"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