Baby Dedication, Christian Thoughts

A few weeks ago, there was a baby dedication held at Devon Church where Hiroko attends. This is not a baby baptism*. A baby dedication is where the parents offer their baby to God and pledge to raise their baby to be a child of God. The order of a baby dedication performed by the pastor of Devon Church is described in these photos.

The whole family steps up in front of the sanctuary by the pulpit.

The baby's father shared with the church congregation the history of the baby and how the baby gave joy to their family.

The parents gave praise and thanks to their Lord God with their singing.

The pastor asked the baby's family if they will take the responsibility to raise their baby to be a follower of Jesus Christ and they answered "yes." Then, the pastor asked the same question to the congregation. And, of course, the congregation said "yes" with joy.

Then each member of the family, even the 4 and 6 year old children, were anointed by the oil to sanctify them. They are reminded of God's great love and with this love they can raise their baby.

At last the baby was anointed by oil and water. The baby didn't cry at all.

The oil and water used for the anointing.

The baby dedication was finished.

Congratulation!

The family served refreshments to the congregation in the church fellowship room. "Congratulations" was heard throughout the church with joy.

The family extended their happiness to many friends and invited them to their celebration luncheon at a restaurant called "Great Beijing".

This is the food served at the restaurant.

The restaurant menu

The Emily’s Celebration Day’s luncheon menu..
won ton soup
fried pot stickers
sweet sour pork
Mongolian beef
shrimp and lobster sauce
shrimp fried rice
eggplant in garlic sauce
assorted lo mein
lemon chicken
shrimp vegetable supreme

The restaurant's cooking is well suited for the Japanese, so many Japanese use this restaurant to have meetings. However, the taste of the restaurant has changed. Hiroko has to arrange the lunch meeting with our missionary next month at this restaurant. Is it a problem!?!?

The baby and Hiroko.

Part of the baby's family.

It is a big responsibility, but Hiroko will remember this family in her prayer as much as possible.
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*Baby Baptism

Among Christians, there are arguments against infant baptism. The Roman Catholic Church and many others practice infant baptism. On the other hand, the Protestant Churches traditionally reject infant baptism.

According with the Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, it explains, "The Roman Catholic Church considers baptism, even for an infant, so important that ‘parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptized within the first few weeks’ and, ‘if the infant is in danger of death, it is to be baptized without any delay.’ It declares: ‘The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole 'households' received baptism, infants may also have been baptized.’ It notes that, ‘when the first direct evidence of infant Baptism appears in the second century, it is never presented as an innovation.’" It is not only the reason but there are many other reasons to practice infant baptism in the Catholic Church.

In the article by the Wikipedia, there are many reasons listed for Protestant Churches to reject infant baptism. Several reasons among the list are...
-Baptism always has the prerequisite of repentance and faith, which are impossible for an infant
-The Lord's Supper and Baptism are both sacraments and are the same sign and seal, since the Lord's Supper may be given to unbelievers neither should baptism (I Cor. 11:28)
-Baptism is for the remission of sins and infants are not capable of repenting

The Catholic may believe that baptism can save people and secure their eternal life. However Hiroko knows that "baptism cannot save people, only by the grace of God. People are saved by believing that Jesus is Lord.

Well, where do infants and children go when they die?

Car Wash, In Chicago

“I’ll wash this car, right now”
“You make the decision before putting the gasoline in.”
“Well, it is true, but my car is very dirty.”
“It will be rain or snow tomorrow.”
“So…..”
This is Dan-san and Hiroko’s conversation at the gasoline stand nearby the Sam’s club in the town called Evanston.

The car is Dan-san’s important joy, so he can’t see the dirty car. Hiroko had a chance to take the photo from inside the car which is washed automatically. Using her cel-phone camera, the photo came out fine, so Hiroko posts these photos on her blog. The suitable Bible verses about car wash come to her mind, too.

Well, here lots photos are posted.

Dan-san paid at the entrance, and then the person in the paying both guided Dan-san to put his car on the rail.

Paying the fee, and putting on his car on the rail, now they were relaxing in the car, and watching to progress the car washing. At first lots of the soap were splashing over his car.

The front window of Dan-san’s car was washing.

The side of his car was washing.

The water was splashing to wash off the soap on his car.

Wiping his car.

This is the final stage of blowing his car with warm air to dry. Well, finally it was finished.

At the exit entrance, around 10 people with the big towel were waiting to wipe the car manually. This fee is not included the price paid at the front entrance.
Dan-san said no thanks and drive thru to the street.

Hiroko wonders whether a automatic car washing system in Japan or not. Someone who knows it please let me know. The car washing fee is $3.50 in Chicago.

The word “car wash” reminds Hiroko that the incident “Washing Feet” happened between Jesus and disciples after the Last Supper.
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John 13:3-15
“3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you. 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.“”

First, these verses teach us “humility.” Adam and Eva ate the forbidden fruit, and committed a sin because their pride, which is opposite of humility, made them to think to be like the Lord God. All the human being after Adam and Eva is born in sin.
Secondly, all the Christians commit sin in their daily life, it is necessary taking all those sins to Jesus to clean and forgive.
2012 Easter Sunday is on April 8. This washing feet ceremony has been held at some of the Catholic Churches on Thursday before the Easter. This ceremony would be very good to remind us to be humble.

Noboru-kun, Fellowship

Hiroko went to see Shiho-san who has shown love dearly to Hiroko by calling her “Grand-ma in Chicago” for her boy named Noboru-kun. Noboru-kun is already 1 year and 4 months old. Small children grow so fast in a short time. His beautiful shinning Curious George eyes have not changed though.

One year ago, he was sitting on the sofa supported by two cushions

Now, look at his curious eyes watching T.V. Only 1 year old Noboru-kun must understand what is going on T.V. Isn’t it amazing?

He noticed Hiroko was taking a picture of him, so he looked at the camera.








He was very scared and curious to see Hiroko who has not been at his home for a long, long time, so he hid behind his mother and table to watch Hiroko who came into his home without hesitation. However, he got so familiar with Hiroko, and the two of them played together and had much fun. Hiroko has to visit them more often so she is not forgotten by Noboru-kun.

Hiroko wanted to take Chinese food for lunch from the restaurant where she has been before to buy foods but has never bought yet. It was a good chance to ask Shiho-san to taste the food, because Shiho-san has keen taste for food.

This is the front of the restaurant. Hiroko looked at the entrance door only, so missed the restaurant’s name. There were three Chinese characters「美而香.」Hiroko’s Chinese friend explained the meaning of these characters. 「美」is “delicious,” 「而」is “and” or “and also” and「香」is also “delicious” or “tasty.” Well, it must be the delicious and finest restaurant in the Chicago, because the name of the restaurant is “The delicious and tasty” Chinese. By the way, the restaurant name in Chinese is Mei Shung.

This is inside the restaurant, and 3 couples were eating, and three take-out customers came while Hiroko was waiting.








As usual Hiroko forgot to take photos before eating, so took pictures of only half of the foods.

Shrimp dumplings in white dish

Soy bean curd (Tofu) square – it was very good, especially the taste of the sauce is delicious.
These containers are black plastic and half foods only cannot be taken good pictures. Well, cannot help it.

Governor’s shrimp – Shiho-san said it was very tasty like sweet sour shrimp

House Beef – Shiho-san likes beef, and it is tasty, she said.









These foods were very delicious; especially all the sauces are very tasty. Well, from now on Hiroko can buy Chinese food from this restaurant.

Dan-san’s Hearing-Aid News

Thank you for many phone calls and email messages asking about Dan-san’s new hearing-aids. This is Dan-san’s hearing aid update.

This is Dan-san’s hearing aids in the box. Dan-san has been taking out his hearing aids before going to bed, and keeps them in this small box with these black small beads. He doesn't know what the beads are made from.

Every morning Dan-san put the hearing aids in his ears as the photo shows, and adjust the volume of the sound.

Can you see his hearing aids in his ears?

Now, he is ready to go out for a walk.

Many things have been happening using the hearing aids. Here are the sounds that Dan-san is amazed at:

• Foot-steps during our daily walk
• Birds chirping
• Crumple of newspaper and paper
• Dan-san said amazingly, “Steam is coming well this morning. I hear the sound of steam.”
• TV volume comes down from 25 degrees to 15 degrees. However, he has still been using the caption. It may be his habit.
• The car radio volume comes down lots. Hiroko’s ears no longer hurt.

Is there still more? Using the hearing aids many sounds can be heard, but Dan-san said he can’t tell which direction the sound comes from.

He has been noticing many sounds and enjoys it. He loves to hear the birds chirping even though he can’t tell which direction the beautiful sound come from.

Hiroko appreciates most of all that with his hearing aids he can hear Hiroko’s soft speaking voice from behind him. How many times Hiroko had to think about his hearing ability in the past 5 years. This happened every day before having hearing aids that Hiroko asked him to do something but he didn’t do it, because he didn’t hear Hiroko.
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In the Bible there are many verses about the ear that is not to hear, or to hear. Recently Hiroko has been thinking about the idols, so she would like to quote these verses regarding the idols who have the ears but can’t hear.

Psalm 115:3-9
“3Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.”

There is not too many sounds to hear, only one sound Hiroko wants to hear.

Greeting for Opening the New Blog

Thank you for visiting The House Built on the Rock. I would like to give special thanks to the people who leave their comments all the time.

“I’d like to make curry. Where is your recipe in your blog?
“I can’t tell you right in this moment.”
“Well, teach me right now, please!”

Hiroko has had such conversation many times, so she has been thinking over the last year of putting her recipes together. After giving this much thought, a new blog was opened.

Title: From Scratch at the House Built on the Rock
Address: http://oishiikai.wordpress.com

One recipe, “pilaf” based on Hiroko’s blog friend Hakoniwa-san’s recipe is posted in the blog. Give thanks to Hakoniwa-san.

Hiroko will post her old and new recipes one by one, so please make use of them for your dinner. Please let Hiroko know if you want to have some recipes.

Thanks again to you for visiting Hiroko’s blogs.

Hiroko


House Build on the Rock – Matthew 7 http://htsukasa.blogspot.com
From Scratch at the House Built on the Rock http://oishiikai.wordpress.com