Praying for Lusko family

Please keep Pastor Levy and his family in prayer.
パスター・リーバイと彼の家族を祈りに覚えてください。

Their little girl Lenya went to be with the Lord on 20th of December.
まだ、幼い娘さんレニヤちゃんが去った２０日に天に召されました。

I have so much respect for Pastor Levy.
I listen to his message quite often. and as a man, I respected his relevancy with the world and none compromised preaching of the word.
I gleaned a lot of insights from his blog and facebook posts.
God is using him and the church big time in Montana and I was excited to see God's work through the ministry.
パスター・リーバイに私は大きな敬意を持っています。
もちろん、直接お会いしたことはないのですが、彼のメッセージをよく聴きますし、彼の世の中とのつながり方、妥協しない宣教のスタイルをとても尊敬してきました。
彼のブログやFacebookからも、様々なことを学びました。
神が彼と教会を通して、本当に大きく働かれていて、これかもそれを楽しみにしていました。

This is heartbreaking news to even me who never met or don't know them personally. What's more to the family and the church body.......
彼とあったことがない私にでさえ、これはショックなニュースでした。彼の家族と教会へのそれは推量る必要もないでしょう。

The news is here from Pastor Levy's web page.
http://levilusko.com/archives/please-pray-for-the-lusko-family
英語ですが、上にあるのは、その知らせがあったリンクです。また、下にはFacebookでパスター・グレッグがこのことに関して書いたポストがあったので載せました。
もしも、和訳を読みたいというリクエストが有れが訳します。是非、御覧ください。

Pastor Greg Laurie who is good friend with Pastor Levy gave a good insight.
Below is cited it from his facebook post.

Last night,my friends Levi and Jennie Lusko said goodbye to their little girl Lenya for the last time on earth.This sweet little one had a servere asthma attack and died in her parents arms.It’s so very,very sad.
Please pray for the Lusko family as they face what I believe for a parent is a fate worse then death. .
The loss of a child.
This last Monday,I also saw my friend,Frank Pastore,host of the Frank Pastore show die after having spent a month in a coma after a motorcycle accident.

Please be in prayer for Frank’s wife,Gina and his two children as well.
I understand the pain of these families as I too had a son named Christopher die four years ago.

I will be at both their memorial services and will miss them both with all of my heart.

What makes this even harder,is this happened in the Christmas season.

It seems in many ways,as a nation we have been collectively mourning in the wake of the shootings of 20 children at Sandy Hook school in Connecticut.

Perhaps you are personally mourning the loss of a loved one right now.

When a loved one leaves this world for the next, we are torn apart inside. So we cry and mourn.

A deep sense of loss and sorrow is an indication of deep love.
The apostle Paul spoke of deep sorrow over the possible loss of a friend:
“Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, afaithful worker, and a courageous soldier. . . and he was very distressed that you heardhe was ill. And he surely was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have such unbearable sorrow.” Philippians 2:25

Paul is saying, “If Epaphroditus had died, I would not have been able to bear it!” That’s how you feel
when someone you love dies: you can’t bear it.

So don’t impatiently say to the mourner, “Don’t cry” or “You’ll get over it!” There is a place for this process of mourning, and it must happen. The Bible says, “There is a time to mourn.”

If you don’t mourn properly, you will not heal properly. I did not fully understand this principle until it happened to me.

But for the mourners out there, I would say, let’s keep a proper perspective, like the psalmist in Psalm42:3–6:
“Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me,
saying, ‘Where is this God of yours?’ My heart is breaking as I remember how it used tobe: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house
of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him
again—my Savior and my God!”

The psalmist is honest here. He speaks of how he has had “only tears for food.” I know exactly what he is talking about. But then he asks himself a question and gives himself an answer:

“Why am I discouraged? Why so sad?

I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God!”

Grief is like wiping out on a wave. When you are out surfing, and get caught in a set, and go over the
falls, you lose perspective. The thing you must avoid is panic.

You have to roll with it and remember that it won’t last all that long. But sometimes, when you’re in the whitewater, you lose your perspective. You literally do not know which way is up, or how to get to the
surface. This is where your leash comes in.
Your leash is attached to your board, which always goes to the surface due to its buoyancy. So, you grab
your leash and follow it to the surface. The Scripture is like that leash; it gets us “above the surface,”
where we can get a heavenly perspective.

Sometimes, I get my head above water and everything is clear. Everything, in a way, almost makes sense

for a few moments. I will think, “The Lord is leading me in His perfect plan. I have a son on earth and

another son in heaven. I will see him again.” But then the waves of pain and grief and sadness come and I go under again.
I will surface and sink again many times in one day—again, again, and again. That is mourning.

But we still have hope.

Paul wrote about this to the believers to the Christian living in the city of Thessalonica.
"And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died
so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died
and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the
believers who have died . . . Then we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17).

So,yes we as Christians mourn.
We mourn deeply.
But we have hope of seeing our loved ones who have preceded us to Heaven again.

It will be a wonderful Heavenly reunion.

Both little Lenya and big Frank are spending their first Christmas in Heaven!

May God extend his comfort to their families all of you who are feeling deep sadness this Christmas season.

People ask me,”Is there a book that could help me at a time like this?”.
Listen. ..You don’t need a manual.,you need Immanuel!
God is with you.
That is the message of Christmas!
Please be in prayer for Frank’s wife,Gina and his two children as well.I understand the pain of these families as I too had a son named Christopher die four years ago.
I will be at both their memorial services and will miss them both with all of my heart.
What makes this even harder,is this happened in the Christmas season.
It seems in many ways,as a nation we have been collectively mourning in the wake of the shootings of 20 children at Sandy Hook school in Connecticut.
Perhaps you are personally mourning the loss of a loved one right now.
When a loved one leaves this world for the next, we are torn apart inside. So we cry and mourn.
A deep sense of loss and sorrow is an indication of deep love.The apostle Paul spoke of deep sorrow over the possible loss of a friend:“Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, afaithful worker, and a courageous soldier. . . and he was very distressed that you heardhe was ill. And he surely was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have such unbearable sorrow.” Philippians 2:25
Paul is saying, “If Epaphroditus had died, I would not have been able to bear it!” That’s how you feelwhen someone you love dies: you can’t bear it.
So don’t impatiently say to the mourner, “Don’t cry” or “You’ll get over it!” There is a place for this process of mourning, and it must happen. The Bible says, “There is a time to mourn.”
If you don’t mourn properly, you will not heal properly. I did not fully understand this principle until it happened to me.
But for the mourners out there, I would say, let’s keep a proper perspective, like the psalmist in Psalm42:3–6:“Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me,saying, ‘Where is this God of yours?’ My heart is breaking as I remember how it used tobe: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the houseof God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Himagain—my Savior and my God!”
The psalmist is honest here. He speaks of how he has had “only tears for food.” I know exactly what he is talking about. But then he asks himself a question and gives himself an answer:
“Why am I discouraged? Why so sad?
I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God!”
Grief is like wiping out on a wave. When you are out surfing, and get caught in a set, and go over thefalls, you lose perspective. The thing you must avoid is panic.
You have to roll with it and remember that it won’t last all that long. But sometimes, when you’re in the whitewater, you lose your perspective. You literally do not know which way is up, or how to get to thesurface. This is where your leash comes in.Your leash is attached to your board, which always goes to the surface due to its buoyancy. So, you grabyour leash and follow it to the surface. The Scripture is like that leash; it gets us “above the surface,”where we can get a heavenly perspective.
Sometimes, I get my head above water and everything is clear. Everything, in a way, almost makes sense
for a few moments. I will think, “The Lord is leading me in His perfect plan. I have a son on earth and
another son in heaven. I will see him again.” But then the waves of pain and grief and sadness come and I go under again.I will surface and sink again many times in one day—again, again, and again. That is mourning.
But we still have hope.
Paul wrote about this to the believers to the Christian living in the city of Thessalonica."And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have diedso you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus diedand was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him thebelievers who have died . . . Then we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17).
So,yes we as Christians mourn.We mourn deeply.But we have hope of seeing our loved ones who have preceded us to Heaven again.
It will be a wonderful Heavenly reunion.
Both little Lenya and big Frank are spending their first Christmas in Heaven!
May God extend his comfort to their families all of you who are feeling deep sadness this Christmas season.
People ask me,”Is there a book that could help me at a time like this?”.Listen. ..You don’t need a manual.,you need Immanuel!God is with you.That is the message of Christmas!

ここは沖縄

暑い・・・・

暑いぞーー！！

忘年会が終わったばかりなのに！！

今日の最高は25度、なんとふざけれいらっしゃること。

あー、衣装ケースの衣替えまだで良かった;^_^A

where I was, and I am....

Last week was interesting week.

It was so slow at beginning, then on Wednesday, out of nowhere, my work started getting really busy.  And I did not like it.

When the things started rolling out of my control, I started thinking my college days. ( I plan to make a quick trip to Tokyo, visiting my friends from university. and this, to some degree, made me think that.)

I was like "man, it was so easy to have my life in control. I was able to get myself busy and relaxing!! Now, things are out of control. I really can't do what I want to do......"

And started sinking into nostalgia. Looking back the past and yearning for it.....

Then God knocked the door of my heart.

"Hey, Look how much you are blessed compared with most people around you."

"You have a job, which gives decent salary and let you have weekend off, and you can take a vacation/paid holiday mostly when you want to. That gives you a lot of chances ministering and enjoying your private time."

I felt so stupid. It was so true. 

When I lived in Tokyo, I've seen workers there work usually until midnight and often time have to go to work on weekends. 

So Christians there who have fulltime job can only come on Sundays and do not have time for ministry even though they have great heart fot it.

The Lord has opened so many doors for me to do ministries on this island since I moved back.

I love ministries and serving God. 

And I found as much as I love ministry I need to appreciate my job and the ministry there.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

  I just had to realize that not only what I wanted to do for God, but also what God wants me to do where I am, I need to know more. 

   ^" Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

最近、頭にあること・・・・

最近、ふと考えたりしたことを、つれづれと書き留めてみます。


●“政治”
　なんとなくですが、ちょっと面倒ですよね。
　大学での専攻はどちらかというと政治学に近く、とても興味がある分野なのですが、どうしても騙されているというか、Wikiでいうところの「屈折的無関心」の様な感じです。
　更に言うと、政治家の人となりというか、大局的なポジションが見にくいというのもあります。「保守」なのか「革新」なのか、「大きな政府」なのか「小さな政府」なのかという様な感じにです・・・・・　まあ、それを言ってしまうと、現実の政治はそんなにシンプルに語れるものではないという批判が当然あるのでしょうけれど。

　個人的には、政治って最後には白黒の世界なんだと思ってます。法律にしろ、結局は通るか通らないか。首班指名選挙にしろ、この人かあの人なのかというところになると思います。

最近、（もう10回目くらいになるのかと思いますが・・・）私が読んでる漫画は「沈黙の艦隊」という最近ではジパングで有名な「かわぐちかいじ」の作品です。

　そこで、解散総選挙・首班指名選挙があるのですが、なんとなく今回の選挙に似ている気がします。（といっても、全く違う部分も多分にありますが）
　ただ、顕著なのは「二大政党と第三極」という構図です。そこで、選挙が終わった時点で首相になる可能性があるのは2人、多くても3人です。それでも、国会の表は各会派の長に流れます。その人が首相になることは決してないのにです。
　この漫画の中で、選挙の結果、首班指名選挙は2人の直接対決の構造になったとき、飽くまでも自分の陣営にしか投票をしないと決め込む河之内という革新派のリーダーに、大滝という政治家が、各政党が主張を譲らず、何も決まらない日本の政治を「子どもの政治」だと批判し、「政治の世界はつまるところ白か黒なんだ！！有権者から与えられた票を無駄にするな！！」と叱責します。
　だから、「大同団結」というのも分からなくはないですね。
　
　確かに、この視点から見ると、そうなのかなとも思いました。
　第三極の結集を「野合」だとする批判もありますが、まあ後から連合されるよりは、分かりやすくていいのかなと。特に、懐かしい「加藤の乱」や最近の国会に見られた「欠席」という意味不明な抵抗。欠席したらといってなんなんだと思いますね。だって、相手は正当な選挙で国民からの信を得た議席をもっているのですから、それに対抗するのは良いのですが、欠席とかいう礼儀を欠いたようなものはいかがかなと思います。だったら、真っ向から反対票を投じれば良いのに。（まあ、そうしても無駄だから欠席になるとおもうのですが。）
　それでいて、投票率が低いのをどうにかしよう。選挙教育とかいってるのだから、本末転倒でしょう。

　かと言って、重要な問題で意見が違っている人々が作る政権というものは、五十五年体制崩壊後の羽田・細川政権みたいなことになる気もしますよね。
　「もって、1年」と、先に登場した大滝は、革新保守連合政権発足後に言いました。
　自分の入った政権が「1年」だと、そしてそれを聞いた竹上首相も笑って流すのですが。
　それはそれで、毎年首脳が変わるという、しょうもない日本の悪評を高めることにも繋がりそうです。


　とまあ、考えれば考えるほど、どの考えにも妥当性のある批判があることになって・・いやはや、まとまりがなくなりました。

　と、ここでとどめておきますね。

The Holiness Of Leading Worship

I recently read this article at CalvaryChapel.com.

read the post here ↓
http://calvarychapel.com/blog/the-holiness-of-leading-worship

It is written by Pastor Bill Walden who himself was worship leader.
I really like his posts there especially ones about worship.

It was titled "The Holiness Of Leading Worship".
This topic is hard to hear and appreciate to me.
Only because I so often find myself unholy and ungodly.
Yet, this idea has changed and shaped my approach to leading worship radically as well.

I still remember vividly.
It was when I was freshman in university. During summer, I was watching DVD series called "Pure Worship Conference" which was held at Calvary Chapel CostaMesa and led by Scott Cunningham.

One of the speaker was pastor John Randoll.
He taught from Leviticus 10, story about Nadab and Abihu; teaching how carefully we need to approach to worship of God and keep it holy and God's way.
I have written this here before but it was life changing message to me.
Absolutely pivotal moments in my life.

Nadab and Abihu, he thought what they were doing was good and cool. (In their eyes). BUT, it was violation of God's word!!!
The consequence of it was their death. They brought wrong fire and fire from above fell on themselves.

In leading worship, there are so many temptation to bring out own fire.
Remember how Aaron needed to do his work as priest?
He had to be consecrated and cleansed. Only after then, he was able to enter into the tabernacle.

We must not bring wrong fire to our worship.
My temptation in leading worship is "coolness", "ritualisticalliness"(is this even right word??), "feelings"...ect. Really caused by the mind that doesn't take the task seriously  enough.

I think it was Robert M'Cheyne who said something like "As a preacher, the greatest thing I can give to the congregation is my own holiness.".
It is same for any ministers and especially to worship leaders that stand on same stage as pastors.

Let us remind of this fact.

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy. ~ 1Peter 1:15-16

Purposeful MInistry

The other day, some youth and I met for worship meeting and I shared about how we can develop our planning of songs.

I won't go into details about what I did there, but as I was thinking and struggling with the thoughts and ideas as to how I can explain the ministry to the young men and women.

One important thing I re-discovered was that ministry is purposeful.

Yes, there is no ministry that lacks its purpose. There is no ministry which we call "we just did it".
Our ministries need to be purposeful always.

As my mind was going through all the things I wanted to share and impart, I searched the reason why I do what I do.
"Why do I do what I do?" is a good question to ask yourself if you are in ministry.
Because we do things sometimes because it has been always that way, it seems to be accepted by everyone or you're simply told to do so. None of these is bad or wrong, but not enough.

^"But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,......." 2 Timothy 3:10

Paul had a plan in his ministry. Of course, he was obedient to God's leading, yet, remember how eager he was to go to Rome and visit believers there? Furthermore, was it just for his liesure or vacation? No!! He wanted to have fellowship with them and to encourage them and be encouraged by them. That was his purpose.

Likewise, I think we can and need have plans and their purposes.

For instance, our time of worship consists of four songs; two fast songs and two slow songs. Main service follows mostly same pattern as well.
But allow me to be cynical a bit here.
Am I ready to give an answer when I'm asked why I do that way.
"Why did I choose this song?"
"Why do we greet after songs?", "Why do we stand while Scripture being read?"
There are so many "why"s we can come up with, and I am not saying we need to answer to all the question people throws at us.

But, the bottom line is that we know what we do and why do do.
Because that directs our behavior and how we interact with people we serve.

Our goal in ministry is to see "who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.".

So I started thinking, "what can I do to serve for the purpose?", "how should I do it?". The gospel fuels my ministry for Christ. and Bible provides so many examples of fruitful and faithful ministries.

Our ministries must purposeful and it needs to be Gospel-centered.
Let's not forget this.

超越性と内在性

また、「Worship Matters」よりシェアします。

「超越性(transcendence)は、被造物から独立しており、それに優っていることを意味する。私たちが神を礼拝するとき、このことを認識しなければならない。神は主権を持つ王、限りなく荘厳で栄光に満ちている。（中略）神は神であり、私たちとは違う。これは、神を礼拝するに当たり、最も助けとなる態度の一つである。」（私訳）

私の様な若い世代には、賛美歌などのお固いワーシップのスタイルは、ちょっと苦手感を覚えると思う。むしろ、カジュアルなスタイルを好む。わたし自身、そのタイプに属するだと思います。（もちろん、賛美歌は好きだし、そのような伝統的なスタイルは素晴らしいとも思う。）

変に形に固執せずに、神への愛を自由に歌い、表現することは、コンテンポラリー・クリスチャン・ミュージックの生み出した、一つの大きな産物だと思う。

しかし、そのカジュアルさに潜む危険性というのは、上に引用したコウフリン(Kauflin)が書いた神の超越性を過小評価、見逃してしまうことではないでしょうか。

神の偉大さ、その完璧な性質をさらに理解するとき、半端な態度で近づくという思いは消え去る。賛美にしても、カジュアルは歓迎することだが、ルースな、何か抜けた感じのある賛美になっては決していけないのではないだろうか。

さらに、もう一点。

神の内在性はクリスチャンに、新しく過激な意味をもって私たちを興奮させる。神はわたしたちとともにいるだけでなく、私たちの中に住まうのである。

神は、私たちと常にともにいて、中にいてくれる。このことは、なんと大きな安らぎをあたえるだろう。

そして、イエスは私たちを「友」と呼んだ。（ヨハネ１５：１４−１５）

しかし、D.A.カーソン(D.A.Carson)はこれについて、よい指摘をしています。

「イエス、神は聖書の中で一度も私たちの友として記述されていない。アブラハムは神の友だったが、その逆が述べられたことは一度もない。無論、ある意味において、イエスは貧しい罪人にとっての一番の友だちだろう。しかしながら、これは聖書の用語ではない。それは、聖書が、神やイエスが我々のレベルにあるような安い親密さのようなものに自身を引き下げるのには、抵抗感を覚えているようである。」

神が私たちではないこと。それでも、私たちとともにいてくれるという親近感は、正しいバランスをもって理解しなくてはならないのだと思います。

ジョン・パイパー(John Pipier)はこれを「厳粛さ（Gravity)と喜び(Gladness)」と表現しています。

聖書を生べば学ぶほど、このバランスが賛美において身についてくるのではないでしょうか。また、学びにおいてのバランスの大切さも教えられました。

「ぬぐい去る」働き

今日は、CC沖縄の男性の学び会に久しぶりに参加してきました。

聖書を、ティーチングではなく、リーダーと一緒にみんなで読み解いていくという形式での学びでした。
今は、使徒行伝を学んでいて、今日は第三章後半でした。

金曜日までの疲れ、なでしこ戦を見てしまったこともあり、若干うとうとしていた部分もありましたが、一箇所とても心に残りました。
それは、

19節「そういうわけですから、あなたがたの罪をぬぐい去っていただくために、悔い改めて、神に立ち返りなさい。」

です。
特に、「ぬぐい去る」という表現が私の注意を引きました。
この表現には、キリストのなさった贖いにおいて、見落としてしまいがちな側面を気づかせてくれました。
「ぬぐう」というと、雑巾などで、汚いものをキレイにするというイメージがあります。
雑巾で汚れをぬぐうように、キリストも私の汚い罪をぬぐってくれたのだと。

また、その作業はそんなに楽しいものではありません。なぜか、疲れるし、自分の手が汚くなるし、他の人に頼めるなら頼みたいという思いもあるからです。（私の場合ですが・・）
そのように、キリストの贖いの働きは、とても肉体的であり（「イエスは、苦しみもだえて、いよいよ切に祈られた。汗が血のしずくのように地に落ちた。」ルカ22：44）、とても汚く（つばをかけられ、鞭打たれ・・・）、それでおいて、他には道のないもの（杯をとりのけて欲しいという祈り）でした。

まさに、「ぬぐい去る」という人間的かつ私たちのためであり、神聖な働きが贖いだったのでしょう。

安い恵みという観念をボンホッファーが警告していたことを思い出しました。しかし、神の恵みは無償で提供される裏で、大きな犠牲が伴っているのだと、改めて教えられました。

それにどう応答するかは、自分の心でしっかりと捉えなければならない課題だと思いました。

賛美は大切！

近頃は、「Worship Matters」（訳：賛美（ワーシップ）は大切なんだ）という本を読んでいます。もちろん、併読派の私なので、一冊一冊はスローペースですが。

最近は、賛美チームに入ったりすることはあまりないのですが、そのおかげで自分なかでも賛美のあり方について見つめ直す機会が与えられているように感じます。

やっと半分ほど読むことができたのですが、この本の一つの特徴は、「福音を通して賛美を見る」というところにあると思います。
とにかく、どの章を開いても、この本には聖書箇所が登場します。そして、それがどのように賛美につながるかを説明してくれています。

そして、このことを通して教えられたことの一つは、
「まずは、賛美リードの前に、自分自身が真の賛美者でなくてはいけない」
ということです。

リードをする人が、リードするものの本質を捉えていなければ、誰がついていくことができるでしょう。誰もついていけないことは明確なんだけれども、これは賛美リードにも言えるのかなと最近は考えてます。
もちろん、完全な理解（ギリシャ語では「オイダ」というと、今日学んだのだが）は人にはできないけれど、より良い理解を得ることはできると思う。

そして、聖書は、賛美はキリストが私のためになさったことに対する応答だと説明している。
詩篇の中で、繰り返し、

「主に感謝せよ。

　主はまことにいつくしみ深い。

　主の恵みはとこしえまで。」

と歌われています。主が良い方で、いつくしみ深く、恵みがとこしえまであるから、主に感謝せよと詩篇の著者は言っているんですね。

これは、福音のメッセージにインパクトを受けるほど、賛美が出てくるということにつながると思います。

ホントに、これを読み進めていると、自分がまだまだだと気付かされて、とても良い学びができています。

今回は、ここでとどめておきますが、もっとシェアしたいことがあるので、また続きを書きたいと思います。

読める、読みたい、チャレンジしたいという方は是非とも読んでみてください。本当に、いい本です！！

ではでは。

Rest in Him and His creation

“Lord, you have made us for yourself and our hearts are 

restless till they rest in Thee.” - St. Augustine

Since I started working at new place and new job, my life has been very very busy.

I usually work until night time and it gets hard to get up and go to work next morning sometimes.

Please, don't mistake it.

I love my job and co-workers. I think I'm given a lot of responsibility as a new employee and I enjoy the challenges I have.

But, at the same time, I become physically tired....

I know people who work more than I do and don't seem to be tired yet more energetic than I am.
So I cannot complain it and I am not doing it here.

But the situation like that helped me to see more of God.

I looked up in the sky one day, and was so amazed at the beauty of it.
I felt that I re-discovered my rest in God's beautiful creation.

here are few pictures of what I saw :)

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, You are very great:

You are clothed with honor and majesty,

Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,

Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.

He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,

Who makes the clouds His chariot,

Who walks on the wings of the wind, 

Who makes His angels spirits,
His ministers a flame of fire.

how my life has been like.....

Long long time has passed since my last blog update!!!

Well, life has been so crazy.

1. Ministry Opportunities.

At the end of May, really really ( I know I say this normally but with emphasis this time!!) good friend of mine Tim who is church-planter in Nago City asked me to fill his place while he is filling Pastor Rick's place at CCOkinawa.

I really don't know how he came to have this idea to me which was very odd, yet I accepted the offer with gladness. It was so nice to see how the body is being gathered and made. I shared from the passage of "Prodigal son". I was nervous until I got up to the pulpit. God just took it over and I just talked what was on mu notes and also the Spirit laid on my heart.

Recently we started Youth Worship Meeting based on the desire both Kevin, Youth Pastor and I had to raise and equip this young talented kids with biblical principle of worship. We have only met twice so far, but it has been so great. Kids there, loves worshipping and praising Jesus and wants to know about what and how it is to lead worship.

Honestly, some of them are much better musician than I am (If I were). But I believed God wanted to share the experience I had in and through different worship team and seasons. I decided to share from the book called "Worship Matters" by Bob Kauflin, from which I'd love to share what I have been learning with you. 

We are going to learn both principles of the biblical worship and practicals. I am so stoked to see what God will do through this group!!!

2. 10 Year Anniversary of Calvary Chapel Okinawa

I cannot believe how fast the time had gone this ten years!!

I started going CCOkinawa in 2002 with family and this year, 2012 marks its Ten Year anniversary.

Pastors from this island and the states came to bless this special time of celebrating what God has done in the through this body of Christ in Okinawa.

So blessed to be backa and part of the ministry here. 

More and more God's greatness I shall see!!

3. New Job!!

On July 2nd, the new job was (finally) assigned to me. 

I am now at salse department which I'd describe more like "operation section".

My main job is make statistics on our salse results and report to the related department and the government offices.

I'd never thought I'll be dealing a thing like this that has a lot to do with mathematics. Well, all I face now is numbers!!

But I know God has special reason in placing me here and this new challenge will help me grow.

I am blessed with kind and nice co-workers and "senpai".

Very exciting time!!

4. Short trip to Tokyo.

I was able to go Aki and Logan's wedding.

It was made really in last minute. But it worked out all well. 

The wedding was so beautiful, I was so blessed be part of their special day!!

sorry I had to put this up for Michael.

and I was able to see my friends from LaHabra in Tokyo!!

this is very SHORT highlight of my recent life. 

I'll try to blog more often..

oh and keep myself updated too, Friends out there!!! haha

SNL has begun!!

So, two week after I came back to Okinawa, our church (Calvary Chapel Okinawa) launched Young Adult Ministry!!!
It is called Saturday Night Lights!!! (aka SNL)

The couple who are leading this group is very cool and passionate for evangelism and building up the body!!
Past two weeks has been so great.
I have privileges to interpret for Micha. I really liked his passionate teaching style.
And It was so great to see Japanese and American coming together under the Name of Jesus.

Worship was led by Nate and Michael. They have passion to learn songs in Japanese too!! That is huge encouragement to me, more than they realize I think!

Please keep this group and Micha and Alycia in prayer.
I am so excited to see what God does in and through this ministry!!!

Micha preaching, me interpreting

Into New Chapter

お久しぶりです

早くも東京から引っ越してきて、2週間が経ちました。
とにかくすごい2週間でした。

まず引越し！！全然進まないっていう。詰めれど詰めれど、どんどん荷物が出てくるという無限ループのような状態に、途中で参りそうになったこともなりましたが、何とか終えることが出来ました。（特に、本がきつかった！！半分くらいしかもって帰れなかった＞＜）

そして、卒業式！
名前が授与式で呼ばれるまで、めっちゃ大丈夫か不安でしたけど、無事に学位をもらってきました。

図書館の大閲覧室（普段は写真禁止ですが、この日だけOK!!)

そして、こちらが学位証

ということで、無事に卒業しました。お世話になった皆様ありがとうございました。

そして、ついに沖縄へ・・・・・・

国立に別れを告げ・・

沖縄に到着！

というかんじで、無事に沖縄の地にたどり着きました。

それからも、イースターや入社式など多くのことがありましたが、それはまた今度機会があったら書きますね。

この新しい人生の一章を神様が豊かに祝福して下さる様にお祈り下さい。

Rapping up the trip

So, I've totally missed the timing of this post.......

here is my excuse:
I have been super busy since the last three days in Sendai. Very hectic time!!

But finally I have sometime to blog now. Here is quick update of my life.

Tohoku Celebration of Hope was totally blessed by our Great God.
First day, the attendance was very small due to heavy snow and the day being normal day. Frankly speaking, it was kinda disappointing. But, we saw people coming to Christ, which gives great excitement regardless of the number.
Saturday morning was so cool. One of our friend, who is on staff of the crusade graciously invited us to their morning devotion. There, Franklin Graham made very good comment on last night. He said something like, "it can be seen as small, but regardless the heavy snow, hundreds of people came and heard message. Moreover, we witnessed people coming to faith in Christ. And it was already second largest Christian event in Sendai, what more can we expect next two days.".
I know Franklin had been on stage before thousands or ten-thousands of people, yet he thanked and gave glory to God for the night. It was very humbling to me.

Franklin Graham greeting attendees 

I also got to meet Bill Batstone, the legend of CCM!!!

God poured great blessing upon the next two days. We had seen hundreds of people responding to the invitation, lives being changed and smiles on their faces.

Oh, what did I do??
We were assigned to security, which means that we made sure no one without permission gets in regulated area and the guests are safe.
That also meant that we don't get to see the show on stage a lot since we are to be in back stage or ailes. But we had fun doing it and most importantly, it was simply blessing to just be albe to serve.

Kirk Franklin being interviewed

 Gospel presentation by Franklin Graham

 The bus driver of the PR bus came to received Christ!!

Our friend Yumi is interviewing him. 

 this is what we did...

this is what we saw....

Over 13,000 people attended the event and more than 400 people committed their lives to Christ over the weekend. WOW!

We had fantastic experience in Sendai. The team from Virginia did great job serving the people there. They represented Christ in the way only God can take its glory.

What I thought after this weekend event was this,

This is just a starting point. I don't think the number is big enough in a sense. 

We will see more and more come to Christ after this. This is just the igniter, the starting fire or the fuse for the larger fire that is about to come to the place. 

Please pray for Tohoku and Japan.

They are planning to hold crusades in other major cities in Japan including Hiroshima and Tokyo. 

I can't help expecting revival to happen in this nation. 

Would you join me in prayer for Japan?

Battery is being charged

I finally missed the blog update yesterday.........
昨日はついにブログ更新が途絶えてしまいましが・・・

It's already late at night. So I'll let the photos and description do the telling.
もう夜も遅いので、写真に語ってもらおうと思います。

Yesterday was preparation day for Hope of Celebration. We got there early in the morning and helped setting things up. The team worked hard and at the end of the day, most of us were wiped out........
昨日は希望の祭典の準備をしました。朝から夜まで、チームのみんなで会場設営を手伝いました。皆、とてもがんばったので、その日の終りには、ほとんどの人がくたくたでした。

started the work with prayer

getting protection for the floor

protection done.

lights and sounds being installed

chairs are done

stage

done!!!

workers!!!

Today, Friday was the first day of the event. We are assigned to do security. So, it was very fun to be in behind the stage(I meant not in terms of location but our situation) . We didn't get to see what was going on in the arena, but we were just happy to be able to serve there.
今日、金曜日はイベント初日でした。私たちは警備の仕事を与えられました。ステージ裏の仕事はとても楽しかったです（ステージ裏は、場所的な意味ではなく、他との兼ね合いの意味でですが）。ですので、アリーナで起こっていたことを見ることは余りできませんでしたが、仕えることができるだけでも、とても幸せでした。

briefing

show time!!!

behind the stage, outside

cars for VIP

Please keep this crusade in prayer that more people will come next two days.
明日と明後日にも、多くの人が来るようにお祈り下さい。

PS: It snowed so hard today that car's battery actually stopped working for a while and needed to be charged as our spiritual energy was being charged.
追伸：あまりにも、今日の雪がひどかったので、車のバッテリーが動かず、ジャンプを使わないといけないということもありました。もちろん、霊のバッテリーもチャージされてます！

slow but fruitful

I feel today went slowly fast. Yep, I am aware of the contradiction of it  but it's how I feel. We didn't do much but I felt the day went so fast.

今日はあっという間でしたが、ゆっくりと時間が過ぎたような気がします。余り多くをこなすことはなかったのですが、あっという間の一日でした。

First we did laundries in the morning. It was just on right timing we needed. But other than putting clothes in the washing machine and drying machine, we didn't have much to do, so we just hang out at McDonalds and Mosburgers.

It was nice fellowship time. (I did not take any pictures during this time...)

まず初めに、洗濯物をしました。タイミング的にも、必要なときだったのでとても助かりました。ですが、洗濯機と乾燥機に服を入れる他には特にやることがないので、モスやマックでそれぞれ交わりの時を持ち、とても良い時間を過ごせました。

After the laundries, we went to Higashimatsushima to pick up a stuff at Robbs. They are a couple who moved there from Okinawa to minister people there. They weren't there but it was nice to see their house and how the area looked like. It was heavily damaged area. We got to pray for the area and Robbs.　Please keep them in your prayer.

洗濯のあとには、東松島市へと行きました。そこでは、ロブ夫妻から物を受け取りにいったのですが、あいにく彼らは家におらず、ものだけとるという形になってしまいました。しかし、そこの地域と、彼らの家を見れたことはとても良かったです。彼らと東松島市のために祈ることもできました。ロブ夫妻は沖縄から引っ越した宣教師です。どうか彼らのためにもお祈り下さい。

Then we headed to Ishinomaki and did some works that was left to be done from yesterday. While guys were working on building, ladies prepared the meal to serve at Bible study at temporary housing. Guys did really nice job and ladies cooked very delicious bean soup.

そして、石巻に向かい、そこでは昨日に残した仕事をしました。その間に、女性の方々は夜に予定されていたバイブルスタディのための食事を準備してくれました。

仕事の方もとても進み、食事もとても美味しく出来ていました。ホントに、みんなすごいとしか言いようのない感じでした。もちろん、すごいのは神様ですけれどね。

one thing I like this team for is that they are putting up with conbini foods everyday.

If I were them, I could have been stressed!!

So, we went to Bible study at temporary housing. This study has been held for half year so far. I think I remember this is the only temporary housing that has consistant Bible study.

We served food and shared music. Pastor Rick taught the word. It was very special night.

そして、仮設住宅でのバイブルスタディへと行きました。そこでは準備した食事を出し、賛美をし、リックさんがみことばを分かち合ってくれました。

実は、記憶が正しければ、継続的なバイブルスタディがある仮設住宅はここだけだということです。

So it was another blessed day. Please keep this group in your prayer that they will come to know Jesus personally and be His disciples. 

どうかここの方々を祈りに覚えてください。彼らがイエス・キリストを個人的に受け入れ、弟子となることろまでいけるようにお祈り下さい。

day 4 : more work

here is our day 4 was like.

では、第四日目です。

We went to Arahama area, Sendai and shore Ishinomaki.

Roy and Rick gave us some explanation about Tsunami and earthquakes.

It was very hard to believe that it has been almost one year since the disaster took place. 

Yes, we've seen much progress and changes but there are so much more to be done. "What can I do??" I asked myself. I felt helpless. I was reminded later at night that all I can do is to be hands and feet of Jesus, going wherever He sends us.

So here we are now, standing in the place that is still in the process of restoration physically and desperately needs spiritual one. We continued sharing the love and hope of God today.

仙台の荒浜地区と石巻の海岸沿いにまずは行きました。

ロイさんとリックさんが津波と地震の被害などにかんして、色々と説明をしてくれました。

ほぼ一年も経ってしまったと信じがたい気持ちになりました。

確かに、多くが変わり、進展もありました。ですが、あまりにも多くが手付かずな状況だと感じたのです。「自分に何ができるのだとう」と自問しました。とても無力に感じたのです。しかし、その後に私たちができることは、イエスの手足となって、遣わされるところに行くことなのだと思い起こさせられました。

そして、今この、復興の途中にある場に立っています。そして、この地は霊的な復興／回復がとても必要なのだと感じました。そして、今日もキリストの愛と希望を分かち合いました。

Arahama area

Praying

From coast of Ishinomaki

We went back to cafe today as well. We worked one 2nd floor and did some cleaning and bouilt bikes. These guys were amazing. We didn't have much time to work but they did so much during the limited time!!!

今日もカフェへと戻りました。そして、二階部分でも作業と、清掃、そして自転車の組立をしました。彼らの仕事っぷりはものすごいものでした。時間は限られていたのですが、とても多くの仕事を片付けていました。

At night, we had mini concert again. We were able to meet some new people and also people from previous concert and last night as well.  It was again blessed night of music and worship. We talked a lot and got to know the people more. 

夜には、ミニコンサートをまたひらきました。新しい人にも、前のコンサートや昨晩にも来られた人にも会うことができました。とても祝福された夜でした。たくさん話し、彼らを知ることができました。

Please keep the team and people in Ishinomaki in your prayer

どうか、チームと石巻の方々を祈りに覚えてください。