Boerenroem blog

// June 22nd, 2010 // No Comments » // blog, family, fun, thoughts

Last Friday I turned 40. And although I was still only one day older than the day before, it seems to be quite a milestone to many people. Admittedly I made a little fuzz about it myself, which might have given the impression that I actually was nervous about it, which I don’t think is true. But then again – it is kind of a marker date and as such a good moment to look back and look ahead. So this is the first post in a series of two, the next one titled ‘Ten Things I Should Do In My Forties’.

And here is my list of the Ten Things I Should Have Done In My Thirties, more or less in random order:

10. Take a sabbatical

From June to November 2001 Mira and I, together with Rosa, spent 5 months abroad. First in Texas for a bible school, later in Mongolia for an ‘outreach’ – one month of all sorts of practical and spiritual help to the people there. This sabbatical has been life changing!

9. Make a lot of money

Once upon a time… long, long time ago…

8. Start a family

Check them out here

7. Finally grow up

You decide…

6. Make a career move to follow my heart

January 2004 I left my job as a management consultant with KPMG to join Agapè. Does that count for a career move?

5. Eat sparrow on a stick

Been there, done that. In Beijing, China, October 2001. Not recommended.

4. Learn Mongolian

Started but DNF – every now and then I try it again by listening to this wonderful Mongolian Worship song

3. Blog

I once started with this post – on a different url and in a different layout, but hey!

2. Twitter

http://www.tweetstats.com/graphs/boerenroem

1. Get a life

Consider it done. I am extremely grateful for what this last decade has brought. The birth of 4 kids (one of whom is with Jesus from the day before he was born), a solid love with the most beautiful and gifted woman on earth, a deepening understanding of God, Jesus and myself; a job that is much more than just a job but a very rewarding ministry; friends both close by and all around the world. Truly a fulfilling life, if I may say so. This does not mean there have been no challenges. We’ve had our share of loss and grief (even recently with the loss of my dad), of relational, financial and spiritual challenges. But in the midst of them has always been the comforting assurance that God is there. He is the real source and sustainer of life and He has proven himself to be faithful. I guess I’m ready for the next 40 years…

Feel free to add your own list of things that you think I should have done while I was in my thirties.

// March 19th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // fun, pictures

Ongelofelijk maar waar: ik heb een fotowedstrijd gewonnen. Het kostte even tijd om ‘m in te lijsten, maar hier is’tie dan: de Putjesperspectief wisseltrofee! Het was een ex aequo met Jaco Kazius, wat ik gezien diens artistieke kwaliteiten als een groot compliment beschouw… De winnende foto publiceerde ik onlangs al hier en is ook hier te zien bij Paul Abspoel, de bedenker en grote inspirator achter het Putjesperspectief.  Ik voel me zeer vereerd met deze prijs en daarom hangt ‘ie dan ook trots aan deze digitale muur.

Natuurlijk moeten we de zaken wel in perspectief blijven zien. Putjesperspectief, dus. De ironie druipt uit Paul’s omschrijving: een ‘spuuglelijk en potsierlijke’ prijs, een ‘laag bij-de-grondse locatie’, en ik word weggezet als een ‘fotograaf van opmerkelijk laag niveau’. Om het af te maken hernoemt hij het artistieke werkje ‘Marks putje’ in plaats van het originele ‘Masada Mosaic’. Jammer dat hij het nodig heeft om collega-kunstenaars zo de grond in te stampen.

Ik was echter wel wat gewend. Een jaar of wat geleden won ik ook (bijna) een prijs: die van Mislukte Foto 2007. Ik blogde daar toen al over maar helaas is inmiddels niet alleen de foto maar ook de site zo mislukt dat de linkjes niet meer werken. Hier nog wel een linkje over die wedstrijd; in de comments staat een verwijzing naar mijn inzending (Willem en Maxima verborgen achter zwaaiende handen).

Met andere woorden: ik ken mijn plaats als het gaat om mijn fotografische kwaliteiten. Bedankt, Paul!

// November 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // Agapè, fun

Agapè bestaat 40 jaar. Dat wist u al lang, maar het is toch de moeite waard om nog eens te vermelden. Agapè mag zich namelijk scharen in een rijtje van bijzondere gebeurtenissen: Noach zat 40 dagen in de ark, het volk Israel liep 40 jaar door de woestijn en er zitten 40 dagen tussen Pasen en Hemelvaart.
Nu hoor ik u al denken: dat kun je toch niet vergelijken! En daar hebt u helemaal gelijk in. Maar ik heb meer numeriek bewijs dat dit een bijzonder jaar is. Een voorbeeld. Ik ben op dit moment 39 jaar oud. Dat is zowel 3 maal 13 – in joodse traditie de leeftijd van volwassenheid – als 40 min 1 – het aantal zweepslagen dat een joodse gevangene mocht krijgen. Ik ben er nog niet uit wat op mijn situatie van toepassing is, al komt het geplaag van mijn kinderen (‘Papa is bijna 40!’) wel in de buurt van het laatste. Een ander voorbeeld: collega Jeene is onlangs 50 jaar geworden en tegelijkertijd 25 jaar bij Agapè en 20 jaar getrouwd. Dat kan haast geen toeval zijn!
Nog even terug naar het getal 40. Experts zeggen dat dit ‘beproeving en geloofsvolharding’ betekent. Nou, dat klopt wel aardig; er is geweldig veel geloofswerk verzet, maar het is niet van een leien dakje gegaan. Maar u weet wat er gebeurde toen Noach uit de ark kwam: de zon begon te schijnen. En toen het volk eindelijk de woestijn uitging: het land van melk en honing. En na Hemelvaart komt Pinksteren… En ik hoor u alweer denken: dat kun je toch niet vergelijken! U hebt helemaal gelijk, natuurlijk. Maar ik geloof het toch: the best is yet to come.
PS om alvast te noteren: op 17 november 2010 wordt ons hele gezin 100 jaar.

// January 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // fun

Okay, since there seem to be no more candidates for the Quizmaster’s Dilemma, here is the solution. In order not to spoil it for those who read this blog later, please click on ‘read more’ to read more…

(more…)

// January 14th, 2009 // 6 Comments » // fun

Slighty off-topic, but fun: the Quizmaster’s Dilemma. I learned about this a long time ago, and it is a quite well known case in game theory. Tonight I tried to explain this to Robin, our housemate, but he is still not convinced. So let me tell you the dilemma and challenge you to give your answers in the comments below (and of course: do not cheat by looking it up first…)

Here we go: a candidate is about to win a prize in a quiz. He is presented with three curtains; one of them hides the prize, the other two are empty. The quizmaster asks the candidate to select a curtain and make his choice known. Before opening the curtain of choice, the quizmaster opens up one of the other curtains, one of which he knows that it is empty. He then asks the candidate if he wants to change to the other curtain. The dilemma is: does changing from curtain improve his chances of winning the prize or not?

Let me know what you think and why!

// January 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // family, fun, video

Happy Newyear to all of you! Of course, we had some fun these days on the ice.

// September 13th, 2008 // No Comments » // fun

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

// August 25th, 2008 // No Comments » // fun

Last Saturday was the day: the First Novemberstraat Buurtbarbecue was held! With some 15 neighbours we had a good time at the field next to our block. The weather was perfect, and in the afternoon the kids kicked off with a bouncer castle and kids’ games. The party got off right with the firing of the barbecues. It was just a very nice party, with everybody enjoying themselves. The only pity was that co-organiser Peter fell ill and could not be there. It seemed that nobody wanted the party to end, so when the barbecues went out, the fire went on and we all shrugged together a bit more. It was just like in the old days: campfire, good storytelling, a whiskey and a cigar… Fun! See Renze’s pictures on Picasa for a full picture report.

Next day, the fun continued with Marcel and Cody paying us a visit in the morning, joining them to Jong en Vrij Amersfoort and then eating pancakes with José in Amerongen. No wonder that we need a couple of days to recover…

// June 9th, 2008 // No Comments » // fun

… this is a historic night!

You can leave your congratulations in the Comments section

// March 21st, 2008 // 2 Comments » // fun, not fun

I”m in a strange mood, or rather: a strange world… Today at 12.21 I put an ad online to sell our car. Five minutes later I was in another world of suspense, deals, money, maybe even crime… About one minute after the ad was online, the phone rang. I could hardly believe it: someone was interested and wanted to negotiate straightaway. So we did, and we agreed he would come by later this afternoon.

Fifteen minutes later, the phone rings again.
‘This is Mark de Boer.’
‘Hello, there?’ (more…)

// March 9th, 2008 // 2 Comments » // fun

Some of you have already noticed: Mira was on tv tonight, in a show called ‘Eigen huis & Tuin’. And some of you might also have noticed something was wrong there… If you want to know what, you can see the show again at the RTL4 website (look for Sat 8 March, Eigen Huis & Tuin). See if you can solve the puzzle…

// December 3rd, 2007 // 1 Comment » // family, fun

A day to remember… Rosa’s tooth came out after a long time waiting. She now looks… ehm, different… Must be growing pains, she will be beautiful once again, we hope

Click on the picture to see what we mean. And see the Kids Gallery for more new pictures of the kids & family.

// October 29th, 2007 // No Comments » // Agapè, fun, travel

Okay, one or two more stories from the States. The conference theme was ‘Proclaiming the mystery’ (derived from Colossians 3), and to add some fun to it there was a mystery to be solved, somewhat like the game Clue. Mira had the privilege to play Hercule Poirot and present the solution of the mystery, which she did in a marvelous way of course. And guess what, our team won! The prize was even a nice one: the recently released ‘Discover God’ Study Bible. On the picture you see Ron and Christy, co-hosts of the event, dressed up in a twenties-style zoot-suit. Cool!

Throughout the conference, we heard many stories of how God is moving in Africa, Asia, America and Europe. Steve Douglass shared how he saw a church planting movement in India, growing from one a few years ago to thousands today through rapid multiplication. We also noticed that there seems to be more fear for the rise of Islam among Americans than we have around here. The topic was brought up frequently, and although I think awareness and factual knowledge is needed, we should focus primarily on proclaiming Jesus. Love casts out all fear, so to speak. Anyway. We traveled back home together with Javier, which guaranteed a lively talk just about anything. It was a good time.

// September 17th, 2007 // No Comments » // fun, pictures

Added a new collection of pictures, randomly selected from my phone camera from the last couple of months. There is one picture of last Saturday, when we went to Baak for the opening of Baak Centre, the estate of Ellel Ministries. As I wrote sometime ago, God brought them to this place in a special way. It turned out not to be an easy way, as there were many hurdles to be taken. But now it is legally owned by Ellel, and so they threw a party for the opening. It is special to see how our long-term friends Peter and Johan are now leading this ministry. On the picture you see Tomas (in the red shirt) exploring the basket with twelve white doves.

// August 19th, 2007 // No Comments » // family, fun

… it has been a while since I posted an update here, but hey – it is holiday time! Or at least, it was for me. I have been off for four weeks, enjoying holidays with family and friends and doing all sorts of things that we have not found time for in previous months.

One of the things I did was refurnish my study. After Annemieke left in July, I gained back this little space in our house, and I am enjoying it thoroughly. We turned it into a very nice place, and I had three posters made of the kids (sized 50×70 cm each) for on the wall. Looks really fancy. See Flickr for the other pictures.
Anyway. It’s late at night and I have to finish my sermon for tomorrow. Come back soon for more spectacular updates!