神の愛...Kami No Ai...God's Love

It's All a Matter of Perspective

2008-02-01T06:42:00.000+09:00

Thursday morning at the breakfast table, we started talking about the trip that my son Travis and I had made to Malaysia and Australia last summer. Travis in all seriousness turned to his mother and said, "Mom, have you ever been on a missions trip?"

After several minutes of discussion we all agreed that although Deborah has officially only been on ONE "missions trip", and her trip looked more like this, 19 years was uncommonly long for one trip. ;-)

(This is a picture of Deborah, our four kids, a foster baby , our friends 2 kids, and a 15 year old who lived with us for over a year.)

It sure is interesting to hear how our kids, who were all born in Japan, see things.

As mentioned, we are planning to return to the States sometime during the spring to late-spring. Now we are all finding out "how we see things."

This is a decision made after talking with our pastor in the US, and the church leaders here. And of course, praying...and talking...and wondering...

Last fall when our pastor and his wife came to visit he challenged me to not limit myself as to what work I could do in the kingdom of God. At first I did not "have ears to hear" what he was saying.

However, after really considering every thing, and talking with the missionary we have been working with here, Deborah and I decided it was time to make a change. Although at this point we have no official job to return to in the States, we believe the LORD Himself will open a door that will give us a greater opportunity to affect the "mission field" of the whole earth even more for Him.

Please pray with us as we transition in the next few months. This is certainly not the easiest thing to do...

By the way, have you ever been on a "missions trip"?

Crashing into 2008

2008-01-18T20:23:00.000+09:00

Unbelievably it is already the 18th of January! Where does each day go?
Honestly we have been running from one thing to the next since the end of December.
We helped a friend and her daughter do some moving and cleaning up of their house. They lived with us about 2 weeks. We also had a leaders retreat for 2 days during that time. And New Years Worship.

This is the girls and me in our "kimono" at the New Years Day service.

We went to spend 3 days at our good friends the Gordan's home 4+ hours from here. Our visit there was great other than me getting some stomach bug.

Then our oldest son Cody came back to visit from the States on January ninth. Which meant that we had our family Christmas then.

It was great to have him home. All the kids had a fun time with him. Here is video proof.

One bit of news that we need to pass on is that we will be returning to the US to live in mid-2008. Probably May or June, depending on various factors. Please pray with us as we take a huge leap of faith...going BACK to the US.

We will share a little bit more about this in upcoming posts.
Have a Blessed 2008!!

Christmas Take 2

2007-12-28T01:26:00.000+09:00

Just the previous manger video with music.

Something Christmasy...

2007-12-20T22:55:00.000+09:00

Just a short clip that the Lord helped me make.
I thought it turned out pretty good.

This is the Christmas tree we have used at our chapel for the last 12 or so years.
The small sign gives an explanation of each of the symbols.

Thank You for Your Prayers

2007-12-17T07:39:00.000+09:00

Our Christmas get together went very well. Thank you so much for your prayers.
Here are a few shots of what happened there.

One group of children singing about the star that guided the Magi.

Here is a shot of the folks that attended.

Most of these people are not Christians. They our English students and/or the parents of English students.

Merry Christ-mas

2007-12-14T06:15:00.000+09:00

Just wanted to post a couple of videos that I took outside of our home. Nothing too exciting but hope you enjoy them.

Not many of these around here.

Our annual Christmas program will be this Saturday the 15th at 7PM. If you think of us any prayers are appreciated.

The Ragamuffin Gospel

2007-10-18T10:47:00.000+09:00

I want to introduce you to a book, and an author, that has had a great impact on my life in the last month. The author is Brennan Manning. You may have heard of him. He has had several extremely popular books.

"The Ragamuffin Gospel" is not a new book, but it was truly a god-send. I "received" it from my very good friend and mentor, Jerry Schroeder, when he returned to the States in September.

Here is part of the forward of the book:
"The Ragamuffin Gospel is written for the bedraggled, beat-up, and burnt-out.

It is for the sorely burdened who are still shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other.

It is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don't have it altogether and are too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace.

It is for inconsistent, unsteady disciples whose cheese is falling off their cracker.

It is for poor, weak, sinful, men and women with hereditary faults and limited talents.

It is for earthen vessels who shuffle along on feet of clay.

It is for the bent and the bruised who feel that their lives are a grave disappointment to God.

It is for smart people who know they are stupid and honest disciples who admit they are scalawags.

The Ragamuffin Gospel is a book I wrote for myself and anyone who has grown weary and discouraged along the Way."

IF any of those sounds like you, get a copy...you won't be sorry.
The cover of the new edition has a different cover. I scanned mine and posted the picture because I think the art on it is better than the new one.

Twenty Four...Plus Twenty

2007-09-29T14:21:00.000+09:00

Some of you may be familiar with the Switchfoot song "Twenty Four" that includes the following words:

"Twenty four oceans, Twenty four skies
Twenty four failures, Twenty four tries
Twenty four finds me in twenty fourth place
Twenty four dropouts at the end of the day
Life is not what I thought it was twenty four hours ago...
And I'm not who I thought I was twenty four hours ago...

Twenty four reasons to admit that I'm wrong
With all my excuses still twenty four strong..."

I always liked the song, but I especially "felt" the meaning of it when I learned it was composed right before the writers birthday.

Well, today I sit in my office singing "Forty Four"...

To you that have none of the melancholic in you, you may find it hard to grasp the appeal of a song like this or the reason anyone would sing or listen to it.
For those of us who are melancholic...'nuff said.

I tip my hat to those of you who would be motivated to sit down on your birthday, examine your life goals, re-evaluate where you are and restate them in a clearer and more concise form. Bravo.

But, some people have had their life goals "jerked out from under them" like a rug. And some of them may spend their birthday trying to figure out which one of their injuries is life threatening and needs immediate attention. Life can be that way.

I am blessed, on this birthday, to say I am not the depressed, over extended, barely able to cope person I was 2 years ago on this same day...but I have to admit that a birthday still really does make you stop and think about all that has gone on in the past ___ (you fill in the blank) years.

I think the key to it all is found in a couple of the lines that I left out of the song (sorry):

"Life is not what I thought it was twenty four hours ago,
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You.
And I'm not who I thought I was twenty four hours ago,
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You.
...
I want to see miracles, see the world change
Wrestled an angel, for more than a name
For more than a feeling, for more than a cause
I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
And Your raising the dead in me."

I have been learning again to sing, "Holy Spirit, lift me up" no matter WHAT happens or doesn't happen. No matter what is accomplished or is unaccomplished. No matter if I'm meeting my goals or shipwrecking on them...

It is extremely hard for me to believe that I am 44. Honestly I will probably be singing "Forty Four" for at least the next several days.

My only hope is HE is raising the dead in me...

A Little More About Malaysia

2007-09-08T12:28:00.000+09:00

Here is a short presentation I made with the "remix" application on Photobucket. To give you a little better idea of what we did in Malaysia...

Back From Malaysia

2007-09-01T12:42:00.000+09:00

Hello to all! Travis and I finally made it back from Malaysia and Australia on August 29th. I thought I might be able to post, while I was gone, about the progress of our trip, but had no Internet access even in Australia.

Thank you for all who prayed. Everything went very well.
We spent 3 days in a kampong (village) where we bathed, washed our clothes and brushed our teeth in a small stream.

The people were so friendly and took great care of us. We spent quite a bit of time walking on the dirt roads and visiting homes, doing fellowship meetings, praying for people and eating!!. We were present when one elderly lady confessed Jesus as her Lord.

The second half was spent at a youth camp for the kampong young people. The Lord moved on several families in the kampong to remove all the magic charms and such that they had kept even though they were confessing Christians.

The people there were feared headhunters in the past and even as recently as 50 years ago there were incidences of headhunting. One family actually had a human skull that their ancestors had "harvested" about 100 years ago. We buried it in the local cemetery and prayed for the family to be released from any spiritual bondage related to it.

Our team was able to do our drama "King of Hearts" two different times and people were touched both times.

I will try to post a few more pictures in the future here and also on our Photobucket account.
Blessings!
Eric and Travis

It Is Amazing How Time Flies...

2007-08-05T22:36:00.000+09:00

These last few weeks have been extremely hectic...but I had no idea it had been this long since I last posted!!

Our Oldest to America
Our son, Cody, left for the US on July, 31st. We have been preparing for several months...but it was a shock to Deborah and I when the day finally arrived. I suppose every parent who has children leave home can identify with that.

He is going to be staying with our good friends the Daggets in San Diego. He will be getting his GED after his 18th birthday and also studying at Berean Bible School. Pray for him to transition to American life, to make some good friends and to find his niche...

Preparing for Malaysia
Our second son, Travis, and I have been preparing for our trip to Malaysia and Australia in August. We have been meeting every Tuesday (and some Sundays) to pray, prepare, and practice a drama called "King of Hearts" that we will be doing.

Any prayers for us as we leave August 16th are greatly appreciated.

Church Planting Study
At the same time our missionary leader held a church planting "seminar" at our home church Jesus Family. It was mainly for the outreach that will begin from fall to the Shulamite (code name) people in Central Asia.

It was a great time to begin to dream of what the LORD has in store for us here in Japan in the future.

Home Stay In Japan
From August 1st two high school students came to do a home stay at our home. It is an opportunity for them to learn English and hopefully the LORD Jesus.
Please pray for Yukari and Miki.

I have been teaching them 2 hours of English every day and we have been doing various "activities" with them too. One day Deborah taught them how to cook while preparing dinner for a couple that were coming to visit.

Here is a shot of the worship service they attended with us today (8-5-07).

To be honest it has helped keep us occupied since Cody left. But they will only be here until August 7th and then we are on our own. ;-)

Thanks to all of you who have kept us in your prayers...you are very important as we go forward each day to share the LORD in Japan.

Report on Kairos Missions Course

2007-07-12T14:12:00.001+09:00

Thanks to all who prayed for the missions course I attended. It was really good for me.
First, The LORD especially brought back a phrase that I had heard ?? years ago from Genesis 12:1-3.

Many of you know it I am sure, but the "top line" is God blessing us...but the BOTTOM line is "we are blessed to bless others". This is one important aspect of being Abraham's descendants. As the speaker said "that is the BOTTOM line".

It was really good for me to sit and evaluate (not done yet) how much of all I do is focused on the "top line". It also helped me to see how many of the struggles I have had in the past come from this. Focusing on my goals, my plans, my...my..my... It isn't/wasn't extremely fun to evaluate that, but it certainly is/was necessary.

Secondly, without using all the specialized language, I realized that my view of "the local church" was actually more like a training school or missions organization. That is, my expectations of what people should be doing was WAY TOO HIGH.

I know there has to be an "goal" to run toward. But in the local church, I realized, there will always be those who are just hanging around. And as long as they are not pulling others to sin or causing REAL problems (other than just irritating me) they should be welcome and loved.

In the past one person told me "Your Sunday messages sound like a YWAM DTS." At the time I was quite pleased and couldn't figure out what the complaint was...until now...it was good old BTHS. (Bar Too High Syndrome...actually I just made that up;-) )

THANKS AGAIN to all who prayed for me. It was a great learning experience...
More later...

A Thank You...and Some Requests

2007-06-25T21:48:00.000+09:00

Thank you for your prayers
For those of you who prayed for our Saturday night class, a great big thank you. This past Saturday only one person came...and we were really able to minister to them in a personal way. The young lady mentioned last time was there and she, Deborah and I got to talk about married life and a few other things.

One of the best things was when she asked Deborah's opinion about a subject that would concern her and her husband if she were to get married. Deborah gave the exact same answer I had given 30 minutes before when we were having the separate class time...

Week Long Missions Course
I would like to request your prayers for the week of July 2-6. I will be attending world missions course at our church here. It is Monday through Friday 9AM-9PM. I will be staying with a single guy in the church...pray for me to learn a lot...and for Deborah and the kids while I am gone. I won't be very far from home, but won't be home for the whole week.

Planning Our Trip to Malaysia/Australia
Also, we are meeting every other week to plan our missions trip to Malaysia this August. Travis and I will be gone from August 16-28th. We are working on some skits, testimonies and teaching to use in Malaysia.

We will also be going to check out a multi-cultural church in Sydney, Australia. Pray for good team work, safety, and for us to learn all that we need to during that time. Travis is going on his first missions trip...although he has lived on the mission field of Japan all his life.
Any and all prayers are truly appreciated...

A Prayer Request...祈りのリクエスト

2007-06-16T14:34:00.000+09:00

We truly appreciate all of you who look at this blog and pray for the ministry here in Japan. You are affecting Japan for eternity!!

Just wanted to make a special request for the Saturday Night English Class/Bible Time we have. Recently the number of students has dropped BUT all the students that are here are very interested in the Bible and the LORD. In the last month we have started reading through John's Gospel in English and Japanese, and then asking the students if they have any questions or thoughts from what they have read.

Last Saturday night one man said "Why have we never read this before? This is really easy to understand. " It was exciting to tell him that #1) God's unedited, uninterpreted Word has great power. And #2) Even if you hear the exact same thing over and over, there are a things called "God's timing" and "the working of the Holy Spirit".

I have probably asked you to pray for Jun-ichi before. But I ask again. He had contact with church as a child through the Boy Scouts. Also, Mami, a young lady. They are the 2 most interested students...

このブログを見て、日本と私たちのために祈っている方々に感謝しています。皆様の祈りが永遠の影響があります！！

今度、土曜日の英会話／バイブル・タイムのために「祈ってください」と頼みたいです。人数は減っていますが、残っている生徒は聖書のことやイエス様ことを興味がある人ばかりです。5月中からヨハネによる福音書を一緒に読むようになったいます。少しずつ英語と日本語で読んで、質問や意見があれば、分ち合っています。

先週の土曜日にある男性が「なぜこういう箇所を、今までに、読んでないの？これは非常にわかりやすいです。」と言われました。

そのとき、#1)「神様の裸みことばはとても力強いです。」と#2)「同じことを何回も聞いても、神様のタイミングや聖霊様の働きは関係がある。」と教えました。

是非、潤一さんのために祈ってください。小さい時、ボーイスカウトの関係で教会を通う機会がありました。また、真美さんのためにもお祈りください。この二人は一番興味を持つ方です。よろしく。

Looking Back to Look Forward...

2007-06-03T12:03:00.000+09:00

As many of you know, our ministry here in Japan took a dramatic shift in January 2006. At the time there were a lot of days that I felt our ministry here had been basically worthless. It wasn't that we hadn't seen ANYONE touched or ministered to, it was just that both the NUMBER of people touched and the QUALITY of the "touch" didn't meet MY hopes or expectations.

However in the last few months the LORD has continued to show me that what we did before really has fruit that remains...and of course this encourages us for the future.

Going ahead like Joseph
One example is a woman that was baptized here about 4 years ago. At the baptism her daughter cryed buckets. The woman said "At first I was reluctant to get baptized alone. I wanted my whole family to get baptized together, but I felt the LORD tell me ""You are like Joseph. You need to "go ahead alone" so your family can be saved later.""

This past Easter the daughter got baptized at the church they now attend AND the husband has made a confession of faith in Jesus.

A Daughter's salvation and 2 grandchildren
Another woman who got baptized in our big January 1, 2000 baptism, when we baptized 6 people, had a daughter that was very anti-religion, anti-Christian at the time. The daughter was having difficulty having children. Of course this became one of our focused prayers.

Well, the daughter got pregnant and had a healthy little boy in 2oo2. After that she made steps toward the LORD and got baptized. Her husband also has grown closer to accepting the LORD.
And on June 4th she gave birth to a healthy daughter...

A Husband's salvation and Home School
Another young lady who came to our church was raised in a Christian home, but got "in trouble" and married an unbeliever. They had two children in a short period of time and things were not always good at home.

The husband came to know LORD through the ministry of a friend of ours from Australia. Even after that things were not always easy but they have grown in the LORD their lives have been greatly touched by the LORD.

During this time she began to home school their two young children through our example. Recently several people have asked her how she can make her children behave so well. Then this past week end the two of them held a small seminar at the area home schoolers convention.

Althought these may seem like small testimonies compared to those from other mission fields, they encouraged us greatly here in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Please pray for any other seeds that the LORD has allowed us to sow in the past years...As I mentioned before, there are days that I feel like not much remains for our labors. But that is not true...the LORD has already shown us that.

For HIS glory and HIS kingdom.

Power For Living...「パワー・フォ・リビング」

2007-05-24T11:26:00.000+09:00

Recently the "Power for Living" book was translated into Japanese. Most of you know it is a very basic, how to have a relationship with God through Jesus, and how to grow in that relationship. It has been advertised on TV, radio and in commuter trains.

Two extremely well known people have endorsed it. One is a Japanese woman who wrote a classic pop song in Japan called "The Outsider". The other is a foreigner who managed the winning team in the Japan National Baseball Series last year.

We have been able to pass out almost 100 of them. Most of our English students at the chapel and my city classes took them. At the Civic Center I explained what they were and left a stack of them on my desk. Several people told me they had seen it on TV and were interested in it. Several others who usually run away when the discussion turns to "God", "Christianity" or even "religion", came and quietly slipped a copy into their bag.

One student, that I have had many conversations about faith, etc with, was reading it at the small restaurant we have in the civic center after class. Another used the opportunity to write about it in her English diary that I check every week. She was telling me why Japanese could NOT believe in Jesus, BUT at least she was thinking about it. (Of course, I wrote my take on the subject when I checked the diary. )

PLEASE pray that “Power For Living” will stir up a harvest across this nation. Many people have heard about Christianity, but have no idea what it really teaches.

Please pray that many who have heard the gospel before, or fallen away, would be stirred by this book. Please pray specifically that those who attended Sunday School or a Christian kindergarten as children would be stirred to believe.

**I started this post more than a month ago. Now there are about 40 or so new English students I have started teaching. Please pray for them as I pass out the Power for Living books to them.

お祈りください！

最近「パワー・フォ・リビング」という本は日本語翻訳されました。この本は、福音を単純に語って、また、神との関係を持つ方法について語っています。テレビやラジオや電車の車両の広告で宣伝されました。

日本でとても有名な人がその宣伝に出ます。一人は「異邦人」の作曲者です。もう一人は日本ハムファターズの監督者です。

教会の英会話の生徒や香芝市の英会話教室の生徒に、100冊ぐらい配れました。文化センターで本を紹介してから、自分の机に置いて、「ほしがっている人どうぞ！」と言いました。いくつの方が「テレビのCMで見って、興味がある。」と言いました。その中、いつも「神様」、「キリスト教」、「宗教」などの話を避ける方でも、こっそり来て、一冊を取りました。

一人、前からよく信仰などの話をしてくれた生徒が、事業が終わってから食堂で読みました。もう一人が英語の日記でそのことについて書きました。日本人がキリスト教を受け入れない理由いろいろ書いたのですが、考えてくれたことは嬉しかったです。（もちろん、私の考えも書き入れましたが…）

｢パワー・フォ・リビング」で福音のための収穫がありますように、祈ってください。多くの方が「キリスト教」を尊重しますが、その教えわかりません。

イエス様についてのよい知らせを聞いたことがある人、や教会から離れている方などが救われますように祈ってください。特に、日曜学校や幼稚園で聖書の話を聞かれた人の人生に収穫がありますように祈ってください。

＊＊このポストは一ヶ月前書いたのです。最近、また、新しい英会話の教室が始めました。新しい生徒のためにもお祈りください。

My wife....

2007-04-10T12:19:00.000+09:00

I just realized again this past Saturday that my wife is very special. It was her birthday that day. I walked in to the kitchen while she was preparing breakfast for 12 people, instead of the usual 7. Why?

Well, the day before she had a birthday/good bye/sleep over party for the girl that has lived here since last March when her mother passed away. Uzuki will be going to her adoptive family soon.

Deborah had an elaborate "Lilo and Stitch" party that included a hula dance (our daughter Coann did that! ) and a bunch of semi-Hawaiian food. They all must of had a fun time because they almost came through the second floor.

They began at 3PM.There were about 10 girls here (not counting ours) and those who didn’t sleep over stayed until about 9PM.

Before anybody says "Don't burn your wife out!" let me say, I was against the whole thing from the start. But thankfully she said "Just let me take care of it!". She and Coann planned and decorated and planned and decorated...

And even though I had to move a refrigerator at the last minute AND feed the foster baby at 3AM...I learned a lot from my selfless wife. Pray for her if she comes to mind. She is a great missionary…and mother and wife.

Whatever You Do, Don't Wait!是非、待ってないで！

2007-03-22T14:18:00.000+09:00

This is a very difficult post for me. But if one person can learn from my mistake, I will feel like my experience is not wasted.

At the end of February, the name of an old acquaintance came up unexpectedly. I had not seen him or his wife for 4 years or more.

He had been an English student for many years and a "semi"-friend of the family. We had many conversations about faith, God, Christianity...you name it.

His story of the Buddhist priest telling him "There is no human soul, it is just a superstition." is one of my often told tales. The priest had been receiving money almost every month for nearly 20 years to pray for the soul of his child who had died.

When his name came up I immediately felt the Lord Jesus nudge me to go visit him. But I was busy trying to get my taxes done, so I wrote a note on the calendar in February, March and April, so I would not forget to visit him...

Today I got the phone call that he had passed away. I had promised myself I would go when I got less busy...He was not all that old so I felt no "urgency" to make the visit, other than the reminder every time I looked at the calendar...and now I sit at my computer extremely "sorry"...

Tonight I will be going to offer my condolences to his wife...I wish I had gone to renew an old friendship before it was too late...

Ask the LORD Himself to help you not put off those "nudges". There is always "busy work" to do...but people are the LORD's heart beat.

このポストは、私にとって、とても難しいです。が、誰かのためになったら、満足します。

2月末、久しぶりに、ある知り合いの名前が出てきました。4-5間に会っていない人。

長い間英会話の生徒で、内の家族とまま親しくなりました。数えられないほど、イエス様のことや信仰のことなどについて話しました。

亡くなられた娘の魂の冥福ために20年近く祈られたお坊さんに、「人間って、魂がない。それは浄土宗の迷信だ」と言われた知り合い。エリックの有名な話です。

この人の名前が出てきたとき、「会いに行かなければならない」と思いました。実は、イエス様に教えられたと思います。しかし、そのとき、税金のことしか考えられない時期でした。彼に会いに行くのを忘れないために、2月、3月、4月のカレンダーにメモを書きました...

が、今日、「昨日の晩、亡くなった」という連絡がありました。
「時間があるとき、必ず会いに行く」と決めたのに。後悔。「そんなに年寄りではない。急ぐ必要がない。」と考えたのに。後悔。今、ここに座りながら、「もう、遅い」と考えるばかり。

今夜、奥様に会いに行きます。しかし、「久しぶり」の替わりに「お悔やみを申し上げます」ということしかできません。

皆さん、イエス様が人を思い出してくれるとき、「あなたのタイミングで行きますように、助けて下さい」と祈ったら賢いと思います。
どんなときでも忙しいでしょうが、「人」はイエス様のハートです。

On Being Pro-Life...命の大切さ

2007-02-25T00:32:00.000+09:00

Most of you know we work with a pro-life/adoption agency called "Loving Decisions" here in Japan. We have 2 little "loving decisions" daughters, we continue to do foster care and my wife does phone counseling.

Recently, in a pro-life email, I heard the story of Amillia Taylor. She was born in Florida, last October, at only the 21 first week of gestation . She weighed less than 10 ounces and was only 9 1/2 inches long. At the time of her birth she was given a nearly 0% chance of survival. http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/feb/07022003.html

But not only did Amillia survive, she was released from the hospital on February 21st. She does still have some health problems, but her parents are extremely happy with there bundle of joy. Just watch this video.http://www.nbc6.net/video/11056520/index.html

But why is Amillia important enough to write about here?? Let me explain.
Before Amillia was born, 25 weeks gestation was the generally considered the limit of viability for a baby. Approxiamately only 50% of those babies survive. Although a few babies have survived at 23 weeks these were considered anomalies, and experts were certain that a "fetus" was not viable before that...

So 25 weeks gestation has been used as a lower limit in abortion laws. In other words, in every state 25 weeks was the basic place where debates about the legality of abortion could begin.

Now we know the experts were wrong...

Of course in most states, a child's life can be destroyed until the moment the mother's contractions begin. In partial birth abortion, the child is pulled into the birth canal and the spinal cord is severed at the base of the skull. If you think you can stomach the pictures please look here: www.nrlc.org/abortion/pba/PBA_Images/PBA_Images_Heathers_Place.htm
If someone did this to an animal they would be thrown in jail.

Sadly enough Amillia is not going to change the minds of those who feel abortion is protected in the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Witness the following quote: "We don't have new treatments," said University of Pennsylvania professor Art Caplan. "There isn't anything to be done differently to try and save 21 week old premature infants. And so I think it would be wrong to just say because this one made it. We ought to treat everyone when we don't have any new treatments."

Maybe Amillia will influence those that are on the fence about this issue. A human baby is... a human...from the point of conception.

Sadly the question is not "just ...because this one made it." should" We ...treat everyone..." . The question is should we be KILLING any of these babies at all.

私たちは妊娠中絶を止め、養子縁組をすすめる団体「愛の決心」と協力していることを多くの方々がご存知だと思います。私たちの娘たちは二人の愛の決心であって、今、里親をやりながら、家内が電話相談に参加しています。

最近、アミーリア Taylorちゃんの話を聞きました。妊娠21週目に、フロリダ州に生まれました。生まれたとき10オーンス（280ｇｍ）9.5インチ（20センチ以下）しかありませんでした。もちろん、生まれたとき、絶対亡くなると先生が言いました。http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/feb/07022003.html

しかし、アミーリアちゃんは、死ななくて生き残っただけではなく、2月21日（水）に退院しました。いろんな健康的な問題があっても、父母は喜びました。http://www.nbc6.net/health/11056409/detail.html

アミーリアちゃんの重要さはそこで終わりません。実は、アミーリアちゃんが生まれる前、妊娠25週目まで赤ちゃんは絶対母の体外で生きることができないと専門家の先生たちが語りました。25週目に生まれた子でも、50%亡くなりました。

そうすると、アメリカ合衆国では、25週目は妊娠中絶の最低なリミットでした。母の体外で生きることが出きないという確信があったからです…今まで…

しかし、専門家は間違えました…

もちろん、ほとんどの州では、母の陣痛が始まる一瞬まで、赤ちゃんを膣に引っ張って、せき髄をさっと切ることが許されています。気持ち悪くならない自信がある人、このURLを見てください。
www.nrlc.org/abortion/pba/PBA_Images/PBA_Images_Heathers_Place.htm

単なる動物にこのようなことをすると、絶対捕まります。

残念ながら、妊娠中絶は「人権」と思っている人の考え方は変えられません。

この引用は上の記事にペンシルベニア州立大学のアート・カップリンは：「新しい治療などはありません。今までのやり方以上21週目に生まれる赤ちゃんを救う方法はありません。だから、一人が救われたと言っても、新しい治療方法がないため、こういう赤ちゃんは、皆、救うべきだ。と言えません。」と言ってしまいました。

できるなら、アミーリアちゃんは妊娠中絶をあまり好きではない、けど、そんな反対するはずはない人の心に触れるでしょう。人間は生まれる前から人間です！

悲しいことは、未育児を救うべきかどうかという話より先に「妊娠中絶をするべきかどうか」と考えてほしいです。

17 Years Ago Today...

2007-02-14T13:59:00.000+09:00

17 years ago today I was pacing the floor of the OLD Red Cross Hospital(built before WW2) in Osaka City, awaiting the birth of my first child, who turned out to be Cody Christopher. He came into this world a healthy 9 lbs 10-11 oz at about 6:30 PM.

I was 26. Deborah, my wife, was 20. The night before, we had picked up Deborah's parents at the only international airport the Osaka area had at the time ( now there are at least 3 ). There were no Toys 'R Us/Babies 'R Us in Japan at the time so they brought a mountain of baby stuff from both our home churches and all our family members. We filled the trunk of our ToyotaCorolla, packed the rest of the stuff in the back seat, wedged Deborah, tummy and all, and her mother on top of it and headed home.

I can still remember my father-in-laws face when we got on the old freight elevator at the hospital the next day. It was complete with the accordian door, you occasionally see in old movies...at the time I thought his reaction was kind of funny. His face didn't change much when he saw the old warped flooring or all the pipes running over our heads which would be covered by suspended ceilings now-a-days.

At the time, having yet to become a parent, it never occurred to me that my mother-in-law and father-in-law were either people of GREAT faith in God or totally CRAZY, to allow me, a pig farmer from Southern Illinois, to drag their daughter half way around the world for such an experience.

It never occurred to me that even though we needed a translator for the monthly doctor visits, (THANKS Kazuyo Mukumoto !) having a baby "in another language" might be difficult.

It never occurred to me...the list is endless of the things I never once thought about or worried about...It just never occurred to me...

As I started this post I was thinking this might be a "tribute" to my number one son...who has grown up to be a handsome, talented, very responsible young man...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Cody Christopher!!I am very proud of you, though I don't always show it.You will always be my favorite number #1 son, just like the song says!!

As I wrote I began to feel it should be more of a tribute to my mother and father-in-law who have made me feel nothing but loved and accepted even though I took their only daughter and kept the subsequent 4 grandkids half way around the world. I could never have gotten better in-laws...Mom and Pop you all are the greatest!!

Then, I realized this should be a tribute to the wonderful woman who made all this possible by coming to Japan with me when she was only 19. Deborah, who has had to weather the biggest storms and put up with the most difficulties of anybody.

Having all her babies, doing most of her transition to an adult and all of her ministry and family life "in a foreign language". Away from her parents and grandparents, childhood friends and familiar surroundings.

Deborah, every single person we have touched here in Japan is a direct result of your sacrifice and faith. I could never, ever desire a better or more suitable "help-mate." You always have been and always will be the one for me ...

And finally it occured to me...this post is first and foremost a tribute to my God and Saviour...whose faithfulness in all things, at all times, to my family and I has made this post possible.

Having gone through the fire in such a tremendous way the last 2-4 years, there were times that I felt abandoned and totally a drift. There have been times that I have wondered if ANY of what my family and I have gone through was worth ANYTHING at all.

And yet here I sit today, looking back to that night 17 years ago, realizing that without His faithfulness, mercy and strength, NOTHING would have come of ours lives. And I finally realize it is all "to the praise of the glory of HIS GRACE". (Ephesians 1:6)

And so this posting ends as I pray a prayer of thanks to You my Creator,God the Father, and the Savior of my Soul, who lay Your life down in exchange for mine, the Lord Jesus.

There is no way I could ever repay the debt that I owe You for the last 17 years of love, mercy, patience and guidance...I have finally given up trying. And that is the glory of Your grace.

2 Day New Year Planning meeting...二日間研修会

2007-02-12T14:57:00.000+09:00

This past Saturday and Sunday we had a New Year Planning and vision casting time at Jesus Family. It is somewhat like an extended business meeting.

Each session began with praise and worship (which is always great at JF). Then there were reports from last year, introduction of some new positions and workers, and also, teaching from the Word.
The pastor, Hirao-san, shared some new long range, medium range and short range goals he received from the LORD.

The final session ended with foot-washing. It was such a blessing.

Please pray with us as we become more of a direct part of the ministry at Jesus Family. Pray especially for us to be able to overcome the distance factor...we are about 30-40 minutes by car from the church.

この間の土日ジーザス・ファミリで、毎年の「アガペ研修会」に参加しました。これは享年のいろいろの発表であって、これからのビジョンの分ち合い時でした。

毎回、賛美/礼拝から始めました。ジーザス・ファミリの賛美礼拝いつもすばらしいです。牧師、平尾さんが神様からいただいた、長期、中期、短期の目的やゴールを分ち合いました。

最後のセッションは、洗足式を行ないました。とても、恵まれました。

これからもっと直接な関係を持つようになるため、お祈りください。特に、教会から離れていることについて祈ってください...車で30-40分ぐらい。電車で1時間15分。

Saturday Night Bible Time...土曜日のバイブルタイムの発表

2007-02-05T10:25:00.000+09:00

Please pray for our Saturday Night at 8 PM Bible Time and the folks that attend. Recently we began talking about "The Spirit World". We always talk about God and His work, so I thought we specifically needed to reveal some of the workings and strategies of the devil and his underlings. We have been emphasizing repeatedly that the devil is NOT equal and opposite God.

This past week everyone was extremely attentive as 1 Corinthians 10 that says "what the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons" came into the discussion. We had been talking about the devil is the "father of lies"(John 8:44) and he "deceives the whole earth" (Rev 12:9) , and the LORD gave me the idea that "1 good strong lie is worth 1000s of demons."

Any and all prayers for this time would be a great help. At the end of this past Saturday, almost everyone was very seriously considering the things they had just heard.

土曜日の午後８時よりのバイブルタイムのために、祈っていただいたら、すごく助かります。最近、「霊の世界」について学んでいます。もちろん、神様のことや働きについて、いつも学んでいますので、「霊の世界」は主に「悪魔」や「悪霊」のことです。

一つの大切なこと繰り返して言うことは「悪魔は神様と同じように、全知、全能なものではありません。」

この間の土曜日にコリント人への手紙第一　10章で「異邦人がささぐものは、悪霊にささけます」。これは、初めてではないですが、初耳のように聞かれてくださいました。以前、「悪魔は偽りの父」(ヨハネ8章44節）と「悪魔は全世界を惑わす」（黙示録12章9節）ということについて学びました。途中、神様から「一つの嘘は何千匹の悪霊の働きができます。

是非、思い出したら、お祈りください。今の生徒は真剣に聖書の話を聞いてくださいます。

Thanks for your prayers!! 祈ってくださったことをありがとう！

2007-01-28T15:18:00.000+09:00

Thank you all for your prayers. The homestudy went very well. Deborah asked all the questons and I recorded all the answers. Everything went very well and we finished about 2 hours earlier than we expected. That helped alot because we had our usual English Class/Bible Time Saturday night.

The kids were fine by themselves too. THANKS SO MUCH.

祈ってくださったことを本当ありがとうございました！すべてが上手くいきました。デボラがすべての質問をして、僕は記録しました。2時間早くを終わって、無事に帰りました。土曜日の英会話／バイブル・タイムに間に合いました。

子供たちも家で全く問題はありませんでした。本当にありがとうございました。

Homestudy...愛の決心のため家庭訪問

2007-01-26T06:21:00.000+09:00

This Friday (January 26th) from 5 PM, Deborah and I are going to go do our first homestudy together for Loving Decisions, the Pro-Life/　Adoption Agency we volunteer with. It is MY first experience although Deborah is an old hand at it. Please pray for OUR harmony and MY humility and ability as I learn from my wife. Hey, that is not always the easiest thing to do for some of us　normal human beings. We will not be to far away, but pray for our kids at home too please.

今週の金曜日（26日）午後5時から、デボラと一緒に「愛の決心」のために養子縁組しようと思っている方の家庭訪問をします。一泊しないといけません。デボラは何回もしたが、僕は初めてです。祈っていただいたら、助かります。二人とも良く働くように。また、初めての僕の謙遜と能力のために。人間である僕のために、妻から学ぶことは上手くいけない時もあります...:-）あまり遠くへ行かないですが、家に子供のためにも祈ってね！

Time Flies....一日は早い～～！

2007-01-13T11:28:00.000+09:00

For those of you that have checked this site since the last post I apologize...it is amazing how fast each day passes by.

First of all, Thank you for your prayers. Cody's Christmas guitar playing went very well. We were blessed to watch him with our good friends, Jeff and Rie Shaffer and their kids. Jeff's camera work saved the day for Mom and Dad who forgot their camera.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Also,our first "Homestay In Japan" went pretty well...we finally realized that the boy who was staying with us really wasn't all that interested in English. It seems that his Mom probably did not tell him the MAIN idea of the time was English study. BUT we learned a A LOT!!
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Lastly, we had a weekend retreat with the leaders of Jesus Family It was a good time to get to know them more and talk about the coming year. We covet your prayers as we embark on this new adventure the LORD has lead us to.

この２‐3週間の間、ブログ見てくださった方に、「ごめんなさい。」と言わなければなりません。年末で、一日が本当に早かったです。

コーディ君のために祈ってくださったことを、ありがとうございました。友人、Jeffと理絵Shafferといっしょに行きました。Jeffさんのカメラに救われました。お父さんがカメラを忘れた！！

ホムステーィは、まま、よかったです。実は、泊まりに来た子のお母さんは、英語を勉強するためと言わなかったみたい。本人が遊ぶことを楽しんで、英語の勉強を我慢したみたいです...私たちの勉強になりました。;‐）

そして、1月7－8日、ジーザス・ファミリのリーダたちと一泊しました。今年のことを考えながら、関係づくりになりました。非常に良かったです。皆さん、お祈りをよろしくお願いします。

Christmas Party...クリスマス会

2006-12-17T00:01:00.000+09:00

Just wanted to get a few of the pictures up from our Christmas Party on the 16th. We weren't sure how many folks would come this year, but we ended up with at least 70!
　
THANK　YOU to all of you who prayed　for us.　

　　　　　　　　　
　　Several of the girls' friends came. Some for the first time.Please pray with us that the seeds

that were planted will be protected until they can bear fruit.

できるだけ早く、１６日のクリスマス会の写真をブログに貼りたかった...
今年の人数は「どうかな？」と考えたですが、全員で７０人以上でした。イエス様ありがとう！
祈って下さった皆さんもありがとう！ある人は全く初めてでした。

蒔いた種が、実を結ぶまで、守られますようにお祈りください！！　

A Few Prayer Requests...祈ってほしいこと

2006-12-13T17:56:00.000+09:00

Just few prayer requests for those who read this and have a heart for Japan.

First, we are having our Christmas Outreach here in Kashiba on Dec. 16th. Our English students and their families will gather. Please pray as we share the true meaning of Christmas with some of these people for the very first time.

Secondly, our church we have been attending on Sundays, Jesus Family, will be having it's Christmas Outreaches the 23rd and 24th.

Finally, please pray for the year end/New Year time here in Japan. Literally, thousands of people, who have mostly nothing to do with religion during the year, will make their yearly trip to a Shinto Shrine. It is most nearly like being under a magic spell that cannot be broken. Please pray that the Good News of Jesus will penetrate as many hearts as possible.

このブログを読んで、日本について興味を持つ方のため...

先ず、香芝市で、12月16日（土）クリスマス会があります。英会話の生徒と彼らの家族が集まります。クリスマスの本当の意味を始めて聞くことがある方も来るでしょう。

次、今年通っている、大阪のジーザス・ファミリー・センターは23日と24日クリスマス会があります。

最後に、年末と新年のためにお祈りください。普段宗教と関係ない何万人は、「初詣」で年の唯一の神社参りに行きます。魔術のスペルみたい、自分で気づけないけど、自動的に動きます。こういう方こそイエスキリストのよい知らせを受け入れることがありますようにお祈りください。

Travis' Piano Recital...トラちゃんの発表会

2006-12-11T22:29:00.000+09:00

This past Sunday, the 3rd, Travis played at his piano recital. He played "White Christmas" and "The Lord is My Shepherd" by Keith Green.

Travis has really gotten quite good at the piano. But the thing that impressed us was the way that the Holy Spirit was very evident in his playing. His teacher even commented on how his passion really flowed out of his music when he was playing the Keith Green song.

Deborah was there when he was practicing before the recital and she said that as Trav practiced "The Lord..." that the atmosphere in the entire room changed. When everyone had been practicing "regular" songs there were people doing this, that, and the other. Basically, each caught up in there own activity. But as Travis played a hush came over the room and people focused on him and the music.

Please pray for Trav's gifts to minister to MANY people.

この間の日曜日、12月3日に、トラヴィスの発表会がありました。彼は"White　Christmas"　とKeith　Greenの"主は私の牧者"と弾きました。
実は、トラがだいぶ上手になりました。（親バカ...笑）。しかし、一番感動したことは、聖霊様が本当に注ぎました。ピアノの先生も、トラの情熱と気持ちが音楽に流れていると言いました。

デボラはトラと一緒に準備しにいきました。そのときも、「主は私の牧者」と弾いたとき、ホールの雰囲気が完全に変わったと言いました。他の生徒が弾いたとき、いろんな人々がそれぞれの用事を続けました。あちらこちらいろんな人が喋りました。が、トラが弾いたとき、皆が静かになって、皆がその音楽を聴くようになりました。

トラがイエス様のために多く人に触れますように祈ってください。

Teaching Christmas' True Meaning...クリスマスの本当の意味

2006-12-07T00:29:00.000+09:00

On December 3rd, Deborah and the girls had an opportunity to share about the true meaning of Christmas with a group of Girl Scouts.

Of about 20 6-9 year olds gathered, only 2 had heard of Jesus, and none of them knew that Christmas had anything to do with Him.

The Holy Spirit really helped Deborah as she spoke and gave her the analogy of just as Americans imported Japanese cars because they are "wonderful", the Japanese imported Christmas because the "atmosphere" and "feeling " of the season is so wonderful. But sadly, the true meaning of Christmas got left out. Deborah told them that more than Santa, presents, and decorations, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Savior of the whole world.

Of course, she explained about the cross at a level that the children could understand too. With Coannie, Erise and our foster child Uzuki along they all had a really fun time.

12月3日（日）デボラが友人のGirl・Scoutグループに日本とアメリカの文化の違いなどについて話に行きました。そうして、その場で、今、日本でも流行っているクリスマスの本当の意味を語る機会がありました。

約20人の6才-９才の女の子の中、二人だけが、イエス・キリストのことを知って、クリスマスがキリストと関係があること誰も知りませんでした。

聖霊様の導きによって、デボラは「アメリカ人が日本のすばらしい車を輸入したことと同じように、日本人は、クリスマスのすばらしい雰囲気を見て、クリスマスの意味を知らず、クリスマスを輸入した。」と説明しました。クリスマスはサンタさんやプレゼントや飾りの季節だけではなく、イエス・キリストが救い主としてお生まれになったことを祝う日ですとはっきり語りました。

もちろん、十字架などを、子供の程度で説明しました。コアーンちゃん、エリースちゃんと里子になる卯月ちゃんも一緒行って、楽しい一時を過ごしました。

December 2nd Baptism...12月2日（土）洗礼式

2006-12-03T00:43:00.000+09:00

Well, the LORD Jesus allowed me to experience one of the greatest blessings in this life, again... baptizing a fellow human being. What an awesome privilege!!

Saturday night as the Bible Time of our regular English Class/Bible Time, we baptized 3 people. We have known Jeff and Rie Shaffer from when they got married here in February 2000. Keiko Nakai was one of my students at the Kashiba City Civic Center.

Both Jeff's parents and Rie's parents, got to be here. Jeff's parents "just happened" to have tickets to come visit at this time. Mom and Dad Shaffer were ELATED to see there son make such a clear and evident turn to Jesus.

今晩、12月2日、全世界で最もすばらしい恵み、洗礼を授けることをまた体験しました。大特権です！

毎週の土曜日の晩の英会話とバイブル・タイムとして、3人が洗礼を受けました。二人は、2000年2月に、ここで結婚式をした、Jeffと理恵Shafferでした。も一人は香芝市の英会話教室で出会った、中井敬子さんでした。

Jeffと理絵さんのご両親が参加しました。Jeffさんのご両親は”たまたま”日本にいました！！彼らは本当に息子さんがイエス様を信じるようになったことを非常に喜びました。

神の愛...to Japan

2006-12-01T23:00:00.000+09:00

Well...here goes. I have finally gotten my "own" blog. Hopefully it will something that the LORD will be able to use, and won't just be mine