ベサニー・キリスト教会

1600 times! Today, I climbed Mt. Kongo for the 1600th time. The Rainy Season cooperated and in spite of the 50% chance of rain forecast, the weather was wonderful-nice and sunny. I enjoyed a cup of coffee at the peak and then enjoyed my noon meal at the lodge about a mile from the peak. My heart was full of thanksgiiving as I thought back to July of 2007 when I was diagnosed with cancer. Of course one of the things that I thought at that time was that I might not be able to climb Mt. Kongo anymore.

However, as I prayed after my operation in America in September of 2007 God clearly led me back to Japan-not only to preach and to do Bible Studies but also to continue to climb mountains. And so I have been able to continue to climb Mt Kongo on a regular basis-often alone but sometimes with Mr. K from our church.

The question that always comes up is why climb the same mountain? Well, for one thing Mt. Kongo has about 100 official and un-official trails-each ridge and each valley seems to have its own trail. Each trail is totally different. So it is really like climbing 100 different mountains.

Also, Mt. Kongo under 2 feet of snow and Mt. Kongo in the heat of summer is like 2 different mountains. And of course the same thing applies to spring and fall-Mt. Kongo with fresh green leaves and cherry blossoms and Mt. Kongo with fall colors and falling leaves again is like two different mountains. Not to mention the weather and the time of day. Climbing Mr. Kongo in a blizzard is an experience not to forget as is climbing at sunrise and at sunset.

At any rate, climbing Mt. Kongo is never boring-I look forward to each new climb with expectation.
By the way, Mr. Hirano has climbed Mt. Kongo over 10,000 times so climbing 1600 times is not considered much of a feat among the Mt. Kongo climbing community. So, I plan to continue to climb Mt. Kongo, not to set any records but to enjoy the fresh air and good scenery and good company of other climbers that I meet there.

If you live in the Osaka area, try climbing Mt. Kongo some time. And if you live outside of Japan, when you make that visit to Japan and come to Osaka, think about adding a hike up to the peal of Mt. Kongo to your travel plans.

On the 13th of July (Sunday) at 4 pm we will be having an English Service. We will sing some songs in English and also hear a testimony in English. The testimony will be translated into Japanese so even if your English is a bit rusty, please come anyhow.

Afterwards we always have a coffee time and everyone is free to speak in whatever language is comfortable to them. Usually that means there are conversations in English and Japanese going on but sometimes even other languages show up and our little gathering becomes quite international.

Our English Service is usually quite a small meeting but we are always happy and ready to welcome new people into our group. Please come and join us. We are waiting for you.

今週の土曜日、７月１９日、７：００ｐ．ｍ．から、沖縄の具志堅ファミリーによるゴスペルコンサートが催されます。沖縄の音楽とゴスペルの融合、聴いてみませんか？夏の一夜を、沖縄サウンドと神様の愛で満たされて過ごしましょう。また、たくさんの証しをうかがえることでしょう。
無料で開放しておりますので、どうぞ、お一人でも、また、ご家族、お友達と誘い合ってお気軽にお越しください。コンサートの後はささやかですが、お菓子とソフトドリンク・コーヒータイムを用意しております。

具志堅ファミリーは、以前にも、ベサニーキリスト教会にお越しいただき、すばらしい演奏とよい交流の時を過ごしました。元気と勇気と明るさを受けましたし、本当に穏やかな気持ちで音楽を楽しませていただきました。同じ日本でも、大阪と沖縄はまだまだ遠く、このような機会が再び与えられたことを心から感謝します。みなさんも、ぜひ、共に喜んでください。

ｍｎ

"It has been said by someone that the proper study of mankind is man. I will not oppose the idea, but I believe that it is equally true that the proper study of God's elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father."

Charles Spurgeon, Sunday morning sermon, January 7, 1855

Amen!

I am now listening to a really great CD. It is "Soliloquy" by David Qualey. David is not really an American Primitive Guitar player but is for sure a great finger style guitar player. He has been described as an "American classical guitarist now living in Germany". As all American Primitive Guitar players mix in classical playiing or have classical influences I think that I can include David Qualey in that group.

I suspect he is not so well known in America (or in Japan) as he lives and records in Germany. I also suspect he is quite well known in Europe. At any rate, after having known his name for many many years I finally was able to get his one and only Windom Hill CD called, "Soliloquy. It is a real feast for the ears! I believe that his "Opus 20" and "Santa Cruz" are well known among guitarists. These two tunes are both on the CD plus 10 other original compositions. Though he is called a "claissical" player, he does not play the classics-rather he plays his own original compositions. He plays in a "classical" style but his music is much more than that.

I strongly recommend this CD-however, there is one big drawback. It is not in production now and so the only CDs available are second hand and they are very very expensive. If I had not been looking for this CD for such a long time I never would have bought it but for me personally it has turned out to be worth the high price.

At any rate, David Qualey is a really great guitarist-I am sure his more recent work is also great. Check him out if you have the chance!

It is that time of year again when the cool canyons of the Japanese mountains start calling. With the daily temperature in the 90s there is something very attractive about the idea of a cool valley where the temperature is in the low 70s. Add to that a cool breeze and the sound of natural flowing water and it is nearly impossible to not seek out a canyon to climb.

Mr. N and I choose to climb the Marutaki Valley located on the north side of Mt. Kongo. The north side is the "wild" side of Mt. Kongo where few people live and few people venture into the mountains.

We knew we were getting near the entrance to the valley when the still hot air changed to cool moving air. We were soon in the canyon following the stream which was our only path. At the first large waterfall we took a picture and coffee break and then pushed on into the depths of the valley. From the first waterfall on it was just one waterfall after another but as this valley has become popular recently there was always a rope wherever getting up a particular waterfall seemed difficult.

Finally, we came to the side valley that contained the waterfall that gives the valley its name-the Marutaki-the Maru Waterfall. There we took another break and prepared for our escape from the valley. I say "escape" because the only way out it is to climb a high rock wall-you either climb the rock wall or you are stuck in the valley with no way to get out.

In a Japanese map this place is marked as an "akuba" which means that it is dangerous and that care must be taken. Here, we actually had to use a rope to get out but we made it out ok and started up the last stretch of the now waterless valley. At that point, the sky turned black and we heard thunder. We got ready for a real soaking but the rain really never came except for a few drops that caught us nearly at the end of the trail.

About three hours after we started we found ourselves at the peak of Mt. Kongo and ready for a late lunch.At the peak the temperature was even cooler-only 64 degrees. It was hard to imagine the 90 degree weather at the foot of the mountain but all good things have to end sometime and so after lunch we headed down the south side of the mountain to be picked up by my patient wife waiting in the car there.

I think I have discovered the perfect way to spend a hot summer day!