❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) Creeds (NICENE Creed, Apostles’ Creed) Andy Nagahara Today I’m going to take a break from my usual Proverbs series and talk about creed. In Japanese, the word “creed” is pronounced “shinjou”. If you ask Japanese people, many of them will think of Shinjo-san of the Nippon Ham Fighters, but I’m not going to talk about him today. (Sorry, this is just a Japanese wordplay joke.) The word “shinjo” which means “creed” is generally used to mean something that one firmly believes in based on one’s own values. In Christian churches, it is a statement that summarizes the content of faith in the form of a…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) If you take your eyes off it, it’s gone (Proverbs 3:21-35) Andy Nagahara 21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Couldyou recall…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) Healing of Mental Illness Series “Theology of Interdependence and Disability” Part 9 (Luke 8:26-39) Mari Ikeda Today is the ninth and final part of our series on Kathy Black’s book. So far, the book has covered physical disabilities such as blindness, deafness, and paralysis, leprosy, and chronic illnesses, but the final topic covered in this book is mental disorders. I must confess that I was not sure whether to take up this chapter. Because the story of casting out demons is discussed in order to consider the healing of mental illness. I think that would lead to the misconception that people with mental illness are…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) Taking refuge at the tree of life (Proverbs 3:13-20) Andy Nagahara Today is the week to read Proverbs. Today’s reading is from verse 3:13-20. Let’s start by reading up to verse 16. 1. It is not wealth but wisdom that brings happiness (13-16) 13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. A former president passed away last Tuesday. This…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) A Kernel of Wheat Dies and Produces Many Seeds (John 12:20-26) Mari Ikeda Today we return to our series on the Gospel of John, 12:20-26. This passage contains one of the most famous sayings of Jesus. That is what I have titled today’s message, “A kernel of wheat dies and produces many seeds.” It appears in the second half of the verse, but let’s read the first half first: verses 20-23. A. Jesus’ love spreading around the world (20-23) 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in…