Barth’s Adultery

What to Make of Karl Barth’s Steadfast Adultery | Christianity Today

A thoughtful quote: I am a firm believer that good theology can be an immense help in leading a godly life. But there is a reason the Lord also gave us prayer and fellowship, Scripture and worship, among a host of other gifts: to help us grow up into the full stature of Christ. To paraphrase our Lord, some sins theology cannot exorcise but come out only by prayer and fasting.

Titus 2:11-14, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." 

Articles on the Reformation

500 Years After Luther, We Still Feel the Pressure to Be Justified | Christianity Today

Just before his complete conversion, Augustine had a vision of Continence, personified as a loving and gracious woman, who reassures him: “Why are you relying on yourself, only to find yourself unreliable? Cast yourself upon him, do not be afraid.” Please read A Roman Catholic Appreciation of Justification by... | Christianity Today

Johann von Staupitz, vicar of the German Observant Augustinian Friars, came to visit the monastery where Luther lived. When he saw how sickly Luther looked, he asked, “Why are you so sad, brother Martin?” “I do not know what will become of me,” answered Luther. “I promise God I will do better, but I find it is useless to make promises to God because sin is stronger than I am.” Von Staupitz did not fully understand the struggle Luther was experiencing, but he wanted to help him. “My friend,” replied von Staupitz, “look at the wounds of Jesus Christ and think of why He came into the world.” Though von Staupitz pointed him in the right direction, Luther was afraid of God and of His Son Jesus. He thought of God only as one who punishes sin. Von Staupitz tried to encourage Luther. “God is not angry with you. Christ Jesus does not want to terrify you; He comforts those in trouble and distress. He became man to give you the promise of deliverance. By His stripes we are healed. By His blood our sins are washed away. Love Him Who first loved you.” But Luther didn’t understand. Staupitz had given Luther a Bible and pointed his eyes away from his own unworthiness to Jesus on the Cross. To Luther’s crippling fears, to his guilt and feelings of never measuring up, to the penance and punishment he derived for himself, to his visions of Christ only as a Judge ready to smite him, Staupitz had a clear resounding refrain: “Look to the wounds of Christ.” Although Luther would continue to battle his own anxiety and depression for the rest of his life, he now had an anchor to hold him fast – the all-consuming grace of God, poured out in Jesus’ blood on the Cross. 

Ephesians 2:8-10, "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."

The Reformation and Missions: 5 Invaluable Effects • Message Magazine Good quotes from the article. “A good missionary is a good theologian. A good theologian is a good missionary.” John Calvin   “If he have faith, the believer cannot be restrained. He betrays himself. He breaks out. He confesses and teaches this gospel to the people at the risk of life itself.” Martin Luther

Other helpful articles on the Reformation: 
What the Reformers Thought They Were Doing | Intercollegiate Studies Institute: Educating for Liberty
Unexpected Counsel from Martin Luther
The Protestant Reformation - YouTube The warts and everything, though some parts are inaccurate, I feel.
20 Great ‘Protestant’ Films

Movie "Dunkirk"

Please read these articles. 
"National Day of Prayer at the time of Dunkirk 1940 | Anglican Ink 2017 ©, 
Christians Together : The Miracle of Dunkirk: 70 years on 
Then look at the movie DUNKIRK. 
What the Lord did was truly the "Miracle at Dunkirk".

Money and the Logic of Grace

Listen to Tim Keller's sermon "Money and the Logic of Grace." Luke 14:7-24

Here's a great illustration:

     Some years ago, there was a British farmer who raised livestock, and he had a cow who was pregnant. He was very happy about that, because he actually had enough livestock on the farm to produce the things he needed, and therefore, he was going to be able to sell that calf once the calf was born and grew up. He was going to sell the calf and make a tidy profit. To his joy, the cow had two calves … twins … which meant he was going to get twice as much money from the sale when he sold them.

He was very excited. He came in to his wife, and he had a sort of magnanimous moment. He says, “Honey, we are Christians, and we go to church, and you know what? When these two calves grow up and I sell them, I’m going to give half the proceeds to the Lord. Half the proceeds are going to go to the church. I’m going to sell the two calves, I’m going to get X amount of money, and the amount of money I get from one will go to the Lord, and the rest we’ll keep ourselves.” She says, “That’s wonderful. How spiritual.”

Several weeks later, he walks into the house very, very sad in his face. She says, “What’s wrong?” He says, “Oh, the Lord’s calf died. They got sick. The one got better, but the other one didn’t get better, and it died.” She says, “That’s interesting. I didn’t remember that we designated one of those calves to be the Lord’s.” He says, “Oh no. Almost from the beginning I said, ‘That’s the Lord’s calf right there,’ and that’s the one that died. What a shame.”

The point of the story is it’s always the Lord’s calf that dies. In other words, there are certain clothes we want to buy, there are certain vacations we want to have, there are certain trips we want to take, there are certain places we want to live, and that’s the priority. If we have enough money to give for charity and ministry, we will. If there’s a problem and we’re pinched, that’s where we take it out of. We take it out of the charity and ministry. Jesus says, “I want you to switch those. I want you to take it out of your own hide.”

Christian Meditation

What Is Biblical Meditation? | Unlocking the Bible "Think of Bible meditation like slowly enjoying a piece of chocolate, letting it melt in your mouth, paying close attention to every nuance of flavor and texture. Like a thoughtful experience with well-made food, meditation brings delight in God’s holy testimonies and character, and that delight inspires even more meditation on his Word." Colin Smith

Also, check out Hearing God's Words: Exploring Biblical Spirituality (New Studies in Biblical Theology): Peter Adam: 9780830826179: Amazon.com: Books

Articles on Abortion, Japan and a message on Reconciliation

Woman who chose baby instead of chemotherapy has died - ABC News What amazing convictions and testimony!

"We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, of killings, of wars, of hatred. If a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for us to kill each other." Mother Teresa

Quora: Is Japan a Depressed Nation? We need to pray for and humbly share the gospel of Christ with this needy nation.

Reconciliation – Timothy Keller [Sermon] - YouTube "Near the end of his life, Joseph displays his hard-earned wisdom. He shows us that we need to leave all righting of wrongs to God; we must see God’s providing hand in man’s malice; and we must never repay evil with evil, but instead we must meet evil with forgiveness, and even affection."

'Family Barbecue'

Naho and I at Sweet's 'Family Barbecue'. Kids came too.  

Naho works at local bakery 2 days a week.

Up in Norikura.

With family. (Birthday supper at Otoya)