If we have true life

I attended a conference for churches in Asia and Oceania in Malaysia in 2004. Youth team worshiped energetically and people testified God’s works in persecutions. I was so blessed by God. Everything was over and I was relaxing with other pastors at a café in Penang airport. However, my bag was stolen there. There were a wallet, a passport, a cell phone, and an air ticket in the bag. We hunted for the thief and my bag but we couldn’t find them. We went to a police station at the airport but a police man told us the thief went out already. Finally, I understood that my friend had told me “Theft Asia” (A pronunciation of South East Asia and Theft Asia is the same in Japanese language.) The pastors gave me their money but I felt lonely because I can’t speak English. They left Penang and I thought “Oh, no!” I had to go to the Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur by myself. It was late at night so I tried to go to a hotel which has a Japanese worker. I bargained with a taxi driver and reached the hotel but the Japanese worker was not there. I just worshiped God at my hotel room and prayed honestly to Him. “Lord, why did this happen to me? I don’t understand the meaning of this worst happening in my life.” The Holy Spirit spoke to me softly but clearly. “When you were born, what did you have?” My answer was “nothing but just life.” When we get older, we can’t let go off many things. “Without this, ~.” “If we have only this, ~.” We are controlled by these thoughts and go through inconvenient and troubled life. “True life” told by Jesus hits our heart. After my heart was filled with peace and thankfulness from God, one of pastors in Malaysia visited my room. God already prepared everything for me to go back to Japan. Although people get the world, if they don’t have the true life, they gain nothing. What can people hold out to buy back the life?
Mathew 16:26

The world heritage in Macao

Macao overtook Las Vegas to become the biggest Casino in the world. Many tourists visit there from China and other countries. However, before Casino was prospered in Macao, this country was famous for many world heritages and these places are in a tourist route. One of them is Saint Paul Cathedral. It is an impressive building and it was called the most beautiful architecture in the East but in 1835 it lost its walls except the front wall and the stair. The figure gives off a special mystique so it became the symbol of Macao. The front wall has beautiful carvings and they were sculpted by Japanese Christians who fled to Macao because of persecutions in Japan. Time had passed and now how do tourists from China and Japan see these beautiful carvings? This building is the world heritage in Macao and at the same time it is the world heritage by the hands of God.
Deuteronomy 28:8~9

Memory in Hong Kong

I went to Hong Kong for the first time in 2010. Hong Kong is famous for a million-dollar nightscape and some unique tours. I joined one of the tours and enjoyed the neon-lit street on a double-decker bus at night. There were many big neon signs along the street and we drove under them. When I saw these neon signs and street, I saw a church building. Hong Kong has an important role for a mission in China. God’s work in Hong Kong was burned in my heart more than delicious Chinese food or beautiful night view.
1 King 16:8~9

Anxiety of Japanese people

This Indian man above has a comfortable house. (Japanese people call it a garbage can.) J Walter Thompson Co., Ltd. (JWT) presented the results of research in 2009. The research was about how big people in 11 countries feel anxiety. The 10th is Chinese people and 35% of them feel anxiety. I skip from the 9th to the 4th but the 3rd is American and 76% of them feel anxiety. The 2nd is Russian and 84% of them feel anxiety. And the 1st is Japanese and 90% of them feel anxiety. The reasons why Japanese people feel anxiety are a budget deficit of this country, an employment rate, a high cost of living, the economic conditions, and a charge of medical expenses. They are all about money, aren’t they? In the Bible, it says your heart is in the place where your treasure is. If you always think about money, your heart is shaken by social conditions or your workplace. Jesus said He gives you peace. His peace is a relief from peaceful relationship with God. This peace will not be shaken no matter what happens. Ask Him to be filled your heart with peace that money can’t buy.
John 14:27

Christians in North Korea

What do you associate the name of North Korea with? I think your image of this country is bad ones such as bombs like Nodon or Tepodon, nuclear arms, an issue of abduction, starvation of people, and so on. However, did you know that there are more than a hundred thousand Christians there? Although the government of this country persecutes the biggest number of Christians in the world, the number of Christians keeps increasing. A mission organization, “Open Doors”, is broadcasting information on the media in Korea and America. Even a news program in Japan broadcasted about an open execution in North Korea. It is impossible for any countries in the world or even United Nations to change this country and there is no human rights and hope but God’s hand of salvation is reaching this country. The word of the Lord keeps spreading there no matter what happened to North Korea in the future.
Acts 12:24

Main countries in the next generation

It is said that Brazil, Russia, India, and China will be the main countries among the world economy in near future. It is called “BRICs” combined by the first letter. The trend of the times is so fast and main countries in the generation after next were forecasted already. “VISTA” is the country of Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey, and Argentina. Indonesia is brought to international attention as a country which has the 4th biggest population, big number of young people, and the most number of Muslim people. The photo above is a Bible school in Indonesia. They overthrow the image of Christians in Japan. At this time, I taught only 1 class but there were so many students in a classroom. Facilities were satisfactory, students were earnest, and an atmosphere of the class was cheerful. (optimistic?) 80% of people are Muslim but Christians who are 10% of the population gives us hope for the main countries of the generation after next.
Deuteronomy 32:31

ある指導者の祈り

主よ

家族とわたしをお守りください・

わたしの罪をお赦しください。

高慢と絶望からお守りください。

ことを正しく公平に行う知恵をお授け下さい。

わたしを、御心を行う器としてください。


この祈りは、現アメリカ合衆国大統領オバマ氏が公にしたものです。

大統領がどのような信仰を持っているのかは知りませんが、
どの時代に生きるクリスチャンにも大切な祈りです。

ひとりひとりが置かれている状況や、果たすべき責任は異なるでしょう。
神の霊は、あなたを助け、御心を行える力を与えて下さいます。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ダニエル書　６章３節