Good Friday (83/04/01)
Today is Friday, the 1st day of the 4th month. What shall I say about it? For one thing, it is the birthday of a school chum of mine who married my younger sister, so he is now my brother-in-law. For another thing, it is the day with a centuries-old English tradition of playing practical jokes and is called April Fools' Day. Yet, this year, for the first time since 1904, April 1st is also the Friday of Holy Week, the day commemorating the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross, called Good Friday in English. In view of the grief associated with the crucifixion, why is this anniversary day called Good Friday? One theory is that, originally, it was called God's Friday and was later changed to Good Friday because of the good that resulted from the life and death of Jesus. In my hometown in northern Illinois, on this day a union service is held in one of the town's churches lasting from noon to 3:00 PM, at which pastors from all churches take part in meditating on Jesus' 7 last words from the cross. The first of those words is found in Luke 23:34: "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing." Jesus not only taught his disciples to pray for others, he did so himself.
The Greens in Germany (83/04/02)
Green is a very symbolic color. When we see it in a traffic signal, it means "go". Used as an adjective, it may refer to something fresh and new, to something that is not yet ripe or mature, or to a person inexperienced and not trained. I wonder which of these meanings best applies to the new protest party in Germany which is called the Greens. This week, 27 members of the Greens party took their seats in the German parliament. They upset parliamentary tradition by wearing faded blue jeans, tennis shoes and shaggy pullover sweaters instead of the more formal attire. Some of the men had shoulder length hair and sported beards. Sons carried potted plants with them to symbolize their concern for the environment. One of them referred to this event as the beginning of a new era in west German history. Green is also the symbol of growth and new life. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, commemorating the resurrection of Christ and the new life given by him. At the 4 o'clock Easter Service of Nagoya Union Church, the Rev. Robert Anderson will be giving his final sermon before his return to Canada. You are invited to attend this service at the Kinjō Kyōkai in Daikanchō, Higashi ku.
Easter (83/04/03)
Today is Easter Sunday, the most important day in the Christian Church Calendar. The term "Easter", which includes the word "East", is taken from the name of a pagan goddess of the dawn. Although now it refers to the day commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, originally it referred to a pre-Christian spring festival. The date on which to celebrate the resurrection was a controversial problem for centuries. It was complicated by the differences between the lunar calendar used by the Jews and the solar calendar later adopted by Christians, who wanted to keep the celebration related to the Jewish feast of the Passover but also always to observe it on Sunday. The present formula is to designate the first Sunday following the first full moon following the vernal equinox as Easter. This means it may fall on any Sunday from March 22 to April 25. Eastern Orthodox Churches further insist that Easter must follow the start of the Jewish Passover, so they often observe it later than Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. In any case, it is the day to celebrate Christ's victory over sin and the new life he gives to his disciples who serve a risen Savior.
Good eggs (83/04/04)
In many European countries, today is a national holiday called Easter Monday. Celebrations, following the austerities of Lent, are enjoyed. Since the egg is a symbol of new life, some of these celebrations include games using eggs. In the United States, for over a century, it has been customary to have an Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn on Easter Monday, when children are admitted to the grounds of the presidential residence and permitted to roll brightly colored Easter Eggs down the sloping lawn. In American slang, "egg" is sometimes used to refer to a person, so we may call someone a "good egg" or a "bad egg". A couple of good eggs are leaving Nagoya today on their return trip to their homeland of Canada. Bob and Priscilla Anderson have served as parttime pastor and pastor's wife of the Nagoya Union Church for the past 2 years and we wish them God's blessing as they depart and pray that they will fare well in their new sphere of ministry. It was not eggs, but bread and fish, that Jesus fed the multitude in the story recorded in the 6th chapter of the Gospel of John. That will be the passage for our Japanese Bible Study tomorrow evening at 6:30 at the City Kyōikukan in Sakae. Please join us if you are interested.
Booker Taliaferro Washington (83/04/05)
127 years ago today, on April 5th, 1856, a child was born in the cramped slave quarters on a plantation in the American state of Virginia. The mother of this child was a mulatto, which means that one of her parents was white and the other was black. His father, however, was a white man. The boy was named Booker Taliaferro Washington and he became one of the country's great black leaders. The first 7 years of his life were lived in slavery, but after emancipation, he worked in a coal mine. In spite of this exhausting work, he managed to go to public school for a few months. Determined to further his education, he quit his job and, with only a dollar and a half in his pocket, walked 500 miles to Hampton Institute where he studied while working as a janitor. As the principal of the Tuskegee Institute, which trained black teachers, Booker T. Washington became an outstanding educator. He had to overcome many obstacles in his life and he once wrote: "I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."
The North Pole (83/04/06)
The word "pole" is spell p-o-l-e. If the word is capitalized, it refers to a person from Poland. Otherwise, it may refer to a long, slender rod, such as a tent pole or a telephone pole. A third meaning is related to either end of an axis or of two opposing forces. The opposite ends of the earth's axis are referred to as the North Pole and the South Pole, and it was on this day, April 6, in the year 1909, that men of three different races first reached and positively identified the North Pole. The first man of the expedition to reach the North Pole was a black man, Matthew A. Henson who was accompanied by two Eskimo guides. 45 minutes later, Robert E. Peary, a white man and the leader of the expedition, arrived and together they erected a pole on the Pole to which an American flag was attached. This was one of many cases when people of different races cooperated to achieve a common goal. That example needs to be followed today as the world longs for peace and an end to armed hostility. Clarence Francis has written: "Our common future is badly served when the eloquence of our attacks on the other fellow exceeds the energy with which we cooperate with him."
Handicapped people (83/04/07)
Today, the word "handicap" is commonly used to refer to a physical disability--such as lameness, blindness, or deafness, etc., but there is an interesting history of this word. It originated in an old game of wagering and foreits--a kind of lottery--in which the contestants put their hands in a cap and drew out various amounts of money. It was called "hand in the cap". From this beginning, a handicap came to mean some extra weight or other condition imposed on a superior athlete to equalize the chances of an inferior. Then, it was used to indicate any hindrance or disability. A new workshop for handicapped people was opened this week in Nakagawa Ward here in Nagoya. 30 handicapped employees are now engaged in producing powdered soap from used cooking oil and also making towels and napkins. These workers and their families and friends are now practicing for another hokahoka "warm" concert to be given at the City Kōkaidō on May 15th. If you'd like to join their chorus and practice with them, you may do so. The number to call for information in 353-3175. The Bible teaches that we should be kind and show love to those who are less fortunate than we.
Gautama Buddha (83/04/08)
Today, April 8th, is called Hanamatsuri, or Flower Festival, in Japan. It is the day when Japanese Buddhists celebrate the birth of Gautama Buddha, who is said to have been born on this day around 560 B.C. in northern India. The celebrations in Japanese temples center in the pouring of a sweet tea over the statue of the baby buddha. According to a Buddhist Scripture, Gautama's mother was a queen who gave birth in a beautiful garden. He is said to have descended from his mother's womb like a preacher descending from his pulpit, unsmeared with any impurity, while streams of water came from the sky to refresh the future buddha and his mother. Immediately after this birth, he took 7 steps in the right direction and proclaimed, "The chief am I in all the world." The sweet tea symbolizes this heavenly refreshment and the bronze statue upon which it is poured portrays the baby Gautama making this proclamation. This is quite a different story from that of the baby Jesus, born of a simple country girl in a dirty stable. Their later lives are also quite different, for Gautama gained enlightenment by his own strenuous effort but Jesus came to reveal the love of a heavenly Father and to provide salvation for sinful people who cannot save themselves.
Florida (83/04/09)
Although Columbus is given the credit for the discovery of America, his expeditions were limited to the islands in the Caribbean Sea and the isthmus of Panama. The first European known to have set foot on the shores of what is now the United States was a Spanish adventurer, named Juan Ponce de Leon. It was just over 20 years after Columbus' first voyage that he sailed from the island of the so-called "rich port" or Puerto Rico and landed on the Florida Peninsula on April 8, 1513, 170 years ago yesterday. Thinking it also was an island, he claimed it for Spain and named it La Florida, meaning land of flowers. There is a romantic legend that Ponce de Leon was searching for a miraculous Fountain of Youth, whose health restoring waters granted the mental and physical powers of youth to the aged. Ponce de Leon never found that fountain, however, and died when he was about 60 years old. An Old Testament prophet taught that God will renew the strength of those who trust in him and Jesus spoke of a new birth by which we may not only gain new strength but new spiritual life. In John, chapter 4, he promised a spring of satisfying, living water to quench the thirst and give new life to those who trust in him.
The Salvation Army (83/04/10)
An arm is that part of the human body between the shoulder and the hand. Because early weapons were a kind of extension of the arm, they also were called arms. Now there are a number of words that begin with "arm" that are related to military concepts. An armada is a fleet of warships. Armor is a covering worn to protect the body against weapons, which someone defined as the kind of clothing worn by a man whose tailor is a blacksmith. An armistice is a temporary stopping of warfare and an army is a large, organized body of soldiers for waging war. However, we may also refer to a large organization of persons for some other cause as an army. William Booth, the founder of a Christian organization known as the Salvation Army, was born in Nottingham, England, 154 years ago today on April 10, 1829. Booth experienced a religious conversion in a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel when he was 1 years old. While serving as an apprentice in a pawnshop, he came into personal contact with human misery and economic suffering and decided to try to do something about it. The Salvation Army, which he organized, provided soup, soap and salvation for the needy and has a great social and spiritual influence throughout the years.
A dog saved his master's life (83/04/11)
A recent news item from Munich, Germany, told of Arko, a German shepherd police dog that had been discharged from the force after 10 years of service. However, Arko proved that he was not too old for further service. When his new master, Emil Widermann, a retired dog kennel worker, collapsed from a heart attack while walking with the dog along the banks of a river, Arko dragged his master a full 60 meters to a main road and alerted passers-by who summoned medical help and his master's life was saved. R. B. Harris has written: "If the masses of men were one-half as faithful to God--and obedient to his commands--as a dog is faithful to his master--and obedient to his commands--we would have a far better world to live in than we have yet found." We can learn a lesson in faithfulness from some dogs, but we must also face the basic question of who is the master, the highest master, to whom we owe our deepest Loyalty. For the Christian, our Lord and Master is Jesus Christ, whom we believe to be the eternal God in human form. It is the Christian's duty to love and serve God above all else, but our love for God is seen in our love for other people
Yuri Gagarin (83/04/12)
The Chinese character made up of a sun in the middle of a gate, which is pronounced ma in Japanese, can be translated many different ways in English. It can be translated "time" or "luck" or "pause" or "leisure", but the basic meaning is "space" or "room". Originally, the character referred to the space between the doors of a gate. Although the opposite of "ma" in English is "pa", I don't think we can say it is so in Japanese, can we? Anyway, today marks the 22nd anniversary of man's 1st spaceflight. On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin of the U.S.S.R. made one orbit of the earth in one hour and 48 minutes in the spaceship called Vostok I. The Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Gustaf Jung, once said that "space flights are merely an escape, a fleeing away from oneself, because it is easier to go to Mars or to the moon than it is to penetrate one's own being." It is more important for us to examine the depths of our inner selves than to explore the heights of outer space. If you look into the depths of your soul, do you like what you find there? One of the last words of God quoted in the Bible is "Behold, I make all things new". (Revelation 21:7)
Chad (83/04/13)
Today, April 13th, is the National Day of the Republic of Chad. Do you know where Chad is located? It is a landlocked nation in central Africa. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. Almost half of the country is covered by the Sahara Desert. The Muslim Arab nomads in the northern part of the country tend flocks of sheep, goats and cattle, while the black farmers in southern Chad grow grain crops. Centuries old animosities between Arab and black inhabitants of the country have resulted in periodic civil wars which have added to the natural poverty of the land. In 1960, Chad became an independent nation, remaining within the French Community. Its first president, who had outlawed all other political parties than his own, was overthrown on April 13, 1975 and its national day commemorates that event. As Jesus said, a kingdom, city or house divided against itself will not stand. Inner discord--not only in a country, but also in a family and within one's own heart--will bring about confusion and possible disaster. Inner spiritual health and unity will be seen in an outward effort to bring about peace between people. Jesus came to bring peace and his followers also are peacemakers.
Abraham Lincoln (83/04/14)
One of the famous sites in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. is the Lincoln Memorial. This imposing building in the form of a Greek temple, was constructed of white marble and took 10 years to build. In it is the huge, inspiring, seated figure of Abraham Lincoln. Today is the 118th anniversary of the assassination of this 16th president, the first of four presidents to be assassinated. While alive, Lincoln had his political foes, but upon his death, he was almost universally recognized as a great, courageous man of high moral character. He was shot while in a Washington theater viewing a stageplay and died the following day without gaining consciousness. Lincoln was a man with a humble recognition of his own weakness and the need to rely upon God for help. He said that he had often been impelled to pray because his own wisdom and that of his advisers seemed insufficient for the problems he faced. He also called the Bible "the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world," he said, "is communicated to us through this book."
Income Tax Returns (83/04/15)
To Americans, April 15th has a special significance. It is the day when federal income tax returns are due. Although probably no one enjoys paying taxes, the government requires funds to carry out its responsibilities. President Franklin Roosevelt stated that "taxes, after all, are the dues that we pay for the privilege of membership in an organized society." In a democracy, it is important to try to raise these funds in a fair manner, but as President Andrew Jackson once said, "The wisdom of man never yet contrived a system of taxation that would operate with perfect equality." in the Gospel according to Mark, chapter 12, Jesus was asked a question about the need for Jews to pay taxes to the Roman emperor Caesar. His well-known reply was, "Pay Caesar what is due Caesar and pay God what is due God." The Christian considers himself a citizen of two kinds of communities. One is the earthly community to which he belongs, but his basic loyalty is to the heavenly community--the kingdom or family of God--which he has entered through faith.
Denmark (83/04/16)
The smallest of the Scandinavian countries in northern Europe is the Kingdom of Denmark with an area a little less than the island of Shikoku. The name of this kingdom means "country of the Danes". Under the Danish queen, Margaret I, who reigned from 1387 to 1412, Norway and Sweden joined together with Denmark in a union of these 3 countries. The present queen, Margaret II, was born on April 16, 1940, which means that today is her 43rd birthday and a national holiday in Denmark. I don't remember the context, but there is a famous quotation from Shakespeare's Hamlet that "something is rotten in the state of Denmark", which is often quoted when we have doubts regarding some political intrigues. There is an English saying that "one rotten apple spoils a hundred" and, in Galatians, chapter 5, verse 9, the Bible also teaches that a little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough. This is a warning for people to be careful about the close associates they choose, for we may be negatively influenced by an immoral associate. Denmark is 97% Lutheran and the Danish flag consists of a white cross upon a red background. A healthy faith in the Christ of the cross is the cure for rottenness.
Syria (83/04/17)
The western boundary of the state of Israel is the Mediterranean Sea. On the south, east and north, Israel shares boundaries with 4 Arab countries, the most militant of which is Syria. Syria contains some of the most ancient remains of civilization. Ancient Syria was the home of the Amorites, Canaanites and Phoenicians mentioned in the Old Testament. It was conquered by several waves of foreign invaders, including Aramaeans, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans. In the 7th century, it fell to the Arabs, who introduced the Arabic language and culture. At present, its official name is the Syrian Arab Republic and today is its Independence Day for it gained its independence from France on this day in 1946. 88% of the population is Muslim and the remaining 12% is considered Christian. In the New Testament, Syria is the name of a Roman province and in Mark, chapter 7, a woman born in the region of Phonecia in Syria came to Jesus, asking him to heal her daughter. Jesus honored her earnest faith and her daughter was healed. The Bible teaches that God responds to the sincere request of a believing heart.
Earthquakes (83/04/18)
In Japan, the famous Kanto Earthquake occurred on September 1st, 1923. In the United States, an earthquake of the same intensity occurred in San Francisco 17 years earlier, on April 18, 1906, 77 years ago today. The quake occurred at 5:12 A.M. and lasted from 60 to 75 seconds. Shock waves travelled for some 1200 kilometers along the West Coast. As in the Kanto Earthquake, more lives were lost as the result of the subsequent fires than from the earthquake itself. One fire, which left 100,000 people homeless, continued to burn for 2 1/2 days. However, in contrast to the 100,000 lives lost in the Tokyo-Yokohama area, only 450 died as a result of the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. Both earthquakes and fires are fearful phenomena that are sometimes referred to as "acts of God". In the Old Testament book of I Kings, chapter 20, is the story of the prophet Elijah who had a strange, religious experience in the natural setting of a mountain top. He did not find God in the furious wind, the violent earthquake nor the raging fire. Rather, he heard God speak in a "still, small voice". So it is with us. We can hear God's voice in quietness if our ears are attuned to him.
Patriot's Day (83/04/19)
The 4th of July is celebrated throughout the 50 United States as Independence Day in commemoration of the approval of the Declaration of Independence on that day in 1776. However, in the state of Massachusetts, where the war for American independence actually began, the 3rd Monday in April is observed as Patriots' Day. It was on April 19, 1775, 208 years ago today, that the battles of Lexington and Concord occurred near Boston and the American Revolution was under way. One of the messengers sent to warn the people of the countryside that British soldiers were coming, was Paul Revere. A romanticized version of his mission is immortalized in the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere". It is to commemorate the faith and courage of American revolutionary patriots, such as Paul Revere, that this state holiday is held. It is on Patriots' Day that the famous Boston Marathon is run. Adlai Stevenson, in an address to the patriotic organization known as the American Legion, stated that "patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." A true patriot, out of his love for his country, will also offer criticism when needed and work for its improvement.
Andrew Carnegie (83/04/20)
Amsterdam is the largest city in Holland and, according to the Dutch Constitution, it is the capital city. However, in fact, the seat of government of the Netherlands along with the royal residence is located in a city called The Hague. In this residential community of some 468,000 inhabitants, the Dutch legislature and supreme court as well as foreign embassies are found. Being the site of the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, it is a city of international significance. In 1899, an international conference was held in The Hague to consider a general disarmament. Although no agreement was reached on that matter, a permanent court of international arbitration was established and on April 20, 1903, Andrew Carnegie donated 1 1/2 million dollars for the construction of the Peace Palace which now houses the International Court of Justice. Since that day 80 years ago, many peace and disarmament conferences have been held, but little genuine progress has been made in these areas. Conferences may be helpful, but true peace must begin in the human heart, for inner, spiritual peace with God, our Creator, is the wellspring of genuine harmony.
Spelling Bee (83/04/21)
There are many different kinds of bees, the four-winged, hairy insects which feed on the nectar of flowers, some of which make honey. However, in English, there is yet another kind of bee, for this word is also used to refer to a meeting of neighbors, friends, pupils etc. to work at the same thing, whether for amusement, assistance or competition. Women may gather together for a sewing bee and schools often hold contests called spelling bees. Since 1939, a National Spelling Bee has been held each year for children under 16 years of age, sponsored by various newspapers. At that spelling bee, to be held next week, the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, will be represented by a 12 year old Cambodian girl who was forbidden to attend school for 3 years while she worked on a Communist labor gang digging ditches in her homeland. When she arrived in the U.S. 4 years ago, she could merely count to 10 in English, but now she has won the right to compete in this National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. Don't you wish your language study progressed so quickly? Motivation, determination, perseverance and faith are elements required to bring success.
Arbor Day (83/04/22)
Sometime during the month of April, many states in the U.S. observe a day called Arbor Day. "Arbor" comes from the same Latin word as "herb" and means tree. An Arbor Day, as an occasion for tree planting, was first proposed by a Nebraska City newspaper editor, Julius Sterling Morton, in 1872. At that time, the state of Nebraska was mainly a treeless plain and Morton was an early conservationist who was concerned about the natural environment. He recognized that trees on the Nebraska prarie land could serve as windbreaks, hold moisture in the soil and provide lumber. The first Arbor Day was held in Nebraska in April of 1872 and a million trees were planted on that one day alone. During the next 16 years, 350,000,000 trees were planted in Nebraska and the state designated Morton's birthday, April 22nd, as a legal holiday called Arbor Day. Now, many other states have followed this example. There is an English proverb that "He that plants trees loves others besides himself." in a spiritual sense, all of us are sowing seeds by our words and actions every day. I wonder what kind of fruit they will bear?
Shakespeare (83/04/23)
Today, April 23rd, is considered the birthday of William Shakespeare. The actual date of his birth is not certain, but records indicate that he was baptized on April 26, 1564, and it was the custom at that time to baptize an infant 3 days after its birth. The date of his death, however, is certain, it occurred on April 23, 1616, which was probably his 52nd birthday. During his lifetime, he produced a sequence of 154 sonnets, several long poems and 37 plays, yet there remain questions about the authorship of some, or parts of some, of these works. There are a number of different ways to spell Shakespeare's name and his final will contained 3 of his 6 accepted signatures--so I guess it's not so strange for Japanese to have a number of different hanko. Shakespeare himself had predicted that "not marble, nor the gilded monument of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme", and it has proven so. In classical English literature, his works rank beside the King James Version of the Bible, which was first published 5 years before his death. The Gospels quote Jesus as saying, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Mark 13:31 )
Amnesty International (83/04/24)
Thomas Haliburton has written that "the memory of past favors is like a rainbow, bright, vivid and beautiful, but it soon fades away. The memory of injuries is engraved on the heart and remains forever." Although I think he exaggerated, it is true that there are pleasant things that we ought to remember but which we forget and unpleasant events we ought to forget but which we remember. Amnesia, from the Greek word for remember with a negative prefix, refers to a loss of memory, and amnesty, from the same root, refers to a deliberate overlooking of some offense or to granting a pardon. Amnesty International is a human rights organization which seeks to exert pressure on governments who are holding prisoners of conscience, that is, people imprisoned for their political or religious beliefs rather than for crimes. The monthly meeting of the Nagoya Group of Amnesty International will be held tomorrow night at 7:00 o'clock at the YWCA near Sakae at which time I will give a talk in Japanese. We would be happy for you to attend if you are interested. In Isaiah 43:25, God promised his people that he would not remember their sins.
Happy birthday (83/04/25)
During a 15 year period in the 3rd and 4th decades of this century, my mother gave birth to 6 children in our family home in northern Illinois. The sequence of births was girl-boy-girl-boy-girl-girl. Being the 2nd son and 4th child, I have 1 brother and 4 sisters. My brother is a professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois, where he has been teaching for over 30 years. Yesterday was his 60th birthday, so I called him to wish him a "Happy Birthday". It was Saturday afternoon in Illinois and he told me that, after he came back from his office a few hours earlier, his youngest son took him to show him something in their garage. However, when he opened the door, there were his 4 sisters and their mates and some of their children who had been secretly invited by his wife from their various homes, hundreds of kilometers away, for a birthday celebration. So my call included short conversations with my sisters also. Being a part of a loving family is one of the greatest blessings of life. Sir John Bowring has written that "a happy family is but an earlier heaven", if you wish to receive a copy of these daily messages, write to me at: "Daily Word", P.O. Box 30, Moriyama P.O. 463.
Onion Day (83/04/26)
The spice known as cloves, with its fragrant odor and pungent taste, comes from the dried flower buds of a tropical evergreen tree. Its name comes from the Latin word for "nail" because of its nail-like shape. Cloves are used in some medicine as well as for flavoring food. A Large percentage of the world's apply of cloves is produced on an island off the eastern coast of Africa that used to be called Zanzibar and was a British protectorate until 1963, when it became independent. On April 26, 1964, 19 years ago today, it united with the African republic of Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Today is a national holiday called Onion Day in that east Africa nation, which is about 21 times the size of Japan, but with 100,000,000 less people. Cloves are a spice that adds flavor to food. The New Testament teaches that the Christian is to be like salt, which also serves that purpose. Jesus called his disciples "the salt of the earth", but warned that if they lost their flavor they would be good for nothing. What kind of flavor are you imparting to the surroundings in which you live and work?
President Grant (83/04/27)
During my college days, I used to regularly hitchhike from my home in northeastern Illinois to my college in Western Iowa. The road passed through Galena, a town in northwestern Illinois in which there was a state museum in the former home of the 16th president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. In that two-story brick house, Grant's horsehair furniture, White House china and silver and Brussels rugs are maintained as they were during his lifetime and even a selection of the cigars he liked are on display. Today is the birthday of U.S. Grant, who was born on April 27, 1822. After he failed to earn a living as a farmer, a real estate agent and a customhouse clerk, he worked in his father's store in Galena. He once was forced out of the army because of his drinking but he later rejoined it. As an officer, he gained President Lincoln's support during the Civil War, won some impressive battles and was elected president. Although this simple, patriotic man was personally honest, his administrations were marked by widespread corruption. In New York City, the General Grant National Monument has been built over his grave. President Grant called the Bible "the sheet anchor of our liberties".
Maryland (83/04/28)
Maryland is one of the original 13 states of the United States. In population, it ranks 18th and in area it ranks 42nd among the 50 states. It was named after the wife of King Charles I of England, whose name was Henrietta Maria. Although all of the 13 former English colonies actually became states at the same time--when the Declaration of Independence was ratified on July 4, 1776, in order to establish a chronological order of their entry into the Union, historians have used the dates they ratified the U.S. Constitution. Thus, Maryland, which ratified it 195 years ago today, on April 28, 1788, is listed as the 7th state to enter the United States of America. Although the dictionary indicates that the feminine name, Mary, the verb meaning to take a husband or wife, marry, and the adjective meaning happy, merry, are all pronounced a little differently, it seems to me that I pronounce them all the same. "When Mary marries, she will be merry." The name of the state, however, is pronounced Maryland. According to Proverbs 17:22, a merry heart is like a good medicine.
The Greens in Germany (83/04/02)
Easter (83/04/03)
Good eggs (83/04/04)
Booker Taliaferro Washington (83/04/05)
The North Pole (83/04/06)
Handicapped people (83/04/07)
Gautama Buddha (83/04/08)
Florida (83/04/09)
The Salvation Army (83/04/10)
A dog saved his master's life (83/04/11)
Yuri Gagarin (83/04/12)
Chad (83/04/13)
Abraham Lincoln (83/04/14)
Income Tax Returns (83/04/15)
Denmark (83/04/16)
Syria (83/04/17)
Earthquakes (83/04/18)
Patriot's Day (83/04/19)
Andrew Carnegie (83/04/20)
Spelling Bee (83/04/21)
Arbor Day (83/04/22)
Shakespeare (83/04/23)
Amnesty International (83/04/24)
Happy birthday (83/04/25)
Onion Day (83/04/26)
President Grant (83/04/27)
Maryland (83/04/28)
Fire (83/04/29)
Monarchical concepts (83/04/30)
Good Friday (83/04/01)