Last post on this blog

I am using the new Bloger beta edition from now on. Click on the pic and you will be re-directed to my new blog! Please update your blogroll and links if you are referring to my blog. Thanks for visiting. All comments are closed now. Visit my Dutch blog if you want to know what I am doing now.

Some holiday impressions from Tuscany, Italy!

Because a picture says more than a thousand words... (click to enlarge)

Top down:
1. Piazza in Lucca, Tuscany. This city square has been built on the foundations of an ancient Roman amphitheatre.
2. Collage of doors. Some of these Italian doors really need a fresh paint... but I like them just the way they are...
3. The beautiful towers of San Giminano.
4. Just to give you an impression of the lovely Tuscany scenery.
5-6. Of course we also went to Florence and Siena!
7-9. Lydia, Cherique and Maaike (my wife and two of our nieces with cool sunglasses)

Robin, Sosha and Pascalle in Italy

Top down: Robin (14), Sosha (12) and Pascalle (9)

Taking a break...

Downward spiral or upward allegiance?

I wanted to write something about the current violence in the Middle East, but where to begin? I do understand that Israel needs to protect its borders, but personally I think that their military actions in Lebanon are a) disproportional and b) counterproductive (i.e. making more innocent victims, killing more soldiers on all sides of this conflict and causing more hatred everywhere in the region). However, it is very easy for me to judge such a complex conflict – sitting in my lazy chair in Holland. The situation is just too complicated for easy answers and even the brightest diplomats seem to have no solutions. I just feel so sorry for all the men, women and children in Israel and Lebanon and I can only pray for peace.

Talking about violence, war and peace issues… I just visited Scot McKnight’s Jesus Creed blog and was intrigued by this thought-provoking question he is posing:

Had the Apostle Paul lived to see the war of Rome with Israel in 66-73 AD, what would he have done? Here are some considerations:

I ask this consideration: Paul was not a soldier, but let’s put him either in that position or in the position, which is far more likely, to have been advising new Roman citizen Christians or Christians living in the Land of Israel.
1. Would he have fought on Rome’s side against Israel? (Citizenship duty.)
2. Would he have fought on Israel’s side against Rome? (Faith over citizenship.)
3. Would he have chosen not to fight because he was torn between two nations? (Pragmatics.)
4. Would he have chosen not to fight because he thought Christians should be concerned with the kingdom of God and the preaching and living out of the gospel? (Some kind of Christian pacifism.)

Personally my answer would be: 4. Paul was a Jew born in a Hellenistic environment (Turkey), but he also happened to be a Roman citizen. Yes, in many ways he was truly a man ‘of this world’ and I think these qualifications helped him to bring the Gospel throughout the Mediterranean area. But Paul only claimed these religious, cultural and national ‘identities’ if this turned out to be useful for the progress of the Gospel. Paul was first and foremost fighting a spiritual battle and I personally believe that he would always try to avoid physical violence. That certainly doesn’t mean that Paul was a coward, because physically he suffered enormously due to his courageous proclamation of the Good News (just read these words from 2 Corinthians 11:23-30).

There are already many interesting comments on Scot’s posting and I didn’t feel that I needed to add one more of my own. I fully agree with a comment posted by Kenny Chee - “I think Paul was a man consumed with a passion to preach the Gospel in regions where Christ is yet unknown. He would choose option 4, and be focused and faithful to the heavenly call and upward allegiance. As to what he would advise Christians on both sides of the conflict, he would probably ask them to follow their conscience and seek what would lead to peace of all men, something the leaders of both sides of the present conflict in Lebanon would do well to heed.”

No arms, no legs, no worries!

Twenty-three years ago his parents had planted a church in Australia. Six months later his mother delivered him. "The last two words on my parents' minds was 'Praise God.'"

Doctors had no explanation. His birth was considered a tragedy. The whole church mourned. No one could see any good coming out of a boy being born with no arms or legs.
As he grew up, he alternately doubted God existed – questioning what sort of a God would do such a nasty thing – or he was angry at God for the same reason.
He remembers reading a Biblical verse in Sunday school which purported that he was created in the image of God. "And I'm like, 'Yeah, riiight."
When he was 10, when the teasing was unbearable, he wished he was dead. He fantasized about asking his parents to put him on a kitchen stool -- and then he could "fall" off and, he hoped, break his neck.
When he couldn't bring himself to end it all, he begged God to let him grow arms and legs -- for God's benefit, of course. (A modern-day miracle! Think of how many people you could convert!)
It never happened. But he began to realize that maybe he didn't need to grow arms and legs for his life to mean something. Maybe his accomplishments were enough of a miracle.
He can walk/hop almost anywhere (including up steps), using his only foot. And he can type with his only two toes (43 words a minute, thank you very much). He is brave enough to plunge into pools, trusting he will bob to the surface where he paddles around on his back using his foot as a paddle. And he writes, gets dressed and opens doors with his mouth.
He began to realize he was impressive, if not downright inspirational.
At 15, Nick officially thanked God that he was alive. At 17, he gave his first talk to a prayer group. The requests to speak snowballed. And now, at 23, that's all he does. His nonprofit is called Life Without Limbs.

"It turns out having no arms and legs has gotten me into some doors I would not have been able to walk through."

Read the entire news article about Nick here - also have a look at the amazing video on that website (it only works if you have Flash). And here you can read all about this amazing man: Nick Vujicic's website

Question: Do you believe God is able to use you and me - despite our so called 'problems' and 'shortcomings' ?

The Chinese church is experiencing persecution and exponential growth

In China we are probably seeing the biggest revival in world history...

“Despite on-going persecution, the Chinese church is experiencing exponential growth. China is probably experiencing the biggest revival in World history and Tony Lambert, former British diplomat to Beijing and Tokyo, explains why. A gripping collection of stories, photographs, facts and maps, this comprehensive guide will help you see the triumph as well as the cost of the Chinese revival.”

Please have a look at this site and make sure that you find out what is going on in (the church of) China right now! As a Publisher at Ark Boeken Amsterdam I have been working on the Dutch edition of this book that will be published in September. Dutch title: China voor Christus (China for Christ) (published in close co-operation with OMF International).

In 2008 Beijing will host the Olympic Games and of course the Chinese government will try to make a good impression on the world. China has many reasons to be a proud country... but there are also things to be very ashamed of. Just some cases that need to be exposed:--------- -

• Zhao Yu who was a New York Times correspondent and is now imprisoned in China, and may not receive a fair trial.
• Chen Guangcheng who is a blind rights activist and was detained Sept. 6th, 2005 for exposing violence against women in the name of family planning policies. His wife and mother were also kidnapped and their locations are still unknown.
• Wu Hao was in the processes of making a documentary in China about the persecuted church and was thrown in jail for it. He was just released on July 11, 2006.
• Jiang Zongxiu, who was martyred by beaten to death for carrying scripture. Her family has not seen any justice as her remains are still in the hands of the government and her abusers are still free.
• Pastor Cai Zhuohua who is in Chinese prison today for being accused of printing Bibles. Pastor Cai’s wife is also in prison while their 5 year old son is living with grandparents.
• Pastor Zhang Rongliang was sentenced to 7 and a half years imprisonment on July 4, 2006 after he was arrested on December 1, 2004 for his leadership in the House Church movement.
  
  PrisonerAlert.com recently stated, “Religious persecution by the government appears to be increasing as the Olympics are approaching.” Source

Please also visit Persecution Blog from Voice of the Martyrs

Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament

"I vividly remember the first time I seriously confronted Isaiah 53, or better still, the first time it seriously confronted me, " Barry explains. "Being rather confused over the identity of the Servant in Isaiah 53, I went to my local rabbi and said to him, "Rabbi, I have met some people at school who claim that the so-called Servant in Isaiah 53 is none other than Jesus of Nazareth. But I would like to know from you, who is this Servant in Isaiah 53?"

Barry was astonished at his response. The rabbi said: "Barry, I must admit that as I read Isaiah 53 it does seem to be talking about Jesus, but since we Jews do not believe in Jesus, it can't be speaking about Jesus."

Barry didn't know a lot about formal logic at that point, but he knew enough to say to himself, "That just doesn't sound kosher to me! Not only does the rabbi's so-called reasoning sound circular, it also sounds evasive and even fearful." Today Barry observes, "There are none who are as deaf as those who do not want to hear." (From: Geisler & Turek - I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, p. 332).

Barry Leventhal is the Academic Dean at Southern Evangelical Seminary where he has taught since 1997. The grandson of Orthodox Jews who immigrated from Russia and Hungary, he was raised in a Conservative Jewish home in Southern California. As a student at UCLA, Barry was co-captain of the 1965 UCLA Football Team, which won the Rose Bowl in January 1966. Also active in the band, he was graduated as a Blue Key Honor Graduate. Most significantly, however, as a senior, Barry came to faith in Jesus as his personal Lord, Messiah, and Savior through the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.
Source: Pasche Institute of Jewish Studies

What goes up... and "the laws of the heavens"

"Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done."* Sir Isaac Newton

"Truth is discovered, not invented. It exists independent of anyone's knowledge of it. Gravity existed prior to Newton." Norman L. Geisler & Frank Turek
I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

* I've nicked this from Matt Tullos (please check out his blog) who in turn borrowed it from Sir Isaac Newton. Of course we all need to give credit to our Creator - because He is truly original!

"Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?" Please read this entire Chapter from the book of Job in the Bible...

Listen to Sean!

Sean Dietrich left this comment on my blog some time ago...

Hey, I really enjoy your blog! Thanks for your honest heart and truthfulness, it is refreshing to hear someone be real. Its cool to read about real people who serve Jesus. I am a musician, and I would be honored if you would check out my music. All music on my site is free for download. Anyway, don't want to be a pest, I just thought that I'd share. Thanks,-Sean

I appreciate it when people from all over the world respond to my thoughts and writings, so I checked out Sean's website to find out more about him. I listened to his music and I really liked his voice and lyrics. His style reminded me of Keith Green - especially when I listened to Sean's song Just Plain Nuts After reading these words from Sean's bio, it was clear that Keith Green indeed is one of his musical heroes...

I've played the piano since I was 9, guitar since I was 12, and been singing since I can remember. I am self-taught on all instruments.

My father committed suicide when I was 12, so I used music as an escape from the hurt that accompanied me. Many times I would play the piano for 8 hours a day in solitude.

I met the Lord working on the beach one summer as a beach attendant/life-guard. The Father simply revealed himself to me one day in a personal way that I will never forget. I repented of my sins and he changed me completely.

Within the very first week that I decided to follow Jesus, I discovered some music by an artist named Keith Green. His music was very instrumental in my life, always challenging me with such honest lyrics. Inspired by such honest and challenging music, I immediately began writing songs about following Jesus. Music is something I love, especially if it is helping people by pointing them to Jesus.

Isn't that a great testimony? I just want to praise God for people like Sean and I also praise my Creator for being such a loving Father to the fatherless. Check out Sean's site and download his music FOR FREE! (Yes, I am Dutch).

Some other blogs that I recommend

On the right hand side of this weblog you can find a list of blogs that I recommend. Here are two 'new' blogs that I added to my blogroll:

Bagamoyo by Daniel de Wolf from Rotterdam, the Netherlands (only in Dutch, sorry...)
Cori'Blog (Cori lives in Pretoria, South Africa)

I just want to share this poem from Cori with you. I've copied only the first lines, so you have to visit her blog if you want to read the complete poem. I was really moved by it.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

You Are Mine

In this weary land
there is so little hope
In this wilderness of abandonment
where one tired step after another
only imprint again and again aloneness
in the vast multitude of humanity

The RAGE
It holds all the inward parts of me tightly
in a hard grip at the core of my being
so tight I…can…hardly…breathe
The RAGE
Of Betrayal
Nobody told me, warned me, prepared me.
My world: a light place, a happy place
The world: a cruel place, a hateful place
I played with my dolls while she was played with.

Read Cori's complete poem here

Thanks for dropping by, everybody!

Apathic ignorance

We sometimes ask our students, "What's the greatest problem in America today? Is it ignorance or is it apathy?" One time a student answered: "I don't know, and I don't care!"

Norman Geisler & Frank Turek - I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, p. 66

One Solitary Life

Let us turn now to the story. A child is born in an obscure village. He is brought up in another obscure village. He works in a carpenter shop until he is thirty, and then for three brief years is an itinerant preacher, proclaiming a message and living a life. He never writes a book. He never holds an office. He never raises an army. He never has a family of his own. He never owns a home. He never goes to college. He never travels two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He gathers a little group of friends about him and teaches them his way of life. While still a young man, the tide of popular feeling turns against him. One denies him; another betrays him. He is turned over to his enemies. He goes through the mockery of a trial; he is nailed to a cross between two thieves, and when dead is laid in a borrowed grave by the kindness of a friend.
Those are the facts of his human life. He rises from the dead. Today we look back across nineteen hundred years and ask, What kind of trail has he left across the centuries? When we try to sum up his influence, all the armies that ever marched, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned are absolutely picayune in their influence on mankind compared with that of this one solitary life…

This is the original essay by Dr James Allan Francis in “The Real Jesus and Other Sermons” © 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia (pp 123-124 titled “Arise Sir Knight!”). Graham Pockett

Yet I Will Praise You

I just love this song...
You can listen here (MP3).
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I will praise you, Lord my God
Even in my brokeness
I will praise you Lord
I will praise you, Lord my God
Even in my desperation
I will praise you Lord

And I can't understand
All that you allow
I just can't see the reason
but my life is in your hands
and though I cannot see you
I choose to trust you

Even when my heart is torn
I will trust you Lord
Even when I feel deserted
I will trust you Lord
Even in the darkest valley
I will trust you Lord
and when it seems all hope is gone
yet I will praise you Lord

I will trust you Lord my God
Even in my loneliness
I will trust you Lord
And I will not forget
that you hung on a cross
Lord you bled and died for me
and if I have to suffer
I know that you've been there
and I know that you're here now

W&M by Andy Park/© 1999 Vineyard Music Canada

Hopeless cases

Some time ago I did an interview with Tony Anthony (read more about him in recent postings). Tony has an incredible testimony to share. He is a former World Champion Kung Fu (three times), he used to be a top bodyguard - but he also became a murderer, a thief and a convicted criminal... His life completely changed when he came to know the Master Carpenter who is able to restore everything and who will make all things new!

I asked Tony: 'Do you believe that there are any hopeless cases?' I expected him to say, 'No, look at me - I was so far away from God, but still He was able to save me!' But this was not his answer. Instead Tony said something that really humbled me and made me think. 'We are all hopeless cases. Without Christ we are all completely lost,' Tony answered...

Yes, this is something to ponder upon... And it is also a message of hope: God's arms can reach you, even if you feel that you are too far away from him to be rescued. He is only a prayer away - just call upon the name of Jesus and He will be there for you.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

...and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations... Luke 24:47 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Acts 10:43 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Rom. 8:1,2 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 1 John 2:12

Is that good news or what!?

Yes, Lord Jesus - I really am a hopeless case without you. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for being my friend! I just can't be silent about this. Please Lord, help me to share the good news of forgiveness of sins with as many people as possible. Amen

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What a friend I've found

Closer than a brother

I have felt your touch

More intimate than lovers

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Jesus, Jesus

Jesus, friend forever

What a hope I've found

More faithful than a mother

It would break my heart

To ever lose each other

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Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, friend forever

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Written by Martin Smith ©1996 Curious? Music UK

Open your eyes

"Would it not be strange if a universe without a purpose accidentally created humans who are so obsessed with purpose?" - John Templeton

After reading this, I just had to think about the following Bible texts... If you are seriously searching for answers, please try to discover God's truth in the Bible. Read with an open mind and ask God to open your eyes and your heart as well!

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Rom. 1:20-21

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Cor. 4:18

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Heb. 11:3

* Thanks to Joshua for sharing this thought-provoking quote from John Templeton with me!

More committed women like Ruth, more kind redeemers like Boaz!

Ruth said to Naomi, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled."


Interested? Feel free to read my weekly Monday Boosters devotional prayer here...

Eternity is a very long time to be wrong ...

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Ps. 16:11

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Ps. 139:24

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Eccl. 3:11

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28

I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. John 6:47

At least give it some thought! Find out more here and here or drop me a line.

More News about Tony Anthony's recent visit to the Netherlands

The tour with Tony Anthony is over... and what an exciting experience it was! Since my last update we've been visiting the city of Rotterdam, where Tony gave his testimony in Evangelical Centre Europoort - a multicultural Pentecostal church where we also enjoyed the great Caribbean praise and worship music, gospel, rap and break dancing. Yes, this is Church 2006! The music, the audience, people we've met - it was just great!! It was also nice to meet Hans (a.k.a. Supergans - see his comment on my last posting) - and Eddy and his wife Debby who asked us to come to their church. (If you want to know more about Eddy Boevink, just watch this TV documentary - sorry only in Dutch... Eddy used to be a heroin addict - he is a walking, talking testimony of God's changing power!)

Unfortunately we couldn't stay at this church, because we had a next appointment in prison 'De IJssel' (Krimpen aan den IJssel). This was our first visit to a Dutch prison together and it was an impressive experience. I've been visiting prisons before, but this time it was quite different... having a guy like Tony with me!

Tony--a former three times world champion Kung Fu, top body guard and ex-prisoner now working as a full time Evangelist-- brings a radical message and of course I was wondering how the Roman Catholic priest, a very friendly man, would react. He gave Tony the opportunity to tell his story to the prisoners and every one of them received a free copy of Tony's award wining autobiography Taming the Tiger. (Dutch title: Getemde tijger). Several inmates responded to Tony's invitation to a) be willing to turn away from everything that is wrong in their lives and b) surrender to Jesus Christ (accept Him as God and Saviour). All reactions were very positive.

In the evening we visited Thug's Church, a Youth for Christ initiative in one of the more problematic neighbourhoods of Rotterdam (Millinxbuurt). A nice guy, his name is Daniel de Wolf (pic left), is doing some impressive work as a modern day's urban missionary among the unchurched. Also in this meeting several visitors decided to turn away from bad things and accept Christ as their Saviour! Hopefully this will prevent some of them from ending up in prison too... I pray that the Lord will bless Daniel and his friends!

On Monday morning we went to prison again, this time to Boschpoort Breda (so called 'koepelgevangenis' - see pic below). We arrived very late, due to traffic jams... and I was tired and stressed-up. Tony's radical presentation of the Gospel was well-received by the inmates. They asked great questions, looked very interested and some of them decided to respond to Tony's invitation by raising a hand while praying. I think these guys are very courageous, because in a place like this it is very hard to be vulnerable or to show emotions. I had friendly discussions with some prison volunteers and inmates. I also talked and prayed with the prison ministers (some of them clearly couldn't relate to Tony's radical way of presenting the Gospel - but all of them were really very nice and caring...)
I was exhausted by lack of sleep and an overdoses of stress... and everybody tried to help and encourage me. One guy, a volunteer, kindly offered to drive us back to Hoofddorp in my car. I called this young man (his name is David), an angel of God. This was the second time that somebody spontaneously offered to help us in this way, last Saturday a brother from our church, his name is Hans, brought us to Drachten and Gouda in his Renault Espace... this was a VIP treatment and I am sure God will bless these guys for helping us in this practical way!! It is truly amazing to see how God is providing. He really showed us His fatherly love, protected us and encouraged us when we really needed it!
All in all I can only say that the meeting in Breda went very well. I highly appreciate all the good work that is being done by prison ministers. I guess some of them are actually social workers - they don't share the Gospel like Tony did - in such an explicit, radical way. But they are truly representing God by showing love to broken people and by listening to their stories! But I have to say that I am afraid that only love and care will ultimately be insufficient to change sinfull lives. In order to radically change your life, you first have to ask God for forgiveness. I am personally convinced that there is no alternative route - you need to bow down at the cross of Christ! (see here and here!) This message has always been radical and provocative, but I don't know what else could change lives in such a dramatic way. Tony is living proof of this, there's no denying.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God
for the salvation of everyone who believes!
Romans 1:16

In the afternoon we had a special meeting with sex offenders in the same prison. I can assure you: these people are the same as you and I, but they have made some terrible mistakes / done some horrible crimes. The same thing can be said about 'normal' criminals, but the sex offenders are marginalised by society and by the other inmates. I talked and prayed with one of them and I was moved by his honesty, openness and vulnerability. Please pray for these guys. They are hard to forgive, but still God asks us to do so... We did the crime, Jesus did the time!
In the evening Tony had diner with Bart & Cateleijn Schenk - a young couple from Ede that has volunteered to help us with starting a department of Avanti Ministries in the Netherlands! Tony was also interviewed by EO Visie (TV magazine), while I took some rest at home. Later that night, Wigle Tamboer, our pastor from De Meerkerk, visited us at my place to listen to our stories, encourage us and pray with us. Praise and thanks be to God for his good shepherds!

On Tuesday we had a great breakfast meeting with church leaders in Hoog Brabant, Utrecht. Tony explained his vision for an ongoing evangelisation campaign in the Netherlands. I trust that this meeting with 13 people is the kick-off of something really special. Please pray!

On the same day we also had a completely different meeting within prison walls. This time we were invited in Amsterdam's so called Grenshospitium. This is a special prison for foreigners with visa problems - there only crime is that they left their home and families to find a better life / some safety. Who can blame them? I really feel sorry for these people, they don't deserve to be behind bars! The cynical thing is: their 'house' is build on 'no man's land' between a luxurious golf court and some ugly fast food restaurants. It is sickening! The rich people from the Netherlands are filling their stomachs with too much food and too much fat and some of them are having a good time hitting little white balls on beautiful green lawns. Who cares about refugees and prisoners!? It is an outcry, a national shame!!

I was touched by the reactions of the hospitium guests, the friendly imam and the prison minister. Most prisoners are from African countries and they all speak English. During Tony's testimony I constantly heard them whisper: 'Amen!', 'praise God' and 'hallelujah'. One of them thanked us for the visit on behalf of this special group of people. The pastor also reacted in a touching way by singing 'Were you there when they crucified my Lord' - after Tony finished his story. All guests joined in - it was a moment I will never forget!
I talked for a while with Freeman (!) a young man from Liberia. He is a Pentecostal Christian and - even though he is in prison now - he truly is a free man on the inside! Please pray that God will help him and that he will be released from prison soon. Please also pray for all the other, anonymous prisoners.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Our last meeting was in Ede at Christengemeente Adelaarsnest. This was like playing a 'home game', everybody was very positive and again several men and women decided to surrender to Christ. On Wednesday I brought Tony to Schiphol Airport. Now I am very tired, but I am truly thankful for this special experience. Please pray for Tony, for his wife Sara and their two boys Ethan and Jacob. Please also pray for all the teenagers, the street youth, the prisoners, the refugees and all other special people we've met over the last couple of days. I trust that God will bless them, because He always finishes what He has started!

I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—
the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Acts 20:24

If you want to watch the TV documentary about Tony's life, you can go to this page. You have to select Windows Media Player or Real Player and band width! Please let me know if you have any queries.

Tony Anthony Outreach - a brief update

Yesterday we had a great meeting with approx. 500 teenagers in a so called Youth Event organised by our church in Hoofddorp. Tony Anthony (see earlier posts) shared his life's story with us and we enjoyed the music of the young praise and worship team. After hearing Tony's testimony several teens decided to turn away from wrong things in their lives and totally surrender to Jesus Christ and accept him as their Lord and Saviour. I don't know what you think of this, but I think they made the best decision a human being can ever make!

And guess what? The same thing happened this morning in Drachten at the Square 2006 youth meeting - where approx. 400 teens were camping, celebrating and having a good time together! Youth pastor Martin Koornstra (pic below, Martin & Tony speaking) from De Bethel, Drachten, was our friendly host and translator. We had a very special discussion with a teenage girl during lunch. She asked some direct, difficult questions and it was obvious that she had some bad, painful experiences. I will pray for her, trusting that God knows her and loves her unconditionally!

We've just returned from Gouda where we had a meeting with approx 60 people from different age groups. Some guys from Impact World Tour, a DJ called Phat B and our friends from NOA and their Nomads band took good care of the music and entertainment parts of the programme... This meeting was organised by a Christian bookshop called Samma. Again several people made a decision for Jesus this night, so there will be even more joy in Heaven! Afterwards I talked and prayed with some very special people. I am sure we will meet again!

Thanks to Irene and Annemijn from Samma Gouda for their efforts, hospitality, the great food & friendship! Tommorow we will go to a Pentecostal church, a prison and a Youth for Christ multicultural meeting for the 'unchurched' in Rotterdam... I can't wait to see what the Lord will do next. He truly is faithful! Keep on praying for this outreach campaign, please...

Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
John 8:34-36

On tour with Tony Anthony - please pray!

I am very excited about the next couple of days... I will go 'touring' with British author / evangelist Tony Anthony - check out Avanti Ministries to find out more about him. We will go to 2 churches, 3 youth events and 3 prisons to share the good news of Jesus! At some of these meetings we will be joined by two Dutch hiphop / rap artists - see Noa Ministries (it's in Dutch, but you'll get the idea).

Friday 23 June > 20:00 > Youth Event Meerkerk > Hoofddorp info
Saturday 24 June > 10:00 > Square Weekend 2006 Bethel > Drachten info / promo video
Saturday 24 June > 20:00 > Goudse Waarden > Gouda info
Sunday 25 June > 10:00 > Evangelisch Centrum Europoort > Rotterdam info
Sunday 25 June > 12:30 > Prison De IJssel > Krimpen aan den IJssel > no public access
Sunday 25 June > 20:00 > The Mall Youth for Christ > Rotterdam > only for the unchurched
Monday 26 June > 09:00-16:00 > Prison Stadspoort (Koepel) > Breda > no public access
Tuesday 27 June > 8:30-10:00 > Breakfast Meeting with church leaders in Utrecht
Tuesday 27 June > 12:00-15:00 > Prison Grenshospitium > Amsterdam > no public access
Tuesday 27 June > 20:00 > Adelaarsnest > Ede > info

If you are a Christian coming here 'by accident' - I ask you to please pray for the outreach activities in our little country during the next couple of days... Yes, there is a spiritual battle going on, but the victory belongs to the Lord!

God, the one and only— I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life. My help and glory are in God — granite-strength and safe-harbor-God— So trust him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for him. God is a safe place to be. Man as such is smoke, woman as such, a mirage. Put them together, they're nothing; two times nothing is nothing. And a windfall, if it comes — don't make too much of it. God said this once and for all; how many times Have I heard it repeated? "Strength comes straight from God." Love to you, Lord God! You pay a fair wage for a good day's work! Source

Enter the Mystery: 32000 Dutch teens praising GOD

Hi - not too much blogging recently (too many things to do, too little time to do them). I feel I must post something about the EO Youth Day where my teenage kids Robin (boy, 14) and Sosha (girl, 12) went. The whole event was broadcasted live on national TV... 32000 teens singing, dancing and shouting for Jesus in a football stadium - can you believe it? Just visit this website and get an impression of what it was like... You can also watch some pics here and see a lot of video footage here

If you want to view the online videos at the EO site, you need to select one of the clips in the list on the right hand side of your screen. A window will pop-up, displaying the information showed in the pic below:
I have translated the options for your convenience. You have to select Windows Media Player (recommended). If you don't have WMP, you can select Real Player (however, this plug-in needs to be installed on your PC first, visit Real Player if you don't have such a plug-in yet). You also have to select the 3rd or 4th option given in this window, this is about the speed of your Internet connection (slow / smallband or high-speed / broadband). 'Sla op' is Dutch for: Save settings / Store. Just have a look - it is worth the effort!

While watching, remember Martin Smith's words:

This is not a youth movement. This is the Church.