An exhortation to praise the Lord (86/06/01)
Japan is a beautiful land with lofty mountains, rugged coastlines and winding rivers. Regular seasonal changes and irregular natural phenomena such as earthquakes and typhoons stimulate a feeling of awe in the presence of such beauty and power. It is understandable why the Japanese people have venerated natural phenomena themselves as divinities called kami. The Jewish people also perceived the presence of the divine in nature. However, they saw the order, beauty and power of nature as evidence of one divine Being, the Creator and Ruler of all. So, in the 29th Psalm, the poet hears the voice of God in the thunder and lightning. As a storm sweeps in from the sea, topples trees, shakes the mountains and the desert, he sees this as a manifestation of the Creator's power and bows in worship and praise. This Psalm begins with an exhortation to praise the Lord, whose glory and power is seen in the storm. It ends with the assurance that the Lord will bless his people with peace. Today, also, believers perceive the work and plan of God even in the storms of life, but they know that, following the storms, will come God's blessing of peace.
Italy (86/06/02)
"Refer", means to turn to some source for help or information. A "reference" is something referred to and a "referee" is a person referred to, to make a decision. A legal measure referred to the voters for a decision is called a "referendum". Forty years ago today, on June 2nd, 1946, a referendum was held in Italy which established the Italian Republic, so today is a national holiday in Italy. Two facts about Italy may be of special interest to Japanese. In the first place, Italy is in second place, behind Japan, in the number of earthquakes recorded. Secondly, chrysanthemums, a respected, noble flower in Japan, are a symbol of death in Italy, so it is best not to give chrysanthemums to an Italian. The Italian painter, Michelangelo, wrote that "Death and love are the two wings that bear the good man to heaven."
A giant panda gave birth to a cub (86/06/03)
Do you recall the front page news in yesterday's newspapers? One headline concerned the peculiar political activity in the Japanese parliament, which was convened in order to dissolve it. Another was about the extraordinary event which took place in the Ueno Zoo. There, a giant panda gave birth to a baby cub. For some reason, names given to pandas are made up of two identical syllables, which remind me of the many repeated Japanese syllables that represent sounds. The article noted that the cub's mother was HuanHuan and the father was Fei-Fei. When the cub was born, it is said to have first cried "gya-gya--" like all babies do when they are born. But then the cry changed to "fugya-fugya" when Huan-Huan held her little cub and began to lick it "picha-picha". I wonder what Fei-Fei thought when he heard the sounds of "gya--gya--", "fugya-fugya-" and "picha-picha" in the cage of Huan-Huan. He may have been a bit confused as I was when I read the article. I still haven't figured out that "fugya-fugya" sound which I don't find in my dictionaries, but I'm sure that Huan-Huan must be happy for we read in John 16:21 that mothers forget their labor pains because they are filled with joy after they have given birth.
Japanese war orphans (86/06/04)
A group of 50 people from China is now visiting Japan. There are 28 men and 22 women in the group, most of whom are in their early forties. This is the 11th group of so-called "Japanese war orphans" to come to Japan from China since 1981. When these men and women were small children, they were separated from their parents during the confusing period at the end of the war when Japanese hurriedly left the Chinese mainland. For over 40 years, they have been raised in China by foster parents and are unable to speak Japanese. Most of them have very little clear recollection of their parents, other family members or the circumstances surrounding their abandonment. They are seeking to be reunited with blood relatives, but even when such relatives are positively identified, the individuals involved are, in fact, strangers. It is difficult to know how to solve this complicated problem. The English word "orphan", referring to a child bereft of parents, comes from the Greek word orphanos, which is found twice in the Greek New Testament. In John 14:18, Jesus promised not to leave his disciples "orphans", and James 1:27 indicates that caring for orphans and widows is a sign of pure and genuine religion.
Annual festival of Atsuta Jingu (86/06/05)
The Japanese word, miya, originally referred to a splendid dwelling place. The imperial palace may be referred to as a miya, but the word is more commonly used to refer to a Shinto Shrine, which is considered the dwelling place of a kami. There are many shrines throughout Japan, all of which may be called miya, but in this Tokai District, the term refers to one shrine in particular. It is the Shrine of the Hot Rice Paddy. Today is the annual festival of this Atusta Jingu, considered one of the main shrines in the country because it enshrines one of the three sacred treasures of Japan. Various ceremonies will be held in the shrine grounds throughout the day, but the climax comes this evening with the fireworks display and the lighting of 377 Japanese lanterns attached to twined-straw frameworks. In former years, these lantern-laden structures were carried by boats up the Horikawa River to the Shrine, which made a very impressive sight. When hundreds of lanterns are placed together, a large area becomes bright. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus called his disciples the light of the world so Christians are expected to shine forth the light of God's truth and love into the darkness around them.
D-Day (86/06/06)
It has become faddish these days for people to hold up two fingers in the shape of a V when a television camera is pointed in their direction. This gesture was made famous by Winston Churchill, the wartime prime minister of Great Britain. He often used it when his picture was taken by newsmen during the war. Of course, it was a "V-for-Victory" sign and the day of victory was called V-day. Prior to V-day in Europe, however, there was another important day called D-day. In this case, D simply stands for "day" and "D-day" refers to the day for putting a particular plan into effect. 42 years ago, this June the 6th was D-day in Europe. On that day, 130,000 soldiers landed on the French coast to begin the invasion that eventually brought about the defeat of Nazi Germany. The Allied Forces suffered some 10,000 casualties on D-day and there are endless rows of crosses in Normandy cemeteries where memorial services are held every year on June the 6th. The Bible teaches that there is a D-day coming for all of us. It is our "death-day", but this D-day will also be a V-day for those with faith in God, their Creator and Savior.
Music concerts in a temple (86/06/07)
Do you know the difference between a shrine and a temple? The word "shrine" comes from a Latin word for "box" and originally referred to the box in which sacred relics were kept. Then it was used to refer to the tomb of a saint and now it can mean any place made holy by a venerated object. It is the English translation of jinja. A "temple" is a building dedicated to the worship of some deity and is the English translation of tera. To many young Japanese, Buddhist temples are considered quiet, old-fashioned places, with little attraction for modern youth. However, the Seiganji Temple in Midori Ward is different. For the past couple of years, the 42-year-old chief priest of this 400-year-old temple, Ryuko Yamada, has permitted the 80-mat main building to be used for music concerts. Shamisen strummers and rock musicians have played before the Buddhist altar as listeners sat on the tatami mats. Rev. Yamada maintains that providing a place for such enjoyable activities is in keeping with the basic purpose of a Buddhist temple. Though rooted in the past, religion must be willing to change in the present if it would continue to live in the future.
The Kingdom of God (86/06/08)
The Kingdom of God was one of the basic themes in Jesus' teaching. In the Gospel of Matthew, it is referred to as the Kingdom of heaven. If such a Kingdom truly exists, the nature of that Kingdom and how to enter it is one of the basic questions human beings face. According to Jesus' words in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 17, verse 21, the Kingdom of God is not a geographic place that can be seen with our physical eyes. It is a spiritual reality that is within us. (Actually, the original Greek word is more accurately translated as "kingship" rather than "kingdom".) In his talk, with a Jewish leader named Nicodemus, recorded in the Gospel of John, chapter 3, Jesus taught that "no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again." Like many of us, Nicodemus did not understand the meaning of Jesus' words at first, but here he taught that God's Reign is a spiritual reality that can only be experienced through a "new birth". Through faith, we may be "born again" as a "child of God" into a new life--spiritual life, which is God's gift to those who trust in Him. This is the Gospel, or "Good News", that Jesus proclaimed.
Fans (86/06/09)
One meaning of the word "fan" is an implement used to create a cool breeze on a hot day. Japan produces many such fans made of bamboo and paper. Another meaning of "fan" is an ardent admirer. Some people are Dragons fans, others are Giants fans. There are also sumo fans, kabuki fans and even fans of this "Daily Word" telephone service. In this case, "fan" is an abbreviation of "fanatic", which refers to a person who has an excessive or irrational zeal. "Fanatic" comes from the Latin word for temple and originally referred to one who became mad, as though inspired by a god. Winston Churchill once defined a "fanatic" as "one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject". Thankfully, not all fans are fanatics. I hope that "Daily Word" fans will also tell others about this telephone service.
World Bridge Tournament (86/06/10)
In a deck of playing cards, there are four different sets of cards, called suits, which include hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. The suit of cards that outranks the other suits is called a trump, from the word, "triumph". In Japanese, toranpu is used to refer to the cards themselves. One of the popular games played with these cards is called bridge, from the Russian word, biritch. This week, a World Bridge Tournament will be held in six major cities of different countries. 100,000 players from over 70 countries are expected to participate. Many of the top men in the Chinese government are avid bridge players and Communist Party leader, Deng Xiaoping, will take part in this tournament in Beijing. The word, "bridge", has a number of different meanings in English. It can refer to the upper bony ridge of the human nose, to an artificial replacement for missing teeth, to a thin piece of wood in a musical instrument like a violin, as well as to a passageway over a river or some other obstacle. Two separated areas can be connected by a bridge and, in Christian thought, Jesus Christ is a kind of bridge or mediator between a holy God and sinful human beings.
An 84-year-old man walked 500 kilometers to Tokyo (86/06/11)
In Japanese, suta-suta is the sound of walking briskly. Teku-teku, on the other hand, is the sound of a plodding walk over a long distance. Teku-teku describes the walk of an 84-year-old man who recently went on a hike to the Nihon-bashi in Tokyo. Akio Yamano left his hometown of Hisai in Mie Prefecture on May 22nd, determined to walk to Tokyo. With a knapsack on his back, a canteen and a camera hanging at his side, he made the 500 kilometer trek in 19 days. Passing through the cities of Nagoya, Nakatsugawa, Shiojiri, Karuizawa, Takasaki and Urawa, he arrived at the famous bridge in downtown Tokyo on Monday afternoon, where relatives were awaiting him. He reported that the people he met along the way were all very kind to him. Needless to say, Mr. Yamano felt very happy and tired at the end of his long walk, during which he lost three kilograms. Reading of his experience, I was reminded of the final words of Isaiah, chapter 40: "Even those who are young grow weak . . . . But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will ... run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak."
Great Fire in London (86/06/12)
In some ways, Japan and England resemble each other. Both are island nations having a constitutional monarch and a deep respect for tradition. In Tokyo, the "Great Earthquake" occurred on September 1st, 1923 and in London, the "Great Fire" occurred on September 1st, 1666. This week, a ceremony was held at the place where that fire began. Members of the Worshipful Company of Bakers gathered there to make an official apology to the lord mayor of London because a baker had neglected to turn off his oven before retiring on that Saturday night 320 years ago. The resulting fire lasted for five days and destroyed 13,200 houses, 89 churches and 44 livery halls over an area of 180 hectares. The warden of the Worshipful Company of Bakers, which was recognized as a guild by King Henry VII 500 years ago, wore the robes and chain of his office when he presented a scroll from the bakers "as an acknowledgement of their regret for the great damage caused by one of their number." In accepting the scroll, the lord mayor said, "It's never too late to apologize." Nevertheless, sometimes it is too late, so if an apology is in order, "the sooner the better".
World Cup soccer tourament (86/06/13)
Anyone who watches the sports news on television or reads the sports page of newspapers knows that an important international event is taking place in Mexico. Although baseball is more popular in both Japan and the United States, soccer is the most popular sport around the world. The championship games at the end of the baseball season in America are not a real "World Series", but the "World Cup" soccer tournament is a truly international event. In American football, the oval shaped ball may be carried and thrown as well as kicked, but in soccer, only the goalkeepers can use their hands and the round ball is usually advanced by use of the feet, so soccer is "foot-ball" in the more literal sense of the word. Originally called "association football", "soccer" is an altered abbreviation of "association". Many people enjoy watching some sport, but it is important to keep our own bodies in good shape through regular exercise. As President Kennedy noted, people who look instead of play and ride instead of walk are under-exercised. Recognizing the need for physical exercise, we should also remember the words found in I Timothy 4:8 about the still greater value of spiritual exercise.
"The pot calls the kettle black" (86/06/14)
When cooking is done over a wood fire, the vessels become blackened with soot. Whether the vessel is a pot or a kettle, it will eventually get black. An English proverb has been made from this common occurrence: "The pot calls the kettle black". The proverb points up the foolishness and injustice of blaming another for a fault that we also share. A man was standing at his office window when a visitor entered. The man complained to the visitor of the road repair men standing idle along the road. "They've been doing nothing for half an hour," he grumbled. "How do you know that?" the visitor asked. "I've been standing here watching them," he replied. This is an example of "a pot calling a kettle black". In Japanese there is a similar proverb: Mekuso hanakuso o warau, "Discharge from the nose sneers at the discharge from the eye". Probably all of us have the tendency to particularly notice in others the very failings that we ourselves have. In Matthew, chapter 7, Jesus taught that the man who saw the speck in his brother's eye but ignored the log in his own eye was a hypocrite. We should be more severe in our judgment of ourselves than of others. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
God as Father (86/06/15)
This third Sunday of June has been designated Father's Day to remember and express appreciation to fathers. A father has been defined as "a fellow who has replaced the currency in his wallet with snapshots of his kids". This implies that a father loves his children more than his money. The common term used by Jesus in reference to God was "Father". This word includes the concept of God as our Creator, Protector and Provider, but the basic meaning is that God loves us as his children. In the Old Testament, the severity and power of God, the holy and righteous Judge, is emphasized. In the New Testament, his love and mercy is emphasized, and he is pictured as a loving Father. My sermon title today, "The Most Excellent Way", is taken from the final words of I Corinthians, chapter 12, which serve as the introduction to the famous chapter on love which follows. In many modern homes, sensible discipline of children is lacking. Children need to be disciplined, but it is important that discipline be administered with love. The characteristics of love, found in I Corinthians 13, should be expressed, not only by fathers, but by all conscientious people as well.
Xerox (86/06/16)
Copy machines have become very popular these days. These machines transfer images onto paper by means of electric charges. This dry photocopying process was invented by an American in 1938. He called it xerography, from the Greek words for "dry" and "write". From that word, the company that first produced such copy machines coined the term "Xerox", spelled X-e-r-o-x. Each week on Thursday, I send out copies of these telephone messages to those who request them. Since 1 can now get copies made at a nearby store for only ¥20, beginning in July, the charge for this service will be lowered to ¥30 per week. If you wish to receive a copy of the messages, send self-addressed, stamped envelopes plus ¥30 in stamps for each week desired to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Next meeting of "Daily Word" fans (86/06/17)
Among various events that occurred on this 17th day of June are the following: In 1673, the canoes of two French explorers entered the Mississippi River and, in American history, these men are considered the "discoverers" of that river. In 1896, two different arctic expeditions, led by Norwegian and British explorers, met by chance and the lives of the Norwegians were saved. In 1947, the first commercial plane flight around the world left New York City. All of these events involved exciting trips. You have probably had some exciting, interesting or simply enjoyable trips also. The theme for the next meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages will be "Memorable Trips". The meeting will be held on Sunday afternoon, June 29, at 1:30 at the City Geijutsu Sō zō Center, north of the Shinsakae-machi subway station. We hope to meet you there and to hear a few words about a memorable trip you have taken. The new issue of "Daily Word" Echoes will be available and we will enjoy some refreshments made by my wife. Don't hesitate to attend. None of us speak English perfectly. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
The rainy season (86/06/18)
Water condensed in the air that falls to the earth in drops is called rain. You have probably noticed that the rainy season has begun. Are you enjoying it? In the past, this season has been very important for the farmers who grow rice because much water is needed for transplanted rice seedlings to begin a healthy, fruitful life, but in recent years the irrigation system has been improved so Japanese farmers are not so dependent as before upon the vagaries of weather. People who live in the city often consider rain an inconvenience, but we need to remember that it is necessary for the earth to bring forth produce for our food. The Bible refers to rain as a symbol of God's blessing. In Matthew, chapter 5, verse 45, Jesus taught that God, our Father, shows his love to all people by giving rain to those who do evil as well as to those who do good. His children should also show love to all people, irrespective of their moral character. As we give thanks for the refreshing rain, let us remember people in Africa who have been suffering a serious drought for many years. We who have so much should be willing to share our blessings with those who have so little.
The ducks in Tokyo crossed the road safely (86/06/19)
In the Marunouchi business district in downtown Tokyo, the office building of Mitsui & Company is located across the street from the Imperial Palace moat. Last month, Mitsui employees noticed that some baby ducks had been hatched in a pond located on the company grounds. Personnel of the Mitsui Building Management Office and conservationists kept watch on the little family of ducks to protect them. A TV camera was used to monitor their movements. Early Tuesday morning, the ducks seemed ready to move to the moat across the busy city street and the chief of the patrol section of the Marunouchi police station was present to insure a safe crossing. At 4:35 a.m., the ducks climbed from the pond and began to cross the 40-meter-wide road. Traffic was stopped while the mother duck, followed by her nine ducklings, waddled across the road and into the palace moat. The ducks are expected to make the moat their home for about 40 days before they fly to other ponds and lakes in the Tokyo area. I was happy to read of the deep concern shown to this family of ducks. If we all showed a similar concern for troubled, human families in our neighborhoods, our world would be a happier one.
Meaning of smiles (86/06/20)
I remember a trick question of my grade school days: "What is the longest word in the English language?" The answer was: "'Smiles', because there's a 'mile' between the first letter and the last letter". According to a dictionary, a smile is a facial expression formed by the upward curving of the corners of the mouth, indicating pleasure, affection or amusement. Obviously, this definition was made with westerners in mind, for in Japan a smile is much more ambiguous. A man who has just missed his train, a student who has made a foolish mistake, a housewife who has spilled some soup may smile following such an incident. What is the meaning of such a smile? Westerners find it difficult to understand, but Japanese seem to hide feelings of embarrassment, regret, discomfort, or even anger behind a smile. The atmosphere is brightened by a smile, but we are reminded of a Congolese proverb, "The teeth are smiling, but is the heart?" It is important to control one's feelings, but there are times when we need to be honest with others and reveal our true sentiment. However, it is of greatest importance that we recognize our own true feelings and be honest with ourselves.
Scoring system in tennis (86/06/21)
Tennis has become a popular sport in Japan in recent years. This game has a peculiar system of scoring. A zero score is called "love", which is said to come from the French word for "egg". The first two points gained are given 15 points each, but the third one is given only 10, so the scoring goes from love to 15 to 30 to 40 to game. However, if the score is tied at 40, it is called "deuce" from the French word for "two". Following a deuce score, the next point is called an "advantage", and a player must get two points in a row in order to win. Traditionally, a player needed to win six games to win a set, but he had to win by two or more games, so many sets continued on for many games, until a special game, called a "tie-breaker" was introduced when the score is tied at six games each. In a tie-breaker, the first player to get seven points wins. Finally, there are three sets in a match. Despite the complicated scoring system, however, tennis is a very enjoyable game and provides good exercise for us young people. Tennis players who know the Bible sometimes joke that Joseph must have been a tennis player because he served in Pharaoh's court.
Love (86/06/22)
The word "like" is very versatile. It may be used as a noun, a verb, an adjective, an adverb, a preposition or a conjunction. As a verb, it means to enjoy or to be pleased with. It is often used with a meaning similar to "love", but "love" is a stronger word. Christianity may be considered the religion of love. The Bible teaches that the essential nature of God is love and we are commanded to love God, to love our neighbor as we love ourself and even to love our enemies. But is it really possible to love one's enemies? In this case, "love" does not refer to a human emotion. We may not like our enemies, but we can still love them, if we are truly God's children and have something of his divine nature within us. In what way do we love ourselves? We do not feel an emotional attraction for ourselves, but we do desire the best for ourselves and seek to gain it. If we believe that the highest happiness is a spiritual quality, a gift of God, then love for our enemies implies our desire that they also know this happiness and to help them find it. Needless to say, if we are truly concerned for their spiritual wellbeing, we will be concerned for their physical state as well.
King Edward VIII (86/06/23)
In western countries, the children of royalty are often given many names. 92 years ago today, a son was born to the King of England. He was named Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David. On his 17th birthday, he was made prince of Wales and, in 1936, he became King Edward VIII. After reigning less than one year, however, he abdicated because of his intention to marry a divorced American woman which was contrary to the wishes of the British government. The choices one makes are based on one's priorities and Edward VIII chose to marry the woman he loved rather than to be king. What has priority in your life? Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30, we will hold a meeting of listeners to this telephone service at the city Geijutsu Sōzō Center, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station. My wife and I hope to see you there.
Supreme Court justices reviewed (86/06/24)
On the day of the coming double-election, Japanese voters will be given a privilege that American voters never have. They will be able to express their approval or disapproval of ten of the fifteen justices of the Supreme Court. According to the Japanese constitution, Supreme Court justices are designated by the Cabinet, but their appointment is reviewed by the people at the first general election following their appointment and again after they have served for ten years. If a majority of the voters disapprove of the justice, he will be dismissed. Of the 88 justices whose names have appeared on ballots in the past 14 general elections, none have been dismissed. In the United States, the president appoints Supreme Court justices. Although he must have the approval of the Senate, voters are not able to register their views. President Reagan is now seeking Senate approval for the new Chief Justice and associate justice he has appointed. According to the Bible, it is God who is our Judge. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Senta-, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station, a meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages will be held. We hope you can join us.
The Korean War (86/06/25)
At the end of the Second World War, control of Korea passed from Japan to the Soviet Union and the United States who temporarily divided the country at the 38th parallel in expectation that a single, independent Korean republic would soon be established. But that's not what happened. Rather, two antagonistic regimes were set up and 36 years ago today, on July 25, 1950, the North Korean army crossed the dividing line in an attempt to take over the south. For the next three years fighting continued, with the battleline moving from the 38th parallel to the southern city of Pusan, back up to Korea's northern border with China and back again close to the original dividing line. When a truce was finally signed, a new border between the two countries was established, but the situation was basically unchanged despite more than two million casualties. What was gained at this great cost? In Luke 14: 31-33, Jesus used the illustration of a king going to war to teach that we should count the cost before deciding to become his disciple. The theme for the "Daily Word" listeners' meeting on Sunday is "Memorable Trips". Join us if you can at the Geijutsu Sōzō Senta- at 1:30.
Madagascar (86/06/26)
The largest island in the world is Greenland, located in the North Atlantic Ocean. The second and third largest islands are New Guinea and Borneo, which lie in the Pacific Ocean, north of Australia. The fourth largest island is Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Africa. It is about three times as large as the Japanese island of Honshu. The early settlers of this island came from the southwest Pacific, but in 1885, Madagascar became a French protectorate. Eleven years later, the last native monarch was deposed and it became a French colony. Full independence from France was gained on June 26, 1960, so today is a holiday, known as Independence Day, in this socialist state. In most countries, Independence Day is a day of joyful celebration, but too often independence from one master is followed by subservience to another. The Bible teaches that spiritual liberty comes through knowing and following the Truth. All those who listen to these "Daily Word" telephone messages are invited to a Listeners' Meeting to be held next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Senta-, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station. The topic for discussion is "Memorable Trips".
Alminium bats (86/06/27)
The metallic element called aluminum is widely used these days. Because it is very light, it is commonly used in airplanes. Because it resists corrosion, it is used in boats. It is an excellent conductor of heat, so it is used in cooking utensils. Since it can be made into a flexible foil, it is used as wrapping material. And being a hard substance, it is also used for baseball bats. The traditional baseball bat, which is still used in professional games, is made of wood. A different sound is made by these bats when a ball is hit. We call the sound made by an aluminum bat a "ping" while the wooden bat makes a "crack". Since wooden bats break easier, aluminum bats last longer and are, thus, more economical. Also, more hits are made by aluminum bats, which makes the amateur players happy. Some American amateur leagues are now planning to revert to the old wooden bats, despite the added expense, in order to make their players better pure hitters. Some baseball coaches may resemble the people Jesus spoke of in Luke 5:39, who maintained that "The old is better". You are invited to attend the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting on Sunday afternoon, beginning at 1:30 at the Geijutsu Sōzō Center.
John Wesley (86/06/28)
The largest religious body in the United States is the Roman Catholic Church, followed by the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church. The names of these religious groups reveal something about them. The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church is in Rome. The heartland of the Southern Baptist Convention is in the southern part of the U. S. The United Methodist Church was formed by the union of two formerly separate Protestant denominations. "Methodist" was the name given derisively to a group of students at Oxford University who were very methodical in their studies and religious duties. The leader of this group, John Wesley, was born 283 years ago today. Although a minister of the Church of England until his death, Wesley organized Methodist Churches that emphasized personal religious experience and the social responsibility of their members. He advised: "Get all you can without hurting your soul, your body or your neighbor. Save all you can. Give all you can." That's good advice for us also. Tomorrow afternoon, at 1:30, we will hold a meeting of "Daily Word" listeners at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Center, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station. The theme for the meeting is "Memorable Trips". Won't you join us?
Italy (86/06/02)
A giant panda gave birth to a cub (86/06/03)
Japanese war orphans (86/06/04)
Annual festival of Atsuta Jingu (86/06/05)
D-Day (86/06/06)
Music concerts in a temple (86/06/07)
The Kingdom of God (86/06/08)
Fans (86/06/09)
World Bridge Tournament (86/06/10)
An 84-year-old man walked 500 kilometers to Tokyo (86/06/11)
Great Fire in London (86/06/12)
World Cup soccer tourament (86/06/13)
"The pot calls the kettle black" (86/06/14)
God as Father (86/06/15)
Xerox (86/06/16)
Next meeting of "Daily Word" fans (86/06/17)
The rainy season (86/06/18)
The ducks in Tokyo crossed the road safely (86/06/19)
Meaning of smiles (86/06/20)
Scoring system in tennis (86/06/21)
Love (86/06/22)
King Edward VIII (86/06/23)
Supreme Court justices reviewed (86/06/24)
The Korean War (86/06/25)
Madagascar (86/06/26)
Alminium bats (86/06/27)
John Wesley (86/06/28)
Book of Lamentations (86/06/29)
A famous ropewalker (86/06/30)
An exhortation to praise the Lord (86/06/01)