経過観察

先日、社内の英語テストを受けました。

特に、業務上必要なものではないのですが、一定のレベルは将来のためにも保っておきたいため、受験してみました。

実は、これ新入社員研修時に受けていたのですが、体調も悪く、結構スコアを(ベストに比べ)落としてしまってました。

今回は、取り敢えず、前回スコア越えは最低限で、ベストの回復を目指してみました。

結果は、ノルマクリアといったところでした(・ω・)ノ

正直、勉強癖が抜けていて、試験時の集中力が欠けてしました。2回程、ボーッとしてしまったのは痛かった！

また、半年後か一年後に受けてみようと思います。

Language Part2

I guess my English level was very high, especially in conversational level and in comparison with other students at school. I was starting to get a good grades and actually made it top five.

But my desire to develop and improve my linguistic skill did not cease.

I think it was because of my competitiveness.

I was given a chance to go to California, U.S. when I was in ninth grade.

I was very excited to use my English there. But I have to say it ended up in dismay relatively.

I was with people who go to international school who were bilingual.

It was very hard time because I was the only non-fluent man in the group, and people we met assumed that I too can speak fluently.

Moreover, I had hard time doing ordinary things such as ordering meals and shopping.

But, all those hard experiences motivated me to learn more diligently.

Because I did not want the experience like that anymore!!

Along the line, I also realized that it is not all about speaking English.

Some people today I see, they have good passion to learn English but it does not go farther than that.

Time in states taught me that English is merely a language for me to carry my thoughts to others and to communicate.

I knew that what I want to do is not to be linguist nor professional translator or interpreter. 

So, I started putting efforts in other classes.

The result was that I was able to raise my grades and passed the one of the most difficult entrance exam in Japan. 

Today, I still study English. But, it is merely a mean to convey my thoughts and understand others, ultimately all for God's Glory. 

It was definitely God Who led me to where I am now. 

It was only God Who could enabled me to enter and graduate this university.

It was totally God Who provided me with new job in Okinawa.

It should always be God Whom I need to seek future direction.

To God Alone Be the Glory 

ps: Because of such experience, I have a great respect to missionaries who diligently learn Japanese, or local languages. I feel very especially to see people like that.

    

Language Part1

It's already "de facto" that I can use both language, Japanese and English. (Though I recognize that I still need improve in both.)

How I became so-called bilingual is good testimony of God's work in my life. So I thought it be nice to share here.

It traces back to my first year in Middle School. 

The year, my mom started going to Calvary Chapel, which was totally new in Okinawa. We used to go to international church prior to that too, but as baseball kid I wasn't really connected to the church.

Upon entering middle school, I joined Tennis club. I wanted some thing new in my sports life. 

But much to my surprise, due to the courts construction, the activities were suspended for the whole year!!! So, we couldn't have much club activity which usually involves much of weekend. 

Then, I started going to church with my family, of course, reluctantly.

Unlike, former church, that Calvary Chapel had many American attendance. Well, I didn't lik church and that really increased my dislikes. 

I had all grumpy looks and not good youth kid who didn't bring his bible on Sundays. (On the contrary, my sister would bring every week.)

So, it would've been very reasonable that leaders gave up on me.

But they did not.

There was a guy named Tim, who is from California and was helping te church. He was in charge of small youth group, probably of 5 or 6 kiks when I first started going.

He wasn't able to speak Japanese, but there were a few kids who could speak both. So, I was listening the messages through their interpretation.

Although, Tim couldn't speak much Japanese, he and other missionaries would try to talk to me which I, at the time, thought very annoying.

Yet, he didn't stop talking to me week after week. And little by little my wall was being brought down. 

I was getting interested in him and people there who are so kind to me.

And I thought "if I want to understand them, I need to know English !!"

By the way, my English level at the time was literally horrible. I was around 150th of 180 students on tests. This says it all.

But, I started putting much effort in studying English. I think now I was thinking I can be cool if I could talk to Americans too. haha, funny.

Tim also had very strong desire to learn Japanese. He would sit in Japanese Bible study, and take notes of the words. It was very impressive to me.

Tim and I would hang out a lot. We would play tennis and talked about Bible, teaching language each other.

It was very fruitful time. I was getting solid discipleship.

It wasn't something like using text, or taking 12 steps of course. But it was more like, fellowship based discipleship. We hung out, I observed how he acts and speaks. He shared scriptures and encouraged me to read Bible everyday.

As I grew in the Word, I grew as a Christian. 

I was Christian for long time, but I wasn't serious about God and His church. But He took hold of my life. Now I was starting to grow and walk in Him.

My English was improved much. I was able to have minimum conversation in English. The more I practice my English, the more confidence I gained and I wasn't afraid of speaking in English.

continues........ 

Heavy Question

"Everybody has to live for something. Whatever that something is becomes "Lord of your life," whether you think of it that way or not. Jesus is the only Lord who, if you receive him, will fulfill you completely, and, if you fail him, will forgive you eternally." 

(誰もが何かのために生きている。あなたがそう思うかどうかに関わらず、その「何か」はなんであれ、「あなたの人生の主」になるのである。イエスのみがあなたを受け入れ、完全に満たしてくださる。もしもイエスを失望させるようなことがあっても、あなたを永遠に赦す方である。）

Tim Keller（ティム・ケラー） 

"What do you live for?" is radically heavy question but still inevitable.
I found it that in Tokyo, though some will claim it is, not many are atheist but they are more likely to be secularist.
「なんのために生きるのか」というのは、甚だ思い質問であり、不可避なものでもある。
東京で気づいたのだが、多くの人は無神論者ではないとうことである。多くの人は、ここでは世俗主義者（という言葉を敢えて使う）であるのではないか。

Asked if they think there is something that they hope for in the light of eternity, they will answer "Well, I really don't know. I hope there is, but for now it is easier to hope rather than search for it.".
I have personally had conversation like that.
But in depth, we all live for something without exception.
So the issue logically and eventually comes to "what is it that you live for?" and "Does it give you eternal hope?" .
もしも、永遠に関して何か希望や望むものがあるのかと聞かれると、彼らは恐らくこうこたえるでしょう。「本当のところは分からないけれど、あったらいいなとは思う。でも、それについて思いを巡らしているよりも、望む程度にしておいて、今を生きる方が楽なんだ。」
しかし、本当は例外なしに人は何かのために生きている。そして、論理的に考えても、そこから「その『何か』は何か？」また「それは永遠の希望を与えてくれるのか」という疑問にたどり着くことになるのではないか。

If it is other than Jesus, they will fail you soon or later.
Why?
Because nothing is perfect here. This is something most people can agree. But Jesus is Perfect. He never sinned and stayed faithful, gracious, loving and forgiving.
He fulfill the law and imparted His righteousness to me.
もしもそれがイエス以外なら、その何かはあなたの期待にこたえることはできないでしょう。何故かって？それは、恐らくほとんどの人が合意できることがが、この世には完璧なものはないということが言えるから。
でも、イエスは完璧な方だ。イエスは天からこの地上に来て、人と同じ形をされて生きた時でも、罪を犯さず、誠実に、愛を保ち、赦しをもって生きられた。そして、律法を満たし、私たちにその義を与えてくださった。

We fail Him so many times, but He is full of grace; He forgives us when we come to him with repentance. Even at this very moment, He is working in and preparing  us for eternity.
He only can make my life full of meaning and satisfying.
そのイエスを私は何度となく裏切るようなことをするのだが、悔い改める度に私を赦してくださる。そして、その時でさえ私の中に働き、永遠の希望を与えてくださっている。
イエスだけが、私の人生を本当に意味あるものにしてくださる。


“Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” 
「わたしが与える水を飲む者はだれでも、決して渇くことがありません。わたしが与える水は、その人のうちで泉となり、永遠のいのちへの水がわき出ます。」