The Value of Pi (89/07/01)
One kind of pie, spelled p-i-e, is a common American dessert. Another kind of pi, spelled p-i, is the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet. This pi is also used as a mathematical symbol to indicate the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The value of pi is usually given as 3.1416, but actually these numbers may be extended unendingly in an irregular sequence. When my son was a university student, he set a new record by memorizing the value of pi to 1650 decimal places. However, his record was soon broken and now a graduate student at an American university has memorized the value of pi to 35,000 digits. This 30-year-old native of India is being studied by researchers who want to understand how his amazing memory works. Since the man's father is said to know all 37 plays and 150 sonnets of Shakespeare by heart, there seems to be an obvious influence of both heredity and childhood environment. Instead of envying the person with such a great memory, we should be thankful for the ability to forget. One man with an outstanding memory became insane because he was unable to forget anything and his reasoning processes drowned in a flood of facts. (2974)
Apology (89/07/02)
The English word "apology" may mean either an expression of regret for some fault or offense, an owabi, in Japanese, or a formal defense of one's position, a benmei. The Greek word apologia, from which it is derived, has only the latter meaning. One New Testament passage in which this Greek word is used is in the First Letter of Peter, chapter 3, where it is written: "Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect." According to this exhortation, Christians should always be prepared to give an apology, a defense or an answer to those who ask about the hope or faith they have within their hearts. Over-zealous believers may invite an adverse reaction by earnestly explaining their faith to people who are not interested, but when the attitude or behavior of a Christian stimulates interest on the part of the observer who asks for an explanation, the Christian should always be ready to give a clear reason for his or her faith. But that defense must not be characterized by a sense of superiority. It must be given in a humble spirit of gentleness and respect, for the attitude of the Christian may have an even greater influence than the logic of the apology. (2975)
Franz Kafka (89/07/03)
Franz Kafka was born of a well-to-do Jewish family in Prague, Czechoslovakia, 106 years ago today, on July 3, 1883. After studying law, he became an employee of the Austrian government. Although he is now famous as a novelist and essayist, few of his literary works were published before his death in 1924. Kafka wrote in a clear and precise style, but he depicted a world that is both real and dream-like, in which modern men and women, burdened with guilt, isolation and anxiety, make a futile search for personal salvation. The eerie settings of his writings point up the abnormalities of modern civilization. Due to his influence, the adjective, Kafkaesque, has been coined to mean a surreal distortion. I believe that the answer to the problems Kafka posed are found in a healthy faith in a rational God. (2976)
Fourth of July (89/07/04)
Today is Independence Day in the United States, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. In my hometown in northern Illinois, there is a large park in the center of town where there are picnic tables under trees, a baseball diamond, tennis courts, a pond and a large open area covered with grass. In my childhood, on the Fourth of July, this place was turned into an amusement park with a merry-go-round, a ferris wheel and other rides for children, young people and adults and booths where various kinds of games were played and food was sold. The first event in the morning was a candy scramble. A man on a high stand threw candy out to the mass of children gathered around the stand which they caught in the air or scrambled to pick up from the ground. Baseball games were played throughout the day between teams of various age groups. There was an outdoor band concert, a tug-of-war and a contest between two teams of firemen using fire hoses to push a large object suspended from a wire to the opposite pole with the force of the water. The celebration ended with a large fireworks display in the evening and I returned home, tired out but happy. I confess that I didn't think much about my country's independence but I did enjoy myself. (2977)
Taboo (89/07/05)
Because of social or religious tradition or custom, speaking of certain subjects is considered taboo in certain societies. Tabu is a Polynesian word signifying something sacred. It was believed that to talk about holy things would invoke the wrath of the gods, so speaking of things considered tabu was prohibited. In Japan, freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Constitution. Nevertheless, public discussion of certain subjects is still considered taboo. A book entitled A Challenge to Taboos has been published by a citizens' group in Nagasaki related to Mayor Motoshima's controversial remarks about the wartime responsibility of the late emperor and the reaction they provoked. The book includes opinions of people regarding the emperor's role in the Pacific War and letters written in support of the mayor's statement: It is hoped that publication of this book will encourage further honest, uninhibited discussion of a subject that has been tabooed in Japan until now. In a healthy democratic society, public discussion of decisions affecting the whole country made by its leaders, whether politicians or symbolic or actual rulers, cannot be taboo. Restraints on freedom of speech, whether by law or social pressure, must be resisted by those dedicated to the principle that sovereign power rests with the people. (2978)
Cherry Festival (89/07/06)
You may be surprised to hear that a National Cherry Festival is now being held in the American state of Michigan for you may think it is too late in the year for such an event. The word "cherry" brings different images to the minds of Japanese and Americans. Japanese think of delicate flowers while Americans think of tasty fruit. The more than two million cherry trees in Michigan are not considered objects of beauty but producers of a major crop. The week-long festival in Traverse City is held to call attention to the fact that Michigan ranks first among the states in the production of cherries. During this cherry festival, people do not relax beneath the trees and admire the cherries while they eat, drink and compose poetry. Rather, there are tours through cherry orchards, parades, pageants and music concerts. Along Cherry Lane, there are many booths where fresh cherries may be purchased, along with cherry ice cream, cherry fudge and baked cherry goods, including cherry pizza. Even cherry jewelry is on sale. During the week, there will be cherry pie eating contests, cherry-recipe baking contests and cherry hunts for children. In the New Testament, a tree having pretty leaves but not bearing fruit is used as a negative figure of people who say pretty words but do not back them up with concrete deeds.(2979)
Broken English (89/07/07)
The person from an English-speaking country visiting Japan is naturally confused by the many signs, posters, billboards, advertisements, etc. filled with Chinese and Japanese characters that are not understandable. But that person is also impressed with the surprising number of words or phrases written with English letters that are mixed in with the confusing vernacular writing that attract the foreigner's attention. However, trying to understand some of those words and phrases causes a different kind of confusion in the mind of the visitor who does not realize that they are not necessarily meant to communicate meaning. In Japan, calligraphy is a fine art in which the writing itself rather than the meaning is important. Japanese poetry also communicates an atmosphere or feeling that is deeper than the literal words used in its composition. Likewise, the English letters which are often arranged in confusing patterns, including misspelled words and atrocious grammar, may be considered a modern Japanese-style "work of art", a kind of decoration meant to create an impression rather than to be understood in a literal sense. Such signs may provide amusement for foreign visitors but they are not helpful to serious students of English. Nevertheless, meaning may also be communicated through so-called broken English. (2980)
Knight (89/07/08)
The period of darkness between sunset and sunrise is night, spelled n-i-g-h-t. When a "k" is added to the beginning of that word, the pronunciation remains the same but the meaning is quite different. In the feudal age in Europe, a knight was a mounted warrior, a samurai on a horse. Now in Britain, a knight is a man who has been honored by the monarch for personal merit or service to the country. Under the present constitutional monarchy, people are recommended for knighthood by the prime minister. Prime Minister Thatcher is an admirer of former American President Ronald Reagan and recently, upon her recommendation, Queen Elizabeth made Mr. Reagan a knight of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath. Technically, Mr. Reagan could now be called "Sir Ronald" but since he is not a British subject, it would not be proper to use "Sir" as a title for him nor to call his wife "Lady Nancy", even though he is a gentleman and she is a lady. Mr. Reagan is the first American president to be knighted after leaving office although General Eisenhower became a knight before he became president. To gain true respect, however, inner character is more important than a fancy title. As Thomas Fuller has written, "Virtue is the only true nobility." (2981)
The Lord's Prayer (89/07/09)
The reason that Christians go to church on Sundays is to join with others to worship God. Prayer is an important part of our worship. In Christian thought, prayer is not merely calling upon God for help or making a request. It is a time of personal communion with our heavenly Father. Praise, thanksgiving, confession, intercession and petition are all included in Christian prayers. In most churches throughout the world, believers join together in praying the Lord's Prayer, a prayer taught by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 9-13. This prayer is in keeping with the teaching of Jesus found at the close of that chapter to seek first God's kingdom and his requirements, for it begins with the concern that God's name will be honored, that his kingdom will come and that his will will be done. Requests for physical necessities, forgiveness of sins and deliverance from testing and evil follow. Before teaching this short prayer, Jesus emphasized that it is not that length of a prayer that is important. What is important is the sincere heart of the one who prays to "Our Father in heaven". It is too bad that so many of us who recite this prayer do not follow its example in our personal prayers, which are usually centered on our desires rather than on God's purpose. (2982)
Toyohiko Kagawa (89/07/10)
One hundred one years ago today, on July 10, 1888, Toyohiko Kagawa was born in Kobe. Following his parents' deaths, he experienced an unhappy childhood in Tokushima. As a result of his decision to become a Christian, he was disinherited by his wealthy uncle. After entering Meiji Gakuin in Tokyo, he almost died of tuberculosis, but following his recovery, he became a Christian evangelist and dedicated his life to helping the poor. As a socialist reformer, he lived and worked in the slums, organized labor unions, farmer's cooperatives and actively worked for peace and justice. Kagawa was convinced that true social reform is rooted in a vital religious faith. Holding evangelistic meetings throughout the country, he did not insist that people become baptized church members. He simply invited them to become "Friends of Jesus" and many people did. (2983)
Announcement Day (89/07/11)
Today is Announcement Day. First, on Sunday afternoon, July 23rd, at 1:30, we will hold a meeting of listeners to this telephone service at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Senta, located north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station. The theme for the meeting is "China". All listeners are invited to attend and each may choose whether to speak about the China spelled with a capital "C" or with a small "c". Second, daily listeners know that my messages include a wide variety of topics and that Sunday messages are related to Christianity, Monday messages are spoken at a slower speed and Tuesday messages often present a topic for listeners to write an essay on, but beginning this week, Saturday messages will be related to my own personal experiences, whether in Japan, the United States or in travels to other countries. I may include personal notes about my family or my personal view-point on certain cultural or political issues. Third, I would be happy to receive your comments regarding this telephone service, your views on subjects treated and your suggestions to make it more worthwhile. Fourth, you may receive a written copy of the coming week's messages by writing to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 3O, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463.(2984)
Orange Day (89/07/12)
Following elections in Europe last month, a newspaper reported that the European Parliament had become "redder and greener". This colorful expression indicated an increase in the number of representatives from Socialist and ecology-conscious parties. A few years ago, yellow was the favored color in the election campaign of Mrs. Aquino in the Philippines. Today is a holiday in Northern Ireland called Orange Day when fervent Protestants wear orange-colored accessories to show their nationalistic feelings. Orange was the name of an area in France which became associated with the royal house of the Netherlands. After Protestant King William of Orange defeated Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland on July 12, 1690, he confiscated lands owned by Irish Catholics and gave them to Protestant Englishmen, sowing the seeds of disharmony and hostility that have borne sour fruit. In Northern Ireland, Orangemen are members of a society to promote and maintain Protestant power in the face of Catholic resistance. It is a travesty that people professing to be followers of the Man who taught his disciples to "live in peace with one another" [Mark 9:50], continue to disobey his word even today. (2985)
Wigs (89/07/13)
Japan is not the only country that maintains certain anachronistic customs. In modern England it is customary for presiding officers of the Houses of Parliament, judges, barristers and bishops to wear long, white wigs which were fashionable 300 years ago. Such headpieces of artificial or human hair were used by both men and women in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome either as a personal adornment or to conceal baldness. The word "wig" is the shortened form of periwig, which is an altered form of peruke, a French word which in turn came from Italian, meaning "head of hair". Nowadays, some men wear a partial wig, or toupee, to cover a bald spot while fashionable women may have a variety of wigs to match their gowns or their moods. Informally, "bigwig" means an important person and this word may apply to those men who wear the big, white wigs in England today. However, times may be changing for the judge in an English court recently allowed barristers to remove their wigs due to an unseasonable heat wave and faulty vents that sent hot air into the courtroom. According to the New Testament book of I Peter, chapter 3, true beauty does not come from hairstyles or outward adornment but from an inner, gentle disposition. (2986)
Deformed Monkeys (89/07/14)
According to Japanese mythology, Awaji Island was one of the first islands produced by that creative couple, Izanagi and Izanami. This eighth largest island in Japan lies between the larger islands of Honshu and Shikoku. In the southern coastal town of Nada, tucked away in the Kashiwara mountain range, lies the Awaji Island Monkey Center. This forested area, where tailless Japanese monkeys live in natural surroundings, is reached by climbing a series of steep steps. Even in this remote part of the island, the negative effects of environmental changes, resulting from resort development plans, are keenly felt. At one time, more than a thousand monkeys lived in this secluded place, but their number is now down to 170. Minoru Nakahashi, director of the center, stated that many baby monkeys are now born with severe deformities due to a chemical, previously used by farmers on their crops, that is still being used to exterminate termites in wooden structures. What interested me especially was his comment that "deformed monkeys are not rejected or bullied by others in their group but instead are protected and given special treatment". Human beings should learn a lesson from the monkeys. (2987)
Hitchhiking (89/07/15)
My first visit to a foreign country followed my first year of college. I had taken two years of Spanish in high school and was enrolled in a Spanish class in university when the dean asked me to serve as a tutor for students from Spanish-speaking countries who did not know English well. One of the boys, the son of a wealthy lawyer in Mexico City, invited me to visit his home during the summer vacation. Desiring to accept his invitation but unable to afford a trip to Mexico, I persuaded a fellow-student to join me in hitchhiking there. A hitchhiker stands on the roadside and solicits rides from passing motorists. I had had previous experience in hitchhiking to nearby towns and to the university, located about 450 kilometers from my hometown, so that summer, I hitchhiked from Chicago to Mexico City, where I stayed at the home of my friend for six weeks while attending summer school at the University of Mexico. On the return trip, I hitchhiked along the west coast of the United States to Oregon to visit my elder sister before returning to Chicago. The interesting, thrilling and even dangerous experiences I had that summer during my 10,000 kilometer musen-ryokō were influential in my decision to become a missionary. (2988)
Sacrifices (89/07/16)
In all religions, there are certain kinds of offerings or sacrifices made to the object of veneration or worship. The nature of such gifts differs depending on the religion and its historical and cultural setting. In Old Testament days, the Jews presented to God offerings of produce, such as grain or fruit, and sacrifices of animals, such as lambs or calves. The New Testament interprets such ceremonial rites as shadows or symbols of a more basic sacrifice. In Christian teaching, there are two fundamental sacrifices which are more important than any ritual. The first is that of Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose life was sacrificed on the cross. That offering to take away the sins of the world expressed the greatness of God's love for sinners and is commemorated in the Communion or Eucharist observances in Christian churches. The other sacrifice is the offering up of ourselves to be used in God's service. At the beginning of the 12th chapter of his Letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul wrote: "Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer." Offering ourselves to God does not mean that we must die on a wooden cross, but it does mean that we must sacrifice ourselves for his service and for the good of others. (2989)
Soyuz/Apollo (89/07/17)
Most of the world is happy that relations between the Soviet Union and the United States are becoming friendlier these days. Certainly, the thinking, personality and style of Mr. Gorbachev have been major factors in this development, but fourteen years ago today, before Mr. Gorbachev entered the international arena, a historic event in Soviet-American relations occurred. On July 17, 1975, the Soviet spaceship, Soyuz, and the American spaceship, Apollo, docked in space. The three American and two Russian crewmen shook hands and were able to move from one space craft to the other. If such international projects that bring common people of hostile nations together are encouraged, their mutual relationships will improve, for it is more difficult to hate a person we have met than a caricature that has been conveyed in government propaganda. (2990)
Baby Sitters (89/07/18)
When both parents are absent from the home, someone must take care of the small children. During the day, such children may be placed in nurseries, but in the evening, American parents often rely on a baby sitter, a person employed to watch over the children for a short period of time--to sit by, with or, sometimes, on them. A Japanese magazine recently has indicated that, once again, Japan has given a special twist to an imported word. Nowadays, a bebi-shitta- may be hired even while the mother is at home, to serve as a private tutor to teach the child manners. This is said to be part of parental strategy to enroll the child in an elite kindergarten or private primary school. If the child can get on the educational escalator of an institution that includes instruction from primary school through university, troublesome entrance examinations may be avoided. There are now some 20 agencies in the Tokyo area which will provide such high quality "baby sitters" at hourly rates starting at ¥4000 an hour, but is not a child's moral education a primary responsibility of the parents? You are invited to attend the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center. (2991)
Sister Relationships (89/07/19)
As part of the effort to foster international understanding, many Japanese cities, towns and prefectures have established formal relationships with so-called "sisters" in other countries. A spokesman for the Japan Municipal League for International Friendship reported that 19 new sister relationships have been formed between towns, 37 between cities and three between prefectures and states since April of last year. Areas in 43 countries now have "sisters" in 34 prefectures in Japan and 109 Japanese cities have more than two sister cities abroad. By far, the most popular country is the United States, which has relationships with 213 Japanese cities. Next in line are China with 93, Brazil with 42 and Australia with 33. At various times during the year, representatives visit their "sisters" in the other country and exchange greetings, reports and gifts. Such relationships may promote international understanding if we remember the words of Proverbs, chapter 7, verse 4, to "Treat wisdom as your sister, and insight as your closest friend." Please join us at the "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting this Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center when we will talk about China. (2992)
Expensive Cities (89/07/20)
When I first arrived in Japan many years ago, I was often informed that Japan was a poor country. I don't hear that comment anymore. Nowadays, for better or for worse, Japan has gained the reputation of being a rich nation. For the past four years, Tokyo and Osaka have been rated as the world's most expensive cities. This assessment is based on the cost of food items, alcoholic drinks, household supplies, personal care items, tobacco, utilities, clothing, domestic help, recreation, entertainment and transport. Many foreigners are finding it difficult to live in Japan because of its high prices. However, the latest survey has placed these two Japanese cities in second and third places for they have now been surpassed by the Iranian capital of Teheran, but I'm sure that most foreigners would find it more difficult to live there than in Japan, Still, it is important to remember that the most important things in life cannot be purchased with money wherever we live. You are invited to join us at the "Daily Word" Listeners Meeting on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center, where we will talk about China spelled with either a capital "C" or a small "c". My wife and I hope to meet you there. (2993)
"Bloody" (89/07/21)
The literal meaning of "bloody" is "stained with blood", but in England it is used by some people as a kind of meaningless word to add emphasis or intensity to their speech. In years gone by, it was considered a vulgar word that respectable people would not use in public, but recently Britain's Crown Prince Charles used this word in a public speech that was very (or "bloody") critical of the way English is taught in British schools. He is quoted as saying that, "All the letters sent from my office I have to correct myself--and that is because English is taught so bloody badly". According to the Prince, a fundamental problem with the way English is taught under the present system is that it does not "educate for character". I wonder what comment the outspoken Prince might make regarding the system of English education in Japan--or the United States, for that matter. Although, personally, I would not use the term "bloody", I agree with his emphasis that a genuine education must include education "for character" and such education must begin before a child enters school. Developing character is more important than stuffing minds with knowledge. A "Daily Word" Listeners Meeting will be held on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center, We hope you will join us there if you can. (2994)
Frustrating "Conversation" (89/07/22)
Many years ago, my wife and I and our three young children were returning to the United States by way of Europe. We were touring in a camping car, which included cramped sleeping places for us all. Before leaving Japan, my mother had sent me the name and address of a relative of my deceased father, whose parents had come from Germany. I located the address. It was a four-storied apartment house. In the entryway were the names and apartment numbers of residents with a push button beside each name. After pushing the button of my relative, a buzzer sounded and I was able to open the main door and go up to the door of her apartment, where she met me with a quizzical expression on her face. My problem was how to explain who I was and what 1 was doing there without a common language. Eventually, a minimal amount of communication was achieved and I was graciously welcomed into her apartment. After further jabbering and gesturing she understood that my family was with me, so I went back to the car and brought them up to join in the frustrating "conversation" over black bread and coffee. We felt the friendly atmosphere even though we didn't understand the words. Don't forget the "Daily Word" Listeners Meeting tomorrow afternoon, at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center. (2995)
Foreigners (89/07/23)
As a result of various geographical, historical and cultural factors, foreigners find it difficult to become truly assimilated into Japanese society. In fact, even Japanese children who have studied abroad are not accepted by their peers in their homeland because of their different way of thinking. People may feel like strangers in their native land because of their different outlook and refusal to conform to the customs of those around them. This is usually the case with devout Christians who give higher priority to the Word of God than to human tradition. The 11th chapter of the New Testament Letter to the Hebrews includes examples of the effect of faith in the lives of men and women whose stories are found in the Old Testament. These people "admitted openly that they were foreigners and refugees on earth ... looking for... a better country", that God had prepared for them [verses 13-16]. Because of their different priorities and value system, they were considered "outsiders". Today also, those who emphasize respect for the personality of each individual and who place a higher value on such universal principles as justice and love for all people than on conformity with a particular tradition may be ostracized. Yet Christians believe that their true citizenship is in heaven [Philippians 3:20] and that their primary loyalty is to God, their King. (2996)
Amelia Earhart (89/07/24)
A male pilot of an airplane may be called an aviator, but a female pilot is an aviatrix. A famous aviatrix who established a number of historical records was born in the American state of Kansas 91 years ago today, on July 24, 1898. Until 1928, Amelia Earhart was a teacher and social worker in Massachusetts. That year, she became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane. On that trip, she was a passenger, but four years later, she made the first transatlantic solo flight for a woman. In 1935, she became the first aviatrix to make a solo flight across the Pacific, from Honolulu to California, but two years later, her plane was lost in an attempted flight around the world after leaving New Guinea and her fate remains a mystery even today. Thomas Fuller, an English physician, has written: "A good life fears not life nor death."(2997)
Hot News (89/07/25)
If you listen carefully to today's message, you will hear a difference in the pronunciation of the word spelled h-o-t by this American and by many Japanese. The primary meaning of the word is great heat. Today may be a very hot day. The word has a number of other meanings, including a peppery taste, intense emotion, arousing interest or enthusiasm and new or fresh. The hot news these days is related to the Upper House election held last Sunday. What are your views on the results of this election? Were you surprised? pleased? disappointed? How do you explain the results and what do you think they indicate about the present and future political situation in Japan? If you write a short essay in English and send it to me, I will correct it and print it in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. In America, both politics and religion tend to be hot issues that may cause hot arguments so they are often avoided in polite conversation. In the third chapter of the New Testament book of Revelation, the complaint against the church in Laodicea was that it was neither cold nor hot, but merely lukewarm. Indifference regarding important issues indicates a kind of lazy irresponsibility. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (2998)
Eccentrics (89/07/26)
Do you know what an eccentric is? This word may be used either as an adjective or a noun. It is derived from a Greek word meaning out of center. Thus it indicates something or someone that deviates from the conventional or normal. Japan, where conformity is emphasized, is not a comfortable place for eccentric people. Even in the United States with its emphasis on individuality and personal freedom, eccentrics will experience difficulty in certain communities. An English doctor who is conducting research on eccentrics finds that California is especially tolerant toward such oddballs. About half of the one thousand subjects he is studying live in that state, which takes pride in its acceptance of nonconformists and may even encourage their abnormal behavior. One eccentric who tours the state with 40 hypnotized frogs commented: "Look at it this way. We work when we want to work, we make a fairly decent living, we make people happy and we're happy ourselves." Another one stated that, being eccentric is "quite complimentary." "I'd rather go down as an eccentric than as a routine, normal person," she added. All people are different and we should be willing to respect their individuality without condemning them nor showing contempt. (2999)
3000th Message (89/07/27)
When used as a verb, the word spelled r-e-c-o-r-d is pronounced recórd and means to write down. When used as a noun, it is pronounced récord and may mean the best performance that has been recorded. Today's "Daily Word" message establishes a sort of record. Alert readers among those who receive written copies of the messages will notice that today's message is followed by the number 3000 for this is the 3000th different message composed since this service began on September 1, 1980. Since that time, I have made a number of trips both within Japan and overseas, but the service continued during my absences with messages I had pre-recorded. Instead of composing new messages for use during those periods, however, I recycled messages that had been used previously. Thus, this 3000th different message comes on the 3252nd day since the telephone service began. I confess that I myself am amazed that this milestone has been reached. I am thankful to God and to all who have assisted in this service over the years-- including kind neighbors who came to our house daily to change the tapes during my absences. I wonder how many of the present listeners or readers will hear or read the 4000th message. (3000)
Peter Rabbit (89/07/28)
Peter was the name of one of Jesus' disciples. It has been the name of kings and emperors of various European nations and of the main characters in some children's stories. One of them, Peter Pan, was a boy who ran away to Never-Never-Land to escape growing up. Peter was also the name of a mischievous, disobedient rabbit. The story called The Tale of Peter Rabbit is not about the short, fluffy knob on the rabbit's posterior. In this case, tale is spelled t-a-l-e and means a story. The author and illustrator of this tale, which has been translated into many languages, was Beatrix Potter, who was born in England 123 years ago today, on July 28, 1866. The story is about a mother rabbit and her offspring, one of which was named Peter. The mother rabbit strictly ordered her children to stay near home while she went out, but Peter Rabbit disobeyed and ran into Mr. McGregor's vegetable garden. When he was discovered there, he had to run for his life and almost got caught. When he finally got home, he was severely scolded by his mother and punished for his disobedience. Illustrated books with this story are still popular and the moral that young children should obey their parents for their own good remains relevant today.(3001)
A Block of Ice (89/07/29)
The camping car we bought in Germany for our family's travel in Europe had a small icebox in it, but I often had a problem finding a block of ice to put in it. Not knowing the word for "ice" in the various languages, I took the ice tray with me to certain shops, pointed to it and repeated the word "ice" in English, with gestures to indicate I wanted to buy a block of ice. At times, my meaning was not understood. One German shopkeeper smiled and was about to fill the tray with ice cream before I stopped him. In France, I stopped at a bar, thinking ice might be used to keep beverages cold, but it had electric refrigeration. However, a customer sitting at the bar, motioned for me to follow him. I did so, hoping he would lead me to a place where a block of ice could be obtained. We walked down some streets into a residential area. I began to have doubts when he led me into an apartment house and up two flights of stairs to his apartment. There, he opened his refrigerator and kindly presented me with a few ice cubes. "No," I explained," ice cubes will not do, I need a block of ice for my icebox." Although I'm not sure if he understood, I thanked him and left to continue my search elsewhere, remembering Jesus words in Matthew 7:7, "Seek, and you will find." (3002)
Apology (89/07/02)
Franz Kafka (89/07/03)
Fourth of July (89/07/04)
Taboo (89/07/05)
Cherry Festival (89/07/06)
Broken English (89/07/07)
Knight (89/07/08)
The Lord's Prayer (89/07/09)
Toyohiko Kagawa (89/07/10)
Announcement Day (89/07/11)
Orange Day (89/07/12)
Wigs (89/07/13)
Deformed Monkeys (89/07/14)
Hitchhiking (89/07/15)
Sacrifices (89/07/16)
Soyuz/Apollo (89/07/17)
Baby Sitters (89/07/18)
Sister Relationships (89/07/19)
Expensive Cities (89/07/20)
"Bloody" (89/07/21)
Frustrating "Conversation" (89/07/22)
Foreigners (89/07/23)
Amelia Earhart (89/07/24)
Hot News (89/07/25)
Eccentrics (89/07/26)
3000th Message (89/07/27)
Peter Rabbit (89/07/28)
A Block of Ice (89/07/29)
The Law of Christ (89/07/30)
Hospice (89/07/31)
The Value of Pi (89/07/01)