Off to University Prepaid Sim Free Plans 2019 May

Yes! Finally, she is off to University. Going to univ. has proven to be a challenge. Car? NO! Bike? Better yet walk? Health Insurance? License? Smartphone Plan???? Yikes. I started to look into the prepaid phones plans with no contract and my head started to spin.

So I had to first understand my daughters usage. On average she used 8 to 9 GB of Data each month since February 2019. That's a lot. Why? She commutes to high school via a train. During the 50 min each way door to door travel she is live streaming music and videos. She hasn't had a regular phone call in that same time period nor texting as all her communication is via data hogging apps. Instagram, Messenger, Line, What's App, are all her go to communication pathways. It can be quite frustrating as she will occasionally message me on three apps at once. It's like which one do I respond to? So as far as my daughters needs for getting a prepaid plan in the US we must also recognize her lifestyle will change. When she goes to live on campus she will have universal internet. She will also not have the commute. So she will stream on line and not use so much data. Weekends she may be out and about and will need a fair amount of data. But WiFi hot spots are in many places. On vacation to Los Angeles we'd all get up in the morning and go to Target for WiFi. So we are not looking at an unlimited plan per se. Although at the writing of this there are some two year contract plans that are cheaper than going sim free. Tempting but for the first year of University we are wanting to wait and see how she likes things. Growing up in Japan all her life with periodic whirlwind tours of California where it was restaurants, amusement parks, beaches, and malls. Living in California is not as glorious and  it's expensive. So that is why we are waiting. But which company is good? Which plan?

To cut through all the charts I've created; I found that every provider has you spending $30 to $50 a month. All have slight variations. Unlimited is a loosely used term meaning you have unlimited use of 50 GB of data and then they throttle you back to a 2 G network which is like being put in the corner having to wait until the next month to get out of purgatory.

Another facet of this moving to the US is that older users are stuck in ancient methods of communication. Like talk and text. In Asia, people walk around sometimes video chatting with a friend or family member out and about. For many in older users communication was a private affair. You didn't share your phone number with anyone. Now you can troll someone by liking their profile and even chat and send pics and vids without ever being formally introduced. So I'm saying that even though my daughter's preferred method of communication is apps. Others are stuck in talk and text methodology.
So I know people still actually dial on a phone family, friends, and businesses. I've seen persons in Japan driving a car with a Navi in the dashboard of the car live streaming TV and video chatting on their smart phone. It is much different than all the regulations that the US has. Holding your smart phone while driving is illegal but that 44 ounce soda is okay?

https://www.pcmag.com/article/259293/the-best-cheap-cell-phone-plans-youve-never-heard-of
This link has a great read on the cheapest plans available. They are cheap and you get nothing for what you need. If I were to buy my 85 year old mom a smart phone I'd get her the $5. a month plan because she'd most likely never turn it on. Her prepaid flip phone is just to call AAA in case of a road side emergency. She refills her phone yearly and is happy.

The one I like and am heading for is MINT https://www.mintmobile.com/choose-plan/

They have a $15 a month plan and a $20 a month plan. I'm looking at the $20 a month for her needs. It is 8 GB of data and unlimited text and talk nationwide. The plan also includes the sim card for her exact phone. Some carriers charge $3-$20 for the nano sim card. The difference is you pay in 3 month chunks at a time. It's not month to month it is more like quarter to quarter. I don't mind that. No contract and no cancellation fee.

Beware of YouTube videos because many of them are older from last year or 5 years ago and the plans change every 6 months. Also many are tubers are bought by a brand that they push for a buck and they don't have your interest at heart. They are a monkey dancing to the music. I'm hoping by the time we get our daughter to Los Angeles in August the plans will be even better. I'm writing this as of May 2019.

Now when you have a plan purchased that is not the price you pay. There are about $8 to $25 in taxes and recovery fees with many states like NY who charge 24% tax on phone usage. California is estimated to be about 1%. But sales tax is 10% on each bill. Then you add 911 fee and a few others. If you know someone in the area you will go to ask them to tell you how much the taxes and fees are. One carrier, US Mobile, pays all those fees. So their $42 plan is actually $42. But they have the worst customer service and many people were unable without great trouble to connect their phones. So my $20 plan of choice may cost $30 or less from my estimation.

Here is a link to a site that will tell you the cost of 911 service on your phone.
911 state by state fee chart for cellular service: https://www.nena.org/page/911RateByState
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vgd4QVtxcHWwXarrFI3C7zmxXQsk0_q39jAx0DPnaLo/edit?usp=sharing

Each State has a recovery fee and then there are State, Local, and other taxes.

So good luck with your phone needs and finding that carrier to keep you in touch with your loved one. God Bless

Tokyo Radiation Levels as of May 2019

Hey it's been a long time. Because of Facebook and other social media my blogs became tweets and comments, so I have been absent. Now from time to time I have been caught or shown that I was posting false or unreliable information. Usually it is out of me sharing what others posted without checking the source. This latest information was someone else's research. The information was not accurate. I wanted to redeem my miss-information posting by showing other graphics of radiation levels. These graphics are what got my heart racing to post in hurry without checking the source.

 "A NEW CHART" from someone I respect and love who works with the government in our city who had posted a new graphic highlighting the levels of radiation in Japan. The Chart was quite shocking to see. The person posting was also sharing from another whom she respected and expressed her dismay at the graphic.

The problem is the graphic. With skill someone can make graphics appear dire and bleak. This one was grave. But then someone digs a little and the message comes gentle saying "You might want to check the source." So I do and find the conspiracy theorists were at it again.

They got me by eye candy. The activist who made the graph spends all his time uncovering the scandals and had compiled this graphic and listed it as more accurate and reliable. Now when
you compare it side by side with the government readings you find a more drastic difference. Who is right? Can you trust the government? I would like to think the Gov would be more reliable than the conspiracy

Other Countries are taking issue with the whole thing and opting to not import goods that come from "so-called" affected areas. Take Korea and the recent WTO ruling that S. Korea had the right to refuse to import goods from areas they deem unfit for their people. I don't think that's a bad thing. If I believed the lady in front of me with the sick runny nose kid sneezed on the produce. I will opt to go buy produce from somewhere else.

 Another cool graphic showing the soil samples. It's source below graphic is PINAS. Who? I tried to search it out. It's someones name or a city in the Philippines or a group of some kind. So we need, (I NEED) to be careful when we see these graphics and take them with a grain of salt and realize like the dinosaur pictures and the evolutionary pictures that are CREATED BY AN ARTIST we must receive in objectivity. In college they have graphic design arts classes. They are fun and you can make anything say what you want it to say.

Below is the graphic made by the government collecting the radiation readings from schools all over Tokyo. They are clean and clear as far as the air. This was made from daily readings and is a current display.

So in all of this mayhem. Tokyo is a safe place to visit and live and have your Sushi. But do keep an open mind and wait. Just remember that cool graphics don't always paint the most accurate picture. They also can mislead us. And above all just remember to keep calm and carry on.

A Bible verse that should of helped me. But alas my words were not few but rash.

Ecclesiatics 5:2; "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."

Why won't you believe

Stepping into Korea we found a world we have not known. The language the signage the social cues are all foreign. In Japan, when riding an escalator you stand on the left and allow others to pass on the right. In Korea there were no formal rules. The streets were like in the US drive on the right. The airport was very modern and then we drove south toward Osan. It was not like the TV series MASH that I grew up knowing. It is a beautiful country. In Osan, the buildings are many with high rises on every side. Yet as we got closer we noticed the area take a drastic turn and become seedy and run down. The streets had slum like conditions with open garbage dumped on the streets. Not in cans or bags. The buildings were stacked one on top of another with massive signage that made it confusing to know which sign belonged to which business. I noticed in the days that we were there the repetition of the businesses. A liquor store, a bar, a sports store, a gift shop repeat. There were many restaurants like BK-31 McD's, and Pizza shops. Once on base we entered another planet. The groomed grass parkways and organized streets with condominium like buildings for housing and offices gave way to a sprawling landscape out of a movie. It was another city within the city. We walked for 30 minutes before we got to the Commissary and food court. Beyond that we came upon the Schools. In that area was a fitness building with a gym that has two basketball courts back to back. This allowed the organizers to layout 5 wrestling rings end to end. 16 High school wrestling teams assembled for the three days of wrestling in multiple wrestling classes. Nathan wrestled in the 141 weight class. He place 4th out of 16. We praise God and thank him for the opportunity for Nathan to wrestle and enjoy the sport. I really am thankful that dispite the difficulties he stuck with it to the end. Each night we went with the wrestlers to dinner at various Korean restaurants. It was wonderful. The food was good and hot (spicy hot) but everyone had a good time.
    After the wrestling was over we had our last day to visit two friends from our kids school. The Korean government is very strict about what school the kids can attend. It is very difficult to go to an international school. So many families will relocate outside of the country and gain two years experience which earns them the right to attend an international school in Korea. The Kim family is a family of Doctors. The husband and kids are all Christians but the mom, who has attended church for 15 years has never given her heart to Christ. She knows the gospel and knows the consequences. Yet still she is playing with fire. I tried to politely pursuade her to reconsider. She politely declined. We talked on the way to the airport but she has her reasons. I told her I would pray for her as we love her and want to see her in Heaven with all her family. She thanked us. Please pray for Mrs. Kim. I really feel the wrestling was secondary to the primary mission God wanted us to plead with her soul to receive him. She is wrestling on the inside and she can't pin down what it is. Yet, she continues to grapple with God. May He prevail over her life and she surrenders to Him.
    On Tuesdays, I meet with other Calvary Pastors for breakfast and study. We have been almost a year in the book of Jeremiah. This week we were in Jeremiah 40.  It is so sad that though the people knew Jeremiahs prophecies and saw the fulfillment of it all they still refused to listen and though they were told to not got to Egypt they still went. How is it we as humans can ignore God's warnings? It seems unfathomable yet we all sin including me and we all disobey and stray. It is by grace that we are saved through faith and that not of yourselves. Oh that God would give to Kim san that saving faith to receive the grace he has for her. Love you all thank you for reading and praying.

Jama or Ojama or Love

Today, 10-29-2016

I was in a hurry. A lady was not driving though a green light as she was waving to someone on the sidewalk. The person wasn't looking and the driver was taking 30 seconds to try and get their attention. When she did turn I pulled up to pass her and rolled down my window and shouted 'Jama" 邪魔 [じゃま (jama)]" see note at the bottom. "Jama," can mean, "you're in the way," or get outta the way depending how you say it. I believe I had the best intentions when I said it. My son swears it was close to an epitaph. I didn't use the honorific “O”in front to make it more polite (Ojama). At that point, my son sitting next to me and sinking down in his seat says, "Hey dad, can we go back and invite her to church?" I shot back, "Dude you sure know how to ruin my day." I now know what book I'll write now. "How NOT to be a missionary/pastor/father/Christian/or ambassador for Christ”

I got to thinking more about it and reflected on the scriptures this afternoon. Below are my thoughts.

Matthew 5:21-22

21“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you

昔の人々に、『人を殺してはならない。人を殺す者はさばきを受けなければならない』と

commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’

言われたのを、あなたがたは聞いています。

22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!

しかし、わたしはあなたがたに言います。兄弟に向かって腹を立てる者は、だれでもさばき

If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the

を受けなければなりません。兄弟に向かって『能なし』と言うような者は、最高議会に引き渡

court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. (NIV)

されます。また、『ばか者』と言うような者は燃えるゲヘナに投げ込まれます。

I was wrong and verbal and expressive. This is not by any means an excuse for my behavior in fact it wasn't the first time. I probably feed this attitude of my heart because I mumble under my breath. In stead of having a heart of compassion I had a heart of business and indifference. I was rude and a misrepresentation of Christ. So according to 1 John 1:9 I am forgiven as I confess my sin to Jesus. “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” As much as I am addicted to coffee I am more addicted to God's grace.  The final thought I had on this even though what I did was bad on many levels because I was verbal... the scriptures show that even if you think the thought of something bad your are equally guilty. Oh may the Lord purge our hearts of evil thoughts. I need the heart of Jesus more and more. 

Verb

邪魔する ‎(hiragana じゃまする, romaji jama suru)

1. to impede, to obstruct
   その車が通過 (つうか)を邪魔 (じゃま)しています。
   Sono kuruma ga tsūka o jama shite imasu.
   That car is impeding passage.

Christians that are haters...Stop it!

Warning I'm treading into the ring and shouting at the Christian haters. I am not endorsing any candidate. I am talking to Christians in general. Yes this is way too long.

1 John 5:16 "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

Galatians 6:1 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

6 months ago Donald Trump was not a born again Christian. Recently Christian leaders have been meeting with Mr. Trump and have stated that he has in fact prayed to receive Christ. If this is true (and this is a big if) then the above verses must be applied especially since his sin was in the past and our Savior Jesus has forgiven and forgotten Mr. Trumps Sin. Yet I am seeing just vile anger and guile toward this sinner saved by grace. I am questioning many of my social media friends on whether or not they have truly received grace?

Trump is not an idea candidate but he is who God sovereignly has provided to you republicans. Trump 6 months ago was and still is a Sleazy real estate mogul that was known for his strip clubs and gambling casino's around the world. He's cheated on his wives not a new revelation. He is rife with sinful actions. Now he turns and hears the gospel and receives Christ. He is a new creation. You hear about his past sins and the American Christian turns on him and shouts off with his head. Like crazy demonic eyed ISIS fighters there are many Christians that are hateful to Trump. Stop it! It's not Christian. I am a pastor and missionary here in Japan and I have to explain your vile actions to our church members. Trumps actions are easy to explain because they were pre-Christ. But you Christian are just flat out embarrassing. I have no explanation for why a so-called Christian would become so blood thirsty for one of their own.

I am reminded of the parable in the book of Judges.

Jotham’s Parable

7 

When Jotham heard about this, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted,

“Listen to me, citizens of Shechem!

Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!

8

Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king.

First they said to the olive tree,

‘Be our king!’

9

But the olive tree refused, saying,

‘Should I quit producing the olive oil

that blesses both God and people,

just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

10

“Then they said to the fig tree,

‘You be our king!’

11

But the fig tree also refused, saying,

‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit

just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

12

“Then they said to the grapevine,

‘You be our king!’

13

But the grapevine also refused, saying,

‘Should I quit producing the wine

that cheers both God and people,

just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

14

“Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,

‘Come, you be our king!’

15

And the thornbush replied to the trees,

‘If you truly want to make me your king,

come and take shelter in my shade.

If not, let fire come out from me

and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”

If you don't continue with what you started and Hillary gets elected you may find yourself burned in the process.

Beware Ministry Machismo

 The following is a quote from a book called "Zeal without Burnout" with the subtitle "Seven Keys to a Lifelong ministry of sustainable sacrifice."

I found myself greatly bothered by others in ministry with long prayer letters which were really bragamonies (Bragging testimonies). Then I discovered I was the worst offender and in my pride I was guilty on all counts. This quote really opened my eyes:

"Until recently, I lived in the centre of London, where, as in many vibrant cities, there is a somewhat cocky workplace machismo. "I'm working harder than you," is the culture, "and therefore I am more important than you. Indeed, it is necessary for me to let you know how hard I work, for only then will you truly appreciate how important I must be."
      It is not surprising that we can detect this culture seeping from the world into the church. We get kudos from how hard we are seen to be working.

Please pray for me. It's been very, very busy for the past few years. I do have to work, long hours, travel a lot, get rather little sleep, and often have to sacrifice my day off.

That is what I say with my lips, but the subtext in my heart may be this:

I want you to realize that I and my ministry are very 
important - and probably more important than you and your ministry. 

Such ministry machismo is proud and dangerous. To neglect sleep, Sabbaths, friendships and inward renewal is not heroism but hubris. It is to claim that I am a level or two above the normal members of the human race. When a fellow-Christian lets slip how very hard they are working, and that they haven't had a proper day off for a while, we need to find a way of saying to them (in love), "You are behaving like an arrogant fool."

     What is more, they will not just harm themselves. A friend in ministry wrote to me that one of the hardest things in his near-breakdown was "feeling like I was being expected to work at least as hard as I was, rather than being encouraged to be realistic and take a rest."

     I am so grateful that when I was an assistant minister, I was under a wise leader who understood this so well. He had a remarkable ability to work very hard. He guarded his days off and was very disciplined, and he certainly could work harder than me.

     But he never put pressure on me to work as hard as he did.

When I needed a break, he actively encouraged me to take as much break as I needed. I knew he thought none the worse of me for that. I thank God for that godly example and oversight. Those of us in leadership should try to emulate with the expectations we lay - or do not lay - on other."''''''
                                                                                                        Christopher Ash

Zeal without burnout by Christopher Ash, The Good Book Company 2016, pages 77 bottom to 79

Mindsets are powerful things but also very dangerous tools of the enemy Satan. If He can get us thinking a certain way he can cause many problems and divisions. He's being doing that for years.

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!...Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky..." Philippians 2:5-16 NIV

 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:15

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Father forgive me a servant with a prideful heart. I ask of you to change my heart that has wrong motives and false mindsets. Help me to have the mindset of Christ Jesus. Help me to do everything without grumbling and thinking I'm working harder than others and more tired than others. Help me to get my eyes off others and keep them on you. Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Thank you LORD. In Jesus name, Amen.

Watched a documentary of Donald J. Trump. I used to work for a Real Estate Trainer. We used training materials that have roots from a church in New York. It was sales techniques. The Pastor (Reverend Dr. Norman Vincent Peale) was the originator of the Power of Positive Thinking movement. Not all bad stuff but the flesh of man has taken it for greed and power purposes and have built empires. Dale Carnegie, Tony Robins, Mike Ferry, Robert Schuller, John C. Maxwell, Stephan R. Covey, Donald J. Trump and still more have all sat under this mans teaching. Most mega church pastors are loaded with seasoning from this teaching. All have mastered the art of manipulation. The company I worked for taught verbal hypnosis and Neural Linguistic Programming for closing sales (NLP) Its a psychological term that is used in suggestive reprogramming of mental patients usually but it has become a powerful tool in getting people to buy what they don't want. The documentary I watched showed a Democratic Donald J. Trump with the views of a liberal and a master manipulator and negotiator. America is blinded right now. Trump is best friends with the Clintons. Romans 16:17-18 "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and AVOID THEM. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by SMOOTH WORDS and FLATTERING SPEECH deceive the hearts of the simple." Colossians 2:4 and 8 "Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words....8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. I am asking my family and friends to please truly pray about who to support and vote for in this coming election. I have heard many even evangelicals say God is setting up the end times and He'll place into power the guy he wants. That is the enemy talking. We've been in the end times since Christ ascended into heaven. We must remain vigilant and occupy until he comes. Don't give up. prayerfully vote wisely. God bless