A powerful norwegian psalm

Sometimes I read in a psalmbook that my grandpartens gave me some years ago. Most of the melodies of those psalms don't fit my ear. But the lyricks is so powerful! So now and then I read from this psalmbook. And I did that to night. I just want to share a psalm that was written in 1680, by Joachim Neander:

Jesus, du har brakt Guds rike Nær i ord og
sakrament! For dets makt må Satan vike, Troens
djerve ild er tent. Nakent kors og åpen grav Er de seiertegn du gav.

Mild og sterk på nådens trone Triumferer du, Guds
Lam! Som et tre med mektig krone Skal ditt rike vokse
fram. Over hav og kontinent Skal din seier gjøres kjent.

Jesus, kom og vær til stede, Døp ditt folk med Ånd og
ild! Fyll vårt liv med ekte glede Så vi lever slik du vil.
Rust oss ut til ærlig strid, Til å gå mens det er tid.

(I am sorry for you english-speaking people...you better get hold of a norwegian to help you translate..)

Back from some fantastic days in Slovakia.

Yesterday night I came back to Estonia! It has been some amazing days in Slovakia. It's getting better and better. The pastorscourse gives me more than I could imagine. This week I listened to teaching about the Church history. It was really interesting and it made me understand that God has been moving all through the centuries. Mighty things have happended. One example is a church father called, Ireneus (130-202), who was casting out demons, gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. Even dead persons were raised up! The Church was moving strong!!

But later the Church splitted up, and miracles ceased. But still God used different people in mighty ways! It is intersting to see how God has restored things back to his original plan. And that we live in a time where God gives us insight about his will, so will can start to live like the early Church. A Church that manifested the Glory of God.

Yesterday I had also the chance to see Prague for the first time. I had to wait on the airport for many hours, so I descided to see Prague. God blessed me! On the airplane from Slovakia I sat next to a missionary from Spain. (You see her on my left side. The picture above is also from Prague) She was together with some school teachers from Spain and helped them interpreting. They invited me to join them in the city. They had to wait for a plane too. So they guided me around to famous places. We had such a good time together. And I want to learn Spanish as never before!!

It's good to be back in Estonia. And I will run fast now, the time before Christmas!

Be blessed;)

22 years old to day

Yes, so to day I am finally 22 years of age...I guess it's a good age, or? Let's say so. At least I am happy to be here attending this pastorscourse. This morning at the breakfast, they sung the birthdaysong first in english, then in russian, greek, spanish and swedish...Never experience that before;) I feel so blessed to be here. Sometimes I feel that God is too good to me! And he is..that's why I want to serve Him with all of my heart!

This day have been just great. Most of the pastors went to the church, and I just love this church! Then we went some people to downtown, where we relaxed and eate some ice-cream on Mc Donald's.

Yesterday we move to an other place for the lessons. The building (where the picture is taken from, to the left) was actually a former cummunism school! But thank God for the fall of the communist regime, and to day the building is used to teach pastors!! Hallelujah, that's what I call victory!

The next coming week we will have teaching in church history. I have heard that this course is very special and a great blessing. So I am looking forward to it!

Ok, that was a shorte update! Be blessed!

Tuesday I landed in Slovakia and when I came out of the airplane, I was surprised of the warm temperature. No sign of the winter yet... Very good to be back and to meet the others again. This week we're learing about "Modern Humanism". It might sound boring, but it is intersting to learn about how people have been thinking and acting through history. You see how it has influenced the church and their way of thinking. Even to day we are influenced by what happend in the 18th century. So this subjcet covers the time from the 17th-20th century. It is amazing to see how God has been moving, and how he has restored things back step by step. After listening to this teaching, I realize that we live in really special times, where God has settled things in order for Jesus' return. Still there is a job to be done before that happen, but we live in interesting times, that's for sure! And soon and very soon, we are going to see the King!! That is a reality.

Yesterday the soccer team from my city, Fredrikstad, won the cup in Norway!! They beat the other team, Sandefjord, 3-0!! And guess what?! Two of those goals were made of an ESTONIAN player named, Raio Piiroja! So even here in Estonia people are celebration Raio and FFK for their victory!

Hei! Now I just came back from the church in Polva. Because to day I had the priviledge to preach there. It was a blessing to be there and share the word. I shared about the Living water that flows on the inside of us. From reading in John 4:10,14, you see Jesus talking with the samaritan woman. So I used this story to learn from what Jesus did. Jesus new He was a gift from God, He knew he possessed Living water, and He knew that he could give it away! If you want to know more, get the tape hehe..God is so good! I love that church and the people there were so hungry for God, you could just sence it. Next to me is my dear friend, Tom, who was helping me interpreting. He did a great job!

Yesterday I invited my friends to celebrate by my 22nd birthday. My real birthday is on the 19th, but then I am in Slovakia for the pastorscourse. That was actually the second time I had my birthday in Estonia. Maybe more in the future, who knows? It was a blessing for me to have them over! I am getting older guys...but I'm getting closer and closer to heaven.

Earlier the same day, many of the youths from Polva went down to the marketplace in the city. It was a great time for all of us. For some of the youths it was the first time reaching out to other people. So we had baked a lof of cakes and served tea and coffee. A good opportunity to talk to people and sow into their lives. It is important for us Christians to be visible to people. This way was a good start for the Polva youths, and it's something that we'II continue with!

Tuesday I will go to Slovakia and I'm looking forward to it. It was such a blessing for me last time. I am thankful to God for his provision and that I am able to go there. What an a wonderful God we serve!! You hear from me later;)

Yes, yes, I know there has been a while since I updated my blogg, but be mercyful to me, dear friends. After being here in Estonia for about 9 months, I have discovered my great mission. When you look at that picture you might think that I've move into a new apartment, but you're wrong. It is inside the church. The winter has arrived and it's getting colder and colder (last winter it was -30 and windy..ohhohææ) So the bulding needs to be heated up. And it is not done through electricity or gass, but through wood. It is done in the hard way, the old Russian way. So this week I've offered to help out, and so far have I been there for 20 hours. Missionwork is not just from the pulpit preaching, but ALL what is necesarry for the church to function. The Bible say that if you are faithful in the small Jesus sets you over more. So when I am making fire to heat up the church, I am getting ready to spread the Holy Ghost fire all over the world..hehe..I like to do this thing, because I am there on my own, it is quiet and great time for prayer. Sometimes I think I have the same feeling as king David on the sheperdfield. During those silent hours on his own, he discovered God in a mighty way. Most of his written psalms came from those times. Ps. 86:10-12 is one great example:

"For you are great and work wonders! You alone are God.
Teach me Your way, O Lord, I will walk in your truth: unite my heart to fear your Name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; and I will glorify you name forevermore."

Let the fire of God burn on the inside of you! People are freezing to death because of lack of fire. Must you be the one that enlights the fire of Jesus Christ on the inside of peoples lives!

Be blessed!