April Fool's Day (84/04/01)
Today is not only the 1st day of a new week but the 1st day of a new month as well. In English, we call this 4th month of the year April. There are various theories regarding the original meaning of this name. One of them traces the name to the Latin word meaning "open" because this is the month when flowers open. In America, it is also the month when purses are opened to pay income taxes which are due on April 15th. This 1st day of April is also known as April Fools' Day, a day when practical jokes are played or people are fooled in some way. The origin of this custom is also unclear, but it is interesting that such customs have long traditions in many different countries from northern Europe to India. Regarding fools, American humorist Mark Twain wrote, "Let us be thankful for the fools, But for them the rest of us could not succeed." The Bible teaches that those who rely only on their own opinions, who disregard the instruction of others and who ignore God and his truth are fools. In Ephesians 5:15 it is written, "Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
Typewritten copies of messages (84/04/02)
Last week, many callers to "Daily word" received busy signals due to the large influx of calls following an article in the Tuesday edition of Chūnichi Sports. On that day, a total of 828 calls were received, but the number of calls has since been decreasing to a more reasonable level. For the new listeners explain that you may use a telephone pick-up microphone to record the messages on your own cassettes to listen to them again without making another phone call. Every weekend I mail out typewritten copies of the week's messages to those who request them by sending self-addressed, stamped envelopes plus ¥100 in stamps for each week of messages desired. On the 5th Sunday afternoons of the month, we hold a meeting of listeners at the Nagoya YWCA when "Daily Word" Echoes, made up of essays written by listeners, are distributed. Also, on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday evenings of the month, I teach a Bible Class in Japanese at the City Kyōikukan in Sakae, just west of the Aichi Bunka Kōdō, beginning at 6:30. Tomorrow is the next meeting and you are invited to attend. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Jimmu Tenno (84/04/03)
Today is April the 3rd. Does that date mean anything to you? This day used to be a Japanese holiday before the end of the war. Do you know why? It was to commemorate the death of Kamu-yamato-iware-hiko. Do you recognize that name? It is a name found in the traditional chronicles of Japan, but most people are more familiar with the name Jinmu, in reference to the legendary 1st emperor of Japan. According to the Nihon Shoki, Jinmu Tenno died in the year 585 B.C. at the age of 127. Although there is an obvious mixture of myth in the legends regarding Jinmu Tenno, there are probably some historical elements behind them. When considering ancient events, it is often difficult to distinguish historical facts from fanciful myths, but the Christian considers history an important means of divine revelation. So it is written in the 2nd Letter of Peter, chapter 1, verse 16, "We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." That the infinite God was revealed in human history is a basic belief of the Christian faith.
Jesse Jackson assassinated (84/04/04)
One of the 3 men now seeking the Democratic Party's nomination for president of the United States is the black clergyman, Jesse Jackson. 16 years ago today, on April 4th, 1968, he was standing in the parking lot of a motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was chatting with another black clergyman who was bending over the 2nd floor balcony of the motel. As his friend straightened up, he was shot and killed by an assassin's bullet, fired from a boardinghouse across the street. On the night before his death, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech which included the following lines : "Like anyone, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its grace, but I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. So I'm happy tonight. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." His references to viewing the promised land from the mountain are based on the story of Moses' death recorded in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, chapter 34.
Extradinary events in High School Baseball Tournament (84/04/05)
"Ordinary" refers to something normal or common. When the prefix "extra" is added to this word, it is pronounced extraordinary and refers to something unusual or out of the ordinary. Yesterday, the semi-annual All Japan High School Baseball Tournament ended and, from my perspective, 2 incidents which occurred in the outfield made it an extraordinary tournament. In the 1st place, a ball that hit the ground and bounded over the fence when the bases were loaded was mistakenly ruled a grand slam home run. This was an extraordinary ruling, but the fact that the outfielders did not object was also extraordinary. I cannot imagine such an incident occurring in the United States where umpires' rulings may be questioned even when they are correct. In a 2nd unhappy incident, an outfielder dropped an easy fly ba11 with 2 men out in the bottom of the 11th inning of a scoreless game. This error permitted the 1 and only run of the game, giving the victory to the opposing team. I hope, this boy is able to overcome the shame and embarrassment he must feel. How one copes with failure and shame is a measure of his or her maturity.
Indian cosmonauts (84/04/06)
The Soviet space station called Salyut-7 has been orbiting the earth for the past 2 years. 2 Soviet cosmonauts have been on board that station for the past 2 months. 2 days ago, they were joined by 2 other Soviet cosmonauts and the 1st Indian cosmonaut. (Incidentally, for some reason, spacemen sent up from the United States are referred to as astronauts while those sent up by the Soviet Union are called cosmonauts.) Naturally, the people of India are following this space trip with great interest. The parents of the Indian cosmonaut visited both a Hindu temple and a Sikh shrine to pray for a safe and successful space journey for their son, but there is no report that any prayers were offered by the parents of the Russian spacemen. While in space, the Indian cosmonaut will practice yoga while strapped to sensitive instruments that measure weightlessness and motion sickness. It will be interesting to see whether the yoga discipline has some measurable effect in space. Certainly, a simple yet sturdy faith does have an effect upon the mental attitude of the believer. In the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter 26, verse 3, it is written that God gives perfect peace to those who put their trust in him.
Francis Xavier (84/04/07)
In English encyclopedias, entries under the letter "X" are very few. Can you think of any famous historical figure whose name begins with an "X"? The one such person who comes to my mind was born in Spain 476 years ago today, on April 7, 1506. Along with Ignatius Loyola, he became one of the founders of the religious order in the Homan Catholic Church known as the Society of Jesus, also called the Jesuits. In 1541, he went to India as a missionary and 8 years later he arrived in Kagoshima as the 1st Christian missionary to Japan. I presume you know his name. It was Francis Xavier. Although he only remained in Japan for a couple of years, he baptized over 1000 new believers and the influence of his short visit continued long after his death. Typewritten copies of these "Daily Word" messages may be received by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus ¥1O0 in stamps to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. Contributions to help defray the expenses of this telephone service may be deposited in the yūbin furikae kōza of "deiri-wa-do", Nagoya 3-37078.
Buddha (84/04/08)
In Japanese Buddhist temples, today, April 8th, is the day when sweet tea is poured from a bamboo dipper over a small bronze image of a little boy with an upraised arm. The shrine in which the image is placed is decorated with flowers and the common Japanese name for this event is "Flower Festival". The image represents Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in India about 2550 years ago, although the year and month and day of his birth are not known. According to Buddhist tradition, at his birth Siddhartha stood and proclaimed himself chief of the universe and streams of perfumed water came down from heaven to purify him. That is why tea is poured over the "Birthday Buddha" image. "Buddha" literally refers to an "enlightened one" and Prince Gautama attained enlightenment after many years of rigorous discipline, but in present-day Japan, anyone who dies is considered a hotoke, regardless of what kind of life that person has lived. Just as the Japanese idea of kami is quite different than the Christian concept of God, so the Japanese idea of hotoke is not the same as the original Buddhist concept of Buddha.
Brunei (84/04/09)
The English word "sultan" comes from an Arabic word referring to a ruler or prince. It is a title used for the ruler of a Muslim state. The area ruled by a sultan is called a sultanate. The Sultan of Brunei and his wife are now visiting Japan. Brunei, which is about the the size of Mie Prefecture, is located on the island of Borneo, 4/5 of which belongs to Indonesia and about 1/5 of which is a part of Malaysia. It gained its independence on January 1st of this year and has a population of less than 250,000. Due to its natural resources, the per capita national income of $20,000 a year makes it one of the richest nations on earth. 2/3 of the oil and all of the natural gas produced in Brunei are exported to Japan, whose advanced technology can assist Brunei in its future development. It is important that peaceful cooperation between the various countries of the world be promoted and Japan should play a key role in this movement. The New Testament describes the church as a body made up of many different parts having their particular functions but all working together for the good of the whole. Ideally, this should be a picture of the world also.
Salvation Army (84/04/10)
Around Christmas time on streetcorners at busy intersections of many cities throughout the world, we may see a uniformed man or woman standing beside a receptacle for money, ringing a bell. That person is a member of the Salvation Army and is soliciting funds for the poor. The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that was organized over a hundred years ago in London, England. Its founder and 1st commander was William Booth, who was born 155 years ago today, on April 10, 1829. Mr. Booth became an ordained minister of the Methodist Church, but, along with His wife, he was especially interested in reaching poor and needy people outside the established churches who would find it difficult to attend church services. He and his wife tried to minister to both the physical and spiritual needs of these people and established the Salvation Army for that purpose. The Salvation Army is a military-like organization with military ranks, uniforms, flags and bands, but its aim is to express the Christian spirit of love in very practical ways which will finally lead the person to an experience of salvation through faith in Christ. The Apostle Paul taught that salvation comes as the result of believing in Jesus Christ as one's Lord and Savior.
Lake Tahoe (84/04/11)
One of the popular sightseeing spots in the U. S. state of California is the beautiful mountain lake Tahoe, situated over 1900 meters above sea level. Its name comes from an Indian word for "lake". This lake is about 36 kilometers long and some 15-20 kilometers wide, but it is the deepest lake in the United States, reaching a depth of 500 meters. The water is crystal clear, but there are old Indian legends about a man-eating monster that lives in the lake and even in recent years there have been reports of seeing large, strange creatures swimming there. Very few bodies of people drowned in that lake have ever been found, but scientists attribute that to the low temperature of the water. This may be the American version of the famous Loch Ness monster in Scotland. In some poetic passages in the Old Testament, a sea monster is referred to, and in Psalm 89 it is written that God rules over the powerful sea, calms its angry waves and crushed the sea monster, Rahab, so those who trust in him have no need to fear. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Slavery in America (84/04/12)
As you know, the United States of America was established as the result of a revolution against Great Britain. However, there was an obvious contradiction in the thinking of some of the rebellious colonists, for while they opposed the undemocratic policies of Great Britain, they themselves were holding people in slavery. Some slaveholding colonists refused to support the Declaration of Independence until Thomas Jefferson agreed to delete from it his denunciation of slavery. The slavery problem was also discussed for many days at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. This contradiction finally erupted in the American Civil war, which began when Confederate troops fired on Ft. Sumter, near Charleston, South Carolina, on April 12, 1861, 123 years ago today, less than 6 weeks after Abraham Lincoln became president. Lincoln had written the following words in a letter 2 years previously: "This is a world of compensation; and he who would be no slave must consent to have no slave. Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves, and, under a just God, cannot long retain it."
Friday the 13th (84/04/13)
It must be very obvious to the listeners of these daily telephone messages that I usually look at the calendar before preparing the message for a particular day. Looking at the calendar, I find that whenever the 1st day of the month falls on a Sunday, the 13th day of that month falls on a Friday. Today is Friday the 13th, considered an unlucky day by superstitious people in the West because Jesus died on Friday and there were 13 present at his last supper with his disciples. People with a healthy faith in the God of love that Jesus revealed, however, are not troubled by such superstition. Since April 1st fell on a Sunday, that means that there are 5 Sundays this month. It is our custom to hold a meeting of "Daily Word" listeners on the 5th Sunday of the month. On April 29th at 1:30 in the afternoon at the Nagoya Y.W.C.A., located on Nishiki Dōri, east of the fountain in Sakae, we will hold our 14th such meeting. That day is the Emperor's Birthday and the theme for our discussion will be Birthdays, Birthday Celebrations and Commemorations. I hope you can attend. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Masada battle (84/04/14)
On the western shore of the Dead Sea in Israel is a large rock mass with steep sides that rises over 200 meters above the surrounding valleys. The flat area on top covers about 80 hectares, which is about 1/4 of the area of Nagoya City. The name of this old rock fortress is Masada, a name having strong, emotional overtones for Jewish people because of an event that occurred there 1911 years ago today in the year 73. Jewish zealots revolted against Roman domination in 66, which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem by a Roman army in 70. However, a diehard band of revolutionaries held out against Rome for over 2 more years at Masada. Finally, when they recognized their cause was lost, they refused to surrender to the end and chose to die by killing their own families, their comrades and themselves rather than being captured by the hated enemy. 960 men, women and children died in this act of mass suicide. They chose death in freedom rather than life in slavery. They would have agreed with the cry of the American revolutionary, Patrick Henry, "Give me liberty or give me death".
Going west in America (84/04/15)
Japan's Prince Shōtoku once angered a Chinese ruler by referring to him as the emperor of the land of the setting sun. In Elizabethan English, the expression "go west" meant to die or disappear into the great unknown like the setting sun. In American history, however, to "go west" meant to seek adventure and fortune in the new and developing regions to the west of the eastern seacoast settlements. From the days of the pioneers, Americans have been heeding that advice and through the years the population center of the country has been moving west. A recent Census Bureau report indicates that the 2nd largest city in the U.S. is now Nagoya's sister city of Los Angeles, California, on the west coast, replacing the mid-western city of Chicago, Illinois. 6 of the top 10 cities in the U.S. are now found in the south or the west. The new ranking is: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Dallas, San Diego, Phoenix and San Antonio. In the 4th century B.C., Aristotle wrote that "A great city is not to be confused with a populous one" and that "A very populous city can rarely, if ever, be well-governed."
Queen of Denmark (84/04/16)
The word "monarch" comes from the Latin words meaning "ruling alone". A monarch may be called a king, queen, emperor or empress and the country ruled by a monarch is called a monarchy. In the modern world, there are many so-called limited or constitutional monarchies, where the monarch is but a figurehead and the country is ruled by an elected government according to a constitution. Japan is a constitutional monarchy and so is Denmark, the country of the Danes. Today is a national holiday in Denmark, commemorating the 44th birthday of its monarch, Queen Margrethe II, the 1st woman to sit on the throne of Denmark in over 5 centuries. She became queen upon the death of her father in 1972. There have been many queens and princesses in European history named Margaret, which comes from a word meaning "pearl". In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13, verses 45 and 46, is Jesus' parable of a man searching for fine pearls and when he found an outstanding one, he sold all that he had in order to buy it. So Jesus taught we should sacrifice lesser things for that which is most important. Our Japanese Bible Class meets tomorrow evening at 6:30 at the city kyōikukan in Sakae. Join us if you can.
Two deaths (84/04/17)
Yesterday's newspapers contained 2 sad news reports of deaths that had occurred on Sunday. Both of them were unusual and, to my Western way of thinking, both had a peculiar Japanese character. In the 1st incident, 6 university sophomores boarded a 3 passenger rowboat after a drinking spree and maneuvered it some 300 meters into Lake Yamanaka, where it capsized, resulting in the deaths of 5 of these young men. The word "sophomore" is actually a combination of 2 Greek words meaning wise and foolish. These students of the elite Tokyo University, who were probably above average in intelligence, acted very foolishly in this case. The 2nd report told of the death of a policeman in Gifu Prefecture who committed suicide to affirm his innocence of charges related to money he had received from a business association. Although I recognize the Japanese psychology behind this act, I must say that I consider it also to be imprudent. Both incidents seem to show a lack of genuine respect for human life and a self-centered way of thinking. The Bible teaches that life is a precious gift from God and should be highly regarded--whether it belongs to oneself or to another.
Holy Week (84/04/18)
The English word "holy" is related to the words "whole" and "hale" in reference to something wholesome and healthy. In the Biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek, however, "holy" refers to something separated from an ordinary to a divine purpose. For Christians, Sunday is a holy day, a day set apart to worship God. From this "holy day" the word "holiday" developed with a somewhat different meaning. In the Christian Church calendar, this week before Easter is called Holy Week. It is the week commemorating Jesus' final suffering and death, beginning with Palm Sunday, celebrating his triumphal entry into Jerusalem as people used palm leaves to welcome him, and culminating on Good Friday, the day of his crucifixion. For Jews, the holy day is Saturday, but this week is also a holy week for them, called the Feast of the Passover. In the Bible, the term "saint" refers to a holy person, a person separated for a divine purpose. It is God's will that all people become holy and it was for that reason that Jesus Christ came to earth and lived and died and rose again. By his power, sick minds become healthy, broken hearts are made whole and sinful people become holy.
The Last Supper (84/04/19)
On the wall of a church in Milan, Italy, one of the most famous pictures in the world is painted. It is Leonardo da Vinci's portrayal of "The Last Supper". It shows the peaceful face of Christ surrounded by the shocked, confused and agitated faces of his disciples after he startled them with the words, "One of you shall betray me." It was at this last supper with his disciples, on the evening before his death, that Jesus shared with them bread and wine, as symbols of his body and blood, and told them to remember his death in that way. So, throughout the centuries, Christian churches have remembered Jesus' death and its deep meaning using bread and wine in a celebration called the Eucharist, Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper, in which Christians reflect, repent and accept God's cleansing grace into their lives. It was on the Thursday of Holy Week, which is today, that that event occurred and you may read about it in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 14. You may receive a typewritten copy of this week's daily messages by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus ¥100 in stamps to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Good Friday (84/04/20)
Good day! in English, many greetings begin with the word "good", with the meaning that "I hope you have a good morning, a good afternoon, a good evening, a good night or a good day." Good has a broad meaning but always refers to something desirable, having a positive implication. There are a number of different Chinese characters that mean "good" also. How many can you write? In the Christian Church calendar, today, the Friday before Easter, is called "Good Friday". That may seem to be a strange way to refer to the day commemorating the cruel and painful death on the cross of the man Christians call the "Son of God". Certainly, Jesus' disciples did not consider it a "good" Friday on the day that Jesus died. It was only after his resurrection when they came to understand the deep meaning of his death that this day was seen to have a positive meaning. In Christian thought, on Good Friday a truly good Man revealed the great love of a good God by giving his life in order to make bad people good. The Bible teaches that it is only by the power of God that sinful persons can become good, for goodness is a gift from God. In the deep sense of the word, I hope today will be a good Friday for you.
Yūbin shūkan (84/04/21)
Although this week is known as Holy Week among Christians, my Japanese reference book related to nenjū gyōji indicates that, in Japan, it has a different character. You probably didn't realize it, but yesterday was the beginning of yūbin shūkan and the end of posuto-aigo-shūkan. The former can be translated as "mail week", but what is the meaning of the latter? Aigo literally means "love and protect" and can be interpreted "treat kindly". But what are we to love and protect during the posuto-aigo-shūkan? To my American ears, "post" refers, primarily, to a stake set upright in the ground to serve as a support for such things as a wire fence, or a signboard or a tennis net. It may also refer to a military base where troops are stationed, but I doubt that this is the kind of post to be loved and protected during that week. Post may also refer to a position of employment, but evidently what is to be treated kindly during posuto-aigo-shūkan is what we call a "mailbox" in America. A week for treating mailboxes kindly has a peculiar Japanese flavor. Let us remember to treat mailmen and other people as kindly as we treat mailboxes--even though there is no special week for doing so.
Easter Sunday (84/04/22)
Today is Easter Sunday. This day, which commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead, may be considered the most important day of the year for Christians. Because the resurrection occurred on the 1st day of the week, Christians gather in churches to worship God on Sundays. Because it is considered significant that Jesus was crucified during the Jewish Feast of the Passover, the date of Easter varies year by year to coincide with that feast, which is determined according to the lunar calendar. Thus, Easter is the 1st Sunday following the 1st full moon following the vernal equinox, so it always falls on Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. Coloring, boiled eggs, called Easter Eggs, and wearing new, spring clothes are a couple of American customs related to Easter. The so-called Easter Parade in New York City is merely a promenade of well-dressed people along fashionable 5th Avenue on Easter Sunday. Easter Eggs and new clothes may symbolize new life and a fresh beginning, but the true joy of Easter is found in the experience of new life and a fresh outlook that comes through faith in the Risen Lord. Plan to join us at our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A.
International meet of handicapped persons (84/04/23)
An interesting international meet took place over the past couple of days in the seaside city of Gamagori, some 60 kilometers east of Nagoya. This event was given the nickname of Respo,, from the 1st syllables in the Japanese pronunciation of both "leisure" and "recreation" plus the 1st syllable of "sports". In English, of course, leisure begins with an "l" and recreation begins with an "r". At this 1st international meet of handicapped persons for leisure, recreation and sports, some 200 participated from 24 different countries. It was sponsored by 80 organizations and involved over 3,200 volunteer workers. It seems to have been a success for the participants enjoyed themselves, international friendships were established, the host community and volunteer workers provided charitable service and the consciousness of the general public relating to the problems faced by the handicapped was raised. This was a commendable project deserving of further support. The positive faith of Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, is seen in her statement that "I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work and my God."
The Marseillaise (84/04/24)
The song used as the national anthem of Japan begins with the words kimi ga yo. The song officially designated as the national anthem of the United States is called The Star-Spangled Banner and the national anthem of France is called the Marseillaise. This song was composed 192 years ago today, on April 24, 1792, by a French poet, Rouget de Lisle, while serving in the French army. Its stirring, defiant lyrics were aimed at the advancing German and Austrian troops and the song was 1st called "The War Song of the Army On the Rhine". However, during the French Revolution, a band of soldiers from Marseilles, a seaport on the Mediterranean Sea and the 2nd largest city of France, sang that song as they marched on the royal palace. It thus became known as the Marseillaise, meaning "of Marseiles". It became intimately connected with the Revolution although its composer was a royalist who barely escaped execution by the revolutionaries. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya Y.W.C.A. in Sakae, we will hold another meeting of listeners to these telephone messages. The theme for discussion is "Birthdays and Birthday Celebrations". I hope you can attend.
Bullying (84/04/25)
The Japanese Ministry of Education has prepared guidance material for grade school teachers relating to an increasingly prevalent problem among school children. It is the problem of ijime or "bullying". The English word "bully" has an interesting history. Originally it meant a sweetheart or lover, and even today, when used as an adjective, it may mean "fine" or "very good". However, as a noun, it now usually refers to a person who frightens, threatens or hurts those who are smaller or weaker. The Education Ministry's new manual indicates various social conditions that have stimulated the recent increase in bullying--such as the nuclear family, the pressure of studying and the lack of sufficient free time to enjoy oneself, resulting in poor human relations, stress and frustration. Both parents and teachers must recognize that the healthy moral and spiritual cultivation of children is even more important than their mental and physical development. Jesus raised the question of the value of becoming materially successful at the cost of one's moral integrity. This question is very relevant today also. I hope you can attend our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. We will talk about birthdays and birthday celebrations.
Carnival on Virgin Islands (84/04/26)
The English word "carnival" refers to a time of merrymaking. Traditionally, carnivals are usually held before the beginning of the somber season of Lent, which precedes Easter. On the U.S. Virgin Islands, however, it is customary to hold a carnival following Easter. The Virgin islands are a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea, discovered by Columbus in 1493 and named for the virgin St. Ursula and her companions. They were purchased by the United States from Denmark in 1917. Along with the masquerade parade music and dancing are important parts of the Virgin Islands' festivities. Music is played by steel bands, using instruments cut out of oil barrels, and the songs are sung by calypso singers. Some of the dancers dance on 3 meter tall stilts. Every nation has its special festival times, but the Bible teaches that we should always rejoice and those with an inner, spiritual peace from God can do so. Birthdays are a time for celebrations and that will be the theme for the meeting of "Daily Word" listeners next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. on Nishiki D ōri east of Sakae. Please join us if you can. My wife and I would like to meet you there.
Chinichi Crowns (84/04/27)
Crown, Corona and Corolla are the names of Japanese cars. A crown is an ornament worn on the head as a sign of honor or victory and corona is the Latin word for crown, from which the English word is derived. Corolla is the diminutive of corona, meaning a small crown. An international golf tournament called the Chunichi Crowns is now being held at the Wago course of the Nagoya Golf Club. 92 professional and 10 amateur golfers are participating in this 25th annual tournament. The world-famous golfer, Jack Nicklaus from the United States, is among them. Although his surname is spelled differently from that of St. Nicholas, it must come from the same Greek root meaning "conqueror of the people". In the New Testament book of Acts, chapter 6, verse 5, a man by the name of Nicolaus was 1 of 7 men chosen to serve as deacons or ministers to the needs of others. The Christian is called to be a servant rather than a conqueror and crowns are promised to faithful servants. Don't forget the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. It is the Emperor's Birthday. What do you think about that holiday?
Birthdays (84/04/28)
Technically speaking, in the United States there are no national holidays, for each individual state designates what legal holidays are to be observed in that state. The President and Congress can legally designate holidays only for the District of Columbia and for federal employees. In practice, however, most states observe the federal legal holidays while often adding state holidays of their own. There are state holidays commemorating the birthdays of a dozen different important men in American history. In Japan, the one holiday celebrating a birthday is April 29th, the birthday of the reigning emperor. What are your thoughts about this holiday and about birthday celebrations in general? How do you celebrate birthdays in your family? If you have an interesting story related to a birthday, please share it with us at our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting tomorrow afternoon at the Y.W.C.A. on Nishiki Dōri east of Sakae which will begin at 1:30. The new issue of "Daily Word" Echoes will be on sale at that time. I hope you can attend. Following that meeting, I will be preaching in English at the Nagoya Union Church and you are invited to that service also. This is "Daily Word", P.0. Box 30, Moriyama P.0. 463.
Typewritten copies of messages (84/04/02)
Jimmu Tenno (84/04/03)
Jesse Jackson assassinated (84/04/04)
Extradinary events in High School Baseball Tournament (84/04/05)
Indian cosmonauts (84/04/06)
Francis Xavier (84/04/07)
Buddha (84/04/08)
Brunei (84/04/09)
Salvation Army (84/04/10)
Lake Tahoe (84/04/11)
Slavery in America (84/04/12)
Friday the 13th (84/04/13)
Masada battle (84/04/14)
Going west in America (84/04/15)
Queen of Denmark (84/04/16)
Two deaths (84/04/17)
Holy Week (84/04/18)
The Last Supper (84/04/19)
Good Friday (84/04/20)
Yūbin shūkan (84/04/21)
Easter Sunday (84/04/22)
International meet of handicapped persons (84/04/23)
The Marseillaise (84/04/24)
Bullying (84/04/25)
Carnival on Virgin Islands (84/04/26)
Chinichi Crowns (84/04/27)
Birthdays (84/04/28)
Emperor's Birthday (84/04/29)
Louisiana (84/04/30)
April Fool's Day (84/04/01)