Mother's Day

Our Abundant Life Church celebrated Mother's Day the 13th.

I am preaching from Jonah 4, 'The most gracious and merciful God.' I quoted my mother in the message: Since we live because of God's grace, we desire that others around us taste that grace."

The sinner....

”I more fear what is within me than what comes from without.” Martin Luther

 ‘God, have mercy on me, the sinner.’ Luke 18:13

An encounter with God

The cure for our self-absorption is an encounter with God. The real God is infinitely glorious, weighty, and beautiful. When God moves from being a concept to a reality, he changes our beliefs and priorities by displaying his beauty, man’s sinfulness, and purifying man by grace. Once changed, we can live new lives for him.

Listen to a Tim Keller sermon: The Gospel and Your Self 

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3

Tsunami Aftermath: Second Chances in Japan

'There is no country in the world where the church has sown the gospel so generously, yet reaped so sparingly.' Doug Birdsall on Japan


But because of the massive 9.0 earthquake, the destructive tsunami and the nuclear melt-down at Fukushima, brought the Tohoku (north of Tokyo) area to it's knees, this area of Japan is more open than ever to the gospel of Christ. For the missionary, pastor, follower of Christ and the non-believing Japanese, we can pray,  "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God..." Psalm 42:5

Please read Tsunami Aftermath: Second Chances in Japan | Christianity Today. There is hope for even Japan.


Pict: Relief workers Naho worked with, last August. Pict taken by Naho.

We praise Thee, O God!

   We praise Thee, O God!
　For the Son of Thy love,　
For Jesus Who died,
　And is now gone above.
   Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
　Hallelujah! Amen.
　Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
　Revive us again. （Refrain）
   We praise Thee, O God!
　For Thy Spirit of light,
　Who hath shown us our Savior,
　And scattered our night.
   All glory and praise
　To the Lamb that was slain,
　Who hath borne all our sins,
　And hath cleansed every stain.
   All glory and praise
　To the God of all grace,
　Who hast brought us, and sought us,
　And guided our ways.
   Revive us again;
　Fill each heart with Thy love;
　May each soul be rekindled
　With fire from above.

William Mackay


"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." Colossians 1:19-20

School...

On April 25th and May 2nd, our schools (Kasei Junior High & Namiyanagi Elementary) had a parents visitation day.

Hosahna's (4th grade) painting- cherry blossoms. Of course I'm a little biased, but I thought her's was the best.

Shane (5th) is on the left.

'However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),  "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.' Ephesians 5:33 - 6:4　＠ Note how the husband / wife relationship precedes the parent / child relationship. True parenting begins with a quality husband / wife relationship.

Silence...

"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls." 

Mother Teresa

But Mother Teresa also experienced another 'silence.' The silence of God. "The dark night of the soul." Read A History of Darkness. Is it painful! Sometimes we can only know the affection of our Father through this pain though. Then as we look to Christ crucified and risen, by this grace, we can touch souls in a more compassionate way.

 As the deer pants for streams of water,
   so my soul pants for you, my God.
 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
   When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
   day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
   “Where is your God?”
These things I remember
   as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
   under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
   among the festive throng.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
   Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
   for I will yet praise him,
   my Savior and my God.....

Read more of Psalm 42 & 43