The month of Kannazuki" (81/10/01)
Today is the beginning of a new month. In English, this tenth month of the year is called "October". "Oct" is a prefix meaning "eight". Originally, October was the eighth month in the Roman calendar, but after the addition of two months at the beginning of the year, it became the tenth month, although it kept the same name. The traditional Japanese name for this tenth month is kaminazuki or kannazuki, which literally means, "the month without kami". According to the old Japanese tradition, in this tenth month, all of the 800 myriads of kami gather together at the Izumo Taisha Shrine in present-day Shimane Prefecture, so the rest of the country is left without any kami. The purpose of this gathering of the kami in Izumo is said to be either the making of sake or to discuss marriage arrangements for the unmarried. In the old province of Izumo, this month was called "the month when kami are present". Christians believe that God's promise to Joshua is true for them also. Joshua, chapter 8, verse 5, states: "I will always be with you. I will never abandon you". For the Christian, there is never a month without God.
Nagoya Failed to host the Olympics (81/10/02)
Most of the residents of Nagoya were shocked yesterday at the news from Baden-Baden, Germany. In fact, probably most of the nation as a whole was surprised that Nagoya had failed in its attempt to be the host city for the 1988 Summer Olympics. Those who worked so hard and spent so much time and money in this unsuccessful effort must feel especially downhearted. However, the true character of a person is often most clearly seen in how he or she accepts defeat. An American preacher, Henry Ward Beecher, has written, "Defeat is a school in which truth always grows strong." An American author, Elbert Hubbard, wrote, "There is no failure except in no longer trying." "There are defeats more triumphant than victories", are the words of the French essayist, Montaigne. Defeat should not lead to discouragement. The Christian recognizes the purposeful plan of God in both the victories and defeats, successes and failures of life, so even in disappointment, the believer, has hope. At the heart of the Christian faith is the Good News that Jesus' seeming defeat on the cross was turned into victory.
Responsibility (81/10/03)
As Governor Nakaya and Mayor Motoyama return from their
unhappy trip to Germany, questions are being raised regarding where the responsibility lies for the failure of their mission. Who is responsible and
how will he discharge his responsibility? The English word "responsibility"
comes from the word "respond", meaning "to answer", and. a suffix meaning "able".
So, a responsible person is one who is able to respond, one who can give an
answer or an accounting for that which has been entrusted to him. In Japanese tradition, a person sometimes takes responsibility by resigning his position or committing suicide (seppuku) either literally or figuratively.
At times, a person may become a scapegoat for the mistakes of others. The
word "scapegoat" comes from the Jewish ritual on the Day of Atonement described in the Old Testament book of Leviticus, chapter 16 (verses 8-22),
when the sins of the people were figuratively placed on the head of a goat,
which then escaped into the wilderness. The truly responsible person, however, does not quit. He learns from his own and others' mistakes to do a
better job than before. The Bible teaches that our primary responsibility is not toward other people, but toward God, our Creator.
"World-wide Communion Sunday" (81/10/04)
Among the Protestant churches, this first Sunday of
October is known as "'World-wide Communion Sunday". The word "communion"
refers to a deep, spiritual sharing of something in common. In Protestant
churches, "Communion", also known as "The Lord 's Supper", may refer to the
taking of bread and wine, symbolizing flesh and blood in remembrance of
Jesus' death on the cross. In the Communion Service, Christians feel a
spiritual unity with one another as well as with their Lord, who gave his
life as a scapegoat for the sins of the world. In Roman Catholic churches
masses are held weekly or oftener, and in some Protestant churches also
the Lord's Supper is celebrated every Sunday. Many other churches, however,
celebrate it only monthly or quarterly, but on this first Sunday of October,
churches of all denominations throughout the world will hold communion services. In Japanese tradition, one's community is very important. There is
also a sense of having communion with nature. The Christian emphasis
places communion with God first, followed by communion with those about us.
It is God's love, shown in the self-giving life and death of Jesus Christ,
that we seek to share with others.
The Nayabashi Bridge (81/10/05)
One of the famous landmarks of Nagoya is the Nayabashi
Bridge over which Hirokoji Dori passes west of Sakae. This bridge over the
Horikawa River was first built in 1610. Between 1910 and 1913 it was rebuilt at a cost of 100,000 yen with a stone pillar and girders of iron. It
served its purpose well for the next sixty years and became an historic
structure. However, horses and carts gave way to automobiles, and now
over 25,000 vehicles cross that bridge daily during daytime hours. Thus,
the ageing bridge needed to be rebuilt and widened. Six years ago, the city
began reconstruction of the bridge which will be completed this week at a
cost of 893,000,000 yen. Although new materials have been used, the old form
and architectural style has been kept. Four small parks have also been
created at its base. To celebrate the bridge's completion, stores along
Hirokoji Dori between Fushimi and Yanagibashi will be holding sales this
weekend. As we become older, we may also feel the need for restoration.
The Bible teaches that it is through a healthy faith in the Almighty God
that true health and strength is maintained or renewed.
Tobacco (81/10/06)
Two of the earliest words to enter the Japanese language from a European language were pan and tabako. They were both introduced by the Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in the sixteenth century. Pan
comes from the Portuguese word for "bread", which is a staple food in the
West and may be nutritious. Tabako, on the other hand, comes from the Portuguese word for the noxious plant which has become a nuisance. The word
"tabaco" originally was a West Indian word referring to the pipe or tube in
which the Indians smoked the plant, but the Spaniards applied the word to
the plant itself. The use of tobacco originated among the natives of the
American continents and was then introduced into Europe and Asia. The Chinese characters for "tobacco" literally mean "smoke grass", but tobacco may be
chewed or sniffed as well as smoked. However, taken in any form, it is bad
for the health and, when smoked, it also pollutes the air. It is too bad
those old missionaries did not merely bring the "Bread of Life" to those
islands, leaving the tobacco back home. It is also quite illogical for the
Japanese government to hold a monopoly on tobacco sales in this country.
Smoking among students (81/10/07)
Last May, a questionnaire was distributed by the
Seto Health Center among students at four public high schools to obtain
information about smoking among students. The results were recently made
public. They indicate that 27% of the boy students and almost 10% of the
girl students have had smoking experience by the time they enter high
school. Among those continuing to smoke, boys smoke an average of 11.7
cigarettes a day and girls average 7.5. When asked the reason they began
smoking, more than half replied with a vague "nan to naku", indicating
there was no special reason. One of the relevant facts brought to light
by this survey was that many of these young people with smoking experience
come from homes in which the mother smokes. The relationship between
smoking and lung cancer as well as heart trouble seems well established.
A person who is concerned about his or her health will refrain from the
use of tobacco. The Bible teaches that our bodies are, or should be,
temples of God's Spirit and, thus, should be kept healthy in order to bring
glory to him. (I Corinthians 6:19-20)
Dew (81/10/08)
How are you today? According, to the traditional
lunar calendar, today marks another seasonal change. It is the season of
increasingly cool evenings and mornings and is called "kanro", or "cold
dew". The noun, "dew" (d-e-w), is pronounced the same as the verb, "do "(d-o)
by most Americans. "Dew" refers to moisture in the air that condenses
after a warm day and, during the night, appears in little drops on cool
surfaces. Another Japanese word with the same pronunciation, kanro, means
"sweet dew" and refers to a heavenly nectar with supernatural powers, according to Indian and Chinese legends. In the Bible, dew is a symbol of
God's goodness and blessing. In Proverbs, chapter 19, verse 12, we read
that a king's "favor is like dew upon the grass", and in Hosea 14: 5, the
Lord promises to be like dew to his people. When we see the dew in the morning, let us remember God's blessings and be thankful. If you would like a
typewritten copy of these "Daily Word" messages, please send me a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus 100 yen in stamps for each week's messages
desired. My address is: Daily Word, Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post
Office, 463.
the Orions (81/10/09)
Every so often, some small incident reminds me how
accustomed I have become to Japan and Japanese life and language. A couple
of days ago, I was listening to the English language broadcast of the 7 PM
news on NHK television. The English language announcer, with a British
accent, referred to the Lotte baseball team, playing in the Pacific League
playoff, as the Orions (Oh-RAI-uns). I was surprised that NHK would have
an English announcer that didn't know how to pronounce the name of this
ball club, which is called the Orions (O-ri-on-zu.) . However, checking the
dictionary, I found that the correct English pronunciation of that gigantic
hunter in Greek mythology is Oh-RAI-un. The constellation in the night sky
near the equator is also called "Oh-RAI-un" in English, but "O-ri-on "in Japanese. Thus, when speaking in English, the Pacific League playoff is between
the Fighters and the Orions (Oh-RAI-uns) . Which do you think will win? In
the Old Testament book of Job, chapter 9, we read, "God hung the stars in
the sky—the Great Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the south. We
cannot understand the great things he does." When you view the starry
heavens with their constellations, consider the greatness of the Creator.
Pysical Education Day (81/10/10)
Today is October the tenth, the tenth day of the
tenth month. In China, this day is called "the double ten" and is the day
to celebrate the revolution of 1911, which brought Sun Yat-sen and his
fellow republicans to power. In Japan, since 1966, this day has been a
national holiday called Taiiku no Hi, a kind of Sports Day. Literally,
taiiku refers to physical training and is one of the three parts into which
kyōiku, or education, is divided. The other two parts are chiiku, or mental
training, and tokuiku, or moral training. True education must iniclude the
cultivation of the entire person—body, mind and spirit—to develop a healthy
individual. The English word "education" comes from a Latin root meaning
"to draw out". True education is not pouring something into another 's mind
but drawing out his own personality and encouraging its development. On
this Physical Education Day, let us remember Jesus' word that "Man does not
live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God"
(Matthew 4:4). Let us be concerned for the healthy development or our
minds and spirits as well as our bodies.
General Pulaski Memorial Day (81/10/11)
Do you know what a "pole" is? It may be a long,
slender object, such as a tent pole or a telephone pole. It may also
refer to either end of an axis, such as the North Pole or the South Pole,
that are at opposite ends of the earth's axis. However, this same word,
with a capital letter, may also refer to a native of Poland. The Polish
name for Poland is Polska, just as the Japanese name for Japan is Nippon.
Poland has recently been in the news because of the brave, almost revolutionary reforms being supported by the new labor union there, called "Solidarity". There was a brave, Polish military commander in the American
Revolution by the name of Pulaski. He escaped from Poland after an unsuccessful revolution there and decided to join the American Revolution.
He was commissioned a brigadier general by George Washington. He organized
his own cavalry unit, called the Pulaski Legion and died of wounds received
in battle on October 11 , 1779, 202 years ago today. In the state of Indiana, today is officially observed as General Pulaski Memorial Day. Every
age and place has its revolutionaries. In one sense, Jesus Christ was a
peaceful revolutionary, and Christians should always be on the side of
healthy and beneficial change.
Columbus Day (81/10/12)
Today is October the 12th. In many states of the
U.S.A. this day has traditionally been a state holiday called Columbus
Day. It commemorates the landing of the three, small ships under the command
of Christopher Columbus on one of the Bahama Islands, east of Cuba. Following many discouragements, Columbus left from a port in the south of
Spain on August 3, 1492 and began his voyage west over the Atlantic Ocean,
in the belief that he would arrive in Asia. It was over two months later,
following a small mutiny, that, on October 10th, he sighted land. He
landed on October 12, 1492. He later made three other trips to the "new
world", all of which were to Central America. The pioneering faith that
Columbus showed was remarkable. To make that first trip on uncharted seas
to an unknown destination required a strong conviction in the face of many
obstacles. So in our lives, it is important to have an aim toward which
we are moving, and a deep faith that our course is right in spite of discouragements along the way. The risen Christ promised the church in Smyrna, "Be faithful till death and I will give you the crown of life ".
(Revelation 2:10)
Nichiren's Dedication (81/10/13)
Most Japanese Buddhist sects may be placed within
the major Buddhist streams of Tendai, Shingon, Zen, Jōdo and Nichiren.
All but the last named trace their origins to China. It is also only the
last stream that bears the name of a person. Nichiren was born into a
fisherman's family in the province of Awa, now a part of Chiba Prefecture,
in 1222. At an early age, he became a Buddhist priest and, at thirty years
of age, he became convinced that the Buddhist sutra called the Myōhō Renge
Kyō was the only valid one and that all religions, Buddhist or otherwise,
that based their teachings on any other scripture were false. Because of
his fervent attacks on other religions and on the government policies of
his day, he was twice exiled. Later, he was permitted to return and establish a retreat on Mt. Minobu, near Mt. Fuji. He died at the age of
sixty on October 13, 1282. Buddhist sects in the Nichiren stream hold
special ceremonies, called Oeshiki, on October 13th to commemorate his
death. Even we who do not share Nichiren's faith may learn from his example of wholehearted dedication to what he believed.
Matsuri in October (81/10/14)
In Japan, October is a month of festivals . The
Chinese character for "festival" (matsuri) was originally made up of meat,
a hand and a table. It referred to meat being placed on a table as an
offering to the kami. Although in modern Japan many people seem to consider the community festival as merely a time of merriment and recreation,
originally these festivals were considered to be times of communion with
the kami. Offerings were presented, dances were performed for the enjoyment of the kami, followed by a feast, where the worshipper and the kami
ate together. The English word "festival", along with "festive" and "festivity" are derived from the word "feast", referring to a joyful celebration
including an elaborate meal. One of the reasons for the Christian custom
of offering a prayer of thanks before every meal is to remind us that it is
not only on special, festive occasions that we have communion with God, but
our entire lives are lived in his presence and are dependent upon his grace.
If you would like to receive typewritten copies of these messages, send me
a self-addressed, stamped envelope, plus 100 yen in stamps for each week of'
messages desired.
Miura Anjin (81/10/15)
Tomorrow, the three-day celebration of the Nagoya Festival begins. On Saturday and Sunday, the colorful parade of the
three famous feudal lords who came from this area in the sixteenth century
will be held. This year, for the first time, foreigners were also permitted to apply for positions in the parade. A 44-year-old Italian priest,
Pietro Zanchetta, director of the Nozomi Yōchien, was one of twelve applicants for the role of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Although he did not succeed in
gaining that role, he was offered another role as one of Ieyasu's attendants—Miura Anjin. Miura Anjin is the Japanese name of the English seaman,
William Adams, who has become well-known through the novel and movie, Shōgun. There is a touch of irony in the choice of this Roman Catholic priest
to take the part of the staunchly Protestant Adams, but it may also symbolize a healthy change in the mutually hostile relations that characterized
Protestants and Catholics in the sixteenth century. This year, the symbolism of this role may be more important than that of Ieyasu. Banzai for
Father Zanchetta!
World Food Day (81/10/16)
Today, October 16, has been designated "World Food
Day" by the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization. The FAO
was founded 36 years ago today to increase production from farms, forests
and fisheries, to improve distribution, marketing and nutrition and to
better conditions for rural people. While those of us in Japan have plenty
to eat and even waste much food, more than 400 million people in the world
are suffering from malnutrition. Today, seminars, conferences, speeches,
exhibitions and other activities around the world will call attention to the
struggle against starvation and the need for better food production and
distribution. How much different today's world might be if there were no
hungry people in it. Those of us who have much need to show merciful concern for those who have so little. In the New Testament book of James,
chapter two, we read,"What good is there in your saying to those in need
of clothes and food 'God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!'—if you
don't give them the necessities of life? So it is with faith, if it is
alone and includes no actions, then it is dead." The Christian must show
his faith in his actions.
the Braille Club in Junior High School (81/10/17)
Louis Braille was a Frenchman who be came blind
following an accident, when he was three years old. In 1829, at the age of
twenty, he invented a system of writing and printing for blind people. This
Braille system consists of six raised points or dots in various combination
which correspond to letters, numbers and punctuation. In Japanese, it is
called tenji, literally, "dot letters". 63 different combinations of
these
dots are possible. In the Taketoyo Junior High School, 35 girl students
are members of the Braille Club. Following their summer vacation, these
girls have been earnestly working to produce twenty copies of a braille
telephone directory for the blind. They worked on this project not only
during club time at school, but at their homes as well. The directory is
35 pages long and includes the important telephone numbers of the Taketoyo,
Handa and Eihama areas. Today, these braille directories are being presented to the town officials. Teacher Kobayashi and these students should
be commended for their diligent work during this Year of the Handicapped.
The Bible teaches that we should show kindness to the unfortunate, not only
by words but by deeds!
Alaska Day (81/10/18)
You may be surprised to know that the name for one
of the states in the U.S.A. comes from a Russian word. "Alaska" is derived
from the Russian pronunciation of the Eskimo word for "peninsula". The state
of Alaska was admitted to the United States as the 49th state in 1959. It
is the largest state, with an area over four times that of Japan and over
twice the size of Texas, which is the second largest state. This huge
piece of real estate was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000,
which amounted to less than two cents an acre. The formal transfer of the
territory from Russia took place on October the 18th, so today is a state
holiday in Alaska, called "Alaska Day". Although Alaska is the largest of
the fifty states in area, it has the fewest residents. In comparison with
Japan's population density of over 800 people per square mile, Alaska has
less than one person per square mile. The state motto is: "North to the
future". Since most maps are printed with the north at the top, we may
agree that the future is "up". Today, keep looking up—with hope and
faith—to the future.
Japanese language courses popular in America (81/10/19)
Has your understanding of spoken English improved
since you began calling "Daily Word"? I hope so. Progress in language
ability is gradual, but to those who persevere, it will come. A recent
report indicates that Japanese language courses in American universities
are becoming quite popular. From 1970 to 1980, the number of students
taking Japanese at two and four year colleges increased 74%. During that
same time, total university enrollment increased 49%, from 7.9 million to
11.8 million students. In the last three years alone, the number of
students taking Japanese has increased by nearly 7%, and the increase of
students taking Chinese is even greater. Why are these Oriental languages
becoming more popular while interest in European languages is decreasing?
Certainly, many Americans recognize that, in the future, it will be
beneficial to know Japanese or Chinese. The influence of these Oriental
countries on American life—both economically and culturally—is growing.
Knowing at least one foreign language well is helpful, but, I wonder, do we
understand the language God uses when he tries to speak to us?
Waste in our daily lives (81/10/20)
The 1981 Nagoya Festival seems to have been a
success. Yesterday's paper included some interesting statistics about it.
On the two days of the colorful parade through the downtown area, an
estimated 1,030,000 people watched. 62 children were reported lost and there
was one report of a pickpocket theft. But the statistic that interested
me was the report of 14 tons of refuse for those two days which required
30 trucks and 432 workers to handle. This may be an indication of our
modern life style. Consider how much we waste in our daily lives—not only
in material terms, but in regard to time and energy and even mental
concentration. There is one time in the New Testament where a word translated
dung, refuse, rubbish or garbage is used. It is in Philippians, chapter
3, verse 8, where the Apostle Paul writes that all of his efforts to gain
righteousness in God's sight through his own efforts were useless and
wasted. He found that the only way to gain God's favor was through a
lifechanging faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ. To receive a copy of these
"Daily Word" messages, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus ¥100 in
stamps for each week of messages desired to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box
30, Moriyama Post Office, 463.
David and Goliath (81/10/21)
As baseball fans are well aware, the annual
Japan Series is now being played in Tokyo between the Central League
champion, Yomiuri Giants, and the Pacific League champion, Nipnon Ham Fighters.
The Giants baseball team was organized in 1935 and holds an honored place
in Japanese baseball history. The Fighters, on the other hand, have a
shorter history. Previously called the "Flyers", their present name has
been in use since 1974. As I wonder who will emerge victorious from this
series, I am reminded of the Bible Story in First Samuel, chapter 17, where
a giant, named Goliath, met a fighter, named David. David, who later became
a great king of Israel, was only a young shepherd boy at the time.
However, without protecting armor, he boldly faced the 290 centimeter tall
warrior, Goliath, who was fully armed. David had only a slingshot, five
smooth stones and a child-like faith in God. In this Bible Story, the
young fighter defeated the experienced giant, teaching us that even the
small and weak may conquer giants, when God is on their side—or, rather,
when they are on God's side.
the Nobel Prize for chemistry (81/10/22)
A couple of days ago it was reported that
Professor Fukui of Kyoto University had been chosen to receive the Nobel Prize
for chemistry. He will be the first Japanese to receive a Nobel prize in
this field, although five other Japanese have received such prizes for
physics, literature and peace. Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a Swedish chemist
and inventor. In 1866, he invented dynamite. Before his death, in 1896,
he established a fund of $9,000,000, the interest from which was to be
distributed as yearly prizes to those who had most benefitted mankind in the
areas of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace. We may say
that those chosen for this honor are usually "noble" people. The word
"noble" is spelled with the same letters as in Mr. Nobel's name, but with the
last two letters in reverse order. It comes from the sane root as "know"
and originally meant well-known or famous, but now it may also refer to a
person of high moral character or high rank. The Apostle Paul wrote that
not many noble people were chosen by God , because such people would tend to
trust in their own resources or abilities rather than trusting in God. (I Corinthians)
The "North-South Summit" (81/10/23)
A meeting of the leaders of 22 countries is now
being held in Cancun, Mexico. The representatives of 14 developing nation
are conferring with the representatives of 8 industrialized nations
regarding a more equitable distribution of the world's resources. Although the
meeting is being called a "North-South Summit", only one of the nations
attending, Tanzania, is completely in the southern hemisphere and one other,
Brazil, has land on both sides of the equator. The common word order of
directions in English is "north-south", while in Japanese it is the reverse,
that is, "south-north". The four directions in English are usually given
as: north-south-east-west, while in Japanese the common order is east-west,
south-north. Also, in English, we speak of "black and white ", while in
Japanese the order is "white and black". I wonder why. Although this is
not one of the problems to be discussed at the Summit, it does symbolize
different ways of thinking. To really understand other people , we need to
understand more than words or language. We must try to understand how they
think.
United Nations Day (81/10/24)
Today, October 24th, is known as United Nations
Day, in commemoration of the founding of this international organization.
The term, "United Nations" was first used by U.S. President Franklin
Roosevelt in 1941 to describe the countries fighting against the so-called Axis
powers—meaning Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Militarist Japan. On
January 1, 1942, twenty states joined in the declaration by the United Nations
pledging to continue their joint war effort and not to make peace separately.
A founding conference of all states that adhered to the 1942 declaration
and that had declared war on Germany or Japan was held in June, 1945 in San
Francisco. There, the United Nations Charter was drafted and on October 24
1945, 36 years ago today, the required number of states had ratified this
charter and the U.N. officially came into existence. However, it is easier
to be united against a common enemy than to work together for a world in
which there is peace and justice for all. Still, we must keep this ideal in
mind and remember the words found in Psalm 34:14, "Turn away from evil and
do good; strive for peace with all your heart."
Frost (81/10/25)
How are you today? Have you been keeping warm?
One does not have to look at the calendar to know that fall is moving
toward winter. The Japanese almanac calls this present season sōkō, or
"frost fall". What used to be seen as dew on the ground will soon be
seen as frost. "Frost" is related to "freeze" and may refer to frozen
dew or vapor. We may also speak of a person's cold attitude as "frosty".
I may also say that my hair is getting frosty, meaning that it is getting
whiter. The frosting on a cake is not always white, but because it covers
the cake like a sheet of ice, it is also called icing. In the Bible,
God's breath is sometimes considered a cold wind that brings frost and ice.
At other times, it is considered a hot wind that causes drought. But
usually, it is pictured as a healthy influence that brings life—even new
life to the dead. Whether God's influence upon us is seen as judgment or
blessing depends upon our attitude and how we respond to his grace.
A Woman Saved (81/10/26)
Last Wednesday evening, fifteen year old Shigenobu
Uno, a third year student at Tenpaku South Junior High School here in
Nagoya, was returning home on his bicycle. Crossing a bridge, he saw an
82 year old woman lying on her side in the middle of the shallow Tenpaku
River below. Determined to save her from drowning, he took off his shoes
and socks and plunged into the river. Ignoring her cries that she wanted
to die, he carried her back to the river bank. Other passers-by called the
ambulance and the life of the ailing woman, who tried to commit suicide,
was saved. Shigenobu returned home without giving his name, but classmates,
hearing of the deed, were so impressed that they composed a special
certificate, which was presented to him by his homeroom teacher during a class
meeting. This incident may cause us to think about four things: the value
of human life, the courage to do what is right, becoming involved in
helping others and expressing appreciation to those who provide a good example.
The Bible teaches that we should be an example for others.
Book Reading Week (81/10/27)
In Japan, today begins what is called "Book
Reading Week". It is a special season when reading books is encouraged.
With the widespread popularity of television, book reading has decreased.
There is a Japanese phrase, dokusho santō, which refers to three areas of
concentration for effective reading: the concentration of mouth, eye and
mind. Another phrase, dokusho sanyo, refers to the three convenient times
for reading: in the winter, at night and while raining. Extensive reading
is one of the best ways to continue our education and gain greater
knowledge. Do you have a regular reading habit? Along with listening every
day to this "Daily Word" message, I advise a daily, English reading
exercise. To keep our bodies in good condition, we need daily physical
exercise. Mental exercise is needed to keep our minds sharp. Reading a
little bit of the English Bible every day will not only improve your
English comprehension, but give some spiritual food for thought as well.
Book Reading Week would be a good time to begin such a habit—which should
continue all year long.
Wedding gift lost and found (81/10/28)
Shōhei Aoyama, an eighty-year-old charcoal burner
who lives by himself in a small town in the northeastern part of Aichi
Prefecture, left his home about five o'clock on Monday morning to make a
trip to Nagoya. In a cardboard box, he carried mushrooms and other
vegetables from his garden which he knew his son's family would enjoy. In
another bag, he carried a change of clothes. But, in yet another bag, was
over ¥550,000 in cash, a wedding gift for his 25-year-old grandson. Mr.
Aoyama changed trains at Toyohashi and took a city bus from Kanayamabashi.
With so much to carry, he stopped to rest at times while walking to his
son's office. Along the way, he lost the bag containing the money. When
he arrived at his son's office to sadly report the loss, the son was
talking with the police. They had called to report that the bag had been
found and taken to a police sub-station by a 29-year-old company employee,
Teruo Morikawa. Mr. Aoyama's sadness was turned to joy when the bag was
reclaimed. The kindness of both the loser and the finder of this money
are good examples for the rest of us. The golden rule is: "Treat others
as you would like them to treat you". (Matthew 7:12)
Anime Oyako Gekijō (81/10/29)
The Latin word "anima" refers to breath, air or
soul. There are various English words that are made from that Latin root,
including "animal", which is a living organism, and "animate", which means
to give life to, to make alive. An animated cartoon is a kind of motion
picture that is made by photographing a series of many drawings, each
showing a stage of movement slightly changed from the one before, so that
the figures in them seem to move when the drawings are shown in rapid
succession. In Japanese, a new word, anime, was created to refer to
animated cartoons. Beginning this month, a new television series, called, in
Japanese, Anime Oyako Gekijō, Animation Family Theater, is being aired on
Tokai Television, Channel 1, at 7:30 on Friday mornings. It is an
interesting program showing animated Bible stories that the whole family will
enjoy. Tomorrow's story is about Abraham, the biblical patriarch found in
Genesis, chapters 11 and following. Why don't you plan to watch it if you
can—on Channel 11. at 7:30 tomorrow morning. These animated Bible stories
may animate your mind and stimulate your faith.