China's national holiday (83/10/01)
The country with the world's greatest population is China. This name is taken from the Chin dynasty which ruled China in the 3rd century B.C. and produced her first emperor. In English, china may also refer to dishes and other porcelain products that were originally imported from China, even as the pottery or chinaware produced in Seto is called setomono. Incidentally, did you know that japan also is a common noun in English referring to the hard lacquer or urushi which first came to the West from Japan? Although China has an ancient history, the People's Republic of China was declared by the Communists on October 1st, 1949, so today is celebrated as a national holiday there commemorating that event. In Japan, October 1st is called Law Day. It was so designated by the Japanese government in 1960 to encourage respect for the law and for the protection of human rights. In I Timothy 1:6 is the interesting observation that "the law is good, if any one uses it lawfully". Even good laws may be misused, but the New Testament teaches that the basic law is the law of love.
Kami in Izumo Taisha (83/10/02)
Just as Aichi Prefecture is composed of the 2 older provinces of Owari and Mikawa, so Shimane Prefecture is made up of the former provinces of Iwami and Izumo. In Izumo Province, the famous Taisha Shrine, said to be the oldest shrine in Japan, is located. According to Japanese folk religion, during the tenth month of the year the kami from all over Japan gather together at the Izumo Taisha. According to one explanation, the kami gather to make sake, while another explanation is related to their discussion of marriage arrangements. Since the kami leave their home shrines during this period, the tenth month was traditionally called the month without kami, although in Izumo that month is called the month with kami. Incidentally, the tenth month of the lunar calendar begins on November 5th this year. Since there is such a great difference between the Japanese concept of kami and the Christian idea of God, I think it was a mistake to use kami as the Japanese translation of God. We cannot imagine a time or place without God in the biblical sense of the word, for God is the almighty, eternal Creator and Sustainer of the world and all that's in it.
Contribution welcome (83/10/03)
It is our custom to hold a meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages on the 5th Sunday of the month, so we will hold our 12th such meeting on Sunday afternoon, October 30th, at the YWCA. Until now, the only income received to pay for expenses related to this service has been the voluntary offerings made by those who attend the listeners' meeting and the ¥100 fee for those who request weekly copies of the messages. Two weeks ago, at the urging of the telephone company, I installed a 2nd telephone and answer phone machine at a cost of ¥80,000 so that callers would not get so many busy signals. Those who wish to contribute to the cost of this new equipment may deposit their contribution in the Yūbin Furikae Kōza of Deiri-wa-do, Nagoya #3-37078. As of Saturday, ¥20,000 had been received from 15 individuals. For those who wish to study the Bible in Japanese, I teach a Bible Class at the City Kyōikukan in Sakae on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, beginning at 6:30. You are welcome to attend tomorrow's meeting. This is "Daily Word", Post office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
St. Fransis of Assissi (83/10/04)
The day before my young wife and I left the United States on our 1st trip to Japan 32 years ago this month, we stayed in a hotel in San Francisco named the St. Francis. The name San Francisco itself is the Spanish form of St. Francis. Nagoya's sister city of Los Angeles originally had a Spanish name meaning the Town of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels of Porciuncula. The Chapel of Porciuncula in Italy was also closely related to this same St. Francis of Assisi and today, October 4th, is his feast day. Francis was born in the Italian town of Assisi in 1182, the son of a rich merchant. His father called him Francis because of his fondness of France. In his early 20's, he forsook an easy-going life and dedicated himself to a life of self-sacrifice, seeking to literally follow the example of Jesus. He became the founder of the Franciscans. A widely quoted prayer associated with St. Francis is the following: "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace! Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy."
A very special delivery (83/10/05)
The term "special delivery" refers to mail that is delivered by a special messenger before the regular mail delivery upon payment of an additional fee. However, delivery can also refer to the process of childbirth. Last Saturday afternoon a "special delivery" took place in the women's restroom of the Daiei Store in Sakae. 39 year old Asako Fujii was shopping there with a friend when she began to feel labor pains. She rushed to the restroom and immediately began giving birth. Her friend notified a clerk who notified the manager who mobilized 20 employees for this emergency. Women assisted in the restroom; men carried towels and guarded the entrance. The ambulance crew of the Naka Fire Station arrived to cut the umbilical cord and take Mrs. Fujii on a stretcher, along with her 2700 gram baby boy, to a nearby hospital where they both were in good health. It was Mrs. Fujii's 4th child, which was due 10 days later. When store employees were informed of the "special delivery" by the public address system at the close of the day, they broke into cheers and applause. The 127th Psalm states that "children are a gift from the Lord."
Koala (83/10/06)
A koala is an animal that is native to Australia. It has thick, grey fur, a curved, black nose and large, furry ears. It lives in trees and looks something like a small bear, so it has also been called a koala bear. At present, koalas are found only in Australia and in a couple of zoos in the Los Angeles area. Now, Nagoya has been promised a pair of koalas for its Higashiyama Zoo. Since establishing a sister city relationship with Sydney 3 years ago, Nagoya's Mayor Motoyama has been craving such a gift and his efforts seem to have succeeded. Koalas are very fussy about their food. They eat only the leaves and shoots of a certain species of eucalyptus trees, but Nagoya now has almost 10,000 such trees growing so their food supply should be assured. People also should be careful about the kind of spiritual food they consume for our spiritual health is determined by it. The Bible refers to Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life and promises spiritual health to those who trust in him. The is "Daily Word", P.O. Box 30, Moriyama P.O. 463.
"Build down" (83/10/07)
Languages which are no longer in use are called dead languages. On the other hand, languages such as English and Japanese are living languages. Living things are constantly changing, including languages. In modern Japanese, many words have been borrowed from English. Some of these borrowed words have been altered, shortened or even mutilated in the process. The Japanese word biru is the shortened form of the English word "building". A building is a structure, such as a house or factory, that has been built. To "build up" means to construct gradually or to make strong or healthy. A new expression, "build down", has recently been coined in the U.S. Related to the arms reduction talks, it refers to withdrawing more old weapons than the number of new ones being added. President Reagan is making a "build down" proposal in his negotiations with the Soviet Union. In regards to weapons, it is better to build down than to build up. The Bible teaches that the most important part of a building is the foundation. A sound foundation is also needed for negotiations and for our lives. The foundation of the Christian's life is his faith in Christ.
Mr. Walesa awarded the Nobel peace prize (83/10/08)
Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm, Sweden 150 years ago. In the year 1867, he accidentally discovered how to make a safe and manageable explosive called dynamite. He died, a rich man, in 1896, regretting that dynamite had been used as an instrument of war. He left a fund of over $9,000,000 to be used to grant yearly awards to persons making important contributions in various fields, including world peace. This week, the Nobel Peace Prize Committee announced that this year's prize would go to Mr. Lech Walesa, the leader of the outlawed Polish labor union, Solidarity. This announcement of the recipient of the Peace Prize has caused some explosive reactions, but Mr. Walesa, indicating his own solidarity with the Roman Catholic Church, stated that he would give the cash award of about $190,000 to the Church's fund to aid Poland's private farmers. The New Testament book of Romans, chapter 14, verse 19, urges us to "pursue the things that make for peace." We may not get a prize for it now, but if we have peace within ourselves, we can help to bring about peace in the world.
Uganda (83/10/09)
There are many different kinds of national flags. Some have horizontal stripes and others have vertical stripes and some have no stripes at all. Some have geometrical figures such as triangles, squares or circles. Some contain such celestial figures as stars, a moon or a sun. A number of them contain figures of a bird on them. The Albanian and the Mexican flags have eagles in the center. The Egyptian flag has a hawk. Dominica's flag has a parrot and the flag of Papua New Guinea has a bird of paradise. The flag of the Republic of Uganda is made up of black, yellow and red stripes with a crested crane in the center. Today is independence Day in Uganda, for it gained its independence from Great Britain on October 9, 1962. This central African country is a little larger than the island of Honshū and has a population of 13 1/2 million people of a number of different tribes. Although English is the official Language, other languages are also used. Japan, with its single language, has avoided the problems of countries with language diversity, but the language of love, which is deeper than words, is understood by all.
Many national holidays today (83/10/10)
How are you today? I hope you are feeling fine, but as for me, I'm having trouble deciding what to talk about in today's message. There are too many possibilities. On the 844 Fiji islands, today is a national holiday celebrating their independence from Great Britain on October 10, 1970. In South Africa, it is a national holiday commemorating the birthday of Paul Kruger, the 1st president of the South African Republic, who was born on this day in 1825. In Taiwan, today is the Double Ten holiday, commemorating the Nationalist Chinese Revolution under Sun Yat Sen in 1911. However, in Canada, this 2nd Monday in October is Thanksgiving Day, when thanks is expressed to God for his blessings, and in the United States, the 2nd Monday in October is Columbus Day, remembering the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the American continent in 1492. You may know of another holiday which falls on this day, but my time is about up. A good Bible verse to remember today is I Timothy 4:8: "Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, for it promises life both for the present and the future."
Eleanor Roosevelt (83/10/11)
Eleanor is a fairly common woman's name in English. Do you know of any women named Eleanor? Three kings of England, Henry II, Henry III and Edward I had wives named Eleanor. Henry II's wife was previously the wife of King Louis VII of France. One president of the United States had a wife named. Eleanor. He was President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose wife was born 99 years ago today, on October 11, 1884. Eleanor Roosevelt was born into a wealthy New York family noted for its attractive women, but she was considered an "ugly duckling". As a result, she was a very self-conscious, shy child, but after her marriage, when her husband began his political career, she became very active in political and humanitarian affairs. She played a leading part in women's organizations, actively encouraged youth movements, championed the rights of minorities and wrote, lectured and campaigned for a more humane and just society. She said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" and "Character building begins in our infancy and continues until death." How is your building progressing?
Greeting (83/10/12)
One of the smaller communities in Aichi Prefecture is the town of Hazu on the Mikawa Bay. Hazu, literally meaning "flag bean", has a population of a little over 13,000 people. In the Mori, or forest, district, are some 120 homes of salaried workers, fishermen and merchants. Following a suggestion made at a PTA meeting, this district began a new movement last month. Signs have been erected along streets around the district encouraging people to exchange greetings with one another. "Greeting Street", "Don't Forget Your Greeting", "Greeting with a Smile" are what the signs say. By encouraging people to greet one another, including adults, young people and children, it is hoped that a friendly atmosphere will pervade the community and a deeper feeling of unity and camaraderie will develop. The experiment seems to be working well and those who are slow in their greetings feel a bit embarrassed. It would be nice for this custom to spread throughout the prefecture and the country at large. At the end of the 5th chapter of Matthew, Jesus taught that we should not greet only those close to us, but that we should show kindness to all people without distinction.
Prime Minister Tanaka found guilty (83/10/13)
The long-awaited decision of the Tokyo District Court was handed down yesterday according to schedule. Were you surprised at the decision? Probably not, because the news media had prepared the nation for that outcome. Former Prime Minister Tanaka and 4 other defenants were all found guilty and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. From my point of view, this decision indicates the trustworthiness of Japan's judicial system. The problem remains regarding the trustworthiness of Japan's political system. In Japanese politics, as in Japanese society as a whole, loyalty to one's superior or one's group is of great importance. Therefore, people will lie, falsify records and commit other crimes or even suicide for the presumed good of their leader or organization. However, neither a political faction, a political party nor a political system can finally survive without a basic loyalty to truth and justice that supercedes loyalty to a person or group. Jesus taught that, in reality, a person cannot serve two masters. We must decide who or what comes first. For the Christian, loyalty to our heavenly Lord and his truth supercedes all else.
President Roosebelt survivied assassination (83/10/14)
Of the 39 men who held the title of President of the United States, 4 were assassinated while in office. They were Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy. Other assassination attempts were made, but failed. One of them occurred 79 years ago today, on October 14, 1904. President Theodore Roosevelt was in an open-topped car in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when a bullet was fired at him from a distance of less than 2 meters. The bullet hit the folded manuscript of a speech he was scheduled to make that day which was in his breast pocket. Passing through these 50 pages, the bullet struck his spectacle case and lodged in his 4th rib on his right side. President Roosevelt refused medical attention and went on to make his speech. The bullet remained in his body until his death 7 years later. Some people would call such an incident fate, luck or chance, but from the Christian perspective, all events are according to God's providence and may be used for his good purpose. If you wish to receive a written copy of these daily messages, please let me know. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Edwin O. Reischuer (83/10/15)
One of the recognized western authorities on Japan is Edwin 0. Reischauer. Today is his birthday. He was born in Tokyo, the son of missionary educators, just 73 years ago. After graduating from Oberlin College in the U.S., he studied at schools in Paris, Tokyo, Kyoto and Peking. He obtained his doctor's degree from Harvard University and has been a professor there for many years. He has written many books about Japan and served as the United States ambassador here from 1961 to 1966. While I was studying in graduate school in New York City, before coming to Japan as a missionary, I talked with Professor Reischauer's father. He suggested the subject for my research for my 1st theological degree. That dissertation was entitled: "A Comparison of 'Salvation' in the Amida Sects of Japanese Buddhism and Christianity." It was a very interesting study and helped me to understand something of Japanese thought and belief. That was 33 years ago and I am still trying to understand more. Edwin Reischauer has written that "religion occupies a peripheral position in Japan". Nevertheless, to understand any people, it is important to understand their beliefs and the effect they have on their lives.
Wedding of my son (83/10/16)
The word "festive" comes from the same Latin root as "feast". It refers to something related to a feast, that is, something happy or joyful. Festivity and festival are also related words. Originally, feasting was an important part of festivals, which were of a religious character, but now festival may refer to any kind of festive celebration. Today is the climax of the annual Nagoya Festival, centered on the historical parade which includes dancers and musicians as well as marchers representing the 3 famous feudal lords from this area: Ieyasu, Nobunaga and Hideyoshi. This is the 18th year for this city-wide festival. Yesterday was an especially festive time for our family. It was the day of the wedding of our younger son. I played 2 different roles in that ceremony--as the father of the bridegroom and the officiating minister. In the Old Testament book of Psalms, there are many songs written for Jewish festivals over a thousand years ago. One of them is Psalm 100 which begins: "sing to the Lord, all the world. Worship the Lord with joy." A healthy faith results in happiness and joyful worship.
Asian Health Institute (83/10/17)
In the town of Nisshin, on the eastern outskirts of Nagoya, is located a unique institution known as the Asian Health institute. It is connected with the Aichi Kokusai Byoin, a new and fully-equipped, modern hospital. The Asian Health Institute was opened about 3 years ago for the purpose of providing high quality training for community health workers in the rural areas of Asian countries. Some 60 people from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines and Korea have received practical training there to make them more effective workers in their homelands. Yesterday, Miss Sook Jae Lee, a nurse from Korea who is presently studying at A.H.I., came to our church in Takahama and explained how her Christian faith had changed her life. Giving up her dream of becoming an artist to satisfy herself, she became a nurse to serve God and to minister to the needs of others. A healthy faith is seen in deeds of loving service. Tomorrow evening at 6:30, our fortnightly Bible Study in Japanese will be held at the city Kyōikukan in Sakae. You are invited to attend. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Baltimore Orioles (83/10/18)
The World Series baseball tournament between the 2 major league champions in the U.S. came to its climax on Sunday. For the 1st time in 22 years, a team that lost the 1st game in the series won the next 4 games in a row. The 1983 world champion baseball team is the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore is the largest city in the state of Maryland. It was named after Lord Baltimore, the colonial head of Maryland. An oriole is the name of a bird and a North American oriole which is black and orange, the color of the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore, is called a Baltimore Oriole. The team defeated by the Baltimore Orioles was the Philadelphia Phillies. A filly, spelled f-i-l-l-y, refers to a young, female horse, and is sometimes also used colloquially for a lively young woman. The name of this baseball team, however, is spelled and is a shortened nickname of Philadelphians. Philadelphia was also the name of an ancient city of Bible days and comes from 2 Greek words meaning love of brothers, so Philadelphia is also known as the city of brotherly love. This word is found in Hebrews 13:1, which states: "Let brotherly love continue."
Yorktown Day (83/10/19)
York is the name of an ancient and famous city in England. Its pervasive influence is seen in many place names in the United States, of which, the largest and most famous today is the city of New York, located in New York state. However, there is a small village in the state of Virginia on the York River in York county called Yorktown that is also famous. 202 years ago today, on October 19, 1781, at Yorktown, British Lieutenant General Cornwallis and his 7,000 men surrendered to the American General George Washington, which marked the end of the American Revolutionary War. The Yorktown Battlefield is now a tourist attraction, visited by thousands of people every year and October 19 is celebrated there as Yorktown Day. As later revolutionaries have also come to recognize, it is much easier to fight a revolutionary war than to put into practice the ideals for which they fought. On Sunday afternoon, October 30th at 1:30, we will hold another meeting of listeners to this "Daily Word" telephone service at the Y.W.C.A. at Sakae. Subject for discussion is: Weddings. This is "Daily Word", P.O. Box 30, Moriyama P.O. 463.
Norwegian King (83/10/20)
The northern region of Europe, including the countries of Sweden, Norway and Denmark, is known as Scandinavia. The languages of these 3 countries are quite similar and at times all 3 nations have been united under 1 ruler. In 1905, the Norwegian Parliament, or Storting, declared its union with Sweden dissolved and Norway again became an independent kingdom under King Haakon VII. 2 years before that, the King's son, Olav, was born and upon Haakon's death in 1957, this crown prince became king. His Majesty King Olav V is now visiting Japan. Yesterday, he was received by the emperor; today, he will lunch with the prime minister and tomorrow, he will open the Norwegian Design Exhibition at the Grand Odakyū Gallery in Tokyo. The king is an avid sportsman and continues to ski and sail, even though he is now 80 years old. In the 1928 Olympics, he won a gold medal for sailing. Good health is, in old age, one of God's blessings. In Psalm 103, the poet praises the Lord for filling his life with good things so that he stays young and strong like an eagle.
Contributions welcome (83/10/21)
104 years ago today, Thomas Edison and his associates tested an electric light bulb that burned for over 13 hours. This experiment showed that it was possible to produce a practical electric light and a new era was born. Edison was an optimist who was continually looking for new frontiers to cross. My wife says that I am an optimist and, frequently, her observations are correct. Evidently, I was overly optimistic last month when I purchased a 2nd telephone and answer phone machine and expected that 60 listeners to these messages would contribute ¥1000 each to cover the cost of this added convenience. As of yesterday, 28 listeners had contributed a total of ¥55,000. I wish to sincerely thank all who made contributions. Because of mistaken information provided by the telephone company, the expense will be greater than previously reported, but contributions may still be deposited in the Yūbin Furikae Kōza of "Deiri Wa-do", Nagoya #3-37078. Thomas Edison's final public message ended with the words: "Be courageous! Have faith! Go forward!" This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
John Paul II (83/10/22)
The world's smallest nation is the State of Vatican City, which is also the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. It consists of an area of less than half a square kilometer in size, lying entirely within the Italian city of Rome. Its form of government is an absolute monarchy, with the pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church as its monarch. It has official diplomatic relations with over 80 nations, but the United States is not one of them. Basically, Vatican City is made up of the papal residence, St. Peter's Church and some adjoining offices, with a population of about 1,500. The present pope, John Paul II, was elected to this position 5 years ago. His reign officially began on October 22, 1978, so today is a legal holiday in Vatican City, commemorating that event. John Paul II, a native of Poland, is the first non-Italian pope in over 450 years. The status of the pope continues to be a stumbling block between the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Churches, which refuse to recognize his supreme authority. The title "pope" comes from the Latin word for "father". Protestants do not refer to their pastors as "fathers", for, as a spiritual title, they use this word only for God, who is the Father of all.
Tall ships in Osaka Bay (83/10/23)
1983 marks the 400th anniversary of the start of construction of Osaka Castle by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This famous military leader also constructed many canals throughout the city to facilitate transportation. To commemorate this quadricentennial of Osaka Castle, the City of Osaka is holding the "Osaka World Sail '83" in which tall ships from 8 countries parade through Osaka Bay. The countries represented by these ships, other than Japan, are: Mexico, Columbia, Portugal, Poland, Indonesia, Chile and the Crown Colony of Hong Kong. These tall ships with their sails bulging in a strong breeze are a splendid sight. In the 107th Psalm, the poet writes about those who go down to the sea in ships and do business on the great waters. They see the works of the Lord on the sea--how he commands the wind and stirs up the waves and then saves them from the storm, so they should thank the Lord for his constant love and care for them. As we experience God's goodness in our lives also, let us give thanks. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A., we will hold a meeting of "Daily Word" listeners. Please come if you can.
Pennsylvania (83/10/24)
Prior to the establishment of the District of Columbia as the capital of the United States in 1800, Philadelphia served as the temporary capital for 10 years. This "City of Brotherly Love" is located in the state of Pennsylvania. The colony of Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn, who was born 339 years ago today on October 24, 1644 in London, the son of a wealthy and influential admiral. As a youth, he joined the Society of Friends, a religious group commonly called the Quakers. After his father's death, he was granted a large tract of land in America which he called Sylvania, from the Latin word for woodland. This colony promised complete religious freedom to all believers in God and became a haven for various religious groups fleeing from persecution in their European homelands. In Pennsylvania, today is celebrated as William Penn Commemoration Day. William Penn has given this advice: "If you think twice before you speak once, you will speak twice the better for it." Join us next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. for our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting. The subject for discussion is: Weddings.
Shimabara Rebellion (83/10/25)
According to the calendar in use at that time, it was on this day, October 25th, in the year 1637 that the so-called Shimabara Rebellion in Kyūshū began. Like many other historical conflicts or clashes occurring today in such places as Lebanon, Northern Ireland or India, it is easy to give a simple religious explanation for the rebellion, but, in reality, the situation was more complicated. Economic and political factors were also involved, but the Christian faith of many of the rebels certainly strengthened their firm determination to resist to the death against much superior forces. It is said that some 37,000 were finally annihilated after holding out for almost 3 months. As a result of that uprising, Christianity was stamped out or driven underground in Japan for the next 230 years. The risen Christ gave this promise to his followers: "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life." I hope you can attend our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. in Sakae. I'd like to hear what you think about wedding customs in Japan.
Austria (83/10/26)
A couple of countries whose names are often confused because they are so similar are Austria and Australia. The former is a country in Europe while the latter is an island continent in the southern hemisphere. Australia comes from the Latin word for "southern", but Austria comes from 2 German words meaning "eastern kingdom". Today, October 26th, is the national day in the Republic of Austria. Austria has an ancient history and often was the controlling influence in European affairs, but its empire collapsed with its defeat in the 1st World War. Following the 2nd World War, it was divided into 4 occupation zones administered by the U.S., Britain, France and the U.S.S.R. Not until October, 1955, did the Soviet Union agree to end the occupation, so it was 28 years ago today that Austria regained its independence with the condition that it remain a neutral nation. Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot and statesman, has written that "Neutrality is an evidence of weakness." Certainly, on moral issues, a moral person cannot remain neutral. I hope to see you at our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. at Sakae.
Book-Reading Week (83/10/27)
How many days are there in a week? Well, usually there are 7, but in Japan, "Book-Reading Week" is an exception to the rule. Today is the beginning of Book-Reading Week and it lasts for 2 weeks instead of only 7 days. This week used to coincide with the 1st week of November, but in 1948, it was lengthened to a 2 week period with Culture Day in the center. Autumn has traditionally been considered the book reading season in Japan and these 2 weeks are specially designated to encourage people to cultivate the habit of reading good books. Francis Bacon has written that "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." The Bible is one of those in the last category. It is like an ocean in which the beginner may wade and the scholar can swim. Lord Tennyson has called Bible reading "an education in itself." For your increased understanding of English literature, Western thought and moral truth, I would encourage you to include the Bible in your book reading schedule. Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. in Sakae is the time and place of our next Listeners' Meeting. I hope you can attend. The subject for discussion is: Weddings.
Buckingham Palace (83/10/28)
280 years ago, in 1703, the Duke of Buckingham built a palace in London that is called Buckingham Palace. About 60 years later, it was purchased by King George III and since 1837 when Queen Victoria moved there, it has been the London residence of British monarchs. Last week, a book entitled Palace was published in London about this famous and magnificent building. Here are a few statistics given in that book: Buckingham Palace, the home of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, has 600 rooms. There is an entire suite of rooms just for the queen's wardrobe, where every item is numbered and indexed to show when and where she wore a certain garment. The palace has a staff of 470 people, including 8 telephone operators, 6 people to care for the queen's clothes and 2 men whose job is to wind the clocks. Many of the bathrooms have separate washbasins for face washing, hand washing and teeth brushing. The Bible teaches that our earthly homes are temporary but our heavenly palaces are eternal. There will be a meeting of listeners to these telephone messages on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. at Sakae. Please come if you can.
Turkey (83/10/29)
The crescent and star were ancient Byzantine symbols which the Turks took for their emblems after capturing Constantinople in 1453. The Turkish flag contains a white crescent and star on a red field. A number of national flags of other countries having an historic relationship with Islam also contain a crescent and a star as a result of Turkish influence in the Ottoman Empire which dominated Eastern Europe and the Middle East over 400 years until the early part of this century. After the 1st World War, in which Turkey fought alongside of Germany and Austria, that empire came to an end and it lost much of its territory. On October 29, 1923, a republic was declared with Mustapha Kemal as president. Today is a national holiday in Turkey in commemoration of that proclamation just 60 years ago. Seeing the half moon and star or the symbol of the sun on a national flag may remind us of the light that shines from heaven--the light of God's love and truth. Tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 at the YWCA we will hold another "Daily word" Listeners' Meeting. Please come if you can. The subject for discussions is: weddings.
Kami in Izumo Taisha (83/10/02)
Contribution welcome (83/10/03)
St. Fransis of Assissi (83/10/04)
A very special delivery (83/10/05)
Koala (83/10/06)
"Build down" (83/10/07)
Mr. Walesa awarded the Nobel peace prize (83/10/08)
Uganda (83/10/09)
Many national holidays today (83/10/10)
Eleanor Roosevelt (83/10/11)
Greeting (83/10/12)
Prime Minister Tanaka found guilty (83/10/13)
President Roosebelt survivied assassination (83/10/14)
Edwin O. Reischuer (83/10/15)
Wedding of my son (83/10/16)
Asian Health Institute (83/10/17)
Baltimore Orioles (83/10/18)
Yorktown Day (83/10/19)
Norwegian King (83/10/20)
Contributions welcome (83/10/21)
John Paul II (83/10/22)
Tall ships in Osaka Bay (83/10/23)
Pennsylvania (83/10/24)
Shimabara Rebellion (83/10/25)
Austria (83/10/26)
Book-Reading Week (83/10/27)
Buckingham Palace (83/10/28)
Turkey (83/10/29)
Kōyōki (83/10/30)
Halloween (83/10/31)
China's national holiday (83/10/01)