pastor-d's blog

Pensionärers situation inte bara en fråga för politikerna

2008-11-27T10:28:00.002+01:00

Läste denna artikel i Aftonbladet och är faktiskt inte förvånad, men inte mindre chockad över hur vår människosyn.

"Hela veckan granskar Aftonbladet den svenska äldrevården. Häng med på en resa in bland blöjor, psykofarmaka, matlådor och rullstolar. Så du vet vad som väntar dig. I dag förvandlas 28-åriga Pernilla Ericson till en 82-åring med rynkigt ansikte, grått hår och skört skelett. Smällen kommer direkt. Affärsmännen suckar och föser henne åt sidan. Parfymtjejen vänder sig bort. ”Hjälp! Jag är osynlig!”"

I knew it! It is a conspiracy...

2008-11-21T22:48:00.000+01:00

Attractive Girls Union Refuses To Enter Into Talks With Mike Greenman

"Friend of God" - Israel and New Breed

2008-11-21T21:31:00.003+01:00

You know the kind of song that you just want to play over and over? Warning! ;-)

"Friend of God" - Israel and New Breed

This guy is really innovative the way he blends genres - Funk, Latino, Rock, Even sounds like there is someone doing a Beatbox right at the beginning of this song. It's about time for mainstream praise music to grow out of its ageing Hillsong clothes...

Know of any other new cool praise music?

The Story of Stuff

2008-11-21T11:47:00.001+01:00

U2 & The Boss

2008-10-22T16:10:00.003+02:00

Almost reduces you to tears.

N.T. Wright on Colbert Report

2008-08-29T09:57:00.002+02:00

Having read a few books by Bishop Wright I am a great admirer of him and his honesty to scripture. Check out this video and if theology is an interest - get the book!

The Young and Plastic Surgery Hungry

2008-05-07T23:59:00.002+02:00

I found this article interesting. Would like to know what the numbers are like in Europe...

Taken from:time.com

Perhaps it's fallout from television programming such as Nip/Tuck or Dr. 90210 or reruns of Extreme Makeover, but Internet data shows that younger adults have become the primary audience obsessed with altering their personal appearance. Once the domain of the well-to-do female in her fifties, plastic surgery has become the obsession of the least affluent segment of younger Internet users.

The recent tragic death of Stephanie Kuleba, an 18-year-old high school cheerleader who died as a result of complications during a breast augmentation surgery, brought our attention to the pursuit of a more "ideal" body amongst teenagers. In fact, search data confirms this phenomenon. One of the most popular sites visited from the search term "plastic surgery" is the official site of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (www.plasticsurgery.org). Over 25% of visitors to the site (the largest segment) fell within the 18- to 24-year-old demographic — that's up from 19.6% two years ago.

Plastic surgery has become an American obsession. Checking other markets that Hitwise has data on, such as the U.K. and Australia, the 18- to 24-year-old fascination with plastic surgery is a decidedly U.S. phenomenon.

Looking at other health related sites visited by 18- t 24-year-olds, reveals just how obsessed this age group is with appearance. Unlike their older counterparts who visit sites related to diseases and keeping healthy, younger Internet users flock to sites that dwell on personal appearance, such as those focused on bodybuilding, weight loss and skincare. And definitely plastic surgery.

While surgery-themed television may be driving the interest of a younger audience, one factor appears to be key in tempering appearance-obsessed teens from altering their bodies: the failing U.S. economy.

If we track the trend in searches on topics such as "breast augmentation," "breast implants" or even "plastic surgery," there has been a precipitous decline in all plastic surgery topics over the last year. What's fueling this downturn? It may very well be related to the predominant income group of visitors to cosmetic surgery sites — U.S. households that earn less than $30,000 per year. In fact, if we look at the search patterns around popular surgeries, over the last year the term "cost" is the most commonly appearing qualifier. We see more searches such as "breast implant cost," "plastic surgery cost," and "breast augmentation cost." Checking these same terms in April 2007 reveals that cost sensitivity is a recent phenomenon.

While older demographics continue to search for information on procedures such as face-lifts, liposuction or Botox, it's the younger Internet users who in tough economic times are focusing on improving their outer beauty, albeit at a discount price.

Bill Tancer is general manager of global research at Hitwise.

A look at a world lightyears away, yet so close...

2008-04-23T14:55:00.001+02:00

Please see the whole thing!

The revenge of pastor's wives

2008-04-18T10:26:00.001+02:00

Only those with pastors in the family will get this.
Sorry to the rest of you, but I just had to add it...

Clifford Goldstein on being grounded

2008-03-25T15:42:00.000+01:00

Arnold S speaking to Wall Street Journal on environment

2008-03-21T10:43:00.002+01:00

Goodbye to the normals

2008-03-19T15:49:00.000+01:00

This short film is just brilliant!

When I saw this...

2008-03-10T23:16:00.001+01:00

I just wanted to paint a sign and head out down to town.
- So will you!

X2000 - Äventyret kan börja

2008-02-15T01:16:00.003+01:00

Denna film introducerar vårens 100%Barn, Hestra Cafékyrkas barngudstjänst.
Klicka på Play och njut :-)

For those of you of non-swedish origin who have stumbled upon this blog, let me explain what you are about to see: In our church we have a childrens service called 100%Kids. This spring the theme is "X2000 - Let the adventure begin". X2000 is our swedish high speed train. Inspired by Bunyans book, Pilgrims Progress, each service will stop at a station where we will meet a new situation, person or happening. Seeing life as a journey we want to put across that heaven is our destination. Enjoy :-)

After "I'm sorry" this may be the hardest sentence in the world...

2008-02-15T00:52:00.000+01:00

When will I come up with an original idea that'll turn into a youtube frenzy???

2008-02-14T22:02:00.001+01:00

This is sooo cool!

2008-02-11T14:56:00.001+01:00

2008-02-07T16:49:00.000+01:00

Top Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained

10. A man's place is in the army.

9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.

8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be "unnatural" for them to do other forms of work.

7. Man was created before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievement of creation.

6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching basketball tournaments.

5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.

4. To be ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.

3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.

2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father's Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.

And the number one reason why men should not be ordained is:

1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.

Ett år med Hestra Cafékyrka

2008-02-01T21:11:00.001+01:00

Little Boxes

2008-01-25T22:35:00.000+01:00

D'ya ever feel globalisation and corporate branding and main streaming boxes you into a grey monotonous lifestyle defined by market rather than individuality?

Subprime

2008-01-10T10:57:00.000+01:00

Did you ever wonder what this subprime stuff was all about? This is just about the best explaination I've heard. Enjoy!

Is there an IQ upper limit to these things???

2008-01-02T18:40:00.000+01:00

Police vs. Mrs. Vicky Butler-Henderson

2008-01-02T14:31:00.000+01:00

Attitude!

2007-12-30T16:10:00.000+01:00

Diana Krall - Fly me to the moon

2007-12-22T04:28:00.000+01:00

Piano - bass - vocals
What more do you need if your name is Diana Krall?

How do you know the global market 'thing' has gone a bit too far?

2007-12-22T01:18:00.000+01:00

Another YouTube favorite

2007-12-21T16:21:00.001+01:00

Our house... I

2007-12-13T18:56:00.000+01:00

Our renovations are not unlike dominos - in order to topple the last one there's a whole chain of things to do 'til we can get there...

As soon as we moved in in April 2007 we decided that the most important thing to do was to change the central heating. From a wood burner to an electric heating pump (takes advantage of the outdoor heat and uses it to warm our water and radiators, works like a refrigerator-only backwards...)

However, in order to do that - we would have to re-do our laundry room, pull the main water pipe over the ceiling through the kitchen - which means we may as well fix up the kitchen, not to mention the bathroom...

Anyway, here are some pics from the work so far:

This wall is to come down. Problem is it's an old outer wall and therefore structural. I want to replace it with a great big timber beam.

This is what the kitchen looks like. The drainage pipes in the ceiling are for the bathroom above.

Behind the wallpaper and plaster I found this beautiful timber. The house is 150-200 years old. Renovating it while keeping it's character is exciting and challenging.

Our tiny livingroom. Like the kitchen pic above, this is a bit of a collage - hence the weirdness...

Behind the painted wood-fiber ceiling-cladding lovely wood is hidden. Eventually this original ceiling will be do its magic once again...

All of this will take time. So don't expect lightning updates with massive leaps of progress just because this is the internet. The house is still in the real world, owned by real people with very modest means and limited spare time. But when things happen, I'll keep you posted.

Scouts 2007

2007-12-12T01:31:00.000+01:00

Our church's scouts had a year of fun and adventure :-D

Our house...

2007-11-29T13:35:00.000+01:00

It has come to my attention that Camilla's and my house has become the subject of frequent debate and gossip among members of the Swedish Adventist Church. Yesterday I was even asked to start blogging about our house. So, after having consulted my wife, we have decided to post updates on the progress of our renovations. As soon as I get the digital camera back from my brother I will upload some pics and give a breif history and background.

Since one of the returning debates in our home is "what is normal?" I will also ask for som feedback on given issues. I hope you, dear reader, will assist us in our pusuit of normality and domestic peace.

ZackKim

2007-11-23T12:29:00.001+01:00

I've been a fan of ZackKim for half a year or so and subscribe to him on YouTube. He is VERY good. Check out this Jazz Standard:

Will this day never end?!

2007-10-17T00:18:00.000+02:00

It Only Tuesday

WASHINGTON, DC—Tuesday's arrival stunned a nation still recovering from Monday's nightmarish slog, leaving some to wonder if the week was ever going to end.

Probably the greatest parable ever...

2007-10-15T21:19:00.000+02:00

This vid may seem a bit cheezy, but I urge you to take a little while to read the gripping story of Hosea. It is an image of God's love for his people. If you, like myself, have ever felt unworthy of God's love - you are absolutely right. And that is what makes God's unconditional love so amazing.

See the vid. meditate and read the story for yourself. May God bless you!

In everyone's interest ;-)

2007-10-14T16:34:00.000+02:00

Al Qaeda Also Fed Up With Ground Zero Construction Delays

Taken from theonion.com

Surely one coffee won't kill me...

2007-10-14T16:11:00.000+02:00

No, but this website tells me 152.42 shots of Espresso will.
Death by Caffeine

Do you find your salary doesn't last 'til the end of the month?

2007-10-14T15:44:00.000+02:00

Chances are you're still pretty well off in comparison... To what?

How rich are you? Do this simple test

DID YOU KNOW..?
The world's 225 richest people now have a combined wealth of $1 trillion. That's equal to the combined annual income of the world's 2.5 billion poorest people.

Ned and Dwight

2007-10-13T22:05:00.000+02:00

Dwight Nelson is a good preacher. Challenging and soundly biblical. But I can't help but feel there is a spooky resemblance...

If music can amaze you, you will be amazed!

2007-10-13T20:31:00.000+02:00

Eric Mongrain, "Air Tap". Enjoy!

Undue respect...

2007-10-13T19:57:00.000+02:00

Today, Johanna (a church member and theology student) and I went to her placement church in London, The Hope Community Church. There was a nice, traditional, Bible study followed by a nice, traditional, divine service.
Afterwards Johanna introduced me to the elder as her pastor from back home. We had only just said hello, but now with this new insight into who I was he once again wished me welcome with greater gusto while apologising for not introducing me to the church and giving me the opportunity to address the members.

What a complete culture shock! I must say I am happy to be living and working in Sweden were I as pastor am one of all the believers, who are ministers. Perhaps, with just a different set of responsibilities.

So, if it's respect you're after - study theology and find a predominantly black church in London ;-)

Flanders 2 God

2007-10-11T01:58:00.000+02:00

Roy Zimmerman "Creation Science 101"

2007-10-11T01:08:00.000+02:00

Faith in movement

2007-10-11T00:42:00.000+02:00

Am spending a couple of weeks at college for a module on SDA Leading Motifs.
Challenging to say the least! One comes to realized that it is not just people that carry genes and have to come to terms with inhereted traits. Churches and denominations , such as the SDA, have a history and a pre-history that not only explains but also haunts us today.

Discussing a paper with a lecturer today I came to realize that something I have taken for granted as a negative aspekt of Adventism can in actual fact be discribed as a genetic disorder. I.e. an inherited fault which in actual fact has no place in our genetic make up.

I believe in creationism, but clearly church evolution has developed som theological freaks of nature.

On the positive side, I believe the church is open to change and as long as we are moving in the right direction there is hope. Just let us stay alert, critical and open to revision of even the most deeply held truth - if we find the Bible speaks clearly on the topic.

long time no c

2006-09-22T02:23:00.000+02:00

Well, it's been some time since I posted anything - and frankly, at 2:20am, it's a bit too late for me to write anything that would make much sense... So here's a cool link:
The Onion

A world on a downward spiral

2006-06-22T10:53:00.000+02:00

Just read a review of the following book:

Author: Mike Davis
Title: "Planet of Slums. Squatter Town - The South's urban explosion"

Seems like a fascinating read. If you understand swedish check out the article on:

Dagens Nyheter

Wrong turn

2006-06-21T19:02:00.000+02:00

The other day as I was driving from the beach, having met up with some friends, to my church for a board meeting I experienced something that left me speachless just about the rest of the eavning. About half way there is a big roundabout where I have to take the third exit i.e. a left turn. Now, as I came up to the roundabout there was a car in front that indicated to the left. He stopped, so as to check that the coast was clear and then he proceeded to turn left (sic) in the roundabout and headed the wrong way around. I took the roundabout in the correct direction and met him half way around. As I met him I got a good glance at a 50 year old bald man who didn't actually look too lost.

What is your most bizarre motoring experience? I'd love to hear som good stories!

Law and Order

2006-06-05T19:51:00.000+02:00

As this may not be world wide front page news I may as well give some short background:
In the middle of last week the Swedish police made a raid on a torrent-server called The Pirate Bay. The police took a bunch of servers thus putting The Pirate Bay out of action, and also crippling a number of other companies with websites on those particular servers. Probably as a kind of retaliation computer users around Sweden caused a number of official websites to drown under accessability-pressure, among others the police and the government. This they haven't been too happy about.

Now, here's my question. Should cyberspace really work under national laws? In a way this cyber-protest was not all that much different from that of french farmers blocking roads with tomatoes or apples, only in this case it was band width and not physical roads. As the internet has developed much without the control of national legislation (yes, I am aware of CERN and US military), why should governments act now when cyber space somehow is beyond territorial limits.

DaVinci Code

2006-06-02T00:15:00.000+02:00

Just got home from watching The DaVinci Code.
I have to admit that although it displayed quite a bit of poor historical research it turned out to be a piece of pretty good entertainment! It moved on not unlike National Treasure with N. Cage. Now neither National Treasure or The DaVinci Code can be taken as examples of good detective stories unfolding like Commisioner Morse or other Brit. investigative series'. Factually it is hard to understand that the book or the movie were to pose any threat to Christianity, the simplest of research demonstrates difficulties in it's ideas. If one must talk of threats (as many Christians do en regards to the film), perhaps the threat lies not in it's ideas but rather in the response of the uncritical masses that fill cinemas and devour fiction novels? Fine, believe what you want to believe, but whatever happend to good old critical thinking?
The DaVinci Code is good entertainment. But, for heaven's sake, enjoy it - as entertainment!

A bit of a challenge...

2006-06-01T02:00:00.000+02:00

Was at my small group tonight. As we were sharing with each other about our time with God it quickly became apparent that all of us needed some kind of incentive to regularly read our Bibles and pray. So we came up with this idea of everyone reading 2 chapters of the Bible each day. Is there anyone else out there that might want to join?