Erling Thu

An historic achievement

Yesterday I won a great victory. I really accomplished an historic achievement – in the kitchen! For the first time in 47 years I was able to bake something successfully! Actually this was only my second attempt to bake in my entire life. The first time took place 47 years ago as I had left home and was travelling as an evangelist.

The Manhattan Declaration

I have just read the Manhattan Declaration. I fully endorse everything in that declaration made by Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant Christians in USA in an united effort to defend the classical Christian views on hot political and religious issues in our time. I recommend everyone to read and spread the declaration. The reference to the political situation in USA makes it fit for citizen of that nation to sign the document in my understand, otherwise I would have signed it myself.

In Norway the government has already passed laws on abortion, same sex unions and partnerships, which are in the process of changing the entire nation into an ungodly, secular, atheistic, society. No one knows the what full consequences of these laws will be, but they will certainly not foster peace and harmony.

Learning to cook

Since we returned from India I have to learn to do new things as I have to look after my dear wife. She has been looking after all the practical things in the house, such as cleaning, washing clothes, preparing food etc. At the moment she can do nothing but take rest in her bed. She even needs help to get out of the bed for  necessary visit to the rest room. I am doing my best to look after her, but I have a lot to learn - like learning to cook.

Solveig is blogging again

Solveig has just posted a wonderful entry on her blog. She has not been blogging for some time, but now she has written about the dramatic accident we met with and her situation today. Visit her blog!

I love the covenant community

We have been through a dramatic car accident in India and have just arrived back home in Norway one week after the serious event. We have been overwhelmed by the love and care from the covenant community in India and in Norway. We have had phone calls, SMS, emails, etc. from many of our covenant friends. It has been very moving to hear all the kind and encouraging words. Many covenant communities in India have been fasting and praying for us after hearing about the serious accident we met with.

Solveig sustained compression fracture

During our stay in Ongole Solveig's pain did not go away but rather increased. Therefore I ordered her to see an orthopaedic doctor and to have some X-rays. Then the doctor discovered that she had sustained compression fracture of body of first lumbar vertebra in the serious car accident we met with. She was advised not to sit for prolonged periods.She needs to take complete rest for 4-6 weeks. She was further advised to travel in laying down position. It may take three months time for her recovery.

The goodnes of God

Our dear covenant friend Zephry D'Souza, who travelled along with us, has written this report on what happened to us in the car accident. He also shares some very encouraging insight in how God caused people to pray for us to protect our lives.

This is his report:

God has saved our lives - once again!

Our journey in India has come to a halt. Some days ago we met with a serious car accident. God miraculously saved our lives. Together with our dear covenant friend Zephry D’Souza we were on the way to Ongole. We had just left Warangal. We travelled in an Innova taxi which is a very good, safe and comfortable car for long journeys. The estimated time to reach was six hours. The road from Warangal was very good and the driver was a fast driver, - to my delight.

A fruitful ministry

We are having a wonderful time in India. God is showing us in every place we visit that by His grace we have been having a fruitful ministry. We had a prophetic word that this time we would see fruit from our work for the Lord and that what we wouls see would just be a fortaste of what we were going to see i days to come.

Every plave we have been we have received testimonies of the fruit. Today a pastor told us that during our last visit we prayed for many people and that our prayers had been answered. As a result people had come to Christ. What a joy to see fruit of the work by the grace of God. A fruitful ministry is by grace only and not by human efforts.

We are rejoicing in the Lord for his faithfulness is without end!

Being ministered to by a poor lady

While we were visiting Kalimpong we had a most remarkable experience during the last day of the leadership seminar we attended. We were being ministered to by a poor lady in a way I have never experienced before. We had just had a wonderful time worshipping the Living God. The teaching seminar was about to start and the convener was handing the meeting over to the teacher. Then an old poor lady came to the front. She told us that God had spoken to her and told her to do a prophetic act by buying seven honouring scarves to bring to this morning gathering. Instantly she obeyed the voice of God and here she was with a packet in her hands. The leader allowed her to proceed.

A time of prayer and prophecy

Today we spent time with leaders of covenant communities spread out in many places of Nepal. First we had a blessed time in dialogue with one another from some part of the Scripture.As we looked at what the Bible really is saying we found some precious truths and deep insight. But the highlight of the day was the time we spent in praying together, waiting on the Lord, and bringing the word of the Lord to people and situation. Zephry, Solveig and myself were able to bring clear direction by the Spirit of Prophecy. I love these moments when the Prophetic Spirit is moving powerfully among us and the Body functions as it was supposed to do. We have had some very good reports of what God is doing in Nepal while we have been here, but today as we were praying and prophesying we felt we were in the middle of the move of God in this nation. A time of prayer and prophecy is a time in the dynamic move of the Spirit of God.

The Kingdom of God is advancing in Nepal

During our time in Kathmandu we have many leaders from covenant communities in several places of Nepal. They have one thing in common in what they share with us. They all tell of people coming to Christ and they all tell of miracles taking place. New covenant communities are being started and unreached people are being reached with the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Satal was brought back to life

Today I met Satal for the second time. We met first time in February. He comes from a remote place in Nepal called Jumla. Last time we met I gave him my book “Finding Your Place” in Nepali. He was very much blessed by reading the book and what he learnt helped him a lot in his walk with God. Ever since he read the book he was asking God to show him the place God wanted him. Four times a thief broke into his house and stole things from him, and Satal asked God why this was happening to him. God told him who the thief was and that he should forgive him and even give him the only thing of worth that was left in the house, a cooking stove. He did as God told him and it became a powerful testimony to the people of that community.

Free WI-FI

I have just discovered that I have a free Wi-Fi connection at the airport in New Dehli. We are on the way to Kathmandu. We had a lot of problems checking in as the computers did not work. At last we came through. As I connected to the Internet and was able to read my emails boarding started! Therefore I have to leave. God is good!

Visiting Nepal

Our stay in Jaipur is coming to an end today. In the evening we will be on our way to Nepal. We have enjoyed our visit to Jaipur very much. We have been with great people and we have been together in the presence of God. We are looking forward being with the covenant community this morning. We always hear some great stories of the goodness and power of God at work in everyday life when we meet with the covenant community in Jaipur.

In Nepal we will visit Henry and some of his friends. Henry has just been visiting us in Norway and we look forward to see him again. Nepal is in a transition period of time and we need to pray a lot for the people of that nation. When I visited Nepal first time in 1971 I was told that there only was 500 followers of Jesus in the entire country. Today I am told there is 700.000 to 1000.000  believers. The Kingdom of God is certainly advancing!

I don't know when I will be able to connect to the Internet next, but I will stay in tune with the Holy Spirit. When we are connected to the Holy Spirit we may transcend many barriers.

Meanwhile

As I have spent time having dialogue with students and leaders during my first days in India I have been struck by the importance of small words in the Bible. I have met with people from the covenant community in Jaipur. They are all interested in what the Bible says, but I have noticed that they have the same tendency as my Norwegian friends. When we look at a portion of the Scripture and want to find out what it says,we have the tendency to quickly jump to conclusions, ignoring the small words that could have brought deep insight.

Instant obedience

Today I have been reading and meditating on two stories in the book of Acts chapter nine. Peter is one of the main characters in both stories. He had a word of knowledge which he passed on instantly with no hesitation or doubt. He acted on what God showed him immediately. When Aeneas received the word of the Lord, spoken by a human being, without arguing but by obeying by doing the impossible, the power of God was released and he was healed instantly. The word of God carries within it the power and strength we need to act according to it, even when God asks us to do what we can't do, humanly speaking.

Arriving Jaipur

Early this morning we landed in New Dehli, but all morning flights for Jaipur had still left. However, our friend Zephry had arrange for a taxi to take us to the Pink City. We had no problems to find the taxi, a Toyota Innova, and had a nice journey to Jaipur. Nice - very long - five and a half hours - as Solveig dosed of quite often. We had brought with us some delicious Norwegian apples, Gravenstein, which we enjoyed on the journey.

When we approached Jaipur and even more when we were taken through some of the bazars we realised that Divali was about to occur as people were busy decorating the streets. Divali is the Hindu festival of Light and we as covenant believers can celebrate that Jesus is the Light of the World.

We have already had telephone calls and short text messages on the mobile phone from our friends whom we eagerly expect to see in our hotel soon. We are excited to be back in Jaipur and believe that we will see the hand of God at work as we are led by the Spirit day by day during our visit to this wonderful city.

Visiting India again

In less than an hour we are leaving for India. Solveig and I have the privilege of visiting  two times a year. India is a fascinating country with the most beautiful and kind people in the world. We just love India. We love to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We thoroughly enjoy worshipping with the covenant community.

India is a colourful continent and very diverse in its outlook and cultural expressions. This vast nation has recently faced the worst flood in one hundred years. At least two million people has been effected by the flood. But we hear very little of it in the news media in the West. Hopefully we will be able to report from the flood and also from some areas hit by draught. The challenges are enormous. But the Indian people seem to be able to survive with a smile of faith and endurance.

We thank God who has enabled us to visit this great nation.

World Watch

Last week we attended a World Watch conference at All Nations' Centre in Cardiff arranged by Ministry Without Borders. We had inspiring reports from all over the world and Spirit filled preaching everyday. We were also able to interact and dialogue with the speakers as well as the many delegates from many parts of the world. All the participants from Norway (we were a quite big group) were excited to take part in the conference. We are very happy to be part of an army of ordinary believers doing great exploits for the Kingdom of God in our days.

Tithe and generosity

I have discovered that a lot of believers look at tithe and generosity as two opposites. I find that strange. I believe it is a Christian virtue to be a generous giver and freely help people in their needs. I also believe that the tithe belongs to Christ and that I steal from him if I do not pay the tithe. Only after I have paid the tithe I can become a generous giver!

The joy of praying together

Every Tuesday morning the leaders of Kristent Fellesskap have met together for prayer for many years now, and I still find great joy in praying with my fellow servants of the Lord. This morning we were only nine brothers, but we had a wonderful time together in the presence of God. We meet six o'clock in the morning and sometimes some of our friends oversleep. We start by reporting and updating one another and by sharing insight from the Word of God, but spend most of the time just praying together.

This morning we sensed that the Lord is promising us a spiritual breakthrough in the work, the churches and in our nation, even though we have to change some of our plans and trust the Lord only.

There is great joy in praying together in the presence of God. We come closer to God and each other when we pour out our hearts before the Lord. When we pray together we come to know each other after the Spirit and not after the flesh. In prayer we discover that we are actually kindred spirits! We are carrying the same burdens. We are having the same longings and dreams. And we all focus on the Lord as our source!

It is a great privilege to be part of a leadership group that prays together. It is good to work together, but even better to pray together!

Teaching in and out of the class room

The last week I was teaching and spending time with young people in Bergen Bibelskole and at the house in the forest from morning to evening. Because of that I did neglect my blog. My time was filled with the young people. I find teaching and spending time with young people very fulfilling. I like teaching in the Bible School but I prefer to sit with them in a living room, eat with them at the kitchen, work with them in the forest, fish with the in the lake, - and all the time dialogue about the Lord and his wonderful kingdom.

To hear him and be healed

This summer I have been reading the four gospels. At the moment I am in the Book of Acts. In Luke I noticed that Luke several times was saying that people came to Jesus to hear him and to be healed from their diseases. When Luke is recapturing what the gospel was all about, he is saying in Acts that it is about what Jesus began to do and to teach. Jesus was healing the sick and preaching the good news in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Walking and talking together

Today I have read the exciting story of the two men walking to the village Emmaus, seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were talking about everything that had happened. They were quite confused and perplexed by what had taken place. It was certainly not in line with their expectations. They had been stirred by a prophetic hope and was looking forward to an imminent release of the people of God from the godless influence of the secular powers of society and a fulfilment of prophetic promises. But their hope had been shattered. They could not explain why things had turned out the way they had.

The lost father-heart

I just been reading Luke 15 where Jesus is telling three parables, the story of the lost sheep, the story of the lost coin, the story of the lost son. But as I read it I discovered that the message of Jesus is not about losing, sheep, coin or a son, but about the loss of a caring heart, or rather the loss of a father-heart.

What will the child turn out to be?

All our ten grandchildren have been visiting us in the house in the forest with their parents this summer. Two grandchildren are still with us. I love my grandchildren. They are all very special and precious to me, each one uniquely created in the image of God. They are all different, but I don't prefer one before the other, for they are all wonderful grandchildren. It is a miracle in itself that I have 10 grandchildren as the doctors told my parents that I would never grow up to become an adult because of illness they could not heal. By the grace it din't turn oput the way the doctors predicted.

Family worship

This weekend we have had a large gathering of our family at the house in the forest. All our children, except one, have been staying with us with their precious children. We have been ten adults and seven grandchildren together for the weekend, and on Sunday we even had four more visitors. It is such a joy to have a big family around us like this. All are having a lot of fun as we are playing, fishing, picking berries, making bird boxes, building huts in the forest or just talking and fellowshipping.

An attractive life

As I was reading in the Gospel of Mark this morning one small sentence struck me. The last sentence of the first chapter really got me thinking. It is just a short summary of what happened as people got to know about the life and deeds of Jesus Christ. People from everywhere kept coming to him. What an attractive life!

People from everywhere kept coming to him because of the attractive life he lived in caring for people, healing the sick and delivering those who were oppressed by unclean spirits. People actually flocked to Jesus. He could not be seen in public without attracting a crowd.

I am not envying him have a crowd around him all the time, but I fully understand why people are attracted to him, as I myself is not only attracted to him, but have fully committed myself to him because of who he is. He is the Son of God and the Son of Man. He is the human expression of the divine love. He is unique in every possible way. He is my Saviour and my Lord. He has forgiven me all my sins. He has given me a new life. He makes me feel special. He makes me dream big dreams. And he lets my dreams come true!

He speaks to me and he listen to me. He loves me and he cares for me. He is always near, never too busy or far away. When no one takes notice of me, still he sees me. He sees my hurts and innermost feelings. He knows my struggles and the challenges I am facing. And I can come to him at any time! He always welcomes me, never turns me away.

I think that if we lived the same way Jesus lived our lives would be attractive as well. If we care for people and have some spiritual power that enables us to help people in their sufferings and challenges people would be attracted. When Jesus Christ lives in us we will an attractive life and be a blessing to many people.

When the righteous talk together

God is saying through the prophet Malachi that heaven listen attentively when the righteous talk together. Not even is heaven listening with great joy and intensity, but the Scribes of heaven are writing down their names and everything the righteous say.

God works in redemptive ways in time of crisis

After my last entry on prophetic judgment and salvation I read the book of the prophet Zephaniah. Once again I was struck by the close connection between judgment and salvation. Look at what God is saying through the prophet:

Therefore, be patient, says the Lord.

Soon I will stand and accuse these evil nations. For I have decided to gather the kingdoms of the earth and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them.All the earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy.  Then I will purify the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the Lord together. Holy Bible : New Living Translation. (Zep 3:8-9).

God is saying that he will pour out his fiercest anger and fury on the nations and devour all the earth by the fire of his jealousy. To me that seems like a total destruction. Who can survive his fierce anger when he devour the earth by his fire? My Norwegian version is actually saying that his fire will destroy the entire earth and make it desolate and empty. But by the grace of God he will not let anger and devouring fire be the end. In his anger God shows mercy!

Then, at this time of judgement, God is actually doing a redemptive work. His saving power is even at work in his acts of fierce anger. Through his judgements on the nations of the world and the work of his devouring fire on the earth God is actually purifying the peoples of the world and bringing them together in worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ.

The world is going to see more crisis occur and awful catastrophes take place in the days ahead. The fierce anger and fury of God will be seen i action in many realms of our societies. The fire of God's judgement will devour the entire earth. But the outcome will not be destruction. God works in redemptive ways in time of crisis. A lot of shaking will take place. Many dramatic changes will occur in the nations of the world. Many nations will face severe difficulties. Even the wealthiest nations of the world will be shaken in their foundations in these days. There will be uphealval and confusion in every area of life.

In this time of judgement God is bringing multitudes of people groups into his Kingdom. In the day of his devouring fire God is actually purifying the people. He is redeeming a holy people for his own glory. He is purifying the world by saving mulitudes of people from every area of society in every nation.

Therefore we pray with the prophet: God, in your wrath show mercy! Let your judgements bring redemption to a world in slavery to sin.

Prophetic judgement and salvation

As I have been reading the books of the prophets over a long period of time, over and over again, it is dawning to me that there is a very close connection between judgement and salvation. All the prophets are warning the people of God that judgement is coming. They are describing the result of judgement in dramatic terms as if the earth is made empty and void with no survivors. They paint a very dark future because of the severe judgement of God that will come upon the nations of the world.

But the prophets have one more thing in common!

A wonderful Bible Week in the presence of God

We have just arrived home from a most exciting time at the Bible Week at Stokke. We have been in the presence of God together as a covenant people to hear from him and be refreshed by his Spirit. I think that we were around six hundred people gathered to meet with God and one another. From the very beginning God spoke to us and moved powerfully among us with his Spirit. He gave us a very clear focus on what he is doing in our nation and the wider effect of that for the world.

God spoke to us through the preaching of the Word in the Bible, his prophets and prophetic gifts. His word gave a very clear direction for us as a covenant community anointed by the Spirit. The atmosphere was electric. The word of God created faith, hope and love among us. We were taken to a higher level in the Spirit. It was like a new fresh anointing was being released among us.

Many people came to Christ to find salvation. Many more were buried with Christ in baptism. Many healings took place.

The Bible week has begun

Today we had our first gathering in our annual Bible week at Gjennestad, Stokke. About 500 people are gathered to seek God, hear his word and fellowship together. In the opening gathering the Lord directed us to focus on our own country to pray for healing of our nation, which we desperately need. We need to heed the promises of God for our nation and to preach the word of God which will bring a rich fruit and great harvest.
I am excited to serve God with my brothers and sisters in a time like this. God is moving by his Spirit and he will bring refreshing to his people and enable us to bring the good news of God's abundant love to our nation.

Ram Singh has been promoted to glory

Saturday morning we had a SMS message asking for prayer for Ram Singh as he had been admitted to Intensive Care Unit at a hospital in Jaipur. Solveig and I spend some time in prayer for him, but in the afternoon we had another message telling us that our beloved brother had expired in his second heart attack. Both Solveig and I felt very sad for the loss of a close friend, faithful co-worker and a prophetic voice.
Ram Singh and his wife Pushpa were the first disciples of Zephry and Brenda D'Souza in Jaipur. Ram Sing was an elder in the covenant community and he was a beloved brother and friend. Now he has joined his wife in the joyful presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ram Singh was an extraordinary man. He was a true saint. He was caring for all the people in the covenant community. He had the gift of encouragingment and exhortation. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ and the people of the Lord. He was always overflowing in thanksgiving and praise. He was a prophetic voice to the covenant community and to me as well when I was visiting Jaipur.
I thank God for the privelege of knowing Ram Singh for about 18 years. His blessed and loving memory will be with us till me meet again when the Lord Jesus Christ returns.

It is all about Jesus

Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola have written a wonderful Jesus Manifesto which I enjoyed very much. They show us their love for Christ in what they write, even though some theologians are not fully satisfied with what they write. It is all about Jesus. He is the only person that matters. He is the Truth, the Way and the Life. I love Jesus more than ever and will live to serve him and make him known.

Bible School Graduation

Yesterday I had the honour of participating in the graduation celebration of Bergen Bibelskole. Twenty students finished their study well this year. I have had the joy of spending some time with them sharing a little bit my insight from the Bible and my walk with God for more than fifty years. I like being with young people, and I especially like being with young Bible students. Yesterday was a day of celebration and word of appreciation and encouragement. Today the real examination of life starts. It is the life lived from now onward that will show the effect of spending one full year at studying the Bible and applying it in life. Now the real Life Application begins and I am confident that the students will do well.

Prayers have been answered!

It is a great joy to tell that our prayers concerning selling our house have been answered. Yesterday we accepted an offer as we found it acceptable. Solveig and I have agreed in prayer that the house should be sold before St. Hans (23.06.2009). We thank God for his faithfulness and also all our friends who have joined us in prayer. Now we all have another reason to rejoice. God is good. Within a month we will move to our new house in the forest in Lindås, Nordhordland.

All - everyone - me!

Last night I spent with the covenant community at Stord. Twenty five young people were gathered together to worship the Living God, enjoy fellowship in the Holy Spirit and listen to the word of God. I believe no one was disappointed or let down by being present, but rather the opposite happened. People met with God and had an encounter with the Holy Spirit in a relaxed atmosphere of friendship and fun.
I was asked to share from the Word of God and was sharing about what God is doing among his people in the world today to change this world. We had a good dialogue as we went to the Bible to finds what God says about this age of the New Covenant which is also the age of the Spirit. By the grace of God we discovered that God is pouring out his Spirit on all people. Everyone is included in God's love and plan of salvation. Every believer can be used of God in a powerful way in the age of the outpouring of the Spirit. God showed us that each of us can say: I am included! I can be used by God!
We are the prophetic people of God! We know God and we have a close relationship with God. Therefore we may speak for God and be used as his errand boys in small and bigger matters.
Some of the people present needed to be touched by the healing power of God and we all prayed for them. Not all of them could testify of complete healing after the time of prayer, but they were all touched by the power of God. A young man received double healing in his legs and knees as another young believer laid his hands on him and prayed loudly for him. God is good!

Attending a wedding - visiting family members

Solveig and I have just arrived home from attending a wedding and the joy of visiting family members in Jæren where we come from. We love wedding celebrations with long meals, songs and speeches. We love being with our relatives and friends that we don't see to often. This weekend we saw Solveig's three sisters and my three brothers as well as Solveig's old mother at the age of 91 and my aunty at 97.
Wedding and relatives at our home place make us aware of our rich heritage and roots. It is a powerful reminder of not being alone in the world, but being part of living history that is still developing.

Assisting in ordaining elders

The evening Solveig and I had the privilege of assisting Terje Dahle, who leads the apostolic work when Noralv Askeland is in the Philippines, in ordaining elders in an newly established church in Kvinnherad on the western coast of Norway. We had a wonderful time with the this beautiful group of people together with our covenant friends from the region. Both Solveig and were able to speak prophetically to the church and the new elsers. They were all encouraged by the word of God.
God is about to bring a great breakthrough for his kingdom in this area. I am so thankful to the Lord that we are allowed to take part in what he is doing among this emerging church. It is very exciting to see with our own eyes that the Kingdom of God is advancing!

A new prophetic generation

I am very thankful to God to be able to serve him in a time like this when the Spirit of God is moving in such a powerful way among the covenant people. God is pouring out the prophetic Spirit on his people. There is a fresh anointing available to all who are hungry for godly realities. A new prophetic generation is being birthed in these days. I have had the privilege of being with some of them recently and I am very excited of what I see and what God is doing among us.
At the weekend we had a prophetic gathering at Gullbotn with fifty plus people. We went to the Scripture to hear from God. We went direct to God in worship and prayer. We heard from God through the Word and through specific prophetic words. We encountered the power of the Spirit and all those suffering form any disease or infirmities were touched by the healing power and testified of being healed. The weekend was a time of practical training and equipping of all the participants. God gave us wonderful promises, encouraging words and down to earth direction. Revelation was imparted. Secrets were disclosed.
God is at work. A new prophetic generation is on the move!

Trying to sell our house

Two years ago we bought a summer house 45 minutes from Bergen city centre. We like the new place which we just call the house in the forest so much that we plan to move and make it our permanent residence. The last three weeks we have been trying to sell our house in the city. We have had several people looking at it and we have also had some offers, but we have not yet got what we want for the house. It is very interesting to see how different people are and how they view and value things differently when they come to look at the house. The other day we had a couple where the wife was so excited for our utility room while most of the people are excited for the tremendous view we have overlooking the fjord. We believe the selling of the house is in the Lord's hand and that he will look after us even in the trivial thing of selling a house.

Beautiful God

It is spring time in Norway. This is my favourite season. The whole nature speaks of God's beauty. The beautiful winter season is over. Now the entire landscape come alive from the sleep of death. The grass is green. The leafs of the trees are fresh in a great variation of the green colours of life. Flowers are budding everywhere. The birds are singing. Everything around me is a witness of the beautiful creator who is behind all the beauty of this wonderful world in which we live.
God is beautiful in his creativity. God is beautiful in his holiness. God is beautiful in his righteousness. God is beautiful in his goodness. God is beautiful in his graciousness. God is beautiful in his power. God is beautiful in his love.
Beautiful God, the whole universe is full of your glory!

Precious fellowship

The last few days I have been together with my friends in the apostolic team at Gullbotn. It was a very precious time of fellowship in the presence of God. We really experienced the reality of Psalm 133 about the precious fellowship of brothers living in peace and harmony with one another. We have shared with one another from our hearts and we have been praying together and received prophetic words of encouragement and direction. We have enjoyed delicious meals prepared by Solveig. The food always tastes better when eaten in the company of covenant friends. And we have been planning for the future.

God is up to something

We are living in exciting times. The Spirit of God is moving in new and unprecedented ways. From the four corners of the world we are receiving news of the movement of the Holy Spirit. And we Norwegians are not left out! Praise God, he is at work in Norway also! This morning at our weekly early prayer meeting we had lots of reports of what the Spirit  is doing among the believers in the covenant community. Young people are on fire for God. They are witnessing for their friends and they are functioning in spiritual gifts. New people are coming to Christ and are being baptised and discipled. Healing are taking place. The level of the power of God is rising among the believers.

A weekend in the presence of God

Friday Solveig and I flew to Skien to join the covenant community for a family retreat at Vegårstun camp site. Our long standing friends Åge and Astrid took us by car to the beautiful camp site in the forest by a lake. This is a perfect place for a retreat with the entire family.

Extraordinary power

We are living in a day of extraordinary power. God is increasingly manifesting himself among his people in great power. The Bible speaks of the Day of His Power. This is the day in which we live. All over the world the Spirit is moving among the people of God enabling them to heal the sick and set the captives free. A new generation of Christians are being seen in the earth in these days. They are moved by the Spirit and used by God to perform wonders as the meet the needs of people around them. They care for the poor, they love people and are engaged in saving the environment of the earth.
God is giving extraordinary power to ordinary Christians who is willing to be led by the Spirit. God is certainly up to something great in these days of his power. It is exciting to serve God in a time like this.

Living in the presence of God

One of the main Christian understanding of God is that he is omnipresent. The Psalmist is saying that there is no place he can avoid God or be out of his sight (Psalm 139). In fact our life is an open book to him, even from a distance he knows what we are thinking. His reassuring presence is always with us.

One billion souls to save

Christianity in China is booming. With 100 to 150 million believers, far more than the 74 million-member communist party, Jesus is a force to be reckoned with in the People’s Republic. Jane Macartney  from The Times talks to the new faithful who love China – but love God more.