Public Schools, Christian Schools and Home Schools

Kennedy's special sums up the current situation well.

ABC News & The Creation Museum

60% of Americans believe God created the world in 6 days.
How about you? What do you think? Is what you believe
about Genesis important?

Click here for more of ABC's report.

Glory Road
This is one of the best movies I have seen in awhile.
Rejoicing with, and truly loving those who are different
than you takes grace from above. It also takes grace
to forgive those who have slighted you and to continue
to press on in loving those same people.
"Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good." - The Bible

Are your kids being lied to at school?

Though I don't agree with some of his beliefs
on the legal system and taxes, Kent Hovind has
some excellent thoughts about evolution.
Click here to watch this excellent video.

The Icons of Evolution
Have you been deceived?
Watch here
and more great videos here.

"Is Christianity Good for the World?"

I thought this was interesting...
Atheist / Christian Debate

Iowa State University puts Christian professor in crosshairs

Iowa State University astronomer and professor Guillermo Gonzalez is more than qualified to earn tenure. But those who have voting power are using their personal antagonistic views to deny him tenure because of his religious beliefs that the universe and living things are so finely tuned and complex, they must have been designed by a supreme, intelligent force.

Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez, co-author of The Privileged Planet (watch here) and an advocate of the scientific theory of intelligent design, has been denied tenure by Iowa State University even though he has met or exceeded every required standard for tenure approval.

Here's the short version of the issue:

A five-member panel of professors in ISU's astronomy department rejected Gonzalez's application for tenure. Two of the five active tenured astronomy professors in the department that denied tenure to Gonzalez at Iowa State University are actually connected to a widely-publicized petition that denounces intelligent design as "creationist pseudoscience."

The rejected tenure request was then sent to ISU president Gregory Geoffroy, who also denied the request. Gonzalez is now appealing the denial by president Geoffroy. A decision is expected by June 6.

(American Family Association)

Rudy, the Pilot Missionary
Rudy has been a great help to us in our mission here.
He uses his career as a commercial pilot as a platform
to visit other missionaries and churches and sharethe gospel as well as to encourage Christians.

Rudy you are a great encouragement to us!
Thank you!

Click here to view a short video he made of our
mission and his time here.

Dave Busby from Passion '99

Here is a vintage message I have been searching for
for a long time. I pray that you enjoy it as much as
I did.
For those of you who don't know, Dave is one of the
best speakers to youth that America has known. He
had a major impact on my life in '96 as a young
college student.

Mark & Maki's last message at church

Click here to listen to our message on
"The Dreams of God" - Psalm 67.

Robert Morrison - 200 years in China, Today

When Morrison was asked if he expected to have a spiritual impact in China, he answered, “No sir, but I expect God will.”

Click to read this inspiring post.

“We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

"Shadowlands" is a movie that I first saw in high school. It had a dramatic effect on me and led me to realize the importance of thinking deeply about life, as well as the meaning and purpose in it. I really recommend this movie to any one who is thinking seriously about life, or to anyone who simply wants to deeply enjoy life's fullness.

C.S. Lewis: from theism to Christianity

C.S. Lewis - from atheism to theism

Dawkins Stumped
I have one question. Where is the science here?
All I hear is faith.

Sovereign Grace Ministries - Free Song
Click here to Download a great free song
(Enter the code FREEDOWNLOAD in the promotional code section.)

Spider-Man 3

Yes! I finally got to see a great movie before my American counterparts. Usually movies come out here several months after they do in America, but this one was an exception.
I recommend this movie for the conversations that it might bring up about sin and forgiveness.

One reviewer said this:
"This is the beginning of a movement toward his dark side, something that’s brought to the forefront when he comes into contact with the black substance. When his suit turns black, he finds he has greater strength and agility than ever before . . . and in the climax, he must put aside his desire for vengeance. He has to learn that we are all sinners and that none of us can hold ourselves above another.”

Read more here

The Power of Weakness in Parenting

As Maki and I get ready for being parents we have been feasting on parenting advice, trying to learn all we can so that we can be good parents for our new child. It is funny because often times we start talking about how we want to parent 15 years from now! This message from my brother Doug was a relieving encourager for me. I hope Maki can listen to this soon too.

New Creation Museum Draws Protests
My brother Doug has a good post here.
We hope to go see this museum in August when
we return to America with Doug and his family.

Quote of the Day

"The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions.
The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely
missionary we become." - Henry Martyn,
Pioneer Missionary to India and Persia.

Arminius on Calvin
In the eighth volume of Philip Schaff's History of the Christian Church, the historian quotes Dutch theologian Jacobus Arminius (after whom the anti-Calvinistic movement Arminianism was named) with regard to the value of Calvin's writings:

Next to the study of the Scriptures which I earnestly inculcate, I exhort my pupils to peruse Calvin’s Commentaries, which I extol in loftier terms than Helmich himself (a Dutch divine, 1551–1608); for I affirm that he excels beyond comparison in the interpretation of Scripture, and that his commentaries ought to be more highly valued than all that is handed down to us by the library of the fathers; so that I acknowledge him to have possessed above most others, or rather above all other men, what may be called an eminent spirit of prophecy. His Institutes ought to be studied after the (Heidelberg) Catechism, as containing a fuller explanation, but with discrimination, like the writings of all men.

(Wikipedia: Calvin)

The Missionary Heart
I pray that whatever your calling in life, you and I would have this same heart...
(from the DGM blog)
She was a Southern Baptist missionary to Iraq and was killed by unknown assailants March 15, 2004. I am mentioning it now simply because I was reading the book Lives Given, Not Taken: 21st Century Southern Baptist Martyrs, by Erich Bridges and Jerry Rankin. In it I ran across the letter that Karen wrote and left behind in an envelope that said "Open in case of death." It said in part:

Dear Pastor Phil and Pastor Roger,

You should only be opening this in the event of death.

When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible, my heart for the nations. I wasn't called to a place; I was called to Him. To obey was my objective, to suffer was expected, His glory my reward, His glory my reward . . .

The missionary heart:

• Cares more than some think is wise
• Risks more that some think is safe
• Dreams more than some think is practical
• Expects more than some think is possible.
  

I was called not to comfort or to success but to obedience. . . .

There is no Joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving Him. I love you two and my church family.

In His care,

Salaam, Karen

Iraq - Fear and Hope Video
Watch here to see how you can pray
for Iraqi Christians.

Why Japan?

Did you know that Japan is the largest unreached people group in the world?
Joshua Project defines an unreached people group as "A people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group." It is estimated that of the nearly 130 million people in Japan, .4% are Bible-believing Christians.
Please join with us in our prayers and in our laborers for Christ's Name in Japan. Check out these tools to help you gain a heart for salvation to come to Japan.

The Most Motivating Message
For Maki and I both, this message sums up and
helped form our ministry philosophy more than
any other. I wouldn't be the same without this message.
("Born to Reproduce", by Dawson Trotman - founder
of the Navigators)

Forgiveness

"In the midst of such depressing news I’ve been amazed by the articulate and shining Christian testimonies coming out of Blacksburg, even through the secular media. For me, the most touching of all was an interview on Foxnews.com with Navy Captain David McCain as he spoke through tears about his slain daughter, Lauren McCain. Referring to Lauren he said, “She firmly believed that Christ forgave the people that killed Him. And she believed in forgiving, no matter what.” Fox News reporter Shepard Smith was visibly moved by McCain’s final comment, “I forgive him.”

Forgiveness like that is only possible through Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection restore us to God and bring us eternal life. Through faith in Jesus we are freed to live life in a whole new way. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 (NIV)"

(From a former VT student, fellow missionary and friend, Bryan Gibbs, Utsunomiya, Japan)

A Grief Observed
I remember as a 19 year-old man desiring wisdom. I was not yet a real Christian, but I longed for wisdom and peace. I longed for a real escape from grief. Then I picked up C.S. Lewis' book, "A Grief Observed", in which he discusses the horribly grieving experience of losing his wife to cancer. Through this book my eyes started to open to the need for God and for the realness that I needed in my life.
My hope is that in the same way, the massacre at VT will work for good more than for evil. As Christ is ruling over this world, my hopes are confident. I encourage you to equip yourself with how to talk to people who are grieving. (And how to talk to yourself when you are grieving.) Through real, life-on-life ministry to these friends, we can be ministers of grace and pointers to true freedom of joy in God.
Here are some resources from R.C. Sproul to equip yourself

A few more pics...
Please pray for us and for our soon coming baby!

Relaxing with complimentary hotel kimonos!

Enjoying some crab!

Japanese Worship Music

Although the recording quality is low, check out our original
worship music made at our church in Kyoto. I will tell you when
a better recording comes! - By the way, I think #6 and #7 sound
the best here.

(All songs were written by Pastor Kenichi Ogata)

p.s. Please pray for the rest of us to step up to the plate as Kenichi moves
on to seminary in July!

When Your Wife Pulls Out the 'Honey to Do List'
Since Maki is pregnant, I don't think I should use this idea...

(HT: JT)