by Whitey | Sep 27, 2011 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
I’m sending my October prayer letter a little early, as you can see. This is because there are some new ministries starting in early October that need your prayers. Please read and pray! But first, some things to be thankful for…
This month I’m thankful because:
• 2 new (non-Christian) students joined my Saturday English class this past week. We now have 30 students — over 1/3 of whom are from outside the church!
• One of my non-Christian students came to prayer meeting for the first time last week.
• I had the opportunity to minister through testimony and music to the youth at our area reatreat a couple of weeks ago. It was a fun and encouraging time for all!
• One of the guys from Nagoya-Higashi Church youth group recently gave his heart to the Lord! You may remember me telling you about this group of about 10 teens, all from non-Christian backgrounds. This is the first to make a profession of faith. PTL!
Please pray for:
• 2 new English programs we’re starting at the Nagoya church: a weekly class for beginners (starting Oct. 4) and a monthly “English Cafe” (starting Oct. 7). The Cafe is an informal time of practicing English over coffee, snacks and games, and is aimed at people of a slightly higher level English abililty. Please pray that conversations turn naturally to spiritual things.
• I’ve been invited to another church in Shizuoka to do some kids ministry the weekend of Oct. 15-16. Pray for safe travel and effective ministry.
• Please keep praying for my regular English classes, worship leading, and Japanese studies as well.
Thank you for partnering with me in this ministry. Spiritual bridges are being built in Japan, and you are helping to build them!
– Robin (2011/09/27)
by Whitey | Sep 26, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” (Acts 17:11 NLT)
The Bereans are commended here for being open-minded. But it’s interesting to note that they didn’t just listen and blindly believe what they were taught. They studied the Scriptures for themselves. They compared what they were being taught to the Word to see if it lined up. They thought for themselves.
Being open-minded doesn’t mean blindly accepting whatever we’re taught. But it does mean we listen. Then, we search and study and pray to arrive at the truth.
And true faith isn’t blind or mindless either. It includes this kind thinking and searching and asking. I think that such wrestling with big ideas and questions is part of what it means to have faith. These struggles can increase our faith.
We may never know all the answers to all our questions, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask.
by Whitey | Sep 25, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,
and the other prisoners were listening.” (Acts 16:25 NLT)
I have to wonder if this would be my reaction to being beaten and
throne in prison. When I’m stressed or lonely or afraid, is it my
first reaction to turn to God in prayer and worship? Or is that a
last resort? It’s so easy in our comparatively small trials to let
ourselves look to other things for comfort. But God is our comfort
and strength in hard times, as well as our constant companion in
everyday life.
So why wait? In good times or bad, let’s seek the Lord. Let’s
worship Him because He’s worthy, no matter what we’re going through.
As we do, we can be a light to those around us, as Paul and Silas were
to their fellow prisoners and their captors.
by Whitey | Sep 24, 2011 | Uncategorized
Yukata Party. Okay, not really a party. Just me hanging out with some youth (in our hotel-provided yukatas) before bed Sunday night at the retreat I was ministering at. Good times.
(posted 2011/09/24)
by Whitey | Sep 22, 2011 | Uncategorized
The calm after the storm. Taken yesterday, from my balcony, after the typhoon had passed Nagoya.
(2011/09/22)
by Whitey | Sep 17, 2011 | Ministry News
The Good News: I got my visa extension, and it’s good for 3 more years! Thanks for praying!
The Prayer Request: Tomorrow and Monday is Chukyo Seikai — an annual retreat for the Immanuel Churches in our area. I am helping out with the youth programs with music and a testimony. Please pray for my ministry and for all involved in this event; for safe travel and changed lives.
Thanks!
(Posted on Sat. Sept. 17 2011)
by Whitey | Sep 9, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we
believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”
(Acts 11:17 NLT)
Am I partnering with God in His work, or getting in His way? Today,
my prayer is that I will hear His voice, listen and obey, not letting
my prejudices, preconceptions, fears or doubts hold me back. May I get
out of the way and let God do His thing.
by Whitey | Sep 1, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God.” (Acts 8:21 NLT)
It s possible to desire good things with the wrong motives. And sometimes we, like Simon, seek the gift rather than the Giver. But God’s gift come as a “package deal” in relationship with Him. And He gets to choose what gifts to give to whom.
Lord, You Yourself are more valuable than any gift I could receive from You. I choose to seek You. Please walk with me today.
by Whitey | Aug 31, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, ‘Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!’ And with that, he died.” (Acts 7:59-60)
Stephen was awesome!
Given the chance to defend himself to his accusers, he instead preached a sermon. He didn’t even try to defend himself. In fact, he accused his accusers. He even boldly proclaimed the very things they would consider blasphemy, referring to Jesus as Lord and God. And Stephen paid for it with his life. Yet even then, he prayed to Jesus and asked that his killers’ sins not be held against them, reflecting Jesus’ grace even in his own death.
I could learn a few things from Stephen about what it means to follow Jesus.
by Whitey | Aug 30, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?'” (Acts 7:48-50 NIV)
It’s good to know that we can find God anywhere, anytime. We don’t have to wait for a certain day or time to go to a certain holy place to pray. God can meet us wherever we are.
I’ve started taking walks early in the morning. Not only is the exercise good for me, but it’s a good chance to talk to God. Sometimes my attention span is pretty short. If you’re like me and find it hard to just sit and focus and pray, you might want to try this. Don’t worry; God will walk with you.
