Dec 30, 2011

Is the worst really worst?



Sometimes, somehow, I'm boggled by people saying the word "worst". 
ときどき、何故か、「最悪」という言葉に妙に違和感を覚えてしまいます。

In my twisted mind, I started thinking "Is this person really know what has been said??"
私の曲がった頭の中では「この人は本当に何を言っているのか分かってるのかな?」と考えてしまいます。

Before going any further, I want to make this clear.
I do think there is a room for "worst". I do have worst moment in my life in my short twenty-two years.
And I've heard some people's experiences that, to me, are unthinkably hard and painful.
I believe that they were really difficult time. So I recognize that I need to be sensitive this place.
これより先に行く前に、これはクリアにしておきたいのですが。
確かに、「最悪」ということばにもその場所はあると思います。私にも「最悪」なときは、短い22年間の中でですが、ありました。
それだけでなく、他の人が私には考えられない程の厳しい、痛みを伴う経験をしたことも聞いたことがあります。そして、それらは本当に苦しい時だったと信じていますし、これに関してはセンシティブになる必要もあると思います。

But here I am just giving some thoughts of mine, so please allow me to say following words.
ここでは、ただ私が考えたことを述べます。これで気を害される方がいましたら、このことを了承下さい。

It is often preached from pulpits: "The best is yet to come.".
Likewise, I think "the worst is yet to come" or should I say, "the worst is not something we can easily explain." . 
When I read and see what Christ went through, those thing I time to time think as worst fades away and the word "worst" seems to be poor expression.
「最良はこれから来るのです」という言葉は、何度も教壇から述べられたことでしょう。
しかし、それと同じように、「最悪はこれから来るのです」または「最悪はそんなに簡単に説明できるものではない」とも言えるのではないでしょうか。
キリストが私のために何をなさったかを読んだとき、考えたとき、それらの「最悪」は色あせてしまい、稚拙な表現に思えてしまうのです。

The more I go deeper in the Gospel and Finished work of Christ, the lighter my sufferings becomes.
Think about what Christ had gone through for us!!!!
Is your experience that hard?? Something you make of big deal, is it really that big??
福音とキリストの完成された働きを深めれば深めるほど、私の苦しみは軽く見えてしまうのです。
キリストが私のために何をなさったかを考えてみてください。
この経験はそんなに大変でしょうか?大きく考えていることは、そんなに大きなことでしょうか?

People quote Romans8:29, and say "my worst experience can bear some good.". 
Well, I think sometimes, your worst experiences are the best lessons you will ever have!!
If that scripture becomes so much real in our lives, I don't think we would ever want to exchange such time for other things.
Actually, I've heard Pastor Tullian said "The year was most difficult year in my life, but I will never exchange the year for anything!".
ローマの8:29を引用し、多くの人は「私の最悪な経験から、神は良いものを生み出された」と言います。
私は、最悪の経験はときには最高の教訓となると思うのです。
そして、もしも最悪が最高を生み出せるのなら、それは果たして「最悪」だったのでしょうか?
パスター・テュリアンが「この年は私にとって最も苦しい年であった。しかし、私はこの年を他の何ものとも取り換え用とは思わない。」といったことを私は覚えています。

I have to say that I have not experienced such difficult times as I've heard others had gone through. (I need to be thankful for it, of course)
But at same time, I know that there will be a day I will want to say "This is worst!!". 
"Hold on, think about it!
Remember what Christ has done for me!!!", 
I have to preach to myself. 
私はここで告白しておくべきなのは、私はまだそのような苦しい経験をしたことがないということです。そしてもちろん、そのことは感謝すべきことなのですが。
しかし、同時に、私にもこれから「これは最悪だ!」と思うような時が来るでしょう。

「ちょっとまてよ!!
キリストが何をなされたかを思い出して!!」
とその時には、自分自身に言わなければならないでしょう。

As Christian, we all have a light that never fades and goes out!!!
Hold on the Light, who is Jesus who gave everything to you!! 
クリスチャンとして、私たちには決して消えない光をもっています。
その光を手放さないで!!イエスは全てを私たちに与えてくださったのだから。

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
わたしは、あなたがたに平安を残します。わたしは、あなたがたにわたしの平安を与えます。わたしが、あなたがたに与えるのは、世が与えるのとは違います。あなたがたは心を騒がせてはなりません。恐れてはなりません。 

Dec 11, 2011

CCBC Tokyo Conference!!!

Hello, there!!!

It has been a while since the last post, sorry!!!
My schedule has become busy lately, so I couldn't take time to blog :(
But finally, I almost forced myself to blog just for relaxing.

Last weekend, CCBC(Calvary Chapel Bible College) Tokyo hosted two day confernce at CCFuchu, called "Servant Leader Conference".

Good friend of mine, Zach Ruiz did fantastic job putting this together. I am really thankful for him  and his dad, pastor Tom for making this happen.
Though I was only able to attend second day, I was extremely blessed.

I was given privilege to be a interpretor for two speakers both of who are really good friend of mine, Joel and Mike.
Joel serves at CCBC Okinawa and Mike is a missionary at CCTokorozawa.
They did excellent job. As a interpretor, I think I get to absorb more than congregation. I was blessed.
Joel teaching, I interpreting 

Joel taught workshop title "Leadership". Personally, I was very convicted of my lack of being an example to others. He explained that we need to walk in fear to God, so that I can set an example for others and lead them to the fear to God.

Mike seriously "nailed" it!! He taught the main session called "Worship".
He simply took us through Psalm 103 and it was just glorious!!!
"Everything, serving, leading or evangelizing..etc starts with worshiping God", he said.
And our worship is only response to God's amazing love and mercy and we can worship Him for Who He is. Then as we understand more about God's love for us, the love we see grows bigger and bigger!!!

Oh, how much I try to worship God by my own flesh!!! I often try to generate the motivation in me in order to praise Him. That's just totally wrong!!!
God's love has nothing with me; He loves me unconditionally!!!
If I want see God's love grows in me, I only need to see Him more closely.
Mike teaching, I interpreting

Lastly, I was given opportunity to teach workshop as well.
I am really grateful to Pastor Tom for taking such a risk to let me teach. I was overwhelmingly  blessed.
I was assigned workshop called "Workplace". It was very challenging subject since I never worked full time!! But, God was good to me. He gave me words to speak, and hopefully people were blessed as well. and I have to give thanks to Logan, for his patience towards my changing notes and skipping the order on the note. He did a good job.
Me teaching

To God Alone be the Glory

Dec 2, 2011

Madison&Rileigh Cunningham

Just wanted to share a video with you all.
I'm always encouraged to see how God uses people regardless any labels we have.
There two girls are one example of that.
Madison and Rileigh Cunningham are the daughters of Scott Cunningham, who is excellent and well-known worship leader especially among Calvary Chapel circle.
I think Madison, who is older sister is only 15 or so.
I had a chance to listen to them few times in U.K.. I have to say they are truly gifted.
I was so drawn to presence of God.
So, here are few videos. Hope you Enjoy!!

今回は2つのビデオを紹介します。
神が人のもつ外見的な要素に関係なく、人を用いてくださることを見るといつも励まされます。
この二人もその良い例です。
マディソン&ライレイ・カニングハムは、カルバリーの間で良く知られているスコット・カニングハムの娘です。
この二人の賛美をイギリスにいるときに聞く機会があったのですが、とってもすごい賜物が与えられているというしかありません。
確か、お姉さんのマディソンが15くらいだったと思いますが、すごく賛美へと引き寄せられたのを覚えています。
下にビデオを載せたので、楽しんでください!


There May Be Tears from School Of Worship on Vimeo.