June 2019 monthly message "The optimum vs. the best"

The optimum vs. the best

2000 years ago, Jesus said “do not worry about your life.”  It seems Jesus knew about the anxieties and worries in our time.  Of course, nobody wants to be anxious or worry.  Yet, there many situations that lead all of us to be anxious and worry.

When Jesus taught us “not to worry,” he also added the reason for it.  “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store any in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Father will not hesitate to do much better for you.”  This “much better” really means “the optimum.”  Some may say “who would call the handicap I have, or being in such a miserable condition, the optimal condition?”  But the thing I want you to know is that God leads us into the optimal condition for us, not the best condition we think of.

There are stories of Joseph and Job who went through much suffering.  They had to go through much suffering which had nothing to do with their wrongdoings.  They suffered for many years, but they were led to such peaceful lives.  Their sufferings were needed to become mature.  When we think of these, we know it may not be the best condition when we suffer.  But, there will be a time that you would be led to think it was the optimal condition for you.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. (Roman 8:28)”

You may live in a harsh condition, now.  I pray that you to love your creator, and to believe God who will lead you to the optimal.

Senior Pastor

Masao Nakanishi

May 2019 monthly message “Seeing through a new 5000 Yen Bill”

Seeing through a new 5000 Yen Bill

New designs of bills were introduce last month.  The person on the 5000 Yen bill will be Umeko Tsuda, a female.  As I searched for the reason of her being selected, I understood the meaning.  Today, a large number of females are advancing in our society, and she had done so much for the women’s rights.

About 150 years ago, at the age of 7 years old, she went to the US for studying.  She met Jesus Christ there, and baptized at her own will.  Her studying went well, and returned back to Japan after 11 years.  Yet, she faced a massive culture shock.  Social status of women was so low that it was a great surprise for her.

With her dream of establishing a school, she returned back to the US for more studying.  Once she returned from her studying, she established “Joshi Eigaku Juku (College of English Studies for women)”.  She was determined to have women receive higher education, and to encourage the social advancement of women. This college is now known as “Tsuda Juku University.”  Now a day, the gender equality and women’s social advancement are normal things, yet she was the one who established the basis of this.  With her contribution, women’s rights became a reality.

What really motivated her?  It is clear that the Bible had influenced her.  Historically, many Christians had established hospitals and related facilities to help with those have handicaps.  And the role model of these efforts is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ, the son of God had healed many patients and gave hope and the strength to live in the Jewish society at that time. He had touched those who were terminally ill, and sat together with lowered people for having a meal, and spent time with them. He was not some above the clouds. Where ever he went, he became a friend who had no friend.

The Bible says “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you (Isaiah 43:4, NIV).”  In this world, clever people, beautiful people and people with high ability are admired.  However, God does not look at you in such ways.  Without any condition, you are precious and honored by Him.  You are a unique creation, and God does not make any mistake in creating you.

Who are you going to listen to?  May God bless you.

Youth PastorKenshiro Goto

April 2019 monthly message “Changing the death to life”

Changingthe death to life

The Easter message, April 2019

There is a famous novelist, Souseki Natsume who is known among most Japanese.  His famous works are “Botchan” and “Wagahai ha neko dearu (I am a CAT).” He is a novelist with full of wits and humor.  When he was 48 years old, he lost his beloved daughter.  He wrote this in his diary.

“The last night was her memorial service, and today is the funeral.  So tomorrow, we will collect her bones… so busy.  However all these effort mean nothing.  If we could not change death to life, everything we do is meaningless.  How regretful it is!”

Instead of being a famous novelist, we see him as a father who feels sorrow and grief.  And the diary clearly expresses feelings which we also sympathize.  The death is the most sad and helpless thing in our life.

However when we read the Bible, we find the words of Jesus Christ who can “change the death to life” which Souseki Natsume grieved and hoped for.  

“I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. (John 11:25, NIV)”

It is such a surprising word, but Jesus himself had conqueredthe death and being resurrected.  You may say it is unbelievable, and your reaction is normal.  Even the disciples of Jesus themselves could not believe it then.  Yet they witnessed Jesus’ resurrection and physically touched him.  This changed them, and started to spread the resurrection of Christ with confidence, even being killed for it.  If this was just a fake story, the Christianity never prevailed as now, and disappeared much earlier in the history.  Jesus is the one who has the authority to change the death to life.

I have been a pastor for over 40 years, and had stood by at the moment of death many times.  There is a great difference if a person has a hope for the eternal life or not.  I invite you to a church, and find out “the thing that changes the death to life”, and find a peace in your life.

Senior Pastor 

Masao Nakanishi