Nobody for Christ

My team leader just published a blog post on Desiring God's blog. It's good.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/come-be-a-nobody-for-christ

Food

I definitely believe that the good things of this world point forward to something else. While many things are good and created by God to be enjoyed, like Ecclesiastes points out turning these good things into god things is vanity and surely to disappoint. But one thing Ecclesiastes does command is for us to go enjoy the good things that God has given us, such as our spouses or our food.

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

(Ecclesiastes 9:7 ESV)

And I think this points forward to the amazing riches and treasures we have in heaven, the least of these being the messianic supper prophesied in Revelations.

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

(Revelation 19:9 ESV)

The heavenly riches that we will enjoy through our adoption as sons of the living God are amazing and something I think that even though I have only understood an iota of how deep and lavish the riches of our adoption are, I'm already amazed at how wonderful a gift it is.

And so as someone who enjoys food, I just want to share that I can't wait for what heavenly feast awaits us for partaking already in the bread of life!

So this post is about food. Knowing that while these things were good, the best is yet to come. And also people have asked me what I've been eating.

This is a konbu nigiri. I've been eating a ton of different nigiri. Nigiri means rice ball and it's probably been my most common meal.

The super market near our apartment often has really good sales on stuff that they didn't sell earlier that day since they need to sell it before it goes bad. Thus I've been eating some pretty good things that otherwise would probably be a little too pricy. This is an unagi bento or eel box lunch!

Nagoya is famous for cafes and coffee shops. Most of them have free morning sets, meaning that by just ordering a coffee you get a small free breakfast like a boiled egg and toast. This is Komeda which is famous in Nagoya (though not that great in my opinion =P)

This is my favorite ramen shop in Japan, Ippudou. I was so glad to find one in Nagoya since last time I had it was when I was studying abroad in Kyoto. Definitely was a great meal =)

This is okonomiyaki. It's a specialty of Japan and it's sort of like a savory pancake made from egg and batter and filled with savory things like meat. It's really quite good though it looks unusual.

I also am really fond of inari sushi. It's sushi wrapped with this sweet tofu shell. I eat it a lot and I also get it on sale from the supermarket.
I also have been cooking! This is something I made. It's black cod (gindara in Japanese) and I marinated it in miso sauce and served it ontop of some chazuke (rice tea porridge) and topped it with some wakame (seaweed) salad.
Japan also has the best bakeries I think. On par or better than Paris. I bought this bread for breakfast one day.
My roommate and I really like this Indian place that is about a 10-15 minute bike ride away. The owner came all the way from India to Japan for the purpose of starting an Indian restaurant. Their broccoli rice is amazing and they have free second helpings!

Japanese curry is also probably my favorite type of curry. There's a chain called CoCoIchiban that is near our house and it's definitely great for an affordable but delicious and filling meal.

Yoshinoya is also a very popular chain in Japan. It's basically fast food beef bowls. I'd take this over McDonalds any day though. Like McDonalds not the healthiest for you though. =P
But on the other hand some people are eating super healthy! This missionary is pretty amazing. He makes himself a smoothie for dinner and breakfast and puts crazy healthy things in it. This one has a whole head of broccoli and sticks of celery and grapes and many other fruits and veggies. This is only half his smoothie actually. It takes two really big cups to gulp down. Pretty intense.

Nagoya is also famous for kishimen, which is a flat type of noodles. I got this at a food court.

Okay, I hope now that I've whet your appetites you're excited to come do missions in Japan!?!

When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 8:10-12 ESV)

Whore

[16:1] Again the word of the LORD came to me: [2] “Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations, [3] and say, Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth are of the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. [4] And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. [5] No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born.

[6] “And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ [7] I made you flourish like a plant of the field. And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment. Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare.

[8] “When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine. [9] Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. [10] I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. [11] And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. [12] And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. [13] Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. [14] And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD.

[15] “But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his. [16] You took some of your garments and made for yourself colorful shrines, and on them played the whore. The like has never been, nor ever shall be. [17] You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and with them played the whore. [18] And you took your embroidered garments to cover them, and set my oil and my incense before them. [19] Also my bread that I gave you—I fed you with fine flour and oil and honey—you set before them for a pleasing aroma; and so it was, declares the Lord GOD. [20] And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter [21] that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them? [22] And in all your abominations and your whorings you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your blood.

[23] “And after all your wickedness (woe, woe to you! declares the Lord GOD), [24] you built yourself a vaulted chamber and made yourself a lofty place in every square. [25] At the head of every street you built your lofty place and made your beauty an abomination, offering yourself to any passerby and multiplying your whoring. [26] You also played the whore with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, multiplying your whoring, to provoke me to anger. [27] Behold, therefore, I stretched out my hand against you and diminished your allotted portion and delivered you to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd behavior. [28] You played the whore also with the Assyrians, because you were not satisfied; yes, you played the whore with them, and still you were not satisfied. [29] You multiplied your whoring also with the trading land of Chaldea, and even with this you were not satisfied.

[30] “How sick is your heart, declares the Lord GOD, because you did all these things, the deeds of a brazen prostitute, [31] building your vaulted chamber at the head of every street, and making your lofty place in every square. Yet you were not like a prostitute, because you scorned payment. [32] Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband! [33] Men give gifts to all prostitutes, but you gave your gifts to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from every side with your whorings. [34] So you were different from other women in your whorings. No one solicited you to play the whore, and you gave payment, while no payment was given to you; therefore you were different.

[35] “Therefore, O prostitute, hear the word of the LORD: [36] Thus says the Lord GOD, Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your whorings with your lovers, and with all your abominable idols, and because of the blood of your children that you gave to them, [37] therefore, behold, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from every side and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness. [38] And I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy. [39] And I will give you into their hands, and they shall throw down your vaulted chamber and break down your lofty places. They shall strip you of your clothes and take your beautiful jewels and leave you naked and bare. [40] They shall bring up a crowd against you, and they shall stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords. [41] And they shall burn your houses and execute judgments upon you in the sight of many women. I will make you stop playing the whore, and you shall also give payment no more. [42] So will I satisfy my wrath on you, and my jealousy shall depart from you. I will be calm and will no more be angry. [43] Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have enraged me with all these things, therefore, behold, I have returned your deeds upon your head, declares the Lord GOD. Have you not committed lewdness in addition to all your abominations?

[44] “Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ [45] You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. [46] And your elder sister is Samaria, who lived with her daughters to the north of you; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you, is Sodom with her daughters. [47] Not only did you walk in their ways and do according to their abominations; within a very little time you were more corrupt than they in all your ways. [48] As I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done. [49] Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. [50] They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it. [51] Samaria has not committed half your sins. You have committed more abominations than they, and have made your sisters appear righteous by all the abominations that you have committed. [52] Bear your disgrace, you also, for you have intervened on behalf of your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. So be ashamed, you also, and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.

[53] “I will restore their fortunes, both the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters, and I will restore your own fortunes in their midst, [54] that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all that you have done, becoming a consolation to them. [55] As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters shall return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former state, and you and your daughters shall return to your former state. [56] Was not your sister Sodom a byword in your mouth in the day of your pride, [57] before your wickedness was uncovered? Now you have become an object of reproach for the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and for the daughters of the Philistines, those all around who despise you. [58] You bear the penalty of your lewdness and your abominations, declares the LORD.

[59] “For thus says the Lord GOD: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, [60] yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant. [61] Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you. [62] I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD, [63] that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord GOD.”

(Ezekiel 16:1-63 ESV)

I'm not sure if there's quite a biblical metaphor for God's love for us that gets me more than the one of Christ and his adulterous bride, the church. I mean, wow, as part of God's church, I've been so unfaithful, whoring after other idols. All the times I bought into the lie that the pleasures of this world are better than the pleasures of God, all the times I counted myself as wise and right instead of Him, all the times I've been selfish and failed to steward all the things I've been graciously given, all those times I've exchanged the glory of God for a lie (Romans 1).

And I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy. (Ezekiel 16:38 ESV)

And that whoring deserves punishment. And what was the punishment for adultery?

If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10 ESV)

And in Leviticus, death is the punishment for committing adultery even just once. And yet how much more of an adulterous am I?

And what shame I feel for being no better than those who came before me and left me in my sin. Like mother like daughter says verse 44. The same mother who abandoned her own child is the sinful example in which I follow.

Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ (Ezekiel 16:44 ESV)

But to me, the craziest part is despite that, God responds with grace. He makes a way to atone for my sins himself! (v. 63) Instead He makes with us, the Church, an everlasting covenant! (v. 60) That in union with Christ through faith alone He forgives us and promises us a share in His glory and a place in His kingdom.

Christ lays down his life for the church. All that wrath I deserve for how much I've sinned against God, Christ bares himself. All the punishment the law requires he bares on the cross. And he patiently pursues us, preparing us, sanctifying us as His bride when we're so unfaithful and unworthy. Christ suffers for, sacrifices for, pursues, and loves unfaithful me. It's news thats almost too good to be true.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. (Luke 7:47 ESV)

Sign!

We just put up the new sign on the new building! woot!

One of the hopes for the new CBI center in downtown Nagoya is for it to become a center for evangelical Christian activity within the city. We hope to host as many as 6 worship services a sunday, have a safe space ministry (Heart and Soul cafe), and make the space available for other evangelical churches who might need the space. While visible signage is but one step of many more, I'm excited and thankful to see progress being made! Praise God!

He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

(Exodus 3:12 ESV)

Earthquake-proof

The new CBI building

Yesterday I spent the bulk of the day cleaning our new building which was very dirty from a lot of construction dust and age. The building was remodeled in some places but still maintained a lot of the original furniture, stairways, appliances, and windows. It was a big cleaning job that still wasn't done by the end of the day. I'm glad that I could contribute in this way and hopefully still be a help here in Japan, despite the short length of my stay.

I'm looking forward to the opening of the new building. CBI has come a long way and is quickly moving towards becoming an increasingly viable option for students to come and study. The new central location in downtown Nagoya while inconvenient for many currently on staff should be much easier for prospective students to attend.

The seminary however needs much more funds to continue to grow. Michael hopes to eventually purchase a small near-by dilapidated building to turn into a small dorm to house students. But the biggest need is money for the earthquake supports installed to make the building earthquake safe. Although expensive, the leadership decided that the safety made the support beams a necessary investment. While we've been trying to raise funds to cover the expense, we've only raised $30,000 of our $100,000 goal. Please pray that the building will be able to get done in time for new classes in September and that we would be able to raise adequate funding for proper safety. If you feel led, you can also contact me if you're interested in giving money to CBI for the earthquake supports.

Mopping up a dirty floor...for the 3rd time

The earthquake support beams

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV

Burden

[23] “Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? [24] Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD. [25] I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ [26] How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, [27] who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? [28] Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD. [29] Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? [30] Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another. [31] Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the LORD.’ [32] Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD.

[33] “When one of this people, or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the LORD?’ you shall say to them, ‘You are the burden, and I will cast you off, declares the LORD.’ [34] And as for the prophet, priest, or one of the people who says, ‘The burden of the LORD,’ I will punish that man and his household. [35] Thus shall you say, every one to his neighbor and every one to his brother, ‘What has the LORD answered?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ [36] But ‘the burden of the LORD’ you shall mention no more, for the burden is every man's own word, and you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God. [37] Thus you shall say to the prophet, ‘What has the LORD answered you?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ [38] But if you say, ‘The burden of the LORD,’ thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have said these words, “The burden of the LORD,” when I sent to you, saying, “You shall not say, ‘The burden of the LORD,’” [39] therefore, behold, I will surely lift you up and cast you away from my presence, you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers. [40] And I will bring upon you everlasting reproach and perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.’”

Jeremiah 23:23-40 ESV

I've come to realize that for all the times I've mishandled the word of truth, I've been like a burden to the Lord. That might sound harsh, but I think Jeremiah makes it clear how much He despises sin. He despises when others His people astray, whether purposefully or not. While As I've continue to learn how to rightly handle the word of truth, I can see how in the past I've emphasized the wrong things in certain parts of scripture. I can see how often in trying to exhort people to give Jesus everything, I didn't fully explain how in giving Jesus everything we receive everything. I told people to give up everything, pick up their cross, deny themselves, and follow Christ without telling them that by losing their life they will find it! And while I strive to be more deeply rooted in increasingly biblical hermeneutics and exposition and not separate the indicative commands of the bible without explaining how these things have already been done for us through Christ, thereby giving us the joy and motivation to pursue righteousness, how often have I failed and still fail. I've been a burden to God. And yet, He loves me so dearly and deeply and uses me despite my failures. He counts me as a coheir with Christ. I'm blown away by His grace.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

Toilet Paper

Today I bought toilet paper. Toilet paper isn't included in my short-term missions budget though haha. And since donations to my missions organization are tax deductible, trying to buy toilet paper out of my food budget isn't allowed since the government keeps strict tabs on exactly how the money is being used (for good reason of course). I figure toilet paper is worth buying anyways though! And really, how can I mind spending a little money on toilet paper when God has given me so much. Whether it comes through my missions budget or out of my pocket, it's all come from Him so all the more praise to His providence!

Even toilet paper testifies to His glory =)

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

(James 1:16-18 ESV)

Earthquake

Wow! We just had a sort of big tremor here! Everything is totally fine. I'm totally fine. Nothing fell down. But the earthquake lasted for a good 15 seconds or so and the whole apartment was shaking and I just sat there in awe of God's might.

But the multitude of your foreign foes shall be like small dust,

and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff.

And in an instant, suddenly,

you will be visited by the LORD of hosts

with thunder and with earthquake and great noise,

with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.

(Isaiah 29:5-6 ESV)

Cornerstone

Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers,

who rule this people in Jerusalem!

Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,

and with Sheol we have an agreement,

when the overwhelming whip passes through

it will not come to us,

for we have made lies our refuge,

and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;

therefore thus says the Lord GOD,

“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,

a stone, a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:

‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

And I will make justice the line,

and righteousness the plumb line;

and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,

and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”

Then your covenant with death will be annulled,

and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;

when the overwhelming scourge passes through,

you will be beaten down by it.

As often as it passes through it will take you;

for morning by morning it will pass through,

by day and by night;

and it will be sheer terror to understand the message.

For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on,

and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in.

For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim;

as in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused;

to do his deed—strange is his deed!

and to work his work—alien is his work!

Now therefore do not scoff,

lest your bonds be made strong;

for I have heard a decree of destruction

from the Lord GOD of hosts against the whole land.

(Isaiah 28:14-22 ESV)

I read this today and was utterly amazed at how amazing it is that God is both just and merciful. So clearly like the Israelites of old I have put my trust time and time again in the promises of the world, making "lies my refuge" and "taken shelter with falsehood." And how justly God is angry with my sin and how deserving I am of the same judgement He promises to heap on an adulterous Israel. And yet at the same time, God provides a way out through grace by faith. He sets the precious cornerstone that is a sure foundation where believers won't be in haste. Instead of haste, the faithful patiently trust in God to provide and protect them. And He provides that route through Christ, the stumbling stone and precious cornerstone who absorbs on my behalf all the wrath of God that I deserve. Amazing.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

(1 Peter 2:4-6 ESV)