March (85/03/01)
Today is the beginning of a new month, the 3rd month of the year. In English, we call this month "March", which comes from Mars, the name of one of the most important Roman deities. Originally, the month of March was the 1st month of a 10 month year. Since this month marks the beginning of spring, it is quite natural to put it at the beginning of a new year. However, in the 6th century B.C., 2 extra months were added to the end of the year and later, these 2 months were transferred to the beginning of the year, making March the 3rd month. Mars became known as the god of war and was identified with the Greek god of war, named Ares. In Athens, there is a rocky hill called Areopagus, which may mean "hill of Ares". In the old King James Version of the Bible, it is called "Mars' Hill" and it was from there that the Apostle Paul preached the sermon recorded in Acts, chapter 17. This sermon was about the "Unknown God", who is not far from each one of us, for "in him we live and move and have our being". Why don't you read it for yourself? You may receive a typewritten copy of these daily messages by writing to "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. (1472)
A venerable driver (85/03/02)
Tommy Wright lives in Hopkinton, Rhode Island in the northeastern United States. He has a drivers license and the birthdate printed on it is 2-23-85. People who see that might doubt its accuracy, because a person born on 2-23-85 would only be a week old today. However, there is no mistake. It's just that Tommy Wright was born one hundred years ago, on February 23, 1885, but he continues to drive a car and has just had his drivers' license renewed. He has never had an accident or a moving violation and considers himself the best driver in the whole state. Tommy Wright celebrated his 100th birthday last Saturday with his 96-year-old wife, Sadie, to whom he has been married for 78 years. An ancient Greek poet wrote in 458 B.C. that "Old men are always young enough to learn with profit". One of the best ways to keep from growing old in spirit is to keep on learning, to continue to be curious and to be involved in some intellectual exercise, like studying English, for example. But of greatest importance in maintaining a healthy spirit is to have a healthy faith. In Isaiah 40:31, we read, "Those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed". (1473)
Hina Matsuri (85/03/03)
Today is the Birthday of Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, but in Japan the 3rd day of the 3rd month is a special day for girls when a beautiful set of traditional dolls are displayed. In old China, this was a day when a purification ceremony was held, but as has frequently happened when customs of other nations have been imported into Japan, this Chinese tradition was subtly changed and given a peculiar Japanese flavor. Now it is called Hina Matsuri, which could be translated Baby Chicken Festival, because hina actually refers to a chick, or baby chicken, although its secondary meaning is "doll". The English word "doll" was originally a nickname for Dorothy, but both "doll" and "chick" or "chicken" are sometimes used in colloquial speech to refer to a pretty child and some men use them as slang terms in reference to girls or women in general. Today is the day of the 6th Annual Nagoya Women's Marathon in which 55 contestants from 9 countries will participate. The word "doll" is not found in the Bible, but the word hina is found in the Japanese translation of the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 23, verse 37. Wouldn't you like to know what it says? (1474)
Japanese "yen" (85/03/04)
As you know, the Japanese monetary unit is called "yen" in English, but yen also has another meaning. It refers to a deep longing or desire. I was surprised to learn that this meaning of yen comes from a Chinese word referring to the smoke of, or the craving for, opium. The Japanese word en, of course, basically refers to something round and thus was applied to coins. 116 years ago today, on March 4th in the 2nd year of the Meiji Era, the new Japanese government decided on a new monetary unit using round coins as was the practice in other countries. The 1 rin, half sen and 1 sen coins were to be made of copper. 5, 10, 20 and 50 sen and 1 yen coins were to be made of silver. Such valuable coins as those worth 2 1/2 yen, 5 yen and 10 yen were to be made of gold. Throughout the ages, people have had a craving for riches, a desire for money, or a yen for yen, but in the New Testament book of I Timothy, chapter 6, verse 10, we find these words: "The love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows". (1475)
Ghana (85/03/05)
An exclusive residential area on the north side of the city of Chicago used to be called the "Gold coast". Here were found many beautiful homes and high-class hotels along the shore of Lake Michigan. The residential area of any city where wealthy people live may be referred to as a "gold coast", but that was originally the name of a British colony in western Africa. It was located along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and gold was mined there. 28 years ago today, however, the Gold Coast became the 1st of Britain's African colonies to gain independence, becoming the 2nd independent black country in Africa. Its name was changed to Ghana, the name of an ancient empire that flourished there. Ghana is a little larger than the main Japanese island of Honshu with a population of some 13 million. It is the world's leading grower of cacao beans from which cocoa and chocolate are made. Many countries have stars and stripes in their national flags, and in Ghana's flag there is a red, gold and green stripe with a single black star in the middle. The black star should be given a chance to shine its peculiar light in our world, for as Booker T. Washington has written, "The white man cannot keep the Negro in the ditch without sitting down there with him". (1476)
Hibernating (85/03/06)
The English word "hibernate" comes from a Latin word meaning to pass the winter. Now it is usually used in reference to creatures that spend the winter in a dormant state. According to the traditional Japanese almanac, this 5th day of March is known as keichitsu, when the various kinds of mushi which have been hibernating during the cold weather come out of hiding as the ground becomes warmer and spring approaches. In an Indian town last week, a snake came out of hiding at an inopportune moment. A man was voting in a state election when a snake slithered out of the ballot box and bit him. After casting his ballot, the man was taken away for medical treatment. In the 23rd chapter of the Old Testament book of Proverbs, there is a description of the man who drinks too much. "His eyes are bloodshot and he has bruises that could have been avoided." So the sage advises: "Don't let wine tempt you, even though ... it goes down smoothly. The next morning you will feel as if you had been bitten by a poisonous snake." As the cherry blossom viewing season approaches, this is good advice which should be remembered. You may receive a copy of these daily messages by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus ¥100 in stamps to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.(1477)
The need to control the tongue (85/03/07)
At the Japanese/English Bible Class I teach on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday evenings of the month at the City Kyōikukan, we are now studying the 3rd chapter of the book of James which teaches the need to control the tongue, which someone has called a "misguided muscle". Although words may be very helpful, sometimes, it is more effective to remain silent than to speak, as the proverb says, "Speech is silver, silence is golden". Shakespeare has written that "A strong man speaks few words", and the ancient Greek poet Homer noted, "The thoughtless man is always speaking". The two Chinese characters in kotoba, meaning "word", refer to leaves of speech and the English poet, Alexander Pope, has written, "Words are like leaves; and where they most abound,/ Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found." The Greek philosopher Pythagoras said, "I must either be silent or speak words that are better than silence." In fact, a timely silence may be more eloquent than words and someone has written that "A fine command of language is the ability to keep your mouth shut." James refers to the tongue as a tiny flame that can set a whole forest on fire. Let us be careful how we use this small but powerful organ.
Drawing lots (85/03/08)
The word "lot" has a lot of different meanings. It is a colloquial term for "many". It may also refer to a piece of land. In fact, there is an empty lot next to my house. It may also refer to one's fortune in life as in the sentence, "Her lot was not a happy one". Basically, a "lot" refers to an object drawn from or cast out of a container as a means of making a decision. Thus, "casting lots" or "drawing lots" means to decide an issue by using lots. Such a decision is based on chance rather than on reason. According to the Jewish calendar, today is the 14th day of the month of Adar, which is the "Feast of Lots" or Purim. Purim means "lots" in Hebrew and the origin of this festival is recorded in the 9th chapter of the Old Testament Book of Esther. In the interesting story of this beautiful Jewish queen of a Persian monarch, an enemy of the Jews had cast lots to determine the day to destroy them, but the tables were turned against him and he himself was destroyed. This feast day celebrates the deliverance of the Jews from their enemies. The Bible teaches that God's will may be accomplished even through what seem to be chance events in our lives.
Amerigo Vespucci (85/03/09)
Do you recognize the name of Vespucci? A man with that name was born 533 years ago today in Florence, Italy. A navigator and an explorer, he was one of the first men to land on and explore a newly-discovered continent, which he called the "New World", Reports of his explorations were included in a book published in 1507 in which the German author and map-maker coined the name "America" for the new continent in honor of Vespucci, whose given name was Amerigo and that is how America got its name. Amerigo Vespucci's explorations were limited to the northern coast of South America, but the name came to be applied to the larger continent to the north as well. The term "American" was originally used to refer to the native inhabitants, who were first considered Asians and thus called "Indians". Any inhabitant of North or South America may rightfully be called an American, but this designation is particularly used for citizens of the United States of America. This country, named by a German for an Italian, is made up of people of many nationalities, but as Rene Williamson has written, "If the American dream is for Americans only, it will remain our dream and never be our destiny" (1480)
Tradition and the Word of God (85/03/10)
Every Sunday morning I travel to the church in the city of Takahama where I serve as pastor. Beginning at 9 o'clock, I teach an English conversation class to junior high school students. Our Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:30, followed by a time of drinking tea or eating together. Sometimes there are also activities in the early afternoon but at 5 o'clock, I have an English Bible Class, and at 7 o'clock our Evening Service begins. As part of that Evening Service, I show slides of various places in the world that I have visited. The slides this evening and next Sunday evening will be of Istanbul, Turkey. My sermon for this morning, entitled, "Tradition and the Word of God", is based on the story in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 15, where some conservative Jewish leaders asked Jesus why his disciples did not follow the Jewish ceremonial traditions. Jesus explained that obeying the Word of God from the heart is more important than following formal traditions, quoting the prophet Isaiah, who wrote about people who honored God with their lips but not with their hearts. This teaching is especially relevant to Japan, where following formal traditions is considered so important. We need to question the meaning of old traditions and whether they still have some relevant content as well as external form.(1481)
Hitting the ceiling (85/03/11)
radition and the Word of God (85/03/10) Every Sunday morning I travel to the church in the city of Takahama where I serve as pastor. Beginning at 9 o'clock, I teach an English conversation class to junior high school students. Our Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:30, followed by a time of drinking tea or eating together. Sometimes there are also activities in the early afternoon but at 5 o'clock, I have an English Bible Class, and at 7 o'clock our Evening Service begins. As part of that Evening Service, I show slides of various places in the world that I have visited. The slides this evening and next Sunday evening will be of Istanbul Turkey. My sermon for this morning, entitled, "Tradition and the Word of God", is based on the story in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 15, where some conservative Jewish leaders asked Jesus why his disciples did not follow the Jewish ceremonial traditions. Jesus explained that obeying the Word of God from the heart is more important than following formal traditions, quoting the prophet Isaiah, who wrote about people who honored God with their lips but not with their hearts. This teaching is especially relevant to Japan, where following formal traditions is considered so important. We need to question the meaning of old traditions and whether they still have some relevant content as well as external form.(1481) Last week, the Education Ministry published the results of the annual health survey of Japanese school children. The report indicated that the height and weight of children, which have been increasing every year since the end of the war, may be reaching its limit. A newspaper headline may have used the term atama-uchi as a pun in this regard. Literally, atama-uchi means to "hit the head" and may be translated as "reach the peak", "hit the top" or merely as the "ceiling" when referring to the stock market. Actually, these tall junior high school children may be hitting their heads on some door frames in Japanese homes. However, care must be taken when making puns and using idioms in a foreign language: The English expression to "hit the ceiling" or "hit the roof" does not refer to spectacular growth. Rather, it refers to a person who has become very angry and goes into a rage. A father may "hit the ceiling" when his daughter returns home at 3 o'clock in the morning. As children grow larger physically, they also need to mature spiritually. According to a Danish proverb, "No man is so tall that he need never stretch and none so small that he never need stoop". Spiritual growth is a lifelong process.(1482)
White elephant (85/03/12)
The world's longest undersea tunnel, connecting the two largest Japanese islands, has now been completed. It is called the Blue Box Tunnel because it runs between the cities of Blue Forest on Honshu and Box Mansion on Hokkaido. Its construction took over 20 years and cost some ¥690 billion. The completion celebration was somewhat dampened, however, by the fear that the tunnel may turn out to be a white elephant. A white elephant is something from which little profit or use is derived, especially something acquired and maintained at great expense. In Siam, white elephants were very rare. All white elephants became the property of the king and could not be used for work. When the king disliked one of his courtiers, he might give him a white elephant, which had to be fed but could not be used. The unlucky courtier would soon be ruined by the voracious appetite of this idle beast. In our fast-changing world, it is difficult to avoid creating some white elephants, but I fear that President Reagan's Star Wars plan may put a white elephant into space. In Isaiah, chapter 55, the prophet raises the question why people spend money on things that are not worthwhile. This is a question we also should consider. (1483)
James Hepburn (85/03/13)
Today is the birthday of James Hepburn. Have you ever heard of him? He was born on March 13, 1815. He first went to China as a medical missionary and then came to Japan in 1859 as one of the first Protestant missionaries when he was 45 years old. As a doctor, he treated many sick people and gave medical training to others. However, his most notable achievement was in the linguistic field, compiling Japanese-English and English-Japanese dictionaries, translating the Bible into Japanese and originating the Romanized syllabary called by his name: hebon. The motivation for his outstanding work was a deep faith in God which he desired to share with others. Because of people like him, our world is a better place. It is our custom to hold a meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages on the 5th Sunday of the month. On March 31st, at 1:30, we will meet at the Y.W.C.A. near Sakae. The theme for our discussion will be Cherry Blossoms. What are your thoughts about these pretty flowers, their place in Japanese thought and Japanese flower-viewing customs? Join us at that meeting if you can. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Hams and hamburgers (85/03/14)
In Japanese, the English words "ham" and "hamburger" are both in common use. One might guess that a hamburger was made of ham, but it is not so. Actually, "ham" refers to the back of the thigh, to the hind leg of a four-legged animal or to the meat from the upper part of a hog's hind leg in particular. The word "hamburger" has no relation to "ham". Rather, it comes from the German city of Hamburg, whose name means "fort in an enclosed place". It was in Hamburg that a patty of seasoned ground beef was eaten. When this food was brought to America by German immigrants, it was called Hamburg steak, and when it was placed between slices of bread like a sandwich, it was termed a hamburger. "Ham" is also used in a couple of other ways which are more colloquial. Taken from "amateur", it may refer to an amateur radio operator or to an incompetent actor, especially one who overacts. Thus, when used as a verb, ham means to act in an exaggerated manner. In I Samuel, chapter 21, there is a story of a ham called David, who acted like a madman in order to escape from a hostile king. In our religious life, we should not be hams, for God requires sincerity in worship. (1485)
Rest (85/03/15)
Today is Friday, March the 15th, the day Japanese income taxes are due. Having paid your tax, I hope you will have an enjoyable weekend. Although we speak of Saturday and Sunday as the weekend, actually Saturday is the end of the week and Sunday is the beginning of a new week. In America, both Saturday and Sunday are considered days of rest and recreation or refreshment for both body and spirit so that we can begin the new week with renewed vitality. A few days ago, Nobel Prize winner Kenichi Fukui wrote in the Chūnichi Shinbun about the omikuji, or "fortune", he received from a vending machine in a Chinese restaurant in the United States, which said, "Rest is like fuel, it fires your greater ambitions". In order to make the most effective use of both mind and body, regular periods of rest are important. They will provide the energy for greater endeavors. In the 23rd Psalm, the poet speaks of God as a shepherd who lets his sheep rest in green fields and restores their souls. Rest helps to restore tired bodies and flagging spirits. This is a reason for the weekly day of rest, or "holy day", observed by Jews and Christians. (1486)
Half (85/03/16)
This 16th day of the month marks the beginning of its 2nd half. In some games, such as football and basketball, the period between the 1st and 2nd halves is called half-time, during which the players rest for a few minutes. In football, the halfback plays between the quarterback and the fullback. Halfhearted refers to a lack of enthusiasm and half-witted means foolish, but "half a mind" indicates that one is not yet fully decided on a course of action, as in the sentence, "He has half a mind to quit his job". There is a proverb that "Half a loaf is better than none", meaning that getting part of what one desires is preferred to getting nothing at all. "Half cocked" refers to a gun that is not yet ready to shoot, so a person who goes off half cocked is one who speaks or acts thoughtlessly or too hastily. "Half-baked" refers to cake or bread that is only partly cooked, so a half-baked scheme is one that has not been carefully thought out. In the Old Testament book of Hosea, chapter 7, verse 8, the people of Israel are referred to as "half-baked", indicating a lack of balance in their lives. We should not do things by halves, but be wholehearted, thoughtful and well-balanced in what we do and say. (1487)
St. Patrick's Day (85/03/17)
An emerald is a bright green gem, so emerald is also used to refer to that bright green color. Because the large island west of England has much green landscape, it is called the Emerald isle. It is also called Eire or Ireland, and for over 800 years, this island has been the scene of a struggle between the native Irish and English invaders. 5/6 of the island is now the Republic of Ireland, but the northern 1/6 forms the smallest of the 4 countries comprising the United Kingdom, which also includes England, Scotland and Wales. Today is the national day in Ireland, called St, Patrick's Day, in honor of its patron saint who spread the Christian faith in that land in the 5th century. All people of Irish descent will be wearing something green today to symbolize their proud heritage. American cities having large Irish-American populations hold St. Patrick's Day parades on this day, the largest of which is in New York City where over 100,000 will march along 5th Avenue past St. Patrick's Cathedral. A few years before his death in 461, Patrick wrote his Confession which begin, "I, Patrick, a sinner, the most rustic and the least of all the faithful". One of the basic characteristics of a saint is to humbly recognize one's sinfulness(1488)
Commune and communism (85/03/18)
It was on this day, March 18, in the year 1871, that the Commune of Paris established a revolutionary government following the end of the Franco-Prussian War. In this case, commune has the particular meaning of a communal form of government in opposition to the established, central power. Today, commune, which comes from the word "common", is sometimes used to refer to rural administrative units which reflect the will of the common people. There are a number of other English words that are related to this word. A community is a group living together with common interests. To communicate basically refers to making something common and sometimes an official communication is called a communique. Communism is an economic or political system in which, theoretically, ownership of all the means of production is in the hands of the community rather than of individuals. Whether in speaking of communes, communities, communication or communism, however, the theory is often quite different than the actuality. The early Christian community, described in the first chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, also practiced a form of communism, but without a genuine, unifying spirit of sacrificial love, such a system can never succeed.(1489)
St. Joseph's Day (85/03/19)
In the Roman Catholic Church, there is a roster of people the Church has designated saints. Certain days throughout the year are specified as feast days on which particular saints are remembered. You probably know that February 14th is the feast day of St. Valentine. The feast day of St. Nicholas, popularly known as Santa Claus, is on December 6th. As noted in my message 2 days ago, March the 17th is St. Patrick's Day, a legal holiday in Ireland and today, St. Joseph's Day, is a legal holiday in Spain. St. Joseph is a fairly popular place name in the United States, for there are cities, towns, villages or counties with this name in 8 states. I presume you know who St. Joseph was. He was the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Except for the stories related to Jesus' birth and childhood in the first 2 chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Joseph does not appear in the New Testament, so it is assumed that he died before Jesus began his public ministry. The character of Joseph is indicated in Matthew, chapter 1, verse 19, where he is referred to as a man of principle who wanted to avoid bringing shame upon his young bride. Firm principles accompanied by a sympathetic heart is an ideal combination.(1490)
Visitors to Japan (85/03/20)
How many people from foreign countries do you suppose visited Japan last year? This week, the Justice Ministry made its annual report which indicated that, for the first time in Japanese history, over 2 million visitors entered this country during a 1 year period. The total number of 2,036,488 represented an increase of 7% over the previous year. The largest number, 437,000, came from the United States, followed by 351,000 from Taiwan and 292,000 from South Korea. The biggest increase over the previous year was the 92% increase from China, from which 51,000 visitors came. The number of Japanese travelling abroad also increased last year by over 10% when over 4,600,000 Japanese left the country. About 1/3 of them visited U.S. territory, followed by Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong. It is much easier to travel these days, but wherever we go, we cannot escape from the eyes of God. In II Chronicles 16:9 it is written, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show his might in behalf of those whose heart is blameless toward him". (1491)
The vernal equinox (85/03/21)
There are 2 times during the year when day and night are exactly equal throughout the world. In English, we call such a day an "equinox", from the Latin expression for "equal night". Since the earth wobbles a bit as it rotates on its axis in its orbit around the sun, the exact moment when the equinoctial point is crossed does not occur on the same day every year. The vernal equinox may occur on either March 20th or March 21st. This year, it occurs on the 21st in Japan and the 20th in the United States. In Japan, both vernal and autumnal equinoxes are national holidays, popularly called higan, which literally refers to the "other shore" beyond death. In the Jōdo, or Pure Land, tradition of Buddhism, Amida's Pure Land lies in the west and since the sun sets directly in the west on those days, they were chosen as days to honor those who have departed to the "other shore". Graveyards are crowded with visitors during this season, but we must consider what is the best way to truly honor the dead. Is it by performing ceremonies on certain days or living an honorable life throughout the year? Christians are taught to show respect to all people, both living and dead, but they worship only the one, true and living God. (1492)
Right and Left (85/03/22)
In English, the word "right" has a variety of meanings. It may have an ethical sense of being in accordance with law or morality. It may have a factual sense of being correct. It may refer to something being suitable or fitting, normal or sane. In politics, it refers to the conservative side. It also refers to that side of the body which is toward the east when one faces north. Most people use their right hands more than their left and in most countries of the world, automobiles drive on the right side of the road. However, there are still almost 40 countries in which traffic continues to keep to the left. Other than Japan, almost all of them are former British colonies, which maintain the British tradition, in which the left side is the right side and the right side is the wrong side. As an island nation, Britain has been able to keep its peculiar custom, but present plans for an undersea tunnel to connect it with the European mainland may force a change. How does one determine which side is the right side? Judgments relating to right and wrong depend upon the standard used. In moral matters, the Christian looks to the example of Jesus Christ as the standard. What is your standard in making ethical decisions? (1493)
Johann Sebastian Bach (85/03/23)
The greatest name in the history of organ music is that of Johann Sebastian Bach. He was born in Germany on March 21, 1685 and today marks the 300th anniversary of his baptism, 2 days later. Bach showed an interest in music from his childhood. As a youth, he sang in a choir and played the violin in an orchestra when he was 18. The following year, he became a church organist and it is in this field of music that he became famous. He was a prolific composer of preludes, cantatas and chorales and developed the fugue form to its highest level. Although he is best known for his religious compositions, he also composed secular works as well. He was not only a prolific composer, he also fathered 20 children by his 2 wives. In Bach's majestic musical works, the grandeur of religious feeling that surpasses words is communicated. The character of a religion may be seen in the kind of music it produces. In the 150th Psalm, people are told to praise God for his immeasurable greatness with such instruments as trumpets, harps, lyres, drums, flutes and cymbals. The Psalmist wrote: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" and the music of Johann Sebastian Bach was written for that purpose. (1494)
Fools (85/03/24)
Have you read the novel by Shusaku Endo entitled The Fool? It is about a strange foreigner (from France, incidently, not the United States) who acted in very unconventional ways and thus was considered a fool. However, in many ways, this very naive man, Garcon, was much more normal than the abnormal society about him. The text for my sermon today is from Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 4, verse 10, where he wrote, "We are fools for Christ's sake". Paul realized that, from the viewpoint of the world, the message of Christ's selfless life and sacrificial death on behalf of sinful people and of his resurrection from the dead was considered foolishness by the people of his day. The lifestyle and value system of the dedicated Christian today may also be thought foolish by the non-Christian, but the Christian is willing to be different in a good sense, despite the antipathy of others, for he values the word of God higher than the esteem of people. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A., we will hold another meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages. Please join us there if you can. The subject for discussion is "Cherry Blossoms". This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.(1495)
Grease (85/03/25)
Today, March 25th, is the national day in Greece, commemorating its declaration of independence from the Turkish Ottoman Empire on this day in 1821. The name of the country is spelled G-r-e-e-c-e, but another English word, pronounced the same, is spelled g-r-e-a-s-e and refers to melted animal fat or to any thick, oily substance. Grease is used to lubricate machines, so a mechanic who works on automobiles or airplanes is sometimes referred to as a "grease monkey". To "grease the wheels" means to do something to help bring about some desired result in a smooth manner. In Japan, a middleman is often used to "grease the wheels". To "grease the palm", however, refers to offering a tip or a dishonest bribe to get something done. Unfortunately, there are a number of politicians around whose palms are quite "greasy". In the Old Testament prophecy of Amos, chapter 5, verse 12, bribery is one of the sins which is condemned. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A., we will hold another meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages. The theme for discussion will be "Cherry Blossoms" and "Daily Word" Echoes will be on sale. Please join us if you can.
Bangladesh (85/03/26)
Today is the national day in the country of Bangladesh, the 8th largest country in the world in population. Its population density is almost double that of Japan, for 100 million people are crowded into an area les0s than 2/3 that of the island of Honshu. Following the departure of the British from India in 1947, that country was divided into a Hindu India and a Muslim Pakistan. The eastern and western areas of Pakistan were separated by over 1600 kilometers of Indian territory, but on March 26, 1971, 24 years ago today, East Pakistan declared its independence from West Pakistan and called itself Bangladesh. The country has had a difficult existence since its birth due to a combination of many problems, the basic one being that there are just too many people crowded together into a small area that is not able to support them. Japan is also crowded, but compared to Bangladesh, it is much better off. While humbly giving thanks to God for our good fortune in this land, we should also recognize our responsibility to help others in the human family who are in need. I hope you will be able to attend the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. and tell us what you think about Cherry Blossoms.
Anchorage earthquake (85/03/27)
One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded occurred on this day, March 27th, 21 years ago. Although stronger than the Tokyo earthquake in which almost 100,000 people lost their lives, it resulted in only 114 deaths. It occurred at 5:36 P.M. in the U. S. state of Alaska and damage was greatest in the state's largest city of Anchorage, where the entire downtown business district was leveled, whole streets dropped as much as 6 meters and cars and shattered buildings piled up on top of one another. Many landslides resulted from this earthquake, the most spectacular of which was the one that carried 27 suburban homes over a bluff and into the ocean. Tidal waves caused damage along the west coast of North America and as far away as Japan. Despite property damage amounting to over $200 million in the Greater Anchorage area, less than 2 years later, the city had been completely rebuilt--except for an area which was fenced off and kept as Earthquake Park. To quickly recover and rebuild following a disaster is an evidence of faith. This is also true in our individual lives. We must carry on with faith and hope despite disappointments. You are invited to our meeting on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A.(1498)
Frogs (85/03/28)
Today's message is about frogs, the small animals with powerful hind legs, short forelegs, webbed feet and no tail, which can live either in water or on land and are thus called amphibians. Because Frenchmen are known to enjoy eating frogs' legs, "Frog" has been used as a slang term in reference to them. A person whose throat is hoarse may say that he has a frog in his throat. An important person in a small group or community may be called "A big frog in a small pond". On the other hand, "A little frog in a big pond" refers to an unimportant person in a large organization. The Japanese proverb, "A frog in the well does not know the ocean", means that people who live all their life in a small community know nothing of the wide world. It may also refer to people whose field of interest is very limited and are unacquainted with larger concerns. Those with a healthy curiosity, however, not only gain greater knowledge but are forced to consider the deeper questions of life which lead to a faith in God, the personal power behind all that is. One of the beauties of God's handiwork are the fragile cherry blossoms which will be the subject of our discussion at the "Daily Word" Listeners Meeting on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. I hope to see you there. (1499)
Tattoo (85/03/29)
The English word "tattoo", from a Tahitian word for "mark", refers to the making of permanent marks or designs on the skin by puncturing it and inserting indelible colors. In Japanese, it is called irezumi, meaning injecting sumi, the black ink made from charcoal. Tattooing has been practiced in many countries, sometimes to identify slaves or criminals or as the distinctive mark of a tribe. In some cultures it has had a religious significance as well. In the West, it is traditionally sailors who have tattoos on their arms, but in Japan, tattooing has developed into an artistic form which may cover the whole back as well as the forearms. Tattooing was strictly banned during the Tokugawa Era and a law prohibiting it was promulgated in the 5th year of Meiji, just 113 years ago today, but the practice continues. Tattoos may include pictures of one's lover, flowers and animals or even a Buddhist deity. Because it was a pagan practice in Old Testament days, in Leviticus, chapter 19, verse 28, the custom was prohibited among the Israelites. The mark of the Christian is not seen on his skin but in his manner of life. I hope you can attend the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. (1500)
A venerable driver (85/03/02)
Hina Matsuri (85/03/03)
Japanese "yen" (85/03/04)
Ghana (85/03/05)
Hibernating (85/03/06)
The need to control the tongue (85/03/07)
Drawing lots (85/03/08)
Amerigo Vespucci (85/03/09)
Tradition and the Word of God (85/03/10)
Hitting the ceiling (85/03/11)
White elephant (85/03/12)
James Hepburn (85/03/13)
Hams and hamburgers (85/03/14)
Rest (85/03/15)
Half (85/03/16)
St. Patrick's Day (85/03/17)
Commune and communism (85/03/18)
St. Joseph's Day (85/03/19)
Visitors to Japan (85/03/20)
The vernal equinox (85/03/21)
Right and Left (85/03/22)
Johann Sebastian Bach (85/03/23)
Fools (85/03/24)
Grease (85/03/25)
Bangladesh (85/03/26)
Anchorage earthquake (85/03/27)
Frogs (85/03/28)
Tattoo (85/03/29)
Cherry Blossoms (85/03/30)
Hōshah-nā (85/03/31)
March (85/03/01)