Thanksgiving

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...

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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...