Erling Thu

Author: Erling Thu

  • Trying and failing

    To move to a new blogging plattform is to enter into unknown territory. It is quite challenging. Everything is new. I am struggling to find my way. It is not easy as I have to unlearn the old ways og my previous plattform and learn a complete new way of doing things. It is flying from one universe to a completely different universe. I have migrated from one world to another world.

    As this is a new world to me, I have a lot to learn. Hopefully my grandson, Jonathan, will be able to help me along. He has some knowledge of this new universe and will hopefully be able to teach me how the WordPress universe functions. Then he will have to enable me to manage my blog effort in such a way that I will be able to develop a community of friends with my writings.

    In the meantime, I am trying and failing at the moment as I am exploring this universe on my own. However, I realize, I really need someone to guide me.

    I also realize that new believers need someone to come along side them and train them in living a new life from the inside. New believers are leaving an egoistic and individualistic life style behind as they are entering into the Kingdom of God. This kingdom is totally different. The thing that matters now is the relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, and with his covenant community.

  • Changing plattform – getting a new foundation

    For more than 20 years I have been using til Typepad plattform for my blog, but now I have migrated to WordPress. I thought that Typepad was a secure foundation to build my blogging life on, but unfortunately it turned out to not be a lasting plattform.
    Changing from Typepad to WordPress is like getting a new foundation, new ways of operating and doing things. I have had to start from scratch to learn how this plattform functions and how to learn to use features and possibilities that come with building your life on a new foundation.
    Typepad was not a lasting plattform. No one knows how long WordPress will be a secure foundation. However, I found a much better and more reliable foundation for my life. This secure foundation has been trusted and found working for many generations be me. My blogging life is just a small part of my life, therefore I need a bigger and better foundation to build my entire life on.
    Since I was a young teenager Jesus Christ has been the foundation of my life. Now I am 82 years old, and this foundation is still working very well. I need no other plattform to build my life on. In my lifetime som many changes have taken place, but Jesus Christ has remained faithful, He is the unchanging foundation of my life because he is the only unchanging person. He is the same, righteous, holy, loving, and faithful person yesterday, today and for ever. I know I can trust him.

  • Collision of worldviews

    Collision of worldviews

    There is a war going on. It is a brutal war. In fact, all wars are brutal in one way or another. But this ongoing war that we are witnessing today, is a very brutal one. There are many victims in this war. Many people are being hurt. Innocent people are suffering in this ongoing conflict.

    The war is raging in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as in USA and Europe. There are terrible conflicts causing millions of refugees to flee for their lives in Africa and Asia as well. My heart is bleeding for all those who are suffering from violence and injustice.

    The ongoing war of worldviews is in many ways invisible, but recently it became very visible through the killing of Charlie Kirk. I must admit that I had never heard of him before the news about his death. The way it was presented in the Norwegian media was a wakeup call to me. Trough the main media he was portrait as a racist and a wright wing extremist. He was compared to Anders Behring Breivik, a Norwegian terrorist that killed 69 people a few years ago. Then I discovered that young Christians, born again believers, as well as young conservative politicians, said he was a hero. Some people rejoiced in the fact that he was dead, but a lot of young people was mourning in shock to the killing.

    A collision of worldviews was taken place before my eyes. Then I realised, it is not only a collision, it is a war of worldviews. A Christian humanistic worldview versus a secular, illiberal and hedonistic worldview. Prolife and pro human dignity versus killing of babies and of those who do not conform with the secular belief or correct political opinions.

    It is time to wake up. It is time for action. We need to stand up for truth and love. We must promote peace and understanding. Righteousness and justice will prevail and overcome hate and evil in all forms.

  • Nådeord

    Gaza, Israel, Russland, Ukraina, Putin og Trump er ord som får kommentarfelta til å fløyma over av hatefulle ytringar. Frontane er steile, orda er harde, fiendane er mange. Det er oss på den rette sida, mot dei på den vonde sida. Vi trur at vi er dei gode, dei andre er dei vonde. Vi trur vi har sanninga, dei andre lyg. Vi trur at vi har rett til å bruka sterke og nedsetjande ord om dei andre. For vi seier berre sanninga, trur vi, når vi bruker negative ord om motstandarane våre.

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  • Vårteikn

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    Plommetreet blømer i hagen på Randaberg og fortel at våren er på gang.
    Våren er ei tid med mykje glede når livet gror, knoppane opnar seg i fargerike blomar og takkseiing flyt frå leppene!

  • Spring

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    Our plum-tree is blossoming and it is a sure sign of spring having arrived. 

    Springtime is a time of much joy and thanksgiving as life is budding in many colours and displaying the beautiful work of God.

  • Visiting India and Nepal

    Today we are leaving Norway to visit India and Nepal. We are only going for a short trip of two weeks this time. We love visiting our longstanding friends in these two wonderful Nations.

    My love for India and Nepal was kindled during my first visit in 1971 and during the years I have found many friends there. Seeing our friends always bring great joy to my Dear wife and myself.

  • Overwhelmed by love and prayers

    Since I shared the bad news I had concerning my only working eye, I have been overwhelmed by the love and care of my friends from all over the world. So many people are telling me that that pray for my eyesight to be preserved and not damaged by the AMD which is now also attacking my left eye. I feel very safe in the hands of God and trust him to have mercy on me and heal me from all eye diseases.

    The elders in the church has anointed me with oil and prayed for full healing and restoration of my eyesight. The entire church family gathered around me in prayer and encouraging words. I appreciate the prayers of friends very much. It warms my heart when people tell me that they are praying for me. The tremendous power of God is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer. 

    I trust God to enable me to serve him in many more years and joyfully I continue to commit myself into the strong and safe hands of God. 

  • Frels oss frå det vonde!

    Vi treng å be denne bønna i Fadervår meir enn nokon gong før. Vi veit at heile verda ligg i det vonde, skriv apostelen Johannes. Han seier også at Gud kan verna oss, så den vonde ikkje kan koma til. Difor treng vi stadig å be om at Gud skal berga oss frå den vonde og frelsa oss frå det vonde, for vondskapen ser vi rundt oss alle stader.

    Vi ser vondskapen kvar dag vi høyrer om nye drap i landet vårt. Det er sjokkerande og ufatteleg at ein mann kan drepa to døtrer og eit barnebarn før han tek sitt eige liv. Det er uforståeleg at ein ektemann drep kona si. Ja, for meg er kvart einaste drap uforståeleg, eg forstår ikkje kva som kan rettferdiggjera ei slik grueleg handling.

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  • Bibellesinga må halda fram!

    Eg blir stadig forundra over såkalla kristne leiarar som undergrev tilliten til Bibelen og seier at ein ikkje treng å lesa Bibelen for å vera ein kristen. No veit eg jo sjølvsagt at det ikkje er bibellesinga som gjer oss til kristne, men trua på Guds Son, Jesus Kristus vår frelsar og forsonar. Apostelen Paulus siterer frå profeten Jesaja og seier: «Så kjem då trua av bodskapen ein høyrer, og bodskapen kjem, ved Kristi ord.» Om ikkje trua vår kjem frå den profetiske og apostoliske bodskapen i Bibelen, kan det då vera ei kristen tru?

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