• Thank God for providing energy for me as I developed drafts of 3 teacher training kits.
• Ask God for travel safety as we fly to LA on July 5 to visit supporters and family.

• On June 4, the Class of 2010 graduated.
• On June 8, students in K-11 finished their last day of classes.
• On June 10, teachers made progress on developing CAJ's curriculum.

• Ask God to help graduating seniors make a smooth transition to college.
• Ask God for energy for Michael as he develops teacher training materials.

• Praise God that we've finished a draft of training materials designed to help teachers use assessment to help students connect God's world and Word.
• Ask God to help CAJ staff and students to finish the school year well. Classes end on June 8, and staff meetings end on June 11.

• Praise God that Kim’s students are focusing on the security found in belonging to God.
• Praise God for travel safety from MI to OH, TN, GA, IN, IL, and AK.
• Praise God that our family is together again.
• Ask God to help CAJ staff and students to finish the school year well. Classes end on June 8, and staff meetings end on June 11.

• Praise God for travel safety as I drove from TN to MI last week.
• Praise God for travel safety as Kim flew from Japan to the US on April 24.
• Ask God for travel safety as Kim & I fly on April 29 to see supporters in Anchorage.

• Ask God for travel safety next week as I drive from TN to MI.
• Ask God for travel safety as Kim flies from Japan to the US on April 24.
• Praise God that though we are separated, we have good family unity.

1. Ask God to use me to help leaders grow.
2. Praise God for providing staff for CAJ (technology coordinator and teachers—elementary, English, science).

• “Whether it is in the form of murder, bullying, or stealing, people are being treated with less dignity than they deserve....as Christians, we must honor one another as created in God's image and love both our neighbors and our oppressors.”
• “People always say that they want to make the world a better place, but they think too big or they don’t think at all or say that’s awful and sit and do nothing. But...one specific thing that I can do is to stop criticizing people...and…‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Mark 12.31, Matt. 22.39).”

• Praise God that my English 10 students are applying God's truth to their lives.
• Praise God for providing teachers (band, science) for next year.
• Ask God to provide a full staff for next year. CAJ needs teachers (elementary, English, science) and a technology coordinator.

• Praise God that Michael had a safe trip to the US on Feb. 11 for a 6-month home assignment.
• Ask God to provide teachers (band, math/science, middle school) and a technology coordinator.

• Kim: Thankfulness for His blessings—family, friends, colleagues, students, and so much more.
• Michael: To pray—particularly for family and for the leaders I help.

• Ask God to help us prepare effectively for home assignment.
• Ask God for a full staff for next year. CAJ needs a technology coordinator and teachers (band, elementary, 8th grade, and home ec).

1. Michael will be in the US February 11 - August 14.
2. Kim will continue teaching at CAJ, visit me for 2 weeks in March, and then return to Japan to teach through April 23. 
3. On April 24, Kim and Anneke will fly to the US to join Michael. Anneke will finish out her CAJ year through independent study. 
4. And about a week later, Caitlin will finish college and join us. It'll be good to be together as a family.

• Praise God that we already have our tickets to the US and housing for home assignment.
• Praise God for good family time with Caitlin.
• Ask God to provide staff for next year. CAJ needs teachers (band, home ec, elementary, and 8th grade) and a technology coordinator.

]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpEmpowerVideo2009-12-27T19:47:48-05:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/d2d9771152fca94b63cce2207a652d03-121.html#unique-entry-id-121http://messenburg.org/news/files/d2d9771152fca94b63cce2207a652d03-121.html#unique-entry-id-121Do you want to reduce your frustrations so you can get on with what God's calling you to do? If so, reflecting on these 5 questions can help.  

]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpEmpowerVideo2009-12-27T19:46:47-05:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/e3bf8bca8ce3c96fecdab9fb649deccc-120.html#unique-entry-id-120http://messenburg.org/news/files/e3bf8bca8ce3c96fecdab9fb649deccc-120.html#unique-entry-id-120Your fellow teachers want to help their students better connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. You can help your fellow teachers by asking questions to DRAW them out.  

]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpEvangelizeVideoPray2009-12-23T23:24:16-05:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/f50264de1a3560f3f5f49777143ac5b9-119.html#unique-entry-id-119http://messenburg.org/news/files/f50264de1a3560f3f5f49777143ac5b9-119.html#unique-entry-id-119

We're praising God for the good turnout at the Wednesday night Christmas candlelight service of a church that meets at CAJ. Quite a few newcomers attended and heard the good news of Jesus Christ. Thanks for praying! 

Japanese need the good new of Jesus at Christmas. They don't understand the real celebration. They focus on New Year's, when millions and millions of Japanese go to the temple.

Thanks for praying:

• Ask God to draw Japanese non-Christians to Himself through the special events CAJ parents are doing.
• Praise God that Caitlin arrived safely and that we're having good family time.
• Ask God to provide staff for next year. CAJ needs teachers (band, home ec, and elementary) and a technology coordinator.

1. Praise God that we continue to have good health.
2. Ask God for good family time with Caitlin.
3. Ask God to draw Japanese non-Christians to Himself through the Christmas-related events CAJ parents are doing.
4. Ask God to provide staff for next year. CAJ needs teachers (band, home ec, elementary) and a technology coordinator.

1. “From now on, I will be quick to forgive....”
2. “In Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country there are characters from all walks of life—rich, poor, important, and unknown. However, they each do what is in their power to help restore the brokenness around them, and this is a powerful message for us today.”
3. “Each person’s actions lay a brick in the bridge we’re trying to build, the bridge we call shalom.”
4. “God is the ultimate source of shalom and without Him, nothing can be restored.... Jesus was crucified…to restore shalom, and He is the first Restorer. After He ascended to heaven, who was going to carry on His mission to restore shalom?…Christians.”

1. Praise God that M, a CAJ graduate and Kim’s former student, was baptized on August 23.
2. Praise God that new staff and students have made a good transition to Japan/CAJ.
3. Ask God to help us ask questions that help CAJ students learn and CAJ staff be productive.
4. Ask God to give us the health and energy we need to serve effectively at CAJ.

• Praise God for a good start to school at Christian Academy in Japan.
• Praise God that Caitlin had a safe flight to Toronto.
• Ask God that we'd be healthy and have the energy we need to serve.

1. Praise God for smooth staff transition for CAJ's new staff members.
2. Ask God for a good first day of classes at CAJ. Classes begin on Wed., August 26.
3. Praise God for good family time with Caitlin.
4. Ask God for a safe trip/smooth transition back to college for Caitlin. Caitlin flies to Toronto on Mon., August 31.

• Praise God that Kim's work on her English 10 curriculum went well. She was able to further emphasize creation-fall-redemption, particularly in her introductory unit.
• Ask God to help new CAJ staff and students make a smooth transition to Japan/CAJ. New staff orientation begins Monday, August 17. Classes begin Wednesday, August 26.

1. Explore the Biblical perspective teacher training standards
2. To learn more about developing student objectives, explore these 7 questions
3. To learn more about using assessment, explore these 12 questions
4. To learn more about using questions, explore these 11 questions
5. How can you pursue a growing relationship with God?

1. Ask God to help Kim effectively revise her English 10 curriculum. She's working to further emphasize creation-fall-redemption.
2. Ask God to help members of a house church network to apply their July 25 training on sharing the Gospel. (Michael helped plan the training.)
3. Ask God to help new CAJ staff and students make a smooth transition to Japan/CAJ.

• Encouragement
• Training
• Accountability to apply your training

• Tuesday, Michael made a 1-minute video entitled "To Close the Gap, Do 4 Things."
• Wednesday, we prepared our milk cartons for recycling.
• And on Saturday, Kim is playing in the 2nd round of the national volleyball tournament for neighborhood teams. There are 9 players on each side.

• Praise God that Kim's summer school students got better at writing persuasive essays. Thanks for praying!
• Praise God that Michael was able to help a missionary develop a workshop for a network of house church leaders. The missionary is doing the workshop on Saturday.
• Ask God to help new CAJ staff to make a smooth transition to Japan/CAJ.

1. Lead by asking questions: Want to more effectively lead by asking questions? Then take this self-assessment that covers beliefs about leadership, inquiry skills, and how you use questions. After taking the self-assessment, you’ll design action steps.
2. Empower others to strategically pursue God's calling: Your coaching client wants to clarify and strategically pursue God’s calling. That’s great! How can you empower your client to do this? By asking these 10 questions.
3. Energize, focus, and unleash Christian school staff: As an administrator at an international Christian school, you know that staff play a vital role in carrying out the mission. Because your care about your staff, want to be good a steward of the staff God has provided, and want your school to carry out its God-given mission, you ask yourself, “How can we energize, focus, and unleash staff both personally and professionally?” 

• Sweat: A sports drink that I like and that some people think tastes like sweat.
• Member change: A substitution in an athletic event.
• Paper driver: A person with a driver's license who doesn't drive.
• Service: A free gift a store owner gives to promote customer loyalty, for example, a rice dumpling.

• Praise God for providing full staff for next school year.
• Praise God for a good finish to the school year, including a fun graduation ceremony on June 5 and effective school improvement meetings on June 8.
• Praise God for good family time with Caitlin.
• Ask God to help Kim as she teaches 9 second language students how to write effectively. She will be teaching June 15-26.
• Ask God to help Michael as he leads a mission meeting on Monday and does coaching/consulting Tuesday-Saturday.

• “Being a student at Christian Academy in Japan has transformed me spiritually. Although my family is not Christian, being in a Christian environment has led me to become a Christian.”
•  “I thank God for His allowing me to live overseas; I see it as a blessing. I think it was His plan all along to reduce the shyness in me by thrusting me out into the unknown so many times.”
• “As a human, I am a reflection of God and therefore have value (Gen. 1.27, Matt. 10.31). As a Christian, I am a child of God (Eph. 5.1). These truths are liberating because they mean that I do not need to focus on obtaining value and love—I already have them.”

1. Ask God to help us finish the school year well. Classes end on June 5, and meetings end on June 12.
2. Ask God for good family time. Caitlin is back from college, and we’ll be together until August 31. 

• Caitlin is home from college.
• Kim's English 10 students (including Anneke) are enjoying Shakespeare.
• No school on Monday & Tuesday (national holidays).

• Praise God that Kim's students wrote effective essays on who they are spiritually.
• Ask God to provide teachers for next year (secondary science & math, elementary ESL).

• “God values poetry….the Bible is full of poetry...that uses a lot of parallelism.”—Korean student
• “Poetry is an important part of many cultures.”—Japanese student
• “Poetry can evoke unwanted and possibly harmful emotions.”—American student

• “I am starting to reevaluate the things I am doing to see if they fit with my God-given mission.”
• “Today made me think about how to relate my day-to-day activities with God’s calling.”

• Praise God that Mari will be baptized at a mission post on April 5.
• Praise God that the March 2-3 accreditation visit went well. The visiting team was pleased with CAJ's progress.
• Praise God for providing teachers for next year (Bible, learning resource center). Ask God to provide teachers for next year (secondary science and math; elementary classroom and ESL).

• “Both Christianity and existentialism believe that people have the desire to find meaning. In Christianity, we find the true meaning in God and find joy, but in existentialism, people find their own meaning and find joy in that process. I thought it was sad that not all the people have hope and that not all people can feel true joy.”
• “I learned from Leo Tolstoy’s ‘How Much Land Does a Man Need?’ that if we are selfish and greedy, it might seem like you’re ‘living the life’ at the moment, but in the end you’ll lose everything (the important things) you have.”
• “I learned a lot about decision-making and finding my place here. We all get left out and feel like an outsider, but I know that I still belong to God.”
• “I learned that just like ‘The Guest’ we all have to make decisions between two things. I learned that I have to pray to God before choosing the decision by myself because without God’s power, we are all weak and cannot make a decision we won’t regret.”

• Praise God that Kim’s English 10 students continue to connect what they study and what the Bible teaches.
• Praise God that we’ve been healthy all through cold/flu season.
• Ask God to help the 24 participants in Michael’s 2/27 workshop use their learning to serve well.
• Ask God for a full staff for next year. CAJ needs teachers (secondary Bible, science, and learning resource center).

• Mon-Tues: School vacation! We spent time with our mission.
• Wed: Michael worked at CAJ on curriculum and with a mission on strategic planning.
• Thurs: Kim's students studied Hebrew poetry.
• Fri: We had rainy weather.

• Praise God that Michael's Feb. 18 work with a mission on strategic planning went well.
• Ask God to use Michael's 2/27 productivity workshop at CAJ to help the 27 participants to serve more effectively.
• Ask God to provide teachers CAJ needs for next year (science, learning resource center).

• Kim is excited that a student wrote, "Christians know that we will face death at some point, but we should be honored to live such a life God has given us. Life has worth because we are made in the image of God."
• Michael developed 3 sets of questions CAJ teachers can use to deepen their understanding of Christian education (course, subject, and creation-fall-redemption-restoration).

• Praise God that we've been healthy all through cold/flu season. Please keep praying.
• Ask God to provide the teachers CAJ needs for next school year (science, learning resource center).
• Praise God that CAJ teachers are applying the 18 hours of Biblical perspective training Michael provided. As a result, CAJ students are better connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches. 

"One class that helps me think like a Christian is English class. We have a lot of group assignments. When we give out ideas people around me give opinions from a Christian prospective. Just from that, I learn something about Christianity. Also, we always pray in English since it's my first period in school."

• Though it's cold/flu season, we've been healthy. Please keep praying.
• Kim's English 10 students did well in grammar.
• Michael’s strategic planning work for CAJ and 2 missions is going well.

• Define the student learning needs.
• Explore the how you can respond to the student learning needs.
• Act.
• Look at the results.

• That on Dec. 21 at our Hitachinaka mission post, Hiroshi was baptized and Akiko reaffirmed her faith and joined the church.
• That on Dec. 23 at Kurume Bible Fellowship's candlelight service, the real meaning of Christmas was presented to non-Christian Japanese.
• That on Dec. 25, 6 people joined the church of Rev. Ashida, a Japanese pastor whose son is in Kim's English 10 class at CAJ.

• For travel safety for Caitlin as she flies back to Toronto on January 2.
• To help Kim prepare effectively for her grammar unit (starting Jan. 6) and to help Michael prepare effectively for assisting a mission with strategic planning (Jan. 7).

• Invite friends to our church’s candlelight service.
• Decorate our front windows with the manger scene.
• Answer any questions that come our way.
• Support the massive outreach effort by educating missionary kids and by training/coaching missionaries.

• God's loves us, has saved us, and gives us opportunities to be involved in His work in Japan.
• You're involved in God's work in Japan. We appreciate your friendship, prayers, & financial support.
• Japanese are becoming Christians.
• Kim's students grappled with shalom. 
• The Nov. 3 workshop I led at CAJ resulted in teachers developing Biblical perspective lessons plans (slideshow). Thanks for praying!
• We're safe/healthy and that Caitlin continues to feel good about being at Redeemer University College.

• Praise God that 3 of the 4 Japanese adults baptized on Sept. 27 have already shared during the Sunday service about God's work in their lives. Last Sunday Mr. Y said, "I really need Jesus...I would like to live every day accountable before God and keep remembering that every day is God's day."
• Praise God that Kim's students continue to connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. On a recent test on Cry, the Beloved Country, one student wrote, "God gives hope to those who have none. Because of the hope, some broken things can become new.”

• Last week, Kim attended teacher meetings, put up bulletin boards, and planned lessons. I led biblical perspective workshops at CAJ and team building activities in Manila at our mission's EurAsia Team meeting.
• Today, Kim will be teaching English 10, and I'll be helping new staff get off to a good start.

• Shared with supporters/churches about God's work in Japan. We showed a short video of square watermelons!
• Planned some curriculum and worked on some school improvement projects.
• Visited with family—we stayed with my folks/sister and visited aunts/uncles.
• Got Caitlin her Canadian study permit.

• Tuesday: I'm looking forward to this afternoon's workshop where CAJ teachers will be discussing "How can you increasingly target Biblical perspective?" Last week, the group discussed "How does your Christian worldview affect your educational practice?"

• Friday: Kim's English 10 students will be writing movie reviews.

• Monday: Kim talked with 2 students about books they'd been reading.
  
• Tuesday: I got to facilitate an hour-long discussion about Christian worldview education. Fifteen teachers participated.
  
• Thursday: Kim read an essay in which a non-Christian student reflected on a Christian worldview.

• Mon: No school!
  
• Tues: Michael attended an all-day meeting of 70+ mission leaders, where he gave a 10-minute presentation on ways to encourage missionaries.
  
• Wed: Kim's students did well on a poetry reading quiz. 
  
• Thurs: Michael submitted a workshop proposal for a Nov. conference in Hong Kong.
  
• Fri: Kim's students listened to Noah Pashapa, a Zimbabwean pastor, speak.

• Having one of Kim's CAJ students write on a test that he's grateful he's learning how to apply a Biblical perspective.
  
• Getting snow.
  
• Finding an English web site that gives a local weather forecast.
  
• Publishing a set of Biblical perspective teacher training standards. CAJ adopted them yesterday.
• ]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpEquipVideoEmpower2008-02-04T18:47:12-05:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/355e72996beb3164d7249662476778e6-12.html#unique-entry-id-12http://messenburg.org/news/files/355e72996beb3164d7249662476778e6-12.html#unique-entry-id-12By targeting Biblical perspective, teachers can help student apply a Biblical perspective to what they study.
  
  ]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpEmpowerVideo2008-02-04T18:46:24-05:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/134201c344407e32aafc80187de981a2-11.html#unique-entry-id-11http://messenburg.org/news/files/134201c344407e32aafc80187de981a2-11.html#unique-entry-id-11If you want to achieve your goals, get a coach. Your coach will listen, ask questions, and provide the support, encouragement, and accountability you need to achieve your goals.
  
  ]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpJapan2008-01-31T17:31:14-05:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/1c0ae085dadffbb3382890f545581bc8-10.html#unique-entry-id-10http://messenburg.org/news/files/1c0ae085dadffbb3382890f545581bc8-10.html#unique-entry-id-10click here.]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpEquip2008-01-23T18:08:30-05:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/3364ee69fec330a9e20245d0f716ae0e-9.html#unique-entry-id-9http://messenburg.org/news/files/3364ee69fec330a9e20245d0f716ae0e-9.html#unique-entry-id-9
  What are 10 reasons to serve at CAJ?]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpEquip2008-01-11T17:43:39-05:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/d5522af9c89c3b5a2d32b56f35a91c16-8.html#unique-entry-id-8http://messenburg.org/news/files/d5522af9c89c3b5a2d32b56f35a91c16-8.html#unique-entry-id-8Kim's students are really enjoying their grammar unit.
  
  Yes, you read that statement correctly—Kim's 10th graders really like doing grammar. Might be hard to believe. I mean, we're coming off of Christmas break and grammar wasn't something I particularly liked.
  
  How about you?]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpNews2007-12-07T18:50:42-05:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/9e2cc4360a3d0f253b325161949d3f45-7.html#unique-entry-id-7http://messenburg.org/news/files/9e2cc4360a3d0f253b325161949d3f45-7.html#unique-entry-id-7Michael, how did you see God working in 2007? God continued to answer prayers. There were baptisms, including the baptisms of 7 middle schoolers on one Sunday at Kurume Christ Church, baptisms at mission posts (including Mr. and Mrs. Shimizu), and the baptism of Yuga Takizawa, Kim’s Sunday school student. ]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpNews2007-11-15T20:00:12-05:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/79b5bc2c31e49fe546213eec30bc1d52-6.html#unique-entry-id-6http://messenburg.org/news/files/79b5bc2c31e49fe546213eec30bc1d52-6.html#unique-entry-id-6Though our home computer died this week, we have much to be thankful for:
  • Salvation
    
  • Health and safety
    
  • Autumn colors
    
  • Turkey and stuffing
  What are you thankful for? ]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpJapan2007-11-15T07:03:11-05:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/a25a05b6ea42a08b361e8783ac0f5e2b-5.html#unique-entry-id-5http://messenburg.org/news/files/a25a05b6ea42a08b361e8783ac0f5e2b-5.html#unique-entry-id-5
  TimeToGoHome]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpEquip2007-10-23T19:15:13-04:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/f477215dfd155a4faf2b8481d076be3c-4.html#unique-entry-id-4http://messenburg.org/news/files/f477215dfd155a4faf2b8481d076be3c-4.html#unique-entry-id-4I’m in the Japan Alps, supervising CAJ 10th graders during leadership training. I’m sitting in a circle with my group of eleven 10th graders, talking about the experiences of the day.]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpNews2007-10-04T18:03:46-04:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/09361563f095155931142c00f451ce71-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://messenburg.org/news/files/09361563f095155931142c00f451ce71-3.html#unique-entry-id-3Our week went well:
  • Sat.: Mr. and Mrs. Nagai got baptized.
    
  • Sun.: We had rhubarb pie for dessert.
    
  • Mon.: Kim helped 10th graders commit to a service activity.
    
  • Tues.: Kim went on a 3-day leadership training for CAJ's 10th grade.
    
  • Wed.: Michael shared his Biblical perspective tutorial with several CAJ staff.
    
  • Thurs.: Michael further developed his workshop on self-management.
    
  • Fri.: No school today!
  ]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpJapan2007-09-18T09:01:35-04:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/db5a8610c91de7336fe4cb6bdb17a43a-2.html#unique-entry-id-2http://messenburg.org/news/files/db5a8610c91de7336fe4cb6bdb17a43a-2.html#unique-entry-id-2Here are some things you can do:
  • Read about the prime minister’s resignation.
    
  • Get around on foot, by bike, and by train.
    
  • Watch Japanese and US baseball on TV.
    
  • Visit CAJ.
    
  • See Christian churches.
  ]]>mbessenburg@caj.or.jpJapan2007-09-05T20:07:15-04:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/1198540d97c7891e05f2f9a2aa21de2f-1.html#unique-entry-id-1http://messenburg.org/news/files/1198540d97c7891e05f2f9a2aa21de2f-1.html#unique-entry-id-1mbessenburg@caj.or.jpEmpower2007-08-14T01:10:48-04:00http://messenburg.org/news/files/066c3c51bf726e050a446bc8a2238c2f-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://messenburg.org/news/files/066c3c51bf726e050a446bc8a2238c2f-0.html#unique-entry-id-0You are? Good. Try going for 1 hour without asking or thinking a single question. That’s right, not one question. How do you think you’d do?]]>