Some photos of Ireland ministry

Frosty Northern Ireland

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

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

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.

Copyright © 2008 Books & Culture.

Worship is...

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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?!

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?

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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!

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

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

Lake Superior Nov 2007

Good News!

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

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

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!