December (81/12/01)
December (81/12/01)
Today begins the last month of the year. The traditional Japanese name for this month is shiwasu, which is now written with the Chinese characters meaning "teacher run". It is now said to refer to the Buddhist priests who are busily running from house to house to finish their rounds before the year ends. The English name, "December", actually refers to the tenth month. Like September, October and November, it is two months away from the month it originally designated, due to a calendar change in which two months (January and February) which were originally added to the end of the year became the first two months instead. There are a number of English words that begin with d-e-c, meaning "ten". For example, a decade is a period of ten years; a decagon is a ten-sided figure. In the metric system, a decagram is a unit equal to ten grams and a decameter is a unit equal to ten meters. The decathlon is an athletic contest in which each contestant takes part in ten events, and the decalogue, meaning "ten words", is another name for the Ten Commandments given by God through Moses. These Ten Commandments, found in Exodus, chapter 20, begin with the affirmation that there is only one God, and he alone should be worshipped.
Geneva (81/12/02)
About 50 kilometers from my hometown in northern Illinois, there is a lake. It is a peaceful lake with cool, refreshing water, a good place to escape from the summer's heat. Located in Wisconsin, it is called Lake Geneva. Of course, it is named for the larger, more famous lake in Switzerland. In Switzerland, Geneva is not only the name of a lake; it is also the name of a canton, or district, the capital city of which is also called Geneva. In this city of some 150,000 population, representatives from the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. are now meeting to try to reach some agreement leading to arms reduction. At the heart of the strained relations between the so-called superpowers is a mutual lack of trust. Because of past experience and prejudice, neither country seems willing to rely upon the integrity of the other. Cardinal de Retz has written that " A man who doesn't trust himself can never really trust anyone else." Trust, like sickness, may be contagious, but it requires faith to take the first step in a new direction--even the right direction. I pray that the Geneva talks will lead to a result in keeping with the pleasant memories of that peaceful lake of my childhood.
Gregorian calendar (81/12/03)
In English, there are 2 different words pronounced "calendar". However, the word ending in d-e-r refers to a machine with rollers, between which paper or cloth is run to give it a smooth or glossy finish. The more common word, ending in d-a-r refers to a table, showing the days, weeks and months of a given year. The so-called "Gregorian Calendar", which is today used throughout the world, was instituted by Pope Gregory the 13th in the year 1582. The various countries of the world began using that calendar in following years or decades or centuries. The last major countries to adopt this calendar were Russia, in 1918, and Greece in 1923. Japan adopted the Gregorian Calendar in 1872, the 5th year of Meiji In that year, December 2nd was followed by January 1st, 1873, so the people alive at that time lost almost a whole month that they never recovered. Under Daylight Saving Time in America, we lose one hour every spring, but we gain it back in the fall. Time is one of the most important gifts that God has given us, and the Bible teaches us to make wise use of it.
Dress code in Pakistan (81/12/04)
A report from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad indicates that a new government order requires all civil servants, except for the police, military forces and railway employees, to wear the traditional Pakistani dress during office hours for at least four days a week. This national dress consists of a long shirt, baggy trousers and a long tunic coat. These government employees may wear Western-style clothes on only two days of the six-day working week. The purpose of the dress directive is to strengthen the sense of national identity. To have a healthy appreciation of one's nation's history and culture is a good thing. However, to force government employees to wear a certain kind of dress to encourage their nationalistic feeling is undemocratic and may lead to unforeseen consequences. Pakistan, like Iran, is now called an Islamic Republic. In English, an adjective is a word which modifies or limits a noun, and those countries with an adjective before "republic" in their official names--such as People's Republic, Socialist Republic, Democratic Republic or Islamic Repiblic--seem to have a modified or limited concept of democracy. Let us be thankful for the freedoms we enjoy and take care to maintain them.
Birthday of Disney (81/12/05)
Guess whose birthday it is today. It is the birthday of a person who has brought much joy and amusement into many people's lives. On December 5th, 1901, Walter Elias Disney was born in the city of Chicago, where he also studied at the Academy of Fine Arts. During the First World War, he was a Red Cross ambulance driver in France, but in 1918 he became a commercial artist in Kansas City. Five years later, he began making comic films in Hollywood and, in 1928, his Mickey Mouse pictures made him famous. His first full-length, animated cartoon was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, produced in 1933. Walt Disney dies in 1966, after building the colossal, permanent amusement park called "Disneyland" near Anaheim, California. Since it features Mickey Mouse and other cartoon characters that made Disney famous, this park has been called "the greatest people trap ever built by a mouse". (Incidentally, today is also my wife's birthday, but we're keeping it a secret, so please don't tell anyone. However, she also has made many people happy--including her husband.) Byron has written, "All who joy would win/ Must share it,--Happiness was born a Twin." (Don Juan)
Letters to Santa Claus (81/12/06)
During this pre-Christmas season, many children write letters to Santa Claus. According to a 1950 International Postal Union Agreement, all letters addressed to Santa Claus are sent to the Oslo Tourist Board in Oslo, Norway. This past week, Arlid Kristiansen, president of the Oslo Tourist Board was in Japan and made public some of the 300 letters the Board has received from Japan. One from a little boy in Kagoshima, asked for a toy set "called Denjiman in Japan" and promised to go to bed alone if he received it. A 17 year old girl from Hokkaido wrote, "If you could bring a boy friend to me, I'll be much obliged to you." And a 19 year old girl from Fukuoka wrote, "This spring, I failed in entrance exam for a university. And in June my father died of cancer. I wait for your warm words, which will cheer me up." Not only children, but adults also are looking for happiness--not only from toys, but from a sympathetic, understanding heart of one who loves them. Santa Claus cannot answer people's deepest needs, but our loving, heavenly Father can and does. He also uses faithful people to communicate his love to those in need of it.
Pearl Harbor Day (81/12/07)
In these "Daily Word" messages, I frequently mention historical events or anniversaries related to a certain day. However, the date given for such events sometimes differs, depending upon the place of occurrence. For example, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which began the Pacific War, took place on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, American time. In Japan, it was already Monday morning, December 8th.Thus, if we follow the rule of observing the anniversary of an event according to the local time of the place it occurred, today, December 7th, is "Pearl Harbor Day". In that surprise attack by Japanese aircraft, the United States suffered its greatest naval disaster. Two battleships and three destroyers were sunk and a dozen other ships were damaged. Over 360 planes were destroyed or damaged, and 2,403 Americans were killed in that attack. One of the sunken battleships, the USS Arizona, remains in Pearl Harbor even today as a memorial, and on this 40th anniversary many people will be visiting it. Place names such as Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima stimulate certain emotional reactions on the part of some, but rather than stewing about the past, we should be striving for a happier, peaceful future.
Kuyo (81/12/08)
The kind of Buddhism found in Japan is peculiarly Japanese. In order for this foreign religion to become popularized in this country, it had to adapt itself to traditional Japanese customs. The interesting result was that the influence of Japanese thought upon Buddhism was perhaps greater than the influence of Buddhist thought upon Japan. Most Buddhist ritual in present-day Japan and the greatest source of income are related to funerals and memorial services for the dead--activities that are completely foreign to primitive Buddhism. In Japanese, these memorial services may be referred to as kuyo, literally meaning to offer up and nourish. The idea is that the offering up of food, flowers, incense or sutras provide spiritual nourishment for the departed spirits. However, it is not only to the dead that kuyo is made. Today is the day when kuyo is offered by seamstresses to the needles that have been broken during the past months in the service of their mistresses. It is good to be thankful and to show our gratitude to living persons, but the Bible teaches that true worship should be directed only to the living, eternal God, our Creator and Savior.
Soseki Natsume's first novel (81/12/09)
Today, December the 9th, is the 65th anniversary of the death of one of Japan's outstanding novelists. Soseki Natsume was born in Tokyo in 1867. Following his graduation from the English Literature Department of Tokyo Imperial University, he taught at various schools and became known as a haiku poet. From 1900 he spent three years in England as a student sent by the Japanese Ministry of Education and began his career as a novelist upon his return. His first novel, I Am a Cat, was published in 1905. The peculiar characteristic of this novel is the attempt to view the world and life from a cat's perspective. There is an important point here that people today also need to consider. Whether we are Japanese or American, Christian or Buddhist, Communist or Capitalist, it is good for us, at times, to try to view the world from another's perspective, to walk in his shoes or to exchange her colored glasses for our own. International negotiators also need to appreciate the standpoint of their opposite numbers. Philippians, chapter 2, verse 4, states, "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of otters."
Amnesty International in Nagoya (81/12/10)
On December 10th, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In commemoration of that event and to further the cause of human rights, December 10th has been designated Universal Human Rights Day. Unfortunately, in most, if not all, of the countries of the world, the human rights of some citizens are ignored or violated--even by governments. In order to organize practical help for people who have been imprisoned for their political and religious beliefs or because of racial or linguistic prejudice, a human rights organization called Amnesty International was founded in 1961. On Saturday, the Nagoya AI Group will be having a poster exhibit, showing movies and holding a bazaar at the Seiganji Temple near Narumi Station in Midori Ku as a Human Rights Day activity. Drop in if you can. From the Christian perspective, human rights are sooted in the Biblical teaching that man was made in the image of God and that all men are equally responsible to him. Our respect and obligations toward our neighbors are derived from our more basic relationship with God. If you wish to know more about the Nagoya Group activities of AI, please let me know.
Violins and fiddles (81/12/11)
News items about violins and violinists have been appearing recently in Japanese periodicals. A violin dealer in Tokyo has been charged with forging appraisals of vintage violins and a well-known violinist has been accused to receiving bribes to help sell these falsely appraised instruments. Do you know the difference between a violin and a fiddle? Really, there is no difference. Both words refer to the same string instrument played with a bow. However, nowadays, violin is usually considered a higher class word. Violins are played at concerts and in orchestras, while fiddles are played at country dances in the mountains. Puritan scorn for the fiddle and the lively music it makes has produced a number of derogatory terms. "To fiddle" not only refers to playing the violin, but also to waste time or to fidget. Fiddlesticks, fiddle-faddle fiddledeedee all mean "nonsense". The cliche, "to fiddle while Rome burns" meaning to be occupied with trifles in the face of a crisis, comes from the unsubstantiated rumor that Emperor Nero was playing on the lyre while half of Rome burned to the ground in 64 A.D. In the Old Testament, musical instruments such as lyres, lutes and harps were all used in worship, for the 150th Psalm calls upon people to praise God with stringed instruments.
My family (81/12/12)
My message today consists of some personal information. My wife and I came to Japan as a young, married couple 30 years ago, arriving in November of 1951. After about a year and a half of Japanese language study in Tokyo, we moved to the city of Kariya in 1953. It was in 1958 that we settled in Nagoya, following a year's furlough in the United States. We have three children, who were all born since we came to Japan. Our elder son is an electrical engineer in the nuclear power division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation and is now stationed in Texas. Our daughter works in the Japan Information Office of the Japanese Consulate in Chicago. And our younger son, who graduated from college last year, is now in Nagoya teaching English conversation. Next week, our son and daughter from the U.S. are planning to return to the land of their birth for a visit over Christmas and New Year's. It will be the first time all five of us have been together for six years. Psalm 127, verse 3 states that "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a real blessing." Having our children with us, we are happily looking forward to a merry Christmas, and I hope that you will have a merry Christmas too.
Organizations in different countries (81/12/13)
A new book has recently been published by the International Chamber of Commerce of Paris and the Union of International Associations in Brussels. The Yearbook of International Organizations includes 14,792 political, economic, educational and medical organizations which have members in at least three different countries. The oldest organization listed is the Sovereign Constantinian Order, which was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the year 312 as a supraprofessional order of chivalry to promote a new cosmopolitan Christian elite. A more recent organization is the Worldwide Fairplay for Frogs Committee which aims to "protect and promote the humble frog, to enhance its image in worldwide society and to relentlessly harass malefactors of the said humble frog." The Association for the Promotion of Humor in International Affairs holds an annual luncheon to award its Noble Prize to humorists of world stature. Each separate organization may have an appeal to certain kinds of people. The Christian Church, however, ideally includes many different kinds of people who have put their faith in Christ ans are seeking to follow him.
Chushingura (81/12/14)
One of the most popular kabuki dramas of all time is called Chushingura. It portrays a well-known story, based on an historical event, of 47 ronin who avenged the death of their former lord by killing the man who had insulted him. The word ronin literally means a man on the waves. Historically, it referred to a samurai who had no master. Nowadays, it may refer to a high school graduate who failed the university entrance examinations and is not registered in any school. The famous 47 ronin spent over a year in hard training and meticulous planning to gain their revenge. It was on the night of December 14, 1702 that these men infiltrated the residence of Lord Kira, tracked him to his hiding place, beheaded him and took his head to the grave of their former master, Lord Asano. They were then condemned to death and all, ranging in age from 77 to 15, committed suicide. Their remains now lie in the same temple grounds as their lord's. Although vengeance holds a respected place in Japanese tradition, the Bible teaches that we should not seek revenge, but love our enemies and leave retribution to the hands of the all-wise, just and loving God.
Bill of Rights Day (81/12/15)
Today is December the 15th. In the United States, this day is called Bill of Rights Day, for it was on December 15th, 1791 that the first ten ammendments to the U.S. Constitution, which are also referred to as the Bill of Rights, became effective. These ammendments were made within two years after the Constitution was adopted to explicitly guarantee certain individual liberties. Along with other freedoms, the first ammendment guarantees freedom of worship. It was also on December 15th in 1945 that a directive was given by the Allied Occupation Forces in Japan to effect the disestablishment of Shinto, which opened the door to freedom of worship in this country also. In the Bible, a classic example of freedom of worship is found in Joshua, chapter 24, where Joshua called on the Israelites to freely choose which gods they would worship in the new land to which he had led them. He urged them to worship the living Lord. Thankful for the freedom of worship we enjoy in this land, I urge you also to make a wise choice of whom or what you put first in your life. And, along with Joshua, I further urge you to serve the living God, who was revealed by Jesus Christ, whose birth we are about to celebrate.
The Boston Tea Party (81/12/16)
An American tea party has quite a different atmosphere than the formalized setting of a Japanese tea ceremony. A tea party in the United States is usually a more informal gathering at which tea is served while people are enjoying themselves, laughing, talking and visiting with one another. 208 years ago today, however, a different kind of "tea party" took place aboard three British ships anchored in the port of Boston. They were loaded with tea upon which the British government required a tax to be paid, which angered the American colonists. On the evening of December 16th, 1773, a group of colonists, dressed like Indians, boarded those ships and threw the tea into the harbor. Subsequently called "the Boston Tea Party", this was another incident leading up to the American Revolutionary War, in which "taxation without representation" was one of the issues involved. When Jesus was asked about paying taxes to Caesar, he replied in Mark, chapter 12, verse 17, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Although the distinction is not always clear, the Christian gives priority to the things that are God's.
The Wright Brothers' Day (81/12/17)
It was on December 17th, 1903, that two brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, made the first successful flights in a heavier-than-air, mechanically propelled airplane near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, so this day has been designated Wright Brothers' Day in the United States. The Wright brothers were mechanics who designed and developed an engine for an improved glider and, 78 years ago today, they made four controlled flights in this aircraft. The first lasted a short 12 seconds and went only 36 meters. The fourth flight covered 260 meters in 59 seconds. It was a small beginning, but it paved the way for the development of the air and space ships we have today. Neil McElroy wrote, back in 1958, that "in the space age, man will be able to go around the world in two hours--one hour for flying and the other to get to the airport", but today, both of his estimates need to be revised. Another prophet wrote, in Isaiah, chapter 40, that those who trust in the Lord will rise on wings like eagles, but in 90th Psalm it is written that, at the end of our days, we fly away. The Christian believes that his fate is in the hands of God, whether he flies in an airplane or when he flies away at death.
Murahachibu among swans (81/12/18)
It seems that human society is not the only one which has problems relating to social relations. According to a recent newspaper article, those beautiful white swans that swim so gracefully in the moat beside Nagoya Castle are not really as elegant as they seem. Since June of this year, four of the 17 swans have died. Autopsies performed on two of them indicated damaged livers in both of them. According to the swan keepers, there is obvious social turmoil among the swans. Some swans are picked on and tormented by the others, and are even forcibly kept away from their food--as though they were being treated in a kind of murahachibu fashion. Murahachibu, literally meaning "village 80 percent", refers to village ostracism, in which social relationships with a non-conformist person or family are severed. It is surmised that the stress or strain resulting from such social tensions helped cause the damaged livers. Why is it so difficult to develop a truly harmonious society? The biblical answer is that sinful, self-centerdness is the basic problem. According to James 2:8-9, the sovereign law of Scripture is to love one's neighbor as oneself, but if one shows snobbery or makes distinctions among people, he is committing a sin.
"Michigan" on Lake Biwa (81/12/19)
Next April, a new, paddle-wheel steamboat will make its debut on Lake Biwa. Patterned after the 19th century Mississippi River steamboats, it will be operated by the Biwako Kisen Company, which held a contest to choose a name for the 900 ton steamer with a capacity of 500 passengers. 15,409 entries were received and the name chosen for this four floor, floating palace has now been announced. Runner-up names included "Mississippi Belle", "Queen Lake Biwa" and "Lady America", but the winner was "Michigan", a name submitted by eleven different people because Michigan is the sister state of Shiga Prefecture, in which Lake Biwa is located. The word "Michigan" comes from two Chippewa Indian words meaning "great water". Lake Michigan is truly a "great lake" with an area some 85 times that of Lake Biwa. In the Bible, the term "great sea" refers to the Mediterranean Sea, the largest body of water known to the people of that time and place, which is 43 times larger than Lake Michigan. The Bible teaches that the sea also is the Lord's, for he made it, and Habakkuk prophesied that the time would come when the earth shall be as full of the knowledge of God's glory as the waters fill the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).
The purchase of Lousiana (81/12/20)
It was on this day, December the 20th, in the year 1803 that the area of the United States was practically doubled in one jump. For the sum of $15,000,000, it purchased from France the territory known as "Louisiana", having an area almost six times the size of Japan. From this Louisiana Territory, west of the Mississippi River, thirteen states from Louisiana to Montana were served out. The name Louisiana had been given to that territory in honor of the French king, Louis XIV. Buying territory to enlarge one's country is a better method than taking it by force. However, the question remains as to whether France has the right to sell this territory that had been granted it by Spain. Both Spanish and French explorers had previously taken it from the earlier inhabitants, whom we call Indians. Yet, actually, who did that land originally belong to and what country had the right to claim it or to sell it to another? Because the United States was the first country to send men to the moon, does it have the right to claim that territory for itself or to sell it to someone else? The Old Testament Psalmist wrote: "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it." (Psalm 24:1) The Christian should consider property a trust from God to be used for his glory.
The Jewish feast of Hanukkah (81/12/21)
According to the Jewish calendar, today, December 21st, marks the beginning of the Festival of Lights this year. This festival, which lasts for eight days, is called Hanukkah, from the Hebrew word for "dedication". This is a Jewish feast that is not commanded in the Old Testament. Rather, it commemorates the dedication of a new sacrificial altar in the temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers in 165 B.C. Three years earlier, the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, had erected an altar there for pagan gods, but the Maccabees defeated the Syrian forces and restored the temple to Jewish hands. During this Feast of Dedication, special Hanukkah candles are lit, one the first evening, two the second evening and so forth throughout the eight days. It is probably from this custom that the Christmas candle decorations arose. The Feast Dedication is mentioned once in the New Testament, in the Gospel according to John, chapter 10, verse 22, and it may have been at this Festival of Lights that Jesus referred to himself as the Light of the world. Whether it is a Hanukkah candle or a Christmas candle, however, its light should remind us of the light of God's truth and love, and even as Jesus referred to his disciples as the light of the world, we should seek to bring God's light into the world about us.
Winter solstice (81/12/22)
In Japan, this 22nd day of December is called toji literally, "Winter arrival". In English, it is called the winter solstice. The word "solstice" comes from two Latin words referring to the sun standing still. The solstice is the point, whether in summer or winter, when the sun is farthest north or south of the equator. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. That is, it is the day with the shortest period between sunrise and sunset. From this day on, the days will be getting longer. It is because of this seeming rebirth of the sun that the Romans celebrated the Sun Festival, or Saturnalia, at this time of year. And this became the incentive for the Christian celebration of Christmas at this season. Among the Christmas decorations are those symbolizing light, such as candles and stars. They remind us of Jesus' claim to be the Light of the world and also of his saying to his disciples that they are the light of the world. As the days begin to grow longer, let us remember our responsibility before God to shine forth into the darkness around us the light of his truth and love that were revealed in his Son, Jesus Christ.
Trains bound for certain destinations (81/12/23)
Anyone who has studied English as a foreign language knows the difficulties related to the correct use of prepositions. The Nagoya Railway Company, or Meitetsu, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, is learning about such difficulties the hard way. Recently, it spent some ¥300,000,000 in renovating its main Nagoya Station. In seeking to promote Nagoya's international character, it introduced direction signs in English. However, because it printed these signs with the preposition "to" instead of "for" in directing passengers to trains bound for certain destinations, it has been criticized by teachers of English and has now promised to make corrections on these signs at a cost of another million yen. Checking with my wife and three children, all of whom are graduates of American universities, we agree that either "to Gifu" or "for Gifu" would be acceptable. Sign language itself is a shortened form of a longer explanation and either preposition indicates motion toward a particular destination. However, it was feared that students, in particular, would be confused by this usage. Before starting a journey, one must make sure he is headed for the right destination. Proverbs 14:12 states: "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
Christmas Eve (81/12/24)
The English word "eve" is a shortened form of even or evening. It is now used especially to refer to the evening or day before a holiday or to the period immediately before some event--as in a phrase such as "on the eve of victory". Eve is also the English rendition of the name of Adam's wife in the Bible story of the first human couple. In Hebrew, the word adam means "man", and the Hebrew word rendered "Eve" is similar to that meaning "life". So we read in Genesis, chapter 3, verse 20 that "the man (or Adam) called his wife Eve because she was the mother of all who live." Tonight is Christmas Eve. Many Christian churches will hold Christmas Eve services this evening. Although there may be no references to Eve, there may be references to life, because Christmas not only marks the beginning of Jesus' life, but his life and work open the door to new life to all who believe in him as well. I invite you to attend a Christ mas Eve service this evening at some Christian Church and to taste the new life and joy and love that Jesus Christ brought into the world. Merry Christmas.
Christmas Day (81/12/25)
Today, December the 25th, is Christmas Day. Nowadays, we frequently see the word Xmas in reference to Christmas. X is a mark that has many different meanings. It is the 24th letter of the English alphabet and also is used for the Roman numeral ten. It is used as a multiplication sign, as a symbol for a wrong answer, to cross out a mistake and to indicate an unknown quantity. In some Christmas celebrations, it seems that Christ has been crossed out or eliminated from the celebration. He is ignored if not unknown. However, that same X may refer to a particular, unnamed person, such as Mister X, or to a specific place--as in "X marks the spot". It is also the mark made on American election ballots to indicate one's choice of candidates. Still further, it is the symbol of the cross, called St. Andrew's Cross, and, in the case of Xmas, it is the symbol for Christ, for it is the first letter in the Greek word christos. In your Christmas celebration, don't push Christ out of Christmas. He should be the center of the celebration, for it is his birthday we are celebrating. May the true joy of Christmas be yours today.
Boxing Day (81/12/26)
In all fifty of the United States of America, Christmas Day is a legal holiday, but only one of them, South Carolina, observes the day after Christmas as a holiday. However, in England and other commonwealth nations, the first weekday after Christmas is a holiday called Boxing Day. In this case, "boxing" has nothing to do with the sport of that name. Box may be used as a verb meaning to put in a box and Boxing Day is the day when Christmas gifts, which have been put into boxes, are presented to employees, postmen and other service workers. In Japan, the yearend is the time to give a gift called oseibo, which literally refers to the close of the year. In the West, Christmas is the gift-giving season. This not only recalls the gifts given by the Magi from the East to the baby Jesus, recorded in Matthew, chapter 2. It is also a reminder of God's gift to the world of his own Son to be the world's Savior, whose birthday we commemorate on Christmas Day. At the heart of the Christian Gospel are the words in John 3:16 that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that all who believe in him may have eternal life."
Louis Pasteur (81/12/27)
The process of treating milk to make it free from disease-producing germs is called pasteurization. The verb referring to this process is pasteurize. Both words come from the name of the originator of that process, a French chemist, named Louis Pasteur. Pasteur was born on this day, December 27th, in 1822. It was commonly accepted in that day that living organisms can originate in nonliving matter independent of other living matter. However, his studies and experiments relating to bacteria exploded that theory of spontaneous generation. He established as a biological fact that life can only be transmitted from another living entity. This is also true as a spiritual principle. Spiritual life is communicated to others by those who have already experienced it. The Bible teaches that God, the Creator, is the source of all life--physical and spiritual. He has communicated his life to the world through his living Word, Jesus Christ. In the Gospel according to John, we read: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:1,4)
Roentgen's discovery of X ray (81/12/28)
Today is December 28th. It was on this day in 1895 that a German physicist by the name of Wilhelm Roentgen made public his discovery of a short-wave ray, known as a Roentgen ray or an X ray. For this discovery, Roentgen was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. It was called an X ray by its discoverer because of its unknown character. These invisible, electromagnetic rays are able to penetrate solid substances, and X ray pictures may be taken to show the internal state of bodies which is invisible to the human eye. However, even an X ray photograph cannot disclose the true state of health of the human soul. In the 139th Psalm, the poet writes, "Lord, you have examined me and you know me. You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts. Even before I speak, you already know what I will say." Although we may be able to hide our true feelings from other people, we cannot hide them from God. His eyes are more penetrating than X rays and our innermost thoughts are an open book before him.
Massacre at Wounded Knee (81/12/29)
In the history of any nation, there are events which are often overlooked or ignored in certain history books because they are embarassing. Chauvinists would like to forget such events or to try to rationalize them. However, whether as an individual or as a nation, it is better to honestly admit that we are imperfect and to try to learn from past mistakes. One of the blots on the record of American history occurred on this day, December the 29th, in the year 1890. It was after the last major battle between the Indians and the U. S. army, which occurred at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. "Dakota" is an Indian word meaning friend or ally, and the Indians of that region were called Dakota Indians. Following their surrender, Chief Big Foot and his followers were herded into a camp to be disarmed, but one Indian brave, later found to be deaf, refused to give up his gun. In the ensuing shooting, some 200 Indian men, women and children were massacred, and American domination of the Indians was complete. Jonathan Swift has written that "a man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." (Thoughts On Various Subjects)
Geneva (81/12/02)
Gregorian calendar (81/12/03)
Dress code in Pakistan (81/12/04)
Birthday of Disney (81/12/05)
Letters to Santa Claus (81/12/06)
Pearl Harbor Day (81/12/07)
Kuyo (81/12/08)
Soseki Natsume's first novel (81/12/09)
Amnesty International in Nagoya (81/12/10)
Violins and fiddles (81/12/11)
My family (81/12/12)
Organizations in different countries (81/12/13)
Chushingura (81/12/14)
Bill of Rights Day (81/12/15)
The Boston Tea Party (81/12/16)
The Wright Brothers' Day (81/12/17)
Murahachibu among swans (81/12/18)
"Michigan" on Lake Biwa (81/12/19)
The purchase of Lousiana (81/12/20)
The Jewish feast of Hanukkah (81/12/21)
Winter solstice (81/12/22)
Trains bound for certain destinations (81/12/23)
Christmas Eve (81/12/24)
Christmas Day (81/12/25)
Boxing Day (81/12/26)
Louis Pasteur (81/12/27)
Roentgen's discovery of X ray (81/12/28)
Massacre at Wounded Knee (81/12/29)
Susuharai (81/12/30)
Ōmisoka (81/12/31)