Birthday Party in Prague

One of Sasha Flek's daughters celebrated her birthday today. Sasha threw a party for her on the lawn. I made balloon-figures for all the children and even some of the adults. It was nice to spend time with some Czech brothers and sisters.

The Charles Bridge

Yesterday we went up in the Old Town Bridge Tower, situated on the first pillar of the famous Charles Bridge. On the top of this tower there is a nice view over some of the most beautiful parts of Prague, including the Prague Castle. Charles Bridge was founded in 1357, and for a long time it was the only place in Prague to cross the Vltava river.

Picture of Charles Bridge taken from the top of the Old Town Bridge Tower

The Kingdom

We have now just ended The Connect Europe gathering in Prague. I really enjoyed to be with friends, make new friends and to learn about the history of this great city. I was encouraged by personal testimonies and teachings from people here. For example by Simon Mason and Tim Fellows sharing about The Kingdom of God and the importancy of being Kingdom focused.

I'm now looking forward to a couple of days as a tourist in Prague, before I go back to Oslo.

Picture shows Simon Mason

Fountain Baptism

Yesterday Tobi from germany got baptised in the fountain here at Hotel Jeneralka, where we are staying.

Picture shows (from the left): Gabi Nagy, Tobi, Martin Winter.

Tabor

We also went to the city Tabor, one and a half hours outside of Prague. Some of the followers of Jan Hus made an ideal city here, based upon their ideals. All food and valuables was shared. Then general Zizka came around and became the center of attention instead of Christ. Zizka became the symbol and official founder of the city. When the roman catholic church started to wage war against this city, the citizens literally made their plows into swords. They won several wars, but were finally defeated at the battle of Lipany in 1434. This reminds me of the words of Jesus that those who fight by the sword, shall die by it. Both Jan Hus and Wycliffe had proclaimed that no pope or bishop had the right to take up the sword in the name of the Church, but that he should pray for his enemies and bless those that curse him.

Czech Prayer

When we was gathered on the old town square in the center of Prague, our guide told us that only 15-20 thousand people in Czech is evangelical born again christians - of a population of 10 million. About 60 % of the population see upon theirselves as atheists. We started to pray for Czech there on the old town square.

Hussite Church

On the old town square we also visited the Tyn Church, which was a central hussite (that's what the followers of Jan Hus was called) church for some time. This is where Gregor Rehor, the leader of the brethren movement got converted. The brethren movement lead to the forming of the moravians. They weren't big and they weren't many. Still they refused to give in to the pressure from the roman catholic church. The Taborites used human power, picked up their swords and died by their swords. The Utraquists compromised to be accepted by the roman catholic church and was swallowed by it. But the seed of the moravians can be followed all the way to the modern missionary movement, the Salvation Army, the Holiness movement and the pentecostal movement. It was also moravians that, with the help of Count Zinzendorf, founded the Herrnhut settlement. Another example that God choose to use what is little in this world to accomplish great things. This is a time for us to lay our own plans aside and ask God what HIS plans are for Europe.

This text was last modified 29. august 2005

Jan Hus

Today I went on an excursion with some Connect Europe dudes. We went to the old town square in the center of Prague. It is a statue there showing the church reformer Jan Hus. He was inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe and preached stuff that was very disliked by the roman catholic church. For example that Christ is the head of the Church, not the Pope. Bummer. Not strange that he was burned on a stake for heracy in 1415. There are several similarities between the teachings of Jan Hus and the teachings of Martin Luther. Hus was a precursor to the protestant movement.

The high man to the left on the picture is Jan Hus. Well... At least it is a statue of him.

Even More Prayer

Later today Chris Hogben, Harmke Hoogteyling, Gabi Nagy and Jenni Portman also joined us in prayer. In the last prayer session this evening, we were using a lot of time just worshipping and being with Jesus. I know some of this prayer people from earlier, but I have got the pleasure of making new friends also.

The picture shows Chris Hogben from London.

More Prayer

Today Jasmin Jones and Elaine Mudrik also joined us in prayer. Jasmin is vocalist in a punk band named Triplet. They are really good, so check it out if you have the chance.

Picture shows (from the left): Jasmin Jones and Elaine Mudrik

Prayer in Prague

Yesterday i took a plane to Prague. I met with a prayer team that will intercede for the upcoming Connect Europe gathering here. The picture shows the others in the prayer team. From the left: Petra Karilainen, Charis Enns, Christine Wolf and Renni Rummel.

Anne Maria Visiting

Right now Anne Maria is visiting me. We have been praying for the tour to Prague, where I will go in just a few hours.

Watch out if this girl comes to your door. She is a walking gospel blessings prayer bomb.

Svein Erik & Maria

Today I visited Svein Erik, who also attends Jesus Church and moved to Oppsal recently. Here he is with his girlfriend Maria. They got together not so long ago, so this is my opportunity: Congratulations!

Stig & Solbjørg

Yesterday, after the meeting at Jesus Church (where I had fun together with the kids), I went and ate together with Stig and Solbjørg, who got together a few days ago. My very very official congratulations :)

KrFU Stand

Yesterday evening from 10 pm we were making waffels at the KrFU stand (stand where we promote my political party before the election). I also talked some with Ann Mari, a girl I haven't met in eight years. I met here first time when I was attending a school named Øytun Folkehøgskole in Alta in Finnmark and she came by to visit a friend. Meeting her was a reminder of the great time I had at this school. When I was there I fell totally in love with the beautiful nature in the north of Norway.

Moving to Oppsal

Yesterday I moved to another place in Oslo, named Oppsal. I'm now living just a few meters from the church where I'm involved in a youth group. It's the same street that Anne Maria lived in before she moved to Notodden.

Report From Tour 3:16

Today I was at Helenes place. Helene and Anne Maria told about their recent (3-16 august) mission trip to Finnmark (the most northern county in Norway). It was a lot of people visiting, and we all got inspired by seeing their pictures and listening to their testimonies. You can read more about this trip in Anne Maria's blog.

Picture shows (from left) Helene, Dagny, Ruth and Anne Maria, the whole 3:16 team

Bible Studies at Oppsal

Today I met with Karl Anders, Åse Marie and Jarle for some bible studies. We met in the home of Karl Anders at Oppsal (in Oslo). After we came out, we ran into Anne Maria, which recently came home from an evangelisation tour to Alta (north of Norway) together with Helene, Ruth and Dagny.

Picture shows (from left) Åse Marie, Karl Anders and Jarle

Balloons in Tønsberg

Today I made balloon figures for kids in Tønsberg. Afterwards I changed from artist costume to regular clothes and wandered around in the city. I could see kids everywhere with balloons they had got from me.

Princess Kristina

In Tønsberg today I passed by this statue telling the story about a Norwegian princess named Kristina. She was the daughter of Haakon Haakonson who was king from 1217-1263. He was one of the kings building up the fortress mentioned in the "Tønsberg Fortress" post. Princess Kristina was married to the Spanish Prince of Castilla only to die shortly afterwards.

Tønsberg Fortress

Today I went a trip to Tønsberg, a small and beautiful city in the county Vestfold in Norway. When I came out from the train station I could see a stone tower upon a hill / mountain. I went there and looked a little closer..

Tønsberg is the oldest city in Norway, founded in 871. The stone tower marks an area that served as a stronghold since early in the towns history. We know this area was fortified at least from 1165. During the 13th century it was raised to become the largest fortification in Norway. It lost it's military importance in the late middle-ages and fall into disrepair. It was captured and burnt by swedish forces in 1503. But there was a time when this fortress was considered to be impossible to conquer. It served as protection for hundreds of years.

The stone tower that is standing today was finished in 1888.

The area was fortified again in 1940-45 when the german occupants saw how strategic this hill was placed. There are still some remains from this period.

Marriage: Elin & Svein Arild

On monday my sister Elin and her boyfriend Svein Arild got married. They celebrated only with a small dinner and plan to have a bigger celebration later. They are now on their way to a weekation in a warmer country.

On the way they pass by Oslo, so I had the great joy of spending some time with them this evening.

Professional Coaching

The election conference ended this afternoon. I really learned a lot about communication and how to be and think in a debate situation. We had a professional coach named Christer Berntzen the whole time. He coaches people in areas like leadership, communication and team building. After this three days, I believe that the way I communicate has changed for the better, not only in debate situations, but also in everyday situations.

You can read more about Christer Berntzen at (norwegian):
www.lag.as

Inspiration From Kjell Magne

Today the prime minister, Kjell Magne Bondevik, came and encouraged us on the Election Conference. He was followed by a lot of reporters.

He was earlier a leader of KrFU (a period starting in 1970). When he speaks it almost feels like he still is a part of KrFU (the youth part of KrF). He communicates really well and focuses on "what matters" (according to my political stand).


On the picture: Kjell Magne Bondevik is being interviewed by some reporters

Election Conference

It's now in the middle of the night. In a few hours I will go to the second day of the election conference of KrFU, the youth division of the christian political party KrF. I joined KrFU just a few months ago, and I am very excited to learn more about the political agenda of this party. I'm thrilled to meet other people with a passion to make a difference in the society, in the world.

I couldn't sleep, so I stood up and wrote some of my thoughts in the post named "Politics".

Politics

Once upon a time
in my life
when I thought
politics were boring

A waste of time
Arguing over
small meaningless
things

NOW!

I can't sleep
So Thrilled
So Excited

Tomorrow is
another day
to learn more

How to change
the world

How to bring
hope to the
hopeless

Light into
the darkest
situations

Here it happens
Right where we are

Can you feel the
wind changing the
tide of history?

Just a few
people with a
big vision

To protect the small
among us with
no right to life

To care for the
poor, the sick and
the old

To take responsibility
for the planet on
which we were born

Can you feel the wind
changing the tide of
history?

Creative Preaching

I had the incredible joy and fun of preaching at some childrens meetings this summer. It is very interesting when I don't have any idea what to do and after praising God for a while I come up with some crazy ideas.

At one meeting me and Ingrid Kristine Lundeby did the preaching together. We made this hand-doll theater using balloons instead of hand-dolls. It ended up having three acts and was inspired by the "You are special" book by Max Lucado, mixed with a lot of wild humour.

The picture shows Ingrid Kristine holding one of the characters in the balloon-theater.

I'm So Incredible Blessed

Today Stephan Christiansen, pastor in Jesus Church, preached about the blessing of Abraham, which we have received in Jesus Christ. It was very encouraging, while I made some steps in faith economically lately.

A few years ago I might have been scared or worried having more bills than money, but not now. Now I just enjoy the fun and wonder: How are you gonna do it this time, God?

21 Somethin' on Leadership

Today I listened through "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" audio book (abridged) by John C. Maxwell. Since I have started a company which I want to grow, I think this was very inspiring. He told a lot of stories about companies experiencing massive growth due to skillfull leadership.

It seems to me that he don't separate much between pastoring a church and running a company/organisation in terms of leadership. Is there any of my friends who have read/heard this book and have thoughts on this?

Baptism: Anne Maria

On Saturday my friend Anne Maria Langmoen got baptised the proper way, being dipped and held under for a long time, so she could really feel the term dying come to life. Luckily she was still alive when they took her head up from the water after some nanoseconds.

Anne Maria has been THINKING about this for 4-5 years. She has been sensing that GOD WANTED HER TO DO IT. But she has held back because she had some thoughts about... well... sometin'... Anyway... If there is any other person out there wanting to do something God has been speaking to you about, but... get your butt ahead and JUST DO IT!!!

Anyway. We had a great time, making a fire and barbequing. Anne Maria and some other guy played some instruments and we worshipped our LORD. Anne Maria made a big point out of every one of us being key persons in Gods plan, handing every one of us some keys with personal greetings on. We had this happening by Nøklevann (translation: Key Water). The whole thing was meant as a prophetic act I guess. Pretty successfull, if you ask me.