Snow Fell

On 2012 Christmas morning, snow had been continuously falling for 3 to 4 hours.  This was Lake Michigan effecting snow, so only about a mile from lake had White Christmas.  

Look!  These photos were taken from Hiroko’s apartment porch.  It was a big snow falling.

Annual Christmas dinner gathering held as usual at the home of Lisa and Dave.

Christmas presents were piled up around the Christmas tree, and at the front of TV and fireplace.  Soooo many!  Who would get the most presents from those.

This Christmas, Hiroko wanted to take the photos of the face expression while they were opening presents, but photos came out so dark no matter what Hiroko tried.  

It was interesting reactions and comments for some presents, but Hiroko couldn’t take it.  Why?

Finally, all the presents were opened.  Now was the time to relax and talk.  Of course, Chris/Holly’s daughter had the most presents.

What were the others doing?

Dave was checking his tenderloin. 

Richard asked, Hi, Dave, how is your tenderloin?  Is there anything I can help?

Chris/Holly, and their daughter.  Don’t forget our dog!

Dan-san and Richard “Isn’t these appetizers very delicious?”  “Don’t eat too much!”

Foods for the dinner

Was there anything different?  No almost same as last year. 

Tenderloin and gravy, potato, green salad, cauliflower dish, corn casserole, ham, broccoli rice

There were no changes.

It is good for no change.

-----------------------------------------------------------

The Lord God who created heaven and the earth has not changed since the creation until now.  After creating heaven and earth, God continuously created light and darkness, the sun,  moon, stars,  seasons, ground and water area, the living things in it’s trees, plants, animals, birds and fish.  Finally on 6^th day, human beings in God’s image were created.  God has loved human being from the beginning and shows His unfailing love toward human being.  God wants to have friendship with human being.

2012 Chicago Winter Weather Report

The year of 2012 has been warm winter and no snow.  Until December 20, the day-time temperature was around 50 degree.  The weatherman reported there will be no hope for white Christmas in 2012.  Last time snow falling at Chicago was on March 15, so the record was broken for no snow fall for 290 days.  The last record was 287 days in 1994. 

It would be changed on December 20^th  to 21^st .  There would be 1” to 3” snow in the downtown Chicago area with strong wind, said by the weatherman.  So, many happy children, expecting snow remover business companies, cancelling lots of flights, closing many schools, checking the city’s snow removers and salt, and busily occupied people. 

However, …?!

 

  

The left-side photos were taken on December 20, and right-side one is December 21 morning.

Can you see the little sprinkle of snow?

The official snow falling in Chicago the night was 0.4 inches.  Many people had no word to speak.

On 21^st  it was fine day with the sun shining, but the temperature had dropped to 30 degree with strong wind.  It was a regular average temperature at Chicago in December.

This photo was taken on the 21^st morning.

No snow, even though strong wind and freezing temperature, Dan-san and Hiroko went for walk for their daily exercise twice, morning and afternoon.

-----------------------------------------------------

By the way, Jesus scolds the wind and calms the storm is mentioned in Matthew 8:23-27.

Jesus Calms the Storm

²³ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

²⁶ He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Reading this story in the Bible, don’t you have question why the powerful Lord God didn’t control the big hurricanes, earthquake and tsunami, etc.?

Many Bible scholars and ministers tried to answer the question.  It is not easy to accept any answers and explanations, thinking about those who are suffering. 

Hiroko wants to believe that it is the one of the signs of the end-time of the world from Jesus words mentioned in Matthew chapter 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21. 

Christmas Greeting

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you every Happiness this Holiday Season

And throughout the coming year.

The photos of the Christmas Tree in the world forwarded by email.  Her are all these Christmas Trees.

DC

Italy

Tokyo

Czech

Moscow

Paris

Germany

Vatican

Portugal

                    

London

Madrid

Venice

Frankfurt

Location Unknown

Please spend a wonderful Christmas with Jesus Christ.  This is a good time to think about what kind suffering life Jesus Christ spent.  Please give your thought to the bloodshed on the cross, and find out what the meant to you.

Merry everything, happy always.

Christmas Caroling, Christian Lives

Devon Church Christmas Carol members visited the Nursing Home “The Grove” on Sunday, December 16 with Puppet Group.

On Sunday, the message from Psalm 5, “Heaven Etiquettes” was preached.  Pastor closed the Worship Service with the prayer for those who passed away, 20 children (6 and 7 years old), and 6 adult, principle and teachers, by the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School at Newtown in Connecticut.  Pastor asked the Lord for giving His special love and blessing to the families, and people in the community.

After the Worship Service, eating lunch, practicing songs, and preparing and practicing puppet by puppeteers, and caroling members left for the Nursing Home around 1 p.m.

At the Nursing Home, the dining room was under construction, so we gathered at the small activity room, caroling members, the Nursing Home staff, and residents enjoyed singing Christmas songs and puppet show.

Some were laughing while watching puppet show

Together everyone sang the Christmas songs.  Caroling members were very happy to see all the residents having a wonderful time; some residents were very excited,

others were crying remembering their childhood memory, and one who is blind but she could sing all the songs with her memory. 

Everyone in the Nursing Home was waiting for us to visit them, and asked us when we can come next time.

 

Caroling members have always been talking, shaking hands, hugging with the residents. This Christmas time everyone greeted each other and said “Merry Christmas.”

--------------------------------------------------------------

Two puppet shows, “Christmas Miracle,” and “Different Love” were played

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The stories about “Christmas Miracle”

Sunday School Program rehearsal is the background of this story.

A boy dressed like the inn keeper says, “I don’t want to say to the husband, whose wife is about time to give birth of a baby, ‘There is No room in this inn, please go to the stable in the back,’” and agues with the director.

Then, a boy wearing the dirty and smelled like sheep cloth comes in, and says, “I was led by the Angels and saw Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus wrapped with the cloth in the manger.  Angel said ‘Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.’  I have to go and tell this good news to others.  Good-bye!”

“Hey, Wait! Wait!”

Other boy, who is wearing the clean and pretty shepherd clothes comes in and says, “I want to be Joseph” and give the director troubles,

Confused Director says, “Aren’t you, right now, said the very right things, and made me amazed?”

“What are you talking about?  I wasn’t here.  I want to be Joseph.”

“Is there two Shepherds?”  “No, you chose me only to be Shepherd.  I want to be Joseph.”

The Director who saw and heard the Christmas Miracle was deeply troubled, because he saw two shepherds.  Christmas is God’s great miracle. 

Please read the Christmas story in the Luke Chapter 1 and 2, and understand true Christmas miracle without being confused.

Christmas Luncheon at Leisure Group, Journal

The 2012 December Devon Church Leisure (Senior’s) Group meeting held a Christmas Luncheon with take-out Chinese after singing Christmas Hymns, prayer, and Bible study.

This is the take-out Chinese

It is too much trouble to wash dishes, so the restaurant containers were placed.  Two dishes each of chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, fried tofu, and egg rolls were there. 

Everyone loves this Chinese, so we tend to eat too much.  “What is this?” “That is shrimp.” 

Some have already picked up and started to eat.  “Did we give grace for the food?”  “Yes, we did.”

“Dragon Gate” – this is the Chinese take-out restaurant.

Couple years ago, Mic-san and Taro-kun tried this Chinese, and they assured the taste of this restaurant.  Since that, this Chinese was ordered for the Leisure Group’s Christmas luncheon

12 months of 2012 has already been passing through.  It is a time to be still and look back the last 12 months, and look forward the new year of 2013.

--------------------------------------------------------------

The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught this prayer to his disciples.  Matthew 6:9-19

“This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil.^“

The day’s Bible lesson was the last part of the prayer, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil.”

Christians have to forgive others.  Jesus taught us to love our enemy.   It is very hard to forgive others, but without forgiveness no one has the peace of mind and happy living.  The forgiveness has to affect two people, one gives forgiveness and other ask reconciliation.  Without reconciliation, forgiveness can’t be completed. 

A raped person, parents who lost their children because of a drunken driver, adultery between husband and wife, disrespect or unfaithful acts between employer and employee, friends, etc. those who are suffering from wicked acts have to forgive others.  It is easy to say but hard to do.  But if they don’t forgive, there will not be peace and a happy life.

The suffering people gave forgiveness and those who cause the incident asked reconciliation, now everything is O.K. and their relationship can be restored.  No, it can’t be.  The trusted relation will not come back again.  It may not come back their entire lives.  Isn’t it so sad?

One’s sin, such as rumor, disrespect, unfaithfulness, hatred, telling a lie, stealing, etc. in daily life causes broken down relationships, and suffering.  Everyone has to reconsider before speaking rumors, lies, disrespectful and hateful words ….

The end of the prayer said, “And lead us not into temptation,^” this verse connected with our sin.

“Who tempt us?” and “Who is the evil one?”  The typical ones are Satan, demon, and evil spirits.

The evil spirits, Satan and demons, know the people’s weakness to fall in to sin.  In the “deliverance prayer,” it is called the garbage.  There are many rats and mouse in the alley, because of lots of garbage.  Those who feed the garbage to the evil spirits will be easily tempted.  To fight the evil spirit it is very important to store God’s word in own heart and also to meditate with the Holy Spirit to find out our weakness.