Amida and Christ (84/02/01)
An Article in yesterday's newspaper noted that a school in Saitama Prefecture had too many applicants for a certain course, so it selected students by means of an Amida kuji. I knew that kuji meant "lottery", but I wondered what relation Amida Buddha had with a lottery. Upon investigation, I found out that because the strings tied to numbers in a central pot resemble the rays of light in the halo radiating from Amida's head, this method of drawing lots is called an Amida lottery. I found out further that wearing one's hat on the back of one's head is called amida kaburi, or an Amida head, because it also resembles Amida's halo. Although irreligious people in the West may use names of holy persons as curses, I cannot imagine Christians using the name of Jesus Christ in such a frivolous fashion, for that name has a deep significance for us. We are baptized in the name of Christ. In that name we pray to God, the Father, and it is that name we bear as "Christians", upon which we try not to bring shame. If you have any thoughts regarding the reason for this difference in attitude toward the names of Amida and Christ, I'd be happy to read them.
New Year in China (84/02/02)
In the People's Republic of China on the mainland, the Republic of China on Taiwan, the Malay Peninsula countries of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, along with the British Crown Colony of Hongkong, today is a holiday celebrating the beginning of a New Year. Tens of millions of Chinese have been jamming buses and trains to return to their homes to begin this Year of the Rat with their families. A couple of characteristics of the Chinese New Year festivities are feasting and firecrackers. "Crack" refers primarily to a sudden, sharp noise like that which is heard when something breaks. Hard biscuits which crack when bitten are called "crackers". The small explosives that make a sharp noise when lit are called "firecrackers". Objects that are broken, but not completely separated are cracked and a person who seems mentally unsound may also be called cracked or crackbrained. In the 2nd chapter of Jeremiah, God laments the fact that his people have rejected him, the spring of fresh, spiritual water, and turned to cracked cisterns that can hold no water. We must make sure that our lives are not based on a cracked foundation.
Yukichi Fukuzawa (84/02/03)
83 years ago today, on February 3, 1901, one of Japan's most progressive thinkers and educators died at the age of 67. The epitaph on his tombstone reads, "Here lies a man of self-reliance and self-respect with a world-wide vision." Do you know his name? He was born in Kyushu and became a pioneer student of English. He was one of the early Japanese travelers to the West and was an ardent proponent of Western thought in the Meiji Era. One of his famous sayings was, "Heaven made no man higher than another and no man lower than another." in 1858, he founded the school that was to develop into Keio University. In l858, he began publishing his own newspaper, called Jiji Shinpo to disseminate and encourage the principles of independence in learning, commerce, law and religion. His name, of course, was Yukichi Fukuzawa. Fukuzawa introduced many western, Christian concepts into Japan, but the Bible teaches that the unseen roots are of basic importance in producing the visible fruits. Sometimes, uprooting or pruning is required to obtain healthier fruit.
Casting the demons out (84/02/04)
Today is the "season dividing" day, or setsubun. Originally, there were 4 such days in the year, but nowadays only the day before the traditional beginning of spring is observed as a "season dividing" day. This is the day for casting the demons out of the home by either pestering them or pelting them with dried beans. The dried head of a sardine is sometimes stuck on a holly branch and attached to a doorway as a strong-smelling barrier to keep the demons away. "Happiness in, demons out" is a common desire of all people, but the problem is how to bring this to pass. The real demons that need to be exorcised are those within our hearts: demons of hatred, anger, pride, lust, selfishness and the like, and they are not driven out with dried beans. Genuine happiness also is basically an internal condition which does not come from calling out "Fuku wa uchi!" The Bible teaches that driving out demons and bringing in true happiness is the work of God's Holy Spirit, which is God's gift to those who turn from their sins and humbly seek his forgiveness and loving favor. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Spring (84/02/05)
Does it feel like a nice spring day to you? I'm not sure about Japanese feelings, but to at least one foreigner residing in Japan, today doesn't feel much like spring, even though the Japanese almanac refers to it as the beginning of that season. Spring is a season of hope and of new life. Robert Cromie has written that as the birthplace of Christianity was the tomb, so the birthplace of splendor is desolation, light is the offspring of darkness and spring is conceived in the dark womb of winter. Actually, the word "spring" has different meanings in English. It may refer to a flow of water from the ground and to the act of suddenly jumping up or arising as well as to the season of the year. In the Gospel of John, chapter 4, Jesus spoke of the living water that he gives to those who are thirsty. In verse 14, the old English version speaks of a well of water springing up, but the newer version speaks of a spring of water welling up. We could also translate it a spring of water springing up. The new life and satisfaction that comes from this springing up of the spiritual spring of living water that Christ gives to the believer will be the beginning of a real springtime.
Babe Ruth (84/02/06)
Anyone interested in professional baseball is surely acquainted with the name of Babe Ruth. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland 89 years ago today, on February 6, 1895. When he was 7 years old, his parents placed him in an institution for underprivileged boys. There, he learned to be a tailor and played baseball in his spare time. He became a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1914 and although he was an able pitcher, winning 3 World Series games, he was changed to the outfield because of his batting ability. In 1920, he was sold to the New York Yankees and played for them for the next 15 years. During his 22 years in professional baseball, he set or tied 76 records. His lifetime record of 714 home runs remained intact for almost 40 years. Off the playing field, he engaged in many charitable activities and a year before he died in 1948, he established the Babe Ruth Foundation to aid underprivileged youth. Tomorrow evening at 6:30 at the Kyōikukan in Sakae, our Japanese Bible Class will meet and study the 17th chapter of the Gospel of John. You are invited to attend.
Comic strips (84/02/07)
A cartoon is a drawing, often representing people or situations with a humorous or satirical meaning. Many newspapers carry a daily political cartoon that sometimes is more meaningful than words. A series of cartoons arranged in sequence to tell a story is called a comic strip. Originally, comic strips were comical, but this is no longer always the case. Magazines filled with comic strips are called comic books, and in Japan these comics, or manga, are enjoying great popularity. When I was a child, comic books were enjoyed by children, but in present day Japan they are surprisingly popular among adults. About 1 billion comics, almost one-quarter of all books and magazines published in Japan, were printed in 1982. What do you think of comic books? Do you enjoy them yourself? Why are they so popular among Japanese adults? This is the theme for your essay this week. Send it for correction and publication to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. According to the Old Testament book of Proverbs, chapter 17, verse 22, "A cheerful heart is a good medicine," but do comic books make people cheerful?
Iraq (84/02/08)
One of the oldest civilizations in the world was that of Mesopotamia in western Asia. The name Mesopotamia comes from a Greek word meaning "between rivers", for it was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This area has been ruled by Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Mongols and Turks, but during the 1st World War it came under British control. Since 1918 this land has been called Iraq, from the Arabic word for "cliff". In 1932, it joined the League of Nations as an independent nation. On February 8, 1963, 21 years ago today, a military coup overthrew the government and instituted a military-socialist state. Today is a national holiday in Iraq commemorating that event. However, there are 2 other national holidays in July commemorating an earlier and a later revolution. Although ranking among the top oil producing countries in the world, its continuing war with Iran has sapped its economic strength. If the human race is to survive, we must find some way of ending and avoiding wars, and this requires a basic change in the thinking of people and nations. We must begin loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Challenger (84/02/09)
A U.S. space ship is now circling the earth. It is referred to as a space shuttle because it is able to be reused after returning to earth and thus is a kind of shuttle between earth and space. This space shuttle is called Challenger and it is challenging various records in space travel. However, 2 satellites it put into space failed to attain their proper orbits and a balloon it sent aloft exploded. Nevertheless, 2 astronauts went ahead with their scheduled individual flights into space without lifelines connecting them to the space shuttle. They thus became the 1st men to venture into space completely free. When I was a child, a comic strip character named Buck Rogers flew into space with a backpack which enabled him to maneuver by means of jet propulsion. This fantasy has now become a reality. So it is that science fiction sometimes provides a foretaste of the future. The Christian believes that through the Christian faith one is able to experience a foretaste of future fellowship with God. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Beard (84/02/10)
Those of you who have met me or have seen my picture know that I have a beard. Naturally, I am interested in reports related to beards. Recently, a report was made by the Russian Medical Academy in Moscow that beards are unhealthful for they harbor harmful bacteria from polluted air. Beards have a long, respected tradition in Russia, but these days most bearded Russians are either priests of the Russian Orthodox Church or anti-establishment youth. There are no bearded members of the Soviet Politburo. On the other hand, do you know why the face of Japan's first prime minister, Hirobumi Ito, is printed on the ¥1000 bill? The reason given is not because of his great diplomatic ability or historical fame, but because he had a beard which would make the bill more difficult to copy. Dr. Thomas Fuller has written, "'Tis not the beard that makes the philosopher", and he was right! If you wish to make a periodic contribution to the expenses involved in this "Daily Word" telephone service, you may make a deposit in the Yūbin Furikae Kōza of "Dei-ri Wa-do", Nagoya 3-37078.
Kenkoku kinenbi (84/02/11)
Today is the 3rd of the 12 legal holidays celebrated yearly in Japan. It is called kenkoku kinenbi, usually translated into English as National Foundation Day. In the 5th year of the Meiji Era, kigensetsu was designated a legal holiday in commemoration of the enthronement of Jinmu Tenno, the 1st emperor of Japan and it became a day of intense patriotic emotion in the years prior to and during the 2nd World War. Along with other nationalistic celebrations, kigensetsu was discontinued after the war, but 17 years ago the same day, the 11th of February, was designated kenkoku kinenbi to commemorate the founding of the nation but not necessarily meaning that this was the very day of that founding. In ancient Japanese history, it is difficult to distinguish fact from myth, so the historical events related to the 1st emperor are unclear. Although a healthy patriotism is a good thing, we should take care not to let our patriotic emotions go to an extreme. The words of Proverbs, chapter 14, verse 34, are relevant for all nations: "Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation."
Abraham Lincoln (84/02/12)
What person in American history do you think is best known and admired in Japan? Certainly one of the top contenders for this designation is America's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. Needless to say, Lincoln is one of the most respected historical figures in the United States also. According to my atlas, there are 24 cities, towns or villages and 23 counties in the U. S. called Lincoln, along with 13 other communities that have Lincoln as a part of their name. This makes a total of 60, which happens to be the same number of localities that are called or include the name of Washington. Abraham Lincoln was born 175 years ago today, on February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Kentucky. Since his adult life was spent in my home state of Illinois, which was also the center of his political activities, Illinois automobile license plates have included the phrase, "Land of Lincoln", for many years. Because he issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all slaves in the rebellious areas, he has been referred to as the Great Emancipator. However, for the Christian, the Great Emancipator is Jesus Christ, who has freed us from slavery to sin.
The half penny coin (84/02/13)
When I visited England some 20 years ago, understanding the monetary value of things was very difficult. At that time in England, 4 farthings made a penny, 12 pence made a shilling and 20 shillings made a pound. There was also a half penny coin equal to half a pence and a three pence coin equal to three pence. Since 1971, England has used the decimal system, but it continued to make use of the half penny, which has a 600 year history. However, that coin will be discontinued this year because it is so unpopular. It is a small coin, worth less than 2 Japanese yen and most Englishmen either disregard it or value it more as a small, makeshift screwdriver than as money. An estimated billion half penny coins, worth about 5 million pounds, have disappeared in the past 12 years. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21, Jesus saw people offering money in the temple and said that the widow who offered 2 small, copper coins put in more than the rich people who gave a greater amount of money they didn't need while she gave all she had to live on. The true value of an offering depends on the heart of the giver.
Valentines (84/02/14)
In the 2nd half of the 3rd century, a Christian priest named Valentine suffered martyrdom in Rome. Later, he was designated a saint by the Church and February 14th became his memorial day. Afterwards, this day became associated with lovers and many customs developed relating lovers with St. Valentine's Day. In my childhood days, it was common for children to make pretty valentine cards in the shape of hearts to send or give to their girl friends or boyfriends, but nowadays, commercial cards are more popular. In the case of adults, the traditional American custom is for the man to present a valentine, whether a card or chocolates or other sweets, to his girl friend or wife, but it seems that Japan has given a particular Japanese twist to the Valentine's Day tradition. Valentines and Valentine's Day customs is the suggested theme for essays this week. Send your essays of thoughts or experiences related to Valentine's Day for correction and publication in "Daily Word" Echoes to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. The biblical concept of love is much deeper than that expressed by pretty cards and candies. It refers to the sacrifice of oneself for the good of the loved one.
Funeral for Andropov (84/02/15)
Yesterday, the state funeral for the former Soviet Communist Party Secretary Andropov was held in Moscow. Mr. Andropov was the 5th person to hold that post since the Russian Revolution in 1917. The 1st secretary was V.I. Lenin, who has the official Soviet-leader for 7 years, was followed by Joseph Stalin, who was in power for 29 years, Nikita Krushchev, who led the Party for 11 years, and Leonid Brezhnev, who lasted for 28 years. Yuri Andropov, on the other hand, had a short term of only 15 months, the last 6 of which he never appeared in public. Mr. Andropov was 69 years old and his successor is 72 year old Konstantin Chernenko, who is still younger than President Reagan. Although I'm sure that many factors were involved in Mr. Reagan's decision not to attend the funeral, personally, I'm disappointed that he didn't do so, for I feel that that would have been a significant gesture to back up his stated desire to improve relations between the Soviet Union and the United States. As the saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words" and his presence at the funeral would have indicated his sincerity and also provided an opportunity for him to meet with the new Soviet leader.
Scale of values (84/02/16)
Yesterday's newspaper contained the sad news of the kidnapping and killing of a 3rd grade boy of Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture. The kidnapper and killer was a 44 year old man who was deeply in debt to loan sharks. As the coach of a local softball team, he knew both the boy and his father, a city councilman, and even supported the father in his election campaign. However, somewhere along the line his values became distorted and he considered the gaining of money to solve his indebtedness of higher value than the life of a child and the happiness of the child's family. The result was a cold blooded murder. Although fortunately this extreme example is a rare occurrence, there are many people whose value systems are distorted. Before we harshly criticize this kidnapper and killer, we should also examine our own lives and actions and carefully consider our own scale of values. What comes 1st in our lives and to what extent are we ready to sacrifice the happiness of others to satisfy ourselves: one of the basic teachings of Jesus is to love our neighbor as ourself. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Shortening English words in Japan (84/02/17)
Words borrowed from foreign languages are frequently shortened by Japanese for convenience sake. For example, department store is shortened to depa-to and apartment house becomes apa-to although depart and apart by themselves have quite different meanings in English from this peculiar usage in Japanese. In a recent Japanese newspaper, the word sofuto was used in headlines on the front page and on the business page. In the former, it referred to softball and in the latter, the meaning was software. There are many other compound words in modern English that begin with soft, including soft drinks, soft soap and soft rock, but it would be very strange and confusing, to Americans at least, to shorten these nouns to a simple "soft". One of the reasons we Americans need to visit our homeland periodically is to remember how to speak our native language correctly. Neither my wife nor I am sure right now the correct way to say sofuto kurimu in American English. We'll have to find out when we return to the U.S. this summer. In the meantime, let us remember the words of Proverbs 15:1 that "A soft answer turns away wrath."
Sarajevo Olympics (84/02/18)
The attention of much of the world is focussed on Sarajevo, Yugoslavia these days. That is where the 14th Olympic Winter Games are taking place. Although the weather has caused some problems, the general atmosphere of this 1st Winter Olympics in a Communist country seems to be good. As usual, records are being broken, but it may be that the first steps of healing some broken relationships are also taking place. For the 1st time, athletes from mainland China and Taiwan competed against each other and they are living together in the athletes' village. The Olympics are practically the only time when representatives from both North and South Korea are able to freely associate with each other. Bringing youth from all around the world to this Muslim city in a non aligned nation with a Communist government is a good thing. Associations and friendships between young people of different nations, cultures and social systems may be a more important result of these Olympic Games than the medals won, for human relationships are finally more important than setting a new record or winning a gold medal. Jesus taught that living a meaningful life of loving concern for others is more important than winning a prize.
Snow (84/02/19)
In my hometown in northern Illinois in the United States, winters usually bring much snow. I have fond childhood memories of playing in the snow, making snowmen, having snowball fights, going sledding and ice skating, for the snow remained on the ground for many weeks at a time. This winter in Nagoya has reminded me of those happy days long ago. Ogden Nash has written, "Snow is all right while it is snowing; It is like inebriation because it is very pleasant when it is coming, but very unpleasing when it is going." Incidentally, inebriation means drunkenness. Hal Borland has written, "A snowdrift is a beautiful thing--if it doesn't lie across the path you have to shovel or block the road that leads to your destination." Snow, composed of water vapor frozen in the upper air, falls to the ground as soft, white flakes and, for a time, it makes the whole world look beautiful and pure. In the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 1, God makes a promise to those who will listen: even though their sins are like scarlet, he will make them white as snow. How does your heart compare to the purity of new fallen snow?
Senator John Glenn (84/02/20)
Today is February the 20th. On this day in the American state of Iowa, caucuses will be held by leaders of that state's Democratic Party to consider which presidential candidate to support at the Party Convention this summer. One of the leading contenders is John Glenn, the 63 year old senator from the state of Ohio. Senator Glenn is a retired colonel of the Marine Corps. 24 years ago today, on February 20, 1962, he became the 1st American to orbit the earth in the spacecraft called Friendship 7. During that 5 hour flight, he passed through 3 days and travelled a distance of over 130,000 kilometers. However, he may well find out that flying around the earth is easier than gaining the nomination for president, for his campaign doesn't seem to be making much headway against the front-runner, former Vice-President Walter Mondale. According to Ecclesiastes, chapter 9, verse 11, the most able person does not always win the prize. That's true in the Olympic Games also. You are invited to attend our Japanese Bible Class which will meet tomorrow evening at 6:30 at the Kyōikukan in Sakae.
George Washington or Shotoku Taishi (84/02/21)
Today is Tuesday, which is the day I suggest a theme for those who enjoy writing a short essay, which I correct and then have printed in the "Daily Word" Echoes. Those of you who have never done so before are also invited to write an essay and then compare your original manuscript with the corrected one that will appear in the Echoes to be distributed at our next listeners' meeting on April 29th, the 7th Sunday of the month. Tomorrow is the 252nd birthday of George Washington, the commander of the American revolutionary armies and the 1st president of the United States. That day used to be a holiday in the U.S., but since 1971, the 3rd Monday in February is celebrated as Washington's Birthday. Although the calendar used was different, the date of Japan's Prince Shotoku's death is also given as February 22 in the year 622. Therefore, I'm giving you a choice of 2 subjects for your essays this week--either George Washington or Shotoku Taishi. Take your pick and send the essay to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. An English proverb states that "The example of good men is visible philosophy."
Washington Monument (84/02/22)
In Japan, a torii, consisting of 2 upright pillars with 2 crossbars at the top, is the sacred archway in front of a Shinto shrine. In ancient Egypt, a pair of obelisks, which were tall slender stone pillars with a pointed top, were erected at the gateway to a temple. Some of these ancient obelisks have been taken from Egypt and erected in other cities, such as Paris and London. In the United States, a huge obelisk is located in the capital of Washington, D.C. It is the Washington Monument, which was completed just 100 years ago. It is a memorial to the country's first president, George Washington, who was born 252 years ago today. The Washington Monument, made of white marble, is about 170 meters tall. The cornerstone of the monument was laid in 1848, but the society responsible for building it ran out of money 6 years later and it remained less than 1/3 finished for almost 20 years. It was finally completed in 1884 and is now visited by over a million persons a year. Genesis, chapter 18, tells the story of Jacob who set up a pillar to commemorate his encounter with God in a dream. He called that place Bethel, which means "the house of God".
The preaching burglar (84/02/23)
At the beginning of the Showa Era in the northern wards of Tokyo, a number of robberies and thefts were committed by a peculiar kind of thief. After entering a house to steal something, he would sometimes lecture the household members for 2 or 3 hours on the importance of keeping the doors locked and other crime prevention measures, so he became known as the preaching burglar. For 4 years, he avoided traps set for him, during which he committed 58 robberies and 29 larcenies, but finally he was caught 55 years ago today, on February 23, 1929. During his interrogation, he said, "I thought I'd never get caught. I planned to quit next year and settle down to a life of ease." Actually, he did quit his criminal activity and settle down to a stable life, for he was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment. People often think they can get away with crimes without being detected, but the Bible teaches that finally the sins of all people will either be judged or forgiven by a righteous and loving God and we are able to choose which it will be. This is "Daily Word", Post office Box 30, Moriyama Post office 463; Yūbin Furikae Kōza Nagoya 3-37078.
Year of destruction (84/02/24)
The year 1984 of the Christian Era has been given a special significance because of the novel with that title by George Orwell. However, in Israel, which uses a different calendar, this year has a different significance. According to Jewish reckoning, this year, which began 5 months ago, is the year 5744. The Jewish calendar uses the creation of the world as the starting point rather than the birth of Christ. In Hebrew, letters of the Hebrew alphabet are also used as numerals and the 4 letters used for 5744 produce a word meaning "destruction", so in Israel this year is literally the "year of destruction". It is reported that some Israelis have feelings of anxiety about this year because of that terminology. In fact, on some calendars, the letter sequence has been changed to avoid using the word "destruction". In the 4th chapter of Paul's Letter to the Galatians, he teaches that a healthy faith in God frees people from the bondage of fear and superstition relating to days and months and seasons and years. Healthy religion is a liberating rather than an oppressive influence.
Michizane Sugawara (84/02/25)
In America, it is common to commemorate the birthdays of famous people, but in Japan it is often the day of a person's death that is remembered. February 25th in the year 903 is given as the date of the death of Michizane Sugawara, a famous statesman-scholar of Japan, in whose memory the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto was erected. In fact, the shrine was built to pacify the angry spirit of Michizane which was considered the cause of various misfortunes that occurred following his death. Michizane was a popular scholar and talented statesman in the Heian capital before being banished to Kyushu by jealous rivals. He is now venerated as Tenjin, the kami of heaven, and is regarded as the kami of learning and of calligraphy in particular. Thus, the Tenmangu shrines throughout the country are especially busy during entrance examination times as students and their parents solicit his help in their quest for higher education. Christians do not worship the spirits of the dead nor seek their help. Rather, they worship only the one, true and living Tenjin, whom they call their heavenly Father.
Buffalo Bill (84/02/26)
Today, February 26th, in the town of Cody, Wyoming in the United States, an elaborate birthday celebration is being held, in honor of the founder of that town, William Cody, who was born on this day in 1846. When Cody was 14 years old, he became one of the 1st riders of the famous Pony Express, a mail transport service between the midwest and California before telegraph and railroad lines were completed. He later was employed to provide buffalo meat for railroad builders and killed an estimated 4,280 buffalo within 17 months. He was given the name of Buffalo Bill and in his memory, in and around the town of Cody, there is a Buffalo Bill Museum, Buffalo Bill State Park, Buffalo Bill Highway and Buffalo Bill Dam and Reservoir. His name is also connected with the Wild West Shows and Rodeos that he promoted. It is estimated that the number of buffalo in the U.S. decreased from 20,000,000 to 800 between the years 1850 and 1895, but now some 10,000 are living in protected areas. Needless and merciless killing, especially of endangered animals, should be avoided.
The Dominican Republic (84/02/27)
Today, February 27th, is a national holiday called independence Day in the Dominican Republic. Where in the world is that country located? It is not in Europe, Asia nor Africa. The Dominican Republic occupies 2/3 of an island in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea between North and South America. It was one of the islands discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Since he landed there on a Sunday, it was earlier called Santo Domingo, meaning "Holy Sunday" in Spanish and that is still the name of its capital city, which was the 1st permanent European settlement in the Western Hemisphere. This country was 1st ruled by Spain and then by France. It 1st proclaimed itself a republic in 1809, following which it again came under Spanish rule. It proclaimed itself a republic again in 1821, after which it was annexed by Haiti. This Independence Day commemorates a 3rd proclamation that took place on this day in 1844, 140 years ago. The Dominicans have found out that there is a difference between proclaiming a republic and actually being one. The same is true in regard to calling oneself a Christian and actually living a Christ-like life.
New Year in China (84/02/02)
Yukichi Fukuzawa (84/02/03)
Casting the demons out (84/02/04)
Spring (84/02/05)
Babe Ruth (84/02/06)
Comic strips (84/02/07)
Iraq (84/02/08)
Challenger (84/02/09)
Beard (84/02/10)
Kenkoku kinenbi (84/02/11)
Abraham Lincoln (84/02/12)
The half penny coin (84/02/13)
Valentines (84/02/14)
Funeral for Andropov (84/02/15)
Scale of values (84/02/16)
Shortening English words in Japan (84/02/17)
Sarajevo Olympics (84/02/18)
Snow (84/02/19)
Senator John Glenn (84/02/20)
George Washington or Shotoku Taishi (84/02/21)
Washington Monument (84/02/22)
The preaching burglar (84/02/23)
Year of destruction (84/02/24)
Michizane Sugawara (84/02/25)
Buffalo Bill (84/02/26)
The Dominican Republic (84/02/27)
Uniforms (84/02/28)
Leap year (84/02/29)
Amida and Christ (84/02/01)