An old friend...

It's nice when folks come back into your life... One of these fellas to the left was in my elective Bible class at KG high school a couple of years ago. After he graduated, I imagined I'd never see him again. But lo and behold--he's come to Kanto Gakuin Church a number of times this summer--interested in learning more about becoming a Christian.

All of us are growing and changing, obviously. As we grow older, questions arise we didn't have before, and options open up to us--mental, emotional, spiritual options. It's great to see people growing--it's a very natural thing. With God's grace, I'll keep growing, myself.

"Elijah" appears...

Did you know there was such a thing as "Japanese Christian HipHop?" Hmmm... I didn't either, until yesterday. "Elijah" came to the Kamariya campus yesterday to give a concert and share his faith story. A good message about the unconditional love of God to the 50 or so students cranned into the small room we use for chapel on this campus.

When I first arrived in Japan, I was interested in the draw of African-American culture here. Gospel music is quite popular and some folks pay up to $20 per session just to practice with gospel choirs around the Tokyo-Yokohama area. Can you imagine that? Someone paying to be in your choir!

Everybody wants to feel free, right?--unrestrained. And in a culture as socially rigid as Japan's, it's tantalizing for folks to be able to "go a little crazy" for a while and let their emotions show. We're all human...