Erling Thu

Mother's Day

We are celebrating Mother's Day in Norway today. My mother has already gone to be with the Lord so I can't phone her or visit her. But I still like to honour her sweet memory. There are myriads of galaxies and stars in the sky, but there is only one mother to me. There are countless flowers in the field and some marvellous sparkling diamonds, but there is only one mother. There are so many beautiful pearls and amazing jewelleries, but there is only one mother. Her face, marked by wrinkles, is the most beautiful image I have ever seen.

My wonderful wife, Solveig, has been a wonderful mother to our six children. No she is also the best grandmother in the world. She has had several greetings already from some of our children. Before the day is over I expect them all to have been in touch to express p and gratitude. When she had her first phone call this morning from her elder son and read her card from her younger daughter her eyes were filled with tears but a smile was playing on her mouth. And she gave thanks to God for all His goodness towards her in giving her the privilege of being a mother.

I thank God for my mother. I thank God for my wife who turned out to be the best mother my children could ever have. I thank God that he comforts me like a mother!

The power of culture

The culture in which we live is perhaps the most dominant power in our lives. Therefore we need to know the culture to be able to master it and not to be mastered by it. Actually we are more influenced by the culture than we understand or like to admit. Therefore it is difficult to overcome and not be overcome by it.Our modern western culture has dethroned God as the ultimate source of truth and morality and enthroned sinful man in his place. As our culture has become increasingly hostile to Christianity, it has become correspondingly open to wickedness.