Kaz is terrified of swings, yet he's trying really hard to smile for the camera.
Several who are familiar with our situation have suggested that we use common sense. These are well-meaning friends and family lovingly seeking to improve our bleak-looking circumstance. They are asking us to use the common sense that God gave us… and return to Hawaii.
To those of you who are joining us for the first time: Our current situation looks pretty bad when looking at our life over the last 9 months. I can’t really get too specific online as we’ve been counseled not to; you just have to take our word for it. Shoot me an email and I’ll bring you up to speed. It’s a bizarre tale that I’d love to post here soon.
What we see here is quite dire. We could go back to Honolulu and reclaim the easy life… Our common sense says we should. Often times our hearts say we should. This life has often been painful. We’d love to return to Hawaii far more than any of you would like to see us go back.
So if God gave us common sense, he expects us to use it, right? That’s what we’re being told. It’s not bad advice. I’ve given it often.
But what about the fish? The disciples couldn’t imagine feeding 5000 men with just two fish. Common sense says two fish don’t add up. Peter walked on water. What kind of moron gets out of his boat in the middle of a storm? And Joseph? Would you have married a girl that said she was impregnated by God? Seriously? It seems all the best stories are borne of people doing things that don’t make sense.
Miracles don’t seem to happen when we rely on our own common sense. I’d argue that faith requires us to put common sense aside and trust in what we can’t see. Believing stories in the Bible requires faith, but if our faith can’t get us to trust in something more than our own understanding, we might as well chuck our Bibles and cruise the easy life. If we say we believe the stuff, why not live like the stories are real?
In shirking our devotion to common sense, we’ve experienced quite a full life over the last several months. In some ways it continues to get worse, in others, we could never have imagined the awesome blessings.
So much of our common sense is self-preservation. What would our lives look like if we actually followed Jesus? To truly make Matt 22:37-39 a command above all else in our lives? Losing our lives… to find it (Matt 16:25). It’s not really about us, not about self-preservation. We’re not even close to following this, but we’re trying.
Yeah, I think common sense is sometimes over-rated. Or we’re just stupid. You pick. Either way, we’re living an adventure. Are you? Our old life looks quite mundane these days. There’s more joy in our lives now than there ever was before.
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I’ll share more of the adventure later as I shouldn’t now. It’s hard to maintain a blog when you can’t talk about major events in your life, but this will change soon. And I’ll answer the obvious question conspicuously left out above: “why are you even there?”
UPDATE: For those of you who think we’re completely insane, I thought I’d add that common sense isn’t always a bad thing in the absence of God’s direction.
since you are after the uncommon sense that is acquired supernaturally, God will also provide the common cents
I think I should give you log-in credentials so you can blog here as well.
Oh… common sense… I haven’t used that in years. LOL.
Yeah, you’re probably right. And so many people love you for it, V.
You know me, I don’t like “common” things. That would mean living like a commoner
Faith may not make “common sense,” but I think faith makes “sense” 
I enjoyed going to small group in your apartment last night
and I hope to come to Japan again, so you better be there!!! just jooking, sort of…shitsuree shimashita 
Who the HECK would want a common sense life…where’s the MIRACLES and SUPERNATURAL in something like THAT?
ROCK IT IN JAPAN!
Christ Ian?
If you’ve never stepped out of the boat, it’s hard to imagine walking on water.
God is, well, God. And He’s crazy about you. So I’d say common sense IS to do what He says and trust Him to take care of the rest. trying to do things on my own has only ever gotten me into some fairly depressing circumstances at best – therefore common sense says to chuck doing what doesn’t work (following myself) and do what has proven to have far more joy every time (following Jesus). it’s just “common sense”
I totally get that, but those advising me otherwise don’t seem to.
Common sense would have taken us out of Bangladesh after everything hit the fan. Happy to hear you’re fighting temptation to “use common sense” and hold dear to your hearts God’s promises to keep close and trust him, instead of hopping on the plane back home (though it would be cool to see you guys while we’re here). Your journey has been coming together, slowly, but this story is gonna rock people’s faith walks. Bless you guys for seriously hanging in there. We love you and are so proud of you. It will be clear when you get to move onto something else, and it’s a good feeling when you’re going against the grain because God is leading it all. We got your backs!
Oh Rachal… Any chance you’ll come through Japan on your way back? Stick around a few days? Man, I’d love to see you and Will and meet Kaimi. Thank you, thank you!!
A really beautiful teacher said in John 14
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me…And I will do whatever you ask in my name, sot that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.”
How does the Son bring glory to the Father? by doing whatever you ask for in His name
So, how do you help the Son bring glory to the Father? by asking for anything in the Son’s name.
How much more will He do what you ask for when you lay down your comforts to endure hardships for His love to be known.
He is with you guys and He is so proud of you. He is doing things for you. Yeah, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Creator of the Universe and all that lives and breathes, The definition of Love and Beauty, HE! IS! DOING! THINGS! FOR! YOU!!! He will never leave you or forsake you! You are His beloved and His banner over you is LOVE!
Oh how I wish I were there to lay hands and pray for you three and speak His love for you. Even now, I’m crying as I feel His passions for you. You must be reminded of these things. He is zealous for you.
Much Aloha,
Michelle
Wow, Michelle. You can come any time and lay hands on us. We need hands on us. I do hope that by the time you get here, you will be able to enjoy the completely awesome things that God has already begun here.
And I love that His “Banner Over Us Is Love”! Thank you for the reminder… we need it often.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
I love this blog – and this entry. Thanks for the reminder, Scott. I have seen the lives you have impacted on both sides of the ocean. Heck, I am one of them. Follow on, my friend.
I agree. I have seen lives impacted on both sides of the ocean, mine included. Since 1994, I have had a burden for Japan, but it got mo’ real cuz of you all.
And ours got more real because you showed up. Your presence here in spite of difficult circumstances moved us more than you know.
I think you only see the good things because you’re insane like us.
Can’t wait to have you back again! You and Monika were a powerhouse here!
Love you! Praying for you! God bless.
Thanks Elaine. It’s a blessing to have a veteran join us in our adventure. When are you coming back to Asia?
Common sense would have kept me faaaar far away from a nuclear reactor that just underwent a meltdown!
But I can honestly say from the bottom of my heart that that short month was the highlight of my life! Couldn’t have done it without you!
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God!
Man, you rocked GMC when you were here. They still ask about you when I go up there. I’m so glad you came, and I’m blessed that you were blessed. Seriously dude. Come back.
My coworker goes to Japan every summer. This summer he was going to go help with the relief. But, he has a friend in Tokyo who scared him out of it. So sad. I wish you were his friend instead
That’s weird. A friend in Tokyo scared him away? Give me his address.
lol…I hear ya
Great to hear your heart on this. Hard is not the issue-faith in what you can’t see is!
Press on you three!
Thanks Stan! See you next week.
Hmmm…so God showed me a vision for you about a month ago. I was trying to draw it out for you and send it but as I sat down literally with colored pencils etc. it became overwhelming. I find it interesting that God gives someone visions who can’t draw…Anywho, I can write well though, at least better than draw. So without further ado.
I saw a map of Japan like I was looking down on it. You were located in Tokyo and I saw all these colorful lines coming in and going out from your place. You were the Hub. Sorry I can’t remember the colors but there were initial lines drawn from HI to Japan when you and Michika and Kaz first came. Then I saw lines going out from your place back to Hawaii, up to the Fukushima area, back and forth from Korea, back and forth from the mainland U.S. And some lines going to S.E. Asia and Hong Kong/China. Some were coming in, some were going out.
The Lord wants you to realize that because of your obedience lives have been changed, lives have been saved, and connections have been made for the Kingdom. The price you are paying has produced much fruit and much glory. I am so happy that I saw your family that day in Shibuya Church delivering goods for Iwaki City and beyond. You all were just a mysterious contact somewhere in Tokyo that Jeannie said needed encouragement. Isn’t God good?!
I know people who only thought about going to Japan DID go because you give them a familiar place and face. Of course, the “set up” is when the people of Japan need help the most in all of history. I think that you are walking in pure common sense. The common sense of following the One, the only ONE who knows where He is going.
Love you guys incredibly and wish I were there. Be back next spring.
AMEN!