In the beginning of a new season we all need strength. Strength to be able to accomplish our tasks and to thrive. Yet, not only whether or not we are able to succeed matters. The way and manner wherein we do things also matters. Matters a lot. And for that we also need strength. Upcoming ... Read more
Last Tuesday the new season of the Dutch parliament started with the king's speech. The speech started with a reference to the achievements of the Dutch athletes at the Summer Olympics. We may be a tiny country, yet we may be proud of what we have achieved and can achieve - the message was something ... Read more
Many things are happening in the world, these days. They may frighten us. We may wonder what we can do about these things and where this will all lead. Yet sometimes we feel we cannot do so much. We may wonder: what is God doing? The heart of the Christian faith is the Gospel of ... Read more
Nobody would think of rebuilding a house, when the location for rebuilding is in a war-zone. There first needs to be peace. Otherwise rebuilding might be dangerous and senseless - it might soon be ruined again. When God saves us, his grace is enough, not only to save us, but also to give us a ... Read more
For some jobs there is specific clothing. Think of a fireman, a policeman, a soldier. Imagine a fireman who has quit his job and has signed the contract for policeman. It is inappropriate for such a person to wear any longer the clothing of the fireman. As he has a new job now, he should ... Read more
In the beginning of the Bible we read how the first peace was broken. The serpent came with falsehood to Eve. He gossiped and slandered about God. Adam failed to be angry with the serpent in order to maintain their peace with God. The first peace was broken. And as you read in the Bible ... Read more
As human beings we are born imitators. Someone may think that he or she is very original. But in some regard, we are always imitating someone. Probably we are less original than we might have thought. Soon we will celebrate Christmas. We celebrate and give thanks for the birth, the arrival, the coming, the advent ... Read more
This world really needs light. In the Advent season, we remember how Jesus, the Light of the world came into this world. He came to give us light, he came to make us light. He came, in order that we would shine as lights in the world. But how can you live faithfully to Jesus ... Read more
Christianity is not a particular expression of the general thing we call religion. It differs from all forms of religion. Religion in general tells you how to live a good life, what are the moral and religious standards that you have to keep to be acceptable to the supreme Being. The message of the Bible ... Read more
Steering a sailboat is counter-intuitive - you push the tiller the opposite way to the way you want to go. The genuine Christian life is something like that. Its description and instructions at first sight may look like these will ruin your life. But the opposite is true. It is where and how true living ... Read more
It's almost Valentine's day. Maybe you hope to find your true Valentine soon. Maybe you think you found him or her. Or maybe you once thought you found your Valentine, but great disappointment followed. Nowhere can we be hurt so much as within relationships. We may both feel strongly attracted to fall in love, as ... Read more
We hear much these days about wars and tumults, about nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom. And we should not be surprised. Jesus foretold these things (Luke 21:9-10). It can make you concerned. Will we also one day be involved in conflict, in war? As a true Christian, however, you should be aware that ... Read more