March (84/03/01)
Today is the beginning of a new month. In English, it is called March. It was named after Mars, one of the most important of ancient Roman deities and the father of Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome. This is also the name given to one of the sun's planets, which is referred to as the fire star, or kasei, in Japanese. In Roman mythology, Mars was the god of war, so the English word "martial" refers to something related to war. According to the ancient Roman calendar, the springtime month of March was the 1st month of the year. Later, 2 additional months were placed before March, but the months of September, October, November and December retained their original names with prefixes meaning 7, 8, 9 and 10 even though they consequently became the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th months of the year. From the standpoint of both feeling and logic, it seems advisable for the calendar year to begin with spring rather than in midwinter, but many traditional customs are the result of happenstance rather than purposeful planning. Unfortunately, that also characterizes some people's lives: they are made up of fortuitous events without an overruling purpose.
Fake snakes around the White House (84/03/02)
A mannequin is a kind of large, beautiful doll used to attract attention to the new clothes it displays. A scare crow is a crude figure, roughly dressed, to scare away crows and other birds from crops. Alongside some roads in Japan, we may see a kind of combination of these 2 representations in the policeman figures which are to remind car drivers to obey the traffic laws. A recent newspaper item reports that something new has been added to the branches of the magnolia trees on the lawn around the White House in Washington, D.C. They are not toy dolls but fake snakes and their purpose is to scare away the troublesome and noisy birds from that area. After the suicide truck bombing which killed many American marines in Beirut, Lebanon, concrete barriers have been erected around the White House to thwart any such attempts and now these snakes have been added to rid the grounds of pesky birds. There are various legitimate uses of images of people or animals, but the Bible clearly teaches that such images should not be made to represent God, the spiritual Creator, Ruler and Savior of the world, who alone is to be worshipped.
Doll Festival (84/03/03)
Today is March the 3rd, a special day for girls in Japan. English names for this day are: Girl's Festival, Doll Festival and Peach Festival. In Japanese, it may be called Joshi no Sekku, Momo no Sekku or Hina Matsuri. Although the 3rd day of the 3rd month of the solar calendar is too early for peach blossoms, these are a part of the traditional decorations for this festival. The word hina, of course, refers primarily to a baby bird and the Chinese character originally pictured a small bird and grass gathered together to symbolize a nest. Later, hina was also applied to small dolls, which were 1st made of paper or straw. The English word "doll" was originally a nickname for Dorothy. It now refers primarily to a child's toy made to resemble a person, but it may also refer to a pretty child or even a pretty young lady. However, we must be careful when calling a lady a "doll" for it may also imply that the lady is not only pretty but rather stupid as well. The old Testament prophets often warned the children of Israel against the stupidity of making doll-like images and then worshipping them as gods, asking them for protection and other blessings.
Galileo's Inquisition (84/03/04)
An inquisitive person is one who asks many questions and an inquisition refers primarily to an inquiry or an investigation. Spelled with a capital "I", however, the Inquisition refers to a particular court established by the Roman Catholic Church in the 13th century to discover and punish heretics, meaning those who held beliefs opposed to official church doctrine. One of the famous Inquisition trials condemned the Italian astronomer, Galileo, for his support of the Copernican theory that the earth revolved around the sun. As a result of church pressure, Galileo publicly renounced the theory which his scientific investigation had confirmed, although, it is said, he remained convinced that his conclusions were correct. Last week, the Vatican newspaper publicly acknowledged that the Inquisition court was wrong in condemning Galileo. It is sometimes difficult, especially for dogmatic people or organizations, to admit having made a mistake and the Roman Catholic Church should be commended for its confession of fallibility, even 351 years after the event. "Better late than never", it is said. Do you find it difficult to admit your mistakes?
Lesson in humility (84/03/05)
In the Palestine of Jesus' day, it was the custom to wash the feet of guests who had come to visit. Palestine is a hot country with dust roads and the footgear of Jesus' day was simply a piece of leather tied to the foot, so the travellers' feet quickly became dirty. It was one of the duties of the servant to wash the feet of the guests. When Jesus gathered to eat his last supper with his disciples, there was no servant present. The disciples were arguing about which of them was the greatest, so none of them were willing to volunteer to perform the servant's humble task of washing the others' feet. So it was Jesus himself, who was their teacher and master, who wrapped a towel around his waist, took a basin of water and began to wash their feet. In this incident, which is recorded in the 13th chapter of the Gospel according to John, Jesus taught his disciples an important lesson in humility. He also instructed them to follow his example and wash one another's feet. Humility is an important characteristic of a disciple of Christ. We will continue our study of the Gospe1 of John at our Japanese Bible Study tomorrow evening at 6:30 at the city kyōikukan in Sakae and you are invited to attend.
Opinions welcome (84/03/06)
Today is the 6th Tuesday since our last "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting, which means that today 1 must suggest the final theme for essays to be included in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes, to be distributed at our next meeting on April 29th. This summer, my wife and I are scheduled to make a visit to our homeland. At that time, I will be reporting about our activities here in Japan. A question may be raised regarding the value of this "Daily Word" telephone service which I have been providing for the past 3 1/2 years. The most effective answer I could give to such a question would be written reactions of listeners to the daily messages. Thus, for this week's theme, I would like you to write about your impressions of this service. Is it helpful to you? In what way? What suggestions or constructive criticism do you have regarding it? Would you be disappointed if it were discontinued? Why? I hope to hear from many of you who have never written before to get a wide range of opinion. Tell me what you like and dislike about this telephone service. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. The deadline for all essays for the next Echoes is Saturday, March 17th.
"Godspell" (84/03/07)
Some Japanese students of English find it difficult to distinguish between "face" and "faith". Although there is a difference between one's face and one's faith, the nature of one's faith may often be seen in the expression on one's face. The Scottish novelist and poet, Robert Louis Stevenson has written that "In the harsh face of life faith can read a bracing gospel." "Gospel", of course, means "good news". In the New Testament, there are 4 Gospels, which relate the story of Jesus Christ and his Good News. The old English word for "gospel" is "godspell" and that is the name of a rock musical which will be presented the next 2 weekends at the Lalapia 21 Hall in the Sun Terrace Uny Store near Aratamabashi in Minami Ku. The production is in English with Japanese university students and an American teacher at the Nagoya International School taking part. The musical, based on the Gospel of Matthew, had a long run off Broadway in New York City. Further information may be obtained by calling the Lalapia 21 office at 821-7121. "Godspell" is an interesting attempt to adapt old, enduring truth to the modern age.
Oliver Wendell Holmes (84/03/08)
It has been said that "custom is a 2nd nature" and, indeed, many of us are the slaves of custom. The reason we act in certain ways often is not because we have deeply considered the meaning or the reasonableness of our action but because that is how we have been taught and we conform to the tradition. One of America's greatest jurists, who was a Supreme Court Justice for 30 years, was born 143 years ago today in Boston. His name was Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. and he once said, "Most of the things we do, we do for no better reason than that our fathers have done them or our neighbors do them, and the same is true of a larger part than what we suspect of what we think." Because Holmes himself was an independent thinker who often disagreed with the majority opinions of the Supreme Court, he was known as the Great Dissenter. The thinking person who also has some courage will not blindly follow the customs of his fathers or neighbors. If he has a moral sensitivity, he will oppose bad customs and try to improve them. You may contribute to the expenses of this telephone service by making a deposit in the yūbin furikae kōza of: Deri-wa-do, Nagoya 3-37078.
Philatelist (84/03/09)
There are a number of English words that begin with "phil", spelled p-h-i-l, from a Greek word for "love". One such word is philately, which literally refers to a lover of stamps. A philatelist is a stamp collector and I happen to be a philatelist myself. Postage stamps were first used in England in 1640, but within 10 years the custom had spread throughout the world. Postage stamps originally were simple adhesive labels to indicate that the postage fee had been paid, but in 1850, England issued the 1st commemorative stamp in honor of the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign. On March 9, 1894, exactly 90 years ago today, Japan issued its 1st commemorative postage stamp, commemorating the 25h wedding anniversary of Emperor Meiji. In recent years, many beautiful commemorative stamps have been issued by the Japanese Postal Ministry which some philatelists buy not to use but to keep. In my case, 1 collect only used postage stamps. In Matthew, chapter 6, Jesus taught that we should accumulate treasures in heaven rather than on earth, for where our treasure is, there will our heart be also.
To permit toads to hop across the road (84/03/10)
Hanover is the name of an industrial city in West Germany with a population of over 1/2 a million people. Being a state capital, there is considerable automobile traffic in and around this city. For the next month, however, one of its roads will be closed to traffic at night--not because of road construction as you might imagine, but to permit toads to hop across the road in safety. Toads are small, froglike animals that eat insects and live on land rather than in water. Every year during the breeding season, however, they head back to the pond where they were born. Toads are usually active at night, remaining quiet in shady places or in the earth during the day. In previous years, thousands of toads have been squashed by cars on this road at night, so this year the road is being closed at night to permit them to safely return to their breeding place. Hanover authorities should be commended for giving such consideration to the lowly toad. William Inge has written that we have treated animals so badly "that beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate a religion they would depict the Devil in human form."
Blizzard of 1888 (84/03/11)
I have spent 30 winters in Japan and this winter has been the longest one I remember. Does that mean I'm getting old and my memory is poor, or has it been a long winter for you also--as young as you are? In the weather records of the northeastern United States, March 11th has special significance, for it was on this day that the Blizzard of 1888 occurred. The word "blizzard" may come from blitz, the German word for lightning, but it was coined in the United States and 1st used in the sense of a severe snowstorm with high wind in 1870 by a newspaper editor in Iowa. During the Blizzard of 1888, the most famous snowstorm in U.S. history, high winds, low temperatures and a heavy snowfall continued for 36 hours. 3 1/2 meter high snow drifts made roads impassable. People lost all sense of direction in the blustery, swilling snow and some 400 people lost their lives. New York City was isolated from the rest of the world. Before complaining about this year's winter, let us be thankful it was not worse and remember how really blessed we are with all that we have: in comparison with many others throughout the world and even with those lacking shelter here in Japan.
Twelve in the Bible (84/03/12)
Today is the 12th of March. The word "twelve" comes a combination of old English words for two and leave, meaning 2 left over after 10, just as "eleven" comes from words meaning one and leave. In English, 12 is also a counting unit called a dozen and in America, eggs are usually sold by the dozen. In English measurements also, there are 12 inches in a foot and, of course, a year is divided into 12 months and a day is divided into two 12 hour units. 12 is a significant number in the Bible. There are 12 tribes of Israel in the old Testament and 12 apostles of Jesus in the New. In the visions recorded in the last book of the Bible, called the Apocalypse or the Revelation to John, there are 12 gates to the heavenly city of Jerusalem and 12 foundations of the city walls. Inside the city is a tree of life which produces 12 kinds of fruit and 12,000 servants of God were chosen from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to make a total of 144,000. Those included in that group had God's name written on their foreheads, indicating that they belong to him and are under his protection. I hope you are included in that symbolic number.
Super Tuesday (84/03/13)
One of the favorite prefixes of advertisers and journalists in recent years is "super". Superman, superwoman, super power, supermarket, super star are only a few of the more common words beginning with "super". The mass media has termed today "Super Tuesday" in the United States, for it is a crucial day in the campaigns of contenders for the Democratic Party's nominee for president. Today, primary elections will be held in 5 states and party caucuses will be held in 4 others, which means that the result of today's voting may have a "make or break" effect on the candidates' chances in the Democratic Party Convention in July. The spectacular rise in popularity of Senator Gary Hart has added a new element to the picture--to the consternation of both John Glenn and Walter Mondale, and even, I am sure, to President Reagan. In some countries, elections are already decided even before the voting begins, but in America this is not so. American voters are unpredictable and today Mr. Mondale feels much different than he did a couple of weeks ago. People are fickle, but the eternal God remains the same.
The incident which started Chūshingura (84/03/14)
Chūshingura is perhaps the most famous Japanese drama. It is the story of 47 rōnin who finally avenged the death of their former lord by killing his enemy and then having to commit suicide themselves. The drama emphasizes the moral code of feudal Japan, in which honor and revenge were very important elements. The incident which started the tragedy occurred in the shōgun's palace in Edo on March 14, 1701, 283 years ago today, when Lord Asano drew his sword and wounded Kira Yoshinaka, a vassal of the shōgun. As a result of baring his sword in the palace, Lord Asano was ordered to commit suicide and his retainers then determined to avenge his death. Vengeance was considered a moral virtue in that day, but the teaching of the New Testament is quite different. Jesus taught his disciples to love their enemies and the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans, chapter 12, that we should live in peace with all people and never avenge ourselves but leave vengeance to God. That's difficult to do, but it is the Christian way and requires a new spirit, the Spirit of Christ, to accomplish it.
The ides of March (84/03/15)
Today is March 15th. What is significant about that date? In the ancient Roman calendar, this middle day of the month was called the "ides" and a famous quotation from Shakespeare's drama, Julius Caesar, is the warning of the soothsayer to "beware the ides of March" and it was on March 15, 44 B.C. that Caesar was murdered. In present day Japan, "beware the ides of March" may have another meaning, for today is the day when income tax returns are due and taxes must be paid. Many people desire the government to provide many services for them but forget that it is the people themselves who must provide the money for such services. In Matthew, chapter 22, Jesus gave his famous reply to the question about paying taxes to Caesar. He said, "Pay Caesar what is due Caesar, and pay God what is due God." He thus indicated the responsibility of citizens both to their government and to their God. The law requires us to pay taxes to the government, but our offering to God depends upon our conscience. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463; Yūbin furikae kōza, Nagoya 3-37078.
Red (84/03/16)
Some years ago, my daughter wrote her college graduation thesis on the significance of certain colors in the literature of different cultures. She found that in Japan, the color red traditionally had a positive and bright meaning, related to the sun, while in the West it was primarily related to blood and signified danger. To some people these days, red refers to Communism, which may cause them to get red with anger. In the center of Moscow, there is a large, open space called Red Square. Although this area is often the site of Communist assemblies, its name originally did not have any political implications. In the Russian language, the word for "red" also has the meaning of "beautiful" and this Red Square, outside the Kremlin walls, was first called "red" because of its beauty. In the 23rd chapter of the Old Testament book of Proverbs, it is indicated that red wine looks beautiful, but those who drink too much of it will end up with red, bloodshot eyes, for although "it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly, at the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder." The Bible does not prohibit drinking, but it does warn against drunkenness.
Green (84/03/17)
In yesterday's message, I talked about the color red. Today, March 17th, it is very natural to mention the color green, for today many people in American and Europe will be wearing something green: green hats, neckties, scarves, boutonnieres, accessories and so on. Today is St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and green is traditionally associated both with this saint and with the "Emerald Isle" which he converted to Christianity. Anyone having Irish ancestry of which he or she is proud will be wearing something green today--and so will many other non-Irish friends. Every year, New York City has a famous St. Patrick's Day parade on this day, with over 100,000 marchers, all wearing something green, including many bands playing Irish music. In the Bible, green is a symbol of life and growth. In Jeremiah, chapter 17, the person who trusts in the Lord is described as a tree planted by water which does not fear the hot weather, for its leaves remain green. A healthy faith in the living God produces new life and vitality that stays fresh throughout the year and through all kinds of experiences.
Marie Curie (84/03/18)
In present-day Japan, there are 6 different denominations of coins in circulation. You probably handle them and look at them every day, but can you describe what pictures or symbols are on the various coins without examining them? I can't, but I can describe American coins, which 1 very seldom see these days, because they bear the likenesses of historical figures and thus are easy to remember. Many countries other than Japan make coins with the faces of important people on them. This year, France will mint 2 new coins. A 100 franc coin will bear the likeness of the pioneering woman physicist, Marie Curie, who was the 1st person to receive a 2nd Nobel Prize. This year commemorates the 50th anniversary of her death. The face of Francois Rude, a sculptor, who was born 200 years ago this year, will appear on a new 10 franc coin. When questioned about paying taxes in Mark, chapter 12, Jesus implied that coins bearing the image of Caesar should be paid to Caesar but that which bears the image of God should be offered to him. Who was it that was made in the image and likeness of God? We all were!
Senator Gary Hart (84/03/19)
Senator Gary Hart is one of the front runners to become the Democratic Party's nominee for president of the United States. One of the reasons for his sudden popularity is his age and his emphasis upon new ideas. He is 47 years old. 7 of the 40 presidents of the United States were elected to that office when they were under 50. The youngest president was not John Kennedy, but Theodore Roosevelt, who was inaugurated when he was 42. Today, however, is the birthday of a man who became the Democratic Party's nominee for president when he was only 36 years old. William Jennings Bryan was born on March 19, 1860. He was a popular orator, a devout Christian and a leader of the Democratic Party for many years. He was that Party's nominee for president 3 different times, but was never elected. He said that "destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." Although tomorrow is a legal holiday, it is also the 3rd Tuesday of the month, which means it is the day for the Japanese Bible Class I teach at the city kyōikukan in Sakae, beginning at 6:30. Since it's a holiday, maybe you can attend. Join us if you can.
Kōreisai (84/03/20)
There is a Japanese proverb that states that the hot weather and the cold weather last until higan. Proverbs regarding the weather, like the predictions of weather forecasters, are not always accurate, but this year I hope the proverb is true, for the cold weather has lasted long enough. Today is the middle day of the spring higan season, when many people in this land will be visiting the graves of departed loved ones and unknown ancestors. This day used to be referred to as the imperial ancestors' festival (kōreisai) and today also the emperor will perform a ceremony in the imperial ancestors' shrine (kōreiden), which is within the imperial palace grounds, to venerate his ancestors. Traditional ancestral veneration customs in Japan pose a problem for Japanese Christians who are taught to worship only the 1 true and living God. However, true worship is not simply a matter of ceremony or form. It is a manner of life. Assuming that ancestral spirits are conscious of the acts of their descendants, the best way to bring comfort or joy to them is by living a righteous life and showing love to those around us. At the same time, this will please God, our heavenly Father.
Domō (84/03/21)
When translating into a foreign language, sometimes it's the little words that are most difficult to translate. For example, how should one translate the Japanese adverb, dōmo, into English? Of course, it depends on the context whether it has the positive meaning of "very much" or the negative meaning of "not at all" or an indefinite meaning of "I'm not quite sure". Nowadays, it is not uncommon to hear people use only domō by itself, without the additional "thank you" or "I beg your pardon" which makes it meaningful. "Thank you", or arigatō, is a short enough expression that we should all be ready to say many times a day. On Monday, following their graduation ceremony, 2 graduates of the Seko Primary School in Moriyama Ward presented a gift to 64 year old Yaichi Suzuki, who has voluntarily stood at a highway crossing every morning over the years to safely guide the children across the road on their way to school. The children contributed from their own spending money to express their gratitude in this way. Let us also clearly express our gratitude to those around us. True thankfulness cannot he expressed in an abbreviated form.
Jinrikisha (84/03/22)
To me, Chinese characters, which originally were simple pictures representing things or concepts, are interesting. It's fascinating to see how various characters are combined to produce different meanings and how new words are formed by putting certain characters together. Thus, an automobile is called a jidosha, or self-moving vehicle while a bicycle is called a jitensha, or self-turning vehicle. My bicycle doesn't turn by itself, however. I must provide the power, but it would confuse people if I spoke of it was a jinrikisha, even though it is a manpowered vehicle. 114 years ago today, the 1st official permit for a jinrikisha business was given by the Meiji government. 2 or 3 vehicles were stationed near the Nihonbashi Bridge in Tokyo and, although the fares were almost double that of a palanquin, many people rode in them for the fun of it. In Bible days, the most common vehicle was a chariot, which was pulled by a horse and was often used in warfare. Thus, in the 20th Psalm, verse 7, it is written, "Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the power of the Lord, our God." Today also, it is better to trust in God than in vehicles of any kind.
Kidnapping (84/03/23)
During this past week, 2 kidnappings of adult men occurred in the Kansai area. Last Friday, a 28 year old company employee was kidnapped from the parking lot of his home in Shiga Prefecture. On Sunday, the 42 year old president of the Ezaki Glico Company was forcibly taken from the bath of his home in Hyogo Prefecture. Fortunately, both men have now safely returned to their families. The English word "kidnap" is a combination of 2 colloquial English terms. Actually "kid" means a young goat, but it is now also used to refer to children in informal conversation. "Nap" is a variation of "nab", which is a colloquial term for "snatch". Thus, "kidnap" literally means to snatch a child. However, now it is used in reference to the forcible seizure or abduction of any person. Why is it that such crimes as kidnappings occur? In the New Testament book of First Timothy, chapter 6, verse 10, one answer is given. it says, "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Beards required in Pakistan (84/03/24)
For some reason, articles relating to beards attract my attention. There was one that appeared in yesterday's newspaper. It was a report from Pakistan, which celebrated its 44th anniversary as an Islamic Republic yesterday. In Pakistan, there is an official government body called the Council of Islamic Ideology, which determines what is correct Islamic doctrine. You may have noticed that many men in Islamic countries have beards, but this Council has now advised the government that, according to Islamic law, Muslim men who do not grow beards are committing a cardinal sin. If this ruling is accepted, it may disqualify many Muslims from holding public office for President Zia-ul Haq has recently ruled that only "good Muslims" will be permitted to hold public posts. So, if you want to be a good Muslim, you had better start growing a beard. From the standpoint of this imperfect Christian who sports a beard, God does not judge men by the amount of hair either on the top of their heads nor on their chins. He judges men according to what is in their hearts and how they live. Contributions toward the expense of this telephone service may be deposited in the yūbin furikae kōza of: Deiri- Wado, Nagoya 3-37078.
Greece (84/03/25)
Today, March 25th, is Independence Day in Greece, commemorating the beginning of its war of independence on this day in 1821, following almost 4 centuries of subjugation by the Turks. Greece then became a monarchy, but the king was deposed in 1973 and a parliamentary republic was established in 1975. So, although ancient Greece was the birthplace of democracy, democratic government has only a short history in modern Greece. The influence of ancient Greece on the culture and thinking of the Western world is so great that an English jurist, Sir Henry Main, once made the exaggerated statement that "Except the blind forces of Nature, nothing moves in this world which is not Greek in its origin." In the New Testament, which was written in Greek, the term "Greek" is often used in a broad sense of any non-Jew, that is, a Gentile. So, when the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, chapter 10, verse 12, that "there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him", he was emphasizing the universality of the biblical God and of his mercy.
Hawaiian traditions (84/03/26)
Japan is not the only country in the world in which old traditions compete with new ideas and where the old traditions are maintained in annual festivals. A festival is now taking place on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It is called the Prince Kuhio Festival and commemorates the birthday of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, a full-blooded Hawaiian of royal ancestry, who was born on that island on March 26, 1871. As a possible successor to the throne, Prince Kuhio was sent abroad to receive the best education possible. When the monarch was overthrown and a republic was established, he joined with revolutionaries to try to restore the monarchy. However, after Hawaii became a territory of the United States, he became its 1st delegate in the U. S. Congress and continued as such until his death in 1921. The week-long Prince Kuhio Festival features old Hawaiian traditions he sought to preserve, such as outrigger canoe races, hula dancers and songs of the islands. It is good to have traditions and to remember them, but, as Somerset Maugham has written, "Tradition should be a guide and not a jailer."
Nikita Khrushchev's speech (84/03/27)
26 years ago today, on March 27, 1958, Nikita Khrushchev became premier of the Soviet Union. It was a little over 5 years after that that I heard Mr. Khrushchev give a speech at the city hall in East Berlin. My wife and I and our 3 children were on our way back to the U. S. from Japan for a year's furlough. We had purchased a camping car in Germany and were using it on a tour through Europe. Before entering East Berlin, we didn't know it was the day of the Soviet Premier's state visit and public address, but we found the streets lined with people to watch his motorcade from the airport to the city hall. We felt very conspicuous as we drove our camping car up and down those streets. Later, we joined the crowd in the open air plaza in front of the city hall and listened to his speech. The German gentleman standing next to us spoke English and kindly interpreted the German interpretation of the Russian speech into English for us. I'l1 continue this story in tomorrow's message, but I'd like to leave this thought with you: Even as a translator changes a message into another language, so the Christian should be a translator of God's love into daily life.
What Mr. Khrushchev said (84/03/28)
Today's message continues yesterday's story of our family's short visit to East Berlin in 1963. While we were standing with the crown in the plaza to hear Soviet Premier Khrushchev's speech, our children were wearing the canvas shoes they wore to school in Japan. Their names were printed on the top of their shoes to identify them when they left them outside the school room. The German gentleman standing next to us looked down at their shoes and read the name printed on them out loud. Then, we began talking with him in English and he explained the content of the speech in which Mr. Khrushchev told of the superiority of the Soviet achievements in space. During the speech, the sky darkened and there were loud claps of thunder. I jokingly told the German that may mean that America is upset with the Premiers speech, but he replied, "No, that is St. Peter in heaven and he doesn't know anything about politics." As we left the plaza, it began to rain hard. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5 verse 45, Jesus taught that the merciful God causes rain to fall on both bad and good people alike. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
A squeeze play in baseball (84/03/29)
The High School Baseball Tournament is now under way at the Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya. Aichi Prefecture fans were disappointed yesterday when Aichi High School lost to Tokushima Shogyo High School by the score of 9 to 1. The Aichi team scored their only run in the 1st half of the 1st inning on a squeeze play. "Squeeze" means to exert pressure on something from 2 or more sides. Thus, orange juice is produced by squeezing an orange. A squeeze play in baseball is a play in which the runner on 3rd base begins racing for home as the pitcher pitches the ball, which the batter tries to bunt. In this way, pressure is exerted by both the runner and the batter. Aichi High School's squeeze play was successful, but it was the only run they were able to squeeze out of the whole game. We also may feel squeezed by various pressures in our daily lives, but the person with a healthy faith in the living and loving God may find spiritual peace in the midst of pressure. If you wish to receive a typewritten copy of these daily messages, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus ¥100 in stamps to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463.
Fake snakes around the White House (84/03/02)
Doll Festival (84/03/03)
Galileo's Inquisition (84/03/04)
Lesson in humility (84/03/05)
Opinions welcome (84/03/06)
"Godspell" (84/03/07)
Oliver Wendell Holmes (84/03/08)
Philatelist (84/03/09)
To permit toads to hop across the road (84/03/10)
Blizzard of 1888 (84/03/11)
Twelve in the Bible (84/03/12)
Super Tuesday (84/03/13)
The incident which started Chūshingura (84/03/14)
The ides of March (84/03/15)
Red (84/03/16)
Green (84/03/17)
Marie Curie (84/03/18)
Senator Gary Hart (84/03/19)
Kōreisai (84/03/20)
Domō (84/03/21)
Jinrikisha (84/03/22)
Kidnapping (84/03/23)
Beards required in Pakistan (84/03/24)
Greece (84/03/25)
Hawaiian traditions (84/03/26)
Nikita Khrushchev's speech (84/03/27)
What Mr. Khrushchev said (84/03/28)
A squeeze play in baseball (84/03/29)
The Eiffel Tower (84/03/30)
March and April (84/03/31)
March (84/03/01)