Building Bridges.....

I love plants. In the past I use to have several of Bonsai and that later turned out to a big interest in Orchids. When I had the most i had over 60 orchids. I love plants and flowers and thats why I really love parables connected with just plants. I read this nice story the other day and wanted to share it with you THE FERN AND THE BAMBOO One day I decided to quit…I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. “God”, I said. “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?” ... His answer surprised me. “Look around”, He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?” “Yes”, I replied. “When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the fern grew more vibrant a...

We have seen the financial crises hit hard in Greece, Spain and Portugal. People are losing their jobs. They even have to leave their houses and flats. I saw on the news the other day that a woman in Spain could not stand the shame of losing her job and flat, she then leapt to her brutal death from the fifth floor. Horrible. I get to talk to people around me here in Sweden. People are losing jobs here as well. I hear people talking about hard times. It feels strange though, because at the same time I hear that people are travelling abroad like never before during the most expensive times of the year. I see people shopping like never before in the big and fancy shopping centres. I bet the Christmas shopping will hit another record this year and I then wonder whether we do indeed have a financial crises in Sweden. In hard times it's even more important to pray. To pray for one another, to pray for our leaders, for our governments. To be there for one another, help each ...

President Obama won the election in the USA. He is not my president, it's not my country but his politics affects us in Europe and in the rest of the world. When Obama first became president, he wanted change. America was a divided country but after 4 years with Obama it's even more divided, not only in rich and poor, but also in races. It feels like it's even more difficult these days for Democrats and Republicans to work together in the senate. Work together, something they really have to in order to fix the economic situation in the US. Obama has not yet done anything with the nuclear weapon development in Iran, the situation is not very bright in Afghanistan, Guantanamo is still there, it was an "Arabian spring" but that turned out to be an "Arabian fall" with even civil war in Syria which he is not at all interested in fixing. I sense Russia, China and even Latin America are happy to see Obama reelected. I read in the newspaper that C...

Change, a word we often hear. What is change? Do we really have to change? I saw a poster on a wall that said: If you do as you always have done, you will get what you always have! Very true. We all have to change. It's hard to change, very hard. But if it does not feel hard it's not a real change. Many people are terrified for a change. They are so happy the way they have it. Some are happy with things around them, even if they know it's not the way they really would like things to be, but they feel secure, they feel comfortable. I heard a sermon the other day, the pastor was talking about changes. Why is it so hard? Why do we need to reject changes?? It is hard, very hard. If I could interrupt that sermon I would have said out loud! Include people in the process of change! Value people, see them, involve them. Let's make the change together. It's still hard but when we walk together as one, we are able...

Leadership summit 2012 Enjoy!  We had a great time as always!!

In Helsingborg, a town in the south part of Sweden, Jesus was about to get banned! A local politician wanted to ban Christian celebration during the annual Christmas fare. At this place, an old outdoor theatre and museum that hold nice fares, is every year having a "live" crib. The man who wanted to ban Jesus, said that the fare should be without politics and religious influences. The church of Sweden and many other Christian organisations confronted this man and after one week of total silence, the man now regrets his policy and the fare can keep its crib. Great news, but I wonder: Why on earth did he put so much effort in something like this when Christmas is all about Jesus? That's why we in the first place celebrate it. Second: There are other things to put all your strength in. In Sweden we have 16.000 homeless people that despite a law that says that every person in Sweden should have a home. Put your effort in dealing with that kind problem instead.....

A couple of years ago the Church of Sweden, was separated from the state. The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden, a Lutheran church The Church adopted, at the time that it was still a state church, an administrative structure largely modelled after the state. Direct elections are held to the Church Assembly. The electoral system is the same as used in the Swedish parliament. To vote in the Church general elections, you must be a member of the Church of Sweden, at minimum 16 years of age, and nationally registered as living in Sweden. The groups that take part in the elections are called nominating groups. Also political parties take part in the elections. The church of Sweden suffers. Many people are leaving the church and together with that many immigrants who have other beliefs system , the number of members decreases. Media and the church itself talk about a country that becomes more and more secularised. The media never talks about other ch...