From the Pastor's Desk -2 - Johan D. Tangelder

Many thoughts crossed my mind when I was some 37.000 feet in the air, flying to Los Angeles. As I looked down, everything looked so tiny. And as I looked at the scenery, I thought about God's majesty, the grandeur of His creation, the smallness of man, but also about the affects of speed.

The early pioneers travelled for many months across the prairies, the deserts, and rough mountain terrain to reach California. They never heard of culture shock or acculturation. They slowly conditioned themselves to their new surroundings and circumstances. How different from todayl You leave home in the comfort of your car to go to the airport, board a plane and four and a half hours later you descended in sunny Los Angeles, the city of angels, with its palm trees, sixty degrees temperatures, skyscrapers, Spanish style homes, many banks and restaurants. Los Angeles is a multi racial city, some one hundred and thirty languages are spoken. Los Angeles has a high crime rate, extreme poverty besides great wealth. But God also has His people in that city. There I worshipped with my Filipino friend in a church where the members are mainly Filipino, with a few Chinese and Westerners.

The style of worship, the whole atmosphere brought back many memories of missionary service in the Philippines. So different from the way we worship and fellowship. But some day when Christ returns, Christians from all tribes, nations, and cultural backgrounds shall stand before Him. Then all the differences will vanish. No more visas, passports, confusion of languages. I am looking forward to that day when John's vision on the island of Patmos shall become a reality:

"After that I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in the front of the Lamb." (Rev. 7:9)


		Reformed Reflections
	From the Pastor's Desk 1980-1989 Worship Styles Many thoughts crossed my mind when I was some 37.000 feet in the air, flying to Los Angeles. As I looked down, everything looked so tiny. And as I looked at the scenery, I thought about God's majesty, the grandeur of His creation, the smallness of man, but also about the affects of speed. The early pioneers travelled for many months across the prairies, the deserts, and rough mountain terrain to reach California. They never heard of culture shock or acculturation. They slowly conditioned themselves to their new surroundings and circumstances. How different from todayl You leave home in the comfort of your car to go to the airport, board a plane and four and a half hours later you descended in sunny Los Angeles, the city of angels, with its palm trees, sixty degrees temperatures, skyscrapers, Spanish style homes, many banks and restaurants. Los Angeles is a multi racial city, some one hundred and thirty languages are spoken. Los Angeles has a high crime rate, extreme poverty besides great wealth. But God also has His people in that city. There I worshipped with my Filipino friend in a church where the members are mainly Filipino, with a few Chinese and Westerners. The style of worship, the whole atmosphere brought back many memories of missionary service in the Philippines. So different from the way we worship and fellowship. But some day when Christ returns, Christians from all tribes, nations, and cultural backgrounds shall stand before Him. Then all the differences will vanish. No more visas, passports, confusion of languages. I am looking forward to that day when John's vision on the island of Patmos shall become a reality: "After that I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in the front of the Lamb." (Rev. 7:9)

Reformed Reflections