It is finished!

Thought I should hop on the plane (Pardon me I might be speaking Finnish here -I've stayed too long in this country. Can't remember English colloquialisms) - of course I could not go away from this week without posting something on the Eurovision! Actually I had planned to do a line-up of some entries from past years, but ended up being too busy to blog this week..Well, you can check out my all-time Finnish favourite here though. ;) I like the way there's the finnish flag, which has a cross (!) on it is inside a heart in that logo. Inside the Father's Heart we are..Encaptured like that. I like it. Maybe we can beat some heart and love into Europe. Though maybe not the kind that won the competition this year..My personal favourite was Hungary! The only decent song! Or singing. Though France and Ukraine came close with their hilariousness..I think UK was maybe sponsored by the British Airways (or actually maybe more like RyanAir?)?!? :)

Anyway, it's funny how God leads and guides us. I happened to be in Helsinki b'cos of work from Wednesday to Friday. At one point I ended up sitting on the same train as Karen Fricker. She is a Research Fellow at the Institute for International Integration Studies (IIS) at the University of Dublin in Ireland. Her research is on "Eurovision and Belonging". This so something that interests me! (The belonging theme, not Eurovision so much I mean :)) Here's an article in Hufvudstadsbladet, HBL, (the Swedish-speaking main paper in Finland) on Karen Fricker&her colleagues. They took part in a seminar at the University of Helsinki, the topic being "Queer Eurovison". Tässä samasta suomeksi.

I also watched a documentary on Eurovision this week. In it someone said "Finns take every competition seriously, even if it's bootthrowing. ("Suomalaiset lähtee joka kisaan tosissaan, vaikka olisi kyseessä saappaanheitto".) It's true, hehe =)

It was nice to be in Helsinki and taste a bit of it all, and must say it was a great feel there! It was nice to see the city very lively (not that it isn't that normally) - so much happening. The city did a great job hosting. You can check here of the few things that one was able to see/do! It was nice to be able to have a wee taste of it all. I ended up going to an amazing free gig on wednesday evening, kind of a rock/jazz feel, Karoliina Kallio with a band, the amazingly talented Osmo Ikonen in keyboards. The band was amazing!! They were hugely talented and Karoliina also has an amazing voice. They are all true talents! So I enjoyed enormously. Really really enjoyed the music. And especially the last song they played, "Living on a prayer" by Bon Jovi, the lyrics are pretty good, don't cha think?

" Ooh, we're half way there
Ooh Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin' on a prayer

We've got to hold on to what we've got
'We've got each other and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot

We've got to hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it's all that you've got"

I had a great time! God is Good. I stayed with my friend S.& the wee bundle..He is crying a bit at night b'cos of sore tummy, please remember them in your prayers for peaceful night times. Saw Tixu on thursday, now that was a great time too!

But yeah, to go back to that gig, I was definitely inspired. I feel like it would be nice to do some music with some really talented people. It would be cool. Yep. I miss my Glasgow Gospel Choir singing days..Oh but that was ages ago! It's been ..ohh no, four (=?) years!?! Where does the time go?!? I'm glad we've got forever..I'd run out of time otherwise. =)

Fame Academy

Hee...down the memory lane! I'll write more about this later. This song was playing in my head all fo last week and I went for a search in youtube, and find I did! Woohoo. You can pretty much find ANYTHING in there. But yes more later, I gotta sleep now.. :)

Letter from the Church in Smyrna

(See the link in my former post) This video seemed like the only right way to respond. From me anyway. That letter really touched me. My heart actually sunk. (if you can say that in English) It felt really close. Not like somewhere far away. If you haven't yet read it, do. Here is the original website. (the letter can be found in there too)

What if we prayed..

Love this song! It was playing in my head today.




..and then I read about the killings of Christians in Turkey. Here is a link to the letter
"A letter to the Global Church from The Protestant Church of Smyrna"

A new baby in the world!

My friend S. gave birth to a beautiful baby boy today, he was born 1.5.2007 at 15.07! Look at that date and time!! His birth time has the date written on it - 1.5.07 !! (that's how we write dates in Finnish). Woohoo!! Also, not the least of things at all.. 15.07 happens to be yours truly's birthday!! (July 15th that is) I thought that was amazing clockwork. Wow God!

Hopefully some pictures will soon follow..I am hoping to see them in the next few days - unfortunately S&B are in a hospital 2,5 hours away from me. Though they are staying in a lovely cosy hospital in a seaside town. Nice.

But Congratulations to S. and Baby!!


What a great journey ahead!

I am on facebook! I am only two days old in there, so am pretty green when it comes to it, but it seems like a good/easy/nice way of keeping in touch with people..So I recommend. Do join if you haven't yet.

Mark 10:27 is one of my favourite Bible passages. I found this version of it on the Message pretty illustrative and good

" Jesus was blunt:
"No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it."

I like that. =)

I'd like to read this book

Called to Stand

"I'll stand

with arms high and heart abandoned

in Awe
of the One Who gave it all"

I like this song, Stand, and this version of it by Michael W Smith (originally by Hillsong United). I would've embedded the video here but youtube didn't allow me. Anyways, a bit of the song on that link as it was best I could get! Also you can listen to all the songs on his latest cd here.

Called to stand..
...for what you believe in..

What do you believe in?

Following Jesus

Ainoa pelastaja, syntisen ainoa turva,
luoksesi jokainen tulla saa
Ainoa parantaja, haavasi meidät puhdistaa,
taakkani luovuttaa sulle saan
Sä olet mulle enemmän kuin mikään muu,
sä olet suurempi kuin taivaan avaruus

Palvon ja ylistän nimeäsi,
käteni nostan nyt sun puoleesi
katson sun kirkkauttasi, Herrani,
enkä muuta voi kuin kaiken luovuttaa

Ainoa vapahtaja, syntini ristinpuulla
sovitit, vapauden meille toit
Ainoa kuningas, ainoa jolla on valta,
edessäs jokainen polvistuu

Song "Ainoa" by Petrus Ahonen. You can hear it here

Sä olet mulle enemmän kuin mikään muu,
sä olet suurempi kuin taivaan avaruus

New Beginning