How do we know how to determine the figurativeness / literalness of
Genesis?


Obviously, this is one of the most important books to interpret
correctly since it is the basis of our teaching on sin, its origin, curses
and hints of salvation from it. As we have found in Japan, if you take
away the literal interpretation of Genesis, you cut the very foundations
of the gospel away from your message. There is no message.


Without Genesis we have no gospel.


In Japan (and increasingly in America) we cannot even share the gospel
until we first talk about Genesis. How IMPORTANT it is then to know how
to correctly interpret Genesis! Also, if we take a figurative view of
Genesis (the flood for example - Progressivists like Hugh Ross often
claim that the flood was only local) how in the world can we expect an
unbelieving world to take the message of the Bible seriously? I don't
think we can expect that from them. My view is this: Let us take the
Bible for what it is- the Word of God.


I end with a short testimony from a book by Ken Ham:
"Several years ago, your ministry played an important role in bringing me
to the God and Savior of the Bible. If I was going to believe in God, I
first
had to acknowledge His existence. And if I was going to believe in the God
of the Bible, it had to be proven to me that the Scriptures were not in
error.
Your material addressed the evolution vs. creation (issue) and provided me
with the literal truth of the Word."
V.B. New York

p.s. I would love to hear your thoughts on the "local flood" that Hugh Ross
proposes. I don't see how anyone can arrive at this position!

Father's Day Focus
Maki and I were pleased that Maki's whole family (10 people total!) could come to our house for some family time on Sat. night. (We had such a good time we forgot to take pictures!) It was a good time again to just live out the gospel: talking, sharing, listening, cooking, cleaning, and serving Maki's family. Particularly I felt like we are getting closer to Maki's Dad and Maki's sister Naomi and her boyfriend. After the party, Maki's Dad said that he was so thankful to be able to come to our house. Yesterday he again said thanks. I honestly felt a little embarassed, but I think he just wants us to know how happy he is.
Please pray for my family too, as of course I could not be with them during this time. May God's love and glory be spread in our presence as well as in our absences.

Thank you for your prayers for Maki and I as we spend time
with Maki's dad, her brother Norihiko, and his son Sora.
The Bible study with Maki's dad is going well. Each time I
feel he is coming closer. He is beginning to pray on his own.
I would like to start praying with him during before and after
our Bible study. Please pray for that.



Yesterday at Bible study we talked about God's desire to give us joy -
the fullest and deepest joys available. He was really amazed how wonderfully
the Bible spoke about life and he thought what I showed him was really true.
Right now, he can't experience it for himself though. Maki gave some good
insights about how when you first start something it is hard to see how you
can enjoy it. After awhile, you start to understand and enjoy it. This really
made sense to him.
This summer, as I have some time off from part-time teaching, I would like to
help Maki's dad with his construction business. Having life-on-life time may
really help Maki's dad to see the joy and love of Christ lived out even more.
We are also praying that this would affect Norihiko too, as they work together
most days.

Let's let God have His say before
the theory of evolution. I like
this one!
http://www.answersingenesis.org/aftereden/cartoons/20010820.gif