All Saints' Day (92/11/01)
This first day of November is All Saints' Day in the traditional Christian Church Calendar, the day to remember all the saints who have departed his life. Long ago, it was called All Hallows' Day and the preceding evening, All Hallows' Eve, became known as Halloween. In Roman Catholic tradition, saints are those who have been officially designated by the church after their deaths. In the New Testament, however, the word for saint, or holy one, is used for all Christian believers who have been purified by the Holy Spirit. In some Japanese churches, today is called 'eiminsha kinenbi', memorial day for eternal sleepers. Christians do not believe that death is the end of one's existence for we believe in the resurrection of the dead. On two different occasions, Jesus said that people who had recently died were sleeping. He then raised them from the dead. In the case, recorded in chapter 11 of the Gospel of John, Jesus stated to the sister of the dead man, Lazarus, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." "Eternal life", the new quality of life that begins when one, in faith, receives it from God, will last forever. -- Clark Offner (4114)
Monju no Chie (92/11/02)
Manchuria, the large northeastern area of China, is said to have been named for the Buddhist saint having the name of Manjusri in Sanskrit. This bodhisattva, or 'bosatu', called Monju in Japanese, personifies wisdom or intellect. According to a Japanese proverb, three people together have the wisdom of Monju, 'san-nin yoreba Monju no chie'. When a person lacks confidence in his or her own intellectual ability, it is well to confer with a couple of others to gain greater wisdom. An English proverb with a similar meaning mentions two people rather than three. We say that "Two heads are better than one." Of course, we may add another head and say that "Three heads are better than two", but according to the New Testament Letter of James, chapter 1, verse 5, if a person lacks wisdom, he should pray to God, who gives generously and graciously to all. --Clark Offner (4115)
General Election Day (92/11/03)
Today, November 3rd, is a holiday in Japan called 'Bunka no Hi', Culture Day. Until the end of the war it was called 'Meiji-se-tsu', commemorating the birth of Emperor Meiji. This year, today is also a holiday in some states in the U.S., where holidays are decided by the individual states. In the early years of that nation, the date for elections varied from state to state, but in 1845, congress designated the Tuesday after the first Monday of November as the day for selecting presidential and vice-presidential electors every four years. Since then, that has also become the day for electing members of Congress and state officials. Called General Election Day, some states designate in a holiday or a half holiday to encourage its citizens to vote. According to the original U.S. Constitution, voting procedures were to be determined by the individual states, but a number of constitutional amendments have limited the restrictions states may impose. Thus, nowadays, citizens may not be prohibited from voting because of race, color, previous condition of servitude, sex or the failure to pay a tax. The 26th amendment, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age to 18. Whether Americans who voted today made a wise choice or not will not be known for a few days, or months, or years. --Clark Offner (4116)
UNESCO (92/11/04)
An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of a name. UNESCO is an acronym and today, November the 4th, marks the 46th anniversary of the founding of this organization. I am sure you have seen this acronym in newspapers or magazines many times, but do you recall what the initials stand for? As you probably know or can guess, the first two letters stand for the United Nations, for UNESCO is one of the principal agencies of the United Nations Organization. Its headquarters are in Paris and its establishment became official when the twentieth nation officially submitted the document indicating its approval of the constitution with the government of the United Kingdom on November 4, 1946. Since that time, this organization has sought to promote world peace and justice, the rule of law, human rights and freedoms without distinction of race, sex, language or religion through the free interchange of ideas and of cultural and scientific achievements. It also seeks to improve and expand the educational systems of its members. Continuing collaboration among the nations of the world in the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is important and deserves our support. --Clark Offner (4117)
Facial Features (92/11/05)
When you see a person for the first time, do you think that person's character can be inferred by his or her facial features? Psychologists at various American universities have been studying the impression given by certain facial characteristics. One researcher asked people to state their impressions of various faces shown on a computer. It was found that people with large eyes tend to be seen as warm and honest. But big-eyed people also give the impression of being naive and submissive. Round cheeks, big eyes, full-lips and other "baby-like" features are generally viewed as attractive in women, at least in Western societies. Thus, women in the West wear makeup to accentuate those attributes. In the case of men, the study found that bald men appeared more intelligent and a little older, but not less attractive. Bearded men also appeared older, but less attractive and less sociable than those without beards. One retired psychologist who studied facial recognition for decades, however, has concluded that there is no good evidence that character can be divined by looking at faces. When the Old Testament prophet Samuel chose the new king of Israel, he was told (in I Samuel 16:7) to pay no attention to how handsome he was for although man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart. --Clark Offner(4118)
Derek Walcott (92/11/06)
Laurel, spelled l-a-u-r-e-l, is a shrub native to the Mediterranean region. It has aromatic evergreen leaves and small blackish berries. In ancient Rome, wreaths made of laurel were used to crown citizens who had made outstanding contributions to society. From that custom the English term "laureate" was derived. As an adjective, this word means worthy of honor, and as a noun, it denotes a person honored for his or her achievements. Last month, the Noble Prize in literature was awarded to a native of St. Lucia, a small island state in the West Indies. Derek Walcott thus became a Nobel laureate. Walcott is a 62-year-old poet of African, Dutch and English ancestry. For the past eight years he has been teaching at Boston University and last month received permanent resident status in the United States, but he remains a citizen of St. Lucia, where he returns whenever he is able. The Swedish Academy, which made the award, noted that "three loyalties are central for him--the Caribbean, where he lives, the English language and his African origin." Walcott denied having a special style. He said, "I am writing the way my people talk: rhythmically." Still, he developed the talent to express himself in poetry the Academy called "melodious, sensitive and majestic." -- Clark Offner(4119)
Budapest (92/11/07)
In the Hungarian capital of Budapest, we picked up a map at a hotel and drove around the city, visiting the main sightseeing attractions. We crossed the brownish Danube River a number of times and ate our lunch in an outdoor restaurant on Margaret Island in the middle of that river. In each of the countries we visited, we tried to have at least one characteristic meal of that country. The food for which Hungary is famous is goulash, which is a stew of beef or veal and vegetables, seasoned with paprika. The English word "goulash" comes from the Hungarian word for "shepherd" and originally meant a shepherd's meal. A branch of a large tree overhung the table where we ate, which provided shade. We were troubled, however, by bugs dropping down onto our food, so we moved the table to another location. In Hungary, fresh milk was sold in plastic bags and tasted better than the powdered milk we bought in Romania. At the Hungarian border when a customs official, looking through our camper, opened the door of our ice box, a plastic bag of milk fell out and a few drops of milk leaked out onto the floor. The embarrassed official apologized and quickly ended his investigation. We considered positioning a bag of milk to fall out whenever we approached a national border, thinking that if the same thing reoccurred it might facilitate our getting through customs. -- Clark Offner (4120)
New People (92/11/08)
In the last half of the 4th chapter of the New Testament Letter to the Ephesians, readers are encouraged to give up their old way of life and make a new beginning, to put off their old self and put on the new nature which God has prepared for them. Various characteristics of this new nature are then indicated, including the kinds of words such regenerated people will use. First, these "new people" will not lie to one another but speak the truth. How much misunderstanding would be avoided and how much stronger, longer-lasting relationship would be established if only people would speak the truth to each other instead of hiding it under falsehoods! Secondly, they will not "use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed", so that what is said "will do good to those who hear" [29]. How different the result would be if we always sought to encourage rather than discourage those around us! Furthermore, such people will not shout or insult others. Rather, they will be "kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven" them [32]. The true children of God may be distinguished not primarily by the religious duties they perform but by the kinds of words they use in daily life. -- Clark Offner (4121)
Ron Yori Shōko (92/11/09)
When I first saw the Japanese word 'purin', I didn't understand its meaning. Later, I realized that it was the Japanized pronunciation of pudding, spelled p-u-d-d-i-n-g. Pudding is a soft, sweet dessert, usually made from flour, milk and eggs. A cook may brag about how good his or her pudding tastes, but whether it is delicious or not will only be known by eating it. The English proverb, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating", implies that we cannot simply accept the enticing words of salesmen, politicians or religious propagandists. We cannot judge the wisdom of a theory until it is put into practice, even as the Japanese proverb states, 'ron yori shōko', proof rather than argument. In the Gospel of John 1:46, when Nathanael doubted Philip's testimony to Jesus, Philip replied simply, "Come and see". Personal experience is more convincing than persuasive words. --- Clark Offner (4122)
Gregorian Calendar (92/11/10)
The calendar in general use today is known as the Gregorian calendar for it was instituted by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. According to this calendar, seven months have 31 days, four have 30 days and February usually has 28 days but every fourth year it has 29. How do people remember which months have 30 days and which have 31? In English, we have the saying, "Thirty days hath September, April June and November. All the rest have thirty-one excepting February alone." In Japan, the saying about a "warrior facing west", 'ni-shi-mu-ku-samurai', includes the numbers 2, 4, 6 and 9 and the symbol for 11, the months that do not have 31 days. Since this "samurai" month of November began on a Sunday this year, it has five Sundays. On the fifth Sunday afternoon, November 29th, we will have a regular meeting of listeners to or readers of these "Daily Word" messages at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center. Two days after that meeting, the final month of this year of 1992 will begin and the theme for that meeting will be: December. What thoughts, memories or plans does that month bring to your mind? If you can join us at the meeting, we'll be happy to hear your comments. --Clark Offner (4123)
Washington State (92/11/11)
One of the most common place names in the United States is Washington, in honor of America's first president. One hundred three years ago today, on November 11, 1889, the state of Washington was officially admitted as the 42nd state. It is in the northwest corner of the 48 contiguous states on the mainland. Among the 50 states, it ranks number 19 in population and number 20 in area. Although it is about half the size of Japan, it has a population of only 4 1/2 million. Washington state is a leading lumber producer and a center of the aerospace industry. In agriculture, it holds first place in the production of apples, blueberries, hops and red raspberries and ranks high in potatoes, winter wheat, pears, grapes, apricots and strawberries. Before the arrival of the so-called white man, this area was inhabited by various tribes of so-called red men, also called American Indians. It was from a language of these Native Americans that the state of Washington chose its state motto, consisting of only four letters: A-l-k-i, which simply means "by and by". This is a reference to an indefinite future time. As Hamlet said in Shakespeare's drama, "By and by is easily said." --Clark Offner (4124)
Internationalization (92/11/12)
According to statistics recently released by the Justice Ministry, the number of Japanese who travelled abroad during the first half of this year hit an all-time high of 5.78 million, a 27.4 percent increase over the first six months of last year. Following the Gulf War, the number of Japanese making overseas trips decreased, but now that trend has been reversed. A new record was also set by the number of foreigners who entered Japan during the first half of this year. From January to June, 1.94 million foreigners entered Japan which was 6.7 percent more than in the corresponding period last year. When divided according to region, 68 percent of the foreigners came from Asia, 17 percent from North America and 10 percent from Europe. By country, South Korea topped the list with 544,000, followed by Taiwan with 362,000 and the United States with 285,000. Of the new arrivals, over 90 percent came for sightseeing or for business but those coming on trainee visas are increasing. The number of Chinese and Sri Lanka nationals with such visas jumped 30 percent from the preceding year. Obviously, Japan is outwardly becoming more and more international. Hopefully, the more essential inward, mental or spiritual, internationalization is also progressing. Listeners to or readers of these messages have an important part to play in that regard. --Clark Offner (4125)
Ataxia (92/11/13)
Ataxia, spelled a-t-a-x-i-a, is a disease characterized by a loss of muscular coordination. Since those suffering from this disease cannot control their muscles, they may appear to be drunk. Last month 60 descendants of a branch of the family of President Abraham Lincoln, some of whom have ataxia, gathered in a small city in Indiana to help researchers in their attempt to identify the cause of the disease. They all were descendants of the president's grandfather, also named Abraham, and his wife, Bathsheba. An estimated 150,000 people in the United States are afflicted with this disease which has no known cure or treatment. At least fifty cases have been found among the descendants of President Lincoln's Uncle Josiah. Scientists know that the disorder stems from a defective gene, but they don't know which chromosome is involved. The Lincoln family is an ideal group for research because they are a relatively large group with a known lineage. One of the group didn't know he had ataxia until his slurred speech and lack of coordination got him arrested for drunkenness. He was jailed, but a breath test confirmed his innocence. I do hope an effective remedy is found, but I recall the words of an ancient Roman poet: "There are some remedies worse than the disease." -- Clark Offner (4126)
Brno W.C. (92/11/14)
I don't remember having heard the term "water closet" or seen the initials "W.C." before coming to Japan over forty years ago, but when making a trip with a family in a camping car, "W.C." facilities become a problem. The first time we took a trip by camping car through Europe on our way back to the States, our three children were younger. At that time, we had purchased a portable toilet along with the camping car and it served its purpose. On this trip through Eastern Europe, however, our children were older and a portable toilet did not seem practical, so we made use of public restrooms as much as possible. The first city we entered in Czechoslovakia was Brno, spelled B-r-n-o, where we stopped at a public W.C. along a street for the children's benefit. When they came back to the car they told of a woman in that restroom who seemed to be upset with them. Of course, they could not understand her words, but she seemed to be asking for money. When I went to see what the problem was, I found that the woman seemed to be stationed in that small W.C. to keep it clean and provide toilet paper if it was needed. She also asked for a fee even if her services were not required. I apologized in English, gave her a few Czechoslovakian coins and returned to the car. Then, we began our tour of the city. -- Clark Offner (4127)
Genesis (92/11/15)
The first words of the Bible are: "In the beginning". This phrase became the title of that first book in the Hebrew Bible. In English, the book is called "Genesis", which also means beginning or origin. The book of Genesis includes narratives of the beginning of the universe, of human beings, of sin and suffering in the world and of God's way of dealing with human beings. We cannot expect these stories, written over 2000 years ago, to be "scientific" in the modern sense. "Scientific theories" of prehistoric events continue to change, but the underlying truth of these religious stories continue to inform and inspire their readers even today. They are of a different quality and are accepted by faith. In chapter 11 of the New Testament letter to the Hebrews, it is written that "faith makes us certain of realities we do not see [1]." "By faith we perceive that the universe was fashioned by the word of God, so that the visible came forth from the invisible [3]." It is the faith of Christians that we live in an orderly universe that was created by God, that God had a purpose in creating such a world and that the true happiness of human beings, created in the image of God, is only gained when they live in accordance with the divine plan. -- Clark Offner (4128)
Three's a Crowd (92/11/16)
Although the combined wisdom of three people may be better than that of one or two, at times the presence of a third person is actually undesirable. According to an English proverb, "Two is company, three is none". A Japanese expression, 'san-nin tabi no hitori kojiki,' "of three travelers, one is a beggar" has a similar meaning. While two people may travel together agreeably, the presence of a third person may lead to quarreling. Frequently, in a group of three, one becomes an outsider. The expression, "Two's company, three's a crowd" is often used to express the sentiments of courting couples in particular. When people are truly united in spirit, however, increased numbers need not destroy the unity. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18, verse 20, Jesus told his disciples that where two or three come together in his name, he will be there with them. --Clark Offner (4129)
Airplane Dropping (92/11/17)
One Sunday last month, in a small town in the state of Washington in the United States, Leroy and Gerri Cinnamon were watching a football game on television in the living room of their home. Suddenly, they heard a loud noise like an explosion. Then, an object the size of a basketball came crashing into the room after tearing holes in the roof of the house and the living room ceiling. The foreign object shattered on the floor beside them. They thought the strange thing might be a meteorite and firefighters were called. The house was quarantined while a check was made for possible radiation. When the object began to melt, however, its true nature became clear. A foul odor pervaded the room and it was determined that the object was a chunk of frozen sewage from an airplane. Federal Aviation Administration officials theorize that a leak developed in an airliner toilet. At a high altitude, the liquid froze to the plane's fuselage, then thawed and broke loose as the plane descended toward the Seattle Airport. The FAA checked flight records to find the plane and get the problem fixed. While bird droppings may be a minor nuisance, airplane droppings of this kind can be not only offensive but downright dangerous. --Clark Offner (4130)
"Slip of the Tongue" (92/11/18)
The American presidential campaign debates between the three candidates for president clearly indicated that President Bush was not an accomplished public speaker. This was evident in other campaign appearances as well. Ten days before the election, when speaking to a crowd of his supporters in New Jersey, he made another "slip of the tongue". To "slip" means to slide unexpectedly and by accident and a "slip of the tongue" denotes a slight, inadvertent error in speech. At that meeting, the President thanked the crowd for their "warm recession". A "recession", rooted in the word "recede", denotes a decline in economic activity. This is a word the President studiously tried to avoid in his speechmaking, for the present economic recession is one of the reasons Americans were dissatisfied with his administration. He meant to thank the crowd for their "warm reception". A "reception", from the word "receive", signifies a welcome or greeting. In these daily messages, I try to enunciate clearly, but the fact that native English speakers also make mistakes in pronunciation should encourage you not to feel so embarrassed if you do so at the meeting of the "Daily Word" Circle of listeners and/or readers on November 29th when we will talk about "December". --Clark Offner (4131)
Fugu (92/11/19)
Have you ever eaten the meat of a "river pig"? You have probably never heard of such a creature, but that is the literal meaning of the Chinese characters for a fish that is not found in rivers and is not related to pigs. In Japanese it is called a 'fugu.' This oceanic fish has the strange capability of blowing or puffing itself up; it may swell so much that it resembles a globe. Consequently, in English, it is known by such names as blowfish, puffer, swellfish or globefish. Another characteristic of this fish is the poison contained in its liver and ovaries which may cause sudden death. Nevertheless, because many Japanese consider the meat of this fish delicious, they are willing to take the chance and eat it even though it is very expensive. Due to the present economic recession, the entertainment budgets of corporations have decreased. As a result, the price of 'fugu' has also tumbled, causing dismay among fishermen. Years ago, following a lecture to a group of dentists in which I stated that because of my faith, I was not afraid of death, some of them took me out to eat. They ordered 'fugu' and insisted that I take the first piece. I did so, but since my taste buds are not so refined as those of Japanese, I did not consider it any tastier than other kinds of fish. --Clark Offner (4132)
"Daily Word" Messages (92/11/20)
Those of you who listen to these "Daily Word" messages by telephone have noticed a change that took place just three weeks ago today. On the afternoon of that day, Friday, October 30th, for about three hours this telephone number was out of service as the system was changed. Now, I no longer record the messages on cassette tapes in my home that run continuously day and night. Rather, I call in the messages by telephone to the NTT office where they are electronically recorded. Now, when you call, you always hear the message from the beginning rather than at a midway point. You may also continue listening while the message is repeated for as long as you wish. When I get a new computer with a modem, the messages I type on my computer can be immediately transferred to NTT's CAPTAIN System rather than being sent by facsimile and then retyped. Then, I will not need to prepare messages three weeks in advance as I do now and I can comment on more recent news. For NTT to maintain this service, it is desirable that the number of callers be increased. I hope you will inform others who might be interested and encourage them to call. Written copies of the messages are mailed before they are spoken to those who send self-addressed, stamped envelopes plus ¥60 in stamps for each week of messages desired to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. -- Clark Offner (4133)
Prague (92/11/21)
When I was a boy, I knew a child who had a nervous disorder commonly called St. Vitus' Dance. That was the only time I had heard the St. Vitus until we went to Prague and visited the St. Vitus' Cathedral, one of the old Gothic churches in that historic city. We also visited the old Tyn Church, before which stands a statue of John Huss, a religious reformer who preceded Martin Luther. For his opposition to corrupt church practices of his day he was arrested, condemned as a heretic and burned at the stake. In the old Town Square in Prague is the famous Old Town Hall. In the tower of this historic structure is a huge clock. When the clock strikes the hour large puppets emerge from their compartments and perform a dance as the sonorous bell is sounded. We rushed to get that square by 11 o'clock to view this interesting sight, but we had trouble finding a place to park our camper. We ran to the bell and arrived at the eleventh stroke of the eleventh hour, in time to see the puppets return to their cubbyholes. While we were standing there, instead of mechanical puppets, we saw a group of living people emerging from the hall. A wedding had just been performed and the bride and groom and the wedding party were standing to have pictures taken by a photographer at the entrance. -- Clark Offner (4134)
Resurrection (92/11/22)
The fourth book in the New Testament, called the Gospel of John, was written near the end of the first century, many years after the earlier Gospels. It contains incidents in the life of Jesus which are not found in the three other Gospels. The acts of Jesus in this Gospel often include a symbolic significance for Jesus taught by example as well as by words. In the 11th chapter of the Gospel of John is the story of Jesus raising a dead man to life. In Jewish tradition, the soul remained over the grave of the dead for three days before departing, but Jesus arrived at Lazarus' grave four days after he had died. He comforted Lazarus' sisters with words from the Jewish faith that their brother would rise again. When Martha expressed her faith that Lazarus would rise to life on the last day, Jesus made the surprising statement: "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." [25-26] He then raised Lazarus from the dead. In this story, by word and example, Jesus taught that he is the bringer of new, eternal life to those who believe and this has been the experience of countless believers throughout the ages. -- Clark Offner (4135)
A Learned Fool (92/11/23)
The Japanese proverb, 'Rongo-yomi Rongo shirazu', denotes a person who reads or knows the Analects of Confucius but does not understand them or does not put them into practice. Such a person may be called "a learned fool" in English. Although the adjective "learned" is spelled the same as the past tense of "learn", it has a different pronunciation. In modern English "learn" means to acquire knowledge and "teach" means to impart knowledge. Teachers teach and pupils learn, so it is incorrect to say "she learned him English" instead of "she taught him English". Confucian scholars, Buddhist priests, Christian pastors and English teachers all need to take care not only to read the doctrine of their respective professions but to understand it and practice it. Benjamin Franklin wrote: "A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one." --Clark Offner (4136)
Dragonflies (92/11/24)
Have you ever seen a dragon fly [ dragonfly ]? This verbal question may have two quite different meanings. A dragon, of course, is a legendary beast pictured as a gigantic reptile having claws, wings, a long tail and scaly skin. But a dragonfly is an insect with a long, slender body and two pairs of narrow wings with net-like veins. The Japanese name for "dragonfly" is 'tonbo', but I would be surprised if you could write that word using Chinese characters. In late autumn, red dragonflies return to the lowlands of Japan after spending the summer months high in the mountains. Dragonflies are expert fliers. Their front and back wings are controlled independently by powerful muscles, allowing them to hover motionlessly, back slowly, accelerate quickly, turn sharply and migrate hundreds of kilometers. Their rotatable head and huge eyes make them alert hunters also. They dine on larvae and other insects, but they do not bite or sting human beings. Red dragonflies, symbols of autumn in Japan, are celebrated in Japanese poetry and song. Seeing them reminds us that winter is about to begin. The theme for our "Daily Word" Fellowship Meeting next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center is: December. We would be happy to hear your thoughts on this theme if you are able to attend. --Clark Offner (4137)
Statistical Abstract (92/11/25)
Every year, a book entitled "Statistical Abstract of the United States" is published. In this case, "abstract" denotes a concentrated summary of general information. Many interesting or uninteresting statistics may be found in this abstract. For example, the most popular form of exercise for Americans is walking, involving over 71 million people. This is followed by swimming, which is the preferred method of some 67 million. Joggers and runners numbered 24 million. In regard to foreign languages being studied by U.S. college students, Spanish, with 534,000 students, is the most popular, followed by French and German, with 273,000 and 133,000 students respectively. In the ten-year period from 1980 to 1990, the number of students studying Russian doubled, but those studying Japanese quadrupled. Thus, the 46,000 students of Japanese have surpassed the 44,000 students of Russian and are approaching the 50,000 students of Italian. In Isaiah 28:11, the prophet makes the interesting remark that if people will not listen to him, God will use "foreigners speaking some strange sounding language" to teach them a lesson. You are invited to the meeting of the Daily Word Fellowship on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center. The theme for discussion is: December. --Clark Offner (4138)
Itadakimasu (92/11/26)
Three weeks ago, a pastor from Tanzania was visiting us. He had met our daughter at the International Church in Bangkok and called us from Utsunomiya. After the Sunday morning worship service at our church, at which he had preached the sermon, we were eating lunch with church members. After the prayer of thanks, people said "itadakimasu" before beginning to eat. He asked me the meaning of that word. I replied: Literally, it means "I receive". Some conscientious people may be sincerely thanking God or gods for the food before they eat. Others may be giving thanks to those who prepared the food. But for most people, the words are simply a customary saying with no deeper meaning than "I will now eat." Do you think my answer was mistaken? I would be happy to hear your reaction at the meeting of listeners/readers of these messages on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya Geijutsu Sōzō Center when those present will share their thoughts about: "December". Monday was "Labor-Thanksgiving Day" in Japan; today is "Thanksgiving Day" in the United States. Let us be thankful to God and to others and fill the traditional 'itadakimasu' with thoughtful meaning. --Clark Offner (4139)
Calcium (92/11/27)
Calcium is a silvery-white metallic element. According to one reference book, it is "relatively soft". According to another, it is "moderately hard". Although either expression is acceptable, the emphasis is different. At any rate, calcium is essential in the formation and maintenance of strong bones and teeth. Bones lacking calcium become brittle and break easily. This is of special concern to older people. Japan has now become the world's fastest-aging society and health foods have become popular. According to a survey on the nation's nutritional intake, calcium was the only key substance falling below the required level. The food and pharmaceutical industries have begun producing calcium enriched drinks, milk and candy. Now, calcium wafers are also on sale. Two wafers are said to provide the equivalent of an average daily requirement of calcium. A nutritionist, however, advises that well-balanced meals, including milk and cheese, along with sunshine and exercise is a better way to absorb calcium into the body. You are invited to join us at the meeting of "Daily Word" listeners/readers on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Geijutsu Sōzō Center when we will take about thoughts, memories and plans related to "December". -- Clark Offner (4140)
West Germany (92/11/28)
From Czechoslovakia, we drove back into West Germany. Since leaving that country almost a month earlier in our new camping car, we had driven some 7300 kilometers through Austria, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. It was Saturday evening, but we found a supermarket with its lights still on. Although this store had been closed since 2 o'clock, the manager and his wife kindly let us in to do our shopping. He had recently returned from two years in Chicago, our home area, and told us of his experiences there. He also was willing to take our U.S. dollars in payment and gave us our change German marks. The following morning, we found an American army base where we were permitted entry to attend the Protestant Worship Service in the base chapel. Afterward, we enjoyed an American lunch at the army cafeteria at a very reasonable price, also paid in dollars. That afternoon, we drove to Frankfurt on the autobahn, where we left our camper to be shipped to the United States. From Frankfurt, we took a bus to Luxembourg Airport to board the cheap Icelandic Airlines flight to New York. There, we were surprised to meet another missionary family from Japan whom we knew. They had likewise purchased a camping car in Germany, toured through Scandinavian countries, and were taking the same plane back to the U.S., so we enjoyed sharing our experiences. -- Clark Offner (4141)
Monju no Chie (92/11/02)
General Election Day (92/11/03)
UNESCO (92/11/04)
Facial Features (92/11/05)
Derek Walcott (92/11/06)
Budapest (92/11/07)
New People (92/11/08)
Ron Yori Shōko (92/11/09)
Gregorian Calendar (92/11/10)
Washington State (92/11/11)
Internationalization (92/11/12)
Ataxia (92/11/13)
Brno W.C. (92/11/14)
Genesis (92/11/15)
Three's a Crowd (92/11/16)
Airplane Dropping (92/11/17)
"Slip of the Tongue" (92/11/18)
Fugu (92/11/19)
"Daily Word" Messages (92/11/20)
Prague (92/11/21)
Resurrection (92/11/22)
A Learned Fool (92/11/23)
Dragonflies (92/11/24)
Statistical Abstract (92/11/25)
Itadakimasu (92/11/26)
Calcium (92/11/27)
West Germany (92/11/28)
Prince of Peace (92/11/29)
Third Time Lucky (92/11/30)
All Saints' Day (92/11/01)