The professor went into his study that evening as usual, but it was not to study.   He sat there and pondered the happenings of the last few days.   It was now over a week since the funeral of his wife, the mother of his children.   It had been a christian funeral, of course, for she had been a faithful Christian and a church member ever since before they had met as two Christian young people, when he, too, had been full of enthusiasm for this new western religion.   But as time went by things had changed for him.   He had been a brilliant and ambitious student.   From college he had gone to more advanced studies, gained his Ph. D., and become a respected teacher in this great university.

     He was a university professor now, but somehow he had not found the happiness he had expected.   While his wife had continued on as the heart of the family to whom all the children looked in trust, taking them with her to Sunday school and church, leading them in prayer and Bible study each evening, he, himself, had grown aloof from the family, looking down with condescending superiority upon their childish, simple faith in the Holy Book.   Had he not long since learned from his religious professors in the Christian college he had attended that that book was a mere collection of human writings, full of errors and ancient myths and superstitions?   He had studied the great German writers of "Hiercriticism" and been led by his teachers and friends to accept their words for truth.

     But tonight the professor was in a quandary.   He kept looking back to the passing of his wife.   She was such a sweet woman, and he had always loved her.   As she lay dying, he had promised her he would meet her in heaven.   The children, also, gathered round, told mother that they had trusted Jesus and would see her again.   He had thought it right to make such a promise so that his dear wife might die in peace, but in his heart he knew he hadn't any faith in it.

     Now over a week had gone by and the professor missed his wife more and more.   An aching void seemed to fill his heart.   On the other hand he noticed how happy his children were.   From their talk, that he often overheard, you would think mother had just gone to visit a friend.   Often they spoke of a time when they would see Jesus, and mother would be there.   She would be well and strong, without any sickness or pain.   But he had not this hope or assurance.

     The professor picked up the Bible that he had in his study, which he hadn't read in a long, long time.   Glancing through it he came to Paul's testimony in 2nd Timothy 1:12, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."   "How wonderful it is to have assurance like that!" he thought.

     Suddenly something seemed to melt inside the professor's heart, and he knelt beside his chair, and like a long lost prodigal son, he came home to God.   He committed his life and his all to the One who could keep it against that day.   He confessed his sinfulness and unbelief to God and told the Lord then and there that he was giving up his doubts, and all the "hiercritics", and taking God's Word for the truth and nothing but the truth.   So it was that Professor Tsurin Kanamori became a new man.

     Shortly after that Dr. Kanamori gave up his teaching work and began to preach the gospel.   He had been a well known educator, and now many wanted to hear this great man who had suddenly turned into a preacher.   Dr. Kanamori felt so burdened for them all, and he wanted to make the way of salvation plain to everyone.   At last he had outlined and prepared a sermon that he believed should be sufficient to teach the most uninformed heathen all he needed to know about God and salvation so that he could be saved, but this sermon was three hours long.

     Dr. Kanamori began preaching this sermon again and again, and always the buildings were full of people who came to hear, so he would preach it over again at the same place and would tell those who came the first time not to return so as to leave room for others to hear.   So all over Japan Dr. Kanamori traveled, preaching his sermon over and over again.   One hour he preached on God, the one true God; one hour he preached on sin; and one hour he preached on salvation through the shed blood of God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.   Many thousands came to know Christ through his preaching.

     All this happened many years ago before 1930, and Dr. Kanamori has long since gone to join his dear wife in heaven, but his sermon goes on.   The summary of it was written out in a tract that has been scattered far and wide in his homeland causing many to stop today and think of God's love for them in Christ.   Some of them will surely meet him in heaven to thank him there, where he waits in the midst of those who "rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."   (Revelation 14:13)

The bawling, squealing,
squealing, nestling
[baby bird]

     These cute little critters are precious but have a few annoying habits.   We are told they sleep up to twenty hours a day but NEVER during a church service.   Mamas who felt the sermon was getting a little too personal have been known to shake and even pinch them to make them even noisier so they can leave the building with them.   Woe! unto any of the other birds who have the gall to say to the mother, "Can't you keep that kid quiet?!"   They can drive everyone around up the wall and then with one baby smile and gurgle or two wipe the slate clean and we wouldn't trade them for a speckled pup under a new wagon.

Link

     We had a wonderful fellowship meeting at Mountain View Baptist church in Kelso, WA last Friday evening.   Elder Leroy Goodman, the new pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church of Saint Helens, WA, and his family brought special music.   This was followed by a very good sermon by Pastor Dean Clarkson of Amazing Grace Baptist Church of Vancouver, WA.   He preached from 2nd Timothy 3:5 on how we need to have faith in our powerful God.   We need to trust God and do things His way and not man's way.

     After the sermon they served refreshments and we had a good time visiting with those who had come from five different churches near by.   Represented were churches in Portland, Vancouver, Saint Helens, Skamokawa, and of course Kelso.   This meeting is on the 2nd Friday of each month.   I hope you will be able to make the meeting April 9th, 2010.

     It is not hard to find Mountain View Baptist Church.   Simply take exit 42 off of the I-5 freeway.   Turn west on Sparks Drive.   Turn right (north) at the first light on to West Side Highway, when you see the Lil' Car Hospital on your right, turn left on Lexington Avenue, proceed about six blocks and you will see the church on your right.

Link

Outreach Opportunities in Chile

     Thank you for your concern and prayers for the Castner and Heinz families through this recent earthquake.   This is an update and request for help from Lehigh Valley Baptist Church.

     Our missionary families are all safe.   They were woken up in the middle of the night with the shaking of the 8.8 earthquake, which was centered about an hour north of where they stay. Pictures fell off the walls, but at this point it seems that their buildings sustained no structural damage.

     Primarily, we need your prayers for safety and open doors for the gospel.   The looting and crime is very great right now with reduced security and everything in ruins.   Sending trucks of food into the severely damaged areas is necessary, but also dangerous.   We are praying that God will lead Garry & Don to the right places for distribution - areas where there are people who are ready to be ministered to with the gospel.

     Secondly, we also need financial help.   We have spent over $2000 and have committed another $4000 in food right now. With Garry & Don's contacts, specifically this manager of Trebol, we will be able to get the most 'bang for our buck' in helping the people most affected by the quake.   We have set up the "CHILE RELIEF FUND" here at Lehigh Valley Baptist Church, from which Garry & Don will be able to buy food, supplies, gas, and be of assistance to those in need. As Garry stated above, it will take months and even years to rebuild everything that was destroyed, so this will be an area of ongoing need.   As long as they have the funds to help with needs, they will use this as an area of ministry.

     If you would like to help by contributing to the Chile Relief Fund, please send a check to:
Lehigh Valley Baptist Church
4702 Colebrook Avenue
Emmaus, PA 18049

Letters To The Editor

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