One Mind, One Heart, One Song

A Charity Concert for the Benefit of the Survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines

                                                 VENUE: Assembly Kyoto Church
                                                 DATE: 15 February 2014, Saturday
                                                 TIME: 2:00~4:00p.m.

                                             FREE but we'll accept donations.

Our Continuing Response in the Aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines

I do thank God for the continuing support of everyone to help our disaster-stricken country, the Philippines. The Filipino Food Bazaar last January 18~19 was a huge success due to the overwhelming generosity of both church members and our Japanese friends. 

We are doing another fundraiser next month on February 15, 2014 (Saturday) from 2:00~4:00 PM by holding a mini-concert. Please pray for Jake De Guzman and the others who are responsible for the preparation as well as for the various artists we are inviting to perform. Pray that many people would come and enjoy the music lined up. Pray that they would be blessed as they listen to uplifting stories of survival, hope and trust in God in the midst of tragedy.

Also, please consider supporting the mission trip Wataru Murakami and I are spearheading in March. Some Doshisha University students are going with us to volunteer in the Visayas region.

Thank you and may God bless you more as you bless others in need.

I thought you might be encouraged as we see other projects done by other organizations to benefit the survivors. Here is one example that is worth sharing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A_YwBQ3-N8&feature=youtu.be

Pastor Joseph Ricohermoso

The Resurrection is Not a Myth!

Silence is hibernation, digitally speaking. Being off the radar for nine months is like going through a prolonged winter season or being kept in a time capsule. It's like being buried without the resurrection.

Now that I mentioned the resurrection, I came across this blog by Lee Strobel, which is definitely worth recommending. If you care to know that the basis of our faith is not devoid of rhyme or reason, here is a good support of that claim.

http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2013/04/bible-qa-was-jesus-resurrection-stolen-from-mythology/

Well, not writing a blog for a long time doesn't necessarily mean that I haven't left any online footprint elsewhere. I still maintain several social network accounts as well as multiple email addresses. I must admit though that not all sites are created equal. In my experience, I tend to focus on some things for a time and just revisit the others from time to time.  (My apologies for some delayed or unanswered messages.)

I would like to mention here that the stats show many people accessing our church's website and by extension, this blog. I hope that those who read it find the information they need in a timely manner and  also be blessed in the process.

It would be a stretch to say that this article is a form of "resurrection." I would be content to say instead that it is waking up from seasonal hibernation. Like a grizzly bear in Alaska or the lowly tortoise in Dr. Kihara's garden, I'm raring to get going.... Wish me (bleep) Oops, pray for me that I would be given inspiration to write something sensible or at least, something amusing. :)

Maranatha! (Even so, come Lord Jesus!)

Questioning Salvation

Re-examining Our Evangelism Method and Message


Pastor and author, J.D. Greear, asks a thought-provoking question: "Should We Stop Asking Jesus Into Our  Hearts?" He claims that doubting our salvation and false assurance are both exacerbated by the clichéd ways in which we speak about the gospel.


I have come across this article from the recent online edition of Christianity Today. I hope that you would take some time to read it. Also, please find the link below for your convenience. Just click it or post the same on your web browser to go and visit CT's site.


http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/julyweb-only/greear-ask-jesus-into-your-heart.html?paging=off


Please let me know what you think of it.

Edify

To all my tech-savvy yet spiritually-minded friends and relatives,

Check this out! Here's a new tablet from Family Christian. Just click the link below or copy paste the same on your browser:

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/07/11/holy-ipad-slayer-company-releases-worlds-first-christian-tablet/?intcmp=features

Please let me know what you think of it.

Pastor Joseph

Trip to the Americas

May 2012

Returning on May 8^th my wife, Jo Ann, and I have just concluded our US and Costa Rica trip to attend a conference and minister to the churches. The Lord blessed our trip with many lessons learned, refreshing times with the Lord, meeting significant people in our lives and opportunities to promote God’s work in Japan. I am pleased to report that many people have renewed their commitment to continually pray for Japan and her people.

We are thankful to God for allowing us to continue our ministry in Japan. We recently received our new visas -- on our 18th wedding anniversary! Praise the Lord!

There are varied experiences in the work of the Lord. Sometimes there is sadness and grief and sometimes happiness and success. We are sad to see some of our people leave for different reasons. This year is a particular year of exodus for many of our longtime attendees and friends. Yet we rejoice that many of them have graduated already and are now pursuing the careers that God has prepared for them.

We also share the grief of a couple that lost their unborn baby last May 22. Yet, God is gracious to allow us to minister to them and assist them through practical help all the way to the last rites for the baby. Keiko-sensei, Sister Kawabata, my wife and I were all there to share the love of God and His comfort to the couple.

The LEC last May 26^th was different. We still had our delicious cake and several choices of non-alcoholic drinks, but the venue was at Umekoji Park. It was a beautiful day and many of our guests attended in fact, more than the usual in recent months. We had a treasure hunting game that encouraged people to practice their English conversation skills, as well as games that invigorate the heart and spirit. We just love the camaraderie among the guests and volunteers alike. Thanks to Jake De Guzman who facilitated the activities.

There are many stories to be told more than this space would allow. However, we don’t want to miss the opportunity to bless God for all that transpired. He deserves our praise and to receive all the glory for “the things He has done.”

I say with King David in Psalm 9:1, “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.”

The Fruit of Our Lips: Thanksgiving and Praise

English Ministry Report for November 2011

The month of November is the month of thanksgiving. Not only because of the yearly tradition that we celebrate this event, but also of the many things the Lord has done in our midst and for these we are thankful to Him.

Our Thank Jesus It’s Friday! (TJIF) worship service at the YWCA last November 4 was our 8^th meeting since it started this year. We are thankful to God for giving us the opportunity to offer this worship experience close to where the students are and to the universities where we do have outreach Bible studies. This certainly lends support to the campus ministry too.

Celebrating our church’s 64^th anniversary on the first Sunday is something we are also thankful to God for. The psalmist said, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 
(Psalm 133:1-3, NKJV) The three congregations from the different services and representatives from the branch churches have joined together for a day of worship, fellowship and rejoicing in God’s faithfulness to the Assembly Kyoto Church. It is something that doesn’t happen often except on special occasions such as this. Indeed it’s a beautiful sight to see and feel our connectedness in Christ when we get together as one.

Lighthouse English Café (LEC) is another form of outreach to our community and English conversation students at church. We are grateful to God for sustaining this ministry as it winds up its second year of offering coffee, tea, sweets, and free interaction with both local and foreign English speakers. Most importantly, God helped us to create programs that tackle life issues as well as biblical themes that introduce people to a living and loving relationship with Christ. Last November 26, the last meeting for this year took place. Those who attended were able to enjoy games, good food, meeting new friends and testimonies of His grace. In addition, I shared a message on why it is important to be thankful to God and gave ideas on what are some of the things that we could be thankful for. Finally, the guests received their early Christmas gift of the season’s song selections in both English and Japanese.

The International Congregation held its annual Thanksgiving Dinner last November 27^th. The menu included veggies, mashed potatoes and corn soup, and rotisserie chicken for the main dish. For dessert, there was pumpkin pie.

The real focus of the evening however, was on how people expressed their gratitude to God. There was singing, sharing of testimonies around each beautifully decorated tables and a sense of solemnity in simplicity and gladness of heart in the Lord, who is the Source of “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17, NKJV). Swee Ho Lim, a doctor from Singapore who attends our church with his wife and daughter, shared about how he saw the hand of God in His life. He said that they were preparing to come to Japan since over two years ago. He almost changed his mind in coming because he got his family’s visa to Japan on the same day the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami struck on March 11^th. Despite of it they came and he is still enjoying the blessing of being in Kyoto City, with our church and on how the Lord is using him and his family in serving the Lord. Brother Swee Ho is now leading a group of men from our church to a weekly Bible study and discipleship.

Indeed, space is not enough to express our thanks to God. Yet our hearts rejoice in the goodness of our great and benevolent Heavenly Father!