reachingtokyo

What is "school" ? immediately we think of a place , a picture, things we did there. What about field trips? Didnt you like them more than sitting in class? Didn't you remember more from the field trip? wasn't it more of real learning? Was it school?

this weekend is design festa. http://www.designfesta.com/02_en/index.html
I thought to myself why cant we just pray and go to this event to learn about God, and celebrate Him together? This will be our church this week.

Which came first the missionary or the church? the simple point churches should be helping missionaries not the other way around. I mean the priority should be the use of church funds and resources to see God's pimary task of reaching every person with the good news that God is choosing to not punish our sins because of Jesus dying on the cross. Expand the tent stakes instead of build the protective social walls. Sometimes these walls may not seem so obvious. One of these walls, i believe is the trend of missionary agencies to spend large amounts of time helping the local church in their activities and services. I dont have any objection as long as there is no compromise of the missionaries efforts and events. Most often they become ambassadors to the church as to the value of missionary agencies and the differences. I see churches as heavy machinery that are really difficult to move from one place to another, as far as ideas are concerned. I see missionaries and missionary agencies as more nimble. If we as missionaries are spending all our energies and time getting permits and checking with code inspectors etc. (you get the picture) we will be unproductive and really slow. I truly believe there needs to be a radical change in Japan as far as the system of the "church" in Japan. think about the last 50 years. The traditional church way has not "worked" here. I know fear jumps in and says wait a minute. What if God wants to do something that looks totally different? are you ready? I dont mean house churches. That is not change in comparison to what I am envisioning. Not change for the sake of being different.

I see 1 trend in Tokyo. Churches are calling for people to join them in their new building projects and funds. They are saying as mission statements , "build a bigger church". If it is just a trend in worldwide churches- one it will fail- two if its of God it can work with what I envision. I truly believe as Christians we meet to often for the same type of meetings, smae structure, similar "pastoral messages" etc. I believe this type of meeting could be more powerful if it was once every 3 weeks or once a month. The only reason we have it once a week or more is because we have always done it that way- we dont question at all. The result - in my humble opinion- watered down, mediocre repetative messages, pastors who are burned out, pastors who never get the opportunity to minister because they have no time or energy. I envision a Paul like existance for pastors- Visitation so they can minister. Helping people one on one to start all sorts of different "ministries". Using that word ministries is pretty dangerous. It has a well defined definition. time to broaden our horizens- if we truly believe we are all ministers of the Gospel then we should live like it. I dont believe there is any separation between out sacred and secular lives- we should be able as living temples to carry Christ into everything we do. All should become sacred and sanctified. As a society Christians have created an alternative subculture- Its weird to me and to any non christian as well which is most of the world. Remember i was speaking of social barriers before- can you see now how the way we do things, although we say we are "open", could be viewed as closed and unaccessible to most of society?
So back to what a ministry is - almost anything- the pastors role should be to encourage, not generally but specifically each persons ministry- or encouraging people to do what God has told them to do. Helping them discern the will of God etc. Oh but my pastor is too busy- exactly he is hired as a minister of God's word not really a preacher- or was he or she? Pastors move farther and farther away from the individual.

Some may argue that it is always like this when people move up in responsibility and when they become more and more of a vision castor (sp). I dont believe that is an acceptible argument. Why should they become amature vision castors? People lean too heavily on their leaders as it is. They never leave the nest- This is the way the church has always been run- 10% lead the rest follow. This is how cults start and it ois very similar to a welfare state. We end up unable to stand on our own. We end up needing the pastor to illuminate scripture. If we were reading and studying the scripture we would realize that the Bible teaches that this is the time when we would no longer need to ask our brothers to explain the scriptures to us because God will write it on our hearts. It also teaches that the Holy Spirit illuminates and teaches us the scriptures. All I see are people who are hungry for more. So they keep going to church. But they hear all these inspirational messages, not really about God's character- i mean describing it etc. The messages are so inspiring that it wears off in 3 days and they need to come back to the mid week service to get their fix. Best times I have had studying the scripture is after someone has asked me a question in the real world. The times I really felt engaged in a conversation about God and his ways was never in church or rarely, but with other friends or Christians and sometimes non-believers. So why do we think these meetings are less church than those meetins we have under the steeple?

That word is funny when used in the imperative. Like a command. I think alot about communication- I feel that pressure of having everything I say be properly and accurately understood by those I am communicating to. I even feel that pressure, to be communicating to someone specifically. Why cant I just say or do something and be content that people probably will misunderstand? Why cant I just influence and maybe people will go in a direction instead of haveing my concrete articulated sentiment tucked away inside them? Is communication communication if others dont get it or is it simply a monologue? furthermore do they have to agree? I would say almost all disagree. They nod as though they might understand but they disagree unless it is some vague sentiment that doesnt take a stand. Like "art is good" well what is art? what do you mean it is good? what is your measurement of good? is it simply your taste? a concrete measuring tool? What? We say body languge is a large % of communication whether we like it or not but we use so many words. Is it just a nervous habit? I hate the feeling when you know people either just dont get it or they disagree. Why cant we be free to express without the pressure of communication?

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we got out of the city for the first time since Christmas in MA. This is a hiking trail about 1 and 1/2 hours out of Tokyo. You just take the Chuo line from our house and a bus when you get to the end of the line. Its really quite alot of work and pretty much straight up and down. The down side has this waterfall towards the end. Normally in the states I feel refreshed when I am in the woods but here there are still little shrines and temples evrywhere so its a little eirie. We saw people on the trail every 3-4 min. No real privacy near Tokyo but it is still a bit of relief.

Here is a way to sum up my previous post in a comical way that way people cant simply say I being negative (as if stating facts that are truly negative is a bad thing-to them it is).

"it's just a flesh wound." What movie is that from? Monty Python... Im not sure I remember all of it but the guy has basically lost all his limbs in a battle and still wants to fight and says that famous line. Its this rediculous attitude of hope, not true hope. Hope based on nothing. Lessai faire attitude (spellingx), or "no worries" mentality.

Usually the sermons I hear are a Bible based story with an inspirational message- much like a ballon you get at the town fair- the helium leaks out by the time you wake up in the morning. Usually there is some real life story to go along with it that is relatively useless or at best trivial- One I heard recently was about how this person used to have headaches and he just prayed that got would take them away after he counted to 10. Very useful to my everyday existance when I feel real anger at an injustice done to me or to someone else or maybe to the tsunami victims.

Why am I so harsh? Because I am angry. Dont worry its righteous indignation. Why are we wasting everyones time? Non beleivers dont buy into Christianity for these types of reasons. This head in the clouds, men's meetings, summer camp Christianity. (I will not include the usuall disclaimer here, if this is not your cup of Latte then there are a million other web sites or sermons you can listen to that will give you what you want). Notice I said Christianity- when nonbelievers- I am speaking of real people with real pains in a real world, hear or see CHRIST they watch and listen and want to follow. The problem is we are still trying to create a social club called church. Thats fine if thats where somepeople are at- God bless those gifted people who can stomach the small talk for ten years with no real results. But too many churches seem to be "called" to that type of ministry. to anyone that will listen to the heart of this very real matter - maybe we can help each other wake up out of this slumber- kind of like the king in the "Two Towers" who was under the spell of the scorcerer. Anyway I am probably 1 of 2 people who read this blog but to that other person its worth a day to think about and ask some questions.

Why so many war movies? probably because there are so many wars. I have been thinking a little morbidly lately because I watched Titus and Apocalypse Now. Many people in Japan protest war just like many other people from free democratic nations- another luxury, and luxuries cost, just ask the former generations. What I have seen about all these protests is that they are empty. What do I mean? well people dont really give reasons they just say war is bad. Of course war is bad- does anyone need convincing? The only reason we can stand up and say war is bad is the result of one or many wars. So which do these people want, to give up any and all freedoms or to have all wars stop? People are supposed to have the right to the pursuit of life , liberty, and happiness. Do they? some do and some dont. those who do have varying degrees of those freedoms. I think most people like catastrophy. It makes feel alive- hollywood proves it and so did the crowd that gathered outside my apartment building last week when a lady smashed up her Volvo (by the way I highly recomend volvos. the whole front end was missing but the cabin was virtually unscathed and the woman was well enough to still scream!). We are bored with the mundane. We need to be stimulated.
We cannot change the past- wars have happened. But lets at least try to make the best of the results. What I mean is, did men loose their lives so we could just go to jobs that in the end will not amount to anything in God's eyes and surf the internet, then go home and clean an oversized house or our car, cars, boats, etc. Maintaining this thing we call a "way of Life"?

People in Iraq- notice I didn't say Iraqis- because there are so many conflicting groups that you cannot claim a unified Iraq, you cant even says the Kurds really because although they arenot fighting against each other now they are 2 groups- desire a way of life also. Maybe they want to just walk down the street without getting killed and go to a mundane job.

Where is this all going? probably nowhere but these are things I think about. But really I am more concerned at the fact that this is the best it gets. I am concerned that in a post industrialized world we have no meaning for engaging in washing the dishes everyday- and now we have a dish for everything so it takes alot longer. We are constantly "maintaining meaninglessness."

evolution- now we have a very sophisticated division of labor so much so that we are separated from the land and even caring for our own children- "im not good at that so whay cant I just pay someone to do it"

I saw a show here last night about men who just cant go to work anymore. They are seemingly healthy, not lazy, they dont want to just sit around and drink beer and watch tv, they just drop out. We would call them crazy- maybe they are the sane ones.

I think to ignore the state our world is in is crazy. we are wasting away. Christians should be leading the way to find purpose in God but they have none themselves. They go to church alot and Christian bookstores are doing well financially (i think) but I still have books I haven't read from the CBD sales.

Do I sound pesimistic- sorry- not really- should I lie? Jeremiah didnt- almost got him killed. i am not comparing myself with him (disclaimer). I hear alot of very "positive" messages, and messages of how we have to be easier on ourselves, that the devil is to blame etc. I would love to be positive and I am about Christ who He is and what He can do , but beyond that we really should be speaking the truth- in Love. This world is wasting away and Christians with it. No amount of positive thinking- or so called positive thinking will change sin. Weep with those who weep, mourn with....

People just seem to want to be happy- There will be a time when we wont even have to look for ways to be happy or make our families happy. Heaven is real and this certainly aint it.

I am so sick and tired of all the sermons on looking on the shiny side, or just have a positive attitude..., a half lie is a lie indeed. Sometimes God heals but you know what sometimes He doesnt. We still go on, not avoiding the truth but looking the truth in the face wether it be what we would like to hear or not. We come out on the other side trusting in Christ and its real.

"In this world you will have suffering, but be of good cheer, I am with you" " we share in His sufferings so that we may share in His life"

What is my gripe? Preachers who pedal false hope, opiates for the masses. People end up 10 years down the line mad at God because some pastor told them if they give 10% (of His money) back to Him He will give them what they want. Maybe He will, He might take it all away. It will be for your own good for sure. Praise God .

The only blessing we can be sure of when we are drawn by His spirit closer to Him will be more of Him. More about this later. I wish I could explain a little more in detail about this type of preaching I am speaking of and the damage it has done and will do but all I can say is it is well meaning in that pastors just want to give people hope but in the end it will bring more sorrow as people realize they are disallusioned.

This week is called Golden week. it has some significance described below but really people travel alot and spend their discretionary income. Hawaii is a popular spot and stores there report double sales. The national holidays making up the Golden Week are:
April 29 Greenery Day (Midori no hi): April 29 used to be the birthday of Emperor Showa, who died in the year 1989. After his death, the day was changed into a national holiday for environment and nature, since the emperor loved plants and nature. From 2007, this national holiday will be renamed Showa Day, while Greenery Day will be moved to May 4.
May 3 Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi): On this day in 1947, the new post war constitution was put into effect.
May 4 "Between Day" (Kokumin no kyujitsu): According to Japanese law, a day which falls between two national holidays is also declared a national holiday, unless the "between day" is a Sunday, in which case it will be just a regular Sunday. From 2007, Greenery Day, currently celebrated on April 29, will be moved to May 4.
May 5 Children's Day (Kodomo no hi): The Boy's Festival (Tango no Sekku) is celebrated on this day. Families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life. The Girl's Festival, by the way, is celebrated on March 3.http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2282.html for more info