Why Japanese?

The Largest Unreached People Group (Joshua Project, 2005)

Only 0.04% Christians!

Annual Suicide Rate: >30,000

100-300 new religion registered each year (Operation World, 2000)

The battle is fierce, Time is SHORT! Please RESPONSE, Please PRAY!!!



Wednesday, January 24, 2007

尋求主在我們生命的心意!


日本今年的下雪量比去年少了40﹪。這對北部,尤其是山區應該是好事的。但是相對的,日本卻有不尋長的龍卷風。去年龍卷風的襲擊,使北海道原本已經貧困的地區雪上加霜。海嘯的消息也不斷地傳來。

我知道每個地方都有它特定的問題,每個人都有他的難處。日本的民生問題怎樣也不比中國嚴重。何止呢?北韓,印度,柬普寨,越南,緬甸,菲律賓,有哪個地方不比日本來得悲傷呢?但是,在我的心裡,不知為何,很奇怪的,日本所遭遇的一切,就好樣我的親人在遭遇災難一樣,讓我挂念,哀傷。總希望看見我的親人在天堂,可以相遇。我適才提到的地方,我都看見禾場的需要和荒涼。我不住的為他們禱告的時候,我的心就更為日本著急。我想Heart4Japan就是這樣的一種感動吧!

所以我鼓勵你們也這樣的回應神吧!開始禱告,可能神放在你心中的是教會,可能是一個民族,可能是一件功課。在不同的時後,會有不同的呼招。我相信總有一個是給萬民的。許多人沒有聽過耶穌。沒人傳,他們怎能信呢?不要擔心會浪費你的禱告和氣力。當你竭力尋求神的心意的時後,你會清楚神放在你心中的感動的!

當你心裡有這樣的一個感動的時候,你就會很清楚神給你預備的去向了。我時常被你們中間安靜事奉,又時常鼓勵我的所感動!謝謝你們噢!

願神祝福你!

Sunday, January 21, 2007

We are ONE family





Korean, Chinese, Japanese. Don't we look alike? Check our history, culture, even the evidence in architecture! We are one family! Dr. Ozawa and Bro. Andrew were right, we need to come together, as one. The true revival does not happen individually, it takes all three to work together! Do not forget about North Korea too! The repentance is a key! To China, Japan is our Samaritan!

It's UNITY! If you have encouragement from being unite with Chrit, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Phil2:1-2. that all of them may be one, John 17:21 The same message to the church, is the very same message to us, we need to come as ONE! In fact, the very core message in prayers for Japan, is UNITY of workers in HIS field.

"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. " John17:21

Mat5:23-24, Mat6:14-15

有許多未來的事情,我現在不能識透,但我知誰管著明天,我也知誰牽我手......



我不知道明天的的道路,每一天只為主活,我不借明天的太陽,因明天或許陰暗,我不要為將來憂慮,因為我信主的應許,我今天要與主同行,因他知前面如何。

每一步越走越光明,像攀登黃金階梯,每重擔越挑越輕省,每朵雲披上銀衣,在那裡陽光常普照,在那裡沒有眼淚,在美麗彩虹的盡頭,眾山嶺與天相連。

我不知道明天的道路,或遭遇生活苦楚,但那養活麻雀者,他必然也看顧我,他是我旅途的良伴,或經過水火之災,但救主必與我同在,他寶血把我遮蓋。

THIS IS MY FAMILY!


This is my family! This is the picture that He had used to encouraged me from November, till December, till January! When all the nations come and praise His name, this is where His heartbeat is, and when Japan comes in...... THEY are my family! I am in them, with them, that's where my family belongs! In the heart of worship!

FAMILY

HE had been teaching about family recently. As I was crying out for home, and a church here to grow, to feel belong. HE taught me that I am in the family. He had also put the same mind into people who I didn't know, to tell them I need a family, and asked them to show me kindness and family. I was like, oh now, family, I finally have one. But I know that there are more behind this kindness, after I was overwhelmed, and in AWE of HIM. My spirit encourgaed me to move on, to pray and seek HIS Kingdom.

Then, as I gathered my mind back from beggaring-weaning on the ground, to the roof-top as a watchman for Japan, HE gradually showed me the truth! I am in the family! And I am in HIS family, and it is not about church, a specific place! It is about HIS Kingdom, HIS body, HIS people! And that is the whole reason why HE had prompted these people to bless me, to give, to care! It is not about a certain people, or a certain ministry, or even discipleship. Not at this moment. He wants me to learn about people, to observe, and to learn about HIS heart and HIS will on these people and nations.

So, I know it is time to move on, to visit churches again, to meet people this time, not searching for home. But to freely share, to be myself, to tell people about what God is doing in my life, and to encourage people to pray, for the Unreached, for Japan! There are some people that God wants me to meet! There are some churches that God wants to spark up their spirit to begin to look beyond! I had learned that in November. :-)

Of course, HE had been teaching me some other things as well! That's why I had been silent most of the time in December. Waiting, and learning, and it was painful. I'll share with you more later! God bless!

Thursday, January 18, 2007

偏远的山村



日本其实有很多环境很困苦的地方,逼着很多人为了生计而到外地去谋生。这些去外地谋生的人,因为带着乡音和乡下的习俗,在城市里往往不能被人接纳。尤其是在日本这一片大和气息浓厚的土地,一根凸出的钉子一定要被敲打下去的。

但是乡下也是在太穷了。要不就是严峻的气候,要不就是倒闭的矿业,工业的不景气造成许多的失业,基本上要是不走,很难活下去。(参考北海道和东北的祷告指南,www.operationjapan.blogspsot.com)

有很多偏远的山村,有垂死的老人,有嗷嗷待哺的小孩,有目不识丁的壮年。

求神开我们的智慧,给我们属灵的眼睛,叫我们看见他的子民的需要。如何将福音传给山村的居民呢?他们和山林为伍,山林就是他们的神。基本上,日本的山总是因为满山的鬼魅而成名的。很多乡村就因为这些仅存的怪谈、祭典和神社,一年里在一些特别的日子会恢复一点生气。如何把真正的爱和平安的信息给他们带出来?又如何在这种困难的情况下生活?对教会或者是宣教士来说,都是很大的考验!

求主的国在这里吧!复兴他的教会!复兴他的门徒!愿人能够每一天都饱尝他的爱和恩典。

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Operation Japan -Chinese version ON THE GO

Finally, in the grace of Jesus Christ, we are able to get the Operation prayer guide translation "up-to-date". However, there are many more to do. I would need proof readers to correct the mistakes, and translators on day-to-day basis. The next post is hopefully to be on Jan 13th.

Please refer to www.operationjapan.blogspot.com for prayer guides that drew out by JEMA. And if you like to give us a hand in this, please do not feel hesitate to call me!

Thanks!

Saturday, January 06, 2007

This is the time, more than ever!

"When the pursuit of material extravagance delivers emptiness rather
than inner contentment, a people are forced to confront deeper , more
existential questions about meaning, value, self-affirmation, and
moral purpose that classroom training alone cannot teach. " cited from
Michael Zielenziger : Shutting Out The Sun.

If the materialistic world can sense this, what about the church?
Which suppose to be more sensitive to spiritual emptiness, needs and
hunger and famine of the world? Japan is no longer an issue of some
"special person" who had a calling to the field. It is for everybody.
The revival in Asia should not exclude Japan and North Korea! In
Japan, there is 127 million lost souls that need JESUS.

What had became an global issue on Japan is that, "Japan -- now -- had
said to be a spent force. Japan's moment seems to have passed, its sun
eclipsed. " The material world paid their attention to this nation,
because it signify a shift of economic weight, a shift of the paradigm
in global politics and values, with the fierce rise of China and
India.

We are not praying for Japan's economy here. There is a time that God
needs to do what He wants to do We are not fighting with God to ask
for recover in the economy. But we do see Japan is loosing out in its
nation's passive acceptance of failure and the rising pessimism of
people. What would be Japan's future? This is the time that Japanese
need more of JESUS and the TRUTH than anytime in the history. It is
only the truth, the love of JESUS CHRIST would sustain them at this
moment of lost. Name of Jesus, the name that will comfort them, giving
them strength in this time of adjustment. Like the Israelites on their
expel to Babylon.

The God of creation had never left Japan. The sun is never any other
thing than His own creation. But it is the matter of "Had Japan
acknowledged Him. Were they given a chance to call on His name?" We
had let go of three "exclusive" chances to labour with His Spirit.
Now, are we letting it go again? We have not much time left.

Behind the Stone Walls

Cited from Michael Zielenziger, "Frustrated and disaffected, many young Japanese just abandon their homeland. Hundreds of thousands of others wander like nomads outside the rigid traditional system, refusing to work, go to school, or accept job training. Even more disturbing -- perhaps most disturbing -- is the cadre of more than one million young adults, the majority of the men, who literally shut themselves away from the sun, closing their blinds, taping shut their windows, and refusing to leave the bedroom in their homes for months or years at a time. Thus the anguish the Imperial Family discreetly confronts behind stone palace walls reflects a crisis now being visited on the wider family of Japan. "

"Frustrated and disaffected, many young Japanese just abandon their homeland. Hundreds of thousands of others wander like nomads outside the rigid traditional system, refusing to work, go to school, or accept job training." I supposed these are those who hang out in Harajuku, Shibuya and Kabuki-Cho. I am sure that there are similar people in other cities. But I would like to know are these also the kind of people that will eventually be absorbed into the Yakuza circle?

"more than one million young adults, the majority of the men, who literally shut themselves away from the sun, closing their blinds, taping shut their windows, and refusing to leave the bedroom in their homes for months or years at a time. " I believe these are the Hikikomori people that we are into much discussions these days. My professor was suggesting me to interview some of these people. Seeing an example from Michael, perhaps it is telling me that I could probably do the same here in Hong Kong.

Interestingly, Michael was using the parallel of the Imperial Family here. This will help us to develop a lot of thoughts......

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Ijime and Japan

Reading about Ijime, history of churches, questions on the truth of the bible, the practice of people, I began to ask a question. Must there be a reason for all things to happen?

An ex-adolescent Ijime commented on Ijime, "School leaders refuses to talk about it with te districts because they don't want to get bad ratings. Teachers don't want to discuss it with parents because they're afraid of being accused. Classmates don't defend their friends because they're afraid of also being marginalized. It's a vicious circle. "

For the above statement, I would like to recommend you to watch this movie, "All About Lily-Chow" Lily Chu-u no subete. I think it depicts a very good scene on this.


Finally, does Ijime only happen in Japan? Is it a unique culture? Have you ever been in this situation? Please share with us.