At DCPI JAPAN we are very excited to hold our first training in Okinawa, Japan. Below is a summary of the training sessions in Japanese. Also a PDF with information on the location, cost, times, etc. and contact information. Only 30 spots available and less than two weeks before we get started!
God is writing an amazing story with all of us and at times our stories interweave and intertwine into an awesome ministry cross- over. In only a few months since starting GBC-radio we have partnered with Reaching the Hungry in an effort to help some villages in Malawi, Africa, one of the poorest nations on the planet. Last month Pastor Carlos of Reaching The Hungry sent a mission team to build 4 water wells and two of those were sponsored by listener donations from GBC-radio. We are based in Japan so all the donations were from Japanese who sponsored a U.S. mission team to bless people in Malawi. Talk about an international move of GOD!
It is so exciting to watch these videos of people singing and dancing, celebrating a miracle for their village. In response hundreds of people gave their life to Christ and will be discipled using TALKING BIBLES.
Literally entire villages coming to Christ. The Book of Acts is still happening today!
For only $2000 US a well can be constructed! At GBC - radio we have funded two and saw the videos bringing many of our listeners and staff to tears. PRAISE THE LORD!
Traditional Japanese Mochi Photo taken from pinterest
It`s been over 10 years in Japan for me and you see a lot of things that can amaze you and I post them as things only in japan. They can be shocking or funny or inspirational. This video was recorded by a good friend of mine, Pastor Rie. She has a great blog in Japanese here for anyone interested.
The video below is of mochi being made by one of the best in the world. The speed and performance recording by Pastor Rie`s video is amazing. This is her favorite place to buy Mochi which is a Japanese sweet rice treat. This is green because the flavor of the Mochi is Matcha a powered refined green tea in Japan. The shouts of the mochi master gives the rhythm to the man with the hammer so that they can coordinate to make the mochi fast. The rice starts out as regular rice and as it is pounded it becomes like dough and is usually served with sweet beans.
This was taken in Kyoto, Japan.
Something like this you can only see in JAPAN. Everyday this man makes mochi and is a master of it.
Below is another video with subtitles that has interview with the same man.
This is the latest Newsletter from our ministry in Japan. Things are going
fast and furious and we need the support in both in the area of prayer and
also in provisions financially as we go forward.
We look forward to big opportunity to train leaders in Okinawa this December
how to plant bibically based dynamic churches.
Beautiful Night time Cherry Blossoms in Fukuoka Japan
HANAMI 花見 (literally translated Flower Watching as it is called in Japanese) can only be done in a short period in Japan when the cherry blossoms 桜 (SAKURA) are in bloom. This typically lasts for about a week or so near the end of March or beginning of April. As winter comes to an end there is an air of festivity as people begin to anticipate the blooming of the SAKURA.
Many families, friends, and even companies take time to have lunch or picnic under the cherry blossoms. Sometimes this is during the day and it is also done
at night. As you can see here in Fukuoka there is a lot of work done to light up the SAKURA around the old castle ruins downtown.
Night time sakura in downtown Fukuoka Japan, castle ruins
Most parties tend to go late into the evening as people drink and celebrate the coming of spring and often new changes in their lives. At this time many people start new jobs or in the case of students new schools.
Japanese people gathering under the sakura for a company party
The nightime viewing of SAKURA is called YO-ZAKURA （夜桜）. The first character is one for night. This adds a special and unique flavor to the typical concept of a picnic. Something that you can only really find in Japan where literally thousands of people around town roll out their tarps and mats and pour out their sake for the night.
The other day I decided to go on a little flavor adventure and try a corn Popsicle. The brand GariGari Kun is probably the most well know brand of
アイス (frozen treats) you will find in Japan.
It ranges from about 60 yen (60 cents) to 120 yen ($1.20) a bar. It took off in the 1980s and has been on the top sellers for years. Japan loves to experiment with flavors and GariGari Kun certainly seems to enjoy exploring the flavor palette.
It's Corn Potage soup flavored Popsicle has frozen corn kernels in it as well. Surprisingly the Popsicles melts in your mouth quickly which thaws the corn chunks. I found it quite tasty at first but near the end the novelty wore off.
Would I buy it again? Probably not... I think I'll stick to their standard soda flavored one.
Just in case you are curious about the name GariGari, it is a play on words in Japanese. GariGari is the sound made when chewing something grainy like shaved ice which is actually in the center of the Popsicle.
This is just one example of the Japanese sales approach to create a buzz by taking something that is famous and beloved by the public and repackaging it or adding a new flavor. It is quite successful I think, it worked on me.
The mountain range surrounding the city of Fukuoka- image taken from Fullthangka
We are now living in Fukuoka City, literally meaning "Blessed Hills" in Japanese. Here we have a place to call home and though it still feels foreign in many ways we are becoming acquainted with it daily. Fukuoka city was shown to me as I sought the Lord in prayer last year. God's Divine Wind- Call to Fukuoka
We have fought our way to get here and through many trials and sufferings that seemed to hold us back we have come. I cannot fully detail all of them in a single post, so I will leave it for a later time. What is important is that we have arrived and we are grateful to God and the many who helped us along the way.
Fukuoka City is one of the oldest cities in Japan. It has a rich history and has been ranked as one of the most livable in the World according to Wikipedia.
However, I have yet to come such a conclusion seeing I have been here less than two months. There are certainly a lot of things to explore. With time I hope I am able to see and understand the reason we are here.
Reasons and purpose give us hope. If we only exist in space and time merely for the purpose of existence hope begins to slip away. Hope is an enduring virtue that the apostle Paul writes about saying,
"Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love."
I Corinthians 13:13
Hope keeps us going in the midst of our sufferings and difficulties, being bonded with faith and love. It is a bond not easily broken, nor a bond that will fade away.
Looking into the future,
There are many challenges ahead of us and we are challenged daily as we settle in this land.
We look forward to the blessings to come as we labor and work for the Kingdom of God.
Two women wearing kimono stroll down a street in Daimyo, downtown Fukuoka City.
It is clear to see that in Fukuoka there is great attention and resources spent of fashion and aesthetic pleasure but something is missing. In the midst of all the glamour and decor there seems to be a loneliness, a hollow vanity. So many people dressed up in their best but the look of searching is still on their faces. There is a wanting that is hard to describe. I admire the many wonderful and interesting things I see in Fukuoka, but I hope that these searching souls may find rest and peace in the Gospel of Christ.
Of course like any metropolitan city there are urban characteristics that leave the heart longing for the beauty of nature, which is only a half hour drive away. It is a city that seems to have sprung up in middle of the wild. Surrounded by mountains and accompanied by a beautiful bay area it makes for quite a unique place in Japan.
Fukuoka City night skyline-image taken from wikipedia
This is the place of the Divine Call and we marvel that we are here today. I cannot pretend that I knew it would work out this way, I merely believed in the One who can make such things possible.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26
When I am tired and confused, lost and hurt He reaches down in the way only He can to revive me and put me back on the path He has made for me.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
It is an amazing experience when you actual experience the Word of God through living by faith and seeing events come to pass that mirror the experience of those in the Bible rather than study them as academia or as a root study.
Be blessed as you live your life, May you see the and experience God in great ways.
A bunch of Maitake Mushrooms go on sale in Chiba, Japan.
The label claims that these mushrooms have been inspected for radiation and deemed safe. You can use the QR code to check the website with your cell phone, if you really want to. Mushrooms are rich in minerals making them that more toxic when radiated with isotopes.
Nearly two years after the ill fated March 11th meltdown in Fukushima many are still normally living in the aftermath. Most people have forgotten, few are really concerned over the amount of radiation in the food, water, or air they intake.
And to be honest, there is some reason to be. In some areas the radiation clearly has gone down. Even independent sources show radiation levels almost half of what they were last year.( I apologize, usually I would have a source link but please take my word for it. I don`t have the internet resources I need available to me for various reasons).
Needless to say some of indepent radiation monitoring shows other areas doubling in radiation from what they were last year. This is clear evidence that hotspots are getting hotter with radiation while other areas are experiencing the breakdown or half life of their radioactive elements.
Strawberries from the Ibaraki Prefecture known to have radiation hotspots from Fukushima fallout. It was almost impossible to find a regular shaped strawberry in any of these baskets. Are mututations this common in strawberries?
So what does this really mean? It is a tale-tell sign that the fallout radiation from Fukushima is real and not imagined. Such dramatic changes in radiation levels for better or for worse should make people think about the long term effects of radiation exposure could be on their communities. This should cause people to be even more vigilant in checking radiation levels are ensuring a safe environment for sake of public health, espeically children.
It is not time to panic, but to have resolve and determination to come up with methods and ways to combat this potentially harmful situation.
A young Japanese woman dressed in a Santa suit stands outside in the cold and grills chicken in front of a 7/11 in Funabashi, Japan
I must stop and enjoy the efforts of the Japanese to promote Christmas. They love uniforms in Japan and the red santa suits are a hit. From pizza delivery boys to 7/11 employees who could resist the red and white uniform of Christmas. They caught my attention as I rode down the street on a borrowed bicycle.
Many Japanese young employees, especially females seem to be excited with putting on a costume for work. I guess it is kind of like Hawaiian shirt day at the office back in the U.S. except they only get it once a year.
A 7/11 worker prepares and wraps a freshly grilled piece of chicken two days before Christmas in Japan.
Also another thing to note is that the official food for Christmas in Japan is chicken (roasted, fried, grilled it doesn't seem to matter). Take a look at this post on KFC Christmas in Japan
After stopping off and wishing the elves at 7/11 a hardy "Merry Christmas" I arrived only to see the pizza guy in a full Santa suit and again wished him a "Merry Christmas." He smiled and took off on his moped.
I hope as the trend continues that the Japanese start to dig a little deeper into the things of Christmas. I mean why the white and red? Who was Santa Claus? Are we doing this just for the money? lol
All in all, I am try to enjoy my Christmas time in Japan although it is typically disheartening for many who esteem Christmas as something more than just a fun time to dress up.
I hope you enjoyed a little taste of Christmas on the street in Japan.
Shinzo Abe, soon to be Japan's new Prime Minister 2012. Photo taken from a Liberal Democratic Party pamphlet
Just recently Japan's Diet appointed its new leader. Shinzo Abe of the conservative side of Japan's political spectrum has returned to the highest position in Japanese politics.
In the past he has had the demeanor of a more soft spoken man. At one time he was Japan's youngest Prime Minister but had to resign due to failing health.
Now he has a new tone and voice that has lit a fire under the politically indifferent Japanese culture. He has gained strong support from his stance on foreign affairs and his commitment to effective economic strategies.
I have watched him over the years and seen him be bashed repeatedly by Japanese media but he is still going strong. The fact the media won't leave him alone makes me think perhaps there is something good about him.
This was taken from Abe's Facebook page. It notes how when the more liberal party took power three years ago it was a "A Democratic Revolution that will Change Japan" but now with the return of the conservatives party's overwhelming victory the magazine title reads, "The Concern Over Abe's Politics". Let the bashing begin the comment reads on the Facebook post http://www.facebook.com/abeshinzo
One thing for sure is that Shinzo Abe has a lot of pressure to perform an economic revival in Japan. Remarkably, the day after the elections the Japanese stock market soared and the over valued yen dropped. A sign that perhaps there is hope for this struggling nation. We even had the rare opportunity to listen to him speak live at Funabashi station a day before the election
Mr. Abe is speaking from a platform by the far building and is mostly being blocked by trees but you can see him move slightly if you look real close, or if you can zoom in on the video. It was about a year ago that I had a vision about Japan's future. A White Serpent Will Appear I don't know whether Mr. Abe is going to be a phenomenal success or a tremendous failure. But my heart is that Japan is blessed and it's people prosper. That is my prayer for them and my prayers for their leader. The reactions of some Christians in Japan seem almost fearful as to what what might happen, if religious persecution or hardships might result from this new leadership. I certainly do not think it could even come close to the persecutions under the shoguns of long ago. Christian Martyrdom in Japan If anything, let there be hope and let there be joy in the land again.
I have noticed being in the U.S. there is a Hello Kitty fashion craze going on. Now it might have already peaked and could be on the way down. I asked one of children wearing a crazy colored Hello Kitty t-shirt if she knew where Hello Kitty is from. She looked surprised and said, "What do you mean? Where?"
I replied smiling, "From Japan!" The student looked at me in disbelief and retorted," But she speaks English not Japanese."
The girl sat down in her chair perplexed by our conversation. It seems that HELLO KITTY has gone native in America.
In Japan things from other countries are often advertised as foreign and that can actually contribute to them becoming fashionable or trendy. That being said sometimes the reality is that those items are not particular valued in their country of origin.
When it comes to animation and cute characters, Japan has no shortage, no need to import. In fact Hello Kitty is one of the most recognizable characters in the world.
In the United States Japanese items have a particular allure and charm to them. However, animated characters tend to lose their original Japanese identity. Pokemon, Yu-gi-Oh and Hello Kitty are all long standing popular items in the United States and seems that most young kids and maybe even adults may just assume they are American creations. My experience in conversations leads me to conclude that in general most Americans tend to lump Asian countries and cultures together. Electronics, cars, anime, chopsticks, rice, sushi, etc. many people have no idea what country produces what brands or items, or which country specializes in what. To most it's "all the same."
But instead of going down that road and debating origins, or other divisive topics, I will just say Japan has done a good job making a good reputation for itself.
And Sanrio seems to have got a winner with the one and only orginal Hello Kitty!
A 600 lb Lucky Cat statue Maneki-Neko in Japanese stands outside a recycle shop in Funabashi Japan.
The first time I saw the precocious and charming characture of a maneki neko was in the United States. It is commonly sold in Asian market places or shops that feature Japanese merchandise. The origin is Japanese but is often confused as being Chinese.
The "bekoning cat" as it is literally translated stands inviting customers which translates to blessing or fortune for the shop owner. It is both whismical and captures the culture of superstition embeded in the minds of Japanese. The history of the Maneki-Neko goes back to the Edo period about 400 years ago. There are numerous legends and stories that account for the presence of this figurine in thousands of shops around the Japan.
Superstitous beliefs in Japan are usually associated more with protection than anything else. One example is that Japanese will spend hundreds of dollars a year for shaman blessed charms (Omamori) for car safety, health, business dealings, school, or general bad luck. The Japanese try to cover themselves from as much trouble as they can and while there is no guarantee in charms they take comfort in having an item that tells them they are protected.
The Maneki-Neko is different from other charms and amulets in Japan because it optimistically represents hope and blessing to come. Most Japanese find it cute and decorative rather than actually attributing any real power to it. Even though it represents a belief in power beyond that of human effort, the Japanese know that hard work is perhaps the most important part of success. That being said, to the Japanese there is nothing wrong with having a little more luck on your side.
A man burns a Japanese flag in China protesting the nationalizing of the Senkaku Islands.
I usually stay away from political issues. And for the most part I will not address the lengthy and complex historical issues that have led to the current conflict with China and the ongoing conflicts with the Korean countries.
In general most Japanese do not speak well of their own country. They may have feelings of respect and appreciation for their country but rarely articulate it as "pride." They seem to be confident in Japanese tradition and culture, but are shameful of its current state of economic and moral decline. It's economic situation is an objective reality but its moral situation is certainly a subjective topic of discussion.
When the Japanese government purchased the Senkaku Islands from their private Japanese owner, Japanese saw nothing wrong. Apparently the Chinese government and its people thought differently. The leaders in the Japanese government claim that it nationalized the islands to prevent them from being developed further by the building of structures supported under the right wing mayor of Tokyo Shintaro Ishihara. The Japanese government thought such potential action to build on the islands surrounding China might cause even greater damage of relations between Asian powers. They saw nationalization as a prevention measure not an aggressive action.
One thing for sure is the nationalistic response in China is quite stark in contrast to that of Japan. Japanese are not burning things, rioting, or posing any danger to the large Chinese population in its country. There now finally seems to be demonstrating taking place in Japan in response to the volatile reaction of the Chinese towards the Japanese.
Some might say that the Japanese government perhaps is attempting to stoke the fire of nationalism in Japan which seems to be very dim, especially with the long stagnant economy and the catastrophic tsunami and nuclear meltdown in Fukushima in 2011. By taking the hard line it forces a violent reaction which would in turn spark a Japanese public reaction to support their struggling government. It is clear that the Japanese government wants to get the attention of its people who seem to be indifferent or frustrated with the political state of Japan.
One might argue that a sense of national pride and a little trust in the government might not be entirely a bad thing for Japan. However, I think there needs to be some serious house cleaning that needs to happen first.
But even with all the media attention most experts do not see the situation escalating towards war between Japan and China. They are big trade partners and any full scale military measures would most likely result in an economic collapse in both countries.
Looking toward the future of Japan, I see the samurai spirit of Japan being stirred up by all these things happening. The samurai warrior is the protector and is governed by loyalty and justice. The Japanese are a strong people who have a history going back thousands of years. I do not think they will back down if put in a corner.
According to a recent survey done in the light of the conflict, 34% of Japanese polled believed the government should invest more money into the defense of Japan by the Jieitai 自衛隊 (Japanese Self Defense Force), the current name of the Japanese quasi-military. Officially, the Jieitai cannot fight in war or take part in an invasion of another country even if it is accompaning an ally. The U.S. government has made it so that the Japanese can never make war or maintain a military.
The true reality of situation is that the Japanese are in the midst of an internal struggle of how to view itself in the world and even more the particular region of Asia. Whatever happens I hope and pray the best for them. No matter what has happened in the past they have been through a lot as a country the last few years.
After several months of much turmoil and difficulty I have returned to Holy Fire in an attempt to share my thoughts and experiences. Our journey from Japan to America has been arduous to say the least. Like a typhoon or a hurricane that blows, sometimes God's way of directing us can be turmultuous, knocking us down, even injuring us. This divine wind that blows and changes our landscapes and lifestyles is truly awesome. After the storm is lifted there is such clarity and beauty. The sky is clear and our minds though battered conceive new hope has come.
I am in such a season, standing on the cusp of such an event in my life. As God redirects us back to Japan in a prophetic and profound way, I could not help but be reminded of the term Kami Kaze. Literally in Japanese the term means "God Wind."
This term was used during the second World War to refer to a group of pilots who when damaged would sacrifice themselves and crash into enemy targets.
However, the original meaning goes back to Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture. The prefecture was invaded by Kublai Khan as he attempted to expand his empire. He brought 140,000 men by fleet, the largest attempted naval invasion in history only surpassed by the D-Day invasion of WWII! The Japanese samurai were thoroughly routed by the Mongol forces. However, a great typhoon came and struck down the army as it retreated to its ships to prevent attack from the Japanese that night. The typhoon's timing and strength caught the Mongols by surprise sinking most of their ships, over 3,000! This "Divine Wind" saved the island of Japan from being taken over by the Mongols.
See if you can find the ships in this paiting below
The amazing thing is that God has been leading us to Fukuoka, the birthplace of the famous term Kami Kaze, to relocate and begin a new work. I find this history to be profound confirmation that God's divine wind is indeed taking us there. And we will arrive in His time and for His purpose in a new season of life. May God be our Hope and Salvation.
His mighty wind is Divine and He leads us in dramatic and powerful ways. More posts are to come...
A tsunami evacuation sign posted in Southern California 2012
As the world continues to spin and the earth continues to move we find ourselves facing the reality that we are just here for the ride. The earth is wild and not tame. Though man with every generation gains knowledge and grows in population and culture, it seems we can only attempt to lessen the inevitable damage and loss of life that comes from the disasters of the earth.
With the disastrous event that was clearly seen by the entire world, people around the world most certainly will be asking,
"What if that were to happen to us?"
In no other time in history have we been able to see the horrible and awesome wrath of the tsunami upon humanity. March 11th combined with the Fukushima meltdown and on going crisis has awoken humanity to the realization that safety is an on going battle, and with all our ingenuity, it perhaps can easily be forgotten.
Over the past year many experts raised valid concerns that the San Onofre Nuclear power plant located near San Clemente would not be able to handle a massive earthquake or tsunami like what was seen in Japan. This would be a population of millions of people at risk for a catastrophic nuclear event.
Personally I have serious doubts that the U.S. could handle such a combined disaster very well. That being said I did make the observation that there is a tsunami evacuation route posted along the roads to beaches that seem to ease concerns most likely brought about by the impact of 3/11.
Below is an amazing video that shows exactly what it feels like to be caught up in a tsunami. It is almost surreal I encourage you to watch and share it and ask yourself what would you do? or even would you be ready for such an event.
Ultimately worry is counter productive but discussion about such disaster scenarios and improvements that could be made is absolutely necessary to preserve life. When it happens, you will not have time to plan only time to react and try to do your best to survive. This is coming from a person who lived in Japan when it all happened on that fateful day.
God bless and be ready in your heart for any circumstance. How great the gift of faith is in times of trouble!
Captured as one of the most startling images of 2011 from National Geographic. Lighting sparks as volcano erupts in Kyuushuu Japan.
An image of an erupting volcano in Kyuushuu Japan. Mt Shinmoedake is the most recent major volcanic eruption on the island of Japan. It erupted in January 2011 and subsequently a few more times afterward leading to the evacuation of a few hundred local residents. The department of Japan's government who handles such issues raised the level of emergency to a level 3 out of 5. Level 5 is a full blown eruption requiring the immediate evacuation of all local residents and subsequent areas of danger.
Japan Metereological Agency explanation of levels and safety measures
Looking at the history of Japan and its seismic and volcanic activity reveals a harsh and fearful reality. It is difficult to accept that many will die, many more injured and scarred for life by the trauma of it all. Yet the earth continues on without malice nor a whim of our concern. The truth of the matter is that the earth has a schedule to keep and our presence will simply not detour it. A great earthquake is always brewing, especially in Japan where seismologists have upped the percent of a magnitude 9+ earthquake hitting the Kanto region in the next 30 years to 87%, though some put it even higher into the upper 90th pecentile.
While Japanese are confident in their building technology and prevention measures, as March 11, 2011 demonstrated, nature can exceed human preparation and expectation. The Great East Japan Earthquake devastated Japan but not nearly as much as a potential M9 earthquake even closer to the highly populated capital and metropolitan area of Tokyo.
Although scientists do not exactly know when an earthquake will hit they have a clear understanding of their cyclical nature and early warning technology is still advancing. In fact, the Great Tohoku Earthquake was actually detected 1 minute in Tokyo before the earthquake began. This perhaps gave some people a moment to find a safe area or take cover.
Below is a video in Japanese that explains the sure inevitability of the Great Tokai Earthquake that will come in our lifetime. The scary thing is that on this 300 year cycle as before Mount Fuji is bound to erupt. That means that this next Tokai quake will most likely be 1000 times stronger than the Great Tokyo Earthquake of 1923.
(The video is in Japanese but needs no real translation just watch the visuals and you will get the idea. Plus if your studying Japanese there is some motivation for you).
Beside Japan there is also talk of a great earthquake and tsunami that will hit the west coast of the United States. Many experts are concerned with the continued high activity on the pacific ring of fire and some believe that another great earthquake will occur in 2012 somewhere along it.
Some experts see the potential for another Great Earthquake along the Juan de Fuca plate devastating Oregon and triggering massive and destructive tsunamis along the west coast of America. This earthquake like the Tokai Earthquake in Japan is due to occur this century.
The population of the world is increasing and people are naturally drawn to live in places near fault lines which tend to have properties conducive to human settlement. This is the conundrum that humanity faces as civilization evolves and progresses.
For an island people like the Japanese there seems to be little but no choice to invent, improve, or adjust to drastic living conditions in order to survive. This is their fate and many of them affirm it and have strong resolve to prepare for great disaster because...
