"I’ve learned to see myself as God sees me."

“I’m very open about saying I don’t have it all figured out. I don’t necessarily feel I’ve hit a marathon completely right yet. But I don’t think that’s a reflection of some character flaw. I’ve learned to see myself as God sees me. We believe God sees us as perfect, almost as if we have a Jesus suit on, because he died for us and took away our sins. If that’s how the creator of the universe sees me, that’s a very honoring thing. It builds your confidence. It makes you see yourself in a very good light. I don’t have a lot of issues with my identity.” Ryan Hall

Read more: Faith Is Central to Marathoner Ryan Hall’s Approach - NYTimes.com

Father's School

July 14th and 16, Father's School was held at Azumino Family Chapel.

About 30 men gathered. Above our small group emphasized 'enjoying God, family, church and work.'

Elder Kim from Korea spoke on the family. As men we are first husbands, then fathers.

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 

that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.... Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 5:26, 6:4

Max Lucado: going overboard on grace

But in some of your earlier experiences of church, you said, you heard more law than gospel.

My first encounters with faith came about the time I was a Boy Scout, at about 14 or 15. I made the logical deduction that they operate the same way; I treated my faith like earning a merit badge, and everything about Christianity was about earning merit badges.

That's a common mistake. I think that's the reason Paul wrote the book of Galatians. There are merit badge earners in the church where I pastor. There's some of that still in me. It's a constant battle to say, You know what? I will never add one iota to the finished work of Christ on the cross. My best work will not make me more saved than I was. But we default to legalism. It makes such sense to us.

So, as a kid, I thought, Okay. I'll do my part and God will do his part, and we'll all be happy. Then I found out, number one, I don't have a rule book; number two, the rules I do see I can't even keep. I remember as a kid the preacher saying that if you even look at a woman with adultery in your heart, it's a sin. I remember thinking, How in the world am I never going to look at a woman with adultery in my heart? That's the weight that comes on the legalist, and it was starting to suffocate me even as a kid. It suffocates people still.

Read more: Max Lucado Goes Overboard on Grace | Christianity Today

"Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Galatians 3:2,3 

"I have calmed and quieted my soul"

While we were in Karuizawa a few weeks ago, I took a 5 minute walked over to the Anglican church, read my Bible and prayed. I needed a quiet time with the Lord. Anglican missionary A.C. Shaw (right side of pict) 'discovered' Karuizawa. Missionaries would relax in the hot summers. It later became summer resort for the rich and famous. Bill Gates now is building a cottage there with a helipad.

A Song of Ascents. Of David. 

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; 

my eyes are not raised too high; 

I do not occupy myself with things too great 

and too marvelous for me. 

But I have calmed and quieted my soul, 

like a weaned child with its mother;

 like a weaned child is my soul within me. 

O Israel, hope in the LORD

 from this time forth and forevermore. 

Psalm 131:3

Islam is like a rope ladder....

'Twelve years ago, Trinity Parish in Leipzig [Germany], a tiny congregation of the Independent Lutheran Church, began teaching German as a second language to [Iranian] asylum seekers awaiting government approval of their refugee status.... Trinity used Luther's Bible translation as a textbook.... Intrigued by what they read, several exiles asked to be baptized. They brought along friends who also wished to learn the basics of the Christian faith. "Today, one third of our 150 members are Persians," says Markus Fischer, Trinity's pastor.'

Read The Other Iranian Revolution | Christianity Today

Referring to Iran, "Every day 17 million of its 79 million people listen to programs via Christian satellite radio and television from abroad."

Here's more from the article. "We know that faithful ministers of the state-related churches also baptize ex-Muslims, but we are left in the dark about the numbers.... We are aware of faithful Catholic priests doing likewise." 

"Islam is like a rope ladder on which people try to reach God. They manage to climb a few rungs, but with each sin, fall off the ladder and must start all over again. Christians, by contrast, need no ladder because Jesus comes down to earth for them. Christians have salvation. Muslims don't."

"As to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ." The Apostle Paul, Philippians 3:7 

missionary cemetery, Karuizawa

When were in Karuizawa the other day, we stayed in a cabin near some graves of missionaries.

 We were in Kagawa (Takase) for 7 years, but Mr. Cox was the one who called us to Kagawa. It was because of his vision that many churches were started around the Japanese Inland Sea.

And near his grave was Mr. McAlpine's grave. When my brother Dan was born, Jon and I stayed at the McAlpine's for a week or so. I was just 5 years old.


Other graves were Mr. Seely's, Mr. Lautz's, Mr. Tygert's, Mrs. Shade's and Mr. McVety's. I desire to serve God and others like these servants.


They must feel like this. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21 

Grace....

"Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected." Jonathan Edwards

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." Revelation 22:21,  last verse of the Bible

Karuizawa

July 11-12, up in Karuizawa* with Jon's & Pastor Koiwai's families, we were able to relax a little.

2 nights in this cabin.

*Karuizawa is a major resort town in Japan. I've met the then crowned prince and his wife (now the emperor) a couple of times and also John Lennon. This resort was 'discovered' by an Anglican missionary (Shaw).

“Lord, this is a good thing, yet why have I made it so absolute?” Tim Keller

“Lord, this is a good thing, yet why have I made it so absolute? What is this compared to you? If I have you, I don’t have to have this. This cannot love me and help me as you do. This is not my life- Jesus is my life. This is not my righteousness and worthiness. It cannot give me that- but you can and have!” 

“Lord, why am I giving this so much power over me? If I keep doing it, it will strangle me. I don’t have to do so- I will not do so any longer. This will not be my master. You are my only King.” 

“Lord, I see how repulsive idolizing this mere idol really is. In yearning after this, I was trampling on your love for me. I realize now my lack of thankfulness, my lack of grateful joy for what you have done for me.” 

“Lord, only in your presence are fullness of joy and pleasures forever more (Ps. 16:11), yet here am I trying to find comfort in something else. This thing I am tempted by is just pleasure that will wear off so soon, while your pleasure, though it may start small, will grow on and on forever (Prov. 4:18). Please remove my idol of pleasure, which can never give me the pleasure I need.”

“Lord, I live by your sheer grace. That means though I don’t deserve to have things go right, I know you are working them all out for good (Rom. 8:28), because you love me in Christ. My security in life is based neither on luck nor hard work, but on your gracious love for me. You have counted every hair on my head and every tear down my cheeks (Ps. 56:8). You love me far more and better than anyone else loves me, or than I love myself. Please remove my idol of security I need.” 

“Lord, when I forget the gospel I become impatient and judgmental toward others. I forget that you have been infinitely patient with me over the years. You are ‘slow to anger and rich in love’ (Ps. 145:8). When I am anything other than tenderhearted and compassionate to people around me, I am like the unmerciful servant, who, having been forgiven an infinite debt, is hard toward his fellow debtor (Matt. 18:21-35). Please remove the idol of power- the need to get my own way- which is making me so hard toward these people.” 

“Lord, when I forget the gospel I become dependent on the smiles and evaluation of others. I let them sit in judgment on me, then I hear all their criticism as a condemnation of my very being. But you have said there is no condemnation for me now (Rom. 8:1). You delight and sing over me (Zeph. 3:14-17). Let me be satisified with you love (Ps. 90:14). Please remove my idol of approval, which can never give me the approval I need.” 

Timothy Keller

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, 
    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."

Psalm 90:14

Recommended book, Counterfeit Gods, Amazon, by Tim Keller.

A mighty fortress is our

A mighty fortress is our 

God, a bulwark never failing;

Our helper He, amid the flood 

of mortal ills prevailing:

For still our ancient foe 

doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great, 

and armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

Martin Luther

Fully to enjoy is to glorify.

“The Scotch catechism says that man’s chief end is ‘to glorify God and enjoy Him forever’. But we shall then know that these are the same thing. Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy him.” C. S. Lewis

'What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.' The Westminster Shorter Catechism

"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6 

Finished!

The painting is finished. I helped a little too. Thanks for your help, Naho and Levi！

"But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:43-45

No, the bible isn't a book of rules...

From "The Jesus Storybook Bible."

Read more about God-centered, Christ-centered teaching. Teach Children the Bible Is Not About Them - Desiring God

When Grace dances...

“I know nothing, except what everyone knows- if there when Grace dances, I should dance.” W.H. Auden

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..." 1 Peter 1:3

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places..." Ephesians 1:3

Pict: Statues of St. Peter and St. Paul of the Urakami Catholic Church near the epi-center of the atomic bomb in Nagasaki. We visited there last fall.

Dive and dive again....

"Unfathomable oceans of grace are in Christ for you. Dive and dive again, you will never come to the bottom of these depths." 

Robert Murray M’Cheyne

"In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us." Ephesians 1:7,8