10th July 2026
An Unfathomable Love
„If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. “
1 John 1:9NIV
Richard Wurmbrand (1909-2001) was of Jewish descent, born in Romania. He was an Evangelical Lutheran pastor and professor. In 1948 – 10 years after he became a Christian – he publicly stated that communism and Christianity were incompatible. He and his wife, Sabina, have both been to the Faroe Islands. I remember once in the sports hall (Nabb in Tórshavn), he stood on the podium and turned his back and pulled up his undershirt to show us how badly his back was mutilated. Many suffer greatly for their Christian faith. They say: “Jesus has never failed me. I will never fail him either.”
Rita Aasen in the Bedehuskanalen(Norwegian Christian TV broadcasting channel) once said that Richard Wurmbrand had told about something he had experienced. He was lying in a bed in a hospital because he had been severely mistreated. Another man was lying in the same ward and he was even worse beaten. Then suddenly a third man was wheeled into the same room. It was the executioner of the badly beaten man. He must have done something bad, since he had fallen out of favor with the leaders there.
At one o'clock in the morning, Wurmbrand heard something rustle around him. When he looked up, he could see the "victim" trying to get out of bed. He fell to his knees and crawled over to his "executioner" and managed to stammer out: "I forgive you for everything you have done to me. Won't you accept Jesus and be saved?"
"I can't do that, because I have behaved very badly!"
“Yes you can, Jesus came to save sinners. There is no person He has not paid for. But you must ask Him for forgiveness of all your sins, and then you must receive Him as your Savior and Lord.”
The man did just that and was overjoyed.
When Wurmbrand woke up the next morning, both of his roommates had passed away. Effie Campbell
9th July 2026
Visions and Revelations of Jesus 3:3
„What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”“
Rom.9:14-15NIV
A blind man from Pakistan was on a pilgrimage to Mecca. While he and his traveling companion were walking around the Kaaba (the black stone), a man stepped forward, took him by the hand, and said, “I am Jesus. You do not belong here. Go back to Pakistan, and I will restore your sight!”
The blind man immediately changed his plane ticket. At the airport, as they were about to leave Saudi Arabia, he began to sense a faint light. As he set foot on Pakistani soil, his eyes were completely opened so that he could see.
In another Arab country, the teacher gave her class of 30 students some tasks to complete while she went outside for a moment. Immediately after she left the classroom, a man entered and said that his name was Jesus. He said that He had died for their sins and could give them eternal life. All the children accepted this unique offer. - And the man disappeared again.
At that moment, the teacher returned and the children told her about this Jesus who had just been in the classroom. Little by little, there was a great uproar among the parents. The children were questioned, one by one, and all the children told exactly the same story.
Similar testimonies are pouring in from all over the Muslim world. From the most distant tribes in Africa, across the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and from the rest of the world.
God hears Ishmael's cry today. God is also raising up the "Ananias ministries," who have shared in God's revelation to Ishmael's family. But just like then, they are unfortunately not in the majority today.
Ishmael's cry
The cry for God and for Water and Bread (Jesus), makes us understand the psychology behind Ishmael's cry. Why is Ishmael crying today? Without a father, a son has no identity.
You become a son through your father's DNA.
A slave has his identity in his work.
Today, Islam is built as a memorial / monument around Ishmael's cry.
Islam means: To give oneself up into God's hands, to give oneself under God, as a servant. Islam tries to fill the empty space in the hearts of Muslims. They hope that through work they can be accepted by God and be allowed to escape God's judgment. And most churches turn away from them, because they fear persecution and aggression.
But now they are slowly starting to notice Father, who gives water and bread. God calls on Muslims in our time. He hears their cry and opens their eyes. He shows them Jesus. God wants to give them identity now. Ishmael is being reborn! And through Jesus Christ, the Gentiles (including Scandinavians and Muslims) have entered into the blessing of Abraham.
The slave woman Hagar is, according to the New Testament, a picture of Moses and the Jewish law. The law cast out Ishmael and made him disinherited. The grace of Jesus Christ has brought Ishmael back again and into the blessing of Abraham. In Christ, Ishmael is a co-heir to the promises.
This is God's hour for the Muslim world. Ishmael must be harvested so that the Gentiles can enter into the fullness, so that Jesus, the King, can come again. And you and I can be God's bold Ananias in our time.
Effie Campbell translated
8th July 2026
God heard and saw Ishmael 2:3
„Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” “
Gen.21:18NIV
In the light of the gospel and the heart of Jesus, we see that God loves all people. In His eyes, no human being was created by “mistake” and is an illegitimate rejected child. This is a fundamental view that should permeate everything we are involved in in “Christian activities,” whether it is missions, publications, politics, or church work.
When Hagar was pregnant and walking with Ishmael, the angel of the Lord found her in the wilderness and revealed God’s plan for her and her son. I am convinced that it was Jesus himself who revealed himself to them.
In other places in the Bible, when we hear about angelic visits, we hear about the angel Gabriel, Michal, or just an angel, written with a lowercase initial. But here stands the Angel of the Lord (in capitals in the Norwegian Bible), and as I see it, it is Jesus. The same one who appeared to Joshua as the commander of the army.
„The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”“
Genesis 16:7-10NIV
God named Ishmael before he was born
This is the first time God names anyone before they are born. Only four times in the entire Bible have someone been named by divine revelation. Others have been prophesied about, but God himself has not named them. These four are: 1. Ishmael, which means the Lord hears. (Gen. 16:11) 2. Isaac (Gen. 17:19) 3. John the Baptist (Luke 1:13) 4. Jesus (Luke 1:31)
Ishmael and Abraham
Ishmael was 13 years old when God appeared to Abram and changed his name to Abraham.
When God spoke of His covenant with Abraham and His promise to give Sarah a son, Abraham asked God about Ishmael and his future.
„“And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.”
Genesis 17:18-21NIV
In Genesis 21:9 we read that Ishmael bullies and mocks Isaac. Isaac was then only 3 years old. And in Genesis 21:10-14 we read that the next day Abraham throws out Hagar and Ishmael. They are only given a little water and bread. Ishmael was then about 15 years old.
Ishmael is about to perish
In Genesis 21:15-21, we are told of the extremely difficult situation where both Hagar and Ishmael are about to perish in the wilderness from hunger and thirst. “God heard the boy crying ... ” v.21:17 This is in line with the name God gave Ishmael. And it is prophetic for Ishmael in our time. Israel was in the wilderness for 40 years. Ishmael has been in a spiritual wilderness for almost 4000 years.
When Ishmael was thrown out of Abraham’s home, about 15 years old, he was not only physically dying, but he was also broken in heart and soul from being rejected. After a while, he went from being a son to becoming a slave.
For 15 years he lived with his father’s love. He grew up and learned who Abraham’s God is. And the next time Ishmael sees Abraham is when he buries him in Hebron together with Isaac. (Genesis 25:9) Here the possibilities of becoming a son again were buried. Hope died.
God shows Hagar a spring of water
Genesis 21:19-20 tells us further: „Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer.“
Today, almost 4,000 years later, Muslims are in a spiritual desert and thirsty. They are unable to see the source of salvation, and we, who are Jesus’ ambassadors, have done little to show them the way to the living water. The mission authorities at the US Center for World Mission estimate that there are approximately 3,000 unreached tribes in the Muslim world.
But today, God hears Ishmael’s cry and opens their eyes so that they are able to see Jesus. This is God's hour for Ishmael's salvation.
7th July 2026
God's time for Ishmael 1:3
„He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “
Acts 9:4NIV
Bjørnar Heimstad, missionary
Bjørnar Heimstad from Nordkjosbotn in Troms county in Norway is one of the Nordic countries' most famous missionaries. His major campaigns in many countries, including strong Muslim countries, have gathered tens of thousands of listeners to hear about the gospel of Jesus. He has seen thousands of Muslims receive Jesus as their Savior in Pakistan, Sudan, Darfur, Tanzania and many other countries. He uses Aril Edvardsen's correspondence course, "The New Life", when he follows up on the many newly saved people. It is like a continuation course. Here Bjørnar Heimstad gives us an important message that shows that a new “Iron Curtain”, the tent of the desert, is about to fall:
I expect that you, like me, have rarely or never heard much good said about Abraham’s son, Ishmael. We think of him as Abraham’s mistake together with the slave girl, Hagar, and an exhibition of our own strength. “Ishmael” is often seen as a picture of something that we initiate for our own benefit, without God having led us to it, and which we then have to fight against for the rest of our lives. But God has a plan, also for Ishmael, and his plans are being fully carried out in our own days.
Ancestor of more than 1.2 billion people worldwide today
Islam’s prophet, Muhammad, is directly descended from Ishmael via his next son, Kedar. Here we find the foundation of the Bible and the origin of the Muslim peoples today.
In the same way, the roots of Islam can be traced back to Ishmael. Ishmael married a woman from Egypt and had 12 sons. These are the ancestors of 21 nations today, including Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and many others. These Muslim groups existed long before they accepted Islam and played a significant role in the development of the Middle East, both politically, commercially and in conquering new countries.
Ishmael's descendants are also centrally located in world events today.
The violent Saul, later called Paul
After September 11, 2001, the world community has turned its eyes towards the factions within Islam that use revolution and terror.
The first church in the Acts of the Apostles lived in fear of the terrorist of the time, Saul of Tarsus. Even in our day, parts of Jesus' church live in fear of Islam.
Another similar and strange event here is that apparently no one in the early church volunteered to serve as a witness to Saul. Therefore, Jesus himself had to supernaturally reveal himself to him on the road to Damascus.
The same thing happens today. While the majority of Christians live in fear of Muslims, Jesus reveals himself to them through visions, dreams, healings, and by appearing to them and speaking to them. Thousands of testimonies are pouring in from the Muslim world about such events that lead Muslims to faith and salvation.
But just as in Saul's day, God is raising up "Ananias ministries" today who see Ishmael through God's eyes, including the minority of Muslims who use violence. The common thing is that many Christians today view Muslims in the same way as people before saw Saul, but God sees them in the same way as He sees a Paul in a time like ours.
Continues ...
6th July 2026
A Mother's Prayer
„In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” “
Luke 15:10NIV
Not long ago, a young man said to his believing and praying mother: "Yes, I know that you pray for me, but I would rather have been without that nonsense. In any case, I do not want to see or understand from your expression and your sighs that you are praying for me, because it is a real pain to me and I hate it. I also do not like you singing and praying, and certainly not that you make me the subject of prayer. For that reason alone I do not like being at home at all."
Poor mother! She was not allowed to pray for her own son. He called it nonsense and accused her, this loving, self-sacrificing mother, of making the home so unbearable that he did not like to be there, because she was a child of God and faithfully lifted him up before the throne of grace!
And this she had to put up with hearing from him, she who was ready to sacrifice everything that could be for the good of her son. But what did his behavior and impudent words really say? A guilty conscience and a heart without peace, and he was constantly reminded of this when he saw his godly mother praying.
Shortly after he had said these ugly words, he came home late one evening. His mother had gone to bed. It was no use sitting up and waiting for him. He always came home very late. His mother had fallen asleep when he came home, but he did not feel like going to bed.
On the table before him was food that his mother had set out for him. He took off the lid and burst into tears, but he quietly muttered something to himself: “Oh, mother, blessed one, how good you are! You know I love this, but tonight I don’t want to enjoy any of it. I must go in and wake her.”
He now went in there, took her arm carefully and asked gently: “Mother, are you sleeping?”
She woke up immediately and answered: “No, dear, but the food is on the table. Go and help yourself.”
“I don’t want anything tonight.”
“What do you say, don’t you want anything to eat? Are you sick?” she asked worriedly.
“No, but...n...you...must pray for me, mother, and you must forgive me for being so mean and ugly to you! I have been to a meeting tonight, and I felt so strange. Oh, I felt so scared and anxious. I have tried to surrender myself to the Saviour, but you know I am such a great sinner. It is not easy to believe in any mercy and forgiveness in my miserable situation.”
“Oh, dear!” she almost cried out with joy. “Jesus receives sinners, and He receives you too.”
“Yes, Jesus receives sinners. I have heard that tonight, and I have heard the same thing before. And it is all joyful, but then my terrible sins come before me, and then . . .”
“Yes, but Jesus receives you all the same, and His blood cleanses from all sin, though it be red as blood and scarlet. It cleanses and washes you white as snow and white as wool.”
And the mother continued to explain about the love of Jesus and his sacrificial death for the wicked. Her heart was so full that she hardly noticed that her son lay collapsed in tears, prayer and thanksgiving for the wonderful truth that Jesus accepts sinners.
There was not much sleep that night, but it was a thoroughly wonderful night, and now that the son had opened his heart and had spoken about his circumstances, he could say that the Lord had been with him all the time and everywhere and had not given him any peace in sin. And when he was most afraid, he had to rage and scream against all this.
But how it was that he went into the meeting, well, he could not explain it other than that he just happened to pass by the place, and so he just had to go in there. He could do nothing else. But there was joy in his heart and in the mother's heart and also in the angels of God in heaven. Luke 15:10. Effie Campbell translated
5th July 2026
When Reinhard Bonnke was handed the torch
„When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “
2 Kings 2:9NIV
Reinhard Bonnke was born in Northern Germany. He was saved as a young man and experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He also received his calling from God to go to Africa at that time.
The first thing he did was go to Bible school in England. When he finished Bible school at the age of 21, he was to return home to Germany. He traveled around London, and since the train to Germany did not leave until the evening, he had time to look around a bit.
He thought it would be fun to be allowed to take a tour of the most famous places in London, but he could not afford it. Still, he had enough to buy a bus ticket that would last him a whole day.
So he got on a double-decker bus and drove north. There he changed buses and then drove west. There he got off the bus and drove south, and finally he boarded a bus that was going east. But by then he had gotten so tired of sitting on a bench that he decided to walk for a while.
As he strolled along without any definite plan, he came to the south side of the River Thames and ended up in the beautiful streets of Clapham. On a street corner behind a high wooden fence, he noticed a sign on a door, and the sign read: George Jeffrey.
It was as if a flame had struck him. He had just finished reading a book that this missionary had written, and he could hardly bring himself to believe that he might be standing in this man’s home by chance. Could it be the great missionary who had his roots in the Welsh revival? He preached the full gospel all over England with his brother, Stephen, and other family members. He had shaken big cities with his words, and people by the tens of thousands had experienced great miracles. No, that couldn’t be him. He must have died many years ago, and besides, Jeffreys was a common surname in England and George was an even more common first name.
He wanted to go on, but something in him stopped him and he turned back and rang the doorbell.
A big, broad woman opened the door. “Does the missionary, George Jeffreys, whom God is using so mightily, live here?” Bonnke asked.
“Yes,” the woman answered.
“May I speak to him?”
“No,” the woman answered.
She was big and filled the entire doorway, so it was impossible for him to get past her.
Then suddenly a deep voice came from the ceiling: “Let him in!” And down the attic stairs came George Jeffreys. He was 72 years old, but he looked 90 years old.
“What do you want?” he asked.
Bonnke then told me who he was and that he had just finished Bible school and had a calling to go to Africa. He also said that he had read about George Jeffreys and therefore would very much like to greet him. Then they talked together about God’s work.
Suddenly George Jeffreys fell to his knees and pulled Reinhard Bonnke down with him. He laid his hands on his head and then he began to bless and bless and bless him with all the blessings of heaven. The Holy Spirit filled the whole room. The anointing flowed just like Aaron’s oil. It was like running down his head and down to the “hem of his garment,” so to speak. Bonnke was dizzy when he left the place. Four weeks later, George Jeffreys had passed away and gone into glory.
Reinhard Bonnke had come to Jeffreys at the last minute, and he is quite certain that it was the Lord who had planned this meeting. Why else would Bonnke end up right in George Jeffreys’ yard in a city where more than 10 million people live, when he didn’t even think about George Jeffreys? Bonnke clearly saw God’s hand in it all. It was no coincidence that he got off the bus right there. Jeffreys handed over and passed the torch to him so that he could carry it on.
In the Bible we read about Elisha taking on the mantle of Elijah, and what a rich ministry he received. And then we can ask: “Did Reinhard Bonnke carry the torch on?”
Yes, he certainly did. He founded and was the leader of “Christ for All Nations.” Every year two million people flock there because they want to be saved and many miracles and healings happen there.
He has written the book “Evangelizing with Fire”. Translated by Effie Campbell
4th July 2026
Our nation needs Repentance
„Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. “
Neh.9:2NIV
“They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors...”
Max Lucado writes: “When Nehemiah heard that Jerusalem had been destroyed, he prayed: „ … I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. “ Neh.1:6NIV
The most powerful man in the land, the king’s cupbearer, says that before they can begin the rebuilding, they will have to repent, what a message! The people now prayed for many hours. The people did not repent, they do not come up with explanations, but they confessed and repented. Can we imagine the chairmen of the Parliament and the Government, leading businessmen, lawyers, leaders in the education and entertainment industries doing the same? Would that be possible?
Well yes, if it starts with us. „if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. “
2 Chronicles 7:14NIV
The nation changes when God’s people change. We raise our voices when it comes to all that is wrong in our country, but we remain silent when it comes to all that is wrong with ourselves. We can be likened to the man who prayed at a meeting: “God, I thank you that there are people like me in this country. The man on the street corner needs care. I don’t! The prostitute on the street has AIDS, I don’t! The alcoholic in the tavern needs alcohol, I don’t!”
Next to him sat a decrepit man who humbly whispered:
“Lord, like my brother who receives benefits from the social security office, I too am bound by your grace. Like my sister who has AIDS, I too am tainted by sin and error. Like my friend in the tavern, I too need something to ease my pain. God, be merciful to me a sinner!”
After Jesus told a similar story, he said:
„if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. “ Luke 18:14NIV
Pride points at others. Humility points at oneself and acknowledges that repentance is necessary, and that it begins with oneself.”
- - -
There are things we cannot pray away.
There are things we cannot weep away,
because there are things we must repent.
“... a Word for the Day” Effie Campbell translated
3rd July 2026
The Rich Man and Lazarus
„Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. “
Rev.2:7NIV
„We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” “
Heb.3:14-15NIV
Luke 16:19-31
Emanuel Minos
In Luke 16 we read about the rich man and Lazarus. Both men died and the angels carried Lazarus to heaven while the rich man ended up in perdition.
All five senses are intact on the other side. The first thing we notice is that the rich man sees (v.23). He sees Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. Let us see the truth while we are still on earth. Now is the time to see the truth. Now is the time to see the future prospects of our deeds. The vision in eternity is of no use to us, for then it is too late for all eternity. It is down here that we must spin the garment for eternity.
The next thing we see is that the rich man is in agony (v.24). He feels. How he has been in his earthly life, I do not know. Perhaps cold and emotionless. He has undoubtedly known the calling of God when he saw the poor, miserable Lazarus, and this has reminded him that there is more than houses, properties, stocks and money. One day endless eternity will come. In his foolishness he pushed these thoughts aside and lets indifference prevail. In the book of Hebrews we are reminded that if we hear the voice of the Lord, we must not harden our hearts, for today is the day of salvation, today the Lord may be found. It is not certain that we will get a calling again. Our eternal calling is to get many people with us to heaven, so that they can all be allowed to sit at the wedding table. The rich man had not had compassion, but now he feels, and now it is too late.
Then the rich man calls out to Abraham (v.24). So he can speak and use his language. All five senses are unharmed. There are only two exits from this life, one goes to eternal joy in heaven and the other to eternal perdition. If only this could stir us up and move us, then we would immediately change course and lifestyle to become soul winners.
Abraham said to the rich man: “… ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things ...(v.25). The rich man could hear. When he lived on earth I don’t know what he listened to. There are people who only listen to prices, awards, bonds, success and honor. The Word says: “… Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches ...” Rev.2,7NIV Don’t listen to the critics, gossip, slander, the currents of our time and public opinion polls. Listen to what the spirit speaks to the conscience. It is too late to have a guilty conscience on the other side. Now is the time to listen to the conscience.
Then the rich man calls out to Abraham and asks him to send Lazarus to his five brothers. I don’t know how much he loved his brothers while he was alive. I know people, brothers and sisters, who have been at odds for a long time. They don’t talk to each other because of an inheritance. We only have a very few years on this planet. Now is the time to care for our family. Now is the time to feel distress for our family and fold our hands and pray for them. I know a place where they have prayer meetings 24 hours a day. That is in perdition. There is no use in praying. There it is too late. Now is the time for the prayer meeting. Go to prayer meeting and pray for the unsaved in your family. We must pray that the walls of unbelief will fall, and that people will not see themselves only in stocks, numbers, prices, honor and success, but in the light of eternity.
„“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. “
Matt. 7:21NIV Effie Campbell translated
2nd July 2026
Not a parable but reality
„“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. “
Luke 16:22-23NIV
Emanuel Minos
In Luke 16 we read about the rich man and Lazarus, who were lying at the rich man’s gate, covered with sores. Lazarus died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and opened his eyes in Hades.
In the Danish Bible the heading above this story reads “The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.” The heading was formulated by theologians when they divided the Scriptures into chapters and verses. I do not believe that this is a parable. I believe that this is a real event, and I am going to tell you why.
If you examine all of Jesus' parables, he always says: "There was a man, a housekeeper, a woman, a king, who prepared a wedding feast for his son, etc. But here Jesus does something he never does in his parables. He mentions a person's name.
Pharisees were standing there in the crowd listening to Jesus. (Luke 16:14) They were always very critical and judgmental and tried to trap Jesus. The Sadducees must have been there too. They did not believe in the resurrection, angels and spirits. (Acts 23:8)
If this had been a made-up story, they would have been quick to checkmate Jesus. But now there is complete silence, and I have no doubt for a moment that all the listeners here knew the rich man and had seen the poor, miserable Lazarus out in front of his courtyard. I believe this is a real-life account. Luke is always so precise in his observations, and here there are no protests from critics.
What is so serious about this account is that Jesus says that we wake up in eternity and are fully conscious in every way. We do not float away, we do not dream away. All our five senses are intact.
Effie Campbell translated
1st July 2026
Eternity is within us
„He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. “
Ecclesiastes 3:11NIV
Emanuel Minos
“He has also set eternity in the human heartHe has also set eternity in the human heart ...” As long as people have lived on this earth, people have believed in life on the other side of death and grave. I have read a lot and examined what unbelieving scientists say about this, and it turns out that in the five continents where people live, people have believed in life on the other side of death and the grave from ancient times.
We will now take the continents one by one. First Europe. In 1904, the Norwegian Oseberg ship was excavated, and in 1933 my father took me – then just a little boy – to look at the 22 m long ship. Two female skeletons were found on board the ship. One of these was most likely the queen while the other was probably her maid. Every conceivable thing had been stuffed into the ship, including a banquet cart, baking utensils, etc. When my father asked Brögger why the Norse did this, he replied: “The Vikings believed in an afterlife. The Vikings believed in eternal life after death and the grave.”
Then we move on to Asia. I was once in Japan on an exciting trip. There are many Buddhists there. They believe that people in reincarnation, that people are reborn over and over again. When they die, it is not the end, because there is new life on the other side.
Then on to Australia. The indigenous population there was at a low level of development. Among other things, they could only count to six. But there they had clear attitudes towards eternal life. “Once there was a connection between heaven and earth,” they said, “but this connection was severed.” What they were told was very reminiscent of the Bible’s creation story. Scientists were astonished when they found this out. So they knew about the lost paradise and life on the other side of death and the grave.
Then we go to America. The Indians, both in the Maya and the Inca empires, had a clear picture of a savior. He would come across the great ocean and have a different skin color. We can say that they had a clear picture of the messiah and the certainty of life on the other side of death and the grave.
Finally, we come to Africa, to Egypt. The indigenous people there were at a high level of development. About 3,300 years ago, the 18-year-old King Tutankhamun died. His tomb has been discovered in our time. He was wearing a death mask, which is a mold that is cast after the face of a corpse. It was made of pure gold. On it was written: “Yesterday is past, and tomorrow I have seen.” The ancient Egyptians believed in eternal life on the other side of death and the grave.
I ask the evolutionists, those who believe that everything came into being by chance. I ask the atheists, who believe in neither God nor any heaven. I ask the liberal theologians, who have cut and cut more and more away from our Bible many times: “Where did these people from all corners of the world get the idea that there is life on the other side of death and the grave? There are oceans between them, there are centuries that separate them, there are vastly different cultures that separate them. Some are at a high level of development and build pyramids while others can barely figure out how to calculate. But they all have a clear certainty that there is life on the other side of death. Where did they get it from?”
Well, I have only one answer, and that is the answer that the wisest man who ever lived on this earth – and he had divine wisdom – writes in Ecclesiastes: “…He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11NIV. If we were to try to pronounce this in our technical age, we would have said: “Man is coded to live forever.”
Shouldn’t we prepare people for this? When people get into a car, they fasten their seatbelts. When people get on an open boat, they put on life jackets. Shouldn’t we also prepare and secure eternity and invite Jesus into our hearts as our Lord and Savior? „ … and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”“ Rom.9:33NIV
Dear friend, secure yourself, put on the heavenly life jacket.
„My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, “
Proverbs 23:26NIV Effie Campbell translated
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
