「気持ちのゆとりのない....」

「気持ちのゆとりのない、あまりにも忙しい、『神なんか無用』と思う世の中において、私たちは、止まって聖書を読むべきです。神のパラダイスに目を覚ますのです。深呼吸するのです。（エデンの）故郷をなつかしむのです。心が洗われるのです。楽園の回復を期待するのです。」小畑進

創世記２章でエデンの楽園についてを読む。創世記２章

「赤子」

「私は十字架の下に泣き叫ぶ赤子にすぎない」内村鑑三

「しかしわたしたちは、十字架につけられたキリストを宣べ伝える。」

使徒パウロ・１コリント１：２３ 

Civility in the Public Square

Here  are some quality thoughts by Tim Keller on Civility in the Public Square.

"It could be argued that America has never really been a genuinely pluralistic, perspective-diverse, free society. We have never been a place where people who deeply differ with one another, whose views offend and outrage one another, nonetheless treat one another with respect and hear each other out. Those who have held the reins of cultural power — its greatest academic centers, its most powerful corporations, and the media — have always excluded unpopular voices and minority views that fell on the wrong side of the public morality of the day. Many white evangelical Christians in the 1980’s and 90’s wanted to occupy those places of power and showed little concern at the time to create a society that respected communities with sharply differing moral visions. Today cultural power has shifted, but those newly come to power seem to show as little interest in genuine pluralism as did the cultural elites in the past. If anything, observers argue that different perspectives and viewpoints are treated with even less respect and courtesy than in the past. The agenda has become not to engage, but to marginalize and silence."

"Self-assertion is again (in the present), as in ancient times, far more valued than humility." 

"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.'” *

"Christians can admit their contribution to and responsibility for the current situation. Much of the hostility to religious freedom comes from people with memories of how the churches, when they had more social power, marginalized people who differed with them. We should admit this."

The church should "consciously seek to form people who are capable of tolerance, humility, and patience through public worship. We should consider how the Christian practice of confession could engender humility. We should remember how praying in worship for our neighbors, even our opponents, in light of the cross and Jesus’ costly forgiveness of us, can create both tolerance and patience."

* I added this scripture.

“Gang Pastor”

"Called by God into a life far from his Christian but comfortable existence, Andie Steele-Smith has recently won international acclaim as the “gang pastor” crossing rival lines. Serving the last five years in 2018’s second-highest homicide city, he has led murderers and drug lords to cooperate amid the coronavirus pandemic as a new distribution network for soap and emergency food delivery." Meet the ‘Gang Pastor’ Behind Cape Town’s Viral Coronavirus Cooperation

Read more: Gangs deliver food in poor Cape Town area amid lockdown AP, How coronavirus inspired a gangland truce in South Africa - BBC, "Literally a miracle": Violent rival gangs in South Africa call truce to help people during pandemic - CBS

"The No. 1 lesson is just turn up. You don’t need a project or a program, but if you turn up every day you are no longer just a white person. All of a sudden, you are one of us." 

"So the second lesson is to run into the flames, rather than do the natural thing and run … away from it."

'Six young men from another gang came to attack us with knives drawn. I pulled my boys behind me, and on autopilot I grabbed the leader, hugged him, and kissed him on the forehead. He burst into tears, put his knife in his pocket, and said, “Uncle, can we help build with you?”'

"The things that people see in the media and say are amazing? No, these are the unintended consequences; they’re irrelevant in a sense. That’s not actually what we are there to do. It is to love someone who might not have felt loved."

「世界の創造主は、疑いなく世界の支配主でもある。。。」

「世界の創造主は、疑いなく世界の支配主でもある。何もないところから世界 を造る力を持ち、その中にある全てのものを整えられる神は、当然その世界を 掃き捨てる権力も持つお方である。神は初めに定められた摂理を保つため、 または警告のためにその権力を示される。 神は初めに自然の摂理を定めら れ、その全てを御手の内に支配され、それによって神が世界を支配し、その御 心のままに滅ぼすこともできることが明らかになるからである。... しかし、神は決して世界の事態や問題に無関心ではない。むしろ神が世界を創造された、その御業の順序や方法に見られる通り、神が世界のいかなる事にも無関心でないことは明らかである。すなわち、神は、その創造によって、将来の計画と世界の形勢をあらかじめ定めておられるのである。」

ジョナサン・エドワーズ

祈り

「私たちの創造主であり、すべてを保たれるお方。世界はあなたの御手のうち にあります。あなたは被造物のうち最も弱いものまで知っておられ、最も強い兵士もあなたの思いのままです。あなたは義なる王です。どうか、主のみこころが私にとって益であることに信頼できるよう助けて下さい。アーメン。」

ニューシティーカテキズム

God moves in a mysterious way

These words of this hymn are amazing!

The writer William Cowper struggled with depression and was a fervent abolitionist.

Please listen to Grace Community Church - Sun Valley, California (traditional),  

Graham Kendrick (beautiful).

God moves in a mysterious way,

    His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,

    And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

    Of never failing skill;

He treasures up his bright designs,

    And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints fresh courage take,

    The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break

    In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

    But trust him for his grace;

Behind a frowning providence,

    He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

    Unfolding ev'ry hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

    But sweet will be the flow'r.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

    And scan his work in vain;

God is his own interpreter,

    And he will make it plain.

The UK Blessing

The UK Blessing — Churches sing 'The Blessing' over the UK

Prime Minister gives Tim Hughes award and labels UK Blessing video a 'sensational singing masterpiece'. Amazing!....イギリスの首相がビデオ「UK Blessing」に勲章を与え、「素晴らしい歌の傑作」と言う。（教派を超えて協力した教会による。）感動的！

Coronavirus, Abraham Lincoln and Faith

President Abraham Lincoln presided as president over our nation at the most difficult time in our nations history. The Civil War. Here are some his quotes that would guide us during this terrible battle with COVID-19.


The Mystery of God' s Sovereign Will and Purposes

"Fondly do we hope -- fervently do we pray -- that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether." Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

"I am glad of this interview, and glad to know that I have your sympathy and prayers. We are indeed going through a great trial -- a fiery trial. In the very responsible position in which I happen to be placed, being a humble instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father, as I am, and as we all are, to work out his great purposes, I have desired that all my works and acts may be according to his will, and that it might be so, I have sought his aid -- but if after endeavoring to do my best in the light which he affords me, I find my efforts fail, I must believe that for some purpose unknown to me, He wills it otherwise. If I had had my way, this war would never have been commenced; If I had been allowed my way this war would have been ended before this, but we find it still continues; and we must believe that He permits it for some wise purpose of his own, mysterious and unknown to us; and though with our limited understandings we may not be able to comprehend it, yet we cannot but believe, that he who made the world still governs it." Reply to Eliza Gurney, October 26, 1862

"We accepted this war for an object, a worthy object, and the war will end when that object is attained. Under God, I hope it never will until that time." Speech at Philadelphia Sanitary Fair, June 16, 1864

Our Effort

"Let us diligently apply the means, never doubting that a just God, in his own good time, will give us the rightful result." Letter to James Conkling, August 26, 1863

Churches

"But I must add that the U.S. government must not, as by this order, undertake to run the churches. When an individual, in a church or out of it, becomes dangerous to the public interest, he must be checked; but let the churches, as such take care of themselves. It will not do for the U.S. to appoint Trustees, Supervisors, or other agents for the churches." Letter to Samuel Curtis, January 2, 1863 

The Bible

"In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it." Reply to Loyal Colored People of Baltimore upon Presentation of a Bible, September 7, 1864

Humility

"Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a difference of purpose between the Almighty and them. To deny it, however, in this case, is to deny that there is a God governing the world. It is a truth which I thought needed to be told; and as whatever of humilation there is in it, falls most directly on myself, I thought others might afford for me to tell it." Letter to Thurlow Weed, March 15, 1865 

Renewal of Faith in God

"And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts." Message to Congress in Special Session, July 4, 1861

Thankfulness

"God bless the soldiers and seamen, with all their brave commanders." Response to a Serenade, October 19, 1864

"While we are grateful to all the brave men and officers for the events of the past few days, we should, above all, be very grateful to Almighty God, who gives us victory." Response to a Serenade, May 9, 1864

"The evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond, and the surrender of the principal insurgent army, give hope of a righteous and speedy peace whose joyous expression can not be restrained. In the midst of this, however, He, from Whom all blessings flow, must not be forgotten. A call for a national thanksgiving is being prepared, and will be duly promulgated." Last Public Address, April 11, 1865

A Summary

"I am much indebted to the good christian people of the country for their constant prayers and consolations; and to no one of them, more than to yourself. The purposes of the Almighty are perfect, and must prevail, though we erring mortals may fail to accurately perceive them in advance. We hoped for a happy termination of this terrible war long before this; but God knows best, and has ruled otherwise. We shall yet acknowledge His wisdom and our own error therein. Meanwhile we must work earnestly in the best light He gives us, trusting that so working still conduces to the great ends He ordains. Surely He intends some great good to follow this mighty convulsion, which no mortal could make, and no mortal could stay." Letter to Eliza Gurney, September 4, 1864. 


Religious Quotations by Abraham Lincoln

「安らかにわが魂よ」

「安らかにわが魂よ」を英語で聞いてください。いくつかのグループがあります。Libera, A cappella - Eclipse 6, and Naturally7　（Please be listen to hymn "Be still my soul" by various groups.)

安らかに　魂よ　神はあなたのそばにいる

耐えなさい　悲しみや苦しみに　苛まれていても

言われるまま　与えられるまま　神にゆだねなさい

変わってゆくたびに　信じることができるだろう

安らかに　魂よ　素晴らしき友よ

苦しい道のりは　喜びへとつながってゆく

もっと読む　安らかにわが魂よ

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heav'nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

More lyrics Be Still My Soul

Lloyd-Jones: Help People See Crisis as Both a Mirror and a Lens

Please read Lloyd-Jones: Help People See Crisis as Both a Mirror and a Lens.

“I preached the messages to the people in the hope that they might help them, and strengthen their faith, in the critical days through which we are passing.”

Let’s employ our current crisis as a mirror to help our people see themselves more clearly. And let’s encourage them to look through this crisis to behold a wise, sovereign God who controls all things.

讃岐富士

飯野山（いのやま）とも言われています。私たちの家のすぐ裏です。標高は４２０メートル。

"Some Reflections Growing Out Of The Recent Epidemic Of Influenza That Afflicted Our City"

Please Francis Grimke's message "Some Reflections Growing Out Of The Recent Epidemic Of Influenza That Afflicted Our City". Grimke was leading African-merican clergy of Reformed theology. He often spoke on racial justice.

Here are some of his reflections on the Spanish flu..... 

"There has been considerable grumbling, I know, on the part of some, particularly in regard to the closing of the churches. It seems to me, however, in a matter like this it is always wise to submit to such restrictions for the time being. If, as a matter of fact, it was dangerous to meet in theaters and in the schools, it certainly was no less dangerous to meet in churches. The fact that the churches were places of religious gathering, and the others not, would not affect in the least the health question involved. If avoiding crowds lessens the danger of being infected, it was wise to take the precaution and not needlessly run in danger, and expect God to protect us..... And so, anxious as I have been to resume work, I have waited patiently until the order was lifted. I started to worry at first, as it seemed to upset all of our plans for the fall work; but I soon recovered my composure. I said to myself, why worry? God knows what He is doing. His work is not going to suffer. It will rather be a help to it in the end. Out of it, I believe, great good is coming. All the churches, as well as the community at large, are going to be the stronger and better for this season of distress through which we have been passing."

"You who are not Christians, who have not yet repented of your sins, who have not yet surrendered yourselves to the guidance of Jesus Christ, if you allow these repeated warnings that you have had, day by day, week by week, to go unheeded—if you still go on in your sins, should God suddenly cut you off in your sins, you will have no one to blame but yourselves." 

"While the plague was raging, while thousands were dying, what a comfort it was to feel that we were in the hands of a loving Father who was looking out for us, who had given us the great assurance that all things should work together for our good." 

"It is a good time for those of us who are Christians to examine ourselves to see exactly how it is with us, whether the foundation upon which we are building is a rock foundation—whether our faith is really resting upon Christ, the solid Rock, or not."