tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post2362439992553583186..comments2024-03-24T19:55:32.537-05:00Comments on The View from This Seat: The End of a Wonderful VisitLKSeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860725174433173015noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-15878831423288634762010-05-31T13:59:58.492-05:002010-05-31T13:59:58.492-05:00I was intrigued to see that the church was designe...I was intrigued to see that the church was designed by an associate of Frank Lloyd Wright. Baptists often downplay the importance of architecture, but it does still have an effect on us. This was illustrated recently at Second Liberty during Tom Sine's visit when a point was raised that Second seemed to have become a more warm and welcoming church over the last couple of years. Did we stop to think that this coincided with the remodeling of our church, and the opening of the new Welcome Center? My wife and I took our turn being greeters there this past Sunday, and it was a glorious experience!<br /><br />In ancient Israel, the exiles lamented, "How can we sing the Lord's song, in a foreign land?" As they found out, place and circumstance can be overcome, but not without difficulty. I rejoice that the people of the Mejirogaoka Church have had the opportunity to worship in such an inspiring setting.Craig Dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00033176451913108084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-64723748087821398152010-05-30T16:47:12.173-05:002010-05-30T16:47:12.173-05:00Enjoyed reading the blog..... I have always found ...Enjoyed reading the blog..... I have always found myself in the middle and feel strongly there is such a thing as "fundamentalist liberals". Looking forward to your forth coming book...Thanks... Leslie Taylor TomichekLeslie Taylor Tomichekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06966530659682545195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-21748947582784300242010-05-30T16:19:49.995-05:002010-05-30T16:19:49.995-05:00I made the following response to part of an e-mail...I made the following response to part of an e-mail received from a TF who is a former SB missionary to Japan.<br /><br />TF: "I had heard that the Renmei (Japan Baptist Convention, JBC] was in pretty bad shape financially. Is that true? I was glad to see you report on some churches that are alive and well."<br /><br />LKS: I did not hear a lot of specifics about the JBC, but it is probably true that there are serious financial problems. My former co-pastor, Okamura Naoko-sensei, was a JBC missionary to Singapore, and she wanted to continue working there but the JBC said they did not have the funds to continue to support her, so she had to come back to work in Japan (after five years)--and she was just installed yesterday as the new pastor of the Takarazuka BC. While I was in Fukuoka, I had a brief talk with Kato Makoto-sensei and Noguchi Tetsuya-sensei [a relatively young pastor who has just begun to work as the head of the missions department of the JBC), and they seemed quite "upbeat" and forward-looking. And I was encouraged to see churches like Hirao and Mejirogaoka, and I am sure there are others like them, as well as many others that are not doing so well.LKSeathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860725174433173015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-32109109305028671412010-05-30T15:46:10.684-05:002010-05-30T15:46:10.684-05:00The following comments were received by a local TF...The following comments were received by a local TF, and I do plan to get together with him for a chat soon. And I will be telling him how in my new book I make reference to "fundamentalist" liberals.<br /><br />"It has been fun reading your blogs from your trip to Japan, thanks for sharing your stories and your passion. <br /><br />"In today's bog you mentioned 'conservative (fundamentalist)' in your final line; if by 'fundamentalist' you mean an attitude of 'my way or the highway,' I would like to suggest there are just as many 'fundamentalist' liberals.<br /><br />"Let's get together and explore this idea when you get back."LKSeathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860725174433173015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-57887884305390246412010-05-30T15:40:34.109-05:002010-05-30T15:40:34.109-05:00I appreciate the kind words from an esteemed "...I appreciate the kind words from an esteemed "Thinking Friend" in south Missouri:<br /><br />"Thank you for sharing this wonderful return visit to Japan. You have been a significant part of God's working in that world, and I praise Him for leading you to what many consider an unimportant assignment. In visiting with a greatly respected fellow pilgrim a week ago, he reminded me that we often miss what God has for us because we are always looking for the "big" task we are to complete ... not understanding that there are so many 'small' tasks that are necessary to making a difference. You have both served God in a way I admire, and the summation of the 'big' and the 'small' is a wonderful unfolding of God's purposes through the Seats. Praise God!"LKSeathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860725174433173015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-89798327810943765222010-05-30T06:34:19.893-05:002010-05-30T06:34:19.893-05:00I applaud your message and your continued mission ...I applaud your message and your continued mission to Japan. It is a tragedy that you were asked to retire for issues related to fundamentalist fear when you have so much that you could continue to offer to the people of Japan. Have a safe trip back. I thought of you as I was in Tokyo today (now back in Niigata).Gregory Hadleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09356963573996529946noreply@blogger.com