January 29, 2017

Posted on January 31, 2017 by jgarrott

1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

This is one of those strong statements in the Bible that, when taken wrongly, have caused some people to discard their faith when things didn’t go as they expected. That certainly applies to the story behind the current movie, Silence. The original author, Shusaku Endo, felt that God was silent in the face of Christians’ suffering because He didn’t answer their cries by rescuing them. After all, how could rescuing His children from suffering not be His will? However, that ignores the reality that even Jesus suffered horribly and died, so the question of God’s will is a deep one indeed. Our faith needs to be in Him and in what He has already done for us, not in what we think He is going to do for us. 25 years ago I had a very promising young man leave the church because his father wasn’t cured of cancer, but died. He overlooked the fact that his father lived over three years past his diagnosis, when the doctors had given him six months. God had given the young man over two years of opportunity to lead his father to faith, but he didn’t use that time for that purpose, and he decided it was all a lie when his father died. That was the greater tragedy. We have a stubborn tendency to decide what must be God’s will, and then when things don’t turn out that way we blame God. How foolish! Job had the right idea: “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.” (Job 13:15)

I am in the middle of just such a test of my faith. Last night the owner of the land next door called to say that he is deciding to sell the land to the developer and not to us, giving up on trying to jump through the legal hoops required. That was a gut-punch indeed for me, and I haven’t had much sleep as a result. My wife sent out an immediate prayer request by email, and it is interesting that one of the most encouraging of the early responses was from someone I would not have expected it from. He said, “It’s not over ’till it’s over.” That said, I am certainly to the point of having to release my dream of an assisted living facility next door to the Lord completely. Even at this point nothing is impossible for Him, but I cannot imagine how He might bring it to pass (certainly not as I had envisioned it). I’ve got to keep my faith focused on Him rather than what I want Him to do for or concerning me. It is interesting that when I was investigating all the legal hurdles to establishing an assisted living facility I was just about ready to give up the idea then. (The problem right now is a matter of zoning, rather than regulations.) I was well aware that I don’t have the administrative gifts to handle running such a facility, particularly on top of the church, but my expectation was that either I would be grown in that area or, more probably, the Lord would bring others into the picture who were appropriately gifted. If by some miracle He still brings it to pass, I’m sure that will happen, but in the mean time, I’ve got to release it all into His hands and rest, relax, and rejoice in Him.

Father, thank You for this too. Thank You that my cold is much better. Thank You that You can be trusted, not only with my life and my health but with this church and with my legacy as well. Thank You for pointing out to me that legacy was one of the things that was making me count on this so strongly. Forgive my foolishness! May Your name alone be hallowed and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, right here, in every situation, as perfectly as it is in heaven. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 28, 2017

Posted on January 31, 2017 by jgarrott

1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

I like that the Japanese specifies just words or tongue. We do need to be verbal in our expressions of love, and the more so the closer the relationship. However, words alone are empty. This actually matches James’ famous statement about being a “doer of the Word,” in James 1:22. Some people are more verbal than others, so there is going to be a wide variation in how this is expressed, but both John and James are cautioning against thinking, even subconsciously, that “I’ve said it so I’ve done it.” Jesus was very clear on this point as well. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) On that point we need to be careful we don’t decide on our own what God’s will must be, but rather be humbly submitted to Him. “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:22-23) The same can be said of expressions of love. A major issue between husbands and wives is the failure to understand what will be received as an expression of love. With all the differences between men and women, it’s not unusual for one partner’s “expressions of love” to make the other partner angry! Learning to love accurately and effectively is a lifelong endeavor.

I’ve been in quite a practicum in this area over the past 48 years. (The anniversary of our first date is just over two weeks away.) I can tell my wife often that I love her, and I do, but if my actions don’t line up by meeting her needs, it all sounds very empty. I do a lot of marriage counseling, largely premarital but some otherwise. This is an issue I bring up every time, but people seem to have great difficulty understanding and accepting it. We think everyone is supposed to be like us, whatever their gender! I had the huge advantage of growing up with parents who were quite expressive of their love, for each other and for us their children. They didn’t flaunt it, but we certainly knew they kissed, and not just a peck on the cheek, either. Far beyond that, we saw how they were thoughtful of each other, communicating, and as much as possible sticking to, schedules, offering to run errands for each other and the like. It’s no wonder I couldn’t wait to get married, and so tied the knot at 20! Some of our friends today are in awe of our marriage, but don’t see how they could emulate it. They may not have the background that Cathy and I did even before we married, much less the track record since, but they can certainly improve their current situation if they will take John’s words to heart.

Father, thank You for Your love and grace to us. Help us be open and accurate channels of that love and grace, to each other first of all but also to everyone around us, so that they may be drawn to You for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 27, 2017

Posted on January 28, 2017 by jgarrott

1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This is a justly famous verse, but we tend to add to it in a way that actually diminishes the impact. What we do is insert, in our minds at any rate, “in the church,” after “speaks” and “serves.” The devil doesn’t like our obeying this verse at all, but he minds it much less if we limit our application of it to formal “church” settings. That produces “Sunday Christians” who do little or nothing to advance the Kingdom of God. Paul talked about watching our speech at all times, (Ephesians 4:29, 5:4) and the same sort of thing may be said of all our activities. (Colossians 3:17) Since as believers we are to be speaking the Gospel, everything we say should be in line with that. That’s not at all to say we’re always to be solemn; even Jesus told jokes! However, there should not be a disconnect between the Gospel and anything else that comes out of our mouths. Likewise, we are to serve people as serving the Lord. If we will do that, we will find His strength to be abundant indeed.

Anyone who knows me would be quick to agree that I am “one who speaks.” Too often it’s a problem getting me to shut up! I have no greater joy than when I am aware that God is speaking through me, and people are receiving His Word. At the same time, it also gives me joy to serve Christ through serving others. Actually, I have let my own joy in speaking and serving be a hindrance to this church, because if I’m always doing everything, others are deprived of the joy and the growth that come from such activities. Our speaking and serving, as Peter talks about them, are certainly not confined to the church, but the fellowship of believers is an excellent place to train in doing these things properly. If someone cannot pray out loud in a church setting, they certainly aren’t going to pray out loud for a non-Christian friend in that person’s presence. I am to teach the believers to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16) I’m not to be the only teacher/admonisher!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You also for this cold, that makes me more than willing to let anybody serve however they would like, because I don’t feel like it! Help me recognize how You want me speak and serve today and be obedient, whatever I feel like, so that Your will may be done in and through me for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 26, 2017

Posted on January 28, 2017 by jgarrott

1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

It is interesting that Peter, who was certainly uneducated by the world’s standards, (Acts 4:13) would quote this chunk of Psalm 34. I am reminded of evangelist and pastor Stewart Briscoe who, when asked what seminary he had attended, said, “Bedside Bible College.” When pressed with, “How do we know you’re a preacher,” he said, “Sit down and listen!” We get all impressed with human credentials when we should be looking for what God says about a person. Many seminaries have done a lot of good, but quite a few have actively destroyed Biblical faith – and sometimes those are the same schools! Knowledge, especially of the Bible, is in general a good thing, but we must remember Paul’s admonition: “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1) We are to know, but above all we are to love God and love our neighbor. Initials after a person’s name mean nothing if that person doesn’t love God in all humility and gratitude, and in consequence love their neighbor. John said, “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you.” (1 John 2:27) I’m sure he was referencing what he heard Jesus say before His crucifixion: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) If we don’t have an active relationship with Christ by His Spirit, all the academics in the world won’t do us any good.

I would not say my own seminary degree was worthless, but my time there was more valuable for the experience itself than for the academics. I had many classmates who genuinely loved God and were called by Him to serve in “full-time ministry,” but I also had classmates who were there for various other reasons, and I would hope that God in His mercy quickly removed them from church leadership. The school my associate pastor attended deliberately focuses on developing faith and commitment, with as many practical exercises as academic classes. He has said repeatedly that it was rough at the time, but he is currently very grateful for the experience. The thing is, God has us all in a “life-long learning” program. As soon as we make it through one part of His curriculum, He starts us in on another, and if we fail to learn properly, He doesn’t hesitate to teach us the same material all over again, perhaps in a slightly different way. I’ve been in something of an “intensive course” in faith and trust over the past two months, and I’m not through yet. I need to remember my own struggles as I deal with others. They may be struggling with a lesson I passed years ago, but that doesn’t mean I’m “better” than they are, just further along in school. I need to function as a tutor, as God gives opportunity, because teaching is the best refresher course!

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for this perspective on my immediate situation. Having a cold on top of it all is simply a reminder that I can’t get through this in my own strength, but Your grace is really all I need. (2 Corinthians 12:9) I do pray for Your perfect will to be done, in the situation and in me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 25, 2017

Posted on January 27, 2017 by jgarrott

1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

This verse has caused a good bit of controversy in recent years, as feminists have bristled at women being called “weaker.” However, it’s a simple fact of physiology that in general men have more muscle strength than women. With individual variations, there are certainly some women who are considerably stronger than some men, just as there are some women who are considerably taller than some men. However, this isn’t talking about psychological strength, tolerance for pain, or any of a number of other factors. The thing is, this verse also stresses equality of value, saying “heirs with you,” when that was a pretty rare thing back then. When we get hung up on measures of equality we quickly forget equality of value, and everything becomes a mess. The problem comes when people confuse equality with uniformity. We are of equal value, but we are certainly not the same! The last line of this verse means nothing to secular people, but it is of great importance to anyone of faith. The marital relationship is the closest we can have on this earth, even exceeding that of parent and child, though many refuse to believe that. It is of extreme importance, not only because it was the first social contract God established (Genesis 2:18, 24) but because it is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the Church. (Ephesians 5:25-33) It is the most logical thing in the world that when we are at odds with our spouse we have trouble praying! One of the tragedies of Church history is that John Wesley, mightily used of God as he was, had a very poor relationship with his wife. That’s very ironic when he had a magnificent mother, but it’s possible the two are connected. If he was always comparing his wife to his mother in his mind, it’s no wonder the marital relationship suffered. God deals with us individually, but He also deals with couples as units. We will not grow as God intends as long as we are wrongly related to our spouse.

I could write on this for hours, since I have been greatly blessed in my own marriage and I do marriage counseling frequently. That said, I have certainly experienced my prayers being hindered when I was at odds with my wife. As I always tell couples, I am convinced that marriage is the biggest job of anyone’s life, but it also carries the greatest rewards. Spiritually speaking, I couldn’t begin to count the number of times my wife has spurred me on to greater depth in my relationship with God, providing insight and revelation. Just as Peter says, I am physically stronger than she is, but there are areas in which she runs rings around me. Our relationship is better than the average for any country, I would think, but especially in Japan it is quite unusual, and many people have expressed admiration and envy. I am to use that impact to draw people not simply to us but to Christ. The difficulty is that because we aren’t Japanese, people see us as “other,” perhaps to be admired but not necessarily to be emulated. The Holy Spirit can get through that wall, so I need to pray that He would do so, and seek to be available for however He would use me.

Father, thank You for Your overwhelming grace. When I look back over my life I am in awe of what You have done, and what You have not done that I deserved. Help me demonstrate my gratitude with full obedience, so that I may be a useful tool in Your hands, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 24, 2017

Posted on January 27, 2017 by jgarrott

James 5:17-18 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

The story of Elijah is justly famous, but the line in this passage that we hang up on is, “Elijah was a man just like us.” We tend to think of Bible characters as being in a special dimension of spirituality, overlooking the fact that the Bible presents them faults and all. Elijah had suicidal depression, for example. (1 Kings 19:3-4) When we fail to recognize that God uses even deeply flawed human beings for His purposes, we will fail to believe He wants to and will use us. Likewise we write other people off, thinking God could never use them. No one benefits from such thinking. A prominent example at the moment is the new President of the US. There is no question that he is a deeply flawed individual, but any thought that God could not use him is actually ignoring and/or belittling God. God can use him, and God can use our prayers for him, and for others as well. Any time we focus on people to the exclusion of God, we are making a huge mistake. God is not limited by human weakness, nor does He depend on human strength. We have such trouble getting that through our heads! God wants to use us, and the the sooner and better we grasp that, the more we will experience the joy and satisfaction of seeing it happen.

This issue has actually been a major element of my ministry, as I have tried to help people grasp that God is big enough and powerful enough to use even them. Many years ago now I participated in a round-table discussion with a Japanese Christian newspaper. At that point I expressed something that I was already feeling and that has never left me: when the believers of Japan wake up to who they are in Christ, they will change not only the Church but the nation, and not only Japan but the world. I am convinced that the reason the devil holds onto this nation so tenaciously is that he knows that to be true, and he is desperate not to let that happen. So far I haven’t been so successful in getting the message across even to my own congregation! Right now we are facing the challenge of buying the land next door and building an assisted living facility, with the immediate hurdle being legal zoning requirements. We need to believe that indeed, nothing is impossible for God, or for us when we are obedient to Him, (Luke 1:37, Matthew 17:20) and that He will use our prayers and our obedience to bring His plans to fruition. We are not to ignore obstacles, but rather present each one to God in prayer and faith, just as Elijah did.

Father, thank You for all that You are doing. It was a huge boost to my faith when the architect came by yesterday and, with a few questions based on his abundant experience, really solidified the vision in my heart and mind. I’ve been missing the forest for the trees! Help me cast that vision accurately, not just to the believers here but to the neighbors and to the bureaucrats with whom we have to deal. May this be an effective step in opening the believers’ eyes to all that You want to do through them, so that we may be fully effective as Your agents however You want to use us, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 23, 2017

Posted on January 25, 2017 by jgarrott

James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

It’s been a long time since I’ve heard a sermon on this verse! This isn’t talking about nature, but about the world’s system. Even so, if you are worshiping what God has created instead of the God who created it, you are guilty of idolatry. We are to be good stewards of the natural world, but much of the “green movement” is either idolatrous or a thinly veiled effort to gain power and/or money. Of course “ecology” wasn’t an issue in the 1st Century, but what James was talking about is still very much in evidence today. When we are wrapped up in the latest fashions, consumed with what the glitterati are doing and trying to emulate them, we are setting ourselves up as enemies of God. It is natural to care what other people think, and we are certainly to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, but if we care more about fitting in than about obeying God, we again are taking the place of God’s enemies. This is hardly a politically correct truth, but it is very real and sorely needed in the Church today. It’s all a matter of focus and priorities. The more we focus on this world’s system, the further we get from God. When we focus fully on God the world may think us weird, but people are likely to admire us anyway, whatever they might say. We aren’t to be strange for the sake of being strange, but we are to take our cues from God and His Word rather than from the world.

I can remember desperately wanting to be “in style” as a teenager, with little hope of being so because the styles I was concerned about were on the US Air Force dependents school I attended, and I had no access to on-base shopping. It meant the world to me when my sister went off to college and sent me a Madras-fabric shirt from the US, because they were all the rage (never mind that the dyes bled so you couldn’t wash them with anything else). That abated very little when I went to the US myself, because I still wanted very much to fit in but felt I did so very little. It wasn’t until I married someone whom I felt would love me, whatever I looked like, that I was liberated from that. I still like looking nice, but fashions mean nothing to me. ( I even have no antipathy toward leisure suits!) Even so, that’s no guarantee I don’t let this world get ahead of God at times in my heart and mind. I’ve got to stay focused on Him, loving Him so strongly that everything else falls into place behind and below that. The song, I Am a Friend of God, is popular in some Christian circles, but it is true only when I refuse this world’s idolatry.

Father, thank You for this reminder. This isn’t much of an issue for me at this point in my life, but I see many who struggle with it. Keep me from looking down on them, but rather enable me to speak the truth in love to them so that they may recognize what they are doing and be encouraged to choose You over the world, for their eternal blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 22, 2017

Posted on January 25, 2017 by jgarrott

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

No one likes trials, but they are part of life. How we respond to them is the big question. I don’t think anyone responds to every trial the same way. Different personalities respond to the same sort of trial differently. What might be no big deal for one person might seem earth-shattering to another. However, the more experience we have in getting through trials, the easier it will be to get through the next one. That’s why parents who do all they can to spare their children from any possible trial are doing them no favors. Recently the response of numbers of people to the American presidential election has caused the term, snowflakes, to be used to describe them. Snowflakes are remarkably fragile, beautiful in protected isolation but easily crushed or melted. If we have no experience in enduring trials of various sorts we will be snowflakes indeed, done in by the most minor of inconveniences. God isn’t looking for snowflakes in heaven! God allows trials in our lives to toughen us, to teach us to fix our hearts on Him rather than on the things of this world. Jesus famously told us that “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) From a slightly different slant, Hebrews tells us “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb 12:11) What seems like a trial to us might be discipline that we have brought on ourselves, but in any case, if we respond to it by drawing closer to God in humility and trust, the result will be good. To get back to the image of parenting, parents who fail to discipline their children are condemning them to much more crushing experiences in the future. Whether it’s a trial or it’s discipline, the wise course is to look to God and “grin and bear it.”

I’ve experienced both circumstantial trials and personal discipline more times than I could count. None of it’s much fun! That said, I can easily see the benefits in my life of having made it through all of them, and I am grateful. As a pastor, my biggest trials are in dealing with those who don’t know how to deal with trials! Some people are so pampered that they make it even to old age without ever being refused anything they wanted. They are really pathetic! It takes far more to deal with them than with the vast majority of other people. I am not to condemn them, but continue to speak the truth in love to them, both in words and in actions, and I am to rejoice at the opportunity to grow further myself. I know that nothing that is yielded to God is ever wasted, but will be used by Him for blessing and for His glory. (Romans 8:28) I have gotten a lot of kickback when I have tried to share this truth, from people who thought I was treating their trials lightly. That has never been my intention, though at times their trials do seem pretty light to me. I realize that my trials might seem light to them! I am to remember at all times that we are all equally in need of God’s grace, and that His grace is indeed sufficient for us all, if we will only receive it. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Father, thank You for all You allow me to experience. When I am writing like this it is easy to be objective, but in the middle of it all I am too prone to lose my bearings. Help me indeed fix my heart on You and teach others to do likewise, so that together we may receive all that You have prepared for us, for our great blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 21, 2017

Posted on January 23, 2017 by jgarrott

Hebrews 13:20-21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

This benediction is a mouthful! It starts by reminding us of just who God is. It means a lot that He’s the God of peace. That’s not just the absence of war, it’s inner peace in the middle of very unpeaceful times. Along with that, we are reminded of His covenant and His power. He is One who makes good on His promises, and He has the power to do so. In the process we are reminded that our Lord Jesus is the Great Shepherd. That may not mean so much to us today in our urbanized lifestyles, but throughout the Bible this image is used to indicate both the gap between God and us in terms of intelligence and ability, as well as the level of care and concern that is exercised for us. It is an image that, properly understood, eliminates both pride and anxiety. Then we get to what this marvelous God will do for us, and that is to give us everything we need for what is important. This isn’t a prayer that I would be given an elephant gun, for example. However much I might think that would be a nice thing to have, it would serve no purpose in advancing God’s plans for my life, which are unquestionably the very best thing for me. It is also explicitly a prayer for good things. God’s gifts are always of the highest quality! At the same time, it is a recognition that we need work done in us, and He’s the one to do it. None of us are perfect yet; we will all be under construction until we are before His throne. And then this closes with the purpose for it all: that Jesus Christ be glorified. When you think about it, every believer has the power to bless others through their words. This should serve as a reminder to use that power under the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that God’s will may be done in this earth, just as Jesus told us to pray. (Matthew 6:9-13)

It was about 35 years ago that I attended a conference in Fukuoka held by Yongi Cho of Korea, and something in it (I don’t remember exactly what) impressed me with our power to speak blessing. I remember that in a restaurant immediately after that I intentionally spoke blessing over a little child who happened to be there. In the years since I haven’t exercised this privilege as consistently as I could have, but I think it is a characteristic of my lifestyle. When I am focused on me and my problems, that blinds me to how I can be a channel of God’s blessings to others. I need to be open at all times for God to touch others through me, not only for their sake but also because I know that is the path of greatest blessing for me as well.

Father, this is yet another example of needing to live out the truth I know. Help me not deceive myself, but do and be all that You have spoken to me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 20, 2017

Posted on January 23, 2017 by jgarrott

Philemon 1:6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

Reading various English translations I realize that the NIV is something of an anomaly, but I still like it very much in this verse. The Greek obviously talks about “fellowship of faith,” but given the total flow, taking that as “sharing faith” doesn’t seem much of a stretch. Whether knowing what good things we have in Christ produces the fellowship/sharing (as the Japanese expresses it) or the other way around (as the NIV has it) would seem to be a toss-up. In any case the more we know of how good God has been to us, the more we are going to be sharing that faith/knowledge with others, and conversely, the more we share, the deeper our own appreciation and understanding become. It is something of a truism that the best way to learn something is to teach it. That applies to faith as well. When we speak God’s truth to someone else, we are hearing what we say as well, and as Paul said, faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. (Romans 10:17) I’ll never forget one time a man who attended our church, whose wife was a Christian but he had never been baptized, was actively telling someone else about Christ. It wasn’t long after that happened that he asked for baptism! At this point he is a very active Christian, though a job transfer has taken him to another city. In a way, faith/knowledge of Christ is like love: the more you give it, the more of it you have.

I have certainly seen this principle in action, both in my life and in the lives of others. That has been true both positively and negatively. It is rare indeed that someone who shares Christ regularly on a personal level has a crisis of faith, but people who decline to talk about Jesus seldom grow in their own knowledge and appreciation of Him. Japanese culture treats faith as something very personal, not to be talked about, and religion is seen as a cultural, even racial, thing. As a result, the average church member has never shared their faith and is likely to be somewhat shaky about it. I don’t have the gift/office of Evangelist, but I love to talk about God and His Word, and that has had a very good impact on my faith. At the same time I feel like I run into a wall every time I encourage the believers to do likewise. They feel that because they’ve never been to seminary, they aren’t qualified! I point out to them that seminaries didn’t exist until several centuries after the start of the Church, but that doesn’t break through the Japanese tendency to “leave it to the pro.” (Actually, Japanese are astonished at all the things I can do for which I’ve never been to school or had other formal training.) I need to help them understand that sharing Christ does as much, if not more, for their own faith as it does for the other person.

Father, this is obviously something I can’t get across by my own wisdom and persuasiveness. I ask You to open the eyes and heart of each believer so that they may grasp more and more of who You are and what You have done for them, and in the process discover who they are in Christ, for their great blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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