The Kingdom of the Son; February 8, 2022

Posted on February 11, 2022 by jgarrott

Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

There’s a lot of good content in this chapter, but Paul’s sentences are so long it’s hard to pull out just one thought to write on it! However, this part is indeed a gem. As has come up in the readings just recently, the Bible is filled with references to evil being dark and God being light. I don’t think it was an accident that the first act of Creation was when God said, “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3) Jesus famously said that people don’t come to Him for salvation because they like the dark, because their deeds are evil. (John 3:19) The problem is, there’s no salvation in the darkness, and we need to be saved. We are right to be ashamed of our sins, but God knows everything we’ve done anyway, so the only answer is to come to His light. The particular expressions in this passage are interesting. The Japanese uses a character in writing “dominion” that means “pressure.” Practically everyone complains about “being under pressure” from one thing or another. As Paul said, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) The way out of the pressure is to come to Jesus! At the same time, we don’t come out from under the darkness into some amorphous la-la land, but into the kingdom of the Son. When we pray in the Lord’s prayer, “Thy kingdom come,” we often fail to realize what that means. A kingdom is under the control of the King! American Evangelical Christians tend to separate “Receiving Christ as your Savior” and “Making Jesus your Lord,” as though the second half of that were just a part of spiritual growth. Paul was clear that making Jesus your Lord is an essential part of salvation. (Romans 10:9) If we want to be out from under the crushing weight of sin and evil, the only answer is submission and commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord.

This of course applies to me as well. I delight in the liberty of the Spirit, but I am not immune to the temptations of darkness. I’ve got to remember where my citizenship lies. (Philippians 3:20) When temptations come, I’ve got to remember that’s none of my business; it’s no longer “natural” for me, because my nature is now hidden in Christ. As a pastor I am constantly dealing with people who can’t seem to get their allegiances straight. I have no high horse from which to look down on them, but I need to keep speaking the truth to them in love; (Ephesians 4:15) I need to come alongside them to teach and admonish them as necessary. (Colossians 3:16) We all need help to keep walking in the light! (1 John 1:7)

Father, thank You for this reminder. This picture, of transferring from one realm to another, is one that comes to me frequently. Help me indeed live it out and communicate it effectively, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Secret to Happiness; February 7, 2022

Posted on February 11, 2022 by jgarrott

Philippians 4:12-13 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

This passage could be labeled, “The Secret to Happiness.” We see verse 13 quoted often, usually out of context, but don’t see verse 12 mentioned very often at all. It certainly doesn’t agree with the “Prosperity Gospel” people! They like to focus on verse 19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus,” again taking that out of the total context of this chapter. Paul went through a lot, as he cataloged in 2 Corinthians 6 and elsewhere, but he seems to have complained fairly little, and the secret is right here. Not too many people can say the second half of verse 11 in all honesty: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” It is clear to anyone observing humanity objectively that we create our own happiness by our attitudes. If you have a sense of entitlement, you will be unhappy any time you fail to get what you think is “your due.” If you are eaten with ambition, you will be unhappy any time you feel you aren’t “getting ahead.” It has become a cliché, but it is true nonetheless: it all boils down to an “attitude of gratitude.” Paul didn’t demand things of God, but received them with joy, thanks and praise. Even physical ailments didn’t stop him in that, because when God didn’t heal him of a persistent problem after Paul had prayed earnestly three times, but rather said, “My grace is all you need,” Paul’s response was, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) People in general strive for happiness, when God has already provided all we need, if we will recognize and receive it.

I slip from this at times, but in general I think I must have a better handle on it than the average person, because people are impressed by how much I enjoy life. I have disappointments, certainly, but in general I am very aware of God’s overwhelming grace toward me. I am most often frustrated when I can’t or don’t perform as I feel I should, messing things up by my actions. I am very much of a work in progress! Every once in a while I get fixated on something I would like to have, but I have learned over the years that temporal things are just that, temporary, and choose not to let myself be eaten up over it. It is very true that I can’t maintain that attitude on my own, but God indeed strengthens me, just as He did Paul, and in Him I can do it.

Father, thank You indeed for Your grace toward me. Helping me understand the secret of contentment is a huge blessing! I do certainly want to see more harvest in Your kingdom; I don’t want to be content with people going to hell! Help me be fully submitted and available to You at all times and in all ways, not only for my own peace and joy but for the blessing of those around me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Practical Christianity; February 6, 2022

Posted on February 8, 2022 by jgarrott

Philippians 4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

It seems like every time you turn around, someone is quoting some part of the passage from verse six on, whether it’s in person, in a song, or on Facebook. That’s an indication of two things: this is really good advice, and it’s really hard to do. Much of the time we just give this passage lip service, which is why Paul puts in this verse. He is confident as to the quality of the example he has set, but here he expresses the clincher: put it into practice. Jesus (John 13:17) and James (James 1:22) said very similar things. It does us very little good to know things intellectually or theoretically if we don’t put them into practice. That’s one reason persecution can be very valuable to the church: it forces us to examine what we really believe, what we are willing to suffer or even die for. Someone has said that the unexamined life isn’t worth living. Paul, along with Jesus and James, is telling us to get real, to apply God’s truth where the rubber meets the road. That forces us to be honest with ourselves and with God. James said, quite accurately, that failure to do so is deceiving ourselves. We don’t want to do that! Actually, on some level we might actually want to, but it’s very dangerous. Just like a child learning to walk physically, we have to learn to walk spiritually, and we are just as prone to falling down. There’s a reason such children are called “toddlers!” Many, many Christians are barely toddling around, spending more time sitting, or even flat on their face, than they do moving forward. That’s not surprising, but after a while it can get really old. We need to look at the examples that have been set for us, like Paul, and get busy putting those things into practice.

Naturally, this applies as much to me as it does to anyone. As a pastor, it’s my job to help people stand up again and take at least a few more steps. For myself, I’ve long felt James 1:22 was written expressly for me! However, Jesus’ focus, that if you follow through and do the things you know you will be blessed, (John 13:17) is the most helpful, being positive rather than negative. It’s the carrot, while James expressed the stick, and Paul is essentially neutral. In any case, I am to set a good example by living out the truth I know. I have been learning over the past few years through studying Coaching that there are far more effective ways of transmitting truth than just giving lectures. That’s why Paul mentions so many different learning vectors in this one verse. As a pastor, I need to come alongside people and show them how to live for Christ and walk with Him. If I will do that, they will have a much better chance of applying the truth I speak to them.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me apply, live out, the many things You have taught me in so many ways through so many people. Thank You for all who were faithful to be the examples I needed. May I in turn be the example You want me to be for all who are watching me, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Spiritual Maturity; February 5, 2022

Posted on February 8, 2022 by jgarrott

Philippians 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.

Reading Philippians gives you a warm feeling, because Paul so obviously had a very warm, close relationship with the believers there. This, after all, was where he and Silas were famously beaten with rods and put in stocks in the innermost part of a prison, until God literally broke them out with an earthquake, and the jailer and his household were dramatically saved to eternal life. (Acts 16) In any case, Paul felt a deep emotional connection to them, and they were the only group from which he accepted financial support. These verses express what he prayed for them, and they are rich indeed. He starts by talking about love, since that was the foundation of his relationship with them. However, this wasn’t just an emotion, but was rooted and grounded in knowledge and insight. Emotion isn’t bad in itself, but it is a poor foundation for life. Paul wanted their know­ledge and insight to grow so that they would grow spiritually to be the kind of disciples that bring credit to Jesus Christ our Lord. We often forget that the only Bible people had initially was the Old Testament, and in a Gentile city like Philippi, they probably didn’t even have that. For that matter, the printing press was over a thousand years in the future to them, so any reading material they had at all was hand copied. That required total dependence on and obedience to the Holy Spirit! These days we are totally spoiled by the full Bible being available in countless translations, not just in printed form but electronically, so that we can have it on our phones. Having things easy rarely leads to maturity! That is clearly illustrated by the abundance of “snowflakes” today, who are “triggered” by anyone who so much as disagrees with them. Such people are hardly disciples of Jesus Christ, whatever they say. We should rejoice at the hard times, knowing that if we keep our eyes on Jesus we will come out of them in far better shape spiritually than when we went in. (Hebrews 12:11)

This naturally applies to me. I often comment that I feel James 1:22 was written for me, because I have had a knowledge of the Bible since I was quite small, but I am still tested frequently as to how well I am living out the truth I know. “Knowledge and depth of insight” isn’t just academic or theoretical, it is practical in every area of life. I too want to be filled with the fruit of righteousness for the glory of God, and to do that I’ve got to stay alert and obedient, never stopping with just lip service to anything my Lord asks of me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I often joke that the reason I stay young is because I never mature, but I never want that to be more than a joke! Help me indeed grow and mature continuously, until You call me home, so that I may be a support and guide to those around me, bringing many into active discipleship to Jesus Christ, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Living Wisely; February 4, 2022

Posted on February 6, 2022 by jgarrott

Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Talk about a familiar passage! I use 21-33 every time I do marital or premarital counseling, and 19 and 20 are a dearly loved song that I’ve translated into Japanese. Verse 18 is of course frequently quoted both in relation to alcohol and to being filled with the Holy Spirit. That leaves these three verses, and they too are dearly loved, and for good reason. We have an incredible capacity for foolishness! The common term of “sophomore” comes to mind. We generally use it to indicate a 2nd year student in a 4 year academic course, but by its Greek roots it means “wise fool.” In other words, they know a little, but don’t know how much they don’t know. That describes us very well! We need to be reminded of how foolish we are by nature, but life has a way of doing that, if we’re paying any attention. This is a universal issue, and it certainly applies to the life of faith. YOLO is an acronym that has been popular in recent years: You Only Live Once. That’s certainly better than belief in reincarnation, thinking you’ll have infinite opportunities to get it right, but it’s often used as an excuse for reckless or otherwise foolish behavior. Paul is expressing much that thought, but from a far wiser perspective. In other words, we need to recognize the opportunities God gives us and make full use of them, doing His will on His schedule for His glory. It’s interesting to see that Paul too thought he lived in “an evil age.” We are surrounded by the grace and love of God, but at the same time we are in the age when the devil is rampant, doing all the destruction he can. That age won’t come to an end until the return of Christ as King, so until then, we need to be wise! God gives us all opportunities to share the good news of His kingdom, and otherwise express His love and grace to those around us. We never know when a particular opportunity is unique and will never come again, so we need to be sensitive, and as the Japanese expression puts it, “bring the opportunity to life.” Someone’s eternal life might well depend on it.

Of course this applies to me. I have been a “sophomore” more times than I could possibly count! I have a high IQ, but that’s not at all the same as being wise. As Proverbs famously puts it, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) Again as James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5) There is no genuine wisdom apart from God, regardless of how much knowledge I might accumulate. I feel I miss many opportunities to share Christ and otherwise serve God, so I need to keep pressing in to be more sensitive and obedient. It always feels good to realize I’ve met a divine appointment!

Father, I do want to live wisely by Your standards. Help me not gauge things from a humanistic perspective, but always be submitted to You to recognize Your plan in each situation, indeed bringing every opportunity to life and making the most of it, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Children of Light; February 3, 2022

Posted on February 6, 2022 by jgarrott

Ephesians 5:8-10 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

This is an important statement, but Paul had to illustrate it in the middle of saying it because otherwise it would seem so theoretical as to be meaningless. We don’t necessarily go around thinking about whether something is light or dark unless there are actual lumens involved. Paul is talking about a fundamental shift of nature here, and we often have trouble either believing it has happened or grasping what it means. This is actually a further restatement and refinement of what he discussed in Romans 6 about being “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11) Jesus and many others in the Bible associated light and life, so this passage is in no way out of the mainstream of God’s revelation. However, as I said, we don’t generally go around thinking in these terms. That’s why Paul stuck verse 9 in there, explaining the characteristics of a life lived in the light. We don’t understand it all, so it’s important to get the help of the Holy Spirit to know and do what pleases God, what is really a manifestation of the light of the life of Christ within us. If we will do that, we will discover the peace, joy, and satisfaction that everyone seeks, but many plunge into darkness in that pursuit.

Of course I’m talking to myself here. I wish every facet of my life were light, but I’m not there yet. It’s comforting to know that Paul never “arrived,” either! (Philippians 3:12-14) As a pastor, I find that many people are confused as to what is light and what is not. As Paul said, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14) I am to seek God consistently myself, for my own sake and as an example to others. A song of a few dozen years ago, Children of the Day, expresses that fairly well, but the irony is that the group that sang it fell apart after being deceived by the devil. I am never to think that knowing the facts is sufficient; I’ve got to live them out. (James 1:22) This seems to be a very common issue for leaders/teachers in the Church. Somehow we think or feel that because we are leaders, that exempts us from the things we are teaching, when it doesn’t at all. It’s just like politicians being notorious for thinking they don’t have to follow the rules and laws they create. That’s not the case at all. As James said, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1) I have no excuse for any darkness in my life.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You know my weaknesses better than I do! Help me walk in full humility and live out the truth You have placed in me, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Salvation; February 2, 2022

Posted on February 4, 2022 by jgarrott

Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

This brings to mind a brief video clip from the Internet that my wife called my attention to a few days ago. A young man gave a very perceptive and theologically sound answer to the often-heard question of why God sends people to hell. He said, “God doesn’t send anybody to hell; we’re headed there on our own anyway. God in His mercy gives us a way out so that we don’t have to go to hell.” That’s a superb answer, and it meshes perfectly with these first ten verses of Ephesians 2. This verse makes that exact point. Too many people think they’re entitled to heaven, when their own actions have more than earned them a place in hell. None of us deserve heaven, being transformed into the likeness of Christ and spending eternity in perfect fellowship with Him, but God in His amazing grace, mercy and love has opened the way for us. And there is indeed only one way, as Jesus Himself said. (John 14:6) Repentance and faith are the necessary keys, and the Holy Spirit is the “GPS” to keep us on the path. One reason the world hates Christians is that they want what we have but don’t want to give up the sin they cling to, so they accuse us of “elitism.” It doesn’t matter that we’re begging them to receive the same grace we have, they just want to justify themselves in their rejection of what God is offering them through us. Yesterday I read the tragic news of a former Miss America who committed suicide, apparently influenced by online bullying. I’m sure the devil had plenty of material to accuse her of, but those who were his agents are certainly guilty of greater sin. She didn’t have the foundation of faith to see herself as a child of God, so she followed the course her flesh laid out. That should be an object lesson to us that no amount of the world’s acclaim can equal God’s approval, and no amount of the world’s rejection can overcome God’s acceptance. As verses 8 and 9 famously proclaim, we have no room for pride, but every reason for overwhelming gratitude.

I too am by nature an object of wrath, just as Paul says here. My mind goes in all sorts of devious paths. I too need to be “transformed by the renewing of my mind.” (Romans 12:2) I sometimes do things I shouldn’t, and I certainly fail to do things I should. I shouldn’t need to be on a physical “death row” to realize that would be my rightful place apart from the grace of God. Only when I recognize my own “natural condition” am I able to reach out effectively to others to draw them from death to life. Frankly, so far I’ve not been terribly effective at that, which probably reflects on a failure to be appropriately grateful for God’s mercy and grace toward me. I need to let the Holy Spirit work in me fully, washing out old thinking and attitudes so that I will express the love of God without distortion, drawing many into His family for their salvation and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You also for that video, and for the very clear word You spoke through that young man. May I like him be fully available for You to express Your truth through me, so that many will be set free to repent and believe for their salvation. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Church; February 1, 2022

Posted on February 3, 2022 by jgarrott

Ephesians 1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

We not only have too small a concept of God, we have too small a concept of the Church! Omnipotence and omniscience are just words to us, but we don’t really even have words to express the nature of the Church. The problem is that we think in terms of human organizations, or even physical buildings, and that hardly begins to touch on the Church as Paul expresses it here. This is indeed the glorious Bride of Christ, that Paul touches on in chapter 5 of this letter and John writes a good bit about in his Revelation of Christ. We speak glibly about “the Body of Christ,” but we hardly know what we’re talking about. Again, human organizations and our experience of them get in the way. The closest thing to “denomination” in the Bible is “sect,” and that, rightly enough, is hardly a “feel good” term to us. The Protestant Reformation was an essential event in the history of the Church, triggering many corrections within the Roman Catholic organization as well as spawning what are now countless Protestant groups, but none of those can claim exclusive rights to being The Church. Frankly, any group that tries to do so practically excludes themselves from it by their very claim. For centuries the Catholic Church tried to do so, but thankfully that has greatly subsided. I am reminded of C. S. Lewis’ famous statement, in The Great Divorce, that one thing we know for certain is that when we get to heaven, we will discover we were all wrong somewhere. None of us has the whole truth without error, and failure to grasp and acknowledge that lays us wide open to being manipulated and used by the devil, the father of lies. That’s not to say we shouldn’t have assurance in what we believe, but it is very much to say that we must walk in humility, allowing the Holy Spirit to correct our errors. Only then can we begin to fulfill the transcendent vision of the Church that Paul presents here.

I was raised in a thoroughly denominational environment, but it was in Japan, where the total number of active Christians of any label was less than 1% of the population. That made it much easier to see anyone who knew Jesus at all as a brother, rather than a rival or even an enemy, as I have seen many times in the US. When we came to Omura in 1981 I was immediately coopted by a denominational organization, but events led to an organizational split in less than three years, and since then I have been steadfastly non-denominational. We have been invited to join various groups over the years, including the one from which we split, but I have always felt a check on that. I am not superior to them, but the moment I put up a denominational label, someone else will consider me an enemy, or at least a rival. The lack of an umbrella organization has been difficult at times, but I have felt great freedom in having fellowship with people carrying all sorts of labels. When we mutually focus on Jesus Christ as Lord, everything else fades into insignificance.

Father, thank You for the magnificence of Your plan. We miss so much by superimposing our human constructs on it! Help me walk in full humility and submission to You, expressing Your love, grace, and holiness in everything I do and say, so that the Body of Christ may indeed be built up as You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Money; January 31, 2022

Posted on February 3, 2022 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

This passage, from verse six on, has been abused by so many charlatans that I’m tempted to wish it weren’t in the Bible, but it’s still God’s truth. “God loves a cheerful giver,” from verse seven, was one of the first lines of Scripture I was taught as a little child. That wasn’t bad, but it betrayed a focus on materialism in the Church as a whole. At the same time, Jesus said more about money than He did about heaven and hell put together, so the Church should certainly not ignore the issue. Our attitude toward money says more about us than we would like it to, sometimes. Financial insecurity is certainly debilitating, but it is actually a glorious opportunity to grow in faith and trust toward God. At the same time, having an unending spigot of funds can be a curse. Bill Whittle, out of his experience as a script writer and such in Hollywood, has said that “trust fund kids” were some of the most miserable people he knew. With no connection whatsoever between their actions and their income, they felt no purpose in life and acted that way, whether or not they did anything actually illegal. As it says in verses 10 and 11, God is certainly able to supply our every need, just as Jesus said in Matthew 6:22, but as Jesus said, our focus needs to be on God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and not on money. All of that is one reason “God’s gift” is indescribable, as this verse says. It’s complicated! Paul famously told Timothy that “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10) That verse is one place the NIV translation is very good, because the traditional translation implies that the love of money is the singular root of every evil, and that is certainly not the case. We are left with the reality that money, though an essential part of human society as it exists now, is a very dangerous thing, so we need to be careful to keep our focus on God and be good stewards of what He provides, whether it seems, in this world’s terms, to be a lot or a little. At every level it is to be an exercise in trusting God as our Provider.


Growing up in a missionary family, I was never aware of any connection between my parents’ activities and their income. That had its good and its bad points. Many missionaries have to spend a great deal of effort “raising support,” as it’s called, and I’m grateful my parents didn’t have to do that. At the same time, their income was not commensurate with the jobs they did, particularly considering that my father filled many positions, including being Chancellor of a good-sized university, yet there were months when my mother had to be very creative in feeding our family because the money ran out before the month did. It is perhaps ironic that it was only after all the kids were in college, at least, that inheritances made my parents financially comfortable enough that they in turn left funds for us when they passed on, but my share of that enabled this church building, and I am grateful. At this point in my own life, I have experienced the Lord’s unexpected provision many times, and I am currently receiving minimal Social Security as well as the Japanese National Pension that I’ve been paying into, while still being able to teach in schools. I still don’t receive as much from the church as I put into it in offerings, but that’s not an issue. The whole point is that I’m to trust God and be a good steward of what He places in my hands, being an agent of His supply to others at times, for His glory.

Father, thank You for Your provision indeed. Thank You that it’s complicated because that forces us to grow, emotionally and spiritually. Help me be the steward You want me to be, doing Your will with everything, material or otherwise, that You provide, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Following the Rules; January 30, 2022

Posted on February 1, 2022 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 8:21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

Life always has its tensions. Though we are not of the world, we are indeed in the world, and our behavior has an impact on how those around us see the Lord we profess. There are some groups and some individuals who totally ignore social and even legal norms. Frankly, I don’t think they draw many people to faith in Christ! Taxes may be complicated and even unjust, but failure to pay them gets us in trouble, period. Financial accountability is a vital test of any ministry. We are of course accountable to God first and foremost, but as long as we are in this world we have to abide by its rules as well. At the same time, doing things just because they are legal doesn’t necessarily mean they are right before God. This principle has been true as long as there have been human governments, and Paul was certainly no exception. As a Roman citizen as well as a Jew, he knew what it was to “toe the line,” as well as which lines to toe. He is a good model for us in many areas, and we do well to pay attention.

I have never been a fan of regulations, at times perhaps excessively so. I have had to learn to submit my reactions to God and listen to Him carefully, because sometimes regulations are indeed unjust or even illegal. The current uproar over mandates is a good case in point. Some US officials have been issuing edicts with no regard for the actual legal framework, leading to the current mess. I’m very grateful that the Japanese government hasn’t issued any actual mandates for those living in the country, though regulations for entering the country have been strict and at times capricious. That gives me pause as I consider the possibility of an emergency trip to the US, not knowing what hoops I’ll have to jump through to get back into Japan, particularly since I have no intention of accepting the mRNA shot. In the area of financial accountability, I’m in an awkward place because we have lost so many church treasurers that I’m now doing it myself, which is not ideal any way you look at it. We are a legally recognized church, but the reporting requirements seem to change from year to year, and I’m frankly not sure what they are at this point. The stresses of the job of church treasurer have literally driven at least five people more or less completely away from the church, which is why I’ve been doing it rather than sticking it on one of the remaining members. A paid accountant would seem to be an option, except for our very limited funds and the additional layer of complexity. God has been bringing in workers recently, so I need to pray for a willing accountant!

Father, thank You for Your answers to everything. Help us recognize Your answer to the situation about a church treasurer, and help us indeed do what is right in Your eyes in every situation, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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