Last weekend we had the wonderful opportunity to go to Nagoya, Japan, where we were asked to minister at a local church’s Autumn Conference. We boarded the small JAL plane in Fukuoka and lifted off for an hour-or-so flight to Japan’s third largest metropolis. During the short flight many people put their heads back, or […]

Since being in Cordova, Alaska for the past few weeks, I’ve had numerous opportunities to walk around, and even take a drive “out the road.” In doing so, I came across this one road sign (more than once) that totally impressed upon my heart this Weekend Greeting. FRESH OIL ⎯ As you know, one of the results of the long and […]

Munakata Bethel Christian Center rejoiced last Sunday when  Haruo Shimabukuro received water baptism on Mothers Day. Since our church baptistry will not be completely installed until the end of May, he decided that instead of waiting, or instead of going to the nearby still-too-cold Sea of Genkai, he opted to be baptized in the “furo” (bath) of his own home.  Brother Shimabukuro […]

Ever wonder what happens to the sin for which you ask God’s forgiveness?  The prophet Micah asks a question and answers it in 7:18-19 — “Who is a God like You, Who forgives iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger for ever, because He delights in […]

We just finished a three-day holiday weekend here in Japan. The nation celebrates the spring equinox every year on March 21. Since this year the twenty-first fell on a Sunday, today was declared a national holiday. Lots of young couples choose this weekend to be married, like Andrea and I did 34 years ago in Seattle. I had […]

Weapons — “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD.” Isaiah 54:17 I love this picture . . . and it’s framed perfectly before one’s eyes every time people enter the kitchen at Cordova, Alaska’s Little Chapel. Notice that not one of these knives is […]

Yesterday we drove to Fukuoka City (in the olden days this major metropolis was called Hakata) to see a seven-artisan joint stained glass exhibit. As we were about to leave the exhibit on the 8th floor, someone told us that the street was lined with people getting ready for the race-parade of floats that are […]

Sunday, May 10, 2009, was a powerful day at Munakata Bethel Christian Center here in Japan. We celebrated our 2nd Annual Praise Festival in the afternoon with people from eight or nine different churches around Fukuoka Prefecture. Noah’s three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth were represented by people from USA, New Zealand, Gurkistan, Zambia, Tanzania, […]

Have you ever gone for a drive and come around a corner to be astounded by an awesome sight? That’s what happened early last week. We rounded a corner and this field of rape flowers with a backdrop of an azure-blue sky, green trees, white clouds and a strong invisible wind greeted us. After suddenly stopping the […]

Police protection ⎯ Today is officially the first day of spring, and a national holiday here in Japan. People will be taking advantage of the three-day weekend to go and view the cherry blossoms. They will travel to near and faraway places with their families, picnic baskets, cameras and probably even pets to sit beneath the awesome, flowering trees that are […]