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!

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(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

It is about sharing - a time for everything *

NORSK
Yesterday I wrote about the ‘holy unrest’ that was caused by the need to share an important experience with friends. The two who had walked from Emmaus to Jerusalem in the darkness of the evening managed to find their friends. I expect that they were taken by surprise and amazement when friends beat them on the ‘finish-line’ and proclaimed:

“It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Luke 24:34-35

The need to share can be so strong that I cannot afford to let it be. When Peter after Pentecost was commanded to stop speaking about Jesus, he answered:

As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:20

I think Jesus was a model for his disciples even in the field of sharing personal experiences. Since Jesus was alone in several of his spiritual victories, he must have told his disciples about them. He was alone when he was tempted in the wilderness and he was alone when he fought with his own will in Gethsemane. 

I do not know when on the journey he shared the first experience with the disciples, but the Gethsemane experience must have been shared with the disciples after the resurrection. Simply because there was not much time to share it before the crucifixion. It means that it must have been shared in one of the meetings Jesus had with the disciples before his ascension to heaven.

The disciples saw and learned from Jesus' testimony. And when they used the same method themselves, I am convinced that they found it both useful to share their experiences, and a blessing on the ongoing journey.

One of the most important things in my life, is to share the testimony of who Jesus is and what he has done to me. I simply cannot help.

‘Manna’ for today

I just have to tell about it!

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* '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

Holy unrest - a time for everything *

NORSK
When I have chosen to concentrate on what the Bible writes about the period between Easter and Pentecost, my objective is primarily to discover how the pieces fell into place for the disciples. They learned some lessons by listening to the risen Jesus said and observing what he did, other insights they gained by personal experiences.

I have previously stopped for several aspects in the story about the two whom Jesus joined on the way to Emmaus, and there are more to be learned. “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over” was the argument the two disciples used to convince Jesus stay on. After it was revealed to them that their guest was Jesus, he disappeared from them. Then it is as though they were filled with a holy unrest:

“They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together”
Luke 24:33 

What they had experienced was so important that they had to find their friends at once. Then it was not any longer important that it was evening and a distance of 11 km to walk in the dark. It was a natural thing to do, although it was not necessarily the most reasonable thing to do. When there is a fire burning in the heart, that is more important than anything else.

I like the term 'holy unrest'. It makes us ordinary people start on a walk. It is not always we know where it ends, but if it is 'holy', it will always lead to a goal. And sometimes the walk itself is the goal because we walk together with others.

‘Manna' for today:

I want to walk calmly with holy unrest.

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(1) Yes, it's me. Here descending from Gaustadtoppen.
* '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.

To do what's natural - a time for everything *

NORSK
It is a strange paradox that Jesus, before his death, had to make supernatural signs so that people should believe him (1), while he after the resurrection had to do what is natural for all to do so that people should believe him:

While they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Luke 24:41-43

Eating is a completely natural activity for us, and when we eat, we normally tend to relax. I imagine that the amazed and tense disciples felt their shoulder sink to a normal level when they saw Jesus eating. Perhaps they thought they also could live quite normal and natural lives even if they had been commissioned to an important mission that seemed too big for them to manage. 
I also believe that this is why the fellowship-meals became an important and integral part of how the first disciples lived and shared their faith.

It is good to be a witness to the fact that God is able to do supernatural miracles through his disciples. However, there is an even greater potential for the advancement of God’s kingdom when the disciples are present with their faith in interaction with ‘ordinary’ people we meet every day. And when we bring them to the church, we must make sure that they get something to eat. Food that will meet both spiritual, mental and physical needs. That is to be human together with humans.

‘Manna’ for today:

Yes, we have something to eat here!

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(1) See for example these words of Jesus: Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. John 14:11
* '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.

Present as human – a time for everything *

NORSK

“Save me!”

In this way I challenged some of the participants at the candidates’ weekend during the individual interviews we conducted one month ago.
Melissa answered:

“We should become friends first!”

I liked that answer and it was clear that Melissa had understood the importance of building relationships in order to convey the gospel in a good and credible way. Perhaps she had learned from Jesus when revealed himself to after the resurrection:

“It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
Luke 24:39

In order for the disciples to believe him, Jesus had to be present himself as a man with flesh and bones. I think this is an important lesson for a follower of Jesus. It is OK and important with Bible knowledge, but if I meet my fellow men as a theologian and not as the human Jostein, I lose the opportunity to show what the gospel ‘does’. This aspect can easily drown while the theologian Jostein teaches about what the gospel ‘is’.

I spent a long time trying to understand Grundtvig's aphorism: “Human First - Then Christian!”. However, I have come to accept that his emphasis highlights a very important aspect. If I am not first and foremost human among my fellow men, the 'incarnation' (= Jesus present in his body in the world through me), is not fulfilled in the way God wants it to be.

So, dear Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1), although I love your hymns and your songs and am grateful for your vision that became the wonderful ‘folk high school movement’, they who know me well are likely to be surprised when they see that I have chosen the following

‘Manna’ for today:

Human first, then Christian!

... I doubt that I would have made that choice some years ago, but I see your point, and that it is good!
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(1) The painting portrays Grundtvig in a mild version
* '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. 

Common experiences - a time for everything *

NORSK
In the passage I have been reflecting on in the past days, Jesus says something I think is important to remember:

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24:49

The order to stay in the city can of course have something to do with the prophetic role of Jerusalem in God’s plan of salvation (1), but I think it was important for Jesus to tell that they had to be together when the empowerment would take place. 

The importance of sharing the same experience is also seen in the way Jesus revealed himself after the Resurrection. They who were not present, doubted that it had happened; while they who were together when Jesus suddenly came and just as suddenly disappeared could confirm for each other what they had experienced (2). If it happened only individually, doubt can suddenly turn up as an uninvited guest: “Was it just a dream?”

When I was in Tromsø in the early 70's, we experienced a lot of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and many people were saved. Some years ago, one who was part of all the great things happening, said: 

“Please tell me that it was like that!” 
– “Yes, it was, I was there when it happened!”

The more who can confirm an experience, the better. Paul wrote:

After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:6

Imagine being able to attend a testimony-meeting with that crowd!

The disciples needed to be together in the city to be able to affirm for each other what had happened when the difficult days came.

‘Manna’ for today:

It is important to affirm the presence of the Lord!

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(1) See, e.g.: “What is the most special aspect of Jerusalem”
(2) See: “The discovery of the heart – a time for everything”
* '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. 

Knowing that we are together - a step on the journey

I have kept my word and remained in the “sweet little story about Cod Cap” for a few days. The simple reason is that the story has several aspects that deserve to be reflected on separately. Peter got clear instruction what he should do with the silver coin he found in the mouth of the fish's mouth:

“Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”  

Matt 17:27b 

That Jesus did not only ask Peter to something for him, but included Peter ‘in the deal’, must have been like sweet music in the ears of Peter. It was not so long since he had heard Jesus say, "Get behind me Satan" after Peter had said something with the very best intentions. Now he was asked to do something for Jesus that concerned them both.

The journey is all about an intimate relationship. What concerns Jesus, concerns me, and what concerns me, concerns Jesus. We work together, not separately.

 A fine line goes from these small events up to the 'Great Commission', which concludes the Gospel of Matthew. Perhaps it even captures the author's understanding of what the Gospel is all about?

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”    

Matt 28:20b

‘Manna’ for today:

You and I, Jesus, always you and I!

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Fragmented thoughts on loneliness

NORSK
'Loneliness' is such a big topic that the thoughts I share are mere fragments (1). For some loneliness is considered a curse, while others seek it as a blessing. 

As with most things in life, we need both solitude and fellowship. Paul was no exception, and in some ways I can feel his desperation when he wrote:

Please come as soon as you can
2 Timothy 4:9

The mentor needs his disciple. It shows the importance of reciprocity. We need one another as humans, and we need one another as disciples in the mission in God's Kingdom. 

A few years ago I conducted a funeral where one of the deceased’s sons came with the following message as a last greeting to his father: “Throughout our lives, it was always you who confirmed me and my brothers, the last couple years we needed to confirm you, and I do it again: you were a good father”. 
I believe it was true and I was touched by the statement.

The letter suggests that Paul needed someone he trusted who could confirm him as he was approaching the last part of the pilgrimage. May be he needed Timothy to say: “Throughout my life, you have always confirmed me as your true son in the faith, now it is my turn to confirm you as a mentor and a true father in the faith” (2).

The feeling of loneliness is alleviated when there is someone who sees me. A glance, a good handshake or a hug can do a lot of good. No man is an island. When God the Almighty created man in His image it is a sign that we are created to have fellowship with each other and with him.

‘Manna’ for today:

I am created for fellowship with room for solitude

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(1) In light of the fact that Soren Kierkegaard used the term "Philosophical fragments" my thoughts should only be considered minor particles...
(2) See “Affirmation and accountability”