Untitled in Christmas 2011

God jul alle sammen!

It is in Norsk language to say merry christmas to everyone.

Wow, so here I am, celebrating and memorizing the birth of Little Baby Jesus Christ, two days ago in Trondheim, faaaarrrrr away from my home town. Sad? Of course! But it is paid back, and it was marvelous experience for me, as a Christian individually.

Since 2 months ago, I could not barely waiting the month of Christmas, December. My French friend talked most about how the Christmas celebrated in Trondheim is, what situation will be happened, what the weather looks like, when the crowded people assemble in city center, where the Christmas eve is going to be conducted, and other questions that will make me want to fast forward the time! My friend asked me to have Christmas eve dinner together with me and other relative too. Of course I said: Yes!

I was so exciting from there. My mind has already programmed to do something I have not done in my previous Christmas. For example? I myself did not have any idea that time :p

In short, I had three big events in 24th of December 2011! I am bad in making decision when it comes all option offered to me making me fascinating to do, but thanks to God, I could overcome all of these three

I did mushroom-paprika-meat-stuffed in the 24th morning (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqcw1j8h4Qg&feature=colike). My kitchen was like war zone! It was! That my first time following recipe from internet, and scared with my result. I made this special food for my beloved Indonesian friend who together celebrate in Christmas eve. Glad they like it! Also, I made “rawon”, special food from East Java, the province where I grew. Christmas eve dinners were great experience for me! Two parties in one night! Umm… Actually it was not party like European people do! No beer and no hard music! Believe me! It were sharing idea, story, recceiving suprised gift, singing together and companion from my friends, both with international students and Indonesian friends.

Jesus born in a manger-Simple yet powerful Christmas decoration in Heimdal Pinsekirken-I would love it!

My Christmas eve was started by going to Heimdal Pinsekirken (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=no&u=http://www.pinsekirken.no/&ei=Lbv3TuWfItTP4QSrpMWNCA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC0Q7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpinsekirken%2Bheimdal%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26prmd%3Dimvns). We rejoiced together by singing Norwegian Christmas song, and among the song praised, I love “Tenn Lys” and “Deiling er Jorden”.

“Don’t live only for yourself, but also live for other people” Nikolai said in that service. This is the reason why Little Baby Jesus born in Betlehem, He want to live in your heart.. The core of Christmas celebration: To remind us who we are in this world.. and what should we do to other people around us..

For me, this is my 8th Christmas celebration. Up until now, I am still looking for the meaning of Christmas. Even it repeated many times, still, I find newness and uniqueness like I never found in previous Christmas.

After the Christmas service, everyone said “God jul” to each other, and I love that moment: moment to share your happiness, and I got a gift! What a surprised! It was applied so simple! Indirectly, this Norwegian man has already allowed to live his part in my life!

Tusen takk!

Not only him, but also people who has invited me in Christmas eve dinner, talked to me and said “God jul”, and shared their joy to me.

Tusen takk alle sammen!

It is simple to start it, but it will bring great impact in someone life.

So, Let us share to other people around us like what Jesus has done in our life: living in our heart to make us live fully in our life and duty!

Christmas 2011 In A Matter Of Finger

So.. Here I am, first time in my life celebrating Christmas in Europe.. Umm, not yet, still 6 days after (too fast , can’t hold it more)

What so special memorizing Christmas in Europe? First is of course.. Snow! I have wondered what snow is, what its shape looks like and how it feels (Feel? Yup! In some occassion I ate it one or two times, depend on the wind XD)

Second is.. Hmm.. I think it depends in where you lives. I live Trondheim, and I was told that Christmas tradition in here is very strong. People celebrating Christmas, I mean before the Christmas day with passionately: singing, dancing, and doing gift-exchange.
I live in north of Europe, so I live closer to the Santa’s house, logically I can get gift easier and faster (Oh great, what I am thinking right now?)

Every Christmas, Trondheim has a special market, called Christmas market, though in some Europe’s country also have it also. For example France and Germany. How do I know? I got it from my friends in here. They are come from France and Germany (Of course! XD)

Christmas market in Trondheim city center or Julemarked i Trondheim (Norsk language)

Photo taken in 13 December 2011 (15.25)

 

Christmas market in Trondheim opened from 1st of December 2011-18 December 2011 (This year). What I missed was the opening ceremony. Even I would have been there, still I had got nothing the meaning because it was conducted in Norwegian :p. Ah well, At least I missed the atmosphere and the photo XD

In the weekend, this special marked caught crowded by people. It is a rare view, and so lucky can get this feeling, feeling that you are in the Trondheim city centre. Ah, you know what I mean :p

Being in here, as the international student involved even as a spectator, watching choir singing, feeling the coldness of Trondheim winter and even testing some free food
I got some interesting experience in this event. What was that? Nah, maybe in the next blog. It was really suprising me.

Ah, Christmas in here such bring “something” to make this city become life and move on. It makes people in this city become “flowing like water”. Umm.. What does it mean? I can’t explain it, just bad analogy made by me :p
And it should be like that! This is really simple conclusion what Christmas presence should be.
Some of my friends said that, Trondheim in December will be very good, I mean not too stressed place to be lived, considering sun only shining from 10-14.30 if you are lucky, or in averagely you will get cloudy days. As an Indonesia people, I used to get 12 hours sun-shine which is.. really hot! Now I miss sun so much X(
In conclusion? It is dark all days, most of time I mean :p
When Christmas celebrated in here, people still meet each other, get touched each other and say “hallo” or “hvordan har du? (how are you)” to each other. It nice and bring warmth. It is in Chrismas month.
The next coming nightmare, January, where it will be just ordinary month, nothing special in it, except people who have birthday in that month, but of course it will be impossible for whole Trondheim residents got invitation in one man or woman or kid birthday XD
In the other side, coldness will be more and more not good to body
And the results? people are going to stay in their house as long as they can.. Avoiding contact to people outside… They will try to keep their health as priority.. Are they harsh? I don’t think so. It is human instinct.

So.. The remaining option for us to make our society better is trying to bring Christmas spirit in January 2012. Not only in January, but also the next month, and next month and next month and next month.. and so on!

Christmas, even it is not mentioned that Little Jesus born in 25th of December, but I am grateful we have Christmas as Christian tradition and in this recent years, most of people also involving and enjoying themselves in this celebration.

Umm.. In my humble opinion:
There is new hope and new spirit in Christmas each year
New hope that people will do something since they commit to have new spirit (For the people who commit into it, but I believe most of us have this dream-to be a better person)
And the new spirit is to give
Sooo… In conclusion,
The new hope to give!

Christmas is all about giving..

I can’t imagine if we bring this hope together into following year and so on!

So, let’s count Christmas in our finger!

Little note about David

Young David as a shepherd

(Image source: http://www.papermatch.com/Graphics/bible-david1.JPG)

1 Samuel 17:33-37

³³And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou [art but] a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

³⁴ And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

³⁵ And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered [it] out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught [him] by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

³⁶ Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

³⁷ David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

Source: http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/book.php?book=1+Samuel&chapter=17&verse=33

Something special in this verse? He did not said “I have become stronger, so I will deliver myself out of the hand of this Philistine..,”

See the differences?

A discussion in nice evening Sunday, 20 November 2011 at one of my Christian man in Trondheim. It is started with the meaning of each person who came there: I, Erling, Adi, Grace and Axel. Each of us describe the characteristics of our name, from where those names taken from, and their history.

In certain point, Axel brought “Daud vs Goliath” story, a well-known story for the Christians, in which Daud won the battle “out of the box”.

Ok, I know this point. So, what was new for me? That in verse 37. I have read and listened this story several time: In church, home, radio, etc- but i realized this important point in that time.

David was not boast while he spoke to Saul, proposing himself to fight with the giant from Philistine, Goliath. Having pressed or watched down by Saul, he told him his experience as shepherd: fighting lion and bear. Hmm.. What a brave young man! If I were him, I would continue “my” line: “I can beat Goliath!”.

My big mistake.

Instead of saying “I”, Daud said “The Lord… “. I think this is David’s statement of faith, and this line strengthen me from that time, until today.

Too late, but at least I am aware.

And rejoicing for this and always!

 

I can live well

I can breathe well

I can eat well

I am healthy

I have good family taken care in Indonesia

I have wonderful “family” in Norway

I have great friends

It is because of the Lord!