Snowwwwww

Snow! So beautiful! The only problem is that it is difficult to get anywhere from where we live! But the view is stunning.
But then was there the problem of the meeting in Cheltenham... My heart sank when I saw the snow, to be honest, however much I love snow! I saw endless delays, and more delays... But the Lord was very kind.. He truly knows how much we can cope with! The pastor rang, said that the church was very enthusiastic, and could we just clarify a few details, which of course we could! Richard sent of the email straight away... So it seems that the Lord answered our prayers, even though we have to wait till the final word comes through. But we know that He cares for us, and we will have to trust Him and His guidance on this matter.

I had a long day in Swindon today, which was an inset day from the school. We learned about writing essays, and more importatnt for us in a sense, how to mark them! It is actually quite hard to mark essays, but it was very interesting. The other thing we heard about was the big science project children have to do before they finish their current level.

I bought an ACE Bible, which is King James, but is has the 60 character traits in the front, with the corresponding Scripture verses. I really wanted this Bible, as it gives a bit of an overview of all the character verses. I had a list with the different character traits, but not the verses that go with them.

Well, I'll have to shoot off, as I will be in school all day tomorrow, then Good News Club, then church.... Time seems to fly, and it keeps catching up with me.. We are preparing for a few visits next week, when we hope to visit some other Christian Schools up north, when we hope to see some friends as well.

Opening

Yesterday we had the first opening's day of the school, and this afternoon the second. The Mayor and mayoress came: two women, so why the one is called mayor, and her sister mayoress wasn't clear. I think I will have to have a word with my sisters...

There were quite a few people present, which was really nice! People had the opportunity to walk around the school, and have a look at various things. There was a puppet show in Spanish, art, and learning center as well...

After a time of singing, prayers etc, where the children sang something, and recited the verses they are learning for this month, the mayor and mayoress arrived. We all went outside, and watched the mayor plant a tree..... We wondered whether you have to do a gardening course, once you become a mayor...?

We left quite soon after, and spent the evening with the Cholefko's, which meant we were home at a crazy time.... But it was really nice to spend some time with them, and talk about all sorts of things, most of all of course the prospect of having the school up and running in January...

Any way, this afternoon we hope to go again to the school. Richard isn't coming, which means that Jan has no choice but to come...! Tineke iscoming as well, so I hope the weather stays as it is now. No snow or ice or anything like that!

Coming and leaving

It is verrrrry cold this week! Real winter has arrived!

It is also a sad week, as Angela and Graham have moved now. This morning I had the Ladies' Bible Study, and it soo strange with Angela being away! We really missed her! We had some very interesting discussions and questions, so it was a really good morning.

Tomorrow I have the morning off, as we have the official opening of the School in Gloucester where I help. I hope lots of people will come, and that they will be really encouraged. We told the headmaster about the possibility of us leaving in January, and he was quite sad about it. Even though he is very pleased that we are starting a Christian school. I hope to speak with him about it, as I feel that we have a door opened this January to start. Anyway, please pray for wisdom in dealing with him, as well as other people at the school, and also for ourselves that we will make the right descision.
It is very hard, as I can see the big advantage of starting this January, as it will give us some time as a school to work, get straight, advertise etc. Also, as I said, we feel we have a special opportunity now. But we need to get a building first.. The meeting on Monday about that is very important...

waiting and waiting..

We had a great day on saturday! It was Fiona Steward's sending-off service in Ramsey. The service was really good, and we were so glad we went! She was really moved when she saw so many people turn up for the service.
Yesterday we had a good day as well, even though rather sad as Angela and Graham are leaving. They have served our church for the last 32 years... Now they are moving on, moving closer to their son.

With regards to the school, we rang a few numbers this morning. The first person we had to leave a message with someone, so now we have to wait till that person rings back... That preson is head of various churches, and we hope he will be able to put us in touch with a small church in a big building....
The othre person I rang wasn't there.. So we have to wait, and ring later...
Why does everything have to move soooo slowly........ I have also emaild CEE, as they are the organisation we have to register with, in order to use the ACE curriculum.

Sometimes all courage leaves me as I think that we could be up and running in January.. So much needs doing, but the worst thing I find is the question: have we got enough prayer support?? I would like to set up prayer groups. prayer people like James O. Fraser did, people who are committed to prayer, and not the one-line quick prayers for our school, even though I'm sure God will hear and answer those as well! Bu what we need are prayer warriors! people who really pray for us intelligently.
Anyway, we are really grateful for various friends who really pray for us already!

I'll have to go now, as I have to write my next article for the Dutch magazine...

Building?

We went to visit this church yesterday evening. We had a bit of a sad moment just before we left. We had arranged this meeting last week, and surprisingly enough the people seemed quite keen... But yesterday evening, just before we were coming out to meet them he rang. He didn't think the building would be suitable, they had never rented it out, etc etc...Did we really insist on having a look? Which we did...
When we met them they were really nice and kind! And the building was great... There are a few dificulties, but not impossible...
The building we like best is just round the corner, and is Reformed (they say) but they don't want to know....Sighhhhhhh... They told us the building wasn't suitable.. But it is the most suitable building we have seen, and we have seen quite a few.....
I know the Bible teaches us that God can change the hearts of kings like brooks of water, but whether that counts for Reformed Christians, I do not know...

Anyway, things seem to be moving somehow, but we really value your prayers for us!
I just had a Dutch magazine, who has published my first article about our school, in order to try to raise some money for us...Praise God!

Patience is a virtue

My excuses for those of you on which my frustration landed... I have to learn to be more patience and gentle and so on... even when it comes to my hobby-horse...!

Anyway, there is some news, so I would really value your prayers for us! Tonight we are meeting with a small church in Cheltenham about the prospect of renting their building to start our school. The idea is that if they agree, and every moves quickly (does anything ever move quickly in England??!) then we will start preparations immediately... Soi the school might actually start in January... What a thought!!

Sp please pray for us, that the meeting will go well, people will be honest (bit of a problem in Reformed England, I have noticed in the 6 years I have been here), and that it will be made clear to us whether we should move forward or not.

At home it is quite busy, as we have a young Dutch couple staying with us. They got engaged last saturday on Birdlip hill/Crickly Hill... what can be more romantic than that! It didn't even rain...!
It is great having them to stay though, he preached yesterday, and did very well!

Today is Jan's birthday. So we have got some special cake etc, even though we have to shoot off tonight, but I hope they will be back in time this afternoon, so we can have some time together to make him feel it is his birthday..

Anyway, there is a question I want to pose to you: Is a parent responsible for the education of their children (which doesn't mean they have to teach their children everything themselves) or is it allowed, Biblically, to hand over your parental responsibilities to others?

Answer to reactions

I have had reaction to my previous blog.. This made me happy in one sense, as I have a childish happiness about having comments posted on my blog.. Sad is that the reaction was negative....But anyway, I just post here my reaction, and write a bit more maybe.

1. I said: happy to have their children there.
2. Maybe I should be more moderate, but I do feel strongly about it! The children have only one soul, one life. There is only one way to be saved. We should be strong about salvation, shouldn't we?
3. God commanded parents to train their children day and night. Do we agree with people not turning up at services? That's wrong. Why is it wrong to break one commandment, and not wrong to break another?
4. If I have offended anyone, my excuses, it was not the aim. But I do urge people to think again, and to study the Scriptures!

I do feel very strongly about Christian education, not Reformed monasteries. It is the parent's duty to train their child in a God-honouring way. It is a commandment to parents to train their child at all hours of the day. A child needs protecting and training, it hasn't got the discernment that adults have. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, the Bible says.
I cannot think of any reasons that are Biblically acceptable to send your child to a non-Christian school, unless forced to. To me it is the same as not going to church as a Christian. I know plenty of Christians who hardly ever go to church. They are fine, they are still Christians etc etc. Sending your child to a non-Christian school doesn't mean to say your child will automatically become an atheist, just as sending it to a Christian school doesn't mean it will become a Christian. But God did write those things for a reason.

The reason I compare those people with Hype-Calvinists is that both lay down their God-given responsibility. People with children in state-schools are not necessarily Hyper-Calvinists, as not every one is happy with having them in state schools, but there may be no other option. Also, some people haven't studied the issue, and have happily given parental responsibility out of hands, and handed their children over to people who have no true saving faith. Also, as Calvinists, we should be aware of the fact that our children are born with a corrupt heart, that is prone to evil, rather than to choose the good. So to put them into an environment that is mainly evil,and to think we can straighten them out at home and sunday school is in my eyes naive, and I think it has proven not to work. One has to only look at most reformed churches, and the attitude of most church goers...

I think it is essential for all Christians in this country to rethink he whole issue, and to study carefully the Bible, and see what God tells parents to do.

Any way, if someone has been really upset, my excuses! It is just so hard to see an issue, see God's truth on it, and to see most Reformed people taking a very worldly, humanistic point of view, which confirms that we were right in the first place.... If only people would be prepared to look at the issue more seriously!

Busyyyyyyyyy

We had a very busy few days, last week! It started on Thursday evening, when I made quite a few cakes, again more cakes on Friday, and then the mad rush Saturday morning...
Saturday was a great day! I can't really write too much about it as I'm in a hurry as usual.. But we started at 2.30 in the afternoon with the Reformation memorial service. Dr Oliver from Bradford-on-Avon came and spoke for us. I really enjoyed it, it was a great lecture!
Then there was a mad scramble to get Tea on big tables, as there were 40 plus Dutch students arriving... They came at the agreed time, and we had areally good time together.. I had to give a talk on England, Me, Churches, and of course, Christian Schools, as they were teacher trainees, and all brought up in Christian Schools... They were shocked to find that there were so few Christian Schools in England, and wondered what parents did with their God-given responsibility...?
Anyway, it was really good to see them all, and we closed the day with a short service.

Sunday afternoon another group came... Again, same shocked reactions, especially when they hear that you have to pay to send your child to a Christian School... But we had a very good day. Richard preached well, it was very good and simple, he really explained the gospel well.

We went for a quick cupper to their place, and again for a visit on Monday night. It was good to meet some of the students, and to spend some time with the teachers. Some students now want to raise some money for our school! It is so sad that English people in general don't take the commandments of God seriously, and can't see that their child's education is not only for life, but also that it is required of parents to train a child in the way it should go...

Anyway, I have worked out that only Hyper-Calvinists can be happy in sending their children to state schools. If you are a true Calvinist you would take Scripture seriously, and believe in man's responsibility as well as God's sovereignty....

I have also updated my school's website, and put Sjoerd's article on there. I hope people will start sending me questions, that will make the whole thing more interesting..