Since I returned from Sweden and I wrote here last time many things have taken place. Me and Pastor Ulf Mannebäck arrived in my hometown Vasa a week ago on Friday and I stayed at home only for a couple of hours. On this leg on our "Road Tour For Jesus Summer 2011" I had the privilege to take my youngest daughter Jeannette with me on the bike and we had such wonderful days together. I love having my children with me where ever I go. I am thankful that I am alive and for my second chance to be a Father for my children.
Last weekend we spent together with our brothers and sisters from Gospel Riders at their annual MOJ (Message of Joy) meeting in Larsmo. We arrived there friday night after visiting my daughter Jennifer who now lives close to Jakobstad. Bikers and motorcycle people were coming in from all over the country as well as from other countries as Sweden, Israel, Spain and Estonia. The fellowship was good and there was a wonderful spirit of love and joy.
On saturday morning they had organized two outreaches, one at the main street in Jakobstad and one i Kokkola. We attended the one in Jakobstad and it felt really good to sing some of my songs and give the most important things from my testimony outside the four walls of the church. The street were packed with bikes and there were even more bikers than bikes as well as other people who showed up to check out what was going on. I liked the band Essi Blues Band who played there as well, it is not everyday you see a blues band with a horn section live these days. Good people and good music.
It was my first MOJ meeting and I am thankful for the invitation to attend. Got to meet many people and I got to minister to some of them. I really like Gospel Riders and I am so happy for the relationship we have between them and the Ambassadors For Jesus Christ Motorcycle Ministry. We already hear testimonies of people who are touched by the love and fellowship we have even if we wear different colors. It all has to do with that we serve the same Lord, Jesus Christ and that we don't want to look at what we have different or our different ways to believe. Personally I like to respect all Christians, no matter what church the belong or go to. I used to be different but God took me down from my high horses and sent me into different places in different churches and I have to say that the ones that I thought were closest to my faith are the ones with the biggest issues. I think God has something to say with this and I have decided to let God be God and just do what He tells me to do; love all people no matter who or what they are. It does not matter if you want to call yourself a "Baptist" or "Pentecostal", "Lutheran" or "Catholic", "Methodist or Orthodox". As long as you are born again and Jesus lives in your heart and the word of God is more important than ANY other doctrines we all are the same church. To me the most important thing is to be a child of God and a member of HIS big family. It is awesome to all of a sudden start to respect other people even if they might thing things different than me. This is nothing I have done by myself but God has change my way to think by using my own mistakes and looking myself into the mirror. We should let God be God and only a fool can point fingers on you and say He is more spiritual or more Christian than you. Keep your eyes on Jesus and eat of His word daily and you will be filled with the Message of Joy and you will also live it.
From Larsmo we drove up to Nivala for a meeting at the square downtown. The place was surrounded by spitting young people and alcoholics and the atmosphere was weird to start with. The police picked up a couple of locals when we showed up with our motorcycles and I thought it was all exciting to minister to these people that most likely never planned to eat the word of God that night right there. Thats the way it is when we as Christians go out with the Message of Joy outside the church. People that never planned on listening to such things are going to listen and God will perform miracles in their hearts. We saw it again in Nivala and I am just so blown away by the way God works. It has nothing to do with me or any other person than Jesus. All you have to do is believe in Him. It is dangerous to only believe in wonders, signs and miracles. Jesus wants us to believe in Him and in who He is and signs and wonders shall follow those who believe IN HIM.
The unexpected stomach flu hit both me and Pastor Ulf after Nivala and I know it was God's timing that we had one day off to recover. It was also Gods provision that we have such good brothers and sisters that we could stay at our brother Juha's home in Halsua. We had a good time while we were there even if we were puking. It was a different experience said Pastor Ulf who had not been that ill since he was a child.
From Halsua we drove to Kaskö on wednesday and had a Biker Church Service there. It was another wonderful night and the weather was on our side. After one night at beautiful Frank Mangs Center in Närpes, Pastor Ulf went home to Sweden and me and Jeannette returned home. It is nice to be home as a change. We have been on the road on the motorcycle now since june 28th and we have driven some 3500 kilometers. One thing is sure. I am going to give up the cool looking apehanger handlebars on the bike for next summer as it is not that easy to ride in that position. We are riding longer and longer for each year and next year I am looking for more comfort on the bike as well as a small trailer so I can bring my own guitar and sound system with me on the roads.
Today is my day off and tomorrow saturday I will sing and speak at Stundars outside Vasa. On sunday I will speak at a meeting at Vapaaseurakunta in Pietarsaari (Jakobstad) and next week there is even more program. There is lots of things coming up and there will be more. Next month Pastor Tommy Lilja will be at Frank Mangs Center in Närpes and have a mini Bible school that I would recommend for all of you who have a chance to get there. His teachings from the Bible will change your life. More information about the rest of the summer and the fall you find easily in the calendar and remember that you can mail me anytime with anything. God is good, Have a blessed summer!
In Christ!
Pontus
