Level up

Before I started school this year, I got to know what teachers I would have this year. I got very disappointed when I read the list. I didn't get the same teacher in Maths and Chemistry, and I didn't get the teacher I'd been hoping for in rather Religion or History. I got in a bad mood those days and was very frustrated. I even thought I would rather move to Oslo and continue school there than having these teachers.

As school started and went on, I experienced that my frustration was quite unfounded. I actually got quite satisfied with my teachers. I found my behaviour, though I didn't complain very much, quite spoilt. Because these few things didn't get my way, I didn't look forward to the semester. I lost my inspiration and motivation, but didn't even know who my teacher in Maths was or how the teacher in History would teach. Stupid of me, but a very everyday way to react and look at things in Norway, and I guess in other western countries too.

It's like our starting point is a perfect life, and that every little thing that goes "wrong" is cruelly spoiling our life, trying to pull it a level down. And we say "I don't think God likes me," and focus on every problem or challenge instead of counting the blessings. But then, if you rather look at our starting point as a down level life, and that every little thing that actually goes your way is trying to push you life a level up, you soon get in a better mood. You're looking for good things. You look at your day and see it's a good day because you got a text message from a friend who thought of you. The sun shone and somebody found your wrist watch which you had lost. The bus driver smiled to you even though you had to stop it on the road.

In the western world it is a challenge to see the blessings. We are surrounded by them, they're a part of our circumstances. Only when they're gone, we see how lucky and blessed we really are.

I got the teacher I wanted in Physics, in P.E. and in Norwegian. My teacher in Maths is inspiring, and so young! A 26 years old woman teaching Maths - that's so cool! My teacher in History is understanding and does not put anybody's name down if we're late for first class. The Chemistry teacher is calm and is not causing stress. I have a fantastic family, many friends, have been in Oslo three times within a period of six weeks, belong to a loving God who cares about the details in my friends' lives (and in my life). I have food and water and electricity, and lives in a land with democracy. I'm blessed. My life is constantly jumping a level up, but I have to remind myself about it.

Autumn colours

Just for comparison

First picture showing Oslo Spektrum during a free concert the 18th of August featuring plenty of popular Norwegian pop idols, such as Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes, Mira Craig, Tone Damli Aaberge, Espen Lind and Marion Ravn. Audience: about 4000 I guess.

Second and third picture showing Oslo Spektrum during a concert featuring Australian Hillsong United during Penecostal for all in Oslo two weeks ago. Audience: about 7000 I guess. The capacity of Oslo Spektrum is 8600 seated people (9700 if people stand). A ticket costed 200-250 NOK.



I think it's pretty cool that a Christian praise and worship band, though they're well known among Christians, gathers so many more people than all these Norwegian pop idols in one lot! I had a great time at both concerts, brought with me three cousins to the first one, but I really have to say the Hillsong United concert was the best. Best when it comes to both quality and contents. You should've been there too... ;)

When taste matters...

Local election

This year's local election is approaching. In my town the election takes place the 9th and 10th of September, which is in about 3 weeks. Since you just can cast a single vote, you maybe think your vote is quite insignificant and of no value. Maybe it is! But maybe not; maybe not in all likelihood!

But more important than your vote, more important than the parties, more important than who'll be the next chairman of the county council, is for what do you vote? To support democracy?

What party you cast your vote to most often reflects what's important to you. What kind of attitude you have. Your attitude and what kind of matters you care about is important all the time, not only every second year when you're one of the Electorate.

As Norwegian citizens we have the privilege to cast a vote. To affect the result of the election. But as Christians we might, and should, take a greater part in the election. Influence in another and greater way. This counts more than a vote! More than hundreds and thousands of votes. Maybe more than a million. We might pray. And Jesus promised us that we could ask Dad about anything - ANYTHING! - and get it, if it was according to his will. A greater privilege! Paul also asked us to pray for all people, and in particular people in high positions. Why? Because God wants the best for the Norwegian people, both young and old. He's in the position to influence even those you didn't want as the chairman of the county council. He's in the position to influence their stand in matters you care about. Or more important; matters he cares about!

So here's the challenge: Pray! Even for the politicians you don't like. Even for the parties you totally disagree with.

And please cast your vote. Reflect on what's important. Not only for you, but for God. Ask him what party you should support.

Your vote is important! Lower taxes or human value?

Unlucky?

Sometimes I wonder if I'm unlucky. Not generally unlucky, but unlucky with a few things that some small parts of life is about. Technical stuff. Not to sing praises about myself, but I've always managed digital and technical stuff very well. The use of it. The computer I've known and mastered since I was about 9 years old. Mum always asks me if she has some problems when writing in Word. At school my friends always used to ask me for help when we worked with Excel in Economics. New software is no problem. Mp3-players, digital cameraes, cell phones, editing videos, making homepages... No problem!

But...
... My first laptop crashed (not new).
... My second laptop crashed (completely new, and after 6 months...).

... and now my three weeks old 2 GB memory card for my digital camera, containing more than 300 photos, crashed. AND some of the photos was meant to be put in tomorrow's newspaper. Yeah, right! Rescuing the photos might cost me at least 600 NOK. Nice!

Christian song lyrics!

I've finally found it: a good site, without too much advertisements, where you can find Christian song lyrics. They're all there: Third Day, Rebecca St. James, Hillsongs... And more!

But there are most big and very famous artists / bands there, not e.g. the Norwegian worship artist Rudi Myntevik... But you'll find most of his lyrics at his site.

Here's the link anyway: Christian lyrics

I'm grateful! :)

You are loved!

I just want to share a chorus from Rebecca St. James' "You are loved" with you:

This is what I want to say to you
If I had one chance to speak to your heart
You are loved
More than you could ever know
This is what I want to say to you
If I had one chance to tell you something
You are loved
More than you can imagine
Imagine

Reprehensible point of view

Today at work I read an article in the newspaper VG that almost made me feel sick. The article was a reaction on what I consider a very fascistic point of view that is discovered in our "wealthy" and "tolerate" society. A female politician from the party FrP (Fremskrittspartiet) wrote recently a reader's letter to a newspaper in Stavanger saying it is "reprehensible to give birth to a handicapped child". VG did a public opinion poll measurements at the subject, and 30 % - THIRTY PER CENT - agreed with this right-winged politician.

It was after this another female politician from the party AP (like Labour) decided to tell her story of having and losing a little girl with a disease on the brain. The little girl died a few days before Christmas last year, only 15 months old, while her mother was carrying her little brother in the womb. "She was so beutiful," the mother said in the article. There was a photo there too, showing a, yes, indeed beautiful!, little girl. The little girl brought her parents closer, and they got engaged a couple of months before their daughter died and will soon marry. They loved her.

After having Hedda, as was her name, they moved to an appartment without door sills so that Hedda could easily navigate her sitting chair when she got older.

I too know some handicapped children. A girl I know is 11 years old at the moment, and has a muscle disease. She can only move her head and hands a little. She's very smart and has a beutiful handwriting. And she's a lot more thankful to life than other 11 year-olds. She once told me that a friend of her often was in a bad mood. "I can't get why she's like that all the time; it's fantastic to live!" How can anybody say that somebody who actually appreciates life doesn't have the right to life?

And what about those cute children with Down's Syndrom? Trustful, happy and easy to please. Teaches the people around them how to care, be a real friend and show consideration. "She's leading with a chromosome," a boy in my area wrote in an essay about his little sister.

What is this kind of society we have? We're the richest people in the world, but our society is so cold and cynical I almost vomit! Our lives are obviously measured in productivity and BNP, not human value. "It hurts to be considered as an item of expenditure," the politician-mother said. I hope her setback will make the thirty-per-cents' conscience hurt so badly they never give a vote like that again.

Unnoticed similarity

Friday I bought a t-shirt in a new store in the place I live. I didn't exactly examine it before buying it (the price was only 35 NOK), therefore I was quite surprised when my older sister asked if the picture on the t-shirt was me! I looked at myself with the t-shirt on in the mirror, and could confirm it really looked like me..!

When I came home, my dad ("Portrait-like!") and younger brother asked me the same question. Mum and another sister were thinking the same. Every time I wear it, new questions come or a comment about the similarity. Not one disagrees.

... and I didn't even notice when buying it! :-D