葛藤のない信仰

ＣＯＲ札幌に来た、ラジャン・ティアガラジャ著書の日本語版を紹介します。
この本のサブタイトルは、満たされた信仰による生活です。
彼は、油注がれたメッセンジャーとして世界中で用いられています。
妻のいづみが翻訳した本で、各キリスト教書店で発売となります。

ハバクク書２章４節

Carlos Ghosn and revival

The accounting for consolidation of auto companies was announced in May, 2012. Finally, Nissan outweighed the benefit of Toyota. In 1999, Nissan became a subsidiary of Renault because of a company trouble and Mr. Ghosn, Carlos took up a post of CEO. He set “Revival plan of Nissan” and tackled reconstruction.

After he became CEO of Nissan, he was surprised many things. When he proposed an innovative idea, workers always say, “it’s impossible.” or “it’s difficult.” Also, although they had never tried before, they explained logically the reason why they can’t do.

Christians in Japan often say, “Revival for Japan”. If they think so, they have to challenge new things in a daily life. They sometimes feel they can’t do it or they don’t have a power to do it. When Jesus went up to heaven, disciples felt the same. That’s why they believed Father’s promise, prayed, and waited.

You will be changed to a person who can do everything “by the power of the Lord”. Pentecost will be on 27th of March this year.

Philippians 4:13

A church surrounded by a wall and gates

This church has a wall and a gate outside and one more wall and one more gate on their property. There are many persecutions around this area. Although they are in danger, why is there a church in this area?

Jesus ordered, “Go out to the world and share the gospel to people” but how was the gospel spread out to the world? The answer is “by persecutions”. Churches had to spread out to Judea and Samaria because of persecutions in Jerusalem. Surprisingly, disciples went to many areas with nameless Christians.

The history proves that no one can stop the gospel.

Isaiah 52:10

If 2 or 3 people gather,

If one person rejoices, it’s the happiest moment with 2 or 3 people gathering. It’s a wonderful time when 2 or 3 people gather by the name of Jesus, pray, worship, and eat together.

Churches of our time tend to ask “something else” other than these things above. Churches try to attract people with “something else” and let them stay at churches. It seems parents try to attract their children who don’t sit at a table or spend a time with family with toys or pocket money.

A church is the place where we feel and know the magnificence with Jesus. We are a part of God’s body and are built up in God’s love.

Mathew 18:20

Even thought there is one person,

Loneliness brings sadness and negative feeling. Loneliness is not a sin but it brings self-pity and selfishness. Troublingly, although there are many friends and family, many people feel loneliness.

Many people in the Bible might feel loneliness. People needs someone and want to be needed by someone. How are we able to be freed from this feeling? It’s by the personal relationship with God.

Jesus dwells in you. Although you are alone, the Lord is with you. The close relationship with Jesus gives you true joy and happiness.

Romans 8:10

２０１２年ペンテコステ

今日、５月２７日が２０１２年のペンテコステです。

ペンテコステの日とは、

イスラエルが国家として確立された日

地上に初めて教会が誕生した日

聖霊のバプテスマが行われた日

弟子たちが力に満たされた日

キリストの証人が産まれた日

ＣＯＲにとっての誕生日

そして、今日の礼拝で霊の誕生と誕生日を迎えた人がいました。

主は素晴らしい御方です。

ヨエル書２章２８～２９節

カルロス・ゴーンとリバイバル

今年５月に自動車メーカーの連結決算が発表されました。
ついに、日産が営業利益で、あのトヨタを上回りました。

日産は経営不振から、１９９９年にルノー傘下となり、経営最高責任者にはカルロス・ゴーン氏が就任します。
そして、「日産リバイバルプラン」を掲げて再建に取り組みました。
そのカルロス・ゴーン氏が驚いたこととは・・・。

革新的なことを指示すると、「現実には不可能」「それは難しい」という反応が返ってきたそうです。
さらに、実効したことがないのに、出来ない理由を論理的に説明するのだそうです。


日本のクリスチャンもよく「日本のリバイバルを」と口にします。
だとすれば、毎日の生活で新しいことに挑戦しなければならないはずです。

その時、「私には力が足りない」「それはできない」と感じることがあるでしょう。
イエス様が天に昇られた後、弟子たちも同じように考えました。

だからこそ、父の約束を信じて祈り、待ち望んだのです。
あなたは「主の力により、どんなことでもできる！」人に変えられるのです。
５月２７日は、今年のペンテコステ礼拝です。

ピリピ人への手紙　４章１３節

塀と門に囲まれた教会

この教会には、外に塀、入口に門、その内側にさらに塀と入口があります。
ここは迫害の危険が高い地域です。
それにも関わらず、なぜ、このような場所に教会があるのでしょう。

イエス様は、「全世界に出て行き福音を伝えなさい」と命じられました。
しかし、実際に、どのように福音が拡がったのでしょう？

それは「迫害によって」でした。

エルサレムで起きた迫害により、教会はユダヤとサマリヤに散らされます。
意外なことですが、使徒たちは留まり、名も無いキリスト者とともに緒地方に拡がったのです。

歴史はそれを証明します。
福音は誰にも止めることができないことを。

イザヤ書　５２章１０節

二人でも三人でも

たとえ一人でも、喜びがあるならば、二人三人が集まればそれは至福の時です。
イエス様の名によって集まり、祈り、賛美し、食卓を囲む素晴らしさ。
これは、どんな時代、どんな国、どんな場所でも変わることがありません。

現代の教会は、それ以外の「何か」を求める傾向があります。
あるいは、教会がそれ以外の「何か」で人を集め、また留めようとします。
それは、家族と一緒に過ごさない、食卓につかない子供を玩具やお小遣いで引き寄せるようなものです。

教会は、イエス様がともにいて下さる素晴らしさを知る場所なのです。
そして、肢体がひとつであるように、愛の内に建て上げられていくのです。

マタイの福音書　１８章２０節

たとえ一人でも

孤独は、悲しい感情と否定的な思いを与えるものです。
孤独感は罪ではありませんが、自己憐憫や自己中心を誘発する源となります。
やっかいなことに、周りには友人や家族がいるのに、孤独な人が多いのです。

聖書に登場する多くの人物も孤独を感じたことでしょう。
人は、誰でも他の誰かを必要とする、また、必要とされたいという思いがあります。
では、どのようにこの感情から解放されることが出来るのでしょう？

それは、神との個人的な関係によってです。
イエス様は、あなたの内に住んで下さる御方です。

たとえ、あなたが一人の時でも、主がともにいて下さいます。
この御方との親しい関係は、あなたに真の喜びと幸福を与えてくれるのです。

ローマ人への手紙　８章１０節

The top of customer satisfaction

Singapore airline is a regular attendant of great customer satisfaction. (I personally agree with this.) I fly economy class so it is not supposed to have any big gap between Singapore airline and other airline companies. Some people think Japanese companies are better because they offer a very attentive service. To tell the truth, people who get on a flight a lot are satisfied with Singapore airline.

Who do churches please in our time? Do churches please pure, right, and beautiful people? Do churches please people who travel to search of themselves? Do churches please people who are about self-fulfillment?

In the Bible, it says, “Churches satisfy the hungry and the afflicted soul.” The light shall dawn in the darkness.

Isaiah 58:9~10

What is the power of church?

Dr. Rajan Thiagarajah is God’s vessel used in the world. He shares God’s message on TV, on radio, with books, in every way. Also, he holds great passion in his heart and we can’t imagine from his smile.

On 3rd of May, a powerful message was told at COR Nakanoshima. “The power of church is not a building, a denomination, and other things. The power of church is people.” At that time, it goes without saying that the place was filled with God’s presence.

1 John 5:5

The Great East Japan Earthquake and the Davis family

Mr. and Mrs. Davis were planting a church in Iwaki city, Fukushima Prefecture, but because of the Great East Japan Earthquake, church members broke up and moved to many places. Some of them moved to Sapporo.

The Davis family started to look for a house in Sapporo by God’s marvelous guidance. Yumiko Davis came to COR Nakanoshima to attend Sunday service. The Holy Spirit gave her a decision to worship God in Iwaki and Sapporo city through this encounter. They started to have a service at COR Nakanoshima on Sunday evening and Thursday night. Also, their rent and their daughter’s tuition were exempted by a support for victims.

Almighty God helped this family when they didn’t know what to do.

Psalm 121:2

Keep sowing seeds

There is a photo album called “Ikiru” (to live) published by Shinchosha Co., Ltd. The sub-title is “one year passed from the Great East Japan Earthquake”.

On page 29, it has a photo taken in Miyako city, Iwate Prefecture, in 1962. If you see this photo closely, you will find letters, “There is no other God except me – Savior.”

In 1954, some missionary families came to Tohoku area. They have been sharing the gospel from door to door and on the street.

Some people say this is out of fashion. Some people say this is inefficient and other people see Christians are strange but the Creator doesn’t see like that. I’m proud of people who have been sowing seeds without fear of misunderstanding or prejudice. They are God’s family.

Mark 4:14

Tragedy of Titanic

The luxury liner in history sank on 15th of Apr. 1912. People said, “Even God can’t sink this liner.” From this word, you see people’s pride is the reason why the liner sank. There were some other reasons. For example, they were late for finding an iceberg, they didn’t freight round of lifeboats, and so on. They used world-beating technology and spent enormous money but the liner became alga in the ocean on its maiden voyage.

Although the Great Flood occurred, Noah’s Ark saved many lives. Why did these two ships bring opposite results? That’s because Noah did everything as the Lord said.

Hebrew 11:7

2 hundreds million payment adjudication to the Unification Church

The Unification Church (Formal name is Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity) was continuously adjudged to pay compensation for damage and consolation money in March. (Sapporo municipal court adjudged to pay about 2 hundred seventy eight million yen on 29th of March and Fukuoka municipal court adjudged to pay about 3 hundred ninety one million yen on 16th of March.)

This adjudication is clarified that freedom of religion under Article 20 of the Constitution has evangelism and dedication by people’s free will. What is a problem of the Unification Church? Fukuoka municipal court certified soliciting action which they made people buy “Holy Book” (Seihon) and a word of Sun Myung Moon is illegal. Sapporo municipal court certified that they did edification action in order to make a profit.

Cult groups have an objective from the beginning and they hide their real identity or motivation in order to meet an objective. When dishonesty or crime is proved, he or she is sentenced like the adjudication at Sapporo and Fukuoka municipal court.

This is only a small part of the problems and there are many unanswered victims. The victims see this world is absurd and unequal but although the law can’t judge, God can see all the sins.

God’s judgment is the only judgment which is perfect, fair, and equal. Christians have to tell, “Repent yourselves and receive the forgiveness of the Savior”.

Jeremiah 4:14

The sign of resurrection

The Savior died on the cross and resurrected after being buried in a tomb. After that, He showed Himself in front of Thomas who had said, “If I don’t see Jesus, I will not believe Jesus was resurrected.” There were scars on hands and side of Jesus.

Why did He have scars on His resurrected body? Is it because He doesn’t want to be mixed up with a man who looks the same? Is it because He couldn’t erase these scars?

Christians don’t live with Jesus who was in Middle East 2000 years ago. Christians live with Jesus Christ who resurrected for me. These scars are the sign that we will never forget God’s love.

1 John 4:10

Look at a field

If you see this photo, you think they are enjoying afternoon tea but they are the people who are looking up a field where Jesus told us. Some of them have been ministering in Papua New Guinea for more than 30 years and some of them are preparing for the ministry in Japan. Everyone has a passion for God’s ministry.

Farmers are the people who reap the harvest from a field. Ministers who are working at a field are the people who can experience many things. What kind of power does what a teacher who had never been a field talks? The Lord said, “Don’t you say it takes some more months by the harvest?” Now is the time to answer the Word of God.

John 4:35

Law Cost Carrier came

Did Law Cost Carrier companies finally come to Japan? We can buy a ticket from several hundred yen (limited seats) to several thousand yen.

LCC is totally different from normal airline companies. (Of course!) Cabin Attendants do many things, such as cleaning up bathroom, standing at check-in counters, and so on. Also, if the flight is cancelled or something happens, LCC deal with passengers differently.

An innovative idea doesn’t come out from an old idea. Business needs new things all the time. Our oldness doesn’t want to be changed but the Lord says He renews us every day. If we are born newly, it is natural for us to live as new people. It is a new life by faith not by religion.

Jeremiah 31:33

Actual damage of Bible Cult groups

Actual damage of cult groups is to break the relationship of people. What is actual damage of Bible Cult groups?

In Acts 20:29~30, it says they come into a church, not sparing the flock, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. It is clear that the target of these wolves is churches and sheep. This is an evil action which uses people’s feeling of accepting and trusting each other. As the result of it, Bible cult groups deceive faith toward God, distort worship or gift of Spirit, and break the relationship with God’s family.

Bible Cult groups think a lie for God is not a lie and they keep committing a sin to disobey the Lord’s voice. Also, they control information to justify themselves.

The Bible told us to abide in Christ who is the head not to the convenient teaching for organizations or themselves.

Hebrew 10:25

11th of March

11th of March came this year. I was in Indonesia on this day last year.

My friend’s father passed away on 2nd of March. 11th of March is the day that all of Japan cried and we can’t go back before that day. At the same time, Japanese people started to think about the importance of bond from that day.

Many volunteers went to the devastated areas. Many Christians from overseas came here to bring the Lord’s love. And, now, an American pastor and his family come to Tohoku area. This pastor handed over his own church to someone else and decided to live in Japan.

Invisible God’s Spirit is working without doubt. New things will happen in the devastated areas and Japan.

Isaiah 43:19

1 mile of miracle

Kokusai Street in Okinawa is called 1 mile of miracle. Before the world war, this street was a narrow street where only one bus could pass but after the world war 2, American Military controlled there. Jug makers and tile makers was allowed to move in Kokusai Street and gradually their tents or huts were built so now it’s called the symbol of reconstruction. Right now, many tourists are walking around there.

In the Old Testament, the Lord gave revelation to Jeremiah. The revelation was that the army of Nebuchadnezzar would make inroads into Israel but the Lord’s plan is not the end with it. The Lord told Jeremiah that Israeli would be captured but after that, Israel, their land, and family of David would be reconstructed. We sometimes experience disasters which we don’t want but the Lord’s hands work till the end.

Jeremiah 32:42

Soul food

Okinawa is called a treasury of soul food. Goya champru, Jeemami-tohu, Chinsuko. There are so many soul foods there. Someone told me “Fried Gurukun” is the best but I didn’t have a chance to eat it. This photo is Yonawara Soba restaurant where Pastor Higa took me. It was a great soki soba which is reputable.

What is Soul Food for Israeli? Someone said their soul food is manna from heaven in the wilderness. Soul Food is prepared for Christian every day. It is sweeter than honey and raises us.

Psalm 119:103

Cherry-blossoms in February

This winter was so cold and my old-aged father suffered from the coldness.
It snows extraordinarily heavy in Iwamizawa city, one hour and half drive from Sapporo but cherry-blossoms bloom in Okinawa. (It was 25 degrees on this day.)

We might have a season to endure in our lives but the colder in winter, the more blessed in spring. Season of a song, spring, is coming in one more month in Sapporo.

The Song of Solomon 2:12

Actual damage of cult groups

Why are cult groups called antisocial or deadly groups? Generally, they cause mental, physical, and social damage.

Many precious lives were lost in sarin-gas attack on the Tokyo subway system provoked by the Aumu Sinrikyo. The Unification Church solicits people to buy something illegally and many people are missing because of the church’s order. These are visible damages.

However, more severe problems are damage in their heart. They break relationship with other people other than cult members. Love, trust, and bond which they had before has no power for the people who are under mind control. That’s why other people think they became different people although they look the same. Member’s family is suffering and loses their hope because their relationship and bond were broken.

It’s impossible for people to recover but everything is possible for the Lord. The recovery begins that cult members have peaceful relationship with the creator. Yes. It begins that cult members know what is a sin and go back to God by the Savior.

Romans 5:1

顧客満足第一位

シンガポール航空は、顧客調査で一位の常連です。
（個人的に激しく同意します！）

僕が乗るのは、エコノミークラスですから、全ての面でそれ程差がないはずです。
かゆい所に手が届く日系の方が良いと思う人もいるでしょう。
実は、搭乗回数が多い人こそ、この航空会社に満足しているのです。

現代において、教会はどんな人々を満足させる所なのでしょう？

清く・正しく・美しい人でしょうか？

自分探しの旅を続ける人でしょうか？

自己実現を目指す人でしょうか？

聖書には、「飢えた者、悩む者を満足させる」と書かれています。
光はやみの中に輝くものなのです。

イザヤ書　５８章９～１０節

教会の力とは

Ｄｒラジャン・ティアガラジャは、世界で用いられている神の器です。
メッセージ・ＴＶ・ラジオ・著書とあらゆる方法で福音を伝えています。
また、柔和な笑顔からは、想像できない程の情熱を秘めた人物でもあります。

５月３日に、ＣＯＲ中の島で力強いメッセージが語られました。

「教会の力とは、建物でも、教派でも・・・でもありません」

　　　　　　　　　　　「それは、人々です！」

その時、その場所は、神の臨在に満たされたことは言うまでもありません。

ヨハネの手紙第一　５章５節