Tenth Anniversary of this message (90/09/01)
The Japanese word, mukashi, may mean ancient times or antiquity, but hito-mukashi may simply indicate a ten-year period, which, in English, is called a decade. It was hito-mukashi mae ni, or exactly a decade ago today, on September 1, 1980 that the first "Daily Word" message was transmitted from telephone number 052-794-6422. On that day, four calls were received. Fourteen calls were made on the following day and twice that number were received on the last day of that month. During the following ten years, I have left Japan on a number of occasions, but the messages continued to be transmitted while I was gone. During those absences, I often used messages that had been used previously, but today's message is the 3322nd different message transmitted which should be heard or read by a couple of hundred callers or readers. Needless to say, I enjoy composing the messages and am happy that many listeners or readers seem to enjoy them also. Oscar Wilde has written that some "calendars mar the sweet simplicity of our lives by reminding us that each day that passes is the anniversary of some perfectly uninteresting event." Please forgive me if I have marred "the sweet simplicity" of your life with mention of this tenth anniversary, but I thought at least some of you might be interested. (3322)
The Lord is Near (90/09/02)
A serious problem faced by translators is how to translate words having more than one meaning. Sometimes a choice must be made between two different meanings but it is better to retain the original ambiguity if that is possible. In Paul's letter to the Philippians, chapter 4, verse 5, the Greek word eggus literally means "near", but it may imply nearness in time or of place. One modern English version of the Bible chooses the former alternative with its translation: "The Lord is coming soon", but I prefer the translation "the Lord is near", as in a Japanese translation, Shu wa chikai. The early church did find comfort and hope in their faith that their Lord would return to earth soon, but the deeper significance of this word is that our Lord is always near. He is not far away from us in a distant place called "heaven". He is at our side in times of trouble and sorrow as well as of joy and happiness. Because the Lord is near, the exhortation against anxiety which follows is fitting. Truly, if the Lord is at hand, we will not be anxious but our minds will be at peace at all times. Our recent trip to the United States included a number of uncertainties but we were constantly comforted by our faith that "the Lord is near". (3323)
Senri no Michi (90/09/03)
An old Chinese measure of distance was a ri, which was equal to 36 chō. Since a chō is equal to 109.0909 meters, one ri is about four kilometers and a thousand ri is equivalent to 3927 kilometers. In the old days, this was considered a very long distance to travel, but no matter how long a trip one takes, it must begin with the first, important step. So there arose a proverb attributed to the Chinese philosopher, Rōshi, who is called Lao-tze in English, that a journey of a thousand ri begins with the first step, senri no michi mo, ippo yori hajimaru. An English proverb with a similar, albeit somewhat different meaning is: He who would climb the ladder must begin at the bottom. When going on a trip, climbing a ladder or simply doing an ordinary job, it is necessary to get started and the first steps are important ones. (3324)
Bible Class (90/09/04)
Today is the first Tuesday of this month. On the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month, I teach a Bible Class at the Nagoya City Kyōikukan near Sakae. From 6:30 to 7:30, we study a Bible passage in Japanese and from 7:30 to 8:30, we consider the same passage in English. All who are interested are invited to join that class for the first hour, the second hour or both hours. Listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages who wish to receive printed copies of the messages may receive them by sending me a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus ¥60 in stamps for each week of messages desired. I mail out copies of the messages for the coming week every Thursday morning. In the afternoon of the fifth Sunday of a month, we hold a meeting of listeners to these messages to meet one another face to face and to spend a short time speaking in English and enjoying some homemade refreshments. Since this month has five Sundays, we will meet on September 30th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station. My wife and I will talk about our trip to the United States and we would like to hear how you spent the summer also. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3325)
Beards (90/09/05)
In old Japan, hair on the face was considered repulsive and even today, few Japanese men grow beards or mustaches. The situation is quite different in those mideastern countries which are in the news these days. There, facial hair is considered a sign of masculinity and men with neither a beard nor a mustache are in the minority. There are many different types of beards, depending on whether they are grown on the chin, the cheeks or the throat and how they are trimmed. In certain countries at certain times, one's social or professional status could be recognized by the type of beard or mustache worn. Among the ancient Hebrews, trimming the beard was forbidden [Leviticus 19:27] and full beards are worn by Orthodox Jewish men even today. Recent events in the troubled mideast have made Israelis fearful of a poison gas war and many have bought gas masks to protect them against such a possibility. Orthodox Jewish men, however, are concerned that gas masks will not fit properly because of their long, full beards. Now, Israel's chief rabbi has given permission for such men to cut their beards in order to wear gas masks during a chemical weapons attack, but we pray that such an extreme measure will not be necessary. (3326)
Swaziland (90/09/06)
Many countries in the world are quite unimportant in terms of size and political, economic or military power, but they are very important to the simple, but good, people who live there. Today, September 6, is a public holiday in one such country in southeastern Africa. Located between its larger neighbors of South Africa and Mozambique, it is a little larger than the combined areas of Gifu and Aichi prefectures in Japan and has a population of some 700,000. The Kingdom of Swaziland gained its independence from Britain 22 years ago, on September 6, 1968. Its capital of Mbabane, with a population of 45,000, is the country's largest city. When Swaziland's king, Sobhuza II, died in 1982 at the age of 83, he was the longest reigning monarch in the world, having reigned for 61 years. Since then, his record was surpassed by Japan's emperor, Hirohito, who reigned for 63 years. In another category, however, King Sobhuza continues to hold a record of sorts. He is believed to have had 68 wives and about 150 children. Diamonds are one of the natural resources found in Swaziland and I'm sure many of its inhabitants are "diamonds in the rough". (3327)
Grandma Moses (90/09/07)
Moses is the name of one of the most respected figures in Jewish history. It was Moses who was called by God, led the Israelites out of Egypt, gave them the law and instructed them during their wanderings through the wilderness. According to Jewish tradition, Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. The person known as Grandma Moses, however, was not related to this Biblical character. Anna Mary Robertson Moses was born in the American state of New York 130 years ago today, on September 7, 1860. She lived the arduous life of a farmer's wife and, although she had never received any instruction in art, when she was in her 70's and too frail to do hard work she began to paint. Her pictures, called American primitives, were simple, colorful scenes of farm life. After some of her paintings were discovered in a New York drug store in 1938 and struck a responsive chord in the hearts of many people, she became a popular painter. Many of her prints have been used on Christmas cards. The example of Grandma Moses proves the truth of the proverb that "One is never too old to learn". The favorite saying of Michelangelo, the great Italian sculptor and painter even in his later years was, "I am learning," (3328)
Luggate Tags (90/09/08)
For the next few weeks of these Saturday messages, I will relate some of the interesting experiences my wife and I had during our recent trip to the United States. First of all, before leaving Japan, we had an enjoyable luncheon at a hotel next to Tokyo Station with eight listeners to these "Daily Word" messages who joined us there. We were happy to meet and talk with them and to hear their comments about this telephone service. When we arrived at Narita Airport, we found out that the Malaysian Airline flight we were booked on was delayed and would not arrive until the following day. Therefore, we were transferred to a Singapore Airline flight instead. I asked to have our luggage checked through to Oakland, the California city where we would meet my wife's brother, but we had to go through customs inspection in Los Angeles. It was after passing through this inspection that we noticed that the tags attached to all four suitcases had the code letters AKL, for the New Zealand city of Aukland instead of OAK, the letters for Oakland. Fortunately, the mistake was discovered and corrected before they were sent off in the wrong direction. If we had arrived in Oakland and found out that our suitcases were in Aukland, that would have been a calamity. (3329)
The Temple of God (90/09/09)
Most religions have certain places that are considered sacred, where pious believers go to worship or pray. In Japan, Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples are found throughout the country and some people believe that divine spirits dwell in these holy places. In the Old Testament, the Israelites first used a portable sanctuary, called a tabernacle, as their holy place. During their wilderness wanderings, this tent symbolized God's presence with them. After they arrived in the holy land of Palestine, the beautiful temple King Solomon built in Jerusalem was considered the house of God and the common people believed that as long as they performed worship ceremonies in this temple, God would surely bless them. But in the 7th chapter of the book of Jeremiah, the prophet made clear that trusting in the temple and its rituals is useless if it is not accompanied by a moral lifestyle. The temple may become a hiding place for robbers and unless sinful people give up their wicked ways, it will be a sign of God's judgment rather than of his blessing. In the New Testament, we are taught, in I Corinthians 3:16, that believers themselves are the temple of God because his Spirit dwells within them. Thus the true holy place is not a building but the purified heart of a child of God. (3330)
Hardship (90/09/10)
Compared with the experiences of their grandparents, children in Japan today have a very easy life. Some would say that life is too easy for them. In order to develop a robust body and a healthy mental attitude, various kinds of hardship must be experienced. No one enjoys difficulties or troubles, but when we realize that they may have a beneficial purpose, we find them easier to bear. In the midst of unhappy events or misfortune, it is well to remember the Japanese proverb that "Hardship makes you into a jewel" (kannan nanji o tama ni suru). The comparable saying in English is that "Adversity makes men wise". Christians are encouraged by both the example and the effect of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ and consider suffering an essential element in gaining final victory which is expressed in the saying, "No cross, no crown." (3331)
Mineral Water (90/09/11)
While my wife and I were enjoying an unusually cool summer in northern Illinois with pleasant breezes blowing off of Lake Michigan, we read of the extremely hot and humid weather people were experiencing here in Japan. Everyone in Japan, however, was not unhappy with the weather. Producers of bottled mineral water, for example, were making cool profits during the hot, dry summer. The Mitsukoshi Department Store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, reported that sales of mineral water were 600 percent more in July this year than in July last year and Daiei, with 190 stores nationwide, registered a 270 percent increase in sales that month compared to those of a year ago. How do we explain this sudden popularity of mineral water? I will suggest three reasons. One is that the regular water which comes from the tap or faucet doesn't taste so good. A second is that Japanese have become more concerned about health foods and drinks and mineral water has various healthful minerals in it. Thirdly, Japanese today are more affluent and are able to afford this special kind of water. Water is necessary for human bodies, but thirsty spirits also require satisfaction. In John 4:14, Jesus spoke of the spiritual, life-giving water that is given to those who believe in him. (3332)
Jesse Owens (90/09/12)
In 1936, the Olympics were held in Berlin. At that time, Germany was under the dictatorial control of Adolf Hitler, who maintained that so-called white-skinned people of Nordic or Germanic lineage, whom he called "Aryans", were the superior race. A black American athlete who gained four gold medals at those Olympics demonstrated the falsity of such Nazi nonsense. This 20-year-old youth, Jesse Owens, was born in Alabama 75 years ago today, on September 12, 1915. After moving to Ohio, Jesse excelled in track and field events at his high school there. In the Berlin Olympics, he won gold medals in the 100-meter race, the 200-meter race, the 400-meter relay race and the broad jump. It is said that Owens' name was John Cleveland, but from childhood he was known as J. C., which became transformed into "Jesse". Before he died in 1981, Owens had also led a dance band and ran a sporting-goods firm in Detroit. In the Bible, Jesse was the name of the father of David and the interesting story of how this youngest of eight sons was chosen to be the king of Israel is found in the 17th chapter of the Old Testament book of I Samuel.(3333)
Knicherbockers (90/09/13)
Knickerbockers, spelled k-n-i-c-k-e-r-b-o-c-k-e-r-s, are baggy men's trousers gathered just below the knee. Years ago, they were popular among golfers but I remember wearing them when I was a boy also. The word comes from the name of a fictitious Dutchman in Washington Irving's comical History of New York. The name was applied to all Dutch settlers of New York and to their descendants after an English illustrator of that book pictured Dutchmen wearing such trousers. Then the word came to mean the trousers themselves. On September 13, 1845, the first baseball club in America was organized in New York City. Called the Knickerbockers Club, it played according to the Americanized rules which are now followed by baseball teams throughout the world. An earlier game, called "rounders", played in England, required hitting a runner with the ball in order to put him out. Since the founding of that first baseball club, 145 years ago today, baseball has become the most popular sport in the United States, Japan and many other countries as well. Albert Einstein once called baseball "A ridiculously simple game", but that may be one of its main attractions. (3334)
Yokozuna/Ozeki (90/09/14)
Have you been enjoying the Autumn Grand Sumō tournament now taking place in Tokyo? This is one of six grand sumō tournaments that are held every year. Although it was expected that this tournament would be the first one in over two-and-a-half years to begin with a lineup of four wrestlers in the "horizontal rope" category, two of these yokozuna dropped out just before the tournament began. Yokozuna is translated into English as "grand champion" and this tournament includes a brand-new yokozuna. Along with these "horizontal rope" wrestlers are three other "champions", known as ōzeki, which literally means "big barrier". In old Japan, "big barriers" were set up on important roads to control the movement of both people and freight. Sumō ōzeki also serve as "big barriers" to the winning of a championship by fellow wrestlers. In the 32nd chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis, is a strange tale of a wrestling match that resulted in the name "Israel" being given to a man, which is the name of a kind of ozeki nation in the Middle East today. My wife and I are looking forward to meeting listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages on Sunday afternoon, September 30th at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center and to hear how they (or you) spent the hot and humid summer this year. (3335)
An Amazing Machine (90/09/15)
On our recent trip to the United States, after passing through customs at Los Angeles we boarded a plane for Oakland, where my wife's brother met us at the airport. We enjoyed our time with Bob and his wife, two of their four children and five of their six grand children. Twenty years ago, Bob gave up his position as a history teacher in a public university to begin his own business of producing and distributing Bible Study material as well as training teachers in its use. He has produced over 30 series of studies, each having ten lessons. While at his workroom, he showed us an amazing new printing machine that he is now renting. Along its side were numerous trays for papers to be fed into the machine where they are printed on both sides and then stapled together as eight, ten or twelve page units. A special telephone is attached to this machine and if the machine stops functioning for any reason, that telephone is used to call the leasing company in New Jersey, thousands of miles away. A monitor in that office then reproduces a diagram of the malfunctioning machine on its screen and locates the source of trouble. Bob is then told what the trouble is and what to do about it. It reminded us of how trouble is spotted in space stations and we realized again that we live in a truly amazing time. (3336)
Prayer (90/09/16)
Today is Sunday, September 16. The Japanese term used to translate the English word, "prayer", is inori, which has a narrower meaning than the English word. Inori is used for petitions, requests, or hopes while the English word may include praise, thanksgiving and confession as well as petitions for others or oneself. A parable Jesus taught about the proper attitude to have during prayer is found in the 18th chapter of the Gospel according to Luke. In this parable, two men went up to the Temple to pray. One was a member of a strict Jewish sect known as the "separated ones", or Pharisees, who considered themselves worthy of God's blessing because they obeyed the ceremonial law very religiously. The other man was a despised tax collector, who did not keep Jewish laws or customs and collected taxes for the Roman government. The Pharisee proudly bragged about his goodness in his prayer and showed a scornful attitude toward the tax collector, who humbly confessed his sin to God. Jesus said that the prayer of the sinful man was more acceptable to God than that of the righteous man because it was more sincere. Reading this parable, we should reflect on the kind of prayers we make and the attitudes of our hearts which God sees and considers more important than our words or rituals. (3337)
Ken-en no Naka (90/09/17)
Today is September 17th. In the neighborhood of my childhood, a dog chasing a cat which ran up a tree while the dog continued to bark down below was a common sight. In English, the expression "a cat-and-dog-life" means to be constantly quarreling with one another. The equivalent expression in Japanese has a monkey in place of the cat: ken-en no naka. People who are always quarreling may also be said to be "at loggerheads". A loggerhead is a long-handled tool with an iron ball at one end. When the ball is heated, it is used to melt tar or heat liquids. In wars of long ago, sailors of enemy boats at times used such tools in their attacks, so they were literally at loggerheads with each other. Jesus taught his disciples, in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 9, verse 50, to "live in peace with one another". People should live like human beings, not like animals. (3338)
An "Incident" (90/09/18)
The English word "incident" usually refers to an event, happening or dekigoto, of somewhat minor importance. It may be translated into Japanese as jiken. However, at times, such an "incident" may be the beginning of something much more serious. In this case, it may be called a jihen in Japanese. Such an 'incident' occurred 59 years ago today, on September 18, 1931 in Manchuria, northeastern China, when a bomb exploded on a railway. Although it was set there and detonated by the Japanese army, the "incident" was blamed on the Chinese and became the basis for the army's subjugation of Manchuria. This "incident" led to war with China, and, ultimately, to war with the United States. Although the army commanders were acting on their own, they had the support of a nationalistic clique in Tokyo and once they began their immoral escapade, both the official government and the Emperor seemed powerless to stop them. So where does the fault lie for this "incident" that caused such a tremendous tragedy? Certainly, there was a lack of moral principles on the part of many people: military men, political leaders, the Emperor and the general public. Has the moral fiber of Japan changed since then or could such an "incident" happen again? To answer this question, each of us must consider the basis of the moral principles which guide our daily actions. (3339)
Washington/Farewell Address (90/09/19)
George Washington, the first and one of the greatest presidents of the United States of America, left a good example for his successors to follow. Fifteen of his successors who were elected to a second term followed his example not to seek election to a 3rd term. The only president to ignore this example was Franklin Roosevelt who was elected to 3rd and 4th terms during the Second World War. President Washington showed superior wisdom and insight in his Farewell Address, which appeared 194 years ago today, on September 19, 1796. In that address, he warned against permanent alliances with foreign powers, a big public debt, a large military establishment and devices of a "small, artful, enterprising minority" to control or change the government. One reason for the troubles faced by the United States in recent years is the failure of some recent presidents to take Washington's warnings seriously. He also urged citizens to: "Be united--be Americans!" Because of the diversity of their racial, national, cultural, economic, religious and educational backgrounds, it is difficult for Americans to be truly united. The United States motto, the Latin phrase, e pluribus unum, meaning "out of many, one", continues to be an ideal that has not yet been realized. (3340)
Civil Servant (90/09/20)
Today is September the 20th. The English word, "civil", comes from the Latin word for citizen and a civil servant is a person employed by a government with the exception of those in the army, navy, legislature or judiciary. In order to enter the civil service, one must pass a difficult examination. In Japan, 31,422 people took the civil service examination this year. Of that number, 2,047--just over 14 percent--passed. Following further interviews, 1,100 of the successful applicants will become civil servants next April. As usual, the highest number of those who passed the test were the 486 graduates of Tokyo University. Next were 213 graduates of Kyoto University, followed by about one hundred each from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Hokkaido University and Waseda University. This year, a new record of almost 10 percent of those who passed were women and on four of the 28 subjects covered in the test, women had the highest scores. A secondary meaning of "civil" is "polite" and it is hoped that these incoming government employees will increase the civility of government offices and become genuinely civil servants in this sense as well. (3341)
Garlic (90/09/21)
Today is September 21st. Two English words with different spellings and different meanings are pronounced lêk. The one, spelled l-e-a-k, may denote a crack or opening in a container that permits the contents to escape. The other, spelled l-e-e-k, signifies a plant of the onion family. Another plant of the same family is called "garlic", from an Old English word meaning "spear leek" because of its spearlike leaves. Garlic has a pungent taste that may be used to flavor food and it is commonly used in the cuisine of certain countries. Because its characteristic odor remains on the breath of the eater, some people refuse to eat garlic, but recent research indicates that it provides certain health benefits when taken in appropriate amounts. Last month, a World Congress on the Health Significance of Garlic was held in Washington, D. C. where about 200 scientists from 15 countries discussed garlic's possible curative powers for illnesses including heart disease and cancer. Even in ancient days, garlic had an attraction to some people, for in the Old Testament book of Numbers, chapter 11, verse 5, leeks, onions and garlic were mentioned as Egyptian food the Israelites missed during their wilderness wanderings. (3342)
A Korean Restaurant (90/09/22)
Today is Saturday, September the 22nd. Just over three months ago, my wife and I were in Concord, California, visiting her brother and his family. We stayed in a nearby motel called The Trees Inn. In front of the motel were three palm trees which served as its symbol mark. Just down the street there was a Korean restaurant, where we went to lunch one day. We chose that particular place because of the couple we had called to join us there. This couple, my cousin and her husband, who had served as missionaries in Korea for thirty years, retired a couple of years ago and were now living in a nearby town. They chose the food, speaking in Korean to the surprised waitress. This couple with their two young children had visited us once in Japan. One evening, we had planned to go out with them for a traditional Japanese sukiyaki dinner. We had arranged for a baby sitter to stay with their and our children. However, the sudden advent of the Ise-wan typhoon caused us to change our plans. Needless to say, they have strong recollections of their one and only visit to Nagoya. We so enjoyed reminiscing about that night and talking about our families that we almost didn't notice the strong garlic taste of the food. (3343)
The Good Fight (90/09/23)
Today, September 23rd, is the senshūraku, "thousand autumns' joy", or finale of the Fall Sumō Tournament. In sumō, two wrestlers fight against one another. In the New Testament, the daily life of a believer is compared to athletic events such as running a race or boxing. In I Timothy 6:1 1-12, an expression which may describe a wrestling match is used. There, Timothy is told to "fight the good fight of the faith". Similar words are often used by coaches in pep talks to athletes. The life of a Christian may be considered a strenuous fight against sin in all its forms, so Timothy is urged to "strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness". At baptism, a public commitment is made to follow Christ and to seek to accomplish his will in the world. This is the beginning of a fight against the forces of evil. It is a difficult fight and many people get tired and give up. Here, Paul is giving a pep talk to Timothy to continue his fight to the end and gain the prize of eternal life to which he had been called. Christians today, who accept these words as God's word to them, continue to wrestle against all forms of injustice and evil. Won't you join in this "good fight"? (3344)
Hito o Mite Hō o Toke (90/09/24)
Today is Monday, September 24th. The person who aims to be an effective communicator must be aware of the particular audience to whom he or she is speaking. It is only common sense to speak differently to children than to adults, and a lecturer speaking to specialists in a certain field uses different language than when speaking to the general public. Sometimes, a person attending a church service for the first time may not understand the sermon well because it is directed to people who have been Christians for a long time. Preachers, teachers and parents need to remember the proverb, hito o mite hō o toke, which may be translated into English as "Adapt your sermon to the congregation". In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, chapter 26, verse 5, we are told to "Answer a fool according to his folly." How then should we speak with a wise person? (3345)
Shostakovich (90/09/25)
The word "symphony", denoting a musical composition played by an orchestra, comes from a Greek word meaning "sound together", or harmonious. A beautiful symphony played by a capable orchestra communicates on a deeper level than words. The Ninth Symphony of Beethoven, the German composer, is one of the world's great musical compositions. There is another Ninth Symphony, composed by the great Russian composer, Dimitri Shostakovich who was born in Leningrad 84 years ago today, on September 25, 1906. He composed his first symphony, which was well received, when he was less than twenty years old. Other musical works, including operas and ballets, made him a popular, but controversial, figure in Soviet society. According to Shostakovich, who composed his Ninth Symphony in 1945, "A creative artist works on his next composition because he was not satisfied with his previous one." We, also, should not be satisfied with our present level of attainment but should continually seek to advance to something better. Listeners to these telephone messages are invited to attend the meeting of listeners next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station. (3346)
Pocket Money (90/09/26)
Today is Wednesday, September 26th. Last July, the Taiyō Kōbe Research Institute conducted a survey of its married male employees regarding the amount of money they spend each month on incidental expenses. The average amount spent by the 917 men who responded was ¥63,800. About 67 percent said that they hand over their entire monthly salary to their wives, who then give them pocket money for the month, but about 20 percent replied that they deduct some money before giving it to their wives. The average monthly allowance received from their wives by these men was ¥47,000, but 60 percent of them said that they spend all their allowance a week before the next payday and had to dip into their savings or ask their wives for more money to tide them over. Forty-four percent of the men indicated that they spent their pocket money for drinking, 28 percent used it for lunches and 25 percent for playing golf. I have never read of a survey of this kind among American men, but in my experience, it is the husband who gives the wife an allowance from which she buys food and other necessities for the family. In either case, how a family's income is to be divided up should be based on the mutual understanding of those involved. (3347)
Japan's First Subway (90/09/27)
Prior to the American Civil War, many slaves seeking freedom were secretly moved from place to place from slave states to free states or to Canada along a network of safe shelters called the "underground railway". During that war, a real underground railway began operation in London in 1863. Subsequently, underground railways were built in other countries as well. Sixty-five years ago today, on September 27, 1925, two years after the disastrous Kanto Earthquake, a ground-breaking ceremony was held in Tokyo for Japan's first subway. This subway, called an "underground" in Britain, ran from Shibuya to Asakusa and is now part of the Ginza Line. At that time, there were no electric trains, so holes in the tunnel roof were required to let out the smoke from the steam locomotives. Illegal political and business activities are sometimes carried on "underground" to avoid their being exposed, but according to Ephesians, chapter 5, we should leave the things that belong to darkness and live "like people who belong to the light". My wife and I are looking forward to meeting listeners to these telephone messages on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center, north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station. We would be happy to see you there and hear what you did this summer. (3348)
Corpulent Americans (90/09/28)
Today is September 28th. Whenever I return to the United States, I am impressed with the corpulent bodies of many Americans. The common term for such people is "fat" or "obese", but less objectionable words such as "stout", "portly" or "plump" may also be used. "Stout" implies a thickset, bulky figure; "portly" adds the implication of a somewhat dignified appearance; and "plump" implies a pleasing fullness of figure and well-rounded curves. Whatever word is used, the number of such people in the United States is increasing, due both to poor diet and lack of exercise. Last month, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance held a convention in Chicago. The aim of this group, which claims some 3000 members, is to improve the quality of life for the obese through public education, advocacy and support. Speakers complained of problems they faced in buying clothes, travelling in airplanes and finding employment. Over thirty years ago, John Galbraith wrote, "More die in the United States of too much food than of too little", and I hope this is so today also. You are invited to attend the meeting of listeners to these telephone messages on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center when we will talk about what we did this summer. (3349)
The Lord is Near (90/09/02)
Senri no Michi (90/09/03)
Bible Class (90/09/04)
Beards (90/09/05)
Swaziland (90/09/06)
Grandma Moses (90/09/07)
Luggate Tags (90/09/08)
The Temple of God (90/09/09)
Hardship (90/09/10)
Mineral Water (90/09/11)
Jesse Owens (90/09/12)
Knicherbockers (90/09/13)
Yokozuna/Ozeki (90/09/14)
An Amazing Machine (90/09/15)
Prayer (90/09/16)
Ken-en no Naka (90/09/17)
An "Incident" (90/09/18)
Washington/Farewell Address (90/09/19)
Civil Servant (90/09/20)
Garlic (90/09/21)
A Korean Restaurant (90/09/22)
The Good Fight (90/09/23)
Hito o Mite Hō o Toke (90/09/24)
Shostakovich (90/09/25)
Pocket Money (90/09/26)
Japan's First Subway (90/09/27)
Corpulent Americans (90/09/28)
Providential Conversation (90/09/29)
Hospitality (90/09/30)
Tenth Anniversary of this message (90/09/01)