Saturday was our last full day in Tokyo before returning home to Indiana. We knew it would be a busy before we got started and it was. We left the hotel to travel to Tama City, where there is a church pastored by Pastor Yuasa, a Japanese national. It's the church where Yoshito Fujii attends. Yoshito stayed in our home for about 4 months in 2007.
We arrived in Tama around 12:30 pm, after traveling about 2 1/2 hours by train. Pastor Yuasa picked us up from the train station and drove us to the church, located about 15 minutes away. Several people from the church were waiting for us when we arrived. Among them were Yoshito and his mother, and Mrs. Suzuki, who hosted us for a night on our last trip. It was good to see everyone and renew our friendships. This particular church is special to us. They need some encouragement right now, because things have been a little rough for them financially. Pastor Yuasa told me that they pray each week before the offering for enough money to come in to pay their bills. He also told me that they have copied our monthly Day of Prayer. Pastor Yuasa saw on our HHBC website that we have a Day of Prayer each month. He liked the idea and implemented it there. Perhaps now when we pray, we can remember their camaraderie and add them to our list of requests.
Pastor Yuasa asked me to share something from God's Word to encourage the people who had assembled with us. I spoke from 1 Samuel 5, which is the story of Dagon, the idol of the Philistines that fell over twice when the Ark of Presence was set near it in its temple. After it fell the first time, the Philistines set it back up. The second time it fell, its head and arms were broken off, which I assume rendered it useless as an object of worship.
I used the story of Dagon as an illustration of how one day the exalted Lord Jesus will bring all of his enemies under his feet, including the idols that are so prevalent in Japan. On the day before, we had seen what is called "The Giant Buddha", which is hardly anything more than a rather tall, hollowed out, image of Buddha cast in metal. I mentioned how one day that image will fall before Jesus, just like Dagon fell before the presence of the Lord. I shared something similar about the idols that are in Aizu and in other places. They stand there proudly and boldly for now, but one day they too will lie flat on the ground, broken and helpless, before the Lord of Lords.
The people seemed encouraged with our presence and words. We left there around 3 pm to head for Shibuya, which is closer into Tokyo, to meet up with Tsutomu, my friend from grad school at Western Michigan University. Tsutomu teaches at Sophia University in Tokyo. He is a Christian, although I do not believe he gets much fellowship.
We met Tsutomu around 5 pm. Our plan to was eat dinner and then to attend Tokyo Baptist Church (TBC), which is located only a few blocks away from the Shibuya train station. The service at TBC began at 7 pm and lasted until about 8:15 pm. It was one of five worship services the church holds each week. TBC has a combined worship attendance of 12-1500. It is an international church, thus the services are in English. We met people there from the Philippines, from Hong Kong, from Japan, and from the States. It was wonderful to worship with them.
Shortly before the service began, we met Pastor Dennis Folds, who has been the pastor of TBC for about 10 years now. Pastor Dennis is doing a great job. He told us that about 45% of the church is Japanese. The area where they are located is more of an international area, and it's loaded with young people. The Shibuya train station had to be one of the busiest, if not the busiest we've seen in Japan. One of the TBC staff told Dale that she often stands on a crosswalk bridge near the station and just watches the crowds of people going back and forth, praying for the Lord to help them reach them for Christ. Our prayer too is for the Lord to richly bless TBC!
In order to get back to the hotel around 11:30 pm that night, we had to leave the Shibuya station by 9:05 pm. The departure time was critical, because after a certain hour, only local trains run and they don't go all the way to the airport. That would have meant getting off somewhere else and taking a cab, which would have been pretty expensive.
We were able to get to the station on time, and we made all the connections with no problem. I will say, however, that one thing that surprised us was how busy and crowded the trains were that late at night. Our first leg of the trip was standing room only, crushed together with what seemed like a million other people into train cars designed for about half that many. At any rate, we arrived safely after a very fulfilling, though tiring, day.
Tomorrow, I finally will be able to follow through on my plan to write about Chanden, the young English teacher we met in Pastor Nobby's church.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Brief rundown on the last few days
It's Friday night, around 10 pm. Due to the schedule we've kept over the past few days I've been unable to make any entries for the blog. So let me try to catch up on all that's happened over the last few days.
We continued at SYME in Karuizawa on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, we attended classes all day with the SYME students. It was very helpful to experience their schedule. It has given us a much better feel for what and how they are learning both English and Christian discipleship.
On Wednesday, I preached for the mid-day chapel service on how to "do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus" as we are commanded in Colossians 3:17. The students were very attentive and appreciative. I have included this lesson as the blog entry just before this one. To access it, just continue to scroll down.
We traveled back to Tokyo Wednesday afternoon, arriving at our hotel around 9:30 pm. Then, on Thursday, we attended the BMM field Bible Conference in Joe Mita's church in Iwatski. Dr. Tomioka, a Japanese-national missionary to Bangladesh, was the featured speaker. Dr. Tomioka is both a surgeon and church planter. We gave greetings to everyone from our church; of course, all of them send their greetings back as well. Many of them asked specifically for the chi alpha students and adult sponsors whom they knew from last year's ministry. We arrive back at the hotel late Thursday night.
Today was our first free day. We took trains to the southwest side of Tokyo to see what is called "The Daibutsu." It is a giant Bhuddha statue. We'll show some pictures of it when we return. It is located in an area where there are numerous temples. What amazed us the most is how crowded this area was, especially with young students who were making a kind of spiritual trek to each temple. It is so incredibly sad to see these students and older people alike praying to a piece of metal or stone. By the way, if you pay about 30 cents, you can walk up into The Daibutsu and look out a window. Elliott asked with the sound of indignation in his voice, "Why do these people think this is god since they can climb up inside it!"
As heartbreaking as it was to see the hold Buddhism has on this nation, today was a very productive day as far as us being able to distribute tracts and share with others about Jesus.
Finally, tomorrow we will have a very long day. We start early, going to visit the Pastor from the Tama church. Later in the day, we will meet up with a friend of mine from graduate school at WMU. We are planning to take him with us to attend a Saturday night service at Tokyo Baptist Church.
One more thing--since we have been able to accomplish all of our goals for the trip, we will be able to return home two days early. We changed our flights to Sunday, June 15. Lord willing, we will arrive home on Sunday night, around 10 pm Indy time.
We continued at SYME in Karuizawa on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, we attended classes all day with the SYME students. It was very helpful to experience their schedule. It has given us a much better feel for what and how they are learning both English and Christian discipleship.
On Wednesday, I preached for the mid-day chapel service on how to "do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus" as we are commanded in Colossians 3:17. The students were very attentive and appreciative. I have included this lesson as the blog entry just before this one. To access it, just continue to scroll down.
We traveled back to Tokyo Wednesday afternoon, arriving at our hotel around 9:30 pm. Then, on Thursday, we attended the BMM field Bible Conference in Joe Mita's church in Iwatski. Dr. Tomioka, a Japanese-national missionary to Bangladesh, was the featured speaker. Dr. Tomioka is both a surgeon and church planter. We gave greetings to everyone from our church; of course, all of them send their greetings back as well. Many of them asked specifically for the chi alpha students and adult sponsors whom they knew from last year's ministry. We arrive back at the hotel late Thursday night.
Today was our first free day. We took trains to the southwest side of Tokyo to see what is called "The Daibutsu." It is a giant Bhuddha statue. We'll show some pictures of it when we return. It is located in an area where there are numerous temples. What amazed us the most is how crowded this area was, especially with young students who were making a kind of spiritual trek to each temple. It is so incredibly sad to see these students and older people alike praying to a piece of metal or stone. By the way, if you pay about 30 cents, you can walk up into The Daibutsu and look out a window. Elliott asked with the sound of indignation in his voice, "Why do these people think this is god since they can climb up inside it!"
As heartbreaking as it was to see the hold Buddhism has on this nation, today was a very productive day as far as us being able to distribute tracts and share with others about Jesus.
Finally, tomorrow we will have a very long day. We start early, going to visit the Pastor from the Tama church. Later in the day, we will meet up with a friend of mine from graduate school at WMU. We are planning to take him with us to attend a Saturday night service at Tokyo Baptist Church.
One more thing--since we have been able to accomplish all of our goals for the trip, we will be able to return home two days early. We changed our flights to Sunday, June 15. Lord willing, we will arrive home on Sunday night, around 10 pm Indy time.
Living and Serving in Jesus' Name
In Acts 3, Peter and John met a man who had been lame from birth. The man asked them for some money. Peter and John told him they did not have any money; nevertheless, they would give him what they had. Peter said to the man: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (v. 6b). Instantly, the man was healed. Later, in Acts 4, the elders, rulers, and teachers of the law asked Peter and John: “By what power or what name did you do this?” (v. 7b). Peter answered: “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed” (v. 10b).
Throughout the Book of Acts and the early days of the Church, Christians often referred to the Name of the Lord Jesus as the power or authority for their service. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colossae, he encouraged believers to make constant use of Jesus’ Name in all aspects of life and ministry. In Colossians 3:17, Paul wrote: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Learning to do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus is a vital part of growing as a Christian. Many Christians have heard of doing things like giving a cup of cold water in Jesus’ Name to someone who is thirsty. Almost all Christians learn to pray in Jesus’ Name. For example, most of us add the words, “In Jesus’ Name, Amen”, to the end of our prayers. This is a good practice, but we need to know more about what it means and about how doing everything in Jesus’ Name will help us to grow as Christians.
Doing something in Jesus’ Name is very similar to the Old Testament practice of “calling on the Name of the Lord.” The Bible teaches that people first began to call on the Name of the Lord in the days of Enosh, the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:26). From these early days, calling on the Name of the Lord meant more than just saying the Lord’s Name out loud. Calling on the Name of the Lord was an act of faith, coming from a person’s heart. The person who called on the Name of the Lord believed: (1) that the Lord is alive; (2) that he is able to hear when I call; (3) that he is able and willing to be present here where I am; and (4) that his coming will be a sacred event.
In the New Testament, calling on the Name of the Lord Jesus means mostly the same things, but with more of a precise focus on all that is true about Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation at God the Father’s right hand. For example, believing that Jesus is alive means believing that God raised him from the dead after he died on the Cross. Calling on Jesus as Lord means believing that Jesus was exalted at God the Father’s right hand when he ascended into heaven 40 days after his resurrection. When people believe in their hearts that these things are true about Jesus, they “call upon him” for forgiveness. They believe Jesus is able to hear them and that he is able and willing to come to them to cleanse them from their sin. The Apostle Paul summarized all of this in Romans 10:13: “for ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
After someone becomes a Christian, their service “in the Name of the Lord Jesus” means that they invite the Lord Jesus to be present and to bring his power, the power of his resurrection and exaltation, to be involved in whatever they are doing. So doing everything we do in the Name of the Lord Jesus is a way of honoring him, while also depending upon his presence and power to do whatever it is we are doing.
Earlier I mentioned that one part of calling on the Lord involves realizing that his coming would be a sacred event. That’s because no one ever stays the same in the presence of the exalted Lord. For example, when Paul first encountered the Lord, he was changed from being the chief persecutor of Christians to the chief spokesperson for the Gospel. The presence of the Lord Jesus will always change us or our circumstances or both. This makes our encounters with Jesus’ Name in everything we do a very important element of our growth as Christians.
To apply this teaching, each of us can do the following:
1. Understand how Jesus is personally present right now: with us individually (Matthew 28:20b); in Christian community (Matthew 18:20); in his Word (see Luke 24:27—the Word of God is the God-breathed record of Jesus’ life and mind); and through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
2. Invite Jesus to be present and acknowledge him in everything you do (be intentional).
3. Practice being aware of Jesus’ presence by acknowledging him when you are otherwise alone—see Matthew 6:1-18.
4. Expect great things from Jesus’ presence (the transformation of both you and your situation)—see Luke 24:13-35.
5. Witness to others about your respect for Jesus’ presence—see Acts 4:10-12.
Throughout the Book of Acts and the early days of the Church, Christians often referred to the Name of the Lord Jesus as the power or authority for their service. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colossae, he encouraged believers to make constant use of Jesus’ Name in all aspects of life and ministry. In Colossians 3:17, Paul wrote: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Learning to do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus is a vital part of growing as a Christian. Many Christians have heard of doing things like giving a cup of cold water in Jesus’ Name to someone who is thirsty. Almost all Christians learn to pray in Jesus’ Name. For example, most of us add the words, “In Jesus’ Name, Amen”, to the end of our prayers. This is a good practice, but we need to know more about what it means and about how doing everything in Jesus’ Name will help us to grow as Christians.
Doing something in Jesus’ Name is very similar to the Old Testament practice of “calling on the Name of the Lord.” The Bible teaches that people first began to call on the Name of the Lord in the days of Enosh, the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:26). From these early days, calling on the Name of the Lord meant more than just saying the Lord’s Name out loud. Calling on the Name of the Lord was an act of faith, coming from a person’s heart. The person who called on the Name of the Lord believed: (1) that the Lord is alive; (2) that he is able to hear when I call; (3) that he is able and willing to be present here where I am; and (4) that his coming will be a sacred event.
In the New Testament, calling on the Name of the Lord Jesus means mostly the same things, but with more of a precise focus on all that is true about Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation at God the Father’s right hand. For example, believing that Jesus is alive means believing that God raised him from the dead after he died on the Cross. Calling on Jesus as Lord means believing that Jesus was exalted at God the Father’s right hand when he ascended into heaven 40 days after his resurrection. When people believe in their hearts that these things are true about Jesus, they “call upon him” for forgiveness. They believe Jesus is able to hear them and that he is able and willing to come to them to cleanse them from their sin. The Apostle Paul summarized all of this in Romans 10:13: “for ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
After someone becomes a Christian, their service “in the Name of the Lord Jesus” means that they invite the Lord Jesus to be present and to bring his power, the power of his resurrection and exaltation, to be involved in whatever they are doing. So doing everything we do in the Name of the Lord Jesus is a way of honoring him, while also depending upon his presence and power to do whatever it is we are doing.
Earlier I mentioned that one part of calling on the Lord involves realizing that his coming would be a sacred event. That’s because no one ever stays the same in the presence of the exalted Lord. For example, when Paul first encountered the Lord, he was changed from being the chief persecutor of Christians to the chief spokesperson for the Gospel. The presence of the Lord Jesus will always change us or our circumstances or both. This makes our encounters with Jesus’ Name in everything we do a very important element of our growth as Christians.
To apply this teaching, each of us can do the following:
1. Understand how Jesus is personally present right now: with us individually (Matthew 28:20b); in Christian community (Matthew 18:20); in his Word (see Luke 24:27—the Word of God is the God-breathed record of Jesus’ life and mind); and through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
2. Invite Jesus to be present and acknowledge him in everything you do (be intentional).
3. Practice being aware of Jesus’ presence by acknowledging him when you are otherwise alone—see Matthew 6:1-18.
4. Expect great things from Jesus’ presence (the transformation of both you and your situation)—see Luke 24:13-35.
5. Witness to others about your respect for Jesus’ presence—see Acts 4:10-12.
Monday, June 09, 2008
In Karuizawa at SYME
It's Monday evening, June 9. We arrived in Karuizawa this afternoon around 4:30 p.m. One of the leaders of SYME, a former Christian School Principal named Jody, picked us up at the train station and drove us to the campus in time for dinner. We saw Mana right away. She is doing great! She already seems so much more confident in her use of English.
Students have to know a little bit of English to get into the SYME program. Mana was ahead of the curve on that score, so she has been able to take full advantage of the opportunity to advance linguistically as well as spiritually.
This is the time of the evening when students write in the journals (in English, of course) about whatever is on their heart. They write knowing that their entries will be read by the staff member who leads the group they are in; still, the staff members keep what the students write confidential. The idea is to make this time an opportunity for expressing their reflections on what they are learning and how they are growing in the Lord.
It's wonderful to see so many Christian young people in one place in Japan. There are 31 students in all (16 from Korea and 15 from Japan). SYME began in Japan last year with only 6 Japanese students. So they have more than doubled that number in a year. At supper, we ate with students from both countries. I sat across from a young lady named Esther (all the students adopt English nicknames). Esther is from one of the suburbs of Tokyo. She became a Christian at age 18 through the influence of the Christian school she attended. She is the only Christian in her family. Esther told me that her mother accepts the idea of her converting to Christianity, but her father does not. I'm certain it is a thrill for her to be here, around so many others her age who know and love the Lord.
English instruction is playing such a strategic role in ministry here, and not just as a means of building relationships or attracting seekers. English is also being used in Asia as both an evangelistic and discipleship tool. Japanese, in particular, is not entirely suitable as a language for communicating the propositional truth of the Gospel. Some would even say it is an obstacle. There are solid reasons for characterizing the Japanese language in this way, but it would take too long to write about them in a forum like this. Suffice it to say for now that a ministry like SYME is using English to enhance students' understanding of Christianity. In some cases, if a student has not yet become a Christian, learning English can dramatically improve the possibility of their ability to understand in order to make a decision.
Of course, it helps tremendously that there is such a hunger in Asia among people of all ages to learn English from native speakers. In my opinion, I believe this phenomenon should be understood as God preparing people here to hear and understand the Gospel. In the case of young people, in particular, there is such a strong desire to learn English. Perhaps God is preparing them to come to Christ in mass. This is our prayer!
I'll write more tomorrow about the young man I mentioned in the last post. This is enough for tonight.
Students have to know a little bit of English to get into the SYME program. Mana was ahead of the curve on that score, so she has been able to take full advantage of the opportunity to advance linguistically as well as spiritually.
This is the time of the evening when students write in the journals (in English, of course) about whatever is on their heart. They write knowing that their entries will be read by the staff member who leads the group they are in; still, the staff members keep what the students write confidential. The idea is to make this time an opportunity for expressing their reflections on what they are learning and how they are growing in the Lord.
It's wonderful to see so many Christian young people in one place in Japan. There are 31 students in all (16 from Korea and 15 from Japan). SYME began in Japan last year with only 6 Japanese students. So they have more than doubled that number in a year. At supper, we ate with students from both countries. I sat across from a young lady named Esther (all the students adopt English nicknames). Esther is from one of the suburbs of Tokyo. She became a Christian at age 18 through the influence of the Christian school she attended. She is the only Christian in her family. Esther told me that her mother accepts the idea of her converting to Christianity, but her father does not. I'm certain it is a thrill for her to be here, around so many others her age who know and love the Lord.
English instruction is playing such a strategic role in ministry here, and not just as a means of building relationships or attracting seekers. English is also being used in Asia as both an evangelistic and discipleship tool. Japanese, in particular, is not entirely suitable as a language for communicating the propositional truth of the Gospel. Some would even say it is an obstacle. There are solid reasons for characterizing the Japanese language in this way, but it would take too long to write about them in a forum like this. Suffice it to say for now that a ministry like SYME is using English to enhance students' understanding of Christianity. In some cases, if a student has not yet become a Christian, learning English can dramatically improve the possibility of their ability to understand in order to make a decision.
Of course, it helps tremendously that there is such a hunger in Asia among people of all ages to learn English from native speakers. In my opinion, I believe this phenomenon should be understood as God preparing people here to hear and understand the Gospel. In the case of young people, in particular, there is such a strong desire to learn English. Perhaps God is preparing them to come to Christ in mass. This is our prayer!
I'll write more tomorrow about the young man I mentioned in the last post. This is enough for tonight.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Heading for Karuizawa
It's Monday morning, June 9, and we're getting ready to head to Karuizawa, the city where Word of Life operates a minister called SYME. SYME stands for School of Youth Ministries in English. It is an evangelistic/discipleship ministry for high school graduates and older (through the 20's) utilizing English by immersion. SYME is where Mana enrolled upon her return to Japan, so we will be seeing her in a few hours.
Yesterday we went to church in Koriyama (Koriyama Baptist Church). I preached from Isaiah 55 for the morning service. During the afternoon, we fellowshipped with numerous people from the church, and we had a more formal meeting with Mana's parents, who were inquiring about her time in America and wanting to know more about SYME. Then, in the evening, we held an informal English conversation class at the church with three unbelievers (two women and one man).
Since we're on a pretty tight schedule this morning, I will have to wait until later to write more. I want to share with you about a young man (an American) we met at the church yesterday, who has been living in Japan for 7 years. His job and situation will serve as a good illustration of some steps that must be taken to increase the effectiveness here of evangelizing the lost.
Yesterday we went to church in Koriyama (Koriyama Baptist Church). I preached from Isaiah 55 for the morning service. During the afternoon, we fellowshipped with numerous people from the church, and we had a more formal meeting with Mana's parents, who were inquiring about her time in America and wanting to know more about SYME. Then, in the evening, we held an informal English conversation class at the church with three unbelievers (two women and one man).
Since we're on a pretty tight schedule this morning, I will have to wait until later to write more. I want to share with you about a young man (an American) we met at the church yesterday, who has been living in Japan for 7 years. His job and situation will serve as a good illustration of some steps that must be taken to increase the effectiveness here of evangelizing the lost.
Friday, June 06, 2008
More English Classes and Isaiah 55
Saturday – June 7
We’re still at Camp Adatara. It’s a little after 8:00 in the morning. Dale and I woke up pretty early this morning. We think the worst of jetlag is behind us now, for which we praise the Lord!
Dale and Rachel participated in an English class yesterday with Beverly Tajima, the wife of BMM missionary, Nobby Tajima. Beverly’s class consisted of only one female student, name Junko. To get things started, Beverly asked Dale to tell Junko what her hobbies are. Dale answered, “Studying and teaching the Bible.” That answer led to a discussion of church and Christianity for the next two hours. As it turns out, Junko had attended Sunday School in an Evangelical Free church when she was a youngster. She is now a young mother; still, she was able to recite the Lord’s prayer even though it has been years since she last heard it from the missionaries in the Evangelical Free church. Dale invited Junko to church this Sunday, when I will be preaching. She agreed to come, but we ask that you pray for her to follow through.
I will be preaching on Sunday from Isaiah 55, which is the Bible chapter we have chosen for a theme for our trip. The particular verses from that chapter that stand out to me are 10-11: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish the purpose for which I sent it.”
I came across Isaiah 55 recently as I was preparing for a Bible study on John 2, which records Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine. At first, I was somewhat stumped as to why such a miracle would be the first one Jesus would perform. Traditionally, people believe the purpose of the miracle was to demonstrate Jesus’ power over nature. Normally it would take months for water to come down from the sky in the form of rain, be soaked up from the ground by the grape vines, where it would eventually become juice in the grapes themselves, finally to be harvested and expressed into a beverage that would refresh those who drank it. So for all of this to happen in an instant would have been an impressive display indeed of power over that process.
Even with all this said, I still wondered why such a display would have been chosen first as a sign of Jesus’ Messiah-ship (see John 30:31). It occurred to me to begin looking around in the OT for any significance that might be attached to turning water into wine. There are so many things that Jesus said and did that are similarly connected to things said and done in the OT. What I found was Isaiah 55.
Isaiah 55 begins with these words from the Lord: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.”
Was Jesus illustrating the offer of Isaiah 55:1-3 when he turned water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana? Very possibly so. If not, it sure is a striking coincidence that such a strong connection exists between his offer through the OT prophet of “wine without cost” to provide for the soul “to live” and “delight in the richest of fare” and his provision of wine at a time when the wine of their own making, wine that “does not satisfy” had run out.
The connection with all of this to ministry in Japan is just as striking. People here are laboring for “what is not bread” and on “what does not satisfy.” There is so much materialism here, not just an abundance of things, but rather life that is anchored in the pursuit and possession of things. Life here for so many is anchored in the stuff of this material world. Very little, if any, thought is given to the realities of death, sin, righteousness, and judgment, even though the possession and pursuit of the stuff of this world is not what satisfies the soul.
People everywhere are made to be properly related to God through faith. Isaiah 55 refers to this in verses 6-7: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, for he will freely pardon.”
As you join us in reading through Isaiah 55, we ask that you also think of the spiritual condition of people here in Japan, especially the young people. Pray with us that the Lord will stir their hearts in mass to accept his offer of life and the richest of fare for their souls.
Pray too for a special time this afternoon when we will be meeting with some young adults from area churches. I'll write about it in the next post.
We’re still at Camp Adatara. It’s a little after 8:00 in the morning. Dale and I woke up pretty early this morning. We think the worst of jetlag is behind us now, for which we praise the Lord!
Dale and Rachel participated in an English class yesterday with Beverly Tajima, the wife of BMM missionary, Nobby Tajima. Beverly’s class consisted of only one female student, name Junko. To get things started, Beverly asked Dale to tell Junko what her hobbies are. Dale answered, “Studying and teaching the Bible.” That answer led to a discussion of church and Christianity for the next two hours. As it turns out, Junko had attended Sunday School in an Evangelical Free church when she was a youngster. She is now a young mother; still, she was able to recite the Lord’s prayer even though it has been years since she last heard it from the missionaries in the Evangelical Free church. Dale invited Junko to church this Sunday, when I will be preaching. She agreed to come, but we ask that you pray for her to follow through.
I will be preaching on Sunday from Isaiah 55, which is the Bible chapter we have chosen for a theme for our trip. The particular verses from that chapter that stand out to me are 10-11: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish the purpose for which I sent it.”
I came across Isaiah 55 recently as I was preparing for a Bible study on John 2, which records Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine. At first, I was somewhat stumped as to why such a miracle would be the first one Jesus would perform. Traditionally, people believe the purpose of the miracle was to demonstrate Jesus’ power over nature. Normally it would take months for water to come down from the sky in the form of rain, be soaked up from the ground by the grape vines, where it would eventually become juice in the grapes themselves, finally to be harvested and expressed into a beverage that would refresh those who drank it. So for all of this to happen in an instant would have been an impressive display indeed of power over that process.
Even with all this said, I still wondered why such a display would have been chosen first as a sign of Jesus’ Messiah-ship (see John 30:31). It occurred to me to begin looking around in the OT for any significance that might be attached to turning water into wine. There are so many things that Jesus said and did that are similarly connected to things said and done in the OT. What I found was Isaiah 55.
Isaiah 55 begins with these words from the Lord: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.”
Was Jesus illustrating the offer of Isaiah 55:1-3 when he turned water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana? Very possibly so. If not, it sure is a striking coincidence that such a strong connection exists between his offer through the OT prophet of “wine without cost” to provide for the soul “to live” and “delight in the richest of fare” and his provision of wine at a time when the wine of their own making, wine that “does not satisfy” had run out.
The connection with all of this to ministry in Japan is just as striking. People here are laboring for “what is not bread” and on “what does not satisfy.” There is so much materialism here, not just an abundance of things, but rather life that is anchored in the pursuit and possession of things. Life here for so many is anchored in the stuff of this material world. Very little, if any, thought is given to the realities of death, sin, righteousness, and judgment, even though the possession and pursuit of the stuff of this world is not what satisfies the soul.
People everywhere are made to be properly related to God through faith. Isaiah 55 refers to this in verses 6-7: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, for he will freely pardon.”
As you join us in reading through Isaiah 55, we ask that you also think of the spiritual condition of people here in Japan, especially the young people. Pray with us that the Lord will stir their hearts in mass to accept his offer of life and the richest of fare for their souls.
Pray too for a special time this afternoon when we will be meeting with some young adults from area churches. I'll write about it in the next post.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
At Camp Adatara
Friday – June 6
We are staying now at Camp Adatara, which is near Koriyama. It’s the camp where our Chi Alpha students ministered last summer.
We arrived last night around 10 p.m. after a very long day of travel and transition away from Tokyo. Yesterday was the only day for Rachel to get to see any of downtown Tokyo, so we did some extra running around before leaving for Koriyama and the camp. We actually got to Koriyama itself around 6 p.m. Beverly Tajima, a BMM missionary, picked us up at the train station and then took us to dinner. After dinner, we participated in an English class taught by Pastor Nobby Tajima, which was being held next door to the restaurant where we ate. Both the class and the restaurant are part of a multi-story shopping center about 15 minutes away from the Koriyama train station. Six “students” were in attendance for the class: Tom, Mac, Jack, Kato, Jim, and Yumi. With the exceptions of Kato and Yumi, each one has taken an English nickname as part of their course of learning. Yumi was the only female in the class. She is an office worker in her twenties. The others were men in their 50’s and 60’s, ranging in occupations from a civil engineer to a machine operator. Our prayer, of course, is that God will use Nobby’s English teaching to bring these souls to Christ.
At the train station near the hotel yesterday, Dale engaged a young man named Masayuki in conversation about Christianity. Masayuki learned English as part of his doing graduate studies in Sweden. He told Dale that he had read some parts of the Bible and also a book on Christianity written by Jimmy Carter. I soon joined the conversation, sharing with Masayuki that God had appointed Jesus to be the judge of every person at the end of time. Masayuki asked, “What is he going to judge?” We told him that Jesus would judge our sin, but that there is a window open now to receive his forgiveness.
Our conversation ended when it came time for us to get on the train. Prior to saying goodbye we exchanged business cards, telling Masayuki that we would be happy to hear from him via email to answer any questions he might have about Christianity. Dale and I want to ask those who are reading the blog to join us in praying for Masayuki to come to a saving knowledge of the Lord.
Tomorrow I will write about our trip in view of Isaiah 55, which is a Scripture passage we have chosen as a theme for this summer’s installment of the Nippon Initiative.
We are staying now at Camp Adatara, which is near Koriyama. It’s the camp where our Chi Alpha students ministered last summer.
We arrived last night around 10 p.m. after a very long day of travel and transition away from Tokyo. Yesterday was the only day for Rachel to get to see any of downtown Tokyo, so we did some extra running around before leaving for Koriyama and the camp. We actually got to Koriyama itself around 6 p.m. Beverly Tajima, a BMM missionary, picked us up at the train station and then took us to dinner. After dinner, we participated in an English class taught by Pastor Nobby Tajima, which was being held next door to the restaurant where we ate. Both the class and the restaurant are part of a multi-story shopping center about 15 minutes away from the Koriyama train station. Six “students” were in attendance for the class: Tom, Mac, Jack, Kato, Jim, and Yumi. With the exceptions of Kato and Yumi, each one has taken an English nickname as part of their course of learning. Yumi was the only female in the class. She is an office worker in her twenties. The others were men in their 50’s and 60’s, ranging in occupations from a civil engineer to a machine operator. Our prayer, of course, is that God will use Nobby’s English teaching to bring these souls to Christ.
At the train station near the hotel yesterday, Dale engaged a young man named Masayuki in conversation about Christianity. Masayuki learned English as part of his doing graduate studies in Sweden. He told Dale that he had read some parts of the Bible and also a book on Christianity written by Jimmy Carter. I soon joined the conversation, sharing with Masayuki that God had appointed Jesus to be the judge of every person at the end of time. Masayuki asked, “What is he going to judge?” We told him that Jesus would judge our sin, but that there is a window open now to receive his forgiveness.
Our conversation ended when it came time for us to get on the train. Prior to saying goodbye we exchanged business cards, telling Masayuki that we would be happy to hear from him via email to answer any questions he might have about Christianity. Dale and I want to ask those who are reading the blog to join us in praying for Masayuki to come to a saving knowledge of the Lord.
Tomorrow I will write about our trip in view of Isaiah 55, which is a Scripture passage we have chosen as a theme for this summer’s installment of the Nippon Initiative.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Safe Arrival
It’s 5:45 p.m. JST. We arrived safely in Japan just about 24 hours ago. It hardly seems possible that by later this evening we will have completed the second day of our trip. Jumping ahead 13 hours messes with your natural sense of the pace of time. Two days and two nights are meant to last 48 hours. They are not meant to be crammed into 35.
Speaking of jet lag, Dale laid down for a nap when we returned to the hotel a little bit ago. I tried my best to dissuade her of the idea, but to no avail. We spent today helping Rachel, the BBC student, to become oriented to trains, buses, and the religious climate.
Just before lunch, we visited a nearby Buddhist temple. Near the entrance, a man approached us with a information pamphlet written in English and advised us that a group of monks would soon be walking in procession down some steps from a building called “The Great Main Hall” and across a plaza to another building called “Korinkaku Hall”. One of the colorfully dressed monks, an older man, led the others as they walked in time to the beating of drums. Meanwhile, two other monks were leading a dedication/blessing for two families with month-old babies. One of them was a girl named Yume (pronounced You-may). Yume was dressed in a white formal-looking outfit. The monks had stamped in red some kind of Buddhist symbol on her forehead. Her white outfit and dark black hair made the red stamp stand out all the more.
The reason I know the name of the baby is because I talked with the parents afterwards and inquired. The reason I inquired was so I could begin praying for her, that God in his mercy would reach down and some day open her heart to the Lord Jesus and his salvation. Perhaps those who read this would be willing to join me in this prayer.
Earlier, as Elliott, Rachel, and I were walking toward the Great Main Hall, Dale gave a Gospel pamphlet to the man who handed us the brochure on the temple. She said a few words to the man about Jesus. He had indicated to Dale that the monks would be conducting some kind of purification ceremony. Dale told the man that she knew of someone who could purify all of a person’s sins. And that’s when she mentioned Jesus. The man told her he had never heard of Jesus.
Dale told the conversation to me, so I decided to try talking with the man also. I began by saying that Dale told me that he had never heard of Jesus. He repeated that he had not. I told him that Jesus is the Creator, the one who had made everything. I also explained that Jesus had died to provide forgiveness for sins and that he now he is the Lord of Lords. “We think differently,” the man said with his eyes looking away from mine, signaling he was closed to hearing anything more.
In those two encounters, with the parents of Yume and with the man handing out the brochures, both taking place in a massive Buddhist temple complex, with impressive looking structures ornately decorated, you have a microcosm of the tremendous spiritual dilemma facing Japan. First, there is widespread ignorance of who Jesus is and what needs to be known of him. Second, idolatry is so entrenched. It is institutionalized with massive, expensively constructed buildings and with rituals and human champions. It is empowered through these institutions as well as through its obvious command of economic means. Third, the older generation is all but impossible to reach with the Gospel. It seems unusually difficult to break through, which makes it all the more urgent to reach the next generation, before they too end up with hearts that are hardened. And finally, though young people are often easier to reach for Christ in every culture; here, the Yume’s of the world face formidable spiritual powers aligned against them, powers seeking to enslave their hearts and minds not only for a lifetime, but also for eternity.
Pray for Japan.
Speaking of jet lag, Dale laid down for a nap when we returned to the hotel a little bit ago. I tried my best to dissuade her of the idea, but to no avail. We spent today helping Rachel, the BBC student, to become oriented to trains, buses, and the religious climate.
Just before lunch, we visited a nearby Buddhist temple. Near the entrance, a man approached us with a information pamphlet written in English and advised us that a group of monks would soon be walking in procession down some steps from a building called “The Great Main Hall” and across a plaza to another building called “Korinkaku Hall”. One of the colorfully dressed monks, an older man, led the others as they walked in time to the beating of drums. Meanwhile, two other monks were leading a dedication/blessing for two families with month-old babies. One of them was a girl named Yume (pronounced You-may). Yume was dressed in a white formal-looking outfit. The monks had stamped in red some kind of Buddhist symbol on her forehead. Her white outfit and dark black hair made the red stamp stand out all the more.
The reason I know the name of the baby is because I talked with the parents afterwards and inquired. The reason I inquired was so I could begin praying for her, that God in his mercy would reach down and some day open her heart to the Lord Jesus and his salvation. Perhaps those who read this would be willing to join me in this prayer.
Earlier, as Elliott, Rachel, and I were walking toward the Great Main Hall, Dale gave a Gospel pamphlet to the man who handed us the brochure on the temple. She said a few words to the man about Jesus. He had indicated to Dale that the monks would be conducting some kind of purification ceremony. Dale told the man that she knew of someone who could purify all of a person’s sins. And that’s when she mentioned Jesus. The man told her he had never heard of Jesus.
Dale told the conversation to me, so I decided to try talking with the man also. I began by saying that Dale told me that he had never heard of Jesus. He repeated that he had not. I told him that Jesus is the Creator, the one who had made everything. I also explained that Jesus had died to provide forgiveness for sins and that he now he is the Lord of Lords. “We think differently,” the man said with his eyes looking away from mine, signaling he was closed to hearing anything more.
In those two encounters, with the parents of Yume and with the man handing out the brochures, both taking place in a massive Buddhist temple complex, with impressive looking structures ornately decorated, you have a microcosm of the tremendous spiritual dilemma facing Japan. First, there is widespread ignorance of who Jesus is and what needs to be known of him. Second, idolatry is so entrenched. It is institutionalized with massive, expensively constructed buildings and with rituals and human champions. It is empowered through these institutions as well as through its obvious command of economic means. Third, the older generation is all but impossible to reach with the Gospel. It seems unusually difficult to break through, which makes it all the more urgent to reach the next generation, before they too end up with hearts that are hardened. And finally, though young people are often easier to reach for Christ in every culture; here, the Yume’s of the world face formidable spiritual powers aligned against them, powers seeking to enslave their hearts and minds not only for a lifetime, but also for eternity.
Pray for Japan.
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