July 30, 2003

A busy holiday

A busy holiday!
Today I have no feeling of holiday at all! In fact from early morning I have been at work. First I had to read and evaluate some manuscripts sending feedback to the coordinator of the publishing effort of Ministries Without Borders. Then I had a phone call from someone needing some counseling. We had that person come around to our home for a good talk to sort out things. Almost as soon as that was over I had to sit down with another person at the office to talk through the situation that person was going through. It has really been a full day of work on this busy holiday!
"The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. (Hosea 14:9)
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July 29, 2003

A wonderful day

A wonderful day!
By the grace of God it has been another wonderful day. I have been able to do a lot of work in the garden and Lasse who lives downstairs helped me a lot. An extra blessing was to have Jakob come to help me dig as well!
Solveig went with Bente to pick blueberries. They had a good time but didn't find much blueberries!
When Josef came with his family we had a nice barbecue and we enjoyed the time with them all.
I have filled the garage with wood that I need to cut to be able to keep the house warm the coming winter. The wood gives heat many times. First when we bring it home, next when we cut it, and finally when we put it into our stove or open fireplace in our living room!
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July 28, 2003

Vacation at home

Vacation at home
Today I started some days of vacation at home. As a house owner there are always lots of work to do! I have been working hard in the garden today. It is so good to be able to use the body for some heavy work. God is so good that he has created us like that! I love to use my hands to work and sweat, having my mind free to wander everywhere or just be present with me in my hard bodily work!

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July 27, 2003

Wedding celebration

Wedding celebration
Thursday I went down to the staving area to attend a wedding celebration Friday night and visit relatives for the weekend. I ha d hoped that I would be able to bloc from there but it didn't work out.
however, we had a very nice time at the wedding of Else and Simon Levin slog�rd at J�rgarden Kvalbein at Brusand. Nearly 100 guests attended the wedding celebration that started at 18.00 and ended 01.30 in the morning! The Norwegians love long wedding celebrations! We were served very good food, plenty of very good food! We had one meal after the other! Then we had a lot of speeches in between!
It is always nice to visit relatives when we are "home" at J�ren! We had a good time with all of Solveig's sisters. I cycled to see my brother Sigurd and his wife Marit. Solveig and I were also able to spend some time with my aunt Sara who is now 91 years old. Solveigs mother is in good health at the age of 86, but is becominglittletle bit forgetful!
We went together with Solveig's sister Solv�r and her husband Egil Toft. They live here in the Bergen region. We enjoyed a nice travel with them today and arrived home in the afternoon.
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July 23, 2003

The centrality of worship

The centrality of worship
I have been reading in Ezekiel 40-48 today and once again been struck by the centrality of worship. God wants his people to worship him in spirit and truth. He wants to dwell among his people and to raise his throne in their midst. Therefore he is commissioning the prophet to tell the people of God all about the temple, so they can see the design and meaning and live by its design and intent.
"This is the law of the Temple: As it radiates from the top of the mountain, everything around it becomes holy ground. Yes, this is the law, the meaning, of the Temple."
The Sanctuary of God and the city will be at the centre of the entire land, at the dedicated area, set apart for holy purposes. The "holy square" includes the part set aside for the city as the sanctuary, Temple, and the city belong together. Worship is the basic and most important activity carried out by any human beings. The covenant community of God is a worshipping community. When the people of God worship, his presence is manifested in glorious ways among them. When the covenant people worship in spirit and truth there is a glorious radiation from them sanctifying the society in which they live. When the people of God worship rivers of life-giving waters will flow into society and life will flourish.
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July 22, 2003

The Bible week is over

The Bible week is over
Late last night I arrived home after a long drive of many hours (12) from Stokke to Skjæveland to Bergen. Solveig is staying with her Mother for some days and I will join her at the weekend for a wedding celebration.
We had a very good time at Stokke at the Bible week. All the six hundred plus people who attended were excited and wanted to come back for another Bible week next year! Many people were touched by the Spirit of God in various ways to renewal and healing. Several people came to Christ and were baptised.
The venue for the Bible week is a beautifulplacee fitting for a gardening school. The big lawns and all the bright flowers made it a very pleasant surrounding to experience the presence of God among his people during the whole day.
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July 18, 2003

Bible week at Stokke

Bible week at Stokke
Wednesday the Bible week at Stokke started. I was ministering the word of God in the opening meeting. About 550 were gathered in the big green house. Six hundred pluss have registered and many visitors from the surrounding area are attending the meetings. Lot of people arrived even after the meeting. There is expectancy in the air. People are hungry for God. In the opening meeting we could feel the presence of God. Spiritual gifts were in operation and people were touched by the Spirit of God.
I was ministering on change. God is the unchangeable, almighty God who changes everything according to his plan and purpose. The entire Bible is a document of change, from nothingness to the fullness of creation, from chaos to order, from darkness to light, from ugliness to beauty! That is the way God is working throughout history! We don�t understand the theology of the Bible if we don�t accept that change is the most important dynamic of the Kingdom that God has given to his people! We must go beyond accepting change as part of reality to become a people that cause change to take place in line with the plan of God!
The Powerpoint presentation will soon be made available for downloads on our community site!
Thursday morning it was terrible hot in the green house! Some said it was 35 degrees and some said 40 degrees! To all of us Norwegians it was terrible hot. Still we were able to enjoy the teaching of Knut Osland and Arne G. Skagen. They were both ministering on bringing out the gospel to all people. They both did an excellent job. Arne came on after Knut and it was hard for many people to concentrate in the heat. However Arne managed to keep everyone awake and alert by his good humour and his stories!
In the afternoon Solveig and I managed to take a short trip to the sea for a bath. It was so good to swim in the lukewarm sea and just dry in the sun afterward.
Keri Jones was ministering the word of God in the evening meeting. He used the story in Luke 5 when Jesus called three apostles to teach us to fish for people! As usually Keri was excellent! He is full of life and joy, and he likes to challenge all our religious ideas to make us real followers of Christ! There was great excitement and joy when he finished his message.

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July 15, 2003

Acting out of what I am

Acting out of what I am
I have been reading and meditating in the scriptures of the prophet Ezekiel recently. He saw visions of God and became the spokesman of God. He was sent to bring messages of judgment and hope. The other day some words of God struck me, and have been working in me continuously ever since.
In Ezekiel 20 God is saying: "I acted out of who I am, not by how I felt, so that I might be honored and not blasphemed by the nations."
The last week I have felt miserable. I have been in the mire of despair, and I have seen no way out. I have felt like a total failure, falling short in all areas. The enemy has tried hard to make me give up. With my heart and mind I have know with myself that it doesn't help to give up, and that my feeling of being a failure doesn't give the true picture of my situation. Still it has been a struggle to overcome the bombardment of negative thoughts and emotions.
When I read these word of God about acting out of who I am, and not by what I feel, I was strengthened and empowered to make a decision of how to act in accordance with what God has made me irrespectively of how I feel! It is not a new revelation, it is something I have known a long time, but it had been clouded by my swinging emotions. When I read what God said, I was comforted and encouraged. A new strength came to my inner being, a fresh determination, a peaceful rest in the grace of God.
I am a child of God. I am saved. I am forgiven. I am a new creation in Christ. I am the handi-work of God. I am a servant of God. I am a prophet of God. I am chosen by God to bring his message to his people. I am called to serve the purpose of God in my generation, - in my life-time. I will certainly act out of who I am, and not by what I feel!
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July 14, 2003

Listening to a young student preaching

Listening to a young student preaching
Yesterday morning a young student, Tor Eivind Nyg�rd, was preaching at the service at Kristent Fellesskap in Bergen. I was very much blessed by his ministry. He was sharing on how to be refreshed and strengthened by the word of God.
As I was listening to him opening up the Scriptures and sharing his insights born out of his own experience, I was filled with thankfulness. It is a privilege to listen to such fine ministry and it is a great blessing to see quality young men like him come forth among us. It is really the grace of God towards us.
I was bless by the way he used the Scriptures. I was blessed by the personal touch in all he shared. I was also very touched by the way he honoured those other young leaders with whom he had been working. Tor Eivind is a fine young man, he is a true follower of Jesus Christ, a man of stature, a man of quality, a servant of God with a exciting future!
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July 12, 2003

The noise of Grandchildren

The noise of Grandchildren
Two of our grandchildren, Jakob and Sara, have been staying wit us for the last few days. They are filling our house and the whole neighbourhood with a sound of joyful life and excitement as fitting for grandchildren!
I hope the neighbours enjoy the sound as much as I do. It is the sound of a great future already born! It is the sound of hope for a new tomorrow. It is the sound of children enjoying the grace of God. It is the sound of the present mercy towards us, a fruitful life in the love of God!

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July 10, 2003

Cell group

Cell group
Yesterday our cell group joined with another cell group since so many are away on holiday. Solveig and thoroughly enjoyed being with the new cell group. Bodil Dahl was leading the gathering in a wonderful way and all participated in one way or another. I was very blessed by the presence of God and the warm relationship among the new group. Solveig and I were the only ones from our own cell group that could come but we didn't regret that we went.
There is something beautiful about the fellowship with God's people that is difficult to explain in human words because coming together in small or larger gatherings to meet with God and one another is of such great value. There is a joyful lightness, a peaceful joy, a holy love, and a sacred appreciation of one another that takes us out of this world and allow us to enjoy heaven on earth a few hours.
God is so good!
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July 09, 2003

Working at Gullbotn

Working at Gullbotn
Today Solveig and I have been working at Gullbotn which is our apostolic house, the base for the apostolic team which we are a part of.
I have been doing some editorial work on some books due to be published by "Ministries without Borders". Several books covering very relevant subjects will be made available soon - hopefully! There are a team of writers and an international editorial board. As soon as the books are ready for publication and distribution I will bring information on that.
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July 08, 2003

Visions of God

Visions of God
Ezekiel, the prophet among the exiles, saw visions of God. The word of God came to him and the hand of the Lord came upon him that day! It is challenging reading to read about his encounter with the Glory of God.
The moment he heard the voice of God, the Spirit entered him and put him on his feet. As God spoke, the prophet listened.
He was told by God to get God's words inside him. He was to listen to them obediently; to make them his own. Then he was to go and speak to his people the message of God.
This is the way we are all intended to live: Listening obediently, make the word of God our own, live it out and then speak it boldly to the people we are living among!

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July 07, 2003

New community site

New community site
Solveig and I are in the process of developing a new community site. You are welcome to join our community and take advantage of the resources made available there.
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A wonderful Bible Week

A wonderful Bible Week
We arrived back home last night after a wonderful Bible Week in Harstad.
It was so good to see all the young people who met with the Lord. Many of them committed themselves to Christ and were baptized in water and in the Spirit. God is doing something very good among the young people in the North.
It was very encouraging to see the growth of the church in Harstad. Torbj�rn and Hulda Hansen are doing a great job in leading that work!
Terje Dahle is leading the work in the northern region of Norway and God has given him great grace and insight.

July 04, 2003

40th anniversary of faithful love

40th anniversary of faithful love
Today Solveig and I celebrate our 40th anniversary of faithful love. Forty years ago we exchanged rings and promised to be faithful to one another. We are still in love!
This morning Solveig gave me a yellow card with wonderful love declarations and a joyful commitment for another forty years! Later she went to town to by me Sm�rbukk caramels and my favourite love berries; Norwegian strawberries; with a big card with this definition of love: Love is a fruit that is in season the whole year. Love may be picked by all hands and knows no limit!
My wife is the most wonderful wife in the world! She is God�s gift to me and has made my life a happy and meaningful life. I am for ever thankful to the Lord for his gift to me. And I don�t find words to express my admiration, affection or deep love for my wife.

July 03, 2003

Bible Week in Harstad

Bible Week in Harstad
Yesterday we arrived in Harstad for our Bible Week. Torbj�rn Hansen whom is lead the church in Harstad welcomed us at the airport and took us home to serve us a delicious salmon for dinner before we were taken to Trondanes Frilyndte Folkeh�gskule.
We had a good time when we were together last night and this morning in the seminar. The word of God is being taught in a practical and challenging way. When Arne was teaching us to preach the gospel he was able through a word of knowledge to bring an unsaved participant in the seminar to the Lord!
Hallelujah! God is so good!

July 01, 2003

Team gathering

Team gathering
Since Monday the apostolic team has been together for seeking God and do some planning. We have had a very beneficial time as we have been sharing with each other and looked at the strategy for days ahead.
Tomorrow we go to Harstad for our Bible Week for the northern part of Norway. We will be enjoying the presence of God as well as the midnight-sun and the magnificent scenery.
I am also developing a new community web-site. Please visit www.erlingthu.no