to where you are

Isn't it interesting what kind of images you sometimes get when you google something? Well, I was googling for this song by Josh Groban, and when these images came up, I couldn't resist but to share and put them here. Love this first one especially!

It says freedom and happyness doesn't it!

this one's from Nepal I think.

By the way, I used to absolutely dislike Josh Groban. Back in 2003 I detested it when my flatmate listened to his music. Well, then some years later (2006) another friend introduced me to the album Awake and I was sold. Now he is one of my favourites, isn't it funny how we change over time. Nowadays I can even listen to those songs I considered soapy over seven years ago :)

Tomorrow I will be here (working).

At the moment I am translating this amazing article into Finnish.

*Images from here (1) and here (2)

revelation song

This is so beautiful! Let it just sweep you, wash you away. Love it!





I will follow you with my song
I will follow you with my heart

Be my everything

You are everything

(my) Song for 2010

I was meant to post this back in January already. Well, it's only 3,5 months into the year..


In defence of our Dreams
These lessons that we've learned here
have only just begun

From yesterday

photo

"Christianity has been buried inside the walls of churches and secured with the shackles of dogmatism. Let it be liberated to come into the midst of us and teach us freedom, equality and love."

- Minna Canth

As happens, I am reading a book by Neil Cole (Organic Church) from which I just yesterday of all days read this quote from(!). And yesterday was another flagging day - AND in honour/celebration of Minna Canth of all people and of equality in Finland. Amazing!

For some weird reason, every time within 2010 I've seen the Finnish flag in the flagpole something stirs within me and I've been touched by it. I'm not sure if it is something that happens to a return migrant like me, or whether it is something God is speaking to my heart. Anyway, I was like "What are we flagging for now? March 19th?" I didn't know. As you know turned out it was Minna Canth's day. And I think I can be excused for not knowing what it was for - it's only been set as a flagging day since 2007 - and I was away from the country for two years.. :)

I do like flags in general. Flags are important. They carry a message and are a sign. I've studied somewhat the importance of flags in popular rebellion (popular revolts) in the Middle Ages.. And have you seen the movie Kingdom of Heaven? With Orlando Bloom, Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson to name a few... oh and even a Finnish actor Jouko Ahola(!) in it! :-) Well, if you have, you know they had loads of flags in the movie especially in the battle scenes. It is set in 1184 or something like that..

It is interesting, as we were a week ago at that 30 Seconds to Mars concert, I was just speaking to my friends there about how I like flags and how I think there should be more of them used in concerts and in dancing/shows.. and what happens, just a few moments later the band had two white flags on the stage! Another amazing thing. =)

You may know this song..

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