為幾天前我到聖地牙哥去了一家日本二手店，逛了一下，看到有許多的漫畫、書籍、日本流行文化的東西。逛著逛著竟然看到手塚治虫所畫的聖書物語，還有十誡。大家都知道他是被封為漫畫之神，他所畫的原子小金剛是我小時喜愛的。雖然我不知道他是否是基督徒（我想應該不是）但為什麼他會畫聖經故事？另外就是8,9年級都知道的福音戰士 Neon Genesis Evangelion。這動畫的機器人就叫做使徒！為什麼他們要用聖經的東西來做漫畫題材？還有最近我聽到日本天團 L'arc en ciel 的主唱Hyde(我確定他不是基督徒）唱Jesus Christ，我很好奇去找了一下為什麼他會寫這歌。他出版的專輯叫做Faith, 是一個非常黑暗，但似乎在談一些信仰掙扎類的東西。他回應出版這專輯的目的說 "The religious expressions and aspects. I am not a member of a special religion but when I was in Europe and visited some churches there, I felt this enormous power and I felt like my soul was being purged. And I wanted to create this atmosphere on my album. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_(Hyde_album)) 
（翻譯：我宗教的詮釋與角度，我雖然不是任何宗教的一份子，但當我在歐洲，參觀教堂時，我覺得一個強大的力量，我覺得我的靈魂好像被清洗了。所以我想要在我的唱片裡創造這樣的氣氛。）

或許他們只是對西方文化的好奇，還是只是為了找題材，所以他們接觸基督教的東西，或許他們心靈在尋找。
你若有注意動畫、日本流行文化，真的會發現很多跟『神、基督、天使、魔鬼、靈界』有關的東西。然而在這一堆混雜的聲音中，他們是否真的能找到真神？認識真神？
答案是否定的，聖經說：『沒有明白的，沒有尋求 神的；12人人都偏離了正道，一同變成污穢；』（羅 3:11-12) 人自我尋找神是找不著的，除非神引導我們認識祂。『然而，人還沒有信他，怎能求告他呢？沒有聽見他，怎能信他呢？沒有人傳揚，怎能聽見呢？15如果沒有蒙差遣，怎能傳揚呢？』（羅 10:14-15a) 
結論是，需要有人去正確的解釋聖經所說的基督是誰，靈界是什麼，生死是什麼，永生是什麼。
日本人充滿創意，對許多事物有深度的認識與體會，但願神向他們開啟心眼，讓他們認識真神。
請為日本的福音需要禱告！

這話題我要繼續研究下去，『為什麼日本流行文化中這麼多的基督教元素呢？』...

Few days ago, when I was in San Diego.  I found a second-hand shop which sale many Japanese anime and pop-culture stuff. I come across Osamu Tezuka's work on Genesis and the Ten-commandment.  Everyone know he was consider the god of manga (animation), one of his work, Astro-Boy, was my favor when I was young.  Although I don't know if he is Christian (I guess not), why would he pick up biblical story and made a work from it?  
Another interesting fact was, the famous animation Neon Genesis Evangelion, people form 80 should know about this.  The main machinery (robot) in the anime was call "apostle" why would they use biblical term/elements to make anime?  Recently, I also heard the famous J-Rock Band L'arc en ciel sing a song call Jesus Christ, the lead singer Hyde wrote this song(I am sure he is not a Christian).  I was curious on why he wrote this song, so I search online, this is what I found.  "The religious expressions and aspects. I am not a member of a special religion but when I was in Europe and visited some churches there, I felt this enormous power and I felt like my soul was being purged. And I wanted to create this atmosphere on my album. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_(Hyde_album)) (this is a song from his album name "Faith" it was a pretty dark-metal album, seems like talking about struggling faith or something relate to that.)

Maybe, they just curious of western culture, maybe they only want to look for more material to produce their work, or maybe they are seeking for something.  Japaneses pop-culture got tons of stuff that relate to "God, gods, Christ, Angel, devil, spiritual realm.  Among all these mix voices, will they find the true God? knowing the true God? the answer is no. Bible said, "11  no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; ”  Romans 3:11–12a (ESV) Man was unable to find God, unless God lead us to Him. "14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent?" Romans 10:14–15a (ESV) 

The answer is, there is a need for true Christian to lead them to know what Bible said about God and Jesus, what is spiritual realm, what is life and death, and what is eternity.  Japanese people have many creative idea, they have deep thought on many things, I ask the Lord will open up their eye and help them to see who God really is. 
Please pray for Japanese, ask the Lord to fulfill their "real spiritual need."

I will continue to research this topic, "why there are so many Christian elements in Japanese pop-culture?"

Today, everything went public. The calling, the plan to be missionary to Japan. It was a happy and sad moment.
I am happy because God's leading is clear, and He answer many prayers, I know we are living in His will, that is a joyful thing.
Sad, because looking at these loving brothers and sisters, we know we will miss them.
Today we sang by and by, what a fitting song for moment like this.
"By and by, when the morning comes, 
when the saints of God are gathered home, 
we'll tell the story how we've overcome, 
for we'll understand it better by and by. "
Yes, we will share about the battle, the victory, the journey, once again. When we see each other again in eternity. What a wonderful blessing and assurance.

I felt blessed by everyone. Their support and prayer is precious.
I am thankful that I can freely share God's leading in my life, and His calling to Japan, and share our learning in this journey.  Thank you Lord.  May our life be a blessing to others, especially to the people whom God put in my care for the past 3 and half years.  May God continue to use us to serve TVC for the rest of my time here.
​
I just read a sentence from Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret.
"He said "I never made a sacrifice," looking back over a life in which most would see exactly the opposite. But what he said was true, He had learned through all his experience that what he gained was real and lasting and that "give up" is inevitably receiving when one is dealing heart to heart with God."
What a wonderful saying, I pray that my family will also experience such deep, and irreplaceable joy in Christ. ​

今天一切都公開了。神對我們的呼召，我們要成為宣教士，去日本宣教的感動。這真是快樂但卻也是悲傷的時刻。
快樂，因為神的帶領是越來越清楚，祂也一一的回應我們每一個禱告。我知道我們正活在主的旨意中，這就是極大的喜樂。
悲傷難過，因為看著這些愛我們的弟兄姊妹，我們知道我們將會想念他們。
今天我們唱了一首詩歌，讚慕美地，非常適合這時刻
到那日、樂無比、同眾聖徒相會在美地
到那日、樂無比、同眾聖徒相會在美地
(英文的稍微不同）
當那是，聖徒同聚在家裡，我們將述說我們得勝的故事，我們到時將完全明白。
是的，我們將分享這一生的爭戰與得勝，有一天再一次一起分享這旅程。當我們在永恆中再次見到彼此時。這是多麼美的祝福與應許。

我感到大家的祝福，大家的禱告與支持是寶貴的。
我感謝主，如今我可以闡開的分享神對我們的帶領，祂對我們去日本的呼召。也可以分享我們在這預備過程中的旅程與經歷。感謝主。院我們的生命成為別人的祝福，特別是主在過去3年半託付我牧養的弟兄姊妹。願主繼續在剩餘的時間中，使用我們在特美谷主恩堂。

我剛剛讀到一段話，是戴德生的屬靈秘密​
他說，『我從來沒有犧牲』回頭看他的一生，大部分的人會看到另外一面（就是他付出一切），但他所說的是真實的。因他學了一個屬靈真諦。在他所有的經歷中他學習到，他所得著的是真實的而且是永久的。他的『付出』其實是得著，當我們的心是面對神的心的時刻。
這真是有深度的體會，我禱告我們家庭也同樣去經歷到那在基督裡無可取代的喜樂。