Rewarding Words

I spoke again in Chapel on Tuesday.  To inspire the senior students, I felt led to speak about the circumstances resulting in my arrival at the school.  It was a very difficult and very baring topic.

As usual, a few teachers have since said they appreciated the speech.  Most have said nothing, because, in truth, what do you say to someone who is grieving?

Tuesday evening, I received a message from a student.

Today your speech was great!
I was impressed by it. . .
I have lost my friend so I can understand your feeling.
If you feel sad, please tell me!
When you tell me your feeling, I'll support you!

I started to believe Jesus when I lost my friend.
"To be kind to people is to pile up wealth in heaven."
I learned it from the Bible.

So I always keep in mind that thing.

This message brought a flood of emotions.  As a teacher, I feel that my ministry is to the students.  I wish I could get to know each and every one of them at a personal level, but, unfortunately, I can't.  So, to know that God has used me to encourage one student is a huge reward: a Heavenly reward that can't really be measured.  I'm also thankful that God used this student to encourage me after a very difficult morning.

King of the Jews (Chapel Speech on Dec. 15, 2012)

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ² “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:

⁶ ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”

(Matthew 2:1-8)

When you were born, who celebrated? 

Probably your parents, grandparents, and family friends did. 

What if you had been born a king?  Who would have celebrated?

Today, in many societies, when a prince is born, a whole country is excited.  Often, many countries rejoice for that one child.

So naturally, when the King of the Jews was born, you would expect that many people were happy! 

But, when Jesus was born, only his parents and some shepherds celebrated.

Later, some wealthy men from Asia came looking for the King of the Jews.  People who were not Jews wanted to worship this young king! 

This is one way we know that Jesus really was a king.  He was worshiped by important men from foreign countries. 

These countries were not allies of Israel, for Israel was under Roman rule at this time.  They had no reason to celebrate the King of the Jews. 

However, they realized that this King of the Jews was King of the World.  How did they understand this? 

A new star appeared in the sky.  God changed the night sky in order to create a symbol that told the world that His son had come!

Another reason we know that Jesus really was a king is that his birth frightened the Jews. The people he had come to lead were scared of him! 

The current king, Herod, saw Jesus as a threat to his position.  He secretly pretended to be friends with the foreigners.  He told them to tell him where the new king was. 

However, Herod planned to secretly kill the child in order to change the prophecy.  But, later, God revealed to the foreign men the truth about Herod, and they did not tell him.

Christmas is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Christ.  Often, many people focus only on the story of his birth.

On your birthday, do people only focus on the day you were born?

Of course not!  They look at your whole life and all the things you’ve done!  Your birthday is when your family and friends celebrate your entire life!

Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus Christ’s birthday.  His birth was a miracle!  He was born of a virgin, the night sky changed and held a new star, and rich foreigners came to see him!

But his story doesn’t end with his birth.  His birthday was over 2000 years ago.  What has he done since his birth?  Why was he born a king?

Since the first man and woman disobeyed God, there has been a big gap between human beings and God.  God is sacred.  Because of our sin, we cannot approach Him.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus died when he was 33-years-old to pay for the sins of the world.  He offered himself as a sacrifice, so that we could be reunited with God in Heaven.

His death made him a Savior, but his resurrection proved that he was King of everything.  He proved that Death had no power over Him. 

He is the only human who has power over death.  This is because he is both God and Man.

And so, 2000 years later, we celebrate the birth, death, and resurrection of the King of the Jews, or rather, the King of the World.  King Jesus came to save the lost, and He will come again to take us home.

I realize this is late January and most people aren't thinking of Christmas anymore.  I meant to post this on January 6 (Epiphany).  I think Jesus' birth can be remembered anytime of year, so I hope you enjoyed what I had to say.

Home for the Holidays

As I'm sitting in the airport waiting to start my journey back to Japan, I'm feeling very thankful for the opportunity I had to return home and see my family for Christmas and New Year's Day.

Since it's January 2nd, you could say that 2013 is already well underway.  Many people will return to work today, or return home from vacation.  School will be starting back up in the next few days for most students.  As for my school, classes begin again on January 8.  I'm relieved I've planned a weekend to recover from jet lag, because I've also developed a nasty cough that's rather aggravating.

I guess it's time to make some New Year's resolutions.  I'm pretty certain that I didn't successfully complete any of mine last year, despite having made manageable goals.  I think it's interesting how as a culture, Americans put a lot of hope in the new year.  Last year wasn't so great, but this year will be better.  We're very optimistic.  The truth is, unless we rigorously change ourselves, the outcome of this year will be the same as last year.  We'll quit our diets as soon as we see that chocolate cake.  We'll put off running until the snow melts, but by then we'll complain it's too hot and before you know it, it'll be snowing again.  We'll manage to start reorganizing our closets,  Only to get distracted and end up leaving them unfinished.  The list goes on.

Why is it that we often are unable to complete our goals for the year?  I think my biggest problem is I try to change my life without ever making God a big part of the plan.  Oh, maybe I've fooled myself into thinking that I have when I vow to read the Bible everyday.  But, the truth is, I haven't.  The resolutions I make are often done with selfish ambition and vain conceit.  I don't ask God to make these goals part of my spiritual growth.  It's sort of like why I don't cook: if I'm only doing them for me, then what's the point?

So as I begin this year, I'm trying to focus more on involving God in my decisions.  Or rather, involving myself in His decisions.  That is, resolving to be willing to be used in HIS plans for this year.

"Know that wisdom is thus for your soul;
If you find it, then there will be a future,
And your hope will not be cut off."
Proverbs 24:14