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Usopp and One Piece

Recently I was reading an article about how anime has become more and more pervasive in the West and thought that I could shoot off some of my thoughts on some subjects around this from time to time. I was born in 1984 and anime was a small part of my early life, much largerContinue reading “Usopp and One Piece”

Back at it (Holy Spirit)

So after not writing on the blog for sometime, this October I should be a bit more faithful with my writing. While there are a number of topics that I could, and later will touch on…why not talk about the Deftones and the Holy Spirit (an unlikely combination!) So, for those who do not know,Continue reading “Back at it (Holy Spirit)”

Living in historical places

I’ve lived in Japan now for over 16 years, half of it being in the Kanto (Saitama) region, and now the other half being in the Kansai(Hyogo) region. While living in Saitama, Japanese history often seemed to be a bit more removed from my actual day to day life. I lived in Souka草加 (famous forContinue reading “Living in historical places”

How we connect with God (and how we might block these channels).

At my church I have been giving a series of talks on the basic Christian life, and through studying and preparing for the second talk, spiritual habits, I came to some important discoveries that I think are both helpful for my own personal life as well as when I have a chance to teach. ThereContinue reading “How we connect with God (and how we might block these channels).”

R.E.M.’s greatest album (in my opinion).

Fables of the Reconstruction, R.E.M.`s third album has sometimes been deemed as a weaker effort, but the tone and atmosphere of the whole thing seems to go beyond the individual songs to create something that is akin to a painting or a picture. It’s rustic. Weathered. Sorrowful. Lonely. Longing. It is the wooden fences thatContinue reading “R.E.M.’s greatest album (in my opinion).”

One form of homesickness

So today I met a lady who had lived near Albany, NY (Troy) for sometime and suddenly my memories of my grandparents and aunt, the summers and Christmases that were spent there….all came flooding back. My grandparents have been dead for sometime and I myself can’t even get back to the states right now (it’sContinue reading “One form of homesickness”

Who we are affects what we build…

All to say that it is hard for us to build something that does not reflect who we are. I can hold so many learned ministry skills and accomplish and build much, but if my heart is full of pride or bitterness, whatever is built carries with it those sins (to an extent). That mightContinue reading “Who we are affects what we build…”

Very quick thoughts on Japanese theology…

Now, even as I write the title, I am aware of the danger of classifying something as “Japanese theology”, while I implicitly believe that there is no American theology or European theology…just theology. All theology is context bound, though that does not mean that all theology is incorrect or relative. But reading Kitamori’s “the BibleContinue reading “Very quick thoughts on Japanese theology…”

Meandering about Church Life in Japan

This probably could be labeled as a “part 1” since there are likely to be many more to come after. But in thinking through about what kind of church God finds pleasing, maybe I have a finger on one problem that the faces the church in Japan. Like all things, most strengths are also weaknessContinue reading “Meandering about Church Life in Japan”

Pikmin and management

Perhaps when writing a blog, a person can focus on a certain niche or subject and write a lot about that, which is probably helpful for the blogger as well as those who can read multiple articles on the same subject. The other way a blog can be done is with the focus on theContinue reading “Pikmin and management”