Helsinki Vineyard

Some of you might be wondering why a common advent song would merit a blog post on a Christian website in May?

Well, first of all; it is not an advent song although it is sung before Christmas by many people. At least the most famous movement "Hallelujah" chorus has absolutely nothing to do with a cuddly newborn kid in a manger who loves the whole world unconditionally.

How would I forgive if someone has hurted me badly? How can I give up bitterness and love enemies? How does some people follow the teachings of Jesus about non-violence in Israel?

Sami Awad, a Palestinian Christian, will answer these questions based on the Bible and his own life. Rich Nathan, a messianic jew and the senior pastor of Columbus Vineyard, interviewed Sami Awad in 2009. You may find the video from here.

 

For a few months I have now gathered statistics on how our site is used and where it is used from. Attached are a couple of images that illustrate the site usage and some comparisons.

Location

See map: Google Maps

I somehow recoiled from the whole idea of watching the memorial set up for Michael Jackson in Staples Centre, Los Angeles, California.

You will find an interesting little story in 2 Kings 4:38-41 - a story about poison that got into the common stew pot, probably due to eagerness and enthusiasm. Fortunately the poison tasted like poison and the situation was soon remedied.

I was ploughing through the morning traffic on vihdintie going towards Helsinki. First I listened to the eight a clock news from ylenaikainen. A hot topic discussed was the G20 meeting in London and how they would handle the current economic crisis. A side story to this was that the climate change – Oh yes, did you notice that they stopped calling it global warming because it isn’t globally warming? – is a topic that ought not to be forgotten in this economic climate which is not conducing to restrictions that would “help” the environment. Why I put quotation marks around help is that I don’t trust that any of the actions proposed will alleviate the climate issue we are facing at the moment. The Bible tells us that going will get extremely tough just before Jesus Christ returns to take dominion of His kingdom. One of the things that will be tough in these times is nature which will be in a total upheaval.

Lately sight and seeing has occupied my thinking more than usual. It seems that a several members of our congregation are having thoughts directed towards eye sight or the lack there of.

While brooding over these subjects I was reminded of a book – The Truth About Sex by Kay Arthur – I read about one year ago. It discussed way to sin through a couple of different events recorded in the Bible.

Text only in finnish.

What? Is this the latest in Christian advertising - 'once' saved not enough, we need a double dose? In fact it is a line from the hymn Rock of Ages and continues 'save from wrath and make me pure'. We indeed need a double dose. If you feel you need a double dose, then maybe the following article might be of interest.

It happened during The First Christmas that angels appeared to shepherds and praised God saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests” (Gospel of Luke, chapter 3, verse 14). The prophet Isaiah called the Messiah the “Prince of Peace” (Book of Isaiah, chapter 9, verse 6). Jesus commanded His disciples to even love their enemies (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5, verse 44).