Pictures of Japan - For those who don't have Facebook =)

Asukusa and Friday Night Lights

"This is not a dream that I'm living This is just a world of Your own 

You took me from all that I knew  

Shown me how it feels to hope
With You with me, facing tomorrow 

together I can learn to fly"

 Lion by Rebecca St James 

We went to Asukusa with the Rikkyo students last Saturday. The temple was filled with all kinds of people; friends, families, locals and foreigners were all gathered around because of the Japan's Historical beliefs and traditions. One thing that was noticeable was a man praying by a shrine.

Though a lot of Japan is more agnostic country, it holds greatly to superstition. There are tons of good luck charms that you can buy and shrines where you can pray (with clapping motion) or throw money into a bowl. These actions are believed to give you luck in a particular area of your life.

It's sad to think Japan as a whole does not have Christ to rest upon. I was talking to a friend today who is a Japanese Christian and she stated that her mother always worries about her safety because Tokyo is more likely to have earthquakes than where her mother lives. She said her mother never has any peace and is always concerned because she does not rely upon Christ. If Christ is there for us then will He not protect us? And even if the worst should happen doesn't that just mean He is taking us home? What then should we be afraid of really? Though this is hard to do I still believe it is something I want to strive towards; Trusting him with all aspects of my life. I am realizing more and more how hard this truly is and how much I need Him.

I love this picture of all of us. The Rikkyo students and our TEAM had a great time in Asuska.

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Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights is something that our Cafe does at the beginning of every month. This month we had two folk singers come down and share a night with us. Here are a few pictures...

There music was in Japanese but I could still tell they were singing about Jesus and apparently birthdays... (I heard the words happy birthday a lot) =D

That same night J-san came in to hear the show. J-san seems to be going through a lot right now and is one of our regular customers. He has been told the gospel before and seems to have an understanding of who we say Jesus is but he is hung up on a lot due to some problems with Christians and also because I think he wants to physically see God. That night he started talking to me and basically told me that He wants God to come in a physically help him with his troubles. It really hit home with me. So many times that's what I want too... For God to just swoop in and save the day. I think why can't I just trust the Lord at his word? Why am I so stubborn? The rest of the night I thought about his words and was depressed by them. I am thankful though that God gave me this verse on that same night before I went to bed...

^"18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth ^[l]in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because that which is known about God is evident ^[m]within them; for God made it evident to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. ²¹ For even though they knew God, they did not ^[n]honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and ^[o]crawling creatures." (Romans 1:18-22 NASB)

This verse struck a cord with me. How often do I get caught up in my own speculations from life and forget that God has been revealed to me? Do I trade my God for an idol when I refuse to see that He is right in front of me; helping me through my struggles even while He may seem invisible? Jesus stated that "...blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29 NIV) Even if we do not get to physically see Christ that does not mean that He is not there or that we are excused from trusting in Him.

J-san keeps coming back to the cafe, every time warn down and weary. He is looking for answers.  I pray for him as I am reminded of my own struggle; trusting that Christ is with me always.