Vanishing Grace

“ 'You don’t listen to me. You judge me. Your faith confuses me. You talk about what’s wrong instead of making it right.' Reviewing these complaints, it occurs to me that Christians fail to communicate to others because we ignore basic principles in relationship. When we make condescending judgments, or proclaim lofty words that don’t translate into action, or simply speak without first listening, we fail to love — and thus deter a thirsty world from Living Water. The good news about God’s grace goes unheard.” Philip Yancey

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing;  it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. " Ephesians 2:8-9

Listen to a portion of Vanishing Grace  - Session 1 on YouTube

Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News? Philip Yancey, Amazon

Matsumoto Kyoritsu Hospital

Along with the hospital staff, our Abundant Life Church members served the terminal patients with a Christmas party. I preached from John 3:16, sharing memories of Mom. She went to be with the Lord the week before, on the 6th. 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Church members held a terminal patients had through out the 'party.'

Please pray that we can 'bless' the city of Matsumoto in a greater way.

A hanging sword...

"In the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the blasphemy law is implemented with full force. Believers in Christ regard this law as a hanging sword, liable to fall on anyone at anytime. Hundreds are behind the bars because of it…. Not long ago a double suicide attack on innocent Christians during Sunday morning worship resulted in more than 100 Christians being martyred…. They are not ashamed to call themselves Christ’s."

Read more: Bearing the Cross of Christ in Pakistan | TGC | The Gospel Coalition

"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account."  Matthew 5:11

Mom's with her Lord

Last Saturday, around 2:30 in the afternoon, Mom Junker went to be with her Lord. Dad and Mom live in Petoskey, MI…. There ARE tears, but also joy, because she is where she always wanted to be. She is filled with joy. So we too have joy…. Do pray for our family. We will truly miss her. 

(Dad and Mom Junker were missionaries in Matsumoto, Japan for close to 50 years.)

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15

"I can't breath"

Christian  Hip-hop artist Trip Lee raps on Eric Garner and racial issues in the U. S.

Don’t nobody wanna hear our pain
That’s how I’m feeling when I’m flipping through them twitter comments, all I feel is rain
They telling me get over it’s old
That stuff don’t exist no more
But that don’t ring true when I look in these streets
So it’s real when I feel like it coulda been me….

We all made in God’s image you know….

Where’s your hope at? Mine is in him….

All the lyrics in Coulda Been Me Lyrics — TRIP LEE

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"　Luke 2:14

Read more: A United Evangelical Response: The System Failed Eric Garner | Christianity Today

Last Friday, our family had just watched the movie "Mandela." Something is wrong with the U.S. justice system as well.

The Son of God

”The Son of God became the Son of man that the sinful sons of men might be made the sons of God.” John Calvin

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." John1:14,12,13