FIGING

Slamming Doors

2012-02-10T01:10:00.000+09:00

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came;
and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Matthew 25:10

Incident: Laying in bed warm it is 6am and the rumblings of family indicate the day is getting started. There is a door that separates two areas of our Apartment. It has a bent hinge causing it to just barely bump the doorjamb. I have warned the kids many times to not slam the door. Before we moved into this Apt two years ago on our first day looking at the place the wind slammed the door twice which yielded two neighbors to come over and scold us for being Urusai (Noisy). So with this fear constantly in our head I tell the kids don't slam the door. This one morning though there was an unusual amount of slamming. There was loud voices and slamming. When someone has a heart problem the last thing you want to do is startle them and cause heart trauma. As I lay in this warm bed fading in and out of consciousness I am startled awake, SLAM, "Oh those kids." roll over close eyes again. SLAM, "I wish they wouldn't slam the door. SLAM (I have 3 kids) We are going to get in trouble by the neighbors. SLAM (the wife?) Being startled 4 times was all my heart could take anger was the emotion of the day. I shot out of bed opened my bedroom door. I inhale to blast them with both barrels of my teaching on why we should not slam doors. When all of a sudden everything goes blank. The reboot happens while I'm on the floor. My eyes open, I'm hearing my panicked wife calling my name, my oldest son is calling my name they are putting hands on me trying to find out what just happened. My Son was fearful I had just entered eternity. In 10 seconds I stand up say, "Please stop slamming the door." Then I returned to bed for about 20 minutes. This is part of the heart problem now. As the heart is unable to pump normal when an event that causes me to move fast or say I eat a meal and stand up too quickly I get dizzy. That morning with anger being in the mix caused a crumpling to the floor. It was quite humbling. I now have to be careful of really managing my emotions. I have to choose my battles based on how much energy do I have for this. Which has been quite nice as I not having energy usually just walk away and don't say a word. The kids know and are helping to do their part. I must say this our home has been so much more peaceful now. All but the slamming of the door.

I'm working on a new one be patient

2012-02-09T21:52:00.001+09:00

Hey gang,
I have been working on many writings simultaneously and none of them are any good. When I get something worth writing or reading I'll post soon. Enjoy the peace of nothing to read. Maybe I'll write about nothing. Like Seinfelds show that was about nothing.

100 pounds part 2: Things that weigh 100 pounds stolen from other blogs

2012-01-13T23:17:00.000+09:00

In celebration of my recent loosing of 100 pounds I wanted to see what on Earth also weighed 100 pounds. So here goes. And to give credit where credit is due. I have appropriated these picts from other sights except those that resemble me.

Me at 225 pounds or 102 kilograms

Me at 325 pounds or 148 kilograms

100 pound black lab

100 Pounds of Dumbells and I stress dumb

100 pound foal/ baby horse for those who don't know what a foal is.

Newborn baby hippo

100 pound prize winning pumpkin

100 pounds of marlin this may actually be like 300 to 400 pounds but it was a cool picture.

100 pounds of Tuna ooo Sushi...someone get the soy sauce.

My beautiful 10 year old daughter Rachel with her uniform and school backpack weights 100 pounds.

Wow wow wow I just can't believe I carried all that weight around with me. Talk about a major wake up call for me. Praise God!

I was that fat with me filling in those 44 size pants. Anyone want a slightly used pair of size 44/30 jeans?

My daughter Jane was having fun with my old pants. She stood in one leg and then lifted the other leg up over her head.

My bug Jane is now a worm or some other thing. Now its time for tickle torture. Hahahahaha

100 pounds of ramdom thoughts

2012-01-13T22:51:00.000+09:00

Thoughts on loosing over 100 pounds of weight...

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; Isaiah 55:1-3a

How do we get Fat?
It is amazing as an individual can eat and eat and eat. I ate for pleasure, I ate because of anger. I ate when I worried. I ate when I was depressed. And in between it all I ate just because I love to EAT. I'm a textbook emotional eater. I personally refuse to blame my DNA or upbringing. This was all me eating to live and living to eat. I could blame all those church potlucks throughout the years. I grew up Baptist and we sure love our potlucks, agape feasts, hot dish Sunday. It doesn't matter we will make every excuse for why we were not in church but we never ever missed a potluck. I can remember eating a whole platter of deviled eggs. Or the ice-cream root beer floats. I'm going to make myself hungry. I did learn from my folks a good family night included some popcorn, ice-cream (Best if homemade), and chocolate cake. I'd just take it to the extreme of every night being family night. When I was in high school and the military I smoked. When I got out I quit...or did I? I took up drinking sodas. Big ones, 44 ounces refilled 2 to 4 times a day. I was in a service job repairing garage doors and I ate almost everyday at a burger joint. Never a single that was sissy. It was double or nothing and of course super size.

Who is to blame?
My obesity took 20 years to achieve. It really isn't a proud feat. Although, as the years went by pride was feat achieved as I became a "Big Man" and I wore big man sizes I felt more grown up. I could try to psychologically analyze this to the nth degree but all that would prove would be that I'm not the one to blame. It was genetics, or family upbringing, or associated behaviors from life trauma any of which I could go down that road to achieve nothing but placing the blame somewhere else and affording myself grace to celebrate with a Carl's Jr. Super Star with cheese curly fries and the 44. I would be justifying my behavior based on external circumstances. Oh, I would agree all the fodder to fuel the blame is there. If I wanted to pass the blame I could and I would be in the world's eyes justified. Isn't that what everyone is doing these days? It's not our fault it is my parents and the dysfunctional family syndrome. HA! There has never been in the history of mankind a truly functional family. We all have sin natures that make us all dysfunctional. The Cleavers came close but even there they kept messing things up and the Beav kept having to say, "Gosh, Wally, I'm sorry." I don't want to be like the world. I want to live with a higher standard. I believe in the God of the Bible and his Son Jesus Christ as my God and savior. Through the work of the cross Jesus has dissed the "dys" in dysfunctional. Now through the power of the Holy Spirit I am able to be forgiven of my mistakes and sin. My pride, my fears, my blatant disregard for the God of Heaven and Earth and to ignore him as my creator is sin. I had to repent. I repented many years ago but in my wealth of learning I have allow situational ethics to direct me more than the Author of the Bible. I have legalized some behaviors and liberalized other. I am saved the whole time and even able to serve God with a certain limitation. But life can become confusing and distorted. I am specifically speaking of my personal relationship to Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Tying it all together:
In dieting the hospital had me eat an 1800 calorie diet. I had been for 3 months eating a 1000 calorie diet and suffering and I wasn't loosing as much. But on the higher calorie diet I began to loose a lot more. If I go up 300 to 400 on the calories I won't loose at all and
500 over cause a gain. So it is all about balance. Our spiritual life is the same way. We feast on the Word of God it is our sustenance. If we limit ourselves and starve our spirit of the proper amount of spiritual calories then we don't grow and we actually don't loose the fat. If we over eat on the word I know I don't retain much. Our church likes big conferences where all day long 8 to 10 speakers deliver the best meals of the word of God and we in a "All-U-Can-Eat" style overeat on the Word. The next day we feel good but virtually everything is not retained. So the proper balance is between you and the doctor (Lord Jesus Christ). Ask him what is the appropriate amount of spiritual food you need per day and start feasting and getting spiritually healthy.

Dr. Bennett writes, "The Bible is God's nutrient to prevent your Christian life from being spiritually stunted. If you are to grow from the spiritual curiosity of babyhood, to the spiritual stabliity of youth and finally to the spiritual maturity of adulthood, it is imperative that you reveive daily nutrition from God's Word, the Bible....Yes the Word of God will indeed be a source of constant and growing delight when you understand how to digest it as your own spiritual nourishment. Through the prophet Isaiah, God graciously invites all those who have a hunger and thirst for spiritual food to dine with Him from His own banqueting table."

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; Isaiah 55:1-3a

If this didn't make sense I apologize as I am tired now and I want to go to bed. I'll fix it later should I feel inspired to do so. As I reread my ramblings it felt a little disjunct and hard to follow. That is why I need more practice at this writing thing.

Aum's reincarnation as Aleph

2011-12-29T21:03:00.000+09:00

It always amazes me how vunerable people are. Through deceptive tatics and propaganda also being very warm and loving this cult of doom is still growing. They accuse that Japanese Government of being controled by a Jewish-Freemason conspiracy. The thing that really blows my mind is that the leaders all had Masters in Science or Phd's in Chemistry or Medicine. Some very top people joined the group. What can happen to a mind, when the soul is desperate, is seen by these men who acted on beliefs and killed people and wounded thousands of others. Here is the history of this event... it really has given me a greater understanding of the Old Testament and the book of Judges.

On Monday March 20, 1995, five members of Aum Shinrikyo launched a chemical attack on the Tokyo Metro, one of the world's busiest commuter transport systems, at the peak of the morning rush hour. The chemical agent used, liquid sarin, was contained in plastic bags which each team then wrapped in newspaper. Each perpetrator carried two packets of sarin totaling approximately 900 millilitres of sarin, except Yasuo Hayashi, who carried three bags. Aum originally planned to spread the sarin as an aerosol but did not follow through with it. A single drop of sarin the size of a pinhead can kill an adult.
Carrying their packets of sarin and umbrellas with sharpened tips, the perpetrators boarded their appointed trains. At prearranged stations, the sarin packets were dropped and punctured several times with the sharpened tip of the umbrellas. The men then got off the train and exited the station to meet his accomplice with a car. By leaving the punctured packets on the floor, the sarin was allowed to leak out into the train car and stations. This sarin affected passengers, subway workers, and those who came into contact with them. Sarin is the most volatile of the nerve agents, which means that it can quickly and easily evaporate from a liquid into a vapor and spread into the environment. People can be exposed to the vapor even if they do not come in contact with the liquid form of sarin. Because it evaporates so quickly, sarin presents an immediate but short-lived threat.^{[3] From wikipedia.}

ambulances transported 688 patients and nearly five thousand people reached hospitals by other means. Hospitals saw 5,510 patients, seventeen of whom were deemed critical, thirty-seven severe and 984 moderately ill with vision problems. Most of those reporting to hospitals were the "worried well," who had to be distinguished from those who were ill.^[4] By mid-afternoon, the mildly affected victims had recovered from vision problems and were released from hospital. Most of the remaining patients were well enough to go home the following day, and within a week only a few critical patients remained in hospital. The death toll on the day of the attack was eight that eventually rose to at least a dozen.[5

After all the carnage and suffering I ask, "How can this group continue and grow and gain new member?" The answer was in a recent article by the Japan times; "The cult’s most effective weapon for attracting new members appears to be collective amnesia of Aum’s wrongdoings, compounded by simple ignorance." Aum dogma, warning adherents that “the world was being controlled by a Jewish-Freemason conspiracy, and since Japan’s public security officials and mass media are under the control of Jewish capital, they are not to be trusted.” Aum Reincarnation as Aleph

Judges 2:21 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that [were] round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

The people were so quick to return to their favorite gods. Baal; a god of the rain, thunder, fertility and agriculture, and the lord of Heaven. And also Ashtoreth or modernly Astarte. Astarte was connected with fertility, sexuality, and war. Pictorial representations often show her naked.

Basically it was power and sex that the people worshiped. Nothing has changed. The Aum cult was reported to have both of those in the workings with members.

Powerful men were able to manipulate masses into fear and horror. Their end will be the end like the guys in the book of Judges. The enemy comes in and defeats them and there is peace for a time and then there is renewal before the cycle repeats itself. The Aum guys declared the government their enemy and it was their enemy that over threw them. Yet as in the case of the Israelites they failed to rid the land of all the gods and so the cycle is bound to repeat. My prayer is that it won't happen in Japan again.

May God cause an awakening to happen in the land of Japan. The people have no clue who the real God is. Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the only God and name given whereby men must be saved. The Aum guys many will die in prison or be executed yet in heaven there is judgement waiting for them there. Why? They did not acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Post note; The group will no longer be monitored as of 2012. Yes the government is running out of money but God is watching.

“The fact is, once you enter a cult, it becomes almost impossible to leave. Japan is now in its second consecutive decade of economic stagnation and the dreams of its young people, both socially and economically, have been dashed. Aleph’s ability to recruit believers under such conditions makes it a threat,” he asserts.
The article ends on a worrisome note: monitoring of former Aum cultists by the Public Security Agency is slated to be phased out from next month.

I am not worried as I serve Jesus Christ and he is establishing his kingdom and will return soon to right the wrongs. Amen and Maranatha.

Where there's sin there's laughter

2011-12-17T23:07:00.001+09:00

In the 'International Herald Newspaper there was this article on the occupy Moscow protests. This Lady is carrying the sign that has a caption according to the Newspapers translation that read, "Where there's sin, there's laughter. She has on the sign that has pictures of the Russian leaders laughing. Thus she is basically calling them sinners. But as I was reading other articles I couldn't get that phrase out of my mind. Where there is sin most often there is crying. Where there is sin most often people are hurt. Sin in the history of mankind has never produced a positive effect over the long term. Kind David has committed sin and it didn't seem like it would affect the family that much but it did. His sin tore the family up it cost him joy and there was no laughter. Oh he laughed when she came over for a late night meeting and they giggled and snickered but in the end sin cost them happiness. Bathsheba's family was ripped apart where we find later on her grandfather committing suicide. David's family too suffer the most I feel. Absolom ended up trying to overthrow his Father's kingdom and then loosing his life in a battle.

As we wind down Christmas this year, there are temptations to the left and to the right. Let's keep our eyes on Jesus straight ahead for the new year because it just isn't worth it. Where there is sin there is laughter for a while then the storms come not just one but many one after the other. We are so in the last days who ever you are I pray you will put Christ first in your life and turn from any playful banter or innocent flirting. It leads down a road filled with laughter but then there is a wall to crash into.

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Hebrews 11:25
Moses was a character that made a choice. He had the choice. He Chose God and the people of God. Moses could have laughed it up in the Palace of the Pharaoh. He could of had any pleasure in his life. Yet he rejected it all. Because he did he saw God work amazing mighty works. He received rewards and blessings that huge. I would hope to obtain half of what he got but I always ask for double like Elisha referencing Elijah's spiritual blessing.

Solomon was a many that filled the halls of the greatest palaces ever built in that region. He laughed with all 600 wives and 300 concubines. He had the finest food and wine money could buy. But in the end it was all vanity. He was empty with so much. Yea, sin is pleasurable for a season but we'd do well to be like Moses or greater still like Jesus who was without sin. It simply pleased God. You want God to be proud of you...don't sin. "this is my son in whom I am well pleased." That is a quote from a proud daddy.

So if you have the random thought like I do. What can I get you Father in Heaven for Christmas? He'd just love me to be obedient and fellowship with him constantly. He so loves us all. He is so gracious. Maybe you sinned and the laughter is gone. The storms are here or there is deafening silence from God. Repent! and times of refreshing will occur. I pray that this season you will choose a relationship with God and not with sin. You see "where there's sin there's laughter" is correct. Satan is the one laughing all the way while causing us so much pain and suffering. Let's wipe the smile off his face and obey.

おばあちゃんの写真はFACEBOOKにいます

2011-12-10T20:11:00.001+09:00

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&id=1365301853

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2861631824316.2152500.1365301853&type=1

Nathan Saves the Day

2011-09-08T22:26:00.000+09:00

My Boy is growing up (13). What a Man! Dad was feeling exhausted so Nathan stepped in and was able to teach the Kids classes for me. He has watched me do it in our home for many years. He is so good. The kids love him more than me. I wonder if he'll take on a part time job. Of course we paid him. I am very proud of him.

Sputtering Engine?

2011-09-02T23:34:00.002+09:00

1969 California Bug (Volkswagon) was my first choice as a car. My parents did their best to talk me out of spending my $2000 dollars for that car. I had to have it. My dream. Ha, now that I look back and I see what a fool I was to buy that bucket of bolts. Those bolts kept falling off everywhere I went. I loved the 1641mm bored out engine. It was fast. I went through three clutches in the first couple of years. It was a fun car. But it had its bad days where the timing was off. I’d drive it to the light and as it idled it’d sputter and choke and die. Sometimes it wouldn’t die but it’d rev back up. Other times I had to get out embarrassed and push the slug off the road while I messed with the timing and carb adjustments.

That sputtering and choking is an accurate description of my heart. I went in and had a 24-hour EKG Halter test. The information gathered fanned the flame of my worst fear. Having a bad heart is not that bad as long as you don’t have Arrhythmias. Arrhythmias are beats in the wrong direction on the EKG chart. Every hour I am experiencing these irregular beats sometimes at night I feel as if my heart just wants to stop. It is like your driving a stick shift car and while on the road you throw it in Reverse. Cars usually can’t do that but hearts can. It is very scary the real scary part is I was having these beats for the last few years.

So now, I am on another of several medications that is very dangerous. When I looked up the drug on the Internet it was scary to think I am drinking this down. The side effects seem to out weigh the benefits. But the benefits are necessary to prevent what will most likely happen without the drug. It can be a day or week or months later but I will be walking and talking one second and then the next on the ground rolling around grabbing my chest before I breathe my last. I am worse than we thought. Arrhythmias are not good. They are not the caffeine skipped beat or the pause beat but they are the distortion of a Mr. Bean tripping over the drum section of an Orchestra during Igor Stravinsky’s - The rite of spring. I will continue on the medications and go back to the doctor in 10 days. So far since July, I have lost 24 kilos. For those of you who need pounds it is about 52 pounds. I still have 100 pounds more to go. Yikes I was a little tubby. Today the Doctor said that when I reach 110 kilos 220lbs he’d do a heart Catheterization on me. That is a test to check out the heart and actually check pressures in the chambers and also a biopsy of the meat to see what is going on with the muscle tissue. Rachel will have her yearly biopsy in November as she does every year.

I hope you are not feeling bad about this? Let me share a little of today’s activity. I went to the heart clinic and while awaiting the results of the EKG and labs I was able to have a conversation with a couple of other transplant recipients. My daughter Rachel ate these tiny sour plum (Ume Boshi) candies and I looked for fun on the box that said there was 1780mg of NaCl(Sodium Chloride) a liquid form of salt. Converting it to table salt that is 4.5 grams of salt. That is a whole days supply for some one on a normal diet. She is supposed to have less than 4 grams. UCLA wanted her on only 2 grams a day. So I blurted out in the waiting room this number and the transplants laughed. I said in Japanese it is so hard to have a low salt diet in Japan. They all laughed even more. So this started a discussion on what we eat for low salt things. I was surprised among them was Miho one of the first kids from Japan to receive a heart at Children’s of Denver hospital more than 20 years ago. She is doing great so we had a great time of fellowship. I was able to connect and I look forward to our conversation next time. They are all trying to learn English so they can go back to the US to visit their hospitals and thank people. Anyway, I for three years knew Mihoko was connecting to these families and she had already given Miho a Bible and the gospel. But I had been distant from them. I felt like an outsider. But now I am seeing great opportunities here. Pray for more wisdom. God is at work and I am now the front row. If I take these meds and continue to loose the weight there is still a chance to turn this big ship around. God gets all the glory. Even if I have a massive heart attack I have full assurance that God will use that to even bring greater glory to himself.

Much of this battle is keeping my eyes focused on Jesus. To not let the circumstances dictate my emotional response. Pray that we will be positive another way to say that is that we’d look to Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit at all times. I realized since my diagnoses I have been spending more time researching my problem than worshipping God in my personal time with him. I read and study my Bible but I really feel the need to worship him like David did. This afternoon a Typhoon was beginning to blow and the trees were in harmony with the heavy winds. I was swaying with the trees and I thought of the chorus. “Birds in the air sing their songs to you, Trees in the fields lift their arms to you. I want to sing I want to lift my arms to you. I want to praise you Lord much more than I do I want to praise you Lord….” God is so good. This seems tragic to so many. From my perspective I see such tremendous love from my Father not giving me more than I can handle but directing me in the storm showing me beautiful horizons that we are sailing to. The waves are big the clouds are dark but on the horizon is the light and Jesus is pointing the way. We keep sailing forward. That reminds me of another great song. “Light our way Lord, bright so we won’t fall. Teach us to call on you Lord more faithfully.”

God bless you all. I pray you will hang with us during our time of storm and difficulty and hold on tight because as you pray with us you will share in this blessing for all eternity and you will see the glory of God shine. Amen.

The Perfect Heart

2011-08-27T21:35:00.000+09:00

This is an excerpt from Dr David Wilkerson's blog

The perfect heart cries out with David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there is any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:23–24).

God does indeed search our hearts; he said as much to Jeremiah: “I the Lord search the heart” (Jeremiah 17:10). The Hebrew meaning for this phrase is, “I penetrate, I examine deeply.”

The perfect heart wants the Holy Spirit to come and search out the innermost man, to shine into all hidden parts—to investigate, expose and dig out all that is unlike Christ. Those who hide a secret sin, however, do not want to be convicted, searched or probed.

The perfect heart yearns for more than security or a covering for sin. It seeks to be in God’s presence always, to dwell in communion. Communion means talking with the Lord, sharing sweet fellowship with him, seeking his face and knowing his presence.

The Lord’s heart-searching is not vindictive, but redemptive. His purpose is not to catch us in sin or condemn us, but rather to prepare us to come into his holy presence as clean pure vessels.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me. That is my prayer in Jesus Names. AMEN!

Heart Transplant? What?

2011-08-19T22:17:00.001+09:00

Hi Everyone, Here is the latest from the Bolingers:

when you hear words that are devastating you go into a security bubble. The world continues around you but in slow motion. Your brain is going a hundred miles an hour. The questions pop into the brain almost immediately. "This is curable...right?" That is what it was like for me this week when we discussed options to my health problem. I was hearing the 4th option of transplant as the last step. It was the same in 1999 when my son Caleb was torn out of our arms at the ICU and rushed into a feverish pitch of activity surrounding him. We were in utter shock as the Doctor led us down the hall way to a plush special waiting room his voice was calm and assuring, "We are doing everything we can." He informs us that we will have to make a critical decision. Heart Transplant? What? How much? When? The Doctor leaves with our questions being unanswerable at the time. We sat in silence and disbelief. Our three year old son needs a heart transplant. Our minds had frequent signs of life with sniffling, tear wiping, and that question... "Father what are you doing?" "I trust you but I don't understand." Saying goodbye to Caleb a year later was surreal and unbelievable.

So determined to get on with life we consoled ourselves with having a third child. 10 months later Rachel Marie was born. She was beautiful. She had punk hair that no matter what we did it just stood up. 8 days after birth. Mom notices some irregularities with her breathing. I blew it off it is just normal. The second day it was very fast labored breathing that night sitting in prayer watching waiting and holding our daughter. Those questions..."Father what is happening?" I can remember walking down the corridor of the hospital and asking the xray tech who just took her chest xray. I asked, "I know you can't tell me anything per the code but was her heart large?" He replied, "It looks like it could be but let the doctors tell you." I knew then and there we had another decision to make. Rachel was okay until 4 years old. She had a very successful heart transplant and miracles happening all around. It was a blessed time.

So what next? We up and move to Japan as missionaries to plant a church in the city of Iruma in Saitama north west of Tokyo. We have been here just three years and finally feel like we are getting our groove on and then another Doctor visit and another decision to make. This time it is me. The dad. I am sitting once again in the dark tunnel of security as they are speaking Japanese around me. I am catching all too familiar terms but only Japanifized. "Hatoh Bigu" (heart big). I am not wanting to listen. I am wanting to eat a cheeseburger. I for too many years have been consoling myself through cultural adjustment with food. Only now my security has been diminished to a diet of 1.5 ltrs of water and milligrams of salt a day. It is very hard. So we are going through changes.

Now I have been diagnosed with the heart disease just like my kids it is called "Dilated Cardiomyopathy" It is the reason for congestive heart failure. This is not idopathic like genetic from my genes. It is more idiot-pathic from my stupidity of being obese. It is manageable if I strictly diet and get my weight off. The next step, if I don't loose the weight... is an assist device like a pace maker and then finally the transplant. To say we are not stopped in our tracks would be an understatement. Like deer in the head lights or a sail with no wind we are just praying for wisdom and direction.We feel the need to just keep plowing away and moving forward but making adjustments and changes as we progress. I feel tired a lot. I don't have the same level of energy. Please pray with us to make many decisions that are before us:

Pray for the future testings 24 hour EKG halter monitor, Sleep testing, and biopsy sometime in September.
Pray for continued resolve to get the weight off and eat right and exercise when possible. Now I am restricted to no strenuous moves not even stairs.
Pray for the two women's conferences this week. Mihoko is speaking and translating. Pray for peace. For Mihoko to hold it together while making drastic changes she wasn't expecting especially now having to spend extra time at the store and on the internet educating ourselves about all the stuff with salt. Pray for wisdom in food choices and substitutes to be found that are inexpensive.
Pray for provision with all the extra expense of procedures and travel it is adding up quick.
Pray for wisdom with the church. Pray for energy to not only do worship but the message and other things.
Pray for the Sunday School we were going to continue after a short break but I don't have the energy.
Pray for the kids school that starts in a week.
Pray for the English students and their families salvation.
Pray for God's peace and assurance to keep going. For his joy in the midst of depression. Depression is real it is okay as long as we don't stay there. Pray like David I will console myself with scripture and fellowship in the house of the Lord. Psalm 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God. God bless you for praying.

--
Dan Bolinger
danbolinger@gmail.com
www.bolingersinjapan.blogspot.com
埼玉県入間市1-1-17向陽台10-705
日本〒358-0001

Ekimae Plaza 10-705
1-1-17 Kyouyoudai
Iruma, Saitama, Japan 358-0001

080-3738-2101

Isaiah 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that [there is] none beside me. I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else.

Dan's Heart

2011-08-11T08:45:00.000+09:00

Hello Everyone, This is a message from Aug 8th below following is a second message from August 9th

Psalm 25:17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: [O] bring thou me out of my distresses.

Walking up a hill or trying to keep walking pace with my son who is always one step in front of me, would leave me tired. My heart would be pumping so hard that I felt like it was in my neck. I'd feel dizzy. Two weeks ago I went to put on my old worn out stretched out tennis shoes. They didn't fit. My feet had swollen. I had them tied for Japan so they were loose so I could slip in and out no problem. Now it was a problem. I also noticed when I'd push on my skin on my legs it wouldn't bounce back. I am like stretch armstrong the elastic toy. Stretch Armstrong Retro. Only I don't stretch but you can push my skin in and it stays for a long while. Bending over to tie my shoes would have me sitting for a few minutes to get my breath and not be dizzy. All this to say I have a bad heart.

Since May I had contracted pneumonia and was in the hospital for a week. I thought this was all the symptoms of the post pneumonia. With that and a series of other things, a combo if you will, has caused my heart to enlarge. I have had sleep apnea and I am obese all of which is self induced. The apnea and heart problems are as a result from the weight problem. The apnea may have exacerbated the problem. With those negative things my heart wants a break and is tired. (No heart attacks no bad rhythms just swollen like my pride) I had swollen feet and was very tired all the time. So I went in last Friday for a check up and found through a chest xray my heart was swollen in size. The Dr. today said it is not the same sickness as my daughter and son but it could be. The walls of my heart have not thickened so this is reversible. My heart function or Ejection Fraction is at 46%, the Dr. today said it should be about 60%. I am restricted from exercising for now and am on diuretics. I am going to see Rachel's specialist tomorrow in Tabata. Hopefully he will give me a bigger picture of the scope of what is going on.

I feel fine and there is no pain at all. It is like God is giving me a serious wake up call of many but still being gracious in doing it. This is more harder on Mihoko than anyone. She is dealing with it but is still going through the emotional what if scenarios. Pray for her to be strengthened by God. Pray for our marriage to grow through this. We just celebrated 20 years July 27th and I'd like to go for another 50 years should the Lord tarry. She has been asked to speak at a conference and I told her not to cancel. God is doing something here through this and He will through our weaknesses strengthen the body here.

This is a fatal disease for many but doesn't have to be for me. But then so is life. I am on a salt restricted diet. The Dr. wanted to admit me for one month in the hospital for testings and stuff. I told Mihoko that will kill me more that anything else. We are going to try to do this as an out patient. I am going to be scheduled for a heart cathetorization in a while and we will get a more accurate picture of the functions of the heart in each chamber. They will also do an angiogram on the arteries. The echo cardiogram shows that I do have minor valve regurgitation. This means the valve flaps aren't touching and blood is not flowing properly. The heart pumps blood up into the upper left chamber only to have some leak back in. Congestive Heart Failure video

All this to say I am at fault here. I have received from too many folks loving rebukes and coaching and encouragement along the way. My pride is what blew all that off and said, "Eh, I'm ok!" But I am not. Please pray for me to take this very very serious. It is easy to rationalize things and the flesh will say one bite ain't going to kill you. Now that has a new meaning for me.

Many wonder will the Bolingers go home? The short answer is no. God hasn't said go. We have one of the best doctors in all of Japan. He is awesome. I will be keeping you all posted.

Pray God's will be done. Pray the church continues to grow. So many are supportive and helpful. This should be a real tragedy but I feel so blessed by everyone.

We will continue to teach the English classes and most of all have church services. I am not sickly or in pain I am just a fat guy with a ticker that has a looney tunes beat. The kind where Wiley Coyote walks away bouncing up and down. Wiley Coyote Cartoon

We all love you and know so many are praying for us. Please pray for wisdom and peace. Please pray we see many come to Christ through our inability yet His sovereign ability. Pray I will not cheat on the diet and will do all the doctors say. Pray for healing and restoring of tissue back to healthy limits.

God bless you all,
Dan

MESSAGE 2 August 9th

Hi everyone,

Spent the day at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital in Tabata. The Transplant specialist I saw painted a different picture than Yesterday's Dr. It is always good to get a second opinion. Although the second opinion wasn't as favorable. It seems I do have the same problem as my kids. I must have the gene that gave it to my kids. My heart problem is called Dilated Cardiomyopathy. This is one of the number one reasons for persons to receive heart transplants. I could be in line for one. I have a plus on my side as we caught it early. The Doctor believes we can manage it for life without the transplant if I listen and obey him. If I cheat or continue to do nothing I'll be on a plane home getting in line for a heart transplant or worse.

I am going to have a few more meetings to discuss strategies and they are going to up the medication including warfarin (Coumadin) and I will be scheduled for a heart cathertorization in beginning September. Warfarin on a side note began as a Rat poison. So I am now going to take rat poison to fix my weak heart. Actually it works on the liver to produce more blood cells. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warfarin. My diet consists of less than 4 grams of salt per day and only 1.5 liters of fluid including all foods and drink per day. Yikes. I spent a frustrating 30 minutes at the store today trying to find anything without salt. Japan eats some of the highest salt per day per capita. The Doctor today told me the average citizen eats 10-15 grams of salt per day.

Talk about the wind being knocked out of you. Pray with us for wisdom. Family will scream come home. But the problem is I feel more at home here than in the US. There is so much work to do. There are still millions of lives yet to be saved. I am reading Pastor Chucks book called "Faith". It is at times like this you need to read things that will help where you are weak.

"Unfortunately, sometimes we lay the problem before God...and then we go to bed and wrestle with it all night. We wake up at three o'clock in the morning thinking, What's going to happen? What if I do this? What if I do that? Maybe I should do this. We can't rest because we aren't trusting in God's ability to take care of the situation. So we continue to carry the burden--and that wears us out.

After you call upon God for His help, you need to take a second step and rest in God. "I've placed it in the hands of God and I'm trusting Him to take care of it." Then see what He wants to accomplish in your life through faith." Pastor Chuck Smith, Faith, page 50.

I don't have this great faith yet. I am struggling. So many questions. This is where with my kids I went into survival mode and just lived each day one at a time and did what needed to be done to get through the day. The confidence is gone fear is close by. I can tell you I trust God in what he is doing but I also second guess him. Thank you for standing with us and praying with us during this time. I am still in shock. I still have the thought but I thought I am invincible as a missionary on the field? I am shaken in everything we are doing and have been doing. The enemy sows seeds of what did you do to get this? As If like Job I have sinned a great sin and now I got the Battchi or bad luck or retribution for what I did. That is not our Savior. I am not in sin. This is a family medical problem that God is going to use for his glory. He already has in many ways. Oh pray for me. I confess I am scared. I think of my kids and I cry what have I done? I want to be there for them and Mihoko. Pray for healing and obedience on my part.

God Bless,

Snap shot of Japan Today

2011-08-02T12:15:00.000+09:00

I am risking being called negative. I risk being accused of not loving the Japanese. I am a jokester and a realist. I don't hide truth nor turn a blind eye to reality. The way to a deeper relationship with God is to know him more. Study him, love him, bless him, and worship him. The way to understand the Japanese culture more is to learn about it and what is happening. How is it changing. This includes focusing on positives and negatives. Right now since the Great East Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Disasters the dynamics are changing. The nuclear fallout has more emotional impact than that of physical reality. Below is a snapshot of headlines from Japan Today's newspaper. As negative things occur we can be rosy and focus on only the good things but I feel that is turning a blind eye to truth. I believe if we hit this head on with full knowledge we will be better suited for serving out King Jesus and to reach out to the people of Japan.

August 2, 2011 Radiation is higher than ever. Below the reports says they hit a record measurement outside the buildings. We all are questioning? Where else is the radiation? Who is at risk? Can I live within these conditions?
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/record-high-radiation-reported-at-crippled-fukushima-nuclear-plant

The nuke plant dumped millions of gallons of radioactive water into the ocean. This hurts industry.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/sushi-industry-hurting-from-radiation-scare

The Agriculture industry has been hit hardest. Three prefectures can't ship or sell their produce to anyone anywhere in the world. Spinach, Green tea, Other vegetables all are adsorbing radiation. Now the Rice crop is being measured we can only figure out what it will be. The rice straw sold to dairies has infected thousands of cattle where 30 some prefectures have contaminated cows.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/govt-to-test-rice-crop-in-19-prefectures-for-possible-contamination

Contaminated cows in various farms were a problem but now the ban moves on to a third state Iwate where they can not sell or trade the cows or beef. It isn't just one or two farms whole prefectures are affected or should I say infected. When we do BBQ's is the local beef or pork we buy safe?
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/govt-extends-beef-ban-to-cattle-from-iwate-over-contamination-fears

Earthquakes continue to rock this land. This report shows that this is a different region. Not up North but it is south of Mt. Fuji. An article yesterday showed the science of dormant volcanoes becoming active after major earthquakes. What if Fuji became active? Yikes! Oh I shouldn't incite fear sorry. It is still inactive I think.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/m6-2-quake-shakes-shizuoka-region

Suicides are at an all time high. In Fukushima last year in May there were 49 suicides in this year over 500. They opened up for 10 days suicide prevention lines and had over 1515 calls. They had to shut down due to a lack of funding. The problem is growing. Businesses are loosing money, Companies are cutting the fat but it isn't helping. The economy has an appearance of getting stronger but is it really? Time will bear it out but we see vacancies of businesses everywhere. The unemployment rate is rising to its highest level in a long time. People are giving up hope. One lady threw herself in front of a fast train blowing through the train station and she was launched into the station through a kiosk glass windows injuring customers while her body destroyed much of the store. It was horrific. Elderly, are the most at risk for suicide as they don't want to burden their families. Is it a blessing that longevity is touted here? I teach a few nurses English. They tell me of an industry in Japan under the guise of care and hospice is making money and lot's of it. There are thousands in private homes that are in vegetative states of consciousness. They are being kept alive by machines. Or should I say their body functions are kept alive by machines. I could get real negative here, but the reality is these nurses are telling us they are repulsed by the lack of ethics in the medical industry and the hunger for money. Japan couldn't decide on a brain dead definition for the transplantation of organs for years mostly blocked by industry that could loose out if families started to unplug loved ones and donated their organs to give life to others. So am I advocating euthanasia? No. But there comes a time when you just know and need to move on. I know because I had to unplug my own son. So suicides are rising and there seems to be no easy solution. We have the hope of heaven but their eyes need to be opened. Pray that the light will shine in Japan.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110726jk.html

Fear God

2011-08-02T00:13:00.000+09:00

Monday night midnight another aftershock. I was in the bathroom and I didn't feel it. My wife did. So I go check on the kids. They are sound asleep. They have felt so many aftershocks in the 6.0 to 7.0 ranges that a 4 or 5 won't concern them. They have become desensitized. I had just finished a DVD by Francis Chan on his Basic series. This one was called Fear God. After the initial earthquake we had rocked enough that with each jolt we had a healthy fear of them and were ready at a moments notice to take action.

With God the Bible says, "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." Now according to Chan this term fear has been dumbed down to a term meaning great respect. Yet as we look at the patriarchs who encountered God they usually were greatly afraid or fell on their faces as dead men. I agree with Chan in that the term means to fear God. He is all powerful he knows all the future stuff. He knew when I'd be born and he knows my last day. The Angels fear him greatly and the arch angels cover their faces and feet in his presence.

The world has a way to enter the church and desensitizes us to the Word of God. Satan's greatest and first deception was to question the word of God. "Has God really said...?" Does the Bible really mean we should fear God maybe it is a term of respect you know like meeting the president. No this fear is like understanding this being has my life all written out and knows every detail about me before it happens. I should fear him greatly. In Proverbs, we are told to fear God but then the passage goes on to say... Do not fear. What? Did the Bible contradict itself? No. God wants us to fear him properly that is first and then as we come boldly into the presence of the Father through the blood of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit we need not fear him in that he will crush us. But that he loves us and will protect us.

Oh that we would do some meditating on God to the point we once again learn to Fear Him greatly.

Different Times for sure

2011-06-22T23:15:00.000+09:00

Isaiah 21:4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

So I am at a restaurant in Haneda Airport having dinner. I am with friends. As we check out menus I quip on his decision for a dish that has spinach in it to make sure they know where it comes from. So he asks and the worker is quite amazed he asked if the spinach was from Tohoku? So they had to call a manager. No it's not it comes from Kansai. Thank you. So we begin to order he decides on beef. I told him about the Miyazaki Mad Cow disease. So again her comes the manager...NO ITS NOT. Then I jokingly said make sure its yoku yaki...(This means cooked well done). There were several people who died last month or so ago by eating raw meat. In Japan they don't cook the meat medium it is almost always rare unless you say, "Yoku Yaki kudasai." The manager was not happy with us. I got chicken then I am reminded that the chicken from Kansai where the spinach is from was infected with bird flu and they had been killing millions of birds. Was this that road kill? I didn't have the nerve to ask the waiter so I powered it down giving it to the Lord. Then I am thinking if we get green tea what will my friend do? As I sipped my ice water then I freaked is the Tokyo water safe? The government here has been lying to us so much we are loosing trust and faith in their judgement.

We are definitely living in different times for sure. It is so easy to get all freaked out and actually go crazy worrying about all the dangers. We live in a time for fears to run rampant. The news is always sensational. It always wants to grip the reader or listener or viewer and have them hang on for dear life as they have to wait until the end of a broadcast just to find out it wasn't that great of information. They drag you along and keep you in suspense and then..."That's it." What?Do churches do the same thing? Do they play off the fears of people to keep them in line. Hmm. The Bible says perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. Deut 10:12: And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. What God requires we must take heed. Spend more time fearing and loving him and these other things won't be a problem.Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Where has Dan Been?

2011-06-14T07:58:00.000+09:00

Hey guys,

Sorry for not writing. I have not been busy as much as just been sick. I caught pneumonia a month ago and it has been a slow healing process. I still am not 100%. My body is telling me I am not young. I went to the states for about 10 days and I did nothing. I apologize for not hooking up with many of you like we normally do but I needed to rest. Still it was a busy time. I was able to attend the Pastors Conference in Murrietta and kick back with some really great guys. The word of God is so awesome and refreshing. It was good to just sit back and soak it up. The worship was absolutely amazing. I am praying for a worship leader or team to come and bless the Lord here in CC Iruma. I am back in Iruma now and getting back to teaching my ESL classes. Everyone is excited that I am back. It is humbling to have loyal students. Pray for them to receive Christ. I have witnessed to all even sharing with a few end times stuff. It kind of scared one student but she still comes. She actually said why do I need this prophecy in my life. I don't believe it. I laughed and said, "Do you believe in gravity?" she said, "Yes of course." I said, "If someone doesn't believe in gravity that wouldn't change the effect it has on their life. They would still fall and get hurt like everyone else even though they don't believe.

I said, "Prophecy is like a law of gravity. The Bible is 100% accurate and whether you believe it or not does not change the fact that these things will come and happen. God is in control and you will see that the Word of God doesn't need our approval to actually happen." She was shaken by this. I apologized if I freaked her out but Matthew 24 is true and we are seeing it unfold before our eyes. Earthquakes, famines, diseases, Wars, troubling times are going to increase. You think things will calm down. Rude awakening about to happen to this world. The monetary system is crumbling before our eyes and though we all tell you that it will fail as the Bible predicts no one believes it. Israel is going to face some very tough challenges on the horizon. The Bible says a world dictator will come and set up his capital in Jerusalem. The Jewish nation as a democracy will cease to exist but as a Jewish nation it will always remain. The Bible Says Jesus will come again and set up his kingdom on Earth at which time the Jewish nation will revert back to a theocracy with King Jesus as their power and leader and king. All the nations will come and worship him. But before all that happens there are some sick things that will happen on this earth. Some things that are just unimaginable but as accurate as the Bible is you can be sure they will happen.

The great thing is the Bible tells us in three places before all these things transpire Jesus will take his church out of the trouble. The rapture is a doctrine that has not changed. The Bible still teaches us it is real and will happen. Man's views have changed and they twist the scripture but it puts them in a hard position as the rest of their theology falls apart since they have to change everything just because they have a hard time and choke on God's word. Simply believe the Bible at face value and it isn't hard. Faith like a child means you just believe it though your intelligence can't reconcile it. God meant our faith in him to be powered by faith. Faith is the monetary system of Heaven. Faith gains you rewards. Great faith gets great rewards. Diminished and weak faith yields limited and small rewards.

Anyway, I am feeling better. We have teams coming now for relief work every week. Pray for the dynamics of the teams and the gospel going out. Pray for safety. Pray for my health to fully recover. Pray for more ESL students. Pray for the church to grow. Pray for a location for our school and church to happen.

God bless you all,

Home is in the heart

2011-06-03T23:51:00.000+09:00

I live in Japan my home is where my family is. Yet when I return to the US and enter my childhood home I have a tendency to say, "Ah, its good to be home again." Yet when I went to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa a place of Spiritual residence where I did a lot of growing I caught myself saying, "Ah its good to be home." Where is home? We use the cliche "Home is where the heart is." I have to agree. The fondness of good blessings and memories make things worthy of being called home. I have a heavenly home. I haven't seen it and I don't know really what to expect. Yet I know that when I get to that final destination it will be that same thought..."Ah it is good to be home."

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Pet 1:3-5

I can't wait to go home now question is which one am I referring to?

From David Hockings Blog

2011-05-08T00:27:00.002+09:00

A SPEECH EVERY AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SHOULD GIVE!

May 7th, 2011

A SPEECH EVERY AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SHOULD GIVE!
By Dennis Prager
To the students and faculty of our high school:
I am your new principal, and honored to be so. There is no greater
calling than to teach young people.
I would like to apprise you of some important changes coming to our
school. I am making these changes because I am convinced that most of
the ideas that have dominated public education in America have worked
against you, against your teachers and against our country.
First, this school will no longer honor race or ethnicity. I could not
care less if your racial makeup is black, brown, red, yellow or white.. I
could not care less if your origins are African, Latin American, Asian
or European, or if your ancestors arrived here on the Mayflower or on
slave ships. The only identity I care about, the only one this school
will recognize, is your individual identity — your character, your
scholarship, your humanity, and the only national identity this school
will care about is American.
This is an American public school, and American public schools were
created to make better Americans. If you wish to affirm an ethnic,
racial or religious identity through school, you will have to go
elsewhere. We will end all ethnicity, race and non-American
nationality-based celebrations. They undermine the motto of America,
one of its three central values — e pluribus Unum, “from many, one.”
And this school will be guided by America’s values. This includes all
after-school clubs. I will not authorize clubs that divide students
based on any identities. This includes race, language, religion, sexual
orientation or whatever else may become in vogue in a
society divided by political correctness.
Your clubs will be based on interests and passions, not blood, ethnic,
racial or other physically defined ties. Those clubs just cultivate
narcissism — an unhealthy preoccupation with the self — while the
purpose of education is to get you to think beyond yourself. So we will
have clubs that transport you to the wonders and glories of art, music,
astronomy, languages you do not already speak, carpentry and more. If
the only extracurricular activities you can imagine being interested in
are those based on ethnic, racial or sexual identity, that means that
little outside of yourself really interests you.
Second, I am uninterested in whether English is your native language. My
only interest in terms of language is that you leave this school
speaking and writing English as fluently as possible. The English
language has united America ‘s citizens for over 200 years, and it will
unite us at this school. It is one of the indispensable reasons this
country of immigrants has always come to be one country. And if you
leave this school without excellent English language skills, I would be
remiss in my duty to ensure that you will be prepared to successfully
compete in the American job market. We will learn other languages here
– it is deplorable that most Americans only speak English –but if you
want classes taught in your native language rather than in English, this
is not your school.
Third, because I regard learning as a sacred endeavor, everything in
this school will reflect learning’s elevated status. This means, among
other things, that you and your teachers will dress accordingly. Many
people in our society dress more formally for Hollywood events than for
church or school. These people have their priorities backward.
Therefore, there will be a formal dress code at this school.
Fourth, no obscene language will be tolerated anywhere on this school’s
property — whether in class, in the hallways or at athletic events. If
you can’t speak without using the f-word, you can’t speak. By obscene
language I mean the words banned by the Federal Communications
Commission, plus epithets such as “Nigger,” even when used by one black student to address another black, or “bitch,” even when addressed by a girl to a girlfriend. It is my intent that by the time you leave this
school, you will be among the few your age to instinctively distinguish
between the elevated and the degraded, the holy and the obscene.
Fifth, we will end all self-esteem programs. In this school, self-esteem
will be attained in only one way — the way people attained it until
decided otherwise a generation ago — by earning it. One immediate
consequence is that there will be one valedictorian, not eight.
Sixth, and last, I am reorienting the school toward academics and away
from politics and propaganda. No more time will be devoted to scaring
you about smoking and caffeine, or terrifying you about sexual
harassment or global warming. No more semesters will be devoted to
condom wearing and teaching you to regard sexual relations as only or
primarily a health issue. There will be no more attempts to convince you
that you are a victim because you are not white, or not male, or not
heterosexual or not Christian. We will have failed if any one of you
graduates this school and does not consider him or herself inordinately
lucky — to be alive and to be an American.
Now, please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of
our country. As many of you do not know the words, your teachers will
hand them out to you.

Harry Robert Fox

2011-04-12T19:59:00.000+09:00

Ibaraki Christian University

5 to 6 years ago... I was sitting in Mrs Takada's coffee shop one day in Newport Beach California. She was so excited that an elderly gentleman named Harry Sensei was coming to teach a Japanese Bible Study. I had to stay. He was late 80's and a very sharp man. Perfect keigo Japanese better than most Japanese themselves. Keigo is a polite form not used much now days. Not a hint of age showed as he powerfully spoke from the book of Romans. He was teaching on grace. He had the only one I have ever seen all Romanized Full Japanese Bible. All the words were phonetically spelled out. I learned of Harry Robert Fox as helping to build the Ibaraki Christian University. He and his brother Logan were very instrumental in establishing a wonderful Christ centered educational facility.

Today as I was in a meeting with several of our CRASH team members a gentleman named Jim Brannan (SP) I believe who has been in Japan a long time. I asked if he knew the Fox brothers. Yes his eyes lit up. He told me of their wonderful godly heritage to serve the Lord there in Japan. They just had a rededication of a building that they named after Logan. Harry was the honored guest to come and witness the event.

Here is a snap shot from a blog on the History of the Christ Church in Japan:

Churches of Christ had already bought a tract of land from the Hitachi Company in Ibaraki Prefecture. Harry Robert Fox, Jr. and his brother, Logan Fox, together with a group of students mainly from Harding College, settled there. Shion Gakuen was started in 1948, Tandai Junior College and the four-year Ibaraki College in 1951.

Here is a quote of his to the Westside Church of Christ:
http://westsidechurchofchrist.pepperdine.edu/hfox.htm

What an honor and blessing to be now at this time working alongside men of great faith. As far as I know Harry now in his 90's is still teaching the word in Japanese between San Diego CA and in Newport Beach all the way up to Los Angeles. He is such a gracious man if you see him tell him I said hi.

Safety Dude

2011-04-11T21:50:00.000+09:00

This sounded kind of fun to be a Safety officer but now that I am finally getting my head into this there is a lot more to it. FEMA has hundreds if not thousands of pages on safety stuff. I was thinking just a pamphlet of 10 pages. Ha. Today as I was reviewing driving conditions one of my co-workers was pointing out that may towns and villages have sunk to right at or below sea level and are now experiencing flooding during high tides. So if you park your car in the wrong area it might float away while your out. More fun tomorrow. One of the other problems is so many road have dropped 1 to 2 feet that manhole pipes are sticking up like barrier poles you have to be very careful. Am I safe or what. Pray that God will help me. I am the least safe guy in the whole world. I still open things with my teeth and eat, read a map and talk on a cell phone all while driving with my knee. Dude should I be sharing those things?

Japan quake videos taken by Gary Kusunoki Part 2

2011-04-04T21:45:00.000+09:00

Words cannot express what these videos show.

Japan quake videos taken by Gary Kusunoki

2011-04-04T21:38:00.000+09:00

Two Weeks after the Earthquake

2011-03-27T00:45:00.000+09:00

Hi Everyone, It is two weeks since the Earthquake.

I know it's been a while but when your in the frying pan all you do is run around and try not to get cooked. It has been one of the most difficult weeks for me. In 1984, my boot camp in Fort Dix New Jersey was a pleasure cruise compared to this time. It isn't the physical demand but the mental and spiritual things that have come my way. I am on the Emotional Care Team. In the US we call it Pastoral Care or Pastoral Crisis Intervention PCI. Here we renamed it Emocare. We have two groups to approach this, one is the team care which I am leading and the survivor care. The UN report said the PTSD symptoms are already beginning to manifest in people earlier than usual. The Children are especially affected.

I am working with a team of people that is changing daily and we are ramping up a training process for different types of teams in the field right now. We first have Assessment teams usually our first responders they love to get out there to be our eyes and ears and survey the land and find possible sights for us to set up camps. After two weeks we now have three full functioning Bases and a fourth on the way.

We now have a second Group in the field known as supply and base staff. There are long term teams who will stay up to two weeks on base and network with churches in the area. Our first one is up to about 35-40 some churches that they are getting aid to and helping with emotional and spiritual care.

We then have our third group of people to train and those are our recovery teams. There are churches and groups from all over the world and in the Tokyo area and we network the local churches with the churches in the affected areas and they then begin the clean up and ministering to the people.

God is at work and there are many coming to faith. The devastation is so great and vast. One pastor from Chicago said he was in Haiti but this was far worse. Another pastor said the amount of devastation was like 5 katrinas. In one area of Kasenuma you can be on the beach and look inland for a mile and then drive for 15 miles north and it is all devastation. The strange feeling team members have is that the place has a deafening silence.

We are having to work on Cultural Sensitivity Training for our American guests. The Japanese are very private persons and since the disaster have very little dignity left. They are in the shelters and have set up chairs for walls and they have a blanket on the floor but members take off their shoes to enter and ask for permission to enter. They feel strange because this is all the home they have left and they are encroaching upon it. In one church a big named organization was said to have a circus driving around with a van full of film crews and as they come to a church they jump out and almost bust the doors of the churches down. You have to understand most churches in this area are small and usually the pastors home. The guys of this group jump out and make a chain carrying relief into the home of the pastor and they start to slide boxes across their very old and precious wood floor. In Japan you don't do those things. It is disrespectful. You take off your shoes no matter if you have the combat boots on you take them off. You honor the home. Anyway, I am on a soap box crying against the so-called relief. The disaster is hard enough to process but the relief crew should not be a disaster and embarrassment to Jesus Christ. I never knew how many hundreds of groups there are. They all claim some kind of fame naming their disasters as badges of honor. It is kind of sickening. They don't remember the people or church name but that disaster..."Yea we were there." So what! These groups come in for a month or two and then leave. Our goal at Crash is we are here for the long term. We are here to help. We live here and aren't going home or off to the next disaster. Just to give you a sense of this. One team called a Pastor to offer relief to them and they said, "Not today. We are not ready to receive you. Come on Monday." That was two days later. They would rather do without and suffer for honor of the family members to all get ready to receive a guest.

I was promoted just today. Yea, but it can change tomorrow so stay tuned. I am now also in charge of Radiation monitoring. We are getting trained on the latest equipment for testing radiation. A group donated 12 units for us to use. Each base camp and each work team will be given a monitor that will have readings for the whole day of how much IF ANY exposure they may have to radiation. So far to my knowledge there is none in the areas we are in but that can change and we need to keep a daily log on the readings and if they spike I have to call teams out of the field. So I am over the Pastoral Care, Survivor care, Radiation Scary (JOKE) and a few others things I think. I have no Idea what I am doing but that Jesus keeps providing the right people to plug into place and have them go to work. The amount of translators that are available are awesome. God is good. We have had Erin Kawaye of OMF international come in and train our HQ team on our roles together and how we are to work together. It was a great time. I am learning how to love people in a new way. I am working with many different denominations and types of Christians. Love is the key.

We had an Emocare information night expecting 30 some people we called to show up. About 200 showed up and we had it U-streamed with 10 churches logging on. It was so awesome. I was terrible and God is using it. HA. I love our God so much. The verse I am enjoying and chewing on right now is Hebrews 12:12 in the New Living Translation. "So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong." There is another meeting next week and they decided to rent out Aoyama Gakuin Hall. That is a big college in Tokyo. They are expecting 700 but have a feeling it may be more.

This next week will be hard and We need prayer. There are two teams from the US arriving and coming to check out our operations and then we will drive up to the bases and check on our teams and perform in field debriefings and radiation checking. Basically talk about the mission and read our Bibles and pray together. But I am supposed to sound real official. We if possible will also do some assessing if time allows for us to go into the Iwate prefecture north of sendai. Pray God to prepare our hearts for the time we have together and also for what we will see and smell.

I am on shaky legs right now. But God is encouraging me to stand firm and not stumble or run away. I think of the Love Song tune "With one hand reach out for Jesus and with the other bring a friend."

Pray for the Calvary Japan Conference coming up it should be awesome for all of us to be refreshed in the Lord. I pray we can all get together and just seek Jesus. I am loving my brothers and sisters in the others groups but there is something special and heart warming about your own family.

The Calvary Churches are responding to the disaster each in their Spirit led way. God is raising them up to respond in so many ways it is awesome. Chizuo and Rick went to the North area and just took a truck and loved on the people. It was very impacting but also a blessing for them to just pray and bless people as they'd come to an area and open the truck and give supplies to people. They touched so many lives. Pastor Jack was at Costco buying supplies to donate and is wanting to do all he can. Jeremiah is helping get teams with trucks off from his church to deliver relief to some churches. So many are helping. Many of the guys are busy but have plans to come and work. Travis and Rich and Kiyomasa are going up to Sendai to deliver relief and supplies soon. It is such a blessing to have brothers like minded and open to the leading to the Holy Spirit. They are such an encouragement to me. This week Travis came in to do some stuff and just took time and prayed for me. I needed it. Jonathan is some how holding together. He is that kind of person that loves to blaze a trail in a jungle where not many have gone before. We follow behind wondering where is he going some times but there are vistas were we see the hand of God working and moving and blessing.

This week was huge for the whole team as Jonathan took time to admit some things that were on the hearts of others and it was a breath of fresh air for everyone to stand back and regroup together. We have been strengthened in Jesus and linked arm in arm as we march forward. The awesome thing is we are not just the foreign missionaries we have hundreds of Japanese Christians all partnering with us and working though Crash. Our goal is to turn the whole thing over to Japanese churches.

There are miracles happening and many stories of hope coming out of this. The greatest thing I see is no one person is getting the glory. God is doing a work and he is getting the glory he deserves. One group commented on our team dynamic and that was that we all have a true heart for Jesus they saw no egos in the leadership. He needs to look harder. Mine is there an I am doing all I can to kill that bad boy daily now it is moment by moment. One team found a man and a woman sitting on the concrete steps of the foundation of their home that had been washed away. They asked if they needed anything. The woman who was a popular radio personality said we have our physical needs but what we need is "Heart Care." The team shared the gospel. She was so glad to hear this she took them down to the studio and put them on the air to share the gospel. In one area, I heard a team was passing out food and Bibles. The people took some food but all wanted Bibles. They are hungry for God and are searching.

In Tokyo it seems as if nothing happened. Many are back to their old ways. In my town the pachinko parlors are packed out. Life is resuming even though there is eminent danger just to the North they are oblivious many of them with consciences seared. The schools all will start back up again Monday. Life will return to normalcy. But many areas of our town now have refugees in the sense of people without homes and jobs are now down here in our area in Government shelters. There is opportunity to minister to them as well. Pray we will have opportunity to visit them and love on them.

There is an awakening beginning in the mountains where churches and pastors are coming together to pray and worship God. We rejoice with all that God is doing. We are expecting God to do things far greater than we could ever imagine or think. Pray for the salvation of Japan. Pray for our teams safety. Pray for the unity among the brethren. Pray that we will be known for our Love for one another. Pray for all the thousands that are now mobilizing in the US coming over to be sensitive to this beautiful culture. Pray that the body of Christ will bring glory to his name.

Mihoko and the kids went back to the states for 30 days and I have asked my Students to allow me a couple of weeks off to work. They are so gracious and some even call me just to see how I am doing. It is such a blessing to have good friends.

Erin from OMF leaves all our teams with Romans 15-1-7 I think I'll do the same as this is the sum of all we are trying to do here. We are creating an organization where by the Japanese churches can link with the affected Churches and bless them and help them.

¹ We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. ³ For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^[a] ⁴ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. ⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:1-7 NIV

God bless you all. Do all to Glorify Him

Dan

Crash Meeting

2011-03-20T21:53:00.001+09:00

We had our first brief/training of CRASH tonight. We expected 30. Got about 200. We had the room over flowed to an outside lobby and then there were 10 churches logged on live through U-stream. It was awesome. I was horrified. I blanked out and don't remember what I said but they said I did fine. Wow... were they being giri? Lol It was fun now if we could do that every week. I spoke for the first 15 minutes and Andy Meeko shared his notes on stress reduction. We need to do more thorough training I believe. Hopefully we will have some good training sessions in the months to come.

Yukiko did an awesome job translating Andy. She was great. So was my translator. God bless you all and thank you for coming.

Normalcy or not?

2011-03-17T20:49:00.000+09:00

The Earthquake in Japan is very hard to process. We are grieving so hard. We are all tired and overwhelmed. After my sons (@3-1/2) death in 2000 and my daughters @ 5 heart transplant I have learned it is important to try as hard as it is to get back to some kind of normalcy. I thought about ending all my ESL classes and just bury myself into the relief work. Problem is the danger of losing touch with reality. Processing grief is real and very hard but not processing real life is escapism and leads to darkness within the soul. Depression will settle in and isolation will dominate. It is very important we extend ourselves out to serving and loving others. Focusing on self will only spiral into deeper depression and will lead to dangerous behaviors like medicating self or seeking ways to end self. The road to normalcy is very rough and hard. But is is absolutely necessary.

Today for our kids ESL I tried to keep it simple. I also allowed the kids to process their grief and fears through play. We first taught the phrases "I need help?" We substituted the word help with water, medicine, my mom and the last one was Chocolate. I also taught the phrases, "Are you okay?" and also "I'm hurt." "I'm hungry." "I'm thirsty.""I'm crazy."

We then modeled our lesson with building a city for 15 minutes reviewing past vocabulary: truck, people, animals, building, store, park, zoo...etc. I had each student pick a lego character and place themselves in the city. After we built the city we then simulated an earthquake and destroyed it. Then we played search and rescue. Using our flash lights we then looked for ourselves and went through our ESL phrases. "Are you okay?" No I'm hurt. I need chocolate.

At the end we modeled our phrases once more after clean up we ended with the phrase I need chocolate. Then I rewarded our good students with good chocolate. I hope they will remember the sentences. It was a fun class.

These pictures were my Tigers level 2 class and I also did it with my next class Zebras level 1 both responded to the play very well. My daughter Jane enjoyed being in the class too. It was at least therapeutic to see these kids process and play and learn. Thanks guys you helped me more than you realize.

Reflections of a Disaster

2011-03-12T22:35:00.000+09:00

Staring at Kaneko, a twenty something college student, whom I am teaching English to, we were discussing Moscow deporting hundreds of stray dogs to Siberia. Our coffee spills onto the table and we are looking like deer in the headlights as the most violent shaking begins. Things start to fall in the bathrooms and off shelves. The doors and windows start to rattle. We both say at the same time Jishin! which means earthquake. We think it is going to stop 30 seconds go by then a minute, the shaking is still violent we go outside and people are running away from the building. We are on the 7th floor thinking we should go down stairs. So we walk to the Elevator but it is flashing emergency signs and is not running. That's right don't take elevators in Earthquakes. So we go down the stairs. It is about 3 minutes now and the shaking is still going on. When is this going to stop? Buildings and trees are swaying, birds are in the air squawking alarms to something really big happening. Kaneko and I decided to end class early and part ways. At the bridge from our train station to our apartment Mrs Sasaki San who is dealing with life threatening bone cancer approaches me and is rattling off her story. We talk and I encourage her. Her husband is in Tokyo and she is worried if he'll get home. The shaking had stopped but there is an eerie feeling that something terrible had just occurred and we were not the center of it. I call Mihoko and the phones are dead...Uh oh? The shaking had stopped so I went back to go to our apartment elevator to go back and check on our home. Drat it still is out of commission... That's right never take an elevator during an earthquake. I climb up 7 flights of stairs. The disaster was my legs at this point wow I am so out of shape. As soon as I get into my apartment there is a tremendous aftershock almost equal to the original. I stay inside and then go out on the balcony should I stay or should I go. The shaking stops I do what any good post baby boomer pre-gen xer guy would do. I facebook the event. The shaking returns a little less. I can't reach my family. I go outside and downstairs and talk to neighbors. I walk around town to access damage. An ambulance is at the pachinko parlor someone must have had a heart attack when their balls fell on the floor? People are out dazed. I go in to a familiar convenience store. The clerk at the counter is frazzled. I ask, "Daijoubu?" (You okay?) She says very loud as if she had been holding it in for a while, "KOWAIIII!" (Scary!) We laugh I tell her I will pray for her and her family. She is thankful and relieved. I go outside trying to call missionary friends, family, neighbors. Phones don't work. My kids are still at school which is 30 minutes away. I walk back to the apartment and climb the 7 flights of stairs. It is amazing how much Oxygen we demand the higher we go. I look on the computer which is still up and running. The devastation reports are beginning to filter in the Tsunami pictures are already within minutes of the events happening being broadcast on national television.

What has happened is the worst national disaster known in the history of Japan. The devastation is not just one local area or prefecture but it is the whole East Coast about 5 prefectures (States) have declared states of emergency. There are many more prefectures with lots of structure damage but their infrastructure is still in tact. The 5 main prefectures hit have severe infrastructure problems with electricity, water, gas all shut off or broken. Roads are impassible, and fires are spreading in some areas. Landslides have wiped out some small villages and Tsunami's have washed away whole communities. The military and many organizations are already on the ground working but are completely overwhelmed. Children are displaced because while at school their families were washed away or killed in accidents. The trauma and questions being asked are great and we are praying how to best be involved in the recovery and ministry to those hardest affected.

We are partnering with CRASH Japan a disaster relief organization from Grace Christian Fellowship with Pastor Jonathan Wilson. I am heading up Pastoral Care and running admin on coordinating teams from CC churches in Japan to group up and aid in various recovery efforts. Samaritans Purse, World Vision, Campus Crusade for Christ, OMF, JEMA, JEA and many other organizations are all behind us now and we will be having a meeting tomorrow for assessment teams to be assigned and to move out. Over the next few days we will be getting teams of missionaries from all over Japan to pair up and go into the areas and locate churches and missionaries and find our their needs. We are looking to establishing command centers in multiple communities for the express purpose of serving those communities. The recovery process will not be easy or short. One report says over 10 thousand people are missing. We know of about a couple of thousand dead from reports.

We are here in Japan for such a time as this. We are making ourselves available to the Lord for his glory and to use in this effort. Tomorrow we will have an assessment meeting at 2pm in Tokyo. Mihoko with be simultaneous translating it. Pray for her to be anointed to impart the information necessary to direct the teams and train the staff. We are feeling multiple aftershocks some very strong and we are over 250KM away from it all but those in the epicenter are feeling scared and need help.

We need you all to be praying for us. We need the leading of the Holy Spirit for the things he will have us do. Right now we are uncertain what all the details will hold. I will try to post after the meeting to let you all know what's going on. We need your prayers. God is at work and we look forward to what he will bring out of the ashes. Teams in the US are forming up and mobilizing to come over. Pray how to be apart if the Lord allows. God bless

Jane's first tooth

2011-03-01T21:58:00.000+09:00

Miss Jane took out her first tooth. She was so happy and is very upset at the slow service of the tooth fairy. We told her she has to fly all over the world and Japan was a island that takes an extra special trip. She smirked and said, "Mom, just tell me you forgot." The tooth fairy came through the next day.

Sunday School

2011-03-01T21:54:00.000+09:00

We have Sunday School and invited the neighborhood kids to come out and learn about Jesus. They love the English word find puzzles from CCCM Kids web. I download those word puzzles each week and they love to find the words. This weeks study was on Noah's ark. These kids have never heard about God or sin or floods. It was very hard to not just put the cookies on the lower shelf but literally on the floor. I had a hard time to explain in Japanese the terms. But we have fun anyway. After the lesson and story time I showed a Noah cartoon video that was in English and explained the story in more detail. I am challenged by this. Pray for us.

Puppet Show

2011-03-01T21:45:00.000+09:00

Rachel's class mates all had been learning the story of Genesis and Adam and Eve. To express what they had learned they created a puppet show for the whole school. It was Chapel last week where they delivered the performance of a life-time. It was so wonderful to see all the kids get into the show. Good job guy.

Aren't we cute?

I'm not sure what to expect so let's pray.

Nathan is fingering Kazuma for his jokes he plays.

Day 1

Adam and Eve listen to the serpent BOO

All that work and it was over so fast. Wow!

The Gideons

2011-02-19T18:27:00.003+09:00

Today we got to meet some very cool Christian Pastors. There was a meeting here in Iruma and about some 15 pastors got together for fellowship. They had one of the guys play two harmonicas simultaneously. That was fabulous. He was playing the melody line and the harmony using two different keyed harmonicas at once. I'd like to see Darrell Mansfield do that? Another Pastor and His wife played a song on a traditional Japanese Okarina

Okarina

The organization, an early American parachurch organization dedicated to Christian evangelism, was founded in 1899 at the YMCA in Janesville, Wisconsin by two traveling businessmen who met by chance when they shared a hotel room in Boscobel, Wisconsin and refined their idea in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.^[2] It began distributing free Bibles, the work it is chiefly known for, in 1908, when the first Bibles were placed in the rooms of the Superior Hotel in Superior, Montana.^[3] The local railway station at the time was named Iron Mountain, causing confusion as to the name of the town.^[4] From Wikipedia.
The organization describes its link to the story of Gideon:

Gideon was a man who was willing to do exactly what God wanted him to do, regardless of his own judgment as to the plans or results. Humility, faith, and obedience were his great elements of character. This is the standard that The Gideons International is trying to establish in all its members, each man to be ready to do God's will at any time, at any place, and in any way that the Holy Spirit leads.

In keeping with this symbolism, the symbol of the Gideons is a two-handled pitcher and torch, recalling Gideon's victory over the Midianites as described in Judges, Chapter 7.

Gideons are in pop-culture too-

The Beatles – song – "Rocky Raccoon" - "Rocky Raccoon, checked in to his room, only to find Gideon's Bible."
Beulah – song – "Maroon Bible"
Bill Hicks – comedy album – Rant in E-Minor, He speculates how Gideons operate and considers capturing and studying them as a hobby.
Clutch – song – "Profits of Doom" – "Genesis and Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, Gideon is knocking in your hotel while you slumber."
Fall Out Boy – song – "XO"
Frank Zappa – song – "Room Service"
Jay Brannan - song - "Home" - "Why don't the Gideons leave condoms in the drawer? Bibles don't save many people anymore."
Jethro Tull – song – "Locomotive Breath" - "He picks up Gideon's Bible, open at page one."
John Cale – song – "Gideon's Bible"

The Gideons in Japan have a bilingual Bible that is distributed into the school system and many events. Hospitals and Military all receive Bibles. One person shared how she gave a Bible to a nurse who uses it for her patients that don't have peace. It was such a blessing to meet these men of God serving Jesus and getting the word out. My heart was full of Joy. It was over 25 years ago I received my first Gideon Bible. I was in the Army and they took my hair and took my clothes and took my pride and then gave me a gideon. Too bad we can't do that with everyone? That Bible was in my pocket through out basic training and AIT. Pray for the Gideons and getting the word out to everyone.

Double Harmonica too Cool

http://www.gideons-jp.org/index.shtml

Husband and Wife Okarina duet--sweet.

Valentines Day Party

2011-02-13T22:01:00.000+09:00

We had a Valentines day party in our home. There are many neighborhood kids that we want to get to come to Sunday School in our home. So we have these parties and love on the kids and have fun. We then share with them about God's love and invited them to Sunday School.

It was a great time. We colored Valentine coloring books played some games, Dan told a hilarious version of the Valentine history in broken Japanese. The kids looked perplexed but those that knew Japanese and English were laughing as I slaughtered the language. Towards the end of the party all the kids were correcting my Japanese for me. Humbling but amusing.

We ate snacks and valentine cup cakes with whip cream frosting. It was a raging party. Someone even threw up on the carpet in the bathroom. When I was in the Army that meant the party was a good one. I'll take that as a compliment.

Pray for the kids to come to Sunday School. Pray that they come and learn how much Jesus loves them. One lady today in church who is of years remembers when she was a girl how she snuck away to go to Sunday School. This led to her becoming a Christian later on in life.

Jane's first tooth

2011-02-13T21:45:00.000+09:00

Jane our 6 year old daughter just lost her first tooth. It was uneventful as she was showing mom how loose it is. I over heard and said, "Let me see how loose it is." She said, "No way I know you. You'll just rip the tooth out of my mouth." She's right and so I let her be. I said, "your right I'd go to wiggle that thing and I just push it bending back inside your mouth, it'll come right out. Mihoko and I went to discussing ancient methodology for tooth extractions and to our surprise she bent the thing herself. She said, "Hora I did myself!" LOOK MOM I TOOK OUT MY TOOTH." I was bummed because I didn't get to do it but I was happy she was less dramatic and there were no tears just a toothless smile saying, "Hey when does the tooth fairy pay up?" We all laughed. Good job Jane this is the first of many more to come out. I can wait to see the uppers come out too.

No one ever spoke like this man

2011-02-03T20:05:00.001+09:00

John 7:46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.
The Pharisees are wanting to kill Jesus they are wanting to cut him off. They, the Pharisees, for the whole Feast of Tabernacles have been look for Jesus. He is reported to be in the temple itself. The officers are dispatched. It is a very busy time of year. Josephus says that near 2 million people ascend into Jerusalem during this time. It is the last day of the festival. The culmination of all events. At the climax Jesus stands up and in front of everyone cries out. 7:37; “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”. The crowd is mesmerized. No one has ever done this with such grace and authoritative speaking. The Officers are in full riot gear for show. They are all decked out and ready for action. But something keeps them from acting. Their determination to disrupt and arrest a situation and a person is diffused. They are standing there jaw dropped. The words of Jesus are ringing in their heads and they somehow are walking back deep in thought about Jesus and they walk into the headquarters. The Pharisees are wondering, "Why didn't you bring him in?" ... I wonder if there was silence as the officers are waking up to the reality that they have failed in their job. Someone from the back speaks up sheepishly, "No one ever spoke like this man."

In Luke 4:22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.

Some try to depict Jesus as a revolutionary radical. But the Bible speaks of how loving and gracious he was when he spoke. Now he did have some rough words for the religious leaders. But for the everyday people he blew them away not by cleaver jibes or intellectual terror. He spoke in such a way that people always walked away deep in thought about his words.

I think of the Rich man who had it all, his confidence in self was strong. But after his encounter with Jesus he went away deep in thought and saddened.

Nicodemus came to Jesus late at night and before the compliments are wasted Jesus cuts him off and says, "Nic you need to be born again." I wonder how deep in thought he went home that night thinking on Jesus' words?

The Men who brought the woman caught in adultery one by one went away deep in thought. Or how about the woman who was a stones throw away from eternity. How did she walk away from Jesus' words..."Neither do I condemn you, go your way and sin no more."

When we spend time in the word do we hear Jesus in the same way? What effect does his words have on us? I think of all the times I have read the Bible and studied with an eye for teaching in using it in some other way other than hearing it for myself. I want to hear Jesus in such a way so that I walk away in deep thought. Then when I speak to others I want Jesus' words to be what people hear and see them impacted in the same way.

When I was into sales, I worked for a short time for a motivational company as a telemarketer. I know I'm one of those people. But the fascinating part was the training I got through the Nightingale, Zig Ziglar, Mike Ferry and many others training programs. It was a type of language called NLP. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-linguistic_programming. Neural Linguistic Programming is used in Psychology to reprogram people who have some kind of mental trauma. It is a brainwashing technique. I know my Calvary Family is flipping their lid thinking I am a Freudian-Evangelist. Bear me out I had an experience that has resulted in a positive behavior I think is important for many to understand. Now some will take issue with me here and I am just speaking from what I learned not on behalf of the whole NLP science. I am not a psychologist. I don't believe in a Christian going to years of therapy away from the Bible. Jesus is our wonderful counselor. You can program the mind. Jesus can also program our minds. The company I worked for had a script that was so well written with this language that the folks who were victims didn't know what hit them. I could call 200 people a day and contact about 40 of them and present about 15 times and sell 10 of them. This would make me $400-500 a day depending on the skill and amount of peripherals I could sell. There were some guys who made over 100,000 dollars a year with their techniques. I could ask questions in such a way so as to illicit a response that would beg for me to ask the next question and have them so wanting what I was selling that when I asked for their credit card they already had it out. Now that is power. There was a rush of power and control that was addicting. The Hunt was fun and like fishing there is a style and art to the catch.

It didn't last long because I was pressuring people to buy what they didn't need. I knew folks didn't have the money for it as they'd give three credit cards which would all be maxed out. I was willfully programming a mind against their will to do something that may or may not benefit them. I am a Christian and I struggled with that so I quit.

But I am in tuned to this language Jesus is using to illicit from the people a response and desire for more of God. His gracious words were powerful. Romans says the Gospel is the power unto Salvation. David in Psalms says, "he meditates on God's words day and night." The reason I bring all this up is that instead of a Neural Linguistic programming I want to have a Biblical Linguistic Programming. We are to meditate on the Scriptures day and night to be like a tree planted by a river bearing its fruit. We are to be speaking to one another in Psalms, Hymns and spiritual songs. We are to take every thought captive unto Christ. We are to let our minds be transformed through the washing of the word. Biblical Linguistic Programming is lost in the plethora of media disrupting the process.

(CAUTION EMBEDDED COMANDS

MAY CAUSE YOU TO RESPOND

AGAINST YOUR FLESH)

We all have a deep desire for meaning and purpose in our relationship to God and for God. When are we, now, going to begin, right now, the process of washing our minds? How long until we, stop, the madness of striving for generality and status quo Christianity. What time, today, are you going to begin meditating. How much will you spend on life change? What mental activity stands in the way that is unprofitable or meaningless for eternity. So at this moment, with Jesus, you can over come every issue through the Biblical Linguistic Programming. READ YOUR BIBLE!

Note: Embedded commands for this last paragraph are, Now, right now, stop today spend mental activity with Jesus. Some of the commands are not true examples of NLP I am just messing with your head...or am I? Buwaaaahhaaaahahahaha

Setsubun February 3rd. Casting out demons day with beans

2011-01-26T11:25:00.002+09:00

This is way too long if you just do the first sentence you will be fine and not need to read any of my ramblings. below.
Pray and seek the Holy Spirit in all this. Don't do what I say but what the Lord says.

FROM WIKIPEDIA:
Setsubun (節分^?, Bean-Throwing Festival or Bean-Throwing Ceremony) is the day before the beginning of each season in Japan.^[1]^[2] The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun (立春) celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival (春祭 haru matsuri^?). In its association with the Lunar New Year, Spring Setsubun can be and was previously thought of as a sort of New Year's Eve, and so was accompanied by a special ritual to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. This special ritual is called mamemaki (豆撒き, lit. bean throwing).

Mamemaki (Bean-Throwing) is usually performed by the toshiotoko (年男) of the household (i.e., the male who was born on the corresponding animal year on the Chinese zodiac), or else the male head of the household. Roasted soybeans (called fuku mame (福豆^?)) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon or ogre) mask, while the throwers chant "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (鬼は外! 福は内!).^[3] The words roughly translate to "Demons out! Luck in!" The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. Then, as part of bringing luck in, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of one's life, and in some areas, one for each year of one's life plus one more for bringing good luck for the year to come.^[4]

This is my opinion open for criticism:

I received and email from a Christian Mom here in Japan with concerns about this event and her families participation. I am not an authority on this but as I seek the Lord I have shared my convictions.

setsubun the mame throwing tradition of scaring out the demons from the house? We don't do it. Our kids were at school where they were to do it. We have taught them what the tradition means and why we don't participate. We openly told the teachers and Kochou sensei that we are Christians and we don't participate in that. Jane our youngest at Yochien just walked by the mochi in a school ceremony and didn't bow or clap her hands. She openly told her teachers that is not God. Now we are very American in our cultural influence. But our desire here is to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of heaven. What is citizen behavior to look like. If a person who has died and gone to heaven and seen the golden streets and Jesus and millions of saints what would they act like if they came back to this earth? Would those citizens of heaven try to be culturally correct and bow to gods out of respect for the citizens? Would they throw mame to make Obaa chan happy? Somehow I understand the scripture says that we are not to participate in any of that no matter how silly it is. At the risk of being labeled legalistic here I have to guard against syncretism that permeates this culture.

Is it okay to do both? The Japanese can do these things and attend church and see it as okay. The Christian on the other hand is by the Scriptural stand point to be in the world but not of the world. The missiologists of the day are telling us to like Hudson Taylor become one with the culture and dress like it and appropriate it and join it then share the gospel. I feel like a virus in this. I am to infect the culture by infiltrating it and spreading the germs. The problem with this model to me is the result is the host gets sick and dies and the virus dies with it. The Bible shows God's way as narrow road that is lonely and marked with lots of struggle. We are to in many ways parallel the culture with our heavenly grace culture and be there in these things not condemning them but being ready to give an account as to why we don't do these things. Some may not approve here but as I work out this still developing mission this is how we are living at the present. We this last year pulled our kids out of public school and put them in Grace Christian International School because of the Culture teachings. It was becoming evident that the education system here wasn't as much about appropriating knowledge for maturing and living and making right choices as it was about what it means to be Japanese. We saw a government agenda to indoctrinate the minds of the youth into the Japanese Kingdom thinking. They don't want God or the Bible but they teach Buddhism and Shintoism openly and unashamedly. They purposely seek to use demonic terror to scare the kids into good behavior. The demon creature chases the kids in some events and tells them to obey their parents and terrorizes the kids making them cry. I don't find this funny or wise at all.

There are two types of Christian groups I see here. One joins everything and the kids participate in all school events and they allow the kids to do everything and later explain the good and bad to the kids but the culture around them sees them as one with them. Somehow at some point they then share who they are and what they are doing and it is usually shocking and unnerving for people. Just my point of view. Some may be accepting. There is fruit in this model unto salvation and it takes a long time to build trusting relationships that may or may not last when evangelism begins.

The second model comes in and tells everyone openly who they are why they are here and is very open in explaining things. I have seen more fruit from this model as the word of God is being honored and those who are interested desire to build the relationship based on seeking knowledge of the Bible and the Lord. There are tons of people who resent this and hate this. But My ministry here...My Call here is to seek out those that are called by God to come out of the darkness and into his glorious light. I am open to share with all and desire that all come to repentance. I am not Japanese nor am I called to become Japanese. I am a citizen of heaven ministering God's grace and truth to those living in sin and darkness. Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. This is Jesus' words to the Apostle Paul.

Has this commission changed? Has the gospel lost its power to transform? Have Christians been sold a lie from the enemy to neuter them and make them of no affect on the culture? Do I want to stand before God some day and as the scenes of my life are displayed for all in heaven to see that I came to Japan and participated in all these dark cute pagan things and sowed very little gospel seed? I shutter at the thought. God give us grace to give grace to this culture and love them into the kingdom but I can't allow my family to do these things so that people won't get mad. How mad are they going to be for all eternity when they are lost because someone didn't stand. It won't be easy and it will be very hard and the meanness of people can be overwhelming.

Also you need to pray because your kids are the ones growing up here in Japan. Will they have to endure hardship because of Mom and Dads' faith? YES! They will ultimately make their own decisions later on but you build a solid foundation for them and when they are old they will not depart from it. If I compromise the Kids faith foundations what do they have to stand on.

At this point I am at risk for telling you how to behave when you should be listening to the Holy Spirit and draw from Him and the Word of God how you should live. Pray and obey. I am sure the Lord has already spoken to you but one may question the narrow way as being too narrow and hard. You know what to do already but are wondering if there is some other way. Jesus said it best, "Father if there be some other way but never the less not my will be done but thy will be done." God bless.

2010-12-22T10:09:00.000+09:00

Jane missed riding her bike at Grandma's house

She spent a long time getting reacquainted with her bike wait that is Nathan's bike she is riding.

Jane that bike is too big for you....

Ahh you caught me...hey don't take my picture...

Things don't change much. Jane don't leave the bikes in the driveway especially behind Grandma's car... Jane? Jane? JANE!

Friday Night Home Fellowship

2010-12-19T03:01:00.001+09:00

Friday Night Home Fellowship was started about 6 years ago with 3 guys seeking Jesus. Mihoko and I ministered to many through this time of being in the word. Jesus was always the center of our time together. He is the glue to keep us and sustain us. So after 2.5 years of ministering in Japan we are so blessed to see the fellowship continues and it is still centered on Jesus. Praise God. We had some special guests that blessed everyone. Hanna Sakurai from CC Kokobunji came in and sang some worship songs for us and it was amazing. About 1/4 of the group remember Hanna when she was 4 years old here in Cali while her dad attended Fuller and SOM. She was such a delight then and now wow what a blessing. She started out singing timid and quiet. People were mingling and talking but then she closed her eyes and sang to Jesus. There was a ferocious lion of a singer in that girl the place got real quiet and then all were enraptured to worship along with her. All were stunned at the focus of singing to God and even those who did not know Japanese were moved to tears. Judy Kimura is with Hanna singing in this picture. She is a Professor at UCI who teaches Japanese. She loves to sing and was so blessed by Hanna's gift.

Our long time friend Yumiko Takada was there as well. She has been so supportive in all we do. Her heart is to serve Jesus. It was an honor and blessing to see her and hang out.

The Arendse Family have also been such a blessing over the years. They were one of the first families at CCCM we hung out with. Nathan and Luke are best friends and it was so fun to see these young men together again. Luke is tall like his brother but he is only 12 like Nathan. Wow Roger what did you feed that boy. Thanks for coming guys God bless you.

After some great food we moved into a time of sharing. We were so blessed to have Tommy Ruiz's son Zach Ruiz come out and lead some worship. Like his dad he is so gifted and he is one of those guys that can take a rowdy group of Jesus loving people and get them to come together and all begin to worship. Zach is serving with his dad at CC Ginowan in Okinawa. They started the CC Bible College Japan and it has been growing so much. It brings tremendous joy to my heart to see the brothers and sisters seeking Jesus and just to blessed each other in anyway we can. We wanted to take a group picture but that would minister to my pride. A lot of people came and were in the kitchen while we were beginning here. It was a blessed time.

I shared my heart as to what God is doing in Japan and more specifically what is Jesus doing in my heart. In John 6 the feeding of the 5000 Jesus escapes them trying to make him a King prematurely. He is found by the thousands later the next day as they were working hard to find Jesus. The people who were fed the bread were working and laboring to find Jesus. Jesus says labor not for the bread that perishes but for the bread that leads to eternal life. He also told them you are not seeking me but the bread.

Today in the church so many people are being sold a bill of goods claiming life enhancement in exchange for religious devotion. Many are being taught; "Come to Jesus for riches." "Come to Jesus for a better marriage." "Come to Jesus for drug rehab." "Come to Jesus for a job." ETC. The problem is as Jesus points out in the passage that the people are not coming to Jesus. He says, "Your are not seeking me you are seeking the bread." Those reasons to come to Jesus are not bad per-se but they are not the real reason of why we should come to Jesus.

This caught my attention as I have been guilty in the act of planting a church to try to turn people on to church or turn them on to the benefits of attending the church. I have been guilty of trying to turn people on to the benefits of coming to church more than coming to Jesus. I have been taught not to do that I have been taught to focus on Jesus but in my carnality I think if only I can convince them of this they'll come to Jesus. To which Jesus says later in the chapter. "No one can come to the father unless he draws them." I am trying to draw people in without the work of the Father. Ouch. It is true. I am working to draw people into the church my focus is well meaning and the benefits do happen yet that is not how God the Father wants us to believe and come to faith. I can take a robotic arm that mixes powerful chemicals to make medicines that cure and I can use that robotic arm as a back scratcher. I can then tell people to get the robotic arm as a great back scratcher and it make medicines. But that is wrong. So too with the way churches are being built. But How does the Father draw them? V29 "This is the work of God that you believe in Him He has sent." Believe in Jesus! Preach Jesus, Live Jesus, Love Jesus. When Peter made his glorious confession saying, "Thou art the Christ the Son of God." Jesus said upon that confession is what he will build his church. Jesus even called it a key to the kingdom. Jesus unlocks many things for us but we are not to focused on the things we are to focus on Jesus himself.

The church today in Japan or in the US is selling the benefits of Jesus but I see (myself included) our focus is not on Jesus and who he is. He is God the Word John 1:1 come in the flesh as the Son of God. He is the second person of the unified God. Col tells us Jesus is the creator of the universe and he holds it altogether. Jesus is so awesome and worthy the Bible even tells us that one day at the Name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is LORD. Jesus is worthy to be worshiped. For HE alone is worthy. Christ the Lord. Let's this season of Christmas seek to worship Jesus for who he is and because he is worthy rather than trying to gain brownie points with God to gain some benefit. When you seek God for healing but not Jesus...When you seek God for a job but not Jesus...When you seek God for provision but not Jesus you are not seeking Jesus you have not because you ask amiss says James. This year let's get our eyes off of self-centered life enhancement and get out eyes on the giver of life and worship him for who he is for HE ALONE IS WORTHY. AMEN

A note of thanks: The Fujikura's Yumiko and Keizo have been wonderful hosts of our meetings and it is such a blessing to know them and see them grow in the Lord. Blessings of God upon your family and home. Also a note of thanks to Toshiko Yokota for coming and blessing us. She is a Professor at CSLA and teaches Japanese. Thank you for the lessons Sensei. God bless you.

Does this offend you?

2010-12-09T09:14:00.003+09:00

John 6:61 Jesus is saying some pretty hard things. The disciples find themselves... murmuring... not singing or praising but murmuring. Not rejoicing in solid truth but mumbling murmurs. To which, Jesus looks at this group of quarreling men vying for position and status. Cutting each other with their words and religiously serving to look devoted and they are murmuring; and Jesus says, "Does this offend you?"

I am teaching English to many different students. One day this week I was engaged with a student about Hoji. This is the tradition where a family who is Buddhist returns one year later to a grave and has a memorial service. We talked of funerals western and eastern. I was able to share with him about the Christian faith. His questions caught me off guard and he can not understand "such a narrow teaching where so many different people who believe so differently are being sent to hell by YOUR loving God?" I have studied many times the apologetic in a classroom or church sanitized setting where the truth is presented in a way that is palatable and God is sovereign and well yes the truth is if someone does not believe in Jesus Christ his work on the cross and resurrection you can not be saved.

I have been teaching this man for 6 months now. Each week he comes in and we share our lives together. I have really grown attached to him more as a friend than as a student. I value his time and respect his person and individuality. Yet at the risk of offending him and loosing his friendship and all I was faced with the reality of the teaching meeting a lost soul square in the face.

I balked for a moment. I really stopped which may have been micro seconds in real time but it was actually feeling like an eternity. As the truth rolled out of my lips something inside me was saying, "Are you hearing this, do you really believe this?" Here is an intelligent man who is a success in society and is very cultured and you are going to relegate him to the teachings of your childhood about Jesus coming from heaven the virgin birth and resurrection and rapture and new heaven and new Earth? Is this what your going to give to this man?

I realize now this was a spiritual attack. Yet I can't get over all the times before I had thrown the gospel into a "hail mary" type lob into the sea of humanity and who ever gets hit then we go from there. But this was one of the first times where someone I have vested time with someone who is so not saved but I really care about. I can do an out reach anytime anywhere and lob gospel. It feels good. Your doing the work of the Lord. I come from a Christian family, I have Christian friends in the States, When I worked I was surrounded by a wall of Christian customers and vendors. I have been insulated. I have shared with non-believers but it was more in a volley of truth salvos and decimating the relativity of humanistic existential belief.

So here in this moment I balk for the first time truly hearing my message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ come out of my mouth. I have shared and been sharing one on one for many times but there was something different. I was challenged with this truth of the message of Jesus Christ. I, really in that split second, found myself quoting John 6:60 where the disciples say, "this IS a hard teaching. Who can accept it? Especially in Japan?" And then I heard God respond to me clearly, "Does this offend you?"

I went ahead and praise God shared the truth and spoke all I was supposed to say. My friend went away like some of the disciples in John 6 saying this is a hard thing to accept. As I weep over my friends salvation I find myself wanting to color coat the gospel to soften it. I want to give him morsels of truth that will melt his heart like butter and bring him gently like a 747 landing safely in the arms of Jesus repentant and broken. Yet it doesn't work that way. I want to say just come to church and have fun. Just have a coffee and doughnut and fellowship. Don't worry about the gospel right now let's just get souls to come to church.

There is a church here engaged in the invitation ministry. They are placing thousands of fliers in thousands of mail boxes. They are happy and boast of their faithfulness to "GET THE WORD OUT" campaign. The word on the fliers says come to church and hang out... hear a concert. I am not down playing this at all but when you ask if those handing out the fliers engage the people and have conversations about truth and Jesus they say no. I vehemently oppose manipulation to just get a name on the roster at church. That is deception.

So as I am sitting and reading John 6 again today and thinking on all the ways of truth that are presented for religion and relating to God or a god I found myself rejoicing in the verse of John 6:68 in response to Jesus' question... "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We (I) believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." I am thinking at how frivolous I have been in my approach to presenting gospel lobbing salvos and now am faced with more focus on expert sharpshooting skill and prayerfully approaching each presentation of the gospel. Eternal life is at stake here we can't take it lightly and think, "Oh well ho hum some day the Lord will get through to them. I did my part." Really? I am engaged in the verse where Jesus says to Paul in Acts 26:18. "I am sending YOU to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

He's pretty close

2010-12-07T09:50:00.000+09:00

Nathan is studying about King Herod the Great in his Bible class. I like his picture that he drew himself without any influence. He is a good drawer. I am sorry if someone looks similar to this. There was no intention here but just a 12 year olds desire to express what he is studying.

Feeding 5000

2010-12-05T12:43:00.000+09:00

The feeding of the 5000 in John 6 is also in the other three gospels. One of the only two miracles that are recorded into all the gospels. It is one of the main miracles to fulfill Deuteronomy 18:15 to show that Jesus was that prophet sent from God greater than Moses. It also demonstrates God's giving nature. He didn't give to some and not others. All present were filled and satisfied. This really ministers to me in regards to the gospel. I have to question my motives as to why do I sometimes share with a select one or two but not others. I like how God turns to Phillip who is a native of the area and would know best the logistics of engaging in this ministry. Often times we take our ministries to the limits of our resources and then stop because we have no more. God wants to do more but we can stop and stifle what God wants to do. We had an experience one time where because of the facility that was not large enough people were turned away due to logistics. The people turned away were heart broken and had very limited to no more contact with us after that. Those that were invited only 1/2 came and there was plenty of food and plenty of room. Our limitations are God's limitations. Jesus could do no great work there, in Nazareth, because of Unbelief. Jesus tells the man to only believe, to which the man's reply is I do believe but help my unbelief. Which is a round about way saying I want to believe but my faith is weak. When the disciples obeyed Jesus they just went about the logistics of grouping the people and having them sit and then appropriating baskets and ready for the Lord to work and then the miracle happened. It wasn't based on their work but I believe because they obey and were faithful God did the real work. They got to participate in the work. God doesn't need any help but often he deliberately restrains his work until he has our participation. We can protest and say like Andrew there just isn't much here to work with I don't see the possibility. Yes with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible.

It is the Christmas season our activities get way too busy and out of control that we do loose sight of the One we are trying to honor. Let's keep our eyes and ears open to what God wants to do this season and obey him. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the miracles of love and feasting that happen. What a thrill and joy it is to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. He loved so radically he touched more deeply he spoke more boldly than any man to date. If we go in his strength we can expect God to do something. The fun part is you don't know what he wants to do but you just do it and wow God is so good. It could be as simply as feeding one or maybe as amazing as 5000.

A note of interest to me is that the barley loaves used were not considered a high quality. The Talmud records it as horse food. But beside that the seed is crushed and flour is made and then baked. No one in the history of the universe has ever been able to plant a handful of flour and get a crop. But how much more silly for someone to plant a loaf of bread in the ground and expect it to yield. But the person who eats the bread of life Jesus, which means we digest into our heart the word of God, we will see as it goes our of our mouths multiplied in the hearing of those around us. This may be the season to share gifts but I want to pose a challenge for us to try sharing scripture into the hearing of our family. Not our platitudes or opinions but hard core Bible verses and see what God does. I have so many say, "the Bible really says that?" and then I show them and they are surprised. Jesus was crushed and buried and is the fruit of eternal life. How can we expect our family and friends to come to salvation when we are not planting the Bread of Life into their heart. This Christmas give everyone a slice of the Bread of Life and see what happens.

John 6:51

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Bump of Chicken

2010-12-03T21:46:00.000+09:00

Bump of Chicken is a very popular band now in Japan. They are not Christian in fact they sing about many subject but one song that is popular is called "Karma". I found the lyrics facinating as he describes his life he had dirty hands and no control it speaks to me about the depravity of mankind. I am not endorcing the band or the song but I am one who can appreciate art sometimes and I like all kinds of music. The lyric that really got to me is at the end of the song where it says, "When you build a cross on the sunken reasons the promise will be fulfilled we'll become one." "Shizumeta riyuu ni juujika wo tateru toki yakusoku wa hatasareru bokura wa hitotsu ni naru." I'd be interested to hear what you might think the writer means here?

A single glass ball fell
When I went after it, I dropped another one
There's only enough sun for one
And only one left

As soon as your heart starts beating
You take up space, whether you want to or not
And you protect that space so no one else can take it

The hands I'd kept clean
Now look dirty
Before I can doubt my memories
My memories are doubting me

We'll meet for sure
Using our heartbeats as signs
I'm here and I'm always calling you
When the tired old reasons pile up and start to sway
That's when you know the reason you were born

As long as life exists
We take up space whether we want to or not
Two can't fit
When there's just enough sun for one

A single glass ball fell
And when it did, something shot out
It bathed in the light in the spot it stole

I've been counting my footprints
But at some point it became just a number
Apparently what I mustn't know
Is between one and zero

We'll meet for the first time
Using our screaming flags as signs
Don't forget, I'm always calling you
When we bury all the piled up reasons
That's when we'll make a promise

We're mirrors, both of us
Reflecting each other's karma
Our dirty hands will touch
And well know its shape

I'm here, and I can touch you
We're both here in this sun that's only enough for one

Don't forget, I'm always calling you
From the inside of the same glass ball
Yeah, we'll meet for sure
When you build a cross on the sunken reasons
The promise will be fulfilled
We'll become one

Thanksgiving

2010-11-29T21:15:00.002+09:00

This was actually a simplified meal we ate on Thanksgiving. We are missing many dishes in this picture.

We have always celebrated Thanksgiving at my mother's home in California. It was a big family deal. We have a big family and there was big food too. Here in Japan, thanksgiving is a little different. There are turkeys here but not so much the expense but there are not many ovens that can cook a big turkey. Our convention oven can bake but it just won't fit a 12 pound bird. We opted for Chicken from Costco. It was really good and with all the other fixens we didn't miss a bite. This year we had a private family time and then on the following Sunday we had nine friends come together. Three of our Christian friend and 6 non-Christian friends. The six are from our English School. it was great to be sharing our story and faith.

Our family tradition is to go around the table and say what we are thankful for. I was surprised at the answers. Some even indicated that Mihoko and I are who they are thankful for to be sharing with them and inviting them into our lives is a big deal. The smallest acts of kindness can transform an individuals life that is dull and monotonous. We played a game and in the course of it found four of the ladies were all nurses. They didn't know and neither did we. They were sharing stories and one Christian nurse shared her search for meaning in life even though she was trying to make a difference and care for people she felt it was in vain...until she met Jesus. She professed that she prayed every morning to some unknown god asking for the things she needed that day. She was having a form of a relationship with a god she didn't know. She looked into other gods and none of them fit the nature of the one she had been communing with. Then she met Jesus. He was even more perfect than the one she had and he filled her every need and longing. One of the other nurses got all excited testifying she had been praying for a while to some god she didn't know but knew he existed. She was yearning to discover who this god is? She was not ready to identify Jesus as her God but she is now very serious in learning more about him. We are so blessed to be watching the action happen all around us. Pray for Sugai san and Sato san to have a relationship with Jesus and for many others to be actively sharing their faith. We are so thankful to God for bringing us to Japan. All praise to him.

The In-laws...

2010-11-22T17:32:00.002+09:00

I am a really blessed man. I love my in-laws. We have been living together for the last 6 months and it has been a test of our relationship. Today they started to pack a few items toward moving out. We love them but there is a reason the Bible tells us to leave and cleave. We are not to be under that parental control but led and guided by the Lord. They will live about 2 and a half hours away. Their move though isn't as fast as I would like but they are showing signs of promise. I imagine they will wait til we are in the states and then they will use our car.

It was over 21 years ago that I met Mr and Mrs Hori. I was dating Mihoko and they came to the US for a visit. Mihoko was at Azusa Pacific University and we met at her apartment for a dinner together. I was so nervous. We had casual conversation. Then after dinner Mr. Hori nervous started to roll up the chopstick paper. He rolled it at an angle and it was like really long. Then he made a pair of glasses. SO when in Rome...I rolled my paper. We had matching glasses. Then the paper broke. SO we put the eye glass paper rings on the table and using the arm of the paper glasses we put it under our bottom lip and held it in place by making a funny face. Then we played a game to try and pick up the rings without using our hands. It was hilarious. I knew then I liked these people.

A while later I went to Japan as a short-term missionary and was able to stay with them for a couple of weeks. They loved me and took care of me. Even now they are still taking care of us. Mrs. Hori is a willing servant who wants to do everything. She will mend my clothes any time. The plus factor was the day we left for the mission field back in 2008 is Mr. Hori gave his heart to Jesus. He has been coming to church and we are enjoying a blessed time as a united family. But we had made arrangements from the beginning of their move over here to have them find a separate place. They were blessed with a place near Mr. Hori's home town in Nagano. They will have extra room whereby we can stay when we visit. Pray they will remain healthy for many years and enjoy grow in the Lord. Pray they will find a good church there. Pray Mr. Hori will find some godly men to grow in the Lord with.

Ome Matsuri (Festival) and GCIS

2010-11-21T22:53:00.002+09:00

Our kids have been attending GCIS Grace Christian International School for this year. They are having such a blast. one of their classes is a music class where Pastor Jonathan himself has been teaching them to sing some traditional songs like swing low, Oh When the Saints and I'm gonna sing sing sing... The kids were all very nervous but together they had a blast to get up on stage and do it. We are so proud of the kids. Grace Christian Fellowship the church had a booth with clowns scattered through out the venue and the kids were given game cards. They'd have to find clowns and read scripture verses to get stamps which then upon completion would gain them access to make a Christmas decoration. The kids loved it. I got in on handing out the game cards and it was so much fun. The clowns did a great job and had too much fun clowning around. Pastor Jonathan said it was easy to transport all the staff this year since they all dressed as clowns they all fit into the car. LOL he is too funny. May God sew the seeds of the gospel into the hearts of the people that heard. The GCF Worship team played a few song and did a great job and Jonathan sang with them Amazing Grace in English and Japanese. I was a little worried wondering if they were going to sing all 6 verses both in Japanese and English. Whew they didn't and it was pretty. God bless you all.

5 Years ago today November 18th, 2005 7:30 am

2010-11-18T08:32:00.011+09:00

It was hard waking up at the Tiperton Hotel near UCLA. It was 7am. Soon 7:28 and I needed to shower and eat breakfast and go see our 4 year old daughter in the hospital on life support. It was day 24 in the hospital. I slide off the bed and pray with tears. "Lord please have mercy? Please let today be the da..." Before I can finish my prayer at 7:30 in the morning the phone rings. "Good morning Mr. Bolinger we are needing you to come down to the hospital to fill out some paperwork?" The administrating voice said. "Kind of early don't you think?" I sighed. "Mr. Bolinger we can't go ahead with the procedure without your consent." "Procedure? What procedure? Our daughter had been on an ECHMO life support machine for about 4 days and she was declining. There were no other procedures. "Um...didn't someone call you already?" "Ah no. About what?" The admin person not a Christian says, "OMG" Mr. Bolinger Congratulations your daughter got a heart you need to come and fill out the paperwork immediately the team is on stand by waiting." WHAT!!!!!!! WE GOT A HEART! My daughter is going to live again. She was dead in my eyes like my first born son. He had the same condition the same disease the same life draining trail of death and he went to heaven. Now my daughter we expected the same fate. "Mr. Bolinger? Mr. Bolinger? You still there?" I was a complete ball of tears I had collapsed on the floor. I eeked out in a mickey mouse voice, "Yea I'm on my way." I hung up and just fell into praise and worship before my Lord and King Jesus. The redeemer of my soul and now the healer of the daughter. He had always been a healer and capable of healing but I was lacking faith. His grace (Unmerited favor) was poured out upon us that day in a mighty way. The gift of life so precious. We never consider how precious life is until we see it draining out of the ones we love. Hope flies out the door and we are depressed and console ourselves with scripture and platitudes of grandeur but death sucks. When death is robbed of its victory and my daughter was snatched from his teeth by Jesus we shout in exalted victory PRAISE THE LORD. GLORY HALLELUJAH! The Lord spoke to me clearly, "Get up and get ready. Call your wife!" I called Mihoko who was at home. She was wondering where what's going on? She was busy with things at home and had missed the Doctors calls. "Mihoko are you sitting down?" "Why, where are you?" "Um did anyone talk to you?" "About what?" "That we got a heart?" "WHAT?" "YEA the admin just called and I..." I relayed the whole story to her. She was overjoyed and tearful as well. She left home and went to the Joyful life leaders meeting where all the ladies were in tears rejoicing that Jesus had answered all our prayers. She somehow got to the hospital which from Santa Ana to West La is a 50 minute drive with no traffic and she was going North bound on the 405 and some how through traffic made it in 45 minutes. How she doesn't remember. LOL. We were waiting from morning until dinner time. The operation didn't happen until late afternoon. We received the call she was doing great and everything looks wonderful. Again the tears of joy flow down. That was November 18, 2005. A day like many have where our family had sunk to the pit of hell and were in ashes and morning only to be lifted out of the pit of death and set upon a mountain of praise and glory. Thank you God my Father, Thank you Jesus, Thank you Holy Spirit for your love and mercy and that awesome precious gift of grace.

Our daughter is 9 now and we are living in Japan as missionaries. It is totally an amazing crazy story how we just stepped out in faith to serve our Jesus. He is able to do anything. We now live to honor our Lord with our lives. I give Jesus all the glory honor and praise due his name. May God continue to bless our daughter with great health and joy.

Kick off the Christmas season right; Honor Jesus!

2010-11-12T21:15:00.003+09:00

This has been around the web and on Facebook I thought I'd put it here for those of you who haven't heard it yet. I really love this song and it always reminds me of how much greater heaven will be when millions of people all at once will sing a new song to our God and King Jesus Christ. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas ahead of the season. God bless you all.

This is a video of many Choirs gathering at Macys of NY and they in the middle of the shopping day bust into song. There is said to be 650 people singing there. It is quiet thrill to watch.

The GCIS teaching crew at least most of them

2010-11-07T20:19:00.001+09:00

We are missing some of the teachers but at the Undokai we were able to hang out together and have fun. There is Mr. Eric Myers from CC Florence OR. Then Ms. Erin Shaver from CC Kansas and CC Ginowan in Okinawa. Ms. Anna Bennedict I don't know her origins. There is Mr. Justin VanSlooten, Ms. Teruko Smith, Ms Teruya, Ms Hatori, Ms. Ashley Rechten from New York. There are many other teachers I am sorry I don't have you all here. Then lest I hurt his feelings there is the school Principal Mr. Jonathan Wilson who is also the pastor. He did great leading the games and must of had an extra cup of coffee to keep up that energy level all day. It was a great day and we pray and thank God for these folks who take time to bless our kids and love on them. God bless you all.

Undokai or Sports Festival GCIS

2010-11-07T19:55:00.003+09:00

It was awesome weather to get out to Wakakusa Park and spend a day with a family that is all about Grace. Our kids are blessed to be able to go to Grace Christian International School. It is at Grace Christian Fellowship in Ome about 30 minutes away from where we live. The kids are loving the teachers the students and yes even the school work. As I type my son in on another computer flailing fingers on the keyboard doing a report. But Saturday we all gathered for Undokai or Sports Festival. The Japanese schools every year have a sports day where there are races and games and fun activities. They can be very serious and it is usually an all day event with lots of family attending. At Grace there is grace to go around and we had fun playing games and getting to know other families. Although I did sense some heated competition when we had a tug-o-war. The parents decimated the teachers so they had the teachers and students verses the parents. We held our ground for a few seconds but at last we lost. Their victory cry was not very spiritual to say the least. Oh well, even they need grace. HA! and we parents set a good example of being good sports and having a fun day.

Pastors/Leaders Mens retreat

2010-11-03T22:45:00.002+09:00

It was awesome as 28 some men got together and were simply in the word and worshiping Jesus for two days. It was glorious to have guys from all over Japan fly in and we just were giving face time to Jesus. It was a time for reflecting, reevaluating, and rededicating. Senior Pastor Tim Newman from CC Windward Kaneohe, HI; came and taught a study on Joy in the ministry from the book of Philippians. It was wonderful to learn about Paul and how in the difficult times serving the Lord you wouldn't know it because Jesus was always his focus his source his life his everything. Paul had tremendous joy in all aspects and levels of ministry because 1. He prayed. 2. He was positive about all his circumstances were the sovereign hand of God working out a greater impact for the sharing of the gospel 3. Paul knew humility if you have no humility you have no joy. 4. Paul knew Jesus Christ. He is the source of his Joy. 5. Paul learned contentment with just Jesus and nothing else. Contentment will only be found if we trust the providence of God. The Lord brought unity and love and a tremendous joy into all our hearts as we just kept the time centered on seeking Jesus. We had a couple of extended times of worship that God just use to pour out his spirit and we were able to pray for one another and encourage each other. The physical food was awesome too as Pastor Travis once again made the most amazing meals. We also had a lot of time for just hanging out and fellowshiping. We played board games and Travis even had an iphone game that was so hilarious and funny. We had two teams and one team recorded answers to questions into the iphone and then it would play those answers backwards for the other team. The other team had to record the sound identically and then reverse that sound to hear the correct answer. You had to be there to see it. I love all the guys there and it was just a real thrill to wait upon the Lord Studying the word fellowship and prayer and worship. Thanks be to God almighty who made this all happen. God bless the CC Tokorozawa folks and the CC Fuchu guys who did all the cooking and cleaning and preparing. God bless Pastor Tim and the teaching he gave it was awesome. God bless even the guys who beat me severely in that game of Tikal. Especially Jonathan who should feel guilty. LOL You know why...

Once Again I steel from my Brother In Law's website

2010-10-29T23:17:00.002+09:00

This is a great story very motivating. I hope you like it.

My sister Carol Wheeler came across an encouraging story of Henry Peterson. It appears in numerous places on the internet. I hope it encourages you as it did me.

The Georgetown Coach Lou Little stood on the sideline watching the players practice shaking his head in disbelief. It was a Monday morning and to say that some of the guys were tanking it in would be an understatement. He blew his whistle, called everybody together in the center of the field, and started to let them know his feelings.

After ranting about commitment and desire he turned and pointed to Henry Peterson. “Look at this guy” the coach, said “He’s been on our team for four years and never played a down. He’s first at practice and last to leave. He studies film, works out in his spare time and never complains when he doesn’t start. This guy is the glue that holds our team together. I wish you guys could follow Henry’s example more often.”

In Henry’s senior year, Georgetown had the best season in the school’s history. They were due to play Fordham University with their last game to win the state championship. This was the biggest game in the schools history, and excitement was at fever pitch.

The Monday prior to the game Coach Little was walking off the field after practice when Henry approached him. Henry said that his father had passed away that weekend and that there was to be a memorial service for him that Saturday. Much to the coach’s amazement, Henry apologized and said that he needed to be at the service.

Coach Little told Henry to go with his blessing and as a mark of respect the team would say a prayer for his dad before each practice and they’d also dedicate the game to his memory.

On the morning of the big game the Coach was in his office going over some last minute plans for the game when the door burst open and Henry walked in.

“Henry, what are you doing here, I thought it was the memorial service this morning.” Coach Little said.
“It was coach, but I felt like I had to be here. This has been my family for the last 4 years and I know my dad would want me to be here”
“Well ok, if you’re sure. Of course it’s great to have you”
“Coach, can I ask a favor?”
“Sure Henry, anything for you, you know that”
“Coach, I want to start today”
“Well Henry, I know I said anything, but I’m really not sure about that. This is the biggest game in the schools history”
“If you start me coach, I promise that the first missed assignment, dropped ball or mistake of any type you can pull me out the game.
The Coach looked hesitant, but he could see something in Henry’s eyes that made him believe that this young man wasn’t going to let him down.
“Well, ok Henry, but one mistake and you’re out, ok?”
“You got it Coach” and with that Henry turned and left the coach looking rather bemused.

That day Henry Peterson made 15 tackles and assisted in 11 more. He caused one fumble, recovered another and had an interception for the winning touchdown as Georgetown beat Fordham. He was voted Most Valuable Player and in short played the kind of game that people are talking about 60 years later.

After the game Coach Little ran onto the field and hugged Henry.

“Henry, why didn’t you tell me you could play like that, I had no idea. I could have used you for the last 4 years, but I never saw it in practice.”
“Did you ever meet my father Coach?”
“No, I didn’t have that privilege. I saw you walking round the field arm in arm with him a couple of times and I’m sorry now I didn’t come and say hello”
“Well coach, my father was blind and today was the first time he got to see me play football”

ESL students

2010-10-29T08:04:00.003+09:00

Over the last few months we have passed out over 6000 fliers in our town. We have doubled our school and it is a blessing to have the students come to my home and learn English. We are becoming like a family and some are sharing very personal stuff. Pray that we can minister the love of Jesus into their lives.

Nathan went to the Franklin Graham Festival

2010-10-25T12:46:00.003+09:00

The opportunity of a life time for Nathan to go and see and hear the message of the gospel by Franklin Graham in Osaka. He and about 15 others from Grace Christian Fellowship in Ome (ie His School) went down to serve. He had so much fun and saw many things. We got him a camera, but at 12... taking pictures is not on his mind. So we have shots of him and the back of his friends heads. LOL But he was moved and I pray God with give Nathan vision to serve King Jesus with all his life.

In an interview Franklin answered a question from a reporter with the following simple gospel statement. I love it.

We have come to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to give the people of this great city an opportunity to find peace with God through faith in his son Jesus Christ.

God made each and every one of us. He cares for us. But the human race has a problem. The human race has broken God’s standard. As a result we are separated from God. But if we’re willing to accept God’s salvation – His son Jesus Christ, God will forgive us, He’ll heal our hearts and He will reveal his plan for our lives.

Satori? Enlightenment or The imminent light ?

2010-10-21T00:04:00.005+09:00

They offer sacrifices to idols on the tops of mountains. They go up into the hills to burn incense in the pleasant shade of oaks, poplars, and other trees. "That is why your daughters turn to prostitution, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. Why should I punish them? For you men are doing the same thing, sinning with whores and shrine prostitutes. O foolish people! You will be destroyed, for you refuse to understand. Hosea 4:13-14.

Just a note for you who study the Bible in Japanese. I was noticing in Hosea 14 the word in the Shinkaiyaku Seisho for understand is Satori. In my studies this word means enlightenment. This was very interesting as here in Japan those worshiping idols are looking for enlightenment. But the Japanese translators chose satori in stead of rikai. I am not sure why but maybe there are similarities? I do think if fits well with the idea of an individual worshiping a god to seek enlightenment and there isn't any. The NIV says "a people without understanding will come to ruin." Those with idols seeking understanding are without understanding in the first place. Those wanting to be enlightened are without enlightenment. It is the classic cart before the horse. They must first become enlightened before they can have understanding. It is illogical to think you will understand something (ie. a god) when you don't have the capability to understand that in the first place. Am I making sense here? In other words like as in 1 Corinthians 2:14 "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand (SATORUKOTO GA DEKIMASEN) them, because they are spiritually discerned. In John 3, Jesus told Nick at night you MUST be born again to be able to see the kingdom of God. You can't see what it's all about. You can't be enlightened until you receive and accept the one who enlightens. I was just blown away by this.
So many I have shared with tell me they need to study more or they need to process or think about it. But that will never happen there is a no think zone here it would appear. How can one think about light when his life is dark? How can one come to the light when he is blind and doesn't understand what light means. The God of the universe must draw us in an open our eyes and give us understanding. That is why Jesus told Paul in Act 16:17-18..."I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." We are to hopefully enlighten the Japanese by helping them see the IMMINENT LIGHT Jesus first. Amen!

Kiyosato Country Fair

2010-10-17T23:17:00.005+09:00

We went to a country fair in the mountains of Kiyosato. It was a beautiful day. Fuji San (MTN) was in the background while we listened to all kinds of music and watched others dance and ate great BBQ. My daughter Jane could not stop dancing to the music she was so lively. It was fun. We went on a hay ride pulled but a John Deere Tractor. They had real American type crafts and stuff on display and for people to make. The crafts did have a Japanese twang in it but it was well done and everyone was very friendly. There was a group of people From Kentucky that came out to help with the whole event and assist in the activities. There was a missionary Paul Rauch that came to Japan back in the 50's. He was of the Episcopalian distinctive. He came to share Jesus. He also saved the town and put it on the map by helping them to diversify their crops and use more modern methods in farming. He even taught them how to brew beer. This facility was a retreat center with a beautiful chapel and meeting hall that looked out at Mount Fuji. It was all fairly new and unfortunately he did not get to see it. But it is cool to see the work still going on.

They had a dance troop that wore Laderhosen and did some dances. At one point with the big picture of the founder in the background and the German looking dance troop I wondered if they wouldn't secretly break away and run up the mountain to get their freedom? The ceremonies were opened by a singer who sang the good ole hymn "Amazing Grace" In Japanese it is amezingu guresu. We went with our sister church Grace Christian Fellowship and had a great time just hanging out and eating and fellowshipping. Pastor Jonathan was there but his dog had him going a hundred miles an hour all over the place. Don't get food near that dog he'll eat anything. If there is water around he'll jump into it. I had fun with Sammy the dog because he did remind me of my childhood and all the fun I used to have. Now I am reminded of all the reasons I don't want a dog in the family. Great weather great food great friends great fellowship all in all it was a great day.

Blessings

2010-10-17T22:58:00.003+09:00

We were blessed the other day by another heart patient. Our daughter Rachel goes to the hospital every month and there are always similar faces there. There are long waits for blood work and echo-cardiograms and the Doctor visit. In the heart clinic there are many patients that return for follow-up like Rachel. We have met so many of the famous transplants people that have been on TV and all. The golden folks that Rachel loves are the Obaa sans. The older ladies that just love her to pieces. They talk and as Rachel's Japanese is getting better they are so happy to be able to communicate. Some times they just sit and do aiyatori. In English, I have no idea what to call it. But you take some yarn about a foot long and then tie the ends together and with your fingers make all kinds of designs. Rachel can make a broom and a bunch of other stuff. So every so often we receive some love from the ladies. This week we got a Box of expensive Musk Melons. The blue label is a certification and on the internet they go for about $50 bucks each. We thought of auctioning them off on the web for the cash but we ate one and they are so wonderfully yummy. You can't sell this. Bon Appetite!

Saiboku -- MMMMM Bacon

2010-10-17T22:37:00.002+09:00

We went a while ago to Saiboku. It is a glorified pig farm. Although we only saw three pigs were were assured there were more somewhere. When we went into the main gift shop we met most of their relatives all wrapped in plastic shoved inside sausages. We wanted to actually see the sausage making procedure but it didn't happen. My family had a garage door company when I was a kid and every so often we'd get a job at Farmer John's in downtown LA. Not a fun place to go. Especially, if the doors on the slaughter house needed work. The smell was horrendous. The mess was phenomenal. The cattle cars on the train tracks were lined up outside and one by one they all went in and non came out. I know this all sounds gross and sad. But here in Japan it is all cute. Like everything else.
They can take a very stressful subject and just candy coat it with all kinds of cute. They even had a disturbing sign that said, "No parts of the pig are wasted." And then they proceeded with pig manga to show how the skin was used for bags and clothing and how the waste material was used in fertilizing the fresh vegetables that were on sale in the store. I wasn't very hungry for salad after that. But I still was longing for a big bratwurst or kielbasa sausage. But there were none. Yes folks there were no spicy German summer sausage no Chorizo. It was a big let down to say the least. But the kids had fun and I met some unusual characters who didn't say anything. It is hard to have a one way conversation with someone when they just laugh at you and say nothing. We didn't buy any meat as the prices were at a huge all time tourist in your face high. I know I am sounding pathetic but I was so dissapointed in the siborg saiboku place.

The best customer service without the cutomer

2010-10-14T23:24:00.004+09:00

http://www.japantoday.com/category/commentary/view/in-japan-the-customer-is-not-king

The link above will take you to an article that was what I feel well written. Japan is a wonderful place to live if you can accept the rules and the package and don't try to get it your way. If you seek to make any changes it can be a most frustrating experience. This article explains why. The company makes customer service a manufactured product so there is little to no exchange or interaction. They can have perfect service by the book but there is something missing. There is a distinct lack of personability.

"I don’t blame the server or the person at the cash register for the inflexibility. They are just following the manual which is incredibly rigid and allows for little or no bending of the rules. There is never any intention of malice or annoyance. And there is never any lack of politeness or friendliness on the part of Japanese service staff. Staff are generally friendly but I find it is a false or insincere friendliness that is obviously right out of line 34 of the training manual. You can often see the catalogue smile on the clerk’s face wane if you ask for anything remotely out of the ordinary. Back home, friendliness is by no means guaranteed when you walk into a shop or restaurant but when you do find it, it tends to be genuine and sincere."

I got to thinking about the Church and the way we can get into the manufactured production of a service. We loose the personability to interact with the people. There needs to be a connection. I can remember many times in my growing up when the pastor would say something profound and men would say amen. That was at a Baptist church even. There would once in a great while be a story told where the pastor would verify the facts with the audience. There was a homey feel to the service. I don't think there should ever be a singling out in a service someone for the brunt of a joke.

In the quote above the service staff is just following the manual. Are there many Christians just following the manual the Bible but are without genuine friendliness? Do Christian who serve the greatest service organization in the Universe have a false and insincere friendliness? Christians can appear friendly and polite and have a false church face. Oh how different our lives would be if we were to follow the apostle Paul's writings: Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.

Gifts are delicious

2010-10-10T22:47:00.002+09:00

Mihoko received a whole box of apples from her Uncle Takemichi Hori (Ojii san) He is a wonderful man who needs Jesus. Pray for him. We are enjoying the fruit of someone else's labor. Also Mihoko's Dad made his world famous California Rolls. We devoured the first two platters before remembering to take a picture of a smaller plate. It was delicious. Thank you Oji Chan and Ojii San we love you guys.

Sakurai and Indian Curry awesome

2010-10-08T22:50:00.002+09:00

We love Chizuo and Mari Sakurai. Chizuo is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Kokobunji. They have an awesome church with some really awesome growing in Jesus people. We get together with them every once in a while and today they took us for some wonderful Indian Curry. I had the cheese nan and curry set which had two types of curry. I can't tell you what it was like but they were good. I also had this Mango Lassi (yogurt) drink. It was amazing. We went back to CC Kokobunji and had an even greater time in prayer and fellowship. God bless you Sakurai Family and the CC Kokobunjitachi.

Simon says, "Do a monkey?"

2010-10-08T22:45:00.002+09:00

I let Naoto lead the Simon Says game in our eigo club and he said Simon says, "Touch your head." Simon says, "Touch your toes." Simon says, "Do a monkey.?" It was hilarious. They knew what he meant. Somehow my strange teaching methods is doing something. I guess you could say, "Our monkeying around is paying off.

Felice's Cake

2010-10-08T22:41:00.002+09:00

Felice was blessed by Sachiko's Daughter who works for a bakery. She made Nathan a special cake and the day before Felice left she received a special cake. It was good. I love Rachel's face here. She is such a good actress. She fools me all the time. It was a yummy cake but I can't remember the flavor. I believe it was plain yellow cake with cream in the middle with some fruit. That was what was in the last one anyway.

Boys need their mommies

2010-10-08T22:37:00.002+09:00

I don't care how old you get boys need their mommies. I love this shot because Nathan at 12 is reminding me of him at 2 being fed by his mommy. Mihoko loves to do this. Nathan will be mortified that I'm posting it but he only has 6 more years of us and then he will be on his own. For now we get to enjoy him and reminisce about his life.

The last supper and lunch and evening snack for Felice

2010-10-03T22:57:00.002+09:00

We had a great last day with Felice. Actually, Mihoko did. I stayed home and helped Nathan with his tons of homework. But anyway, Felice was able to get up to Kawagoe for a tour of the old town and some great ramen. She also was able to get some great photos. They saw some really old Japanese style homes and even a Ninja house where they had fun. Felice's favorite shot is when Jane was standing by a window and she captured Jane in the sunshine. Felice want's to name the photo touched by and angel.

Then in the evening we went out to a nice Japanese style restaurant where you sit on tatami(Bamboo) mats and the boo part is when your legs fall asleep and you have to stand up to use the restroom. Talk about banana legs. That didn't happen to me this time. It did before but we were ready and knew the point our legs needed stretching and this in turn would allow us time to stop plowing at the trough and sit back and enjoy the meal more. Felice and I ordered some Ton Katsu and this was good stuff. This wasn't the breaded ham slices like you get a some places in Santa Ana California. This was delicious. We scurried out from there hit some 100 yen shops or 99 cent stores. Oh maybe I shouldn't mention that for those of you getting Omiyage (Presents). LOL We then went to Saty a department store and just before closing we got some Taiyaki with sweet beans. It was good and Mihoko knew what to do when coming home she toasted them some more to make them crunchy and it was real good. Anyway, Felice is back in CA by now and hitting an In-N-Out while on her way home. I told her she could get back in time for the evening service at CCCM. Praise God she was so wonderful to encourage us and give us some much needed training in admin and media management and also Mihoko was privy to some piano secrets for leading worship which she was so excited to try. I asked if she would play worship but she shied away so we pray.

Mihoko in Hokkaido

2010-10-01T10:42:00.002+09:00

Mihoko had the privilege of going to Hokkaido for a couple of days with Felice. It is an interesting place with some guy named Treavor doing weird things. I am not sure if he is meditating or itching his eyes. It seems they love to eat because that is all the pictures I have received or they are just being mean. They had sushi and then the second day they went to an All-You-Can-eat Lamb restaurant. That just doesn't sound delicious but apparently it was and I am hoping to get a dogie bag or is it a Lammie bag? They come home tonight and I am hoping to get Felice's pictures. See you later.

Types of Relationships with Jesus

2010-09-30T14:55:00.004+09:00

Pastor Michael Smith from Calvary Costa Mesa had a great study on the last night of Jesus. There in John the last moments prior to his arrest, beating, death, and burial he was saying some very important things about relationships. Michael points out that there are cause and effects to our relationship with Jesus and based on our reasons for relating to Jesus we find that the outcome of our life yields less than desirable reactions.

He spoke about how Jesus came to establish a relationship with us. Did he come with the purpose to redeem man to make heaven's population to grow? God is sovereign and doesn't need our work. He has innumerable angels to carry out the works. He just wants us.

Going through John 14,15,16 Michael laid out examples of relationships Christians typically have with Jesus. With most of these superficial relationships they have adverse reactions. This helps me for personal reasons and for counseling purposes not that everyone falls into these categories but that this gives me tools. This views potential realities people live under and when we see the symptoms we can know that the answer is in righting the relationship with Jesus.

These are to be compared with just having a normal relationship with Jesus.

john 14:7-14 Relationship versus works
John 14:15-31 Relationship and Obedience
John 15: 1-17 Relationship and fruitfulness (Gods and Jesus relationship)
John 15: 18-25 Relationship and opposition
John 15: 26-27 Relationship and evangelism
John 16:1-4 Relationship verses religion. diametrically opposed to each other
John 16:5-15 Relationship and the Holy Spirit
John 16:16-19 Relationship during confusing times
John 16:20-22 Relationship through the ups and downs of life
John 16:23-24 Relationship and Prayer
John 16:25-33 Relationship and Spiritual failure

When you take a Relationship with Jesus out of Works you have Legalism.
When you take a Relationship with Jesus out of Fruitfulness you have Spiritual Pride because its is all about you and what your doing and how good you are. “Look at me.” How holy how loving
When you take a Relationship with Jesus out of Opposition you become downcast.
When you take a Relationship with Jesus out of Evangelism leads to spiritual pride. You are THE EVANGELIST. You become obnoxious and argumentative and conflicting and no one likes you.
When you take a Relationship with Jesus out of Religion your religious.
When you take a Relationship with Jesus out of seeking the Holy Spirit leads to charismania all that matters is Holy Spirit touch.
When you take a Relationship with Jesus out of Confusing Times leaves you confused you get mad at God because things you want done don't get done.
When you take a Relationship with Jesus out of the Ups and Downs of life leaves you unbalanced and eventually leads to being bitter and cynical.
When you take a Relationship with Jesus out of Prayer it makes you Pharisaical. They could pray well and long and Jesus heard none of their prayers because they had no relationship.
When you take Relationship out of Spiritual Failure this leads to condemnation.

A relationship with Jesus is foundational for anything you want to do for him. Anything you want to do for the kingdom of God has to stem from your own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If there is no relationship there will be nothing long lasting about your walk with God. You will get burned out.

I am so stoked about this God bless you all.

Flower viewing

2010-09-28T08:49:00.001+09:00

It was a great day to go and view some flowers.

Felice on the Kiddie Train

2010-09-28T08:25:00.003+09:00

Felice aren't you a little too big for that. She let all her inhibitions go and just went for it. She was one of the girls having fun riding the choo choo train. Too funny. Rachel and Jane love their new big sister.

Felice on the Radio

2010-09-28T08:10:00.003+09:00

At Chappy Radio FM 77.7 we had a special guest on the Foreign Broadcast Program. Felice Ip was in studio and she rocked the mike. Actually she gave a really great testimony of her faith in Jesus Christ. It was a fun program. Felice grew up in Hong Kong and came to the US at 13. She graduated with honors from UCLA in Mechanical Engineering and worked for 10 some years for a large Corporation. She left all that for the love of serving Jesus and it has been the most exciting ride of her life. She's not done and God has allowed her to see many places and do many things that were it not for Jesus she would have never done. She came to Christ at a young age and has just grown deeper in her relationship with Jesus over the years. She declared that Jesus is the only way to heaven and it is just a simple prayer of repentance and faith in Jesus who he is that will bring you salvation. It was a great interview. Pray that those who will hear the broadcast tonight will hear and receive Jesus. Thanks Felice for coming to Japan and being on the radio. God bless.

Hanna Sakurai at CC Montebello

2010-09-23T22:17:00.002+09:00

Hey I just wanted to share with you a clip from Hanna Sakurai singing worship at CC Montebello. She is awesome. She is the daughter of Calvary Kokobunji pastor Chizuo Sakurai. She is presently attending the Calvary School of Worship and she is great. Give her a listen. We are all very proud of her and the gift God has given her.

Christians have the answers to 9 out of 10

2010-09-21T13:00:00.002+09:00

The Website "Ask Jeeves" has published its all time list of the 10 most asked questions by over 1 billion people. This is really fascinating as the Bible has all the answers even about dieting. Sad to say the Bible can't answer in the present to question 9 but in the future absolutely as it is appointed for man to die once. So why are folks not receiving the Biblical answers? That perhaps should be at the top of the Jeeves list.

JEEVES' UNANSWERABLES

1. What is the meaning of life?

2. Is there a God?

3. Do blondes have more fun?

4. What is the best diet?

5. Is there anybody out there?

6. Who is the most famous person in the world?

7. What is love?

8. What is the secret to happiness?

9. Did Tony Soprano die?

10. How long will I live?

Jane turned 6 WOW

2010-09-19T11:39:00.002+09:00

Jane turned 6 and was blessed by family members for the gifts she received. It is always a joy to watch her expressions while she opens them. God bless you Jane. We love you.

We were blessed to visit Hong Kong

2010-09-16T23:34:00.002+09:00

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&id=1365301853#!/album.php?aid=2090507&id=1365301853

Hey Guys, the Lord blessed us and we were able to fly to Hong Kong and attend part of the Calvary Chapel Asia Missions Conference. God is so good and we were so blessed with touring the city and hearing the word of God taught by some amazing teachers. I posted picks on our Facebook see the link above. If you don't have FB well...Come to my house and I will show you them.

Grace and Mercy

2010-09-08T21:30:00.002+09:00

Remember Mercy is not getting the punishment you deserve.
Remember Grace is unmerited favor where you get things you haven't earned.

On the cross of Christ mercy was displayed by the wrath of God being expiated and we who believe on Christ obtain mercy and our sins are forgiven.

God gets all excited and wants to pour out his grace so He says hey I'll throw in eternal life and a dwelling place in heaven...not only that! But I'll give you my son to abide in you...Not only that but I will seal you with the Holy Spirit...and not only that but I will empower you and gift you with abilities to do those things that are on your heart...Not only that I will never leave you nor forsake you...not only that but I will give you every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places...Not only that but if you sin I am ready and willing to forgive any thing you could ever do. Just confess your sin and I'll be faithful and just to forgive your sin...Not only that.... It can go on and on and for all eternity we will be experiencing the grace of our gracious loving heavenly Father. Eph 1 John 3,14,20 1Jn 1:9 I love Jesus Christ and am anxious for experiencing more and more of his wonderful grace.

Born of God

2010-09-05T13:10:00.003+09:00

I am really letting this sink in as this week we are in John 1:12-17 I am zeroing in on the phrase "born of God." This is truly amazing. I like what Pastor Francis Chan had to say about the transformation.

First Day of School second posting

2010-09-01T17:07:00.004+09:00

I found our camera. Here are some more pictures on the kids first day at school at GCIS Grace Christian International School. It was a great day. There are great teachers at GCIS. Jane has class with the CC Kansas City Okinawan sensei Erin Shaver. Rachel is with Mr. Meyers from CC Florence OR. and Nathan has all the other teachers. Ms McBade and Mr Van Slooten, Ms Rechten, Mr Galvin, Ms Smith, of course Mr Wilson and some others. We are excited for the kids to have a fun and blessed year. Our homeschooling experience was a special time. We drew closer together as a family but there were also challenges. I am hopping my kids won't be affected for too many years after my stirring the pot. They are a little weirder and way too vulgar. I apologize to all who will be subjected to these after effects. Now mom and I are hoping to have more free time. NOT!

First day of School

2010-08-31T23:32:00.003+09:00

More pictures coming as soon as I can find my camera. Anyway, Mihoko and I had been praying and felt the leading of the Lord to put our kids into Grace International Christian School. For Rachel and our kids this seems to be the best fit for now. The Lord definitely opened some doors of opportunity and we are stepping out. The school is great and the teachers are real solid and love the kids. Pastor Jonathan is doing a great job there and the kids keep coming back even a few in their senior year now so it is excited to watch them grow. I remember when they came to Costa Mesa and we had a meeting in the MCA office and discussed educational policies and curriculum and style of structure. I actually wasn't there in the meeting because I snore too loud. Anyway, God has used them to bless many families and students. Pray for their provision and growth. The ship is small and the galley is full. There is not much room for too much more growth. Pray for some solutions?

They got the camera again...sigh

2010-08-31T23:26:00.002+09:00

Gotta love my kids. It won't be to long that these guys will be out of the house and on to their life apart from Mom and Dad. Yipee happy thought I can fly...But I will miss them. Thanks guys for the many happy memories love you. Now can I have my camera back?

Iruma Jazz Festival

2010-08-31T23:13:00.002+09:00

We live next to a busy train station and there are facilities to host things like the Iruma Jazz festival. It was cool to hear some of the music from our apartment but after a while we were tired. I love Jazz for 30 minutes or maybe even a hour but 8am to 8pm was over the top. So of those guys think it is cool to play one note a million times. Anyway, we got out and checked out the scene and my buddies from the Radio station were there and one of the executives introduced himself to me so that was cool. After two years at the station I guess you get a rep. I don't know what mine is but I hope it is good. I feel bad for these guys because they already do 70 to 80 our work weeks and then on these festivals they work straight through 24 hours to 48 hours. It's crazy. Pray we can continue to share the gospel with them. Some of them like Digiman that it is nickname says he wants to come to church and clean up his life. I told him in the studio that you just come to Jesus and he'll clean up your life for you. It will be less messier that way. He didn't understand. There is Yuko Chan who wants to sing in a gospel choir. Not for any particular reason other than it sounds like it would be fun. I am hoping we can arrange a time for a team to come and do a gig and she can participate. Pray with us as this is a draw for many youth. Pray we can reach many with the gospel on the radio. I am praying we can have a gospel festival here in Iruma sometime and rock the streets with the sounds of Jesus not Jazz or better yet a Jazzy Jesus. Yea man cool...

Iruma Tower

2010-08-31T23:04:00.003+09:00

In the rolling hills of Iruma there has been a tower that we always saw and wondered what it was. We were adventurous the other day and hiked up to the tower. It was an awesome view you can see for 360 degrees and even past Tokorozawa all the way to Ikebukuro and the Sunshine building and the new Sky tower. It was an amazing view. On the way up Rachel spotted a large worm moving fast in the gutter of the road. It wasn't a worm but a baby snake and it was a poisonous one. We were very blessed to pass it by. I was bummed because we found out that cities will give you over 200 dollars for the critter dead or alive. Oh well, now we know. Anyway, we had a great time and met some locals. One of the shots you can see our church from the tower. I didn't realize how much it stands out. That is totally awesome.

Jane's Yochien goodbye party

2010-08-31T22:54:00.002+09:00

Several of the mom's wanted to have an informal sending off party for Jane and her Yochien classmates. We have been together for a year and a half now and they have formed real attachments. It was a great time as they reserved space for the Shimin Kaikan Gym and we just played all afternoon. We played games and some games didn't go as planned but they turned into a strange and fun activity. The cardboard boxes were to be like tractor treads on a tank but they broke and after a speedy repair Nathan and I had some fun whipping around the floor. Soon we had too many kids inside and the fun wasn't so fun any more. We stopped and turned the boxes into sleds and Nathan and I pulled the kids around on the gym floor. The mom's just talked so much and it was a great time of hanging out. We were so tired after that day.

Some more pict of our trip to Nagano

2010-08-31T22:39:00.002+09:00

Mihoko's dad Mr Hori has four other brothers. There are five. When we went to Nagano we got to hang out with two others. Mihoko's dad is living with us temporarily I think? Anyway, the family grew up in Nagano and it is such a beautiful place. You can pretty much go anywhere on the planet and see the same redwood and pine trees and so many other varieties where God who designed it has left his mark. It was a great time. We visited Gunma ken on our way home and stopped by family friend the Hagiwara's. They own a lot of land and grow cabbage. Tommy tells us that cabbage is the perfect food and that is one of the reasons why Okinawan's live so long they eat so much cabbage. We also stopped by a active volcano Asama san. It last blew in 1995. They had concrete barriers that were for refuge but the size of the rocks that blew out of the volcano are bigger than the refuge places. I hope there is a lot of rebarb in there. It was a great time and we loved the drive.

How will you measure your life?

2010-08-27T10:18:00.003+09:00

http://hbr.org/2010/07/how-will-you-measure-your-life/ar/1
Though the article is not Jesus centrific it is an extremely valuable and timely piece written to a body of students that are entering the world in the most troubling of times. Clayton M. Christensen the author is a professor and a Christian teaching at the Harvard Business School. I think some of his reflections are very necessary for us to heed some time reading and my hope is we'd appropriate some things for our relationship with God.

..."For me, having a clear purpose in my life has been essential. But it was something I had to think long and hard about before I understood it."..."I decided to spend an hour every night reading, thinking, and praying about why God put me on this earth. That was a very challenging commitment to keep, because every hour I spent doing that, I wasn’t studying applied econometrics."...

His championship Basketball team was to play the big game on Sunday and this was a conflict for him and the team. "I’m a deeply religious man, so I went away and prayed about what I should do. I got a very clear feeling that I shouldn’t break my commitment—so I didn’t play in the championship game.

In many ways that was a small decision—involving one of several thousand Sundays in my life. In theory, surely I could have crossed over the line just that one time and then not done it again. But looking back on it, resisting the temptation whose logic was “In this extenuating circumstance, just this once, it’s OK” has proven to be one of the most important decisions of my life. Why? My life has been one unending stream of extenuating circumstances. Had I crossed the line that one time, I would have done it over and over in the years that followed.

The lesson I learned from this is that it’s easier to hold to your principles 100% of the time than it is to hold to them 98% of the time. If you give in to “just this once,” based on a marginal cost analysis, as some of my former classmates have done, you’ll regret where you end up. You’ve got to define for yourself what you stand for and draw the line in a safe place."

"I have a pretty clear idea of how my ideas have generated enormous revenue for companies that have used my research; I know I’ve had a substantial impact. But as I’ve confronted this disease, it’s been interesting to see how unimportant that impact is to me now. I’ve concluded that the metric by which God will assess my life isn’t dollars but the individual people whose lives I’ve touched."

This is a great article to motivate us to shoot for the higher calling in Christ and to love the people around us deeply investing into their lives the Word of God but more so his love. I'd love to see Japanese people impacted in their life to seek what is their purpose more specifically what is God's purpose for them. I know that word has for some folks a sour connotation but we need not throw out the concept. God has a purpose for each of our lives it is to be directed by the Holy Spirit and we are to be wise to invest time to seek Him for that awesome venture of Faith. I am living out a dream and all I can say is this is so much fun. I love what God is doing.

1 Kings 5:5 Solomon speaking..."And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God..."

Bolingers Newsletter for August 2010

2010-08-22T10:05:00.021+09:00

Bolingers In Japan August 21, 2010 I had dirty feet from working at church. As I sat on the edge of the bath tub in my home washing my feet, I found my self slammed on the floor with the bath tub on top of my head and the shower still running. Nothing like this has ever happened in Japan before the man said who was inspecting. It was a new type of Ofuro (Bath) where the tub was clipped on the wall and suspended so that you can wash underneath. They never anticipated a gigantic man to sit on the edge to wash feet. So our neighbor down stairs is having leaking now and we are to blame. Pray we can work things out with the management and the neighbor down stairs. The old saying rings true, “they don’t make them like they used to.” I want to turn things upside down here spiritually, but I never thought a bathtub on my head would be the prophetic symbol.

It has been a great summer. We just passed the 2 year mark in Japan and rejoice to see all that God has done and is doing. We made a commitment to come to Japan for a minimum of 2 years and just serve the Lord. We have had a blast and love this life in Japan. In two years we have established a growing church, been on the Radio, created an ESL school and have had the opportunity to share the Love of Jesus with many Japanese folks. God's hand and blessings are evident and we are excited to see what the future holds. The Japanese are a wonderful people but are not an easy folk to convert into Christianity. We don’t have a magic bullet or a program to achieve instant fruit unto salvation. So far the Lord has not revealed that yet. The process we are finding is agape love over time that grows until salvation. The Word of God is the seed. If you can get people into the word of God their faith grows. It is a Biblical principle. Un-Surprisingly, many missions groups are trying a more mainstream appeal to the flesh to lure people in and then surprise them with “whoops-we-forgot-to-tell-you-we-are-Christian.” I am not trying to put them down but I am opposed to deceitful means to trick the folks to hear a gospel presentation. I have shared the gospel many times and the people are very open to hear and think about the message. You can share with anyone just about anywhere anytime. People want to know what is out there. But the problem is; even though it is something they desire and want; they are bound to a culture that is very strict in regards to changing ones faith. I can only speak on behalf of the folks I live around and work with. I don’t know if my personal opinion applies to the whole. The Japanese here in Iruma are very prevalent in learning about the world around them. The TV in Japan shows more documentaries and group participation learning shows. They are on a constant quest for the best item that will enhance their life. To share a gospel of love with a people who don’t know real agape love is selling apples to someone who wants oranges. The foundations of Japan are firm from birth that they are taught principles and family ties and cultural faithfulness. To go against anyone of these is to rebel against what it means to be Japanese. In America, I can be of German Dutch descent but I am also an American. In Japan, to be Japanese is to be Japanese.　http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/the-hafu-project-exploring-the-question-of-what-it-means-to-be-japanese。 It is doable with lots of love and patience but it is a work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can penetrate the soul of the Japanese person. The Holy Spirit just needs us to be speaking the word of God into the hearing of the people. Just to tell them to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus is just another Noble principle like taught in Buddhism. They already follow a Noble 8 fold path of self denial. They have the Shinto religion of appeasing millions of gods and hoping one will take favor on them and bless them with health, long life and fortune; Even though they don’t really know the religion at all. Most don’t follow it but just are traditionally bound to enjoy the time with family while they perform religious acts. So to throw another tradition on their shoulders is no problem. They just assimilate that theology into their collective thinking and merrily go about their day serving many religions all at once. It is called syncretism.

We see it in America creeping in with the new movements to assimilate other faiths together and have Muslims and Buddhists and Christians all worship their own god in the same place. Many folks here have a Buddhist alter in one room; A family Shinto shrine in another room; and a Jehovah’s Witness Bible on their nightstand just to cover all the bases yet there is no home plate. So we are trying to not present a gospel that they assimilate and synchronize with their own individual faith. We are in prayer to be led by the Holy Spirit into those ventures that will sow the seeds of the Word of God into the hearts of the Japanese. It has been our desire to start a school of ministry or a Bible College extension from Okinawa’s CCBC.

God has allowed us to start a church within another churches facility. This makes me chuckle as we had in California hundreds of Korean and Chinese churches operating out of other church facilities. Here in Japan though it raises eyebrows. That is okay. This wasn’t our choosing but the Lords. The facility is large enough to have students stay on campus. The problem is there is a lot of work for renovations. The current church has a small congregation that is unable to make repairs and is trying to stoke the flames and grow a church. Some have asked us why we don’t join the other church. We are in prayer but find their Pentecostal distinctive is significantly different that causes us to remain separate. It would be great for us to work together yet the Lord hasn’t provided that opportunity.

Calvary Chapel Iruma is cruising along. We meet on Sunday afternoons so as to not conflict with the other church. It is working great. We have a few faithful and are so blessed to see them come. They are enjoying the study. They are praying with us for some help with worship. I am playing guitar but it is really mechanical. I need to choose songs I know even though they are 20 years old and not try to play the new songs. I appeal to the School of Worship and Bible College to send your graduates to Japan. We had a summer outreach at the church with our ESL kids and their mom’s. We had a great time with a dozen or more kids loving the games and wading pool with slip-n-slide. Pray for their salvation. On Sunday, we have been going through the Bible and are in the last chapter of Luke. It has been great and fun to serve the Lord in this way. We have our Thursday night prayer meeting going and it has made a huge difference in the church. I have begun to meet with Pastor Shuji Noda from Ai no Kyoukai. We have similar visions. Pray we can through the word understand and appropriate the Calvary (Biblical) distinctive that has blessed us for so many years. I have also been meeting with Mr Nohata on Friday evenings. He recently prayed to receive Christ and wants to learn the Bible. We have been going through the Parables of Jesus using an ESL Bible study that is bi-lingual. I am unable to teach in Japanese and am reduced to short child like phrases. The points are simple and easy. Pray he grows in faith.

ESL classes are going great. I am not a good teacher and lesson planning is a chore. I need direction so that I can see some results. I have some books on how to teach ESL but they don’t give you lesson plans with options for activities. We just need prayer to progress and learn as we go. I am finding singing everything works best. Pray I sing on key.

The Radio station is just humming along. The month of July yielded a visit from Toshiko Yokota my Japanese teacher from CSLA. She attends CCCM and gave a really excellent interview on the radio program. She has a Master degree in world religions from UCLA and a PHD from UCI in Ancient Japanese literature. I asked her, “Why, of all the religions of the world, would you choose Christianity over the others? All offer roads of salvation so what was it specifically about Christianity that made you settle on that?” She just said, “That’s easy…God’s Agape love.” Then she just talked about her experience and testified to the validity of this love and its huge impact on transforming her soul. God blessed the show and we had a great time. Pray for many more interviews like that. Pray that listeners will be changed. Pray we can expand the radio ministry.

Family time has been great. We took a couple of days and visited Mihoko’s Uncle in Nagano (Olympic city) with her mom and dad Mr. and Mrs. Hori as well. We had a good time and shared with their younger brother (of 5 Hori men) the love of Christ. I was worried when the younger brother came in for tea one evening and started to read palms. I told him I read Psalms and it changes the patterns in my life. He didn’t quite get it. We went and visited a Ninja town and got to do things like real ninja’s do.

We went to Summerland which is an amusement themed water park. The City Hall had free tickets to families with handicapped children. We fall into that category with Rachel and so we had a blast. They had limousine bus service from the city hall door to door and back it was cool. These were like airplanes inside. The water park was over crowded and we had to wait over an hour to ride one slide ride. We didn’t do that again. The kids were content to just play and enjoy the time together.

We have had some interesting things happen with three computers having problems. Dan’s Mac fried the hard drive and he lost a lot of things. Mihoko’s computer had a blue screen about some spooling error. I took it to a computer store and they did a diagnostic test which some how reset the computer so we got home and it worked praise God. Mihoko’s dad had lent us his computer and it too had a problem and we went the same store who did the same thing and now it too is working again. Dan had to buy a hard drive and new OS.

The Kids are doing great: Nathan hit 12 in April and has grown to Mom’s height almost eclipsing her. His voice is changing and so is his attitude. Pray we can work out differences of opinion. Pray mom and dad allow him to grow up and make his own choices. He is getting stronger and is a real big help at the church; I tried him out using a chain saw to cut a tree up and he had a blast. He was so exhausted after all the cutting and then I pointed out we still had the root to dig out. He almost fainted. A severe lightening storm rolled in with big rain and we stopped until next time. He was so happy but still hates lightening.

Rachel just turned 9 and is becoming quite a young lady. She is our great helper to mom and has a willing heart to serve anytime and anywhere. I use her and Jane a lot in the ESL classes. The kids love them and the motions they do as they sing songs. She has been healthy but there are some difficulties with her hearing and breathing. Her adenoid glands are swollen and shut off her breathing when she sleeps so she snores and stops breathing sometimes (Apnea). She had tubes in her ears but one fell out and so we are planning to have that put back in soon. Pray we can find a solution to the adenoids. Some say surgery to take them out. Others say they grow back. Some say wait. Pray we do the Lord’s will in this.

Jane is just a bundle of sunshine where ever she goes. She has accumulated the Japanese language perfectly as mom has said. I just don’t get it? She didn’t look at any grammar notes and sentence patterns and study vocab flash cards. Yet she has tons of vocab and excellent sentence patterns. Dan is mortified. He has computer programs and books and flash cards and teachers and Bible studies and he feels like he’s eating sand paper some times. He is still unable to conjugate his verbs correctly and use the right relationals.

Mihoko is doing great. She is the Proverbs 31 wife. She does it all. That keeps her busy all week long. She has been blessed by some ladies who have been coming to a Women’s Bible study in the book of Daniel. The group is growing and it is encouraging. She is also working on translating materials and our website. She also translates Sunday Mornings for the church service. God bless her. Pray for the peace of God to reign in her heart. Pray Dan can acquire the language faster to help her more and take some of the burden.

We have also been participating in a ministry to the less fortunate with Grace Christian Fellowship. They have a ministry called Manna. It is a bread donation ministry through Costco that donates day old bread to the churches. We pick up three times a week. I pick up on Wednesdays and deliver the bread to three sometimes four different churches. We didn’t realize the impact this ministry is having on the community around us but so many people are benefiting. We had a summer vacation one week and didn’t pick up and deliver bread. We had one young man waiting at the church all day for us to come. We felt bad and went and bought him groceries. There are quite a few out of work and they are on unemployment but that is nowhere near what these families need to survive. The bread becomes a point of contact and blessing into lives that we’d otherwise not be able to sow seeds of faith into. Praise God for the manna ministry. Pray we can bring the most glory to Jesus through this and see many come to faith. Grace Christian Fellowship gives bread to more than 10 churches. Several hundred people are impacted by this ministry.

The world is an uncertain place. To return to the states would greatly lead to absolute uncertainty in our future. We are very confident that for now Jesus is leading us to stay where we are and continue to bless all those he brings us to minister to. Time is short and though there may be still a lot of work to do in the states we find the condition of Japan a greater and higher call for us. We will remain on the mission field until our commanding chief the Lord Jesus Christ calls us home. We are endeavoring the march forward to run the race so as to win and reach for the prize of this calling.

Pray for us to keep the vision God gave us when coming over here or to make changes as he is directing.
Pray for the Japanese to break from tradition and to embrace Jesus only.
Pray for the Noda family as they begin married life together and work to grow the church.
Pray for Nohata San to grow in faith
Pray for Honda San to continue to be that salt and light with us in laboring to love folks into the church.
Pray for Iwamoto San to come to salvation. He is struggling with the resurrection of Christ.
Pray for the Bedow family; the busy schedule; school starting soon; CD to go to production
Pray for them to get the new equipment for their concerts. Pray for their house the ministry that was going to build a new one had to change plans for now.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to cause us to meet those people he is working in.
Pray we are able to grow the church.
Pray for things hindering the growth to be removed.
Pray for the ESL classes: Salvation for students and parents and creativity with lesson planning.
Pray for Dan’s language acquisition.
Pray for Rachel’s adenoid problem and her hearing also pray she can sleep well.
Pray for the manna ministry to bless many folks and bring many to faith in Jesus.

Christmas in August?

2010-08-14T21:35:00.002+09:00

The Daiso corporation has a chain of 100 Yen (99 cent) stores. They sell these items all year in some stores. I was still surprised to see them out though. But as I got thinking about it; It is about right. You see the shepherds were out in the fields watching their sheep as they grazed and slept this was a Summer or Fall activity. Some scholars have come to the conclusion that Jesus was most likely born in September since John the Baptist was 6 months earlier than Jesus too. So to celebrate Jesus birth you better start your Christmas shopping now because there are only two weeks til September. What are you going to get me?

Watermelon Overdose Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaa

2010-08-08T21:17:00.002+09:00

One of our dear friends decided to bless us tremendously. This was unexpected and it was amazing. This Suica or watermelon came and it was so huge. It was 20 kilograms about 45 LBS. My 5 year old Jane is that size. I have only seen a watermelon that big on the TV. I have never had the pleasure to cut and eat such a beast. Notice very few seeds. This was so awesome. We were all homesick for California and this was the cure. We are now able to make it to December. Thank you so much for the blessing.

Ome's VBS WOW what a ride on the high seas

2010-08-08T21:05:00.002+09:00

The Ome crew really goes all out for their VBS. They translate the songs and all kinds of other material They are very talented with the scenery and props. Some of the props almost didn't make it due to Mrs. McBade's stage dive incident but all was well. on the High seas. It was a blessing to see them love the kids and just do the work so faithfully. It was a ton of work and God used it all. The lives of those kids will be impacted for all their life with the seeds of faith sown. Good job guys.

Uh Oh! That can't be good?

2010-08-08T20:46:00.003+09:00

Our computer had a blue screen. We restarted it many times like the instructions said. So we took it to PC Depot and the guys said it can't be helped. It was so sad we had so many things on the computer. Fortunately I was able to back it up before the blue screen. The story doesn't end there. We prayed and the Lord told me to try turning it on again one more time. The computer booted up and said it was recovering from a fatal error. I moved all the picts and music and defragmented the hard drive. Now our computer is working again. What a blessing. We are on borrowed time but I take it as a symbol for our times we live in. Everyday is a day of grace and we are serving the Lord full of joy and peace. The world is on borrowed time and there is coming a blue day for all humanity. We all have a virus of sin and yet those who believe in Jesus have their lives defragmented and backed up for all eternity where we will live forever. Cool thought. I can't wait until heaven.

Ninja 2

2010-08-03T22:12:00.001+09:00

Here are some more shots of Ninja town in Nagano. I have already posted some picts previously you can read about it there.