Being free from surveillance (86/12/01)
There is a Japanese proverb about "Doing the washing when the demon is away." To understand this proverb, one must grasp the meaning of both "demon" and "washing". In this case, "demon" may refer to a person we feel uneasy around--whether a critical spouse, a strict boss or a demanding mother-in-law, and "washing" does not mean doing the laundry. Rather a so-called "life-washing", or inochi-no-sentaku, refers to refreshing or enjoying oneself. In English; we say, "When the cat is away, the mice will play," which has a similar meaning. It is a good feeling to be free from surveillance and restrictions. The Christian finds freedom from the bondage of sin through faith in Christ, our Liberator. Although none of us can escape from the eyes of God, this should not cause us to feel restricted. Rather, we should be thankful for his loving care.
Mountains (86/12/02)
At our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting last Sunday afternoon, listeners from nine cities and towns in three prefectures were present. If you were not one of them, we missed you and hope you will be able to attend our next meeting on the fifth Sunday of March. At our meetings, issues of "Daily Word" Echoes, made up of essays written by listeners, are always available. You may receive a copy of this periodical by sending me ¥270 in stamps along with your request. The first theme for the 19th issue of the Echoes is the same as that of our recent meeting: Mountains. As we learned at that meeting, all countries do not have beautiful mountains like Japan. And all mountains are not green or blue. Some people enjoy viewing mountains from afar while others like to climb them and view the rising sun from the summit. We would like to read your thoughts and/or experiences related to mountains. I will correct essays sent to me for inclusion in the next issue of the Echoes. One person at our meeting quoted the following verses from Psalm 121. "I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? My help will come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Regarding 5-day week (86/12/03)
It seems that one of the functions of the Prime Minister's Office is to take polls on certain subjects. Last week, the results of a poll regarding the 5-day work week and the 5-day school week were released. Although the results were reported on different days, apparently the same people were asked their opinions on both of these subjects. Those supporting a 5-day work week have increased to 76 percent, indicating that even Japanese themselves now recognize that they work too much and need to have more leisure time. At the same time, however, a majority of 57 percent opposed giving schoolchildren a 5-day week. One out of three of those supporting the 5-day work week noted the need for more family contact, especially with children, and over half of the respondents thought that children didn't have enough free time. Even so, they opposed giving children two holidays a week and the most common reason was that it would impose a burden on the parents. There seems to be a contradiction in the attitudes expressed on these two subjects. Would it not be inconsistent to insist on children going to school for 5 1/2 days while their parents are required to work only 5 days? According to a well-known English saying, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
Japanese children in America (86/12/04)
As noted in yesterday's message, Japanese schoolchildren go to school 5 1/2 days a week, but in the United States, schools are in session only from Monday to Friday. For those Japanese families residing temporarily in the U. S., the education of younger children poses a problem. Many Japanese children attend American public schools, where classroom discipline and the nature of instruction is different than in Japanese schools. It is especially difficult for such children to maintain and increase their proficiency in the Japanese language. In communities with many Japanese children, Saturday schools have been established where Japanese teachers teach Japanese reading and writing, social studies and mathematics to help keep the pupils at the level of their peers in Japan. This helps them prepare for the entrance examinations they will face in their homeland. In English, mastering the 26 letters of the alphabet is not so difficult, but to be able to both read and write more than 3000 characters used in Japanese requires constant practice. You who call this telephone number regularly must recognize that education is not a product but an unending process that will continue for as long as the life of an inquiring mind.
"Curry favor" (86/12/05)
Last week, I ate in an Indian restaurant in Nagoya. Naturally, the meal included curry, but it was neither rice curry nor curry rice. It was a chicken curry with spinach, eaten with some Indian bread. Curry may refer to the sauce or dish prepared with a mixture of certain spices called curry powder. But curry may also mean to rub or brush a horse with a currycomb. It is from this meaning that the expression "curry favor" was derived. To curry favor means to seek the favor of another through fawning or flattery. In the Middle Ages there was an allegorical poem about a chestnut-colored horse named Favel. In this fable, Favel represented cunning and duplicity. Favel was the king's favorite horse and some people would try to gain favors from the king by currying Favel. Over the years, the horse's name was forgotten and the expression was changed to "currying favor", which has a similar meaning to the Japanese expression, goma-suri which also has an interesting explanation. Flattery means to compliment a person excessively and insincerely. In Psalm 12:3, the poet asks God to silence all flattering lips and boastful tongues.
Kimchi (86/12/06)
As I noted in yesterday's message, the tasty dish associated with India is curry. Do you know the name of the national dish of Korea? It is called kimchi. The Chinese characters for that word, pronounced chinsai in Japanese mean sunken vegetables, but how can we describe kimchi in English? Basically, it is pickled cabbage, to which turnips, and radishes may be added, but the important ingredients are such spices as red peppers, garlic, ginger and onions which give it its characteristic flavor. In English, the word "hot" refers not only to a high temperature but also to a sharp or pungent taste. The spicy curry of India and kimchi of Korea are both "hot" in the sense of taste. Korean winters are very cold, but people keep themselves warm by wearing many layers of clothes utilizing highly efficient under-floor heating and eating a lot of kimchi. Housewives are now buying up the cabbage which they will put into clay pots and pickle for use during the winter. Kimchi has been a Korean dish for thousands of years and provides its consumers with essential doses of vitamin C and iron. a French gourmet once said, "Tell me what you eat and I will tell you who you are."
Man proposes, God disposes (86/12/07)
There are a number of English words that contain the syllable "pose" from the Latin word for "place" or "set." "Impose" means to "place on." "Expose" means to "set out for all to see." "Depose" means to "remove from a place." "Propose" means to "put forward as a suggestion" and "dispose" means to "place in order, arrange or settle." There is a well-known English proverb that "Man proposes, God disposes." My sermon today is taken from the 16th chapter of the Old Testament book of Proverbs. In both the first and ninth verses it is indicated that although we may make our own plans, it is God who will determine their outcome. Human beings have the amazing ability to think and plan, but even this ability is the gift of their Creator and whether or not plans succeed is finally beyond human control. Our plans, like our lives, are in the hands of God so some people add the letters "D.V.", from Latin words meaning "God willing", following expressions of hopes or plans. Thus, "I shall return to America next year, D. V." People who recognize their dependence upon God find hope, health and happiness through their faith.
Ms. Rankin's conviction (86/12/08)
45 years ago today, on December 8, 1941, President Roosevelt requested the United States Congress to declare war on Japan. Since Japanese planes had carried out a surprise attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base the day before, Congress gave bipartisan support to the President's request. But the vote was not unanimous. One dissenting vote was cast by Jeanette Rankin, congresswoman from Montana, who thus left her second indelible mark on American history. Ms. Rankin was the first woman ever to serve in the United States Congress and during her first term in office, she had also voted against the declaration of war against Germany in 1917. I do not know the reason for Ms. Rankin's dissenting vote, but I admire the person who is willing to hold fast to a conviction or principle despite pressure from the surrounding community.
Japanese war orphans (86/12/09)
The word "orphan", from the Greek word orphanos, literally means a child whose parents are dead. This noun is found once in the Greek New Testament, in James, chapter 1, verse 27, where it is written, "What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world." A group of so-called "war orphans" from China are now visiting Japan, looking for relatives. These men and women were small children at the time they were left in China by their parents in the final days of the war. They were raised by Chinese foster parents and cannot speak Japanese. I find it difficult to imagine the situation where parents would leave their children in a foreign land before themselves escaping to their homeland and then not try to find them for the next 40 years. What do you think of the plight of these "war orphans" and the problems they and their relatives face after their identities have been established? Why were they left behind and seemingly forgotten until recently? How should their natural relatives receive them? Essays on this subject sent to me for correction will be printed in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Human Rights Day (86/12/10)
For many Japanese speakers of English, it is difficult to distinguish the "R" sound from the "L" sound, so "right" and "light" sound the same. Although there is difference in meaning between these two words, there may be a close relationship between them. Today is Human Rights Day, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, 1948. Although this Declaration was adopted by a unanimous vote, eight nations abstained from voting. They were six Soviet bloc nations, Saudi Arabia and the Union of South Africa. South Africa continues to deny basic human rights to a majority of its inhabitants through its policy of racial segregation, called apartheid, an Afrikaner word meaning "apartness". This evening at 7:00 o'clock, the Nagoya Group of Amnesty International will hold a meeting at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Center related to the problem of apartheid. Amnesty International is an organization which seeks to promote the observance of the Declaration of Human Rights in all countries throughout the world and this meeting is open to all who are interested. Certainly, moral or spiritual light will encourage us to do what is right.
About this "Daily Word" service (86/12/11)
For over six years I have been providing this "Daily Word" telephone service and today's message, numbered 2121, will consist of a number of announcements regarding the service. For you who record the message on cassette tapes and for any others who wish to have written copies, every Thursday, I send out copies of that week's messages to all who send me a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus ¥30 in stamps for each week of messages desired. On Tuesday messages for the six weeks following a "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting, I suggest a theme for a short English essay. I correct essays sent to me and print them in "Daily Word" Echoes, which is then available at our listeners' meetings, which are usually held on the 5th Sunday afternoons of the month. However, please note that the next meeting will not be held on the 5th Sunday of March, as previously announced. Rather, it will be held on the 4th Sunday of February, instead. Finally, if you have any questions or comments to make regarding the messages, I would be happy to receive a letter from you--either in Japanese or in English, and if you enjoy the messages and find them helpful, please inform your friends and tell them to call too. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Orchid (86/12/12)
In English, the kingdom of the Netherlands is sometimes referred to as Holland. The Portuguese name for that country is Olanda and it is from Portuguese that the Japanese word for the Netherlands was derived. Ran, the Chinese character used to refer to Holland, literally means an orchid. In this case, the character was well-chosen, for Holland is a major producer of this beautiful flower. Orchids have irregular shapes and a great variety of colors. There are said to be about 15,000 different species of orchids and they are found in most parts of the world, even on snow-covered mountain tops. The most beautiful orchids are found in the tropics, where they grow wild in the rain forests. Children sell orchids to tourists for pennies on the streets of Bangkok, although they are very expensive when purchased for a corsage in New York City. Nowadays, many orchids are cultivated in hothouses which make use of high-technology, where the subtle coloring of these flowers is determined by computers. Times have changed greatly since Jesus, in Matthew 6:2, told his disciples to look at how beautifully the wild flowers were clothed as an encouragement for them to trust their heavenly Father to supply their needs.
Kibitzer and Chutzpah (86/12/13)
American English contains many words derived from the languages of immigrants from various lands. A number of colorful words have come from Yiddish, a mixture of German, Hebrew and Slavic languages, that was spoken by many European Jews. One such word is "kibitzer", spelled k-i-b-i-t-z-e-r. A kibitzer is a person who watches a card game and gives unwanted advice to the players but it may also be used to refer to any onlooker or meddlesome person who gives unsolicited advice. Another Yiddish word is "chutzpah", spelled c-h-u-t-z-p-a-h, meaning impudence, audacity or brazen assertiveness. A well-known, if fictional, example of chutzpah, is about the boy who killed both of his parents and then demanded leniency of the court because he was an orphan. People who assume the role of a kibitzer in relation to how God governs the universe are also showing chutzpah. In the face of events that are beyond our comprehension, we should humbly recognize our limitations and leave the matter in the hands of the almighty and loving God.
John the Baptist (86/12/14)
Today is the third Sunday of Advent, which is the season preceding Christmas. Advent is a season of preparation. Japanese merchants are busy preparing to take advantage of this season for commercial benefit, but for Christians, Advent is a time to spiritually prepare our hearts for a meaningful Christmas celebration. My sermon today is entitled, "Preparing the Way for the Lord." The Bible text is from the 3rd chapter of the Gospel of Matthew which relates the story of John the Baptist. There it is written that John was the man the Old Testament prophet was talking about when he said, "Someone is shouting in the desert, 'Prepare a road for the Lord.'" The prophet was proclaiming a message of comfort to the Jews who were in captivity. He assured them that God had not forgotten them, that he was coming to free them and that the way for his coming must be prepared. Christmas reminds us that God has not forgotten us, for in the birth of Jesus, our Savior, God has indeed come to us and freed us from our bondage. Christians seek to prepare ourselves by repenting of our sins and opening our hearts to the coming of the Savior, who was born on that "Silent Night, Holy Night" so long ago. I pray that this year's Christmas celebration will be a meaningful one for you.
Bill of Rights (86/12/15)
Today is Bill of Rights Day in the United States. On this day in 1791, the first ten amendments to the Constitution became operative. These amendments guarantee basic rights to individual citizens and to the separate states. The Constitution did not mention these rights because its framers took them for granted, but some states refused to ratify the Constitution until they were promised that such rights would be clearly spelled out. The first Congress considered 145 proposed amendments and submitted 12 of them to the states for ratification. The ten that were ratified became known as the Bill of Rights. President Kennedy once said, "I am not so much concerned with the right of everyone to say anything he pleases as I am about our need as a self-governing people to hear everything relevant." The present American president should ponder these words.
Bōnenkai (86/12/16)
Japanese people are very sensitive to change, including seasons changes and other changes that occur as time goes by. At certain times, special rites are performed or recognition is given to those who have reached a certain age or advanced to a new stage in life, including the 32nd or 33rd day after birth, the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 60th, 70th, 77th, 80th and 88th years of life, as well as such times as entrance into schools, adulthood, employment and marriage. Every year is begun with much festivity and contains many happy events, but as the year draws to a close, it is common to hold "year-forgetting parties". Why is this so? Do you enjoy such parties? Why are they so popular? To me, the year-end is a good time to remember, as the poet wrote in the 77th Psalm, "I will remember your great deeds, Lord; I will recall the wonders you did in the past. I will think about all that you have done; I will meditate on all your mighty acts." "Bōnenkai" is the theme for your essays this week. I will correct those essays sent to me and include them in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Bhutan (86/12/17)
Today is the National Day of an Asian nation. See if you can guess which one it is from the following clues: It is a constitutional monarchy. In size, it is about 1/3 smaller than the island of Hokkaido. Its capital city is Thimphu. Its official language is Druk-ke. Its national flag has a white dragon in the center, and it is known as the "land of the thunder dragon". Do you still not know its name? Most of its 1,360,000 inhabitants are farmers who raise yaks and produce enough food to support themselves, although they can neither read nor write. The country lies between China and India in the eastern Himalayas. India continues to provide yearly aid to the country and to assist in its foreign relations. Its name is Bhutan. Due to its isolation, life in Bhutan has changed little over the centuries, but the Bible teaches that, regardless of people's educational, financial or social standing, God loves all people alike. In fact, according to I Corinthians, chapter 1, "God purposely chose what the world looks down on and despises, and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks important. This means that no one can boast in God's presence. Whoever wants to boast must boast of what the Lord has done."
Methodist (86/12/18)
The English term for a sacred song is "hymn", spelled h-y-m-n. Hymns of a specially joyful kind may be called carols. At Christmastime it is customary to sing carols. One of the most popular Christmas carols begins with the words, "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing". This hymn was written by Charles Wesley, one of the most famous and prolific English hymn writers. In the Japanese Sanbika, there are translations of 14 hymns written by him. Charles Wesley was born 279 years ago today, on December 18, 1707. When he was a student at Oxford, he devoted himself to systematic study and to the regular practice of religious duties. He influenced others to do the same, and this group of very methodical students were nicknamed "Methodists". Charles' older brother John became the leader of this group and the founder of one of the largest Protestant denominations, which still carries the name of Methodist. Charles Wesley was the author of some 6,500 hymns, many of which are favorites in many Protestant churches today. Methodists, in particular, are known for their enthusiastic and joyful singing. Christianity is, indeed, a singing religion for singing is an expression of the inner joy we have because of our faith in "the newborn King."
Calorie (86/12/19)
Many people these days are concerned about calories. Do you know what a calorie is? Basically, it is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water one degree, but nowadays, it is also used to indicate the energy value of food. Many people watch their diets so they do not eat food containing many calories, for if they do not burn up calories through exercise or in some other way they will gain weight. People with a certain type of constitution naturally burn up more calories than others, even without exercise. A recent study has shown that those who fidget tend to be thinner than those who don't. Fidget means to move about restlessly or nervously. Fidgety children are always squirming or wiggling and some adults have the habit of drumming their fingers or tapping their feet. Such people tend to be thinner than others and can devour many calories without gaining weight because they burn up calories with nervous energy. It is important to keep our bodies in good physical condition, but we should also be concerned about the health of our spirits. In I Timothy 4:8, it is written: "Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future."
Louisiana (86/12/20)
The total area of the United States is now over four times what it was when it was established. How did it expand to its present size? Some land was taken by force. Other land was ceded by foreign countries through treaties, but the largest accessions came through purchases. A small strip of land was purchased from Mexico in 1853. In 1867, the territory of Alaska was purchased from Russia, but the largest purchase, which almost doubled the size of the country, occurred in 1803, when the Louisiana Territory was obtained from France. What the young country was really interested in was the area around the port of New Orleans and representatives were sent to France to negotiate that purchase. However, due to the particular problems it faced at the time, France offered to sell the whole territory of approximately 2 1/2 million square kilometers. The American representatives jumped at the offer and the land was purchased for $15 million. The treaty was signed in May. The Senate ratified it in October and the United States took possession on December 20, 1803, 183 years ago today. Although countries may buy and sell land, according to Psalm 24:1, "The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord."
Stars as Christmas symbol (86/12/21)
Aster is the Greek word for "star". A number of English words related to stars include a form of this word. An asterisk is a small star-shaped figure used in printing. Astronomy is the scientific study of stars and astrology is the study of stars with a view to predicting their influence on human affairs. My sermon today is taken from the 2nd chapter of Matthew, which contains the story of ancient astrologers, called Magi, who came to Jerusalem seeking the newborn King of the Jews because they had seen his star in the East. According to this story, the star guided them to the place where the baby Jesus was. When they found the one they were seeking, they worshipped him and presented valuable gifts to him. So it is that stars have become a common Christmas decoration and are usually found at the top of Christmas trees. Giving gifts has also become a custom at Christmastime. However, the original Christmas gift was God's gift of a savior to us. Secondly, those who came to worship the Savior gave gifts to him. During this Christmas season, let us remember the meaning behind the gift-giving and let us also try to see that guiding star of truth which will lead us through the darkness to the light of God's grace.
Winter solstice (86/12/22)
The word "day" has different meanings. In its longest sense, it refers to an indefinite period of time. Thus, this is the day of automation. In its more common meaning, "day" refers to the 24 hour period during which the earth makes one complete turn on its axis. In a yet more limited sense, "day" refers to the period of light between dawn and dark. In this latter sense, today, December 22nd, is the shortest day of this year. In English, we call this day the winter solstice. "Solstice" comes from Latin words meaning "sun standing still". In American thought, today marks the beginning of winter. The Bible teaches that the order of nature was established by its Creator, who remains the same, during day or night, summer or winter. Even in the void and dark experiences of life, the warmth of God's love and the light of his truth are given to those who trust in him.
Japan's Crown Prince (86/12/23)
First, I apologize for the mixup of tapes last weekend. Sunday's message was given on Saturday and Saturday's message was given on Sunday. I'm sorry for the confusion this may have caused you. Next, I will suggest another theme for those of you who enjoy writing in English. I correct those essays sent to me and print them in "Daily Word" Echoes. There are two different words in English pronounced principal. The one ending in "p-l-e" means a basic truth, while the one ending in "p-a-1" refers to a person of first or foremost importance. A prince is a principal person in a royal family and a crown prince is the heir apparent to the throne. Today is the birthday of Japan's Crown Prince, who was born in 1933. Because the present Emperor has occupied the throne for so long, his eldest son has been a crown prince for a long time also. What are your impressions of the Crown Prince, his wife and their family? How are they different from imperial families in the past? Do you expect any changes to take place if or when the present Crown Prince becomes emperor? In Psalm 118:6, we read, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes." This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Christmas Eve (86/12/24)
Since today is the day before Christmas, this evening is called Christmas Eve. According to the Bible story, Eve was the name given by Adam, the first man, to his wife. This name is related to the Hebrew word for "life" and Genesis 3:20 states that "Adam named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all human beings." However, "eve" is also a poetic form of "evening" and is used to refer to the evening preceding a holiday in particular. On Christmas Eve, churches have special services to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Christ. It is the custom in many of these churches, to have candlelight services. In Germany, the birthplace of the Christmas tree, it is customary to decorate evergreen trees with lighted candles. Candles are commonly used as Christmas decorations because they are symbols of light. On that first Christmas, light from heaven shone into the darkness of this world in the birth of the Holy Child. The proper celebration of Christmas Eve is not with a boisterous party but in quiet and joyful reflection on its deep meaning. This evening at 7:00 o'clock, our church in the city of Takahama will hold a Christmas Eve Service, when we will meditate on God's light coming into the world. I hope you also will open your heart to receive some of that light on this Christmas Eve.
Xmas (86/12/25)
Today is Christmas Day. The word "Christmas" comes from the words "Christ's mass". Mass is the word used in some churches to refer to the sacrament of Holy Communion. However, we often see the word "Xmas" in place of Christmas. The symbol "X" has many different meanings. It is the 24th letter of the English alphabet and the Roman numeral for ten. In mathematics, it is the sign of multiplication and may also refer to an unknown quantity. It may refer to a specific place or person, so we may say "X marks the spot" or call a certain person "Mr. X". In America, it is the mark used by illiterate people to sign their names and by voters when marking a ballot. In Japan, it is used to indicate a mistake or to cross something out. However, in the word "Xmas", the X stands for Christ, for X is also the Greek letter, chi, the first letter in the word, christos, meaning Christ. So, whether we say "Christmas" or "Xmas", the meaning is the same. Unfortunately, for many Japanese, Christ is still an unknown quantity and in some Japanese Xmas celebrations, Christ is simply "crossed out", resulting in a "Christ-less Christmas". I pray that today you will remember the basic meaning of Christmas--that God loves you!
My son married (86/12/26)
The Greek word, martus, means "witness". From this word, we get the English word "martyr", meaning a person who chooses to suffer death rather than give up his faith, one who witnesses to his faith by sacrificing his life. The first Christian martyr was Stephen and the story of his martyrdom is given in the seventh chapter of the book of Acts. Today is the feast day of St. Stephen in the church calendar. Since my wife's maiden name was Stevens, we named our eldest son "Steven", which means "crown". Yesterday was a specially happy day in our home. All three of our children were here to celebrate Christmas with us, and son, Steve, who regularly returns to this land of his birth at the year-end, this year brought a friend with him who was wearing a diamond ring he had given her earlier. It was decided to hold a simple home wedding while he was here with his family and close friends, so he and Karen went to the American Consulate in Kobe to legally register their marriage. Following our Christmas dinner, the 15 of us present heard their mutual vows and prayed for God's blessing upon them. In January, they will go together to Steve's new place of employment in New Mexico, where he will be working on a government pilot project related to the safe disposal of radioactive waste materials.
Tora-no-mon Jiken (86/12/27)
Some well-known Japanese phrases include the word tora, or tiger. A tora-no-ko, or tiger cub, may refer to one's savings and a tora-no-maki or tiger book, gives helpful hints for success. The Tora-no-mon, or Tiger Gate, was one of the outer gates of the old Edo Palace. Students studying for entrance examinations should know what happened there on this 27th day of December, 63 years ago, although neither the speaker of this message nor most of its listeners were alive at that time. The incident occurred during the confused period following the disastrous Tokyo Earthquake. The present emperor, who was the prince regent at the time, was on his way, to attend the parliamentary session which would consider reconstruction measures. An anarchist tried to assassinate him as he passed through the area of Tora-no-mon, but failed in his attempt. As a result, the prime minister and his cabinet resigned, the would-be assassin was hanged, the government increased its suppression of socialism and the so-called Tora-no-mon Jiken, or Tiger Gate Incident, entered the history books. The Bible has nothing to say about a tora-no-mon, but in John 10:7, Jesus referred to himself as the hitsuji-no-mon, or the gate for sheep, through which they may enter the pasture of eternal life.
"Nothing is permanent but change." (86/12/28)
One of the strange books in the Bible is the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. It doesn't seem to fit the outlook of the other biblical books. It expresses a negative, pessimistic viewpoint from its opening words that everything is useless or meaningless. These thoughts of a philosopher, written down in a fragmentary way, have a somewhat Buddhistic flavor that appeals to many Japanese. One of the emphases of this "preacher" is the transitory character of life and the pervasiveness of change. As one year is about to end and another is about to begin, these are pertinent matters for consideration. My sermon today is taken from the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, which begins with the words: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die." The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, who lived in the 6th century B.C. made the famous, paradoxical statement that "Nothing is permanent but change." In the midst of the constant changes in nature and history, human beings seek, for some changeless principle or person. The Bible presents the eternal God as changeless in his essential character. Although ideas, customs and people change, God's nature and purpose remain the same.
President Woodrow Wilson (86/12/29)
Today is the birthday of Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, who was born on December 29, 1856, the eldest son of a Presbyterian minister. Before entering politics, Mr. Wilson was the president of Princeton University. When he became governor of New Jersey, he confounded politicians by ignoring their advice and introducing various reforms that brought him national recognition. As president, he sought to be a peacemaker between the opposing sides as World War I approached, but he failed and finally joined England and France in their war with Germany to make the world "safe for democracy". At the Peace Conference in Versailles, he sought to embody his idealism in the covenant which established the League of Nations, but he was greatly disappointed when this covenant was not approved by his own countrymen.
Mountains (86/12/02)
Regarding 5-day week (86/12/03)
Japanese children in America (86/12/04)
"Curry favor" (86/12/05)
Kimchi (86/12/06)
Man proposes, God disposes (86/12/07)
Ms. Rankin's conviction (86/12/08)
Japanese war orphans (86/12/09)
Human Rights Day (86/12/10)
About this "Daily Word" service (86/12/11)
Orchid (86/12/12)
Kibitzer and Chutzpah (86/12/13)
John the Baptist (86/12/14)
Bill of Rights (86/12/15)
Bōnenkai (86/12/16)
Bhutan (86/12/17)
Methodist (86/12/18)
Calorie (86/12/19)
Louisiana (86/12/20)
Stars as Christmas symbol (86/12/21)
Winter solstice (86/12/22)
Japan's Crown Prince (86/12/23)
Christmas Eve (86/12/24)
Xmas (86/12/25)
My son married (86/12/26)
Tora-no-mon Jiken (86/12/27)
"Nothing is permanent but change." (86/12/28)
President Woodrow Wilson (86/12/29)
The most important events of the year (86/12/30)
The last day of a year (86/12/31)
Being free from surveillance (86/12/01)