Anger

“Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.” Benjamin Franklin

"The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God." James 1:20

Even though they know that Christianity is the best

“[Japanese] are afraid of disturbing human relationships of their families or neighborhood even though they know that Christianity is the best.... Japanese make much of human relationships more than the truth. Consequently we can say that as for Japanese, one of the most important things is harmony; in Japanese ‘Wa.’” Dr. Minoru Okuyama, director of the Missionary Training Center in Japan

Michelle A. Vu, Christian Post Reporter, wrote, "The quality of missionaries or the methodologies used is not the problem when it comes evangelizing. But it is the Japanese mentality itself that is hindering more people from coming to Christ..."

Read article- Mission Leader: Why So Few Christians in Japan? (click)

Praise the Savior...

”Praise the Savior, ye who know Him!
Who can tell how much we owe Him?
Gladly let us　render to Him
All we are and have.”　 Thomas Kelly

Listen to and read the entire hymn.

I ought to pray before seeing any one.

"I ought to pray before seeing any one. Often when I sleep long, or meet with others early, it is eleven or twelve o'clock before I begin secret prayer. This is a wretched system. It is unscriptural. Christ arose before day and went into a solitary place. David says: 'Early will I seek thee'; 'Thou shalt early hear my voice.' Family prayer loses much of its power and sweetness, and I can do no good to those who come to seek from me. The conscience feels guilty, the soul unfed, the lamp not trimmed. Then when in secret prayer the soul is often out of tune, I feel it is far better to begin with God -- to see his face first, to get my soul near him before it is near another." Robert Murray McCheyne

The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God

"The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin...." Exodus 34:6-7

"The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion...." Numbers 14:18

"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.... But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." Psalms 86:5,15

"Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity." Joel 2:13

"You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." Jonah 4:2

But I have another righteousness

“But where Christ is truly see indeed, there must needs be full and perfect joy in the Lord, with peace of conscience, which is most certainly thus thinketh: Although I am a sinner by the law, as touching the righteousness of the law, yet I despair not, yet I die not, because Christ liveth, who is both my righteousness and everlasting and heavenly life. In that righteousness and life I have not sin, no sting of conscience, not care of death. I am indeed sinner as touching this present life and the righteousness thereof, as the child of Adam: where the law accuseth me, death reigneth over me, and at length would devour me. But I have another righteousness and life above this life, which is Christ the Son of God, who knoweth no sin nor death, but is righteousness and life eternal: by who even this my body, being dead and brought into dust, shall be raised up again and delivered from the bondage of the law and sin, and shall be sanctified together together with the Spirit.” Martin Luther

Grace changes us....

"Grace changes us and change is painful." Flannery O'Connor

When I have this righteousness reigning in my heart, I descend from heaven as the rain making fruitful the earth

“Give no more to the law than belongeth unto it, but say thou: O law, thou wouldest climb up into the kingdom of my conscience , and there reign and reprove it of sin, and wouldest take from me the joy of my heart, which I have by faith in Christ, and drive me to desperation, that I might be without all hope, and utterly perish. This thou dost besides thine office: keep thyself within thy bounds, and exercise thy power upon the flesh, but touch not my conscience; for I am baptized, and by the Gospel am called to the partaking of righteousness and of everlasting life, to the kingdom of Christ, wherein my conscience is at rest, where no law is, but altogether forgiveness of sins, peace, quietness, joy, health and everlasting life. Trouble me not with these matters, for I will not suffer thee, so intolerable a tyrant and cruel tormentor, to reign in my conscience, for it is the seat and temple of Christ the Son of God, who is the king of righteousness and peace, and my most sweet saviour and mediator: he shall keep my conscience joyful and quiet in the sound and pure doctrine of the Gospel, and the knowledge of this passive and heavenly righteousness.

When I have this righteousness reigning in my heart, I descend from heaven as the rain making fruitful the earth: that is to say, I come forth into another kingdom, and I do good works how and whensoever occasion is offered. If I be a minister of the Word, I preach, I comfort the broken-hearted, I administer the Sacraments. If I be an householder, I govern my house and my family I bring up my children in the knowledge of fear of God. If I be a magistrate, the charge that is given me from above I diligently execute. If I be a servant, I do my master’s business faithfully. ”

Martin Luther

I seek not the active or working righteousness.....

“I seek not the active or working righteousness, although I know that I ought to have it, and also to fulfill it. But be it so that I had it, and did fulfill it indeed, yet not withstanding I cannot trust unto it, neither dare I set it against the judgment of God. Thus I abandon myself from all active righteousness, both of mine own and of God’s law, and embrace only the passive righteousness, which is the righteousness of grace, mercy and forgiveness of sins. Briefly, [I rest only upon] the righteousness of Christ and of the Holy Ghost, which we do not, but suffer (permit), and have not but receive; God the Father freely giving it unto us through Jesus Christ.” Martin Luther

My grace is sufficient for you...

'But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.' 2 Corinthians 12:9

Genuine works point to God, not to self.

“The temptation of the believer is to look at the works which he does in faith and suddenly to reinstitute works and merit as a new form of slavery in the very citadel of the freedom of the Gospel… The ethical rigor of the New Testament teachings and of the law should convince the Christian the he, too, is still sinner. Moreover, the very looking at one’s works spoils them. Genuine works point to God, not to self.” John Dillenberger

Christ daily drives out the old Adam....

“Christ daily drives out the old Adam more and more in accordance with the extent to which faith and knowledge of Christ grow.” Martin Luther

Babies

I'm going to check out this cute French movie, Babies. One of the babies lives in Tokyo, Japan.

"Ponijao of Namibia, Bayar of Mongolia, Mari of Tokyo, and Hattie of San Francisco are born into wildly different environments with varying levels of wealth, but none seem to want for any necessity. Without indoor plumbing or, in Ponijao's case, even diapers, the Third World infants experience the same milestones as their First World counterparts: smiling, babbling, bathing, crawling.... The film mostly presents the world from the babies' point of view, eschewing narration or even subtitles for the non-English dialogue. This makes for rather slow development, but those who embrace the leisurely pace will find their patience amply rewarded." Megan Basham, World Magazine

Check out the trailer of Babies on Youtube.

When we have thus taught faith in Christ, then do we teach also good works.

“Yea, sin is indeed always in us, and the godly do feel it, but it is covered, and is not imputed unto us of God for Christ’s sake; whom because we do apprehend by faith, all our sins are now no sins. But where Christ and faith be not, there is no remission or covering of sins, but mere imputation of sins and condemnation. Thus will God glorify his Son, and will be glorified himself in us through him.

When we have thus taught faith in Christ, then do we teach also good works. Because thou hast laid hold upon Christ by faith, though whom thou art made righteous, begin now to work well. Love God and thy neighbor, call upon God, give thanks unto him, praise him, confess him. Do good to thy neighbor and serve him: fulfill thine office. These are good works indeed, which flow out of this faith, and this cheerfulness conceived in the heart, for that we have remission of sins freely by Christ.

Now what cross or affliction soever do afterwards ensue, they are easily borne, and cheerfully suffered. For the yoke that Christ layeth upon us, is sweet, and his burden is light [Matt. 11:30]. When sin is pardoned, and the conscience delivered from the burden and sting of sin, then may a Christian bear all things easily: because he feeleth all things within sweet and comfortable, therefore he doeth and suffereth all things willingly. But when a man walketh in his own righteousness, whatsoever he doeth is grievous and tedious unto him, because he doeth it unwillingly.” Martin Luther

Let the wife...

“Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.” Martin Luther

If we invite them

‘We cannot help it if birds fly over our heads. It is another thing if we invite them to build nests in our hair.’ Martin Luther

Always found in prayer

"The great masters and teachers in Christian doctrine have always found in prayer their highest source of illumination. Not to go beyond the limits of the English Church, it is recorded of Bishop Andrews that he spent five hours daily on his knees. The greatest practical resolves that have enriched and beautified human life in Christian times have been arrived at in prayer." Canon Liddon

Lincoln on the National Day of Prayer

"Federal Judge Barbara Crabb may wear a black robe and wield a gavel, but she isn't more powerful than prayer.... President Barack Obama's administration and the Justice Department, which is representing the government in the case, have said they will appeal the judge's decision to make the National of Prayer illegal. And last week, Obama issued a proclamation designating Thursday as a National Day of Prayer and called upon citizens "to pray or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings." Melody McDonald, Star-Telegram

What would Lincoln say about these things? Historian Joe Wheeler in his book Abraham Lincoln: A Man of Faith and Courage (p. 20) writes:

"Things did not go well for Lincoln in 1861. On April 14, Fort Sumter capitulated to secessionists forces- the rebels. On July 21, Lincoln and the North were humiliated by the retreat of the Northern army at the Battle of Bull Run. Six days later, Lincoln asked General George B. McClellan to take command of all the Union armies.

In this sober mood, Lincoln, upon the suggestion of Congress, called for a Day of National Prayer. He set it for the last Thursday in November. He chose Thursday because it would not tread on any existing holy days observed by American churches. From this time on, having such events on Thursdays became the norm.

Part of Lincoln’s announcement of the Day National Prayer reads:

And whereas when our beloved country, once, by the blessing of God, united, prosperous, and happy, is now afflicted with factions and civil war, it is peculiarly, and in sorrowful remembrance of our own faults and crimes as a nation and as individuals, to humble ourselves before Him, and to pray for His mercy.

Lincoln called for national prayer more than once- indeed, he did so whenever he felt the overwhelming need for the country to beseech the Lord God for aid or guidance or to thank Him for providing them. These calls to prayer, fasting, and humiliation- and later to gratitude and thanksgiving- became central acts of Lincoln’s presidency. There were nine in all: Two in 1861, one in 1862, three in 1863, and three in 1864. He was getting ready to call for a tenth in 1865 when his life was cut short."

Federal judge Barbara Crabb, it seems, needs to read her American history.

Grace avoidance

“I have come to see legalism in its pursuit of false purity as an elaborate scheme of grace avoidance. You can know the law by heart without knowing the heart of it.” Philip Yancey

God’s heart-changing grace

“The Christian life is far more than sin management. Behavior modification that’s not empowered by God’s heart-changing grace is self-righteous, as repugnant to God as the worst sins people gossip about. Children who grow up with graceless truth are repelled by self-righteousness and attracted to the world’s slick marketed grace-substitutes.” Randy Alcorn

Mrs. Matsuoka's baby due any time...

Mrs. Matsuoka (Pine Hill) is going to have her 7th child any day soon. Please pray for a safe and special birth. In the picture you see little Aska: Naho takes care of her when Mrs. Matsuoka (her mommy) has her check up. Her daughter Megumi (Grace) comes to our English class. Then Megumi and her brother, Ryuta, come to our Sunday worship. Please for Christ's grace to abound to their whole family.

Prayer and patience and faith are never disappointed.

"The principal cause of my leanness and unfruitfulness is owing to an unaccountable backwardness to pray. I can write or read or converse or hear with a ready heart; but prayer is more spiritual and inward than any of these, and the more spiritual any duty is the more my carnal heart is apt to start from it. Prayer and patience and faith are never disappointed. I have long since learned that if ever I was to be a minister faith and prayer must make me one. When I can find my heart in frame and liberty for prayer, everything else is comparatively easy."　Richard Newton

The God of Grace

“When [parents] realize that their job is to raise up children to love and serve, they wonder how on earth they will do that….. The answer isn’t on earth. It is found in heaven. It’s sitting on an eternal throne. He has many names, but among my favorites is ‘The God of Grace.’ You wonder, How am I to raise up children to love and serve God? The answer is actually not that difficult. You simply need to treat your children the way God treats you….. He does it in grace.” Tim Kimmel