All Saints' Day (85/11/01)
Students, faculty and staff members of Nanzan University and other Roman Catholic-related schools have a holiday today because this first day of November is one of the most important feast days in the Roman Catholic Church calendar. It is called All Saints' Day in honor of all the saints--both known and unknown. In Roman Catholic thought, a saint is one who lived such a holy life that the Church declared that person worthy of veneration following his or her death. In the New Testament, however, the word "saint" is used to refer to all Christians. Following the persecution of the Church under Roman emperors in the first and second centuries, a special day was designated to remember those who had become martyrs for their faith. In the 8th century, that day was changed from May to November and its meaning was broadened to include not only martyrs, but all saints. While recognizing that even the best men and women are only human, it is well to hold up outstanding individuals as good examples for others to follow. And it is important for us to provide good examples for those around us, for a good example is more effective than an eloquent sermon. According to a Chinese proverb, "Not the cry, but the flight of the wild duck, leads the flock to fly and follow."
All Soul's Day (85/11/02)
To "purge" means to purify. A purgative is a purifying agent and purgatory, according to Roman Catholic Church doctrine, is the place where souls of believers are purified or purgated after death to prepare them for entering heaven. Some wit has referred to it as the Lord's laundromat. Because neither the word nor the idea of purgatory is found in the Bible, Protestant churches do not accept this doctrine but today, known as All Souls' Day in the Catholic Church calendar, is the day when the souls of the dead, suffering in purgatory, are remembered. In countries where the Roman Catholic Church is strong, there are many traditional customs related to this observance. Prayers for the dead are made and graves of relatives are visited, reminding us of the Japanese bon. In some countries, such as Mexico and Brazil, today is a national holiday. One of the issues raised by Martin Luther in the 16th century related to sales of indulgences by which souls of loved ones in purgatory were said to be freed from suffering. Protestants do not believe that offerings or ceremonies on the part of the living affect the state of the dead, for we believe that our eternal destiny is determined by our own faith and character and is not dependent upon others.(1718)
Culture (85/11/03)
39 years ago today, on November 3, 1946, the new Japanese Constitution was promulgated. This Constitution renounces war and expresses the desire of the Japanese people for a peaceful society. To commemorate that event, this 3rd day of November has been designated a legal holiday called Culture Day to foster respect and love for culture. Culture originally referred to the cultivation of the soil, improving it for the raising of crops. However, now we also speak of cultivated or cultured people who are refined. Seneca, a Roman statesman and philosopher who was a contemporary of Jesus, wrote, "As the soil, however rich it may be, cannot be productive without culture, so the mind, without cultivation, can never produce good fruit." The text for my sermon today is found in the New Testament book of Colossians, chapter 3, where it is written, "set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." While we must not evade our present, earthly responsibilities, we should not seek satisfaction only in the material, physical side of life which appeals simply to our animal nature. We should set our minds on the higher, longer-lasting spiritual realities which bring true satisfaction to the human spirit. (1719)
Will Rogers (85/11/04)
Today, November the 4th, is a legal holiday in the American state of Oklahoma. It is in honor of one of America's best-loved humorists, who was born in Oklahoma on this day in 1879. His full name was William Penn Adair Rogers and he was of Cherokee Indian extraction. As a youth, Will Rogers became expert at roping calves and later worked as a cowboy. He became a rope artist, doing tricks with a rope to amuse spectators. He found out that talking informally to the audience was a good accompaniment to his rope tricks and developed into a humorous "cowboy-philosopher" who made caustic comments and clever jokes about current events and exposed smugness, bias and hypocrisy wherever he saw them. By the time of his death in a plane crash in 1935, he had become a famous writer, lecturer and movie star. A couple of his memorable statements are the following: "Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects"; "What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds". If you are interested in studying the Bible in Japanese and in English, you are invited to a Bible Class which meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. Tomorrow evening, we will meet at the Chuō Kyōkai at Sakae at 6:30. (1720)
On Culture Day (85/11/05)
Following a long weekend, for many people in Japan today is the first working day of this week. This year Culture Day fell on Sunday, so yesterday was the substitute holiday. During the Meiji Era, November 3rd was an important holiday known as Tenchō-setsu. At the beginning of the Showa Era, the name of this special day was changed to Meiji-setsu and following the war, that day became Bunka-no-hi. What are your thoughts about Culture Day and what significance does it have for you? How did you spend that holiday this year? This is the suggested theme for your essay this week--the 6th and final theme for essays to be included in the 14th issue of "Daily Word" Echoes, which is expected to be on sale at our next Daily Word Listeners' Meeting to be held on January 12th. The other 5 subjects are: shinkansen, undokai, the Otoko wa Tsurai Yo movie series and church. Please send your essays on these subjects to reach me by Saturday, November 16. I will make corrections and minor improvements in them before they are published. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. Why don't you send at least one essay on one of these themes for the next issue? It will be a good exercise for you. (1721)
Mount Gozaisho (85/11/06)
Yesterday and today I have been feeling a bit stiff. Do you know what that means? Something that is stiff is difficult to bend or stretch; it's not very flexible. That's the way my muscles and joints feel because on Monday I used them in a different way than I usually do. On that day I went mountain climbing with a group from my church. We went in cars from our church in Takahama, following the Sunday morning worship service, to Yunoyama Onsen in Mie Prefecture. That evening, we shared our thoughts and impressions of the poems of Jukichi Yagi, a Christian poet. Early the next morning, we had an outdoor worship service, where we meditated on the beauty of God's handiwork seen in nature. After breakfast, we began climbing the 1,200 meter high Mount Gozaisho at a leisurely pace, broken by times of rest and hymn-singing. I was the oldest member of the group, and the youngest child was a first-grader in elementary school. We reached the summit a little after noon and then began our downward trek by a more difficult route. Actually, the descent was more taxing than the ascent. The fine weather, the beauty of nature and the close fellowship with other members of God's family made it a wonderful experience--well worth the stiffness I am enjoying today. (1722)
The Russian Revolution (85/11/07)
The word "revolution" has different meanings. Basically, it refers to the revolving motion of a body around an axis, such as the revolution of a planet around the sun, but it also refers to a seemingly sudden change in some system, such as the industrial revolution, and to the overthrow of a political system brought about by forces within the system itself, such as the Russian Revolution. It is difficult to accurately pinpoint the beginning of political revolutions, but if they are successful, some date is usually chosen to celebrate them. Today is a national holiday in the Soviet Union, commemorating the day in 1917 that Bolshevik troops occupied government offices and arrested government officials. Because this event occurred in October, according to the Russian calendar then in use, it is also referred to as the October Revolution. Any revolution is the result of a historical process, even though it appears to be sudden. The Russian Revolution actually began over a decade before it succeeded. In our lives also, what may seem to be sudden changes--a bankruptcy, a divorce or a conversion--are also the result of a process with roots in the past. Therefore, we need to be careful of the seeds that we sow, because finally they may bear fruit.(1723)
A humpback whale (85/11/08)
Because of the hump on its back, a certain kind of whale is called a humpback whale. One such whale has been the subject of many news stories in the United States over the past month. This huge mammal made a wrong turn out of the Pacific Ocean, into the San Francisco Bay and up a fresh-water river, over 100 kilometers from the ocean. The lost humpback was given the name of Humphrey and regular reports on its whereabouts were publicized. Fearing it would get grounded in the narrowing river, townspeople and marine biologists tried to cause the 40-ton animal to reverse its course and return to the sea. A flotilla of over 30 boats set off explosive charges and produced loud, annoying sounds underwater, but they had little effect. Then, a different method was tried. Instead of using scare tactics to exert force from behind, recorded whale sounds were emitted from one boat to entice it to follow. This proved more successful. The whale followed the beeping boat back into San Francisco Bay and this week returned to the ocean. The saga of Humphrey, the hunchback whale came to a happy ending by using an attractive rather than a fearful method. Is not attractiveness more effective than fear in human society as well?(1724)
Sumō wrestlers urged to set good examples (85/11/09)
Becoming a first-class sumō wrestler is a struggle, so after reaching the top rank, popular rikishi are tempted to add to their income by moonlighting as terebi-tarento--performing as singers or making commercials. Even after retirement, the more popular or more "talented" wrestlers continue to make money in the entertainment world while training other wrestlers in their so-called stables. Recently, the Japan Sumō Association issued an edict relating to side jobs of both active and retired wrestlers, requiring the association's approval for "performances" and prohibiting the signing of exclusivity contracts. It is felt that the crass commercialism and business ventures of some rikishi and oyakata are not providing the right kind of models for the younger generation to follow. People who become popular idols carry a particularly heavy responsibility regarding the influence they have on the public at large, but all of us should be careful of the example we provide for others. One of the reasons for the problems among young people today is that they are simply following the examples given by their elders. In I Timothy 4:12, the Apostle Paul advised Timothy to "be an example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity." That's good advice for all of us.(1725)
Revelation (85/11/10)
Do you know the name of the first book of the Bible? It's called Genesis, which refers to the origin or beginning of something. This book begins with the story of the beginning of the world and of human history. The last book of the Bible, which contains many visions about the end times, is called either Revelation or the Apocalypse. Of course, "revelation" refers to something revealed or uncovered and "apocalypse" is simply the English form of the Greek word for revelation. This book is sometimes called the Revelation of John, but it is more accurate to refer to it as the Revelation to John, for John was not the subject of the revelation, but the one to whom the revelation came. Apocalyptic literature includes many strange symbols and is difficult to understand. Rather than trying to interpret details, it is important to grasp the general meaning of the symbolic visions. My sermon today is based on chapter 14, where a Lamb is leading 144,000 of his loyal followers, and my text is verse 13, where it is written, "Happy are those who die in the Lord". The person with a healthy faith in Christ, the Lamb of God, does not fear death, for to such a one, death is the path to eternal happiness in fellowship with his or her Lord. (1726)
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (85/11/11)
Due to Chinese influence, traditional Japanese festivals have been observed on the days of odd-numbered months which are identical to the number of that month, that is to say, on the 1st day of the 1st month, the 3rd day of the 3rd month, the 5th day of the 5th month, the 7th day of the 7th month and the 9th day of the 9th month. Although there is no festival on the 11th day of the 11th month in Japan, this day is a legal holiday in the United States. Originally, designated Armistice Day to commemorate the armistice that went into effect on November 11, 1918 at the end of the First World War, the observance of this day began three years later, when the body of an unknown American soldier was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery outside of Washington, D.C. Later, bodies of unknown soldiers who died in the Second World War and the Korean War were also interred there and, in 1954, the name of this day of remembrance was changed to Veterans Day. Today, ceremonies are held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and at most localities throughout the country to honor those who fought and died for their nation. In Christian thought, however, the dead are not worshipped, for worship is given only to God, the one Creator and Savior of all.(1727)
The U.S. and Japan has drawn closer (85/11/12)
In the postwar years, the United States and Japan have drawn closer and closer together in a political sense despite the trade friction that periodically arises. A recent news article indicates that these two countries are getting closer together in a physical, geographic sense also. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the Radio Wave Research Laboratory in Japan and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the U.S. A radio wave from a quasar located more than a billion light years from the earth was monitored by antennas set up at Kashima in Ibaraki Prefecture and on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The difference in the times of arrival of the radio wave at these two locations was measured to determine the distance between them. The study indicated that during the past year the distance between these two points decreased by 4 centimeters. This decrease occurred as the result of movements of the ocean floor caused by undersea volcanic eruptions. This reminds us that there is an underwater world that we never see but where natural changes take place even as they do on land. Our world is truly a wonderful place, which, to the eyes of faith, clearly manifests the design of a creator.(1728)
Ronald Reagan's gaffe (85/11/13)
In Roman legend, Diana was the goddess of the moon, of forests, of animals and of women in childbirth. She was identified with the Greek goddess, Artemis, whose worshippers are mentioned in the New Testament book of Acts, chapter l9. Diana is the name of the wife of Charles, the Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne. During the visit of Prince Charles and Princess Diana to the United States this past week, President Reagan made a double gaffe while making a toast at a formal White House dinner in their honor. (A "gaffe", spelled g-a-f-f-e, refers to a clumsy social error.) In his toast, President Reagan referred to the Princess as "Princess David" and then "corrected" himself by saying "Princess Diane". The President, a former actor, seems to have trouble speaking extemporaneously. When making a movie, an actor's blunder can be extracted or refilmed, but a gaffe in front of live television cameras is immediately broadcast to the world. I'm sure President Reagan is very busy boning up for his summit meeting with Soviet leader Gorbachev so his mind is probably filled with other matters. I pray that during the summit sessions, the president will watch his language and that the meetings will make a genuine contribution to world peace. (1729)
Guru-guru sushi bar (85/11/14)
My wife and I and our family sometimes patronize a guru-guru sushi bar on our weekly dining out day. We choose the items we want as they pass before us on a conveyor belt that circles the bar. Sushi bars are becoming popular in the United States also. In the Los Angeles area alone, an estimated 20 tons of raw fish are consumed weekly and now a computerized sushi bar has made its appearance there. This sushi shack in the heart of the financial district is the only one of its kind in the country. Customers sit in a long row of seats and select their delicacies from a menu panel by pressing the circle of their choice using a "light pen". Orders are sorted by the computer and relayed on a video display screen to one of the sushi chefs. Within moments, their orders are placed before them. At any time, the customer may press another circle to find out the total amount of his order. It's a quick and efficient way to enjoy sushi and avoids any language problems. This is another example of the application of new technology to a traditional custom, but can we call it progress? Alfred Whitehead has written: "The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order."(1730)
Honeymooners (85/11/15)
Although Japanese people have a peculiarly Japanese character, much of their present day life style has been influenced by foreign traditions. Today is shichi-go-san, the day when children aged 7, 5, and 3 visit the shrine for, in Chinese thought, odd numbers are considered the more propitious ones. Autumn in Japan is a popular time for weddings also. Taian, or "Great Peace", days, according to Chinese reckoning, are considered most favorable, so there were many weddings last Sunday, a Tai-an day. Following their weddings, many newlyweds now go on a honeymoon, a custom adopted from the west. On Sunday almost all flights from Tokyo to Honolulu were filled with honeymooners. According to the Japan Travel Bureau, about 240,000 couples got married in Japan this fall and 80% of them spent their honeymoon in foreign countries. Hawaii was most popular, followed by Australia and Europe. The word "honeymoon" comes from the idea that the first month, or moon, of married life is the sweetest. A marriage based on genuine love for one another, however, remains sweet and grows still deeper as the years go by for, as it is written in I Corinthians 13, "Love is eternal".(1731)
Talent (85/11/16)
A turkey is called a seven-faced bird, or shichimen-cho, in Japanese. Recently, I came across a Japanese idiom which included the characters for eight faces. Checking the dictionary, I found out that hachimen-roppi no hito, an eight-faced, six-elbowed person, is an all-round person, a person competent in all fields. Although the meaning may be somewhat different, in English, we have the expression, jack-of-all-trades, which refers to a person who can do many different kinds of work. Most of us can do one or two things well but some people are able in many different fields. This reminds me of one of the well-known parables of Jesus, found in Matthew, chapter 25, in which a man entrusted property to his servants before going on a trip. In Jesus' day, a talent was a unit of weight to measure gold. This man gave five talents to one servant, two talents to another and one to a third. After his return, he required an accounting from his servants as to how they used the talents he had entrusted to them. From this parable, the English word "talent" came to refer to an ability entrusted to us by God, to be used for some useful purpose. Although we all have different kinds of talents, they are all to be used in some beneficial way.
Daniel (85/11/17)
The names of many people in the Bible contain the syllable "el". El is the Hebrew word for God, so the original meanings of names that contain this syllable have something to do with God. Take the name of Daniel, for example. Dan means "judge" in Hebrew. In fact, Dan was the name of one of the 12 sons of Jacob and thus became the name of one of the 12 tribes of Israel. Daniel means "God is my judge". The first half of the Old Testament book of Daniel contains stories about a person with that name who remained loyal to God and to his Hebrew faith in a foreign land despite severe persecution. The last half of the book contains a number of dreams or visions Daniel had regarding the future. My sermon today is taken from the 7th chapter of Daniel. In his vision of the final judgment, the Judge is seated on a throne and, as the court session began, "the books were opened". The implication is that in some heavenly ledger, the good and bad deeds of people are recorded and that record will serve as the basis of judgment. If all of our actions, words and thoughts were actually recorded on the plus or minus side of a ledger according to their moral value, would the final figure be written in red ink or black?(1733)
Tea (85/11/18)
T is the 20th letter in the English alphabet. A tee, spelled t-e-e, is the small peg on which a golf ball is placed before it is hit. Tea, spelled t-e-a, may refer to a social gathering at which tea is served. The beverage known as tea is made from steeping the dried leaves of a tea plant in boiling water. Black tea is made from dried tea leaves which have been fermented, while green tea is made from the unfermented dried leaves. Green tea of various qualities is the popular drink in Japan and a recent survey has indicated that drinking green tea may help build resistance to cancer. The survey showed a very low level of cancer-caused deaths in the tea-growing areas of Shizuoka Prefecture where people drink much green tea many times a day. Most of the men in that area prefer strong green tea and the rate of cancer-caused deaths among those men is only 20% of the national average. It was further noted, however, that the townspeople in those areas also have a nutritionally well-balanced diet. To maintain our health, it is important to be careful what we eat and drink. In I Corinthians 10:31, it is written, "Whether you eat or drink, do it all for God's glory". (1734)
Summit between Reagan and Gorbachef (85/11/19)
The highest point of a mountain is called the summit. This word is also used now to refer to a conference of the highest level of officials, so the meeting between President Reagan of the United States and Communist Party Secretary Gorbachev of the Soviet Union, which begins today, is also called a summit. The meeting will take place in the city of Geneva in the neutral country of Switzerland. This is the 11th such summit between the top leaders of the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. since President Eisenhower met with Secretary Khrushchev in that same city in 1955. During the next 30 years, 5 other American presidents met with 2 other Soviet leaders in such cities as Vienna and Helsinki as well as sites in the United States and Russia. This current summit is bringing together two popular, charismatic leaders who both have firm convictions that are quite different. There is also a 20 year difference in their ages. Initial hopes for a spectacular breakthrough in the arms race have dimmed, but the world is praying that this meeting between the leaders of the superpowers will be the beginning of a process that will lead to an easing of tensions and to a more peaceful world. As the Chinese proverb goes, "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step". (1735)
Prince Hironomiya (85/11/20)
One of the joys of travelling on superhighways is to go for a long distance without having to slow down and stop for traffic lights. The imperial family experiences this good feeling even in city traffic, for it is customary to set all traffic signals to green on the routes they travel. Last week, however, this custom was changed when the Crown Prince and Princess went by car from the Imperial Palace to Ueno for a ceremony there. Instead of being escorted by imperial household guards, they rode in the regular stream of traffic and had to stop for red lights along with commoners. There may be a relationship between this unusual event and the comment of Prince Hironomiya, following his return from study and travels abroad, that the imperial family in Japan is too closely guarded. Fresh breezes of change may yet blow through the stuffy atmosphere of the imperial household as a result of increasing contact with the outside world. I think it is a good thing for this couple who met on a tennis court to experience some of the frustrations of common people as well as their joys. The Bible teaches that Jesus, the Christ, not only shared the sufferings of us common folk, but suffered in our place in order to save us from further suffering.(1736)
The tallest building in the world (85/11/21)
While the eyes of the world were focussed on the summit conference in Geneva this week, plans for a different kind of summit were reported. On Monday, an American real estate man announced his plans to begin constructing the tallest building in the world in New York City in 1987. At present, the world's tallest building is the Sears Tower in Chicago, standing 443 meters high, with 110 stories. It was completed in 1974, eclipsing the 110 story, 411 meter tall World Trade Center in New York City which was completed in 1972. The new plans call for a 509 meter high building, having 150 stories. When the spire and antenna are included, this edifice will total 582 meters, making it some 30 meters taller than the CNR Tower in Toronto, Canada. It is expected to be the centerpiece of a "city within a city" in an area which will include a 65-story office tower and six 76-story buildings for luxury condominiums. From the days of the Tower of Babel, recorded in Genesis chapter 11, building higher and higher structures has been an expression of human pride.(1737)
John Kennedy assassinated (85/11/22)
22 years ago today, one of the most shameful tragedies in American history occurred. At that time, I was enrolled in the graduate school of the University of Chicago. I had attended a class that Friday morning and was planning to attend a lecture that afternoon. I was startled to find that the lecture was cancelled due to the assassination of President John Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. At noontime he had been riding in an open-top limousine with his wife and the governor of Texas. The car was moving slowly along a street lined with cheering crowds when shots rang out and the president slumped onto the lap of his wife. He died without regaining consciousness. To compound the shame of this tragic event, the alleged assassin was himself shot to death a couple of days later before he was brought to trial so a number of elements in this tragedy remain unclear. I spent the day after the assassination preparing a completely different kind of sermon for the church service the next day than the one I had prepared earlier. President Kennedy was forty-six years old when he died. In his State of the Union message three years earlier, he had stated, "Arms alone are not enough to keep the peace. It must be kept by men." His words need to be recalled by present world leaders. (1738)
Labor Thanksgiving Day (85/11/23)
Today is a Japanese holiday called Kinro-kansha-no-hi, Labor-Thanksgiving Day. Officially, the purpose of this holiday is to foster respect for labor, to rejoice in the fruits of labor and to give thanks one to another. I see in this definition a somewhat different emphasis than in the American Thanksgiving Day in regard to the object of our thanksgiving. Although this day was previously known in Japan as Niinamesai and even today, the emperor will perform a ceremony expressing thanks to the kami for an abundant harvest, the official statement regarding the meaning of this holiday speaks of giving thanks to one another. In the community-oriented society of Japan, expressing gratitude to others is very important. In America, the president's annual proclamation of Thanksgiving Day always speaks of giving thanks to Almighty God, the ultimate source of all the blessings we enjoy. Today is a day to give thanks, but to whom should our thanks be directed? Obviously, we are indebted to many people, living and dead, for our present wellbeing, but the Christian believes that all blessings are finally rooted in the goodness and love of God. As the Old Testament poet wrote in the 107th Psalm, "Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good; his love is eternal!"(1739)
Studying the Bible (85/11/24)
Today is Sunday, the day when Christians gather together in churches to worship God and to have fellowship with one another. In the Old Testament, the weekly sabbath, or day of rest, was Saturday, the last day of the week, and Jews continue to observe the sabbath from Friday evening to Saturday evening even today. Most Christians, however, observe the first day of the week to commemorate the resurrection of Christ, which occurred on that day. In our Bible Class, which meets on the first and third Tuesday evenings of the month at the Kyōikukan near Sakae, we are studying the Acts of the Apostles. (Incidentally, you are welcome to join this class, which begins at 6:30 in Japanese and 7:30 in English.) Our passage for last week included chapter 2, verse 42, where four basic characteristics of the Church are given: apostolic teaching, fellowship, breaking bread together and prayer. The church is not only a place where certain teaching is given and where prayers are offered. It is also a place where we enjoy fellowship with our brothers and sisters in God's family. Next Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent Season which precedes Christmas. It would be an opportune time for you to begin attending a church and to participate in its worship and fellowship in preparation for a meaningful Christmas celebration.(1740)
Hamlet reinterpreted (85/11/25)
In English, the difference between "no", pronounced with a long "o", and "nō" pronounced with a longer "o", is simply one of emphasis, but in Japanese, the result is a completely different word. Nō is not a field, but a traditional, Japanese lyric drama which is difficult for westerners to understand. A Japanese professor of English literature, who has been lecturing at the University of Nebraska in the United States, is trying to acquaint the people in Omaha with this peculiar subtle yet profound dramatic form by presenting a Shakespearean drama in the style of a nō play. Nineteen townspeople and fifty students, whose ages range from 18 to 62, have been studying the style and philosophy of nō under Kuniyoshi Munakata, of Shizuoka University. This week, an all-American cast is presenting Hamlet with a nō twist. In the reinterpreted script, Hamlet's famous line has been changed. "To be or not to be, that is no longer the question" is considered an example of the enlightened state of satori. I wonder what the reaction will be to this unique rendition of Shakespeare. Will it help Americans understand the thinking of modern Japanese? Probably not, but any increase in cross-cultural understanding is to be encouraged. (1741)
Lebanon (85/11/26)
"Lebanon" is the Hebrew word for "white". This word is found over 60 times in the Old Testament, where it refers to a mountain range, whose lofty peaks are covered with snow in the winter. Now, it is the name of the small, Middle Eastern country in which this mountain range is found. In recent years, Lebanon has been the scene of fierce fighting between different sections of the national community and of surrounding nations. One of the basic divisions in this Arab land is between a peculiar sect of Christians known as Maronites and a peculiar Islamic-like sect known as Druses. Rivalry between these two factions has characterized the region's history for centuries. Following the First World War, Lebanon came under French control, but on November 26, 1941, Lebanon proclaimed itself an independent republic. As the most progressive Arab state, Lebanon was a prosperous country until factional fighting and terrorist activity damaged its economic, political and social system. The Lebanese flag consists of red, white and red horizontal stripes with a green cedar tree in the white stripe. The cedar trees of Lebanon were considered symbols of strength and splendor by Old Testament writers. In Psalm 92:12, it is written: "The righteous will grow like the cedars of Lebanon."(1742)
Dictionaries (85/11/27)
Diction, from a Latin word meaning "to say", refers to one's choice of words or to the distinctness of one's speech. I try to be careful of my diction when I prepare these daily messages. A dictionary is a reference book that contains definitions of words or of translations of words into a different language. There are many kinds of dictionaries and many of them indicate the number of entries they include. How many words do you suppose there are in the English language? In a living language, of course, new words are constantly being coined. Unabridged dictionaries contain many words that are very technical and used only by specialists, but the number of entries advertised for a particular dictionary may be deceiving, for variant forms of the same word may be counted as separate entries. Thus, go, going and gone may be counted as three different words. When all the special, technical vocabularies and jargons are included, it is estimated that there are between three and five million words in the English language today. We should be careful of the words we use for some words will give encouragement while others will cause offense. In the Letter of James, chapter 3, verse 2, the one who makes no mistakes in speaking is considered a perfect person, but I've never met such a person. Have you? (1743)
Thanksgiving Day (85/11/28)
The problem of the proper attitude of government and of government leaders toward religion is a difficult one, but obviously, the spiritual atmosphere of the nation must also be considered. In the United States, the two most famous presidents were men of deep religious faith. It was President Abraham Lincoln who designated the last Thursday of November as the national Thanksgiving Day and President George Washington who proclaimed the new nation's first official Thanksgiving Day in 1789 with these words: "Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection, aid and favors... Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country, and for all the great and various favors which he has been pleased to confer upon us." It is in this spirit that Thanksgiving Day is kept by people with faith in God even today.
All Soul's Day (85/11/02)
Culture (85/11/03)
Will Rogers (85/11/04)
On Culture Day (85/11/05)
Mount Gozaisho (85/11/06)
The Russian Revolution (85/11/07)
A humpback whale (85/11/08)
Sumō wrestlers urged to set good examples (85/11/09)
Revelation (85/11/10)
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (85/11/11)
The U.S. and Japan has drawn closer (85/11/12)
Ronald Reagan's gaffe (85/11/13)
Guru-guru sushi bar (85/11/14)
Honeymooners (85/11/15)
Talent (85/11/16)
Daniel (85/11/17)
Tea (85/11/18)
Summit between Reagan and Gorbachef (85/11/19)
Prince Hironomiya (85/11/20)
The tallest building in the world (85/11/21)
John Kennedy assassinated (85/11/22)
Labor Thanksgiving Day (85/11/23)
Studying the Bible (85/11/24)
Hamlet reinterpreted (85/11/25)
Lebanon (85/11/26)
Dictionaries (85/11/27)
Thanksgiving Day (85/11/28)
Robot (85/11/29)
Mark Twain (85/11/30)
All Saints' Day (85/11/01)