Yummy!
posted by Norman @ 11:25 AM
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G.R.I.T.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tea ceremony
posted by Norman @ 11:17 AM
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Monday, June 29, 2009
Camping and the Rainy Season
So we're off to the YMCA camp again on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to it but it's again going to be stretch. Keiko and I began tonight checking my translation of my sermon for Sunday in Obiyama. I don't have much time to write right now, but I think that's what God's telling me. It's pretty simple and comes from Ephesians 5:15-16 "15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."That's all we can do. Our group read through Ecclesiastes 9-12 today and it was just a great reminder about how many times and how often we forget "what are we going to do with the stuff we're learning." We have two weeks left and I'm ready to go. It's rainy outside (the rainy season has finally arrived) but in our hearts we are setting apart Christ and rejoicing in Him.
Pray for strength, character and perseverance for our group and especially me as I speak on Sunday.
posted by Jacob @ 8:24 PM
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Rainy season
It seems that the rainy season has finally begun. No real change for us same schdule only wetter. Saturday was fun, we ran for our morning workout then spent the afternoon exploring downtown with friends.
posted by Norman @ 1:54 PM
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Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Home "Stretch"
It's Friday afternoon right before dinner. I have started a rough draft in English for what I plan on teaching in Japanese next Sunday. We won't be in town Wednesday and Thursday because we'll be at the YMCA Camp we went to before, cleaning and doing whatever else they ask us to do.
I'm looking forward to it because it will stretch me again like it did the first time. However, I'd like to be able to take all day on Thursday, our "off day," to get the rest of the sermon prep done. Luckily, we don't exactly have much to do that Saturday so I think that I still have enough time to prepare, but it is in no way going to be easy for me.
I'm actually excited to talk about and share with the Japanese people something we share- namely, faith. I'll be speaking from Genesis 12 and Hebrews 11 about the faith of Abram / Abraham. It's totally something God's been teaching me for a long long time (and I still haven't quite learned it all just yet I think) so maybe I can help them out, encourage them and even teach someone there something new.
When I was younger, I was more adventurous. The older I got, the more "security" I wanted. The safer I wanted to play the game. The more planning I wanted to do. Personally, that is still a big part of me and my life. I'm always thinking about what's next and would love for God to drop me a 5-year plan. But that's not how He works. Now, I'm learning to live out the adventure of life while still doing the right things. That's what faith is "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)
Saturday morning has rolled around and I'm about to "lead a discussion" on Hurdles we can all face in mentoring. There are numerous ones, but the book lists 4. I'd like to think I'm a good leader, teacher, whatever... but the truth is that most of the time I don't think about what other people will think, feel, etc. I think, "this seems logical and loving to me so I am going to do that" (most of the time) That's not the best way to lead, but it is a starting point. The biggest thing for me right now is learning to lead and follow at the same time.
Guys have it very hard in relationships. Not that women don't have it difficult, but that as men we must follow God and lead the woman where God is leading us. This is true in any group- it's hard to follow and lead at the same time. It's "a cord of three strands that isn't easily broken" and yet have you ever tried doing anything with a cord of 3 strands in comparison to just 1 strand? I think the difference is vast, but especially so when you're considering bigger threads.
The church today is usually acting like a stubborn donkey instead of an ox yoked with Christ. He is leading us, taking every step of the way as a leader should. I think that's one of the best things about GRIT is that Norman doesn't just drill-sergeant us all the way to Tokyo. Rather, he walks every step with us. I'm not putting him on a pedestal necessarily, but it is something to consider.
Think about it this way: When was the last time you had someone do something with you that usually that person or someone else usually tells you to do? Ever had someone help you make your bed instead of doing it by yourself? That's the idea behind the thought here. We're in this together to accomplish a purpose greater than we could by ourselves. With Christ we can do everything, without Him we can do nothing. He is the vine, and we are trying to grow on our own. We must both lead others while we follow Christ. If we don't, we'll end up missing the boat one way or the other.
posted by Jacob @ 7:29 PM
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Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Off Days
By Jacob:Thursdays are "off days" for the GRIT Group this year. We can use our freedom for good or for evil. We can use our time off to relax and enjoy what we have been given freely from Christ. I know that we strive so hard to push and push and conform to the image of Christ, but I'm learning to just stop "trying." What I mean is this: Is there a difference in being lazy and relaxation? I think so. It's the mindset with which we enter into things.
For example, God has allowed us to eat everything freely on this earth. However, the God's Word also says we should not cause others to stumble. So we can use our freedom as we should or as we want- it's all a choice. I had a discussion today with a friend about "social dancing" and the "okayness" (permissability, whatever you want to call it) of the dancing itself. It was good because even though we disagreed, I think it pointed out something: What we do in our freedom is not for others to judge but rather for us to each individually ask the question, "Is this wise? Is this the best?" I think in a lot of cases it is the thing we miss. Now I don't do this, but I want to strive for it. "What is best?" "What has God freely given us to enjoy?"
The hardest problem lies when we start trying to live out our convictions in other people's lives who are not under our authority- for example, our children if we have some. We cannot live out anyone else's character for them. We must do discipleship starting with letting Christ conform us to His image first. After that, then we will have a ministry. We don't have to go changing our friends, we can just be Christ and He will change them in His timing, not ours.
That's what I'm doing today- working on my character. Or at least giving up trying to be perfect and just walking with Jesus.
posted by Jacob @ 11:17 AM
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
the stuff and the happenings
Woo! After about 2 weeks I finally made it back to the internet. Since GRIT has started much has gone on. (Much of which you have seen in picture format.) It has been a very busy time full of exercise, Japanese study, English conversation classes, and much more. Recently (Monday to be precise) Jacob, the Smith family, and I traveled to Miakonojo for the ABWE field council meeting. It was great to get back with the missionaries again and begin looking toward what will be going on after GRIT is over. One of the biggest things I am looking forward to is Japanese study. Currently, several of us are studying a few hours each week but after GRIT is over I will be studying about 40 hours a week. Of course these 40 hours will be class and focused study times and be ooutside of our "people times" which, since they will be with Japanese people, will also be something akin to language study... kind of looking forward to that. Well, I'm afraid I need to get going and work on my sermon and some homework before this evening's English conversation group.PS The conversation groups are interesting this evening we have 5 people coming. They have been a great outreach tool and we have been able to share the gospel at least once at all of them. Through them we have made great connections that those of us who will be here longer will be able to follow up on. Anyway, later.
-A
posted by andrew @ 5:58 PM
1 comments
Thoughts on godly character
By Jacob (sorry this hasn't been more regular)I wonder what it would really be like to be a man of God. Who knows, anyway? David started out so right and then got very off course with Bathsheba. Moses tried to do right, ran for 40 years, then when he got the chance said he wasn't ready and ended up still not getting to go into the promised land. Joshua didn't destroy ALL of the peoples he came into contact with as he was commanded by the Lord. Noah got drunk. Adam messed it up for all of us. Elijah was scared of Jezebel. Paul killed Christians. Peter couldn't keep his mouth shut. Abraham lied repeatedly about Sarai/Sarah being his sister instead of his wife. Isaac (and Rebekah) had a favorite son each. Jacob stole his brother's blessing and birthright and deceived his uncle. Joseph was prideful and almost paid with his life for it. Solomon had more wives than I have relatives. Samson was subdued by women. The disciples followed Peter back to "go fishing" (I've been told the translation there means, "I'm going back to being a fisherman" or its equivalent). Jeremiah whined and wheeped. Isaiah was and lived among a people of unclean lips and hearts.
So what am I to do? Christ isn't mentioned in any way as being flawed (of course, right?), but all of His temptations aren't described. Only 3 of them in the desert plus in the garden of Gethsemane where He could have chosen another way but He obeyed the Father. That was His perfect example. But lets look at the opposite side of things now. David was "a man after God's own heart." Moses was used by God to rescue over 600,000 men (about 2 million in total by most estimates) from Pharoah and lead Israel into the promised land after several hundred years of captivity. Joshua led and conquered the promised land like no one else could. Remember Jericho? Noah saved all of humanity by being the only one righteous enough God would allow to even live we'd gotten so bad. Adam actually charted and paved the way for Christ to come and bring us salvation. He is the 'father of all mankind.' Elijah was more than a conquerer in his lifetime and is considered the greatest prophet. "Follow me as I follow Christ," Paul said. Then he lived it out until his execution in Rome. Peter was the rock upon whom Christ was going to build His church and Jesus began that by not only Peter being the leader of the disciples but at Pentecost too. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have blessed the world with their obedience and promises God gave them. Even now to us as followers of Christ we have received the fullness of that promise. Joseph saved the future of Israel through what his brothers meant for evil. Solomon was given "one wish" and chose the right answer- wisdom. Samson is an example today of how we can use our strength, even when we consider our lives over and wasted, all for God even in our dying moments. The disciples were hand-selected by Christ to carry the message of the Gospel- the Good News Message of the story of the redemption of man. Jeremiah never saw most of his prophecy come to pass and yet he still was a herald. Isaiah was undone and, when God said, "Whom shall we send?" he responded, "Here I am, send me!"
Maybe we're a little too hard on ourselves. I know I am. These past few days have been crazy busy but good. Monday Norman's family (Norman, Susan, Chlose, Cameron and Melody), Andrew and I all went to an ABWE FC (Field Council) Meeting. It was a great privilege to see everyone again and be encouraged. It was a long 2+ hour trip to Miyakonojo both ways. In the end, however, it was worth it. Getting just a taste, a preview of what God might have for me in the future if I were to become part of that group was a start. Yet, I'm here without a VISA for now. After arriving back at Norman's apartment, Keiko was almost done translating the additional documents needed to send to the VISA office to get the first of the two-step VISA paper process. She was so helpful and when we finished I told her I'd buy her some Baskin Robbins Ice Cream sometime as a "thank you."
Last night we went to dinner with Yousuke (Yo-sue-kay) and 4 of his friends- one is a DJ the other 3 are either Nurses (2) or in school to be a Nurse (1). The conversation flowed really well as always with Yousuke. You just ask questions and get him talking and things go great. I am trying to encourage everyone to do as much as possible in conversations, but it just seems like the language barrier is more than our group can get past lately. It has been a little troublesome but I think we're all still growing in that. After a great dinner, we were supposed to go bowling. The place Yousuke had in mind was very close so we just walked there. When we got there, however, their lanes were busy until 10pm. Change of plans there...
We decided to go to another bowling alley about a 10-minute walk away, but when we went outside it was raining pretty strongly. The next overhang where we were walking to was only about 150 feet away, so after offering my coat to one of Yousuke's friends we just walked to it. They started walking more slowly and I thought nothing of it. They were a pretty close group of 3 girls and I was walking and talking with Yousuke while Norman and the rest of the group were walking a little faster.
The more we walked, though, the more they started to fall behind. I asked Yousuke if everything was all right and so he gave them a phone call. They said basically that they needed to head back home because they just had enough time for only like 1 game at the other place since they had to work early. At first I thought it was just one of them that had to work and the others just decided to call it a night, but after talking with Keiko and her explaining it to me that she thought it was all three of them I think that was the reason. Long story short, it put a damper on the night because Yousuke is great at English and outgoing and so were his friends, but now there was only 2 of them and 7 of us. My thinking is that it's harder to have 1-on-1 or 1-on-2 conversations with Yousuke and his friend whose name escapes me vs. 5 of them before and 7 of us.
After weaving our way through what seemed to be an underground mall, a store worker in that mall helped us find our way to the bowling place. We didn't really get much of a say in things, so to top it off after 3 of Yousuke's friends left, Yousuke and his friend were on the same lane with Norman. The 3 guys and 3 girls were teamed up and I really was kind of frustrated. I guess maybe it was an opportunity I wanted to take advantage of (at least I hope that's what it was- I am trying to check my motives always for Christ and not "just having fun" or anything else) and us all get a chance to be as Christ said, "witnesses."
The evening went pretty well with a few hiccups, but that's to be expected. Incredibly, I do know that there was a reason for Yousuke's other friends leaving that I can't really talk about on here, but I will say this: God is so good to give us what we need at just the right time. We just can't give up. That's the lesson here. We bowled 2 games and then went home. It was a long day, but a good day.
Today was rainy except for when we ran this morning. A nice feeling for sure, but the day was just slow in a lot of respects. We did a lot of study and discussion on what could be improved, likes, dislikes, etc. about GRIT and the summer. It's good to have those discussions because even if nothing changes, most people feel like they're being heard out if nothing else. I think it also did a lot to build our team up since we haven't particularly been doing many "team-building" exercises this year because of all of our people time. We went to Mr. Ohashi's house after a Blue Book (the 3rd book in the Green, Purple and Blue Book Series) from 3:30 to 4:30. Dinner was at 5:15 and instead of our usual Tuesday night conversation at the Mishima's, we ended up staying home because the Chinese girls couldn't come and the Mishima's weren't having the normal children's time. We played a few cool word-based games and Keiko and Susan were both able to play. I think it's really been great to have Keiko a part of things these past two years and Susan to join in when she can because most of her time is taken up with 3 children under 7 years old.
God has blessed us so much more than we can imagine. We just need to open our eyes to be it and see it.
posted by Jacob @ 3:30 PM
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Keep on GRITing...
Well, it looks as if no one is interested in sharing their GRIT experience within anyone outside of their facebook cliques... I apologize for the lack of information, I am writing my updates from a cell phone most fo the time so I can't include too much info.We are regularly spending chunks of time with different Japanese groups. Monday night we ate okinomiyaki and then went bowling. Tuesday we had an English group, mom and kids. Today brought us a class on Japanese flower arranging then two different English conversation times. In the middle of the people time we are exercising and learning about discipleship. All in all it makes the weeks go by really quickly!
posted by Norman @ 3:19 PM
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Friday, June 19, 2009
Fitness test
We had our second one today. We ran a 5k, did two minutes of burpees and ended with our max number of pull-ups. Oh, it was 34degC today.Fun,fun!
posted by Norman @ 4:26 PM
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