A relaxed weekend. On Friday we did the National Bible Test, aired live on television to celebrate the new Dutch Bible translation releasead earlier this week, and even beated the Protestants (yeah). On Saturday we went into the forest and had fun with a hollow tree. Today we visited friends Arjen and Madeleine in their new farmhouse in Noordeinde.
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October 31, 2004
October 28, 2004
A special child
We already knew our David is a special child, but today we received the outcome of the psychologists' examination. Their diagnosis is PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified). This is a mild form of autism, which basically means he has some difficulty in the area of social understanding and intuition, and needs extra help at home and at school to develop these aspects.
October 27, 2004
October 26, 2004
Toilet seat of the Reformation
Strange, when we were in Wittenberg last week, we couldn't find a toilet. But just one week before Reformation Day German archeaologists did a groundbreaking discovery: they found the lavatory where Martin Luther launched the Reformation of the Christian church in the 16th Century. The stone room is in a newly-unearthed annex to Luther's house in Wittenberg.
Luther is quoted as saying he was 'in cloaca', or in the sewer, when he was inspired to argue that salvation is granted because of faith, not deeds. The scholar suffered from constipation and spent many hours in contemplation on the toilet seat.
What makes the find even more fitting is that at the time faecal language was often used to denigrate the devil, such as "I shit on the devil" or "I break wind on the devil", Professor Stefan Rhein, director of the Luther Memorial Foundation, said. "It was not a very polite time. And in keeping with this, neither was Luther very polite."
Dr Martin Treu, a theologian and Luther expert based in Wittenberg, said that unfortunately "we still don't know what was used for wiping in those days." The paper of the time, he says, would have been too expensive and critically, "too stiff" for the purpose. Future visitors to Wittenberg's Martin Luther museum will be able to view the new find, though structural concerns mean they will not be free to test its qualities as a toilet.
More here
October 25, 2004
October 22, 2004
A new kind of hospital
Today we met up with a group of the Christian Centre Herrnhut to check out the local hospital. They gained the first rights to buy this 70 room property just across the house of prayer to turn it into a prayer and training centre (see my earlier posting and this website for the vision). We had a good prayer and sharing time which was confirming God's purposes for this place.
In the late afternoon we went for a walk through the fields near Ruppersdorf. I love this landscape, especially with a low sunset that brightens the already strong Autumn colours. In the evening we hang out with Mike & Kay Chance, American missionaries to Europe who founded a training base in Bad Gandersheim.
October 21, 2004
Herrnhut revisited
This is my third visit to Herrnhut. In July 2001 I came over to pray and do research for a yet-to-be-written book on spiritual wells in Europe. In August 2002 we had our (first) Connect Europe gathering here with 50 young leaders from 12 nations. It was a time of birthing, for new Kingdom initiatives to spring forth, in the Spirit of prayer and missions that marked the Moravians.
Most people who visit Herrnhut today still notice God's peace and presence in this town. The community was founded in 1722 by pietist refugees from Moravia. Herrnhut means 'under God's protection', but also 'the watch of the Lord'. This foundation in Christ is most notable when walking over 'God's Acre', the local cemetary on the Hutberg. Hundreds of men and women from Herrnhut went out as missionaries to the far ends of the earth, sowing themselves in foreign soil to make Christ known. This movement was supported by around-the-clock prayer, for over a 100 years. More about the Moravians here.
We took time to visit the watchtower, the Moravian church hall, YWAM's new SOFM base in nearby Ruppersdorf (if you can read German, check out their story), Zinzendorf's to-be-restored castle in Berthelsdorf and the mountain area of Zittau at the border with Poland and the Czech Republic.
October 20, 2004
The beauty of Saxony
We arrived quite late in the house of prayer in Herrnhut because we spent most of the day in the Sächsischer Schweiz (Saxonian Switzerland), an area of astounding natural beauty and great rock formations south-east of Dresden. We hiked in the area of spa resort Räthen, where through various circumstances I also ended up just after the Wende.
October 19, 2004
Birthplace of the Reformation
A bright sunny Autumn day. We left Rogäsen and drove south to Wittenberg, the city where Martin Luther started his reformation, and Count Zinzendorf his Order of the Mustard Seed. We were allowed to dig into some very old books in the academic library, but the only mustard we found was the stuff they serve with the bockwurst.
In the evening we reached Dresden, where we had dinner with Kai & Cornelia Wurster and Martin Winter of the Connect Europe network.
October 18, 2004
Jewish Museum in Berlin
It's a rainy day. Karolien and I spent the afternoon in the (new) Jewish Museum in Berlin, a colossal piece of architecture by Daniel Libeskind, who also designed the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero. The museum shows 2,000 years of Jewish history and culture in Germany, and offers an amazing variety of art, objects, stories and interactive installations (like this one).
Of course the antisemitism throughout the centuries (see this picture), culminating in the holocaust, remains a disturbing pattern. In a way this museum is also a form of Wiedergutmachung, reaffirming the role Jews have played in shaping Germany.
October 17, 2004
Goodbye Lenin!
Today we went for a long walk through the vast forests surrounding Rogäsen and even found our way back to the car. Really enjoyed it. Autumn is a wonderful season.
To relax and catch some ostalgia Andreas rented 'Goodbye Lenin!', a family comedy about the Wende of 1989. A woman falls into a coma and completely misses the political and social turn-around that is going on. When she wakes up eight months later, the doctor tells her son Alex to not expose his mother to any excitement or disturbance, and so this guy makes every effort to create and maintain a little GDR in their flat and keep up the illusion that the socialist paradise still exists, and is even on the winning hand. Who said the Germans have no sense of humor. :-)
In the evening we enjoyed a great meal in a local restaurant. The double steak and home-made bear were top, as well as our table talk about community. It's interesting to see that an increasing number of our friends have a vision to start intentional mission-minded and prayer-centred communities. Likely many of these places will come into being in the next few years. Exciting.
October 16, 2004
Restoring the old ruins
Rogäsen is a small village in the forest and lake area of Brandenburg and it has a nice 18th century 'castle' (actually a landhouse) that is home to DAWN friends Andreas & Christine Wolf. Friends of them bought the property several years ago to start a community/guesthouse, and thus saved it from the deterioration that hit many of these estates in the GDR times. In East-Germany many properties like this are for sale at the moment, but obviously need a lot of restauration work.
In the socialist era Rogäsen castle was used as a school, but after the Wende (turn-around) in 1989 the locals ransacked the place, leaving it unused for nearly ten years. But now it has entered a new life, the old ruins are being restored and little angels are literally overlooking the work. On the first floor two nice apartments have been created and in the left part of the house several guest rooms. Unfortunately there's still no proper heating in the bedrooms, but we survived the cold Autumn nights with some extra cloths and blankets.
October 15, 2004
If the Dutchies could vote
It's not really a revelation that Democrats are more popular in the Netherlands than Republicans. If the Dutchies would be allowed to vote in the American elections, 77 percent would go for Kerry. But only 36 percent thinks that the senator will really win the elections. And we all seem to agree on one thing: it won't make any difference anyway whether Bush or Kerry wins the election. More at MyOpinion.nl.
Over here the American presidential elections are considered a big circus. Debates are shallow and fought with oneliners. No concrete plans are being presented. BTW, here are some nice Bush versus Kerry cartoons.
October 14, 2004
The Greatest Dutchman
Last Sunday KRO broadcasted the first episode of a TV series in which we can vote for The Greatest Dutchman, a person who has contributed significantly in shaping the Netherlands, science and/or Dutch culture, and whose influence is beyond his/her own time.
On Sunday they presented the last 90 of a top-100, and the coming weeks we can vote about the (order of the) first 10. These are: Desiderius Erasmus (the 'humanist' philosopher-writer), William of Orange (our founding father who led the Low Lands to independence from Spain), Rembrandt van Rijn (the famous painter), Michiel de Ruijter (a seafaring hero of the Golden Age who beat the English time after time), Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (the father of microbiology who disovered the bacteria), Vincent van Gogh (the painter who cut off his ear), Anne Frank (writer of a bestseller diary and anti-war symbol), Willem Drees (socialist leader and father of the post-war social security system), Pim Fortuijn (the politician who wanted to become prime-minister but was shot two years ago) and Johan Cruijff (soccer legend, and the only one still alive).
I really like this program format, because it gives people a sense of their own history, culture and identity. But of course they shouldn't have allowed people on the list who are not at least dead and buried for 25 to 50 years or so. A vote for Pim Fortuijn for instance is primarily emotional, like votes for modern-day pop artists (DJ Tiësto who opened the Olympic Games is on place 40). I doubt whether Pim or Tiësto would still be remembered in the year 2100. In the light of history things are evaluated differently.
Anyway I already put in my vote for Erasmus of Rotterdam, and not because he was a great thinker, consulted by kings and church leaders of his time. Of the guys in the top-10 he was most outspoken about his faith in Christ. A Renaissance man, later incorporated by the humanists, but also an early reformation writer who addressed key issues like the need to turn from churched religion and theological fighting to a personal relationship with Christ. Erasmus wanted the Bible to become available (translated and printed) for every person in Europe, and acknowledged (which was revolutionary at the time) that men and women alike were gifted by God and should not be boxed in but be able to fulfill their calling. It was Erasmus' religious tolerance, and critical and independent spirit that very much inspired and shaped the Dutch (and perhaps I should say: for good and for worse).
October 13, 2004
Rick Joyner on Europe
Several friends asked me for my reflections on Rick Joyner's recently published prophetic article on Europe titled 'Seeds of World War Three'. This is what I mailed them:
Interesting article. I recognise a number of his observations, but also feel a bit mixed about this word. The increasing liberalism and perversion of society is indeed a problem in Europe, as much as in the States. The increasing influence and radicalisation of islam is a problem in Europe, as in many other parts of the world. The EU is quite corrupted from the inside, quite as much as we see in American politics. Yes, Europe is deceiving herself with her political moralism, very much like America is deceiving herself with her patriotism and political pragmatism.
The two world wars were a result of failed European politics, says Joyner. But isn't any war the failure of politics and diplomacy? How about Korea, Vietnam, Iraq? Yes, America has fulfilled a pro-active stabilising role, but it's quite pragmatic to overlook America's national interests and the many innocent lives lost in these conflicts. I'm not sure if I agree with the analysis that Europe hasn't learned from the world wars. In fact, the European Union was started to prevent war and foster international cooperation. Although it has corrupted to some extent, it was started by leaders with a Christian world view who decided to turn the tide.
One of the charms and problems of Europe is it's diversity and tolerance. The US are one country, Europe is not (yet). It's easy to judge on Europe's indecisiveness and lack of political cohesion (and this is a problem, especially with the rise of fundamentalist versions of islam and terrorism), but Europe carries thousands of years of history while America as a federation is much younger. I agree with Joyner that European leaders often lack courage, but then again - they operate in a Europe where consensus is key to move forward together. When you're leading the most powerful country in the world, it's easy to decide who to attack or align with and who not. America can afford it, Europe can not.
The axis America - UK - Germany: it's possible, though there are other possible scenarios. The interpretation that the EU nations have abused Germany's feelings of guilt is a bit over the top, this perspective is not shared in Germany and the nation is quite keen on defending her interests in Europe. Germany and the UK have a redeeming gift for Europe, sure. The assumption that the islamic population will overtake the indigenous population in just a decade in some nations is over the top. It will likely take another 100 years; still on the whole of history this is a relatively short period, and we cannot ignore this trend.
Although we can and should learn from any perspective, I have to say I've read better articles from Rick Joyner. Prophecy is not the same as political and social analysis. Nevertheless I side with Joyner that darker times are ahead for Europe, whether or not WW3 will start here. May God have mercy on us and help us take a stand for Christ and justice in the midst of oppression and confusion.
What do you think? Feel free to comment.
October 12, 2004
Ushers with stun guns
Satirical newspaper Lark News reports that First Baptist Church in Montgomery has taken serious safety measures to protect its congregation from crime. "There are crazies out there, terrorists who might try to take out the man on the platform."
Also funny:
Pastor wary of associate's motives
Bank blamed for auto-tithe snafu
October 11, 2004
October 10, 2004
The beginning of Autumn
It's a bit cold, but sunny, and wonderful to walk and play in the forest, looking for funghi and tasting the smell of early Autumn.
October 08, 2004
Jesus builds his church in Laos
Just finished Jan Pit's book 'Stars under the clouds' (Dutch only) in which he describes how Christians in Laos have been taught by the Holy Spirit about Jesus and the Bible, without any contact with other believers. Pit worked as a missionary to Laos until the communist take-over in 1975. In the nineties he returned to the country to find out what had happened to the believers, as communication had been down for over 20 years. He discovered that Jesus has been building his church in Laos in amazing ways, and wrote a 29th chapter of Acts marked by perseverance, persecution and miracles.
Setting up prayer networks
Yesterday Jan Gerrit and Johan paid me a visit. They work with Agape and would like to help set-up a prayer network in Utrecht. We talked extensively about the different aspects of a prayer network, like vision, strategy, coordination, grassroots development, role of the prophetic, support of the local churches, communication infrastructure and training of intercessors.
Today Maarten, a student in international relations from Groningen, came to chat about setting up a university prayer network with groups in every faculty. We talked about the Lighthouse approach, 24-7prayer and more. It's encouraging to see younger leaders take the initiative to mobilise prayer.
October 07, 2004
October 06, 2004
The Thailand connection
Sometimes it's God who redirects my agenda, and sometimes it's my wife. I haven't figured out yet what the difference is, as the result is more or less the same: staying focused on what really matters in this season.
So I decided to skip the International Prayer Council meeting in Thailand this week. It's a gathering of key players in the global prayer movement. Some say I should be there, and for the sake of relationships it would have been good, but I've been struggling with the whole set-up...
Earlier this year the Evangelical Alliance also invited me to Thailand, to be part of one of the focus groups of the Lausanne Forum 2004. I guess the Handbook for Political Correctness tells me I should feel really honoured here, but I'm afraid I've built up quite some resistance towards these global mega invitation-only events.
They are great networking environments for American white males in their fifties who thrive at boring plenary and discussion meetings (yes, I admit I'm overgeneralising here just to make my point). They are great at producing 'paper tigers': quite general outcomes that are already predestined by the 'inner circle', but nevertheless announced as ground-breaking. They are also great at creating slow, formal committee structures, and wasting a lot of money on it.
Yes, I'm a bit sceptic. But I turned that way after attending the once-in-a-lifetime conferences Amsterdam 2000, the Great Commission Roundtable and Hope21. For me personally the highlights of these conferences were in chronological order: having a pizza with friends, hanging out in the swimming pool with friends, and having a beer with friends. I had a good time in the corridors with people who shared their hearts, hopes and struggles. I missed most of the program, and those parts that I did attend were not really impacting.
So the only reason for me to go to Thailand would have been to sit under the palm trees, cocktail in one hand, my laptop in the other, and talk with friends in the worldwide prayer movement about what God has been saying to them, how his Spirit of prayer is being poured out on people in every nation on this planet, and how He's calling us to walk and strategize together. But the time available to effectively do this is limited as most people on a conference like this feel compelled to join the fuller-than-full plenary program. Even the meals have been pre-planned. "Between the soup and the chicken we discuss point 5b on our agenda..." Who for heaven's sake invented a program like this; I'm sure it's someone from Mars or a committee of Evangelical Christians.
Dang, I've said it. Quite a relief. And let me add that I dearly love and respect my friends in the worldwide prayer movement. I was ready to suffer in their program format, just to strengthen our friendship. But God and my wife decided otherwise. The future will tell whether I missed the long-awaited ignition moment of the World Wide Revival, or just saved my ass.
Having said this, I was much blessed by Andrew Brumme's positive blog reports of the Lausanne Forum. He has some great stuff on the children's prayer movement and story telling as a key to reach oral cultures. Check it out. It reminded me of my first international conference as an 18-year old - Amsterdam 86 when good old Billy gathered 10,000 evangelists from around the globe. It hugely impacted me. And I felt so privileged to be able to serve in the Media Department. But that was 18 years ago. Maybe I'm just spoiled...
October 04, 2004
Rees Howells Intercessor
Just finished Norman Grubb's biography of Rees Howells. This intercessor from Wales experienced great answers to prayer when God taugh him step by step what prevailing prayer means. He became the channel of a mighty revival in Africa, and witnessed many miracles of healing and financial provision. God also used him to establish the Bible College of Wales on property gained in prayer. But the most intriguing part are the last few chapters of the book, where Grubb describes how Howells and his students were used to change the course of the Second World War.
A military commentator of that time, General J.R.C. Fuller, spoke of Hitler's four crucial blunders: 1. missing the chance to invade Britain; 2. his failure to attack Egypt and gain Alexandria; 3. his decision to turn away from Moscow to other objectives; and 4. his final mistake - the great attack on Stalingrad. Who would have thought that at the moment these decisions were made, Christians were interceding fervently, thus changing the course of history? Great book, though not very well written. It was first published in 1952, so the style is a bit old-fashioned, but hey the Bible is older.
October 03, 2004
October 02, 2004
Redigging the Moravian well
Phil Anderson and Markus Laegel gave an excellent seminar today on the Moravian commitment to community and how revolutionary this was in their time (and also today). They treated men and women, white and black, rich and poor, noblemen and farmers equally, modelling a liberating justice of the Kingdom of God. Also they were very holistic in their approach and stirred the economy and welfare of the communities they served.
This was a good upbeat for the evening, when Pete introduced his plan to restart Count Zinzendorf's 'Order of the Mustard Seed'. The members of this order vowed to do three things: to be true to Christ, to be kind to people, and to take the gospel to the nations.
In a forthcoming book titled 'The Vision & The Vow' Zinzendor's Rule of Life will be explored, and young people will be challenged to consider entering into a similar covenant with God and friends to pursue these three dimensions of discipleship for the rest of their lives. The vision is to catalyze a fresh movement of mission and justice in every sphere of society where Christ is not yet known. The vow will be marked outwardly by a ring and/or a tattoo with Zinzendorf's motto 'No man lives unto himself'.
This links in to something I felt God has been saying over the last few months, that the first five years of 24-7prayer were just the warming up for something much more impacting. And more of God in terms of real spiritual breakthrough in nations requires a higher level of commitment, and that's where the covenant comes in.
This is pretty exciting stuff and it's a pity I couldn't stay for the evening presentation, as I had to catch my plane back to Holland. We better get 24-7prayer going here as well. If you are interested, read 'Red Moon Rising', the amazing story of 24-7prayer, a well-written book with a lot of resources on the Moravians and 24-7prayer throughout the centuries.
October 01, 2004
On the road to 24-7 church?
Today church planting was on the agenda. Roger Ellis, Andrew Jones and Floyd McClung all wrote an inspiring paper on this issue, and I hope to get permission to put their work online, so we can all benefit from it.
Andrew gave a basic introduction on church planting and stated that 75% of the people who come to Christ do so through a movement rather than an institutionalised church. He also said it's an advantage not to have buildings, budgets and theologically trained clergy, because church for the emerging generation has to be simple, so everyone can work with it and start a movement that multiplies. Also from a strategic point of view - fulfilling the Great Commission as fast and effectively as possible - there's no other road ahead than networks of highly relational simple churches that multiply.
Patrick Johnstone says in 'The church is bigger than you think' that there have always been three main expressions of church: the ecclesiastic, the monastic and the apostolic-mobile. It's time to revalue and embrace the monastic and apostolic-mobile forms, as the ecclesiastic model has been too dominant and relatively ineffective. As Johstone states:
"We need to return to the concept of a pilgrim church, a church that will be hated, rejected, despised, persecuted, yet be an incisive, decisive, victorious minority which one day soon will be ready for its Heavenly Bridegroom as the perfected Bride. Christendom is doomed, but the future of biblical Christianity is bright."
Pete Greig stressed that at this moment 24-7 is not ready to start churches as a movement, but that the issue is clearly on the agenda, as the boiler rooms (in many ways church as it should be) are gaining momentum. So the story will be continued...
In the course of the afternoon we drove back to Barcelona, where most people had arrived for the next two days: a broader gathering of around 150 leaders from the different countries where 24-7prayer is represented. It was good to see Heidi Plympton, friends from Portugal and Germany, and many new faces.
