The Bucket List

Although I'm rather fond of Morgan Freeman, I'm not really a big fan of Jack Nicholson... and I'm also addicted to happy endings. So I wasn't exactly jumping up and down to watch "The Bucket List". But my husband just kept talking about it, and talking about it, .... and talking about it. So 2 weeks ago we finally watched it!

"The Bucket List"

Its worth talking about it.

And so we probably will talk about it - at the August 5-8 Living English Camp this summer. I made up the ads today. If you know anyone who wants to study English as a Second Language in a beautiful setting with lots of good food... tell them to apply HERE.

God's Grace

Grand daughter Grace playing at OMF Conference

(Another ChoungSung Chung photo)

I've been thinking about Grace as well.

Paul says "In [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."

I like that... the riches of God's grace that He LAVISHED on us.

Have Faith in God

With our Son's daughter, Faith

(The credit for this lovely photo goes to ChoungSung Chung)

I've been thinking about one of our OMF mottos all week - HAVE FAITH IN GOD. I like that way better than "the speediest possible evangelism of East Asia's millions" which I'm not sure fits in with biblical ideas of God's view of time!

On the other hand "Have faith in God" comes straight out of the Bible ... Jesus said, "Have faith in God." And the Apostle Paul said, "So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me."

That's the motto I'm going to hang on to this year.

Did I take photos?

Grace and Yuko at Matsushima

Did I take photos of the conference?

No, of course not! But I did take photos of the Elliots on the Matsushima boat trip during the free time on Tuesday.... sigh.... I suppose that's better than nothing! Matsushima was lovely. And time together was a gift from a kind and loving Heavenly Father. (More photos - if you look quick before the link goes dead!)

Another Tak Teaparty

Tak Tea Party

(More photos - this link will only work for a week or two)

This year the OMF East Japan Field Conference was in Shichigahama and so we Elliots (Son's family of 4, husband, Daughter #3 and I) stayed at out at Takayama. We've had a lot of tea with friends this week but the best was yet another Tak Tea Party after the Conference ended on Thursday afternoon.

There's nothing quite like a good cup of tea (or coffee) with good friends.

At last!

John, Laurie & Mary Elliot (with Yae)

I just thought I should report that last week we finally got that van we've been praying for so long... and I am VERY HAPPY!

Some One Should Have Told Me... I'm Telling You

In Ajigasawa Church we have a mission story before the sermon every Sunday. Hymnwriters, famous Japanese Christians, missionaries from Japan, missionaries to Japan... lately we've been talking about Ernst Vatter of the Liebenzell Mission.

Today is probably wrapup for Mr. Vatter and I think I'm going to re-iterate the advice his mentor gave him at the beginning of his Christian life:

"There are two things I want you to know," Willie began. "They are so important I will repeat them many times.

First, if you are going to be a Christian, then be a wholehearted one - committed 100 per cent. Otherwise, don't do it. just drop it. Decide now to pay any price necessary to follow Jesus Christ. Hold nothing back. God will lead your life."

"Second, whatever crosses your life's path will always be something that the Lord has either caused or allowed in order to fulfill His purpose for you. Remember that as long as you live."

EVERY trial. EVERY test.

Smelling the flowers

Daughter # 1 thinks her daughter takes after me...

Erin ... smelling flowers

「きゃ〜」という奇声とともに走って行った先は…お花でした(^^;) そして、一生懸命匂いをかいでいました〓 エリオットばあばの血筋かな…

I think we all need to smell the flowers! (Afterall, what did God put them there for?!)

Breakfast Conversation

We Elliots still believe in the old fashioned family dinner table. When home we eat all our meals together and conversation ranges far and wide and often the table is stacked with encyclopedia, books, magazines and sometimes even my computer before we're done.

Yesterday morning Daughter # 3 ventured that she had a problem with King David's wives, I rejoined with my reservations concerning the romance between the Emperor and Xiaolongxia in Diao Man Ghon Zhu , we then moved on to the difference between mistresses and concubines (an example from our acquaintance was brought in) which of course needed to be checked out but the encyclopedia didn't have "concubine".... and somehow we moved on to the difficulties Lenin's wife faced, and I don't know how we got to Mao Zedong.

We ended with Ozymandius.

OZYMANDIAS

I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said - "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stood in the desert. ... Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk in a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that fed them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings,
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away."
- Percy Bysshe Shelley

Rereading

Some books are for a season and some are more like good friends. Some of my best friends are Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" and Jung Chang's "Wild Swans".

I'm not sure yet how to rate J.P. Moreland's "Love Your God With All Your Mind" ...

J.P. Moreland's "Love Your God With All Your Mind"

... but it's definitely worth another round and I started rereading last week. There are so many quotable passages but this bit really scratched where I'm itching:

Traditionally, tolerance of other viewpoints meant that even though I think those viewpoints are dead wrong and will argue against them fervently, nevertheless, I will defend your right to argue your own case. Just as importantly, I will treat you with respect as an image bearer of God, even though your views are abhorrent to me.