Later, the Word of Life Publishing House published an excellent book by Kreeft; “Back to Virtue”. Well worth reading again and again or for use as study material. Basically it’s about the fact that today we place the emphasis on personality and a polished surface, instead of the foundational virtues the Bible speaks of, such as love, humility etc. So good!

Then, the other day, a book by Kreeft appeared in my letterbox: “The Handbook of Christian Apologetics”, published by Catholica.

It’s a hefty 406 page work that takes a thorough look at the reasons for being a Christian. And they are many! The sub-title is: “Hundreds of Answers to Crucial Questions”. The contents page indicates a classical, apologetic discourse. There are a number of such books, but the problem is that there are very few in Swedish.

Kreeft’s strength lies in his solid background knowledge and in his ability to write in a way that makes it possible for anybody to keep up. He goes through arguments for God’s existence, arguments for creation, the problem of evil, the divinity and humanity of Christ, that Jesus really rose from the dead, the Bible – myth or history, etc, etc. All of this is so-called common property that a believer from any Christian background can happily absorb, greatly benefit from and has in common with other Bible believing Christians.

But, isn’t there anything Catholic? Yes, you can read that Catholics believe in hell (he gives seven reasons for believing that hell exists) and in objective truth, in the sanctity of life, that Jesus alone saves, etc. At the end there is also a chapter that takes up twenty important differences between Protestant and Catholic Theology. Both Mary and purgatory are there. It might be quite interesting for Protestants to read this and ponder. I think we can get to the place where we are actually able to listen to each other a bit more instead of immediately throwing a tantrum. I also believe that we can manage to read things that we don’t always understand or exactly agree with. It’s called sifting and means that we have an objective way of looking at things.

The book is a solid work, interesting, important, current and very readable. Kreeft maintains such a high standard and excellent tone. Recommended!

In this time I’ve actually been all the way to the Fiji Islands for a conference and back again. It’s probably the longest individual trip I’ve ever made. I spent more time in the air, counting both directions, than I did on the ground for the conference itself. Coming home took 42 hours, door to door, and getting there took even longer :) But it all went very well and it was a powerful and absolutely wonderful conference which I’m very glad to have taken part in.

Here at home I’m working on a Master’s paper on the Biblical “episcopal concept”. I’m looking at how it’s used within Pentecostal-Charismatic circles and what’s different and what’s similar in comparison with the more traditional usage of the expression, “Bishop”. On the basis of these findings I ask questions addressing whether or not there is anything that is similar enough for there to be some sort of agreement. I’m enjoying the exercise as it gives cause for digging a bit deeper into the issues surrounding leadership. Great fun actually! It’s also interesting to see the dividing line that goes between, not so much the denominations, but between the sacramental and the non-sacramental view of the Church, its essence and its functions.

Tomorrow it’s time for the Jesus manifestation in Stockholm, something that’s becoming more important with every passing year. Come and take part, if you can, tomorrow! It’s great to see how it gets broader and how the fellowship is growing over the years. This manifestation is so vital in making sure that the Body of Christ is not fragmented and that we really reach out with the Gospel in a powerful way. So, come tomorrow! Personally, I’m looking forward to the prayer in the Filadelfia Church in the morning, the big prayer march and to speaking from the big stage at 3pm. A wonderful, packed day together with brothers and sisters who join up from all over the country.

One of the most special things was to walk along Via Dolorosa on Good Friday. We took our time, moving slowly from the Mount of Olives, to Dominus Flevit, Gethsemane, Lithostrotos and the various stations along Via Dolorosa culminating at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Golgotha, and then we closed the evening in the Lutheran Hostel’s small, but lovely devotional room. It all took six hours including lunch at the Austrian Hospice which is situated between the 2nd and 3rd station. From their roof you have a fantastic view over the Old Town. It was a wonderful and very intensive day.

We stayed in Jerusalem for all of Easter, with the exception of an excursion to the Bet Gemal Monastery in Bet Shemesh and to the Arab village Abu Gosh, the Biblical Kiriat Yearim, where the Ark of the Covenant stood for a period, before King David came for it.

Jerusalem is amazing when Christians and Jews celebrate Easter/Pesach simultaneously, which happened this year. And it’s so special to be crowding together with many thousands of orthodox Jews along the Western Wall on Easter Monday, listening to the two chief rabbis speaking out the Aaronic blessing – and both hearing and seeing waves of prayer wash over everyone present. A totally unique and unforgettable experience.

Many are living under the heavy pressure of always having to present results. This can be dangerous. The fruit – the growth – is the Lord’s. Our responsibility is to sow the seed, to preach and to help people – being faithful in the task we’ve been given. The other thing is to have our own personal fellowship with the Lord in our daily life. The New Testament uses a good word, “brothers”. It’s nothing to do with everybody being exactly the same, or anybody being more important, but just an expression of trust and mutual love. All too often the lives of Christian leaders are characterised by professionalism, by almost impossible demands and by a competitive performance mentality.

In such an environment, where it’s all about being best, having greater numbers or being seen to be the most knowledgeable or the most spiritual, the whole thing soon becomes spiritually destructive. It turns into something superficial and dishonest and leads to a flock mentality around one’s own prestige which must be protected at any cost. This is more akin to a hard business world than the Church of the Living God.

It’s worth anything to get out of such self-destructive behaviour. To have the courage to walk a different path, to dare to be transparent with those you trust, to be honest and true and to feel that you can share your weaknesses in an environment where you don’t get scorned or frozen out is a God-given thing. That’s the kind of environment we must be ever eager to build, so that preachers will have the strength to run the race to the finish and to fulfil their calling. To get to help with some of this is one of the greatest experiences you could have, especially when you see the great diversity among the individuals that God calls, and the many different ways He uses them.

When the ambassador walked up to the pulpit, around twenty young people stood up at the back of the church and began waving banners and shouting slogans. It would have been okay at a legal demonstration in a public place, e.g. the town square, since we have the right to demonstrate, but hardly during a meeting inside a church.

However, all the rest of the congregation stood up and began to sing, which drowned out all the noise. Rather elegant, actually. The whole thing was naturally very disturbing during a commemoration of the totally macabre and unthinkable evil which the Holocaust represents.

It got quite heated when the demonstrators were apprehended by guards, sharp words spoken when they encountered the strategically placed police officers, and the episode led to court proceedings. It all seems a long time ago now. But the other day they ended up in court. The wheels of government turn rather slowly.

This was the verdict of the court: “A woman who had been shouting ‘Death to all Jews’ in connection with a demonstration in Uppsala, is charged with incitement against a people-group, the penalty being a suspended sentence and a fine equivalent to 40 days earnings. The demonstration was aimed at Israel’s Ambassador who was visiting Word of Life. The District Court concludes that by her action the woman must have understood that she was spreading threats or a message that would be considered an incitement against a people-group. In her defence, she said that ‘she is aware that she said what she is accused of saying, but she can’t help it because she hates Jews.’ The Court of Appeal confirmed the verdict of the District Court.”

So, she means that it’s right to hate Jews, if you just can’t help it? Macabre, distasteful and rather frightening, and an extremely sick way of fleeing from responsibility for one’s crazy ideas. The very thought, that somebody in Sweden today would hurl out words expressing a wish that all Jews would die, must be considered gravely serious. It’s a strong warning signal about how far things have gone. So, why a suspended sentence? What kind of signal is that sending?