Reflections/Devotionals
URGENT: MIKE GOING TO JAPAN
Our dear family and friends, An opportunity has presented itself for Mike to go to Japan along with Danny Iverson (son of missionary Dan Iverson) to help out with relief efforts in some of the hardest-hit areas. We have heard first-hand reports from the missionaries...
The Lie of Studliness
When I was growing up, I was told a lie—by my family, by my peers, by the society in which I lived. I was told that the true value of a man is measured in how “studly” you are. I was told that manly men were those who were so charming, handsome, and strong that they...
The Right Kind of Doubting
Doubting has a bad rep in the modern American Evangelical church. This must be due at least in part to Biblical imperatives that condemn certain kinds of doubting as sin: “Ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven...
Old & New Testament “Wordles”
Have you ever wondered what the Bible would look like if the most common 150 words were ranked, made into different sizes, and arranged together in a huge 'word cloud'? Well, I hadn't either until my sister Lisa introduced me to Wordle.net. If you haven't seen it yet,...
Our Winter Break, Part II: Sendai and the Uomotos
The day after we got back from Kyoto, we embarked on the second stage of our winter adventures. This time, we went to Sendai to stay with an OPC missionary family, Murray and Tsuruko Uomoto. We had met them briefly in May when we visited the Cummings, but we wanted to...
Thoughts from Jen on Kyoto
Over the course of our visits to the different temples in Kyoto, we had the opportunity to see a lot of people both worshiping at the temples as well as monks and nuns who work full-time at these sites. I kept thinking, "I'm so sorry for you!" particularly whenever I...
Our Winter Break, Part I: Kyoto
For months now, Pastor Tajima (our pastor from Koriyama Baptist Church) has been encouraging us to visit his sister, who lives in the historic city of Kyoto . Apparently, she loves to host folks from out of town, especially if they have never seen the city and its...
Mike’s New Song/Video–Though Dwelling With Strangers Around
Back in November, I discovered a poem in my daily devotional by William Jay (published in 1828) called "Though Dwelling With Strangers Around" . The words were so powerful, I decided to see if anyone had ever put it to music. To my surprise, I found nothing; this...
Mike’s Christmas Tree
For the most part, opportunities to talk about God or share one's faith are rare in the job of an ALT. The reason has less to do with religion in public schools (many students have Shinto charms on their bags or pencases) than it does with the fact that everyone is so...
You Are Special
Today was the day of the big Kindergarten Christmas program -- and my acting debut. :0) Our team mimed the picture book story "You Are Special" by author Max Lucado. Mike did the narration all in Japanese too. It went really well -- Yay! Here are some pictures of...
Sabbath and Japan
This is such a controversial issue among Christians today. I don't want to get embroiled in the controversy, but I can't help but talk about some of the areas of contemplation my brain has stumbled across after living in Japan for a year. I think there's a...
Japan’s spiritual darkness and an opportunity to be light
Yesterday was Shuubun no Hi (the Autumnal Equinox, one of the two days in the year when the day and night are equal in length). These two days, together with Obon (the day when the spirits of departed ancestors supposedly return to earth) mark the three biggest days...
Of New Fruit & Heaven
Yesterday, I discovered a new piece of fruit at the grocery store. It has a beautiful periwinkle, lavender smooth skin. It has no smell. It tastes a little like watermelon -- full of little seeds. But rather than being crisp and juicy, it's slightly sweet and...
To Tokyo & Back
We're back from our whirlwind trip to Tokyo! It was a very full trip, and a lot of fun! We tried something new this time around and bought a special seasonal train pass called the "Seishun Jyuhachi Kippu." It gave us 5 full-day passes to travel anywhere we wanted in...
Recent Highlights and an Urgent Prayer Request from Koriyama Baptist
We've been thinking for a while now that about posting brief update on what God has been doing recently at Koriyama Baptist Church (our "home church"). This church has truly been a blessing to us in ways that we never could have expected. In fact, notwithstanding our...
Tanabata
July 7th in Japan is a holiday called Tanabata. Most Americans have never heard of Tanabata, and after a lot of asking around at my school, I've come to find out that many Japanese know very little about the true history of the tradition, why certain things are done...
Easter Program
Today we had our long-awaited Easter Program, and praise God, it was a smashing success!!! Thanks to all of you who prayed for this event; everything went smoother than we ever thought possible. There were no accidents, no major spills of Easter Egg dye, nobody got...
He is Risen! (He is risen indeed!)
Happy Easterfrom Japan!!! This morning we celebrate the ressurection of the Lord, who suffered, died, was buried, and then on the third day rose again--and all for us! This morning, our whole team gathered at 6 am, walked to the top of a big hill, and had a time of...
A Hymn For Good Friday
O Come and Mourn with Me Awhile O come and mourn with me awhile, O come ye to the Savior's side O come, together let us mourn, Jesus our Lord is crucified. Seven times He spake seven words of love; And all three hours His silence cried For mercy on the souls of men;...
Baptist Youth Camp 2007
Yesterday Jen and I got back from Adatara Bible Camp, home of the 2007 Fukushima Prefecture Baptist Youth Camp. We went up on Tuesday night and left Thursday afternoon, and every moment was precious to us. The food was great, the scenery was pretty, and the weather...