October 16, 2021
Just over a year ago, I wrote about a gathering of 800 European evangelical leaders originally to have been held in Wisla, Poland, under the umbrella of the Lausanne Movement. The event was to address the challenges of a continent facing crises: politically, economically, socially, environmentally, and spiritually. But yet another crisis, the COVID pandemic, […]
October 9, 2021
A ten-minute bike ride from our apartment in the centre of Amsterdam a few days ago brought my wife and me to an arresting new memorial in the former Jewish Quarter. We cycled past the still functioning 17th century Portuguese Synagogue, and the Jewish Historical Museum housed in four former synagogues. Two yellow triangles loomed […]
October 2, 2021
The Dutch are famous for their ‘polder model’ of consensus decision-making, overcoming differences to achieve a common goal. Ever since the process of land reclamation began in the Middle Ages, communities living in areas below sea-level needed to overlook differences to build and maintain dykes and pumping stations to prevent flooding. So, we are told, […]
September 25, 2021
Worshippers in the church my wife and I attend in the heart of Amsterdam were treated last Sunday to a 360 degree ‘immersive experience’ fusing the art of two of the world’s most famous artists, Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt van Rijn. It was a special presentation of Vincent meets Rembrandt, The Untold Story which […]
September 18, 2021
Driving home through eastern France from Switzerland last month, my wife and I just happened to travel through a town I had visited once or twice before. On hearing the name, Romkje suspected a set-up, being used to my diversions to ‘check out some significant historical site’. But in truth, we had chanced upon Luxeuil-les-Bains, […]
September 11, 2021
The Swiss, both Catholic and Protestant, esteem Nicholas von Flüe (1417–87) as the spiritual father of their country. Bruder Klaus, as he became affectionately known, was a farmer, soldier, councillor and judge who lived in Flüeli, the geographical centre of Switzerland in the alpine foothills south of Lucerne. Yet at the age of fifty, he […]
September 4, 2021
(If you expected to read about the Swiss and Irish heroes I referred to last week, hang in there – they’ll get their turn). ‘The most challenging frontier for mission is right here in Europe’. For Jim and Christine Memory, that realisation thirty years ago led to a life-time commitment of engagement in church planting […]
August 28, 2021
Almost everywhere in Europe, you can trace the footprints of faithful minorities who dedicated their lives to the spread of God’s kingdom. Driving to the heart of Switzerland this month for a coaching event for young, aspiring Christian politicians, my wife and I encountered inspiring stories en route of a Czech, a Swiss and an […]
July 26, 2021
Despite what the next line says, “Weekly Word” will resume next month after a summer break.
July 17, 2021
When rivers burst their ancient boundaries, devastation of life and property results. We watched in shock on our screens this week as turbulent, rushing, muddy waters tore at the foundations of houses, tossed cars aside like toys and overturned rescue vessels in Germany and Belgium. Lives have been lost. Livelihoods, homes, families and hopes have […]
July 10, 2021
Fifty-five years have passed since England won its first and last major international football championship. So understandably the English are getting wound-up about ‘bringing football home’ on Sunday evening’s EURO 2020 final with Italy. The big question is, will the home-game advantage in Wembley Stadium outnumbering Italian spectators four to one offset the Italians’ track […]
July 3, 2021
Germany and France have done it. So have Belgium and Britain. And even the United States. Amsterdam did it this week. But the Netherlands? Not yet. Saying sorry is something we all have to learn. Teaching children to say that word requires patience. Coaxing national governments to do the right thing can be like urging […]
