The Rise of Atheism

Atheism is big in Japan - the overwhelming majority of young people we talk to say they are atheists. Atheism is also growing by leaps and bounds in America. My assertion is that atheism fits best with the modern secular mindset. In a global society that boasts the freedom to choose, we get selfishness, not theism. In a society that promotes tolerance, we get tolerance; but only for those who accept no absolutes. In a society that lifts up the human mind and "science" over God himself, we get macro-evolution, we get abortion and we get all other kinds of evils (Rom. 1:22ff). Put it all together and the new atheism today is not a far stretch at all.

Watch this video by Coral Ridge Ministries to learn more.

Driscoll on Predestination

"For those that think that God is not loving because He does not give us 'free will' Mark Driscoll pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle has a great response."

(HT: DW, Z)

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

This online video by AIG greatly moved me after having our first son. Truly babies are miraculously and amazingly made by God.

The Origin of Life Revisited



For more than 50 years we have heard reports that scientists are on the cusp of creating artificial life. The Associated Press recently announced that "scientists are trying to create life from scratch, and they're getting closer." (Aug. 20, 2007)
Brilliant scientists, devoting all their intellect and untold millions of dollars in facilities and manpower, are laboring to create life as evidence that life arose by chance.
Looking closer at the reports, it appears that these researchers are using chemicals from DNA to help create their protocells. Hardly "from scratch"!
Other challenges? How will the "new" life reproduce itself? How will the cell acquire food and make energy?
In the end, such experiments show that a Master Designer created life and that it did not come about by mindless evolution. These intelligent scientists could spend their time and tax dollars more wisely if they would first consult the Bible to find the answer to life's origins.
(Answers Magazine, Jan.-Mar., 2008)

Noah's "Surveillance" Camera (from Maki)

A STRANGE DAILY HABIT

Mrs. Sasaki has a strange daily habit that sets her apart from the vast majority of Japanese corporate executives. She has dinner every evening with her family, rather than her business clients.

In a country where a corporate boss is still expected to work until 9 or 10 p.m. every night to keep clients entertained, Mrs. Sasaki's lifestyle is considered highly unorthodox. Even more unconventionally, she devotes her weekends to her two children, rather than escorting her clients to nightclubs or golf courses.

Mrs. Sasaki, who runs an Internet firm and a communications consulting company, usually leaves her office around 6 or 7 p.m. This means her average workday is only 10 or 11 hours long.

"That's very, very short," she laughs. "I encourage my staff to do the same. The problem with men in Japan is that they don't know any other way to spend their time or get happiness – except to work."

Mrs. Sasaki says she wants the "woman's way of thinking" to have a positive influence on the Japanese business world, making it healthier and more balanced.

The 45-year-old entrepreneur, a former television journalist, has created an open and flexible working environment. She allows her two dozen employees to take time off work to visit a school or a daycare centre if they need to look after their children, for example. There are no low-ranking "tea ladies" at her office. Whoever arrives first in the morning – usually Mrs. Sasaki – makes the tea for everyone.

"I want this to be a good workplace for women," she says. "My role is to spotlight the good side of being an entrepreneur."

Source: Tokyo Globe & Mail 2005-03-31

Jobs are necessary, but they are not life. Freedom is too precious to lose to a job.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty

wherewith Christ hath made us free,

and be not entangled again

with the yoke of bondage

(Galatians 5:1).

What a lesson for us to learn as followers of Christ! Never allow anyone or anything again to put on a harness of servitude on you!

Christ has gloriously set us free so that we can enjoy the benefits of freedom!

Neil Verwey

Japan Mission

The Atheist's Big Guns

Recently, more and more on popular video sites such as YouTube and Google Video, I see rampant atheist evangelism. It seems atheists are trying to destroy the grounds for belief, especially belief in the Bible. The main way they are doing this is through attacking special creation and the need for it. Bible believing Christians are portrayed as weak-minded or brainwashed. Sadly, many Christians are too busy with other things to realize that our foundations are being slighted and the faith of millions are being shipwrecked. I believe it is time for Christians, especially Christians in America, to get back to the foundations in Genesis. If Genesis can't be trusted or can't be taken seriously, how can the rest of the Bible be taken as such?

I have highlighted several points of attack and answers to these attacks in the past on this blog. I encourage you to find these articles and read them. If you want to be taken seriously as a Christian in the future, it is time for you to start taking these attacks seriously.

Finally, here is one "gun" that I continue to see in the atheist repertoire: Beneficial Mutation.

Read the article below for a great response. Science is not on the side of atheists. Sadly, brainwashing is.

Antibiotic Resistance of Bacteria: An Example of Evolution in Action?

Listening and Learning from Non-Christians

"Francis Schaeffer used to say that if he had only one hour with someone, he would spend fifty-five minutes asking questions and five minutes trying to say something that would speak to his or her situation, once he understood a little more about what was going on in in his or her heart and mind."

(Quote taken from The Heart of Evangelism, by Jerram Barrs)

My friend Jonathan Dodson and my brother Doug have had some good thoughts on this topic recently.

I personally think this is one reason why God makes most missionaries clueless, both linguistically and culturally at first. As I (Mark) was deep in language and culture study, I began to learn so much FROM my Japanese friends; and that has continued to today. I am grateful that I can say so many positive things about the people who I am here to give my life to. They are not projects, they are friends for whom I expect to not only teach, but to learn a lot from.

A good message for "good people"

One of my friends sent me this message. This is what us "good Christians" need to hear; as well as any other person that calls him or herself a good person. You won't really know love unless you know this message.

Watch Paul Washer's message here.

How do you know the Bible is true?

R.C. Sproul answers that question here.

Cool Flowers in Japan
I found these pretty close to my apartment.

These look like they are ceramic or something!

These looked like Hot Tomales or Mike and Ike's.


I love all the flowers that bloom here even when it gets down to freezing!

Tom Brady & Emptiness

(Scroll down for more thoughts on Mr. Brady.)

An E-mail from a Christian Brother

Last week, I reported to you regarding extensive persecution of Christians in the Indian state of Orissa during the Christmas holiday period, December 22-January 1. Again, I ask you to pray for your brothers and sisters who face the worst persecution they have experienced since Indian independence in 1947.

Last week, I reported 74 churches and 800 homes of Christians burned. Since that time, we have learned of another 21 churches that were torched by Hindu radicals. We reported thousands of Orissa Christians who had to flee into the forests for their lives without water or food. Many of those people were existing on water licked from leaves. Some of the people reported deliverance from wild animals.

Since January 1, at least 4 evangelists have been burned alive in Orissa. At least 200 people are still missing, and of these, at least 100 are presumed dead. The state government has done virtually nothing to meet the needs of the suffering Christians. With little or no support by the police, Christians are still living in fear. They are getting sick from a lack of good food and water.

There is some good news. In the last day or two, members of six opposition parties have entered Orissa to talk to government officials and meet with those who have suffered. They are unanimous in finding that the root cause of the violence in Orissa comes from the radical Hindus. They have condemned the ineffectiveness of the government of Orissa and their complicity with the radicals, and they vow to present their findings to authorities in the federal government.

Orissa has long had policies hostile to Christians. It has one of the most stringent anti-conversion laws in India, ironically called the Freedom of Religion Act of 1967. In this act, conversion from one religion to another is forbidden under conditions of force, inducement, allurement, or fraudulent means ," terms that are very elastic in their meanings when interpreted by police officers and other officials who already have hostility against Christianity. These laws have not kept the church in Orissa from experiencing steady growth.

Pray for the ongoing situation in Orissa. Pray for the safety of Christians. Pray for those who have suffered and endured loss of family members, homes, churches, businesses and other properties. Pray that God will use these terrible experiences for good. Pray for boldness and patience and endurance for those who have suffered. Pray that God will give to the Christians a strong testimony that will impress those who are not believers and bring growth to the church. Pray for the 100+ IGO evangelists working in Orissa, that God will encourage them and strengthen them to go on.

Blessings to you and your family during these days.

With love in Christ,

T. Valson Abraham

Quote of the Day
Grace is God's giving us sovereign joy in God that triumphs over joy in sin.
- Augustine

Baptisms!Four people at our church were baptized on Jan. 6! Praise God!

We were so happy for Ayano to get baptized. God has really done a lot in her life this year.
We feel so blessed to have been used by God to help her this year.

Huckabee and Evangelicals

Michael Medved crunches some numbers from the Iowa Caucuses, and concludes:

Those who insist, over and over again, that the Iowa Caucuses reflected “Christian identity politics” or a “tidal wave of Evangelical support” are basing their analysis on feelings, not facts; on vapors, not voters. It’s dishonest to say that a guy who just won a crushing state-wide victory, without even winning the majority of his own religious group, displayed a one dimension appeal to Christian zealots only.

This endlessly repeated story line is not only tired, it’s a lie.

(HT: JT)

Iowans: Vote for Huckabee!

Happy New Year! (A Time for Resolutions?)

As the New Year begins we think of renewing things and making resolutions to start other things. As I prayed about this last night I came to the resolve that I want to continue to live for the joy of God's glory and not for my own selfish and small plans. God's plan is so much greater, bigger and glorious!

As I mentioned to many in last newsletter, this last week Maki and I attended a missionary retreat. There we heard some outstanding messages on "All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness for those who keep his commands and testimonies" (Psalm 25:10) Even when we screw up, God's predestined path for us is still good and faithful for those who follow Him. (Rom. 8:28) In fact, God uses our mistakes for His glory and sometimes even allows us to see that glory (especially when we are seeking Him in prayer for this). Because of this, we can live without fear knowing that even the mistakes we will make this year are a path of steadfast love and faithfulness from the Lord, because ALL the paths of the Lord are these for those who keep his commands!

There is no need for regrets or fears if we live this way, therefore I have decided to make at least 2 resolutions for this year (taken from Jonathan Edwards' famous resolutions).

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

Click here for more of Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions

Seeker-Sensitive Contextualization

"Our Lord attracted sinners because He was different. They drew near to Him because they felt that there was something different about Him. And the world should see us to be different. This idea that you are going to win people to the Christian faith by showing them that after all you are remarkably like them, is theologically and psychologically a profound blunder." - Martyn Lloyd Jones

"The Reason men worship God in a casual way is because they do not see God, in His Glory. If a man has ever had Isaiah's vision of the Holiness of God, he would be changed in an instant. But until men have seen God as He truly is (as 'the High & Lofty One') they will be forever guilty of the very same rebuke God gave to the wicked in Psalms 50:21: 'You thought I was just like you.' - Jeremiah Burroughs

3 Super Bowls Wins Aren't Enough for the Soul

3 Super Bowls Wins Aren't Enough for the Soul

Founders Blog reports:

Tom Brady, the 3-time Super Bowl champion quarterback of the New England Patriots was featured the week in a 60 Minutes interview with Steve Kroft on CBS. Brady is already a sports legend in one of the citadels of professional sports in America, Boston. His current team is 15-0 and is poised to finish the season undefeated, something that hasn't been done in the NFL in 35 years. He has won the Super Bowl MVP twice and been named to the Pro Bowl 4 times. He also was recently named the Associated Press' "Male Athlete of the Year."

He has dated actresses and supermodels and makes millions of dollars a year. He has been called America's most eligible bachelor. By most popular standards, he has it all. That is why I was struck by hearing him make the following statement during the interview:

"Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, 'Hey man, this is what is.' I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, 'God, it's got to be more than this.' I mean this isn't, this can't be what it's all cracked up to be."

When Kroft asked him, "What's the answer?" Brady responded, "I wish I knew. I wish I knew. I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I'm trying to find."

The Founders Blog has a response for him. You can read it here.

(HT: Vit.Z)

Noah

Missions and A Meaningful Christmas
(By Lukas)

As I was reflecting on the latest DWYL Podcast, featuring Joshua Project and its focus on world evangelization, I was drawn back to read about this unfinished task in the book, Don’t Waste Your Life.

For its own soul the church [and me too] needs to be involved in missions. We will not know God in his full majesty until we know him moving triumphantly among the nations. We will not admire and praise him as we ought until we see him gathering a company of worshipers for himself from every people group on earth—including all the Muslim and Hindu and Buddhist peoples. Nothing enlarges our vision of God’s triumphant grace like the scope of his saving work in history. (pg. 172-3)

Many Christmas celebrations, stories, gatherings, devotionals, etc. seem to focus simply on the baby in the manger, and often they don't leave the manger.

If I never leave the manger in my Christmas meditations, I miss the scope and depth of Christmas. The baby Jesus left the manger, increased in wisdom and stature, showed us true righteousness, and gave his life to ransom a people from the many peoples of the world.

For a meaningful Christmas season—and a meaningful life—it is essential to see that Christ was undertaking a global mission when he became a little baby in a manger.

(HT:dontwasteyourlife.com)

A Christmas Tale

The moral of John Piper's tale is this:

When things don’t go the way they should
God always makes them turn for good.

When things go better than they should
For people who are bad,
Remember, if they stay that way,
At last they will be sad.

Click here to read more of the whole story at the Desiring God blog

Prayer Needed for Japan
Though Japan in some sense is being evangelized, (as the above map shows) the hearts of the overwhelming majority of Japanese are still very closed to Christianity. Please pray for our friends in Japan. As we share our lives and testimonies, only God can do the surgery of taking out hard hearts and putting in soft hearts that respond to the love of God in Christ. (Ezekiel 11:19) Pray especially for men to see their need for Christ. We are in need of spiritual miracles, not just more information.

Distant Starlight and a Young Earth?

One of the biggest arguments I hear from many Christian scientists concerning a young earth is the issue of distant starlight. The logic goes, "If we can see stars that are billions of light-years away, then the universe must be old otherwise we would not see the light from these stars yet." AIG has some very provocative answers to this question. Click here and scroll down to the bottom to view a video over this topic; or click here to read an article over the same topic.

For the Glory of it All

Being away from many good friends and family members as well as being away from my native land during Christmas is never a fun thing. However, I am sure that there are many things in all of our lives that aren't necessarily fun!

Tragedies, hard-times, and afflictions of many forms and degrees abound in this imperfect world.

Lately, I have been studying Lazarus from John 11. Jesus loved Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha. They were his good friends. However, when word was sent that Lazarus was sick, Jesus stayed two more days where He was. The actual word there is "SO... he stayed two days longer where he was." (v. 6)! Why would a loving God PURPOSEFULLY allow pain into the lives of His beloved? Of course the answer is that He has a good purpose and a plan! Jesus stated that purpose very clearly to his disciples: "This illness does not lead to death. (though death did come at one point) It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified in it." (v. 4)

Most people don't like the sound of God-centered love. We want God to make everything nice right now, or else! Jesus realizes that the greatest blessing is not in receiving material/ physical comfort now, it is in knowing God and in seeing His glory, even if that means hardship. This is exactly the path that Jesus Himself took.

Of course when we get down and discouraged we want to know that God is not standing there coldly saying, "This is for my glory, so deal with it!" The truth is is that Jesus weeps. He mourns in our losses, and He has suffered such that He can understand our deep pain. A little further in ch. 11 is the shortest verse in the Bible. It says, "Jesus wept." Jesus wept with his friends in their great grief. He hated the pain, he despised the cross too and did not want to go there, nor does he wish any to perish. (Ez. 18:23) But above all of that, He has a plan through pain. Jesus wants to bring us into the greatest story and the greatest climax ever imagined: the revelation of God's glory - and the complete and eternal joy of His children in it.

Just like Lazarus we will see the living Christ standing over us saying, "LIVE!" and "Come out of death" again. We will live a full life with Him forever and ever and all our tears will be dried away - if we belong to Him by faith. But if we simply live for today, we will never know the amazing glory of God and the realization of our complete joy in Him.

The David Crowder Band song, "For the Glory of it All" sums all this up very well for me:

All is lost
find him there, find him there
After night
Dawn is there, Dawn is there

After all falls apart
he repairs he repairs

Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
for the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all

oh he is here
for redemption from the fall
that we may live
for the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all
the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all

After night
comes the light
dawn is here
dawn is here
it’s a new day
it’s a new day
everything will change
things will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same

Oh, The glory of it all is
you came here
for the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all

Oh you are here
with redemption for us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
for the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all

from the "Remedy" album - by David Crowder Band

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Hip-Hop Noah!

Sometimes I feel like Joseph
(Merry *early* Christmas)

Huckabee on Faith and Politics



(From my friend Vitamin Z)