Candle - The Maccabeats!

Thanks to Theological Scribble

Till Next Time!

Mary's first Christmas

Introduction to Japanese

A friend of mine has just told me that she is off to Japan with OMF this summer and asked if I could direct her to some helpful resources to learn Japanese. After writing the message I realised that I actually amassed quite a list so I thought I'd reproduce an (abridged) version here.
がんばってください (Try your best!)

I suggest the following for introductory phrases and words:

1) Japanese pod 101
You need to sign up to use it but the basic package is free. It's absolutely fantastic. These are the best Podcasts I've come across. Added bonus is that they are also on itunes so you can search for and automatically download (if you wish) all their past pods.

2) Learn Japanese pod
Another great podcast site. They are also a little more fun then 101 I think, so are easier to listen too, although not always as clear.

3) Speekit
This is very much like Rosetta stone but better and MUCH cheaper. There are tons of free lessons which should see you through but its really cheap to sign up if you find it helpful.

4) Byki
Great flash-card site. Pick a category and work though vocab. Check star rating though as some of them are wrong :S

5) About.com
All the 'about.com' pages seem really good, especially for learning vocab

6) All about teaching English in Japan
These are actually classroom phrases but will help when working with kids, or if you are going out as a teacher! Phrases like 'quiet please' and 'please sit down' will become your friend!

7) Google video (Gestures)
Gestures can be really helpful when you don't know the phrase. Be careful thought as some that we use in the UK are rude in Japan! (like 'come here')

8) Kids Web Japan
A great introduction to Japanese for those that have never come across any before.

That should be enough to keep anyone going for a short term mission or a holiday but for those a little more serious about learning I have a few more recommendations:

1) These websites all use/include Romaji which is Japanese in Roman letters. If you are just learning for a short trip this is ok but if you plan to carry on please, please, please learn kana (the 2 basic alphabets). For example 'Easy Japanese' will help you both read and write the characters. It will make your life a lot easier in the long run and make words make a lot more sense. Leave Kanji alone for a while though!

2) I recommend this book: Japanese for Busy people I: kana version

3) I recommend taking a course. All the book learning is great but it's hard to learn when you have no-one to practice with.

4) Anyone with a Nintendo DS (whichever version) can also use it to learn Japanese. I recommend 'My Japanese coach'. Of course you can use this for basics but it goes all the way through to intermediate level. Added bonus is it's great fun!

Happy learning,
Till Next Time

This is what happens if you misread Song of Songs

FYI Song of Songs is NOT an analogy for Jesus and the church.



Till Next Time!

Inter-Religious Dialogue

Over at 'A Thinking Reed' blog they have posted on 'Stendahl's Rules'. They are a set of three rules attributed to Krister Stendahl, meant for use with inter-religious dialogue. Supposedly they were formulated when he had dialogue regarding the building of a Mormon temple. The rules are:

(1) When you are trying to understand another religion, you should ask the adherents of that religion and not its enemies.

(2) Don't compare your best to their worst.

(3) Leave room for "holy envy." (By this Stendahl meant that you should be willing to recognize elements in the other religious tradition or faith that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith.)

Whether the are actually his or not I think these are a great place to start. Too often Christians go in all guns blazing trying to force Christ upon non-Christians and beat them into submission rather then acting with grace and as 1 Peter 3: 15-16 states; "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." (My emphasis)

I think that Acts 17: 16-24 is a great place to start in understanding a Christian response to other religions. Here Paul seems to do at least two of Standahl's rules. Here Paul is evangelising to the Athenians including Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who wished to know more so invited him to share. Here we see a genuine interest in communicating from both sides, rather then Paul just shouting at random people. Paul has, before this interaction, studied the iconography of the city (TO AN UNKNOWN GOD and studied the poetry of its adherents (Rules 1). I think it's not too much of a stretch to assume that Paul had learnt this from adherents and also since he uses it positively that he is using their best to compare with Christianity (Rules 2). For Rule 3 we need to move away from Paul and see that when Paul talked of the resurrection some of the philosophers stayed open (although it was contrary to their beliefs, and asked to hear more on the subject.

I'm not suggesting that we copy exactly what Paul did as he worked within their culture, (As Verse 21 says, "All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas"), but the concept are there I think.

With that said I think we need to add one more rule:

4) [Do not be] "ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Rom 1:16).

Too often with inter-religious dialogue it seems that if people aren't at each others throats they are so concerned with finding similarities that they are ashamed, or at least refuse, to share the things which are unique and in the Christian case that is the good news that can save. What is the point of Inter-religious dialogue? I can only see two:

A) Bring about/ keep peace between differing groups

B) Evangelise

I believe both parts are important and all 4 rules are needed for a base point to achieve the purposes of inter-religious dialogue.

Till Next Time!

Things I love in England

Those who know me know at least 2 things about me:
1) I live in the south of England and work for a church.
2) I love Japan and that is where my heart too often is.

The last few weeks I have been feeling home sick. The problem is that I feel like my home is Japan, not in England. Being that God has blessed me with such a great community and a wonderful job I feel that I need to ground myself here a little so below I am going to make a list of things that I love about England especially, but not exclusively, those that I won't get in Japan. (Not in any particular order)

1) Good Indian tea.
2) Good coffee.
3) Good cheese.
4) Having a conversation where I can express myself properly.
5) Fully understanding the culture and rules that come with it.
6) A 'Christian' culture even if it's mostly nominal.
7) Plenty of churches and Christians to interact with.
8) The loving community at St. Peter's, Woodmansterne.
9) My family which I so often take for granted but are important to me.
10) The NHS.
11) A rent-free house. (Or more generally, affordable rent)
12) Easy access to good books
13) Christian conferences and meetings
14) Pubs with British ales
15) Bread which doesn't make you think of marshmallows
16) Sandwiches that aren't made with fruit and cream :S
17) British humour
18) Friends
19) Multi-cultural society
20) English comedy

Please feel free to comment about that things you love about the UK below.

Till Next Time!

Let's Love Japan!

Some of you may remember my post 'Wadaiko X Black Gospel Fusion' where I shared a video made by Paul Nethercott over at 'Worship and the Arts' blog. Well, praise the Lord, he's at it again. Please check out 'Let's Love Japan' where they are trying to reach the Japanese with the good news of Jesus through entertainment media including the 'Mobile Site Initiative!™'. A new Christmas video trailer had just been released and I for once cannot wait to see the whole thing. I can't repost it so please go here to watch it. I promise you won't have wasted your time.

Till Next Time!