Monday, 12 June 2006

Summer break

medium_down_my_street.2.jpgMy oral exam went well, actually. I didn’t think it would… So now I’m done with my five exams this semester, and I have started my summer break. I wouldn’t really call it a break though. I keep as busy now as during my period of final exams. I got a new job, you see. I now work at ICA in theresesgate right outside where I live in Oslo. I bake bread in the bakery. I like it so far, which is great. The job is a blessing. I also keep busy practising for other peoples’ main instrument exams, which are this coming week. I have found out that I really like back up singing! I almost like it better than being the soloist myself. Almost… J I hope I get to do that more in the future. I am also planning concerts with the youth choir I’m directing. At the moment we still don’t have a bass player, which is kind of bad since the first concert is next Sunday! I hope it will work out.

 

 

medium_stensparken.3.jpgI’m barbequing a lot these days. As a real Norwegian I barbeque hot dogs, and I love them. Norwegian hot dogs are great! At least a LOT better than the American ones (no offence…He he). Today the three of us room mates went outside in the park right in our neighbourhood to barbeque. There were lots of people barbequing and sun bathing. If there’s one great thing about Oslo worth mentioning it must be all the green areas and the parks. There are parks everywhere (in addition to the great areas of woods and wildlife right next to it and the sea)! That’s why I wanted to stay in the city this summer. I’ve never spent my summers in Oslo before. It’s going to be nice; sleep in every day, lay down in a park to read or hang out with someone before I go to work at three o’clock, get off work at nine thirty p.m., then maybe watch movies, sit on a street café or per haps go dancing… And during the weekends; get back to mom and dad’s in the Norwegian countryside. I need a little bit of both. J

 

 

P.S. My arranging exam for string quartet went really well! I am simply delighted about that. It was awesome to hear my own arrangement (and composition) performed by the string quartet!

 

Monday, 05 June 2006

Ka for nåkka?

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Litt lei av engelsk...

Jeg tror egentlig at jeg ville blogge mye oftere hvis jeg skrev på norsk! I allefall litt oftere. Det frister veldig å begynne å blogge på norsk. Problemet er bare de utenlandske vennene som ikke vil skjønne et bær... Dilemma det der.

Uansett, jeg skal opp i muntlig på tirsdag! Bæsj! Og jeg kan ikke det jeg skal opp i. -barne- og ungdomsarbeid. Dvs. jeg kan jo en del om barne- og ungdoms-arbeid, men jeg kan ikke pensum... :p Litt kinkig den der... Jeg skal lese i hele morra (nesten), og hvis det likevel går dårlig, så får jeg heller unne meg et dårlig resultat etter fire eksamener som jeg er veldig fornøyd med. Ja, a propos, det gikk strålende på arrangering! Jeg har aldri vært så fornøyd med en eksamen, tror jeg. Strykekvartetten fra musikkhøgskolen spilte så pent, at! :)

Wednesday, 24 May 2006

Done! Yipee!

I've just turned in my arranging exam that I've been working with for five days. It feels so great to get done with exams and turn them in, never to think of them again. ;) Well, actually I will think of this one next wednesday, because then people from "musikkhøyskolen" (the music college in Oslo) come to perform our arrangements. We have been arranging for string quartets, which is great. I really like it. Anyway, I'm done! Now I can spend my afternoon listening to the seniors' main instrument exams. I get to hear a great deal of GOOD music! I love my school. My school educates quite a few professional musicians. I love being part of that kind of musical environment.

Thursday, 27 April 2006

Mercy!

I feel like God in all his mercy is pouring out his spirit and power over me these days. Especially after saturday. I wake up in the mornings and feel God’s presence. Someone might just start playing a few chords on the guitar and it releases the longing I feel for God’s presence. When worshipping I just feel like jumping and running around, because God moves me with such energy. He inspired me to write a new song to him two days ago. Yesterday we sang it at our cell group.

Im walking in more faith these days. I dare new things. I say out loud what I believe, because it strengthens my faith. I also say out loud what I want to believe because it creates new faith. I experience more and more that faith is important because it allows God to do his things. I’m not one of those that believe that if you just believe enough, God will heal you and such things. Some people seem to think that, but we in our own little power can’t make God do anything. Everything he does is just out of mercy. That’s why I believe that our faith must be given us by God. We can’t force forth faith! Anyway, God has made himself dependent on our faith. Where people don't believe in him, he won’t do anything. But where people believe in him, their expectations and prayers allow him to come with his presence and healing. Mark 4:24 says: "With the measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you, and unto you that hear shall more be given." My Nowegian translation says something like: "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be given you."

I think it makes a good picture: God will always give us a little more than we expect. If our cups of expectations are small he will fill it up and let it overflow. If our cups of expectations are large he will still fill it up and let it overflow! I want my cup to be LARGE! I want to see more of God!

 

This is all mercy! I have realized that mercy is so much more than just forgiveness and salvation. It’s only of mercy that I can wake up in the morning and immediately feel God’s presence. It’s only because of mercy I receive words over my life. Only mercy allows me to serve God with my talents and gifts. Only God in his mercy gives faith.