Where They Are

This week my dad sent me the bulletin from my home church from a couple weeks ago. There are always a couple "reflection" quotes in the front that relate to the sermon and one of them really struck a chord with me.

 

"Evangelization is a process of bringing the gospel to people where they are,

not where you would like them to be...When the gospel reaches a people where they are,

their response to the gospel is the church in a new place..."

-Vincent Donovan

 

 

Some days here in Japan I wonder what the heck I'm doing. Who's brilliant idea was it to come live in a foreign country where I don't speak the language and try to share a God in whom they are almost completely disinterested? Why am I here? Am I really accomplishing anything worth while with my life for the kingdom?

 

And then God answers with something like this.

 

Bring the gospel to where people are at.

 

Don't sit around waiting for them to come to the gospel. What kind of "Great" commission would it be if we just waited for people to come to us? Where would the faith, the sanctification, the trial and persecution, the surrender, the joy, occur if our calling as disciples of Christ were so static?

 

Romans 10 asks the question how are people to believe in Christ if they have never heard his name? And how are they to hear his name if no one goes to them where they are at and tells them? It is the feet of those who go tell them that are beautiful. Not the person sitting around at home waiting for people to come to them.

 

The gospel is a gift to those who choose to accept it. There is nothing we can do to deserve it, the only action we take is confessing our need for a savior and acknowledging Christ as the only one who can save us. And once saved there is nothing we can do or not do that will change God's love for us as his dearly loved children.

 

But the truth of the gospel should drive us to go anywhere, do anything, for the glory of God's name. The only reasonable response to the gospel in our own lives should be to go and share it with others. If we truly have the message that is the power of salvation for all who believe it, why would we ever keep it to ourselves?

 

I wonder why I'm here in Japan a lot. I wonder if I'm accomplishing anything with my time. I wonder why God asked me to come here and do so many things that by nature go completely against my personality.

 

But then I ask myself, why wouldn't I? I do believe that the message I have to share is the power of salvation for those who believe it. I believe the Japanese desperately need to hear this message and have the chance to know and be known by their Creator. John's vision in Revelation promises people from every tribe, nation, and tongue will be present in heaven praising God for all eternity. I believe that vision and I want Japan to be well represented in those multitudes.

 

This is why I'm in Japan. God has sent me, at least for a little while, to where the people of Tokyo are at and to be a light for him here. I fail every day but am so grateful he has allowed me to be here and to see how he is working in this beautiful country. I pray he would continue to break my heart for this place and to humbly seek to meet all of my friends where they are at.

 

Jesus can meet anyone anywhere and enter into their need. I want to be one who makes that first introduction. Will you join me? 

Leaves and the Glory of God

This weekend my team and I got away from the concrete jungle to a couple hours outside of Tokyo, Okutama. It was a time to plan out our ministry strategy for the remainder of the semester and also to just be together as a team away from the craziness of our daily work.

Last year we also stayed in Okutama so I really looked forward to being back. In the fall it is a truly glorious place. The sharpness of the air, the brilliant flame colours of the leaves and the clarity of the river are refreshing to every part of me. I wouldn't say I'm a "country girl" at heart, but being surrounded by God's creation always brings rest to my soul and my eyes drank in the beauty after being parched among the skyscrapers and concrete.

I was encouraged by our planning time together as a team and the fun we were able to have together. Though we are all introverted, I do believe we are moving towards each other and I'm grateful for how God formed our team to work and live together well.

Here are some shots from our time. While photos will never be able to capture the magnificence of God's creation, take a moment to appreciate these shadows of the real thing. Enjoy God's creativity and let it point you towards him in awe and worship.

The heavens, and leaves, really do declare the glory of the Lord!

1 Samuel and Prayer

"I was pouring out my soul to the LORD...

I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."

1 Samuel 1:15-16

 

"If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him;

but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?"

1 Samuel 2:25

I've been learning a lot about prayer lately, mostly about how little I understand it, and quite honestly how poor I am at it. These two brief verses in 1 Samuel really speak to where my heart's desire for prayer lie.

In the first, Hannah is describing the intensity of her prayers for a son. The priest thought she was drunk because she was so lost in her conversation with the LORD!

Her strong language, pouring out her soul, praying in anguish and grief, struck a chord in me because my prayers are so not that. Rarely do I pray to the point of tears. Rarely am I so invested and burdened by the prayer needs I am lifting up that I am crying out in desperation and anguish of soul. I don't think one needs every prayer time to be overcome with emotion, but certainly there is power in a prayer so intense and fervent.

Hannah had been brought to a breaking point and in desperation and helplessness was crying out to her God. And he heard her cries.

There is desperation and brokenness and injustice and pain all around us. People die unloved and hopeless. Shouldn't this reality bring us to our knees to cry out in great anguish and grief to the only One who can save us? If our hearts truly broke for these things, wouldn't we be pouring out our souls to the Lord as much as possible? Wouldn't the body of Christ be inspired to pray because it is really the only thing we can do in the face of such suffering?

And yet here we are, here I am. I've signed up for shifts during our November 24/7 prayer movement and find myself distracted after a mere 10 minutes of talking to God. 10 minutes! How sad is that? Where is my anguish and my grief? Where is the pouring out of my soul for those who are walking in darkness, for my own sin? It's embarrassing really and I'm sure it grieves the Father.

The second verse hit home because I have been thinking a lot about intercession in the past week or so. During one conversation with God it struck me that here I am, covered by the intercession of Christ at the right hand of the Father AND the Holy Spirit in me interceding even when I have no words, and yet I so often just pray for myself.

There is nothing inherently sinful in this, and in fact most of the time it helps align my heart with the Lord's. But it is selfish of me, who has the constant intercession of the trinity on her behalf, to not lift up those who do not have this same intercession.

As the verse said, who will intercede for the one who has sinned against the Lord? We have all sinned against Him, some have repented, but for those walking in darkness to their own damnation, who will intercede for them?

Like Abraham did for Sodom, or Moses for the Israelites, I want to step in and call upon the Lord's great mercy and remind him of his many promises. I want to intercede for these people.

This role of intercession I believe is the greatest and most meaningful role I could take on. Thinking of some of the people I most respect and admire, most of them were humble, unassuming people who prayed faithfully and with power. They knew the Lord and came to him daily on their knees to lift up countless around them. And I believe their prayers were heard, answered, and lives were forever changed because of them. That is the kind of life I want to have.

Right now the more I learn about prayer the more I'm realizing how far I have to go. But God is gracious and slowly teaching me how to let go of my selfishness and pride to approach the throne of grace in humility on behalf of others. I'm thankful he has placed prayer at the forefront of my mind and is patiently sanctifying me in this area.

Waseda-sai (Waseda Festival)

 

This weekend many universities held their biggest festival of the year with food booths and many circles showcasing their hard work on stage. Waseda's festival is attended by tons of people and famous for attracting celebrities, alumni, high schoolers, and families alike. It was chaotic but really fun to see firsthand how gifted these university students are. From tap (of course!), taiko drumming, jazz, to Michael Jackson impersonations they always perform at the highest level.

Enjoy!

Entry sign at the West Gate

Shockers- An all men's cheerleading squad

Got to see my Tap-Lovers before their performance!

Silly boys



 

Yamagen-san starting off a dance

Taiko drumming- such a cool and intense Japanese tradition!

Some of the team

Looking down on the crowds

Watching "Michael Jackson" perform for a loyal crowd in the rain