My Wife Loves Another Man More Than Me...

The thing is that I already knew this before I Proposed to her. It was actually one of the reasons I proposed; I was looking for a wife that was in love with Jesus!

There were many cute girls to lay eyes on, many that were good in many ways, but I knew that that was not enough... A woman who loved Jesus with all her heart was the icing on the cake!

The fact that Stephanie still, eight years later, loves Jesus, spends time with Him, speaks about Him, speaks to Him, and gives Him her entire heart makes me happy, secure and more in love with her..

Maybe you haven't met your partner yet, let me give you some tips on what to look for.

Maybe you think that other things are more important, and that "I can influence or help his/her relationship with Jesus in a postive way." No! Let him/her become secure in their faith in God before you try to help.

Look for this:

1. They love Jesus will all their heart!

That is the most important thing to look for! It means that he/she has a spiritual life; pray read the Bible, fast, witness to people and love to talk about and to Jesus.

2. They are involved in a local church.

Does he/she take responsibility? Is he/she a servant?

3. Do you have fun together?

You must be able to laugh together, do fun stuff and love to be with one another and the "grey every day" will not even exist!

4. Do they respect your purity?

Where will your common boundaries be before you are married? Is he/she flirting with other people? Is he a gentleman?

5. Are you headed in the same direction in life?

If you feel called to work in New Delhi, and she could never even consider leaving the US, then one of you will have to compromise... I don't mean that you have to think exactly alike in all situations, but the foundataional things should be alike.

Check off this list. If you can answer positively on all questions and statements? GO FOR IT!

I am just as in love with my wife today as I was when I first held her hand in winter wonderland Uppsala many years ago... :)

To Love a City

What do you see when you look at your city? What di you feel? 

Four months ago I moved from one of the worlds most beautiful cities to... well; Modesto. No outer beauty, no "trade mark", nothing hip or cool at all actually. 

But, today I am in love with this place! I love Modesto!

As Christians we are not called to save our cities. Jesus did just that 2000 years ago. But, we are called to love our cities!

How so?

You can stop right away trying in your own strength, and instead connect to the love of God, that is already poured  into your heart through the Holy Spirit. (Rom 5:5) 

See the city through the eyes of God. See every person like He sees them. Then you will love, pray for and do everything you can to win your city with His love.

How long does it take to love a city? When can you love it? 

The answer is: right away! Because God has loved your city since the day it was born. It took me a week to start loving Modesto.

Jesus cried over cities when He saw them. Are you and I crying? Or are we speaking down our cities, are we speaking hatred and irritation over them?

Maybe you are thinking: But, what is there in my city to love, Daniel?

I know! And I will give you the answer:

People!

We are not looking at buildings or outer beauty; we are looking at the city like God sees it. A place with so many people!

So, it's time for you to open your heart for your city. Be proud of it! Own it! Be a part of it. 

Love it!

Cities I've lived in and that I love:

Huskvarna

Jönköping

Uppsala

Stockholm

Modesto

Cities I am dreaming about, have a relation to, love at a distance, and are longing to see changed:

Pittsburgh

New York

San Francisco

Beirut

New Delhi

Calcutta

Tokyo

Rome

Paris

Cairo

Istanbul

Washington DC

Boston

Karachi

.........?

Let me Present; Jordan Kolarik!

Late Tuesday night Jordan Kolarik flew in to San Francisco to stay with us for eight weeks.

Jordan is at the end of his Bachelor at Central Bible College in Missouri. He just needs to do his last internship and asked me last year in Dar es Salaam if he could do his internship with me.

I met Jordan when he was a wild teenager in Pittsburgh PA, many years ago. he was a part of the youth ministry at Allison Park Church. Over the years I have preached there some 30+ times and I've seen how he's grown every time! Today he is mature, with passion for Jesus, smart and talented (he won a national contest as the front man in the best Youth Band three years ago!) young man of God!

He will stay with us eight weeks, do what I do, live with us and hopefully learn A LOT about being in ministry! My challenge is that he will be more passionated, be a wild warrior for Jesus and have a heart for the unreached when he flies home again in July.

Welcome to CA, SOS, The House and the Elvelyx family Jordan! Let's do this!

The Importance of New Experiences

Last Monday I lead prayer with more than 1,500 people. Unbelievable! 
Every Monday this crowd gather at The House in Modesto to pray. It's the highlight of the week, big time! Our Lead Pastors, who usually lead prayer have been on the road for a couple of weeks asked me to lead this week. A huge confidence and honor and a new experience.
It was good, strong presence of God, we prayed for unreached people groups, Tanga and Tanzania.

Life should be full of new experiences, new challenges and times when we stretch ourselves further than we have before. If we don't, we will not grow or develop. I want my life to be the best, most fun and strongest just before I die. That means that I have learned new things, stretched myself further and been hungry for life. You die happy and satisfied!

I have some things that I am stretching myself towards right now. New steps of faith and challenges that frighten me, but at the same time excites me!

Do you?