It's been a while since I wrote and now I finally have some time to write as I have some time to kill. At the moment I am sitting together with my wife and my youngest daughter at the Stockholm, Arlanda airport. We are on our way home from a wonderful trip to southern Spain and the province of Andalusia. We left home last week on Monday night and our first stop were here at this same airport, then we spent the night at one of the airport hotels as our next flight from Stockholm to Zurich, Switzerland was early Tuesday morning. The girls were excited as it was the first time ever our daughter Jeannette flew an airplane and it was 17 years since my wife flew last time, then to London, England. From Zurich we continued to Malaga, Spain where we immediately picked up our rental car and drove to the town of Fuengirola where we checked in at our hotel.
The first night we just hang around and I also met brother Kari Peltola, a wonderful brother who is the Vice President for Gospel Riders, Spain. Next day we visited another brother, Jouni Paavilainen at his farm just outside the town La Cala. It was amazing to see how he had built his farm. What ministered to me was the three crosses that stood there on the hill. It reminded me of Calvary and what Jesus did for us at the cross. I did not only think about Jesus, The Holy Spirit also brought one of the criminals hanging on the cross next to Jesus. God's grace is just so amazing if we think about that this man most likely did not get baptized, neither he had lived a Christian life. Those who were crucified back then were no ordinary or small criminals, they were heavy criminals. This man believed that Jesus was Messiah, the Son of God and he asked Jesus if He could think about him when He get home. Jesus saw his faith and said: - Tonight you are going to be with me in paradise. This is an awesome testimony about God's Amazing Grace and I have a feeling that these simple words that Jesus said to this man were filled with His love and passion. It is amazing to think about God's grace that everything is already done for us. We just have to believe to get saved and get our ticket to the paradise, heaven. It does not have to do with quitting doing 50 things and start doing 50 new ones. Also it does not have anything to do with changing ourselves to something that the "church" wants us to be. We have to be the ones we are as we are all created by God as His image. The other night I spoke to a youth group at the finnish lutheran church in Fuengirola and we mentioned these things. I asked the people what a Christian person looks like? These young people were smart, their answer were: - A Christian person looks like a normal person. I want to bring it even further and ask YOU what a normal person looks like? My opinion is that there are no normal people or no look for being "normal". We are all unique and created as high class design products by God Himself. Be the one you are and do not let any "church" or "pastor" change your identity. Have your identity in Christ Jesus and in who you are. The Gospel IS simple.
From brother Jouni we drove towards Antequerra inside the country and we drove on small and narrow roads in the mountains. We saw such wonderful views and I really like the nature of Andalusia. The following day we visited the mountains of El Torcal outside Antequerra before we did a short tour of Malaga before we returned to Fuengirola.
The next day I spoke at a meeting at the finnish lutheran church. I was given 15 minutes at the end and the first 45 minutes a man was preaching about old composers and he performed their works. I did not hear the name of Jesus at all and the meeting was everything else than a Christian meeting. I got frustrated because of this as I want to speak about Jesus. As the "support act" spoke about composers I had some great news to tell, about the biggest composers of them all. A composer who have written millions of works with His own blood in peoples hearts. His name is Jesus. I gave a short version of my testimony and after the meeting a woman came up to me and told me that she was encouraged that someone finally spoke about the power we have been given. My prayer is that more churches would start to speak the truth, speak out the name of Jesus as thats where the power is. God wants to manifest his power and demonstrate that He is God by performing signs, wonders and miracles. How could people believe if they don't see the power of The Holy Spirit in our churches?
I also had a chance to speak at another finnish church one of the nights and during the days we did short trips around the area with the family. We had a great time together and I am such blessed as I had the chance to have my wife and my youngest daughter with me on this trip. On Sunday I spoke at a spanish church and I just love that church. I heard there are people from 16 nations attending that church and that makes the atmosphere very international. After the meeting we visited a Biker Bar where I sang some songs and told some things about my life. There were some people drinking and partying but the message was clear. Jesus lives and Jesus loves you. I had a wonderful feeling going to bed that night.
We also visited the local zoo and did some tourist stuff. On Tuesday this week we started early in the morning with around 10 bikers. We drove to Carmona outside Sevilla for a meeting with CMA Spain, (Christian Motorcycle Association). I had met some of these brothers before and it was a wonderful day. I was invited to do several other Biker Rallies in Spain later this year and I think people like the simple gospel and no difficult dogmatics.
Wednesday, Februrary 29th we celebrated my wives 40th birthday and we went out eating at night after I spoke to the youth group. We had a good time and I just have to say that it is completely a GOD THING that I know all these people. Without God I would never have crossed their paths and nothing of this would take place. Today we packed our bags and returned the rental car at the airport in Malaga. We flew to Zurich and from there to Stockholm where we are right now. Soon we are getting on our last flight to Vasa and we are home. This trip has just been something special.
I will have a couple of days off before I will take care of Pastor Tommy Lilja during his meetings in Finland next week. Next friday we also have the official release of the new finnish book about my life at the Pentecostal Church of Lapua. After Tommy leaves for Sweden and a big crusade in Nepal I have one day off before I pack my bags again and fly to Florida and Daytona Bike Week to serve the Lord with several other Biker Ministries including The Ambassadors For Jesus Christ Motorcycle Ministry. Lots of things are going on and God is opening doors. The support group needs your help as there are no money to walk through all the open doors. I want to do what God called me to do and I take it seriously. He changed my life and I received so much for free by grace so all I can do is to give it away. People are getting saved, healed and delivered, thats what counts for me.
Thank you all for being there and thank you all how made this trip come thru! Together we can make a difference and see God touch people!
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.
