Queen Esther, a Role Model for Women Liberators of the 21st Century

Painting by en:Edwin Long, 1878. Location of painting: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. (Credits: Wikipedia)

In the huge human rights struggles in Norway and Europe for the sanctity of life, marriage, and family, men and women need encouragement from the great liberators of history.

There is hardly any better role model for women and men than Queen Esther.

Esther lived according to uncompromising standards, and chose class, honor, wisdom, faith, and prayer to the living God to rescue her own people. Qualities that have a much better chance to win the wars for your family and people than disloyalty, rudeness,  and brash behavior.

I have seen enough of the shortsightedness that tends to paralyze people who are fighting for their loved ones. They fall prey to the ambitions of people who will use their vulnerability and pain for their own agendas. It might give short-term relief, but the despair might instead be life-long.

WHO WAS QUEEN ESTHER?

Esther is described in the Book of Esther as a Jewish queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus (commonly identified as Xerxes I, reigned 486–465 BC). In the narrative, Ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, Vashti, refuses to obey him, and Esther is chosen for her beauty. The king’s chief advisor, Haman, is offended by Esther’s cousin and guardian, Mordecai, and gets permission from the king to have all the Jews in the kingdom killed. Esther foils the plan, and wins permission from the king for the Jews to kill their enemies, and they do so.

Her story is the traditional basis for Purim, which is celebrated on the date given in the story for when Haman’s order was to go into effect, which is the same day that the Jews killed their enemies after the plan was reversed.

Absalom, the son of King David

(Illustration from Free Bible Images) «Then the king burst into tears, and went up to his room wailing, ‘O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom. If only I could have died for you! O Absalom, my son, my son’» (2Samuel 18:33).  As people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of victory was turned into deep sadness. David later returned to Jerusalem to reign as King of Israel once more.

On December 2nd, 2015 I wrote a blog article called «The Revengeful Father?»

I conveyed that revenge is never the way of a true father.

That was almost three years ago, and I am even more convinced today. Although I have been backstabbed, again and again.

The pain that I personally learned of firsthand from Rev Øyvind Fragell (1914-1993) over the incessant betrayal by his own son, gave me insight that has helped me to understand.

But even more I am helped by the accounts in the Holy Bible. Perhaps especially the account of King David and his son Absalom who had been close to his father, but abused David´s trust by betraying him. He went from village to village to turn the people against his own father,

When the time came for God to intervene, King David covered his face, and cried with a loud voice: «O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!» (2Samuel 19:4).

A true father will always love his son and daughter. There is always hope.

The Tears and Despair of Rev. Øyvind Fragell

The cover of one of Rev. Øyvind Fragell´s albums.

In 1975 – when I was 17 – I met Rev. Øyvind Fragell (1914-1993) for the first time. He was a beloved minister in Norway´s Pentecostal Movement who wrote some of the most heart-warming and tender songs about our relationship with Jesus Christ.

I will never forget that conversation in 1975 which happened openly in the lunch room of the Filadelfia Church and Publishing House.

Fragell had heard that I had come back to Jesus after 1 1/2 years of being away from the Lord. I had sought guidance in the Humanist Association. The meaningless and empty lives that I encountered there threw me into a despair so deep that I finally fled – back home to a life with Christ! I have followed Christ faithfully ever since.

Rev. Fragell shed tears of gratitude when he heard my story. But he also sobbed deeply when he told the painful and tragic story of how his own loved ones had left and betrayed the Lord.

I learned from Rev. Øyvind Fragell that betrayal of the Lord is a terrible thing. Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that he was happy and content with that. His despair and tears speak today – 25 years after his death.

May 1st marks the Coming to Life

Copyright: Restoration Oslo, 2018 (via Storyblocks)

Aina & I have been seeking God together today on May 1st, and God has spoken to us about today marking the beginning of the next phase of our life and ministry.

May 1st is a day to say farewell to winter, and marks the beginning of springtime fertility. It is a celebration of things coming to life.

God is affirming the created purpose He has for us and that we are destined to prosper! The specifics are for us to pray and follow-through!

This is a Word with promise for many!

Waning Criticism from the «God-hater», Levi Fragell

Screenshot from a video I produced when Levi Fragell was speaking in Oslo earlier this year.

I am somewhat amused by some of the severe criticism of me from the waning and almost obsolete anti-Christian, aggressive secular humanist group in Norway, connected to the Norwegian Humanist Association. They are being pumped on a daily basis by their former leader (1976-1990), Levi Fragell, the 77 year old backslidden pentecostal preacher boy who almost 55 years ago left his father Øyvind Fragell´s vibrant faith to instead live a life committed to oppose great men of God such as the evangelists Aril Edvardsen and Emanuel Minos, and for the past 6 1/2 years against me. His warm-hearted preacher father cried in despair when I interviewed him as a young journalist in the mid-1970´s. RIP, Øyvind Fragell!

Levi Fragell´s rage has been so massive that he even followed Aril Edvardsen on a crusade in India, just to prove that the great evangelist was a fraud!

His rage against me has increased, almost feverishly, as he has seen the blessing that God has heaped upon Aina & me during the past 6 1/2  years. In 2011, Levi Fragell demanded triumphantly in the secular-Christian newspaper Vårt Land that I had to resign as a pastor! Instead, God has promoted us in Norway and worldwide. My tv programs are supported and watched by the high and low in our nation. I am summoned into meetings with leaders of Norway, Europe, and beyond.

The most interesting thing about this Fragell-based criticism is that it attacks classic Christianity, both catholic, orthodox, protestant, evangelical, and charismatic-pentecostal: 1) The Bible as the authoritative Word of God. 2) Jesus as the only Way to God. 3) Conversion unto Christ. 4) The two outcomes of life: Heaven or hell. 5) The reality of angels and demons. 6) Healing of the sick. 7) Speaking in tongues. 8) Ministry unto children. 9) The gospel as an integral part of a Christian home. Etc, etc, etc.

The bottom line for the aging Fragell is his hatred of God. I participated in a meeting with him earlier this year in Oslo, and there he denied that he had ever said he hates God. But afterwards he had to admit it, because it is written explicitly in his autobiography from 2010.

I hope and pray that Levi Fragell will find peace at this late stage in his life.