In Japan they call croquet 'gateball.' It is often played by the elderly. Above, Feb. 19th, Joshua comes in first, though his team came in 3rd, in a tournament with local elementary schools.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
To act justly and to love mercy
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
“Christianity served as a revitalization movement that arose in response to the misery, chaos, fear, and brutality of life in the urban Greco-Roman world… Christianity revitalized life in… cities by providing new norms and new kinds of social relationships able to cope with many urgent urban problems. To cities filled with the homeless and impoverished, Christianity offered charity as well as hope. To cities filled with newcomers and strangers, Christianity offered a new basis for social solidarity. And to cities faced with epidemics, fires and earthquakes, Christianity offered effective… services.” Rodney Stark, a sociologist of religion, The Rise of Christianity
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Ruth's wedding 4
Finally to the wedding, Feb. 13th Valentines Day, at Terrace Inn, Petoskey, MI. Here Ruth is entering with Stevie, her son.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Ruth's wedding 3
I worshipped at Trinity Church- my parents church- on Sunday, the 13th. I was encouraged.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Ruth's wedding 2
While I was at my parents home to go to my sister's wedding, I saw some deer in their back yard. They come quite often. This reminded me of Psalm 42:1, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." Does your soul long for God?
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Ruth's wedding 1
February 7-15, I went to Petsokey, MI for my sister Ruth's & Ron's wedding. It was held on Valentine's Day in the evening. Above: We enjoyed a family dinner with (left to right) Mom, Dad, Ruth, Ron, Lydia and Stevie. ＜More videos to come.＞
Friday, February 18, 2011
Anyway
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and some true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building
someone could destroy overnight.
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will forget tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, Mother Teresa
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Christian Gospel...
@ The purpose
God made a good, beautiful world filled with beings to share in this life of joy and peace by knowing, serving, and loving God and one another.
@ The problem
Instead, we chose to center our lives on ourselves and on the pursuit of things, rather than on God and others. This led to the disintegration of creation and the loss of peace within ourselves, between people, and in nature itself.
@ The solution
God entered history in the person of Jesus to deal with all the causes and results of our broken relationship with him. Jesus lived the life we were created to live and then died to pay the debt of sin incurred for the life we actually live. By his resurrection he showed that death is now defeated and he showed us the future- new bodies and a completely new heaven and new earth, in which the world is restored to full joy, glory and peace.
Tim Keller, Gospel in Life: Grace Changes Everything
Thursday, February 3, 2011
A generation of “introverts”
'An online survey by students at Meiji University of people across Japan ages 18 to 22 found that two-thirds felt that youths did not take risks or new challenges, and that they instead had become a generation of “introverts” who were content or at least resigned to living a life without ambition.'
The gospel of Christ can make a difference not only in the lives of these youth, but in the nation of Japan as whole. "Put your hope in God," Psalm 42 & 43.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)