Morten Holmqvist

Ny blogg

2007-10-09T02:50:00.000-07:00

Ja da ble en ny blogg. Denne vil være på norsk. Hva er poenget lurer du kanskje på? Tja, ikke sikker selv, men en ny blogg er det i hvertfall... bloggen heter Jeg tror.... og adressen hvis du ikke klarer å trykker på linken er http://mortenholmqvist.blogspot.com.

Such a perfect day...

2007-10-09T00:51:00.000-07:00

I heard the old song "Perfect day" by Lou Reed the other day.
Here is some of the lyrics:

Just a perfect day
Problems all left alone,
Weekenders on our own.
Its such fun.
Just a perfect day,
You made me forget myself.
I thought I was someone else,
Someone good.

Youre going to reap just what you sow,Youre going to reap just what you sow

He really does describe a perfect day.
I wonder if that is some of our most important project in life. To find that totally perfect day...Some day..
Maybe life is more than searching for a perfect day?

Social networking fatigue?

2007-10-02T03:38:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we are going to discuss if there is a problem in our time of constantly being online and communicating with people. Maybe much of our communication is just our need of confirmation that we exist. And maybe we need to hear all the time that I am good enough, that some knows I am alive, that some one cares? Maybe we are getting to the point of just stressing ourselves out? A new word I have picked up is social networking fatigue. It means becoming tired of too many social networks.
Maybe one of our biggest problems is that we don´t know who we are?

Stemmer denne salmen?

2007-09-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry this one is in norwegian....

Vi sang en salme i dag i kapellet, noe vi ofte gjør i dette rommet. Men det var særlig vers nr 2 i salme 377 som fanget min interesse:

Før eg låg i synd og vånde,
tung var all min gang og veg.
Då kom Jesus med sin nåde,
å kor glad han gjorde meg!

Tja... Lurer på folk går rundt i synd og vånde, kanskje??
Salmen er skrevet av Lars Oftedal i 1892.

Let us pray for Nina and David in Japan

2007-09-20T13:22:00.001-07:00

Since I was a little kid I have had a heart for Japan. I have been so blessed to have visit this amazing country and got to meet some incredible people. The last couple of years my good friend Nina has been living there and now my dear friend David is there for some months. I just want to say how honoured I am to know these guys.

Check out Ninas blog

Long time since writing

2007-08-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since last post. I have had an really good summer. Skjærgårds was some good days and I am just so amazes of the work all these people do. After that Astrid and me had the best relaxing time in Croatia, higly recommened. So the trip went with Oliver to visit Hege in Stavanger and some days in the mountains around Hemsedal. Finally I had an great week with about 140 teenager on konfirmationcamp. A new semester and a new chapter is about to open. I am looking forward to meet new students and other things in life.

Kinda puts words to the way I feel sometimes

2007-04-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

i'm just a poor wayfaring stranger travelin' through a world of woe
ain't no sickness, toil, nor danger in that bright land to which i go
i'm goin' there to see my Father
said he'd meet me when i come

i'm only goin' over Jordan
i'm only goin' over home

i know dark clouds gonna gather 'round me
i know my way it'll be rough and steep
yet beautiful fields lie just before me
where God's redeemed did vigils keep
i'm goin' there to see my loved ones
gone before me one by one

i'm only goin' over jordan
i'm only goin' over home

i'll soon be free from earthly trials
this body rests in the orchard's yard
i'll drop this cross of self-denial
and go singing home to God

i'm goin' there to see my Savior
to dwell with him no more to roam

i'm only goin' over Jordan
i'm only goin' over home
i'm only goin' over home

My son Oliver, how time goes fast

2007-03-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

Found some different pics of Oliver, from 2 to 8 years old. My love and pride.

Had a great week in London

2007-03-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

Have just come back from our annual fieldtrip with our students. Man, it is kinda strange thinkin on all that have happend since last year. Here are som pics.

Bloggersisten

2007-03-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry...this one is in norwegian.

Nå har jeg fått har´n av Stian og Nina

Reglene er som følger:Hver spiller starter med å skrive seks rare ting om seg selv.Bloggere som blir "tatt" må skrive seks ting om seg selv i sin egenblogg, i tillegg til å angi reglene for spillet. Til slutt velger spilleren seks nye bloggere som "har den", og lister navnene deres. Etter det er gjort, skriver han eller hun en kommentar på bloggene til hver av dem, for å la dem vite at de har blitt "tatt", og at de må lese bloggentil den som tok dem for mer informasjon.

Seks rare ting om meg:

- blir rørt av klissete mainstream popballader a la Daniel Bedingfield
- egentlig veldig interessert i hunder, særlig bulldogger, bullmastiff og rottweilere
- første gang jeg gråt pga en film var en Charlie Chaplin film, og jeg mener gråt!
- tør ikke se for skumle filmer som the ring, exorcisten, omen og slikt.
- synes faktisk kristne organisasjonsblader er veldig interessante. Det var fantastisk å være sivilarbeider i KFUK-KFUM siden jeg skulle arkivere alle disse bladene, leste alle sammen.
- Liker kinoreklame. Blir litt snurt hvis jeg ikke rekker det, er ikke skikkelig kino uten reklamen før filmen

Sender sisten videre til Camilla, Kristian, Erik, Maria, Randi og Hans Ivar
-

I am back

2007-02-28T00:28:00.000-08:00

I realised that it has been over a month since my last post. Man, time goes fast when you are having fun. It feels strange these last month. Ending my time as a pastor in Sub Church, traveling a lot doing different kind of lectures on the research and meeting so many different and wonderful people. For me it is a huge blessing to be able to share my thoughts and heart and to here what other people think about young people and the church. And aslo share precious time with some one that is precious. Doing good in other words.

2007-01-25T09:43:00.000-08:00

Is jugdement getting cool?

The message in this song is harder than most preacher would dare to preach. Still the superstars of popculture sing along. Is it cool or is jugdement ok as long as the wrapping is right?

And if you happen to be interested...

2007-01-12T15:03:00.000-08:00

I get some questions on how to order the book, (sorry it is in norwegian). It can be orded through klosterforlag or buy it at your local favorit Bok og Media store. Sorry don´t meen to get all comercial on you....

The book is finished!

2007-01-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

Finally! The book, the projcet, I have been working on for almost two years was realised yeasterday. It is called "Jeg tror jeg er lykkelig" meaning: "I belive I am happy.." It has gotten a lot of attention in the Christian media, and also it other media is becoming interested. Tomorrow I will be interviewed at NRK and their morningshow. So that will be interesting. If you are wondering what the heck all the fuzz is about, it is a researchproject on norwegian youth. Through questionnaires and interviews it shows amongst a lot of things that the youth is generally happy, the most important things in their lifes is friends and family, religion is the least important thing. Anyway, I am really pleased with how the book has become. I am also really thankful to my friends that have helped write, designed and inspired me!

Back from Cambridge

2007-01-07T13:28:00.000-08:00

I came back from the IASYM conference yesterday. It was very good. Traveled with Astrid, Bård, Jorun, Margit and Ann-Kristin. We met so many good people. Very interesting and inspiring. Tonight I have been at Sub Church and and had the more offical step a side thing. I prayed for the leadershiap and they prayed for me. Man it was very emotional but very nice also. Looking forward to the days ahead.

Some news about me and Sub Church, I am no longer the pastor….

2006-12-17T13:39:00.000-08:00

It feels strange to write this post. I have just come home from the service at Sub Church. Here I shared a big decision I have taken. I will no longer be the pastor of Sub Church. The last months we have talked a lot of actually paying me so I could work more as a pastor at Sub Church. During these weeks I prayed, thought and talked to different leaders. What I really felt was that God challenged me who am I? Could I just be me and not the pastor of Sub Church? I have started this church together with other friends and I have been leading it for almost ten years. I realized that Sub is just so big part of my identity, even this blog is called “submorten”. So I feel it is time to take a step outside of the pastor thing and just trying to figure out what it means to follow Jesus just being me.
But it is important that people understand that there is no conflict or trouble going on in the church. I have full confidence in the leadership and I am proud of all the people in Sub Church, they are after all my family.

Seeing the light in the tunnel!

2006-11-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

I am so glad that I can said this, I am really looking forward to present the project I have been working on. The reason is that I am finally starting to see a light in the end of the tunnel. We are not finished yet, but I have been working so much this week also together with my dear friend and now collegaue Arne Christian. Still a lot of details ahead but I am smiling!

Kingdomness!

2006-10-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

I have been blessed for a couple of months! A friend of mine , JR, have been staying with me and Oliver. He such Godly man and also real good at playing FiFa on the x-box he he.. We have had some really good talks about life and God. Here is a pic of our last night in Oslo before he went back to the States. And by the way, he invented this word: Kingdomness. It is about living and sharing the experience of the Kingdom. And I really did that during his stay!

2006-10-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

High reporter

Man! Youtube is funny. Burning drugs and look how stoned the reporter gets...

2006-10-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

Shane Claiborne at Fusion Youth. Jesus messed my life up!

I really recommend you listen Shane. It touches on so much I hope I can live in someday.....

2006-10-05T00:04:00.000-07:00

The Greatest Action Story Ever Told

It is just such a funny clip. Jesus meets the Terminator.

The first youthministry conference at MF is finished!

2006-10-02T05:20:00.000-07:00

Wow! What great days we haved had! All the students and us working at the Youthministry bachelor at MF are really happy to see so many people meeting, sharing, praying and just trying to connect to what is Gods heart for the youth and his church today. I am tired but very happy!
Check out pics from our 24-7 prayer room during the conference.

We have been on a canotrip!

2006-09-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

We had a great time out on this beautiful lake outside of Oslo. Camping and havin a bonfire. One picture is before the kids made mutiny he he!

2006-09-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

Coldplay - Til Kingdom Come (Koolhous TORONTO)

A nice song...Til Kingdom Come

Kinda stressed...

2006-09-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

I have a lot do to for the moment. I am really trying to get finished the writing on the project i am working on. It is really exciting work, but really a lot to do...

So looking forward to see some light in the end of the tunnel!

2006-08-31T14:46:00.000-07:00

Psalters interviewed on AWIP - with Shane Claiborne

Psalters talking with Shane Claiborne. Some Jesus Radicals dreaming for another world, and that is possible!

We are a couple!

2006-08-21T04:22:00.000-07:00

I know there have been a lot of talk about this, and yeas we are now a couple. This summer have been very nice as you may understand. This is a picture of my girlfriend Astrid and me on sunny day in July!

Back from Freakstock!!

2006-08-07T08:50:00.000-07:00

Wow!

We had such a great time! Great fellowship amongst the Sub guys, so cool to meet brothers and sisters from 24 different countries. And our girls won the football tournament!

Going soon to Freakstock!

2006-07-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

In a couple of days me and 40 others from Sub Church are going by bus the Jesus Festival, Freackstock! Along with 7000 others from all over the world. Looking forward to meet old friends, getting new ones, living out the Kingdom!

Beautiful days in the mountains

2006-07-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

I have come home from some days in Hemsedal. It was a very nice trip!

Holiday in the sun!

2006-07-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

I have just got back from 10 days in lovely Spain! I have had some really good and relaxing days with my son and my parents. It has been a blessing.

Looking forward to the coming days...

2006-06-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

Tracy Chapman - Talking About A Revolution acoustic

It whispers

Longing for the Kingdom!

2006-06-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

For all you kids out there longing to live out the Kingdom (myself included) here you can read chapter 3 of Shanes book, how it was when he worked with Mother Theresa... Let´s give the small seeds a chance to grow in our hearts!

Summer in the park with Sub Church

2006-06-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

We had our final gathering for the summer. Had a really good time with picnic and fun in the park! This is part of my familly and you guys are great,

Goodbye to some amazing students!

2006-06-17T01:22:00.000-07:00

We had really nice evening yesterday. The first group of the Youthministry bachelor (UKT) students at MF where I teach was graduated yesterday. It has been such a privilige to walk with these amazing people this years. May God bless you all.

2006-06-10T03:24:00.000-07:00

Bono is preaching!

Found this at Barbara´s blog. And like she said it is worth to listen to...

Thoughts that challenge me...

2006-06-05T02:12:00.000-07:00

I get some complains that I post so rarely this days..sorry about that. Anyway please check out this community The Simple Way. I heard Shane Claiborne talk in LA. And hearing his story and reading his book really hits some feelings deep inside. Hey life has to be more than I am seeing now, following Jesus has to be more than I am seeing now, and it kinda scares me he he

California dreaming!

2006-05-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

Yeah! Got back from an amazing trip to LA. We visited my good friend Maria (you are sooo great!) talked to several professors, Eddie Gibbs, Ryan Bolger amongst others and joined The Urban Youth Workers Conference. It was so cool. The theme for the whole thing was Now is the Kingdom. And that is something I am really exploring!

Another amazing thing was that I finally met my old friend Kevin. Haven´t seen him in ten years! Love you man!

The Kingdom is among you!

Going to LA

2006-05-11T01:51:00.000-07:00

Man!! It has been a long time since my last post. I have been traveling around Norway working on the research project on youth in Norway. I have been kinda away from a lot of things...

Tomorrow I am going to LA. I am going to a conference on Urban Youth Ministry, and will stay at Fuller. Meeting up with old friends and hopefully get new ones!

Looking forward to it!

Sitting writing, sitting thinking

2006-04-10T04:49:00.000-07:00

It is easter and holiday. I have some pretty tough deadlines on the project I am working on. So easter will mostly consist of me in front of my computer. But don´t get me wrong. It is work but I blessed beeing part of this. Working on how norwegian teenagers look at life, God and them self.

So happy easter everybody!

A psalm for you from The Message

2006-04-04T00:58:00.000-07:00

Psalm 139, taken from The Message

1GOD, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
2I'm an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.
3You know when I leave and when I get back;
I'm never out of your sight.
4You know everything I'm going to say
before I start the first sentence.
5I look behind me and you're there,
then up ahead and you're there, too--
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
6This is too much, too wonderful--
I can't take it all in!

7Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
to be out of your sight?
8If I climb to the sky, you're there!
If I go underground, you're there!
9If I flew on morning's wings
to the far western horizon,
10You'd find me in a minute--
you're already there waiting!
11Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
At night I'm immersed in the light!"
12It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you;
night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.

13Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.
14I thank you, High God--you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration--what a creation!
15You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
16Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day.

17Your thoughts--how rare, how beautiful!
God, I'll never comprehend them!
18I couldn't even begin to count them--
any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
19And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!
And you murderers--out of here!-
20all the men and women who belittle you, God,
infatuated with cheap god-imitations.
21See how I hate those who hate you, GOD,
see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;
22I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred.
Your enemies are my enemies!

23Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I'm about;
24See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong--
then guide me on the road to eternal life.

In my head!

2006-03-26T23:55:00.000-08:00

There are two major topics floating around in my head for the moment: covenant and kingdom.

Rumor has that Mike Breen has said, to understand the bible you must understant the concept of covenant and kingdom. I am on my way to agree with him, not yet there, but still.

Covenant is the deepest form of fellowship, meaning all mine is yours. I totaly and 100% identify with you. That is covenant. Still don´t get it. Look at marriage. That is a covenant. That is the level of fellowship God is calling us to and us to him.

Kingdom. And here is why we are in a mess: Jesus proclaimed the kingdom, and what came out was the church. Maybe we are stuck in church and not living in the kingdom? I sense that we miss this vital dimention in our lifes. The kingdom blows away our concept of church, blows away our concept of fellowship, who is inside and who is on the outside. It challenge us what it means to live as a christian every day.

I feel that Western christianity is often extremely egosentric. What do I get out of churh, what do I feel during worship. We have turned church into gazstations, we go there to our spiritual gaztank filled up.

Maybe the problem is that we never seek His kingdom first, only trying to build our owne.

Back from London!

2006-03-15T06:18:00.000-08:00

I have just come back from a great week in London. We visited a lot of very exciting churches and youthwork. It is really cool to see how God is working in different ways. Man I long for more of this! We visited London City Bolier Room, Church.co.uk, St.Pauls and other friends and places.

A prayer....

2006-03-02T04:10:00.000-08:00

John 17:1-5

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus, who are you?

I want to know who you are...

You didn´t come to this planet to start Christianity. You didn´t come to start an organisation. You didn´t come to create strucutures or cultures of division...

You came to this planet give us all life. You came to give us truth so that we could be truly free. You came to give us a joy and peace deeper than we could know. You came to show us the way home.

I long for your life! Your freedom! Your truth! Your peace! Your home!

I want to know you.

Depeche Mode!

2006-03-01T02:31:00.000-08:00

It was such a cool night last night! I am a big fan of Depeche Mode, and they had a concert yesteday. But I had no ticket, it had been sold out for months! Suddenly a friend from Sub text me some hours befor the concert. He had an extra ticket. So I suddemly found my self at an amazing show. They played so many of the old hits, Enjoy the Silence, I feel you, Never let me down, Walking in my shoes.... Today I am dead tired but who cares about that!

One Freakin Jesus family!

2006-02-14T01:17:00.000-08:00

I got back from a just amazing weekend in Germany! We met around 35 people from different countries like Danmark, England, Portugal, France, Swizterland, The Netherlands, Germany, Cech Republic and Norway. Man! It was so cool. All we did was just to hang out, pray for eachother, share our lifes, longings and dreams. God is builiding a family and it so many wonderful people! Love you all!!!

Yeah! I have turned 32!

2006-02-06T01:36:00.000-08:00

Happy happy birthday to me! Next year I will be thirtythree! So the 5th of february is the date I became 32! Now I am home with a cold and my son is also sick, well other than that it is ok!

2006-01-30T23:39:00.000-08:00

In my weakness I find
That Your strength knows no bounds
In my loneliness I find
That the everlasting arms surround me

And even with this fragile heart
I find a place to rest here safe where You are

And I am falling into grace again
And I am running where mercy never ends

Lord I’m learning That Your love can cover me
You are teaching me
What a child is meant to be

WHAT A CHILD IS MEANT TO BE Kathryn Scott

Freakin thanks Mike!

2006-01-21T13:51:00.000-08:00

The visit from my somewhat stranger JPUSA was just so great! We had so many good and deep talks. Man! Mike you really inspire me. This guy is a man just really full of Jesus, and an amazing rolemodel in how to live, get in the boat and let God be the wind in your sails. Hope to see you soon!

A cool phone call from Jesus People

2006-01-17T13:18:00.000-08:00

Just got a really cool phone call! A guy from the Jesus People of USA called me. He and a group lead worship at our festival several years from now. I dont even remenber his name. Anyway he is coming to Oslo for a couple of days and asked if he could stay at my place! Cool huh? Defently not a norwegian, a norwegian would never dare to do that ha ha..

Found some old Japan pics!

2006-01-14T02:39:00.000-08:00

So cool! I finally found my pictures form a trip back in 2003. Who cares if old news? This gave the starting ground for the Sub team trip the year after.

The state of wellbeing!

2006-01-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

Here comes some more....thoughts or maybe just sparks form the heart....What do we long for in life? Or in other words..the goal in life?
Is it pure happines, extatic joy everyday...
No it is the nummbing feeling of just wellbeing.
Not to feel sad or low, and not happy happy...just the even state of wellbeing. Where nothing rocks the boat, where no one challenge you, just the calm everyday feeling of wellbeing. No downs, no tops. We fear pain because it takes us to places we have to confront. We fear ideas that shakes the system because it takes away the covering of wellbeing. So we build castles, castles to keep fellowships close, to protect us of anything that could disturb this good balance.
It is like prozac nation.
Like the air that goes out of a balloon. Or a communist that turns socialist democrat. Just let me stay in my state of wellbeing.
Or?

Finally found my old friend!

2006-01-05T00:43:00.000-08:00

Hey people! There are some persons that have really meant a lot in my life. Specially one guy called Kevin. We met in Amsterdam the first time, then he hitchicked to Oslo and live in my kichten for 3 weeks (had a small place at that time), I visited him in California...and then somehow we lost contact for over 9 years!! Now he suddenly had found my blogg! So now we are mailing and finally back in contact again. Friends are truly a gift from God.

Extol and Serena Maneesh nominated!

2006-01-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

Wow!! This is really amazing! Extol and Serena Maneesh is both nominated to Spelemannsprisen. It is the norwegian Grammy awards. Isn´it cool??

First day of the year at Sub!

2006-01-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

Yeah I got a digital camera for Christmas! And the first day of the year several of just met at the café at Sub Church to talk and to pray. It was really cool to be together and put the new year and all our dreams and longings in Gods hands.

Do not fear, because He is with us!

Happy new year!!!

2005-12-31T09:15:00.000-08:00

Dear friends and strangers, I wish you all a happy new year!

Hugs from me!!!

God bless you all!

Freaking Aslan!

2005-12-30T13:33:00.000-08:00

Man! Have just wached Narnia. And it was sooo good. Screw you! I know it is for children, and I loved it! I even took my son along even though he was a bit young, but he already seen it he he. This was great.....Clive Staples you made my day....(and unfurtunally Disney too, even though I don´t like to admit it)

Well it is Christmas and a new year...

2005-12-27T14:24:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since my last post. I have been stressed and sick and left my laptop at my office. Nothing much to say, but it is amazing how some friends can be so important. I am so blessed for my family and also so blessed for my exdended family, Sub Church. Longing to see you all in the new year.

New friends from Macedonia!

2005-12-16T06:04:00.000-08:00

I had a great talk with two guys, Alpin and Tony, from Macedonia. They are planting a church similliar to Sub Church in Skopie in Macedonia. One of them used to work as a tattooartist. It was so amazing. Just after a few minutes I really felt that we connected in a great way, we hade the same heart and mind. Hope that we can do some cool stuff together one day!

Hipp hurray for the Christian popculture

2005-12-04T23:34:00.000-08:00

Man! Christians can do the weirdest things! Check this out: it is t-shirts with a message in tounges printet on the front. Do be honest I am not sure if this just for fun or meant for real. If the latter is the case, I just don´t know what to say. " Are HolyGhostTees controversial?..Maybe. Are HolyGhostTees trendsetting..You bet!"

My heart of unrest!

2005-11-27T23:59:00.000-08:00

I shared my heart at Sub yesterday. I said this is my thoughts of where we are now and where are we going. Basically my heart is filled with unrest, sometimes I feel like in a state of emergency. Why? Because as far as I can tell we are not changing the world. Would Oslo be any different if Sub Church didn´t excist? Probably not. And the same goes for the rest of the church, do we have any impact at all? Hardly none. And what bother me the most is that so few recognize this. Where are the emergency meetings amongst the leaders in Oslo? Where are our tears for this city? Where are the prayers in Sub Church. Could it be that we do not know the true leader of Sub, Jesus? We preach and sing about him, but do we know Him? Who do you say I am, Jesus asked his diciples. Well, I kind of feel the same question goes back to us. John 15. Without me you can not do anything!

The Christian Yakuza!

2005-11-16T23:56:00.000-08:00

So you thought all japanese mafia guys were dangerous? Well some of have got a new boss as they say, God! We met some of these guys on our last trip to Japan. We visited their church outside of Tokyo. A little comment on the tattoos. In Japan the mainstream view on tattoo is that only the yakuza (japanese mafia) have tattoos. A lot of the public baths in Japan will have a sign that says people with tattoos are not welcome (becasue they don´t want mob members.) So to be a christian in Japan and be proud of your tattoos is sort of unusual.

Nina our first japan missonary!

2005-11-16T06:25:00.000-08:00

Togheter with Evangelical OrientMission we have sendt our dear Nina all the way to Japan! We (or at least some of us) have a very secret and unoffical dream that God will use Sub Church in Japan. Hopefully she is just the first of many going over there! God bless you Nina!

Stian my crazy brother in Sub (and Christ)!

2005-11-15T02:09:00.000-08:00

I would like to just honour a great friend and a Jesus loving fotballsupporter. Stian has been been my trustful mate through all the years in Sub. We somtimes have different opinions, we sometimes discuss, but he is always there. Always willing to carry my burdens. Never is anything too wrong or too sinful to talk about or to confess.... You are sometimes crazy but man you mean so much to me!

Some worship

2005-11-13T23:52:00.000-08:00

I am not a big Delirious? fan but we use this song at Sub, yesterday it really touched my heart.

I lift my eyes to you
Eyes that have seen a thing or two
Who is this stranger in my life?
I lift my hands to you
Hands that have carried what is true
Intimate stranger be my life

Jesus I love you
Jesus I adore you
Jesus you still have my affection
And my song will be, "I love you"

I lift my voice to you
Lips that have cried a prayer or two
Beautiful stranger fill my life
I lift up my heart in praise to
The Saviour who's death made all things new
Intimate stranger only you
(Delirious?)

A time of sorrow!

2005-11-09T23:46:00.000-08:00

Today I will attend a funeral. A dear member of Sub Church, Fredrik, lost his mother last Thursday. She died of cancer. We as a church have often prayed for her, it looked liked it was going to right way, but it didn´t. Today we just want to support Fredrik and his family.

God is always near no matter what.

Pator Bob, you are good for me!

2005-11-06T23:58:00.000-08:00

Man! What an inspiring weekend! We had just Nordic Fest at Sub this weekend. And to preach at the meetings, Pastor Bob Beeman came all the way from the USA. I was sort of the host for him. I had just met Pastor Bob at few times at another festival. I really didn´t know him well. But we really connected. I do belive that God has planned this. We have had so many important talks about being church today, and what is really on both of our hearts: disipleship! Pastor Bob has been part of Christian rock/metal from the beginning, the early days with the Jesus Movement in the 70`s, building up Sanctuary in the 80´s and still leading people to Christ and showing people how to live a life as a Christians today. This is really exiting. Thanks for awsome days!

A word for you!

2005-11-04T00:22:00.000-08:00

For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.

What a heretic night!

2005-10-30T23:55:00.000-08:00

Had som troubles with the net. But here comes some toughts after Friday.
It was really a sucess. Our cafe was packed with people. I guess around 80% had never been there before. Didrik one of the leaders from Kjettersk Kjeller( a really nice guy by the way) was really happy with everything. They have allready talked about doing it again. The seminar was very cool. Mostly it was about the different conspiration theoris concering AntiChrist, the pope, EU and so on. One of the DJs (Norgarden) was from Sub the two others from Kjettersk. Everybody was friendly and had a good time. But problably the first time we had a pentagram, 666 and a cross up side down at Sub...this was together with the seminar, don´t worry. All in all a very good and interesting eveing.

The heretics are coming

2005-10-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

On Friday we will have a very interesting happening at Sub. The guys from Kjettersk Kjeller (The Heretic Cellar) are having theire gathering at Sub. It will be a seminar about AntiChrist from a academic point of view, what has been the different myths, traditions and so on..An evening with atheist, satanists, agnostics, occultists and christians....this should be interesting!

Found old picture of my son!

2005-10-23T01:27:00.000-07:00

Found old picture of my son!
Originally uploaded by submorten.

Check out my punk son Oliver! This picture is from the DP festival from some years ago, he is about two years old here, now he is 7!

Cute or what?!

Church=family

2005-10-22T14:53:00.000-07:00

It is really a blessing having Mirko here for the weekend! We have talked so much about Jesus Freaks and Sub Church, it is really funny to se so many stuff that is the same! I do belive God is pulling our fellowships together. Today we have walked all over Oslo in the rainy October weather, and have eating dinner with some from the Sub family!

Friends=blessings!

Mirko the Jesus Freak

2005-10-20T23:42:00.000-07:00

It is Friday morning and just got in at work. This weekend I will get a very nice visit. Mirko, leader of the Jesus Freaks in Germany is coming just hang out in Oslo. He is a really good guy. And I looking forward to get to know him even better!

He will also preach at Sub on Sunday, if your in town.....

Sorry for the low frequency

2005-10-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

Man! It is just so busy at work these days. I have startet with a project that will run for over a year. It is a big research on how youth in Norway looks on life, God, body and internett amongst other things. It is a lot, but at the same time I feel I get more and more into the whole thing in a good way.
Yesterday was a fantastisc meeting at Sub. Leiw Holstad from Marita ( a work amongst drug addicts) preached, and it was just amazing! Two people wanted give their life to God.
I am tired, but feeling good.

The Lord is my sheperd.

Such a blessing, my brazilian family!

2005-09-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

I drove my guests from Brazil and Spain to the airportbus at 5.30 am this morning. My apartment is quiet and empty now. For 4 days I have had the honour to get to know this guys even better. They are not just friends, it is my family. For some reason I meet a few people from distant places and jus connect on level it is just amazing. I have to say Batista is a person I admire. He has led so many people to Christ, he has always time for everybody, he is filled with such a love for God and people. He has suffered so much and still his passion is to love God and to lead people to live with God. I remenber at Freakstock he preached from the mainstage, the meeting finished at 5 pm. Batista prayed for people non stop until 9 pm. Hey Antidemon and Carlos if you read this, God bless you!

Await Antidemon!

2005-09-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to this Thursday. My Brazilian friends Antidemon will play in Oslo, at Sub. Batista have such a big heart for God and people. He will be preaching on Sunday. They will also bring this pastor from Spain also, he leads something similar to Sub Church in Spain, will be cool to meet up with him too.

Thoughts on the future

2005-09-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Blogging is not always easy when too many thoughts goes on in your head. To be honest I do belive that Sub is in an important fase. So is my life. And that is not always easy. We have just had a really good trip with Sub this weekend. A lot of good talks, spending time in Gods presence, dodgeball he he..... So my thoughts on the future is just amazing but still hidden...sounds weird?...well thats how it is these days...

My hero!

2005-09-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

If you need inspiration, if you need to see that people are still living for for our God loving people no matter what. Check out Bruce Olsson. His book called Bruncko ("for dette kors skal du dø" in norwegian) has followed me since I was a kid. We are talking about a guy who left as 19 with a one-way ticket to South-America. Years later he is still living among the idian tribes, the suffering and pain this guy has endured....man! And so many people have come alive in Christ!

Silent worship

2005-08-28T13:12:00.000-07:00

God what are you doing with us? Suddenly we feel you and see work amongst our friends. 15 minutes before the meeting was staring, I met Micke and Benjamin. They were going to lead worship. For two hours they had tried to find songs, practice or whatever.....but everything felt wrong. We praied together. We all agreeed that today, the worship should only come from the people sitting on the chairs, not from the stage.......Never before had a meeting moved and used so many people at Sub. We sat in silence a lot, after a while came people with raps, songs, verses, psalms, people that had never shared stuff from the stage.....
So what next??? That is the cool part, I just don´t know...I do not know the road ahead.....All I feel is be still....see that I am God...seek me...listen....

First meeting at Sub Church

2005-08-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

Just got home from the first meeting at Sub Church after the summer. It was a very good meeting, but nontheless a very important one. God has really worked with me this summer. What I felt for Sub was no new cool themes or preachers, I just felt "wait for me". "seek me" "listen for me". this is an important fase for Sub. Hopefulley our longing hearts will be set on fire!!

Back from Frizon back to reality

2005-08-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

Man! Frizon was an intense weekend! Leading worship was a blessing, meeting people was a blessing, meeting a person was a blessing. Slept few hours....
Back at my school where I work its exciting but a bit stressfull. New students, old students....looking forward to this semester.

The Lord is my sheperd..

Praise at Frizon

2005-08-09T12:26:00.000-07:00

Just got home from band practice at Sub. We are playing as a worshipband at the swedish festival Frizon. We are driving out on Friday morning. I am a bit nervous.......Looking forward to meet people and worship the God I live for and have been saved by.

What a freaken fest!

2005-08-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

Just back from Freakstock. It is 3 years since last time. As I entered the festival I felt I had come home again. It has been 4 days of talking with old friends, pray together and just experience the precense of Jesus. I styed toghether with Antidemon, metalband from Brazil. Batista leader of the band is also a pastor and have planted over 14 churches. The last 5 years they just experienced that people accepted christ at the concerts, now they have churhes in Brazil and Peru. The biggest is in Sao Paolo with 1500 people. It was so good to hang out and about the last years with Taade, Mirko, Claudia, Miriam, Coockie, Kimberely and so many more.....It was also so cool to travel with Hanna Maria and Ester from Sub Church, man we had some good laughs.....At Freakstock we had a gathering with churchleaders and people trying to start churches from Germany, England, Netherlands, Portugal, Finland,USA, Russia, Brazil, and what we really just did was to become friends.
God is so amazing!!!!!

Freakstock soon!

2005-08-03T00:21:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am off to Germany for the weekend. Freakstock is the reason for this depature. It is an amazing festival with around 7000 freaks from all over the world. I was there a couple of years ago. It was sooo great. I think that it will be an interesting weekend. Although the weatherreport talks about rain.............

If you are there please say hello

Friends are great!

2005-08-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

Got to hang out with Unn, ate shawarma and talked. She is on her way to the USA! For one year, this sister got guts, afterwards got to hang out with brother in arms, George. Friends=blessings!

Back again!

2005-08-02T04:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, this blog has been dead for some time now. But now I am back! Summer was great. but now back at work at MF. Stian my good friend has also started here. I think this fall will be interesting! In a couple of days I am going to Freakstock. I am really looking forward to see old friends, get new ones and see what God will do during those days!

Alternativ church gathering!

2005-03-24T15:45:00.000-08:00

Here is an ideaI have spoken to several people: lets gather as many leaders from different alternativ churches. Lets meet and share our hearts, dreams, visions, longings and also sorrows. I spoke with Michael and Paula from GU at Bobfest and they have been thinking the same. I think that Freakstock this summer will be a good place to meet. Now I know that The underground Railroad did a roundtable last summer, but I am hoping may be the make us more organized or at least get more fellowship amongst the churches. Maybe a web site or blog that is active on prayer and stuff?? So what about it? Would be cool!

Bobfest was great

2005-03-18T04:17:00.000-08:00

Wow, being part of the worshipband at Bobfest was amazing! Jus to see that God touched so many and also experience to be used by God was aweome. Anyway whats great about Bobfest, not the bands but the people! Just meeting so many good people....Its like we are having church or are part of the same church.

Going soon to Bobfest

2005-03-08T13:01:00.000-08:00

Just got home from Sub Church. Some of us are going to lead the worship at Bobfest this weekend. All of us in the band are really looking forward to meet old friends and get new ones. And this is the last Bobfest ever. So all you metalheads, get your swords and metal stuff out of your closet and get your butt to Sweden! See you this weekend!

Longing for Japan

2005-03-04T11:33:00.000-08:00

Just talked with one of my friends Sven from the Orientmission about Japan. He has just gotten back from Japan. Man! I got so excited to listen to whats going on there. You see that in Sept. we were 5 people from Sub Church in Japan. A lot of things happend. We were so blessed to see Junji a fantastic japanese guy, musician and friend come back to God. We got to share the gospel to punks and rockers, tattooartist and metalheads. And I have a heart for Japan, I long for Japan. (I know sound stupid but who cares!) Japanese popcultur is so popular that it is creating subcultures in the west: otakuism and cosplay, influating moviemakers: matrix and kill bill and lives in the pop singles of Gwen Stefani: Harajuku Girls.....The postmodern west loves japanese popculture! And its a country where the gospel never have had any real breaktrough.
In Japan there are around 1 % Christians and the trend is going downwards. The paradox is that a lot of japansese people is really curious about Jesus and the Christian faith. Of course there is a problem for many japanese to choose one road of faith, but my thought is that the problem is also the japanese church. Hey, there is several good churches in Japan, but so many is very controlling, hierarchle, lots of rules and hard. (sorry if I stepped on any toes). So what our team from Sub Church experienced in japan was that we had a common language with many young japanese. Yes you read correctly, the common language was our culture. Our common culture of rock music, Hip Hop, Mtv and tattooes! The youthculture today function as a brigde into nations where the culture ususally has been like walls. Tip: article from Sharon Kinsella on japanization of european youth

Anyway I think the time for the youth of Japan is coming now. Lets go there, hang out, get friends and share Jesus with our lifes.

God is still moving and tomorrow is another day!

Extol review

2005-03-04T02:13:00.000-08:00

Extol got great review in Dagbladet, one of the big norwegian newspapers. They are on tour right now. We all love them. If you belive in prayer, please pray for them. They need it!

Friends and liturgy

2005-03-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

Friends are great, God had a good day when he invited friendship!

A friend from Sub Church was just here..... One common problem we seem to have (amongst other things) is the rutine in prayer and other good stuff in the daily life with God. We talked about the good traditons on the old litugy and prayer ruitne form the early church. And how we from more halleluja jumping church backgrounds than for ex. the Catholic church have often dissed the whole idea of liturgy and set prayer times. Maybe an idea for our church?I dont know how to put in practice but if you are one of the 3 people I have told about this Blog, please leave a comment if you have an idea or two. Maybe I should pay someone to check my Blog???

God is still moving and tomorrow is another day

Wonderful church at the coffeshop

2005-03-02T07:30:00.000-08:00

every second wedensday i lead a prayermeeting at sub church. it starts at 7 am, soooo erly, i hate prayermeetings at 7 am! but when it is over i am really glad i did it anyway.
today we didnt just pray, we went for breakfast after the prayer. and it hit me: this is church. having fellowship around prayer and having fellowship around the coffe afterwards. and the link between the two i much more important than i first thought. at the coffeshop we talked, ate food, drank coffe, laught, and laught some more with people i usualy dont hang out with. so the joy around the coffe just gave the prayermeeting a muche better meaning. next time i would love to go, still tired, but tired in a meaningful fellowship. church is great......

God is still moving and tomorrow is another day

Worship and pizza

2005-03-01T12:32:00.000-08:00

Last night with Andrew. Had just had worship practice for bobfest. anyway, andrew has given a lot of cool new thoughts. how end this nice visit? with pizza and Acadamy award show on the telly......

God is still moving and tomorrow is another day

Tallskinnykiwi and deepspace

2005-02-27T12:15:00.000-08:00

My first blog! With the help of Andrew og Hans Ivar( Evig Poesi) I finally got my first blog. Andrew Jones has just preached at Sub Church. It was great! He was the storyteller for the night.

Anyway, a great night.

God is still moving and tomorow is a new day!