In 1983, the administrator of the local nursing home, Doris, initiated the construction of a 21-unit apartment complex for seniors next to the nursing home. Word came to me in a roundabout way that the newly formed Board of Directors … Read more

During the occupation of the Netherlands from 1940 to 1945, about 25,000 people were imprisoned for interrogation and prosecution in a jail near The Hague. Most were members of the resistance, and others were Jews and Jehovah's Witnesses. … Read more

She never told us why, but Psalm 42 was my mother's favourite psalm. For such a seemingly happy and faithful woman, I found that to be a strange choice. It was written by someone who was searching for a relationship with God, someone who … Read more

The Lord willing, in July of this year, the days of my years will be fourscore years and ten. Early one morning recently, that made me think of the many things that have changed in my life, personally as well as in society. I have lost … Read more

As I write this, there are wars raging in various places. The ones most heard and talked about are in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Dozens if not hundreds of people are being killed every day in the attacks. Meanwhile, so many people are … Read more

On Good Friday last year, Greta and I went to a country church that was a 45-minute drive from our place. We went because I had led worship services there many times before COVID and my health problems. We wanted to see the people again … Read more

In 1965/66, I was living in a work camp near the city of Muscat in Oman. Muscat was a very compact city at that time. There were many shops and residences, a bank, an agent to import and export goods, and a small hospital called the … Read more

I was always very apprehensive about speaking — in school, for instance, in front of the class, and in public. Later, as a young lad at the youth group or at catechism class at the church, I was always afraid that the leader would ask me … Read more

Early in October, I was asked if I could possibly lead a worship service in one of the churches in our area. It was to be on November 12. I agreed that, the Lord willing, I could. It was only one day after what we here in Canada call … Read more

I have another hobby, a new one: I'm rooting plants. About fifteen years ago, I led services on a regular basis at a church in our area while they were without a pastor for a couple of years. In appreciation, they gave me a rosebush about … Read more