When the fire comes!

Fire is seen on the top of the mountain. There is smoke everywhere. Ash covered our van and the air—even 20 miles from the fire is filled with uncomfortable smells and debris. As we drove by the homes of people who are just yards away from the fire line, some of them are standing outside with water hoses. They are trying to do what they can do to keep what they have. From the TV coverage, one woman said, “They say take out what is important and move away. What? It is ALL important to me!”



Another couple returns to their home. It is the only one left in the community. ALL the houses on their street are in ashes. Nothing of theirs is even hurt. When they saw what their neighbors had lost, they feel they could not return…not when all the rest lost so much.

What would you carry out of a house that will be burnt down?
What is important to you?

While talking with the manager of our apartment complex yesterday, he asked the same question of me. He had seen us move in with eight suitcases. Friends of one of our supporting churches brought in the things in the apartment. Beds, dishes, linen, lamps. The manager and myself agree. Those are only things. There are more important things to be concerned with in life. Ready the heart for His Return. Open the heart to His love. Receive the forgiveness only He can give.



Not that those in the way of the fire were wrong, mind you. When it comes to push and shove, I’d be hard pressed what to carry out. I guess my MacBook because on it are so many photos of friends and many memories. Important documents. Contact information of friends. I would take my Bible. Maybe a shirt I just bought. I would be sure my children and my wife were safe. Then I would drive away and look back only once—not in the wife of Lot sort of way, but to see how close the flames were.



How about you? When the fire comes, what will you do?



We are told to look up and see Him as He really is. That should scare some! It did for John when he saw Jesus—his close friend—as he wrote the last book of the Bible (Revelation 1:17). There is a change in life we may not be ready for. I would suggest we get ready. It starts with a personal relationship with God’s Son. Read about it in John 3:16, Romans 3:10-18, Romans 4:24-25, (well, in fact, Romans 6-9.) We are asked to submit ourselves to God and allow the Maker of our souls and giver of our life to take control.



Because the fires in our lives are way out of control. He is the only one who can put the fire out. (Some of the firemen near this fire tell us they have seen flames over 100 feet high!) Once that fire burns out, many many acres of mountain brush and pines will be no more. Some will loose their homes. Some may loose their own lives. Two have already died. Is it too late to make preparations for the fires of life? No. Is there a way to keep us from being destroyed? Yes. Go to Jesus.

Time To-Rethink

Once, when I was a small boy, I had the notion that I was not from this planet. My older brother supported that notion. I began to feel that I was indeed an alien and I had not even heard of Area 51. I, as my story went, came from a planet much like Earth that was behind the Coal Sac in the Milky Way. I came to earth the usual way but was left behind only to be adopted by the De La Cour family as they traveled thru New York City. They heard about this poor child, without a home, without a family and without any passport. They took pity in me and brought me into the family. A real-to-life story but not true.



I had no real special abilities as an alien that I was aware of. Later in life, I found that I could fly but for some strange reason, not when the bully wanted to hurt me. I could also know, without anyone telling me, when your birthday was. I could also look at a person and ‘know’ if that person was alright in their spirit. Two of the three talents are lost to me now. The one remaining had gotten me in trouble sometimes. I could be wrong but the feeling was very strong at times.



Back then, I found myself walking around the woods behind my Esmond home. There were about two or three miles of trees, some areas with tall pine. There were brooks and some springs. Cold, clear water came bubbling up out from under the old granite stones. A small empty quarry had filled with water which became the home to many frogs. Then there were the ‘flat rocks’, the ‘frog pond’ and the one real pond which I only found once. What a magical place, indeed. Surrounded by needle and thorn bushes, it was very hard to get to. Once there, the sight was wonderful to behold! Clear water, a gentle current and a small water fall at the exit point. But as I said, I was only able to find it once…



There was also a Boy Scout Camp up there as well. Small huts that used to be the homes for the poor rubble that followed the trains during the ‘Great Depression’. I found that place only once as well.



Why I never returned bothered me for a long time, only to move away and dream of a time to return to the woods of Esmond.


But now, there is deer tick.



As an adult, I can remember even the smells and colors of those special spots of my youth. I spent hours up there. At times, I would be a special Indian scout, helping white folks get around the swampy areas. Other times, and here is the rub, I was reciting psalms of praise to the God of the Bible--even before I knew Him. Some of the songs were really good, but I don’t remember them any more. Wish I could. Take my word of it, it was divine.



I became really interested in the Spirit world at around 12/13. I used, what I called then, ‘white magic’. That did not run into any conflict with my Baptist upbringing. Or so I thought.



Soon I was invited to parties and they would ask me to do ‘my thing’. Got to meet some interesting kids that way. One time, I had the group believing I was speaking for the dead Grandmother of one of the girls. I used my voice to my advantage and some tricks I picked up along the way so I’d have a free hand to throw something to the other side of the room or touch someone’s arm or reach over and slam the side door shut. The desired effect was one of fear. I got what I wanted--plus!



Then, one day, I heard of the Gospel. Not that the message was so very different from what I had heard from Sunday School days, it had some new ‘things’ attached. Personal. Touched my heart. Saw my need. Prayed before I went to sleep.



In the morning, there were no sign of angles in the room or any special lights around my head. Just a 15 year old teenage with a new heart.



About two months later, while watching TV, I saw the EXACT things I had been doing at the party games being described as being not white magic but dark or black magic. Freaked me out! Even the free hand trick. Time to re-think.



The Scriptures tell us that as a child, I spoke as a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish things. The ‘story’ if the Coal Sack was in the past. Now, I had a new and truthful mission. Telling others of the Gospel I now embrace with all my heart.



Now, the ‘gift’ I had as a child come to me every so often. The only one I still have I have found to be one of the Gifts of the Spirit. Discernment. Sometimes I am wrong as I depend on my own strength and not relay on His Spirit to guide me. Every so often, I can see something like white lights around certain people’s eyes. Those who have these special eyes are not of God. I see it in some who come to church as well as on the street. Now, I am not as put out as I used to be. I now ask the Lord to help me and them, as I had to re-think what my role or responsibility now is as a member of the Body of Christ.



I say more prayers for them now. Try and talk with them of the freedom we now have in Christ Jesus. It is now time for them to re-think.

New Word from Pastor Stan

Greetings from Rhode Island, USA!

I am back in the area where I grew up. Not far from this site is the high school I went to. Very close to the place were I first got kissed. We are down the street from my old friend Jim and his wife. It is ‘wicked’ being here!

Please don’t worry! That word is common here meaning ‘very good’! Different places have different words with way different means. Isn’t that wicked?

The one thing that does not change is the POWER of the Word of God. The power of a changed life!

As I looked out over the group I was worshiping with this morning, I was reminded of the wonderful fact that we are all in the same boat. We all have to deal with our sin the same way. It HAS to be though the Blood of Jesus. That is because we were wicked.

That is not a regional expression. “We all have sinned and have fallen far short of the Glory of God.” What do we do with this information? We act on it.

We come to God in prayer. Prayer or talking to God is not all that hard. We get more and more use to that when our relationship gets better and closer. We tell Him that we know we are wicked. Really wicked. Our sin caused Him to go to the Cross to begin with. We need to express that we are sorry for our sins. The need to understand how bad we are comes in here. We then ask Him to forgive us for those sins and for the sins we will fall into. He hears the prayer of a repenting sinner. He then takes those sins and removes them from our lives. Removes them from His memory and sends them away—as far as the east is from the west and they are not there any more. Just His love.

Ask Jesus to come into your life and make Himself known by His Holy Spirit. His Spirit will seal you with His love forever. His Spirit will teach you how to live a life that He wants you to live.

That, my friend, is wonderfully great! We are now forgiven! Able to now have fellowship with our Creator and His Son and Holy Spirit.

Wicked? I don’t feel comfortable giving that word to this situation. But it is great beyond words!

If you have done this, if you have asked Jesus into your heart, please let me know.

May His Grace fill you.

Follow The Lord's Lead

When you are faced with the fears of every day life---and we all have them---what is our natural response? We tend to ask or plead or pray that they are removed. There is a real fault in that kind of thinking and action.

There is a need for all of us to grow up into a deeper Faith with Jesus. The whole 'thing', if you will, is based on a relationship that was planned from before time started. We are asked to walk in a way that is worthy of that calling. Not push it away. Not ask that it be changed. This does not mean we can ask for different things during this walk of faith but it does mean we need to look at what "life" is dishing out to us and thank God for it all.

We tend to want the easier road.

We tend to want it all filled with the promises of God.

We all tend to think that life should be better than it has become.

But, it will not change unless our hearts toward the One who calls all the shots change. He is God and we are not.

Simple but we forget it all the time.

I know I do.

Here I am, in the second half of my life and ministry. Soon, I will be 60 years old. I look back over my life and on one hand, I stand in awe of what the Lord has allowed me to do and see. People He has brought into my life. Situations He had placed before me. The ministry doors that He had opened. Contacts with a number of people who He has allowed me to touch—and for them to touch me.

One such couple touched me years ago and I don’t even remember their names. I remember that they had been missionaries in a hot war zone. Their group had planned to stay even when things got really bad. The enemy was out to kill them and those who followed the Lord with them. They not only stayed, they went deeper into the highlands and dug in. Feeling that if they left, the tribes’ people would be all alone. They had spoken to them of the Lord’s Hand on their lives. They had shared the Gospel and their lives with them. How could they leave them now? They stood with them—even at a possible loss to their own lives.

Because of such a stand, the people group there STILL has a deep and personal Faith. Life’s hard times worked in them to make them to be better Followers of Jesus. When ‘they’ came for the leaders, one would come forward and be taken outside the village and shot. Thinking the Church now had not leader, ‘they’ would leave. On their return, a new leader had stepped up to lead the Fellowship. They too were shot. All the time, once a leader was removed, a new leader would take the leadership spot…knowing full well that they would be killed. It really did not matter. Jesus had called them to serve and serve they would.

The couple shared that with me during that early time in my ministry. It had stayed with me ever since. I wonder if the new leaders ever thought that it was not worth it. Death was at their door all the time. I believe because of the teaching they received from the missionaries, they not only believed the message but also would stake their very lives on the promises of God. Even when it was hard to do.

The easy road? Not the one the Lord wants us to walk on. Even when I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, He is with me. Even when it is hard. Even when it does not make any sense at all to me. Even then, I must keep my Faith in Him. He knows. He cares and He is walking with me.

That does not mean it feels good all the time but the challenge is to look beyond the pain…beyond the situation and see His Face. Feel His smile and know that a life of obedience pleases Him---Big time.

AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE Hebrews 10:19-25

Hebrews 10:19-25 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His Body, and since we have a great Priest over the House of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the Hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

What kind of salad do you like? I like mine with lost of lettuce and fresh tomatoes with oil and vinegar dressing. Maybe some cheese and avocados. And some red onions. With bacon. Maybe some bread cubes.

Five times in this passage, the author writes: Let us… That is a very nice salad. Lettuce alone is a great Honeymoon salad. This implies unity and the ‘feeling' of working together in agreement.
The writer of Hebrews really wants his readers to KNOW the Lord of their Faith. He goes into deep details to reminding them of how the temple has been set aside. The New Calling is to the Person of the great High Priest, the Lord Jesus.

We find ourselves in a similar situation. We, as well, want you all to know this One who has called you to serve Him. So let us… draw near. Let us… hold onto the Hope. Let us… spur each other to love and good works. Let us… not give up. Let us… encourage each other.

22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

The first instruction is to draw near to God. This should be our initial response to what the writer of Hebrews has written thus far. Because of Jesus death on the cross, resurrection and ascension we can have confidence to enter the Most Holy place.

If we look at this verse a little more closely, we see that what allows us to have this assurance is that we are cleansed from a guilty conscience. Think about it—what keeps you from drawing near to God? Somewhere in our lives we are struggling with sins that keep us from God. We feel inadequate, without worth, sure that we don’t measure up to what God wants. We have thoughts that wander to places they shouldn’t go. We hate, we grumble, we are dissatisfied, we are selfish, full of pride, or full of self-loathing. We may even like these things—and if drawing near to God requires us to give them up, we will resist. But we can be cleansed, released from that guilty conscience; we can be washed with the pure water. And when we respond in this way, we are drawing near to God.

Some of the Spiritual Formation materials I (Faith) work with in my role in missionary care and training says “doing flows from being.” Who you are determines what you do. We need to draw near to God before we can effectively do any of the following “Let us” instructions.

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the Hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

The Apostle’s Creed comes to mind here.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven,
He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

It is to this Hope that the early church and the many millions that followed died to protect and pursued. They held onto the teachings of the Early Fathers unswervingly. Why? Because it is true. The author here wants us to remember where we have come from. This Hope is not based on fairy tales or myths. History bears witness with our Faith. This Jesus gives us Hope in the hereafter PLUS Hope for today! He was pressed up against the wall and was crucified and yet placed His trust-His Hope in His Father. There are no hopeless situations; there is life after death for those who believe in His Name. Don’t forget that and hold onto that truth. Your life depends on that!

We do serve the One who has set HOPE into the hearts of all who put their trust in Him.

We are not to be like the world. They have not lasting hope in the hereafter nor for any better life here and now.

Typical inscription on a grave in Paul's day:

I was not
I became
I am not
I care not.

Warren Wiersbe, Be Ready, p. 83.

But not with Jesus. We know the One who cares and He has placed our names in His Hands. He is our true Hope.

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

I (Faith) have watched many of you already urging one another to do good. To love God. To live faithfully. I encourage you to continue, and to be responsible not only for yourselves, but for those near you. Draw others into this. “Catch one another doing good.” Remembering that doing flows from your being—keep drawing near to God, hold unswervingly to hope, and then you can DO the work of spurring one another on.

I have enjoyed participating in a women’s bible study here at ICCS for many years. Two years ago, the composition of the group created some of the most open and authentic sharing I have experienced. Almost all of us were dealing with really messy life situations. We encouraged one another to make life choices that demonstrated Christ’s love. Sometimes we were spurring one another to do something loving to people who were difficult to love. We were learning from one another about the power available to do these things as we prayed for one another. And God has done amazing work in each of us in answer to these prayers.

As we’ve just completed a series on spiritual gifts, each of you has the opportunity to explore how God has gifted you. I challenge you to consider how you can use those gifts in the body of Christ called ICCS. Whether your gifts are in teaching, administration, service, mercy or any of the others we’ve looked at, by finding a place to use them within the fellowship, you live out God’s love as you do good deeds.

25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.

There are some around today that feel that coming into a building like this is a waste of time. Some feel that the Church is a has-been institution without any claim on life or it’s followers. I dare to challenge that! The Church is the Bride of Christ. Jesus loved the Church and gave Himself up for her. He is preparing the Bride for His return. He will gather the Bride up on the Last day and be united with her forever. In the meantime, we are to be getting ready for His return. (The biggest promise yet to be realized.)

Why would someone give up meeting together? Maybe they became angry with someone in the group. Maybe they got insulted. Taken for granted. Unloved by the group. All these things might be real or unreal; imagined or dreamed up. Nonetheless, feelings have been hurt and there has not been any forgiveness given nor received. The heart has been hurt. Broken. So, they, in their hurt condition, fall away from fellowship. Fall away is the right word for it. Here Hebrews encourages us all to stick with it. It is worth the effort. It is worth the pain. But not for us to stay separated. Even for a season. “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Eph 4:26.

but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I don’t know about you, but I find it a lot easier to do things, especially hard things, when people give me encouragement. One mental picture I will take back with me to the States from ICCS is that of people gathered in groups at coffee time, praying for one another. How encouraging!
And as our family prepares to leave Japan for a year, we want to encourage you to continue walking in the faith you have been taught. Continue to draw near to God with a sincere heart and in full assurance of faith. Continue to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess. Continue to spur one another on in love and good deeds. Continue meeting together. Continue to encourage one another.

Our hope and prayer is that when we return, we will find that you have grown in your faith and in confidence. We hope that you will have discovered not only what your spiritual gifts are, but have enjoyed exercising them. We hope that the “Community” in ICCS will be blessed through you as you demonstrate Christ’s love to those right here in Enoki Cho.

We have confidence to enter the Most Holy place…So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. (Heb 10:35)

And as you encourage one another, you will learn of some deep hurts. You will hear of how some have traveled very far to get where we are today. Some still carry a very heavy load. Some of this load is not yours to carry. We are to be forgiving others and look for the good in their lives as they reflect God’s image. And as you encourage each other, you will find that the Great Physician is there to heal and to save. The community services Andy is willing to start here is one of the great steps God can use within us to bring inner healing and a great sense of how Grand and Glorious our God really is.

May His Grace fill you as you all seek to serve the One Who has called you!

And stay together!

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Keiko Holmes: Forgive Your Enemies

Keiko Holmes will be speaking at ICCS on the last Sunday of this month, June 28. The service starts at 10:30. Please bring your friends.
ホームズ恵子氏を迎えての特別礼拝
第２次世界大戦が終わって、６０年以上経ったいまも、当時の日本の侵略と残虐行為の傷跡が残っており、非常に多くの人々が憎しみと嘆きのなかにおられます。この事実を受けとめるとき、戦争は、決して遠い昔話に終わっていないことに気づかされます。
日本のために他国が何を苦しんでいるのか、無知のまま私たちはずっと過ごしてきてしまいました。

ホームズ恵子さんは、戦争当時日本軍の捕虜となったイギリス人の、今に至る苦しみを知り、日本とイギリスの和解を進める「アガペ」の働きを始められました。戦争の犠牲者に直接会い、話を聞き、心から謝罪する、和解の働きを行っておられます。1992年より、元捕虜の人々の訪日を支援し、すでに400人以上が日本を訪れ、多くの人々が憎しみから解放され癒されています。その功績が認められて、イギリスのエリザベス女王より大英第4級勲功章（OBE）を授与されました。また、日本政府からも外務大臣賞を授与されています。「アガペ」の和解の活動は、オランダ、オーストラリア、ニュージーランド，アメリカ，カナダ，シンガポールなどの東南アジア各国、韓国、中国、インドへと広がっています。

２８日には、その、和解のストーリーを、映像を交えて分かち合ってくださいます。
現在、ロンドンにお住まいですが、4月から6月まで、日本そしてアジアを回る旅で、来日しておられます。かなりお忙しいスケジュールのなか、貴重な時間を割いて、私たちのために来てくださいます。どうぞこの集会を祈りに覚え、お友達を誘って、期待して参加してください。

Building On The Gospel

Here is the short answer...

Baring with one another in Love.
We have love for each other.
Forgive each other.

Jesus’ prayer is for us to be ONE as the Father and the Son is ONE.

One in Design: we look like this…not the same but diverse.
One in Purpose: mission that we do

John 17:1-26 (Please read this passage before moving on to the sermon.)

So where are we in this passage? How can this be true of our lives and our Church? Why did He pray this way? Does this mean that this is reality: we can be one in Him? Or is there some other meaning? Let’s explore this teaching this morning.

What we have just read is the most extensive and deeply profound personal prayer of the Lord Jesus. A while before, at the funeral of His friend Lazarus, Jesus made it clear that He really did not NEED to express prayer because He and the Father were already ONE. He did pray then to teach the followers and us. It was to benefit us. (11:41-42). The same is true here in John 17. To teach us what it is to be in union with God, the Father, Jesus prayed. He was about to exit this world. His death is soon coming. He was letting His Followers know of His prayer for them.

If you were to attend the death of a very wealthy man, and you knew that he was going to give you some very important information as to where to find his hidden riches, would you listen intently? He would be sharing the bank address, the pin number, the combination to the vault, and the details of how to unravel the directions. I think you’d listen well.

You can also believe that Jesus wants you to know and remember His prayer for you because of how Jesus prayed in this prayer. It is usually known as the High Priestly Prayer. Reading in Hebrews and see what the role of a High Priest is and you will see that His is the perfect One to make such a prayer—on our behalf. He really comes boldly before the Throne of Grace: our example of how it is to be done.

We also can see the relationship of the Father to His Son and the Glory They both have in common. The Father ‘gives’ (used 13 times in this passage), as He is the center or source of all that is in the God Head. Jesus singles out the special gift His Father had given to the Followers, that is eternal life that is found in Jesus. Jesus then is the One who reveals the Father to the World. As the Giver He gives His disciples the Father’s Word, gives His Glory and gives Eternal Life that is based in the Father to begin with.

Have you ever been someplace where there is an echo? It can be really weird, hearing your voice coming back to you…even on Skype or on the phone but esp. in nature. Helloooooooo. This is is is so so so cool cool…

Here we have echoes coming from the lips of Jesus. Me in You and You in Me… In the Father… in the Son…

This prayer has an outline. Do you think Jesus was thinking of an outline when He said this? I think so.
1. A petition for the glorification of the Father and the Son (vv. 1-5),

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. 2 For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4 I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.

2. after which He prays for the disciples gathered around Him, first describing their situation (vv. 6-10)

6 "I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your Word. 7 Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. 8 For I gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine. And glory has come to Me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name—the Name You gave Me—so that they may be one as We are one.

and then…
3. praying that they be protected and be sanctified by God (vv. 11-19).
11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name—the Name You gave Me—so that they may be one as We are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that Name You gave Me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them. 14 I have given them Your Word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify [set apart] them by The Truth; Your Word is Truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

4. Jesus then prays for all who will become believers through the witness of the 11, (and the Church that follows.) ...that they may share in the Divine Oneness (v. 20-24).

20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. 22 I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one: 23 I in them and You in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. 24 "Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world.

5. He concludes with a summary of His past and future Work (vv. 25-26).

25 Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent Me. 26 I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them."

Jesus covers time from the Creation to the Cross. It is all part of who He is and what He had done in the World. His Work. And on the basis of that completed Work, He can now ask His Father that WE could be unified with His Father the same way He is. Oneness found in that relationship.

Jesus had begun His prayer with the relationship between the Father and the Son (John 5:19-23). The oneness-yet-distinctness continues here as Jesus speaks in a very intimate way with His Father. This is the way we can talk with God. Close; Sure. Boldly; Confidently. Built on a relationship already set in place by His finished Work on the Cross. He dies so that we can be forgiven. He paid the price; the full price for our Salvation. THAT is the Gospel!

The Gospel is the Plan of God that comes out our experiences. Our response is our responsibility. Our responsibility is to live out this Gospel, the transformed life, in all clarity, in all honesty and with all the Grace of God that He willingly gives to us who believe.

As we look to the new year, this building the Body of Christ is on His heart as well. He will help us—as we look to Him and surrender our hands and hearts to His Will for us in His Son, Jesus. Do you believe this?

Next Sunday is our regular Covered Dish Sunday (3rd Sunday of each month-plan to share a meal with the Fellowship. Bring some food or drink along with you or buy it next door at the Seiyu store.) This is also the last Sunday Pastor Stan and his family will be at ICCS for the year.

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Next week is ALSO Father's Day.

MEN: Wear an Hawaiian shirt!
All neck ties will be taken and made into head bands!
Come celebrate the Lord together.
Faith and Pastor Stan will be sharing from the Word of God.