Rambling Notes from Japan
Here are some blog posts that we hope will make you feel a part of things, and help you understand how to pray better for us and Japan. Please see our external blog in Blogger, if this page does not display correctly.
Beautiful Harmony
June 24, 2019 11:56
| Church Planting, Reaching MuKo, Reiwa
| Permalink
Have you heard about Japan's BIG CHANGE? It's a new era! Emperor Akihito has abdicated. His son, Naruhito, succeeded him to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1st. Along with this imperial change, the Japanese calendar is reset to Year 1, Day 1. Heisei Era gives way to the new "Reiwa" Era. "Reiwa" means "beautiful harmony." The Japanese have decided that beauty
On a Wing and a Prayer
Legend has it in Japan that a prayer can be answered when a 1000 origami paper cranes are folded and strung together.
So today, on the 8th anniversary of 311, in community centers, temporary housing and public schools throughout northern Japan, chains of a 1000 origami cranes are displayed, the tedious effort of hundreds of fingers.
Their prayer is simply this: "Recovery, restoration, and return
Tiny Chapel Designs
February 11, 2019 11:35
| Reaching MuKo
| Permalink
The tiny house craze may be the new thing in the States, but it is a common thing in urban Japan. Everyone's house is already a tiny house. With MuKo, we've been reminded of this once again.With the land purchase completed, and builder contracted, the last few months has involved us working on the design aspects of the church facility for MuKo. We've learned a bit over the
Japanese Puzzler
Here’s a JAPANESE PUZZLE BOX for you:
(brought to you by the space constraints of urban Japan.)
We returned back in Kawasaki to a completely dead car. It turns out that power locks don’t open without marginal battery power. But without being able to unlock the car, there is no way to open the hood and recharge the battery. WHAT TO DO?
Use the hideaway key in the key fob to open a manual lock
UNFINISHED
March 10, 2018 02:12
| Church Planting, Musashi-Kosugi, Project
| Permalink
Musashi-Kosugi, Japan (new church plant location)
I had no idea things would pile up so fast. Wasn’t it just Christmas?
In the thick of church outreach activities, message prep, meetings, people needs, and countless Bible studies, I ignored the growing stack of unfinished work on my desk. “I’ll get around to all that when things settle down after Christmas,” I figured. But the stack
A "Barky" New Year?
January 1, 2018 02:59
| Culture, Devotional
| Permalink
Wan Wan!
Ah, 2018. The year has only begun and it's already going to the dogs!
Today, January 1st (1/1), can be pronounced “wan-wan” in Japanese. “Wan-wan” happens to be the way that dogs bark in Japan. (And all this time you thought they said “woof-woof,” right?)
Perhaps it’s appropriate that the year begins with a couple barks.
Central Reason & Theme
December 11, 2017 07:56
| Church Planting, Missions
| Permalink
They must have felt the curious stares of a thousand kimono-clad Japanese as they stepped off the ships at Yokohama port (photo today at left) in conspicuous western dresses and suitcoats. I wonder if the first Protestant missionaries to Japan didn’t silently ask themselves the question...
"What am I doing here again?"
It wasn’t really the ships that brought them in 1859. Just like it wasn’t
Powerless!
September 21, 2017 03:52
| Culture Shock, Missions
| Permalink
I felt ridiculous. A white foreigner in Japan, shirt stained with engine grease, standing next to my disabled vehicle, in the traffic lane, waving an emergency flare. Only a police car’s flashing lights could have drawn more attention to my predicament. Oh, wait...he stopped by, too. Sigh...
Last week, what was intended to be a family break along the Yokohama bay, turned into a frightening breakdown
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We serve with WorldVenture, an evangelical faith mission. Our sending/home church is Cornerstone Church of Lansing, Illinois.