It is with great pleasure that I formally announce that we will be on the plane to Japan in ONE WEEK.  Praise God and to Him be the Glory.  Amen.

as I promised Courtney, here’s the testimony of one Frederica Matthews Green.  It’s worth a read to remember how mysteriously our Lord still works. 

an excerpt from the essay: I can’t really explain what happened next. I was standing there looking at the statue, and then I discovered I was on my knees. I could hear an interior voice speaking to me. Not with my ears–it was more like a radio inside suddenly clicked on. The voice was both intimate and authoritative, and it filled me

sound familiar?

and now deep wisdom from our resident Jack Handey, Corey Young:

 

Pack away, but don’t forget the “half back” principle:  Pack your bags and then take half of what you pack and put it back.

and if you want some real Jack Handey, try this

Philippians 1 (ESV)

Check out this webpage and especially the video at the bottom: http://www.summerimpactjapan.com/index.html

This is NOT the group we will be working with; however, the video is inspiring and educational!  To God be the glory.  In the event that you REALLY want to get more info about our trip – this IS who we are working with: http://www.mtwtokyo.com/

And for some context:

 3^(E) I thank my God^(F) in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5^(G) because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6And I am sure of this, that he who began^(H) a good work in you^(I) will bring it to completion at^(J) the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you^(K) in my heart, for you are all^(L) partakers with me of grace,^[d] both^(M) in my imprisonment and in^(N) the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For^(O) God is my witness,^(P) how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9And it is my prayer that^(Q) your love may abound more and more,^(R) with knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve what is excellent,^(S) and so be pure and blameless^(T) for the day of Christ, 11filled^(U) with the fruit of righteousness that comes^(V) through Jesus Christ,^(W) to the glory and praise of God.

The Advance of the Gospel

 12I want you to know, brothers,^[e] that what has happened to me has really^(X) served to advance the gospel, 13so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard^[f] and^(Y) to all the rest that^(Z) my imprisonment is for Christ. 14And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold^(AA) to speak the word^[g] without fear.

 15^(AB) Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16The latter do it out of love,^(AC) knowing that I am put here for^(AD) the defense of the gospel. 17The former proclaim Christ^(AE) out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

 To Live Is Christ

   Yes, and I will rejoice, 19for I know that^(AF) through your prayers and^(AG) the help of^(AH) the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20as it is my eager expectation and hope^(AI) that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full^(AJ) courage now as always Christ^(AK) will be honored in my body,^(AL) whether by life or by death. 21For to me^(AM) to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23^(AN) I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is^(AO) to depart and^(AP) be with Christ, for that is far better. 24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25^(AQ) Convinced of this,^(AR) I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your^(AS) progress and^(AT) joy in the faith, 26so that in me^(AU) you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

 27Only^(AV) let your manner of life be^(AW) worthy^[h] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you^(AX) that you are standing firm in one spirit, with^(AY) one mind^(AZ) striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is^(BA) a clear sign to them of their destruction, but^(BB) of your salvation, and that from God. 29For^(BC) it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also^(BD) suffer for his sake, 30engaged in the same^(BE) conflict that^(BF) you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/

 

Hello Kitty is named Japan tourism ambassador

By TOMOKO A. HOSAKA – 1 day ago

TOKYO (AP) — Hello Kitty — Japan’s ubiquitous ambassador of cute — has built up an impressive resume over the years. Global marketing phenom. Fashion diva. Pop culture icon. Now the moonfaced feline can add “government envoy” to the list. The tourism ministry on Monday named Hello Kitty as its choice to represent the country in China and Hong Kong, two places where she is wildly popular among kids and young women.

Officials hope that tapping into that fan base will lead to a bigger flow of tourists into Japan, and closer toward their goal of attracting 10 million overseas visitors every year under the “Visit Japan” campaign.

Last year the number of foreign tourists traveling to Japan hit a record high of 8.35 million, up 60 percent since the government began the marketing effort in 2003.

Arrivals from China and Hong Kong, who accounted for 16.5 percent of visitors to Japan last year, are poised this year to become the second-largest group of tourists after South Koreans.

At a press conference, Sanrio Co. President Shintaro Tsuji called Hello Kitty’s new appointment “an honor” and pledged to “work hard to attract many visitors.”

Japan’s other goodwill tourism ambassadors include Korean singer Younha, Japanese actress Yoshino Kimura and Japanese pop/rock duo Puffy AmiYumi.

Although this is the first time the tourism ministry has tapped a fictional character for the role, the foreign ministry in March inaugurated blue robo-cat Doraemon as Japan’s “anime ambassador.”

Designed in 1974 by Sanrio, Hello Kitty first appeared on a plastic coin purse. Her image today has become one of the most powerful brands in the world, adorning some 50,000 products in 60 countries.

In China, Kitty-fever has already broken out.

A multi-million-dollar musical featuring Hello Kitty opened earlier this year in Beijing and is in the midst of a national tour. “Hello Kitty’s Dream Light Fantasy” is then scheduled to travel to Malaysia, Singapore and the U.S. over its three-year run.

According to her official profile from Sanrio, Hello Kitty lives with her family in London. It does not mention how often she visits Japan.

Remember those categories of honne and tatamae Courtney mentioned last week–the dissonance between outward expression and inner reality? Have a look at the wikipedia article on them here.

Also have a look at this other new cultural phenomenon among a younger Japanese demographic: hikokomori–a condition in which someone drastically isolates themselves, either out of protest for their upbringing, or out of a paralyzing fear of entering the adult world and all its demands. Think Japanese twixter.

My how times flies!  I can’t believe that we’ve been meeting for weeks now.  The Lord has done some incredible things with our team and we can’t wait for more.  We’ve been preparing like mad and are still hoping for prayer and financial support.  The team is gelling and Patrick is leading us in some incredible devotional time, as usual.  Praise the Lord for the Lafferty family.  We’ve been in contact with the MTW team on the ground and they are pulling together a schedule for our time there.  We are praying that they will find a way for us to set foot on the college campus and help us to get creative in distinguishing ourselves from the heinous cults that have ruined it for most Christians.  In no way are we doubting the Lord’s ability to help us with that… but we do need prayer.  We have 3 meetings left before we head to the airport.  We have a lot to accomplish during that time – so please pray for discernment in what is necessary and also for efficiency.  And of course please pray for the preparation of our hearts and theirs. 

In Him,

Amy

Debra’s survey of Japanese history last night included this.  Have a look.  Perspective is always helpful.

 

To whatever extent we can trust Wikipedia articles, the aftermath of the Shimabara Rebellion led the church to go underground.  In time though this underground church became so camouflaged that it ended up casting off much that was distinctively Christian.  

 

I’d heard Philip Yancey refer to a Japanese author Shushaku Endo, and specifically his book, Endo.  It’s a retelling of the life of the persecuted church in Japan.  Might be worth a read before we depart!

perhaps we should bring extra padding with us.

Sign on a Tokyo train as part of a government anti-suicide campaign.  It reads “Life is important”, “In this life there are many important people who need you/who wait for you” and “Let’s help to reduce suicides in Tokyo!”

 

What’s the answer to Japan’s very  alarming  suicide  rate?  Signs?  Soccer?  Secular Non-Profit Organizations?

We are not so presumptious as to think we can even begin to solve this crisis during our short week in Japan.  But our prayer is that we will speak the truth in love, and be prepared to give an account for the hope that is within us.

UPDATE 05/12/08:

Latest News on This Crisis:

• CNN – May 12, 2008
• USA Today – May 12, 2008
• CNN – May 1, 2008
• USA Today – May 1, 2008
• The Economist – May 1, 2008
• BBC News – April 24, 2008