ベサニー・キリスト教会

Title: クリスチャンとして成長

洗礼を受けて早半年とちょっと…。
初めて証しを書きます新米クリスチャンnahoです。
私は救われた嬉しさや喜びでランランルンルン♪♪♪な日々を過ごしていたのですが、

最近になって“罪”という言葉にものすごく敏感になっていました。

というのも、神さまを知らない時は「罪の意識」も、「罪を犯す」ということも何も考えず過ごしていたけど、
神さまを知ってから、神さまが喜ばないこと、悲しむことはしたくない！と強く思いだしたんです。
…が、その気持ちとウラハラに毎日罪を犯してしまうしょーもない自分に凹んでいました。

いい子ちゃんでおりたいとは違うんだけど、いったいぜんたいどーしたらいいんだろうって。
その頃自分自身の問題でも色々あって（人間関係がしんどかったり、失恋したりetc…）、

もぉイヤや！何で？ってなってしまったり。
その時に同じベサニーの姉妹のみんなに聞いたり、聖書を読んだりしました。

でね、最終的には思いっきり神さまに言いました。「助けて～！！」と。叫び求めました。
そしていままでと明らかに違うお祈りを自分でしていることに気がついたんです。
その先にあったのは、何とも言えない“平安”な心でした。

だってこんな私でも神さまはめちゃくちゃ愛してくれてるのがわかったからです。

これがお祈りしてゆだねる、ってことなんだな～と少しだけ（ホントにちょっとだけやけど）
信仰が成長した気持ちになりました。

これからもいっぱい色々なことがあると思うけれども、
どんな時でも大胆に声に出して「神様～！！」って素直に言える自分でありたいと思います。

そしてベタニアのマルタとマリアのマリアのように、
イエス様だけを私の主として、いつどんなときも信じて歩んでいきたいと思います。
Naho

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Lydia trying her hand at rock climbing at the Kura Iwa in Osaka, Japan.

Some weeks ago I wrote about "One Rope" and how thankful I was to have someone share their precious climbing rope with me. Some days ago, I went rock climbing with Lydia (Jon Dugan's daughter) and learned another important lesson-that was the joy of sharing.

When I bought all my climbing equipment last fall, the last thing I though about was someone else using it. That thought just did not enter my mind. However, talking to Lydia and finding out that she really wanted to do some rock climbing here I realized that to make it happen I would need to lend her all of my equipment.

Some days ago on a beautiful spring day we went rock climbing at Mt. Makio. After looking at the various climbing areas it was time for Lydia to climb. I helped her into my harness and explained the several pieces of equipment needed. I then had a really wonderful time watching her climb. In fact I think I enjoyed watching her climb more than had I been climbing myself. There is something special about enabling someone to enjoy and experience something new. There is the joy of being helped but then there is the joy of helping. There is the joy of receiving but then there is also the joy of giving.

At any rate we had a wonderful time of climbing (even though I did none of it) and were happy to go down the mountain a bit to the rest house in front of the temple for some hot coffee and good conversation with the good people who run the rest house there.

Matthew: So in everything,do to others what you would have them do to you.

Paul

English service at the Bethany Christ Church

On Sunday the 14th of June from 4:00pm, we will be hosting our English service. It is an informal get together, praising and worshipping the Lord with our brothers, sisters, and friends. The service is conducted in English, with Japanese interpretation, so anyone can enjoy. Please come and join us. We also enjoy chatting over coffee and cookies after the service. See you there!

ベサニーキリスト教会　英語集会
6月14日（日）の午後4時から英語集会を行います。兄弟・姉妹・友達と共に、リラックスした雰囲気で賛美と礼拝をおこないます。集会は英語で行いますが、もちろん日本語の通訳も付きますので、どなたが参加して頂いても大丈夫。
是非ご参加ください。集会後のコーヒータイムでおしゃべりするのも楽しみの一つです。お待ちしています。

I am now reading two very good books about capitalism. The first is "The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism" by Michael Novak and the second is "Money, Greed, and God" by Jay. W. Richards.

Michael Novak is an American Catholic philosopher and his book is one of the classic works on the subject. I have not finished reading the whole book yet but he seems to cover his subject in a very complete manner. His book was first published in 1982 but is really timeless. He started out as a socialist but gradually came to change his thinking. In his book he takes us through the steps that led to his conclusion that democratic capitalism was not only a good system but seems to be the only economic system that really works. It is a long and scholarly work and seems to be full of what I can only call "wisdom". At any rate, a very good read.

Jay W. Richards is a Protestant Christian Theologian and Apologist and his book was published just this year. (2009) The subtitle for his book reads, "Why Capitalism is the Solution and not the Problem". That pretty much sums up his message. It is a shorter book and is much easier to read than Michael Novak's book. However, their message is the same and I suspect that Jay's book may become a modern classic on the subject. Those who may not read "The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism" because it seems too long and difficult will no doubt find "Money, Greed, and God" easy and fun reading while being very deep at the same time. He uses eight myths that most people believe about capitalism and each chapter is devoted to one myth and showing why it is a myth and not the truth. And so, in this case also, a very good read.

If you have not yet read these two books I highly recommend them.

Paul