August (81/08/01)
Heiwa Seijutsu (81/08/02)
Colorado (81/08/03)
Safe (81/08/04)
Five (81/08/05)
Atomic bomb dropped (81/08/06)
Risshu (81/08/07)
Number eight (81/08/08)
Excuse (81/08/09)
Pardon (81/08/10)
"I am sorry" (81/08/11)
Woden's day (81/08/12)
Obeying traffic rules (81/08/13)
Shusen kinenbi (81/08/14)
"Obon" season (81/08/15)
Daimonji fires (81/08/16)
Steamboat (81/08/17)
Coins thrown into a pond (81/08/18)
The purpose of our lives (81/08/19)
Thor's day (81/08/20)
no data (81/08/21)
Hawaii (81/08/22)
Visit to our homeland (81/08/23)
Typhoon (81/08/24)
Damage to the Fountain of Hope (81/08/25)
Lake Michigan (81/08/26)
Detroit (81/08/27)
Reunion of four men (81/08/28)
Voyage of Saturn (81/08/29)
Train trip around Japan by a 6th grader (81/08/30)
Miso (81/08/31)

August (81/08/01)

In the old Roman calendar, there were ten months. The first month was March and the 6th month was called "Sextilis." Later, two additional months were added to the end of the year. However, later they were placed at the beginning of the year, which made Sextilis the 8th month. Later, the name of this month was changed to August in honor of Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of the Roman Empire. As an adjective, "august" refers to something inspiring awe and reverence, something dignified and majestic. The title, "Augustus," was given to Caesar by the Roman Senate. They also called him "imperator," from which we get the word "emperor," and "princeps," from which we get the word "prince." Augustus built many roads through the Empire and established a widespread era of peace, known as the Pax Romana. It was during this time of peace, during the reign of Augustus, that Jesus was born in the small Judean town of Bethlehem. The efficient network of roads made the spread of the Christian Gospel easier. Thus, the Christian views Caesar's accomplishments as a part of God's providential preparation for the coming of Christ..

Heiwa Seijutsu (81/08/02)

In the Japanese church, the first Sunday of August is observed as Heiwa Seijitsu, or "Peace Sunday." It was in this month in 1945 that the Pacific War ended and peace was restored to this land. Although every Sunday should be a kind of "peace day," it is fitting to choose a particular Sunday to emphasize this theme. The Japanese word for "peace" (heiwa) is made up of two Chinese characters. The first one, hei, originally pictured a plant floating on the surface of water and indicated something flat and then something quiet and peaceful. The second character, wa, includes the character for mouth and indicates bringing different voices together in harmony. On this Peace Sunday, let us join together in prayers for peace. We should remember, however, that "No one can possibly be at peace with his fellowmen until he is at peace with himself and no man can be at peace with himself until he is at peace with God." The Bible teaches that we may find peace with God, peace within ourselves and peace with others through the work of Jesus Christ and our faith in him.

Colorado (81/08/03)

The first Monday in August is a legal holiday in the U. S. state of Colorado. It is called Colorado Day. It was on August 1st, 1876, that this state was admitted to the Union as the 38th state. Because it was admitted on the hundredth year after the nation was established, it is also called the Centennial State. "Centennial" comes from a combination of two Latin words meaning a hundred years. The name "Colorado," is the Spanish word for "colored" and the color red in particular. This name was given to the river that originates in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and flows through the beautiful Grand Canyon of northwest Arizona on its way to the Gulf of California. This great river of the southwestern United States is over 2200 kilometers long and the mile-deep canyon through which it flows is one of the natural beauty spots of the country. The sightseer who views the course of this river from its mountain source through its amazing gorge to the ocean cannot help but be awed by the handiwork of God, the Creator.

Safe (81/0 8/04)

This is "Daily Word." How are you today? Our word for today is "safe." How safe is a safe? As an adjective, "safe" may mean "secure" (anzen). As a noun, it refers to a strong box or room in which to keep valuable things, that is kinko in Japanese. Last Wednesday night, a million yen was stolen from the safe in an office on the 4th floor of a building in Naka Ku. To open that safe, two steps were required. A dial had to be correctly set and a key had to be inserted and turned. However, the police found out that the safe was not really so safe, for the dial was always set at the correct number and the key was easily found in a nearby desk. A safe that is so easy to open is not very safe. A safe driver is one who drives safely, and traffic safety saves lives. We should be concerned not only about the safety of our possessions but about our bodies and spirits as well. The Old Testament book of Proverbs, chapter 29, verse 25 states that "he who trusts in the Lord is safe." If you have questions, comments or suggestions to make regarding these daily messages, I would be happy to hear from you, in either English or Japanese. I will certainly reply. The address is: "Daily Word," Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Ku, Nagoya 463. (55)

Five (81/08/05)

Today is the 5th day of the month. The word "five" in English comes from the same root as the word "finger," of which we have 5 on each hand. Since the normal person has a total of 10 fingers, it is natural that a decimal system based on the number 10 was developed. This raises a question regarding the normalcy of the person who originated the English measure of 12 inches to a foot. (Maybe he was more interested in theology than biology.) The Greek word for "five" is "pente," and we find it hidden in some English words. "Pentameter" is a poetic verse having 5 measures. The "Pentateuch" refers to the first 5 books of the Old Testament. A "pentagon" is a geometric figure with 5 sides, but it has become famous as the name of a building of that shape near Washington, D.C. The Roman numeral for 5 is a V, which originally symbolized an open hand. In the Pentateuchal book of Deuteronomy, we are told not to be hard-hearted or close-fisted toward those in need, but to be open-handed toward them and to share what we have (15:8).

Atomic bomb dropped (81/08/06)

August 6th is the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. There has been much discussion about whether or not this bomb should have been developed and, furthermore, whether or not it should have been exploded over a city while its long-term effects were still uncertain. Now, however, nuclear weapons that are much more powerful have been developed and are even now ready for use by the so-called "super-powers." "Super" is a prefix meaning surpassing all others. It refers to something in an excessive amount. Insofar as weapons are concerned, the so-called super-powers do have an excessive amount of them. As the only nation that has suffered the effects of an atomic bomb attack, I sincerely hope that Japan continues to resist outside pressure to rearm. There should be at least one sensible nation in the world that refuses to waste money on implements of destruction and that positively works for peace. The Old Testament prophets looked forward to the time when nations would change their war tools into peace tools and never again go to war.

Risshu (81/08/07)

Are you enjoying the hot summer weather or do you wish that the more pleasant season of fall were here? If you are looking forward to fall, cheer up. Your wish has been granted. According to the lunar calendar, August 7th is the beginning of fall, called risshu. Even though the summer heat may continue, risshu stimulates our hope for the cooler days ahead. Today is the day of the famous Tanabata Festival in Sendai. It is also noted in the almanac as Hana no Hi. In this case, hana does not refer to "flower" but to "nose." I'm not sure what the purpose of or reason for this "nose day" is. If you know the thought behind it, please let me know. It is interesting that, although the noses of Occidentals are generally more prominent than the noses of Orientals, many Japanese point to their noses when referring to themselves, while Occidentals gesture toward their hearts. In English, a "nosy person" is one who pries into the affairs of others. God, however, doesn't need to pry into our affairs because he already knows.

Number eight (81/08/08)

Today is the 8th day of August. The number 8 is a favorite number among Japanese. An old name for Japan itself is Oyashima, "the great 8 Islands." A few of the common uses of this number include the so-called 8 beauty spots of Japan (of which Itsukushima is one), the 8 roads of Japan (of which the Tokaido is one) and the 8 Buddhist sects of Japan (of which Shingon is one). In Japanese, the number 8 is often used to indicate variety. Thus, the "8 directions" means everywhere, a vegetable store (yaoya) is literally an 800 shop and the yaoyorozu no kamigami of Shinto mythology are literally 8 million kami. In English, "behind the eightball" refers to a very unfavorable position. It comes from the game of pool, in which if the black 8-ball is pocketed before all the other balls, the game is lost. At times, we may feel discouraged and think we are in a very unfavorable position. Yet, even in such circumstances, the person with faith in the true and living God, who created this world with its beauty and variety, knows that God is with him?even behind the 8-ball, and will provide a way of escape.

Excuse (81/08/09)

"Excuse me" is a common expression, asking another person to overlook one's fault. It may be a kind of apology for some rude action or it may be used when leaving a meeting before the end. The verb is pronounced "excuze," but as a noun, it is pronounced "excuse." A person may excuze himself by offering some excuse. In the New Testament Gospel according to Luke, chapter 14, Jesus told a story of a man who prepared a great feast and invited many people to come to enjoy it. However, the people who were first invited all made excuses and asked to be excused from attending. As a result, common people, including the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame were invited to the feast. By this story, Jesus taught that when God invites us to enjoy fellowship with him, we are free to accept or refuse. God's invitation is not only for the V.I.P.s (very important people). It is for all people?including you. God invites you to eat with him. Don't make an excuse. Accept his invitation.

Pardon (81/08/10)

"Pardon me" is often used as a substitute for "excuse me." However, actually, it is a stronger expression, implying a greater sense of guilt and a desire for forgiveness. To "pardon" means to release a person from punishment. Therefore, to say, "Pardon me" or "I beg your pardon" is a request that one's fault or discourtesy be overlooked or forgiven. We often say "I beg your pardon" to another person, but in a deeper, spiritual sense, we need to say this to the holy God, our Creator, for not only have we acted wrongly against other people, we have also sinned against God. In the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 55, we find these words: "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Before we go to sleep tonight, let us say to God: "I beg your pardon for that which I did wrong today" and receive his forgiveness.

"I am sorry" (81/08/11)

One of the common expressions, which many Japanese use too often, sometimes in the wrong situation, is the expression "I am sorry." The word "sorry" comes from the word "sore" and originally meant to feel pain in one's heart. Thus, it means to feel sorrow or pity or regret. We are sorry to hear of the death of a friend. Now, it is often used as an apology. I am sorry if my explanations of English expressions are too difficult for you to understand. We often feel sorry for our mistakes, which cause inconvenience to other people, but do we ever feel sorry for our more basic sins against God? The only use of "I am sorry" in the Bible is found in Psalm 38, verse 18, which is a psalm of David, addressed to God. It states: "I confess my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin." It is polite to say "I am sorry" to another person when we have done something wrong or caused some trouble. However, we should also humbly confess our mistakes to God as well.

Woden's day (81/08/12)

The belief in many gods is called "polytheism" from the Greek words for "many" (polus) and "god" (theos). However, even among polytheists, there is usually one supreme god that is recognized as the chief or ruler of all the other gods. The name and character of that chief deity varies according to the culture in which it arose. In the ancient Yamato clan in Japan, the central deity was the sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikami. Among the ancient Greeks, the supreme deity was called Zeus. The ancient Romans called their chief god Jupiter and among the Scandinavians in northern Europe, the supreme deity is called Odin. In Teutonic or German tradition, the chief god is called Woden and it is from the name of that god that this day received its name. Today is Woden's day, or Wednesday. The Bible teaches that there is only one true and living God, who is the Creator of the world and all that is. The Old Testament prophets at times compared their God with the gods of other nations. The prophet, Micah, wrote in his prophecy, chapter 7, verse 8, "There is no other god like you, O Lord; you forgive sins." The basic characteristic of the biblical God is not his great power and wisdom. It is his infinite love and mercy.

Obeying traffic rules (81/08/13)

Aichi Prefecture is troubled by many traffic accidents which result in deaths. There are probably many different causes of these accidents, but one cause was indicated by a recent survey that was conducted among some 800 persons. In response to the question, "From your experience, what do you think about drivers' attitude toward traffic rules?" a low 4% replied that most drivers obey the rules, while 7% replied that most drivers do not obey them; 26% replied that drivers sometimes do not obey them and the highest percentage of 62% replied that drivers frequently disobey the rules. In regard to the reason for disobeying the traffic rules, 77% thought that since everyone else is disobeying the rules, it doesn't matter if I disobey them a little also. It is difficult to obey all the rules on the road of life as well as on the city streets. The Apostle Paul wrote that all the rules may be summed up in one rule: "'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' If you love someone, you will never do him wrong; to love, then is to obey the whole Law" (Romans 13:9-10).

Shusen kinenbi (81/08/14)

Do you know on what day in 1945 the war between the Allied Forces and Japan ended? It depends on which country one uses as his standpoint. In the United States, August 14th is considered as V-J Day, meaning Victory over Japan Day. In Japan, however, August 15th is considered Shusen Kinenbi, or "End of the War Anniversary Day." Of course, it sounds better to speak of shusen, meaning "end of the war," than haisen, which means "defeated." Looking at present-day Japan and the former Allied Forces and comparing their respective political, economic and social conditions, the difference between victor and vanquished is not so clear. One of the beneficial results of the war for Japan is its present Peace Constitution. Since it is clear that in modern wars all participants are losers, I hope that Japan will keep its Peace Constitution as a positive witness to the whole world of mankind's desire for peace. On this anniversary of the end of the (Pacific) war, let us renew our dedication to work for the cause of peace?peace between nations, peace between individuals and peace between man and his God. "Blessed are the peacemakers," said Jesus.

"Obon" season (81/08/15)

This is the Obon season in this part of Japan. According to traditional thought, at this time of year, the spirits of the dead return to their old homes and are welcomed by their living relatives. Offerings of fruits and vegetables are placed before Buddhist altars in the home and Buddhist sutras are chanted. The graves of dead loved ones are also visited. In many places, group dances, called Bon-odori are performed as part of the "welcoming home" festivities. These traditional ceremonies for the dead have become mixed with Buddhist tradition. However, in primitive Buddhism, there was no such custom or teaching regarding the spirits of the dead. This association of Buddhism with spirits of the dead began in China and was further developed in Japan. In fact, in this respect, Japanese Buddhism is a peculiar form of Buddhism, quite different from that of Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. Christians also respect the memory of those who have left behind good examples to follow. However, the Bible teaches that the living God, our heavenly Father, is to be worshipped above all and that respect is to be shown to the living.

Daimonji fires (81/08/16)

On August 16th the famous Daimonji fires will be lit in Kyoto, Hakone and other places in the country. Daimonji literally means "big letter' or "big character." It also refers to the specific Chinese character meaning "big" and which is pronounced "dai." A large fire on a mountainside in the shape of this Chinese character is burned as a farewell to the spirits of the dead who have returned during this "Bon" season. In English, a "bonfire" now refers to any outdoor fire, but originally it indicated a "bone fire," that is, a fire for burning corpses or dead bodies. The public burning of heretics and their heretical writings were also called "bone fires." These Daimonji fires which are lit during the "Bon" season may be pronounced "bone fires" as well as "bonfires," using the same spelling. In the New Testament Letter of James, the human tongue is compared to a little fire that can ignite a large forest and cause great trouble and destruction by its lies and slander. Just as a bonfire must be controlled, so we must control our speech so that damage is not inflicted upon others.


Steamboat (81/08/17)

On August 17, 1807, Robert Fulton left New York City on the "Clermont," a steamboat he had invented. It took him 32 hours to reach Albany, the state capital on the Hudson River, 150 miles away. Although other men had built steamboats before this, Fulton's boat was the first to be commercially successful in American waters and he is popularly considered to be the inventor of the steamboat. A steamboat, or steamship, is a watercraft that is powered by a steam engine. A steam engine converts heat energy into mechanical energy. The English word "boat" may refer to watercraft in general, but it is usually considered to be smaller than a "ship," which refers to large, seagoing vessels. Bruce Atkinson has written that "Land was created to provide a place for steamers to visit." The power source for boats has changed from manpower to wind power to steam power to nuclear power. There are many kinds of power in the world, but the true source of all power is God, the Creator. He provides the power to live a good and satisfying life.

Coins thrown into a pond (81/08/18)

One of the tourist attractions in Rome is the Fontana de Trevi. This fountain, built in 1735, is famous not only for its beauty and its excellent water, but also for the legend that whoever throws a coin into it will certainly return to Rome. However, the director of the Higashiyama Botanical Gardens here in Nagoya would be happier if people didn't know that legend?or, if they didn't bring that Roman custom to Nagoya. There are two small ponds related to the large greenhouse in the Higashiyama Park and many people throw 1-yen and 10-yen coins into them. Twice a year, these ponds are cleaned, but since they have rocky bottoms, the coins get wedged between the rocks and are hard to extract. Last year, on the biennial cleaning day, some 5000 yen in small coins was retrieved and added to the miscellaneous income of Nagoya City. However, it took a full day to clean out these ponds and the director is asking people to stop polluting the ponds with money. It seems that money not only corrupts people, but ponds as well. Ponds are not the only places where people throw away money, trying to realize their hopes.

The purpose of our lives (81/08/19)

To live a satisfying, meaningful life, a person must have some purpose or goal toward which he or she is advancing. Benjamin Disraeli, a famous British statesman of the last century who experienced many ups and downs during his political life, wrote: "The secret of success is constancy to purpose." Helen Keller, who became blind and deaf at the age of 2, but, through many struggles and self-discipline, became a well-known lecturer and author, wrote: "Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose." All of us have smaller purposes or short-term goals that we aim to accomplish by a certain time, but what about the more important and overall goal or the fundamental purpose of our lives? Have we decided what that is and are we progressing toward accomplishing it? Jesus' aim in life was to bring glory to God, his Father, by accomplishing God's plan for him. This is the way to happiness—accomplishing God's purpose in our lives.

Thor's day (81/08/20)

Today is Thursday. The word "Thursday" comes from the name of a god in Norse mythology named Thor. ("Norse" refers to the northern countries of Europe also known as "Scandinavia.") Thor is the Norse god of thunder and Thursday was originally known as "Thor's Day." Thunder is actually the sound that follows a flash of lightning which is caused by the sudden disturbance of air by electrical discharge, but, in Japanese, the word for "thunder," kaminari, comes from the idea of gods crying out with booming voices. The present Chinese character for "thunder" is made up of rain over a rice field, but, originally, in place of the rice field were three wheels, indicating the thunder claps rolling across the heavens. In the Old Testament, the Psalmists also refer to thunder as the voice of God, as in Psalm 29:3: "The voice of the Lord is heard in the seas; the glorious God thunders and his voice echoes over the ocean." Thunder is an expression of God's power in nature, but we should remember when we consider God's power in our lives that more power is needed for light than for sound.

no data (81/08/21)

Hawaii (81/08/22)

The third Friday of August is a legal holiday in the state of Hawaii. This state was officially admitted to the United States of America on August 21, 1959, so this holiday is called Admission Day in Hawaii. Hawaii is the 50th state of the Union and is made up of a group of 20 islands. The total area of all these islands is about the same as the combined area of Aichi and Gifu prefectures, so it is one of the smallest states. The name "Hawaii" is thought to come from the native word for "homeland." Until 1893, the Hawaiian Islands were ruled by kings or queens, but in 1894, they became a republic and were annexed by the U. S. as a territory 4 years later. These islands are actually the tops of a chain of submerged, volcanic mountains. Two of the volcanoes continue to be active. The principal industry of Hawaii is tourism and the main agricultural products are sugar and pineapples. The most famous Hawaiian word is "Aloha," meaning "love," which is used as both a greeting and a farewell. It is good for us to show love to others when meeting and departing--and at all times in between as well. "Aloha!"

Visit to our homeland (81/08/23)

On Friday evening, August 21st, my wife and I returned from our 2 1/2 month visit to our homeland, the United States. While we were in the U. S., we visited my wife's parents and brother in California and my brother and sister and other relatives and friends in the Midwest. Our home church is located north of Chicago, in Zion, Illinois, so we spent most of our time in that city, located along the shore of Lake Michigan. We enjoyed our visit very much and returned to Nagoya quite tired after our flights from San Francisco to Seattle, from Seattle to Tokyo and from Tokyo to Nagoya, totaling some 13 hours flying time. We thank God for his guidance and protection. However, I was sorry to find that, due to a misunderstanding, this telephone number was out of service for a day or two. Also, the number of daily calls has decreased during our absence. Please tell your friends about this telephone service. This fall, I hope to have another meeting of listeners.

Typhoon (81/08/24)

Yesterday, Typhoon #15 passed by the Tokai (or "East Sea") District, but caused much damage and a number of deaths in the Tohoku (or "Northeast") District of the island of Honshu (or "Main Province"). The word "typhoon," spelled t-y-p-h-o-o-n, has come into the English language from Chinese and means either "great wind" or "wind originating in the area of Taiwan." A typhoon is a tropical cyclone originating in the China Sea. The same kind of storm originating in the Caribbean Sea, just south of the United States, is called a "hurricane," spelled h-u-r-r-I-c-a-n-e, which comes from the West Indian name for that wind. These tropical storms, however, usually include heavy rain along with the wind. In the Bible, both the poets and the prophets speak of God as the purposeful power behind both wind and rain. Those who have faith in the Biblical God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe, do not view storms and other natural disasters as meaningless chance occurrences. Rather, we see hidden in them the loving and righteous purpose of a personal and holy God who loves his creation.

Damage to the Fountain of Hope (81/08/25)

One of the pretty sites of downtown Nagoya is the large Fountain of Hope, south of the TV Tower. This fountain of four tiers with a bronze statue on top is over eight meters tall and was built in1969, twelve years ago. It has two motors which circulate ten tons of water every minute, shooting it two meters into the air. There are 114 lights connected with the fountain?making it a beautiful sight in the summer evening. However, this pretty fountain is suffering from the crude acts of thoughtless people. Every month, city workers have to clean out the litter that has been thrown into the fountain by passersby. Empty cans and cigarette butts are the most common items, but other damaging junk is also found. On five different occasions, the whole water supply had to be changed at great expense because detergents were thrown into the fountain, causing overflowing soapsuds. People who throw garbage into such places are inconsiderate. The Bible teaches that we should consider the effect of our attitudes and actions upon other and seek to please others rather than ourselves.

Lake Michigan (81/08/26)

During my recent visit to the United States, I visited my hometown of Zion, Illinois. This town is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes on the North American continent. It is the only one of the five that is completely in the territory of the U. S. for the other four are partly in Canada. Lake Michigan is 494 kilometers long and 190 kilometers wide, so it appears like the ocean although it is a fresh-water lake. It is so large that both of the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku could be placed in it and have room left over. Looking at the great expanse of that lake, where I often went swimming as a boy, I thought again of the greatness of God's love and mercy. The Bible teaches that God's mercy is infinite and that his love is eternal. Those who trust in him shall find salvation. Incidentally, I am making an address list of those who have written to me and I will write to you regarding our fall meeting of listeners. My address is: P.O. Box 30, Moriyama Ku, Nagoya 463.

Detroit (81/08/27)

Earlier this month, my wife and I visited the city of Detroit in the state of Michigan, U.S.A. Detroit, known as the "Motor City," is the largest city in the state and the 6th largest city in the country. It has a population of 1,250,000. The name "Detroit" comes from a French word meaning "straight" or "narrow," in reference to the Detroit River, along which the city is located. This 45-kilometer-long river connects Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair and is the world's busiest inland waterway. Detroit is connected to Windsor, Ontario, a Canadian city, by both a tunnel and a bridge, which go under and over the Detroit River. Detroit was founded in 1701 by a Frenchman, whose name was Cadillac, a name that is well-known as the name of a large, expensive American car, which was once a status symbol for the rich. In the eyes of God, however, it is not how big our car is, but how great our love is for God and for other people that is important.

Reunion of four men (81/08/28)

In yesterday's message, I mentioned my recent trip to Detroit. I didn't go there to see the automobile factories. Rather, I went there to enjoy a reunion with old seminary classmates. "Reunion" refers to bringing people or things together again, especially to a gathering of persons after a separation. "Seminary" comes from the Latin word "semen," meaning "seed." Originally, a "seminary" was a seed plot, a place where something develops and grows or is cultivated. Today, the word refers to a school that provides biblical and theological training for ministers. 33 years ago, 4 young men began their seminary education in New York City and became close friends. Now, many years later, we enjoyed our reunion, remembering our old times together, talking about our experiences over the past three decades. Memory is a precious gift of God. Yet, we should not live in the past. Rather, we should learn from the past in order to make the present more meaningful and the future more hopeful. This is the viewpoint of a healthy faith.

Voyage of Saturn (81/08/29)

According to the Chinese Yinyang philosophy (known in Japanese as Onyodo), there are five basic elements in the universe. They are: fire, water, wood, metal and earth. These elements are found in the Japanese names for the days of the week--which are literally: Sun day, Moon day, Fire day, Water day, Wood day, Metal day and Earth day. They are also found in the Japanese names for the five planets nearest the sun, other than the earth. Mercury is called Water star in Japanese. Next comes Venus, or Metal star, Mars, or Fire star, Jupiter, known as Wood star and Saturn, which is called Earth star. Today, called Saturday in English, is also named for Saturn. The space rocket, Voyager II, has recently sent many pictures of Saturn back to the earth and is now continuing its voyage to Uranus. The amazing order found in nature which makes possible the programming of this space voyage with such precision, supports the biblical teaching of an all-wise and purposeful Creator of the universe.

Train trip around Japan by a 6th grader (81/08/30)

The word "voyage" refers to a long trip or journey. While the American spaceship, Voyager II, was making its voyage in space, there was another "voyager" traveling around Japan. Eleven-year old Yuichi Nakamura, a 6th grade student who lives in Midori-ku in Nagoya, took a train trip around Japan all by himself. He planned the trip by checking the train schedules and spent all five nights of the trip aboard trains. He went from Nagoya to Kagoshima in southern Kyushu and then on to Wakkanai in northern Hokkaido. He purchased his tickets with money he had saved. It cost a total of ¥51,230 for transportation plus ¥5940 for meals. During his trip, he traveled through 33 prefectures for 6090 kilometers. He said he enjoyed the trip very much and met interesting people along the way. The Bible sometimes speaks of our lives as a journey toward our eternal home. Our faith, which is seen in the way we live and act during this journey determines the direction of our journey and its final destination. In what direction are you headed?

Miso (81/08/31)

One of the uniquely Japanese foods is miso. Although it has very little taste, the Chinese characters used in its name literally mean "taste noisy." Miso is a fermented bean paste made from mashed soybeans, which are boiled and preserved with a kind of yeast until they are matured. Good miso is preserved for many years and is used in most Japanese homes as a breakfast soup. (Incidentally, the English word "soy" comes from the Japanese word shoyu, which is also made from fermented soybeans.) As figurative expressions, that in which a person takes special pride may be called his or her miso, but to add miso to something means to make a mess of it. We may sometimes make a mess of the work God has given us to do, but the Bible teaches that he will forgive those who seek his mercy and change their ways. Next month, I'm planning to have another meeting of the listeners to "Daily Word." If you are interested in attending, please let me know. My address is: Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Ku, Nagoya 463.