October Prayer Letter

by | Oct 3, 2012 | Ministry News

Hi everyone,

I hope you are doing well.  This Canadian is certainly enjoying the cooler weather here in Nagoya as summer turns to fall.  I don’t know about you, but for me September went by really quickly.  Life is busy, but as always there is a lot to be thankful for.  Please join me in praising God for His blessings and praying for our ministry in Japan.

Praise:

1. The end of August marked 10 years since my first time in Japan!

2. We had 3 new people come to English Cafe in early September.

3. On September 15, we had a party for my English students. 18 people took part, without about half being un-churched.  Some good conversations took place, lots of great food was eaten, and everyone had a great time.

4. This Sunday we had a Music Festival at our church, and we had several visitors in spite of the fact that there was a typhoon on the way. I was really thankful, too, that one of my un-churched English students, an elderly jazz musician, took part.

5. I’ve gotten into the swing of things with the Christian manga assistant job. I’m thankful for this opportunity, and enjoying the experience.

Prayer Requests:

1. This month’s English Cafe is this Friday.  Please pray for good attendance and conversations. Please also pray for my regular weekly English classes.

2. Next Wednesday (10/10) I lead worship at prayer meeting.

3. Oct. 13-14 I’m scheduled to do youth/English ministry at Shizuoka Church again.

4. On Oct. 15-21 I’ll be travelling to the GP Asia Area Retreat.

5. October 27 I’m scheduled to help lead youth group at Nagoya-Higashi Church. In recent months, lots of things have gotten in the way of this “monthly” ministry. Please pray that I can maintain a good connection there and have an impact on these teens.

Thank you for partnering with me in our ministry in Japan!  I couldn’t do this without your support!

– Robin

Isaiah 29:1-14

by | Sep 14, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized

‘The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’ (Isaiah 29:13 NIV)

What an easy mistake to make! How often do we find ourselves going through the motions of church attendance, devotions, rituals and rules, without actually connecting with God through these things? How often do we follow man-made rules and do at the expense of following Jesus’ teaching and example of love?

Thus is another great reminder if what true worship looks like. It’s not about rules or rituals; it’s about love. It’s not about ourselves; it’s about Jesus.

Isaiah 26:1-27:1

by | Sep 10, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized

“Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws,we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” (v.8)

What a great expression of worship — worship as not just words or songs or rituals, but as a lifestyle. To honor God with our time, money, possessions, relationships, priorities… That is true worship. Am I worshiping God in this way? With all of me? Or am I merely being religious?

“My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.” (v 9)

How often is God my last thought at night and my first thought in the morning? If I’m honest, there are a lot of times when other stuff gets my attention and I don’t start or end the day with God on my mind at all. How often do I actually long for Him?

But this is the kind of relationship I want to have with God. To long for Him, to desire to talk with Him, for Him to be my first and last thought each day. For Him to distract me from other stuff rather than that stuff taking my attention off of Him… That is true worship.

Last Weekend, in Nagoya

by | Sep 8, 2012 | Uncategorized

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Every month at my church our young adults get together for some prayer time followed by a big meal together. I always enjoy it, but the past couple of months I couldn’t go because it took place on dates I was traveling. So I was thankful I got to take part in this month’s gathering, which took place last weekend.

All that to say, here’s another food-related picture. Me and the gang eating dry curry — a first for me. It was really good, too!

The Band

by | Aug 28, 2012 | Uncategorized

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A little late, but here’s a pic of the worship band from this year’s youth camp. I’m the guy with the hat.

Isaiah 10:5-15

by | Aug 20, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized

“When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings.'” (Isaiah 10:12, 13 NIV)

This is one of those passages that can seem a little unfair at first. God uses a Marin to discipline Israel, and then He punishes that nation too. But the real issue is pride, as we see here. And it’s a real issue for many of us today too.

I really want to see results in my ministry. But Lord, protect me from pride. Keep my motivations pure. Keep me from being jealous of the success of others. And when results do come about, may I never forget to give You the glory. May I never think I’ve accomplished anything worthwhile without Your help. And may I remember what kind of results are actually important to aim for and pray for.

Isaiah 7:1-9

by | Aug 14, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized

“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” (Isaiah 7:9)

As I was reminded last night during the first message at Youth Station, we shouldn’t think of our faith as simply one category of life, separate from our roles at work, in our families, as citizens, etc.

True faith is more than that. It’s like a foundation on which our whole life stands. And as this verse reminds me, if that foundation is not firm, the rest will come crashing down.

God should be more than my top priority. He should be my center, my very life. My everything.

Lord, may You be my everything today.