Building Bridges.....

Soon the year 2011 is over, a new year will begin. It is always with mixed feelings I say goodbye to a year and greet the new one. It's true that you cant go back in time, you cant change the things you did wrong, the things you should not have done or things you think you should have done. Has the previous year been a success? has it been what you expected? Did it turn out to what you wanted it to be? Success, in what way? Success in your personal life or in your careers? What is success? When I talk to colleague and some close people around me, success is always about money and fame. Money, fame, beauty, cars, houses, sex,... John Maxwell in just one minute tells us what true success is : http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1kd605aqi7U enjoy and remember: You cant change mistakes you done in the past year, but you can change the rhythm to repeat them.. Happy New Year....

Today December 20 it's four days to Christmas. I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Jesus, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth may we begin to see the world in the light of the understanding you give us. As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive the greatest news the world had ever known, so may we worship you in meekness of heart. May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate than ourselves in this season of giving Blessings click for a simple blessing of Christmas http://www.icfeuropaporten.se/merrychristmas.html Mats

I've just now seen a debate program on Swedish TV, were they talked about should or should not when it comes to schools celebrating advent in churches. Some are against it some are for it. One of the guys against it said "it is not good, the children should not be forced to do this against their will. It is something they should do on their free time" "We are living in a secular society!" I agree with the priest that said" we have a secular government., We don't have a secular society since we are the society and I and many others are Christian believers." Very true. The society is US and I and very many others want to continue to go to church, sing advent songs, bless the children and be very proud and grateful that we are living in a "society" were we have the right to go to church. Live out your Christian faith! God bless you all.

Among other things, I work for the Swedish post office as a purchaser and just in front of me were I'm sitting the "lost and found has their office. Rather many things is fallen out of letters and small packet's, and when people find keys and wallets out in the street, they put them on the mailboxes. Then the "lost and found" take care of this keys and wallets and forward it to the police. This specific morning my colleague told me that something rare happen. She got a wallet with a driving licence, an ID card etc in it, but what was unusual, it contained rather much money! She tried to find the man, who was not a Swedish resident and by chance she got to speak to the mans wife! OH how glad she was that we found that wallet! The man came by later on to pick up the wallet, but by then my colleague had gone for the day. I met him, a Romanian guy and told him the story. He talked in English and when I told him that his ID card, his driving licence, h...

God is speaking to us ---but are we listening? I read an article in a Swedish newspaper the other day, by a famous Swedish preacher and writer Ulf Ekman Ha says: Preachers, theologians and many others are wondering what is needed to reach the Swede today with the gospel?. Much effort is spent thinking and analysing what can be done, both to lack of interest in spiritual matters, and the part of Christians relative spiritual lukewarmness. Well I don't have all the answers but one thing I do know is that people in general very seldom do what you tell them to do, they do what you do! As a Christian you have to be a living example. Don't be judgemental, be open. Before you can lift people to higher ground, you have to find common ground! Many Christians especially in Sweden are a bit afraid to talk openly, in schools, at their workplaces or among friends and family about their Christian faith. Ive witness that "Internationals" coming to Sweden and are e...

In Saudi Arabia Islam's laws rules everything. The country, which is one of the world's most oil-rich, also has a football league with several foreign players. Many of these players, likes tattoos. Now the rulers in Saudi Arabia decided that players who have tattoos with Christian subjects must have long sleeves when they play I'm not very found of tattoos myself and if a football league institutes such a law it should be all kinds of tattoos but no , not in Saudi Arabia. There it is only the tattoos with Christian motives! "These tattoos affect Saudi youth negatively.That's why we want all the foreign players with such tattoos covering their arms during matches," it says in a letter sent out. There is a football player from Colombia named Juan Pablo Pino playing in the league and he has Jesus tattooed on his arms. The police stopped and rebuked Pino other day when he was in a mall with his pregnant wife. He wore as a shirt without sleeves. As...

Yesterday evening I did the mistake by watching the film "The stoning of Soraya M". Mistake in that way that after I've seen the film I could not sleep. The scene were Soraya get stoned, buried in to the ground was horrible. Unbelievable authentic. The blood, the sound, the fear in her eyes. Perhaps the most horrible scene in a film I've even seen, and whats even more scary is that this film is based on a true story. Back in 1986 a French-Iranian Journalist get stuck in a remote village in Iran. He meets a woman who tells him this story about a women sentence to this cruel penalty for a adultery she did not even commit. Back in history stoning was a punishment that was rather common and still today stoning is a punishment that takes place in Iran. A very famous story from the bible, in John 8, a woman is caught and the mob want to punish her for her adultery. They turns to Jesus and asks: " Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In ...

I read an article today in the newspaper about a couple in USA having bible studies in their home. "The American couple has been fined for having arranged Bible studies at his home in San Juan Capistrano, California. The gathering is a violation of the local order of the Charter." When i read the header i instantly thought of Old Russia and the communist state, or how today's Iran is function. I'm thinking of the"tipping" system" that once was in DDR "Formally, it is true that they did not followed city rules that say that anyone who intends to gather more than three people in her home must request permission, a condition that costs money. And every Tuesday and Sunday is Fromm's gathered friends and acquaintances to Bible study, sometimes with as many as 50 participants. No consent, they have not had a thought about acquiring." Strange is that it is OK to have some friends over for a BBQ and watch football...! "We read ab...

Today I read an article in one of the biggest Swedish newspapers about morality. Birgitta Forsman, a science theorist writes "Liberate ethics from religion" "Sometimes religiously based morality is build on false notions of reality and thus results in a quite unnecessary suffering" "The Bible tells many stories that are as exciting and visceral as the Icelandic sagas. And like Hdvamdl contains many words of wisdom, so do the Ecclesiastes and Proverbs in the Bible. But there is nothing to build morale in our global world." "In Catholic Poland, so-called family-friendly politicians have right now a strong support. These politicians would be better called misogynistic, because their agenda is primarily to ban abortion" "marriage between ethics and religion has led and still leads to so much suffering." "Ethics should be based on democracy, equality and free speech not religion" Well, Biritta Forsman, it may be ...

During the 80's I used to listen to a lot of Punk music from England and the USA. I had many favourite bands like Sham 69, Ramones, Clash and so on. In the midst of this a girl from Germany, east Germany to be exactly came and shocked a lot of punk rockers with her GREAT voice. She had a trained voice, you could hear that when she sang and she sang in a language we could not understand. Her name is Nina Hagen. Nina Hagen came and went at the same speed in my life and I also in a way abandon punk music for something else. Hard life with drugs and alcohol almost ruined Nina Hagen's life and that was and sorry to say is the "true" life of rock n roll. In the news paper the other day I read an article about Nina Hagen. Nina then says that when she was at the bottom, when she almost died, God came to save her. What!? Nina Hagen!? Not that God wouldn't save her but Nina admits that! WOW. I had to read more. She says: I had to die first to be rescued by God. But u...

(Photo by Håkan Röjder) We went to the Rock group "The Ark" last performance on Friday. It was my son who wanted to go and it was the last day of the annual Malmo Festival so I joined my son. The Ark is not my favourite band but they have an interesting sound that is a bit familiar to David Bowie ( some might not agree though) One of the first songs was " Breaking up with God" The lyrics is like this I heard the call, but I won't follow 'Cause now I'm breaking up with God I've had it with shame, I've had it with sorrow Now I'm breaking up with God And the devil too Now I wanna dance the night away Well Mr Ola Salo ( the singer) You might want to break up with God, but God has not broke up with you. Like an earthly father who has problems with his son, he will not kick you out. You are breaking up with both God and the Devil, but isn't it so Mr Salo that you want to be God yourself? He will care for you, h...

This weekend our annual Malmo festival begins. During one week the whole city is on its feet, having a great time with food, music, art, and other kinds of entertainment. It is a great opportunity for us to be out there as witness for Christ, to meet people and to connect. Many people have strange opinions about church, Christianity, and religion over all, and it is now we have this great chance to tell people about the truth. "Streetchurch" will be out there, so will our Filipino and Iranian brothers and sisters and I do hope that all of you will join them or do something special for your selves. It doesn't matter if we change the heart of many or few, what mater is that we show our city that we are here and that we care.

Second hand shopping is something very popular in Sweden. You find a lot of nice things with a very low cost and you get your so called " own style" Its great for the recycling as well. The different second hand shops or charity shops, support different things. Some support the homeless and the needy in our city. In another shops they sponsor "ship to Gaza" Ive been in to this particular shop several of times and I always wanted to ask them about their cause. I did so the other day and they said that it is a act of humanity to the suffering people in Gaza. That's a nice thing to stand up for, I said. My second question was: If you so strongly stand up for the people in need around our globe, when will you sponsor ships to North Korea? As I told her, in North Korea people really suffer and they would be so happy if you send ships their way. She looked at me as I was a lunatic. My point is: Do people really want to help the people ...

On July 22, a horrible and disgusting act of Terror took place in Oslo and at the island of Utöja in Norway. I was laying in my sofa, having a nice cup of coffee, enjoying a great game of golf from the Scandinavian masters on TV when a news flash came. A bomb in Oslo! golf became less important and I changed TV channel in to Sky news. Horrible scenes, bleeding people, glass and rubbles every were. It looked like Oslo was in a war. After a while reports came in, that said shooting on a island. A politician youth camp. many dead. To much to handle. Now, after a week we have a bigger picture. Many are dead, many more wounded and still people are missing. Its unreal to think about all the young ones who brutally were shot down. No matter where the terror comes from, we have to fight it. Together we will make sure that love wins In Jesus name Amen

Recently I saw a BBC TV program from Bangalore INDIA. Very interesting program. One episode was from a prison that gets the food for the inmates from a near by Hare Krishna Temple. The food is that great they say, that even people from outside try to get in enable to taste the food. The sad thing is that there are people in India that outside the prison walls suffer harder with starvation and even persecution than inside the walls. The prison guards were very proud to be a partof this prison and it's food, but I wonder if they ever thought about the people who tried to get in, to be in prisoned at a unbelievable overcrowded prison, just to get proper and enough food? On one wall at the prison it was written : Jesus is the only way, and one inmate had a t-shirt that says: "the best is yet to come"! How true both this statements are. Jesus is the only way and even though it feels dark sometimes he is there with us all the time....

During the second world war, lots of men and women sacrificed there lifes for good reasons, but there is one event during that war that really grab me emotionally. In 1941 at Auschwitz some Jews were left to die in a bunker. They were left there to starve to death. One of the selected men, a man named Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, lamenting his family,then a another man stepped forward volunteered to take his place. This mans name was Maximilian Kolbe. Kolbe was a Catholic priest, imprisoned in Auschwitz, because he had been hiding and helping Jews. Kolbe took his place in the bunker. During the time in the cell, he led the men in songs and prayer. After three weeks of dehydration and starvation, only Kolbe and three others were still alive. Finally, he was executed with an injection of carbolic acid. Gajowniczek survived through the time in Auschwitz,and died in his home in the mid 80′s

on June 26 I lead another bible study: Summer....Seriously, focus on John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV) The 25 'Verily, Verily' statements make the priority of truth a clear, intentional and pervasive reality. The Gospel of John is a very powerful presentation of Jesus It’s a personal intimate relationship with Jesus It is critical that we establish the priority of truth at every level it intended to impact Jesus clearly speaks about the truth and the truth will set you free at every possible level! We had 3 questions to discuss in small groups for around 20minutes Question 1 What are some of the levels you can identify where truth needs to prevail? Jesus is giving priority to the truth. Jesus speaks truth in to you so that you can speak truth in to others and in to yourselves. Question 2 What do you feel is the most critical level for you personally? A personal change of attitude. Worry less and believe in God...

A lot of people, Churches, congregations and so on very often says: We have no time, no money to fix that. There are not enough resources.. Heard it before? If Jesus were knocking on your door today asking you, how is life going? are you doing as I told you? and got the answer, lack of time and money, sorry cant do it. Not enough resources, you know how it is! Do you really think he would cope with that? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't! As Kieth Green sang, The world is sleeping in the dark That the church just can't fight Cause it's asleep in the light Sad isn't it.... Let's wake them up!

Today I lead a bible study on the theme " Summer....Seriously!!! "Getting in the groove...." ( Got it from Pastor Terry Hoggard) reading from The Gospel of John. What is your favourite summer event that helps you "get in the groove"? Many answers: Travelling, seeing friends and family, sport activities, listen to God, reading the bible What is the one thing you want to do this summer in order to 'get in the groove'? Sleeping, relaxing, stress less, seeking God's will etc. The purpose of the 25 'Verily, verily' statements is to clarify/confirm His will & to challenge & change our hearts. Which of these do you desire most? Here we had a great variety of favourites but the top 3 will be : John 3:3, John 5:19, John 16:23 Great study, nice fellowship...

I read in the newspaper the other day an article about the actor Jim Caviezel. A great actor who has been in fantastic films such as The Thin Red Line, Pay It Forward, The Count of Monte Cristo, Passion of the Christ etc. "The Passion of the Christ" which was produced by Mel Gibson was a big success in the year 2004, but sad to say Jim Caviezel has had tough times getting other roles after that film. Why? Simply because he took the Jesus part in that film and by answering yes to the question: are you a believer, Jim was outcast by "Hollywood". People in the business don't want to deal with him. Jim reflected to it by saying: We all have a cross to bear. Jesus is just as controversial today as he was 2000 years ago! Nothing has changed. You have to give up your name, your reputation, your life to reveal the truth.. Pretty tough but that's the way it is. It's not about us, it's all about Him!!

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt 16:26) Powerful words and true ,yet so many of us tries to gain the whole world and in our constant eager to get more we loose our focus on whats right.. Money, power and success is ruling the world. But there will be one day when we ask ourselves, what for? was this it? is this all? No I want to say as in the song "Living for your glory" by Tim Hughes. Here I am use me for your glory In everything I say and do,let my life honor you Here I am living for your glory! Amen...

Today we had a Bible study on the subject Learning To Live And Lead From The Front 'The Importance Of Living Mission-Focused Not Activity-Filled' We briefly went through thel ast Bible studies that we had in the past and then went on with today's study. Introduction There is no greater joy than living by faith and maximising the impact of our lives. One of our great challenges is to be able to honor God in all that we do and say so that we can live to the 'praise of His glory'! We are constantly challenged to move from good to great and from doing our best to being our best. To accomplish this we will need to shift the manner of our living to being 'mission-focused' rather than 'activity-filled'. In this study we are going to investigate and discuss three significant passages of scripture that clearly emphasize the importance of this kind of living. 'The Importance Of Living Mission-Focused Not Activity-Filled' 1) In Ephesians 5:15 we...

Sunday service but without God!? At a theatre in Stockholm, Sweden they want to have a Sunday service, just as the one in a church but to without God. They have Sunday preachings, songs, and coffee and rolls after the service, but no God. Asked why they do this they say: we want to reach those who are not believers but want to have some kind of spirituality. They also say that the difference between a service in a church and in their place is that through their service they want to reach the hearts of the audience and not their minds. Well the purpose of service is so God can reach others through our hands. In II Cor. 9:12-13, the Bible says that the service we provide not only meets needs but expresses thanks to God and leads others to praise God. The Bible also says that service builds up the "body of Christ." (See Eph. 4:12.) During a service in a church we often talks about the Heart of man. According to the Bible, a person's heart reveals his true nature and m...

Many times you feel like giving up. You feel like you done it many times before and always failed so why go on, just quit. Tenacity is perhaps not a word that's in your dictionary, you feel like giving up. But think of the small children. When they learn to walk. The raise up, fall down, raise up again and so on. Over and over again they try, eventually they all learn. You did this a s a small child, we all did. I have not met anyone that said to me: " it was to hard to learn how to walk, I didn't make it, I quit. So therefore I continue to crawl"! So be like a small child, be tenacious, don't give up!!

Outside our kitchen window there is a big willow tree. In this tree a pair of wood pigeon are building a nest. I saw them last year and it is amazing to sit with a nice cup of coffee watching these birds. They work very hard building on the nest. They come with a stick, put it in the tree and it falls down. They know they have a good stick so they fly down to pick it up and down the stick goes again. Over and over again they try, different angles and different sticks but then! there it goes. Another one on top, then another one and after some days a perfect nest is in place. A nest that can stand the birds weight and hard winds, a nest that will bring a new generation of pigeon in to this world. Two wood pigeon, a couple working hard together as a great team. Determined to get it done. Think if we could be just as determined as this wood pigeons, to build the kingdom here on earth, all together as a great team. Wow

Churches are growing in Malmo, Sweden. My city! That's what I read in the newspaper the other day. WOW, not everyday you read something like this in the newspaper. The article is referring to one congregation in Malmo, named "Slottstaden". In this part of Malmo city a lot of elderly people live, but now many young couples with small children are moving in and that effects the whole district, even churches. This congregation had around 10 to 15 kids on an ordinary Sunday but now over 100 small children, singing, shouting and patiently listening to the stories in the bible. God is moving in Malmo, Sweden right now.

I bet you love to see a smile. A smile on someones face is great to see, its contagious. Every time you see someone smile you get to smile yourself. Just imagine when you start, how many can follow. To smile is not only great it Lifts your face, make you look younger! It relives stress Lower your blood pressure Helps you stay positive. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin Smiling makes you look good! The songs "Smile" ( music by Charlie Chaplin) has a great text. "Smile, even though it's breaking When there are clouds in the sky You'll get by... If you smile" Isn't it true!! Keep on smiling...

Silence is something very important in our life. To have a quiet time all alone is necessary. For some it can be a short time and not that often, but for others very frequent. The need of silence is changing in your life I suppose. When I was younger it seemed that I did not need very much. When I was in Ireland back in the 80s, we came to the very south west part of Ireland where nature is breathtaking. The cliffs plunged into the sea and the grass is incredibly green. At this place some of the people that I was travelling with sat down and admired the view in total silence. So did I but not for long. I felt that I wanted to walk around take pictures, see new things, take notes etc. Silence is important and it is in silence we can hear God's voice speaking to us. Nowadays I measure how good my relationship to a friend is on how long time you can be together in silence before it feels uncomfortable. Just think of how uneasy it was in the beginning you met your spouse, ...