Erling Thu

True sacrifices

We will show mercy to the poor and not miss an opportunity to do acts of kindness for others, for these are the true sacrifices that delight God's heart. (Hebrews 13:16 TPL)

Enjoying life

I am so thankful to God for the ability to enjoy life. The doctors predicted that I would never grow up. They had no cure nor any future for me. But God had a purpose for my life and a wonderful destiny. I am so thankful to be alive. But I am not only alive, I have been given the ability to enjoy life. My heart is full for joy and my lips are filled with words of thanksgiving.

Ready to covenant?

We covenant to live every part of our lives in obedience to God.

We covenant to serve God and his purpose in whatever way he calls us.

We covenant to encourage, help, challenge, correct and serve each other so that we each can live for and serve God better.

We covenant to follow the vision and teaching of the apostolic leadership of the work.

We covenant to honesty, integrity, loyalty and love in our relationships with each other.

We covenant to deal with disagreements and conflicts that arise between us in a godly and honest way.

We covenant to support the work of God in the giving of our time, our effort, our gifts and our finance.

We covenant to being open to be discipled by others and willing to disciple others.

We covenant to see the common vision fulfilled whatever the cost and however long it takes.

Norway celebrates!

17th of May is Norway's National Day. We celebrate with happy parades, flags and shouts of joy. We sing our National Anthem and our National Psalm and other wonderful songs of Norway.

Weapons, tanks, armour, military  are all banned from this celebration. The streets are filled with peaceful and joyful parades of happy children. Many people wear their national costumes. These costumes vary from area to area and tell us where people come from. 17th of May is very colourful with great variety of clothes, the spring in full bloom.

We thank God for freedom and peace. We celebrate with joy and thankfulness. We got our constitution 17th of May 1814. We won our independence 7th of June 1905. We were liberated from the nazi occupation 8th of May 1945. Today we enjoy peace and celebrate with great joy!

Do you see?

 

We see a covenant church

that is a strong and healthy Kingdom community

of those who are being changed

as they follow Jesus in every area of their lives,

and who covenant together

and work with a common sense of vision and purpose.

 

We see a covenant church

where God is worshipped passionately and freely,

and where the presence and power of God are experienced

in big as well as in small gatherings.

 

We see a covenant church that is a community

governed in its beliefs and practices

by the Word and the Spirit of God,

and not by human customs, traditions or personalities.

 

We see a covenant community

where its members are fully committed to one another

and to God's purpose for his world.

 

We see a covenant community

that is full of life and faith,

where the people are free, happy, vibrant

and enjoying the goodness of God in their everyday life

 

We see a covenant community

in which there are real and close friendships, 

warm relationships, and openness

to all people from whatever background.

 

We see a covenant church

that is not built around meetings or a building,

but is centred on Christ

and on relationships of the Spirit,

and a shared community life

as we meet from home to home and in big gatherings.

 

We see a covenant church that is influencing

and impacting its surrounding community and

that doesn't retreat into a safe Christian ghetto.

 

We see a covenant community that is committed

to what God is doing right across the nations of the world

and is in real relationship with apostolic and other ministries to advance

God's kingdom throughout the world.

 

We see a covenant community

that has a credible voice to speak

into all the issues which face our society,

and that is actively demonstrating

a positive and godly example to that society.

 

We see a covenant community

that is growing and reproducing itself

across the whole region, nation and the world.

 

We see a covenant community

where everyone is learning

to play their part and to do so

gladly with faith,

commitment and integrity.

A true servant of our Lord Jesus Christ

In his second letter to Timothy the apostle Paul is giving him instructions on how to be a true servant of Jesus Christ. The life and ministry of a servant of Jesus must not be disgraced. On the contrary he must be a pure container of Christ, fully dedicated to the honourable purposes of his Master, prepared for every good work that He gives him to do.

Shalom Israel - 70 years!

Today we celebrate the modern state Israel. The state was declared 70 years ago: 14th of May 1948. Already in November 1947 the United Nation decided to establish a Jewish state. From the first day it was attacked by the arabs. Egypt, Libanon, Syria, Jordan and Irak went to war against the newly declared Jewish state. 

Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. The nation has overcome many struggles and fought many wars to defend themselves. Today the nation is stronger than ever, even still under threath of being attacked and eradicated by its enemies.

Today we celebrate with the Jewish people that Israel has survived and prospered for seventy years in the midst difficulties. Shalom Israel!

Christ is our message

There is a divine mystery, a secret surprise that has been hidden from the world for generations. In these last days the mystery of Christ is being being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every believer to experience. 

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the divine portrait, the true likeness of the invisible God. He is the visible image of the invisible God. He has unfolded to us the full explanation of who God truly is. The Son is the dazzling radiance of God's splendour. He is the exact expression of God's true nature - his mirror image! He holds the universe together and expands it by the mighty power of his spoken word. He accomplished for us the complete cleansing of sins, and then took his seat on the highest throne at the right hand of the majestic one.

This Christ is our message! He lives within us and floods us with the expectation of glory. This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!

We preach to awaken hearts and bring every person into the full understanding of truth. It has become our inspiration and burning passion in ministry to labour with a tireless intensity, with his power flowing through us, to present to every believer the revelation of being his perfect one in Christ. 

Someone cares

To be somebody
Is to know that a mother is concerned for you
And thinking of you with a tender heart
It gives a great sense of worth
Knowing that someone is worried
With motherly love and care for you
As you are travelling places
And fulfilling your holy vocation
In serving the people of God

To really be somebody
Is to appreciate this loving concern
And give thanks to your mother
While she is still alive
When she is gone and you realise
how valuable her worries were
It is too late to acknowledge her worth 

To be somebody

Is knowing that someone cares about you,

Even when your parents are gone,

Knowing that the loving eyes of God

Always follow you and see your need,

And that he will send someone who cares your way.