New Year's greetings from Cheryl and Bernie
Traditional (and delicious) Japanese New Year's delicacies that we enjoyed with Japanese friends on New Year's Day
The most excellent way
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
More than 15 years ago, our family adopted the Japanese custom of writing New Years greetings cards, even while continuing to sending Christmas cards (the kind that come stamped and delivered to homes, not to computers). Bernie writes one Chinese character on the front of the postcard, and Cheryl describes it in English calligraphy on the back. Generally, the character expresses our vision or desire for Tamagawa Seigakuin and Tarumi Church for the upcoming year. Here is our slightly edited greeting for 2008:
“This year’s character, “ai” (Japanese for love), completes a set of three words that appear in 1 Corinthians 13:13—FAITH (the character we chose in 2006), HOPE (2007), and LOVE (2008). Misrepresented by romance, love is perfectly described in the Bible as ‘the most excellent way’ and, according to the above verse, is the greatest of this trio.
“In 2008, Bernie begins his tenth year as principal of Tamagawa Seigakuin. Founding Principal Taniguchi based the school’s motto on these three words: ‘Towards God, FAITH; towards circumstances, HOPE; towards people, LOVE.’ In a world where suicide bombings, lawsuits, natural disasters, and scandals top the news, how wonderful if this was more than a school slogan. What if it became the personal theme of all of us for 2008? Surely it would be a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.”
Tarumi Church report
Thanks for praying for us and Tarumi Church during our recent time in Kobe. Bernie preached twice and spoke at the kid’s Christmas program within 2 days of our arrival. It was great to be “home,” especially to be there with Ben (from Guam), Stephanie and Donald (from Central Asia), and Millie Michael (our SAM), but we were sad to see the growing tiredness and discouragement in the church, now without a pastor for 4 ½ years. Attendance is low and some former key leaders are now going elsewhere. But we are most concerned about are those who’ve just quit. God is faithfully providing preachers every week, but the need for pastoring is all the more evident as people simply disappear.
Unfortunately, there is not much hope that this difficult season will pass soon since there are no pastors on the horizon in the Church of God. In fact, this dearth of pastors is not limited to our church group. It is being faced in all Japanese churches. Please pray for Tarumi Church to be strengthened and encouraged and most of all for a pastor in 2008.
New Year’s activities
Moving towards 2008, Cheryl preached a message titled, “A Change of Plans,” on December 30, based upon the wise men changing their travel plans after meeting Jesus. Likewise, our encounters with Jesus should change our plans. Thank God for his inspiring message. One woman told us that she sensed that even her steps had become lighter after hearing it.
Bernie followed up with his own challenging message on January 1. Titled “Walking in Love,” the theme for Tarumi Church for 2008, the sermon was based on 2 John 1:4-8. We were gratified that although attendance is generally quite down, there was a good group of at least 30 who attended worship on New Years Day. Considering the busy schedules of Japanese families around January 1, and especially the fact that many Christians are the only believers in their families, such attendance is very good. We were also gratified to see several families there—even the non-Christian members.
But we were especially excited about the attendance of a young man who used to attend the church’s kid’s program years ago. Bernie chanced to meet him on December 31 as he was home for the holidays, and invited him to church the next day. To our surprise, he came. To our greater surprise, he stayed afterwards to talk to Bernie about what it means to be a Christian. Although he didn’t make a commitment, he is definitely seeking. Please pray that this young graduate student will give his heart to Christ in 2008.
Another prayer concern
Our first grandchild, Benjamin Donbor Lyngdoh, will be born in Tokyo this month. Please remember Stephanie, Donald, and Little Ben in your prayers—for a safe delivery and for smoothness in processing all the necessary paperwork after his birth so that they can return to their home as soon as possible. It’s a little more complicated than usual because they must deal with the governments of four countries: Japan, where he’ll be born; the U.S., where he’ll be a citizen and get a passport; India, where he’ll be registered as Donald’s son and eventually will need to get a PIO card (somewhat similar to a green card); and the country where they live, in order to get a visa for the baby. There’s much excitement in our house, but much need for your prayers now and throughout 2008.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
More than 15 years ago, our family adopted the Japanese custom of writing New Years greetings cards, even while continuing to sending Christmas cards (the kind that come stamped and delivered to homes, not to computers). Bernie writes one Chinese character on the front of the postcard, and Cheryl describes it in English calligraphy on the back. Generally, the character expresses our vision or desire for Tamagawa Seigakuin and Tarumi Church for the upcoming year. Here is our slightly edited greeting for 2008:
“This year’s character, “ai” (Japanese for love), completes a set of three words that appear in 1 Corinthians 13:13—FAITH (the character we chose in 2006), HOPE (2007), and LOVE (2008). Misrepresented by romance, love is perfectly described in the Bible as ‘the most excellent way’ and, according to the above verse, is the greatest of this trio.
“In 2008, Bernie begins his tenth year as principal of Tamagawa Seigakuin. Founding Principal Taniguchi based the school’s motto on these three words: ‘Towards God, FAITH; towards circumstances, HOPE; towards people, LOVE.’ In a world where suicide bombings, lawsuits, natural disasters, and scandals top the news, how wonderful if this was more than a school slogan. What if it became the personal theme of all of us for 2008? Surely it would be a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.”
Tarumi Church report
Thanks for praying for us and Tarumi Church during our recent time in Kobe. Bernie preached twice and spoke at the kid’s Christmas program within 2 days of our arrival. It was great to be “home,” especially to be there with Ben (from Guam), Stephanie and Donald (from Central Asia), and Millie Michael (our SAM), but we were sad to see the growing tiredness and discouragement in the church, now without a pastor for 4 ½ years. Attendance is low and some former key leaders are now going elsewhere. But we are most concerned about are those who’ve just quit. God is faithfully providing preachers every week, but the need for pastoring is all the more evident as people simply disappear.
Unfortunately, there is not much hope that this difficult season will pass soon since there are no pastors on the horizon in the Church of God. In fact, this dearth of pastors is not limited to our church group. It is being faced in all Japanese churches. Please pray for Tarumi Church to be strengthened and encouraged and most of all for a pastor in 2008.
New Year’s activities
Moving towards 2008, Cheryl preached a message titled, “A Change of Plans,” on December 30, based upon the wise men changing their travel plans after meeting Jesus. Likewise, our encounters with Jesus should change our plans. Thank God for his inspiring message. One woman told us that she sensed that even her steps had become lighter after hearing it.
Bernie followed up with his own challenging message on January 1. Titled “Walking in Love,” the theme for Tarumi Church for 2008, the sermon was based on 2 John 1:4-8. We were gratified that although attendance is generally quite down, there was a good group of at least 30 who attended worship on New Years Day. Considering the busy schedules of Japanese families around January 1, and especially the fact that many Christians are the only believers in their families, such attendance is very good. We were also gratified to see several families there—even the non-Christian members.
But we were especially excited about the attendance of a young man who used to attend the church’s kid’s program years ago. Bernie chanced to meet him on December 31 as he was home for the holidays, and invited him to church the next day. To our surprise, he came. To our greater surprise, he stayed afterwards to talk to Bernie about what it means to be a Christian. Although he didn’t make a commitment, he is definitely seeking. Please pray that this young graduate student will give his heart to Christ in 2008.
Another prayer concern
Our first grandchild, Benjamin Donbor Lyngdoh, will be born in Tokyo this month. Please remember Stephanie, Donald, and Little Ben in your prayers—for a safe delivery and for smoothness in processing all the necessary paperwork after his birth so that they can return to their home as soon as possible. It’s a little more complicated than usual because they must deal with the governments of four countries: Japan, where he’ll be born; the U.S., where he’ll be a citizen and get a passport; India, where he’ll be registered as Donald’s son and eventually will need to get a PIO card (somewhat similar to a green card); and the country where they live, in order to get a visa for the baby. There’s much excitement in our house, but much need for your prayers now and throughout 2008.
