March to a different drummer (86/03/01)
Today is Saturday, the last day of the week, but it is also the first day of a new month. This third month of the year is called March in English. There are various meanings of the word "march". It can mean to walk in a military manner with measured steps at a steady pace. It may also refer to a musical piece with a rhythm suited to marching. To be "on the march" means to be moving ahead and to "steal a march on" means to gain an advantage over someone, especially in some secret manner. The name of the month of March, however, comes from Mars, the Roman god whose name was also given to that planet closest to the earth. Although this month is named after the Roman god of war, I pray that it will be a month of peace for you and the world at large. There is an English expression about marching to the beat of a different drummer. It is taken from a famous quotation of the American essayist, Henry David Thoreau, who emphasized respect for each person's individuality. He wrote: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is s because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."
Atonement (86/03/02)
Because the Bible is the basic element in English literature and in western thought, anyone who desires to truly understand the West must become acquainted with this book. There are a number of English words that were created or given new meanings by translators of the Bible. One such word is "atonement". "Atone" is made up of the words "at one" and "atonement" originally referred to the state of human beings and God being "at one". The more common term in use today is "reconciliation", which refers to bringing peace between former enemies. That's the figure used in Paul's Letter to the Romans, chapter 5, in regard to the purpose of Christ's death on the cross. His death was to bring about an "atonement" or reconciliation between sinful people and a holy God. The Bible teaches that humankind became separated from its Creator because of its sinful rebellion against him. The Good News, or Gospel, of Christ is that God himself has constructed the bridge by which sinners can regain their lost fellowship with him through the cross of Christ. The sacrificial love of God seen in the cross is the atonement which reestablishes the broken relationship between the loving Father and his wayward children.
The Doll Festival (86/03/03)
Today is March the 3rd, the day of the Doll Festival in Japan. In the traditional doll display, there are a number of steplike tiers on which 15 beautifully dressed dolls are arranged in a certain order. On the top tier are the emperor and empress. On the second tier are three ladies-in-waiting, and on the lower tiers are five musicians, two court guards and three jesters. There may also be miniature furniture, tiny utensils and other dainty articles on display. In America, dolls are considered toys to play with, but these pretty Japanese dolls are considered objects to look at and admire. In the old days, the sins of people were transferred to dolls which were then thrown in to a river, but these dolls are kept for many years. I wonder, how do people get rid of their sins these days?
Vermont (86/03/04)
In the northeastern part of the United States is a group of six states which together, are referred to as New England. How many of them can you name? Four of those states were included in the original 13 colonies that declared their independence from Britain at the time of the Revolutionary War. Following that war, the first new territory to be accepted into the United States was Vermont, another one of the New England states. 195 years ago today, on March 4,1791, Congress voted to accept Vermont as the 14th state. The beautiful, wooded mountain range that runs through the state from north to south is called the Green Mountains and the state's name comes from the French words for "green mountain". Through those pretty mountains runs a 420 kilometer hiking trail which begins in Massachusetts and goes into Canada. The state motto of Vermont is: "Freedom and Unity". Both of these concepts are important. If freedom is used selfishly, it will cause disunity, but in Galatians, chapter 5, verse 13, we are warned against making a selfish use of freedom. Rather, we should use our freedom to serve others in a spirit of love, which will strengthen unity.
Hello (86/03/05)
When answering the telephone here in Japan, it is common to say moshi-moshi. These words have no particular meaning, but they are sometimes used to attract the attention of another person. The same is true of :"Hello" in English, although this word is also used as a common greeting as well. We often say "Hello" when we meet someone in person as well as when we answer the telephone. There are various theories regarding the origin of this word. According to one theory, it comes from a French expression meaning "Stop!" However, in 14th century England, "hallow", spelled h-a-l-lo-w, was already a common greeting. Over the years, spelling, pronunciation and accent have varied, but it continues to be used as a greeting as well as an attention-getter even today. Ways of greeting vary with the culture. The traditional greeting among the Jews is shalom, which means "peace." Jesus used this greeting when meeting his disciples following his resurrection and, according to John 14:27, after his last supper, he said to them, "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you." Christ still gives his peace to those who trust in him and that peace is something his followers want to share with others.
Pansies and lilies (86/03/06)
Violet is a bluish purple color. It comes from the name of a flower, but violets, nowadays, are not always violet. One of the most popular of cultivated flowers is the pansy, which is derived from the violet. Pansies have rounded, velvety petals of many different colors. When you look at a pansy, what does it remind you of? Just as people long ago thought the moon resembled a human face and spoke of "the man in the moon", they saw a thoughtful face in this flower. Its name comes from the French word pensee which means "thought". As springtime approaches, we will see many different kinds of flowers. Each of them has its own character--from delicate cherry blossoms to hardy lilies. As cherry blossoms in Japan are symbols of the transience of life, so lilies in the West are considered symbols of purity. The so-called Easter Lily, in particular, is associated with the new life and hope seen in the resurrection of Christ. Horatio Smith has called flowers "living preachers" and, in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verse 28, Jesus told his disciples to "consider the lilies of the field." As we view the beautiful flowers this spring, let us perceive in them the handiwork of their Creator and remember his love for us.
Luther Burbank (86/03/07)
In some American gardens there is a shady shelter made of vines or branches which is called an arbor. Most American states observe a day in the spring called Arbor Day. This is not a holiday, but a day for planting trees and emphasizing conservation. In the state of California, today, March the 7th, is observed as Conservation, Bird and Arbor Day. This day was chosen to honor Luther Burbank, who was born on March 7, 1849. Burbank was a plant breeder who experimented with new varieties of flowers, fruits and vegetables for over fifty years. As a result, he not only produced the Burbank potato, but new forms of tomatoes, corn, squash, beans, peas, asparagus, corn, rhubarb, plums, raspberries, blackberries, apples, peaches, nectarines, etc. He introduced new forms of roses, lilies and daisies. In Santa Rosa California, where he spent most of his life, a Luther Burbank Rose Festival is held in his honor in May. Luther Burbank stated: "it is well for people who think to change their minds occasionally in order to keep them clean. For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices once in awhile."
Nicholai Cathedral (86/03/08)
Today is the 95th anniversary of the completion of a famous church, located near the Ochanomizu Station in the Kanda area of Tokyo. The Nicolai Cathedral, with a 35-meter-high dome, was completed on March 8, 1891. It is the head church of the Orthodox Church in Japan, founded by Father Nicolai, who first came to Japan as the chaplain at the Russian Consulate at Hakodate in 1861. Despite the official prohibition of Christianity by the government of that day, he secretly baptized Japanese converts and later returned to Russia to solicit further support for mission work in Japan and for building this church, which became a center for the teaching of the Russian language as well as Christianity. Although seriously damaged by the Tokyo earthquake, it was thoroughly repaired and is now one of the famous, historic sites of Tokyo. The name Nicolai, or Nicholas, or Nicolaus, comes from Greek words meaning "victor over the people". This was also the name of the last emperor of Russia, of one of the seven men chosen to assist the apostles as recorded in Acts, chapter 6, and of the saint who came to be popularly known as Santa Claus.
-- Title --- (86/03/09)
(message mistakenly repeated)
The cat and the mice (86/03/10)
Once upon a time, the mice all came together to talk about the cat. "We must think of a plan to get away from her," said one mouse. "She has eaten too many of us. What shall we do?" They all thought very hard. One mouse said one thing; another said another. At last, one young mouse stood up. "The cat is very quiet," said he. "We never hear her when she comes. That is why she catches so many of us. We do not hear her in time to run. I have a good plan. Let us tie a bell around the cat's neck. Then we can hear her coming and run away." "Fine!" squeaked all the mice. "Let us run and buy a bell." Just then an older mouse spoke. "Wait," said he. "Your plan is very good, but who will tie the bell on the cat?" Good theories are not enough. They must also be practical. And true faith also must be translated into action.
The Bible Class (86/03/11)
The number of calls to this "Daily Word" telephone service are always fewest on Sundays and holidays, but I presume that the Sunday callers also call on Saturday. Those who called last Saturday and Sunday heard the same message on both days. I apologize for that. A weekend employee of the telephone company neglected to change the tape on Sunday morning. The office manager has assured me they will be more careful in the future. Next, I wish to make two announcements. First, I teach a Bible Class on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the city Kyōikukan near Sakae. From 6:30-7:30 we study a Bible passage in Japanese. From 7:30-8:30, we go over the same passage in English. All who are interested are invited to attend. Second, next month, I will begin giving a series of lectures in English on the fourth Tuesday afternoons of the month from 1:30-3:00 at the Y. W. C. A. near Sakae. These lectures on cultural themes will aim at deepening cross-cultural understanding. If you are interested in attending, please call the Y. W. C. A. for further information (telephone number 961-7707).
The Girl Scouts (86/03/12)
Do you know what a brownie is? A square of a particular kind of chewy, chocolate cake is called a brownie. My wife has served brownies at "Daily Word" Listeners' Meetings. Incidentally, another such meeting will be held on Sunday afternoon, March 30th, when we will talk about Easter and Springtime, so plan to attend. In folklore stories, a brownie is a little fairy who secretly helps in household work, and in the Girl Scout organization, Brownie refers to the youngest division of scouts. The Girl Scouts were organized 74 years ago today, on March 12, 1912 in Savannah, Georgia, by Juliette Gordon Low. Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Low became acquainted with Lord Baden-Powell, who had founded the Boy Scouts in England a few years earlier. She became an enthusiastic leader of the English Girl Guides and founded the Girl Scouts after her return to the United States. The four divisions of Girl Scouts are: Brownies, Junior Girl Scouts, Cadettes and Senior Girl Scouts. The Girl Scout Law requires a girl to do her best to be honest, fair, helpful, cheerful, friendly and considerate. That's a fine aim, not only for little Brownies, but for the rest of us as well.
The Marcos' wealth in the U.S. (86/03/13)
The dramatic events that have recently taken place in the Philippines continue to attract attention. President Aquino has her hands full trying to unify the people under her leadership and to seek solutions to both the economic and social problems of her country. Meanwhile, ex-President Marcos and his wife are the focus of attention in the United States and present a problem to the Reagan administration. President Reagan promised them asylum but has become embarrassed by the extraordinary wealth of this former leader of a poor country to which the United States has contributed so much aid. There is reason to think that very little of the aid to the poor got passed the greedy hands of the rich men in power. Customs inspectors in Honolulu report that the Marcos' party brought about $1.5 million worth of Philippine currency into the country, along with other valuables worth nearly $10 million. It seems that the Marcoses also own millions of dollars worth of real estate in the United States. As I read about the huge fortune amassed by this leader of such a poor land, I am reminded of the story Jesus told in Luke, chapter 12, of the rich man who piled up riches for himself but was not rich in God's sight. He was called a fool.
Invention of "gin" (86/03/14)
When some people hear the word "gin", they think of an alcoholic beverage. However, people who live in that part of the United States called "the South" may think of something quite different. For them, a gin, derived from the word "engine", is a mechanical device used to separate seeds from cotton fibers. On March 14, 1794, 192 years ago today, a patent for a cotton gin was obtained by Eli Whitney. This "first important American invention" had a revolutionary effect on the agriculture, economy and social system of the South. Until then, separating the small seeds from the fluffy cotton fibers was a tedious process done by hand. The invention of the cotton gin made possible a 50-fold increase in the average daily output of cotton, which resulted in a rapid expansion of cotton cultivation and of the use of slave labor. Over the years, many inventions have made life more comfortable for some and more demeaning for others. In 1955, Erich Fromm wrote: "The danger of the past was that men became slaves. The danger of the future is that men may become robots." Creative genius should be able to bring about a better world--if it is inspired by the Spirit of God!
The day when taxes are due (86/03/15)
Until I came to Japan, I had never heard the word "hire" in reference to an automobile. That is another example of Japanized English. "Taxi", however, is common in English as well as in Japanese. It is the shortened form of "taxicab", which refers to a car with a taximeter that indicates the tax, or charge, for the ride. There is s a difference in pronunciation and in meaning between taxis and taxes. Taxes are what citizens must pay their governments to keep them functioning. Today is the day when income taxes are due in Japan. Since the government provides various services for its people, it must have the financial support of its citizens. However, citizens should insist that taxes be fairly obtained and properly used. There is an English saying that "Nothing is certain but death and taxes". Since both of these are certain, the wise person will prepare for the day of accountability. In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 12, verse 17, Jesus gave his famous advice in regard to taxes. He said, "Pay the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God." On this day when taxes are due the government, let us also remember our responsibility to our heavenly Lord.
"jealous" and "zealous" (86/03/16)
The text for my sermon last Sunday was found in the second chapter of the Gospel according to John. There we find the story of Jesus entering the temple court and finding merchants engaged in various kinds of business. Because the temple was supposed to be a place of worship, the sight of people buying and selling in the temple court angered Jesus and he drove the merchants out. This action reminded his disciples of an Old Testament passage about being zealous for the house of God. The Greek word, zelos, has two different meanings which are translated by the English words "zealous" and "jealous". To be jealous is to be resentful or envious of another, but to be zealous is to be enthusiastic or filled with zeal. The New Testament teaches that we should not be jealous of others. However, it teaches that we should be zealous to do what is right. A healthy religious faith includes both cool reason and warm emotion. Jesus was zealous in his attempt to purify the corrupt religious practices of his day. We also should be zealous in seeking to bring about God's will in the world today working for justice and freedom, for peace and happiness for all people. Let us stop being jealous of others and become more zealous for God.
The Good Samaritan (86/03/17)
The Bible teaches us to love our neighbor as we love ourself. In the tenth chapter of Luke, Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan who showed love to a needy Jewish neighbor. A man was going to Jericho when robbers attacked him and beat him up, leaving him half dead. It so happened that a priest was going down that road; but when he saw the man, he walked on by, on the other side. In the same way, a Levite also came along, looked at the man, and then walked on by, on the other side. But a Samaritan travelling that way came upon the man, and when he saw him, his heart was filled with pity. He went over to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them; then he put the man on his own animal and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he gave money to the innkeeper and said "Take care of him and when I come back this way, I will pay whatever else you spend on him." So, we also should show love to any person in need, for he is our neighbor.
Space ship "Peace" (86/03/18)
Americans who travel in spaceships are called astronauts. This term comes from two Greek words meaning star and sailor. Thus, literally, an astronaut is a sailor among the stars. On the other hand, Russian spacemen are referred to as cosmonauts, meaning a sailor of the cosmos, or universe. A couple of Soviet cosmonauts are now in space. Lifting off from earth last Thursday, on Saturday they docked with a space station which had been launched three weeks earlier. They are now preparing this station for permanent occupancy. The space station has separate cabins and a kitchen-dining area. It has six docking ports which can be used for ships from earth or to connect more permanent units such as laboratories or workshops. The name of the space station is Mir, the Russian word for "peace". Giving something the name "Peace", whether Japanese cigarettes or Soviet space stations, does not necessarily promote the cause of peace, but if we really hope to have peace in space, we must first gain it here on earth. True peace is the gift of God, which is received through faith. According to the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verse 27, peace was the farewell gift of Jesus to his disciples.
Switzerland and the U.N. (86/03/19)
What image does the country of Switzerland bring to your mind? If you think of topography, you will probably imagine mountains, but if you think of politics, you may think of neutrality. "Neuter" comes from a Latin word meaning "neither". In grammar and biology, neuter means neither masculine nor feminine. Generally speaking, neutrality means not taking sides on some issue. Switzerland has maintained political neutrality for over 170 years. Although there are many offices of international organizations in Switzerland, it is not itself a member of the United Nations. On Sunday, a national referendum was held on the government's proposal for Switzerland to join the U.N. Over 50% of the voters participated and over 75% of them voted against the proposal. I think the Swiss tradition of neutrality could be continued even after joining the U. N., but the traditions of conservative people are difficult to change. In fact, only 15 years ago Swiss women received the right to vote in federal elections and only 5 years ago the constitution was changed to guarantee them equal rights. On matters of minor importance, neutrality may be acceptable, but on matters of ethical significance neutrality is a kind of immorality.
Uncle Tom's Cabin (86/03/20)
There are two famous uncles in colloquial American English. The one is Uncle Sam, a personification of the U. S. government. The other is Uncle Tom, a derogatory term referring to a meek or ambitious Negro who curries favor with white people. Uncle Tom is the main character in Uncle Tom's Cabin, the novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe which was first published as a book on March 20, 1859. It immediately caused a sensation in the United States and around the world. I t was the first American novel to sell over a million copies and has been translated into many foreign languages. In this novel, Uncle Tom is a pious and faithful Negro slave who was subjected to various cruelties and was finally flogged to death by a cruel slave master named Simon Legree. The novel pricked the conscience of people in northern states and was considered a factor contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War. It is said that when President Lincoln first met Mrs. Stowe, he greeted her with the words, "So you're the little woman who started the war." Mrs. Stowe wrote that "Half the misery in the world comes of want of courage to speak and to hear the truth plainly, and in a spirit of love."
The spring equinox (86/03/21)
How many English words can you think of that begin with e-q-u? A few of them are related to "equip", which means to supply with certain essentials. A few more, such as "equine" and "equestrian" are related to horses. But most such words have the idea of "equal" in their meaning. The imaginary line that runs around the earth that is an equal distance from both north and south poles is called the equator. On the days when the sun crosses the equator, day and night are of equal length. This happens twice a year and the day of that occurrence is called an "equinox" from Latin words meaning "equal night". Today is the vernal, or spring, equinox in the northern hemisphere. Because the sun sets directly in the west on this day, Japanese Buddhists are reminded of the western paradise of Amida and visit the graves of ancestors to pay their respects to those who have departed to the "other shore". In the Bible, there is no special direction given for the spiritual place where God dwells, other than "up", but Biblical writers seem to favor the east, from which the sun rises. According to the last chapter of the Bible, there will be no night in heaven and neither lamps nor sun will be needed because God himself will be the light.
Rings in sumo (86/03/22)
Do you know the difference between a rink and a ring? A rink is an area with a smooth surface on which to skate. In the case of ice skating, the rink is made of ice and may be either indoors or outdoors in the winter. Roller skating is usually done on an indoor rink. Rinks are usually oval-shaped, but the shape of a ring is circular. One kind of ring is an ornament, usually of some precious metal, worn on a finger. Some rings have a particular meaning, such as a wedding ring or an engagement ring. Another kind of ring is the circular area in which some sport or exhibit takes place. Although these days, boxing rings are usually square in shape, originally they were circular. Sumo wrestling still takes place in a real ring, although the circle is in the center of a square upraised area. Tomorrow is the final day of the Spring Sumo Tournament which has been characterized by the absence of a Grand Champion, or yokozuna and by Champions, or ozeki, being defeated by lower-class wrestlers. From the figure he used at the end of the 9th chapter of I Corinthians, it seems that the Apostle Paul had experience in the boxing ring as he urged his readers to live disciplined lives.
Palm Sunday (86/03/23)
The inner surface of the hand, that part between the wrist and the fingers, is called the palm, spelled p-a-l-m. There are a number of tropical trees called palm trees. These trees have no branches but have large, fan-shaped leaves resembling an open hand that are called palms. In the Christian Church Calendar, this Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday. It is the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem five days before his crucifixion. The people greeted him with palms in their hands, which in those days were considered symbols of victory, so that event is called the Triumphal Entry. Jesus entered the city riding on a lowly ass, signifying his peaceful intentions, and the people called him "the king who comes in the name of the Lord." Today, Christians remember this lowly King who came to bring peace to the hearts of those who recognize him as their king. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30, we will hold a meeting of listeners to these telephone messages at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Senta-, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station. Since that is Easter Sunday, the theme for the meeting is Easter, or Springtime. You are invited to attend. We hope to see you there.
The lion and the stag (86/03/24)
Today's message is a fable of Aesop, "The Stag at the Lake". One day, a stag came to drink from a clear lake and stopped to look at his own image in the water. "How beautiful are my horns!" he thought. "How strong and graceful they are, branching from each side of my head! What a pity it is that my legs are so thin and ugly!" Just at that moment, a lion came from the forest and was about to spring upon him. Away went the stag, and the legs that he had despised would soon have carried him out of danger, but when he came to the thick woods, his beautiful horns, of which he had been so vain, caught in the branches and held him fast until the lion came up and seized him. Sometimes we are proud of what is of little use to us and forget to be thankful for the things that are more important. On Sunday afternoon at 1:30, we will hold a meeting of listeners to these telephone messages at the Nagoya Geijutsu Sōzō Senta-, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station. Please join us!
The Greek Independence Day (86/03/25)
In the Orient, China is considered the fountainhead of civilization. Much of the culture and tradition of Japan came from China. In the West, Greece is the source of much Occidental culture and philosophy. The Greek historian, Thucydides, wrote these words about the Greeks around 400 B.C. "We are lovers of the beautiful, yet simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness." Today is the Greek Independence Day, commemorating March 25, 1821, the day the Greeks began their ten-year struggle for independence from the Turks who had ruled them for almost 400 years. 98% of the population of Greece is related to the Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek flag is made up of blue and white stripes with a white cross on a blue field in the upper hoist corner. In the first chapter of I Corinthians, Paul writes that the Greeks seek wisdom, so the message of a crucified Lord seems foolish to them, but for Christians, the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom. On Sunday, we will hold a meeting of listeners to these telephone messages at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Senta-, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station. We'd like to meet you there. The subject for discussion is Easter, or Springtime.
Qibbutz and foreign volunteers (86/03/26)
The Hebrew word qibbutz, which refers to a gathering of something, occurs only once in the Hebrew Old Testament, in Isaiah 57:13, where it refers to a collection of idols. In modern Israel, however, kibbutz is used to refer to a collective farm or communal settlement. There are some 280 such settlements in Israel. Viewed as ideal communities, they have attracted about 20,000 volunteer helpers a year from other countries who come to live and work in them for a limited period of time. An economic recession has forced these farms to cut back on the number of foreign volunteers and now some kibbutzim have decided to reject all foreign volunteer workers because of the bad influence they have on Israeli young people. It is said that they introduce a spirit of instability, hedonism, cosmopolitanism and sexual promiscuity along with harmful drugs. Attempts to establish ideal settlements may seem successful for a time but eventually they all fail because of human selfishness and the lack of love for others which the Bible calls sin. I hope to meet you at the "Daily Word" Listeners Meeting on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Senta-, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station.
Oscar (86/03/27)
The masculine name, Oscar, is derived from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "divine spear". Oscar Wilde was a famous Irish dramatist and poet, and there have been a couple of Swedish kings named Oscar. OSCAR is the acronym for the Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio, launched by the United States in 1961. Last Monday, Oscars were presented to actors, actresses, directors, producers, etc. by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for outstanding professional attainments during the past year. In this case, however, Oscar refers to the small, gold-plated statue given as an award. These awards have been given since 1929, but in 1931, one of the awarding committee members remarked that the statuette resembled her Uncle Oscar and so the award received this name. The movie entitled "Out of Africa" won seven Oscars and the Japanese film "Ran" received an Oscar for costume design. According to II Timothy 4:7-8, those who run the race of life with faith until the end will receive the award of eternal life from the heavenly Judge. Sunday at 1:30 at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Senta-, we will hold another "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting. We hope to see you there.
Good Friday (86/03/28)
In Japan, it is common to commemorate the day of a person's death with a memorial service. In the United States, it is common to celebrate the date of one's birth. While the person is alive, we have parties, give gifts and send greeting cards on birthdays. After death, if a special day of remembrance for that person is chosen, it is usually the day of birth rather than the day of death. In the Christian Church, both the birth of Jesus and his death are occasions for special ceremonies. His birth is celebrated with joy and gift-giving at Christmas. His death is quietly remembered in churches on the Friday before Easter, which is today. Because of the deep significance of his death and subsequent resurrection, however, this day, called Good Friday, along with the following Easter Sunday, is considered the central Christian festival. In the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross and the victorious resurrection of Christ from the dead, Christians perceive the depths of God's love, by which their sins are forgiven, and the extent of his power, in which they find hope of eternal life. In our Good Friday service this evening, we will refer to Colossians 2:14, where it is written that the record of our debt has been nailed to his cross and so we are freed from our sins.
Washington, D.C. (86/03/29)
One of the 50 states of the United States of America is named Washington. In 31 of the states there are counties named Washington and there are 22 cities, towns or villages with that name. One of the cities named Washington serves as the nation's capital. It is a unique city in that it is not located in any state. Rather, it is located in the District of Columbia, but the boundaries of the city of Washington and of the District of Columbia are the same. According to the 1980 census, Washington D.C. ranked #15 among American cities with a population of about 640,000, less than that of the city of Sendai. Washington, D.C. is governed by Congress rather than by locally elected officials, even though the District has no congressional representative of its own. In fact, until 1961, the residents of the District were not even permitted to vote for president. 25 years ago today, the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, which gave these residents this right. Voting has been called the "most important instrument of democracy and of freedom." We should be thankful for our right to vote and make wise use of it. Tomorrow at 1:30 at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Senta-, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station, we will hold another "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting. We hope to see you there.
Atonement (86/03/02)
The Doll Festival (86/03/03)
Vermont (86/03/04)
Hello (86/03/05)
Pansies and lilies (86/03/06)
Luther Burbank (86/03/07)
Nicholai Cathedral (86/03/08)
-- Title --- (86/03/09)
The cat and the mice (86/03/10)
The Bible Class (86/03/11)
The Girl Scouts (86/03/12)
The Marcos' wealth in the U.S. (86/03/13)
Invention of "gin" (86/03/14)
The day when taxes are due (86/03/15)
"jealous" and "zealous" (86/03/16)
The Good Samaritan (86/03/17)
Space ship "Peace" (86/03/18)
Switzerland and the U.N. (86/03/19)
Uncle Tom's Cabin (86/03/20)
The spring equinox (86/03/21)
Rings in sumo (86/03/22)
Palm Sunday (86/03/23)
The lion and the stag (86/03/24)
The Greek Independence Day (86/03/25)
Qibbutz and foreign volunteers (86/03/26)
Oscar (86/03/27)
Good Friday (86/03/28)
Washington, D.C. (86/03/29)
Easter (86/03/30)
The parable of the fig-tree (86/03/31)
March to a different drummer (86/03/01)