Light in Darkness

Have you ever thought what our world would look like if Christ never came?
What would your life look like if you didn't have Jesus?

I could describe it in one word: Darkness!

Lost and clueless of what life is about...
Grasping without getting a hold, if there is a God and what He would be like...
Hopelessly trapped in my sins...

But He came!

Christmas time is a chance to relive the world shaking history making event of God coming to earth!

He came and brought LIGHT!

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5)
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

His life is our light and
in His light we have life!

Praise God He came and brought me into the light of life.
No more lost, no more hopeless, no more a slave!

He came into our world to bring us into His.
He came and conquered our darkness.
He came and gave us life, and an abundance of it!

I want to live in His light and
enjoy the richness of His life!
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This Friday Youth Evening @ Kotikirkko 7.30-10pm
Practicing Christmas Carrols!
Teaching & Discussion: The richness of Spiritual gifts!
--> prepare any questions you have concerning spiritual gifts. I will ask you to write it on paper at church and then we can talk about them too!!!

Sunday English Service 11am
worship
Word
Response

Sunday Finnish Advent Celebration 5pm
A lot of beautiful Finnish songs that help relive the anticipation of His coming!
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Friday 5th of Dec. Youth Prayer & Praise night!
7pm Practice for Christmas Celebration!!!! IMPORTANT, VITAL, CAN'T MISS!!!
8pm-10pm Prayer and Praise - Holy Spirit fill us anew!

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor. 1:4-9)
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Eternally grateful,
Samuel

Heroesses...

Todays History of Christianity lecture gave me valuable insight into people/events/movements that lead to the reformation. One of these movements had to do with the mystics (those who emphasized personal spiritual experience and intimacy with Christ). Specially the role of women, whose lives impacted others in great ways because of their purity and devotion. There were three Catherines who lived in the 14th and 15th centuries and lived extraordinary lives. They experienced God in real ways having visions and revelations and a prophetic voice for their time. They were really after intimacy with Christ and the love of God moved them to great works of charity. One of them, Catherine of Genoa, was married at 16 to a ungodly man. She experienced herself a powerful conversion and fully devoted her life to God. Her devotion and purity won her husband to Christ and together they worked to serve the poor. These "Spirit filled" ladies are partly responsible to giving impulses that paved way for the reformation.
God can do mighty things through lives fully devoted to Him!

I want to make my life count more, by letting Christ be my all...
May His Spirit fill me so, that life everlasting may flow.
This world needs the ones and twos, in whom Christ can come through.
(sometimes I get poetic;)
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This Friday Youth Evening 7.30-10pm @ Kotikirkko
Practicing Christmas Carrols
Bible Study on Ephesians 5 - "the hope of a Spirit filled life"
Worship

Sunday English Service 11-12.30
Worship
Message: Klaus
Response
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Coming up:

Friday 11/28 we will continue on the topic of "Spirit filled life"
and especially Spiritual gifts. Prepare any questions you have for this time!!!
Friday 12/5 Prayer & Praise night
with the focus on "being filled with Spirit and desiring Spiritual gifts"

Sat 12/6 Finland's independence day!
Plans are being made for a special celebration in Finnish style (makkara, sauna, Tuntematon sotilas film...). Let me or Jesse know if you have a place in mind where we could gather for this (needs a Sauna and a big screen TV). The idea is to celebrate together Finnishness and redigg our roots and in general talk about identity...

Friday 12/12 Christmas Carroling in the Community
Sunday 12/14 Christmas Carols at the Finnish Manor (in planning)
Friday 12/19 Youth Christmas Party at Heiskanens!
Sunday 12/21 Church Christmas Celebration!
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Hungry for more of God,
Samuel

Heroes

Remembrance day brings into memory the service and sacrifice of men and women who laid their lives for what their countries stood for. I don't know why, but I am inspired by military heroes. When I talk about Finland, I often proudly share the stories of military "miracles" that took place during the Winter War. The president calls the nation to prayer and the Finnish men on their skies outwit the invading Russian tanks. I am inspired by stories of heroism and self sacrifice.

I never joined the army or did military service in Finland (was never called, because I am actually a Brit!). But I still regard myself as enlisted. Not to any "earthly" armies, but to "fight" for the Kingdom of God. If the men/women serving in earthly armies are ready to sacrifice their time and lives for their country's cause, how much more should I be willing to lay down my own agenda, dreams and comfort to stand and fight for the cause of God's Kingdom!
Anyone else inspired...

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things (love of money). Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1Tim. 6:11-12)
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Friday Youth Evening @ Kotikirkko 7.30-10pm
Practicing Christmas carols
Planning and preparing for Christmas celebration
Discussion: What am I ready to stand and "die" for?
Worship

Sunday English Service 11-12.30
Worship
Message: Klaus!
Sharing and praying
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Mark it down now:
Dec 19 Friday is our Youth "Pikkujoulu" at Heiskanens in Langley (Thx!)
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Onward Christian soldiers...
Samuel

Change?

So Obama won and the world is ecstatic.

I had mixed feelings. In a way it is great what he accomplished and how he epitomizes how long way America has come from the times of "black" slavery. And yes, he is truly an inspiring figure and offers a great vision of change for the nation.
BUT
I have my reserves. I do believe some level of progress and change can come through better government and leadership, but I wouldn't put my hope of a better world in the hands of any man...
When I was listening to Obama's victory speach yesterday, it reminded me of the tower of Babel. People joint together in pursuit of reaching the heavens INDEPENDENT of God. The message is all about WE CAN DO IT!
Yes, people can do a lot and even reach the moon, but if we operate autonomously, without God, we will never reach the paradise we were meant to live in. I pray that God may bless and use the authorities according to His plans and purposes, but I put no hope of paradise in human government. History teaches us to look beyond...

At the same time I am doing a paper on Isaiah. It talks about the people of Israel being in exile in Babylon and about their return. God uses the Persian king Cyrus to deliver Israel from Babylon and return to their land and rebuild Jerusalem. But there is a profound tension in the book. Even though the people return to the land the exile isn't really over. The spiritual condition of the people hasn't really changed. And thats where the famous section of Isaiah 52:13-53:12 comes in. It needs the suffering servant to bring about a true change and return to the "promised land". It is the suffering servant who can change the hearts of men and lead the "straying sheep" back to God.

He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:3-6)

God's way and wisdom to bring about true change looks so different from the ways of man. But it is the only way that works. The power of the Gospel of Jesus is the only thing that can transform the hearts of men. It is in Jesus Christ that we have been promised a restoration and transformation of all things " behold I make all things new". Lets join Him in the movement of change this world has and will ever see.
HE CAN AND WILL CHANGE IT ALL!
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This weekend we will be talking a lot about change and transformed lives from Ephesians 4.

Friday Youth Evening 7.30-10pm at Kotikirkko.
Sharing
Worship
Bible Study on Ephesians 4:17-32

Sunday 11am English worship Service
The change we can believe in!
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Upcoming plans:

Friday 11/14 Hot Topic Evening - Topic open; you can still suggest!
Friday 11/21 Bible Study - Ephesians 5
Friday 11/28 Prayer and Praise Night - Be filled with the Holy Spirit!
Dec 5 Bible Study - Ephesians 6
Dec 12 Christmas caroling in the surrounding community!!!
Dec 19 Pikkujoulut! (little Christmas party;)
Dec 21 Christmas Celebration with the whole Church!

(Sunday English Service 11pm every Sunday)
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Note:
We will start preparing for the Christmas caroling this Friday...
We need to prepare a performance for the Christmas celebration... (I have an idea)
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Hope to see you all this weekend!
Samuel