A Great Cloud Of Witnesses

I visited our churches in Japan from March 15 - April 2, 2007. While I was there, I was able to deliver this message to several of the churches.

Greetings from the Baden Church. We pray for you continually, and thank God for the things He is doing among you. The work that the Japan COG is doing is no small thing, considering this present age and the great deception in the world today. My wife Debbie and son Joshua send their regards. Joshua is hoping to attend the Japan COG youth camp this year and he plans to bring a few people with him. Brother Paul Finke is doing very well and has an undying love for your church. We have heard of several wonderful things that are happening here in Japan and thank the Lord for each one. The bible students, Raymond School, A.C.E and the growing work among the youth. Praise God. One of the terms used in the Japan Church is "Pioneer Work". Each time I hear that, I feel great warmth, for you truly are pioneers. With the passing of Brother Shelhorn and now Sister Dorothy Labertew, you are on new ground. The Japan COG is truly a national church. Brother Shelhorn planted the seed, and with you watering the ground and planting new seed, God will surely give the increase.
I would like to share my thoughts on Hebrews 11:1-2,"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for".
The ancients were commended for being sure of what they hoped for, and certain of what was not seen. It seems to me that these are easy words to say, but an altogether different thing to live out. What is the difference between saying and doing? Doing requires an action of some sort. What type of action did the ancients take? We must live a life that demonstrates the faith that we have.
Abel offered a better sacrifice, Enoch walked so closely to God that he actually was taken by God. Noah built and ark. Abraham made his home in a foreign land. As did Isaac and Jacob. We have the witness of Joseph and then Moses. We also have the testimony of those who suffered for their faith. Hebrews 11:36-38,"Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground".
Why are we told about these ancients? Hebrews 12:1-3,"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
These verses possibly have greater meaning in Japan than in America? The American church has never seen persecutions like the ones in chapter 11. The United States is a nation that was founded on religious freedom. The first permanent Europeans to settle in America was in 1607. Christian missionaries came to Japan in 1549. In 1597, twenty-six Japanese and foreign Christians were crucified at Nagasaki. By 1614, Christianity was banned in all of Japan. Christians had to live in secret until 1873. That is 259 years of suffering. During that time, the practice of Fumie was used to identify Christians. Suspects were ordered to trample crosses and Christian images on the assumption that those who refused or hesitated revealed themselves as Christians. Even daimyo of neighboring domains were imposed upon. Brass crucifixes were made for them to step on, especially if they were suspects. Official use of fumie as an instrument of control continued until 1858.
What a great cloud of witnesses. Sword-makers, bow makers, soldiers, samurai, carpenters, a druggist, a silk-weaver, men, women, boys and girls. Like Abel, by their faith, they still speak, even though they are dead. The world was not worthy of them. To tell the truth, the world is not worthy of any who give their lives to Christ. I am certain that you have more recent witnesses. There are brothers and sisters, who before your very eyes, have lived out lives of faith. Their faith gave them the courage to shine in a dark place. Do not grow weary and lose heart. One day, we by God's help, will be part of that great cloud of witnesses.
In closing, let me remind you that you are pioneers, with a great heritage of other pioneers. Your life in Christ will speak long after you are gone. Hebrews 12:1-3,"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

God bless each of you.

I Owe You

“Sometimes I wonder about the 15-year-olds I have seen in emergency rooms with slashed wrists, cocaine overdoses and heroin addiction, and I ask: Did Woodstock contribute to this monster? – Al Jackson, social worker.
Al is not alone. I have often wondered about the legacy of my generation. There is little doubt that we will not be known as “The Greatest Generation”, like our fathers were.
On one hand, we championed noble social causes that many times changed our nation for the better. Yet, under the name of love, we often denied God while glorifying and protecting sinful behavior, causing some to become enemies of Christ. Their blood is on our hands:
2 Corinthians 5:16-20(NIV) 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

COG Japan - Update

I spoke with Michiko Shelhorn this weekend. She is doing well and looking forward to visitors from Baden next year. As it now stands, me, Kieth Maceranka, my aunt Tina and my uncle Pete are hoping to go. Joshua and Steve might go later in the year. Please pray that we will be able to do this.

Also, please pray the new pastors:
1. Mitsugu Kohatsu
a. Kawasaki Nanbu
2. Makoto Kohatsu
a. Kawasaki Christ Church
3. Momayo Ikki
a. Higashi-Totsuka
4. Namiki Suzuki
a. Sakata
5. Shigeki Watanabe
a. Oe-Cho

The churches:
1. Kawasaki Christ Church
a. Praying for land
2. Kawasaki Nanbu
3. Higashi-Totsuka
a. Raymond School A.C.E.
4. Yokohama Konan
5. Miyuki
6. Sendai
a. Praying for land
7. Tsuruoka
8. Oe-Cho
9. Sakata
a. Praying for land
10. Tsubata
11. Kasugai Eiko
12. Matsusaka
13. Nishiki

Please pray concerning support for the new pastors and for church building funds. Feel free to contact me about support or questions. Pastor Don

Bailout

Bailout - an instance of coming to the rescue, esp. financially: a government bailout of a large company. (from dictionary.com)
What will we do? How will we survive? Oh, thank you government for bailing out Wall Street. I will be safe now. People felt that way and are now feeling very used, and concerned. Placing faith in wealth or even our government for our security is like idol worship.
David was delivered from King Saul by God and... 2 Samuel 22:2 He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. He then confessed this. Samuel 22:7 In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.
We are in distressing times and need to be delivered from evil. Unless people call upon the name of the Lord, they will perish. Because of fear, so many Christians are placing their hope in something useless. Samuel once said this to Israel. 1 Samuel 12:21 (NIV) - Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. He told them this after they had sinned against God. He exhorted them to do the right thing. 1 Samuel 12:20 (NIV) "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
There is but One hope and he is Jesus Christ. Now is a perfect time to share the truth; Jesus does deliver us. - Pastor Don

Pray for Debbie Sharp

Please pray for my wife. She has chronic Deep Vein Trombosis, a condition brought on by blood clots. She is seeing a specialist on November 11th, to see if she needs surgery. She is in a lot of pain right now. Thanks, Pastor Don