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Welcome to the ‘Whispers and Wonders’ journey journal– The whispers that started me on a forty-year adventure in ten countries– and the wonders– continue! There are previews and links to Peruse Bruce’s News and Views, Tipserve Twitters, and photos sites in the right column and lots more informations in the tabs above. “You teach the Bible”– a young woman asked, “Are you teaching reading?” “No”, I explained, “The Bible is an amazing book that I help people to study” She looked a bit mystified, so told her how the Bible was written over many centuries and contains stories, beautiful poetry, accurate history– like that of Jesus’ life– and much more, including predictions. It took a while to explain to her the meaning of ‘predictions‘, but then I continued, “Some of the most amazing of the Bible’s predictions foretold the coming of Jesus– In amazing detail, foretelling the manner of His birth, death, life, and ministry.” “Jesus?” She responded– And I realize that she hadn’t made the connection. “Iesu-kiristo– Jesus Christ”, I told her, giving His name in Japanese and English. She understood, then asked the meaning of His name. I explained that Jesus was not an uncommon name then– it meant, God Saves. Christ was Greek for anointed one. In Hebrew, Jesus was the Messiah the savior promised in writings by Jewish prophets for hundreds of years. Our conversation continued, but I was impressed by this exchange how, although Japanese are, to varying degrees, exposed to quite a bit of Western culture and history, they know far less than I often assume– about the book– the Bible, and the person– Jesus, that have shaped me, Western culture and, in fact, the world to an incredible degree. I should remember that although I grew up in Western culture, I also knew little about the Bible. Of course, I thought of myself as a Christian– yet I don’t think I could have explained what that meant– until one day I discovered what it meant… That story is in, That Book and That Man– Part Two As a child growing up– in a small town near Detroit, Michigan– I remember often seeing large Bibles displayed in people’s homes. However, I don’t remember anyone who actually read them. Many people try reading the Bible, but never make it past the first couple chapters of Genesis – right around the ‘who begat who’s– I was no exception and never thought much about it until, when I was eighteen, someone read to me what Jesus said in the Bible book of John:
That was clear to me– I was loved by God!– And Jesus, the expression of that love, had given His life to the world―to me. I asked Him to come into my heart– my life– receiving Him, His promise of eternal life, and His love, care, freedom, truth, peace, and happiness. You can also simply pray a similar prayer:
Having met the author, I began reading the Bible– studying it– and, just as I told the young lady, I found it to be an amazing book. Contrary to what I expected– and to my relief– I discovered that it wasn’t about being ‘religious’, but about living a life of love– loving God and letting Him love others through us. Okay, so I cashed the ‘check’ of Heaven as soon as it hit my hand– but, if you would like to maybe have a look at the signature before you carry it to the bank, you’ll have to check out, That Book and That Man– Part Three If the Bible is a love letter from the Creator to us– did He sign it?– Yes. God used prophecies– inspired predictions given to men– prophets– who foresaw events before they happened. An example of one whom God helped peer into the future is Job, whose name is borne by what is perhaps the oldest book in the Bible. Job said, “I know that my Redeemer (Savior; Messiah) lives, and in the later days He shall stand upon the earth.”– Job was looking forward more than a thousand years to just where we look back two thousand years– to the pivotal event of the Bible and history– Jesus’ life on earth. Job’s prediction is old, but it’s not, by far, the most amazing or most specific. Perhaps a quarter of what is recorded in the Bible is– or were– predictions. I add ‘were’, because many of them, perhaps half, have already come to pass– most about God’s dealings with ancient Israel, but also amazing predictions of the rise and fall of kings and kingdoms– even world empires, and– some of the most specific and amazing– prophecies about Jesus– His birth and its location, His life and ministry and detailed descriptions of His betrayal, judgment, manner of death and burial. I’ve listed just ten of the about 300 inspired predictions about the coming Messiah– first the Old Testament book with chapter number and verse from 500 to 1000 years B.C. followed by it’s New Testament fulfillment in Jesus Christ:
Then, an article on pressure from a different issue of Activated Finally, here’s an online book, ‘Obstacles are for Overcoming‘, that I recommend. “Through such trials, God bids us to choose: Do we believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations? Can we surrender our concern in things that don’t matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do?” – Tony Snow
“Educators are wary about acknowledging this growing phenomenon”… “When school refusers turn 15, principals normally award them graduation certificates regardless of whether they complete their studies. And once children have fallen off the traditional education path, they are left to navigate new territory in the job world”… “That’s if they can work at all. Education professor Katsuyuki Hiroki said many refusers become reclusive as adults and can’t leave their bedrooms. Hiroki said 1 million adults suffer from this affliction…” Excerpts from an article By Jessi Hempel writing from Japan for the San Jose Mercury News Japanese “Refusers” a Major Issue- by Bruce A couple of months ago, unexpectedly, an office worker asked me to lunch at her cafeteria. I hardly knew this person– a foreign national to whom I had previously only given a small pamphlet Somebody Loves You in her own language– yet soon she was pouring out her heart about her personal life and difficulties. She first, confidently, told of her many accomplishments at work and of her plans for the future. She then explained that some areas of her personal life had become dysfunctional– and some of her dissatisfactions and disappointments. Finally, her greatest frustration– Her teenage son had become alienated at school and had refused to return. An apparently bright boy, he’d become frustrated, sullen– hardly leaving his room and, when he did, arguing with his mother. ‘What should I do? He’s a good boy, smart, but he refuses to try to go back to school.’ After acknowledging how difficult it can be to communicate with teenagers, I sympathized with her son who, like many thousands of other Japanese students, have dropped out due to the school and social pressures.
I asked about her son’s interests and abilities, then suggested she give him love, acceptance and encouragement to excel– perhaps in some area in which he feels capable– offering a way to gain confidence in himself and for his future. I encouraged her to relax more, to not try so hard– to make him feel accepted. Later, I visited again to take some Power Point Presentations on love, forgiveness, bitterness, life’s trials and others. These were what she was most excited about on my most recent visit. ‘Those pictures and words have helped me so much’, she said happily, ‘And my son– I encouraged him and he’s responded so much. He apologized for how he’s been talking to me and things are going so much better now. May we go to your home to meet your family?’ Since this encouraging development, I feel more motivated than ever to support efforts that have been proposed in our mission community to develop and present material– drama and songs, for example– for the Japanese youth that will address common school problems– like bullying– and to develop positive attitudes like acceptance and concern for the weak and those in need– needed counter balances in a world often focused on personal success and measured by personal power and possessions.
 A man was struggling to find space on the train for himself, his bags and a guitar case. I motioned to a place next to me and he took it, thanking me in English. I asked about his guitar and where he was going and been.
I learned that he travels extensively within Japan to give jazz piano concerts, and lives in Tokyo with his wife, a vocalist. He mentioned specifically Jerusalem, where, moved by the plight of the Palestinian people, he’d gone to give a concert.
Kono-san’s determined effort reminded me of the shepherd in Change The World,one of my favorite true stories, showing how one person’s seemingly small effort had tremendous results.
Here’s a link to Kono-san’s web page
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