THAT WAS A MISQUOTE!

April 9, 2023. The sound of heavy impact in the stairwell behind him made Takuya freeze. He turned to see his father's form lying in a massive pool of blood oozing from the back of his head and found himself thinking: "This could be it for Dad."

But after many prayers, ambulance ride, emergency workers' diligent expertise, and 7 stitches later, it seemed Takuya's father was already beginning to be cautioned from doing too much all at once.

Okay; that picture's not really the kind of "stitches" in the story. But I didn't know how to draw it, okay? This is a picture of me working on a pair of my own pair of slacks, not a medical worker patching up anybody's skin.

After all, it had been that morning, he preached for the Japanese department, and because of years of pastoring in Chicago, he had bilingual ability, so he was supposed to preach to the English department the following week. Taku helped lead singing there so was showing his dad the room when he had that nasty fall.

April 16, 2023. "But God might be a liar," a little demon voice whispered into Takuya's ear. Doesn't it say in the Bible 'I will give my angels charge over you, They will bear you up in their hands, to keep you lest you dash your foot against a stone...."

"Stop right there." Takuya said, shaking his head, as if he were whipping germs out of his hair; "I hear you. But that's a misquote the devil tried on Jesus in the wilderness."

"Misquote?"

"Yeah. It should be 'to keep you in all your ways', but you left out those words. God didn't promise we wouldn't fall and hit our foot on a stone, but that even when we did--in ALL our ways--He'd protect us in it.

So God doesn't say we'll never lose our jobs, but He'll make sure even if we do, we'll be able to take care of our families in it.

There was a missionary who really prayed about it, but for the sake of His testimony, had to walk on hot coals. Of course, his feet were badly burned. God doesn't always promise there won't be burning. But the burns healed so quickly and perfectly, everyone around was amazed. 

And that man's willingness to be burned for his Master plus a Living God Who would so mightily care for His loyal servant resulted in masses of converts--even those who actually persecuted him at first believed....

Dad, what are you doing up? You felt like getting next month's message ready? Mom, get him back in bed!" (She comes rushing in, And talking, the two leave the room.)

The field flowers, insects, birds--all heard from their ancestors what happened during that Encounter in the Desert, and were almost screaming today, "Wilderness Temptation again! Misquote! Misquote!" That's okay, fellers; Taku knows.