Created

'Let every created thing give praise to the LORD,
for he issued his command, and they came into being.' Psalm 148:5

Beyond comprehension

'How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension. ' Psalm 147:5

Do you know how your eyes work?

Festival

'..even now in your holy festivals, aren't you eating and drinking just to please yourselves?' Zechariah 7:6

I love Christmas: the food, the music, the lights- everything. But we have sentimentalized it rather a lot. Just what is romantic about a homeless woman going into labour in a stinking cowshed? I wouldn`t wish it on my worst enemy. But that is the true magic of the Incarnation: despite the shit, God is here, among us.

Complex

'Thankyou for making me so wonderfully complex' Psalm 139:14

If a skilled surgeon sews a man`s hand back on after a horrible accident, he is hailed as a miracle worker. What about the God who put it there in the first place? Can a robot expert from Harvard, Oxford or Todai create a robot that breeds other, equally complex robots? I think not.

Do you have kids?

City

'Shouldn`t I feel sorry for such a great city?' Jonah 4:11

Christmas in Japan has some spectacular displays but tends to be secular, and the baby Jesus tends to get left out. Although I am hamstrung by my lack of language ability and my sinful life, I do hope and pray the many people of Fukuoka will one day understand the full beauty and joy of Christmas, regardless of the failures of people like me to truly live it out.

America bombed Nagasaki and Hiroshima, then sent missionaries after the war to tell people about Jesus. Let me say this: GOD IS NOT AMERICAN. JESUS IS NOT WHITE!

Jesus was born to a Jewish girl, from a small town in the Middle East. But He speaks every language perfectly, including Japanese. He is the only person ever to truly totally understand what it is really like to be you. And He loves everyone. Please remember that.

Fear

'Fearing people is a dangerous trap' Proverbs 29:25

Britain seems poised to choose political correctness over free speech under the Tory/Lib coalition.

As far as Islam is concerned, the time is long since overdue when the political classes called a spade a bloody shovel.

Satan

'those who belong to Satan' Revelation 3:9

The devil is a coward. Instead of a fair fight- on the facts of Jesus`s birth, death and resurrection- a fight he can`t win- he goes after my family.

Judgement

'Prepare to meet your God in judgement.' Amos 4:12

If you get run over by a bus tomorrow are you going up or down?

God have mercy upon us.

Winter

'winter mansions' Amos 3:15

It`s that time of year again- if I had never known about central heating I guess I wouldn`t miss it.

Break

'they break through defences..' Joel 2:8

PC problems again. God knows who or what is causing it.

Progress?

'You have made no progress whatsoever.' Hosea 10:9

We have sent ships into space, yet we have failed to tame the human heart.

Away

'keep away from anything that might take God`s place in your hearts' 1 John 5:21

How much sport is too much? It was a Catholic that taught Babe Ruth to bat, and clearly there are no 'thou shalt not support Arsenal's in the Bible- tho' in much of East London where I'm from the Antichrist is probably looked upon with more favour than a Gunners fan.

St Paul mentions sport, but only in passing to make points about morality.

I seem a bit too obsessed lately... so a guilty conscience is not a good sign. But compared to swearing at the wife, it seems fairly harmless...

Intrigue

'flattery and intrigue...' Daniel 11:21

I don`t know how FIFA makes its decisions but I for one, unlike many of my countrymen it seems, am happy that Russia got the World Cup. It`s never had one, I hope it is a great success.

Disappearing

'the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.'
1 John 2:8

It is easy to get down this time of year, with short days and cold weather. But the shortest day is nearly upon us. Spring will come. Although today`s headlines are filled with horrible things, it won`t always be like this.

Millions

'millions of angels' Daniel 7:10

Christians are such a small minority in Japan, sometimes we forget its the Buddhists that are actually outnumbered, even here in Kyushu.

Despised

'I am insignificant and despised' Psalm 119:141

To the friendly Japanese man who spat on the ground just as I walked past him this morning. Merry Christmas mate! Hope you have a good 2011.

Scoff

'daring even to scoff at supernatural beings..' 2 Peter 2:10

On a popular Japanese talk show there`s recently been a song about a 'toilet god'..
There is a simple rule to follow with this kind of thing: if you think Hell is fictional you are probably going there.

Wild

'the mind of a wild animal' Daniel 4:16

I am losing it.

How?

'How long must l wait?'

Psalm 119:84

Wicked

'When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.' Proverbs 28:12

When will the people of North Korea be free?

Love

'You love him even though you have never seen him' 1 Peter 1:8

To be honest, even though I consider myself a Christian, I get uncomfortable when Evangelicals start talking about 'loving Jesus'. I am sure they are sincere in their expressions of deep respect and commitment. But I am uneasy with the word: 'love'. I am sure I am not the only man that feels this way.

I can say 'I love walking in the countryside' with no problem at all, because I enjoy doing it yet it involves no commitment. But God wants nothing less than love with ' all your heart and all your soul and all your strength' (Deuteronomy 6:5) So how can I say 'I love Jesus' and really mean it unless I am willing to give Him everything I have? Any religion that asks for anything less is faking it.

Pure

'How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.' Psalm 119:9

I am very far from pure, sadly. But I seem to remember being pretty innocent back in the '70s when I was at primary school. Many kids these days seem quite cynical even when quite young. That is one of the reasons I much prefer working with the under 5s.

Life

'life is like the morning fog- it`s here a little while, then it's gone.' James 4:14

41 today. Only God knows how many years (days?) I have left.

Rich

'Isn`t it the rich who oppress you..?' James 2:6

I admit to being somewhat fascinated by the world of the Royals. It`s England, but its a very different world to the one I know. In a way, people born at the top of British society are prisoners of class expectations. But ultimately, the rich in most countries seem pretty skilled at keeping their position in society even if it means stepping on others to do so.

Home

'For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again...'
Ezekiel 36:24

I would love to be back in England for the Royal Wedding next summer- not that I'm expecting an invite, only days of national celebration like that are few and far between. But I can`t see it happening.

My family left London and moved to the South Coast the day before Charles and Di got married in 1981, so I remember it rather well. I hope Kate and Wills are very happy.

Immoral

'God will punish anyone who is immoral' Hebrews 13:4

Barak

'the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson...' Hebrews 11:32

I'm disgusted with Obama for revisiting a Buddhist temple in Kamakura. It seems his mother took him there as a kid, presumably teaching him the liberal value of tolerance for all faiths. But Christians who try to respect all faiths end up disrespecting their own. Did Jesus shed His blood for nothing? All religions cannot possibly be all true. If someone tells you 2+2=3, it is rude and disrespectful to agree out of fear of hurting their feelings. With over 300,000 suicides in Buddhist Japan in the last decade alone, being polite about Buddhism is like offering a sticking plaster to a man having a cardiac arrest- nice but totally useless.

Wife

"It`s easier to catch the wind
or hold olive oil in your hand
than to stop a nagging wife." Proverbs 27:16

Rather than writing this off as patriarchal misogyny by Solomon, please consider this: Don`t you think it is much better fun for everyone concerned if you seduce your husband into doing what you want? Or vice versa. Such behavior may be considered manipulative, but given the current divorce rate, is it really worse than open warfare?

Greetings

'A loud greeting early in the morning is the same as a curse.' Proverbs 27:14

Many Japanese men just can`t seem to get this.

Genitals

'Lovers with genitals as large as a...' Ezekiel 23:20

Got your attention? I can`t help but feel that if somebody like the Pope or a church committee had been writing the Old Testament instead of God, Ezekiel 23 would have been omitted...

Stupid

'don`t be stupid...' Proverbs 27:12

You`d think that after 30 odd years or so of making the same kind of mistakes I would have learned my lesson by now... but no.

Loans

'He grants loans without interest, stays away from injustice..' Ezekiel 18:8

The problem with the religious right is that sins involving money are often ignored.

LORD

'You should know the LORD' Hebrews 8:11

Because you never know when you are really going to need Him.

Truly

'A truly good friend will openly correct you' Proverbs 27:5

People think I am rude and obnoxious, I know. I am sometimes. But better to shock and offend you than damn you.

Peace?

'evil prophets deceive my people by saying "all is peaceful" when there is no peace at all.' Ezekiel 13:10

Feel good religion is often more popular than the truth, but it never lasts.

Glory

'The entire temple was filled with his glory' Ezekiel 10:4

Temples and shrines in Japan often have beautiful gardens. But every tree, plant, flower and animal was created by God, the Father of Jesus.

Called

'no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God.' Hebrews 5:4

SGI leaders have no spiritual authority whatsoever.

Breath

'When you take away their breath,
they die... ' Psalm 104:29

Dead before 45. It seems much too soon.

T

'Funeral songs...' Ezekiel 2:10

Rest in peace.

Devil

'Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death.' Hebrews 2:14

Evil cannot ultimately win, thank God!

Angels

'When God speaks about the angels, he says:

"I change my angels into wind
and my servants
into flaming fire." ' Hebrews 1:7

Happy Halloween everyone. Don`t forget that although being a little scared is sometimes fun, there are also mysterious and very powerful forces of good walking the earth.

Lightning

'He sends the lightening...' Jeremiah 51:16

A fraction of a second of sparks and the TV is fried.

Temper

'It`s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God`s house, be looked up to- not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk...' Titus 1:7

This is why I am never going to get to be a priest or a pastor.

Sodom

'Sodom and Gomorrah' Jeremiah 49:18

The rush hour train, as always, was unpleasantly crowded.

Thousand

'a thousand years mean nothing to you' Psalm 90:4

At the end of time, when the world and everything in it is at the feet of Jesus, Buddhism will be like that nightmare you had after eating that dodgy sushi- meaningless and totally irrelevant.

Old

'old before his time' Psalm 89:45

Failed to warm up before my run yesterday and boy do I feel it today...

Sweets

'It's not smart to stuff yourself with sweets.' Proverbs 25:27

My name is Andrew and I'm a chocoholic...

Flabby

'..No spiritual flabbiness please!' 1 Tim 4:6-10 (The Message)

If you are catholic, confession or a spiritual director is part of your soul fitness regime. Protestants have Bible study in small groups or accountability partners.

I currently do none of those, and my soul seems extremely out of shape.

Restoration

'someday I will restore prosperity to them.' Jeremiah 32:44

'Lucky' cats and gods won`t do the business. When Japan is humble enough to ask Jesus for help it will no longer fear the future. Until then, expect more articles like the one in the New York Times today.

Blessings

'blessings even in the barren land' Jeremiah 31:2

Even seemingly run down industrial estates are teeming with life: butterflies, crickets, cats, pigeons, and a wonderful variety of wild plants whose names are totally unknown to me.

Idle

'some of you are living idle lives' 2 Thessalonians 3:11

'In many countries Christians suffer discrimination in employment. Some careers are closed to them, and they may struggle to find work at all, or have to accept only the most menial and low-paid jobs.'

The Barnabas Fund

Terrible

'terrible sins' Jeremiah 14:7

Please

'Correct me LORD, but please be gentle.
Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.' Jeremiah 10:24

Lie

'they pile lie upon lie' Jeremiah 9:6

Don`t talk to me about Japanese politeness. I have lived here for a decade. I know what goes on. A weekend or so back, I was walking in Kasuga, minding my own business, when two teen lads passed me. One looked at me and said to his friend loudly: 'nani kore?' which I translate as 'What (the fuck) is that?'. The fact that he used 'nani' (what) instead of 'donata' or 'dare' (who) seems to imply he feels foreigners are a lower species of lifeform. Yet many Japanese absolutely refuse to admit racism exists here.

Some teens are of course rude in most countries, but this kind of behaviour is not restricted to teenagers. Many foreigners living here have similar stories to tell. But some prefer to avoid mentioning such things to their clients so as not to harm their business.

Metal

'a tester of metals' Jeremiah 6:27

Impressive work by Nobel prize winning Japanese scientists in chemistry. But who is the most impressive- the people who find the reaction or the God who put it there?

Harvest

'Let us live in awe of the Lord our God,
for he gives us rain each spring and fall
assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.' Jeremiah 5:24

I pass a rice paddy on the way to the supermarket. Looks like it's almost done growing.

gods

'you have more gods than a prostitute has lovers' Jeremiah 3:1

So many Japanese act as if Shinto is something to be proud of.

Fire

'...They will see
the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me.
For the worms that devour them will never die
and the fire that burns them will never go out.
All who pass by
will view them with utter horror.' Isaiah 66:24

Hell exists.

Autumn

'Like autumn leaves we wither and fall...' Isaiah 64:6

I'm almost 41.

Dirt

'make his enemies crawl in the dirt' Psalm 72:9

I like cats. Today one was taking a dust bath in the local park.

sinful

'you kept returning to your old sinful ways. I know what you are like! But I will heal you...'Isaiah 57:17-18

3 Christians:

Obama- who hardly ever goes to church.

A convert from the Japanese mafia who now leads his own church in Saitama.

And me. Am I the worst?

Earth

'the God of all the earth.' Isaiah 54:5

Every island on earth belongs to God.

Shameful

'It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do...' Ephesians 5:12

I'm not good. But at least I don`t pretend there`s nothing wrong with me. Think Christians are uncool for failing to support gay relationships? Wise up! One in 5 sexually active gay American men are HIV positive, but 44% don`t even realize they are sick (new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) But trendy dramas and movies won`t advertise this.

Mire

'Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire...' Psalm 69:2

The ferns were way over my head and then the ground started sinking...

I`d still be there now if God hadn't had pity on me.

Note to self: In Japanese forests or any other forest for that matter STAY ON THE PATH.

Orders

'Do you give me orders...?' Isaiah 45:11

No one is big enough to push God around.

Fair game?

'they are fair game...' Isaiah 42:22

A Pastor who merely threatens to burn a book becomes internationally notorious. A Muslim convert who becomes a Christian Pastor is shot dead in Dagestan and almost no one notices.

Nations

'He watches every movement of the nations..' Psalm 66:7

Grasslands

'the grasslands of the wilderness' Psalm 65:12

In a big city it is always nice to see green things growing, even if they are not where they are supposed to be.

Peace

'..peace, patience...' Galatians 5:22

Is Japan really ready to shed Chinese blood for these rocks?

Oppression

'oppressive acts' Isaiah 25:4

'Britain and her leaders stood against a Nazi tyranny that wished to eradicate God from society'
The current Pope

Hard

'You have been very hard on us' Psalm 60:3

Jesus is not easy to follow. But He speaks the truth.

Preservation

'Preserve the teaching of God' Isaiah 8:16

Should Korans be burnt? Yes absolutely. But until we convince Muslims to do it for themselves it remains a futile gesture.

Doug Wilson, theologian, says it wisely in Christianity Today: 'our reaction to a bad rectorical move on the part of these Christians should not make us recoil into Internation{al} Interfaith Dialogue and Group Hug day. Islam remains a false religion.'

Man

'I am a sinful man' Isaiah 6:5

Sneering

'people will sneer' Isaiah 3:5

Older Japanese men often seem to disregard parenting as suitable work for a man. But I enjoy spending time with with my daughter, and feel no need to apologize for that.

Work

'There will be no question of our boasting about work done...' 2 Corinthians 10:16

Visited the Job centre. Packed as usual. No teaching jobs to be had.

Rain

'Rain clouds will remain over your head' Ecclesiastes 12:2

Got rained on again today.

Downward

'God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path..' Ecclesiastes 7:29

Awesome

'the LORD Most High is awesome' Psalm 47:2

God can do amazing things. Is it difficult for Him to turn bread into Flesh? No- why would it be?

Desire

'everything a man could desire' Ecclesiastes 2:8

Is Tiger Woods happy? If a man that rich still can`t keep his woman happy, what chance have us losers got?

Myself

'I hate myself' Job 42:6

Secularists are inclined to feel the emphasis on sin and guilt in Christianity is morbid. But to me, pretending we are ok is actually more harmful long term.

Animal

'the wild animals take cover' Job 37:8

Cockroach! The blighter is hiding under the TV- but not for long...

See!

'see how he spreads the lightening' Job 36:30

Awesome storm today.

Wise?

'sometimes the elders are not wise' Job 32:9

Quite a few people in this neighbourhood are Nichiren Buddhists.

Understanding

"to forsake evil is true understanding" Job 28:28

I'm still not wise enough to escape this vicious circle of degradation and self-loathing.

On again off again

'When Silas and Timothy and I proclaimed the Son of God among you, did you pick up on any yes-and-no, on-again, off-again waffling?'
2 Corinthians 1:17-19

Wicked

'Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?' Job 21:7

No names needed.

Lord

'You bless all of those who trust you, LORD, and refuse to worship idols or follow false gods.' Psalm 40:4

Flood

'If he releases the waters, they flood the earth.' Job 12:15

Pakistan is one of the worst countries to live as a Christian, due to human rights abuses. But even so I wish I could do more to help the children there at the moment.

Godless

'The hopes of the godless evaporate' Job 8:13

Understandable

'five understandable words' 1 Corinthians 14:19

It was probably unwise of me to attend Japanese mass for so long, given my lack of skill in listening to spoken Japanese.

Birth

'Had I died at birth I would now be at peace.' Job 3:13

My sibling and two of my children did not live even a few hours. But God in His unsearchable wisdom lets me live.

Love

'Love is patient' 1 Corinthians 13:4

There`s a long eloquent list of love`s qualities in this chapter. I still fail at the first hurdle.

Pagans

'When you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols' 1 Corinthians 12:2

There`s a big summer festival in Hakata known as Yamakasa.

Queen

'when they conveyed the King`s order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the king furious.'
Esther 1:12

Ah, Persian sexual politics. And some people say the Bible is boring and irrelevant!? Just a week or so back on Larry King women were discussing similar issues. Is Vashti a feminist role model here, standing up for herself against the drunken demands of her husband? Or she is an example to be avoided? (she loses her status as Queen and is replaced by a younger model shortly after this) Quite frankly, given the period she lived in, she had guts not to fear execution for disobeying a direct order from the monarch, I think. But it did her no good in the long run.

David

'David, the man of God' Nehemiah 12:36

Does God lie? No, of course not.

Many

'though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread' 1 Corinthians 10:17

When I worked for an ecumenical community, events were held at different local churches each month- Anglican, Catholic, Baptist; I was required to attend each. Some people with learning disabilities liked the lively music at the Baptist church. Some liked the church they were used to attending with their families. Probably none of them could explain the theological differences between them.

I believe Jesus loves all people, even though they are sinners, regardless of denomination, nationality, gender, or worldly success.

Leaders

'leaders and priests...' Nehemiah 9:32

Visited a Protestant church for the first time in ages today. (for the last few years I`ve mostly attended Catholic mass). Catholic churches have Priests, Protestants usually call their leaders Ministers or Pastors. I am not a theologian but as I understand it the words are reflective of the differences behind both views of church leadership- Protestants see their leaders in slightly less reverential terms and quote Peter on the 'priesthood' of all believers. (1 Peter 2:9)

As for me I am not sure which view is most correct- back in the Church of England we often call our leaders 'Vicar'. Which reminds me of a famous sign once found outside a church:

GOD! For those who require something slightly stronger than tea with the Vicar.

Understand

'He made their hearts,
so he understands everything they do.' Psalm 33:15

Unlike me.

Lord

'there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ' 1 Corinthians 8:6

Buddha and Mohammed are overrated.

Mocked

'we are being mocked' Nehemiah 4:4

Some are very quick to scoff at the Bible. But examine their own philosophical assumptions a little more closely, and you will soon find they are full of holes.

Ancestors

'the city where my ancestors are buried..' Nehemiah 2:3

This time of year people here visit family graves. For me, Worthing, Sussex is a bit of a long way to travel..

Future

'My future is in your hands.' Psalm 31:15

None of us can change the past. But with God leading us we can walk into the future without fear.

Steeped

'From the days of our ancestors until now, we have been steeped in sin.' Ezra 9:7

Us British are not free of guilt either.

POW

'prisoners of war' 1 Corinthians 4:9

Motives

'The LORD's light penetrates the human spirit,
exposing every hidden motive.' Proverbs 20:27

God knows what was in Harry Truman's heart.

Autumn

'In early autumn...' Ezra 3:1

When will this summer heat end?

Wait

'wait patiently for the LORD' Psalm 27:14

With Muslims taking advantage of Christian tolerance by building a mosque yards from Ground zero in NYC, while delaying or preventing church construction across the Muslim world; with gay US Judges striking down objections to homosexual 'marriage', it seems Christian civilization is on its knees.

Watch this space.

It ain't over 'til its over.

On Good Friday evening Christ`s enemies thought He was dead and buried. They were wrong.

Ancestors?

'the family divisions of your ancestors' 2 Chronicles 35:4

My questions about this missing old persons scandal here in Japan are: Were these 'people' voting? If so, who for?

Secrets

'A gossip goes around telling secrets' Proverbs 20:19

I (censored) (censored) (censored) (censored) (censored).

War

'Don't go to war without wise advice.' Proverbs 20:18

Afghanistan is a mess. The troops should go home, I think.

Prescribed

'the prescribed time' 2 Chronicles 30:3

There is an error on my teaching schedule, and I am not quite sure what to do about it.

Sinning

'If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning' Romans 14:23

Once again I fail to follow my conscience.

Proud

'he became proud' 2 Chronicles 26:16

Pride is very easy to spot in others, much less easy to eradicate in oneself.

If...

'If you are a teacher, teach well...' Romans 12:7

Easier said than done.

Costly

'costly items' 2 Chronicles 21:3

I buy my daughter expensive video games for her birthday in the hope that she will more quickly grow out of such things.

Safe

'safely home in Jerusalem' 2 Chronicles 19:1

Soon, hopefully.

Fools

'Only fools insist on quarreling.' Proverbs 20:3

I should have said nothing but the man blew smoke in my face.

Heavens

'The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship' Psalm 19:1

Dramatic grey skies and lightning today.

Daughters

'twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters' 2 Chronicles 11:21

I only have one of the latter.

Groaning

'all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.' Romans 8:22

The world is not a good place. But how much truth can our children bear? Do we have the right to keep it from them?

Miserable

'Oh, what a miserable person I am!' Romans 7:24

I will be dead soon, thank God.

Children

'May their children have plenty' Psalm 17:14

Teachers may be sighing with relief that it is the summer vacation, but us moms are busier than usual, with more meals to prepare and activities to arrange. But it is precious time.

Sin

'God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.' Romans 5:16

I'm guilty as hell. And yet I know God can save me. And I am pretty sure he wants to. I just need to truly repent...

Music

'trained in making music before the LORD..' I Chronicles 25:7

Bored of hymns? Think Christian music is not cutting edge? Check out thebandwithnoname

Fair

'God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.' Romans 3:26

Some of the things that happen within the church seem unfair. But the church is human, and no human is perfect- except Jesus.

Collapse

'The foundations of law and order have collapsed.' Psalm 11:3

Mainstream western society condemns as bigots those who maintain homosexual acts are sinful.

Lord

'The LORD Of Heaven's Armies' I Chronicles 17:7

Serious rain; it is not everyday you see fish drowning in air- the boundary between bank and river is blurring.

Murder

'waiting to murder innocent people' Psalm 10:8

It is tragic Africa`s World Cup had to end with a Muslim terrorist atrocity in Uganda.

Famous?

'Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a famous warrior and leader..' I Chronicles 12:4

Edith Thompson (1904-1997) wasn't famous and she only led the children into lunch at the local primary school in London. But she was my grandmother and she loved me.

Friends

'There are ''friends'' who destroy each other.' Proverbs 18:24

Am I the only one to think of Laclos when watching Gossip Girl?

If

'If a person does not repent,

God will sharpen his sword..' Psalm 7:12

My bad habits are very difficult to break.

Skilled

'they were all skilled' I Chronicles 5:18

Spain were the favourites and European champions going into this World Cup. I hadn't watched them play.. until now!

Flattery

'Their tongues are filled with flattery...' Psalm 5:9

'People skills' are not my strong point.

Bored?

'I don't want to bore you..' Acts 24:4

Tricky to get the level of difficulty right when you are teaching students for the first time.

Father

'in place of his father' 2 King 23:34

My Dad`s birthday today. He would have been 84, had he lived.

I am a very different kind of father to my own daughter, but I think we share some things in common. Some of the most precious things, like creation, he tried to share with me, went mostly unappreciated. I seem equally unable to inspire my own child.

Maybe like me, she will see more to value as she matures.

Waiting

'What are you waiting for?' Acts 22:16

Just now, I am rather keen to see Argentina get beaten by Germany. Or vice versa. I also want very much for my family to return safely from their swimming trip.

Ultimately, I know Jesus is coming back soon. Whether I die or not before that happens, I don`t know.

What are You waiting for?

Eight

'Josiah was eight years old when he became king..' 2 Kings 22:1

My daughter will not be 8 for much longer, bless her.

Knowing

'I know you well-

where you stay

and when you come and go.' 2 Kings 19:27

God knows where you live.

Over

'When the uproar was over..' Acts 20:1

So despite impressive goals earlier in the tourney, Japan`s dreams of footy glory are over for another 4 years. I can`t resist offering a small piece of advice: the TV news showed a Shinto blessing for the team before the tournament started. Obviously such blessings don`t work against small Catholic countries in South America. Leave it out next time, and you may do better.

Asia

'he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia' Acts 19:22

Ten years in Japan, this week. I have spent a quarter of my life in this country, longer than millions of Japanese children who were born here. But I will always be a 外人. (outsider) That is partly why I find it very difficult to cheer for the team.

Three times

'You will be victorious only three times.' 2 Kings 13:19

I`m 40. Not old enough to have seen the England victory in '66, but old enough to have watched my team lose three times now to Germany in major football tournaments. I hope it is the last time.

Showers

'He showers compassion on all his creation.' Psalm 145:9

This time of year, the rain is so heavy sometimes that new waterfalls and streams spring up where none existed before.

Nations

'From one man he created all the nations' Acts 17:26

I love to see England win. I will be gutted if the German team beat us on penalties again. But I can`t help but feel the intense nationalism that the World Cup creates is not entirely a good thing. Heck, soccer even helped start a war once, in Honduras.

Beaten

'they were severely beaten' Acts 16:23

Not a great day to be Danish... or Italian.

Listening

'Listen when I cry to you for help..' Psalm 141:1

Clearly I would like the lads to win tonight. But it doesn't seem right to me to ask God for a victory at footie. Rooney is a Catholic. Tim Howard, the US goalie, is an Evangelical. I assume some of the Slovenes are Catholics as around 57% are, and I think it is safe to bet that there are quite a few Muslims on the Algerian team. So where does that leave us?

It seems okay to ask God that no one get injured... I think He is more concerned with the state of our souls than who actually gets the ball in the back of the net- although I am sure He already knows who will.

Travel

'You see me when I travel' Psalm 139:3

Please guys, take the time to read all of Psalm 139. It`s worth it.

~~~

I probably will never travel as far as Mongolia, so going last night to a Mongolian restaurant for the first time ever was a real privilege.

Prophets?

'all the prophets are promising victory' I Kings 13:22

Boasting

'A warrior putting on his sword for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won.'

I Kings 20:11

So much for it being an easy group.

Angel

'an angel touched him' I Kings 19:5

Found a English book by Jean Vanier in a second hand bookshop today.

Ruler

'Nadab son of Jeroboam began to rule...' I Kings 15:25

New PM in Japan. How long will he last? God knows.

War

'There was constant war..' I Kings 15:7

Wouldn't it be nice to get on with the neighbours?

City

'I will bless this city and make it prosperous..' Psalm 132:15

Hope

'put your hope in the LORD' Psalm 131:3

Football teams will always let you down sooner or later.

Baptized

'Why can`t I be baptized?' Acts 8:36

In Orissa in India it is now illegal to be baptized without government permission.

Oppression

'I have certainly seen the oppression...' Acts 7:34

Saw a powerful documentary about the plight of the orangutan- their forests are being destroyed.

The Sumatran orangutan is critically endangered.

Guarding

'Unless the LORD protects a city,

guarding it with sentries will do no good.' Psalm 127:1

Had a job offer for the SDF yesterday, the Japanese Army. The man I currently work for has a contract with them, it seems, to provide English teachers.

Maybe I was a fool to turn it down. But to work for the very people who tried to kill my father, however long ago it was, seems like a kind of betrayal. I know most of what they do now is good, helping around the world. But if you are Japanese, how would you feel about working for the British Army? Ambivalent, surely?

Justice

'governing my people with justice...' 1 Kings 3:11

I paid tax today. When I bought something at the supermarket. But I can`t have any say in how that tax is spent because I have only lived here ten years, and wasn`t born here.

If I did have a say, I would try to vote for people who reduced government waste.

Tempted

'Tempted to do wrong..' Psalm 125:3

Who tempted who?

good?

'A good man...' I Kings 1:42

..is hard to find.

Choose

'Choose one of these punishments...' 2 Samuel 24:11

What minor infliction would you choose instead of a chipped tooth?

Instruction

'Those who listen to instruction will prosper...' Proverbs 16:19

It is very difficult to get a toddler to study a foreign language for an hour and a half every week, without using scare tactics. But I try.

Blood

'they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means ''Field of Blood'' ...' Acts 1:19

May God have mercy on the souls of those who died in Cumbria.

Life

'written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life...' John 20:31

The Gospel truly is good news.

Panic

'panic among your troops...' 2 Samuel 17:9

Watching England play footy is usually not a comfortable experience...

Commandments

'Each of your commandments is right.' Psalm 119:128

Including Exodus 20:8

Hate

'I hate every false way of life' Psalm 119:104

I hate every ideology that belittles Jesus, the Son of God. I hate my own failure to live His ways.

Sorrows

'Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. ' John 16:33

What gets me down the most is something I can`t talk about here.

Furious

'I become furious with the wicked,

because they reject your instructions...' Psalm 114:53

The story in the paper today that makes me the most cross is about the doctor in Tokyo that killed his girlfriend`s baby.

Ruler

'the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me...' John 14:30

Atheists sometimes blame God for suffering. While the problem of evil is not easily resolved, Jesus states in this verse that God allows Satan some limited power here on Earth.

Safe?

'the Jebusites thought they were safe...' 2 Samuel 5:6

Many people these days don`t believe in Hell.

Someday

Jesus replied, 'You don't understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.' John 13:7

Blinded

'The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts.' John 12:40

Many Japanese don't seem to practice Shinto because they think it is true, but more out of a sense of misguided loyalty. Seriously folks, what has Shinto ever done for you, except taken large amounts of cash out of your pockets?

You may feel I sound angry and disrespectful. I am sorry. But when hundreds of thousands of Japanese took their own lives during the last decade, ask yourself: just exactly what was your local Shinto priest doing to help?

Evil

'The LORD detests evil plans' Proverbs 15:26

Surely encouraging the murder of unborn children with TV adverts, as will soon happen in Britain, is deeply offensive to Our Creator?

Heroic?

'You will do many heroic deeds...' 1 Samuel 26:25

Killing 46 South Koreans and leaving numerous widows and orphans doesn't seem very heroic at all.

Faith

'The LORD protects those of childlike faith' Psalm 116:6

It is easy to be cynical about the miracles in the Bible. But it brings no peace of mind.

Children

'May the LORD richly bless

both you and your children.' Psalm 115:14

8 year old stabbed in Osaka yesterday. It`s been happening a lot in China recently. I hope it's the last case for a long long time..

From?

'We don`t even know where this man comes from...' John 9:29

I am extremely tired of liberal double standards. If a Catholic abuses a child, he is still a Catholic, and what he has done reflects badly on his religion. But if a Muslim kills someone, then suddenly in the eyes of many, he`s no longer a Muslim, merely a crazy person. Hypocrisy!

Trash

'..the fool feeds on trash.' Proverbs 15:14

While some Christians avoid most secular forms of entertainment and perhaps end up somewhat out of touch with the world around them, I need to be more discerning.

Darkness

'Jesus spoke to the people once more and said: '' I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness...'' ' John 8:12

I still make bad choices and turn away from Jesus sometimes.

Freely

'If the men had been allowed to eat freely...' 1 Samuel 14:30

Some foreigners here in detention are on hunger strike.

Help

'..all human help is useless. With God's help we will do mighty things...' Psalm 108:12-13

A long time before David Cameron, a different David wrote these words. I hope our new English Prime Minister bears them in mind.

Anyone?

'Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?' 1 Samuel 10:12

One thing I am proud of, regarding Britain, is some of its traditions: David Miliband is now being talked about as Labour leader and possible Prime Minister, even though his father was an illegal immigrant to the UK.

Great?

'Godliness makes a nation great...' Proverbs 13:34

Britain isn't great any more.

Crowd

'a huge crowd of people' John 6:5

Went to a baseball game today for the first time in ages.

Who?

'Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel?' 1 Samuel 4:8

Not the Bank of Japan. Not a British politician either.

Down?

'He brings some down and lifts others up...' 1 Samuel 2:7

The results from the British election are not yet clear. But one thing is for sure- God is in control.

Bath

'take a bath' Ruth 3:3

Summer is here. I don`t think my body is designed for this climate...

Famine

'A severe famine came upon the land...' Ruth 1:1

Times are not good in the English teaching industry but we are still eating, thank God.

Profit

'Work brings profit...' Proverbs 14:23

If your clients pay you.

She

'She looks good to me...' Judges 14:3

My wife and I got married a decade ago this week. The rules of mutual attraction are seldom simple, especially with two people from opposite sides of the planet, but I think it had something to do with being alone together in a flat in the West Midlands over Christmas and the millenium New Year...

Only

'She was his one and only child...' Judges 11:34

There are a lot of only children these days... being one myself, I am not at all sure it is entirely good for them.

Forgiveness

'There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent...' Luke 24:47

I am a bad person, a nobody. But God is Good.

Own

'Each heart knows its own bitterness,

and no one else can fully share its joy.' Proverbs 14:10

Ultimately, we all die alone.

What?

'What crime has he committed?' Luke 23:22

No comment.

King

'the LORD is a great God,

a great King above all gods.' Psalm 95:3

There are many 'gods' in Shinto. But few outside Japan know their names.

Wise

'A wise woman builds her home...' Proverbs 14:1

My wife cleaned the entrance this week. In Japanese homes, shoes are taken off before entering the house, so until recently we had to climb over numerous pairs of shoes just to get in. Each time I go in or out now I am enjoying the lack of clutter...

Jerusalem?

'as soon as you enter Jerusalem..' Luke 22:10

On this Saint George's Day, British people are thinking about who to vote for but have no real choice.

Signs?

'Terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven' Luke 21:11

A volcano that effortlessly stops 21st century technology in its tracks- large deadly earthquakes in Haiti, China and Chile- is this the beginning of the End of the World?

I don`t know. Read the Bible for yourself- go to church- pray to Jesus. It might be...we will all die sooner than we think. Even the scientists say Tokyo and California are accidents waiting to happen...

Truth

'The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows the truth..' Joshua 22:22

One of the most depressing things about these child abuse cases (here in our city a teacher was arrested recently) is that these men are able to get away with it for so long, fooling parents, bosses, even the police...

God, however, is not deceived.

Escape

'no way of escape' Psalm 88:8

In 2003 I would not have returned to Japan if I had had a choice.

Sinner

'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner..' Luke 18:13

'Love has pitched his mansion in

The place of excrement..' W.B. Yeats

Rest

'rest from war' Joshua 11:23

There`s a real battle going on- in the hearts and minds of all of us- between good and evil. I am really tired of trying to do the right thing, and so today I lost that battle and gave in to my demons. I long for the day when I won`t have to fight anymore...

Commanded?

'Set the town on fire, as the LORD has commanded...' Joshua 8:8

Liberal Christians like the curate that conducted my wedding have real difficulty with some of the violence in the Old Testament, so often their solution is to take a low view of Scripture, questioning whether God really did order such horrific things.

More conservative Christians like myself who take the authority of the Bible seriously are left trying to explain why God would give such repugnant orders. The first thing you need to know about the context is that these were real enemies of Israel who would have had no qualms about killing women and children given the opportunity- indeed their pagan cults encouraged barbaric child sacrifice to placate their own angry imaginary gods. Is that enough to justify this? Many of us would still say no. But at the end of the day, it was never our call to make. If we think we can judge God, we are arrogant indeed.

Where does that leave us? Christians have the New Testament command:

'love your enemies' (Matthew 5:44)

What that really means in a world where Obama is getting rid of some nukes, while still killing children in Afganistan, is still open for debate. Enemies of the west have no such commands. There are no easy answers. And before you write me off as a bigoted right wing blowhard, let me ask you- have you ever worked for a peace organisation? Because I have- Pax Christi. However, nearly all of us fail to truly:

'turn the other cheek' (Luke 6:29)

But Jesus didn't just talk the talk, he walked the walk.

Riverbed

'dry ground in the middle of the riverbed' Joshua 3:17

The local river, the Mikasagawa, is very different depending on recent rainfall. There are usually small islands within the river which are only rarely covered with water during periods of heavy rain, so grass can be seen growing on them much of the time. I guess this may be common worldwide in hilly or mountainous areas but being from the rather flat south east of England I can`t remember seeing anything quite like it back home, where differences in rainfall are generally not so extreme. In England I seem to remember small islands with thick vegetation where moorhens and other water fowl make their homes among the reeds. I do see ducks and egrets in the river here, but I haven`t seen them nesting.

East

'People will come from all over the world-from east and west, north and south-to take their places in the Kingdom of God.' Luke 13:29

The Japanese church may be growing slowly, but it IS growing. Thank you Jesus!

Work

'Work hard and become a leader,

be lazy and become a slave.' Proverbs 12:24

When I worked for a Christian organization back in the UK I was really zealous, and I got promoted after 6 months in the job to a leadership position.

These days, in Japan, where even to mention the name of Jesus at work is usually frowned upon, I often struggle with motivation, and so my career suffers...

Perverse

'they act so perversely' Deuteronomy 32:5

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/shakesonnets/section8.rhtml

Anew

'Each generation should set its hope anew on God..' Psalm 78:7

My daughter starts 3rd grade today. I hope for her sake her new teacher isn't an atheist.

Wonders

'the God of great wonders' Psalm 77:14

It is easy to see God at work on a sunny day in spring: flowers, swallows, a lark of some kind, a bird of prey, thrushes, grass, the riverbank, clouds, mountains...

Vows

'Make vows to the LORD your God, and keep them.' Psalm 76:11

One more month and we will have been married 10 years.

Childlike

'O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.' Luke 10:21

Easter Sunday is the day the world struggles with. Only someone who knows nothing about history would deny Jesus lived and was crucified. But resurrected? It sounds like a fairy tale... But is anything too difficult for God? Have billions of people worldwide throughout 2000 years of history ALL been deluded when they say they have experienced the Living Christ?

No to both questions. Happy Easter. Christ is risen.

Cursed

'Anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God..' Deuteronomy 21:23

Jesus died the death I deserve.

It is amazing how many Old Testament prophecies, written hundreds of years earlier, His life and death fulfill.

Risen

'When you arise, O Lord,

you will laugh at their silly ideas

as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.' Psalm 73:20

The carefully constructed 'reality' that atheists build for themselves is as durable and solid as a house of cards.

Israel

'Praise the LORD God, the God of Israel..' Psalm 72:18

Some of us Brits have a dangerous tendency to think of ourselves as special. This kind of patriotism is not entirely unheard of in Japan too... or in many countries.

God, however, chose Israel for the birth of his Son. Jesus spent his whole life there, yet there are few places left on Earth where His name is not known, or where Easter will not be celebrated this weekend.

Debts

'every seventh year you must cancel the debts of everyone who owes you money...' Deut. 15:1

You know who you are.

Love

'You must love the LORD' Deuteronomy 11:1

It is easy to love your Dad when he buys you an expensive present. It is not so easy when he wants you to do something that you find tiresome.

'Must love' is an unusual phrase, isn't it? It implies lack of choice, and so atheists tend to get the wrong idea. Who is this egocentric deity that demands our love like a petulant child? they ask. In fact it is their concept of God that is immature.

Failing to love the God who designed us and who loves us with every fibre of His being is about as good for our souls as smoking 50 a day is good for our lungs. Moses in Deuteronomy is just giving us the health warning.

Offered

'they offer me sour wine for my thirst..' Psalm 69:21

What is your favorite drink? Beer? coffee? Strawberry flavored truth?

When Jesus was dying on the cross, which Christians remember this week, the soldiers offered him wine with vinegar.

We thirst. We need love. To many the sad gruesome story of Jesus leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. But only Jesus can truly quench our spiritual thirst. God offered him on the cross for us, so that our sour lives might be made sweet.

Never

'' '...never say to yourself 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength' '' Deuteronomy 7:17

Japan`s economy is turning round, it seems, back to prosperity..

Wisdom

'Wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it...' Luke 7:35

Mrs Frost was not famous. Even in the part of Sussex in which she lived, few outside the Church she attended knew her, I think. But for those of us who were privileged to work or study with her could tell we were dealing with a genuine saint.

It was partly because of her that I went into teaching, but I have sadly failed to live up to her example...

Money

'Trust in your money and down you go..' Proverbs 11:28

It`s not everyday I meet a Japanese pimp...

Wilderness

'across the wilderness...' Deuteronomy 2:1

The area in which I live has around 5 million people, I believe. Hardly a wilderness in geographical terms. But when I feel incapable of having a real conversation involving anything more than superficial details with most of those people primarily due to linguistic constraints, you can perhaps see why I feel the words 'emotional wilderness' still apply...

Thoughts

'Jesus knew their thoughts' Luke 6:8

God knows what you are thinking.

Overwhelmed

'Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,

you forgive them all.' Psalm 65:3

Amen. May it be so.

Exploring

'they went up to the valley of Eshcol and explored the land...' Numbers 32:9

I am happier when I am covering new ground.

Truth

'But I tell you the truth...' Luke 4:24

You meet a lot of liars on the internet...

Repaid

'Surely you repay all people

according to what they have done. ' Psalm 62:12

My heart goes out to those abused by evil men in this Catholic scandal. But I hardly think the liberal news media, who advocate killing children in the form of abortion, are the ones to point the finger.

Kind or cruel?

''Your kindness will reward you,

but your cruelty will destroy you.'' Proverbs 11:17

Christianity has all the wisdom of Buddhist karma without the reincarnation myth...

Defence?

'You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses..' Psalm 60:1

'Her lips suck forth my soul..' Marlowe, Dr Faustus

Revealed

'The deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed' Luke 2:35

Sometimes I end up saying more than I should..

Impossible

'Nothing is impossible with God' Luke 1:37

Without God, W.B. Yeats says it well: ' things fall apart; the centre cannot hold...'

Belief

'Since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak...' Luke 1:20

The church gets into difficulties when it lacks faith.

Little

'..our little ones' Numbers 14:3

We have a joke in English: I love children but I could n`t eat a whole one.

Here in Japan, many teaching job ads glibly state 'must love children'. But what does that really mean? How do you love your child? Surely, by giving it what you believe is best for him or her.

As a Christian, though a pathetically bad one, in one of my first teaching jobs out here with kids I tried to give them what I believed was best for them- a story about Jesus. All hell broke loose. I can see why- foreign man imposing his culture on our Buddhist kids- how dare he? But if you truly want me to be the best teacher I can be, how can I leave your kid with just cartoons, fast food, video games and TV..? Some letters in the English alphabet spell 'God'- some pages in English dictionaries have words like 'good' and 'evil' on them. We may disagree about what those words really mean... but if I can`t even mention them, all we are left with is small talk...and you and your kids will never really understand English culture and many English speaking people.

Betrayal

'How terrible it will be for the one who betrays him.' Mark 14:21

I am really scared of letting Jesus down. Yet I do it every day...

Earthquakes

'There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains...' Mark 13:8

Jesus talking about the end of the world..

Confession

'They must confess their sin' Numbers 5:7

I lost my temper last night. And I had inappropriate thoughts.

Buying and selling

'Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling' Mark 11:15

There are many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japan which charge an entrance fee.

Supply?

'I will destroy your food supply' Leviticus 26:26

Having lived in suburbia or the inner city nearly all my life, I can`t really imagine how I would cope if suddenly all the local supermarkets were destroyed, as seems to have happened in some parts of Chile.

Mercy

'Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful' Luke 6:36

Often I am far too harsh.

Who?

'[Jesus] asked them, "But who do you say I am?"

Peter replied, "You are the Messiah" ' Mark 8:29

Was Peter wrong? Nearly 2000 years later, Peter`s successor is leader of a worldwide church of billions.

I think he got the right answer. But each of us needs to consider that question for ourselves. If Jesus was n`t God`s Son, why does the church still exist?

Impediment

'A deaf man with a speech impediment...' Mark 7:32

Back in the UK, my work brought me into contact with a Chinese lady whose son lived in the care home I worked in. Although she had been living in England for decades, her English was still very broken as she mainly lived within the Chinese community.

Having lived in Japan now for a decade, still experiencing major problems with understanding what is said to me and fully expressing myself, I understand a lot more how things were for her...

Period

'Whenever a woman has her menstrual period...' Leviticus 15:19

I feel sorry for female Olympic athletes. You spend four long years training for something, then on the day itself you can hardly focus because of cramps. It`s hardly the thing you wish to discuss with the reporters afterwards either.

Hard hearted

'Their hearts were too hard..' Mark 6:52

As usual..

Scripture

'What does Scripture say?' Romans 10:8

It breaks my heart when my fellow Christians sometimes place a man`s interpretation of God`s Word above the Word itself.

Must not

'You must not eat winged insects that walk along the ground' Leviticus 11:20

Some commandments are easier than others...

Crowded out

'all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things.' Mark 4:19

Even during Lent, I am far too easily distracted..

Lord

'' Then the LORD said to ...'' Leviticus 6:1

What is God saying to you?

Deformed

'Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand.' Mark 3:1

Will you be watching the Paralympics?

Flour

'a handful of the flour, moistened with oil...' Leviticus 2:2

Are you making pancakes today? My mum always did, so I`m trying to continue the tradition..

Skill

'With great skill and care...' Exodus 39:8

Visited Fukuoka Tower today for the first time. It may not be as tall as the new tower in Dubai, but it is still pretty impressive, and the view of the city from the top is worth the price of admission. It has been designed carefully to withstand strong winds and earthquakes- let`s pray it does so..

Brokenhearted?

' The LORD is close to the brokenhearted. ' Psalm 34:18

No Valentine? Please know God really does love you, and its not the kind of love that disappears when you wake up the next morning..

Love

'Correct the wise, and they will love you' Proverbs 9:8

A lot of Buddhists don`t like me much...

Notorious

'There was a notorious prisoner..' Matthew 27:16

I can `t even seem to go to the local doughnut shop without complete strangers knowing all about my business. Then again some say I am paranoid.. maybe more people read this blog than I thought..

Sin

'I have sinned' Matthew 27:4

Maybe I should go to confession... it is almost Lent...

Clouds

'...he set the clouds above' Proverbs 8:28

Much rain.

First

'the very first, before the earth began.' Proverbs 8:23

Before Japan was, God is.

Waste

" 'What a waste!' they said." Matthew 26:8

Love is... wasting time and money on that special someone?

Important

'I have important things to tell you.' Proverbs 8:6

Pluralistic democracies like Japan and the US tend to treat religion like its art. Whatever you draw or believe in is okay. But what happens when theology is much more like math?

2+2=4

Five is not the right answer even though it is not far off. Buddhism, though close in its valuing right thoughts and right actions, is not correct.

Rulers

'You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.' Exodus 22:28

No comment.

Testy

'You must not testify falsely...' Exodus 20:16

Sadly the truth doesn't get me very far...

Seduced?

'Don`t let her coy glances seduce you..' Proverbs 6:25

This time of year it is difficult not to fall in love.

Alone

'I am alone...' Psalm 25:16

As usual.

Hired?

'No one hired us...' Matthew 20:7

Don`t often advertise, but I did this week. No takers yet...

Rivers...

'Rivers, canals, ponds, and all the reservoirs' Exodus 7:19

Water is in my blood. My Dad and both my Uncles went to sea. I lived a block away from a Sussex beach for over ten years, never got tired of walking along the shore. These days the beach is the other side of the city, but the local rivers still have seagulls this time of year..

Misery

' 民は 信じた． また， 主が 親しく イスラエル の 人を 顧み， 彼らの 苦しみを 御覽になったということを 聞き， ひれ 伏して 禮拜した．

They heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery...' Exodus 4:31

Trying to use Japanese also, as I want 日本人 (Japanese people) to know God cares deeply about them. Suicide figures published today- still terribly high- men in Tokyo are the highest risk group...

Oppression

''I have certainly see the oppression of my people...'' Exodus 3:7

Since my blog yesterday, the website I use to try to read the Bible in Japanese has been attacked. So much for freedom of religion in this country...

Not conquered

'I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it' Matthew 16:18

Under communism, atheists in Russia tried to wipe Christianity off the map. They failed. They always will.

Not long

'One day not long after this...' Genesis 48:1

Thank God it will soon be spring..

Why?

''Why did you doubt me?'' Matthew 14:31

Why do we do things we know are self destructive? Because we are tired of trying to be good? Because we just want our fix and to hell with the consequences? Because the Evil One told us to do it? Because we think God will forgive us?

If I truly knew all the answers maybe I wouldn`t have to ask the questions...

Quake

'the earth quaked and trembled...' Psalm 18:7

Does God hate Haiti? The answer I believe is in Luke 13:2-3, when Jesus is asked about a recent tragedy:

'He answered them: ''Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.'' '

The day before the quake, children were dying in Haiti from poverty. Most of us didn`t know or care. Now most of us do care.

God have mercy on us all.

Household

'..in charge of his entire household..' Genesis 39:4

In England I was paid to clean then later run a care home, so housework is nothing new. There were no women in our household after Mum died, so Dad and I coped. The difference here is that it is not my house...and my gender makes it more difficult in Japanese society for people to trust me with such tasks.

Feuding

'A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.' Matthew 12:25

Many times my Mother wanted to walk out on my Dad, but she hung in there for my sake. When I was younger I guess I never understood how difficult that was for her. She died of cancer at 53, twenty years ago this month.

Justice

'Finally he will cause justice to be victorious...' Matthew 12:20

Things often seem unfair down here on earth. But it won`t be like this forever. In the meantime I really need to learn patience...

Wrenched

'he touched Jacob`s hip and wrenched it out of its socket..' Genesis 32:24

My back is worse now than before the professionals touched it...

Kind

'I will surely treat you kindly...' Genesis 32:12

It is very rare that I pay for a massage, but my back was playing up.

Bag

'Don`t carry a traveler`s bag...' Matthew 10:10

I need a bag for my textbooks...

Awesome

'What an awesome place this is!' Genesis 28:17

I woke to find our little suburban neighbourhood transformed into a winter wonderland of snow...

Together

'they ate and drank together' Genesis 26:30

It is pretty unusual for my wife, my daughter and I to eat with each other.

Little

'You have so little faith' Matthew 8:26

Path

'He will show you which path to take' Proverbs 3:6

Even though I have lived here a long time, it is such a big city there is always more to see. Today I found a elegantly painted chart of many local birds, with their Japanese names in katakana, down by a stretch of the river I don`t usually walk along, near Shirakibaru station. But the only birds I saw were a large group of mallards.

Authority

'He taught with real authority...' Matthew 7:29

When Jesus spoke, people listened.

Worry

'Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?' Matthew 6:27

I usually get pretty anxious before a large class. I really need to hear this.

Listen

'My child, listen to what I say...' Proverbs 2:1

Working with lots of kids this week. I try to give good advice...

Ignored

'You ignored my advice...' Proverbs 1:25

Sometimes I am stupid enough to ignore the Bible`s good advice.

Bent

'Everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil..' Genesis 8:21

Bread?

'People do not live by bread alone...' Matthew 4:4

When did I get fat?

Fear

'Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge...' Proverbs 1:7

When lightning strikes nearby when I am outside, I am scared.

First

'Evening came and then morning--that was the first day.' Genesis 1:3

Happy New Year everyone.