Blessed with good friends

Mihoko was treated to a wonderful meal by a friend and they had a great time of fellowship. The food looks um dietary. I know shut up Dan but....okay



I don't guess there were any left-overs.

Mission reporting can be stressful sometimes

Mihoko was able to meet with Felice and Ulrika from the missions office for lunch. It was so hard to pound down those delicious Kohryu Noodles. I am sure you will be rewarded for your endurance.
Ulrika your great with the chop sticks better practice more if your going to be at the Missions Conference in Hong Kong later this year.

Getting Reacquainted with So Cal Culture? Hmm? Can that be good?

Getting reacquainted to American Culture can be very bad for you. The evidence in these pictures make me drool and at the same time I am worried about my wife's eating habits in the States there. Let's see here, there is Thai Spice, Carl's, Ramen, and Cherry on Top now the question is did she eat this on the first day or was it spread out over the course of 9 days? We love you honey and we are glad your back now lets get out those palates videos I need them more than she does.


Mihoko also went to visit our son Caleb's grave he would have been 12 years old on January 31st. We like to dream about what he would have been like. Our son Caleb for those of you who don't know lived til he was 3-1/2 years old. He had a heart problem like Rachel and we waited for two months in the hospital for a heart transplant and he became too sick. He left the hospital for eternity holding the hand of Jesus in October of 2000. He is now completely healed and walks the streets of gold in heaven. I can't wait till I am able to see him again in heaven. We love and miss you son.

The Ole Homie Fellowship

After being gone for 6 months it was a pleasant surprise to see the home fellowship we were blessed to share at is still meeting and in the Word. Praise God. May God bless all the folks there at the Fujikuras. Mihoko was blessed to hang out as they had a meal and broke bread together and I was able to even skype them and partake in the blessings through the internet. God is good and that Cake looks outrageously delicious. Did anyone think to save me a piece? Maybe next time. God bless you all

Books I have read and am re-reading by 80 year olds

I have many favorite books. I have never been a good reader. I was always behind in schools. Today, I read a lot because of three reasons one is I personally need to be encouraged. Two, I need to help other people, and three I am still growing in faith and love and wisdom of our Lord. So below I have listed the 3 main books I am reading in the last two weeks.

Number one is Stories from Japan by Al Hammond. He is now a professor at SJCC San Juan Christian College. He lives as a missionary in Japan for about 17 years after World War 2. He give precious insight into the Japanese people and their culture and their ability to embrace Christianity. We see the hardships and the funny stories along the way. He being the professor emeritus of Missions at SJCC, I think it is renamed William Jessup University now, has beautifully worked in some interesting principles regarding Missions and the philosophy of that time. It is interesting to see the way missionaries from other cultures and languages all wrestled with the idea of raising an indigenous church and then handing it off. I like that idea but I am not so sure that is what I have been called to. Pastor Travis says he is here until the Lord comes again. I don't know if I am that sure either. I am where the Holy Spirit has led me to be. If I fix my eyes on a time limit then I get two reactions. One; "Oh know I don't have much time quick shove the gospel down their throat and let's plant a church." The other reaction is like when I was in the military and I so wanted to go home that I got a really bad attitude. I would cry short any time a detail would come up. "Hey we need your help?" I'd sing, "SHORT!" meaning, I don't care and what's the point of getting involved when your just going to turn and leave. Why bother? So I don't like either of those attitudes. I want to be where God leads and stay there as long as he wants. The book is a pleasant read with many facts on Japan and also insight into our Lord Jesus and how much he loves the Japanese people. You can email Dr Hammond at "Alvin Hammond" . I didn't see the book on Amazon and I went direct to him. He just mailed it to me here in Japan. It was $10 for the book and plus shipping. ISBN 978-0-615-22112-0 Hammond San is in his 80's and enjoying his golden years serving the Lord.

The next book is "LOVE" by Pastor Chuck Smith. The Universe has been created by a Loving God. He has redeemed a sinful mankind so that he can enjoy the pleasure of Loving us. He extends a hand of forgiveness and love to a dying and rebellious world. Pastor Chuck challenges us to look at the Love of God. My favorite quote is on page 171 that says, "Serving the Lord always follows loving the Lord."
I tried for years to serve the Lord out of duty and loyalty. It wasn't until after my First son's death and my daughters Heart transplant that I came to just give up on the works to prove my love and to just love the Lord. I have been seeking to just hangout with Jesus and walk in his Holy Spirit each day and he totally leads and directs me. I still don't listen from time to time...okay much of the time but I have found a greater joy in serving God not our of responsibility or out of duty to the Church and my Redeemer, which are noble causes and reasons worth serving for. But When I just simply fell in love with Jesus and sought his heart my days of serving became a lighter burden. People would put trips on me and say I should do this or that. I'd just pray and seek the heart of Jesus and if I didn't like it and all I didn't do it. It made people who feel they have God in a box very upset with me. Some even spread rumors. Love covers a multitude of sin. Not just one time but many times over and over. Just focus on Loving Jesus and then serve. It's a great way to not get the cart before the horse. Pastor Chuck is so articulate in explaining the complex very simply. This book is a great read that when re-read will feed your soul many times over. You can get it in the Chapel store or go to www.thewordfortoday.com and order online.

The next book is by a great man of God and a personal friend. I had the privilege of spending many sweet moments of fellowship with Dr Richard Bennett drinking in the rich living water of Christ in every conversation. Dr. Bennett has written an excellent book called Food For Faith. This book is one of those nuggets of gold that has a rubber band attached to it with a 2X4 at the other end. You read the book and find it very refreshing and then you put it down and walk away chewing on the thoughts expressed using the scripture so articulately. Like a Hot sauce that has a bite after the morsel has been consumed so too this book has morsels of truth that you read it and walk away and then it hits you in the head driving the truth into your heart. It burns in your heart as you realize the truths regarding the Word of God and how precious it is to the Christian.
I wish all Christian's had to read a series of books after they are saved. This might fall into that category. The problem with new converts is getting them to understand that the Christian life is not meant to be an independent life where we synchronize our faith to what we like. The Christian life is utterly dependent on the Christ--centered life. Too many Christians are focused on appropriating the knowledge of God and what Christianity is all about, but they do not seem to understand how they will receive food for their faith as they read the Bible. A quote of his is; "All over the world-in classrooms, in lecture halls and in libraries-people are digesting academic information that provides them with much 'food for thought'. If we, in like manner, approach the Bible merely as a religious textbook, all we will receive is just that-food for thought. yet the Bible itself warns us that; knowledge puffs up, but it is love that builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 NIV. So do you want food for thought or food for faith. The book takes inductive Bible study to a deeper level and gives examples of practical ways to receive the food for faith. Dr. Bennetts book is a free book. You can't or shouldn't be able to buy it at any store. You can call Jody over Bob Hoekstra's office, at Living in Christ ministries or email from the web at http://www.livinginchrist.org/index.php. They have the books and they are ministry tools. The Bennetts are not desirous of folks to give these away as a gift that won't be read. They were written with a purpose expressly to get them into the hands of hungry souls that want to excel in their life in Christ. The price for salvation has been paid for and these books are dedicated the same way they are free because the price has been paid for. His other book Your Quest for God is in over 58 languages. With millions of copies going all over the world through the radio broadcasts of Trans World Radio and the Far East Broadcast Corporation.

Read on Brothers and grow in the knowledge of Him

For you legalistic fans: My number one book to read everyday is the Bible. I know who you are...and so does Jesus watch out...

Signs of Spring

It is still cold here but there are some signs that Spring is on the way. I found these blossoms blooming next to the Radio Station. I was recording a program and came out to the beauty of the blossoms. I have seen them year after year in the US but here in Japan with the adjusting I have been going through I haven't seen the beauty around me. I guess I have been focused on self too much. I still do that a lot more than I care to admit. But here I am beginning to see more beauty. I am seeing kids as cute and I am learning to laugh at myself. The skys are as blue and beautiful as in Southern California. The other day as we were on our way to Tokorozawa we saw a beautiful snow covered Mt. Fuji. It was a grand and beautiful site as I have seen in all the pictures. We are not close to the Mountain but because of the plain we live on you can see it from hundreds of kilometers away. Mom has been in the US for almost a week now and we are feeling the stress of 24/7 getting on each others nerves. So we baked a cake for fun today. No reason other than to attempt to cook in our Microwave/Oven/Range box. We bought Microwave back in August that is also an oven and a toaster and a Range. We can nuke and bake and toast in this thing. I have been letting Mihoko have all the fun so with her being absent I am attempting a little fun myself. Rachel mixed the ingredients and wha La (SP-5) we have a cake. I'll post a picture after it is done burning to death. It seems the pan I used is a little too small and deep. The top is crispy and the middle is pudding. I will have to make two separate cakes and reduce the amount of cake mix in the baking bowl. It has been over an hour for a 30 minute cake so far and it is still cooking. Yikes? Anyway, lots of Chocolate frosting will cover a multitude of sin. Or is that love?

Train to Church

Hey we are doing fine without mom. We actually got up and did breakfast eggs and toast not just cereal. We got on the train and went to a great day hanging out at Church. Tokorozawa is a great fun place. The kids all love to hang out with each other and play and goof around that the adults just like to sip tea and talk about God the Bible life jobs vacations food anything. It is really feeling like home. Many of the members are asking us about Mihoko and how I am doing and we are just enjoying the fellowship. God bless you CCT. Today we finished Genesis 50 and we will be rolling into Exodus next week. Travis played a song form Paul Baloche I think it was called Hossana. It was great in Japanese. If any of you want to hear or download music that Calvary's in Japan are producing then check out the website http://worship.calvaryjapan.com/. You can get lyrics and mp3 samples of songs it is so cool. I am personally praying for a worship CD to come out yet no one has time to work on something like that. Anyway, I'll write more later. I am wiped out tired.

Bye Mommy

Mihoko is on her way back to the California. She needed a vacation from me so we are letting her go. She has some things to take care of and she will be back here in our home in Japan very soon. If you see here give her a hug because I won't let her go for sometime after this. Lord bless your travel honey and hurry back. The kids will miss you some but Dad rocks and is way fun and cooks weird meals like breakfast for dinner and hot dogs for breakfast and we are going to have so much fun. We hope. But we will miss you mom.

Mudslide

I work hard at making my kids happy and laugh. On Saturday, we went to a park and just played and hiked the hills. I was trying to teach Nathan how to slide down the hills covered in leaves. Only, I have to teach it the opposite way first. Here is how not to do it. I ran and tried to slide and found my large frame flipped on my belly and skidding all the way down the muddy hill. My Jacket and pants were very dirty. Yet I was successful in getting my kids to laugh real hard.

Send International Japan

We were invited today to attend a concert put on by the Christian Academy of Japan's High School Choir. Our friend Mrs. Kainuma who we knew back before our wedding 18 some years ago invited us to come and hang out in the afternoon and meet the send team. Send International is a missions organization that is world wide. They are good people. The Choir was very good. I have not heard such blended voices in harmony like that for a long time. We met the pastor John Riesner and two of his five kids. He grew up in Japan as an MK and then after a time in college in the US John came back to Japan as a missionary with Send. This is the main office in this area of Japan they have about 40 some missionaries on the ground working away. Please pray for these saints to be blessed of God and to press on in the difficulties they are facing. It seems the economic woes of the world will impact the missionaries deeply. We have a big God who is at work and he will supply all we need according to his riches in glory.
My kids as usual fit right in and love to play with other kids around them. We were at a park prior to the meeting to kill some time and we had fun but it was chilly. Praise God for all he is doing in Japan. I am so blessed to be here.

Aunt Sachiko and lil Juno Came to visit

Hey check out little Juno we had some troubles in the beginning with getting along but then my charm took over and she became a part of our family. Our kids just love babies and Juno was a welcomed addition. Mihoko's cousin Sachiko and her mom Mihoko' Aunt Emi came to visit us. We had a great time of hanging out and we just spent most of the time loving on Juno. Pray for this family to come to know Jesus. They were very curious as to why we are here living in Japan. Pray for the seeds sown to take root and grow. It was interesting to see how God worked the conversation to come to him. I had Nathan copying for Japanese class John 3:16 in from the Japanese Bible. So they were asking about the Language study and she saw the writing of John 3:16 on the table. At first Aunt Emi picked it up to correct the pennmanship of the characters. But then there was a second glance as she realized what it was saying. Then there was a third glance with questions. I praise God for his creativity to just open up the subjects and be able to sow seeds. God bless you Emi and Sachiko and Juno please receive the word.

Yokota Family Yokatta!

Hey we had a wonderful time fellowshipping with the Yokota Family. This Family came to Jesus about a year ago after their kids learned about Jesus through the ESL school at Calvary Chapel Tokorozawa. Both Mom and Dad were baptized in the Okutama River this past summer. They are so funny and the loved the enchiladas Mihoko made. A friend gave us some hot peppers and well Kenta wasn't ready for the punch. Enjoy the burn bro. They have two daughters Rinka and Keika who Rachel and Jane love to play with. Pray for this family to continue to grow in the Lord and be the blessing they are to the body at Calvary Chapel Tokorozawa.