Teaching a Christian Worldview

It's Sunday morning here in Karuizawa. It's been raining steadily all night and now all through the morning as well. I just glanced at the weather forecast for the week and it looks like more of the same for the next several days. The temperature has definitely cooled over the past few days. The high today will be in the mid-60's. That means sweaters or sweatshirts! The house we are living in contains about 800 square feet. It was built as a summer home, so the insulation does not provide for keeping the house cool in the summer or warm in the cooler months and winter. So we are literally "gearing up" for lower temperatures even though it is only the end of September.

The emphasis at SYME last week was on learning a Christian worldview. I wrote chapel and evangelism class lessons based on the 17-point Framework for Understanding the Kingdom of God and on the teaching I've done in the past on Genesis 3:15. It was exciting to see the "light bulbs" go on in the hearts and minds of several students. One of our students is an older lady named Mary. Mary does not fit the typical SYME student profile, but she is such a blessing. She is soaking up the teaching from God's word and obviously growing. She has taken a special interest in the 17-point Framework.

As part of the emphasis on a Christian worldview, we are also discussing new ways to evangelize in Japan using a worldview message. The basic message of the gospel as summarized by verses such as Romans 10:9 and 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 or by tracts such as "The Four Spiritual Laws" is not easily understood by the average Japanese person. They also have little motivation to take an actual interest in Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven based on what we might call "only the middle" of the Bible's story. So we are looking for ways to engage Japanese people with the broader story of what God has done and is doing and will do in the world. It's been good to stretch ourselves in this way.

We are missing everyone at Hamilton Hills! Thanks for praying for us! We are praying for you as well and hope to connect again soon via Facetime or with an audio/video report.