ベサニー・キリスト教会

夜祈祷会が２月から再開しています。通常は第１・３木曜日の夜８時～９時に集会をしていますが、３月は第３木曜日が春分の日にあたることもあって、３月のみ、第１、２、４木曜日（３回）を予定しています。
日中ご多忙で教会での交わりに参加したくてもできない方、どうぞ、夕食後に小一時間の集会ですが、いらしてください。

３月２３日（日）は今年のイースター（復活祭）礼拝です。『神は実にその一人子をお与えになるほどに私達を愛された』、この恵みを受けている者として、神様のひとり子であるイエス様の通られたあがないの死とよみがえりをともに思い起こして感謝して礼拝しましょう。　また、この日は私達の教会に新たな受洗礼者を迎える喜びがあります。M兄の洗礼式では、M兄の証も語られます。また、イースターを祝って有志での特別賛美も捧げます。どうぞ、ともに喜び祝ってください。礼拝は１０：３０～、その後昼食を共にします。１４：３０～金剛生駒霊園墓地にあるジャパン・ベサニー・ミッションの墓前にて、墓前礼拝をささげます。（教会から送迎車がでます。）

ｍｎ

First of all, thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragement-Reiko and I really appreciate it.

On the 4th of March I had a CT scan taken and the results were very good. The cancer has not spread at all. PTL! My blood test that day was also very very good and so my doctor was in good spirits. I was able to have my normal chemotherapy treatment that day and things went smoothly. Some weeks ago I fell into shock as a result of one of the drugs used in my treatment but that drug has been identified and removed from the mix so I can continue with the FOLFOX treatment minus that one drug.

I have been gaining weight and my appetite is good. I have no pain though overall I am weak. I still try to get to Mt. Kongo for exercise every week though I have to walk slowly and take things easy. I have bee slowly doing more things with the church. I am now doing a weekly Bible Study in preparation for our Easter baptism service.

My daily verse is 2 Corinthians 4:16 and I am really experiencing the truth found in that verse-daily God is re-newing my inner man. PTL!

Thanks again for all of your prayers-I trust you will continue to remember me in that way.

The Bible is an extensive collection of literature that, when taken together, presents the story Christians call the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christians believe this book is inspired by God and interpreted by the Spirit of God, but it remains a book written by human authors and understood primarily in the obvious ways we approach any literature. The message of the Bible answers the biggest, most important and most vital of life's questions and proclaims God's saving message to all persons. The rich literary contents of the Bible can occupy anyone with much study, but in its basic message-its essential, Christ-centered message-there is a remarkable directness and brevity. You do not have to be an expert on first century Judaism or the sociology of sacrificial systems to understand the Bible. The message is ably summerized in the Gospels and elsewhere in the New Testament. Even a child can understand it, believe it and live it.

From a recent post on Michael Spencer's blog

Amen!

It was over 20 years ago that I first heard of the guitarist Daniel Hecht and of the album "Willow". Every time I went to a record store here in Japan I would look for this album but never could find it. Finally, now, I have been able to obtain a copy of the CD and have really enjoyed finally hearing this fine artist.

Willow was put out as one of the first Windom Hill albums. Early Windom Hill and American Primitive Guitar are basically the same. In fact, Will Ackerman's first album, "In Search of the Turtle's Navel" was thought to really be a John Fahey album as John would often invent new names for himself and was into turtles in a big way. As to Daniel Hecht's style of playing he sounds just like early Alex deGrassi. (Turning: Turning Back) (Slow Circle)

Daniel Hecht has a background in classical guitar and that shows I guess. Early in his career he came down with psoriasis and this basically ended his guitar playiing. He is now an author.

Even though the album "Willow" is only available second hard I strongly recommend it-give it a listen if you have the chance,

If there is one lesson the believer needs to learn, who would enjoy the full indwelling of the Spirit, it is the one taught so forcefully in this passage: that the law, the flesh, and self-effort are all utterly useless in enabling us to serve God. It is the Spirit within, taking the place of the law without, that leads us into the liberty whereby Christ has made us free. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

page 118 of "The Spirit of Christ" by Andrew Murray

Next to our Chrismas Serice, our Easter Service is no doubt our biggest yearly service. While Christmas is a household word in Japan, Easter is hardly known at all. However, I am thankful that those who are Christains are aware of the centrality of Easter to our faith and our Easter Service is always a time for our church members to once more think about the wonderful power of God that raised Jesus from the dead.

Whenever possible, at Easter, we try to schedule a baptism and 2008 was no exception. Mr. M was able to share his testimony and be baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. Mr. M mainly came to faith in Christ through reading the Bible-first the New Testament and later the Old Testament. As is often the case, it took a lot of courage and the grace of God to cross the thresshold of the church but Mr. M was able to do so and as a result we were able to welcome into our church membership. If some of you have not been able to hear his testimony, I would urge you to borrow the CD from the church.

After our Easter Service and lunch we all went to our church gravesite for a simple service of praise and thanksgiving there.We were joined by the members of our sister church, the New Life Church of Kawachinagano and a wonderful time of fellowship was had by all. We were worried about the weather but our service started at 2:30 under a cloudy sky but with no rain. We ended at 3:00 and enjoyed coffee and tea and talking together till 3:30 when it started to rain and this seemed to be a clear sign that our Easter schedule for 2008 should end.

For myself, Easter was quite a challenge as I was fighting a fever the whole week before. However, by God's grace I was able to preach and baptize Mr. M and also share at the gravesite service.

Let me close with the words we read in church at our service.

"He is not here, for He is risen, as He said." Matthew 28:6

　久しぶりの書き込みです。
　桜が花を咲かせるのをむずむずと持ち構えているようです。もう一週間もすれば、一斉に咲き始めるのでしょう。「長い冬が終わったよ。さあ、咲くよ！見ててね！」　もし桜が話せたら、そんな風に言うのでしょうか？
　先週の日曜日は受洗式がありました。本当に嬉しかった・・感動しました。　受洗されたMさんは５歳の時ポリオにかかられました。彼はそのことを「感謝だった」と言いました。なぜなら、それが彼を造り主である神様に導く大きな動機となったからです。５０年過ぎて、彼は、その造り主なる神が、聖書の神であることを知られたのです。
　Mさんの証詞を聞きながら、私は水野源三さんを思い出していました。彼は９歳の時、赤痢の熱で寝たきりになり、話すこともできなくなりました。皆さんは、水野さんをご存知でしょうか？彼の詩を一つご紹介しましょう。

　　　　　　　　悲しみよ　悲しみよ　本当にありがとう
　　　　　　　　お前が来なかったなら　つよくなかったなら
　　　　　　　　私はいまどうなっていたか
　　　　　　　　悲しみよ　悲しみよ　おまえが私を　
　　　　　　　　この世にはない　大きなよろこびが
　　　　　　　　かわらない平安がある　
　　　　　　　　主イエス様の　みもとに
　　　　　　　　つれて来てくれたのだ

　今日も皆さんの上に神様の必要な力、慰め、平安がありますように・・・

It was in the early 70s that I was first introduced to the idea of a "worldview" by Francis Schaeffer. As a result I have tried to develop a consitant Christian worldview for myself and have tried to understand the worldviews of others. However, I am ashamed to admit that I only recently read "The Universe Next Door" even though it was first published in 1973 and is the premier textbook on worldviews. Over 250, 000 copies have been printed so far

In this book, James Sire tells us what kinds of questions need to be answered when looking at a worldview. He covers most of the modern worldviews that we would come into contact with. He covers Christian theism, deism, naturalism, nihilism, existentialism, Eastern panthiestic monism, New Age philosophy, and postmodernism. Because of recent events, I would hope that in future revised editions he might also cover Islam as a major worldview held by a great number of people today.

It is important to realize that we all hold a worldview whether or not we think in those terms or not. James Sire has written a great book to help us understand our own worldview and also the worldviews of others. I would strongly encourage you all to read this important book.

For most people in Japan the appearance of the cherry blossoms is a sign of spring. However, for me, it reminds me that the last snow of the season is probsbly falling up on the peak of Mt. Kongo. This year was no exception. Today (March31) the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. However, as I headed toward Mt. Kongo the weather slowly changed and by the time I got to the parking lot all I could see was fog.

As I started walking toward the peak, the wet ground first turned to slush and then slowly grew whiter and a snowscape started to appear. The closer I got to the peak the more snow I saw and then it actually started to snow. It was strange watching the snow come down knowing that back in Sakai City the sun was shining and people were enjoying cherry blossom viewing.

When I finally reached the peak the temperature was exactly 0. Needless to say, sitting by the stove in the coffeehouse felt awful good. I had brought a book along and so as I drank coffee made with local Mt. Kongo water I enjoyed a nice long rest.

I suspect that this might be the last snow I will see this season and so I am happy that my health and schedule allowed me to enjoy this last sight of, not white cherry blossoms, but white snow on bare tree branches.