One of my Christmas presents came from an unexpectant place. And as you know that does make a present worse ;-) It is a bouquet af sweets and finger puppets. Etable, Coulurful and entertaining! What more can you want? I'm so happy and impressed by it that I'd thouht I'd share it with you! //

Èn af mine julegaver kom fra ganske uventet kant. Det gør jo som regel ikke gaver værre ;-) Det er denne slik buket med fingerdukker. Spiselig, farvestrålende og underholdende. Hvad mere kan man forlange?! Jeg er så imponeret og glad for den at jeg lige ville vise den frem...

Glædelig jul! Vi er lige kommet tilbage efter en stille gudstjeneste i Vejle - vi var ikke mange, men dog flere end sidste år. Duncan og jeg havde gudstjenesten sammen. Det var dejligt, for der er længe imellem vi får lov til at være sammen på den måde, og det er der noget fint ved at være. Duncan ledte gudstjenesten, hvor alle var inviteret til at tage en julegave med - og de havde gjort det! Det var sjovt ;-) Det største hit var nok det elektriske målebånd ... Jeg prædikede, men havde hård konkurrence idag. Naomi, en lille pige på to år, nyligt adopteret fra Syafrika, var nemlig med i kirke. Det er der bestemt ikke noget galt med for der hører børnene jo også til, og Naomi er et vældigt stille barn. Men hendes far havde taget sine nye tøfler med som hans julegave. Så mens jeg nok så alvorligt stod og fortalte om underet at Gud selv blev menneske, og at både krop og ånd er vigtig hvis vi skal være hele og sunde mennesker, ja, så stod Naomi og balancerede på ét ben for at prøve sin fars tøfler .... Det var temmelig svært at holde masken!
Idag ligger vi på brak, og imorgen flyver vi til Manchester for at besøge familien i England. Selvom vi skal se en masse, bliver der også tid til at slappe af og gå en god tur i Sutton Park. Vi glæder os i hvert fald til det. Og er glade for at vi i år har mulighed for at holde jul både på dansk og engelsk! // Merry Christmas! We have just come back from a quiet service in Vejle - the big Christmas service is on the 24th in the evening. It was a small number this morning, but we had a good time. Duncan and I shared the service. That was noce, because it's not very often we get to do that anymore. But it's a good way to be together. Duncan let the service, where everybody had been invited to bring along a Christmas present - and they had! It was fun ;-) I think the best one was the electrical tape measurer... I preached, but had very hard competition to dag. It just so happened that Naomi, a little girl on 2, recently adopted from South Africa, had come to church with her parents. There's nothing wrong with that - on the contrary. But Naomi's dad had brought his new slippers as his present. And so, while I was telling about the wonder of God becoming human, and that we need to remember both body and spirit if we are to be whole and healthy people, well, Naomi was balancing on one leg, to try on her dad's slippers - on top of her own shoes. It was not easy to keep a straight face!
Today we're vegging out. And Tomorrow we get on the plane to Manchester to visit familie in England. Eventhough there's many people to see, there'll be time to relax and go for a walk in Sutton Park. It'll be great. And we're very glad that this year we have the oppertunity to celebrate Christmas in both Danish and English!

Tænkte at jeg ligeville vise jer noget af det, der gør mig glad for mit arbejde: Gospelkoret Joy & Comfort. Det er et kor, som holder til i menigheden i Vejle, og som jeg er en del af. Billederne her er fra en støtekoncert for Amnesty International i november.

Det var en rigtig god aften. Vi holder jævnt tit gospelgudstjenester i menigheden hvor koret synger, men at synge en times koncert er noget helt andet - man bli'r helt høj af det. Det særlige ved den her koncert var bl.a. at to nye solister sang, og at vore lille ny gospelkor for børn på 9-15 år sang en rigtig koncert for første gang - og gjorde det godt! // Thought I'd show you one of the things that make me happy about my work: Joy & Comfort, a gospel choir. The choir practices in the church where I work, and I take part in it every week. The pictures is from a concert we did in support of Amnesty International. About once a month we have a gospel service (sounds ironic, I know - shouldn't each Sunday be a Gospel service, but you know what I mean). Yet giving an hour long concert is something else entirely! The really great things about this particular evening was that two "new" people gave solos, and that our new choir for children 9-15 sang for the first time, and did great!

Som vor mor lavede dem - bortset fra jeg ikke kan huske min mor nogensinde har syltet rødbeder. Vi fik for uger (måneder?) tilbage en del rødbeder fra Tine og Jens' kolonihavehus. Men har ikke rigtig vidst hvad vi skulle stille op med dem. Det viser sig der er grænser for hvor mange rødbeder vi sætter til livs.... Men til alt held har jeg arvet "Den Grønne Syltebog"! Vældig husmoderagtig følte jeg mig da jeg stod der i eddikedampen med røde hænder. Nu ligger de røde rødder i gamle henkogningsglas og venter på julemaden. Så hvis I kommer forbi vil jeg med stolthed stille hjemmesyltede rødbeder på bordet! (Forresten er det som at smutte mandler at tage skrællen af kogte rødbeder. Temmelig sjovt, faktisk) // Luckily I have inherited an old book of recipies for pickling and storing vegetables and fruits. We got a bunch of beet roots from some friends weeks (months?) ago. As it turns out we don't eat that many beet roots in every day life. But the old books had the answers. So very 1950's house wife'ly I have been pickling beetroots. I didn't get pickled myself (although I'm sure you could if you inhaled anough vinegar steam!) Should you care to drop by I will proudly present you with home pickled beet root for Christmas lunches or dinners! (By the way: taking the peel of a boiled beet root is a lot like taking the skin of an almond - quite funny, actually! )

En god fest//A good party

Adriana og Jakob - nogle af vores gode venner blev gift i lørdags. Adriana er fra Spanien, Duncan lærte hende at kende på sprogskolen. Jakob og Adrina har været med til at få os til at føle os hjemme i Vejle. Deres bryllup var helt anderledes end vores bryllup - det er sjovt at se hvor mange måder den samme ting kan gøres på. De var glade, og det var stort - og dejligt at få lov til at være med. Festen blev holdt på en lille kro lige udenfor Jelling. Vi anede ikke hvor vi skulle hen, havde aldrig hørt om kroen før. Jeg er en af dem med en ikke helt fuldt udviklet stedssans. Så selvom vi har boet her i mere end to år er der stadig mange lokale stednavne jeg ikke aner hvor er - selvom jeg har hørt om dem flere gange. Så da de sagde "ved Fårup Sø" tænkte jeg "Nå?!".

Det viste sig at kroen ligger lige i skovkanten, men udsigt over en herlig lille/halvstor sø. Smukt, smukt sted med bakker omkring. Så to dage efter festen hvor vi havde fri trak vi i vandre støvlerne og varme jakker og gik en tur langs søen. Så nu har vi fundet et nyt fristed: og det ligger bare lige om på den anden side af bakken, små 10 km. væk!! Adriana and Jakob - some of our good friends got married on Saturday. Adriana is from Spain, Duncan got to know her on language school. Jakob and Adriana are part of the reason we started feeling settled in Vejle. Their wedding was quite different from how our wedding was - it's funny how one thing can be done in so many ways! They were happy, and it was special - and great to be part of. The dinner was at a little inn around 10 km. away from where we live. We had no idea where it was. I'm one of those people with an underdeveloped sense of direction, so although we have lived here for 2 years now, there are still pieces of local gepgraphy that I have only heard of. So when they said "Fårup Lake" I though "Right ?!"
The inn turned out to lie just outside a wood with a view over a lake. A beautofull place! Two days later on our day off we got in our walking boots and warm coats and went for a walk along the lake. So now we have found another little oasis. And it's just on the other side of the hill- Around 10 km. from us!!

Hi Peeps!
This is my official first post, I've been putting it off for ages now, mainly 'cos I didn't know what to write :) I still don't know quite what to say, but thats just like me! But anyway this is my first post - Anne doesn't know I'm doing/I've done it yet so we'll have to see what she says ;)
Anyway I'm sure we'll see you around here...
Duncan

Duncan har bestået teoriprøven og nærmer sig altså med hastige skridt kørekortet! Det er rigtig dejligt. For os begge to. Selvom han holder af at forberede sig i toget, så er der nogle ting, der er nemmere med en bil. Og sover man over er det nemmere at køre i bil end at være afhængig af DSB!! Og så glæder jeg mig til ikke altid at skulle være den, der er frisk nok til at køre. Om han så får en Aston Martin lige med det samme.... jeg tror han må nøjes med Mazda'en // Duncan has passed his theory test and so he's closer than ever to his drivers licens. It's really great. For both of us. Even though he likes to prepare for meetings and read on the train, there are somethings that are just easier in a car. And if you oversleep its easier to get there in a car, than waiting around for a train!! I look forwards to not having to be the one who's always awake eanough to drive everywhere! But whether he gets to start in an Aston Martin ... I think he'll have to make do with the Mazda

Ode to an Ice Cream

Så smuk kan en italiensk is tage sig ud! Købt en varm oktober dag i latinerkvarteret i Paris. Normalt er is skønne fordi de skal spises - men den her er ikke min. Men skøn er den nu. Fordi den er købt i anledningen af et jubilæem, et venskab. Og uden den slags var verden ikke til at holde ud. Det gælder både is og venskab! // The beauty of Italian ice cream! Bought on a warm October day in Paris. Normally ice cream are great because of the eating - but this one isn't for me. Yet, still it's amazing! Because it's bought in celebration of an anniversary, a friendship. And without those the world wouldn't be the same. And that goes for both ice cream and friendships!

Så er Huset lukket og slukket for i år - sidste store ryk indenfor bliver til foråret. Men vi ER kommet langt. Takket være Duncans glæde ved arbejdet. En glæde jeg ike deler helt så entusiastisk... jeg vil bare gerne kunne sidde i en god stol, gå en tur og være i haven. Billederne viser hemsen - faktisk færdig. Mangler bare rengøring. Vinduerne er malede to gange, væggene har fået. Og Duncan har pudset halvmuren op og det medste af skorstenen. Holly elsker haven, her har hun fundet sin gamle ven - kødbenet fra i sommer. Adw!! //The House has been shut down for the winter - the last bigg push inside will be next spring. But we HAVE come a long way. Thanks to Dusncan's joy in the work. A joy I don't share quite so enthusiastically.... I'd like to sit in a good chair, go for a walk and be in the garden. The pictures show the little room above the living room - almost finished. Needs a good clean. all the windows have been painted twice, and the walls as well. Duncan has done the half wall up, and most of the chimney. Holly loves the garden, she's found a good old friend again - the bone from this summer. Yurk!!

Snakkede med én idag som sagde at skrive en blog er et udtryk for overskud. Jeg tror hun har ret. Og det er nok også derfor jeg ikke kan/vil/har lyst til at fortsætte. Fordi jeg ikke føler jeg kan være ærlig, ikke har noget særlig værdifuldt at dele og egentlig føler mig til kunstig ved det. Ville gerne være god til det, og endnu vigtigere: synes om det, altså synes det gav mening også for mig.

Tjaeh. Måske er den bedste måde at give mening for mig at snakke med dem omkring mig og fortælle dem om mine sære indfald og nye opdagelser. Ellers måske er det bare overskuddet der ikke er til det...

Har lige været møde om tilskud til foreninger i Ny Vejle kommune. Der er nogle mennesker i de forskellige kommuner, som har gjort et enormt stykke arbejde for at harmoniserer fem kommuners tilskud og regler for foreninger. Og alligevel sad der nogle i salen og brokkede sig fra ende til anden. Eller det vil sige ham jeg tænker på sad ikke, han stod op med mikrofonen for det meste. Jeg blev så træt af at høre på det.

Hvad er grunden til at vi ikke er mere glade for hinanden? Eller ikke værdsætter andre menneskers arbejde. Suk. Tal er tørre nok i forvejen, synes jeg, også uden at en eller anden smart fyr skal gøre sig klog på andres bekostning!

Bye Bye Blog-land!

Having a blog was a bit of an experiment. And as such it has been revised - and I've decided to stop this blog.
The blog set up is changing to a Bete blog where it is possible to make a "private" blog, where only invited people can read the blog. So maybe, when this is fully in place, I'll switch to that.

Anywho - thanks for stopping by!

Anne

Jeg har sådan et godt forhold til min kiropraktor. Dels er hun en herlig kvinde, og dels er jeg kommet der en del. Desværre. Men sådan skal det ikke være længere! Hurra. Der var nemlig ikke noget at komme efter idag da hun tjekkede min ryg.
Jeg vidste det jo godt inden jeg sad hos hende - at jeg ikke "har kunnet mærke min ryg". Og alligevel var det en fantastisk lettelse at høre hende sige det. Min rygtræning og svømning har battet noget! Alene gi'r mig en fornemmelse af at have bedrevet noget, at have gjort noget godt for mig selv.

Og det utrolige er at jeg i mandags vovede mig ud at løbe i mine nye løbesko.... og det kunne ryggen også holde til. En fri kvinde!Dejligt!

Adams Æbler: sjov, men også ret sørgelig.

Præsten Ivan viser er et studie i fornægtelse - og ikke i selvfornægtelse på den fede måde. Nej, han nægter at se virkeligheden i øjnene. Den spastisklammede søn er ikke lam - han er bare ikke på toppen efter en hård influenza. Og konen begik ikke selvmord -hun troede bare pillerne vare gule M&Ms. Og Khalid røver ikke Statoil mere, han sparer bare op til nyt tøj. Ingen er onde eller har evnen til at gøre noget forkert. Nej, det er den Onde selv, der tester dem.

Hans fornægtelse af sandheden har store konsekvenser. For ham selv, selvfølgelig, fordi han ikke rigtig oplever noget som helst der sker rigtigt. Men også for de mennesker som er omkring ham. Hans manglende mod til at se realiteter i øjnene holder alle omkring ham fanget også. Kvinden Sarah som kommer fordi hun er gravid, men har fået at vide der er 60% chance for at barnet bliver født handicappet. Ivan fortæller hende om sin egen søn: "Vi fik at vide der var 75% chance for at han var handicappet .. men når jeg ser på ham når han løber rundt eller bare sidder og laver lektier, så er vi da lykkelige at vi traf det valg. Du skal følge dit hjerte og få det barn." Men virkeligheden er den at Christoffer ikke kan løbe, og at der ikke længere er noget vi til at være glad - eller ked - af drengen. For Ivans kone begik selvmord pga barnets handicap. Men Ivans fornægtelse af sin egen sanhed gør ham ude af stand til at tage en andens problemer alvorligt.

Det samme ser vi da han er på besøg hos den døende Poul, som under 2. Verdenskrig arbejdede for tyskerne - måske i koncentrationslejrene. Poul ligger for døden og lider af dårlig samvittighed. Han føler ikke han fortjener andres godhed, og fortæller at han har det dårligt med at komme i kirken fordi han er bange for det han har gjort. "Det kan ingen tilgive." Ivan lytter, men hører ikke hvad Poul siger. Alle fortjener godhed, og alle har slået en skævert, men Gud tilgiver alt spå Poul skal holde op med det pjat. Ivan er igen ikke i stand til at tage et andet menneskes kvaler og problemer alvorligt. Og det ender med at Poul dør uden at få fred og syndsforladelse. Til Pouls begravelse fortæller Ivan hvordan Pouls sidste ord var: "Jeg er klar" i skrigende kontrast til scenen fra hospitalet.

Det uhyggelige, synes jeg, er at Ivan ganske givet tror på at det hænger sådan sammen. Ikke før til sidst trænger Adam igennem til ham - og da han gør kommer Ivan til at tro at det ikke er den Onde der er ude efter ham, men Gud. Ingen i filmen snakker om muligheden for at vi mennesker selv har ansvar også for hvordan det går galt og gør ondt i vores og andres liv.

Det er selvfølgelig det evige spørgsmål: hvor kommer ondskaben fra? Fra Gud, fra djævelen eller fra mennesker? Ivan har valgt menneskene fra - de er ikke i stand til at gøre hverken ondt eller galt. Og på den måde kan man elske dem uanset hvad. På den anden side gør det jo lige præcis at han ikke kan elske dem. I hvert fald ikke som de er.

Det er så nemt at digte små historier om virkeligheden sådan at den er til at holde ud. Det er måske også okay til en vis grad. Vi har brug for historier. Det er kun gennem historier at vi kender os selv og hinanden, men når historierne tager overhånd og ikke kan erstattes med andet i mødet med andre, så bliver det forkvaklende.

For mig blev filmens budskab at ens egne historier om virkeligheden kan ødelægge andre og være med til at holde dem fast i deres problemer. Man behøver ikke altid at have historier eller svar, nogle gange er det bedste at stå ved livet, omstændighederne som de er. Fordi livet nogle gange leves, der hvor det gør ondt, og hvor der ikke er nogen god grund til hvorfor det er sådan.

Åh, giv mig mod til at bekæmpe min indre Ivan.

Jeg undres ... Der er i hvert fald nogle ting jeg ikke helt forstår. Jeg er ligesom det meste af Danmarks befolkning blevet rigtig forarget og forskrækket over hvordan nogen koldt og kynisk kan finde på at misbruge andre. Nærmere beskrevet unge piger - og børn.
Men samtidig er jeg skruet sådan sammen at jeg ikke kan lade være med at zoome lidt længere ud end den her ene mand.
Og så er det jeg undres - eller ikke rigtig forstår. Jeg synes det er aldeles forkert at misbruge andre - og især mindreårige. Men jeg kan også godt forstå at man kan blive forvirret hvis i forvejen er syg, ude på en glidebane, mindrebegavet, hvad ved jeg....
For hvordan kan vi(vi = samfund) på den ene side fordømme mennesker som tiltrækkes af unges seksuelitet og udstråling, mens vi på den anden side synes det er helt okay at smække den op over det hele?
Som eksempel den her plakat som jeg i lang tid er cyklet forbi hver dag på arbejde:


I mine øjne ser hun ikke særlig gammel ud. Og tager man en tur i H&M og køber undertøj, så er det også meget unge piger, der reklamerer der.

Det ene retfærdiggør ikke det andet. Men måske skulle vi (vi=os, der udgør samfundet) turde se vores egne tabuer i øjnene og snakke om, hvordan forskellige ting påvirker hinanden. Og ikke mindst det ansvar vi hver især har overfor andre.
Nogle vil påberåbe sig ytringsfrihedens ret til at vise hvad som helst. Men som kristen er jeg nødt til at sige at vi, der ikke har problemer med at se de uldne grænser, er nødt til at hjælpe de, der har svært ved det. Som der stod på et advarselsskilt mod lommetyveri i den hal jeg trænede badminton i som teenager: "Lad vær' at friste andre". Eller som Paulus skriver: "Alt er tilladt, men ikke alt gavner. Alt er tilladt, men ikke alt bygger op. " (1. Korinterbrev 10:23-24) 

Bøn er sådan en mærkelig størrelse. F.eks. Fadervor som jeg bruger så meget. Det er så nemt at glemme hvad jeg siger fordi ordene er så kendte, at de ligesom er blevet en tryg og kendt remse med en bestemt rytme. Indimellem er det guld værd at det er sådan - for det kan være så svært med alle ord jeg selv skal komme med. Og det er trygt at kunne gå ind i noget velkendt.

På den anden side er det nogen gange nødvendigt at se på indholdet, og tænke over hvordan jeg selv ville sige det. Fik på vores præste kursus i denne uge øjnene op for Fadervor omskrevet af Jokeren, det er fra hans album "Alpha Han".

Fader Vor.
Du som styrer i himlen.
Respekten er din - Jeg er nede med dit rige.
Ske din vilje i mit kvarter, som den sker i alle andre kvarterer.
Tak for den gode æder, vinen og de smukke mennesker du omgiver mig med.
Jeg ved du altid har min ryg, selv når jeg fucker up,
og på samme måde vil jeg altid have mine homies ryg, når de er på skideren,
og endda tilgive dem, der kopierer min Cd´er.
Fristelserne lurer overalt i min del af byen,
men giv mig styrke, mod og visdom til at forvandle dem til inspiration i stedet.
Pas godt på dem jeg elsker, dem jeg ikke elsker og selv på dem, som playerhater på mig.
For Evigt, der. Amen.

Stjerne for en aften, Scenen er din, Vild med Dans - det er helt vildt hipt. At det også kræver en vis portion mod, rytmisk sans og koordination, ja, det har jeg egentlig aldrig været i tvivl om. Jeg har været på kursus idag om børne arbejde i kristne menigheder. En af de workshops jeg valgte handlede om "Playstation drenge og Scenen er din piger". En af workshoppens pointer var hvor meget vi egentlig ved om det, de her børn/unge går op i? Og hvor forskelligt det egentligt er for det vi selv gik op i da vi var på deres alder? Måske er det bare den teknologi, der er tilgængelig som er forskellig.

At musik har været på mode i laang tid er der vist ingen der er i tvivl om. At det kan være sjovt at danse har mange også erfaret. Men hvordan er det nu lige dansen har udviklet sig?

Bliv imponeret, smil eller le højt: www.evolutionofdance.com

Tourist killed - don't worry!
In case you have seen the news, heard something or read abouta tourist being killed in Amman yesterday I have good news: Duncan and his team are fine. He wrote home to say that they are all safe, and that no one around them are worried about what has happened.

I spoke with him prior to this, and he is having a great time - although it's hot and the food is fatty. But the people are very friendly and welcoming. And teenagers/teen leaders in Jordan like the exact same amount of silly games that we do ;-)

The dog and I are doing fine. Rattling abit around in the house - it's feels empty. And just once in a while Holly takes a tour to see where Duncan is hiding.

Over the last couple of days I have been amazed just how incredible modern technology has become. Sitting in Denmark I can communicate with Duncan (almost) as if he was just somewhere local. And when the incident in Jordan happened yesterday I heard through a text from my mother-in-law in England! Honey, the world has shrunk!

What is he doing down there?

Well, apart from having seen where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, the site where Moses look in to the promised land and where Elijah was taken up to heaven, he is actually doing work. Duncan is the leader of a team of six young people (18-28 yrs). This weekend (and next) they will be a youth camps for young Christians from around the area. The purpose of the camps is to encourage these young folks in their Christian faith and identity. The Christians groups in Jordan are very much minority groups and young people often find themselves alone in their congregations. (Even more so than in Denmark or England) So bringing them together is a way of assuring them that they are not the only young Christians. And the team from Highway being there also serves to show that "the world" hasn't forgotten them.
During the week days Duncan and his team will be in schools doing lectures about Christianity. They will be going into schools/universities with mixed groups of Muslims, Jews and Christians. These lectures, we have been assured, will e challenging. Simply because most people are very aware of religion, and are used to religion being visible. The more extreme you are, the more obvious it is from the out side. Previous teams have found these conversations very helpfull and challenging for their personal faith.

O, and then, off course, they end the tour with going out into the Jordanian dessert to visit Petra!

Amman

Duncan has just left for Amman, Jordan to work with young people of both Christian, Jewish and Muslim background . He is going with an English based organisation, Highway Projects who has worked in the area for the past ten years. Their website is: http://www.highway-projects.org/

Superman Returns

Since I am intrueged by the need for superheroes at the moment, I had to watch "Superman Returns". It is, I think, a really good film. I know its not breaking new ground in stunts, animation or filming techniques. But the story of Superman coming back is, nevertheless, a good one. Superman returns to earth after a journey to his home planet. We get the impression that he is desillusioned because he has found out for sure that he is the only one left from his planet. This desillusion only grows when he meets Lois Lane, who has won a pullitzer prize for an article on "Why the world doesn't need Superman". And this, I think, is the key question of the film. Does the world need a saviour - or not?
The answer of Lois Lane is clear: No! We've moved on, a saviour is old news. "The world doesn't need a saviour - and neither do I!" Yet, she has no come back when superman shows her his point of view: "You say people don't need a saviour. Yet I hear people cry out for one every day."
This question would without a doubt start an interesting conversation in most groups!

Although the setting of the film is Superman returning to earth, the main returning is that in the end where Superman returns to face Lex Luthor. Basically returning to face death in order to save life. It poses the question: Is it worth going back to something you know have the potential to kill you, ruin you carreer and humiliate you? This is a very moving and rough scene where superman is beaten and humiliated by Lex Luthor and his gang. See it and read Matthew 27:27-44. One of the gang scornfully shouts "Go on, fly away!" Both Duncan and I heard the echo: "Go on, save yourself!"
The meeting with Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor was one of the real high points of the film for me! Spacey is terrible, cynical, egocentric and charming. He is the man, who after having cheated a dying widow into leaving him her entire estate, hands his wig to a little girl and remarks: "You can keep that. The rest is mine."
Then there ware Lois Lane, played by Kate Bosworth. When you are to Terri Hatcher, she was a bit tame. There wasn't much of a desperate housewife about her. More like a nice girl you knew in school...

Throughout the film we meet the conversation between Kal-El (Superman) and his father. We hear the father tell his son about the human race. How it has immense capabilities for good and high moral, and how it easily falls prey to evil. But because, the father says, man kind seeks the goodness in themselves he has sent his son to help. And, as he says, because he as a father tells his son these things, the father becomes the son, and the son becomes the father. A possible starting point to pick up on in a conversation about Christ as the son of God.

Finally, a common thing in the whole hero genre at the moment is that we need our heroes to be modern, soft men. Spiderman doubted his calling as a hero, 007 has trouble with women and now Superman is struggling with the role of being... (don't read of you're going to see the film) a father. We need the heroes, but we also need to know that they are "real" and human - like we are ourselves. An interesting tendency for me as a Christian, who do actually believe that God "returned" as a human to save us. To restore the capabilities for good that are in us. (Read Philipians ch. 2: 5-11)

Being absorbed
Lots of good memories from a holiday well spend. With work at our little house, with good friends and family.
I've broght home several little gems. Treasures to ponder, or just keep in a pocket for a while. One of them was given to me by my nephew at 7.
We were at my parents, sitting outside with the barbeque. Rasmus, as he's called, hero-worships Duncan. He always has done, and there's something special about seeing them together. This evening it was around the mexican fireplace; a kind of oven made of clay. Duncan og Rasmus had spend a loong time chopping twigs and sticks to make the fire. An important and exciting job.
When we'd finished eating they lit it, and we were all amazed - off course. But, after a little while us grown ups got bored and started talking about other things. Rasmus, however, were mezmerized by the flames. He sat right in front of the fire, looking into it. And that's when it came: A big sigh, and a little happy voice saying. "It's like a fire telly, this." "A fire telly?!" I ask, grown up that I am. "Yeahr",he replies, "It shows nothing but flames."
Indeed! So simple: a fire telly. A place, a space, a moment where everything else disappear except you and the fire. O, how I want to be absorbed by the fire of God's love!

Der er gået sommer i den!

"Ferie, ferie, feire!
Slap nu af, du har fri,
og syng en glad melodi.
Op mod solen ler vi,
den skal skinne til ferien er forbi."

Der bli'r nok lidt stille over de næste uger. Vi har "arbejdsferie" i Huset. En dejlig plet på jorden....

Pirates of the Caribbean
Have just come home from the cinema where we watched Captain Jack Sparrow in action. Action and humour - it doesn't get much better. The best things, however, is the fact that there are many thoughts about life, destiny, eternal life and salvation.
For instance: In the first film we saw how Elizabeth, the daughter of a noble governor and Captain Jack Sparrow, who are not at alle noble but does what he can to pursue happiness and freedom, are both appalled by and attracted to each other. This time they have a very interesting conversation as to their characters. Jack Sparrow tries to convince Elizabeth that she will indeed become a pirate. Because, as he reasons, she longs for freedom: for being able to follow every egoistic whim just because she can. When she asks what makes him so sure, his answer is simple: "Curiosity. you want to know what it feels like. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is convinced that he is in fact a good man, and that he will "do the right thing" when he gets a chance. Because of curiosity, she muses, "You really, really long for a taste of it."
I guess they are right. We talk about temptation in Christian circles, and doesn't the power in temptations lie in our curiosity? I'll won't tell you what they do, so you can still go and enjoy the film.

A second scene is where Davy Jones (For danskere: havet selv hedder Davy Jones i engelsk literatur) is taking on board new crew. He asks them, men who are terrified: "Do you fear death, the dark and judgement? Do you fear for it all to come out in the open?" One poor soul nods his head with tears - another warns him not to answer. This second man is holding a rosary (rosenkrans) Davy Jones turns to him: "Do you not fear the deep?" And the man's answers: "I take my chances" while he holds on to the rosary with a cross on it - this has him killed. A third man protests at this. Davy Jones turns to him and shouts: "Life is cruel, why should the after life be any different?!" Turning to the first man he says, mildly: "I can offer you a way to postpone your judgement..."

Yep. I think the Pirates need to be watched closely with a notebook at hand, because surely there's some good points for conversation here!


O, and we saw a trailer for the new Superman film. A promising quote from Lois Lane to Superman: "The world doesn't need a Saviour. And neither do I." Guess we'll have to watch that too!

It can be hard work being a well-meaning new minister ;-)

Pastor H. Oly, came fresh from college to start his position in the parish. The head of the church board encouraged him to pay a visit to old Edna.
The paster goes with hopefully, and is sat down in the living room with a cuppa. "So, Edna, I'm the new pastor of the congregation." "Sure" old Edna replies. Slowly the conversation moves over a few light subjects, but soon there's not much to be said.
The pastor hits on the brilliant idea of talking about more personal stuff.
"How are your children doing, Edna?" "Sure," says Edna "I have a daughter, but she's been in prison for nine years." This more or less kills off the conversation.
Luckily Edna breaks it: "I also have a son - but he jumped from the 6th floor."
What to do, what to do? The minister feels he saves it by asking: "Do you have other children?"
This makes Edna take a deep breath before she answers:
"Sure, I have a son at uni."
Relieved pastor H. Oly lights up, convinced he has hit fertile ground: "So, what does your son do at university?"
After a short pasue Edna answers: "He's preserved in the Institute of Anatomy."

Man's best friend is known to be the dog. Which is quite true in our home. However, dog's best friend is the dog across the street, Noah.
Holly, our dog, watches the windows. Sometimes she barks, or "comments" on the people and dogs walking past. And on bad days the ducks and black birds also get a greeting. But one day she reacted completely different. She came running in from the window, first to Duncan, then to me. Jumping up and down, tale wagging, ears up, happy barking. Both of us followed bewildered - what on earth had the barmy dog found?
When we came to the window we saw Noah and his owner walking along the path outside our window. The dog had seen her friend outside and wanted to go and play!
Today it happened again, except this time she was out on the balcony, and I swear that if she'd been tall enough to jump over the fence and two floors down she would've. And if Noah (who's a sausage dog/gravhund) had wings, he would've flown up to play with her.
What could we do, except take the little creature down to play with her little mate?
They both enjoyed it - that's obvious for anyone to see. Like two little kinder garten children they roll around, play tig and chase each other round and round. And when they get tired, they lie down together, tongues out, enjoying each other just being there.

Who doesn't need a friend like that?!

Ny Salmebog
Min kirke har lige fået ny salmebog. Et projekt som har strukket sig over 12 år. Når man som mig ikke har været bevidst om hele processen, simpelthen fordi jeg var for ung da den begyndte, er det svært helt at tage ind hvilken mammut anstrengelse her er tale om for en lille kirke som vores.
Men vi kan være stolte af den - og selvfølgelig af det enorme frivillige arbejde som er blevet lagt i dens tilblivelse. Jeg tror, vi bliver glade for den. I hvert fald er det dejligt at have en bog som ligenu samler alle de sange og salmer som vi bruger. Og flere til.

Til præsentationen af salmebogen sang vi en sang, som endnu ikke har sluppet mig. Den er ny og den er relevant. Den handler om Jesus, men Jesus i verden. Der hvor han hører til! Den sætter nogle utrolige ord og billeder på Jesus' nærvær:

Søger du mod fjerne havne
efter guld og røgelse,
vil du se, på tusind favne,
noget, som et spøgelse.
Som et lys, der lydløst følger
skibets farefulde færd,
kommer det på nattens bølger
undertiden ganske nær.

Når de store have stiger,
og din nabos skib går ned,
og I danser, mens de skriger,
følger skyggelyset med.
Der er huller i dets hænder,
i dets hjerte dybe sår.
Det er hul i ho’det, venner,
at I ingenting forstår.

Kan det lys vel være andet
end min spøgefulde ånd.
Hvem sku’ ellers gå på vandet
med en udstrakt hjælpehånd.
Selv på dødens oceaner
færdes jeg på sikker grund,
jeg kan danse på vulkaner,
jeg er nær i hver en stund.

Jeg er nær, når livet lykkes
i de kæres sammenkomst.
Jeg er nær, når kisten smykkes
med en ynglings yndlingsblomst.
Jeg er med i statistikken
over unge, hængte mænd.
I kloakken, på klinikken,
overalt går jeg igen.

Jeg er med jer alle dage,
alle mørke nætter med.
Jeg er mægtig, i de svage,
til at rive mure ned.
Det er mig, der kalder sammen
til det store gæstebud.
Det er mig, der tænder flammen,
når et oprør bryder ud.

Jeg er sjælen i kritikken
af et destruktivt system.
Jeg er inde i musikken;
jeg ta’r fat på dit problem.
Det er mig, der protesterer,
når de mindste mangler brød.
Skønt jeg ikke eksisterer,
må du tro mig for min død.

Jeg går gennem låste døre
uden larm og låsesmed.
Jeg har tusind ting at gøre,
tusindfryd at frådse med.
Det er altid mig, der er den,
når I leger syndebuk.
Jeg går ind for dig og verden;
jeg gør dig og verden smuk.

Jeg er med i dine tanker,
når de flyver i det blå.
Jeg er med på korsets planker,
det må alle lide på.
Jeg er med i alles smerter,
jeg er kroppens sjette sans.
Lad mig bo i jeres hjerter;
tag mig med i jeres dans.

Jeg kan danse på vulkaner,
jeg kan kysse med din mund.
Under dødens oceaner
har jeg rod på sikker grund.
Når den store stormflod stiger,
og selv Noas Ark går ned,
skal I bygge høje diger
af min dybe kærlighed.

Kommer du fra fjerne lande
tung af guld og røgelse,
vil du se, på nære vande,
mig – og intet spøgelse.
I min favn er tusind favne.
Evigt liv er i min ånd.
I mit navn er alle navne.
Dumme-Peter, tag min hånd!
Hans Anker Jørgensen.

Memory of Eden

I believe we all have a memory of Eden. A touch of Paradise in side. A recollection of how it was meant to be. And it is this memory, this knowledge that makes us react to injustices and meaninglessness. That is why we cry out "why?!" with pain, sorrow and grief. It is because we know we are meant for eternity that we are angered, filled with sorrow and un-knowing when a life is taken - too soon.

I believe we were made for eternity. You and I are meant to live forever. Our lives are not meant to be short, our being was not created as a short interlude. I believe we are made for relationships and love - the everlasting kind. I believe that God is love, and I believe that we are made in his image. And since we are made in his image, we too have the longing for eternity.

And I believe, that as we cry out with pain and grief, so does God. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 26-28) Because this was not how he intended it to be. I believe that he wants to restore us to eternity. I believe that life eternal is ours to have. And I believe the offer is for all!

Sleeping Beauty or Goofy?

I have found a rather funny little quiz. It tells you who you are in Disney characters. I am not entirely sure how to respond to the verdict on my personality: a mixture between Sleeping Beauty, Goofy (Fedtmule) and Peter Pan.

Have a go: http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=3049&first=yes

There are holy places on this earth. One of them is Taizé in France. Taizé is a community of Christian brothers from all over the earth, from most church traditions (except Orthodox). It was started by Brother Roger, who died a month before we were there. And it has become a beacon of light, working with dialogue as a means to reconciliation. (forsoning). Thousands of young people from all over the world go each week to take part in the life and prayer of the brothers.
Duncan and I are so fortunate that we were given a trip down there with our colleages by our church. We went in September last year. We went with three colleages and had a great time - together and alone with God. I was very touced by the experience. It was so simple, and so straight forward. The important thing was to be with God.

So it didn't really surprise me when Duncan said that he would like to go there for a week. He wanted to spend a week in silence. I think that because I know the place, it felt perfectly safe to send him away. He has come back different than when he left. God has touched him. It was the right thing to do! And off course it was: taking time out to be with God in a place where they take seeking God and the thirst for him seriously - how could that ever not be a good idea?

Here's some pictures from September:







To find out more click onto www.taize.fr - you'll find a site in your own language. And you can even hear the special singing from Taizé!

Smoked salmon patê:

200 g. smoked salmon
200 g. cream cheese
100 g. crème fraîche
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tbsp. chopped fresh dill and one dill leaf

The salmon, cream cheese and creme fraiche is mixed together (in food processor or with blender). Stir in the lemon juice and the chopped dill. Decorate with the dill leaf.

Served with toast or biscuit, and a good white wine.

Rigtig lækker i sommer varmen! Og den ta'r ingen tid at lave.

I was told about a website called www.despair.com Its purpose is demotivation. Som om verden har brug for at blive demotiveret! But as it turns out it is hugely entertaining, probably because it hits close to the truth. Here's a few favorites: