Isaiah 9 1-7, God's "Save the date" to Isreal.

So, for those who might be interested, this is the sermon I gave yesterday here in Nirayama, the 1st Sunday of Advent.

Sermon 2/12/12 Isaiah 9: 1-7. God’s invitation

9 ^[a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—² The people walking in darkness    have seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darkness    a light has dawned.³ You have enlarged the nation    and increased their joy;they rejoice before you    as people rejoice at the harvest,as warriors rejoice    when dividing the plunder.⁴ For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,    you have shatteredthe yoke that burdens them,    the bar across their shoulders,    the rod of their oppressor.⁵ Every warrior’s boot used in battle    and every garment rolled in bloodwill be destined for burning,    will be fuel for the fire.⁶ For to us a child is born,    to us a son is given,    and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace    there will be no end.He will reign on David’s throne    and over his kingdom,establishing and upholding it    with justice and righteousness    from that time on and forever.The zeal of the Lord Almighty    will accomplish this.


So, to get us started, let's look at where this fit’s into the big story of the bible; I often find that helpful. What was going on when Isaiah spoke these words? Well, the king at the time was Ahaz. If you know your history of the Kingdom of Israel, you’ll know that there was a series of good and bad kings, often alternating, one after another. Good – Bad – Good – Bad etc.


So, which was Ahaz?




Yup, he was a BAD king. One of the worst, in fact. Have a look at it back in 2Kings 16 and 2Chronicles 28. He defiled the temple, taking out valuable artifacts for his own wealth and sacrificing to pagan Gods in the place the Israelites reserved for Lord himself. It is quite possible that he sacrificed his own son to these pagan gods in the fire.

Like so many of us, me included sometimes, he did not lean on God in times of trouble. When he was beset on many sides by foreign powers, he tried to buy military help from other nations, probably with the wealth he stole from God’s own temple.

Further than that, he knew Isaiah was God’s chosen prophet at the time, and he ignored him. That, I just can’t get my head around. I struggle to hear the word of God. I long to hear it written clearly and specifically for me. If I had my own personal prophet on hand I’d have him move in to my palace and spend as much time as I could hearing what God had to say to me. That’s not the approach Ahaz took.

So that was the situation the Jewish nation was in at the time. They were faced with one of the most ungodly, corrupt rulers in their history. I don’t know how holy the people were, whether they knew that Ahaz was bad and feared him, or whether they went along with him, but we can certainly judge Ahaz.

Into this situation, faced with this kind of ruler, Isaiah offers an invitation to hope, an invitation to a better way, a promise that things can and will be better, and a clear statement that Ahaz’s way is not God’s way.

If the first commandment that we looked at last week says “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,” well, Ahaz didn’t just break it, he smashed it.


Look at the words describing the coming Messiah, look at the words to describe this new ruler we are invited to follow. In four short phrases we learn a lot about the nature of Jesus.

He will be called... 
Wonderful counselor. A good counselor can take away worries and speak wisdom and speak comfort into our lives in times of trouble. Jesus was the ultimate at this, and still is!


Mighty God He is powerful beyond measure, our mighty God. He created you, me, the world, the universe. Oh to have such a ruler! Unlike Ahaz, he needs not send out for help. No one needs to help our God, he is the mightiest!

Everlasting Father. Never ending, eternal. Never to be overthrown, our powerful Abba-father. One who will look after you, and always be on your side with His might!


Prince of Peace.  Gods way is not one of war. I just returned from Hiroshima, and I think He would be pleased with what has been wrought there in the peace-park and museum. That is God’s way, Peace. Enough wise men have tried to show us that way, and show us that it works, and we still don’t listen. That’s the Jesus I know, who, when faced with violence and betrayal, when his followers took up arms in the garden of Gethsemane for him, chose the path of peace, of submission, of healing and grace. 

This, then, was God’s invitation to Israel, an invitation to a wonderful time in their future, a 'Save-the-date,' if you will.

When I think about God’s invitation to the world at Advent, I get a real sense of empathy. Let me tell you what I mean. Now, I’m no Jesus; Jesus loved everybody and I only love some people, although it seems like a quite a lot to me sometimes and is thankfully always growing. One way I’m like Jesus is that my birthday is a big deal. Perhaps not on the global scale that Jesus’ was, but a big deal in my life none-the-less. Every year I invite everyone I love to my birthday cocktail party.

What’s going on with that, what’s that all about? Is it that I want a lot of presents? 

Sadly, a little, yes. 

Is it that I like the attention and revel in there being an evening all about me? 

Ah, you know me too well. Perhaps it is. 


But absolutely the biggest reason is that I just want to spend quality time with the people I love, people who I just don’t get to spend enough time with. We start early and we go late. One of the best bits is sometimes just watching, seeing the people I love love each other. Enjoy each other. A couple of times recently someone has been having a hard time, and I have seen my friends gather round and support them in different ways; listening to them, distracting them, laughing with them, crying with them!

I know all this when I send out the invitations. I know it’s going to be brilliant. I know the people who come will have a great time. I know that a lot of the people I invite won’t be able to come, and when they hear about how great it was, they’ll regret it. More to the point, I’LL REGRET IT! Every person who doesn’t come gives me just a little pain. I really wanted to hang out with them, I really wanted them to have a good time.

I really think that that that’s how God sees the world every advent. I think he’s been seeing the world like since day one, or rather, day six!

He’s inviting us to the best party there is, life with Him. It will be tremendous fun! If we hurt, we will be comforted, by God, by the other guests. He just wants to spend time with us. Most importantly, if we don’t accept His fabulous invitation, we will regret it!

Now, here’s one way Jesus’ invitation is so much better than mine. I send mine once, that’s it. Sadly, I just don’t have the time to chase people every day, and I don’t handle the rejection that well. I get really sad when people don’t come. God’s a bit like that too, but he gets REALLY upset when people don’t come, so upset that he keeps sending out those invitations. He will chase you down and knock on your door. He won’t barge in, he’s not like that; I’ve often heard it said that God is a gentleman. It’s up to you to open the door, but God will keep on knocking.

Today, I want to think about God’s invitation to us at advent in two ways.

First of all,  let’s look at the simplest invitation here, the invitation to know Jesus, the wonderful counselor described above. Back then, just as now, so many people missed the point of Christmas. Jesus came around and they were distracted. They’d had all the warning in the world. God’s invitation had been sat there in Isaiah for centuries. Good devout Jews of that time were familiar with the scriptures predicting a Messiah, they were looking hard for him.  We know, sadly, that many people back then, both the Gentiles and even the Jews who were looking out for him, missed the point. They missed God's amazing invitation. That invitation is still there for you. God, the creator of the universe, invites you to share in eternity with Him. If you don’t yet know Jesus Christ as your savior, I believe you’re missing out on a better way. Jesus told us he came to give life, and life in all its fullness (John 10¹⁰). He made it clear that the way to that life was to believe in Him. He is the way, the truth and the life, he said (John 14⁶). If you haven’t experienced the wonderful grace and peace that comes from walking each day with Him, I urge you to find out more. Ask a Christian what it's all about, why do they love and follow Jesus. Maybe do an Alpha course. This is just too important to let it slide by.

So, what if you are a Christian? Well, second of all, let’s look at the fact that God invites us to come deeper in to Him.

The journey of Christianity is often described beginning when we step though the door of faith. I know that’s how it felt to me, that the moment I gave my life to Jesus I’d walked through a doorway into a new, better world. Sadly, for me, I spent the next few years after then just stood in the doorway, not really making any progress in my faith, not experiencing it in the rich way some of by friends did. I just didn’t develop good holy habits, good spiritual discipline. It took a few years for me to really start that in earnest, and now I feel like I’m making progress. Looking at the lives of great Christian scholars and men of God, I know I have along way to go still, and that’s exciting.

I believe God wants to say to all of us, however far we have come in our journey with Him, however deeply in to Him we have moved, however closely we walk with God, that He is inviting us deeper and closer to Him this advent season.

So let me ask you, what’s the point of Christmas for you?  What’s the point of advent?
What can you do to make the most of this season? It’s short, so much shorter than lent. That makes it a great time to try out some new habits.

I have some suggestions for you, four key disciplines to reflect on that complement and can strengthen your Christian life:

How are you doing with your bible reading? It’s a season about Jesus, so why not read the gospels? Try and get through all four in four weeks. Get to know your savior again. Let him surprise you. This trip to Japan I’ve been delighting in ‘the Jesus I never knew’ by Phillip Yancey, it’s been a real treat reading all about Jesus, and an easy way to expand my knowledge of my best friend. Why not read a good book about Jesus? I know from when we last looked at this in my small group that many Christians have some great suggestions of books they have loved, and most churches have a decent bookstall. 

How’s your prayer life? Why not change it up a little, make it fun, exciting, different, new? Try to pray every day. Try saying grace before meals, if you don’t now. Try praying together with someone else, perhaps your family. You could try praying outside, or my recent favorite, a suggestion from the fabulous Mark Powley at St Georges, try having a day a week when the only prayers you say are of thanks. It’s quality time with God; you know you’ll benefit from it!Fasting; well, this is a challenge for me! Here’s a what Jesus had to say about fasting:

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew6)

He expects us to fast. I have to say this is one I find difficult, but I’m going to try it again this advent. I find it a useful sacrifice to make that brings me closer to God. If you can, why not try it this Christmas season?


Finally, think about your giving, in this season of presents. What can you give to God? What can you give to the church?  Paul tells us in Romans that we are to offer our whole lives as sacrifices to God. In one way, we are to be Gods gift to the world.


Whatever you do, make sure you don’t miss the point this advent.

God bless you all.

Look who discovered Panoramic mode!

Team Nelson!! Twice!!

View of Atami from the Izu Skyline

Jun, Tomo and Jun

Hugh and Hugh

Autumn

Shitake mushrooms will grow from these logs. It takes 2 years!

Can't see the wood from the trees?

It goes up too!

Tomo, Ju, Jun, Tomo and Jun!

More Japoddness

Well I'm back home in Nirayama after a brief but wonderful trip around Japan, or at least, the bits that I had wanted to see.

Hiroshima: check!
Okonomiyaki: check!
Sake: check!
Kyoto temples: check!
Public baths (sento): check!
Not embarrass oneself by correctly following bathing rules in room full of naked Japanese men: check!
Bullet train: check!
Miyajima: check!
Spectacular autumnal beauty: check!
Identify Ginko tree: check!
Make new friends at hostels: check!
Free wifi, great coffee and feeling at home in Starbucks: check!



This is absolutely the right place to lose your wallet. I lost (and recovered!) mine at the Peace Museum on Wednesday. I noticed an hour later as I was checking in at the hostel. The man at the desk said "That'll be ¥2000 please" and I felt my heart drop.  I patted all my many my pockets but I just couldn't find my wallet. In panic and a state of constant prayer I ran back the Peace Museum, the only place I thought it could be, and the information lady waved at me. I had left it by the postcard counter (typical Rob!) and she had handed it in, of course, completely intact. I have since noticed an odd phenomenon (to western eyes at least); people leave wallets, purses and handbags on tables to reserve seats here. What an incredible trusting society; certainly the best place in the world for terminal droppers, forgetters and losers like me!

Golden Temple, Kyoto. That's real gold!

Yesterday at Kyoto Station I saw a couple holding hands, which is unusual. Japan, as a culture, seems to have a different set of predominant love languages. I don't know if you know about the love languages, but it was a concept that revolutionised my marriage. See here to work out what yours is. It turns out there are five main ways we all naturally express our love for others and naturally feel love being expressed to us; kind words, physical touch, quality time, acts of service and gifts. It turns out that Vic and I, like many couples, have different languages  For a while at the start of our marriage we would both get frustrated expressing our love for the other in ways they didn't feel it. Victoria's primary language is touch, so she would often be holding and stroking me, whereas I was mostly irritated by the constant pawing and needed some quality time. Reading Gary Chapman's book opened our eyes, and we set out trying to learn to 'speak' the other's language.

I get the impression that touch is a much more common language back in the West than here; indeed, anyone who's language was touch would have a difficult time. There's just no holding hands in the street, at least not in your home town. That sort of intimacy is OK when you're on holiday, but you wouldn't want anyone to see THAT personal an event. The threshold of Public Displays of Affection is set very low! Combined with that, it can be hard for married couples to find any space to 'connect,' so to speak. Many families are three or four generations in the same house, and many people share bedrooms with parents or children their whole lives. This means 'love-hotels,' where rooms are rented by the hour,  do a thriving and entirely respectable trade.  I have to admit I would struggle here, and touch only comes third on my list! Thankfully the national character seems vastly more inclined to gifts. So much so that the postal system is an efficient wonder, rapidly and easily transporting little presents, home grown fruit, flowers, letters etc all over the country. It's so fast and so cheap, people post their luggage ahead of themselves on holiday!

Finally for today, Movember is over, and Victoria will be relieved that her bearded husband will return to her in mid-December.  Great efforts by many friends have hopefully seen a few pounds go towards this vital cause. Having seen the sharp end of prostate cancer in the family this year, I'm all the keener that we find better, smarter ways to fight this cancer. The 'cures' and treatments we have at the moment still have a massive impact on men's lives and self-esteems. We have to do better, we will do better. Keep fighting the fight for man cancer, boys!

Hiroshima and so on

Wednesday morning I got up and spent 4 hours on 3 trains, some of which at almost 200mph, all to complete a lifelong pilgrimage. I was wondering if it would be worth a half day travelling there and half a day travelling back for an afternoon and a morning.

A watch stopped at 8.15, Aug 6th 1945

Wow, was it ever! I thought had absorbed as much as can be absorbed from the discovery channel, but it was almost overpowering being there. Seeing the place where the nature of war changed. The echoes of that explosion are still reverberating around the world. If you're in Japan, I recommend you go. The peace museum hammers home the message of the overpowering destructive nature of these weapons, and makes the personal tragedies that day really clear. It's odd to see the personal effects of victims (Hibakusha); sets of clothes in which people were exposed (and shortly after, died), the watches stopped at exactly 8.15 AM, hair that fell out in the following days that relatives kept. You get to see the stark and sudden intrusion of the war into people's everyday lives.  

The peace dome, peace flame and centotaph

It was also interesting to see some of the background behind the choice of target cities. I had always assumed that Japan was the target because Germany had surrendered, but not so. The Manhattan project knew they'd be ready go for months before Germany surrendered, but Churchill and Roosevelt had already decided to target Japan for all sorts of strategic reasons. (See here for a more accurate explanation than I could give. Bless Wikipedia!) Seeing the back and forth in the letters between staff at the War Dept and Churchill and Roosevelt is eyeopening. The decision was taken pretty coldly and clinically, with an eye firmly on gaining the upper hand in the cold war with Russia they already knew was fomenting, and a desire to appease the people back home that all those lovely dollars they's spent on The Manhattan Project hadn't been wasted. Yes folks, it came to that. We bought it, might as well use it. Nuclear war was unleashed, at heart, by Yorkshiremen. 

"Well, our lass, that's a lovely bomb tha's made." 

"Ar, that it is. Shame Japan's nearly ready to surrender, our Pa. 'S probably not even needed, now."

"Well, let it of quick, love. Be a shame to waste it!"

"Boom!"

On a lighter note, I had a lovely dinner. Hiroshima is known for its Okonimiyaki, and I had cracking ones last night. Even better, having checked in alone I swiftly found new chums to head off with, and Okonomiyaki is good in a group. 5 of us sat round a communal hot plate and enjoyed watching our dinner being prepared, before successfully putting away shrimp, noodles, cabbage, cheese, squid and pork with our chopsticks. Yumsk! 

This morning I set the alarm for 6.50 in order to get breakfasted and all trammed up in time to get out to Miyajima. I had been faithfully informed by a dear friend that it was the best view in Japan. The clouds were not not onside, it was decidedly overcast and yet this charming island did not disappoint. The key feature of this island in the south of Hiroshima is the entrance gate to the Shinto temple, made in steel and set out in the water such that at high tide it seems to be floating. Well worth the visit.  It left me in a great mood to sit on the next shinkansen to Kyoto, wherein I write this, city of even more awesome autumnal leaf action and a zillion temples! The 96 minutes on the shinkansen was put to great use writing up this Sunday's sermon. I'm so excited about it, I get to start advent! I plan to post that up soon. If you see a long post with no pictures, that's it. 

Torii gate, Mirajima.

Autumnal leaves, temple, Kyoto.

Enough for now, more random musings tomorrow...

Cheese, beer, coffee.

Three things that are important to me.

If you had to live with just one, what would it be?
(Substitute tea if that's your caffeine of choice!)

For me, it's becoming clear that it's coffee, and I fit right in here in Japan. Cheese is scarce, pricey and rubbish, as you'd expect in a largely dairy free country where milk costs more than petrol.

That's me, trying a HOT can of coffee from one of the vending machines that are EVERYWHERE over here. It was surprisingly good. I've had many a cup that was much worse (old ladies and staffroom mellow birds, EW!). They love their coffee here, they really do.

By contrast, if coffee is acceptable and pervasive, beer and pubs is a different issue all together. Over here, bars are for drinking, hard drinking. Not for the first time it strikes me that British pub culture to be cherished as a rare and wonderful thing! Both in North America and Japan, public bars are places you go to drink, where the socialising is a side issue. Back in the UK, indeed, if Switzerland and France are anything to go by, in Europe, Pubs bars and cafes are places you go to socialise, and the drinking is a side issue.  Part of me thinks it's because our beer is so bloody good and worth enjoying properly, but then again it seems to be true in France where that's far from the case. I'm far from being an expert, I just know that, for me, pubs are one of the truly great things about Britain.

Over here in Japan, just like when I went to Romania with St Georges a couple of years ago, I've run into dry Christianity. With drinking-culture being so different, so damaging and un-wholesome, Japanese Christians don't drink alcohol, as a rule, and not waning to stand out, cause offense or damage the reputation of the family I'm staying with, I have't either. It's been good to see that I haven't really missed it. Does one good to go without, every now and then. I know I'll really appreciate it when I get home!

Still, it does make me ponder what I would do, If i were over here long term. How important is it to conform to the world's views, or the local christian world's views. After-all, Jesus loved a glass or two of wine. Should we, as Christians, be demonstrating the joy that can be found in all parts of creation, or is that just the selfish drinker in me talking? I also want to say what huge respect I have for missionaries, who don't always know exactly what they are giving up when they answer the call. I really hope God only calls me to places with decent pubs!

George Best, a biblical role model?!

"I spent 90% of my money on women, drink and fast cars. The rest I wasted."

I have a lot of Time for Belfast's favorite son, and I like to think St Paul would have appreciated the sentiments of this much quoted line.

...(pause for sharp intake of breath)...

Yes, I am saying that St Paul would have approved of a man dedicating his resources whole-heatedly to chasing skirt, getting drunk and driving around in fast cars, absolutely he would!





Alright, I admit it, I'm joking, but only a little.

Check this out:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2Timothy 4:7)

So what's the point? Am I referring to St Paul's legendary athletic abilities? Is he particularly proud of his top ranked for age placing in the Ephesus half marathon? 

No.

Don't be silly.

Paul knew he was near the end of his life. He knew the gig was up, the executioners would be coming for him soon. He wasn't worried. Elsewhere in his letters he writes of how he was ready to go, to move on up to heaven and be with his Lord. Death held no fear for him (although I can't believe he didn't quail at the method he knew was in store!). 

I can kind of get my head around this. I'm not there by any means, but I'd like to be there and I can imagine that a few more years walking with Jesus will see me gradually closer to that fearless point of view. What truly impresses me is the self-confidence Paul shows here, the certainty that he has done the best he can. Just like George, Paul worked out what he wanted from his life and he went for it. I'm not saying he was perfect; I know he can't have been. His own words tell us that! It's just amazing that, as Kipling put it, Paul seems to have filled the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run.

I don't think I do better than  30 seconds most days.

It's perhaps a little embarrassing, that as Christians, we need George Best to show us what commitment to a cause looks like. Surely our cause, our faith, our saviour means more to us that booze birds and cars did to George? I know most of us would say yes, but I don't know many who can honestly say that they only wasted 10% of the only real resource their creator gave them, their time to run their race for and with Him down here.

I'm trying to do better.

How are you doing?

I don't know about you, but I'm awfully glad for Grace!

Don't worry, keep trying, and keep praying, keep asking for help!

A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not 

discovered the value of life. Charles Darwin

奇妙な (Kimyōna)

奇妙な (Kimyōna) is as close as I can come to 'weird' in Japanese.

Here are a few more of the things I have noticed in my first few days here, some weird, some cool, some just 'things':

Both Victoria and my mother in law have a thing about facing the 'wrong way' when travelling. Forwards or nothing for them. Backwards motion leads to nausea! Well, here in Japan they'd be fine on trains. As the first train from the airport towards the Sinkansen connection pulled in I thought "Hello, that's odd; all the seats face the same way. When we pull out, we'll all be facing backwards. Vic would hate that!" I put the thought to one side and watched as a team of cleaners descended and tidied the train. When I looked back up from my kindle, lo and behold, all the seats were the right way round! They all seem to be on little foot-operated turntables, so everyone can face the direction of travel, or if they are so inclined, go backwards and be sociable with the row behind. Neat! One of the first things that made me think we should do likewise in the West!

When this first train appeared I tried to embark but was shooed off by the team of cleaners. When they had finished I was positively welcomed aboard by a lady who seemed to take immense pride in a simple job well done. Nice work, and nice work-ethic, team clean!

The trolley lady passed and I fancied a drink to go with the sandwich my lovely wife had made that I had saved for lunch. I asked what a typical Japanese drink would be and she recommended either hot or cold green tea. Pushing the boat out, I opted for the cold for ¥150, hoping I wasn't being ripped off (Turned out to be CHF2 or about £1.40). Over in Switzerland I've rather taken to the iced-tea and fancied that such a sweet and caffeinated beverage would be just the ticket. How wrong I was; this beverage was nothing like the liptonice I have become partial to, it was just cold green tea. I pushed on, not one to waste a drink, and eventually came to quite enjoy it, but I have decided that I definitely prefer my tea hot, as a rule. I had another cup today, hot, and it was entirely pleasant.

Passed my first Pagoda. Wow! What an elegant and surprisingly earthquake-proof building! 

EVERYONE has been super helpful and seems genuinely delighted with my frequent "'Arigato's (thank you). There is much gracious head bobbing and a real sense of politeness everywhere, something we could perhaps use a little more of. Heather, my hostess, tells me a story of two gaijin chatting in a Japanese bar. One here for 20 months, one for 20 years. The first gets lots of attention and is welcomed everywhere, the second, despite fluent Japanese, feels excluded. I have yet to see the latter position ( suspect a 3 week visit will not be long enough!) but have seen plenty of the former. Everyone was amused and delighted at my first Japanese lesson on Tuesday night at my inability to sit on the floor for long and my not knowing proper toilet-slipper etiquette. It seems they like their foreigners foreign!

Slippers: there are rules people! 

1. NEVER wear outside shoes inside!
2. Shoes off IMMEDIATELY inside door, while on bare floor
3. Socks do not touch floor
4. Step into slippers on inside flooring (wood or carpet)
5. Place shoes on bare floor, next to each other and ready to be stepped into, facing door
6. Failure to follow (4) leads to hostess doing for one
7. Eventuality of (5) leads to shame, dishonour, castigation or ritual suicide depending on, I suspect, value and filthiness of shoes
8. These slippers will be provided by hosts
9. DO NOT WEAR THESE SLIPPERS INTO THE TOILET!!
10. There are extra slippers provided in the toilet, use these for duration of visit
11. Leave your house slippers outside the toilet
12. When finished toileting, leave toilet slippers just inside door facing the right way for next visitor

Some of these rules might be useful, it certainly keeps a house clean! Perhaps Vic and I should invest in a whole box of guest slippers?

Anyway, enough for today, these sermons won't write themselves. 

Sayonara

Rob