Having a blast now as I sit down to a boxed dinner listening to Japanese praise music that never fails to move me. Praying for my love so far north and my kids on the other side of the world. While I eat I’m reflecting on another day of experiencing God as I move throughout my day.

Got up this morning and enjoyed extended fellowship with the Lord filled with anticipation of what He was going to do today as I walked with Him. I had a plan to meet with Eko. She had told me her mother couldn’t come and that she is very busy getting ready for her fashion exhibition June 5-10 but that she wanted to make time to meet with me over tea. That wasn’t until 2:30pm today and I toyed with various possible plans for the morning but the Lord seemed to draw me to hanging out with Him all morning so I did. He met me and reminded me how much He delights in me and really all of His people (Psalm 149:4).

As I prepared some materials for Eko, I repeatedly thought, “I’d like to try and get together with my dear friend Pastor Sugaya–maybe for lunch–but then dismissed it as too sudden and too tight a window to work. Guess what. As I rode the train to my appointment with Eko early enough that I could grab lunch before we met, as the train stopped to pick up passengers at Kiyose a guy in a red windbreaker caught my eye walking right toward me in the fourth train car. It was Sugaya! He saw me right after I saw him and made a bee line to get on the same car. We both agreed that it was a divine appointment. He just happened to be very near my spot on the platform. He just happened to have time to grab lunch and we both had news and prayer requests. God is so GOOD! His dear wife Kyoko who has been battling cancer recently slipped at home and broke her shoulder. While very sad to hear this, I was so glad to know so I could pray. I had some urgent prayer requests also and we covenanted to pray for each other. He also shared with me that the church we planted together in Kiyose (suburb of Tokyo) had just multiplied by birthing a house church in Ishinomaki in the disaster area. PTL!

After our lunch, we were praising God and His unexpected good presents to His children who move like the wind in the flow of His Holy Spirit. I made my way to the spot Eko planned to meet me. As I waited I had much to pray about. God’s presence was evident with me as I found a spot to wait out of the rain but still in clear sight. Eko was a  little late and very apologetic but I told her I was just glad she made time in the midst of a crazy busy schedule. Once we got to a nice cafe to drink hot chocolate (not tea!), we quickly got into discussing our fellowship with the Living God. Eko has a very real faith and was happy to receive the materials I gave her which included a letter, several videos from the internet, some Japanese praise music, and a book I used to make a couple of multiplying disciples during our time in Tokyo (inductive Kay Arthur study translated into Japanese). Inductive discussion with reflection and peer teaching is so much more effective to make disciples who actually apply what they are learning.

Eko was excited especially about the videos and told me she planned to intro them to her family and friends. We are looking more toward the harvest now and expecting God to expand our fellowship in the near future. Here’s the link to my favorite of the videos I gave Eko. Please join me in prayer for Kyoko and Eko and for the mighty work God is doing in this previously very rocky soil country of Japan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdQj4Porl-0

MJ is up north in Sapporo. I am in Tokyo. Okinawa went as well as possible, I guess. The folks there still need prayer. It was good for us to be there. We sensed God working. I have meetings here and MJ will be very busy up north for the next 4 days. Masataka & Regina want to church plant but need a better job to be able to support their family and follow their dream that they are so gifted to do.

Thanks to Stan, Faith, Joe, and John for letting me stay in their home while they are off to London for Noell’s wedding. Congratulations, and thanks, again. It’s a lot more than a cup of cold water, my friends.

We pray for each other and enjoy when we can fellowship together in person.

My work has certainly diversified. I had a really fun meeting today and one thing we really need prayer for is for God to provide a way to Japan long term, if He so wills. I like to run hard with what God gives me to do. But sometimes the challenges can look kind of overwhelming.

Farrar wrote in Finishing Wellthat only 20% of Christian men finish well. That’s pretty daunting when you think of some of the really hard places we can encounter in life. Just like marathon runners we can “hit the wall”–but how do we get back up and finish the race? According to Farrar who conducted extensive research, the only ones (20%) who finish well have an ongoing intimate relationship with Christ and experience repeated times of renewal in His presence. Lord, keep me close and in step with your Spirit!

We’re getting away for 3 days prior to going to Japan for a couple of weeks. Along with relaxing, praying for many things, and eating too much, we brought an interesting little book along to read. It presents a voice that needs to be heard if the Church is to be relevant in this rapidly globalizing, fragmenting age. If you’re concerned about :
Natural disasters
Drought
Global warming
Violence
Regime changes
Global power shifts
Poverty
Rising prices
Food shortages
War
Poor health care
Disease
Immigration
Terrorism
Postmodernism
Declining influence of the church

Then The Monkey and the Fish: Liquid Leadership for a Third Culture Churchmight be a good place to look for how to be relevant and Christ-pleasing in this day and age. Enjoy!

Being a God cooperator (1 Cor 3:9) does not have many dull moments. God is constantly pruning and honing the cooperator for greater faithfulness and fruitfulness (John 15). But the fun is coming. God keeps expanding the territory of the one who does not shrink back. Sometimes the white hot fire is daunting but then Christ offers his hand and we walk through whatever together.

There’s something about the name of Jesus. Our King, Shepherd, and Friend.  He’s about to lead me to yet another new venue for developing faithful and fruitful ministers of the Word. All in your time, Lord!

All too often what those outside the church see when they look in is a dedicated group of people who are pretty critical of them. What they don’t often see is the power and love of God working in his people in a winsome way that draws those still unfamiliar with the grace of God. Here’s a quote from Frank C. Laubach that I think captures the problem:

“I am well aware of the probability of criticism because it is ‘mysticism’–as though any man could be a believer in Jesus without believing in ‘mysticism’!–or because many people think that the days of direct contact with God, or at least words from God, stopped with the closing of the New Testament. But then what a stupid world this would be if one never did anything different for fear of criticism!”

My role has changed several times since the 30 or so years I’ve served with A2. Each has required a new skill set and has challenged me in new ways. Recently I believe God has changed my role in the Body of Christ to that of (spiritual) Grandfather. My main role is not that of a planter any longer though God still uses me to catalyze church plants (see our upcoming newsletter). My main role now seems to be to support/encourage/mentor those who are on the front lines on a daily basis in a church planter capacity. I have had many opportunities to build into a number of my younger colleagues this trip. In addition, it was a privilege to participate in the commissioning of 4 families and a single who will be moving to various regions of Tohoku to be involved in church planting and multiplication. These are such quality people and I have witnessed several of them from their first experiences in Japan. I am in awe of what God has done in bringing them to this point and will be praying for and supporting them in the days to come of searching for housing, getting to know neighbors and ministry partners, and then watering, nurturing and reaping a spiritual harvest. The other day Franklin Graham spoke over 3 days at an evangelistic rally in the devastated area. Here are some results:

Franklin Graham in Tohoku results

May these lives (and others) be truly transformed making the recipients of God’s grace trophies of his love and grace.

 

It’s been awesome to be here in snowy Karuizawa–right where we were last March 11 when the triple disaster struck Japan. Since then the ministry venue has changed dramatically and A2 missionaries and their leaders are spending much time listening to God and redeploying to the Tohoku region.

This spring conference has been a time to reconnect with God through some gifted teaching and dynamic worship. Thank you, Pastor David and King’s Harbor crew–you’ve already been a great blessing!

I believe MJ has been doing a great job managing this international gathering. I’m definitely prejudiced but I’m covered because several including A2 President Joe have said the same thing. Go MJ!

This has also been a wonderful time to reconnect with our “family” over here.  Though we are always connected by our prayers for one another and, of course, Skype, there is nothing like sharing face to face as we rejoice in the victories and comfort one another in the challenges.

It’s good to see that though our children have not seen each other in 3 years, they are still close.

God you’re so good to have led us to a great partner in SIM, to have blessed the work of our hands, strengthened our community, and most of all given us your presence as we cooperate in your redemptive mission to the world.

Had prayer with the Be One group in Ishinomaki on the beach on the anniversary of the triple disaster that hit the area so hard (March 11). Everywhere we went, we saw groups in their mourner’s black garb gathering in clusters and lighting candles of remembrance. We’re praying God will use Be One, Asian Access, and many others who serve Jesus to effectively show grieving residents the Hope that does not disappoint. As we prayed it was eery to think of how this ocean that seems so peaceful now rose up and swallowed so many thousands of people so suddenly.

One of my concerns is that expatriate missionaries will cluster together in Ishinomaki and other devastated areas automatically relegating residents to “client status”: observers who sample the wares and greet one another but who do not take Christ’s yoke upon themselves–leaving that for the many foreigners who work so hard to provide for their physical and emotional needs in the name of Christ.

Moving on to Tokyo:

 

 

It was so fun to get together with old friends in Tokyo who we hadn’t seen for about 5 years (Mike) or 8 years (Stac). It was fun to sense that God has been working in them and that, indeed, “friends are friends forever if the Lord is the Lord of them.” It was humbling to learn that this family sees us as “daionjin” which means “great benefactors” who introduced them to Jesus, who is their sustainer and close friend. S and R and their parents were excited to meet Stac again and reported that their old ballet teacher still refers to Stac as one of her star students…eh?!