More celebration
Today we celebrate being married for 38 years! It has been 38 blessed years with my dear Solveig! God has given us 6 wonderful children and 9 grandchildren and we are expecting our 10th grandchild in March! During these years God has been so good to us in so many different ways that I don�t have words enough to express my gratitude!
I surprised Solveig with red and white roses and some small personal ornaments, while Solveig had written some loving word on a beautiful card!
This New Year�s Eve we will celebrate with Hanna and Dal and their children. Kjersti and Arne have invited us together with some more friends over to their place tonight. It is always good to celebrate any occasion with friends. Rejoicing together in the faithfulness of God makes life richer and even more meaningful as we prepare for new adventures in the Spirit!

A new generation
At the morning service at the church yesterday God spoke clearly to me about the days in which we are living and about the new generation of young believers that he is raising up.
We are living in prophetic days! God id pouring out his prophetic Spirit on young people in a unprecedented way in these days! God is raising up an army of young, zealous, bold and faithful people! Their hallmark will be a love for the Word of God, not only to read it, study it or meditate on it, but they will be zealous to practice it for they will be a people of actions and not words only! As they put the Word into action the power of God will be released and they will be known as a people of divine power by the Holy Spirit! These are days for young people to be filled with the Spirit and to be equipped to do exploits for the Lord. This nation is going to turn to God and it will come about through this new generation of Spirit-filled young men and women proclaiming the Word of God into all spheres of society!

LONG LIVED PRESENTS
Ten years ago I got a jumper from Keri, one of my covenant friends. It was a very special jumper with a unique pattern and combinations of colours. I am still using that jumper. It is still very special to me, no one could believe that it is ten years old! Gifts from covenant friends are long lived. Gifts of love last forever!
At my recent birthday I got a new jumper from Keri! For the next ten years I will wear two special jumpers as a sign of lasting covenant friendship! Even though the jumpers may eventually be worn out and be of no use anymore, covenant friendship will never be worn out but will last forever! Covenant love is maturing and getting better and better as the years pass by!

Christmas Eve
Yesterday was Christmas Eve, the big event in the Norwegian Christmas celebration. All the family were gatherd together at Gullbotn to celebrate the joy of knowing God Become Flesh, Jesus Messiah, and his salvation. In the afternoon we met with a lot of people at the church at a short but very good Christmas service with songs and dancing, music and Scripture reading. I read a Christmas story which I had written about the Addi the beggar boy. After the service we went back to Gullbotn to enjoy the traditional Christmas meal, "Pinnekj�tt", which is a lamb's rib that has been salted, smoked and dried for months before it is being cooked for two hours. This kind of meal we only have at Christmas time and we are always looking forward to it during the year.
After the meal we stared to distribute the presents to the grandchildren. What a joy to see their excitement when they unwrap their presents. They were laughing, jumping and cheering as they discovered their new toys or cloths. In the midst of it Jakob wanted to say something and had all to be very quiet before he solemly announced: This is the best Christmas Eve ever! That was even before he got his electric train set!
When the parents had put our small grandchildren to bed we continued to unwrap presents for the adults and rejoicing together until early in the morning!
Christmas Eve is the most wonderful evening in the entire year!

Playing with grandchildren
I am having a wonderful time these days playing with my grandchildren. Here at Gullbotn we have just sufficient of snow to use the sledge sliding down the slopes in a terrific speed. Daniel said it went as fast as a tornado! When Jakob turned into him he said he came like a strong storm! Laughter, shouting and some tears are all part of the fun playing in the snow. Sara fell over many times when she tried the big sledge and she was crying bitterly but she was easily comforted and wanted to try again! Taj Kristian was very clever to use the brake but became more and more confident on the sledge going down the hill-side.

A great party!
Solveig had arranged a great party yesterday with many pleasant surprises! I knew that she was planning a party, but she has been very clever to keep a secret to me! But yesterday the big event was on and I was not disappointed! Solveig is a wonderful wife and she had all kind of people help her to put on a party that I will never forget! About sixty people were gathered to celebrate with me that the Lord has kept me alive and well for sixty years showering his abundant blessings on me and my family.
I was overwhelmed with all the presents I received, but more than anything else I appreciated all the good words of encouragement given to me from my friends. But when four of my children spoke personal words of appreciation and praise I felt most proud of them. God has really blessed me with wonderful children and grandchildren. In the party the best present that was given to me was the speeches that my children delivered at the dinner table.

I am sixty today!
Yesterday all my five children, their four spouses and nine grandchildren came home to celebrate my sixtieth birthsday today at Gullbotn and then Christmas. We have been given the venue at Gullbotn for free use until the second day of Christmas.
This morning after a nice breakfast they all brought their presents and my grandchildren helped me in unwrapping them. We have allready had a lot of fun and there is more to come as Solveig has arranged a great birthday party tonight with sixty guests. It is all a secret but I have been able to find out a few thing about the party. I am expecting a great time. For now I am just free to play with my grandchildren and enjoy being sixty!

On being a learner
I found this page by Leonard Sweet at http://www.leonardsweet.com/llltransformation.asp

I used to be a learned professor. Now I'm a learner.

When I was learned, life was a quiz show. Now that I'm a learner, life is a discovery channel.

When I was learned, it was a question of how much I knew. Now that I'm a learner, it's a question of how much I'm being stretched.

When I was learned, knowledge was everything. Now that I'm a learner, kindness is everything.

When I was learned, knowledge went to my head. Now that I'm a learner, knowledge travels the longest foot in the universe�-the foot that separates my head from my heart.

When I was learned, I used to point my finger and pontificate. Now that I'm a learner, I slap my forehead all the time

When I was learned, I used to think I was the best. Now that I'm a learner, I do the best I can.

When I was learned, I was frightened of new ideas. Now that I'm a learner, I'm just as frightened of old ideas.

When I was learned, I looked to the past: to have confirmed the set of beliefs I already had. Now that I'm a learner, I look to the future: to grow, be stretched, and remain open to what I don't know.

When I was learned, I knew where I was going. Now that I'm a learner, I don't know where I'm going----but I know whom I've going with.

When I was learned, I loved to talk. Now that I'm a learner, I'd prefer to listen, because that's when I'm learning.

When I was learned, I had something to teach everybody. Now that I'm a learner, everybody has something to teach me.

When I was learned, I was impatient with dumb people. Now that I'm a learner, I'm grateful when people are patient enough to dumb down to me and care enough to smarten me up.

When I was learned, I thought that all knowledge was a form of power. Now that I'm a learner, I suspect much knowledge is a form of weakness.

When I was learned, life was knowledge about God. Now that I'm a learner, life is knowledge of God.

When I was learned, I knew where my nose was headed. Now that I'm a learner, I go where my nose leads me.

When I was learned, mission meant "go to give." Now that I'm learned, mission work is becoming pilgrimage: mission means "go to learn."

When I was learned, my life revolved around what other people thought about me. Now that I'm a learner, my life revolves around what I think about myself and what God thinks about me.

When I was learned, from the high ground of hindsight I instructed the past on where it went wrong. Now that I'm a learner, the past instructs me about how I can right the future.

When I was learned, the power and mystery were in the big words. Now that I'm a learner, the power and mystery are in the small, simple words.

When I was learned, I thought that the educational system was so much better than the market, the other main channel for the mediation of cultural capital. Now that I'm a learner, I realize just how closed and controlling the knowledge industry can be.

When I was learned, I deemed the great threats those made dangerous by strength. Now that I'm a learner, I deem the great threats those made dangerous by weakness.

When I was learned, I loved to fill out questionnaires. Now that I'm a learner, questionnaires are an exercise in saying "I Dunno" since I keep checking the "don't know" box. ("Don't know" doesn't mean "don't care")

When I was learned, I imagined myself the church's resident "know-it-all." Now that I'm a learner, I'm more willing to admit I don't know everything.

What I was learned, I was always trying to speed things up. Now that I'm a learner, I'm always trying to slow things down, even when I'm speeding up.

When I was learned, I bragged about how our knowledge is an ever deepening ocean. Now that I'm a learner, I shudder at how our wisdom is an ever-shrinking drop.

When I was learned, I said, "Take it from me." Now that I'm a learner, I say, "Don't take it from me." I boast no immaculate perceptions. I see through a glass dimly.

I'm still an academic. As a theologian, I have my little bottle of Windex and am cleaning that glass for all it's worth. I'm trying to get rid of as much fog and film as I can. But the best I will ever to is to "know in part." I will never "know it all." God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8) , and God's thoughts not our thoughts.

There are still some know-it-alls out there. Some people are like Moses. They think they can see the face of God . . . and live.

The best we can do is hear God's voice, and in rare moments of mystical and metaphorical ecstasy, gently touch his face.

Copyrighted by Leonard Sweet

Pastoral communion
At the early prayer meeting for the pastors in the Bergen Pastoral Network this morning we were having a holy communion. It was administered in such a strange but religious way that I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry! It is supposed to be a covenant meal, a time of fellowship with the Lord and one another. What we did this morning was so artificial to me, I didn't know what to do! However we had a good time of prayer after communion.
Before we departed we went to the new hall of Kristkirken and had a good time of prayer and thanksgiving as we dedicated it to the Lord. The hall is allowed to seat 1200 people and will be at the disposal for all of God's people in Bergen! I like this attitude of the leaders of Kristkirken!

Mental illness
This morning we were praying for young people suffering from mental illness and disturbances. We have had several cases recently in our interaction with you people were we have come across young people with serious mental problems. I don't have words to express what I feel when I see or hear of young people suffering from mental illness. For six years our elder son suffered from mental illness. I can never forget the fearful eyes and the pain in his face. And the feeling of helplessness in all our attempts to bring relief and comfort.
It is my prayer that the covenant community will reach a new lever of insight and power of deliverance towards people suffering from mental illness. There are terrible physical pains in the body but the pain of a tormented soul is much worse. It is my prayer that the people of God will become a healing community for the entire human being and that we will be able to bring wholeness to people.

Christmas Tree
Today I bought a beautiful Christmas tree! Solveig will decorate it with all kinds of colourful decorations and with plenty of lights. When our grandchildren come home they will all marvel at the wonderful tree! I love to see the grandchildren being excited with the Christmas tree.

God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes! (Psalm 18 The Message)

Christmas barbecue
Saturday we were gathered together with most of our neighbours for a Christmas barbecue! The weather has been quite cold the last few days so I wondered how it would go. The temperature has been around minus 10 degrees Celsius but Saturday it was around zero so it felt quite mild!
We were gathered in the garden of my next door neighbour around an open fireplace. We all brought our food to barbecue and we sat around the fire chatting and having a nice time of fellowship.
I was so excited when I got this invitation be with my neighbours as we are praying for them regularly. Fellowshipping with them is part of our strategy but in this winter season we don't often meet as the weather is so cold that we can't spend much time out. This Saturday the Lord arranged for the temperature to become more suitable for fellowship around the fire. I was praying in my heart all the time we were together as I enjoyed being with the people in my Light House of Prayer!

Pre Christmas tradition
Today I will attend the annual sheep's head pre Christmas celebration evening for men. About forty brave men will gather to demonstrate their manhood by eating and enjoying everything on the sheep's head, the skin, the tongue, the eyes, the meat on the cheek etc. The brain is already removed so that is not eaten.
Half a head is placed on the plate with one eye staring at you. It is black because it is burned and smoked before it is cooked. It is quite tasty. The tongue is very delicious as well as the meat on the cheek. Everything around the eye is amazingly good, but we don't eat what we call the eye stone, the small black part in the middle of the eye.
The sheep's head is viewed as a delicious speciality in this western part of Norway. But of cause it is for real men only!

Early morning prayer meeting
It was a great joy to be able to attend the pastoral prayer meting this morning. Because of my travelling I have been away from these prayer meetings for nearly two months. That is too long time of absence! I have missed being with my brothers before the throne of God. Just to sit in the presence of God together with my brothers listening to their prayers giving my amen is a great blessing in itself. The privilege of joint prayers is something I wish all the servants of the Lord to experience. My personal prayer life has been strengthened through these joint prayer meetings with the pastors from so many different congregations.

24 Pastors at a pre Christmas meal!
Today 24 of the pastors in Bergen came together to share a Christmas meal and fellowship together! It is so wonderful to be joined together in the Lord in spite of all our differences. We are brothers, born by the same Spirit into the family of God. We are members on the same body of Christ. We are fellow heirs and citizens of the Kingdom of God. Therefore we are committed to loyal love and faithfulness towards one another.
When we are together we have a lot of fun and we are laughing a lot and enjoying one another's company. We are not colleagues, we are really friends, and that is great!

Back in Bergen
It was good to be back home in Bergen late Saturday. Sunday morning we went to Oster�y to be with new established church there to ordain elders and celebrate that the new church has been firmly planted in the community on that island. It was a wonderful time in the presence of God in worship, the preaching of the Word and through laying on of hands and prophesying to the elders and deacons. Surely there is a bright future for the work of the church in this place.

Funeral
Today I have attended my mother�s funeral from the H�yland church where I was confirmed many years ago. In that old church building there was a great revival when I was a teenager in which about ten percent of the population in our borough came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. That was a long time ago as well.
Today we were gathered to take farewell with my dear mother who went to be with the Lord the 26th November this year. A lot of people were gathered to give tribute to my mother by honouring her memory. My younger son Josef�s wife Elizabeth sung Amazing Grace at the beginning of the service and How great Thou art at the end. I read a poem that I had written for my mother and the priest spoke quite well from Psalm 23 which was my mother�s favourite psalm. It was a service worthy of my mother and her Lord.
It is a sobering moment when the coffin goes down in the grave with these words: From the dust you came, to the dust you will return and from the dust you will be raised! That is the way of all flesh! The big question is how the resurrection will be, a resurrection of judgement or a resurrection of glory!

We are going to J�ren today
We are soon leaving for J�ren to attend to my mother's funeral tomorrow. My mother was old and weak but still her death was so unexpected. She has gone to a better place and her sufferings are ended. It brings me great comfort to know that she is with the Lord. At the same time it is strange to have lost my mother. I feel a kind of an emptiness. Her place is void and no one can do anything about it. No longer I can talk to her or touch her, but she will always be in my heart. I will always carry her lovely memory with me. She was such a good person radiating a divine beauty in her aging body.

Prayer meeting with breakfast
It was so good to meet with the brothers for an early prayer meeting this morning. I have been away or many weeks. I was really missing being with my covenant friends before the throne of God. Sixteen of us were together in thanksgiving and prayer this morning. We had a wonderful time in the presence of God praying and ministering to one another prophetically. It is like time does not exist when we are in the presence of the Eternal one.
However the reality of time in which we live hunted us down for Solveig had prepared a delicious breakfast for us which we enjoyed in one another�s company.
These early prayer meetings followed by a wonderful breakfast with lots of laughter and fun bring us as leaders very close to one another. Here there is no room for pretence or external religiosity. This is for honest and humble men only, - men brave enough to be transparent and live an open life.

Healing has taken place!
I have just been to see a doctor specialist that I had seen two months before. I have had some problems in my throat a long time. It has been very irritating when I have been teaching and preaching. It is difficult to explain the suffering, but eventually I got an assignment with this specialist in the end of September.
The doctor discovered that my right vocal cord was slack, kind of paralysed. In addition to that there was another thing which I don't know the proper name of, neither in Norwegian or English, that is situated at the end and between the vocal cords, this thing was abnormal, much too big, and was partly covering the vocal cords. The most plausible reason for this would be a tumour according to the doctor. Therefore he sent me for a CT scan just before I left for India. Through email I got the message in India that the scan showed that everything was normal.
Today I was back to the doctor for just a final control. When he looked in my throat through his instrument he was amazed! Both my vocal cords very fine, - normal! A big surprise to him! In addition the other thing had become much better in fact it no longer represented any problem to my vocal cords any more! Another big surprise for the doctor! When I asked him what could have happened he had no explanation! "It must me the Lord!" I told him. Immediately he said no, "It could have been the time." How can that be? I said, when I have conducted some many leadership seminars the last two months and I have been using my voice a lot. It is easier to me to believe that the Lord has made me well! Then I was reminded of a word of prophecy that Prakash brought to me in Hyderabad a few weeks ago where the Lord said that I was healed! I believe this is what he had in mind! But I will not limit it to this suffering only. I believe God will heal my thyroid gland as well as my hearing deficiency! I am eagerly waiting for the result of the blood tests I took a few days ago! In January I have an appointment with an hearing specialist and it would be wonderful to be able to hear perfectly when I see him!

Bringing in the Presence of God
I was reading this morning in the introduction to the prophetic scriptures in the Message Bible. In that introduction I found a lot of deep insight into the propetic ministry. One thing is stuck with me after this reading. The prophets bring in in the Presence of God and his immence largeness to us in such a way that we have to adjust and fit into him and allow every aspect of our lives to be in line with his rule, his will for us.

Friends working together
Today I have been together with my friends in Kristent Nettverk at Gullbotn for fellowship, prayer and planning. We have had a wonderful time together. It is such a privilege to be friends working together to advance the Kingdom of God! God has been so good to us in allowing us to develop a happy and meaningful working relationship among us. In fact it is much more than a working relationship, we are brothers, friends and partners together for a higher purpose, the Kingdom of God. We are united in the Spirit to fulfil the great commission and to see the purpose of God come true for our generation. I really appreciate all the men that God has joined me to for life! It is a great privilege to be joined to faithful men. It is a great joy to be together in the covenant community of God!

My mother died yesterday!
When I called my mother on monday morning she was not well. In fact she was so ill that she was not able to talk to me an the phone. Immediately I went by car 5 hours drive to be with her. When I arrived she was very ill, but still it was so good to be with her. I was able to spend the entire night with her in the old people's home where she had been admitted the very same day I arrived! All except one of my brothers who was not well himself were able to talk to her and take a proper fare well with her. Her last greetings to us was: We will meet in heaven! She was in great pain during the night but clear in her mind and able to talk with us. In the late morning just said: Dear Jesus, dear Jesus! And then she fell a sleep and after awhile she peacefully went to be with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
I loved my mother. She was a most wonderful mother. I am so thankful to the Lord for allowing her to become 85 years old. May her memory for always be blessed!

Here is what I wrote after one of my last visits to her:
The last few days I have been visiting my mother. She is growing old, approaching 85 years. The body is failing her more and more, and she is not well at all. But her inner being is younger than ever. In spite of her pain and diseases she said to me to night: �When I lay down to sleep, I tell myself and my God that I still like to live. I enjoy life! Is it wrong of me thinking like that at my age?� I assured her that it was right of her to like to live in spite of her circumstances.

When I looked at her, she was so beautiful; her eyes so bright and full of life. Her body has become fragile and delicate like an artwork of fine china. Her white hair is like a crown of life. Even though she has shrunk to become seven inches shorter than she used to be, she is a greater person than ever. To me, even the hunch she has developed on her back, has a strange beauty. There is a kind of an inner radiance of beauty breaking forth in the ugliest expression of her aging body.

After being with my mother I wrote this poem:

The face of an old person
To be somebody
Is to look at the face of an old person
And see the beauty of God.
The soft lines of wrinkles look like
A piece of classic art work
The hardships of life
Have left their beautiful marks
The scars and the folds
Seem to be engrafted
By a great artist
The face of an old believer
Carries the dignity of a sacred life
That dignity of faith, hope and love
Endure all tests
And last forever!

Teaching time at the Covenant School of Ministries is over
After three sessions this morning my teaching assignment at the Covenant School of Ministries has been fulfilled. It has really been a fulfilling time for me to be with these wonderful students. They are totally committed to the Lord and to his kingdom. I have been encouraged and blessed by fellowshipping with them and by their prayers and concern for me and my health. After the last session today they all gathered around me and prayed for me, blessing me in the name of the Lord and prophesying to me. It is my prayer as well that I have been able to leave with them a deposit of the Spirit that will equip them to serve the purpose of God in their generation.
In one of the breaks today I was able to show them how to blog and help them started. Their common blog is to be found at: http://csmstudents.blogspot.com
To morrow morning I am going home to my wonderful wife and I will spend most of my time the rest of this year in writing my new book.

Alpha and Omega
I have just finished a wonderful day with the students at the Covenant School of Ministries in Wales. We have been looking at different images of our corporate identity in Christ and as usually I have happily allowed myself to be sidetracked many times along the way to a fuller understanding of the eternal plan and purpose of God. At the end we were looking at Christ as the present message of God, or as the fullness of the revelation of God as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
In fact Christ is the entire alphabet of God. He is the full expression of God. The plan and purpose of God is centered in Christ. When we know Christ we will be able to read any situation, any society, any age and the development of history itself. When we don't know Christ things don't come together, we are the left with a fragmented understanding of what is going on around us.Christ as the alphabet enables us to read and understand history.
When we have our identity in Christ we realize that each one of us are like single letters in the alphabet. One by one we are not able to express much, but when we are being put together in the right order we will be able to express Him in multiple ways. When we are being put together we give meaning to each other and are able to express ourselves in a great variety of ways according to the different measure of grace given to the people we are joined to by the Holy Spirit. There is a rich variety in the grace of God and in the spiritual gifts he is giving to each one of us. We must manage the grace well and allow the generosity of God to flow through us to bless other people. We are called to be a colourful and creative community displaying the manifold grace of God.
I can see some of this colourful and manifold grace of God in the students I am privileged to be with these days!

Maltesers
Early this morning when I arrived at the All Nation Centre in Cardiff I was given a king size bag of Maltesers. What a pleasant surprise! What a divine blessing! It was Steve that brought me that sweet greeting from the Lord to me as he had been reminded by the Lord to buy it to me! God is so good! He even cares for small things to make life sweeter and more enjoyable!

Our visit to Darjeeling
On the way to Darjeeling Per Arne Gjerde joined us at the airport of New Dehli. It was good to see him and welcome him as we were going to Darjeeling. I have been to Darjeeling once before (in 1971) and I was longing to go back to that beautiful place. When we arrived at the airport in Bagdogra, my friend Henry was waiting for us. He arranged our stay in the Darjeeling district. However we discovered that he had not planned to take us to Darjeeling at all, but only to Kalimpong. I had never been to Kalimpong before so that was ok with me.
We arrived late in the evening after a long journey climbing the mountains on narrow and curvy roads. Henry took us to some of his friends, leaders of communities of believers in that region. We had a very meaningful time with them during our stay in Kalimpong and we were able to share with them on the purpose of God for a prophetic community of people closely knitted together, working together in close and warm relationships. The Spirit of God was moving among us and we saw a wonderful release of the prophetic spirit among them as we minister to them through the laying on of hands and prophesying to them. Nearly all of them prophecy during the following day. I am really looking forward to hear good news of further development in all the communities of believers they represented.
In Kalimpong we decided that we wanted to go to Darjeeling anyway and that we had the time to do it. The trip to Darjeeling with the Sumo was a wonderful experience as we had a very good driver that carefully took us to our destination. The scenery on the way was just breathtaking, awesome and majestic. We were bursting out in praise to the Creator for his marvelous works over and over again as we went along to Darjeeling, climbing to the heights of more than 7000 feet..
Early in the morning we were taken to Tiger Hill at the heights of 9000 feet to watch the sunrise. It was just magnificent to see the rays of light touch the Himalayan mountain range covered with snow. Again we were praising God for his majestic work of creation. Actually, he is my Father, and he made all the beautiful nature us to enjoy it to the full!
When we should go to the airport of Bagdogra the following day, we came to know that a taxi-driver had been killed in Kalimpong the previous evening and now there was a strike on and no care were allowed to leave the town! If we had been in Kalimpong as planned we would have been stuck there, not being able to reach our flight for New Dehli. In his goodness, God not only saved us from all that hassle but he gave us this wonderful trip to Darjeeling which we enjoyed to the full because of the manifold beautiful scenery, but also because we were able to do some shopping. We bought a lot of genuine Darjeeling Tea and also presents for all our grandchildren. God is so good to us!

Covenant School of ministries
This morning I was introduced to the students of Covenant School of Ministries at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff. There are thirteen excellent students at the moment and I enjoyed every minute with them. They are mature and zealous, a bright bunch of wonderful mainly young people. It is a privilege to be able to share my heart with them and to interact with them inside and outside class.
God put on my heart to share about the eternal purpose of God from Genesis 1 as our destiny is found in our origins. Today we have been looking into the triune relational nature of God as the source of the creation and as the goal of history. We have a good time looking at people being created in the relational image of God, created for community and togetherness to reflect the glory of God in this visible world.
I am so grateful to the Lord for allowing me to be with such quality people as these students. It is a tremendous privilege to be able to share some of the insight God has given me with these servants of the Lord. I am blessed by being with them.

Going to Wales
Yesterday I arrived in Cardiff in Wales and was warmly welcomed by my longstanding friend Dr. Roger Aubrey, the Principal of Covenant School of Ministries, School of the Word, Cardiff.. We spent the after noon and evening together and shared a wonderful dinner with his precious family. Diana prepared a delicious meal and we had a good time of fellowship. I find Roger's company very satisfying and fulfilling for we are able to share our hearts with one another and sharpen one another in the Word. I am always encouraged and sharpened in my spirit when I have been with my friend Roger.

A strange miracle!
An Indian lady, Madhu, approached me once on my visit to Jaipur when I met with the covenant community there. She told me that she had been praying for me ever since I brought some prophetic word to her on my last visit one year ago. Everything God told her through that prophetic word had come through in her life and she was so encouraged and strengthened by the grace and goodness of God.
Madhu and her husband Rajinder have been used by God to bring the peace and joy of salvation to many people during last year. They are totally committed to their Lord, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. It was such a joy to see them taking actively part and contributing in different ways when the people of God were gathered together. Madhu was reading from her Bible and sharing with others what God had spoken to her through his Word.
What I didn�t know at that time was that Madhu used to be among the 70% illiterate women in the state of Rajasthan. Zephry told me that after she came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour, she asked him to help her to learn to read the Bible. By a miracle she was able to read the Bible! But she was not able to read other books yet! I was watching her read from the Bible but I didn�t know I was watching a miracle! Whenever she opens the Bible a miracle takes place! This illiterate woman is able to read! When one love God and puts one�s trust in him, nothing seems to be impossible!

Why is Hinduism collapsing?
An Indian friend of mine sent me a email informing me of a provoking article by Vishal Mangalwadi on Hinduism collapsing. Vishal Mangalwadi is an Indian of great stature and spiritual insight. If you are interested in India and what is going on in that great nation you must visit his site at http://www.VishalMangalwadi.com

At last I am back to the Web!
Two full weeks have passed since last time I was able to send a blog. The days have been so fulfilling and exciting as we have been going places, seen so many beautiful spots and met with so many extraordinary people. These two weeks have been such a rich experience but I have have not seen any Internet connection around and therefore I have not been able to send any blog.
But today we are back home in Norway! We have been with my son and his lovely family for a delicious Norwegian dinner and enjoyed fellowship with our wonderful grandchildren.
I am planning to share some of our experiences from the last two weeks in India the coming days as the Lord will remind me of his goodness.

Living Christian Fellowship
Today we were invited to join the covenant community to worship at the Rotary Club hall in Jaipur. At least 130 beautiful people were together to celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation. It was a time of great joy of singing and dancing in the presence of God as a bunch of young people led us in worship. A lady visiting for the first time was overwhelmed by the expressions of joy. She had never seen such joy before! She told me herself and I appreciated her testimony very much.
During the time of worship people brought several encouraging prophecies and visions. It was about multitudes of people turning to God, that people in bondage would be set free, that God would let his light shine through his people and dispel the darkness, that the house of God was a house of bread for the hungry to come and eat freely.
After the worship many people came forward to tell of the goodness the God towards them during last week. Some had been protected in the midst of traffic accidents, some had been healed from various diseases and some had seen people set free from demon oppression. A little girl, at the age of eight I guess, blessed me a lot as she was so radiant of joy and thankfulness as she gave thanks to the Lord for his help at school. She was so beautiful in her happy gratitude, just to see and hear her was a great blessing.
There was a simple message delivered from the Prophet Zechariah on the servant of the Lord, the Branch, building the temple of God and branching out from among them. That there would be the double anointing of a royal priesthood that would enable them to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom in great power demonstrations and give instruction from God to the people. Signs and wonders would follow them and people would come from many people groups ask to be taught the way of God.
All this would happen to them as they would put their minds to a life of responsive obedience to the voice of God, and as they invited people to their homes to share their peace and prosperity with them.
After this message a lot of people asked for prayer and we heard several testimonies of people being constantly healed from different kinds of pains in their bodies.
At the end of the gathering I had a great surprise! Brenda had brought a big birthday cake and everyone was invited to a pre-celebration of my upcoming birthday just before Christmas. This was totally unexpected! The people even collected a love-offering for Solveig and myself! What a blessed surprise! These people were really rich in love! I have never seen anything like it before!

God is good!
God has been so good to us during our visit in India so far. We are in good health in each and every way, and God has led us to meet a lot of good people. Here in Jaipur we have met with many servants of God that are doing a tremendous work for the Lord in this great nation of India. We have heard some exciting and some heartbreaking stories of what is taking place here.
Yesterday we were taken to a carpet factory. It was very fascinating to see the long and complicated process of hand knitting carpet making. What a skill these people have!
Last night Zephry and Brenda took us out for a pre birthday celebration at the Sheraton Rajputana Hotel. We are so blessed in their company irrespective of the surroundings! We had a memorable evening together and I came home with two books of poems by the great Indian poet Tagore! What a blessing!

Manish
The other day Solveig and I had a nice evening at Pizza Hut in Jaipur. This was our second visit here in a few days. We were served by Manish on both occasions, and it was a most pleasant experience. He was so friendly and happy and he made us feel happy as well. His big smile and his bright eyes captured our attention. He was open, light, easy to relate to and clever to communicate, but he was not �pushy� nor overdoing his efforts to us, he was not exaggerating in any way.
Manish had studied commerce but had not been able to find any other job than being a waiter at Pizza Hut. He was highly educated but without a job in accordance with his education. This fate he is sharing with thousand other young men and women in modern India.
Manish was a devotee of Shiva, one of the main Hindu gods, but he didn�t seem to have much faith that his god would help him out of limitations he was experiencing in India. I was happy to share with him that nothing is impossible to the Lord Jesus Christ and nothing is impossible to the one who trust in Him, as He is the only true and living God!

The covenant community
Sunday we were taken to meet with the covenant community as they were fellowshipping in a flat in a large housing estate. I had met some of the people before but this time many new people were there. I was so blessed to how these people loved one another and functioned together. Some of them shared with me how they had been praying for me during my illness and I was happy to tell them how their prayers had been answered. I am so grateful to the Lord for being part of his kingdom community. Where ever I go I find friends! Everywhere the covenant community is caring, loving, encouraging and ministering the grace of God to me in a great variety of expressions!

The Pink City of Jaipur
Jaipur is an excellent city to visit for tourists. We have been here many times and we are never tired of coming back to this place. To walk in the bazaars of the Pink City is an experience in itself even if you are not buying anything. All the beautiful and colourful people in all ages and walks of life are fascinating to watch. Some are busy, some have plenty of time, some are shopping, some are selling, some are bargaining and some are arguing. All kind of activities are taking place.
As you walk in the bazaars you will notice the smell. Many different smells will come to you as you walk, the smell of incense, the smell of dung, the smell of curry, the smell of urine, the smell of spices, the smell of perfume, the smell of cotton, the smell of wool, the smell you can�t identify, the smell you don�t want to identify. You can really smell the very Indian way of life in the bazaars!

Atithi Guest House
Saturday we arrived in Jaipur. Our friend Zephry met us at the airport and took us directly to Atithi Guest House where we are staying during one week as we are visiting the Pink City of Jaipur.
Atithi is our favourite guest house. It is nice and clean with all necessities. The people running the place and all the workers are very friendly. The service is good and we feel at home in this place. After the thin mattress at the hotel in Gujerat Solveig said that the bed at Atithi was like heaven!

Zealous young prophets of India
Today we were taken to a bunch of zealous young people with a tremendous prophetic anointing on them. These young men and women really impressed me. Their commitment to the Lord is outstanding. Their hunger for God and their abandonment of the world are just amazing. The nation of India must be proud of having such people of quality and integrity, totally committed to serve their people in the possible best way.
They were sharing with us their visions for their great nation and the rest of the world. They were kind of boiling on the inside and they were hot in their spirits, zealous for their Lord, as they were sharing what they had seen and heard in the presence of their God. When these zealous young prophets have accomplished what their Lord has told them to do India will be a changed nation � for the better!

Steve is leaving us today
Our friend Steve is going to Bagdogra today to meet his friend Ravjiv. They will spend nearly two weeks together in West Bengal.
We have really enjoyed the company of Steve at our hotel and at the many different vegetarian restaurants we have been visiting. We have shared more than meals together, but the meals have been a blessed time of fellowship. We have been sharing some deeper things and had a lot of fun together. Steve�s company has made our stay here richer and we will miss him.

A man of God
I met a very young man of God this morning, his name is Dinesh. He looked like a teenager, but I guess he actually was in the early twenties! He was very calm, kind of surrounded by divine peace, as he told his story.
A Hindu priest and his wife came to him with a dead child, a seven years old boy. The child had been dead for several hours and the priest had heard rumours about this young man of God and approached him as his last hope to see his son come back to life.
Dinesh the young man of God prayed for the dead boy but nothing happened. Then he got hold of another believer and they prayed for the child the second time. When they started to pray the second time for the boy, he started to move a little bit and as they continued to pray the boy was brought back to life! When they finished praying the child immediately asked his mother for milk!
The whole priestly family came to Christ that day and were baptised!
When Dinesh told his story it was like he told something very natural, something ordinary, something normal that happened to him. And indeed it seems to be very natural to a man of God to see miracles like this take place because of prayer.

One of Prakash�s miracles
One day Prakash was out cycling on his bike he was approach by a couple with a very ill baby. The baby was totally paralysed with eyes closed, it seemed to be lifeless, it didn�t even seemed to breath. The couple was asking for Prakash, where he lived and so on. Happily he could tell them that he was the one they were looking for. He took them home to his house, gave them some food and then he and his wife prayed for the paralysed baby. The power of God came upon the baby and the baby was instantly healed! The baby was filled with life, strength and health, moving vigorously all its members that had been paralysed!
Then Prakash and his wife shared the good news of the kingdom of God with the couple who was eager to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord.
He didn�t tell, but I guess that was the start of a new covenant community in a new village!

Prakash
I was introduced to Prakash today. In fact I had met him on an earlier visit, but had forgotten his name. When I was introduced to Prakash again I was told of his merits since last nine months. By the grace of God he had been able to form nine new covenant communities of the kingdom of God in some rural area of India. Think about it! This young man in the early twenties, nearly reaching up to my shoulders, has planted nine churches in nine villages!
I asked him how he did it and he smiled to me saying, �I just had to give up everything, my farm and everything to be able to concentrate on one thing only, to serve the Lord.� The nine new communities of the kingdom seemed to be the fruit of his total commitment to the Lord.
I wanted more details, so I asked him again of what he actually did. Again he was just smiling, radiating the glory of God in his joy. �Well,� he said, �We are having some healings and miracles. Then people believe and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour as they are being baptised. Then we start a church in their home.�
It sounded so simple: we are just having some miracles and then the church is born! His joy and simplicity blessed me. I have so much to learn from this giant of faith! With men like him there is a bright future for

Meeting Sunil and Prafol
It was so good to meet Sunil and Prafol at the airport in Ahmedabad today. They were waiting for us on the outside of the terminal to take us to our hotel. We also met our friend Steve at the airport he will join us for 4-5 days of our stay here. We all rejoiced in seeing each other and being able to fellowship in the Holy Spirit in the car on the way to our destination of hotel Palace.
India is so different to Norway! When we left there was minus three degrees in Bergen and when we arrived at the hotel outside temperature was nearly forty degrees! Then you have the dust, the dirt, the smell, the cows, the camels, the goats and of cause the beautiful people everywhere! I find no words to describe the experience, but it is fascinating and captivating, and it is doing something with you, changing you, enlarging you, filling you with awe and with compassion. You see so many dear people suffer in so many different way and you see others enjoying such abundance of wealth that is beyond comprehension. Amazement and then bewilderment overtake you, then a feeling of helplessness creep up on you and the zeal of holy anger start burning inside of you. These wonderful people deserve something better than the curse of an old cast-system.

Arriving India
Yesterday we arrived at Ahmedabad early in the morning after a long and tiring journey. In Mumbai we were told at the international terminal that there was no sense in going to the domestic terminal because they would not let us in. The best thing for us to do was to go to a hotel to rest a few hours before we proceeded to the domestic terminal! We were told that the first bus would go by 04.00 only so we had to wait outside the international terminal for two hours. It turned out to be untrue! We found the bus leaving shortly (at a different place though than first told) after we were out. When we arrived at the domestic terminal we had no difficulties in getting in or even check in our luggage three hours before departing! The people trying to get us to a hotel told a lot of lies but happily we did not listen to them.
At the airport in Ahmedabad our dear friend Sunil was waiting for us. He and Prabhudas has come to take us to our hotel to have a good rest before we met more people. That is why I am here � to meet people! I love the people of India, they are the most wonderful people in the world!

A hectic day of preparations!
Solveig and I have had a hectic day of preparing for India today. Early tomorrow morning we leave for India We are looking forward meeting friends and to fellowship with them after a whole year since our last visit! Indians are great people and we just love being with them. I hope I will be able to tell about some of the people we meet in my future blogs!

Early prayermeeting
We had a wonderful time praying together with all the leaders early this morning. God is knitting our hearts together with even bonds than before. We are determined by the grace of God to serve him shoulders to shoulders and see his eternal purpose and plan fulfilled in our lifetime. We are not seeking anything for ourselves but we want God to have everything he is longing for among men.
On thursday morning we are going to India. I am not sure if I will be able to blog while I am in India. We will be away for four weeks and I will do my level best to communicate and continue to send my blogs.
The interactive comments does not work yet, but you can reach me at anytime at erlinthu@online.no
To be somebody is also worth looking at: http://www.tobesomebody.blogspot.com

My wife is back!
I have just been to the airport to welcome my most wonderful wife back from her visit to Troms� and Vann�ya. She brought cod with her and we have just enjoyed a delicious meal of fresh fish from Nordishavet!
It is so good to have my wife home again. It is like a wall of my life is removed when she is away. There is no warmth of love in the house when she is not here.

Stay alert and pray!
Lately God has spoken to me in many different ways and on various occasions on staying alert in prayer. There is a spiritual battle going on in the visible world to bring in the great and plentiful harvest that belongs to the Lord. Only when we are watching and praying will we be used by God to bring our nation back to God. Our country will turn to God when we who are believers are staying alert and are present with our total being in our encounters with people in the workplace and neighbourhood.
Jesus said that we should stay alert and pray so we wander into temptation to be comfortable without even knowing we�re in danger. He said we had to stay alert and pray so we shouldn�t choose the way of no resistance and give in to meeting natural and human needs in stead of standing with him in the struggle to see the will of God accomplished in society and in individual lives.
Jesus said that if we didn�t stay alert and in prayer we would stop doing fulfilling the commission he has given us and give attention to the other servants of God and what they are doing according to the task given to them. We are not all given the same task but we have all part in the Great Commission of making people groups and nations disciples of Jesus Christ! If we don�t watch and pray we could end up criticising and beating our fellow servants, Jesus warned.
Jesus told us to stay alert and pray to be able to understand the time of visitation and see Him when he comes to us with his Spirit and are doing a work in society and his church. The Bible gives us many examples of people who didn�t stay alert nor lived in prayer and for this reason didn�t see what God was doing and had no part in the work of the Spirit!
The apostle Paul tells us to stay alert and endure in prayer for all the saints, to be able to be standing against and overcome all the vicious attacks of the enemy. When we watch and pray we will become strong in the Lord and his mighty power which is available to all who believe.

I am still working to enable comments. It seemed to work a short time. Hopefully I will get it up and running soon!

It does not seem to work! I am not giving up! You will be able to comment my blog eventually!

It seems like comments can be added! Try it out!

Comments
I am trying to enable comments and if I succeed I welcome your comments very much!

In the company of godly men
The International gathering of apostles and prophets is over. We have all gone forward to our new days of ministering in the Spirit with bold faith and assurance of the help and blessing of God.
I am so grateful to the Lord for allowing me to be part of a company of men with such integrity and loving kindness. These are men of covenant love and faithfulness. These are men of pure hearts and godly motives. These are men of genuine care for the covenant community of God's people.
When we are together sharing our hearts with one another and seeking the Lord in prayer and intercession, then the anointing of the Holy Spirit rests upon us and revelation flows from God refreshing our spirits together in the wonderful light of God.
In this company of godly men I enjoy a peace and security that bring healing to my entire being. I am filled with thanks to God for his overwhelming grace towards me joining me with his faithful servant. I thank God that I am no longer alone, I am longer on my own, God has brought me into communion with himself and with people being transformed into his likeness. I am connected to the source of life, to God himself, and to his people in a life-changing and life-giving relationship.
The relationship we enjoy with one another in the Spirit can't be described in words. But it is open to everyone who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Man made or Spirit made?
This is the big question facing believers today. Man made religion abound, man made rules and man made patterns are the rule of the day. The official and traditional religious bodies in our so-called Christian countries are being squished into the mold of this world. There is a human standard foreign to the Word of God pressing in on religious people everywhere. Man mad religious leaders take the denominations down the wrong road to a very bad end.
We need Spirit made leaders to bring the people of God back on track. Spirit filled minister will bring the people out of the mold of this world and into the freedom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit in the Kingdom of God. Spirit made servant of God will give birth to a Spirit filled people producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In such a Spirit filled community of the Kingdom there is no conflict with the Law of God!

Being a prophetic people
Last night we touch many vital aspects of being a prophetic people. A prophetic people will know the Word of God and be able to speak into the current affairs of this world. Like we have heard that the UN will pass a law against spanking as a means of disciplining children. The spontaneous response from Tony Ling was: "They have members that chop of whole hands!" My thought went to all the innocent children that are killed the the mother's womb with the blessing of the governments that will make it difficult for parents to discipline their children and help them to discern between good and evil, right and wrong, truth and untruth.

Prophets will never allow people to be in their comfort zone.

International gathering
Today I have attended an international gathering of Ephesians 4:11 ministries. We have had an excellent time together in the presence of the Lord sharing insights in the Word with one another. The main subject today has been how to work together in the best way to achieve what God wants us to achieve in our generation. We all want to serve the purpose of God as long as we live!
The gathering has been lead by two dear and wise men of God: Keri Jones and Noralv Askeland. They are both apostles of Jesus Christ and are working together in a wonderful way. They are very much loved by all of us because of their sincere heart for God's people and their love for the Lord and his Word. The grace of God is upon them to speak words of wisdom and instruction as they are encouraging us to pursue the purpose of God for our lives. The way they serve among us is just marvelous. I have never met people like them in my entire life.

Grandchildren
Today our house is filled with grandchildren. That is a great joy!
I love being with my grandchildren, they bring me great pleasure!
When I play with them my heart is filled with thankfulness to the Lord for his goodness towards me, my children and my grandchildren.
With grandchildren life is wonderful!

Making leaders out of losers
We have been together with about 80 leaders during the weekend at Gullbotn. It has been so good to be together with brothers and sisters with the same heart for God and a burning desire to bring people to Christ and the believers to maturity in Christ.

I have been reading in my Message Bible in the prophet Daniel during these days about the judgement on the proud king Nebuchadnezzar. �The angels announce this decree, the holy watchmen bring this sentence, so that everyone living will know that the High God rules human kingdoms. He arranges kingdom affairs however he wishes, and makes leaders out of losers.� I thought it was quite funny that he directed me to read these words while we were together with all the leaders, reminding us that he makes leaders out of losers. We have nothing to boast of, we have been chosen because of our nothingness that He may be able to show His fullness!

We really need to learn that �the High God rules over human kingdoms and that he arranges all kingdom affairs�! When we realise that �it is heaven that runs things�, we will have a sound perspective on what is going on behind the scene of natural explanations. We will then have a humble attitude to life realising our total dependence on the Holy Spirit in all human affairs!
When king Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself and looked to heaven for help, he was given back his mind and was able to bless the High God, thanking and glorifying God, who lives for ever:

�His sovereign rule lasts and lasts,
His kingdom never declines and falls.
Life on this earth doesn�t add up to much,
But God�s heavenly army keeps everything going.
No one can interrupt his work,
No one can call his rule into question.�

�Everything e does is right,
And he does it the right way.
He knows how to turn a proud person
Into a humble man or woman.�

There is something wrong with my pc today. I had just written a long blog and saved it properly. Then I tried to logg on to the net in the normal way and my screen went black! Message: memory dumping! When the pc restarted and I had logged on to the net and tried to get hold of my blog from the my word processor only the title was left, the content of my long and wonderful blog was gone!
A pc is a wonderful invention when it works but when it does not work it is a source of great frustration!

Healing is taking place!
It was such a joy to meet Gerd Lillian today. She was shining brighter than the sun! She had been for treatment and regular check up at the hospital. Then she got the message that many of the tumours that were seen last time were gone this time! Not all the traces of cancer is gone but obviously a healing is taking place in her body! Rejoice with Gerd Lillian and continue to pray for perfect healing of her entire body!

Making students think
One of the students told me that I made them think today. What an encouragement! I had achieved what I always try to do with my students, making them think and enabling them to draw the right conclusions At least my goal was achieved today with at least some of the students. It is so easy to look for ready made answers instead of thinking through the matter oneself and reason one�s way to a solution. As a teacher I find it more important to help the students to ask the right questions than to give them all the right answers straight away. At least today may day with the students has not been in vain.

The flat wheat field

Sunday afternoon we had a wonderful time with Familiekirken. About sixty people were gathered together to worship God, to listen to his word and to fellowship. John Arve has a gift in making people feel at home and relax in a gathering. Obviously he has a big heart for the people and they feel secure with him. In the same way Gunn Bj�rg is gifted in bringing the people into the presence of God while she is leading them in praise and worship. They need to be very confident in the grace of God upon their lives as they serve God together. They are a unique couple totally sold out to God and committed to serve his purpose in their generation.

During the service God gave me several prophetic visions to share with the church to help them fulfil their calling in God. I will only share one of them here as I have never seen anything like it before:

I saw a large wheat field, but it was not a nice sight. Most of the wheat in the field was flat. Heavy rain and storm had devastated the field. The straws were broken and the heads of wheat were laying flat on the ground in danger of rotting. It was a very sad sight as the whole harvest seemed to be destroyed. However as I looked at the flat wheat field I became aware of something happening. A gentle wind started to blow in the same direction as the straws were laying in the field. It was like the gentle, mild and warm wind was caressing the straws and the heads of wheat drying them after the heavy rain. Then it was like the gentle wind became playful and was blowing on them in circles causing the heads of wheat to carefully rise from the ground. Then the gentle wind was increasing in force and was blowing on the straws in the opposite direction of the straws causing them to stand tall and beautiful with the heads of wheat swaying the gentle but strong wind. I have never heard of any such thing happening in the natural, this was a supernatural intervention of the Lord of the harvest in this area. The Lord showed me that a lot of people had been hardly beaten and broken down by legalistic religiosity in this area and the plentiful harvest was in danger of being destroyed. However the gentle wind of the Spirit is moving among these people and a wonderful work of restoration is taking place. God is going to use his people to bring healing to broken lives and bring the saving power of Jesus Christ to the hurting people of this area.

Visiting my birth-place
I was moved to tears Saturday morning as I was standing in front of people from my place of birth sharing with them what God had been doing in my life the 40 years since I left Ganddal to serve the Lord. I was reminded that it was a miracle that I still was alive as the doctors told my parents that I would never grow up. Not only did I grow up, I was completely healed and have been in good health for 40 years. The Lord also blessed me with a wonderful wife, six special children and 9 great grandchildren with the tenth on its way! God has been so good to me!
I had been invited by John Arve Lunde the pastor of Familiekirken to come and share the word of God with them at the Saturday Bible School they were running. To my surprise I met some old friends from my time in Stavanger and some who remembered me from Sarons Dal, Kvinesdal. Nearly sixty people from many different churches attended this Saturday Bible School and I enjoyed every minute of the time with them.
Later Solveig and I were able to spend some time with John Arve and his wife Gunn Bj�rg in their lovely home in Ganddal. They are a wonderful couple with a genuine desire to serve God and his people. It was so good to listen to their story of how God had been leading them to start this new church Familiekirken. I am convinced that they will succeed in their endeavour to reach non-believers and make them part of a covenant community of God�s people.

Cross cultural relationships
Today we are taking farewell with our dear friends from India that have been visiting us for the last ten days. Brenda, Zephry and Joel are such rare good quality people. It is a great privilege to have such people in our home. We have thoroughly enjoyed their stay with us. We have had a lot of fun together as well as some serious discussions on deep subjects.

Our life has become richer by getting to know these dear friends. Their skin colour is slightly different, their English accent are Indian while ours are Norwegian. Their culture and taste are different. They are even younger than us. But none of these things matter at all. We are like brothers and sisters, like kindred spirits and covenant friends. That is why we love each other�s company.

Poor are those people with no cross cultural relationships.

Look and listen carefully!
I was reading in The Message Bible this morning in Ezekiel 40 where the prophet of God is telling the story how he was touched by God and brought in divine vision to Jerusalem. There a messenger of God spoke to him: �Son of man, look and listen carefully. Pay close attention to everything I�m going to show you. That�s why you�ve been brought here. And then tell Israel everything you see.�
Almost everywhere I read in the Bible the Lord is pressing in on me the same message of being alert and present in the world to be able to see what God is doing and to hear the words that proceed from his mouth. It is so important for us to look for the finger of God and listen carefully to his voice in everyday situations.
Last Sunday night I attended a meeting in R�de. The choruses we were singing had been written on a flip-over. When I read the words before we started to sing everything seemed to be alright. But when we started to sing the songs we soon realised that a few lines were missing in some of the songs. Then the Lord spoke to me about the situation in the church: Everything seems to be in order but there is something missing in the church. I will bring in some new people to fill in what is missing and make the church whole and complete.

Answering emails
To day I have spent all morning in front of my computer screen responding to emails and explaining many theological positions as well as sending greetings and encouragements to dear friends. At the end I wrote a new poem on being somebody. I recommend you to click on To Be Somebody.

A vision of Tistedal
When I visited the Methodist church in Tistedal at the weekend God gave me a vision explaining the spiritual situation at that place. I saw a beautiful apple tree with plenty of red apples. The apples were ripe for harvest. It was a plentiful harvest and the delicious red apples were easy to pluck down and bring into the storehouse. Only one sad thing I became aware of. Many apples had fallen down and were rotting on the ground. No one had cared to harvest them! Because of the love of the Lord he is now intervening to send workers to bring in the plentiful harvest of red apples. Tistedal is an apple tree full of beautiful and ripe apples. The harvest is plentiful! People at all ages are ready for the gospel of the Kingdom, ready for the saving Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Oh Lord, open the eyes of your people! Let them see the people ready to be brought into your Kingdom! Give your people to know your heart for the sinners and outsiders! Fill your people with your love, let your love motivate them in their interaction with none believers. Grant your people boldness in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour!

A strange experience
The morning service in the Methodist church was a strange experience. I was like going back to childhood. It seemed so remote from reality. It struck me that there was no expression of joy. Not one psalm or song was directed towards God. It was very strange to me. However they seemed to receive the word that Solveig and I brought with open hearts. They responded well to the alter call following our messages.
The people were very friendly and getting well along with one another. When the service was over they seemed to be happier and more relaxed than during the meeting. There are some real saints among them with a wonderful heart for God but the form of the service seemed to inhibit them instead of releasing them into joyful function. There was so much life and love among the people so I wonder why the service had a form that did not allow that to be expressed. It is my prayer that the leaders will be brave and wise in bringing the necessary changes to release the power of God among them!

Meeting again after 27 years
Yesterday we arrived in Tistedal at the Swedish border under the sign of covenant in the sky. Then I was reminded of a prophetic word I received awhile ago that actually was being fulfilled at my visit to the Methodist church. I had been invited by Ray whom I met 30 years ago and have not seen in 27 years. I was so good to meet him and his wife again after all these years. I was blessed by their love for the Lord and their heart for the people of God.

Last night I was asked to share with the church what God has been doing for us in Bergen. They were very open and we had a good time of questions and dialog on the situation at Kristent Fellesskap in Bergen.

This morning we have been together for three long teaching sessions and a good time of dialog again with a nice lunch and good break as well. The hunger for God to move and the willingness to change is obvious as the alternative is rather frightening! May God grant them the clarity of vision and the strength to carry it through to fulfilment!

A daily blog is difficult!
I realise that is more difficult that I thought to send my daily blog. Monday morning we left the home where we stayed in Wales at 06.30 to meet up with the rest of the Norwegian to go to London in a minibus. We arrived just in time for the flight to Oslo. In Oslo we had to run to catch the flight to Bergen. When we came home I had to leave immediately to some shopping before I had to go to the airport to meet Joel, Brenda and Zephry, our friends from India, arriving from Gatwick. Their plane was late and by the time I had taken them home and shared a meal it was time for bed.
Tuesday morning I attended the early morning-prayer-meeting with the leadership in Kristent Fellesskap Bergen at 06.00. After prayer I had to go home to bring Zephry to the Bible School for teaching while I went to Gullbotn for a time of more prayer and planning with my co-workers in Kristent Nettverk. The evening was spent in more planning with Zephry and Brenda.
Wednesday morning I was off to another early morning-prayer-meeting, this time with pastors from various churches in town, before I had to rush to the Bible School for five teaching sessions. When I had finished my teaching I had to hurry home to fetch Solveig and my Indian friends to go to Karm�y for a meeting, arriving just in time. After the meeting we hurried home and were not in the house before 01.00 in the middle of the night.
Yesterday I took Zephry to the Bible School while I was seeing some people and preparing to make a comment and summary of the three first chapters of Ed Silvoso�s book �Anointed for Business�. Then I met with the Pastoral Network of Bergen to give my comment and insight of these chapters. When that time with the pastors were over we (Solveig, Zephry, Brenda, Joel and me) left to go by car over the mountains to the eastern part of Norway. When we arrived at Haugen Hotel in Geilo I was too tired to blog.
After breakfast today I am taking my Indian friends to Stokke while we are continuing our journey all the way to Tistedal in �stfold where we are going to be with the Methodist Church for the weekend.
I am not giving up my intention of daily blogs. I am determined to become better in utilising my time!

Harmony and unity

Harmony and unity
What a blessed week I have had in England and Wales! We experienced the truth of Psalm 133:

133 A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.
How wonderful it is, how pleasant,
when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron�s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And the LORD has pronounced his blessing,
even life forevermore. (NLT)

How refreshing it is to be together in covenant love!
How encouraging it is to see people prefer one another!
How strengthening it is to hear the reports from foreign countries!
How confirming it is to hear the prophetic word proclaimed!
How sweet the embrace of covenant friends!
How good it is to laugh together in pure fun!
How wonderful, how pleasant, to be in harmony!
How safe it is to receive apostolic instructions!
How great to have the opportunity to give of our money!
How effective the laying on of hands in the godly company!
How transforming to be in the presence of God!

A prophet of God in my arms

Today I held a prophet in my arms.
I sung to him and he fell asleep.
He slept so safely
and peacefully at my chest.
When I looked at him I could see
the beauty of heaven on his face.

I did not know that I held a prophet in my arms I only thought I was singing for my little grandson called Jai Ruben. I did not know that a servant of God rested at my chest I thought I only did a favour to my daughter looking after her son. That in it self was a great miracle as my parents was told by the doctors that I would not grow up. Not only did I grow up, I got married, I got children, and now I was holding one of my grandsons on my lap. That was a miracle of God! His healing power made me whole forty years ago and my heart was filled with thankfulness to God for his goodness towards me, giving me grandchildren. Then I heard the voice of God telling me that I did not only hold a grandson in my arms but that a prophet of the Lord was finding rest at my heart.

What a joy!
What a privilege!
What an honour!
What a favour of God!
God has entrusted me with a treasure of heaven.
A prophet of God was sleeping in my arms!
He will be a prophet of joy and overflowing life.
He will be anointed with great power
- to bring healing and hope,
- to lead people into the glorious freedom in the Kingdom of God.
He will be a prophet of liberation and restoration
Therefore joy will be his hallmark.

Thank you God, for your kindness!
Thank you Lord, for your faithfulness towards me!
You are a wonderful good God to serve!

Without borders

The first day of the leader�s conference called without borders is over. It has been a very fulfilling experience to be together with men and women from all over the world with the same vision of the glorious unchanging King and his unshakable Kingdom. Everything that has been shared has been full of life in the Holy Spirit and every servant of God has been overflowing of the blessing of revelation and spiritual insight. The presence of God has been evident among us as well as the joy of covenant love among the community of God�s people.

At the very beginning the Lord spoke to me about throwing away all the crutches as God is wanting to teach us to walk without them, - in the Spirit. Yeah, not only walk but run faster than we can run � by the Spirit. So easily we lean on our own resources and human wisdom instead of being led by the Spirit. So easily we trust our own strength and mind only to limit ourselves to the natural instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to bring us into the supernatural realm of resurrection life. The only way forward is by learning to obey God in a new way through the Spirit! The key to a fulfilling life is to be quick to respond to the Holy Spirit in every situation. AMEN! So help me God!

Approaching PC World

When we were in England in June my wife bought me a digital camera. I have been taking hundreds of photos in the three months since I received it. Just before we went to England I had an accident with my camera. The zoom and the lens were broken. Therefore I brought it with me to get it repaired. I took insurance on the camera to cover all kinds of accidents and things that could happen to it.
We started to phone PC World where we bought it and took our insurance last night. It was very difficult to get through the automatic answering options to get a real person to talk to. When we actually got a real person in the other end, he or she was not the right person to talk to because we had come to the wrong department. It took us many calls and a long time to get the right number to call and when we phoned that number we were too late as the office was closed. The first thing in the morning was to phone again, we arrived to the right department, seemingly spoke with the right people with no use for their computers were not working. We were told to phone back in one hour, which we did only to get the same answer. The third time their computers were still not working but at least the took our name and phone number and promised to phone back. We could not sit home waiting for the phone call so we went to town with our grandchildren and had a wonderful time with them. When we returned home a message from PC World waited in the answering machine. We had to take another phone call going through the automatic questions, pushing the right button to get stuck in a queue so long that we had to give up in order to have some food. After the meal we tried again and this time we got through after a while. At last the computers were working and we were registered properly before we were given a new telephone number to call. When we called that number we were to late for the office were closed for the day, we will have to call back tomorrow. Hopefully we will get the help we desperately need tomorrow!

I am so happy that approaching God is much easier than approaching PC World. With God we have direct access when we come in the name of Jesus Christ at any time. With God we don�t need to go through any screening process and we are not sent from department to department. God is always the right person to talk to whatever the matter is. Prayer is so easy and rewarding not frustrating like getting through at PC World!

We are leaving for England

In few minutes we are leaving for England. We will visit our grandchildren for two days and then we will attend an international conference for Christian leaders. I hope I will be able to connect to the Internet so I can continue to blog. If it turns out to be difficult I will be back in Norway next week.
I have had some very encouraging statistics from my blog pages. Many of my readers spend a lot of time on my pages. They come from different part of the world but the Europeans seem to dominate at the moment. I have plans for making my pages even more interesting and am looking to God to help me realise my dreams for my internet involvement.

A special comfort

I was comforted a special way today. We have been blessed with the best car in the world (to my knowledge), Subaru Legacy Outback. But I had a problem as I couldn�t find the middle seat belt in the seats behind. Next week I knew I needed all three seat belts in the back seat. Therefore I phoned my Subaru dealer in Trondheim, Tyholt Bil, where I bought the wonderful car, and spoke with the kind and nice sales-representative I dealt with when I bought my Subaru. I explained my problem and he gave me many suggestions and I was running out to the car to check it to no help. I could find no seat belt for the middle seat. After been out to look in the car for six times with no result and the former owner had been consulted the salesman finally got a bright idea. He went into one of his new cars for sale to look for the middle seat belt. Then he found it and easily he could explain it to me. Both of us had been looking down for a two point connection belt but my car had a three point connection belt that was easily seen when we look up. My comfort was that the salesman for such a long time was as helpless as me! But I was very happy that he came up with the solution in the end.

Discovering the truth together

Today I have spent the whole day again at Bergen Bible School trying to help the students to understand the Bible. We have been looking at how Jesus and the apostles interpreted the Old Testament. We have had some good dialogue on some intriguing questions. I enjoy being with these students as I try to ask them questions that will help them to reach their own conclusions. I don�t like to give or receive ready made answers as it is more exciting with wondering and discovering the truth together.

Weekend with Mark DuPont

Another weekend is over. I was a good weekend with some joint meetings with several churches in town. Mark DuPont was the main speaker. He is a prophet of God with an international ministry. He has been coming to Norway for many years and for nearly ten years he has visited Bergen regularly twice a year. He is loved by many people in many of the churches comprising the one church of God in Bergen.
His burden is to see the presence and holiness of God manifested among the covenant community as it is brought to maturity. It is more important to know the ways of God rather than only know his works. This time he also emphasised that we are being tested by the word of God, as he is forming our character preparing us for everything he has promised. Diamonds are formed under tremendous pressure but coal is formed by the same material under less pressure. Coal will burn out but diamonds will be shaped to reflect light and beauty. In the same way we are being formed into the likeness of our Lord to reflect his glory through a beautiful life.

Understanding the Bible

Today has been another interesting day at the Bible School. For five hours I have been teaching and dialoguing with bright students on how to understand the Bible. We have looked at some hermeneutical guidelines to come to the right conclusions. I illustrated the need for guidelines by giving them some weird interpretations of some Scripture portions. The strange thing is that there are always some students that believe these weird interpretations to be very spiritual. The same thing happened today but I was pleased to discover that lots of them didn�t get trapped by my attempt.
Before I went to work this morning I was reading in the prophet Ezekiel. Some words that the Lord spoke to him are the real keys in arriving at the right understanding of the Word:
�Son of man, get all these words that I�m giving you inside you. Listen to them obediently. Make them your own!� Ezekiel 3:10 The Message
It is all about getting the word on the inside, by listening obediently, making the word part of our own life. Then we will be able to share the message of God in a trustworthy way with our fellow men and women because we have become one with the Word in such a way that we are a message of God. When we are living out the Word in our ordinary life our life become a message of God to our neighbours and fellow workers.

The refreshing Atle

Atle came late to our gathering in the pastoral network at Gullbotn. He arrived the second day only, but what a blessing he brought with him. He was overflowing in praise and thanksgiving in his typical Pentecostal way. He is using the old Biblical expressions, Pentecostal jargon, strange sounds and a loud voice. To most of the pastors present he comes from a different planet, - expression wise, but he is so real, so genuine that the strange expressions don�t matter. His zeal for the Lord and his excitement are infectious. He came into our gathering and started to pray in such a way that we were all refreshed by his joyful and heartfelt praise and his passionate supplications. He added a great blessing to our gathering through his contributions during the day, but more than anything else he added something from God by just being himself. It is my prayer that God will make me a refreshing to all the people I meet, that I may add a different dimension of God into every gathering I am participating

The Pastoral Network

Since yesterday 18 pastors and Christian leaders from 10 different churches in the city of Bergen have been together to pray, talk and fellowship at Gullbotn. We have had a wonderful time together sharing with one another what God is doing in our lives and in the many churches we represent. Even though we differ in age, background, tradition etc. there is a warm acceptance and a real appreciation of one another. The oldest is a Lutheran pastor and the youngest is a Pentecostal pastor. The Lutheran pastor has been in ministry much longer than the Pentecostal pastor has lived all together but they are listening to one another and have the same longing for revival. We have all been united in a desire than none should be lost but that everyone should come to repentance and know the truth of the gospel in our city.
It is a remarkable thing the Lord has done among us. For many years we used to come together occasionally but now we meet to pray one morning every week. The weekly prayer gathering has been going on for two years now. We have met once a month to talk and fellowship for several more years. Now there is a sense of bonding and belonging that is unique among us. We are experience the reality of Psalm 133:

How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!
It�s like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard,
Flowing down Aaron�s beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
It�s like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion.
Yes, that�s where God commands the blessing, ordains eternal life.
The Message

New church plantings

Yesterday was a most wonderful Sunday as we celebrated the planting of two new churches or rather released two flocks to concentrate their efforts to reach their local communities with the good news of the Kingdom of God.
In the morning we went to Frekhaug in Nord-Hordland celebrate a new start for the covenant community I that area. About one hundred people from all over were gathered together to participate in this event. The service went along the �normal� way of singing, preaching and praying but was followed by a steady flow of prophetic utterances at the end as elders were ordained and given new anointing to function in a greater capacity than before. All people present were excited by what took place and were filled with joyful expectancy to what the Lord will do their community.
In the afternoon we went to Sotra to celebrate another new start for the covenant community in Sotra and �ygarden. They have a different story. Here two separate flocks are becoming one united flock. A joining was taking place between an already establish church and several cell-groups that used to be part of the big church in the city of Bergen twenty minutes away. But for all of them they were being planted in new soil for greater fruitfulness. About one hundred and sixty people were gathered together to joyfully celebrate the joining and knitting together to be able to reach all the small communities in the many islands they represented. The format of the meeting was very much the same as the service in the morning but with even more excitement and prophetic unction.
What a privilege to be part of an apostolic and prophetic company seeing communities of the Kingdom of God being born and fostered to fruit yielding maturity. What a strength it is to work together in a covenant relationship not being alone anymore! What a blessing to be harnessed and yoked to other men and women, different from me, with the same vision and zeal of the Lord to see the purpose of God achieved in this world!

A precious ornament

Yesterday we were visiting Arvid, a brother that I baptised in 1969. He had invited us for a long time to come to see him. He wanted to talk to us over a cup of coffee in his home. For so many years we had been out of touch but now the time had come to fellowship again. I didn�t know what to expect when we went to see him but it is always good to spend time with old acquaintances.
After a warm welcome, some coffee, cakes and updating of one another, he wanted to hear my story as well as to tell his. Life had not been easy for him. He had suffered a lot of losses and gone through many difficulties. He had been struggling with illness and disease. He had been through a deep darkness but now the light was shining over his life again. �Looking back�, he said, �I wouldn�t have been without this experience of suffering and hardship. In fact it has become to me precious treasure and an honourable ornament. The Lord never left me or forsook me but he carried me through everything safely.�
I was blessed by his testimony. In fact his words are still burning within me, �an honourable ornament.� He was marked for life, marked by sufferings and hardships, but he wore it like a precious ornament, he was adorned with dignity. What a precious treasure God let us find in the dark places! How wonderful he is in his mysterious workings! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and methods!

Servanthood

Today the Lord impressed on me the issue of servanthood. I have been teaching all morning in Bergen Bible School. What a terrific bunch of good students we have this year, 33 in numbers. I have totally enjoyed my time with them. At lunch the issue of servanthood was forced on us through one person that had to end his lunch break to find a key for one of the students.
The Lord asked me: "What would you have done? How would you had responded to that request? Do you have a serving heart or are you just doing a job? Do you bring any personal sacrifices to serve people that seem to be less significant than yourself? Are there really any people less significant than you? How do you rate people? What make them significant?"
I realised that all human beings share the same significance of being created in the image and likeness of God. Even though we are all infected by sin, we are still loved by God. Our significance comes from the fact that the Son of God was willing to die for us. Each person I meet is one Jesus Christ died for on the cross. Such a person must be treated nicely and with respect. Each person I meet is one Jesus Christ came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for. Shouldn't I be willing to serve that person with a good attitude?
In the kingdom of God serving is not a way to power-postions or greatness. Serving is the only true greatness there is. Servanthood is the hallmark of the life of the kingdom of God. If I don't serve others with a sincere heart, I don't represent the kingdom of God.

Oh God, forgive me all the times I have only represented myself, my own interests, my own reputation and not cared for the wellfare of others nor given any thoughts of bringing honour to you through my words and actions. You know, this has happened to often. Please make servanthood the hallmark of my life!

Take also look at http://tobesomebody.blogspot.com

Johnny confronted me!

Last evening Johnny came to see me. Someone had told him of my Monday blog. He was a little bit upset. Why didn�t I talk to him before I wrote my blog? Why did I use so strong words to describe what took place in the Sunday service?
Then I realised that I had hurt him with my blog. Of cause that was not my intention. What he did on Sunday was not a big deal to me, because I have done the same thing many times myself. I have gone into the same trap on several occasions. I shared the happening in my blog just to illustrate a point that had been pressing in on me while I have been here.
But I realised that he had been hurt by my action and my words. The only right thing for me to do was to ask for forgiveness, which I did, and wonder over wonder, he forgave me!
Then we had a good time together talking through the realities of what had taken place and how we could avoid similar things to happen again.
I am very grateful to Johnny that he came to confront me and talk to me face to face. I thank God for the way he handled the situation. He is surely a good young man, a real covenant keeper, speaking the truth in love to bring reconciliation and restoration of relationship. The covenant community of God�s people in Vester�len should be proud to have Johnny among them!

Stay alert - be present!

Today is our last day in Vester�len. Tomorrow we go back home to Bergen. These two weeks have been rich in learning experiences. When we return we will bring with us new insight that will be very helpful to us as we serve God together. Even this blogging exercise has been useful and enabled me to think through our situation and to be more observant than what used to be normal for me.
This is what has become the key issue for me here: To stay alert and be present! To be awake and to be available! To look and to listen!
All too often we go through life half a sleep, not taking note of what is really happening around us. All too often we just see what is taking place on the surface, not realising the deeper issues of our ordinary days. All too often we are only operating on the natural level of human understanding, neglecting the unseen realities of our world.
The challenge is to be fully present with the people we meet and at the same time having all our senses open to the Holy Spirit to receive supernatural insight to help people. It is all about being refreshed by the presence of the Spirit and to follow his guidance, not allowing ourselves to be fooled by our natural reason.

A good story can't be told too often!

Yesterday I attended my second Sunday service with the covenant community in Vester�len. I was shocked at the beginning. A young journalist, Johnny, had been asked to give his testimony and tell of the good things God was doing. Now he was asked to come to the front and share with us the good news of God�s working in his area.
He came to the front with his head lifted high. When he opened his mouth Christian clich�s were gushing forth. He seemed to be bragging of something. He even read some verses from the Scripture and seemed to be preaching down to us. I was surprised, what had happened to the Johnny I heard sharing his story in the cell-group gathering a few days before? He must have been manipulated by some religious demons. He had forgotten his story and was just emptying himself of some wishy-washy religious clich�s. When he finished, I helped him remember the story he told at our gathering on Thursday, a good story, doesn�t matter how small I is, can�t be told too often!
Earlier in the week Johnny had an assignment to interview some people in their home. When he went to see them, he happened to knock on the wrong door! A lady he didn�t expect to meet opened the door. It was Heidi, a lady the cell-group had been praying for recently, ever since they came to know that she had got cancer. When Johnny came to himself after the surprise, he explained his mistake and asked her how she was. She wasn�t really interested in talking to him and the conversation seemed to come to a quick end. Johnny was praying desperately to God to give him an opportunity to tell her of the goodness of God. But nothing seemed to materialise. He just had to wish her well and goodbye. She gave a kind of common reply in this part of Norway: �One will hope and pray!�
Immediately Johnny knew this is the moment of visitation. �Pray, yes, that is very powerful. I am part of a group that is praying for people, may we pray for you?� Tears appeared in Heidi�s eyes as she was touched by his care and offer to pray for her. Gratefully she welcomed the group to pray for her. Then Johnny could share with her about the goodness of God and the power of prayer, before he had to hurry on to his assigned interview, in the right house this time.
Johnny was full of joy as he told the story, because God even had used his mistake to bring blessing to another person. That this person already was on the prayer list of the cell-group, made it even more exciting! God is certainly working among people in this area!