Category Archives: Amsterdam50

Sunflowers

We were out over the Atlantic Ocean, on our way from the Netherlands to the United States. I decided to rewatch the “Sunflowers” (Amsterdam) episode of Ted Lasso — now that our family had concluded the show’s third and final … Continue reading

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My Favorite Hour in the Netherlands

I had already filled up 56 (of an eventual 84) pages worth of my Leuchtturm1917 journal before our family even made it to Amsterdam. So, it felt kind of amazing that I was able to purchase a new journal at … Continue reading

Posted in Adolescence, Amsterdam, Amsterdam50, Children, Culture, Culture Shock, Europe, European Missions, Family, Introspection, Middle Age, Nostalgia, Photography, Recreation, The Netherlands, Transition, Travel, Young Adulthood | Leave a comment

City of Ducks

Our family regularly speaks in paradox — particularly through the illustration of a pair o’ ducks, which we learned in the first month after moving from the Netherlands to Ohio in 2012. And it’s become a very helpful tool for … Continue reading

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Spring Break

It’s the eve of Kent State University’s Spring Break! I’m excited to help lead our church’s first-ever Spring Break trip to Youngstown. At the same time, this new direction has gotten me thinking about all the different Spring Break experiences … Continue reading

Posted in Amsterdam50, Church, Europe, European Missions, Family, God, H2O Kent, Kent, Nostalgia, Ohio, Richland County, The United States of America, Travel | Comments Off on Spring Break

Jesus Revolution

A few friends have recently told me about the film Jesus Revolution. It seems to be a pretty mainstream motion picture release, even though its message is decidedly Christian. So I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I somehow went … Continue reading

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Learning Church Leadership

Our H2O Production Team arrived at 7AM this morning to set up for today’s worship gathering in Bowman Hall. Shortly after starting, they encountered an elderly man in the lobby, just outside the room where we meet. He had long … Continue reading

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Bijzondere Mensen

I’m still reflecting on the fact that it’s been twenty years since our family moved to the Netherlands, in late-January 2003. Our Amsterdam years included so many formative experiences. But even more than formative experiences, I’d say we were shaped … Continue reading

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The Ideal versus the Actual

It’s easy to idealize our Amsterdam years. Marci and I were so full of youth and ambition when we moved. We truly learned how to be a family, there in the Netherlands. And I suppose it often felt idyllic because … Continue reading

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Twenty Years Since our Week of Destiny

This week marks twenty years since the period in our family’s life which I sometimes call our “Week of Destiny.” That was the week in which we raised the last of our financial support. It was the week we closed … Continue reading

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