Today our annual Easter conference starts. We have hired the big hall of the Christ Church for the main gatherings. Actually, the Christ Church is using our building for their Easter services and we have taken over all of their premises for the conference. It shows what a good relationship there is between us.
The theme of the conference is: The word of the Cross, the power of God, unto salvation. The theme captures very well the plan and purpose of God for our age and the age to come. The message that we have been given to make known to everyone is the message of the victory of Christ on the cross and the subsequent resurrection and exaltation. In the very weakness of God, demonstrated on the cross, the very power of God is seen. When we believe the word of the cross, the power of God is released in us and we are set free from the power of sin and fear, – unto salvation. This expression: “unto salvation” gives us the direction in which God is working and explain his redemptive purpose in everything he is doing!
I expect the message of the cross to be boldly proclaimed at this conference. Therefore I also expect the power of God to be released among us in a wonderful way, – unto salvation – for the many!
God is good!
Christ is the Victor!

Sunday I had the privilege of visiting a growing emergent church in Nordhordland. It was a great joy to be with this wonderful group of people who are pursuing the Lord and seek to bless their community. They are meeting in a gymnasium at a public school which they decorate in a beautiful way.
Bente, a housewife and flower-decorator, welcomed us all to the gathering with her friendly smiles and insightful explanation of the flower decoration on the altar table in front of the congregation.
Sissel, a housewife and nurse, took us into praise and worship. Morten, pastor and nurse, also gave us a warm welcome. Magnar, elder and farmer, took the offering and gave some useful information. Many others participated in different ways in thanksgiving and exhortations.
At the end I was asked to come and share what the Lord had put on my heart, which I did with great joy!
The church is bursting with life. The people seemed to enjoy being together. There was a very friendly atmosphere. New-comers were included in a good way and would easily feel at home.

Vi var ein del brør som var saman i bønn. Det var ei slik livleg og ljuvleg ånd mellom oss. Det var ein atmosfære av takk og lovsong. Guds nærvær kunne kjennast og nytast av alle. Då gav Gud meg eit litt underleg syn som berre forsterka den gode stemninga og utløyste nye glede mellom oss.

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A few days ago Solveig and I went to the local cinema to watch Mel Gibson’s famous movie, The Passion of the Christ. It is a powerful movie on the last hours of the life of Jesus Christ to his gruesome death on behalf of all mankind. I was deeply moved as I watched the movie which I found very realistic and in accordance with my understanding of the Biblical narrative. Well, some extra Biblical elements were added, some were very good but some I could have been without. As a whole I found the movie very good and true to the Bible.
This movie brings the message of the cross, which is the power of God unto salvation, into the cultural arena in a magnificent way. It creates controversies, stirs the conscience and leaves no one untouched. In Norway the movie, and the story of the Cross and the sufferings of Christ, is being publicly discussed in the media. The newspapers, radio and television debate the movie. A lot of people talk about Jesus Christ in these days.
The religious establishment of the Lutheran state-church normally don’t like the movie as it is too “bloody” for them. The born-again-believers of all persuasions normally like the movie as they think it tells the story of how it really was, even though many of the scenes are gruesome to look at!
One of Norway’s most feared criminals, a murderer, repented after watching the movie and committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then he went to the police to confess more crimes that he had committed several years ago (two bomb attacks). This conversion made a big impact on many as it was told on TV and in the newspapers. God is good!
Christ suffered and died for me! Thank you Lord!
Related links
ThePassionoftheChrist.com
TheLife.com
ThePassion.org.au
AfterThePassion.com