Morning worship:
Bible study on the Prodigal son
Kids' Time God made people and each person is special, made real life-sized puzzles of the child's own body
Lunch was BYOB (bring your own bento)
Kira Kira Kids:
Israelites lived on quail, manna, and water for 40 years. Lesson point trusting in God.
Made quail balloons and played games with the quail balloons
Snack of Quail eggs, Ritz crackers, and water
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Growing Up Global
This was an elective during the CPI conference. The speaker's name was Eric Larsen. He grew up as both a military kid and then as a missionary kid, so he has plenty of personal experience growing up as a TCK. TCK will refer to "Third Culture Kid" for the remainder of this post.
The Mr. Larsen noted up front that do to "the fall" there are rifts in relationships. (Gen3:7-11, 16-19) The end will bring about the restoration of relationships. (Malachi 4:6, Luke 1:17, Rev. 21:2-5) Right now we are called to bridge the gap (john 1:14; Php2:5-8).
Kids are growing up in a very different world than we did.
Trends:
1) Exploding youth population, soon 50% youth
2) Extended adolescence, now tends to be 10 30 years of age. Onset of adolescence is thought in biological terms, and ends in terms of culture--when it says you are an adult
3) Emerging global youth culture -have more in common with youth around them than adults and people around them.
Teens are more connected than ever before in terms of technology, but are really rather disconnected in terms of relationships.
Adult abandonment
Sometimes teens have no real adult contact. Maybe the parents are busy with their careers. Any adults that are involved in the kids' life are often agenda oriented and not their to nurture the kids. Teachers and coaches do not count as a nurturing adult. For many teens they are left to sink or swim. This often bring adolescence on early, but since they have no adult to guide them to adulthood, the adolescence becomes prolonged.
Missionaries need to be cross-cultural missionaries to their own kids.
3 Questions (teens ask)
1) Who am I? (identity)- affirmation
- guidance
2)Where do I belong? (community)
The kids need to have their own space. A space that is fiercely protected by mom and dad. In ministry there are always people in and out of our homes, so the kids need to have a safe place in their own home where they can be and not worry about anyone else invading that space. The church needs to be behind the kids helping them in adolescence. Protect kids at home with Internet filters and instructions about how to use media. Need to monitor for safety reasons.It takes about 5 adults to successfully guide one adolescent to adulthood. Every child needs 5 caring adults around them, loving them, and guiding them.
3) Do I matter?
They need help finding their unique voices. We see how God wired them and speak that back into them. We need to view our kids as an EPIC novel rather than a COMIC book. Comic books look flashy but have no real plot. When TCK's were polled the respondents either had a very positive experience as a TCK or a very negative experience. It formed a reverse bell curve because few respondents thought their experiences were just ok. This is research data that immediately raises red flags. Why is this true?
Most positive experience respondents said that what made a difference is that they didn't feel like this was just Dad's thing, but they felt some ownership in it as well. It is important to find their gifts and help them to own something of the job of his/her parents.
3 Needs
1) Communication- be the pursuer!!! In order to see it from your kids you have to model open communication with your spouse and others.
2) Closeness -unstructured and extended time are important, especially with dad. It is good to have spontaneity. Remember the kid's perception in the KEY. You can think it is one way, but the kids really perceive it the other way. You need to understand their perception and try to tap into it. Cater to it. The kids can tell if you delight in them. Be real! Be genuine!
3) Trust - Kids need to trust themselves
others
Kids need o learn both. Give them the chance o be trusted and chances to fail as well.
Dad- in adolescence dad is the safety net of the tightropes of adolescence.
3 Gifts
1) Celebrate- Be their biggest fan. Be there. Be involved. Surprise them. Praise them. "Surprise and delight" them. Make memories. Celebrate their character and their joys. Learn their love language.
2) Grieve- Love, hug, and comfort them. Try to avoid lectures. Don't get angry. Don't try to be a fixer but rather be a supporter. Let them wrestles with things. Just be with them.
3) Repent- model it for them!
The Mr. Larsen noted up front that do to "the fall" there are rifts in relationships. (Gen3:7-11, 16-19) The end will bring about the restoration of relationships. (Malachi 4:6, Luke 1:17, Rev. 21:2-5) Right now we are called to bridge the gap (john 1:14; Php2:5-8).
Kids are growing up in a very different world than we did.
Trends:
1) Exploding youth population, soon 50% youth
2) Extended adolescence, now tends to be 10 30 years of age. Onset of adolescence is thought in biological terms, and ends in terms of culture--when it says you are an adult
3) Emerging global youth culture -have more in common with youth around them than adults and people around them.
Teens are more connected than ever before in terms of technology, but are really rather disconnected in terms of relationships.
Adult abandonment
Sometimes teens have no real adult contact. Maybe the parents are busy with their careers. Any adults that are involved in the kids' life are often agenda oriented and not their to nurture the kids. Teachers and coaches do not count as a nurturing adult. For many teens they are left to sink or swim. This often bring adolescence on early, but since they have no adult to guide them to adulthood, the adolescence becomes prolonged.
Missionaries need to be cross-cultural missionaries to their own kids.
3 Questions (teens ask)
1) Who am I? (identity)- affirmation
- guidance
2)Where do I belong? (community)
The kids need to have their own space. A space that is fiercely protected by mom and dad. In ministry there are always people in and out of our homes, so the kids need to have a safe place in their own home where they can be and not worry about anyone else invading that space. The church needs to be behind the kids helping them in adolescence. Protect kids at home with Internet filters and instructions about how to use media. Need to monitor for safety reasons.It takes about 5 adults to successfully guide one adolescent to adulthood. Every child needs 5 caring adults around them, loving them, and guiding them.
3) Do I matter?
They need help finding their unique voices. We see how God wired them and speak that back into them. We need to view our kids as an EPIC novel rather than a COMIC book. Comic books look flashy but have no real plot. When TCK's were polled the respondents either had a very positive experience as a TCK or a very negative experience. It formed a reverse bell curve because few respondents thought their experiences were just ok. This is research data that immediately raises red flags. Why is this true?
Most positive experience respondents said that what made a difference is that they didn't feel like this was just Dad's thing, but they felt some ownership in it as well. It is important to find their gifts and help them to own something of the job of his/her parents.
3 Needs
1) Communication- be the pursuer!!! In order to see it from your kids you have to model open communication with your spouse and others.
2) Closeness -unstructured and extended time are important, especially with dad. It is good to have spontaneity. Remember the kid's perception in the KEY. You can think it is one way, but the kids really perceive it the other way. You need to understand their perception and try to tap into it. Cater to it. The kids can tell if you delight in them. Be real! Be genuine!
3) Trust - Kids need to trust themselves
others
Kids need o learn both. Give them the chance o be trusted and chances to fail as well.
Dad- in adolescence dad is the safety net of the tightropes of adolescence.
3 Gifts
1) Celebrate- Be their biggest fan. Be there. Be involved. Surprise them. Praise them. "Surprise and delight" them. Make memories. Celebrate their character and their joys. Learn their love language.
2) Grieve- Love, hug, and comfort them. Try to avoid lectures. Don't get angry. Don't try to be a fixer but rather be a supporter. Let them wrestles with things. Just be with them.
3) Repent- model it for them!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Cultivating Kingdom Prayer
These notes were also taken during the 2009 Church Planting conference at Hakone. The speaker's name was Akira Mori.
The opening question put forth was how to influence people. This idea of influence led to the discussion of life transformation. The use of the word "change" was discouraged because of its completely neutral connotation. "Transformation" is about purposeful change into a new creation.
Transformation is also not limited to people but to all of creation.
When praying, pray as children of God. There is great need in Japan to know God as the perfect Father. God does not condemn us, therefore, as his children, we should not condemn others.
Prayer is being together with God, to turn our attention to him. Worship is at the core of our relationship with God. To worship was to fall prostrate. In such a position, people cannot see the one to whom they are worshiping. It is, therefore, total surrender. Allowing the one you worship to do what he wants with you.
Psalm 27:4-6
Hosea 6:3
Proverbs 3:6
These verses are about being in the presence of God and acknowledging his presence. Pray is about listening to God as much as talking. We keep our minds on the Lord, turning all thoughts into communication to him. When we do speak in our prayers, it should often be with thanksgiving and praise rather than just about asking for things, even good things.
And remember that we are Christ's ambassadors. We communicate what God would have us communicate. Our daily lives should be spent in prayer even as we walk. In this way, we can know what God wants to say through us.
The conclusion is that prayer is about God. Seeking him. Recognizing him. Listening to him. When we reach this goal, our lives will be more fulfilled. Pray, then, for the discipline to enter into such a prayer life.
God bless.
The opening question put forth was how to influence people. This idea of influence led to the discussion of life transformation. The use of the word "change" was discouraged because of its completely neutral connotation. "Transformation" is about purposeful change into a new creation.
Transformation is also not limited to people but to all of creation.
When praying, pray as children of God. There is great need in Japan to know God as the perfect Father. God does not condemn us, therefore, as his children, we should not condemn others.
Prayer is being together with God, to turn our attention to him. Worship is at the core of our relationship with God. To worship was to fall prostrate. In such a position, people cannot see the one to whom they are worshiping. It is, therefore, total surrender. Allowing the one you worship to do what he wants with you.
Psalm 27:4-6
Hosea 6:3
Proverbs 3:6
These verses are about being in the presence of God and acknowledging his presence. Pray is about listening to God as much as talking. We keep our minds on the Lord, turning all thoughts into communication to him. When we do speak in our prayers, it should often be with thanksgiving and praise rather than just about asking for things, even good things.
And remember that we are Christ's ambassadors. We communicate what God would have us communicate. Our daily lives should be spent in prayer even as we walk. In this way, we can know what God wants to say through us.
The conclusion is that prayer is about God. Seeking him. Recognizing him. Listening to him. When we reach this goal, our lives will be more fulfilled. Pray, then, for the discipline to enter into such a prayer life.
God bless.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Japanese View of Life and Death with Missiological Implications
A very brief look...
The following notes were taken during the 2009 Church Planting Conference at Hakone. The speakers name was A. Miyoshi.
After you die what happens?
Japanese believe that the body and soul are separated. A person can be divided into two main components. One is the body and when it dies it goes to the grave. Many times the body goes to the crematorium and then is inserted into the grave. The second part of the person is the soul. The dead soul leaves the body and goes to the border world. This is the space between this world (the one we are alive in) and the other world (maybe seen as the spiritual realm).
What happens to the soul?
Living people have to do rituals and ceremonies and give daily food offerings to the family altar to save the soul. There is no hell. Rituals of the living saves the soul of the dead.
The dead body is separated from the body because it is unclean. The dead spirit is cleaned by the living people doing things to save the dead spirit. If someone doesn't do anything, then the dead spirit comes back to haunt, has a grudge, is vengeful.
おばけ are unsaved spirits, those on the border and unable to get to the other world. They are invisible.
Eventually everyone goes to heaven because of the "rituals" that save them. That ritual is the funeral.
Japanese view is that there is no hell, no punishment. Community is sacred ( This was said numerous times). This is the current world. Since community is sacred, Japanese try to protect it. The souls outside this world also help protect the community. Reincarnation happens when the soul is released into the other world then it returns to the community again.
How do you evangelize people that have no view of hell and see that they all go to heaven?
The speaker changed his family grave stone. He had to keep the shape of the stone style of that particular cemetery, but he had the words 神は愛なりengraved in the stone and instead of the family stamp he had the cross engraved in that spot. Cost him more than $5000 to do this.
Basically the flow is that a person lives, then they die. Their spirit goes onto the border. Through rituals they become a god, then in time they become an ancestor. The soul moves from the other world and in time the soul then reincarnates back to the community.
The speaker included a few diagrams which I am not sure I can reproduce to this post. The diagrams try to give a visual representation of how Japanese think and how they compartmentalize the areas of their lives.
"Culture is unconscious." Don't think about it, you just do it and it just is.
"Japanese have lost their narrative." Narrative being a way of living life.
Take a baby to the shrine to ave it dedicated to the shrine (neighborhood god) to be nice to the gods.
Relationship with the community is based on fears. Don't want to be unprotected. If I do something, then I might be forced out of the community. Sometimes people lose a community then need to find a new community. If they find the church, then they might be Christian even if they do not believe in God.
Another ritual is a 祭 or festival. A festival creates chaos. Community creates chaos and bring the portable shrines to the temple which creates peace again. It symbolizes purification.
Other rituals include: magic, festivals, rite of passage, ancestor veneration. Rite of passage isn't salvation, yet some things we do in the Bible that are rites of passage.
Community salvation taken in an almost private life sort of sense. Need to emphasize the personal salvation and relationship with God.
The speaker told a story about a lady who came for counseling. She was struggling with the issue of her mother's suicide and how she didn't want to be a Christian because she wouldn't see her mother. The speaker acknowledged her feelings. He agreed with her. Then he said he was sorry but that he could not change the Bible. He shared in her experience but acknowledge that he cannot change what the Bible says in the matter of dying without acknowledging God.
Questions came up as to whether or not funeral ministry is something to get into here in Japan. He knows of one who preaches hell at funerals. That minister tells everyone they will end up like the deceased and go to hell unless they repent right there. Remember the funeral is for the ones who remain not the one who died.
Told another story about a man who was dying. He went and told asked him if he wanted to go to heaven and asked if he wanted to accept Jesus. He moved in a thrashing sort of way, and the speaker said to the daughter who was there something like...see he said yes, he wants to go to heaven. The speaker baptized the main and shortly later the man died. He admitted that he had no idea how deep that faith was, but he feels like God would accept that confession, but the bottom line for him was that later on that daughter became a Christian too. Probably motivated to go to heaven to be with her father.
The speaker said a great deal more than what I have typed, but that is the extent of my written notes. The speaker's handout covered a great deal as well and were very informative. (Will try to see if I can get handouts up here.)
(Nicki)
The following notes were taken during the 2009 Church Planting Conference at Hakone. The speakers name was A. Miyoshi.
After you die what happens?
Japanese believe that the body and soul are separated. A person can be divided into two main components. One is the body and when it dies it goes to the grave. Many times the body goes to the crematorium and then is inserted into the grave. The second part of the person is the soul. The dead soul leaves the body and goes to the border world. This is the space between this world (the one we are alive in) and the other world (maybe seen as the spiritual realm).
What happens to the soul?
Living people have to do rituals and ceremonies and give daily food offerings to the family altar to save the soul. There is no hell. Rituals of the living saves the soul of the dead.
The dead body is separated from the body because it is unclean. The dead spirit is cleaned by the living people doing things to save the dead spirit. If someone doesn't do anything, then the dead spirit comes back to haunt, has a grudge, is vengeful.
おばけ are unsaved spirits, those on the border and unable to get to the other world. They are invisible.
Eventually everyone goes to heaven because of the "rituals" that save them. That ritual is the funeral.
Japanese view is that there is no hell, no punishment. Community is sacred ( This was said numerous times). This is the current world. Since community is sacred, Japanese try to protect it. The souls outside this world also help protect the community. Reincarnation happens when the soul is released into the other world then it returns to the community again.
How do you evangelize people that have no view of hell and see that they all go to heaven?
The speaker changed his family grave stone. He had to keep the shape of the stone style of that particular cemetery, but he had the words 神は愛なりengraved in the stone and instead of the family stamp he had the cross engraved in that spot. Cost him more than $5000 to do this.
Basically the flow is that a person lives, then they die. Their spirit goes onto the border. Through rituals they become a god, then in time they become an ancestor. The soul moves from the other world and in time the soul then reincarnates back to the community.
The speaker included a few diagrams which I am not sure I can reproduce to this post. The diagrams try to give a visual representation of how Japanese think and how they compartmentalize the areas of their lives.
"Culture is unconscious." Don't think about it, you just do it and it just is.
"Japanese have lost their narrative." Narrative being a way of living life.
Take a baby to the shrine to ave it dedicated to the shrine (neighborhood god) to be nice to the gods.
Relationship with the community is based on fears. Don't want to be unprotected. If I do something, then I might be forced out of the community. Sometimes people lose a community then need to find a new community. If they find the church, then they might be Christian even if they do not believe in God.
Another ritual is a 祭 or festival. A festival creates chaos. Community creates chaos and bring the portable shrines to the temple which creates peace again. It symbolizes purification.
Other rituals include: magic, festivals, rite of passage, ancestor veneration. Rite of passage isn't salvation, yet some things we do in the Bible that are rites of passage.
Community salvation taken in an almost private life sort of sense. Need to emphasize the personal salvation and relationship with God.
The speaker told a story about a lady who came for counseling. She was struggling with the issue of her mother's suicide and how she didn't want to be a Christian because she wouldn't see her mother. The speaker acknowledged her feelings. He agreed with her. Then he said he was sorry but that he could not change the Bible. He shared in her experience but acknowledge that he cannot change what the Bible says in the matter of dying without acknowledging God.
Questions came up as to whether or not funeral ministry is something to get into here in Japan. He knows of one who preaches hell at funerals. That minister tells everyone they will end up like the deceased and go to hell unless they repent right there. Remember the funeral is for the ones who remain not the one who died.
Told another story about a man who was dying. He went and told asked him if he wanted to go to heaven and asked if he wanted to accept Jesus. He moved in a thrashing sort of way, and the speaker said to the daughter who was there something like...see he said yes, he wants to go to heaven. The speaker baptized the main and shortly later the man died. He admitted that he had no idea how deep that faith was, but he feels like God would accept that confession, but the bottom line for him was that later on that daughter became a Christian too. Probably motivated to go to heaven to be with her father.
The speaker said a great deal more than what I have typed, but that is the extent of my written notes. The speaker's handout covered a great deal as well and were very informative. (Will try to see if I can get handouts up here.)
(Nicki)
Friday, November 6, 2009
This scope of this blog is to share about our work here in Japan. We hope, in time, to give insights into what ministry looks like here.
First a bit about ourselves.
We are Church of Christ/ Christian Church missionaries serving in the Tokyo area. We tend to lean pretty heavy on our Restoration Movement Roots. That being said, we recognize that though "We are not the only Christians; We are Christians only." This means, in order to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we collaborate with other denominations.
Our history in Japan. We began our journey in missions in Osaka. Osaka was the city where we chose to do language studies. After two years of language study, we moved on to Niiagta. All of this deserves more attention than is presently being given to it. Our time in Niigata and Osaka will be stories full of insights that we will share at a different time. Without saying a whole lot at this time, our purpose in Niigata was to teach English at a small Christian language school there. We were there for two years.
Presently we have been in Higashi Kurume, Tokyo for a year and a half. Having served on the field for 5 years, we have learned much, but still have much to learn. Hopefully this blog is a journey of learning. Currently we are involved in house church planting.
This blog will be a cooperative effort of two authors, so please bear with us as we write and offer insights from sometimes two very different perspectives.
On the agenda is to explain the name of this blog, so that others may understand what it means and why it is a prevailing theme of our ministry.
First a bit about ourselves.
We are Church of Christ/ Christian Church missionaries serving in the Tokyo area. We tend to lean pretty heavy on our Restoration Movement Roots. That being said, we recognize that though "We are not the only Christians; We are Christians only." This means, in order to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we collaborate with other denominations.
Our history in Japan. We began our journey in missions in Osaka. Osaka was the city where we chose to do language studies. After two years of language study, we moved on to Niiagta. All of this deserves more attention than is presently being given to it. Our time in Niigata and Osaka will be stories full of insights that we will share at a different time. Without saying a whole lot at this time, our purpose in Niigata was to teach English at a small Christian language school there. We were there for two years.
Presently we have been in Higashi Kurume, Tokyo for a year and a half. Having served on the field for 5 years, we have learned much, but still have much to learn. Hopefully this blog is a journey of learning. Currently we are involved in house church planting.
This blog will be a cooperative effort of two authors, so please bear with us as we write and offer insights from sometimes two very different perspectives.
On the agenda is to explain the name of this blog, so that others may understand what it means and why it is a prevailing theme of our ministry.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Luke 10:2
He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
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