Trump's a Chump

'Chump' basically means fool. Sorry for being so blunt.

On Japanese TV, I actually heard him use the 'f___' word. And Donald Trump actually claims to be a Christian. The Gospel According to Trump - The New York Times 

Max Lucado in his blog writes that "(Trump) ridiculed a war hero. He made mockery of a reporter’s menstrual cycle. He made fun of a disabled reporter. He referred to the former first lady, Barbara Bush as 'mommy,' and belittled Jeb Bush for bringing her on the campaign trail. He routinely calls people 'stupid,' 'loser,' and 'dummy." 

But maybe I shouldn't ridicule Trump by calling him a chump. But it just might fit him. Proverbs in the Bible is very strong on fools, and I think he fits this category. And as one living in Japan, it is very embarrassing that a potential president of the Unites States of America speaks in these ways.

"The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly." Proverbs 15:2 

Read more: Why Max Lucado Broke His Political Silence for Tr... | Christianity Today, 
Russell Moore: Why this election makes me hate the word ‘evangelical’ - The Washington Post,  
The Theology of Donald Trump | Christian
See more: Keller, Piper, and Carson on Staying the Course in a Changing Culture - YouTube,
Interview With Pastor Tim Keller - YouTube  We need to "stop demonizing each other."
How Christianity explains Trump, The Theology of Donald Trump | Christianity Today, 
In a Trump v. Clinton Election, Should Character Matter? | Christianity Today
Outraged in Private, Many C.E.O.s Fear the Wrath of the President - The New York Times

PS. Sorry for getting political. But this is more moral than political in my view.

"Messengers"

Here's another good one by Tim Keller. "Messengers", Luke 10:1-21 | Gospel in Life. 

"As disciples of Jesus, we are his messengers, and our mission is to communicate the belief that we have in Christ. Service based on performance, pride, and self-image can be manipulative and harmful, but service based on who we are in Christ allows us to rejoice in what God does in our lives and in the lives of others." from Gospel in Life　

”Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:20

Mobster turned pastor

"Before, we were in rival gangs, firing guns," Pastor Tatsuya Shindo exclaims from a pulpit in what was formerly a bar. "Now, we're praising the same God." Mobster turned pastor preaches to ex-yakuza in Japan - CNN.com

"A lot of people with different backgrounds come here (to our church). Those who are divorced, bankrupt and cast away. There are also parents who have missing children, those whose sons are put into jail, or those who've been abandoned after prison. This is a place to restart your life," he says. "A yakuza returning to society is indeed extraordinary."

Luke 5:31-32, 'And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

Matsumoto and the Grammys

My city of Matsumoto (my parents served here almost 50 years) is known for music, primarily because of Shinichi Suzuki who started Talent Education. Dr. Suzuki not only taught me a little violin, but was a friend of the family. He went to be with the Lord in 1998. 


Matsumoto is also known for Seiji Ozawa and the annual music event held here, now called the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festval. The other day he and his team won a Grammy in Opera Recording. For you music professionals here are the details. "Ravel: L'Enfant Et Les Sortileges; Sheherazade," Seiji Ozawa, conductor; Isabel Leonard; Dominic Fyfe, producer (Saito Kinen Orchestra; SKF Matsumoto Chorus and SKF Matsumoto Children's Chorus).  The New York Times



Read more: Seiji Ozawa hails his orchestra, chorus from Matsumoto after winning Grammy - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun

Christ: The Final Word

Listen to this excellent sermon Christ: The Final Word by Timothy Keller, Hebrews 1 and 2 Or find Christ the Final Word on Podcast, Gospel in Life by Timothy Keller,  iTunes

Here's a portion of his conclusion: 

"But notice it says, “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” This term more careful attention is really much stronger than I ever thought before I studied it for us this week. The word attention literally means obsession. The word more careful is another very strong word. More and careful are trying to get across a word that actually means to be furiously obsessed.

This is telling us anyone who hears the gospel and says, “Okay, now I’m a Christian. I believe that,” has just begun to become what God can make you. You have to become furiously obsessed with the original message. You don’t move on and say, “Well, I got the gospel, the gospel about Jesus Christ dying for my sins. That’s fine; now I want to go move on.”

You’re going to drift. That’s not rebel. It means you’re going to drift unless you take that message and obsess on the grace, obsess on the gospel. You have to work it into your life, because there’s an imperviousness about your insides. You have to work it in and work it in and work it in. That’s the first thing we learn….

Obsess on what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross. Pay close attention to it. Obsess on God’s grace. Obsess on his love. Do you know what that does? It changes you on the inside. It shows you you’re not saved by leading a good life, which will either lead to pride or despair. It will either superficially change you, or it will break you.

But the glory of God in the face of Jesus, the glory of God as you read the Scripture, coming into contact with a heart that is melted by the sense of God’s grace because of what he did on the cross for you, will mean the glory of God really changes you. Obsess on the grace of God until you become what you know you should be, the person you know you can be through him."

Hebrews 1:1-2, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world…."

Church history….

For those interested in history, especially church history. Ryan M. Reeves (PhD Cambridge) - YouTube I think there are over 150 excellent lectures.

These two on the Crusades are balanced. The Crusades (Part I) - YouTube, The Crusades (Part II) - YouTube

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' George Santayana

Psalms 106:7, "Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; They remembered not the multitude of thy lovingkindnesses, But were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea." 

Buddha

Here is a good film of The Buddha from YouTube Many Japanese claim to be Buddhists.

Buddha said that he wasn't the light, but could show "the path." Yet, in John 14:6, "Jesus answered (his disciples), 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 8:12, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Christ is the true path and light.

Zen Buddism - YouTube
Story of Confucius (many Japanese are subconsciously influenced by the teachings of Confucius)
Shintoism Documentary (national religion of Japan)
Islam, Documentary (not a Japanese religion), BBC Documentary Leaving Islam, Becoming a Christian, Becoming an Atheist