Disaster Prevention Day (84/09/01)
In Japan, today, September 1st, is known as bōsai no hi. However, when I looked up bōsai in my large Japanese-English dictionary, what do you think I found? The only 2 listings for bosai were "deceased wife" and "roadblock". I wonder if that indicates that this bōsai is a new word? Of course, its meaning is "disaster prevention" and the reason that this day was chosen as "Disaster Prevention Day" was because of the great disaster that occurred in the Kanto area 61 years ago today, on September 1st, 1923. As a result of that great earthquake and subsequent fire, over 560,000 homes were destroyed and close to 100,000 lives were lost. At present, there is fear that a large earthquake may shake this Tokai area and people are warned to make preparation. A well-known Japanese proverb indicates that it's well to have a cane ready before one falls. In English also, we have the saying that "Prevention is better than cure". The disaster that most people fear most is death. The Bible teaches how we can prepare for death through a healthy faith that also saves us from the fear of death, for the Christian believes that death is the gateway to a new and better life.(1291)
My father's diary (84/09/02)
A little over two months ago, on the Sunday following our arrival in my hometown in northern Illinois in the United States, I preached the sermon at the two morning worship services in my home church. On the following Monday evening, a "feedback" session in the church parlor was held for those who wanted to respond to the sermon by asking questions, requesting further explanation or voicing their own opinions. At that time, a lady brought a bag full of old documents and booklets. She said she had found them in the basement of my parents' old home, which she and her husband had purchased many years ago following my father's death. They recently resold the house and found these old things which they had saved to give to me. In the material were some of my father's books that he had used in elementary school near the end of the last century. Of particular interest was a small diary he had kept during the year 1904, when he was 12 years old. I enjoyed reading of his activities as a boy 80 years ago. Before returning to Japan, I visited his grave, but I did not worship there for Christian worship is directed only toward God, our Creator and Savior. However, I do thank God that I had an honest, faithful and loving father, who provided me with a fine example. Because of him, I find it easy to refer to God as "Father".(1292)
Labor Day (84/09/03)
This first Monday of September is a legal holiday in all 50 states of the U.S.A. It is called Labor Day and has been designated as a day to honor laborers since 1882. The day was chosen by Peter McGuire, the founder and general secretary of a labor union for carpenters. He chose this day because it was, in his words, "the most pleasant season of the year, nearly midway between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving, and would fill a wide gap in the chronology of legal holidays." In my experience of American life, I never connected Labor Day with laborers. Rather, it was the final day of the summer vacation before the beginning of a new school year. In a presidential election year, Labor Day has been considered the traditional beginning of the election campaign. For baseball fans, the league leaders on Labor Day are considered most likely to win the league championships. In my hometown these days, Labor Day is a day of an outstanding parade which climaxes a weekend of festivities. To the people of his day, Jesus had this to say about labor, in the Gospel of John, chapter 6, verse 27: "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you."(1293)
Information about "Daily Word" (84/09/04)
Today's message will consist of announcements and information regarding this "Daily Word" telephone service. Some listeners tape the daily messages onto their own cassettes by means of a telephone pick-up microphone and then listen to them repeatedly without making more telephone calls. Every weekend I send out a typewritten copy of that week's messages to those who request them by sending me a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus 100 yen in stamps for each week of messages desired. On the 5th Sundays of the month, we hold a meeting of "Daily Word" listeners. We will hold our next meeting on Sunday, September 30th at 1:30 P.M. at the Nagoya-shi Higashi Kyōiku-shakai Senta-. If you would like to hear about some incidents that took place during my recent trip to the U.S., you may hear them in Japanese by calling the telephone number of my church in Mikawa Takahama, which is 0566-52-2732. If you wish to make a contribution toward the expenses involved in this telephone service, you may make a deposit in the Yūbin Furikae Kōza of "Deiri-Wa-do" Nagoya 3-37078. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. (1294)
Croaking of frogs (84/09/05)
The English word "onomatopoeia" comes from 2 Greek words meaning "to make a name" and refers to forming a word by imitating the natural sound associated with the object or action involved. In Japanese, there are many onomatopoetic words, called giongo or giseigo. One such word is korokoro, which may refer to a rolling round object or to something fat and cute. It may also refer to the chirping sound made by a cricket or to the croaking sound made by a frog. A German court has recently issued a ruling regarding frog croaking. Mr. and Mrs. Wendt have two small ponds in their garden and the croaking of frogs disturbed the sleep of their elderly neighbors who filed a court suit against them. The neighbors charged that the croaking frogs prevented them from getting a good night's sleep, caused headaches and even a heart problem, so the judge ordered the Wendts to "present frog croaking on their property during the period from April 15 to the end of July." I wonder, does the singing of frogs sound different to German ears than to Japanese ears? Thomas Fuller has written that "Music is nothing else than wild sounds civilized into time and tune." To certain ears, even the croaking of frogs may be considered a kind of music.(1295)
What's in a name? (84/09/06)
In Shakespeare's famous play, Romeo and Juliet, two young lovers are frustrated. They are burdened with the names of their families which are at odds with one another. So Juliet cries out: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." Whether we like it or not, names are important and are used to identify people. Today, the president of South Korea begins his visit to Japan. Do you know his name? Just as some Americans may refer to the hero of Cervantes' novel as "Don Kwiksut" instead of Don Quixote, some Japanese may refer to the Korean president as "Zen-to-kan", giving the Japanese pronunciation to the Chinese characters in his name. In Roman letters, his name is written Chun Doo Hwan which is closer to the actual pronunciation. It is too bad that many Koreans living in Japan feel unable to use their true Korean names because of the prejudice against them which would result, so they use Japanese names to avoid discrimination. We should avoid judging a person by his or her name or nationality and make our judgment on the basis of the person's character. In John 7:24, Jesus said, "Do not Judge superficially, but be just in your judgements." (1296)
Elizabeth I (84/09/07)
English girls' names such as Beth, Bess, Betsy, Betty, Lisa, Lizzie, Elsie and Elsa all come from the name Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a royal name in European history. Queens or empresses with this name have ruled Russia, Austria, Rumania, Bohemia, Belgium and England. Elizabeth II is the present queen of England. Her namesake, Elizabeth I was born on this day, September 7th, in the year 1533. She was one of the longest reigning monarchs in British history and her 44 year reign is considered one of the great periods of that nation's history. Even today, the term "Elizabethan" refers to a particular style in architecture, the decorative arts and literature. Elizabeth is a Christian name which comes from the Bible. It was the name of a relative of Jesus' mother, the mother of John the Baptist. In the 1st chapter of the Gospel according to Luke is the story of Elizabeth. She is pictured as a righteous woman, who finally bore a child in her old age. It was Elizabeth who first spoke the following words to Jesus' mother, which have become part of a common prayer in the Roman Catholic Church known as the Ave Maria, or "Hail Mary":"Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."(1297)
St. Augustine (84/09/08)
Many people think that the English Pilgrims who arrived in north America aboard the Mayf1ower in 1620 established the first permanent settlement in the so-called "New World", but the oldest town founded by Europeans in what is now the United States of America was founded by Spaniards on the Florida peninsula, 55 years before the arrival of the Pilgrims in New England. It was on September 8, 1565, 419 years ago today, that Pedro Menendez formally established the town of St. Augustine. A few days later, French troops attempted to enter the harbor by ship to attack the new settlement. However, the French ships were wrecked in a hurricane, which the Spaniards considered a miracle and which Japanese would certainly have called a kamikaze. The town was named St. Augustine because it was on the feast day of that saint that the Menendez party first entered the area a couple of weeks earlier. It was St. Augustine who wrote in The City of God that "Man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible." And I would add that one becomes happy by making others happy. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.(1298)
The Chrysanthemum Festival (84/09/09)
In Chinese thought, the concept of two opposing forces called yin and yong is very important. On the one hand, yong is considered the bright, active, positive, male force and yin is its opposite--dark, passive, negative and female. In Chinese thought, odd numbers belong to the yong category and even numbers have the yin character. So it is that special Chinese festivals were held in odd numbered months when the number of the day and the number of the month were identical. The cultural influence of China upon Japan has been great and the traditional Japanese seasonal festivals are also on the 3rd day of the 3rd month, the 5th day of the 5th month, the 7th day of the 7th month and today, the 9th day of the 9th month. Nine is the highest odd numbered digit, so today's festival is called in Japanese, referring to that repeated bright number. It is also known as the Chrysanthemum Festival, although it is too early for chrysanthemums according to the solar calendar. In Japan, chrysanthemums are considered a symbol of longevity. Although I doubt that drinking chrysanthemum tea will ensure a long life, in the 4th chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus promised eternal life to those who drank the spiritual water he offered. (1299)
John Smith (84/09/10)
What do you suppose is the most popular masculine name in English? The answer is John, and the second most popular surname is Johnson. The most popular surname in English is Smith. When you put John and Smith together, you have a combination that fills pages of telephone directories in many American or English cities. John Smith is a famous name in American history for that was the name of a leader of the group that founded Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America. Smith was an energetic leader who did much exploring around the Virginia Colony, made maps of the area and established trade relations with the Indians. There is a well-known story that he once was saved from being killed by Indians because of the intercession of Pocahontas, the Indian chief's daughter, but it is not certain whether this story is true or merely a legend. In English, "smith" refers to a person who works with metals, such as a silversmith or a blacksmith. The name "John" is the English form of the Hebrew name Johanan, which means "the Lord had mercy". Near the end of the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, the father of a baby named John predicted that his son would lead people to salvation because of the mercy of the Lord. Today, let us thank the Lord for his mercy.(1300)
"The Gift of the Magi" (84/09/11)
Henry is one of the two most common names for English monarchs, but there has been no King Henry since Henry VIII died in 1547. William Sydney Porter, a famous American short-story writer who used the pen name of O. Henry was born 122 years ago today, on September 11, 1862. He cultivated the art of writing while serving a prison term and after his release, he began writing stories for magazines which were short and simple, having an unexpected and often ironic ending. One of his stories, "The Gift of the Magi", tells of a poor, young couple who each sold their dearest possession to buy a Christmas gift for the other. Della sold her beautiful hair to buy an expensive watch fob for Jim's gold watch, and Jim sold his watch to buy some beautiful combs for Della's hair. After referring to this couple as "two foolish children who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house", the story ends with these words: "But in a last word to the wise let it be said that of all who gave gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts such as they are wisest. They are the magi." incidentally, Magi were the wisemen from the east who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.(1301)
The Battle of Marathon (84/09/12)
In the year 490 B.C., Persian troops landed in Greece to punish its citizens for supporting a rebellion against the tyrannical Persian Empire. However, a surprise attack by the Athenians defeated the Persian army at a village some 25 miles northeast of Athens. That Battle of Marathon took place on September 12, 2,474 years ago today. It is said that a runner ran from Marathon to Athens to carry the happy news of the Athenian victory and fell down dead after accomplishing his mission. Since the first modern Olympics, held in Athens in 1996, the marathon race has become one of the main events. Since 1908, the distance of the marathon has become standardized at 26 miles and 385 yards, approximately 42,195 meters. Nowadays, marathon may be used to refer to any context of endurance. In his New Testament letters, the Apostle Paul frequently uses a foot race as an illustration. In Philippians, chapter 3, he writes: "the one thing I do is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight towards the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above." (1302)
General Nogi (84/09/13)
What do you know about General Nogi? He was the Japanese Army Commander who became a hero during the Russo-Japanese War. His troops captured Port Arthur after a five months' siege. This was followed by what became the largest battle in modern times until that date when his 400,000 soldiers forced the capitulation of 350,000 Russian troops defending the city of Mukden. As a trusted subordinate of Emperor Meiji, he became the tutor of the present emperor. However, his posthumous claim to fame is based on the ritual suicide he performed 72 years ago today on September 13, 1912. On that day, the state funeral of Meiji Tenno was held, after which both General Nogi and his wife followed him in death as an act of final devotion to their lord. In the light of Japanese thought at that time, this was considered a highly respected act, but from my present vantage point I must say it was wrong for this man to kill both his wife and himself. It is better to show one's respect by living a useful life rather than ending one's life by one's own hand. Life is a precious gift of God. It should be used to bring glory and honor to him. (1303)
Idioms beginning with the word "French" (84/09/14)
As you know, Americans come from a number of different national backgrounds. Many words in American English reflect these national differences. A number of English idioms begin with the word "French". How many do you know? French fried potatoes are strips of potatoes fried in hot, deep fat until crisp; French toast is sliced bread dipped in a batter of egg and milk and than fried; French ice cream is very rich ice cream made with cream and eggs; and French dressing is a salad dressing made of vinegar, oil and various seasonings. French doors are two adjoining doors with glass panels from top to bottom which open in the middle. French cuffs are double cuffs on the sleeve of a shirt, which are turned back and fastened with a cuff link. A French horn is a brass-wind instrument having three valves and a long coiled tube ending in a wide flaring bell. If the French horn was known to the ancient Hebrews, it certainly would have been mentioned in the 150th Psalm, for there are mentioned all the musical instruments to be used in praising the Lord--including trumpets, harps and lyres, drums and cymbals. This Psalm begins and ends with the words, "Praise the Lord!" and the Psalmist taught that all the instruments we have should be used to praise God.(1304)
The battle in Sekigahara (84/09/15)
You probably thought that my message today would be related to senior citizens on this Japanese holiday, but since my September 15th messages for the past 4 years were all related to "Respect for the Aged Day", today I have chosen another subject. Do you have any idea what happened on this 15th day of the 9th month, according to the lunar calendar, in the 5th year of Keicho, which is the year 1600 according to the Gregorian calendar? On that day a famous battle took place in the province of Mino. Because there used to be a barrier-gate at that place, it was called Sekigahara. There the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the armies of his enemies and the long-lasting Tokugawa Era began. Although Ieyasu's warriors were outnumbered, the battle turned in his favor when one of the opposing commanders led his troops to the Tokugawa side. In the Old Testament, there are a number of stories of battles, but in the Biblical view of history, the outcome of a battle was not determined by the strategy or military power of the victor but by God, who is actively at work in human history. The Christian believes that God is still working out his good purpose in the affairs of men today, including the events of our individual lives. (1305)
Faults (84/09/16)
Originally, the word "fault" referred to a failure or a lack, but it may also refer to a defect or flaw that mars the appearance. An error or mistake may also be called a fault along with the responsibility or blame for the error. In tennis, fault refers to a ball that was not served in the proper court, but in geology, it refers to a break in the rock strata. In the past couple of days, we have been made conscious of some hidden faults as the earth has trembled and quaked beneath us. Although there is probably no relationship between the two, Japan not only ranks first in the longevity of its citizens but also in the number of earthquakes recorded each year. Someone has defined an earthquake as "a big movement in real estate". Another referred to it as "a motion to adjourn". The biblical writers considered earthquakes manifestations of the great power of God, but in 1 Kings, chapter 19, verses 11 and 12, we read that the Lord did not reveal himself in a furious wind, a great earthquake or fire, but in the "soft whisper of a voice." Many times we do not hear that soft voice of God because our hearts and minds are filled with other sounds. On this day of rest, let us quiet our hearts to hear God speak. (1306)
The United States Constitution (84/09/17)
In 1776, the American colonies approved a Declaration of Independence and began their Revolutionary War. Following this war, a peace treaty with Great Britain was signed in 1783. However, at that time the 13 separate colonies were not united under a common government and various problems arose between them. Over 5 years after the end of the war, a Constitutional Convention was organized and for 3 months the delegates deliberated, argued and compromised to draft a suitable constitution that protected the rights of the smaller and less populous states while uniting their various traditions under a federal government with a balance of power between executive, legislative and judicial branches. The United States Constitution was approved by the Convention on September 17, 1787, 197 years ago today. Recognized as one of the most ingenuous and effective constitutions ever prepared, it has been the model for many others since that time. Just as a constitution is needed to regulate the political life of a nation, so a standard is required for the moral and spiritual life of an individual. For the Christian, the Bible serves that purpose, as "a lamp to his feet and a light to his path." By what standard do you measure your life? (1307)
Love (84/09/18)
The English word "love" has a number of different meanings. In tennis, it refers to a score of zero. In Christian theology, agape, the Greek term for love, is used to refer to the character of God and of his benevolent concern for people as well as to people's relationship with God and with other people. On the human level, love may refer to a strong, passionate attachment to a person or a thing. Nowadays, it is often used as a synonym for "like" and many young people today use it in a very superficial sense. Love is a basic human quality which has been an important element in both history and literature. What does "love" mean to you? What thoughts or memories does it bring to your mind? "Love" will be the theme for our discussion at the next "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting, to be held on Sunday afternoon, September 30th beginning at 1:30. This time, our meeting will be held at the Nagoya Shi Higashi Shakai Kyōiku Senta-, located a full block north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station next door to the Geijutsu Sōzō Senta-. I hope you will be able to join us there for a couple of hours of fellowship, conversation and refreshments. The 9th issue of "Daily Word" Echoes will also be on sale. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.(1308)
Mickey Mouse (84/09/19)
What do you think of when you hear the name Mickey? As a slang expression, Mickey can refer to a drink of liquor to which a drug has been added, but many people will connect the name with a cute cartoon character in the form of a mouse. Mickey Mouse has been a favorite of children for many years and his form has appeared on many different products to heighten their appeal. It was 56 years ago today, on September 19, 1928, that Mickey Mouse made his acting debut in a cartoon feature film called "Steamboat Willie" produced by Walt Disney. After that, many Mickey Mouse cartoon films were produced by Mr. Disney, who, for the next 20 years, used his own voice for that of Mickey's. Mickey Mouse, along with Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and many other Disney cartoon characters, has delighted many adults and children alike throughout the years. Of course, the name Mickey, is a shortened form of Michael, which, in its Hebrew original, means, "Who is like God?" In the genaeological lists of the Old Testament, there are 10 different men named Michael, but in the book of Revelation, chapter 12, Michael is the name of an angel who led other angels in a spiritual battle against the forces of wickedness. We also should be involved in that kind of warfare today.(1309)
Prince Harry born (84/09/20)
Monday, British newspapers carried front page pictures of Princess Diana holding her newborn son under the banner headlines: "Wild About Harry." This infant is now 3rd in line to the British throne, following his father and his 2 year old brother, William. The newborn prince's full name is Henry Charles Albert David, but at home he will be called "Harry". The name Henry was chosen simply because both parents liked the name and also because there is no other member of the royal family at present with that name. The other names all have family connections: Charles is the name both of his father and of his mother's brother; Albert was the first name of his great-grandfather who reigned as King George VI; and David was the name of Queen Mother Elizabeth's favorite brother. Although I do not belong to a royal family, my father's name was Henry, which became my elder brother's middle name, and my middle name of Benjamin was the name of my father's elder brother. Names have significance as well as associations. The name "Jesus" means "the Lord is salvation" and, according to Matthew 1:21, the name was given to the son of Mary because he would "save his people from their sins". Jesus was born to be the Savior and to reign in people's hearts as king.(1310)
Treating koalas kindly (84/09/21)
In Japan, the week of September 20 to September 26 is called Dobutsu Aigo Shukan, "Treat Animals Kindly Week". Recently, there has been much publicity about the elaborate preparations for the coming of a couple of koalas to Nagoya next month. I'm sure that those involved in this project will try to treat these sensitive animals very kindly--providing them with comfortable surroundings and an ample supply of their favorite food. However, I wonder if the koalas themselves sill consider it kind treatment when they are taken from their natural habitat to a foreign land with different climatic conditions and placed in a cage to be stared at by millions of people. What is the real meaning of aigo, which is made up of the Chinese characters for love and protection? There are different kinds of love and a variety of ways to express it--toward animals or toward people. "Love" will be the theme for our discussion at the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting on Sunday afternoon, September 30th, at 1:30 at the Nagoya Shi Higashi Shakai Kyōiku Senta-. I hope you can join us there. Jesus did not teach about the proper attitude toward animals. He was concerned about our attitude toward God and toward other people. He taught that man should love his neighbor as himself.(1311)
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon (84/09/22)
Joseph Kittinger, a native of the American state of Florida, is a 56-year-old grandfather who enjoys adventure. He established the world record parachute jump of 31,333 meters in 1960. As an air force pilot, he flew 100 hours in combat during the Vietnam War before being shot down and spending 12 months as a prisoner of war. He retired from the air force in 1978 with the rank of colonel. On Friday of last week, he took off in a 10-story-tall-balloon from the U.S. state of Maine. On the following Tuesday, he landed in stormy weather on a mountain side in Italy. He thus established another world record for a solo balloon flight of 5,632 kilometers and became the first man to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone in a balloon. Unfortunately, he was thrown out of his gondola upon crash-landing in a tree and had to be hospitalized with a broken foot. Helen Keller referred to life as "a daring adventure". Despite her blindness, she said she was happy because she could see "a God-made world" even in the darkness. A healthy faith in the living God will give meaning to the "daring adventure" of life and bring it to a happy ending.(1312)
Worship services (84/09/23)
Today is Sunday. Is Sunday a day of relaxation for you? For me, it is a very busy day. I usually spend the entire day at our church in the city of Takahama, holding various meetings. My wife also goes with me to Takahama and attends the morning worship service there, but she usually returns to Nagoya afterwards to attend the afternoon worship service of the Nagoya Union Church, which is conducted in English. If you would like to attend a Protestant worship service in English, you are invited to that service which is held every Sunday afternoon from 4:00 to 5:00 o'clock in the Kinjō Kyōkai across the street from the Tokiwa Jogakuin in Daikanchō , Higashi Ku. Next Sunday afternoon, however, I hope you will attend our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting which will meet in the Higashi Shakai Kyōiku Senta-, next door to the Geijutsu Sōzō Senta-, a full block north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station, beginning at 1:30. The theme for our discussion time will be "Love", so be ready to share some of your thoughts on that subject with us. The 4th issue of "Daily Word" Echoes will also be on sale for 200 yen at that time. Sunday, the day of rest, was meant to be a holy day and not merely a holiday.(1313)
Autumn (84/09/24)
According to the solar calendar, the season of autumn began yesterday with the autumnal equinox. What feelings does autumn arouse in you? Contrasting outlooks can be seen in the following words of three 19th century writers. An American poet referred to autumn as "the melancholy days...the saddest of the year". A French statesman wrote that: "A moral character is attached to autumnal scenes. The flowers fading like our hopes, the leaves falling like our years, the clouds fleeting like our illusions, the light diminishing like our intelligence, the sun growing colder like our affections, the rivers becoming frozen like our lives." On the other hand, an American clergyman presented the following view: "The leaves in autumn do not change color from the blighting touch of frost, but from the process of natural decay. They fall when the fruit is ripened, and their work is done. And their splendid coloring is but their graceful and beautiful surrender of life when they have finished their summer offering of service to God and man. And one of the great lessons the fall of the leaf teaches, is this: Do your work well and then be ready to depart when God shall call." Which view do you prefer?(1314)
Orthodoxy (84/09/25)
The word "orthodox" refers to correct doctrine. In the history of the Christian Church, defining what is orthodox has been a major concern. The early formulation of orthodoxy was the result of a number of councils of church leaders that took place after Christianity gained a favored position in the Roman Empire. The first such council was held in the Byzantine city of Nicaea. It was called by the newly-converted emperor Constantine to settle a religious dispute about the nature of Christ. The Nicene Council ended its deliberations on September 25, 325, 1,659 years ago today. That Council decided that Christ had the same nature as God and was therefore divine. The teaching that Christ was a divine being thus became an orthodox doctrine of the Church. The Bible teaches that the essential nature of God is love and that Christ revealed this love of God through his selfless life and sacrificial death. "Love" will be the subject for our discussion at the meeting of "Daily Word" listeners next Sunday afternoon beginning at 1:30 at the Higashi Shakai Kyōiku Senta-, a full block north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station, next door to the Geijutsu Sōzō Senta-. I hope you can join us at that meeting, for I'd like to meet you there. (1315)
The Bible (84/09/26)
The English historian, Thomas Macaulay, referred to the English Bible as "a book which if everything else in our language should perish, would alone suffice to show the whole extent of its beauty and power." British statesman, Stanley Baldwin, called the Bible "not only great but explosive literature." The American statesman, Thomas Jefferson said that "the studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers and better husbands." He could have added "better mothers and better wives" also. Beginning in October, I will teach a Bible Class at the City Kyōikukan near Sakae directly west of the Aichi Bunka Kaikan on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday evenings of the month. From 6:30 to 7:30 I will teach in Japanese. From 7:30 to 8:30, I will teach the same passage in English. A person may attend only the Japanese session or only the English session or both sessions. The fee will be 500 yen per month. The first class will be held next Tuesday and you are invited to attend. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30, I hope you can attend the 15th meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages at the Higashi Shakai Kyōiku Senta-, one full block north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station.(1316)
Locomotive (84/09/27)
Loco is the Spanish word for insane or mad. It is also used in English as a slang term referring to a crazy person. I used to think that the word "locomotive" was derived from the crazy motion made by the piston rods and wheels of a locomotive. However, in this case, "loco" comes from the Latin word for place, so "locomotive" means to move from place to place. 159 years ago today, on September 27, 1825, the first steam locomotive was operated on a track laid between two English towns about 20 kilometers apart. It pulled cars carrying coal and grain as well as people and reached a speed of 10 kilometers an hour. This locomotive was invented by George Stephenson, who was born into a poor family and began working in a coal mine as a young man. He learned to read and wrote and studied mathematics in night school after becoming an adult. The proverb is true: One is never too old to learn. I am sure you also are making progress in your understanding of English. There will be an opportunity for you to use your English at our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Higashi Shakai Kyōiku Senta-. I hope you can attend. The topic for discussion is "Love". What are your thoughts about it? (1317)
California (84/09/28)
The American state of California was originally referred to as Upper California because the long peninsula, belonging to Mexico, which extends south of that state, was the original California. This peninsula later became known as Lower California to distinguish it from the larger, upper territory. Until the late 1960s when California Governor Reagan curtailed the issuance of any proclamations, the state governor used to annually proclaim September 28th as Cabrillo Day. Juan Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer, became the first white man to set foot on the coast of Upper California on this date in 1542. Some 90 days after leaving his home port in Mexico and travelling up the western coast of Lower California, he landed near the present city of San Diego. Although attacked by Indians, Cabrillo laid claim to the "Isle of California" in the name of the king of Spain and planted a flag there. It is easy for the stronger power to lay claim to certain lands, but in the 24th Psalm we read that "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." The Bible teaches that the earth and all that's in it belongs to God and mankind should care for it as his stewards.(1318)
My father's diary (84/09/02)
Labor Day (84/09/03)
Information about "Daily Word" (84/09/04)
Croaking of frogs (84/09/05)
What's in a name? (84/09/06)
Elizabeth I (84/09/07)
St. Augustine (84/09/08)
The Chrysanthemum Festival (84/09/09)
John Smith (84/09/10)
"The Gift of the Magi" (84/09/11)
The Battle of Marathon (84/09/12)
General Nogi (84/09/13)
Idioms beginning with the word "French" (84/09/14)
The battle in Sekigahara (84/09/15)
Faults (84/09/16)
The United States Constitution (84/09/17)
Love (84/09/18)
Mickey Mouse (84/09/19)
Prince Harry born (84/09/20)
Treating koalas kindly (84/09/21)
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon (84/09/22)
Worship services (84/09/23)
Autumn (84/09/24)
Orthodoxy (84/09/25)
The Bible (84/09/26)
Locomotive (84/09/27)
California (84/09/28)
Love (84/09/29)
Humor (84/09/30)
Disaster Prevention Day (84/09/01)