Best Seller
in Articles
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The Best seller lists for 2011 have now been put together. There was a runaway best seller in Norway. Word about the book travelled like wildfire on the social media networks, before it was available in the shops. Such was the interest in this book, a number of bookshops opened at midnight on the day the book was released in order to facilitate the eager customers. In other places customers camped at overnight to be sure they were able to get their hands on the book before it was sold out. Released in October the book has sold over 80,000 copies in just three months. This is nothing short of phenomenal in a nation with a population about the size of Ireland.
The book that caused all the excitement has actually been around for quite a while – This latest edition was published in the two most popular Norwegian languages ‘bokmal’ and ‘nynorsk’. It is not the first time the book was translated into Norwegian languages but there is a freshness to this latest edition that seems to have struck a chord with the nation.
Or perhaps it is the nation itself that is in a fresh place. Perhaps in the wake of the massacre on Utoya island, this Scandinavian nation, normally so self assured is searching out some of the deeper questions of life.
I suppose it is often true that we all tend to operate in cruise mode until our world gets turned upside down.. it is then we start to ask the deeper questions.
The prophet Amos in the Old Testament writes about a famine for the Word of God – perhaps that is a clue to understanding what is happening in Norway. The bestselling book that we are talking about is the Bible.
By Rob Clarke, former leader of YWAM Ireland.
Original article: Praying for Norway
The Norwegian people of 4,8 million woke up to a national tragedy this morning. After the bomb explosion in Oslo centre yesterday, it became evident that more than 80 young people also had been shot to death at a political youth camp, by a 32 year old Norwegian – probably the same person who made and released the bomb.
The government buildings, including the office of the prime minister, look like a battlefield. How could one extreme nationalist do this alone? There are many questions.
As believers we ask ourselves what to say to non-believing victims and their families. The horror at the island, where the youths were killed, was a hell-on-earth experience. 500 young people were running for their lives as the gunman was executing them. Some escaped by jumping into the sea, but even there they were shot at.
No YWAmers were killed or wounded yesterday, but as Norwegians we all feel the loss and the pain. Personally I have two children living in Oslo center, they were both safe. Our son works close to the bomb centre, but he was not at the office yesterday. We have lot to thank God for!
Please pray for YWAM Norway; that our staff, and the entire body of Christ, will be anointed to point at Jesus in the days of sorrow and grief.
Terje Konradsen
Chairman, YWAM Northern Europe
