It was a cold experience to come home to Bergen last night and even colder today as we are in the midst of a snow blitz. Everything is covered with the white snow pouring down almost horizontally because of the heavy wind. The windows of the house is covered with snow and we can almost not see through them. Everything is so different from the hot India we left yesterday! We have had to adapt to totally different weather and living condition in just a few hours. Only as we are able to adapt to changes like these we will survive. Actually it is the ability to adapt to differing circumstances that enables us to not only survive but to be fruitful and multiply!
The challenges I face in returning home from India are not big. I am used to this weather and I also like it very much. This cold weather is what I am used to. But the fact that we went from 33 degrees to -2 in just hours made me meditate on the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Actually everything in this world is changing. In the cultural and religious realm we are seeing great changes taking place faster and faster. The world is not the same anymore! We need to wake up to the fact that in a very short time the entire perceptions of things are being changed. Norway today is very different from the country I was born in sixty five years ago. The change in laws and morality is almost unbelievable. The place of religion in our society is totally different today compared to when I was young.
The Norwegian State Church has been taken captive by its on marriage with the state and is actually run by the atheist government of left wing socialists. Most of the bishops have compromised the classic Christian moral code and are accepting same sex marriages even among the priests. The State church is paying a high price for all the benefits of being a national church run by the government. But still they cling to the fading benefits and are not ready to live according to the biblical pattern.
The society seems to becoming more and more hostile to biblical values. Those defending the biblical teaching on marriage and sex are facing increasing hostile criticizing from the government and the secular press.
The Christians used to live in a warm weather but are now facing a very cold weather. We have to adapt to the change of attitude towards the Christian faith.
However, I am used to living in a cold weather as I left the State church as a young disciple of Jesus Christ to pursue the Christian life I found in the book of Acts but not in the religious establishment of my youth. The State church has much to answer for in how they fought against the non Lutheran believers and caused a lot of harassment to take place in the name of the pure doctrine they believed they represented.
I have been on a long pilgrimage and I have not yet reached what I have been seeking to reach. I am still pressing forward to lay hold of everything that the Lord has for me and his covenant people. I realize that I must adapt to changing times and circumstances. I must live out my faith in the real world. I have to face my own failures. I have to admit to the mistakes we have done as we have been pursuing God. I need to adopt to a new situation.
But I will not give up my dream. I will not be disobedient to the heavenly vision.