èMBé - text

Q & A

2006-03-20T23:00:00.000+01:00

Do you love me? (John 21:17)

Deep down in my heart I do.
Then, why don’t I act like it in my everyday life?

Do you obey my commands? (John 15:10)

Deep down in my heart I want to.
Then, why don’t I act like it in my everyday life?

Are you ashamed of me and my words? (Mark 8:38)

Deep down in my heart I’m not.
Then, why don’t I act like it in my everyday life?

Who do you say I am? (Mark 8:29)

Deep down in my heart I say you are the Messiah.
Then, why don’t I act like it in my everyday life?

"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." (Mark 9:23)

"I do believe;
help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)

29041976

2006-03-12T22:02:00.000+01:00

And here's another piece of useless information:
Within Pi (you know, that ridiculous never ending number) my date of birth is found at position 92,864,840 counting from the first digit after the decimal point. The 3. is not counted.
Want to have your own silly search? Try it at The Pi-Search Page.

Bloggen volgens Fokke en Sukke

2006-02-24T10:40:00.000+01:00

Amke Willemijn Belgraver

2006-02-09T11:24:00.000+01:00

Negen maanden geleden is God in Mila een nieuw leven begonnen. Vandaag heeft Hij dat leven aan ons beiden toevertrouwd. We gaan ons best doen om onze dochter samen met God groot te brengen.

Nine months ago God created a new life in Mila. Today he entrusted that life to the both of us. We will try our best to raise her together with God.

Ze heet / Her name is: Amke Willemijn Belgraver
en is geboren op / and was born on: 08-02-2006, 16:44

You can already send her an e-mail at: AmkeBelgraver@gmail.com

For more pictures see http://eMBe-life.blogspot.com.
Don't worry, I won't fill this blog with just babypictures.

With thanks to Erlinde for taking this picture.
08-02 | 19:50
Posted by Picasa

De Wedstrijd

2006-01-25T21:37:00.000+01:00

Het jongetje zit bovenop het duin
Het is wel honderd meter hoog
Zo hoog zat werkelijk nog niemand
En hij ziet Engeland
Kijk hem zijn best doen op zijn fiets
Hij gaat zo hard dat je hem bijna niet ziet
Wedden dat hij de honderd haalt
Voor hem is dat niets

Het is een wedstrijd
Het is een wedstrijd
Het is een wedstrijd
Die je niet winnen kan
Pappa, kijk dan
Pappa, kijk dan
Pappa, kijk dan naar mij

Zie je die kringen daar in 't water
Verreweg het verst van iedereen
Zeker honderd meter ver gooit hij
En met de zwaarste steen
Tien keer achter elkaar kan hij het al
Deze jongen kan alles met een bal
Zeker weten dat-ie tot de honderd komt
Die bal komt nooit meer op de grond

Het is een wedstrijd
Het is een wedstrijd
Het is een wedstrijd
Die je niet winnen kan
Pappa, kijk dan
Pappa, kijk dan
Pappa, kijk dan naar mij
Pappa, kijk dan
Pappa, kijk dan
Pappa, kijk dan naar mij

Wie is hier bang in het donker
Nou, hij is het zeker niet
In het donker lijkt alles wel anders
Maar dat komt alleen
Omdat je niets ziet
Kijk dan, kijk dan

Het is een wedstrijd
Het is een wedstrijd
Het is een wedstrijd
Die je niet winnen kan
Pappa, kijk dan
Pappa, kijk dan
Pappa, kijk dan naar mij

Het is een wedstrijd
Het is een wedstrijd
En het gaat maar tegen een man
Pappa, kijk dan
Pappa, kijk dan
Pappa, kijk dan naar mij

En toen-ie eindelijk keek
Was alles al voorbij

(tekst Bram Vermeulen)

Andere maan

2006-01-25T21:31:00.000+01:00

Stond bij het raam, ik zag de sneeuw
Weet niet waarom maar dacht ineens
'k Moet Frank eens bellen
Ik had de hoorn al in mijn hand maar legde neer
Ik dacht: wanneer ben je twee vrienden
Die elkaar niet elke dag hoeven te zien
En wanneer ben je geen vrienden meer
(...)
Er staat een andere maan
Er staat een andere maan
Je hebt het eigenlijk niet door, maar zo snel als dingen gaan
Er staat een andere maan
(...)
Eerst ben je twee vrienden
En dan vrienden van weleer
Maar dan ben je in de nieuwste theorie, eigenlijk al geen vrienden meer

(Acda en de Munnik)

Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen

2006-01-22T16:21:00.000+01:00

Op 7 maart zijn er weer gemeenteraadsverkiezingen. Bij de vorige verkiezingen haalde de ChristenUnie in de gemeenteraad geen zetels. Zorg ervoor dat dat deze keer wel gebeurt.
In stadsdeel Zuid-Oost werd vorige keer over wel een zetel in de stadsdeelraad behaald.

Amazing!

2005-09-14T23:19:00.000+02:00

By checking one of the blogs in my 'blogs to visit'-list, I came across this picture. Just do what the text says and see what happens. It's really cool.
Here's the original post.

The goodness of God

2005-09-07T17:45:00.000+02:00

Yesterday we talked in our homegroup about the goodness of God.

Do I truly believe that God is good?
I know it. I read it in the bible. In Genesis for example. God created the earth and everything in it an He saw that it was God. When He created man (in His image), He even called it 'very good'. I read it in Psalms 119:68 where David says: "You are good and what you do is good".
I see it in His Son, Jesus. He was not only made as a man: created in the image of God. He even was the 'exact representation of God' (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus was God on earth. He never sinned and He did everything God told Him to. Even more: He did nothing that He didn't see His Father doing. So if Jesus is good, that means that God is good.
I know all that. And I believe it. But...

I also know about all the bad things in the world. Sickness, disasters, brokenness. And what is easier: I don't have to believe them; I can just see them. Everyday. All around me.
I'm not saying that God causes these things. But sometimes it's difficult to see/ understand why He doesn't prevent them form happening.

So the question is: what do I believe more? My eyes, my ears, my life's experiences or my faith, my knowledge, my feelings. Do I believe this world or do believe Gods plan for it?

Could it be that I'm looking in the wrong direction? That I'm looking for the 'wrong goodness'. Could it be that I trust my eyes more than my faith and this world more than Gods design for it?

"'Be ever hearing, but never
understanding;
be ever seeing, but never
perceiving.'" (Isaiah 6:9)

Could this be what is happening?

When I think of Gods demonstrating His goodness in my life, yes, my first thoughts go to being happy, healthy, lacking nothing, etc. A lot of this is concentrated on material things (considering physical health a material thing).
But how about spiritual things? Isn't that much more what God is about? Doesn't it say somewher in the bible: 'God is spirit'? (It does in John 4:24)

I read in Romans about God who 'in all things works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose'.
It also says that God predestined these people (that is: us) 'to be conformed to the likeness of his Son'. (Romans 8:28-30)

Is it fair to say then, that this 'working for the good' has something to do with 'being conformed to the likeness of his Son'?
In Gods eyes; from His perspective, what thing is better for us than becoming like His Son, becoming like Him? It's what the bible is all about. It's why He created us (to have a relationship with people created in His own image); it's why He sent His Son (to restore that relationship).

It's clear: I do believe Gods plan for this world, His truth.
But because I live in a different reality, I still see things that suggest something else.
That's why I need to let God renew me constantly. I need a new way of thinking, of looking at (my) life. I need Gods perspective on things.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2)

Hi

2005-08-28T14:29:00.000+02:00

The worldrecord is 82.55 meters.

Thoughts -> Posts -> Studies

2005-08-24T21:20:00.000+02:00

I've got some thoughts. Thoughts about life, (to) love, faith, 'realness' (integrity/ being authentic), work...
Another thought is that all these things are connected. But since I want to keep things simple and structured (I really do), I think I'll start by arranging my thoughts, making small posts about my ideas and maybe they lead to more detailled (bible)studies.

War on Iraq

2005-07-10T22:38:00.000+02:00

First of all: the idea for writing this post came before the attacks in London. Not that it really makes a difference. Maybe the post is even more relevant now.

On Wednesday I read an article in the Metro (pdf-document) newspaper. It was about a 'Downing Street Memo'. That's a 'top secret' memo by the British secret service to the office of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, published by the Times newspaper on 1 May. It's talking about the best reason to start the war on Iraq.

Yepp, that's it. It's a pre-war memo (about 8 months before it started) talking about all the options there are to start a war against Saddam Hussein. Bush had already decided that there should be a war.

"It seemed clear that Bush had made up his mind to take military action, even if the timing was not yet decided."

The only problem was to get it legal. And that appeared more difficult than they thought: Saddam didn't threaten his neighbours and Iraq had less weapons of mass destruction than Libya, North Korea or Iran.

"But the case was thin. Saddam was not threatening his neighbours, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran. We should work up a plan for an ultimatum to Saddam to allow back in the UN weapons inspectors. This would also help with the legal justification for the use of force."

There were only three good reasons for invading Iraq:
1) Saddam invading his neighbouring countries (like in '91);
2) big humanitarian issues (like we see in Darfur, Sudan maybe...);
3) official authorisation by the UN.
The first two points were not an option.

"There were three possible legal bases: self-defence, humanitarian intervention, or UNSC authorisation. The first and second could not be the base in this case."

The key was getting it authorised by the UN. How do you do that? Just make him an offer he can't refuse. Or better said: set him an ultimatum he cannot keep.

In other words: make it so difficult for him to comply with the UN-resolution that he cannot do anything else than refuse the weapon inspectors.

"The Prime Minister said that it would make a big difference politically and legally if Saddam refused to allow in the UN inspectors."

As it said earlier in the memo: the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy.

No matter what your opinion is on the war on Iraq (or the war on terrorism for that matter), it can't be right that our political leaders, the mightiest people in the world, just come up with an idea of getting rid of someone and then just 'create' the circumstances and the evidence to justify it.

If you have anything to go against this, please let me know. I'm not claiming this to be the ultimate truth, but I think it is very disturbing.

Read the whole memo on http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/ and click 'D. Street Minutes' under 'Key Documents'
NSC is the National Security Council
WMD are 'Weapons of Mass Destruction'

You Know You're Addicted to CSI When...

2005-06-29T11:13:00.000+02:00

I have NO clue what this is all about :-)

You Know You're Addicted to CSI When...

You know the biographies of ALL the personnel from the CSI website.

You never work (or go out) Thursday nites because you'll miss CSI (although you tape it anyway).

You can't sleep knowing that something exciting is going to happen on the next episode

Your friend asks you about the episode with "the sparkling room thingie," and you don't even have to think about it before informing them they're thinking of Scooba Doobie-Do.

Your puppy is called VEGAS as a compromise, because none of your kids could stop arguing over whether it was gonna be called Grissom, Warrick, Greggo or Nicky......

You start knocking on walls in hope of finding a dead body between them

You walk around with a Mag-lite

You change your lighting to UV lighting, just to see those stains in your carpet

You dust for prints in your knife drawer

You wrap your house with yellow crime-scene tape

You wear latex gloves while at home

You suddenly study chemistry to understand more about those chemical reactions.

You learn Photoshop you can make wallpapers out of the pics you have

You've changed your quote from "Smile at the world, and the world will smile back" to "Concentrate on what cannot lie... The evidence"

When you were a kid, you wanted to be an astronaut. Now you want to be a CSI

When you are the leader of a group, you think, "What kind of a leader should I be? Gris Style or Horatio?"

You stare at Grissom's eyeglasses and Horatio's shades, then search for the exact pair (or at least close to it!)

You plan on living in Las Vegas or Miami

Your choice of car? The one like Horatio has.

You have a jacket, with the word "Forencics" written on the back

You'd even settle for a shirt with the same word

You read HAMLET, cause it was mentioned that HORATIO came from the name of Hamlet's best bud, Horatio

You got arrested when found crossing the yellow tape.

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends who are addicted to CSI.

Get Your Own Addicted Meme Here

More cool things for your blog at
Blogthings

What church is all about

2005-06-21T22:07:00.000+02:00

What's the difference between church today and when it was 'invented'? Would the apostles recognize what they started? Would Paul be happy with us, or would we get an 'uncomfortable' letter, like some of the early chuches did?

Right after Jesus had left earth this is what the disciples did:

"They all joined together constantly in prayer..."

Acts 1:14, NIV

Other things you see in Acts are:
* explanation of 'the Bible' and of Jesus' life
* living by what is explained
* calling non-believers to faith (repent, turn away from your present life, be baptised, follow Jesus)
* sharing your possessions (so nobody is in need)
* performing of miracles
* worshipping God
* remembering Jesus' death
And all these things as well in special gatherings ('church-services') as in daily gatherings at peoples homes.

How do we see church today? For non-Christians it's mostly an institute that tells you what to do and what not. At best it's a place that is "maybe useful for others". For Christians the sermon and the worship time are probably the prime ingredients.
What about the other things? What about sharing our possesions? What about living by what is explained?

Maybe we don't 'do' church like they did back then, but how great to see that there is more to church than a building, a sermon and rules.
This is also church:

Last Sunday (June 19th) we had our first Vondel50. Church is not about a building. It's about being together. With God. It's about sharing the best things we have with others. That can be as simple as giving strange people in a huge park on a sunny day a flower and tell them that God made them even more beautiful then the flower.
It can be as simple as that. But it shouldn't be just that.

See also Eric's blog on Vondel50.

Dare to dream.

2005-06-13T20:44:00.000+02:00

Is it because we're Dutch? Is it because we're 'postmodern'? Is it because we're human? Is it because we're grown-up? Is it because we've lost hope?

Whatever the reason is, dreaming sometimes seems impossible. My definition for dreaming isn't that big in this case. It's more like 'thinking outside the box'. Sometimes it's good (just for a while) to forget everything you know and especially everything you know that's possible. Our mind is a great thing, but so often it limits us in seeing what we really could achieve.

When God tells us "to be holy, because He is holy", He tells us to do something that (we think) is impossible. (Is it?). And because we think it's impossible we stop thinking about it. We get scared, ashamed, feel unworthy or just don't want to bother.

When you look at Jesus' life, you see that he does everything with great passion. He shows love, compassion and grace like no one else has. And he expects the same from us. When we choose to follow Him he has a command for us:

"You must be perfect — just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

When is it that He tells us this? Right after telling us to love our enemies. Probably one of the most difficult things for us to do.

When this is Jesus' 'assignment' to us, then who are we to live a life of mediocracy? We must be perfect not mediocre! Dare to dream! Dare to think outside the box! If we ever want to learn about the perfection of God, one of our first steps should be to set aside the things we ~~know~~ think we cannot do, and focus on the things that God can do.

Update: I just came across this:

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Tim.1:7 - NIV)

Jesus is a clown!

2005-06-06T21:16:00.000+02:00

Does this title sound a little too weird to you? Well, at least I've got your attention.

A while ago I was at a children's party and what would a good children's party be without a clown. A guy in wide pants, oversized shoes, make-up all over his face, curly orange hair and of course the big old red nose. You get the picture.

The funny thing was that the clown was someone the children knew (at least some of them did). To the 'older' kids it was just a clown, but for the young ones (about 2 or 3) it was a scary sight.
There was definately some attraction, but only from a distance. As long as the clown didn't look at them it was okay. When he payed them any attention or when he came to close, they turned their heads and almost started to cry.
Only little by little they began to recognize him. He showed himself without the wig and without the nose, and they started to see who he really was. Not right away, but slowly.
Later in the afternoon it went better and they found out that the clown was a nice clown. He had sweets and could do tricks.

Now, I don't say that Jesus wears a funny suit, orange hair and a big red nose. But isn't it the same with us as it was with these kids: we know who he is and we are attracted to him, but there is still so much we don't understand. We can't seem to get who he really is, there's something in between. And it scares us off. When he turns to us and wants to make contact we tend to shy away and don't want to show ourselves.

As with the kids, it takes time and effort and most of all trust to learn to see the real Jesus. But in the end, it's so worth it. If the clown had sweets and could do tricks, what is it that Jesus has for us?!