CONTRA FATUM

The Transfiguration (icon)   Notes based on a sermon in 'Morning Café GRACE' (for homeless immigrants), June second, 2013. Prayer: Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, our Lord and saviour. We are gathered in your name, and we thank you for being present among us. We pray that you will anoint us with your Spirit, and teach us what it means when you tell us not to fear. We have heard that a thousand times, but we still need to understand it, not just with our heads, but also with our hearts. In your name. Amen. I've heard it more than once, and maybe you’ve heard it too, that the phrase 'do not fear' appears 365 times in the bible. That's one time for each day in the year. So we know very well that we are not supposed to worry. That we don't need to. David writes about this in some of his Psalms: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me....

The Harrowing of Hell Notes based on a sermon in ‘Morgencaféen GRACE’ (a café for homeless immigrants in Copenhagen), 21/5-2013 . The words were written after the sermon was delivered, hence not representing the full contents, though giving a broad outline. “ Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Ps 139:7-12) Prayer: Heavenly Father, we pray that you will anoint us with your Spirit, that we will gain just a small spark of understanding of how deep and unfailing your love is. Yesterday we came back from Athens....