ベサニー・キリスト教会

大阪府堺市のはずれにある、泉北ニュータウンのそのまたはずれにある村の小さな教会。
でもそこに一歩踏み入れたら暖かい家庭的な雰囲気にあなたの心もなごむことでしょう。
聖書の中にある、一世紀当時の教会の姿がここにはあります。
まだ一度も教会に行ったことのない方､以前教会に行っていたけど今は行っていない方､どなたでもどうぞご遠慮なくお出で下さい。

On the 8th of June, we will be holding an English Service at 4pm. Our guests this time will be Michael and Lydia Dugan, both from Minnesota, U.S.A. Michael has just graduated from college while Lydia is still a college student. They will share with us through musiic and will also share their testimonies with us. They will sing and share in English but Mr. Motoaki will translate everything into Japanese.

Michael and Lydia both grew up in Japan and are both very energetic and fun people. You are all welcome to come and join us for what is sure to be a wonderful English Service., After the service we will have a time for refreshments and a time to get to know each other better.

Please come and join us! We are waiting for you!

"Ontological priority even governs the evangel. All four Gospels are bent on aswering one primary question: Who is Jesus? It is not what he did or even what he said that is the first matter of importance. It is who he was. If he is understood to be who he was, then his teaching will be powerful and existential, not just abstractly true, and his life, death and resurrection will be among the most significant events of the cosmos."

Page 57 of "Naming the Elephant" by James W. Sire

There are two sounds that I can hear when I go rock climbing at Mt. Makio that I cannot ever hear while I am at home here in the New Town.

The first sound is the sound that a swift (Japanese: Ama Tsubame) makes as it cuts through the still air. Near our church we daily see many barn swallows and they seem to fly so fast and yet they make no sound. A swift looks like a large swallow but it flies so fast that there is actually a "swish" sound as it passes by. The first time I heard this sound I did not know what it was but now I look forward to seeing and hearing the swifts as they fly over the cliffs and rocks of the climbing area.

The second sound is a more sinister sound and I have only heard it only once. It is the sound that a rock or stone makes as it comes down the mountain at tremendous speed. It is a "whine" and a "buzz". Actually, it sounds like a wasp or a bee. However, when you look around to find the insect, instead you hear the sound of a rock shattering on the valley floor. And then you know that you were in the right place at the right time as that particular rock did not hit you-that it was close enough to hear but that was all. As I said at the beginning I have only heard this sound once and I hope not to hear it again-at least for a long while. But it is a unique sound and I am glad that I at least know what it sounds like.

Needless to say, I will continue to enjoy the sound of the swifts and continue to dread hearing the other sound. And I will certainly be careful to not drop any loose stones or rocks down the mountain and be myself the cause of that awful "buzzing" sound to be heard by others who might be on the mountain that day!

The man who is living in full dependence on God is not concerned whether he is tired or strong, whether he feels healthy or sick; he has learned to receive from his God promptings for service. If he feels he must rise early, for him that is the will of God, necessary in order that he go safely through the day. He, childlike, goes to his Father, saying, "Give me from the moment I rise my daily bread," and that includes the Spirit of God working in the mortal body, so that body, soul, and spirit become, moment by moment, what the Lord wants them to be for His Service.

Page 274 of The Spirit of Christ

According to the 2002 April edition of "Acoustic Guitar" American Primitive Guitar is "a style of instrumental guitar playing that favors open tunings and deft fingerpicking with roots in traditional folk and blues as well as more contemporary sources".

"In the regenerate man there is no more subtle temptation than this-that even in the service of God, self still seeks to assert itselt in its will and strength to do God's will, instead of waiting in dependence on the Holy Spirit for Him to work, to will, and to do. This is why the Lord Jesus said so distinctly, "Let a man deny himself, and take up his cross";the life and the power of self must be sacrificed and given up for the Spirit to work. Even so He speaks of our hating and loving our life ((soul) if we are to find the true life, the life of the Spirit." Page 230 of The Spirit of Christ

Yesterday I climbed the Katora Valley with Mr. K. I had a specific reaason for climbing this valley at this time. The Katora Valley contains probably the best wild flower field in all of Mt. Kongo. There are several types of flowers which take their turn blooming there but the most famous is a flower called ICHI RIN SOU in Japanese. Another type called NI RIN SOU is also famous. These are both small white flowers that totally cover the ground in the upper parts of the valley. Both sides of the trail are totally covered with flowers-a wonderful sight. Mr. K and I were able to see these flowers in full bloom.

Another aspect of the valley that we enjoyed was the spring green. The shade of green in all of the valley was just un-believable. I am sure I see it every spring but each year I am amazed again.

A third high light of climbing the Katora Valley is the natural spring located about half way up the main trail. Here, a spring flows from a rock face, For the past 20 years I have never seen it run dry or for that matter increase in any way-there is just a steady flow of cold clear water. Mr. K and I talked about Moses in the desert when he had water flow from the rock. Some people might thing water does not usually flow from solid rock but our experience has been that that is the most common way for springs to appear. It looks like the water is flowing from solid rock.

For those of you who live in the Osaka area, it is still not too late. Climb the Katora Valley and enjoy the spring flowers!