First time in Belgium for Zoé

Even though we have been back for 4 weeks, a lot of memories from our recent trip to Europe are still fresh.

It was our first major trip with the new family. The day of our departure was very hectic as we did not only had to pack for baby Zoé, we also had to move to a new studio. On top of that Zoé, highly disturbed by the moving frenzy, was very unsettled, crying and needed to be fed constantly. My hopes of a smooth 12 hour flight to Amsterdam slowly faded. By the time our friend Sham picked us up, she calmed down a bit and to our great amazement, she slept throughout the flight in her personal cradle! ( I must admit, that little bed of hers, completely horizontal, with pillow and blankets, is better than what first class travelers get! … and me seated behind the bulk head, took my pillow and blanket and decided to sleep on the floor. First time I ever slept on a flight! )

Once arrived in Amsterdam, unlike first time visitors, Zoé peed on Dutch soil! Reason was that in the arrival hall, no diaper change room was available and she could not hold (babies usually don't do that!) In between a dirty and a clean diaper she saw chance to wet the hall floor! The Pope kisses the floor, Zoé pies on it!

The reason for this whole trip was to show our first born to my Mum and family. Whilst in maternity leave and me without any office commitments, this was a good chance for us to travel home.

Second reason was that we also wanted to have a baby dedication for her in Belgium. ( See below for more )

Our trip was blessed with good weather ( highly unusual sunny and dry at this time of the year! ), seeing many friends and spending quality time with Mum and my brothers and sister. Cheryl also had a chance to see a bit more of the village I grew up in and see other cities like: Brugge (Bruges or the Venice of the North), Antwerp and Brussels.

Belgium is widely known for its chocolates ( Pralines, we call them ) and the artisanal-more-than-400-beers.. Cheryl and I savored some of the fruit beers and we brought a kilo of chocolates back for a chocolate party for her colleagues.

For some pictures and comments, please click on the picture below:

First time in Belgium

Zoé´s Dedication

... a few Sunday´s back, we invited the family and our close friends to Zoé´s dedication in a nearby church. It was the same place where my eldest brother John and his wife Jeanine got married and where their 2 children received their baptism.

Though our 'baptism' was slightly different! The resident priest, who kindly offered us the use of his church building, offered some prayers and my dear friend Pastor Terry, who explained me the Gospel of Jesus Christ and led me to receive Jesus Christ 10 years ago, shared on some Biblical principles. On top, Zoé and Terry are born on the same day.

We had also asked everybody to write down their prayers and or wishes for Zoé on a leaf and then hang it in her ´tree of life´, my sister made with some branches and flowers from her own garden. Lest did we know that one the way back home, my brother John carried the tree in the wind and some of the leaves got lost. We only found out, when Mum walked back from church the next Sunday and saw some of them on the ground! Mmmmh ... John must have had his mind on something else!

Our dedication service was one more of thanking God for His perfect Gift of Zoé and that we as parents will make it our responsibility to raise Zoé in Biblical principles and the knowledge of Jesus Christ, so that one soon day, she can make her own decision to follow a personal walk with Jesus and receive water baptism and follow God in his ways.

Please click below to see some more pictures of the dedication:

Dedication of Zoe in Belgium

It is a beautiful day !!

Yesterday, I was working out in the gym at the school campus (found out that with my metabolism, this is the only way to loose weight and remain fit) and a pleasant radio tune waved through the room that I did not hear for ages.

"It's a beautiful day... Don't let it go away...It's a beautiful day.. Don't let it go away... Touch me, take me to that other place....." I asked my Cheryl if she had the album of U2 - all that you can not leave behind and ... yes! So, this morning I played the song and declared IT A BEAUTIFUL DAY ... the day the Lord has made ...

I was also reflecting on the lyrics: take me to that other place.. The last few days I was going through some teaching about Heaven and on how easy it is to be IN that place WITH God .. and here comes that song of U2 reminding me!

It is going to be a beautiful day! Carpe Diem

(wish I could put the song in MP3 format on my blog to download..in case you do not ahve the album...)

One month anniversary

It was a rainy day that disrupted many of our plans today. We took Zoe to the polyclinic for a vaccination.. Oh, my dear … what an agony! We have learned that whenever she cries we have to act promptly or the fanfare breaks loose! After lightly disturbing the waiting room in the clinic and receiving a lot of attention ( maybe later on, this may turn out to be a good skill!? ) , Cheryl had to breastfeed Zoe all the way into the doctor’s cabinet..then I was called in to keep her in a wrestling grip, so she would not slip way while the nurse gave her the jab…Oh, dear… she did not like that at all and her crocodile tears really swept away any dirt still left in her eyes!

Then a bit of calm, having a tea and roti prata at a local muslim food stall and Mum took off to a nearby pharmacy to get some stuff. It only took 25 minutes and I thought I was going to enjoy reading a book in the nearby library. Ha! … as soon as we entered, Zoe started the fanfare again and I had to change her diapers .. so, back to the food stall. Then after being ‘pampered’ she did not stop crying for a full 20 minutes, and I thought I was going to enjoy watching a Spanish La Liga match on TV there … Ha! … it did not stop until the ‘milk provider’ returned and took her up to a friend's flat for a solemn breastfeed!

And if the food does not come immediately, Zoe has found a new way to pacify herself .. her thumb!!

One learns to relativate the concept of time ...

Another History In The Making ...

In 1998, I met Ps Enoch Adejare Adeboye at Dennis Balcombe's church in Hong Kong. He delivered one of the first messages on prayer that I heard and it left an impact on me for ever.

Afterwards, during lunch, I mentioned that our paths would cross in the future.

In 2002, I crossed paths with one of his people in Antwerpen, Ps Mike (who helped us out with our wedding in Belgium last year). We pray walked the entire city and he has since started one of the most flourishing churches in our province, if not in the whole of Flanders!

Hoogboom wedding Pentecost 2005

Then last year, a flamboyant and big smiling Chidi and his wife, Laitan started attending our fellowship. We soon clicked and became good friends and prayer partners.

Today, Ps Adeboye dedicated RCCG with Chidi and Laitan as the founding pastors of the church. Again a handful of faithful and FULL of FAITH people starting a new history through whom many transformations will be seen in peoples lives in this region and beyond.

Of course, we took Zoe along and soon she was being picked up by one of the African sisters and softly cuddled into a deep sleep ...

A Few Good Men ... and the rest is :

'History Makers' was the theme of the 15th Anniversary of Hope Church. A few good men (among which my now senior Pastor Benjamin Lee), fresh grads from the land of Oz, returned to Singapore with a vision to plant a church.

This week end, 15 years later, we witnessed how that celebration had to take place in the Expo, because our own sanctuary can not hold the complete congregation in one single service.

It reminds me again of how simple the Great Commission is, when only we would obey and trust God for the outcome and it only needs : ... a few good men (and women) who are willing to fulfill what is closest to God's heart.

History Makers...

Among the 3,000 men congregation, was also the youngest attendant at less than one month! Zoe enjoyed her first time at a church celebration. Even the loud worship music did not bother her. She was either amuzingly moving in her prem, sleeping or being fed by Mum in the hall.




After the service we joined our ex care group for a great tasting Vietnamese dinner. At the end, Zoe became a bit impatient, her face turned red and that was the signal for Dad to take her out for a diaper change. And she was so kind to us to let us enjoy the dinner in length that immediately after the change, her face kept red as now this was the sign for Mum to feed her again.

Actually, quite easy those infants: sleep, feed, cry and then there are two options: either she is hungry or needs a clean up!

(( hey, you can leave some comments on these blogs!!! ))

a miracle fruit ... from Eden?

The actual location of Eden must have been somewhere in Persia, modern day Iran/Iraq. Unfortunately, today there does not grow much apart from figs, dates, pomegranates, etc... (great fruits! and actually: Persian food is very interesting and tasty. "Thank you!" to all my Persian friends for this introduction).

Prior to setting up my new business web site, I have started a blog on which I want to share some of the research and benefits of eating fruit, more specifically: wolfberries or Goji in Chinese.

It was already known to the West that eating mull -, blue -, rasp -, cran - and other berries contain a high level of nutrients and are wholesome food sources. Now the East berry is hitting the West!

In May this year, I met Rev. Kobus van Rensburg (South Africa) at a healing seminar, who informed us of an ethnic group in the Himalayas who pass well the 150 year age threshold! Indepth research led me to some legends/records and studies done in those areas and what food they intake. Obviously, because I am in the "dehydrated fruit business", I was particularly interested in a berry that grows in the mountainous provinces of North West China.

I have been eating the wolfberry for 6 weeks and can already experience an energy increase as well as some weight loss (though this can be contributed to the great 'confinement' food my mother-in-law cooks for my wife and myself!!)

So, Eden ... now the 'forbidden fruit' (*) grows in China .. though in Iran grows pomegranate, another miracle fruit.

Check out my other blog for updates on this!

http://goji-wolfberry.blogspot.com/

(*) I say "forbidden" here, because it has been "hidden" for such a long time!

First day out

Last Monday, we took Zoe for her first day out. Packed with some spare diapers, wet tissues and the prem, we headed by taxi to the Joy Clinic. This is the practice of Dr Gordon Tan, whom we would like to thank for the follow up of Cheryl's pregnancy, delivering Zoe via a CS and for all his prayers over Zoe.


Afterwards, we took her to Orchard Road for some shopping.

Zoe's time is not our time, so we had to pause in Isetan's The Coffee Club for her feeding and for Mum to enjoy a pumpkin soup!




Then we drove her to Mum's workplace so her colleagues could see her, followed by a relaxed afternoon at our flat in Oldham Hall .. where I enjoyed having a short nap with Zoe, breathing gently on my naked chest and my wife next to me.



Precious moments for Dad !!

Sink Twice

Today, I thought I'd write on something else than babies..

Living in a multi racial, - cultural and - relgious environment, I am faced every day with communication and social challenges. People around me speak in turbo language, use 3 letter words for nearly everything: a few days ago, I saw a small school boy, carrying a heavy back pack nearly his size. I asked him what was the heavy weight - not understanding he suffered 15 Kgs of books - and he replied: "CCS!" . Naievely, I asked him what that was and I got a nasty look back!
Then, some words are repeated 3 times for no reason either.. "Wait, wait, wait ... check my PDA-lah!"

A few months ago, I came accross this VDO clip from a language school (which I do not really endorse herewith) of a German coast guard novice ... I particularly enjoyed it because I am mixed Belgian/German, grew up in that culture and can nearly "smell" the circumstance.

Enjoy it! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOIThDgL4Tc)



Another hillarious mix of cultures is a caucasian man, singing a Bollywood song.

Shall we dance? .. click on the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=2FNkUswfQdI

Just Hands ..

..

One does not say much when holding hands like this...

Into Confinement

Cheryl has entered her maternity leave and moved to her parents place today. The Chinese community is very family oriented. Married children live with their parents, till they can afford their own flat. The elder live with their children to be cared for. Many sick and old are nursed by their own families. Many Asian countries have no or lack in the social welfare system, as known in the western countries and rely on their own families. It has pros and cons. The con was today: when I picked up the hospital bill!


It is very common for a daughter, during the first month of her maternity leave, to stay with their mother or mother-in-law. The newly promoted mother will enjoy the home cooked food and both Mum and baby will be pampered by the experienced mother, who will help the baby to nurse, cook special confinement food for Mum's fast recovery. (more on this later as and when I learn about it myself)

This morning we checked out of our “hotel” aka Mount Alvernia Hospital and were driven by one of our friends to Zoé’s new temporary home. She liked the drive and slept throughout. ha! ... I must admit this is partly due because Marsli, our ‘driver’ treated all of us like a special convoy and did not exceed the 60 Km mark (which by the way, is on most roads the max speed here!)

Eventhough I did not stay overnight in the hospital, tonight is a night without wife and baby. I miss them dearly, ... both. The last 2 days, I enjoyed being with my daughter alone…just me and her…gazing upon her beauty…she gently smiling a few times, but also pulling some less pretty faces. ( I guess she was either trying to pass some wind or maybe some other less fragrant stuff!)

At one of those moments, I realized something revealing. As I was looking at her, suddenly a sense of love came over me, a few tears rolled …
and felt God inspiring me that this is the way how He looks at me all the time as His child and how much He loves me. Now I understand even more…

...

Zoé … Gift of Eternal Life

Today was Zoé‘s third day







Some of her features changed. Her face was a bit fuller and her legs – long ones as it seems – felt rather powerful when she was lying on my lap and pushing them into my (fat) belly. I had felt the kicks when she was inside her Mum’s tummy, but not as strong as this..


Our dear friend Heather flew in from Bangkok as a surprise visit, just for the week end. She has been a good friend to both of us for nearly 10 years and been very instrumental in bringing both my wife and I together.

Today, many Church friends came to see Cheryl and Zoé, bringing many gifts, for which we all thank you deeply from our hearts. It is so lovely to see all these mothers bringing diapers, wipes, baby clothes and even a breast pump! … and at the same time giving all kind of advice to the new promoted Mum.


Most people say, she looks very much like Dad. I guess, when you look at her pinkish skin colour and her hair (all the other babies look obviously all Chinese with black hair).

Today, I saw her three times making some facial expression similar to a smile, but am not sure if I am over enthusiastic!

Choosing a name for our child was not easy: first we wanted a name meaning “Joy”. Secondly, a name that can be pronounced here in Asia and internationally without too many problems ( want to know how many times I need to spell out my name?) … though we found out in the meantime that this name also poses some hurdles…anyway, Cheryl decided on the name.

After some research we also found out that the name has a Greek meaning: Life !

Actually, it is “Eternal Life”, very much the same Greek word Jesus used to describe His Love for all people in the well known verse John 3:16. Pronounced as (dzo-ay'); from the Greek word zao (dzah'-o); which means literally to live.

Her middle name is “Hanne”, coming from Hannah … and thought that using a Dutch way of saying it, would give way of my European roots. We are still looking for an appropriate Chinese name. Any suggestions?

We hope Zoé will be a bringer of Life wherever she goes and be a light to many people.

Bundle of Life

On Friday August 18, 17:02pm, my wife Cheryl delivered a lively baby girl. Weighing 2.889 Kgs for 48.5 cm length. At 38 weeks, the baby was full term, healthy, yet unwilling to turn from the breech position. Dr. Gordon had advised us to go for a caesarian section to avoid any complications with a breech delivery. Last week Cheryl had a dream she was going to give birth on the 18th, so when Gordon advised us for a CS for Friday, we were at peace with it.

Typically my wife (she can still pack one hour and a half before going on an international flight), she was still at her office at 2pm… so after checking in it at Mount Alvernia Hospital it was time for her to get prepared and rolled into the operation theatre.

After I was called in, it was all very quickly done and few minutes later, hardly any time to comfort my wife (who was in good Hands), Gordon announced the birth. Even with a CS it was a bit difficult for her to come out as the umbilical was wound around her hand ( and we were all praying hard for baby to turn! Little one could not even!)

It took a while for her to cry, but believe me that cry is significant when it comes! Breath of Life into her nostrils and out came the cry! I was juggling between my camera, VDO and MP3 to record the historical moments. Hence the remark of Gordon that I seemed to have more attention for my new born than my wife. Well.. I think it is because all went so quick, not having to comfort my wife in hours of labour and even throughout her pregnancy.
She was strong, without any complications and joyful! Just as the Hebrew woman of old in the days of Egypt.

I guess my wife is made to bear more children and obviously that is our desire as well as to adopt a few in the long term..

It is funny how people look at your wife’s tummy and make all kinds of remarks of sizes and moves and then guess what the gender will be. We thought of getting a boy, though we had no clear indications and did not want to get any.. From Cheryl’s face and her (improved) skin complexion, I reckoned it was going to be a pretty baby girl.
We thank God for this Gift of Life and a fast recovery for the happy Mum!

Pasta a la plage

Last night, Cheryl and I, accompanied by another couple from France and their 8 months old baby, went for the last time on a ‘date-just-the two-of-us’

One of the places I really like here in Singapore is an Italian restaurant right on the beach at the East Coast. Unlike many other countries in Asia where you find many sea or river side restaurants - decorated with Christmas lights (all year round!) to create this special atmosphere - Singapore offers very little of this real outdoor eating experience. Hence, this place is usually frequented by expats or locals with a ‘savoir-vivre’. Admittedly, the food is not that gourmet, but portions are big and your bare feet can sit in the beach sand (wherever that sand came from?) and usually there is a cool breeze in the evening to comfort you.

Though we only had one main course and a dessert, it was close to mid night when we left the beach…time flies when you are having fun!

Ironically, the place is up for tender. Singapore knowing, by the end of this month it will go for some upgraded project with junk food and less atmosphere… Then again, my French friends are on their way out to move to New Zealand.


Pasta Fresca …

we hope you will find another beach spot in Singapore soon!

Then I can enjoy my pasta while my kid(s) will enjoy building sand castles..

Wedding of the Century

Last week end I was a witness of a friend’s wedding in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that needs a bit of an explanation.

James was one of the first people I met when I arrived in Bangkok in ’97. He was the pastor of the International Fellowship there and I had been recommended to meet him by friends in Hong Kong.

In the years following, he made a big difference in my life by his Bible expository teaching and mentoring. For 7 years he was even my neighbour! James had to endure much hardship by hearing my “love stories” ( he was the boss of my then to-be-wife ! … who was not at all interested in me – another story to share on.. ) … and was very patient with me.

So: James single, me single and I was asking his advice, counsel and many hours of praying for my wife to be. Every time, I offered James prayer for a wife, whom I thought he deserved more than me! Finally, it was six years of waiting until the day Cheryl finally swayed under my ‘pressure’ and asked me to marry! So, last year April, we asked James to come and bless our marriage.

9 months later he wrote us that he was going to follow our footsteps! What ?? .. Who ??


Surprise on top: the bride is a friend of ours and it is a blessing to see James after all these years of being a faithful man, 'bachelor-in-Christ', staying cool and not panicking - despite years catching up on him -, serving God wholeheartedly all that time … finally finding a good wife to make him an even more complete man!

The location of the wedding was awesomely beautiful, cosy with few guests and not to forget the finger-licking-good-Italian dinner in the evening.

I wish Christine and James all the best in their walk with God and … hope they will soon follow our footsteps again ( do I hear the stork flying in? )

Click on this link to view more pictures:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AauGLFszZM2Lpg

Bhangra dancing

It has been a joyful day with the wedding of our dear friend from Thailand, Sumita and her groom Prem, from Singapore. Pictures of how colourful it was will be added early next week... and one thing that always interest me about India and the people, is the diversity in cultures and how they can all live together with 1 Billion cramped on a peninsular!

Most interesting is that both Prem and Sumita the only Christians are in their family and that this wedding was - to my rating - the best Christian wedding ever, seen the pastor gave a message on covenant marriages from the Bible so vividly and so close to the couple ( he even sang a song for them!) to an audience which was mostly Hindu with a few Muslims
They all liked it very much, because on a day like this, when 2 people bind their Love with oneanother, it becomes a reality that it is all about Love... and who is not moved by that?

Here are some pictures by the Bhangra dancing group, colours, music .. preparing us for an even greater feast later on when ... Indian buffet was served

Tit for Tat

... a perspective on the Middle East Crisis and the Zinedan/Matterazzi 'tit for tat farce' during World Cup 2006 ... log on in a few days to read this blog ...

here is a picture of a jockey who learned some bad lessons from Zizoo ... I wonder what the horse told him?

What code... ?

.. Oh! … The Da Vinci Goad!







Yo! Finally, after many months of good intentions to get this blog up and running, I find no better opportunity launch it by sharing my thoughts on the film "The Da Vinci Code" (DVC). No need to further introduce it, most of you have seen it…I haven’t!

But let me highlight some of the "hidden codes" that are not mentioned in the film, nor are they to be found in the author's book's footnotes.

40 million books sold! .. and now the film. Hollywood does know how to turn anything into ₤€¥$’s. Make it controversial, touch a religious string, ‘shutter’ some feathers, cause some hype around it - even a court case - and what more marketing and publicity is needed? Mmmmh… though the film did not really hit box office as expected.


“The last Supper” painting was decorating one of my walls in my humble Bangkok studio for years. Leonardo Da Vinci (DV) … a real master painter, who made a master piece! .. of the real Master!

If DV was still alive today, he’d probably sue Dan Brown (DB) !!! He was commissioned by the church to do the painting job, so he was surely not interested in putting any code in it! Even the allegation that he was a heir of the “Priory of Sion”, not a single shred of evidence is to be found in 6,000 pages of his scribbles or 487 years of The Renaissance wonder’s memorabilia. But even, Mr Pierre Plantard, the so-called- founder of the “The Priory link” to DV, admitted in court in ’84 it was all a hoax. If you really want to know about DV, go to a bookshop and buy books on him, but stay away from the DVC.

But let’s talk a bit on the book and film.

Fiction: DB writes: “And the companion of the Savior is Mary Magdalene. Christ loved her more than all the disciples and used to kiss her often on her mouth.” Quoting from the Gnostic gospel – gospel of Philip. Mrs. Jesus herself is then supposed to be the legendary Holy Grail, the royal bloodline of Jesus.

Fact however, is that the gonostic texts, were not authored by any of the apostles, but written under a pseudonym, using the name of the apostles to get credibility. The gospel of Philip was a late 2nd century AD text and is definitely NOT one of the earliest surviving Christian records.

Even if Jesus was married, this would not contradict his own teaching of marriage. He supports it and in other Bible books it is even recommended for elders and leaders in His Church! On the question of plausibility, however, it would be difficult to explain why there are no records of Jesus’ marriage, fatherhood, etc… he even did not even mention a word about it while addressing his biological mother, Mary, on the Cross dying!

Fiction: DB writes: “The bible as we know it today, was collated by the pagan Roman Emperor Constantin the great”, P.231 he makes it sound that Constantin was the key figure in deciding the Bible’s final composition!

Fact is that the history of the formation of the Bible did not start nor end with Constantin and involved many churches and leaders over many years. The present New testament of 27 books was confirmed only by Bishop Augustine, who was born 354 AD after Constantine’s death 337AD!

Was Jesus the Son of God?

Fiction: DB: “Jesus Christ was actually only a mere man. But he was elevated to ‘divine’ position as a result of a vote held in 325AD at the Council of Nicaea – a convention of Bishops.”

Fact: DB uses here a half truth to distort the Truth. For 2 and a half centuries before Nicaea, most of the disciples of Christ had already the opinion about the Truth that Christ is divine. (Peter says this in Matthew 16:16 even though having denied Christ so many times) The Council of Nicaea did seriously consider alternating views of Jesus, yet NOT whether he was merely mortal or divine (that was determined already!), but rather whether he was created or eternal. It was not a choice between “human” versus “God”, but as “eternal” versus “created”.

Finally, you may ask the question: “Jan, have you read the book?” My answer I simply: “ No, I have not and will not. The book would belong to the genre I normally would not read, so why bother this time? In the meantime the film critics have given me already enough reasons to pass on the film…” But then, how can you make your judgment? Well, why do people make a judgment or belief after they have seen the film and read the book and make and discredit the claims of Jesus and The Bible? Have they read and studied the Bible? I have read many other books on the DVC book, with excerpts from it on how it distorts truth, exchanges it for fiction, but still claims it is based a fact.

In India, the film is banned because the producers refused to put a disclaimer in the generics that it was all fiction. HellooO !? … India is predominantly Hindu and Islam!
Actually, I am looking at a pile of books, bought but not read yet, so … I am selective on my time spent and obviously would also pass on the film…waste of time, money and it does not bring me new Truth anyway!

I wonder what would have happened if DB would have made a fictional film on "Muhammad and his harem" ...

If you are interested in doing some homework yourself on the DVC, here are some useful web sites:

http://www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=12860 ( Top 20 Big Lies in the DVC book )

http://jesusfactorfiction.com/

http://www.thelife.com/davinci/ or send me a mail, I like to discuss these topics!

But the best source to check is without doubt

... the Bible!