Switzerland (89/08/01)
Six-hundred and ninety-eight years ago today, on August 1, 1291, three communities in central Europe gathered together in a defensive league. One of these communities was called Schwyz and this was the beginning of the Swiss Confederation, now commonly known as Switzerland. Today is a national holiday in this Swiss Confederation which now consists of 23 sovereign cantons. The area of the country is about 1/6 larger than the Japanese island of Kyushu and its population is approximately 6,600,000. Switzerland is famous for its high mountains, its tradition of neutrality, its respected banking system and its hosting of many international gatherings and international agencies. One of these agencies is the International Red Cross, whose symbol is the same as the national flag of Switzerland with the colors reversed. The suggested theme for your essays this week is: Switzerland. What thoughts, images, dreams or memories does this name bring to your mind? Have you ever tasted Swiss cheese or eaten a Swiss steak? If you write a short essay on this subject and send it to me, I will make corrections and print in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3005)
Hydrofoil (89/08/02)
A number of compound words in English begin with h-y-d-r-o, from the Greek word for water. Hydrophobia is a fear of water, hydroponics is the cultivation of plants in water and hydroelectric power is produced by converting energy from running water into electricity. A hydrofoil is a boat equipped with a set of blades, called hydrofoils, attached to its hull in such a way as to create high pressure below them and low pressure above them when they are in motion. As a result, the boat is enabled to skim over the water at a high speed. An agreement was recently reached between railroad officials in South Korea and Japan to establish a hydrofoil service between the Korean port of Pusan and the Japanese port of Fukuoka. The plan calls for a 180-passenger boat, with a top speed of about 80 kilometers an hour, to link the two ports in less than three hours, with a fare of ¥10,000-12,000. The ferry service now operating between Pusan and Shimonoseki takes 15 1/2 hours and costs up to ¥14,000. Hopefully, the new service, which is expected to begin in the spring of 1991, will also help to improve mutual understanding between these neighbors. (3006)
Yin and Yang (89/08/03)
Ancient Chinese thought has had a great influence on certain Asian countries. This philosophy affirms that two opposing cosmic forces are the basic elements in the universe. They are spoken of as: positive and negative, light and dark, male and female, active and passive, and so on. In English, they are called yin and yang. It is surprising how much of this ancient thought continues to affect the thinking and planning of individuals and businesses in modern Japan. Lucky and unlucky days, directions, numbers, shapes and the birth dates and hours of people are still taken into consideration by some when scheduling important events, choosing a building site, constructing a home or deciding on a marriage partner. Chinese experts in the field of divination by means of lines and figures are now doing a thriving business in the modern, Westernized city of Singapore. There, they are called upon to do the work of an interior decorator. For a healthy fee, they will determine the most fortunate position for every chair, desk and table in the room and rectify negative influences by realigning doors and changing the colors of walls or floors in modern office buildings. Nevertheless, it is not an adjustment of such externals that brings happiness. An inner realignment of values is required. (3007)
Doting Parents (89/08/04)
As the number of elderly citizens in Japan increases, problems related to senility are also on the upswing. Senility is the mental and physical deterioration that comes from old age. The word "dote", spelled d-o-t-e, is used to describe the foolish behavior of senile persons, but this verb may also denote simply an excessive fondness. A Japanese expert on children's heart disease has discovered that doting parents of small children with heart problems may cause complications that last throughout their lives. According to Dr. Akio Sunagawa, of Kinki University Hospital, from the time that heart disease is discovered in an infant, some parents begin to dote upon the child, becoming over-protective and indulgent. Although the heart problem may be corrected by surgery, emotional problems remain and such children often suffer from timidity, nervousness and depression as they grow older. Parents need to understand the emotional suffering that may result from misconceived doting on their dear children. True love is quite different than indulgence. According to the Old Testament book of Proverbs, chapter 3, verse 11, God, our heavenly Father, is not like a doting parent. Rather, he corrects, reproves or even punishes the children he loves for their own good. (3008)
A Teacup (89/08/05)
Nineteen years ago, our family returned to the United States for a visit by way of the Soviet Union. At that time, my sister's mother-in-law had a hobby of collecting unusual teacups from various places and she asked us to bring her a teacup from Russia. We were happy to do so, but we had trouble finding such an item. In Moscow, we walked through the huge department store beside Red Square, but we found no chinaware on sale. In Leningrad, a friendly Russian man along the street began talking to us in broken English. This was unusual, for at that time most Russians were cool to us and kept their distance. This man seemed a bit inebriated, but we asked him where we could buy a teacup. He didn't understand us, so I repeated the words "china, china". He understood that word, but he thought I was talking about Russia's unfriendly, neighboring country. He made a face and gestured, showing his displeasure with China. Thus, we never did get a porcelain teacup from the Soviet Union, but we did save a disposable, plastic cup from which we drank tea on the train. The expression, "a storm in a teacup" means to get very excited over something unimportant and we are thankful Mrs. Paxton did not stir up a storm in a teacup because of our failure to fulfil her desire. (3009)
Conversion (89/08/06)
One meaning of "convert" is to change into another form. For example, water may be converted into ice. A slightly different meaning is to change from one purpose to another. For example, a forest may be converted to farmland. In a more specific sense, conversion signifies a change of belief or a change of religion. The most significant conversion in the early Christian Church was that of a man named Saul, who was a member of a right wing Jewish sect and a persecutor of the left wing Jewish Christians. As recorded in the 9th chapter of a New Testament book, The Acts of the Apostles, this man was on his way to the city of Damascus to intimidate Christians there when he had a strange experience that changed his way of thinking and his entire life. He was blinded by a light from heaven and heard the voice of Jesus questioning the motives of his persecution. As a result of this experience, Saul became a Christian, in other words, he was converted. He was transformed from a persecutor of the Church to a dynamic evangelist of the Christian faith. He also changed his name to Paul and his letters form a major part of the New Testament writings. All conversion experiences are not as spectacular as Saul's, but any genuine conversion involves a change from an old way of thinking to a new belief that is clearly seen in a change of life. (3010)
Nose Day (89/08/07)
Because this seventh day of the eighth month combines the numbers hachi and nana, it has been designated hana no hi, or "Nose Day". The nose is the most prominent feature of a human face, but some people's noses are more prominent than others. The flat nose of a pig is also called a snout, while the longer nose of a dog or horse may be called a muzzle and the very long nose of an elephant is called a trunk. In Japanese, a proud person is said to have a "high nose" and in English also, an arrogant person may be said to "look down his nose" at others. In colloquial English, a "nosy" person is very inquisitive and pries into the affairs of others, but the Bible advises us not to be nosy. In I Thessalonians 4:11, it is written, "Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business", and, in this case, "business" does not simply mean commercial dealings. (3011)
Stress (89/08/08)
In days gone by, daily life was characterized by relationships between people and contact with nature. These days, a large portion of life is related to machines of one kind or another. The stimulation and satisfaction resulting from a healthy connection with people and other living things is missing. This is one cause of stress. Another cause of emotional tension is being forced to live, study or work in a constrictive, oppressive atmosphere where true self-expression is denied. Whatever its cause, problems related to stress are increasing and commercial, social, recreational, medical and religious organizations are suggesting ways to overcome stress. Physical exercise, relaxation, diet, hobbies, reading, social activities, music, faith and other methods are being proposed. What do you think about the cause of stress in modern society and the best way to alleviate it? Do you have an effective way of getting rid of stress? I will correct essays on this subject sent to me and include them in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. In Isaiah 26:3, we read: "You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." (3012)
Singapore (89/08/09)
One characteristic of Japan is the high density of population in its coastal plains. When the population of the country as a whole is compared to its total area, however, other countries are more crowded. The density of population of the tiny Republic of Singapore is 13 times that of Japan. Singapore is also an island nation, having one major island and about 60 nearby islets. Its largest island, which is connected by a causeway to the southern tip of the Malay peninsula, is smaller than the Japanese island of Awaji but its population is over 2 1/2 million. Over three-fourths of its population is Chinese. Singapore is one of the world's largest, busiest seaports and a great commercial center. Its economy is supported by manufacturing, service industries and trade. Today is a national holiday in Singapore, commemorating its separation from the Federation of Malaysia 24 years ago on August 9, 1965. On that day it became an independent, sovereign state. The name, Singapore, is derived from Sanskrit and means Lion Capital. Although the lion is considered the "king of beasts", according to Ecclesiastes 9:4, "a live dog is better than a dead lion".(3013)
Herbert Hoover (89/08/10)
115 years ago today, on August 10, 1874, the man who was to become the 31st president of the United States was born in West Branch, Iowa, a community that had been founded by his Quaker ancestors two decades earlier. He was the first president to be born west of the Mississippi River. His Quaker heritage and early education left their imprint on his character and he eventually became well-known for his humanitarian efforts. He was a member of the first class at Stanford University and following his graduation, he became a mining engineer. A tower on the Stanford University campus is named in his honor and so is the highest dam in the United States. His name is Herbert Clark Hoover. It was his misfortune to be president at the time of the great stock market crash which stimulated the Great Depression. Following the outbreak of World War I, Hoover founded an organization to help Americans stranded overseas to return home. He subsequently became the head of various relief movements to get food and clothing to needy people. Even after his defeat by Franklin Roosevelt, he was called upon to organize relief efforts to aid the victims of famine around the world. Herbert Hoover once wrote: "Wisdom consists not so much in knowing what to do in the ultimate as in knowing what to do next." (3014)
Bullpen (89/08/11)
If you are a baseball fan, you probably know that the pitcher sent into the game to replace the starting pitcher is called a relief pitcher. Although the starting pitcher may be disappointed at having to leave the game, he may also feel relieved to be relieved. Before entering the game, the relief pitcher usually exercises or warms up in an area on one side of the baseball diamond. That special area is called a bullpen. Can you guess why? A bull, of course, is the male of certain animals, including cattle and elephants, and a pen is a fenced enclosure in which animals are kept. Thus, literally, a bullpen is a pen for confining bulls. The common explanation for calling the place where relief pitchers warm up a bullpen is because of its similarity to the pen in which bulls are kept before they are sent charging into the bullring for a bullfight. Another theory relates the expression to a brand name of tobacco. It is said that, in the early days, the area where relief pitchers warmed up was located in left field and on the left field fence of many ball parks was a huge billboard advertising Bull Durham tobacco. Even as a relief pitcher in the bullpen is ready to relieve a troubled pitcher, we also should always be ready to help someone who is in trouble. (3015)
Round Robin (89/08/12)
A "robin" is an American songbird, but a "round robin" is not related to this bird. A tournament in which every contestant is matched against every other contestant is called a round robin. A letter circulated among members of a group to which each adds a comment is also called a round robin. Among the siblings of my family, a round robin letter has been going around the world for almost four decades. There are six children in my family. We had a happy homelife and enjoyed sharing experiences with each other as we grew older. Since all but one of us eventually left our hometown to live elsewhere, this round robin letter was begun as a way to keep in regular communication with each other. This circulating letter is sent from one sibling to the next in order of age. It always contains six letters. When it comes to me, I take out my old letter, insert a new one and send it on its way within a couple of weeks. Since an elder sister served as a missionary in Zaire for many years, that letter literally went round and round the world. It is always a joy to receive it to get the latest news from my brother and sisters and to keep up-to-date on what is happening in the lives of numerous nephews, nieces and their offspring. A happy family is truly one of God's great blessings. (3016)
Church (89/08/13)
The word "church" in modern English is often used to indicate a building where Christians gather to worship God. Thus, on Sundays, Christians go to church. "Church" may also signify a particular Christian denomination. Thus, the Lutheran Church originated in Germany and the Methodist Church began in England. This English word is derived from a Greek word meaning "belonging to the Lord". In the English New Testament, however, the word "church" is the translation of a Greek word meaning "called out". This word does not signify a building nor an organization. It indicates a group of believers, people who have been "called out" by Christ to be his disciples. When Jesus was preaching in Palestine two thousand years ago, he called certain people to follow him, to learn from him and then to go out to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God and to minister to the needs of others. Now, all people are being "called out" by God to become a part of his spiritual family, but not everyone hears God's "call". In Ephesians, chapter 1, verse 23, the church is called "Christ's body". The church is not merely a human organization. It "belongs to the Lord", who is the "head" of the body, and as "the body of Christ", the church should be continuing Christ's ministry in the world today as his hands and feet and mouth.(3017)
Patent (89/08/14)
A patent, spelled p-a-t-e-n-t, is an official recognition of an inventor's exclusive right to make, use or sell an invention for a certain number of years. The United States Patent Office was created in 1836 and U. S. patents are valid for 17 years. The first patent in Japan was granted to a Mr. Hotta on August 14, 1885, 104 years ago today. That patent was for a special paint that prevented rust. Rust is a kind of corrosion that occurs on certain metals as they deteriorate from lack of use. Some people consider material possessions, such as metals, treasures, which they accumulate but never use. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 19-21, Jesus taught that all such riches are subject to deterioration or theft. He advised storing up spiritual riches in heaven, where "rust cannot destroy", adding that, "your heart will always be where your riches are." (3018)
Dogs (89/08/15)
These hot, sultry summer days may be called "dog days". This peculiar expression comes from a Latin phrase meaning "Dog Star days". The star called Sirius is also known as the Dog Star, or rôsei in Japanese. The Romans called this season "Dog Star days" because at this time of year the Dog Star rises and sets with the sun. Dogs are one of the first animals to be domesticated by human beings and continue to be a favorite pet of many people today. They may be trained to perform important tasks. Hunting dogs are used in hunting game. Watchdogs guard property. Seeing Eye dogs guide blind people. Police dogs track down criminals or sniff out illegal, hidden substances. Some pet dogs are kept in the house and others stay outdoors. In modern urban communities, there are various problems related to keeping dogs as pets. Dogs need to be taken for walks. They may disturb neighbors and cause pollution. Some provision must be made for them when the owner leaves home for a few days. What do you think about dogs? Have you ever had a pet dog? Which kind of dog do you like and what do you think about keeping dogs in crowded urban areas? I would like to read your opinion about dogs. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3019)
Cyprus (89/08/16)
Cypress, spelled c-y-p-r-e-s-s, is translated into Japanese by itosugi, but the Japanese tree, Hinoki, is called Japanese cypress in English. An island nation in the Mediterranean Sea with the same pronunciation is spelled C-y-p-r-u-s. This island, off the coast of Turkey, is a little over half the size of Shikoku and has a population of about 700,000. According to the 13th chapter of the New Testament book of Acts, this island was the first stop on the first missionary journey of the Apostle Paul. After the First World War, Cyprus became a colony of Great Britain, but 29 years ago today, on August 16, 1960, it became an independent nation. Since that time, there has been constant tension between those in the Greek Christian majority who desire union with Greece and the Turkish Muslim minority who oppose it. The constitution requires that the vice president and three of the ten cabinet members come from the Turkish minority while the House of Representatives is 70% Greek and 30% Turkish. The unique Cypriot flag has a gold outline of the island over green olive branches on a white background. Olive branches are a symbol of peace and we hope lasting peace will soon come to that troubled land. (3020)
Firefly (89/08/17)
Certain Chinese characters are simply pictures of certain objects and their meanings may be understood if the pictures are recognized. Nowadays, the Japanese word hotaru is often written in katakana, but the Chinese character consists of a couple of small fires above a bug. In English, this insect is called a firefly or a lightning bug. The firefly has been a part of Japanese literature and folklore for centuries and frequently appears in Japanese poetry. One of Japan's best-known songs is "Light of the Firefly", which is often sung at farewell parties. In the summertime, fireflies were often seen sparkling among trees and bushes in wooded areas, but increased urbanization has caused a decrease in their number. Recently, as a result of efforts by concerned citizens, the firefly population is said to be increasing once again. The two main types of fireflies in Japan have been given the romantic names of Genji and Heike. The glow emitted by a firefly is meant to attract a mate. Some human beings try to attract mates by sparkling jewelry, but the more genuinely attractive light is that which comes from a kind and loving heart. Jesus called his disciples "the light of the world" [Matthew 5:14], but what kind of light is seen in our lives? (3021)
Dengyô Daishi (89/08/18)
Today, August 18th, is the day when special memorial services are held in certain Buddhist temples to celebrate the birth of an outstanding person in the history of Japanese Buddhism. He was born in the year 767 and entered the priesthood at the age of 14. Dissatisfied with the organization and lifestyle of the traditional Buddhism in the capital city of Nara, he retired to a mountain outside of Kyoto where he studied and meditated. In the year 804, he went to China for less than a year, but he brought back the teaching of the Tendai School of Buddhism which he established in Japan. With the enthusiastic support of the new government in the new capital of Heian, his Enryakuji temple complex on Mt. Hiei became the new center of Buddhism. The name received by this man when he became a priest was Saichô, but he is also known by his posthumous name of Dengyô Daishi. In contrast to the aristocratic and exclusivistic Buddhism in Nara, Saicho emphasized the universal character of Buddhism based on the Lotus Sutra, or Hokkekyô. The influence of this man was great, for it was from his mountain fountain of Tendai that such major streams of Japanese Buddhism as Jôdo, Jôdo Shin, Nichiren, Rinzai and Sôtô eventually flowed throughout the land. (3022)
Names (89/08/19)
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet" is a famous line from Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet[II:ii:43]. Choosing the name of a newborn child is a delightful, and sometimes perplexing, problem for parents. In Japan, not only the meaning of the name but the number of strokes in the Chinese characters used are often taken into consideration. Many Americans, on the other hand, do not seriously consider the meaning of names and do not even know the meaning of their own names. To them, it is the sound of the name or its association that is important. I don't know if my parents knew the significance of the name they bestowed upon me, but they made a remarkable choice. My name, Clark, spelled C-l-a-r-k, is related to clerk and cleric and originally signified a scholar or a clergyman and I have ended up being both. I was told that my parents at first planned to put an "e" on the end of my name until it was pointed out by my eldest sister that both parents, my elder brother and two elder sisters all had names with five letters in them, so they left that sixth letter off of my name and gave my two younger sisters five-letter names as well. According to the New Testament book of Revelation 2:17, in heaven, people will be given a new name. (3023)
Discipline (89/08/20)
Among the benefits of a healthy faith are the strength, comfort and hope it provides in times of hardship or misfortune. The attitude we have in the midst of troubles shows the nature of our faith. Some people have an attitude of resignation. They may become irritated and angry, but they feel there is nothing they can do about their miserable fate. Others consider adversity a kind of divine punishment and wonder what they have done to deserve it. Some people fall into self-pity and constantly complain, thinking only of themselves and their troubles. In the 12th chapter of the New Testament Letter to the Hebrews, Christians are taught that trouble or hardship may be considered a kind of discipline administered by a loving Father who is trying to make us better. Even as human fathers who truly love their children correct them when they make mistakes, punish them when they do what is wrong and discipline them for their own good, our spiritual Father permits what we consider disagreeable experiences for some good purpose. The Bible teaches us not to be discouraged when we are corrected, "because the Lord corrects everyone he loves". Faith in an almighty, all-knowing and loving God changes the way we view all events of life, providing comfort in times of sadness, strength in times of weakness and hope in times of disappointment. (3024)
Isogaba maware (89/08/21)
You have probably heard the Japanese proverb, isogaba maware. How do you think this idea is expressed in English? A literal translation may be: "When in a hurry, take the long way round". However, in western languages, this meaning is expressed by translations of a Latin proverb meaning, "Make haste slowly". Other well-known proverbs with similar meanings are: "More haste, less speed" and "Haste makes waste". All of these sayings caution us to be especially careful when we are in a hurry for at such a time we are apt to act without sufficient thought and do something foolish. When in a hurry, we may also speak sharply and cause ill feelings, so we must be careful of our words when we are rushed or excited. In Proverbs 1429, we are told that the person who stays calm is wise, but the person "who has a hasty temper exalts folly." (3025)
The Ocean (89/08/22)
During hot summer days, some people go to the mountains to escape the heat of the lowlands. Others go to the ocean to lay on the beach or swim. Japan is fortunate in having many mountains and being surrounded by ocean. There are few places in the country that are far from either mountains or sea. In Tuesday messages, I often suggest a theme for listeners to write an essay on. Essays sent to me are corrected and then printed in our little periodical, "Daily Word" Echoes. The theme for essays this week is the ocean. Approximately 72 percent of the earth's surface is covered by salt water. The Pacific Ocean alone has an area 25 percent greater than the entire land surface of the earth. You have probably gone swimming in the ocean, sailed on the ocean in a boat and perhaps flown over the ocean in an airplane. What images, thoughts or memories does this word bring to your mind? For some people, the ocean is a place of labor. Fishermen and cultivators of marine plants, commonly called seaweed, are dependent on the ocean for their livelihood and provide food for us all. Stormy seas may be dangerous, but, according to the 95th Psalm, the Lord made the sea and still rules over it. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3026)
Buckwheat (89/08/23)
As I prepare these daily messages, I also learn many things. Although I have lived in Japan for many years and have often eaten soba, while preparing today's message, I discovered that soba was the name of a plant. I had thought it was simply the name of a long, thin, dark noodle. The dictionary informs me that the soba we eat is actually a shortened form of soba-kiri, which is made with flour ground from the seeds of the soba plant. In English, this plant is called buckwheat. While udon is made from wheat flour, soba is made from buckwheat flour. The main crops in my home-state of Illinois are corn and wheat, but in recent years, many farmers have also been growing soybeans to export to Japan, from which miso, shôyu, tôfu and nattô are made. Now, more and more farmers are planting buckwheat for export to Japan to be made into soba. Buckwheat matures quicker than soybeans, can be grown more cheaply and, because it grows even in hot, dry weather, there is less risk of a poor harvest. Jesus compared his message to seed that would grow and bear good fruit if it fell into good soil--meaning an open and receptive heart. I hope some seeds sown in these daily messages will also bring forth good fruit someday. (3027)
White House (89/08/24)
There are many white houses in the world, but one of them is particularly famous. Do you know where that famous White House is located, who lives there and how it got its name? Following America's Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, relationships between the motherland and her rebellious offspring were often cool, but they eventually warmed up into a war known as the War of 1812. On land and sea, American and British forces fought against each other and on this day, August 24th, in the year 1814, the British captured Washington, the American capital, and burned both the Capitol and the president's executive mansion. The word "capital", when ending in a-l, signifies the capital city where the seat of government is located. The word ending in o-l, though pronounced the same, is the name of the particular building in Washington D.C. in which the United States Congress meets. As a proper noun, it begins with a capital C. After the burning of the executive mansion, the smoke-stained, gray stone walls were painted white and the mansion became known as the White House. White is a symbol of purity and in Psalm 51:7, the poet writes that if God washes away his sin, he will be whiter than snow. (658a)
Television Broadcast (89/08/25)
One month ago today, our doorbell rang and my wife and I went to the door to welcome an NHK television crew. They had come to tape an interview for the locally broadcast "Evening Network" program to be aired two days later, on the day the 3000th different message was transmitted through this telephone service. They were led by a Nagoya comedian who goes by the name of Takuma and who presented us with a delicious chocolate cake which had the words sanzenkai printed in the frosting. As a result of that short, but interesting, interview, the number of calls received on that day jumped to 448, with 328 on the following day. Since then, the number has fallen back to approximately 220 per weekday, but there is talk of putting this "Daily Word" telephone service on local numbers in the Kanto and Kansai areas. If you would like to call a local number in those areas instead of this Nagoya number, please encourage your local NTT office to provide that service. Once again the powerful influence of television has been seen. The American actor, Orson Wells, once wrote, "I hate television. I hate it as much as peanuts. But I can't stop eating peanuts." Because of the effect their programs have--for good or ill--television companies have a moral obligation to use their awesome power responsibly. (3028)
Oide kudasai (89/08/26)
When my wife and I first came to Japan 38 years ago, we attended a Japanese language school in Tokyo. We lived on the second floor of a Japanese house in Denenchofu. It was there that we underwent various interesting, comical, frustrating experiences as we tried to put into use the language we were beginning to learn. One day, I wanted our maid to leave the room because I wanted to change my clothes and was not accustomed to doing so in the presence of a woman. I had learned that deru meant to leave or go out and I thought that it might be impolite to order her to leave with the command de-nasai. From the Chinese characters I supposed that oide was the polite form of deru so I politely said, oide kudasai. Of course, instead of leaving the room, she came closer to me, so I repeated the words more emphatically, which seemed to compound her confusion. Somehow, I did get my meaning across, but I was impressed with the confusing nature of this difficult language. Checking my Japanese-English dictionary, I find that there are 27 different meanings given for the verb, deru, and the Kôjien dictionary defines oide as the polite form of deru, kuru and iru, so I imagine that this word may cause confusion to others as well. (3029)
Love (89/08/27)
One of the basic words in the Bible and in Christian theology is the word "love". In modern English, this word is used in many different ways. It may signify a fondness for certain things or activities. We may love both dogs and hot dogs and love to play pachinko or baseball. Between people, love may imply a sexual attraction, a sincere friendship or a parental instinct. In the New Testament, however, the Greek word, agape, has a unique significance. It is used to describe the character and action of God toward all human beings. God's love is of a different quality than natural, human love, for it is not based on anything attractive or valuable in the weak and sinful people who are the objects of that love. It is a completely self-giving love that is not affected by whether it is accepted with joy or rejected with hostility. Those who have truly experienced the love of God are motivated to show that same kind of love, regardless of the external appearance or internal character of the other person. According to I Corinthians, chapter l3, "Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud ... ill-mannered or selfish or irritable ... .[and] Love never gives up ...." This is the kind of love that God has shown to us and the kind of love we should show to others.(3030)
Too many cooks (89/08/28)
There is a Japanese proverb about a boat that sails up a mountain because it has too many captains: Sendô ôku shite, fune yama ni noboru. Boats are not supposed to climb mountains; they are expected to sail on the water. But if too many captains give conflicting orders, strange and unexpected results may occur. An English proverb with a similar meaning is: Too many cooks spoil the broth. Broth is a thin, clear soup in which various ingredients, such as rice, barley, meat or vegetables, may be added along with such seasonings as salt and pepper to enhance its flavor. However, if many cooks are involved in the process, each with his or her own idea of what and how much should be included and how it should taste, the result will not be favorable. Belief in an orderly, purposeful universe points to a single Creator and Ruler who is in charge. (3031)
Israel (89/08/29)
In the center of the national flag of Israel is a symbol called the Star of David. This star consists of two equilateral triangles so arranged as to form six smaller equilateral triangles as the points of a six-pointed star. Ninety-two years ago today, on August 29, 1897, this symbol was adopted by the First Zionist Congress in Switzerland. It is now considered a symbol of both Judaism and the Israeli state. Over the centuries, Jews have been the objects of prejudice and persecution. Since the establishment of the state of Israel, there has been conflict with its Arab neighbors and with Arabs within its borders. What is your opinion regarding the Israeli-Arab conflict, the state of Israel and of Jewish tradition? What do you consider the reason for the persecution of Jews by Nazis and others over the years? Are there Jewish customs or beliefs that you admire? Do you see any similarities between Jewish and Japanese thinking? I would like to read any comments you may have on such matters. I will correct essays sent to me and publish them in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3032)
Hydrofoil (89/08/02)
Yin and Yang (89/08/03)
Doting Parents (89/08/04)
A Teacup (89/08/05)
Conversion (89/08/06)
Nose Day (89/08/07)
Stress (89/08/08)
Singapore (89/08/09)
Herbert Hoover (89/08/10)
Bullpen (89/08/11)
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