Rambling Notes from Japan
Here are some blog posts that we hope will make you feel a part of things, and help you understand how to pray better for us and Japan. Please see our external blog in Blogger, if this page does not display correctly.
Seasons of a Church Planter
June 9, 2014 11:01
| Church, Church Planting
| Permalink
The cherry blossoms are long gone. Scorching temperatures came in May. And now June begins the rainy season in Japan. Rain poncho and umbrella sales are booming. Seasons change. Even in the life of a church planter.
Although there's still much finishing work to do at Denen Grace Chapel, we've started to look toward to our next church planting work in the area. It won't be
The Forgotten Trawler
May 28, 2014 09:24
| Church, Church Planting, Evangelism
| Permalink
We're vision casting for more church planting out of Denen Grace Chapel. Here's a bulletin insert I wrote:
Imagine you’re aboard a cruise ship. Together with friends, you’re enjoying a time of refreshment and inspiration. You’ve settled into a comfortable cabin. The boat is full of life and activities. You’ve even been asked to help out with things. Food and laughter fill the air. You’ve
"Think Destination" Corner
March 5, 2014 08:21
| Culture Shock, Japan, Re-entry
| Permalink
Our 6 months in the States is coming to an end. Re-entry is tough. But it always helps with the transition to remember what good things are waiting on the other side of the world, in Japan. Here's my top 10+ favorite things in Japan.
10 Punctual Public transportationWe set our watch to trains that take us comfortably (well, mostly) and quickly anywhere in Tokyo.9 Amusing etiquette
Christmas is all about KFC
December 24, 2013 04:22
| Christmas, Culture, Devotional
| Permalink
Japan spells Christmas with three "finger-lickin' good" letters: K-F-C. Move over sushi and wasabi, fried chicken is the main course on Tokyo tables at Christmastime.
The roots of this craze go back four decades. On a Christmas day in the early 1970's, foreigners in Japan flooded the newly-opened KFCs, gobbling up the colonel's best recipe. It was a poor substitute for the visions of golden-brown
Why I Was Born
So that you would know how to be stripped of yourself.
I was born poor,
so that you would consider me your only treasure.
I was born in a stable
So that you would learn how to sanctify every environment.
I was born weak, Jesus says
So that you would have no fear of me.
I was born for love
So that you would never doubt my love.
I was born in the night
So that you may believe that I am able to enlighten every reality.
I was born a human, Jesus says,
So that you would never be embarrassed to be yourself.
I was born human
So that you would be able to be divine.
I was born persecuted
So that you would be able to accept difficulties.
I was born in simplicity
so that you would stop being complicated.
I was born in your life, Jesus says,
In order to bring all into my Father’s house!
- written by Lambert Noben
Things I Didn't Know to be Thankful for
November 28, 2013 11:52
| Culture Shock, Thanksgiving
| Permalink
Living in a different country and missing something for awhile makes one thankful for little things. Things I didn't know to be thankful for until leaving for Japan. Here's a few things -- in no particular rank or order -- that come to mind since we've returned to the States. These are just trivial sacrifices we gladly (usually) do without to serve God in Japan. They pale in comparison to what other missionaries gave up for the kingdom of God in history past.
But here they are. You won't find these in Japan. So, I'm thankful for:
* Room to get out of either side of the car.
* The cereal aisle in any grocery store.
* Christian radio. Christian Literature.
* Abundant parking.
* Church steeples all around.
* A western breakfast with pancakes and eggs.
* Corporate worship in English.
* Coupons. Sales. Easy Returns.
* Cheap electricity. Cheap gas.
* Instruction manuals in English.
* The cereal aisle in any grocery store.
* Christian radio. Christian Literature.
* Abundant parking.
* Church steeples all around.
* A western breakfast with pancakes and eggs.
* Corporate worship in English.
* Coupons. Sales. Easy Returns.
* Cheap electricity. Cheap gas.
* Instruction manuals in English.
Volunteering Once More in Miyako
September 14, 2013 11:24
| Activities, Earthquake, Tsunami
| Permalink
Clear blue ocean water laps gently ashore. Sun glints off gorgeous white rock formations and cliffs that enclose the bay. Sightseers laugh aboard the many boats exploring caves and shoreline. This scenic sanctuary is panoramic eye candy. You can easily see why it is the pride of Miyako. In spite of its remote location, the beach attracts many people to an area that is otherwise just another set of fishing towns along the Iwate coastline.
Give Me this Mountain
August 8, 2013 11:56
| Activities, Hope, Missions
| Permalink
I’m taking another step
upward, steep and obscure though the path may be.
If I knew how hard it would be
back when we started out, I might never have tried at all! Whether church
planting in Japan, or mountain climbing in her Southern Alps, you have to be
just a little stubborn or crazy to attempt either. An overnight hike last
week with Justen was sort of a condensed metaphor for 15 years of work here:
hard, tiring, unsure at times, but glorious! What kept us moving up
Mount Kita is what keeps us moving forward in missions: envisioning that glorious destination.
Our father-son hike last year
was Mount Fuji. This year we decided to conquer Japan’s number two, all 11,000
feet of her. Given my level of fitness and expertise, I use the term “conquer”
very loosely. The truth is that Mt. Kita put us through some major pain. But
what glorious suffering it turned out to be!
At times it seemed that
everything around was encouraging our upward steps. Tree roots and stones
arranged themselves into natural staircases. Branches reached down to form
handrails. Stumps offered places to rest. A cool stream with waterfalls
acted as an air conditioner. And breathtaking vistas around every bend coaxed
the “wow” right out of us.
At other times (okay, the
majority of the time), we wondered if we’d make it. We doubted we might. We had
missed our bus to the trailhead and gotten a late start. Our equipment was
amateur grade at best. Our physical fitness was questionable (okay, just mine).
Wet rocks sent us skidding and slipping. Light drizzle sent us scrambling for
raingear. And then a cloudburst sent the temperatures down. We still had hours
to go and less and less daylight to fit it all in. Would we get lost, frozen,
dehydrated, attacked by animals? Why were there no more fellow hikers around?
Was this still the right path to follow? One begins to wonder.
What was particularly
discouraging, however, was that a view of our destination was shrouded by
mist and fog. Somewhere up in those clouds was the top. And on the top was a
mountain hut with our name in their reservation book. But where? How much
higher? We hadn’t seen a signpost in ages, and the relentlessly steep
path offered no clue as to how much further it might go on. We trudge
along, bone weary, wet and sore.
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We serve with WorldVenture, an evangelical faith mission. Our sending/home church is Cornerstone Church of Lansing, Illinois.