The Samson Syndrome

I just finished a book named "The Samson Syndrome" (norwegian title: "Bare en Mann") by Mark Atteberry. The author takes basis in the biblical story about Samson. Based on this story he teaches on some of the mistakes "strong men" often do and how to avoid them. This book is mainly aimed towards successfull (in the eyes of the world) middle aged men, but I still got a lot out of it. The book is very structured and has a lot of entertaining stories to illustrate the points.

Fruit

Today I participated in a confirmation musical at the local church here at Oppsal. Most of the performance was made by confirmaton youth, 14 year old teenagers. I didn't have much expectations beforehand, so I was surprised when I saw the level. The whole musical was written by a local woman at Oppsal named Merete Føyen Arnevåg. It was creative, fun and Jesus centered. The acting performances wasn't at a professional level, but far beyond what you could expect from kids that age with little or none experience. There was also a girl with an incredible singing talent. She can really make it far if she wants to. Her solo made me sit totally still, not making any moves, afraid of making the least sound ruining some of the incredible joy of listening to her song. And I also had a few minutes on stage with my clowning, I mimed the fruits of the spirit, having the audience guess what fruit I was miming.

Picture: Well... I should try to get one...

Jesus Freaks

I just finnished reading "Jesus Freaks" by DC Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs. It has a lot of stories about men and women willingly facing torture and death for Jesus. Very inspiring.

Sending Helene

This evening we had a sending of Helene. A lot of her friends gathered, and we prayed for her and blessed her in moving to France. She will live in Tours, which is a two hour train trip from Paris. She will leave early September. Luckily she plan to visit us in Norway in October and December later this year.

Picture: Helene sits on the chair. The rest of us surrounds her in prayer.

More Gossip

I guess that there are a lot of my friends that are curious about Frank's plans. On my blog you can read the latest gossip and the hottest news.

Here they come...

His marriage just got reschedualed to 13. October, which comes right into my next planned trip to Finland. I'm helpless - sorry Finns. I can't say no coming to my best friends wedding. The wedding will be in Hemsbach south of Frankfurt. They plan to live there after the wedding, at least for some time.

My base of friends are currently growing both in Germany and France. What are God's plan, I wonder.

They are currently writing the wedding invitations... So don't be insulted if you are a close friend of Frank and haven't heard anything yet. Wait getting insulted till you find that he forgot to write you one... Hopefully he won't.

I still don't blame Frank for wasting time.

Frank's Surprise

So... What do you have best friends for... I think my friends have discovered that I like surprises, but this one almost knocked me over. This morning at 9:09 I got an SMS from Frank saying that he is engaged with Andrea Stein. Then he asked me for a phonenumber to someone he needed juridic counceling from, like if he sent me the SMS just for that question in the first place. At 12:28 he called me (still asking for this number which I hadn't sent him) and was kind enough to give me a little more info, like that he and Andrea got together on Monday and engaged yesterday.

Me and Frank know Andrea from we lived close to "Diakonhjemmet" hospital and school some time ago. She is a German girl that studied some kind of special pedagogics there while she had her practise time in a kindergarten. She really likes kids and is a nice girl, so Frank is in good hands.

Their marriage will be in South Germany probably some time in early December, which means that I have to go to Germany. Lucky me :D

I have never blamed Frank for being the kind of guy that waste time...

Birthday Present

Today I saw Rosalind for the first time after the summer and got the birthday present she had made for me. I had guessed already that she would knit something, but I was surprised when I got a colourful knitted vest. Creative and very surprising :D

We also rehearsed a little French. The way I see it... I just have to learn this language since Helene are already about to move to France and Rosalind plan to live there for a year next year.

Wild At Heart

Today I finished a book named "Wild At Heart" (norwegian title: "Slipp Deg Løs, Mann") by John Eldredge.

It has a lot to say about living from the heart and finding back to God's original purpose for your life. It also has a lot to say about the role of the man in relationships and in the society otherwise. That said it is just as much for girls, as it is important for them to understand the role of the man.

To Denmark With Friends

From yesterday till today was hired to do clowning for Stena Line aboard a cruise boat that goes between Oslo in Norway and Fredrikshamn in Denmark. My friends Kjetil, Lydia, Tobias, Stig and Solbjørg (from left to right) joined me on the 24 hour cruise.

When we stopped in Denmark this morning only Lydia, Solbjørg and me wanted to take a walk and look at the country. It was kind of fun to be in Denmark with Lydia because she got sooo entusiastic. She acted like me in Finland. Everything she saw there was awesome. For example it was this kind of soda they only have in Denmark that Lydia REALLY likes. To me it tasted almost like normal sprite. One time in her life she lived in Denmark for a year and obviously she got marked for life... It's so fun to see someone have some of the same entusiasm for something, as I have for Finland.

Open My Heart

The last days have been silent days and stormy days. Silent days because I have used most of my time listening to praise music, reading, walking in the forest, swimming and so on. Stormy because God is working on me in a strong way, opening my heart and showing me new things. It's a painful process to be changed, but still a necessary one.

Picture: I took this a few days ago just by "Nøklevann" about 45 minutes walk from where I live.

A New Generation of Children in America

Today I listened to "A New Generation of Children in America" which I downloaded from fireonthealtar.com

Warning: This is NOT a should hear... It's a MUST hear...
I played it again and again and cried my eyes out.

The Warrior

I just finished a very inspiring book named "The Warrior" by Francine Rivers. The book is a novella based on the story of Caleb in the Bible. While we follow Caleb we also follow the Israelites on their way out of Egypt and into the land God gave them.

What really touched me through this book was the need of being close to God and loving Him with my whole heart.

This evening I met with Anne Maria, Helene and some old and new friends at Malmøya.

Meeting at Malmøya

Today I met my friends Anne Maria, Helene, Kjell Arne and Elsie at a very idyllic place called Malmøya just a few minutes outside Oslo Centrum. It's very special that there are such nice places just few minutes from the biggest concrete jungle in Norway. It was sunshine when we came, but then it started to rain a lot and thunder. Actually it was kind of cozy, because we sat outside under a roof and talked. But after a while I started to feel like having some sunshine and so did the others. So we all prayed and the minute after it stopped raining and after a few minutes the sun came out. Praise to God!!!

Picture: Anne Maria, Elsie, Kjell Arne and Helene.

Tenderize My Heart

Today I've listened a lot to a song named "Tenderize My Heart" from a CD named "Majestic Splendor" by Pablo Pérez.

Lyrics:

The desire of my soul
Is for your name O Lord
I will wait for you until you
Come and tenderize my heart

The rememberance of you
Resounds within my soul
In the way of your judgement
I will seek you
I will wait

You will tenderize my heart
You will tenderize my heart
I will feel as you feel
I will love as you love
I will see as you see
I will speak as you speak
Come and tenderize my heart
Let me see you as you are

I will sing out loud
From the majesty of my voice
I proclaim and declare the name of my God
From the womb of the morning and the ends of the earth
I hear songs about a generation of the righteous ones

You can buy this song from ITunes Music Store which is available through ITunes. You can download ITunes here.