Obituary and Funeral Details

Family and Friends,

We have finalized the details for Dad's funeral. They can be found in the obituary link below.

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=%22John%22+Johannes-Van+Woerden&lc=3150&pid=166040747&mid=5613054&locale=en_CA

Dad's Request

Jeremy here again.

While dad was still able, he wrote a series of messages for his friends and family and requested that I post them following his passing. They are all posted below.

Thank you again for your love, prayers, and support.

Obituary

Johannes Cornelis (John) van Woerden

Born: November 15, 1953 in Lisse, The Netherlands

Passed away July 24, 2013 in Chilliwack, B.C. Canada

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18



At last, the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed.

And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:5

Dearly beloved readers, friends, family and loved ones and those who read my blog and preferred to remain anonymous. Thank you for your support, encouragements, prayers and visits and many other ways you showed your love during my time of illness and throughout my life. The time has come to say farewell, I prayed that we will meet again at resurrection morning, the day when Gods glory will be revealed in all splendor, beauty and majesty. Please continue to pray for my loved ones, Henrietta, our children and grandchildren. May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do His will, and may He, through Jesus Christ, do in you what pleases Him. To Jesus Christ be all the glory forever and ever!
John

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

 

 

Born Again to a Living Hope

 

1 Peter 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.   

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 JOHN NEWTON (1725-1807): Imagine a number of ships at different times and from different places, bound to the same port. There are some things in which all would agree—the compass steered by, the port in view, the general rules of navigation, would be the same for all. In other respects they would differ. Perhaps no two of them would meet with the same distribution of winds and weather. Some we see set out with a favourable wind; but when they almost think their passage secured, they are checked by adverse blasts. After enduring much hardship and danger, and frequent expectations of shipwreck, they barely escape and reach the desired haven. Others meet with the greatest difficulties at first. They put forth in a storm, and are often beaten back; at length their voyage proves favourable, and they enter the port with a rich and abundant entrance. Some are hard beset with cruisers and enemies, and obliged to fight their way through. Others meet with little remarkable in their passage.
Is it not thus in the spiritual life? All true believers walk by the same rule, and mind the same things: the Word of God is their compass; Jesus is both their polar star and their sun of righteousness; their hearts and their faces are all set Zion-ward. They are as one body, animated by one spirit; yet their experience, formed upon these common principles, is far from being uniform. The Lord in His first call, and His following dispensations, regards the situation, temper and talents of each, and the particular services and trials He has appointed for them. All are exercised at times, yet some pass through the voyage of life much more smoothly than others.
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The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.

Amen.

John Van Woerden

 

Dedicated to my dear wife Henrietta

The Way of Love

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.  

 

With my deepest love to you, I leave you in God's care because He cares for you.

John

 

God will provide

 

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5

 

Dedicated to my dear daugther Sophia and Damon

John 3:16"For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

 

With my deepest love.

Dad

 

 

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1Peter 5:7

 

1. Days are filled with sorrow and care,
Hearts are lonely and drear.
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.

CHORUS:
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Calvary, Calvary;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.

2. Cast your care on Jesus today,
Leave your worry and fear.
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.

3. Troubled soul, the Savior can feel
Every heartache and tear.
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.

Dedicated to my dear daughter Stephanie and Chad

Psalm 145:4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. 7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 10All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! 11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, 12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.14 The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

 
With my deepest love.
Dad

 ^{C C C With my deepest love.With my deepest lo
Dad}

Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
Refrain

 God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

 Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
Refrain

 All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
Refrain

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.

Dedicated to my dear son Jeff and Holly

Isaiah 55:1"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2    Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.   

With my deepest love.
Dad
 

 

2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

 

1. Just as I am, without one plea, 

but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidst me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

2. Just as I am, and waiting not 

to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

3. Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings within and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

4. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
sight, riches, healing of the mind, 

yea, all I need in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

5. Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; 

because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

6. Just as I am, thy love unknown
hath broken every barrier down;
now, to be thine, yea thine alone, 

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Dedicated to my dear daugther Tamara and Hans

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20     Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

With my deepest love.
Dad

The love of God is greater far

Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star,

And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care,

God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled,

And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain:

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure—

The saints’ and angels’ song.
 

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky.
 

When hoary time shall pass away,

And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,

When men who here refuse to pray,

On rocks and hills and mountains call,

God’s love so sure, shall still endure,

All measureless and strong;

Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—

The saints’ and angels’ song.



Dedicated to my dear son Jeremy and Jules

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

With my deepest love.
Dad  

 

 

Dedicated to all my dear grandchildren

Matthew 19: 13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

With my deepest love to all my grandchildren
Papa

 

Dan zingen zij, in God verblijd

Geliefde familie en vrienden in Nederland. De tijd is gekomen om afscheid te nemen. De tijd is aangebroken dat ik eindelijk bij Hem zal zijn die mijn ziel lief heeft. Ik heb gebeden dat ons gezin, familie en vrienden kring nooit zullen worden gescheiden tot in eeuwigheid maar zullen verbonden zijn en blijven in Jezus Christus onze Heere en Zaligmaker.
Tot aan de jongste dag wanneer God zal worden gezien in alle macht, heerlijkheid en majesteit.
God zij met U allen
Filippenzen 1: 21"Want het leven is mij Christus, en het sterven is mij gewin".

Het nieuw Jeruzalem

Openbaringen 21

9 En een van de zeven engelen  die de zeven schalen hadden, vol van de zeven laatste plagen, kwam naar mij toe en hij sprak met mij en zei: Kom, ik zal u de bruid, de vrouw van het Lam, laten zien. 10 En hij voerde mij weg  in de geest op een grote en hoge berg en liet mij de  grote stad zien, het heilige Jeruzalem, dat neerdaalde uit de hemel, bij God vandaan. 11 Zij had de heerlijkheid van God, en haar uitstraling was als een zeer kostbare edelsteen, als een kristalheldere steen jaspis. 12 Zij had een grote en hoge muur met twaalf poorten, en bij die poorten twaalf engelen. Ook waren er namen op geschreven, namelijk van de twaalf stammen van de Israëlieten. 13 Drie poorten op het oosten, drie poorten op het noorden, drie poorten op het zuiden, en drie poorten op het westen. 14  En de muur van de stad had twaalf fundamenten met daarop de twaalf namen van de twaalf apostelen van het Lam. 15 En hij die met mij sprak,  had een gouden meetlat om de stad op te meten, en haar poorten, en haar muur. 16 En de stad lag daar als een vierkant, haar lengte was even groot als haar breedte. En hij mat de stad met de meetlat op: twaalfduizend stadiën.  Haar lengte, breedte en hoogte waren gelijk. 17 En hij mat haar muur op: honderdvierenveertig el, een mensenmaat, die ook de maat van een engel is. 18 En het bouwmateriaal van de muur was jaspis en de stad was zuiver goud, gelijk aan zuiver glas. 19 En de fundamenten van de muur van de stad waren met allerlei edelgesteente versierd. Het eerste fundament was jaspis, het tweede saffier, het derde chalcedon, het vierde smaragd, 20 het vijfde onyx, het zesde sardius, het zevende chrysoliet, het achtste beril, het negende topaas, het tiende chrysopraas, het elfde hyacint, het twaalfde amethist. 21 En de twaalf poorten waren twaalf parels. Elke poort apart bestond uit één parel, en de straat van de stad was zuiver goud, als doorzichtig glas. 22 Ik zag geen tempel in haar, want de Heere, de almachtige God, is haar tempel, en het Lam. 23  En de stad heeft de zon en de maan niet nodig om haar te beschijnen, want de heerlijkheid van God verlicht haar,  en het Lam is haar lamp. 24 En de naties die zalig worden, zullen in haar licht wandelen, en de koningen van de aarde brengen hun heerlijkheid en eer erin. 25 En haar poorten zullen overdag nooit gesloten worden,  want daar zal geen nacht zijn. 26 En zij zullen de heerlijkheid en de eer van de naties daarin brengen. 27 Al wat onrein is, zal er niet inkomen, en ook niemand die zich bezighoudt met gruwelen en leugens, maar alleen zij die geschreven zijn  in het boek des levens van het Lam.

De genade van onzen Heere Jezus Christus zij met u allen. Amen. 

 

Jan van Woerden

Canada

 

 

 

One Day at a Time

It's Jeremy again just posting a quick update on Dad. Dad's condition is worsening every day. It is clear that his fight with cancer is coming to an end. He is sleeping a lot and is experiencing an increasing amount of pain, which the medical staff are trying to keep under control. However, his body is slowly shutting down.

Dad still wakes up from time to time to say something to make us smile. Today when all us kids were there at once he woke up, looked around, and said "Oh, you guys are all here. Just to look at me, or what?"

Dad does realize what is happening, but still tries to convince us otherwise when he has his awake moments. The reality of seeing our Dad experience so much pain and knowing he will die soon is difficult to accept, but we know his future with Christ is bright.

Over the past 2.5 years we've seen the things of life be slowly stripped away from him. His health, comfort, freedom, ability to walk, strength, hobbies, and eventually life will be taken away, but in the end one thing will remain. And that is the righteousness of Christ. Dad's peace reminds us of that truth and with that truth we all carry on through this trial.

Thank you again for all your thoughts and prayers. God bless you.

Walking by Faith

Hello family and friends,

This is Jeremy and I just wanted to send out a little update on dad since many of you have probably heard that he has been hospitalized. On Monday morning dad was taken to the hospital by ambulance as he was very weak and was having difficulty completing his usual morning routine. When the ambulance arrived they found that his oxygen levels were extremely low and decided to take him in.

Once at the hospital, they performed an x-ray of his lungs which revealed some fluid build-up and a possible infection. They have placed him on antibiotics for the infection and have also begun treating his hypercalcaemia, which is the result of cancer breaking down his bones and depositing calcium into his bloodstream. This has been the cause of his confusion. He has also had an increasingly difficult time walking and is uncomfortable due to pain in his hips, arm, and back.

I asked him tonight how he felt about being back in the hospital and he said he was ok with it. Despite all these difficulties, dad remains at peace with the burden he has to carry. He spoke about how 1 Peter 1 has been a comfort now, as it has been in the past. He really does have an “inexpressible and glorious joy” as a result of the living hope he has in God through Jesus.

The family really wants to thank everyone for their prayers and support. Please continue to pray for us and especially dad. Pray that he will remain encouraged and that he will walk by faith. We also request that visiting be limited to family at this time so that dad can rest. Thanks again!

Precious in the sight of God

Every individual believer is precious in the sight of the Lord. A shepherd would not lose one sheep, nor a jeweler one diamond, nor a mother one child, nor a man one limb of his body; nor will the Lord lose one of His redeemed people. However little we may be, if we are the Lord's, we may rejoice that we are preserved in Christ Jesus.
Alistair Begg

You shall see your children's children

Last week I focused much on Psalm 128, how could I not . A week ago we had all of our children and grandchildren come over for supper, something we do quite often, and they stay for the evening. We took the opportunity to take some pictures at the same time and I could not help but think about Psalm 128. Putting my own circumstances aside, each verse applied to me and I truly rejoiced in it. (Click on the picture to enlarge.)

Do you ever meditate on God’s Word and put your own circumstances aside? You will be surprised how it will lift you up and out of your present circumstances.

The weather has been absolutely beautiful the last weeks, giving me the opportunity to be outside a lot, go for short walks, and for longer walks with Henrietta when she takes me for walks in the wheelchair. I have found out that wheel chairs are a wonderful tool to get around. It is too bad that I can’t wheel myself around due to my right arm. It is showing increased signs of paralysis and the strength in this arm is virtually gone.

Last week Friday I did receive the CT scan as promised. On Wednesday I received a call from a Neurosurgeon in Vancouver for an appointment this coming Tuesday. I was amazed how quickly everything is moving forward. This Neurosurgeon will assess the situation and I expect that he will make a decision very quickly on a possible spinal surgery. Before this will happen I do have many questions. Today I heard from someone in the medical field that this Neurosurgeon is one of the best and normally would have a long waiting time to see him, for me it appears not to be so, God is again placing me in the front of the line.

I always thought that wheel chairs were for other people, last week I found out that it was for me too. Our church has one and I was offered to use it for as long as I need it. Lately I had a hard time going for longer walks, that is no longer a barrier. Henrietta will take over with the backup wheel chair, what a great blessing this is. I can still go places that before were unreachable. Again I see this as a great blessing from God.

Your prayers are deeply appreciated, please pray that our faith does not fail, but that our eyes will be on Christ at all times
John

When looking at the enclosed pictures this Psalm comes to mind.

Psalm 128
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. 2 When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. 5 The Lord bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. 6 Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!

Christ the Builder

Each individual believer is being prepared and polished and made ready for his place in the temple; but Christ's own hand performs the preparation-work. Afflictions cannot sanctify, except when they are used by Him to fulfill His purpose. Our prayers and efforts cannot make us ready for heaven, apart from the hand of Jesus, who fashions our hearts correctly. As in the building of Solomon's temple, where "neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard" because it all arrived perfectly ready for the exact spot it was to occupy, so is it with the temple that Jesus builds; the preparation is all done on earth. When we reach heaven, there will be no sanctifying us there, no squaring us with affliction, no maturing us with suffering. No, we must be made ready here,and all that Christ will do He will do now; and when He has done it, we will be ferried by a loving hand across the stream of death and brought to the heavenly Jerusalem, to live as eternal pillars in the temple of our Lord. Alistair Begg Beneath His eye and care, The edifice shall rise, Majestic, strong, and fair, And shine above the skies.