Our man in Japan

 Trying to educate stupid people is a waste of time. Proverbs 16:22 Japan is an interesting country to visit, but I wouldn't recommend a teaching career here. The people who actually want to learn English are a tiny minority. You end up with a lot of students who are far more interested in belittling foreigners than really learning anything. 

 Learning about God.. Proverbs 2:5 God is Trinity. 

 He made the sun & the moon; his love is eternal; the sun to rule over the day; his love is eternal.. Psalm 136:7-8 Extraordinary long days now, but very soon they will be getting shorter. It grieves me that so many scientists these days fail to give credit where it is due. 

 Your commandments are all trustworthy.. Psalm 119:86 Jesus talks about building on rock, or sand. We need to build our lives on something solid, like the Bible. If we are building on popularity, or wealth, or a significant other, or status, or fame, or any kind of hedonism, there is likely to be crash sooner or later. So many political figures and human leaders are not totally trustworthy. But God is totally worthy of our trust. 

 The proud are always scornful.. Psalm 119:51 Pride is a deadly sin. One of the most deadly sins. But these days there are people who foolishly think it is a good thing.

 Enable me to speak the truth at all times.. Psalm 119:43 Which truth have I been suspended for this time, Twitter? For saying Hamas is a terrorist organisation? Or for saying God created the rainbow? Please let me know! 

 They killed those innocent children, and the land was defiled by those murders. Psalm 106:38 Abortion is murder. 

 From the sky you send rain on the hills, and the earth is filled with your blessings. Psalm 104:13

 As far as the east is from the west, So far does he remove our sins from us. Psalm 103:12 The furthest East I've been in my life is Tokyo Disneyland which is actually east of Tokyo in Chiba. I'd like to go further. But when you get to Hawaii are you further East, or have you reached the West? The furthest West I've ever been is a tiny island off the west coast of the Dingle peninsula in Western Ireland. Now believe me, this is only half the globe, or thereabouts, but it's a heck of a long way, and western Ireland is culturally a heck of a way from Tokyo. But God's grace is available in both places. 😇

 The gods of all other nations are only idols, but the LORD created the heavens. Psalm 96:5 This is the kind of thing that doesn't go down well in a pluralist multicultural society, like the UK. It doesn't go down well in syncretic societies like Japan either. I know quoting this verse isn't likely to make me popular anywhere, but the fact is, it is true. Look at the list of Nobel Prizes if you don't believe me. Christians & Jews dominate the list. 

 You made summer & winter Psalm 74:17 ☁️ It is cloudy today, thank God, but still warmer than an average day in May in London. We are having a lot of rain this week, but pretty soon the heat will get more intense. Can't say I love Kyushu in high summer. I'm from cooler Northern climes. Still, God undoubtedly knows what He is doing. And it has to be said Kyushu in spring & autumn generally has nicer weather than the UK. 

 All their strength & skill was useless. Psalm 76:5 Man, what a game! I love postseason sports. Steph Curry scores nearly 40 points against Le Bron's Lakers and it wasn't enough. Tied till the last minute of the game, James gets the final 3 pointer. 🏀 Both Christians I understand. 

I will praise your power, Sovereign LORD.. Psalm 71:16 A lot of people these days don't see the point of singing hymns in church. Here in Japan karaoke is popular, church is not. But although singing pop songs can be fun, lyrics are important. Are we reminding ourselves of a love affair that didn't work out, fantasizing about one that hasn't happened? Or reminding ourselves of the truth that God always has been, is now & always will be totally Sovereign, totally in control. And that's a good thing because God is good, all of the time.❤

 O God, it is right for us to praise you in Zion. Psalm 65:1 Most Jews don't realize Jesus is the Messiah. Muslims don't realize Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus said: Blessed are the peacemakers. 

 I will sing about your strength ; Every morning I will sing aloud of your constant love. Psalm 59:16 Who doesn't love music? But let's face it, something is deeply wrong with the pop industry. Now I love pop music as much as the next guy, in fact probably more than the next guy. But all too often, the lyrics of pop songs are not great. Sometimes banal, sometimes downright diabolical! Many Christians refuse to listen to secular music entirely, and I can't blame them. Pop in the English speaking world is getting so bad, a Korean boy band is now one of the biggest groups on the planet. Am I merely an old fuddy duddy? No. Only yesterday the Daily Mail reported on serious allegations of abuse in the British music industry, and this has happened in the US also. And Japan/Korea. So be careful who you make rich. And think about what you listen to. Is it true? Is it good? Or is it merely popular? 

 But you, O LORD, are always my shield from danger.. Psalm 3:3 I love the Psalms. Seriously, if you have never read them, it is time you did. My dad, deeply distraught after the death of his wife, my mother, who wasn't a religious man for most of his life, finally found hope & comfort in the Psalms in the dark depths of his bereavement. Even tho we may lose people we need and love, God hasn't lost them. He knows exactly where they are. ⛅️  

 Out of the storm the LORD spoke to Job: .. Were you there when I made the world? If you know so much, tell me about it. Job 38:1,4 Willing to bet good money that the Guardian journo mocking a Northern Irish Unionist pol today for being a Creationist doesn't have a PhD in either biology, cosmology nor geology. Or anything, probably. 

 Sulphur is sprinkled to disinfect.. Job 18:15 Job is one of the oldest books of the Bible, written thousands of years ago, and yet it still talks about disinfectant. I'm no chemist, how does sulphur compare with hand sanitizer? 

 [God] makes nations strong & great, but then he defeats & destroys them. He makes their leaders foolish, & lets them wander confused and lost. Job 12:23-24 Why do I think of Biden when I read this? 

 Isn't my life almost over? Job 10:20 So, in Japan there's always the possibility of a dire earthquake at any time, though here in Fukuoka in over 20 years here the earthquakes I have experienced have been relatively mild. And of course every time you cross a road a Toyota might get you.   At age 51, I joke with my wife that we are halfway to a hundred, but in actual fact as the Bible states most don't make it much past 80. Though I would like to talk to an actuary: the older you get the more you are likely to succumb to health issues, but the more you have survived all the random violence of youth. 

 Is not all human life a struggle? Job 7:1 Even the very rich are not safe from cancer or tragedy. 

 You talk like a foolish woman. Job 2:10 I see half of Scotland is still in ❤ with wee Nicola. 

 I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I leave. Job 1:20 You really can't take your nice house, nice car, nice wife with you. 

 Dejected & completely humiliated.. Esther 6:12 It's early, but it is looking like Labour has had another bad night across the UK. Is any one surprised, apart from diehard Labour activists? Kier is not the man to lead the UK, he is woke instead of having common sense, and a reshuffle won't be enough. Why would he expect millions of Christians across the UK to vote for him when he clearly cares more about trans rights than ordinary working people? 

 Haman's wife, Zeresh, & all his friends suggested, Set up a sharpened pole that stands 75 feet tall, & in the morning ask the king to impale Mordecai on it.. Esther 5:14 Just because all of the people you know agree on something doesn't mean they are right.

 If I must die, I must die. Esther 4:16 We all die sometime. If Covid doesn't get you, cancer might. No one gets out of here alive. 

 Haman sat down to drink.. Esther 3:15 I love a drink. British pubs are great! But I learned my lesson. After having 6 pints of Guinness one night and throwing up outside my best friend's house, I have never made that mistake again. Now I drink in moderation. If you are frequently throwing up after a drinking session, it isn't cool. It's not macho. It's foolish, and you have a problem. Go to AA. It's just as nice to meet friends in a coffeeshop. You may think you need a drink to be popular & fun, but you don't. Beer ads are fantasy not reality. 

 After Xerxes anger had subsided, he began thinking.. Esther 2:1 People in 2021 often think the Bible has nothing to do with them. But although tech has changed a lot over the centuries, people haven't changed. Human nature is the same. Today I read a older man here in Fukuoka decided to tell a young man to wear a mask on the street. He is probably now regretting that choice because the young man on holiday from Osaka punched him. Needless to say Japanese plod took a dim view. But here's where the Bible comes in. If either of them had thought first before letting their anger have sway, they both would probably be having more fun this evening. Easy to say though. I have a lousy temper myself. 

 Women everywhere will begin to depise their husbands.. Esther 1:17 So a 25 year old woman has been arrested this week in Japan for poisoning her rich 70 something husband. Many women will probably see her as a ruthless golddigger, while some may feel the old fool had it coming.   Meanwhile in this opening of the book of Esther, the age old battle of the sexes is taking an early turn about 500 years before Christ. I personally feel some sympathy for Queen Vashti who refuses to parade herself in front of her hubby's pissed friends. But let's face it we live in an age which justifies pride in women and mocks any idea of obedience to husbands. My advice to young men: if she refuses to obey you she ain't wife material. Why set yourself up for 40 years of being undermined? 

 The Book of the Law of Moses.. Nehemiah 8:1 So Twitter blocked me for "hate" speech. What you may ask did I do that was so hateful? I quoted Moses on bestiality. There are people in Silicon Valley it seems that are anti Moses and pro bestiality. God have mercy on California because it seems they have completely lost their way.