Author: Opa Jan S

Recently I watched and attended the graduation of three of my grandchildren, one from elementary school, one from secondary school and one from university. God is faithful!

As I watched I was reminded of my own graduation back in the Netherlands before my family immigrated to Canada.

The year was 1953. It had been a year of much turmoil, not only in the Netherlands, remember – the ‘Watersnoodramp’ – storm flooding in February where 2000 Dutch people lost their lives and the end of the Korean War but also that our family had been approved for immigration to Canada and left the Netherlands unsure of the future in November 1953. I had just graduated from Grade 6, the end of the elementary school and had entered the secondary system in the M.U.L.O. A lot of changes for me as a 12 year old, for our family in our new location in Canada. Sure the immigration was exciting but at the same time a bit scary because there were a lot of things we needed to learn. Language, food, housing, work, geography, culture, weather and schooling.

In the Netherlands I had attended a ‘School met de Bijbel’ which meant that we prayed and sang hymns and psalms in the class but most of all our teacher emphasized in ALL that we studied and do and live by, on a daily basis, was ‘Coram Deum’. (before the face of God)

I contemplated this when I saw the graduation of my grandchild from university. Social work had been her choice specialty and she had done well, (Honours Bachelor of Social Work) even landing a full-time job before graduation. Before the ceremony and handing out of certificates (196 Graduates) there was a general acknowledgement about spirituality by the indigenous university president citing how we were connected to creation, but God as such was not connected with our lives as much. What I meant to say is; that there was no Christian redemptive narrative, the godly assist or caring hand, under the arm, those biblical promises, that a young (Christian) person needed as they are pushed into the stream of real life.

Another grandchild graduated from grade 8 at a Christian school. Theme for the event was Psalm 27 ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield: my heart trusts in him and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy and with my song I praise him.’ As each child was mentioned by name a Bible text was recited, a teacher made an encouraging remark of appreciation about their time spent at school and then gave them their certificates of accomplishment. There was audience singing of a praise hymn and a prayer was said. A good message was said and appreciated.

Another grandchild graduated from a Christian high-school where the pattern was repeated, honors given and scholarships handed out for exceptional achievements. As each graduate/student came forward to receive their diploma a Bible text was given and remarks were made by a teacher about the student’s time at the school but here was a difference. Not only were the teacher’s remarks on a very personal basis but there was affection, fun and sincere appreciation for the different ways the student had impacted teachers, fellow students and the whole school. It reflected an atmosphere present at the school of playful intimacy, family intimacy. The highlight of that closeness was, when the two teachers and the student (my grandson) re-enacted the electrifying/unity cry of his Student Council (do they still call it that?) campaign by the three of them raising swords and shouting ‘All for one and one for all.’

The theme of the evening was the earlier address by a former student, now a church pastor, entitled: just don’t quit!. The emphasis here was on sticking with your studies; with your commitments, with your jobs, marriage, friendships, family and your faith, stick with life. Stick with it like Jesus who came to save sinners and did not flinch living forward to his determined goal. There was a presenting of Gospel (good-news) the Saviour has come. This ‘anchor’ theme for the evening was gathered from the letter of James chapter 1 verses 22 – 25 ‘Do not merely listen to the Word, and deceive yourselves. Do what it says…whoever looks intently in the perfect law that gives freedom, not forgetting what they have learned, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do’. Yes the caring lies in the doing! The hymn sung ‘Great is Thy Faithfulnes” fits the occasion.

And so my reflection went back to the time I graduated from Grade 6 (end of my primary education) back in 1953. I do not remember a full graduation ceremony but I do remember receiving a personal diploma/certificate designed by the principal. (W. Meijer **) You can see it at the head of this post. It is a bit faded but at the top in the middle panel the Bible text (with promise) – and then a picture points to the life road we must all take, leading to the end pictured as a mountain top life-time climb, not of status or wealth or smartness or best in the community, but the mountain top of heavenly realms, the salvation promised to all who have persevered faith in the Lord of life. The Bible text there states: ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’ taken from the Acts of the Apostles chapter 16 verse 31. At the bottom, the School board’s signatures and my name, all of this very faded over time. Around the borders of this diploma/certificate on both sides, are the different applied occupations and areas of work that a person might be involved in. The corner squares represent (from top left, clockwise) Environment – Agriculture – Commerce – Industry. Then on the left side are the areas of study: mathematics = writings/journalism = theology/philosophies and on the right side: creation = history = nature; representing the reformed Christian world view pictured out for the student and for every one who will ‘labour in the vineyards’ of the Lord. No matter where or when, under all circumstances ‘the eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.’ Book of Deuteronomy chapter 33 verse 7. ‘Sun of righteousness shine on us.’ Our world belongs to God and everything in it.

Graduations are always joyous occasions: full of expectant life possibilities and future opportunities. Graduates, go and walk with God! and He will direct your paths.

Love the hymn: Earth and all Stars. (youtube)

Earth and all stars, loud rushing planets, sing to the Lord a new song!
O victory, loud shouting army, sing to the Lord a new song!
Refrain: He has done marvelous things. I too will praise him with a new song!

Hail, wind, and rain, loud blowing snowstorms, sing to the Lord a new song!
Flowers and trees, loud rustling dry leaves, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain

Trumpet and pipes, loud clashing cymbals, sing to the Lord a new song!
Harp, lute, and lyre, loud humming cellos, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain

Engines and steel, loud pounding hammers, sing to the Lord a new song!
Limestone and beams, loud building workers, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain

Classrooms and labs, loud boiling test-tubes, sing to the Lord a new song!
Athlete and band, loud cheering people, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain

Knowledge and truth, loud sounding wisdom, sing to the Lord a new song!
Daughter and son, loud praying members, sing to the Lord a new song! Refrain

Composer: Herbert Brokering (1964) says: ‘I tried to gather into a hymn of praise the many facets of life which emerge in the life of community. So there are the references to building, nature, learning, family, war, festivity. Seasons, emotions, death and resurrection, bread, wine, water, wind, sun, spirit. . . have made great impressions on my imagination.‘ (Composer’s quote taken from Hymnary.org)

**W. Meyer is also the author of ‘The Bible for Youth’ (Bijbel voor jongere mensen) written under the pen name of Wolf Meesters.

JS June 29, 2024

INTRODUCING OUR HOSTS – National Union Christian Schools – DISTRICT 10
It is my privilege, as chairman of the host district, to introduce you to this area. I say that it is my privilege, because God, especially during the last decade, has done great things to and through our school district. I count it a great honour to be serving a cause which has been and still is marked by a Bible-generated faith. Our Christian School movement in this Canadian province of Ontario began in Holland Marsh in the early forties. Stimulated by the Christian Reformed Consistory, and led by the late Rev. Martin M. Schans, the first Ontario Calvinistic Christian School was opened in 1943. Mr. Jacob W. F. Uitvlugt became its first teacher and principal and was Ontario’s only Christian School principal for almost a decade. He and Holland Marsh established excellent rapport with the Ontario Department of Education. Our schools’ good name today is due in the main to this excellent insight and approach.

Soon after World War II (1947) immigrants flooded Ontario. Dutch (Holland) immigrants settled in every sizable village and city of our province and strengthened our small Christian Reformed groups in Hamilton and Sarnia. And so in 1952 and in 1953 Christian Schools were established in both places. However, the first entirely immigrant society to establish a Christian elementary school was in Aylmer in 1954. Bradford (Spring-dale) separated from the Holland Marsh School in 1955. Jarvis and Strathroy began the same year. Drayton and Trenton schools started in 1956.

Following the first post-war spurt, there was a brief lull in the opening of new Christian Schools. At this time the Ontario Alliance began to function and stimulated the cause by holding bi-annual delegate meetings. Board members of schools in operation presented their problems for solution. The delegates from associations without a school were moved by holy jealousy. They in turn stirred their people into action. Ministers and teachers were asked to address associations for the cause. The Christian School mandate was placed before our people. All this bore fruit.

The birth of the Chatham and Bowmanville Christian Schools in 1957 had slightly other causes, but through the stimulus of the Alliance West-Toronto (now Timothy), Weiland port, and Wyoming schools were opened in 1958. In 1959, there was a great harvest. Brampton, Brockville, Clarkson,
Hamilton Christian High, St.Catharines, East-Toronto (now Calvin, Toronto), and Woodstock began their operations. And last but not least, in 1960, Athens began with a one-room school. Thus, at the close of a decade, God has prepared schools and teachers so that nearly 3,000 covenant children and young people are being trained in the wisdom of the Word. I wish we could personally show you all our schools. Many of our teachers, about 90 in number, you will learn to know at our Convention. They are an interesting and exellent group. Their dedication may find little compensation here, but their reward is sure with God.

In the name of the Ontario Alliance, its schools and its teachers, I bid you a hearty welcome to our Convention. It is good to be among faithful people and to represent them. Soli Deo gloria! 

(Rev.) Henry A. Venema. (1920-1972)

Note: This article was written for program booklet of the 41st Convention of the National Union
of Christian Schools, held at MacMaster University, Hamilton, ON on August 15,16,17, 1961.

NOTE: for a comprehensive read about NUCS District 10 and the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS) history see ‘Creating a Third Way’ by author Adrian Guldemond.

JS                      posted February 7, 2024

The book of nature open lies, with much instruction stored; but till the Lord anoints our eyes, we cannot read a word.

Philosophers have pored in vain, and guessed, from age to age; for reason’s eye could ne’er attain, to understand a page.

Though to each star they give a name, its size and motions teach; the truths which all the stars proclaim, their wisdom cannot reach.

With skill to measure earth and sea; and weigh the subtle air; they cannot, LORD, discover thee, though present everywhere.

The knowledge of the saints excels the wisdom of the schools; to them his secrets God reveals, though men account them fools.

To them the sun and stars on high, the flow’rs that paint the field, and all the artless birds that fly, divine instruction yield.

The creatures on their senses press, as witnesses to prove their Savior’s pow’r, and faithfulness, His providence and love.

Thus may we study nature’s book to make us wise indeed! and pity those who only look at what they cannot read.

JS                      January 25, 2024

Picture: After several cloudy, dark misty days: this sun rise!

The book of nature is a hymn (8.6.8.6) by John Newton and refers to Paul’s letter to the Romans chapter 1 verse 20-23 ’ From the beginning, creation in its magnificence enlightens us to His nature. Creation itself makes His undying power and divine identity clear, even though they are invisible; and it voids the excuses and ignorant claims of these people (the god-less) ²¹ because, despite the fact that they knew the one true God, they have failed to show the love, honor, and appreciation due to the One who created them! Instead, their lives are consumed by vain thoughts that poison their foolish hearts. ²² They claim to be wise; but they have been exposed as fools, frauds, and con artists— ²³ only a fool would trade the splendor and beauty of the immortal God to worship images of the common man or woman, bird or reptile, or the next beast that tromps along.’ Tr. The Voice

James Weldon Johnson   1871 – 1938

A Poem Remembered when hearing of the passing of our dear daughter-in-law Catharina Wilhelmina also called: Carina Oussoren – Schuurman, our son Derek’s wife – on December 15, 2023 at her home.

 (A Funeral Sermon)

Weep not, weep not,
She is not dead;
She’s resting in the bosom of Jesus.
Heart-broken husband–weep no more;
Grief-stricken son–weep no more;
Left-lonesome daughter –weep no more;
She only just gone home.

Day before yesterday morning,
God was looking down from his great, high heaven,
Looking down on all his children,
And his eye fell on Sister Caroline, (Carina)
Tossing on her bed of pain.
And God’s big heart was touched with pity,
With the everlasting pity.

And God sat back on his throne,
And he commanded that tall, bright angel standing at his right hand:
Call me Death!
And that tall, bright angel cried in a voice
That broke like a clap of thunder:
Call Death!–Call Death!
And the echo sounded down the streets of heaven
Till it reached away back to that shadowy place,
Where Death waits with his pale, white horses.

And Death heard the summons,
And he leaped on his fastest horse,
Pale as a sheet in the moonlight.
Up the golden street Death galloped,
And the hooves of his horses struck fire from the gold,
But they didn’t make no sound.
Up Death rode to the Great White Throne,
And waited for God’s command.

And God said: Go down, Death, go down,
Go down to Savannah, Georgia,
Down in Yamacraw,
And find Sister Caroline. (Carina)
She’s borne the burden and heat of the day,
She’s labored long in my vineyard,
And she’s tired–
She’s weary–
Go down, Death, and bring her to me.

And Death didn’t say a word,
But he loosed the reins on his pale, white horse,
And he clamped the spurs to his bloodless sides,
And out and down he rode,
Through heaven’s pearly gates,
Past suns and moons and stars;
on Death rode,
Leaving the lightning’s flash behind;
Straight down he came.

While we were watching round her bed,
She turned her eyes and looked away,
She saw what we couldn’t see;
She saw Old Death
Coming like a falling star.
But Death didn’t frighten Sister Caroline; (Carina)
He looked to her like a welcome friend.
And she whispered to us: I’m going home,
And she smiled and closed her eyes.

And Death took her up like a baby,
And she lay in his icy arms,
But she didn’t feel no chill.
And death began to ride again–
Up beyond the evening star,
Into the glittering light of glory,
On to the Great White Throne.
And there he laid Sister Caroline (Carina)
On the loving breast of Jesus.

And Jesus took his own hand and wiped away her tears,
And he smoothed the furrows from her face,
And the angels sang a little song,
And Jesus rocked her in his arms,
And kept a-saying: Take your rest,
Take your rest.

Weep not–weep not,
She is not dead;
She’s resting in the bosom of Jesus.

JS Dec 15, 2023

• https://www.best-poems.net/james_weldon_johnson/go_down_death.html – from God’s Trombones by James Weldon Johnson. Copyright © 1927 The Viking Press, Inc., renewed 1955 by Grace Nail Johnson. Used by permission of Viking Penguin, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc.

• Memorial service for Carina:  https://youtube.com/live/tFv96X3d-wE?feature=share

1953 was the year of the Big Flood (Watersnoodramp) when a massive storm (one in a hundred years – they said) blew in from Iceland, swooped over Scotland and across the North Sea, broke through the dikes of Zeeland, south Zuid-Holland and Noord Brabant provinces on January 31st, claiming the lives of 1,800 dutch people, many in their sleep and caused the drowning of cattle, other animals and the destruction of farms and towns to the tune of 1 billion guilders; it was also the year of the crowning of Queen Elizabeth II of England on June 2nd; the death of the Communist Russian leader Joseph Stalin on March 5th, who forced industrialization, famine-causing purges, killing according to estimates between 10 and 20 million of his own people; on April 25th we read a report in the science journal NATURE about the discovery of the double helix, the twisted-ladder structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by James Watson and Francis Crick; the Korean War ends (July 27th) into an armistice; the Salk vaccine that will save many from the Polio disease is made public; Nikita Khrushchev becomes President of the Soviet Union, starting the ‘Cold War’ scares of the 50s and 60s. Nineteen fifty-three was the year I graduated from Grade 6, started Highschool (MULO) and our family was about to move to the other side of the world: Canada.

________________________________________________________________________

The weather was warm for that November day as we approached the harbour of Quebec City 70 years ago. The people on the Dutch ship ‘Grote Beer’ were eagerly looking out on the city and its buildings along the St. Lawrence River each with their own thoughts about this land that they had decided to settle in. There was hope for a good future but some were disappointed with the old look of the buildings they saw and remembered what they had left behind.

Having packed our suitcases the day before, we were all eager to disembark. After nine days of ocean travel all the while experiencing a heavy Atlantic storm, causing much sea-sickness among the passengers, the immigrants looked forward to setting foot on solid land. The next day the landing cards were stamped and the families were allow to transfer to the arrival shed where there were some people who welcomed us in Dutch and we waited to be assigned a location on the Canadian Pacific train parked next to the building. My mother as usual would notice on entering on board that the seats were dusty and the compartment looked old. As the weather had warmed many of us took off our coats and stored our luggage overhead and waited. No one seemed to know when the train would leave, all we knew was that we were headed to Montreal and Toronto.

After waiting for sometime, the people were starting to get hungry and so leaving the train, crossed the tracks to a small store they had spotted and bought bread, margarine and drinks. The bread wrapped in paper, was white and spongy and the margarine was pure white and tasted very salty, very unusual, as the bread they were used to was much more solid and margarine in Holland was yellow.

Towards the end of the afternoon the train started to move and we settled down for the journey which lasted all night, till we finally arrived at Toronto. My aunt Gine and uncle Henry Oosterveld (my Mom’s brother – whose family had immigrated two years earlier) together with my cousin Reina met us with their car at Union station. The weather was cloudy, damp, with spots of fog at 6 degrees Celsius. We loaded up the car. (a 1950 Ford I believe) Three in front and all of us (five – my parents, two sisters and I) in the back with our luggage in the trunk, a very heavy load.

We proceeded up Yonge Street (my Uncle was amazed how long this street was) and turning onto Highway 7 heading to Guelph, travelling through Brampton, Georgetown, Acton, Rockwood and then turning left onto Wellington County Road 29 towards Eden Mills. Past the one room school house (on the right) that I would attend in the next few days towards the first driveway on the left. A two track lane-way lined by trees on each side, ended at a barn with a farmers house on the left and a smaller two story house on the right where we would spend acclimatizing to the Canadian environment during the next two months as guests of my Aunt & Uncle. We had arrived in Canada!

We were ready to claim the words in the Bible book – Numbers, chapter 14 verse 8 where we read the words of Joshua and Caleb: “If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey…….. “ (Tr. NIV)

JS November 18, 2023

Jesus said: (to Peter after he had struck the Temple servant) “Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords………………. ”

Lord, have mercy!

* Online ‘blot’ image with text from tr. ‘The Message’ – Gospel of Matthew Chapter 26 verse 52

“Help me hear joy and happiness as my accompaniment,
    so my bones, which You have broken, will dance in delight instead.”

Book of Psalms 51 verse 8 The VOICE Tr.

It is now 3 years ago that I received life saving surgery at Hamilton General Hospital after my heart attack or myocardial infarction. And I am grateful for receiving this gift of new hope!

I had notice a discomfort in my chest for a number of years. First when working in the garden weeding and frequent bending, I would experience dizzy (lightness) in my head and discomfort. I saw my doctor and was prescribed Ramipril .5 blood pressure pills. This issue seem to go on for years but was not getting better and I would limit my bending to once or twice at a time in order to feel well. By late 2019 it became a problem in that just moving about (say: going shopping) would make me feel disoriented and remote, with tightness in my head and feeling ‘strange’ to my environment with chest tightness and discomfort. My doctor upped the dose of my Ramipril and scheduled a visit to the cardiologist 6 months or so down the calendar. By July 2020 (beginning of the Pandemic) whenever I would exert myself, dizziness would come and at times it seemed I could easily pass out. On the morning of July 17th after a severe episode the previous day, I felt extremely uncomfortable, I called my doctor’s office and was told to go to ‘Emerge’. This call saved my life.

I am not a brave person when it comes to doctors and hospitals (having only once before in my life submitted to hernia surgery) yet I knew in myself that there was something dreadfully wrong with me and I needed to be courageous and ask for help. That help I received as the doctors could tell that I had suffered a ‘myocardial infarction’ (heart-attack). They determined that to fix me, I needed a surgical procedure to treat the coronary artery disease (CAD), which was a buildup of plaques in the arteries of my the heart. So to prepare the doctors scheduled the necessary tests: blood, ultra sound, ECG and angiography which indicated I had 4 blockages from 80% to 50%. Rather than a ‘Stent’ procedure I was advised to have the radical by-pass chest opening (CBAG -coronary artery bypass graft ) surgery. This would be a ‘best’ surgery procedure I was told and would help me get back to normal living again. This verdict was my worst fear. The surgeon would open my chest and restructure my blood flows. Very scary to me and thinking about the worst possible outcome, I told the doctor that if complications arose during surgery not to use ‘heroic’ exercises to keep me alive. I surprised myself in saying this. It seemed to me, I would be OK and so felt full of the assurance that no matter what happened I will be fine. Was it my faith in God that He would see me through? What happens if I die? What about my family?

It was already full-blown Covid time and hospital visits had been curtailed to every-other day for only 2 designated family members. The Wednesday morning after my diagnosis my wife and I were told to make up our minds quickly so I could be scheduled in by Friday. And so she and I had a quick talk about it, decided it was the best course of action.

On the day of my 79th birthday and submitted to the surgery the day after on the 24th of July at 7 AM.

I was not anxious or afraid or even upset or for that matter doubting my decision to go ahead with this procedure. When I think back I cannot believe how calm I was. My wife and son came to see me in hospital, late the evening before and we talked from a distance (it Covid-time) and I remember saying to my son: ‘Look after your Mom – I will be fine’. I think God’s spirit had already convinced me in the few days before that: 1) my health issue was serious 2) I felt assured of His nearness in telling me, all will be well and if not I would rest with Him. I remember playing a YouTube video of a song “Be not afraid” which was extremely quieting to me in that God was there for me. It helped me to set aside my anxiousness (angst) about my condition. Often I would repeat for myself the Psalmists statement of reassurance: …“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Book of Psalms nr. 27) My heart was waiting with rest in that assurance.

After being prepared for surgery: shavings and applying an antiseptic skin application I had a good night’s rest and was woken early and wheeled down the hall to the operating room.

The bi-fold doors opened as I was pushed inside and was surprised by how the room was full of equipment with a huge lamp above the table I was transferred to.

The nurses present, said ‘Good morning’ as did the surgeon and the anesthesiologist at my side. A cover was placed on my body, I was intubated and the surgeon told me to stick out my right arm, I felt him putting something in the port by my right hand. I said: ‘Do I count….’.he said: ‘if you want to’ … I started at 10 and barely got to 8 and that is the last I remember.

Much labour and study by many persons have gone into contributing to the success of what happened next, this by-pass procedure and one especially important medical doctor is: Rene Geronimo Favaloro (see picture below)

Now what followed with me, is a medical mastery, a work of precision and high skills resulting from trial and error over many years of medical experiments, theories and hands on efforts of countless medical researchers and others with bright intellectual minds and keen desires in adventurous and extremely precise discoveries to make this procedure as safe as it is today.  And the biggest player in this scenario was to be my Saphenous vein. This vein located in my left leg was considered to be healthy and could be missed in the blood -flow to my leg as the other veins would take over the necessary work. You see without this pre-ordained body part, the operation could not be successful. Since the blockages were in the arteries of the heart, this similar blood carrying part (vein) was a perfect fit as replacement needed for a new ‘detour of the heart’ blood flow. A new highway for life. A same body friendly organ that knew my blood; and the skill of the surgeon to make the connection by using a procedure called: Anastomosis (grafting) This is ‘supramicrosurgery’ and requires great skill and quick work.

René Gerónimo Favaloro was an Argentine cardiac surgeon and educator best known for his pioneering work on coronary artery bypass surgery using the great saphenous vein. (see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronary_artery_bypass_surgery#History)

You see early in the 1900s, a surgical procedure called sympathectomy — a cut on the sympathetic chain that supplies the heart—or pericardial abrasion, was used to relieve cardiac symptoms. However it had disappointing results. The French surgeon Alexis Carrel was the first to anastomose a branch of the carotid artery—in the heart of a dog. By the 1950s there were efforts by C.S. Beck; Arthur Vineberg the “Vineberg Procedure”; Mason Sones used angiography to determine vessels to be by-passed; in 1955 Sydney C. Smith MD performed cardiac surgeries using the Saphenous vein; by 1964, Soviet cardiac surgeon Vasilii Kolesov performed an artery anastomosis; also Michael DeBakey used the Saphenous vein to create a by-pass; but Argentine surgeon René G. Favaloro standardized the procedure. CABG became the standard of care for CAD patients. (all info from: Wikipedia)

Picture: By Blausen Medical Communications, Inc. – see ticket for details, CC BY 3.0,

Another less known medical surgeon who contributed to the expertise of this procedure was: Robert Hans Goetz. His full story can be found in an essay by Igor Konstantinov MD @ sciencedirect.com ‘Our Surgical Heritage’ .

Dr. Goetz was born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1910, of Jewish parents Johan Konrad and Emilie Goetz. He spent his early years with his grand-parents and went to a one room school in a small village in the Black Forest region, where he did quite well with his studies and was accepted to Helmholtz Ober Real Schule and achieved his matriculation in 1929 and decided he would either become a architect or a physician. Watching his family physician’s quick skills of lancing big boils without anesthesia, impressed him and he decided to choose medicine. He attended the University of Frankfurt and during the summer worked for 3 months at the local hospital and scored high grades at school. Also as a student you automatically became a member of the Nazi Party.

He spent time in the department of Dr. Albrecht Bethe, professor of physiology and learned much, getting ahead of the other classmates. By studying the peripheral circulation, he constructed a new device – a digital optical recording plethysmograph – that accurately measured changes in blood flow with each heartbeat. Dr. professor Bethe urged him to submit an article on his method for the Klinische Wochenschrift, a medical journal, which was accepted as his thesis for his MD degree. However even though he passed his MD exam ‘summa cum laude’ the Nazi Minister of the Interior declared him ‘political unreliable’ (he did not get his diploma until 62 years later in 1997)

At the end of 1933, the Nazis took full control and intended to make it impossible for Jews and other “undesirables” to continue to study medicine. All students were forced to join the National Socialist Student Organization. Access to final exams were not admitted unless you provided proof that you were a regular attendant at the Nazi rallies, lectures etc.

So he supported himself by tutoring students of his old high-school in math and chemistry. Sometime later he heard that a physician employed by a high security jail in Frankfurt was going on vacation but could not find a replacement. Goetz applied and was hired. The jail was at the opposite end of the city and he would ride his bike to the job during lunchtime. The job had one unforeseen benefit. As jail doctor he had to test the adequacy of the prison food. Instead of just a spoon full sampling, he would ask to see the complete meal. The wardens found it odd why this young doctor would do this. They did not realize that it was his only meal of the day.

Seeing politically things were getting worse, he resigned his membership in the NS Student Organization and decided in 1934 to leave Germany and travel to Switzerland (with no medical papers and 10 marks in his pocket) where professor Dr. Bluntschli who had escaped Germany earlier, vouched for him with the Swiss authorities even though he did not obtain his medical diploma or license and gave him a job. Professor Bluntschli suggested a study of the ‘placental circulation of a primitive lemur’. With this thesis he obtained his MD degree.

By 1936 fearing German Nazi expansion might also include Switzerland, he took advantage of a opportunity to spent a year in Scotland with Professor I. De Burgh-Daly in Edinburgh. Since he was not considered a ‘bona fide’ refugee, he only received permission by the Home Office to stay for a year. When that was up he applied for a position in South Africa. He was married and sailed to Cape Town in 1937.

In 1938 the Groote Schuur hospital was opened and Dr Goetz was accepted, after writing exams, as a licensed physician. Because he was not a naturalized citizen his movements were restricted with regular reports to the police. He received however his own vascular disease unit at the Groote Schuur Hospital. His research interest caused him to question what happens with the blood pressure in a giraffe? why does he not faint when he raises his head? how does his body deal with such a large space in his long neck? So from 1950 to 1954 he ran a number of experiments with giraffes.

By 1950 he was already being recognized internationally as an authority in the field of blood circulation and his studies were published in various medical journals. He traveled and lectured in many places, including the USA. In 1957 he was appointed as a full professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and an attending surgeon at the Bronx Municipal Hospital. Here he researched myocardial blood supply. His first clinical coronary artery bypass operation occurred in 1960 on May 2nd, at the Bronx on a 38 year old patient who had debilitating angina. During the operation it took Dr. Goetz 17 seconds to make the anastomosis, but it had taken him years to derive to this point and learn how to do it. This was the first clinical coronary artery bypass by Dr Goetz but only his last one. The patient was free of angina for a year. The procedure was not accepted by the medical community (in USA) and so fell into disuse as they considered it not only highly experimental but also unwarranted. The Arthur Vineberg (Canadian) procedure of ‘internal mammary artery implantation’ became the accepted method of by-pass operations in the 1960s.

But Dr Goetz was ahead of his time and his work was too new for many to comprehend. It was not until 1967 that Visilii Kolesov published a study of performing successful bypass surgeries in Russia and seven years before Favaloro attempted to do so, using the great Saphenous vein in bypass surgeries. Although Kolesov reported the first substantial experience with this kind of bypass grafting but it was Dr. Goetz who performed it first. (in USA) Dr. Goetz is considered a great example of creativity, bravery, integrity, precision and tenacity, all excellent qualities of a good medical researcher and surgeon. Dr. Goetz passed away in 2000 at Scarsdale NY.

So 5 days after my bypass surgery, I was home again. My chest incision was healing and my normal movements of walking and eating was picking up even though follow-up and after care was minimal because of Covid. Continual half-yearly checkups and examinations of my health is progressing well according to my cardiologist. My hat is off to all those who were involved in this medical advance. I now feel that many of ‘them’ were present as my surgeon and the medical team ‘cracked my bones‘; took the Saphenous vein from my leg and made the graft (detour) to bypass the blockage by my heart. My dad who had angina for years and who died in 1991 at age 79, did not receive this same gift.

I have now met others persons (men & women) who have experienced this unbelievable renewal surgery and are doing well. I am thankful for having received this blessing and Canada’s providing free benefits for this medical care. Thank you to all who helped make me whole again.

Oh, and my left leg is a bit scarred but OK for an 80+ year old! Praise God!

JS Sept 20, 2023

Note: About 15,000 people in Canada undergo coronary artery bypass grafting known as: (CABG) surgery each year. (figures from 2021) (in the USA over 450,000 per year) Note: Check at article at ‘Our Surgical Heritage’ by Igor E. Konstantinov, MD Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota Some other references: By Blausen Medical Communications, Inc. – see ticket for details, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26986523

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003497500012649 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronary_artery_bypass_surgery

https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/20/us/robert-goetz-90-innovator-in-coronary-bypass-surgery.html

We all got together as brothers and sisters (and spouses and children & grandchildren) over last week-end (June 18, 2023) to remember with our children and grand-children how and where our parents spent much of their lives in the Hamilton, Ontario area.

The ‘Groenewegen’ family (with 5 children – youngest was 6 weeks old) arrived in Canada from the Hague, Netherlands (both parents were born in the village of Rozenburg) shortly after the ending of WW2 in June 1947 on the S.S. Waterman, at that time a troop carrier sailing from the port of Rotterdam to Montreal, Canada with approximately 1,100 immigrants of which most of the men had been sponsored to work on Canadian farms.

This was one of the first ships of Dutch immigrants after WW2 with many to follow through the 40ies and into the 50s with the bulk arriving in the early 50s. Canada needed workers in agriculture and many men for the Netherlands were looking for new opportunities.

The ‘Groenie’ family travelled by train from Montreal and due to a language barrier arrived in Hamilton on the way to Brantford, until someone checked their train ticket and noticed the destination should be Bradford (Lefroy). Not knowing the language it was easy to make a mistake. The Hamilton Spectator had a reporter at the train station who covered the event and the family’s arrival became a front-page news feature in the June 27, 1947 edition complete with family picture.

From Bradford (LeFroy) the family moved to several places and settled on the Larkin Farms at Queenston Heights. The kids remembered the building of the floral-clock (1950). Mr. Digweed (see his obituary) was the manager of this large farming enterprise but allowed father Cor to practice his occupation which was selling potatoes and produce door to door in the local area in his spare time. (Stamford Township permit – April 1949)

On a family journey to the church in Hamilton (where dutch services were held) he noticed at Upper James Street (Highway #6 and Limeridge Road) a large lime-stone barn (with a square silo) apparently unoccupied; and came up with the idea that this may be a good place to start his own business.

The property was owned by the Bethune family (Dr. William Bethune **) who father Cor approached and asked if the building was available to purchase. Yes, it was and so a price was agreed to with the owner holding a mortgage.

The family moved into the barn’s grainery and began to convert it into their own living quarters and with two separate apartments. This converting lasted a couple of years. The place however was ideal for it contained a large space under the barn built into the hill which had a constant suitable temperature, great for storing potatoes year-round. However since it was located in Barton Township it had no sewer and water was to be carried from a well with a pump situated along the road side on Upper James Street. Afterall it was just a barn.

To make it livable for the family, now counting 9 people (there were 7 children) some of the limestone blocks were knocked out and window space was made. The local kids would come by and say: ‘My dad says: any more blocks removed and the building will fall in’.

After sometime Upper James Street was widened and the well covered up, so water was transported in 5 gallon pails from Upper James Street and Fennel Ave to serve the family of 9 persons. This hauling of water lasted till about the mid 70s when the Barton Township was amalgamated officially into the City of Hamilton in 1973 and water and sewer services finally arrived.

The business was run out of the barn and thrived. However they were unable to obtain permission to sell at the Hamilton market because only ‘growers’ were allowed at the city market and the family business was classified as a ‘huckster’ enterprise, since they did not grow the product but bought from farmers locally, in Shelburne and Leamington for their supplies. So they did business at Welland City Market for many many years. (City of Welland permit – November 1948)

Overtime, many immigrants found at this family home a welcome, a place that was their ‘receiving’ and ‘welcome to Canada’ station. The family worked hard with all the children pitching in as they were eager to establish themselves and contribute to the welfare of the community especially those who had immigrated from the Netherlands. For a time they also branched into the trucking of Florida produce and other enterprises beside the potato whole-sale and retail.

The barn also became a gathering place for the children and their friends. On many a Sunday night a hymn sing could be heard or a beach outing was organized. Everyone was welcomed and a few young teenagers remembered working for the family business as their summer jobs. Some even met their future spouses here.

The city, however, grew around them and the place acquired a unique identity in the neighbourhood. As Upper James Street was widened, many businesses sprang up along its way. The city also had big plans for the area in the early 1960s; there were plans for an Express Way from Ancaster to the Red Hill Creek Valley running down the escarpment into the QEW.

Opposition to this plan (especially the route through the Red Hill Creek Valley) delayed the implementation for many many years with the property placed into ‘expropriation’ mode as the planning would show that the property would form part of the Upper James intersection. After much time and legal effort, a price was agreed for sale by the city in 1977 and the building was quickly torn down. The Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway exit to Upper James Street North is now where the building used to stand.

So at last week’s family gathering, we collectively as a family children, grandchildren made a journey to that exact spot (now a just walk-way as there is no trace of this building anymore). Even the landscape packed with an earthen noise-barrier shows no sign of what was there in earlier days, although in recorded history there is mentioned about the barn and the adjacent lime kiln with the Bethune family dwelling. See the book: Mountain memories: A pictorial history of the Hamilton Mountain published January 2000 by the Hamilton Mountain Heritage Society.

We stood on the walk-way path that runs from Limeridge/Ridge Road corner to Upper James Street and remembered the days when the family business was here and children played in the field and on the property of 20 Limeridge Road East.

There was no evidence of all of this history at this location now. No rock or stone or incidental items can be seen or found. It is history, past times, when young lives were formed and new opportunities were given to new Canadians families eager to contribute to the religious faith mosaic, exercise and share their commercial expertise and practice community welfare by making Canada their new home. Perhaps those events now live only in the minds of us elders, who were there and who remember.

Psalm 103 reminds us: The children of Adam are like grass; their days are few; they flourish for a time like flowers in a meadow. As the wind blows over the field and the bloom is gone, it doesn’t take much to blow us out of the memory of that place.……but the unfailing love of the Eternal is always and eternal for those who reverently run after Him. He extends His justice on and on to future generations, to those who will keep His bond of love and remember to walk in the guidance of His commands. (translation: The Voice)

JS June 18, 2023

* Book of Psalms number 103 verse 16 (NLT translation)

** Dr. William Bethune Park in his memory is located at 60 Dicenzo Drive off Stone Church Road East

December 4, 2023 – Update: Google Maps location https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Groenewegen+Park/@43.21955,-79.8856049,17z/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x882c9b096de84c21:0x3bfc1485222ee8af!2sGroenewegen+Park!8m2!3d43.21955!4d-79.88303!16s%2Fg%2F11tn3lbm5t!3m5!1s0x882c9b096de84c21:0x3bfc1485222ee8af!8m2!3d43.21955!4d-79.88303!16s%2Fg%2F11tn3lbm5t?entry=ttu

We are coming round to Easter again! (April 9, 2023) the remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. God sacrificed for us, to save us. Not just from this wretched world, but from ourselves and our actions in it, on that Good Friday long ago. And then 3 days later: Easter, resurrection – death defeated. Halleluyah!

Look now: 3 years of pandemic, inflation with ‘not sure this is going right’ by raising interest rates, war (utter demonic) devastation in Ukraine; earth quakes (50,000 cries), water and wind catastrophizes, embezzlements, frauds, lies, unsafe media, racism, intimidation, food and housing insecurity, unwilling to tell the truth, lost in creature `identities, youth hopeless for the future, unable to find our Saving Grace. These are the times we all experience. For this reason I recently listen again to a sermon preached over 30 years ago by Reverend Andrew Kuijvenhoven * @ Bethel Church in Waterdown, probably in 1991.

Here is the Biblical TEXT for the Sunday afternoon Sermon Gospel of Luke chapter 18 : (Jesus speaking): There was a judge living in a certain city. He showed no respect for God or humanity. ³ In that same city there was a widow. Again and again she kept coming to him seeking justice: “Clear my name from my adversary’s false accusations!” ⁴ He paid no attention to her request for a while, but then he said to himself, “I don’t care about what God thinks of me, much less what any mere human thinks. ⁵ But this widow is driving me crazy. She’s never going to quit coming to see me unless I hear her case and provide her legal protection.” ⁶ Did you catch what this self-assured judge said? ⁷ If he can be moved to act justly, won’t God bring justice for His chosen people when they cry to Him day and night? Will He be slow to bring them justice? ⁸ Mark My words: God will intervene fast with vindication. But here’s the question: when the Son of Man comes, will He find anyone who still has faith? (translation ‘The Voice’ from biblegateway.com)

Pastor Kuijvenhoven * start has sermon with: My sisters and brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ: What is the most serious question?

Often I will be requested to write a few articles for the Banner **, that’s a long time ago of course and I used to go out speaking on church speaking engagements for the Banner and in many congregations then they tell me: “the biggest problem in the Christian Reformed Church was congregationalism, those congregations do exactly what they want and never mind the rest. But there is also feminism, ecumenism, liberalism, fundamentalism, materialism, scientism, all these isms they said were all bad. Of course Calvinism was fine!”

Then sometimes they would press me to say what I thought was the biggest problem. And I would say that the biggest problem is that the Lord Jesus hasn’t come back, and then they would say: “Oh yeah…. that….But what about all the today problems we face? Those are the biggest problem, it is not that the Lord Jesus hasn’t come back, for 2000 years ago they promised but it hasn’t happened yet.”

Now, you cannot go into the Bible very deeply without being struck by the fact that Jesus is coming. The last chapter of the Old Testament ends with: He is coming like a fiery oven unless you repent, and the last chapter of the New Testament He is coming! Come! All throughout the Bible there too is the cry: Come, Come, why do you tarry? why Lord, why?

We have this in Psalm 13*** and in the book of Revelation 6*** the cry of the martyrs under the altar whose blood is dripping from the altar. Come! how long before you will avenge our blood, yeah I think that if you take the Lord Jesus promises seriously, not for like, – well that’s in the book, I belong to church too – but if you take him seriously, then this is a great thing to be concerned about and prayed for. Yet today, it is not so much when is the Lord coming? but the question is actually will you be…..will you still be there when he comes when the son of man comes and will he find the faith on the earth. So the other side of the coin is when is he coming but can we persist in waiting………..because this parable will teach us also to persist in waiting, it says: Jesus makes the application, for he told this parable to show that they (listeners) should always pray and not give up. Now the parable is clear enough: there is a woman to whom has been done an injustice. We don’t know what that was, but you can imagine let’s say: that somebody, somebody took your house away or some fellow with a lot of money didn’t pay her because she was only a widow and a widow especially in those days had no clout, you can still get away doing a lot of stuff to people who have no clout, but (on the other-hand) you’ve got to be very careful with people, who can hire lawyers or so. But for those with no clout you can get away with things. So that is what the judge did to her. But this woman was the first to put on a demonstration parade that’s been recorded in the Bible. She was there every day! Yes, she said: ‘do me justice’ to that judge. Now the judge is described here as someone who didn’t fear God and he didn’t care about anyone. Now that’s callous, isn’t it, he was a careless, selfish, unconcerned, son of a – – – – – , – he didn’t fear God and didn’t care about people. But whenever he came out of his chambers, there was that woman again, ‘Do justice to me!’

Finally he said to himself: ‘If I don’t do something about this, she’ll drive me nuts’. So he relented and gave her justice. And now we read the Lord’s application of this parable. Jesus says: “If even an unjust judge will do a thing like this, how much more should you (and I) be persistent with the loving, the righteous judge in heaven?! Persistence, Jesus says, pays off! You know that persistence pays off, you just keep going at it! How is it again, ‘a persistent water drop hollows out the stone’. And so it is also in your prayers, it isn’t just once or twice, but keep praying! If an unjust judge will listen in the end, how much more this One, because for him someone is praying whose causes is his cause. “Saints their watch are keeping!” How long before you do justice to us. Yet though the unjust judge lets her wait and wait, Jesus says, you must know that the saints must never give up, their cry goes on: how long, how long! And you must keep knocking on the doors of heaven, until he does justice to us. Hear your servant Lord, for your namesake, pay attention to our pleadings, hear O Lord, hear! And when he opens that door and comes will he find faith in Waterdown, in Burlington?

Faith means here, the persistent pounding on heaven’s door. Faith here means that you’re still hungering and thirsting in and for righteousness, that’s persistence in waiting. So that’s the most serious question when he comes, will He find faith? We talk about Jesus coming, he came; and if it is true that he came, you should be overjoyed that he is coming again. Now when He comes will you have faith? will you still be waiting for him by the time he opens the door? will the pure still be pure and the meek still waiting to inherit the earth or will the weak meek have said: well enough is enough; I waited long enough, now lets grab, while the grabbing is good. Or will you continue to pray and continue to wait as Psalm 43 is one of these: ‘vindicate me O God! – plead my cause against an ungodly nation, rescue me from deceitful and wicked people!’ Will there still be people waiting and saying day and night: judge us, do it now. Reveal your righteousness.

When he comes will he find the faith? Now there is that problem of course of his not coming, or his delay in coming and that should puzzle you too, once in awhile. In the catechism class over this questions about the coming and not coming of the Lord Jesus, we must and they must learn, I must learn, you all must learn, to persist in prayer that the Lord will do now what He has promised. The Bible hardly ever addresses the question why it takes so long. The only place that I know where he addresses that is in second letter of Peter’s chapter three, that’s one of the last books in the Bible, I quote: “Dear friends this is now a second letter. You must understand that in the last days scoffers will come scoffing and following their own evil desires they will say: where is this coming he promised. Ever since our fathers died everything goes on as it has been from the beginning of creation…………but do not forget this one thing dear friends, with the Lord a day is like 1000 years in 1000 years like a day, the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance”. So that’s one of the reasons why he postpones, there must be greater repentance, more must be saved. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. Well, 1000 years may be a day for the Lord but for us as we are, a 1000 years, 20 years, 30 years is a long time and you must not give up, and not give in, and not fall over, but you must keep saying, do justice, O God, bring it about. The question then this evening is, the question is not, when will He come, but can you keep waiting. I too, every time, I go to the other questions, I go, – when will He come, but the question the Lord now puts before us is: ‘Can you keep waiting! can you keep knocking on the door! pleading on the promises and calling on heaven to burn away the thistles from the earth. The question is not, if God will hear, but the question is whether you can keep asking. It is not, that the judge will listen but, will the woman (you) keep knocking, that’s the question.

Now, you see you and I can get used to sin, for you see it everyday and you get used to living in a sinful world. For there are lots of things in this world that are basically unacceptable to a Christian but then slowly you accept them because everybody does it. These things happen all the time and that’s how the ‘cookie crumbles’. And then somehow you must keep your bearing and so must I. For the pre-occupation of this world, as the Bible calls it, and the interests of the followers of Jesus Christ are totally opposite (different). You can lose your perspective in your sense of Christian justice demands for righteousness. The world is unspeakably superficial. Last week, we were in Florida and what did the ‘Miami Herald’ have on its front page. Mr. Kennedy-Smith**** and his alleged rape and what did the ‘Toronto Star’ have on its front page when we came home, Mr. Kennedy-Smith and his alleged rape. That shameful behaviour, whatever, was lifted up. Justice is not done with dignity because justice should be administered in the name of the judge but it has becomes food (tit-bits of gossip) for everybody. That should irritate us, it’s unfair in this world, where the rich get richer and the poor cannot make it, although the trouble is not easy to resolve. It is not something that we should take for granted, you must say: God come and straighten it out! There is no reason why everybody should lose money but the banks make record (years) profits. Sin therefore also, you must not take sin for granted. You must not say: ‘I am a sinner, always been a sinner’, good thing Jesus died for my sins; that’s no attitude, that’s not a Christian attitude. I must say: sins been paid for on the cross and has been overcome by the resurrection and that I don’t want that ugly thing in my life anymore. I don’t want it! I want to get a new Monday tomorrow morning, I don’t want one ugly sin to spoil it again. God come!

Don’t accept the world as it is and don’t simply accept yourself as you are that you cannot change because you can, God says that. All around us there are sordid things going on; pornographic peddlers poisoning the tender beauty of awakening sexuality and making unstable individuals totally unfit to live. And that goes on and on and on because it makes money and you and I must get angry sometimes, you may not always have it out with them immediately, but you must knock on the gate of heaven and say: Lord come now, do it now! Terry Anderson****** said: that during seven years in chains, in Lebanon the Bible was a book of comfort and strength and he also said he could forgive his enemies because he’s a Christian. Why isn’t that ever front page news for our newspapers, why does every kookie religious group, like one in Toronto get all the attention and acknowledgement. But why only look at them: Why can’t brothers and sisters in one house live together in harmony?

So, Lord come forgive us and restore us. Don’t let us get used to it, don’t just simply say: well that’s the way it is. The widow in the parable, she does not take it, for she says: ‘do me justice’ and so we must have the same perseverance, you must keep at it. There’s plenty of food to go around in the world, yet thousands are starving, why should that be? That should not be so. Why do people every day get away with this; the denial of God, he is Lord! but they paid no attention to him at all, they just go their own sweet way and that goes on, and on, and on, and you get used to it, you get so used to it, you take it for granted and you shouldn’t. You should pound the door  of heaven and say: Reveal yourself! Why must we, in the church or for a good cause always beg for money, can’t people simply give 10% and if all of us did it, we would have more than enough. Why does cancer still kill? it doesn’t belong in you. Why is death still around? even death you should not take for granted, Jesus is the victor, the resurrection has begun. Now you want God to bring it all to give it all to us, don’t you Lord? That is what we should be praying for. Is it not terrible how people grow old together, as some people do, and then are separated from each other long before death by Alzheimer’s disease? My good professor Herman N. Ridderbos (Professor @ Theological School of Kampen, Netherlands) wrote to me a letter about that. Seven to eight years he took care of his wife and for the last years she didn’t know him at all. He was sweet to her, I know, it is a sweet burden and God can make it good for us, nevertheless, but it is hard and it shouldn’t be! We have been promised a new heaven, we have been promised a new earth and we have been promised perfection. So you must pray, the church must pray, this Christmas (Easter) season. When we look back and we look forward what do you really want, what are you praying about and what are you doing about it, yes, you must work hard, we must work hard, there must be no apathy among us. Any organization that brings about something of the just world should be supported by Christians, no apathy and yet the answer to our deepest problem is not that we finally get a majority (elected) vote and then we can straighten things out. Oh, how I wish we could get that far, but you must persist in prayer!

The question is not if God will hear, but will we keep asking. When the Son of man comes will he find you pounding heaven’s door; will he find you persisting in your prayers; that’s the question. The good judge will listen, if even an unjust judge listens in the end, the good judge will surely listen and he will intervene and ‘all flesh shall see the token, that his word is never broken’.******* So he says, he said to you and he said to me: “I’m coming soon!” and we say: Yes, come Lord Jesus! ……..and to that the church answers: AMEN (congregation response)

JS March 17, 203

* Andrew Kuijvenhoven was a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church. He died December 1, 2015. He was 88 years old.

** ‘Banner’ is a church magazine of the Christian Reformed church

*** from Biblegateway.com translation ‘The Voice’ – book of Psalms 13: How long, O Eternal One? How long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You look the other way? ² How long must I agonize, grieving Your absence in my heart every day?
How long will You let my enemies win? and from book of Revelation chapter 6: Murdered Victims cry: How much longer, O Lord, the holy One, the true One, until You pronounce judgment on the inhabitants of the earth? Until You avenge our blood?

**** Mr. William Kennedy-Smith was acquitted of rape in the courts (1991) He was a nephew of President JFK.

***** At the Toronto Airport Vineyard church miraculous events occurred during the services. There were physical healings, people reported a new sense of God’s love, freedom from fears, anger, and life issues. Claims of God putting gold fillings into people’s teeth and uncontrollable laughter. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Blessing

****** Terry Anderson, a reporter in Beirut for the Associated Press, was taken captive in 1985 by Shia Hezbollah militants and held for 6 years, till 1991.

******* Last line of the hymn: Comfort, Comfort Ye my people, says the LORD.

My Oma Titia Grasdijk-Schuurman was born in the village of Sauwerd, province of Groningen (Netherlands) on May 22, 1882.

I have been reading in the book “For Better For Worse” ‘Stories of the Wives of Early Pastors (Dominees) of the Christian Reformed Church’ by Janet Sjaarda Sheeres published by Wm Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA on January 1, 2017.

This book describes the lives (especially the hardships) of wives of pastors and family who immigrated from the Netherlands to the USA in the mid to late 1800s. The purpose of this book, as I read it, is to shine a light on the lives of the pastors’ wives, especially as it was expected for the wives to obey the “headship” marriage principle and honor (follow) their husband in family leadership. Although we have on record mostly historic notes/records about their husbands work in church council events etc., the lives/experiences of their wives are ‘invisible in history’ and not important enough to record. Yet the author succeeds in digging-out through known events and secular historic notes what these wives might have experienced in following their husbands from the Netherlands to the USA; the good-byes to their parents and siblings, then 3 or 4 weeks of travel crossing the ocean and finally arriving at their destination in the USA. Many were their tales of hardships: their older husbands deaths, the early deaths of children, a new language, the strangeness of the environment and the faith-theological-confessional-congregational issues that confronted them again in the life of the Michigan (USA) Reformed congregations of those pioneering days. The lives of the wives in this book illustrate many married older husbands and so some also experienced 2nd marriages and were step-mothers to sons & daughters by a previous marriage: Juffrouw (or Mevrouw more respected) Dieuwerke Schuringa Hulst-Gelock; Gerdina ten Brummelaar vanderWerp–Lokker being just two persons mentioned in the book.

The break-away faith conflict (1834-Secession) issues (does it ever stop!) in the Netherlands with the Dutch Hervormde (State) church mostly prompted their immigration starting in the 1840s under the leadership of two notable pastors – (Ds. Albertus C. Van Raalte to Holland, Michigan-1846 and Ds. Hendrik Pieter Scholte with 900 followers to Pella, Iowa, USA-1846) and the re-interaction/engagement of again church concerns in the USA between the immigrants and the Reformed Church (est. 1628- New Amsterdam) eventually forming breakaway groups. The establishment of the Christian Reformed Church (1857) forms the background and involvement of the wives and families mentioned in the book ‘For Better For Worse’. Some of these pastors had served congregations mostly in the province of Groningen and this made me remember my Oma Titia Grasdijk and the village of Sauwerd. Some of these immigrated pastors mentioned in the book had served in Wetsinge-Sauwerd: Ds Willem Hendrik Frieling; Ds Freerk (Frederick) Hulst and towards the end of the 1800s (although not mentioned) a Ds Jan Teves (1885 – 1908)

Into this church conflict times, the Grasdijk family settled in the village of Sauwerd. Pieter (1853 -1901) -son of Jacob Klaassens Grasdijk and Ietje Harms van Stedum), a tailor by occupation, married, on May 6, 1880 Antje Hempenius (1858-1927) (daughter of Dirk Sikkens Hempenius and Tietje Sybrens Hoekstra). Antje was born in the village of Engelum, Friesland and Pieter was born in Sauwerd. The marriage took place in Engelum, in the region Gemaldeveen (Friesland). They settled in Sauwerd, Groningen and their family would have 5 children, a still-born male child; two sisters, Trijntje born 1896 died at 9 months, Anna died in 1889 – one year old, a brother Jacob (1886) died later at 27 years in 1913. Titia was born in 1882 and a brother Dirk in 1889.

The church of the Wetsinge-Sauwerd Christelijke Afgescheidene was small and had a couple of starts as early as 1838 (worshipped in a barn for a while). There were ups and downs over the 1840s but by 1857 when Dominee (Ds) Keizer who had served the Hervormde church for 52 years, left the area, a small break-away group in Wetsinge-Sauwerd (region Adorp) was formed under leadership of Ds W. H. Frieling from Adorp) as the Christelijke Afgescheiden Gemeente (they wanted to have ‘Gereformeerd’ in their church name but the authorities would not allow it). In the background we must note: Already by the 1840s in the province of Groningen small cells of people (huis-gemeentes) were meeting (these were illegal gatherings) who agreed with Ds. H de Cock (1801-1842) had left the Hervormde Kerk (state-church) and were meeting in various regions of the province. This leaving by Ds H. de Cock was over dissatisfaction with the spiritual direction and state church policy. There had been a flaming-out loss of the spiritual accents of the Gospel that had been encouraged by the outcome of the Synod of Dord (1618-1619) together with arbitrary ambitious government (state) control over the church policy and its affairs. Ds de Cock’s spiritual conscience and pastoral objections found him in conflict with the state church and local authorities (1834-Secession and after) and so with his Church congregation and council at the village of Ulrum was constrained and persecuted. People however, came from far and near to hear him preach; it is said that the small church building at Ulrum could not accommodate the worshipers and many listened in at the church windows as he conducted Sunday services. This was a rocky time for the believers and conflicts grew within many congregations/groups breaking away from the Hervormde church during that area. Some of those Seceders groups called themselves Christelijke Afgescheidenen. These were the ‘quiet’ people, experiential Reformed religious folk; sometimes called the ‘kleine luijden’, deeply serious about their salvation and their spiritual well-being.

Wetsinge-Sauwerd by 1861 was a small congregation and called its first pastor Ds Syke Brand Sevensma, who served from 1861 to 1863 and with his family immigrated to the USA. In 1863 Ds M. Stadig came and served till 1865. Then in 1865 Dominee (pastor) Freek (Frederick) Hulst accepted a call. Freerk Hulst had married Diewerke Schuringa in 1858. He had already served in five congregations after his ordination in 1855, before coming to Wetsinge-Sauwerd. Mentored for the ministry by Ds Willem Hendrik Hendrik Frieling (married to Geertje Bennink – 1843 his 2nd marriage) who with his family immigrated in 1866 to Vriesland CRC (organized in 1857), Michigan church. Ds Frederick Hulst stayed in Wetsinge-Sauwerd till 1868 and then also immigrated to Holland, Michigan and later also served a church in Chicago, Illinois. He was small of stature and had a difficult disposition (the author of the book describes it as ‘strident outbursts’) which would get him in difficulties now and then. Later a pastor, Dominee Jan Teve served in Wetsinge-Sauwerd also immigrated to Michigan in 1908. When a pastor would immigrate often some families immigrated together with their pastor. As many as 750 persons immigrated from Groningen province to the USA in 1866 alone. The last decades of the 1800s was a time of hardships for many. There had been the potato blight misery (1845-47) with long consequences – economic depression, heightened by social unrest, so many faced poverty and people started moving to the cities for work.

For the wives of immigrated pastors, pioneering was a real personal sacrifice in many cases. Many immigrants did not all speak the same Dutch dialect and housing environments could be primitive and sparse. The pastors families experienced, besides physical, (many families experienced the early death of children; small pox, diphtheria, consumption etc.) also economic hardships in that their promised salaries were not always paid as agreed. Some lived in Michigan forested areas not experienced by many who had come from the flat and wide fields of the Netherlands. The dry conditions in the Fall of 1871 which caused the Great Fires, not only destroyed a large part of Chicago but also effected the people in Holland, Michigan (October 8, 1971) The town suffered great destruction and losses included the burning of their Third Reformed church building.

Reading the events of the Wetsinge-Sauwerd church during these times (1850 -1900), showed me how my Oma’s parents and family lived with not only community, family, and economic but also constant church conflict (faith) struggles.

In the 1886 events surrounding the Doleantie, another large break occurred in the Hervormde church with Dr. Abraham Kuiper (1837-1920) as leader were tumultuous also in Wetsinge-Sauwerd. I am sure that in many families on Sundays after church, there were heavy discussions about theology and doctrine. In 1892 this break away group (Dolerenden) merged with the Christelijke Afgescheiden church into the Gereformeerde Kerk in Nederland. During the time Ds Jan Teves was pastor 1885 – 1896 there was much going back and forth (conflicts) between Hervormde and Afgesheiden together with the Dolerende forming the congregations of Kerk A and Kerk B (1992) The records show that Ds. Teve left Wetsinge-Sauwerd congregation in 1897 to Beekbergen (Overijsel) where he was let go on ‘suspicion of sin against the 7th commandment’ in 1902. In 1908 he immigrated to the USA and died in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1913. In 1898 a new church building was erected in Sauwerd and the stone bricks of the old church taken down and used to harden a road in town.

`My Oma Titia Grasdijk was born in 1882 (1969) and believed to be the oldest of 5 children. She attended the local school probably until she was 12 years old (Grade 6) and then helped in the household and probably soon after got a job as a ‘dienstmeid’ a popular job for a young teenage girl. Sometimes teenage daughters were able to obtain a position with a well-to-do family which greatly enhanced their status in the community. It is apparent that Oma in her twenties, sometime in the early 1900s, after the deaths of her sisters (1889 & 1897) and her dad Pieter Grasdijk in 1904, left for the city of Groningen and in those years met my Opa Jan probably as they attended church in the city. It is told that Opa Jan Schuurman (1881-1956) who was born in the village of Haren, close to the city Groningen had not yet done profession of his faith and so they attended study sessions at the church together. Apparently Opa Jan (or family?) had some issues and the local pastor would not confirm him as being eligible for saying his profession. My Oma small but an outspoken (feisty) young lady is said to have opinioned to the pastor: ‘Dan krijg je mij ook niet!’ (‘Then you won’t get me either!’). So some of the Schuurman-Grasdijk children were not baptized until they were older, my Dad was 5 years old. Here is a picture of the family when my Oma Titia & Opa Jan married in 1910 on September 1.

My Opa was a baker and so he pursued his occupation by starting his own business in the Barestraat, a new sub-division on the south side of the city. Two months after the wedding her brother Dirk Grasdijk having got a girl in ‘trouble’ as has been told, left on the S.S. Rijndam to New York on to Chicago on November 23, 1910. There were many Groningers in Chicago at that time who were very active in the Waste Management business. No doubt the fleeing young man (21 years old) had some connections. He later settled in Decatur, Michigan and married Nellie Haak. My Oma never corresponded with him after that and for a reason not known, refused to even mention his name. A close relative I knew, as Tante Boukje (I believe was a cousin?) kept contact with him till his death on April 3, 1964.**

Very quickly in 1911 on October 14 their first children were born, twins named Antje (2008) – daughter, and a son named Derk Pieter. The son contracted, probably small pox and died after 10 months on August 3, 1912. On January 27 of 1913 my Oma’s brother Jacob died. My Dad was born on July 30, 1913 (1991) and named Derk, as was the custom to name children after their grand-parents and if one would die young, the next child was named by the same name so that that family name was maintained and honored. A son Pieter followed in March 28, 1916 (1972) and another son named Gerrit on March 23, 1919 (1999). As you can see, even as a wife my Oma had her share of sad events in first the decade years of her marriage. This together with a quickening of the first World War (1914-18) created large uncertainties in their walk together. Her mother Antje Hempenius died in 1927, followed by the ‘Depression’ of the late twenties and early thirties. This together with the social and political rhetoric (Nazis) in Europe culminating in the second World War added to their life difficulties. Another church split in 1944 and then the marriages of their children in the 1930s and 40s. In the 1950s they attended the Parklaan church which was an Article 31 (Vrijgemaakte) congregation. Some of these events and others including the heavy burden letting go of their oldest son Derk and family to Canada, have already been told in the history/remembrances of my parents Derk & Trientje in story of ‘In the Shadow of the Martini’.

** NOTE: My parents once they had settled in Canada visited him in Decatur, Michigan. The first direct family members to do so. In 1963 after his wife Nellie Haak’s death (they had no children), he drove up to Canada and attended my parents 25th wedding anniversary. (on above picture, he is the man beside the tree) (Jacob who died is the man beside the 3 women on the left)

‘EMET‘ (Hebrew) = truth/faithfulness/reliability/firmness/assurance/trustworthiness/steadiness…….

For this article I searched: gereformeerdkerken.nl & dominees.nl & genealogieonline.nl & newnetherlandinstitute.org & others.

JS January 14, 2022

This morning early (December 15) I got up and the neighbourhood was dark, foggy and foreboding in the midst of winter’s embrace. I could barely make out the tree in our backyard and the streetlights were still on with droplets of rain highlighted by the light. Far down the street the ghostly flashing lights of the local school bus shimmered as it stopped to pick up students ready for another school day. What a dark and dreary world it can be, I thought. It reminded me how Charles Dickens started his ‘Tale of Two Cities’: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” The book of Isaiah in chapter 60, tells us: “See truly; look carefully—darkness blankets the earth; people all over are cloaked in darkness. Yes, I said quietly, as I reflected on what we daily read in our newspapers and hear and see on media and our TVs. The big crisis in our hospitals, Covid 19, war in Ukraine and other places, cost of living, despair of our young people about their ability to participate in our communities. The cost of everyday food and necessities. The numerous concerns expressed in the media about environmental/political events and expert forecasts for a year of recession and inflation. The 2023 look ahead appears gloomy.

And always I find that at this time of Christmas it comes at us in hyper size and time, where everything seems to be gigantically overstated. Even the traffic on the main throughfares seems full of anxious drivers getting things done or trying to get things done before…… Things and events seemed to get compacted and backed-up in ridiculous fashion. Black Friday, oh the rush for bargains, loading up our credit cards with debts and worry. Fear for January 16th when the bills will hit. And don’t forget to send cards to uncles, aunts, friends and acquaintances and what about presents…Oh my, we are full of businesses and worry. Checking our lists twice, three-times. Can even the jolly elf of the North Pole with his HO! Ho! Ho! cheer us up or a Rudolf with his nose so bright, can he guide us in this dark night that we now face? Where is that breathing space, that quiet assurance whisper that we all long for, telling us ‘take it easy, it will be alright’. Even churches recognize the crush and organize special ‘blue Christmas’ events and services for those who feel the pressure of sadness and loneliness as they reminisce past events or consider their future.

Maybe it is not Christmas itself that causes this heightening of our senses at all, but rather it is something more like the ‘ending’ of a year. A closing off of a life-time, as we come to the end of 2022; like the end of an aera, a slipping away without the chance to revisit, do over and do a refresh to a major portion of who we are and how we were and…… do better? I think something of this is felt by everyone but especially those who have travelled over rough ground and scaled emotional mountains going where the way was not clear, or dipped into valleys of unknown paths, even life-threatening dead-end scares. Perhaps we should celebrate Christmas at another time, move it, there is just too much disturbing noise, maybe switch it with Thanksgiving? The fall can be lovely and bright and pleasing. And then a December Thanksgiving may be more in a respectable place at the end of the year. More uplifting and positive? Just a time of plain giving-thanks. What a great idea!

But would the hurts go away? after all we are merely human. Remember Murphy’s law: what will come, will come! Life is not always a bowl of cherries. Sadly though, life is not always a beach! The apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians even says: “Now we see through a glass darkly.” Yes, so what are we to do?

But there is a prophetic word for those who despair, exclaimed long ago: “The people (that includes us) who walked in darkness have seen a great light”. And what is that light? It is the light that will brighten for everyone in the world.  John the apostle in his day proclaimed and said: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome. it”. I was reminded of a song, one that I learned when I was young. A Christmas song: “Het dagent in het Oosten, het licht schijnt overal”, “it is shimmering in the East”. The light! The light is coming!

So then another Bible verse entered my mind: “See truly; look carefully—darkness blankets the earth; people all over are cloaked in darkness. Book of the Prophet Isaiah – chapter 60 – verse 2; (the Voice Tr.) and then what follows is the key as to why we shine lights at Christmas and why Christmas is always celebrated full of lights. Lights that dispel the darkness of the season and the darkness of the soul and light our paths into the future. As the prophet Isaiah predicted: Arise, shine, for your light has broken through! The Eternal One’s brilliance has dawned upon you. For God will rise and shine on you; the Eternal’s bright glory will shine on you, a light for all to see. Nations north and south, peoples east and west, will be drawn to your light, will find purpose and direction by your light. Your GPS!

This promise, in the splendour of heavenly lights, proclaimed by angels to the shepherds is a proclamation of HOPE: “Give God glory! for all who seek Him, they will be blessed with PEACE! To them is the promise: “For unto you is born this day a Saviour who is Christ the Lord”. The Lord of Peace and Love. The bright Morningstar! May you know this light giver this Christmas 2022!

A thrill of HOPE for all the world!

Listen to the words of the song: ‘O Holy Night’

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born; O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming, with glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here come the wise men from the Orient land. The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger; in all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger, Behold your King! before Him lowly bend! Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother; and in His name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever, His power and glory evermore proclaim. His power and glory evermore proclaim.

Songwriters: Placide Cappeau, Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight

And another song: ‘Beautiful Saviour‘

1 Beautiful Savior, King of creation, Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’d love Thee, truly I’d serve thee, Light of my soul, my Joy, my Crown.

2 Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands, Robed in flow’rs of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer; He makes our sorr’wing spirit sing.

3 Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight, Bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer Than all the angels in the sky.

4 Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, Praise, adoration, Now and forevermore be Thine!

Gesanbuch Munster 1677

JS Christmas December 2022

I have been reading the book by Bonnie Kristian entitled ‘Untrustworthy‘ (the Knowledge Crisis breaking our brains, polluting our politics, and corrupting Christian community) in which she discusses among other things our present communication uses and (perceptions of truth) attitudes, comments made (shared and believed ‘conspiracist’ info) on the social media like ‘Facebook’, ‘Twitter’, ‘Tik Tok’ and ‘Youtube’ to name just some of the more media popular ones that have mushroomed in the last 10 years or so. (Apparently over 100+ Social Media Platforms have been initiated since 2000 and the bulk of them since 2010)

Most of these are used by the 18 to 35 year olds (who represent 60%+ of all users on such platforms as Instagram). Facebook has almost 3 billion users or roughly 40% of the world’s population has a Facebook account. (see: influencemarketinghub)

There are millions of stories, comments, reports and opinions posted on these sites, so the real question that pops up all the time is: what is real, faithful, reliable, factual and fair?

If I post something on the net, the question arises, who will read it? and what will they think it means? Yes, you can limit access to your comments and posts but who knows? Much posting is like throwing dust to the wind, where it goes cannot be known or tracked. All manner of comments and remarks and ‘on the moment’ feelings and opinions once written and released are scattered by our ‘friends’ and ‘enemies’ without our control. Copies and references of our postings (pictures and videos) can be multiplied many times over and over and who knows where they land?

So why do we do this?

We want to be heard, we want to connect, we want to promote and create a ‘personal brand’, we want to be seen as people who care and share ‘selfies’ especially as pictures (videos) get over 30% more traffic than other postings. (there is an old saying: One picture is worth a thousand words!) It is an ‘ego’ thing, sometimes a put down or a one up – (my dad is stronger than your dad! thing) and a desire to teach and pass on good ideas or sometimes just a money grab, or even a ‘no brain’ reflex to a situation that maybe should have required more info and thought. Especially the quick jerky (nasty) reaction is usual the most passed on remark.

Is it all real or is it fiction? are we setting up ‘fake’ situations about ourselves (making us look better, improving our persona?) or ‘spotting’ someone we know, or are there situations where we have interest or just being nosy participators (but at a safe anonymous distance). Or are we using it to get back at someone. (there are stories of nasty and horrible tragic postings and follow-up events, especially when we wander into the pornography selfies world) The dark-side of the Web.

Bonnie Kristian cites the example of Justine Sacco, a publicist who had 200 Twitter followers and posted a comment while on a flight to South Africa: ‘Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white.’ Before her flight landed she had gone from ‘who is she’ to infamy. The barrage of condemnations followed her as the ‘net’ trolls tracked her flight journey, she was ‘net identified’, and photographed when her plane landed. Sad results followed; with her losing her job and trying for years to regain her reputation. (she eventually got rehired)

Does the interest forgive?

My take on this is that it does not, for it cannot! Consider: how can you get a clear bill of ‘deletion’ of ‘OK GONE’ from something that is ‘out there!’ and unable to be ferreted out in every case line for line and internet cranny. And then once seen by multiple people, who obviously copy and distribute, and who are affected by what they read and see (about you) and can remember. (see NOTE*)

In 2014, a landmark decision issued by the European Union’s highest court has ruled that data about individuals held by ‘Google’ must be deleted on request. The European Court of Justice called it the right “to be forgotten” for individuals to have control about what information pertaining to them should be available online and what should be deleted, especially those data(s) that may harm their reputation or are no longer relevant. But this is only on ‘Google’, what about all the other platforms and sites throughout the world. There are over 2 billion sites of which 400 million are positively active. (there was only 1 site in 1989; a huge number of internet users 1.2 billion has arrived since 2012))

So what can we do?

Don’t do it! Don’t make comments or post selfies or reports that you would most likely never say or show to someone’s face in public. Tone down the rhetoric and act kindly and humbly with yourself and your loved ones and neighbours. The old adage: ‘Sticks and stones will hurt my bones; but words will never hurt me.’ is a piece of advice that we now know is not true. Words (pictures) on the internet or other media can and will hurt!

So you ask: to use a book title: ‘How then shall we live?’

Because I am a Christian, I fall back to the age-old, wise admonishments of the Bible. Let me give you a few that Bonnie Kristian quoted in her book and others:

Book of Proverbs, chapter 14 verse 15: – “Only a simpleton believes everything he’s told! A prudent man understands the need for proof.” and from verse 29 – “A wise man controls his temper. He knows that anger causes mistakes.” Book of Proverbs, chapter 15 verse 28: – “A good man thinks before he speaks; the evil man pours out his evil words without a thought.” (Tr. Living Bible) The second letter of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, chapter 4 verses 3 & 4: –^” You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message (Gospel) alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.” (Tr.The Message)

Bonnie Kristian also quotes from a poem by W. H. Auden (1907-1973: entitled September 1, 1939 (the date when Germany invaded Poland and England announces a declaration of war – WW2 starts)

Defenceless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.

Will we always be perfect internet users? No, but we can all, be wise and peaceful! Shalom!

JS November 17, 2022

NOTE* there are some websites that will help you remove personal data, but that ability is limited; see: https://www.lifewire.com/remove-personal-information-from-internet-3482691 – Also see Facebook removal of personal info: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/04/how-to-delete-everything-facebook-knows-about-you.html#:~:text=How%20to%20delete%20everything%20Facebook%20knows%20about%20you,files.%203%20Here%E2%80%99s%20how%20to%20fully%20delete%20Facebook.

I have been reading a book of essays by Abraham Kuyper ” Wisdom and Wonder” ** Common Grace & Art.

When I attended HCS as a student way back in the 50s, we (and teachers) were cautioned not to enter into a discussion on ‘Common Grace’. It had been a ‘church’ confessional problem.

Some of you may ask: What is common grace? Common grace is the term used to describe how human motivations of good caring things can happen in people’s lives; for not all is evil or maleficent, but grace (good) abounds across time eternal because God the creator, rules in the hearts and minds of his creatures, even though some people do not acknowledge his presence or even use their gifts of life and the reality of his creation all around us wisely. Nevertheless, as we have experienced, evil does not always triumph in the lives of people. Just think about the many fairy tales and real-life stories that celebrate good over evil. Grace is built in. God hardwired it into his creation.

Wisdom tells us that life without grace would be disastrous. We would all be prone to selfishness, looking out for number one! giving in to strife, mischief, evil and corruption and so the world would probably not have lasted as long as it has. Dystopia and a frightening world it would be. The opposite of utopia.

Now in this book, (“Wisdom & Wonder”) Kuyper takes us on a journey into a discussion of the world as we know it, with its many fascinating areas of human endeavour and discoveries since the ‘beginning’. Science, Art, Nature, Sin and Redemption. A discussion set in a creation philosophy; that includes God who prepared it for human discoveries of all kinds in every good way, so that His glory may be revealed!

Already in God’s mind (He spoke a Word and it is) was laid out the ability for humans to discover the riches of creation; our bodies, the animals and plants; the environment and all that is real around us and even the unseen things we now enjoy such as electricity; radio, ex-rays and other enhanced technological discoveries and mechanics.

So the ‘Sciences’ have been spoken by God into ‘creation’ for us to be busy with in as many life spheres as there are questions for the What? Why? How? When? of the things we experience. There is a God given pent-up drive by humans to uncover all this, Kuyper called it Knowledge or Science (Wonder). It is the striving for answers for the betterment of society and to the many as yet uncovered glories in the world around us.

This, Kuyper says, was not instantly known to us at the beginning but slowly developed as ‘human discovery history’ formed by the creation through the word God spoke to the first humans: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.” (the Message)

This was an awesome invitation to play with in the deep mysteries of our world (universe) A beneficent gesture to be God’s partner and pupil. This showed God’s goodness, his GRACE.

Now Kuyper says since we are all human, we all have this ability to make discoveries and contribute knowledge towards good results as we uncover these mysteries how to help and benefit the world and its creatures. There are no humans who were not granted some capacity to help in this discover. We have been hardwired to prosper; to fill the earth; inquire and to take charge.

Then why do we still see misery? because we are selfish creatures. Why? the answer is given to us by God. From almost the beginning of time, the rules God had set we broke, we said: ‘we can do it alone, we do not need you God!’ Christians call this the FALL! But even so, we were still humans made after Gods image with all smarts and cleverness intact, except we said: we had no need for the Spirit of God; the teacher who knows the blueprints to guide us. We can do it ourselves, thank you!

So letting the Creator, the minder of all things go, has led us into new waters where our striving now has become OUR triumph and OUR self Glory! But yet, God has not abandoned his work, he is still there and yes, that Common Grace element still pushes us onward and upward.

Now the argument at HCS was that since we as people, have rejected God’s Wisdom we also do not have a ‘right idea’ about creation’s Wonder and so the Glory of that (Common) Grace has been obscured and will not edify us as a human before holy God. Therefore, this Grace is now a curse for us as we have thrown off (pushed away) the hand that guides us with Wisdom to use God’s Mysterious gifts honestly and rightly. So some said this ‘Commonness’ grace notion now does God a disservice for his Grace is only always pure and true, reserved for those who honour him. You know the verse “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound in a believer’s ear……’tWas grace that brought my heart to fear and Grace my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed!

We are now living some 70 years later and have realized that but for the Grace of God, go I; and in our time the world has seen some amazing things and discoveries that have helped us live better and help others better than ever before we dreamt was possible, and for that we praise God’s Grace. So always remember, it is that Grace that allows us to work and play in this world of ours.

As stated in the Confession “Our World Belongs to God”

“Made in God’s image to live in loving communion with our Maker,
we are appointed earthkeepers and caretakers to tend the earth, enjoy it,
and love our neighbors.
God uses our skills for the unfolding and well-being of his world so that creation and all who live in it may flourish.

Together, male and female, single and married, young and old—
every hue and variety of humanity— we are called to represent God,
for the Lord God made us all.
Life is God’s gift to us, and we are called to foster the well-being of all the living,
protecting from harm the unborn and the weak, the poor and the vulnerable.

Even now, as history unfolds in ways we know only in part, we are assured
that God is with us in our world, holding all things in tender embrace and bending them to his purpose.
The confidence that the Lord is faithful gives meaning to our days and hope to our years.
The future is secure, for our world belongs to God”.

To get back to the Book “Wisdom & Wonder”; there are some pages where Kuyper lost me and I was not able to follow through on his arguments, however, I would recommend it to those who are interested in learning more about the Reformational study look into the validity of the Gospel message for today’s culture. The ‘sciences’ have been lifted high in their own right as being all above all. Just look at the media floods we experience everyday on our magical gadgets. There is a struggle where in a lot of Art, Science, Nature, culture and other educational & professional areas the Gospel is only the (personal) dressing on the matter, rather than a deep struggling with delight to see the miracles and riches in the creator’s mind of all that God has given us as stewards of the universe.

Come back………and see the mind of God in all things! In Jesus, all boasting now has ended! For if not “the stones will cry out………….” Gospel of Luke, chapter 19

JS Oct 17, 2022

** translated by Nelson D. Kloosterman, published by Christian Library Press in Grand Rapids, MI USA

A. Kuyper was very much concerned that ‘Secular’ higher (university) education would become the ‘primary’ and only ‘for real’ study focus for professionals and that the mix with ‘religious’ education was not professional and be kept down at the ‘Bible School’ level only. Throughout his life, He made the case that putting God in the picture was as relevant and study worthy, as the ‘Secular’. Herman Bavinck, a compatriot and fellow professor and pastor, was another who also argued that religious learning, putting God in the mix was equally worthy as the ‘Secular’ notion of what higher education is.

It is good to have a set time every year to mark our THANKSGIVINGS! And this year is beyond exception!

Perhaps if you are a Christian, Psalm 92 would be your praise song to the Creator, the Giver of life:

It is good to sing your praises and to thank you, O Most High,
Showing forth your loving-kindness when the morning lights the sky.
It is good when night is falling of your faithfulness to tell,
While with sweet, melodious praises songs of adoration swell. (hymnary.org)

When we consider the current news events (wars, floods, storms, shootings, robberies, traffic events and even personal health concerns and consumer price increases) everyday things that we all see and hear and experience on our TVs, computers, ipads, iphones and from friends, relatives and word of mouth, we have every reason to be THANKFUL for the communities we live in.

It seems to me to be especially so, when we look around us and see the seasonal changes in the environment near us. Every tree, bush, flowers and grasses are putting on their best. If you are able, go and visit your nearest park or take a drive to see the views in the countryside all around. It is spectacular!

My son just returned from a week camping in Algonquin Park and brought back some spectacular photos, one of which heads this post. The maple tree in our backyard is just now turning into a flaming torch of red. The fire bush in the front yard is doing its best to compete in completing the red all-around decor of our neighbourhood. Across the street our neighbour has another maple tree that will turn into a bright red to orange in the next week. There are yellows and bright greens on the conservation path near our community. My roses are giving their one last magnificent burst of flowers. Clumps of purple asters are growing along sideroads and the fields of soybean and corn are ready to harvest, with the apple crop abundant in its variety. The sumacs are stunning as they change into their Fall colours. The scenes are alive with the music of nature’s autumn songs.

If you are alive today, you can enjoy all of that. It is free!

Then giving THANKS is not too hard! Try it!

JS October 6, 2022

Appleby Line

There were thousands of people arriving early that day, to watch the procession of the Queen’s coffin being carried on a gun carriage wagon towed by 98 sailors* (men & women) along part of the route to Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel for her last resting place beside her husband the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. (1921- 2021)

Queen Elizabeth ll (1926 – 2022) had reigned over 70 years as Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 – 2022. She had been steadfast and loved.

People from all walks of life lined the streets where the cortege would pass, some claiming their spots 24 hours before the event. There was an outpouring of gratitude and loyalty, sympathy and tearful goodbyes as the procession, led by 5 members of the Canadian RCMP passed by.

Over 2,000 uniformed men and women from all military support services were present. The coffin which rested upon a (3,000 lb) gun carriage, slowly advanced with Royal family members walking stately behind at 75 paces a minute; and with over 200 musicians and bagpipers playing the funeral march. The sight was grand and eventhough sad, provided a great stately event executed with perfect precision and yet a very solemn occasion. At times the exceedingly great crowd was completely silenced.

Kings, Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers and International leaders from around the world attended (Putin was not invited) and listened to a ceremonial funeral service and Gospel messages in Westminster Abbey, London.

Inside the Abbey the music was grand but the star of the show besides the deceased late Queen Elizabeth ll and all the ceremonial trappings of her funeral, was surely the teachings of her majesty’s Saviour, Example and Leader, Jesus Christ. Those invited quests who attended (over 2,000) clearly heard an invitation to the Gospel of comfort and peace and the celebration and promise of resurrection.

The Right Honourable the Baroness Scotland of Asthal KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, reads the First Lesson.

NOW is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.  (1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 20 – 26 and 53 – 58)

The Right Honourable Elizabeth Truss MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reads the Second Lesson:

LET not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. (Gospel of John chapter 14, verses 1 – 9a)

Thanks be to God.

And after the singing of the beautiful hymns by the choir with all the dignitaries invited to join in and then after listening to the eulogy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, before the conclusion of the service, these words to those gathered and thinking surely of their own end, an encouragement to every believer of comfort and hope:

Bring us, O Lord God, at our last awakening into the house and gate of heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity; in the habitation of thy glory and dominion, world without end. Amen. (John Donne 1572 – 1631)

And then at the conclusion, the Archbishop of Canterbury read from the Book of Common Prayer and gave this farewell blessing to all:

Go forth into the world in peace; Be of good courage, hold fast that which is good, render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak, help the afflicted, honour all people, love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

For all the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus. Let them that have ears, hear what the Lord of life is saying to the people of the world.

God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.

Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour,
Long may he reign.
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King.

JS September 20, 2022

Note: * Earlier processions had used horses to pull the gun carriage, but in 1901, in Windsor, during the funeral of the Queen Victoria, the weather had turned bitterly cold, snowy and slippery. As one of the splinter bars broke, the horses panicked and bolted, the coffin was jostled badly. The naval guards who lined the route were ordered to take control and safely guided the gun carriage with coffin to it destination. From then on this became a tradition that sailors would escort the coffin on the gun carriage at all future state funerals.

Picture: The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is pulled past Horse Guards Avenue following her funeral service in Westminster Abbey in central London Monday Sept. 19, 2022. (David Davies/Pool Photo via AP)

We fly the Canadian flag from my home usually from May to November. I like to do that to remind me of what a great country we live in and to cheer on the birthdays in my family, most of which occur in these Spring & Summer months.

But yesterday, my wife, as she came from outside, asked me to remove and take down the flag. Her reason: We do not want to be seen as ‘conservative extremists’, ‘anti-vaxxers etc,’ part of the ‘fringe Freedom ideas’ crowds with pockets of odd radicalized groups that are emerging in Canada, USA and other parts of the world.

We are not like that, she said.

See a truck with a flag? You can be sure its owner thinks like them. Go and take a drive in the surrounding country side and you can tell who is a supporter by the flags and slogans on their property. These views are not only developed politically but also by religious extremists. 

But I said: we are not them! yah, she countered, but people may think differently when they see we are flying the Canadian flag. We should not give them an idea that we agree and are part of their ‘movement’ or even their militant (political and far out religious, anti-cultural) ideological perspectives.

So yes I took it down. I agree with my wife. Our beautiful flag has been captured!

And we all know why……It was mostly the memory of the ‘Freedom Convoy’ demonstrations events last winter, taking over and occupying downtown Ottawa by the Parliament buildings, blocking access to streets and resident dwellings, threatening (shouting) everyday security and annoying the residents with the continual running of their tractor motors and blaring their horns day and night together with people running around draped in Canadian flags with signs carrying outrageous slogans having their around the clock ‘Freedom parties’ in the streets. Rebellion!

Well, it certainly emptied out respect for the flag and what it stands for. A democracy and rule of law. A fairness dominion from coast to coast.

Flying the Canadian flag now conjures up, not patriotism or celebration or fairness, peace and equity but a new kind of feeling, a stirring in the mind and sentiment never before experienced while viewing the flag: there are thoughts of disruptions, anger, strife, brashness, arrogance, extremeness, lawlessness, meanness, disobedience, mischief, standoffishness, disloyalty and should I say it:….Fascist ideas and hooliganism  tendencies. We watched it all on live TV. Border blockings, ignoring peace orders and shouting crude (almost terrorist) demands. Confronting police, local authorities, attacking our politicians and others charged to make our communities places of well-being for all citizens, while shouting and cursing them and even attacking some. Threatening by email and other means. Even those who report these actions in newspapers and other media are being harassed and threatened.

Yes, that is why now, it all feels so different.

Pride in the Canadian flag has gone out the window. A symbol of peace and stability with kindness and hospitality has become a weapon for war. (maybe I’ve gone too far?)

I can’t help it, but it is a sad day for us all.

Can we regain our goodness again? Be open about our differences but remain civil and respectful? Can we again be the country of choice for the depressed, the refugee and persecuted in the world?

Think about it!

JS September 3, 2022

Quote: “The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion.” —Frederick Douglass

July 1 celebrations have come again. This time the world of a year ago looks so different. Covid has changed the heart(s) of our country in many ways. The celebrations in Ottawa are looking a lot like the construction goings-on at Parliament Hill. There are fences and patrol units to keep some of our citizens out. It is a no go zone.

This year’s July 1st celebration will be away from Parliament Hill due to not only the construction fences but also the anxiety that there needs to be more control because of what happened last January. There are scores of police in the streets. Can we still trust the average Canadian to behave themselves? The mess of those winter days have not disappeared in fact it is not only the crowds that have become unruly, some people claim so also has the government itself. F**k Trudeau signs can still be seen proudly worn on the T-shirts of some Canadians. Yes, those meek and socially entwined and careful shy – I’m sorry?! – folk have changed. We seem to be more interested in ourselves then in the whole of us. Can we still pull together?

Some politician are no longer discussing policies but are calling for a radical throw-out of policies and institutions, even the Bank of Canada. Oh, and Freedom! cries are now heard in the streets of Ottawa by those who want no system, no rules at all. They say the “mandate” constraints should be gone, finished. We have had enough!

Echoes of historic situations that ended in tragedies. Count the times!

Where will all this end? Does the road ahead look murky to you? When will we be able to pull together and look at the whole rather than at our own navel? Do we know where we are going (or end up) with all this? Only God knows. O Canada!

Have a blessed summer and appreciate your communities.

JS July 6, 2022

Note:* Counting the years since 1861 Confederation of the three British North America Regions to create the Dominion of Canada. On 1^st July 1867, through the British North American Act, the Canadian Federation was created. It was not till Nunavut joined in 1999 that the Canada as we know it today was established. 

“But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace”. (Wisdom of Solomon chapter 3)

On June 21, 2022, we said to good-bye to Gerald (Gerrit – 1942 – 2022). He was the husband of my wife’s sister Jackie for 56 years. A son, a brother, a husband, a father, a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus, a man, a child of God. A first direct passing of the spouse of one of my wife’s siblings.

We had seen this day coming as that Multiple Myeloma (an incurable cancer that affects the blood cells in the bone marrow) was slowing taking control of his ability to move around. This magnified by the chemo treatments (which are supposed to help) sometimes made things worse.

We were not aware of this disease till we saw it close-up and looked on helplessly and noting at each visit, yes! it seems worse.

An important and well-known US journalist, reporter and TV commentator (NBC News) wrote a book about his journey with multiple myeloma. The book title ‘A Lucky Life Interrupted’ by Tom Brokaw, he writes about his denials, struggles, acceptance, turning points and courage, all emotions that affected him as he journeyed (from 2013) through the unknowns of this disease.

I would say that 2013 was about the time that Gerrit began to have pains in his knee and then more in his neck. Many were the doctor and chiropractic visits and then a neck operation at Juravinski Hospital, after which Gerrit was almost convinced that he would not walk again. As I visited with him he said that the hymns in the ‘Psalter Hymnal’ (he loved to sing and had a very large voice) had comforted him in his devotions and those hymns were his prayer book. Although he was doubtful about walking, the hospital therapy staff encouraged him and after many weeks of recuperation, he went home to Jackie. Soon a decision needed to be made about moving to a Senior Living space where the ‘house-keeping obligations’ for Jackie and him would be less and they could be surrounded by other Senior friends and acquaintances.

But after the move to ‘Wellingstone Christian Home’ Senior Apartments the journey was just starting. His diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma was scheduled into a cancer care regime at Juravinski Hospital. The chemo and the steroids started to make his life difficult. Sleep was erratic and the chemo affected his legs giving him neuropathy numbing his ability to feel his legs and gave way to weakness and he began using a walker for his mobility to get around. Not only that, but he also developed ‘shingles’ on his body which seemed to last for over a year. I remember seeing him at concerts (religious and classical music concerts were his passion) and other events bent over in the pew from the pain of the not only ever present cancer but also those ‘shingles’ (an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus – chickenpox) which somehow refused to go away.

He had given up his participation in the Brantford Choir ‘the Grand River Chorus’ as he was no longer able to stand up for periods of time. Instead his son in law provided him with a new music system (speakers and amplifier) so that he could access and play (and directing imaginary choirs with his hands) his favourite music usually Bach, and other early classical sacred choral favourites.

Eventually he came to the understanding that he was not longer able to drive his car and Jackie became the designated chauffeur as they went on small outings, attended family gatherings and doctor appointments. The coming of the ‘Covid Pandemic’ in 2020 had already put a slow down on their going-outs and became a time of staying put with cautions as to visits, shopping etc.

Gerrit was a person of realities. Fast to express his distaste for certain practices or actions (‘that’s crap!’) and also quick to acknowledge easy to go (‘yes’) agreements to others was his style. So as the disease took hold he would often talk about his funeral as he realistically knew that this journey (‘disease’) would hasten his end. As time went by he started to think about what his funeral service would look like. For sure, his and Jackie’s hymnal theme song ‘If you but Trust in God to Hide You – PH 446’ would be sung.

In his last sermon preached in Mount Hope Community Christian Reformed Church in, I believe, October 2019, his text was taking from 2 Corinthians 5 – “We know that if our earthly house—a mere tent that can easily be taken down—is destroyed, we will then live in an eternal home in the heavens, a building crafted by divine—not human—hands…Currently, in this tent of a house, we continue to groan and ache with a deep desire to be sheltered in our permanent home because then we will be truly clothed and comfortable, protected by a covering for our current nakedness. The fact is that in this tent we anxiously moan, fearing the naked truth of our reality. What we crave above all is to be clothed so that what is temporary and mortal can be wrapped completely in life…………The path we walk is charted by faith, not by what we see with our eyes. There is no doubt that we live with a daring passion, but in the end we prefer to be gone from this body so that we can be at home with the Lord.” (Translation ‘The Voice’) Here he spoke that he will die, as we all will, a typical straight talking Gerrit about our life and our human condition here and also God’s promises to those who walk by faith in Jesus, for them a transfer from an earthly tent to a home with Jesus, our (his) Lord. That was his way, straight forward, what we say ‘calling a spade a spade’!

Life was now getting tougher and as time progressed (2020-2021) through the Pandemic his mobility lessened. In the Fall and Winter of 2021 -22 there were several times Jackie had to get assistance to lift him up for bathroom breaks as the strength (and neuropathy) in his legs and his body were failing. And so in April/May of 2022 COVID (he had received all the shots available) also somehow invaded his body and in the week before he died, he made mention, that it turned so bad, he had thought for sure he would die while lying on a hospital bed in his living room for more than a week, deathly ill with the virus, while Jackie and family taking turns attending to him together with the help of the medical care available under the Ontario Home Care plan. It was a most trying time!

Hospice care was needed but because of COVID, acceptance to such a facility was put off and delayed. The (timely) event (in May 2022) of him breaking his arm (as he was escorted to the bathroom) triggered an emergency hospital attendance which in turn led for a doctor finding him at place at St. Peter’s Hospital on Maplewood Ave for palliative care. Because of COVID, he was first isolated in a private room with only Jackie and family allowed to visit and later in the beginning of June transferred to a ward with 3 other palliative care patients. When he got trouble with his right eye, the resident doctor had noted that Gerrit’s life expectancy was now 2 weeks to 2 months, no more.

The last 2 weeks of his life allowed for more restricted visits by others and designated family, still with COVID masking. We attended him on June 5 and fed him his supper as he was unable to help himself due to his broken arm. He was in good spirits, listening to his favourite music and expressed the fact that ‘Ancaster Christian Reformed Church’ church building’s renovations would for sure be completed in time for his funeral. How typical Gerrit!

On Sunday June 12th Jackie called to arrange for us to come the next day for a lunch break and warned us that Gerrit’s condition had drastically changed. And yes it had. He was no longer able to eat anything or talk, and needed to have his mouth and throat soothed with water. His hearing and listening abilities were strong and so we ministered as much as we could while relieving Jackie for lunch. This is hard work for anyone who attends the care of a loved one in their last days of life. The family was now present in shifts around the clock and the staff moved him to a private room. Jackie was given a comfortable chair so she could continually be with him during these last hours. Son Paul’s friend John Terpstra had written a contemporary version of the 23rd Psalm especially for Gerrit. When it was read to him, he loved it. It is hard to minister to someone who can hear but no longer respond verbally. Holding his hand (his grip was strong) and reading from Scripture or just telling him that we thought him a brother, was for us, very moving and meaningful.

Yet the call on Friday was unexpected! Gerrit is home! He was now before the face of God, the One who he had dedicated his life’s work to. Always proclaiming the grace of God to people under his care. Repent and believe and enjoy with thanks, the good news of the Gospel.

Next comes the hard part for the living, those left behind. Taking care of Gerrit’s body, taking care through visitations and notices sent, and then the hard part; laying his body to rest in the earth.

On that morning at 10 o’clock on June 21 (the fist day of Summer) under a sweltering sun and its heat, we attended the burial, saying our last farewell to Gerrit. In St. George cemetery with the oriole singing in the trees and with sounds of a drum and pine boughs and roses to lay on the simple casket, together we spoke our pastoral expressions of Gospel communal confessions, Christian hope and prayer, and led by Gerrit’s brother in the song: ‘Sweet chariot, comin’ for to carry me home, O, sweet chariot comin’ for to carry me home’, we set his body at rest. “O death where is your string, O grave your victory!……..But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Epistle to the Corinthians chapter 15)

The service of ‘Celebration of Life and Resurrection’ at ‘Ancaster Christian Reformed Church’ followed at 1 PM. The remembrances of his children were on the theme of hands….Gerrit’s – Dad’s hands…. how they moved, held, molded and folded in and for their family life and experiences throughout the many years. The message from Scripture was on the Epistle to the Ephesians chapter 2 – ‘it is by grace you have been saved‘ – with a reference by the preacher that Gerrit (typical) in a conversation long ago said to him: that believing Jesus’ death on the cross took care of (his) our sins is: – like the flushing of our dirty mess down the toilet in one stroke and it is gone! and from Revelation chapter 21 – ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

We together sang the hymn – of course – ‘If you but suffer God to guide you’ and ‘Jesus lives and so do we’ – PH 399 – and so ended our spoken remembrances of Gerrit, but the memory of him will be ever with us. A life well lived with small pretenses but a very large hope. Hope for the good things God has promised to all who love him and keep his Gospel front and center!

My gratitude and love! Well done! Rest in peace, my brother!

Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving, offer your service faithfully,
and trust his word; though undeserving, you’ll find his promise true to be.
God never will forsake in need the soul that trusts in him indeed.

JS June 29, 2022

Unbelievable! I received a phone call the other day that I have been selected for a prize! (as a reward for paying my bills on time in the last 5 years) of 2.5 million dollars and a Mercedes car. The caller asked: ‘Would you prefer a green, blue or red colour car? Of course I said a red one please, – it is my favourite colour for a car! Otherwise I prefer green. The caller then verified my address and name and asked whether I would prefer a ‘private’ or ‘public’ award presentation of the prize. I prefer ‘private’ that way no one will know I am about to be a multi-millionaire. The caller said that they would be right over to present the cheque and drive me to the bank to make the deposit in my account. I checked my watch and noticed that it was 5:30 PM and said: Sorry the Bank is closed, and proceeded to tell the caller that I considered this a scam call and hung up.

You ever have a call like this? I have, many times. Oh, they vary in format and presentation. Some are the SIN (social insurance number) calls whereby my SIN status is questioned and I should press 1 to get more info. Some are from Revenue Canada (CRA) notifying me that I need to pay a certain sum or else?……… The one I like the best is the Amazon credit card call where I am told that the Amazon Security Department has noticed suspicious activity and the attempted cashing of a ‘gift card’ on my account. My standard reply for this one is: ‘Oh, that must be my cousin cashing the gift I gave him. It is OK, just let it happen’, end of call. There are others with various scenarios like that.

The ones that are really annoying are the ‘duct cleaning’ calls. These happens again and again in series and then it is quiet for some weeks and then start again. Very annoying! In the beginning we would say did you say DUCKS? No, we only have geese not DUCKS! In the beginning it was new window and we would joke about having a place with no windows….etc.

Some people have had calls indicating a friend or family member (grand-child is the favourite) is in a tight spot and needs money right away or else……… so please go and buy a gift card or similar product, take a photo of the numbers and code on the back of the card and forward that by email to the caller and your friend etc will be very pleased and happy you could help them.

Or what about the Microsoft Technical Department call telling you that you have a virus (or bug) in your software that needs to be corrected and they are willing to help. Just go to your computer and follow their instructions to correct this problem. If you do this they will ask you to insert ‘code’ that will lock your computer and then they will offer to unlock you for a payment of hundreds of dollars………..

This all is crazy…….. and I have not even told you about the scamming emails and or the friendly guy at your local shopping center who can supply you with a cheap laptop (or whatever……..) show you the box and when you pay him and go home to use you new purchase, you find the box filled with pamphlets and other papers only.

There are a thousand different ways to scam and defraud us, the public.

The first time I was scammed by one was back in 1965 on my honey-moon at the New York World Exhibition. I was approached by a lady all dressed up with American flags and military dress sort-of and said she was campaigning for aid for war veterans, could I give a donation, and when I did was rewarded with a small paper US flag. I was had; and the funny thing was, after it happened (it was fast) I knew right-away I had been scammed. I felt used and stupid!

I know that was small potatoes but we read of these things all the time.

There are: The Romance scams. I love you sent me money I’m in trouble etc….. The Employment scam…The Rent an apartment or Vacation scam………The Overpayment scam……..The Phishing scam, asking for your info or response by clicking on LINK (don’t do it!) pretending they are someone familiar or there is a reward if you do….this is probably the oldest and most used scam since Emails and Texting messaging were invented…………. and so many more!!!!!

Best advice the experts give is: ‘hang-up’, if you do not recognized the caller put down the phone, ignore pressure tactics: like you need to do this right now or else…….. Don’t click on the LINK in your email or message you do not recognize the sender or have ever seen it before. Be smart usually a ‘gift’ could be a ‘ploy’ to scam you!

Even if you know all this, you could be scammed, impersonated or robbed as they say in broad daylight. The evil is out there and they are continually finding new ways to deceive us.

We read and hear of people whose identity was stolen and the trouble they had to right the wrong. This one may become very very serious. Protect yourself as much as you can, hold your personal identities (cards, info, credit, telephone access, computer passwords in a safe place) never assume that no-one is watching. Always be on your guard as much as you are able. Multiple verifications are now necessary to identify the rightful owner of a bank or purchase order type of account when using the internet and the phone. Single passwords access in some cases are now doubled password-ed or voice secured to protect the owner and how to access private and privileged information.

Other scams are more brazen and bizarre, there are photo-shop and video face trimmed events created to make you look bad or untruthful or where you are simply attacked (picked on) for easy prey. As was the news the other day, where a lady out shopping, was approached by two men who threatened her and then asked for her car keys. She complied not wanting to be on the receiving end of the threat and the two (young) men drove off (no, stole) her LAND ROVER in broad-daylight.

Well by now you get the drift that we are living in UPSIDE DOWN communities. The streets and even our homes are no longer a safe place. No front door should be unlocked anymore. People now do what they want. Truth and trust are lost. Lies and trickery is practiced and takes place even in the highest places of our land. Just think of ‘Make America Great Again’ lies and innuendos, the US election fraudulent statements, the Russian (Putin says he is ‘liberating’ the Ukrainians) denial of military actions in the Ukraine, denials of wrong doings even by our elected representatives. And should I dare to mention the ‘Freedom’ event we saw in Ottawa earlier this year! Misrepresentation of everyday facts and events! PROTECT YOURSELF!

The Psalmist also was already discouraged by the evil and lying done in his days: Book of Psalms number 14 *: A protest song – of David!

Wicked and foolish man truly believes there is no God. They are vile, their sinfulness nauseating to their Creator; their actions are soiled and repulsive; every deed is depraved; not one of them does good. The Eternal leans over from heaven to survey the sons of Adam. No one is missed, and no one can hide. He searches to see who understands true wisdom, who desires to know the True God.

 They all turn their backs, walking their own roads; they are rancid, leaving a trail of rotten footsteps behind them; not one of them does good, not even one. Do the wicked have no clue about what really matters? They devour my brothers and sisters the way a man eats his dinner. They ignore the Eternal and don’t call on Him, rejecting His reality and truth. They shall secretly tremble behind closed doors, hearts beating hard within their chests, knowing that God always avenges the upright. You laugh at the counsel of the poor, the needy, the troubled who put their trust in God. You try to take away their only hope, but the Eternal is a strong shelter in the heaviest storm.
 May a new day, a day of deliverance come for Israel, starting with Zion. When the Eternal breaks the chains of His oppressed people, the family of Jacob will rejoice, and Israel will be delighted.

And one of the earliest scams of all: Book of Genesis chapter # 27 – the story of Jacob scamming his father Isaac for the blessing of the first-born birthright. Oh, the misery that followed.

I am not downhearted or fearful, there are many good neighbours and friends and family members that I and you the reader know of. So be not discouraged always be careful. Living comes with many choices. And God is good!

JS June 11, 2022

Note *: Psalm translation: The Voice

The title picture by: an Unknown author is licensed under CC BY SA

Tears……………………..! Have you seen the pictures of mothers and wives in the Ukraine shedding tears for sons, fathers, husbands and children. It affects me with sadness, when I see those pictures on our screens of the aggressive cruelty that this war brings. The senselessness of the whole events. Why this was necessary and for what reason? Total ‘scorched earth’ blasting tactics by the Russians. Insane! It is beyond me.

Of course we hear what Putin is telling his people how the Russians are saving the Ukrainians from a much and terrible (Western Culture) danger. We are the Saviours, he tells his people. But………. from our side we see nothing but his denials, aggression and anger and the innocents deaths and destruction and many tears. Hell has come to the Ukraine!

After tracking over 100 days of fighting, I guess maybe also for others, I have gone from an eager view of war news, (sinking of the Moskva war ship – April 14, 2022) hoping the Ukrainians would teach the Russians a lesson and win the war, to a more mundane noting of war news progress each day. There have been times when the tanks pulled back from the capital Kyiv that I was hoping for a truce but with the flattening of Mariupol and the battle for the Steel Plant factory to the fighting in the Donbas region now in full swing, the full force of the Russian military superiority in numbers can now be seen to be gaining the upper hand in eastern Ukraine.

Pictures of tearful people mourning the death of loved ones and the destruction of their homes and neighbourhoods are hard to watch. The pictures and videos are plenty and extremely moving. Funeral services and the discovery of mass graves ran a chill over my body giving flash backs to the Yugoslavian (Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian) conflict of the 1990s where we heard stories of children asking their mothers: ‘Where is my daddy?’ and receiving the soft reply: ‘He has just gone into the woods for a while’. The song by Kurt Bestor “The prayer of the children” reflects the anguish of war on children but also on the whole of the afflicted communities. (listen for this sung by the Ambassadors Christian Male Chorus)

Putin says, if the US and others (NATO allies) supply Ukraine with more deadly weapons with longer range, it will force him also to use his more powerful deadly weapons with longer range. Already he is moving multiple rocket launchers thousands of miles across Siberia to boost its war effort. The Russian BM-27 Uragans can fire 16 rockets in 20 seconded up to 20 miles distances. And there is access to other terrible weapons! I sometimes fear the war is escalating into a large European conflict and I fear for its potential bad outcomes for our EU immigration home-lands and our extended families living there. Not only that, but what about the Ukrainian (food) grain harvests which feeds 15% or more of the world’s population especially those of African counties where famines are already taken hold in Somalia and other near areas. What is the use of winning when the spoils of war are death, destruction and blowing up every building in the conquered cities and towns leveling the territory gained to a flat contaminated disruptive wounded earth. The ‘scorched earth’ war tactics practiced by Russia on the Syrian city of Aleppo. Not only have the communities and its structures disappeared and disintegrated but also the natural environment has suffered with large bomb caters and unexploded missiles and rockets in roads, streets and fields with its chemicals and fire damaging pollutions of air and waterworks, streams and nesting habits of wild creatures have been disturbed and dislodged. The hearts and minds of those affected citizen who lived in and formed the targeted communities are in despair (imagine losing your home and possessions!) and many have had to flee to other more safe areas. What has Putin gained? Certainly no thanks! He has turned the world against himself. It is madness. The Intelligencer (March 23, 2022) states: ‘Putin has brought HELL to Mariupol!’ yes, and to all of the Ukraine!

Even now, as the war continues, for me it has become a more, ‘what can we do?’ and dare I say it? a normal reality check-in of our lives! It is a human nature’s acceptability of ………. Well, it is what it is! and that bothers me! Oh, I am not casual about these events or their dangerous consequences, but have almost come to accept the (daily) reality (tired) of it all. Selective support for donations for the Ukrainian people is something everyone can do!

Still a prayer for peace and deep sympathy and empathy for the people of Ukraine is my daily wish and practice. May God give those who lead wisdom to bring it all to a just close. May the Holy Spirit of Pentecost blow through the corridors of the world’s power groups and parliaments. The Russians need to stand down, face reality and tell the world ‘it is over!’ Putin needs to come to the peace table. PRAY FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE but also in other parts of the world!

May we show your compassion, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

From the Book of Psalms # 120 – A prayer for help.

I cried to the Lord in my trouble, and He answered me. ² O Lord, save me from lying lips and a false tongue. ³ What will be given to you and what more will be done to you, you false tongue? ⁴ He will punish you with sharp arrows of the soldier, and with the hot fire of the broom tree.

⁵ It is bad for me, for I travel in Meshech * and live among the tents of Kedar! ⁶ I have lived too long with those who hate peace. ⁷ I am for peace. But when I speak, they are for war.

(Translation: from biblegateway.com New Life Version)

Note: * sometimes identified in the Bible as people from Japheth’s descendants living in Russian geographic areas.

JS June 9, 2022

Above picture from the Atlantic Council report May 24, 2022 entitled: Putin’s Mariupol Massacre is one of the 21st century’s worst war crimes.