christianity – Quinby

Cults and Words

I received a letter and a phone call from a relatively new convert to the 新天地 group, which is called Shincheonji Church of Jesus in English. Perhaps I’ll go into more details sometime in the future as to what this group believes and practices, but I want to concentrate on my interaction with the youngContinue reading “Cults and Words”

Freedom part 1

Well, i think i just told some people that I have a blog and then immediately did nothing for a while. Not a good strategy. Next Sunday, I need to speak on “freedom” for the message (I am speaking from 2 Corinthians 3:17), but even before that, I need to think over what exactly isContinue reading “Freedom part 1”

Intermarriage between faiths…

This will not be a long post, but should be the first post of quite a few. Here in Japan, and working in a Japanese church, one of the issues that the church is facing is in regards to the intermarriage between two people of different faiths. I am doing some reading right now inContinue reading “Intermarriage between faiths…”

Church arguments

I think a majority of church arguments stem from conflicts over how much weight a person is pulling, how much a person is doing and participating in the church’s endeavors. Depending on the church of course (I can’t imagine this being an issue in many Catholic churches). But often times protestant churches, especially here inContinue reading “Church arguments”

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)”

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).”

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”

Animal Management

Perhaps the most used image for the role of the so-called “pastor” in the Bible is that of a shepherd. And shepherds shepherd. They care for the sheep, feed the sheep, guide the sheep, watch out for the sheep, search for the sheep, and perhaps even lay down their lives for the sheep. I thinkContinue reading “Animal Management”