Alfred Tennyson's poem (87/01/01)
Happy New Year! For my New Year's Day message, I will read a poem of one of England's greatest poets, Alfred Tennyson, a poem related to the joyful church bells that ring in as an old year ends and a new year begins. "Ring out, wild bells, to the wild, wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light: The year is dying in the night, Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow; The year is going, let him go; ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws. Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease; Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be." I pray that this New Year will be a happy one for you.
"First dream" (87/01/02)
Today is Friday, January the 2nd. In the Japanese almanac for today, I find the characters which mean "first dream". I'm never sure whether that important "first dream" is supposed to be dreamed in the early morning hours of this day or tonight. In either case, it seems that today is the day that people in Japan are concerned about dreams, hoping to have an auspicious one that portends a happy year. I have read that seeing such things as Mt. Fuji, a hawk, a cow, a snake or a sword in one's dream is considered lucky, while a horse, a fish or a star is thought to be unlucky. I wonder who has decided on the relative auspiciousness of such objects. Personally, I would consider a fish to be more auspicious than a snake and I would prefer a star to a hawk. But, of course, I'm an outsider, coming from a different tradition. Although I have read that everyone dreams, I rarely remember my dreams and do not feel underprivileged because of that. Most people dream at night, but others dream during the day, when they are awake. We call such dreams "day-dreams". It is good to dream of a better and happier life. The problem is that we should not just dream and let it go at that. We should work and pray to make our dreams come true. Pleasant dreams!
New Year's Resolutions (87/01/03)
In America, some people make new year's resolutions. These are statements of a firm determination to break a bad habit or to make a new start toward better behavior during the coming year. However, many such new year's resolutions do not last very long because of human weakness. The people who make them are not resolute enough to keep their resolutions. Today is the third day of the new year. In Japanese, there is a common saying about a "three-day priest", in reference to a person who does not stick to one job or does not follow through on his aim. Such a person doesn't have enough stick-to-itiveness. To make one's dreams come true requires dogged determination. The 14th chapter of the Gospel of Mark contains the story of Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples, following which Peter vowed to faithfully join Jesus to the end, even if it meant he had to die with him. However, later on when he was surrounded by enemies, Peter three times denied even knowing Jesus. Also in that chapter are Jesus' words to Peter and the other disciples: "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." That's the problem with many of us. We have good intentions, but we lack the strength to carry them out. That's why we need the help of the almighty God.
The vine and the branches (87/01/04)
In the Old Testament, the seventh day of the week was designated a sacred day of rest. It was called the "Sabbath", from the Hebrew word meaning "rest". The fourth of the ten commandments given through Moses was: "Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. In six days I, the Lord, made the earth, the sky, the sea, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested. That is why I, the Lord, blessed the Sabbath and made it holy." [Exodus 20:8,11] However, Christians observe the first day of the week as the day of rest and worship. We call it the "Lord's Day", in commemoration of the resurrection of our Lord on the first day of the week. Today is the first Lord's Day of the New Year. My sermon text for today is taken from the 15th chapter of the Gospel of John, which contains the allegory of the vine and the branches. In this allegory, Jesus refers to himself as the vine and to his disciples as the branches. If the branches do not have a healthy contact with the vine, they cannot bear fruit because their life comes through the vine. So it is that Jesus' disciples cannot bear good fruit in their lives unless they have a close relationship with their Lord. The reason why Jesus chose disciples was to have them bear fruit. I pray that this year Christ's followers will bear much good fruit as we rely upon the One who is the source of our life.
Seseki Natsume (87/01/05)
This fifth day of January is the birthday of the man who is considered the greatest Japanese novelist of the Meiji period. Do you know his name? His famous works include I Am a Cat, Botchan and Kokoro. Soseki Natsume was born in Tokyo on January 5, 1867, 120 years ago today. His first literary works were in the form of poetry, but following his study in England on a government scholarship, he began writing novels. Although he was greatly influenced by the West himself, he criticized those who simply reflected Western thought. He emphasized an independent spirit that would reflect Japanese traditional values as well. Yet, he maintained that individual morality was higher than state morality and was not afraid to touch on political matters. Soseki was truly a great novelist and his influence remains widespread even today.
Peace (87/01/06)
This sixth day of January is an important day in the traditional Christian calendar. It is called Epiphany, from the Greek word for "manifestation" and its celebration has longer roots than the Christmas festivities of December 25th. It is the twelfth day after Christmas and is considered the end of the Christmas season. On this day, the visit of the Magi, or Wisemen, from the East who came to worship the baby Jesus is commemorated. Their visit indicated that Jesus' birth had a significance for Gentiles as well as Jews. Christians consider Christ the universal Savior who brings true peace to the world. All noble-minded people desire peace and I pray that this year will be a year of peace. However, genuine peace is difficult to achieve. What are your thoughts about peace--between nations, groups or individuals? What suggestions do you have regarding how a lasting peace can be obtained? From your view-point, what are the main obstacles to peace in the world, in this society and in your own life and relationships? "Peace and How to Obtain It" is the suggested theme for your essays this week. All essays for the next issue of the Echoes should reach me by January 17th. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Hare and rabbit (87/01/07)
According to the traditional Chinese almanac, every year is assigned one of twelve animals in a regular sequence. This year of 1987 A.D. is the year of the hare. Persons born in the year of the hare are said to be talented and lucky, good friends and mates, peace-loving. I wonder if this applies to me, for I was born in the year of the hare. Can you guess my age? No, I'm not 71, although I did have a birthday a couple of weeks ago. The Japanese word, usagi, may refer to either a rabbit or a hare. Do you know the difference between them? Rabbits are smaller than hares with shorter legs and ears. They live in burrows and may be domesticated and kept as pets. Hares are wild animals that live in the open or among rocks in thickets and the color of their fur often changes with the season. Rabbits are very prolific, sometimes producing five or six litters of from three to ten young each in a single year. In 1850, three pairs of rabbits were set loose in Australia, where they quickly multiplied and became a public pest. Although millions are now killed each year for food or fur, their numbers do not seem to decrease. I hope this year of the hare will be a productive one for you.
Mumpsimus (87/01/08)
Looking up the word otafuku-kaze in my Japanese-English dictionary, I was surprised to find out the meaning of otafuku. The Chinese characters refer to "many blessings", but the English translation is: "a plain woman, a homely woman, a moon-faced woman, a fright, a pie-face". I wonder why the disease called "mumps" in English is referred to as the "wind" or "cold" of such a woman. There is an interesting word in English beginning with "mumps" which is not found in smaller dictionaries. "Mumpsimus" refers to a stubborn person who knows he is wrong but refuses to change. My unabridged dictionary defines it as "a bigoted adherent to exposed or customary error". This word comes from the story of a priest who always mispronounced the word sumosimus when reciting the liturgy in Latin. When a younger priest pointed out his error in pronunciation, the older priest replied, "Son, I have been saying mumosimus for over 30 years. It has worked just fine, and I don't intend to change now." That is how this strange word entered the English language. I hope there are no mumpsimuses listening to this message and that you will be willing to change when your mistaken pronunciation is pointed out.
Richard Nixon (87/01/09)
President Ronald Reagan is the 40th president of the United States. Do you remember who was the 37th president? He also came from California. He was the first president to visit China and Russia and was the only president to resign from office. His name was Richard Nixon and he was born 74 years ago today. After practicing law for a few years before the beginning of the Second World War, he entered the navy and became a lieutenant commander while serving in the South Pacific. After the war, he was twice elected to the House of Representatives and once to the Senate before being elected vice-president when Dwight Eisenhower was elected president. Although he failed in his first bid for the presidency, he attained that office eight years later. The Vietnam War was ended during his first term, which was marked by other foreign policy successes. The so-called Watergate Scandal resulted in his resignation to avoid being impeached by Congress. Mr. Nixon said that he had wanted to be a sports writer, but it took him too long to compose his articles. "I found I could become Vice-President faster than I could become a newspaper man," he said. While president, Mr. Nixon ignored the proverb that "Honesty is the best policy" and ended his presidency in disgrace.
Counterproductive activities (87/01/10)
The word "counter", from the Latin word "to count", may refer to a person who counts, to a table on which counting is done or to an object used to keep count. But another word, spelled and pronounced the same, comes from a Latin word meaning "contrary to". "Counterproductive" is used to refer to an action that results in something contrary to what is intended. At a meeting of the Nihon Sutoresu Gakkai last month, an interesting report was made on effective and ineffective methods of eliminating stress. The report was based on a study of the ways 2500 factory workers of companies in the Tokyo area tried to get rid of stress and of how effective they were. It was found that sports, hobbies and reading were effective for both men and women and that sleeping and talking were also effective for men. However, playing mah-jong and gambling for men and drinking for women was found to be counterproductive. That is, such activities increased stress rather than eliminated it. Oftentimes, we foolish people, like the Prodigal Son in Jesus' parable, choose the way that will bring sorrow and disappointment rather than following the path of love and justice, based on faith in God, which is the way to a genuinely happy life.
The Lord's Prayer (87/01/11)
Almost two thousand years have passed since the Christian Church was established. Since that time, various factors have led to many divisions within the Church. Some divisions are the result of geographic or cultural differences. Others are related to doctrinal, ritualistic, organizational or personal differences. However, all parts of the Church recognize Jesus Christ as the true Head of the Church and most churches make use of the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. That prayer, which is the subject of my sermon today, is found in both the 6th chapter of Matthew and the 11th chapter of Luke. The common English form of the Lord's Prayer is as follows: "Our Father, who art in heaven; Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen." In this prayer, priority is given to the person and purpose of God. We also recognize our responsibility to share with others the mercy God has shown to us. Sincerely praying this prayer will bring a change in our lives.
Pestalozzi (87/01/12)
241 years ago today, on January 12,1746, one of the world's greatest educational reformers was born in Zurich, Switzerland. His name was Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. His theories, which laid the foundation of modern elementary education, are now practiced throughout the world. Pestalozzi emphasized a teaching method corresponding to the natural development of children, making use of concrete experiences. Before becoming an educator, Pestalozzi had studied theology. He gave special attention to the moral and religious training of children as distinct from mere instruction. He wrote that, "Faith in God hallows and confirms the union between parents and children, and subjects and rulers. Infidelity relaxes every band, and nullifies every blessing." Children today are well-educated in certain areas, but their moral education seems to be deficient.
St. Knute (87/01/13)
In Japan, Christmas decorations are usually taken down immediately after Christmas Day as preparations are made for the New Year's season. In traditional Christian thought, the Christmas season lasts for twelve days beginning with Christmas Day and decorations are usually kept up at least during that period. In Sweden and Norway, this twentieth day after Christmas marks the official end of the season. It is the feast day of St. Knute, whose name may be spelled K-n-u-t-e or C-a-n-u-t-e. An earlier man with this name had been king, not only of Denmark, but of Norway and England as well. St. Knute, king of Denmark from 1080-1086, built churches and cathedrals, raised bishops to the rank of princes and became Denmark's patron saint. In Sweden, today is the day when Christmas trees are taken down and dances are held. In some regions of Norway, traditional races on sleighs are held, as an old folk saying goes that "Saint Knute drives Christmas away." A couple of weeks ago, people were dreaming of a white Christmas. The whiteness has now come, but it just missed the Christmas season. Snow in Nagoya usually doesn't last long, but the love of God which was shown in Jesus' birth lasts for a lifetime.
Albert Schweitzer (87/01/14)
Today is the birthday of a man who has provided the modern world with an outstanding example of sacrificial, loving service. His name is Albert Schweitzer, the French clergyman, musician, theologian, philosopher and physician, who said that "Example is not the main thing in life--it is the only thing." Schweitzer was born on January 14,1875, in Alsace. He was a musical prodigy, who became an accomplished organist and the world authority on Bach. His important philosophical and theological writings continue to be read, but most of the world knows of him because of his medical work in Africa, where he served for many years as a missionary doctor. In 1952, he was awarded the Nobel Peace prize. Albert Schweitzer maintained that "Only through love can we attain to communion with God." On one occasion he gave a speech that included these words; "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know; the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve." Albert Schweitzer was following the example of Jesus who, according to Mark 10:45, "came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Teachers Day (87/01/15)
Today is a holiday in Japan commemorating the "coming-of-age" of young adults who have reached their 20th birthday. Recently, a new expression has become popular referring to this new generation. The shin-jinrui, or new human race, is said to have different characteristics and motivations than the older generation. In fact, every new generation of thinking people is necessarily different in some respects from their forebears. Nevertheless, the influence of parents and teachers on young people will remain with them throughout their lives. In Venezuela, this 15th day of January is called Dia Del Maestro, or Teachers Day, and is a day of tribute to educators. The role of teachers is important in the life of every nation. It is easy for us older adults to criticize the younger generation for not maintaining traditions or not showing attitudes we consider important, but from whom did they learn their values? They have been following the examples of parents and teachers; whose actions have not always exemplified the values they professed. On this "Adults Day" in Japan and "Teachers Day" in Venezuela, let us reflect on the influence we have on the children and young people around us. Jesus told his disciples they should exert a good influence in society, becoming like salt and light.
Prohibition of smoking (87/01/16)
"Prohibit" means to forbid on the basis of some authority. Thus, "prohibition" refers to the act of prohibiting in general, but it may have the more specific meaning of prohibiting the use of alcoholic beverages in particular. On January 16, 1920, 67 years ago today, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect. This Prohibition Amendment forbade the import, export, manufacture, sale or transport of intoxicating liquors within U.S. territory. For 13 years, this Amendment remained in force, until it was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933. It was found that, in a democratic society, the government could not enforce a rule that was not respected by a majority of its people. Yesterday, a prohibition went into effect in National Railway trains and stations in this Tokai District forbidding smoking during rush hours. I hope this prohibition fares better than the ban of alcoholic beverages in the U.S., for smoking is bad for the health, not only of smokers, but of the non-smokers around them as well. In I Corinthians, chapter 6, Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth that their bodies were temples of God's Holy Spirit so they should take good care of them.
Yonakunisan-ga (87/01/17)
When I read the news article about Yonakuni a few days ago, I didn't know where it was located. Checking my atlas, I found that both an island and the main town on that island at the southwestern tip of the Okinawan island chain are named Yonakuni. A giant moth found on that island is called yonakunisan-ga. It is the largest moth species in the world, with a wingspan of 25 cm. In English, it is called an atlas moth. Atlas, of course, was the name of a giant in Greek mythology. Two years ago, residents of Yonakuni were informed that the yonakunisan-ga was facing extinction on the island due to development projects, the use of insecticides and the trapping of moths by insect dealers. The town government became alarmed and began breeding atlas moths in captivity. The article noted that the experiment had been successful and that yonakunisan-ga are no longer about to disappear from Yonakuni. Even so, the Environment Agency has set aside ¥2.3 million in the budget for the current fiscal year for the protection of these moths, which are said to have value as tourist attractions and as a source of silk. Ofttimes it is simply nostalgia that prompts people to protect symbols of the past which are no longer of value.
Prayer to God not to punish their enemies (87/01/18)
For common people, Sunday is a holiday, if not a holy day. For most people, it is a day of rest, if not of worship. For such uncommon people as pastors, however, it is not a day of rest. Rather, it is often the busiest day of the week. In my case, I leave home at 7:15 on Sunday morning and return at 10:15 at night. At our Lord's Day worship service this morning, I will preach from the Bible text found in Acts, chapter 4, verses 13-31. Here we find a prayer offered up by Jesus' disciples after the release of Peter and John who had been arrested for their public preaching. They had been ordered not to preach in the name of Jesus anymore. In such a situation, what would you imagine the content of their prayer to be? They did not ask God to punish their enemies. Nor did they ask him to save them from their enemies. Rather, they asked for divine courage to continue to speak God's word with boldness. And their prayer was answered. Let us learn from their attitude seen in this prayer. Let us not pray for judgment on others nor for an easy life for ourselves, but let us ask for God's help to faithfully and fearlessly carry out the work he has given us to do. It takes courage to stand for the truth when others want to follow the crowd, but it is the way of genuine happiness.
James Watt (87/01/19)
If you look closely at the electric bill you receive each month, you will notice the abbreviation "kwh" which stands for "kilowatt-hour". A kilowatt is one thousand watts, and a watt is a unit of electric power, so a kilowatt-hour is the amount of energy expended in one hour by one kilowatt of power. The word "watt" comes from the name of the Scottish engineer, James Watt, who invented a steam engine which became an important element in the Industrial Revolution. James Watt was born 251 years ago today, on January 19, 1736. Not only was he interested in mathematics and mechanical devices, he also studied chemistry, anatomy and natural philosophy. In 1841, the English poet, William Wordsworth wrote, "I look upon him, considering the magnitude and universality of genius, as perhaps the most extraordinary man this country has ever produced."
Bats in the belfry rescued (87/01/20)
Are you acquainted with the slang expression, "bats in the belfry"? The tower of a church in which a bell is hung is called a belfry. Some belfries are inhabited by the nocturnal flying mammals called bats. When the bells are rung, the daytime sleep of the bats is disturbed and they begin to fly in very disorderly fashion. Thus, such expressions as "He has bats in his belfry", or "He is batty" came to refer to an eccentric person with wild ideas or to one mentally confused. Although we have been having a relatively mild winter in this Tokai District, Europe has been experiencing its worst winter in fifty years. Two-and-a-half weeks of snow storms, bitter winds and record low temperatures have resulted in some 350 deaths. In West Germany, firemen were called out recently to rescue some bats that had fallen from the belfry of a church in Munich. The extreme cold had roused the bats from their winter hibernation and when they tried to fly they fell to the street, stunned. Firemen rescued about 35 of them and took them to a local veterinarian. The person who refuses to follow the crowd may be accused of having "bats in his belfry", but it may simply be that he is "marching to the beat of a different drummer".
The Lenin Mausoleum (87/01/21)
In the 4th century B.C., there was a Persian ruler named Mausolus. After his death, his wife built a tomb for him that he had planned beforehand. From his name the word "mausoleum" was derived, meaning a large and stately tomb built above ground. In the center of Moscow, just outside the walls of the Kremlin, is a large open area called Red Square. Originally a market place and a meeting place for popular assemblies, it is now used as a parade ground and for demonstrations. On the west side of Red Square, along the Kremlin wall, is the Lenin Mausoleum, which houses the preserved body of V.I. Lenin, the Russian revolutionary leader and statesman. This mausoleum may be considered the spiritual center of the Soviet Union and of world communism. Today, a special ceremony will be held in Red Square in front of this mausoleum, commemorating the 63rd anniversary of Lenin's death, which occurred on January 21, 1824. Officially, communism is atheistic, but Lenin has been practically deified in communist ideology. Human beings have an innate religious nature, but we are free to choose the kind of thing/being we will worship. What is the character of your god?
Francis Bacon (87/01/22)
What do you think of when you hear the word "bacon"? You probably think of something to eat, for bacon is the salted and smoked meat from the back and sides of a pig. But scholars, who are not hungry, may have other thoughts, for there have been a couple of famous men in English history with the surname of Bacon. Roger Bacon was a scholastic philosopher and scientist who lived in the 13th century. Francis Bacon, who was born 426 years ago today, on January 22, 1561, was a philosopher, statesman and essayist. In distinction from the deductive method of reasoning used in the Aristotelian logic of the scholastics, he introduced the inductive method which is at the basis of modern science. According to the inductive method, general principles are formulated on the basis of observing many particular examples rather than deducing truths from given propositions. A saying of Francis Bacon worth remembering is the following: "Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study". If you wish to receive a written copy of these daily messages, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus ¥30 in stamps to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
John Hancock (87/01/23)
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress of the United States of America adopted the Declaration of Independence. On that day, the Declaration was signed by only one man, the president of the Congress. Later, after it had been transcribed on parchment, it was signed by him and 55 others. John Hancock was born 150 years ago today, on January 23, 1737. He became the head of Boston's leading mercantile firm and strongly opposed British taxes and trade restrictions on the American colonies. He became a leader of the revolutionary movement and the president of the Continental Congress. His signature, larger than all the others, comes first on the Declaration of Independence. In American colloquial speech, "John Hancock" is sometimes used to mean a person's signature, so we may say, "Put your John Hancock on this paper." In the West, this term became changed to "John Henry". In some American communities, today is observed as Handwriting Day to encourage legibility in handwriting, for some people's writing, including mine, is very difficult to read. In Luke 10:20, Jesus told his disciples to be glad because their names were written in God's book in heaven.
The Gold Rush (87/01/24)
Today, a special celebration is being held in a small California town northeast of the state capital of Sacramento. Along a river in this town, there is a park called the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historical Park. In this park there is a bronze statue of James Marshall pointing to the spot on the American River where he discovered gold on January 24, 1845, 139 years ago today and an annual ceremony in the park commemorates that event. James Marshall was a carpenter who was overseeing the construction of a sawmill on a fork of the river, when, by chance, he spotted some golden flakes on the riverbed which were found to be genuine gold. When this discovery became widely known, it gave rise to the famous California Gold Rush of 1849. Fortune-hunters from all over the world came to search for gold veins in the California mountains or to pan for gold along its rivers and streams. Many stories of the Wild West are rooted in this California Gold Rush when the greed for gold was at fever pitch. Even today, the aim of many people is to gain riches, but in Proverbs 16:16, it is written, "To get wisdom is better than gold."
A Scottish farmer's mistake (87/01/25)
"Scotch" may refer to the people of Scotland or to a particular kind of barley whiskey made in Scotland. Because Scotsmen are considered to be a very thrifty or frugal people, any person who is stingy with his money may also be called "Scotch". One Sunday, a Scottish farmer mistakenly put a shilling in the church offering plate instead of his usual penny. Noticing his mistake and hoping to recoup his loss, he talked to the church elder after the worship service was over, but the elder refused to exchange the larger coin for the smaller one. "Well, at least I'll get credit for it in heaven," the farmer said to console himself. But the elder repined, "Oh no you won't. You'll only get credit for a penny because God sees your heart and that's what you intended to put in." The text for my sermon this morning is II Corinthians, chapter 9, verses 6-15, in which the Apostle Paul wrote about the proper attitude when offering a gift to God or to others. The gift should not be made reluctantly or under compulsion, he writes, for "God loves a cheerful giver." The spirit of cheerful giving is at the heart of the Christian faith for it is an evidence of love. Christian giving is simply our response to God's many loving gifts to us.
Michigan (87/01/26)
Can you guess which of the fifty United States gets its name from Indian words meaning "great water"? This state is sometimes called the Great Lake state for its borders touch four of the five Great Lakes. It is the only state divided into an upper and lower peninsula by a body of water. It is the state of Michigan and it was admitted into the Union as the 26th state 150 years ago today, on January 26, 1837. The word peninsula comes from two Latin words meaning "almost an island" and refers to land almost completely surrounded by water. The state motto of Michigan is a Latin phrase meaning, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you." We also may see beauty by merely looking about us if we have beauty within our hearts for, as an English proverb goes, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
Prank and Plank (87/01/27)
Two minor news items in a newspaper last week caught my attention. One of them had to do with a prank and the other made mention of a plank. Can you distinguish the difference between a prank and a plank? A prank is a mischievous trick. Seven years ago a group of junior high school boys placed a rock on a railroad track in Osaka prefecture. As a result of this prank, an express train derailed and crashed into a nearby house, causing injuries to many people. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that a boy who was one of the group was partly responsible even though he did not actually participate in the prank itself. The other news item noted that England's Princess Diana refused to take part in a popular parlor game with the words, "No thank you, I'm as thick as a plank." A plank is a long, flat piece of timber. I had never heard this expression in America, so I found the newspaper's explanation that it meant "stupid" to be helpful. I would say that those junior high school boys must have been "as thick as a plank" to do such a prank which endangered people's lives. I'm sure they weren't thinking of the possible consequences of their deed--which is the case with many of us who do stupid things. We also should think before we act or speak.
Dropout (87/01/28)
As you know, the opposite of "in" is "out", but we can't say that the opposite of "drop in" is "dropout". To "drop in" means to stop by for a short visit. We may unexpectedly drop in to see a friend when we are in his neighborhood. A "dropout", on the other hand, is a person who has quit school before graduation. A report issued recently by the Ministry of Education indicates that there was a record number of high school dropouts in Japan during 1985. The report shows that 114,834 senior high school students dropped out of school during that year, an increase of 5,674 over the previous year. The report attributes the jump in the number of dropouts to an increase in the number of students due to the so-called "second baby-boom generation". Most of the dropouts said they left school because they could not adapt to school life or felt they needed to change the course of their lives by finding jobs or attending vocational schools. Others dropped out because they were not doing well in school, because of family problems or because of delinquency. Special care needs to be taken to keep dropouts from dropping down to a level of anti-social behavior.
Jamu in Indonesia (87/01/29)
An article in yesterday's newspaper noted that ancient medicinal remedies have become a booming business in the islands of Indonesia. The traditional herbal medicine called "jamu" is concocted from various kinds of spices, roots, bark, leaves, seeds, fruit, bone and other natural ingredients. This popular drink may be dispensed along the street by women dressed in traditional sarongs from bottles carried in large fruit baskets on their backs, but it is also sold in supermarkets and drugstores. Jamu is considered to be helpful for many ailments, including aches and pains, bad breath, facial wrinkles, flagging sexual energy, venereal diseases and nervous disorders, and new recipes for it are constantly coming out. There are now more than 200 different herbal medicines being produced in Indonesia by more than 270 factories. Last year, sales totaled some $25 million and jamu is being exported to foreign countries, including the United States and Europe. All people desire good health, but genuine good health requires a healthy mind. As we read in Proverbs 17:22, "A cheerful heart is a good medicine" or "Being cheerful keeps you healthy."
"First dream" (87/01/02)
New Year's Resolutions (87/01/03)
The vine and the branches (87/01/04)
Seseki Natsume (87/01/05)
Peace (87/01/06)
Hare and rabbit (87/01/07)
Mumpsimus (87/01/08)
Richard Nixon (87/01/09)
Counterproductive activities (87/01/10)
The Lord's Prayer (87/01/11)
Pestalozzi (87/01/12)
St. Knute (87/01/13)
Albert Schweitzer (87/01/14)
Teachers Day (87/01/15)
Prohibition of smoking (87/01/16)
Yonakunisan-ga (87/01/17)
Prayer to God not to punish their enemies (87/01/18)
James Watt (87/01/19)
Bats in the belfry rescued (87/01/20)
The Lenin Mausoleum (87/01/21)
Francis Bacon (87/01/22)
John Hancock (87/01/23)
The Gold Rush (87/01/24)
A Scottish farmer's mistake (87/01/25)
Michigan (87/01/26)
Prank and Plank (87/01/27)
Dropout (87/01/28)
Jamu in Indonesia (87/01/29)
Bookworms disappearing (87/01/30)
Republic of Nauru (87/01/31)
Alfred Tennyson's poem (87/01/01)