Me and my son, Sebastian have been back at home now for a couple of days since we returned from our adventures in Sweden. I guess this journey was one of the most intensive ones in a while and I really feel that I have been on the road. I am not complaining but it feels good to be back at home and just take it easy as a change. Since I wrote last time many things have happened.
It was such a blessing for us to stay at Betelskeppet in Gothenburg, Sweden during our stay. The work they do for the homeless, alcoholics and drug addicts is something I would like to see more in this world. So many testimonies of people who come from the darkness and step into the light as this work is based on the word of God and it is really more like a ministry than a rehabilitation center. I got to share my story with many of the interns as well as I spoke on a breakfast for men hosted by the Swedish Church. Many things that I said I did not think about saying but as they had a theme for the day, "The Fathers Picture" I did not know what to say. Again I stood there without any words to say and I asked God to help me out. What ever I do I am totally depending on God and His word and together with The Holy Spirit we managed to preach a sermon about "The Fathers Picture" based on the word of God, connected to me as the father I am today and the father I was before. In my case there are two fathers as before I was the father that never was present and today I am doing my best to be the father to my four children they never had before. It is a challenge but nothing is impossible for those who believe.
During four days we attended the Motorcycle Exhibition in Gothenburg, Sweden and I can not count how many short sets of music I played during those days. I had a great time but it was hard work. From early morning to late night we were there with a bunch of other wonderful brothers and sisters. I am thankful for the relationship we have with Pastor Ulf Mannebäck and Church on Wheels. We gave away hundreds, may be thousands of Bibles and spoke with people during these four days. I love to meet people and speak to them face to face at places like this. There are still many people out there that do not realize that Christianity has nothing to do with our outside. We don't have to wear a suite and a tie to enter the kingdom of God. All we have to do is to be ourselves and believe in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I feel it strange that so many people think that we have to do things to earn our salvation but that is so wrong. All other religions has to do with earning your eternal life and earning your relationship with God. Our heavenly Father, our creator, God made it simple for us so we all could understand, we do not have to do anything to get saved, we just have to believe and receive. Do not listen to those who claim that you have to do this and thats to be saved and do not listen to those who make up their own rules. It is about grace and God's grace is amazing. Like the song Amazing Grace. I was blind but now I see. That is true in my case, before I was blind and I did not see my family or any other people around me, all I saw was me, me and me. Today God has opened my eyes and I am doing my best to walk in that love that God used when HE loved me first. Actually it is simple.
Yesterday, thursday night (02.02.2012) I was invited to speak at a Gospel Sitz in Vasa. It felt good to tell the almost 100 students about my life and about what Jesus have done in my life. It is all about giving our testimonies so people can see and get proof of what is written: Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He still saves and heals and our strongest weapon is all the promises in the word of God and prayer. It is time to pray more. As Christians we should be as active as the devil who just tries to kill, steal and destroy and we should pray as much as the muslims. Imagine what the world would look like if all Christians stood up and started to live a life of fire. That would be something.
This month I will return to southern Spain and the Malaga area. Hopefully I will be able to do some ministry work as well but this is a family trip and my wife and our youngest daughter are on board. The reason for this trip is the fact that my wife celebrates her 40th birthday end of this month and she has not really been anywhere since 1995 when we visited London, UK for a couple of days. While I was out there touring and getting drunk, she has been at home taking care of the family. I have a strong feeling that not many women had stayed by my side as she have done. She have always been there with me and for me, no matter what I have done. Without my wife I would not be where I am today and she really deserves to come away and get a short semester. Right now it is cold here in Finland and today we have -27 C° witch would be about - 17 fahrenheit. IF you feel led to give her a donation for this trip you are more than welcome too. Donations for this purpose to be paid to the account you find in the right side navigation bar to AKTIA SAVINGS BANK.
In March we are doing some dates with Pastor Tommy Lilja in Finland and it will all be about walking in Jesus Power. The day after Pastor Tommy leaves I am leaving for Daytona Beach and Daytona Bike Week 2012, one of the biggest motorcycle rallies in the world. There we are going to serve the Lord together with different ministries and clubs and I know it is going to be a riot. Stay tuned in, more news to come. God is good and as I said; Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever.
Love you all!
Pontus
Frank Mangs Center are standing behind me as an organization and together we have decided that it is not wise to stand outside the open doors just because there are not enough money to walk through those doors. Frank Mangs Center have opened up a new account for this ministry and we are now looking for people who would like to partner with us monthly. At least I would ask you all to pray for our work and for the harvest of 2012. You can read more about being a partner in finnish or swedish by clicking HERE.
