Building Bridges.....

For some years now I have read books by the famous new testament scholar and professor N.T Wright. I have done some classes online and even met him when he last were here in Sweden in 2013. His new perspective on Paul is both interesting, refreshing and in one way confusing. The Bible is a living book, the more you read and study it, more and more you discover and it is great that you get help on the way doing so by the many theologians out there. But, I've discovered that when you do so, study the Bible, change perspectives, writing about it, speaking about it, you will get followers but even opponents. I would say it is very normal, but when it comes to Christianity it very often gets dirty. ( there are other areas where that happen as well) N.T Wright have been accused for not being a Christian, for not being biblical, for being totally wrong, even dangerous. He is told being deliberately disruptive and divisive. Pastors have told churches not to invite him or po...

Some Days ago we were in Lund, a university city close to where we live. In Lund there is a big cathedral from the 10th Century. There are many tourists and others visiting and especially at this time since it was a cultural day in all of Lund. Many special happenings in the cathedral such as music, prayers and story tellings for the children. As I entered the Church one father said to his young daughter: " Oh look what a big house this is". His daughter replied, " It is not a house dad, its a church" Further in a mother was walking with her two children, they grabbed her hand and said: " hurry up mum, we want to see Jesus". Matthew 18:1-4English Standard Version (ESV) Who Is the Greatest? "18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will...

In Sweden we just had an election to the Church! In this election you can vote for many different organisations and political parties that later on will dictate what kind of Church the Swedish Lutheran Church will be like. Strange since the state and Church was separated years ago. In the secular society we have here today, politicians have for many years neglected the Church. Some politicians have even back talked the Church. But the Church is a good platform to be seen and heard so politicians want to use the Church for their own agendas, they want to control it. Yesterday there was a debate between politicians about this election, many of them are not regular churchgoers, some are not believers or even Christians, but they are seeking for power and influence of the Church. When you read what the different political initiatives want to do with the Church there are ideas such as: "that the Church should be more green, solar panels on the roofs, or " the Church ...

Yesterday I heard an interview, or should I say a panel discussion about Christian faith by the famous actor David Suchet, well known for his role as Poirot in Agatha Christies murder story. The first question to him was : what are the challenges and opportunities being a Christian in today's world ( I think he meant the western World) David Suchet started to say that " he rather would like to be in an environment where everyone is a Christian, like in a Church, religious University etc, but in his world the entertaining and artistic world it's very hard. " Davis Suchet mentioned " its though out there" several of times. Yes it is very though out here. Everyday is a spiritual struggle. Being a Christian in the secular world, an outspoken Christian is hard. In some places you can loose relationships, positions at work, well sometimes even your job. In the country of Sweden where I live, it is though out here. In a way not only for Christians. It...

You hear a big bounce and glass smashing. You run in to the room and see your child standing there totally alone. The window is smashed. you ask " what happen? who did this? the child answer " I don't know it was not me!" It is a common reaction from children, it was not me, and I know it can be frustrating, but even more so when adults and leaders reacts like this. So for instance at work, there's always the temptation blaming someone else or explaining why factors outside your control contributed to your failure. Some researchers say that leaders who act this way are less effective than those who acknowledge their shortcoming and admits their faults. Defensiveness hinders leaders' ability to learn and, as a result, their success. The researchers found out that leaders who carefully listening to the critics/feedback took it to their heart and did something about it, trying to change were much more effective leading their business/ministry for...

At a Swedish, rather recently while interviewing the new Catholic cardinal the hostess asked the Cardinal why the Catholic Church is so backward, why the Church cant just go with the flow... I'm not a defender of the Catholic Church, I'm not Catholic and the Catholic Church is not big in Sweden but this is what I know the Church has done and is doing. The Church is the largest single provider of health care and education in the world, working especially in some of the poorest countries where there is no other care available. The Church started education for every one in a time when good education was only for the rich. The Church started hospitals where everyone could go no matter their status in the society. In 1948 the UN put forward the declaration of human rights. These rights were so clearly based on Christian principles that some Muslim states objected and refused to sign on that basis because it conflicted with Sharia law. I bet this hostess are backing those h...

I got a question the other day at my office while having lunch. One of my colleague asked me: " I know you are a Christian, I know you are a leader at Church and that you go to Church every Sunday, but do you really believe in it? Are you really buying in to all what is written in the Bible?" First I was very surprised , in general my colleague never asks serious question about faith, its always ridicules questions or statement, and I thought this question was very ridicules at first. When I came home and started thinking about it , why did he ask? Why to me? Is it so hard to believe? I also started to think that am I good at talking the talk, but how about walking the talk? Is there something in my life, my way of living, acting, that makes him question my faith or what? I had to ask him and so I did. He asked me for two different reasons. First as he said" lots of things in the Bible doest not make sense. We live in the year 2017 and we know better....

Recently and sad to say still, we have a political crisis in Sweden. To much to say about it so I won't go into detail. The other day a bishop from the Lutheran church tweeted some lines in favour of the socialist prime minister, do to what he said and done during this crisis. It didn't take long until the leader of the liberal party tweeted something about this Bishop. The tweet says: " I did not know that the Lutheran Church had opinion about politics, I thought the state church was abolished. " For more clarifications the Bishop mentioned used to be involved in the socialist party. After these tweets twitter totally exploded with tweets both for and against the Bishop. Many are saying she did the right thing, some say the church should not take political stand, some say religion is just for you to share in private, some say it is OK to talk politics since Jesus was the first socialist..... First I don't think the Bishop took a political stand, ev...

Some time ago I got a question that was very straight forward. It was not addressed to me personally but I took it very personally. The question was: Where do you lead from? Many people think that leadership is all about position. Many times have I heard people saying that: He/she is not the leader, why should we follow them? John Maxwell writes: " If I had to identify the No. 1 misconception people have about leadership, it would be the belief that leadership comes from having a position or title. This position myth, that you can’t lead if you’re not at the top, couldn’t be further than the truth. The erroneous thinking of this myth is that leadership is position, not influence.". Many times have I witness organisations waiting for the leaders with positions to start leading, to make decisions, to start communicating, and while waiting missing the very moment to move forward, to succeed. If you want to succeed, you need to learn as much as you can about lea...

Rather many years ago I got some documents from my grandfather. It was tax papers, marriage documents, Estate inventory etc. way back in time. It was very interesting. I got names and birth dates from ancestors generations back. I started to do some genealogy. My father was born 1943, he had a brain damage back in 1985, so since he is not that reliable I had to get information elsewhere. My grandfather born in 1918, died way to early back in 1995, my son was only 1 years old and cant remember who he was so my son has to trust me in things I tell him about his great grandfather. My great grandfather died when I was 10 years old so I do not remember much about him. No one further back in history do I have eye witness of. Their memories are fading and the memories of my grandfather will also fade away when I do so. Ordinary people do not right books, do TV programs etc so there are just photos and verbal memories left. It is different with Royal families , presidents or prim...

Leaders who always defend themself in stressed situations, can be an insecured leader. There are sayings that people who never does a mistakes never really do anything, and a ship is built to cruise the hard waves not to sit in a safe harbour. I've recently met and been exposed with leaders, who no matter what happen always defend themself. I've had hard time putting the right words on their behaviour but I got help reading about Christian leadership. *Insecure leaders have to be right. So they misinterpret what people do and say so they themselves seams to be right. *Insecure people don’t see people as people; they see them as either on their side or against them. *Insecure leaders either avoid conflict through passive-aggressive means, or they look at every situation as a potential conflict.They are either too soft and squishy or harsh and uncaring. This type of insecure leadership is not only found in the secular world, you can even see in some churches. ...

People crying, people terrified. New York,San Bernadine,London,Manchester,Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Paris, Niece, Brussels, Ankara, Istanbul, Stockholm, Kenya, Copenhagen, Oslo, Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Moscow, Amsterdam, India, Iraq, Germany, China, Syria, Kuwait,Nigeria, I can make the list longer. Terrible terrorist attacks, innocent people killed. We pray, we mourn, we cry, we stand together, we show love, we say we are never giving up or giving in, " Je sui"! That is the perhaps correct way to respond, but when is it time to be angry? when is it time to feel fed up, when is it time to say it is enough, when is it time for us all to talk about the elephant in the room.

A church must be operated “decently and in order” (I Corinthians 14:40).For this to happen there must be administration.This is not for one man to do, it is a real team work but as in every team there has to be ONE leader in charge. Of course, this ONE leader in charge is the pastor. So what is the role of a Pastor? is that to be a administrator ? I read the following from Pastoral Ministry by John MacArthur "Concerning the role of the pastor, the Bible says a great deal. The primary terms that describe the role of the pastor are “elder,” “bishop,” and “teacher” (1 Timothy 3:1-13). “Elder,” or episkopos (from which we get our word episcopal) refers to the oversight of the believers, and it involves teaching, preaching, caring, and exercising authority where needed. The elder also serves in the church as leader and teacher. In Titus 1:5-9, Paul urges Titus to "appoint elders in every city." They will teach and lead the congregation in their spiritual development. A...

Some years ago I read the book " everyone communicates, but few connect" by John Maxwell. A very interesting and helpful book. It is true that there is a distinct difference between communicating and connecting and not everyone thinks about , connecting. It is also true that communication is not only what you say, it is also what you are not saying. We have a lot to learn about communication, but what then when there is no communication at all? Have you the experience of that? are you that person that very seldom communicates or are you that person that are the subject for "no communication"? Failure to communicate effectively often leads to conflict, which can harm an organisation. Poor communication can create conflict in a number of ways. Totally lack of communication can create uncertainty that leads to stress and conflict. So start communicate but do it properly. Take a moment to think who you are communicating to, what it is and why you are...

Some say as a Christian you should not become political in your reasoning's. I really wonder where this comes from!? For me politics is very import and, so is my Christian faith. I really Think Christians should get more involved in politics but perhaps not support and work in specific political parties. If we for instance look at Sweden, who very early separated the state and Church. Often we hear that your faith is something personal, something for you to keep for your self. To do on your free time. With the very large population of Muslims in Sweden and with this arguments, there is a vacuum. For Muslims there is no separations between their faith and politics. For them religion is Everything. That's why its a Clash in the society when Muslims start living here, and the Swedish politicians don't know what to do. As Professor N.T Wright puts it " we as Christians should be mirrors and tell politicians, people in Power what they do wrong or Wright" ...

Today my friend Kirk spoke at our service at church on Joseph. He had many questions for us and the first two were: •Q#1: What is the worst thing that you have ever done to someone else? •Q#2: What is the worst thing that someone else has ever done to you? We were not supposed to anserw them during the service, but to write them down, take them home, pray about it, and then take the anserw to the cross and nail them there. First I was very certain about my answer. It was lying on both the questions. But at home I felt something else. It was the same answer on both the questions this time as well but the answer was: not giving people that are close to me time and attention. Just think for yourself for a minute. Do you remember what you got on your 11th birthday? 15th birthday, at Christmas? Perhaps you remember if it was something very spectacular, but in general you do remember when your mother or fahter spend time with you, when they took you somewhere, when the...

Some month ago I did a huge job in my office. I spend rather many hours programming, moved a lot of equipment etc so that it should be easier for people to work. It took me 3 Days doing so, and after almost one week I did not get any feedback. When we had some coffee I talked to my colleague and he said: " if you hear nothing, that means they are happy with the job". OK, we are Quick to criticise but slow to praise. First I thought , this is a typical Swedish or perhaps secular behaviour, or not. I am a bi vocational Leader/Pastor for an English speaking international Church and sad to say I have the same experience there. People approach you rather often to "complain", "want to change things or just want things, but very seldom or should I be that brave and say "never" approach you to hug you and praise you. My sister in Christ said" you will be praised in heaven!" That's for sure, I'm not serving to be praised but...

Easter has passed! At Church we had a peaceful and warm Good Friday service. A time to reflect! As I see it: We very often (I) want and Think that we are Simon of Cyrene, that we are Walking with Jesus and that we are carrying the cross. Often instead we turn out to be Simon Peter, that is denying Him, and not Carry's the cross. Then lead us back o God, lead us back to the cross, let us carry it and let our sins die with you. Amen

April 13, 2017, Don Moen had a worship meeting in my Church here i Malmo Sweden. It was not our Church that arrange the meeting, some churches in Copenhagen did, but still in my Church. I say My Church since it is here I serve, it is here I worship, it is in this Church I have my friends and family. The worship service was very nice in many ways but it is after some Days reflecting you get the perspective. My wife and I love Don Moens Music and lyrics. But that Thursday we saw Another side of the well known worship leader we never would have seen if he never had come to our Church. We saw a very open minded, warm, and humble man. He is used to have this worship services for thousands of people, and this Thursday, perhaps 300 people showed up. Not so many as he is used to see, but never the less, a great evening. I Think it is perhaps of this low number of attendance that we could get a more personal feeling to the evening than if we were 1000 people. I have been sing...

There is an Italian proverb saying: "Meglio sola che male accompagnata", "better to be alone than in a bad Company" That might be true In churches we very often say to each other, sometimes even from the pulpit that "come as you are, come with your burdens, you are safe here, no one is perfect, you are loved, it's a tough world out there" etc. Talking is one thing but how about actions.... Its hard having a though time "out there" and to feel lonely "out there" but its even harder to feel lonely in the Church. Start living your preaching.

Over 250 years ago the Swedish king at that time signed a new law for freedom of speech and freedom of press. The first time in history and the first country in the World. We still can enjoy this great freedom in Sweden together with the freedom to practise any religion. It is true we have all this freedoms in our constitution but when it comes to media and society it has tighten up. Today you might, mark I say might get sacked from work, beaten on the streets, laughed at,or ostracised for taking a stand for Jesus, for being pro Life, question gay marriage, support the newly elected president in USA, are pro Israel etc. It is like an invisible force that swipes all over the country. but as Jesus himself declared: You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (matt 10:22) Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. But beware of men; for they will hand you...

Again and again we read in the newspapers that people in Sweden are leaving the Church. During 2016, 80.000 people left the Church, a record high. In the past as soon as you were born or became a Swedish resident you were automatically a member in the Swedish state Church. That's not the case anymore. Lots of peole are not becoming members since they have another faith or no faith at all. Rather many people are leaving the Church for the same reasons but what the media, Church and government don't really understand is that many people in Sweden are leaving the Church because they are Christians, they have a strong faith but they don't feel the Swedish Church has that. As one Christian journalist said " People are not leaving the Church because they are not Christians, they are leaving the Church because they are! How to change the situation?