”For your sakes he became poor”

“You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”　2 Corinthians 8:9

”Think of Jesus’ costly grace until you are changed into generous people by the gospel in your hearts.... So the solution to stinginess is a reorientation to the generosity of Christ in the gospel, where he poured out his wealth for you. Because of the gospel you don’t have to worry about money. The cross proves God’s care for you and gives you security. Because of the gospel you don’t have to envy anyone else’s money. Jesus’ love and salvation confer on you a remarkable status- one that money cannot give you.”　Timothy Keller

Pict: Rembrandt's Adoration of the Shepherds

An early Christmas...

Since the 24th and 25th are a little busy, we celebrated an early family Christmas on the 23rd. We first opened up our presents. Then I made some brunch. After that we enjoyed the movie, the Preacher's Wife, with Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston. The story is good, but the gospel music with Whitney is excellent. Watching this movie has now become a Christmas tradition for our family.

And my the Lord give you and your family a very special Christmas.

"I am."

G. K. Chesterton was once asked by a London newspaper to join other authors and thinkers to address the weighty and important question of "what's wrong with the world."His response:

Dear Sirs,

I am.

Sincerely yours,

G.K. Chesterton

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst." 1 Timothy 1:15

"With the precious blood of Christ"

“[Jesus Christ] should bring complete rest and assurance to our consciences. His salvation is of infinite value. His blood was shed as a ransom (Mark 10:45) to pay for our sins. This blood was the blood of God (Acts 20:28). Imagine how valuable that is. No sin is too great to be forgiven; no corruption is too great to be healed.” Timothy Keller

"You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18-19

Check out Keller's sermons. Redeemer Sermons

Listening....

“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for [others] is learning to listen to them… Listening can be greater service than speaking… There is a kind of listening… an impatient, inattentive listening, that… is only waiting for a chance to speak and thus get rid of the other person.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." James 1:9

March 11th, all hope was lost....

However,

'A large crowd followed Jesus, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen,

the one I love, in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
In his name the nations will put their hope.”'

Matthew 12:15-21

Watch video Youtube video: 'We will always remember you.' It will break your heart though.

Please pray that the Lord would show His mercy to Japan, especially those devastated by the massive earthquake and tsunami this March 11.

True virtue...

“True virtue comes when you see Christ dying for you.” Timothy Keller

”Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified." Galatians 3:1

Every Heart That is Breaking...

＜Here is a song for the victims of 3・11.＞

Please listen to it on VIMEO. Words below.

For the young abandoned husband

Left alone without a reason

For the pilgrim in the city

Where there is no home

For the son without a father

For his solitary mother

I have a message?

He sees you, He knows you

He loves you, He loves you

Every heart that is breaking, tonight

Is the heart of a child that he holds in his sight

And, oh, how He longs to hold in his arms

Every heart that is breaking, tonight

Every heart that is breaking, tonight

For every heart

For the precious fallen daughter

For her devastated father

For the prodigal who's dying in a strange new way

For the child who's always hungry

For the patriot with no country

I have a message?

He sees you, He knows you

He loves you, Jesus loves you

Every heart that is breaking, tonight

Is the heart of a child that he holds in his sight

And, oh, how He longs to hold in his arms

Every heart that is breaking, tonight

Every heart that is breaking, tonight

Every heart that is breaking, tonight

For every heart

by Twila Paris

Please don't forget those who were devastated by the massive earthquake and tsunami this March 11. Continue to pray for them and then visit them.

@ Pict taken by me about 1 month after the tsunami in Ishinomaki.

God has made all people to reflect, to be imaging beings....

“God has made all people to reflect, to be imaging beings. People will always reflect something, whether it be God’s character or some feature of the world. If people are committed to God, they will become like him; if they are committed to something other than God, they will become like that thing, always spiritually inanimate and empty like the lifeless and vain aspect of creation to which they have committed themselves… We become spiritually blind, deaf and dumb even though we have physical eyes and ears. If we commit ourselves to something that does not have God’s Spirit, to that degree we will be lacking the Spirit… The point is that our lives become vain and empty when we commit ourselves to vain idols of this world.”

G.K. Beale

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them...." Exodus 20:2-4