"And such were some of you."

Please read How an Unbelieving Lesbian English Professor Became a Reformed Pastor’s Wife by Justin Taylor

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 

See the Interview with Rosaria Butterfield; January 11, 2013 on YouTube Read portions of the interview with Rosaria: WORLD | Journey of grace | Marvin Olasky | March 23, 2013

Read Gay father defends traditional marriage | Angela Lu | World / March 14, 2013

Also read An Open Letter to the Church from a Lesbian – Justin Taylor

Snow...

Last week we had lots of snow. Lots of shoveling. The kids loved it at first... Pict: Abundant Life Church

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..." Isaiah 1:18

God rejoices.

“God rejoices. Not because the problems of the world have been solved, not because all human pain and suffering have come to an end, nor because thousands of people have been converted and are now praising him for his goodness. No, God rejoices because one of his children who was lost has been found.” Henri Nouwen

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine  in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
Luke 15:4-7

But God is the ocean.

"The enjoyment of [God] is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean."　

Jonathan Edwards

"As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God..." Psalm  42:1-2

Snowboarding...

The boys- Joshua and Shane- went snowboarding last weekend at NORTHSTAR- my brother's ministry. About 1 hour from here. They had a great time!

If you really want to change…

“It is only an ever deepening faith in the gospel that restructures our motivations, our self-understanding and identity, and our view of the world. Only the gospel changes our hearts…. If you really want to change… Jesus Christ must become your overmastering positive passion.” 

Timothy Keller

"For in him (Christ) the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,  having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead." Colossians 2:9-12

To Takamatsu

We stayed one week at Grandma Kimura's over the New Year.

Though I may not look very satisfied with the noodles (udon), I do really like them. Folks in my wife's home town area love udon. It's known as the udon noodle prefecture.

We spent quite a bit of time with our relatives. Uncle Shigeo above.

We had a good time with our former church- Takase Christ Church- on Sunday. And we also worshipped our Lord the first day of the year at Takamatsu Zion Church (above),  where Naho's mother, Uncle Shigeo and other relatives worship.

A new creation...

“Christ accepts us as we are, but when he accepts us, we can not remain as we are.” Walter Trobisch

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."  2 Cor 5:17