24th August 2026
Fear
„If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.“
1 Cor.12:26-27NIV
Jesus says that we should not fear. As believers, we are members of the body of Christ. He will never let his own body suffer. Therefore, do not fear.
ec.translated
23th August 2026
The Way to the Father
„Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. “
John 14:6NIV
Jesus is the way. The way leads us forward toward the goal, even if we do not dare to believe it, because the way is long and winds in all directions and contains steep hills and violent turns. The way leads us to where the spring gushes forth, to where God is, and He waters our path of life with the water of life. Ec translated
22th August 2026
End Times 4:4
The various courts:
1. When the church is caught up into the air and the dead in Christ are raised (first resurrection), we will be brought before the judgment seat of Christ. 2 Cor. 5:10NIV: „For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. “
1.This is the judgment of the house of God, only for believers. 1 Pet. 4:17NIV: „For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? “
We are saved, but now we will know whether we will receive the reward or lose it. 1Cor. 3:11-15: „For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. “
2. The judgment of the people: It comes before the 1000-year reign. It will be completed on earth. Then the King will cleanse out all those in his kingdom who are causing obstacles and harm. In other words, this judgment affects people who are still alive on earth after the rapture.
3. The judgment at the white throne: It will be after the 1000-year reign. Here is spoken of the second resurrection, where the wicked rise and receive their judgment. Here the wicked are condemned to perdition. These are the dead who stand before God after heaven and earth have passed away. Effie Campbell translated
21th August 2026
End Times 3:4
„Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? “
Rom.2:4NIV
The days of distress
The Tribulation is mentioned in chapters 6, 8 and 16 of the Revelation. In these chapters the church is not mentioned with one single word for the simple reason that it is not there. The church is now in heaven. Antichrist now reigns for a 7-year period and the last half of these 7 years, 42 months makes 3½ years, there he has unlimited power. Now the time of the church is over. The night has now come when no one can work. (John,4) Now we are in the time when God's goodness will lead us to repentance. (Rom.2:4)
In the Tribulation the wrath of God is revealed, so that peoples, tribes and tongues get a final call to repentance. But it is not the church that lived in the time of grace that proclaims the message of judgment, but rather the angels of heaven. „Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. “ Rev. 14:6NIV
Both witnesses will strike the earth with plagues and kill their opponents with fire. No priest or missionary in the age of grace had been given such a task. „And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. “ Rev.11:3-6NIV
The church is in touch with world events: 24 elders sit on the throne, and act as priests and kings. Rev.5:8-10. The church receives great power and authority, and shall judge the unbelievers. (1 Cor.6:2)
The feast will most likely not begin until the tribulation period is over. „Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. “ Rev. 19:7NIV
When Jesus speaks of our eternal home, he calls it “ My Father’s house,” (John 14:2). Paul says „After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. “ 1 Thess. 4:17NIV.
Scholars believe that the “New Jerusalem” will not be that far from the earth.
After the rapture comes the judgments:
1. The seven seals
2. The seven trumpets
3. The seven bowls of wrath
4. The judgments last for seven years, called Daniel’s 70 week.
Then Jesus is revealed in glory. Rev. 19:11-21
20th August 2026
End Times 2:4
„Therefore encourage one another with these words. “
1Tess.4:18NIV
Believers will escape the days of distress
Jesus and Paul do not say that believers will first be hit by a judgment of wrath, on the contrary. Paul speaks of the coming of Christ as the blessed hope for God's people. (1 Thess.4:18NIV)
In Luke 21, Jesus speaks of days of great distress that will hit everyone who lives on earth. But God's people should not fear when they see the signs that this time is approaching. „When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” “ Luke21:28NIV
„Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” “ Luke 21:36NIV
The above statement says as clearly as it can be expressed in human language that Jesus’ disciples will not live through the time of tribulation.
We will now take some scriptures that all tell the same thing, namely that believers, the church, will escape the tribulation:
„and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. “ 1 Thess. 1:10NIV
„Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. “ Rev. 3:10NIV
„But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise—let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy—your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer.“ Isaiah 26:19-21NIV
„For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. “ Psalm 27:5NIV
Noah was saved from the flood and Lot from the fire, and we believers will be saved from the days of great distress.
„For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. “ 1Cor.13:12NIV
What was unclear and incomprehensible to past generations is clearer to us today.
19th August 2026
End Times 1:4
Sequence
Thoralf Gilbrant
1. The Rapture. First, those who have died in Christ will rise. Their redeemed spirits are already in God's paradise. They rejoice in God's presence. But their bodies also share in Christ's rebirth. The body will rise. „After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. “ 1Thess. 4:17-18NIV Then the body will be changed. We will receive an incorruptible body, a heavenly body. 1 Cor. 15:52
Jesus' return will be a day filled with joy, gladness and excitement. But it will also be a day filled with fear, terror and bitter self-reproach. For as Jesus says: „I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”“ Luke17:34-36NIV Millions of believers disappear without leaving any address.
One of the first things that happens after the rapture is that we are brought before the judgment seat of Christ. „For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. “ 2 Corinthians 5:10NIV
2. The Antichrist appears when that which prevents his coming has been removed, namely the church, (ecclesia). „For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. “ 2Thess. 2:7NIV
3. The time of trouble.
4. Jesus comes to the Mount of Olives. The crowns of victory will not be distributed until now, when the Lord comes and brings his reward with him. 2 Tim. 4:8 and Rev. 22:12. Christ’s return is therefore in two stages:
1. First, a “visible” return after the believers, called the rapture.
2. Then a “public” return to judge the world.
18th August 2026
The Gift of Eternity – the World’s Most Important Task
„Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”“
Matt.28.19-20NIV
The world needs us who preach the gospel and try to pass it on to others. Just look at the world today! Not one of the great politicians or world leaders the world has seen and will ever see is able to establish peace and justice.
Only one, He who is justice himself, is able to do so. Therefore, we must rise up and enter the fight for the God of Love and present people with the gift called salvation. The gift of eternity is the most important task the world has ever faced.
Ec translated
17th August 2026
Irena a great woman
„Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. “
John 15:13NIV
When I read about the Jewish woman, Irena Sendlerowa, these words of Jesus came to mind: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ”
Irene died in 2009. She was 98 years old. She was born in Germany and trained as a plumber. She worked in the Jewish quarter of Warsaw, Poland. As a German Jew, she was aware of what was going on.
She began smuggling Jewish babies out of the ghetto. She hid them at the bottom of her toolbox. She hid the slightly older children in a large backpack and then put her dog on top, a dog that barked badly at the Nazi soldiers when she left the camp and passed through the gate after the workday.
The fact that the dog barked so much meant that the guards did not check the backpack. In this way, Irene saved 2,500 infants, as well as children who were slightly older.
Eventually, the German guards found out what was going on and what she was doing, and they broke both of her arms and legs and beat her badly.
Irene wrote down the names of all the children she smuggled out. She hid the lists of names in a jam jar that she buried under a tree in her garden.
After the war, she dug up the jar again and tried to reunite the few parents who escaped the Jewish quarter alive with their children. The rest of the children she found foster homes for or people to adopt them.
In 2008, Irene was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. But it was Al Gore who won the prize because of his work on global warming. Well, those who really deserve it do not always get what they deserve. But fortunately, there are heroes and heroines in our midst in our daily lives today. Irena was one of these. She showed true love and was one of those Jesus speaks of when he says: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ”
The Nobel Committee did not think Irena was worthy of that honor. But I wonder if Irena received a hearty handshake as she entered Jesus’ home in the eternal mansions? Moses Hansen Translated by Effie Campbell
16th August 2026
The Truth
„Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. “
John 14:6NIV
Christianity is not a religion. It is simply THE TRUTH. “ … and this He (i.e. God) has given proof about to the whole world by raising Him (Jesus) from the dead.” Rev.17:31
God has given us full proof about this. Jesus is the crown witness. That is a historical fact!
Ec translated
15th August 2026
A pastor for those who don't go to church 8:8
„My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. “
John 15:12NIV
8 Johannes Amritzer
I spoke to a Finnish man and led him to faith and baptized him that same evening in a local lake there. He was 61 years old. He was baptized in the Spirit in my car outside a hotel. I married him and the girl he lived with at a tavern by a horse racetrack, where he had been a daily guest all his life. We had the wedding there. It was one of the very best weddings I have ever attended. Today he is a member of our Pentecostal church in Finland and he loves Jesus. Why? Because he was allowed to meet his pastor.
Something that comes up again and again is this, which I once said to a man: “You are closer to God than you think. You prayed to God when you were drunk. You prayed to God when no one was looking. You prayed to God when you were alone in the car. You are closer to God than you think!”
“Yes, yes, you are absolutely right about that.”
“You are almost saved. It is just this “almost” that we have to do something about. Do you believe in God, and do you believe in the gospel of Jesus?”
“Yes, yes, I do, but this is about the church!”
“Yes, that is something different. Now we will take the first one first. We can take the second one later.”
Then I explained the gospel to him, and he was saved and baptized in a lake outside an industrial plant, and he was so happy when he came up again and asked. “Is this when I can shout hallelujah?” he asked.
“Indeed, now it is fitting to shout hallelujah twice.”
“Hallelujah, hallelujah!” he shouted. And then he was baptized in the Spirit in my car as we drove away. Today he is one of my greatest supporters.
Oh, I just want to tell you about all these people who have become disciples of Jesus because we loved them and took them with us. We took it for granted that they wanted to have a relationship with God. We treated them as our own before they actually were so.
So let us all be priests to those who have no priest. Translated by Effie Campbell
14th August 2026
A pastor for those who don't go to church 7:8
„Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. “
1.Tim.6:9NIV
7. Johannes Amritzer
Once I had to speak in a church where the people were so nice that I had to wear a suit, tie and freshly polished shoes. It was quite unfamiliar to me. I was standing outside a hotel in a small Swedish town eating kebabs. I had thrown my tie behind my back and leaned forward so as not to get dirty. Some 15-16 year old boys were standing there laughing at me. Then one of them comes up to me and says: "Can I ask you something? Are you a millionaire?"
"Yes, I am. I am actually a billionaire. But don't tell anyone," I told him, "because then I knew he was going to say it.
"I knew it," he shouted to the others, "he is a billionaire."
“Yes, but Dad has all the money. He wants me to work, so I travel around and represent the empire/his kingdom.”
“When you need a new watch or a new car, what do you do?”
“I ask Dad. If he thinks I need it, I get it. But sometimes the turnaround time is long.
“Who is he? What is his name? Do we know him?”
“Yes, you all know him. It’s God!”
“No!!!” he said disappointed.
“Yes!!! The great thing about it is that He is also the father of all of you. He owns all things and can do everything.” Then I started telling them what Jesus has done for us. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
One of them wanted to be a football referee, another a surgeon.” Ok. Now hold hands and we will pray.” I prayed that they would be what they wanted to be, and that “Father” would help them, and that they would come to know “Father” through His Son, Jesus Christ. It was like having a Sunday school class in front of them in the middle of the street outside a hotel in Sweden. It is so open in Sweden and Norway, if only someone would be a “priest” for them. It has been wonderful for me to walk with Egil Svartdahl here in the streets of Oslo.
13th August 2026
A Pastor for Those Who Don't Go to Church 6:8
„a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces. “
Proverbs 30:28NIV
6. Johannes Amritzer
I was invited to the royal family in Lesotho, South Africa. Imagine a worker's son, the son of alcoholic parents, being invited to the royal house to hold a Bible study for them. It was so big for me to sit with this royal couple that I had to pinch myself several times to see if it was right. But I was there as a pastor. I had two festivals in Lesotho and 15,000 newly saved people who went to a class to educate them. HIV-positive people became HIV-negative after intercession and came out of the hospital with a medical certificate. That's big. And then I was invited up to the royal castle.
I had received a word from the Holy Spirit to the king and queen. I gave them my story, and that it was big for me to be at the royal castle. Then I said, “Do you have lizards in this castle?” He was offended. I knew he would stay. I had a special plan for it.
“Do you think there are lizards in royal castles here in Africa?” he said. “The lizards may be out there in the courtyard, but not in here.”
“I can see more,” I said.
“Who are they?” he asked.
“You and the queen and myself.”
“Are you calling me a lizard,” he shouted. Now the atmosphere in the room was tense, but I dared to use the opportunity.
“I will explain. I received a word from God for you. The Bible says: „a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces. “ Proverbs 30:28 Lizards are so small that they can be held in one’s hand. I am a little lizard that God has lifted up. I live in His hand, and I hope that you too will be a lizard that God is allowed to lift up. Then we can both be in His hand, and yet we borrow the royal castle. We must not own it.”
Then tears came to his eyes and he said: “Yes, I am a little lizard that lies in God’s hand together with you, pastor, and so we borrow the “royal castle” as long as we are here.
“What are we going to do with this precious time that we live here?” I asked.
“Well, we must do everything as well as we can.”
“Yes, and now I will pray for you.” and then I prayed and prophesied over him, and I think that things will probably turn out well for him.
But why should we only be pastors for those who go to church? Everyone can be pastors. It is only a matter of the heart’s view and attitude. You can be a pastor in the football club, in the weaving school and everywhere. Imagine if we could “ordain” the entire congregation, so that everyone would go out and say: “The pastor doesn’t have time. But I can give you a helping hand. I can pray for you. What’s wrong?” If we all did a priestly deeds, then we would win in both Norway and Sweden.
12th August 2026
A Pastor for Those Who Don't Go to Church 5:8
„Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” “
Dan.6:6NIV
5 Johannes Amritzer
I think of the wedding I attended. They had seated me as the only Christian believer at a table where there were no other believers. The bride and groom had done this deliberately, as they had a special intention in mind for it. “So, now they have seated all of you in the family who do not believe, together with a priest,” I said. Then they laughed and the ice was broken.
“This is a funny composition here at the table,” I said, “two couples who live together + 5 children and then a priest. What does that give?” When no one answered, I said, “Let’s just take it one more time. Four adults + 5 children + a priest. What does that give?”
“A wedding perhaps?” someone said.
“Well, yes, but there is a small mistake in your calculation. That must give a double wedding. Shouldn’t we go and shake up the whole religious family and announce a double wedding?”
“Yes, we will,” said the men. And so we started making plans for a double wedding there. And a double wedding did happen, even with 400 guests. Indeed, why should we as priests only marry those who come to church? It is better for them to get married than for them to just live together. I usually say to the young men: “Do you love her? Well, then prove it and marry her.”
I try to live as a priest among those who don’t come to church. When we read the Bible, especially the Old Testament, we see a lot of such characters who stand firm among all the unbelieving people around them. They don’t slack off and don’t give in and don’t compromise. They win people over, not right away perhaps, but gradually. Read, for example, the story of Daniel. He stood firm and firmly refused to drink wine and eat the food he was offered. The end was that King Nebuchadnezzar declared: “ ... „“Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings “ … ‘ ” Dan.2,47NIV It is only the spoiled ones in the third and fourth generation of believers who drink red wine with meat. It is only those who have God’s rich blessings all around them who can afford to drink wine with food. They have never wiped up vomit after their mother or father and have never been beaten by their drunken parents. Then they can easily drink wine with meat. But I hate the devil in the bottle and the spirit in the glass, because I have been the child of such parents.
You should not try to be like everyone else, but you should stand for something and stick to it, because then you will gain respect and esteem in time.
King Darius issued the following decree: „“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”“ Dan.6:27-28NIV
It is not necessary to please the world to become like it. No, we set our own standard and do not waver – but without becoming the morality police, because we all find that depraved. We should not laugh at dirty jokes. Why not set the standard ourselves and serve up edifying entertainment. When I have attended some parties and the others have toasted, I usually raise my bottle of Coke and say: “Well, then I better say Hallelujah.” And then they laugh.
11th August 2026
A Pastor for Those Who Don't Go to Church 4:8
„Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “
Matt. 28:19NIV
4 Johannes Amritzer
Abraham was a leader of God among men. He did not buy any land, because he and his descendants would inherit the land later. In return, he bought the cave of Machpelah. I do not own Stockholm, but spiritually I own the city. We have a large 5,300 m² hall and prophetically I own buses, trains and pizza restaurants.
We live in a terrace house. Our neighbor is an ordinary Swedish family – the man and the woman have both been married before – so there are a lot of children. The oldest daughter Linda was 16 years old and got pregnant. “I hear Linda is expecting,” I said to the father once I ran into him out front.
“Yes,” he said, “We thought that our time with children was coming to an end. But she decided to keep the baby, and we support her with that.”
“It is really good.”
One day I met Linda. “I hear you’re pregnant,” I said.
“Yes,” she said in an uncertain voice, “I don’t know how it’s going to be to become a mother.”
“You’ll be a mother when the baby comes out, and you’ll be a good mother too. You’ll be able to handle both this and that.” I tried to comfort her and be a priest for her.
Then the baby finally came, and Linda had now turned 17. I went to her with a small gift to congratulate her. I took the little baby in my lap. Family and friends were sitting there in the kitchen. Then suddenly the Holy Spirit came over me, and I found it so great that this child had been given an opportunity, because it was by no means a given. “Do you mind if I bless this child?” I asked, not expecting an answer, but simply sat down to ask the Lord to bless this child and its future. I prayed for a long time and I couldn’t hold back my tears. The whole family sat in the kitchen in reverent silence. The Holy Spirit was there. Linda sat on the couch and thought, “Wow, that priest loves both the child and me. He is brave and prays there in our own kitchen. He shall be my priest!” She was only 17 years old and this was what she was thinking. She had never set foot in a church. She started coming to our church, was saved and baptized, and she has brought 10 other people with her into the congregation. She is one of our best evangelists. That’s how it works.
10th August 2026
A Pastor for Those Who Don't Go to Church 3:8
„By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. “
Hebrews 11:8NIV
3 Johannes Amritzer
And when I go into a restaurant to buy a takeaway meal that we will eat at a rest area after the service, I ask, “Well, how is business going?”
“Well, no, not very well. There are so many competitors.”
“Then we will pray for you,” I say. Then I take his hand and pray live at the cash register. After I have prayed for a while, they say, “Thank you very much.” Then when I return later, I ask, “Well, how is business going?”
“Fine, it’s going great,” they say.
And when I pray too little for them, they usually come out into the street and shout: “Listen, pastor, you are doing a bad job. You can’t just travel to other countries, you have to take care of us here at home too. You who have contact with the Almighty, can’t you pray for me so that something happens here and now?” And that way you become a pastor for the whole community.
I think there is a great secret hidden in this treating everyone the same. Abraham left home without knowing what he was going to do, we read in the letter to the Hebrews. He owned no land, but he walked around the country as if he already owned it. The letter to the Romans says that God speaks to things as if they already existed, and that is also the case with faith. Faith is approachable and challenging. It does not fear. It is joyful and conquering. It draws people to itself. Abraham did not own a single piece of land in the land, but he acted as if he already did, and so he became a spiritual guide. When Abraham later frees his nephew Lot, King Melchizedek, the king of Salem, comes and blesses Abraham: “‘Hear us, my lord! You are a great man of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb to bury your dead in.’” Genesis 23:6, which reads: “Prince of God.” Isn’t that great? They believed that Abraham was a spiritual guide.
And so it is with you. You can start now. First people will believe your faith, and then they will have their own faith.
9th August 2026
A Pastor for Those Who Don't Go to Church 2:8
„Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. “
Luke.5:31NIV
2 A year ago I was on a preaching tour in Oslo. Late Saturday night I walked down Karl Johan Gate. Then I was amazed. The place was teeming with West African prostitutes all the way down to the castle. I mentioned this to a superintendent, who replied: “Johannes, you should take better care of yourself so that you are not seen with such people.
“I think Jesus had been there,” I replied, “because he was not only with the healthy and well, but he visited the sick. That is the Jesus I know.”
I usually walk through the streets of Stockholm. Stockholm is my city, and everyone in the city is my congregation. It's just that they don't realize it yet. I usually go over to the bus stop and then I wave and say: “Hi, hi!”
“Do we know each other?” they ask.
“No,” I say, “First of all, I’m Austrian and that’s why I greet people, and secondly, I’m a Christian and a priest, and thirdly, I’m your priest.”
“Well! But I don’t go to any church!”
“No, but now I’d better tell you about it.” And then we’re on to the subject.
I walked down to the supermarket. There are always so many Muslims. “I’m a priest and a missionary and I’m going to Africa to preach to Muslims. What clothes do you think I should wear?” I shouted. And how they put their whole soul into helping me.
“Do you think the Muslims will accept me?”
“Yes, absolutely,” they answer.
And the next time I went down to the supermarket, they all came running: “Well, missionary, did you do well?”
8th August 2026
A priest for those who don't go to church 1:8
„On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. “
Matt.9:12NIV
1. Johannes Amritzer
In Sweden, not many people go to church. When I talk to people, I say that I am a priest for those who don't go to church, so that it can be the same for both parties.
“Yes, that's fine,” they say.
“Well, do you go to church?” I ask.
“No, not in general.”
“Well, then I'm your priest.”
“Well, you must be,” they answer and laugh a little nervously.
“It's not every day that you meet your priest. If you have something on your mind, say it now, because now is your opportunity.”
“Well, you probably don’t care much about what we say,” they reply.
“Don’t be silly. Firefighters put out fires, the police keep order. Let me do my job.”
Then they laugh a little uneasily. But I say, “Shall we get started?” And then it pours out of them, like an eternal well of everything that is oppressing them. I don’t ask if I can pray for them. I just take them by the hand and simply say, “Now we pray!”
And great things happen. I lead people to salvation, people are healed, baptized in the Holy Spirit everywhere on the streets, on buses, on trains.
14 days ago I checked into a hotel. I was given room 216.
“Do you ever have priests staying here?” I asked.
“Yes, it happens”
“Yes, I am a priest, but not just any priest. I am on standby at work 24 hours a day. So if you have problems in the bar, don’t call the police. Call me in room 216 instead. Now I am the hotel priest as long as I stay here.”
“Oh, well, how good,” they say with tears in their eyes, “it is so good to have a priest who cares about people.” People in Norway and Sweden are not as far from God as we would think.
In Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prays: „As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. “ John 17:18NIV When I became a Christian 18 years ago, I understood that the word “world” was a negative word, and I understand that in a way. We talk about the god of this world, the spirit of the world, etc. But at the same time we read in John 3:16 that it was this world that God loved so much that He came down here to die for it. Jesus said that we should live in the world, but not of the world. (John 17). We should love this world, so that we do not exclude or expel people, but rather we should include people and count them in.
Jesus was attacked because he was with the “wrong” people, prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners. But Jesus replied that it was not the healthy who needed a doctor, but the sick. (Matthew 9:12)
7th August 2026
Psalm 1
„That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. “
Psalm 1:3NIV
The first psalm is good for reflecting on our current times of crisis. This is a crisis that our politicians take rather lightly, because it gives points to be positive and promise that our politics and financial situation is safe – you can safely trust us, dear citizens.
But what if the crisis has nothing to do with politics? What if it is God who judges the state of this world? Then even the most ingenious plans and aid packages will fall to the ground like rotten apples.
As God’s children, we have the privileges that God has given us the promises in his Word, which guide and comfort us. Therefore, it is necessary for us to live in God’s Word, indeed, even that we “ … meditate on his law day and night ”. As it is said in the first Psalm, because God’s promises are many times more valuable than the politicians’ aid packages.
Therefore, take time to read Psalm.1 and meditate on the promises. There are blessings to be found for the one who wants to do God’s will. He/the tree “… yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. „
Everything we do succeeds for us. The Lord helps those who act in accordance with His will. Always green leaves – even when everything else fades.
But then come the frightening words: „Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. “
Heavenly Father! Draw people to you in this time, when many are afraid and insecure because of the tremors we see around us in our days. Hold us close to you, that we may be witnesses of your loving faithfulness and your power to make us yield fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever we do prospers. Thank you for making our lives successful for your glory and a testimony to those around us. In Jesus’ name, amen! Moses Hansen. Translated by Effie Campbell
6th August 2026
Weather report from heaven
„For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. “
2 Cor.1:19-20NIV
The gospel is like the heavenly sunshine. The sun of righteousness rose on Calvary, while the “rain” came when the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost. The rainbow testifies that all the promises of God have become their yes in Jesus, and that God is no longer angry with us, since the wrath fell on Jesus instead of us.
Ec translated
5th August 2026
Women, be awake
„“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. “
John.10:11NIV
“One of those who stood at the head of the Bible womens association in London tells the following shocking story:
One Sunday evening, at the close of the Bible class, all the women left the place except one who remained. She asked if she could speak to me. She said that a certain dying woman wanted to see me, and she therefore asked if I could go with her at once to visit her.
I tryed to avoid it, saying that I was rather exhausted and by the way it was outside my geographical area and that they would certainly be able to find a minister in the vicinity there.
“Her husband will never agree to it,” said the woman, adding, looking at me earnestly: “Oh, dear lady, please come! You will never regret it!”
I went. When I arrived at the place, I was so cautious and insecure that I asked the driver to wait there for me and knock on the door if I did not return within half an hour. I was afraid and very much against this visit.
It seemed to me as if they were waiting for me, for a woman showed me the way up the stairs, and I saw even more clearly in the face of the sick woman that she was waiting with longing for me and that it was good that I came, because the next day it would have been too late.
I went towards the place where the sick woman lay, took her hand and said that I had come because I had been asked to come. She smiled faintly at me but said nothing. Yet I felt that we were friends and sisters in the Lord.
The door was open to an adjoining room and from there I could hear the sound of scratching and fussing, which testified that someone was there. I was a little uneasy about it and asked another woman who was also in the same room if they had a Bible. But she seemed to be deaf, because she did not answer and when I asked the same question to the sick woman I noticed that she was mute. I did not know why. I could only state that it was so. She shook her head and I could thus deduce that they did not have a Bible.
I then took my New Testament and read to her from the Gospel of John about the Good Shepherd in chapter 10. A heartfelt joy radiated from her face and when I had finished reading, I therefore said: “You love him, then?”
The look that met me spoke such a clear language of peace, joy and trust that I was sure that I was talking here with a child of God.
The sick woman then looked up and folded her hands in prayer, and then sought my gaze, placing her hands on mine. I understood the meaning and fell to my knees.
Then we heard a loud cry from the other room, which is very rare to hear.
I looked at the sick woman. She showed me the engagement ring, pointed towards the room and folded her hands again as a sign that I should just continue.
The violent sobbing continued and I understood that it came from the sick woman's husband.
After a while the old woman got up and put the baby in the cradle, fell to her knees and then she also began to cry. I continued with the prayer and when I finished the prayer the sick woman lay exhausted and pale. But a wonderful glow of peace, joy and hope radiated from her suffering features.
I said goodbye. She stretched out her thin arms towards me. We did not see each other again on this earth. She passed away that very evening.
Later I heard her story. She had been the only child of her godly parents, and had grown up in the country. She was exceedingly beautiful, and a young, secular man was so captivated by her. He gave the impression of being godly, but it was hypocrisy and a show. She was unable to see what was in him and got strong feelings for him. For a long time he continued his show, but when the wedding was well and truly over he threw the whole charade overboard.
He took his young wife to London, away from her parents, whom she never saw again. He took her Bible and all other Christian books, which he set on fire, all while she had to stand there and merely look at it. He gave her strict orders not to go to any Christian meetings, and he did not allow her to meet with other godly friends.
This shattered hope completely crushed her. She died slowly under the burden of this suffering. She was getting weaker and weaker, and not until she lay there speechless and unable to “babble her stories,” as her husband put it—was the husband persuaded to send for me, because Madame B, the midwife, had pressed him so earnestly.
Oh, what a life! She was married at the age of nineteen. For five years she had lived without any Bible or Christian literature, and without any opportunity to hear the word of the Lord or to meet with other Christian friends. What a terrible blow!
May all believing girls truly be vigilant and earnestly cry out to the Lord Jesus while there is time. I absolutely believe that the Lord saved her, and this is one of many proofs of His faithful care as a good shepherd for His souls. But, what suffering! It is exceedingly rare that such events end in this way, but sometimes we find it a comfort in the calling we are in.
All that I considered so strange when I visited this woman was now clear to me, and I have never been able to forget that visit. I have since heard that a change had taken place in the husband.
Message from the Kingdom of Grace, April 1906 Effie Campbell translated
4th August 2026
God’s Word
It is of vital importance to read God’s Word every day. Listen:
1. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ” John 8:31NIV
“… “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.”
2. “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” ” John 8:47NIV
“ Whoever belongs to God hears what God says …”
3. “Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”” John8:51NIV
e.c.
3rd August 2026
The Crossing of the Red Sea
“He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. ”
Exodus 14:7NIV
Aleksander Hvass appeared in the studio at Visjon Norge to speak about the Biblical crossing of the Red Sea. The Sinai Peninsula divides the Red Sea into two sections: the Suez Canal on one side and the Gulf of Aqaba on the other. An ancient oral tradition, dating back as far as Helena—Emperor Constantine’s mother—holds that the Israelites crossed the Red Sea at the Suez Canal. Searches have been conducted on the seabed in that region to see if any remnants of the many chariots and other equipment from Pharaoh’s army could be found, but nothing has ever been discovered; this has sparked fierce criticism of Christianity and the biblical accounts.
Instead of accepting everything at face value and simply believing the old tales, one can sit down and examine Scriptures, and see what they actually say. If you study the names mentioned there, you quickly realize that they crossed the Red Sea at the Gulf of Aqaba. At a specific location in the gulf, the sea is only 300 meters deep; it is precisely there that wheels, chariot axles, human bones, animal bones, and swords—all encrusted with coral—have been found. Yet, the shapes of these remains were clearly discernible.
https://www.messianic-literary.com/chariots.html
The Bible records that, among others 600 chariots were involved (Exodus 14:7). These were iron chariots with golden wheels; since coral does not attach to gold, divers have discovered these wheels lying on the seabed, gleaming in the sunlight over a stretch spanning many kilometers.
Effie Campbell
2nd August 2026
Iron and Clay
„And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. “
Daniel 2:43NIV
David Hathaway
We read in the Bible that iron cannot mix with clay. In Dan. 2:43 it says that it cannot be done: Iron cannot mix with clay.
The prophet Daniel in the Old Testament saw that the last great kingdom would be laid waste when Jesus came again. He saw that this kingdom would replace the Roman Empire(iron) that was in power at the time of Jesus’ first coming to earth. (Dan. 2:40)
This military empire became the Holy Roman Empire, and continues to this day through the European Union (EU), which was established through the Treaty of Rome in 1957.
Daniel saw that this world empire is now a mixture of iron and clay, and it will not last. Translated by Effie Campbell
1st August 2026
Horror that sets things in motion
„In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. “
Luke 16:23NIV
In the old days, people did not wrap things up, but said things directly, harshly, and bluntly. For example, William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, who was very involved in helping alcoholics, said: “I pray that every one of my officers may be in hell for 10 minutes, because then he will come to see what it is like there, and therefore he will preach Christ for the rest of his life and thereby save people from it.” e.c tranl.
26.1.2014
Evangeline Booth
26th January 2014
WHO WAS IT THAT KISSED ME?
“Dear friends, let us love one another,... " 1.John 4.7
See video of Evangeline Booth
Evangeline Booth stood outside a court building and watched various prisoners that came out of there. A moment ago she had heard someone in there shouting, squalling and swearing, and now she saw a feisty looking woman being led out of the courtroom accompanied by six police officers. Two went in front of her and two others behind her, while two held in her arms. The woman struggled to get free. The clothes she had on was torn and full of holes, her hair was woolly and bristly, and her filthy face was clotted with blood. What could she do for her?
Evangeline knew there was no time to preach to her. It would be a crime against her to give her money, and to sing for her would be useless. In a minutte this woman would be far away. Powered by a sudden impulse Evangeline ran onto this dirty, cursing and ugly smelling woman and kissed her.
The woman slipped her hands loose and searched with a wild expression the field with her eyes." Who was it that kissed me?" She shouted. "Who kissed me? Nobody had done that since her mother died."
She raised her torn apron to her face and burst into heartbreaking tears, and as a mild lamb she followed the officers into the wagon, which drove her to jail.
Some days after this incident Mrs Booth went on a prison visit to see the woman. Her face was now clean, and she now looked quite handsome. She looked at the stranger and asked, "Do you know who kissed me?"
Then she told Mrs Booth her life story. "When I was a baby my father died, and when I was 7 years old my mother also died. She died in a dark backyard in a poor neighborhood. When she was dying she called to me, took my small face between her hands and kissed it and said: "My poor little girl! O God, be merciful to my little girl and take good care of her!"
From that day until now, no one has kissed my face until the other day."
Then she asked again: "Do you know who it was that kissed me?"
Evangeline Booth replied: "It was me."
She told this lost woman of God and how he loved her so much that he was willing to die for us on the cross, where he wore all our offenses. He was wounded and disabled, so that he could save everybody from their sins.
This was something completely new. The woman had never imagined that Jesus loves so much. She opened her heart to Jesus, and before she got out of prison, she had also learned many other prisoners to love Jesus.
All this happened because Evangeline Booth kissed her. Fantastic, and what a beautiful and good deed! Evangeline Booth was the daughter of the man who founded the Salvation Army, William Booth.
Let us show our fellow human beings our love and learn the many unhappy and broken people that God truly is a God who saves sinners.
E. Campbell translated
25th January 2014
THE WAY - ALSO INTO THE THIRD MILLENIUM
"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believs in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
The way is a messiah-description, which is used throughout the Bible, from Abraham to Moses, from the Psalms of David to all the prophets. The Patriarchs and the Prophets spurred the Israeli people to follow the path and not deviate from the way. When Jesus came as the living Messiah, he said: "I am the WAY! "Therefore followers of Jesus in the New Testament did not name their faith Christianity, but the Way. There are many passages in the book of Acts, where the Christian faith is called, "The Way" and "the way of God."
Jesus is the Way, and not the roadside. There is good reason to warn against the 2000 hysteria and their deviation from the Way. The world needs the Gospel of Jesus, not the many oddities, tall tales or Christian laws.
An example of the essence of the gospel is the Apostolic Creed and John.3.16.
The creed reads: "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
And John 3:16 reads: "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believs in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Jesus and the apostles also warned against false prophets, the false Messiah, the Antichrist, and other aberration in the last days. The so-called Christians waves from the U.S. Also knock on our doors in the Nordic region with all sorts of weird stuffs
What is from God puts Jesus in the center and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God come in the flesh, while all that is false deny Jesus.
The great danger, where "chosen" Christians are being misled, Jesus and the Apostles connect with the Jews and their reception of the false Messiah. Jesus said, "I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him." (John 5.43 )
The false Messiah, which the Bible calls "the Antichrist" will sit in the temple of God.
The believers must follow the Way, preach the Gospel and show Jesus' love and friendship to all.
In the Hebrews, Jews believing in Jesus were in danger of going back to animal sacrifices in the temple and reject Jesus' sacrificial death as the only foundation of salvation. They had already been warned not to tread on the Son of God and hold the blood of the covenant unholy, and again crucify the Son of God ( Heb. 10.26-29 and 6,4-6).
Animal sacrifices in the Old Covenant could not take away sins (Hebrews 10, 4)
Only when we stick to the Way, Jesus, we avoid falling into the ditch in those last days.
Aril Edvardsen, "Troens bevis".
E. Campbell translated
24th January 2014
SAME RELIGION AS THE OLD BY BLOOD
The then known persons representing materialism and atheism, Professor KW, Mr HB, Mrs KD and several others had announced with a large anti- biblical lecture at Viktoria Hall in Stockholm March 19 - .
After the lecture, the word was given freely to the audience.
The hall was crowded to bursting point, most of them godless people. Then Professor W. Rose to the pulpit, and people clapped eagerly to honor him. He confirmed once again that there was not a single evidence that Jesus ever existed. The only thing people relied on, in terms of the historical Jesus was something that Josephus had written down, but this turned out to be a forged supplementary document, and therefore there was no longer any evidence that Jesus ever existed.
Then the word was given free to all. An elderly man stood up. He father wore the distinctive red jacket of the Salvation Army. The moderator watched him scornfully as did quite a few others of the audience, who shouted that they had not come to a Christian revival meeting, and therefore it was best that the old fellow kept silent. But he demanded to speak since they had advertised it, or did they fear their counterpart? So they let him speak. With clear and powerful voice, he said:
"It seems to be a matter of great concern and distress with these professors and this science. How does the professor know that Jesus didn't exist?"
The professor said mockingly: "Well, how do you know that he lived?" And even more condescending the audience chimed: "Well, how do you know? "
But then the old man thundered : "Should I not know that Christ is? Should I not understand?"
"We demand proof! Give us proof!" Someone shouted from the audience and from the podium.
" Yeah, I will give you proof" he replied with a resounding voice." I am a proof myself that our precious Savior lives. Some years ago I was the most shabby drunkard in Stockholm. I drank and used every penny I could get my hands on on booze, and when i became drunk I ended up in the detention at the police station. From there I was sent to the judge, and since I was unable to pay the fines, so I had to back to prison. But hardly I was outside again until over and over I repeated this miserable cycle, from the pub, to the court and imprisoned and so on back to the pub. I signed up for every possible and impossible temperance society and took a sacred pledge after another, but the problems just got worse. I sank deeper and deeper into a bottomless misery.
“But then one day in my deepest despair I met the Lord Jesus Christ, and he liftet me with his pierced hand out of the muck and purified me with his blood. And since that day I have been saved and preserved in the faith, and I have been a hard workin, valued and useful citizen since then. Should I not know better than anyone that Christ exists? "
There was a complete silence in the hall, and everyone seemed to be moved by this personal testimony. After a long pause Mr D. B. Was given the word, but it was not easy for him to maintain his usual arrogant attitude when it came to spiritual matters. He noted:
" Ladies and gentlemen, if I had to think about religion – obviously that will hardly happen - but nevertheless if it was occur for me to think of such a thing, I would want to have the same religion as the old man by the blood!"
It was obvious that the testimony had also hit him.
" ...and when I see the blood, I will pass over you." Exodus 12.13 or as it says in a Swedish Bible: "And the blood shall be a sign unto you to salvation!"
E. Campbell translated
23th January 2014
NOT OUTSIDE BUT INSIDE !
They stood on a street corner and discussed. One was a man of faith, and the other was active in politics. The latter was convinced that the party he represented would be of greater benefit to people and society than all Christianity and belief in God.
The politician came with one argument after another and became more and more eager in his view of things: "You do not change the social conditions in this world by going around and preaching about a possible eternal salvation! It is here and now that we need changes and improvements that can stem corruption and rottenness, and that can create equality and justice for all - and make it possible for everyone to live a decent life ... "
As soon as he had said this a very dirty and tattered homeless man past by. The politician, who by now was really worked up, observed the man and said, "Take for instance that man. Society has failed! Our political program can save men like him: We will provide new clothes for such people!"
Then the man of faith answered: "The Gospel works the other way round. It gives new people to such clothes!"
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
2 Cor. 5.17 NIV
"Tro & Fakta" No. 6/ 1997.
E. Campbell translated
22th January 2014
THE BIBLE - THE HOLY SCRIPTURE
That's the name of it - and it's contents!
The Bible is a divine book. The words are full of spirit - God-breathed!
Paul:
"All Scripture is God-breathed"
2 Tim. 3.16
I believe everything that is in the law, and what is written in the prophet.( Acts.24,14)
Peter:
"For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
( 2.Pet. 1.21)
Prophets have pondered and searched when they prophesied what the Spirit of Christ showed them. (1.Pet. 1.10 - 12).
People have written down what they got from God. How far does human thoughts go in this? Find the answer in the parable that the Bible itself set between the Word and Jesus! Joh. 1.1 and 1.Joh. 1.1 etc.
As surely as Jesus was true man, yet without sin, the Bible is true human, yet without fault!
Jesus was God and man in one body - the Bible is divine and human in one volume!
Just as Jesus was different from us - the Bible is different from all other books. The true humanity of Jesus was, among other things, that he was born by a woman, the son of man. He may have resembled his mother immensely. He was tired and hungry and tempted, but God was his model, "Father, if it is your will ... ?"
The true human of the Bible is among other things-, It bears the mark of the period and of the writers who have written. However, always guided by the will of God : "For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets"
2 Pet. 1.21
"The Bible through the ages" V. Munch.
Effie Campbell translated
21th January 2014
HOW DO WE FIND GOD?
"...no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Joh. 3.3 NIV
There are many who do not know what it is to be born again, nor what rebirth truly means in the life of a human being.
Being born again is more than merely to accept Christ in your consciousness and your mind. Even if you live a "decent" and a morally irreproachable life where you live and behave the very best you can on your own, then it is not and will never be enough for wether you make the so-called "small sins" or large, you are still a sinner on the road of perdition. "... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
Romans 3:23 NIV
When a child is born, the proud parents announce this great news far and wide. This newborn child starts a life in a world that is totally new to it. When a sinner is born of God's Holy Spirit - reborn - we also bring the happy news to others. The newborn “child of God” also enters a world that is new to it - a new life. The heart and the mind is totally changed, he or she has been given new wishes, a new setting and meaning of life, new interests and new thoughts.
Imagine, a life of victory over sin, and peace instead of strife and temptations! What a marvelous life!
Perhaps you ask, "How can I experience this new birth? "You must turn away from sin and come to God with the intention fully to give him your life. Simply pray the Lord to forgive you and save you.
When you are born again, then you will know it. The condemnation has gone.
E. Campbell translated
20th January 2014
SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
"And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them."
Mark 10.16
Fanny Crosby was born in New York ( 1820-1915). Just six weeks old she lost her sight and was blind for the rest of her life. 12 years old she went on a blind school, where she stayed for the following 23 years, first as a student and later as a teacher.
Fanny Crosby wrote more than 2,000 songs. The impact Lina Sandell had on the Nordic region Fanny Crosby had for the English-speaking countries.
The song "Safe in the arms of Jesus" was written 30 april 1868. Fanny tells that on this particular day one well-known music artist, W.H. Doane wisited her.
He brought along with him a new melody, which was missing a text. When he played the song for her, she said : "This tune says: Safe in the arms of Jesus."
After a while Fanny went for herself to be alone and in silence. She then remembered an incident that she had been told two days before. On a street in New York, which swarmed with people there was a mother with her child and they came into this great human multitude. In this congestion the child lost his mother and the child began to sob fiercely and was completely inconsolable right to the point when it again lay in his mother's arms.
There in the arms of the mother it was safe and sound – here the weeping seized. This one small everyday incident became a picture for Fanny Crosby of how human beings can only be safe in one place, in the arms of Jesus!
Twenty minutes later, Fanny handed the music artist lyrics to this song, "Safe inn the arms of Jesus." Doane wrote it immediately, and the original text has never been changed since then.
You can hear the song on the following link .
"Safe in the arms of Jesus."
E.Campbell
19th January 2014
ARE YOU IN TROUBLE
If you are in trouble, then hook you on this promise from God: "For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."
Isaiah. 41.13
E.C.
18th January 2014
MY GOD DIED
" Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.”
Joh. 15.13 NIV
That was what my God did for me at Calvary. There he paid for my sins, so I do not have to pay with death, which means being separated from God forever, lost.
Throughout history, there are many who have been appointed as God, but where is the God who died for you, he, who, when the wolf and the bear came, fought to the death? No, they were only hired workers.
My God died - but he lives! On Easter morning, he was raised from the dead, the tomb is now empty, the living, who were to keep watch over him, were like dead. Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords - he lives!
This is what we will testify just as clearly and simply as Paul, when he testified for both young and old, "that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
Acts 26.23 NIV
We must never evade the blood because "and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
Heb. 9.22 NIV
How it is difficult to understand why there are so many who decline the offer that Jesus gave to each of us, which was completed when he broke the power of death on Easter morning and rose from the dead. Will you accept His gift, a brand new life, even a life of abundance?
E. Campbell
17th January 2014
WHERE IS THE LAMB?
Genesis 22.7
Everything was ready for the sacrifice, but "where is the lamb?" Isaac Asks his father, Abraham. We have good reason to pass the same question on to many people today.
Nations have their gods, Islam has its prophets, Israel has its laws and worship of God, but where is the lamb?
And all the nominal Christians in the West, they often have everything in order. They are baptized, and sometimes they come to worship and communion, they have a God, a God up in heaven - but where is the lamb?
They have no lamb. They have never had a moment, not one moment when the Lamb of God, the slaughtered Lamb became their lives, their salvation and peace - all of their Christianity.
That is why they are lost in everything else. For only in the Lamb there is salvation. Only in the blood of the Lamb there is atonement and access to God. And in heaven with God himself all is about the Lamb. The song up there is "the song of the Lamb ," the bride is "the Lamb's bride" and the wedding is the "marriage of the Lamb."
Revelation . 15.3 and 19.7
You expensive soul - is the "Lamb of God" your only access to heaven. Otherwise you'll never get there.
The Lamb that was slain, is Jesus Christ. Jesus said:
"I am THE WAY ... No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14,6
Believe in him and let him guide you.
E. Campbell
16th January 2014
NOW JUST A WORD FOR JESUS
The chorus of one of Fanny Crosby hymns reads:
Now just a word for Jesus,
’Twill help us on our way!
One little word for Jesus,
Oh speak, or sing, or pray!
Yes, it is as true as it is said. If we say a word about Jesus, then it may be for the salvation of someone, often perhaps without our knowledge about it.
So it was with the English speaker Spurgeon. He was to have a sermon in the Crystal Castle in London for a large crowd. Before he had to go live on the podium, he would like to know how his voice sounded in this huge hall. The day before the sermon he went into the hall and stepped up to the podium and said loud and clear the following words: " credible is the word and worthy of all acceptance For Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”
1 Tim. 1.15 NIV
Spurgeon uttered these words two times and then turned back home. He was convinced that the audience would hear him .
Then 25years later. One of Spurgeons employees were then asked to come on a visit to an old laborer, who was dying.
" Are you prepared to die," the preacher said.
" Yes, the Lord be praised," replied the patient happy, and so he began to tell how he had been converted, and his face was beaming with joy.
"I was a skilled laborer occupied with laying lead roofs. Many years ago I worked under the dome at the Crystal Castle. Back then I was not a believer. I lived my life without God and without hope. I thought I was alone in the building, but then I heard a voice loud and clear that I almost thought came from heaven, saying: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”
These words convinced me that I was a sinner and that God is merciful. I learned to trust in faith in Jesus, and from this day I have only built all my hope of salvation on him."
E. Campbell
15th January 2014
THE CHALICE
An old story from Scotland tells of an old man sitting at the altar of worship and felt unworthy to participate. He sat there and felt miserable and in such sad state of mind, that he dared not participate in the remembrance of the Lord's death on the cross.
During the aisle he saw a very young girl burst into tears. She then passedd the chalice without drinking from it. Suddenly, all his fears vanished, and he whispered clearly to the girl: "Drink from the chalice, my friend! It is for sinners!"
"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."
Joh. 6,54 NIV
E. Campbell
14th January 2014
THREE WORDS FOR THOUGHT
Some years ago I sat in a bus that drove through London's city streets. During the trip, I noticed a man who swept the streets. He had a big sign on his back. The sign read: Without God - no hope.
In the north of Scotland I became aware of an embroidered image on wall in an ordinary living room, which read: "prepare to meet your God."
Back home I found the same word in the Bible in Amos 4.12.
Once I saw the following sentence in a Danish teacher's Bible: This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you away from this book.
Effie Campbell
13th January 2014
ENDURANCE
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
(Hebrews 10.35 to 36 NIV)
Impatience, discouragement and unbelief can hit people so hard that they resign and let their hands fall down because they have prayed and labored for the Lord so long, and it turns out to be fruitless. They are tempted to give up.
When we feel like this we must cling to the word of God, which helps us and says, "So do not throw away your confidence" There is a real danger of throwing away confidence, and thereby lose what God has promised to those who believe.
Yes, we need endurance to do God's will. Jesus says in Luke 21.19: "Stand firm, and you will win life.” Bible calls endurance for a commandment.
Thus we read in Revelation 3.10: "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial”
Daniels prayer.
Daniel had to wait 21 days before the answer came, but from day one, after he gave his heart to seek Gods wisdom and humble himself before God, his words were heard (Daniel 10:12). But he had to struggle in prayer against "the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”( Eph. 6:12) , but the "prince of the Persian kingdom" resisted 21 days, but then came "Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me" (Daniel 10:13). Not until all obstacles had gone God granted his prayer - there had to be a struggle in prayer first.
Jeremiah's prayer.
Jeremiah had to wait for 10 days before the answer came, when people begged him to ask the Lord to show them which way ought to go and what to do.
Abraham's prayer.
Abraham had to wait many years for the promised son, Isaac. "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations...Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”
(Rom. 4.18 to 21 )
God's answer to perseverance in prayer also in our days.
A female missionary had a brother who was not saved, and it troubled her deeply. However, he was an alcoholic. One day she read in
2.Mos.10.26: "Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind."
“Not a hoof is to be left behind." She repeated this and got such faith in this word that she thanked and praised God for this promise.
The letters that was sent to her the following months only told how sad his brother's condition was, and in the last letter the message was that now his condition had deteriorated significantly.
However, the missionary didn't let this throw her off balance, and still she praised God for the promise she had in his word. Then one day there came a letter with great news. The brother had been saved, and all his craving for alcohol was gone.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
(Galatians 6:9)
12th January 2014
INVITATION FOR A WEDDING
A pastor's wife once told me this story:
There was an old man who dreamed that he died.
The angels came and carried him up and carried him thus into heaven. Jesus himself received him, and many people who had gone home before him flocked to him and welcomed him.
The old man suddenly remembered one person that he did not see anywhere. " Where was George ?" He asked.
Then Jesus eyes was filled with tears. "No one has invited him ," the Savior said.
"Oh, please give me permission to go down to earth a short moment, so that I can invite George! " the old man said.
The moment he woke up. He ran immediately to the hot-tempered and irascible blacksmith, to whome almost nobody dared to talk.
"I greet you from Jesus and invite you into heaven, " said the old man.
At first the blacksmith became angry, but guess what , it ended up that he received the invitation and began to walk on the Heaven Way.
You cannot say that you are not invited to Jesus. But today he sends you once again a new greeting: "Come to the wedding banquet”
(Matt. 22.4)
You are invited to an eternal celebration and salvation . Do you know how often the word "come" is repeated in the Bible? An avid man found out that the word "come" occurs 479 times!
Einar Lyngar . E. Campbell trans .
11th January 2014
Verily JESUS COMES
Matt. 24.32-33
Have you ever experienced a winter that never came to an end? It felt like spring would never come.
Perhaps this is why Jesus chose to use exactly this picture to assure us that he is indeed coming.
"“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.”
Matt. 24.32-33
Early in March, while we still wear coats buttoned up to the neck, and while we still have to go on ice and snow that we see a tree with bulging green buds, and we feel a little warmer because knots clubs tells us that spring is imminent.
Jesus knows this feeling. He longed for spring. And he promises that he will come back for us, just as unerringly sure as spring follows winter.
E. Campbell translated
10th January 2014
PROVE IT
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Mat. 7, 24
A painter, who traveled around Switzerland was stopped one day by some inspectors who demanded to see his passport. "I didn't bring it with me," he said, "but my name is Doré." "Prove it," said the inspectors. They knew this famous artist name, but were not sure that it was him.
Doré took a piece of paper and drew a sketch of some peasants who were nearby. This he did so outstandingly well that the inspectors had to admit: "It's OK. You are Doré."
The world does not care about our oral testimony. We need to show that we are Christians by our lives and our actions.
E. Campbell translated
9th January 2014
Almost persuaded now to believe;
Almost persuaded Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day
On Thee I’ll call.
Almost persuaded, come, come today;
Almost persuaded, turn not away;
Jesus invites you here,
Angels are lingering near
Prayers rise from hearts so dear;
O wanderer, come!
Almost persuaded, harvest is past!
Almost persuaded, doom comes at last!
Almost cannot avail;
Almost is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail—
Almost, but lost!
P. P. Bliss.
Press here to here the song
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
Acts. 26, 28
Bliss wrote both lyrics and tunes to some of our songs. He was born in 1838 in North Pensylvania in a godly home.
His interest in music was awakened already at the age of 10. About this the story tells: One day as he strolled along the way he heard music that he had never heard before. He stopped - a door was ajar and he went inside. Soon he was standing by a door that opened into a sitting room where a woman was playing on a black wooden box with black and white " buttons " (piano ) . When she was finished he shouted enthusiastically : " Play more, please play more! "
After working a few years of farming bet he solely turned on the music and started at a school where he could train in music.
14 years old, he came to personal faith. He now lived in Chicago and was a Sunday School teacher there. Here, his musical talents benefitted him particularly well because he wrote songs that the children understood and could sing. When Moody became acquainted with this young music virtuoso he urged and supported him to accompany him on his meeting tour around the country.
However, his working day was short because he died in 1876 in a railroad-accident with his wife, just two years after being hired.
Bliss was often captivated by a particular word or a particular phrase, which he heard in a sermon. The serious song, "Almost persuaded" Bliss composed after hearing a sermon about being an almost Christian, almost on the way to Heaven - and yet not to be with.
Has this song spoke to you?
You can hear the song by pushing this link
F. Campbell translated
8th January 2014
DO YOU TURN DOWN?
A gang leader in the United States were arrested some time ago. He was very hard of hearing, so he had to go with a hearing aid. Every time he was wheeled into the courtroom and his case was treated, he muffled the sound of his hearing so that he heard nothing of what was said.
No one could understand that he was so calm and that nothing seemed to touch him of what he argued. Then came the last day on which his case was to come on. This was the day in which he was to be sentenced. As he approached the courtroom, he turned down the volume so that he could not hear. Then the sentence was passed. He was condemned to death in the electric chair, but he heard nothing of what was said, so he was quite unaffected by the circumstances.
When the day came that he was to be executed, the guards came after him. He was quite calm. He did not know where they were going. But when they arrived and he noticed the electric chair, he was quite beside himself. He yelled and screamed like mad, because now it occurred to him how stupid he had been, because he would not listen and therefore had turned down the hearing aid.
God calls on us in many ways, and he uses every opportunity, because he loves us with an everlasting love. God can call you through another person, a hymn, a treaty or any other Christian literature. If in your heart you feel a warm alluring force and you have a desire to be good and pure, then it is God who is calling you. If you, while you 're having fun with others, feel that everything is empty and worthless and you are overwhelmed by a longing to be free of sin, which only inhibits and binds, then it is God who calls.
Al longing for the good comes from God. He would like to get in touch with us. But quite often we are like this abowe man. We turn down and do not want to hear. So he will have to send hardships, sickness, sorrow through a close family member's death, so that close relationships are interrupted.
Do not turn away from him, do not screw down. He only wants the very best for you. He wants to fill your life as a Christian. And soon he comes back, and takes you back home with him, because you are the heir to his Kingdom. (Jak. 2.5)
E. Campbell
7th January 2014
I WAS NOT DIVORCED - BUT SAVED!
After being married for 15 years - we had at that time a 14 year old son - I was misled by the evil tricks and wanted a divorce from my husband. The final papers had been handed in, and I already had plans for a new marriage. But inside me everything was in turmoil and in total chaos. Then something happened, something that was nothing short of a revolution: I received Christ!
Laila Heimli tells: "3 days before this revolution in my life, two believing women met in the city. One of them was my mother in law. She told the other that I and my husband, Kari, had split up and that there was no longer any hope for our marriage. But the other answered, "Yes! For God there is nothing impossible. Let us immediately pray for Laila and Kari!"
So they went together in prayer for us, and the burden was heavy on them while they stood there in Bergen city center.
Three days later I was invited to a meeting at a congregation. Such a thing as attending a Christian meeting was totally new for me, and I was very much in doubt. Anyway - after a conversation in confidence, it ended up that I agreed to go. At that time I did not understand that it was God's Spirit that worked in me.
At this time there was a bible verse that spoke to me. The reason was that our 14 year old son went to the pastor while we were separated, and one day he came home with a New Testament. On the front page there was a greeting and a reference to a scripture. I was curious and came up with this scripture in Rome. 13.8: "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another" NIV
These words both intrigued me and tormented me and made me feel that my situation was even more messy.
When I was at the meeting and heard the song and testimony this evening, I was so moved that I just could not hold my tears back. A servant of the Lord came gently towards me and asked: "Are you unhappy, my dear friend?" - "Yes," I stammered out through my tears. - "Do you want us to pray for you tonight?" - "Yes, please!"
That evening, I gave Jesus my heart. I did not understand much of what happened, but a miracle happened, a salvation miracle! This is the truth. Oh, how unbelievable and wonderful to be allowed to fall on your knees and become small and receive the Savior's forgiving grace!
As soon as I got the chance, I told my mother what had happened. My new life gave me the courage and desire to share what I had experienced. Kari was very surprised. He was equally unknown about Christian life, just as I had been! Yet, despite the fact that he was not able to follow me on the road of faith right away, we both got through this a new perception of life and of each other. We cut off the connections we had with previous relations and started a completely new life. All honor and thanks belongs to my Lord and my God!
I got to start all over again - both as a wife and mother, in a brand new home, and now we are building on faithfulness and show each other confidence. And you who are reading this testimony, let me tell you that my husband has now chosen the Heaven Way. I 've been prayed and waiting for this for 17 years, and all the believers have also prayed! To God belongs the glory. In October 1997 we held 40th wedding anniversary. Thank God !
Our family was blessed with a precious daughter, exactly a year after I was saved. As a gift from God, she came to us. Today, 1998, our daughter is also the mother of our two grandchildren, and for all this we thank and praise Jesus, our precious Savior.
Yes, conciliation and reconciliation and a new start that is the will and ways of God! However, in cases where this is no longer possible, then the Word of God is at any rate unwavering - also for you:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:”
2 Cor. 5.17 – 18 NIV
(also reconciliation ministry, both to God and the Father and between us humans.)
TF - magazine
E. Campbell translated
6th January 2014
THE RIGHT CHOICE
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matth. 7,13-14 NIV
Every day we are faced with choices, whether we are to choose this or that. When we are out doing our shopping the question is often: what would be the bestt to buy now, the cheapest or the slightly more expensive and better?
But there are also times when we are faced with choices of far greater importance, which may have serious consequences if we do not choose the right way. God has given us the choice whether to go the broad way that leads to hell, or the narrow road that leads to heaven. There is "no middle ground", as is so often asserted. Here it is either – or.
"But how can I know what is right?" Many do say. "There are so many religions and many different Christian churches. How do I know which of these has the right teachings?"
Jesus said to Pilate, "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
John. 18.37
Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" V. 38
He stood actually opposite to him who said "I am the way and the truth and the life" ( John 14:6 ), but Pilate "Wanting to satisfy the crowd" (Mark 15.15), and therefore he gave up Jesus to the crowd to be crucified.
And while he( Pilate) “sat on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him and let say," Stay out of this righteous man . For I have the night had many bad dreams because of him . "
Matt. 27.19 NIV
God had warned him, and several times he(Pilate) had said to the crowd that he found no fault in Jesus, but nevertheless this prefect chose wrong. He was more afraid of going against the people than to go against the will of God.
Everyone can find God, just by searching him with all your heart. This is stated in Jer. 29.13 and in Matt. 7.7 Jesus says to us: "seek and you will find;"
So there is no excuse to choose wrong. Therefore, walk the narrow road that leads to heaven.
E. Campbell translated
5th January 2014
THE WORLD'S MOST MIGHTY POWER – PRAYERS
“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
Luke 18.1
This is the parable that Jesus himself told us that we always have to be persistent in prayer, and not faint. Luke 18.1
Some years ago there was a couple in Sweden, who had a half-grown son. One day he had an errand to a neighboring town. It was winter, and when the boy had left his parents he fastened his skies firmly and left. The hours passed by, and the mother became increasingly worried because her son did not return. She opened the door again and again to see whether she could see anything outside. But no. The evening came, still nothing and now everything was dark. The boy had not yet come back. The following morning the father went out to search for his son along with the village men. The search was done very thoroughly and they searched everywhere, but in vain. The boy was not found.
It is always tragic to lose a child, but it gets many times worse when you do not know what kind of death, you child had had.
One day the husband says to his wife: "I am desperate to know what has happened to our son and what kind of death he has had. Therefore, every morning when you pray your morning prayer, you must ask God to show us the death that our son has been given. I will do exactly the same. Like this the same prayer will come to God's throne twice a day. This may take time, but you must not lose faith.
The years passed. In fact there were 7 years without anything happened. God had not given them what they had asked for. One day the husband says to his wife: "From now, we will also carry this prayer to God in our evening prayers. Then the same prayer will come to God's throne 4 times a day. We must endure in prayer, like the widow, then God's answers will come, this Jesus has promised us."
So they prayd faithfully the same prayer each morning and each evening. How many years went by like this, that I cannot remember, but one day God answered our prayer. The weather was so good that the husband had dragged the boat out of the boat shed.
He was to go out on a lake near here to fish. This was in the spring, the sun shone on the blank and calm lake. All of a sudden the father becomes aware of something on the bottom. He then throws the fishing net down and pulls it up. He finds out that it is a human skeleton. He threw the net down several times to get it all up and noticed that there was a fragment of a sock on one leg. On the verge of this sock he read very clearly the sewn initials of their son. His wife always used to sew the name on the socks. 'Then it was all quite clear for the father. The son had wanted to take a shortcut to the neighboring town and had gone off gliding over the lake.
The ice had not been thick enough and had given in, and the son had drowned. All these years he had been there and had long ago dissolved, but part of the socks with the initials, God had left intact to the parent that had been so persistent in prayer to know what death, their son had got. The father folded his hands and thanked God for hearing them. Yes, verily, God is in full great, and he hears all prayers. Do not be discouraged, but be persistent. Then you will get God's answers.
Effie Campbell
4th January 2014
The story of the song: "There is might in the small folde hands"
Press this link to hear the song
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
Matth. 7,7-8 NIV
We let the author Trygve Bjerkheim even tell how this song came to be.
Some years ago I sat in Forbundsshallen in Oslo one Sunday morning and heard a young missionary speech. One phrase he used, I wrote down. " The strongest superpower in the world at all times is the front with small folded hands."
The small decorated card with this phrase was in my French New Testament, and so it was that I was constantly reminded of these words by seeing them again and again. I wanted to write a song about that phrase, and thus it worked continuasly in my mind.
2 - 3 years later - or maybe 4, I woke up one night and came to think of the words of " the strongest Superpower " - the folded hands. When the phrase, “ There is might in the small folded hands."
There was a verse, a chorus and one more verse. I was almost finished with the song before I turned on the light and wrote them down. These verses were then printed as a small poem in the yearbook of the Mission-Union in 1955: " Deeper Down". They fit in well with the cover photo - a little chinese girl standing with her head bowed and holding her hands together in prayer.
When this book came to Dronningborg College in Grimstad early in 1956 teacher Haugen discovered this little poem, and he soon after that got a tune that matche the poem. This tune made the song widely known. But the song has 3 verses. A little later a retired officer from the Salvation Army, Colonel Linderud, turne up at the office in Mollergata 19.
Han sagde, at han var blevet så glad for digtet og havde skrevet en melodi til dette og spurgte så, om han kunne få lov til at bruge teksten til denne melodi.
Det fik han naturligvis lov til; men så tilføjede han: ”Min kone og jeg ville ønske, at du digtede et vers mere, hvor du medtog forældrene, der beder for deres børn.” Jeg lovede at forsøge. Da han var draget videre, nedskrev jeg et nyt vers: ”Du som be'r for dit barn, dine kære-.
He said that he had become very fond of the poem and that he had written a tune for this. Then he asked if he would be allowed to use the poem-text of this song. Naturally, he was allowed, but then he added: " My wife and I wish you wrote one more verse in where you included the parents who pray for their children." I promised to try. When he had gone on, I wrote a new verse: "You who pray for your child, your loved ones...”
Colonel Linderud came by again a few days later and then got this new verse. That was the last time that I saw this strange man. Shortly after that, he was with his wife and visited some old friends in Egersund.
Before he was supposed to leave the house for a meeting at the parish hall later this evening, he sat down and relaxed a little in a deep armchair. Suddenly his head fell backwards, and he passed away. After the funeral a large memorial service was held, and the song was sung with his melody.
E.Campbell translated
3rd January 2014
AN ACCOUNT OF A JOURNEY OF A YOUNG STUDENT
"You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived" (persuade) Jer. 20.7 NIV
A young student in the USA was on his way home from the university. Along the way he entered a hotel. The host turned towards him and said:"Sorry, but we only have one room left, and it is located right next to a sick room. A young man is dying in there and there is only a thin wall between thoes two. I do not know if you like it?"
"Well, that doesn't bother me," the student replied. But when he went to sleep, it was impossible for him to fall asleep. The groaning of the sick and the nurse's footsteps back and forth could be heard very clearly.
He could not fall asleep. A strange uneasiness fell over him that made him ashamed. He was known as a free-thinker much to the dismay and sorrow for his parents. His father was a priest and had been looking immensely forward to the day that his son would become a priest. He still remembered his father's deep sorrow and his mother's tearful prayers when he last time he was home on vacation told them that he did not believe that there existed an afterlife.
The unrest plagued him, but he could not let go of the thought that on the other side of the wall, there was someone who was soon going to die - and what, if there should be something after death? What had Ellison thought if he had seen him in his present state of anxiety? Ellison was one of his friends at college. It was particularly his views and convictions that had caused him to be a freethinker. Well, what would he think? - "It is foolish. I have nothing to be afraid of," he said to himself.
On the other side of the wall the plaintive sounds of the sick had now become weaker and weaker. Eventually total silence. But this young student still could not fall asleep. The night seemed to be endless. Finally, it was morning. When the student came down he asked the host how things were with the sick.
"He's dead, poor thing. The doctor had actually said that he would not survive the night,"was the reply from the host.
" Do they know who he was? " the student asked. - "Well, it was a student from the High School in Providence, he got sick on his journey," said the host. It gave a jolt to him, because he went at the same school. "What was his name?" - "Ellison," the host replied, "did you know him?"
This young man was as stunned. It was his friend, the friend who had brought him to deny. Many hours had to pass before the student could stand to move on again. All the way home was this repeating sound inside his heart:"dead - and how? - Lost, lost!" His whole conviction and thought of existence was now totally overturned. He came home to his parents, completely changed - heartbroken, challenged, in anxiety and depressed by guilt. His old man had a gratifying task the following days to tell him about God's promises until his son found peace in believing in Jesus. This son was later to become one of the previous century's greatest missionaries: "The apostle, Burma". His name was Adoniram Judson.
"You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived" (persuaded) Jer. 20.7 NIV
E. Campbell
2nd January 2014
THE ENTRANCE OF TEMPTATIONS
It was very interesting to read of the Age of Chivalry in world history. Back then many of these men made great fortunes, and for that money they built themselves castles. Times were troubled, and therefore they had to think of defending themselves and as good as possible. Many of these knights therefore built castles on an islet or small island in a small lake. They used a drawbridge to connect the castle with the mainland. In this way they could keep the enemies at a distance, because when the enemy approached the castle they only had to raise the bridge, thus preventing the enemy free passage. Like this he could be standing there on land without having to worry. - He also made the walls very thick. But perhaps the most important thin was the windows. Those he made very small. Therefore, it was very difficult for the enemy on land to hit these small windows with their arrows.
Have you ever thought that the human body is just like such a castle? The windows of the castle are the eyes, ears, mouth and nose. Our enemy is Satan, and he always aims to send his arrows through the window openings to damage and destroy our soul. And he has succeeded with this many times.
Through the eyes TV and video images enter, which in large part deal with adultery, murder and brutality. This is corrupt and rotten food for the soul. Rarely it is far from thought to action. What people see, they also often do in their daily lives. "When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1.13 to 15)
Or this to let his eyes linger on someone else's spouse. I think there are many people who can talk about this, even King David, who was tempted by Bathsheba, Uriah 's wife. Like this David despised the word of God and did what displeased God with many unpredictable and far-reaching sorrows as a result of this ( 2 Sam. 11 and 12). So Satan succeeded in shooting his destructive arrows through David's eyes, and he fell.
Job was more cautious.
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.
“If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door, then may my wife grind another man’s grain, and may other men sleep with her. For that would have been wicked, a sin to be judged. It is a fire that burns to Destruction; it would have uprooted my harvest."
(Job 31.1 . 9-12) . NIV
Through the mourth, Satan sends his deadly arrows in the form of intoxicating drinks. A secular saying goes, " When the beer comes in, reason goes out." And it is correct. People can be drunk to do things they would never dream of doing if they had been sober. But God also has something to say about these substances that deplete the body and destroys creation.
"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple." ( 1 Cor. 3.16 to 17 ) NIV
Through the nose young people do sniff, and it can be fatal. It paralyzes the respiration and can cause sudden cardiac arrest. It is sad to see young people lie in bed without being able to eat or do anything that young people who may be cared for as diaper children due sniffing. Yes, indeed, Satan has luck.
The last window, we mention here is the ears. We must not listen to bad advices and temptations from our fellowmen. Similarly, there are also music which is both harmful and destructive.
There is help to get if we repent, yes, we have full redemption, God showed us His love in Jesus. His blood cleanses from all sin. We are purer than snow (Psalm 51.9 ). Sin will be lowered into the deepest sea (Micah 7.19 ) and Corrie ten Boom used to say : " A sign with the words " Fishing prohibited "hanging over there. So these sins will never again return and accuse us someday. The sins will not come to God's thoughts again.
Yes, you must understand, for he says of King David, who was a murderer that took someone else's wife, that he was a man after God's own heart (Acts 13.22 ). So great is God's forgiveness. You get a new beginning, a new life, the old has gone (2 Cor. 5.17 ). Does not that sound great ? But then you must also come to him, repent and ask for forgiveness.
Effie Campbell
1st January 2014
BIBLE VERSE IN OUR MODERN AGE?
Isn't it oldfashioned to learn Bible verses by heart today? However, many parents and teachers have told how Bible verses have been a blessing to their children.
In Copenhagen I taught a children's ring with appx. 20 children. One day a girl came to me and told me about the importance that a Bible verse had for her. " At my school I often recite the verse from John. 6.37: Jesus said " ... All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."
She had seen the value in the fact that she could always come to Jesus.
We have seen that children have attended only a few times in the children ring, but that they had learned a bible verse back then that later bore fruit. People whom we met later in life, still remembered the Bible verses they learned as children in the ring.
Kresten says: "I could cite many examples, but I will restrict my self to mention only one example. One day I was at a car dealer. There was a "Hells Angel type” in black leather clothes and with a long ponytail. He looked at me a few times, and then he said: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke. 19.10 NIV
I smiled at him, but he noticed on my face, how amazed I was.
"Yes," he said, " I've met you once before. You spoke to a family worship, and you taught all in the church this verse." - I was pleased to hear that and I knew that I had not only taught them the Bible verse, but I also carefully had explained to them the context so that the verse could strengthen them, when the audience later in life were in need of the Word of God. "
A mother says the following: "Last summer we were at a family camp. The children taught the kids a memory verse from the Bible. Lea was just 4 years. The 4 days we were there, Leah did not say a word, but when we got home, she said : “because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” Hebr. 13.5 NIV
How I was happy, touched and grateful because she had remembered the word of God.
I would recommend anyone who has contact with children in their work, to teach the children memory verses, for it is God's truth. Teach them even a few memory verses a year, so that they stick in their memory.
"Focus on the child ."
E. Campbell translated
