Less blogging - more time with the family

Try this for a good start of the working week...
(Click on this image if you want to read more)

I've been blogging less recently. There are plenty of things going on that are worth telling you about, but I have to cut back my time behind the pc. My body is giving me some signs that I have to pay more attention to my physical condition and less to the virtual world of the blogosphere.

We had some wonderful days with the family recently, but we miss my dad ('Opa Bob' for our kids) terribly - especially during these 'happy' days in December. We know that he is in a perfect place right now and that he is celebrating for ever - but we miss him so much down here!

On my birthday (12.12) I've been to prison. Not because I did something wrong, but because I was involved in something good. Every year we publish a special prison diary that is distributed freely among all inmates in the Netherlands. The 2006 edition (19th edition; 32 000 copies) was presented in the prison of Breda and I was impressed by all the testimonies and reactions from the prisoners. Maybe you think that nobody needs a diary in prison, but several inmates told me that this little diary with a Bible reading plan, quotations, poetry and drawings is very important to them. It was quite an experience to be inside a prison (this was my second experience; I also attended the presentation of a special prison Bible edition earlier this year in the Amsterdam prison). Please pray for the people in prison. Most of them deserve to be there and they know it - but still, it is a lonely and sad place to be, especially this month. Jesus told us to visit prisoners and I am sure He meant business. Please don't forget these words:

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. (Matthew 25)

Watch this video and/or this video about the presentation of the prison diary 2006 (both are in Dutch, but you'll get the picture...)

Now bring on the Argentines!

The BBC writes: 'There is a mouth-watering confrontation between two of the favourites Holland and Argentina in Group C'. Yes, this is quite a game and the Dutch have a nice opportunity to show what they're worth in the toughest looking group with other strong teams from Ivory Coast and Serbia Montenegro. I am especialy looking forward to the match against Argentina, a well respected football nation with great skills. But I am sure that Dutch coach Marco van Basten will be well-prepared. And with players such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt, Roy Makaay, Ryan Babel, Nigel de Jong (to name just a few) and goal keeper Edwin van der Sar the Dutch national team is ready to take on any team. So bring on the Argentines!

Group A: Germany, Costa Rica, Poland, Ecuador
Group B: England, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Sweden
Group C: Argentina, Côte d'Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro, Netherlands
Group D: Mexico, Iran, Angola, Portugal
Group E: Italy, Ghana, United States, Czech Republic
Group F: Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan
Group G: France, Switzerland, Korea Republic, Togo
Group H: Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia
Note: The countries in the orange colour all have Dutch coaches - so 'we' have a good chance to reach the finals one way or the other!

Offer compassionate care and demonstrate God's love

With 40 million people infected with HIV/AIDS around the world and more than 14 million children orphaned due to HIV/AIDS, we can't afford to wait until we know all the perfect solutions before we begin to offer compassionate care and demonstrate God's love. Acts of Mercy

God's Golden Acre - Heather Reynolds with Dale le Vack

“The boy was lying on a mat in the hut. He had probably less than a day to live. I finally broke the silence. ‘God, from this day on I will help every child in need, every child that needs a home, every child that crosses my path.’”

Heather’s sanctuary in South Africa, known as “God’s Golden Acre”, is the outcome of that promise. In KwaZulu Natal Heather and her sculptor husband Patrick have established a community for orphans, where nearly 100 children find sanctuary from abuse, poverty, and starvation.

The sick can die with dignity. Teams of volunteers risk danger distributing basic food supplies to the many scattered families, most headed by a granny or teenage girl. Each day they rub shoulders with death. 36% of the local people are infected with AIDS – the highest percentage of any area in Africa. For many dying mothers, Heather is the last hope for their children.

In the early years, Heather and Patrick dedicated their entire savings to the orphans and fighting the AIDS pandemic. They faced financial ruin, white and black prejudice, indifference, cruelty and a bureaucracy overwhelmed by need. Often there wasn’t enough to eat. Yet time and again, through a series of miracles, and Heather’s resolute faith, donors stepped in, touched and challenged by the spirit of awethu – the Zulu word for “Our Mother”.

Where did such courage and vision come from? Read Heather’s own astonishing story!

Monarch Books

God's Golden Acre

World AIDS Day

Christenen tegen AIDS (Dutch)