Canada Day (82/07/01)
Today, July 1st, is a national holiday in Canada.
It was on this day in 1869 that the British North American Act went into
effect and Canada officially became a Dominion within the British Empire.
The former British Empire has given way to the British Commonwealth of
Nations and Canada itself is no longer referred to as a Dominion. Thus,
this holiday has been changed from Dominion Day to Canada Day. A new
Canadian flag--a red maple leaf on a white field with red bars on each side--was
adopted in 1965 and two years ago parliament designated the song "0
Canada" as the national anthem. "Canada" evidently comes from an Indian
word meaning collection of tents, or village. It was originally used by a
French explorer to refer to a village where Quebec City now stands and
eventually was extended to apply to the entire country. As the second
largest country in the world, Canada is now quite a large village indeed, but
it has one of the lowest ratios of population per square kilometer. In
one sense Canada is still a dominion, along with all other nations, for
the word "dominion" refers to the rule of a lord and the Bible teaches
that the whole earth is the Lord's and his dominion is over all.
Strict discipline in Islam (82/07/02)
While the attention of people in Japan and the United
States was focussed on stories of secret materials stolen from I.B.M.,
Pakistan's highest Islamic court ruled on Tuesday that a 25 year old man
should have his right hand amputated at the wrist for stealing a clock
three years ago. Islam, which means "submission", is severe in its
punishment of evildoers. It also emphasizes strict discipline. Devout
Muslims are presently observing the month of Ramadan, during which they are
required to totally abstain from all food, drink, tobacco and sexual
intercourse during daylight hours. Moreover, during this month they are
commanded to abstain from falsehood, speaking ill of others, quarreling,
engaging in angry talk, discussing disreputable matters and wrong behavior
of any sort. Severe punishment may induce fear, and enforced morality may
encourage good habits. However, the New Testament teaches that truly
moral behavior cannot be legislated. It must come from the free will of a
heart that has been transformed by God's love. The Apostles wrote that
"there is no fear in love" (I John 4:18) and "to love is to obey the whole
law" (Romans 13:10).
Gettysburg Address (82/07/03)
You have probably heard of the famous Gettysburg
Address given by American President Abraham Lincoln in November of 1863.
It was delivered at the dedication of a national cemetery at Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania. It was at this site that the decisive battle of the American
Civil War took place on July 3rd, 1863, 119 years ago today. During the
three days of the Gettysburg Campaign, the killed, wounded or missing
troops of both North and South totaled 43,000. Lincoln's address ends with
the words "that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died
in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and
that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not
perish from the earth." In the five score and nineteen years since that
battle and that address, millions of others have died in wars throughout
the world. Some may be dying even today. We must again ask ourselves,
how many of these people have died in vain? War is folly! As President
Kennedy stated in an address to the United Nations in 1961, "Mankind must
put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind."
Variouos events on the 4th of July (82/07/04)
Today is the 4th of July. Do you know of any important
historical event that occurred on this day? It was on this day in 1187
that the Muslim leader Saladin gained an important victory over the
Crusaders in the Holy Land. On this day in 1829, bus service began in
London. And on this day in 1870, the Robert E. Lee won a steamboat race with
the Natchez from New Orleans to St. Louis. Which events in history are
chosen as important depends upon the viewpoint and interest of the
historian. Of course, to red-blooded, white-faced, blue-eyed Americans, the
4th of July has a special significance as the birthday of their nation--which
also includes people who consider themselves blue-blooded but have
red faces at times. Actually, there are people of all colors, sizes and
shapes in the so-called melting pot of the United States and we are still
working to realize the ideal which was stated in the Declaration of
Independence, signed 206 years ago today, that all people have equal rights
to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. For the Christian,
abundant life, genuine liberty and true happiness are found through faith in
Jesus Christ.
Tea (82/07/05)
Today, July 5th, is the anniversary day of the death
of Eisai, an important person in the history of Japanese Buddhism. Eisai
studied at Hieizan, outside of Kyoto, after entering the Buddhist
priesthood. In 1167, when he was 27 years old, he went to China and studied at
Tendaizan. Following a second trip to China, he introduced the Zen stream
of Buddhism into Japan and is known as the founder of the Rinzai Sect.
However, it was not only Zen that Eisai introduced into Japan from China.
It was he who brought the first seeds of tea bushes into this country and
produced the first Japan-grown tea. Since that time, Japanese have become
inveterate tea drinkers. There are many varieties of Japanese green tea--ranging
in quality from the superior gyokuro (gem dew) to the coarse tea
called bancha. Although it may reflect my uncultured taste, personally,
I prefer bancha to gyokuro--or to coffee, for that matter. Tea is not
mentioned in the Bible. Among the Jews, water, milk and wine were the
main beverages. Jesus invited spiritually thirsty folk to come to him
to receive spiritual refreshment and new life--not through Zen meditation,
but as a gift from God received by faith.
Sports (82/07/06)
One of the many references to sports in the New
Testament is found in II Timothy 2:5: "An athlete who runs in a race cannot
win the prize unless he obeys the rules." For those people interested
in sports, there is much to choose from these days. The Wimbledon Tennis
Tournament in England has just finished. The World Cup Soccer Tournament
is still going on in Spain. International track events are being held in
the United States and Italy. An international women's softball
tournament is being held in Taiwan and an Asian Amateur Boxing Tournament just
ended in Korea. There are international basketball tournaments now being
played in Taiwan and Japan. An open ping-pong tournament is under way in
the U.S. along with the Japan-U.S. college basketball championship series,
and open golf tournaments are being played in the U.S., Sweden, Canada and
Japan. And then there are the regular Japan and U.S. baseball leagues and
the current summer sumō tournament in Nagoya. What is your favorite sport
and why do you enjoy it best? If you write me your answer, I will correct
mistakes and edit it for inclusion in "Daily Word" Echoes, to be published
next month.
Sumō (82/07/07)
The annual Nagoya Basho Sumō Tournament is now taking
place at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. The wrestlers calmly prepare for
their bout by scattering salt and then squatting to stare at their
opponent before charging into him. Then follows the slapping, pushing,
kicking and grappling until one of the wrestlers is either on the dirt or out
of the ring. The Chinese characters for sumō literally mean to strike each
other. According to the Nihon Shokisumō match in Japan is
said to have taken place on the 7th day of the 7th month of the 7th year
of Emperor Suinin, which probably was about 200 A.D., when 2 strong men
were caused to wrestle together. The record states that each raised his
foot and kicked at the other, when Nomi no Sukune broke with a kick the
ribs of Kehaya and also kicked and broke his loins and thus killed him."
Fortunately, the character of sumō has changed since that first bout. The
Bible also contains the story of a wrestling match between Jacob and an
angel in Genesis, chapter 32, but the New Testament teaches that man's
basic struggle is against the powers of evil and it is that spiritual
fight that each one of us and the world has to win.
Black Ships (82/07/08)
When I first arrived in Japan, it was still under
control of the American Occupation Forces. It was still smarting from
the black eye it had received on that black letter day when it
surrendered. Some goods were being sold on the black market and many wartime
leaders were black-listed. On some days, there were blackouts caused by
electric power shortages. However, it was during my Japanese language
study that I first came across the expression "black ships". It was on
July 8th, 1853, 129 years ago today, that U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry
appeared in Uraga harbor with four warships, which were referred to as
black ships in Japanese because of their black-painted hulls. Now a
"Black Ship Festival" is held every year in the town of Shimoda to
commemorate the first landing of Commodore Perry from his American "black
ships". Although black has traditionally been associated with sadness
or evil, in recent years in America, "black is beautiful" has become a
popular saying--and it is true, for there is beauty in all colors, in
all people and in all things, if only we have the perception or the
insight to recognize it.
Argentina (82/07/09)
A country that has been in the news regularly during
the past month is Argentina, the 2nd largest country in South America
and the 8th largest country in the world. Today, July 9th, is a national
holiday in that country, for it was on this day in 1816 that Argentina
proclaimed its independence from Spain. Argentina, meaning "of silver"
or "silvery" in Spanish, gets its name from the wide river mouth called
Rio de la Plata, or "silver river", which flows into the Atlantic Ocean
from Argentina and Uruguay. When the revolutionaries proclaimed their
independence, they called their new nation the United Provinces of La
Plata. Silver is one of the minerals found in Argentina and it was
probably because of the native Indians' silver ornaments that Spanish
explorers called that river "silver". You have probably heard the famous
proverb that "Speech is silvern, silence is golden", which teaches that, at
least sometimes, silence is more valuable than speech. Ecclesiastes 3:7
states that there is "a time to keep silence, and a time to speak".
However, it takes a truly wise man to discern which time is which.
Wyoming (82/07/10)
In an alphabetical list of the 50 United States,
the last state is Wyoming, which is abbreviated WY. Although there are
mountain ranges in this western state, its name comes from an Indian word
meaning plain or prairie, which evidently was taken from Wyoming Valley in
Pennsylvania. In size, Wyoming ranks 9th, but in population it is number
49. Only Alaska, which is the largest state, has fewer people. In the
northwest corner of the state is the famous Yellowstone National Park,
which is the oldest national park in the country. It was on this day,
July 10th, in the year 1890, that Wyoming was admitted to the Union as the
44th state. Over 20 years before becoming a state, the territory of
Wyoming officially gave women the right to vote, and was the first U.S.
territory to do so. Thus, it is known as the Equality State and its state
motto is "Equal Rights". There is much talk these days about rights--the
rights of young people, of women, of minorities, etc., but rights are
linked to responsibilities. President Kennedy stated that the protection
of our rights can endure no longer than the performance of our
responsibilities."
Duel between Hamilton and Burr (82/07/11)
The Latin word for "two" is duo, d-u-o. This is
also an English word meaning a duet, referring to two performers of a
musical composition. Dual, spelled d-u-a-l, refers to something or
someone having two parts. There is another word pronounced the same, but
spelled d-u-e-l. This duel refers to a formal fight between two persons
armed with deadly weapons. It was on this day, July 11th, in the year
1804 that a famous duel was fought in the United States between two
famous statesmen of that young nation, both of whom were in their late
forties. Alexander Hamilton had been a key person in getting the
Constitution approved and served as the nation's first Secretary of the
Treasury under President Washington. Aaron Burr had been a U.S. Senator
and served as Vice-President under President Jefferson. Due to both
personal and political differences between them, Burr challanged
Hamilton to a duel and mortally wounded him, which ended the political careers
of both men, making the affair a double loss to the country. In the Old
Testament book of I Samuel, chapter 17, is the story of another famous
duel between a young shepherd boy, David, and the giant, Goliath. It
teaches us that even the weak may gain victory through a healthy faith in God.
Julius Caesar (82/07/12)
Do you know why the surgical operation for
delivering a baby by cutting through the mother's abdominal wall is called a
Caesarean operation? It is because that was said to be the way that
Julius Caesar was born on July 12, 100 B.C., 2082 years ago today. Like
many famous men, Caesar was a controversial character. His admirers
consider him a defender of his own rights and the rights of the people
against an entrenched oligarchy. His detractors view him as an ambitious
demagogue, bribing, smiling and forcing his way to dictatorial powers,
resulting in the destruction of the Roman republic. There is no doubt,
however, that he was a gifted man. He excelled in war, in politics, in
statesmanship, in writing, in speaking and in social grace. This month
of July is named in his honor. In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, Jesus
instructed his disciples that they should not seek to gain power and
become great in the eyes of men. He taught that true greatness comes by
being a servant of others, even as he himself did not come to be served,
but to serve and to give his life on behalf of others. He said that many
who are now first will be last and many who are now last will be first.
Juvenile delinquency (82/07/13)
Today is Tuesday, the day I present a problem or
question for your consideration. If you write a short essay, explaining
your opinion, I will correct the English and edit it before printing it
in "Daily Word" Echoes, to be published next month. There is much
discussion these days about juvenile delinquency and student violence in
schools. Various theories have been put forth to explain the cause and
suggest a remedy. The strong influence of television, the lack of
discipline in the home, the incompetence of teachers, the social and
educational system have all been cited as contributing to this problem. What
do you think about it? From my point of view, the heart of this and
similar problems may be traced to the hearts of people. It is basically a
moral or spiritual problem--beginning to take root from infancy or
childhood, when there is a lack of moral instruction and sensible discipline
on the part of both parents. Both parents need to be involved in the
raising of children, showing both love and firmness, considering the
longrange good of the child. To be a responsible parent or teacher, I believe
that one must have a firm and healthy faith that undergirds one's words
and actions.
The French Revolution (82/07/14)
Japan has its National Foundation Day on February
11th. The United States celebrates its Independence Day on the 4th of
July. In France, the holiday commemorating the birth of the Republic is
July 14th and called Bastille Day. The Bastille was a castle-like
fortress in Paris, built in 1369. It was used as a state prison until 1789
when it was stormed and destroyed on July 14th, which marked the beginning
of the French Revolution. Since the Revolution, France has undergone a
number of constitutional changes and the present constitution is that of
the Fifth Republic, ushered in by President De Gaulle in 1958. The
watchword of the French Revolution was "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". These
are noble aims which all people desire. Yet, there are people who are
politically free but who are still spiritually in bondage. The Christian
Gospel of God's love brings spiritual liberty to the believer. Its
teaching on equality is based on the faith that we become God's children
through faith and thus enjoy the fraternity of God's family.
Chūgen (82/07/15)
To the foreigner, the Japanese appear to be a
giftgiving people. Gifts are given on many occasions: when visiting another's
home, following a trip, at celebrations, at the end of the year, etc. Not
only are gifts given, the polite person will also give some gift in return.
Formal gifts are tied up with a threefold red and white paper cord called
mizuhiki, literally "water pulling", since these cords were made by
pulling them through a water paste and then letting them dry. At this season
of the year, gifts called chūgen are exchanged. In Chinese
tradition,
there were three beginnings or gen on the 15th of January, July and
October. Being the middle of these gen, July 15th is called
chūgen, and so
are the midyear gifts given at this time. For the Christian, the
giftgiving time of year is the Christmas Season, when we remember the great
Gift God gave to the world. It was the gift of his Son. The Bible teaches
that all good gifts are from God, who is the Great Gift-Giver. As we give
gifts to others, we should not forget God's gift to us. The 9th chapter of
I Corinthians ends with the words: "Let us thank God for his priceless gift".
Agricultural Fair in Nagoya (82/07/16)
The City of Nagoya is sometimes belittled as a "big
country town". Nevertheless, such a description need not be taken in a
completely negative way. Country towns also have their strongpoints. It
may surprise you to know that there are, at present, some 8,000 farming
households in this city. with some 35,000 hectares of farmland under
cultivation, which yielded ¥11,300,000,000 worth of produce during 1981.
Earlier this week the 31st annual agricultural fair was held at the Fukiage
Hall in Chikusa Ward. There were about 3,500 entries in some 50 different
categories of agricultural products including fruits, vegetables,
flowering plants, grains, eggs and honey. Judges considered each
entry--considering size, shape, color, fragrance, etc. and awarded prizes to the
winners. I don't know if Tokyo or Osaka has such an annual fair, but I think
it is good for Nagoya to continue this country town tradition. An English
poet, William Cowper, has written that "God made the country, and man made
the town". And a Frenchman, Jacques de Lacrettele, has remarked that "the
city has a face, the country a soul". May the soul and soil of Nagoya flourish.
Ways of greeting (82/07/17)
In Japan, the traditional method of greeting another
person, whether a stranger or an old friend, is bowing. In India, the
palms of the hands are pressed together in front of one's chest in
greeting. Eskimos rub noses. Among Arabs, embracing is common. The usual
American custom of greeting is by shaking hands or by kissing. Seven
years ago today, on July 17, 1975, an American spaceship linked up with a
Soviet spaceship 225 kilometers above the Atlantic Ocean. When the
astronauts greeted each other after the docking, there was probably little room
for bowing or embracing, but they did shake hands. This was during the
period of Soviet-American relations known as detente, a French word
referring to an easing of tensions. Tensions between these two countries seem
to be getting strained once again, despite the recent handshakes of their
representatives at the arms limitation talks in Geneva. Whether by bowing,
embracing, kissing, rubbing noses or shaking hands, greeting others is a
good custom to follow. Jesus taught that his disciples should not merely
greet their friends, but show love toward their enemies as well. Showing
love to enemies is the best way to eliminate them. They may even become
our friends.
Fastening seatbelts (82/07/18)
Do you usually fasten your seatbelt when you drive or
ride in a car? A couple of days ago, the prefectural traffic accident
prevention agency conducted a spot survey at 34 places in Aichi Prefecture--
including expressway interchanges and along National Highway #1. At the
Nagoya Interchange, six workers stopped every car leaving the expressway
beginning at 8 o'clock in the morning. Of the 500 cars they examined, drivers
in 120 of them had their seatbelts fastened. Of the 105 passengers,
only 11 were belted down. That means that less than 22% of both drivers
and passengers were using their seatbelts. Around our homes also, I am
sure that there are many safety measures that we neglect because it takes
time or is somewhat inconvenient. There is an English proverb that it is
"better to be safe than sorry". This is true in a spiritual sense as well
as in a physical sense. The Bible teaches that true spiritual safety is
gained, not through human effort, but through accepting by faith God's
offer of salvation. To be saved is to be safe, and true safety is found
in placing our lives into the loving care of our heavenly Father.
Homonyms (82/07/19)
Do you know what a homonym is? It is a word that is
pronounced the same as another word but has an entirely different meaning.
For example, I may say that my wife is a dear, but that doesn't mean she
is an animal. She is a dear, spelled d-e-a-r, and has given birth to other
dears, spelled the same. About three weeks ago, a different kind of deer,
shiroshika in Japanese, gave birth to a baby deer in the Higashiyama Zoo.
This newborn deer is said to be very docile, following its parents around
and resting in the shade. I'm sure the stag and doe must consider their
fawn a dear deer. Ten days ago, another birth took place in the same zoo
to an ushikamoshika. Do you know the English name for that animal? A
shika is a deer. A kamoshika is an antelope. And an ushikamoshika is a
gnu, spell g-n-u. I presume the mother of this new gnu thinks that her
offspring is a dear also. I suppose the zookeeper knew the new gnu was
going to be born beforehand. The Bible teaches that God knew us before we
were born and gives us new life when we become his dear children.
Listeners' opinions (82/07/20)
Today is Tuesday, the day I present a question or
problem and invite the written response of listeners. I will correct and
edit your essay before including it in "Daily Word" Echoes, to be published
next month. There is much variety among listeners to these messages in
respect to age, sex, occupation, social status, etc., but at least one common
factor is that all of you can understand some English. The native
speakers understand perfectly, but for most of you, English is a second
language which you are seeking to comprehend more fully. In your opinion,
what is the greatest weakness of English teaching in Japan and what can be
done to overcome it? Is the major problem related to teachers, textbooks,
method of instruction, motivation, or something else? The Bible has many
stories related to seeds and how they come to bear fruit. It teaches that
good seed planted in good soil with good cultivation and blessed by good
weather will eventually produce good fruit. I would be happy to read your
opinion, reflecting your own experience, regarding how to improve the
fruit of the many seeds of English instruction that are being sown in this land.
The most common word in America (82/07/21)
It is said that there are some 600,000 words in the
English language at present. Depending on their education, most Americans
are estimated to know from 10-20,000 words but actually use only half that
number. Ten basic words are said to account for over 25% of all American
speech and fifty simple words for about 60%. What would you guess are the
most frequently used words in English? The most common word spoken in
America is the pronoun "I" and the second most common spoken word is "you".
These are followed by the articles "the" and "a" and then other pronouns
and prepositions. One of the evident differences between English and
Japanese is that in English the subject of a sentence is usually clearly
stated, while in Japanese it is often omitted. Obviously, there is a
relationship between cultural tradition and language. The individualism of
Americans and the group consciousness of Japanese are reflected in the way
they express themselves. Biblical religion also is rooted in a personal
relationship between a self-conscious individual and a personal God we call
"Father".
Cricket (82/07/22)
Have you ever heard the English expression "that's
not cricket"? This expression has nothing to do with the chirping insect
called a cricket. Rather, it is related to the national sport of England,
which is also called cricket, and refers to unsportsmanlike or improper
behavior. Cricket may be considered a kind of ancestor of American
baseball. However, there are no bases to run around in cricket. Rather, there
are two wickets, consisting of three round sticks, in the middle of the
field, upon which are two light pieces of wood which the pitcher, or
bowler, tries to knock off as he bowls the ball. The batsman, in front of the
wicket, tries to hit the ball with a wooden, paddle-shaped bat. Since
originally cricket was a gentleman's sport, the term "cricket" came to
refer to gentlemanly conduct. Originally the word "gentleman" referred to a
man of noble birth, and then it was used for a courteous man who was
considerate of others. But now it is the polite way to refer to any man
whether he is gentle or not. In the New Testament, gentleness is
considered a Christian virtue. Pastors and teachers, especially, are urged to
be gentle. It has been said that a "strong man can always afford to be
gentle ". (Elbert Hubbard)
The hottest season (82/07/23)
According to the traditional Japanese lunar calendar,
July 23rd is the beginning of the season of the "big heat" (taisho). It
follows the season of the "small heat" just as the "big cold" season
follows the "small cold" season in January. The Chinese character for sho,
meaning "hot", has a sun on both the top and the bottom of the character
to show how hot it really is, with heat coming from both above and below.
This hottest season of the year is also call the doyō season in Japan.
In the United States, this hot, uncomfortable midsummer time is sometimes
called "dog days", because during this July-August season the Dog Star,
Sirius, rises and sets with the sun. Although many people want to get
away from the city during these hot and humid days, someone has written
that "the bigger the summer vacation, the harder the fall". During this
hot season of the year, we should be thankful for the different seasons and
for the special character of each season. In the order and variety of
nature, the Christian sees evidence of the wisdom, mercy and power of God,
the world's Creator and Sustainer.
Jizo Bon (82/07/24)
One of the most popular Buddhist deities in Japan is
Jizō Bosatsu. This deity is considered to be the savior of spirits of the
dead and the guardian of children especially. Statues of Jizo Bosatsu are
found along country roads as well as on street corners in the city. Such
statues are often erected on the sites of fatal accidents to console the
spirits of those killed there. Many such statues have bibs hung around
their necks by parents who are praying for some benefit for their child.
Statues are also erected by parents whose young children have died. July
24th of the lunar calendar is the special day for Jizō Bosatsu, called
Jizō Bon--although some areas observe it a month later. Because of their
tradition, many Japanese find it difficult to pray to God without bowing
before some visible object, such as a statue or some other symbol.
However, the Bible teaches that true worship is a spiritual act that does not
require any visible object of worship or a particular ritual. God is spirit
and he requires the kind of spiritual worship that is seen in all of life
and is not limited to certain times and places.
Wheelchair basketball (82/07/25)
An international basketball tournament is being held
this week in London. It is a special kind of basketball tournament, how-
ever, since it is being played by athletes in wheelchairs who are unable
to use their legs. One of the participants in this tournament is 23 year
old Nobuchika Maekawa of Nagoya. He is the only member of the Japan team
that comes from Aichi Prefecture. Nobuchika is an employee of Meito Ward
Office. When he was only 13 months old he contracted polio, which left
him crippled. He has always had an interest in sports, but only as a
spectator until his first year in college. Then he heard that there was
a wheelchair basketball team in the city. He joined the team and soon
became a star player. In wheelchair basketball, players must manipulate
their wheelchairs as well as handle the ball, so it takes considerable
skill as well as endurance. I hope that Nobuchika and the Japanese team
fare well in this tournament. Reading or hearing of the feats of handicapped
persons should cause the rest of us to give thanks for our sound
bodies and to reflect on the use we are making of our abilities. Unused
ability soon becomes useless.
New York (82/07/26)
As you know, the early immigrants to the North American
continent came from various European countries. We see this reflected
in the names that were given to the new communities that were established
in this "new world". There are many towns and cities in the U.S.
today with the names of cities in the "old world" preceded by the word
"new". New London, New Lisbon, New Madrid, New Paris, New Berlin, New Edinburgh,
New Athens are only a few examples. There are also states with
such names as New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York. It was 194 years
ago today that the Colony of New York ratified the new Constitution, making
it officially the 11th state of the new nation. This colony was
first called New Netherland and its major city was called New Amsterdam
by the earlier Dutch colonists. Later, it was taken over by English
colonists who renamed both the colony and the city "New York" in honor of
the Duke of York. The state motto of New York is Excelsior, a Latin
word meaning "Ever Upward". The Bible teaches that there is an "upward
call of God" (Philippians 3:14) to which we should respond. Our life's
journey should be "ever upward".
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution (82/07/27) ]
The next meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word"
telephone messages is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, August 29th, at the
YWCA. At that time, we plan to distribute copies of the first issue of
"Daily Word" Echoes, consisting of essays listeners have written in response
to questions raised in these messages. Responses to today's message
will be the last ones to be included in that first issue. Article 9
of the Japanese Constitution states: "Aspiring sincerely to an international
peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce
war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of
force as means of settling international disputes. Land, sea and air
forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained." Despite
this article, Japan now maintains a sizable self-defense force, including
war potential. The government would like to increase its military
might and there is American pressure for it to do so. Some people
consider this constitutional article unrealistic in today's world. What
do you think? Should the constitution be changed? Why or why not? Personally,
I hope the pressures are resisted and the constitutional commitment
to peace is maintained. Jesus said: "Blessed are the peacemakers."
Johann Sebastian Bach (82/07/28)
282 years ago today, on July 28th, 1750, one of the
world's greatest musicians died of a stroke in Leipzig, Germany. His name
was Johann Sebastian Bach and he came from a family of distinguished musicians.
Three of his twenty children became outstanding musicians also.
As a boy, Johann Sebastian sang in a boy choir as a soprano and then became
a violinist. He developed a more serious interest in the organ, however,
and at times would walk over 40 kilometers to hear a noted organist.
Bach is noted for his organ compositions, but he also composed many cantatas
and chorales as well as music for the violin and other instruments.
He was primarily a church composer, the majority of his compositions being
of a religious character. The character of a religion may be seen in
the kind of music it produces. Christianity has always been a musical religion
with both the joy and solemnity of worship being expressed in melody.
The Psalmist wrote: "Sing to the Lord, all the world! Worship the
Lord with joy; come before him with happy songs." (100:1) And the Apostle
Paul added: "Sing psalms, hymns and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving
in your hearts." (Colossians 3:16)
Cathedra (82/07/29)
Do you remember what homonyms are? They are words
having the same pronunciation but with a completely different meaning and
usually a different spelling. For example, the word sea, s-e-a, refers
to a large body of water. Sea has a homonym spelled s-e-e, which refers
to what we do with our eyes. However, there is another homonym also
spelled s-e-e, which refers to the jurisdiction of a bishop in the church.
The throne upon which a bishop sits is called a cathedra and the church
in which this cathedra is placed is called a cathedral. Thus, originally,
a cathedral was the main church in a bishop's see, but nowadays it is often
used to refer to any large, imposing church. There are many old,
beautiful cathedrals in Europe which are magnificent works of art. Yet, as King
Solomon indicated when he built a beautiful temple in Jerusalem, not even
all heaven is large enough to hold the eternal God, so no temple built by
men can serve as his dwelling place (I Kings 8:27). According to the
Bible, the true dwelling place of God is not a magnificent cathedral, but
the humble heart of a sincere believer (Isaiah 57:15).