Surprise

Last Month AICF’s gathering place, Fellowship Hall, was opened and the first sermonwas “Nest”. A nest which birds make is made from broken branches, feathers, dirt, whichseem useless and trash, but they craftly make their nests, and in Psalm 84:3 introduce it iswhat represents the alter of the Lord, as AICF is a house of the Lord that people who arehurt and broken are chosen and led by God and crafted together. Both nest and a house isa place of living and not just a place for rest, but where children are born, grown andbecoming adult and will leave, such as a place of making and sending the next newgenerations!

Last week I went to JR Shin-Osaka station to pick Brother S. What I saw was a surprise,he came out pushing a large baggage of woods (which was heavy like over 20kg and Icouldn’t believe he brought this out from the Shinkansen). We managed to bring it to mycar. And when he completed the pulpit at Fellowship Hall, I was amazed. The new pulpitthat he made was in the limited space of the Hall perfectly fit as it was slim. What I hadrequested to him half a month ago was to just try and make something when you had atime and material, not need to rush. But from that day, he gathered the unused woods from his workplace (if we buy them, it will be very expensive) and crafted according to his image that he held and completed, and even he made the cart for bringing the pulpit! By faith he has completed something creative and wonderful things as a part of the church. His effort was something like a sparrow making its nest yet it was very precious service as if like dedicating the alter to the cross of Jesus.

This is something that makes me realize that AICF is being transformed and renewed.Yes, even the effort like sparrow, yet when we do by faith, God blesses it, so we growtogether in His grace!

Pastor Takeshi