In my early youth I had a close friend at New Tribes Mission´s training center in PA  (”boot camp” we called it) who strongly recommended me to read the book “War on the Saints” (Jessie Penn Lewis) which I did without being too impressed.

Some years later I asked him if he could still recommend me that book?  His answer was, “I have a better book to recommend, - the Bible!”  He couldn´t have given me a better answer.

In my testimony, ministry or writings I may be a little on the ”calvinistic” side.  After all, the beloved C.H. Spurgeon, influenced my life  in my teens, and so have good brethren in the U.S.  However, I have never subscribed on a certain theological system, in fact I abhor the term ”Systematic Theology”, for who in the world is able to make a comprehensive theological volume anyway?

A young girl just wrote me after our last flight, ”It´s my impression that you tried to win me for your movement of faith.”  I had to write her back and tell her that I have no ”movement” to offer.  It is Christ or nothing.  Either or.  He is no ”movement”.

But  grave, ultra ”correct”, even ”biblical” teaching tends to give me claustrophobia.  I get almost choked.  But a Christ uplifting, joyeous, self-experienced, Spirit driven testimony saturated with God´s word will never wear me out.

My ”boot camp” friend was right.  The Bible rises above theological volumes.  Do I despise them?  No, they are all like serving friends with different refreshing gifts.  But the Bible stands alone with its own unique spring, from which all other minor springs with gladness draw. 

”We drink too little water”, an old Norwegian preacher friend of mine once said at a meeting.  A lady said afterwards, ”You could tell that that was actually what he was doing.”  Of course he meant to say that we drink too little from the living water of the Bible.

It will show, too, if that´s what you and I are doing, for our testimony is not only to be heard, but also to be seen.  -  ”Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord!”  (Psa. 40:3).

Clovis, CA, March 13, 2012 - jn