Recent Pics to tell a story.

On Saturday Abbie and I caught up with Yukiko, an
exchange student who studied with Abs in Masterton

One of the snow covered villages we spotted on our recent
snowboarding adventure.

Kunizakai Ski Park

Tim and Abs in matching jump suits.

With Steve a lovely Kiwi guy we've met here in Japan.

Hitting Karaoke sometime last year.

We emerged after 5 hours of fun :-)

Checking our the street illumination on New Years Eve.

Tim rocking his cosy penguin slippers.

Takoyaki Party with Mika (in pic) and Sanae

The power of simply asking questions...

So in amongst other things this year, I've spent some time thinking about what it means to be a disciple. The twelve guys that Jesus called to be his followers, were known as Jesus' disciples.


I'd be happy to be known a a disciple of Jesus, but what does that mean. Jesus was born into a society that had a culture of discipleship, understood what it was to be a disciple, what it involved. We, especially in the western world, haven't got the same understanding of it.


In my thinking, I came to about four things (no doubt their is more) I think it involved. Observing Jesus doing stuff, doing stuff with Jesus, asking Jesus questions and being asked questions by Jesus. I think each of these are keys to learning, but what struck me about this was mostly the questioning thing (asking). 


There's people in our lives that we might consider mentors or advisers, and in the past I've treated it like school, where they determine the curriculum and I simply pay attention. But I'm learning how to ask more (and better) questions. Asking questions is the quickest way of learning what we want to know. Figuring out what we want to know is sometimes the hard part.


Jesus said, "ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened." Little kids who are starting to explore their world, love to ask questions. I feel a bit like I'd lost that, that I was too old and should know the world well enough now, not have anymore questions. But the truth is I'll have questions for the rest of my days. Not questions founded in doubt, but questions founded in faith.


There is so much we don't know, I think it's great to have people we can inquire of, seasoned people those who have experienced what we haven't. 


I am a disciple of Jesus, I want to become more like him, what questions do I need to be asking Him?