On Christian mysticism. Every believer is called to be one with Christ. Because of the cross of Christ, we can enter into a unio mystica with the Trinity. We may be lovers of God, because Jesus died for us, he shed his precious blood on calvary. Paul writes, in his letter to the romans: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." (Romans 1:16, NKJV) And also: "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more." (Romans 6:8-9a). Paul testifies that he is crucified with Christ and that Christ lives in him. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) In Philippians Paul writes: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21) We are called to crucify our sinful nature daily, we are called to crucify the flesh. This is a daily struggle, and we must always start the day with prayer and reading of the Bible. We must always seek to live every day in The Holy Spirit. We must flow in the Spirit of God, and be united with Christ in our daily activities. "And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24) Yet we will also suffer persecution. We must be prepared to be persecuted for Jesus Christ. The biblical heroes of faith, the great men of the Bible, from David to Paul, were persecuted."Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2. Timothy 3:12) But the Christian mystic will always have victory. Christus Victor -and the one who is united with him, will always experience victory. Thus Paul writes, in his beautiful epistle to the romans: "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)

Dedicated to my friend Dag, who took care of me for one year.