An article by Belinda

Hello friends, I thot you might enjoy our latest College of Arts & Sports newsletter,  which includes an article I recently wrote. Blessings, Belinda Don't miss our emails, add contact@ywamcas.org to your address book www.ywamcas.org View Online Click Here 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 Click to view this email in a browser If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the following link: Unsubscribe College of Arts and Sports, University of the Nations 75-5851 Kuakini Highway Kona, Hawaii 96759 United States Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy.

Home

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

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!

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?

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

 

"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

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

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!

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!