The ‘Sirocco’ hot winds swooping in from the Southeast the day before yesterday, had waned and died down, and to the day following, gave rise to a brilliant sun. Its beams filtering through the remaining sand dust that still hung in the air. It had been hot and the walls of the houses in the little town of Bethlehem baked warm to the touch. As evening came and twilight fell, a soft breeze from the coast seemed like a breath of fresh air for man and beast alike.
The evening shadows saw people coming out of their homes and with busyness in the receding light attend to the tasks that they had put-off because of the heat. Look, a group of shepherds were making their way to the fields of Ephrata coming to take the night shift guarding the sheep. Their lunch packs strapped to their belts along with the staff and rod. Just another night of watching the sheep and making sure they were fed and bedded down for comfort and safety from prowling beasts of the night.
After securing their flocks, the shepherds gathered to discuss their day and the big events of their time. Many travellers had come to Bethlehem in the last week or so because the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, had issued a decree to conduct a census for determining the taxing of each citizen, after all somebody had to pay for the well-being of the magnificent Roman Empire and the protection it granted to all who lived within their conquered borders. Bethlehem too was part of this vast Empire and it must do its share.
So sitting together, they grumbled about the heavy hand of their new masters and the loss of independence. Where was the pride of Judea? The lion of the Kingdom of David? Had God forgotten his promises? Did He forget about his word conveyed to them through the prophet, that they will inherit the land? Forever? and enjoy each their own possession in peace and with justice? Oh, how long ago was it spoken with Godly pride by their local hero, the prophet Micah from Moresheth in Judea, a commoner among his people, these words: “God shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; and they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid. But look at you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
As they were so seated and talked together, suddenly, an angel appeared through the filtering darkness, bright glorious light, right before them, shocking! They were afraid. But the angel said clearly: “Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority! You will know you have found Him when you see a baby, wrapped in a blanket, lying in a feeding trough.”At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other messengers—a vast heavenly choir. They praised God in song, a mighty chorus: “To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God! And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!”
Then…………….all disappeared, but the shepherds looked at each other, speaking all at once: buzzing with conversation.
Did you see that! Wow! Let’s rush down to Bethlehem right now! Let’s see what’s happening! Let’s experience what the angel has told us about! Come on!
So without a further thought, they ran into town, and after much seeking eventually found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the feeding trough.
Now having found this lowly place after being turned away by the local inn, Mary and Joseph noticed the shepherds stepping through the doorway, welcomed them and showed their little baby boy wrapped in a blanket of swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. This… is… Jesus, they said.
The shepherds came closer and saw the baby, told what they had seen and heard, a joy filled their hearts. “Peace on earth, the angel had said to all who God is pleased with.” A special heavenly message. Mary looking at Joseph, took note and pondered all that was happening, treasuring the memory of each moment deep in her heart. Is this not, what the angel had told her: “Listen, you are going to become pregnant. You will have a son, and you must name Him ‘Savior,’ Jesus. He will become the greatest among men and will be known as the Son of the Highest God. God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David, and He will reign over the covenant family of Jacob forever.”
Then the shepherds left and returned to their flocks, praising God for what they had seen and heard, telling all who would listen to the wonderful events, how it all had unfolded just as the heavenly messenger had predicted. A glorious experience with promise, not soon to be forgotten.
As the prophet Isaiah had said: “Hope of all hopes, dream of our dreams, a child is born, sweet-breathed; a son is given to us: a living gift. And even now, with tiny features and dewy hair, He is great. The power of leadership, and the weight of authority, will rest on His shoulders. His name? His name we’ll know in many ways— He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Dear Father everlasting, ever-present never-failing, Master of Wholeness, Prince of Peace.”
Remember all these events occurred SUDDENLY………. and His return will again happen suddenly!
May this Prince of Peace be your champion and Saviour, also this Christmas 2025.
Sing the Hymn:
Angels, from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o'er all the earth; Ye who sang creation's story, Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Shepherds, in the fields abiding, Watching o'er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing, Yonder shines the infant light:
Though an infant now we view him, He shall fill his Father's throne, Gather all the nations to him; Every knee shall then bow down:
All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son, Evermore your voices raising, To th'eternal Three in One:
Refrain: 2x - Come and worship, Come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Note: Bible texts taken from the translation: ‘The Voice’ – The hymn: ‘Angels from the Realms of Glory’, taken from an old French hymn, was composed by James Montgomery 1816-1819.
It seems that today there are still political leaders and others who act as if we are still in the ‘absolute right’ of Kings historic era. You know the ones that I am referring to. Looking back into history we see that the ‘heart of man’ (Jeremiah chapter 17 verse 9) for worldly greatness has not changed one bit!
Take for instance the one described years ago in Biblical Scriptural history by the prophet Daniel and more clearly in the book of prophecies by Jeremiah (chapter 51) about Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. His line was: “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured us, (‘squeezed the life out of us’ – Tr. the Voice -) he has thrown us into confusion, he has made us an empty jar. Like a serpent he has swallowed us and filled his stomach with our delicacies, and then has spewed (‘he belched’ – Tr. the Message) us out.” (NIV)
Remember the story of that large gigantic idol of gold, – huge, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide – , that the King had built on the plain of Dura and everyone in his kingdom was instructed to bow down to the idol and on refusal to comply, a punishment of death. The ego of the King was large and over the top as we say. And even after he had that dream of that other idol, where he was the head that suffered a crushing defeat by the stone rolled from no human hand. He should have known better. But when he spotted some who had not bowed before the statue his anger, through his pride, got the best of him and he ordered them to be thrown into the hot fiery furnace he had build anticipating someone might even dare to defy his command to bow down. Read how that turned out. The angry king became a conflicted ally. (book of Daniel chapter 3)
Funny how many of the events described by early historic events continue to go back to and spring from the same motives. The vainness in the hearts of all of us. Remember the story of the King without his clothes. And the many stories of empires and kings coming and going.
What about today? We know that empires and kings do fall, disappear and are conquered by others who also want to be great. Have we learned anything?
Just a thought……………..
Be humble…………..
see RCI-CBC news October 24, 2025 – ‘Anti-tariff ad that angered Trump…..’
featured picture AI generated based on content of story
Although it snowed the day before, we attended the Remembrance service yesterday near our house with friends, walked on the snowy sidewalk and joined others who gathered and watched as the usual 11 o’clock events took place; the presenting of the flags by the veterans from the local Legion and the sounding of the trumpet for the 2 minutes of silence.
A fair crowd of assorted neighbours had already gathered, a flag delegation of veterans; (colour party) there were even school children who would take part in the proceedings.
At precisely 11 o’clock, we heard the first call, the sounding of the “Last Post” by the trumpeter which signals the last duty of enlisted soldiers at the end of day. During this call the Canadian flag was lowered and a time of complete silence followed for the 2 minutes. A time for all those in attendance to reflect on the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for their country and for freedom.
I find it always hard to reflect, because none of my family served or were lost in a conflict event defending truth and peace in a time of war. That said however, I do remember the events surrounding our liberation from German occupation during World WarII in April 1945. Although I was only just shy of 4 years old, the events of that weekend are very vivid in my thoughts. The Canadian Army had advanced far enough into Northern part of the Netherlands to take on the Germans in the city of Groningen where I lived with my family. We were hiding in the neighbour’s cellar space under the stairs and during a lull in the fighting were allowed upstairs into the living room and crossing the hall we noticed a young soldier propped up on a chair. His posture indicated he had been wounded. My mother remarked on it later and said that he would probably die. This is often the tone of the reflections I recall. For a young boy this was just news but now that I am older this scene packs a lot of things that are repeated time and time again during a time of war.
How did he become involved with the army? Did he have his parents’ blessings in volunteering during a time of hostilities? Was he excited to join others to go overseas? Who were is buddies? What events had he witnessed already in the last few months? Did he write letters to his loved ones? What did he tell them? Will he make it through and be OK? How old was he? If he returned home did he talk about his tour of duty and the happenings he experienced? Questions we are now slowly hearing through writings in books and articles. For some of them recalling these memories are just too hard.
I also think about those who resisted the enemy and fought silently and under cover in their local communities, harassing the occupying enemy and protecting the ones that were fingered for expulsion or removal. Like the story my mother told me about the young ‘underground’ fighter (‘onderduiker’) who was to lodge at our house that night in 1944 but said that he felt safe enough to go to his parents’ home. When he arrived, they were waiting for him and it cost him his life.
What sorrows and despairs are, even today, experienced by those living with war and conflict. Since the two World Wars there have been many global international events, Korea, Egypt, Rwanda, Iraq and Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Sudan, Ukraine, Middle East not to speak of local misdeeds and violence in our own Canadian communities. When will the clash among humans ever end?
Who cannot shed a tear during that emotional scene in the movie: “Saving Private Ryan” where a mother is washing dishes in her kitchen, sees a gray car coming up the drive and when she fully realizes the (bad) news it brings, how when the Sergeant and the Pastor step from the car, she knows, yes, she knows and collapses on the porch of her home, for this was what she dreaded. The news will be bad. That captures what it is like for those who lose a loved one(s) in wartime.
Our National Silver Cross (first authorized on December 1, 1919) mother for this year’s event in Ottawa was Mrs. Nancy Payne from Lansdowne, ON, who lost her son Corporal Randy Payne (age 33) in Afghanistan in April 2006. She too received that phone call in the middle of the night. A ringing phone in the night usually frightens us all and the one we all hope to never have to answer.
Soon as the two minutes are up, the bugler’s “Rouse”, the wake-up call, sounds and we are caught back to the reality of the day and our presence at the event.
We then sing the Royal anthem: ‘God save our Gracious King’ and instead of one stanza we also sing the 2nd which I did not know by heart but sounds like this: ‘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!’ A prayer really.
We will hear the now familiar words from the poem, “For the Fallen”, the 4th verse: ‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them’. (by Laurence Binyon, an English poet and first printed in ‘The Times’ on 21 September 1914.)
A prayer is then offered by a Chaplain of a local Christian church. For us that meant the priest of the local Catholic Church, Father Thomas, prayed for the military service personnel and their families with the earnest request of God to cease all wars and to invite God’s spirit to enter our hearts to seek for peaceful solutions to our never-ending issues. The prayer was concluded with ‘in Jesus name’ as, may this prayer be heard for our thanks and petitions to the King of Kings in the heavenly realms.
After comes the introduction of the local government and special community representatives and the laying of the wreaths by those representatives and local organizations including children from two local Christian Schools. This I found interesting that the schools are educating the children to remember and not forget the bravery of these sacrifices for our peace and freedom in our beautiful Canada. The true north, strong and free.
It also made me think that we immigrants from a foreign land, the Netherlands, are not always actively and visibly present at ceremonies like these although some of us older ones still have the memories of a land wasted and harassed by an enemy for five years were liberated by young Canadians who in the words of one we know now buried at Holten War Cemetery said: ‘I want to serve so that I can participate in the liberation of my grand-parents.’ May he and others rest in peace.
There had been a large crowd this year and partly I think because of the political situation in the world largely driven by the past year’s events and in the face of new concerns, for some in Canada, by our powerful neighbour to the South. This has brought us renewed caution and at times reactions of distrust and deep hurts of friendships gone wrong. There is a sense that past values and alliances are being undermined and discarded.
May we ever be on guard (call out, resist all tyranny) and be wise enough to know where our loyalties, our duty and sense of love for our neighbours must be placed.
Jesus words to one of his disciples on drawing his sword, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 26 verse 52 still ring true today: “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” Tr NIV
JS November 12, 2025
PEACE be with You!
feature picture: Monument at Vimy Ridge, France – depicts the figure as “Canada Mourning Her Fallen Sons” or “Canada Bereft” dedicated July 26, 1936 – it took 11 years to built designed by: Walter Allward and Frederick Chapman Clemesha.
Title of this blog is taken from John McCrea’s poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ …that mark our place; and in the sky the larks, still bravely singing, fly scarce heard amid the guns below…..
The sword was drawn by a disciple to protect Jesus from those who came to capture him, in the garden of ‘Gethsemane’ the night before he was condemned and crucified.
Note: I know the circumstances and actions resulting from committed community crime is not to be compared with bravely going to war to defend the decency of moral and lawful peaceful people and nations but nevertheless the victims and families who suffer the loss of a loved ones because of these evil actions of those who practice their criminal life style in the midst of our citizens without regard of conscience is just as devastating. Just think of that recent event in downtown Hamilton (July 11, 2025 -Story by CBC/Radio-Canada) where an innocent by-stander was killed at a bus-stop, as a scooter rider fired discriminately into a group of targeted gang members. Or what about the recent killing of a father in a house invasion event (Nov12, 2025 – Vaughan, ON)
Today is Labour Day (September 1, 2025) and as I sat down to read the news this morning I was reminded of the Sermon pastor John preached yesterday where he highlighted the phrase ‘Ora et Labora’ – ‘Pray and Work’. He was preaching on the book of Nehemiah and the effort in the rebuilding of the city Jerusalem and its Temple. The Jews after having been captured (B.C. 587) into bondage under Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon received their permission grant from Cyrus the Great, King of Persia (Persia had defeated Babylon in BC 539) to return to the land of Palestine (B.C.538) if they so wished. On top of that he also returned to them all the vessels and other objects Nebuchadnezzar had taken away. Anyway the sermon was about everyone from the important to the common, working together as a dedicated crew rebuilding the city. Nehemiah stated that this was the Lord’s work and his blessing would follow. There was also opposition but the work was eventual after some struggles, successful.
‘Ora et Labora’ was the call echo mentioned in the writings of John Calvin but it was also an endorsement and motivator of the early days of church and school building by the early Dutch immigrants of the late 40s and early 50s, when many immigrated to Canada and fulfilled hopes and dreams of community building and prosperity. A vision of Reformed singleness perhaps still alive but waning.
In fact the first ‘icon’ or branding for Hamilton District Christian Highschool (Grade 11 & 12 – 1960 a Grade 11 & 12 class project) incorporated the phrase ‘Ora et Labora’. Since then much has been accomplished. It was always a community togetherness effort supported by what we then called the strength of our ‘Home – School – Church’ vision in a symbol reflected by the Christian Reformed emblem of a triangle with the Christian Cross in the middle. Not seen much anymore and that could be another story……..
Still today is Labour day and this caught my attention. It was a reflection of an article by the past CRC Banner Magazine editor Shiao Chong (written when he was a Campus Minister) republished by Peter Schuurman in his Blog ‘Sensus Divinidatis’ about Campus ministry where Chong argued ‘Campus Ministry’ by a Reformed Christian Missionary needs to be open in presenting the central theme of Scripture and the universal truth of ‘God on the throne’ as a clear message that God is present in ‘All Things’ (also a Reformed student group at McMaster University headed by Dr. Michael Fallon in Hamilton). Just not only dwelling on the Jesus personal relationship commitment but that a ‘360 degree world-view’ (not of the world but in the world) is important in following Jesus, spreading the Good News (Gospel) and being part of God’s community, participating in all creation’s possibilities.
That is why there was so much discussion about Christian political and labour action in the early days of the 50s and 60s. (see CLAC) Labour relations efforts by Christians were fraught with misunderstanding and conflict by the religious, social and legal community of Canada as to what and how, even with the Reformed fellowship.
Today many see the importance again of Union activity as honouring and valuing the labour efforts of the common man in the offices, factories and places of employment in Canada. An article in the New York Times this morning mentions the present USA administration ridding many Federal workers jobs through DOGE actions by cancelling their positions (citing $$ and rules ‘efficiencies’), impacting the rise in unemployment rates but also robbing people of their jobs and jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of family and the community.
Where is the concern for the worker, the NY Times reporter is asking? No one seems to be speaking up (where is the voice of Union leaders?) for these changes and the affected individuals whose jobs are not in keeping with the goals and visions of the new US political administration efforts to make ‘America great again’. This will also affect world order and Canadian jobs. Recently employees of the Crown Royal bottling plant in Amherstburg, Ontario are loosing their jobs to the USA. There are others. Uncertain treacherous times are ahead.
Pray for wisdom in negotiating through dealing with new strong and (in)different players for a new world order, also in labour and economic decisions.
‘Ora et Labora’ always! but for sure most of all the ‘Ora’!
A devotional reading for our Senior Group (OASIS)*
So now and then a song will pop up into my head and I will have no idea where it comes from. It is just there; and it usually sticks around for a while. A lot of them are psalms or hymns especially ones I learned long ago or sung in school or church. Some are a surprise: Wow where did that come from?
So the other morning I got up and immediately Psalm 49 popped into my head. Yes, Psalm 49 is not even a familiar or preached about many times Psalm. If it had been Psalm 42, ‘As the Hart about to falter’ or Psalm 23‘the Lord is my Shephard I shall not want’ or even Psalm 139 ‘Search me and know my heart O Lord’ or even more popular majestically sung with gusto Psalm 68 ‘God shall arise and by his might put all his enemies to flight’ or one of the more most popular like Psalms 116 ‘I love the Lord the fount of life and grace’ or maybe even the lovely Psalm 84 ‘O Lord of hosts, O God of grace how lovely is thy holy place’ that all would have been a usually perfect uplifting strong start setting for the day ahead. No, it had to be Psalm 49 in verse-form as composed by Lowell Mason (who wrote over 1600 hymns) and this one set to a sad melody, although in some versions enlivened somewhat by whole and half notes like a little dance tune.
The wordscame to me quickly: ‘Dust to dust the mortal dies, both the foolish and the wise, none forever can remain, each much leave his hoarded gain. Yet within their hearts they say, that their houses are for aye, that their dwelling places grand; shall for generations stand.’
Where did this come from? What or who planted this in my brain that morning. Did it reflect the news I heard on TV just before bedtime last night? Maybe I should stop doing that. Or is it the Lord’s way of giving me a grounding as to where my life is at. After all, I am over 80. Or was it the news of a son in our near family circle again being out of the house and into whatever. Perhaps it was the last book I read that recounted a highschool friend’s family immigration trials and her life journeys of growing up. Perhaps!
My brother-in-law when he was in the hospital said: Please bring me a Psalter Hymnal instead of a Bible, I get more out of the Hymns and Psalms, as they speak more to my cancerous condition, for if I can sing about my faith anchors, even though some will remind me of bad times, my soul will be at rest. He loved singing.
Tim Keller was a New York pastor wrote a lot of books. One of those was ‘a year’s devotional journey through the Psalms’ entitled: The Songs of Jesus. Yes, I am sure Jesus sang the Psalms as we read him quoting them quite often in the Gospels. Even Psalm 49! Reflected in Jesus’ story of the rich fool! And you know, even though the words are dreary and it has a strong Lamenting subject theme. It is actually quite uptodate knowing the problems we face today in our church, our people and country and even in the world at large. Amid all this, there pops out a gem of an encouraging line in this Psalm one for all the saints who confess that great answer to Question 1;
And that little gem is at line 15 where the Psalmist says: ‘But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.’
And that makes this Psalm worth knowing and singing.
Praise God for his amazing Word. Listen:
Psalm 49 For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
Listen up, everyone! All you who reside in this world, give an ear! 2 Everyone—rich and poor, young and old, wise and foolish, humble and mighty— 3 My mouth will overflow with wisdom; the reflections of my heart will guide you to understand the nature of life. 4 I will tune my ear to the words of a proverb; to the sounds of a harp, I will reveal my riddle.
5 Why should I be afraid when dark evils swirl about me, when I am walking among the sin of evildoers— 6 Those who depend on their own fortunes, who boast about their earthly riches? 7 One person can’t grant salvation to another or make a payment to the True God for another. 8 Redeeming a life is costly; no premium is enough, ever enough, 9 That one’s body might live on forever and never fear the grave’s decay.
10 Everyone knows that even the wisest ones die, perishing together with the foolish and the stupid. For all die—beggars and kings, fools and wise men. Their wealth remains behind for others. 11 Although they wish to dwell in fine houses forever, their graves are their real resting places. Their homes are for all future generations, yet for a while they have named lands after themselves. 12 [No one, regardless of how rich or important, can live forever; he is just like the animals that perish and decay.
13 This is the destiny of those foolish souls who have faith only in themselves; this will be the end of those happy to follow in their ways.
[pause]
14 The fate of fools is the grave, and just like sheep, death will feast on them. The righteous will rule over them at dawn, their bodies, their outward forms, rotting in the grave far away from their great mansions. 15 But God will reach into the grave and save my life from its power. He will fetch me and take me into His eternal house.
[pause]
16 Do not be afraid of the rich and powerful as their prestige and honor grow, 17 For they cannot take anything with them when they die. Their fame and glory will not follow them into the grave. 18 During their lives, they seek every blessing and advantage because others praise you when you’ve done well. 19 But they will soon join their ancestors, for all of time, among the tombs of the faithless—a place of no light. 20 Anyone who is rich or important without understanding is just like the animals that perish and decay.
Prayer: O Lord; you in your great mercy told us that you will never leave or forsake those who walk with you in sincerity of heart. For from You flows the fountain of our lives.
Bless us now; for we too are sometimes burdened by the cares of the day and jealous of worldly possessions.
Cleanse our hearts. And may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light on our path.
May 5, 1945 is the date when we (Dutch immigrants and our children) remember the end of the war in the Netherlands, the end of the German Nazi expansion. The defeat of the ‘Deutschland Uber Alles’ notion of superiority. The end of the evil slaughter of the expendables and innocents, but mostly the slaughter of the Jews and then of course, our celebration of renewed freedom.
In Europe and especially in the Netherlands we continue commemorating that ‘Most beautiful Spring’ (‘de Mooiste Lente’) of 1945. Our fatherland, finally given back to their own volk, a land returned to rest, although that also took years of recovery and well-being. Yet without special days marking this event how soon we forget the pain and the agony of that time.
Recently I have again been going through the stories of the book ‘Hoe Groningen Streed’. (How Groningen Fought – a commemoration of 1949-45 actions against the Nazi terror in the Province of Groningen) In this book published in 1949, we have stories of brave men and women who resisted the evil schemes of the Nazi regime. In the back of this book are 300 pictures of those who lost their lives for the fatherland and for the decency and justice in our communities. (one of those is a Johannes C. Borgdorff, he was caught distributing the illegal newspaper ‘Trouw’) The commandment ‘ Love your neighbour as yourself’ in Gospel of Mark chapter 12 was their high motive and calling. The golden rule.
The remembrances of those who died resisting the enemy are now marked by special monuments and notices that started to appear around the Netherlands and throughout Europe as the memory of the war became more distant and the living experiences faded with the passing of those who lived these events. Yearly remembrance services help keep alive this precious and precarious historic events, for the honour of those who paid the ultimate price of freedom.
But there are many nameless others who were identified as a threat to the security of the Nazi state and deemed expendable; criminals by association, deemed to be dangerous to the welfare of the Nazi Uber Mensch simply by being who they were. Hated with a passion.
It is noted 6 million Jews alone (The Final Solution) were searched out, rounded up, transported and herded into camps and killed in gas chambers or simply shot in the woods outside their quiet Polish and Ukrainian villages. Those Razzias took the ones, we cannot know except for the efforts of a man who decided they too should have their memory marked and stored so the generations who follow, will know.
So the Stolpersteine project was started by the German artist Gunter Demnig in 1992. The placement of each Stolpersteine are meant to stop us, draw our attention and commemorate those picked for liquidation and execution. On these stones are inscribed the details of them, who were removed by the Nazi regime because they were not worthy. They were Christians, Catholics, Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, communists, Socialists, the disabled, those who fought or helped against the terrors of the regime and many others, all were persecuted and faced brutal punishment and death.
In the past during the desecration and vandalization of Jewish cemeteries, the gravestones were used to pave uneven paths and even city walkways. Sometimes people would trip over these stones and this saying became a familiar response: “A Jew must be buried under there!”. So the placement of these ‘Stolpersteine’ carried a double meaning.
These are 4 inch square cube stones capped with a brass plate and inscribed with the following info: (see below picture) Hier woonde (here resided – lived) BERTHA GRUNBERG – Born 1909 – Deported 1942 from Westerbork – Murdered – December 3, 1942 in Auschwitz. This one we found in the Folkinge straat in the city of Groningen, a few steps from the old Synagogue.
People enthusiastically responded to this idea of these ‘remembrance-stones’ and since 1993 over 100,0000 have been placed all over Europe from Russia, Ukraine to Denmark and France, everywhere. In Holland there are 14,000 of these cube stones. They are Silent witnesses to the horror and frightening evil of a time never to be forgotten. A recent media article shows teen-age school children doing their yearly polishing of the stones in Stadskanaal, a city in Holland. Already for years schoolchildren have attended with care to the graves of the fallen Canadian soldiers. Thank you Canada! What a great way for the younger generation to remember. (In our extended family we have a small connection remembering the brave actions of Gaele Visser from Hamilton, killed by a sniper a few days before the end of the war. He is buried at the Holten War Cemetery)
Stones in the Scriptures are also significant items for remembrance. The Israelites were told to carry 12 stones out the river Jordan to remember the journey of Gods deliverance. “When your children ask you, “Why are these stones piled up here?” You will tell them how the waters of the Jordan parted as the covenant chest of the Eternal One crossed the river, and these stones will fix that memory for the Israelites forever. Book of Joshua Chapter 4 The Voice
In Jeremiah’s book of Lamentations Chapter 2 we read: Raise your cry to the Lord with all your might! Take no relief; be ceaseless in grief. ……. O walls, may your stonescryout,cryout for daughter Zion; Make rivers with tears of sorrow, rushing. Do not cease from your weeping. Tr The Voice
As Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey, the people shout ‘Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “tell your disciples to stop!” “I tell you,” He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Gospel of Luke Chapter 19
These ‘Stolpersteine’, for some people, are unhappy attention getting reminders, even today, they find them embarrassing and unwanted reminders: Struikel steentjes…Stumbling stones!
For we also read in the apostle Peter’s first letter chapter 2 – about the Jesus stone: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”
Listen! the ‘Stolpersteine’ are crying out! May we never forget!
‘The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!”’ they yelled at him. – Gospel of Mark Chapter 15 verse 29 – Tr. NLT
‘Look around, you who pass by and go about your business. Is there any sorrow as great as mine? Any pain as great as that which has been forced on me?’ Book of Lamentation Chapter 1 verse 12 – Tr. The Voice
What a difference Easter time brings to the community market for the awareness of the celebration of Easter. What a difference between the commercialization of the Christmas story (baby in the manger & angels, Christmas Carols) compared to the almost no whisper in dead silence of the Easter story in the public square. Instead we get the Easter bunny with his coloured eggs.
For some time now we have seen the statistics of Christian religious beliefs declining in a steady and rapid manner. Just over 50% of Canadians identify themselves as Christians and one third of Canadian have no religious identification at all. Immigration has led to the increase of other non-Christian religions and some statistics quote those amount to 16% of Ontarians. (of which 6% are Muslim and 4% Hindus) It also states that there are now about 100 religious beliefs in Canada.
Are we losing the foundations of our Christian culture, is there anything left to salvage from the decline and decay of this heritage? Are we ‘the Christians’ the cause for this/our decline in that we are doubting the truth of the Christian Gospel message? Are our now daily practices still rooted in the essentials of the Gospel Message?
A recent book ‘Blessed are the Undone’ tells the story of Christians who are frustrated, have doubted or moved on from their faith roots because of disappointments, neglects and betrayals in the Christian community, organizations and leaderships. We have seen the rapid rise of other voices (through social media) and public celebrations (non-Christian) in our communities where we live, and those together with a mass of other cultural tunings and ideas that for a long time were considered strange, immoral and even illegal. Add to that the prominence of individual privilege as opposed to community well-being, cohesion and personal life style indulgences. All these, have led to the disintegration of many cultural truths and practices away from the strict modes of historic accepted morals and rules. The technological and economical possibilities both in medical, structural and knowledge accesses have opened up new ways of looking and doing what is personally important. Past history is condemned as shifted and bad even though out of some of the historic ashes we do find gold and saved preciousness. But yes to be woke is in, on all things past.
Christianity has become ‘past expiry date’ and old fashioned. The gospel message (Jesus saves) is ignored and shunned by main stream at our own peril. Look at the destruction, disputes, economic decay, elitism, cruel malicious wars and fake news and media, we are experiencing and when people (human-destitution) concern is raised or considered or mentioned we are called out of step because right politics is now King. Leaders with largess supporters and the ‘right’ personalities are leading the governing pack. Wealthy individuals are setting the pace. Others, including governments who took a ‘let George do it’ attitudes are now realizing a ‘home coming’ to heavier complex considerations (catch-ups) of neglected responsibilities. Whose side are/were you on? Do we know how even, as a country, to stand on our own?
There are however occasional bright spots of people coming to their senses (as in the story of the ‘Prodigal Son’ – Gospel of Luke chapter 15). The author Tom Holland in his book ‘Dominion’ (how the Christian revolution remade the world) speaks about the foundational heritage of the Christian faith that changed the Roman culture of ‘the strong wins every-time’ to a servant oriented society crystalized by Bishop Martin of Tours (331) when he divides and shares his cloak with a homeless person on entering the city gate of Amiens, France. Also among others, emphasizing again the standard in Christian life and practices was Francis of Assisi (1181) and the late Mother Teresa who were motivated by ‘serving the least of us’, a Gospel message that is still practiced in many cities and places today. (think City Missions, foodbanks, hospitality, medical clinics, meals for the hungry, clothing centers etc)
William Kurelek, the Canadian Ukrainian painter whose art work hangs in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa and various other galleries, depicted the public neglect of the Christian message by painting a picture of Jesus standing on the front steps of the old Toronto city hall calling out to the masses traveling by on the sidewalk and the roads (Queen Street) of Toronto. They are in a hurry, not looking up or giving any attention to Jesus’ calls or even each other. And what do you think is His message: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. For I am gentle and humble in heart. Take off those heavy ‘backpacks’ of care and use mine. For my ‘backpack’ is easy and its burden is light! and I will give you rest.’ Gospel of Matthew chapter 11.
So this Easter remember the costly price He paid and the miracle of His submission to the plans of the Father gave new and resurrected life and eternal promises to all as we put our trust in Him. His death is for the forgiveness of all our sins and missteps. Take his words and live them. ‘Take this bread‘ and remember that His body was broken and His blood was shed for all who believe His message. Peace be with you!
When I was a young boy, now over 75 years ago, my mother decided it was time for me to sleep in the bedroom on the third floor, near the attic, directly under the roof of the house. The room had a iron bed, a chair and a dark walk-in cupboard like structure covered by a large curtain. I was sure there were monsters in that cupboard and also under my bed, who on some mornings would just love to grab me. Although I was perfectly safe in bed, I knew that once I try to get up in the morning, they would pounce on me. It would be a horrible slaughter!
So I figured out if I could surprise them while they were still waking from sleep, they would be unable to catch me. So waking some mornings, I would lie quietly with the blankets safely pulled over my head and then suddenly leap up, jump out of bed, open the door and fly 4 steps at a time down the 3 stairways to the safety of the kitchen where my mother was preparing breakfast. I would be safe! I can now say, it worked every time.
But the monsters under the bed have come back. What about yours?
Do you not feel at this time in Canada, we all have monsters under our beds?
The big – T – word – that cruelly rhymes with gifts – is everywhere; in the papers, on TV, in the media and on the lips of those who are – or soon hope to be – commanding the beautiful ship “Canada”. There are rough seas ahead they say, we need to stay focused on a new course with full sails, everyone for Canada, all the way! Let’s get busy to protect our lives, our jobs and our incomes. It’s now Canada’s time to mature and seek its own way in the world, for our neighbours have gone roque, saying: ‘We had enough of giving hand-outs, it is pay-back time. And they say it is not just us, it is so for the whole world, in big and small ways. We’re done!’
Folks, this may bring us tough times, let’s hope when it starts, there will not be many job losses and economic pain. We pray, it will not be so severe, as we worship, work, shop and carry on our daily lives.
You may wonder, just one man able to cause these upsets? …….and where then is God?
Years ago, I heard a speech given by Dr. John N. Gladstone at a Canadian Charity (CCCC) convention shortly after the fall and demise of the Iron Curtain. He said: the people of Bulgaria, having now gained their independence are asking each other as they look forward to form a new government: ‘Where is God? Have you seen God lately?’
Some years ago, pastor Dr. Stephen Tong, a Chinese Indonesian Reformed pastor (some call him the Billy Graham of the East) from Jakarta, Indonesia, while speaking in New York said: ‘When in history we see many world shaking events, we need to be awake and pay attention, for God is moving! He is causing these events to rouse us awake, to show us who is in control’. My Dutch friend called the other week and told me again: ‘Jon, God is moving us closer to His goal, things are centralizing, like the winding up of a clock, maybe next year we will be dancing in heaven!’
Are you afraid of the monsters under your bed?
Say with me: God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good!
Jesus (says):Listen, if your hand is on the plow but your eyes are looking backward, then you’re not fit for the kingdom of God. (Gospel of Luke Chapter 9 verse 62 – Tr. the Voice)
In looking back over the year 2023, there were plenty of issues happening in the world that affected us all; but specially the events in our family that were very upsetting. So I googled 2023 world events chronicled website (https://www.onthisday.com/events/date/2023 and started to read the following……..
The month of January led off with the funeral in Rome for Benedict 16th, the former (German) Pope who had abdicated his position in 2013.
To help Ukraine with its war against the Russian aggressor ,USA and Germany agree to send 45 modern tanks. However, Ukraine soldiers will need training to get acquainted with its machinery. The official war will be 1 year old on February 24, 2023. Even though there is death and destruction everyday, there appears a growing tiredness in UN countries and others, but especially in the USA, stalling the support lines and slowing down the flow of assistance for weapons and monetary aid. Is this a calculated stealth strategy (by their friends) that will force Ukraine to accept a cease fire and suck-up the present war position as the eventual outcome of their struggle for an independent (from Russian influence) Ukraine? What about those F16 fighter jets, again delayed. Maybe in 2025?
In early February, we saw news of earthquakes (7.8 magnitude) in the middle east Turkey, Syria, trapping thousands of people in numerous collapsed buildings with the dead numbering in the the thousands. How could this be? It soon turned out that many of the buildings were not able to withstand the quake-shocks as they had been poorly constructed with inferior materials or bypassing acceptable building standards with quake proofing standards ignored. A total tragedy of biblical proportions. (60,000 people died.)
In June we had the tragedy of the Ocean Gate’s Titan submersibleat 12,000ft below sea-level, with adventurous well-heeled passengers on board looking to catch a glimpse of the sunk Titanic (1912) but unable to sustain a pressure of 300 times, it imploded, killing all 5 persons onboard. Many voiced against the recklessness of its operator.
I continued to catch more news worthy events of 2023………atmospheric river storms, floods and landslides, volcanic eruptions, AI fright for deep-fake news and info, African/Asian countries push back on LGTBQ, drought in Somalia killing 43,000 people in 2022, USA shooter kills 3 children and 3 adults in Christian school Convent Elementary, in Nashville, Tennessee, the gun-debate again up front affecting everyday American children and families, Political and corporate figures are being accused of devious and abusive practices and life styles, Sexual extortions by authority/celebrity identities, Lies and untruths abound on the social media resulting in an admittance of wrongs (only to seek a quick monetary settlement but no real: ‘we’re sorry’ ) with a 775 million dollar court judgment – with money you can cover any lies, no real soul searchings here. Children & teenagers committing suicide while surfing the net caught by, sucked-in and manipulated into indecent acts or reciting personal private info by unscrupulous persons with evil intentions, Climate change is now being ‘felt and seen’ with the world’s average temperature rising beyond expectations, huge amounts of money spent on ‘space-race’ endeavours, the moon landings are next, Sports and celebrities earning and offered unreal and gross capital amounts of money, Wildfires in Canada, Conservative nationalistic voices dominate the political rhetoric across the world’s nations and many more at home. The events following the October 7 terrorists attacking Israel settlers and setting off a fire storm of retaliation. Now there are demonstrations all over the western world democracies as the response to that event is considered revengeful and cruel and that it is now snuffing out more lives. The cause of all this is now fading into the background and our motives for justice are covered in more blood. But how do you kill an immoral ideology? Is there no right or wrong? And so it goes on……
Closer to home……..Our church community too has suffered from the tiredness of Covid 19 and now is slowly emerges from the Pandemic cautionaries (masks on, no handshakes) hibernations and withdrawals. The news that another church nearby was folding, unable to see their way clear to continue because of lost membership and lost vision? has become our gain. People we know and grew up (teenage friends and school acquaintances) have come to the end of their life and we all are in the midst of asking the big questions……..’how now shall we live’ as families and re-organize as a community and as neighbourhoods of faith, with fellow citizens in our communities.
But specially again this last week of December, we have been subjected to the passing of friends and acquaintances. Attending a series of visitations for people whose families have suffered the loss of a loved one. Perhaps, is it because our family lost a beloved daughter-in-law that it too has affected us in a big way? It sure was an event that cuts you to the raw, not just because the committal at the cemetery took place on a severely wind frosty day, as we together, family and friends stood around the gravesite and recited our faith and hope in God, our only Comfort and spoke together about the promise of the resurrection of life to come and verbalized the trusted mercies of God; while tightly gripping each other, not only because of the cold, but the sting of death visually realized was so great. It seemed we were all being buried in that hole of SADNESS and LOSS. How do we make sense of why a lively daughter-in-law (a Mom about to become an Oma) could so quickly be claimed by the grip of an unrelenting deadly cancer. We remembered a year ago, all was well and in the ensuing months of sickness had pleaded with God on numerous occasions, why and why her? We now see a son devastated by the loss of his wife and companion, his friend. (CC see Lament) Children without a mother and the ‘about to be birthed babies’, the loss of an (expecting with Joy!) Oma, even before their lives begin. Oh, the misery and the helplessness of it all. It hits you in the guts.
So even with this in our minds and hearts, we again drove to say our condolences a few days later to yet another family we know. We came home and once again prepared for another condolences visit on our list. This one was an old acquaintance, someone who experienced the horrors of the concentration camps of Indonesia during WW2, where he lost his parents and with his sister and brother were taken up by the remaining family as orphans. Sorrows that stays and rots your bones for the rest of your life.
That same afternoon my grandchildren drove up to visit their maternal Grandfather battling cancer, and to show him his three weeks old first great-grandchild. Surely, the rhythms of life move us on and we sometimes seem just unwilling spectators as God unrolls His-story book of our time-bound universe. We attended a Memorial service for yet another loved one. The question was asked again: ‘Why Lord, why us, why now? What is it that you want to tell us?’ A book I recently read by Lydia Dugdale, the ‘Art of Dying’, reminds the reader and so all of us, that we will (must) die – (‘Momento Mori’) this is the human condition for us all. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens; a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to…………” book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3.
So looking back over the year of our Lord (Anno.Domino) AD 2023 has not been a pleasant experience for our family and yet all these remembrances and events that have shaped our lives are useful in teaching us ‘How to live.’ This hymn says what we believe in our hearts is true! Yes there is much goodness and hope for the believer!
God, we’ve known such grief and anger As we’ve heard your people cry. We have asked you, “How much longer?” * We have sadly wondered, “Why?” In this world of so much suffering, May we hear your word anew: “I will never leave you orphaned; I will not abandon you.”
By your grace comes resurrection; By your love, you cast out fear. You give strength and sure direction As we seek to serve you here. You give comfort to the grieving, And you bless the ones who mourn. May we trust in you, believing Out of chaos, hope is born.
Hope is ours for, God, you love us! You have claimed us by your grace. And through Jesus, you have called us To bring hope to every place. In each rescue worker’s caring, In each faithful volunteer, In each Christian’s love and sharing, God, we glimpse your kingdom here.
Tune: In Babilone –Julius Rontgen (1855-1933) 8,7,8,7 Dutch Traditional Melody, 1710; Oude en Nieuwe Hollantse…Contradanseu, Amsterdam, c. 1710 – Public domain—Hymnary.org
Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you. Moon and stars pour their healing light on you. Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you. Deep peace of Christ to you. (John Rutter – Hymn)
In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth had become waste and wild and darkness was on the face of the roaring deep but the Spirit of Elohim was brooding on the face of the waters. [1] Book of Genesis 1 : 1 & 2
Way backin the early days of the formation of the Atlantic waters, seas of melting ice came rushing from the Icelandic regions and swirled around the western coasts of Ireland, Scotland and what is now the British Isles reaching and stretching west and then eastwards as far as the Lowlands of the continent flooding the fields of its coastal lands, creating small lakes, marshes and wetlands. In its struggles with the waters, the terrain sometimes recaptured and gained solid ground and waterlogged meadows from the seas but mostly giving way and losing an eternal battle against the raging floods pushed on by the fierce November and February [2] winds from the great stretch of sea waters then flooding west from and to the edge of the known world.
Boudica, the Celtic Queen who challenged Rome worldhistryonline.com
The ‘Franks’, ‘Celtic’, ‘Frisian’, ‘Saxons’ and the ‘Batavian’ tribes who had settled along this sea coast expanding from western France and Belgium, north along this North Sea coast to Germania and as far as the River Weser and parts of Denmark, raised and built ‘terps’ (small rises in the land) to flee from the rising flood waters. In a land that was always full of water, they struggled to master and reclaim the fields threatened constantly by the onslaught of the water with its fierce resistance to be tamed. These dwellers who later on became a mixture of ‘Angles’ and ‘Saxons’ some of whom buried their dead (5000 B.C.) under mounts of rocks, (‘hunne bedden’ or ‘dolms’) [3] stubbornly struggled and hardly subdued by the Roman legions [4] in 5 BC, were the ones that carried the ‘seed’ of our forefathers.
Trientje Oosterveld with family & friend on a ‘Hunnebed’ – early 1930s
Although steeped in ‘heathen’ practices of forest gods and deities but with a structured and tolerant culture of chiefs and kings, they allowed the missionaries from Ireland and England to walk among their people and preach the Good News of Jesus. When missionaries Willibrod and Bonifacius arrived from the British Isles around and shortly after 700 AD and began to urge the disruptions and destruction of their holy worship places and shrines for the true Christian Gospel worship, chopping down (‘732 AD’) their sacred trees (‘Thor’s Oak’), a connection to their gods, they became enraged and killed Bonifacius near the city of Dokkum in 754 AD.
After those days, these folk were again subdued, this time by the French emperor Charles the Great (Charlemagne- 800AD) with a strong violent measure of accepting Christian baptism for loyalty to the emperor. With the rising of Christianity and dominance of the papacy Catholic church, they struggled through the Middle Ages into the age now known as the Renaissance with its new approach to community and faith, experiencing a new revival of the Christian Gospel message. Much later in the 1400s AD, they became subjects to the evolved Spanish (‘Habsburg’) empire through the uniting of the crowns of the Christian kingdoms of Castile and Aragon by the marriage of their monarchs, Isabella I and Ferdinand II, and eventually became organized into the Lowlands (including Belgium) subject to the Catholic King of Spain, Phillip II, who re-acting to a ‘rebellion’ as a result of a renewed religious ‘Protestant’ revival movement, sent the Duke of Alva and his army, backed up by the fierce and hated ‘Inquisition’, to subdue his Lowlands Dutch subjects away from this new ‘Reformation’ back towards the Roman Catholic faith, by killing thousands of God-fearing folk and laying waste many Dutch villages and towns.
Striking back [5] against religious and political persecutions, they declared their resistance and religious freedoms in 1568 (eighty-years war 1568-1648) because of their commitment to the Holy Scriptures and a desire to set their independence with freedom to read their Bibles now becoming freely available to the common folk through the invention of the printing press and actively preached and promoted by the priest and philosopher John Wycliffe (translations into the local vernacular) and others. So springing loose from the grip of the ‘Holy See’ in Rome and spawning the beginnings, with Luther and Calvin, of the ‘Reformation’, they eventually formed the Dutch Republic under the leadership of Wilhelm of Nassau, the Prince of Orange.
Under this independence movement which took a long 80 years to obtain their freedom, the Republic of the Netherlands prospered and the northern provinces of Friesland and Groningen became wealthy and strong settlements in this new nation. The Frisians with their language leaning much towards the ‘Angles’ and the Groningers borrowing from the ‘Low Saxon’ languages became two very distinct regions of subjects of the Royal House of Orange, yet one people united under the tri-colour of red, white and blue flag of the ‘Republic of the seven united Netherlands’.
Tolerant to refugees but fiercely independent and proud, they explored and settled across the world and throughout the centuries of the 16th and 17th giving both Spain [6], England and France (world powers of that day) a run for their money so to speak, in the control of the seas which they totally dominated into the 17th century. This period now known as the ‘Golden Age’ made famous by their poets and artisans like Rembrandt van Rijn being one of the greatest master painter of ‘light and darkness’ captured by his ‘Nightwatch’ forever.
Constantly caught in wars between England, France and the Austrian empires, against their Royal House of Orange [7] and although related to the English monarchy and the nobles of Germany and dominated by Napoleon in the turn of the 18th Century (1806 -1810) they fiercely held onto their independence and although sometimes loyal to German ideals have settled strongly in the last 100 years to the Atlantic alliance and counted heavily but in vain on French and English troops to deliver them from oppression during the start of the second world war, being neutral in the first war.
PosterFreeHolland
In the last century they became world sea-farers, farmers, growers, technology experts and commercial bankers and colonizers to the rest of the world. A small nation of brave folks, they were always on or near the front pages of world events. Eternally grateful to the Canadians for their liberation from the Nazi brutes in May 1945, they prospered and their immigrants and business people are now found and respected all over the world.
They are a sober people, many are children of the ‘Reformation’ and God fearing. As you travel through their land you will find many beautiful churches testifying to the fact that God has blessed them in all their struggles and endeavours. However many of these fine buildings stand empty now and the spirit of the ‘sacred pilgrims in their journey of life’ is now more mixed both by off-shores refugees and migrants. There is a changing in the landscape of the once pastoral, wooden shoe and Sunday religious observance ambience. Where cattle grazed before, we now see highways like modern rivers crossing the country and with the country’s borders now only in virtual mode having been absorbed by the political reality of the Union of European (27) states. Bravely facing the new 21st century, while holding on to old ways and a precious culture assaulted by contemporary ‘world culture’ twitter media, more and more becoming just a ‘fleck’ in the landscape of English speaking and modern internet connected world communities.
This is the story of an ordinary family from the Groninger North with their contribution, dreams and ideals as God-fearing Dutchmen shaping their lives’ paths as best as they could.
Someone once said: ‘All the world is a stage and the men and women merely players’. But these folks took as their banner the now famous lines by Abraham Kuiper [9]: ‘there is not a square inch in this world that does not come under the rule of Christ’.
This strong Biblical Christian worldview would give rise to changed communities where-ever they settled. Each person contributing their small part to the completion of the grand journey of life under the protection and watchful eye of the God of all grace.
Their motto was: ‘Mijn schild en de betrouwe zijt Gij, O God mijn Heer’. op U zo wil ik bouwen, verlaat mij nimmermeer. Dat ik doch vroom mag blijven, uw dienaar t’aller stond, de tirannie verdrijven die mij mijn hart doorwondt. [10]
Gerrit Schuurman b. 1769 – d. November 8, 1812 occ. Kastelein/Herbergier/Innkeeper from city of Groningen; married in Bierum on January 5, 1806 to Anje Jans Draak b.1783 – d. January 27, 1859 – occ. Koopvrouw/Sales lady from Bierum.
Jan Schuurman b. August 8, 1808 – d. April 27, 1881 occ. Beekeeper/Grower/Farmer from Bierum; married in Howierde (Bierum) January 6, 1838 to Anna Sterenberg (daughter of Hendrik Jan Sterenberg & Albertje Klassens Drijfhamer) b. October 21, 1812 in Appingedam – d. December 3, 1873 in Bierum
Derk Schuurman b. September 23, 1849 in Bierum d. April 5, 1902 in Groningen occ. Commissionair/Pakhuisknecht/Warehouse worker; married Aaltje van Bon (daughter of Pieter van Bon and Jantje Luitjes Post) b. November 11, 1850 in Veendam – d. January 12, 1927 in Groningen occ. Koopvrouw/Sales lady - they had 10 children.
Children: Pieterdina Schuurman b. January 25, 1880 in Noordlaren; Jan Schuurman b. September 8, 1881 in Haren; Derk Schuurman b. 1884 in Haren – d. February 18,1905 in Groningen; Antje Schuurman b. 1885 in Bierum;Jantje Schuurman b. December 22, 1874 in Noordlaren; Anna Schuurman b. April 20, 1876 in Noordlaren;Gerrit Hendrik Schuurman b. January 17, 1885 in Haren; Hendrik Schuurman b. 1889 in Haren – d. February 1, 1903; dead baby boy b. October 12, 1889; Luitje Schuurman b. 1893 in Haren – d. March 9,1916;Geertje Schuurman b. March 22, 1894 – d. March 12, 1984;
Jan Schuurman [1] b. September 8, 1881 in Haren – d. May 14, 1956 in Groningen; occ. Baker; married in Groningen September 1, 1910 to Titia Grasdijk b. May 22, 1882– d. 4 Dec 1969 (daughter of Pieter Grasdijk [3] (occupation – taylor) & Antje Hempenius of Sauwerd [4]; Together they had 5 children born in Groningen. Family of 5 children
Children: AntjeAaltje b. October 14, 1911 – d. August 30, 2008 in Haren – married to Gerhard Suers d. November 10, 1993; Derk – b. July 30, 1913 d. October 28, 1991 (Hamilton, ON) – married to Trientje Oosterveld – b. February 15, 1911 d. December 27, 1991(Hamilton, ON) daughter of Hendrik Oosterveld and Renske Pruim) occ. Housekeeping maid; Pieter b. March 28, 1916 d. July 12, 1972 – married to Uilkje (Oekie) Korenhoff b. April 30, 1918 – d. August 30, 2014; Gerrit b. March 23, 1919 – d. March 29, 1999 – married to Rightje Lourens b. September 7, 1921 – September 3, 2008; there was also a son named Derk Pieter, a twin brother to Antje b. October 14, 1911 who died August 3, 1912 probably from smallpox.
[3] More info: Oma Titia Schuurman-Grasdijk’s parents: Pieter Grasdijk (occupation – taylor) & Antje Hempenius of Sauwerd had 5 children and 1 still born child. Trijntje died May 29,1897 9 months old; Anna died April 4, 1889 – 1 years old; Jacob died age 27 Jan 27, 1913 was married for 2 years to Ekolina VanderVelde; and 1 still born male child Oct 9, 1901; there was a sister? named Boukje and a son named Dirk (1889) who emigrated to USA (Decatur, MI) in November 1910. Dirk had gotten in trouble with a girl and was sent to the USA. Boukje was the only one who kept contact with him, he lived in Decatur, MI – his wife’s name was Nellie Haak
Notes:[1] Translation: The Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible (1973) [2] A huge storm occurred in February 1953 that broke through dikes and flooded many towns in Netherlands southern Zeeland province, causing the death of 2,000 people. Psalm 93 speaks of the might of the sea. [3]Stonehenge and many other stone structures in the British Isles and other parts of Europe are similar to the (54) hunnebedden or dolms that can still be found mostly in the Province of Drente. The biggest is in the town of Borger. [4]The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (German: Schlacht im Teutoburger Wald, Hermannsschlacht or Varusschlacht), described as clades Variana (the Varian disaster) by Roman historians, took place in 9 AD, when an alliance of Germanic tribes led by Arminius of the Cherusci ambushed and decisively destroyed three Roman legions and their auxiliaries, led by Publius Quinctilius Varus. [5] Dutch sea pirates (Geuzen) capture the city of den Brielle 1572. A first strike against the oppressive Spanish rule.[6]Which ‘Dutchman’ does not know the song of Piet Hein, the Dutch ‘privateer’ captain who in 1628 defeated and captured the Spanish fleet off the coast of ‘Varadero, Cuba’, loaded with 177,000 pounds of silver, a sum of well worth over 11 million guilders. [7]The Republic became a Kingdom in 1813 under King William I. (Koninkrijk der Nederlanden) [8] Picture is of the church in Dordrecht where the ‘Canons of Dordt’ were agreed upon in 1618-1619. The five Points of Calvinism – ‘TULIP’ [9] a Dutch journalist, statesman and Neo-Calvinist theologian. Pastor in the ‘Gereformeerde Kerk’, founded a newspaper, the Free University of Amsterdam and the Anti-Revolutionary Party. He served as Prime Minister between 1901 and 1905. [10] ‘My shield and my reliance (trust) are you, O God my Lord’ The Dutch national anthem begins with: ‘Wilhelmus van Nassouwe ben ik, van Duitsen bloed, den vaderland getrouwe blijf ik tot in den dood…………’and then the beginning sentence of the sixth stanza usually sung as a second verse (there are 26 verses) of the anthem. Translation:
On the Road 