B's Blog

Worship when it matters

2012-01-11T12:28:00.000+01:00

Worship when it matters

1 Samuel 30:6, The Message

“… suddenly David was in even worse trouble. There was talk among the men, bitter over the loss of their families, of stoning him. David strengthened himself with trust in his God.”

When we least expect trouble it is imperative that we learn to make the right response. Turning to God wins every time – EVERY time!

This is the message in the account of David’s disgruntled mighty men turning against him in anger and bitterness at his leadership. These men, including David, had lost everything at the hands of the enemy and didn’t know what to do. Their eyes narrowed and their focus zeroed in on the point man, David, who got them into such a mess.

What would you do in the face of such accusation, anger and pressure?

One of my favorite parts in the movie, “Braveheart” is when William Wallace returns as a grown man to his clan in the Scottish Highlands. The people are celebrating a wedding and it includes the challenge of the “stones of strength”, or stone putting. His boyhood friend, Hamish, a brawny hulk of a man, heaves the massive stone the farthest. Then Wallace dares him with the words “Can you do that when it matters; as on the field of battle?”. Hamish takes up the challenge with Wallace on the field in front of him. Taking careful aim he thrusts the stone forward and misses Wallace by a couple feet. Wallace palms a small stone and, with practiced aim, hurls it, striking Hamish in the forehead and felling him.

Worship and prayer is easy when surrounded by like-minded brothers and sisters in a church or home but will we turn to God in worship and prayer when the going gets tough? Sometimes, when we least expect it, we are confronted with the choice of fight or flight.

David could have run for his life when he caught wind of words like “stoning”, but he stopped in his tracks and strengthened or “steeled” himself in his trust of God. He sought God in prayer and in worship and God met him and gave him the wisdom he needed to continue.

Be vigilant for the moments of weakness when you’re tempted to run, to rely on your own responses and learn the lesson of worship and prayer “when it matters”.

An article by Belinda

2011-10-25T11:49:00.002+02:00

Hello friends,

I thot you might enjoy our latest College of Arts & Sports newsletter,
which includes an article I recently wrote.

Blessings,

Belinda

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College of Arts & Sports October Update

Greetings to you all!

When I looked into the faces of all those who had gathered in Kona recently
for our bi-annual University of the Nations workshop, I was impressed with
the diversity of cultures and giftings but also the strong dedication to giving
God glory through arts and sports. I heard stories of obstacles, challenges
and the fires of testing but I continue rejoicing in how it is resulting in refined
and renewed passion for our mission.

Our College of Arts and Sports faculty is gearing up for an olympic year in 2012! Much of our meeting
time in Kona was focused on the extensive preparations necessary for our Go4Glory (www.go4glory.org) International Arts and Sports Festival in July 2012, just prior to the opening of the 30th Olympiad in
London. Our aim is to fuse the relationship between arts and sports like never before in YWAM.
I challenge you to come and join us there for 4 power-packed days of celebration, promotion, training
and networking. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity to link arms across the globe in our efforts
to spread the Gospel. Join us there and stay on for an exceptional opportunity to impact the world
through your skills and talents as tens of thousands gather for the olympic games in the UK. After
the G4G event we are connecting individuals and teams to the outreach efforts of "More Than Gold" (www.morethangold.org.uk) and "Forever2012" (www.forever2012.com) using performances, public
displays and sporting events. Come, know the absolute joy of being His light to the world!

In line with this theme I've asked Belinda van de Loo, one of our key International College Committee
members, to share her heart. Her article: "Pleasing God as artists and athletes" will inspire you as
it has me. Belinda has a unique background in both arts and sports, having played collegiate
volleyball for a major US university and as an accomplished musician and songwriter. You will
enjoy her perspective.

Let's continue to press on for God's glory and the extension of His kingdom!

Yours in Christ, Julie

Pleasing God as Artists and Athletes

By Belinda van de Loo

Recently one of my morning quiet times erupted into a biblical treasure hunt to discover what really pleases God? I had the time and my heart was already awakened by the Word, so I started leafing through the epistles in search of scriptures (1) mentioning how God is pleased or given glory/praise through our actions or attitudes. An hour later and several post-it notes crammed with references, I closed the Book and, with a fresh cup of coffee, meditated on the truths I'd just uncovered.

Later that week, undoubtedly orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, I came upon an article that continued the instruction of that short study. The author surfed across the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, picking out references to God's love of artistry, movement, color and more.

"From creating the tree that was pleasing to the eye in the garden of Eden, highlighting the artistic and spiritual leadership of Bezalel and Oholiab in the building of the tabernacle, to the weirdly dramatic exploits of some prophets, God has been interested in artistry for a long time. Jesus' cryptic parables, Paul's teaching hymns, John's psychedelic imagery, and the central roles of singing, dancing, storytelling, aroma and food symbolism, icons, preaching, poetry, and proverbs in the life of Israel and the Christian church - all point to the same truth: God communicates artistically." (2)

Reading that description my mind immediately recalled the exploits of an extremely powerful man, Samson; the finely honed skill of a stone-slinger named David; the prowess of the old testament athletic warriors in contests of strength and cunning in battle; and a multitude of references to boxing, running, leaping and jumping throughout the Bible. Each example seemed divinely designed to challenge man in his walk with God: to take it to the extreme and please God with his entire being.

"From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth… God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, "We are His offspring.'" Acts 17:26-28 NIV

Arts and athletics in the hands of missionaries and ministers have a unique role in arousing people to recognize their source of skill – a Creator who was pleased to invest the power of creativity into man as a means to draw him back to Himself. These expressions rarely require translation because they belong to the heart and soul of the people and their culture. Whether that's Mongolian wrestling, Guatemalan marimba music or the scripture-infused creative dances of the Hawaiians, it's clear that each culture has its own unique treasures to bring before the throne of God. When arts and sports missionaries combine cultural expressions with the truth of who God is, it can empower communities to embrace God and worship Him as their own, not as a foreign God.

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

As Kingdom-messengers come alongside cultures with a heart to serve indigenous people in rediscovering their God-given creativity and expression, this brings great glory to God. The Gospel is clear in its depiction of our future:

"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. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb'." Rev. 7:9,10 NIV

This oft-quoted picture of "every tribe and tongue and nation" worshiping around God's throne isn't limited to celebrating languages but a complete cultural explosion of wonder, joy and worship towards the object of humankind's affection and devotion – the Lamb of God! I fully expect a wild diversity of dancing, drawing, leaping, ball-throwing, fancy footwork, color, sound, aromas, textures and light-shows by God's chief creation – men, women and children boldly demonstrating their love for their Creator in their mother tongues and cultural traditions – all to the pleasure of God.

(1) - Romans 15:7; Eph.5:21; Col.1:10; Phil.2:9-11, etc.
(2) - Brian Schrag, God Hearts Arts, www.Urbana.org 2011



	Copyright © 2011 College of Arts and Sports, University of the Nations CAS is a College/Faculty of the University of the Nations and a ministry of Youth With A Mission. Kona \| Hawaii \| 96759 \| United States \| contact@ywamcas.org

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Home

2011-08-01T22:06:00.000+02:00

Not many people have met this bear but his name is Chubby and he lives on my bed. Chubby has a good life - clean sheets, a great view out the window, a dog that leaves him alone (except for those puppy months), and a snuggle now and then. He's lived on my bed in quite a few locations and I'm not sure what his life expectancy is, but so far he's in pretty good shape.
I don't talk to him, well, not much... but I do appreciate him. He's part of my home, living on my bed. That's comforting to me. And that is Chubby's job.

True Worship

2011-06-14T21:26:00.000+02:00

One of the students in the School of Worship is a friend of mine, Jessica. She used to be on staff at YWAM Heidebeek about 10 years ago and we've stayed in touch since then.
Jessica was born with a hole in her heart and at a very young age she had surgery but in the recovery time there was a mistake about her oxygen and because of that she became handicapped with cerebral palsey. Her body doesn't always work the way she wants it to but her spirit is more alive than most.

I want to tell you about a wonderful thing Jessica did today. I am still blessed as I write this to you. Jessica is my friend and she really proved it today in a big way. Jessica is also a source of inspiration and truth to our class (and many others) and she stood up today and showed us that.

The situation:
I had invited every one of the students (and staff) to come to my house on Sunday evening for snacks and a movie. I asked people on Friday (one by one): can you come? And each person said "yes".
But Sunday evening no one showed up! That was really hard on my heart and, of course, I cried. I forgave everyone but I really didn't know what to do about it so I was praying.

On Monday I went to Ikea to get some things, meet my goddaughter for koffie, etc. and I invited Jessica and Hyejin to come along. We had a nice chat in the car, nice time at Ikea, etc. Both of them asked me to forgive them for not coming to the party and we talked about it a bit. We had a nice afternoon together.

So, this morning it was Jessica's turn to give a devotion in the School of Worship; I had no idea what she would share.. She shared this (she had her computer read it to us):

Do unto others what you would have them do to you.

If somebody invited you to a party,   And you said yes,   you will be there, you should be there, now I am just as guilty as you are,   think about it. Put yourself in their place,    you prepared some goodies and snacks and things. Then you waited and waited for your friends to show up and nobody came nobody called you on the phone, to say they’re sorry they will not be there. you wanted them to come and see where you lived,    And you waited for one hour and nobody came,   how would that make you feel?        That is a sad very hurtful thing to do to a person,

We did it to Belinda,    I thought about it afterwards and I wish I would have gone to her house and seen what she puts on what kind of snacks she put out,   and the movie we were going to see.     but I and just as guilty as you are,    because I did not say "we should go and see Belinda",   but I was to busy with my journal that I did not think about my friend who was having a party and nobody showed up.

if it were me I don’t think I could handle to have another party that nobody shows up for,   that is very hurtful and rude - not a nice thing to do to a person like Belinda.   Belinda - she is a very kind and nice person, giving of her time to us, teaching us to be who God created us to be and living a life that God wants her to live. She is very honest and loving and kind and a good person.

I feel like we took advantage of her because we said we would be there,   but we did not show up. It is normal to feel guilty because we did not show up; I think we should feel guilty - that’s what makes us human beings,

I am so grateful to have Belinda as my leader,   we have a lot to learn from Belinda.

This is not the way to treat people,   what we did to her was very wrong,

We should all write a note to Belinda, saying how sorry we are because it is the right thing to do. We are living and learning every day how to be good people, not bad people. I hope we have learned our lesson, to not do that again.
And remember it is not all about you,   all the time,   it is about other people and God.    Jesus loves us all I know you all know that.
I hope you know that I love you guys.

This letter took me two hours to write, big hugs from Jessica

Then she asked everyone in the class to write on a piece of paper what they felt and to give it to me. I was so touched! Jessica's courageous heart, her friendship and taking her place as the senior member in our school is something I will never forget. She led us all in a time of repentance and reconciliation - something that is beyond the reach of many ministers.
The class wrote such wonderful notes, came and gave me hugs, asking forgiveness and speaking words of love. It was amazing!

I know that Jessica will continue to lead us all in worship with her honest heart of love.
I just wanted to let you know how proud I am to be her friend and her school leader!!!

Time out!

2011-05-11T14:31:00.000+02:00

When we prayed together it felt like that voice I heard inside my heart started shouting. I was so distracted that I doubt I even heard what my friend was praying but as soon as I heard "amen" I knew that I had to change my plans and stop. And I knew that the Holy Spirit was being insistent, uncomfortably insistent.

One of my primary motivations is "responsibility" which makes it nearly impossible to let go and give up on commitments, promises and plans - to my own deficit and, at times, blocking God's greater purposes. I remember the paragraph in "The Shack" when God said that He was responsible and that I should be responsive. Lightning bolt from heaven - Belinda ash on the floor.

I had planned to go to a conference; it was the responsibility of committee members to attend. I had coordinated schedules, delegated subordinate responsibilities, planned in a blessing-respite to a young couple (to care for my "huisje-boompje-beestje"/house&dog while I left for 2 days), and packed my bags.

When I'm stressed I "work the list" of things to do, going through the motions no matter if my heart is in neutral or if that voice starts niggling at me. I don't give up easily. Many times that's handy, being so tenacious. In certain circumstances it is my undoing. This was one of those... actually, one in a series of those, if I think about it.
Wasn't it just last week and the week before that when the Lord spoke to me to "LET GO"?! So, I released my grip, allowed the blood to circulate again to my white-knuckled fist and opened my hands... a little.

That voice inside was getting louder...
When I had a 15 or 30 minute break in the action, I could hear it's persistent call, like a church bell on a Sunday morning. But... Could I stop? Should I stop? How do I stop?

I managed a quick phone call to a good friend and she came over, we talked, we prayed.
THE VOICE was unavoidable and it dawned on me.... it was GOD telling me to stop.

The very moment I yielded, listening and obeying... peace started seeping in.
I still had the emails to write, the phone calls to make, the disappointing faces of people to tell...
but I knew it was God.

So I stopped.

Instead of being gone for 3 days to a conference, I'm taking a time-out at home. Resting, getting refreshed in my body, soul and spirit.

It is good to hear, to listen, to stop, to rest when God tells you to.

The Lord is good and His lovingkindness endures forever.

Spiritual Whiplash?

2011-04-27T21:45:00.000+02:00

This seems to be the best way I can explain my weariness at the moment. It's not purely a physical tired, but the battle going into the School of Worship was fierce. The key battleground was bringing international students to a very Dutch base. Each and every visa that was granted had to be fought for in practical and spiritual ways. Many of our YWAM staff, friends and many of you prayed for these students and their visas. We have tasted victory as well as defeat. Four visas were granted and four were denied, even after repeated attempts and considerable documentation.
It's been many years since my home YWAM base has hosted such an international school. It's been so difficult to get visas and it was just easier to "fish in the Dutch pond" for students. But YWAM is an international organisation and it fulfills it's calling when we have staff and students from many nations together. So, it wasn't just a fight for one school, but a fight for my home YWAM base.
And I realize that I took the point position in this battle... and I'm feeling it.
I'll be calling on my prayer partners to cover me in prayer so I can be restored... all prayers are welcome!
We have taken a foothold now and my prayer is that we won't lose any ground.

Foretaste of Heaven

2011-04-04T20:16:00.000+02:00

"A thousand songs with ten thousand voices blended and echoed

through the whole of Heaven and beyond."

- Bill Payne "The Seraphim Chronicles"

On the brink of a new adventure - the in-gathering of the nations to come and worship the Creator.
In a few short days our School of Worship begins. Precious people from every strata of life and almost every continent have been attracted by One to come and worship. Every tribe, every tongue, every nation converging around the Throne.
Soon we will see each other's faces
Soon we will hear one another's voices
Soon we will bow our hearts in His presence and do what we were created for: to Love and Worship God.

Brothers and sisters from Korea and Central African Republic, from Ireland, Indonesia and India, from America and Australia, from Rwanda and Egypt and Ghana and Holland, all of us blending hearts and voices in praise to Jesus.

I can't wait for this foretaste of Heaven!

Another airport

2011-03-13T00:24:00.000+01:00

Checking in at yet another airport... I lose count at how many airports it's been but in general they all look the same... except Heathrow in London - where I'll be tomorrow. (Heathrow=chaos, IMHO).
Today I'm checking in early at YUL, which is Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The two young people (Heather and Mike) who joined me in ministry this week at the YWAM base in Dunham, checked in a couple hours ago and I waved them off. We prayed together in the airport - giving all the glory back to Jesus for a week of breakthroughs and fruit in the lives of 24 young (ages 17-21) people who are students at YWAM's Arts&Music DTS here.

They went through security and our paths diverged after an intensive week of ministry in teaching and worship... a week that changed lives - theirs and ours.

I never go and just "teach" students in YWAM (or other) courses - it always changes me, too. This week I am simply speechless regarding one young woman who was locked up in fears and lies. By God's divine Hand I met her my very first morning - the first student I met. She helped me find some breakfast and "raid the kitchen". Then I noticed that the staff were praying especially for her than evening in the prayer time and I wondered what God had in store.

I met with Stephanie a few times after that and heard her story, felt her fears and believed for a breakthrough.
Imagine my joy yesterday morning as she found the courage to open her locked heart and share with her peers how she felt like "running away" but decided to refuse the LIES and embrace the TRUTH. She was cheered and they lifted her up in VICTORY in a sanctuary that all the students had made a few days before. A victory shout went up as she lifted her arms in that familiar victory pose. She is no longer fighting alone; she is no longer alone. You can see it on her face, in her eyes, in her soul. She has stepped into freedom in Christ.
Somehow I believe that I will see Stephanie someday in the future and I will be amazed at what God is doing in and through her.

I bow my head and check in to the gate, boarding the plane... yet another plane... and begin the long journey home, pondering upon the goodness and greatness of God to use one simple soul to touch another, and another and another.

Not to us, o Lord, not to us, but to Your Name be glory!

I have learned

2011-01-22T07:58:00.000+01:00

I have learned...

that God often saves the best for last
that people don't care how much you know but will never forget how much you care
that people aren't formulating opinions about me as much as I think they might be
that God is an expert in the dark places ... when I think nothing is happening or am deeply discouraged or even alarmingly apathetic, He remains riveted on fulfilling His purposes and His promises in my life and I can trust Him completely.
that it's better to dress warmly and look silly than to look good and freeze
that people act upon their perceptions more often than the truth
that God's opinion and view is more valuable than anyone else's, especially mine
that there is precious little that you can take with you to heaven when you die... some of those things include: honor, integrity, love for God and others, souls, worship, laughter, forgiveness, joy, justice, mercy, humility, relationships... (feel free to add more)
that I should never refuse kindness
that more happens when we pray than what we see
that only God and the person themselves knows their true motivation for doing something, and God is not going to tell that to you... so you'll have to ask the person themself why they did this or that. Point being - don't think you know someone else's motivation unless you ask them. It will get you into big trouble if you judge someones's actions by a perceived motivation you think they have.
that two wrongs don't make a right
that treating your neighbors with kindness helps you sleep in safety.
that a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away
that God seems to work the most when we see Him the least.
He is a master of the secret place, the dark times and the mud and mire. Remember Psalm 40 when you feel like you are at the bottom of a pit... the only way to look is up. He can be... trusted and He is always good. His lovingkindness endures... endures.... endures forever. And that means TODAY

A miracle!

2011-01-19T20:20:00.001+01:00

On Sunday, Jan. 9th I went to my home church here in Holland, "Woord&Daad" (Word&Deed) in Vaassen. It was a fairly busy day for me with a birthday party in the afternoon and I was leaving for Indonesia early on Tuesday, so, to be honest, I wondered if I should stay home that morning and get ready for my trip. But, I wanted to go and hoped to be prayed for about my upcoming missions trip.

During the praise time I was thinking about the gifts of the Spirit and wondered if God would give anybody a "word of knowledge" that morning. Then a thought popped into my mind about people with pain in their necks. With a pounding heart I stepped forward and shared my "word of knowledge" with the church. As I feared, the elder (Eli) asked me to stay up in front to pray for people with neck pain. I knew that it would have to be God's work if anyone would be healed so I chose to simply believe God and pray for people. Four or five people came forward and I asked God to come and heal them. That's all but that was enough, and I hoped that they would be healed. Then Eli asked me to share about my mission trip to Indonesia and several people came up to pray for me. What a blessing!

During the coffeetime after the service a young man came up to me and shared that he wished his wife could be in the meeting and receive prayer because she was really suffering from whiplash. He asked if I could pray for her. I knew I better pray for her right away, in the middle of the busy coffeebar, so with my heart pounding again, I laid my hands on him (Ruben) and we prayed for his wife's healing. I told him to lay his hands on his wife when he returned home after church.

Because I was so busy in the following days I didn't think about it again until today when I read this testimony from Patricia:

Jesus is my HEALER!!
Around six and a half years ago I was involved in a bad car crash. In the blink of an eye our lives were changed because I sustained a whiplash.
Most whiplash victims endure symptoms up to 6 months or longer but mine never went away. I was told that I'd have to learn to live with daily headaches, neck and back pain, fatigue and sleeplessness.
I prayed, of course, but never found the courage to really ask God for healing, rather that I could accept my lot in life...it just seemed easier somehow.

Each Sunday morning I really wanted to go to church but often could not because I had slept so poorly. I felt like the devil was also trying to keep me from going to church, which only multiplied my troubles.

I ended up staying home last week as well while Ruben, my husband, went to church alone. There was a woman, Belinda, who received a word from God to pray for people with neck pain. After the service Ruben went up to her, telling her about my whiplash and that I was at home with pain in my neck. She prayed with my husband and laid her hand upon his neck.
At the same moment I was home and, not knowing what was going on at church, suddenly felt warmth flooding my body and my neck pain disappeared.
When Ruben came home he asked how I was and I replied that I felt good. He told me about what happened at church and that Belinda instructed him to lay his hand upon my neck and pray.
Since that morning I've had absolutely no symptoms and can testify that my wonderful God has healed me of whiplash!
Taking steps of faith may be difficult for many of us but I want to encourage you to do it. With God nothing is impossible because God is love!

Miraculous moment

2010-12-24T21:02:00.000+01:00

The couple had travelled for days.
Mary had the worst of it being heavily pregnant and riding on a donkey, constantly counterbalancing the unexpected bumps and dips. This is not what any woman would choose to do at this stage of pregnancy and it's difficult to imagine the toll it took on her young body. Perhaps it was because she was so "invincibly young" that she didn't flat out refuse to go when Joseph informed her of the required census. Or maybe it was another thing she just "knew" in her heart, that it was God's plan to go. More likely, a combination of both.

Just as they caught sight of Bethlehem, her water broke and the contractions seized her so forcefully that she laced her fingers through the donkey's mane to maintain her seat. Mary's groans goaded Joseph's into a near trot as he frantically scanned for a place of refuge. The baby was coming quickly and the stall would just have to do, it wasn't time to be picky; he could see that in Mary's eyes.

The baby was delivered into his trembling hands and he quickly severed the tie, wrapping his son in a cloth and laying him onto Mary's waiting bosom. Her sweaty smile erased the arduous journey as she beamed with tears of joy. Joseph, too, exhaled, breathing out the name of his son: Jesus.

The name above all names was spoken on earth and all heaven responded with "Glory to God in the highest". The heavenly Father breathed deeply and shared the miraculous moment: Christ was born.

How to strengthen yourself in the Lord

2010-12-06T22:57:00.000+01:00

Strengthen Yourself in the Lord

By John Dawson (YWAM President)

“A few weeks ago I felt that I was going through a very hard time. My wife had been diagnosed with cancer and it proved to be an aggressive form that will need extensive treatment. I had my own health problems and there were various difficulties in my wider family. One day one of my sons said, “Everything seems to be going wrong. It’s as if God is doing nothing, or even worse, that God is working against us.”

What could I say? He expressed how I felt.

But just a few days earlier I had been reading David’s life story and a passage from 1 Samuel 30 stood out. Verse 6 says, “But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

I stopped and compared my circumstances with David’s.

Several years earlier, God had promised him that he would be king one day. After a brief period of success, everything began to go wrong. The reigning king first became suspicious of him and then began to actively seek his death. He fled to the desert and disgruntled men joined him. It would have been hard enough for one man to stay alive in such a desolate place, but he became responsible for hundreds.

Finally, the king of Israel’s enemies gave him a small city to live in on the edge of the desert. While he and his men were off trying to serve in the Philistine army, their town was attacked, sacked and burned. The Philistines rejected him and his men and when they returned from an exhausting trip, the city was smoldering and all their families were missing. In the face of this disaster, his men blamed David and decided to kill him.

And I thought I was going through a bad time!

“But David encouraged himself in the Lord.” How did he do that?? Whatever he did, it really worked because he returned to his men with an infectious confidence and then led them into battle to recover their loved ones. They won them all back along with vast amounts of plunder.

We all have to choose whether we live with confidence in God’s word or allow our circumstances to determine our attitudes.” -Lynn Green, YWAM's int'l chairman

Take some time to read the story of David in 1 Samuel 30 and imagine the depths of discouragement that David faced. If he could find strength from the Lord in those circumstances, then we can as well—regardless of what we face.

Here is how we can go about it:

Never underestimate the benefits of battle. When God decided to create a people for Himself, he planned a path that would engage them in conflict for generations. In Psalm 105, the scriptures make it clear that God himself led them into conflict to strengthen them. James goes even further when he says that we should consider it pure joy when we encounter various trials and tests (James 1:2). Let us not give in to the temptation to resent God when things don’t work out the way we expected. Tests, trials and battles are tools in God’s hand to shape us to be more like Jesus.

Praise. We know that God is good all the time, but when things are going badly, we should take the time to praise Him. When we praise Him during dark times, we are reinforcing the truth that we are serving Him for who He is rather than for the blessings that come from His hand.

Praise is a powerful tool, not only serving to continually set us free and to bless God, but as an act of spiritual warfare. Make no mistake: praise can break strongholds instantaneously or over a period of time. We are sometimes immediately made aware of the results of our praise; at all times, the act of praise itself should settle our hearts and build a quiet confidence in the Lord. Praise helps make us overcomers. 1 John 4:4 states “you, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Repent of unbelief, fear and comparison. All of us struggle with intimidation at times; it is our responsibility to deal with it seriously, especially if it is a pattern in our lives. The only way to combat the lie that we are insignificant is to do battle with our minds and lay hold of God’s truth. We must do battle where we feel the most incapable. All of this begins with repentance in the areas where we have shut down and not allowed God to use us; the step of faith is then to move in the opposite spirit and be willing to be used in the areas where we feel the weakest. “With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies” (Psalm 60:12). We must walk in this truth. As we regain ground that was lost, we must not relent. We cannot afford to give this ground back to the enemy. We must not see ourselves as victims, but rather must come against the underlying pride that fuels our unbelief and fear.

Remember the Word of the Lord. Each of us can remember many promises that God has given us over the years. Among these promises, most of us are certain to find that at least some of them have gone partially unfulfilled. Remembering God’s promises and recounting them back to the Lord is a powerful practice and is itself an act of faith. It is a declaration that we fully expect that what God said will ultimately come to pass. Hebrews 11:13 reminds us that some promises go unfulfilled this side of heaven, while Isaiah 11:3b reminds us that we are not to judge by what we see with our eyes or decide by what we hear with our ears. We have all been given “precious and exceedingly great promises” (2 Peter 1:4) which are all “Yes in Christ” (2 Cor. 1:20). It is not presumption to speak out those promises to others, which can build faith in the hearer as well, unless God has specifically directed you otherwise. Finally, it is prudent to continually remind each other of God’s corporate promises and work toward their fulfillment.

Give thanks for all His faithfulness. The Bible says that each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34b). Instead of fruitlessly worrying about tomorrow, we are to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). One of the keys of finding His Kingdom is cultivating an attitude of gratefulness. And we have so much to be grateful for! First off, we’re children of God, plucked from darkness into His marvelous light. And then, each of us has been given the incredible privilege of representing the Lord of the universe in our many spheres of influence. Each of us can recount story after story of how God asked us to do something impossible, then gave us the means and abilities to do so. Thankfulness is one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal, and it’s something we can practice 24 hours a day.

Obey him even in the darkest times. The story of Elijah in the cave is the ultimate faith-builder (1 Kings 19). The prophet had no hope left as he stood at the mouth of the cave in utter despair. He had no earthly reason to leave that cave and continue to walk out the call upon his life, except for the fact that God showed up at just the right time and gave him further instructions. With renewed faith that God was leading and guiding, “Elijah went from there…..” (1 Kings 19:19). May we be a people that learn to strengthen ourselves in the Lord so that we will be able to respond as Elijah did in his darkest hour!

New psalms

2010-11-07T09:42:00.000+01:00

Last Friday I taught about praise and worship to a class of 21 young men and women in our YWAM DTS (Discipleship Training School). Many of them came from strict traditional churches and some are probably still in shock about the expressive ways we worship the Lord at Heidebeek.
The DTS leader asked me specifically to teach about the biblical foundations for worship, using the original Hebrew words.
The words: yadah, towdah, tehillah, halal, zamar, ruwa, barak are some of the words we translate into English and Dutch as "praise" or "thanksgiving". As we looked deeper into their individual meanings the students discovered a world of creativity, color, movement, expression and celebration - all right there in their own bibles!

Towards the end of the morning I took some time to explain how candid and real King David was in expressing his heart to God, never realizing that we would be reading his psalms centuries later. "God's not afraid of our honesty", I said as I encouraged them to open their hearts to God fully.
We examined how most of the psalms, especially those illustrating struggle or sadness, had a turning point when the psalmist made the choice to turn his heart to God with gratefulness, praise and determination.
Then they set about penning their own psalms and I saw God move in their hearts, teaching them first-hand how to express their hearts to Him.

Every now and then I am blessed to get some feedback from students. So, when I opened my email this morning I read these words from Hans:

Thanks so much for Friday's lesson. As someone growing up in a reformed church home I appreciated the way you gave us such a strong biblical explanation for worship. I was also inspired to pen my first psalm...

Psalm 151

Lord, I'm not feeling all that great right now.
I'm uncomfortable, insecure, and often rude towards others.
I've got a lot of questions about money, who I'm going to marry,
and about how important my profession or hobbies should be in my life.
One moment I'm intensely happy and content but the next
I feel aimless, tired, depressed and burdened with all my feelings.
Mostly I feel ashamed and anxious and even sinful
because it looks like I'm stuck with all this and there's no way out.

But You, Lord, are my Deliverer, my Savior and my Creator.
I can see the everlasting greatness of Your creation.
You have designed every tree, each leaf, and every sprout of grass.
You created every mammal, bird and person as unique, one by one.

Thank You for making all this. Thank You that You created me.
I want to cling to Your Father-heart always in total surrender.
You can deliver me from any situation, no matter how I feel.

Thank You that I can cast all my cares on You.
And this is why I long even more for Your closeness, warmth and love.
Thank You for being there for me.
Hallelujah!

Yes, hallelujah!
___________________________
Hallelujah: (halal + Jah) means to celebrate Yahweh with much emotion, movement, color and sound much like King David did when the Ark of the Covenant, God's presence, was returned to Jerusalem in 1 Samuel 6.

Honey

2010-10-31T11:19:00.000+01:00

Honey

A seed was planted before I came
And grew in your heart, becoming my name
With joy you searched for just the right one
Oh lucky me that I was chosen

I licked you and nipped you, but you just laughed
You chased me around but I was too fast
I jumped into your arms, I slept in your lap
Our breaths were in sync as we snuggled and napped

The threads of our lives are woven each day
As we take our walks and I challenge you to play
Our love is unconditional and will never end
I know you’re my master, but I’m your best friend

Written for the Petlitzer Prize contest September 2010 by Belinda van de Loo

Mother+brain tumor+8 children

2010-09-15T16:11:00.000+02:00

This is the pastor of my home church in Minneapolis, Craig, and his radiant wife, Michele. I took this photo a couple years ago at a special banquet and am glad it captured just a bit of their contagious passion for life.

Craig and Michele also have 8 children: Ian, Eva, Nicole, Tesana, Erik, Jennae, Sophia and Tasha who are just about the best kids you'll ever meet - full of life and radiance, just like their parents.

Craig and Michele really have a gift as parents and, where you and I might think of anything more than 2 or 3 children as chaos, they have knit their little flock together into a family of God-fearing, happy and healthy little souls who all seem to take care of one another. My goodness, Michele even home-schooled them all until just recently and loved it... but...

she had to stop because of the headaches and other strange things going on inside of her that didn't seem to have any explanation at all.

And last week Michele ended up in the hospital with swelling in her brain that had to be drained. The tests show that she has a glioblastoma brain tumor. Maybe I shouldn't have looked that up on wikipedia... maybe I would have more faith for her healing if I hadn't seen some of those discouraging "facts" and percentages.

I'm joining my Sojourn Campus Church family in a fasting and prayer chain for Michele's healing and restoration. We will not give up on this precious, godly woman, wife and mother.

Please join us in prayer for Michele.

See this and pray with me

2010-09-08T11:34:00.005+02:00

Hello friends,

The 30 days of prayer for the muslim world is ending but our prayers and love

should not end. Take a few minutes to watch this video clip (see link below)

and join me in prayer

Tears of the Saints video clip

What a gift!

2010-08-30T09:54:00.000+02:00

What a gift!

A long weekend away with my dear friend, Talitha, to visit our dear friend, Hilde in Norway! It sounds like I'm rich or something, such a luxurious-sounding trip.

The price of the ticket: $50

The friendships: priceless!

It's amazing how long a few days can feel like when you're in such a totally different environment. It's been very refreshing to be with some of my favourite people in the world in one of my favourite places in the world. I'm so thankful for these gifts and my God who opened the door to make it all possible.

What a gift!

the Boy

2010-08-24T20:10:00.001+02:00

a photo I took of Honey today

Voice for the Voiceless

2010-08-21T13:39:00.000+02:00


Aisha,a young woman punished by men who cut off her nose and ears.

I'm praying through the Voice for the Voiceless 30 day prayer booklet.
I'm sad, I'm angry, I'm praying, I'm more informed, I'm praying....

Foreward
A few years ago, I was asked the question, "What will be the greatest global challenge as we enter the 21st Century?" You may think of war, terrorism, famine, AIDS and a number of other colossal needs, which all surely qualify. But among the most serious issues is gender injustice – the abuse and suppression of women. Why? Because it is the biggest, most far reaching, and most hidden.
The Church needs to take a stand, the Church needs to raise its voice, the Church needs to pray and act, because God's heart breaks over gender injustice."
- Loren Cunningham

Message
In our fast-paced, digital world, myriads of voices clamor for our attention. Advertising slogans seduce us into buying the latest gimmick. Politicians paint pictures of prosperity for our vote. Hollywood hypnotizes us with escapism.
The infrastructure of our information age is communication technology and our rulers those who make their voice successfully heard. However, despite our increasing sophistication, we grow ever more deaf to those who cannot make a profit from their voice. Even if we listen, often all we hear is a whimper. A cry or moan, Do we really hear them?
Who are these voiceless?
They are women. Around the Horn of Africa, 130 million women suffer the devastating effects of female circumcision. The practice is performed on pre-teen girls. Circumcision mutilates these girls for life and robs them of the joy of womanhood. Their wedding night becomes torture to be endured. Child bearing can be fatal.
They are children. Every year according to UNICEF, more than 1 million children enter the oldest trade in the world, prostitution. From the age of three, people rape and abuse them to break their wills. They are forced to prostitute their innocence to pay off debt to their owners and other commodities like rent, food and clothing. They are refugees. War and genocide displace millions of people. Take the Saharawi for example. 27 Years ago they were ejected from their homeland for the minerals and fisheries. For 27 years they have lived outcast and alone. For 27 years they have cried for justice, yet the vast expanse of the hostile Sahara mutes their cry.
Look into their eyes. Hear them speak. Although the media does not hear them, God listens to their voice. His heart cries out for the brokenhearted. Will we stand with Him? Will we act with Him? Will we speak for those who have no voice? If we respond yes, then one day these people will gain their voice

Voice for the Voiceless 30day prayer booklet by Paul&Susi Childers, YWAM

The global abuse and suppression of women must stop. We must pray and act!

http://photogenx.net/
http://www.avoiceforthevoiceless.co.za/
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,294175100001_2007267,00.html

Worship, Worldview and Cultural Formation

2010-08-11T18:07:00.000+02:00

James K.A. Smith - Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation from Calvin College on Vimeo.

The Provost (leader) of the international college I serve at (www.edu.com ) recommended this video to me. It took me a couple weeks before I actually sat down and soaked it in but it was well worth it. The language used is not easy English but Prof. James K.A. Smith of Calvin College (Dutch Reformed College in Michigan, USA) chooses his words carefully to create the greatest impact.
It's an hour long but deeply challenging and, if I may say so, "reforming" in nature.
This is also why I am sharing it with you.
Blessings,
Belinda

Do you see?

2010-07-26T21:47:00.000+02:00

Do you see, do you see all the people sinking down?

Don't you care, don't you care, are you gonna let them drown?

How can you be so numb not to care if they come?

You close your eyes and pretend the job's done

"Oh bless me Lord, bless me Lord", you know it's all I ever hear
No one aches, no one hurts, no one even sheds one tear
But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds, and He cares for your needs
And you just lay back and keep soaking it in
Oh, can't you see it's such a sin?

Cause He brings people to your door, and you turn them away
As you smile and say, "God bless you, be at peace"
And all heaven just weeps 'cause Jesus came to your door
You've left him out on the streets

Open up, open up and give yourself away
You see the need, you hear the cries, so how can you delay
God's calling and you're the one; but like Jonah you run
He's told you to speak but you keep holding it in,
Oh can't you see it's such sin?

The world is sleeping in the dark that the church just can't fight
Cause it's asleep in the light
How can you be so dead when you've been so well fed?
Jesus rose from the grave
And you, you can't even get out of bed

Come away, come away, come away with Me my love,
Come away, from this mess, come away with Me, my love.

The words of this song still pierce my heart just like they did in 1981 when I was driving home from my teaching job and it came on the radio. I was waiting at a stoplight in downtown Minneapolis as dozens of people were crossing in front of me on their way home from work. I heard the words, saw the people and began to weep, which turned to deep sobs as I began to feel God's heart for the lost. The light turned green so I drove on and pulled over as the song continued. I committed my life to missions service that day and became a missionary in 1982, during the same summer that Keith died in a plane crash.

Encouragement from the Mission Field

2010-07-07T09:54:00.000+02:00

Swedish Pioneers Incite A Movement
Mongolia
In 1993, a young YWAM couple from Sweden, Magnus and Maria, moved to Erdenet, Mongolia. There was not a single known believer in that city, and the country as a whole was lost in darkness. The couple found early positive response among teenage girls and soon had a group to disciple in basic Christian principles. The YWAM church planting team grew, and so did the nascent church of Erdenet, with 120 baptized believers after one year. By 1996 - in just three short years - the spiritual breakthrough was so powerful and widespread that the expatriate YWAM team turned the church over to Mongolian leaders and left the country. But the miracle was not yet complete.

The church in Erdenet delved farther into God's word and discovered new truths and new responsibilities, reaching out in practical ways to the poor of their community and continuing to grow at an unprecedented pace. Missionaries were trained and sent out from Erdenet, eventually establishing new churches in every people group of Mongolia.

Today, of YWAM's 330 church-planting teams worldwide, 10% are made up of long-term, full-time Mongolian workers.

One Small Worshipper in India

2010-06-13T15:04:00.000+02:00

Mimi, from Mizoram, northeast India, was a leader who, at the point of burn-out believed God wanted her to do a School of Worship. She was accepted to the very first SOW at the “Beach Center” YWAM base in Chennai.
Though Mimi was a small and somewhat shy woman, she had a big and grateful heart for God; you see, Mimi had been paralyzed from the waist down but God touched her and healed her completely!

After completing her SOW, she returned to the northeast and God began to use her to reach the youth in her city through crusades she organized. The crusades had a strong focus on worship and prayer and increasing numbers of young people were touched by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The following year Beach Center sent a SOW outreach team to work with her. This team ministered throughout Mizoram, seeing churches transformed through the simple but bold ministry of worship. During the SOW outreach the team saw many, many people come to the Lord and be delivered from demonic spirits.

As Mimi’s ministry continued to grow she established centers for ongoing ministry and began to gather Christians from her entire state, organizing 24x7 prayer and fasting times. They began to pray for their state which, even though it is known as a “Christian State”, has the highest incidence of drug abuse and AIDS.

God has opened doors for this small worshipping woman to minister to people in positions of high authority in the government, including the Chief Minister. In fact, the Chief Minister was present at the official opening of her Prayer Center in the heart of the state capital.

This amazing small woman now has a TV program now that reaches millions throughout her state, Burma and other Far East countries. The TV programs are full of testimonies, worship and clear, biblical preaching. Numerous viewers have given their hearts to God and been healed of many ailments. Our YWAM teams have joined her on this program, calling India to worship God!

Praise God for a small, faithful servant like Mimi and join us in prayer for her ministry to stay strong and effective. She is a worshipper in spirit and in truth!

School of Worship harvest in Nepal

2010-05-30T20:34:00.000+02:00

School of Worship outreach report from Nepal

There is inspiring and amazing good news from the School of Worship from Chennai, India who are on outreach in Nepal right now. Many of the SOW students are in their late teens and early twenties. Read what the SOW leader wrote just a few days ago; it's mind-blowing what God has done.

"The Lord has poured out His heart and His love-pain for souls - we cried out for Nepal for 4 hours non-stop last night, couldn’t stop the meeting, went on till 12 midnight. This is no hype; truly the power of God. I can’t express it with my limited words - the atmosphere was like Isaiah 6 with young and old crying for the lost was very powerful. We had more than 40 Nepalis committing their lives for missions at midnight, crying out to the Lord saying, Here I am Lord, send me!

Truly, the harvest is plenty, the workers are few. Pray that the Lord will send out more harvesters into Nepal. I talked to our SOW team this morning and said that if this continues, in 5 or10 years time the Nepalis will be everywhere! They may overtake India in terms of missions. Nepal is the highest place in all the world.The spirit of God fell on us like the rain and is going to fall on this nation and spread down to all the earth The students are overwhelmed.

The base leaders are so excited... a lot of other missionaries were also there - from U.S., Australia, Philippines, Ireland, and Canada. These missionaries have been serving here for the past 20 years as doctors, engineers, etc. Some native missionaries were also there. It was like God bringing all the churches and missionaries togather for His purpose and everyone was amazed."

Another team working in Chennai, India has also seen a major move of God . Here is their report:

"Three hundred people came to the Lord in a conference they prepared for. Twenty of those people were on the verge of committing suicide and gave their lives to the Lord instead. Many people who were demon-possessed were delivered during the worship times under the power of the Holy Spirit. Fifty of these people are now being discipled in the church.

Last year this church had the same conference and they saw only one person come to the Lord. This is the first time our team has worked in this area and with this particular church."

Please continue to pray for our teams. We have seen such a major breakthrough on outreach this time that we felt it would encourage each of you.

- YWAM Beach Center, Chennai, India

Honey's new car

2010-04-30T10:55:00.000+02:00

A big thanks to everyone who participated in Honey's Car Fund! In the photo above you can see the fruit of this project and Honey, enjoying his new car.
It's a 2000 Toyota Rav4, also known as a "funcruiser" and we are loving it! The car sits up nice and high, which is a relief for my knees and back, and still it's compact enough for the small Dutch streets. Don't worry, even tho it's "Honey's Car", he is not allowed to drive (he's too young, only 7 years old).
Gratefully,
Belinda
p.s. see Honey's big smile in the photo below... he's a happy boy!

Honey's car update

2010-04-13T21:29:00.002+02:00

Honey's Car Fund update!

A big THANK YOU for those who have started to fill the pot with financial

gifts both small and large! This has been a BIG encouragement to us.

A friend of mine who used to be a car dealer has been scanning ads for

me and giving suggestions (thanks, Andrew!) and another friend, Dick,

has agreed to come with me to look at and buy a car when the time comes.

We also checked to see how much my current 17 year-old Toyota would

bring as a trade-in. The estimate right now is maybe $500-1000 - every bit

helps! And, looking at the current market we estimate that to find

something suitable (and newer than 10 years old) for under $10,000. When

I checked my savings account today I have $6000 so I'm hoping to raise at

least another $2000 -3000. I'm SO thankful to see that much already in the

savings pot!

Maybe when we sent the first mail about "Honey's Car" you thought about

donating towards it... well, there's still time! By faith I'm aiming at buying a

different car during the first week of May - will you pray with me that this will

become reality.

If you would like to donate something towards "Honey's Car" you can use the

PayPal link below - it's fast and easy and you don't need a paypal account to

give. You can also print out a receipt that you can use for your records or tax

purposes. Don't worry if you can only give a little cuz every little bit helps and

will keep this missionary on the road.

Thanks for helping out!

Blessings,

Belinda and "Honey" in Holland

____________________

Honey's Car fund

(or click HERE)

First missionary journey to India

2010-04-03T14:46:00.001+02:00

A week in India and I felt like I was among family members after just a few days - thanks to the Apostle Thomas who evangelized this region in response to the Great Commission so many years ago.

So, here I was on my first missionary journey to India, welcomed by brown faces with warm hearts. They came from many different parts of India, Nepal and Bhutan to learn about worship and leading others in worship. I taught my heart out on topics like mentoring, worship and missions and how to grow in character and leadership skills as a worship leader.

A highlight for me was getting to know Richie (on the motorcycle) and Cheryl (Indian woman with the shawl) Kleinman who have been in YWAM almost as long as I have, faithfully serving here as leaders in Chennai and the region and started the School of Worship. We had meals together, long chats about future strategy of planting a new School of Worship in Nepal, and just had some time to relax and get to know one another.

It was extra fun to be here with a good friend, Hilde (Norway) who actually went to India to teach when I couldn't. She's been here four times now and they love her almost as much as she loves them.

India impressions: smiles, hospitality, grace, patience, disciples, hot, busy, friendly, hungry for God...

Lord willing, I'll be back for more of this next year!

Home

2010-03-11T08:42:00.000+01:00

It can get rather confusing living on two continents.

Several years ago I wrote a song when I first became aware of how my heart felt in such far removed places. It still says it for me...

Faraway in a land

Where the North wind blows and blue waters flow

Is the place I call home

All your lovingcare taught me how to share

And a part of my heart is right next to yours

Through the valleys and seas

God keeps us faithfully

Faraway is a place

Where the land lies low and the tulips grow

Welcoming open arms,

Being friends with me, like a family

And a part of my heart is right next to yours

Through the valleys and seas

God keeps us faithfully

You're never faraway

Faraway in a land

Where a jungle grows and it never snows

I will come, I will go

See your smiling face, feel your your warm embrace

But a part of my heart stays right next to yours

Through the valleys and seas

God keeps us faithfully

You're never faraway....

Universal Songs, Holland

Visit to the Past

2010-02-20T17:10:00.002+01:00

Just after I graduated from university (which took me 5 years, after changing my major from veterinary medicine to education) I had this deep longing to study the Bible. This led me to attend the Eden School of Discipleship from 1979-1980.... a full year of intensive bible study, mentoring and application of Christian principles and values into my life. It was a rich year of friendships as well.

So it was that when I was making a plan to meet up with one of those friends, Mildrid, we decided to meet up at Eden, now YWAM Northwoods... a place we'd never been together since we left.

We've walked down memory lane here, exploring the grounds and laughing at different memories of 30 years ago.

Revisiting the past conjurs up gratefulness for God's faithfulness and inspires me to continue to trust Him for the future.

R&R

2010-01-25T17:08:00.002+01:00

Just a few days away for refreshing and restoration... communion with God, silence, meditation, reflection, centering...
Thankful

The most prayed-for dog in the world?!

2010-01-13T23:09:00.003+01:00

Somebody is definitely feeling better and that is Honey! It's hard to keep a tough little terrier down, especially when half the world is praying for him.
Honey had an obstructed bowel with a bone fragment (from a bone he shouldn't have been able to break), then became dehydrated so he wouldn't eat or drink. A day in the animal hospital last Saturday on an IV drip started his road to recovery.
Today we went for a nice walk and afterwards he played with my mom's dog, Bridget. Now, both of them are snoozling.
Thank you for your prayers and for caring for a wee lil westie like HoneyBoy!

Poor Honey

2010-01-09T01:57:00.004+01:00

So sorry to share that Honey is quite ill again....
It seems he tackled a recreational bone (think big beef femur) with typical terrier gusto and broke off a peach-pit sized piece which became lodged in his intestinal tract.
Wednesday morning he started vomiting and then had diarrhea
He passed the bone bit naturally on Thursday morning (at the vets office) but had been vomiting and diarrhea so much that he became quite dehydrated. They gave him subcutaneous fluids and we all expected him to perk right up but he was still in some pain.
Went in at the end of the day Thursday for an xray and saw a bone shard (looked like a round toothpick, halved) up around his pylorus (where the stomach empties into the intestine). It still hasn't come through and Honey continues to fast himself.
Tomorrow morning I'll take him in for another xray to see what's happening. If it hasn't passed by then it may mean surgery to remove it.
In the meantime, he is drinking but not eating - except for licking yogurt off my finger. I've also decided to help his rehydration by administering pedialyte via a medicine dropper in his mouth. In addition, the vet gave me some pain medication.
It's heart-breaking for me to see him refuse food. Even at his worst during the hepatitis episode last summer, he never once refused food. This leads me to believe that his body instincts are telling him that it would be bad to eat right now.
He weighed in at a measly 12lbs yesterday at the vets... and he'd finally gotten back to an acceptable 15lbs just a week ago. Much of that must have been fluids, but he still looks so skinny.
His vitals are stable and, other than sleeping alot and not eating, he seems alert enough.
Please pray with us to see this pass!
Poor lil guy has had more than his fair share of troubles and I feel rather miserable, if I'm honest.
Thanks for your support and prayers.
Blessings,
Belinda and Honey in Minnesota

in Memoriam

2009-12-10T23:39:00.003+01:00

We are speechless... my cousin's wife died this past Monday.

Karl and Diane were regular visitors in our home, though they lived a couple hours away. Karl and I chat now and then on "skype" and I always make a point to go visit them when I'm in Minnesota.

Karl (actually my 2nd cousin) just had a triple bypass on his heart and was recuperating at home. Diane, together with their daughter Teresa, was caring for him.
Last weekend Diane felt like she was getting a stomach flu and decided to take some extra rest. Monday afternoon, while taking a nap, she apparently suffered a heart attack and died in her sleep. She was 66 years old and they'd been married for 45 years.

Diane loved to read and was an avid fisherwoman. We went fishing only once together but I have eaten the fruits of their labors on several occasions. She didn't say much but she was a lovely lady with a kind soul.

Tomorrow morning my brother, sister and I will drive down to Rochester, Minnesota for the funeral. Funerals are for those left behind and we want to be close to our family there. No-one can take the place of family.

3 weeks, 3 months..

2009-11-29T23:49:00.003+01:00

Leading the SOW-DNA gathering in Holland, November 2-6

Teaching in DTS - Lausanne, Switzerland November 9-13th

Staffing and teaching at the Call2Worship, YWAM-Heidebeek in Holland Nov. 16-20th

Then... packing my house up in Holland for a 3 month absence to be on furlough in the USA....
My home in Holland Home in USA

Ahhh... the joys of missionary life...
Never a dull moment...
Grabbing hold of life with both hands and full speed ahead

Lead on, oh King Eternal!

SOW DNA and more

2009-11-07T12:25:00.003+01:00

This is a group photo of the first regional SOW DNA gathering in Heerde, Holland. Left to right: Stephane (Switz-Fr), Belinda (USA/NL), Rogerio (Brazil/Germany), Pete (USA), John (Egypt), Rosy (Switz-German), Carmen (Romania), Bob (USA), Fernando (Brazil/Spain), Kathy (USA), Mary (Phillippines/Finland), Lisa (USA/Germany), JongHee (Korea/UK), Mirjami (Finland/Hungary), Nic (USA/UK) Corinne (Switz/UK), Sylvain (Switz-Fr)
Pete Sifuentes, one of the "founding fathers" of the School of Worship (Montana, USA) shared his heart with us.
After Kathy and Bob Fitts (founders of the SOW) shared the SOW story with us, we prayed for them and blessed them.

Tho we only had 3 days together, I feel as if the Schools of Worship have been changed... we rediscovered our identity, reaffirmed our purpose and are responding with faith to the future.
We found that we are part of the same "tribe" and are not alone in what God has challenged us to do: "Call the nations to worship God"!

Getting Ready

2009-10-30T11:35:00.003+01:00

Very full and full-filling days... visiting my dear friend, Pavlina, in the Czech Republic last weekend. She had a stroke 2 years ago and a divorce a year ago. My friend, Marcia, and I drove one day, visited one day, and drove back last weekend in order to see her, minister to her. We prayed for healing for her right arm which is not functioning.
This coming weekend is our YWAM Holland National Staff Conference... an annual event connecting all of us serving with YWAM in the Netherlands... about 250 YWAMers!
Next week, Nov. 2-6th is the first regional School of Worship "DNA" gathering here in the Netherlands... connecting over a dozen SOW leaders throughout Europe, M.East and Africa. I've been working hard on organizing this event and two similar events for "Americas" and "Pacific/Asia" regions next year. This is part of my new function within the University of the Nations College of Arts and Sports faculty.
Finally, Nov. 16-20th will be the 3rd Call2Worship at YWAM Heidebeek. A young couple I am mentoring, Jan-Hilbert and Gertine, are leading this seminar and now I am on their staff, and teaching in this course for Dutch worship leaders and teams.

Just before Thanksgiving in the USA, Honey and I will be travelling to Minnesota for a 3 month furlough. Really looking forward to being with family and friends again soon.

Blessings, Belinda

Photos from the past couple months

2009-10-07T10:19:00.004+02:00

Every drop of water...

2009-09-10T08:23:00.003+02:00

I'm in the desert... "every drop of water is precious" was written on our welcome packets. I'm buying water to drink, to brush my teeth, to make coffee... water is valuable for our health.

This morning I again consider scriptures like John 4 when Jesus promised a woman in the desert to provide a spring of water welling up to eternal life so that she will never be thirsty again. Every drop of water is precious.

John 13 has the title: "Jesus washes his disciples feet". Jesus tells Peter "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!", answered Peter. Every drop of water is precious.

In this dry and thirsty land I've seen more hunger and thirst than in the wet lowlands of Holland where I live. What I see naturally is also echoed spiritually as I hear the stories of the middle east brethren here who are passing out the living water as fast as they can. We need more who will hand out water, who will wash feet because of loving Jesus. And we are praying together to be more like Jesus.

Every drop of water is precious!

HONEY WON!!!

2009-09-01T09:28:00.001+02:00

Thanks to each and everyone who voted for Honey this month so that he could win!

Yay!!!

It's a big encouragement to us after all the health struggles these past few months.

Honey is slowly gaining his strength and health back after having hepatitis and anemia. He had surgery to be castrated and there was no tumor - also good news. His enlarged prostate should now reduce and we hope that the crisis is behind us. His blood work right before surgery showed that all his levels were in normal range... and blood doesn't lie!

So we can assume that Honey's liver and gall bladder will also become normal size within the next weeks. Then he will most likely gain back the 2-3 pounds that he lost.

His activity level is moderate and he is playing again (not as rough) and chasing cats and squirrels with typical terrier intensity.

Your prayers as well as all those votes have helped, blessed and encouraged us deeply.

Thanks for being a loving and loyal Honey Fan!

Blessings,

Belinda and "Mr.Honey"

HONEY WON!!!

2009-09-01T09:26:00.001+02:00

Honey Won!!!!

Thanks to each and everyone who voted for Honey this month so that he could win!

Yay!!!

It's a big encouragement to us after all the health struggles these past few months.

So we can assume that Honey's liver and gall bladder will also become normal size within the next weeks. Then he will most likely gain back the 2-3 pounds that he lost.

His activity level is moderate and he is playing again (not as rough) and chasing cats and squirrels with typical terrier intensity.

Your prayers as well as all those votes have helped, blessed and encouraged us deeply.

Thanks for being a loving and loyal Honey Fan!

Blessings,

Belinda and "Mr.Honey"

p.s. Leave a message to congratulate him on Honey's website if you like: www.belindaloo.com/Honey.html

*********************************

Belinda van de Loo

Bosbesstraat 7

8162 VL Epe, HOLLAND

(31)05786-20948 h

(31)06-50524669 m

More news about Honey!

2009-08-14T10:50:00.002+02:00

Dear friends and fans of Honey,

It seems we have narrowed down Honey's health problems to a diagnosis of "steroid-induced liver enlargement".

The steroids are hormones that one of his glands are producing... either his adrenal (bijnier) gland close to his kidney or his testicles that may have a small tumor.

The vet specialist just called with the results that the Cushings Disease test (adrenal dysfunction) was negative (yay!). Which means the most probable cause is a sertoli-cell tumor that can be removed with castration.

Honey is scheduled for castration next Tuesday (Aug. 18th). First they will give him a blood/liver enzyme test to see if he can handle the anesthesia and, if so, they will remove his testicles. This will definitely settle his enlarged prostate gland problem and I believe it will also restore his organ functions. His liver, gall bladder, and spleen should return to normal size and then his anemia will be slowly resolved. However, just to rule out any other causes, the vet will do a bone marrow biopsy on Honey while he is anesthesized.

I've also asked if I could observe the surgery, as the vet knows my interest, which might be possible.

The vet said that Honey really is a unique case (we ALL know this is true) and he is very motivated to find out what's at the bottom of his problems. Dr. Daan is a very capable specialist and he knows we're praying for him.

Please keep praying for Honey and for me.... it's been quite a battle in many ways and I want this to finish well in every respect.

A number of you have asked about the financial costs involved in his treatment... yes, it is costly (not as much as it would be in the USA!) and if you would like to contribute to cover Honey's vet fees, there is a link at the bottom of this email (PayPal/credit card). I do have pet insurance but it sure doesn't cover all the costs.

Thanks for helping and especially thanks for praying! God is at work and may He receive ALL the glory!

Blessings,

Belinda and Honey

p.s. I'll let you know how he's doing after the surgery.

*********************************

Belinda van de Loo

Bosbesstraat 7

8162 VL Epe, HOLLAND

(31)05786-20948 h

(31)06-50524669 m

Help with Honey's vet costs:

Finger of God

2009-08-13T11:01:00.004+02:00

What in the world is God doing today? Watch this YouTube video clip.
I saw this dvd 2 weeks ago and I can't get it off my mind or out of my heart that THIS is what God wants for His church today!

First time in Finland!

2009-07-26T09:20:00.003+02:00

Here in Finland... reminds me of my homeland, northern Minnesota. And I see why so many finnish people settled there. I feel "at home" here because the birch and fir trees, all the lakes, and the countryside are familiar to my soul. Even the mosquitoes!

The Call2Worship staff team is gathering from the north, south, east and west! North: Alice, Mirjami (northern Finland)... West: Hilde (Norway) and Cindy (Sweden)... East: Mary (Phillippines)... South: van de Wetering family and me (Holland). We've been getting to know one another for a couple months via Skype meetings and now we are face-to-face... talking, worshipping, praying, seeking God.

We have the sense that God wants to lead us day-by-day in this adventure... so we are committed to "wait for Him". Not always easy to do when many of us are used to leading and structuring and being responsible.

I'm reminded of one of my "take home" thoughts from the popular (and recommended) book, "The Shack" in which the main character asked God about responsibility. Basically it went like this:
"God, I thought it was a good thing and expected of me to be responsible?"

"I never asked you to be responsible, that's MY job... I want you to be responsive to Me. If I direct you to take up something, then you have ME behind you, directing you, supplying all you need to accomplish that thing"

Hmmm, that idea resounded in my over-responsible soul and I've been chewing on it ever since. My application is to learn how to be responsive to God, the Responsible One.

So, we are here in Finland... in a small place called Koivumaki (Birch Hill) near Siilinjarvi at the YWAM base... getting ready for a week of following Jesus and sitting at His feet. I have the sense that I will be learning much.

Students will come, God will be at work in and through us and something small but significant will be birthed here as we call Finland to worship the Creator!

Honey just a few weeks ago

2009-07-18T12:53:00.003+02:00

These photos are just taken a few weeks ago while on holiday in Norway. Little did I realize that something was happening inside my little friend. I just thot he was a bit tired from all the changes... now I know better. His liver, gall bladder, prostate enlarged, he is anemic and we still don't know exactly why.
Please pray that we'll find the cause so it can be treated
Thanks,
Belinda and Honey

pray for Honey

2009-07-16T22:23:00.003+02:00

Hello friends,

This is a special prayer request for my dear little friend, Honey.

About 6 weeks ago, while I was in Norway staffing a Leaders Training Course, Honey became sick. It seemed like it was from a tick that had slipped through my daily tick checks on him. He was lame and lethargic for a couple days and was obviously not feeling well. One day he would be fine and another day he would seem sick so I waited till we returned to Holland to get him checked by the vet.

Vet visits....

When we got back to Holland last week I took him to the vet the next day for a blood test. The blood test immediately showed other problems so we were referred to a specialist who did an ultrasound and a biopsy of his liver. He has hepatitis (inflammed liver), an enlarged gall bladder and prostate, is anemic and has lost a lot of weight. Problem is, the vet has been unable to determine the cause of the problems. Without knowing the cause, he cannot be treated effectively.

Yesterday I took him again for more tests and I hope to hear back early next week what those results are.

He is on a special diet that I've been making for him... he is so hungry but if I give him too much it causes more pain in his abdomen. The vet prescribed some enzymes to help him digest his food better (which was not happening). He is also getting some treatment to support his liver functions.

It is not life-threatening at this point but, if left untreated, it could become dangerous.

Honey sleeps alot (probably because of being anemic) and is taking life slower than he's ever done before in his 6 years. He eats well (very positive!) and though his systems are depressed, he is still strong in spirit most of the time. He has gained a little bit of weight in the past week.

Bottom-line

Okay, bottom line: we need prayer! Please pray that the vets will find ANSWERS so that they can treat the problems. I am certain that this is what will make the difference.

Please also pray for me... I'm due to leave next Friday, July 24th, to give a Call2Worship seminar in Finland, returning August 3rd. It would be SO HARD to leave Honey home in Holland for 10 days when there are still not answers. Also, his usual guest family is on vacation, so I need someone to care for Honey while I'm gone. If you would like to do this, please contact me!

Thank you SO much!

Blessings,

Belinda

(and Honey)

on vacation in Norway

Pray for HoneyBoy

2009-07-11T11:54:00.003+02:00

Hello all,
Please pray for Honey because he is quite sick.
The vets have biopsied his liver and there seems to be quite a bit of damage done... will get the rest of the results this coming week, the diagnosis and prognosis.
He is sleeping alot and lost weight... not his usual alert and spunky self at all.
Thanks for caring and praying!

On vacation in Norway

2009-07-01T07:02:00.004+02:00

Enjoying some rest and refreshment here in Norway together with friends. The mountains, the water, the freshness of this country is restoring my soul. I'm thankful for vacation!

LTS graduation

2009-06-21T21:16:00.002+02:00

So, the LTS has finished and all have graduated! It was a great time, a wonderful learning experience and a huge blessing.
Above is the staff photo taken just after the graduation ceremony.
I'm so grateful for this opportunity... God knew what I needed and could use me for His glory... and THAT's what it's all about.

Now... a couple weeks vacation!

Southernmost tip of Norway

2009-06-14T11:31:00.003+02:00

Hello from the southernmost tip of Norway... the Lindesnes lighthouse!

It was a beautiful, summery day but this was definitely one of the windiest places I've ever been! I'm hanging on to Honey with good reason. It's an amazing view of an untameable sea along a rocky coastline. What a treat to be with my norwegian friend, Ingrid (whom I have known since my days with the Daystar ministry over 30 years ago), visiting her family in Lyngdal and then taking this drive.

Some of you may know this, but whenever I'm in a extraordinarily unique place like this I often call some dear friends of mine in Minneapolis, Dan + Jessie, who have partnered with me in missions since the beginning (1982). And so they've gotten 1 or 2 minute phone calls from deepest Africa, the oldest Irish pub in Belfast, Bali, the southern tip of Africa and now Norway. It's my own little way of sharing a memory.

For the beauty of the earth...

2009-06-11T07:30:00.003+02:00

Growing up in the Methodist church made me familiar with the grand old hymns. The very first one in our hymnal was "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!" - a favourite of mine still.
When I hum they return to me:
"Faith of our Fathers..."
"This is my Father's World..."
"I come to the Garden alone..."
"How Great Thou Art...."

And, today, this is the song that is visiting my heart so I share it with you to meditate upon God's character, together with some photos I've taken here in Norway....

For the beauty of the earth

For the Glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies:

Refrain:

'Lord of all, to Thee we raise

this our joyful hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale and tree and flow'r

Sun and Moon and stars of light

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child.

Friends on earth and friends above

For all gentle thoughts and mild.

For each perfect gift of Thine

To our race so freely given.

Graces human and divine

Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n

Fair-weather church?

2009-05-31T09:47:00.004+02:00

Just heard this morning that the church service in Kristiansand today might be cancelled or just a small group attending.

It's Pentecost Sunday here in Norway... and "the churches might be pretty empty or the time of the service changed to the evening".
Why?
It's nice weather, a long holiday weekend. People want to be outside.

But... it's a "Church Holiday"... right?!

Well, I'm going anyways... I'm filling my car with the Africans and S.Americans from the class. We'll go and gather with those that do come to worship.

Maybe the churches are really full on rainy, cloudy days....?

Wild Ride

2009-05-14T19:06:00.003+02:00

It's amazing to live on an island... seeing the sea each day, hearing the seagulls, always windy, boats coming and going, starfish, jellyfish, crabs for Honey to chase.
It's amazing to be here at this time, with these people from all over the world, seeking God, finding God. Each day is different, each story...
And, it's only the first week of the Leaders Training Seminar... 5 more to come.
It's a wild ride... following God each day.
Love it!

More later...
Belinda

Travelling on My Knees

2009-04-19T13:03:00.003+02:00

Last night I took a journey
To a land across the seas;
I didn't go by boat or plane,
I traveled on my knees.

I saw so many people there
In deepest depths of sin,
And Jesus told me I should go,
That there were souls to win.

But I said, "Jesus, I cannot go
And work with such as these."
He answered quickly, Yes you can
By traveling on your knees."

He said, "You pray; I'll meet the need,
You call and I will hear;
Be anxious over all lost souls,
Of those both far and near."

And so I tried it, knelt in prayer,
Gave up some hours of ease;
I felt the Lord right by my side
While traveling on my knees.

As I prayed on and saw souls saved
And twisted bodies healed,
And saw God's workers strength renewed
While laboring on the field.

I said, "Yes, Lord, I have a job,
Tis Thee I’d ever please,
I’ll gladly go and heed Thy call
By traveling on my knees."

Poem by Sandra Goodwin Clopine, missionary to Africa and serving with the Assemblies of God
National Prayer Center and Women’s Ministries in Springfield, MO

I'm not sure how old I was when I read this poem for the first time as a young Christian - probably 16 or 17 years old. It was an insert in the church bulletin.

In fact, I had a huge National Geographic world map next to my bed and each night I would cover my eyes, stab a spot on the map and then pray for that area - for people to come to know Jesus and for the missionaries who worked there. Then I would highlight the closest town with a highlighter pen and go to sleep. Just because of how the map was situated in relationship to my bed and the length of my arms, or because God was leading it, or both, I prayed for Eastern Europe and Russia much of the time. I'm sure I did this for several years.

In the middle of those years, I came across this poem and it so touched my heart that I wanted to memorize it. Simply enough, in order to memorize scriptures in those days, I made them into songs... and so this poem became a song... and the song became my prayer - and then I became the answer to my prayers.

This month I celebrate 27 years of missionary service and have ministered in over 35 countries...I'm sure that God is smiling.

DOG PHOTOS

2009-04-16T20:45:00.002+02:00

Belinda in Budapest

2009-04-02T07:58:00.003+02:00

Yes, I'm in Budapest this week - teaching on "Passion, Anointing, and Overcoming" to a group of School of Worship staff and students from countries such as Mexico, Russia, Canada, USA, Korea, Finland, and Germany.

Good timing for the topic - just finished an amazing weekend conference with Women's Aglow Europe and we certainly tapped into that topic of Passion because the theme was "Fan the Flame". Ya gotta love God's orchestration of the agenda!

Had a rough start when I arrived because the enemy was trying to discourage me... received some good prayer cover and wise words from mission partners which helped me discern who was behind the fears. Overcoming and standing in grace I entered the classroom with empty hands but a heart of faith, trusting God's leading. It was a good lesson for me!

The staff, students and I have a good connection and are learning from the Lord about how to make choices like King David and to take our place in God's plan. Good stuff!

Yesterday I had a fun treat by going to a SPA/turkish bathhouse here in the city. They have hot mineral springs, saunas, etc. and it was so refreshing!

Today we'll dig deeper into the Scriptures and learn about why worship is a battle.
Moving forward, onward Christian soldiers!

Change

2009-03-22T19:16:00.002+01:00

I know for a fact that there is a fair percentage of people out there who detest this word: change.
Yet, I am one of those few who love it, need it and welcome it's knock on my door.

So, I had a month fully planned and now it is, by my standards, nearly empty of plans.

April brings Easter - a time of reflection on Christ's suffering, crucifixtion and death.

Turning around in GREAT CHANGE inside 3 short days of hopelessness to GREAT JOY, knowing Christ was resurrected from the dead!

Ancient history and amazing current Truth.

It changed EVERYTHING that Christ rose from the dead.

He defeated death
He defeated the foe
He redeemed what and who was lost
He paid a price for me
He made the way clear to come

To come to God
To receive forgiveness
To know God's love
To know God

Welcome change!

Eternal Difference

2009-03-01T09:52:00.004+01:00

This past week I flew down to Egypt together with a friend, Didi, to teach on worship. It cost a good chunk of money and a good amount of time and effort to travel all the way into the desert, but it was so worth every penny and every minute.

Wednesday morning we had a worship time by gathering in a hand-made sanctuary... a corner in the classroom that the students had prepared to meet with the Lord. It was decorated by thick, colorful bedouin tarps and, in one corner, an altar of mortar blocks covered with palm branches and a wooden cross.
Each person was instructed to ask the Lord what they should give to Him or to one another.
I had asked the Lord that morning what to bring and felt I should basically empty my purse of money (Egyptian pounds, Euros and Dollars), and to bring a few of my blouses to give. As each student shared and gave their offerings, I knew who should receive my gift. I gave it to R... a young man who was a new Christian. Didi also felt led to give a financial gift to him. The giving and praying and worshipping went on all morning. It was a memorable blessing to witness such sacrificial and heartfelt gifts - to God and one another.

Just before I left the compound R. came and told me:

"Before our sanctuary time I was considering returning to my life of alcohol, smoking, rock music, etc... but I decided I'd give God one last chance - that's why I offered what I did on the altar to God (he basically put all his money, his music and his life on the altar).
When we met with God in that sanctuary and you gave me that money it confirmed to me that God saw me. Now I know that God is real! I will never turn away from Him and I want to serve Him with my life."

Next week, when the school ends, R. will return to Dubai to serve the Lord with his life and music. I hope to put him in touch with some other friends who are hoping to start a worship seminar in that country.

What an honor it is to serve God in this way.I just had to share this testimony with you. Of course, there are many more testimonies of what God did and is still doing there in the desert of Egypt. Our young brothers and sisters are not able to worship freely in Egypt - there is much persecution in that country as in all middle eastern lands - but the moments we had together in that simple sanctuary have made an eternal difference in their hearts and lives. And now they return to their homes and countries, forever touched by God's presence and His Word and they will call their peoples to worship God.

blooming in the desert

2009-02-24T20:00:00.000+01:00

Hello again,

Thanks for your prayers... things are blooming in the desert here in Egypt. Sleeping well,good ministry, fellowship, etc.

The students are asking questions and digging into the Bible. Tomorrow morning we will have a time of bringing our offerings of worship to God.

This afternoon, Didi and I were able to visit the ancient Coptic Christian monastery nearby - what a treat!

The internet connection is quite slow so this is short.

Keep praying for these young Egyptians and for me!

From the desert

2009-02-23T20:39:00.001+01:00

Hello all,

Some of you read the news yesterday that there was a bombing in Cairo in the tourist section of town. We arrived in Cairo yesterday just after that attack and our chauffeur tried to navigate the busier-than-normal streets of a city with 22 million inhabitants.

We stayed in Cairo last nite and it was a very disturbing night with sleeplessness and fears abounding. I prayed most of the night.

Today we drove 2 1/2 hours out into the desert and arrived 15 minutes before I was to teach. The class is so young, so hungry and it was a joy to teach them. I had a good nap this afternoon during the sandstorm.

Tonite we'll pray for extra protection and God's presence to lead us.

Please pray with us!

Big brudder

2009-01-31T10:54:00.002+01:00

I've been praying alot for my brother, Randy, these days because he is in so much pain from this facial nerve problem. Many of my friends around the world have rallied with us in prayer and he is feeling better - thank You, Lord!
Thinking about my brother I was looking at some old photos... we look pretty angelic here but certainly weren't... yet we survived childhood, made some lasting memories and forged lifelong friendships with one another. Many siblings can't say the same thing but knowing God has made all the difference in the world with the three of us.
I'm so glad I have a big brother and I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world!

Please pray for my brother

2009-01-24T10:37:00.001+01:00

Hello friends,

You're right, I don't talk much about my brother, Randy, but here he is and he needs prayer.

For a couple months now he's been in alot of pain and unable to sleep at night. The pain comes from his cheek bone. Several years ago he fell and broke his cheekbone and for some reason it's been hurting more and more and more. He thought it was a bad tooth, so he had a root canal; then another root canal and it hurt more and more.

I think most of us know what tooth pain is like but this is like 10x worse and now to the point that he is having pain seizures (like your body doesn't know what to do with so much pain so it short-circuits into a seizure).

The pain medications have given little relief unless he takes so much that he is like a drug addict... so this is obviously not a solution. He went to a good doctor yesterday who is alarmed and taking action with different pain meds but has also made an appointment with a surgeon. Apparently they have a couple options in surgery like to remove the damaged nerve (could cause partial face paralysis?) or to coat it with teflon (?!) to prevent the pain signals being sent to his brain and body.

Anyhow, at this point Randy is unable to function at all... I mean, it's hard for him to even walk stairs in his home alone. He can't work, can't think straight, and he and his wife, Darlene are feeling pretty hopeless.

Randy is a believer, as is Darlene... and we need other believers to believe with us for an answer.

Would you please take some minutes now to pray and to keep praying as the Lord leads you?

Let me know if you want an update to this email and I'll keep in touch. I don't want to keep interupting you with prayer updates on Randy, but I did want to let you know initially what his situation is right now. So let me know if you want to hear more later.

Thanks SO MUCH for praying with us!

Blessings,

Belinda

*********************************

Belinda van de Loo

Bosbesstraat 7

8162 VL Epe, HOLLAND

belindaloo@ gmail.com

Silver skates on Holland canal

2009-01-12T08:17:00.003+01:00

Enjoy this video clip of the skating activities on the Apeldoorn canal, near my home in Epe, Holland. Notice this old gent's skates - they're the old-fashioned, tie-on, wood+silver "Hans Brinker" skates.

Everyone in Holland is enjoying a "real Dutch winter" with freezing temps and skating on all the canals.

Blessings, Belinda

p.s. No, I didn't go skating myself - I don't trust my ankles!

Some photos of Ireland ministry

2008-12-13T07:41:00.003+01:00

Frosty Northern Ireland

2008-12-09T14:13:00.004+01:00

Terry and I arrived here in Northern Ireland on Saturday - She is teaching on Fund-raising for the YWAM staff and I am teaching on Worship for the DTS students. It's great to travel and minister together with one of my very best friends.
On Sunday morning we attended Drumgooland Presbyterian Church and enjoyed their liturgy and hymns coated in the delightful Irish accent. Then we went to the coastal town of Newcastle to explore their shops along the Irish Sea. I'm fairly comfortable driving on the left now, after my many visits here, so we could follow our own noses, stopping here and there to take photos.
Yesterday the lectures began and I'm totally enjoying a wonderful group of young students who are hungry for God and passionate about serving Him. They are leaving soon to go on an evangelistic outreach to South Africa.
Thank you for your prayers and love!

Call2Worship+Prayer report

2008-11-17T12:31:00.004+01:00

The Call2Worship + Prayer (Nov.10-15, 2008 at YWAM Heidebeek in Holland) was a fantastic feast of fellowship combined with gleaning from in-depth teaching and workshops.

The photo above was taken Tuesday morning when Kees Kraayenoord, a well-known Christian singer and worship leader in Holland, came to teach us on the attitude of Christ in ministry based upon Phil.2:6-11 ("Carmen Christi" - the Song of Christ). Eighteen years earlier Kees had participated in a summer course for worship leaders at the YWAM Heidebeek base and it had been a turning point in his Christian life. Having him teach in the course was like coming full circle and that, in itself, became a challenge and inspiration to his students that morning.

Many other teachers gave of the abundance of their hearts and ministries during the week: Didi Companjen, Marcel Zimmer, Corrie Oosterhuis, Cees + Marry Vork, Nestor Tsala, Inge Reinders, Jan-Hilbert vdWetering, Peter van Essen, Talitha Nawijn, and myself all contributed to the banquet of blessing, investing in the hearts and lives of over 30 participants. Quite a few day-guests were involved throughout the week as well, bringing the grand total to around 40 participants in the second Call2Worship course at YWAM-Heidebeek. The participants included those from traditional church backgrounds (including 2 Dutch pastors), Pentecostal and Evangelical church members as well as YWAMers from Holland, Finland, and the UK.

On Saturday we celebrated with a C2W traditional "Praise Party" in which each participant gave praise to God in creative ways such as: poems, new + old songs, dance, testimonies, and a group using flags to highlight God's multi-faceted character and goodness.

Plans are in the works for Call2Worship courses in Africa, the middle East and Nordic Europe.

A Holy Joy in a secular concert

2008-10-27T13:37:00.004+01:00

Concert of the Year
by Mark Gauvreau Judge

On Friday, September 19, I witnessed one of the most miraculous things I've ever seen on a stage. I use that adjective with purpose; the only way to describe what happened is with the language of religion.

It was the 2008 NEA National Heritage Fellowship awards presentation, held at the Strathmore Music Center, a spectacular concert hall outside of Washington, D.C. To realize the full effect of what happened at the concert, it's important to list who the recipients of the awards were. They included Horace P. Axtell, a Nimiipuu Indian from Idaho and a musician and storyteller; Dale Harwood, a saddle maker from Idaho; Jelon Vieira, the master of a Brazilian street dance called capoeira; Moges Seyoum, a leader of the music liturgy of the Ethiopian Christian church; the Oneida Hymn Singers of Wisconsin, a choir that sings Christian hymns in Iroquois; bluegrass singer Mac Wiseman's band (Wiseman was out due to illness); Jeronimo E. Lozano, a master of the Peruvian folk art retablo; Bettye Kimbrell, a quilter from Mt. Olive, Alabama; Sue Yeon Park, a Korean dancer from New York; and Dr. Michael White, a jazz musician specializing in the traditional New Orleans style. Admission was free.

The host of the evening was Nick Spitzer of American Routes, a weekly radio program dedicated to American roots music—jazz, blues, country, gospel and various permutations thereof. One by one he introduced the fellowship recipients, who took the stage to explain their art. Horace Axtell, the Indian spiritual leader, was resplendent in his traditional white garb and headdress. He sang a lovely hymn. Jeronimo Lozano was effervescent describing his retablos, with their scenes of religious and community life. Dale Harwood talkd about pride in the craftsmanship of his saddles, which are genuine works of art. Moges Seyoum and his choir were graceful, slowly moving to the front of the stage and back as they chanted an Ethiopian hymn. Jelon Vieira brought a troupe of young dancers to display capoeira's powerful mixture of martial arts and gymnastics. Bettye Kimbrell was a natural comic with her references to "the quilt police" who make sure every stitch is done right. Sue Yeon Park, dressed in a flowing white dress and backed by a group of female drummers, performed seungmu, a Buddhist ritual dance. And jazz master Michael White created magic with his New Orleans version of the blues.

After almost three hours, it was time for a curtain call—one last bow to end the evening. As Spitzer reintroduced everyone, White's jazz band played "When the Saints Go Marching In." That's when something happened.

The audience at the Strathmore rose to its feet to acknowledge the fellowship winners—it seemed at the time like one last blast of applause before the exit. But as they—we—clapped in time to "When the Saints Go Marching In," the performers onstage began to dance. Together. It started when Jelon Vieira's dancers did cartwheels in front of the jazz band. Suddenly the Oneida Hymn Singers, a group of mostly elderly men and women, were dancing with the capoeiras. Then Sue Parks' backing drummers appeared, dancing with anyone they saw. Mac Wiseman's band played along, as did the Ethiopian choir. The jazz band, sensing something in the air, got louder, and kept playing. And playing. And playing. Onstage, the performers formed a conga line, led by one of the jazz musicians, then a circle, each person taking his or her turn in the center. The invisible line between performers and audience evaporated. It had turned into one big party—or revival meeting.

The spiritual writer Stephen Mitchell once described a holy joy "so large that it is no longer inside of you, but you are inside of it." I used to work at a record store and wrote music reviews for newspapers and websites, and I've been to hundreds of concerts over the years. I have never seen anything like what happened on that stage at the Strathmore. It was the most totally unselfconscious explosion of bliss I have ever seen in performance; the people onstage were not hamming for the crowd or blowing kisses. They were as lost in abandon as we were. I wouldn't be surprised if they had forgotten we were there. This was a spontaneous eruption of happiness, a genuine shock in an era when audiences are moronically cajoled, no matter how lousy the performer is, to "get up and make some noise."

The usual media trope would be to claim that in moments like the Fellowship concert a Dionysian revelry is set loose; that the mélange of cultures had melted into one joyful snake of human happiness; that barriers had been shattered by the unifying power of art. There is a lot of truth to that. But to me, what was most astounding was the coiled power resulting from the tension between control and chaos. The penultimate moment of the show, the moment that stopped my heart, was about five minutes into the finale. The band was charging, the audience was whooping, the dancers were dancing, when suddenly everyone onstage parted and Sue Yeon Park appeared. She stepped into the circle and began to dance, seamlessly incorporating Korean ritual dance into New Orleans jazz. She did it with dignity, and holy grace. It was enough to make you believe you were seeing a genuine angel.

As I watched her, I thought of something Jelon Vieira, the capoeira dancer, had said earlier in the evening. Nick Spitzer had observed that his dance, with its martial arts element, often seemed on the verge of breaking into genuine violence. Vieira said that his job, as the adult supervisor of a dance that is done by a lot of young people, is to teach self-mastery. "If you don't have control over yourself," he said, "you have control over nothing." It reminded me of something written by Pope Benedict when he was still Joseph Ratzinger: "Today an illusion is dangled before us: that a man can find himself without first conquering himself, without the patience of self-denial and the labor of self control; that there is no need to endure the discomfort of upholding tradition, or to continue suffering the tension between the ideal and the actual in our nature."

By the time Sue Park drifted into the circle, the performers and audience had reached a level of genuine religious ecstasy that only comes when we have, through hard work and overcoming the actual in our nature, allowed the ideal in our nature room to play.

After about thirty bars of saints marching in, it finally took Nick Spitzer to shut things down. No one wanted to leave; I honestly believe the band could have played for an hour and no one would have moved for the exits. Staggering outside, I heard a woman say she was "swimming in joy." I myself was speechless. Then I heard someone say, "God, I hope there was someone from the media there." I thought of saying that I was in the media. But then I had the decency to admit there were times when language failed. Like everyone else, I just wanted to stay inside the joy.

Mark Gauvreau Judge's new book, A Tremor of Bliss: Reclaiming Sexual Virtue from the Pagan Left, will be published by Doubleday in April 2009.

Worship is...

2008-10-02T18:27:00.002+02:00

Worship is when you're aware
that what you've been given
is far greater than what you can give.
Worship is the awareness
that were it not for His touch,
you'd still be hobbling and hurting,
bitter and broken.

Worship is the "thank you" that refuses to be silenced.

We have tried to make a science out of worship.
We can't do that any more than
we can "sell love" or "negotiate peace."

Worship is a voluntary act of gratitude
offered by the saved to the Savior,
by the healed to the Healer,
and by the delivered to the Deliverer.

--Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm (Word Publishing, 1991)

YIKES!

2008-08-19T14:01:00.002+02:00

Honey and I had this amazing experience two days ago while out walking in the forest here in Holland.

We were on a dirt road and suddenly heard a heap of noise coming from the woods on our left... (Honey was behind me, off leash and sniffing around). Suddenly a huge wild pig leapt out of the woods on the run about 20-30 feet ahead of us, cutting across the dirt road into the woods on the other side. He was being chased by 2 Bernese mountain dogs and the pig was even bigger than those dogs!
I yelled at the dogs and somewhere had the sense to yell the Dutch command to "leave" or "stop" (in Dutch it is the word "AF!"). I must have sounded like the BOSS because those two big Bernese mt. dogs stopped in their tracks and came back to the road just as their master caught up with them.

I turned to see where Honey was, and he was right behind me, watching the entire episode with great interest! (Whew!) I'm sure he was also taken aback by my forceful command. The pig disappeared into the forest, the dogs all got leashed and everyone lived happily ever after.

Honey was kept on leash until we got to the heather fields where he chased rabbits and put his earthdog training to good use in the rabbit warrens.

That was as close as I've ever been to a wild pig in the forest here. I've seen them several times and Honey actually took off after a smaller one once, but wild pigs are better at crashing through the low brush than my short-legged boy who has to go "boundy-boundy" over the brush - glad for that little fact, too.

Yikes!

Mountain Tops and Valleys

2008-08-07T16:49:00.004+02:00

Just a few days ago I was on this mountain top in Norway... enjoying the view and the cool breeze way up there, close to the sky. My vacation was refreshing in body, soul and spirit. I totally enjoyed being with my friends, Hilde, Mildrid and Marcia... tucked away in a mountain cabin with a view across the valley and to the snowy mountains. I think we took pictures of the sunset each evening.
One night when I had to go to the outhouse at around 2 a.m. Honey (my trusty bodyguard) burst into a barrage of barking.... the source: a moose in the field next to the cabin about 30 meters away. The moose was not afraid of the light white noisy animal and lumbered off in her own time towards the forest. And Honey and I dreamt of moose as we drifted off back to sleep.

Arrived back to Holland early yesterday morning after an 8 hour drive from the ferry crossing to Denmark. Slowly getting back into pace with the busy world of YWAM and the Dutch village I live in. Checking my emails I see photos my brother, Randy, sent of my mom and I'm a bit shocked to see her... she is in the hospital again (4th time in 4 weeks) and fighting bacterial infections. Rough road for her... a valley.
Praying... please pray too.

Vacation!

2008-07-21T14:42:00.002+02:00

Wonderful!!! I'm on vacation with a few friends (and Honey, of course) and enjoying the mountains of Norway! We are staying in rustic conditions, hiking, hauling water from a well, no electricity... but peaceful, quiet evenings with a fire in a small cabin. The refreshment is seeping into my soul and I'm coming to rest.
Grateful, thankful... times of reflection.
God is good!

Rich time in Romania

2008-07-06T16:19:00.003+02:00

It was a wonderful week in Tirgu Mures, Romania where I taught at the flegling YWAM base. It was the first week of the School of Worship and the DTS, so they combined the students for a week on "Worship". The 9 students were hungry, open, and eager to learn and grow = a teacher's dream!
One morning I sent them into the town to express their worship for God in whatever way God would show them. It was only an hour, but they came back with reports of praying for the sick, playing with children or picking up trash in the name of Christ. We discovered together that worship is honoring and loving God every minute of every day, not just singing songs together. It was a rich time and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these special brothers and sisters from all over the world (Romania, Canada, USA, Philippines, Finland, Holland, and Ireland).

I arrived back in Holland late Saturday night to a very excited ball of fur: Honey! And, with a deep sigh, slept peacefully in my own bed. So many travels this year so far: USA, Egypt, N.Ireland, England, Ireland, Romania, Holland... it's been very FULL and FULfilling! I'm deeply grateful for the open doors of effective ministry and that God counts me worthy to be a woman of influence in His Kingdom.

As I write this my mother is in the hospital awaiting surgery on her left elbow which she broke a few days ago when she fell at home. We're thankful it wasn't a hip she broke, which would have totally incapacitated her but a broken elbow is extremely painful. She is very discouraged right now because she fell on her knees, then her elbow... so her knees are swollen and she's unable to stand right now. Her right shoulder has bursitis and her left elbow is broken so she's feeling very helpless and a bit hopeless. Please lift her up in your prayers.

Foolish thing

2008-06-21T18:05:00.004+02:00

Sometimes I'm astounded that God can use me to make a difference.
In my own eyes I am the foolish thing that God promises to use for His glory.
I'm a doorkeeper - opening doors for others to find their destiny in His kingdom.
I'm a sower - planting seeds of hope when I notice fertile soil in souls.
I'm a levite - daring to take the first steps into a rising Jordan river so that others will follow into the promised land
I'm a warrior - willing to swing my sword next to a weakened comrade in the Kingdom.
I'm a psalmist - writing words to inspire and proclaim victory over a defeated foe.
I'm a truth-teller - sticking my neck out to speak because I see what's at stake.
I'm a tree of life - planted on the banks of God's living water and letting my roots grow down deeper still.
I'm a fool - because I've abandoned my pride to love God fully.

Giving our Worship

2008-06-09T13:48:00.001+02:00

Hello friends,

Some years ago my family decided that we wanted to take care of mother in her old age. This is normal in eastern Europe or third-world countries, but in America it is very unusual! I think that most Americans (and Europeans) do not have many examples of "how" to do this because it is "normal" in those cultures to have elderly parents move to a nursing home.

Last year I was caring for mother from May until January. It wasn't easy but it was good. It was an act of love, an act of worship to serve her. But it was not just good for mom, it was good for me! We spent time together writing down her memories and I learned alot about her but also my own history and roots.

As we mature as Christians, let's not forget where we came from.

Who invested into your life, who opened a door of ministry for you, who helped you when you failed and never wanted to step out again? God has shown His faithfulness again and again, so let us be faithful in our calling.

Think about who you can encourage today or where you could step to the side so that someone else can grow in ministry.

"Give and it shall be given to you, pressed down, shaken together and overflowing"

- this is a principle of the Kingdom of God, whether we are helping an elderly parent or leading our churches in worship.

Thanks and blessings,

Belinda van de Loo

A nice ride?!

2008-05-06T07:53:00.001+02:00

People on a plane and people on a pew have a lot in common. All are on a journey. Most are well-behaved and presentable. Some doze, and others gaze out the window. Most, if not all, are satisfied with a predictable experience.

For many, the mark of a good flight and the mark of a good worship assembly are the same. "Nice," we like to say. "It was a nice flight/It was a nice worship service." We exit the same way we enter, and we're happy to return next time.

A few, however, are not content with nice. They long for something more. The boy who just passed me did. I heard him before I saw him. I was already in my seat when he asked, "Will they really let me meet the pilot?" He was either lucky or shrewd because he made the request just as he entered the plane. The question floated into the cockpit, causing the pilot to lean out. "Someone looking for me?" he asked. The boy's hand shot up like he was answering his second grade teacher’s question. "Well, come on in." With a nod from his mom, the youngster entered the cockpit's world of controls and gauges and emerged minutes later with eyes wide. "Wow!" he exclaimed. "I'm so glad to be on this plane!"

He wanted to see the pilot. If asked to describe the flight, he wouldn't say "nice." He'd likely produce the plastic wings the pilot gave him and say, "I saw the man up front.”

Do you see why I say that people on a plane and people on a pew have a lot in common? Enter a church sanctuary and look at the faces. A few are giggly, a couple are cranky, but by and large we are content. Content to be there. Content to sit and look straight ahead and leave when the service is over. Content to enjoy an assembly with no surprises or turbulence. Content with a "nice" service.

"Seek and you will find," Jesus promised. And since a nice service is what we seek, a nice service is usually what we find. A few, however, seek more. A few come with the childlike enthusiasm of the boy. And those few leave as he did, wide-eyed with the wonder of having stood in the presence of the pilot himself.

(Max Lucado, "Just Like Jesus", excerpts from pages 77-79, posted in the "Weekly Worship Word" by Ron Man on May 6, 2008)

Empty-handed worship?

2008-05-02T08:40:00.004+02:00

Today I exchanged emails with a friend from my home church who was commenting on my recent newsletter. I wrote about a worship exercize we'd done in a School of Worship recently to teach the students not to come to God with empty hands, but to bring Him an offering of honor and praise. I've copied my response to her here.

Hello Kathy,
Thanks for your note and I also appreciated hearing your thoughts about empty-handed worship. Yeah, as I kept studying the old testament model for worship it occured to me that no one came empty-handed. They were instructed by God Himself to choose the best of what He'd given them and offer it back to Him. This was to teach them/us a lesson, not just a vain exercize, as we've both discovered. And yes, I agree that there is a big difference between having something in our open hands and actually giving it, offering it to God.

Two weeks ago I overheard a couple of students talking during an interactive project I'd given them. They'd been instructed to examine an old testament battle and answer 4 questions:

1) What did the enemy want?
2) How did the people respond? (did they seek God, etc.)
3) What did God say or direct them to do?
4) How was God glorified?

After answering the questions for an objective, old testament situation they were to apply the questions to their outreach team. Basically the project was for them to discern how the enemy was trying to put obstacles in their path so they'd be less effective or even neutralized as a team in their mission.

As a group they'd identified a number of different ways the enemy was trying to hinder them, but they skipped quickly over the second question and went on to the third by trying to reason out what God wanted them to do about it and how He might be glorified. Get the point here: they reasoned cognitively what they thought God would want them to do. They didn't ask or seek God about it, nor did they hear from God what to do about it.

At the very end I overheard this conversation:

"So, should we close in prayer now?" asked one student.
"Well, God was with us the whole discussion, wasn't He?" remarked another.
"Okay, then, 'amen'" said the team leader.
And several echoed "amen".

Do you see what I got so upset about?
Talking about things in God's presence isn't the same as talking with God about it and waiting for His response. Just as if I talk to another friend in your hearing about something you should know isn't the same as talking with you about it myself directly. What would you feel? Affronted at the very least that I assumed to know what you would want, even though I seemingly ignored you in the conversation!

Here again, I believe the enemy of our souls subtly deceives us into an ungodly reliance upon ourselves - our minds and our reasoning powers. When this occured in the Old Testament (e.g. David bringing the ark into Jerusalem, Act One), there were deadly consequences; a terrifying episode of how strongly God needed to remind His people to put their trust in Him, not in themselves. 2 Sam.6:7

When the class returned to discuss what they'd learned I gave them a stern reminder about the principles of seeking God and learning to discern enemy activity by the power of the Holy Spirit and hearing God's voice. It is something we need reminding of daily.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely upon your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path"

Prov. 3:5,6

Closkelt DTS

2008-04-15T17:25:00.002+02:00

Just had to show you a photo of these wonderful Closkelt DTS students/staff! It's been my joy and privilege to teach them these 2 weeks here in Northern Ireland. In the photo you'll also see Kathy Witte from my home church in Minneapolis (lite green sweatshirt in the front). Kathy came over for the first week to bless these YWAM students and me... she certainly succeeded on both! Actually I have only 3 more teaching sessions with the students here and I'm asking you to pray for these remaining times... God often saves the best for last, so please pray that God will have His way in our time together. These folks are precious and hungry, to say the least!
The topic this week is Spiritual battle and intercession. This evening I will share with those interested on the topic of mission partners and fundraising - a topic I love because it helps people understand how important it is that all of God's people are involved in missions!
Thanks for your prayers... please leave a comment if you've read this blog today.
Blessings,
Belinda

Contrasts

2008-04-05T12:08:00.003+02:00

A week ago I was swatting mosquitoes from my bare arms, so I turned the ceiling fan a notch faster....

Last night I filled my hot water bottle to tuck under the quilt with me...

Contrasts...

Last week, Egypt...

This week, Ireland...

I'm reminded that Apostle Paul said that wherever he was, he learned contentment in Christ.

The scenery, the cultures and climates change but God's heart encompasses it all with equal passion. Let the whole earth be filled with the glory of God!

For the coming two weeks I'll be teaching in the DTS here in Closkelt, N.Ireland. The first week on Worship and the second week on Spiritual battle and intercession. A dear friend from my home church in Minneapolis, Kathy Witte, has flown over to join me in ministry (and some fun!) this first week. She's thrilled to be in the land of her dreams and I believe that God has some amazing things in store - for Kathy, for me, and for the students and staff here at YWAM Closkelt. Please pray that we will see what the Father is doing and follow Him.

Blessings from Egypt

2008-03-30T17:38:00.005+02:00

Wonderful Egyptian friends wished us safe travels as we left the YWAM compound to return to Holland on Friday. We had just finished the morning with a very moving worship time together before an altar the students had constructed. It was there that we realized afresh that worship is much more than singing songs - it was giving our hearts to God, giving Him the highest place.

Two young men showed their love for God by washing everyone's feet as an act of worship. Others placed photos of loved ones, poems and promises on the altar. Every gift, as every heart, was unique.

Please pray for the school as they prepare to go on outreach to Syria and possibly Kuwait in about 2 weeks. They need a miracle of provision to pay off their school fees and outreach costs.

Carolyn and I were able to bring financial donations from friends around the world which certainly helped their situation. More than that was the deep blessing they received to know that the Body of Christ around the world cared enough to give - that really touched them. They have been fasting and praying for a few weeks now (until sundown each day) to see the finances come in. I'm looking forward to hear of yet another miracle in the Egyptian desert!

They have already asked me to return for their next SOW in 2009 and I eagerly said "yes!".

Many thanks for all the prayer and financial support given to me which made this trip possible.

To God be the glory,

Belinda

Egyptian worship leaders

2008-03-25T15:34:00.002+01:00

It's lovely to be here in Egypt again, with a new group of young, hungry worship leaders from all over Egypt. This is my 3rd day here and though it's a 30 degree temperature difference from Holland, I'm loving it.
My ministry partner this trip, Carolyn, is being the blessing I knew she would be - both to me and the students.
Thank you for your prayers... more later!
Blessings,
Belinda

So you wanna go back to Egypt?

2008-03-16T08:43:00.004+01:00

Yes, I wanna go back to Egypt!
After my trip there last year to give a Call2Worship course, I've been hoping they'd ask me back to teach in their School of Worship. So, when that email came I eagerly accepted.
Since then I've been wondering if I should travel there alone or who I should ask to come with me. At the Women's Aglow conference last weekend I sat next to a friend, Carolyn, who is also one of the European leaders of Aglow and I know she has a heart for the Middle East. I felt an inner nudging (the Holy Spirit urging me into action) and so I obeyed and asked her if she'd like to come along with me on a ministry trip to Egypt. Carolyn chuckled but then looked me straight in the eye and said, "You're not kidding, are you?!" Amazingly, a couple days later she rang me up and said "YES!"
A flurry of activity has followed, with Carolyn needing a new passport, some vaccinations, and got a reservation on the same flights with me.
We will fly to Cairo on Easter Sunday and spend the week at the YWAM base out in the desert a couple hours NW from Cairo, teaching a dozen hungry Egyptian worship leaders.
The theme of this school is appropriate "Let my people go so that they may worship Me" - the command the Lord gave to Pharoah thousands of years ago. We will be teaching on cross-cultural/Biblical worship, songwriting and leadership.
Please pray that we will speak to their hearts, have good discipleship times and inspire them to reach their nation, calling them to worship God!
If you'd like to send a donation to sponsor one of the students or to help out with my travel expenses, please either go to my website to access the PayPal link or I'll try to paste one in here.
In any case - PRAY!
Thanks and blessings, Belinda

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Aglow with the Spirit of God

2008-03-05T21:15:00.002+01:00

This weekend is the annual English-speaking European Women's Aglow conference. This is something I lead worship at each year and I thoroughly LOVE IT! It's wonderful to be in an atmosphere of women who are passionately loving God and one another. It's a joy as a worship leader to open the door to some amazing times of meeting with God.
My dear friend, Terry always joins me in this ministry and it's like taking a retreat together each year, surrounded by friends from many nations. The speakers are always inspiring, especially the Sunday morning messages by the leader of it all: Dianne deJong. She serves up nuggets of truth on a plate of joy in unique and creative ways.
One main prayer request I have:
I have often become ill with various weird and not-nice sicknesses or maladies during this conference. I honestly think this is the enemy trying to hinder the work of God among these ladies. PLEASE PRAY that I will be physically healthy and strong in body so I can minister as the worship leader during this conference.
Wish you could join us, too!
Blessings,
Belinda

Raising the Dead in Africa

2008-02-24T09:05:00.004+01:00

One of YWAM's frontier mission leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa recently related this personal testimony:

"The phone rang in the middle of the night. The message came fast and to the point. There is someone with a sick child here, please come and take them to the hospital. I jumped out of bed and started to dress. This is what I came here to do, I heard myself saying.

Seven kilometers away a man and a woman were waiting for me, the sick child in the hands of the father.He must have been 4 or 5 yrs old. The convulsions were visible in the faint light of the moon. I was told it was malaria and that it had started suddenly that evening. I could not believe what I was seeing - a contorted face and convulsions on the left side of the little boy's body.

I rushed them to the hospital. The nurse looked after them well because the "respected" missionary was hovering and praying for the boy. Not a word was said. Then the convulsions stopped and the boy lay still. No one spoke in the room. I was a mess emotionally but seeing the mother looking very brave, I tried my best [to do the same]. It was hard to hang around so I left.

In the morning I told [my wife] what I had seen - the worst case of malaria, possibly cerebral. I told [her] that I thought the little boy would die, if he was not dead already.

Two days later I heard that the father of the boy, a pagan who had never set foot in the church his entire life went to church last Sunday.This is what he said: "While I was holding my son, waiting for the missionary to come and take him to the hospital, my son's feet went cold, I knew he was dying. He stopped breathing, then by the time the missionary arrived, he started breathing again. I heard from someone a long time ago that the God of the Bible raised someone from the dead. I believe this is true now because at the hospital, my son stopped breathing again. The missionary prayed for him. Later he woke up feeling better. Today he is well. I want to worship this God who raises the dead."

The man and his wife have started attending church. I do not even know their names, but isn't God wonderful!

(www.ywamfm.com)

Music and the Master

2008-02-22T10:03:00.001+01:00

Music… the Master?
by Dave Garrett

I don’t consider it particularly worthwhile criticising what we do in church music because I have always taken the opinion that rather than say something negative it’s better to suggest a positive alternative.

However, in August 2003 a thought came to me, quite unprovoked, in fact it was in my mind as I woke: “The music has become the master instead of the servant”. For some reason I knew this thought related to worship in the church worldwide.

Over the time since I had this impression, I have had many ideas including realising that it is not just the music that has become a master, but anything at all we do in a worship setting that doesn’t have, at its core, a dependence on God with a desire to bring him glory alone.

I have also realised that this was a ‘word’ to me as well as others involved in encouraging worship. I need to constantly challenge myself as well.

I will attempt to list a few points which seem to have contributed to why this statement is relevant in the church today and hopefully provide something from our own experience that may help challenge us to put the music back to where in belongs.

There are, of course many great songs being sung in worship services these days so all the news is certainly not bad. It’s just that so often I wonder if we have God’s perspective in regard to leading his people in worship.

Some of what I will share comes from what we believed God said to Dale and me when we first began recording albums and producing music books. Some come from observations of what we see happening now.

Scripture in Song

Perhaps I’ll begin with what seemed important to us as we began Scripture in Song (a 25 year ministry of recording songs for praise and worship). These points cover what God seemed to impress on us as we began this ministry:

• We were to ‘lead the people to God’, not to ourselves
• We were to write and gather songs that were easily memorized both by musicians and congregations
• These songs were able to be learned quickly
• The messages contained in the songs were both Biblical and relevant to the church of our time

We didn’t learn all of the above at one time because after releasing Scripture in Song Vol. 1 in 1968 we were encouraged by the piano player who played on this first recording to allow him to help us do something that wasn't just a three chord four line chorus.....

This offer from a skillful but non believing musician really appealed as we were not musicians or singers ourselves and felt we badly needed some expert help. In a subtle way we were putting aside our mandate with a challenge to create some music that would really impress.

However, in following the piano player’s direction several things happened:

• God himself remained unimpressed with our change of direction

• The harmonies the piano player taught us were complicated and people couldn’t follow or learn the songs easily

• The songs he wrote while musically interesting were too complex. We lost our simplicity

• We had given the final decision making to a man who didn’t share our vision

• As a result (thankfully) the recording sunk without a trace

The music (and the musician) had become the master.

Our trust was in a man rather than God and as a result we had forfeited our dependence on Him.

I am reminded of a statement in one of the Psalms: “some trust in horses and some in chariots but we will remember (and trust in) the name of the Lord our God.”

In the days this psalm was written horses and chariots spoke of human effort and power.
The question is, how do we know if the music is master or servant? I think part of the answer has to do with dependence. Where our trust lies.

One reason Jesus said that it was hard for a rich man to get into the kingdom is because it’s natural for a rich man to trust in his wealth. It can also be true with skillful musicians and singers. It is easy to put their trust in their own skill and ability.

Excellence

We often hear about the importance of excellence with the worship music these days, with a reasoning (that seems quite logical) that only the best is good enough for God. To a point this is true.

However, the result too often are songs that are cool, skillful, difficult to follow and hard to remember. The instruments sound great. The voices are perfect as is the sound and
lighting. However, a performance element creeps in so that the stage becomes the place for us to make our ‘presentations’. The focus of our worship can shift ever so subtly from God to man.

My feeling is that in many cases the worship leaders themselves are real worshipers but decisions are made around them based largely on how things look and sound. An outward appearance to attract more people maybe?

There is no doubt that what we see and hear has an excellence to it that was never seen or heard 30 years ago. But is this the sort of excellence we should be looking for? Once the stage becomes the focus of our worship it is likely that what we do will be judged in the same way that a concert is judged. Scary! We will find attention being drawn to ourselves rather than to the one we are worshiping. This focus is skewed.

Finally on this subject, I need to say that excellence in what we offer is important and I believe it is possible to make excellent music that truly honors God without the music being master. This is altogether possible provided the right foundation is firmly in place.

What is this foundation?

Direction of the Spirit

Let’s think about being directed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus made an interesting statement about the leading of the Holy Spirit: “the wind blows this way and that, we hear the sound but don't know where it comes from or where it goes to...so is everyone who is born of the Spirit”

In an environment where we are seeking to lead people to worship God, the “wind of the Spirit” in what we are doing is vital. Therefore we must give both the Spirit, and the people, room. If whatever we are doing, doesn't give space for this to happen, and the Spirit of God isn't in control then something else has to be.

To be led by the Spirit is actually to be childlike in our approach. To listen, to change direction, to hear, trust and obey and take steps of faith.

It seems to me that in many cases these days worship leaders are really no more than song leaders hoping the songs will speak for themselves rather than engaging the minds and voices of the people and allowing time and room for the Holy Spirit to intervene. If the Spirit is going to be given room we can expect his involvement.

The message or the music?

In listening to contemporary worship songs, I find in so many cases the message of the song is its weakest part and in fact often enough we would find it difficult to see a
Biblical basis for what we are singing. Either that or we are just repeating many of the same ‘feel good’ lyrics that challenge our thinking very little at all.

One reason for this is that on many occasions gifted musicians are making decisions on what we should sing and often these people look for music with good hooks and melodies regardless of whether or not the lyrics are strong and true.

The truth of the message should always be the key to the song with the music providing memorability and support.

Memorisation

In writing and selecting songs, consideration must be given to putting words into the mouths of people that are worth remembering. Words quickened by the Spirit can be real spiritual food and revelation. Song memorization is such an important key as is clearly shown from God's instruction to Moses. Here is God’s directive to Israel’s leader: ''now write for yourselves this song and teach it... have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them. For when I bring them into the land... this song will testify against them because it will not be forgotten by their descendants”

Good words accompanied by memorable music will remain in the minds of people far longer than words alone. We can hardly overestimate the importance of singing the truths of Scripture or of singing songs of worship that genuinely place God at the highest place.

Test

So, in a church setting where the objective is to worship God with songs, how do we know if the music has become our master rather than our servant?

1. Look objectively at the upfront stage, does it look like a musical performance?
2. Do all the people on stage understand clearly that their primary role is to lead the people to the one who is to be worshiped?
3. What about the sound guy? Does he know how to use levels to enable the congregation to hear themselves rather than just what goes on up front?
4. Are the songs easy to play, sing and remember?
5. Is there room, in the music set for the Holy Spirit to arrive, interject, minister?
6. Are there any circumstances where what is pre planned changes during the service because of a prompting of the Spirit?
7. Do you ever call for a spontaneous praise response from the people in the room?
8. Can the leader or any of the team give a ‘word from God’ (prophecy) during the time of worship?

If your answer ‘yes’ for question one and ‘no’ for the majority or all of the others, I suggest you go through the points I am making here and ask yourself if some changes may be in order.

Finally!

2008-02-05T13:15:00.001+01:00

Finally I'm feeling better!
After almost 5 weeks back in Holland, 3 of which I've spent really sick in bed with an infection and then viral congestion, I'm finally starting to feel better again.
I tell you, this really makes you careful with your health, nutrition, rest, etc.
Someone prayed for me that I would receive the same kind of loving care that I've given my mom the past several months. Thanks... I receive that!
The rest and the quiet have done me considerable good in my soul. Being an introvert I cherish time on my own to refuel and to get my bearings straight... I'm thankful for restoration of body, soul and spirit.
Today I went to the YWAM base and it was nice to see friends and colleagues again. I was able to go to a weekly meeting with the Worship & Prayer ministry and it was good to get in touch a bit again.
I'm still not 100% healthy, but certainly on my way!

In Bed

2008-01-29T10:26:00.001+01:00

Can't say I'm too happy about being in bed.
I have a nasty chest cold and cough which really hurts. I keep thinking I'll feel better "tomorrow" but I can safely say it's been the same amount of misery since Saturday evening.
It's Tuesday morning...
I'm drinking lots of fluids, staying warm, laying low, taking extra vitamins, etc. It just seems to have gotten hold of my body. Maybe I'm more run-down than I thot? Where's my resistance?!
Well, please pray for this bed-ridden missionary... Honey is getting pretty bored, too.

Sharing my photos

2008-01-20T13:49:00.000+01:00

Lake Superior Nov 2007

Good News!

2008-01-13T22:14:00.001+01:00

GOOD NEWS!
Two pieces of good news to share here:

1) I don't have and haven't ever had malaria!
My doctor here did a thorough test and apparently what I'm suffering from (and had last May as well) is a heavy duty intestinal infection. The symptoms are so similar to malaria and yet to me, it's the difference of night and day to know I don't have a little parasite hanging out in my liver just waiting to pounce on me when I get a little tired. I'm currently on antibiotics and feeling much better.

2) A few days ago I picked up my renewed ID card for the Netherlands. This card was supposed to be picked up last May but I'd already had to leave for the USA. The card stayed at one office until July and then was sent back to headquarters. As soon as I arrived I contacted them and they re-issued the card.
This is no small thing in these post 9-11 days... visas are hard to come by for any country, so it was a concern to me.

So, I'm a very thankful and recuperating missionary. Hopefully I'll actually be able to be at the mission base here this coming week. We have a mega-DTS running here with around 50+ students that we're doing together with the YWAM Amsterdam base. I'm looking forward to seeing all their new faces.
Blessings, Belinda

Transition

2008-01-09T22:43:00.000+01:00

Home now for more than a week... it takes time to transition between the responsibilities I carried at home and being back in my own home in Holland.
I started to unpack not only my bags but the things I stored in my shed, visited some friends, and went to church last Sunday.
Then Sunday afternoon I started to feel sick and chilled and a nasty headache. It felt exactly like the malaria attack I'd had last May so I called a friend to stay with me that night. Good thing I did because I collapsed from fever onto the bathroom floor. My temp soared to 39,5 C (103F), after I'd been shaking with the chills most the day.
To make a long story short I now have some antibiotics from the doc and am starting to heal up.
Wow, what a way to start 2008! Please pray that I'll get well soon. Thanks.

Lost and Found

2008-01-09T22:23:00.000+01:00

When I boarded the plane last week in Minneapolis, everything was going according to plan. Honey was trusted into the hands of the Priority Pet people of Northwest Airlines, and I was settled into my seat in the plane. Usually about 15-30 minutes prior to take-off, I am given a slip of paper from one of the PriorityPet handlers together with an update of how my dog is, but that wasn't happening and the clock was ticking.

I contacted the headpurser and she got involved right away and assured me that "we will NOT take off without your dog on board". Come to find out,Honey was not on the plane at all! I was invited into the cockpit by the captain who was making all sorts of calls to track him down. I had my paperwork with me and we found out that his paper tag had come loose from his crate and they had to find it before they brought him out to the plane.

I so appreciate the NWA staff who delayed the flight almost 45 minutes inorder to find my dog and make sure he had the proper tags and paperwork, as well as stowing him in a nice pre-warmed cargo hold. However, it was stressful nonetheless because I couldn'tactually "see" what was going on, just the communication. I was in the cockpit for almost 20 minutes to help sort out the details,chatting with the pilots about their dogs and showing them all a photo of Honey. Then the hatch was opened again and his papers handed through to verify that it was my dog on board.

Whew! Such kind staff who were determined to care for my Honey Boy, who couldn't be blessed?!

Then, to top it all off, the head purser apologized for the mixup and offered me a seat in first class! It was then that I melted into a puddle of tears - whatwith the horrifying thot of my dog being lost at a cold airport, leaving my elderly mom after caring for her for 8 months,not to mention the stress of packing and travelling - it was all too much for me and I soaked my handerkerchief with tears of relief! And I put that 1st class chair to good use as my bed for the rest of the 8 hour flight.

When I arrived in Holland I was nearly the first one off the plane, my baggage was quick and they brought Honey up to me with no muss or fuss of paperwork of any kind.

We're home!

Mixed Feelings

2007-12-28T10:14:00.000+01:00

In a few days I'll be leaving Minneapolis to return to my home in Holland.
I'm excited and I'm sad.
I'm looking forward and I'm regretting.
I'm ready and I'm not.

Yet, I know it is right for me to move on. I know it's God's plan that I leave my family for now. But it is still hard to leave. Doing the right thing doesn't means it's the easy thing.
Mom's health is somewhat stable though she is certainly weaker than when I arrived eight months ago. She courageously faces each pain-filled day and just takes one step after another. She lives each day by the grace of God and this is how she worships Him.
Our family met together the week before Christmas and discussed how we can continue to care for mom in the days ahead. We're pulling together to make it work and, in doing so, showing our love for mother and for one another.

I will miss my family, especially my mother.
I will miss my home church, especially the closer friends God has given me there.
I will miss many other friends and our rendezvous for coffee.
I will miss the climate and culture of my home state.

I look forward to my own home in Holland, my friends, my church, my life and purpose there with Youth With A Mission, the Dutch culture.

There is a time for everything, and a right season for every activity under heaven:
... a time to plant and a time to uproot,
... a time to weep and a time to laugh,
... a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
... a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
... a time to stay and a time to go (Ecc.3)

Proposal!

2007-12-23T20:35:00.000+01:00

Well, it is not my proposal but the next best thing: my sister's.
Barbarah's boyfriend, Kent, invited me to the Christmas play they are both part of - "The Gospel according to Scrooge". He piqued my curiosity by saying he had a surprise planned for Barbarah. I figured it could only be one thing so I came, armed with my camera and wasn't disappointed. Enjoy this short video clip of his proposal to Barbarah.
Blessings,
Belinda

Funeral at YWAM Denver

2007-12-18T18:46:00.000+01:00

Of all the YWAM bases in the USA, the YWAM Denver base is the base I know the best. My friends, Peter and Linda Warren lead the base and had even invited me several years ago to join their staff. I've been there several times, as recently as 2 years ago, to teach in their schools. So, in a real sense, I'm sharing in their grief and pain these days.

I'm posting this video clip from our YWAM Proclamedia site.
This is not what you'd see on the regular TV networks about the shootings recently at the YWAM base in Denver, but it's the most important message of all.
This video is only 13 minutes long and worth taking the time to see.

Thanks for your prayers for the YWAM family!
Belinda

Pow - Wow

2007-12-14T04:15:00.000+01:00

To Americans the Indian term "pow - wow" is familiar and it means a gathering to discuss important matters. That's what my family is doing these days because in 3 weeks I'll be flying back to Holland.

Eight months ago I arrived here with the purpose of caring for my mom and spending valuable time with her. It was God's grace that I could be here, especially during the extra care that was necessary after she fell and broke her foot early this summer. God has really taken care of the details and there is no reason to believe that will change now. I know it's right for me to return to Holland and I trust God is in control.

Many people have commented to me that they're amazed and blessed that I'd care for my mom like this. As I face my imminent departure the questions are being raised about mom's care. Are we considering assisted care living, a nursing home, or home health care, etc... It seems that we are in the minority when it comes to caring for an elderly parent. Probably 95% of the time here in America the most likely option is a nursing home.
Most of my 3rd world friends understand the responsibility of caring for an aging parent - to them it is "normal".

When Mom, Barbarah and I were "pow-wowing" about our options this evening, we each felt that it is important that somebody shows a different way of caring for their parent. Many people don't seriously consider it because they've never seen someone else do it. Next week we'll pow-wow with the rest of the immediate family about how we can continue to be family for one another in the days ahead.

Frankly, I totally understand that it's not always possible to care in this way for one or both parents... my father's care is a case in this point. When it was apparent that dad needed extra care and assistance, we siblings had a "pow-wow". I remember praying about it and asking God to speak to me clearly about whether or not I should leave the mission field for a time to care for dad. The answer was "no"... in my heart of hearts I knew, we all knew, that dad (known for his stubborness) would never have listened to any of us, thereby short-circuiting any care we could have given him. No, for dad it was better to include an unbiased 3rd party, the Good Samaritan nursing home. Dad's last days were the best we could provide, with lots of involvement and visits from each of us. This was absolutely the right scenario for dad.

With mom it's different - she is a team-player and the one who instilled in us the basics of what it means to be family. So, it's not just caring for her, but how we care for one another - that's family.

Fresh Air

2007-11-24T21:41:00.000+01:00

Thanks- giving weekend...

Barbarah is home and I've headed to the North Woods of Minnesota for a 3 day retreat. It's a breath of fresh air for me to escape to the outdoors world.

This morning Honey and I took a 3 hour hike up Gooseberry Falls... the waters are freezing in the winter weather. Soon snow will cover the ground instead of simply dusting the edges.

Ahh, deep breath...

Thankful for this little getaway, the silence, like the blanket of God's presence. His voice seems so clear to me out here

Grace 2 Glory

2007-11-20T19:04:00.000+01:00

Every once in a while Mom will have a day when she doesn't hurt... perhaps it's a warm day with a low barometric pressure that relieves the pain of arthritis, or maybe it's just an extra bit of GOD's GRACE that envelops her... but in those increasingly rare moments, Mom shows a bit of the spark and spunk of her personality and what we see is a GLORY MOMENT.

This little video clip is worth the wait, especially if you love mom even a fraction of what I do...

Mom says I only write about her in my blog, well I suppose that's true these days because my life revolves around her in this season. Frankly, I'm just pleased to "share" her with you.

Blessings, Belinda

p.s. this was a "glory moment" from last year when Mom could still stand and balance on her own two feet for a while. She dances with laughter nowadays instead.

Faraway

2007-10-31T00:10:00.000+01:00

6 months away from "home" and 6 months at "home".
My true "home" is in heaven... not here on earth.
Yet, I long for HOME.

Years ago I wrote a song that reflected this dilemna:

Faraway in a land
Where the North wind blows and blue waters flow
Is the place I call home
All your lovingcare taught me how to share

Faraway is a place
Where the land lies low and the tulips grow
Welcoming open arms,
Being friends with me, like a family

Faraway in a land
Where a jungle grows and it never snows
I will come, I will go
See your smiling face, feel your your warm embrace

Faraway in a place
Where Gods wonders tell how a red star fell
He put your name in my heart
Into prayer He led before we ever met

And a part of my heart is right next to yours
Through the valleys and seas
God keeps us faithfully
You're never faraway
You're never faraway