Friday, May 30, 2008

Beezy Beezy Beezy





I came home to a plague of Bees in our upstairs patio. Remember I put all of our boxes from the attic out on the patio and I covered them with a blue tarp. One of the big boxes was empty. Anyway the white file boxes must have looked like bee keeper hives. The swarm scared my Mother-in-Law. She quickly closed all the doors and windows. I waited until dark and grabbed the box and threw it over the balcony. The bees were mad. You could hear them buzzing. I had chicken skin from head to toe. As I ran inside and shut the door a couple of bees came in with me. Yikes! My cieling is 12 feet high and they are buzzing around the lights up high. I thought oh great we have a plague. Then the Lord reminded me of Samson as he killed the lion the bees made a hive in the lion carcase. And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness Judges 14:14. The Lord spoke to me as I killed my business and the activity that brought forth meat for my family. Then he said but I am going to make sweetness out of the strong. I was encouraged as I am in shock like in a car accident. I just quit my business. We are now totally supported by the Lord. (like we weren't before duh!) I should be rejoicing 100% but I find my weak faith lacking in the area of confidence in the Lord. That sounds bad because God has sustained us for all these years and he will continue to be sweet and produce sweetness in those who let him bee busy within them. I am the lion who is dead and the lord is to allow the buzzing activity to satisfy others. Pray that I won't go to far with this anology. It could bug some of you. We could start a new cult and call it the In-sect. I am so sorry that was bad.

Thursday, May 29, 2008




The Swords of Japan are the best in the world. No one will contend that the technique of the Japanese Sword makers is among the best. My friend's grandfather acquired one from a WWII Japanese officer of some ranking. The sword is stout and has weathered the test of time. For more than 60 years and two generations of play that has been a testimony of this special weapon that for hundreds of years in Japan was the life and judge of many. The glory of the sword speaks volumes. The secrets of the sword are still being studied today and it appears there is a special technique to the folding of the steel and the hammering to create the perfect edge. The fire is heated to the right temperature and then the hammer is applied to the steel molding and shaping it with each blow. Sparks fly, and the temper sets and more heat and hammering and then the smith folds the steel adding more strength and form. I see in the words of Jeremiah 23:29 the Lord says, "(Is) not my word like as a fire? and like a hammer (that) breaketh the rock in pieces?. The Lord points out that the Word of God the bible is two things a fire and a hammer. Guess who is the rock? Did you know steel in its rawest form is a lump of rock ore. Yup I get hammered as I read the word and I get fired up about the great promises therein. As I set my ways and become rigid I find that the fire and hammering of the word in my daily devotions has a tendency to fold my will and I bow my knee to Christ in submission to him and his direction for my life. This word that is like a fire and hammer is spoken of in Hebrews 4:12 in a great way. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thought and intents of the heart." The word is more powerful and sharper that any two-edged sword and it is quick. No slow deaths with the word. I discover that with the fire and hammering action occurring in my heart I discover this truth a reality when my thoughts come into the light of the word and the intent of my heart was not right. James says your prayers are not answered because you ask amiss. I find reading the word before praying separates my soulish desires and the spiritual ones that are sent from heaven. Read your Bible and after time spent in the fire and being hammered you become a work of art that is stronger than anything know to mankind able to with stand the worst trials in life. Keep youselves in the fire of the word and allow him to fold and make you in to his poema or workmanship for his glory. Many will want to know what your secret is...just tell them "word up!"

Meet My Sister Carol and her son Jonathan

You know 8 years is a big gap. After 42 years of being 8 years behind my Sister Carol I am noticing the gap closing. I have another sister 7 years older than me (Nancy) and then there is Ruth who is 4 years older than me. I grew up as the only boy but also as one who had many moms. I was subjected to dress up and dolls and bay city rollers before I knew what was cool. Bobby Sherman? Partridge Family? I had a blessed childhood when my sisters wanted to go out guess who got to tag along. With parents involved in youth ministry I was attending more Jr High & High School camps before I went to my own age group camp. My sister graduated High School before I began Jr High. So I have never felt that close. We have all been involved in ministry through missions or outreach or just being active in the church all our lives. Carol's Husband Mark is a great Dallas guy. He is pastoring the United Evangelical Free Church in Seattle Washington. http://unitedefc.org. Anyway, as we traverse the ages and raising kids and being in the ministry we are finding our common ground increasing and drawing us closer. We have an affinity with our struggles in our parents and their constant well-meaning elderly love. The only regret is that we live so far from each other. With us moving to Japan the distance will only increase. Yet with heaven drawing nearer than ever we will all soon be home and our affinity will change to that of the being in the presence of the Lord. I can't wait. Carol thanks for coming and hanging out it was a blessing. Pray for Jonathan her son who is an undergrad at BIOLA my alma mater. He has a bright future ahead and it just tickles me to see families raise kids who somehow turn out okay and walk with the Lord and seek after the things of the Lord. Oh Yea, Carols daughter Amanda is also at BIOLA. Pray for her too and the youngest of the family Caitlin is graduating Hight School and flying back to Gordon Cronwell Undergrad College. It may be call Gordon U? Anyway, Pray for the church in Seattle as the folks are growing in faith and love and they have a cool shepherd to lead them to green pastures in the word of God.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Iruma has a unique past

The year is 1893 and the son of a silk farm manufacturing plant becomes Christian. They had visitors from the US and they wanted them to stay in a place that would accommodate them. They built a home for the visitors modeled after a home from the US. They also built a Methodist Church and today the Nihon Kirisuto Kyoudan still has a congregation of about 200 active members. We are reading a lot of stuff on our city we are moving to and learning about it.





The Apartment that we were praying for was rented out so we have to go with our plan "B" which may be God's plan "A" so pray that we will keep plugging away at God's plan "A" and go where he wants us to be. School is winding down and we have been packing some things and taking things to store at grandma's and the garage sale at my sisters (June 21st).

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Scout Obiwan O Rama






WOW was it hot to day. It was in the 90's at Irvine Valley College and the car was 97 degrees. But with all that being said we had a great time with all of Orange Counties Scouts at the annual Scout O Rama. It is like a carnival that the troops put on displays to demonstrate skill or help earn badges or to just show off stuff they have. Some of the folks had nothing to do with scouts but were there to just show off how dedicated they were to their hobby. One troop was into building R2D2 robots. For about $1000.00 in parts and a years worth of time and dedication you too can build a remote control R2D2 robot. This troop invited the Star Wars crew to come out and pose for picts. The Scouts loved every minute of it. It was also a promo for the new Star Wars Cartoon coming to theaters in August something about Clone wars again. The Calvary Chapel Troop 316 (John 3:16) set up a booth for living water and we have free cups of water to hand out with tracks and materials. It was cool to be there. But it was really hot weather.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Warfare or just family of accidents

Well we have been experiencing some accidents all happening at the same time. I don't really know if it is Spiritual Warfare or my family just being accident prone. If I believe that this is attributed to Warfare even though it is not I have lost nothing but have insured my family in being more protected by praying more fervently. If I blow this off as not being warfare and it is then I am a sitting target and we will experience more things that could escalate to worse reactions. These kind of accidents are probably not of a warfare but I am not taking chances and praying that God would protect us. We are prone to being careless and clutzy. I would hate to walk around Japan and not be covered by prayer. The following all happened in a weeks time. Some of you I am sure can relate. My attitude is not what is going to happen next. Rather my attitude is bring it on. We had a bumper bender, a burned leg on a iron, a split scalp that needed two staples, and my 10 year old got a big zit. The last one was just for fun. The other thing is we have lost about 5 hubcaps in the lat three months. I have bought two sets of the caps. I think we will go commando from now on.



Monday, May 12, 2008

Rachel's Heart Recording Session






WOW, We have been so blessed. I was asked by a small men's group bible study to go and share about Rachel's story. She received a heart transplant in november 2005. At this study they recorded a dvd of my mess, well there was a dad there whose son records for a living and he's a pro. He is working on some Disney stuff and others. But they were able to rent a private studio for free. Thanks and God bless you Adam. Nic the son approached us through a friend and said let's get the story on video. I said great. This was totally an answer to prayer. Mihoko and I have been praying that someone would help us to get through the difficulty and piece it together. This was way over the top. I can't wait to see how it all turns out. Nic and Ashley and Brittany God bless you for all your efforts. May God use this to bring many into his kingdom and comfort those going through similar situations.

GARAGE SALE! WAHOOOOO PRAISE GOD

The Garage sale was a complete success because of Jesus. We sold so much stuff. Stuff I just knew would not leave the trash dump went out and for a good price. God really blessed us. I am totally seeing the Lord do the work to send us to Japan to teach the word.






We will have a second garage sale in June on the 21st in Cerritos at my folks house. I will announce more later. But for now thanks be to God who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Friday, May 2, 2008

We're Garage Sale Ready...Come and get it



Dude the blessings have been pouring in. I have no idea all the things that has been donated to us. The garage sale of the century okay the month is here. There are bikes, bookshelves, file cabinets, tools, toys, stuff animals, and ceramic animals, men's, women's, kids, and baby clothes. We have a double hammock, a sofa, a day bed, end tables, cups, plates, pictures, sports equipment. I am so blown away but the generosity of the bretheren. Now pray that we sell everything.

Saturday only, 4271 Fireside Cir Irvine
Near Culver and Walnut
We start at 7 am
Come at 5 am to help set up and get signs out
Come at 3 pm to help clean up
Come in the day and buy buy buy