Perhaps it is time to think about Akihabara. Recently, I watched NHK (Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai), somehow the issue of Otaku and Hikikomori just reminded me about Akihabara. As I was searching the video reels on Harajuku, I found Akihabara too. A friend called up just to remind me about Akihabara a minute ago.
Perhaps, I had overlooked something about this. What is that about Akihabara? What is the strong force behind it? What are the strong holds? If Akihabra is a place for Otaku, then it is a place that God's love must be revealed! Breaking forces through His love is nevertheless the best weapon! Pray for His love!
In year 2005, I had a vision about Shibuya in Tokyo. Around the same time, a prophetic church in HK received a vision to start a church in Tokyo, where they had started their church planting this March.
Weird, even it was only one day for me in these places, the images of the shops and the roads are still vivid in my mind. As if it came alive in me. The cry of the strong man, and the march of Christ! Do not miss the march!
It's time to exercise our spiritual muscle now! Pray for His church in Akihabra!
Akihabara, Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku are all in Tokyo. Is Akihabara a walkable distance from Shibuya, Harajuku, Yoyogi, or Shinjuku? I'm not very sure. But Sibuya, Yoyogi, Harajuku and Shinjuku formed in one line, and are walkable from one stop to another. I don't speak the same language with Akihabara, though I am learning now, perhaps the whole course about Public Health and social study about Hikikomori is preparing me to this. But I do believe that some of you speak the language of Akihabara! God would had prepared your heart for this place! Let us know what God had put in your heart about this issue! Let us join hands in prayers! Let's bring this vision back to our own churches!
Praying for Japan, is not your own issue or my issue. It is about His issue. Regardless the church is called for this matter, as long as we are in the church, the church is for His people! Praying, is about God's business! Amen.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Endo - Cry of Kichijirou
Somehow, I kept thinking of Endo Shusaku. Perhaps I was influenced by Ramone and Shane after a short discussion through emails recently. Well, it's not fair to blame it on them :-) Endo is always a topic of interest for me, especially when it comes to Japan, and her perspective of Christianity.
But rather than go deep into it, I just can't hold myself but to record a brief thought I have at this moment.
What Endo was writing was a cry of Luke18:13, "And the tax collecctor, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, sayig, 'God be merciful to me a sinner!'"
I wonder, aside of what the perspectives that Endo had drawn conclusion in his book, the main struggle in Endo was the cry of Kichijirou. "God be merciful to me a sinner!" We all need that, don't we?
But rather than go deep into it, I just can't hold myself but to record a brief thought I have at this moment.
What Endo was writing was a cry of Luke18:13, "And the tax collecctor, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, sayig, 'God be merciful to me a sinner!'"
I wonder, aside of what the perspectives that Endo had drawn conclusion in his book, the main struggle in Endo was the cry of Kichijirou. "God be merciful to me a sinner!" We all need that, don't we?
Saturday, May 12, 2007
The Blue Tent Hero 蓝布帐英雄
How can you think of a hero? He should be a man who is strong, help a woman, and go away soon after he gets his job done. Mr. Yamamoto is not that kind of a hero. He is not so strong, nor goes somewhere and helps a woman. He is a compassion man who can think of other poor men. He once got a job, and he told Dr. Ozawa about it. But he was not happy at all. So Dr. Ozawa asked him why he is not so happy. He said, “If I start the job and leave the park, who will help other homeless men? I want to help other poor people.”
It reminded me of a story about Mr. Yamamoto myself. It was after he got baptized. He was hungry for telling Gospel to other people. So he started talking to businessmen who came to the park for lunch and break. One day he met a man, about 30s. Mr. Yamamoto found out that the man was depressed very much. He began to meet him once a week and tell him about Jesus. The man disappeared one day and he didn’t get any contact with him after that. But after a long time later, Mr. Yamamoto said to me, the man called him and said, “I got baptized.”
Yes, he is a hero to me, too.
By,
Pastor Takao Okutsu, Saitama, Japan
Re: New hippo DVD in Japanese (just the stories) is avialable. CREST Christian Book Corner
#05-58 Far East Plaza , 14 Scotts Rd SE228213
Tel:6235-8593 / 67378-344
Sun 1:30 - 5:30pm
Mon-Sat 11am- 8pm (till 7pm on Sat)
It reminded me of a story about Mr. Yamamoto myself. It was after he got baptized. He was hungry for telling Gospel to other people. So he started talking to businessmen who came to the park for lunch and break. One day he met a man, about 30s. Mr. Yamamoto found out that the man was depressed very much. He began to meet him once a week and tell him about Jesus. The man disappeared one day and he didn’t get any contact with him after that. But after a long time later, Mr. Yamamoto said to me, the man called him and said, “I got baptized.”
Yes, he is a hero to me, too.
The blue-tent hero......
By,
Pastor Takao Okutsu, Saitama, Japan
Re: New hippo DVD in Japanese (just the stories) is avialable. CREST Christian Book Corner
#05-58 Far East Plaza , 14 Scotts Rd SE228213
Tel:6235-8593 / 67378-344
Sun 1:30 - 5:30pm
Mon-Sat 11am- 8pm (till 7pm on Sat)
Monday, May 07, 2007
Some Opinions in TDN
Bardakoğlu should speak up:
Head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs Ali Bardakoğlu has been giving very important messages. His words on the most recent Malatya events were marvelous:
“Of course, a member of a religion will buy, sell and distribute the holy book of his religion. We, let alone other religions, need to learn to respect the choice of even the atheists. Missionary work cannot constitute a threat for Turkey. It is necessary not to hike up the public tension by unnecessarily exaggerating these issues. We have been sympathetic to everyone's practicing his or her religion under the freedom of faith and religion. It is their basic right. People should freely live and convey their religion. The events in Malatya, the events all across the world have taught us once more that we should emphasize love for others more.”
However, the directorate's attitude is bizarre.
The head of the directorate speaks differently; the books published by the directorate say otherwise. The head of the directorate says, “They have the right,” while the book says how dangerous missionary work is.
If Bardakoğlu is truly sincere, he should have his words repeated. And if we really believe, we should take action together. For full article......
Head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs Ali Bardakoğlu has been giving very important messages. His words on the most recent Malatya events were marvelous:
“Of course, a member of a religion will buy, sell and distribute the holy book of his religion. We, let alone other religions, need to learn to respect the choice of even the atheists. Missionary work cannot constitute a threat for Turkey. It is necessary not to hike up the public tension by unnecessarily exaggerating these issues. We have been sympathetic to everyone's practicing his or her religion under the freedom of faith and religion. It is their basic right. People should freely live and convey their religion. The events in Malatya, the events all across the world have taught us once more that we should emphasize love for others more.”
However, the directorate's attitude is bizarre.
The head of the directorate speaks differently; the books published by the directorate say otherwise. The head of the directorate says, “They have the right,” while the book says how dangerous missionary work is.
If Bardakoğlu is truly sincere, he should have his words repeated. And if we really believe, we should take action together. For full article......
Battle of Mind
How do people view evangelists and missionaries? Persuasion against one's will, or forcing over an ideology on others?
Seldom there will be a non-believed critic that says, "Thank you so much for these people! They were the one who brought life to this land, to these people! They were the one who brought hope!"
Orhan Kemal Cengiz - Christians were beaten, their churches were stoned and were set on fire and they had been receiving threats everyday. Every single day there was news about the treacherous plans of missionaries in the local and national newspapers and on TV stations.
‘We are losing our religion,’ ‘Christianity spreads in Malatya’. That was the kind of atmosphere that had orchestrated the series of murders in Malatya. The escalated hatred had totally overlooked the truth fact that, Christian is a minority in Malatya. There were not more than 30 Christians in the city.
Dark forces, yes.
Yet, introducing Christianity to a close culture that take Christianity as a foreign substance meaning a new ideology.
Often when a new ideology is introduced, there will be a revolution. Quiet or strong, as waves that swing in the sea. Fear of lost often overcome excitement of gain. Spirit of opposition are often not about the content.
Persecutions do not only happen with Christianity. It happens when there is a conflict in ideology of old and modern. It will be too simplistic to conclude that as the war of good and evil, human mind given free will, is a battle that we need to fight.
Click of Orhan and Malatya for opinions in Turkey.
Seldom there will be a non-believed critic that says, "Thank you so much for these people! They were the one who brought life to this land, to these people! They were the one who brought hope!"
Orhan Kemal Cengiz - Christians were beaten, their churches were stoned and were set on fire and they had been receiving threats everyday. Every single day there was news about the treacherous plans of missionaries in the local and national newspapers and on TV stations.
‘We are losing our religion,’ ‘Christianity spreads in Malatya’. That was the kind of atmosphere that had orchestrated the series of murders in Malatya. The escalated hatred had totally overlooked the truth fact that, Christian is a minority in Malatya. There were not more than 30 Christians in the city.
Dark forces, yes.
Yet, introducing Christianity to a close culture that take Christianity as a foreign substance meaning a new ideology.
Often when a new ideology is introduced, there will be a revolution. Quiet or strong, as waves that swing in the sea. Fear of lost often overcome excitement of gain. Spirit of opposition are often not about the content.
Persecutions do not only happen with Christianity. It happens when there is a conflict in ideology of old and modern. It will be too simplistic to conclude that as the war of good and evil, human mind given free will, is a battle that we need to fight.
Click of Orhan and Malatya for opinions in Turkey.
Meanings
Must a Christian be a Creationist?
What is Faith?
Are we fulfilling or are we limiting?
Is finding evidence against faith?
What is the foundation of my faith in Christ?
Sometimes I thought I have all the answers. Sometimes I know I don't. But I do constantly check myself with these questions. Christianity is about a relationship with Christ, a reconciliation with God, a way to Heaven. What does Heaven mean to me, or Christ, or God? What does relationship means to me, or reconciliation?
These are important questions.
When we talk about Jesus, when we witness, we should never assume that the preacher and the hearer have the same perceptions. Often, the preacher and the hearer have totally opposite direction. What does Jesus mean to us? What does Jesus mean to others? That should be a question to ask, a mind to bear.
Presuming all that we know is the most authentic and the best, is always the beginning of a mistake.
What is Faith?
Are we fulfilling or are we limiting?
Is finding evidence against faith?
What is the foundation of my faith in Christ?
Sometimes I thought I have all the answers. Sometimes I know I don't. But I do constantly check myself with these questions. Christianity is about a relationship with Christ, a reconciliation with God, a way to Heaven. What does Heaven mean to me, or Christ, or God? What does relationship means to me, or reconciliation?
These are important questions.
When we talk about Jesus, when we witness, we should never assume that the preacher and the hearer have the same perceptions. Often, the preacher and the hearer have totally opposite direction. What does Jesus mean to us? What does Jesus mean to others? That should be a question to ask, a mind to bear.
Presuming all that we know is the most authentic and the best, is always the beginning of a mistake.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Heart4Japan
Dear H4J Prayer partners,
When Ramone crossed over to H4J blog, and left me a message, I ran through his blogs, and I found
I am short of words to describe the messages that I found in his blogs. But I think you will be interested to find out more about Ramone, and what he had written about the heart of our Father for Japan through these links!
http://jesus-otaku.blogspot.com/
http://art-for-jesus.blogspot.com/
http://sabbath-rest.blogspot.com/
Roseline
When Ramone crossed over to H4J blog, and left me a message, I ran through his blogs, and I found
Heart4Japan!(It's amazing to see how God connects his people.)
I am short of words to describe the messages that I found in his blogs. But I think you will be interested to find out more about Ramone, and what he had written about the heart of our Father for Japan through these links!
http://jesus-otaku.blogspot.com/
http://art-for-jesus.blogspot.com/
http://sabbath-rest.blogspot.com/
Roseline
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