Who we really are

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

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

Futagi Family

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

Gifts from Hong Kong for the kids

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

More picts of Hong Kong

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

Mihoko's Hong Kong trip

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

Pride Stinks

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

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

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

Demolition begins on the Apartment Building

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

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



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

Jane Turns 5 Years Old

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

ESL can be fun

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

No sense Stewing about it

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

Calvary Chapel Iruma get its own building

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


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