February 17, 2010 - 2:05pm
From Buddhism to Christianity
-Kiyosumi Yoko-
26"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. John 15:26-27
I would like to tell you a story about something which happened to me in 1981. It
was an unforgettable incident which changed my own life as well as my wife's and has
led us to start the brand-new way of life.
Japan is the ancient Shinto country. Buddhism was introduced in the 6th century. I
was brought up in a Buddhist family. My village is located on tjre Noto peninsula,
the strongest Buddhist area in Japan. There is a huge family altar in a special room
in my parents' house. When I was grown up, my desire was to be a Buddhist monk.
To me, this was so natural.
One day, an extraordinary figure appeared in my dream or vision, which it was I do
not know, actually. He was Jesus Christ. Nobody told me but I recognized Him. I
could not understand why I knew it was Jesus. For you, it might be easier to imagine
how He might look. On the contrary, I was born as a Buddhist and never ever learned
about Him except at the school as a historical person. That's all I was taught. In
addition to that, I neither came across the Bible nor had a chance to open it during
that time. To me, he was just someone who started another religion in the Western
world.
But, Jesus Christ in my dream was great, solemn, full of dignity and Glory. He was
almost too bright and too glorious to look at. Instantly, I threw myself at his feet
without knowing why. I heard the voice from Heaven, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at
hand, be prepared." Then, someone gave to me and my wife small cups and Jesus picked
up a big jar and gave us water to drink. Jesus’ robe was so bright with rainbow
colours and He was standing on the sapphire coloured shining altar. This dream was
so clear that I can remember the taste of the water, even now.
However, when I woke up, I puzzled what on the earth was its meaning? But, I could
believe Jesus was the God for whom I had been looking since I was a child. I totally
accepted Jesus without any questions. I spoke of this dream to my wife, who was just
one of my friends in ttre journalist school at that time. She recommended that I read
the Bible. She did not know the meaning of it at all, though. She was an atheist and
thought Jesus was one of true famous mentors like Buddha.
The more we read the Bible, the more the meaning was revealed little by little.
Words spoke to us personally as if by someone who cared kindly. When we came to
Revelation Chapter 1 verses 12-18, I was surprised as it was exactly the same vision
I saw in my dream. Also, Ezekiel Chapter I verses 26-28 amazed. me as the colour of
the robe and altar he described were the same in my dream.
"When I turned to see who was speaking to me, and standing in the middle of the
lamp-stands was the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across
his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his
eyes were bright like flames of fire. His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a
furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his
right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was as
bright as the sun in all its brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. but he laid his right hand on
me and said. "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the I-ast. I am the Living One who
died. Look, I am alive forever and ever!" [Revelation l:12-18]
"Above the surface over their heads was what looked like a throne made of blue
sapphire. And high above this throne was a figure whose appearence was like that of
a man. From his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And
from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splender. All
around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining ttrrough the clouds. This was
true way the glory of the Lord appeared to me. When I saw it, I fell face down in the
dust, and I heard someone's voice speaking to me." [Ezekiel l:26-28]
{I hope you read these parts throuChly and imagine how awesome Jesus is. May the
Holy Spirit help you to see the vision more clearly.
I knew it was Him! The existances of Jesus in these words were just like in my
vision. The more I have found glorious Jesus in the Bible, the more powerful my
faith became. Because of His glory was described so accurate in Daniel. His beauty was
so exact in Revelation, so on.
"I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold
around his waist. His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes
like lightning, and his eyes were like a flaming torches. His arms and feet shone
like pouched bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of
people." [Daniel 10:5,6]
2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. [Revelation 4:2-6)
I began to leave everything to God, to seek after Jesus, and to read the Bible as my
dependence. My desire to be a Buddhist monk had disappeared completely. Because I
descern Jesus is the only Rock, others are sinking sands.
When we met the missionaries in Tokyo in 1987, they called us the Cornelius's
family {See Acts Chap.10} we were both baptized and married in the same year.
It was the Holy Spirit who led us to God and introduced the rieht persons at the
right time. Everything had been beautiful in His time and it is still happening
miraculously. The presence of God is becoming even stronger and stronger day by day.
You may be suspect of this mysterious experience of myself, but I believe it
happened according to God's promise in Joel 2:28,29; "Then after I have poured out
my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters
will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see your vision.
In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants, men and women alike."
Certainly, Jesus could not help giving us his mercy and compassion, because we
were seeking after righteousness, when we did not know the true God. He must have
been so sorry for our blindness. There was nothing we could be proud of in this
story. We were just sinners. But praise the Lord!! He saved us without any charge
with his blood on the cross.
I can now tell you why Jesus gave us the water. He said, "People soon become
thirsty again after drinking, but this water I give them takes away thirsty
altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life."
[John 4:l3; please read 4:10-15]
So, whoever is thirsty, ask God to give you the water of life. Jesus is so
merciful and happy to be asked. He will give it to you abundantly, because God loves
you from the bottom of His heart.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."[John 3:16]
Since we were forgiven a lot, we can love Him more. We do not know how to express
our gratitude.
"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let each one who hears them say "Come." Let
the thirsty ones come-anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life
without charge."lRevelation 22:17]
In my dream, the voice from Heaven told me, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Be
prepared." It means, 'Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of
Heaven is near." [Matthew 3:2]) Surely, the Kingdom of Heavens came into my soul
when I saw the vision. Jesus said " For the Kingdom of God is among you."
[Luke l7:.2O-21] Gradually, our lives have been changed, as we've turned away from
sins, been cleansed by His blood and have bieun hearing his guidance day by day.
Truly we are on the way to the Kingdom of Heavens, too. Therefore, we should not
be discouraged by all the issges surrounding us.
"We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to
finish. He was wiling to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He
knew would be His afterward. Now He is seated in tl.e place of highest honour beside
God's throne in heaven.Hebrew 12:2]
I am always very positive. Indeed some of my English speaking friends call me
"Mr Happy-Go-Lucky". Why am I like this? Because I know we are on the side of
victory already. No one can destroy us, if we always look upon Jesus on the cross,
and His ressurection and believe Jesus is the livinC God. We are ready to wait for
His Promise land.
"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to
happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.Hebrew 11:1]
So, I and my wife are willing to carry out what Jesus commends us to do with ;
"Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heavens is near. Heal thee sick, raise
the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have
recieved! " lMatthew 10:7,8]
May you be filled with the Holy Spirit even more dynamically and more powerfully.
He is the counselor and helper of our daily walk!! "But when the Father sends the
Counselor as my representative ( by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit) will teach
you everlasting and will remind you of everything I myself have told you. [John14:26]
Through the Holy Spirit, we could see Jesus clearly with our own spirit, if only
you would love to!!
God Bless You!
With our warmest Christian Love
from Kiyosumi
-Kiyosumi Yoko-
26"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. John 15:26-27
I would like to tell you a story about something which happened to me in 1981. It
was an unforgettable incident which changed my own life as well as my wife's and has
led us to start the brand-new way of life.
Japan is the ancient Shinto country. Buddhism was introduced in the 6th century. I
was brought up in a Buddhist family. My village is located on tjre Noto peninsula,
the strongest Buddhist area in Japan. There is a huge family altar in a special room
in my parents' house. When I was grown up, my desire was to be a Buddhist monk.
To me, this was so natural.
One day, an extraordinary figure appeared in my dream or vision, which it was I do
not know, actually. He was Jesus Christ. Nobody told me but I recognized Him. I
could not understand why I knew it was Jesus. For you, it might be easier to imagine
how He might look. On the contrary, I was born as a Buddhist and never ever learned
about Him except at the school as a historical person. That's all I was taught. In
addition to that, I neither came across the Bible nor had a chance to open it during
that time. To me, he was just someone who started another religion in the Western
world.
But, Jesus Christ in my dream was great, solemn, full of dignity and Glory. He was
almost too bright and too glorious to look at. Instantly, I threw myself at his feet
without knowing why. I heard the voice from Heaven, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at
hand, be prepared." Then, someone gave to me and my wife small cups and Jesus picked
up a big jar and gave us water to drink. Jesus’ robe was so bright with rainbow
colours and He was standing on the sapphire coloured shining altar. This dream was
so clear that I can remember the taste of the water, even now.
However, when I woke up, I puzzled what on the earth was its meaning? But, I could
believe Jesus was the God for whom I had been looking since I was a child. I totally
accepted Jesus without any questions. I spoke of this dream to my wife, who was just
one of my friends in ttre journalist school at that time. She recommended that I read
the Bible. She did not know the meaning of it at all, though. She was an atheist and
thought Jesus was one of true famous mentors like Buddha.
The more we read the Bible, the more the meaning was revealed little by little.
Words spoke to us personally as if by someone who cared kindly. When we came to
Revelation Chapter 1 verses 12-18, I was surprised as it was exactly the same vision
I saw in my dream. Also, Ezekiel Chapter I verses 26-28 amazed. me as the colour of
the robe and altar he described were the same in my dream.
"When I turned to see who was speaking to me, and standing in the middle of the
lamp-stands was the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across
his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his
eyes were bright like flames of fire. His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a
furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his
right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was as
bright as the sun in all its brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. but he laid his right hand on
me and said. "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the I-ast. I am the Living One who
died. Look, I am alive forever and ever!" [Revelation l:12-18]
"Above the surface over their heads was what looked like a throne made of blue
sapphire. And high above this throne was a figure whose appearence was like that of
a man. From his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And
from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splender. All
around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining ttrrough the clouds. This was
true way the glory of the Lord appeared to me. When I saw it, I fell face down in the
dust, and I heard someone's voice speaking to me." [Ezekiel l:26-28]
{I hope you read these parts throuChly and imagine how awesome Jesus is. May the
Holy Spirit help you to see the vision more clearly.
I knew it was Him! The existances of Jesus in these words were just like in my
vision. The more I have found glorious Jesus in the Bible, the more powerful my
faith became. Because of His glory was described so accurate in Daniel. His beauty was
so exact in Revelation, so on.
"I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold
around his waist. His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes
like lightning, and his eyes were like a flaming torches. His arms and feet shone
like pouched bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of
people." [Daniel 10:5,6]
2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. [Revelation 4:2-6)
I began to leave everything to God, to seek after Jesus, and to read the Bible as my
dependence. My desire to be a Buddhist monk had disappeared completely. Because I
descern Jesus is the only Rock, others are sinking sands.
When we met the missionaries in Tokyo in 1987, they called us the Cornelius's
family {See Acts Chap.10} we were both baptized and married in the same year.
It was the Holy Spirit who led us to God and introduced the rieht persons at the
right time. Everything had been beautiful in His time and it is still happening
miraculously. The presence of God is becoming even stronger and stronger day by day.
You may be suspect of this mysterious experience of myself, but I believe it
happened according to God's promise in Joel 2:28,29; "Then after I have poured out
my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters
will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see your vision.
In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants, men and women alike."
Certainly, Jesus could not help giving us his mercy and compassion, because we
were seeking after righteousness, when we did not know the true God. He must have
been so sorry for our blindness. There was nothing we could be proud of in this
story. We were just sinners. But praise the Lord!! He saved us without any charge
with his blood on the cross.
I can now tell you why Jesus gave us the water. He said, "People soon become
thirsty again after drinking, but this water I give them takes away thirsty
altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life."
[John 4:l3; please read 4:10-15]
So, whoever is thirsty, ask God to give you the water of life. Jesus is so
merciful and happy to be asked. He will give it to you abundantly, because God loves
you from the bottom of His heart.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."[John 3:16]
Since we were forgiven a lot, we can love Him more. We do not know how to express
our gratitude.
"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let each one who hears them say "Come." Let
the thirsty ones come-anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life
without charge."lRevelation 22:17]
In my dream, the voice from Heaven told me, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Be
prepared." It means, 'Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of
Heaven is near." [Matthew 3:2]) Surely, the Kingdom of Heavens came into my soul
when I saw the vision. Jesus said " For the Kingdom of God is among you."
[Luke l7:.2O-21] Gradually, our lives have been changed, as we've turned away from
sins, been cleansed by His blood and have bieun hearing his guidance day by day.
Truly we are on the way to the Kingdom of Heavens, too. Therefore, we should not
be discouraged by all the issges surrounding us.
"We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to
finish. He was wiling to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He
knew would be His afterward. Now He is seated in tl.e place of highest honour beside
God's throne in heaven.Hebrew 12:2]
I am always very positive. Indeed some of my English speaking friends call me
"Mr Happy-Go-Lucky". Why am I like this? Because I know we are on the side of
victory already. No one can destroy us, if we always look upon Jesus on the cross,
and His ressurection and believe Jesus is the livinC God. We are ready to wait for
His Promise land.
"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to
happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.Hebrew 11:1]
So, I and my wife are willing to carry out what Jesus commends us to do with ;
"Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heavens is near. Heal thee sick, raise
the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have
recieved! " lMatthew 10:7,8]
May you be filled with the Holy Spirit even more dynamically and more powerfully.
He is the counselor and helper of our daily walk!! "But when the Father sends the
Counselor as my representative ( by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit) will teach
you everlasting and will remind you of everything I myself have told you. [John14:26]
Through the Holy Spirit, we could see Jesus clearly with our own spirit, if only
you would love to!!
God Bless You!
With our warmest Christian Love
from Kiyosumi
March 29, 2010 - 1:41pm
#2
Nyahaha...
Kinakain yan bro... pagkain... *cozy
April 3, 2010 - 1:22am
#3
...pilosopohin ba daw!!1
...pilosopohin ba daw!!1 hehehe!! ang haba ee.. anung essense nyang topic na yan mtanung lng kita.. how people can react in ur post?
April 13, 2010 - 1:55pm
#4
try mo lang...
read read read...
..anu tOh?
_hOw much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood_