Listen and speak (87/11/01)
In the Roman Catholic Church tradition, November 1st is a solemn feast day called All Saints' Day. In that Church, a saint is a martyr or one who has led a very holy life and has been declared a saint by the Church. In the New Testament, however, this word is used to refer to all Christians. It is the custom of our church in Takahama to have a short memorial ceremony on the first Sunday of November to remember those of our church family who have passed away. So far, there has been only one member of that church who has been called to his heavenly home. He was a meek and quiet man who was a "saint", in the New Testament sense of the word. My sermon today is taken from the 1st chapter of James, verse 19, where it is written that we should be "quick to listen, but slow to speak." How many of us practice just the opposite? We are quick to speak and slow to listen. If there were more listeners and fewer speakers and if the speakers would first listen before speaking, our world would be a happier place. In Proverbs 10:19, we read, "The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet" and Ecclesiastes 3:7 teaches that there is a time for silence and a time for talk, but many of us have trouble discerning which is which.
Dakota (87/11/02)
Among the 50 United States of America, there are two pairs of states with the same name which are distinguished by the terms North and South. One such pair of states joined the Union as the 39th and 40th states 98 years ago today. At that time, a large area in the north-central part of the country was called the Dakota Territory, after the name of an Indian tribe. If the people in this territory had been able to agree on which city should be the capital, the entire territory would have been admitted as a single state. However, agreement was not reached, so the territory was divided into two. Bismark became the capital of North Dakota and Pierre the capital of South Dakota. "Dakota", means "friend" or "ally" in the Dakota language. It would be a lonely life without friends. In Proverbs 17:17, it is written, "A friend loves at all times."
Culture Day (87/11/03)
Today is a holiday in the Republic of Panama, celebrating its declaration of independence from Colombia on this day in 1903. It is also a holiday in the Commonwealth of Dominica, which achieved its independence from Britain on this day in 1978. And in Japan, today is a holiday called "Culture Day". Until the end of the war, this 3rd day of November was a holiday called Meiji-setsu, in honor of Emperor Meiji, who was born on this day in 1852. On this day in 1946, the new Japanese Constitution was publicly announced, or promulgated. Culture Day is meant to foster love and respect for culture. There are various meanings of the word "culture", but here it refers to intellectual and artistic activities and the works produced by them. We usually think of a "cultured" person as one whose taste has been refined by aesthetic and intellectual training, but unless one's moral sense has also been cultivated the person may be simply a cultured criminal. According to the Bible, true refinement is not something added from outside through education or discipline but something generated by an inner change which is rooted in a healthy faith. In Luke 6:45, Jesus taught that "A good person brings good out of the treasure of good things in his heart."
Treasure in Poland (87/11/04)
Two weeks ago in the Polish city of Glogow, a 40-year-old man was digging a ditch in his garden when his shovel struck something hard. He removed a metal disk from the ground and, digging deeper, he struck the remains of an ancient barrel. He notified the local museum which sent men out to finish digging up the barrel and examine its contents. What they found was a treasure trove of 20,000 11th century silver coins. The museum said the monetary value of the coins was impossible to estimate, but they have "an extremely high historical value". Included were several units of coins which served as currency in international trade in the Middle Ages. The coins had remained in good condition through the centuries, showing very few signs of corrosion. The worker who discovered the treasure wishes to remain anonymous, but he will receive a reward of some 50,000 zlotys, about the equivalent of $170, or six weeks' average wages. In Matthew 13: 44, Jesus told the story of a man who happened to find a treasure hidden in a field, but this man didn't call the museum. He covered the treasure up and then sold all his possessions in order to purchase that field. This story teaches that when one recognizes the great value of God's kingdom, he is willing to give up all he has in order to gain it.
Ghostwriter (87/11/05)
A ghost is the spirit of a dead person which is said to appear to living people. I am told that Japanese ghosts do not have legs, but I cannot verify this rumor from actual experience. In fact, I have never seen a non-Japanese ghost either, so I don't know if they have legs or not. In the western United States, many towns grew up quickly during the so-called "Gold Rush" when people went west searching for gold, but many of them were later abandoned and became known as ghost towns. However, there is another kind of ghost, which is the shortened form of ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is a person who writes for and gives credit of authorship to another person. Politicians or celebrities who have not either the time or the talent to write books, articles or speeches themselves may employ ghosts to do that job for them. If the real writer's name appears along with the celebrity's name, that writer is not a ghost but a collaborator. To collaborate means to labor or work together with someone for a common goal. In the 1st verse of the 6th chapter of 11 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul refers to himself as a coworker or collaborator with God in accomplishing God's purpose in the world. All believers in God should be his collaborators in this important work.
Basketball (87/11/06)
126 years ago today, on November 6, 1861, James Naismith was born in Canada. In 1891, while serving as director of physical education at the Y. M. C. A. Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts in the United States, he invented a simple game to provide exercise for students who got bored during his classes. He hung two peach baskets at opposite ends of the gymnasium and then chose two teams of nine players each. He gave them a soccer ball which, he said, could be bounced or passed, but never kicked or carried. The aim was to shoot the ball into one basket and keep the opposing team from shooting it into the other basket. Later, the wooden peach baskets were replaced by woven-wire baskets and the number of players on a team was reduced to five. In 1912, open-bottomed nets began to be used and the pace of the game was greatly accelerated. This popular game of basketball, which is now played around the world, requires balance, co-ordination and quick reactions. It is a good builder of character, for even though it does not require great physical strength, it does require endurance, mental alertness, courage and unselfish co-operation. In my youth, it was one of my favorite sports.
The Soviet Union (87/11/07)
Today is the 70th anniversary of the Great Socialist Revolution, so parades and other special events are being held in Moscow. The Soviet Union is the largest country in the world and has the third largest population. Being a neighbor of Japan, Japanese people should know the basic facts about this superpower. So today, I will give a short quiz regarding the Soviet Union. How many of the following questions can you answer? What is the meaning of the initials U.S.S.R.? How many constituent republics are there in that country? Which one is the largest? What are the names of the country's president, prime minister and tallest mountain? Here are the answers: The largest of the 15 republics in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic with 70% of the land area and more than half the population. The tallest mountain, 7,495 meters high, is no longer called Mt. Stalin. The name has been changed to Mt. Communism. The president of the Soviet Union is Andre Gromyko and the prime minister is Nikolai Ryzhkov, but the most important man in the country is Communist Party Secretary, Mikhail Gorbachev and I hope his upcoming summit meeting with President Reagan will help make the world a safer place.
Winter (87/11/08)
As the weather is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter, we realize that the winter season is approaching. In Western literature, winter may symbolize a time of difficulty and unpleasantness. People's feelings also may become more severe, as Victor Hugo has written, "Winter changes into stone the water of heaven and the heart of man." Winter nights are longer than those of summer and night also may be a symbol of spiritual darkness. Yet, it is a part of our Christian faith that even times of difficulty, trials and sadness have meaning for God has some good purpose in all the events of life. We are assured that after the cold and harshness of winter the warmth and new life of spring will return, that following the darkness of night comes the light of a new day. In the Bible, night is sometimes the symbol of death and the morning may symbolize the resurrection into new life. The person with a healthy faith is able to face present problems and future uncertainties with hope because, as the old Testament poet wrote in Psalm 30, verse 5, "Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." This is the point of my sermon today and I pray that you also will know the hope and joy that comes from a living faith.
Coffee (87/11/09)
Which do you enjoy more, coffee or tea? Personally, I like tea better than coffee and I prefer green tea to black tea. Does that mean I have been in Japan too long? Coffee is considered to be the world's most widely drunk refreshment. It is said that an Arab goat-herder in the 9th century noticed that his goats became frisky after eating the red berries of a leafy bush. Sampling some of the berries, he became a bit frolicsome himself. He told his fellow tribesmen about this invigorating fruit and, for the next four hundred years, coffee berries were chewed for their stimulating effect. Later, the Arabs began to boil the coffee berries and this brew then spread throughout the world. Some people become coffee-addicts but that's better than some other addictions. At least people don't get drunk from drinking coffee. The Bible teaches that drunkenness is sinful.
An iceberg (87/11/10)
In Germany, there is a city named Hamburg. France has a city named Strasbourg. The Russian city of Leningrad used to be called St. Petersburg. And in Scotland, there is a city named Edinburgh. The word "burg" in English, when spelled with a "u", means a fortified town. These days, in colloquial speech, it may be used to refer to any city or town, but with a negative connotation. When spelled with an "e", "berg", which comes from the Scandinavian word for mountain refers to an iceberg which is a massive floating body of ice. Last week a monstrous iceberg, about 155 kilometers long and 40 kilometers wide, broke away from the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. This iceberg is 20% larger in area than all of Aichi Prefecture. It is estimated to be at least 225 meters thick, with 90% of its bulk below the surface of the water. Although it is slowly moving south, because it is so large, it should not become a hazard for navigation. In Job 38:30, the Lord implies that it is he who turns the waters to stone and freezes the face of the sea.
Veterans Day (87/11/11)
Today happens to be my younger son's birthday, but that's not the reason it's a holiday in the United States. Nor is it because it is the birthday of the famous Russian novelist Fyodar Dostoyevsky. Rather, it is because today is the anniversary of the armistice between the Allies and the Central Powers which ended the First World War in 1918, following four years of fighting. For many years, this day was celebrated as Armistice Day in the United States, but since 1954 the name has been changed to Veterans Day to honor all those who have served in the nation's armed forces. A veteran is a person who has a long record of service in a given activity or capacity or one who has been a member of the armed forces. The American author, Henry Miller has written, "How different the new order would be if we could consult the veteran instead of the politician."
Fat people (87/11/12)
In Japanese, if you refer to a person as suma-to, you are speaking of that person's outward appearance, but in the United States, "smart" refers primarily to a person's mental ability. When my wife and I make our periodic visits to the States, we are impressed with the growing number of people who are not "smart" in the Japanese sense of the word. We see more and more people who are fat or overweight. Yesterday's newspaper carried the story of a middle-aged man who fell into the Sacramento River in California while bending over to untie a small boat. The current carried him downstream and he cried out for help. A coast guard crew heard his cries and went to his aid. However, they were unable to lift the man, who weighed 144 kilograms, into their boat, so they tied him to his own boat with ropes, handed him a life preserver and towed him for 300 meters to shore. The embarrassed man thanked the crew, but declined treatment and slipped away without giving his name. As people become more affluent, they also tend to become fatter, so we are noticing more and more plump people in Japan too. In Philippians 3:19, Paul refers to those "whose god is the belly" or whose "appetite is their god". We should take care to keep our bodies, minds and spirits in a healthy condition.
Superstition (87/11/13)
When the first day of the month falls on a Sunday, you can be sure of two things. One is that the 13th day of that month will fall on a Friday. Superstitious people in the West consider this an unlucky day. Do you know why? For superstitious people in the East, today is a so-called "red mouth day", or shakkōnichi, which is also an unlucky day. Do you know why? Another, happier certainty in months that begin on Sunday is that there will be five Sundays that month and it is our custom to hold a meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages on the afternoons of the fifth Sundays of the month. So we will hold another such meeting on November 29th, beginning at 1:30, at the Geijutsu Sōzō Center, north of the Shinsakae-machi subway station. At that meeting, I plan to give a short talk on "Superstition" and I would be happy to hear your views on this subject also. You are welcome to attend even if you have nothing to say. My wife and I would like to meet you there. An English theologian has stated that superstition is "not an excess of religious feeling, but a misdirection of it."
Prince of Wales (87/11/14)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of four political divisions: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The principality of Wales, on a peninsula west of England, is a little larger than the island of Shikoku. It has a long and proud history, but in 1282, the English King Edward I conquered that nation. In order to pacify Welsh sentiment, King Edward gave his son and heir the title, Prince of Wales. From that time on, the English crown prince has regularly been given this title. The present Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, was born 39 years ago today, on November 14, 1948. In commemoration of his birthday, today is a holiday on the British Virgin Islands and on the West Indian Island of St. Kitts. The name of the Prince of Wales is Charles and the name of his wife, the Princess of Wales, is Diana. The name, Charles, comes from the Teutonic word for "man" and when the Prince of Wales ascends to the throne, he will be known as King Charles III. In recent weeks, English newspapers have speculated about disharmony between the Prince and his younger, pretty Princess, but today we wish him a happy birthday and a long and happy wedded life.
Odd day (87/11/15)
Today is the 15th day of the 11th month. It is an odd-numbered day in an odd-numbered month. In English, numbers indivisible by two are called "odd", meaning strange, and the Japanese word kisū has the same meaning. In Oriental thought, odd numbers are considered more auspicious than even numbers, or qūsū. Today some Japanese parents take children aged seven, five and three to a shrine for a special celebration to give thanks for their healthy growth thus far and to pray for their continued healthy development. Today also happens to be Sunday, the first day of a new week. It is the custom for Christians to gather in churches on this day every week for a celebration commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week almost two thousand years ago. As we gather in worship, we rejoice in Christ's victory over death and in the victory God continues to give those who trust in him. My sermon today is taken from the 118th Psalm, where it is written in verse 24, "This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." We should remember this verse not only on Sunday but everyday, for the person with a healthy faith will rejoice on odd days as well as on normal ones.
Kindergarten (87/11/16)
At the Nagoya International School, there is both a nursery school and a separate kindergarten class. The nursery school is for children aged three to five. Children in the five-year-old's class will go on to a Japanese grade school but those in the kindergarten class expect to enter the first grade of the International School, where the curriculum is in English. In kindergarten, which comes from the German word meaning "garden of children", songs, games and other interesting activities are used to prepare children for first grade. The first kindergarten was established in Germany in 1837, in America in 1856 and in Japan at the Tokyo Joshi Shihan on November 16,1876, 111 years ago today. According to the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, verse 14, the Kingdom of God belongs to children and to those who have a child-like faith.
The Suez Canal (87/11/17)
120 years ago, the only way to get to Europe from Asia by ship was to make a long journey around the large continent of Africa. However, 118 years ago today, on November 17, 1869, the Suez Canal was opened, making the trip much shorter and easier. This 160 kilometer-long canal connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea. It took ten years to construct, under the direction of the French diplomat and engineer, Ferdinand de Lessees, who celebrated his 64th birthday two days after the canal was opened. Many difficult problems, both political and constructional, were encountered during its construction and its completion was largely due to the indomitable spirit of this man. The ancient Greek philosopher, Epicurus, wrote, "The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it."
Names of Koreans (87/11/18)
People who read the newspaper or watch television realize that an election campaign is being conducted in the neighboring country of South Korea. It is the first such election of a president through popular vote in 17 years and the supporters of the four candidates are very enthusiastic. Since the ruling party's candidate, Mr. Roh, is opposed by three candidates named Kim, vernacular newspapers refer to the candidates as ichi-ro san-kin. However, the pronunciation of these candidates' names is quite different in their English transliterations. Just as the names of Europeans are often given an Americanized pronunciation by Americans, so Japanese give the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese characters in the names of Koreans or Chinese which is quite different than the original pronunciation. Personally, I think radio and television newscasters and newspaper editors should indicate the native pronunciation of the names of people using Chinese characters just as they do for those foreigners using other kinds of letters. Insisting on the Japanese pronunciation of Korean names is not conducive to improved relations between these two countries nor to a better feeling on the part of the Korean minority in Japan.
Gettysburg Address (87/11/19)
Government officials receive many invitations to ceremonies which they are unable to attend. The committee members who invited the American president to attend the dedication of a graveyard for soldiers who died in a battle during the Civil War were surprised when he accepted. They had already asked a famous orator to speak at that ceremony, but since the President was in attendance, he also was asked to say "a few appropriate remarks". The main speaker, a former president of Harvard University, delivered an ornate, two-hour address which was well-received, but the two-minute speech by the President was not even heard by many of those present whose attention had been diverted elsewhere and who had expected a longer address. In his speech, the president said that "the world will little note nor long remember what we say here", but those words proved to be mistaken, for it was in that Gettysburg Address, delivered by President Abraham Lincoln 124 years ago today, that he referred to "government of the people, by the people, for the people" which even today is considered the ideal of a democratic state. Abraham Lincoln was a man with very limited formal education, but his outlook was greatly influenced by the Bible, which he called "the best gift God has ever given to man".
Gallup interviews (87/11/20)
Last spring, the Gallup Organization conducted interviews with 4,244 Americans from around the country related to personal, social and economic values. The recently-published results make clear that values differ according to the region. The northeastern region, or New England, tends to be liberal on economic and social issues, concerned about protecting the environment and shows a lack of religiousness. In contrast, the South has very conservative social attitudes, is militantly anti-communistic and is the most religious part of the country. Southeastern states in particular are the least tolerant of differing views and the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma are the most opposed to tax increases and to government social programs. California is seen to be the most easygoing state, while the most typical Americans are those living in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. Thus, we may call this region of the country "Middle America" in both a geographical and ideological sense. My own roots are in the state of Illinois, but having lived in Japan longer than in my homeland, I cannot say that I have a typical American outlook. In keeping with Japanese values, I consider the middle way more attractive than extremes on the right or the left.
Voltaire (87/11/21)
In the Gospel of John, chapter 11, verse 10, when Jesus said that a person who walks in the night will stumble because he has no light, he was speaking of spiritual light. A person who has spiritual light, or understanding, is said to be enlightened. The Enlightenment, or keimō-undō, was a philosophical movement of the 18th century which critically examined traditional doctrines from the viewpoint of rationalism, or gōrishugi. One of the leading lights of the Enlightenment was Francois Marie Arouet du Voltaire, who was born 293 years ago today, on November 21, 1694. Voltaire received a religious education and maintained a religious viewpoint throughout his life--albeit an untraditional one. He considered Christianity good for lower class people, but advocated a simple deism, or rishinron, for the intellectual elite. He referred to the supreme being in which he believed as the "great watchmaker" and he advocated a general tolerance of all kinds of opinions and doctrines. In fact, the word "voltarianism" has been coined to indicate opposition to intolerance and bigotry. Voltaire considered the two most important aims of philosophy to be "the discovery of what is true and the practice of that which is good".
The Lord is my Shepherd (87/11/22)
Among Christians, this first day of the week is sometimes called the Lord's Day because it is the day when we gather together in churches to worship the Lord. In the Old Testament, the term "Lord" usually refers to Almighty God, the Creator, but in the New Testament, it often refers to Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead on the first day of the week. As the pastor of a small church in Takahama, every Sunday morning I preach a sermon at the worship service of that church. Sunday messages on this "Daily Word" telephone are usually related to that sermon. My sermon today is based on the story in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6, verses 30-44, where Jesus miraculously provided food for five thousand men. In the introductory verses of that story, I see two features that remind me of many Japanese. First Jesus' disciples were too busy and had no leisure time so he led them away to rest. Some of us also are too busy and we need to take time to rest--both physically and spiritually. Second, the crowd of people was confused, "like sheep without a shepherd". To live a truly happy and meaningful life, we need to have a worthy purpose or leader. The Christian affirms the words of the 3rd Psalm: "The Lord is my Shepherd".
Giving thanks (87/11/23)
This 23rd day of November is a holiday in Japan. Until the end of the war, this day was called Niiname-sai or new-tasting festival, for during the night on this day, the emperor ceremonially eats a meal of new rice in the presence of the tenjinchigi, the kamigami of heaven and earth. Since 1946, it has been designated kinrō-kansha no hi, or Labor Thanksgiving Day, a day to encourage respect for labor and to give thanks for the fruits of labor. I wonder how many people are truly giving thanks today. And if they are, I wonder to whom the thanksgiving is directed? Is it directed to other people, to the traditional tenjinchigi, or to Almighty God, the Creator and Ruler of heaven and earth? In the Old Testament book of Psalms, chapter 118 begins and ends with these words; "Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good, and his love is eternal".
Zaire (87/11/24)
I have learned many things since coming to Japan. One of them is that, in British English, the last letter of the alphabet is pronounced "zed". In the U. S., we pronounce it "zee". There are three countries in the world whose names begin with a Z. All three of them are located in Africa and today is a national holiday in the largest one. Do you know its name? The pattern of its national flag is similar to that of Japan's. It is green with a yellow circle in the center in which there is the picture of an arm carrying a flaming torch. This country used to be called the Belgian Congo. After gaining independence in 1960, its name was changed to the Republic of the Congo and in 1971 its name was changed once again to Zaire. The name of the 4380-kilometer-long river which meanders through the country was also changed from the Congo to the Zaire. Zaire is over six times as large as Japan with a population about a quarter of Japan's. In contrast with Japan, it has many resources, including copper, diamonds, cobalt, zinc, manganese and uranium. It also exports large amounts of coffee, rubber and timber. My sister has been serving as a missionary in Zaire for over thirty years, but her lifestyle is very different from that of her brother's in Japan.
Andrew Carnegie (87/11/25)
Today is the birthday of Andrew Carnegie, who was born in Scotland on November 25, 1835. After emigrating to the United States when he was 13, Carnegie began working for the Pennsylvania Railroad and later became a multimillionaire. In 1900, his Carnegie Steel Company produced a quarter of the steel used in the U. S. and controlled iron mines, ore ships and railroads. He considered surplus wealth "a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community", so after his retirement, he made charitable donations of some $350 million and established various philanthropic organizations. Believing that there was no use of money "so productive of good to boys and girls who have good within them and ability and ambition to develop it as the founding of a public library", he established over 2,800 libraries throughout the country. On Sunday afternoon at 1:30, we will hold another meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" messages at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Center, north of the Shinsakae-machi subway station. My wife and I would like to meet you there and hear your comments or suggestions regarding this telephone service.
Thanksgiving Day (87/11/26)
Although we should be thankful every day of the year, this fourth Thursday of November is the traditional Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It is customary to enjoy an elaborate meal on this day with one's family and to give thanks to God for his goodness. Nowadays, we may call any large meal a "feast", although this word originally referred to a religious celebration. It comes from a Latin word meaning joyous as do the words festive, festival and festivity. The traditional main dish of the Thanksgiving feast is a turkey. It is a native American bird which Benjamin Franklin suggested be designated the national bird of the United States. However, turkeys are considered to be the least intelligent of domesticated animals and an incompetent or disliked person is sometimes called a "turkey" in American slang. I have read that farmers teach baby turkey to eat by putting marbles in their feed. The little birds peck at the marbles; their bills slide off into the mash and they get enough food by accident to stay alive. At our listeners meeting on Sunday afternoon, I plan to give a short talk on "Superstition" and would like to hear your views on this subject also. The meeting will begin at 1:30 at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Center, north of the Shinsakae-machi subway station. Please join us if you can.
Starlings (87/11/27)
In colloquial English, an unsophisticated country boy who goes to the city may be called a bumpkin, which is spelled like pumpkin, except that it begins with a "b" instead of a "p". In Japanese, he might be called a mukudori, which is the name of a small bird. The English translation of mukudori is "starling". A couple of days ago in the newspaper I saw a picture of a small village in northeastern France. Although the picture was taken during the day, the sky was darkened by more than a million starlings that had invaded that village. The article notes that the starlings were making a lot of noise and causing much damage. An experience I had last week helps me to image some of the damage this huge flock of birds was causing. As I was riding my bicycle to a meeting in downtown Nagoya, I suddenly heard a little noise and felt a drop of something on my leg. Looking down, I found some bird dung on my trousers. In Japanese, this is called fun, but, to me, it was not "fun". I had to stop at a service station to wash it off. Starlings and other birds are very helpful to farmers because they eat many harmful insects, but too much of anything is not good. As a Japanese proverb says, "Too much medicine becomes a poison."
Quacks (87/11/28)
The sounds or cries made by animals are expressed differently in Japanese and English. An American dog barks bow-wow, while a Japanese dog cries wan-wan. The ga-ga- sound in Japanese may be applied to the cry of frogs, hens or ducks; but in English we say that frogs croak, hens cackle and ducks quack. But "quack" also has a different meaning. It is the shortened form of quacksalver and refers, primarily, to an untrained person who claims to have medical knowledge. Thus a quack is a fake, or phony, doctor. There are many quacks around who try to deceive people with their useless medicines or quick and easy ways to lose weight. There are also quacks in other fields who claim to be experts on matters about which they know little. There are quack scientists, quack politicians and quack economists as well as quack doctors. Sad to say, there are even quack evangelists whose purpose is to make money rather than to proclaim the Good News of God's love. In Matthew 5:15, Jesus warned his disciples to be on guard against false prophets, and we also must be careful to distinguish the fake from the genuine. The subject for discussion at our meeting tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Center will be "Superstition" and you are invited to attend.
Dakota (87/11/02)
Culture Day (87/11/03)
Treasure in Poland (87/11/04)
Ghostwriter (87/11/05)
Basketball (87/11/06)
The Soviet Union (87/11/07)
Winter (87/11/08)
Coffee (87/11/09)
An iceberg (87/11/10)
Veterans Day (87/11/11)
Fat people (87/11/12)
Superstition (87/11/13)
Prince of Wales (87/11/14)
Odd day (87/11/15)
Kindergarten (87/11/16)
The Suez Canal (87/11/17)
Names of Koreans (87/11/18)
Gettysburg Address (87/11/19)
Gallup interviews (87/11/20)
Voltaire (87/11/21)
The Lord is my Shepherd (87/11/22)
Giving thanks (87/11/23)
Zaire (87/11/24)
Andrew Carnegie (87/11/25)
Thanksgiving Day (87/11/26)
Starlings (87/11/27)
Quacks (87/11/28)
Advent (87/11/29)
Winston Churchill (87/11/30)
Listen and speak (87/11/01)