New stories to tell

Hi!

This is the percussionist speaking…writing…typing? It’s my first time bloging here in the Praise Unit blog. I have my own though, www.toffesrevival.blogspot.com.  In swedish, but maybe you can google-translate it? =) It’s not that interesting really, just a lot of sportstalk. And for the moment not at all updated. Anyway…

A short presentation of myself:

--I am the one in Praise Unit (besides Jocke) that has done the most number of PU-gigs.

--I once accidently booked a trip to Greece with my girlfriend on the same dates as we were suppose to go to Cologne with PU. 

With the Germany tour soon coming up, a few memories from the last tour in 2008 is beginning to pop up again, featuring the band. How we all (except Andreas) shaved our heads during the tour. Or how we kept all of Dettingen awake during our late night jam session in the church. Or how we got lost in Kassel by night and couldn’t find our hotel. And this i just a little taste of it all. Maybe I can reveal more stories later on here!

I am really looking forward to new great stories to tell. We have already been talking about saving beards before the tour, but I guess it’s a little to late for that now...

Singing together!

One of the great things on our upcoming tour in Germany is that we will get the chance to sing together with a lot of singers from the different cities we meet. In Husby, Kassel and Witten we will do music together with others. It's a privilige for us and we know that a lot of great things can happen when we let God use music to get people together!

Jesus wants everyone

As I'm writing this I'm watching the news on the television and in one of the features they report about a woman who is fighting for her right to recieve sickness benefit from the Swedish government. She used to work as an economist but after being involved in some kind of accident she's no longer able to work. However, she hopes to one day regain her ability to work but she's unsure about in what field that could possibly be. The last thing that was said in the feature was said by the woman herself and her words were, "But who would want me? Not even I want myself."

O. My heart broke, and I could help but saying the one thing on my mind out loud: Jesus!

Jesus wants her. Jesus wants me and he wants you too. It doens't matter what you look like, what you've done, what you're thinking and whether you call yourself a Christian or not. Let us remind each other, and ourselves, that Jesus wants everyone.

Tour preparations

It's three weeks to go before we leave our homes and go for a funky gospel party on the mission field in Germany. We decided to open this blog again, since we want to share our preparations with those of you will come to concerts or wish that you could come to the concerts. There will be new things to read everyday!

New member of Praise Unit!

Hi!
Just a quick note to let you know that everything is well with my wonderful son Filip who's soon to be 6 months old! Thank you everyone in "Colours of Gospel" for your lovely card and congrats! We were so happy to receive it!
Lots of love
Sara & Filip

To believers and non-believers

September 11th 2010 has just passed, and in Florida there was a pastor who tried to pull off "burn a quran-day" (the quran has different spellings in different languages, but it's meaning is similar to what the bible is for a christian). It seems like everybody, including the pastor himself, finally realised that this is not how you communicate the love of Jesus Christ. I don't wish to make a big deal out of it, but since me and my friends in Praise Unit have not been blogging for some months, I felt a need to reopen this blog by sending a message to everyone who believes that Mohammed was God's prophet, or that Buddha knew the way salvation, or that money can make you happy, or that "Sex and the city" is the best you can get on a tuesday evening, or whatever else you believe which does not match what I believe.

These are the lyrics to the Praise Unit song "No better than you" from our CD "The Mission Field". If you wish to argue or support this message you can find me and Praise Unit on Facebook or you can email me via my website, http://www.joakimarenius.com/.

No Better Than You
From “The Mission Field” by Joakim Arenius & Praise Unit

Why do we think that we are strong when we tell others they are wrong?
Do we understand why God had to become a man and die for me and you?

I don’t like to hold back when I share my testimony
But sometimes I hold back when I look at my history
I’m sorry for forgetting why God so loved the world
I’m sorry

I believe I’ve got the right to say:
“I believe Christ is the only way!”
I believe that what I believe is true
But I don’t believe I’m better than you

We’re in this together!

When I look closer I am ashamed I see ugly deeds in Jesus name
Is it not enough that Jesus died for you? How many others have to do it too?

I’m sorry for confusing testifying and lecturing
I’m sorry for confusing free will and my will
I’m sorry for forgetting why God so loved the world
I’m sorry

I believe I’ve got the right to say:
“I believe Christ is the only way!”
I believe that what I believe is true
But I don’t believe I’m better than you

We’re in this together!


Download the song from iTunes

Hi!
The last couple of months some things has changed in my life and this is what I look like nowadays (plus 14 more weeks though =)):

Yes, I'm having a baby!!!
I now have less then four weeks left to duedate and I just wanted to give a quick note on me going on maternity leave from Praise Unit.
I will miss joining them in the fellowship, the concerts and trips all over the world but I will keep all the guys in PU in my prayers and I know that they will bless many of you, our old and new friends, with their music and love for Christ!

God is good, all the time!
Lots of love