Already 20 years in Japan

Today for the day I am 20 years in Japan. I have celebrated this day with my student and I am sincerely thankfully for this time to our Lord Jesus Christ. He brougth me to Japan and helped me throughout everyday so far. The beginning adjusting to Japan and the life here was quite challenging, but it became mor comfortable from year to year and more interesting. Also thanks of your prayers and support. It is encouraging me. May Jesus bless You richly for it! 

The different Bible- classes went well so far. I have 5 new students in the beginners' course who are present with zeal and joy. In the advanced course we will finish in 2 more weeks the complete reading of the Old Testamament. As a reward 5 participants get a document. They have learned independently to read their Bible and able to talk frankly about what they have read and understood from the context of God´s Word. My prayer is that they will share what they have learned and encourage other Christians and friends. 

In our mother and kids class in Hamamatsu four new mothers joined our meeting and heard the Biblestory for their first time, which I am thankful for. I do enjoy the Bibleclass in the church. It´s encouraging to see, that they love Bible reading and are growing. 

With this nice bouquet which the women have given me as a gift for the past 20 years being in Japan, I do say to everyone thanks for your prayers and support. 

Praise the Lord my soul, and do not forget the good things he has done for me! Psalm 103.2.  

Pentecost

Today is the 23 of May. Do you know what we are celebrating?

Today it is the church´s birthday. Almost 2000 years ago the first church was founded in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Peter preached before thousands of Jewish people. He asked them to repent and be baptized. That day 3000 people responded and have been baptized imediataly. That was the birth of the first church. Than „they devoted themselves to the apostles´teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.“ Acts 2,42. I have visited and joined many churches so far. None of them are perfect or idealistic. But thats not the important point. If the church is commited to Jesus Christ and staying under HIS leadership, and if the members are minister to each other, praying together, studying the Bible and introducing Christianity to others, the church will grow and as a result new people will join the congregations. 

On the 7. of June there will start a special seminary with Dave Holden (A churchtrainer from Saddleckchurch,). He will come to Japan and train Japanese Pastors and leaders on the five basics of a healthy church, which is a balance of Worship, Ministry, Evangelisme, Discipleship and Fellowship. I am excitied about this and hope that many pastors and church leaders will join and learn more about it. 
If you interested in this subject, please check the following web-site. http://pdfellowshipjapan.blogspot.com/

To be a helper

„Did helping become unattractive“ nowadays? Yesterday in one of my classes we talked about the topic „The creation of the woman “. In Genesis 2:18 it is written: Then the Lord God said: It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a helper, who is just right for him. First we have discussed the today's linguistic usage of the word „to be a helper or assistance.  My students explained to me that the word „help or helper“ is not any longer  attractive. They meant, the thought „of helping each other “ is loosing his value. Is that correct? On the first pages of the Bible we experience that God original intentions with humans were „to help one another (mutual helping).  The term „assistance“ refers to the previous sentence: it is not good that humans are alone. In this sense a helper is not someone, whose assistance is to ask for, because it is comfortable or pleasently only.  But a helper (here the woman) is the assistance, that helps the other one to find the true purpose in fulfillment of the life. It lies in the mutual with one another and in helping each other. We humans were created to the fellowship with each other and with God. By the way the term  „assistance or helper“ has in the Bible always a very positive value: God presents himself for the Israelits as „their helper/aide “(hebr.word  „ezer“ is the same , Psalm 121). In this context the term “assistance or helper“ becomes today for us a completely new attractiveness. Where can you be today in your family, your neighbourhood or your church a suitable (appropriate) helper?

Bibleclass

In April my new schoolyear has started. Some of you wanted to know how it is going. Here is a short update. In one Bibleclass we are going to study in one year all the 27 books of the New Testament. The 1.lesson was about: Why is it important to study the Bible?  Answer: the BIBLE is Gods loveletter for us. In 1600 years HE used around 40 people to write all the 66 books through them, by the work of the HOLY SPIRIT.  God himself is the author. Than I gave an overview through the Old Testament. And this week we are starting with the Gospel of Matthew. Homework is to read the Bible everyday with a jounal. In the Friday bibleclass we are doing the same with the Old Testament. After one year the students will know the purpose of every book and also the brief content and some specific highlights of each book. 

There is another class with the subject: „Women of the Bible“. In this class there have signed up five men and one women. I am excieting to study and discuss with them the role of the women in the Bible and our churches. 

I enjoyed my springvacation. There was a lot of fun-activities: inviting friends over to my home, Sightseeing in Nagoya. Hiking and of course "Hanabi", watching the pretty cherryblossom called Sakura.

Counseling Seminary

In March a special Counseling-course was held with Helga Theis, a longterm German Missionary. She shared her fourty years counseling experiences, while minister in Japan. That was very valuable, because Helga Theis shared her daily life experiences, underlined with many examples. Her topic theme was: Freeing from a lifestyle shaped of hate, anger, revenge or retaliation. There is the anger from the outside, it is visible in some kind of strange over reactions and than there is the suppressed (displaced) anger. She pointed out the different causes, which have led to such an unhappy lifestyle. Than of course she shared with us the Biblical solution: that is the forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one, who took all our anger, frustrations and hate on his shoulders, and died for us. Everyone, who accepts this biblical solution, will be healed. 
H. Theis showed us a special plan of 14 steps, a prayer in which Jesus Christ is going with us through our heart-hurts and painful feelings. Jesus Christ only is able to free us from our heart pain. The cross is the place where we can unload our sorrows and ask Jesu to forgive the person, who caused our pain. It is the place, where our emotions and thoughts can be completly healed. Lets thank for the power of EASTER! Jesus dies for our sins, so we can be free! Thanks be to you, Jesus!

Hairdresser Visit!

Did you know that Japanese hairdresser are not only taking care for the hair, they also give us a wonderful massage? If you don´t believe it, this picture is the proof. The prize is less than 30 Euros. In addition there was a discount coupon with 20% for a friendship advertisement. And they did also offer to call me before the next date, so I will not forget it☺. I got a bonus card too. And the next day I found a nice card in my mail box, on which Yoko, my hairdresser, thanked me that I came. That is service purely! From this friendliness we as Christians can learn a lot, I think. Indeed to be nice and friendly to newcomers, who are visiting our churches.