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.