Earlier this spring I rejoiced over being able to finish the new training course for new believers “Finding your place” in both English and Norwegian. A few weeks ago I got the first copies of the four books fully illustrated and with a new design. I had seen it all before on the screen and even printed pages. When I got the four books in my hands and could feel the paper, look at and touch “the real thing”, I started to feel different about the product. I could see that I could make it better and more effective in several places and areas.
Now I am happy that it has not been published yet! I still have some more work to do! I also sat down with Øystein Dahl who is responsible for design and layout. He has already done a tremendous job, but after our talk he has more work to do! Together we are working hard to make a good product even better!

Today we are back home after a wonderful time at Stokke where we have attended the annual Bible week arranged by Kristent Nettverk. I was especially blessed by all the young people that attended the Bible week. There were lots of them! They were everywhere! They were in the front dedicating themselves to serve the Lord and they were eager to sing and worship. I am so grateful to the Lord for all the wonderful young people he has given us to work with. With so many fervent young people there is hope for our nation and even for Europe and other continents, as I am sure that these young people will take the good news of the Kingdom of God to the ends of the world! To see all these young people ready to go, ready to win souls, ready to plant churches, made it a very good Bible week!
Of cause we had wonderful sermons and good meetings but that is another story!

Since Wednesday evening we have been at Stokke in the eastern part of Norway attending a Bible week that focuses on the commission we have been given by Christ. Around 700 people are gathered to the meetings and the seminars to be equipped to reach people of the present day generation with the good news of the Kingdom of God. It is very encouraging to see so many young people on fire for God and many young couple wanting to be part of church-planting experiences. As a result of these days we are together we will see many new people being brought to Christ and many new house-churches being established! God is so good!

In Psalm 131 I came across this expression two times: Agents of salvation. In this psalm David is expression his heart to build a house for the Lord and how the Lord responds by expressing his desire for a home among the people where he will live and rest. In David’s prayer and in the Lord’s promise we find they are both speaking of the priests as agents of salvation as the outcome of the Lord’s presence among his people.
We are part of the house of God that Jesus Christ is building of living stones. We are the holy and royal priesthood of the new covenant. We are the agents of salvation that David longed for and God promised! What a privilege! We are bringing the ultimate blessing to people: salvation! What a sacred ministry!

A few days ago I read a sentence in a Psalm that will not leave me. The Psalmist is praying: “O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose heart are in tune with you.” This last sentence has followed me ever after I read it! –“whose heart are in tune with you.” These words capture the very essence of the Christian life, – being in tune with God! It is worth noticing that it is only those who are good that can be in tune with God for God is good. God is as he is supposed to be, holy, perfect, kind, just, faithful, righteous, true, patient, full of mercy, – he is good!
This has become my prayer: “Let my heart be in tune with you! May I reflect your loving attitudes to all human beings in my dealings with people. May I always hear your voice and be quick to obey the promptings of your Spirit!”

I have been reading Psalm 119 recently and again I have been blessed by the Psalmist’s confident trust in the word of God. In verse 56 he is saying: “This is my happy way of life: obeying your commandments!” What a happy life! A life of obeying the commandments of God! What extra terrestrial happiness indeed!
Here is another favorite quote: “Your principles have been the music of my life throughout the years of my pilgrimage” (54).
The word of God makes me dance in exuberant joy as well as causing me to meditate and contemplate on the deeper issues of my existence. “Those who love your law have great peace and do not stumble” (165).

This week I have taken a vacation to work at home. My grandson Jakob has joined me in working. Today we have been working hard to replace the old fence with a new and nicer one. After dinner I was totally knocked out. I just wanted to sleep! However, that is not so easy with three active grandchildren in the house. After they are all put to bed, Solveig and I are sitting with our laptops writing blogs in our wonderful Stressless chairs. I think we will soon go to sleep as well!

During the Bible Week in Harstad our wonderful hosts, Hulda and Torbjørn Hansen took us to a beautiful place just outside town to enjoy the midnight sun. All these pictures are taken around 0045 just after midnight at a place called Nupen! Solveig found a boulder to sit on as she was enjoying the rays of the sun oo45. We fellowshipped at some benches that were available and praised God for the wonderful weather he had given us to enjoy with our friends.
When we were to leave the bus driver was not able to open the door. The brothers had many ideas that were tried out but no one worked! Arne G. Skagen became our deliverer as he climbed the roof of the bus and entered from above! It is wonderful with friends who find solutions to the serious problems we face on our pilgrimage!