Some people like to read so many Bible chapters every day. I would not dissuade them from the practice, but I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up in your very soul, till it saturates your heart!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

 

Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

 

Philippians 3:10-12
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

 

I rejoice to share with you the news that a young inmate named Jose Torres trusted Christ as his Savior and Lord this morning after our Bible study at the Yokosuka prison. We meet 1-2 times per month with approximately fourteen American prisoners who are serving time for crimes against Japanese citizens. The majority of these young sailors are stationed here in Yokosuka with the Navy's 7th Fleet and simply made very bad choices which landed them in prison for a period of 1-5 years.

 

Please pray that Jose will grow strong in his faith and that he will read his Bible on a regular basis. Pray that the Lord would encourage him and fill his heart with joy while he endures prison life until next February. God is faithful!!

 

In Christ, Paul

 

 

 

 

It's Springtime in Japan and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. We always look forward to this time of year as thousands of cherry blossom trees show off their beautiful colors for approximately two weeks. High winds and rain will likely make this year's blossoms disappear more quickly but they still harken the joyful announcement that "Spring is here!"

 

The Lord has been blessing the Lighthouse ministry with many new vistors during the last few weeks. As we approach the Easter holiday, please pray that many young sailors will hear and respond to the good news of Jesus Christ and that our community would reflect the love of God to the Yokosuka community.

 

Have a blessed Easter!

 

In Christ Alone,

Paul, Stacy, Hope, and Jenna