The hitting rate of an anxious thought is 1% Rev.Nakanishi Masao

Most of us are “anxious minded” people.  How about you?  We worry about our health, about our job, and about our family.  There are so many reasons for our worries.  And the difficult part is that the reasons for worrying appear one after another, negatively affecting our mind and body.  Of course, no one wishes to be worried, yet the reality is that we have no choice but to worry.  Is there anything we can do?  A French philosopher and a political activist, Montaigne said “I was anxious that the life was full ofdevastations.  However those devastations did not occur.  The hitting rate of an anxious mind was only 1 %. (Les Essais)”

Truly, it is a wiseman’s statement.  We should keep that in our heart.  Yet, those who have anxious mind might say that what if the 1% becomes a reality.  Thisisthe particular characteristic of anxious people.  However, what if there was God who can turn the worst reality into the most blessing opportunity.  That would be the best news for us.  And, Yes.There is God. God who created us and rule all of His Creation, tells us through the Bible.

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

We, human have the limits to what we can do and know, yet we have loving God who created us promises“all things will work for the good.”  It is such an encouraging truth.  I invite you to accept God intoyour life, and relieved from all worries.

Masao Nakanishi

Senior Pastor

The apple of my eye

Last month, I had my first child (a son).  He was delivered earlier than the due date, but I was able to witness his birth.  Finally, I have become a “father.”  And as becoming a father, there are many things I find for the first time.

Already, I am suffering with him crying in the night.  My wife and I take turn dandling him, yet he does not let us sleep.  Because of him, we become busy, and have no time to tidy up our house.  Having a son costs money and it is tiring.  But, his sleeping face comforts us, and makes us wanting to protect him.

By the way, will you be surprised if I tell you that you also have someone who feels the same to you? According to the Bible, we do not exist by chance. We are designed and created by God. Just like parents watch over their children, God cares for you and watches over you.  Jesus Christ called God as “Father.” God is not someone who is unknown, nor existing far away from you. He has own personality, and is very much interested in you. Through your prayers, you can have a conversation with Him. And you can call your creator as your “daddy.”

When we talk about a father, we usually image our own.  In my case, my father was short tempered and a difficult person to be close to.  So, for many years, I also imagined God was the same as my father.  But through the Bible, I have learnt that the Father was quite different.  Not only He is affectionate, Himself is Love, with full of mercy and blessings.  Knowing this provided me with peacefulness.

In modern time, there are many children who desperately wanting to be accepted and loved by their own parents.  However, we do not need to try to be loved by our heavenly Father.  My son does not need to try to be loved by me.  I love him by just only watching him breathing.  That is enough for me to love him. 

There is a script in the Bible. “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! (Isaiah 49:15)” (NIV)

A mother never forgets her own child. Even if she forgets, God will never forget you. I want you to know that there is such God that exists and you are loved by Him. May God bless you.

Youth Pastor  Kenshiro Goto

Isn’t there anything wrong?

Isn’t there anything wrong?

In the book written by Harold Fickett, there is a phrase he uses, “isn’t there anything wrong?”  “Isn’t there anything wrong?  When a person taking too long to do something, people say he is too slow.  But when they don’t do things, they say they are too busy to do it.  When a person does things without being asked, they say he is being pushy.  Yet when they do things before being asked to do, they say they are being thoughtful.  A person does not have good manner, he is called as a rude person.  Yet when they don’t show good manner, they call themselves as being unique.  When a person tries to do good things to his boss, people call him as a cheeky person.  Yet when people do good thing to their superiors, they call themselves as being cooperative.  When a person is being promoted, people say he is lucky.  Yet when they are promoted, they think they deserve it for their hard work.  Isn’t there anything wrong?”  These stories make us laugh, and it is true that we are all selfish beings.

In a normal arithmetic, a hundred minus one is ninety-nine.  However, the arithmetic within our mind is not always the same.  For example, if a person gives you 100 of good wills, yet he does one thing wrong, you may say “now I know what kind of person he is.  I will never do anything to do with him anymore.”  This one wrong thing becomes a gigantic “one”, and the original arithmetic formula would be distorted.

Moreover, this formula exists only when we receive one wrong thing, or one evil thing from others.  But we insist using the original arithmetic formula when we do something wrong to them. And we may say “I did so many good things for him. For he does not forgiving me is very unreasonable.”

The Bible says “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1-2, NIV)”

We are so selfish in the way we judge and measure others.  However, God judges and measures us in such a blessing way with full of true love. Even we commit so much sin within our heart and by our actions, God makes everything becomes null when you accept Christ as your savior who forgives all of your sin. Not only that, He fills us with so much blessing. How amazing!

Why don’t you accept Christ within your heart?

Senior Pastor Masao Nakanishi