Adair Update Preparing to Serve in Northern Japan

casting vision

A month or two back, Robert and I spoke at a kids Sunday school class. We were asked to speak about Japan and missions and calling. We were cool with it – thought we’d sing a song, play a game, teach the little tykes a few phrases, and impart some pretty significant spiritual wisdom.

We thought we’d talk about Psalm 46:10b: “I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.” I wrote it out on the board in English; Robert wrote it out in Japanese. We later passed out a handout to the kids on some nice light blue cardstock as a little souvenir. As we were wrapping up, the Grownup asked us to clarify what “exalt” means. Robert said something like, “Er – to honor. Yeah, God will be honored…” I said, “To lift up! God will be lifted up among nations” (and then felt a little dopey. Really, what does that mean? If kids really are pretty literal, what kind of definitions were we giving?).

The Grownup, kindly and excitedly, suggested that the term means “to be made famous! Picture with me – our wonderful Creator God and Savior will be made famous all over the earth!” Robert and I were like “Yeah! What she said!”

Then, after I babbled a little prayer at the end, the Grownup stepped up again. She looked at the kids’ faces and shared with them her desire to see many, many Japanese people before the throne of Jesus worshiping him. She did an awesome job painting the picture in Revelations 4 and 5. She said that, right now, very few Japanese people will be there, but that God’s desire is that everyone know and praise him…and we need to do whatever we can to pray and to work towards Japanese people hearing about, following, and worshiping God!

The kids’ nodded their heads, and Robert and I were both excited and humbled. This Grownup who had never been to Japan did some serious vision casting! Talk about influence and conviction!

Life verse

When I was a kid, I went to a Christian camp.  One of my first years there (was I 9?  10?), my cabin counselor had us decorate construction paper with our names on it to put by our bunks.  She also had us write our answers to a few invasive questions.  These included, “How many brothers and sisters do you have?” and “Do you have any pets?”  The real humdinger for me was, “What is your life verse?”  Life verse?  At 9 years of age?  Sure, I had memorized a few verses, but I was totally confused by the question so I just made one up.  Luke 2:2.  Later in the week, we made cards during arts and crafts.  Some of the cool kids were writing their life verse references in their cards.  I followed suit (peer pressure!)…and I think I confuzzled my mother a bit.

Although it hasn’t exactly been a source of encouragement during dark and lonely times, it has since provided a little chuckle every year for my family when the Christmas story is read.  Luke 2:2 states: “(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)”  It’s in parenthesis.  That’s how uninspiring it is (unless you’re intrigued by governors of Syria…but who isn’t these days).

Flash forward to a department “retreat” with the Intercultural Studies peeps at Wheaton College.  I got there a bit late and was handed a 3×5 card and told to answer a few questions…including the ol’ “life verse” question again (you’d think I’d find a really good one by now – something to make me look like a real Christian or something).  Stumped again.  I’m ashamed to say that I copied someone else’s card.  I don’t remember who the person was, but when I was asked during forced mingle time, I piped up, “Psalm 46:1!”  The person (a professor, drat first impressions!) asked me why I chose this particular verse.  I stammered until he told me what it was and someone else (whew!) joined us.

The funny thing is, although I still wouldn’t call Ps. 46:1 something so profound as “my life verse,” it has been a pretty significant source of encouragement and conviction for me this year (more on that here on the last page of this month’s newsletter).  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”  Although perhaps I was dishonest the first time I shared why this verse was significant to me, now I’m sincere.  And I think my mother would approve of this one.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Tyler Texas.  Roberta and I moved out of our home of almost a year and a half in the Wheaton area on Tuesday afternoon and made the drive south with a canoe on the roof and trailer in tow over two days.  (see photo here)  Our last night in Wheaton we had the chance to spend the evening with our small group from church.  It was hard to say goodbye, but we look forward to seeing them next time our paths cross.  Anyway, time to get back to preps for Christmas around my parents home.

Merry Christmas

(Thanks to Joy Lewis for taking the photo)

She’s making pretzels