Niō, Deva Kings (91/03/01)
For the past ten months a team of twelve artists have been at work painting a couple of statues made of Japanese cypress wood, or 'hinoki', in a Buddhist temple in Tokyo. These 5-meter-tall statues will soon be transferred to the famous, 1300-year-old Yakushi Temple in Nara to commemorate its reconstruction. Special paints were used on the colorful forms to insure their durability. Ikuo Hirayama, the leader of this team and president of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, stated, "Every member of the team has done his best so that the statues may survive more than a thousand years." The statues, which will stand guard at an inner gate of the temple, are known as 'niō' or 'kongō-rikishi' in Japanese. In English, they are called 'Deva kings' or Buddhist guardian gods. Such pairs of statues with their fierce visages, are found at the gates of many Buddhist temples in Japan to scare away evil spirits. Ordinarily, the statue on the right has his mouth open while the mouth of the one on the left is closed, which may symbolize the positive and negative, the beginning and end of Buddhist doctrine. I'm sure they must be effective in scaring little children and it would be nice if they are able to influence adults who pass by to discard their evil thoughts--even temporarily. (3503)
Manila Shops (91/03/02)
During our stay in Manila, my colleague and I seldom ate in the hotel restaurant. We felt the food there was too expensive. Our favorite eating place was a corner restaurant we discovered a few blocks away called "Rosie's Diner". There, the food was good, the prices were reasonable and the waitresses were pretty and friendly. According to the explanation on the menu, Rosie had gone to the U.S. as a young girl and returned to the Philippines to open her own restaurant. In Manila, we had no language problem because the people we met all spoke English, albeit with certain Filipino characteristics. In the small shops along the street, we bargained with the shopkeepers or clerks to bring the prices down. In the handicraft shopping area I visited one day looking for souvenirs to bring back to Japan, many small shops were selling the same or very similar goods but all the prices were negotiable, so I went from shop to shop looking for the best value. Of course, I bought souvenirs for other people, but I also bought one for my own home. If you ever come to visit us, you will notice the hand-carved, wooden plaque which now hangs on the wall in our 'genkan'. It reads: "This is an American home, run Japanese style, please take off your shoes and stay a while." (3504)
Seeds (91/03/03)
One of the favorite figurative expressions of Jesus recorded in the Gospels is related to seeds. In a series of parables in the 4th chapter of Mark, he spoke of the importance of the kind of soil in which the seed is sown, of the mystery of life as the seed gradually matures and finally brings forth fruit and of the surprising growth from a tiny grain to a large plant. In these parables, the seed symbolizes the vital message Jesus proclaimed, but in John 12:24, the "seed" signifies Jesus' own life and the lives of others who are willing to sacrifice them for a higher cause. There he stated, "unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest." Jesus spoke these words a few days before his death. He knew what lay ahead of him and he was prepared to meet it courageously. In fact, he indicated that his death would be the means for him to gain glory. Jesus taught that there is a higher value than one's physical life and he illustrated this fact by his own behavior. His teaching and example have been an inspiration for sacrificial living and sacrificial dying, of martyrdom, for Christians throughout the ages. (3505)
'Honmatsu-tentō' (91/03/04)
In Japanese society, there is a great emphasis on orderliness, so I think that most Japanese would agree with the statement found in Corinthians, chapter 14, verse 40: "Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way." Nevertheless, even in this orderly society, sometimes priorities get confused and the situation known as 'honmatsu-tentō', or the inversion of means and end, the reversal of what is primary and what is secondary, is the result. To avoid such a predicament, we would give the following advice, which is a common English expression: "Don't put the cart before the horse". The correct order is for the horse to pull the cart. If we put the cart before the horse, things get confused. Let us remember what is of basic importance and put that first. When our priorities are right and we use common sense, other matters will find their proper places. (3506)
Iron Curtain (91/03/05)
Iron is the most common and most useful of all metals. As a chemical element, it is also needed in our bodies to keep them healthy. The flat, heavy metal appliance with a handle that is used to press wrinkles from fabrics is also called an "iron", as is the stick with a metal head used to hit the ball when playing golf. An "iron lung" is a metal respirator which helps a person breathe and "iron horse" was the name given to locomotives that replaced horses in pulling cars along railroads. The term "iron curtain" became a popular expression after it was used by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in his speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri 45 years ago today, on March 5, 1946. In that address, he said: "From . . . the Baltic to . . . the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent", referring to the lack of communication between the Soviet Union and the East European countries under its control and the West. We are thankful that the iron curtain, along with the Berlin Wall, no longer exists in Europe, but there are other kinds of "curtains" and "walls" that hinder communication between individuals and nations. It requires constant effort to keep the lines of communication open among all people in our global village. (3507)
Cyrano de Bergerac (91/03/06)
A prying, inquisitive person may be called nosy and one of the characteristic features of Westerners from the Japanese point of view is our prominent noses. In this regard, it is interesting that when Japanese point to themselves, they usually point to their noses while Westerners more often point to their hearts. A large nose does not imply a better sense of smell, but it does serve as a better support for eyeglasses. Certain American comedians have been famous for their large or peculiarly shaped noses, including Jimmy Durante and Bob Hope. Probably the man with the most famous big nose, however, is the French writer, Cyrano de Bergerac, who was born in Paris 372 years ago today, on March 6, 1619. The novels, poems and dramas of this man are not so well-known as the many duels he fought against people who insulted him because of the unusual size of his nose. He was romanticized in the verse drama, Cyrano de Bergerac, by another Frenchman, Edmond Rostand. In this play, Cyrano says, "My nose is huge [but] let me inform you that I am proud of such an appendage, since a big nose is the proper sign of a friendly, good, courteous, witty, liberal, and brave man, such as I am." So we see that people view things from their individual perspectives influenced by their own peculiarities. (3508)
Microbes (91/03/07)
Many English words begin with the prefix, "micro", and all of them denote something very small. One such word is "microbe", which signifies a minute form of life. Microbes are so tiny that a single drop of water may contain thousands of them and in order to study them, microscopes that magnify their diameters 1000 times are required. Yet these tiny organisms, called bacteria, have a great effect upon human life. Some bacteria are harmful and cause serious diseases. Others are beneficial, converting dead organic material into food for plants and enriching the soil. Now microbes are also being used commercially for cleansing bath water and transforming kitchen garbage into fertilizer. The bath device is a box containing bacteria along with ceramic spheres through which the bath water is filtered. The microbes feast on human grime, keeping the bath water so clean during a three-month period that one can safely drink it. Another strain of bacteria devour garbage with such an appetite that it takes them only three hours to reduce 250 kilograms of fresh garbage into a bucketful of organic powder that can be used as fertilizer. The more I learn about our amazing universe and its creatures, the less I can imagine that it is all the result of meaningless chance. (3509)
'Nikolai-dō' (91/03/08)
Near the "Tea Water" Station in the "Suruga Hill" district of the "Divine Paddy Field" area of the "East Capital", in other words, near Ochanomizu Station in the Surugadai district of Kanda in Tōkyō, there stands an old, famous structure bearing the name of the 'Tōkyō Fukkatsu Daiseidō', or Tokyo Cathedral of the Resurrection. Commonly called 'Nicolai-dō', this church was completed one hundred years ago today, on March 8, 1891, after being under construction for eight years. It is the central church of the Holy Orthodox Church in Japan, or 'Nihon Harisutosu Seikyōkai'. 'Harisutosu' is this church's transliteration of the Greek word for "Christ". In European history, there are a number of important men who were called Nicholas. Beside the 4th century bishop whose designation, St. Nicholas, has been corrupted to Santa Claus, there have been five popes of the Roman Catholic Church, two tsars of Russia and a number of other dukes, princes and scholars named Nicholas. The Nicholas after whom this cathedral was named was a priest who was first attached to the Russian Consulate in Hakodate and began his church work there. An earnest, active missionary who established the Russian Orthodox Church in Japan, he stayed on during the Russo-Japanese War and died here in 1912 at the age of 76. (3510)
Delayed Plane (91/03/09)
On January 25th last year, I left the Manila hotel early in the morning with my suitcase and attache case, walked to a highway and hailed a taxi. My plane was scheduled to leave for Tokyo at 10:40 a.m. and check-in time was two hours before that. When I told the driver I was going to Japan he asked me if I was Japanese. (That was not the first time I had been asked that question even though I am of German lineage.) At the airport, I was told that the plane would be delayed until 4:00 p.m. Not wanting to spend the day in the airport, I asked if it were possible to change to a different airline, hoping to get to Tokyo Station before the final bullet train to Nagoya. Although it was a complicated procedure that took time, the transfer was effected, but even that plane left later than scheduled. Arriving at Narita, I rushed to the bus ticket counter. I had to wait a few precious minutes for the bus, which left on time. On the way to the station, I kept hoping the final bullet train might be delayed but, since this is Japan, it wasn't. I missed it by a few minutes. After purchasing a ticket on the overnight bus to Nagoya, I called my wife to tell her I would arrive early in the morning. It was snowing when I left the bus, caught a taxi home and greeted her before she left for school. (3511)
Companions of Jesus (91/03/10)
The first men that Jesus called to follow him were simple fishermen. They were two sets of brothers, Peter and Andrew and James and John. These four disciples seemed to be closest to Jesus and one day when he was talking with them privately, he spoke of some things that would happen in the future. He predicted that they would be arrested and put on trial but that they would not worry beforehand what they would say at such a time. "When the time comes", he said, "say whatever is then given to you. For the words you speak will not be yours; they will come from the Holy Spirit." [Mark 13:11] According to the 4th chapter of The Acts of the Apostles, after Jesus' death and resurrection, Peter and John were arrested and questioned by the Jewish Council. Following Peter's straightforward response, the reaction of the Council members is given in verse 13: they "were amazed to see how bold Peter and John were and to learn that they were ordinary men of no education. They realized then that they had been companions of Jesus." Throughout the years, many scholars have written deep theological treatises to expound the Christian faith, but probably the most effective Christian witnesses have been simple, ordinary folk with no special training whose only mark of distinction is that they have had an encounter with Jesus Christ and have become his companions or followers. (3512)
A Word to the Wise (91/03/11)
People who are not very bright do not understand very quickly. An explanation must be repeated over and over again for them to comprehend. Sometimes the speaker may feel like he or she is reciting a Buddhist prayer into a horse's ear. On the other hand, people who are very alert, or sharp, quickly understand. Very few words are required for them to grasp the meaning. "A word to the wise is sufficient" is the English translation of an old Latin proverb. To the wise, one word may be enough to convey intricate information. The Japanese saying that expresses this idea comes from the Analects of Confucius, or 'Rongo', where it is written, 'ichi o kiite, jū o shiru'. It is a wise person indeed who can know "ten" from hearing only "one". Yet, not only wise people, but people on the same wavelength may also communicate with only few words. (3513)
Kemal Ataturk (91/03/12)
One hundred ten years ago today, on March 12, 1881, the founder of modern Turkey, now known as Kemal Ataturk, was born. The name Kemal, meaning "perfection", was given him as a youth in a military academy because of his excellence in mathematics. As the leader of the nationalist army which expelled the Greeks from Anatolia in 1922, he was given the name Ghazi, meaning "victorious" and elected president of the newly founded Turkish republic. During the next 15 years, he severed official ties with Islam and pushed through policies that quickly transformed Turkey into a modern nation. The name, Ataturk, meaning "father of the Turks", was officially bestowed upon him by the National Assembly in recognition of his extraordinary labor in bringing about the birth of this new, westernized state, freed from the traditional restrictions which continue to hinder the development of certain other mideastern countries even today. A heavy drinker, he died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1938 at 57 years of age. On Sunday afternoon, March 31st, we will hold a meeting of "Daily Word" listeners, following which I will preach the Easter Sunday sermon at the Nagoya Union Church. You are invited to attend either or both of these meetings. (3514)
Totem Poles (91/03/13)
If a nagare-mono is a vagrant, a nagare-boshi is a shooting star and a nagare-gawa is a running stream, than what is a nagare-yama? Nagareyama is a city in Chiba Prefecture northeast of Tokyo. A newspaper reported that, in May, an international festival will be held at the Nagareyama Sports Park and a unique feature of that festival will be 96 totem poles to be displayed there. Seventy-six poles are being carved by local residents. Others are being sent from other places, including Canada and the United States. A special 21-meter pole will be carved from a tree in New Guinea. Totem poles are wooden posts carved and painted with a series of totemic symbols. Certain primitive tribes that believe in an animistic religion have a particular animal, considered a symbol of their clan or family, to which they show deep respect and totem poles with this and other emblems carved on them were sometimes erected before dwellings to serve as protectors or guardians. Elaborate totem poles may serve as works of art or historical relics but they are no more effective than heads of sardine or statues of 'niō' to keep evil spirits away. That requires spiritual power that comes from the almighty God. (3515)
Kushihara Lots (91/03/14)
A slender, pointed rod on which meat is impaled for broiling is called a spit or a skewer. The Chinese character for this utensil is an upright line passing through two rectangles and, in Japanese, is pronounced "kushi." In Gifu Prefecture, there is a village called "Kushihara", which literally means "spit field." Like many villages in Japan, "Kushihara" is suffering from an exodus of young people who go to the city to find work and a more comfortable life. The village of "Kushihara" is now making a unique attempt to entice young people to settle in the community. Recognizing that the high price of land prohibits many couples from owning land of their own, the village office is offering three spacious lots in a desirable location to the winners of a singing contest. Contestants had to purchase a sing-along tape of the local theme song, "Kushihara Love Song of the Wind", and then tape their own voices on it "karaoke-style". From the 2,600 tapes which have been received, 30 finalists will be invited to a singing contest on March 24th, from which the lucky three will be chosen. It is reported that contestants range in age from 5 to 93 and include 33 from Taiwan. It is hoped that this experiment will bring new life to the village whose population has declined to less than 1,200. (3516)
Escalators (91/03/15)
In modern buildings, an elevator is used to transport people up and down. The old Japanese word for this mechanism, 'shōkōki', literally means an ascending-descending-machine. Along with elevators, many department stores, now have 'Jidōkaidan', or self-moving stairways. These stairways, consisting of steps attached to a continuously moving belt, are called 'escalators' in English. This word, once a trademark of the Otis Elevator Company, has now become a generic term. The word was formed by combining "escalade" with "elevator." Escalade is derived from a French word meaning "to climb" and that word, in turn, was derived from an Italian word meaning "ladder." Escalade means to climb up and over a wall using ladders which was the way soldiers entered fortified places long ago. Ninety-nine years ago today, on March 15, 1892, the first escalator, called an inclined elevator, was patented and four years later was installed on Coney Island in New York. Japan's first escalator was put in the Matsuya Store in Tokyo in 1923. As a verb, escalate, means to intensify and I pray that world leaders will escalate their search for peace. (3517)
Driver Training (91/03/16)
In previous Saturday messages, which are related to personal experiences, I have mentioned incidents related to getting American drivers' licences renewed. In the United States, legal requirements related to drivers' licences are determined by the individual states. I believed that I obtained my first Illinois Drivers Licence when I was 15 years old. I was taught to drive by my father and had never heard of a school to train drivers until I came to Japan. When we came to this country in 1951, my wife did not have a drivers licence, but we thought it would be a waste of time and money for her to attend such school to obtain a licence here. On a visit to the United States, I gave her some instruction and took her to the examination office to apply for a licence the week before we returned to Japan. The problem was, she was using the camping car we had purchased in Germany which was difficult to maneuver. The examining officer suggested that she return with a normal car which would be simpler to operate but she didn't have time to do so, so when we returned to Japan she had only a temporary licence. On our next visit to the U.S., she got her licence without difficulty, but I never did get paid the handsome wage of a successful driver training instructor. (3518)
Yuigon of David (91/03/17)
In Japanese, yuigon denotes the words left behind by a person about to die. Whether or not these words are in the form of a verbal will or testament, the final words of a respected person before death are treasured by that person's relatives and acquaintances. In the 23rd chapter of the Second Book of Samuel in the Old Testament is recorded the yuigon of David, the most highly respected king in Israel's history. Here, David is called "the man whom God made great, whom God chose to be king", recognizing that David's greatness and lofty position was dependent upon God's action and not simply David's ability. David was a poet who composed many of the Old Testament psalms and his final words are also in poetic form. At the heart of his yuigon are these words: "'The king who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God, is like the sun shining in a cloudless dawn, the sun that makes the grass sparkle after rain.'" In the modern world, nations that have kings, emirs or emperors are decreasing and in only a few nations do royalty actually hold political power. But whether the person at the top is a figurehead or a genuine ruler, his or her example is a powerful influence upon the whole country and national leaders today should ponder these deathbed words of King David. (3519)
Penny-wise and Pound-foolish (91/03/18)
The word "pound" has two different meanings. It is both a unit of weight and a unit of money. As a unit of weight, it is equal to 16 ounces, but as a monetary unit in modern British currency, a pound is equal to a hundred pence. The proverb, "Penny-wise and pound-foolish" is a warning not to be so concerned about minor matters that major, more important matters are neglected. In Japanese, Ichimon-oshimi denotes a miserly, stingy person. Sometimes such people, while concentrating on saving pennies, overlook what is much more valuable, as noted in the Japanese proverb, Ichimon-oshimi no hyaku shirazu. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus voiced a similar thought when he criticized the religious leaders of his day for straining a gnat out of their drink, but swallowing a camel. He advised them to emphasize major matters instead of the picayune. (3520)
Nineteen (91/03/19)
Today is the 19th day of March, so I thought of making a message about the number nineteen. After a bit of research, however, I discovered there is very little to be said about this odd number. It is a prime number, which means that it can be divided only by itself and one, but since it seems to have no peculiar characteristics, I decided to check the constitutions of the United States and Japan to see what I could find. The U.S. Constitution consists of only seven articles, but it now has 26 amendments. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, stated that the right of citizens to vote shall not be denied on account of sex, thus granting suffrage to women. The Japanese Constitution has 103 articles, so you probably don't recall what is stated in Article 19, do you? Its English translation is: "Freedom of thought and conscience shall not be violated." This is a very important principle which needs to be kept in mind by governmental, educational, professional and social organizations. Should it not also be observed in the home? On Sunday afternoon, March 31st, at 1:45, we will hold a meeting of "Daily Word" listeners at the Nagoya City Kyōikukan at Sakae. That is Easter Sunday and my wife and I will talk about Easter customs. You are invited to attend. (3521)
Zoos (91/03/20)
There are two Greek words meaning "life". One is 'bios' and the other is 'zōe'. From these two words, the English words "biology" and "zoology" are derived. Biology is related to the study of all kinds of life while zoology is limited to the study of animals. Parks where animals and birds are kept for exhibition and study are called zoological gardens or zoos for short. The custom of keeping animals for display is very old and now most major cities of the world have zoos. In recent years, zoological gardens have sought to provide conditions resembling the natural habitat of animals rather than merely keeping them in cages. The largest and most famous zoological garden in Japan is in Ueno Park in Tokyo. This zoo first opened its doors to the public 109 years ago today, on March 20, 1882. First established under the Ministry of Agriculture, it was turned over to the city of Tokyo on the occasion of the marriage of the then Crown Prince, former Emperor Shōwa, in 1924. In commemoration of the opening of the zoo, this 20th day of March has been designated Dōbutsu Aigo De- to encourage the kind treatment and protection of animals. The traditional Japanese respect for all of nature and the Buddhist respect for all kinds of life should result in animals being kindly treated in this land. Do you think they are? (3522)
Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day (91/03/21)
This 21st day of March, when day and night are of equal length, is considered the first day of spring in many countries in the northern hemisphere. In Japan, since it is the day the sun sets directly in the west, the direction of the "Pure Land" of Amida Buddha, many Japanese hold special ceremonies for spirits of departed ancestors who they believe are in that western paradise. On this day in 1960, South African police in the town of Sharpeville fired on black demonstrators protesting against the injustice they were forced to endure under the country's apartheid laws legalizing racial discrimination. As a result, 69 demonstrators were killed. The United Nations has designated this day Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day to commemorate their deaths and to encourage all countries to recognize and work to eradicate discrimination in their own lands. Japan is often said to be a homogeneous people, but from ancient times there have been minority groups in Japanese society that have suffered severe discrimination which still continues today. It is well for us all to recognize discriminatory attitudes we harbor, seek to eliminate them and work for a just society in which all people are treated equally as stated in Article 14 of the Japanese Constitution. (3523)
Grand Coulee Dam (91/03/22)
A number of place names in the United States consist of two words, the first of which is "Grand", which may mean something large or impressive. Many cities or towns that have "Grand" in their names are really not that grand, but the city of Grand Coulee, in central Washington, does have something grand to be proud of. It is the site of 'Grand Coulee Dam' the greatest concrete structure in the world. This dam across the Columbia River is about 1300 meters long at the top and 170 meters high. Behind the dam, the grand 240-kilometer-long Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake is one of the largest reservoirs in the country. It took nine years and ten-and-a-half million cubic yards of concrete to construct this dam which is said to weigh about 19,285,000 tons. The dam, which began operating on March 22, 1941, exactly fifty years ago today, produces more electricity than any other hydroelectric installation in the world. Along the Columbia River and Roosevelt Lake is a huge Coulee Dam National Recreation Area consisting of over 40,000 hectares. Needless to say, this area is a major point of interest in this most northwesterly state. (3524)
Best Man (91/03/23)
In my family, there were six children: four girls and two boys. I was the fourth child and second son. During the great depression, our conscientious, hard working parents faced financial difficulties in providing the material needs of their family, but they gave us a solid spiritual foundation upon which to build our lives. Although they had not attended college themselves, all six of their children graduated from university. Five of us did more than study at university. We found our spouses there. After my elder brother graduated from the University of Illinois, he stayed on to teach and is now a senior professor of mechanical engineering at that institution. Forty years ago, on March 24, 1951, he married a girl from that community. My wife and I flew in from New York to attend the ceremony and, in all humility, I may state that I was the best man at that wedding. ( If you check the dictionary, you will find the meaning of "best man".) We recently received a letter from the three sons of my brother who have invited friends and relatives to attend a surprise 40th anniversary celebration for their parents to be held on Sunday afternoon. My wife and I are sorry that we are unable to attend, but this telephone message indicates that we have not forgotten them and will be with them in spirit. (3525)
David's Son (91/03/24)
In the Christian Church calendar, this Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday, commemorating the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Crowds of people greeted him waving palm branches, symbols of victory and peace, as he entered the city riding on a lowly donkey. According to Matthew 21:9, the crowds began to shout, "Praise to David's Son!" David, of course, was the great Jewish king and all subsequent kings came from his descendants. The term, "David's son", was used in a specific sense to denote the Messiah who was prophesied to be sent from God to bring deliverance. People of Jesus' day had high hopes that the Messiah would deliver them from the domination of Rome, but Jesus' aim was different. He made clear that his kingdom was not a political entity but a spiritual one. He came to save people from sin and to grant a new quality of life to all who believe. Refusing to compromise to satisfy the crowd, his life ended on a cross, where he manifested the unlimited love of God. Incidentally, the name "David", meaning "beloved" is the name of my elder brother and it is that David's sons who have planned a surprise celebration for his fortieth wedding anniversary this afternoon, U.S. Central Standard Time, but forty years ago, this 24th day of March was Saturday, the day before Easter. (3526)
'En wa I na Mono' (91/03/25)
Some very short Japanese words have very wide meanings. Take the word 'en' for example. Among its definitions are the following: relation, connection, bond, acquaintance, fate, destiny, chance, love, union, marriage. So how should we translate the Japanese proverb, 'en wa ina mono'? In this case, 'en' often denotes a man/woman relationship, or marriage. There is something mysterious about how a particular man and a particular woman meet, maybe fall in love, and get married. Some people speak of fate or destiny, but the Christian recognizes the purposeful plan of God in all events. In English, we have the saying "Marriages are made in heaven." If this is true, then marriages should last for life. Forty years ago, my elder brother got married and just in case someone at their surprise celebration calls this number today, my wife and I would like to wish a happy anniversary to Dave and Hazel. (3527)
Camp David Accords (91/03/26)
The historic land of Palestine, at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, occupies a truly crucial place in world geography, history and politics. Since the establishment of the state of Israel on part of that land in 1948, there has been constant agitation and a series of wars between Jews and Arabs. Twelve years ago today, on March 26, 1979, a peace treaty was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Begin and Egyptian President Sadat, witnessed by U.S. President Carter in Washington, D.C. Because the treaty was forged at Camp David, the presidential retreat outside of Washington, it was called the Camp David Accords. Subsequently, Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt but the promised negotiations on the rights of Palestinians in Israeli-held territory were never carried out, so problems between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs continue to fester today. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:45, we will hold a meeting of "Daily Word" listeners at the Nagoya City Kyōikukan at Sakae. The 33rd issue of "Daily Word" Echoes will be on sale. My wife and I will talk about Easter customs and, following the meeting, I will preach the Easter Sunday Sermon in English at the Nagoya Union Church. You are invited to attend these meetings. (3528)
Dog Sled Race (91/03/27)
Most land vehicles are mounted on wheels to transport passengers or goods, but a sled is a vehicle mounted on runners to slide over snow or ice. Small sleds are used by children in areas that have much snow, but larger sleds may be pulled by dogs or horses. Dog sleds are used in Alaska where the word "mush" means to travel by dog sled. Every March, a dog sled race is held between Alaska's largest city of Anchorage, on the Gulf of Alaska, and the small Eskimo town of Nome, on the Bering Sea, over 1,800 kilometers away. Each sled is pulled by a team of eight or more husky dogs over the roadless wilderness. Depending on weather conditions and whether or not mushers have smooth sledding, the race may take from 11 to 32 days, so food for both dogs and musher, a sleeping bag, snowshoes, booties for the dogs' feet and an ax must be on hand. The top ten racers who finish the course share the $100,000 prize. This year, because of higher temperatures, in some places snow had to be brought in by truck to replace snow that had melted. You are invited to attend the "Daily Word" listeners meeting at the Nagoya City Kyōikukan this coming Sunday afternoon at 1:45. (3529)
A Gold Vein (91/03/28)
An article in an English-language newspaper quoted the mayor of a town in Oita prefecture as saying, "We are all keeping our finger crossed." I don't know what expression the mayor used in Japanese, but the English expression means to wish for good luck. The mayor's words were related to the discovery of a gold vein in this remote town of Kokonoe whose population has dwindled to 13,000. Ten years ago, gold was discovered in an area 150 kilometers south of Kokonoe, which has now become Japan's biggest gold mine, producing seven tons of gold a year. Drilling tests indicate that the gold in the Kokonoe deposit is of higher quality than that at Hishikari and Mayor Takakura is hoping that further tests will reveal a major gold deposit that could bring new life to his community. Japan, which has few natural resources, produces eleven tons of gold a year but imports over 300 tons. If a large deposit of gold is found in Kokonoe, it would be good news for the whole country, not only for that small town. My wife and I hope to meet many of you listeners to these "Daily Word" messages on Sunday afternoon at the Nagoya City Kyōikukan at Sakae at 1:45. (3530)
Good Friday (91/03/29)
The names of the days of the week in most languages are taken from the old Roman names which were related to the sun, moon and five planets or to the deities connected with them. In English, this sixth day of the week is called Friday, from the Norse goddess, Frigg. The Latin name for this day is related to Venus, or 'kinsei' in Japanese. Thus its Japanese name is 'kinyōbi.' Friday is the weekly day of public prayer for Muslims, but for many Americans Friday evening is the beginning of the weekend which lasts through Sunday evening. In traditional American thought, the weekend includes time for physical recreation on Saturday and spiritual recreation on Sunday. This Friday before Easter is a special day in the Christian calendar, called Good Friday, commemorating Jesus' death on the cross. Because Christians believe that Jesus' death was the manifestation of the infinite love of God and provided the way of salvation for all who believe, to us, it is a 'Good Friday' indeed. On Sunday afternoon at 1:45, we will hold a meeting of listeners to these telephone messages at the Nagoya City Kyōikukan at Sakae, following which I will preach at the English-language worship service of Nagoya Union Church which begins at 4 o'clock. You are invited to both of these meetings. (3531)
Manila Shops (91/03/02)
Seeds (91/03/03)
'Honmatsu-tentō' (91/03/04)
Iron Curtain (91/03/05)
Cyrano de Bergerac (91/03/06)
Microbes (91/03/07)
'Nikolai-dō' (91/03/08)
Delayed Plane (91/03/09)
Companions of Jesus (91/03/10)
A Word to the Wise (91/03/11)
Kemal Ataturk (91/03/12)
Totem Poles (91/03/13)
Kushihara Lots (91/03/14)
Escalators (91/03/15)
Driver Training (91/03/16)
Yuigon of David (91/03/17)
Penny-wise and Pound-foolish (91/03/18)
Nineteen (91/03/19)
Zoos (91/03/20)
Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day (91/03/21)
Grand Coulee Dam (91/03/22)
Best Man (91/03/23)
David's Son (91/03/24)
'En wa I na Mono' (91/03/25)
Camp David Accords (91/03/26)
Dog Sled Race (91/03/27)
A Gold Vein (91/03/28)
Good Friday (91/03/29)
A Bicycle Accident (91/03/30)
Personal Encounter (91/03/31)
Niō, Deva Kings (91/03/01)