Companion

10 years ago.... (a different blog)

Yesterday, it was exactly 10 years ago that I was waiting in a beautiful room of the ancient university building in Groningen. My father and a good friend were with me for support. We were waiting to be invited back into the main hall were I had just finished defending my PhD thesis. 

I can now admit I was in a pretty desperate state - I was sure I had completely blown it (the defense that is). After what felt like an eternity - but was probably just 10 minutes - there was a knock on the door. A gentleman in a long robe with a beautifully decorated ‘sceptre’ in his hand invited us to follow him. As we walked back into the main hall I was greeted by many familiar faces. In the front of the room there were about 12 professors in full academic dress. My supervisor looked at me. His expression on his face did not communicated much, but he had this twinkle in his eyes... 

The rector magnificus began the ritual of granting a PhD.... I knew it quite well as I had attended ceremonies before. However, just before I would greeted as “Doctor Vrieling” I was asked to turn around and face the crowd!  Read more here

As you can see I do not blog here anymore. My 'new' site you find here. 

engaGE 2008 is 'live'

Check out the engaGE website for great and wonderful projects during the week of July 6 thru 13.

Download the leaflet here .

NOW IS THE TIME!

not blogging...

If you live life on the edge you need a good shepherd...

I have been taking a blogging time-out... In the mean time we are focusing on the real life :-)

If you want to join in let us know. We have three small communities meeting at different nights a week both in French and in English.

Max on his bicycle (without training wheels:-)

Very important for a Dutch child!

this Sunday: Shema is listening

This Sunday Shema is celebrating its month of prayer. We have been praying and listening in small groups for direction on how to follow God as a community and what our role can/will be. This Sunday we celebrate this time of listening. Shema is Hebrew for “listen,” so it is our very essence.

IMPORTANT:
In the next two weeks the subscribers to the Shema list will receive a personal email about the vision and direction of Shema AND about the changes in the way we will be in touch with you.

We have decided to end our “constant contact” mailing list because the “level of contact or connection” does not really correspond with the “level of community” Shema desires.

At any rate, we welcome you to join us this Sunday at Avenue d’Aïre 75 at 17h00. Afterwards you are also very welcome to join us for an informal dinner.

For a map check this link.

Shema this Sunday @ 17h00

For our February prayer month we are gathering this (3rd) Sunday @ 17h00 for communion, community and commission and to compare notes of what we have learned about following God as a community. This gathering is followed by dinner (if you like).

For a map check this link.

Also, we have three groups coming together each Thursday evening from 20h00 'till 22h00 to listen, to pray and to inspire. We have a French-speaking group @ Plain Palais and two English-speaking groups @ Cornavin and @ St. Jean. Email us if you want to participate!

sustineo: growing old is mandatory

Over the years I have been regularly coaching people in business and personal development. We have been working at developing this into a business, which we called: Sustineo: strategy coaching leadership.

There are many visible and not-so-visible ceilings in our development: ceilings, which can seriously hinder you and what is dear to you. Sustineo’s sustainable personal leadership development program helps to intentionally embrace the challenge of “growing up”. We help individuals to grow in times of change; we help teams to grow to meet new challenges, and we help companies to provide both individual and team coaching to succeed in transitions.

Shhh... Shema is praying!

After Shema's retreat we decided together to take the month of February to pray.

We will pray for direction on how to follow God as a community and what our role can/will be.

We invite you to participate with us on this divine expedition. (prayer is like climbing a mountain!)

You participate by praying FOR us and by praying WITH us.

We will have three groups coming together each Thursday evening from 20h00 'till 22h00 to listen, to pray and to inspire. We have a French-speaking group @ Plain Palais and two English-speaking groups @ Cornavin and @ St. Jean. Email us if you want to participate!

On the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the Month @ 17h00 we will come together with all groups for communion, community and commission and to compare notes of what we have learned about following God as a community.

We wish you a good and reflective Lent period!

eurochurch.net

I recently joined the eurochurch.net team and we are organizing a conference with Alan Roxburgh and others on April 15 - 17 2008 in Lisbon. I don't know if you heard about Alan but I really like his stuff! Check out the eurochurch.net website and/or download this brochure.

Shema underground this weekend!

Shema will be "underground" this weekend for a retreat.

If you'd like a last minute opportunity to join us email us right away. We still have a few places left. If not, please pray for us.

We will be grappling with "organic community" and what that means. Our key text for this time will be from
1 Corinthians 36 - 38:

"You plant a "dead" seed; soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don't look anything alike. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different.

Please pray we will all be inspired to go "underground"; a willingness to die to the things that hold us back, and an intense desire to embrace resurrection.

We will update you next week!

God bless you,

The Shema Team