet niet verder willen springen dan de polsstok lang is = Don't try to jump farther (over a ditch) than the length of your pole (don't let your reach exceed your grasp)
Praatjes vullen geen gaatjes = Talking doesn't fill any holes (e.g. in a dike)
De beste stuurlui staan aan wal = The best helmsmen are those standing on the wall (and watching)
Als er één schaap over de dam is, volgen er meer = Once one sheep crosses the dam, the others will follow.
Finally, some that are fairly unintelligible without explanation. I have given a literal translation but to understand them you have to learn Dutch.
Hoge bomen vangen veel wind = High trees catch much wind.
Je kunt nooit weten hoe een koe een haas vangt = You can never understand how a cow can catch a rabbit.
Een ezel stoot zich in 't gemeen geen twee maal aan dezelfde steen = A donkey doesn't trip twice on the same stone.
Wie een hond wil slaan, kan licht een stok vinden = He who wants to hit a dog can always find a stick.
De soep wordt nooit zo heet gegeten als ze wordt opgediend = The soup is never eaten as hot as it is served.
"You haven't taught anything until somebody has learned
something."
I want to be teachable so that I can become an effective parent, teacher and mentor.
Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.
I thought about the names for my Lord, like Redeemer, Saviour, Mediator, King of Kings, Alpha & Omega, Lamb of God, the Way, Truth and Life, Son of God, Prince of Peace, Messiah, Bread of Life... "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Matthew 16:15
My Lord is so much more than I can describe. We talked about what he means to us in a meeting of our church and asked each other: "But what about you? Who do you say Jesus is?" Everybody had other great names, descriptions and testimonies.
So... I think Jesus is like a shining diamond. Look at him from different perspectives and you will see new facets, discover new truths, new aspects of his grace. Jesus is brilliant! He is as strong and pure as a precious, shining stone - in him all treasures of wisdom and knowledge can be found. If only I could reflect a little bit of his awesome glory and breathtaking beauty! But a poor reflection - that's what I am.
"When I get to Heaven, I shall see three wonders there. The first wonder will be to see many there whom I did not expect to see; the second wonder will be to miss many people who I did expect to see; the third and greatest of all will be to find myself there." John Newton (writer of the popular hymne Amazing Grace)
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. Revelation 7:9
For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! Ezekiel 18:32
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
This is so true!
Some days when we get sick and tired of trying to be good enough to be acceptable to other people, fed up with trying to make sure people like us and accept us, God's grace just may slip inside our ears and whisper to our hearts: "You are already accepted. You are accepted. You’re accepted. And you will never, never be rejected." That, that is what is so amazing about grace. --Lewis Smedes (Thanks to Cori for sending me a link to this article!) 
It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. Ephesians 1:11-12
Tonight I enjoyed a concert in my hometown Hoofddorp. Terry Bozzio played with the Amsterdam Percussion Group and it was an impressive performance. Just have a look at this equipment and imagine what it must be like to have some fun with this drum set!
"Terry Bozzio won the audition to be in Frank Zappa's band when, after he played, all of the other drummers behind him in line left."
You feel secure, everything seems to be normal. Until, one bad day, the high waves arrive. Now, in the centre of a storm, you find out how vulnerable you really are. But at the same time you discover the importance of protection within the safety of the group. When the storm comes, you want to have some solid ground to stand upon.
Unfortunately some have left the group and made some wrong decisions because they panicked. Sometimes it is just a big disaster and there's just no possibility to be rescued. But those who stand together, make this choice because they know that they are not strong enough to make it entirely on their own. They make the right choices so that they can't become helpless victims of the wild waves and winds.
Huddled together, finding some protection against the cold, standing strong as one. Here you are, chilled to the marrow. The days are hard, but the nights are even harder. But what would this be like without those surrounding you? What would have happened if you had made some other choices or if you had left safety too soon?
What a relief - help is on its way! The group stayed close together and didn't panic, collectively they were able to resist the forces of nature. Be thankful for this safe spot, even if this little island of peace has been attacked continuously by the elements. Stay calm, wait patiently until the tide is turning and new possibilities appear. Wait until daylight comes and the raging storm calms down. Don't give up hope, keep the faith, just keep trusting.
Maybe you can't see a way out. You need some guidance, some good directions from someone who knows a way through the dangerous waters. You can survive in this crisis situation by staying together, but you can't stay on a little island for ever. You need to move on, sooner or later! Come on, join me! Don't be too proud or too stubborn to follow. Thank God for a safe place and for showing a way through the waves. No, don't be afraid, just follow! Walk through the water, be careful, avoid the deepest places and stay clear from the highest waves.
We need each other. We can't make it alone, because on our own we are completely lost. But staying on a little island with a small group is no option either. Of course, together with other victims you can live through this situation for a while, but there comes a time for following good advice, there comes a time for a leap of faith. Learn from your mistakes, listen to wise guidance and take the right time to leave your temporarily comfort zone. In this way you can reach the shore and finaly find safety!
This text was inspired by the news story about a group of horses that was trapped outside the dikes and isolated for some days on a little sand bank in a flooded area near Marrum, Friesland (the Netherlands). Some 20 horses drowned, but most of them survived and were rescued last Friday. © text (c) Paul Abspoel - Wednesday November 8, 2006.
"Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to be saying to us, 'I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying.' Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at the foot of the cross, that we shrink to our true size." -- John Stott source
I need to be reminded again and again that I am living this life of freedom because of Christ's grace. I didn't contribute anything to my salvation. I am not able to repay my Saviour for what He's done and there's no need for me to proof that I deserve his love. Because I don't. There's nothing that I could add to Christ's gift of grace, I can only accept his forgiveness and rejoice in the fact that I'm FREE!
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 18:14
Dear Father,
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