But I Can't Stand That Person/でもあの人を見るとムカツク

But I Can't Stand That Person/でもあの人を見るとムカツク Thank you Junko Y. for this message. じゅんこ・Yさんが翻訳をしてくれました。ありがとうございました~! Peace be onto you~ ココロの平安~ ーシャーニス ジョセフ牧師による某Bible Studyで学びになった事を分かち合いたいと思います。 I’d like to share what I learned from one Bible study led by pastor Joseph. 要するに神様は試練を通して、私たちの性格を磨かれるというテーマだったのですが、聖書箇所は１列王記6:7「神殿は、建てるとき、石切り場で完全に仕上げられた石で建てられたので、工事中、槌や、斧、その他、鉄の道具の音は、いっさい神殿の中では聞かれなかった。」が引用されており、神殿をたてる石が、石切り場で元はデコボコな状態なのを斧等でカットされ、神殿を建てる場所に運ばれるときには、完璧な状態になっている事、そしてその石は霊的な暗示で私たちを指していて、私たちも試練を通してデコボコな状態から完璧に近い状態に変えられていくというものでした。 In short, the theme of the message was all about polishing our character through trials. The message quoted from 1 King 6:7 “And the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.” The stone for building the temple which originally had rough edges was cut by hammer, chisel, or any iron tool at the quarry, and by the time they were brought to the temple, they were perfect for building the temple. And these stones have spiritual implication for us that we also have rough edges that need to be smoothed out. And just like the stone had to be cut to be perfectly  fitted for building the temple, through trials we are transformed to come closer to perfection. 人間関係に関しても語られていたのですが、どうして神様は自分を苛立たせる人、みてるだけで腹が立つ人を私たちに送られるのか。それは私たちになめらかにされなければならない、不備な点があるからだと。 The message also talked about relationship problem. Why does He send us people who irritate and upset us? That is because we have rough edges that need to be smoothed out! また、自分を苛立させる相手を神様がどのようにみているのか考えたことがあるか？自分でどうして相手がそんな風に行動しているのか考えた事があるのか？と語られていたことも心に残りました。 Also, the message asked two questions: “Have you ever considered how God looks on the people who irritate you? Have you ever thought about why the people who upset you behave like that?” 因みに、メッセージをされていた牧師さんをイエス様を受け入れた当時は先生をしていたのですが、いつも問題を起こすある生徒に悩まされていたそうです。 By the way, the pastor who gave us the message was a high school teacher when he received Jesus, and he was very upset with one student who always caused problem. その生徒が問題を起こす度にレポートを書いて校長先生送りにする、そのプロセスを繰り返していたのですが、神様に何度も「なんでその生徒はあんな風にふるまっているんだと思う？」と聞かれたそうです。 Every time the student caused problem, the teacher (our pastor) wrote a report to the principal of the school and sent the student to the principal. But as the teacher repeated this over and over, God spoke to him, “Hey, why do you think the student is acting like that?” いつも「そんな事知らん！」と神様に言っていたのですが、ある日、校長先生送りにするのを辞め、その生徒とランチを一緒にし、「なんでそんな態度をするのか教えなさい」と向き合ってみたそうです。 The teacher (who is now a pastor) always answered to the Lord, “I don’t care!” However, one day, he decided not to send the student to the principal but instead he asked the student to have lunch with him one day. And the teacher asked the student “Please tell me why you act like that?” そうしたら、数日後に、ご家族の方が病気で学校からすぐ帰宅し、世話をしなければならない、10代の彼にはそれがとても重荷だということを分かち合ってくれたようで。 Then, a few days later the student told the teacher (who is now a pastor) that because one of his family members was very sick, he had to go home right after school to take care of that person. And as he was just teenager, that was a heavy burden for him. それを知って、先生（牧師さん）はその生徒を日曜に教会につれていったりして、ヘルプし、卒業するまでには、その問題児の生徒が一番成績を上げた生徒になったそうです。 Knowing the heavy burden of the student, the teacher (our pastor) took the student to church on Sundays and helped him in different ways. And by the time the student graduated from high school, he was the best student whose grades improved the most among all the students. 神様は理由があって自分に苛立てる人を送っている。私たち一人一人が聖徒として今置かれている場所に遣わされていると語られていた点が心に残りました。 God sends us the people who irritate us for a purpose. Each one of us are sent as saints to the place we are now as part of His plan. I will never forget this part of his message.

死んでいく男の遺言/ Last Words

死んでいく男の遺言/ Last Words This is a very powerful testimony. これが物凄く力がある証しです。 I really hope you will share this with friends and anyone else you know~! 是非、友達と知っている人に送って下さい~! I translated this together with Junko Yamada. 山田 純子さんと一緒に翻訳しました。 心の平安 Little Match http://www.godvine.com/Dying-Man-Records-a-Message-from-God-as-his-Last-Words-606.html Title of Video: Dying Man Records a Message from God as his Last Words ビデオの題名:死んでいく男の遺言は神様からいただいた言葉 Video Subtitles: (ビデオの字幕): Herbert Broome ハーベット・バルーマは (my dad) (私のお父さん) died of cancer right after this video was made. このビデオが制作された後にすぐにガンでなくなった。 These are his last words. これは彼の遺言です。 A message he wanted to send the world before he died. 死ぬ前に世界に送りたかったメッセージです。 I am keeping my promise that I would get his message out 私は、このメッセージを世界に知らせる、 その約束を守るのです。 Woman: The other night, you were talking about when you were a security guard? 女性: あの夜、警備員であった時のことについて話されていましたよね。 Mr. Herbert Broome: Yes. ハーベット・バルーマさん: そうです。 Woman: And, uh. . . it kind of gave you the idea for a ministry? 女性: そして、えーと…新しいミッションを思い付きましたか? HB: Yes. バルーマさん: はい。 Woman: About security? 女性: 安全のことでしたっけ? HB: Yes. バルーマさん: はい Woman: And, uh, just start with what your idea was. 女性: えーと、 そのアイディアは何でしたかって いうところから始めましょうか? HB: My idea was that security is as a sinner you have absolutely no security. . . because everything changes, the world changes the seasons change everything changes, your clothes wear out your job wears out. バルーマさん: 私のアイディアは罪人であるなら、まったく「安全」がありません…だって、全ての物が移り変わります。世界が変わり、季節が変わり、すべてのものが変わり、服も変わり、仕事もいつかにダメになったりするしさ。 So can you think of anything that does not change? だから、ずっと変わらないでいる何かがありますか? How are you going to get security in an insecure world? この無常の世界にどうやって平安を手にいれられるでしょうか。 Everything but one thing does not change. 一つのこと以外、すべての物が移り変わります。 Now if you are... how do you get security? そして、あなたは… どうやってその平安を手に入れられるでしょうか。 The only way you can get that security and become a Christian is you have to accept Christ, you have to accept him as he is. その平安が自分の物になるためには、一つの方法しかありません。キリストを受け取って、キリスト教の信者になることですよ。キリストの本性を受け取らなければなりません。 Must worship him in spirit & truth, so you have to become a member of God's family, then you will have all the security you will ever need. 霊とまことによって礼拝しなければなりません。そして神の家族にならなければなりません。そうすれば、必要としている平安のすべてが手に入ります。 Your security is where are you going to go when you die. あなたの安全と平安は死ぬ 時に行く場所です。 In this world we have the Scriptures, and why we have the Bible is because, it's the only direction you need to become severely wise. この世に私達のために聖書があります。どうして私達に聖書があるのか、それは厳に知恵のある者になるためにその方向を見るのに必要だからです。 So after then you become in the family of God and now you have security. それから神の家族になって、今、安全と平安が手にあります。 John 3:16 [Editor's note: the following Bible quote is actually from John 3:3] says unless your born again you cannot see the kingdom of God. ヨハネの福音書3章16行 ［編集者のコメント: 次の聖書の御言葉は実際はヨハネ 3章3行から］にはこう書かれています「人は、新しく生まれなければ、神の国を見ることができません。」 It says in the Scripture unless you're born again you cannot enter into the heavens. 聖書が言われていることは新しく生まれなければ、天国に入ることができません。 Anyways, just being good and just saying your a good fellow doesn't get it, because you cannot say you're living a good life and your not hurting anybody, the point is you must be born again. ま、でもただよいことをして、自分は良い者だと言われることだけなら何もなりません。だって、あなたは本当に良い人生を生きている、だれも傷つけていないなんて言えません。大事なことは新しく生まれなければなりません。 If you had seen what I saw in the hospital, there would be no doubt in your mind forever, because hell is so terrible so awful. もしあなたが私が病院で見たものを見たなら、永遠にあなたの気持ちに疑いはないだろう。地獄があまりにもひどくて恐ろしいから。 It goes as far as eternity- not just for a week or so- but eternity.. . forever & ever. 永遠に続くのだ。一週間だけではなくて、永遠にだよ。 いつの時代も、 永遠に。 Once you're in hell you're in hell. 一度地獄に入ったら、あなたは地獄にいるんだよ。 The Lord gave me a glimpse of heaven and I saw an angel, I saw my guardian angel. 主が天国のことをちらりと見せてくれた。天使を見た。自分の守護天使を見た。 And I also got a glimpse of hell, & I'm telling you now, please listen, Hell is so bad, so awful, you have no idea how bad hell is. そして地獄のこともちらりと見たんだ。今言うのよ。よく聞いてくれ。地獄 は最悪、とてもひどくて、キミには分からない、地獄がどれほどひどいかって。 Hell is terrible, a terrible place, I don't want to see anybody go there. 地獄はひどいよ、ひどい所なんだ。誰もそこに行くのを見たくない。 I heard the murmurings that sounded like a thousand voices, all wailing at the same time. 同時に叫んでいる千人の声のようなつぶやきを 聞こえました。 It was horrible. ひどかった。 Please listen, there was a white cloud, mist came into the room when he saw that it was getting to me. よく聞いてくれ。白い雲があった。かすみが部屋に入った。あの方はそれが自分に近づいているのを見た。 As soon as he got to me everything was bliss, perfect bliss. あの方が私に近づくとすべてのことは極楽極楽になった。 I'm telling you now you have to make your choice. . . 今、キミに言っているよ。選べなければなりませぬ… I guess the thought would be to the end of my story is. . . you don't put your faith and trust in your money and houses and all material things. . . you have to put it in something that never ever changes. . . And that's my story . . . おれの話しの終りの考えはこれでしょう…自分のお金や家や財宝やらに信仰と信頼は置けない… 信頼と信仰を置けるのはぜったいに変わらないもの…そして、それがおれの話しなんだ。 6:50 Young woman's voice: Tell everyone how old you are! 若い女性の声: 「なん才ですか。皆に言って下さい~! Herbert Broome: I am three years less than seventy. ハーベット・バルーマ: 「70才から3才引いたら、おれの年です。」 Young woman's voice: He is 67 years old today! 若い女性の声: 「バルーマさんは今日67才になりました! Older woman's voice: Well, congratulations birthday boy! 年上の女性: 「さて、坊やーお誕生日おめでとう!」 Younger woman's voice: Yeah! 若い女性の声:「すごい~! (sound of clapping) (パチパチ)

絶えず祈りなさい~ Pray continually ....

This devotion comes from the website of an American church. It was translated by my Japanese friend Junko Yamada. Here is a message from her: 私の為にもお祈り下さい。祈りのサークルを作っていきましょう！ 心の平安 純子(^-^)// Pray continually ....(1 Thessalonians 5:17) 絶えず祈りなさい（１テサロニケ5:17） Have you ever witnessed a bouncing toddler full of energy and enthusiasm who won’t stop talking? They just keep asking question after question. “What does this do?” “What do you think about this?” “How much longer?” “Are you watching me?” Toddlers constantly talk to their parents throughout the day and ask them all kinds of questions. Not just about the things they need, about everything! エネルギーに満ち溢れていて、話しやまない、元気のいい歩き始めの子を目撃したことはありますか？そ のような子供たちはただひたすら質問を投げかけてきます。「これはどんな役割をするの？」「これの事どう思う？」「どのくらい？」「私の事見てる？」歩き 始めの子供たちは一日中継続して両親に話し、両親に色んな質問をします。彼らが必要な質問だけではなく、全てにです！ Jesus modeled this attitude for us through prayer. He showed us that prayer is a constant, continual, ongoing relationship with the Father. Prayer is a lifestyle. Like a child, we should consult our Father all day long. He wants to know how we’re doing, what’s going on and what we need. And even though a parent might sometimes get frustrated by their toddler’s incessant questions, our heavenly Father never grows weary of our company. イエス様はこの姿勢を祈りを通して私たちの為に形作られました。イエス様は私たちに祈りは継続的で、繰り返される、前進するお父様との関係だと示されました。祈りはライフスタイルで す。子供のように、私たちは一日中私たちのお父様と助言を求めるべきです。お父様は私たちがどのようにしているのか、何がおこっているのか、私たちが何が 必要なのか知りたいのです。そして、時折親は歩きはじめの子供のひっきりなしの質問にいらつくかもしれませんが、私たちの天国のお父様は私たちが同席する 事に一度も疲れないお方です。 In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (niv), Paul instructs us to, “pray continually.” The New King James Version says to, “pray without ceasing,” and the New Living Translation words it as, “never stop praying.” If we think of prayer as a specific activity that only happens at church or before meals, this command is impossible to keep. Who could possibly kneel and request God’s help for 24 hours a day? But if, like Jesus, we realize that prayer is more about an ongoing relationship, then suddenly, every moment of life carries the potential of revelatory communication with God. Should we set daily prayer times? Certainly! Jesus Himself went away to pray in the mornings (Mark 1:35). But we can’t solely limit prayer to those set times; we have to continually be walking in communication with God. 1テサロニテ5:17では、パウロは私たちに「絶えず祈りなさい」と教えています。ニューキング ジェームズのバージョンでは「止まることなく祈りなさい」（純子訳）、そしてニューリビング訳では「祈るのを止めてはいけません」（純子訳）と書かれてい ます。もし私たちが祈りは教会、食事の前のみ特別な行為の時と考えているのなら、この命令を実行するのは不可能になります。誰が一日２４時間、神様の助け をリクエストし、ひざまつく事ができえましょう？しかし、イエス様のように、祈りをより前進する関係と見るのなら、急に人生のあらゆる瞬間に神様との啓示 的なコミュニケーションが運ばれます。私たちは日々の祈りの時間を設けるべきでしょうか？もちろんです！イエス様自身が朝早くに祈りに出かけておられてま す（マルコ1:35）しかし、私たちは単に祈りをこれらの特定の時間に制限する事はできません。私たちは継続的に神様とのコミュニケーションの中歩き続け なければいけません。 Jesus took each and every part of His life and set it before God in prayer. He thanked God (Matthew 11:25). He praised God (Luke 11:2). He asked God for direction (Luke 6:12–15). Luke 9:28–29 shows us that Jesus became refreshed and renewed by communing with His Father. Even when He felt abandoned on the cross, He cried out to God in His pain (Matthew 27:46). Every moment—good or bad—became a part of His prayer life, and this lifestyle strengthened Him to do what God had called Him to do. That same strength is available to us. イエス様は毎日、イエス様のどの人生のパートも祈りの中で神様の前に置かれました。イエス様は神様に 感謝しました（マタイ11:25)。イエス様は神様を賛美しました(ルカ11:2）イエス様は神様に方向性を求めました（ルカ6:12-15）。ルカ 9:28-29では、お父様と親しく話す事で、イエス様はリフレッシュされ、回復されています。そしてイエス様が十字架で見捨てられたと感じた時でさえ も、痛みの中、神様にイエス様は叫ばれています（マタイ27:46)。どの瞬間も-良くても悪くても-イエス様の祈りのライフの一部であり、このライフス タイルが神様がイエス様に召されていたことをする為、力づけていました。同じ力が私たちにも可能なのです。 No wonder Paul said to pray continually! Every moment and every emotion is an opportunity for prayer. Prayer is more than just an action; it’s who we are. At all places and all times, we can walk in relationship with God. There’s never a bad time to pray! どうりでパウロが絶えずいのりなさいというはずです！どの瞬間もどの感情も祈りの為の機会なのです。祈りは単純なる行動以上のものです。それは私たちが誰であるかです。どの場所でもどの場所でも、私たちは神様との関係の中歩くことができます。祈るのに悪い日なんて一度もありません！ I never pray for more than twenty minutes at a time ... but I never go more than twenty minutes without praying. Smith Wigglesworth 私は一度に２０分以上祈ったことはない・・・でも祈りなしに２０分以上超えたこともない。 スミス　ウィグルズワース Prayer Father, thank You for giving me Your Son, a perfect example of how to enter into Your presence and to commune with You at all times. I ask You to direct and guide me as I journey with You in a lifestyle of prayer. I want prayer to be who I am. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 祈り お父さん、私に、いつもあなたと心を通わせ、あなたの存在に入る方法を示す完全な模範である、あなたの息子を与えて下さった事に感謝します。祈りのライフスタイルの中で、あなたと旅するにつれて、あなたが私を導いて下さいますように。自分自身になる祈りが欲しいです。イエスの御名によりお祈りします。アーメン

Devotions by Junko & Heather- Part 1

「癒して下さる」 心に傷を受けた時、何もできなくなります。打ちのめされた時、もう立ち上がれないと感じてしまいます。しかし、主は言われます。わたしがあなたの内傷を癒そう。今この瞬間にも、主があなたの側にいることを感じてほしいのです。「主は心の打ち砕かれた者をいやし彼らの傷を包む。詩篇147篇3節」 “He Heals Us” We cannot do anything when our hearts are hurt. When we are overcome, we feel that we cannot stand up any more. But the Lord says, “I will heal your wound inside of you”. He wants you to feel in this moment that He is inside of you. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) 「本気で休もう！」 休むときにはしっかりと休みましょう。あれこれと悩みながら休んでも休みになりません。ですから本気で休みましょう。体と霊を休ませることは主のみこころであり、主が喜ばれることです。動いてから休むのではなく、まず休んでそれから動くのです。「主は私を緑の牧場に伏させ、いこいの水のほとりに伴われます。詩篇23篇2節」 “Seriously Take A Rest!” When you can take a rest, do take a rest. You cannot take a rest by being anxious about various things. So let’s seriously take a rest. It is His will that we rest our body and soul, and it pleases Him. Don’t take a rest after you move but first take a rest and then move. “He makes me lie down in green pasture, he leads me beside quiet waters.” (Psalm 23:2) 「わたしがあなたをいやす」 人はひと言で傷つき、壊れてしまう存在です。イエス様は傷ついた人の心を知ってくださるお方です。なぜならイエス様が誰よりも深く人に傷つけられたからです。鞭打たれ、裸にされ、罵声を浴びせられ、釘を打たれ、誰よりも数多くの傷跡を残していらっしゃるのはイエス様ご自身なのです。あなたの傷はイエス様の傷を通して癒されます。「あなたの傷は速やかにいやされる。イザヤ58章8節」 “I Heal You” We can be hurt by one tiny word and it can break us. Jesus knows our brokenhearted. That is because Jesus was the most deeply hurt person. He was lashed, naked, mocked, was pierced by a nail, and he is the one who has more scars than anybody else. Your wounds will be healed through the wounds of Jesus. “Your healing will quickly appear.” (Isaiah 58:8) 「できるだけ遠くに」 嫌なことがあったとき、一番やっかいなのはそれを引きずることです。引きずると芋づる式に嫌なものを引き寄せてしまいます。悪いものは信仰をもって遠くに放り投げること。そして再び拾わないことです。「すべての汚れやあふれる悪を捨て去り、心に植えつけられたみことばを、すなおに受け入れなさい。みことばは、あなたがたのたましいを救うことができます。ヤコブ1章21節」 “As Far As Possible” When something bad happens, the most troublesome thing is not to be able to get it over. When we cannot get it over, we pull up negativities. Throw away negativities as far as possible with faith. And don’t pick it up again. “Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (James 1:21)

「はい」か「いいえ」? YES OR NO?

「はい」か「いいえ」? YES OR NO? ああ、今日は気分が悪いですね。 皆さんは元気でありますようにお祈りします。 I am not feeling well today. I pray that you are feeling well. 心が神様からの愛・平安・喜びで満たされていますように。イエス様が言われたように、互いに愛し合うものでありますように。 May your heart be filled with God's love, peace, and joy! As Jesus told us, may we love one another just like Jesus loved us. メッセージはJesusLifeHosue大阪のルーク君からで、奥さんのいずみさんのプログからです！ This message is preached by Rev Luke at Jesus Life House Osaka.Also, this message is from his wife Izumi's blog! メッセージはここで見つけれます！ http://osakachurch.org/ You can find this message here: http://osakachurch.org/ ---------------------------------------- 「はい」それとも「いいえ」? Are you saying yes or no? 第一コリントさんへの手紙（＾＾） 1 Corinthians series!!! １回目は１章からピックアップしてルークがメッセージしたよ！ On the first night, Luke shared a message by selecting some of the verses from chapter 1. (1コリント1：1-3) 1神様に選ばれて、キリスト・ イエスを宣べ伝える伝道者となったパウロと、信仰の友ソステネから、2神の民として招かれ、キリスト・イエスによって神様に受け入れられる者とされた、コ リント教会の皆さん、および主イエス・キリストの御名を至る所で呼び求めているクリスチャンの方々へ。この主は、私たちの主であると共に、すべての人の主 です。3どうか、父なる神と主イエス・キリストが、あなたがたをあふれるほど祝福し、すばらしい平安を与えてくださいますように。 (1 Corinthians 1：1-3) 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ここでルークがいったことで、印象的だったこと。 Luke said things that really spoke to me. 「自信は、神様から使命を与えられているという確信からくるもの」 “Confidence comes from knowing that you are called by God.” 神様から選ばれたんだと言うことを知ること。 Knowing that God chose you. まだクリスチャンではない人に伝えたい。 To those who are not Christians あなたの人生には目的があります！！　ただの偶然で作られたわけではない。神様はあなたに自分のことを知って、神様が用意した最高の計画を歩んでほしいと思ってる。ただし、神様はロボットを作ったわけではないから、あなたの意思で自分を選んでほしいと思ってる。 You have a great purpose in your life!!! You are not an accident. God wants you to know Him and live the life that He has prepared for you. But He doesn’t want a robot. That’s why He gave you free will so you can CHOOSE him. 神様に近づけば近づくほど、自分が与えられた使命に気づくよ！ だからまず神様を知りたいって求めてほしい。 The more you get closer to God, the more you will realize your calling! So first of all, just seek God! Find Him! そして、クリスチャンの人達に伝えたい。 And to those who are Christians. 神様はあなたにも人生で大きな事をできる使命を与えてるよ！！　あなたを選んでる。 God has called you to do something incredible in your life!! He has chosen you. 私は、クリスチャンになりたての時、日曜日だけ神様賛美するだけのクリスチャンでいいって思ってた。（えーって感じだよね！） When I just became a Christian, I used to think that I’m satisfied being a “Sunday Christian”. (Isn’t that ridiculous?) でも、神様は私のために大きな計画を用意してた。 But God had a HUGE plan for my life. 長い話を短くまとめると、日本にきて（私はオーストラリアで育ちました）このジーザスライフハウスという教会で神様ともっと近くなって、神様に出会って人生変えられていく人々を見ていく中で、私のビジョンも大きくなっていった。 Cutting the long story short, since I came back to Japan (I grew up in Australia), as I became closer to God through this Jesus Lifehouse church and saw many peoples’ lives changed by God my vision got bigger and bigger!! 永住権をキープするためにオーストラリアに３年かえらないといけない選択がせまられた時、私の中で確信があった。 「日本でこのジーザスライフハウスを皆で建て上げていくために、私は日本に残る！」って。だから、もっていた永住権を手放した！ When I had to choose whether if I wanted to stay in Japan or go back to Australia for 3 years to keep my Australian permanent residency visa, I was pretty confident that “I am going to stay in Japan because I want to build Jesus lifehouse church together in Japan with others!” So I gave up my permanent residency visa. 多くの人からみたら、理解できない選択。でも自分の中で正しいことをしたんだっていう確信でいっぱいだった。 Many people wouldn’t understand what I did. But I felt so confident that I’ve done the right thing! その１〜２ヶ月後にルークと付き合うことになって、今大阪という日本一最高の場所で、思い描いてた以上の人生を歩んでるよ！ And 1~2 months after that decision, I started going out with Luke and now I am in the best city in Japan, living the dream!! God has blessed my life more than I could have ever imagined!!! ルークと結婚したことによって、オーストラリアにすもうと思えばまたすめるようになったしね（笑）もちろん、大阪愛してるから離れないけど！！ And since I married Luke, I can live in Australia with him if we wanted to (lol) Of course we love Osaka too much that we are not going to leave here!! ルークも１６歳の時に「次世代の教会をたてあげる」っていうビジョンを受け取った。神様からの使命だって確信をもった。 Luke got a vision to build the NEXT GENERATION church when he was 16. He was confident that God has called him. だから、どんな攻撃受けても、ネガティブなこといわれても、「大阪で次世代のための教会をたてる！」っていう確信がある。 That is why even when people said negative things to him, he can be confident that he is going to build the next generation church in Osaka. もしかしたら、「自分はそんなに大きな使命あたえられていないし、確信なんてない」って思ってるかもしれない。 Maybe you are thinking that “I don’t feel that I am called to do something big and I don’t feel confident.” そんなあなたに励ましたい。神様に対して、小さなことから「はい」っていい続けよう。そしたら、大きな「はい！」をいう時が必ずくるから。 I just want to encourage you. Just keep on saying small YES to God and then you can say a big YES when the time comes. ある人は神様に小さなことで「ノー」と言い続けてる。　 Some people keep on saying “NO” to God about small things. 例えばこんな感じ　For example: 神様：「あの人を赦しなさい」　自分：「いやだ、あの人が悪いから！」 God: “Forgive that person” You: “NO! It’s that person’s fault! “ 神様：「落ち込んでいないで、教会にいって皆と私を賛美しよう！」　自分：「いやだ、教会いかない。」 God: "Don't be discouraged.Let's go to church and praise me with others!" You:"No, I don't want to go to church" 神様：「テレビばっかりみないで、聖書を読んで私の言葉を心に刻んでほしい。」　自分：「いやだ」 God: “Stop watching the TV too much and why don’t you read the Bible and communicate with me?” You: “No” 神様：「ネガティブな気持ちは今すぐ捨てて、笑顔になろう！」自分：「いやだ、気持ちがついていかない」 God: “Stop being negative and start smiling!” You: “No, I don’t FEEL like it” こんな感じで神様に対して「ノー」が小さなことで積み重なっていくと、ある日何かがおきた時に大きな「ノー」を神様にいってしまって大変なことになる！ If you keep on saying NO to God for small things like this, it will build up and one day, it will come up to the surface and it will explode!! クリスチャンなのに、アップダウンが激しい人。理由はよくわからないけど、いつも葛藤してる人。神様との関係が遠く感じてしまってる人。 If you are a Christian but you have ups and downs, struggling all the time, feeling like God is miles away. 神様に対して小さな「ノー」をたくさんいっていませんか？ Are you saying small “NO”s to God? 今日からでも大丈夫！　小さなことから、「はい！」って神様に従って見よう。 It’s okay. You can start from today. Let’s say “YES” to God for small things. 小さな「はい」を神様にいい続けてると、神様が用意してくれたものに対して大きな「はい！」をいうことができるよ。 If you keep on saying small “YES” to God, you will be able to say a BIG YES to what God has prepared for you! そして、神様があなたに与えた使命を見つけて、確信をもとう！ And find out what God has called you to do and be confident about it!!!

バイリンガルのキリスト教の人性~ BILINGUAL CHRISTIAN LIFE

Since I returned to the United States, I was wondering how I might be able to practice my Japanese. I remembered suddenly last night how my pastor friend recommended the website for Kobe Bible Fellowship (KBF). They have bilingual sermons online you can listen to. I also am very happy that the pastor is from Michigan, like me! He is full of the Holy Spirit, and always says a message which is exactly about something that I had been struggling with at that time in my life. 日本語の練習のために、この神戸にある教会 (KBF)の説教を聞くことにしました。 牧の師さんも私と一緒にミシガンん州から来ったからうれしいです~! この牧師さ んも100%御霊の力のことで、不思議 なことにいつも自分の人性のなやみにいつも ピッタリのメッセ-ジが出ってくるからびっくりしますね。 English: http://www.kbfweb.com/english/ 日本語:http://www.kbfweb.com/ My friend Junko Y. told me about this devotion below from JesusLifeHouse Osaka. This message below comes from Izumi Kennedy's blog.  (http://izumisydney.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2011/01/the-power-of-wo.html) 友達であるじゅんこさんがこのメッセージを教えてくれました。因みにメッセージはJesusLifeHouse大阪のいずみさんのプログなので、コピーライトは彼女とプログに。http://izumisydney.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2011/01/the-power-of-wo.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 言葉の力　The Power of Words このメッセージは昔ロド先生が語ったものなんだけど、最近言葉について語られてたからシェアするね。 This message is Pastor Rod's past message but recently God was speaking to me about our WORDS so I will post it here agian! あなたが発する言葉があなたを表す Whatever you say says something about you 言葉は私たちの背景、教育、すべてを表すもの。 Words show where we are from, our background, education and ourselves.   日本人では話さない人（特に男性）も結構いる。もし、結婚していてあなたの夫が何も言わない人であれば、それもその人を表している。 Many Japanese people, especially men don't speak out. So if you are married and if your husband doesn't say anything, that shows something about him.   だから、あなたが話すこと（もしくは話さないこと）があなたを表す。 So what you say and don't say says something about you (Matthew 12:33-35)　Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. (マ タイ 12:33-35) 木が良ければ、その実も良いとし、木が悪ければその実も悪いとしなさい。木のよしあしはその実によって知られるからです。 (34)まむしのすえたち。おまえたち悪い者に、どうして良いことが言えましょう。心に満ちていることを口が話すのです。(35)良い人は、良い倉から良 い物を取り出し、悪い人は、悪い倉から悪い物を取り出すものです。   私たちの言葉は心のポラロイド写真のようなもの。心の状態が言葉で現われる。 What we say is a Polaroid picture of the heart. It will reveal the condition of our heart.   ある人は、「まだ言葉遣い悪いけど、前よりはよくなってきてるから、いいじゃん」というかもしれない。 Some people say "I'm getting better. I still say things, but it's not as bad as before."   だけど、神様は半分良いだけでは十分ではないといっている。 But God is saying that half good is not good enough.   例えば、井戸の水が腐っていたら、内側からきれいになっていない。 For example, if we have rotten water in the well, it is not pure from the inside.   (箴言 18:21) 死と生は舌に支配される。どちらかを愛して、人はその実を食べる。(Proverbs 18:21)The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit これは凄い言葉・・・！私たちが話す言葉は「生」や「死」をもたらすことができる。これは結婚生活、職場生活や健康面でも同じ。自分の言葉で自分や人を殺すことができる。 This is a massive statement! The word we speak can bring life or death. This applies to marriage, job life and health life. I can kill myself and others with my word.   数年前、チャーチにある病気の男性がきた。彼の顔は落ち込んでいたが、ロド先生のメッセージの後にクリスチャンになった。 Few years ago, a man who was sick came to church. His face was down, but he received Jesus after Pastor Rod's message.   ロド先生が後で話しかけにいくと、彼は「自分は胃がんを患っていて、医者からはもう長くないといわれました。」と言った。 When Ps Rod talked to him afterwards he said, "I have a stomach cancer and the doctor said I'm not going to live for long."   ロド先生は彼にこういった。 「生きなさい・・・！生きなさい！」そして、彼にあうたびにロド先生は「生きなさい！」といった。 Pastor Rod said to him, "LIVE!!! LIVE!!!" And everytime he saw that man, Ps Rod said to him, "LIVE!"   そして何度もそれを繰り返しているうちに、彼自身が「生きたい・・・生きないといけない！」と思い始めた。 And over time, he thought "I've want to live... I've got to live!!!!"   そして、3年後、彼の癌は完全になくなっていた。もちろん、彼は治療も薬もとっていたが、ロド先生は神様の言葉がなければ、彼は医者の言葉通りになっていたと思うといっていた。だから、言葉は人生の全ての分野に影響を与える。 and after 3 years, his cancer had completely gone. Of course he took many treatments and medicine but Pastor Rod believes that without that word of God he wouldn't have lived long.　So words can affect every areas of our lives.   聖書には、舌をコントロールすることができたら、素晴らしい人生を送れるという風にいっている。だけど、それと同時に、聖書では「誰も舌をコントロールすることができない」といっている。 In the bible says if you can control your tongue your life is going to be great. But at the same time, the bible says, "No one can tame your tongue."   例えば、ロド 先生がクリスチャンになった時、消防士だった。そして、仕事の後によく 52人の消防士と一緒にパブにいって飲みにいっていた。そこでロド先生が気付いたのが、彼らが酔えば酔うほど、彼らは変貌した。そして、アルコールによっ て彼らは自由に発言するようになった。そして話せば話すほど、既婚者は妻の悪口をいいはじめた。そして仲間の一人が去ると、その人の悪口を皆いいはじめ た。 For example, when Ps Rod was first saved he was a fireman. After work, 52 firemen used to go out together to pub. He found that the more they drank, the more they changed. And the alcohol frees up the way they speak. And the more they spoke, those who were married said negative things about their wives. And if one left, they said bad things about that person.   若いクリスチャンだったロド先生は、彼らのように話したくないと思った。自分の話し方を変えたいと思った。彼は神様にこういった。　「神様～もう汚い言葉はいいたくない。」 And as a young Christian, he didn't want to be like them. He wanted to change the way how he speak. He said to God, "God, I don't want to swear anymore."   悪い言葉を言うことをやめるのは簡単だった。 And it was so easy to stop swearing.     で も、かえることが難しいものもあった。彼は19年間イエスなしで生きてきた。そして ロド先生の家族はマイナスな態度をもっていた。例えば、スポーツをみている時に言ってしまう罵しる言葉。スポーツ限らずロド先生は他のことに関してもそう いう言葉をつかっていた。それが当たり前だとおもっていた。でも、彼の言葉が彼の人生に影響を与えていることに気がついた。 But there were some things that he found very difficult to change. He had lived 19 years without Jesus in his life and his family had negative attitude. For example, the words people say while watching sports. His words were like that for everything. He thought that was normal. But he realised that his words were really affecting his life.   じゃあ、私たちは舌をコントロールすることは永遠に不可能なの・・・？ So, is it impossible to control our tongue?   私たちの舌をコントロールする方法はあります・・・！答えは、聖霊です。 There is a way to tame our tongue! That is the Holy Spirit.   クリスチャンになると、全員、聖霊で満たされます。 The moment you become a Christian, you will receive the Holy Spirit.     聖霊で満たされると、言葉が変わります・・!!　神様の愛で満たされれば満たされるほど、ポジティブな人間になります！ When you are filled the Holy Spirit you will speak differently. The more we are filled with God's love, we are going to become positive   エペソ5章では、 「お酒に酔ってはいけません。聖霊で満たされなさい。」と書いてある。 Ephesians 5 it says, "Don't get drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit."   過去のように悪いことを言ったり、したりするのではなく、新しいもので満たされること。 Don't do and say the bad things that you used to do in the past, but be filled with new things.     悪い言葉を止められない人は、 「神様、心を変えてください！心をあなたの言葉で満たしてください！」ということができる。 And if you can't stop saying bad things you can say to God, "God, change my heart and fill my heart with your words!"   完璧な人はいない。だけど進歩することはできる。 No one is perfect but you can get better.   一晩で変わることはできないけど、時間をかけて神様は私たちを変えてくれる！！ It won't happen overnight. But God WILL change us overtime.   唯一、心を変えてくれて、言葉を変えられるのは神様♪♪　神様に近づいてポジティブな言葉がたくさんでる人になりましょう♪ ジャーナルと祈りは毎日の心の掃除だよ！ God is the only one who can change our hearts and words. So let's get closer to God and become a person who always says positive words!　Journaling and prayers will help you keep a clean heart every day!!!

Thank you for supporting me during my ministry. I returned home about a month and a half ago from my first year of missionary work in Japan. Right now, I am not sure when I will be able to return there... some family issues (plus other factors) led me to return home. My job was very stressful, leaving me with little free time to update my blog. I barely could even get enough sleep! However, I do want to share with you all a prayer letter that I sent out in February to my supporters. That appears below, and can give you a good idea of some of the difficulties I faced during that time. I was wondering what I should do with my blog here. I still want to help the believers in Japan. I decided that I will post in the future bilingual devotions from one of my friends in Japan. She finds them somewhere on the web, then she translates them. I have a large number of them already from her. I hope to be able to post one of her devotions every day (or as frequently as possible) until I have caught up with her recent devotions, which she normally sends me once or twice a month. I pray this blog will prove useful for your spiritual growth. ------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friends and Family, My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord: 信愛なる　友人、家族、主にあった兄弟姉妹へ： I prayed for you and the people around you this morning. Please also pray for me. 皆さんと皆さんの周囲の方の為、今朝お祈りさせて頂きました。私の為にもお祈り下さい。 I am close to the finish line of my year of ministry here. I am planning to leave this kindergarten in the southern region of Japan where I teach to return to my hometown in Michigan (USA). 私はここでのミニストリーを終えようとしています。日本の南方にあり、私が教えている幼稚園からにアメリカのミシガン州に私のホームタウンに帰る予定です。 I can never thank you enough for supporting me in prayer and encouraging me… and other missionaries who also made sacrifices to bring God’s love to those who have not heard it yet. 私を祈りでサポートし、励まして下さった皆さん・・・また、まだ神様の愛について聞いたことがない方々の為に神様の愛をもたらす犠牲を払った他の宣教師の方々にも心より感謝します。 Sometimes I felt like the helpless victim of someone here who acted like they hated me. People were not originally created to hate each other, though. We were born to love and be loved. People find it hard to keep hating someone who loves them in return. 時々、私はここで私を嫌っているかのようにふるまう人の無力な犠牲者のように思われる事がありました。でも、もともと人は、互いを嫌うように造られてはいません。私たちは愛し、愛し合うよう、造られました。人は自分を愛してる人を嫌い続けるのは難しいと感じるものです。 I truly suffered this year, but did pray and stay faithful. Here I stand in Christ. I’m nobody special. It is amazing to see that one year since I first came to this school God’s love has softened the hearts of everyone around me- even those people who at first never smiled at me, lied to me, and attacked me. I forgive them all. 今年、私は本当に苦しみましたが、実に祈り、忠実を保ちました。ここで、私はキリストの代理を務めています。私は特に特別な人ではありません。私が初めてこの学校に来てから一年、神様の愛が私の周りの方々、初めは私に一度も笑顔を見せず、私にウソをつき、私を攻撃した人の心を和らげてくれたのを見る事ができ素晴らしいです。私は彼ら全員を赦しています。 Now they do smile at me. We can talk and laugh. Why? I have Our Father’s endless love inside of me and I share it with them. They can see I care about them. 今では彼らは私に本当に笑顔です。私たちは話し、笑うことができます。どうしてでしょうか？私の内側には神様の終わることのない愛があり、それを彼らと分かち合っています。彼らは私が彼らの事を気にかけているのを見る事ができます。 Yes, I understand my own weakness now more than ever before. Yes, I’m powerless at the school. That’s OK. I can influence the school. I can pray. God has all the power, and He is the only one who can change things at the school to make it better. えぇ、自分でも今、以前より自分の弱さを理解しています。えぇ、学校で私は弱いです。それで大丈夫です。私はその学校に影響を及ぼす事ができます。祈ることができる。神様は全ての力をもっているし、神様のみが学校での状況を改善できる方です。 Now I am heading back home. I plan to earn my Master’s Degree in Education. Then I hope to go abroad again to do missionary work. The future is uncertain. All I can do is trust God- throw myself into the loving arms of Our Heavenly Father. He loves me and holds the future. That is the unchanging true love available to each of us. 今、私はアメリカの家に帰る予定です。教育学科での大学院をとる予定です。それから、宣教の働きの為、また海外にいけたらと思っています。将来は不確かです。私ができることは神様を信じるだけ・・・私自身を私たちの天国の父の愛情なる腕に投げ込む。神様は私を愛し、将来を握っていてくれる。それは私たち一人一人へ可能な、変わらない真実の愛です。 So if you don’t have a boyfriend or girlfriend or whatever and if you are single like me, don’t worry about it. You can still have a Happy Valentine’s Day~! Just open your arms to receive Our Father’s love. だから、もし皆さんが彼氏、彼女、もしくは他の物がない、そしてまだ私のように独身なら、心配しないで下さい。それでもバレンタインデーを過ごせるよ～！ただひたすら腕を広げて私たちのお父さんの愛を受け取りましょう。 “So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to. So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.” Matthew 6: 31- 34, from The Living Bible. 「そういうわけだから、何を食べるか、何を飲むか、何を着るか、などと言って心配するのはやめなさい。こういうものはみな、異邦人が切に求めるものなのです。しかし、あなたがたの天の父は、それがみなあなたがたに必要であることを知っておられます。だから、神の国とその義とをまず第一に求めなさい。そうすれば、それに加えて、これらのものはすべて与えられます。だから、あすの為の心配は無用です。明日の事はあすが心配します。労苦はその日その日に、十分あります。」（マタイ6:31-34）（新改訳） LET’S PRAISE GOD: 神を賛美しましょう： *for good work accomplished on turning the hearts of the children towards the fathers and mothers. I have encouraged all the kindergarteners to say “I love you!” to their parents every day. In Japan, where sharing your feelings openly is not common, this is hard for them to understand and some of them say they never did this before. This is very important though, for the family to stay strong. 子供達の心がお父さん、お母さんに向けられ、良い行いが得られた事。私は幼稚園の子供たち全員に、ご両親に毎日「愛してるよ！」というよう、励まし続けました。感情をオープンに分かち合うのが一般的ではない日本で、これは彼らにとって理解するのが難しく、幼稚園児の中には、そういう事を一度もしなかったと言った生徒がいました。でも、家族が強くなるので、そうすることはとても大切な事ですが。 *the winter project that some teachers and staff members worked on was successful! Our kindergarten sent Christmas presents (some pictures, snacks, hats, gloves, tea, coffee, etc.,) to a Buddhist kindergarten in Tohoku that was partially destroyed by the tsunami. Hallelujah! What a blessing. 何人かの先生やスタッフが行った冬のプロジェクトが成功しました！幼稚園児がクリスマスプレゼント（写真、スナック、帽子、手袋、お茶、コーヒーなど）を津波で部分的に崩壊した東北の仏教の幼稚園に送りました。ハレルヤ！祝福ですね！ *I have been praying that someone in the Imperial Family would become a Christian. There are more Christians in Pakistan (where our brothers and sisters face persecution) than in Japan, I discovered recently… and one of the reasons that is so is because Christianity is quietly disapproved of as something which is outside of traditional Japanese culture. If only that perception could change. I was encouraged to find out recently from some senior missionaries that the Emperor’s wife graduated from a mission school and read her children the Bible everyday when they were growing up. The Crown Prince also said on NHK that his mother’s Bible reading was very important for him growing up, and he feels that is very important to have in his own family. That is very encouraging to me. Next… let us pray that a pastor will be able to minister to that family in the palace. 私は皇帝家族の誰かがクリスチャンになるよう、祈っています。日本より、パキスタン（私たちの兄弟姉妹が迫害に直面している）の方がクリスチャンがいて、その理由の一つが日本の伝統的な文化外でキリスト教が静かに受け入れられていないからだと最近わかりました。もしその知覚が変わる事ができたら。最近先輩の宣教師の方々から知って励まされたのですが、皇帝の奥様がミッションスクールを卒業し、彼女の子供が成長するとき、毎日聖書を読み続けたそうです。皇太子がまたNHKで彼のお母様が聖書を読んだことが彼の成長においてとても重要であった事、そして彼は自分の家族にそれがとても重要だと感じているとおっしゃっていました。これは私にとってとても励ましになります。さぁ、牧師が公邸の家族に仕える事ができるよう、お祈りしましょう！ LET’S PRAY: お祈りしましょう： *for my often depressed, sometimes suicidal friend Junko who lives in Ishinomaki, where many people died from tsunami 津波により多くの方々が亡くなった石巻に住んでいて、時々ウツで、時には自殺願望がるジュンコさんの為。 *for my student Teru, a brilliant third grader who has an incurable disease (MS?). When we recently talked about students’ future dreams and jobs, he would not answer the question. Instead, he said “Oh I’m going to die.” My heart goes out to him. After I prayed at the beginning of our most recent class together, he asked me, “Teacher, is there really a God?” 治らない病気(MS?)持ちで優秀な３学年の私の生徒、テル君の為。最近生徒の将来の夢、仕事等を話していた時、テルはその質問に答えませんでした。代わりにテルは「あぁ、僕は死ぬんだ」と言いました。私はテルの事を気の毒に思っています。私が最近の授業の前に一緒に祈った後、テルは私に「先生、本当に神様っているんですか？」と聞いてきました。 *for M, a Japanese student in college in Nagoya who grew up in China and Singapore, wants to be a doctor, recently became a Christian but has no Christian friends and has little time to go to church or fellowship with other believers. 中国とシンガポールで育ち、名古屋の大学にいる日本人の生徒さん、マ君の為。マ君は医者になりたく、最近クリスチャンになったのですが、クリスチャンの友達がいなく、教会に行く時間が殆どなく、他のクリスチャンとも交わりが殆どありません。 *for Osaka police to be able to solve the case of missing child Yuri Yoshikawa this year. She disappeared around nine years ago and her parents, both teachers, were unfortunately blackmailed out of a lot of money by someone who claimed to know where she may be buried, but that was a lie. 大阪の警察が、行方不明のヨシカワ・ユリさんのケースを今年解決する事ができますように。ユリさんは約９年前にいなくなり、彼女の両親と先生は、不幸にも、ユリさんが埋められてる場所を知っているかもしれないと主張した方に多くのお金を強要されたのですが、それは嘘でした。 *for Chiaki, an English teacher from Tohoku who lost her home in the tsunami. She now has PTSD and cannot return to work because of anxiety attacks. She does want to return to teaching to help her students, though. Many of them lost family members in the disaster and also suffer from PTSD. 津波により家をなくした、東北からの英語の先生、チアキさんの為。今、彼女はPTSDを持っており、不安に襲われている為、働くことができません。でも、彼女は彼女の生徒を助けたいため、ティーチングのお仕事に強く復帰したいようです。この震災の為、多くの家族は家族の方々を失い、またPTSDにより悩まされています。 *I’m hoping to launch an English-language prayer meeting in the area I live. Years ago, an English teacher who lived in this area from my home state of Michigan committed suicide. He had greatly enjoyed the English-language men’s prayer meeting that once met regularly here and was encouraged by fellowship, but after it ceased he seemed to grow increasingly heartsick about various issues in his life. After hearing his story, I was really moved and hope to start a similar group here. 私が住んでる地域で英語祈り会を開きたいと思っています。昔、この地域に住んでいて、私の出身地であるミシガン州出身の英語の先生が自殺したようです。彼はここで一度定期的に行われていた男性の為の英語祈り会をとても楽しみ、交わりにより励まされていましたが、それが終了した後、彼の人生のいくつかの問題について、だんだん心臓発作を持ち合わせたようです。彼の話を聞いた後、私は本当に心を動かされ、同じようなグループをここでスタートしたいと思っています。 *I’m attending a JCFN (Japan Christian Fellowship Network *website: http://jcfn.org/dir/index.php?lang=en) Leadership Retreat in Mitaka, Tokyo on Feb. 24 (Friday- took a vacation day from work) and Feb 25 (Saturday- my birthday). This is very important because we will be planning for ANRC (All Nations Returnees Conference) in November- a crucial yearly nationwide gathering for Japanese Christians who were saved abroad. Please pray that God will give us wisdom to improve ANRC. We hope that this year we will be able to plan more events in English and invite more English-speakers. The retreat will be all in Japanese, hope I can understand what is going on! 2/24(金曜ー仕事から休みをもらい）と2/25（土曜ー私の誕生日）に東京のみたかにあるJCFNのリーダーシップリトリートに参加する予定です。11月にANRCが海外で救われた日本人のクリスチャンの為に例年の全国的な集会を持つ計画があるので、この二日間の集まりは重要になります。ANRCを向上することができるよう、私たちに知恵が与えられる様、神様にお祈り下さい。今年、英語でのより多くのイベントを計画できて、より英語を話す方々を招待できればと思っています。リトリートは全部日本語になるので、何が起こっているのか私が理解できればと思っています！ *I’m planning to go back to Tohoku on Feb. 27 and 28 to do some volunteer work at a Buddhist kindergarten there (where our kindergarten sent Christmas presents) and also to encourage some of the people I met before on my previous volunteer trip. 2/27と2/28に仏教の幼稚園（幼稚園児がクリスマスプレゼントを送った）にてボランティアをするため、また以前ボランティア旅行で会った人々、何人かを励ますため、東北に行く予定です。 *for blessings on upcoming trips to Kyoto, Kobe, and Kumano before I leave Japan 私が日本を離れる前の京都、神戸、熊野への小旅行が祝されます様に。 *that I can save money and clean up my apartment before the end of March お金をためて、３月の終わりにの前にアパートを綺麗にすることができますように。 *that God will bring the best Christian native English teacher(s) to the school here to teach the classes after I leave. We still don’t know who will teach classes here once I leave. 私が退職した後、神様がここの学校に最善の英語のネイティブのクリスチャンの先生をもたらして下さいますように。私が退職した後、誰が授業を教えるのか、まだわからないので。 *for my family, and that I will have the finish line faith to stay strong until the end! 私の家族へ。そして私が最後まで強くとどまる信仰を持つことができますように。

Japan’s Shake, Wave, and Nuclear Bang Boom

(or, my personal experience of the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear crisis in Japan)

First, here are two poems – both senryu- that I have created so far in response:

japan’s triple threat
samurai spirit outlasts
shake, wave, gamma rays

広がる輪
助け合いには
広がる和

hirogaru wa
tasukeai ni wa
hirogaru wa

widening circles
helping one another brings
widening peace

It’s not important that I ever receive anything in return for writing these poems, but instead I really hope these will bless somebody somewhere as soon as possible. . . that is why I share these poems here.

Before I discuss my personal experiences, I would like to list here again the three most important prayer requests for Japan. About a couple of weeks ago, there was a meeting about Revival in Japan in Osaka, and one of the speakers was Pastor Kenichi Nakagawa. I REALLY WISH some Western media reporters would interview him about his reaction to the current events in Japan, because he is surely one of the most respected Christian leaders in Japan, and for a long time led the long-running Japanese Christian TV series ‘Harvest Time.’

He gave these three prayer requests for Japan:

1) nuclear situation will be brought under control, the staff at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant will have divine protection, and their family members be comforted [I also would like to add that there will be a strong eastern wind to send any radiation to the sea where it can dissipate]

2) all those suffering because of the earthquake and the tsunami may receive the food, comfort, shelter and whatever else that they need as quickly as possible, and

3) for healing of the emotional scars & psychological problems of everyone involved, especially children (short-term and long-term panic, PTSD, depression, etc.)

As we all continue to pray I hope that we can remember his brief but very meaningful description of the three most important prayer requests in this international crisis. Please consider fasting too.

Well . . . so . . . I have some friends who keep asking me to share what I felt and thought of the tragedy on the ground. Currently I am in the United States for my spring break, however I was in a southern suburb of Osaka, Japan teaching English when the earthquake happened on Friday March 11, at around 2:45 PM.

We did not feel anything at the time. Osaka is about 500 km south of Tokyo, and Tokyo is about 320 km away from Sendai, which is the major city closest to the epicenter of the recent quake in the Northeast corner of the country (called Tohoku). I think some of my friends in northern Osaka said they felt something. I think I was probably in the bathroom at the time, actually.

Anyways, during a break in one of the classes, one of the mothers of the elementary school kids I teach said to my boss (in Japanese of course but I’ll give you the rough English translation): “You know what? I just heard there was some sort of an earthquake in Tohoku on the radio on my way here. I have to get home to watch TV and find out more about it. I have some relatives there.”

My boss listened and nodded, with a little vague smile. I thought maybe the faraway expression on her face meant that she was not paying much attention and thinking of something else. At any rate, I did not think the earthquake was a serious matter at all. We did not hear anything further about it at work. It was a short day anyways… we just had to teach classes from 2 – 4PM, as our normal kindergarten classes in the morning had all been cancelled.

I went home and turned on the TV. Nearly every channel had the same scenes of devastation- shaking walls, crumbling buildings, waves of water, lines of brand new cars swirled around in whirlpools like toy cars being flushed down a toilet. I was shocked for a moment.

However, my brain was too tired to break down the walls of the Japanese language for me immediately. I can speak and understand Japanese, but at the same time my second language can be draining and I can’t use it well when I am tired. I did not see many scenes of people, and my weary mind did not jump to think that there could be human beings caught in the murky devastation of the roaring tsunami. After about five minutes, I turned the TV to the only station that offered something that seemed light and entertaining- a children’s dance contest.

After about seven minutes of this, a commercial break popped up. I grew restless again, and decided to look online for more information in English about the earthquake. I was shocked to discover that already some articles were saying this was the most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in its recorded history.

Now here let me be honest and admit that day before the earthquake hit I was at a personal low, perhaps even at my most selfish point. That week I was having a lot of difficulties, and I felt very unappreciated, much unloved, and even frustrated enough to want to quit and go home. Sometimes it is difficult to live overseas and face a perfect storm of challenges without being able to admit that although you are trying to care for others, you yourself could use some extra heart care.

So I think the most immediate effect the earthquake and tsunami had on my life was that it forced me to recognize again that there are a lot more important problems in the world than those that I deal with in my everyday life. A couple of friends on Facebook asked me if I was safe. With a sigh, I quickly wrote a reply without realizing that there were other people someplace else who might not be so safe, who might be missing.

Only when the NHK news report showed a long line of people waiting to use a public phone so they could tell their friends and family that they were OK did my tired mind finally begin to grasp some of the scope of this tragedy. God finally broke through the walls of my own apathy and indifference. I turned the TV off, turned away from my laptop, and began to pray.

Saturday, the next day, I had been thinking about joining an English haiku event in Kyoto. Instead, I decided to stay at home. I spent the day in a quiet way. I cleaned my apartment and prayed for everyone affected by the earthquake and tsunami. I was thinking of the words of my grandmother Momma Nell, who taught me that during thunderstorms we should not think about rushing about here and there. “When God is doing His work, it is time for us to be still.”

On Sunday, I ended up visiting Chiyoda Gospel Church, where my mentor Rev. Ryosaku Inoue delivered a sermon on thankfulness and gratefulness as a Christian. He spoke on Acts 16, where Paul and Silas were in prison when an earthquake gave them the opportunity to escape.

He mentioned that prayer for Jewish folk means expressing gratitude, while unfortunately we Christians tend to use prayer as an opportunity to give God our Christmas list. We take too much for granted- food, home, clothing, money, a job so much more- when all of these things are not guaranteed to us.

While I listened to him, I realized that I was so focused on my challenges that I was forgetting the blessings of my life in Japan. I really had to repent for all of my selfish thoughts.

Rev. Inoue went on to say that the earthquake completely changed everything. The prisoners who were of low status and who previously could not leave the prison suddenly now had the freedom to move as they wished and even to escape the jail. However, Paul chose not to escape.

Instead, he chose to stay to help the one who was now the weakest person- the jailer. The power over the prisoners that the jailer once held was now completely gone. The jailer also did not have freedom over his own movements- his job required him to stay in the prison, where he would be sentenced to death if any of the prisoners escaped.

And what made Paul decide to stay in prison? Because before he had an encounter with the living and true son of God- Jesus- on his way to Damascus, Paul had been in the same position. He had been the one who other people had given up on, somebody who may have seemed to have a high social position and everything the world could ask for on the outside, but who was still desperately in need of a deep and abiding purpose in life that no riches or status could ever give him.

After the service, I spoke to one of my students and her family and friends. At the church, I enjoyed a simple supper of kitsune udon together with the members there. Afterwards, Rev. Inoue, his wife Haluna, and I ended up hanging out with their friend Yukari from Tokyo. We went to the Kinogawa riverside and the sunny blue sky was painfully beautiful, enough to almost make us forget about the pathos that was constantly in the background of our thoughts.

As Yukari kicked a soccer ball with Yotaro, the Inoue’s two-year old son, I walked along the river, alone with my thoughts. I made a decision: to go back to that completely impossible situation in my life in Japan once again and quietly continue to do that seemingly unappreciated work for the good.

Daisuke Yokoyama, someone who is a far better Christian than I, said this before. However, it needs to be repeated: “Maybe… just maybe. . . this is how the world will now change for the better.”

A small step forward.
But this is enough.
Onward!

2 Chronicles 7: 14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Director of Fukushima Nuclear Plant

Missionary friend told me today that the director of the Fukushima nuclear reactor plant is a Christian- his name is Naoyoshi Satoh. This is no coincidence that one of the most important men who can potentially help save northern Japan from long term destruction is a follower of our Lord Jesus- especially when you remember that Christians are less than 2% of the population here. Good opportunity to pray for someone who carries the terrible burden of finding a solution for this crisis.

Also very good news~! 90 tons of aid is headed for Japan courtesy of Samaritan's Purse. You can read more details here: http://www.crashjapan.com/index.php?limitstart=5&lang=en



As for me... Tuesday (tommorrow) I am headed back home to Grand Rapids, Michigan until April 2 for a much needed rest during Spring Break here. I usually have insomnia, but since the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear crisis I really have not been sleeping well at all. I need to refresh and recharge myself! I'll be leading a prayer meeting for the Japan situation while I'm back home. Still thinking of what to say.

I feel there is great hope for Japan, personally! Many people for many years have been praying for revival. We humans cannot understand the reasons why a horrible tragedy like these three hammer blows have hit the same nation three times in a row... however I am certain that Revival is coming into Japan and the Japan that will stand up from the ashes from this one will be wiser, stronger, and more compassionate towards the needs of others.

My prayer for you who may read this blog is that God shall bring you ever closer to Him, my friend.

Church near Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant

Fukushima First Bible Baptist Church is located just 5 km (3 miles) from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Church members evacuated the area and were provided shelter by sister churches further away. Below is a report from Pastor Akira Sato who pastors the church (thanks to Leon Hill, Greg & Asa Swenson, and Kazuko Hayashi for this report):


Refugee Life Report by Rev. Akira Satoh

I give thanks for your prayers. On March 15th at one in the morning, my wife and I, having joined a truck which was full of relief supplies, stopped at a local store, taking anything we could get our hands on from the shelves, buying it all and filling our trunk and back seat area; with these supplies we headed north straight for Fukushima. Though on the way we saw sink holes in the road and houses that had partially collapsed we moved smoother than we expected, yet we also heard via the media about another explosion at the nuclear power plant and the leakage of radioactivity and added to that we heard reports of the enlarging of the evacuation area, prohibitions regarding entering the evacuation area and the like, so though perplexed we chose the inland road. It took 10 hours, but finally we arrived safely in Aizu at the refuge shelter (a church) at 11o’clock in the morning. Hallelujah!

About one-third of the 60 church members came from near the nuclear power plant, the radioactivity contamination testing not yet done they then joined us in the afternoon. At that time when we immediately started with a worship service, I began to hear their sobbing voices and I realized just how much each had passed through upon arriving here. In the evening we went to a nearby hot springs and shared the joy of bathing for the first time in five days. We were deeply touched by the kindness of the Aizu Church. One by one, trembling with emotion, I saw them call out and embracing each other saying “Your alive!” and the flow of tears started flowing again.

And all that to realize, they have just started Gypsy like wanderings, no longer having a home, and I ask these who left with just the clothes on their backs, “Do you need to launder anything?” and when they answered “We have NOTHING to wash.” I could not find the words to respond to them. When I asked, I found that some of them have had nothing to drink or eat for 3 days; others had spent those days numb with cold. This drifting lifestyle has just started with the pressing need to secure gasoline and a place to stay. This large family of 60 people trying to live together, and making matters worse this is a nationwide emergency in which it is hard to make decisions, so we have decided to head north preparing to establish ourselves, anticipating a protracted situation. Perhaps as a result of exhaustion, there are those who have received I.V. in the hospitals, from the old to the babes as God’s people after the exodus, we will be traveling in the “wilderness”. Will we ever be able to return to that town? Will it become ruins? Will we be able to return in 2 or 3 months? When will we again be able to open our front doors to the church and our homes? All seems to be a drift, in the midst of feeling our way we unite our strength guided by the pillar of fire and cloud, no other option but to wander.

The day before we left, the police gave a special “disaster relief” certification for our car so we were able to get a full tank of gas. Tomorrow the Yonezawa Church will pay a great sacrifice by receiving us in their building. We give thanks for their compassion and sympathy, and we can do nothing but kindly accept this means of survival. It is just like living out a scene in a drama, I never thought I would have this kind of experience in my lifetime. O Lord, may you protect this flock which is precious in your eye, which has begun to wander scattered about in various places like the “Remnant” like a people left behind.

Psalm 121
1I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
3He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

Shining Light in Dark Clouds Above for JAPAN

Last night, I came home around midnight but full of wild uncontrollable joy. Missionaries and all of the on fire Christian people dedicated to REVIVAL in Japan had a big meeting here in Osaka. Pastor Kenichi Nakagawa, who is probably the most revered Christian leader in the nation here, told us that there has NEVER BEEN A TIME BEFORE IN HISTORY WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE WORLDWIDE PRAYED FOR JAPAN. Breakthrough in the dark clouds above!



Nakagawa-sensei led us in group prayer, 1) for calming of the nuclear situation 2) for those suffering from earthquake and tsunami to receive help and 3) the heart problems of all, especially kids (such as panic, shell shock, and depression). Then for one minute we had individual prayer. That was the most intense one minute of my life so far. I truly felt like the Holy Spirit was stirring in the room so strongly that my chest was dangit how do we say it in English? Well...it was like when you see the firewords and there is a big explosion and the sound waves move through your body and then your blood starts moving and then your heart too is affected and then it beats differently. Like that. ドーンときました。





Wow, so many people tell me that now hee hee. It was even kind of ironic/weird/funny how I ended up going to the meeting. Rev. Inoue invited me at first, made it sound really important and for some reason I said, nah I'm not go...ing. Then a missionary friend Kazuko (fellow Wycliffe flunkie ♥ ) said, "Eh, I'm going to this meeting or something Friday for Japanese missionaries and revival stuff..." and then I really really wanted to go.




I had work and arrived late, however just in time to hear the climax of the presentation (not the main speaker from Israel actually, it was Nakagawa-sensei's fairly brief conclusion comments) and most important final 30 minutes. That actually is a perfect mirror to how I ended up in Japan this time, isn't it? Rev. Inoue invited me to come to Japan as a missionary and teach at SG. But I said, nah, I'm not going. Then God changed my plans. So here I am. And I arrived one month before Japan faced some of the most challenging times in the recorded history of the nation... indeed the climax of Japan's unfolding story...

OSAKA... the next capital of Japan???

Spoke this evening to a missionary who is staying at a youth hostel in Osaka area (we are 500 kilometers south of Tokyo). She said now there are many foreigners from Tokyo staying there. They are waiting to see what the resolution of the nuclear situation will be before they decide to leave the country entirely or not.

Many of them are French nationals as I hear the French news has really been emphasizing the nuclear crisis. From other news reports, I understand that the range of problems afflicting the Tokyo region (blackouts, reduced trains and buses to conservere energy and gas) has also led companies, non-profit groups, and foreign embassies to shift their operations to Osaka.

I read the Austrian government relocated all of their staff to Osaka.

Well... so far I don't think anyone is saying this yet. . . but I will go ahead and state the obvious.

OSAKA COULD SOON BECOME THE NEXT CAPITAL CITY OF JAPAN IF THINGS DETERIORATE ANY FURTHER IN TOKYO.

In such a short amount of time... let's continue to pray that the genius engineers of Japan will soon find a way to prevent a total meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant and that the winds will blow the radiation out to sea where it can dissapate hopefully with as minimal effect as possible on living creatures and the Earth we all share. Dear God, please give the nation of Japan mercy at this time.

URGENT PRAYER UPDATE FOR JAPAN!!!

As we are all continuing to pray for Japan... in Fukushima, Japan there is a nuclear power plant (Fukushima Dai-ichi complex) only 170 miles away from the capital city of Tokyo which is close to meltdown as a result of the recent earthquake. Right now it is leaking radiation and there have been several explosions and fires. 50 workers (heroes, truly) have been working there to do what they can to control the damage of the situation. Today they were ordered to return home as the radiation levels had risen so high that it was deadly. However, radiation levels dropped enough for them to return to work. Still, they are risking their lives at this point to save others.

WE MUST PRAY for these nuclear plant workers. Lord, give them divine wisdom to prevent a tragedy! Protect them from radiation. Comfort their families. Provide a strong wind to take the radiation away from homes and towards the sea. Right now it seems the people living in the Tokyo region are panicking. Heavenly Father, ease their fears because if this grows feeling grows any further, people will be trampled as they seek to buy supplies.

PRAY ON, PRAYER WARRIORS~!!!

PRAYER UPDATE FROM JAPAN

Dear internet friendlies~!
Please forgive me for not updating here in a while. Yes, I am living in Japan where we had the earthquake. I am fine and further south in Osaka region, which is not affected by the events. However, I can hear the local news and I am seeking to marshal more prayer worldwide about situations here that definitely need prayer~!!! I have a couple of different blogs and forgot to update this one when I updated another one. Here is the information I posted about recent events so far, with more updates to come soon:

Saturday, March 12, 2011

I PROCLAIM A 3 DAY FAST TO PRAY FOR JAPAN
Japan was hit yesterday with the worst earthquake in its recorded history (8.9 on the Richter scale), which has resulted in about 1,300 people either dead or missing and many uncountable numbers of people are camped out somewhere, unable to return home.

I ASK FOR A THREE DAY WORLDWIDE TIME OF FASTING AND PRAYER for the national destiny of the land of Japan for everyone who is 1) Christian 2) somebody who prays and 3) somebody who cares! If these three things apply to you, then please join me in a three day fast (that means no food and extra time spent in prayer).

It is no accident that God sent me to Japan and I am here when a historical natural disaster occurs. When I woke up this morning, I thought of the Book of Esther, chapter 4, when Esther's Uncle Mordecai tells her, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

I am here for a purpose... right now to ask for prayer. This is a critical time... a tipping point in this nation's unfolding history.

If you are not sure what you should pray about, please see my previous post from yesterday.

Just one addition: Japan needs to develop a solution as soon as possible to the problem of the HIKKI KOMORI(ひきこもり or 引き籠もり 'people who suffer from extreme social withdrawal')- at this time, about 10% of the population of kids who should be in school are skipping all classes to stay at home for various reasons- often unfortunately due to the relentless bullying they experience from other students.

Personally, I think that if schools in Japan could grow philosophically to be more like a 'warm family unit' instead of mainly a place where students are encouraged to compete with others in a life or death type struggle to be the best in academic studies, then other students would naturally want to take care of and help their classmates who may fall behind (or be different than others).

What is currently missing from Japanese schools?

A sense of God's love!!!

I myself am also praying for an extra helping of blessings to all who are able to help in this current push to help Japan.

P.S. Xanga- I know it seems you guys don't really care to promote blogs which mention Bible verses and prayer, however could you for once promote this page just this once for the benefit of the people in this country here?

P.P.S. I am planning to give a more general post about my big move to Japan tommorrow. Sorry, postponing that again.


**FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2011**

PRAY PRAY PRAY~!!!
Hey y'all internet friendlies...

I have successfully moved from Michigan to Osaka, Japan and have worked for about a month here as a missionary teaching English in a Christian mission school. I plan to blog about this adventure in my life tommorrow.

FIRST THINGS FIRST THOUGH. Let's talk about others and not me. WE before ME.

Japan had a massive earthquake in northern regions today. So far about 40 people are dead, more missing.

Please pray for Japan! Pray for HEALING and COMFORT for those affected by this massive earthquake. Even people who are fine physically may be very concerned about loved ones in the affected regions and it is difficult to make phone calls now.

Pray that people who have suffered a loss will walk closer with the Lord as a result. There are many lonely people and very few people who know the Lord here. Japan has the highest rate of suicide among women in the world... second highest rate of suicide among men in the world as well. JESUS HAVE MERCY.

Please join me in praying for REVIVAL in Japan and RENAISSANCE at every school which was founded by Christians. We don't have many Christian teachers here so even in Christian schools very often the children do not experience God's love (makes my heart hurt)!!! Please pray that God will raise up more teachers among Christians here and also send more here from abroad! We need all of them we can get!!!

There are three important parts to the Revival in Japan which must happen: 1) each individual believer should be strengthened 2) church members need to get along better 3) the Japanese church needs a global vision. Through the Holy Spirit, I truly believe God is revealing that this a very crucial time for Japan's destiny as a nation: as the land endures an economic crisis and must also face a natural disaster, this is also a God-given opportunity for change. Will it be for the better or for the worse?

I pray that the precious people in Japan that God loves will rise to create a better Japan out of the ashes of this one. Japan- Remember KAIZEN. EXCELSIOR! FIGHTING!

Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

People around the world are praying for you my friends.

Even me, this little unimportant Ugly Duckling.

Deo volente~!!!

~Covenant for Leaders~

To all those near and far who I hope to help bring ever closer,

I am leaving Feb. 7th for Japan! Lots of preparation to do before then, though. On my way to Ann Arbor for the next three days to visit two churches that allowed me to give my testimony before. Also shall do ministry along the way. Somehow God always provides opportunities to do that wherever I go.

In my journal, I have lots of writing I would like to share through this blog soon. So I will probably make a lot of posts over the next few days before I leave.

Last Sunday, the Lord led me to Grace for the Nations church. The people in ministry leadership there had a special consecration service. The entire church has started out the New Year with a month of fasting. Isn’t that beautiful? I hear that Harvest Mission Community Church in Ann Arbor did the same thing. Now that is a wonderful way to start out the New Year. I feel the Lord is speaking to me about doing something special…

I felt so blessed. The pastor’s every word seemed to be designed specifically for me, as he spoke on change. He said we should be able to make 5 declarations: This is the acceptable year of the Lord- the year of all years. I’m going to be the best me I can be. I’m going to be the go ALL the way- I’m not half-stepping, or stopping along the way. I will receive my prophetic promise. I will never be the same again!

I would like to share the ‘Oath of Covenant’ that was read by the ministry leaders there as they were anointed, blessed, and prayed to have an unwavering focus on the mission of the church for this upcoming year. I altered the words slightly. For Christian leaders everywhere, it covers very important basic points that we should seek to honor as we ever seek to be closer to the light of the Lord.

Oath of Covenant

I say yes to sharing a common faith in the Scriptures of the Holy Bible and strive to live a life reflective of a solid commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my life.

I say yes to maintaining a healthy balance between ministry service, leadership duties, and personal & family life.

I say yes to exhibiting and practicing professionalism in all matters relating to the ministry and business affairs of the church and it’s initiatives, projects, programs, and interests.

I say yes to practicing confidentiality in relationship to all business, financial and personal data associated with the affairs of the ministry (with the exception of information that could be significant in preventing danger to any individual or the ministry).

I say yes to submitting to the leading influence of the Holy Spirit and seek wise counsel before making major decisions while functioning as part of the leadership team.

I say yes to serving under the spiritual authority established in this house and hear to the directives and spiritual assignments given throughout the prescribed time of my role.

I say yes to serving in this appointed role as a delegated leader to the best of my ability utilitzing my unique gifts and talents to further the mission and vision of the church with all humility, character, and honor.

These words I will keep by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus being my guide, so help me God.

Devotional Series 1 (of 3)

days after hailstorm
ice crystals sparkle in snow
heavenly bling bling

In Ghana before colonialization, I hear gold was so naturally plentiful that when it rained, people would just pick up gold that appeared from the mud. In the same way, riches from heaven are free and available to everyone. If we don’t have it, that is our own fault. It must be because we are not willing to give up on our pride, submit to God, and accept the marvelous riches of salvation.

How different this is from the riches of the world, which causes those who receive them to usually grow increasingly more selfish and paranoid out of the fear that someone will try to rob them of their riches (and power). And those who are the superstars of this world identify themselves so strongly with the money and power they hold in their tight grasp that they cannot imagine how they could survive if they were ever stripped naked of it.

Those of us who are believers (I mean those who choose to put their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins) have freely enjoyed the endless generosity of God. His hands are always open to His children. He is always waiting to hear our next chat. When we ask for that which is truly good, his answer is forever yes although we may have to wait to receive His gifts.

Our Heavenly Father loves us crazily, madly, deeply. We must be generous, in Jesus’ name! How can we help it? We should probably seek to give so much that an angel has to be sent from heaven to smack us to get us to stop… heh heh.

My Father- our Father- please help all of your children to be more generous. Speaking for myself, I know that I have fallen from the mark many times in this area. Forgive me, forgive us. Help us to think of Your sacrifice for us who did not did not deserve it.

Acts 20:35:
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Called Back; Rick the Rocker; Bob the Hero; Three Poems for Everybody~!!!

CALLED BACK

Hey internet friends,

I was recently offered a position at a certain Christian school in Japan. I prayed about it for a long time. I talked to a lot of people about this as well. I’m sure the position would be very challenging. During the past two years when I have been trying to raise the funds to go overseas to West Africa to do missionary work, I have been made more aware than ever of my own weak points and where I need to grow as a leader and Christ follower. Also, my grandmother, Margaret Eaton, is right now in hospice and I am really concerned for her health. I considered saying no.

However, I also thought about the children of Japan. During the three years that I spent teaching English in a certain rural city in Mie Prefecture that I love very dearly, I taught literally thousands of children, some adults, and experienced nearly every sort of teaching environment you can imagine. I remain very compassionate towards the problems that young people face there. Some of them are shared by their counterparts here in America, some are not.

Well, I would like to do what I can to help them. I decided that despite my fears I shall accept this completely unexpected opportunity the Lord has brought into my life. I will do my best to walk the path which leads through this open door before me to return to Japan to serve the young people of the school and the wider community there at large as well as I can and as long as I can with all of the skills and talents that have been given to me by the Lord.

I made this decision sometime after church on Sunday afternoon. On that day I did not tell anyone of my decision. To my surprise, on that very same day I received an email from a teacher in that teeny-tiny rural Japanese town that feels like a second hometown to me. He saw a very spectacular rainbow on that same day and he really wanted to share this photo with me over email. Truly, all of this was more than mere coincidence. I felt like the Lord was giving me a pat on the shoulder and saying, “At least you made the first step.”

I am not sure if the school will really actually accept me for the position or anything like that. However, at least this decision is one very important way to move forward. I feel like the Lord has called me back to Japan for a while. How long? I don’t know. I love Japan and even though it is really odd for an African-American girl like me to be saying this, I’m sure that in the future as well no matter what happens Japan will be a part of my destiny.

RICK THE ROCKER

At the thrift store where I work right now, I have a wonderful opportunity to touch the lives of many people- our customers and also the volunteers. It’s definitely ministry. It’s also true that yesterday was one of the most frustrating days that I have ever spent working there. EEK~!!!

I’m so thankful that the Lord in his wisdom recognized that I needed to have a day off. Today I am off work, and so I am able to reflect a little about the positive benefits of working there.

Many of the customers at the store are either recovering alcoholics, drug addicts, borderline homeless, or have some sort of cognitive disability. There are a few people who also regularly visit our store in search of deals, however. Brother Rick is one of our neighbors who has a disability. He has a big, booming voice, likes rock and roll, wears suspenders and has a belly like Santa Claus.

When I first came to the store, Brother Rick seemed to me to be lonely. He could easily come and speak to me for an hour or more, just chatting. Well, we are short of volunteers right now, so after a few visits from him I decided to put him to work. I recognized that he seemed to have some sort of disability and didn’t know how much he could really do, so I had him first just help me clean up a table by just picking up pins and placing them in a plastic bowl.

I watched him closely. He seemed to do a good job with that, so I then asked him to hang donated clothes on hangers so they could be priced. Then he graduated to arranging books. The children’s book section looked like a whirlwind had thrown everything off the shelf one day, so I asked him to put the children’s books on the shelf and he made that whole section of the store look as perfect as a magazine picture.

Not thinking anything of it all, I mentioned all of this to one of the longtime volunteers. She couldn’t believe it. “Rick has been coming to this store for years, and we have NEVER asked him to volunteer! He talks so much, it’s annoying. Usually we listen until we get fed up, and then we tell him he needs to go home after about an hour of that or so. Can’t get any work done when he’s here.”

“Really?” I said. “One of my brothers is special needs, and I guess I didn’t think anything of asking him to help. I know my brother can do volunteer work or a job, he just needs someone to be patient with him, somebody who knows how much he can do and who won’t ask for him to do more than he can. I just assumed everything would be the same with Rick. So far… everything that I’ve asked him to do, he’s done well. I’m really glad that he was willing to help. We’re short of help and we really needed it, anyways.”

To my surprise, Brother Rick’s caseworker came by one day to shake my hand. “Thank you so much for letting him do some volunteer work around here. It helps him to get out of the house. He needs the exercise. And it really gives him a sense of purpose and lets him feel that he is doing something that matters.”

“Well, whenever he stops by, we always appreciate it,” I said with a smile.
Recently I also gave Brother Rick some of my poems to give as kind of a present to his caseworker. “Aw, what do you want to do that for?” he said. “Well, sometimes it’s nice to give a present to somebody who is doing something nice for you. I’m sure sometimes her job isn’t easy.” He looked at me very intensely, and then nodded. I hope that he will try to understand her when she tries to give him advice and listen to her more.

Brother Rick has brought his sick mother to the store two times now, insisting that she had to meet me. He keeps stopping by on a day when I am not at the store though. I told him we’ll have to plan on a day when I can meet her because I want to meet her, too. He also made me promise that after I leave the store and start working somewhere else I will call him up sometimes because he will miss me.

Well, who could have predicted beforehand that just by asking for him to do volunteer work that I could make such an impact in his life? Certainly not I.
I think we all should do a little more to help one of our neighbors… whoever they are, wherever we may find them.

BOB THE HERO

Last Saturday was another crazy day around the thrift store. It started out actually with some poor soul being beaten up outside the store around 10 AM. The high school-aged group of young punks left the older gentleman laying in the middle of the road. He was passed out.

A car with a man and a woman stopped by the man in the middle of the road. The woman got out and looked at the older man laying in the street. Then they drove off.
Thankfully, Bob was walking by when this happened. I hear he considers himself kind of like a policeman and he always tries to watch what’s going on in the street to make sure everyone is OK. I’m so grateful that God made him this way. He could very well have saved this older gentleman’s life.

Bob ran into the street. When he noticed the older gentleman was passed out, he got a lady he met on the street to call an ambulance. While he was doing that, the group of young thugs began to return… probably to try and rob the poor older guy.

Bob shouted at them. He scared them enough that they ran off, and didn’t come back.

The ambulance came and took the older gentleman to the hospital.

I talked to Bob a little while after this happened, when I opened the store around an hour later.

You know what? I think Bob is a superhero. He just doesn’t have a cape and magic or mutant powers. You might not think he looks like a superhero on TV either, because he actually looks a lot more like an ordinary person like you and me.

It is true as the proverb from our ancient ancestors says…”Whoever saves the life of one person saves the world entire.” I wish I could reward Bob for his good deed but I really don’t think I have anything whatsoever that I can do for him myself. We need more people like Bob in this world. Let’s pray that God will reward Bob and also other people who are like him- He always does.

Thank you very much Bob.

WE THREE POEMS

At my writing group recently, I printed out a list of most of the poems I wrote in 2010. I guess a few of the more popular ones I’m going to try to get published by this bilingual haiku magazine in Japan. Ooh, I’m nervous y’all. Seems like almost all my efforts to get published before have ended in failure so far. What makes me think I could be a writer, anyways? Might this day really be different than any of the ones that came before? I don’t know. Maybe I was born this way- crazy!

I selected three poems of the ones that I’ve written this year to share with you. They are all on the theme ‘Helping Others.’ I have plenty of pretty nature imagery poems that I could share and like but I hope these poems in particular can help you when you face some tough things in your life.


to be an artist
make your life a masterpiece
touch one soul each day


This is the third poem of three that I wrote partly about ArtPrize, the world’s most lucrative art contest which held here in Michigan. I also wrote it for a friend too, though. I have a friend, Mr. S who was attending art school, but had to drop out for financial reasons. He was considering giving up his dream of becoming an artist entirely, actually. Perhaps still is. I really felt bad for him and wanted to do something to encourage him. So kind of as a pre-birthday present I wrote this poem for him.

Actually, he didn’t like it. He said it wasn’t a poem at all,” just a weird mix of preaching and lecturing.” All right, maybe that is entirely true. And on top of that, maybe it’s not very good at all either. But for some reason I like it. During ArtPrize there is so much emphasis on voting and money prizes for art that I wish there was more of an emphasis on how art can impact someone’s life and also the wider community. So this is my little contribution to that issue, I suppose. My voice is small, totally not cute, and easily ignored, but I hope somebody somewhere somewhen will listen to it.


broken heart syndrome
reconstructive surgery
begins with prayer


I wrote this one the day after I explained to a lot of people that I know in the English Department of Calvin College that oh, I totally failed to raise the financial support necessary to go to West Africa to do mission work there. Yes, the past two years of my life has really been toughness beyond words. Still, great is the faithfulness of God my father… our father. I emerge from these two years of much pain with more passion and understanding of the need of prayer.

With God’s help, I prayed for like 600 people by name this morning. That’s nothing, easy peasy. You can do it too. If you pray for countries as well you can easily pray for over a million people too. Why not take an hour away from whatever else you had planned to do this weekend to get down on your knees to pray for somebody else?


poem in pocket
go somewhere new & get lost
go before snow falls


Sister Mary, one of the volunteers at the store, came to work with me one day wearing a shirt that inspired the second verse. She calls herself an ‘earth mother, poetry sister.’ Heh heh. Funny, there are many people I know that could fit that description…

I guess I should apologize for sharing this poem so late in the year, when it’s already snowing and you can’t really take the advice of the poem here, can you? Sorry! What happened is that this poem sat for a long time in my journal without any final verse. However, in the thrift store I recently noticed the title of a book by Charles Swindoll called “Come before Winter,” and I then got inspired. However, only this morning could I finally revise the poem enough where I felt satisfied with the result. Whew~ these poems are short but they do take a lot of work.

Right now we are in the season of Advent. This busy season before Christmas can truly be distracting us from the real reason for the season if we are focused on buying gifts and decorating our home and Christmas tree. Let’s all take a moment and JUST STOP~! It’s time to breathe and relax and close our eyes and remember that we are celebrating Jesus and all this other stuff is secondary. While you have your eyes closed, it would be the perfect time and you are in the right spirit to say a prayer- for yourself and how about for someone else as well?

Did you notice a theme here? Hee hee.

In sum, let’s all pray more. Merry Christmas~! My next two posts will be two heartwarming true stories, methinks…

**~Depressed? Little Ducklings' Top Ten Cheerful Songs~** VERY SHINee~! Mostly Godly.

**~Depressed? Little Ducklings' Top Ten Cheerful Songs~** VERY SHINee~! Mostly Godly.

My plans for the past two years to do ministry work in West Africa have not worked out. . . God shut the door, just like He did when Noah entered the ark. There is instead now an open door to go to Japan to teach English in a Christian school. So I'm praying about that. It's a wonderful opportunity. Still... I feel like an idiot for pursuing something for two years that seems to have blown up in my face and been a complete failure.

Sounds like the perfect time to turn to some cheerful songs, ey?

Recently (almost against my will) I have been writing a lot of poetry. It's really amazing when you realize there was only three books of poetry that I really read over and over in elementary school- 1) Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear (one summer I think I re-read it every two weeks) 2) Final Harvest by Emily Dickinson (no, I didn't understand any of the poems, but I liked the music of her language, also her plainness/simplicity, and quiet,still, almost Holy-Spirit-like voice... guess I was destined to attend Amherst College) 3) Black Poets edited by Dudley Randall (local poet David Cope gave me this book when I was in sixth grade and I treasured it because it seemed like for the first time I realized that African-American folk write poetry too sigh). Somewhere in there, I read “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein and kind of liked it too, on the basis of recommendation from Mr. Joshua Wells, one of my favorite teachers who also influenced me later in life to become a vegetarian.

I think what really forced me to become interested in poems was all the millions of songs I was exposed to growing up, really. My mom is a singer, and my dad is a hobbyist musician. A lot of all their natural talents passed me by... I can't sing much, and can't play an instrument either. However, I've always been fascinated by song lyrics. There are pages and pages I wrote out in elementary school, copying down song lyrics that I enjoyed and tried to memorize... while I was in Japan, one of my hobbies was also to translate some songs I enjoyed into English, not very easy I know, but it helped me to improve my Japanese skills...

Anyways, here are some of the songs that have helped to cheer me up, hope they can help someone else, too~!!!

1) Josh Groban- “You Are Loved [Don't Give Up].” In regards to lyrics, sometimes simplest is best. Wait a minute, don't I write haiku? Yes, the briefest, most condensed message can have an intensity longer works don't have.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGLSk3AVcUU

2) Chosen- “No More Pain.” Intense South African Harmonies, man. What could be calmer? And why my goodness isn't this group more widely known?!?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyFjNORODLM

3) BeBe & CeCe Winans- “Heaven.” Ah, the dearly beloved classic. I just found out today there was actually a music video for this song, too~! Happiness~!!! I wish more contemporary gospel artists would develop more calm songs instead of focusing on party hype-type praise songs with a booming baseline...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2x_sPRnRVE

4) The Winans “Count it All Joy.” Nearly forgot about this among the so many other stellar songs of the Winans, but I'm so thankful for my mother because she played this song today and reminded me of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6f47WfJtCA

5) Matt & Sherry McPherson- “Carry Me.” I plan on buying their whole CD after hearing this one song, no kidding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXjT8Jz3Fqk

6) Selah- “Unredeemed.” Now this is a poetic prayer song. Very deep. Yeah~!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhOSspNj84w

7) Wayne Watson- “Friend of a Wounded Heart.” The classic. Lyrics have a lot more deep meaning than many songs nowadays. I love the version Damaris Carbaugh sings but couldn't find it online, sorry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgq-GPRKVkg

8) Byron Cage- "I will Bless the Lord." Sneaky song. Even if you don't feel like it, he will make you sing along with him by the end of the song. And you'll be praising the Lord fer reals. Yea~!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR1UzUhPknc

9) Damita- “No Looking Back.” It is just crazy amazing how well she and her husband can sing, yo...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IhNqocWrxk&feature=related

10) Hillsong- “Mighty to Save.” At a certain time in my life this very much spoke to me. It will always be on this list for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-08YZF87OBQ

11) DeWayne Woods- "Let Go."This is one of those songs I heard just the last five seconds of, and then I had to search and search and listen to the radio like mad until I could finally find out WHO was that and what was the song title. Heh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76o4xhxIKfs&NR=1&feature=fvwp

12) Deitrick Haddon- “He's Able.” I like the way he sings so confidently and matter-of-fact. That's faith.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GVZeRIaAhI

13) Seabird- “Don't You Know You're Beautiful.” I was visiting a Detroit church and staying at the pastor's house. This song came on the Christian station. It really spoke to me at the time, when I was having a string of disappointments...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsaMplgr3c4

14) Nicol Sponberg- “Resurrection.” Together with one of the little girls that I mentor in the neighborhood, I saw a dance to this song which was so touching and inspiring, which was performed in my hometown for our Festival of the Arts downtown by special needs kids. Never forget that, a memory precious in my life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t8Sk6cZ-PA

15) Erykah Badu- “Didn't Cha Know.” Not Christian... but a mesmerizing beat with a meaningful message. Everybody's felt that way sometimes... like we were born to make mistakes. But God will guide us to the right path if we trust Him...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np21rH7Ldto

16) Coldplay- “Fix You.” For the awards ceremony of ArtPrize 2010, there was a dance company out of Texas that created an lavish production to this song with costumes. It was about the frustrations and joys of one day in the life of an artist. The gentleman was at an easel, trying to pain, while there was a forest of plants behind him, inspiring him and encouraging him although he at times felt unable to express what he really wanted to. I had never heard this song before. It brought tears to my eyes for some reason, even though I felt like I didn't really understand what the song was about at first.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skUJ-B6oVDQ

Guess I can't count. Somehow I ended up with six extra songs there. Oh yeah, and this list would not be from Little Duckling without some Japanese songs thrown in:

Kyu Sakamoto- 'Sukiyaki Song' Ue wo muite Arukou This translation is maybe not so good, but at least you can kind of understand the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U2nBre-JEU&feature=related

The BOOM- “Shima Uta” There is a lot of pain and the ups and downs of life inside this song. The first time I heard it, I didn't understand a word but was nearly instantly driven to tears.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ggJquImms

Kariyushi 58-“The End, the Beginning” “Owari, Hajimari”
Thanks to my friend Yui, just found out about this Okinawa group. Like her, I really like groups from Okinawa for some reason. Sorry no English translation I could find yet...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOh6Sy7dXTo

Next post... planning to share three recent poems. Now let's see, which ones are good...

Update on the Missionary in a Thrift Store

At my volunteer work in a thrift store on the other end of town (whose proceeds go to fund care of orphans in Uganda as well as for a farm and clinic there), I have a lot of ministry opportunities and things that happen which make me consider my own walk with the Lord.

Last week Thursday, we had a lady come in who was in the store for nearly an hour but who was nearly ready to leave without finding anything. “Can I help you, ma'am?” I asked.

Her shoulders drooped as she spoke with me. “I really like hippos, you know. I collect them. I go to different thrift stores all the time to see if they have a T-shirt or any little figurines or anything with hippos on them. Guess I didn't find anything today.”

I was really shocked to hear that. Secretly, I thought there was no way that we might ever something with hippos in the store for a long while... we sell what people donate to us, and for the nearly month and a half or so that I had been in the store, I could not recall anything like that. “Um, as far as I know, we don't have anything in the store like that. But you could leave your name and number, and we'll call you when we do. Sorry, I just have no way of knowing when we will... it's not that common that people will donate something like that.”

Well, that's okay, I won't leave my name and number,” said the lady. “I live nearby here and come by here fairly often. I'll visit again looking for the same thing.”

I shook my head after she left, thinking that there was no way that we would have what she wanted.

The very next day however, someone donated a hippo! It was really unbelievable. It was this gigantic hippo someone bought in Kenya for decoration that is kind of painted weird colors like orange, yellow and red. It hangs on the wall with kitchen wooden spoons and a spatula hanging beneath. Each of the utensils also has a hippo at the top. Pretty cool- straight from Africa and exactly what this lady wanted!

This reminds me so much of how the Bible says that we should Ask, Seek, and Knock. We should not feel afraid to ask the Lord anything. If the Lord can the very next day give this hippo lady what she is searching for... such a minor, little thing that I don't think that she may have even bothered to pray for... then he will so much more hear and answer our own requests. Sometimes, we think the Lord may not be answering our requests, but his answer may in fact be “WAIT.”

Well, after two years of seeking to raise the financial support and having missed two deadlines set for me now by my missionary organization to raise 100% of the financial funds, it seems certain the Lord has something else in store for my future other than going to West Africa with this organization. We will find out more details about this situation in November.

Really, as Christians we are all called to be missionaries wherever we are now. Wherever you are now, God has put you there for a purpose. And wherever you are, you are to tell others about Jesus, to teach and make disciples of all as we are told in Matthew 28, where Jesus gives the Great Commission.

I know that the Lord is using me in surprising ways right here in the United States. On Tuesday of this week, I went over a friend's home for Fujinkai (Japanese Women's Bible Study). There I spoke to my friend's daughter Yoko, who has an incurable disease and spends much of her days on the couch or in the bed. I told Yoko she reminds me of the poet Emily Dickinson! She is quite smart and whenever I see her she is always so unbelievably cheerful (okay, maybe the poet Emily was not so cheerful heh heh). I enjoy speaking to her so much! Perhaps also I can bring her some sunshine (encouragement). When I saw her on in September during our Fujinkai (Japanese Women's Bible Study meeting), I told her that she should think about doing something with her free time and perhaps consider writing stories- perhaps for kids. It is something simple that she can easily do whenever she feels well and it will be a wonderful way to bring joy to the lives of others.

Yoko took a class in creative writing before, but she had not really considered that she could try to write stories outside of class. As soon as she heard what I had to say, she seemed really excited and sat up like someone had struck her by lightning. She asked many questions with great vigor, sitting up straight and speaking in a strong voice with her most radiant sunshiny smile. For a few moments she completely forgot her own illness and pain and looked like any other healthy person you might see on the street! Some of her questions were,“How do you write? Where do you get your ideas? Do you really think I could tell a story other people would be interested in?”

It was moving to be able to sit down and speak with her about writing and stories and boo, the word arts that have meant so much to me in my own life, comforting me much despite some very damaging abuse and difficult times that I experienced early in my life. When I left her home, I couldn't help wondering... if I was not in her life, who else would have shared this with her? I'm not sure. Who knows? Perhaps it was for such a time as this- precisely to encourage Yoko- that God has made me a part of that Fujinkai group from the beginning. Although Yoko is limited with her physical capabilities, she is such a precious person to me and I hope that we can find some ways (such as through her writing stories) that many other people in this world can appreciate her beautiful spirit.

There are other people too who God has placed into my life right now in Grand Rapids, using me to bless them in some surprising ways. I would like to speak about them too here in this blog, but since this post is long enough already I will save that for another time. For now, He is keeping me here to do more good work right here in my hometown. One person can make a world of difference.

DELAYED BUT NOT DENIED.

On a side note, this is a very challenging time in my life as my paternal grandmother Margaret is in and out of the hospital. We don't know how long she has to live, actually. Especially this is taking a big toll on my father, who is not a strong Christian and who does not really pray and leave things in the hands of the Lord. If you can pray for her health and his depression that would be good.

I'd like to close with this Scripture reading from the King James version of 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”

NIV version: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Same passage (plus a little more afterwards) from the Message version of the Bible: “We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us in trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in our lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!”