December 31, 2002

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!

December 30, 2002

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!

December 27, 2002

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!

December 25, 2002

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!

December 23, 2002

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.

December 22, 2002

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.

December 21, 2002

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!

December 19, 2002

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


December 18, 2002

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!

December 17, 2002

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.

December 16, 2002

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!

December 13, 2002

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!

December 11, 2002

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.

December 10, 2002

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!

December 09, 2002

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.

December 05, 2002

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!

December 04, 2002

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.

December 03, 2002

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.

December 02, 2002

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!