https://www.unknownnations.com/about
"
To reach the unknown nations at the ends of the Earth—completing the last four words of Jesus' calling .."
PRAYING 4 MY BELOVED CRC (CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH) c9,
My Blog List
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Friday, November 8, 2024
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Prayer for POTUS Trump
Be strong & bold, don't be dismayed
The Lord is with you, don't be afraid
Wherever you walk, His light will shine
Guiding your steps, His will divine
Fear NOT the storm, nor dark of night
For God's own hand will lead you right
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Ode to Life 🙏✝️👶👼🤱👨🍼👩🍼🧑🍼
(https://x.com/PRAISETRIUNEGOD/status/1843703365748044236?t=pMHLI2hsizvi7Wb7PGWJUg&s=03)
🙏✝️🤎👶👼🤱👨🍼👩🍼🧑🍼
From the moment of conception's spark,
A life begins, though small & stark.
A precious soul, so pure & new,
A gift from God✝️, both bright & true.
In the womb, God knows their name,
Each tiny heartbeat💓 ,not the same.
In His image, they are made,
With love so deep, it will not fade.
Before their eyes 👀 have seen the day,
God has planned their every way.
Innocence wrapped in tender form,
A miracle within the storm.
Their hands are small, their hearts so light,
They are precious in His sight.
Each child a wonder, life divine,
God's perfect ⭐work, His grand design.
He knew them long before their birth,
Each baby carries endless worth.
With purpose woven into time,
A life ordained by hands sublime.
How can we then ignore the plea,
To guard them with sincerity?
To shield the innocent from harm,
And cradle them within our arms?
For they are souls with futures bright,
Created for His holy light.
The Lord commands us to defend,
The unborn 🕊️ life He longs to mend.
So let us stand for those unseen,
For every child, both pure & clean.
In love, protect them from all strife,
For in God's eyes, they carry life.
Each baby's worth is more than gold,
A treasure that cannot be sold.
To save, to love, to nurture too,
For every life, God calls on You
🙏✝️🤎👶👼🤱👨🍼👩🍼🧑🍼
Fair Election Poem 🗳️🗽👍🇺🇲
In elections🗳️, a voice should be earned,
With laws of the land duly learned.
To cast a vote in a nation's plan,
You must first be a citizen, woman or man.
When rules are bent, & lines blur thin,
It's unfair to those who've registered in.
For every vote made from an unlawful hand,
A legal vote is silenced, dismissed, or banned.
Citizens pay taxes, abide by the laws,
They should have the right to support a cause.
But when someone unvetted steps in to vote,
It tips the scales, a sinking boat.
Citizenship is the price to pay,
For a voice in the country's election day.
And if one's here illegally,
Should they influence our democracy?
A system's integrity must stand tall,
For the benefit of one & all.
So, let's ensure it's clear & fair,
That only those who belong, DECLARE 🇺🇲👍🗽
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
''The Unstoppable Gospel in North Korea" - International Christian Concern
https://www.persecution.org/2024/09/19/the-unstoppable-gospel-in-north-korea-2/
"Despite relentless efforts to extinguish Christianity (and any religion for that matter), brave souls like Illyong Ju, a North Korean defector, continue to spread the message of hope and resilience..."
Sunday, September 22, 2024
i was wondering what happ'd to Jim V- Bosch one of my English profs. Apparently he's not happy with the CRC anymore
The churches – Calvin Church, Grace Church, and Church of the Servant (COS) – join Sherman Street Church in leaving the CRC.
i was wondering what happ'd to Jim V- Bosch one of my English profs who I really appreciated ( I still remember "Anonymous Bosch" in the Chimes). Apparently he's not happy with the CRC anymore after Synod 2024 ( btw, i was there! not as a CRC delegate, but just an interested individual who grew up in the CRC & GR, mostly). I sensed he wasn't a far -right conservative (neither am I) but I thought he was a moderate with some theological convictions about the danger of too much "compromise". I personally agree with the CRC decision because I feel the church must have a minimum set of standards before it becomes meaningless.
It's sad to see these CRC churches deciding to leave the denomination. I pray for the Lord to convict their hearts and turn them in the right direction! Hear our prayer Lord.
NOTE:
I attended three of the four churches above periodically during college. I remember when COS was starting out in the gym at Seymour School. I remember Jack Roeda. He was a great pastor & seemed to like me (until he was told some false & blasphemous rumors about me spread by some of my so-called "friends" who I didn't realize were so far left; and actually despised me for being moderate, if not conservative at the time. They set a "honey pot" trap to try to bring me down; and when it failed they spread false rumors anyways. I wasn't savvy enough at the time to realize what they were doing. Shame shame shame on them).
And I remember Mark Vermaire preaching at Sherman (one time he played the song "What if God was one of us; just a slob like some of us" (by Alanis Morrisette) as a sermon illustration. I also remember the pastor from Grace during the 80's when the Diekemas attended there, and then Jack Kooreman took over (he was in my Greek class at RBC). And my parents were married at Calvin CRC, a short walk from my mother's EGR childhood home.
We pray for you to reconsider before you make a decision that will probably never be reversed. It's forever. Talk to God on your knees.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
WHAT IS WORSE than a far-left immoral radical lefty liberal dem (FLIRL dem) ⁉️
1. A FLIRL dem who just discovered CrossFit
2. A FLIRL dem with a podcast
3. A FLIRL dem in charge of the group text
4. A FLIRL dem who's also your mother-in-law
5. A FLIRL dem with a megaphone at 6 a.m.
6. A FLIRL dem that's also a vegan influencer
7. A FLIRL dem who doesn't use headphones on public transportation
8. A FLIRL dem who corrects your grammar at parties
9. A FLIRL dem that just binged all of "West Wing"
10. A FLIRL dem who insists on discussing astrology at every dinner party
Monday, September 16, 2024
👍😀"Seattle pastor arrested for reading the Bible WINS legal battle "
https://www.christianpost.com/news/seattle-pastor-arrested-for-reading-the-bible-wins-legal-battle.html
"The legal agreement allows the pastor the freedom to share the Gospel in Seattle without the threat of arrest, coupled with monetary compensation for past grievances and attorneys' fees..."
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Friday, August 23, 2024
Vote Your Values ✝️"Ralph Reed on The Power of Christian Voters: How Their Voice Can Shape Election Victory for Christian Values -"
https://warroom.org/ralph-reed-on-the-power-of-christian-voters-how-their-voice-can-shape-election-victory-for-christian-values/
"Brat and Reed's discussion took a motivational turn as Reed detailed the Faith and Freedom Coalition's ambitious plan to mobilize voters. "We will knock on 10 million doors and reach 17 to 18 million Evangelical and pro-life Roman Catholic voters at their homes between now and November 5th..."
I HOPE MOST CHRISTIANS
ARE PRO LIFE 💜✝️👍🇺🇲👶
👼🤱👨🍼👩🍼🧑🍼
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Monday, August 19, 2024
👍✝️🙏🌎"Amazing 'Jesus Revolution' Reported in Iran - Mosques Close as Muslims Turn to Christianity | "
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/08/amazing-jesus-revolution-reported-iran-mosques-close-muslims/
"
And the people of Iran are looking at this and they are saying, 'Wait a minute. If this is what Islam has brought us in the last 45 years, we're not interested. We want to know what the other options are.'"
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Saturday, August 17, 2024
there was a lot of misunderstanding & mis- speculation about why I left Grand Rapids
there was a lot of misunderstanding & mis- speculation about why I left Grand Rapids
... some of you who follow my blog know a little about me and my family.. and how we moved from GR to California when I was a senior in high school, but I finished school in GR, and then went on to Calvin for more than 4 years. After my first BA I got a 2nd BA - making it 6 years, plus a year & a half at Calvin Sem, plus a year working at Pine Rest as a Mental Health Worker ... so I was a loyal GR resident for a long time with lots of GR heritage . In between all these years I would come and go for short or long spells. A semester in Spain. A semester in Hawaii. a few summers back in CA . Finally after I got a teaching degree (before I returned to seminary) I left for 2 years and taught school in CA . But i came right back to GR after those 2 years- and stayed for a year. Then I returned to CA and attended Fuller Sem. And now I regularly visit GR but no longer reside there full-time or part-time. However, I have heard things "thru the grapevine" - those kind of urban myths that evolve when people don't know anything truly factual about your life and whereabouts. They only hear little bits and pieces, and some of that may be transmitted by nefarious rivals who want to make me look bad (yes, even "good Christians" can do that sometimes). Truth is I simply moved on - beginning with my teaching - and later as a CHristian evangelist. I came VERY CLOSE to settling down in GR - the good ol' married with kids" thingamajig, but I knew God was calling me to be a missionary /evangelist, maybe even to Africa and I knew that even though the final gal I dated was a sincere Christian (from Calvin & South CHristian), I also knew she was a "Michigan girl" and would never be happy or even willing being a "missionary wife" out in the big bad world somewhere. It was the hardest thing in my life to do- because I respected her so much - and some other Michigan girls who were good spouse possibilities - but I had to be true to my calling from God. That's not to say I've always been perfectly obedient or become a classic African missionary - never did end up there (except for some short-term mission trips. But I hope this helps end any wild speculation about me and my whereabouts and who I am and what I represent, or try to. I continue to live as a CHristian evangelist and daily engage in concrete activities to reach others with the Good News of Jesus Christ our Savior ! Please pray for me. God bless you all
Friday, August 16, 2024
"What Elon Musk said about Jesus Christ surprised everyone. “If Jesus is saving people…” - THE TRUTH
https://patriottruths.com/what-elon-musk-said-about-jesus-christ-surprised-everyone-if-jesus-is-saving-people/
Elon Musk was invited to accept Jesus Christ as Savior:
"Musk paused before responding, expressing his agreement with the teachings of Jesus. He highlighted the importance of principles such as "turn the other cheek," forgiveness, and loving one's neighbor. Musk humorously added, "But hey, if Jesus is saving people, I mean, I won't stand in His way. Sure, I'll be saved. Why not?"
WAS HE JUST BORN AGAIN?
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
there was a guy named Bob
Bob Devries, oh what a sight to behold,
A man with a story, both brash and bold.
With a wink and a smile, he'd take the stage,
Loving the spotlight, the center, the rage.
Narcissism's charm was his favorite delight,
He'd bask in the glory, from morning to night.
Like a ham in the limelight, he thrived on the cheers,
Yet his antics to embarrass brought mostly sneers.
The success he achieved, well, that's quite a tale,
It came from his name, not from hard work or scale.
His father's science legacy,
Gave Bob all the fame, but not a true friend.
In Grand Rapids he stayed, a homegrown delight,
Never venturing far, never soaring to heights.
He knew his own town like the back of his hand,
But the world's greater lessons he'd never quite understand.
He was kind of a homeboy, with comfort so dear,
Yet the world passed him by, year after year.
So much to discover, so much to explore,
But Bob never ventured outside his own door.
He quit far too early, left much still undone,
His potential was vast, but he never did run.
The lessons of life were left to the breeze,
For Bob Devries missed out, on much that he could seize.
So here's to Bob Devries, a tale so entwined,
A character of charm, but with much left behind.
A life lived in shadows, in the comfort of home,
With a name and a legacy, but a heart still unknown.
A man with a story, both brash and bold.
With a wink and a smile, he'd take the stage,
Loving the spotlight, the center, the rage.
Narcissism's charm was his favorite delight,
He'd bask in the glory, from morning to night.
Like a ham in the limelight, he thrived on the cheers,
Yet his antics to embarrass brought mostly sneers.
The success he achieved, well, that's quite a tale,
It came from his name, not from hard work or scale.
His father's science legacy,
Gave Bob all the fame, but not a true friend.
In Grand Rapids he stayed, a homegrown delight,
Never venturing far, never soaring to heights.
He knew his own town like the back of his hand,
But the world's greater lessons he'd never quite understand.
He was kind of a homeboy, with comfort so dear,
Yet the world passed him by, year after year.
So much to discover, so much to explore,
But Bob never ventured outside his own door.
He quit far too early, left much still undone,
His potential was vast, but he never did run.
The lessons of life were left to the breeze,
For Bob Devries missed out, on much that he could seize.
So here's to Bob Devries, a tale so entwined,
A character of charm, but with much left behind.
A life lived in shadows, in the comfort of home,
With a name and a legacy, but a heart still unknown.
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
there was a guy named Roger Greenway
In a quaint town where the church bells ring,
Lived Roger Greenway, a man with a sting,
Son of a pastor with a pious grace,
Yet Roger felt lost in that holy space.
With a heart full of longing, he'd often confide,
In his father's shadow, he could never abide,
Comparisons haunted, each step felt so small,
In a world where he'd never quite measure up at all.
Jealousy brewed in the corners of his mind,
Seeing others succeed, while he fell behind,
Not the brightest of sparks in the academic dome,
He trudged on a path far from his true home.
He'd found his way to a professor's role,
Yet his missionary dreams took a different toll,
Never a beacon in the foreign lands,
His work seemed to falter, slipping through his hands.
Petty and mean-spirited at times he'd be,
His harshness a shield from the eyes that could see,
In his fear of exposure, a truth he'd defend,
He kept up a bluff he could never amend.
Sexual insecurities, a hidden, dark plight,
Made Roger live in perpetual fright,
Maintaining a facade with every breath,
While inside, he feared the revelation of death.
His life was a struggle, a quest for some light,
Yet shortcuts and lies kept him out of sight,
A rise to the top on a shaky pretense,
Left him unfulfilled, devoid of recompense.
In the hallways of academia, his name did persist,
But behind his façade, a truth was missed,
Roger Greenway, with a heart full of dread,
Lived a life unfulfilled, with regrets left unsaid.
As the years went by, his end drew near,
With a life of false glory and unspoken fear,
A soul never content, always looking askance,
Died unhappy, a man who never took a real chance.
His story remains, a lesson so clear,
Of a man who lived in constant veneer,
A tale of a life marred by doubt and disguise,
Who found in the end that truth never lies.
Thursday, August 8, 2024
Prayers for ✝️💜🙏"A Silent Slaughter: The Ongoing Persecution of Christians in Nigeria -"
https://www.persecution.org/2024/07/23/a-silent-slaughter-the-ongoing-persecution-of-christians-in-nigeria/
"During the past week, Islamic Fulani extremists have killed numerous Christians in North Central Nigeria, particularly in Benue and Plateau states.."
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
when I was a student at Fuller Seminary around 1998 somebody left this to be found on one of the 4th floor carrels ( i think i know who did it: a female busybody fuller employee
Monday, August 5, 2024
Friday, August 2, 2024
"Beyond Bible translation: how unfoldingWord helps church leaders create study resources -"
https://www.mnnonline.org/news/beyond-bible-translation-how-unfoldingword-helps-church-leaders-create-study-resources/
"We want to equip the Church with the ability to translate the Bible for themselves in every language. But we also want to equip the Church for spiritual formation and discipleship," Dane* with unfoldingWord says.
"We're not just handing out Bibles; we are developing Bible translators."
Saturday, July 27, 2024
Friday, July 26, 2024
"Archaeologists make 'sensational' discovery at location where Jesus was resurrected" | Dae
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-13672003/Archaeologists-altar-Jesus-Jerusalem.html?ito=email_share_article-top
"The site of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is identified as the place of both the crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus, and sees around four million visitors each year.."
Thursday, July 25, 2024
Saturday, July 13, 2024
🇺🇸✝️🙏❤️Live video of President Trump being shot at by sniper . He's ok ✝️🙏🇺🇲❤️👍. Thank You God
🇺🇸✝️🙏❤️
Live video of
President Trump
being shot at by sniper .
He's ok ✝️🙏🇺🇲❤️👍.
Thank You God
Friday, July 12, 2024
Thursday, July 11, 2024
I hate to bust your bubble buddy about PREDESTINATION, but ...
I hear radio preachers etc regularly bash so-called "Calvinists" about predestination. Hate to inform them but MOST of us Calvinists (those from the Reformed denominations) RARELY dwell upon predestination. It's something taught a few times periodically growing up & that's about it. We don't sit around and talk about being ' predestined'
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
🙏prayers for : Steven W. Venhuizen . Logos Christian Community - Google Search
He was a little bit of a pompous jerk back in Calvin when he was in seminary starting out as a Preacher Man, and I was still undergrad. He had that Canadian attitude combined with new pastor-preacher attitude, and condescension towards Americans, specially undergrads. Hopefully he's become a better person these days . we pray for him.
Saturday, June 22, 2024
CRC made Bold, Strong, Right Decision at Synod 2024
"The CRC Synod this year voted to call affirming churches into a process of discipline. Those churches must publicly repent and withdraw their affirming statements, or they must disaffiliate from the denomination. If the churches do neither, they will be removed from fellowship with the denomination..."
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Unfort, looks like @crcna Synod has permanently turned off YT commentary
Unfort, looks like @crcna Synod has permanently turned off YouTube commentary after Monday's invasion by secular lefties. I understand. However, during less contentious sessions, it would be nice for normal CRC people to be able to interact worldwide via comments
https://www.youtube.com/live/NBaeJxWCEd8?si=W3CKtPnbWfHnAEzD
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
6.18.24 Email to CRC Synod
To whom it may concern: as you know, the CRC is in session this week and they are live streaming with a 20-minute delay on YouTube, and commentary is allowed.
I come from a long line of CRC pastors and much Dutch Christian reform heritage, and so I'm on YouTube watching and praying and commenting. And my comments are appropriate and on task to the topic being discussed.
And yet I have found out that there are what I call "YouTube assassins" with a political agenda, false flagging commentary they don't like, and getting the YouTube moderator (somebody who regulates the CRC YouTube channel for synod) to shut down my commentary, and others. And it seemed like it was mostly they were shutting down conservative commentary.
So I'm just wondering who is this CRC YouTube channel moderator, and are they being unduly influenced by false flaggers who are trying to affect the agenda of the CRC according to their personal political persuasions.
Earlier in the day as I was interacting with other commentators, one YouTube person admitted to me that he's not a Christian, nor interested in the CRC, but is there to attack the CRC doctrines and confessions.
These are the types of people that are false flagging my commentary and others like me and persuading the YouTube channel moderator to block us from commenting (& praying online).
I hope the moderator him or herself is not such a person but that they're being unduly influenced by the false flaggers. Could somebody please look into this and make sure that the moderator is not somebody with a personal political agenda ?
And give them a heads up that there are those who are trying to sabotage the commentary for their own personal agenda, mostly towards the left.
Crypto-libs were bombarding YouTube commentary last night as the @CRCNA Synod voted ..
Crypto-libs were bombarding YouTube commentary last night as the @CRCNA Synod voted about the so called 'gravamen' policy. Fortunately, wiseheads prevailed and they overwhelmingly voted the right way 👍✝️.
These libs even false- flagged my conservative YT commentary to try shut me down. Fortunately I was able to switch to another channel and continue commenting as well as praying with fervor for the right decision. ✝️ 👍🕊️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
*The problem is that some of these libs are not even affiliated or interested in the CRC. They've just gotten on the bandwagon like lefties do around the country to try to bring down another conservative institution to comply to their lefty agenda. One commenter even admitted he was NOT even a Christian & was just there to contradict the teachings of the CRC.
Monday, June 17, 2024
Are secular lefty activist targeting the Christian Reformed Church ?
The @CRCNA for those who don't know is the Christian Reformed Church North America and they have a Synod every year which is kind of comparable to the way Congress works. There are motions & agendas &time to speak for or against etc. they also live stream with 20 minute delay to YouTube, & allow commentary.
However, they are those with a lefty agenda who have discovered they can propagandize via commentary against the conservative agenda of the CRC. And the same Lefty activists also will false flag conservative commentary making it more likely that conservatives get blocked by the moderator despite the CRC being a historically conservative denomination.
Fortunately however on this important motion tonight the spirit of wisdom prevailed, praise the Lord. I was praying mightily for it to happen.
Meanwhile I hope somebody can reach out to the YouTube moderator (an unnamed CRC staff member) & let them know that they're being played like a puppet by these Lefty activists. (Or, God forbid, that this moderator him or herself is a lefty activist 👎).
It's sort of like that cake bakery that refused to bake or design a cake celebrating gay marriage. The gay activists keep going back to him and still do trying to get him into legal trouble, even though there's hundreds of other bakeries who would gladly make them whatever kind of cake they want.
I'm afraid this is what these activists are trying to do to the CRC. There are numerous denominations especially Presbyterians and Methodist now who welcome any kind of marriage even the pastors can be gay. These activists insist & demand that the CRC comply as well. Even though they could go to a presbyterian or Methodist half a mile away.
Synod 2024 Liveblog, YES ! Holy Wisdom prevailed 👍🕊️🙏 6.17.24
- 10:15 - Delegates move to vote on this recommendation electronically. The vote is 137 to 47 in FAVOUR of the motion.
"Experts discover earliest record of Jesus' childhood after deciphering 2,000-year-old Egyptian manuscript |"
"The 2,000-year-old papyrus - a material that predates paper - tells the lesser-known story of the 'vivification of the sparrows,' when the five-year-old Messiah is said to have turned clay pigeons into live birds, a tale also referred to as the 'second miracle.."
Sunday, June 16, 2024
"Discovered, Potentially Corroborate Bible Story of God's Angel Killing 185,000 Assyrian Soldiers | "
"The story, as told in the Bible, recounts how God sent an angel to thwart an army of Assyrian soldiers intent on conquering the Holy Land around 2,700 years ago. The Angel of the Lord is said to have descended upon the advancing military, killing 185,000 soldiers in a single night..."
Slippery slope. What's next : u don't believe in Jesus but still want to attend? re CRC's "confessional difficulty gravamen"
Slippery slope. What's next : you don't believe in Jesus but you still want to attend the church? Maybe you're a Satanist but you like sitting in the church and socializing with the Christians ( or negatively influencing them?)
CRC concept known as "confessional difficulty gravamen" (CDG) [is problematic]"Grand Rapids Christian Reformed churches send letter to Synod on sexuality"
Monday, June 3, 2024
Sunday, June 2, 2024
Bible Mnemonics (no rights reserved, no copyright)
Bible Mnemonics
AAA: Do NOT be anxious about anything 🚫
ROGG: Radiance of God's Glory
BOM: Brothers of Mine
CAP: Called according to His purpose
ICDAT: I can do ALL things thru Christ
FOE: Fix our Eyes 👀 on Jesus✝️
FLOG: Nothing can separate us
from the Love ❤️ of God
WIG: HE has shown you
O man What is Good
HIP: HE is Patient
WESH: Who Earnestly seek Him
TAU: Transcends all understanding
TYMD: That you may declare..
BOP: NOT a spirit of Timidity but of Power 💪
BAW: Boast about Weakness
LYE: Love your Enemies
BAND: Believe & do NOT doubt
CLIMB: I no longer live
but Christ Lives in ME
BIL: My burden is Light🕯️
CYS: Confess your sins ✝️
ASGOE: Against the spiritual Forces of evil 👿🚫
NEM: New (mercies) every morning 🌅
LYLS: Let your Light💥Shine
TRYM: Be Transformed by the
Renewing of your Mind
RAW: Reverence & Awe
FGOG: Free Gift 🎁 of God
KOA: Be Kind 🙂to one Another
GIL: God is Love ❤️ ✝️
LAGL: Live a godly Life
BOHM: Because of HIS mercies
NRLTL: Narrow road 🛣️ leads to Life
SAMN: Supply all my Needs
BAP: Blessed are the Peacemakers 🕊️✌️
SORTS: Those who Wait on the Lord shall renew their Strength 💪
OPS: Our present Suffering
GATY: Grace abound to you
SHUK: Seek HIS kingdom
TYGER: Thank you God, Eternal Reality 👍🐅
EOA: Encourage one Another
SLUM: The Spirit 🕊️ of the Lord is upon me
SIFTS: Spirit Intercedes for the Saints
WOGLA: The Word📖 of God is Living & Active
BIHD: Baptized into His Death ☠️ ☝️
FATFB: The Fullness of Assurance
that Faith ✝️ brings
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Monday, May 20, 2024
"Where do major US religions stand on the COVID-19 vaccination? | "
"Dutch Reformed Church
Though it is not an official church stance, many members opt out of vaccination because they believe that vaccines can interfere with their relationship with God by making them less dependent. The church has not made a specific statement about the COVID-19 vaccine."
Friday, May 17, 2024
Is Caesar Nero the 666 of the Bible?
"Preterist theologians typically support the interpretation that 666 is the numerical equivalent of the name and title Nero Caesar (Roman Emperor 54–68 AD). Written in Aramaic, this can be valued at 666 using the Hebrew numerology of gematria, and was used to secretly speak against the emperor..."
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Exhibit A "Roger Greenway was one of those old school professors who s. harassed in subtle ways such as this
This goes with the previous post re same person .
Actually I may as well re- post the words I wrote as well:
"It would be considered sexual harassment now, but back in the day when I was a student it was common and some Christian schools and even at Calvin College for insecure male teachers or professors to needle students who threatened their insecure ego. It was their M.O.
These teachers would take cheap shots in subtle ways about a student's "manhood" or "masculinity". One way they would do this was to raise their eyebrows and say "very creative " in response to a thought you shared or something you wrote, etc.
Sometimes they'd just do it one-to- one. Other times they'd do it in public, even in the classroom. It was definitely not appropriate for sure but they would get away with it back then as part of their "bully pulpit."
Because back then these self- proclaimed so-called "manly men" deemed "creativity " to be a non-masculine trait.
Or in some cases if a professor couldn't get away with doing something demeaning himself, he would encourage another student to do so. At Calvin College and Seminary if they called you 'dude' that was also a little bit of a slur.
For example, a professor might be speaking with one student and they might say about another student oh he's a dude," with an insinuating tone. And encourage that student to marginalize the other student as a dude. And this would also help take the light off of that professor who might be the actual less than virtuous person. It would especially help them if they could pit one student against another.
One of the most egregious professors in this regard at Calvin Seminary was Roger Greenway (Bob DeVries may be second. Cal Van Reken was up there as well). They actually considered this unethical behavior as "gamemanship".
Roger above all was highly threatened by my alpha male presence and more than once took some little unethical and inappropriate cheap shots at me such as the above. Or was intrusive.
One time we had a banquet at the beginning of the year, and I had to go make a phone call. This was before cell phones, so I had to find a public phone. And we were at a public restaurant, not at the Seminary. So I stepped out for a few minutes. IT was an important phone call that couldn't wait. When I came back he was demanding, " Where were you? Where'd you go?" as if it was any of his business. I didn't even know him at that time.
I didn't even know his name. I didn't even know he was a professor. This was a banquet for new students, including professors and other staff as well. There were a lot of faces that I did not know at that time. I was not new to Calvin College; had already gotten my bachelor's degree there , but I was new to Calvin Seminary.
He took an over- the- top special interest in everything about me which felt weird; even in this case taking special interest in why I was absent from the banquet for 5 or 10 minutes.
What if I had been in the restroom with diarrhea or something? Is that his business as well ? This isn't like we're in elementary school or kindergarten where the teacher has to know everything about the kid like a parent. This is basically graduate school.
Roger actually made the mistake of continuing to take shots at me even after I had left Calvin Seminary, and all the more stupidly, he did so in writing. And once I find that letter that I still have somewhere, I will post it as evidence.
But you see these low- level professors* would use the word "creative" & other similar enigmatic words because it's ambiguous enough to use as "double speak." This way they are covering their tracks and they can deny that they meant anything derogatory, if confronted by a complaint, or a superior investigating their behavior.
"Dude" passed as doublespeak in that regard as well because you could argue that it's an affectionate way of talking to a fellow person.
Roger Greenway has passed away, so I won't go on and on... I won't go on any further, but it's worth mentioning because there might be some professors still trying to get away with this this sort of bully behavior, and maybe some students can pick up a few tips from this information. Greenway was part of the reason that I decided to transfer to a different Seminary.
Don't allow professors to take advantage of you. They have ethical responsibilities and obligations that come with their teaching position; and belittling students is a violation of those ethical standards.
*Note: It's usually only a small amount of professors who need to use this kind of unethical "classroom control", (or even outside the classroom in some cases). It's the professors who do NOT have real great command of their content, or don't have any real command at all. So they begin struggling for class control; feel insecure , and begin belittling students as a way to silence them.
Coincidentally, both Roger Greenway and Bob DeVries may have been hired more for "legacy" reasons, or nepotism ( ie sons of professors or pastors) rather than any real great academic command or proficiency. I'm not sure about Cal Van Reken. "
Sunday, May 12, 2024
Friday, May 10, 2024
Thursday, May 9, 2024
It would be considered sexual harassment now, but back in the day..
It would be considered sexual harassment now, but back in the day when I was a student it was common and some Christian schools and even at Calvin College for insecure male teachers or professors to needle students who threatened their insecure ego.
These teachers would take cheap shots in subtle ways about a student's "manhood" or "masculinity". One way they would do this was to raise their eyebrows and say "very creative " in response to a thought you shared or something you wrote, etc.
Sometimes they'd just do it one-to- one. Other times they'd do it in public, even in the classroom. It was definitely not appropriate for sure but they would get away with it back then as part of their "bully pulpit."
Because back then these self- proclaimed so-called "manly men" deemed "creativity " to be a non-masculine trait.
Or in some cases if a professor couldn't get away with doing something demeaning himself, he would encourage another student to do so. At Calvin College and Seminary if they called you 'dude' that was also a little bit of a slur.
For example, a professor might be speaking with one student and they might say about another student oh he's a dude," with an insinuating tone. And encourage that student to marginalize the other student as a dude. And this would also help take the light off of that professor who might be the actual less than virtuous person. It would especially help them if they could pit one student against another.
One of the most egregious professors in this regard at Calvin Seminary was Roger Greenway (Bob DeVries may be second. Cal Van Reken was up there as well). They actually considered this unethical behavior as "gamemanship".
Roger above all was highly threatened by my alpha male presence and more than once took some little unethical and inappropriate cheap shots at me such as the above. Or was intrusive.
One time we had a banquet at the beginning of the year, and I had to go make a phone call. This was before cell phones, so I had to find a public phone. And we were at a public restaurant, not at the Seminary. So I stepped out for a few minutes. IT was an important phone call that couldn't wait. When I came back he was demanding, " Where were you? Where'd you go?" as if it was any of his business. I didn't even know him at that time.
I didn't even know his name. I didn't even know he was a professor. This was a banquet for new students, including professors and other staff as well. There were a lot of faces that I did not know at that time. I was not new to Calvin College; had already gotten my bachelor's degree there , but I was new to Calvin Seminary.
He took an over- the- top special interest in everything about me which felt weird; even in this case taking special interest in why I was absent from the banquet for 5 or 10 minutes.
What if I had been in the restroom with diarrhea or something? Is that his business as well ? This isn't like we're in elementary school or kindergarten where the teacher has to know everything about the kid like a parent. This is basically graduate school.
Roger actually made the mistake of continuing to take shots at me even after I had left Calvin Seminary, and all the more stupidly, he did so in writing. And once I find that letter that I still have somewhere, I will post it as evidence.
But you see these low- level professors* would use the word "creative" & other similar enigmatic words because it's ambiguous enough to use as "double speak." This way they are covering their tracks and they can deny that they meant anything derogatory, if confronted by a complaint, or a superior investigating their behavior.
"Dude" passed as doublespeak in that regard as well because you could argue that it's an affectionate way of talking to a fellow person.
Roger Greenway has passed away, so I won't go on and on... I won't go on any further, but it's worth mentioning because there might be some professors still trying to get away with this this sort of bully behavior, and maybe some students can pick up a few tips from this information. Greenway was part of the reason that I decided to transfer to a different Seminary.
Don't allow professors to take advantage of you. They have ethical responsibilities and obligations that come with their teaching position; and belittling students is a violation of those ethical standards.
*Note: It's usually only a small amount of professors who need to use this kind of unethical "classroom control", (or even outside the classroom in some cases). It's the professors who do NOT have real great command of their content, or don't have any real command at all. So they begin struggling for class control; feel insecure , and begin belittling students as a way to silence them.
Coincidentally, both Roger Greenway and Bob DeVries may have been hired more for "legacy" reasons, or nepotism ( ie sons of professors or pastors) rather than any real great academic command or proficiency. I'm not sure about Cal Van Reken.
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Very charitable, but they declined me😢✝️ "Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation sunsets after 54 years, $1.1B donated"
And RIch DeVos had shown appreciation for the positive thinking messages of Robert Schuller on the Hour of Power. I think he also appeared as a guest on one of the Hour of Power episodes - which I can't seem to find on the internet after a brief search-but having personally been there I remember the details. It may have actually been an evening service -, if so, it wasn't televised for the Hour of Power.
And I don't remember if it was prior to me sending this letter in 2003 or ex post facto. I remember one detail very clearly: Rich DeVos promised to buy Robert Schuller a new limousine because his old one, which they used to pick him up from the airport, was "bottoming out" . A limousine sounds fancy and rich of course, but I think the original stretch limo was also donated, and it was nothing special. THe new limousine was a silver mini-Limo thanks to Devos.
Anyways, they probably assumed that the Crystal Cathedral could afford to buy it's own copy machine for the 10th floor. And in 2003 they were probably right, even though dark clouds would start to gather in the next few years and ultimately the church would declare bankruptcy and close it's doors in 2013. I never knew it would end this way.
I had no premonition apart from wondering at some point why the chairs in the Cathedral were getting so worn out and not being replaced? Anyways, I was there through it all, even at the court bankruptcy hearings in Santa Ana, CA.
The Cathedral ministry actually has continued on a much smaller budget, at a few new locations (now in Irvine CA known as Shepherd's Grove) under the leadership of Bobby Schuller (Robert's grandson) and the Hour of Power can still be viewed online & on TV in some locations.
Nonetheless, I still had my own income & savings from also working as a regular teacher and during seminary as a substitute teacher for the LAUSD and so I decided to buy the copy machine myself. I surprised the 10th floor with a gift.
The company delivered it, but for some reason the 10th floor staff didn't accept it. They returned it. Maybe I hurt their pride. And a few weeks later they bought their own copy machine. Whatever.
Interesting thing is we have a lot of common heritage as the DeVos family . Our family is of Dutch ancestory and Christian Reformed affiliations; as well as Grand Rapids Christian High, Holland Christian High, & Calvin College. It's a small world. Doug DeVos was a few years before me at Grand Rapids Christian High.
Rich & Jay both attended Grand Rapids CHristian and a little bit of Calvin COllege too, I think. The DeVos family attended LaGrave CRC for many years - where my grandfather's family also attended. They had/have a cottage on Lake Michigan by Lake Macatawa as did/does my grandfather (Rest-in-Peace).
I also worked at Pine Rest Hospital for a year after college as a Mental Health Worker mostly in the adolescent unit, which was named the Van Andel Center after Rich Devos founding partner Jay (who died in 2004; as well as his wife, Betty, Rest-in-Peace). I think the Devos Family has also made contributions to Pine Rest for the sake of Christian mental health treatment. And my father was a chaplain there for many years.
Since 2003 I've continued to make small strides in doing Christian evangelical ministry in various ways. I've done formal mission trips, such as a summer in the Philippines with a CRC group; as well as disaster relief in Costa Rica with CRWM (world missions) after a giant earthquake caused substantial damage.
But mostly I've done online E-vangelism (electronic evangelism: blogs, YouTube, Twitter X, etc ) as well as "street evangelism" (Gospel tracts), among many other things. All on a shoestring budget.
My motto is "I'm not Johnny AppleSeed, but Johnny Mustard Seed" (based on Matt 17.20 which says "… Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed...Nothing will be impossible for you." I plant seeds - and hope & pray for good soil. Then I rely upon this Bible verse: 1 Corinthians 3: 6-8
Best wishes to the DeVos family as well as their staff at their Foundation.
Helen died in 2017, Rest-in-Peace
Rich died in 2018, Rest-in-Peace
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https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/richard-and-helen-devos-foundation-sunsets-after-54-years-1-1b-donated
"Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation sunsets after 54 years, $1.1B donated"
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Some of the people I remember working with at Pine Rest Hospital
Some of The people I remember working with at Pine Rest Hospital include: Johnny King (he played basketball at Calvin as well), Belinda Clark, Frank Sisung ( the drummer who was married to the Boorsma Girl; what a character), Bonnie somebody, Denny somebody, Brent Gates, Matt Wynn (RIP), Kim Kooiker (& Kim's male cousin, former military guy, can't remember his name. He was apparently assigned to approve or not approve if I was good enough for Kim*), Nurse Bass ( i played football with her 2 younger brothers) , Morrie Dielman (attended 1st CRC), Teri Bierling, Jeff Genzink, Randy Herrema the psychologist . Among others.
*I met Kim at a required CPR class at the hospital. She also attended Calvin and was still attending Calvin at the time I think. I was already graduated ( The first time.) And we started dating, very slowly. And then her cousin showed up one day and wanted to talk with me and meet me at Denny's for breakfast. It was just sort of a social conversation but he apparently was assigned to make sure I was an okay person for Kim. And apparently he approved of me because we kept dating for a while.
However as much as I respected and liked Kim very much, I decided I was I wanted to be a missionary, or not wanted to be, but was called to be a missionary.
It was the hardest thing in my life to leave Kim, & not only Kim actually -there were other girls in my sphere of influence and potential marriage coming out of Calvin and Grand Rapids. Including Rachel. And others.
But I finally decided if I'm going to be a missionary. Or If I am going to follow God's call, I should say, I needed to leave Michigan, and none of the girls that I dated I don't believe they were willing to be missionary wives. Even if they were serious about being Christians, or churchgoers.
Most of them were Michigan girls, meaning they were born there and grew up there and pretty much as far as I could tell part of their identity was being a Michigander, and so the possibility of them leaving Michigan to be a missionary wife not only somewhere else in the country but in the world was close to zero.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Very charitable, but declined me😢✝️ "Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation sunsets after 54 years, $1.1B donated"
Very charitable, but they declined my request for a startup donation as I was beginning my evangelical Christian ministry ✝️😢, even though i have extensive Grand Rapids & CRC history, including Calvin & GRC Schools .
I will post the historic denial letter when I re-find it
"Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation sunsets after 54 years, $1.1B donated"
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
I found this old picture from Fort Myers FL ⛱️: my friend Jack Jr with his mother Mae, & late father, Jack Sr (RIP ✝️♥️🙏)
Good family, good friends. Hope all is well . God be with you and bless you.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
re Wiebe Boer & the Problem with MK's: Missionary Kids as well as Military Kids (
"Along with a $400,000 annual salary, Boer received a $100,000 signing bonus, with annual bonuses of up to $200,000 with the chance to earn additional long-term bonuses, paid college tuition for his children, a car and use of the presidential residence on campus..."
Mr Boer is contesting the allegations against him, so this commentary is not concluding that he has or hasn't done anything inappropriate. We are only discussing, in general, the problem with missionary kids and military kids. And this is not to say that any and all of MK's are a problem in general or that they have problems. It is simply to say that these "American kids" who grow up in other countries, sometimes have no real ROOTS in their home country. Sometimes they feel more affection for the country in which they were born and/or raised, even if they periodically returned to America. Sometimes they even feel more comfortable speaking the language of the country(s) in which they were raised, rather than English itself. Upon returning home for "sabbatical" on a periodic basis, they are often treated like little celebrities (especially the missionary kids as the missionary family goes from church to church to raise support for their mission; showing photos of themselves with the African people, or whatever mission field they are working in, could be Asia, Central America, etc ). And they also never really get tested in the American schools in terms of athletics and the normal ups and downs & rites of passage of American childhood. Sure, they still go to schools in their mission country; often elite schools for American families; and they take many of the same courses you might have in the USA schools; but they don't have the full, normal experience of american childhood. And then suddenly it's time for college and it's almost like they drop in like an alien by parachute with no history attached. Kind of like the way Obama himself arrived in America - and into the Whitehouse. it was almost as if he was from somewhere else.
Growing up in America, especially the continental USA itself, is more of a test of one's mettle. I had cousins who were military kids- and grew up in various countries, as well as periodically in various USA states.
Then after dad had retired or they had grown up, they came back to live in Grand Rapids; but they had no history here/there. It was awkward. THey could be critical of everybody and everything without anybody being able to criticize them because we knew nothing of their true history, except what they self-report: how did they do in school ? We don't know beside that they graduated. How did they do in sports ? We don't know, unless they decide to tell us, and possible create fiction, like a fish story. Did they ever get in trouble ? Bad habits ? No way to know, unless we observe them emerge over time now that they are here to stay.
MK's have a LOT to OFFER from what they've experienced and learned out in the mission or military field, but too often they decide to return to the country where they are "from" but didn't grow up in and become armchair quarterbacks of it, and of us.
One of my cousin's (a military kid) could not take any criticism at all. He wasn't used to being disciplined or judged. He could only dish it out. They are used to being celebrities of sorts. And with missionary kids there is often the added fiction of having "roughed it" in Africa or wherever.
When I first visited a missionary family in Dominican Republic I was actually astonished as to how nice they actually had it. And I visited several missionary families in various countries since then. All of them lived in very nice spacious homes, and the kids were able to attend nice private schools. And there was access to resorts, etc. The myth of missionaries "roughing it" has always added to their celebrity status; but that's all it is in many cases: a myth.
Does any of this apply to Mr./Dr. Wiebe Boer ? Has he ever been criticized or judged before ? Or has he always been the darling missionary kid ? Or is he being unfairly singled out ? We still don't know. Maybe time will tell. Let us pray for the Calvin community.
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