DOG WASH? Yup only in Japan

I wonder if I could wash my kids in there? Would that be offensive to the dogs? Are there that many dogs to wash to make it profitable? 40 minutes for 11 to 12 dollars US. I don't know about you but every time I washed a dog it was no longer than 5 minutes. This thing even has hot water. What happened to just a garden hose or a river? I am worrying about things that I don't need to be. Back to work.

Sapporo Help Arrives

What a great week as Steve and Michiyo Lorincz (Victoria too) came down from Sapporo Hokkaido. It is such a blur as so much was accomplished. I was stalled on a few projects and they were dynamic in pushing us over the top. We were able to glue down one room of carpet after much scrapping of old linoleum flooring and then we installed our sound stuff. God really blessed us in many ways.



It was Awesome to get to know the Lorincz family but there is more to them than meets the ear. They are professional musicians and are extremely talented. Michiyo is an Opera Singer in Hungary where Steve and Michiyo come from and Steve is a Jazz pianist. He played 15 years in Hotels and on Cruise ships. The Lord led Steve to start church services on the cruise ships and 4 of the churches are still in operation. Praise God. We got a bargain deal on a Yamaha Clavinova Piano that was overpriced and talked the manager down (Learned that from Tommy in Okinawa). Steve was trying it out in the church and his wife came in and began to sing. We all thought someone had put in a CD. Her voice was so powerful and beautiful. Mario and Sachiko said we have to have a concert. So we had an impromptu concert the next night and God blessed as the Lorincz family rocked the house.

Pray for these wonderful people as they are working on planting a Calvary Chapel in Sapporo. May God richly bless them and use them for His glory.

Our visit to the Hori's in Nagano

Takemichi Hori san Mihoko's Uncle asked us to come up for a visit. So we did and it was a blessing. They are such wonderful people. They loved us so much. They took us to see some lovely sights and fall trees and we went to a real onsen in the mountains they had an outside bath over looking the Nagano valley. It was weird for me as I was insecure about this. I felt like Adam and was looking for a fig leaf. The men are on one side and the ladies are on the other divided by a wall. Yet we could hear them. ANYWAY...Mr Hori lost his leg in a freak accident two years ago. He was a Taxi driver and was waiting for a call at the train station and standing between two cars talking to another taxi driver. The car before his got a call and the sleepy driver jumped up and accidentally jamb the car into reverse and crushed Hori Sans leg. He was in the Hospital for many days and they leg got an infection. They took it off from above the knee. He is adjusting and having much time now retired. He has been reading a lot. He is mostly studying Buddhism but is also reading about Christianity. So at night when kids were asleep and we were warming ourselves in the Kotatsu sipping coffee and eating yummy snacks. Hori san asked us what is Christianity all about. We talked past midnight in a God ordained appointment of educating a man searching for meaning and purpose. I wish I could tell you he received Jesus but he is confused because of his dedication to his countries roots. He know now how to ask and receive salvation. It is now a matter of time and God's faithfulness to grow the seeds of faith placed into his mind. I pray they will settle into his heart and sprout an eternal work of God. Let's pray and water the seeds for his faith to grow. Pray for truth to be manifested and for the lies of the devil and false religion to be crushed. Pray for his wife and two daughters. They are such wonderful people. My heart was deeply touched by their love and kindness. Oh how I wish to be with them in heaven for all eternity.






We had some fun at a restaurant. When all attempts at speaking the language fail then you make faces. Although, Hori san tried to mimic me he wasn't that successful. But it was funny to say the least.

I liked this and thought you might too

http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?filter=app_2309869772#/video/video.php?v=1137213956210&ref=nf Are you ready?

Global climb of Taxes

Climate Chains from Climate Chains on Vimeo.

The World is primed and ready for the coming world leader. Are you ready? Jesus will rapture the church before the tribulation and it is coming fast.

Lieutenant Pastor Steve Brown

Hey my buddy Pastor Steve Brown who has been heading up the Armor of Light ministry at Camp Pendleton California has been deployed. He is on Ship with his new commission as a Lieutenant. He had his first Sunday services this week and 65 attended and it was a blessing to see such a turn out. Steve and I went to School of Ministry together it was a blast and we had some awesome prayer times together. It is great to see that God has used all of that to direct us to his perfect will. Praise God and where he leads us. Just a note of information Steve is one of the few the proud the Calvary Chapel Marine Chaplains. He is on the cutting edge of ministry as Calvary's have grown so much the military has recognized the need to commission Pastors of the Calvary style and allow ministry to bless the troops.

Also Pray for his wife and kids all 4 of them. They are home in California really missing him a lot. Steve and Dawn are a true team as they tag team the kids in loving on them. Without Steve it can be such a trial. Pray for the Brown family and all the other Men in the military whose families are left to fend for themselves.

Now and Then

The Ai no Kyokai folks are having a memorial service and I have been making a slide show for them. I found in the church some photos from the mid 90's and then compared them to now. kind of fun. This is one of those you have to be here to see it and say oh wow. Things are going great here I'll post more later

Taking Steps backwards

We are making a lot of progress here at Calvary Chapel Iruma but some days we find we have to stop our plans and take a step backwards. I was ready to tear up some more linolium flooring and finish painting the Chapel when Nohato and Mario came in saying they won't take the carpet at the dump. What? Why? It is too big? Oh so we have to cut it smaller and like roll it up and tie it? No. We have to cut it into 20cm X 20cm square swaths or smaller. What we just took out over 2000sq ft of carpet and padding and it all has to be cut that small? Yep. Come and help us please.
So I drop what I am doing and go out to cut the rug literally. We worked for hours and the carpet was the moldy stuff what was still wet from the typhoon we had last week. Needless to say I was at first grumbling and complaining how strict the Japanese are in these recycling rules. You can go to some other cities and the rules are different. Iruma is strict. So as a Christian/missionary I submit to authorities and do what they say. Once I do it for Jesus and not the city then the work is light and we just had a pleasant time working together. I got to know Nohato san more and Mario went crazy and made a Halloween mask. He is one fuuny guy. It was gross work as the carpet was yucky but it got done. We still have half the padding but the carpet was completely cut. Praise God.

Bible Charades

When I was a kid we had family devotions. They were sometimes very fun sometimes not so fun. Mom and Dad were sure to try and make sure we were listening and comprehending the stories of the Bible. So every once in a while we'd have a Bible Charades night. It was more like after a week of learning then we kids put on a play for Mom and Dad. Well I am keeping with the family tradition. We do many nights read our Bibles together yet at least once a week we do Bible Motions or Charades. The kids put on skit of their favorite Bible stories and then Mom and I try to guess what they are doing. Sometimes we get into the act ourselves and just have fun. I hope you don't mind us being in our jammies. It's cool with us. If you have a thing about seeing someone in their sleepwear quick close your eyes. See if you can tell what Bible Stories we were acting out?

Police Box redefined

In Japan they have the Koban or police box where a police field office holds one or two policemen. I have seen some Koban hold 5 or 6 for a meeting. While we were in Tokyo near Tokyo Tower I saw this police guy sitting in this metal box near an intersection. Now that is a police box but he is not directing traffic and he is not really doing anything that we could see of reconnaissance type work. He was just pleasantly watching cars go by. So he is really the police in a box. He looked very happy in his box. I wonder how long he stays there and can he nibble snacks while in there. What if a car hits the box? Does he have an escape route procedure to follow? I wonder if there was a phone and TV in there? Where does he go to the bathroom? There are vents in the bottom for gas to escape I guess. My kids wanted to visit the box because it was cute. This is just one of those posts that just informs my family of what I am seeing here in Japan and experiencing. God bless

Spiritual Abuse by Holland Davis

One of my friends Holland Davis posted this on Facebook. We have some friends here who have been dealing with Spiritual Abuse from church leadership which happened years ago at some denominational type ministry; and it still affects their relationships today. I thought I'd post this for others to watch for warning signs. Pray for your leaders and love them. The enemy wants us to attack leadership and beat them up but we have to see things from God's perspective.

Ten Signs Of The Presence Of Spiritual Abuse
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Ten signs of the presence of spiritual abuse, manipulation, domination, or intimidation. Spiritual Abuse (which is always expressed in varying degrees) is occurring when a pastor, leader, or even a friend:

1. “Hears” God for you. God apparently “goes through” him/her to speak to you. (This requires a sense of superiority – from him or her and is often framed as being “more mature,” and a sense of being “less” from you.)

2. Alienates (shuns, ignores) you if you do not adhere to his/her guidance, leadership, or authority. (This is usually VERY subtle – so it is easy to deny.)

3. Suggests that rejection of his/her “higher understanding” is done so at your spiritual or even physical peril. (You will hear things like, “Be careful. You will move yourself from the covering and protection of God.”)

4. Rewards your obedience with inclusion, and punishes your questioning or resistance with withdrawal. (Compliance gets stroked, resistance gets struck!)

5. Demands “cathartic” honesty. Unless you spew out every detail of your life you must be hiding or withholding something (and that “something” will, of course, impede your spiritual development).

6. Lavishes you with praise, acceptance, and understanding when you are “good” and “pushes” you away when you are “bad.”

7. Is apparently fixated on the use of titles like reverend, pastor, elder and cannot appear to relax in the company of “ordinary” mortals. The issue is not in the use of legitimate titles (or robes or religious garb) – it is that identity seems impossible without the titles or the trappings.

8. Leaves a trail of cut-off relationships. Usually in the trail are those who refuse to bow, to submit, to stand in awe of, to be thoroughly entranced by, the will of the pastor, the leader or the friend. Always regard with suspicion or caution leaders who are cut off or alienated from members of their family, especially their parents.

9. Lives from a “for me/or against me,” “black/white,” “all/or nothing” platform of “relationships.”

10. Genuinely sees God’s Call so zealously, so fervently that any signs of resistance are seen as the expressions of The Enemy or an enemy – thus, relationships are expedient (disposable) in the light of getting on with God’s work.

Planetarium Field Trip

The Yokota Airbase Homeschoolers group had a field trip to a local Planetarium. We were invited to come and hang out and we also had the Ohkawara kids come along. It was a fun day of discovery. It was a great time to get to know some of the families that are stationed at the airbase. They are great people with great kids. God bless the Military men and their families.

Tokyo Tower

We took the day and went on a family field trip to Tokyo Tower. It was fun. The girls and I had a great time looking down from 250 meters high and we enjoyed the glass floor that was scary but fun at the same time. Nathan was not liking the height. He didn't have too much fun and got mad when I picked him up and carried him to stand on the glass panel. He had a very real fear of falling through the floor. I have repented of my provoking him to anger and promise to be more sensitive next time we go to Tokyo Tower.


The view was marred by the hurricane that was passing by. We did have a break in the rain and did get some shots of Downtown Tokyo. Yet on a clear day you actually can see the outline of Mount Fuji from the tower...so they say? Like you can see Downtown LA from Palm Springs? Clear day? What's that? We still had a great time and enjoyed the new food court. Mihoko and I came here 20 years ago before we got married. I was a short term missionary here for 3 months and we took a date and went to Tokyo Tower. I was so in love I don't remember much of that date other than the beautiful girl I was with. But I did recognize that they have added an amusement park and a pretty cool food court. They even had McDonalds. Yep I am so not Japanese I always punt for the safe call of a cheeseburger when in doubt. Plus the cost was so within the budget. You can't get much on 500 yen these days at Tokyo Tower.

Lost in the Subway

Today was a holiday for Jane and we decided to take a break and go to Tokyo Tower. On the way wondering around the Subways of Tokyo we found these wall presentations that looked very life like. Mihoko and I gained some ideas for the front of the church and then as we took pictures we began to have fun pretending the art was real and the kids had a great time with the trick photography. Okay I know it isn't that trick but we still had fun. We did finally make it to Tokyo Tower.

Speciat Guest muscian for worship

Sunday after the Undokai we went to church and had fun teaching the Word of God. We were privileged to have a special guest this Sunday Rachel my daughter stepped up to play the Djembe drum in front of the church. It was wonderful to have some percussion in the worship set. Good job Ray keep practicing and God will use you mightily. We also had Noda Sensei jam on guitar with me. He plays a cool lead. I want to get him playing an electric guitar. His rifts are very sweet and I am just a noisy mess. Somehow those two cleaned me up pretty well. It was a blessed service.

Undokai day 2

Still under the looming clouds of rain threatening the day we went ahead and participated in Jane's First Undokai. It was a blast. We met many families whose kids had been telling them so much about Jane and her family. Now we get to meet. Fortunately it was all good and we haven't had any complaints so far... It was really fun as they ran and danced and did a "Para-balloon" activity along with a basketball game with the parents. I got to throw the tama(Ball) into the net(neto). We then marched off the field with our kids on our shoulders. It was a fun day. I am sure Jane will treasure many memories. At least I will. We had to cut out early on Sunday to make it to our 2pm service which God blessed.

More of the rained out Undokai

Saturday we got rained on...

Undokai and rain don't mix

Undokai is "Sports day" The kids have been thoroughly brain washed on what to do and how to do it. This is like the 4th of July to Japanese. They invite neighbors and relatives to see their little Erina chan participate in the annual Undokai festival. They take lunches and set out blankets and the festivities and laughter begin. We were having a great time until some grumpy clouds gathered overhead and busted out some fierce rain drops. In America, all the people would be running and be scrambling and it would be mayhem. But here in Japan everyone has the power of Gamon. That is a tough type of patience that will endure the harshest of conditions and stay the test of time and win over opponents or overcome great obstacles. So they stood there in the rain in their umbrellas. I was like nailed with one foot to the ground trying to run to the car and then trying to not embarrass Mihoko and act like a sissy Man wanting to get out of the rain. So I attempted the power of Gamon. I was blessed by our friends the Futagis had a pop-up canopy. It was easier to gamon by not being in the rain. We waited for 30 minutes in the deluge and then they voted to try it again tomorrow. On Sunday? Yep they are not a Christian nation and so they have work and school activities sometimes on Sunday's. Our service is at 2pm so this is not in conflict with us so it's cool. Funny part is about an hour after we left the park the sun came out again. Hee Hee. I guess we didn't gamon long enough.

It ain't got cup holders....yet

Using some of the scrap lumber I was able to fashion this pulpit. All it needs now is a dove on the front and a cup holder. I am joking on the cup holder guys. The top of the pulpit is the top piece of a dresser that we burned up . The drawers had water damage and the bottom of the dresser had mold so I took the top and it is nicely rounded for a hard surface to pound on. I guess I am old fashioned as new preachers don't use pulpits and they walk and just sit on a stool. Someday I may mature and grow into that right now I'll stick with the training wheels of a pulpit and hold on as Jesus rocks the house. I did think about putting a squirt gun inside the pulpit to wake up people as I teach.

Crazy Girls gotta love em

I love my girls they are crazy hard working and cute. Sometimes a little too goofy at the wrong time but then as Grandpa always says, "The nut don't fall far from the tree." referring to me being the nut tree. I was pounding away on some walls when the girls got all excited and wanted to help. I was humored thinking they'd pound for 5 minutes and then quit. They did an hours work and earned a big reward. I was very concerned as they were wearing flip flops doing this so CAL OSHA would not approve of the safety gear or the lack there of. They had fun and worked very hard. Praise God we need all the help we can get.

Who we really are

For the past three months cleaning the church and ministering to the body and beginning services that are Calvary Chapel, One senior member has remained skeptical about who we really are. Calvary Chapel has a marred name in the Land of Japan among the Christian community. Others claimed the name for profit and prosperity and yet they are not the same flavor of ministry. Every church based on what the Pastor believes and teaches, his leadership style, organization, diligence, and love for the people give each church a distinctive flavor. There are many other factors which I am not listing. We had one of those conversations that led to an association about us being affiliated with another church and pastor that had a questionable reputation regarding motives. We were able to clear the air and explain some of the history which led to one of the biggest sighs of relief I have ever heard. This man who was not quick to smile was smiling. He had been slumped over with responsibility. He had been expecting us to declare our true reason for being there as if we have some secret alternative motive for doing what we do.

We were able to confidently clear the air which led to this man smiling from ear to ear. Even one of the other members said, "Wow, I have never seen you smile that big." It also led him to stand tall and rejoice that we are truly his answer to prayer. I am just an observer to the things God is doing. It is kind of weird as if I am a piece of a puzzle and being in the right place at the right time gives others a clearer picture of what God is making. Keep praying Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.

Futagi Family

Pray for this family's Salvation. Jane met Amani chan at her Yochien(Preschool) and they are good friends. This led to us meeting her parents over dinner the other night. Hiroaki is with the Japan Air Defense Force. We have been praying for the men at the airbase and asking God to make a connection there. We had great fellowship and explained the gospel to them. They have many questions. Jane had a play date with Amani Chan today and Mihoko was able to share some more. Pray as they are very interested in Jesus and his solution to man's problem of sin. No other religion offers the love and grace that Jesus gives.

Gifts from Hong Kong for the kids

The kids love it when Mom goes away because she always brings gifts home. The Girls loved their Chinese dresses. I'll have to take a picture when they wear them. Nathan got a transformable toy. I know it is supposed to be a transformer after the movie but hey this is china at it's best. The imitate everything. So a transformer is now a transformable. I was alarmed as the paint on the windows was pealing so we have shelved it for admiration and not for playing as it could have lead. Yikes. Jane was also blessed with a late birthday gift from a fan and she got some rain boots and a pair of imitation crocs. I have a pair and they are really comfortable and light.

More picts of Hong Kong

One thing about Hong Kong is the skyline. It is amazing as there are so many highrise buildings. It is any wonder the land doesn't sink into the ocean. But more blessings abounded as Mihoko was blessed with the presence of Jeremiah and Gigy Boek (Beck sound) and look there is everyone's favorite Felice. What is that she is doing at the desert bar? She is not stuffing her sweater with moon cakes and snacks? Felice we need to talk. I am just kidding but Mihoko did say she spent an awful long time at the desert bar. Maybe it was she went back for seconds and thirds so fast that it looked like she was a long time there. LOL We love you Felice.

Mihoko's Hong Kong trip

The Lord provided at the last minute for Mihoko to go to Hong Kong with Sachiko. Sachiko is one of the Ai no Kyokai board members who has been faithfully coming to our church services and she loves the Calvary style. She had never been out of the Tokyo area in her some 40+ years of life. This was her first time in an airplane and to visit another country. She was so blessed and the family of God loved on her greatly. Praise God. Mihoko got to see some old friends she hadn't been able to hook up with and they encouraged one another and were blessed by the Lord with messages to regain vision and focus on the important thing. Jesus he is to be our focus. Tommy and Joanna from Calvary Chapel Ginowan and the CCBC Japan were there with Chuck and Yumi Robb they are always a great bunch of fun and love. John Chubik from the CC School of Ministry in Coast Mesa he teaches and was a missionary planting churches in Ukraine for many years. Mihoko was also blessed with the hook up to see Noboru Ichikawa and his family. We knew Noboru back before Mihoko and I were married. He went to the CCBC when it was at Twin Peaks. He came to my folks house where we hosted a Diakonos meeting for you really old dogs if you remember the Diakonos band your old now LOL. What good times and memories of the Lord working in our hearts and strengthening us and maturing us in the Spirit. Noboru is a missionary from Pastor Dave Rolph's Church Calvary Chapel Pacific Hills. They are working with a church in the Gunma area. Praise God to see him walking in the Lord and his family is blessed. Last but never least Mihoko had some great fellowship with Marcelli from CC Tokorozawa. She is actually from Brazil and is a fashion model. She travels the world based out of Japan for modeling shoots. She is on fire for Jesus and it just so happened that while she was working in Hong Kong she could attend the conference. God bless all you guys.

Pride Stinks

Pride? who invented it? it stinks, it blinds, it cripples, it inflicts pain, it separates, it ignores, it kills, it lies, it puffs up, it is not controlled, it is not kind, it is not gentle, it it is proud, it is rude, it demands its own way, it is irritable, keeps records of all wrongs, it crys foul when truth is tolerated and enforced. Is it just me or does this smell of the flesh. No wonder God hates pride so much. It is the absolute anthithsis of his purpose for creating us to have a loving relationship with Him & others. Pastor Romaine used to say we try so hard to mask the flesh with perfumes and deoderants and make-up but no matter what you do to the flesh it still rots and stinks.May we have the fragrance of Christ and put on love it smells so much better.

False deity or the LIVING GOD it's a no brainer...

We went this summer to Chichibu and hung out at a park. On top of a nearby hill as I was playing with the camera and it telescopic lens I stumbled across this very large idol. I was shocked by its massiveness. Then reality settles in as I know there are people in trouble and suffering pain and misery and heartache praying to this deity. This Stone image has ears but can't hear, has eyes but can't see, mouth but can't speak. The soul has a deep need and desire to be placed back in touch with a person of greater power than their own to bring some kind of solace to the empty soul. We have been created with a drive within to worship. There is a sense of longing in the soul to release this need of worship and unload burdens and gratitude of life and death. The Japanese people have been taught for generations upon generations the gods of which they believe there may be many can help them. They must prove worthiness and show great honor and respect. One such devotee has erected this idol to prove worth and devotion of which I think he wasted a lot of time and effort. Now there are thousands of people coming to pay homage and respect to his deity he created. They year after year have to upkeep the image and maintain it. It is expensive. I don't know about you but I don't need a god made in my image and one I have to maintain. I need a God to create me into his image and to maintain me. Jesus Christ is my God. He has set me free from the bondage of this life and has given me hope for eternal life. Not only that he is always with me. I never have to go to his resting place and pay homage to him and hope that he will bless my life. Jesus came to bless us and give us Grace upon Grace. Such joy and happiness serving such a wonderful God. Those who pay homage to this deity can never know peace even after they die there is no hope for eternal life in heaven. Just a lot of painful memories of wasted time and money and energy serving a false god. Pray that many will come to repentance and serve the living God Jesus Christ.

Demolition begins on the Apartment Building

The weather has turned to fall-like and it is absolutely pleasant. Nathan and I after his home schooling went to town in the Apartment building. It was built sometime around the 1970's and was rededicated in the 1990's as the new Yochien (Preschool) office and building. It was the original church sanctuary here. Before there was any church they had the apartment. It is two stories and very high ceilings. The yochien quit 4-5 years ago and the place was left to rot. A family moved in temporarily but there were problems and they moved out. There were others who stayed there as well and there is a lot of junk left behind. Moving in Japan is expensive and so some people will just rather buy new stuff and move on rather than move out. Anyway, somewhere down the line some shoddy construction add ons caused pipe troubles and leakage and moldy walls and rotting carpet. The air was rancid and thick with mold. The walls had spots and growths. The carpet had mushrooms growing out of it. God wants to bless this place again and he wants us to clean it out.

So today taking the worst room in the place Nathan and I went to town and stripped it bare. No more carpet and the wall material is gone. There is so much more to be done but we were elated to get this much completed. I had all the window and doors open and just by getting rid of the rotten materials there was a tremendous change in the air. The Ai no Kyokai folks are in disbelief and thanking Jesus for the work getting done.



Next week we begin to paint the inside of the other building where we will begin services in our very own Calvary Chapel Iruma. Can't wait to say by by to the shocking green paint.

Jane Turns 5 Years Old

Our daughter turns 5 years old on Monday and we celebrated today. It was great fun. She even celebrated with 20 other kids in her kindergarten class they all had birthday's in September. We just had a good dinner and a birthday cake. Mom got her what she had been wanting some clip on earrings and a necklace. She was so happy to get them. She is growing up so fast and in 6 months she already is past me in the Japanese language. Oh for a brain to be a sponge like that. I think as we get older we just have too many files. So when new information comes along we have no place to put it. So there is a garage catch all in our head where things are in the memory but we just can't find it. Jane can have a messy room but she knows were everything is. God bless you Jane and the next year.

ESL can be fun

Who is it? I'm it. Your it. I got you. Time out. I am tired. I need a break. Those were some of the phrases we worked on today at our ESL class. It was such beautiful weather almost a fall day and the sun was shinning so we went down to a local park that has this amazing church looking pavilion. We played ball tag using the English phrases above. The target sentence was "Who is it?" The intonation and fluctuation can have you answering the door or trying to not get hit with the ball. It became too crazy and out of control and I will have to follow up with a reinforcing lesson. Needless to say we had too much fun.

No sense Stewing about it

That is one big pot of potato stew. It is the potato festival in Yamagata. I bet the manufacturer of the Scoop never intended the scoop to be used for a soup ladle.

Calvary Chapel Iruma get its own building

Hey everyone,
God continues to pour out his blessings here. We had asked to use one of the buildings on the property for our own church. They said yes. The old preschool building is now being worked on to get it ready for services. In the mean time we will be in the bigger sanctuary while the work continues. We are cleaning and painting and setting things in order. It is awesome to see what God is doing here. A man came to church today whose Father built some of the furniture here. He wants to bring his family but we don't have children's ministry yet. Pray for servants to want to come and serve the Lord ministering to the kids and also pray for a worship leader. I am currently leading worship but today was a great reminder why I am not doing this professionally. I was singing a song that has a long drawn out HOSANNA word. My kids thought I sounded like the gyouza vendor driving around the street. They sing Gyoooooozaaaaaaa many times and it is monotone and very annoying. Well maybe it is my singing that is monotone and annoying the Gyouza guy is usually on key. Tonight after dinner Mihoko was singing that part of the song and the girls giggled saying, "Oh we thought he was singing the Gyouza song. LOL


I am personally mortified. Please pray for a worship leader thank you.

Those who think they are righteous?

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus in Luke 5:32

Jesus came not to call the righteous...Hmm. Since Romans says that there is none righteous no not one then there are no righteous persons. So in effect all are sinners and all need salvation but then why would Jesus say, "Not to call the righteous?" I was taken back by the translators or paraphrase of the New Living version of the Bible. They translate that Jesus did not come to call..."Those that think they are righteous." Hmm, well Jesus was talking to the Pharisees and they did think they were righteous. They were accusing Jesus of hanging out with sinners which he was. So I am thinking -- is the gospel message centrific only to those who perceive themselves as sinful. Can it be that those who believe they are righteous and don't need a redeemer are inoculated from the healing power to the problem of sin?

Big Mac 200 Yen

I know how bad they are for you but you gotta admit at the current exchange rate this promo has the world famous Big Mac selling for $1.86. The happy meals are almost $5 so guess what my kids get for dinner? Anyway, this deal is limited and will soon be gone. So you can be happy to know I will go back to my smaller portion of 2 cheeseburgers.


But WAIT there is now the new Mega Mac and the Tamago(Egg) Bacon Mega Mac. Try to eat that thing. We all thought the Japanese were so health conscious but sometimes you will find them throwing caution to the kaze and they will wolf down a big mac and fries and a Sundae.

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Spiritual Virtigo...Snow globe theology?

"Vertigo (from the Latin vertigin-, vertigo, "dizziness," originally "a whirling or spinning movement," from vertō "I turn"[1]) is a specific type of dizziness, a major symptom of a balance disorder. It is the sensation of spinning or swaying while the body is actually stationary with respect to the surroundings.The effects of vertigo may be slight. It can cause nausea and vomiting and, in severe cases, it may give rise to difficulties with standing and walking." Wikipedia


My Brother-in-Law has vertigo. He was just riding his bicycle down the street (Okay I'll make it sound cooler) He was road racing down a fierce mountain... when all of a sudden he get's dizzy not just a little but like real wacky having to take all strength and stability to manage getting back home to call 911. He did not do anything to contract the inner ear virus but it just happened. It runs it's course in 10 days or so and he should be back in action road racing or bicycling to the doughnut shop whichever really transpired. Sorry Bro in advance.


This got me thinking about Christians who are impacted by a series of life's intrusions that cause extreme confusion. Like Job who looses all his livelihood and family and possessions then to have friends spend several days accusing him of some erroneous sin that he has never committed. So we then see in Chapter 38 that the first verse says, "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said."

Whirlwind? What is that all about? Is it a dust devil or tornado. In Japanese it is a storm. But in light of the definition of vertigo I thought that this might be the case "a whirling or spinning movement," the definition says which causes "a specific type of dizziness, a major symptom of a balance disorder. It is the sensation of spinning or swaying." Can this inner turmoil actually be a whirlwind within the mind a spiritual vertigo. Can we loose our sense of reality and balanced lifestyle and be thrust into chaos for God's glory? Perhaps?

I have a daughter who went through a heart transplant. It was a genetic disease or so we believe but the answers remain unanswered. We don't know why this all happened and what it means for the future but as we went through the wringer of emotions I came to a point of wanting to get off the craziness.

There comes that point in all our trials that we just want it to stop and we want off. We may even scream physically loud, "God get me off this roller coaster! NOW!" I did. It was at that time that the Lord spoke to me and revealed some special things about his character and nature. When we are out of control He is in control. Peter sinking in the water..."LORD HELP!" Jesus was in control. Job sitting in dust and ashes scrapping oozing sores with pottery...God speaks.

How about you? Are you in a trial? Great! That is wonderful. Now you can stop and listen and you will hear him tell you things you never knew. You may get angry with me and say, "What? you say I am suffering just to hear God? That's crazy?" Let me ask if you were listening before as intently as you are able to now?

My son sometimes will not look at me when I speak to him instructions about an activity that is a serious event. He must do these things for safety to others. He'll do the, "Yea Yea got it dad..." But but I will once in a while just grab him and look into his eyes and express the seriousness of the issue at hand. It seems in our most violent times of life the Lord is with us and comforting us even as we are loosing lunch and dinner and everything else... the Lord is with us and comforting us. Paul never thought a 10 pound boulder upside his head would be neat to try out some day. Come on Barny hit me with that boulder I want to...doiggggg. But we know Paul did suffer some severe afflictions and then considered it joy to suffer these things for our sake. What...that rock must have hit some sensitive stuff. Yet he did see heaven.

But as he goes on in his letter to the Corinthians we find there is now a ministerial call to share comfort with others. In 2 Corinthians 1 we find Paul saying, "Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."


In 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. The treasure in us is God. I am now wondering if we are not a snow globe and all the junk settles in our life and God must shake it up again to get people to look and go Ohh...Ahh Wow God is wonderful... Just a thought?

I know God loves each of us very much but we must remember God is God and he is sovereign and will do what it takes to bring himself the greatest glory. He did in Job's life...He did in Pauls life...I know he did in my life... How about your life? Is God at work? If he is then you can expect a shake up or two from time to time. Give him the glory great things he has done.

Note: My Brother-in-law was a great object lesson for me to write this but he is not the intended recipient nor is this in any way a commentary on my philosophy of why he is on a couch with vertigo. He was just food for thought that led me to think about food for faith...Nahum 1:3 "...the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds [are] the dust of his feet."

The Lord has his way...and the clouds of dust are the witness of his activity... Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

The clouds here are the saints of all the Christians who all went through struggles and trying times. We will all experience a shake up from time to time...expect it and then when it comes give him the glory no matter how bad you feel. Job said though he slay me yet will I trust him. Job 13:15. I want to do the same won't you? God bless

Genkan Christianity

Are there Genkan Christians who go into God's house only to stay in the Genkan and not experience anything God has for them? Genkan is the entry way in a Japanese home where you greet someone and remove and put on shoes. Some people don't want to bother you or take off their shoes and they will resist the pleas to enter in and will be content to just remain in the Genkan. I have seen personally on many occasions where two ladies will talk for hours in the Genkan. I wish that Christians would fully enter in to the Lords house to experience all that he has for us. Why settle for stinky shoe storage. There is a whole kitchen and living room to explore and places for special rest and peace. Places for exercising faith and worship. There are places in God's house for intimacy with him. Yea God rocks and I want all that he has for me and also to see others live the life of a Christian to the fullest.




A side note these are not my genkan. Mine is a mess and I can never find my flip flops. I like it that way to prevent genkan lethargy. Just come on in.

English is Fun in Japan

It is not my desire to poke fun at the mistakes but they just make me laugh when I see them and it's cute. Some of these photos are ones I took traveling around or shopping. See if you can catch the humor. Some are obvious others are subtle. Hope you get a chuckle out of them too.

I love my ESL class

My Birthday was a week ago but my kids and their moms got me a birthday cake. It was a blessing. So yummy. Thank you guys for a great memory. We are really becoming like a family sharing in many things and ways. I do pray that I can share more of Jesus with them. They know the gospel and seeds are being sown. Pray for their faith to grow. It was a great time.

Piece of Mind Carry?

On the way to Ikea I got a chuckle out of the name of the carrier truck company. It said Piece of Mind Carry. We could wonder are they carrying my mom's piece of mind that she always had a desire to give to someone so now they are shipping it over seas? Is this a new cuisine of Japan like a piece of cake now we have a piece of mind. What does that taste like? Next we will have sushi and piece of mind pizza toppings...

Ikea is in Japan only 1.5 to 2 hours away

We took the time while the kids are on Summer vacation to take a road trip to Ikea. It was fun. The trip was long while going because I used my great navigational skills to take main highways which are convenient and simplistic but the traffic can extend the trip. On the way back I listened to my wife and took another 5 or 6 different streets and we shaved off 30+ minutes on the trip. We could have taken the toll roads but that would have been about $60 dollars US round trip.


The facility is just like the Costa Mesa store which means there are hundreds of similar stores around the globe. It was very much a treat as we used to spend a lot of time just putting the kids in the day care center and sipping coffee and talking in the Cafeteria. We did stumble upon a bargain day where the 10 meatball dish was 1/2 price so we chowed down. The kids enjoyed the fun and we were lounge lizards trying out all the soft chairs. We don't have a lot of chairs here so it was nostalgic to hang out.

Visioneering interesting read

As Christians we are always to endeavor to gain wisdom and knowledge. I am still reading, "The Jesus Way" but I had been reading this book by Andy Stanley whose dad is the famous preacher Charles Stanley you might have heard on KKLA for those of you in California. Andy his son is an accomplished writer, pastor, and church planter. He challenges me in an area I am very sensitive about. The term Vision versus Visualization. They are diffeent. Visualization is the New Age term for worship. You want it visualize it. The Faith teachers use the "Name-it-and-claim-it" technique. This is neither of those. Andy's book is looking at the life of Nehemiah and discover how having a vision is important to the strength and fruitfulness of a Spirit-led life. The Bible says, "Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he. Prov. 29:18" Andy is clever in his very positive encouragement and analysis of Nehemiah and the vision he was given by God and then he acted upon it. So many men have vision while in College or seminary and then it vanishes when they get out. Why? They lack the means and steps whereby to emplore the Lord for leading and direction to fulfill the vision. I am not even half way so my analysis is going to have to be tabled until then. It is a good read so far. Below is the Amazon explanantion of the book.

Book Description
God has crafted a unique vision for each of our lives, a voyage of great discovery filled with fantastic riches that are imbedded in the very journey itself. Yet few know where to begin this journey and fewer still know the questions to ask to get them on their way. With warm, down-to-earth practicality, Andy Stanley explores the ordinary life of Nehemiah and his vision for accomplishing the extraordinary. The astonishing concepts learned from Nehemiah are described in this practical guide that provides the direction, motivation, and encouragement for rising above the ordinary and realizing the unique vision that God has for you and you alone.

The Chichibu Hebi Slide/ The snake slide

Hey we went to Chichibu yesterday and had a blast just playing at a park with an amazing roller slide. It was very long and when I used to work as Kodak they had these roller slides for packages and I thought it would be fun to ride on them but it was not safe and we'd get fired for doing it. Well, here in Japan there is no OSHA and they have left this slide open to the public and it is free. I even rode it and boy was it fun.

The Jesus Way

I was just given a book to read called the way of Jesus by Eugene H. Peterson. It comes out of the starting blocks swinging at the modern current Madison avenue techniques churches employ to do church. He focuses on, "The Jesus way is wedded to the Jesus truth brings about the Jesus life." (p4) So much of the church today is focused on the truth of Jesus yet when it comes to the way of Jesus there is a total disconnect and thus we have churches without the life of Jesus even though they teach the truth but they lack the way. Corporate ideology in the church quenches the way and Mr. Peterson says it is wrong in his view.


Here is a long quote from pages 6-7
"The great American innovation in congregation is to turn it into a consumer enterprise. We Americans have developed a culture of acquisition, an economy that is dependent on wanting more, requiring more. We have a huge advertising industry designed to stir up appetites we didn't even know we had. We are insatiable.
It didn't take long for some of our Christian brothers and sisters to develop consumer congregations. If we have a nation of consumers, obviously the quickest and most effective way to get them into our congregations is to identify what they want and offer it to them, satisfy their fantasies, promise them the moon, recast the gospel in consumer terms; entertainment, satisfaction, excitement, adventure, problem solving, whatever. This is the language we Americans grow up on, the language we understand. We are the world's champion consumers, so why shouldn't we have state-of-the-art consumer churches?
Given the conditions prevailing in our culture, this is the best and most effective way that has ever been devised for gathering large and prosperous congregations. Americans lead the world in showing how to do it. There is only one thing wrong: this is not the way in which God brings us into conformity with the life of Jesus and sets us on the way of Jesus' salvation. This is not the way in which we become less and Jesus becomes more....We can't gather a God-fearing, God-worshiping congregation by cultivating a consumer pleasing, commodity-oriented congregation...The Jesus way and the Jesus truth must be congruent. Only when the Jesus way is organically joined with the Jesus truth do we get the Jesus life."

In planting a church in Japan clearly the Japanese are on the heals of America in consumerism. I might argue they are slightly ahead. It would be easy to give them a consumerism church and there are big works in progress with flash and lights and lots of pizazz. But they are lacking the simplicity of just a simple walk with Jesus. We walk with him in the good times and the bad, in the happy and the sad, we walk with Jesus when he blesses and when he disciplines. We are married to Jesus and need to become intimate with him on our own. We need to be still and know that he is God. To jump in a congregation for an hour singing praise songs to Jesus can be a exhilarating experience but you haven't learned the Jesus life.

The Japanese need love and grace. They have so many laws and restrictions and there is so much duality of persons that you can't trust anyone. The Japanese just need a simple loving relationship with Jesus. Not another God with millions of rules in order to obtain blessings. But a God of Love that blesses because that is his character and nature.

I have not but read the introduction and begun the first chapter so when I finish I will give a more complete report.

My latest attempt at a new sign

What'd ya think?

Grace Christian Fellowship VBS WOW!!

WOW is all I can say...The GCF crew had at least 100 kids rocking and dancing and doing motions to music that was way cool and bilingual. They really put a lot of work into preparing for these kids. They had the Crock Dock VBS material and took even the DVD's and did voice overs in Japanese. The kids went crazy. My kids Nathan, and Rachel, and Jane were loving it. All 5 days of insanity went well with many kids giving their lives to Jesus. Pray that their parents will too. Pray that the kids can come back for Sunday School. Pray for the GCF crew to recover after all that. My kids are still wanting the CD of the music in Japanese to listen to in the car. Thank you GCF guys for a wonderful time.

First Sunday of Calvary Chapel Iruma

Everyone is wondering what happened to the Bolingers and Calvary Chapel Iruma. I am sorry for not responding sooner.

It was pouring rain all morning before the service began the rain let up but still sprinkled. The Ai no kyokai family joined us in supporting our first day preaching. They are of a very old traditional service with Sambika (Hymns) These hymns are very special yet many are in an old Japanese that many of the words are a lost vocabulary and they don't really know exactly what they sing. So when I belted out the Worship for our service it was a surprise for them. Yet they tolerated it. The timeless praise songs touch the heart in all languages. I have been asked to teach this coming Sunday morning for the Ai no Kyokai church. They also asked me to lead worship for them. Hmm, is God doing something here? This is very shocking to any of you who know my music talents and capabilities. To sing in Japanese is a very big challenge to get the words pronounced in the correct order on the right note has been the suffering of all gaijin in Japan. So the Holy Spirit did a great job ministering through Mihoko and I. She translated everything. It is all a blurr now. I spoke on Luke 1 with Zacharaias and Elizabeth being used by God in their elderly years. "With God nothing is impossible". We had a total of 13 persons 5 were my family.

We had a great time of fellowship afterwards and the guests who came and visited were given a royal tour of the place. Any of you want to come and visit anytime it'd be our pleasure to show you around.

We are going to do an outreach this Friday night (Normally our Bible Study) no one has come for a few weeks so we will go to the train station and hand out some tracks and fliers.

Last Saturday we had a work day at the church to knocked out several piles of trash and debre and we were blessed with family coming from all over Japan. We had one family drive all the way from Yokohama and they stayed until dark. We had to pull them away from the clean up. We were also privileged to have my friend Pastor Jonathan Wilson from Grace Christian Fellowship and a team from his church came out and bless with clean up. They literally scorched the place. They had three piles of trash burning. Jonathan now has smooth arms and I believe a few less eye brow hair. Yet in all the melee there was still more to do. The Ai no Kyokai folks were so happy and blessed. It was a tremendous burden lifted for them as their neighbors, the gas co, the electric co, and others complained so much about the mess of weeds and over grown trees.

I gave the Ai folks a shock yesterday as I cut down another tree and the mess was piled back up. But today we cleared that too. So we also made two more truck runs and have widdled down the trash to maybe two or three more truck loads. We still haven't touched the inside of the building. This is just outside. There are 7 buildings on the property with 35 years of clutter from different churches that have not been kept up but have gone to waste. In Japanese all the Ai folks keep saying is "Motai nai." (waste) That means it's too bad this should not have happened. That is my paraphrase. We still had two small piles of trash burning today. I have yet to even tackle the back of the place. There is still a jungle back there. If anyone wants to come and get real dirty and see some of the wildest bugs on earth come on out. The fertile soil has lots of critters. I have been so blessed by God's infininte imagination to create some of the most ugly and heinous looking creatures yet there is a beauty in those things. There are these iridescent blue lizards that rock. They are so cool. I found a tape worm that was two feet in length. One of the Ai folks swears to not want to eat linguine anymore after seeing that. We also have a bull frog the size of a Chihuahua. I have seen 4 or 5 different kinds of Preying mantis they are weird things. The creepiest for me is the Cicada. I just freak out at the noise those things make.

I have been announcing on the radio our church services and we have been getting the word out personally. I have been sticking labels on about two hundred tracts and we need to do thousands more. I also made a church sign out of poster board and electrical tape. Sunday it rained so hard it was a sticky mess when we went home. This week I am painting some wood signs but alas I am needing to make some banners and eventually a real sign as the Lord leads.

My kids were invited by Grace Christian Fellowship to come to their VBS this week. It was awesome! We found they are a 20 minute car ride from us so it gave the kids a great opportunity to learn about Moses and the Exodus story. They are singing and dancing everywhere now.

My ESL class was down to three kids today as all are on summer vacation. We had fun playing some hangman today.

The Radio program is going great the radio station staff are checking out the songs I am playing. I was playing the Okinawan sensation Hakugaijin's new CD "Ai Land" and it is a rap/rock/worship compilation and it is really catchy music. The DJ's and the engineers are laughing at my funny Japanese and the music they are enjoying. One intern came up asking for information on some worship music. So God is using this very different radio show.

Pray for us to continue to look to Jesus. Pray we will seek to always be praying giving thanksgiving for all things the Lord brings our way. Pray we will have that unction from the Holy Spirit to be faithful and love with God's agape love. We are wanting to plan so many things. I was wanting and praying for a VBS here but I am looking at the middle of August and we are not there. So pray we can do maybe just a one or two day VBS and share the gospel with our neighbors and friends. Pray for a possible Fall Church Matsuri (festival) as the Ai no Kyokai folks are wanting to have a re-introduction to the neighborhood event. We are seeing a fine line we are walking between trying to remain planting a Calvary Chapel that is distinct from their Church and also they desire for us to minister with them. Pray we can just lease the facility and just be CCI for the whole thing. Pray that we will not get so consumed with the care of this facility that we loose touch with the mission of seeking lost souls and introducing them to Jesus. Pray for laborers, we need worship leaders and Children's ministry workers and mostly we need people. Pray for a plentiful harvest.

Pray for Kato san she has had four surgeries and is in pain. She is ornery enough to keep coming to church though. Pray for Ojii chan (Komine's dad) he is screening for lymphatic cancer. Pray for Noda Sensei who is in Hammamatsu performing music outreach. Pray for Jan Jones who had an attack of kidney stones she has a wild story about her ambulance ride to downtown Tokyo for care. She is still dealing with pain and discomfort. Pray for her to maintain her schedule. I am ashamed and feel as if I don't do much when you find a go-getter like Jan. She is everywhere and knows everyone. Pray for the Bolingers to have reprieve from numerous mosquito bites. Nathan is the champ with about 35 so he says. I am too stinky because I am not bit hardly at all. YES they do spray with repellent. These vampires are so hungry they endure the repellent and attack. Pray for us to get our Home Schooling Curriculum ordered and shipped here on time as school is only three weeks away. Yikes.

God bless you all and thank you to those who are praying for us. It is so wonderful to know there are folks lifting us up to the Lord to strengthen us and minister through us to the lost in Iruma. I also want to thank the physical supporters who are sacrificing during these difficult days. We don't know who helps us but we are being blessed with our basic needs being met.

Love in Christ,

Dan Mihoko and the kids.

With God Nothing is Impossible

I used to practice preaching when I was a kid. I have always admired the art of excellence in public oratory. To see men of God take the stories of the Bible and make them come alive and bring application into our lives is what rocks my world. I have studied the Bible for years and I have participated in numerous Bible studies over the years. I have preached in the best Calvary's in Japan so I thought I'd be prepared for the first day of preaching at Calvary Chapel Iruma. I had my message ready and pouring over it. Yet even though there was only a handful of people there I was tremendouly nervous. I was stepping into the dream now made a reality by the Living God Jesus Christ. He has brought me to Japan and throughout my life has guided my steps. I have a history of seeing the Lord move me in this direction as if he had it planned all my life. It is funny how for years others saw the Lord's leading in my life and knew it matter-of-factly that I'd go to Japan and start a church. I'd say I don't know what God is doing? Then they would shake there heads and point out all the indicators of God's leading and they'd see it but I'd be like a deer in the headlights. I see the light but I am trying to make out the silouette behind the lights. Today was a great day. Don't let my rehtoric dissapoint you. It was tremendously a blessing and smooth to conduct service. But in my emotions were on edge holding back tears of joy for what God has done. It was just four years ago when I was sitting at a hospital bed of my 4 year old daughter with her chest wide open from the heart transplant. I was depressed at the life ahead. I actually was praying for God to take her to heaven for a better life. It was a selfish prayer and I am ashamed of myself for it. Yet here she was alive and give the gift of life with a heart transplant. But my sterotyping of life after a transplant was limited. I felt the quality of life was hampered by visits to the Doctor and emergency room runs. I thought we were going to be hermits living in a steril enviroment away from real life. I gave up on all my ministry goals and aspirations. I should have been the happiest man alive as my daughter was recovering from a heart transplant but I was the one with a sick heart in need of a transplant from my selfishness. God in his mercy met me at a Men's retreat and the Holy Spirit was poured out in my life afresh. We were educated about the life of Post-Transplantation. We are free but must play by some rules to maximize the benefits of a PT life. Risky behavior is what jepordizes our quality of life. The same for a Christian if we live a life of risky behavior we jepordize our quality of life with Jesus and our walk in the Holy Spirit. I became convoluted in my mind and thinking but when I got my eyes off my self and on Jesus I was revived and God graciously continued to open doors of ministry. It is God and God alone that has allowed us to come to Japan and minister. So today as I stood in the pulpit and realized all that the Lord has done to bring us here I was emotionally choking back the tears of Joy. From my prayer in front of my daughters hospital bed to my prayer this morning in front of the church the Lord has been faithful. I give him all the glory and praise. I preached this morning if they were to look to me or my talents they will be dissapointed but if they look to Jesus and his ability then "Nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37

Monk Turns Physician Still has no answers

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090802x1.html
The link above is to an article in the Japan Times that talks about a dissillusioned Buddhist monk who resigned and became a Doctor. Yet even as a Doctor he has no answers to the hard questions in life. The quote below is from page two where he deals with the death of one of his patients dying. I found the article and interesting insight into the thinking of the Japanese and the Buddhist religion in Japan.

"When he asked me, "How long will this pain last?" I couldn't tell him how long. Neither did I feel it was right to say, "You're going to die soon, so that's when you will stop feeling this pain." And he knew that himself. When he asked me why, he was asking something else. He was asking me about the pain of existence, and that is a question with no answer. Maybe he was looking for something spiritual, and all I could do was be with him."

I am no expert on pain and I am not adequately going to deal with the subject of Pain in its existential philosophy but I just had the thought...

God created pain as the megaphone of our existence as CS Lewis put it. When we try to create the illusion of reality as not being real then it is pain that snaps us back to reality and we say, "Yup, I'm alive alright." But it should be also that which drives us to the creator of our existence. He is the only one who will deliver us from much pain in death. Jesus promises paradise and eternal life a new body with no more suffering. Man rejecting Jesus will spend eternity in pain gnashing teeth at the realization that they had the choice of a better eternal existence.

Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

Nathan the artist

Our son Nathan (11) has a natural talent for Art. He draws amazingly exactly what he sees. He has not taken any formal art classes and we are very proud of his talents. The girls were making playdoh food when Nathan walked by and in a matter of about 20 minutes fashioned the Mario Character and other things from his memory. I am impressed and proud.

Japan Air Defense Summer Festival

The Japan Air Defense Corp had their annual summer festival (Obon Matsuri) at the ole Johnson Airforce Base. It was a hot summer evening and the partying was happening and the obon dancing, and the people were very friendly. They had an 800 fireworks display at the end of the night. The kids also enjoyed looking at the old planes on display. It was a fun night.

Rachel Turned 8 Years Old

On July 26th we celebrated Rachel's birthday. We praise God for Rachel's life. Back in 2005 She was dead and God brought her back to life with a heart transplant. She has been very healthy ever since. I pray her teeth finally grown in this year and she applies herself to study. She is all girl and loves to play dress up and she loves to do the make-up on the face thing. I don't understand it. Her quote on the matter is..."Because it's fun daddy!" She did get a narly eye infection a few months back using some other girls eye shadow stuff. So we are learning as we grow.


We had a little party at home for her (Mom is promising a sleep over some day soon) and Nathan and Jane just loved on her. They are such great kids when they are not fighting. They only fight about once a day and it is usually because of some unwanted or unsolicited affection. Nathan is a hugger and loves to sneak hugs at anytime. Usually at the inapporpriate times especially with the girls. Yet sometimes it is the other way around. I love my kids so much. I pray that God will use them for his glory.