April 29th Already!?!

Sunday morning. I packed early, read my devotion and then thought for a while about how I was just now getting used to ~ ~ being 13 hours ahead of the east coast of the USA, being back in Japan, and being [somewhat] bilingual. Suddenly, [Now!], I will be heading home [to family~Sally, Mac, Mars, various pets and a lawn that desperately needs mowing, to work, to Orangewood and everything else]. I can't wait to be home, but I also have so many memories and a love [and respect] for Japan and the Japanese people. If only I had an eternity to do all of this [and, oh yeah, everything else on my list] . . . .

At the Stewarts (see picture), I put my bags in Sally Dangler's car and headed to Oyumino 'Live' for a bilingual service. There were 50 or 60 people for the service and I was able to talk with the sunday school class (also bilingual) and give a 10 minute devotional (Carol Iverson did the translation) before the church service. Then I had an opportunity to share my faith/testimony for about 5 minutes at the church service. What a blessing this week has been for me (Right now, I am picturing my family nodding their heads and saying 'amen to that'). [That, however, is another and completely different blog ~ which is not available for publication at this time.]

Any way, [heavy sigh]. Now it is time to go to Narita Airport and leave Japan. James Repp kindly offered to drive me to the airport [I think he must have drawn the short straw]. ON the way we stopped for lunch at a conveyor belt sushi shop on the way to the airport. The sushi are put on plates and then on a conveyor belt that goes around and around in front of the diners. When you [or I, in this case] see some tuna or other sushi that I want, I grab the plate. James tried to get me to try the kanemiso (crab brains), but I declined. The itty-bitty twin squids on sushi rice were quite delicious, however. After you're finished, the bill is tallied from the number of plates you pull off the conveyor belt (and at 90 cents for two pieces of sushi per plate, it is a bargain!). Yum.

On the way to Narita, I had a good visit with James, married to Joyce, they hail from Titusville [Florida]. After that, it was the usual airport stuff ~ check in, security, flight, customs!, etc. One odd thing about returning to the east coast is that I left on Sunday at 4:30 pm and returned to Orlando on Sunday at 9:00 pm (wow, only 4 and a half hours ~~ must be the jet stream (and that time zone thing)).

Now, a week later, back at home in Orlando, I have had some time to digest my trip a bit. I don't think this blog would permit me to use ll the megabytes necessary to write everything out, so I will leave you with just this ~~ Dan Iverson said it best: I was really there just to plow some hard soil and turn it a little. But I am hopeful that the Holy Spirit witll turn it to fertile soil for growth and a desire to know the Truth.

I wasn't there to reap the harvest, but just to plant a seed in that freshly turned soil ~ a seed of doubt. The seed is simply this ~~ that Darwinism and the theory of evolution has not explained and, in fact, can not adequately explain the origin of life and the diversity of life on earth; that there is something more; that there is something of infinite value and worth which is for us, and this is available to you (and me) through Christ.

Please pray that, through the Spirit, a seed might be planted in those who heard (and those who read) this and that the people who needed to hear (or read) this message might then be thirty to know the Truth.

In Christ,

Taylor

Saturday April 28th

How can I be leaving tomorrow!! [OK, I know the header is May 6th, but this blog is from my notes in Japan that date ~ I've been busy, ok?]

Well, Saturday was a general invitation to hear Taylor Ward talk about intelligent design which was advertized by "chirashi" or handbills. I spoke with about 30 people at Oyumino Chapel/multipurpose building. I am getting used to the program, but it takes a lot of energy to deliver it everytime. Once again, I was asked some deep questions. My translator, Shin-san was fantastic.

After the program, Sally Dangler, Shin-san and I went to lunch [I had nabe!!] before doing the program one final time at Honda (see picture). About 24 people heard it at Honda and I think it went well.

After the program, I returned to the Stewarts. They had a going away party/birthday party for Ai-san which was a great time of fellowship with the Chiba team.

Sigh! I still can believe I am leaving tomorrow.

Taylor

Impact

Friday was a busy day. There were about 37 people at the Ladies Luncheon at Oyumino chapel. I spoke for 90 minutes (well, I spoke for 45 minutes and my translator spoke for 45 minutes). Once again I was asked some very good questions. One Japanese lady came up afterwards and asked me what she should do about her junior high aged son who is being taught evolution in school. I said we have the same issue in the United States and that some of evolutionary theory where minor variations (like finch beak variations) are used as proof that evolution applies universally, but that Intelligent Design Theory points out some of the problems with Evolution/Darwinism trying to answer the 'big questions.'

After lunch I had a couple of hours to rest and then headed to Midoridai Chapel for "Impact" which is a weekly outreach for Chiba University students. Friday night was "Teiraward Night" [Taylor Ward Night]. I am hoping this will catch on with everybody as an annual event. Please remember that next April 27th as you celebrate Taylor Ward Night [or Teiraword Night].

The photo above shows the people subjected to (err, I mean, the lucky participants at) Taylor Ward night. I was able to give my presentation again with the translation done by Mr. Uchida (front right). The questions keep getting better every time I speak.

I was able to share my faith a little and tell people how Christianity is really different from all other religions and philosophies [[that is to say ~ all other religions and philosphies, at bottom, require that you to first "be" then you may "get" [first, 'be' a good person ~ or somehow 'be' "acceptable" to God or 'the infinite' or 'be' good enough to reach Nirvana" or "be" good enough ~ to break the cycle of causation"] then [and only then] can you "get" [acceptance with God or some other higher power to reach Heaven or Nirvana or . . .]]. But the God of the Bible, through Jesus Christ, crucified on the cross, turns this completely around [[first, you "get", then you'll "be"]]~ God loved us first, before we were ever worthy, before we were 'good enough' to be acceptable to God, and shows us that God, through Jesus offers each of us this incredible gift freely ~ that by taking into our hearts the understanding of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross for all men (and women), though not deserved, is ours through faith and understanding. We will be able to stand blameless before the Creator God.

Please keep praying for this mission.

Taylor

Time Flys

It is Friday morning as I write this (about 8:30 pm Thursday to you). Since I last wrote, I took the Stewarts and Sally Dangler out to a local Yakiniku restaurant Wednesday evening. You order the main course food uncooked and thin sliced meat and raw vegetables are brought to the table (along with cooked rice and miso soup) and the waitress lights the grill in the center of the table. You cook and eat as you go; it is delicious. Too bad we don't have this in America (people would burn themselves and then sue the restaurant for the dangerous conditions, I guess).

On Thursday, I left early to go the Chiba University and met with Professor Uchida, a Christian associate professor and gave my talk to his class of about 25 students (6 or 7 were Westerners, Canadian, Russian, German and ???). He teaches the course in English (and his English is perfect). In order to get my topic to be relevant to this economics class, he positioned the lecture about how culture (including religion) can have an impact on the economic and cultural worldviews with a focus on how "survival of the fittest" and other evolutionary concepts play out. I wish he had given me more time to prepare for that specific subject (I had about 15 minutes before class to think about it), because it is a huge part of the criticism of the non-biological impact of Darwinism (Social Darwinism, etc.). I think it went well and I was able to share some about my Christian faith in a more direct way. A few people did stay to talk after the class, so there was some interest. [Or, they were being polite.]

It is really exciting to watch people as they hear about intelligent design and have someone tell them that Darwinism doesn't answer the 'big' questions after all (How did we get here? And What is the purpose to life?). One student told me that just the day before another professor had mentioned 'intelligent design' in a class and that was the first time she had ever heard about it. She said she was grateful that I could explain about what it is and I gave her some web information and DVDs which would help fill in the information. I was thrilled. What a confirmation for me!

I then boarded a train to go to Tokyo and visit my brother-in-law, Robert (Sally's brother), who just moved to Tokyo from New York City 5 weeks ago. He treated me to Nobu's which is a fantastic 5 star restauant. The food was "Wow." He is in downtown Tokyo (Roppongi area) and lives and works in the same neighborhood (his commute is 2 elevator rides and a walk to the building next door). It beats the 90 minutes it took me to get back out to Chiba (standing up the whole way). Robert loves Japan and is having a great time.

Well, I am off to a Women's luncheon to give my presentation again and will then go back to Chiba University tonight for "Impact" which is a student ministry outreach. I can't believe it is Friday already!!! Just two more days here!

Well, as they say in Japan: "Gambaremasu!" [Be ever diligent in your efforts], so I am heading out (ever diligent in my efforts).

Keep praying for this mission please!!

Taylor

Ohayo Gozaimasu (Good Morning) [Tuesday and Wednesday]

Tuesday after talking with the students about intelligent design, I checked my work e-mails and posted the previous blog entry while at the school (using a Mac for the first time). [Please don't hesitate to leave comments, I'd love to hear from anyone who is actually reading this stuff.] Then I walked to the Honda train station and rode back to Kamatori. Next to Kamatori station is a department store, Jusco, so I headed to the top floor where the restaurants are ~ and had a delicious Tempura and soba lunch (aaahhhhh). Then I wandered around each floor, lingered long in the kitchen section and picked up a few Japanese things. Finally, I headed back to the Stewarts for a few hours. [Lisa was having a baby shower so I wanted to arrive after the party was over.]

Tuesday evening, I went to Sally Dangler's home for a bible study with 3 Japanese ladies and Timothy Bentson, a one year lay person helping with the college ministry. We read and talked about Exodus Chapter 25 and then I explained a little about (can you guess?) ~ intelligent design and Darwinism. Once again, my audience asked great questions. I really enjoy talking about this subject and everyone is either really interested (or they are being polite for my sake). Sally dropped me off at the Stewarts about 10 p.m. and I went right to bed and got about 7 hours of sleep (oh yeah).

Wednesday morning, Robert brought me back to Covenant Community School International (see photo ~ Honda Chapel is on the right and the new school building is on the left) for the monthly Concert of Prayer where all the team members join together for prayer and worship for 4 and a half hours. The students join in for the first 1/2 hours before starting classes. Praying and singing for 4 and 1/2 hours is not easy [for me], but the time flew by. Everyone stayed for lunch and I had a long coversation with Dan Iverson, the ex-marine pastor of Oyumino Church. Dan and his wife Carol are such special people; I know why my parents have always spoken so highly of them.

I was scheduled to go to Yokohama today (about 3 hours away by train), but that fell through, so I am taking my host family out to dinner tonight. I came back to the Stewarts and am doing laundry. I can use the domestic break, believe me.

I love walking through the neighborhoods, looking out the train and bus windows to catch glimpses of the homes and the carefully sculpted trees and gardens in the tiny front yards. It is spring in Japan now ~ the flowers are everywhere and it is beautiful. There are a lot of trees full of white, yellow, pink or purple blossoms. If you live in Florida like me, you don't see this kind of dramatic seasonal change.

Well, tomorrow is another day. Stay tuned.

Taylor

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Here is a picture from my train ride home last night (this was when the car was only about 1/2 full so I could move my arms enough to pull the camera out of my bag and snap a picture). I didn't want to use a flash (how rude) so the quality isn't great. The good thing is you can sleep standing up because there is not enough room to fall. The 8 people smashed against you will keep you vertical.

This morning I came to the church school to teach 7 of the junior high and high school students (mostly Iversons!). All in English, no simultaneous transaction necessary (yea!). I was also asked to do a short devotional at the start of the day to all the students, so I talked a little about 1 Corinthians (Chap 1 v. 20, 22-23 and Chap. 2 v. 6) and why I was here in Japan.

In case you are wondering what is the Intelligent Design Theory. Let me give you a quick definition; it is pretty modest really, but important.

Intelligent Design is the theory that certain features of the physical universe and/or biological systems can be best explained by reference to an intelligent cause (that is, the conscious action of an intelligent agent), rather than an undirected natural process or a material mechanism. It doesn't try to answer the who or why or how of the designer, just that there are 'fingerprints' in certain aspects of biology and cosmology that point to evidence of design (not random chance variations preserved only by natural selection).

So variations of finch beaks and antibiotic resistant super flu bugs are not an issue in intelligent design. That kind of evolution appears to happen. It is when the theory of evolution is extrapolated to say that the evolutionary theory fully and adequately answers the questions about the origin of life and the diversity of life that there is an issue.

Well, I am off to the next adventure.

Taylor

Return to ICU

Monday, April 23rd.

I had a meeting set at noon with Mr. Daiko Hata, a Presbyterian minister and professor at ICU (International Christian University) High School in Mitaka. The Stewart had to get their long term visa renewed and were leaving early, so they dropped me off at Kamatori Station around 8:15am.

I got to board a train to Tokyo during rush hour. It is quite an experience. Since I lived in Japan for a few years in the 1980s I knew what to do when the train pulled up packed with sardines (I mean people ~ on the way to work) ~ you turn around an back in. Whew! Made it. I thought maybe one or two more people would back in before we left. Well, twelve people later I was 4 feet from the door and could not move ~ anything. If your hands are down at your sides (like me) they stay there because there is no room to raise them.

2 hours later I was in Mitaka and took a 30 minute bus ride to ICU campus. I was a student there in 1982 and 1983 and the campus was about the same (a few new buildings and some paint here and there) except the trees were bigger (it was 25 years ago after all). I had plenty of time so I went to the book store and bought some t-shirts for the kids, wandered by the apartment I lived in with my parents when dad was teaching there and remembered what it was like then. Ahh, to be young(er) again.

Well I met with Hata Sensei. He kept calling me Sensei and I kept thinking who is he talking about. We drank green tea for a half an hour and then I spoke to 20 Japanese university students on the subject of intelligent design and darwinism. I think it went really well. Many of them were nodding their heads as I made various points and they asked some good questions.

Then, Hata Sensei and I walked over to ICU High School and I spoke to 11 high school seniors and three adults (teachers). They were also very interested and asked even better questions.

I am still jet lagging and need to go to bed so I am posting this. [More details later.] I will have time tomorrow to load some pictures too.

Stay tuned.

Taylor

Ready, Set, Go

Ready, Set - - -
Well, If you are reading this you must have received my e-mail. I am going to Chiba, Japan (near Tokyo) on Saturday, April 21st to give a seminar on Intelligent Design and Darwinism at a few universities, high schools and other groups over the next 8 days.

Go - - -

I left from Orlando Saturday morning, was delayed for 4 hours in Houston, got a few hours of sleep on the flight over and landed at Narita (Tokyo) around 5 pm Sunday (international date line and 13 hours from Houston) ~ as one tired zombie.

Sally Dangler and Linda Karner picked me up and took me to Lisa and Robert Stewart's home in Chiharadai. I met their kids, William and Isabelle (3 and 1) ~ they are so cute and friendly (see photo). I had a quick dinner with the Stewarts and Sally D to talk about the plans for the week.

Then off to bed.

Hopefully, the next posts won't be as boring as this one.


Taylor