the night before

hmmmm

well earlier today I had my prästexam. This is the very last test before being ordained. Björn, Malin and I walked into a room with 12 people from domkapitlet who were going to ask us questions about life and death. At first I was so nervous that I was about to wet my pants.

fortunate for me I kept my pants dry and after a while my nervousness was gone. It was truly a dialouge instead of an interrogation. So it all ended with the announcement that all three of us passed.

in about 5 hours I will wake up and start the process that will lead me into another phase of my life. This is very different from my days as and executive chef. Back then it was the Ed show. Even though I believed that I was serving the customers as well as my staff my main purpose for the day was to create great food (that is the customers would ooh och ahh) and to make a profit.

in this new phase I will bear a yoke of servitude in the service of my God, King and Savior. I will swear and oath and make a covenant in God's name to take the calling of priest in such a way that God is honored, the Church is edified, and God's will will be realized. I promise to remain in the teachings of the church and clear and pure preach the word of God as it is given to us in the Holy Scipture. I promise to be a stewad of the sacraments, follow the church's orders and implement my calling with Christ as a role model. All this, with God's help, i promise to do.

This is really large. I am so nervous and excited and in awe that I can't sleep. Don't worry, I'm going to go to sleep as soon as I've written this entry.

many people have asked me how I feel on the eve of my ordination. Frankly I was glad to have my wife and two close friends at the Bishop's dinner. Anette looked very beautiful and we all had a really good time. I really felt like the people who came to the dinner wished us all the best. A real outpouring of the kind of love that Jesus said would convince those on the outside that we are truly his disciples.

I want to be a good steward of this precious gem (service for others) that I have been presented with. It difficult to put into words, but whatever it is I'm feeling it seems to be a jumbled mixture of various thoughts and feelings.

I am so thankful to God to be able to see this through. He has been watching out for me throughout my whole life regardless of the circumstances.

I want to have a life of worship, that reveals Gods plan to reach those who are not yet aware of his love, grace and mercy. I want to be generous, patient, kind and fearless. If God chooses to use my life then I need to use it to the best of the ability that God has given me.

Jesus Christ is alive and not at all dead.
I'm starting to fall asleep so I had better get off.

I know that there are lots of people whom have prayed for me. I do not have the words to express my gratitude for this service in my behalf. It is large to realize that people take the time from their busy schedules in order to pray for me. I have been cheered on and counseled and when wrong confronted by a whole lot of people. If you read this then I would like to say thank you so much for caring for me.

I wonder what will I write after prästvigning, ordination, tomorrow. I only know that with God's help I will be able to see mountains move.

Gudsfrid