Acts of God (86/09/01)
This first day of September is known as bosai no hi in Japan. Bosai means "prevention of natural disaster". Today is the day on which a great natural disaster occurred in the Kantō Area 63 years ago. About 100,000 lives were lost as a result of that strong earthquake and the fire that followed. In English, natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and typhoons are sometimes called "acts of God", indicating that such disasters could not be reasonably foreseen or prevented and that no one can be held responsib1e for the damage they cause. It is too bad that only calamities are so designated, because the Bible teaches that the more important acts of God are acts of mercy that bring joy to people. In fact, the Bible itself is "The Book of the Acts of God", of which the greatest act was the giving of himself to provide salvation for sinful people like us.
September (86/09/02)
Last Sunday afternoon, we had another enjoyable meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages. My wife and I were happy to meet those of you who attended and to hear your varied and interesting thoughts about September. At that meeting, the 17th issue of "Daily Word" Echoes was on sale for ¥200 per copy. It contains 36 pages of essays contributed by listeners on the various subjects I suggested on the six Tuesday messages following the last meeting. The first subject for the 18th issue of the Echoes is "September". Those of you who were present at Sunday meeting spoke on this subject, but we hope you will contribute an essay which includes the substance of your talk. We would also 1ike to read the thoughts of you who were not able to attend. What images or memories does September bring to your mind? The Anglo-Saxon name for this month was Barley Month because it was the time of the barley harvest. In America, September marks the beginning of a new school year, following the long summer vacation. If you send me an essay on this theme, I wi11 correct it and have it printed in the "Daily Word" Echoes which will be available at the next listeners' meeting on November 30th. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Qatar (86/09/03)
When printed as a capital, the 17th letter of the English alphabet looks like an O with a tail. It is pronounced "kyū". An English word with that pronunciation, spelled q-u-e-u-e, is derived from a French word meaning "tail" or "line". It may refer to a braid of hair, hanging down the back of the neck, also called a pigtail, or to a line of people queued up before ticket window. Another word, spelled c-u-e, with the same pronunciation and derived from the same French word, refers to the long rod used in playing billiards. A third word, pronounced and spelled the same, refers to a signal given during a theatrical performance. In words with Latin-language roots, "q" is always followed by "u", but words derived from Arabic do not follow this rule. In fact, the name of a small, Arabic country on a peninsula in the Persian Gulf is spelled Q-a-t-a-r. Today is the national day of Qatar which gained independence from Britain just fifteen years ago. The English expression, "Mind your p's and q's", means to be very careful of your words and actions, to be on your best behavior. It originated with writing teachers who told their pupils to be especially careful when writing these two letters which are very similar.
A new basketball league (86/09/04)
The English word "physique", spelled p-h-y-s-i-q-u-e, comes from the French word for "physical" and refers to the physical structure of a person's body. In certain sports, contestants having a particular physique have a definite advantage. In sumo, it is advantageous to have a large, heavy body, but in basketball, a tall, slender form is preferable. In both of these sports, people of average physique are at a definite disadvantage. In the National Basketball Association in the United States, players 7 feet, or 2.13 meters, tall prevail, but plans are now under way to create a new International Basketball Association for players no taller than 6 feet 4 inches, or 1.93 meters. This new basketball league will begin next summer and its rules favor quickness, playmaking and pure shooting rather than height. Hopefully, the association will develop into a genuine international league with teams in many countries. Some people consider a large physique to be superior to a small one, but a person's character is not determined by physical size. The story of David and Goliath, in the 17th chapter of 1 Samuel, shows that a common person with a healthy faith in God can prevail over a threatening giant.
Islam anniversary (86/09/05)
Of the various religions in the world, Christianity has the most adherents. Next comes Islam, which has a little over half as many believers but is growing rapidly in some areas. Most countries of the world now use the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the movement of the earth around the sun. Although the calculations were mistaken, this calendar was supposed to commemorate the year of Jesus' birth. The Islamic calendar is based on the movement of the moon around the earth, so its New Year may begin at different seasons of the year. Today is the first day of the Islamic year of 1407, a national holiday in Muslim countries. According to Islamic calculations, today marks the 1407th anniversary of the prophet Muhammad's flight from the town of Mecca to Medina. This date is considered the real beginning of the Islamic community and system. The scripture-based religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam all originated in the Mideast and share a basic belief that there is one and only one God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe. They agree on the opening words of the Bible, that "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth". This basic faith implies that there is purpose in the universe and meaning in human history.
Pilgrims on the Mayflower (86/09/06)
Flowers that bloom in May may be called mayflowers. In 16th century England, the hawthorn blossom, in particular, was called a mayflower. It was from that flower that a 180-ton, 27-meter long cargo ship got its name. 366 years ago today, on September 6, 1620, the Mayflower left the port of Plymouth, England for the New World across the Atlantic Ocean. There were 102 passengers on board, including 30 crewmen and 24 children. About one-third of the passengers were members of a religious sect known as Puritans because they sought to purify the Church of England. Having suffered persecution in their homeland, they were seeking a new land of religious freedom where they could worship according to their own consciences. During the rough, two-month voyage, a birth and a death occurred on the ship. Although planning to go to the Colony of Virginia, they landed further north and settled in the area referred to as New England: In American history, this group of religious settlers are called Pilgrims and their strong convictions have had a lasting influence on American life and thought. Maxim Gorky has written, "All of us are pilgrims on this earth." Toward what goal is your pilgrimage moving?
The narrow gate (86/09/07)
In Japanese newspapers, we frequently read the expression, semaki mon, or "narrow gate", during the college entrance examination season. This expression comes from a saying of Jesus, found in his Sermon on the Mount and is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7, verses 13-14. It is the text for my sermon today. Jesus taught that there is a wide gate and a narrow gate along life's road. The wide gate leads to the easy way followed by most people, but it leads to perdition. The narrow gate is the beginning of a hard road, but it leads to a meaningful and lasting life. To attain any worthwhile goal requires determination, concentration and discipline. This is true in regard to developing some special ability, learning a foreign language, or achieving a truly happy life. John Oxenham has written the following poem: "To every man there openeth/ A way and ways and a way;/ And the high soul treads the high way,/ And the low soul gropes the low;/ And in between on the misty flats/ The rest drift to and fro;/ But to every man there openeth/ A high way and a low;/ And every man decideth/ The way his soul shall go."
Hurdle and hurtle (86/09/08)
Do you know the difference between hurdle and hurtle? Hurdle, spelled h-u-r-d-l-e, refers to a framelike barrier in an obstacle race. Runners must jump over these barriers as they run. Used as a verb, hurdle means to jump over a barrier, so a runner may be said to hurdle the hurdles. A hurdle may also refer to an obstacle or a problem in life that must be overcome. Hurtle, on the other hand, is spelled h-u-r-t-l-e and means to move at great speed or to throw very forcibly. Hurtle often implies noise as well as speed. An avalanche may come hurtling down the side of a mountain. Christians seek to surmount the hurdles of life and to withstand problems which sometimes seem to hurtle at them by trusting in the help that God gives to those who trust in him.
Corporal punishment (86/09/09)
In Japanese, there are many words with completely different meanings that are pronounced exactly the same. However, the characters used to write them are different. In English, some completely different words are not only pronounced the same but are written the same as well. For example, the word "corporal", spelled c-o-r-p-o-r-a-l signifies the lowest rank of a noncommissioned officer in the army. Another word, spelled and pronounced the same, means "of the body", so the expression, "corporal punishment", refers to physical punishment, such as slapping, spanking, whipping, and so on. The Japanese translation of this term is taibatsu. The problem of corporal punishment in Japanese schools is a controversial subject these days. What do you think about this form of discipline--whether at school or at home? Is it a legitimate way to correct or punish children? Or is it cruel and unacceptable? If permitted, what limitations should be observed? According to Proverbs 13: 24, firm discipline of children is a sign of love. What do you think about this? If you send me a short essay on this theme, I will correct it and include it in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. This is: "Dally Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Imo (86/09/10)
In the community of Nakayama in the town of Hino in the county of Gamo in Shiga Prefecture, today is the day of the Imo-kurabe-Matsuri. This community is divided into eastern and western districts which compete in growing the finest sato-imo. The largest and best imo are then offered to the kami. The Japanese word, imo, can be translated by a variety of English words depending upon the particular kind of edible root referred to. The sato, or village, imo, is translated "taro", but the yama, or mountain, imo is translated "yam". The Satsuma-imo, which was introduced into Japan through southern Kyushu, is called a "sweet potato", while the white, or Irish potato, mainly grown in the northern part of the country, is termed a "horse-bell" potato, or bareisho. This common potato is also called a jagaimo, the shortened form of jagatara-imo, because it was introduced into Japan from Jakarta. The potato, yam or taro is a staple crop in many countries of the world that takes the place of rice in Japan. In Jesus' day, the term "bread" included physical needs in general. When he said that "Man does not live on bread alone," he meant that man's soul must also be nourished.
Kagerō (86/09/11)
On Tuesday evening a bridge spanning the Shōnai River connecting the cities of Kasugai and Nagoya was closed to traffic for over an hour. The reason was that a multitude of insects created a traffic hazard. Countless bodies of these insects covered the bridge, causing cars to slip as though they were on snow. The Japanese name for these insects is kagerō. It is derived from another word with the same pronunciation because these small insects with transparent wings glitter like a filament of heated air as they fly. Checking the English translation of kagerō, I found the following words: day-fly, May-fly, shad-fly and ephemera. This last term interested me because it comes from a Greek word meaning "lasting a day". The English word "ephemeral" means lasting very briefly and these winged insects live for only a few hours before they die so they are even more ephemeral than cherry blossoms. In the New Testament book of James, chapter 4, verse 14, human life is said to be as ephemeral as "a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." The life span of a May-f1y is indeed short, but our lives also are not very long and we should try to make them as productive as possible.
A legal holiday in Maryland (86/09/12)
Today is a legal holiday in the American state of Maryland. Called Defenders' Day, it commemorates a battle between British and American forces near Baltimore, Maryland's largest city, on this day in 1814. This battle was a kind of turning point in the War of 1812, an unfortunate, unnecessary war which could and should have been avoided. Although supported by southern and western states, northeastern states generally opposed it. Even while the U. S. Congress was declaring war, Great Britain was acting to remove the basic problems that caused the war, during which American forces did not perform very illustriously. In August, 1814, British forces set fire to the White House and other public buildings in the capital and they threatened to burn the city of Baltimore. On September 12th, a two-hour battle took place near Baltimore, during which American soldiers fought gallantly. The next day, the British began their bombardment of Fort McHenry, which continued for 25 hours. The morning following the bombardment, a young American lawyer, Francis Scott Key, saw that the American flag still waved over the fort and was inspired to write a poem about the "star-spangled banner" that later became the national anthem.
Organization for tomorrow's geniuses (86/09/13)
Japanese people are sometimes said to lack creativity when compared to certain other nations. I'm not sure if that is true or not, but Japanese society does emphasize conformity and regularity and tends to suppress individuality. Certainly this characteristic has been influenced by the centuries of Japan's isolation on islands basically populated by one people with a common language. Eccentric people and mavericks who deviate from conventional patterns have a difficult time in this society. Some of them leave Japan to became famous elsewhere. Last week, an organization aimed at turning today's mavericks into tomorrow's geniuses was launched at an International Symposium for the Promotion of Unconventional ideas in Science, Medicine and Sociology in England. Some 40 delegates attended from Europe, the United States and the Middle East. The convenor, Dr. Bruce Denness, of the British Bureau of Applied Scientists, stated, "There are millions of people around the world with ideas which vested interests and establishments make sure never see the light of day." This new organization will enable offbeat thinkers to bring their ideas to a wider forum. We must be willing to respect those who think differently than we, for progress is impossible if traditions can never be questioned nor broken.
Discrimination against foreigners (86/09/14)
The basic character of a people may be seen in how strangers and minorities are treated. Various factors are involved in determining our attitude toward outsiders and others who are different. Partly because of its geography, Japanese society has traditionally been insular in its outlook, but it is now making an effort to become internationalized. My sermon today is taken from the 10th chapter of the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy where the Jewish people were taught that the Lord their God does not show partia1ity. "He makes sure that orphans and widows are fairly treated [and] he loves the foreigners . . . ." The Israelites themselves were then commanded to "show love for . . . foreigners . . . ." The legal requirement that all foreigners in Japan always carry a certificate which contains their fingerprint has become a controversia1 issue in recent years. However, it is only one obvious indication of the prevalent attitude of discrimination toward certain "irregular" or "nonconformist" individuals or groups in Japanese society. Discrimination is not peculiar to Japan. It is a universal phenomenon. But that does not excuse it. All of us should try to eliminate our own discriminatory attitudes. Discrimination is a contradiction of the basic character of God, whose children some of us claim to be.
On getting old (86/09/15)
Today is a national holiday in Japan. It is called Respect for the Aged Day. Needless to say, our ideas regarding who is "old" change as we become older ourselves. Although our hair is getting greyer and we have three adult children and a grandchild, my wife and I do not consider ourselves old yet--even though we may not move as fast as we used to and we notice that our memories are not as sharp as they once were. In the book of Job, chapter 12, verse 12, it is written that "There is wisdom in age, and long life brings understanding." In case there are any "old people" listening to this message, permit me to convey our congratulations and best wishes to you on this special day and to remind you of the words of Thomas Bailey Aldrich, "To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent --that is to triumph over old age."
The moon (86/09/16)
Today is Tuesday, which means that yesterday was Monday, or moon-day. The moon is a natural satellite which revolves around the earth once every 29 1/2 days. During that month, the new moon seems to change into a crescent, then becoming a full moon followed by another crescent during its last quarter. Thursday of this week coincides with the 15th day of the 8th month according to the lunar, or moon, calendar. Called jugoya, it is the traditional day for special moon-viewing festivities. The moon has a special significance in Japanese literature, especially poetry. Westerners speak of the "man in the moon", while Japanese perceive a rabbit making mochi there. The moon is the suggested subject for your essay this week. What thoughts or memories does the moon bring to your mind? I and other readers of "Daily Word" Echoes would be happy to read a short essay you submit on this subject, which I will correct before publication. A poet under the night sky wrote in the 8th Psalm, "When I look at the sky, which you have made, at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places--what is man that you think of him; mere man that you care for him?" That's a thought for us to ponder today also. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Milk (86/09/17)
The whitish liquid produced by female mammals for feeding their young is called milk. The milk of cows is a common drink in many countries of the world. Looking up at the sky on a clear night, one may see a broad band of light extending across the heaven which is made up of countless stars. It is called the Milky Way Galaxy and is thought to contain over 200 billion stars and to have a diameter of over 100,000 light years. The word "galaxy", meaning a large group of stars, in fact, comes from the Greek word for "milk". The Greeks also thought of a "milky circle" when they viewed the night sky. Nowadays, an assembly of brilliant, beautiful or distinguished persons or things may also be called a galaxy. Milk is a natural, nutritious drink which is especially healthful for infants and young children. In the First Letter of Peter, chapter 2, verse 2, new believers are referred to as "new-born babies" who need pure spiritual milk in order to develop spiritually. All of us need some kind of spiritual nourishment for our mental and moral development. The Christian finds this kind of spiritual food in the Bible, whose teachings we seek to assimilate into our lives.
Ears (86/09/18)
As you listen to this message, is the telephone receiver placed at your right ear or your left ear? Most people put the telephone to their left ear, probably because they use their right hand for dialing and taking notes. However, it is recognized that, for some reason, most people hear better with their right ears than with their left. According to a Japanese proverb, some people let some words "go in at the right ear and out at the left". The English equivalent of this saying does not distinguish between right and left. We only say, "go in one ear and out the other". The Japanese word for "ear" is also used to refer to the edge or border of something, so, in Japanese, a slice of bread also has "ears". In English, we call this hard outer part of bread the "crust". On the other hand, in English, a stalk of corn is said to have ears. The ear of corn is the long, hard part on which the kernels are found. The handle of a pitcher may also be called an ear, and the saying that "Little pitchers have long ears" means we should be careful what we say in front of children. We cannot always determine the things we hear, but we can decide what we will listen to. In the book of Revelation, we find these words often repeated: "If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says . . . !"
The Dreyfus Affair (86/09/19)
87 years ago today, a former captain in the French army, who had been condemned for spying, was pardoned by a new French president after serving five years in prison. The famous Dreyfus Affair, a shameful blot on the history of the French Republic, shows how pride, prejudice and self-interest can combine to pervert justice and twist morality. In 1894, documents being transmitted to German military authorities were discovered, indicating that there was a spy in the French army. While the true culprit was shielded by his superior, Alfred Dreyfus, a wealthy Jew, who was disliked by his colleagues, became a scapegoat to satisfy the general public on flimsy and forged evidence. Later, when new evidence was found, the true culprit was tried and found innocent. People opposed to the government continued to insist on a retrial of Dreyfus, but at that second trial, he was again found guilty. Twelve years after his original trial, he was finally declared innocent, decorated by the government and raised to the rank of major. In this unfortunate affair, nationalists and churchmen put a higher value on misguided patriotism and piety than on truth and morality, but the Bible teaches that justice must have priority over personal, group or national advantage.
Magellan's voyage (86/09/20)
467 years ago today, on September 20, 1519, a fleet of five ships with some 270 men aboard left a Spanish port on a truly adventurous voyage. Until that time, no one had ever sailed around the world. 27 years earlier, Columbus had sailed west from Spain expecting to reach India, but the American continent interfered with his plans. Another Portuguese navigator, Ferdinand Magellan, believed there must be a way around that continent and was determined to find it. A year after leaving Spain, Magellan discovered the waterway at the southern tip of South America which now bears his name. Passing through this Strait of Magellan, his little fleet entered the earth's largest body of water, which he named the "Pacific Ocean" because it appeared so peacefu1. A year and a half after leaving Spain, the exhausted sailors reached the Mariana Islands. Magellan himself was killed in a battle between native tribes in the Philippines, but one of his ships did return to Spain, with only 18 men aboard almost three years after embarking, thus completing the first round-the-world trip. A worthy aim is achieved only through faith, commitment and sacrifice.
How Joseph refused to retaliate against his brothers (86/09/21)
The first book of the Bible is called Genesis in English. It begins with the story of the creation of the world. However, most of the book is made up of stories of the patriarchs of the Jewish people. The central figure of the last quarter of the book is Joseph. When Joseph was a young man, he was sold as a slave by his jealous brothers but later he became the prime minister of Egypt. Following the death of the father, Jacob, Joseph's brothers were afraid that he would retaliate for the evil deed they committed against him many years before. However, in chapter 50, verse 20, Joseph refused to put himself in the place of God and judge them. He said, "You plotted evil against me, but God turned it into good". This is the text for my sermon today. The Bible includes many examples of how the evil plans of people were turned into something good by the providential plan of God. Today also, events which we consider unfortunate, experiences of sadness, suffering or disappointment may also be used to bring about some good purpose. The Christian believes that all of the experiences of life are meaningful and that all of human history is under the control of a loving God who works out his good purpose in all things.
A loyal patriot (86/09/22)
A person who goes behind enemy lines to obtain information for his own nation is called a spy. Spying may not be a noble profession, but most countries consider it a necessary evil. Today is the anniversary of the death of a famous spy in American history. Nathan Hale was a young school teacher when the American Revolutionary War began. He joined the rebels, however, and volunteered to go on an intelligence mission for General George Washington. After gathering information on British troops, he was captured while returning to the American side. Sentenced to death by the British commander, he was hanged the next day, on September 22, 1776. He concluded his speech at the gallows with the statement, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." In American history, Nathan Hale is considered a fine example of a loyal patriot.
The cross (86/09/23)
Today is the second holiday this month in Japan, the day of the autumnal equinox, when we cross the line between summer and fall and when rites are performed to remember those who have crossed over to the "other shore". As a verb, "cross" means to go from one side to another. As a noun, it refers to an upright post with a transverse bar upon which criminals were hung to die a painful death by crucifixion. Because Jesus died on a cross, this symbol of death became the basic Christian symbol. It is now found atop and inside of churches, on sacred objects and ladies' necklaces as well. Non-Christians may consider it a strange symbol for a religion whose basic teaching is love. What thoughts, feelings or memories does seeing a cross bring to your mind? What do you consider its meaning and its place in Japanese and world history? What are your candid comments on this subject? I will correct essays sent to me and print them in "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. In Corinthians 1:18, the Apostle Paul wrote that the word of the cross is nonsense to the unbeliever, but to the believer it is the power of God which brings salvation.
Monkey business (86/09/24)
Mark Twain once said that he believed the reason that "our Heavenly Father invented man was because he was disappointed in the monkey." People who visit zoos, however, spend much time in front of the monkey cages, enjoying their capers. In colloquial English, "monkey business" can have the light meaning of comical or silly actions. In this sense, monkey business can be laughed at. But there is a more serious meaning of unethical, illegitimate or objectionable activity which is not a laughing matter. In this sense, when there is monkey business going on in politics or business or in family life, it needs to be criticized and caused to stop. There is also a hand tool called a monkey wrench. This is a wrench with adjustable jaws that can be used to turn different sized nuts. Figuratively speaking, a monkey wrench refers to something disruptive, so to "throw a monkey wrench" into something means to cause an activity that is going along smoothly to stop. So it is commendable to throw a monkey wrench into the monkey business carried on by shady characters. This is what the prophet Amos tried to do when he spoke out against the social injustice and religious hypocrisy of his day. We need people like Amos in our day also who are willing to stand up and speak out against the smooth operations of businessmen or politicians that are unfair.
Sequoia (86/09/25)
96 years ago today, the Sequoia National Park was created in the U. S. state of California. Do you know what a sequioa is? It is a tree, an evergreen tree, the tallest kind of tree in the world. In the Sequoia National Park there are large groves with thousands of sequioas, including a giant tree over 83 meters tall and 11 meters in diameter at its widest point. This tree is estimated to be more than 3000 years old. The name "sequoia" was given to this giant redwood tree in honor of a great American Indian leader with that name. The son of a white trader and an Indian woman, he reduced the spoken language of the Cherokee Indians to writing, using 85 characters he devised. In 1822, he began teaching the Indians how to write their own language, which helped unite their tribe and make them leaders among American Indians. Sequoyah died in 1843, but four years later a botanist gave the name of this great man to this magnificent tree. Visiting the Sequoia National Park, one is forced to consider the mystery and greatness of nature and is reminded of the closing line of a poem by Joyce Kilmer: "Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree."
Iron horse (86/09/26)
Do you know what an "iron horse" is? No, it isn't a statue of a horse made of iron. Rather, it is an old term referring to an "SL". I presume you know what an "SL" is. It's an abbreviation of "steam locomotive", but I don't recall hearing or seeing this term outside of Japan. In 18th century England, wagons with grooved wheels were pulled by horses over rails which were called railroads. 161 years ago today, on September 27, 1825, a train was pulled by a steam engine over a railroad between two English towns, marking the beginning of the Age of the Railroad. This particular kind of steam engine was called a locomotive. Since it was made of iron and took the place of a horse, it was also called an "iron horse". The political, military and ideological barrier in Europe that divides the communist east from the democratic west is called an iron curtain. In the Bible, reference is made to an iron rod, with which a king sternly rules over his land, and, in Jeremiah 1;18, God told the prophet he would make him like an iron pillar so that he could withstand the attacks of his opponents. We also need iron in our backbones today to help us stand true to our convictions.
Johnny Appleseed Park (86/09/27)
In the Massachusetts town where he was born 212 years ago today, a monument with a pictorial representation marks his birthplace. In the Ohio town, where he lived for more than 25 years, an eight-foot stone shaft in his memory stands at a city intersection. A city park in Indiana has a boulder memorial in his honor and the place where he is buried is now known as Johnny Appleseed Park. From the time he was a young boy, John Chapman was a lover of nature. He became a disciple of the Swedish mystic, Emanuel Swedenborg, and had a vision of heaven filled with apple trees in bloom. From that time on, he made it his mission to plant nurseries, tend orchards and distribute apple seeds and saplings to all who would grow them. He tramped over 100,000 square miles in his apple planting and raising efforts, becoming a genuine American folk character during his own lifetime, and was widely known as Johnny Appleseed. As he planted seeds in uninhabited areas, he would say, "Maybe sometime someone will come along here and be hungry. Then they will have apples to eat and apples are God's food." Whether considered a religious fanatic or a dedicated horticulturist, many apple orchards in America today are the result of his eccentric obsession.
Forgiveness (86/09/28)
Today is Sunday, the day that Christians gather together in churches to worship. In most churches, it is a common practice for worshippers to repeat together the "Lord's Prayer". This is a prayer Jesus taught his disciples and is found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6. In this prayer, we pray that God will forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. My sermon today is taken from the parable that Jesus told in Matthew, chapter 18, in answer to Peter's question about how often he had to forgive another person. In this parable, a servant who was forgiven a huge debt by a king refused to forgive a very small debt of one of his fellow servants. When the king heard of the harsh attitude of the servant he had forgiven, he became angry, withdrew his earlier forgiveness and punished that unmerciful servant. By means of this story, Jesus taught that we should forgive others their minor sins against us in the same way as God has forgiven our major sins against him. In fact, the person who has truly experienced the love and forgiveness of God will show that same attitude toward others, not because he or she is commanded to do so but as a natural response to the great love of God.
September (86/09/02)
Qatar (86/09/03)
A new basketball league (86/09/04)
Islam anniversary (86/09/05)
Pilgrims on the Mayflower (86/09/06)
The narrow gate (86/09/07)
Hurdle and hurtle (86/09/08)
Corporal punishment (86/09/09)
Imo (86/09/10)
Kagerō (86/09/11)
A legal holiday in Maryland (86/09/12)
Organization for tomorrow's geniuses (86/09/13)
Discrimination against foreigners (86/09/14)
On getting old (86/09/15)
The moon (86/09/16)
Milk (86/09/17)
Ears (86/09/18)
The Dreyfus Affair (86/09/19)
Magellan's voyage (86/09/20)
How Joseph refused to retaliate against his brothers (86/09/21)
A loyal patriot (86/09/22)
The cross (86/09/23)
Monkey business (86/09/24)
Sequoia (86/09/25)
Iron horse (86/09/26)
Johnny Appleseed Park (86/09/27)
Forgiveness (86/09/28)
Lame ducks (86/09/29)
Mr. Nakasone's slip of the tongue (86/09/30)
Acts of God (86/09/01)