Hanging with the homeless in Nashville

Pastor Bob started feeding homeless people in Nashville under Jefferson Street Bridge some time ago. I started helping out about 1,5 years ago, and now Bob and friends are feeding most days of the week. (This first picture is 1,5 years ago during the cold Nashville winter).

I've been longing to get back under the bridge again hanging out, and it's great being able to do that again while I'm here! (Picture taken a week ago).

Since the financial crisis A LOT of people have lost their homes. Right now there's about 3.000 people on the street just in the Nashville area. The picture below shows Pastor Bob praying before the meal. Most of these homeless are thankful Christians and the greatest people!

If you wanna check it out the homeless feeding ministry this is the place to go:

www.thebridgebunch.com

Picture above shows two of the Danish friends who are traveling with me in the States this time. Simone and Levi are also on the team behind Snactuary Denmark, the Green Light District Festival and the metal ministry in Denmark.

New ink

At the exact same time as when Railyn was born I was sitting in the tattoo chair at Lone Wolf Tattoo.

I got some shadings done on my upper left arm + blue color around my 9-star. The 9-star was my very first tattoo which I got at BobFest 2005. All of my tattoos means a lot to me, but especially my debut tattoo of the 9-star, with praying hands and the nine fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5, 22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law!"
I'm still using this tattoo at night, going through the day and meditating on however my days actions has been defined by these things. Every day I get to the point that without the God of Trinity and prayers I can't achieve this at all!! By His Spirit and His grace I can slowly grow in character, becoming more like Christ.

... Pictures taken by Levi Wiwe Rauff (guitarist of Solace the Day) ...

Railyn McCavanagh

One of the cool things about staying in Nashville is hanging out with the McCavanaghs.

I've been staying with this awesome little fam whenever I've been living in Nashville through the past two years :-)

And THEN only three days ago a new little McCanavagh arrived!!! His name is Railyn, and I'm really excited about seeing him grow up!

I couldn't be at the hospital because I've got the cold (after no sleep, bad food, flooded tent and too many shows at Cornerstone), but Jamie honored me (and the Danes) by wearing the Green Light District Festival 2009 t-shirt!! I'M HONORED :O)

Amanda

And now it's time for a love story:

I've been back in the States for more than a month and a whole lot of exciting things has happened!! It really feels good being back, breath the well-known (and humid!) Tennessean air and catching up with projects and folks in Nashville..!

But one thing fills my mind more than anything else...!

I met the most beautiful girl in the world a couple of years ago, and for the last year we've been thinking of each other. Off course I've been too stupid to really believe in it before now, but lucky me, Amanda and her beautiful heart has been patient :O)

Within a couple of days I'll fly (back) to Illinois, USA, where she's living. She lives only a 1,5 hour drive from the Cornerstone Festival venue.

... So if I seem more weird and happy clappy than usual, that's probably why. (The picture shows Amanda, I and her nephew at Cornerstone).

Cornerstone Festival

This was the 2^nd year I’ve been to Cornerstone Festival in Illinois. I love going to metal festivals and meet friends and well known faces from all over the world!

More than 50 stages and several hundred bands gathered for six days in the cornfields of Illinois. Last year I played 3 times with the Sanctuary Worship band, and this year I've been so blessed to be able to play with SOLACE THE DAY here!!

Within 6 days we played 6 Solace the Day concerts + that Levi and I played 3 times with Sanctuary Worship band! Besides that we had an awesome time hanging out and running to concerts with friends whenever we didn't have to play :0)
We played everything from a the big Sanctuary tent full of folks to a couple of shows right on the grass at the generator stages.
Our American friends from the great band A Hill To Die Upon helped us out a lot with borrowing gear. Respect! And tons of respect goes out to the guys behind the Sanctuary Stage/Tent. It was one more awesome year!!
This last picture is from one of our 3 concerts at the Sanctuary Stage. Rumors started running that our live show was pretty crazy and that I destroyed myself completely at every show (which I did)... I'm very thankful for the good support we got at all our shows.

A huge privilege to meet so many great people at Cornerstone, hang out, play music with awesome friends and worship God, my Father and Creator!

Back in the USA!

I've been working with heavy metal ministry together with Pastor Bob Beeman since 2005, where I've been living in Nashville, Tennessee on and off. I'm still working full time with PB and metal, but it has now been almost a year since I've been in the States. Feels good being back!

I'm only gonna be here for 7 weeks this time. While I'm here I will be working on different ministry project with the Pastor + catch up with friends + hangout with the homeless in Nashville + have my Danish metal band Solace the Day over + play shows (and work) at Cornerstone Festival with both Solace the Day and Sanctuary Worship band.

I'll keep posting from "the other side" (depending on where you are sitting)...

Sweden survival weekend

Five days after the marathon I had an awesome weekend in the wilderness of Sweden together with different leaders from my church in Århus + others. We were 4 teams of 4 people, where we were fighting our own physical and mentally limits to conquer different tasks and earn respect :0)

And this was totally a great vacation! My team were kano paddling about 30 km during the day, then we slept two hours under the open sky, got up at midnight, went paddling a little and then we walked about the distance of a marathon (42,195 km) through the night. Besides that there was different tasks that we had to do.

I really like pushing my own limits, and we certainly did that :-)

It was amazing paddling through the night, and then walk for 7-8 hours through the woods with animals jumping around and stuff. GOD'S NATURE IS AMAZING!!!

Copenhagen Marathon

Wow, it's been looong since I've blogged!!

A month ago I ran the Copenhagen Marathon together with my dad and Jonas from Solace the Day. A really good experience once again. This was my 9th marathon. It's incredible how God has created us human beings. On one hand we, our mind and bodies are capable of conquering grand, grand things; and on the other hand we're so fragile!

In both situations I'm in need of God!

EASTER

...Continued from the "On the Norway-Denmark ferry" post below...

I wouldn't recommend this guy to continue letting himself being hurt in such major ways, because I wanted the best for him. Sometimes we have to protect ourselves to survive, but Jesus chose to walk the whole way and lay down his life 

for the humans, whom He loved dearly, though we're treating Him violently! 

Christ lived a life in pain and suffering knowing what we were created to be. All along He knew that we were created for much more, living a life of pure love in a peaceful world in an uplifting  relationship with our Heavenly Father; and I believe that that was what kept Him going! I also believe that it hurts like hell to see us humans choosing d

estructive ways of living and causing each other pain and death.

In Denmark the Friday where Christ gets crucified is called LONG FRIDAY, but to me the English name has a deeper meaning with the title GOOD FRIDAY! Looking back and seeing the bigger picture of why Christ went through so much physical and even more mentally pain. 

He did it for the love of God! Nothing is more GOOD than the LOVE of GOD!!

May the GRACE, PEACE and LOVE of our LORD be with you!

On the Norway-Denmark ferry

I travelled to Oslo by boat from Frederikshavn and back again, which can be pretty boring, when you're traveling alone..! On my way home I spend more than 12 hours on the ferry.

But fortunately I met a Norwegian hippie on my own age sitting by himself on the deck smoking hand rolled cigarettes :0) We sat on a table talking on the deck for a couple of hours until both of us were completely frozen. We had a lot in common though we were very different in some fundamental ways like God, relationships and sex.

This lonely dude had been homeless in periods and had been living in Asia for a while searching for love. At a time he went to jail in Thailand without knowing anything for a month. All he wanted was to lay down his life in anyway he could to be able to be with the woman he loved, though this woman treaded him violently both mentally and physically. 

I haven't been through as much crap as he has, but I know how it is to be driven by love, which MANY times feels like a sickness! ...But you're convinced that it's worth everything!

Love is a powerful thing that keeps us going!!

...To be continued in the "EASTER" post above...

Norway, SubChurch

A week ago I got back from spending a few days in Oslo, hanging out with Norwegian friends. I was asked to speak at SubChurch on the Sunday service, which was a big honour to me. This Church (the people) has inspired and encouraged me a lot in my ministry and life.

It's great to hang out with Brothers and Sisters from other countries and I sure enjoyed getting to know some of the people even more. 

On Sunday I spoke about "A life in relationship with God and Family" where I focused on "Simplicity - Purity - Accountability". I think a lot of speakers talk about what they need to hear them selfs :-) at least I do, when I'm asked to share my heart.   

Amsterdam - Leader Hangout Gathering

Last weekend Jonas (drummer of Solace The Day) and I went on a 1834 kilometers road trip to a European conference near Amsterdam in The Netherlands at an old fort, pictured on the island underneath: 

A fairly small group of leaders where 11 countries were represented.

Most of the participants where connected to Jesus Freaks ministries around Europe. Cool folks who started out almost 20 years ago, and got the name "Jesus Freaks" from punks who didn't like what they were doing.

One girl was from ChristianiaKirken in Copenhagen (ChristianiaKirken.dk), and it was really cool meeting her, connect and together pray for Denmark :-)

Two Norwegian friends from SubChurch in Oslo (Norway) where also at the conference, and I really love their hearts and how they are running fellowship and Church for the underground in Oslo. The last few years I've gone to Oslo many times to hang out at SubChurch and get inspired (www.SubChurch.no).

The main speaker was Victor John from India. After being a paster at an establish Church he wanted to take some time off and start sharing the gospel to folks around him; making disciples of Jesus Christ. A healthy way of making fellowship, like the first house Churches in the New Testament. This disciple-network grew and out of that "step of faith" we now see 3.000.000 Christians in India divided in 80.000 house Churches. Devoted people who pray 2-3 house a day, 14-21 hours a week. Something I can learn a lot from!!
Victor John shared a simple and very effective (and challenging) way of reading/studying the Bible: 

1) What does the scripture say?

2) What do I learn from this?

3) What does it cost me to apply it?

4) Whom am I gonna share this with? 

An uplifting weekend with some good teaching, that I've brought home with me to Denmark. ... And then I found out that I knew one of Victor Johns daughters from the small school I attended in the 90's in Kathmandu, Nepal :0)

AFTENSHOWET

A few days after the GLDFestival I went to Copenhagen together with Pastor Bob and Jonas (from Solace The Day and the Core-group). We dropped off Pastor Bob by a church where he would be speaking for a crowd of x-prisoners; and then Jonas and I dropped by "Aftenshowet".

Here we had 6,5 minutes of chat + 1,5 video, talking about how it is to be a Christian metalhead in Denmark. This program is on the main TV-station and is one of the most viewed programs. We were blessed to be on at 19:00 (7pm) right after the TV-news, so it couldn't be better.

It was just so blessed all the way through. Finding a good parking space, being there before time, getting free coffee (heheh) and having some good time hanging out with some of the TV-folks. Everybody was extremely positive and very interested in chatting and hearing about what kinda dudes we were.

We had a really fun time respecting each other and joking around both before, during and after the 8 minutes on the air.

Two days before the show a cameraman came to Aarhus to do some video shots of Solace The Day practicing and our pastor Keld Dalhmann and us being at my church. Below is a still-shot from the Solace The Day practice.
We've got an awesome support from my church Aarhus Valgmenighed, which means a LOT. Here's a picture from the video where we're gathered talking around the alter. The cameraman got a lot of cool shots and it was mixed together in a good way to support our message.
It was a privileged to be able to share our faith this way. We were asked about sex, alcohol and experiences with prejudices towards our faith of love and our brutal music. Afterwards we got a lot of great response from excited people who felt that we delivered the testimony of Christ's love to everyone in a very real way. It really felt like God was there blessing our words and making it go smooth.

Though there's people who really dislike the way we're sharing the gospel, there's also many who can see through the cultural look and music genre, and hear the message; and that's what it's all about. I'm very thankful for all the encouraging words from folks; thanks!

The greatest response we got was getting a phone call in the middle of the night after the show, from a friend of my family, who told me, that her 30 year old neighbor decided to give his life to Christ after watching those 8 minutes. He had looked at the TV, pointed his finger and said: "If thát guy can be a Christian...So can I", and that was the opening for my friend to talk about the love of Christ with him!    

THAT story is worth everything!! GLORY TO GOD! 

The show will be online for a few more days at: www.dr.dk/DR1/Aftenshowet

If you've got Facebook you can watch it in a low picture quality her: www.Facebook.com

Green Light District Festival 2009

January 23rd-25th has just been mind blowing!!!

God really wasn't kidding when He said that He is Almighty!!

"To Conquer The Cold North" was the slogan for this years winter edition; ...and we really did!

An amazing fellowship amongst the 250 people kept the cold outside. Bands from 6 different countries and participants from 9 countries where gathered in the woods at a little beach village in Denmark! 

This years bands:

Sacrificium (Death metal, Germany)

Admonish (Black metal, Sweden)

Morgenroede (Black metal, Norway)

Conduit (Melodic hardcore, England)

Eleos (Metalcore/rock, Norway)

Solace The Day (Southern metal, Denmark)

Amplified (Melodic death, Denmark)

Magtesløs (Metalcore, Denmark)

Servants Of The Immortal (Deathcore, DK)

Amorém (Actioncore, Denmark)

Exuviae (Death metal, Denmark)

Forgiving Acolyte (Death, Denmark)

Selah (Metalcore/rock, Denmark)

Fallen Walls (Metal, Germany)

+ Sanctuary Worship Band (USA)

+ late night acoustic gigs

I know that we metalheads are looking different and I know that we are behaving weird in the eyes of many. We even have a VERY WEIRD way of dancing when we get excited about live music, heheh. 

But when that is said, I also want to mention (once again) that this christian metal crowd in Denmark is probably the most loving crowd I've ever met! We want to care for each other like Christ cares for us! During the whole weekend there was a calm and gentle spirit; people were enjoying the bands, the fellowship, the teaching, the worship and the presence of God. 

(Picture below: Pastor Bob, I, Olafur (the local pastor from the Danish folk church) and Jim LaVerde at the festivals church service on Sunday.) 

And God really worked in mighty ways this weekend!! Quite a few gave their life to Christ and a whole lot got encouraged to follow God even more dearly! WOW!! Nothing can compare to that!!

So I must say: GLDFest has been a major success once more, and it's a big honer to be a part of this!

GLORY TO GOD! ! !

=> Tons of videos at youtube.com (search for "GLDF")

=> You can listen to the bands at www.myspace.com/GreenLightDistrictFestival

=> Or visit or new website at www.GLDF.dk

(A nice and blurry picture of the GLDFestivals Core-group)

We've got lots of plans ahead, so stay tune B-)

2009...

Hail Brothers and Sister!

Brotherhood is rising up in the Scandinavian kingdom of Denmark; an ancient state of Vikings and wars. A cry out for unity will be heard all over the world; the roar for justice and faith! In the name of love! 

The Green Light District Festival is a 3 days annual metal music festival celebrating the greatest war hero of them all: Jesus Christ!

Ephesians 6:12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

I am VERY excited for 2009 and since November '08 I've been convinced that awesome things will happen in Denmark in 2009!! 

... To be continued!  B-)

...2008

I've been pretty busy the last few month + I've been lacking in blogging at the same time. So many awesome things has happened and so many great people I've met. 

2008 was a cool year for me personally where I've been especially tested in stamina, perseverance, leadership and faith. It has been interesting working so much with ministry... It's like working 24/7 but at the same time having vacation all the time. I'm now working with ministry projects which I spend most of my free time at before, so that's a huge blessing!

I've had a little work once in a while to be able to pay for flight tickets and book bands for the GLDFestival; but besides that I've been living on the grace of God and the kindness of people, which is a really cool to experience! It kinda keeps you humble.

An amazing, and at times frustrating, year; which I wouldn't have been without!!

(Underneath: a random picture from a great Summer night 2008 (by where I live in Denmark) together with English and American friends.

James 1,2-5: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Nordic Fest 2008

Last weekend was my 4th time at this amazing annual festival in Oslo, Norway => always a lot of awesome bands and great surroundings! But the main reason I do these festivals is because of the fellowship. This year I counted people from more than 10 different countries who came to Norway just for this weekend! ... Check it out at NordicFest.no

This year we were 20 people from Denmark. Here you can see a few of the always cheerful great danes :-) ... And a couple of Green Light District Festival t-shirts ;-)
The Thursday-Friday-Saturday concerts + Church service was held at SubScene / SubChurch in the heart of Oslo, but the accommodation, breakfast and seminars was at Holy Riders Cave deep inside this mountain outside of Oslo city!  
Pastor Bob and I did a seminar each and it was so great hanging out with PB again! He couldn't make it for Meltdown last week, so it had now been 4 month since a hug from the heavy metal pastor. ... It was an honer to be asked to do a seminar at Nordic Fest. This festival really means a lot to me, and together with Sub Church, Extol and other Oslo-bands and Nordic Mission, this festival has inspired and encouraged my metal ministry in Denmark a lot. It has been a great support having Brothers and Sisters in my neighbor country who has done it 5-10 years before us in Denmark. 

Therefore I had to share some of the amazing things which are going on in Denmark and with the Green Light District Festival and thank my foreign Family for staying true and keep fighting the good fight. All glory to God!! Besides telling stories I also talked about Brotherhood here at Nordic Fest, like I did last week at Meltdown in England.  
Below you see a picture of Slechtvalk from the Netherlands. I really like when Christian extreme metal bands are going to the extremes in stage performance as well, hehe. It kinda forces the audience to have an opinion about it. 

Meltdown Festival 2008

From November 6th-10th I went to England and Wales together with the guys from my band Solace The Day. There we played two shows, hung out with a lot of great people and attended the "hard music retreat" Meltdown. This was the 19th year of the Meltdown retreat Festival and the 3rd time I came to visit this great place! Meltdown is a weekend of fellowship, concerts, seminars and worship. A cool way and a cool place to celebrate your Christian faith!
Here's one more picture from the Solace The Day show at Meltdown. Somehow it always turns out to be a little bit crazy. But for us in a very nice way. If we don't have any bruises or scratches after playing a concert, we don't feel that we've delivered a good enough show B-)

On the picture below a little "circle-pit" is going on. We were also able to make a little "wall-of-death" at our show: The crowd divides into two and at a specific outstanding break-down in the music the two crowds run towards each other and become one. Isn't that beautiful? :)
The picture below is of the venue. Everything is inside this awesome castle. Inhere everybody eat, sleep, hang out in the café, play pool, attend the concerts, the worship and the seminars.

This year we had 3 seminars. My American friend Jim LaVerde and I did the two more Bible-oriented seminars. Jim's subject was worship; and I shared stories and scriptures about Brotherhood. We've been giving an AWESOME family with God as our loving heavenly Father and all fellow-Christians as Brothers and Sisters; how great is that!! 
Sunday night we went to meet some other cool people and play with Solace The Day at "Bar SOUTH", which was a lot of fun as well. I don't know what it is with metalheads and posing on pictures... But here we are (+ a new friend who sneaked into the picture):