listening

::: this afternoon, the three churches that comprise New Community Church gathered for its annual business meeting...sounds ho-hum, but, in truth, the meeting was a festive chance for the three congregations to see each other, worship together, and hear testimonies of what God has done the past year and what to look forward to...

...claire and i enjoy going to nishinomiya chapel to see friends in our extended church family...every time we look forward to seeing pastor makio...

...wish we could tell you much more, but, since the mtg was conducted in japanese, we'll just share what we were asked to do for the gathering...we prepared a two-minute testimony re our time so far in japan (thank you, minoru, for your fine translating!)...

"Since we arrived in Japan last November, our main challenge has been learning the Japanese language. But we praise God for this challenge. Why? Because God is teaching us that it is good to listen more and speak less. James 1:19 instructs every person to be 'quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.'

Isn't it true that when you listen humbly to another person with your ears, God can use you to love that person deeply with your heart? You can share the person’s joys. You can share the person’s sorrows. You can pray for that person. You can disagree in love. And as God helps you to listen to another person with a loving heart, God can help you serve that person with generous hands.

Listening is difficult. Speaking may be easier. But God is teaching us the value of the more difficult way. Listening to Him in prayer and listening to each other in love are two important ways we as members of New Community Church can serve Him in Japan."


...then i sang a song i wrote based on habakkuk 3:17-19 and led the congregation in a time of worship...