Bring what you have – a time for everything *

NORSK
I have 'drifted' a bit back and forth in the Biblical texts covering the period between Easter and Pentecost. There has been a plan behind it, at least some idea about where I want to go. Today, I revert to the Sea of Galilee.

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” John 21:9-10

I do not think it is a coincidence that the disciples saw both fish and bread on the burning coals, and I am convinced that they immediately thought of the two previous experiences where some fishes and pieces of bread were used to feed thousands of people. I guess that the amount of food already on the coals was enough for seven disciples and Jesus, and if not, I believe Jesus could have blessed it so that it became sufficient. Yet - he chose different strategy. The disciples had caught fish themselves, they had something they could contribute with to the fellowship meal. Jesus wanted to include them by using their contribution.

"Bring with what you have" is a principle in the Kingdom of God.
It means that I am included, and whatever I contribute with can be a blessing for both myself and others. The Bible is full of stories of people who brought what what they had. Through my life I have met many people who brought just what Jesus needed. It can be anything from a broken life to special talents. Perhaps I will write another book entitled 'They brought what they had' sometimes in the future? Nevertheless, I am grateful for those who brought themselves and contributed with what they had. Jesus will use whatever he receives. The disciples learned this before Jesus ascended to heaven.

‘Manna’ for today:

Thank you for allowing me to bring what I have!

-------------------------------------------------
(1) Gaute loved to bring flowers when he was small - maybe that was because mom loved everything the boy brought her? If we are created in God's image, why should God be different when his children bring him what they have?
* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity' Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost

I know to whom I belong

NORSK
The headline is not related to the fact that Magna and I last Saturday could celebrate and praise God for 39 years of marriage. To belong to Magna is certainly something I value highly. 

Yet for both of us there is a relationship that is even more important. It is clearly expressed in the two verses that have been in focus for several days already, and I have highlighted them in the Common English Bible version of the verses:

Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.
2 Tim 3:16-17

Generally speaking, all people in the world belong to God. However, just as Magna and I had to choose each other, God and I chose each other. In Jesus Christ, God has chosen all men to eternal fellowship with him. I belong to those who also have chosen him. This choice makes us one, just like Magna and I are one. I know to whom I belong and no one can snatch me out of his hand (2).

‘Manna’ for today:

It is a blessing to know to whom I belong

--------------------------------
(1) The picture was taken at our public wedding party at the corps in Vik in Sogn.
(2) John 10:28-30

Where do you belong? – 5

The last country I will visit this year is the “pointers’ land” (1). It was part of my upbringing to hear the warning: “It is rude to point”. And I admit that it can be an uncomfortable experience to be singled out when someone is pointing at me. However, it can also be a great help and a blessing. 

I believe the apostles felt good when Jesus singled out the twelve (2). The mission they received was to preach. 

It is easy to see the similarities between preaching, pointing and appointing. John the Baptist’s mission was to “point”. Through his ministry it was his aim to prepare the way for and point to Jesus:

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world … he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
John 1:29-34

It is good to end a year with the reminder that I am appointed to point, and I will carry the reminder  with me into the New Year. 

I will also take this opportunity to thank you for reading this blog during the past year. The blog has been visited 150,000 times in 2016, and to receive messages that it has contributed to people returning to faith and life in Christ, is a great blessing. It means that there are more people joining the “pointers” in God's kingdom.

‘Manna’ for today:

In God’s kingdom we point to Jesus!

-------------------------------------------------
(1) The most important Christmas song
(2) He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.
Mark 3:14

Where do you belong? - 4

NORSK
Today I will take a trip to the “hobbling country" (1). To hobble has synonyms like to limp, shuffle, falter or even to proceed irregularly.

In a spiritual perspective, I know many who live in the land of hobbling people, and they even acknowledge that they live there. I think that they choose to confess their hobbling in fear of being labelled as believers. In my eyes many of them are true believers who have postponed their confession.

For me, faith is primarily a matter of choice. I choose to believe, and to act on what I believe with a presumption that it is actually true. This is also how I experience that my faith is confirmed.

Of course I feel that I lose my footing when I act this way. The reason is that I step on only one foot, on God’s. It is God who has the control and not me. Again I quote Søren Kierkegaard's statement: 

“To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself.”

Elijah challenged the people in this way:

“How long will you hobble back and forth between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow God. If Baal is God, follow Baal.” The people gave no answer.
1 Kings 18:21

Faith is about choosing which foot I will stand on.

'Manna' for today:

The Christmas mystery is that God became man to give us his foot to stand on.

------------------------------------------------
(1) The most important Christmas song

Where do you belong? – 3

NORSK
It is not only in a Norwegian Christmas-tree dances (1) that people stamp their feet. I have seen Maoris do the same when they dance their Haka. I even watched it at Boundless in 2015 (picture) (2). Stamping of feet is a strong signal and is often an expression of strength and aggression.

Is the “Stampers’ land” a place where I belong, or is it a land I should avoid?

If it is the aggression that controls me, it is definitely a place where I do not want to be. Nevertheless, it is very important to put the foot down when core-values are threatened.
I will stamp my feet when e.g. discover:

• Social injustice
• Abuse of power
• Spiritual arrogance that blocks the way for others

Jesus put his foot down (3), and it is in him I really belong

‘Manna’ for today:

It is in Jesus I belong! (4)

--------------------------------
(1)  See: The most important Christmas song
(2) I just ‘had to’ used this photo for the sake of family-peace. I am sure our son-in-law would have loved to stamp his feet in the dance too, but the Maoris put their feet down…. ;-) 
(3) E.g. The cleansing of the Temple
(4) For in him we live and move and have our being – Acts 17:28 

Where do you belong? – 2

Today I will reflect on the second answer of the “most important Christmas-song”. I will look into the answer: I belong in the “jumpers’ land”.

When I think about "jumping" in a Christian context, my thoughts immediately go to one of the stories Terry Camsey used when he taught about Church Growth for 25 years ago. He told the anecdote about the "jumping nuns". 

The tradition of the Order was that the nuns jumped while they were praying. There is no harm in jumping while praying, but when someone asked “why”, no one knew the answer. On closer examination, it came to light that when the order was founded, the nuns were barefooted when they prayed. The reason was the passages where Moses and later Joshua (1) were asked to take off their shoes because they stood on holy ground. The combination bare feet and a cold paved floor made to the nuns jump to keep warm while they prayed. They continued this tradition also after heating was installed in the monastery. Jumping had become part of the tradition.

There is nothing wrong with traditions as long as I know that they have a purpose and a function. However, it is dangerous to be stuck in a "jumpers’ land" where the tradition is drained of its content.

The Christmas Mystery was, and is, a protest against vain traditions.

'Manna' for today:

I belong in a land rich on content!

------------------------------------
(1) Exodus 3:5 & Jos 5:15

Where do you belong? - 1

I will follow up the question from yesterday’s reflection on the “most important Christmas-song” (1).

My dear father-in-law left behind a number of 8mm film coils with takes  of family events from a couple of decades. When we watched it a few years back, it was hours on end of family-members waving to the camera. 
It occurred to me that I had come into a family belonging to the "wavers' land". 

When the Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, was on an official visit to USA, President Obama made a speech and joked with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s productions of “slow TV”. I was only able to watch a few glimpses of "The Coastal Steamer minute by minute". It contained a lot of beautiful scenery and even more people waving. So, I have finally realized that I actually live in the "wavers’ land". We wave when we go apart and we wave when we are not close enough for a hug. Therefore, waving in many ways symbolises distance. 

Distance was the characteristic of the relationship between God and man before Jesus came. God was a distant figure. Worship was a kind of “waving” from a distance. 

By becoming man, God transformed his relationship with men completely. He went from distance to presence. The Christmas mystery is God’s presence in the lives of people (2).

'Manna' for today:

I belong in God's presence

----------------------------------------------------
(1) The idea with this song is to give answers that can be acted out while dancing around the tree. The first example is “I belong to the wavers’ land, because everyone who can wave their hand, they belong to the wavers’ land.”

(2) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Eph 2:13

The most important Christmas song

NORSK
I guess that there will be a lot of discussions if we were to agree on which Christmas song is the most important. A week ago, I shared some Christmas thoughts in a Carol festival at our local church. At the last concert I jokingly said that I had always missed the most important Christmas song in the repertoire of the excellent local singers. 

Then I sang some bars from a Norwegian Christmas-tree dance with a very shallow content, apart from one question that is repeated again and again “Where then do you belong?”

When John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said: “Look, the Lamb of God!", two of his disciples followed Jesus. When discovered that, he asked: “What do you want?” They answered:

"Where do you live?"
John 1:38

For a long time, I thought that this was a meaningless question to ask. However, that was before I understood how John had composed his gospel. The question "Where do you live?" is far deeper than a reference to a physical residence. It is about where you have your roots. It is about where your values are. The Christmas mystery is about to coming home to where I belong. Because Jesus came to said and says: "Come and see!" 

'Manna' for today:

I know where I belong!