The Top 5 Questions

Listen to Ravi Zacharias and William Lane Craig
give you answers to the top 5 asked questions about
Christianity. This is a 5 part series done at the U of
Iowa. Very well done for Christians or skeptic alike.

Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday begins God's proclamation of Christ as King.
"Christ the King is our message. One of the grand ironies of the way the modern church often does evangelism is we do not present Christ at the center and the Christ we DO present has often been functionally dethroned. Far too many evangelistic appeals are targeted at people’s “felt needs” rather than their real need, which is to have their sins forgiven and undergo a radical change to bring them into submission to the loving, joy-inducing rule of King Jesus. Let me give some examples of this. People are suffering from terribly low self-esteem, (so the thinking goes) and Jesus is presented as the One who can come into their lives and restore their shattered self-image. After all, if someone as special as Jesus loves them, then surely they can love themselves. Here’s another felt need the gospel is often pointed to. That is, people crave significance—their lives are empty and devoid of meaning so they just invite Jesus into their heart and He can fill their emptiness with himself. Do you hear how those mutations of the message are utterly inconsistent with Jesus as the King who desires to spread his kingdom by his emissaries as they bear the message of his gospel?"

Click here for the whole of this wonderful message by Duncan Ross

Pranks and Hoaxes
Read this April Fool's Day post from my
former housemate Justin Taylor. (Also a
now famous writer and editor.) - check the
comments also for some more fun.

Conditional Praise?
Here is a great post from a friend on praising a sovereign God.

*This was especially relevant for me after going through suffering
issues with my parents this last year as they lost their home and
struggled with their health. They would appreciate your continued
prayers.

(HT:JD)

An American Wrongfully Imprisoned In Nicaragua

Have you heard about this? This is crazy. Here is more from MSNBC

2 Timothy 2:2
Once in awhile I get an e-mail that encourages me to keep doing what I am doing. These moments of grace remind me why I want to keep using my life to pass onto others what I have been given in Christ - the love and the knowledge of God which has changed my whole life.

From a friend:

"Time goes by so fast. I remember spending time with you and Mike in bible study in Maucker Union back in '99. What a great time. I also looked through some old pics and saw us at the Capitol City Marathon, another great time. God has done some really great things in our lives! One of them was bringing you into my life at the time he did. I wouldn't be the man I am becoming without him putting you in my life. Thanks for being part of that Mark. Anyway, as I prepare for being married and am going through all the things from my past, I find things that bring me back to the time we have spent together and it only brings warmth to my heart. "

Giving
"Studies have shown that the richer we are, the smaller the percentage­
of our income we give to the church and its mission. The poorest fifth
of the church give 3.4 percent of their income to the church and the richest fifth give 1.6 percent."
- John Piper

Any thoughts on why this is?

The Minneapolis Star Tribune carried an article on Friday, May 3, 1991, from which these data are taken.

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日本語版を見て下さい！

ALLELUIA! - Ayano becomes a Christian



This is from Ayano herself directly to you personally right now as I translate:
"Thank you for praying!! I have so much joy right now! I didn't know at all that you were praying but God heard your prayers. I am so excited! I thank God for you and will pray for you too. I hope I can meet you all someday."

God saved Ayano today at about 6:30 pm Japan time.
So many people have prayed and loved and talked to Ayano, but of course
it was God who answered her prayers, showed Himself to Ayano and gave
her a heart to seek Himself (John 6:44). We just give HIM all the glory and
praise for this joyous day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"Today is a deeply humbling, inspiring, and joyful day. I'm ashamed to admit that up until a couple of years ago I knew nothing about St. Patrick, but now that I do, this day truly moves me towards both reflection and action."

Amy Hall tells us about the missionary behind the famous day.

If this doesn't move you, you may not have a pulse.

Phillipians 4:13

Can you do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you?

Find out here.

The 'Surge' Is Succeeding

By Robert Kagan (Washington Post)
Sunday, March 11, 2007; B07

A front-page story in The Post last week suggested that the Bush administration has no backup plan in case the surge in Iraq doesn't work. I wonder if The Post and other newspapers have a backup plan in case it does.

Leading journalists have been reporting for some time that the war was hopeless, a fiasco that could not be salvaged by more troops and a new counterinsurgency strategy. The conventional wisdom in December held that sending more troops was politically impossible after the antiwar tenor of the midterm elections. It was practically impossible because the extra troops didn't exist. Even if the troops did exist, they could not make a difference.

Four months later, the once insurmountable political opposition has been surmounted. The nonexistent troops are flowing into Iraq. And though it is still early and horrible acts of violence continue, there is substantial evidence that the new counterinsurgency strategy, backed by the infusion of new forces, is having a significant effect.

Washington Post

My Science Class at KIU



(I thank God for these precious kids!)

The Thirsty Heart

Click here to listen to my recent message. (Maki translated)

*See if you can find the part where my water spilled all over the piano! (Don't
worry, there was no damage done.) :)

"The Hope" Video

Pure, simple, and amazing!
Watch it here.

Can you love when it is hard?

"About 500 anti-Christian radicals attacked a Gospel for Asia Bible college in the eastern Indian state of Orissa on Wednesday evening, February 28. Gospel for Asia leaders in the area report the mob, which was mobilized by a Hindu nationalist group, systematically attacked the approximately 300 students and staff members present on the campus. Five students and the women's dorm director were seriously injured. All have been hospitalized, and one student is in critical condition.

The rest of the student body and staff remain inside the dormitories. Local and reserve police have arrived on the scene, but have found it difficult to control the crowd, and the situation remains tense.

The attackers also disconnected the electricity and ransacked the campus, destroying the roofs of many of the school buildings.

"The magnitude of this attack is unlike anything we've ever seen," said Gospel for Asia President K.P. Yohannan. "This is one of the most severe situations we've dealt with, but our students and leaders are not discouraged."

Instead, they are asking God to bless their enemies.

"Please pray that this will become an opportunity for us to share the love of Jesus to the people who are persecuting us," one GFA leader from Orissa requests."

Click here to keep reading

Christian Dunk?

2007 Slam Dunk Contest
The sticker says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Phil. 4:13
シール書かれたことはピリピ４：１３『私は、私を強くしてくださる方（イエス様）によって、どんなことでもできるのです。』

Ephesians 6 Battle ー エペソ６書の戦い

Fight the good fight of faith!

Coming Foolishness

--Tim McGirk/Jerusalem

Brace yourself. James Cameron, the man who brought you 'Titanic' is back with another blockbuster. This time, the ship he's sinking is Christianity.

In a new documentary, Producer Cameron and his director, Simcha Jacobovici, make the starting claim that Jesus wasn't resurrected --the cornerstone of Christian faith-- and that his burial cave was discovered near Jerusalem. And, get this, Jesus sired a son with Mary Magdelene.

No, it's not a re-make of "The Da Vinci Codes'. It's supposed to be true.

Let's go back 27 years, when Israeli construction workers were gouging out the foundations for a new building in the industrial park in the Talpiyot, a Jerusalem suburb. of Jerusalem. The earth gave way, revealing a 2,000 year old cave with 10 stone caskets. Archologists were summoned, and the stone caskets carted away for examination. It took 20 years for experts to decipher the names on the ten tombs. They were: Jesua, son of Joseph, Mary, Mary, Mathew, Jofa and Judah, son of Jesua.
Israel's prominent archeologist Professor Amos Kloner didn't associate the crypt with the New Testament Jesus. His father, after all, was a humble carpenter who couldn't afford a luxury crypt for his family. And all were common Jewish names.
-----
Time to equip ourselves - Why do you believe in the resurrection?
Click here for some help. (Watch Dr. Kennedy's program online)

Amazing Grace
The movie comes out this weekend in America.
For those interested click here for more great info.

The Fine Print
by John Fischer

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NLT)

These verses are what I call the fine print of the Christian life. When you sign up, you sign up for this, but unfortunately, not too many people read that far into the contract, and not enough leaders point it out. So when bad things start happening to us, we think something went wrong with our faith. Not necessarily. In fact, it’s an honor to think that your faith is worthy of being tested.

It’s a reverse spiritual principle that nonetheless is true: We get beaten down so that Christ might rise in us. It’s the whole idea God has of avoiding confusion. See, he doesn’t want people confusing human power and achievement with his power and what he is achieving in and through our lives. If all Christians were super-Christians, people would be impressed with them. As it is, God wants people to be surprised at us, not so much impressed – surprised that we can keep on believing, given what has happened to us. Surprised at us – impressed with God. That’s the way it should go.

It’s important to know this so that the things that happen don’t throw us into a tailspin. Paul wrote in the passage above that troubles, confusions, knock-downs, and drag-outs are all to be expected in a life of faith, and they are not just something to suck it up and endure, they are what will actually release the power of God in our lives. We encounter death-like experiences so that Christ’s life-like nature may clearly be seen in us, despite what is happening.

Let me try and say this again. This is not just endurance training through tough times. This is God’s strategy for ministry through us. There is no other way for it to be done. His strategy is his power and strength through our weakness – his life through our death. This doesn’t just happen to some Christians; it happens to us all if we desire to be effective in our faith.

So don’t forget the fine print today, and allow the troubles you face to springboard you into finding God’s purposes even in this. He had this planned all along. It’s even in the contract!

Is God better than sex?
This a big question that seekers, new Christians and long-time Christians alike have to look square in the face.
Romans 1:21-23 says, "...their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise; they became fools, and exchanged the glory of God for images of mortal man" (or women)
This subject is deeper than this sound bite, but may it whet your appetite to search deeper. Piper has some serious things to say. Click here to watch him speak. Click here for a fuller treatment of the subject.

Homosexuality in the NBA
I recently saw a very balanced approach between the
recent homophobia and the more standard postmodern
"do what ever you seems good to you" mindset.
Click here for a surprisingly good article by an ESPN writer.

McGrath vs. Dawkins
The natural world was given as a pointer to God. Sadly, many in all ages have used it to point away from God. (Rom. 1:18ff) This, however, was a refreshing post for me.

Quote of the Day

"Theology is not averse to speaking of the bondage of the will, the incapacity of sinful human beings to come to God or to do the good that God demands.…As sinners we still have free choice, the freedom to do what we please, but it is only by grace that we receive the liberty of the children of God, the freedom to do what pleases God."

— Donald Bloesch
The Future of Evangelical Theology

Our baby at 23 weeks!
Can you see the smile?! Maki had just laughed which sent the baby tumbling and rolling around inside - I think that must have made the baby feel good and hence the smile. That is my theory anyway!

無料配布キャンペーンの宣伝はすでに終了しているが、現在も下記の窓口で受付を行っている。申し込みはインターネット（http://www.powerforliving.jp/）または、フリーダイアル０１２０・８２９・８００まで。教会専用窓口は、新生宣教団（ファックス：０４９・２９６・５０１９、メール： pfl@nlljapan.com）。

"I'm proud to be the first African-American coach to win this," said Dungy during the trophy ceremony Sunday night, according to the Associated Press. "But again, more than anything, Lovie Smith and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that."
- Tony Dungy after winning the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl - Super God!
As a Bears fan since '85, the Super Bowl was tough to watch.
As a Christian since '95, the Super Bowl was great to watch!
Here is why.