June (82/06/01)
Today is the first day of a new month, the sixth
month of the year. In English, we call it June. This name may have
come from the name of the Roman goddess, Juno. She was the wife of
Jupiter and considered the Queen of the gods. She was also known as the
goddess of marriage. In the United States, June is the most popular
month for weddings. A girl, lady or woman married in this month is
called a June bride. Once upon a time, my wife was a June bride—which
means that, later this month I must remember to wish her a happy
anniversary and to congratulate her for putting up with me all these years since
that happy day. June has also given its name to a fruit called a June
berry and to a beetle that begins to appear in June called a June bug.
According to the Old Testament book of Haggai, it was on the first day of
the sixth month that God gave that prophet a message about rebuilding the
temple in Jerusalem. It seems that that prophet 2,500 years ago knew
something about inflation, for he wrote, in chapter 1, verse 6, that the
wage earner puts his wages into "a bag with holes".
Rain (82/06/02)
The old, traditional Japanese name for this sixth
month of the year is minazuki. There are different explanations of the
probable original meaning of that name. One of them interprets the term
to refer to a month without water: mizu nashi tsuki. Of course, it
should be noted that the sixth month, according to the lunar calendar,
will begin on the 21st of July this year, after the end of the rainy
season. The sixth month according to the lunar calendar is a month of much
water in Japan, for it is a month of frequent rains. "Rain" will be the
theme for the 6th meeting of the listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone
messages. Over 200 years ago, Samuel Johnson is quoted as saying,
"Rain is good for vegetables. and for the animals who eat those
vegetables, and for the animals who eat those animals". If you have some
thoughts about rain, we would be happy to hear them at our meeting which
will be held at the Nagoya YWCA, on Nishiki Dori east of Sakae, on Sunday
afternoon; June 13th at 1:30 PM. Following that meeting, I will be
preaching in English at the Nagoya Union Church worship service,
beginning at 4: 00 o'clock. You are invited to attend that service also.
Jefferson Davis (82/06/03)
Some of the southern states of the United States
are celebrating a birthday today. It is the birthday of Jefferson Davis;
who was born on June 3rd, 1808. Following his graduation from the
military academy at West Point, Davis served in the army with distinction.
He also enjoyed life on his Mississippi plantation. After entering
politics, he was a strong advocate of southern states' rights and favored
the expansion of slave territory. When the Confederate States of
America seceded from the U.S.A. in 1861, he was elected their president and
served as such until the end of the Civil War. Although most of the
United States celebrate Memorial Day on the last Monday of May, a number
of southern states keep a Confederate Memorial Day on other days—
including some that combine it with Jefferson Davis birthday. Over a
century has passed since the Civil War, but some effects of that national
crisis are still evident in American society today. Elbert Hubbard has
written, "A retentive memory may be a good thing, but the ability to
forget is the true token of greatness." "Better by far you should
forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad", wrote
Christina Rossetti.
Versailles (82/06/04)
Nineteen years ago this month, my wife and I and our three children were travelling through France in our camping car. After seeing the sights of Paris, we drove to the nearby city of Versailles to see the splendid palace there and its beautiful gardens. A number of important treaties were signed in that palace. In one, signed in 1783, Great Britain formally recognized the independence of the United States. A treaty signed there in 1871 concluded the French-German war and in 1919 the Treaty of Versailles officially ended the First World War. Beginning today, leaders of seven industrial democracies will be meeting in that palace to discuss problems of mutual interest. During the past three months, the palace and its grounds have been undergoing preparations for this biggest public function to be held there since World War II. While they walk through the carefully tended gardens, dine under magnificent chandeliers and confer beneath priceless oil paintings, I hope the elite leaders do not forget the common people of their countries and the world, whose future will be affected by their decisions. Romans, chapter 15, teaches that those who are strong should be concerned about the weak, rather than pleasing themselves.
Ice cream (82/06/05)
When we were travelling in Europe in our camping car, one of the major problems we faced was finding ice blocks for our ice box. Sometimes I carried the ice tray looking for ice and, pointing to it, said "Ice, ice" in English. Some people thought I wanted it filled with ice cream. Something like ice cream has been eaten for 3000 years originally as flavored ice or snow. Marco Polo found it in China and the Aztec ruler Montezuma is said to have liked his with hot chocolate poured over it. The early American colonists poured maple syrup over snow. Dolly Madison, wife of the fourth president of the United States, gave dinner parties at the White House with a large shining dome of pink ice cream as the centerpiece. Ice cream cones were invented by chance at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis when an ice cream vendor ran out of dishes and a nearby pastry maker twisted some pastry into cones to hold the ice cream. A child's first experience with ice cream has been called a "soul-stirring surprise". A "soul-stirring surprise" of another kind might be yours if you attend a church service tomorrow. Why don't you attend one and see. English language services of the Nagoya Union Church are held every Sunday afternoon at 4:00 o'clock at the Kinjō Kyōkai, north of Tokiwa Jogakuin.
Trinity Sunday (82/06/06)
The prefix "tri" comes from both Latin and Greek words for "three". How many words can you think of that begin with this prefix? For example, a trio is a musical team of three persons. A tricycle is a vehicle with three wheels. A triangle is a geometric figure with three angles and three sides. And, in baseball, a triple is a three base hit. In the Christian Church calendar, today is the beginning of the second half of the church year, known as Trinity Sunday. Trinity refers to a combination of three in one, a kind of tri-unity. The biblical conception of the one, true and living God is expressed in the three figures of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Figurative explanations of this divine trinity include the equilateral triangle, one figure with three separate but equal angles, the root, trunk and branches of one tree and the thoughts, words and deeds of one person. However, it is not strange if the conception of the infinite God is beyond the reasoning powers of finite man. Finally, we come to know God through our total experience, not through our reason alone. Christians know God as a holy Father, a merciful Savior and an ever-present Companion.
Intelligence Quotient (82/06/07)
Intelligence refers to a person's mental ability. Various tests have been devised to try to measure intelligence, but all of them have limitations--especially when used with persons of greatly varied background and experiences. It is generally accepted that both heredity and environment are influential factors in determining intelligence. The letters I.Q. are the abbreviation of Intelligence Quotient and refer to one's level of intelligence. A recent study shows that Japanese children aged 6 to 16 have a higher I.Q. than American children. They scored an average of 111 in comparison to 100 for the Americans. It was estimated that at least 10% of the Japanese population had an I.Q. of 130 or more, contrasted with 2% of Americans. It also indicated that the average I.Q. of those born in Japan after the war is higher than those born before the end of the war. The New Testament teaches that God makes no distinction between people in regard to their race, intelligence or social standing. He loves all people the same and so should we. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30, we will hold another meeting of "Daily Word" listeners at the YWCA. I hope to see you there.
Preaching Christianity in Saudi Arabia (82/06/08)
A friend from my hometown stopped in to visit us yesterday. His name is Bruce Larson. He is returning to the U.S. for a vacation from his work as a preventive medicine advisor for the Arabian American Oil Company in Saudi Arabia, where he has been working for the past 2 and a half years. Last night, he spoke at the monthly fellowship meeting of the Nagoya Union Church. He told of the difficulties faced by Christians in that Muslim land where Islam is the only recognized religion. Even the national flag of Saudi Arabia contains the basic Islamic creed: "There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his messenger". It is unusual for a national flag to contain words, but this flag has this inscription over a white sword on a green field. We should be thankful for the religious freedom we enjoy in this land and be alert to oppose any actions that threaten it. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the YWCA on Nishiki Dōri, east of Sakae, we will hold another "Daily Word" listeners' meeting. Please join us if you can and share with us your thoughts about "rain". Following that meeting, I will preach in English at the Nagoya Union Church meeting at Kinjō Kyōkai in Tatedaikan Chō, Higashi Ku, north of Tokiwa Jogakuin at 4:00 o'clock. You are invited to that service also.
Lockheed payoff scandal (82/06/09)
Yesterday, a Tokyo judge handed down a long-awaited decision which found two parliamentarians guilty of bribery in the Lockheed payoff scandal. The decision deepens the grayness of other Diet members and further darkens the cloud around a former prime minister. Do you think the conduct of these politicians was exceptional or is it common? Someone has defined a politician as a man who runs for office and then runs for cover. George Orwell has written that "political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind". Unfortunately, there are some religious leaders whose language fits this description also. In Japan's gift-giving culture it is especially difficult to tell what constitutes a bribe. It is easy for us to point critical fingers at unethical politicians while ignoring the fact that gifts also influence our thoughts and actions as well. A person who brings a gift usually finds the door open. Truthfulness, justice and honesty, however, are virtues that are seen in the lives of all people with a healthy faith. I hope to see you at our "Daily Word" listeners' meeting next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the YWCA. Please come if you can.
Prince Philip as a nobleman (82/06/10)
61 years ago today, on June 10th, 1921, a baby boy was born to Greek prince Andrew and Princess Alice on the Mediterranean island of Corfu. He was a grandson of the King of Greece, a great grandson of the King of Denmark and a great great grandson of Queen Victoria of Great Britain. He renounced his Danish and Greek titles in 1947 when he became a British citizen. The day before his marriage in Westminster Abbey later that year, he was given the British titles of Baron Greenwich, Earl of Marioneth and Duke of Edinburgh. Since marrying the British princess who became Queen Elizabeth II, he is addressed as His Royal Highness" and has been given the additional title of "Prince". In the British peerage, there are five ranks, beginning with Duke and going down the line through Marquis, Earl and Viscount to Baron. By both birth and conferment, Prince Philip is a nobleman, but the Bible teaches that God is not a respector of persons. He loves all people the same regardless of their titles or social position. He even loves you! On Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the YWCA, I hope to meet you at the "Daily Word" listeners' meeting -- even if you are only a commoner.
Kamehameha Day (82/06/11)
Today is a legal holiday in Hawaii. It is called Kamehameha Day in honor of King Kamehameha the Great, who was born on June 11, 1758. When Captain James Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands in 1778, he called them Sandwich Islands after the Earl of Sandwich. At that time, each of the islands had its own king, but after 1790 King Kamehameha extended his sway over the entire group of islands and they became a united kingdom. Law and order were established for the first time and under his rule the islands became prosperous. In 1842, the Kingdom of Hawaii was recognized by the United States. After the reigning Queen Liliukaloni was deposed in 1893, the islands became a republic until they were annexed by the United States five years later. In 1959, the territory of Hawaii became the 50th state. The popular greeting in Hawaii, used both when meeting and parting, is "Aloha", which means "love". The Bible teaches that true love comes from God and that the mark of Jesus' disciples is their love for one another. I hope you can attend the "Daily Word" listeners' meeting this Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the YWCA, for I'd like to hear what you think about these messages and about "rain".
The Queen's Official Birthday (82/06/12)
June the 12th, this second Saturday of June, is celebrated in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries as the Queen's Official Birthday. Actually, Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, but mid-June is considered a better season for this celebration than mid-April. On this day, the Queen will review the troops while mounted on a white horse in Whitehall. Whitehall is the name of a London street, lined with the chief offices of the British government and the site of the Cenotaph war memorial. Today, the various British regiments or troops will march slowly before the Queen carrying their respective flags or colors in a ceremony called "trooping the colors". The English phrase "to show one's colors" refers to revealing one's true self and to make one's position clear. The Christian shows his colors by his Christ-like attitudes and actions as well as by his verbal confession. Tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 at the YWCA, we will hold a meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" messages. The topic for discussion is "rain". Please come if you can. At 4 o'clock, I will be preaching at the English language worship service of Nagoya Union Church meeting in Kinjō Kyōkai, Higashi Ku, north of Tokiwa Jogakuin. You are invited to attend that service also.
Reckless car drivers (82/06/13)
Last April, a new landmark in Nagoya was officially opened. It is the Central Bridge that spans the broad Sakura Dōri north of the television tower and links the north and south sections or the Hisaya Park. It is an interesting bridge and leads into a pretty park with a unique water fountain digital clock that gives both Nagoya and Los Angeles time by means of figures made by spurting water. Further north is a large flower clock, whose face is made up of beautiful flowers. However, both of these clocks are often damaged by thoughtless pranksters. And now the prefectural police department has asked the city to close this new bridge at night because it is being used as a viewing platform for the cheering supporters of the bōsōzoku reckless car drivers who race around the park at night. Self-centered behavior without concern for others is what the Bible calls sin. But it is not limited to mischief-makers and bōsōzoku. It infects all of us and we need to get delivered from it. In the first chapter of the First Letter of John in the New Testament, we find these words: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. But if we confess our sins to God, he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all wrongdoing."
Flag Day (82/06/14)
Today, June 14th, is known as Flag Day in the United States. Before American independence became a reality, there were many different flags in use in the various settlements. On June 14, 1777, 205 years ago today, the Continental Congress adopted the following resolution: "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of 13 stripes alternate red and white; that the Union be 13 stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation." Thus was born the Stars and Stripes. When the next two states joined the Union, however, two more stars and two more stripes were added. In 1818, a Flag Act was passed that specified that from then on the flag would always have 13 stripes and that another star would be added whenever a new state was admitted to the Union. The flag now has 13 stripes, representing the 13 original colonies, and 50 stars, representing the 50 states. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, which all American schoolchildren learn by heart is as follows: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." We still pray that this ideal will become a reality.
Benjamin Franklin (82/06/15)
One of the outstanding men in early American history was Benjamin Franklin. Although he had only a couple of years of formal education, he became a popular writer with a common sense philosophy, a distinguished statesman who helped draft the Declaration of Independence and a practical scientist who invented both bifocal glasses and a harmonica. 230 years ago today, on June 15th, 1752, he performed his famous experiment of flying a kite in a thunderstorm, proving that lightning was electricity. Subsequently, he invented the lightning rod. Lightning is a brilliant flash of light in the sky, but a certain kind of beetle that emits flashes of light as it flies may be called a lightning bug in the United States. The Chinese character for this bug is made up of characters for fire and insect and in England it is called a firefly or a glowworm. In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin wrote that happiness "is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advantages that occur every day."
Echo (82/06/16)
Nymphs are minor mythological goddesses represented as beautiful maidens living in rivers, mountains, trees, etc. In Greek mythology, Echo was a mountain nymph who assisted the supreme god, Zeus, in a love affair by keeping his wife, Hera, busy with her chatter. As punishment, Hera made her unable to speak except to repeat the last words of someone else. In her love for Narcissus, Echo pined away until only her voice remained. In the New Testament, John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus, referred to himself as only "a voice shouting in the desert." In English, an echo is a reflection of sound waves that have been bounced back from another surface. It is a kind of response to the original sound. At our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting last Sunday, the idea of a "Daily Word" listeners' publication was again discussed. In tomorrow's message, I plan to explain about such a publication, to be called "Daily Word" Echoes. Please call again tomorrow to hear the details, for I hope that you also will be willing to share a short, written response to these messages sometime.
"Daily Word" messages for publication (82/06/17)
Those of you who listen regularly to these "Daily Word" messages are getting practice in hearing English. Those who attend the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meetings, which usually meet on the fifth Sunday afternoons of the month, also get to practice some spoken English. Now, we are planning to offer an opportunity for you to have some written English practice as well. Beginning next week, I plan to pose a question or speak on some controversial topic each Tuesday. Those of you who wish to respond with your views on the subject may write a short essay or even a few sentences and send them to me. I will correct the most glaring mistakes and may improve the English a bit before having it printed in a new publication called "Daily Word" Echoes, which will be distributed to all those who contribute articles, plus those who attend the Listeners' meetings or who send in for copies. You may write in response to any of the Tuesday messages that interest you. Don't be afraid of making some mistakes. Keep a copy of your letter and see how it is edited for publication. Or, you may write in Japanese if you wish. It is good for us to write down our thoughts sometimes. Try it and see.
Waterloo and Watergate (82/06/18)
There are cities, towns or villages named Waterloo in England, in Ontario and Quebec in Canada and in Iowa, New York, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin in the United States. However, the famous town called Waterloo is south of Brussels in Belgium. It was there on this day, June 18th, in the year 1815, that the self-crowned French emperor, Napoleon, was defeated at the hands of the British forces led by Wellington. That battle ended Napoleon's imperialistic dreams once and for all. Since that time, Waterloo has become a term to refer to any disastrous or decisive defeat. A similar place name has entered the English language because of a more recent historical event that took place just ten years ago yesterday in Washington D.C. On that day, five men were arrested for burglarizing the offices of the Democratic National Committee located in a building called Watergate. This word now carries the meaning of intrigue, deception and cover up. Watergate proved to be Nixon's Waterloo. Both of these names remind us of human weakness and the need to rely on a power, wisdom and truth greater than our own. Those who trust in the living God find his help in time of need and always.
Bisons (82/06/19)
The English word "buffalo" comes from a Greek word meaning "wild ox". Although the word refers to long horned animals in Asia and Africa, when the early European explorers came to the North American continent, they mistakenly used it to refer to the American bison, which has short horns and is larger and stronger than buffalo. Herds of bison, thought to number some 60,000,000, roamed the American plains between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains before the Indians came. The Indians and, later, the so-called white men slaughtered bison for meat and also used their hides to make leather. By 1900, the bison were almost extinct, but now there are about 10,000 of them living in protected areas. The year before last, one male and two female bison were obtained by the Higashiyama Zoo here in Nagoya and a couple of weeks ago, two baby bison made their debut in the Continental North American Corner of that zoo. The larger, male bison weighed in at 27 kilograms. According to the Old Testament law, all firstborn male animals had to be sacrificed to God, but the New Testament teaches that it is not animals but we ourselves that God desires to be offered to him.
Father's Day (82/06/20)
A few years after the second Sunday in May was designated as Mother's Day in the United States, the third Sunday in June received the designation as Father's Day. This celebration is said to owe its origin to Mrs. John Bruce Dodd of Spokane, Washington, as a tribute to her father who had raised his children by himself following the death of his wife. In the Bible, there are many terms used in reference to God. He is called a Rock, which symbolized his strength and permanence. He is called a King, a Judge and a Shepherd, which emphasize his authority, his justice and his loving care. In the teaching of Jesus, however, the most common word for God was "Father", which includes all of these characteristics. He taught his disciples to pray to "Our Father, who is in heaven". As a heavenly Father, God protects, guides, nurtures and provides for his children. However, the basic characteristic of God, the Father, whom Christ revealed, is love. The Bible teaches that God loves you! On this Father's Day, as you remember your earthly father and express your thanks to him, don't forget your Father, who is in heaven.
Tennis (82/06/21)
For most people, Sunday is considered a holiday. For Christians, it is considered a holy day. And for pastors, it is usually a busy day as well as a holy day. I am a pastor and I try to make Monday my holiday. If both the weather and my schedule permit, I play tennis every Monday morning with some other pastor friends. Although tennis has become increasingly popular in Japan in the past few years, it was first introduced into this country by an American, G. E. Leland, over a hundred years ago, in 1878. Although I have been playing tennis for many years, I am still not an expert player and there are some things about it I still don't understand. One of them is the reason for the odd system of scoring, which begins with "love" and may progress to "deuce", which can also be a mild swear word referring to the devil. Scores in a tennis game jump from love (or zero) to 15, to 30, to 40 for some strange reason. However, all tennis games begin with love and that's a good beginning for anything and everything. The Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians, chapter 13, "If I have no love, I am nothing."
Capital punishment (82/06/22)
Last Friday, two people were sentenced to death for crimes they committed ten years ago as leaders of the United Red Army. Hiroko Nagata and Hiroshi Sakaguchi were found guilty of murder and other crimes. They were held responsible for the cruel killing of 14 fellow gang members along with two policemen and a cameraman in the final shootout. I suppose that most people approve of the judge's sentence. Personally, however, I am opposed to capital punishment on principle. I agree that willful crime should be punished and that the punishment should be graded in relation to the crime. I also realize that there are devout Christians and believers of other religions who approve of capital punishment under certain conditions. Nevertheless, I am against killing people and do not wish to cause an executioner to do what I would refuse to do myself. The death penalty is irreversible, is not fairly administered and is open to much abuse. What do you think about capital punishment? Please write me your opinion. If you do so, I will correct any mistakes and edit it for inclusion in the first issue of "Daily Word" Echoes to be published in August. I hope to hear from many listeners with their differing viewpoints.
A son born to Prince Charles and Princess Diana (82/06/23)
We cannot be sure what our world will be like 40 or 50 or 60 years in the future--if, indeed, the world still exists at that time. But if the United Kingdom remains in existence and if it continues to recognize a monarchy and if other uncertain factors permit, then the baby son born yesterday to Crown Prince Charles and Princess Diana will eventually become king. Both Japan and the United Kingdom are called constitutional monarchies, which means that the powers of the monarch are limited by a constitution. In such countries, the monarchy is more of a symbol of unity and tradition than a political power in its own right. The Chinese character for king is made up of three horizontal lines with one vertical line in the middle, which is said to indicate that heaven (the top line) and earth (the bottom line) are unified through the monarch, signified by the middle line. One of the most common figures for the almighty, eternal God in the Bible is a king. The Christian believes that God is the true King of all the earth and that true world peace, as well as inward, spiritual peace, results when the kingship of God is realized.
Puerto Rico (82/06/24)
In 1493, when Christopher Columbus made a second trip to the so-called "new world", he stopped at an island which forms a part of the borderline between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. He called it San Juan Bautista, in honor of Saint John the Baptist. Later, the island's name was changed to Puerto Rico, which means "rich port" in Spanish. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is now a territory of the United States and its inhabitants are U. S. citizens. Although Puerto Ricans have not yet voted to make their island the 51st state, they do have a representative in Congress. The capital city of Puerto Rico is San Juan and today is called San Juan Day on that island, for it is the feast day of Saint John the Baptist in the Christian Church calendar. John the Baptist is mentioned at the beginning of all four of the Gospels in the New Testament. He was the forerunner of Jesus, who prepared his way by calling on people to turn from their sinful ways. He warned that every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire. His words remain relevant today.
The Korean War (82/06/25)
Before the end of World War II, the Allies agreed that Korea, which had been under Japanese rule for over 40 years, would become an independent nation. It was also agreed that Russian troops would accept the Japanese surrender of Korea north of the 38th parallel and American troops would accept the surrender south of that line. Once the surrender was completed, however, the 38th parallel became a political boundary and Korea became divided between a communist-ruled North and a democratic government in the South. On June 25th, 1950, 32 years ago today, North Korean forces crossed the borderline and invaded the South. By August, the South Korean and newly-arrived United Nations forces were almost pushed off the peninsula, but then regained the lost ground and pushed the North Korean troops back to the Chinese border. Helped by Chinese "volunteers", the battleline again retreated south and by the time the fighting ended after three years, the borderline was again established at the 38th parallel and there was nothing to show for the devastated land and the millions of dead and wounded. War is an absurd admission that mankind is still not mature enough to settle its disputes by peaceful means. Wars no longer have winners, only losers.
United Nations Charter Day (82/06/26)
Today, June, 26th, is known as United Nations Charter Day. It was on this day in 1945 that the United Nations Charter was signed in San Francisco by the representatives of 50 nations, about two months before the dropping of two atomic bombs and the surrender of Japan at the close of the Second World War. Over the past 36 years, the General Assembly, the various U.N. councils, the International Court of Justice and specialized and related agencies have been functioning. However, as the current Special Session on Disarmament and the continuing conflict in the Mid-east and other places make clear, progress toward genuine global peace has been very slow. A biblical vision of world peace is described in Isaiah, chapter 11, as follows: "Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats. Calves and lion cubs will feed together, and little children will take care of them. Cows and bears will eat together, and their calves and cubs will lie down in peace." However, in the world of nations, such an ideal will not come to pass by making or enforcing new laws. A new manner of thinking, a complete change of heart, is required--and this results from a healthy faith in the God of peace.
The Lions (82/06/27)
The Seibu Lions have just won their first
championship as the first half of the divided baseball season in the Pacific
League draws to a close. The Lions have a 32 year history, during which
they have had various owners but have kept the name "Lions". A lion is a
large, powerful mammal of the cat family. It seems to exhibit a proud,
haughty manner and is considered king of the beasts. It is also the
symbol of Great Britain, so that "to twist the lion's tail" refers to making
statements against that proud nation. There is also a constellation which
supposedly outlines the shape of a lion and thus is called Leo. Various
names are derived from Leo, including Leonid, the name of the Soviet
Union prime minister Brezhnev. Actually, this name refers to a shower of
meteors which seem to radiate from Leo every year in November. In this
time of competition between the superpowers who are seeking to be king of
the mountain of armaments which could result in a shower of bombs
threatening the existence of both lions and men, both Leonid and Ronald should
remember the wise words of the philosopher in Ecclesiastes 9:4, "A live
dog is better than a dead lion".
The First World War (82/06/28)
The First World War lasted from 1914 to 1918. It is
reported that over 10,000,000 people died and over 20,000,000 were
wounded in that war. Why did that war occur? Along with the economic and
political factors involved, an armament race was under way. An incident in
the city of Sarajevo, now located in Yugoslavia, proved to be the spark
that set off the powder keg. A Serbian nationalist fired the "shot that
shook the world", assassinating an Austrian archduke and his wife. That
event occurred 68 years ago today on June 28th, 1914. The high school
student who committed the assassination could not have dreamed what the
result of his action would be. When many countries are heavily armed and
have economic, political or ideological disagreements which cause
friction, a minor incident may set off a chain of events that result in a
world conflagration. The New Testament book of James, chapter 3, verse 5
states, "Just think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame".
This is another reason for working, hoping and praying for some practical
results of the present U.N. Special Session on Disarmament.
Rain (82/06/02)
Jefferson Davis (82/06/03)
Versailles (82/06/04)
Ice cream (82/06/05)
Trinity Sunday (82/06/06)
Intelligence Quotient (82/06/07)
Preaching Christianity in Saudi Arabia (82/06/08)
Lockheed payoff scandal (82/06/09)
Prince Philip as a nobleman (82/06/10)
Kamehameha Day (82/06/11)
The Queen's Official Birthday (82/06/12)
Reckless car drivers (82/06/13)
Flag Day (82/06/14)
Benjamin Franklin (82/06/15)
Echo (82/06/16)
"Daily Word" messages for publication (82/06/17)
Waterloo and Watergate (82/06/18)
Bisons (82/06/19)
Father's Day (82/06/20)
Tennis (82/06/21)
Capital punishment (82/06/22)
A son born to Prince Charles and Princess Diana (82/06/23)
Puerto Rico (82/06/24)
The Korean War (82/06/25)
United Nations Charter Day (82/06/26)
The Lions (82/06/27)
The First World War (82/06/28)
Decoy (82/06/29)
Great Purification Ceremony (82/06/30)
June (82/06/01)