Characteristics of an Uncomplicated Verses a Complicated Leader

An Uncomplicated Christian Leader

- Loves God with all his heart!

- Loves the church!

- Sees work is an honor and says; "thank you very much for having confidence in me!"

- Works with joy and says; "No problem!"

- Has an undivided loyalty!

- Has humour and laughs a lot!

- Always do the little 'extra', walks an extra mile!

- Takes responsibility when wrong and does not blame others!

- Is meticulously on time and respects his co-workers!

- Has a forgiving and generous attitude!

- Takes life easy and says; "Get over it!"

A Complicated Leader

- Sees 'ghosts', ie things that do not exist...

- Hear things that have never been told...

- Does not want to work really, is on his way towards something better...

- Always blames someone else...

- Speaks about the 90% that he does instead of finishing the 10% that still isn't done...

- Always feels misunderstood...

- Divides his time into little bits and pieces, time with family, time for work, time off etc...

- Sees the church as a bank of resources instead of an opportunity to invest...

- Is never on time...

Brian Houston, Hillsong Church, Sydney Australia

See ya!

We are Advancing!

Yesterday we gathered 700 people in three different gatherings at our Kick-off Sunday for this fall at SOS Church Stockholm! Chris Gilkey roared wildly, Julia danced and lead worship anointed and with incredible passion and power! It was a sweaty and wild Sunday that has a thick, great after taste of well-being from heaven :)...

We presented three long-term project goals as well in SOS Next Step!

SOS Business Class

- 70 new businessess in 10 years (2012-2022)

SOS Rehab

SOS Refugee Home

- Our own home for refugees

See ya!

Exciting Week!

I am so enjoying that everything starts now... The kids have started school, everyone is back to work and Stockholm is alive and on the go again... The sleepiness of summer is gone and replaced by fall-excitement :)! The fall term starts this week, high air, new books, new classmates, new working collegues, changes, new beginnings etc - I am just sooo happy! I don't like summer-Sweden's laziness, looseness and confusion, but enjoy routines, set times and fall-discipline; that's just how a warrior works :)!

New recruites start at SOS Mission Bible College and SOS Leadership School tomorrow - large classes! More than 60 students so far! Come tomorrow, apply and start right away :)! You can start tomorrow - we begin at 9 am!

Pastor Chris Gilkey, Lead Pastor of Reach Church in Austin TX has just arrived - sooo much fun! He is one of my best friends since many years! You cannot miss this weekend's activities with Chris Gilkey!

Chris and I went to the gym today...

Friday at 5-8 pm we are shooting clay pigeons and having a BBQ! All our students (both schools), their spouses, teachers and SOS staff will meet in Sursta at Kurt Pettersson's ranch, just north of Märsta in northern Stockholm.

Saturday between 11 am - 1 pm we will have serious self defense training lead by ex Marine Chris Gilkey :)! The training is held at SOS Church on Kungsholmen.

On Sunday it's our KICK OFF! We will start with a leadership gathering for all our leaders at SOS Church at 11 am to 2 pm. Emma Gustafsson and I will teach! Our Kick Off Celebration starts at 4 pm, Chris Gilkey is preaching then! We will focus on our vision and also see how far we have come with our sub targets for 2011 and then set up new sub targets for the "sprint" until Christmas! At 7 pm our vison meeting starts. We have called this SOS Next Step, here we will present new long-term projects for the church.

Don't miss this weekend! Switch your time at work with your collegues, or take off so you can come! Don't go anywhere! You don't want to miss this Sunday for the world!

See ya!

Salvation Army

I'm preaching and teaching three days at Gullbrannagården (a modern conference center and camping site) right outside the city of Halmstad in southern Sweden... We are a part of a regional summer conference called "The Building"... Lovely! Such wonderful people! Simple foot soldiers for Jesus, lots of newly saved and youths. Many youths were saved last night and today I'm having Bible studies on the Book of Acts... I am here with my family and also Andreas and Jenny Jensen, our Kids Pastor at SOS Church Stockholm. Andreas, Jenny, Alicia and Adam are having childrens meetings, taking care of the kids and in the meanwhile Maria and I are trying to wash the feet of the kid's parents :)...

Thank you Jesus for your people in Sweden! Thank you Jesus for the beautiful and good work done by the Salvation Army in Sweden. Outcats, poor and people in need are helped by Jesus' own soldiers :)!

See ya!

Vacation album 2011

Reflections from my vacation…

There are traces of Jesus everywhere in a Western society. The modern chronology begins with the birth of Jesus, the rhythm of the week and the highlight of the weekend is Sunday – the day when Jesus rose from the dead. Our holidays are connected to the life of Jesus – Christmas, Easter, Pentecost etc. Our names of often Biblical – Daniel, Maria, Mathew. Some of our most common names are those of the disciples; Andrew, Peter, Thomas and so on…Jesus is often quoted even though people don’t know that the expression or quotation comes from the New Testament. Our laws, ethics and morals are built upon the foundation of the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ message of love. Forgiveness is a natural concept, as is being given pardon and having a second chance – all of which comes from Jesus. In Sweden you would be reminded of the influence of Christianity like 15 times a day if you would be a bit observant…

Church steeples rises up toward the sky, jewelry crosses hang around people’s necks and the Swedish flag is really just one big yellow cross on the blue background…On tombstones, in the obituaries and beside roads where there has been a lot of accidents you’ll find crosses – Jesus’ and His disciples’ symbol of victory!

Yes, diversity is beautiful, but let us also take care of our Jesus culture and stay connected to that amazing heritage as we build our future!

See you!

August vacation

We have been to the big water park of Skara Sommarland. Now we’re swimming in the sea, living in my father-in-law’s summer place outside of Halmstad on the west coast of Sweden. Playing cards, watching movies, talking and spending time with my kids…We go shopping in the cheap mall of Ullared. Soon we’ll go pike and crawfish fishing. Will try to shoot a roe deer too if I see one through my barrel. The annual August leave is so nice and late summer is the best part if you ask me.

God has given us so many beautiful things! How did things get this good? Thank you dear Lord for my awesome wife and beautiful family. I couldn’t have wished for more in life. All are healthy and happy and we love each other genuinely…

See you!