Last days of holliday

This summer has been such a blessing to us from God. The weather has been nice and warm week after week, only interupted by a few showers of rain, just enough to keep the grass green. It has also made it easy for us to get a lot of work done and successfully finish what was planned.

But having time off, is also doing things like fishing, trips by boat, walking, going to the city just to walk along Bryggen, looking at all the boats and eating icecreem. Staying home and still be on vacation, is just as good as going away.

Here's some photos from - some days ago. I don't remember when! Someone told me that a good holliday, is when you forget what day we have.

Visiting Poland

I've never been in Eastern Europe until now. My wife and youngest daughter have visited Warsaw this week. It's been an exiting and good experiance. The weather has been good. The temerature wonderful, the air is clean and the food is tasty and served in bigger portiones than even I can easily consume.

It's been a relaxing time, even though we have done a lot of sightseeing, swimming, walking and shopping. I have never in my life spent so much time walking the streets of a big city, hunting a special type of shoes that my daughter wants. And I hate shopping. But when you love someone, there's nothing better to do. So we have really had a good time here.

Today it is rainy. But we are believing for sunshine again. Our plan was to go to the Zoo and some of the russian market.

Warsaw is a nice city. It is difficult to read the names of the streets. But with a good map and a little time to study the time time-tables on the busstops, it is actually easy to move by busses and trains.

Beside moving, I have had a good time reading the book of Exodus and the latest book of my friend Erling Thu; The Dream from the Heart of God. I've seen new things and been refreshed in wat we've always seen. I suppose we all are by reading good stuff.

More photos from the summercamp

Summercamp for children

Cycling in the water, was just one of many activities on the summercamp at Gullbotn.

The children are very active and love to swim, play football, wolleyball, ping-pong and to entertain one another by performing drama or music. Most of them are nine or ten years, a wonderful age, so open to God, so willing to listen, so honest, and easy to work with.

And our wishes for them was that they would respond to the Gospel and really experiance Gods presence and power. And they did. More than ten of them clearly opened their hearts to Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. Some was baptized in the Spirit. All of us had a good time. We did a lot of biblestudies together, we listened to testimonies, one of the small girls brought a strong profetic word one night and everyone sang the camp-song with great energy. Nobody got seized by homesickness.

We want to glorify God for the work he did in eveyone and also express our gratitude to all the leaders who invested their time and resources. We are all blessed!

Back to Sacaba

I'm so happy to receive good news from my friends working in Sacaba, Bolivia. Sacaba is a city so close to Cochabamba that you would think it was the same city. But it isn't. Sacaba was dusty in May when we had our visit there. We had no building to stay in. But we had the meetings in open air on an open and dusty ground. The teeth was chewing on sand after a night in the Sacaba-dust, and we felt dirty. But it felt good to be dirty because it felt like beeing one of those wonderful children living all the time in the dusty place. It's only on the outside. Inside we are all clean, knowing Jesus.



My greatest longing this year have been to come back to the field in Sacaba and see what has happened to them since last year. And I was not disapointed. The smiles was bigger, and they had matured in many ways. I said to them: (mostly children) "I think your smiles are bigger than last year?" And they all shouted: "Siiiiiiiiiii"!! I think Jesus has grown inside you? Siiiiiiiiii !!!"



Oh, I love this people. Most of them are children. God is doing great things here among children and youths. Last year we had the first meeting here. 63 people gave their life to Christ. That was the beginning. During the last 12 months they have grown to about 150. The last night we had together with them on May 7th , more people came and 36 more gave their life to Jesus, children and adults. On the mothers day recently, many mothers were invited to the field for a "mommy-meeting". 46 of them received salvation. And when we visited the schools in May, 750 youths responded to the gospel of the kingdom of God. That's when we knew that there is a lot of work ahead. How can we do it? Well, I strongly believe that the Lord know what he's doing and will lead us.

I find myslf saying "us" like I was still there. I'm not, but feel included and responsible anyway. I can pray for them. Our bolivian friends are doing a great job, and it is so good to find that the Lord open doors on the schools, and lead a way to take care of all this young men and women, who within a few years, will be the fathers and the mothers of the nation.

Working on the garage.

Last summer I started to build a garage by the help of my father and a good friend. My plan has been to finnish it this spring, not only the building itself but the place around. It's a lot more work to be done than just the raising of the building.

The last weeks we have been blessed with the most wonderful weather, which has made it a joy to work, and aspecially made it easy to do the painting. Yesterday was saturday, and a good long day to have a lot of things done. I also had the opportunity to give a hand to my nabours, cutting down some trees in their garden. They are selling their house these days and are about to move to a new place. I'll miss them.

There's still a lot of work to be done on the garage -project. But we're getting closer week by week now. Next week there are many afternoons occupied in my scedule. But the nice weather is going to last, and my father, even in his 78th year, is still going strong. Work, is a blessing to him. And his work is a blessing to many.

May 17th

May 17th is our Constitution Day. The weather is nice but not too warm. Wind from north moves all the flags.

For about 400 years, we were ruled by Denmark, until we got our own constitution in 1814. Up to 1905 we had to share the King and some important political departments with Sweden. But since then we have been a free nation, exept five years of German invation during the second World War. (1940-45)

Freedom is a good reason for celebrating. We have to pray for our nation that freedom will last, all kinds of freedom. And we have to pray that freedom will come, some kind of freedom. Freedom is more than absence of war. Freedom is more than staying out of jail. It's more than a freedom to express one self in writing og talking. All these things are so good.

Freedom is for a greater purpose. Freedom is for the purpose of the Creator. For His purpose have we been set fri to love and to serve, to go and to tell, to bind and to loose, to know and to forget, to untie and to sacrifice. To His purpose are all kinds of freedom.

But we don't forget the world around us. The attacks yeasterday, the earthquake in China, the unstable political situation in Bolivia, the hunger following raising prices all over the world, the need for solutions and for salvation.

Two weeks ago in Bolivia, a great violent riot was expected to take place in the city of Cochabamba. All our programs were closed. Even footballgames were canselled. Busses stood still. Everyone stayed inside, in order to take care of their own security. Tens of thousands of visiters and supporters of the president was gathered. We heard words like "civil war, revolution and blod" used. Quite unlike the normal for us norwegians to bee in the midst of this. But the world is not that big.

But there is one who overcame the world, who listen to prayers and who answered his children in Bolivia that day. He's the one who can bring the perfect peace, the real liberty and the most valuable freedom.

Have a nice May 17th.

A good trip to Bolivia

It was so good to go to Bolivia again, see the people there, meet friends, feel the hight and take part in what God is doing there. 5 students from the bibleschool and myself went the 26th of April and came back the 11th of May. To read more about our experiances, have a look at http://bergenbibelskole.blogspot.com Reports from the two other teams, in Norway and the Philippines is also on the site.

Final preparation for Bolivia

Having put all our luggage on the scale, we found that we had more room left for clothes for children in Bolivia. With plenty of clothes to pick from

We had much weight to spare and as such could choose from all the clothes laying at KF. Finding a bag with full of toys Ping remembered that David asked us to bring it to Bolivia.

Laptops for the work over there has also been added to our handluggage. So soon wer'e ready to go. Exitement fills my soul. God has spoken to us already. Words, that cause us to just stand in awe of Him who can do a lot more than we can ever understand.

On the road again

My Ford E- 350, has suffered loneliness for months. Day and night, left alone in rain and wind and even snow.

The problem was a broken starter and an owner that didn't understand the problem because he was told that something else was wrong.

Well, by the good ideas of a good friend, we finally had a look at the starter, and guess what? Useless!!

A brand new one, bought in Sweeden, solved the problem. And now, I'm on the road again - the way I like it.

A new flame

The 10th of May 2007, old grass was set on fire on a small ground between the houses in Sacaba, Bolivia. This area was in need of a new fire from God to burn, but the flame that was fired had no symbolic meaning. The only meaning was to remove old grass in order to make room for people. And people came to the open air meeting. They didn't fill the ground. But Gods flame enlightened their hearts. I consider it a great privilege that I had the opportunity that night, to share the good news with them. And I consider it a great privilege to have the opportunity next saturday, to go back and see them again. They are still coming every week to the field, only doubled in number. I can't wait to go. It fills my mind and heart every day now. May the Lord bless Sacaba and by the gospel of the kingdom of God, burn away all the bad stuff, and fill the place with His Glory.

Baptized in Water.

The season may be wrong, and the temperature too low for outdoore baptism. But for those who will follow the Lord, what's right has to be done.

To be dead with Christ and buried with him is the only way to experiance resurection life. This viking is a victorious one. His Life is hidden with Christ in God. He's not struggeling against the streem anymore, but rather flowing with it.

Visit the Bibleschool

From thursday to sunday this week, the bibleschool has the privilege to receive visitors from all over Norway, some of them already determined to study at the school next year. Thursday and Friday they fellowshiped with this years students in class. Yesterday afternoon students, visitors and teachers together went to Gullbotn for the weekend. And here we are, having a lot of fun, good fellowship, worship, teaching, wonderful meals and more of things that shows the true nature of bibleschool.

We believe that this nation, more than ever, need people who know the Word of God and the God of the Word.

Everyone these days, seem to have his own Jesus, created in mans own opinion, to be someone who fit into the life that we want to live. But there's a problem with this man made Jesus; he can't save, he can't heal, he can't set free, he can't forgive.

But I'm sure of this; we are going to see an army of men and women, boys and girls, who know the Word of God and the God of the Word. They will bring salvation and restoration to the nations, not by their own strenght or wisdom, but by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. The hand of the Allmighty is upon them and they know who they are and to whom they belong. And the knowledge of the glory of God will fill the earth, like the water covers the sea.

Winter - Good By

This winter has been one after my taste, very little snow, almost nothing in fact - until now. The last week we have got enough snow for a whole winter. All the islands in the coastal areas have got much more of it than the mainland near by.The good thing is that it's all gone very soon because of the rain and 5-6 degrees Celcius.

To help myselfe to forget the winter I picked up a photo from last summer that I got from my sister a while ago. This is Osterøy and the place called Rivenes where we have a little boat and a boathouse for it. It recalls good memories and shape inside me expectations for the summer. Hopefully July and August will bring some nice days on the fjords and surely also moments of good fishing.

Looking out my back door

Prepairing for Bolivia again, I'm looking at some pictures from last year. While CCR many years back, in the song "Looking out my back door", was describing the relaxation found in locking the front door and looking out the back door at a fantasy world, this young lady is looking out her back door at a most real world.

Her room, which she probably shares with her sister, is a plastic rag hanging outside the wall, making a shelter for a bed and some stuff. Her mother, sister and three brothers were outside talking to us when she showed up in the "door".

They all lived in the house that beside this room, only contained one room and one bed. The kitchen was an open air kitchen, and the floor was the same inside as outside; genuine soil. I just wonder what the rain time is like with them. This is how thousands of bolivians live, and I'm glad I could visit a few of them, to see and become aware what the back door of this world is hiding.

Seeing light

How can you see clearly when the front windows are covered by nice labels?
Well, it's plastic and you can see through it, but everything you see will change from the ordinary colours and look different.

It seems to be more important to be seen than to see what's outside. This would not be accepted in Norway. We think that view is vital. So does the Bible!
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matt 6,22-23 )

It's important that we see, and that we see things from the perspectives given from Gods words. There is a wonderful statement in the Bible: "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light". (Sal 36,10) By the way, I think this car is beautifull!

Easter Conference

As always, the Easter Conference (easter celebration) was inspiring days from wednesday to sunday. The prophetic and apostolic ministries served wonderfully in the power and wisdom of God. The Lord spoke to His people: Guidance for the time ahead, release of a new and fresh annointing, expectation to God and commitment to his word, important keys for understanding and for living a life that will change society, - all these are headwords to the conference. And the best thing of all; many people met Jesus and received him as Lord and Savior!

These days means a lot to me. I need time to let it all work in me, let it sink in. It's also direction for me personally. Some changes have to be made. Constant change is here to stay anyway, so it's easy when cooperating with the holy Spirit.

Easter Celebration is also fellowship with a lot of good friends. Our home fills up in the hours between the meetings. Concerning some, it's long time - no see. Others are frequently around. It's church. It's profetic. It's God among his people.

It's running

I have a son, Endre, born in 1990. That means his coming birthday in July enables him for the driver lisence. If you have the lisence, you need a car. And that's what I've got for him, a 98 Sonata with a broken engine. If you have a car with a broken engine, you need another engine. And that's exactly what I've got for it. This one is also broken, but not in the same place. So by removing the engine and fix it with parts from the other one, and replace it, - well it should work. Sounds good doesn't it?

In addition to that I value this idea: that it's good for a young man to know what's going on in the engine room. And it's also good for him to do something together with the old man. So we've spent hours together in the garage the last weeks, and today - you're right - it worked!!! Reward time!

To be honest; we did many faults, and we had to do many things over and over again. The timer belt has been removed so many times, that if you have a Sonata and you have to change the timer belt, we can do it for you in 52 minutes. That's not bad!!

Preparing for Bolivia.

Bolivia is one of three nations that's been included in Bergen Bibleschools trainingprogramme. Last year I had the privilege to follow five students on their missionary training. We had exciting weeks in Cochabamba, La Paz, Copocabama, The Sun Island in Lake Titicaca and on the jungle trip in Inkachaka. We had the opportunity to teach the 1st and 3rd class of bibleschoolstudents in CBB, visit churches, pray for the sick, evangelize and work with the children. I think climax was to take the gospel of the kingdom of Christ to a new place, Sacaba, where no churches existed. 63 people gave their life to Christ and by now the number has more than doubled.

On April the 26th we're going back to Bolivia. These days the students are practising on new dramas, testimonies and other ways to present the good news. For us it is an adventure, but we can't do anything on our own. Pray for us. We seek the faith and the guts to see extraordinary things by Gods power. First and foremost we go as servants and helpers in the work constantly going on and led by David Larsson from Sweeden. He has served as a missionary over there for more than ten years together with his wife Violeta.

A fresh dive in the word.

My three last readings through the Bible, has been english Bibles. That's bescause I like to read different translations, and also because I need to improve my second language. And I have just started over again in a new one. New American Standard Bible, is not a new translation, but to me it is. Compare to New Living Translation, it has more words I don't understand, but as I work through the pages, it's getting easier. By now, I find myself enjoying this translation.

The word of God is always alive. And the last weeks I really have experienced in a stronger way, the freshness of the Word. It's like having a bath in the morning, like sparkling fountain and a refreshing wind in the heat of the noon. Reading the word of God is sitting by the feet of Jesus, knowing his presence, feeling his nearness, beeing captivated in his lovingkindness.

I don't understand people who receive the word of God with faces like those who receive their death sentence. The Word of God has the authority to sustain me and everything else as well. It's good, and it does me good. And the deeper I go, the better. Have a daily dive. It will refresh you.

Today

We just came home, after a day in Nordhordland. I was asked to preach there this morning, and I spoke about the importance of seeing, fokusing and beeing transformed by the glory of God. We had a great time. We had dinner with one of the families, -delicious salmon. It's so good to spend time with good people.
This morning really did seem to bring a nice day with sunshine and a strong sense of spring. But wind from north brought a little bit of snow instead. Thats what this time of year is like. Anyway, the forecast is not bad for the coming days. Spring is just ahead. And so is the easter conference. Happy days are coming.