The biggest birthday party

Not just the biggest but also most widely celebrated globally: Happy Birthday Jesus Christ !!

Here's a clip of Zoe singing carols..

Let every heart prepare Him room

This Sonday* is the second Advent of the season.

Advent is meant to be a time of personal preparation when we intentionally make room in our hearts for the coming of Christ into our lives, in an ever increasing kind of way!

Christmas has become a celebration of many wonderful things: the joy of families being together, the thrill of both giving and receiving gifts and the beauty of giving honor to those who should be honored and appreciated: parents, special friends and beloved ones..

All of these things are good things!

Tragically, the celebration of the birth of Christ and the desire to prepare ourselves for His coming into our lives, are more neglected than ever before! Christmas has been replaced by “Happy Holidays”, “ Season’s Greetings”, etc… either to be “politically” correct (as in some countries) or simply because people have lost the meaning or are ashamed.

Irony is that we want instant response from God more than we want intimate relationship with Him! Christ did not come to start a new religion. He came to teach us how to have a relationship with the Father in Heaven.

We are busy filling our lives with our pleasures rather than emptying our lives to make room for more of His presence!

Advent is our moment to set everything aside and re-arrange our priorities so that Christ can be our focus and the center of our Christmas celebrations!

'Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room'!!

May God help us all to do whatever needs to be done in order to make this a reality!

* I take the Liberty to call it the Lord's Day after the Son, not the sun

Respond to the Financial Crisis? Come out of Babylon!

A German Church has been directly affected by the credit crunch. In recent years, its income (German's law offers churches income directly through the tax payer's "Kirchensteuer") has been hit by a drop in membership fees. But its expenses remained the same.

So, to boost the coffers, the local church put its faith (faith in what??) in financial markets and made an investment in Lehman Brothers. As a result, the church is set to lose its 4.3m-euro investment. Lehman Brothers securities were considered a good, safe investment, the church official said. (read the whole story in BBC)

Recently, I had to hear these stories very often how believers have lost vast sums of their portfolios. Even this week, during a teaching on how to respond to the financial crisis by a reknowed teacher, he himself admitted he lost in the 6 digits! ... what a testimony!

Where
has
the
commandmend

"feed my sheep" gone?

John 21:15




Where do we find in Scriptures we have to invest our hard worked money into financial markets (read: dishonest scales and weights, Proverbs 11:1) over which we have; 1/ no control, 2/ no wisdom how it works and 3/ most of the time, statistically lose money anyhow... ?

I think this is again a hard learned lesson on how we have to spend our money. At least the pastor ended his teaching wise, saying we have to go back to basics, take care of the poor people ( believe me there are enough of them and if you can't find them, just ask me...) and use our money for 2 things that will last: 1/ the Word of God and our Faith in Him (not in financial instruments where moth and rust will destroy) and 2/ in souls!! (the latter the most important!)

Make friends with your money (Luke 16:9) : feed a poor needy soul, help your neighbour, a colleague who got retrenched, a sick person with no medical treatement, a child or orphan in Africa, India, etc...

Jesus says in in Matthew 25:37 to 46 to feed the poor" 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."...

So, please do not let me know you also have lost money on the stock exchange, funds, or any other financial debt instruments. It will break my heart, definitely God's and frustrates the poor child, still wondering why his prayers for his 'daily bread' are not answered...

As one commercial in the metro sytem warned. "If you do not know what the book is about, put it down." Likewise for investments: ... put it down: you have no idea how it works... If you want to know, read the book of J M Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, Chapter 6, Europe after the Treaty...then you will know...

"An anxious soul is a soul who constantly wonders how his investment is doing.
A soul at rest is a soul who knows he has helped a needy soul."
, JT Clierinck

Atheist UK Bus Campaign

The UK Guardian reports that initial fundraising for an atheist advertising campaign on the buses of London raised nearly nine times the amount needed in less than 24 hours.

The bendy buses will display posters saying "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life" on 30 buses for four weeks.

According to the BBC (read more: click on this link), British Churches have actually encouraged the campaign, thanking Dawkins for "continued interest" in God and encouraging people to think about the issue.

A spokesman for the Church of England said it supports the promotion of any religious position through appropriate channels. A spokesman added: "Christian belief is not about worrying or not enjoying life. Quite the opposite: our faith liberates us to put this life into a proper perspective"

Atheist do not claim there is no God, actually they say "probably" and that may be true for many other people too. It is a bit like Paul addressing the Greek philosophers in Athens (much the equivalent of today's atheists) in the book Acts (17:22-27), introducing them the "unknown" God...

The Kingdom of God is not about a religion, but more about a relationship with a "known" God, a personal, living God.

Who is the lesser evil of the 2? Obama or Cain?

Though I am not a Roman Catholic (*disclaimer) this clip makes a lot of sense, and lucky (blessed ?) I am not an American who needs to vote and make a choice out of these 2 clowns. I watched the presidential debates and none has a solution (secret maybe?) on any of the serious issues. Their words are carefully measured in such a way nothing is absolute and true.



One thing I know is that whoever becomes the next President, he is only a puppet and an extension of those who write his paycheck to fulfill the agenda of the same. Nothing more, nothing less, so let us not be deceived by nice words but discern the times.
I also notice that there are a lot of political systems being shaken right now. In Europe there is a political vacuum, pop star Sarkozy in France, the Belgian joke (without PM for a long time..), Berlusconi maffia, etc... and the "Lisbon Treaty" allowing a European President to be SELECTED, not voted... will create a powershift in this vacuum. One world government coming up you think?

(*) disclaimer: because the Pope is not my boss, Mary is not my intermediary and the saints not my idols. Simply because Jesus Christ is my only Lord and head of the Church, of whom I - according to the Scriptures - am a part of and saint myself. I pray to my Heavenly Father directly in the name of Jesus Christ and I am encouraged not to have any idols at all! Wow .. I hope I do not upset anybody, but that is what my Bible teaches me... Having said that I know many reformed Catholics who have become Biblical Christians or born again sons and daughters of the most high living God.

2 angel candles for Zoe

Zoe’s birthday weekend (16-18 Aug) was very nice, with Heather visiting from Thailand, meeting Evelyn for a special steamboat dinner on Saturday, celebrating with a yummy mud pie from Island Creamery with her aunty Coco and friends from the church on Sunday, and a small balloon party with home-made berry crisp for dessert on Monday. She also received lots of beautiful gifts.

Zoe was most enthusiastic in singing the birthday song and blowing her birthday candles. In fact, we also celebrated Zoe’s Oma’s birthday 3 days before Zoe’s birthday with a small cake and made a video of greetings for her. So, Zoe had a lot of practice singing the birthday song…

Developing Her Own Personality

Zoe has become very chatty now… She utters a few words of Chinese but she talks mainly in English. Weiting, one of the students who helped to shortlist possible Chinese names for Zoe, also taught Zoe how to say “Xin Yi ke ai,” which means “Xin Yi is cute” and Zoe loves to say this. She remembered it after just one lesson! Zoe is also learning a few words of Flemish and French. We hope that she will be multi-lingual and feel comfortable in all kinds of cultures.

This month, she achieved a few milestones:

- Pronouncing her name clearly (Zo-ay and Xin Yi)
- Giving kisses properly
- Able to count to two
- Celebrating her 2nd birthday
- Able to go out without a diaper
- Climbing on a chair herself to reach a high shelf
- Getting her first real haircut - surprisingly with no fuss
- Choosing her own pair of sandals in her current favourite colour: purple

Zoe enjoys playing with other children, reading, colouring, stickers, play-doh, playing with her doll, puzzles, art and craft, pretending to slide down overturned chairs, lining up things to form a “train”, playing with bath foam, looking at pictures and videos, singing and dancing, swimming, playing outdoors, going for outings, and eating.

Though she is slim, she enjoys eating a lot, especially strawberries, kiwis, fish, chicken, biscuits, raisins, bread, chocolate, beans, barley, soup, chapati with dhal, oranges, mangoes, nuts, cake and ice-cream.

Thank God that up to now, Zoe has not yet tried sweets and lollipops and most salty snacks—though she likes potato chips, keropok and pappadams whenever she gets the rare chance to eat them... Hopefully, she will be able to stay away from unhealthy snacks as far as possible… and be happy eating vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits and home-made delights…

We pray that in the year ahead, Zoe will be able to grow healthily and be free of illnesses, learn more about God her creator and understand all that we try to teach her so she can be a kind, loving and joyful girl who will light up the lives of everyone around her! ( by Cheryl )

Zoe Has A Chinese Name!

In early August, after consulting some Chinese students, I finally decided on a Chinese name for Zoe: Xin Yi. Jan has a Chinese name (Zi Lin – Clierinck) given to him in Hong Kong, so Zoe will be known as

子霖馨熠
Zi Lin Xin Yi

This name was inspired by the character 馨 “xin” that appears in two bible verses:

Ephesians 5:1-2
5:1

所 以 你 们 该 效 法 神 ， 好 像 蒙 慈 爱 的 儿 女 一 样 。
5:2

也 要 凭 爱 心 行 事 ， 正 如 基 督 爱 我 们 ， 为 我 们 舍 了 自 己 ， 当 作 馨 香 的 供 物 ， 和 祭 物 ， 献 与 神 。

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

2 Corinthians 2:15
2:15

因 为 我 们 在 神 面 前 ， 无 论 在 得 救 的 人 身 上 ， 或 灭 亡 的 人 身 上 ， 都 有 基 督 馨 香 之 气 。
For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
The character 馨“xin” means “fragrance that resonates like hollowed stones” and is often used to describe “fragrance” or “comfortable, gentle, warmth.”

The character 熠“yi” is used to refer to “radiance,” “glow,” “sparkling” and “light”.

Therefore, we hope that 馨熠 will be able to resonate the fragrance of Christ and radiate the light of Christ wherever she goes!

a wonderful transformation

Can anything good come out of Hamas?

Well, ... click below link and read for yourself ...

Transformation

08 08 08 and the Beijing Olympics

All eyes seem to be focused these days on the China Olympics and the triple 8 saga.

It is a premier for 205 nations to be gathered in Beijing for the first time in history. Hopefully not only an Olympic spirit will be spread.

888 is an auspicious number for the Chinese, mainly linked to prosperity.

In Biblical terms, 8 stands for new beginnings. So let us pray new beginnings may happen in China after the Beijing Olympics.



While one of my eyes is focused on Beijing, my other eye is focused on Zimbabwe, Africa and on the credit crunch in the USA. PM Lee of Singapore could not help not trying to find comforting words that it is all well with the economy. It is not. However, the games go on. Bread is still there, though it cost 25% more than last year in many countries.

Inflation is what they call it. Well, we ain't seen anything yet. The money factories aka banks continue printing paper. Most people live of credit (=indebted). The bubble will burst one day, like it has just done in Zimbabwe with hyper inflation (read this BBC story)
I pray yours will not burst....

Zoe met staartjes

.. that is Dutch for 'Zoe with tails'

July 2008

Zoe usually walks around at home with wet hair. She is always very lively, playful and gets hot. With temperatures always above 30 C. one perspires easily and running an air con in every room at all times (especially with soaring energy prices!) it helps to tie up her hair. Even mine grows faster in this climate!!

Human artwork ...

We may wonder what global warming could do to us or we could be pro-active.

Actually, I am already planning to move back to Europe as it is getting a bit too hot for me here and I like the outdoors.
Only hope by then the Swiss Alps will still have snow so I can throw snow balls with my kids before it all disappears.

No snow in the Alps = no fresh water supplies in rivers... H2O may become a precious and expensive commodity. Yet, I wonder: who really cares?
Are we good servants to the earth God has given to us? There is only one planet for us. God is not going to transpond us to another one ...

Together ... we MUST ... !

Obviously, the majority of the people appearing in the clip, drive fancy cars, jet set around the world and actually do not give a blimmin' flip on recycling and global warming.
Simple reason: there is no money to be made of it.
It cost 4,000USD to recycle one ton of plastic compared to less than 100$ for one ton produced plastic, derived from oil which yields more $$$ in the pockets of the oil dealers and bankers. Ever thought who really runs the worlds economy? Politicians or bankers? Who pays who you think? Voila! ... But nice clip anyway...

Loss or gain?

Sometimes in life we give up something to gain another.

This again was illustrated by one of Belgium's greatest athletes ever: Justin Henin.

After loosing her own mother at the age of 12, she was determined to reach her own goal in life, to become tennis champion. She left her father and siblings for that one goal.

At the age of 25 she reached everything she wanted: 7 grand slams and with it came huge gains.. millions of dollars.

But is this all man can dream of? Now she calls it quits ... goes back to her family and thinks of picking up her studies.

Or has she received a greater calling in life? Serving family, community, reconciling with her ex-husband?

So, what is more important in your life? Striving for the goals, career, business projects, financial gains or is there something more? ...

Sorry folks... no easter eggs this time ..

.. because at this time, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ!

Saint Paul said: "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection ... (Phil 3:10)

Earlier in the same book, Paul starts by saying: "Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal's death on a cross. (Phil 2:1-8)

Christ's death is the ultimate act of obedience and sacrifice that still impacts us today.
His Love in us will enable us to obey. And the blessings of obedience far outweigh the cost.
It always has and always will.

May you be inspired by this video! (Especially the last 2 seconds of the clip!! )

(In case you are keen to know the origins of "easter", please click this LINK )

Gong Xi Fa Cai

The "Hongbao" does not always have to containe cash, huh? Above Singapore Zoo Orang Utans received their red packets, marked with "Prosperity", filled with their favourite treat: melon seeds!

More to follow after the holidays: some pictures of the Orang Putih counting their hongbaos...

Double four

Today I celebrated my 44th birth anniversary.

But I will only share with you in a few days how my day looked like..

2008... here I come!

Welcome to 2008!!

Yo Jan, a bit late no?

Well, unlike other years, I started this year not in good fashion. For weeks I was struggling with, what I believed a pulled shoulder muscle, but on Jan. 1st ... I could no longer lift my right arm, had tremendous pains and decided to seek medical attention. Needless to say that my 5 hours at the A&E were not pleasant in line with many others queuing to be cared for.

I was to see the specialist on Jan.17, but I insisted that this is Singapore! Patients from afar travel here for medical treatment and I had to wait for 14 days?? So, the next day I saw the doc who deduced from the X-ray results that possibly one disc in my neck had bulged or slipped and caused a nerve to be pinched.

Pinched? I felt like the nerve was cut!! So, the first 8 days of this year I spent lying on my left side only on the bed and the sofa, numbed by painkillers. No turning, no moving, no stretching, no playing with Zoe, etc... Then finally, a few days ago, the situation improved a bit and I put together a VDO clip of our last Christmas.

Click on below to enjoy it!