In less than 48 hours, Japan is receiving her New Year of 2008. To many of us, we have a dream for this year. Somehow or rather, there is going to be a decision that need to be made. I pray that Japan will see His light in this eve, and they will yearn for Christ! Show them the truth, Lord! Show us the truth!

Concern Japan: Mark the events of the last 20 year

In the years reigned by King Akihito, many things happened in past 20 years. Below are records of some of the events. It wouldn't bring us anywhere, if we ignored the social and practical issues in Japan while we pray for them. The influence of spiritual warfare do creep in real life. Be aware, soldiers!

Heisei 平成(1989-present)

Burst of the Bubble

The most rapid economic growth spurts in Japanese history was in 1989. With a strong yen and a favorable exchange rate with the American Dollar,  Tokyoproperty values had a 60% increased within the year. However the "Bubble Economy" burst in 1991.

Great Slump in Heisei 

Then, Japan experienced more than a decade of price deflation and largely stagnant GDP. Japan's banks struggled to resolve their bad debts and companies in other sectors struggled to restructure. 

Hanshin Earthquake

1995, large earthquake struck Kobe with no foreshock, taken away 6,424 lives, and cost $200 billion USD in damage. Later the incident was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the "costliest natural disaster to befall any one country." The tragic also had caused the rise of NGOs. 

Sarin Gas Attack on the Tokyo Subway 

In the same year, Aum Shinrikyo attacked the Tokyo subway system with sarin gas terrorist, killing twelve people, severely injuring fifty and causing temporary vision problems for nearly a thousand others. This was the most serious attack to occur in Japan since the end of the Second World War.

Chūetsu earthquake

On October 23, 2004, the Heisei 16 Niigata Prefecture Earthquakes rocked the Hokuriku region, killing 52 and injuring hundreds. As late as November 3, the 39th fatality attributable to the earthquakes occurred as perceptible aftershocks continued. Over 3,000 injuries were reported in Niigata Prefecture. Over one hundred thousand people fled their homes. The earthquakes caused houses to collapse in Ojiya and damaged thousands in the area.

Children Suicide

2006, rise of children suicide raised concern in Japan.

Challenges: Identify the spiritual and physical needs in Japan at the moment. What can we do? What God impressed in you for what you should do?

Our Hearts Do Not Cease!

The population had grown to such an enormous number that it excites the missions field, yet it also  brought about worries of what we were lack of. 

Japanese had ceased to be the largest unreached people group on earth this month. The population of Shaikh in Bangladesh had grown so  much, that the number out beat the Japanese. The demographic in Japan is such that soon, Japanese will dropped to the position of no. 3, 4, or 5. Does it sound good to your ears as Japanese is no longer the largest unreached people group as of now? 

Nothing had really been changed in Japan. Even as we cried for REVIVAL, REVIVAL, REVIVAL! Many new centers had been set up in Japan， many new churches, home churches had taken over the died down old churches. We see a spark of reconciliation, awakening here and there, yet it is still NOT ENOUGH！

Yes, Japanese may ceased to be the No. 1 largest unreached population in the world, but it is not going to remove us from guilt of not telling the good news to the diminishing millions! One thing that we cannot do is to claim that because we had done so and so and so, or it is because of God had aimed His way so and so and so, that there are people doomed to be perished! 

Yes, many people perished in Japan. 

The blood is on our hand. 

We did not send enough workers！

Even as there are places with workers, yet the arrogant and pride had stumbled the harvest.

We got to REPENT! It's a pain to admit it, but we had just not done enough! 

The Christian world had been BLIND to the cry of millions of souls in Japan!

The number of the Japanese population in Japan had not changed, 122, 179,000. But the Shaik in Bangladesh increased, 128,292,000 while in September this year, it was 122,139,000.

Soon, the old are going to die and the new had not come forth. Sadly it is the same in the demographic of the Japanese as well as the mission field. 

The missionaries in the India contingent have a lot to do. The population is uprising with the uncontrolled birth. There are going to be more problems, and more issues. Everywhere in the world is a pressing mission field itself at present! Japan will not ceased to be the largest mission field even with the drop of the population. We have much to do!

The Heart of the Father does not cease, and our hearts do not cease!

The Lord do not send people to hell. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2Peter3:9)

Re: Statistics from Joshua project, Dec 7, 2007.

What Christmas is About

It had been a long time that I read about the story of Christmas shoes. Then, now someone sent me this video. 

It reminds me about Christmas, about what Christmas is all about.

I am blessed, and you?