ベサニー・キリスト教会

I was finally able to purchase the John Fahey CD, "Yes! Jesus Loves Me". This is John Fahey's only CD that is ALL HYMNS and is a CD that I have wanted to own for a long long time. Starting in 1963 John Fahey closed his albums with a Christian hymn. However, this CD consists of 20 hymns played as only John Fahey can play-a really good listen.

Not many well known guitarists put out albums that are all hymns. The only other such album that I own is "A Closer Walk With Thee" by Martin Simpson. Interestingly, the one hymn that many many guitarists record is "Amazing Grace". For example, the Japanese guitarist, Nakazato Isato" has recorded it on his CD "Standards" while John Fahey has recorded it on his CD "America".

Finally, though this is John Fahey's only CD of regular hymns, he has recorded many Christmas albums of mostly Christams carols. In fact, his best selling album is an album of Christmas carols that he recorded in 1968 called "The New Possiblility". As a result he has recorded numerous other Christmas albums over the years and they all are very good-I recommend them all.

Today I was finally physically strong enough to once again climb Mt. Kongo. This was of course a great chance to again use my new snake boots that I bought in Tennessee, The temperature was exactly 0 at the peak of Mt. Kongo and there was light snow cover in places-perfect conditions to make use of knee high warm boots.

Because I am still quite weak physically because of my recent chemo treatments I chose to climb the Sillver Course which I believe is the easiest Mt. Kongo route. It was wonderful to be back in the mountains again. I noticed that the wild boars (inoshishi) had been very busy digging up roots etc. all along the side of the valley.

I also enjoyed stopping in at the rest area near the peak for a cup of hot coffee made using Mt. Kongo natural spring water. Over all I had a really enjoyable day. I am so glad that in spite of the chemo treatments I can still look forward to being strong enough to go climbing at times. PTL

I am presently reading "Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History" by Francis Schaeffer. This is I believe one of his "minor" books but I am finding it to be a very good book indeed. Along with his book, "No Little People" in this book we see Schaeffer the preacher rather than Schaeffer the philosopher or apologist or sociologist. However, of course, we see him applying the same concepts that he shares in his other books as he looks at Joshua and Moses and Abraham and other Old Testament characters. As modern Christains we tend to focus on the New Testament but this book is especially good in helping us to see how all the New Testament concepts that we hold have their genesis in the Old Testament. I would urge those of you who are readers of Schaeffer to consider giving this book of his a read-it will challenge you.

今週２３日（日曜）はクリスマス礼拝とイブ礼拝がありました。子供達との教会学校を担当した私は、残念ながら、朝の礼拝がどのようであったのかわかりませんが、礼拝前に会堂がどんどん大勢の人で混み合いだし、「また、こうして皆さんと、神さまのプレゼントを感謝して受け取り、喜びを分かち合う特別な日に、私も一緒に過ごせてうれしいな」と、思いました。　礼拝の様子は、また後日。

さて、子供達も、和気あいあいと、楽しいひと時を過ごしました。賛美は「えぇ～っ！」と恥ずかしそうに歌い始めたものの、だんだんと声も出てきて気持ちよく、主を賛美しました。聖書の御言葉からは「神様に求めると与えられる、神様は応えてくださる、自分勝手なお願いかどうか、よく考えて祈ろう」と話し合いました。ゲームも盛り上がって、楽しかったです。この日、ひとりひとりの子供達の目なざしと笑顔が、最近風邪や疲れで元気不足だった私の心をぱーっと明るく照らしてくれました。なんか、残りの一日がもっと感謝と喜びに満ちた”元気の素”くすりを摂った気分でした。H姉がご用意くださったビンゴゲームでは、どの子も真剣に数字と自分のカードを見比べていましたよ。（＾＾）共にご奉仕ありがとうございました。

礼拝後は、ご婦人方の手料理の昼食を、大勢でいただきました。忙しい中、心のこもった料理をご用意いただき、ありがとうございました。m（_　_）m　

夕方、外が少し暗くなり始めた４時過ぎ、イブ礼拝が始まりました。N姉の素敵な歌声がMちゃんのすばらしいピアノ伴奏音にのって、会堂に響きました。背中がゾクっとする感動って表現わかりますか？空中を御使いがふわ～っと飛び横切っているような。。。　続いて、マンドリンとギター演奏、ミニB有志による賛美、メンズによる賛美があり、ショートメッセージはM兄が、「神様からのギフトは多くの希望を私達に与えてくださる」ことについて語ってくださいました。今年は、人数は少なめでしたが、やはり温かい分かち合いの交わりの時として祝福されました。ケーキやお菓子も美味しかったです。

夏から晩秋まで、牧師ご夫妻がアメリカでの師の病気治療のために留守だった中、教会に集うひとりひとりが、祈りあい、助け合い、励ましあい過ごしたせいか、ずいぶん長い間緊張が続いた後で、ご夫妻が無事帰国され、少し安堵したところで迎えたクリスマスでした。お父さんとお母さんが家に帰ってきてやっと家族がそろって食事ができた・・・みたいです。Praise the Lord!
毎日、毎週会える方も、ずっとご無沙汰の方も、また笑顔で来週も共に主を賛美し、祈りささえあえる恵みを感謝しましょうね。病気で礼拝に参加できない兄弟姉妹のためにも祈りましょう。旅行に出かける兄弟姉妹の旅程が守られ、祝福されますように。

風邪が流行っています、毎日、外出から帰ったら、うがいと手洗いを心がけましょう。
MN

This year we held our Christmas Worship Service on the 23rd of December. It was a wonderful time with around 50 people in attendance. Besides new people there were several people who had not been to our church for many years. After the service we all enjoyed a Christmas feast together. Then, at 4 p.m. we held our Christmas Eve Service. In Japan, the actual dates, December 24 and 25, are usually not considered too important. Most churches hold their various Christmas services at the times most convenient for their members and not based on the calendar.

Our Christmas Eve Service was also well attended with a really good atmosphere from beginning to end. This year, for the first time, I myself had nothing to do with this service because of my recent health problems. As a result I was able to sit back and really enjoy the service in a new way. As I sat in the service my heart was filled with thanksgiving as I realized that our church here had matured to the point that church members could now handle everything without any help from myself or my wife. PTL!

In this service also we saw several new people in attendance. The Christmas season is a wonderful opportunity for evangelism in Japan. During most of the year, attending a Christian church is quite a challenge for new people. However, at Christmas, it seems to suddenly become easy and natural. Christmas is also a great time for personal evangelism as all the Christmas Carols and various Christmas events going on easily lead to the question of the meaning of Christmas which of course leads to the gospel-the good news of Jesus Christ coming to earth as our Savior from sin.

I always wish that the Christmas season would last longer and when Christmas is over I find myself already waiting for the next Christmas season to come along.