Happy New Year (86/01/01)
Happy New Year! In countries that follow the Gregorian calendar, today marks the beginning of a new year. Pope Gregory XIII promulgated this New Style calendar in 1582 to correct discrepancies which had developed in the Old Style, or Julian calendar, created by Julius Caesar about 1600 years earlier. However, it took hundreds of years for the Gregorian calendar to be accepted by many countries. It was just 113 years ago that Japan adopted this New Style calendar. Actually, it's a bit strange to begin a new year on this particular day, which has no special place in the natural cycle of seasonal changes. It would be more logical to begin a new year at one of the four divisions between seasons (the spring or fall equinox or the summer or winter solstice), but traditions seldom follow logic. Anyway, today is the day a new year begins in this land. Let us make it a year of moral development and spiritual growth. In oriental reckoning, this is the year of the tiger, so let us remember the old saying that "A tiger dies and leaves his skin; a man dies and leaves his name." Likewise, we find these words in Proverbs 22:1: "A good name is more to be desired than great riches." (1778)
Watchword (86/01/02)
As a noun, watch may refer to a portable timepiece that can be worn on the wrist or carried in a pocket. As a verb, it basically means to keep awake. When Jesus went with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane, he told them to "watch and pray." A watchman is a person who stays on watch to guard some property and a watchdog is a dog that guards against trespassers or thieves. In my home church in the United States, a watch night meeting is held on New Year's Eve. The climax is reached at midnight, when the New Year is begun in prayer. Soon afterwards, a watchword, or motto, for the New Year is distributed, for display in homes throughout the year. We have also held watch night services in our church in Japan, but in recent years, we have held a New Year's Day service instead. Early yesterday morning, we held such a service, during which, those present came forward to the front of the church as families to pray together and for each one to take a card having a Bible verse on it which will be that person's personal verse for this year. If you would like to receive such a verse, in both English and Japanese, please let me know. I would be happy to send you one. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. (1779)
Cicero (86/01/03)
One of the most famous politicians and philosophers of ancient Rome was born on this third day of the first month 2092 years ago, in the year 106 B.C. This man is considered the greatest Roman orator. Do you know his name? In English, we call him Marcus Tullius Cicero, but in Japanese, he is called kikero. During the Roman civil war, Cicero opposed Julius Caesar and his brilliant oratory against Caesar's friend, Marc Antony, finally resulted in his execution, in 43 B.C., on Antony's orders. Many of Cicero's sayings have lasting significance. What would you consider to be the aim of wisdom? According to Cicero, "The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil." Which do you think is easier, to perceive what is false or to grasp what is true? Cicero wrote: "Would that I could discover truth as easily as I can uncover falsehood." Recognizing that people are imperfect, he believed they should learn from their mistakes. He wrote: "Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error." And for those who feel ashamed if they do not get the highest grade or the top position, he has this advice: "If you aspire to the highest place, it is no disgrace to stop at the second, or even the third, place." (1780)
Big Ben (86/01/04)
One of the famous sites in London is the House of Parliament, also known as Westminster Palace. This huge building, housing both the Houses of Lords and of Commons, has 1100 rooms and two towers. In the more famous 96-meter high tower is a large clock and a bell which rings out the time. You may have heard the sound of that bell on broadcasts of the BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation). These days, the clock is also referred to as "Big Ben", but that name was originally given the 13 ton bell in honor of Sir Benjamin Hall, the commissioner of works when the bell was installed in 1856. For the past two and a half years, sightseers have been unable to see Big Ben. It was getting a thorough cleaning, hidden behind a framework of scaffolding and plastic sheeting. Now, the big clock is once again in full view. Its faces on all four sides of the tower have been brightened up with new gold leaf and the color of the tower itself has been changed from sooty black to its original tan. Human beings also require periodic cleansing--not only of their bodies but of their spirits as well. The Bible teaches that God will cleanse the dirty hearts of all who, in faith, seek to be made clean.(1781)
Ring out the old, ring in the new (86/01/05)
At our New Year's Day Service, we sang a hymn written by the English poet, Alfred Tennyson, about ringing the bells on New Year's Day: "Ring out the old, ring in the new; ring out the false, ring in the true." We may see the difference between the old and the new in car styles and clothes fashions, but can we clearly distinguish between the false and the true? Basic truth does not change. It is the same today as always, but our perception of it may change, just as an old musical composition seems new when played by a great orchestra under a master conductor or a traditional dish of food seems new when prepared by a master chef. In the First Letter of John, chapter 2, reference is made to an old command that is also new. The old command to love others became new through the life and death of Jesus Christ, who demonstrated the true meaning of love. The New Year will be bright or gloomy for us depending on whether we walk in the light of Christ-like love for others or in the darkness of self-centeredness. With God's help, let us try to make it a bright year for all. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30, a meeting of listeners to these messages will be held at the City Kyōikukan, one block north of the Mitsukoshi Store in Sakae. We hope you can attend.
New Mexico (86/01/06)
The names of ten of the 50 United States of America contain two words, including the smallest state of Rhode Island. Five of them include a direction, such as North, South or West. The remaining four begin with the word "New". How many of them can you name? Three of these states are found in the northeastern section of the country and were named after people or places in England. The fourth such state is found in the southwest. Admitted to the Union as the 47th state 74 years ago today, on January 6, 1912, it is named New Mexico. The dry air, warm climate and spectacular scenery of New Mexico has made it a popular winter resort and retirement center. One of the largest states in area, its population density is a mere 11 people per square mile, in contrast with New Jersey's 945 people per square mile. Having lofty mountain peaks, vast sandy deserts and Indian and Spanish-American traditions, it came to be known as The Land of Enchantment. The state motto is the Latin phrase, Crescit Eundo, meaning, "It grows as it goes". That's what happens to us physically until we reach adulthood, but mental and spiritual growth should continue throughout our lives.
Poetry (86/01/07)
On Friday, the annual New Year Poetry Party will be held at the Imperial Palace. At 1:30 in the afternoon of the following Sunday, January 12th, we will hold another meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages at the Nagoya City Kyōikukan, one block north of the Mitsukoshi Department Store at Sakae. The theme for the meeting will be Poetry. There are various kinds of Japanese poetry, including the 31 syllable tanka and the 17 syllable haiku. Do you enjoy reading poetry? Do you ever write poetry these days? Have you ever tried to write poetry in English? We would be happy to hear any poems you have written and any ideas or experiences you have had related to poetry. Poetry is also the second theme for essays for the 15th issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. Previous issues of that periodical will be on sale at Sunday's meeting. Even if you have nothing to say about poetry, please come anyway. My wife and I would like to meet you. Approximately one-third of the Old Testament was written in poetic Hebrew. One of the oldest poems, the Song of Deborah, found in the book of Judges, chapter 5, celebrates Israel's victory over her enemies. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
The metric system in U.S. (86/01/08)
Contrary to common thought, in some ways, Americans are more bound by tradition and more resistant to change than Japanese. In regard to the use of the metric system, the U.S. is one of the most backward countries in the world today. Is it because proud Americans are unwilling to follow the lead of other nations? Use of the metric system has been legal in the United States since 1866 and, ten years ago, the Metric Conversion Act established a national policy of coordinating usage of the metric system. Nevertheless, distances are still measured in miles, yards, feet and inches, weight is measured in pounds and ounces, liquids are measured in gallons, quarts and pints and temperatures are given in Fahrenheit degrees. Independent-minded Americans don't like to be told they must change their customs, but they are also coming to recognize the advantages of the metric system and its use is continuing to increase. It's difficult to change old patterns, but the Bible teaches that unless we change our self-centered way of thinking, we will perish. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30, we will hold another meeting of listeners to these telephone messages at the City Kyōikukan, two blocks north of the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Sakae. Please join us there if you can.
Richard Nixon (86/01/09)
Today, January 9th, is the birthday of the 37th president of the U. S. A. He is one of three former presidents who are still alive, the only president in American history to resign from office. His resignation, 12 years ago was due to a scandal related to the break-in of an office building named Watergate. His name is Richard Milhous Nixon and he is 73 years old today. Milhous was the maiden name of his mother and is the surname of an American missionary, a cousin of his, who lives in Nagoya. Mr. Nixon served two terms as vicepresident under President Eisenhower. He was the Republican candidate for president in 1960, but lost the election to John Kennedy. Two years later, he lost his bid to become governor of California and bitterly announced his retirement from politics. Nevertheless, six years later, he was elected president in one of the closest elections in American history. He won a landslide victory for his second term, but five months earlier the Watergate break-in had occurred. This crime and his unsuccessful attempt to cover it up resulted in his resignation when Congress was ready to impeach him. Mr. Nixon should have followed the advice of Mark Twain: "If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything."
Fox hunting (86/01/10)
The fox, an intelligent animal related to the dog and wolf, often cleverly outwits its enemies. According to Japanese folklore, foxes have bewitching powers and people who act strangely are sometimes said to be possessed by a fox. A crafty person may also be called a fox and that is what Jesus called King Herod according to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 13, verse 32. In England, fox hunting is a centuries' old tradition. A special breed of dog, called a foxhound, has been developed to hunt foxes. In fox hunting, a group of hunters on horseback ride through the countryside behind a pack of foxhounds to catch and kill foxes. The great speed, long endurance and cunning character of the fox makes this an exciting activity, but the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has recently launched a campaign against it, calling it barbaric, and noting that fox hunting is not necessary for the protection of livestock or for conservation. Opponents of the practice refer to it as "bloody murder", while proponents call it "a highly skillful sport with a noble tradition." On this issue, I side with the opponents for, to me, the purposeless killing of animal life is a debasing practice for human beings.
Using English at a meeting (86/01/11)
There are over 3000 different languages in the world, but only five of them have more than 100 million native speakers. Many people learn languages other than their own, which they speak with varying degrees of fluency, but which languages do you think are the mother tongues of over 100 million people? Of course, Chinese comes first with approximately 500 million native speakers. Next comes English with about 300 million. Russian and Spanish each have about 130 million, and number five is Japanese, the mother tongue of some 120 million. Needless to say, learning a language as a child, surrounded by native speakers, is much easier than learning a foreign language as an adult, having little opportunity to make use of it. One of the purposes of this "Daily Word" telephone service is to give you practice listening to and trying to understand a native speaker of English. An opportunity will be given for you to speak in English as well as listen at our meeting of "Daily Word" listeners tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 at the City Kyōikukan, 2 blocks north of Mitsukoshi in Sakae. I will be speaking about poetry and I would be happy to hear your thoughts on that subject also. At that meeting, broken English is acceptable, so please don't hesitate to join us.
The joy of having a living hope (86/01/12)
Last month, many bōnenkai, literally meaning year-forgetting parties, were held in Japan. This month, it may be appropriate to hold a different kind of bōnenkai or year-hoping party. Unfortunately, there are many people in the world today who are without hope. Such people are to be pitied, for hope gives us a reason for living. Nevertheless, some thinkers consider life hopeless. According to Sophocles, a Greek philosopher of the 5th century B.C., not to be born at all is by far the best fortune and the second best fortune is to die soon after birth. British critic, George Bernard Shaw, has written that there are two tragedies in life: one is not to attain one's desires and the other is to attain them. This is not the Christian perspective, for the Christian views the future with hope. My sermon today, based on the first 12 verses of the first chapter of the First Letter of Peter, was about the hope that comes through a healthy faith. There it is written that, by the mercy of God, "we have been born anew to a living hope". A living hope can give us the strength to endure difficulties and trials, believing that they also are for our own good. I pray that you will know the joy of having a living hope in this New Year.
Irregular spelling (86/01/13)
Every language has its own peculiar difficulties. The Japanese language has a very complicated system of writing. Writing in English appears to be much easier. Strange as it may seem, however, a recent study has shown that it is easier for a young Japanese child to write in Japanese than for an American child of the same age to write in English. This is because a simple Japanese syllabary may be used to accurately write down the sounds of the spoken language. On the other hand, as you well know, the spelling of English words is very irregular. For example, the following 13 words all have the same "long u" sound, but each one has a different spelling. Can you spell them all correctly? Food, rude, drew, do, canoe, blue, fruit, through, ewe (meaning, a young sheep), you (meaning a person), eucalyptus, beauty and view. Speaking of good spelling, an Old English word, "godspell" is the original form of "gospel" which means "good news". The Christian Gospel is the Good News of God's love for all people seen in the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Adults' Day (86/01/14)
Tomorrow, January 15th, is a Japanese holiday in honor of young men and women who became twenty years old during the past year and have legally become adults. To commemorate this milestone in their lives, ceremonies will be held throughout the country at which the guests of honor will be wearing their finest clothes. As you see or read about these ceremonies, what are your observations, impressions, memories or suggestions about Adults' Day? If you send me your essay on this theme, I will correct it and include it in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. This postwar holiday is the continuation of an older custom of honoring youth who have reached adulthood. The age that a person legally becomes an adult varies with the country. All people do not actually reach adulthood at the same age--either physically or mentally. In fact, some people continue to act like children even after they are physically mature. In I Corinthians, chapter 3, the Apostle Paul wrote of people who required spiritual milk instead of more solid food because they acted like spiritual babies. True maturity is not determined by physical size but by spiritual attitude. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30 Moriyama Post Office 463.
Martin Luther King (86/01/15)
Today, January 15th, is a national holiday in Japan, the second of 12 kokumin no shukujitsu. In the United States there are no national holidays as such because each of the separate states decides on the holidays to be observed in that state. Legally, the president and congress can only designate holidays for the District of Columbia and for federal employees. In fact, however, most states observe those holidays as well as others designated by the state. Beginning this year, a new federal holiday will be observed on the third Monday of January, bringing the total of such holidays to ten. This new holiday is in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born 57 years ago today. The only other federal holiday celebrating a birthday is that for George Washington on the third Monday of February. King was a Baptist minister and a leading figure in the movement to win greater equality for his fellow blacks. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, but he left behind these meaningful words: "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."
A member of a gang shot (86/01/16)
When travelling in Nagoya by myself, I usually go by bicycle, which is healthful, economical, enjoyable and ofttimes faster than other means of transportation. On Tuesday, I was going to a meeting in Sakae. I had planned to stop for a bite to eat before the meeting, but while crossing the Yadagawa Bridge, I got a flat tire. After walking about a kilometer, I came to a bicycle shop and got the tire fixed. Although I could no longer stop to eat, I still hoped to get to the meeting on time. Of the various possible ways to Sakae, I decide my route according to the traffic lights--turning at intersections with red lights instead of waiting. As I approached the Higashikataha intersection, I was ordered to stop by a police man. Although fearing some reprimand, I was simply told I could not proceed further and must turn off that street, so I had to make a detour. Fortunately, I did get to the meeting on time and in yesterday's newspaper, I read about the trouble that had occurred at that intersection. Three members of one gang were shot by a member of another gang and a stray bullet had hit a car parked along the street. As I read the article, I recalled the words of Psalm 31:15, "My times are in thy hand".
Counting large numbers (86/01/17)
Different ways of dividing large numbers in English and Japanese makes it difficult to envision the number referred to in the foreign language. In English, large numbers are divided by commas into groups of three. Beginning from the right end of the number, we count by ones, tens and hundreds within each grouping. The smallest group of three is the hundred group; next is the thousand group, then million, billion, trillion and so on. In verbal Japanese, the groups are in units of four. Thus, man is the designation for ten thousand, oku refers to a hundred mi11ion and cho is equal to an American trillion. A recent news article gave the current world population figure as 4 billion, 842 million (4,842,000,000). Since the report was in Japanese, it literally read 48 oku, 4 sen, 2 hyaku-mannin. I find it easier to visualize the former figure. How about you? The population of Asia was given as 2 billion, 824 million, or 28 oku, 2 sen, 4 hyaku-man nin, an increase of 1.7% over the previous year. As the population continues to increase, there is an increasing need for us to learn to understand one another and to live together in peace.
Murals to brighten up a dirty wall (86/01/18)
There is a Japanese word, written in katakana, pronounced "gaado". It comes from the English word "girder", which refers to a strong, horizontal beam used as a main support in some structure. A railway bridge made up of girders may be called a girder bridge, which is the meaning of the Japanese word. There is a "ga-do" just south of Nagoya Station, under which thousands of cars, buses, trucks, bicycles and pedestrians pass everyday. Under the auspices of the Nagoya Nakamura Lions Club, the north wall of this underpass will soon be transformed into a street gallery. Fifty meters of this wall is being divided into ten sections upon which ten different artists will paint 2.5 meter high abstract murals using a special fluoride paint from which grime and graffiti can easily be wiped off. The murals will be painted the middle of next month. The Lions Club has budgeted four million yen for this project to brighten up a dirty wall. Even we who are not artists can help to brighten up dirty places. I remember a Sunday School song I sang as a child: "Brighten the Corner Where You Are". If we all brighten the corners where we are, the whole world will become brighter.
God's work of art (86/01/19)
The Japan Bible Society was established 111 years ago for the purpose of translating, publishing and distributing the Bible in Japan. It also prints a small pamphlet every year entitled Seisho Aidoku Koyomi in which short Bible passages on a weekly theme are suggested for every day of the year. This pamphlet has been distributed to those who attend the Sunday morning worship services in our church in Takahama and texts for my sermons are chosen from one of the passages for the preceding week. Today's text is Ephesians, chapter 2, verses 1-10 and the title of my sermon is "God's Work of Art". As you know, the Bible teaches that Almighty God created the universe, which may be considered "God's Work of Art". However, my sermon today is related to the talk I gave at the "Daily Word" Listeners' meeting last Sunday afternoon. The Jerusalem Bible translation of Ephesians 2:10 is: "We are God's work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning he meant us to live it." The Greek word translated "work of art" is poiema from which we get the English word "poem". In one sense, we are a kind of poem that God is composing. His aim is to bring beauty into the world through our lives. I wonder if he is succeeding?
Sanctuary for cranes (86/01/20)
The word "sanctuary" literally refers to a holy place, such as the room used for worship in a church. A secondary meaning of the word is a place of refuge, where special protection is provided. Conservationists are planning to establish a new bird sanctuary in Hokkaido. It will be the first such sanctuary exclusively for a certain species of crane. A crane is a large wading bird with a long neck, long legs and a long bill. A machine used for hoisting heavy objects is also called a crane because its shape bears a resemblance to the bird. This sanctuary will be for the pretty white crane with a red crest called tancho in Japanese and the village where it will be located has the very appropriate name of Tsurui, meaning "crane dwelling". Cranes used to be quite common in Japan, but in recent years their numbers have been decreasing, so they have been designated a rare species requiring government protection. These cranes regularly come to the Tsurui area to spend the winter, but the number of local residents who feed them is decreasing, so this crane sanctuary is being established. In Japanese thought, the crane is a symbol of long life and faithfulness. In the Bible, eternal life is promised to those who are faithful to God.
Japan-Soviet relationship (86/01/21)
Last week the foreign ministers of Japan and the Soviet Union held talks in Tokyo. It was the first visit of a Soviet foreign minister to Japan in ten years. The talks were said to have included frank exchanges of opinions. In Matthew 5:25, Jesus advised settling disagreements quickly, although this is not always possible. More than forty years have passed since the end of the war, but a peace treaty between Japan and the Soviet Union has not been signed. The reason is that Japan refuses to sign such a treaty until the problem of the islands taken by the U.S.S.R. at the end of the war is satisfactorily resolved. For many years, the Soviet Union has refused to admit that there was a territorial problem, but the joint communique issued on Sunday implied in an in direct way that such a problem exists, regarding which further negotiations are needed. For your essay this week, I would be interested to know your reaction to the Abe-Shevardnadze talks. What are your opinions regarding the Soviet Union in general and your views regarding Japan-Soviet relationships, past, present and future? Send your essay for correction and publication in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Underwater tunnel (86/01/22)
A tunnel is an underground or underwater passage. At present, the longest tunnel in the world is that connecting the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido although it is not yet in operation. On Monday, the President of France and the Prime Minister of Great Britain agreed to cooperate in building two 49 kilometer tunnels under the English Channel which will link France with England. First proposed by Napoleon 200 years ago, other plans for such tunnels have been made over the years, but none of them have been carried out. These new tunnels, costing $6.6 billion, will be built by a British-French consortium and are scheduled to open in 1993. Vehicles will be carried on special rail cars through the tunnels in about 30 minutes. At present, ferries take at least 75 minutes and are subject to delays due to the weather. Vehicular traffic between England and France should continue for years to come, so this new tunnel should not share the fate of Japan's unused Seikan Tunnel. Whether by tunnels, bridges or language, improved contacts between different nations is to be encouraged. Japan also should improve its relationships with its closest neighbors across the water.
Founder of Doshisha (86/01/23)
96 years ago today, on January 23,1890, Joseph Niijima died at the age of 47. Founder of the famous Christian school in Kyoto, called Doshisha, Niijima was born in Gumma Prefecture in 1843. At that time, Christianity was an outlawed religion in Japan and no Japanese were permitted to go abroad. When he was 21, Niijima was deeply impressed by an English textbook which spoke of God as the creator of the universe. Deciding to defy the law and go to America, he went to the remote port of Hakodate, secretly boarded a ship and landed in Boston. There, he became a Christian and attended a Christian college and seminary. When asked to become the interpreter for the Iwakura Mission then visiting western countries, he replied that he was an outlaw, that he recognized no ruler but the King of Heaven, but that he would agree to their request if he were given a full pardon for fleeing his country and permission to teach Christianity upon his return. His request was granted and his contact with these important people later proved helpful when he established Doshisha in the conservative city of Kyoto. Niijima holds an honored place in the Christian history of Japan.
Foreigners in Japan (86/01/24)
Very few words in English begin with an X. Xenophobia is one of them. "Phobia" comes from the Greek word for "fear". Hydrophobia is a fear of water; claustrophobia is a fear of confined spaces; and xenophobia is a fear of strangers or foreigners. During the Tokugawa Era, Japan was xenophobic. Almost no foreigners were allowed into the country. Since the Meiji Restoration, the situation has changed. A recent report on the number of foreigners in Japan indicates that their number has increased over a ten year period by over 12 percent to a total of over 840,000 equal to 0.7 percent of Japan's population. 9 out of 10 foreigners are Asians, with the 687,000 Koreans topping the list. Next in order are the 68,000 Chinese and the 28,000 Americans. Although outwardly, Japan is becoming internationalized, there are still those who feel ill at ease in the presence of foreigners or who actually dislike those of a particular national background. In the New Testament book of Hebrews, chapter 13, verse 2, we find this exhortation: "Remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it."
"Haste makes waste" (86/01/25)
I am sure that you know the Japanese proverb, Isogaba maware. Literally, it means, "When in a hurry, go around." In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, chapter 19, verse 2, it is written: "the man in a hurry misses the way". Sometimes the person who takes a shortcut to save time becomes lost and finds that time is wasted rather than saved. There is an English proverb, "Haste makes waste", for the person in a hurry often makes careless mistakes which result in a waste of time. When we hurry, we are more apt to drop an egg on the floor or spill the soup. "More haste, less speed" is another way to express the same thought. An old Latin proverb, Festina lente, is in the form of a paradox. It may be translated "Make haste slowly". The English writer, G. K. Chesterton has written, "One of the great disadvantages of hurry is that it takes such a long time." The person in a hurry sometimes speaks words or makes promises which he later regrets, so we also have the saying, "Marry in haste and repent at leisure". In James 1:19, we are told to "be quick to listen, but slow to speak." Today is a good time for us to slow down a little and to think before we speak or act.
Gentiles (86/01/26)
It is natural for us to look at the world as though we and our nation were at its center. In the Ainu language, ainu means a human being and in Japanese, hojin is s used to refer to Japanese people, while non-Japanese are gaijin. The Jewish people also considered themselves the chosen people, while the rest of the world were "Gentiles", translated ihojin in the Japanese Bible. It was difficult for the early Jewish Christians to change their way of thinking and recognize that the true God is the loving Father of all people, not only of the Jews. My sermon today is taken from the 10th chapter of the book of Acts, where Peter had to be repeatedly taught not to consider certain kinds of animals or people unclean. This was a revolutionary revelation to Peter, who then visited the home of a Gentile. His first words to the people gathered there were: "I now see that God has no favourites". This is a truth that all of us need to accept, whether we are Jews or Japanese or White Anglo-Saxon Protestant Americans. The Bible teaches that all people are equal in the sight of God. None of us are intrinsically better than others. All of us fail to measure up to God's perfect plan for us, so we all must humbly seek his forgiveness for our sins in order to enter into his holy Kingdom.
Bowls in American Football (86/01/27)
A bowl is a deep, round dish for liquids or food. In Japan, rice is eaten from a bowl called a chawan which literally means a tea bowl. Some American football stadiums resemble the shape of a bowl and major college football games played in certain stadiums are called Bowl Games. Some of the well-known Bowls are the Rose Bowl in California, the Orange Bowl in Florida, the Sugar Bowl in Louisiana, the Cotton Bowl in Texas and the Peach Bowl in Georgia. In the United States, there are two professional football conferences, each having 14 teams divided into three geographic divisions. For the past 20 years, the champion teams of these two conferences have met in the Super Bowl to decide the World Football Championship. That game is being played today (Sunday, in the United States) in the Super dome in New Orleans, Louisiana between the New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears. Most people think the Bears will defeat the Patriots, but in the Old Testament book of I Samuel, chapter 17, a young Jewish patriot named David told of his defeating bears prior to his victory over the giant Goliath, so we know that sometimes upsets do occur.
Prejudice (86/01/28)
One of the basic teachings of the Bible is that there is only one God, who is the Creator of the world and all that is in it. A logical deduction of this teaching is that there is an underlying unity among people of all races and cultures. Nevertheless, human history is filled with examples of certain races or nations or classes that have practiced discrimination toward others. In fact, there is probably no one completely free from some prejudice which was assimilated during one's early years. Much prejudice is based on ignorance and people feel secure in maintaining their prejudices. However, prejudice is a great obstacle to healthy human relationships and mutual understanding. We need to recognize our own prejudices and seek to eliminate them. The theme for your essay this week is "Prejudice". Do you think prejudice or discrimination exist in Japanese society? If so, against whom? Have you seen or experienced it in your social or business relationships? What is the basis of such prejudice and what can be done about it? Do you recognize prejudice in your own thinking? If you send me your essay, I will correct it and publish it in "Daily Word" Echoes. In tomorrow's message, I will make an important announcement, so be sure to call. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Improving the telephone service (86/01/29)
For over five years I have been taping these daily telephone messages and inserting them into the "Answer Phone" machine about midnight every night. Two years ago, I installed a second telephone so two calls could be received at the same time. Even so, people still get busy signals when both phones are in use. Now, the Japan Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (NTT) has offered to improve their service. Beginning in February, the tapes I make at home, on special equipment NTT has provided will be broadcast directly from their Moriyama Branch Office on equipment that can handle five calls simultaneously. As a result of this new arrangement, the following changes will take place: First, you should no longer receive a busy signal when you call--unless five others are already calling at the same time; Second, when you call, you may hear the message from some mid-point rather than from the beginning, but it will be repeated over and over again until you hang up the receiver; Third, the tapes will be changed at 8:30 in the morning, so messages of the previous day will be heard until that time the next day. Also, beginning next week, I plan to compose a simpler message on Mondays and to speak at a slower speed on that day.
Watchword (86/01/02)
Cicero (86/01/03)
Big Ben (86/01/04)
Ring out the old, ring in the new (86/01/05)
New Mexico (86/01/06)
Poetry (86/01/07)
The metric system in U.S. (86/01/08)
Richard Nixon (86/01/09)
Fox hunting (86/01/10)
Using English at a meeting (86/01/11)
The joy of having a living hope (86/01/12)
Irregular spelling (86/01/13)
Adults' Day (86/01/14)
Martin Luther King (86/01/15)
A member of a gang shot (86/01/16)
Counting large numbers (86/01/17)
Murals to brighten up a dirty wall (86/01/18)
God's work of art (86/01/19)
Sanctuary for cranes (86/01/20)
Japan-Soviet relationship (86/01/21)
Underwater tunnel (86/01/22)
Founder of Doshisha (86/01/23)
Foreigners in Japan (86/01/24)
"Haste makes waste" (86/01/25)
Gentiles (86/01/26)
Bowls in American Football (86/01/27)
Prejudice (86/01/28)
Improving the telephone service (86/01/29)
Explosion of "Challenger" (86/01/30)
Time flies (86/01/31)
Happy New Year (86/01/01)