The mind of God....

“The method of the cross represents the mind of God.” Josef Ton

Matthew 16: 21-28

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Japan Earthquake: Before and After

"Aerial photos taken over Japan have revealed the scale of devastation across dozens of suburbs and tens of thousands of homes and businesses." ABC News

Click here: ABC News - Japan Earthquake: before and after

If you scroll or slide your mouse from right to left on each picture, you will see a before/after picture of Japan.

One Japanese wrote, "Incredible, and very humbling."

Please pray for Japan.

If I should neglect prayer but a single day...

"I judge that my prayer is more than the devil himself; if it were otherwise, Luther would have fared differently long before this. Yet men will not see and acknowledge the great wonders or miracles God works in my behalf. If I should neglect prayer but a single day, I should lose a great deal of the fire of faith."

Martin Luther

Pray for Japan!

I am the resurrection

Yesterday in our Takase Church, Naho, for the children's Bible story, spoke of Christ raising Lazarus from dead (John 11). Christ said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" After Naho was finished, I pointed out that the One who raised Lazurus, the One who rose from the dead Himself is the one who makes a new heaven and a new earth. We also pray and believe that He will by His grace and for His glory build His church here in Japan and, as Prime Minister Kan said, "a better Japan." I want to be a part of this restoration. Please join us in this task through praying, giving and serving.

Dan Junker to the 'War Zone'

On the phone I talked with Dan Junker, my brother, who, with a friend, Yama Ken, went to the earthquake-tsunami stricken area of northeastern Japan. There was total devastation- like a war zone. The smell of death was in the air. There are thousands and thousands of missing, many of whom are probably buried in the rubble.

In various ways Dan assisted Samaritan's Purse, a Christian international relief association. They have brought over 90 tons of aid. Please check his video: Samaritan's Purse Supply Distribution.

Please read the story of the man they met (right). Tears came to the man as he told his story. Dan and

Tina’s Blog.

Dan is making a team to serve the victims of the earthquake. He'll leave soon. Some are already giving. Why don't you. Designate it Tohoku Fund. Contact Dan, his wife Tina or an associate. dan@ridenorthstar.com、tcjunker@yahoo.com、michie@ridenorthstar.com

Pictures by Dan Junker

An opportunity to help

There seems to be so very little we can do to help the victims of the earthquake in northeastern Japan. There is such an overwhelming need. We would love to go up to the stricken area. We do pray. We do give. But this week the Lord has given Naho and I an opportunity to help prepare some goods at the Mitoyo city hall.

A prayer for Japan. Psalm 20:1, "May the Lord answer you in the day of distress...."

“Blessed is he who has regard for the helpless…”

“Blessed is he who has regard for the helpless…” Psalms 41:1

I am thinking of those who are serving in earthquake and tsunami devastated northeastern Japan. Including my brother Dan. Through His death Jesus helped the helpless. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly," Romans 5:6 So they are following in His steps. By His grace, may we all not be indifferent, but compassionate, regarding the helpless.

If you would be like Christ, give much.....

“Now dear Christians, some of you pray night and day to be branches of the true Vine; you pray to be made all over in the image of Christ. If so, you must be like him in giving… ‘though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.’

Objection 1. ‘My money is my own.’ Answer: Christ might have said, ‘My blood is my own, my life is my own’…then where should we have been?

Objection 2 ‘The poor are undeserving.’ Answer: Christ might have said, ‘They are wicked rebels…shall I lay down my life for these? I will give to the good angels.’ But no, he left the ninety-nine, and came after the lost. He gave his blood for the undeserving.

Objection 3. ‘The poor may abuse it.’ Answer: Christ might have said the same; yea, with far greater truth. Christ knew that thousands would trample his blood under their feet; that most would despise it; that many would make it an excuse for sinning more; yet he gave his own blood.

Oh, my dear Christians! If you would be like Christ, give much, give often, give freely, to the vile and to the poor, the thankless and the undeserving. Christ is glorious and happy and so will you be. It is not your money I want, but your happiness. Remember his own word, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive,’”

Benjamin Warfield

"Truth, Tears, Anger and Grace." Tim Keller

Redeemer Presbyterian Church writes, the sermon by Pastor Tim Keller, "Truth, Tears, Anger and Grace," is "a recording of the Sunday service after 9/11. Jesus experiences both anger and grief in the face of human suffering. But he also brings about a resurrection; according to the Bible, everything bad will come untrue. Jesus is the perfect Counselor who gives us grace even when he has to suffer for us."

Listen to it, be blessed and let it help you preach 'words of grace' to our friends in Japan who have as a nation been struck by the earthquake. Click:"Truth, Tears, Anger and Grace."

Listen to his other sermons- free and pay.

Died in their stead

"As the world watches the nuclear reactors in Fukushima, one man has been given the task to find a solution and rebuild Japan. Naoyoshi Sato, a Christian, was recently promoted to Vice-Minister of Construction and Transportation in Japan..... The task ahead of Mr. Sato is vital. Once the nuclear threat is resolved, Sato will oversee the reconstruction of devastated roads, bridges and public facilities..... It is not a coincidence a Christian has been put in this position." CRASH Japan

Picture: Crash Japan just took up a truck load of goods for the victims of the earthquake.

"[During the great epidemic] most of our brother Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves... Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ... Many, in nursing the curing others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead... The [pagans] behaved in the very opposite way. At the first onset of the disease, they pushed the sufferers away and fled even from their dearest, throwing them into the roads before they were dead." Dioysius, Bishop of Alexandria (around 260 AD)

"The impious Galileans [Christians] support not only their poor, but ours as well, everyone can see that our people lack aid from us." Roman Emperor Julian (around 360 AD)

Dioysius noted that, "Many, in nursing the curing others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead." Doesn't this sound familiar. The Christians at that time were so full of the gospel of Christ's death that they acted according to the gospel. Since Christ had given His life for others, they gave their life for others.

Please pray for Naoyoshi Sato, Crash Japan and other Christians as they serve these people. Pray that Christ would be honored. Then give and serve. Show them the love of Christ.

Visiting the elderly...

A few weeks ago, Joshua, Shane, Hosahna and I visited our local elderly folks home- Kureru Takase. We visit it regularly. Not only do our kids learn to care for the elderly, the elderly are encouraged. There is just something special about children. "Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat." Mother Teresa

Twitter "Pray for Japan"

As you know the magnitude of the earthquake in northwestern Japan has been adjusted to 9.0. Much worse than the earthquake in Kobe. Prime Minister Kan of Japan said that next to World War 2, Japan has never really experienced such a massive disaster. Probably everyone in Japan knows someone directly involved in it, affecting the whole of Japan emotionally. There is a huge loss of electricity in Eastern Japan, caused by the nuclear plant shutdowns. Even our area is affected. It has been said that there will be well over 10,000 deaths associated with the earthquake. My guess is that it will go over 20,000. The second nuclear plant seems to be headed toward a meltdown also. Some are expecting more big earthquakes, probably in the general area of the first one, but maybe even other parts of Japan. Nagano, where my brothers live, has already experienced a big jolt with loss of life.

"Pray for Japan" is said to be the key words for Twitter recently. Japan needs to experience the amazing grace of Christ, not only physically and emotionally, but also spiritually. I would also ask you to consider generous financial gifts. Please consider Food for the Hungry (above) & Crash Japan.

Though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea

Psalm 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to A song.

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Manno Christ Church

February 27th, I preached at Manno Church. Please pray that the Lord would 'pour out His Spirit' on them and Christ be magnified.

As I see the cross behind me, I am reminded of the verse in Galations 6:14, "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."

'Grace should make you just.'

Generous Justice, How God's Grace Makes Us Just, Timothy Keller

He writes, 'If a person grasped the meaning of God’s grace in his heart, he will do justice. If he doesn’t live justly, then he may say with his lips that he is grateful for God’s grace, but in his heart he is far from him. If he doesn’t care about the poor, it reveals that at best he doesn’t understand the grace he has experienced, and at worst he has not really encountered the saving mercy of God. Grace should make you just.'

I'm on page 52.

He has promised His grace freely

“There is not one in a thousand who does not set his confidence upon his works, expecting by them to win God’s favor and anticipate His grace; and so they make a fair of them, a thing which God cannot endure, since He has promised His grace freely, and will that we begin by trusting that grace, and in it perform all works, whatever they may be.” Martin Luther

Jump rope rally

Our kids were involved in the Kamitakase Elementary School jump rope rally.

Hosahna

Shane

Joshua

Pretty healthy, I would say.

For God’s sake

“Once upon a time there was a gardener who grew an enormous carrot. He took it to his king and said, ‘My lord, this is the greatest carrot I’ve ever grown or ever will grow; therefore, I want to present it to you as a token of my love and respect for you.’ The king was touched and discerned the man’s heart, so as he turned to go, the king said, ‘Wait! You are clearly a good steward of the earth. I own a plot of land right next to yours. I want to give it to you freely as a gift, so you can garden it all.’ The gardener was amazed and delighted and went home rejoicing. But there was a nobleman at the king’s court who overheard all this, and he said, ‘My! If that is what you get for a carrot, what if you gave the king something better?’ The next day the nobleman came before the king, and he was leading a handsome black stallion. He bowed low and said, ‘My lord, I breed horses, and this is the greatest horse I’ve ever bred or ever will; therefore, I want to present it to you as a token of my love and respect for you.’ But the king discerned his heart and said, ‘Thank you,’ and took the horse and simply dismissed him. The nobleman was perplexed, so the king said, ‘Let me explain. That gardener was giving ME the carrot, but you were giving YOURSELF the horse.’” Charles Spurgeon

Timothy Keller comments: "If we give God things in the hope that they will earn us blessing or heaven, then we are really not doing anything for him at all- it’s for ourselves. Only an experience of grace changes us so we do good things for goodness’ sake, for God’s sake."