GospelRest

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 »

Yesterday Elaine was on Moody Radio in Chicago.  A recording of her sharing during a sermon was played as part of the show Chris Fabry Live!  Here is a link to listen to a recording of this 54 minute program.  Several people call in to the show to discuss the topic that Elaine introduces on spiritual renewal. There is also a description on Elaine and the program at the Chris Fabry Live! website. You can also get a free podcast (MP3) of the show via ITunes.  Just search for Chris Fabry Live! at ITunes.  And select the Feb 26, 2009 show.

Thoughts Along the Way©
Elaine Mehn

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. John 16:13-14

Map reading in Tokyo is so much different from map reading in a U.S. city. In the U.S. the streets aren’t always laid out in a nice grid formation but they do have names and an indication if they are north, south, east or west of whatever the central point is. I often joke that Tokyo streets were laid out by a drunken snake. In truth, the ancient system of streets was to confuse the enemy and make it more difficult for an attacking army to reach the center of the town where the castle was. When visitors come, I always warn them that they should not plan to walk around the block as it may not bring them back to where they started. Added to this free form street layout is the fact that only major streets have names. Side streets, which includes almost all of the streets, have no name or number. They simply exist. Because of this seemingly random street system, map books in Japan are published with a great deal of detail. We have ones for our side of Tokyo that gives such detail as gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants and bus stops. You can also get maps that show a particular city, some even show who owns in each house.
Our map book that includes Machida, a city of near 500,000, is about 100 pages. There have been times when we have gotten so lost that I don’t even know which page of the map to begin to match the squiggle we are driving on with the squiggle in the book. These are the times when you pray to find a bus going to a train station. You follow the bus so then you at least know where you are so you can start again.
To become a Christian you first have to know where you are – a sinner in rebellion against God. Christ not only shows the way we are to follow but He provides the means to follow as well. He provides the bus for us to follow (Christ’s life), the map for us to look at (Scripture), and the car for us to travel in (the Holy Spirit). The Father knows where all of the one-way streets are and where all of the streets are going. He knows the dead ends and cul-de-sacs. He is never lost and never confused!
To get un-lost, first you have to admit that you are lost. Next you have to know where you are so you can figure out how to get where you want to go. This is true for streets in Tokyo and for my spiritual life as well. When I became a Christ follower, I started by admitting that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. This gave me a starting point and a map book but even better it gave me a guide, the Holy Spirit. It also gave me a goal – to live a life pleasing to God. Does this mean I never struggle with confusion or doubt? No, I am still far from perfect and still find times when I feel so confused that my only hope is to follow the “bus” of Christ back to the cross. Then I know where I am and who I am once again. God has promised to never abandon me but He has provided the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and work in me.

Prayer: Father, thank You for providing all I need not only for salvation but for every moment of my life. Forgive me for the many times I take my eyes off Jesus and try to figure out how to do things on my own. I am so thankful for all of those times that I struggle and fail because they remind me of who I am and how much I need You. Thank you for Your continual guidance and provisions. I need You every moment of every day.

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Almost two years ago, we had the large tree in our front yard cut down because it was causing problems with the electric wires and was keeping any sun from getting to the front of the house. The stump that was left is about 2 feet tall and hidden behind a bush so you can’t even see it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. John 16:13-14

Map reading in Tokyo is so much different from map reading in a U.S. city. In the U.S. the streets aren’t always laid out in a nice grid formation but they do have names and an indication if they are north, south, east or west of whatever the central point is. I often joke that Tokyo streets were laid out by a drunken snake. In truth, the ancient system of streets was to confuse the enemy and make it more difficult Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2

A few years ago we purchased a house. We are like most in that we paid for part of it and took out a bank loan for the rest. The day we signed the papers, we moved into our new house. What an exciting, terrifying, wonderful and exhausting day. We were now the proud owners of a house with all of the responsibilities that go along with ownership. Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

In our nearly 23 years of living in Japan, we have come to enjoy watching sumo. At first it was a substitute for American football, but eventually we learned to appreciate it on its own merits.

Recently we had the unusual opportunity to visit a sumo stable. This is where the sumo wrestlers (rikishi) live and practice. We were able to watch them practice from 6 AM to 9:30AM. These practice Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,
as you did that day at Massah in the desert, Psalm 95:7-8

Japan is known for its crowded commuter trains. I experience this occasionally, but every time seems worse than the memory of the time before. Since I don’t commute into work, I don’t ride very often during the early morning rush hour. The other day I wondered if my arm would be broken before I got off. (For a horrifying video, not taken Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.
O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.

How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. Psalm 36:6-8

When we first moved to Japan, ladies always wore hats in the summer to keep the sun off their heads and especially off their faces. Over the last several years hats have been replaced with parasols. At first I thought, “Who would want to carry an ‘umbrella’ Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Matthew 15:18-19

 Once a year our neighborhood association sets aside a day to clean the storm sewers. This involves lifting off the grates and scooping out the rotting leaves and other putrid matter that has accumulated over that year. Clean water is then poured into them Read the rest of this entry »