Broken Jesus

One of the stunning pictures from Clayton Cubitt that really makes you think. Jesus statue - damaged by Katrina...

Look at Clayton's photographs Operation Eden
"A personal chronicle of what hurricane Katrina has done to my poor proud people."

Truth is discovered, not invented

"Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened."
Winston Churchill

"All truth is relative"
- Is that a relative truth?
"There are no absolutes"
- Are you absolutely sure?
"It's true for you but not for me!"
- Is that statement true just for you, or is it true for everyone?
Norman L. Geisler / Frank Turek in: I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist, p.40

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Is that your own idea", Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"
Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him."
source

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
source

A new Panda blog?

Yep. I intend to post a new entry for every new working week. OPPEPPERS (Boosters) are like little vitamin pills - dispatched by email to all who are willing to swallow a bittersweet antidote every Monday morning. These little pills are 100% free - because they are intended for Dutch readers. But I will also keep on pondering here in English for the rest of you - don't worry. And Dutch is a very easy language, so you can also try to learn it ;-)

Just kidding

Undersized maybe, but certainly not narrowminded.
And there is still some unused space left. In our brains.

Why not Women?

Following yesterday's entry, I have two books - both read by my wife Lydia but not by me (yet) - on this subject of the role of women in the church and society that I would like to bring to your attention. Feel free to let me know what you think of these books! Of course I will read them as well...

Loren Cunningham & David J. Hamilton with Janice Rogers
WHY NOT WOMEN?
A Biblical Study of Women in Missions, Ministry, and Leadership
"Millions of women all over the world are looking over the church's shoulder, longing to see the freedom Jesus purchased for them at Calvary. Millions more have found freedom in Jesus but are still bound by human ideas—ideas that pressure a woman to let culture, not God, determine her place in the Kingdom."

Bridget Plass
DEAR PAUL... AM I THE ONLY ONE?
The Apostle’s response to contemporary problems
"Bridget Plass uses the concept of imagined correspondence between the apostle Paul and a widely varying group of contemporary men and women to explore the apostle’s controversial teaching in a way that is at the same time informative, factual and fun. In her role as a Christian speaker, Bridget has met many who have expressed their views of Paul to her. Her use of the two-way fictional correspondence allows her to explore the real and deep issues she has encountered against the biblical background of Acts and Paul’s letters to the early Church. The result is a book which is deeply insightful and designed to minister to the needs of all those who have struggled with the challenge of reconciling Paul’s theology to their own lives, and perhaps have experienced self-doubt as a result."

Note for my Dutch blog readers - both books are also available in Dutch: Waarom geen vrouwen? (Gideon, Hoornaar - ISBN 90-6067-993-8) Beste Paulus... ben ik de enige? (Merweboek, Sliedrecht - ISBN 90-5787-049-5)

Women Pastors?

I've just read an interesting post from The Broken Messenger about Women Pastors... You can go to Brad's site to read this entry by clicking here. I did leave a comment and - because I would like to hear more opinions from other parts of the globe (especially from members from different church denominations, all belonging to the worldwide Body of Christ!) I've posted this comment here as well. Please feel free to let me know what you think about this subject. In English, German or Dutch, please... :-)

Given my upbringing and the culture with which I was raised, I have to admit that I am uncomfortable when reading the Scriptures concerning the roles of women and leadership in the church. I suppose much of it is the product of our politically correct culture too. I have always tried to be generally unoffensive whenever possible, but I have learned that comfort does not automatically equal truth. So the greatest discomfort on this issue comes when I am forced to admit that writings of the New Testament are clear that a woman should not be a pastor or elder within the church... continue

Hi Brad,

This is a difficult issue. I come from an Evangelical church tradition and in our churches there are no women in 'official' leading positions. I've read once that many revivals start with praying women - and I am sure that the Father listens carefully to His daughters. I do feel that there are many cultural aspects in this discussion. Jesus didn't come to put an end to slavery and He didn't fight the Romans who were occupying the Jewish land. But does that mean that He agreed with slavery and with occupation?

I do believe that Jesus conformed himself to the customs and traditions of His time. But the way He treated women was amazing. Look at the Samaritan (!) woman (!) at the well in John 4. Now this was something extraordinary! The Samaritan woman said to him, You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) John 4:9. Here you can see that Jesus didn’t mind to break with this Middle East tradition. And look at the personal affirmation He gave her: The woman said, I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. Then Jesus declared, I who speak to you am he. John 4:25, 26. Jesus was telling this Samaritan woman that He was the Messiah!

I know that it can be dangerous to state that some biblical instructions are ‘only cultural’, but I do believe that this is the case here. I don’t think that God asks the women in our time to have long hair, have their heads covered and be silent in church. In some parts of the world it is OK for women to show their breasts (Africa) in other parts it is a scandal to show a naked ankle. These are cultural issues. Jesus didn’t come to change EVERYTHING, but the way He acted and the way He treated people (women, but also other categories of people who were ‘marginalized’ by the male dominated society) was revolutionary.

I think that it is a waste of talent and capacities to ask from our well-educated and faithful sisters to behave like first Century women from the Middle East. What about the Salvation Army? I think it is great that they give men and women equal opportunities. I would like to know your opinion about this. And what about Corrie ten Boom – just as Dutch and stubborn as I am, and by the way, from the same city in the Netherlands – what a WOMAN! What a TESTIMONY! What an example of faith, grace and perseverance. I think we need more sisters like her everywhere! Let them speak up for Christ, in society, in the family – and yes – also in the church.

Final remark / question… What do you think about this Bible text: There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28 ) I am looking forward to hearing from you! By the way, my wife Lydia humbly agrees with me but she didn’t tell me to write this!

Just call upon His name

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:11





I know Who to go to
I know Who to rely on
His name is Jesus
Call upon His name - cry out to Him - for He will hear you. There's no reason to doubt Him. Nobody is as reliable as Jesus. You can run to Him for eternal safety, you can build your life on Him.
What do you have to lose?

When fear makes you quiver
Just call upon His name
When struggles makes you cry
Just call upon His name
When pain makes you stumble
Just call upon His name
When despair makes you hurt
Just call upon His name
When worry makes you anxious
Just call upon His name
When life looks unfair
Just call upon His name
When grief floods your soul
Just call upon His name
When questions go unanswered
Just call upon His name
When wounds get deeper
Just call upon His name
When everyone lets you down
Just call upon His name

When you can't get to God
He'll get to you
His name is our Fortress
His name is our Solace
His name is our Salvation
His name is Jesus

Lyrics written by Caroline Naoroji

Fruit that will last

Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. source

The greatest among you... the three most inspiring Christians from the Netherlands

In 2002, the BBC conducted a vote to discover the 100 Greatest Britons of all time. Several other countries produced similar shows locally. This was the final result in the Netherlands:

1. Pim Fortuyn
2. Willem van Oranje
3. Willem Drees
4. Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
5. Desiderius Erasmus
6. Johan Cruijff
7. Michiel de Ruyter
8. Anne Frank
9. Rembrandt van Rijn
10. Vincent van Gogh

I don’t want to rank them – but in my personal top 3 for the Netherlands I would choose Rembrandt van Rijn, Desiderius Erasmus and Vincent van Gogh. When it comes to naming the three most inspiring Dutch Christians this would be my personal choice: Henri Nouwen, Corrie ten Boom and Brother Andrew (in no particular order).

Based on their status as humble servants of the Lord, I feel free to honor these people as heroes of the Christian faith from my little country. Their lives reflected their faith in Jesus Christ and in his teachings:

"The greatest among you will be your servant" Matthew 23:11

Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983)
During the Second World War, the Ten Boom home in Haarlem became a refuge, a hiding place, for fugitives and those hunted by the Nazis. By protecting these people, Casper and his daughters, Corrie and Betsie, risked their lives. This non-violent resistance against the Nazi-oppressors was the Ten Booms' way of living out their Christian faith. This faith led them to hide Jews, students who refused to cooperate with the Nazis, and members of the Dutch underground resistance movement. Corrie ten Boom was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944 and spent 10 months in prisons and concentration camps. Four Ten Booms gave their lives for this family’s commitment, but Corrie came home from the death camp. She realized her life was a gift from God, and she needed to share what she and Betsy had learned in Ravensbruck: "There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still" and "God will give us the love to be able to forgive our enemies." At age 53, Corrie began a world-wide ministry which took her into more than 60 countries in the next 33 years! She testified to God’s love and encouraged all she met with the message that "Jesus is Victor." Corrie ten Boom became an evangelist after the war; she is best known for her book The Hiding Place.

It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts. read more

Henri Nouwen (1932-1996)
Dutch priest, university professor and famous Christian author. Enjoyed an impressive academic career with positions at the Notre Dame University and Yale University. As he approached his 50th year, Nouwen turned his life toward the pursuit of what he called "the descending way of Christ". He worked as a missionary and served in the l'Arche communities, a world wide organization of communities providing care to mentally retarded adults. As an author Nouwen is best known for his book Return of the Prodigal Son.

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. read more

Brother Andrew (1928-)
Brother Andrew's real name is Anne van der Bijl. He made history during the early days of the Cold War when in 1955 he began "smuggling" Bibles into Communist Eastern Europe. On the last day of his first trip, as he sat reading his Bible, he says that the Lord spoke to him through Revelation 3:2 to "strengthen what remains and is on the point of death." His delivery of one suitcase of Christian literature to the suffering church in Poland was the humble beginning of Open Doors with Brother Andrew, now an international ministry that brings literature and much-needed assistance to Christians living in difficult circumstances in 58 countries around the world. Brother Andrew is best known for his book "God's Smuggler" - although he doesn't consider himself to be a smuggler...

I'm not a smuggler, I'm a missionary. I have chosen to be obedient and not turn away from danger. So when government says, 'No!', I said, 'wait a minute', God said, 'Go!', so I didn't listen to the 'No!' read more

"Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 8:14)

So tell me: what do you think are the most inspiring Christians from YOUR country?

Broaden your horizon

Are you interesed in Missionary and Aid work?
Please check out this new website highlighting missionary blogs from around the world.

"It was only a few months ago that it was hard to find a missionary blogger online. But blogging has exploded in popularity, and more and more Christians are tuning in to the ultra-current, personal news that is now available from every corner of the world. As more and more missionaries get involved, this site will grow. And you will be able to get a first hand glimpse into the lives of people that you haven't met. You'll learn about cultures you've never experienced. You'll learn about the joys and sorrows that are part of the battle for the Truth."

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Luke 10:2

Intellectual Property

The designer of the WOKKEL snack (left) doesn't want anybody to steal his idea. That makes perfect sense to me. But now I wonder if there might also be a Designer of DNA (right) with Intellectual Property rights...

The Dutch Supreme Court confirmed in 1983 a ruling by the Court of Appeal of Amsterdam that the trade value added by the shape of the Wokkel cocktail crisp was not part of the essential value of the product. It confirmed that the value of the crisp lies in its comestible nature, its taste and crispyness. source

Isn't she lovely?

Tonight I went outside for an evening walk. This time Pascalle, our youngest daughter (8) wanted to join me. We went to a lake nearby, just to see how the sun disappeared behind the clouds. Against this dark background it is easy to see why I call her my little Sunshine. Isn't she lovely?

Looks like this image is turning - right?

Well, actually - it isn't! But it sure drives me crazy...

Spiritual Growth

Lead us from death to life,
from falsehood to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope,
from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love,
from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart,
our world, our universe.
Anglican Prayer

Another Santiago Calatrava masterpiece

I've received this comment from Jules on my recent posting about the Calatrava bridges near my house:

At 6:04 AM, September 27, 2005, Jules said...
This bridge looks similar to the one in Redding, California at the Turtle Bay Aquarium.. It's called the Sundial Bridge....

Well, Jules... you obviously know how to recognize a piece of art! I googled a little bit and look what I've found: this bridge is also designed by Santiago Calatrava! I think the Sundial bridge looks great. Compared to that giant (but elegant) construction our three bridges are very small. But hey, I live in a very small country. And let's not compare the scenery, please... Wow! It must be great to live in California!

You’ve never seen a bridge like the Sundial, this glass-and-steel sculpture that now soars over the Sacramento River. You can say this about the city leaders of Redding, Calif.: When it comes to building a footbridge, they're not afraid to get their feet wet. In fact, they hired one of the world's foremost bridge designers, Santiago Calatrava, an architect of an aesthetic sensibility so refined he has been described by Time as "the poet of glass and steel." Read this article

Below: Sundial Bridge in Redding (left side) and one of the three bridges in Haarlemmermeer (right side of this composition). You can see that the canal (Hoofdvaart) is nothing like the Sacramento River! The three bridges in our area were not really necessary - I think our local government just wanted to make some statements... They could have saved a lot of money by just ordering three dull, down-to-earth bridges. But now people stop to take pictures or they just stand still for a moment to enjoy the designs. Critics know the price, admirers see the value!