my friday eve

..was pretty similar to this:



Well, a bit of it. ;) Thank you 30 Seconds To Mars for an amazing show and the friends I was with for the evening too :)

This is a call to arms
Gather soldiers
Time to go to war

This is a battle song
Brothers and sisters
Time to go to war

Did you ever believe?
Were you ever a dreamer?
Ever imagine heart open and free?

Ever want to just stop?
Do you want to surrender?
Or fight for victory?

Far, far away in a land that time can't change
Long, long ago in a place of hearts and gold
Far, far away in a land that time can't change
Long, long ago in a place of hearts and gold

Here we are at the start
I can feel the beating of our hearts
Here we are at the start

------------------------------------------------------------------

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (NIV)

"We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ." (NLT)

2 Cor 10:3-5

Do you know what this is a call for?

time for a new post!

We're in February already, and I'm still wishing Merry Christmas - time to change that!

There were Finnish flags everywhere today as it's a flagging day here in Finland. It is "Runeberg's Day" a national holiday (not really a bank holiday though) in honour of Swedish-speaking national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg. He lived in the 19th century. So in honour of his work, today we eat these cakes (or "Runeberg tarts" as they are called):


Not quite like haggis in Scotland :-) Which you eat on Burns Day, 25th of January every year in honour of the Scottish national poet Robert Burns. Quite close these two days celebrating national poets in my two home countries, and it is funny how food is associated in both celebrations. I find it an interesting cultural thing, this thing with food - that we celebrate by eating certain foods foods in certain days. Does every culture in the world have that I wonder? National food, food that receives an iconic status. Interesting! That we also define a country/ a culture/ ourselves through food..

For Finland February is a big food month. First these Runeberg cakes, then we eat pea soup on a certain tuesday (called "sledging tuesday" - yes tradition is you also go sledging) and also have some Finnish sweet rolls called laskiaispulla ("sledging bun" to translate literally..). In February we also have "skiing week" - a winter holiday week - it's a school holiday, kids are off for a week. And you are obviously meant to go skiing! =) Sooo lots of traditions we have invented for February! Kind of in the midst of every day life. Celebrating winter. Usually it is also the best winter weather in February. Good amount of snow, and not too cold. Perfect for, e.g. skiing ;) but yes, lots of "traditions".. of course, not all of us participate in (all of) these :)

I didn't see any translations for Runeberg's poems, so instead I'll post one of Burns' poems, recited by Scottish Actress Dawn Steele. Don't worry if you don't understand a word. That is how I felt when I landed in Scotland for the first time! :)



Here's the written version of the poem (plus English translation ;D)!

Merry Christmas!

to one and all! Ie. from me to you, through Jason Mraz (what a voice) & Voices of Prayze:

Happy Holidayz from Jason Mraz & The Voices of Prayze from Jason Mraz on Vimeo.

My Redeemer

I like this song. "Cristo Redentor" by Arthur Netto.


Arthur Netto on myspace.

You
Wonderful Redeemer
Shepherd of my soul
Died to make me whole
That's who you are

You
Loving Abba Father
Closer than a brother
Unlike any other
That's who you are

You are my daily portion
My living fountain
My everything
You are
My Strength
My Refuge
My Hiding Place
You're all I need

*photo: Sweden, Stockholm, 2008

PS. Somehow I think the Portuguese version sounds a lot prettier.. I like it more. But unfortunately I cannot write it, therefore here the lyrics translated :)

Kids and music

A little girl singing Mess of Me by Switchfoot :-)



:) Cuteness maximised!!

Kids can be amazing. And amazing how and what kind of different talents they have, and how you can see it sometimes from a very early age on. One of my nieces, she's 3 and a half, has an obvious talent for music and also an amazing memory (on everything). She sings songs in tune and can remember amazing amount of lyrics. (Well, considering her age that she remembers at all!) And this was already visible a year ago. When she was 2 and a half! She has an amazing memory otherwise too. You can't fool her much! she remembers quite well things you've said ;) Especially if she has been promised ice cream for dessert after dinner - she's also a huge sweet tooth! She is also incredibly cute and lovely otherwise too, and amazes us often :) Her big sister (8) also likes music and dancing. They clearly come after their aunt! Must be in our genes :D

Here's another kid to finish this post - he's singing and playing Jason Mraz' I'm Yours! :)

what is required

Jason Mraz sings "we sing.we dance.we steal things." Well, I "stole" this from Brian's blog. (Well I'm not really stealing as I acknowledge the source :)) Anyway, this is pretty good. Brian titled this "Call of duty" - the call and duty of a Christian (or a Christ follower):

"And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and
to love mercy and
to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6: 7

a dedicated life

You may choose to look the other way,
but you can never say you did not know"

- William Wilberforce

Talent

One man and a guitar, this is what comes out. May I introduce a Finnish talent: Petteri Sariola



"It's [the song] about keeping your ground against suppressive opinions
because NOTHING is impossible.
Free your mind and your ass will follow." (his own words)

;-D

You can hear more of his music at: www.myspace.com/petterisariola

I like pretty much all the songs (especially without you and release). The new album is on my to buy-list. He puts so much feeling, of himself into his playing!

PS. You can buy the cd here

Ignite your bones

But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones

Official video: here

I was blind but now I see

"in my random thoughts this passage in john 9 came to mind, the story of the man who had been blind from birth but Jesus healed. i love this story because while the pharisees were trying to figure out the ins and outs of why he was blind, who sinned how and where, and a systematic way of explaining what had happened, and then all the reasons why it was wrong for Jesus to heal him on the sabbath, the man exclaims, “i don’t know…but i know this; i was blind, and now i can see.”

..regardless of all the ways we dot our i’s and cross our t’s, the gospel prevails. justice & mercy for the poor and oppressed, the message of death & resurrection & new life and the ways of Jesus’ love and grace always seem to remain.

..many aren’t looking for others to tell them the right answers; they are looking for a tangible and meaningful connection with the Holy Spirit and that will be enough. they are looking for bread when they are hungry and shelter from the storm. they are looking for love & hope & peace in the midst of real life. they are seeking healing & change and connection with the living God.

i need a practical theology not a systematic one. i need a living Bible not just a “here’s-what-this-passage-means” one. i need to see hands & feets & hearts moving around me. i need to feel Jesus’ spirit & example move my hands & feet & heart in a practical way. i believe firmly and strongly this world doesn’t need more right words or right beliefs or right doctrine. i don’t think that will help us much. i don’t think it will change the world or help blind men see.

or will they know it because we—Christ’s body here on earth—touched them, loved them, cared for them when no one else seemed to."

From Kathy Escobar

She just knows how to say it. I just echo! This could have been titled also : "living out your theology"