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Healing people is a science, not an art…
If you are sick you need medical treatment. Not some hocus pocus power. Yet Jesus claims he can speak words of healing. Can you believe it? People who are sick need to go to a doctor or a hospital. Not to a shady charlatan, right? Someone who can heal by saying magic words. They say “The power of words”. Does something change when you say something? Can you heal a person by just using language? I can not easily imagine something like this. We need medicine or a medical operation to be healed. Just speaking to someone doesn’t change your physical condition, right? Although, when you speak kind words to someone, this can change their day. Reading a book to a child can give a very safe and warm feeling. Words make some difference at least. From Jesus’ life, we learn that his words have more p...
Trust nobody!
Can you ever really trust someone? In this story we meet an important man, who’s desperate for his son is ill. Jesus promises to help him. But can he be trusted? Some people say: Trust nobody. Always be suspicious. And sometimes they are right… But can you trust a promise? That’s not easy to do! Have you ever had a promise that was so huge, it took a lot of faith in that person to believe it would come true. When I was young, I wanted to sell my motorbike to someone. She did not have the money with her, but she promised to send me the money later. I did not know her that well, but my dad said I could trust her. It was hard for me, but I gave the motorbike to her and trusted her. But I was a little bit nervous. No need, it turned out that she transferred the money immediately after she got ...
How to start a movement?
Movement doesn’t start by itself. Something or someone has to set things in motion. If you are inspired by someone, you often share your enthusiasm. People who met Jesus did too! Do you know this video about starting a movement? A movement doesn’t start by itself. Someone needs to take the initiative. Someone steps forward and shows what he or she has an interest in. And then others follow. I was thinking about this when I read the message of the woman that Jesus talked to. She was on fire for Jesus. A woman with a negative reputation went into the city and she shared what Jesus had shown her. He knew everything about her, cared for her and gave her something that she never experienced before: hope, eternal life, perspective. She was not an experienced Jesus-follower and did not have years...
Do I know you..?
The Pharisees heard that Jesus was winning and baptizing more disciples than John. (Actually, Jesus himself did not baptize anyone; only his disciples did.) So when Jesus heard what was being said, he left Judea and went back to Galilee; on his way there he had to go through Samaria. In Samaria he came to a town named Sychar, which was not far from the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw some water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink of water.” (His disciples had gone into town to buy food.) The woman answered, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan — so how can you ask me for a drink?” (Jews will not use the same cups and bowls that Samari...
According to Facebook you have a great life…..
Jealousy is all around. We compare ourselves with others. We want to feel important. In this story people ask John how he feels about Jesus outshining him. His answer is extraordinary. Jealousy is all around. We live in a world where we compare all the time. We put our best pictures on Facebook, we show our successes on Instagram and share with everyone how good we are. I love getting new gadgets. A new phone, a new watch. I do all I can to get it, but when I have it, I am used to it very soon and want something new, better, nicer. In this story of Jesus’ biography, we read that the students of John, the great baptist, are arguing with him. John was one of the biggest teachers of that time. He was compared to the most well-known prophet of the old times Elijah. John was preaching and bapti...
By Grace are you Saved Through Faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)
I firmly believe that the Bible teaches that we receive eternal life by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. But is that what Paul is teaching in Ephesians 2:8-9 when he writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”? Though many Christians think so, I do not. This study of Ephesians 2:8-9 will explain what I think Paul is really talking about in these verses. Before we get to that, I want to address a question from a reader about whether it is sinful or not for Christians to engage in New Age practices. Question from a Reader about New Age Practices I feel like a lot of Christians are against things like manifesting, meditation, and positive affirmations. I do believe Jes...
How do you experience rest and peace after a Parkinson’s diagnosis?
“I didn’t know what hit me. I went to the family doctor for a blue palm and later stood outside with two referral letters. One for the cardiologist but also one for the geriatrician. I ended up in the merry-go-round of all kinds of examinations with the diagnosis being Parkinson’s.” The lives of Stieneke and Martien are turned upside down. Yet they experience rest and peace. How? Parkinson’s is not something you have alone “Funnily enough, the diagnosis didn’t overwhelm us. When we had to fill in the long questionnaires, we recognized so much. It was also a confirmation of what we had already seen ourselves such as difficulty walking and in memory. But yes, after the diagnosis we did think…what now?” “Parkinson’s you don’t have alone, you have it together,” says Martien. “Stieneke may be t...
How do I find peace with God?
Sometimes life is one big mess. Everything is in knots. At least in your head. Then you can long for rest. That your thoughts can come to rest and you can just let go. Here you can discover to find peace with God. Peace with God In the Bible there is a beautiful book, namely the Psalms. As a result it is packed with songs that are close to life. Songs for example about: depression, anger, forgiveness and how to find rest with God. Psalm 23 is such a song. Poetry actually. This psalm can help calm your soul. What is a psalm? The psalms are spoken songs with music. The word “psalm” is a Greek translation of the Hebrew word “mizmoor” and means “spoken song with string accompaniment. In the Bible, there is an entire book of the Bible with 150 psalms. As a result in many churches, th...
What is Salvation in Ephesians 2:5-7?
As we continue our study of Ephesians, this study considers Ephesians 2:5-7 and the meaning of the word “salvation.” We see that a misunderstanding of the word “salvation” leads to a misunderstanding of the entire chapter of Ephesians 2. But when we properly understand what “salvation” means in context, we can then better understanding the whole of Ephesians 2. Before we look at that text, however, we answer a question from a reader about something I taught from Matthew 13 and the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. Before we get to that, however, I hope you took advantage of my offer to get some free Bitcoin and Dogecoin a few weeks ago. At the time, Bitcoin was at $32,000 and Dogecoin was at $0.19. Today, Bitcoin is at $46,500, up 45%, and Dogecoin is currently at $0.32, up 68%. I am not...
Take it easy: “My sister ruined my special meeting.”
“My sister ruined my special meeting. I had been so looking forward to it. Finally he would come to my house. What an honor. I don’t have posters hanging over my bed just yet, but this man is my hero, my idol. My sister is also a fan. So she would help me. And what does she do? Nothing. Nothing at all! In fact – she claims him completely. What about me?” “I could hardly sleep because of it. That’s how excited I am. I still can’t believe he’s coming over to my house. I’ve heard so much about him. So many special stories. What would he be like in real life? Would he be disappointed? But I also think about it: what will he think of me? I want to make a good impression, of course!” Everything perfect “Look there he is. So he really is coming along here. Fortunately, I have prepared well....
“Finally I found inner peace”
How do you find inner peace? “Anxiety has actually always controlled my life,” Delja Pruis tells us. From an early age, she experienced a lot of turmoil in her life. “As a teenager I was convinced that I would die before my 40th birthday. I don’t know why, but maybe because a friend of mine died in a car accident when I was 16 years old. No matter how hard I tried, I never felt good enough. I just couldn’t experience inner peace to really enjoy life.” Quest for inner peace “I come from a fine family and grew up with the Christian faith. But I was afraid of God. Afraid that I would never do well enough. Until one time someone said to me, “Delja, you are trying so hard to do your best that you forget that Jesus already loves you just the way you are.” It seemed like some puzzle pieces were f...
Where can I go on a silent retreat?
Silent retreat: “Withdrawing yourself for a while. Separations from the world. Shutting yourself off completely.” All meanings behind the word: retreat. Entering into a period of reflection. Getting away from it all for a while. But where can you find a good place in this busy world to find this silence? Where can you go on a silent retreat? Overview of silence retreats In the Netherlands there are several places where you can go on a silent retreat. Special places where you can catch your breath or shift your focus. To reconnect with yourself and with God. Dominican Monastery in Huissen This monastery is an open house for people to reflect, be inspired and get in motion. As a guest you can participate in the monastic rhythm and celebrations or follow a theme retreat. 2. De Spi...
