Cricket (85/08/01)
Have you ever heard the English expression "that's not cricket"? This expression has nothing to do with the chirping insect called a cricket. Rather, it is related to the national sport of England, which is also called cricket, and refers to unsportsmanlike or improper behavior. Cricket may be considered a kind of ancestor of American baseball. However; there are no bases to run around in cricket. Instead, there are 2 wickets, consisting of 3 round sticks, in the middle of the field, upon which are 2 light pieces of wood which the pitcher, or bowler, tries to knock off as he bowls the ball. The batsman, in front of one wicket, tries to hit the ball with a wooden, paddle-shaped bat and then run to the other wicket. Since originally cricket was a gentleman's sport, the term "cricket" came to refer to gentlemanly conduct. Originally, the word "gentleman" referred to a man of noble birth, and then it was used for a courteous man who was considerate of others. Now, it is the polite way to refer to any man--whether he is gentle or not. In the New Testament, gentleness is considered a Christian virtue. In the Letter to Titus, chapter 3, verse 2, he is told to urge people to "always show a gentle attitude towards everyone", and Elbert Hubbard has written that "a strong man can always afford to be gentle". (1625/634)
Cathedrals (85/08/02)
Do you know what homonyms are? They are words having the same pronunciation, but with a completely different meaning and, usually, a different spelling. For example, the word "sea", spelled s-e-a, refers to a large body of water. Sea has a homonym spelled s-e-e which refers to what we do with our eyes. However, there is another homonym also spelled s-e-e, which refers to the jurisdiction of a bishop in the church. The throne upon which a bishop sits is called a cathedra and the church in which this cathedra is placed is called a cathedral. Thus, originally, a cathedral was the main church in a bishops' see, but nowadays it is often used to refer to any large, imposing church. There are many old, beautiful cathedrals in Europe which are magnificent works of art. Yet, as King Solomon indicated in I Kings 8:27, when he dedicated the beautiful temple in Jerusalem, not even the heaven of heavens is large enough to hold the eternal God, so no temple built by men can serve as his dwelling place. According to Isaiah 57:15, the true domicile of God is not a magnificent cathedral, but the humble heart of a sincere believer. (1626/639)
A tightrope acrobat (85/08/03)
When I lived in New York City for 3 years over 30 years ago, the tallest building in that city and in the entire world was the 381 meter high Empire State Building, which was completed in 1931. In 1973, the World Trade Center, having twin towers, each 412 meters high, was completed, making it the tallest building in the city and in the world at that time. The following year, a 27-year-old Frenchman named Philippe Petit evaded security guards and used a crossbow to shoot a rope from one of the towers to the other. This tightrope acrobat then walked from one tower to the other on that rope stretched between them, 412 meters above the busy street below. Following this successful feat, he was immediately arrested--and sentenced to perform his act in Central Park for underprivileged children. I'm not sure if we can call Mr. Petit a 'high minded' man or not, but the Bible teaches that we should not be high minded, in the sense of being proud or haughty. Rather, we should be humble, which literally refers to something lowly or near the earth. In the Letter of James, chapter 4, verse 10, we are told to humble ourselves before the Lord and he will lift us up. (1627/644)
A blind beggar (85/08/04)
The 4 Gospels in the New Testament contain a number of stories based upon incidents in Jesus' public life. These stories teach us something both about the character of God, whom Jesus came to reveal, and about ourselves. The text for my sermon on this Sunday is the story found at the end of the 18th chapter of the Gospel according to Luke. When Jesus was about to enter the town of Jericho, a blind beggar, sitting along the road, cried out, seeking his aid. The crowd tried to silence this beggar, but he continued to call out with a loud voice. When Jesus heard his call, he ordered that the man be brought to him. He asked the blind man what he wanted and the man did not ask for money. He said he wanted to see. Jesus' words to him were, "Receive your sight. Your faith has made you well." We are like the beggar in this story, for we are spiritually blind until God gives us sight. God does not violate our free will by forcing his salvation upon us, but he does respond to the sincere call of those who recognize their need and seek his mercy in faith. Knowing the joy of new life with spiritual sight requires both the gracious power of God and the earnest faith of us blind folk. What is it that we are seeking most earnestly in life--material benefits or spiritual and eternal truth?(1628)
Tobacco (85/08/05)
Two of the earliest words to enter the Japanese language from a European language were pan and tabako. They were both introduced by the Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century. Pan comes from the Portuguese word for "bread", which is a staple food in the West and may be nutritious. Tabako, on the other hand, comes from the Portuguese word for a noxious plant which has become a nuisance. The original West Indian word referred to the pipe or tube in which the Indians smoked the dried leaves, but the Spaniards and Portuguese applied the word to the plant itself. The use of tobacco originated among the natives of the American continents and was then introduced into Europe and Asia. The Chinese characters for "tobacco" literally mean "smoke grass", but tobacco may be chewed or sniffed as well as smoked. Taken in any form, however, it is bad for the health and, when smoked, also pollutes the air. It is too bad that those old missionaries did not bring only the healthful "Bread of Life" to these Japanese islands and leave the harmful tobacco back home. In I Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 16, it is written that our bodies are the temple of God's Spirit. Thus we ought to take good care of our bodies.(1629/370)
Atomic Bomb (85/08/06)
I'm sure you don't need to be reminded what happened 40 years ago today. At 8:15 on that morning of August 6, 1945, the world's first atomic bomb exploded about 600 meters over the city of Hiroshima. Its huge fireball reached a temperature of almost 300,000 degrees Centigrade. In the violent shock waves that followed, most buildings within a radius of 3 kilometers were obliterated. Over 200,000 people died as a result of that one bomb and people even today continue to suffer the results of the consequent radiation. Looking back from this standpoint 40 years later, what thoughts or memories do you have regarding that terrible event? Do you think it was a justifiable act to hasten the end of the war or was it an immoral crime against humanity? In either case, it was an event that changed the course of history. This is the last of the 6 themes for the essays to be included in the next issue of Daily Word Echoes, scheduled for publication on September 29th. Please send your essays on this or the other topics of Summertime, Tanabata, Chūgen, Cancer & Honesty, and Moral Education to reach me by Saturday August 17. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Gregorian Calendar (85/08/07)
In English, there are 2 different words pronounced "kalundur". The word ending in d-e-r refers to a machine with rollers, between which paper or cloth is run to give it a smooth or glossy finish. The more common word, ending in d-a-r, refers to a table showing the days, weeks and months of a given year. The so-called Gregorian Calendar, which is used throughout the world today, was instituted by Pope Gregory XIII in the year 1582. The various countries of the world began using that calendar in the following years or decades or centuries. The last major countries to adopt that calendar were Russia, in 1918, and Greece, in 1923. Japan adopted the Gregorian Calendar in 1872, the 5th year of Meiji. In that year, December 2nd was followed by January 1st, 1873, so the people alive at that time lost almost a whole month that they never recovered. Under Daylight Saving Time in America, we lose an hour every spring, but we always gain it back in the fall. When travelling through different time zones, we may lose some hours, but if we return to the starting point, we will get them back again. Time is one of the most important gifts that God has given us and the Bible teaches us to make wise use of it. (1631/423)
Leaning Tower of Pisa (85/08/08)
Over 800 years ago, a bell tower was built near the beautiful, white marble cathedral in the Italian town of Pisa. However, the base of this marble tower was too small to support the heavy, 54 meter tall structure, so from the time it was constructed, it began to tilt. Every year, this Leaning Tower of Pisa tilts further and it is now some 5.1 meters off the perpendicular. The average increase of tilt in recent years has been 1.36 millimeters a year, but in the last couple of years the rate of increase has been less. It has been suggested that more rain has kept the underground water pressure high and thus slowed down the progress of this slowly falling tower. Not only does a material tower require a solid foundation to keep it upright. To live a morally upright life also requires a firm foundation. On what kind of a spiritual foundation are today's young people building their lives? What kind of foundation is at the base of your life? In I Corinthians, chapter 3 the Apostle Paul writes of the various materials people use in building their lives, but he emphasizes that faith in Jesus Christ is the only foundation which will endure the fiery test on Judgment Day. (1632/462)
Hamburger (85/08/09)
If a person who lives in the German city of Berlin is called a Berliner, then it seems fitting to call a person living in the German city of Frankfurt a Frankfurter and a resident of the German city of Hamburg a Hamburger. However, in English, the words "frankfurter" and "hamburger" do not refer to people but to food. A frankfurter, originating in Frankfurt, is a smoked beef sausage enclosed in a membranous casing. A smaller pork and beef sausage, which was made in Vienna, was called a wienerwurst, or Vienna sausage, and from this word we get the English word "wiener". In America, both frankfurters and wieners, when put in a soft roll, are referred to as "hot dogs", which, hopefully, has no reference to the kind of meat used in them. Hot dogs were the most popular fast meat food in the U.S. until they were overtaken by hamburgers. A hamburger, originally made of ground beef, was developed in Hamburg and was previously called a hamburg steak. Now, the cooked meat by itself may be called a Salisbury steak, after the man who popularized it, but when placed in a bun, it is called a hamburger. Some people enjoy eating meat and others don't, but according to Romans, chapter 14, verse 6, whether we eat or refrain from eating, we should give thanks to God.(481)
Nonsense (85/08/10)
If a person does not think highly of the argument presented by another, there are various appropriate words to express his or her feelings. "Nonsense", meaning without sense or meaning, is used both in English and Japanese, but there are a number of more colorful expressions often used by Americans. American humorist, Will Rogers, stated: "I tell you folks, all Politics is Apple Sauce." Literally, applesauce is a simple dessert made of apples which have been cut up, sweetened and cooked, but in Will Rogers' phrase it meant "nonsense". Alfred E. Smith, an American politician, said in a speech: "No matter how thin you slice it, it's still baloney." Actually, bologna is a kind of sausage, but in Al Smith's speech it also meant "nonsense". Rubbish, malarkey, poppycock, balderdash are other colorful words meaning "nonsense". Sometimes, what at first seems to be nonsense is later seen to be the truth. In I Corinthians, chapter 1, the Apostle Paul wrote that the Christian Gospel, which is considered nonsense by some, is actually God's truth, by which people are saved. He wrote that "God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom." By what standard do you distinguish truth from nonsense?(1634/511)
Peter's words (85/08/11)
You probably know that Jesus had 12 disciples, but I wonder how many of their names you know. Of some of those 12 men, we know nothing more than their names, but the New Testament gives us further information regarding others. Probably the most famous name among the 12 is that of Peter. In the Gospel stories, Peter tended to be the leader of the group, but he also spoke and acted quite impulsively at times. Judging from the 2 New Testament letters bearing his name, he seems to have taken Jesus' teaching to heart. My sermon today is taken from the 3rd chapter of the First Letter of Peter, in which he writes about the proper attitudes between husbands and wives. His words in verses 8 and 9 are similar in spirit to Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. He wrote that we should "love one another", "be kind and humble with one another", "not pay[ing] back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay[ing] back with a blessing". If this advice were followed in our relationships with family members, how much happier our homes would be! Paying back evil with good, retaliating with love must be considered unnatural. Yet that is what the Christian is called to do. Because it goes against our human nature, we need to be "born again" by the Spirit of God. (1635)
Phonograph (85/08/12)
A number of English words contain the stem of "phone", such as telephone, megaphone and phonetics. All of them have to do with sound, which is the meaning of the original Greek word. There are other words that contain the stem of "graph", such as telegraph, mimeograph and photograph, from the Greek word meaning "writing". Combining "phono" and "graph", we get the word "phonograph", which is a device for "writing sounds". 108 years ago today, on August 12, 1877, the world was astonished to listen to a device which reproduced sounds from a wax cylinder which was invented by a man whose formal education totaled only 3 months. Before inventing the phonograph, he had already invented the telegraph and later he contrived many other inventions. Thomas Alva Edison had a restless mind and was not content to follow the crowd. "Restlessness is discontent--and discontent is the first necessity of progress," he said. "Show me a thoroughly satisfied man--and I will show you a failure." He also stated, "It is astonishing what an effort it seems to be for many people to put their brains definitely and systematically to work. They seem to insist on somebody else doing their thinking for them." What about us? (1636)
Our summer excursion (85/08/13)
This week, many people in Japan are taking trips--either to their family homes or elsewhere, but my wife and I have just returned from our summer excursion. Two weeks ago, we attended missionary conferences in both Karuizawa and Lake Nojiri in Nagano Prefecture. Last week, we went back to Lake Nojiri for a short vacation. During our absence from Nagoya, my son, who lives nearby, came daily to our house to change the tapes for these messages which I had pre-recorded. One of the tapes did not function properly and on another day, he forgot to change the tape until the afternoon of the following day--which may have confused some callers and caused them inconvenience. I'm sorry about that, but I am grateful for my son's help even though he had more important things on his mind. You see, he became a father on August 1st, which means that my wife and I are now grandparents. It's a bit hard for me to realize that I am married to a grandmother--although she has been a grand wife for these many years. Both our daughter-in-law and our new granddaughter are well and happy, so we are following the exhortation of the 107th Psalm, where it is written: "Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good; his love is eternal!" (1637)
A great airplane tragedy (85/08/14)
The English word "tragedy" comes from a Greek word meaning "goat song" for in ancient Greek drama, players were sometimes portrayed with goat-like features. In its basic meaning, "tragedy" refers to a drama depicting a morally significant struggle which ends in unhappiness, but it is now used to refer to any dramatic, disastrous event. On Monday evening a great tragedy occurred when an airplane crashed into the mountains of central Japan, killing 520 people and causing the whole nation to be overwhelmed with sorrow. At such a time, it is natural to ask why such tragedies occur. Many such why questions can never be satisfactorily answered, but in the face of any tragedy, the nature of one's basic mental outlook or faith is made clear. The person with a healthy faith sorrows along with others, but such a person finds the strength to endure, possesses an underlying peace of mind and continues to view the future with hope because of his or her faith. The 42nd and 43rd Psalms were written in a time of discouragement and sadness, but the writer 3 times repeats the words: "Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him, my saviour and my God."
The Yasukuni Shrine (85/08/15)
In the Japanese almanac, there are 3 different days listed as bon: July 15th; the so-called "old bon" on August 30th this year; and today, called "month-late bon", which is also the anniversary of the end of the war. For Japanese, it is considered especially important, at certain times, to formally remember dead relatives, friends and respected persons, including those who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country. The spirits of those who died in battle are enshrined in the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. This is now a religious corporation where religious ceremonies are conducted to comfort the spirits of those enshrined there. Those who wish to worship at that shrine, in accord with its particular religious concepts and ceremonies, are free to do so, but according to my understanding of the Constitution, official worship by the representatives of the Japanese people as a whole and the use of public funds to support that religious corporation is prohibited. Considering the place of Yasukuni Shrine in recent Japanese history and of the present socio-religious situation in Japan, I would advise public recognition of the war-dead in a secular setting, for in my view, the state should remain completely neutral in regard to religious affairs. (1639)
The Peterloo Massacre (85/08/16)
Have you ever heard the word, "Peterloo"? Probably not, but today is the 166th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre, which occurred in Manchester, England. At that time, the Industrial Revolution was turning England toward manufacturing and the English Parliament tried to encourage domestic farming by restricting the import of grain under so-called corn laws. This made food very expensive and aroused the opposition of the common people. On August 16, 1819, a crowd of some 60,000 men, women and children were legally and peaceably gathered together at a place called St. Peter's Fields to hear a speech advocating repeal of the corn laws, when soldiers, mounted on horses, charged into the crowd, killing or wounding over 600. Just 4 years earlier, Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo, so this massacre at St. Peter's Fields was termed the Peterloo Massacre. This cruel action on the part of the authorities caused further indignation on the part of the people which considerably aided the reform movement. The problem of how to conscientiously oppose unjust laws or government regulations remains with us today, but the Christian must work for justice by methods in keeping with the spirit of Christ. (1640)
Summer by Lake Nojiri (85/08/17)
Back in 1920, a group of foreign missionaries in Japan, dissatisfied with the increasingly elegant social life of the summer resort area of Karuizawa, found a more rustic place in a setting of natural beauty where they could come for rest and relaxation on the sloping shores of Lake Nojiri in Nagano Prefecture. Since that time, that place has become a popular summer retreat for many missionary families. My wife and I spent our first summer in Japan there in 1952. Since then, we have usually gone to Lake Nojiri as a family during our summers in Japan. A small island in that mountain lake is called Bentenjima. It is one of many islands in Japan with that name. Benten is the shortened form of Benzaiten, the Japanese name for the beautiful Indian goddess, Sarasvati. Benten is the only female in the group of the shichifukujin, or Seven Deities of Good Fortune. She is always pictured with a lute, symbolizing music and culture. Since our tiny granddaughter has long fingers, my wife thinks she will become a pianist and the baby's mother thinks she will make a fine ballerina, but all agree that she is a benten-musume. True beauty, however, is an inward quality. (1641)
Sour grapes (85/08/18)
The text for my sermon today is found in the 5th chapter of the Old Testament book of Isaiah, which begins with the story of a man who spent much time and effort to make a very fine vineyard. He cleared the ground of stones, dug up the soil and planted the finest grape vines. He built a tower so he could watch over the vineyard and dug a pit to tread the grapes in order to produce tasty wine. However, when the harvest came, he was very disappointed because, despite all of his work, the grapes were sour. In this parable, the man refers to God and the fine vineyard he planted, for which he had such high hopes, refers to his people, Israel. God had blessed Israel greatly and expected it to produce the good fruit of justice and righteousness, but instead he found injustice and unrighteousness, resulting from the cruelty, greed and drunken revelries of his people. In the light of this passage, we should reflect on how blessed of God our nations are and consider the kind of fruit they are bearing. Japan and America are rich nations, but how are we using our wealth? Are our societies characterized by justice and righteousness or by the selfish greed and injustice that brings disappointment to God and invites his judgment?
An unusually heavy woman (85/08/19)
Last week, in a suburb of Brisbane, Australia, an ambulance was sent to the home of a woman who had broken her leg. She was found lying on her bed, and was unable to move. However the ambulance team was unable to move her either. The problem was that she was an unusually heavy woman. In fact, she could be called gargantuan, for she weighed 330 kilograms! (Incidentally, sumō wrestler Konishiki weighs only 215 kilo.) Police and other workmen were called to assist the paramedics. Finally, a hole was broken into the side of the house in order to get her out, and all medical equipment had to be removed from the ambulance in order to fit her in. After being taken to the hospital, she was laid on a mattress on the floor because normal hospital beds could not support her. Each time I go back for a visit to the United States, I am impressed with the increasing number of women and men who are overweight. Nowadays, there seem to be more and more weighty people in Japan also--a testimony to Japan's present affluence. People with a tendency to become overweight must exercise self-control, but according to chapter 3 of II Timothy, this is one of the qualities which people will lack in the "last days". (1643)
Gnats (85/08/20)
There are a few, short English words beginning with "g-n": "gnaw" means to chew on something, to wear away by nibbling or to irritate; "gnash" means to grind the teeth together; and a "gnat" is a small, winged insect that bites. The area around the Italian city of Venice has been having trouble this month with swarms of gnats. Motorists driving to that city have had their visibility blocked as the insects plastered their wind-shields. Trains have had to slow down to avoid slipping when braking because gnats coated the railroad tracks. And last week, the Italian national airline decided to divert its nighttime flights to another airport, fearing that visibility would be obscured by clouds of the tiny insects. There is a well-known saying that "Dust amassed will make a mountain". Even tiny insects, if there are a vast number of them, can cause much trouble. So it is that many small, biting remarks can gnaw a person and cause him to gnash his teeth. On the other hand, many small words of encouragement may have a great beneficial result. Nagging is usually counter-productive, so let's use our words to inspire rather than to criticize. (1644)
Being in the middle class (85/08/21)
Japanese are noted for their strong group consciousness. Feeling secure when part of a group, they may feel uncomfortable when acting independently. Fear of becoming "a protruding post" that "gets hammered down" tends to encourage conformity. Realizing that "a tall tree catches much wind", it is safer not to be outstanding. I wonder if this way of thinking is reflected in the results of the recent public opinion poll in which 88.5% of the respondents considered themselves in the "middle class", while only 0.5% confessed to being in the "upper class". Upon what basis does one decide whether he or she is in the upper or middle class? Are there some guidelines related to income, possessions, occupation, lineage or education? I think not. Rather, I imagine that people respond in regard to how they "feel" and most Japanese feel they are a part of the broad, middle class. That's a good feeling, and over 70% of the respondents also indicated that they were satisfied with their present standard of living. "Being satisfied" has both a positive and a negative aspect. It is good to feel satisfied with our physical state, but we should never lose the desire to improve spiritually. (1645)
PL Gakuen (85/08/22)
The 67th All Japan High School Baseball Tournament is over. Are you happy with the result? The final game yesterday was an interesting, seesaw affair that ended when PL Gakuen scored the winning run in the last half of the ninth inning. The 4-3 score was different than the lopsided scores PL Gakuen had recorded on its record-breaking path to the championship this year. It was an exciting game, but personally, I was disappointed, for I was rooting for Ubesho, the underdog. This team from Yamaguchi Prefecture has never won a championship and PL Gakuen has won it twice before. PL Gakuen is a private high school, related to the PL Kyodan, one of the so-called New Religions that I investigated and wrote a dissertation on many years ago. During that investigation, I met and talked with the founder of PL Kyodan on 2 different occasions: once in the country club on the beautiful golf course at the religion's headquarters and once following a religious ceremony when he was wearing his vestments. "PL" is the abbreviation of "Perfect Liberty". According to Jesus' words in John 8:32, spiritual liberty is gained through knowing the Truth--which Christ himself claimed to be.(1646)
Mametan (85/08/23)
A rin is an old Japanese monetary unit equivalent to 1/10 of a sen. I have never seen a rin but I have often seen a shichirin, which literally means 7 rin. During our early years in Japan, my wife often made use of the small, portable cooking device made of clay, called a shichirin. Evidently that name was derived from the value of the fuel needed to cook something on it. The fuel used in a shichirin is a block of charcoal called a briquet, or mametan in Japanese. In the African country of Zambia, an estimated 80% of the households use charcoal daily to cook their meals. To meet the annual 150,000 ton demand for charcoal, forests are being cut down and the country is suffering from serious deforestation. A Japanese study team has found that Zambian coal is suitable for mametan production, so Zambia is planning to build a factory to produce mametan under the supervision of Japanese technicians. This is an example of an old-fashioned product being given a modern significance. At times, we need to be reminded that new, modern devices and theories are not necessarily "better" than the old. The wisdom of our forefathers should not be despised.(1647)
Shooting the Niagara Falls (85/08/24)
The word "shoot" has various meanings. "Shooting a person" has quite a different meaning than "shooting the rapids". In the latter case, "shoot" means "to pass over very quickly". Shooting the rapids of a river in a boat is an exciting experience that requires a skillful helmsman. Shooting the Niagara Falls , however, is something only a daredevil would attempt. This week, Steven Trotter, from the U. S. state of Rhode Island, became the 6th person in history to shoot the Niagara Falls and survive. These Falls, one of the most famous spectacles in North America, are in the Niagara River, which forms a part of the border between the United States and Canada. Over a kilometer wide and 53 meters high, they lie between the 2 cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York. On Sunday, the 22-year-old Trotter fulfilled his childhood dream of shooting the falls. His vessel, consisting of 2 pickle barrels placed together and surrounded by 8 huge inner tubes, was equipped with 2 two-way radios and 2 oxygen tanks. During his escapade, Trotter suffered a cut on his arm but he said he enjoyed the experience greatly, illustrating the truth of the English proverb that "Danger and delight grow on one stalk".(1648)
The story of Joseph (85/08/25)
One of the famous Old Testament stories is that of Joseph, found in the book of Genesis, chapters 37 and following. Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob and thus disliked by his brothers who sold him to a band of travellers going to Egypt one day and then told their father that he had been killed by a wild animal. In Egypt, Joseph was falsely accused of a crime and sent to prison. Through a series of providential events, he was released from prison and became the prime minister of Egypt. His brothers did not recognize him when they came to Egypt seeking grain during a time of famine. The climax of this dramatic story comes in I chapter 45, when Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. Although they were afraid that he would avenge the evil they had done to him, he surprised them with the words that it was actually God who had used their wicked act to bring about a good result. In this Bible passage, which was the text for my sermon today, we are taught that God is working out some purpose in all the events of life. He can use experiences which we consider evil or sad to bring about some good purpose. If we believe that our destinies are in the hands of the Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we can endure suffering and sorrow with fortitude and hope. (1649)
All men are created equal (85/08/26)
The famous phrase in the U.S. Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal", like all political statements requires interpretation. "Men" basically refers to human beings in general, but is also used to mean male human beings in particular. Until the end of the Civil War, it was even more particularly interpreted as white, male human beings. The 15th amendment to the Constitution stated that the right to vote shall not be denied to any one because of race or color, but women were still not given that right. To correct this injustice, a woman sufferage amendment was yearly introduced into Congress following the Civil War, but it took almost 50 years for it to be passed. Following ratification by three-fourths of the states, on August 26, 1920, 65 years ago today, the 19th Amendment became effective. It stated that "The right of citizens... to vote shall not be denied... on account of sex," and became a milestone in the movement to recognize the basic human rights of all people. In Galatians 3:28, we read, "there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and free men, between men and women; you are all one in union with Christ Jesus." (1650)
Universiade (85/08/27)
Various English words begin with the prefix "uni", meaning "one". The universe includes all parts of the world as one whole. A university is an institution of higher learning that includes various faculties under a unified administration. The sports contests now being held in Kobe are referred to as a "universiade", a combination of "university" and "Olympiad" and are considered the Olympic version of university student sports. An Olympiad is held every 4 years, but a universiade is held every 2 years, a year after one Olympiad and a year before the next one. Youths between 17 and 28 years old who are university students or who have graduated from university within the previous 2 years are eligible to participate. Over 4000 young people from over 100 countries are taking part in the Kobe Universiade and one of its best features is its bringing together youth from both sides of divided nations. It was encouraging to see the 2 gold medalists in judo, from North and South Korea, shaking hands with smiling faces. International contacts between young people can help promote a unity which may lead to a union and serve to make our divided world into a more unified universe. (1651)
Goethe (85/08/28)
One of the confusing features of the English language is the relationship between spelling and pronunciation. Many words are not pronounced the way it seems they should be when considering their spelling. This is partly because many English words have been derived from other languages which give a different pronunciation to the same letters. Americans also often mispronounce the names of foreigners for this same reason. The Japanese katakana pronunciation is often closer to the correct pronunciation of European names than that given by many Americans. 236 years ago today, a famous German writer was born. One of his famous poems is entitled Faust. Do you know his name? The katakana pronunciation is ge-te, but his name is spelled G-o-e-t-h-e. The style of Goethe's writing is generally highly acclaimed, but the content is sometimes severely criticized. Thomas Carlyle called Goethe "the greatest genius who has lived for a century, and the greatest ass who has lived for three". Goethe himself has written that "It is a belief in the Bible, the fruit of deep meditation, which has served me as the guide of my moral and literary life,--I have found it a capital safely invested, and richly productive of interest."(1652)
Women's feet (85/08/29)
In old China, having tiny feet was considered a mark of beauty for a woman, so the feet of little girls were bound to keep them small. This resulted in making the feet deformed and made it difficult or impossible for women to walk. It is said that most Chinese women who are now over 50 had their feet bound to some extent while they were young, but a Chinese doctor has developed a simple operation to enable women with deformed feet to wear shoes and walk. On the same page as this report in yesterday's newspaper was a story about Zola Budd, the 19-year-old girl from South Africa, who established a new world record for women. Running barefoot as usual, she ran 5000 meters in 14 minutes, 48 seconds, 11 seconds less than the previous record. I'm not sure if Zola's feet are beautiful, but they are certainly more useful than the tiny feet of the so-called beautiful women in old China. In the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter 52, verse 7, it is written, "How beautiful...are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace." True beauty does not depend on external form but on the inner spirit seen in our use of the abilities and gifts God has given us. How beautiful are your feet... and hands... and mouth?
Cathedrals (85/08/02)
A tightrope acrobat (85/08/03)
A blind beggar (85/08/04)
Tobacco (85/08/05)
Atomic Bomb (85/08/06)
Gregorian Calendar (85/08/07)
Leaning Tower of Pisa (85/08/08)
Hamburger (85/08/09)
Nonsense (85/08/10)
Peter's words (85/08/11)
Phonograph (85/08/12)
Our summer excursion (85/08/13)
A great airplane tragedy (85/08/14)
The Yasukuni Shrine (85/08/15)
The Peterloo Massacre (85/08/16)
Summer by Lake Nojiri (85/08/17)
Sour grapes (85/08/18)
An unusually heavy woman (85/08/19)
Gnats (85/08/20)
Being in the middle class (85/08/21)
PL Gakuen (85/08/22)
Mametan (85/08/23)
Shooting the Niagara Falls (85/08/24)
The story of Joseph (85/08/25)
All men are created equal (85/08/26)
Universiade (85/08/27)
Goethe (85/08/28)
Women's feet (85/08/29)
Weathermen sued (85/08/30)
Marriage (85/08/31)
Cricket (85/08/01)