2010.07.17 TGIS Blog

2010.07.17 TGIS Blog (Posted by Yue)

Hallelujah,the rainy season was over at last!

Icebreak
Tomoko organized icebreak this time,and the game was charades.
Each person explained the word Tomoko gave by making a gesture.
The word I got was "fireworks"...I was a bad actor, but it was lucky for me to have members who are talented in guessing!
Thank you Tomoko! That was a lot of fun!!!!!

Before Worship
Kumi shared one passage from the Bible.
Does anybody know that she has a small notebook put on her cell phone?
She writes down her favorite bible verses in there.
Thit is a great good idea to share for others!
Thank you Kumi!

Message
Sora translated for us, thank you Sora!!
Pastor Elmer shared the message.
Through this year, Shinjuku Shalom Church tries to become an "Encore Church", which is a church that anybody wants  to keep coming again.
So, how can Shalom become a church like this?!

By 2 Corinthian 1:4
"who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

We also read the story of the good Samaritan (Luke10:33 ~).

Samaritans were looked down by the Jewish, so when they see someone in pain, they were able to understand and have compassion for them.

In our life, not only good things but also bad accidents, troubles happen to us.
However, these things are also part of God's purpose for us.
Because through thes trials, we can be changed  into someone compassionate like the Samaritans.
Since we have been through the bad experiences ourselves, we can also understand the feelings of others who have similar experience (共感).

The purpose of life is NOT to live for ourselves only,but also for OTHERS and help other people when they are in need.

Thank God for today's message.