”Poor in spirit”

"It means a complete absence of pride, a complete absence of self-assurance and self-reliance. It means a consciousness that we are nothing in the presence of God. It is nothing, then, that we can produce; it is nothing that we can do in ourselves. It is just this tremendous awareness of our utter nothingness as we come to face to face with God. That is to be poor in spirit." D. M. Lloyd-Jones

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

Housing for Catholic priests

A prefectural treasure, in the past this was the Matsumoto housing for Catholic priests. In the back is one of the oldest schools in Japan- Kaichi School. Not related to the house. August 20, after we viewed the Matsumoto Museum, Joshua and I looked at the priests quarters for the Matsumoto area. Matsumoto is truly a city of history. But it was the time that I had with Joshua that was the best. I spy! Can you see him? He's in front of the house.

If you really want to change...

“If you really want to change… Jesus Christ must become your overmastering passion.

When you feel anxiety...

All the things I have are gifts of grace because of Christ’s love and sacrifice. They aren’t here because of my performance, but because of his generosity. Christ loved me enough to sacrifice himself for me; he will continue to give me what I need. Be consoled, Self.

When you feel pride and anger...

All the things I have are gifts of grace because of Christ’s love and sacrifice. I have never received what I deserve- and I never will. If God gave me what I deserved, I’d be dead. Be humbled, Self.

When you feel guilt...

All the things I have are gifts of grace because of Christ’s love and sacrifice. I never earned them to begin with, so I can’t un-earn them. Christ loved and loves me, even though he knew I would do this. Be confident, Self.

When you feel boredom and lethargy...

All the things I have are gifts of grace because of Christ’s love and sacrifice. The very fact I am a Christian is a miracle. Be amazed. Be in wonder, Self.”

Tim Keller

Christ, Our Life | Redeemer Sermons by Keller

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:1-2

Camping

August 12 -14, we went camping on Lake Kizaki, about an hour from here. Lots of hard work, but lots of fun too.

Grace always runs downhill....

"Grace always runs downhill–meeting us at the bottom, not the top."Tullian Tchividjian  and “God’s office is at the end of our rope.” John Zahl

from article The Pastoral Practicality Of Law-Gospel Theology – Tullian Tchividjian Please read.

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:5-7

Fireworks...

August 10th, we enjoyed a fireworks festival on the Susuki River, about 10 mins. from our home. 'Twas beautiful!

When the Gospel Comes to Life

"The gospel rightly, thoughtfully, and in biblical faithfulness expounded, will not only win sinners to Christ but it will also shape the lives of Christians to greater conformity to Jesus." from Desiring God

Listen to Don Carson in  When the Gospel Comes to Life

'So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."' Romans 1:15-17

“Whereas in religion we repent as little as possible, the more we feel accepted and live in the gospel, the more and more often we will be repenting. Although there is some bitterness in any repentance, in the gospel there is ultimately a sweetness. This creates a thoroughly new dynamic for personal growth [italics mine]. The more we see our own flaws and sins, the more precious, electrifying, and amazing God’s grace appears to us. On the other hand, the more aware we are of God’s grace and our acceptance in Christ, the more able we are to drop our denials and self-defenses and admit the true dimensions of our sin.” 

Timothy Keller

Balm for Wounded, Weak Pastors

"All the ups and downs of his ministry were for Paul experiences of God, events in which he experienced an identification with Jesus in his dying and rising: 'always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies' (2 Cor. 4:10)." Richard Bauckham 

"The Christian minister's weakness is not the point where he is failing, but the point where the deepest integration of his life and his message is possible."

Read more: Balm for Wounded, Weak Pastors – The Gospel Coalition Blog. Also read Weaknesses- Paul's and ours by Bauckham.

To give largely

“There are many hearing me who now know well that they are not Christians because they do not love to give. To give largely and liberally, not grudgingly at all, requires a new heart.”  Robert Murray M’Cheyne

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?" James 2:14  "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 

To Karuizawa again!

August 6 - 8, while our boys were climbing the Alps, Naho, Hosahna and I enjoyed fellowship with TEAM missionaries in Karuizawa.

Worshipping with other missionaries.

Undeserved grace

“The economy of undeserved grace has primacy over the economy of moral deserts.” Miroslav Volf

"And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:16

Friends with the Voiceless

Doctor Eisuke Kanda, an adviser for our church, spoke here at Abundant Life Church on August 5th. He is the founder and director of "Friends with the Voiceless ." "A bruised reed he (Jesus Christ) will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench."

Please pray that we would be able to serve the needy here in Matsumoto and beyond in any way the Lord would have us.

'He that giveth to the poor shall not lack'

“If I be so generous in giving, I may be in need myself before I die.….'He that giveth to the poor shall not lack' (Proverbs 28:27)...The poor have a right unto part of thine estate, as well as thy [natural] children, though not unto so great a part. In which respect the Spirit of God calleth that part of the rich man's stock which he can well spare, the poor man's 'due,' unto whom of right it doeth belong; for saith He, 'withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.' (Proverbs 3:27). Whereupon said an ancient father, 'It is the bread of the hungry which moulders in thy cupboard; it is the garment of the naked which hangs useless in thy chambers; it is the gold of the poor which lieth rusting in thy chest' [Basil]. So that thy relieving of the poor is not only an act of mercy, left to thy choice to do or not to do, but also of justice, to the performance whereof thou standest bound.”

Thomas Gouge

The eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home

“Spiritual pride is very apt to suspect others; whereas an humble saint is most jealous of himself, he is so suspicious of nothing in the world as he is of his own heart. The spiritually proud person is apt to find fault with other saints, that they are low in grace, and to be much in observing how cold and dead they be, and crying out of them for it, and to be quick to discern and take notice of their deficiencies: but the eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home, and sees so much evil in his own heart, and is so concerned about it, that he is not apt to be very busy with others’ hearts; he complains most of himself, and cries out of his own coldness and lowness in grace, and is apt to esteem others better than himself… and can’t bear to think that others should bring forth no more fruit to God’s honor than he.” 

Jonathan Edwards

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:11 

More upon praying

"We are often for preaching to awaken others; but we should be more upon praying for it. Prayer is more powerful than preaching. It is prayer that gives preaching all its power. . . . Why, the very hands of Moses would have fallen down, had they not been held up by his faithful people. Come, then, ye wrestlers with God—ye that climb Jacob's ladder—ye that wrestle Jacob's wrestling—strive you with God, that he may fulfill his word."

Robert Murray M’Cheyne

"But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:4

"Believe, dear teacher, believe in the gospel."

"It is always an act of faith to sow seed; because you have, for the time, to give it up, and receive nothing in return. The farmer takes his choice seed-corn, and throws it into the soil of his field. He might have made many a loaf of bread with it; but he casts it away. Only his faith saves him from being judged a maniac: he expects it to return to him fifty-fold. If you had never seen a harvest, you would think that a man burying good wheat under the clods had gone mad; and if you had never seen conversions, it might seem an absurd thing to be constantly teaching to boys and girls the story of the Man who was nailed to the tree. We preach and teach as a work of faith; and, remember, it is only as an act of faith that it will answer its purpose. The rule of the harvest is, “According to thy faith, be it unto thee.” Believe, dear teacher, believe in the gospel. Believe in what you are doing when you tell it. Believe that great results from slender causes spring. Go on sowing your mustard seed of salvation by faith, expecting and believing that fruit will come thereof."

Charles Spurgeon

'And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.'  Luke 17:6 

"It is we..."

“It is we who are to be converted not Hitler.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

”It is time for judgment to begin at the household of God." 1 Peter 4:17

Bonhoeffer gave his life to save Jews and then to assassinate Hitler. Obviously Hitler needed 'conversion.' But he also believed that Hitler was too far gone. The church needed to deal with the church first. Even though the German national church was succumbing to Hitler, Bonhoeffer was calling the church as a whole, but primarily the Confessing Church to repentance. They needed to first deal with their own house. So also we evangelicals need to not throw stones at others, but we need to be humble and 'examine ourselves' first. We need to change and display graces of the gospel. Then we can be salt in society and be prophetic.

Referred to 'Dietrich Bonhoeffer, A Biography.'