Well, I will admit that I wasn’t as captivated by the second half of the book as the first half, but it did provide some interesting insights into a few things I had never thought of. I guess I always heard about Judas just being the bad guy who plotted to turn in and destroy Jesus and I had never considered (as the author proposed) that perhaps he had banked on Jesus getting out of it and Judas being able to run away and do life with his money. It was interesting to consider this story from that perspective. Also, I’d never really looked at the account of the acts of the apostles from a critical eye about what they didn’t do or where they didn’t go. I’ve always read it and looked at it (as have all those around me who have taught it) from the point of view of how awesome it was… all the things they did in the power of the spirit- which I guess makes me think that there is such great power in all of us looking at what we believe from different angles and seeing the biblical narrative and truths from a different angle. Like the tribe that saw Judas initially as the hero! I don’t know that I have a ton of other thoughts to contribute to the material for this week, but that was the one profound “shift” in thinking or perspective for me and I do appreciate such opportunities for perspective shifts!

I thought the next conference call was today, May 12 9am JST. Could someone confirm the date/time of the next call?

From today’s call, and Daniel’s stories, I have a question – because I don’t know the answer 🙂

It is often pointed out, that Genesis 1:28 (God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”) seems to indicate a hierarchical and controlling relationship of humankind to nature. Genesis 2 gives the same impression.

How does this relate to the attitude towards nature of the panentheistic religions, like Native AmerInd spirituality?

Here is the link to the page I found very fitting for what we’re studying – the difference in east/west priorities and views or shame/guilt.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1i1l1gv66cn9w1k/seeking%20allah.jpg?dl=0

Also – the overarching theme I think from this is “strive to hear and understand more than to be heard and understood” – and isn’t that we all want in anything and any relationship – to first be heard and understood (seen, heard and valued) and then to listen what someone else has to tell us or offer us?

Also, if anyone was interested and missed it before the zoom call ended, I was sharing some links about a fascinating Indigenous community in Canada that is all or nearly all Christian. You can find more by searching “Gitwinksihkw salvation army” (roughly pronounced git-win-silk). or “Nisga salvation army”. It has been fascinating to see which elements of their culture have been deemed ” safe” and usable in their Christian lives and worship. They host a big new year’s celebration every year called Hoobiyee and many salvation army church folks from around the country go to celebrate and participate with them. They open many of our salvation army worship events with dances and special presentations.

If anyone is interested in more resources about ministering to indigenous, I found this list while searching for links for you.
https://salvationist.ca/corps-ministries/corps-life/indigenous-ministries/indigenous-ministries-resources/

Jackson Wu: One Gospel for All Nations: A Practical Approach
Jackson Wu: Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes
Mariana Nesbitt: Jesus for Japan

Catch up a bit. Sorry for getting behind and not contributing in a timely manner. I ve watched the video twice and in both times here the story of Richardson with the tribe in Papua New Guinea… my heart has been so moved and encouraged beyond words. Only a God as magnificent and powerful as He could bring truth to light in such a way…reaching every corner of his earth.
So encouraging to hear of His working to turn things around and remind us all that God never “leaves His people without a witness”- Kikawa. This idea of signposts has transformed my perspective already in even just the smallest way and opened my eyes to want to find those signposts with my Japanese brothers and sisters. What an exciting thing God allows us to be a part of. Pauls heart burned the same… to see a people group understand and know Jesus genuinely as they’re personal Savior and God as their God within their own cultural context. To see Him as the personal God He is.
It also has made me more and more aware of the the things that we “think” in western culture are of highest virtue. I just think we can never stop learning from one another, about one another and about our true identity in Him.
I can’t seem to open the Operation Japan drive recently but my prayer these past weeks have been for fresh and clear eyes and for courage to see beyond what’s just in front of me. Praying for opportunities to share what He teaches when needed and to listen when it is needed most. Sharing His personal story in our lives is powerful but I hope to know better with His help how to allow my own heart to bleed His love out in words and actions that speak of Him in a relevant way for Japanese.
I long to see Jesus become precious in the hearts of Japanese within their own cultural context. I think in order for me to be a part of that it is going to require a lot of stripping away of my “self”.

There’s a story Im thinking of that paints a vivid illustration of regeneration and the working out of our salvation. In “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” the third book in the classic children’s series The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, a whiny and entitled British boy named Eustace lands himself in a dreadful plight when he steals treasure from a dragon’s lair and then turns into a dragon himself. After several days of feeling miserable trapped inside a monster’s body, Eustace is saved by the lion Aslan, who takes him to a well to be bathed. Aslan instructs the dragon-boy to “undress” first, and though Eustace attempts to scratch off layer after layer of scales, he cannot break through to the smooth surface of bare skin. Then Aslan tells Eustace he must let him do the undressing, and the child, desperate to return to his own body, agrees. The lion does so, claws ripping away the entire beastly mantle, throws Eustace in the water, and dresses him in new human clothes.The restored Eustace later describes the process to his cousin: “The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off.”

I think Ive just made it past the first tear in seeing more clearly what culturally specific gospel life looks like.