A Far Green Country

I was listening to a clip of Martin Luther King's "We Shall Overcome" speech. It made me think of all the obstacles in reaching the Japanese here. On many hours of most days the thought of many Japanese getting saved & churches sprouting & the Spirit moving in such a mighty way that the nation would be transformed seems downright silly...almost.

Thinking about MLK & the faith he had that sooner or later racism in the US, at least on a human rights level, would crumble, humbles me in my weak faith that at least in my lifetime I will not see a vast working of the Spirit of God among this people.

"We Shall Overcome" became a type of theme song for the Civil Rights movement & today we hear it still as a rallying cry whether it be to return the Democrats to the White House or in news coverage of the Burmese Buddhists plight against their corrupt military government. But what I found interesting about this song was that, though this is disputed, it seems to have been adapted from Charles Tindley, an African-American Methodist pastor who wrote the song, "I'll Overcome Someday."

Now that song, complete with Christ at the center of it, is inspiring. And between it's words & seeing how all odds were against MLK & the black community of the Civil Rights era, & then to see the US today which often takes it's cultural lead from the black icons in music, film, & sports, to the election of the first president with African-American blood, I am encouraged & reminded that the Lord can move as quickly here if He so pleases with a dramatic sweeping of the Spirit in Japan. I pray it be so...until then: