The Tulip Boy - Keukenhof, April 12, 2012

Longing and Looking Forward to the New Narnia

The difference between the old Narnia and the new Narnia was like that. The new one was a deeper country: every rock and flower and blade of grass looked like it meant more. I can't describe it any better than that: if you ever get there you will know what I mean.

It was the unicorn who summed up what everyone was feeling. He stamped his right fore-hoof on the ground and neighed, and then cried:

"I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now. The reason why we loved the old Narnia so much is because it sometimes looked a little like this. Bree-hee-hee! Come further up, come further in!"

Narnia - Last Battle

Zeke is already hearing Lewis

Psalm 103

¹⁵ The life of mortals is like grass, 
   they flourish like a flower of the field; 
¹⁶ the wind blows over it and it is gone, 
   and its place remembers it no more. 
¹⁷ But from everlasting to everlasting 
   the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, 
   and his righteousness with their children’s children— 
¹⁸ with those who keep his covenant 
   and remember to obey his precepts.

Zeke is Here and Opa is Blij

Zeke is here in Holland 

In his way to Angola

Life in the fast Lane

May you be a blessing to many - - - with your smile and joy

and as you learn the beautiful Portuguese language 

and perhaps in the future you can talk to Vovo sometimes

when his English and Dutch become incomprehensible
"I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say, but I shall still be your affectionate, Vovo Paulo” 

Here you can practice your Portugues

One Playful Evening

Listen to the Youtube song as you read the story below:

There are few more depressing places than the lounge of an interstate Holiday Inn on a Friday night.  On weeknights the businessmen are still around, and they come in and give some life to the place.  But on Friday, those that can have managed to get home.  And, since the hotel is on the interstate, and far from anywhere, there aren't very many locals to take the businessmen's place.

That night was like a scene from a Billy Joel song.  A few scattered, leftover men were attempting to drown their sorrows while a rock band tried to generate some enthusiasm.  All were unsuccessful.

About half an hour later, there was a noise at the front entrance and about sixty people in their twenties came charging in.  The momentum began to pick up at once, and as the evening wore on, things got livelier.  A few couples began to dance and managed to get the businessmen to join them.  Soon there was improvised line dancing, which required us to move the tables.

The band caught the infectious humor and its performance level picked up several notches.  Later yet, a conga line started growing, extending around the room and even out into the lobby, drawing desk clerks and waiters into its rhythm.  As the line snaked back into the lounge and the music hushed for a moment, one of the band members yelled out, "This is great!  Who are you guys?"

The crowd shot back, "We're evangelists!"

Sadly, the evening ended all too soon after.  We'd been in staff training down the road all week and had simply taken a break.  We had to get back so we could get up early the next morning for further training and Bible study.

Did anyone become a Christian that night?  Not that I know of.  But nobody there will ever again think about "evangelists" in quite the same way.  "Evangelists" will now mean people who are great to have around, no matter what you believe.  Those young Christians were people you'd want at your party, especially if things were looking bleak, just as Jesus, according to the Gospels, seemed to be the type of person who was invited to many parties.


And, oh yes, one of the band members did become a Christian the night after..

*story as told by Paul Marshall in Heaven is Not My Home

He is Risen

Narnia reminds us of the feeling of hearing the good news - - - 

" - - - one of the children felt something jump in his inside - - - Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realise that it is the beginning of the holidays." 

Indeed, He has risen.  

O Senhor ressuscitou.  

Christ is opgestaan.

Bis-Oma's Orchids