Nothing to declare?

NORSK
“Doesn’t the Salvation Army have anything to declare?” replied the custom officer to our firm statement. When we were a little bit puzzled by his reaction, he continued with a smile: “I expected you to declare that Jesus Christ is Lord!”

A brother in Christ at the Romanian side of the border to Moldova gave us this challenge earlier today. 

Of course:

“every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Phil 2:11

On this very date 47 years ago I declared it when I was enrolled as a soldier in The Salvation Army, and I have something to declare every day of my life until I meet my Lord face to face.

‘Manna’ for today:

I have something to declare!

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Where is the “ends of the earth”? - a time for everything *

NORSK 

“to the ends of the earth”
Acts 1:8

was part of yesterday's verse, and I promised to revert with some thoughts on the subject. ‘Ends of the earth’ can be interpreted geographically or eschatologically = in an end-time perspective. 

Today I will focus on the geography.

I live an exciting life together with Jesus, and following him has led to exciting encounters with people who also follow him. Brother Yun, known as 'The Heavenly Man', is one of them (1).

Yun has a simple and logical explanation on what ‘the ends of the earth’ means:

Since the earth is round, the ends of the earth is exactly where you begin. Since the Christian mission began in Jerusalem, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth means taking the gospel back to Jerusalem. For the Chinese Christians it is important to evangelize the area from China westward to Jerusalem. The movement ‘Back to Jerusalem’ is therefore their mission strategy.

What does this mean for me?

Since the earth is round, it means that wherever I am, I am at the ends of the earth. On Friday it was the Romanian border, on Saturday it was Bacau, yesterday it was Iasi and today it is Bucharest, and at 'the ends of the earth' I will witness because I am convinced that Jesus is with there too.

‘Manna’ for today:

I witness at the 'ends of the earth'

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(1) Yun's biography
* '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 

The important strategy - a time for everything *

NORSK
When Jesus had reminded the disciples that they after having received the Holy Spirit should be his witnesses, he continued by giving them the strategy for the mission:

“ … in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8

The mission is not accomplished before we reach “the ends of the earth”, but the crucial point is that I always start where I am. On Friday afternoon we passed the border between Moldova and Romania. It was Rodney (Walters) who drove the car, and it is normal procedure that the driver is the one presenting the identification documents for both passengers and vehicle. The custom officer on the Romanian border was in a good mood and wanted to talk, and Rodney got an opportunity to testify, which he used to witness about the love of God shown to us in Jesus.

One of the benefits of knowing Jesus' strategy is that we are always ready to testify. Wearing the uniform can often be a help, because it makes people ask questions that open up for conversation. The Romanian border is not the ends of the earth, but what Rodney, Wendy, Magna and I have in common, is that we many years ago began where we were, and have continued to ‘begin’ right where we are. I will revert to some thoughts about "the ends of the earth" tomorrow. 

‘Manna’ for today:

Today I will begin in Iasi

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(1) This picture is not taken at Romanian border, but on Aeropagos - the place where Paul began to witness for Athenians.
* '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

The last important reminder - a time for everything *

NORSK
As we draw closer to the day of Pentecost, I reflect on some of the last things Jesus did or said, and today I focus on the last reminder:

“... a and you will be my witnesses...” Acts 1:8  

I have written a lot about witnessing on the blog (2). That is because the Bible refers to it many times both in the Old and the New Testament.
Since I have been brought up in the Salvation Army, I was constantly reminded about witnessing. It had focus in the preaching and it was very evident in the practice of people giving their testimonies both in indoor meetings and in the open air. 

Many of our halls had the verse from Isaiah on the wall – preferably on the back wall so that the soldiers on the platform could be constantly reminded on the fact that:

“You are my witnesses,”
declares the Lord
Isaiah 43:11 

I have seen how important it is for the witnesses telling their stories and for those who listen to the testimonies, so I am not surprised that Jesus' last reminder was that I should be his witness.

‘Manna’ for today:

I want to be his witness!

And today I will give my testimony at the library in Bacau, where a new corps planting in Romania has taken place - and tomorrow the first two soldiers will be enrolled.
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(1) An example of the "back wall text" referred to, and in the foreground two faithful witnesses: Anne and Jan-Egil Trobe (Sandvika).
(2) You can find more reflections under the label Witness - and many more if you do google translate on the reflections under Vitne
* '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

Why me? - a time for everything *

NORSK
It has happened more than once that I have asked God: “Why me?”. The question has come both in gratefulness to the boundless mercy and blessings I have received, like expressed in Kris Kristofferson's song: ‘Why me Lord what have I ever done to deserve one of the pleasures I've known?’ (1). 

Other times, the question has come when I have felt the burden of the mission: “Why me?”. Sometimes both feelings are present at the same time, like in the challenge I believe the disciples experienced when Jesus had clarified the mission. They must have known both the blessing and the burden of the huge task Jesus was entrusting them, and maybe Jesus sensed their thoughts and the question “Why me?” and simply answered: Because:

You are witnesses of these things.
Luke 24:48

I have witnessed that the gospel is true. I have witnessed that what Jesus did, brings salvation even today. To discover this is of course a great blessing, which I realise that I have not deserved. However, it makes me a witness, and with the status of a witness follows a responsibility: I have to share my experience with others.

‘Manna’ for today:

I am a witness of these things!

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(1) Kris Kristoffersen - you can hear his own testimony and the song HERE
* '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. 

Think afresh? A time for everything*

NORSK
Today, I move to the story of Thomas. A few years ago, I took the role as defence attorney for Thomas for the simple reason that I think he may have been a victim of a ‘spiritual miscarriage of justice’. In my 'procedure' I wrote:

Let us for some moment try to put ourselves into the minds of my client: “If my Master has risen from the dead, why are James and John afraid - why are we still behind closed doors in fear of what the Jews may do to us? If Jesus truly lives, it means that he has even defeated death - what then is there to be afraid of? If my friends really believed it, they should not only tell me, but run out of the streets of Jerusalem and tell the good news.” (2)

When we judge Thomas as a ‘doubter’, we have forgotten that the behaviour of the disciples was not consistent with their recognition of the risen Jesus. Thomas’ claim for proof was therefore absolutely valid.

“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
John 20:25

I will reflect more on the teaching in the incident with Thomas tomorrow, but I think that the disciples also learned that for a testimony about a living Jesus to be credible, our lives must show that it is true. If not, it is impossible to recognise Jesus.

‘Manna’ for today:

My life must show that Jesus lives

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(1) It is part of the family genes to defend both believers and doubters
(2) See ‘A spiritual miscarriage of justice’ – unfortunately only available in google translate
* '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.