GospelRest

Thoughts Along the Way ©
Glass of Radioactive Water
Elaine Mehn

With the 9.0 earthquake that hit northeastern Japan which was followed by an incredibly destructive tsunami which was followed by problems at the Fukushima Number 1 nuclear power plant, we have the potential of having higher than normal radioactivity in our water. Some parts of Tokyo have reached levels that are not safe for babies and small children while other parts of Tokyo are still safe. The scariest part is not that the water may have some radiation but that you can’t tell by simply looking. The government says it is drinkable and it will not hurt you but not to drink it anyway. Fortunately, we had filled large water canisters with water immediately after the earthquake so we have a supply of safe drinkable water which we plan to drink.
Just as I can’t tell if my drinking water is safe or not, in life I don’t always recognize the radioactive sins, thoughts, feelings, motivations, or heart attitudes that fill my heart and mind. Pretending there is no problem not only does not make it go away but allows it to continue to do damage. The first step in getting pure drinking water in a glass is to realize that the water is not pure. The same is true of our hearts – the first step is to recognize that what God calls sin is indeed sin and that it is living in me.
But simply recognizing sin or confessing sin is not enough. Saying that the water is radioactive doesn’t do me any good if I go ahead and drink it. Confessing sin in my heart does not do much good if I continue to hold on to it. I need to get rid of the contaminated water and I need to get rid of my sin through repentance. I also allow God’s Holy Spirit to show me those things that draw me back to the sin. Repentance is to be a natural response of God’s children but it requires a humble heart before God and a trust that I won’t be left empty. This is often my greatest fear; if I let go of those sins that I rely on for comfort, strength or a sense of who I am, will there be anything left? How will I go on?
Repentance gives me an empty glass (heart) but I also need to fill that glass (my heart) with a fresh clean faith. This is the water of faith in Christ. I can have the old radioactive sins cleaned out and be filled with the purity of Jesus. I don’t need to fear being left empty and alone. God’s Spirit is always here to bring the comfort I need and to provide the strength I require. My sense of who I am is firmly established in Christ through faith in Him. Repentance and faith always go together.

Prayer: Father, so often I don’t recognize my own sin or even my desire to hang onto my sins. Instead of looking to You for satisfaction, peace, comfort, strength and all my daily needs, I look to my own strength or the comfort that comes from other people or things. Please take away my desire for sin and replace it with an ever growing desire for You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.

1. Today the decision was made to proceed ahead with the Field Council for our Converge Worldwide Japan Team next week (March 30-April 1). PRAY that God would provide a tank of gas for the Ellisons to attend this event.
2. Continue to PRAY for missionaries monitoring developments and deciding whether to stay of leave the Kanto area (or Japan). John talked to a missionary from the Philippines who was encouraged that Converge Worldwide was still here.
3. Elaine and I decided to return to Tokyo from this area possibly on Wednesday. We are monitoring the situation and the final decision will be made on a day to day basis. PRAY for wisdom in timing our return and for the preparations in our return.

John received a call (during our blackout) from CGN a Christian broadcasting company in Korea.
Besides asking about our situation on the ground and gathering information on Korean missionaries in Japan, John was asked about some prayer requests for Japan. Here is his answer.

1. Hope – Everyone in Japan is rattled, concerned and a bit frightened. As one of our friends has said “fear and the loss of hope is probably the biggest long term problem.” But we know the hope that is in Christ, this resurrection power, the assurance of eternal life, and a relationship with the God of the universe. Pray that Christians deepen in their faith and share the hope that comes in Christ. Pray that the peace of Christ and the Shalom of God would fall on Japan.

2. Opportunity – Certainly this major disaster is a major challenge to all affected; but it is also a major opportunity. Pray that a Christ-centered response to this disaster would be from all believers. Pray that the amazing love, compassion, mercy, and grace of Christ would transform many Japanese lives. May Christians have courage and strength to meet the opportunities. As one friend has urged, “Pray that the Holy Spirit would act as a tsunami wave across Japan bringing salvation to many.”

3. Need – the physical needs are staggering. The psychological issues related to surviving a disaster of this magnitude are colossal. The spiritual needs before and after this event are also immense. Everyone must realize that this part of Japan is one of the least churched, has one of the lowest numbers of Christian worshipers, and is very unreligious. To not build on sharing the love of Christ with these people through evangelism and church planting maybe a great opportunity would be lost.

Everything is in place to make a major difference. Pray and send funds. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are needed, but no contribution is too small. Appeal to them to come and help.

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:35-36

In preparation for our CPI Leaders’ Summit last month on Gospel-centered Leadership I was reading and reviewing books on leadership especially the heart idols that leaders are most susceptible. (Elaine and I developed a list of heart idols that leaders often encounter). Good books have been Spiritual Leadership by Henry and Richard Blackaby (Experiencing God fame).  Other good books have been Dangers, Toils, Snares, The Heart of a Servant Leader on Jack Miller and Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership McIntosh and Rima.

I feel the real danger of the heart is when we are in a leadership position but we have allowed our spiritual and relational authority to erode. Without much heart left and diminishing trust (people notice) we then can only rely on defending our position which develops pride in its many forms and then we become uncaring and callous toward other people. That is when leadership is ugly, even ineffective as all trust has been undermined. Jesus was the best example of leadership and never lost compassion for others in the midst of leadership. He knew how to tell the truth with grace. May we always struggle as leaders and depend on him to keep and deliver us from the “dark side of leadership.”

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13

             I grew up in north-eastern Iowa in a small town where my parents had a large garden which included some grape vines. I was never known for my love of gardening but being a part of the family meant picking Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
       neither are your ways my ways,”
       declares the LORD.

 ”As the heavens are higher than the earth,
       so are my ways higher than your ways
       and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:8-9

            The other day I was at the grocery store and saw a little girl throwing a temper tantrum. We probably all have seen a young child in the candy aisle crying and screaming as the mother walks away. I even have been that parent. What struck me about this occurrence was that she was not begging Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

 “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7b

             Riding a city bus can be boring or entertaining depending on my mood and the people who come and go. The other day we were stopped by the bus stop where there was a girl waiting for a bus. She was wearing a bright green skin tight t-shirt dress, bright blue leggings also skin tight, Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9b-10

             We bought a new microwave to replace our old microwave that was dying. I measured the space available and looked at the measurements for the new high tech combination unit. Once we got it home we discovered that it needed additional airspace around it and it needed to be plugged directly into the outlet and not into an extension cord. We found a stand at the local Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. Proverbs 4:11

We take a week of vacation each summer and go tent camping on the shore of Lake Saiko (West Lake). One of our activities is to ride bicycles the 10 kilometers (6 miles) around the lake. It has one hill on the opposite side from the campground but other than that it is fairly flat. For us “old” people it is just the right challenge. Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Over the years of camping by Lake Saiko, we have done a lot of hiking. We even tried to climb Mt. Fuji once – once was more than enough. For most of the years, we climbed a nearby mountain but lack of oxygen, abundant mud, horse droppings, and being out of shape has led us to become committed “flatlanders”. We now hike in the wooded areas around the lake. Read the rest of this entry »