All Saints' Day (84/11/01)
The English word "martyr" comes from a Greek word meaning "witness", which may refer to seeing something or to giving a testimony of what one has seen. A martyr is a person who has given up his life as a witness to his faith. Although in the New Testament, the word "saint" referred to all Christian believers, whether living or dead, that word became especially applied to martyrs and other outstanding men who had been faithful witnesses till their death. Certain days were set apart to remember particular saints and, since the 4th century, a special day was designated to honor all the saints, known and unknown. Thus, today, November 1st is a holy day in the Roman Catholic Church calendar, called All Saints' Day. It is a legal holiday in many countries with large Roman Catholic populations and in the U.S. state of Louisiana. A number of the New Testament letters of Paul were addressed to the "saints" of various places, referring to the church members there. The word "saint" literally means a "holy" person who has been called by God and separated from common or secular pursuits to serve him. Although all Christians are called to be saints, not all of us act like saints. (1352)
North and South Dakota (84/11/02)
95 years ago today, on November 2, 1889, two new states were added to the United States of America. That brought the number of states to 40, 10 less than the number today. These two states were actually from the same Dakota Territory, but due to political feuding between the northern and southern parts and their inability to agree on a capital city, finally they were both admitted as separate states. So there is now a North and South Dakota even as there is a North and South Carolina. The capital city of North Dakota is Bismarck. Originally, this town was called Edwinton, but it later adopted the name of the then German chancellor to encourage German settlement and investment. The capital city of South Dakota, Pierre, is the 2nd smallest capital city in the country. It has less than 12,000 inhabitants and only Montpelier, Vermont, with a population of less than 9,000, is smaller. The word "Dakota" is the Sioux Indian name for themselves and means "friend" or "ally". It is always good to have friends and allies. In Proverbs 18:24, there is a contrast between "friends who pretend to be friends" and a true friend "who sticks closer than a brother." The Christian considers Jesus Christ as his bosom Friend. (1353)
Culture Day (84/11/03)
Before the end of the war between Japan and the Allied Forces, this 3rd day of November was an important Japanese holiday honoring Emperor Meiji. However, it was on this day in 1946 that the new Japanese Constitution, which placed sovereign power in the hands of the people and renounced war, was promulgated. In commemoration of this event, November 3rd was redesignated Culture Day, to foster love and respect for culture. Former Indian Prime Minister Nehru, the father of the recently assassinated Indian Prime Minister Gandhi, wrote the following words about culture. "Culture and civilization are difficult to define, and I shall not try to define them. But among the many things that culture includes are certainly restraint over oneself and consideration for others. If a person has not got this self-restraint and has no consideration for others, one can certainly say that he is uncultured." In the New Testament Letter of James, chapter 2, we find these words: "You will be doing the right thing if you obey the ... scripture, 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself.' But if you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty of sin." In the light of such words, I wonder how many of us are truly "cultured"? (1354)
A fish with a gold earring (84/11/04)
An interesting story appeared in the newspaper last week about a fisherman in Norway. The fisherman's name was Waldemar Andersen. According to the story, he caught a cod fish while he was fishing. That's not unusual, but what was special about that particular cod fish was the gold earring found in its stomach. What was yet more surprising was the fact that it was the very earring that Andersen's wife had lost at that place the week before. Andersen said he didn't know that he was fishing near the spot where his wife lost her earring and his wife is quoted as saying, "Think of all the fish swimming around here and that the same cod that swallowed my earring should bite on my husband's hook a week later. It's completely improbable." A story in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 17, about whether or not Jesus needed to pay the temple tax ends with these words of Jesus to Peter: "Go to the lake and drop in a line. Pull up the first fish you hook, and in its mouth you will find a coin. Take it and pay our taxes." The fisherman never knows what his catch may include, but the Bible teaches that even the incidental events in life are somehow included in God's overall plan.(1355)
Guy Fawkes Day (84/11/05)
In some places in England, bonfires will be lit tonight to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day. It is strange to have a special day named after a criminal, but Guy Fawkes Day commemorates the so-called Gunpowder Plot which was foiled 379 years ago today, on November 5, 1605. On that day a group of conspirators had planned to blow up the English Parliament to protest the severe laws against English Catholics. 30 barrels of gunpowder overlaid with iron bars and firewood had been secretly stored in a cellar under the House of Lords. Guy Fawkes, who had been born into a Protestant family but who had become a zealous Roman Catholic, was the soldier who was supposed to light the fuse to set off the explosion. However, one of the conspirators betrayed the secret and Fawkes was caught as he entered the cellar. Parliament then set apart November 5th as a day of thanksgiving known as Guy Fawkes Day. Have you ever thought of giving thanks to God for disasters that did not occur? Tomorrow evening we will hold our fortnightly Bible Class at the city kyōikukan near Sakae. The study in Japanese begins at 6:30 followed by same study in English at 7:30. You are invited to attend. (1356)
Choosing leaders (84/11/06)
Japan commonly holds elections on Sundays, but in the United States, Sunday has traditionally been considered a holy day, so matters of a secular nature, including school activities, business and politics, are not usually scheduled on Sundays. The 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday of November has been designated General Election Day, so today is the day that American citizens go to the polls to vote for their national and local leaders. My wife and I voted a couple of weeks ago by absentee ballot. There were 8 candidates for president listed on the ballot. Besides the Democratic and Republican Parties' candidates, there were candidates of the Communist Party, the Socialist Workers Party, the Libertarian Party and the Citizens Party as well as 2 independents. Last week in Japan, the president of the Liberal Democratic Party, who also serves as Prime Minister, was chosen. For your essay this week, I would like to read your thoughts regarding the different methods of choosing the leaders of these two democratic nations--including both positive and negative aspects of both systems. Send your essay to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. Please send all essays for the next issue of the Echoes to reach me by Saturday, November 17. (1357)
Harvard University (84/11/07)
The northeastern part of the United States is known as New England. The earliest European settlers of this area were the so-called Puritans from old England who were seeking religious freedom. Soon after their arrival, they recognized the need for an educational institution to educate their future clergymen, so on November 7, 1636, 348 years ago today, the Massachusetts Bay Colony decided to establish a school for that purpose in the town of Newtown, near Boston. It was not until 2 years later, however, that the school actually began in the house of its single professor and the name of the town was changed to Cambridge, after the famous English university. Not long after the opening of the school, a young Puritan immigrant named John Harvard died and willed one-half of his estate and his entire library to the new school, so the school was named Harvard College in honor of its first benefactor. Harvard University, begun in this simple way to train ministers, has long since been recognized as one of the world's outstanding educational institutions. A healthy faith encourages higher learning, but the Bible teaches that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." (1358)
X ray (84/11/08)
One of the difficulties in learning to speak in English after having first learned to read the language is the irregular pronunciation which various English letters may be given. From the standpoint of pronunciation, there are a couple of letters in the English alphabet that are completely unnecessary. Can you think of which ones they are? Very few words begin with these two letters and in the popular word game called "Scrabble", they are the letters with the highest values because it is difficult to make words using those letters. They are the letters X and Q. In the great Oxford English Dictionary, the entire section under X takes up less space than the single word "get". In English, X may be used more as a symbol than as a letter. It is often used to symbolize something unknown. That's how the word "X ray" was coined. It was 89 years ago today, on November 8, 1895, that X rays were discovered by Wilhelm Roentgen. Because of their unknown character, he called them X rays; others referred to them as Roentgen rays. By means of X rays, we may see inside the body things that are invisible to normal sight. Let us remember that God has a kind of X ray vision that can penetrate our hearts.
President Reagan (84/11/09)
Literally, a landslide refers to the sliding of a mass of rocks or earth down a mountainside. Figuratively speaking, it refers to an overwhelming majority of votes for one candidate in an election. The results of the presidential election in the United States indicate that President Reagan won in a landslide. This was not a surprise, for all of the opinion polls had pointed in that direction. Ronald Reagan's winsome manner, the present encouraging state of the American economy and the conservative mood of the country as a whole all contributed to his impressive victory. Nevertheless, personally, I was disappointed, for I believe that the policies advocated by former Vice-President Mondale are wiser. I am particularly concerned about President Reagan's overemphasis on military strength, his support of reactionary dictators and his seeming lack of interest in arms control and of concern for the less fortunate. I am also afraid his unbalanced budget will cause trouble for years to come. Obviously, the majority is not always right. In recent American history, the landslide victories of Presidents Johnson and Nixon were preludes to disaster. I hope this is not the case with President Reagan.(1360)
Sponge (84/11/10)
There is a certain kind of cake made in Japan called kasutera. Made of flour, eggs and sugar, it is brown on the top and yellow underneath. Its name comes from the medieval Spanish kingdom of Castilla, meaning place of many castles. This kind of cake first entered Japan at Nagasaki at the end of the Muromachi Era. It was brought by Dutchmen, but called by its Portuguese name of pão de Castella because it was the kind of bread made in that place. In English, we refer to it as sponge cake because its porous quality resembles a sponge. A sponge, of course, is a plantlike sea animal. Its skeleton, which can absorb many times its own weight in water, is used as a washing implement. A person who drinks too much may also be called a sponge. The colloquial expression "to sponge on" someone is used for a person who depends on others for food or money instead of working for himself. It is not healthy for children to continue to sponge on their parents after they have grown up. However, to be like a sponge when it comes to absorbing knowledge or truth is commendable. In Psalm 119, verse 97, the poet wrote: "0 how I love thy law! It is my study all day long." A person can never absorb too much of God's truth. (1361)
Veterans Day (84/11/11)
66 years ago today, at 11:00 A.M. on the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918, an armistice between the Allies and the Central Powers ended the fighting of World War I. As the guns of the victors and the vanquished fell silent, the conflict which was called the "war to end wars" came to a close. Beginning a couple of years following the end of the war, November 11 was observed in the United States as Armistice Day when special tribute was paid to the soldiers who had died in that war. After the Second World War and the Korean War, servicemen who died in those wars were also remembered, so, in 1954, the name of that national holiday was changed to Veterans Day. In this case, "veteran" refers to a person who has served in the armed forces and with the change in name, the character of the day also was changed, for not only were the war dead remembered but all who had served in the armed forces were honored. Remembering those who have fought and died for their country is fine, but the best way to honor them is to try to make our countries more worthy of their sacrifice and promoters of a peaceful world where wars will no longer occur. The Bible exhorts us to live in peace with all people. (1362)
The Thinker (84/11/12)
In the foyer of the Nagoya City Museum is the statue of a man sitting in deep thought. This sculpture, called The Thinker, is a famous work by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. It is one of some 25 such statues that were produced from the mold of the original sculpture, now in a museum in Paris. Rodin was born of humble parents in that city 144 years ago today, on November 12, 1840. He began his study of art at the age of 14 and this statue was completed in 1894, when he was 53 years old. I wonder how many people who gaze at it are encouraged to take more time to think and to think deeply. Our reasoning ability is what separates us from the brutes, but too many of us do not make sufficient use of it. The French philosopher, Descartes, reached the conclusion, "I think, therefore I am." The American philosopher, Emerson, noted that "If a man sits down to think, he is immediately asked if he has the headache." Automobile maker, Henry Ford, called thinking "the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason why so few engage in it." How much deep thinking have you done lately? And where do we get this amazing ability to think if not from a rational Creator? (1363)
Essays (84/11/13)
The word "essay" originally meant to test or try, to make an attempt. In 1580, the French writer, Montaigne "tried" to set down his thoughts on certain subjects and called those meditations "essays" or "attempts". The English writer, Francis Bacon, then wrote his thoughts on certain matters and also called them Essays. So it was that "essay" came to refer to a literary composition dealing with a single subject from a personal point of view. For the past 6 Tuesdays, I have suggested themes for listeners to write essays on for publication in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. Although we usually hold "Daily Word" Listeners' Meetings on the 5th Sundays of the month, the next 5th Sunday, December 30th, will be inconvenient for many people, so our next meeting will be held on January 13th instead. Therefore, I am extending the deadline for the essays. If you haven't written for the coming issue, you may still do so and send the essays to me for correction by Saturday, November 24th. The themes for the next issue are: Love, Health, Baseball, Festivals, Koalas and Japan and American Election Systems. I would like to receive essays from you who have never written before. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. (1364)
Prince Charles (84/11/14)
Today, November 14, 1984 is the 36th birthday of England's Crown Prince Charles Philip Arthur George. Japanese speakers of English often have difficulty distinguishing between the pronunciations of R and L. Although there is quite a difference between a crown and a clown, this Crown Prince has also been called the Clown Prince because of his sense of humor. It is reported that once when he was in the navy, visiting journalists had hoped to talk with him but a duty officer informed them that the prince was pompous, not very bright and probably wouldn't agree to meet them. Disgruntled, the journalists disembarked--not realizing that the talkative young lieutenant was His Royal Highness himself. A sense of humor is an important element in maintaining good health and in enjoying life. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "If I had no sense of humour, I would long ago have committed suicide." In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, chapter 17, verse 22, it is written: "A cheerful heart is a good medicine." If you wish to receive a typewritten copy of these daily messages, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus ¥100 in stamps to: "Daily Word", P.O. Box 30, Moriyama P.O. 463. (1365)
Salt (84/11/15)
A salaried man receives a "salary", which refers to a fixed payment at regular intervals for services rendered. The word "salary" comes from the Latin word for "salt". Salt is used to make food more tasty and Roman soldiers were originally given some salt as a part of their regular wages. Later, they were given money to buy salt, which was called salarium or salt money. It is from that word that the English word was derived. The expression that a person "is not worth his salt" means that the person is not worth his salary, which is to say, he is worthless. To take someone's word "with a grain of salt" means to accept a statement with some doubt regarding its complete truthfulness. An additional element is needed to make the statement easily digestible. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5, verse 13, Jesus referred to his disciples as "the salt of the earth". This expression has a twofold meaning. As salt was used to preserve fresh fish from spoiling, Jesus' disciples should work to block corruption in the world. And as salt is used to improve the flavor of food, so his followers should exert a favorable, zestful influence in society. Are you a part of the "salt of the earth"? (1366)
"American Indians" (84/11/16)
Since the early European explorers of the American continents mistakenly thought that these lands were in Asia, they called the native, reddish-skinned inhabitants "Indians". That erroneous designation has continued and nowadays, to distinguish these American natives from their brownish-skinned Asian namesakes, they are sometimes called American Indians or red Indians. The name of one of the states of the U.S.A. comes from 2 Indian words meaning "red man". It is the state of Oklahoma, which, in 1834, was designated by Congress as Indian Territory, where tribes that had been ousted from their eastern homelands could settle. However, the white man continued to push the native Americans off of this land also, so by the time that Oklahoma was accepted as the 46th state, on November 16, 1907, less than 2 million of the originally designated 30 million acres was still in Indian hands. The cruel and unjust treatment of American Indians by white men is a shameful blot on American history and contrary to the Christian belief, expressed in the Declaration of Independence, that "all men are created equal." We should not judge a person by skin color nor by ethnic origin. (1367)
The Suez Canal (84/11/17)
In 1899, the English poet, Rudyard Kipling wrote, "Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet, Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment Seat." However, throughout the years there have been various attempts to bring East and West closer together. One of them was completed 115 years ago today, on November 17, 1869. It was on that day that the Suez Canal was opened, linking the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. This canal is some 167 kilometers long and took over 10 years to be constructed. The canal was planned and its construction was supervised by the French engineer, Lesseps, who later began construction of the Panama Canal. This water route from Asia to Europe avoids the long trip around the African continent and has brought the world closer together. The Suez Canal has linked East and West in a geographic sense, but you and I both have a responsibility to help increase mutual understanding between the Orient and the Occident. We live in one world created by the God and Father of all people and, as the Old Testament poet wrote in Psalm 133, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity." (1368)
Transplant from a baboon (84/11/18)
For the past 3 weeks many people were reading with interest and concern reports coming from Loma Linda, California. In a hospital there, a tiny infant, called Baby Fae was making medical history. Baby Fae was born with a defective heart early last month. On the 14th day after her birth, the heart of a 7 month old baboon was transplanted into her body. There were signs of her body rejecting this non-human organ, but doctors thought she had passed the critical point when she suddenly died last Friday, Japan time. Before Baby Fae, there were 4 previous cases of transplanting apes' hearts into human bodies. All of them involved the hearts of chimpanzees and all the recipients died within 4 days. Thus, Baby Fae, who lived 21 days after the transplant, established a new record. There has been much controversy over the wisdom and ethics of putting a baboon's heart into a human child, but the doctors involved affirm that they were only trying to save the child's life and considered a human child of higher value than a baboon. It is often difficult to make wise, ethical decisions. To do so requires a sound standard of judgment, which the Christian finds in God's revelation in Jesus Christ and the Bible.(1369)
Gettysburg address (84/11/19)
121 years ago today, on November 19, 1863, a ceremony was held in a field in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to dedicate a military graveyard on the site of a decisive battle between Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War where some 7000 men had lost their lives. The main speaker at this ceremony was a noted orator of the day, who spoke for 2 hours. After his erudite oration, President Abraham Lincoln was called upon to give "a few appropriate remarks." For about 2 minutes, he spoke in very simple fashion from notes he had jotted down shortly before the ceremony. Many of those present did not pay much attention to his words, being distracted by a photographer, and expecting his message to last longer. Newspapers of the day dismissed the speech with withering criticism. One expressed shame at the "silly, flat, and dishwatery utterances" of the president, but historians have acclaimed this Gettysburg Address, with its affirmation of "government of the people, by the people and for the people," as one of the great speeches in modern history. Tomorrow evening at 6:30, we will hold our fortnightly Bible Class at the City Kyōikukan near Sakae. You are invited to attend. (1370)
Queen Elizabeth married to Prince Philip (84/11/20)
37 years ago today, on November 20, 1947, a happy event took place in the historic London church known as Westminster Abbey. On that day, a 21 year old princess was married to a 26 year old prince. That princess has now become Elizabeth II, the Queen of England, and her husband is Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Philip is a grandson of a king of Greece, a great-grandson of a king of Denmark and a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria of England. Since Queen Elizabeth is also a great-great-grandchild of that same queen, that makes them third cousins. Philip gave up his Danish and Greek titles and became a British citizen the same year he was married. Five years after her marriage, Elizabeth became the Queen of England upon the death of her father. Three years ago, her eldest son, Charles, was married in St.Paul's Cathedral in London and now has two sons who are 3rd and 4th in line to the British throne. Among the nobility, lineage is very important, but the Bible teaches that we cannot find happiness through trusting in our ancestors. Happiness is found through trust in God when, by faith, we recognize him as our Father, thus becoming his children and heirs to his promises. (1371)
Coalas (84/11/21)
Yesterday, the V.I.C., or "Very Important Creatures", of Nagoya were put on public display at the Higashiyama Zoo. According to reports, 13,000 people lined up to go through the luxurious dwelling place of the koalas from Australia. The newspapers have referred to the abnormal atmosphere pervading Nagoya as "koala fever", but I think a more apt description of this exaggerated enthusiasm would be "koala craze". The newspaper reported that 8 university students spent the previous rainy night camped out in front of the zoo entrance so they could be the first ones into the koala house. At the so-called koala service shop near the koala house, along with other Australian products alcoholic beverages will be sold, which breaks a 16 year ban on the sale of such beverages within the zoo. My wife and I have been recipients of the gracious hospitality shown to foreigners by Japanese, which is greatly appreciated but may be overdone. I am in favor of a more balanced life rather than running to extremes--whether in religion, politics or life in general. Proper balance is essential for a healthy life--both in a physical and spiritual sense. As the proverb goes, "Soon hot soon cold." (1372)
Thanksgiving Day (84/11/22)
Every year on the 4th Thursday of November the people of the United States pause to express their gratitude for the bounty and good fortune that they enjoy both as individuals and as a nation. Thanksgiving Day is a legal holiday observed throughout the United States and its territories. The 1st Thanksgiving Day of the Plymouth Colony in New England was observed in October of 1621. The Pilgrims had landed there during the preceding winter on the Mayflower, but the severe weather and living conditions resulted in the deaths of almost half of their community. It was after the abundant harvest of corn and barley the following year that a day was set apart for giving thanks to God. However, 2 years earlier, in 1619, the colonists in Virginia had also observed a Thanksgiving Day in which they gave thanks for their survival and for their bountiful tobacco crop. In fact, the American thanksgiving tradition goes back beyond these observances in the New World to the earlier customs of the colonists' homelands. Christians trace the roots of their thanksgiving tradition to the Bible, where the Psalmist repeatedly wrote, "O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!"(1373)
Labor Thanksgiving Day (84/11/23)
In the United States, holidays are designated by the individual states, but in Japan, all legal holidays are national holidays observed throughout the whole country. There are 12 such holidays in Japan, but they are not scattered equally throughout the year. There are no legal holidays in the months of June, July, August or December, but there are 2 each in January, May, September and November. Today is the last legal holiday of the year: Labor-Thanksgiving Day. Before the war, this day was called niinamesai and ceremonies for offering of newly-harvested rice to the deities were held at Shinto shrines and in the imperial palace where the emperor is said to dine with the kami. In agricultural societies it is common for farmers to be thankful following a good harvest, but in industrial societies also workers and all people should be thankful for the blessings of life. Here in Japan, where there is freedom, peace and opportunities for meaningful labor, we have much to be thankful for. The 100th Psalm is a good one to read on Thanksgiving Day. Following this telephone call, why don't you take a few moments to read this Psalm and quietly give thanks to God, your Creator for all of his blessings and make this a real "Thanksgiving Day"? (1374)
Zaire (84/11/24)
There are 3 nations in the world whose names begin with Z. How many can you name? All 3 are located in Africa and the largest of them is celebrating its national day today. Beginning in 1885, this large area of central Africa was called the Congo Free State and was under the personal control of King Leopold II of Belgium. International protests over his exploitation of the population forced him to cede his private state to Belgium and, in 1908, it became a colony of that country, called the Belgian Congo. Independence was granted to this land in 1960. An army general named Mobutu proclaimed himself president and assumed control of the country on November 24, 1965, so today's holiday commemorates that event. In 1971, its name was changed to Zaire, the native name for the river running through the country which the Europeans had called the Congo. The following year, Zairians with Christian names were ordered to change them to African names. Sometimes, a change of circumstances is symbolized by a change in name. Some people change their names when they become Christians to symbolize the change that has taken place in their lives and their desire to begin life anew. (1375)
Andrew Carnegie (84/11/25)
149 years ago today, on November 25, 1835, Andrew Carnegie was born into a poor man's family in Scotland. Seeking a better life, his family moved to the United States when he was 12 years old and he began working in a textile factory. Later, he became a messenger boy, a telegraph operator, secretary to a railroad superintendent and then became the tycoon of the American steel industry and one of the richest men in the world. In 1901, he received $250 million upon his retirement and devoted the rest of his life to philanthropy. By the time of his death in 1919, he had given away $311 million. There are many buildings or institutions in the United States that bear his name, including the Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Carnegie-Mellon University and many Carnegie libraries throughout the country. Making money may be enjoyable, but it is even more enjoyable to use money to make others happy. Andrew Carnegie wrote that a man with excess riches is "a mere trustee and agent for his poorer brethren". In Matthew, chapter 25, Jesus taught that deeds of love done for others are actually being done for him.(1376)
Eternal flames (84/11/26)
One of the meanings of "eternal" is perpetual or never stopping. There are various places in the world where so-called "eternal flames" have been kept burning over the years in memory of certain people. There is one at the grave of former President John Kennedy in a cemetery outside of Washington, D.C. There is one outside the Kremlin Wall in Moscow in honor of Russian soldiers killed in battle. There is a fire still burning in the main temple of Eiheiji on Mt. Hiei, near Kyoto, which was said to have been lit by Dengyō Daishi, the founder of the Tendai Sect in Japan, some 1200 years ago. However, the record for a long-lasting fire must be held by the one still burning in an underground coal mine in the Soviet Union. The fire, which sends ash and gases spouting from the slopes of a mountain, was documented by Pliny, a Roman naturalist, 2000 years ago and Soviet scientists have recently established that it started well over 3000 years ago. The Bible speaks of an eternal fire burning in hell, where sinners will go to receive God's righteous judgment. But it also speaks of God's eternal love for all sinners and I believe the latter to be stronger and longer lasting than the former. (1377)
Crusades (84/11/27)
The word "crusade" is now used for any vigorous, united action on behalf of some cause. People may organize crusades against corruption in government, drunk drivers or spoiling the natural environment. In particular, organized religious campaigns have been called crusades, because this word is rooted in a Spanish word meaning "to take up the cross". When written with a capital letter, it refers to one of the military expeditions undertaken by European Christians to recover Jerusalem and its holy places from the Muslims in the Middle Ages. In fact, it was 889 years ago today, on November 27, 1095, that Pope Urban II made an impassioned speech prompting the First Crusade, which resulted in the temporary return of the Holy City to Christian control. During the next 200 years there were 8 other Crusades organized to fight against the so-called infidels. Not all who took part in these Crusades had religious motivations. Some of these "cross people" were interested in looting, gaining personal or political advantage with the blessing of the Church, or merely wanted to travel. Today also, people engage in various commendable activities with mixed motives, but our final reward will be given by God, who sees our hearts. (1378)
The Prodigal Son (84/11/28)
A parable is a short, simple story from which a moral lesson may be drawn. Jesus told many parables as he taught the common folk of his day. You have probably heard of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This story is found in the 15th chapter of the Gospel according to Luke. I'm not sure how the story was given this name, but it may give a wrong impression because the emphasis is not on the wayward son but on his loving father. Jesus told 3 stories in this chapter. The first was about a shepherd who found his lost sheep after a diligent search. The second was about a woman who finally found the coin which she had lost. This third one is about a son who left home and lived a prodigal life but who finally returned home and was forgiven and welcomed by his loving father. The word "prodigal" may mean recklessly wasteful, but it may also mean extremely generous. In Jesus' parable, the son lived a recklessly wasteful life, but the father showed extreme generosity toward him, so in a good sense he was a "prodigal father". The meaning of the parable is that God is like that loving father who will willingly forgive his wayward children who return to him.(1379)
North and South Dakota (84/11/02)
Culture Day (84/11/03)
A fish with a gold earring (84/11/04)
Guy Fawkes Day (84/11/05)
Choosing leaders (84/11/06)
Harvard University (84/11/07)
X ray (84/11/08)
President Reagan (84/11/09)
Sponge (84/11/10)
Veterans Day (84/11/11)
The Thinker (84/11/12)
Essays (84/11/13)
Prince Charles (84/11/14)
Salt (84/11/15)
"American Indians" (84/11/16)
The Suez Canal (84/11/17)
Transplant from a baboon (84/11/18)
Gettysburg address (84/11/19)
Queen Elizabeth married to Prince Philip (84/11/20)
Coalas (84/11/21)
Thanksgiving Day (84/11/22)
Labor Thanksgiving Day (84/11/23)
Zaire (84/11/24)
Andrew Carnegie (84/11/25)
Eternal flames (84/11/26)
Crusades (84/11/27)
The Prodigal Son (84/11/28)
Yugoslavia (84/11/29)
St. Andrew's Day (84/11/30)
All Saints' Day (84/11/01)