Then you...you just weep

"When you realize that every breath is a gift from God.　When you realize how small you are, but how much he loved you. That he, Jesus, would die, the son of God himself on earth, then you...you just weep." Angela Bassett

* In movies, Angela Basset has played Rosa Parks, Betty Shabazz (Malcolm X's wife), and Tina Turner. She has picked up a Golden Globe and been nominated for an Oscar, an Emmy, and many other major awards. She, like Denzel Washington, is a longtime worshipper at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ.

The Journey 4

After Ohio, we drove to Whiting, New Jersey.

We saw my Aunt Evangeline who led me to Christ when I was 8.

Then we quickly drove out to the Atlantic Ocean. *On our 'whirl wind tour,' we started on the other side of the Pacific and flew to Texas (south). Then after Ohio, we went to the Atlantic (pict). We finally ended up in northern Michigan, an hour from Canada. North, south, east and west!

We drove through Amish country near Lancaster, PN, and saw this horse driven carriage.

We also stopped at a store to see this sight we had never seen in Japan. The stop over in Amish country was our only real tourism experience. Naho really enjoyed it.

The faith of Abraham Lincoln

“During the New Salem and Vandalia years, Lincoln had been rather desultorily searching for a viable philosophy of life. He had not found it. Neither had he felt much of a need to do so. Because of this increasingly secular outlook, Eddie’s untimely death now came as almost a knockout blow.

The Reverend Dr. James Smith, pastor of Springfield’s First Presbyterian Church, conducted the funeral for little Eddie. The brokenhearted parents listened intently to every word, searching for a life raft of hope. And while May might have responded to emotion, her husband would not.

After the funeral, Lincoln sought out the pastor and questioned him as to his own personal journey. He was intrigued to discover how open and honest the pastor was. Smith admitted to once having strong doubts about God and, unwilling to accept pat answers, he had determined to put God to the test. Over time, with the help of prodigious study, one by one he had been able to put his doubts aside. Not content with this, he had even written a ponderous defense of Christianity, entitled The Defence of Christianity [sic]. Lincoln asked if he could borrow it.

Back home, Lincoln pondered ever every word in the book challenging each assumption, reading the text painstakingly as he would were he preparing a brief for an important legal trial. When he’d finished, he leaned back in his chair and breathed a giant sigh of relief. At long last the simple faith in the Bible he’d had as a child was validated by his logical mind: he could now rest in the faith that the Bible was truly the inspired word of God.”

Joe Wheeler, Lincoln: A Man of Faith and Courage

Nio

In the town of Nio (pronounced Neo), a part of our Mitoyo city, January 13th, 2010, we finished the distribution of the gospel literature The Love that Changed Me by Ayako Miura. It took about 1 year, since we put the literature in each post box. Sometimes we stopped to pick up cans and talk to people. There has been no real response, however. We did (and do) pray for Nio. Nelson and Easter, our Filipino friends who started coming to our church during the time we were distributing literature in Nio, do live in Nio. We trust the Lord to bring fruit to His Word and our labor. Please pray for a great harvest in His time and His way.

The Journey 3

After we flew to Detroit and picked up our van (courtesy of the Terbushes), Dec. 10th, we drove to Columbus where we stayed with the Steigs.

The following evening we spent with long time friends- the Kevin Gerdnts- near Dayton, Ohio.

The next evening I preached from Ecclesiastes at a Japanese Christian fellowship in Columbus.

The 13th, Sunday, we worshipped with our hosts- the Steigs- at Logos Church and talked about Japan to their children's Sunday school.

We finished off Sunday with a concert, having been invited by our cellist friend from Canada- Cora.

Shane loves balls. (He's our future football, basketball or baseball hall of famer.) He found 'ancient' balls all over the Steigs yard.

Beat into your minds... (forgive the directness)

“It is not without good cause, therefore, that we do so often repeat and beat into your minds the forgiveness of sins, and imputation of righteousness for Christ’s sake: also that a Christian hath nothing to do with the law and sin, especially in the time of temptation. For inasmuch as he is a Christian, he is above the law and sin. For he hath Christ the Lord of the law present and inclosed in his heart (as we have said) even as a ring hath a jewel or precious stone inclosed in it. Therefore when the law accuseth and sin terrifieth him, he looketh upon Christ, and when he hath apprehended him by faith, he hath present with him the conqueror of the law, sin, death and the devil; who reigneth and ruleth over them, so that they cannot hurt him.” Martin Luther

I was impressed and blessed by the good movie 'Luther.' I was moved to tears by God's 'amazing grace.' Before Emperor Charles V, Luther, affirming his uncompromising position on God's Word and His grace, said, "Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me." Will we stand firm for His Word and grace of the gospel?

The Journey 2

We flew to Dallas first.

Mr. Simpson graciously picked us up at the DFW airport Dec. 8th. He then took us on a quick tour of Dallas. We stopped by my seminary~ Dallas Seminary. There I again was reminded of the importance of being a servant. "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all," Mark 9:35.

We then went to the Simpsons house. Wow! We felt like royalty. Hosahna had her own bedroom for the first time.

Meet our gracious hosts. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson.

The kids were most excited about the skating!

Mr. and Mrs. Simpson also took us for a drive, showing us the beautiful Christmas lights.

Courage to stand by a principle

‘If there is anything that links the human with the divine, it is the courage to stand by a principle when everybody else rejects it.’ Abraham Lincoln

The Journey 1

It all started on the 'jet plane.' Naho, I and our 3 kids- Joshua, Shane　and Hosahna- started our 1 month trip in December of 2009 on the jet plane to Dallas. We wanted to say Thanks to our supporters and be with family for Christmas. * The kids obviously loved the video games, as well as Papa. (Naho took the video.)

Intellectual slackers

“God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than of any other slackers. If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you that you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains and all. But fortunately, it works the other way around. Anyone who is honestly trying to be a Christian will soon find his intelligence being sharpened: one of the reasons why it needs no special education to be a Christian is that Christianity is an education itself.” CS Lewis

When we depend upon prayer

“When we depend upon organizations we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do.” AC Dixon

Hell as self-chosen

"Scripture sees hell as self-chosen . . . [H]ell appears as God's gesture of respect for human choice. All receive what they actually chose, either to be with God forever, worshipping him, or without God forever, worshipping themselves." J.I.Packer

Laid upon Christ

“If thou feel thy sins and the burden thereof, look not upon them in thyself, but remember that they are translated and laid upon Christ, whose stripes have made thee whole [Isa. 53:5].” Martin Luther

'But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,and by his wounds we are healed.'

Isaiah 53:5