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29Dec08

After the Christmas festivities, the town central is so quiet

But it will pick up again because of shopping for the new year.

Almost all shops are having a sale.

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28Dec08

- Lecturer Hannie invited us to her house as part of Christmas celebrations.

- Today, only Ahsan and I could make it, and we brought 2 bottles of red wine.

- We visited a art centre where members can buy or rent paintings
- Then we saw the much talked about life-sized nativity scene at St Jan Cathedral.

- Dinner included stewed rabbit with apple-vinegar sauce!

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27Dec08

- Made a day visit to Groningen, a town far, far north.

- Photos include Groningen University in which the present crown prince and Queen Beatrix's other children were schooled.

- Both St Martini and Der Aa-Kerk look like Catholic churches but are Protestant churches

- Northern part of Netherlands is predominantly Protestant, and the south, where I am in Tilburg, Catholic.

- Groninger Museum currently featuring works by J W Waterhouse - remember painting of Narcissus?
- The nursery Prinsenhoftuin, altho' flora is not in bloom, has a sun-dial - it showed 1pm whilst my watch showed 1:15pm - pretty accurate - considering there is man-made daylight saving.

- There's a big Grote Markt and a Fish Markt.

- Saw a Jewish synagogue.

- Thank ABBA for sunny fair weather altho' it was minus 3 in the morning and was about zero in the day, and by night it was minus 1.

- On the way back, stopped by Utrecht Central, another big town in north for dinner.

- If I had purchased regular return tickets, it would have been 42euros, but thank ABBA, I had purhased 4 10euros tickets (Sat and Sun only). I've one left, the other two used for my trip to Maastricht and The Hague.

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26Dec08

- Thank ABBA He helps me complete one assignment.

- As I went out, I saw signs that a student had completed his or her studies.

- Pages upon pages of notes were strewn and scattered by the wind.

- One stack of stapled photocopied notes is titled Marketing Research.

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25Dec08 - Christmas Day!

- Visited Jong en Vrij Kerst (Young & Free Church) in Rotterdam.

- Pastor Marcel knows Pastor Prince of New Creation Church - and Jong en Vrij Church is a church that shares the glorious abundance of GOD's grace and His gift of righteousness

- (Romans 5:17 says because we have in CHRIST JESUS received ABBA's abundant grace and gift of righteousness - we reign in life!)

- Lois and Jan picked me up at the train station.

- Here are some fotos

- The service is very similar to New Creation Church, so I felt very at home, and the hospitality is wonderful

- Pastor's message is about me having received The Best Christmas Gift: JESUS!

- Altho' the service is in Dutch, Lois provided the translation (I think I was the only one that day who needed English translation) over wireless headset.

- There was a children's ministry performance about the nativity scene

- I received prayers after the service.

- In the evening, I was invited for dinner with Lois, Gertrude, Bas (who did the sumptious cooking) and Jan.

- We shared testimonies

- Lois and Jan also prayed with me before I alighted from Jan's car to board the train.

- I asked ABBA what is the word to describe today

- The answer in me is: Meaningful

- What a meaningful day celebrating JESUS today on His birthday in a grace church with brothers and sisters in CHRIST, drinking His love, feasting upon His Word, and resting in His Perfect Finished Work at the cross - which He was born to accomplish.

- Hallelujah.

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24Dec08

- Christmas eve. I imagine the lights and the cheer in Singapore

- Been cycling out everyday these past week to see how the love of GOD via Christmas is interpreted here - shopping is still furious, but Tilburg's malls are tame compared to other bigger towns and Singapore.

- In centrum, two santarinas were handing out chupa chupps

- In the evening, I made some green bean soup for dessert for the girls, and had a little candlelight conversation.

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23Dec08

- Hmmm, Dutch Lady condensed milk in tins - although it looks different now, I remember that papa used to have lots of Dutch Lady tin condensed milk for use in his coffee shop. Nostalgic.

- There is an indoor swimming complex near our accomodation and uni - and here's how it looks like at 5pm - it is already so dark.

- It was said that although JESUS was not really born on 25Dec - the date was chosen because it is one of the days during winter that has the shortest daylight and longest dark hours.

- From 25Dec onwards - the day progressively lengthens and the dark shortens.

- It is true symbolically, spiritually, and materially, I think - because JESUS was born during our darkest moments to die and save us - and from thenceforth, our paths shine brighter and brighter!

- Today is a very foggy day.

- A nativity scene in town has an angel over Mary, with a banner that reads 'Gloria in excelsis Deo'

- Gloria in excelsis is Latin and means 'glory in the highest'

- Deo is Greek, and it means GOD

- So, it means: Glory to GOD in the highest!

- I'd agree with it with a yes and an amen!